Abstract: A concept and synthesis technology for a composite nanoparticle material which can be used to develop nanocomposite films and suspension with 1) dynamic refractive index control across a wide temperature and wavelength of light, and specified refractive index range, or 2) magnetic susceptibility or electronic conductivity over a wide temperature, magnetic field and electric field range. Core-shell nanoparticles can be made from two or more materials whose temperature dependent, electric field dependent or magnetic field dependent properties compensate one another will dynamically maintain a targeted refractive index, electronic conductivity or magnetic susceptibility over a specified temperature, electric and/or magnetic field range. Mixtures of composite nanoparticles with complementary behavior can optionally be used to widen the operational range of the nanocomposite material further or dampen temperature dependency in a controlled manner, e.g.

Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine electronic control system according to the present invention is provided with a power switching device that applies or shuts off a primary current of an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine so that at the secondary side of the ignition coil, there is generated a voltage for making an ignition plug of the internal combustion engine produce a spark discharge; and a control unit that turns on or off the power switching device. The internal-combustion-engine electronic control system is characterized in that the control unit is provided with a circuit unit that makes the power switching device softly shut off so as to prevent the ignition plug from producing the spark discharge, and in accordance with the characteristics of the power switching device, the control unit changes the characteristics of the soft shutoff halfway through the shutoff operation.

Abstract: A hydraulic accumulator includes a shell, a bellows, and a self-seal stay disposed at a hydraulic-fluid inlet and including a cylindrical body portion open to a hydraulic chamber and a lid-shaped head portion defining a through hole. The self-seal stay includes a first weakened portion for deforming the body portion when a pressure of the gas chamber is more than a given threshold. The first weakened portion includes a first recessed portion formed in a circumferential direction of the body portion. The first recessed portion includes a bottom surface of a plane surface or a circular arc shaped curved surface which is convex toward outside of the body portion from inside thereof. At least one of both end portions of the bottom surface in the circumferential direction is joined with an outer circumferential surface of the body portion.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor having a curved shape is offset on a spinning rotor base and creates contiguous areas of low to high centrifugal force depending on the distances from the axis of the rotor base and a method of separating components in a fluid based upon a difference in density of the components, the method comprising the steps of providing to a rotor as described herein the fluid containing the mixed together components to be separated based upon the difference in density of the mixed together components; continuously flowing the components in the fluid to the rotor through an input tube connected to the input port while the rotor is spinning about a centrifugal axis of rotation; separating the components in the fluid into fractions based upon the difference in density of the mixed together components with the use of centrifugal force when the rotor is spinning; collecting components having i) a first density via a first tube connected to the output port at the first end on the rotor, ii) a second density

Abstract: An artificial oxygen carrier (AOC) for use as a blood substitute in the body. A first gas permeable shell encloses an oxygen carrying agent. The first gas-permeable shell has a second oxygen carrying agent surrounding it, and there is a second gas-permeable shell enclosing the second agent. The concentric shells are not subject to turbulent breakup, or chemical decomposition, and do not release the oxygen carrying agents into the blood.

Abstract: An accumulator includes a bellows housed to freely expand and contract in a shell, a port part having a pressure fluid inflow port formed therein, and a self-sealing member arranged on a tip portion of the bellows to face the port part, in which when a pressure in the fluid chamber is lower than a predetermined pressure relative to an air chamber, the self-sealing member is allowed to abut onto a seal area of the port part to block the pressure fluid inflow port. The self-sealing member includes a resilient member arranged on a surface of a base material part, and an overhanging portion formed on the resilient member and allowed to abut onto the seal area for sealing. The port part includes a seal face having the seal area formed thereon, and a projecting portion arranged on a region other than the seal area on the seal face.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing high density particles from a biological fluid such as blood using aphaeresis. The particles are preferably sub-micron in size and denser than normally occurring components of the fluid and can be removed by a modified reverse-flow gradient density centrifuge without damaging the fluid. The particles can be provided to a patient in vivo or added to the fluid after it is removed from the patient. Some particles can carry and deliver oxygen and scavenge carbon dioxide. Other particles are conjugated to capture molecules for attaching to targets such as cancer cells, viruses, pathogens, toxins, or excess concentrations of a drug or element in the fluid. The targets are then removed from the fluid along with the particles by the aphaeresis instrument.

Abstract: A concept and synthesis technology for a composite nanoparticle material which can be used to develop nanocomposite films and suspension with 1) dynamic refractive index control across a wide temperature and wavelength of light, and specified refractive index range, or 2) magnetic susceptibility or electronic conductivity over a wide temperature, magnetic field and electric field range. Core-shell nanoparticles can be made from two or more materials whose temperature dependent, electric field dependent or magnetic field dependent properties compensate one another will dynamically maintain a targeted refractive index, electronic conductivity or magnetic susceptibility over a specified temperature, electric and/or magnetic field range. Mixtures of composite nanoparticles with complementary behavior can optionally be used to widen the operational range of the nanocomposite material further or dampen temperature dependency in a controlled manner, e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous removal of sub-micron sized particles and other materials attached thereto such as cancer cells and bacteria from blood and other liquids. A centrifuge rotor having a curved shape is offset on a spinning rotor base and creates contiguous areas of low to high centrifugal force depending on the distances from the axis of the rotor base. This creates a density gradient field that separates materials of different densities input to the centrifuge that exit via different outputs. A monitor detects components of the fluid that are mixed with the particles before they exit the centrifuge. If there are any unwanted components detected with the particles logic circuitry changes the speed of rotation of the rotor, and the flow rate of pumps inputting and removing separated fluid and particles to and from the centrifuge until there are no unwanted components in the fluid exiting with the particles from the centrifuge.

Abstract: An accumulator includes a bellows housed to freely expand and contract in a shell, a port part having a pressure fluid inflow port formed therein, and a self-sealing member arranged on a tip portion of the bellows to face the port part, in which when a pressure in the fluid chamber is lower than a predetermined pressure relative to an air chamber, the self-sealing member is allowed to abut onto a seal area of the port part to block the pressure fluid inflow port. The self-sealing member includes a resilient member arranged on a surface of a base material part, and an overhanging portion formed on the resilient member and allowed to abut onto the seal area for sealing. The port part includes a seal face having the seal area formed thereon, and a projecting portion arranged on a region other than the seal area on the seal face.

Abstract: An artificial oxygen carrier (AOC) for use as a blood substitute in the body. A first gas permeable shell encloses an oxygen carrying agent. The first gas-permeable shell has a second oxygen carrying agent surrounding it, and there is a second gas-permeable shell enclosing the second agent. The concentric shells are not subject to turbulent breakup, or chemical decomposition, and do not release the oxygen carrying agents into the blood.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing high density particles from a biological fluid such as blood using aphaeresis. The particles are preferably sub-micron in size and denser than normally occurring components of the fluid and can be removed by a modified reverse-flow gradient density centrifuge without damaging the fluid. The particles can be provided to a patient in vivo or added to the fluid after it is removed from the patient. Some particles can carry and deliver oxygen and scavenge carbon dioxide. Other particles are conjugated to capture molecules for attaching to targets such as cancer cells, viruses, pathogens, toxins, or excess concentrations of a drug or element in the fluid. The targets are then removed from the fluid along with the particles by the aphaeresis instrument.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided including a trigger circuit having a capacitor connected between a pulse generator and a second switching element, and a latch circuit connected via a diode, between a junction of a load with a first switching element and the control terminal of the second switching element, wherein when the pulse generator outputs a drive signal, both of the first switching element and the second switching element are turned on and the second switching element is held in the ON state through the latch circuit by a voltage at the junction. When the drive signal is stopped, both of the first switching element and the second switching element are turned off; meanwhile if the load is short-circuited, the first switching element and the second switching element are turned off through the latch circuit by the voltage at the junction.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided including a trigger circuit having a capacitor connected between a pulse generator and a second switching element, and a latch circuit connected via a diode, between a junction of a load with a first switching element and the control terminal of the second switching element, wherein when the pulse generator outputs a drive signal, both of the first switching element and the second switching element are turned on and the second switching element is held in the ON state through the latch circuit by a voltage at the junction. When the drive signal is stopped, both of the first switching element and the second switching element are turned off; meanwhile if the load is short-circuited, the first switching element and the second switching element are turned off through the latch circuit by the voltage at the junction.

Abstract: An artificial oxygen carrier (AOC) for use in the body. A first gas permeable first shell encloses an oxygen carrying agent. The first shell has a second oxygen carrying agent surrounding it, and there is a second gas permeable shell enclosing the second agent. The concentric shells are not subject to turbulent breakup, or chemical decomposition, do not release the agents.

Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine electronic control system according to the present invention is provided with a power switching device that applies or shuts off a primary current of an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine so that at the secondary side of the ignition coil, there is generated a voltage for making an ignition plug of the internal combustion engine produce a spark discharge; and a control unit that turns on or off the power switching device. The internal-combustion-engine electronic control system is characterized in that the control unit is provided with a circuit unit that makes the power switching device softly shut off so as to prevent the ignition plug from producing the spark discharge, and in accordance with the characteristics of the power switching device, the control unit changes the characteristics of the soft shutoff halfway through the shutoff operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous removal of submicron sized artificial oxygen carriers (rAOC) and other materials such as cancer cells and bacteria from blood and other liquids. A centrifuge rotor having a curved shape is offset on a spinning rotor base and creates contiguous areas of low to high centrifugal force depending on the distances from the axis of the rotor base. This creates a density gradient field that separates materials of different densities input to the centrifuge that exit via different outputs. A monitor detects any red blood cells (RBC) with the rAOC before they exit the centrifuge. If there are any RBC detected logic circuitry changes the speed of rotation of the rotor, and the flow rate of pumps inputting and removing separated blood and rAOC to and from the centrifuge until there are no RBC in the rAOC exiting the centrifuge.

Abstract: A pH sensitive nanoreactor can include an aqueous core within a liposome. The aqueous core can include a pH responsive dye dispersed or dissolved within the core. The liposome provides a nanoscale environment for the dye. Further, a nanoshell can be present which encapsulates the liposome. The nanoshell can be permeable to hydrogen ions while also protecting the dye from exposure to deleterious compounds and photobleaching.

Abstract: A concept and synthesis technology for a composite nanoparticle material which can be used to develop nanocomposite films and suspension with 1) dynamic refractive index control across a wide temperature and wavelength of light, and specified refractive index range, or 2) magnetic susceptibility or electronic conductivity over a wide temperature, magnetic field and electric field range. Core-shell nanoparticles can be made from two or more materials whose temperature dependent, electric field dependent or magnetic field dependent properties compensate one another will dynamically maintain a targeted refractive index, electronic conductivity or magnetic susceptibility over a specified temperature, electric and/or magnetic field range. Mixtures of composite nanoparticles with complementary behavior can optionally be used to widen the operational range of the nanocomposite material further or dampen temperature dependency in a controlled manner, e.g.

Abstract: A vehicular brake system component is used in a brake system of a vehicle. The brake system component includes a sealable bonded component having a metal member and an elastic rubber member bonded to each other and located so as to touch a brake fluid.