The present invention relates to systems and methods for characterizing at least one anatomical parameter of an upper airway of a patient by analysing spectral properties of an utterance, comprising: a mechanical coupler comprising means for restricting the jaw position of the patient; means for recording an utterance; and processing means for determining at least one anatomical parameter of the upper airway from the recorded utterance and comparing the recorded utterance to a threshold value. In addition the present invention relates to the use of the above mentioned systems as a diagnostics tool for assessing obstructive sleep apnea.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for characterizing at least one anatomical parameter of an upper airway of a patient by analysing spectral properties of an utterance, comprising: a mechanical coupler comprising means for restricting the jaw position of the patient; means for recording an utterance; and processing means for determining at least one anatomical parameter of the upper airway from the recorded utterance and comparing the recorded utterance to a threshold value. In addition the present invention relates to the use of the above mentioned systems as a diagnostics tool for assessing obstructive sleep apnea.

A safety cutting tool includes an electrically conductive cutting member, an electric motor for actuating the cutting member, a gripping handle electrically insulated from the cutting tool, a cutting trigger control that can be actuated by the hand of the user gripping the gripping handle, the cutting trigger control being electrically insulated from the cutting tool, an emergency stop device sensitive to a user coming into contact with the cutting member. The emergency stop device is controlled by a comparator comparing an impedance of a first electric circuit comprising the cutting tool and a second electric circuit used as a reference, the first and second circuits having manual contact electrodes provided on at least one of the gripping handle of the tool and the cutting trigger control. A method for controlling such a tool is also disclosed. The tool and method are is-applicable to electric secateurs and shears.

A safety cutting tool includes an electrically conductive cutting member, an electric motor for actuating the cutting member, a gripping handle electrically insulated from the cutting tool, a cutting trigger control that can be actuated by the hand of the user gripping the gripping handle, the cutting trigger control being electrically insulated from the cutting tool, an emergency stop device sensitive to a user coming into contact with the cutting member. The emergency stop device is controlled by a comparator comparing an impedance of a first electric circuit comprising the cutting tool and a second electric circuit used as a reference, the first and second circuits having manual contact electrodes provided on at least one of the gripping handle of the tool and the cutting trigger control. A method for controlling such a tool is also disclosed. The tool and method are is-applicable to electric secateurs and shears.

A power tool includes a cutting unit configured to perform a cutting action, and a cutting action input unit configured to turn the cutting action on and off. The cutting action input unit is configured to, when the cutting action input unit is turned on, cause the cutting unit to move in a direction of an end position of the cutting action, and when the cutting action input unit is turned off, cause the cutting unit to stop moving in a case where the cutting action has not ended at a time when the cutting action input unit is turned off, and move in a direction of a standby position at which the cutting unit was located prior to a start of the cutting action in a case where the cutting action has ended at the time when the cutting action input unit is turned off.

An electric pole pruner having a spring returned cutting head and equipped with a drive unit having an electric motor coupled to a drum via an epicyclic gear assembly is configured to reduce rotation speed and to increase torque. A string element is coupled to the drum of the drive unit, and to the cutting head so as to actuate the cutting head. The pole pruner further includes a locking arrangement to selectively lock or release a ring gear of the gear assembly so as to convert rotation of the electric motor into rotation of the drum when the ring gear is locked, and to convert rotation of the drum into rotation of the ring gear when the ring gear is released.

An electric pole pruner having a spring returned cutting head and equipped with a drive unit having an electric motor coupled to a drum via an epicyclic gear assembly is configured to reduce rotation speed and to increase torque. A string element is coupled to the drum of the drive unit, and to the cutting head so as to actuate the cutting head. The pole pruner further includes a locking arrangement to selectively lock or release a ring gear of the gear assembly so as to convert rotation of the electric motor into rotation of the drum when the ring gear is locked, and to convert rotation of the drum into rotation of the ring gear when the ring gear is released.

A blade replacement apparatus of an electric instrument is provided. The blade replacement apparatus includes a nut, a nut loosening/tightening member, a locking member, and an operating member. One of the nut loosening/tightening member and the operating member has a first matching portion, the locking member having a second matching portion. The operating member is movable between an operating position and a non-operating position. When the operating member is in the non-operating position, the first matching portion engages with the second matching portion, and the rotation of the nut loosening/tightening member is obstructed by the locking member. When the operating member is in the operating position, the first matching portion is disengaged from the second matching portion, and the rotation of the nut loosening/tightening member tightens or loosens the nut.

A blade replacement apparatus of an electric instrument is provided. The blade replacement apparatus includes a nut, a nut loosening/tightening member, a locking member, and an operating member. One of the nut loosening/tightening member and the operating member has a first matching portion, the locking member having a second matching portion. The operating member is movable between an operating position and a non-operating position. When the operating member is in the non-operating position, the first matching portion engages with the second matching portion, and the rotation of the nut loosening/tightening member is obstructed by the locking member. When the operating member is in the operating position, the first matching portion is disengaged from the second matching portion, and the rotation of the nut loosening/tightening member tightens or loosens the nut.

A cutting apparatus for trimming an article, the apparatus has a manually grasped power element with a reciprocating arm having a removably engagable rotatable couple including a selectable rotational index position lock. Also included is a cutting head assembly that is removable and rotationally indexable relative to the power element, the cutting head having a pair of cutting blades for trimming the article. Wherein operationally, the reciprocating arm drives the cutting blades that have scissor movement with the cutting head selectably rotatable to the power element, user wrist fatigue is reduced, also with the cutting head being removable from the power element, the cutting head assembly is easier to clean.