Abstract: A method comprises obtaining ear modeling data representing a 3-dimensional (3D) impression of an ear surface of an ear of a patient; determining, based on the ear modeling data, values of landmarks of the ear, wherein the landmarks include ear canal landmarks of an ear canal, and determining the values of the landmarks comprises: predicting an ear aperture plane of an aperture of the ear; determining a plurality of cross-sectional planes that are aligned with the ear aperture plane; for each of the cross-sectional planes: determining an intersection boundary of the cross-sectional plane representing a line of intersection between the cross-sectional plane and the ear canal; and determining a centroid of the intersection boundary of the cross-sectional plane; and determining values of the ear canal landmarks based on the centroids.

Abstract: A hearing instrument comprising: a rechargeable battery; a faceplate defining an aperture; a push button assembly coupled to the faceplate, wherein the push button assembly includes charging contacts, a button cover, and an activation sensor, wherein the button cover is disposed within the aperture of the faceplate, the button cover is depressible, and the activation sensor is configured to generate an activation signal in response to detecting depression of the button cover, and the button cover defines charging contact openings through which the charging contacts extend; and electrical conductors configured to conduct electricity from the charging contacts to the rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A hearing instrument configured to be worn in, on, or about an ear of a user, the hearing instrument comprising: a shell defining an inner recess; processing circuitry disposed within the inner recess, the processing circuitry being configured to cause the hearing instrument to output sound; a faceplate coupled to the shell, the faceplate being configured to enclose the inner recess from an external environment; and a removable power source module configured to be disposed within the inner recess, the removable power source module comprising a power source, wherein the removable power source module is removably affixed to the faceplate.

Abstract: An antenna for a hearing instrument comprises an antenna element that is fed at an intermediate point between a first end of the antenna element and a second end of the antenna element. The antenna element has a J-shaped surface. The antenna also includes a ground plane element, a dielectric structure, and a shorting structure. The ground plane element that has a first segment and a second segment. A surface of the first segment has substantially the same shape as the J-shaped surface of the antenna element. The second segment connects a first end of the first segment to a second end of the first segment, thereby defining an opening through the ground plane element. The dielectric structure is disposed between the antenna element and the ground plane element. The shorting structure connects the first end of the antenna element to the ground plane element.

Abstract: A nasal dilator with improved functionality by virtue of a resilient element comprised of at least three resilient bands, a first outer resilient band that is secured to run along the length of the nasal dilator truss member, a second outer resilient band that is spaced apart from the first resilient band and is secured to run along the length of the nasal dilator truss member and at least one intermediate resilient band positioned between said first and second outer resilient bands that is spaced apart from both first and second outer resilient bands and is also secured to run along the length of the nasal dilator truss member. The intermediate resilient band or bands alters the force vector characteristics of the nasal strip as a whole, thereby providing targeted spring force to a more concentrated area of the nose when in use.

Abstract: A hearing instrument may comprise a housing that defines a cavity, wherein the housing includes an inner side that is formed to conform with user anatomy, an outer side that is externally visible when the hearing instrument is placed within an ear of a user. The hearing instrument may further comprise circuitry disposed inside the cavity, wherein the circuitry includes an antenna disposed adjacent an inner surface of the outer side of the housing. A battery door may be attached to the housing, wherein the battery door is positioned such that a battery can be inserted and removed via the battery door, wherein upon insertion of the battery into the hearing instrument, the battery is disposed behind the antenna relative to the outer side of the housing.

Abstract: An aircraft stowage bin assembly includes shear fittings configured to route a content load from the bucket of the bin assembly to the airframe in the event of a forward load condition, such as a crash or severe turbulence. When the forward inertial load factor on the stowage bin is greater than about 1 g, the shear fittings create an efficient load path from the bucket to the airframe which bypasses the large metallic or composite endframes required by the designs of many conventional overhead stowage bins. As a result, significant reductions in overall bulk and weight, as well as lower manufacturing costs, can be realized.

Abstract: An aircraft stowage bin assembly includes shear fittings configured to route a content load from the bucket of the bin assembly to the airframe in the event of a forward load condition, such as a crash or severe turbulence. When the forward inertial load factor on the stowage bin is greater than about 1 g, the shear fittings create an efficient load path from the bucket to the airframe which bypasses the large metallic or composite endframes required by the designs of many conventional overhead stowage bins. As a result, significant reductions in overall bulk and weight, as well as lower manufacturing costs, can be realized.

Abstract: A nasal dilator with improved functionality by virtue of a resilient element comprised of at least three resilient bands, a first outer resilient band that is secured to run along the length of the nasal dilator truss member, a second outer resilient band that is spaced apart from the first resilient band and is secured to run along the length of the nasal dilator truss member and at least one intermediate resilient band positioned between said first and second outer resilient bands that is spaced apart from both first and second outer resilient bands and is also secured to run along the length of the nasal dilator truss member. The intermediate resilient band or bands alters the force vector characteristics of the nasal strip as a whole, thereby providing targeted spring force to a more concentrated area of the nose when in use.

Abstract: A system and method which evaluates the efficacy of tailored online health related behavioral materials provided to a human subject. More particularly, a method of evaluating the efficacy of online behavioral material in a clinical study including enrolling a plurality of customers, performing a computerized initial, randomly segregating the plurality of customers into a first group which accesses tailored behavioral material online and a second group which accesses non-tailored behavioral material online, providing the first group with tailored behavioral material, providing the second group with non-tailored behavioral material, providing the first group and the second group with a computerized first and second series of questions, analyzing the responses of the first group and the second group to the first and second series of questions according to predetermined factors, and evaluating the efficacy of the behavioral material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel douche nozzle suitable for vaginally administering a douche fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel douche nozzle suitable for vaginally administering a douche fluid.

Abstract: An oral anesthetic composition comprising an anesthetically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R is alkyl of 2 to 8 carbon atoms or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an anesthetically effective amount of a rapid-onset anesthetic selected from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol, phenol, phenolate sodium, hexylresorcinol, menthol, salicyl alcohol and benzocaine in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, said carrier being in orally administrable form.