Abstract: Smart thermoplastic composites comprising: at least a thermoplastic component (12) having a first cross-sectional profile; at least a thermal component (14) having a second cross-sectional profile and interfacing with said thermoplastic component (12); wherein, the cross-sectional arrangement is such that, the thermal component (14) modified the thermal nature of the thermoplastic component in either its hot-active state or in its cold-active state ensuring that there is a pliable region of deformation within said thermoplastic component (12) by creating a controlled thermal gradient within a region or volume of interest in said thermoplastic component (12) by: increasing localised temperature, of said thermoplastic component (12), above its softening point but below its viscous temperature; and maintaining ambient temperature above its softening point and maintaining localised temperature below its softening point.

Abstract: Connectors permits acoustic and digital stethoscope transmissions. Connectors include first and second pieces for the stethoscope chest piece and earpiece channels. The first piece has a moveable inner element with openings and includes a channel in line with the chest piece channel to provide an acoustic mode of functioning. The openings are collinear with the inner element channel and the extruded channels. The extruded channels and inner element channel may be arrayed in a line and have diameters that successively decrease. A transducer inside the inner element blocks sound from the first extruded channel, and a second transducer is inside the inner element on the other side of one of the openings. For an electronic mode of functioning, the first transducer is in line with the chest piece extruded channel and the second transducer is in line with the earpiece extruded channel. A switch may switch between the modes.