Abstract: A system (100) for handling sheets of flexible material comprises: a plurality of releasable connectors (20) supported on a main carrier (110). The releasable connectors (20) are individually addressable so that when actuated a connector lifts or releases a sheet of flexible material. One or more end adjustment means is provided to vary at least one of: the orientation and/or the location of the connectors (20), with respect to a surface defined in three dimensions, such that in use the sheet of flexible material is placed in a precise user selected position on the three dimensional surface without the material creasing or wrinkling. An advantage of the present invention is that previously actuators were able to orient grippers to be normal to the surface of a cylinder; whereas the provision of parallel, flexible strips enables active surfaces to be positioned normal to the surface of complex surface, such as that defined by a cone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a digital instrument are described, for example to simulate or be used in conjunction with a stringed instrument. A sensor system detects the deflection of one or more strings of the digital instrument, produces a measurement of the detected deflection, correlates the measurement to a musical note, and produces at least a portion of digital output based upon the musical note.

Abstract: A rail pad can have a major face forming a railseat portion on which a foot of a railway rail sits when the pad is in use, the railseat portion having opposite side edges to at least part of each of which a respective upstanding portion of the pad can be connected, wherein the pad does not have any part which extends laterally from the railseat portion in a same plane as the railseat portion. The respective upstanding portion can be connected to a projection of the rail pad which extends laterally from the respective upstanding portion such that the projection can be vertically spaced from, and does not overhang, the railseat portion, the projection spaced from ends of the respective upstanding portion such that the projection can be configured to interlock with a corresponding opening in a front part of one of the railway rail clip anchoring devices.

Abstract: A railway rail anchoring device (12) for fastening a railway rail (16) to an underlying foundation (18), the anchoring device comprising a protrusion (28), the anchoring device protrusion being configured to cooperate with a corresponding recess (36) provided in a receiving portion associated with the underlying foundation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a digital instrument are described, for example to simulate or be used in conjunction with a stringed instrument. A sensor system detects the deflection of one or more strings of the digital instrument, produces a measurement of the detected deflection, correlates the measurement to a musical note, and produces at least a portion of digital output based upon the musical note.

Abstract: A rail pad can have a major face forming a railseat portion on which a foot of a railway rail sits when the pad is in use, the railseat portion having opposite side edges to at least part of each of which a respective upstanding portion of the pad can be connected, wherein the pad does not have any part which extends laterally from the railseat portion in a same plane as the railseat portion. The respective upstanding portion can be connected to a projection of the rail pad which extends laterally from the respective upstanding portion such that the projection can be vertically spaced from, and does not overhang, the railseat portion, the projection spaced from ends of the respective upstanding portion such that the projection can be configured to interlock with a corresponding opening in a front part of one of the railway rail clip anchoring devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a digital instrument are described, for example to simulate or be used in conjunction with a stringed instrument. A sensor system detects the deflection of one or more strings of the digital instrument, produces a measurement of the detected deflection, correlates the measurement to a musical note, and produces at least a portion of digital output based upon the musical note.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flow apparatus (10) having a flow control valve (12) having a housing (14), an aperture (16), an aperture obturator (18) and an actuator (20) for moving said obturator (16) between a first closed position and multiple open positions (B-L), characterised by a valve position monitor (21) for monitoring the position of the valve (12) and comprising a plurality of discrete sensors (28a to 28e) associated with a plurality of open positions (B-L) of said valve for monitoring the presence or absence of one or more members (26) movable with said valve (12). The arrangement may be used to monitor the valve position and such monitoring may be of use in the prediction of the amount of fluid remaining within a cylinder (32) to which it has been attached.

Abstract: Devices and methods for forming and securing tissue folds and elongated invaginations in stomach tissue are used as a treatment for obesity. In a first embodiment, a plurality of tissue folds is formed in the fundus region of the stomach. In methods for surgically altering stomach tissue to change gastric emptying, plications are formed in the stomach to speed up or slow down gastric emptying, depending on the number and locations of applications used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flow apparatus (10) having a flow control valve (12) having a housing (14), an aperture (16), an aperture obturator (18) and an actuator (20) for moving said obturator (16) between a first closed position and multiple open positions (B-L), characterised by a valve position monitor (21) for monitoring the position of the valve (12) and comprising a plurality of discrete sensors (28a to 28e) associated with a plurality of open positions (B-L) of said valve for monitoring the presence or absence of one or more members (26) movable with said valve (12). The arrangement may be used to monitor the valve position and such monitoring may be of use in the prediction of the amount of fluid remaining within a cylinder (32) to which it has been attached.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer readable media are provided for image compression. Edge elements of an image comprising pixels are established by analyzing pixel values associated with the pixels of the image. The edge elements are organized in an edge data structure having at least two dimensions. The edge data structure is compacted along a first dimension by arranging the established edge elements adjacent to each other along the first dimension in a compacted edge data structure. Compressed edges in a second dimension in the compacted edge data structure are determined by: determining edge elements to be joined along a second dimension in the compacted edge data structure based on pixel values of neighboring edge elements, along the second dimension, in the compacted edge data structure; and compressing the image by encoding formed edges, the edges being formed by joining the determined edge elements.

Abstract: A method of communicating musical sound control data over a wireless network that includes receiving a plurality of data commands formatted according to a MIDI protocol; assigning a packet sequence number to each of the data commands to form a plurality of historical data payload packets; storing the historical data payload packets in a buffer; receiving at a wireless interface device an acknowledgment message having a feedback sequence number; removing from the buffer selected historical payload packets of the plurality of stored historical data payload packets, each of the selected historical data payload packets having a packet sequence number that is the same as or less than the feedback sequence number, such that the buffer stores non-selected data commands, each of the non-selected data commands associated with a packet sequence number greater than the feedback sequence number; and transmitting the non-selected historical payload packets over a wireless network.

Abstract: A resilient railway rail fastening clip (3) has successive first to seventh portions (31 to 37), where in a non-operative configuration, the first and seventh portions (31, 37) form leg portions lying in a first plane (P), the second and sixth portions extend substantially away from and above the first plane (P), at least parts of the third and fifth portions (33, 35) extend towards and above the first plane (P) with their longitudinal axes lying substantially in a second plane (R) that intersects the first plane (P) at a first acute angle ?, and the fourth portion (34) extends substantially in or below the first plane (P) with its longitudinal axis lying substantially in a third plane (Q) that intersects the first plane (P) at a second acute angle ?, where 0°<?<?.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the endoluminal revision of previously performed obesity procedures which have failed are described. One or more endoluminal instruments may be advanced per-orally into the previously formed failed pouch where a number of different procedures can be performed. One or more tissue folds can be formed and secured to reduce the size of the pouch, or the stoma connecting the pouch to the intestinal tract can be reduced in size using endoluminally deployed tissue anchors. These procedures can be performed entirely from within the pouch lumen or upon the exterior surface of the pouch via transgastric entry of the instruments into the peritoneal cavity of a patient. Alternatively, the interior tissue within the pouch can be injured or sclerosed to shrink the pouch lumen. In another alternative, a length of the Roux limb can be shortened endoluminally to create a malabsorptive region.

Abstract: A photodynamic therapy lamp includes two lamp modules comprising an array of LEDs. Each of the lamp modules is movable between a first position in which an angle between the lamp modules is from 157 degrees to 180 degrees, and a second position in which the angle between the lamp modules is from 50 degrees to 70 degrees.

Abstract: A dual function cleaning nozzle assembly for prewashing kitchen utensils. The cleaning nozzle includes air and fluid inlets. The air inlet is coupled to an air conduit which includes a first control valve, and the fluid inlet is coupled to a fluid conduit which includes a second control valve. A lever or button is coupled to a first valve for discharging pressurized air through the air conduit. The air and fluid conduits are coupled to an outlet chamber which has a spray head. Compressed air is discharged from the spray head for allowing kitchen utensils to be prewashed with air. The lever or button is further coupled to a second valve for discharging pressurized fluid through the fluid conduit. The fluid conduit is also coupled to the outlet chamber for allowing a discharge of pressurized air and fluid to be sprayed from the nozzle to further prewash the kitchen utensils.

Abstract: There is disclosed a spiral-wound electrochemical cell and components thereof, and aspiral-wound electrochemical cell for forming a chemical reaction product, comprising at least one electrode pair wound about a central axis. The present invention generally relates to configurations, arrangements or designs for gas, liquid and/or electrical conduits, pathways, connections, channels, arrangements or the like, in electro-chemical cells that are spiral-wound or have a spiral configuration, arrangement or design, and methods for their fabrication. More specifically, in various forms, the present invention relates to a core element, end cap(s), an external element containing or providing gas/liquid plumbing and/or electrical connections that provide improved functionality and reduced cost electro-chemical cells.

Abstract: A photodynamic therapy lamp includes two lamp modules comprising an array of LEDs. Each of the lamp modules is movable between a first position in which an angle between the lamp modules is from 157 degrees to 180 degrees, and a second position in which the angle between the lamp modules is from 50 degrees to 70 degrees.

Abstract: In an apparatus of the type comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, an orientable rotatable connection between the first assembly and the second assembly, and a control device associated with the orientable rotatable connection, a method for controlling the actuation of the control device. Particular embodiments of the method include comparing an actual orientation of the second assembly with a target orientation, actuating the control device to perform a control device actuation cycle if the actual orientation is not acceptable, determining an updated actual orientation of the second assembly, comparing the updated actual orientation with the target orientation, and repeating the control device actuation cycle if the updated target orientation is not acceptable. A first exemplary embodiment of the method represents a target approach to achieving the target orientation. A second exemplary embodiment of the method represents an incremental approach to achieving the target orientation.