Abstract: A method is set forth for playing a bonus game in a secondary slot machine adjacent a primary slot machine. The primary slot machine issues a bonus qualifying signal to the secondary slot machine to start play of a bonus game when a bonus qualifying event occurs. The reels of the bonus game include value symbols, null symbols, and end game symbols which may be of two basic types: a lose game symbol and a stop game symbol. After the random spin, the values of any value symbols displayed on the payline of the secondary slot machine are accumulated into an accumulated winning value. The value symbols could include positive integer values, negative integer values, and multiples. The random spinning, determination of values of any value symbol and the accumulation of a winning value is repeatedly continued until an end of the bonus game occurs.

Abstract: A virtual matrix comprised of a plurality of grid elements is provided, on which a hidden pattern, comprised of a plurality of matrix entries, is randomly placed. A player views a gaming matrix having a plurality of visible positions, each visible position corresponding to one of the grid elements. The player chooses at least one of the plurality of visible positions on the gaming matrix, after which the game displays the corresponding grid element of the virtual matrix on the gaming matrix. Based on the correct number of guesses matching the pattern location, the player is awarded and a media presentation signals the player's success. If the player guesses incorrectly, a second media presentation signals the incorrect guess.

Abstract: A method of large-scale fault-tolerant audio conferencing in an audio conferencing system using a purely packet-switched network. An endpoint places a call to a conference gatekeeper indicating an audio conference. The conference gatekeeper determines whether the call contains sufficient information to establish the audio conference. If there is insufficient information, the endpoint is connected to an IVR server that obtains sufficient information from the endpoint. Either way, a CACS selects an MCU hosting or that will host the audio conference. The CACS then responds to the endpoint with routing instructions indicating the selected MCU and the endpoint connects or transfers to the selected MCU. The MCU mixes input from all endpoints in the audio conference to form a voice stream, which is then returned to each endpoint in the audio conference. Audio conference participants can dial-out from the MCU to bring additional participants into the audio conference.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask airway has a curved tubular guide for insertion through the patient's mouth and oropharynx. After insertion of the guide, the beveled distal opening of the guide abuts the laryngeal inlet, while the guide's proximal opening remains outside the patient's mouth. A laryngeal mask surrounds the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide. A ventilation port adjacent to the proximal opening of the guide supplies air/oxygen through the guide into the patient's lungs. An endotracheal tube can then be advanced along the length of guide and through the patient's larynx without interrupting ventilation.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube can be inserted into a patient's trachea during resuscitation by using a face mask and a curved guide. The guide is inserted through a flexible port in the face mask and has a curved distal portion that extends into the patient's mouth and hypopharynx. The patient is initially resuscitated by supplying a flow of air/oxygen through the mask. For example, a resuscitation bag can be connected to a rotatable ventilation port on the face mask. Alternatively, a resuscitation attachment with an air filter and one-way valve can be removably attached to the ventilation port of the face mask to enable a health care provider to directly resuscitate the patient. An endotracheal tube is inserted over the distal end of a fiber optic probe.

Abstract: Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.60 to 1.0 weight percent carbon, 1.1 to 3.0 weight percent silicon, 0.45 to 0.85 weight percent manganese, less than 0.050 weight percent sulfur and less than 0.050 weight percent phosphorus, with the remainder of said steel being iron and incidental impurities, can be used to make railway wheels that are resistant to martensite transformations and, hence, spalling. The addition of 0.50 to 1.0 weight percent chromium to such steels further improves their resistance to spalling.

Abstract: An audio conferencing platform includes data bus (e.g., a time division multiplex (TDM) bus), a controller, and an interface circuit that receives audio signals from a plurality of conference participants and provides digitized audio signals in assigned time slots over the TDM bus. The audio conferencing platform also includes a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs) adapted to communicate on the TDM bus with the interface circuit. At least one of the DSPs sums a plurality of the digitized audio signals associated with conference participants who are speaking, to provide a summed conference signal. This DSP provides the summed conference signal to at least one of the other plurality of DSPs, which removes the digitized audio signal associated with a speaker whose voice is included in the summed conference signal, to provide a customized conference audio signal to each of the speakers.

Abstract: A radio transmitter assembly for use in tracking an arrow employs an insert containing a radio transmitter that can inserted through the open end of an arrow and into the interior of the arrow shaft. After the insert has been secured within the arrow shaft, an arrow head can be secured to a connector on the insert.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting changes in a property of a liquid/reagent mixture comprises a cartridge having a fluid receiving/dispensing reservoir, one or more fluid-receiving chambers, one or more conduit(s) that permit(s) fluid communication between the fluid receiving/dispensing reservoir and the fluid-receiving chamber(s) and wherein the one or more conduits have a constricted passage for increasing the velocity of fluid flow through said constricted passage and thereby more thoroughly mixing the liquid (e.g., human blood) and a reagent (e.g., protamine).

Abstract: A casino game and method having at least one hidden attribute for each of a finite number of icons and at least one additional hidden attribute for at least one of the finite number of icons. An initial number of player's picks known to the player are provided and any additional picks found, as a result of the additional hidden attributes, by the player are accumulated to prolong the casino game. The casino game ends when the player's picks are used up.

Abstract: A method for encasing a ceiling tile. The back surface of the ceiling tile is positioned adjacent to a vacuum table and a facing is placed over the front surface of the ceiling tile so that the facing overlaps each edge about the perimeter of the ceiling tile. In one embodiment, the facing is covered with an air-impermeable cover and a support frame can be placed surrounding the perimeter of the ceiling tile. The facing is drawn onto the ceiling tile by a vacuum applied through the vacuum table. The ceiling tile is then reversed so that the front surface of the ceiling tile is positioned adjacent to the vacuum table. An air-impermeable backing is placed over the ceiling tile so that the backing overlaps each edge about the perimeter of the ceiling tile. The backing is drawn onto the ceiling tile by the vacuum applied through the vacuum table.

Abstract: A method is described comprising the steps of modifying a natural article to a predetermined configuration, making a mold of at least part of the modified natural article, filling the mold with a castable material to produce a reproduction of at least part of the surface of the modified natural article, modifying the reproduction to a predetermined configuration, making another mold from the modified reproduction and filling this mold with a castable material to produce another reproduction of at least part of the surface of the modified natural article; the second mold can be used to produce reproductions in commercial quantities.

Abstract: A method for playing a base and bonus live card games with side betting. A video board is used for bonus game play if a predetermined arrangement of cards is dealt in the base game. When a player gets the predetermined arrangement the player can play the bonus game. The other players who made side bets, under one embodiment, are also awarded when the bonus game player wins the bonus game and, under another embodiment, when the bonus game player loses the bonus game. In other embodiments, side bets are not needed for the other players to be awarded based upon the bonus game being won or lost.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for orthodontic treatment employs a cast mass-type appliance with a labial bow and combinations of labial and lingual springs to produce multiple coupled forces on selected teeth. The lingual spring has a stem embedded in the appliance and a plurality of pairs of activation loops at its active, tooth-contacting end, which extend laterally outward from the longitudinal axis of the stem. The labial spring has a pair of lateral wings for attachment to a labial bow, and one or more rabbit ears extending selectively either occlusally or gingivally along the labial surface of the tooth.

Abstract: A gang form for use with a concrete form system is provided. The concrete form system has a plurality of said gang forms and a plurality of tie rods. An improved insert having four sides is positioned between two adjacent form panels having flanges with flange openings therein. Side openings in the third and fourth sides of the insert are aligned with the flange openings. Attachment devices are inserted in the side openings and flange openings to attach the insert to the two adjacent form panels and to provide the gang form. At least one lock member is rotatably attached to the second side of the improved insert. One of the plurality of tie rods extends through a tie rod opening in the first and second sides of the insert and is firmly secured to the insert by moving the lock member from an unlocked position to a locked position. Thus, the gang form is interconnected to the concrete form system.

Abstract: An endoscope has a removable suction tube to facilitate cleaning and reduce the risk of patient infection. The endoscope includes an elongated flexible probe with a housing at its proximal end to control the direction and operation of the probe and for viewing images carried by optical fibers from the distal end of the probe. A recess or slot extending along either the suction tube or probe enables the suction tube to be removably secured to the probe. A suction tube connector at the proximal end of the suction tube allows the suction tube to be removably secured to the housing and also provides a connector for removable attachment to an external suction line. In the preferred embodiment, the suction tube connector includes means for regulating suction through the suction tube, such as a vent opening that can be manually sealed by a healthcare provider.

Abstract: A method steam flaking grain comprises the steps of providing grain, passing the grain through a steam chest at a predetermined temperature and pressure for a predetermined time, flaking the grain between two rotating corrugated rollers having a gap, sampling the flakes at predetermined intervals as the flakes come out from between the rollers, weighing the sampled flakes to determine the density of the sampled flakes, and adjusting the temperature, the pressure, the retention time, and the size of the gap between the rollers on the basis of the measured density of the sampled flakes, so that the resulting flakes have a predetermined density and a predetermined amount of gelatinization and so that the variability in the amount of gelatinization is minimized. In another highly preferred embodiment, the sampled flakes are cooled for a predetermined time and then screened before measuring the density.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for indirect evaporative cooling of a fluid stream to substantially its dew point temperature. Plate heat exchanger has perforations 11 and channels 3, 4 and 5 for gas or a low temperature for liquids on a dry side and wet side. Fluid streams 1 flow across the dry side 9, transferring heat to the plate. Gas stream 2 flows across the dry side and through perforations to channels 5 on wet side 10, which it then cools by evaporative cooling as well as conductive and radiative transfer of heat from plate. A wicking material provides wetting of wet side. In other embodiments, a desiccant wheel may be used to dehumidify the gas, air streams may be recirculated, feeder wicks 13 and a pump may be used to bring water from a water reservoir, and fans may be used to either force or induce a draft. The wicking material may be cellulose, organic fibers, organic based fibers, polyester, polypropylene, carbon-based fibers, silicon based fibers, fiberglass, or combinations of them.