Abstract: An artificial spinal implant for placement between adjacent vertebrae to replace disk material and to stabilize the involved vertebrae is described. The artificial disk may be disassembled for installation and/or removal for repair, replacement or adjustment, and may be assembled from the front of the spine as individual component parts, thereby permitting alignment of the spine during the assembly process, and the stabilization of the involved vertebrae once assembly has been completed. Further, the components may be chosen from a set of similar components having different sizes, thereby enabling the implant to be tailor fit to the requirements of the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bias circuit with a first resistor connected between the supply voltage and a feedback node. Resistors are connected in series between the feedback node and the reference supply voltage. The connections between the resistors define at least one bias voltage. A second resistor is connected between the feedback node and a first drain node. A first field-effect transistor has a first gate node, the first drain node, and a first source node. The gate node is connected to the first supply voltage. A second field-effect transistor has a second gate node, a second drain node, and a second source node. The second drain node is connected to the first source node. The second gate node is connected to the bias voltage. The second source node is connected to an output signal node. The output signal node capable of experiencing an overshoot voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a batten riser assembly that is used to install battens for tile roofs. The batten riser assembly can be used to prolong the life of tile roofs since it is made of waterproof materials. The batten riser assembly uses flexible strips that can be easily folded in a compact package and can be installed in a quick and easy manner. The batten riser assembly can be used in conjunction with a marker tape to speed installation. The batten riser assembly is designed to prevent the damming of water that penetrates the tile roof. The batten riser assembly provides a simple and easy way for installers to comply with building codes.

Abstract: A composition of matter suitable for spinning polyaniline fiber, a method for spinning electrically conductive polyaniline fiber, a method for exchanging dopants in polyaniline fibers, and methods for dedoping and redoping polyaniline fibers are described.

Abstract: Disclosed is waterproof lamp assembly that allows easy assembly and disassembly. LED elements can be quickly and easily replaced if an LED element is defective or burns out. Extended connectors are used that extend beyond an overmolded lamp holder so that the lamp holder can be easily molded without covering the connectors with molding material. The connectors are made from a malleable metal so that the connectors can be folded into a central opening in the lamp holder.

Abstract: A system and method of manufacture providing reinforced structurally functional load-bearing members, including but not limited to using thermoplastic materials, such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), reinforced such as with an aluminum alloy or carbon fiber core element. Among its possible uses, the present invention has application for provision of structural support members, such as an illustrative I-joist product having a vertical center member preferably comprising HDPE, and top and bottom flanges having structurally meaningful reinforcement. The center member and flanges preferably comprising HDPE provides a relatively hard, durable, substantially weather-resistant structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring a chosen quantity of medication from a vial to an intravenous infuser container under sterile conditions is described. The present invention further facilitates dissolving solid medications contained in the vial or diluting concentrated medications contained in the vial, and transferring the resulting solutions to the infuser container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for storing a value in a process register of an electrical circuit, which indicates a strength of a process in which the circuit was fabricated, and adjusting an input delay applied to data signals received by a synchronous storage element of the electrical circuit based on the stored value.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for creating, applying, using and retrieving profile information that includes attributes that may be stored separately from, or with, the content to which the profiles are being applied. In this manner, profiles can be shared in various environments and across various applications. Attributes that have corresponding attributes in other content can be applied to the other content, as long as each of the attributes is valid. In computer aided design applications, the profile can be stored in a profile repository embedded within the CAD model. In addition, profile controllers are disclosed which control the attributes of a profile that can be used with selected content and other content and send a notification that a profile is available for use by other content.

Abstract: A small scale, but effective, reactive chemical containment system includes apparatus and methods for reaction of process gases exhausted from reaction furnaces with a reactant gas in a non-combustible manner to produce and contain particulate or powder byproducts, thereby removing the process gas from the exhaust gas flow. The apparatus provides process gas inlet, treatment reactive gas diffusion, process gas and treatment reactive gas pre-mixing, primary containment, secondary containment, and outlet zones.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for providing fast-response One-Time-Programmable (OTP) memory based on SRAM memory technology and the inherent breakdown characteristics of a MOS transistor. Each memory cell of an SRAM memory cell circuit is connected to a programming circuit. The programming circuit is comprised of two groups of MOS transistors connected to the storage nodes (SN and SNB, where SNB is the complementary value of SN) of the two cross-coupled inverters of the SRAM memory circuit. A desired data set is loaded into the circuit and then is burned-in by applying and repeatedly cycling a “burn-in” voltage across the source and drain of the MOS transistors of the programming circuit that approaches the ON STATE trigger voltage of the characteristic bipolar junction transistor contained within the MOS transistors.

Abstract: A natural gradient, single well, tracer dilution non-continuous mixing apparatus and method for measuring flow of liquids through porous media are described. The method has been applied to concentrations of Light Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) in monitoring wells to measure the rate of LNAPL flow through the wells and through the adjacent formation. Similar measurements were made for concentrations of water in other formations. A LNAPL-soluble fluorescing tracer was added to LNAPL in the wells, and a water-soluble fluorescing tracer was added to water in the wells. The tracer is initially uniformly-mixed into the LNAPL or water in the well, and the tracer concentration is measured using a fiber optic cable and a spectrometer. The LNAPL or water with dissolved tracer is then allowed to flow from the well without any mixing. At a later time, the LNAPL or water and tracer in the well are mixed to a uniform tracer concentration, and the tracer concentration is remeasured.

Abstract: A memory testing system for testing a plurality of memory locations in an electronic memory device is provided. The system includes a programmable memory device integrated into the electronic memory device capable of receiving and storing a compiled memory testing program. A processor is in communication with the programmable memory device to read and execute instructions from the compiled testing program stored in the programmable memory device and a command interpreter is configured to receive data from the processor related to commands to be executed during memory testing.

Abstract: A segmented radial spatial light modulator has an active optic area comprising a plurality of radially extending active optic modulators disposed at various angular orientations with respect to a central axis. The segmented radial spatial light modulator is used in separating and isolating portions of Fourier transform optic patterns from images for characterization of images by shape for recording, storing, retrieving, searching, and comparison to other images for matches and near matches. The images can be ghosted to increase optical power in the Fourier transform optic pattern without adding new shape content and for grading comparisons to other image shape characteristics for identifying near matches in addition to matches.