Abstract: From raw image data obtained through magnetic resonance imaging or the like, an object is reconstructed and visualized in four dimensions (both space and time) by first dividing the first image in the sequence of images into regions through statistical estimation of the mean value and variance of the image data and joining of picture elements (voxels) that are sufficiently similar and then extrapolating the regions to the remainder of the images by using known motion characteristics of components of the image (e.g., spring constants of muscles and tendons) to estimate the rigid and deformational motion of each region from image to image. The object and its regions can be rendered and interacted with in a four-dimensional virtual reality environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dryer apparatus for fiber webs (10), such as webs of natural fiber, synthetic fiber and the like. The apparatus comprises a rotating dryer cylinder (1), the interior of which is provided with elements (8) for injecting hot heat-transfer fluid against the inner cylinder surface and for discharging if from the cylinder interior. The invention relates also to a method for heating a cylinder by injecting hot heat-transfer fluid against the inner surface of the heating cylinder.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of hydrocarbons in the form of oil and gas, by means of a plant comprising several wells, a system for collecting the hydrocarbons produced and a downstream unit for treating the hydrocarbons produced, it being possible for this plant to additionally comprise a pressurized-gas system for activating the wells.According to the invention, the systems and the downstream unit having sensors for measuring physical quantities representative of their operation, each well being controlled according to an individual procedure using modifiable control parameters and data representative of the operating status of the single controlled well, the control parameters used by the individual procedure for controlling each of the wells are automatically modified, depending on the value of at least one of the measured physical quantities and on the data representative of the operating status of all the wells.The application of the invention is in the petroleum industry.

Abstract: A suturing instrument having needle holders for passing a needle through anatomical tissue. Needles are dispensed from an integral portion of the instrument and loaded into a needle holder prior to suturing. When a suturing procedure is completed, the needle is collected into an integral portion of the instrument.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protected ablation of anatomical tissue. A protective cap is disposed around tissue within an anatomical cavity by an endoscopic device or through open surgery techniques. The tissue can then be subject to ablation at high energy for a relatively long period of time, if necessary to ablate the tissue, without damaging surrounding organs or other tissue. The protective cap can be inserted endoscopically in a closed position in which it is compact radially and can be opened after being inserted into the body cavity to be placed around the tissue. The protective cap can be a thermal insulator, an electrical insulator, merely a physical pad to protect surrounding tissue, or of any desired characteristic for protection.

Abstract: DNA molecules comprising a nucleic acid sequence expressed in cells, the expression product of which is involved in programmed cell death. Also disclosed are methods of therapeutic treatment using the DNA molecules and their expression products, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

Abstract: An implantable medical interventional device is adapted to provide therapy to a patient in whom the device is implanted to treat cardiac dysrhythmias including tachyarrhythmia. The device performs a plurality of functions corresponding to different levels of therapy for treatment of sensed dysrhythmias, including an electric shock waveform of predetermined energy content for delivery to the patient's heart to terminate at least one type of tachyarrhythmia. In response to cessation of the tachyarrhythmia after delivery of the electric shock waveform, the device promptly thereafter applies post-shock pacing pulses to the heart for a period of time sufficient to allow the heart to recover from the shock and to resume substantially normal sinus rhythm. The device may be upgraded by programming to select among the various functions as necessary to provide designated therapy by suppressing some functions and activating others.

Abstract: An anti-decoupling arrangement for an electrical connector (as well as an electrical connector incorporating such an anti-decoupling arrangement) is made up of just three operative components: a spiral lock clutch, at least one spring ring, and ratchet teeth or serrations formed on an inside surface of the coupling nut. The ratchet teeth are in the form of serrations formed into the inside diameter of a recessed area of the coupling nut in which all of the components reside, and each spring ring is a self-supporting ring that has spring cantilevers with engaging tines of a given number located around its outer circumference, the engaging tines engaging the serrations in a radial direction. The engaging tines thus provide a torque/ratchet mechanism when they glide over the radial cuts of the tooth ring in the uncoupling direction, and stay engaged which forces the spiral lock clutch to expand and slide smoothly over the plug shell with minimal torque in the coupling direction.

Abstract: A material table 39 supporting materials W is provided so as to be able to move between a plate material taking-in/out area 11 and material wait area 13, and when the material table 39 is positioned in the plate material taking-in/out area 11, the material table 39 is positioned in a lower position adjacent to an upper end portion of a slat conveyor 33.

Abstract: A decorative and educational waterfall device has a substantially continuous film of a liquid, such as water, low viscosity oil or an aqueous solution, extending between two vertically upstanding guides. The waterfall comprises a base reservoir in which is mounted an electrical pump. A tower containing a liquid flow passage is mounted to the base and a trough having two side walls and a bottom wall which terminates in a lip portion at the front edge of the trough is mounted to the tower so that liquid from the tower flows over the bottom wall and lip portion of the trough to form the waterfall between the two upstanding guides. The bottom wall of the trough is configured to cause the flow of water to be directed outwardly toward the guides to improve the adherence of the liquid film to the guides.

Abstract: A method of recovering antimony and bismuth from copper electrolyte comprises the steps of immersing a pure copper material in the copper electrolyte, so that the iron ions are reduced from Fe.sup.3+ ions to Fe.sup.2+ ions, using a mixture of dilute sulfuric acid and sodium chloride adjusting the acidity or acidic concentration, to selectively elute the bismuth and antimony wherein if the final concentration of bismuth is adjusted to be 0.02 g/l or less in the bismuth election, it is possible to keep the maximum concentration of bismuth in the antimony eluate in the elution of antimony after selective bismuth elution to 0.01 g/l or less.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of bent sheet metal pieces (12) is disclosed. In the method or apparatus, a cut (14) is made in a sheet of sheet metal (10) that defines the perimeter of piece (12) to be obtained. The cut (14) is interrupted at preselected points to form a series of microjoints (16) that keep the plan development of the piece (12) united with the stiffening frame (18) constituted by the remaining part of the metal sheet (10). At least one window (36, 38) is formed in the stiffening frame (18) in order to allow a pair of bending tools having a length greater than the length of the bend to form a bend (20, 22) on the piece (12) without interfering the stiffening frame (18) while the bend is being formed.

Abstract: An upper tool holding apparatus includes: an upper tool support portion provided under a holder main body to support an upper tool; an upper tool clamp which is supported in a swingable way with a fulcrum near the approximately central portion in the vertical direction of the holder main body; a pressing member provided at a lower portion of the upper tool clamp to press the upper tool to the upper tool support portion; an engaging member provided at the lower portion of the upper tool clamp; and a clamping force giving means pressing the upper portion side of the upper tool clamp so that the upper tool clamp can clamp the upper tool with the upper tool support portion. In the construction, the engaging member is provided by being divided into a plurality of pieces as engaging split fragments. Furthermore, the respective divided engaging split fragments are respectively provided by being urged in the direction of the upper tool support portion.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising a process of lightly fitting a distal end portion of a projecting portion 25 of a blank holder 23 into a fitting groove 19 formed in a punch guide 5 so as to be momentarily held therein; and a process of fitting the projecting portion 25 of the blank holder 23 into the fitting groove 19 while punching a punch guide hole 23G in the blank holder 23 when a punching portion 7 of a punch body 9 of a punch assembly 1 is lowered for pressing the blank holder 23 against a die D so that the punch guide 5 descends.

Abstract: A rotary driving device for a press machine includes: a main body (11); a push head member (21) provided for the main body (11) reciprocatingly movably in an axial direction thereof and driven in the axial direction by a striker (S) of the press machine; an air-tight gaseous spring unit (15) mounted inside the main body (11), for generating a return elastic force to urge the push head member (21) in a direction opposite to a strike direction of the striker (S); a male thread axle member (29) in mesh with female threads (33) formed in the main body (11) and rotatable when moved in an axial direction thereof by the push head member (21); a lead nut (47) exchangeably and fixedly mounted on the main body (11); a lead thread member (51) in mesh with the lead nut (47) and rotatably supported by the main body (11), for holding a rotary driven tool (T); and a coupling section (43, 55) for coupling the male thread axle member (29) and the lead thread member (51) in torque transmission relationship and in relative axia

Abstract: The invention relates to a connection device having a switch which is particularly, but not exclusively, suited or use in making a connection between a portable appliance having an antenna, such as a radiotelephone, and a connection device, such as a device mounted in a motor vehicle and connected to the antenna of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A punch press includes a pair of disc-shaped tool holders rotatably mounted on supporting portions, one of the holders carrying a plurality of punch tools, and the other holder carrying a plurality of die tools which cooperate with the punch tools in order to punch a workpiece. A striker is attached to a vertically movable ram, wherein the striker is movable to a position into which desired punch and die tools attached to the pair of tool holders are indexed in order to change direction of the tools by rotating the pair of tool holders.

Abstract: Equipment used in the processing of plastic, such as molds and extrusion screws, is cleaned of plastic residue by a combination of thermal cycling and agitation without impact cleaning. A chamber can be heated by an electric radiant heater and cooled by the introduction of liquid nitrogen. A fixture in the chamber receives the equipment to be cleaned and is agitated by a drive motor. The chamber is heated and cooled in the following cycle in which the drive motor agitates the fixture: first to 250-300.degree. F., then to -315.degree. F., then cycled between -50.degree. F. and -10.degree. F., then to 150.degree. F., then to -200.degree. F., then to 100.degree. F., then to ambient temperature. The chamber is controlled by a computer that prompts the operator for the kind of plastic to be cleaned off of the equipment and then controls the heating and cooling automatically.

Abstract: An expandable multifunctional instrument for creating a space at an obstructed site in anatomical tissue in the body including an elongate member having a distal end for being positioned at the obstructed site, a proximal end for being disposed externally of the body and an expandable member at the distal end of the elongate member. The expandable member includes a balloon movable fluidically from a non-expanded position to an expanded position at the obstructed site. The balloon assumes a preformed, predetermined configuration in the expanded position at the obstructed site to separate the anatomical tissue to create a space at the obstructed site.