Abstract: A centrifuge (10) is provided with a cantilevered shaft (18) upon which the main drive rotor (26) is located. A bobbin (62) is attached to the planetary gear shaft (44), which is driven in planetary motion by the rotation of the rotor (26) and its toothed engagement with the shaft (18) of the cantilevered rotor. A flying lead section (72) extends from the bobbin (62) through an aperture in the cantilevered rotor (26). The arrangement provides a centrifuge structure which can handle higher rotational speeds while maintaining resolution. The flying lead section (72) provides a simple path for the inlet and outlet leads (84,86) which reduces dead volume and increases reliability. The bobbin (62) supports at least one coil (68). Rotor component (44) includes at least one bearing (50, 52).

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a fetus during labor includes an elongated flexible, flattened body member formed from an electrically insulating material having a rounded distal end and having at least oen sensor mounted in a flat face of the body member. The body member is sufficiently directionally stable to be insertable into the vaginal tract and through the cervix and is capable of being guided around the fetus without twisting. The body member has a bending stiffness about an axis transverse to the plane of the body member of between 1 and 10 megaNewtons/m.sup.2. Once the apparatus is introduced into the cervix, the signal ouptut from at least one electrode is analyzed by discriminating the fetal heart rate from the maternal heart rate.

Abstract: Apparatus for powered infusion or sampling of a patient comprises: a housing (11) carrying a toothed roller (17), an electric motor (19), a transmission (20) operably coupling such roller and motor, and attachment means (14); and a syringe (12) including a barrel (13) and plunger (15), the plunger being of plastics material having a smooth untoothed longitudinal profile (16), and the attachment means holding the syringe by its barrel in a predetermined disposition relative to the housing with the plunger extending transversely relative to the toothed roller axis of rotation and such roller in penetrated driving engagement with said plunger profile; is provided with a further roller (23) carried by said housing and in transversely driven engagement with the syringe plunger; and a monitor (24) operably coupled with the further roller to generate electrical signals representing rotation of such roller and, in turn, plunger translation.

Abstract: In a centrifuge attachment for use in counter current chromatography, a centrifuge plate rotatable about a central axis carries either two or more convoluted (e.g. straight helical) coils or a single convoluted coil arranged as a toroid, the tube or tubes being convoluted about an axis of convolution which is generally perpendicular to the local direction of the centrifugal force generated by rotation of the plate. Inlet and outlet tubes are provided in a known manner such that they do not twist and the convulated coil is rotated about its axis of convolution at a speed which is independent of the speed of rotation of the centrifuge plate.

Abstract: Cervical dilation is measured by a V-shaped caliper instrument having connectors on the free ends of the caliper arms for securement to respectively opposed portions of the cervix, and a transducer coupled with the arms to provide an electric signal representing their mutually relative positions. The transducer suitably comprises strain gages mounted on a spring acting between the arms. The connectors can be toothed spring clips pivoted on the arms, but are preferably pins projecting generally parallel to the arms from the underfaces of outwardly turned free end portions thereof. In the latter case the arms preferably have spring guard strips extending alongside their outer faces at their ends.