Abstract: A device for removing fluid from a body, the device comprising an array of microneedles and a housing; the array of microneedles being disposed within the housing and the housing defining a chamber. The microneedles are moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position where, in use in the engaged position, the microneedles penetrate the surface of a body. The chamber is adapted to surround the surface of the body through which the microneedles penetrate when in the engaged position. The chamber is configured for connection to a vacuum device such that negative pressure can be applied to the chamber.

Abstract: A device for removing fluid from a body, the device comprising an array of microneedles and a housing; the array of microneedles being disposed within the housing and the housing defining a chamber. The microneedles are moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position where, in use in the engaged position, the microneedles penetrate the surface of a body. The chamber is adapted to surround the surface of the body through which the microneedles penetrate when in the engaged position. The chamber is configured for connection to a vacuum device such that negative pressure can be applied to the chamber.

Abstract: A device for removing fluid from a body, the device comprising an array of microneedles and a housing; the array of microneedles being disposed within the housing and the housing defining a chamber. The microneedles are moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position where, in use in the engaged position, the microneedles penetrate the surface of a body. The chamber is adapted to surround the surface of the body through which the microneedles penetrate when in the engaged position. The chamber is configured for connection to a vacuum device such that negative pressure can be applied to the chamber.

Abstract: Microneedle-based devices and associated methods for removing fluid from a body are described. The devices incorporate microneedles capable of fluidly linking the body to a high capacity absorbent material capable of absorbing at least 5 times its own weight of said fluid. The microneedles may be conventional hollow microneedles in which the bores are filled with a microporous material, hydrophobic hollow microneedles provided with bores having a hydrophilic lining, hollow hydrogel microneedles or solid microporous microneedles.

Abstract: An interactive display system with a contact geometry interface is disclosed. The interactive display system may include a multi-touch display, a touch detection system configured to detect a touch input on the multi-touch display and to generate contact geometry for a contact region of the touch input, and an application programming interface executed on a processor of the interactive display system. The application programming interface may be configured to receive the contact geometry and to send the contact geometry to a requesting application program for application-level processing. Further, the application programming interface may be configured to receive from the application program a display command based on the application level-processing. The application programming interface may be configured to send the display command to the multi-touch display to adjust a display of a graphical element on the multi-touch display.

Abstract: A menu structure is provided which allows a user of a computing device to more easily consolidate and navigate images and/or albums regardless of their location. Moreover, the menu structure is dynamically tailored to individual users based on their previous interactions with the people appearing in the images/albums. The menu includes icons representing images (e.g., photos) or collections of images that have been categorized based in part on metadata respectively associated with the images. The metadata may have been provided by tagging the images or posting the images on one or more social networking sites. The order in which the icons are presented on the menu or interface may be based on their relative relevance or importance to the user.

Abstract: An interactive display system with a contact geometry interface is disclosed. The interactive display system may include a multi-touch display, a touch detection system configured to detect a touch input on the multi-touch display and to generate contact geometry for a contact region of the touch input, and an application programming interface executed on a processor of the interactive display system. The application programming interface may be configured to receive the contact geometry and to send the contact geometry to a requesting application program for application-level processing. Further, the application programming interface may be configured to receive from the application program a display command based on the application level-processing. The application programming interface may be configured to send the display command to the multi-touch display to adjust a display of a graphical element on the multi-touch display.

Abstract: A method of locating objects in a distributed electronic environment comprising defining a plurality of object-types, which object-types are assigned a plurality of attributes, one attribute being an object-precedence attribute. A plurality of home locations for objects are defined. When a new object is instantiated, which object has associations with other objects, the new object is located at the home location of the existing object which has the highest precedence value of all the associated objects.

Abstract: A method of recovering the state of a system, which system comprises at least one counter, which counter represents an instantaneous state of an entity in a system. The counter will increase in value in response to an increment request and decrease in value in response to a decrement request, wherein each increment request is paired with a decrement request.

Abstract: A method of management of concurrent sessions within a networked electronic system across multiple servers generally comprises defining a model of the system to be managed, and then defining policies, which policies are applicable to components of the model. Then, system components are modelled as entities in the model with hierarchical relationships between the entities. The entities each comprise a single physical or non-physical object in the system. The model is split into parts such that policy information for a given entity is held on a nominated server, with other servers being informed of where to find the policy information, determination of which policies to apply to a given request being made by a policy checker, which policies are then executed.

Abstract: A substrate for cell growth comprises a polysaccharide and a cell adhesion protein provided at the surface of the substrate. The polysaccharide may for example be an alginate and the cell adhesion protein may be fibronectin, vitronectin or von Willebrand protein. The substrate may for example be a fibre and may be produced by extruding a solution containing dissolved polysaccharide and cell adhesion protein into a coagulation bath so that a substrate comprised of a basal layer of the polysaccharide and surface layer of cell adhesion protein is precipitated.

Abstract: A method of locating objects in a distributed electronic environment comprising defining a plurality of object-types, which object-types are assigned a plurality of attributes, one attribute being an object-precedence attribute. A plurality of home locations for objects are defined. When a new object is instantiated, which object has associations with other objects, the new object is located at the home location of the existing object which has the highest precedence value of all the associated objects.

Abstract: A method of recovering the state of a system, which system comprises at least one counter, which counter represents an instantaneous state of an entity in a system. The counter will increase in value in response to an increment request and decrease in value in response to a decrement request, wherein each increment request is paired with a decrement request.

Abstract: A method of management of concurrent sessions within an electronic system comprising defining a model of the system to be managed, defining policies, which policies are applicable to components of the model. System components are modelled as entities in the model with hierarchical relationships between the entities. The entities each comprise a single physical or non-physical object in the system.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus comprises at least one spherical container (15) for breathable gas attached to a harness (1,9,20,21) (5) (109) for securing the same to a user. Each container may be located within a protective casing (14,14′) and is preferably formed of composite material.

Abstract: A chuck includes an integrally molded body member having a nose section and tail section. A plurality of jaws are slidably positioned in angularly disposed passageways in the nose section. A nut is rotatably mounted on the body and is in engagement with threads on the jaws. A reinforcing member is co-molded with the nose section about at least a portion of the outer circumference of the nose section. The tail section extends radially outward to form a gripping surface and axially forward to form a thrust bearing surface in operative engagement with the nut so that the nut transfers rearward axial force to the thrust bearing surface.

Abstract: A chuck includes an integrally molded body member having a nose section and tail section. A plurality of jaws are slidably positioned in angularly disposed passageways in the nose section. A nut is rotatably mounted on the body and is in engagement with threads on the jaws. A reinforcing member is co-molded with the nose section about at least a portion of the outer circumference of the nose section. The tail section extends radially outward to form a gripping surface and axially forward to form a thrust bearing surface in operative engagement with the nut so that the nut transfers rearward axial force to the thrust bearing surface.

Abstract: A molded chuck for a hand or powered driver including oblique jaws movable by rotation of a threaded nut engaged therewith to selectively clamp and release a tool.

Abstract: A driver includes a housing, a driveshaft rotatable with respect to the housing and a chuck. The chuck includes a generally cylindrical body and a nut rotatably mounted relative to the body so that relative rotation between the nut and the body moves the chuck toward an open or closed position. A first sleeve is rotationally fixed to the nut and is axially movable and rotatable with respect to the body. A collar is disposed operatively between the first sleeve and the body. The collar is rotationally fixed to and axially movable with respect to the body and is axially fixed to and rotatable with respect to the first sleeve so that the collar moves axially with the first sleeve and with respect to the body between a first axial position and a second axial position. The collar is rotatable with respect to the housing in the first position and is rotationally fixed to the housing in the second position.

Abstract: A molded chuck for a hand or powered driver including oblique jaws movable by rotation of a threaded nut engaged therewith to selectively clamp and release a tool.