Abstract: A syringe assembly includes a syringe barrel (12) having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle hub (20) supporting the needle and coupled to the distal end of the syringe barrel (12). A moveable shield (36) is included for sliding from a first position where the needle is exposed a first length, a second position where the needle is exposed a second length less than said first length, and a third position covering a distal end of the needle. A locking mechanism (48, 86) is included to retain the shield in the second position while enabling the shield to slide to the third position, and to lock the shield in the third position to prevent re-use of the syringe.

Abstract: A system is provided for dispensing a hair dye formulation into a customer container. The system includes a conveyer belt configured to transport the customer container along a fill line; a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, each connected to a respective container having a different bulk hair dye color, the plurality of dispensing mechanisms being disposed over a conveyer belt along the fill line. The system is configured to receive a formula for filling the customer container with one or more bulk hair dye colors from among the plurality of containers having the different bulk hair dye color, and control each of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms to perform a dispensing operation to dispense an amount of bulk hair dye color or to not perform a dispensing operation at a time when the customer container is transported to each of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms along the fill line.

Abstract: A fitment for a package with an interior compartment for containment of a flowable material is described. The fitment may have a body with an exterior wall and an interior wall. The interior wall may define a passageway extending through the body from a top opening to a bottom opening. The fitment may have at least one dispersion member with an edge extending into the passageway, the edge dividing at least a portion of a width of the passageway extending between the interior wall. The fitment may include a baffle member having a surface extending into, and at least partially obstructing, the passageway. The fitment may include a flange portion associated with the exterior wall, the flange portion positioned to interface the fitment with the package.

Abstract: A fitment for a package with an interior compartment for containment of a flowable material is described. The fitment may have a body with an exterior wall and an interior wall. The interior wall may define a passageway extending through the body from a top opening to a bottom opening. The fitment may have at least one dispersion member with an edge extending into the passageway, the edge dividing at least a portion of a width of the passageway extending between the interior wall. The fitment may include a baffle member having a surface extending into, and at least partially obstructing, the passageway. The fitment may include a flange portion associated with the exterior wall, the flange portion positioned to interface the fitment with the package.

Abstract: A system is provided for dispensing a hair dye formulation into a customer container. The system includes a conveyer belt configured to transport the customer container along a fill line; a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, each connected to a respective container having a different bulk hair dye color, the plurality of dispensing mechanisms being disposed over a conveyer belt along the fill line. The system is configured to receive a formula for filling the customer container with one or more bulk hair dye colors from among the plurality of containers having the different bulk hair dye color, and control each of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms to perform a dispensing operation to dispense an amount of bulk hair dye color or to not perform a dispensing operation at a time when the customer container is transported to each of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms along the fill line.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for creating a secure network fabric and for adding trusted devices to an existing secure network fabric. One method includes an operation for setting a switch into a provisioning mode where the switch does not enforce secure communications. While the switch is in provisioning mode, the method performs operations including establishing a connection from the switch to a provisioning controller, sending a certificate signing request (CSR) from the switch to the provisioning controller, and receiving, from the provisioning controller, a security certificate generated by a certificate authority. The method further includes an operation for entering a lockdown mode by the switch after receiving the security certificate, where the switch, while in lockdown mode, secures communications utilizing the security certificate.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for creating a secure network fabric and for adding trusted devices to an existing secure network fabric. One method includes an operation for setting a switch into a provisioning mode where the switch does not enforce secure communications. While the switch is in provisioning mode, the method performs operations including establishing a connection from the switch to a provisioning controller, sending a certificate signing request (CSR) from the switch to the provisioning controller, and receiving, from the provisioning controller, a security certificate generated by a certificate authority. The method further includes an operation for entering a lockdown mode by the switch after receiving the security certificate, where the switch, while in lockdown mode, secures communications utilizing the security certificate.

Abstract: A wire organizer is disclosed for organizing and restraining individual wires. The wire organizer includes a wire comb capable of transitioning individual wires from a radial arrangement to a side-by-side arrangement for connection to a series of electrical contacts arranged in a closely spaced relation. A cable cuff is also included and is capable of restraining individual wires against a jacket of the cable. The wire comb and cable cuff may each be loaded axially or longitudinally and may be coupled to one another by a bridge.

Abstract: A method for cardiac surgical intervention relies on sealing or fusing heart valve leaflets without requiring implanted materials such as sutures or staples. The method provides a forceps having at least one shaft and an end effector assembly attached thereto. The end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing jaw members configured to move from an open, spread position to a closed, grasping position; creating at least one opening in the patient for inserting the forceps therein; inserting through the opening and manipulating jaw members of the forceps to grasp a portion of a first heart valve leaflet and a portion of a second heart valve leaflet therebetween; activating the forceps to close the jaw members about the leaflet portions under a working pressure, applying radiofrequency energy to the jaw members to seal the portion of the first heart valve leaflet to the portion of the second heart valve leaflet.

Abstract: A wire organizer is disclosed for organizing and restraining individual wires. The wire organizer includes a wire comb capable of transitioning individual wires from a radial arrangement to a side-by-side arrangement for connection to a series of electrical contacts arranged in a closely spaced relation. A cable cuff is also included and is capable of restraining individual wires against a jacket of the cable. The wire comb and cable cuff may each be loaded axially or longitudinally and may be coupled to one another by a bridge.

Abstract: A method for cardiac surgical intervention relies on sealing or fusing heart valve leaflets without requiring implanted materials such as sutures or staples. The method provides a forceps having at least one shaft and an end effector assembly attached thereto. The end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing jaw members configured to move from an open, spread position to a closed, grasping position; creating at least one opening in the patient for inserting the forceps therein; inserting through the opening and manipulating jaw members of the forceps to grasp a portion of a first heart valve leaflet and a portion of a second heart valve leaflet therebetween; activating the forceps to close the jaw members about the leaflet portions under a working pressure, applying radiofrequency energy to the jaw members to seal the portion of the first heart valve leaflet to the portion of the second heart valve leaflet.

Abstract: A knee brace having adjustment mechanisms that are easy and economical to produce while being very user friendly, and which is more comfortable to wear. The brace has a joint mechanism formed of a plurality of plates with notches, openings and range of motion surfaces, the relative positions of which are used as part of a flexion-extension stop arrangement and also as part of an adjustable locking arrangement by which the brace can be locked, temporarily released or indefinitely released. Furthermore the lateral-medial angulation of the femoral strut is able to be adjusted relative to the joint mechanism and tibial strut.

Abstract: An orthopedic knee brace which will allow lateral-medial compensation to be obtained while still enabling the use of known joint mechanism which will constrain the leg to execute the correct natural movement of the knee by separating lateral-medial compensation and anterior posterior movement functions. More specifically, the present invention utilizes a pair of hinges, one of which provides for movement in a posterior-anterior plane and the other which provides for movement in a medial-lateral plane. In this way, any conventional knee joint mechanism may be employed and movement of the leg can be properly constrained to execute a prescribed motion.

Abstract: An improved limb brace joint includes a band that operates in tension to rotationally bias first and second longitudinal members of the joint. The band of the joint biases the rotation of the members to provide a dorsiflexion and/or plantarflexion assist when used in an ankle foot orthosis.

Abstract: A joint assembly for an orthopedic knee brace has a femoral bar, a tibial bar, a pair of upper side plates including a lateral side plate and a medial side plate, the pair of upper side plates being fixedly connected to the femoral bar; a pair of lower side plates including a lateral side plate and a medial side plate, the pair of lower side plates being fixedly connected to said tibial bar and further includes hook portions extending at a distal end of said pair of lower support plates. The joint assembly further includes a knee pad support configured for fitting on the knee joint of the wearer and a linkage mechanism for providing torsional strength to the joint assembly, the linkage mechanism including a first clevis formed by a lower rear area of said upper side plates, a second clevis formed by an upper rear area of the lower side plates, and an inner link interconnecting the upper side plates to the lower side plates to thereby interconnect the femoral link to the tibial link.

Abstract: An improved limb brace joint includes a band that operates in tension to rotationally bias first and second longitudinal members of the joint. The band of the joint biases the rotation of the members to provide a dorsiflexion and/or plantarflexion assist when used in an ankle foot orthosis.

Abstract: An orthopedic knee brace has a pair of femoral and tibial links, a hinge mechanism connecting the femoral and tibial links, a condylar knee pad support fixedly positioned on the lateral side of the brace and made adjustable by a spring-loaded ratchet mechanism featuring a series of interlocking teeth that allows for the axial displacement of the condylar pad to supply corrective force to the lateral knee joint and prevent of any unintended change in correction force. Moreover, in an effort to provide greater flexibility to the wearer in and enhance the stabilization of the design, the condylar pad is mounted for rotation about a point on the axis of the femoral condyle of the knee joint. The knee pad support may be adjusted by hand by rotating the ratchet mechanism to achieve the proper correction force or with an adjusting tool that engages a plurality of notches surrounding the periphery of the ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: A knee brace is provided which includes a load application device for effectively applying a three point corrective load to the wearer's leg. The load application device includes a load arm pivotally connected to an upper support portion for applying a corrective force to a wearer's thigh and a load arm securing arrangement for adjustably securing the load arm in a desired pivotal position thereby permitting the corrective force to be easily adjusted to adapt to a wide range of leg sizes and shapes. The device also includes a leg support pivotally mounted on the load arm for contacting a wearer's leg and a leg support securing arrangement. Thus, the leg support can be pivotally adjusted to conform to the shape of the wearer's thigh to optimize application of the corrective load while providing a comfortable fit. The load arm and leg support securing arrangements may both be in the form of an arcuate slot and locking pin assembly.