Abstract: A vehicle includes a support structure. The vehicle also includes a side door operable to move relative to the support structure between an open position and a closed position. In the open position of the side door, access to a vehicle interior of the vehicle is provided. In the closed position of the side door, the side door extends across a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a plurality of pivot members, each pivotably coupled to the support structure at a first end and pivotably coupled to the side door at a second end. The side door is movable between the open and closed positions via pivotal movement of each of the plurality of pivot members relative to the support structure and pivotal movement of the side door relative to each of the plurality of pivot members.

Abstract: An elastic hysteretic palpatory training apparatus includes a plunger, a solenoid disposed around a longitudinal axis of the plunger, and a controller for controlling electrical power supplied to the solenoid as a function of a palpatory force applied to an end of the plunger and a position of the plunger in the solenoid in response to the applied palpatory force whereupon the plunger emulates at least one of the following: an elastic material responding to the application of the palpatory force thereto or a series of elastic materials being engaged one-at-a-time in response to the application of the palpatory force thereto.

Abstract: An elastic hysteretic palpatory training apparatus includes a plunger, a solenoid disposed around a longitudinal axis of the plunger, and a controller for controlling electrical power supplied to the solenoid as a function of a palpatory force applied to an end of the plunger and a position of the plunger in the solenoid in response to the applied palpatory force whereupon the plunger emulates at least one of the following: an elastic material responding to the application of the palpatory force thereto or a series of elastic materials being engaged one-at-a-time in response to the application of the palpatory force thereto.

Abstract: A method of hysteretic palpatory training includes providing a wire or a computer controlled actuator having a plunger that hysteretically resists the application of a palpatory force. An increasing palpatory force is applied in a first direction to the wire or the plunger, whereupon the wire or plunger hysteretically resist displacement from a first position to a second position. The palpatory force is then withdrawn whereupon the elasticity of wire or the elasticity emulated by the plunger causes it to return to a position intermediate the first and second positions. The applied palpatory force versus displacement in response to applying and withdrawing the palpatory force to the wire or the plunger is then detected.

Abstract: An anatomic torsion monitor includes an examination table (A) equipped with forcibly extendable pads (54, 56) which are utilized to rotationally displace a patient (P) about the patient's transverse axis. A laser (84), or other such pointer, is disposed on a platform (90) which rests across the abdomen of the patient (P) to measure the rotational displacement. The output of the laser (84) is projected onto a scaled chart (100). Clockwise and counterclockwise rotational displacements of the patient (P) as a function of applied forces are obtained by reading the projection of the laser (84) on the scaled chart (100) as the forces are applied and withdrawn. Plotting the rotational displacement versus force on a Cartesian coordinate system produces a continuous, bounded, four quadrant hysteresis loop (116).