Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enabling the sensing of changes in pressure in response to uterine muscle tone changes relating to contractions, and for enabling the evaluation of contractions based thereon. The system enables a portion thereof to effectively and efficiently project at least partially below the non-compressed abdominal surface, and provides electrical isolation of the system elements. It enables ease of use and enhanced patient comfort. It also enables maximized sensitivity and minimized system loading retention pressure.

Abstract: A secure user authentication system, operable over a client-server communications network to authenticate a system user. The system includes an application server which includes a site which is able to be enabled, and an authentication server, which is able to enable the application server site. The authentication server includes a core database, and receives and stores user authentication-enabling data in the core database. The system further includes a client, and a client program which is able to be actuated in the client. The client program includes the user authentication-enabling data. Upon actuation, the client program automatically directly connects to the authentication server, and sends the client authentication-enabling data to the authentication server, for secure user authentication by the authentication server.

Abstract: A system utilizing enterprise metrics measurement groups, including but not limited to: 1) CLARITY (or “alignment”) is the overall level of agreement and understanding among the members of the organization or organizational unit; 2) INVOLVEMENT is a measure of how effectively the organization's members are engaged in carrying out the tasks that are viewed as important to it; 3) LEVERAGE is the degree to which the existence of an organization provides its members with greater influence than they would have a independent individuals; 4) PRIORITY is a measure of the perceived impact of all the issues examined in an EnCompass study; 5) RELATIVE PRIORITY is a measure of the perceived impact of a selected issue, as compared with that of the other issues under consideration; and 6) INTEGRATION measures the degree of interconnection between two organizations or organizational units, by examining the links between them.

Abstract: An article for enabling disconnection of a closure from a container, and the output of sound thereupon. The article includes a closure capture enabling element, for enabling capture of the closure, and a handle, connected to the closure capture enabling element, for enabling movement of the closure capture enabling element for capture, disconnection, and removal of the closure thereby relative to the container. It also includes a sound outputting circuit, for enabling sound to be outputted upon capture and movement of the closure in a direction for enabling disconnection of the closure from the container, and a sound outputting actuation enabling element, for enabling actuation of the sound outputting element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enabling control of the temperature of a receptacle in a satellite for containing a brewed fluid, so as to enable control of the temperature of the brewed fluid in the receptacle upon transfer of the brewed fluid from a brewing machine into the receptacle. The control of the temperature of the receptacle is responsive to contactless and wireless transfer of power and communication between the brewing machine and the satellite, and to generating, communicating, and processing fluid temperature measurement-enabling data between the brewing machine and the satellite, so as to enable control of the temperature of the brewed fluid.

Abstract: A writing instrument barrel, comprising a body portion, which is generally tubular, and which has a hollow channel extending therethrough. It includes an inner surface, including a paint-adhering material applied to the inner surface for enabling paint to adhere thereto, and paint applied to the paint-adhering material on at least a portion of the inner surface of the body portion to form a painted inner surface. The hollow channel includes opposed ends and openings at the opposed ends thereof. The paint is able to be applied by a brush with paint on the tip thereof, which is able to be extended through the openings in the body portion.

Abstract: A coil element, comprising a quadrature surface coil, includes side by side loops, slightly overlapped to the degree necessary to cancel mutual inductance. A coil includes a split-capacitor configuration for balanced-to-unbalanced conversion between the coil and a coaxial cable, without interfering with the highly magnetic environment of a magnetic resonance imaging system. A coil includes multiple diodes and current stabilizing impedances in parallel, or alternatively a combination of a fast low-power PIN diode and a slow high-power diode to effectively multiply the power handling capability of fast diodes for passive decoupling in a decoupling circuit for reducing the risk to the patient over active decoupling. A coil includes a counter-rotating decoupling circuit to cancel the effects of decoupler radiation, and to prevent lowering of the quality factor of the decoupling circuit and the detection of undesirable image artifacts.

Abstract: By means of having taken advantage of certain physical properties of solids with a manufacturing process of incrementally deforming hollow links, there is produced new hollow simulated diamond cut multifaceted jewelry rope chain, which results in a product weighing up to 60% less than its solid counterpart, but which in its aesthetic looks is similar to solid diamond cut jewelry chains, and furthermore, with a hardness greater than the same hollow chain that has not gone through the process. This invention presents a new diamond cut chain, which costs a fraction of the price of a solid chain aesthetically similar, and in which the chain may vary in cross-section, such as forming a square or a hexagon.

Abstract: A fluid container draining device for draining fluid from a fluid container, an oil filter, in a controlled manner. The fluid container draining device has a threaded screw with a sharpened tip and a channel communicating between an opening at a forward end of the screw and a rear region of the threaded screw. When the screw is turned it will penetrate the wall of the fluid container and enter the fluid containing cavity of the fluid container. The threaded screw has a radially extending abutment surface to provide fluid tight sealing between the screw and the fluid container's walls to prevent fluid leakage. A fluid valve is positioned at the rear region of the screw to provide fluid flow control between the interior of the fluid container and outside the fluid container. The fluid valve is provided with a fitting for connection to a suction line to thereby permit fluid to be evacuated from the fluid container.

Abstract: By means of having taken advantage of certain physical properties of solids with a manufacturing process of incrementally deforming hollow links, there is produced new hollow diamond cut jewelry rope chain, which results in a product weighing up to 60% less than its solid counterpart, but which in its aesthetic looks is similar to solid diamond cut jewelry chains, and furthermore, with a hardness greater than the same hollow chain that has not gone through the process. This invention presents a new diamond cut chain, which costs a fraction of the price of a solid chain aesthetically similar.

Abstract: A quick adjusting shoe lacing system. The system has a cinch plate having eyelets which are spaced apart to about the same distance as eyelets formed in the lacing area of the shoe. The shoe laces are laced through the cinch plate eyelets along with the eyelets in the lacing area of the shoe. A strap, fixably attached at a lower end to the shoe and loopable at an upper end through a slot in the cinch plate is used to adjustably pull the cinch plate and the shoe laces looped through its eyelets downwardly and thus increase the shoe lace tension. Alternatively, a latching buckle linked to the cinch place via a wire loop can be used to affect changes in lace tension. These changes in lace tension can be affected even after the shoe laces are laced and tied up, offering the ability to make quick and fine adjustments to shoe laces.

Abstract: A polymeric contrast enhancing agent for magnetic resonance images having a chelating agent, which can be bound to metal ions having at least one unpaired electron, such as gadolinium. Examples of such chelating agents include DTPA-ethylenediamide-methacrylate copolymer and poly-(DTPA-ethylenediamide). These contrast enhancing agents, bound to the metal ions, are then administered to a patient, and following this the MR images are taken.

Abstract: A fluid sampling device for use in obtaining a precise volume of fluid to be sampled from a sealed vessel equipped with a hydraulic fitting to which the fluid sampling device is connectable. The device has a fluid sampling float chamber with an internally sealable top opening which opens into a bottom end of an air channel and a bottom opening which opens into a top end of a fluid channel. A floating ball is located in said fluid sampling float chamber and is sized to be sealingly sealable at the top opening. A vacuum generating means relying on air flow through a venturi to draw air out of the fluid sampling chamber through the air channel is located above the top opening of the float chamber. An air valve is located downstream of the venturi for controlling the direction of air flow though the venturi. A hydraulic coupler is located at a bottom end of the fluid channel which when connected to the hydraulic fitting on the sealed vessel opens, but when disconnected from the fitting closes.

Abstract: A reusable viscous material dispensing system. The system has a sealed pressure cylinder with a rounded upper region with an inert gas inlet, and a rounded bottom region with a viscous material ingress and egress opening. A pressurizing boat is contained in the cylinder. The pressurizing boat has a lower, hull portion which is weighted with ballast, and an upper portion. The lower, hull portion and upper portion join along a circular interface region. The diameter of the circular interface region is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylinder. The boat floats in the cylinder filled with viscous materials, such as thick lubricating greases. The viscous material forms a gaseous pressure seal between the interface region of the boat and inside of the pressure cylinder. Fins extend radially outwardly from the interface region of the pressurizing boat. These fins prevent the interface region from scraping viscous materials off the sidewalls of the pressure cylinder.