Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying an operational area to an operative of a host platform, said operational area being defined within an external real-world environment relative to said host platform, the apparatus comprising a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said operative, in use, a three-dimensional view of said external real-world environment, a display generating device for creating images at the viewing device, and a processor (32) comprising an input (34) for receiving real-time first data representative of a specified target and its location within said external real-world environment and configured to receive or obtain second data representative of at least one characteristic of said specified target, the processor (32) being further configured to: use said first and second data to calculate a geometric volume representative of a region of influence of said specified target relative to said real-world external environment and/or said host platform, generate three-dimensional image da

Abstract: A display apparatus and method for displaying an operational area to an operative of a host platform, said operational area being defined within an external real-world environment relative to said host platform, the apparatus comprising a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said operative, in use, a three-dimensional view of said external real-world environment; a display generating device for creating images at the viewing device, a user input (33) configured to receive user input data (35) representative of a specified target or region in respect of which an operation is to be performed, and thereby defining an initial geometric volume for the operational area, said user input data including data representative of the location within said external real-world environment of said specified target or region and data representative of said operation to be performed in respect thereof; and a processor (32) configured to: use said user input data to generate or obtain three-dimensional image data represe

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying an operational area, the apparatus comprising a headset (10) for placing over a user's eyes, the headset including a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said user, in use, a view of a real-world environment, a display generating device for depicting an operational area, said operational area being defined within said real-world environment and comprising a plurality of functional regions each defining a different one or more selectable functions or operations that can be performed in respect of said operational area, the apparatus being configured to transfer image data from said display generating device into said user's view of said real-world environment at said viewing device to generate an augmented reality environment, the apparatus further comprising a control module (26) including a control device (28) configured to be selectively communicably coupled to all of said functional regions to enable a user to selectively perform the respective one or more fun

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying an operational area to an operative of a host platform, said operational area being defined within an external real-world environment relative to said host platform, the apparatus comprising a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said operative, in use, a three-dimensional view of said external real-world environment, a display generating device for creating images at the viewing device, and a processor (32) comprising an input (34) for receiving real-time first data representative of a specified target and its location within said external real-world environment and configured to receive or obtain second data representative of at least one characteristic of said specified target, the processor (32) being further configured to: use said first and second data to calculate a geometric volume representative of a region of influence of said specified target relative to said real-world external environment and/or said host platform, generate three-dimensional image da

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying an operational area, the apparatus comprising a headset (10) for placing over a user's eyes, the headset including a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said user, in use, a view of a real-world environment, a display generating device for depicting an operational area, said operational area being defined within said real-world environment and comprising a plurality of functional regions each defining a different one or more selectable functions or operations that can be performed in respect of said operational area, the apparatus being configured to transfer image data from said display generating device into said user's view of said real-world environment at said viewing device to generate an augmented reality environment, the apparatus further comprising a control module (26) including a control device (28) configured to be selectively communicably coupled to all of said functional regions to enable a user to selectively perform the respective one or more fun

Abstract: A display apparatus and method for displaying an operational area to an operative of a host platform, said operational area being defined within an external real-world environment relative to said host platform, the apparatus comprising a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said operative, in use, a three-dimensional view of said external real-world environment; a display generating device for creating images at the viewing device, a user input (33) configured to receive user input data (35) representative of a specified target or region in respect of which an operation is to be performed, and thereby defining an initial geometric volume for the operational area, said user input data including data representative of the location within said external real-world environment of said specified target or region and data representative of said operation to be performed in respect thereof; and a processor (32) configured to: use said user input data to generate or obtain three-dimensional image data represe

Abstract: A pressure pulse tool includes a tool housing, a valve disposed in the housing and having first and second valve components that are each rotatable relative to the housing and that cooperate to open and close a fluid flow path through the valve. The tool may include first and second power section coupled to the first and second valve components, respectively, for rotating the respective valve components. The power sections may each include a turbine rotor and the first and second rotors may have different geometries or may be powered by different amounts of fluid flow therethrough. Flowing fluid through the tool generates a pressure pulse having a desired pressure pulse frequency that may be lower than the first or second turbine rotor would generate alone.

Abstract: A pressure pulse tool includes a tool housing, a valve disposed in the housing and having first and second valve components that are each rotatable relative to the housing and that cooperate to open and close a fluid flow path through the valve. The tool may include first and second power section coupled to the first and second valve components, respectively, for rotating the respective valve components. The power sections may each include a turbine rotor and the first and second rotors may have different geometries or may be powered by different amounts of fluid flow therethrough. Flowing fluid through the tool generates a pressure pulse having a desired pressure pulse frequency that may be lower than the first or second turbine rotor would generate alone.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for a dynamic computer-based appointment slot booking comprises a plurality of steps wherein appointment slots (and their attributes) in a locked database are entangled via one or more virtual umbilical cords in a manner analogous to the formation of quantum systems, in such a way, the entangled appointment slots comprise a system carrying a character of “wholeness” and wherein the database so formed is unlocked (made available for new appointment selection and entry), said act of booking a new appointment i) creates consequences to the entangled appointment slots (and their attributes) ii) reflects the “wholeness” of the quantum system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for a dynamic computer-based appointment slot booking comprises a plurality of steps wherein appointment slots (and their attributes) in a locked database are entangled via one or more virtual umbilical cords in a manner analogous to the formation of quantum systems, in such a way, the entangled appointment slots comprise a system carrying a character of “wholeness” and wherein the database so formed is unlocked (made available for new appointment selection and entry), said act of booking a new appointment i) creates consequences to the entangled appointment slots (and their attributes) ii) reflects the “wholeness” of the quantum system.

Abstract: A medical device having body contacting surfaces provided with a film of amorphous calcium phosphate having a thickness of 1 nm to 10000 nm and an average dissolution rate calculated as the time taken to remove 95% of the film of at least 1 nm h?1 as determined in accordance with ASTM Standard P1926-03. The characteristics of the film are such that the film is relatively rapidly dissolved from the surface by body fluids. This dissolution of the surface film of amorphous calcium phosphate is sufficiently fast to prevent the attachment of bacteria, thus preventing them forming a biofilm and keeping the cells in a planktonic (non-biofilm) state where they are more vulnerable to the body's defences. The invention is particularly applicable to implants (e.g. orthopaedic implants such as prosthetic hips) but may also be applied to “non-implanted” devices such as surgical instruments.

Abstract: A method of treatment of a shape memory alloy involves shot peening of the alloy sample, thereby causing a crystal to amorphous transition of a surface layer of the sample without substantially affecting bulk characteristics of the material, particularly its shape memory behavior and biocompatibility. The method may be used for surface hardening and to reduce coefficients of friction. The method may be advantageously used for treating tissue sutures and orthodontic devices such as dental archwires.

Abstract: In a gear hobbing machine, the combination of a support, a rotatable hob, a slide mounting the hob for axial shifting on the support, a stepping motor operatively connected to the slide, electronic means operative at the conclusion of a hobbing cycle to apply drive pulses to the motor and thereby to cause the motor to impart a predetermined axial movement to the slide in response to each pulse, a subtractive counter for counting the pulses applied to the motor and means for stopping the motor when the count in the counter is reduced to zero.