Abstract: An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes removable faces for jaws in machine vise which are able to grip a work-piece with great stability, accuracy, and reproducibility. Embodiments include multiple gripping features so the gripping surface easily can be renewed by demounting and reversing a worn face to a new face. Embodiments include the ability to of the claw jaws to be mounted on any fixed or movable vise station to use the entire clamping range of the machine vise. Embodiments are disclosed which are used with round or curved as well as flat work-pieces. Embodiments also include flat surfaced claw jaws which may be used to grip a work-piece for secondary machining to remove indentations from the work-piece.

Abstract: This invention is a humidifier used to increase and maintain the humidity of a musical instrument, such as a guitar. The humidifier is a container made of a water vapor permeable material that contains a water absorbent material such as acrylate polymer. The container is held within the body of the instrument by being mounted onto the strings of the instrument. The container is filled with water by an opening that is sealed with a cap. The water absorbent material can hold water without dripping, but will allow the water to evaporate.

Abstract: The sensitivity and durability of fluorescent assays may be increased through structures and methods using plasmon fluorescence augmentation and sealing of the structure against degradation by reagents used in the assay. The resulting structures make practical extremely sensitive fluorescent assays for DNA and other biological analytes.

Abstract: This invention is a humidifier used to increase and maintain the humidity of a musical instrument, such as a guitar. The humidifier is a container made of a water vapor permeable material that contains a water absorbent material such as acrylate polymer. The container is held within the body of the instrument by being mounted onto the strings of the instrument. The container is filled with water by an opening that is sealed with a cap. The water absorbent material can hold water without dripping, but will allow the water to evaporate.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a heated blade for cutting a synthetic line or rope as well as heated sealing cylinders for sealing the cut or raw ends against raveling. The cutter can accommodate lines of a variety of diameters. The cutter is powered by a rechargeable battery and is portable and safe for use in a marine environment. Other embodiments seal the raw ends by shrinking a heat-shrinkable tubing over the raw ends.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are deck accessory brackets, which are mounted to a vertical structure and are suitable for supporting a plurality of clothes lines and a variety of objects such as rods, shelving, hanging plants and hanging bird feeders. The mountable backing plate has 2 arms joined to it, one at an outward horizontally position, and one with a vertically angled supporting arm. The top horizontal arm has positioned receptors to which clothes line and/or rods are arrayed. The face of the mountable backing plate and the top of the horizontal arm are joined to a gusset.

Abstract: The sensitivity and durability of fluorescent assays may be increased through structures and methods using plasmon fluorescence augmentation and sealing of the structure against degradation by reagents used in the assay. The resulting structures make practical extremely sensitive fluorescent assays for DNA and other biological analytes.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides one or more improvements which makes it possible for a single person to easily install a garbage disposal under a sink. Embodiments include a base with wheels, a hydraulic jack attached to the base, an extensible column extended by the hydraulic jack, and a platform attached to the extensible column. The garbage disposer is placed on the platform and the installation tool is moved under the sink, the jack is used to raise and support the platform and the garbage disposal in position for attachment to the sink.

Abstract: This disclosure presents an improved method for registering anatomical medical images and functional medical images. The example deals with the registration of x-ray computer tomography images with positron emission tomography images. The process is characterized by clinically useful registration with minimal computer calculations and minimal delay for computation. A nonrigid B-Spline free form deformation is used in both a preliminary coarse registration and the finished fine registration. Additional steps are used to insure accurate and complete registrations.

Abstract: The patient positioning aid assists a caregiver in rotating and positioning immobile patients. Such patients require periodic movement to prevent the development of ulcers. Conventional methods use rolled blankets or pillows to support such patients. Such improvizations are often crushed by the patients, especially by bariatric patients. The present invention has a strong resilient foam core which resists compression by a patient, yet also has a yielding surface foam layer which avoids trauma to the patient's skin. The cover is removable for cleaning, waterproof, and utilizes an anti-slip, high friction coating on the bottom which resists sliding on the bed. In addition, handles on the caregiver side of the aid assist in the maneuvering of the aid to position it properly.

Abstract: The trophy item holder is a holder which associates the trophy item with a descriptive card which provides information on the item and its user. Photographs or a certificate of authenticity may also be displayed. Thus the information establishing the item as a trophy item is on display while the item itself is available for handling, examining, handling, etc. The trophy item may be displayed in a vertical or horizontal orientation. The holder is removably attached to a wall and, when attached, presents an appearance free of screws or other fasteners.

Abstract: The foot smoothing pad has a polyurethane foamed core which is coated with particulate abrasive material. The pad is water resistant and completely washable and may be used either wet or dry. It is used to remove buildup of rough, dry skin, especially on the feet and hands. The soft and resilient texture of the pad insures comfort and ease in smoothing the skin. The large inside curved surfaces are used to smooth the heels, and the rounded sides may be used for smaller areas, such as the toes.

Abstract: This paperless book is portable and uses removable ROM devices to provide the visual and aural information displayed in the paperless book. The book can be read in a visual mode, as print, or in an aural mode, as the spoken word corresponding to the print, or in both visual and aural modes. The display mode may be conveniently shifted back and forth between visual and aural, for use, for example, by a counter who uses the book in the aural mode while driving and switches to the visual mode while riding on a train. In addition, the visual display may be manipulated affecting the appearance, for use, for example, by persons with reduced visual acuity. Movies also may be viewed using the paperless book. Finally, portions of the text may be enhanced by additional visual images, music or other sounds.

Abstract: A RAID system which functions despite any single point of failure is disclosed. The system has two or more controllers, a multiplicity of direct access storage devices arranged in racks, redundant connectors throughout, and an independent backplane, cables, power supply, and cooling system for each controller and for each rack of direct access storage devices. In a second embodiment, no backplane or midplane is included in the RAID system; rather each controller is connected directly with the direct access storage devices.

Abstract: This process substantially reduces the time and effort required in analysis of recorded cardioangiograms. This process takes advantage of cardiac twist, the slight rotation of the heart about a vertical axis when the heart beats. A frame near or at the beginning of cardiac twist is selected and a second frame later on in the twist is also selected. Selection of the frames can be manual or automatic. The frames are viewed by conventional stereoscopic methods. The positions of the coronary arteries with respect to the heart are clearly shown in the three dimensional visualization.

Abstract: This electrotome is designed for insertion through a trocar into a body cavity for laproscopic surgery, in particular, for resection of diseased tissue. The instrument comprises three coaxial components, a core rod, tubular conductor, and outer sheath, each with a handle, and a ribbon like cutting electrode. The cutting electrode is retained flat against the core rod for insertion and manipulation of the instrument adjacent to the tissue to be resected, and the electrode is extended into a bow for cutting. After extension and electrical heating, the electrotome is rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner with simultaneous resection and cauterization of the tissue. The excised tissue can then be trapped between the electrode and core rod for removal from the body cavity.

Abstract: This invention combines a lampbox and lampshade. The lampbox lampshade provides a uniform illumination for the transmitted light viewing of photographic slides removably attached to the outside of the lampshade. Optimum viewing conditions are insured by the fact that no surfaces are interspersed between the surface of the slides and the eye of the viewer. The normal functions of a lampshade are not affected.

Abstract: The RAID system of this invention is able to function with undiminished capacity despite the failure of any one DASD, connector, or storage array controller. A signal is produced when any component fails, thereby alerting the operator of the need to replace the failed component. The reliability of this RAID system is achieved by using two connectors for each connection, by using a spare DASD for each channel of DASD, and by providing a passive storage array controller able to assume the identify of and take over the control of the DASD controlled by a failed storage array controller. This is a reliable, inexpensive system for achieving unprecedented reliability in the storage and delivery of data.