Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm (12) comprising a woven fibre body supports damping material (25), for example PVA polymer, on a rearward-facing surface (24). The woven fibre body may be formed of lengths (14) non-metallic fibre material (for example glass fibre) coating with a thin metal coating (32). The mass of the layer of damping material (25) may be less than the mass of the woven fibre body. An attractive sparkly looking loudspeaker diaphragm (12) may thus be provided which damps undesirable vibration whilst providing a flatter frequency-response curve (50).

Abstract: A needle camera adaptor includes a tube-shaped body having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, and a lumen that extends along the longitudinal axis. A centrally-located lateral access opening is formed in an outer wall of the tube-shaped body. A needle securing channel is formed in the outer wall and extends between the lateral access opening and the distal end of the tube-shaped body. A curved suture needle is disposed within the needle securing channel. The needle securing channel and the curved suture needle extend along an axis that defines an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis of the needle camera adaptor. A visualization device, facing distally, is positioned within the lumen at the proximal end of the tube-shaped body. The lateral access opening, the needle securing channel, and the curved suture needle are located within a field of view of the visualization device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a proximal body portion configured to be gripped by a user, a distal body portion that terminates at a spreading tip configured to spread a topical skin adhesive along an application surface, and a flexural body portion that interconnects the proximal and distal body portions to define a monolithic body. In response to an input force applied by a user to the proximal body portion when the spreading tip is positioned against the application surface, the flexural body portion is configured to buckle non-uniformly along a lateral width of the apparatus. Additionally, or alternatively, the flexural body portion is configured to elastically deform so that the distal body portion angularly deflects relative to the proximal body portion to thereby limit to a predetermined range a resultant normal force exerted by the spreading tip on the topical skin adhesive along the application surface.

Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm (12) comprising a woven fibre body supports damping material (25), for example PVA polymer, on a rearward-facing surface (24). The woven fibre body may be formed of lengths (14) non-metallic fibre material (for example glass fibre) coating with a thin metal coating (32). The mass of the layer of damping material (25) may be less than the mass of the woven fibre body. An attractive sparkly looking loudspeaker diaphragm (12) may thus be provided which damps undesirable vibration whilst providing a flatter frequency-response curve (50).

Abstract: A system for making a surgical suture having a reformed tip includes a receiver die having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an elongated channel formed in the top surface that extends between first and second ends of said receiver die. The elongated channel includes a suture channel having a first end and a second end, a first sloping surface that extends downwardly between the first end of the suture channel and the first end of the receiver die, and a second sloping surface that extends downwardly between the second end of the suture channel and the second end of the receiver die. The system includes an upper die having a top surface and a bottom surface that opposes the top surface of the receiver die. The system has an open die position in which the bottom surface of the upper die is spaced away from the top surface of the receiver die and a closed die position in which the bottom surface of the upper die is in contact with the top surface of the receiver die.

Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm (12) comprising a woven fibre body supports damping material (25), for example PVA polymer, on a rearward-facing surface (24). The woven fibre body may be formed of lengths (14) non-metallic fibre material (for example glass fibre) coating with a thin metal coating (32). The mass of the layer of damping material (25) may be less than the mass of the woven fibre body. An attractive sparkly looking loudspeaker diaphragm (12) may thus be provided which damps undesirable vibration whilst providing a flatter frequency-response curve (50).

Abstract: An ironless magnet assembly (128) for a loudspeaker (101) comprising two pairs of magnets (136) is disclosed. Each magnet (136) of each pair having a north pole and a south pole, a first pair of magnets (136c, 136d) are arranged with the north poles of the magnets of that pair facing each other and a second pair of magnets (136a, 136b) are arranged with the south poles of the magnets of that pair facing each other. The first pair of magnets (136c, 136d) are located opposite the second pair of magnets (136a, 136b) to define a voice coil gap (112) therebetween with each north pole of the first pair being located opposite a south pole of the second pair across the voice coil gap (112).

Abstract: Novel compositions and systems for closure of wounds are disclosed. The compositions provide devices of improved flexibility and elasticity and are readily applied to wound sites or over wound closure devices. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such compositions. The catalyst provides for rapid curing on topical surfaces such as skin and bonds to such surfaces in about 2-5 minutes.

Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm (12) comprising a woven fibre body supports damping material (25), for example PVA polymer, on a rearward-facing surface (24). The woven fibre body may be formed of lengths (14) non-metallic fibre material (for example glass fibre) coating with a thin metal coating (32). The mass of the layer of damping material (25) may be less than the mass of the woven fibre body. An attractive sparkly looking loudspeaker diaphragm (12) may thus be provided which damps undesirable vibration whilst providing a flatter frequency-response curve (50).

Abstract: A needle camera adaptor includes a tube-shaped body having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, and a lumen that extends along the longitudinal axis. A centrally-located lateral access opening is formed in an outer wall of the tube-shaped body. A needle securing channel is formed in the outer wall and extends between the lateral access opening and the distal end of the tube-shaped body. A curved suture needle is disposed within the needle securing channel. The needle securing channel and the curved suture needle extend along an axis that defines an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis of the needle camera adaptor. A visualization device, facing distally, is positioned within the lumen at the proximal end of the tube-shaped body. The lateral access opening, the needle securing channel, and the curved suture needle are located within a field of view of the visualization device.

Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm (12) comprising a woven fibre body supports damping material (25), for example PVA polymer, on a rearward-facing surface (24). The woven fibre body may be formed of lengths (14) non-metallic fibre material (for example glass fibre) coating with a thin metal coating (32). The mass of the layer of damping material (25) may be less than the mass of the woven fibre body. An attractive sparkly looking loudspeaker diaphragm (12) may thus be provided which damps undesirable vibration whilst providing a flatter frequency-response curve (50).

Abstract: A system for making a surgical suture having a reformed tip includes a receiver die having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an elongated channel formed in the top surface that extends between first and second ends of said receiver die. The elongated channel includes a suture channel having a first end and a second end, a first sloping surface that extends downwardly between the first end of the suture channel and the first end of the receiver die, and a second sloping surface that extends downwardly between the second end of the suture channel and the second end of the receiver die. The system includes an upper die having a top surface and a bottom surface that opposes the top surface of the receiver die. The system has an open die position in which the bottom surface of the upper die is spaced away from the top surface of the receiver die and a closed die position in which the bottom surface of the upper die is in contact with the top surface of the receiver die.

Abstract: A method of making a surgical suture having a reformed tip includes providing an elongated fiber having a first end, a second end, a central axis extending between the first and second ends thereof, and an outer surface that defines a cross-sectional dimension of the elongated fiber, and compressing a center region of the elongated fiber that is located between the first and second ends thereof for reshaping the center region into a core mass and a deformed mass that extends laterally outside the cross-sectional dimension of said elongated fiber. The method includes separating the deformed mass of the center region from the core mass of the center region so that only the core mass remains for interconnecting the first and second ends of the elongated fiber, and after separating the deformed mass from the core mass, reshaping the core mass into a reformed mass having a reformed mass central axis that is offset from the central axis of the elongated fiber.

Abstract: A surgical stapler having an anvil including a plurality of staple forming pockets for forming staples. The staple forming pockets include first and second staple forming cups configured to receive first and second legs of a staple respectively. The first staple forming cup within each staple forming pocket has a different depth from the second staple forming cup within that staple forming pocket.

Abstract: Novel compositions and systems for closure of wounds are disclosed. The compositions provide devices of improved flexibility and elasticity and are readily applied to wound sites or over wound closure devices. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such compositions. The catalyst provides for rapid curing on topical surfaces such as skin and bonds to such surfaces in about 2-5 minutes.

Abstract: A joint assembly between a first component and a second component comprises a ball portion configured to be connected to the first component. A socket is configured to be connected to the second component or ground and comprises a socket base, a socket cover, and a spherical joint cavity within the assembled socket base and socket cover to receive the ball portion to form a spherical joint. At least one biasing member is in the joint assembly. A clamp clamps the socket base to the socket cover such that the at least one biasing member biases the socket base and the socket cover toward one another.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for the securement of dermal tissues. The device provides approximation and eversion of the tissue as well as the placement of a fixation element that bridges a wound. The fixation element may be produced in several fixed or dynamic configurations that may or may not alter the ability to engage tissue in response to stresses placed upon the fixation member post-deployment. The delivery device inserts the fastener percutaneously through the epidermis into the sub-dermal position without entering the wound margins with any part of the approximation portion of the delivery device.

Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm (12) comprising a woven fibre body supports damping material (25), for example PVA polymer, on a rearward-facing surface (24). The woven fibre body may be formed of lengths (14) non-metallic fibre material (for example glass fibre) coating with a thin metal coating (32). The mass of the layer of damping material (25) may be less than the mass of the woven fibre body. An attractive sparkly looking loudspeaker diaphragm (12) may thus be provided which damps undesirable vibration whilst providing a flatter frequency-response curve (50).

Abstract: A device is disclosed for the securement of dermal tissues. The device provides approximation and eversion of the tissue as well as the placement of a fixation element that bridges a wound. The fixation element may be produced in several fixed or dynamic configurations that may or may not alter the ability to engage tissue in response to stresses placed upon the fixation member post-deployment. The delivery device inserts the fastener percutaneously through the epidermis into the sub-dermal position without entering the wound margins with any part of the approximation portion of the delivery device.

Abstract: Polymeric fibers, and apparatuses for and methods of processing such fibers to be useful as sutures, where at least one end of a fiber includes a termination feature. The termination feature is formed through the application of energy to a coiled region of the fiber.