Abstract: Bioartificial implants and methods for their manufacture and use are described, particularly bioartificial pancreases. In particular, the implants may be thin sheets which enclose cells, may be completely biocompatible over extended periods of time and may not induce fibrosis. The high-density-cell-containing thin sheets are preferably completely retrievable, and have dimensions allowing maintenance of optimal tissue viability through rapid diffusion of nutrients and oxygen and also allowing rapid changes in the secretion rate of insulin and/or other bioactive agents in response to changing physiology. Implantations of living cells, tissue, drugs, medicines and/or enzymes, contained in the bioartificial implants may be made to treat and/or prevent disease.

Abstract: Implants and methods are provided for modulating wound healing and controlling infection to improve the success of glaucoma filtration surgery. Formulations of one or more therapeutically active agents and a biodegradable polymer provide a substantially constant rate of release for an extended period of time.

Abstract: Described herein are novel structured lipids as well as novel mixtures comprising structured lipids. Also described herein are enzymatic methods of forming these structured lipids and mixtures comprising structured lipids. Also described herein are methods of modulating total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerol levels, and/or the ratio of T-helper cells to T-cytotoxic cells in an individual comprising administrating a structured lipid mixture as provided herein. It is further an object to provide a method of modulating weight in an individual comprising administrating a structured lipid mixture as provided herein.

Abstract: A resilient pneumatic annular sealing bladder is coupled for fluid communication to a first pressurized pneumatic fluid to define a first pneumatic zone and is attached to a first surface of the wafer stop plate adjacent the retaining ring interior cylindrical surface to receive the wafer and to support the wafer at a peripheral edge. The resilient pneumatic annular sealing bladder defines a second pneumatic zone radially interior to the first pneumatic zone and extends between the first surface of the wafer stop plate and the wafer when the wafer is attached to the polishing head during a polishing operation and is coupled for fluid communication to a second pressurized pneumatic fluid. The wafer attachment stop plate is operative during non polishing periods to prevent the wafer from flexing excessively from an applied vacuum force used to hold the wafer to the polishing head during wafer loading and unloading operations.

Abstract: A system and method that implement a butterfly operation for a fast fourier transform operation in a processor using a matrix-vector-multiply instruction. A first set of inputs to the butterfly operation are defined as r1+j i1 and r2+j i2, and a twiddle factor Wn is defined as Wn=e−j2&pgr;/N=cos(2&pgr;/N)−j sin(2&pgr;/N)=a+jb. The butterfly operation stores r1, i1, r2 and i2 in a first set of registers and stores the twiddle factor in matrix registers. The matrix-vector-multiply instruction is executed between the matrix registers and the first set of registers.

Abstract: A standing wave particle beam accelerator in which the electric fields in one side coupling cavity are switched by inserting two probes of selected diameter to provide different upstream and downstream electric field coupling to adjacent coupled accelerator cavities.

Abstract: A structure for identifying and modifying a computer operating system components includes a component table including a list of possible components of the operating system. An identifier structure is configured to access the component table and to interrogate the operating system to determine which components in the component table are loaded in the operating system. A build structure is coupled to the identifier structure and configured to compile identified components in the component table and to generate a table of the identified components. The resulting structure defines loaded components of the operating system and can then serve to assist additional structures in modifying the operating system. Modification structures search the table of loaded components to determine how to modify the operating system to achieve desired results. Advantages of the invention include the ability to identify and modify loaded components of the computer operating system.

Abstract: Biochemical libraries are screened for transdominant intracellularly bioactive agents by expressing a molecular library of randomized nucleic acids as a plurality of corresponding expression products in a plurality of cells, each of the nucleic acids comprising a different nucleotide sequence, detecting a cell of the plurality of cells exhibiting a changed physiology in response to the presence in the cell of a transdominant expression product of the corresponding expressio products; and isolating the cell and/or transdominant expression product.

Abstract: A cup holder for receiving a hot beverage carrying a cup of the type with a rim with an open top and a closed bottom end with a tapered outwardly and upwardly extending side wall between the bottom end and the top rim. The side wall has an outer surface heated by the hot beverage in the cup. The cup holder comprises a single molded piece free of overlapping joints and free of adhesive and having at least three upstanding segments with each segment having upper and lower extremities. Hinges interconnect the three upstanding segments to retain the segments in a circular configuration with the segments being outwardly inclined to form a lower aperture which has a size substantially less than the size of the top rim of the cup and an upper aperture greater in size than the lower aperture permitting the cup holder to be nested before use.

Abstract: A jaw exercising device which includes an outer frame having spaced apart cross members and an inner frame with spaced apart cross members coupled to the outer frame for movement therealong and outwardly extending blades for engaging the jaws of a patient carried by adjacent cross members of the outer and inner frame.

Abstract: Toothbrush having an exchangeable bristle plate which is fastened releasably on a head-side carrier plate of a toothbrush body by a groove/tongue anchorage in conjunction with a press fit of a handle-side end of the bristle plate on an undercut stop of the toothbrush body. The undercut of the stop of the toothbrush body is designed in the form of a round wedge, a round wedge of the bristle plate finally engaging in the undercut when a central, rear elongate tongue is anchored in the groove of the carrier plate. The toothbrush body can be bent, at least in the region of the carrier plate and of a toothbrush neck, in order for the round-wedge securing arrangement of the bristle plate to be levered out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic device with microchannels that have separated regions which have a member of a specific binding pair member such as DNA or RNA bound to porous polymer, beads or structures fabricated into the microchannel. The microchannels of the invention are fabricated from plastic and are operatively associated with a fluid propelling component and detector.

Abstract: A plastic wheel (22, 122) and wheel mounting sleeve (27, 27a, 127) used to releasably secure the wheel (22, 122) onto an axle (23, 123). The wheel mounting sleeve (27, 27a, 127) preferably includes a resilient, radially displaceable, axially extending, cantilevered finger (46, 146) which includes an axle-engaging lug (55, 155), while a wheel-engaging shoulder is provided on an annular rib 101, 201. The respective sleeve shoulders cooperate with oppositely facing shoulders on the wheel so as to latch the sleeve (27, 127) to the axle (23, 123) and the wheel (22, 122) to the sleeve (27, 127). The sleeve (27, 127) and sleeve-receiving bore (39a, 39b, 139a, 139b) are radially inwardly stepped on the inner side (66, 166) as compared to the outer side (67, 167) of the wheel. Assembly can be accomplished without any tools, and a pointed tool can be used to puncture a skin (195) in a passageway (191) so as to enable release of the sleeve (27, 127) and wheel (22, 122) from the axle (23, 123).

Abstract: This invention relates to a microfabricated capillary electrophoresis chip for detecting multiple redox-active labels simultaneously using a matrix coding scheme and to a method of selectively labeling analytes for simultaneous electrochemical detection of multiple label-analyte conjugates after electrophoretic or chromatographic separation.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for efficiently processing signal and image data are described. The invention provides a representation of signal and image data that can be used as a figure of merit to compare and characterize different signal processing techniques. The representation can be used as an intermediate result that is may be subjected to further processing, and/or may be used as a control element for processing operations. As a provider of an intermediate result, the invention can be used as a step in processes for the transduction, storage, enhancement, refinement, feature extraction, compression, coding, transmission, or display of image, audio and other data. The invention improves manipulation of data from intrinsically unpredictable, or partially random sources. The result is a concise coding of the data in a form permitting robust and efficient data processing, a reduction in storage demands, and restoration of original data with minimal error and degradation.

Abstract: An optical microswitch for use with a laser beam comprising a support body and first and second output fibers carried by the body. An electrostatic microactuator is carried by the body and extends in a plane. A micromirror is disposed out of the plane. The microactuator has a mirror holder coupled to the micromirror and at least one comb drive assembly coupled to the mirror holder for driving the micromirror about an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the plane between a first position for reflecting the laser beam to the first output fiber and a second position for reflecting the laser beam to the second output fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies to the &agr;v&bgr;3 integrin receptor known to be expressed in large amounts on the surface of osteoclasts and accordingly, associated with bone resorption. The disclosed monoclonal antibodies recognize unique epitopes on &agr;v&bgr;3 and are useful in the treatment of conditions associated with excessive bone resorption and/or in the inhibition of tumor cell growth.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities for use with a suction source to treat a portion of a wall forming a cavity in a body having a natural body opening for accessing the cavity. The elongate probe member has a length so that when the distal extremity is in the vicinity of the portion of the wall the proximal extremity is outside of the body. The distal extremity of the elongate probe member has an outer surface and is provided with at least one recess opening onto the outer surface and an internal passageway communicating with the recess. When the suction source is coupled to the apparatus a suction is created in the recess by means of the passageway to draw the portion of the wall into the recess. A hollow needle is slidably disposed in the elongate probe member and has a distal end portion.

Abstract: A medical probe for the heating of soft tissue, such as collagen tissue, wherein the medical probe has an elongated body with a proximal and distal end, a heating source, an RF electrode. Optional components include a thermocouple, and an insulative sleeve. The probe's elongated body is preferably hollow and flexible. The RF electrode and the heating source are powered by independently controlled power sources and cooperate to maintain a constant and smooth temperature to the distal end of the RF electrode. The heating source may be a contained liquid, such as saline, or an electrothermal mass, such as a ferrite, a toroid, a resistive element, or the like. Current induced from the conductor to the heating source creates heat in the heating source. The thermocouple measures the temperature of the heating source and adjusts the power to the conductor to maintain the heating source's temperature.