Abstract: An apparatus for implantation in an annulus of a tricuspid valve. The apparatus has an anterior annulus aspect, a posterior annulus aspect, and an atrioventricular (AV) node located adjacent the anterior annulus aspect. The apparatus includes an ovoid main body portion. The main body portion has an anterior body segment adapted for placement adjacent the anterior annulus aspect, a posterior body segment located opposite the anterior body portion and adapted for placement adjacent the posterior annulus aspect, and oppositely disposed left and right side body segments extending between the anterior and posterior body segments. At least two valve leaflets are secured within the main body portion and are coaptable to permit unidirectional flow of blood. A cushioned section is attached to the main body portion, coextends with a portion of the main body portion, and is adapted for placement adjacent the AV node.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a magneto-optical trap (MOT) housing substantially surrounding atoms in an atom trapping region. The housing includes a first end that is substantially open to receive light that is substantially collimated and a second end opposite the first end that includes an aperture that emits a cold atom beam from the atom trapping region. The housing also includes a housing section surrounding and extending along a substantially central axis having a substantially reflective interior peripheral surface that reflects the light to generate an optical force on the atoms. The housing further includes an optical mask located substantially at the first end and along the substantially central axis that is configured to occlude the atom trapping region from the light to substantially prevent direct illumination of the atoms by unreflected light.

Abstract: An orthotic brace (30) for a joint includes a bracing device (40) having first and second portions (42, 44) movable relative to one another and a mechanism (100) for placing the bracing device (40) in a first condition in which the first portion (42) has a first resistance to movement relative to the second portion (44) and a second condition in which the first portion (42) has a second, different resistance to movement relative to the second portion (44). The mechanism (100) is capable of placing the bracing device (40) in a third condition in which the first portion (42) has a third resistance to movement relative to the second portion (44) that is between the first and second resistance.

Abstract: A distributor for supplying consumers of an industrial plant with electricity and with fluid and for transmitting communication signals from and to the consumers has separate feed connections for supplying electricity and fluid as well as a collective line for communication signals. It further has a plurality of identical hybrid plug connectors which include plug connector elements for electric power supply, for fluid supply, and for communication signals and which are in communication with the corresponding feed connections and with the collective line, respectively.

Abstract: A method for covering a vehicle interior part with leather, particularly a vehicle steering wheel, includes the following steps: A leather piece being cut to size and having a front side, a rear side, and edges is provided with a thermoplastic layer on the rear side. The leather piece is fastened on the vehicle interior part by a high frequency welding process in a region of the thermoplastic layer.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for a collaboration input/output (I/O) system. The collaboration I/O system may comprise a display screen and a gesture image system. The gesture image system may be configured to generate image data associated with a location and an orientation of a first sensorless input object relative to a background surface. The collaboration I/O system may also comprise a transceiver. The transceiver could be configured to transmit the image data to at least one additional collaboration I/O system at at least one remote location. The transceiver can be further configured to receive image data from each of the at least one additional collaboration I/O system, such that the display screen can be configured to display the image data associated with a location and orientation of a sensorless input object associated with each of the at least one additional collaboration I/O system superimposed over a common image of visual data.

Abstract: A bone fixation device may include a primary bone plate. The primary bone plate may include an elongate member having a first fastener-receiving passageway therein to receive a first fastener to anchor the primary bone plate to a long bone of a patient, and an enlarged head member extending from the elongate member and having a secondary bone plate-receiving passageway therein. The bone fixation device may also include a secondary bone plate received in the secondary bone plate-receiving passageway and having a second fastener-receiving passageway therein to receive a second fastener to anchor the secondary bone plate to fractured end portions of the long bone of the patient.

Abstract: A tool is proposed to assist detachment of an apparatus which has a housing adhering flatly on a pane, particularly of a sensor on the front windscreen of a vehicle, in which the apparatus housing has a surface with an exposed edge spaced from the pane. The tool has the form of a lug which has at least one engagement member on one longitudinal end, which engagement member can be engaged on the exposed edge of the apparatus and is provided with an opening or recess for a lever tool at a longitudinal distance from the engagement member. The tool is applied to the apparatus by engaging the engagement member behind the exposed edge on the apparatus housing. Then the lever tool, e.g. a simple bar or a screwdriver, is pushed through the opening or recess and is applied to bear on the top of the apparatus housing. The free end of the lever is then slowly raised, thereby lifting the housing off the pane.

Abstract: A method for detecting small oligonucleotides includes providing a biological isolate containing at least one small oligonucleotide. The biological isolate may be contacted with at least one detection oligonucleotide having a label moiety and at least one bridge oligonucleotide under conditions such that the at least one small oligonucleotide and the at least one detection oligonucleotide are preferentially added to the bridge oligonucleotide to produce at least one labeled small oligonucleotide. At least one ligating reagent may be added to preferentially join the at least one small oligonucleotide and the at least one detection oligonucleotide. The at least one labeled small oligonucleotide may then be detected.

Abstract: During operation of a vending machine, an image is obtained of an area of interest in the vending machine. As a product selected by a customer moves toward a product retrieval location, images of the area of interest are obtained and transmitted to the data base. Images in the data base are compared to determine whether or not the selected product has moved to the area of interest.

Abstract: A mobile communication unit is provided that employs a propagation algorithm to determine connectivity loss boundaries that define connectivity loss regions based on one or more forward projected position vector paths of the mobile communication unit and connectivity data. The mobile communication unit further comprises a map renderer configured to provide map display data that includes the map area data, situational awareness location data and the determined connectivity loss boundaries, and a display configured to display the map display data as a geographical map area with an icon of the mobile communication unit located in a geographic location of the geographical map area and drawn connectivity loss boundaries that define connectivity loss regions in a geographic location of the geographical map area.

Abstract: An image enhancing system for a vehicle comprises a display unit for displaying modified images and an imaging device for receiving captured images—enhanced by the image enhancing system. The system further includes an image enhancing module in communication with the display unit and the imaging device—such that pixels located in the captured images are enhanced by repositioning the pixels from a first position to a second position via a transfer operation.

Abstract: A fastening clamp for connecting a carrier part (13) and an add-on part (14) has a plug-through leg (1), with a plug-through sleeve (5), and a threaded leg (2), which is connected to a thread unit (10). The plug-through sleeve (5) extends away from the threaded leg (2) and has an effective overall height which is greater than the thickness of an add-on part (14). Engagement elements (11) are present on that side of the thread leg (2) which is directed towards the plug-through leg (1). In a pre-assembly arrangement, the legs (1, 2) are spaced apart by a distance which is large enough to allow a carrier part (13) to be positioned between the legs (1, 2) such that it is essentially free of engagement with the engagement elements (11), in which case, once a screw has been screwed into an end position, the engagement elements (11) thus engage with the carrier part (13) such that the fastening clamp is connected in a non-displaceable manner to the carrier part (13).

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator (10) for use in a safety device for motor vehicles comprising a housing and a propellant (4) contained in a combustion chamber (25) of the housing for generating a pressurized gas, the housing comprising a first housing part (40) and a second housing part (30) at least partly surrounded by the first housing part (40) and at least one igniter (6) for igniting the propellant (4), and an annular filter (50) surrounding the combustion chamber (25) in which the propellant (4) is located. The filter (50) comprises a peripheral portion (52) and a radial portion (51), the radial portion (51) serving as filling body for the propellant (4) in the combustion chamber (25).

Abstract: A method for treating asthma in a subject includes inserting a therapy delivery device into a vessel of a subject. The therapy delivery device is advanced to a point substantially adjacent an intraluminal target site of the autonomic nervous system. Next, the therapy delivery device is activated to deliver a therapy signal to the intraluminal target site to treat the asthma. The intraluminal target site is in electrical communication with nervous tissue selected from the group consisting of a spinal nerve, pre- or post-ganglionic autonomic fibers, a sympathetic chain ganglion, a thoracic sympathetic chain ganglion, a cervical ganglion, a lower cervical ganglion, an inferior cervical ganglion, an intramural ganglion, a splanchnic nerve, an esophageal plexus, a cardiac plexus, a pulmonary plexus, an anterior pulmonary plexus, a posterior pulmonary plexus, a celiac plexus, a hypogastric plexus, an inferior mesenteric ganglion, a celiac ganglion, and a superior mesenteric ganglion.

Abstract: An eyelid has a natural lash line containing natural eyelashes. An eyelash adornment apparatus for the eyelid includes a plurality of lash subassemblies. Each lash subassembly includes an elongated mounting portion and a plurality of elongated lash filaments. Each lash filament has a filament base and an oppositely disposed filament tip. The filament base is attached to the mounting portion with the filament tip extending from the mounting portion. The lash subassemblies are each adapted for affixation to the eyelid. A chosen one of the lash subassemblies, when affixed to the eyelid, is operative to provide at least one of a different visual impression than a visual impression provided by an other one of the lash subassemblies when affixed to the eyelid, and a different visual effect upon the natural eyelashes than a visual effect provided by the other one of the lash subassemblies when affixed to the eyelid. A method of adorning an eyelash of a wearer is also provided.

Abstract: A multi-phase (N) power supply is presented having current shared power factor correction. This includes N input rectifier filters each receiving a respective different one of an N phase AC input signal and providing therefrom one of N rectified signals. N single phase power factor correction pre-regulators each receive a respective different one of the rectified signals and provide therefrom a regulated signal. A current sharing N way to single way multiplexing switch network receives the N regulated signals and provides therefrom a single output signal.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for activating an EphA receptor can be used for identifying therapeutic agents for cancer.