Abstract: A medical apparatus for insertion into an internal passage of a subject is provided having a body portion defining an exterior surface; one or more sensors disposed on the exterior surface of the body portion, the one or more sensors providing an insertion force profile representing the force exerted by the internal passage on the sensors during insertion of the body portion; and a processor and non-volatile storage associated therewith, the processor configured to execute software to compare the insertion force profile provided by the sensors with two or more training force profiles stored on the storage, and classify the insertion force profile provided by the sensors as corresponding to at least one of the training force profiles.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery electrode includes mixing particles of active electrode materials, conductive additives, and binder to form a dry powder electrode material. The dry powder is then deposited onto a moving electrode current collector using a dry powder dispensing device. The dry powder is a loose powder continuously poured from the dispensing device onto a moving current collector in a roll-to-roll system where the powder remains loose on the current collector as it travels towards a compaction stage. After being poured onto the current collector, the loose dry powder is uniformly spread across the width of the moving current collector web by one or more spreading devices, such as smoothing rollers and conditioning rollers. Finally, the dry powder is compacted using a calender configured to apply pressure and/or heat to the dry powder electrode material to activate the binder and form a battery electrode.

Abstract: A medical apparatus for insertion into an internal passage of a subject is provided having a body portion defining an exterior surface; one or more sensors disposed on the exterior surface of the body portion, the one or more sensors providing an insertion force profile representing the force exerted by the internal passage on the sensors during insertion of the body portion; and a processor and non-volatile storage associated therewith, the processor configured to execute software to compare the insertion force profile provided by the sensors with two or more training force profiles stored on the storage, and classify the insertion force profile provided by the sensors as corresponding to at least one of the training force profiles.