Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing a light emitting diode and driving circuitry integrated into a component module that will retrofit common incandescent lightbulb applications. The disclosed embodiments will perform with high efficiency at a wide operating voltage range with a very small size allowing for the incorporation within the envelope and form of existing lightbulb bases. Therefore, a single universal LED light bulb module can be used to replace the dozens of conventional LED and incandescent lights currently being used. The electronic circuitries used to drive the LEDs are extremely compact and consequently can be incorporated in nearly any standard bulb base.

Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to systems, devices and methods for supporting an anatomical location using a self-supporting implantable device without a need for an anchor.

Abstract: An improved technique that considerably reduces required logic and computational time for determining whether the difference between two multi-bit vectors is equal to a given number or lies between given two numbers in a digital logic circuit. In one example embodiment, this is accomplished by receiving a first N-bit vector A [N?1:0] and a second N-bit vector B[N?1:0] in the digital logic circuit, where N is a non-zero positive number. A third N-bit vector is then obtained by performing a bit-wise AND (A [N?1:0] & ˜B[N?1:0]) operation using A[N?1:0] and ˜B[N?1:0]. Further, a fourth N-bit vector is obtained by performing a bit-wise XOR (A[N?1:0]^˜B[N?1:0]) operation using A[N?1:0] and ˜B[N?1:0]. The difference between the first N-bit vector A[N?1:0] and the second N-bit vector B[N?1:0] is then declared as equal to a given number or to be within a given range of two numbers (+m and +n, m<n) based on bit patterns in the third N-bit vector and the fourth N-bit vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic driver circuits, and more particularly, to low power electronic driver circuits having low manufacturing costs. The present invention is a circuit design that utilizes two transistor types that can be manufactured together thereby reducing the number of processing steps and masks and resulting in lower cost.

Abstract: A pressure actuated valve for controlling the flow of fluid through a medical device, the valve comprises a housing including a lumen extending therethrough and a flow control membrane extending across the lumen to control the flow of fluid through the lumen. The membrane includes a plurality of slits extending therethrough so that, when the membrane is acted upon by a pressure of at least a threshold magnitude, the slits open to permit flow through the lumen and, when not acted upon by a pressure of at least the predetermined magnitude, the slits are maintained closed by a biasing force applied thereto by the membrane to prevent flow through the lumen. Each of the slits extends between end portions thereof along a curve wherein a distance between a first end portion of a first one of the slits and a first end portion of a second one of the slits is a minimum distance between the first and second slits.

Abstract: A stage for aligning a workpiece relative to analyzing apparatus. The stage has a platform and means for maintaining a workpiece on the platform. The platform is operable to tilt relative to the analyzing apparatus and thereby rotate the workpiece relative to the analyzing apparatus.

Abstract: A surgical device for use in a minimally invasive procedure to treat urinary incontinence can include a dilator coupled to a curved needle at one end and a sling at the opposite end. Urinary incontinence can be treated minimally invasively. One treatment includes positioning the sling on an anterior portion of the urethra to provide proper coaptation to the urethra.

Abstract: A multi-voltage biasing system with over voltage protection has an amplifier with a stage including at least one output device and one cascode protection device having a predetermined maximum recommended voltage; a biasing network is selectively responsive to a plurality of different supply voltages at least one of which is higher than the maximum recommended voltage for providing to the stage a bias voltage to operate the cascode device and output device below their maximum recommended voltages.

Abstract: Lights for attachment to a vehicle including a first illuminating means directed substantially perpendicular to a surface plane of the light and a second illuminating means directed substantially parallel with the surface plane of the light. The second illuminating means may be mounted solely within a lower hemisphere of the light. The light may also include a covering hood.

Abstract: Disclosed are single-incision surgical procedures for treatment of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor disorders and related uses, devices, kits, and methods. Implants are also disclosed for use in the exemplary procedures. In certain embodiments, soft tissue anchors are used to anchor the surgical implants to obturator membranes of a patient.

Abstract: Fabrication of doped and undoped stoichiometric polycrystalline AlN ceramics with high purity is accomplished by, for example, reacting Al pellets with nitrogen gas. Such polycrystalline AlN ceramics may be utilized in the fabrication of high purity AlN single crystals, which may be annealed to enhance a conductivity thereof.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering and placing a surgical sling without resorting to an abdominal incision are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to systems and methods for adjusting support to an anatomical location using an expandable chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling fluid flow through medical devices, specifically for sealing devices which remain in place in the body to provide long term access to the vascular system. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe a wedge or other similarly shaped geometrical feature for fixing an elastic component and controlling an internal stress of the elastic component.

Abstract: A medical sling made from material that is suitably shaped for use in a medical application has sides, portions of which are smoothed to prevent abrasion of surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A focused ultrasound system includes a transducer array, a controller for providing drive signals to the transducer array, and a switch. The transducer array includes a plurality of “n” transducer elements, and the controller includes a plurality of “m” output channels providing sets of drive signals having respective phase shift values, “m” being less than “n.” The switch is coupled to the output channels of the controller and to the transducer elements, and is configured for connecting the output channels to respective transducer elements. The controller may assign the transducer elements to respective output channels based upon a size and/or shape of a desired focal zone within the target region, to steer or otherwise move a location of the focal zone, and/or to compensate for tissue aberrations caused by tissue between the transducer array and the focal zone, geometric tolerances and/or impedance variations of the transducer elements.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method of joining clad structures includes providing first and second clad structures each comprising a protective layer disposed only partially over a steel layer such that an edge region of the steel layer is exposed, joining the first and second clad structures at their respective edge regions, thereby forming a joint, and cold spraying a metal powder over and in contact with (i) the joint, (ii) the edge regions, and (iii) the protective layers of the first and second clad structures, thereby directly connecting the protective layers of the first and second clad structures with a layer of unmelted metal powder.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for three-terminal field-emitter triode devices, and memory arrays utilizing the same. In other embodiments, the field-emitter devices include a volume-change material, capable of changing a measurable electrical property of the devices, and/or three-dimensional memory arrays of the same.

Abstract: A valve may include (a) a housing defining a valve lumen adapted for fluid connection with a lumen of a catheter; (b) a substantially conical valve member coupled to the housing and extending across the valve lumen to control flow therethrough; (c) a plurality of slits extending through the valve member and separated from one another circumferentially around the valve member; and (d) a ramp formed within a distal end of the valve lumen extending proximally from a distal tip of the valve member toward a ramp vertex separated from the distal tip by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A charge/discharge control circuit for controlling current through an input/output audio device includes a first voltage reference; a second voltage reference and a waveform generation circuit responsive to the first and second voltage references for generating a multi-stage waveform profile which is approximately an inaudible waveform for suppressing audible artifacts in the input/output device.