Abstract: An ablation probe (1; 100; 200), comprising: an applicator (2; 102; 202) arranged to apply radiation to heat surrounding tissue; a feeding cable (4; 104; 204) arranged to supply electromagnetic energy to the applicator. The feeding cable comprises a distal portion (2a, 202a) and a proximal portion (2b; 202b). The distal portion of the feeding cable has a distal cross sectional size and the proximal portion of the feeding cable has a proximal cross sectional size, wherein the distal cross sectional size is less that the proximal cross sectional size. The ablation probe further comprises a connector (24; 224) arranged to mechanically and electrically couple the distal portion (2a, 202a) of the feeding cable (2; 202) to the proximal portion (2b; 202b) of the feeding cable (2; 202).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to double stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNAi) agents and compositions targeting an ATXN2 gene, as well as methods of inhibiting expression of an ATXN2 gene and methods of treating subjects having an ATXN2-associated neurodegenerative disease or disorder, e.g., SCAs and ALS, using such dsRNAi agents and compositions.

Abstract: An ablation probe (100; 200) suitable for insertion through the working channel of an intraluminal delivery device comprises an applicator (102; 202) arranged to apply radiation to heat surrounding tissue. The probe also comprises a feeding cable (104; 204) arranged to supply electromagnetic energy to the applicator (102; 202). The probe further comprises a first coolant flow path (106). There is also a deformable member (110; 210) arranged to move between an insertion configuration in which insertion of the probe is facilitated and a deployed configuration. A second coolant path (108), via which coolant is able to flow, is provided by the deformable member (110; 210) when in the deployed configuration. The probe further comprises a tube arranged to house a distal portion of the feeding cable, and the deformable member surrounds at least part of the tube, and the tube is formed from an elastic material.

Abstract: A hand grip for a handlebar of a vehicle is disclosed. The grip comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a reduced thermal conductivity compared with the second layer. The first layer comprises a first side which is arranged to extend adjacent at least a portion of the handlebar, and a second side which is opposite the first side. The second layer is disposed over at least a portion of the second side of the first layer, and a heating arrangement for generating heat, is disposed between the first and second layers so that heat generated by the heating arrangement is preferentially transferred to the second layer.

Abstract: An autoinjector device includes an elongate housing containing a syringe or cartridge having an internal piston for expressing a dose from the syringe or cartridge. A drive mechanism includes a drive member engaging the piston and a drive spring acting on the drive member. A side-operated trigger arrangement includes a retention element movably mounted in the housing from a retaining position in which the drive member is kept in a cocked condition, and a release position in which the drive member may more forwardly under spring pressure. An outer sleeve is mounted on the housing movable between a position in which the retention element is prevented from moving to release the plunger, and a position in which the retention member moves freely. The outer sleeve includes a trigger wall portion which may be depressed to move the retention element once the retention element is free to move, releasing the plunger.

Abstract: An injection device includes a housing (40) for containing a syringe or cartridge (14) of medicament; a rotary drive shaft (20) for being rotated by an adjustable preset amount to cause expression of a corresponding amount of medicament from the syringe or cartridge; a torsion drive spring (24) anchored at one end region relative to the drive shaft (20) and, at its other end region being secured to a fitting (44) adapted to non-rotatably engage a seat (48, 50) on the housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a self-contained irradiator comprising at least one X-ray source inside a shielded enclosure, the one or more sources each operable to emit X-ray flux across an area substantially equal to the proximate facing surface area of material placed inside the enclosure to be irradiated. The irradiator may have multiple flat panel X-ray sources disposed, designed or operated so as to provide uniform flux to the material being irradiated. The advantages of the irradiator of the present disclosure include compactness, uniform flux doses, simplified thermal management, efficient shielding and safety, the ability to operate at high power levels for sustained periods and high throughput.

Abstract: An injection device includes a multi-use drive assembly 10 and a single use disposable syringe assembly 12 releasably connected thereto. The syringe assembly includes a syringe 18 and a shield 26 mounted for telescopic movement. The drive assembly 10 is operable to extend the syringe 18 relative to the shield 26 and then to express a dose. Continued forward drive movement extends the shield 26 to re-cover the syringe needle 22 and then ejects the spent syringe assembly 12 in a safe (shrouded) condition.

Abstract: Provided is apparatus for removing a sheath from a pre-filled syringe. The syringe has a barrel and a needle, the sheath providing a sterile cover for the needle. The apparatus comprises a housing, for enclosing the syringe barrel defining an injection end with an aperture sized to allow the sheath of an enclosed syringe to protrude therethrough, and a syringe barrel mount for retaining the syringe in the housing. The mount is slidable axially within the housing between positions towards and away from the injection end of the housing. The apparatus also comprises a biasing means, for biasing the mount away from the injection end of the housing, and latching means for latching said mount in a latched position to prevent sliding of the mount away from the injection end of the housing. The latching means is releasable from the latched position, by sliding of the mount towards the injection end. Also provided is an injection device comprising said apparatus.

Abstract: An injection device includes a forward housing, a drive housing that has a forward end configured to be attached to and detached from a rear end of the forward housing, a syringe holder mounted within the forward housing for longitudinal movement with respect to the forward housing, and a syringe with a needle that is mounted in the syringe holder. The drive housing includes a drive mechanism, and the syringe holder includes detent means for engaging the syringe to prevent or limit relative axial movement of the syringe relative to the syringe holder.

Abstract: An injection device has a main drive module which can be screwed into the back of a syringe housing to prepare the injector ready for use. The drive module has a firing button and a drive plunger released for forward movement by pressing the firing button. The syringe housing slideably receives a syringe holder whose forward movement is initially prevented by internally directed barbs on a cylindrical latching sleeve. The latching sleeve is acted upon by a release ring on the drive module such that as the drive module is screwed onto the syringe housing, the release ring splays the cylindrical shell to release the syringe carrier for forward movement. The barbs also act as a latch to capture the syringe carrier in its rearward position when the drive module is unscrewed from the syringe housing, which returns the barbs to their initial position before the syringe holder returns to its initial position.

Abstract: A disposable syringe assembly for use in an autoinjector device, or manually includes a syringe housing which receives the syringe barrel and which is restrained against longitudinal movement with respect thereto, a shield portion mounted for generally telescopic movement relative to the syringe housing between a retracted position and an extended position in which in use it shields the syringe needle, and a lock out arrangement activated as the shield moves towards its extended position to prevent retraction therefrom. When fitted in an autoinjector the autoinjector may include drive mechanism for moving the shield portion to its locked out extended position, whereby, on completion of an injection operation, the disposable syringe assembly may be removed from the autoinjector in a shielded condition for subsequent disposal.

Abstract: A pen-type injector for receiving a medication containing member. The injector comprises a housing 1 and a torsion spring 4 contained within the housing and coupled to a drive member 8. A dose setting knob 2 is coupled to the spring 4, and rotatably coupled to the housing 1 such that rotation of the knob relative to the housing in a first direction results in compression or twisting of the spring. A user actuable trigger 12 is provided for releasing the spring 4 to push the drive member 8 through the housing 1. A user actuable button 6 is coupled to the housing 1 for axial motion relative thereto, said button 6 being coupled to the torsion spring 4 to cause the spring to unwind or expand in discrete steps with each press of the button.

Abstract: A return spring arrangement for a lancet (6) is provided by a pair of undulating plastic webs (14) formed integrally with the lancet. The undulations of the two webs (14) are shown out of phase with one another. These webs (14) are flexible and thus are caused to concertina when the tips (15) of the webs hit the interior of a lancet holder on release of a drive spring. The energy stored within the collapsed webs (14) is then released to drive the lancet back within the lancet holder. This positive return of the lancet ensures that a needle (5) will retract safely into the lancet holder, after operation, and does not rely on the spring being locked into the lancet holder and onto the lancet.

Abstract: An autoinjector device includes an elongate housing containing a syringe or cartridge having an internal piston for expressing a dose from the syringe or cartridge. A drive mechanism includes a drive member engaging the piston and a drive spring acting on the drive member. A side-operated trigger arrangement includes a retention element movably mounted in the housing from a retaining position in which the drive member is kept in a cocked condition, and a release position in which the drive member may more forwardly under spring pressure. An outer sleeve is mounted on the housing movable between a position in which the retention element is prevented from moving to release the plunger, and a position in which the retention member moves freely. The outer sleeve includes a trigger wall portion which may be depressed to move the retention element once the retention element is free to move, releasing the plunger.

Abstract: An injection device includes a housing (40) for containing a syringe or cartridge (14) of medicament; a rotary drive shaft (20) for being rotated by an adjustable preset amount to cause expression of a corresponding amount of medicament from the syringe or cartridge; a torsion drive spring (24) anchored at one end region relative to the drive shaft (20) and, at its other end region being secured to a fitting (44) adapted to non-rotatably engage a seat (48, 50) on the housing.

Abstract: There is provided a lancet firing device comprising a projection, configured to project into an interior cavity of a lancet body when a lancet having a lancet body is loaded into the firing device; and means to grip an inner wall of the lancet body, the means being disposed on the projection.

Abstract: An apparatus removes a sheath from a pre-filled syringe. The syringe has a barrel and a needle, the sheath providing a sterile cover for the needle. The apparatus includes a housing enclosing the syringe barrel defining an injection end with an aperture sized to allow the sheath of an enclosed syringe to protrude there through, and a syringe barrel mount retaining the syringe in the housing. The mount slides axially within the housing between positions towards and away from the injection end of the housing. A biasing element biases the mount away from the injection end of the housing, and a latch for latching the mount in a latched position to prevent sliding of the mount away from the injection end of the housing. The latch is releasable from the latched position, by sliding of the mount towards the injection end. Also provided is an injection device including the apparatus.

Abstract: An injection device includes a multi-use drive assembly 10 and a single use disposable syringe assembly 12 releasably connected thereto. The syringe assembly includes a syringe 18 and a shield 26 mounted for telescopic movement. The drive assembly 10 is operable to extend the syringe 18 relative to the shield 26 and then to express a dose. Continued forward drive movement extends the shield 26 to re-cover the syringe needle 22 and then ejects the spent syringe assembly 12 in a safe (shrouded) condition.

Abstract: A method of forecasting workforce demand, includes forecasting an ongoing engagements demand, forecasting an opportunities demand, forecasting a wedge engagements demand, representing a result of the forecasting the ongoing engagements demand as a first workforce demand statement, a result of the forecasting the opportunities demand as a second workforce demand statement, and a result of the forecasting the wedge engagements demand as third workforce demand statement, and integrating the first workforce demand statement, the second workforce demand statement and the third workforce demand statement to generate an overall workforce demand forecast.