Systems and methods related to hydrodynamic bearings for use in X-ray sources are provided. In one aspect, a hydrodynamic bearing system includes a sleeve assembly including a cross-member fluidically dividing a first interior cavity from a second interior cavity, a first shaft positioned in the first interior cavity, and a second shaft positioned in the second interior cavity. The hydrodynamic bearing system may further include a first journal bearing including a first fluid interface surrounding at least a portion of the first cantilever shaft and configured to support radial loads and a second journal bearing including a second fluid interface surrounding at least a portion of the second cantilever shaft and configured to support radial loads.

A joint assembly of an adapter defines a first longitudinal axis and includes first and second hinges, first and second rings, a joint cover, and a biasing mechanism. The joint cover has first and second cover portions. The first ring is pivotally coupled to the first hinge and the first cover portion is pivotally coupled to the first hinge to define a first joint center. The second ring is pivotally coupled to the second cover portion and the second hinge is pivotally coupled to the second ring to define a second joint center that is spaced from the first joint center. The first and second joint centers define a cover axis of the joint cover. The biasing mechanism is engaged with the first ring and the joint cover to bias the joint cover towards an aligned configuration in which the cover axis is aligned with the first longitudinal axis.

A bottom loading fastening system that consists of the polyaxial ball and socket joint used in conjunction with an anchoring bone screw. The system allows attachment of a connector assembly to the anchoring bone screw having a spherical ball connector using a locking ring positioned in a locking ring slot. Upon installation, the locking ring is moved to a ring containment slot to expand a retainer ring, allowing passage of a bone screw spherical ball, the retainer ring forcing the locking ring back to the locking ring slot, thereby permanently attaching the connector assembly to the anchoring bone screw. Movement of the locking ring from the ring containment slot provides an audible sound and tactile indication that the locking ring has secured the connector assembly to the bone screw.

A bending mechanism includes: a shaft part; a bendable part linked to the shaft part; a forward end part linked to the bendable part; an operating rod or an operating wire inserted through grooves or holes of the shaft part and the bendable part and having a distal end thereof fixed to the bendable part; and a pressing portion configured to be able to press the operating rod or the operating wire against a fixed portion of the shaft part. The bendable part is configured to be bendable as a result of the operating rod or the operating wire being operated in an extending direction thereof. The operating rod or the operating wire is configured such that, when pressed against the fixed portion of the shaft part by the pressing portion, the operating rod or the operating wire is fixed by friction force.

A magnetic bearing having a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring arranged concentrically in relation to the first bearing ring. The first bearing ring and the second bearing ring are mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to each other about an axis of rotation by means of electromagnets. The first bearing ring has a first magnet row and a second magnet row. The magnet rows each include electromagnets arranged at a distance from one another in a circumferential direction of the first bearing ring. The electromagnets of the magnet rows are oriented such that they can each exert a magnetic force on the second bearing ring, which magnetic force is oriented transversely to the axis of rotation and transversely to a radial plane which is arranged perpendicularly to the axis of rotation.

In certain embodiments, apparatus for self-aligning elements of coupled platforms includes a radially repulsive magnetic bearing. The radially repulsive magnetic bearing includes a first axially polarized magnet and a second axially polarized magnet that is concentrically disposed around the first axially polarized magnet and radially repulsive to the first axially polarized magnet. The radially repulsive magnetic bearing is configured to align a first element of a first platform with a second element of a second platform when the first and second platforms are coupled together.

An apparatus (1) for exploring an internal cavity of a human or animal body the apparatus comprising an endoscope (2) and a support (3) for the endoscope, whereby said support comprises a flat rest base (4), a telescopic rod (5) having a lower end (6a) and an upper end (6b), a first ball joint (7) connecting said lower end of the telescopic rod to said rest base, an attachment connector (8) disconnectable from said endoscope, and an operative connection means (9) for connecting said connector to said upper end of said telescopic rod.

A hinge has a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge. The articulating section is adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first and second ends are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end. The hinge body may define a receptacle along the articulating section, and an insert may be provided for insertion into the receptacle. The insert can modify the stiffness of the hinge in the angular range and is arranged parallel to the neutral axis.

A hinge has a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge. The articulating section is adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first and second ends are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end. The hinge body may define a receptacle along the articulating section, and an insert may be provided for insertion into the receptacle. The insert can modify the stiffness of the hinge in the angular range and is arranged parallel to the neutral axis.

A vehicle may include a flutter resistant caster. The vehicle may include a frame, a drive wheel coupled to the frame, a caster housing coupled to the frame, a caster, a locking element, a first bearing, and a biasing element. The caster housing may include an opening. The caster may include a caster wheel and a caster stem extending through the opening in the caster housing. The caster stem may be configured to rotate relative to the caster housing. The locking element may be coupled to the caster stem. The first bearing may be coupled to the caster stem. The biasing element may be coupled to the caster stem. The biasing element may be configured to exert a force on the first bearing.