Abstract: A liquid dividing module is located between a manifold and a dispensing module in a variable output dispensing applicator, to thereby enable the applicator to dispense patterns of adhesive onto a substrate, such as striped patterns and box-shaped patterns defined by zones of full volume adhesive and zones of reduced volume adhesive. The liquid dividing module divides a full volume flow of adhesive at a liquid inlet into first and second partial flows of adhesive, one of which continuously flows to a liquid outlet and another of which is controlled to either be recirculated or delivered to the liquid outlet. The different operating states of the liquid dividing module therefore enable highly responsive and rapid switching between the reduced volume output and a full volume output immediately before discharge at the dispensing module.

Abstract: A liquid dividing module is located between a manifold and a dispensing module in a variable output dispensing applicator, to thereby enable the applicator to dispense patterns of adhesive onto a substrate, such as striped patterns and box-shaped patterns defined by zones of full volume adhesive and zones of reduced volume adhesive. The liquid dividing module divides a full volume flow of adhesive at a liquid inlet into first and second partial flows of adhesive, one of which continuously flows to a liquid outlet and another of which is controlled to either be recirculated or delivered to the liquid outlet. The different operating states of the liquid dividing module therefore enable highly responsive and rapid switching between the reduced volume output and a full volume output immediately before discharge at the dispensing module.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a new acquisition scheme for T2-weighted BOLD fMRI. It employs a T2 preparation module to induce the BOLD contrast, followed by a single-shot 3D fast gradient echo (GRE) readout with short echo time (TE<2 ms). The separation of BOLD contrast generation from the readout substantially reduces the “dead time” due to long TE required in spin echo (SE) BOLD sequences. This approach termed “3D T2prep-GRE,” can be implemented with any magnetic resonance imaging machine, known to or conceivable by one of skill in the art. This approach is expected to be useful for ultra-high field fMRI studies that require whole brain coverage, or focus on regions near air cavities. The concept of using T2 preparation to generate BOLD contrast can be combined with many other fast imaging sequences at any field strength.

Abstract: A fire protection system comprising at least one sprinkler, a source of pressurized water, a piping network connecting at least one sprinkler to the source of pressurized water, and a nitrogen generator coupled to the sprinkler system. The nitrogen generator may be a nitrogen membrane system or a nitrogen pressure swing adsorption system. The present systems and methods reduce or nearly eliminate corrosion that typically affects conventional fire protection systems, such as caused by oxygen and microbial systems, which can deteriorate or compromise function. Initial, repeated, or continuous displacement of oxygen with nitrogen in the fire protection system significantly reduces or eliminates corrosion.

Abstract: A fluid pump for medical applications. The pump includes a flexible cassette containing two pump chambers of differing volume, each chamber having a dedicated piston. The first piston pushes fluid from the first chamber to the second, and the second piston pushes fluid from the second chamber and out of the pump. Three valves are coordinated with the action of the pistons to control fluid flow into and out of the pump chambers by applying and releasing pressure to and from specific points of the flexible cassette. A control system controls the operation of the pistons and valves and directs the pistons to be advanced according to a time-varying velocity profile. The first pump chamber passively fills and then rapidly expels the collected fluid into the second chamber at low pressure. The second chamber, once filled, expels the fluid downstream at high pressure, producing a pulsatile pressure profile.

Abstract: A fire protection system comprising at least one sprinkler, a source of pressurized water, a piping network connecting at least one sprinkler to the source of pressurized water, and a nitrogen generator coupled to the sprinkler system. The nitrogen generator may be a nitrogen membrane system or a nitrogen pressure swing adsorption system. The present systems and methods reduce or nearly eliminate corrosion that typically affects conventional fire protection systems, such as caused by oxygen and microbial systems, which can deteriorate or compromise function. Initial, repeated, or continuous displacement of oxygen with nitrogen in the fire protection system significantly reduces or eliminates corrosion.

Abstract: A fire protection system comprising at least one sprinkler, a source of pressurized water, a piping network connecting at least one sprinkler to the source of pressurized water, and a nitrogen generator coupled to the sprinkler system. The nitrogen generator may be a nitrogen membrane system or a nitrogen pressure swing adsorption system. The present systems and methods reduce or nearly eliminate corrosion that typically affects conventional fire protection systems, such as caused by oxygen and microbial systems, which can deteriorate or compromise function. Initial, repeated, or continuous displacement of oxygen with nitrogen in the fire protection system significantly reduces or eliminates corrosion.

Abstract: A fire protection system comprising at least one sprinkler, a source of pressurized water, a piping network connecting at least one sprinkler to the source of pressurized water, and a nitrogen generator coupled to the sprinkler system. The nitrogen generator may be a nitrogen membrane system or a nitrogen pressure swing adsorption system. The present systems and methods reduce or nearly eliminate corrosion that typically affects conventional fire protection systems, such as caused by oxygen and microbial systems, which can deteriorate or compromise function. Initial, repeated, or continuous displacement of oxygen with nitrogen in the fire protection system significantly reduces or eliminates corrosion.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (78) includes a magnetic resonance imaging device (80), one or more processors (104), and a display (106). The magnetic resonance imaging device (80) includes a magnet (82), gradient coils (88), and one or more radio frequency coils (92). The magnet (82) generates a Bo field. The gradient coils (88) apply gradient fields to the Bo field. The one or more radio frequency coils (92) generate a radio frequency pulse to excite magnetic resonance and measure generated gradient echoes. The one or more processors (104) are configured to activate (116) the one or more radio frequency coils (92) to generate a series of radio frequency pulses spaced by repetition times and to induce magnetic resonance.

Abstract: As one implementation example, a system is described which comprises a display media adapted to display a plurality of known words, which form a first grammatical unit, and a plurality of unknown words, which form a second grammatical unit. The plurality of known words and the plurality of unknown words are associated with each other on a word per word basis by a code.

Abstract: A fire protection system includes a dry pipe system and a controlled discharge gas vent. The dry pipe system and controlled discharge gas vent operate using a breathing cycle to displace oxygen and/or water vapor from within the piping network of the dry pipe system. The controlled gas discharge vent allows displacement of pressurized air with nitrogen, for example, using manual or automated processes that can employ one or more sensors. Corrosion resulting from oxygen, water, and/or microbial growth is reduced or nearly eliminated.

Abstract: A method includes modifying at least one communications protocol packet being passed between at least one of a plurality of portable base stations and a core network, such that the core network considers the plurality of portable base stations as a single base station.

Abstract: A fire protection system includes a dry pipe system and a controlled discharge gas vent. The dry pipe system and controlled discharge gas vent operate using a breathing cycle to displace oxygen and/or water vapor from within the piping network of the dry pipe system. The controlled gas discharge vent allows displacement of pressurized air with nitrogen, for example, using manual or automated processes that can employ one or more sensors. Corrosion resulting from oxygen, water, and/or microbial growth is reduced or nearly eliminated.

Abstract: A method includes modifying at least one communications protocol packet being passed between at least one of a plurality of portable base stations and a core network, such that the core network considers the plurality of portable base stations as a single base station.

Abstract: In general, a method performed on a personal base station includes transmitting a first pilot signal to a portable access terminal operating in an idle mode in a macrocell that uses a first carrier frequency. The first pilot signal is transmitted in the first carrier frequency to allow the portable access terminal to temporarily connect to the first pilot signal. A second pilot signal is transmitted in a second frequency that is different than the first frequency. The portable access terminal is dispelled from the first pilot signal, and the portable access terminal is allowed to connect to the second pilot signal.

Abstract: A microplegia console for controlling the delivery of cardioplegia to a patient, comprising an integrated display/touch screen for displaying cardioplegia information and patient information and allowing inputting of parameters via the display/touch screen into the console for computer-controlled perfusion of cardioplegia into the patient. The invention further comprises a method for delivery of cardioplegia to a patient, including defining and selecting a protocol from a displayed list and sequencing a series of the protocols. The invention also comprises a method for cardioplegia delivery to achieve aortic valve closure. Additionally, the invention comprises a method for activating an icon whereby, upon a first selection of the icon, displaying an indicia indicating that the icon has been first selected; and upon a second selection of the icon, activating the icon.

Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler system inerting apparatus and method includes selectively connecting an inert gas source and a gas vent to the fire protection sprinkler system with a valve system and controlling the valve system. The valve system is controlled to selectively connect the inert gas source with the sprinkler system to add inert gas to the sprinkler system to increase the proportion of inert gas in the gas mixture within the sprinkler system and to operate the gas vent to discharge a portion of the gas mixture from the sprinkler system.

Abstract: A self-adjusting fluid pump that includes a piston pump containing at least one piston with a pressure sensor. The fluid pump including at least one fluid-containing pump chamber within the piston pump, adjacent to said piston, wherein advancing the piston causes fluid flow from the pump chamber to a biological destination, and retracting the piston causes fluid to passively till the pump chamber. A microprocessor, senses piston pressure to calculate the rate of fluid input flow into the pump chamber for each pump cycle. If the output flow rate deviates from the input flow rate by a pre-specified value range, the microprocessor adjusts the piston pump to match the output flow rate with the input flow rate by increasing or decreasing stroke rate (piston velocity), stroke volume, or a combination of both.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating a hand-in using proximity-detection and dual-pilot operation detect a presence of a client device in proximity to the network-side device; and transmit a first signal over a first communication channel to the client device, the first signal enabling the client device to access information transmitted in a second signal from the network-side device.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a plurality of automated monitoring and control system modules (automated monitoring and control system module) are individually connected to respective receiving devices via the audio and video output ports of each respective receiving device. Each automated monitoring and control system module may be configured to receive a testing program from a centralized monitoring system for the receiving device based on identification data of the receiving device and execute the received testing program for the receiving device. Each automated monitoring and control system module is connected to the centralized monitoring system over a local area network (LAN) or the Internet in order to send testing results, diagnostic data and captured video and audio data for further processing by the centralized monitoring system.