Abstract: A refillable dispenser including a casing and a platform for receiving consumable material. A knob rotatably mounted at a bottom end of the dispenser is mechanically coupled to the platform such that rotating the knob moves the platform up or down within the dispenser. Gripping arms connected to the platform are configured to flex toward a longitudinal axis and engage the consumable material when the platform is away from a top travel position such that the consumable material is secured to the platform. The gripping arms are configured to flex away from the longitudinal axis and release the consumable material from the platform when the platform is at the top travel position.

Abstract: An ostomy device includes a proximal side configured for attachment to a user, a distal side opposite to the proximal side, and a leakage detection sensor having electrically conductive circuitry supported on a support layer. The leakage detection sensor is configured to detect ostomy effluent by detecting a change in resistance in the electrically conductive circuitry. The ostomy device may be an ostomy appliance or an ostomy accessory.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance includes an ostomy hydrocolloid having a body-facing side, a pouch-facing side and a stoma opening, at least one fluid aperture formed in the body-facing side and at least one fluidic channel embedded in the ostomy hydrocolloid having a proximal portion disposed in fluid communication with the at least one fluid aperture. The ostomy appliance also includes at least one window formed in the pouch facing side, the at least one window aligned with a distal portion of the fluidic channel such that a portion of the fluidic channel is visible through the window. In another embodiment, an ostomy appliance includes a skin barrier material and an ultrasonic detection device for monitoring the skin barrier material.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance includes an ostomy hydrocolloid having a body-facing side, a pouch-facing side and a stoma opening, at least one fluid aperture formed in the body-facing side and at least one fluidic channel embedded in the ostomy hydrocolloid having a proximal portion disposed in fluid communication with the at least one fluid aperture. The ostomy appliance also includes at least one window formed in the pouch facing side, the at least one window aligned with a distal portion of the fluidic channel such that a portion of the fluidic channel is visible through the window. In another embodiment, an ostomy appliance includes a skin barrier material and an ultrasonic detection device for monitoring the skin barrier material.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance system includes an ostomy appliance having a stoma opening and a first electrical interface, and at least one thermal sensor configured to detect at least one thermal property, such as temperature, at the ostomy appliance, the at least one temperature sensor connected to the first electrical interface with electrical circuitry. A wearable device may be removably connected to the ostomy appliance and operably connected to the at least one thermal sensor. The wearable device includes a housing, a second electrical interface configured for electrical connection to the first electrical interface, a power supply and a controller operably connected to the power supply. The controller is configured to determine a condition of the ostomy appliance based on the at least one thermal property detected at the at least one thermal sensor. The wearable device may also include a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a personal communication device.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance includes a substrate and at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit disposed on the substrate. The RFID circuit includes a RFID transponder having an antenna and a conductive ink connected in series with the antenna and the RFID transponder. The conductive ink is configured to dissolve in response to exposure to moisture. The RFID circuit is in a closed condition when the conductive ink extends continuously between the RFID transponder and the antenna. The RFID circuit is in an open condition when at least a portion of the conductive ink is dissolved.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance includes an ostomy hydrocolloid having a body-facing side, a pouch-facing side and a stoma opening, at least one fluid aperture formed in the body-facing side and at least one fluidic channel embedded in the ostomy hydrocolloid having a proximal portion disposed in fluid communication with the at least one fluid aperture. The ostomy appliance also includes at least one window formed in the pouch facing side, the at least one window aligned with a distal portion of the fluidic channel such that a portion of the fluidic channel is visible through the window. In another embodiment, an ostomy appliance includes a skin barrier material and an ultrasonic detection device for monitoring the skin barrier material.

Abstract: A refillable dispenser including a casing and a platform for receiving consumable material. A knob rotatably mounted at a bottom end of the dispenser is mechanically coupled to the platform such that rotating the knob moves the platform up or down within the dispenser. Gripping arms connected to the platform are configured to flex toward a longitudinal axis and engage the consumable material when the platform is away from a top travel position such that the consumable material is secured to the platform. The gripping arms are configured to flex away from the longitudinal axis and release the consumable material from the platform when the platform is at the top travel position.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes monitoring signal output from a high-resolution torque sensor configured to monitor engine torque during ongoing operation, monitoring states of engine operating and control parameters associated with engine input parameters, and estimating a mass air charge for each cylinder event corresponding to the signal output from the high-resolution torque sensor and the states of engine operating and control parameters associated with the engine input parameters.

Abstract: Operating an engine includes monitoring engine crank position, a corresponding engine torque, and an engine operating point. A state of an engine control parameter is adjusted in response to a difference between an identified location of peak torque and a preferred location of peak torque.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes monitoring signal output from a high-resolution torque sensor configured to monitor engine torque during ongoing operation, monitoring states of engine operating and control parameters associated with engine input parameters, and estimating a mass air charge for each cylinder event corresponding to the signal output from the high-resolution torque sensor and the states of engine operating and control parameters associated with the engine input parameters.

Abstract: Operating an engine includes monitoring engine crank position, a corresponding engine torque, and an engine operating point. A state of an engine control parameter is adjusted in response to a difference between an identified location of peak torque and a preferred location of peak torque.

Abstract: In a wireless TDMA network a control module (CM) sends a time stamp relative to the beginning of its frame in a synchronization packet allowing each of a plurality of user modules (UM) to maintain synchronization relative to the CM. The CM uses a plurality of directional antennas and transmits the synchronization packets over each antenna over a predetermined number of frames. The UMs use a receive time stamp to identify the beginning of a received synchronization packet. The difference between the time stamps combined with a delay constant is used by the UMs to adjust time synchronization to the CM frame.

Abstract: A hierarchical addressing technique is employed in a packet communications system to enhance flexibility in storing and referencing packet information. This method permits packet message data and certain packet control data to be stored in memory locations without having to be duplicated at a different memory location prior to transmission of the packet. This method is preferably employed in a ring configuration in which a series of packets have addressing mechanisms which points sequentially to each other to form a ring of packets received or to be transmitted.

Abstract: A method for handing off user devices (131-134) between network control processors (110, 120) in a frequency hopping communication system (100) includes establishing a set of synchronization frequencies (A-D) for use by said NCPs (110, 120), informing the plurality of user devices (131-134) of said synchronization frequencies (A-D) and assigning a synchronization frequency (A, B, C or D) to each respective NCP, each NCP transmitting synchronization information at its assigned synchronization frequency (A, B, C or D) during each hopping dwell (1-82). Upon a determination that a user device hand-off is necessary, said user device in question (133) tunes to a synchronization frequency (B) different from the synchronization frequency (A) employed by the currently serving NCP (110) and synchronizes its operation to the NCP (120) transmitting synchronization information on the tuned to synchronization frequency (B).

Abstract: A CM (105) receives requests for data transfer from a series of UMs (101-103) and from an EM (104). The requests contain the UM (101-103) or EM (104) address and the size of the data packet to be transferred. The CM (105) processes the requests on a FIFO basis, stores the requests in a queue and schedules either a small data channel (415) or a large data channel (420), depending on the packet size to be transferred, an acknowledgement channel (425) and also the corresponding number of required timeslots. The CM (105) picks the first request off the queue and sends a grant to the particular UM (101-103) or EM (104) which receive the grant and immediately access either the assigned small or large data channels (415, 420) in the required number of timeslots and the acknowledgement channel (425).

Abstract: An antenna selection technique is used in an RF communincation system in which user modules (UM) communicate with at least one node. The UM's and nodes each have multiple antennae. The combination of each UM and node antenna is evaluated at the UM. Based on at least signal quality, the UM selects its antenna and the best node antenna for use. An alternate antenna is selected if a person is determined to be present in a predetermined area adjacent a UM corresponding to a predetermined RF power level.

Abstract: An antenna selection technique is used in an RF communication system in which user modules (UM) communicate with at least one node. The UM's and nodes each have multiple antennae. The combination of each UM and node antenna is evaluated at the UM. Based on both signal quality and strength, the UM selects its antenna and the best node antenna for use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microprocessor operating system having a program which includes a plurality of tasks requiring periodic execution by the system, and wherein each task is comprised of a plurality of associated subtasks. The system executes the tasks in a orderly fashion by: (A) providing a time variable which is periodically updated to represent a measurement of time; (B) setting the time variable to a predetermined time period during which a first task may be executed; (C) determining whether or not the predetermined time period has lapsed; (D) executing at least one of the subtasks of the first task if the predetermined time period has not lapsed, and then proceeding to step c; and (e) executing another portion of program if the predetermined time period has lapsed, and then proceeding to step c before executing another subtask associated with the first task.

Abstract: A system (10) for scheduling serial message transmission on a single bus (11) having a plurality of messages to be sent stored in memory (21) with each message located between associated start and end message addresses (START, END). A message list or queue (28) of the messages to be sent is formed and stored in memory (22) wherein the list comprises message pointer blocks (27) associated with each of the messages. Each pointer block includes at least the message start and end addresses, the message unique ID code (MID), the message priority (PRI), the address of the message pointer block associated with the next message to be sent (NEXT) and the address of the message pointer block associated with the previous message to be sent (PREV). A message transmission apparatus (16, 17, 18, 19) then sequentially serially transmits the messages on the bus in accordance with the message transmission order specified in the message list.