Abstract:
The invention relates to a control device for affecting the accelerator (15) of a vehicle by means of a an actuator, typically a handle (3), arranged within the reach of the driver. The main purpose of use of the invention is to modify vehicles equipped with foot pedal control means so that they become better suitable to be used by disabled persons. The invention is suitable to be used by professional drivers to improve driving comfort. According to the invention, the control device comprises means (20, 21, 30, 20, 60, 30, 20, 80, 30) for locking the actuator (3) with a margin for adjustment into a position in which the actuator (3) is utilized to affect the accelerator (15) of the vehicle, and means (22, 25, 60, 22, 25, 81) for producing a margin for adjustment in said position locked with a margin for adjustment, which margin for adjustment allows the driver to move the actuator (3) and to adjust the accelerator (15) within the adjustment range (31) of the margin of adjustment without releasing said locking. Furthermore, the control device according to the invention comprises means (20, 21, 30, 20, 60, 30, 81, 30) for automatically releasing the locking with a margin for adjustment when the driver turns the actuator (3) more than is allowed by said margin for adjustment.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manipulating at least one auxiliary control device of a vehicle, which auxiliary control device refers to a lever switch (11, 12), or the like, placed in connection with the steering wheel (10) of the vehicle, or a panel switch (16, 17, 18, 19), or the like, placed in the control panel of the vehicle or elsewhere within reach for the driver. According to the invention, at least one auxiliary control device (11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19) of the vehicle is subjected by means of at least one electrical actuator (20, 50) to a mechanical movement / mechanical movements controlled with at least one control means (15) intended for the driver. The control means (15) used are preferaly press-button or rocker switches, or the like, which are placed in an ergonomic way for example in the handle (13) of a manual control device and/or in connection with the steering wheel (10) of the vehicle in a place where they are well within reach for the driver. The invention makes it possible to equip an ordinary vehicle to be suitable for a person with restricted mobility.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the use of a gene transfer product to reduce hyperplastic connective tissue growth after tissue trauma or implantation of a medical device. The present invention also relates to a medical device with improved biological properties for an at least partial contact with blood, bodily fluids and/or tissues when introduced in a mammalian body, which device comprises a core and a nucleic acid, encoding a product capable of leading to production of extracellular superoxide dismutase present in a biologically compatible medium. Said nucleic acid encodes a translation or transcription product, which is capable of inhibiting hyperplastic connective tissue growth and promoting endothelialisation in vivo at least partially on a synthetic surface of said core. The present invention also relates to a method of producing a medical device according to the invention.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the use of a gene transfer product to reduce hyperplastic connective tissue growth after tissue trauma or implantation of a medical device. The present invention also relates to a medical device with improved biological properties for an at least partial contact with blood, bodily fluids and/or tissues when introduced in a mammalian body, which device comprises a core and a nucleic acid, encoding a product capable of leading to production of extracellular superoxide dismutase present in a biologically compatible medium. Said nucleic acid encodes a translation or transcription product, which is capable of inhibiting hyperplastic connective tissue growth and promoting endothelialisation in vivo at least partially on a synthetic surface of said core. The present invention also relates to a method of producing a medical device according to the invention.