Abstract: The generator comprises a float (1) which is movable in response to wave motion in a body of water, a submersible reaction member (2) of adjustable buoyancy, with at least two buoyancy configurations, connected to the float and arranged to resist movement of the float caused by the wave motion, an energy converter (5) for converting such reciprocal movement to useful energy; and biasing means such as a spring 6 for directionally biasing the reciprocal movement. Displacement of the float relative to the reaction member is permitted and reciprocal movement generated in response to such displacement.

Abstract: A method for modeling financial variables describing a client over a time period. The method may comprise the step of generating a first simulation of the time period. Generating the first simulation may comprise the steps of assigning the client to a first health-related state and advancing the first simulation from a first interval of the time period to a second interval of the time period. A probability that the client will transition from the first health-related state to a second health-related state may be calculated, the client may be randomly assigned to either the first health-related state or the second health-related state considering the probability. According to various embodiments, the methods may also comprise the steps of calculating a client income for the second interval; and calculating a plurality of client expenses for the second interval. Also, the various health-related states may include one or more of a healthy state, a long term care (LTC) state, a disabled state and a dead state.

Abstract: The pump is of an axial flow rotary type suitable for implantation into the human heart or vascular system. The pump has an elongate tubular casing (1) including an electric motor (4) and defining an inlet (2) for blood, an outlet (3) for blood longitudinally spaced from the inlet and a substantially axial blood flow path (8) from the inlet to the outlet. An elongate rotatable element (7) is arranged to fit within the casing with spacing (15) between an outer surface of the rotatable element and an inner surface of the casing; the rotatable element comprises an electric motor rotor portion (10) arranged to be driven by the electric motor stator and a primary substantially axial blood flow path along the inside of the rotatable element. A rotary impeller (11) is provided axially spaced from the rotor portion for impelling blood along the primary flow path.

Abstract: A synchronization apparatus, comprising: a USB device having a USB microcontroller, circuitry for observing USB traffic, and circuitry for decoding from a USB data stream a periodic data structure (such as a clock carrier signal) containing information about a distributed clock frequency and phase and outputting a decoded carrier signal; and circuitry for receiving the decoded carrier signal, for generating a software interrupt upon receipt of a predefined data packet (such as a SOF packet) and for passing the software interrupt to the USB microcontroller; wherein the USB microcontroller is configured to respond to the software interrupt (such as with an interrupt service routine provided therein) by generating an output signal adapted to be used as a synchronization reference signal.

Abstract: A method of displaying results of a financial model for forecasting at least one financial variable relating to a client. The method comprises the steps of receiving asset and liability data regarding the client; generating forecasted values for the financial variables over a number of simulations using the asset and liability data; and displaying a topographical chart on a user interface. The topographical chart may be positioned on a plane shown in the user interface. The plane may be defined by a time axis and a value axis for the at least one financial variable, such that a coordinate set on the plane represents the value of the at least one financial variable at a time point. The height of a first point on the topographical chart corresponding to the coordinate set may indicate a portion of the simulations that result in the coordinate set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the phase and frequency of the local clock of a USB device, the apparatus comprising circuitry for observing USB traffic and decoding from the USB traffic a periodic data structure containing information about the frequency and phase of a distributed clock frequency, and phase and circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating from at least the periodic data structure a local clock signal locked in both frequency and phase to the periodic data structure. The circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating the local clock signal can generate the local clock signal with a frequency that is a non-integral multiple of a frequency of the periodic data structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for providing a synchronized multichannel universal serial bus, the method in one aspect comprising supplementing the signal channels in the USB specification to provide synchronization information from an external source, and in another aspect comprising observing USB traffic and locking a local clock signal of a USB device to a periodic signal contained in USB data traffic, wherein the locking is in respect of phase and/or frequency.

Abstract: An anchoring device (10) for anchoring an elongate member to a fixed member (8), having a slot (20) leading to an edge thereof, the anchoring device comprising a sleeve (7) which is fixable coaxially around said elongate member and which is provided with a circumferential groove the axial length of which is sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the fixed member (8) at said slot (20), the outer diameter of the groove being less than the inner diameter of the slot (20), the anchoring device (10) further comprising a collar member (1) which is carried by, and axially moveable along, said sleeve, said collar member (1) having a leading edge (9) which extends into said groove when the anchoring device is located within said slot (20), to effectively increase the diameter of said groove and prevent said anchoring device from being withdrawn from said slot, the collar member (1) being arranged such that the leading edge (9) thereof can be withdrawn from the groove by moving the collar member along the sleeve in

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for providing a synchronized multichannel universal serial bus, the method in one aspect comprising supplementing the signal channels in the USB specification to provide synchronization information from an external source, and in another aspect comprising observing USB traffic and locking a local clock signal of a USB device to a periodic signal contained in USB data traffic, wherein the locking is in respect of phase and/or frequency.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for personal cleaning and, in particular, for cleaning and/or drying following defecation or urination, or for cleaning and freshening during menstruation. Devices according to the invention are unitary, in the sense that they do not require any configuring or formatting prior to use, and have two distinct zones of varying functional performance, one zone being configured with the principal objective of absorbing and retaining faeces, urine or menses, and the other zone being configured with the principal objective of protecting the user's hand. The devices drape over the user's hand and can be manipulated into body crevices.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the wavelength of a sample source of light, the apparatus having a reference light source of known wavelength, a collimator for collimating light from the sample source and from the reference source, a dispersing means for receiving and spatially dispersing collimated light from the collimator according to wavelength, focusing means for focusing dispersed light from the dispersing means, and a photodetector located in the focal plane of the focusing means and having an aperture for spatially selectively admitting light from the focusing means, and operable to provide a temporally calibratable output signal indicative of the wavelength of the selectively admitted light, wherein the apparatus is operable to scan the focused spatially dispersed beam across the aperture, and the photodetector output includes resolvable features corresponding to light from the reference source and sample source, whereby a time difference between the features is indicati

Abstract: A passive optical transceiver for receiving a first optical signal stream and transmitting a second optical signal stream, including a photodetector for detecting a first portion of the first stream, and an optical modulator for modulating a second portion of the first stream to provide the second stream wherein said streams are colinear with said photodetector and said modulator.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the wavelength of a sample source of light, the apparatus having a reference light source of known wavelength, a collimator for collimating light from the sample source and from the reference source, a dispersing means for receiving and spatially dispersing collimated light from the collimator according to wavelength, focusing means for focusing dispersed light from the dispersing means, and a photodetector located in the focal plane of the focusing means and having an aperture for spatially selectively admitting light from the focusing means, and operable to provide a temporally calibratable output signal indicative of the wavelength of the selectively admitted light, wherein the apparatus is operable to scan the focused spatially dispersed beam across the aperture, and the photodetector output includes resolvable features corresponding to light from the reference source and sample source, whereby a time difference between the features is indicati