Abstract: An arrangement to assist in heat transfer through a mold for applications such as injection molding of plastics material including at least one closed chamber within the mold, the chamber being only partially filled with fluid and a remainder of the chamber being filled with substantially only vapor of the fluid within the chamber, at least a portion of the chamber being positioned to transmit heat from a targeted location of the mold into fluid within the chamber, and condensing means adapted by reason of heat exchange to effect condensation of vapor within the chamber, the mold being arranged in that the fluid, such as water, is arranged to be held in the chamber in such a way that the fluid will be distributed to reach or be held at different heights within the chamber.

Abstract: A combustion device in the form of a paraffin stove (10) comprises a fuel reservoir (12), a burner (14), stand pipe (16) which extends between the reservoir (12) and the burner (14) and a stove top (18). The reservoir (12) comprises a rigid, air-tight outer container (22) and a deformable bladder (25) for holding paraffin (27) which is located within the container (22). The bladder has an outlet (44) which is connected to the stand pipe (16). A conduit (51) which can be connected to a source of compressed air is connected to the container (22) for pressurizing the container (22) to exert a force on the bladder (25) sufficient to cause the paraffin to be delivered to the burner (14) where it is ignited to produce a flame.

Abstract: An improved coaxial cable connector rotation aid that facilitates rotation of a coaxial cable connector found on the end of a coaxial cable. Embodiments may include a nut with faceted portions or exclude a nut element. Embodiments may coupled with a nut having threads or the tubular element may include threads. Embodiments may include soft metal, plastic or composites to provide additional shielding. Embodiments allow the aid to slide from a first end of a coaxial cable to a second end, non-fixedly engaging the threaded connector nut on either end so that a single instance of one aid may be utilized on both ends of the cable. As the aid is slidingly engaged on the cable, it cannot be removed and swallowed by a small child or pet. Other embodiments allow for a combined textured and nut aid that allows for rotation by using a tool or by manual rotation.

Abstract: An implantable medical device having a transceiver for transmitting/receiving wirelessly transmitted data, which is turned off or switched into an energy-saving rest state between individual data transmissions via the transceiver and having a waking unit which is implemented to switch the transceiver by a waking signal from its turned-off state or its rest state into its fully operational state, the waking unit having a low-power receiver and a waking control unit of which the low-power receiver is implemented to monitor multiple predefined frequency ranges in such a way that in case of a transmission of sufficient signal strength in one of the frequency ranges, it generates an output signal and outputs it to the waking control unit and of which the waking control unit is implemented to analyze output signals of the low-power receiver and output a waking signal to the transceiver which switches it on or to fully operational.

Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic substrate material having a first layer and possibly a further layer is specified. The first layer comprises at least one first component made of a crystalline ceramic material and/or a glass material as a matrix and a second component made of a further crystalline ceramic material, which is provided in the matrix. An etching step is performed, mantle areas of the crystals and/or crystal agglomerates of the second component being etched selectively in the first layer to generate a cavity structure in the first layer. The present invention also relates to a corresponding ceramic substrate material, an antenna or an antenna array, and the use of the ceramic substrate material for an antenna or an antenna array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical feedthrough for insertion into an opening of an implantable electrical treatment device having an electrically insulating insulation body through which at least one electrically conductive terminal pin passes, which is connected hermetically sealed to the insulation body using a solder, the solder material being glass or glass ceramic.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac device includes a housing (2), pulse generator (7) therein to generate physiologically effective electrical pulses, a shock lead (3), externally of the housing (2), connectable to the pulse generator (7) and implantable into a patient's body to apply physiologically effective electrical pulses to the patient's body, a monitor (8) to automatically detect a lead condition as to whether the shock lead (3) is implanted or not, and control (9), which due to the detected lead condition automatically enables or disables the pulse generator (7).

Abstract: Housing for medical implant, such as cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, cardioverter, etc. Housing including hollow housing and terminal body attached to hollow housing, which has electrical terminal(s), situated in an externally accessible cavity of the terminal body, for connecting an electrode line, and terminal body including a base body made of electrically insulating plastic, connected to hollow housing and carries electrical supply lines and electrical contacts, which are electrically connected thereto, for the electrical terminal so that the contacts are connected via the electrical supply lines to electrical components in the interior of the hollow housing, electrical supply lines being welded to the electrical contacts and the electrical supply lines and electrical contacts, which are welded to one another, being embedded in the base body and thus fixed in their final position, and the base body being glued to the hollow housing using an adhesive between hollow housing and terminal body.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting sleep apnea by analyzing characteristic physiological oscillations of the heart rate variability (HRV). Starting from recorded ECG data of the patient, for example, as a long-term sequence of the changing RR intervals, the heart rate variability is examined using autocorrelation calculations for the occurrence of rhythmic oscillations of various frequencies. If oscillations typical for apnea occur having very long period durations in the range of 20 to 80 seconds, these are detected as a maximum of the autocorrelation function. If a pathological sleep apnea accordingly exists, individual apnea events may be identified by prompt analysis of short recorded RR sequences, e.g., in the minute interval.

Abstract: Motion picture scenes to be colorized/depth enhanced (2D?3D) are broken into separate elements, backgrounds/sets or motion/onscreen-action. Background and motion elements are combined separately into single frame representations of multiple frames which becomes a visual reference database that includes data for all frame offsets used later for the computer controlled application of masks within a sequence of frames. Each pixel address within the database corresponds to a mask/lookup table address within the digital frame and X, Y, Z location of subsequent frames. Masks are applied to subsequent frames of motion objects based on various differentiating image processing methods, including automated mask fitting of all masks or single masks in an entire frame, bezier and polygon tracing of selected regions with edge detected shaping and operator directed detection of subsequent regions. Colors and/or depths are automatically applied to masks throughout a scene from the composite background and to motion objects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a configuration and a method for the management of data of a plurality of programmable personal medical devices. The configuration comprises a first plurality of personal devices, a second plurality of patient devices each calibrated to at least one personal device, a third plurality of programming devices each calibrated to at least one personal device, a central management unit, a service center, and a management database. The patient devices and/or the programming devices are controlled using management data, upon establishment of the existence of a communication between the management unit and the patient device and/or a programming device, on the basis of this establishment and on the basis of stored management data, specific management data being transmitted to the patient device and/or programming device.

Abstract: Angled axis machine vision system having a camera system angled with respect to an axis of coordinate system of environment. Eliminates problem of utilizing horizontal, vertical lines in environment for distance calculations when horizontal and vertical lines are parallel or close to parallel to axis lying between camera centers of camera system. With camera centers angled about roll axis, horizontal and vertical lines in environment appear as angled lines in images taken from the cameras enabling more accurate distance calculations. With angled axis rotation it is still possible for lines in environment to be parallel to axis defined between camera centers, but instances are rare in real world environments. Camera mount may rotate wherein two sets of pictures are taken and two sets compared for the number of lines which are parallel to axis of camera centers wherein set of pictures with least lines parallel is used for distance calculations.

Abstract: A data model which is designed for being superposed with an image of a real object in an optical object tracking process is determined by the following steps: providing a three-dimensional CAD model (10) for representing the real object, and thereafter there are different synthetic two-dimensional views (31 to 34) of said CAD model (10) generated. Each generated view (31 to 34) is subjected to edge extraction for determining at least one extracted edge (38, 39) in the respective view, with the edges (38, 39) extracted from said respective views (31 to 34) being transformed to a three-dimensional contour model (85, 91) corresponding to said data model to be determined. Permits rapid and efficient generation of a contour model as a data model intended for being superposed with an image of a real object.

Abstract: Heart monitoring system includes implantable medical device and service center.

Abstract: A method for detecting the myocardial state of a heart with a measuring apparatus which includes inserting a bipolar cardiological measuring electrode (4) into a heart division (8) at an acute attachment angle (9) on the myocardium (6) of less than 90°, measuring a cardiological stimulation signal such as an IEGM in sequential cardiac cycles, and in addition, determining the positive and negative maximum amplitudes Vp and Vn of the IEGM, ascertaining an asymmetry factor ? of the stimulation signal (IEGM) of sequential cardiac cycles according to the equation ?=(Vp?|Vn|)/(Vp+|Vn|) and storing the asymmetry factor ? of sequential cardiac cycles for analysis.

Abstract: A low power, lightweight, collapsible and rugged antenna positioner for use in communicating with geostationary, geosynchronous and low earth orbit satellite. By collapsing, invention may be easily carried or shipped in a compact container. May be used in remote locations with simple or automated setup and orientation. Azimuth is adjusted by rotating an antenna in relation to a positioner base and elevation is adjusted by rotating an elevation motor coupled with the antenna. Manual orientation of antenna for linear polarized satellites yields lower weight and power usage. Updates ephemeris or TLE data via satellite. Algorithms used for search including Clarke Belt fallback, transponder/beacon searching switch, azimuth priority searching and tracking including uneven re-peak scheduling yield lower power usage. Orientation aid via user interface allows for smaller azimuth motor, simplifies wiring and lowers weight. Tilt compensation, bump detection and failure contingency provide robustness.

Abstract: A device for detecting the state of a heart on the basis of intracardial impedance measurement. The device has an impedance measuring unit, which has electrical terminals, configured to be electrically connected or to be connected to electrodes for delivering and detecting a current or voltage, and is implemented to ascertain an impedance on the basis of the dimension of the delivered current or voltage and the voltage drop caused by the current or the current caused by the voltage, as well as an analysis unit, which is connected to the impedance measuring unit and is implemented to derive a cardiac function parameter from a time curve of the impedance ascertained using the impedance measuring unit. The analysis unit analyzes the impedance curve assigned to a diastole and derives a cardiac function parameter characterizing the behavior of a heart during the diastole (filling phase of the ventricle).

Abstract: A method for automatic registration of a patient-bound medical device with a remote data processing system, physician identification data being transmitted to the patient-bound medical device, the physician identification data being combined together with device identification data to form a registration message, the registration message being transmitted from the patient-bound medical device to the data processing system, and the data processing system checking the data contained in the registration message and, in case of success, performing the registration, as well as apparatuses for this purpose.

Abstract: An agricultural robot system and method of harvesting, pruning, culling, weeding, measuring and managing of agricultural crops. Uses autonomous and semi-autonomous robot(s) comprising machine-vision using cameras that identify and locate the fruit on each tree, points on a vine to prune, etc., or may be utilized in measuring agricultural parameters or aid in managing agricultural resources. The cameras may be coupled with an arm or other implement to allow views from inside the plant when performing the desired agricultural function. A robot moves through a field first to “map” the plant locations, number and size of fruit and approximate positions of fruit or map the cordons and canes of grape vines. Once the map is complete, a robot or server can create an action plan that a robot may implement. An action plan may comprise operations and data specifying the agricultural function to perform.