Abstract: A laminated body comprises a thermally conductive sheet, a protective sheet, an auxiliary sheet, a carrier sheet and a coating sheet. The thermally conductive sheet comprises a main sheet body and an adhesive layer. The coefficient of static friction of the main sheet body is 1.0 or lower. The adhesive layer has high adhesiveness in comparison with the main sheet body, and has an outer shape smaller than that of the main sheet body. The protective sheet is formed having an outer shape larger than that of the adhesive layer, and provided with a cutting line extending toward the adhesive layer from the peripheral portion of the protective sheet so that the protective sheet can be cut along the cutting line.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a combination compressor/distractor useful for fitting a spinal stabilization system in a patient through minimally invasive surgery. The spinal stabilization system may comprise screws anchored in vertebrae. The vertebrae may need to be compressed or distracted. One embodiment of an instrument disclosed herein may comprise a shaft for engaging one of the screws through an extender sleeve. A driver may engage another screw through an opening of the instrument. Through this engagement, a surgeon may use the rack and pinion of the instrument to compress or distract one or more levels of the vertebrae in a parallel motion, which can be advantageous clinically in certain situations.

Abstract: The printing machine comprises at least one transfer system for conveying a substrate onto an impression cylinder and at least one screen of cylindrical or flat shape, with a doctor blade, said screen collaborating with the impression cylinder and intended to print the substrate with an ink containing pigments that can be orientated by a magnetic field and an unloading system for carrying the substrate away. The impression cylinder comprises at least one magnetic element on its impression surface, said magnetic element being positioned at a point corresponding to said impression performed by said screen on said substrate.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting noise in cardiac pacing response classification processes involve determining that a cardiac response classification is possibly erroneous if unexpected signal content is detected. The unexpected signal content may comprise signal peaks that have polarity opposite to the polarity of peaks used to determine the cardiac response to pacing. Fusion/noise management processes include pacing at a relatively high energy level until capture is detected after a fusion, indeterminate, or possibly erroneous pacing response classification is made. The relatively high energy pacing pulses may be delivered until capture is detected or until a predetermined number of paces are delivered.

Abstract: A sensor having a sensor bridge supported above a substrate is disclosed. A number of thermally isolating apertures are provided in the sensor bridge to help increase the thermal isolation of the sensor bridge from the substrate. In one illustrative embodiment, a heater element, an upstream sensor element, and/or a downstream sensor element are provided on the sensor bridge. A plurality of apertures may extend through the sensor bridge to thermally isolate the heater element, the upstream and/or downstream sensor element from the substrate and/or from each other. In one illustrative embodiment, the plurality of apertures may be provided at spaced locations adjacent a first lateral side of the sensor bridge, adjacent the second lateral side of the sensor bridge, between the heater element and the upstream sensor element, and/or between the heater element and the downstream sensor element. In some cases, the plurality of apertures may be substantially round, oval, rectangular and/or any other suitable shape.

Abstract: A self-centering shaft adapter may include a first jaw, a second jaw, and an actuation mechanism, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw define an opening for receiving a shaft therein. The actuation mechanism may be able to exert a force upon the first jaw and the second jaw creating a movement in the first jaw and the second jaw in opposite directions. The movement of the first jaw and the second jaw may increase or decrease the size of the opening. In some cases, the opening may maintain a relatively constant center regardless of the size of the opening. In some cases, the actuation mechanism may be a wedge. In other cases, the actuation mechanism may be a double-threaded screw.

Abstract: Provided is a hair-treatment composition containing: a first amphoteric surfactant having a structure represented by general formula (1) below; at least one type of second amphoteric surfactant selected from the group consisting of fatty acid amide propyldimethylaminoacetic acid betaines, alkyldimethylaminoacetic acid betaines, N-acylaminoethyl-N-2-hydroxyethylaminocarboxylic acid salts and N-acylaminoethyl-N-carboxymethoxyethylaminocarboxylic acid salts fatty acid amide propyldimethylaminoacetic acid betaines, alkyldimethylaminoacetic acid betaines; and an acidic amino acid. In general formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group the carbon number of which is 6 to 20; R2 represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, or a hydroxyethyl group; R3 represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, or a —CH2COOH group; and n is an integer from 1 to 3.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to building controllers, and more particularly, to antennas for providing wireless communication capabilities in such building controllers. Methods and systems for automated surface mounting of such antennas are also contemplated and disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adjustable occlusion device for use in a body lumen such as the left atrial appendage. The occlusion device is removably carried by a deployment catheter. The device may be enlarged or reduced to facilitate optimal placement or removal. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solar cell may include a quantum dot and an electron conductor. A bifunctional ligand may be disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The ligand molecule may include an electron conductor anchor that bonds to the electron conductor and a first quantum dot anchor that bonds to the quantum dot. A hole conductor such as a conductive polymer may include a second quantum dot anchor.

Abstract: An improved embolic protection filtering device. In at least some embodiments, an embolic protection filtering device includes a filter wire assembly. The filter wire assembly may include an elongate shaft, a tubular member, and an embolic protection filter.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system and method for measuring flow at a patient utilizing a differential force sensor in order to precisely control the flow of fluid at very low flow rates. The system includes a fluid line through which a fluid is conveyed to the patient, and a flow controller that selectively varies a rate of flow of the fluid through the fluid line. The differential force sensor can be mounted very close to a point of entry of the fluid into the patient's body. An onboard communications device is controllably coupled to the flow controller and to the force sensor, responds to an output signal, and provides a feedback to the flow controller in a closed-loop process. The system can pump the fluid at a higher frequency until the flow rate is actually reached at the patient and then adjust to the flow rate needed to ensure patient health.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing capture threshold tests are described. During an initialization procedure a capture detection interval and capture detection threshold are determined based on peak values of cardiac signals sensed following the supracapture threshold initialization pulses. Following initialization, a plurality of pacing pulses to the atrium are delivered and the peak values of the cardiac signals sensed following each of the plurality of pacing pulses are determined. The peak values are compared to the pacing artifact threshold and the capture detection threshold. A timing of each of the peak values is compared to the capture detection interval. For each pacing pulse, discrimination between a captured response, a noncaptured response, and a fusion response is based on the peak value and timing comparisons.

Abstract: A system for one dimensional segmentation of an iris of an eye into a map of the iris and classification of the map into unaffected areas and affected areas. Also, the system may provide for regular shape fitting of the areas for normalization and identifying the unaffected areas as symmetric segments. Further, the system may assign weights to the unaffected areas and the affected areas of the map of the iris and an enrolled map of an iris and their corresponding bins for matching purposes.

Abstract: A system for social network construction. Video analytics and association may be used to develop a social network. Also, social groups may be developed from temporal proximity of persons. In the case of several social networks, they may be collapsed into one network or a weighted graph that mining algorithms can handle.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for integrating multiple communication systems including multiple wireless communication protocols into a single system are discussed. In an illustrative example, a communication system includes a device adapted to communicate via first and second wireless communication protocols. The system may further include local area network or other wired sub-network, with the device adapted for first and second protocols also being adapted to operate using the local area network or other wired sub-network.

Abstract: A magnetic field effect sensor system having giant magneto-impedance elements. The elements may be elongated strips, and in proximity to and parallel with one another, and connected in series with connections or electrodes. The elements may have a regular shape without turns. They may have a single- or multi-layer structure. Some of the layers in the elements may contain a soft magnetic material, for instance, which form a closed loop for magnetic flux around a non-magnetic conductor.

Abstract: A solar cell including a quantum dot and an electron conductor, and a bifunctional ligand disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The bifunctional ligand molecule may include an electron conductor anchor that bonds to the electron conductor and a first quantum dot anchor that bonds to the quantum dot. A hole conductor such as a conductive polymer may include a second quantum dot anchor.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for selection of automatic capture verification modes. A number of capture verification modes are evaluated, wherein at least one of the capture verification modes has a distinct temporal relationship between delivery of a pacing pulse and detection of capture of heart tissue by the pacing pulse than the other capture verification modes. One or more capture verification modes are selected based on the evaluation. Capture verification is implemented using the selected one or more capture verification modes.

Abstract: A building controller for controlling the comfort level in a building is described. The building controller may include a thermostat and wireless remote controller for communicating with the thermostat from a remote location. The thermostat may have access to a first temperature sensor for sensing a first temperature, sometimes at or near the thermostat. The remote controller may likewise have a second temperature sensor for sensing a second temperature, sometimes at or near the remote controller. Under some conditions, the thermostat may use the second temperature sensed by the remote controller to control the comfort level in a building unless or until a predetermined condition is detected, after which the thermostat may use a different temperature, such as the first temperature at or near the thermostat, to control the comfort level in a building.