Abstract: A pizza insert has at least one tile that rests on a rack that is advantageously spaced above a barbeque grill by a support structure that is connected to the rack and extends downwardly therefrom. The pizza insert also has a rim that extends upwardly from the rack and substantially prevents the tile from moving in horizontal directions. The rim extends away from the rack a distance less than the thickness of the tile so that the rim does not obstruct access to the pizza placed on the tile. Also disclosed are a kit for the pizza insert and the method of using the pizza insert.

Abstract: This is an implant for placement in the human body and a wire coupled to the implant for placing that implant. In the illustrated embodiment, it is an implant for use in the vasculature of the human body and is used to occlude a cavity in that vasculature as a portion of a treatment regimen. The implant itself is a component of a deployment device in which the implant is detached from the wire using electrolytic disintegration when a current is applied to the wire. The implant is electrically isolated from active participation in the electrolytic disintegration which occurs when a current is applied to the wire. Such isolation and minimization of the conductive pathway from the placement apparatus to the body's fluids appears to enhance the susceptibility of a selected portion of the wire to electrolysis to provide for quick erosion and detachment of the implant from the wire.

Abstract: A process whereby a sequence of geometric transformations is applied to a three-dimensional data set so that the resulting stereogram has one image plane made congruent with one plane in the viewer's space. The image plane is usually, but not necessarily, the X-Z or ground plane of the image made congruent with some X-Z plane in the viewer's spatial environment, typically a desk top, table top or floor. When viewed from an angle of view and angle of regard which duplicates that used to create the stereogram, the resulting stereoscopic image appears as a virtual, erect, orthoscopic stereo environment whose X-Y-Z coordinates are congruent with the X-Y-Z coordinates of the viewer's space.

Abstract: A computer-based system provides arm movement therapy for patients with sensory motor impairments. The system is based off a web site that provides access to assessment and therapy exercises designed to test and improve motor coordination in the arm. It operates over the World Wide Web using client-side applets, and can track user movement recovery over time and report it to a remote server computer. The system can also be customized to provide a personalized program of therapeutic exercise to a multiplicity of individuals. A mass manufactured computer input device senses the user's movement and provides a means to track sensory motor performance.

Abstract: The invention is a method of introducing porous membranes into MEMS elements by supporting the membranes by frames to form an heterostructure. This is achieved by attaching to a structured or porous substrate one or more monolithically fabricated frames and membranes. Having membranes disposed on frames enables them to be batch processed and facilitates separation, handling and mounting within MEMS or nanofluidic systems. Applications include, but are not limited to, filters for gases or liquids, electron transmissive windows and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) accessible arrays of nanotest tubes containing liquid phases and other sample states. The invention includes the apparatus made by the method.

Abstract: An additive to a flame reaction forms noncorrosive deposits on cooler metal surfaces, which deposits are more stable than Na2SO4 or K2SO4. By adding molybdenum salts to the flame, an alkali polymolybdate is produced on the cooler metal surface and corrosion is inhibited. Deposition appears to closely reflect the relative thermodynamic stabilities of these salts. The flame processes all chemical molybdenum salt precursors as equivalent sources of molybdenum. The level of molybdenum required is equal to 2 times or more that of the alkali on an atomic basis in the flame environment. The nature of the fuel purity and possible alkali reduction schemes invoked will control the actual quantity and mixing method of the additive. The additive may be directly mixed into the fuel or injected into the burned gas regions of the combustor.

Abstract: An array is placed in contact with or close proximity with an organ or tissue surface to cause electroporation for gene, protein, drug delivery in both ex vivo and in vivo applications. A low DC voltage with a short pulse duration, and long burst pulse is applied to the array. A long rest period is provided between pulse bursts to allow for cell recovery. To enable the application of a low voltage shock in a large organ with same transfection efficiency, four gene, protein and drug delivery systems are illustrated.

Abstract: An automated process and a system for ordering and manufacturing personalized products over the Internet are provided. This process may apply to a limitless variety of products which are desirable to personalize. A robotic manufacturing machine offers options on multiples physical features of a product. These options are presented to consumers via the Internet. A consumer selects the options using a computer. The selected options are received by a web server and converted to machine instructions. The machine instructions are transmitted to the robotic machine which produces a product according to the instructions received. The end result is a personalized product manufactured specifically to the consumer's selections as a result of a completely automated process.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of fabricating sub-wavelength features in semiconductors and insulators by starting with optical lithography patterns defined in a resist and then employing shadow-evaporation and directional etching to define nano-scale features. The directionality of this process is used together with a carefully defined photoresist mask to define an ion etching mask which allows the formation of very narrow trenches adjacent to the photoresist regions. Such narrow trenches can be used for electrical device isolation, for the definition of very small flow channels, and for the deposition of very narrow electrical contacts and wires.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reshaping cartilage using radiofrequency heating. The cartilage temperature is raised sufficiently for stress relaxation to occur in the cartilage, but low enough so that significant denaturation of the cartilage does not occur. The RF electrodes may be designed to also function as molds, preses, clamps, or mandrills to deform the cartilage tissue. Changes in various properties of the cartilage associated with stress relaxation in the cartilage may be measured in order to provide the control signal to provide effective reshaping without denaturation.

Abstract: A suspended p-GaN membrane is formed using photochemical etching which membrane can then be used in a variety of MEMS devices. In the illustrated embodiment a pump is comprised of the p-GaN membrane suspended between two opposing, parallel n-GaN support pillars, which are anchored to a rigid substrate below the pillars. The p-GaN membrane bows upward between the pillars in order to relieve stress built up during the epitaxial growth of membrane. This bowing substantially increases the volume of the enclosed micro-channel defined between membrane and substrate below. The ends of membrane are finished off by a gradual transition to the flat underlying n-GaN layer in which fluidic channels may also be defined to provide inlet and outlet channels to microchannel. A traveling wave or sequential voltage applied to the electrodes causes the membrane to deform and provide a peristaltic pumping action in the microchannel.

Abstract: By using electron beam lithography, chemically assisted ion beam etching, and electroplating, high aspect ratio magnetic columns, 60 nm-170 nm in diameter, which are embedded in an aluminum-gallium-oxide/gallium-arsenide (Al0.9Ga0.1)203/GaAs heterostructured substrate, are fabricated. Storage of data in electroplated Ni columns is realized in the form of tracks 0.5 &mgr;m and 0.25 &mgr;m in the down-track direction, and 1 &mgr;m in the cross-track direction, corresponding to areal densities of 1.3 and 2.6 Gbits/in2 respectively. The fabrication of patterned media samples, using dry etching and oxidation of AlGaAs, and electrodeposition of Ni into GaAs substrate is realized.

Abstract: The invention is a fast-scanning ODT system that uses phase information derived from a Hilbert transformation to increase the sensitivity of flow velocity measurements while maintaining high spatial resolution. The significant increases in scanning speed and velocity sensitivity realized by the invention make it possible to image in vivo blood flow in human skin. The method of the invention overcomes the inherent limitations of the prior art ODT by using a phase change between sequential line scans for velocity image reconstruction. The ODT signal phase or phase shifts at each pixel can be determined from the complex function, {tilde over (&Ggr;)}ODT(t), which is determined through analytic continuation of the measured interference fringes function, &Ggr;ODT(t), by use of a Hilbert transformation, by electronic phase demodulation, by optical means, or a fast Fourier transformation. The phase change in each pixel between axial-line scans is then used to calculate the Doppler frequency shift.

Abstract: An unified constant-frequency integration (UCI) control method based on one-cycle control employs an integrator with reset as its core component along with a few logic and linear components to control the pulse width of a three-phase recitifier, active power filter, or grid-connected inverter so that the all three phase current draw from or the current output to the utility line is sinusoidal. No multipliers and reference calculation circuitry are needed for controlling active power filters. The UCI control employs constant switching frequency and operates in continuous conduction mode (CCM). If in some cases a DSP is desired for some other purposes, the Unified Constant-frequency Control function can be realized by a low cost DSP with a high reliability, because no high speed calcutation, high speed A/D converter, and mutipliers are required.

Abstract: The emission properties of light-emitting diodes are enhanced by coupling to surface plasmons. The semiconductor emitter layer of the light-emitting diode is thinner than &lgr;/2 and is sandwiched between two metal films. A periodic pattern is defined in the top semitransparent metal layer by lithography with the result that it efficiently couples out the light emitted from the semiconductor and simultaneously enhances the spontaneous emission rate. Extraction efficiencies of up to 35% and Purcell factors of up to 4.5 are obtainable. Photoluminescence intensities of up to 46 times higher in fabricated structures compared to unprocessed wafers are obtained. The increased light emission is due to an increase in the efficiency and an increase in the pumping intensity resulting from trapping of pump photons within the microcavity.

Abstract: The Mamikon spinner is a continuous 3 twist, single surface, having threefold symmetry and dynamic properties. It spins with a slight flow of air in the direction of the axes, and when rotated about the axis of symmetry, it acts as a blade, propeller or fan, providing for a multiplicity of utilitarian, educational, entertainment and ornamental uses.

Abstract: A temperature dependent focal plane array operates without a temperature stabilization cooler and/or heater over a wide range of ambient temperatures. Gain, offset and/or bias correction tables are provided in a flash memory in memory pages indexed by the measured temperature of the focal plane array. The memory stores a calibration database, which is accessed using a logic circuit which generates a memory page address from a digitized temperature measurement of the focal plane array. The calibration database is comprised of an array of bias, gain and offset values for each pixel in the focal plane array for each potential operating temperature over the entire range of potential operating temperatures. The bias, gain and offset data within the database are read out, converted to analog form, and used by analog circuits to correct the focal plane array response.

Abstract: A broad class of devices, both active and passive, such as waveguides, microcavities, filters, resonators, lasers, switches, modulators, etc. can be fabricated using the disclosed method. The method is one in which nanocavities in semiconductor membranes can be fabricated, which method is an advantage regardless of the type of device which is ultimately being fabricated therefrom. The method of the invention is illustrated in the case of a photonic crystals waveguide as being made in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) material. However, the method is not limited to this type of material and can be used in other equivalent material structures such as AlGaAs, InGaAsP, or the like. The semiconductor membranes which are fabricated incorporate two dimensional photonic crystals for confinement of light in the lateral or in-plane direction and total internal reflection for the confinement in vertical direction.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope is combined with a laser induced breakdown spectrometer to provide spatially resolved chemical analysis of the surface correlated with the surface topography. Topographical analysis is achieved by scanning a sharp probe across the sample at constant distance from the surface. Chemical analysis is achieved by the means of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy by delivering pulsed laser radiation to the sample surface through the same sharp probe, and consequent collection and analysis of emission spectra from plasma generated on the sample by the laser radiation. The method comprises performing microtopographical analysis of the sample with a scanning probe, selecting a scanned topological site on the sample, generating a plasma plume at the selected scanned topological site, and measuring a spectrum of optical emission from the plasma at the selected scanned topological site.