Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a surface of a silicon wafer for formation of HSG structures. The method contemplates providing a wafer having at least one HSG template comprising polysilicon formed in BPSG, the HSG template being covered by silicon dioxide. The wafer is treated with a cleaning agent to clean the surface of the wafer. Next, the wafer is treated with a conditioning agent. The conditioning agent removes native oxide from the HSG template without excessively etching structural BPSG. Preferably, the conditioning agent also removes a thin layer of polysilicon on the HSG template. The wafer is then transferred to a process chamber for HSG formation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a surface of a silicon wafer for formation of HSG structures. The method contemplates providing a wafer having at least one HSG template comprising polysilicon formed in BPSG, the HSG template being covered by silicon dioxide. The wafer is treated with a cleaning agent to clean the surface of the wafer. Next, the wafer is treated with a conditioning agent. The conditioning agent removes native oxide from the HSG template without excessively etching structural BPSG. Preferably, the conditioning agent also removes a thin layer of polysilicon on the HSG template. The wafer is then transferred to a process chamber for HSG formation.

Abstract: Medical devices that are configured for insertion into a body lumen, such as the male urethra, are provided with one or more inflatable balloons having elastic sleeves, wherein each elastic sleeve is adapted to inflate in response to inflation of a respective balloon, and to deflate in response to deflation of the respective balloon. When a balloon is in a deflated condition, a respective elastic sleeve exerts a circumferentially compressive force against the balloon to cause a smooth, reduced cross-sectional profile of the balloon along an axial extent thereof. This smooth, reduced cross-sectional profile can facilitate passage of the medical device through a body lumen during both insertion and extraction of the medical device. A thin layer of fluid may be disposed between a treatment balloon and a respective elastic sleeve to facilitate heat transfer from a treatment balloon to a surrounding elastic sleeve or to administer a therapeutic agent to localized tissue.

Abstract: Flexible treatment catheters are configured to be inserted into a body lumen or cavity to deliver heated fluid through at least one fluid lumen therein to thermally treat or ablate a targeted site in a biological subject. The flexible treatment catheters can include improved thermally insulated regions comprising a mixture formed of liquid elastomeric (such as a polyurethane) mixture (which transitions to a solid state) and miniaturized hollow plastic bodies positioned between the outer wall of the treatment catheter and the fluid lumen. The thermally insulated region is configured such that, measured ex vivo, the treatment catheter can present a maximum temperature of below about 45° C. on the external surface of the outer wall of the treatment catheter when the treatment catheter circulates fluid having an inlet temperature of above or between about 60°-62° C.

Abstract: A prostatic stent is configured as a unitary body, which is adapted to reside above the sphincter when in position in a subject and allow normal functioning of the sphincter. The stent includes and elongated and substantially narrow conduit, which extends through the sphincter and outside the body of the subject. The conduit is sized and constructed to allow normal operation of the sphincter. The stent also includes and upper and/or an intermediate inflatable portions and may include a second conduit for the introduction of medication to the stent.

Abstract: A sheath assembly for a medical instrument such as an endoscope comprises an outer sheath and inner sheath and novel means for providing out-flow of fluids from a surgical site. The outer sheath is disposed about at least a portion of an inner sheath. The assembly has an outflow aperture disposed in an outer wall at the distal end of the assembly. The outflow aperture is the initiation for an outflow conduit that is generally longitudinally disposed in a distal tip portion of the assembly and communicates fluid to a main outflow channel formed between the outer sheath and inner sheath. In a preferred embodiment, the outflow aperture and conduit are disposed wholly or partially in a dielectric tip element. The novel assembly allows improved outflow by disposing the outflow aperture at a more distal end of the instrument than conventional devices such that the outflow aperture is less prone to blockage by surrounding tissue or debris when used in tight anatomical passages.

Abstract: A system and method for data collection, evaluation, information generation and/or presentation is described. More particularly the description relates to a system for collecting, evaluating, generating and presenting data and/or information relating to electronic commerce. The system and methods include predictor modules that use recent historical data along with an estimated and/or available population function as the basis for a differential equation that defines the growth of the population to a saturation or maximum attainable level.

Abstract: Methods of treating the prostate include administering a thermal ablation therapy and inhibiting the obstruction or closure of the prostatic urethral opening by forming a biodegradable stent in situ in the subject such that the stent attaches to the walls of the prostatic urethra. A related method of treating BPH includes thermally treating or ablating localized tissue in the prostate with a treatment catheter and inserting flowable stent material via the treatment catheter into the prostate (either before, during, or after the thermal treatment), forming the flowable stent material so that it defines a stent that remains in position after removal of the treatment catheter to inhibit the closure of the urinary passage. Associated stents and catheters are included.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for data collection, evaluation, information generation and/or presentation. More,particularly the present invention relates to a system for collecting, evaluating, generating, and presenting data and/or information relating to electronic commerce. The system and methods of the present invention include a module for stabilizing small or noisy samples of data, including the prediction of missing observations.

Abstract: A computational method for the discovery and design of therapeutically valuable bioactive compounds is presented. The method employed has successfully analyzed enzymatic inhibitors for their chemical properties through the use of a neural network and associated algorithms. This method is an improvement over the current methods of drug discovery which often employs a random search through a large library of synthesized chemical compounds or biological samples for bioactivity related to a specific therapeutic use. This time-consuming process is the most expensive portion of current drug discovery methods. The development of computational methods for the prediction of specific molecular activity will facilitate the design of novel chemotherapeutics or other chemically useful compounds. The novel neural network provided in the current invention is “trained” with the bioactivity of known compounds and then used to predict the bioactivity of unknown compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a packaged chip that includes at least one dam disposed between the chip and interposer, blocking an encapsulant flow path in the package formed by the assembly of the interposer and chip. In one preferred embodiment, the dam comprises a lead-like structure formed on the interposer that closes an encapsulant flow path in the package. The invention further provides a novel interposer that may be assembled with a chip into the novel packaged chip. Methods are also provided for making the packaged chip and the interposer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a packaged chip that includes at least one dam disposed between the chip and interposer, blocking an encapsulant flow path in the package formed by the assembly of the interposer and chip. In one preferred embodiment, the dam comprises a lead-like structure formed on the interposer that closes an encapsulant flow path in the package. The invention further provides a novel interposer that may be assembled with a chip into the novel packaged chip. Methods are also provided for making the packaged chip and the interposer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a surface of a silicon wafer for formation of HSG structures. The method contemplates providing a wafer having at least one HSG template comprising polysilicon formed in BPSG, the HSG template being covered by silicon dioxide. The wafer is treated with a cleaning agent to clean the surface of the wafer. Next, the wafer is treated with a conditioning agent. The conditioning agent removes native oxide from the HSG template without excessively etching structural BPSG. Preferably, the conditioning agent also removes a thin layer of polysilicon on the HSG template. The wafer is then transferred to a process chamber for HSG formation.

Abstract: A system and method for data collection, evaluation, information generation and/or presentation. More particularly the system is for collecting, evaluating, generating and presenting data and/or information relating to electronic commerce. The system and methods include predictor modules that use recent historical data along with an estimated and/or available population function as the basis for a differential equation that defines the growth of the population to a saturation or maximum attainable level.

Abstract: A new and distinctive New Guinea Impatiens plant characterized by flowers with two or more colors distributed in irregular randomly distributed patterns on some or all petals and flower. The patterns are defined by multiple irregularly shaped regions of color. Generally, each region consists of an elongate streak or patch of color typically radiating in a direction from the base of a petal to the edge of the petal. The irregularly shaped regions, while not necessarily exclusive of other colors, generally are dominated by a single color. The streaks or patches forming regions may vary in color intensity, shape, length, and width. They may also vary in terms of their position relative to the base and edge of a petal. The novel features of the invention also include a method of producing multiple sports from crosses of the present invention with other novel plants of the present invention or with conventional New Guinea Impatiens plants.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of ‘Lobelia erinus’ having pendulous stems, freely branching plant habit, light blue flowers with a white eye that are produced continuously throughout the growing season, dark green to bronzish green foliage, and good heat tolerance.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of (Lotus berthelotii×Lotus maculata)×Lotus maculata plant named ‘TiGo’, characterized by its pendulous growth habit and pan-seasonal production of yellow-red flowers.

Abstract: A new double-flowered Impatiens walleriana named ‘TiLipII’, producing light pink flowers; dark green foliage; strong peduncles and pedicels; flowers held above or beyond the foliage; freely branching; medium vigorous mounded growth habit.