1. An invalid hoist comprising a support member, a bar pivotally connected to the support member, drive means for driving the bar for pivotal movement relative to the support member and damper means, independent of the drive means, for damping movement of the arm relative to the support member.
2. A hoist according to claim 1, wherein the damper means comprises a housing connected to one of the support member and the bar, and a rod connected to the other of the support member and the bar, the rod extending into the housing and being connected to a moveable partition which divides the housing into two chambers.
3. A hoist according to claim 2, further comprising a restrict flow path to allow fluid to flow, at a restricted rate, between the chambers.
4. A hoist according to claim 3, wherein the restricted flow path is defined by at least one small opening provided in the partition.
5. A hoist according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second damper means located adjacent the said damper means.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A taste-modifying kit for facilitating cleansing the gastrointestinal tract of a subject comprising: a premeasured amount of at least one pH-modifying agent, at least one taste-modifying substance, and instruction material indicating that the gastrointestinal tract of the subject is to be cleansed by a method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining the pH of a gastrointestinal tract preparation composition, wherein the pH ranges from about 1 to about 6.9 or is adjusted to range from about 1 to about 6.9 using the at least one pH-modifying agent;
(b) providing the at least one taste-modifying substance to the subject; and
(c) administering orally the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition to the subject after step (b).
2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the pH-modifying agent is an acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, acetic acid and ascorbic acid, phosphoric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, adipic acid, butyric acid, glyconic acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid and mixtures thereof.
3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the pH-modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof.
4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the taste-modifying substance is a sour taste-modifying agent.
5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the sour taste-modifying substance is miraculin.
6. The kit of claim 5, wherein miraculin comprises miracle fruit, flesh of miracle fruit, miracle fruit granules, miracle berry, miracle berry extracts, miracle fruit tablets, miracle berry tablets, or miraculin produced by a genetically modified organism.
7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the premeasured amount of the pH-modifying agent is sufficient to adjust the pH of the gastrointestinal tract preparation solution to a pH ranging from about 3 to about 6.4.
8. The kit of claim 1, wherein the taste-modifying substance is provided to the subject from about 1 minute to about 1 hour before the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition is administered.
9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the taste-modifying substance is provided from about 5 minutes to about 30 minutes before the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition is administered.
10. The kit of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition has a salty taste, and wherein the salty taste is reduced by at least 20% compared to the salty taste of the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition had the taste-modifying substance not been provided.
11. The kit of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tract is the intestine and the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition is a bowel preparation solution.
12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the intestine is the colon.
13. The kit of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tract is cleansed prior to carrying out a diagnostic, therapeutic andor surgical procedure on the patient.
14. The kit of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tract is cleansed prior to an endoscopy.
15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the endoscopy is a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.
16. The kit of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal tract is cleansed prior to a barium enema examination, capsule endoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, colon surgery or gastrointestinal tract surgery.
17. The kit of claim 1, wherein the taste-modifying substance is selected from the group consisting of thaumatin, monellin, mabinlin, brazzein, pentadin, curculin, neuculin, miraculin and mixtures thereof.
18. A method for cleansing the gastrointestinal tract of a patient comprising the steps of:
(a) determining the pH of a gastrointestinal tract preparation composition which has a salty taste, wherein the pH ranges from about 1 to about 6.9 or is adjusted to range from about 1 to about 6.9;
(b) providing a taste-modifying substance to the patient; and
(c) reducing the salty taste of the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition by at least 20% compared to the salty taste of the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition had the taste-modifying substance not been provided, by administering orally the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition to the patient after step (b), wherein the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition is for preparing the gastrointestinal tract of the patient for an endoscopy, a gastrointestinal tract surgery or a barium enema.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the taste-modifying substance is a sour taste-modifying agent.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the sour taste-modifying agent is miraculin.