Abstract: An artificial heart for use in a human recipient includes a housing within which a quartet of turbine pump segments are operative. The quartet of turbine pump segments is configured to provide a pair of redundant input and output turbine pump segment pairs each input and output pair being coupled by a curved passage providing a redundancy which, in turn, enhances the safety factor provided by the artificial heart. A controller is powered by a rechargeable battery and is operative to apply appropriate drive signals to the motor drives of the turbine pump segments. The battery may be implanted along with the controller to avoid the need for any external connections to the artificial heart. An inductively coupled battery charger for use outside the recipient's body is positioned proximate the battery charger to provide inductively coupled charging for use in driving the artificial heart.

Abstract: A ramp deployment system for deploying and securing first and second ramps to the entrance of a container-type vehicle using a ratchet strap arrangement is disclosed. The ratchet strap arrangement includes first and second ratchet strap devices each having a tightening strap coupled to a respective hook and collar mechanism that includes a closable hook operable to engage a collar to form a loop portion by the tightening strap around the undercarriage of the container-type vehicle. A ratchet mechanism is operatively coupled to the tightening strap for tightening or loosening the tightening strap relative to the first and second ramps when the ratchet strap mechanism is actuated. The ratchet mechanism is also engaged to a fixed length strap having a hook portion configured to engage the cross rungs of the first and second ramps and secure the ratchet strap arrangement securely between container-type vehicle and the first and second ramps.

Abstract: An artificial heart for use in a human recipient includes a housing within which a quartet of turbine pump segments are operative. The quartet of turbine pump segments is configured to provide a pair of redundant input and output turbine pump segment pairs each input and output pair being coupled by a curved passage providing a redundancy which, in turn, enhances the safety factor provided by the artificial heart. Each turbine pump segment includes an impeller forwarded for rotation and having a plurality of impeller blades together with a static deswirler positioned within the impeller output flow to reduce the swirling turbulence of the blood flow induced by the rotating impeller.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device for use in a human recipient includes a housing within which a series pair of turbine pump segments, each having a deswirler, are operative. The series pair of turbine pump segments provides a redundancy which in turn enhances the safety factor provided by the ventricular assist device.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device for use in a human recipient includes a housing within which a series pair of turbine pump segments are operative. The series pair of turbine pump segments provides a redundancy in turn enhances the safety factor provided by the ventricular assist device. A controller is powered by a rechargeable battery and is operative to apply appropriate drive signals to the motor drives of the turbine pump segments. The battery may be implanted along with the controller to avoid the need for any external connections to the ventricular assist device. An inductively coupled batter charger for use outside the recipient's body is positioned proximate the battery charger to provide inductively coupled charging for use in driving the ventricular assist device.

Abstract: A balloon reflector antenna for a satellite, including a spherical balloon with a surface transparent to electromagnetic waves and a reflective surface opposite the transparent surface. The balloon reflector antenna may further include a feed system extending from the center of the balloon that receives electromagnetic waves reflected off the reflective surface and/or outputs electromagnetic waves that are reflected off the reflective surface.

Abstract: An interface is provided for storing microfluidic samples in a nanoliter sample chip. A fluid access structure provides a fluid access region to a selected subset of sample wells from an array of sample wells. A fluid introduction mechanism introduces a sample fluid to the fluid access region so that the sample wells in the selected subset are populated with the sample fluid without the unselected sample wells being populated with the sample fluid.

Abstract: An anti-rotation and assembly aid clamp for use in coupling a turbocharger and a catalytic converter. The clamp can include a ring body configured to circumferentially clamp the outlet flange to the inlet flange, a torque application device configured to apply a force about the ring body, and an anti-rotation assembly device configured to be engageable with a first coupling post extending from the turbocharger and a second coupling post extending from the convert to exert a clamping force urging the outlet flange toward the inlet flange.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a blasting ring for blasting a weld on a pipe, including: a ring structure with a first pivot point and a latch, wherein the first pivot point allows the ring structure to open and close around the pipe and the latch is configured to secure the ring to the pipe; a plurality of rollers attached to the ring structure configured to engage the pipe; a cleaner brush attached to the ring structure configured to rotate and engage the weld on the pipe to clean the weld; and a profile brush attached to the ring structure configured to rotate and engage the weld on the pipe to profile the weld. Further, the blasting ring and a heating ring may be used to finish the weld on a pipe.

Abstract: A balloon reflector antenna for a satellite, including a spherical balloon with a surface transparent to electromagnetic waves and a reflective surface opposite the transparent surface. The balloon reflector antenna may further include a feed system extending from the center of the balloon that receives electromagnetic waves reflected off the reflective surface and/or outputs electromagnetic waves that are reflected off the reflective surface.

Abstract: A virtual display controller is configured to generate a virtual viewing location within a three-dimensional virtual interface within a virtual environment. Computer pointer input is translated to coordinates on a three-dimensional virtual interface, and interactions with objects and virtualized displays within that interface are passed back to the clients populating those objects.

Abstract: A method and system for influencing a virtual environment establishes a machine application interface which utilizes an application interaction layer to allow multitasking of applications within a single virtual environment, the method and system also allow for the use of two-dimensional legacy applications within the virtual environment. The method and system receives requests from outside applications and mediates control of spaces within the virtual environment depending on the user's security preferences.

Abstract: A reverse suction inhibiting squeeze bottle discharge nozzle is secured to the filler neck of an otherwise conventional squeeze bottle. The reverse suction inhibiting squeeze bottle discharge nozzle provides a valve operative within the discharge passage of the nozzle together with an air return venting system and apparatus that cooperate with the valve to provide a vented air flow return into the bottle interior thereby restoring atmospheric pressure to the bottle interior. The venting of the air return venting system and the closure of the valve occur solely when the deformed squeeze bottle is released. As a result, the reverse suctioning of potentially contaminated material discharge back into the squeeze bottle interior is prevented.

Abstract: An interface is provided for storing microfluidic samples in a nanoliter sample chip. A fluid access structure provides a fluid access region to a selected subset of sample wells from an array of sample wells. A fluid introduction mechanism introduces a sample fluid to the fluid access region so that the sample wells in the selected subset are populated with the sample fluid without the unselected sample wells being populated with the sample fluid.

Abstract: A golf club rack for transport and organization of golf clubs, via securement of the golf club rack to a cart, is provided, that includes lower and upper tubular horizontal members, end braces for each, and tubular vertical members extending between the end braces, the lower tubular horizontal members also including a plurality of sockets with openings for insertion of a golf club handle, and a platform attached to the upper tubular horizontal member and including clips for securing a golf club thereto, whereby respective golf clubs inserted into a respective socket opening, and extending toward the upper tubular horizontal member are securable to a respective clip.

Abstract: An artificial heart for use in a human recipient includes a housing within which a quartet of turbine pump segments are operative. The quartet of turbine pump segments is configured to provide a pair of redundant input and output turbine pump segment pairs each input and output pair being coupled by a curved passage providing a redundancy which, in turn, enhances the safety factor provided by the artificial heart. A controller is powered by a rechargeable battery and is operative to apply appropriate drive signals to the motor drives of the turbine pump segments. The battery may be implanted along with the controller to avoid the need for any external connections to the artificial heart. An inductively coupled battery charger for use outside the recipient's body is positioned proximate the battery charger to provide inductively coupled charging for use in driving the artificial heart.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device for use in a human recipient includes a housing within which a series pair of turbine pump segments are operative. The series pair of turbine pump segments provides a redundancy in turn enhances the safety factor provided by the ventricular assist device. A controller is powered by a rechargeable battery and is operative to apply appropriate drive signals to the motor drives of the turbine pump segments. The battery may be implanted along with the controller to avoid the need for any external connections to the ventricular assist device. An inductively coupled batter charger for use outside the recipient's body is positioned proximate the battery charger to provide inductively coupled charging for use in driving the ventricular assist device.

Abstract: This disclosure discusses methods, systems, and an apparatus that can determine whether email content is potentially malicious, contains potentially malicious content, has originated from a potentially malicious entity, or contains links or other references to potentially malicious web content. The disclosure discusses some embodiments that include evaluating text in the email content to determine if predetermined suspected malicious phrases are present in the text, evaluating one or more links in the email content using an IP address, URL, or DNS to determine if the links reference potentially malicious web content, and evaluating metadata in the email content to determine if the email content is potentially malicious.

Abstract: A bale spreader including one or more rotors rotatably attached to a first and second support member is provided. The bale spreader includes an apron that extends below the rotor(s), and may be configured to operatively feed a particulate material into the rotor(s). The rotor(s) may include a plurality of flail knives or hammers configured to chop and/or shred a particulate material as the rotor(s) is/are rotated. The rotor(s) may be rotated by an optimized hydraulic system connected to the auxiliary hydraulic system of an agricultural implement or vehicle. Furthermore, the bale spreader may include a plurality of tines, screen members, and a flop bar configured to secure particulate material within the bale spreader.