Abstract: A device which will act efficiently as a float for any article (e.g. keys, mobile telephone, wallet) attached thereto when dropped into water comprises an inflatable bag (14) of substantially waterproof and air impervious material, a container (12) of compressed gas, and trigger means (16,30,32) associated with the container (12) and operable upon immersion of the device in water to open the container (12) and allow gas from the container (14) to inflate the bag (14). The trigger means comprises a valve (16) mounted on the container (12) and connecting the container to the inflatable bag (14), retainer means (30) operative to hold the valve (16) in a closed condition, and water reactive means (32) which, upon contact with water, serves to release the retainer means (30) and allow the valve to open. The water reactive means may comprise a band of material (32), at least part of which is water reactive.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for fusing images taken by a plurality of cameras is disclosed, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of images of the same scene taken by the plurality of cameras; generating Laplacian pyramid images for each source image of the plurality of images; applying contrast normalization to the Laplacian pyramids images; performing pixel-level fusion on the Laplacian pyramid images based on a local salience measure that reduces aliasing artifacts to produce one salience-selected Laplacian pyramid image for each pyramid level; and combining the salience-selected Laplacian pyramid images into a fused image. Applying contrast normalization further comprises, for each Laplacian image at a given level: obtaining an energy image from the Laplacian image; determining a gain factor that is based on at least the energy image and a target contrast; and multiplying the Laplacian image by a gain factor to produce a normalized Laplacian image.

Abstract: A method to form a field winding for a slotless stator including: forming the first coil group by spirally winding an insulated wire for each coil winding around a mandrel such that each turn of the wire is adjacent a next turn of the wire; after forming the first coil group, axially shifting along the mandrel the insulated wire from a trailing edge of each coil winding to position the wires at a leading edge of each of coil winding in the second coil group; forming the second coil group by spirally winding the insulated wire for each coil winding around a mandrel; removing the mandrel from the wound first and second coil groups; collapsing the wound coil groups to a layer web such that coil winding segments are interleaved; and wrapping the web into a cylinder to form the field winding.

Abstract: A party balloon (10) includes an expansible membrane with an inlet port (15) to allow entry of gas upon inflation and an illumination device having a light emitting diode (LED) (50) powered by at least one battery (54) and mounted inside the balloon (10). The illumination device (50) has a projection (58) that is attached to the expansible membrane, inside the balloon, by a clip or O-ring (59), fitted onto the projection (58) from outside the balloon. A strip of insulating material (53) is initially located between the battery or batteries (54) and the LED (50) and is capable of being withdrawn, prior to or upon inflation of the balloon (10), to light up the illumination device and the balloon.

Abstract: Composition including an oleophilic base ink composition having dispersed therein particles of an infrared-absorbing material wherein the infrared-absorbing material is selected from reduced indium tin oxide, titanium nitride, zirconium nitride, molybdenum metal, copper chromate, lanthanum hexaboride, neodymium oxide, neodymium chloride, dysprosium oxide and praseodymium oxide.

Abstract: A device which will act efficiently as a float for any article (e.g. keys, mobile telephone, wallet) attached thereto when dropped into water comprises an inflatable bag (14) of substantially waterproof and air impervious material, a container (12) of compressed gas, and trigger means (16,30,32) associated with the container (12) and operable upon immersion of the device in water to open the container (12) and allow gas from the container (14) to inflate the bag (14). The trigger means comprises a valve (16) mounted on the container (12) and connecting the container to the inflatable bag (14), retainer means (30) operative to hold the valve (16) in a closed condition, and water reactive means (32) which, upon contact with water, serves to release the retainer means (30) and allow the valve to open. The water reactive means may comprise a band of material (32), at least part of which is water reactive.

Abstract: A sampling connector for use in sampling a body fluid such as arterial blood or cerebrospinal fluid. The sampling connector comprises at least two apertures in fluid communication via a fluid flow conduit and a one-way valve (14) disposed to allow fluid flow from the first aperture, through the fluid flow conduit and out of the second aperture, but not to allow fluid to flow into the second aperture and through the fluid flow conduit to the first aperture. In use, the sampling connector is connected to a body cavity to enable the sampling of a body fluid by withdrawal of the body fluid through the first aperture, and to prevent the introduction of a separate fluid to the body cavity. The first aperture can be within a male end and the second aperture can be within a female end or vice versa. A sampling device comprising a sampling connector according to the present invention and use of the sampling connector and/or sampling device is also claimed.

Abstract: A party balloon (10) comprises an expansible membrane with an inlet port (15) to allow entry of gas upon inflation and an illumination device comprising a light emitting diode (LED) (50) powered by at least one battery (54) is mounted inside the balloon (10). In this respect, the illumination device (50) has a projection (58) whereby it is attached to the expansible membrane, inside the balloon, by a clip or O-ring (59) fitted onto the projection (58) from outside the balloon. A strip of insulating material (53) is initially located between the battery or batteries (54) and the LED (50) and is capable of being withdrawn, e g prior to or upon inflation of the balloon (10), to light up the LED and the balloon.

Abstract: A method to form a field winding for a slotless stator including: forming the first coil group by spirally winding an insulated wire for each coil winding around a mandrel such that each turn of the wire is adjacent a next turn of the wire; after forming the first coil group, axially shifting along the mandrel the insulated wire from a trailing edge of each coil winding to position the wires at a leading edge of each of coil winding in the second coil group; forming the second coil group by spirally winding the insulated wire for each coil winding around a mandrel; removing the mandrel from the wound first and second coil groups; collapsing the wound coil groups to a layer web such that coil winding segments are interleaved; and wrapping the web into a cylinder to form the field winding.

Abstract: A composition comprising an ink and an infrared-absorbing material wherein said infrared-absorbing material comprises a metal, a metal salt, a metal oxide or metal nitride is described. Also described is an article comprising a substrate having imaged thereon an infrared-absorbing material to form a security image; and a method of manufacture of such an article said method comprising image-wise applying substrate a composition comprising an infrared-absorbing material.

Abstract: To eliminate needle-stick risk by encapsulating the needle of a syringe immediately after discharge of syringe contents, the entire syringe is housed in a device comprising a hollow body, a spring and a plunger. The barrel of the syringe is held in the body interior against the force of the spring by latching formations internal to the body. The plunger is hollow to provide a chamber to receive the syringe piston and at least part of the barrel. The plunger has deflectable engagement elements at its forward end so it is pushed into the body, it reliably displaces the syringe piston/rod to discharge the syringe contents via a hollow needle, the elements ultimately being deflected outwards as the contents are fully discharged so as not to impede syringe retraction into the hollow plunger. The plunger also has latch opening projections at its forward end.

Abstract: An insulator for a stator assembly includes at least a first insulator adapted to be mounted to the stator core and structured to insulate the stator core from the coils. The at least one insulator includes structure to perform at least one additional function. For example, the structure may include a support member to support and/or locate the PCBA on the stator core, a wire guide to guide cross-over wires that form a connection between coils, and/or positioning structure to precisely position the PCBA with respect to the coils.

Abstract: A connector system for connecting conduits for fluid flow there between comprises a first male connector and a first female connector, the connectors being releasably interengageable to form fluid-tight connection, the first male connector being adapted to connect the first female connector, but not to a standard female locking Luer connector, and the first female connector being adapted to connect to the first male connector and a standard male slip and/or locking Luer connector. The invention further relates to an epidural, intrathecal or intravenous apparatus including the connector system.

Abstract: An image article comprises a substrate having a security image coated on at least a portion thereof, which security image effects less than 50% reflectance of radiation of a wavelength between 800 and 900 nm, wherein the security image comprises a defined infrared-absorbing compound, for example Pigment Green 8, wherein said infrared-absorbing compound does not create a strongly coloured security image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a male connector for use in a connector system for connecting conduits for fluid flow there between. The system comprises a male connector and a female connector and the connectors are releasably interengageable to form a fluid-tight connection. The male connector is adapted by a barrier (7), e.g. a disc, to connect only to a standard female slip Luer connector. The invention also relates to an infusion set including the male connector.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for fusing images taken by a plurality of cameras is disclosed, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of images of the same scene taken by the plurality of cameras; generating Laplacian pyramid images for each source image of the plurality of images; applying contrast normalization to the Laplacian pyramids images; performing pixel-level fusion on the Laplacian pyramid images based on a local salience measure that reduces aliasing artifacts to produce one salience-selected Laplacian pyramid image for each pyramid level; and combining the salience-selected Laplacian pyramid images into a fused image. Applying contrast normalization further comprises, for each Laplacian image at a given level: obtaining an energy image from the Laplacian image; determining a gain factor that is based on at least the energy image and a target contrast; and multiplying the Laplacian image by a gain factor to produce a normalized Laplacian image.

Abstract: New, highly multifunctional reactive dye compounds are provided. The number of leaving groups in the non-chromophoric part of the molecule added to the number of chromophore moieties is at least equal to 5, preferably in the range of from 5 to 12, more preferably from 5 to 6. The new reactive dye compounds preferably have at least two asymmetric bridges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an image article comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) coating a water-soluble agent capable of adhering solid particles when wetted with an aqueous medium, on at least a portion of the substrate; the water-soluble agent being wetted with an aqueous medium, and (c) applying solid particles to at least a portion of the water-soluble agent, to form an image. The invention further relates to image articles produced by the method of the invention.

Abstract: The disclosed endotracheal tube includes a silicone tubular member that has a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending through the member to supply air from the proximal end to the distal end. The tubular member defines a first zone and a second zone. At least a portion of the first zone has a first outer diameter. The second zone has a second outer diameter. The first outer diameter is less than the second outer diameter. The first and second zones are adjacent to one another and are configured for insertion into the trachea of a human patient. A silicone cuff is attached to the tubular member such that the cuff extends over at least a portion of the first zone. The silicone cuff is mounted such that when the cuff is inflated in a trachea, the cuff reaches its plateau pressure prior to circumferentially contacting the inner wall of the trachea so that an accurate pressure reading may be taken of the pressure the cuff exerts on an inner wall of the trachea.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for high performance image signal processing of continuous images in real time. The system comprising a focal plane array for generating continuous source image frames in real time. The focal plane array divided logically into blocks of sub-frames. The system also comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) layer having an array of ADC elements for converting the source image frames into a digital data. The system further comprising a digital processor layer having an array of processing elements for processing the digital data and an interconnecting layer for connecting each one of the ADC elements and the digital processing elements substantially vertically to the focal plane and substantially parallel to one another. The processing comprising reducing image motion blur, increasing image dynamic range, increasing image depth of field and obtaining features of the images.