Abstract: A stent for use in animals including humans is disclosed which includes unprotected and protected regions, each protected regions including a bioactive or biopenetrating agent containing therein where the protected regions are protected by the unprotected regions when the stent is in its undeployed state which has a smaller cross-sectional dimension than the stent in its deployed state. And when the stent is in its deployed state the bioactive or biopenetrating agent(s) are brought into direct and intimate contact with a tissue or interior of a blood vessel of an animal including a human.

Abstract: An implant for use in biological/biomedical applications may be prepared by subjecting a substrate to a gas-plasma treatment. The substrate may be a biocompatible material, including metals, ceramics, and polymers. More specifically, the substrate may be a bioresorbable polymer. The gas-plasma treatment may include subjecting the substrate to a plasma formed by a reactive gas. The gas-plasma treatment may be performed for a chosen duration at a radio frequency within a temperature range, a pressure range, and a supplied energy range. The substrate may be exposed to living cells, such that some of the living cells become coupled to the substrate. Gas-plasma treatment parameters may be chosen such that the living cells coupled to the treated substrate produce more of a cellular product than living cells coupled to an untreated substrate.

Abstract: Ordering items often involves first searching a catalogue or the like for the proper item. If not done accurately, or if not done in a time efficient manner, unacceptable loss can occur because the wrong item is ordered or all orders cannot be placed when needed. A parametric searching tool represented in various embodiments makes searching very effective. Searching is based upon user selection of specific attributes for attribute characteristics available for the user to view for determining search parameters. By being able to utilize parameters, which are already available in a database, the user does not require significant training to know how to construct a search nor particular knowledge of the attribute characteristics or specific attributes of all the various suppliers from which orders can be made.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for procuring one or more items includes, in response to user-provided data and after user selection of a search module using a client system, providing an item category. Based on user selection of the item category using the client system, one or more attributes associated with: all items in the item category are provided. Based on user input identifying an attribute value for at least one attribute, search results including one or more items matching the attribute value are generated. In response to user selection of a particular item from among the search results using the client system, an order request for the selected item is then generated.

Abstract: A hexapod machine is disclosed in which six adjustable length struts couple to a controllably moveable platform at three triangularly spaced locations at each of which a pair of struts couple together and to the platform at a bifurcated universal joint. The struts extend away from the platform and through machine nodes defined at triangularly spaced-apart locations in a machine sub-frame, and at each such node a strut extending from one platform location and the next adjacent strut from the next adjacent platform location come together and cross each other in respective hemispheres of a bifurcated sphere journalled for multidirectional pivotal movement in a socket in the sub-frame. The hemispheres each contain a motor which is frictionally engaged with the respective strut so as to enable it to be driven through the hemisphere to adjust its effective length. By control of the motors, the platform position and orientation can be adjusted in space.

Abstract: A haptic input device comprises a hexapod or pentapod parallel linkage mechanism with force feedback effected by proportional control of magneto-restrictive fluid brakes constraining the measurement of the struts of the mechanism, through their base nodes. In the pentapod version of the haptic data input device, a haptic stylus is employed which includes an annular compliant feature that can be squeezed and whose squeeze pressure can be monitored.

Abstract: A multi-axis spindle head for a machine tool has a spindle drive motor mounted in a sphere (4) with the motor axis extending radially and the sphere (4) is articulated to move about two orthogonal axes by virtue of being mounted in a gimbal ring (10) providing for pivotal movement of the sphere about one axis, and by virtue of the gimbal ring (10) being mounted in a mounting ring (1) providing for pivotal movement of the gimbal ring about an orthogonal axis. Ball screw drive motors (3, 5) provide for controlled movement of the sphere relative to the gimbal ring and of the gimbal ring relative to the mounting ring so as to provide the spindle drive motor with all five degrees of freedom of movement.

Abstract: An element management system (EMS) for monitoring elements of a communication network utilizes a plurality of clients, a plurality of network elements, and an element management system (EMS). The clients and the network elements are interfaced with the EMS. The EMS is configured to track which of the network elements are of interest to the clients and to automatically monitor the network elements based on which of the network elements are determined, by the EMS, to be of interest to the clients. The EMS is further configured to provide the clients with information indicative of the monitored elements. Furthermore, the EMS may be configured to store graphical user interface (GUI) code that can be utilized to provide a GUI for monitoring and/or changing a network element. The EMS may provide the GUI code to the clients on demand and may enable a user to update the GUI code stored at the EMS.

Abstract: A secure records storage and retrieval system and method includes an access portal and a data vault. The data vault includes multiple customer data vaults and provider data vaults that can be used to securely store and retrieve records belonging to a particular customer or provider. Access to records contained within a given customer or provider's data vault can be authorized via an access key, which allows a provider to access records contained in the customer or provider's data vault under time or use based restrictions set by the customer. The customer or provider can also access their own records via the access portal. The access key can be set by the customer to permit access to records contained in the customer's data vault only via the access portal. The customer or provider has the ability to accept or reject records uploaded to the customer or provider's data vault and can also annotate records added the customer or provider's data vault.

Abstract: A structural framework system for the construction of exhibition display stands and the like makes use of a beam extrusions having dovetail shaped edge formations which enable panel frames to be hung therefrom and locked in position by virtue of coupling frames incorporating therein a locking element which can be retracted into a recess of the coupling frame for initial location of the coupling frame relative to a beam and can then be moved to project from the recess and to clamp the beam dovetail by insertion of actuating pins into bores provide in the coupling frame and communicating with the recess. A beam end fitting enables a beam to be secured to a transversely-extending second beam by a similar process and a 4-way node fitting enable nodes to be formed at the intersection of a plurality of orthogonal beams. A leg length adjustment provides for the adjustment of the lengths of structural support legs.

Abstract: A scanner having a serviceable circuit board assembly with a stair-stepping configuration. The scanner has a card cage for mounting circuit boards in the rear of the scanner. The card cage has an access opening. A first circuit board and a second circuit board are mounted inside the card cage. The first circuit board forms a notch. The second circuit board has a viewable portion that is viewable and accessible through the access opening and the notch. The test points and light emitting diodes are positioned within the viewable portion of the second circuit board.

Abstract: Several improvements relating to hexapods are described. The improvements relate to universal joints and ball and socket joints where two struts meet at a common focal point, two axis gimbals which are used for ballscrew drives in universal joints and a micro positioning device incorporating a hexapod structure. The universal joint (1) includes two part spheres (13, 14) connected to one strut (12) and a rotatable ring (15) connected to another strut (11). The two part spheres (13, 14) are secured together by fasteners (25) with the ring (15) secured therebetween so as to form a sphere. The ring (15) is preloaded and rotatable about a common axis (17) of the sphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer aided design and manufacturing system. The system comprises a platform suspended by means of three pairs of supportive legs which are coupled at triangularly spaced-apart locations by means of three universal joints, each of which couples to one end of each of the two legs of a respective pair.

Abstract: A tuyere assembly and positioning method comprising mechanically separate or separable inner and outer tubes, the inner tube(s) being removeable and replaceable and the outer tube being extendable into a vessel and held in place by a flared end abutting the wall of a cavity through the vessel wall.