Apparatus is described for administering a substance to a subject. A vial contains the substance and a stopper is disposed within the vial and is slidably coupled to the vial. A first threaded element is (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element. A second threaded element is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element. At least a distal end of the second threaded element is substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial, and the distal end of the second threaded element defines a coupling portion that couples the second threaded element to the stopper. The first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advances the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus is described for administering a substance to a subject. A vial contains the substance and a stopper is disposed within the vial and is slidably coupled to the vial. A first threaded element is (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element. A second threaded element is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element. At least a distal end of the second threaded element is substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial, and the distal end of the second threaded element defines a coupling portion that couples the second threaded element to the stopper. The first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advances the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial. Other embodiments are also described.

A lead screw operated drawout mechanism for an electrical system is disclosed. The lead screw operated drawout mechanism includes a lead screw, a nut, a drive shaft and a connecting mechanism. The lead screw is supported on a support frame in a way such that the lead screw rotates with respect to the support frame. The nut is disposed on the lead screw, wherein rotary motion of the lead screw facilitates linear motion of the nut on the lead screw. The drive shaft is rigidly disposed on the nut and configures linear motion along with the nut. The connecting mechanism is functionally connected to the drive shaft and the electrical system for facilitating activation and de-activation of the electrical system.

Methods of depositing materials to provide for efficient coupling of light from a first device to a second device are disclosed. In general, these methods include mounting one or more wafers on a rotating table that is continuously rotated under one or more source targets. A process gas can be provided and one or more of the source targets powered while the wafers are biased to deposit optical dielectric films on the one or more wafers. In some embodiments, a shadow mask can be laterally translated across the one or more wafers during deposition. In some embodiments, deposited films can have lateral and/or horizontal variation in index of refraction and/or lateral variation in thickness.

A surgical device adapter for coupling an end effector to a handle assembly is disclosed. The surgical device adapter includes: a housing; a drive mechanism disposed within the housing and couplable to the handle assembly and the end effector; and a drive coupling assembly coupled to the surgical device adapter and selectively couplable to the handle assembly, the drive coupling assembly including a retraction assembly selectively couplable to the drive mechanism such that rotation of the drive coupling assembly about a longitudinal axis defined by the surgical device adapter and relative to the housing actuates the drive mechanism.

The invention concerns a spindle drive for the motorized adjustment of an adjusting element of a vehicle, comprising a drive motor with a motor shaft, a speed reduction gear mechanism, and a feed gear mechanism, the speed reduction gear mechanism having a planetary gear mechanism and the feed gear mechanism being designed as a spindle/spindle nut gear mechanism, the planetary gear mechanism having a rotatable sun gear and coaxially in relation thereto a rotatable planet-gear carrier and a fixed or fixable ring gear, and the planet-gear carrier carrying at least one rotatable planet gear, which is in axially parallel engagement with the sun gear on the one hand and the ring gear on the other hand, the drive motor, the speed reduction gear mechanism and the feed gear mechanism being accommodated one behind the other in a substantially elongate drive housing and aligned with a common longitudinal drive axis.

Apparatus is described for administering a substance to a subject. A vial contains the substance and a stopper is disposed within the vial and is slidably coupled to the vial. A first threaded element is (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element. A second threaded element is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element. At least a distal end of the second threaded element is substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial, and the distal end of the second threaded element defines a coupling portion that couples the second threaded element to the stopper. The first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advances the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial. Other embodiments are also described.

An improved device and method of lubrication for a tongue jack, 5th wheel jack, or other jack or other threaded positioning device. Ports are provided in the inner and outer tubes of the jack. The aligned ports provide access to a lubrication cavity in the jacknut. The lubrication cavity may include a grease fitting such as a zerk fitting. When the ports are in alignment, a grease gun can be inserted easily to the zerk fitting to apply grease to the interior structure of the nut as well as to the threads of the jackscrew. The lubricant may be introduced directly at a region of contact between a screw and the load bearing element. Applicant's test results show that this improved lubrication can increase the life cycle of the jack by more than 100%.

A variable area fan nozzle assembly for a turbofan engine includes a nacelle having an aft edge and a translating thrust reverser sleeve with a trailing edge. The thrust reverser sleeve is movably disposed aft of the nacelle's aft edge and is movable between a forward position and an aft position. A translating fan nozzle having a forward edge is movably disposed behind the trailing edge, and is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. An upstream bypass flow exit is defined between the trailing edge and the forward edge when the fan nozzle is in the deployed position. An extendable actuation system is configured to move the fan nozzle between the stowed position and the deployed position.

A power tool includes a pneumatic motor with an output shaft, a spindle that is drivingly connected to the output shaft via a drive gear to provide a rotational movement to the spindle and via a feed gear to provide a translational movement to the spindle. A cylinder that governs the gear transmission to the feed gear is arranged to be translated between a retraction gearing position and an advancement gearing position. The retraction gearing includes a retraction torque limiting coupling adapted to be released when an operational torque (T) exceeds a retraction threshold torque (T.sub.R) in order to terminate retraction. A lock mechanism is arranged to selectively block the cylinder in the retraction gearing position through engagement between a tooth of a ratchet on the lock mechanism and a shoulder on the cylinder. The lock mechanism assures that the cylinder is kept in the retraction gearing position during an initial phase of the retraction of the spindle.