Abstract: A method of forming an imaging fibre apparatus comprises: •arranging core rods 102 and cladding rods 104 to form at least one primary stack 100a, each primary stack 100a comprising a plurality of core rods 102 and cladding rods 104 arranged in a stack arrangement thereby to form a plurality of core regions within a cladding region; •performing a drawing process to form a plurality of drawn stacks from the at least one primary stack; •wherein the plurality of core rods and cladding rods are further arranged to have a selected shape such that the plurality of stacks stack together in a desired arrangement and wherein the stack arrangement comprises an at least partial outer layer of cladding rods thereby to provide separation between core regions of respective adjacent stacks when stacked in the desired arrangement, the method further comprising: •stacking the plurality of drawn stacks together in the desired arrangement to form a further stack; •drawing the further stack; and •using the drawn further stack to

Abstract: A humidifier for humidification of air to be delivered to a patient's airways may include a humidification chamber, a reservoir and a water delivery mechanism. The humidification chamber may include a water retention feature such as a wick, a heating element for heating the humidification chamber, and an air flow baffle configured to promote humidification. The humidifier may be further configured to execute one or more algorithms, for example to determine a condition of the humidifier and/or to mitigate any detected faults. In some forms, the humidifier may also comprise algorithms for controlling one or more components of the humidifier.

Abstract: A shingle coating asphalt composition is provided that is produced from a paving grade asphalt. The asphalt composition comprises a paving-grade asphalt that has been modified with one or more polymer additives; and a secondary additive comprising one or more of a viscosity reducing agent, a wax, a salt of a fatty acid ester, and an amide of a fatty acid. The shingle coating asphalt coating composition is used to make a shingle. The shingle includes a substrate, the asphalt, and roofing granules.

Abstract: A card accessory device including, among other things, one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the card accessory device to receive, from a terminal in communication with the card, one or more messages comprising a complete message indicative of successfully reading the card and a read error message indicative that there was an error in reading the card, identify one or more predetermined sequences based on the one or more messages, and perform via a rumble pack, one or more predetermined vibration sequences comprising a first vibration sequence associated with the complete message and a second vibration sequence associated with the read error message in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A rattling swimbait jig head includes a plastic rattle case, a stationary metal ball, a pair of mobile metal balls, a hook, and a weighted head. The pair of mobile metal balls is rotatably positioned within an elongated hollow portion of the plastic rattle case by the stationary metal ball. The hook is passed through the weighted head such that the hook is adjacently and externally positioned with the elongated hollow portion. The plastic rattle case is secured to the hook by the weighted head, wherein the weighted head partially encloses the plastic rattle case and the hook. The metal to metal impact from the stationary metal ball and the pair of mobile metal balls create a sound and vibration that subsequently emit through the hook to attract fish when submerged and pulled underwater.

Abstract: An interactive online website enabling users to order products or services. The website dynamically provides a prepopulated order sheet displaying at least some sales history of products or services previously purchased by a website user. The order sheet may be organized to display a plurality of categories showing at least some of the products or services purchased by the consumer during a predetermined past period. The website may be configured to permit the user to browse the prepopulated order sheet and to enter order quantities for selected products or services.

Abstract: An application is described for facilitating the modification of an underlying computer game by players and developers; the development and testing of game modifications via a publishing infrastructure; the sharing and playing of game modifications and the marketing of available game modifications. Users subscribe to the application or are charged a fee to access individual content and partake in these game modification processes across a network infrastructure.

Abstract: A flexible, hollow, waveguide is featured, that functions in the visible region. The waveguide comprises a hollow, flexible, silica-glass tube having a smooth bore, that is coated with a reflective substance on the inner bore surface. A composite of two sulfide materials are then layered over the reflective substance. The sulfide materials form a high contrasting refractive index of approximately 2:1, thus creating a photonic, bandgap tube.

Abstract: A flexible, hollow, waveguide is featured, that functions in the visible region. The waveguide comprises a hollow, flexible, silica-glass tube having a smooth bore, that is coated with a reflective substance on the inner bore surface. A composite of two sulfide materials are then layered over the reflective substance. The sulfide materials form a high contrasting refractive index of approximately 2:1, thus creating a photonic, bandgap tube.

Abstract: A barrier and a method to bar the passage of termites across the surface of a structure is provided, the barrier being applied to the surface of the structure and comprising a sticky adhesive substance capable of obstructing and entrapping termites which venture onto the surface of the adhesive.

Abstract: A digital current limiter is provided. The digital current limiter includes a microprocessor that is capable of monitoring and controlling multiple current flows concurrently. The microprocessor can be programmed with various current limits and current control functions than can be set and modified in software. In addition, by including a serial communication interface, the current limits and current control functions of the digital current limiter can be modified remotely.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a closed metallic canister with a gas under pressure comprising means for forming a gas filling opening in the canister, and dispensing means for sequentially injecting a high pressure gas through the gas filling opening to charge the canister, and depositing and fusing a fusible body in the gas filling opening, while continuing to inject gas into the canister and utilize the force of the gas to urge the dispensing means into sealing engagement with the canister being charged.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a closed metallic canister with a gas under pressure comprising means for forming a gas filling opening in the canister, and dispensing means for sequentially injecting a high pressure gas through the gas filling opening to charge the canister, and depositing and fusing a fusible body in the gas filling opening, while continuing to inject gas into the canister and utilize the force of the gas to urge the dispensing means into sealing engagement with the canister being charged.

Abstract: A rugged flexible hollow-fiber waveguide that permits preservation of good transverse spatial coherence of input infrared laser radiation and that transmits substantial power of such radiation, with low attenuation. The present invention preferably comprises a small-diameter thin-wall silica-glass tube; a protective coating on the outer surface of the tube; a sufficient reflective layer on the inner surface of the tube; and a thickness, optimal for the wavelength(s) of interest, of dielectric on the exposed surface of the reflective layer. The fiber is manufactured with processes that maintain the smoothness of the bore. In addition to transmitting mid-infrared laser radiation through the bore of the flexible hollow-fiber waveguide, a second beam may be transmitted through the annular body of the flexible hollow-fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a closed metallic canister with a gas under pressure comprising means for forming a gas filling opening in the canister, and dispensing means for sequentially injecting a high pressure gas through the gas filling opening to charge the canister, and depositing and fusing a fusible body in the gas filling opening, while continuing to inject gas into the canister and utilize the force of the gas to urge the dispensing means into sealing engagement with the canister being charged.

Abstract: A rugged flexible hollow-fiber waveguide that permits preservation of good transverse spatial coherence of input infrared laser radiation and that transmits substantial power of such radiation, with low attenuation. The present invention preferably comprises a small-diameter thin-wall silica-glass tube; a protective coating on the outer surface of the tube; a sufficient reflective layer on the inner surface of the tube; and a thickness, optimal for the wavelength(s) of interest, of dielectric on the exposed surface of the reflective layer. The fiber is manufactured with processes that maintain the smoothness of the bore.

Abstract: A rugged flexible hollow-fiber waveguide that permits preservation of good transverse spatial coherence of input infrared laser radiation and that transmits substantial power of such radiation, with low attenuation. The present invention preferably comprises a small-diameter thin-wall silica-glass tube; a protective coating on the outer surface of the tube; a sufficient reflective layer on the inner surface of the tube; and a thickness, optimal for the wavelength(s) of interest, of dielectric on the exposed surface of the reflective layer.

Abstract: An optical transmission device comprising a body, a tapered surface disposed in the body, and means for attaching an optical transmission means to the body. In the preferred embodiment, the optical transmission means is a hollow waveguide. The tapered surface has an inlet aperture for receiving radiation and an outlet aperture. The diameter of the outlet aperture of the tapered surface is smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow waveguide.

Abstract: A CO.sub.2 (10.6 micron) medical delivery end probe is described which enables line-of-sight viewing of a surgical site internally within a body within the very same endoscope used to house the probe. The end probe includes two different sections of n<1 air core hollow waveguides, obliquely related to one another. A mirror is positioned to reflect radiation from the exit end of the initial guide to the entry end of the main section. A bridge which is especially adapted for use in an endoscope with both such a probe and a telescope is also described. Moreover, an adapter having the initial optical guide section discussed above enabling straight end probes to be used is also described.

Abstract: A probe is described for delivering CO.sub.2 radiation to a desired site. Such probe includes an n<1 optical guide made of sapphire tubing. In one embodiment, the probe includes a disposable tip.