Abstract: A hand-held ultrasound system includes integrated electronics within an ergonomic housing. The electronics includes control circuitry, beamforming and circuitry transducer drive circuitry. The electronics communicate with a host computer using an industry standard high speed serial bus. The ultrasonic imaging system is operable on a standard, commercially available, user computing device without specific hardware modifications, and is adapted to interface with an external application without modification to the ultrasonic imaging system to allow a user to gather ultrasonic data on a standard user computing device such as a PC, and employ the data so gathered via an independent external application without requiring a custom system, expensive hardware modifications, or system rebuilds.

Abstract: An automated drug dispensing system includes a cabinet adapted to store a variety of prepackaged pharmaceuticals in a plurality of bins for filling patient prescriptions. Each bin stores a particular variety of packaged multiple-dose pharmaceutical. Each variety of pharmaceutical is associated with a particular code. A controller receives request signals and in response generates dispense signals. Each bin includes a dispenser coupled to the controller for dispensing the packaged pharmaceuticals therefrom in response to a dispense signal sent from the controller. After a package is dispensed, a code reader determines the code of the dispensed package and verifies whether the code on the dispensed package matches the code of the requested package.

Abstract: A tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry including a pulsed ion generator, a timed ion selector in communication with the pulsed ion generator, an ion fragmentor in communication with the ion selector, and an analyzer in communication with the fragmentation chamber. The fragmentation chamber not only produces fragment ions, but also serves as a delayed extraction ion source for the analyzing of the fragment ions by time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A filter includes at least two different adsorptive media. First, chemisorptive media, which is porous and includes an acidic functional group, is used to remove molecular bases, including ammonia, organic amines, imides and aminoalcohols, from the atmosphere used in semiconductor fabrication and other processes that require uncontaminated gaseous environments of high quality. Second, physisorptive media is able to adsorb condensable contaminants, particularly those having a boiling point greater than 150 degrees C. The physisorptive media can include untreated, activated carbon.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment includes a method for monitoring the performance of a filter positioned in an airstream in a semiconductor processing system. The method includes sampling the airstream at a location upstream of the filter to detect the molecular contaminants present in the airstream; identifying a target species of the contaminants upstream; selecting a non-polluting species of a contaminant having a concentration greater than a concentration of the target species; measuring the non-polluting species in the airstream at a plurality of locations; and determining the performance of the filter with respect to the target species from measurements of the non-polluting species. The plurality of locations includes a location downstream of the filter and at a location within the filter. Further, the method for monitoring includes generating a numerical representation of a chromatogram of the airstream sampled at a location upstream of the filter.

Abstract: A filter includes at least two different adsorptive media. First, chemisorptive media, which is porous and includes an acidic functional group, is used to remove molecular bases, including ammonia, organic amines, imides and aminoalcohols, from the atmosphere used in semiconductor fabrication and other processes that require uncontaminated gaseous environments of high quality. Second, physisorptive media is able to adsorb condensable contaminants, particularly those having a boiling point greater than 150 degrees C. The physisorptive media can include untreated, activated carbon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the remote dispensing of packaged and non-packaged medical products using networked communications systems. A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a network to provide for the secure delivery of confidential patient information and the sending of dispense instructions to a remote dispensing station. A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods of dispensing samples of drugs or other medical products. Another preferred embodiment of the invention provides a system and method for dispensing non-prescription medications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for measuring respiratory function of living organisms. More particularly, signals indicative of the change in lung volume, defined as active and passive work, required to breathe and the airflow through the respiratory system of the living organism are obtained and processed as waveforms to provide a signal indicative of the respiratory restriction. The methods of the present invention measure clinical forms of airway obstruction, airway reactivity and lung volume and may be used to continuously or intermittently monitor patients with compromised respiratory function. In a preferred embodiment, a head-out, breath in respiratory plethysmograph system provides the signals indicative of change in lung volume as related to pressure changes in a chamber. Further, flowmetric variables are generated that provide a characterization of airway obstructions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiple beamforming processor formed with an integrated circuit in which a plurality of beams can be formed simultaneously.

Abstract: A system for imaging of bodily tissue in which an x-ray source, an optical storage element, a light source and a detector array are used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the storage element. The storage element reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Each image is directed onto a CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of separate images.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for evaluating the rheological properties of Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids and melts employs the principle of capillary breakup following rapid stretching of the fluid between two plates. The apparatus includes opposed surfaces defining a sample site disposed therebetween. A liquid sample undergoes an extensional deformation between the opposed surfaces which separate using a user-defined motion profile. The time profile of the diameter of the liquid filament is monitored and recorded as a function of time. Preferred embodiments of the present invention include data analysis of the diameter of the filament as a function of time which provides information regarding rheological parameters including, but not limited to, extensional viscosity versus strain.

Abstract: Systems and methods for spectroscopic diagnosis and treatment are employed which utilize molecular spectroscopy to accurately diagnose the condition of tissue. Infrared Raman spectrscopy and infrared attenuated total reflectance measurements are performed utilizing a laser radiation source and a fourier transform spectrometer. Information acquired and analyzed in accordance with the invention provides accurate details of biochemical composition and pathologic condition.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the present invention utilize a plurality of spectroscopic techniques to measure characteristics of tissue useful in the diagnosis of disease. Fluorescence, reflectance and light scattered spectra can be measured and processed to determine the size, distribution and/or composition of tissue. The methods and systems can be used particularly in the early detection of carcinoma within tissue in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant DNA construct comprising a YAC vector and at least a portion of the HCMV genome. The vector is useful as a basic research tool with which to study CMV biology, or as a vaccine with which to immunize a mammalian host against infection by CMV.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of treating erectile dysfunction comprising the step of placing within the fossa navicularis of the patient an effective erection-inducing amount of a prostaglandin E1 composition of a semi-solid consistency, as well as suitable applicators. The composition comprises prostaglandin E1, a penetration enhancer, a polysaccharide gum, a lipophilic compound, and an acidic buffer system. The penetration enhancer is an alkyl-2-(N,N-disubstituted amino)-alkanoate ester, an (N,N-disubstituted amino)-alkanol alkanoate, or a mixture of these. The lipophilic compound may be an aliphatic C1 to C8 alcohol, aliphatic C2 to C30 ester, an aliphatic C8 to C30 ester, or a mixture of these. The composition includes a buffer system capable of providing a buffered pH value for said composition in the range of about 3 to about 7.4.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems of methods of detecting and measuring inclusions in liquid metals. More particularly, non-metallic inclusions having a conductivity level different from the liquid metal melt are forced to migrate and are collected on a measurement surface using electromagnetic Lorentz forces. The inclusions and their concentrations are detected at the measurement surface using either an electrostatic detection system or an optical detection system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for spectroscopic diagnosis and treatment are employed which utilize molecular spectroscopy to accurately diagnose the condition of tissue. Infrared Raman spectroscopy and infrared attenuated total reflectance measurements are performed utilizing a laser radiation source and a fourier transform spectrometer. Information acquired and analyzed in accordance with the invention provides accurate details of biochemical composition and pathologic condition.

Abstract: Conventional ultrasound imaging systems typically include a hand-held probe coupled to a processing and display unit. Typical controls in an ultrasound imaging system require that the operator continually focus on the controls, rather than the ultrasonic image of the area of interest, and manually manipulate the controls by moving their hand along the control panel. By controlling an ultrasonic imaging system from a unitary operating position, defining ultrasonic imaging operations and defining a ranges of values corresponding to each of the ultrasonic imaging operations, ultrasonic image processing is facilitated. An operator selects, via a first control, one of the ultrasonic imaging operations, and then selects, via a second control, a parameter in the range of values corresponding to the selected ultrasonic imaging operation. The ultrasonic imaging system applies the selected ultrasonic imaging operation employing the selected parameter.

Abstract: A multidimensional beamforming device that performs consecutive one-dimensional operations. For example, beamsteering for a two-dimensional array can be include a projection of a beam onto each of the respective axes of the array. In such a device, a first beamforming processing element is used to form multiple beams for each array output along a given row. In a preferred embodiment, sequential output vectors from the first processing element are then applied to a transposing or corner turning memory and the data are reformatted such that all elements on a given column of the array are applied to a second beam forming processing element.