Abstract: Systems and methods are provided and adapted to engage and pull (e.g., pull up) or reposition paraurethral support tissue, such as the perineal membrane. The perineal membrane intersects the urethra and vagina at the midurethra or distal location and can thus be stabilized or controlled in a manner that helps restore continence. As such, the implants can be utilized to eliminate the need for mesh or other supportive structures under the urethra that is common with other incontinence slings.

Abstract: An insertion assisting device includes a rotary body in the form of toroid, and a support and drive part for supporting the rotary body in a rotatable manner and rotating it. The support and drive part has an approximately cylindrical supporting member for supporting the rotary body in a rotatable manner. The rotary body is provided with a convex portion for increasing the thickness to improve the strength thereof. A concave portion having a shape corresponding to the shape of the convex portion is formed on a portion of a front end surface of the supporting member, which is made in contact with the convex portion. The concave portion prevents the rotary body from stopping rotating, which may be caused by point contact between the convex portion and the supporting member.

Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a mounting part mounted on an insertion part of an endoscope, a hollow toroidal rotary body, and a rotary body supporting tube that is arranged in the internal space of rotary body and supports the rotary body from the inside. The rotary body supporting tube is attached to the outside of the mounting part. The mounting part is provided with a worm wheel, and the rotary body supporting tube is provided with a driven roller. The rotary body is sandwiched between the worm wheel and the driven roller, and is circulated and moved with the rotation of the worm wheel. Wipers for closing the gap formed between the mounting part and the rotary body are provided at the front and rear ends of the mounting part, and thereby preventing entering of foreign body from the gap.

Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a drive assembly including a driven element, a first driveshaft, configured to be engaged with the drive assembly, the first driveshaft configured to rotate in a first direction and relate a first assembly torque to the drive assembly and a first drive torque to the driven element, and a torque adjusting mechanism operatively engaged with the drive assembly and configured to relate a second assembly torque, opposite in direction to the first assembly torque, to the drive assembly.

Abstract: Propellable apparatus, assemblies and related methods including a self-enclosed member are disclosed. The self-enclosed member can include an inner surface at least partially defining an enclosed region, and an outer surface that turns outwardly to engage a cavity or lumen wall in addition to turning inward to at least partially encompass a central region defining a longitudinal path. The apparatus can include an internal drive mechanism engageable with the outer surface of the self-enclosed member to provide relative movement between the self-enclosed member and the cavity or lumen wall. A tapered member, positioned on the apparatus adjacent an end of the self-enclosed member, can provide a size transition between an outer surface portion of the self-enclosed member and an outer surface of a payload insertable within the central region. In some examples, one or more reinforcing members can be integrated within the self-enclosed member for increased durability and rotational use.

Abstract: Propellable apparatus, assemblies and related methods including a self-enclosed member are disclosed. The self-enclosed member can include an inner surface at least partially defining an enclosed region, and an outer surface that turns outwardly to engage a cavity or lumen wall in addition to turning inward to at least partially encompass a central region defining a longitudinal path. The apparatus can include an internal drive mechanism engageable with the outer surface of the self-enclosed member to provide relative movement between the self-enclosed member and the cavity or lumen wall. A tapered member, positioned on the apparatus adjacent an end of the self-enclosed member, can provide a size transition between an outer surface portion of the self-enclosed member and an outer surface of a payload insertable within the central region. In some examples, one or more reinforcing members can be integrated within the self-enclosed member for increased durability and rotational use.

Abstract: A propellable apparatus comprises one or more rotatable membranes. The rotatable membranes include an inner surface at least partially defining an encircled region and a continuous outer surface that turns outward to engage a cavity or lumen wall, for example, and turns inward to at least partially encompass a central region defining a longitudinal path. The membranes are powerable to provide movement relative to the cavity or lumen wall. The apparatus further comprises an inflatable and deflatable support structure, configured to bias the outer surface of the membranes outward to engage the cavity or lumen wall at a first outer diameter, and be deformable inward in response to a compressive force or operator command to provide a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter. In some examples, the rotatable membranes include belt-like membranes, and the inflatable and deflatable support structure includes at least one impermeable bladder.

Abstract: An electronic brake controller for an electropneumatic brake system includes a housing; at least one brake operator mounted to said housing and whose position defines desired brake action; a display on said housing; a signal output on the housing; and a multiple position switch on the housing. A controller in said housing determines the position of the operator and the multiple position switch, provides one of operator position signal and desired brake action to the output and drives the display to display desired braking action as a function of the determined position of the operator for acceptable operator positions, and drives the display with a brake system variable and adjusts the variable as a function of the position of the multiple position switch for don't care operator positions.

Abstract: Propellable apparatus, assemblies and related methods including a self-enclosed member are disclosed. The self-enclosed member can include an inner surface at least partially defining an enclosed region, and an outer surface that turns outwardly to engage a cavity or lumen wall in addition to turning inward to at least partially encompass a central region defining a longitudinal path. The apparatus can include an internal drive mechanism engageable with the outer surface of the self-enclosed member to provide relative movement between the self-enclosed member and the cavity or lumen wall. A tapered member, positioned on the apparatus adjacent an end of the self-enclosed member, can provide a size transition between an outer surface portion of the self-enclosed member and an outer surface of a payload insertable within the central region. In some examples, one or more reinforcing members can be integrated within the self-enclosed member for increased durability and rotational use.

Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a drive assembly including a driven element, a first driveshaft, configured to be engaged with the drive assembly, the first driveshaft configured to rotate in a first direction and relate a first assembly torque to the drive assembly and a first drive torque to the driven element, and a torque adjusting mechanism operatively engaged with the drive assembly and configured to relate a second assembly torque, opposite in direction to the first assembly torque, to the drive assembly.

Abstract: A method of polishing and coloring concrete surfaces using a dry concrete grinding process which includes locking in dye colors by applying the dye to the cementicious surface mid way during a series of grinding steps using sequentially finer grit, and then applying a sealer after the dye has dried and continuing the grinding process with sequentially finer polishing grits after the sealer has dried and hardened. A second coat of sealer is then applied at the end of the grinding process. In a presently preferred embodiment, the dye is applied after grinding with a grit of substantially 400 grit, the sealer is applied after the dye is dry and grinding is continued up to about 3000 grit after the first coat of sealer dries. Lastly, a second coat of sealer is applied.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a self-enclosed tube, sized and shaped to fit within and engage a human or animal body cavity, the tube comprising an inner surface defining an enclosed region and an outer surface that turns outward to engage the body cavity and turns inward to encompass a central region defining a concentric longitudinal path, wherein the tube is powerable to provide relative movement of the tube relative to the cavity in at least one of a forward or reverse direction with respect to the longitudinal path, and a compressible structure, configured to bias the outer surface of the tube outward to engage the body cavity at a first outer diameter, the compressible structure being deformable inward in response to a compressive force to provide a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to lancing elements for use in drawing bodily fluids out of a patient and, more particularly, to an improved lancing element including first and second elements positioned relative to each other such that an incision formed by the first element is held open by the second element and bodily fluids are pulled up the lancing element by surface tension on the first and second lancing elements.

Abstract: A body fluid is collected for testing for an analyte contained within the body fluid. The fluid is collected in an apparatus including a reservoir for receiving and collecting a flow of body fluid from a discharge end of a conduit. A capillary test space is in fluid flow communication with the reservoir. The capillary test space is positioned to be in contact with the fluid in the reservoir after the fluid has accumulated to a predetermined transfer volume of fluid. The capillary test space is sized to wick the fluid from the reservoir when the fluid contacts the capillary test space.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to lancing elements for use in drawing bodily fluids out of a patient and, more particularly, to an improved lancing element including first and second elements positioned relative to each other such that an incision formed by the first element is held open by the second element and bodily fluids are pulled up the lancing element by surface tension on the first and second lancing elements.

Abstract: An integration train brake system including a single brake controller providing locomotive and train brake commands. An electropneumatic controller is connected to the brake controller, the train brake pipe and the locomotive brake pipe A trainline controller is connected to the electrical network A locomotive computer is connected to a display A processor module connects the brake controller's commands to the trainline controller, and connects the trainline controller to the electropneumatic controller and the locomotive computer.

Abstract: An integration train brake system including a single brake controller providing locomotive and train brake commands. An electropneumatic controller is connected to the brake controller, the train brake pipe and the locomotive brake pipe A trainline controller is connected to the electrical network A locomotive computer is connected to a display A processor module connects the brake controller's commands to the trainline controller, and connects the trainline controller to the electropneumatic controller and the locomotive computer.

Abstract: An integration train brake system including a single brake controller providing locomotive and train brake commands. A first control transmits a car brake signal on an electrical network for train brake commands to EP cars. A second control transmits a locomotive brake signal on the locomotive brake pipe for train and locomotive brake commands. The brake system may have a pneumatic mode and an electrical mode. The first control transmits car brake signals on the network in the electrical mode and the second control transmits car brake signals on the train brake pipe for the pneumatic mode. The second control transmits locomotive brake signals on the locomotive brake pipe in either mode. If the train is all electropneumatic, cars and locomotive braking signals are provided on the network.

Abstract: A body fluid is collected for testing for an analyte contained within the body fluid. The fluid is collected in an apparatus including a reservoir for receiving and collecting a flow of body fluid from a discharge end of a conduit. A capillary test space is in fluid flow communication with the reservoir. The capillary test space is positioned to be in contact with the fluid in the reservoir after the fluid has accumulated to a predetermined transfer volume of fluid. The capillary test space is sized to wick the fluid from the reservoir when the fluid contacts the capillary test space.

Abstract: A body fluid is collected for testing for an analyte contained within the body fluid. The fluid is collected in an apparatus including a reservoir for receiving and collecting a flow of body fluid from a discharge end of a conduit. A capillary test space is in fluid flow communication with the reservoir. The capillary test space is positioned to be in contact with the fluid in the reservoir after the fluid has accumulated to a predetermined transfer volume of fluid. The capillary test space is sized to wick the fluid from the reservoir when the fluid contacts the capillary test space.