Abstract: A substrate comprising a paper layer and at least one biodegradable polymer layer extruded thereon is provided. The paper layer may have an extruded polymer layer on each side, it may have multiple polymer layers extruded on one side, or both. Additives appropriate for the particular use of the substrate may be added to one or more of the polymer layers.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming the bottom end wall of a carton from a rectangular carton blank having oppositely disposed scored end panels and oppositely disposed unscored end panels includes a rotating mandrel assembly adapted to receive an open-ended carton blank through an open top end of the carton blank, a heating station, a folding station and a sealing station. The folding station has a pair of oppositely disposed reciprocating break fingers to contact and fold inwardly the scored bottom end panels and biasing means for folding inwardly down the unscored bottom end panels. The folding station is rotatable 90° between two functional orientations, a first orientation wherein the break fingers are aligned in the direction of mandrel movement, and a second orientation in which the break fingers are perpendicular to the direction of mandrel movement.

Abstract: A broadband ultrasonic transducer has a layer of piezoelectric material sandwiched between respective layers of backing and matching material. The piezoelectric element is coupled to a pair of electrical terminals, across which a varying voltage is produced. The piezoelectric layer has a structure such that in response to the varying voltage, a forward-propagating wave emanating from its back surface does not destructively interfere with a forward-propagating wave emanating from its front surface when the frequency of the waves is an even multiple of the half-wave frequency of the particular piezoelectric layer. This effect can be attained by roughening the back surface of the piezoelectric layer or by spatially varying the piezoelectric coupling in the thickness direction in a portion of the piezoelectric layer which is proximate to the back surface.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for informing a system user that the full charge capacity of the battery is less than the design capacity. One horizontal fuel gauge icon for each battery is displayed on the host system display panel. The fuel gauge is displayed as three overlapping rectangles which are left justified. The first layer is a dashed outline, always the same width, representing the design capacity of the battery. The second layer is a solid outline representing the full capacity as a percentage of the design capacity. As a battery wears, this level will become a smaller percentage of the full rated capacity indicated by the dashed line. The third layer is a filled rectangle representing the present (actual) capacity as a percentage of the full capacity.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a seal device (1), for example for use with an obturating device such as a cone value (2) of an intermediate bulk container (3) (IBC) which is set down at a discharge station (4) with a sealing arrangement therebetween so that when a lifting member such as a cone (5) of the discharge station (4) is operated to raise the cone valve (2) and open a flow path for flowable material such as a powder from the IBC through the discharge station (4). In order to provide a seal, the seal device (1) of an elastomeric material, has an annular seal surface (6) and means (7) which enhances sealing by the sealing surface (6).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for imaging blood motion by displaying an enhanced image of the fluctuating speckle pattern. The first step in the blood motion image processing is high-pass filtering of the signal vector from each range gate. Following high-pass filtering, a speckle signal is formed. The speckle signal is then subjected to a nonlinear scale conversion. The resulting speckle signal is displayed as the desired blood motion image concurrently with a corresponding tissue image.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for configuring computer tasks which construct data objects. The system user is able to configure these tasks by the simple expedient of clicking on a toggle switch displayed on a user interface screen or menu. In response to operation of the toggle switch, a selected one of a pair of attribute control files associated with the particular task will be utilized during object construction. The menu contains a list of the activated configured remote devices for the particular imaging system. Next to each device name is a virtual toggle switch (defaulted to OFF). In the OFF state, the task will be configured in accordance with the first attribute control file which is compliant with a first communications standard. If the user toggles the switch for a particular device to ON (this can be done on a per device basis), then the task will be configured in accordance with the second attribute control file which is compliant with a second communications standard.

Abstract: In ultrasound imaging, acquired images are corrupted by slowly varying multiplicative non-uniformity. When the image is corrected for non-uniformity alone, noise in the dark regions of the original image becomes multiplicatively enhanced, thereby providing an unnatural look to the image. A pre-filtering technique is used to reduce noise in ultrasound pixel images by shrinking initial image data and processing the shrunken image with known segmentation-based filtering techniques that identify and differentially process structures within the image. The segmentation is based on both gradient threshold and the distance from the near field of the ultrasound image. This modification selectively suppresses near-field artifacts. After processing, the shrunken image is enlarged to the dimensions of the initial data and then blended with the initial image to form the final image.

Abstract: A docking station for a portable electronic device, such as a portable patient monitor of the type used in health care facilities. In particular, the docking station can be installed at a bedside location in a health care facility. The docking station is designed to provide electrical and mechanical connection of AC power and communication devices to the portable electronic device. An intuitive, top-down mounting mechanism locks the electronic device in place without user input. A front facing security lever on the docking station, which can be operated with one hand, provides engagement of electrical connectors and positive locking of the electronic device to the docking station. The docking station combines and provides AC power to the electronic device's AC mains connector, Ethernet signals to communicate with a local area network (LAN), DC power, and asynchronous communication signals to communicate with ancillary devices.

Abstract: A system and a method for adjusting contrast and brightness in an image, e.g., an ultrasound image. The contrast and brightness are adjusted by processing global pixel intensity data to form a set of data representing a histogram. An algorithm is then employed to filter the pixel intensity values as a function of certain characteristics of the histogram data. The algorithm is designed to enhance contrast and brightness without affecting the near-field region in the ultrasound image. The filtering operations may be performed by a dedicated processor or by a fast general-purpose computer.

Abstract: A method and a system for automatically activating and deactivating a data logging function on a remotely located medical imaging device from a central service facility in response to acquisition of updated service contract information. Customer profiling and service contract data are automatically processed at a central facility to detect that a medical imaging device is now under contract to receive regular scanner utilization reports. The scanner data logging function is then automatically turned on from the central facility. The central facility then monitors the receipt of scanner data log files to ensure that the first data log file has been successfully transmitted from activated medical imaging device, for processing and subsequent utilization report delivery. In the case of an expired service contract, the data logging feature on the medical imaging device is automatically deactivated from the central facility.

Abstract: A scanner or other system has an actuator, a mechanical device having three states corresponding to three respective positions of the actuator, and a pedal mechanism. The pedal mechanism comprises: a support structure; first and second slotted arms pivotably mounted to the support structure; first and second latches respectively pivotably mounted to the first and second arms; a pivot part pivotably mounted to the support structure; and a mechanism for converting pivoting of the pivot part into movement of the actuator, e.g., swinging of a lever. The pivot part has first and second extensions which extend in generally opposite directions and which respectively protrude through the slots in the first and second arms. The pedal arms, latches and pivot part cooperate to enable the position of the actuator to be controlled by depressing one pedal at a time.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling flowable material, e.g., an intermediate bulk container or IBC, comprises an aperture in the form of an outlet having a closure device in the form of a discharge valve movable between a position to obturate the outlet and a position to allow flow of material through the outlet, and an integral member which is adapted to secure the valve in the obturated position. The integral member is in the form of relatively rigid annular lock or lock ring mounted between the body and a probe. This integral member is thus positioned radially inwardly of the body and has an outer peripheral surface with a step configuration complementary to that of the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid removal apparatus comprising a body for disposal in a mixture of particulate material and a liquid, comprising an inlet adapted to allow entry of substantially only a liquid, and conduit means in liquid communication with the inlet for entrainment of liquid away from the inlet. The inlet comprises a releasable end cap at an end thereof remote from the conduit means that is releasable by means of the conduit means.

Abstract: A spraying apparatus without electrical connections comprising means for controlling air supplies with signals generated with compressed air. The apparatus may further include a metering device which delivers metered amounts of powder to a spray gun and which may be controlled by the same compressed air which controls the air supplies.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for optimizing operating parameters in an ultrasound imaging system in response to the occurrence of predetermined changes in the pixel intensity histogram of successive image frames. In the method, changes in the pixel intensity histogram of successive image frames are monitored and when the detected changes indicate probe movement, re-optimization of the operating parameters is automatically triggered. In the course of re-optimization, mapping, compression, scaling or beamforming parameters can be adjusted based on pixel intensity histogram characteristics determined by the system computer.

Abstract: An open cell foam with thermal memory characteristic is used as an indicator for heat damage to an article containing heat sensitive contents packaged in a carton. The foam material may be a polyurethane-based thermoplastic polymer referred to as “Cold Hibernated Elastic Memory” (CHEM) foam. The thermal memory foam can be produced in compressed form and used as inserts in the carton. Upon exposure to a temperature at or above the foam glass transition temperature, the foam insert expands to substantially its original shape (volume) so as to apply a compressive force against the article, making it difficult to remove from the carton. Alternatively, the expanded foam will deform the carton walls, providing an external indication of heat damage. The foam can also be used as a heat-indicating element in an inspection panel of the carton, which ruptures so as to provide external indication of heat damage.

Abstract: A scale for measuring weight with natural stone on the surface of the base of the scale. The natural stone has a pleasing aesthetic appearance, is comfortable to stand on and is hygienic.