Abstract: A needle assembly has a needle having an echogenic feature proximate to its distal sharp tip mounted to an echogenic cannula, with the echogenic tip of the needle extending beyond the distal end of the cannula. The echogenic tip provides guidance for the movement of the needle assembly under ultrasound observation so that the needle assembly may be more readily maneuvered inside a body. Once correctly positioned, the needle is removed and further confirmation may be made under ultrasound observation that the cannula has been correctly positioned inside the body. The echogenic feature of the needle may be at least one spiral groove that is tilted at an angle relative to the tip of the needle to effect a substantially 180° reflection of the ultrasound. An alternative echogenic feature to improve reflected echogeneity has crisscrossing grooves each having a predetermined pitch density formed at a neutral position on the needle.

Abstract: A paediatric tracheostomy tube is provided in two parts. One part is a patient end portion (13) having a silicone shaft (10) arranged to locate in the trachea. The machine end is formed with a mounting flange (20) adapted to lie against the neck and has a low profile coupling (21) on its machine side. The other part is a machine end portion (23) having a flexible, corrugated shaft (10?) of polypropylene with a low profile coupling (26) at its patient end adapted to engage the coupling (21) on the flange as a twist fit. The machine end of the machine end portion (23) has a tapered male coupling (25) adapted to fit with a female coupling on a breathing tube, the male coupling having a larger profile than the coupling (26) on the patient end of the machine end portion (23) and the coupling (21) on the flange.

Abstract: A needle assembly has a needle having an echogenic feature proximate to its distal sharp tip mounted to an echogenic cannula, with the echogenic tip of the needle extending beyond the distal end of the cannula. The echogenic tip provides guidance for the movement of the needle assembly under ultrasound observation so that the needle assembly may be more readily maneuvered inside a body. Once correctly positioned, the needle is removed and further confirmation may be made under ultrasound observation that the cannula has been correctly positioned inside the body. The echogenic feature of the needle may be at least one spiral groove that is tilted at an angle relative to the tip of the needle to effect a substantially 180° reflection of the ultrasound. An alternative echogenic feature to improve reflected echogeneity has crisscrossing grooves each having a predetermined pitch density formed at a neutral position on the needle.

Abstract: An oscillatory respiratory therapy device (100) has a rocker aim (105) that opens and closes a valve seat (106) by breathing through the device. The device (100) also includes a gas treatment arrangement including an HME (122) and filter (121) located such that both inhaled and exhaled gas passes through the HME and filter.

Abstract: An oscillatory PEP device has four valve openings (201) to (204) mounted on a support (205) beneath a rocker arm (106) supporting a valve closure (107). The support is rotatable to position a selected one of the valve openings beneath the valve closure and in line with a breathing path between an inlet (103). (104) and an outlet (111). The rocker arm (106) supports a soft-iron pin (108) at one end, which interacts with one of two permanent magnets (212) or (213) of different strengths on a turntable (211) to apply a force tending to pull the arm down and close the valve opening. The turntable (211) can be rotated to position the desired magnet (212) or (213) to interact with the soft-iron pin on the rocker arm.

Abstract: An oscillatory respiratory therapy device 100 has an opening 8 to atmosphere through which air passes to the user. The device has a visual indicator 20 including a paper indicator 25 and a dye reservoir 29 mounted at the opening. Before use, the opening 8 is covered by a removable cover strip 21 that prevents air flowing through the opening. The cover strip 21 is attached to the dye reservoir 29 so that the reservoir is pulled against the paper indicator 25 when the cover strip is removed, thereby the device to be used. This causes dye to flow gradually from the reservoir 29 and spread outwardly across the paper indicator 25, which is marked to indicate duration of use.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for fitting to the machine end of a tracheostomy tube (10) includes both an HME and a speaking valve (30). The HME includes two exchange elements (28, 29) at opposite ends of a housing (23) extending laterally of a coupling (25) for fitting on the tube. The speaking valve has a cylindrical sleeve (31) extending across the housing midway along its length and in line with the tube. The sleeve is rotatable about its axis and has two openings (36) on opposite sides that can be aligned with the exchange elements of the HME to allow gas to flow from the tube through the exchange elements, bypassing the speaking valve. When the patient wishes to speak, he twists and rotates the speaking valve to block flow to the exchange elements and instead to allow air to be inhaled via the valve.

Abstract: A paediatric tracheostomy tube is provided in two parts. One part is a patient end portion (13) having a silicone shaft (10) arranged to locate in the trachea. The machine end is formed with a mounting flange (20) adapted to lie against the neck and has a low profile coupling (21) on its machine side. The other part is a machine end portion (23) having a flexible, corrugated shaft (10?) of polypropylene with a low profile coupling (26) at its patient end adapted to engage the coupling (21) on the flange as a twist fit. The machine end of the machine end portion (23) has a tapered male coupling (25) adapted to fit with a female coupling on a breathing tube, the male coupling having a larger profile than the coupling (26) on the patient end of the machine end portion (23) and the coupling (21) on the flange.

Abstract: Ballistic body armor is provided having a ballistic body armor panel disposed in a flexible carrier vest. The panel has a pair of opposing outer walls sealed to each other and defining therebetween a gas-impermeable and water-impermeable interior in which is disposed a plurality of layers of woven or non-woven ballistic material. To reduce degradation of the ballistic material, ambient air is removed from the interior of the panel and is replaced with an inert gas. A sensor is disposed in the panel configured to detect a marker indicative of a risk of ballistic panel degradation. The sensor may provide a visual and/or electronic indication (such as a microchip sensor indication). In particular embodiments the marker indicates a level of oxygen above a certain threshold level. The outer walls of the panel may be opaque to reduce penetration of ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: Pattern formation methods comprise: (a) forming an underlayer on a substrate, wherein the underlayer has a thickness of 5 microns or more; (b) forming a photoresist layer on the underlayer, wherein the photoresist layer is formed from a photoresist composition comprising a silicon-containing polymer, a photoacid generator, and a solvent, wherein the silicon-containing polymer comprises as polymerized units a monomer of formula (I): wherein: R1 is independently chosen from H, F, OH, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 haloalkyl, C1-C6 hydroxy-haloalkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, or C1-C6 haloalkoxy; R2 is independently chosen from H or F; R3 is independently chosen from H, F, CH3, CF3, CHF2, or CH2F; comprises an acid cleavable group; and m is an integer from 0 to 2; (c) patternwise exposing the photoresist layer to activating radiation; (d) developing the exposed photoresist layer to form a photoresist pattern; and (f) transferring the pattern of the photoresist pattern into the underlayer using the photoresist pattern as an etch mas

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube assembly includes an outer tube (1) and an inner cannula (2) removably inserted in the outer tube. The connector (15) on the machine end of the outer tube is rotatable through about a quarter turn and has a screw thread (30) on its inner surface. The hub (33) on the machine end of the inner cannula (2) is also formed with a screw thread (35) arranged to engage with the screw thread (30) in the connector. The inner cannula (2) is pulled into the outer tube (1), or is pushed outwardly of the tube, by rotating the connector.

Abstract: A flame arrestor including a flame arrestor collar and a flame arrestor plug. The flame arrestor collar includes a flame path that may be defined by one or more modules. The flame arrestor plug may be configured for connection to the flame arrestor collar. Various embodiments of a flame arrestor, including those having venting and/or draining elements or capabilities are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dual-lumen closed-system suction catheter assembly has a handpiece (2) at its machine end coupled to a suction source (27) and a source (37) of irrigating liquid. The handpiece has a pistol grip shape with a suction control (30) on its upper part (22) that can be operated by the thumb to open a valve (28) in line between the suction lumen (10) of the catheter (1) and the suction source (27). The flow of irrigating liquid to the catheter (1) is controlled by an irrigation valve (38) in the handpiece that is actuated by a trigger (50) when squeezed by the fingers of the same hand.

Abstract: An embryo transfer catheter or other medical device has a shaft extruded with two layers. The outer layer is relatively thick and contains gas bubbles sufficient to increase the visibility of the catheter under ultrasound observation but with a density that allows material within the catheter to be viewed by the eye. The inner layer is relatively thin and is free of bubbles so that it provides a smooth bore to the catheter.

Abstract: An embryo transfer syringe has a roller coupled with the rear end of its plunger. The roller is displaceable along an elongate housing extending from the rear of the barrel of the syringe. The roller can be manually engaged through a slot along the housing to rotate it and roll it along the housing thereby smoothly and controllably displacing the plunger.

Abstract: An embryo replacement catheter has a flexible extruded shaft of a transparent polyurethane with a bore extending along its length. Gas bubbles of a diameter in the range 5? to 10? are incorporated into the thickness of the wall of the shaft by adding gas during extrusion. The bubbles are selected to increase the visibility of the catheter under ultrasound imaging whilst still enabling material flowing along the catheter to be seen.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube assembly comprises an outer tracheostomy tube (1) and an inner cannula (20) fitted in the tube. The machine end of the inner cannula has a collapsible region (22) formed by a plurality of curved or bent struts (26) extending parallel with one another between a machine end collar (28) and a patient end collar (27). The struts (26) carry outwardly-projecting catches (23) arranged to engage a rib (24) extending around the inside of a hub (16) at the machine end of the tube and thereby resist removal of the cannula from the tube. The inner cannula (20) is removed by twisting the machine end collar (28) so that the struts (26) collapse inwardly and thereby disengage the catches (23) from the rib (24).

Abstract: An embryo replacement catheter has a flexible extruded shaft of a transparent polyurethane with a bore extending along its length. Gas bubbles of a diameter in the range 5? to 10? are incorporated into the thickness of the wall of the shaft by adding gas during extrusion. The bubbles are selected to increase the visibility of the catheter under ultrasound imaging whilst still enabling material flowing along the catheter to be seen.

Abstract: A device and system for monitoring a load or applied force includes a body having first and second ends, a plate, a force-providing member connected to the plate, a first biasing member, and a first sensor. In embodiments the first biasing member is disposed between a portion of the body at or about the first end and a portion of the plate, and is configured to substantially retain the plate in an initial position during normal operation of the device; the first sensor is configured to sense a displacement (e.g., displacement position) with respect to the plate; and the body includes a portion configured to connect to or apply a force to another component. A controller may selectively instruct and/or operate a component, such as a motor, in response to an output generated or provided by the sensor. If an excessive force is sensed, the device may mitigate resulting damage.

Abstract: The invention provides nanocages, and in particular to protein nanocages, and especially ferritin nanocages. The invention extends to variant ferritin polypeptides and their encoding nucleic acids, mutant ferritin nanocages, and their uses in diagnostics and drug delivery, as well as in phenotypic screens in drug development.