Abstract: A method of controlling the functioning of a portable medicament dispenser, said method comprising: (a) providing a memory for storing one or more parameters relating to the functioning of said dispenser; (b) storing authentication data for authenticating data for controlling a function of said dispenser; (c) receiving control data for said dispenser; (d) performing authentication of the control data using said stored authentication data; (e) in dependence on a result of the authentication, activating one or more parameters in said memory to control functioning of said dispenser in accordance with said control data.

Abstract: The present invention is a methodology for controlled switchover of unicast and multicast data flows in packet based switching system. In some cases it is advantageous to purposefully support switchover of flows from one path to the other without causing loss of data. This is termed a “controlled” or “hitless” switchover. In accordance with the present invention switchover methodology, given that an ingress arbiter device is transmitting to both cores simultaneously, it is required that the flows to both switching cores be synchronized at an aggregator level and that an egress arbiter be given time to cease receiving packets from one Core then switch over to the other Core, and continue receiving packets.

Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure has a concave element, a footbed, and a core. The concave element has a structure that includes a base portion and sidewalls extending upward from the base portion to define a cavity within the concave element. The footbed is secured to the sidewalls and suspended above at least a portion of the cavity. The footbed includes a plurality of beams that extend across the cavity. The beams are separated by spaces in the footbed, and the beams may be oriented parallel to each other. In this configuration, at least a portion of the beams are independently deflectable into the cavity. The core is positioned within the cavity and below the footbed, and the core may be formed of a compressible material.

Abstract: A restraint system includes a wrist restraint system and an ankle restraint system that allow the limbs of a detainee to be restrained. The lockable wrist restraint system includes a waist belt and wrist restraints that are rotatably mounted to the waist belt. The wrist restraints can be positioned anywhere around the waist belt. The lockable ankle restraint system includes a strap and two buckles that form the strap into two loops. Each loop is used to restrain a leg of the detainee. A lockable buckle includes a housing that creates a tortuous path that traps a strap to which the buckle is mounted and prevents the strap from being adjusted or removed from the detainee.

Abstract: There is provided a system for the delivery of inhalable medicament comprising a monitor (40) for monitoring the breath cycle of a patient, a medicament container (2) having a release mechanism (4, 5) for releasing inhalable medicament therefrom, and an actuator (50) for actuating said release mechanism, the actuator (50) being actuable in response to a signal from the monitor (40). The monitor (40) provides the signal at a trigger point which is coupled to the end of the exhalation part of the breath cycle.

Abstract: There is provided a medicament dispenser comprising a medicament container having a dispensing mechanism; a container seat for receipt of the container; an anchor station; and a coupling between said container seat and said anchor station capable on deformation of moving the container seat relative to the anchor station to actuate the dispensing mechanism. The coupling is reversibly deformable in response to the application of non-mechanical energy thereto. The non-mechanical energy may comprise heat energy, electrical current energy, electrical field energy or magnetic field energy.

Abstract: A charged particle beam detection system that includes a Faraday cup detector array (FCDA) for position-sensitive charged particle beam detection is described. The FCDA is combined with an electronic multiplexing unit (MUX) that allows collecting and integrating the charge deposited in the array, and simultaneously reading out the same. The duty cycle for collecting the ions is greater than 98%. This multiplexing is achieved by collecting the charge with a large number of small and electronically decoupled Faraday cups. Because Faraday cups collect the charge independent of their charge state, each cup is both a collector and an integrator. The ability of the Faraday cup to integrate the charge, in combination with the electronic multiplexing unit, which reads out and empties the cups quickly compared to the charge integration time, provides the almost perfect duty cycle for this position-sensitive charged particle detector. The device measures further absolute ion currents, has a wide dynamic range from 1.

Abstract: A bearing system which inhibits fretting to extend the life of a bearing. The system is usable in a machine, such as an electric motor, and includes an elastomeric spring positioned between the bearing and a bottom surface of a bore in which the bearing is received. The spring member applies force to the bearing in both an axial direction and a circumferential direction to oppose rotation of the bearing in the bore. The spring member has an annular shape with a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth.

Abstract: There is provided a system for the delivery of medicament comprising a medicament container; a dispensing mechanism for dispensing medicament from the medicament container; an electronic data management system; and a communicator for wireless communication with a network computer system to enable communication of data between the network computer system and the electronic data management system. The electronic data management system comprises a memory for storage of data; a microprocessor for performing operations on the data; and a transmitter for transmitting a signal relating to the data or the outcome of an operation on the data.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a Schottky diode 22 having a semiconductor substrate 3, a first metal 24, a barrier layer 26, and second metal 28. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a Schottky diode 22 that includes providing a semiconductor substrate 3, forming a barrier layer 26 over the semiconductor substrate 3, forming a first metal layer 23 over the semiconductor substrate 3, annealing the semiconductor substrate 3 to form areas 24 of reacted first metal and areas 23 of un-reacted first metal, and removing selected areas 23 of the un-reacted first metal.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a Schottky diode 22 having a semiconductor substrate 3, a first metal 24, a barrier layer 26, and second metal 28. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a Schottky diode 22 that includes providing a semiconductor substrate 3, forming a barrier layer 26 over the semiconductor substrate 3, forming a first metal layer 23 over the semiconductor substrate 3, annealing the semiconductor substrate 3 to form areas 24 of reacted first metal and areas 23 of un-reacted first metal, and removing selected areas 23 of the un-reacted first metal. The method further includes forming a second metal layer 30 over the semiconductor substrate 3 and annealing the semiconductor substrate 3 to form areas 28 of reacted second metal and areas 30 of un-reacted second metal.

Abstract: There is provided a housing for a dispenser suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The housing comprises a body; said body including a support for receipt of said aerosol container; a first outlet port connectable to a first pressure recorder for recording change of pressure on firing of said aerosol container; and a second outlet port connectable to a second pressure recorder for recording air pressure within the body; wherein said first outlet port and said second outlet port are separate such that the change of pressure on firing and the air pressure within the body are individually recordable.

Abstract: An electric motor having a fan and baffle for directing a flow of cooling air through the motor while minimizing generation of noise. The fan has blades which are curved in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the fan. The blades are spaced from a hub of the fan thereby forming a clearance region to inhibit air flow shear and turbulence. The baffle has an annular shape with upstream and downstream faces for directing air flow. The downstream face is inclined so that air flowing along its surface has a component of motion in the downstream direction to inhibit separation of flow from the surface. The baffle is received in a casing of the motor with a slip fit.

Abstract: The present invention is a core interface mechanism that permits 1:N type port protection on the core side of the switch such that core bandwidth is not wasted by the direct connection of service cards to the switching core. In an exemplary embodiment, a core interface module supports up to two active service cards and one dedicated protection service card. To provide increased efficiency and lower cost the redundant service card does not strand user bandwidth in the switch core. In an exemplary embodiment, the core interface includes a plurality of core side input and output ports for coupling to the switching core and a plurality of card side input and output ports for coupling to the service cards. A data flow switch function couples between the core side ports and the card side ports. The data flow switch function operates to complete data flow paths between the core side ports and the card side ports.

Abstract: A medicament dispenser comprising: (i) a housing having an outlet; (ii) a medicament container locatable within said housing; (iii) an electronic dose counter associated with said outlet, wherein said dose counter comprises a first sensor for directly detecting a medicament release dispensible from said medicament container through said outlet is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sample includes separating a portion of substrate from a sample, performing focused ion beam milling, and removing additional sample material using an etchant.

Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure has a concave element, a footbed, and a core. The concave element has a structure that includes a base portion and sidewalls extending upward from the base portion to define a cavity within the concave element. The footbed is secured to the sidewalls and suspended above at least a portion of the cavity. The footbed includes a plurality of beams that extend across the cavity. The beams are separated by spaces in the footbed, and the beams may be oriented parallel to each other. In this configuration, at least a portion of the beams are independently deflectable into the cavity. The core is positioned within the cavity and below the footbed, and the core may be formed of a compressible material.

Abstract: A method of screening a test agent for its ability to cause a thermodynamic change in a cell-free sample, comprising the steps of: i) measuring the temperature of said sample using electrothermometry; ii) contacting the sample with said test agent; iii) measuring the temperature of the sample resulting from step (ii) using electrothermometry; and iv) comparing the temperature obtained in step (i) with the temperature obtained in step (iii), wherein temperature measurement steps (i) and (iii) are conducted using a non-invasive electro thermometric method.

Abstract: There is provided a medicament dispenser comprising a medicament container having a dispensing mechanism; a container seat for receipt of the container; an anchor station; and drive means capable of moving the container seat relative to the anchor station to actuate the dispensing mechanism. The drive means is actuable in response to the application of non-mechanical energy thereto, and gear means are provided to the drive means to gear up the torque provided thereby.

Abstract: Synchronous timing techniques provide redundant reference frequencies to enable a packet switching system to continuously generate one or more master clock frequencies when an original reference frequency is lost or unavailable.