Abstract: The present invention relates to an electro-active device having an electro-active structure extending along a minor axis (36) which is curved, for example in a helix around a major axis (37). The electro-active structure comprises successive electro-active portions (35) extending around said minor axis and arranged with electrodes to bend, when activated, around the minor axis (36) such that bending of the successive portions (35) is concomitant with rotation of the electro-active structure about the minor axis (36) adding incrementally along the minor axis (36). The electro-active structure generates displacement out of the local plane in which the minor axis is curved. The electra-active structure may be continuous electro-active member (35) extending along and curving around the minor axis (35), for example helically to form a helical helix. Alternatively, the electro-active structure may be a plurality of discrete elements (211) connected together.

Abstract: The invention is a six-card-stud poker game, played with at least one but preferably one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus at least one but preferably two Jokers. Two or more but preferably seven players may participate in the game; one of the players is the Banker whom other players play against, a Player who is not a Banker may play Poker Bet playing against the Banker's hand, and/or one to seven side bets betting on the contents of the Player's own hand. After at least one wager is placed, each Player and the Banker are each dealt six cards; the Players and the Banker each then selects and keeps his best 5-card poker hand from his six cards and discards one card. To win a Poker Bet wager, a Player's best 5-card poker hand must rank higher than the Banker's best 5-card poker hand. To wins a side-bet wager, a Player's best 5-card poker hand must be one of the predetermined winning hands of the type of the side bet he bets on.

Abstract: A maternity undergarment is preferably a spandex/polyester full body slip that covers, shapes and supports the upper torso and lower torso, to smooth the thigh, back waist and buttocks, slightly support the belly and optionally provide a support bra at the chest. The belly panel is of fabric that is more stretchable than the fabric covering the wearer's torso.

Abstract: A portable device for dental hygiene comprising a new configuration of handleless toothbrush, of easy portability, whose body is manufactured of resilient plastic material with the approximate shape of a through thimble on the sides, to be specially fitted of the first phalange of an index finger, which has, incorporated in its lower surface, a plurality of bristle rows radially laid out and, in its upper surface, a set of slots in relief to massage the gums, constituting a small device that can be carried in the pocket or inside a small pouch or handbag, inside a package specially designed for its accommodation, that includes an internal container to store a small quantity of toothpaste, thus permitting that the user has a complete portable kit of dental hygiene at his disposal and comfort.

Abstract: The present invention provides a virtual network, sitting “above” the physical connectivity and thereby providing the administrative controls necessary to link various communication devices via an Access-Method-Independent Exchange. In this sense, the Access-Method-Independent Exchange can be viewed as providing the logical connectivity required. In accordance with the present invention, connectivity is provided by a series of communication primitives designed to work with each of the specific communication devices in use. As new communication devices are developed, primitives can be added to the Access-Method-Independent Exchange to support these new devices without changing the application source code. A Thread Communication Service is provided, along with a Binding Service to link Communication Points. A Thread Directory Service is available, as well as a Broker Service and a Thread Communication Switching Service. Intraprocess, as well as Interprocess, services are available.

Abstract: The invention is an eight-card-stud poker game, played with at least one but preferably one standard poker deck of 52 cards, plus at least one but preferably four Jokers. Two or more but preferably seven players may participate in the game. One of the players is the Banker whom other players play against. A Player who is not a Banker may play Aces Two Pair Or Better Bet, 3 Of A Kind Or Better Bet, Straight Or Better Bet, Flush Or Better Bet, Full House Or Better Bet, 4 Of A Kind Or Better Bet, and/or Bonus Bet betting on the contents of the Player's own hand. After at least one bet is placed, each Player and the Banker are each dealt seven cards and one community card. From each Player's own seven dealt cards and the community card, he selects and keeps his best 5-card poker hand and discards three other cards. To win a bet, the Player's best 5-card poker hand must be one of the predetermining winning hands of the type of the bet he bets on, regardless of the Banker's hand.

Abstract: An apparatus for sonoporation for transdermal delivery of a microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs includes a container having an end covered with a porous membrane and containing said microparticles suspension and an ultrasound horn having a tip submerged in said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs. The ultrasound horn applies ultrasound radiation to the microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs.

Abstract: A damper or muffler assembly for a cymbal uses a remote pedal for damping. A bicycle type caliper brake assembly is mounted to post mounting hardware for a drum set, so that the caliper can be attached to a supporting post for the cymbal. The caliper closes into a clamping position so as to absorb sound-producing vibration or completely render the cymbal immovable, according to the degree of clamping force applied. The caliper can be mounted to free-standing cymbals, high hat cymbals and other types of cymbals, and is particularly useful for use with type of cymbal used in combination with a set of drums and played by striking the cymbal with a drumstick.

Abstract: An epifluorescent microscope (11) is constructed with a quick changing set of filters (13,20,21). A wheel (13) containing a plurality of dichroic beamsplitter mirrors (6165) mounted equidistance from a center axis (66) of the wheel is mounted at a 45° angle within the lightpath and provides a beamsplitter function. Light from an excitation source (12) is provided as monochromatic light, so that light from the excitation source (12) is reflected by a selected one of the dichroic mirrors (6165) to the specimen (15), and Stokes shifted light from the specimen (15) is transmitted through the dichroic mirror (6165). By separately mounting the dichroic mirrors (6165), the dichroic mirrors can be quickly moved and a quicker change of sensed fluorophores is achieved. An additional advantage is that excitation (20) and emission (21) filters can be quickly changed independently of the dichroic mirror element (13).

Abstract: A survey system (52, 154) is configured to identify radio stations (92) to which tuners (26) are tuned. The tuners (26) have predetermined signals (30) emitted therefrom. In one embodiment, the survey system (52) employs a method (86) which includes selecting one of the predetermined signals (30), receiving at a receiver (54) a second signal (116), and determining that one of the tuners (26) is tuned to one of the radio stations (92) when a harmonic (44, 46) of the fundamental frequency (42) of the predetermined signal (30) is detected within the second signal (116). In an alternative embodiment, the survey system (154) employs a method (182) that includes generating and broadcasting a survey signal (162) that is a one of the predetermined signals (30) modified to incorporate a signal identifier (212, 216).

Abstract: The present invention provides a virtual network, sitting “above” the physical connectivity and thereby providing the administrative controls necessary to link various communication devices via an Access-Method-Independent Exchange. In this sense, the Access-Method-Independent Exchange can be viewed as providing the logical connectivity required. In accordance with the present invention, connectivity is provided by a series of communication primitives designed to work with each of the specific communication devices in use. As new communication devices are developed, primitives can be added to the Access-Method-Independent Exchange to support these new devices without changing the application source code. A Thread Communication Service is provided, along with a Binding Service to link Communication Points. A Thread Directory Service is available, as well as a Broker Service and a Thread Communication Switching Service. Intraprocess, as well as Interprocess, services are available.

Abstract: The present invention provides a virtual network, sitting “above” the physical connectivity and thereby providing the administrative controls necessary to link various communication devices via an Access-Method-Independent Exchange. In this sense, the Access-Method-Independent Exchange can be viewed as providing the logical connectivity required. In accordance with the present invention, connectivity is provided by a series of communication primitives designed to work with each of the specific communication devices in use. As new communication devices are developed, primitives can be added to the Access-Method-Independent Exchange to support these new devices without changing the application source code. A Thread Communication Service is provided, along with a Binding Service to link Communication Points. A Thread Directory Service is available, as well as a Broker Service and a Thread Communication Switching Service. Intraprocess, as well as Interprocess, services are available.

Abstract: An active broadcast survey system (32) is configured to identify radio stations (216) to which tuners (26) are tuned. The tuners (26) have local oscillator signals (30) emitted therefrom. The survey system (32) employs a method (210) that includes generating and broadcasting a survey signal (42) that is a one of the local oscillator signals (30) modified to incorporate a signal identifier (236, 240). The method (182) further includes detecting a harmonic (54, 56) of the fundamental frequency (52) of the local oscillator signal (30) within a received broadcast signal (44) and determining that one of the tuners (26) is tuned to one of the radio stations (216) when the detected harmonic (54, 56) includes the signal identifier (236, 240). The survey system (32) also employs a method (166) for active tuning of the system (32), and another method (282) for providing short range communication with a remote transceiver (280) to facilitate uploading and downloading of system settings and data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen collector and detector system for detecting emanating hydrogen from the test surface of materials, a hydrogen collector for use in such a system and a method for using the hydrogen collector in such a system. The present collector comprises a flexible plate, which has constructed on its receptor face raised grooves or high spots. These are presented approximately parallel to an approximately flat test surface or approximately tangential to a curved test surface, and form guiding channels along which hydrogen emanating from the test surface can be drawn and sent to an associated detector system. For use on a magnetizable surface, the present collector plate may comprise magnets by which it can firmly yet removably be attached to the test surface.

Abstract: The card game of the present invention uses at least one or preferably one standard deck of 52 cards plus at least one or preferably four Jokers. Each Player, along with the Banker, is dealt seven cards, and plays against a Banker. In any given hand, Players have the option to make from one and up to eight different types of bets on the value of their own hand. A Player's wager wins if the Player's best five-card poker hand selected from the Player's seven dealt cards is one of the winning hands of the bet the Player makes, and the Player's wager loses if the Player's best five-card poker hand is neither one of the winning hands nor one of the pushing hand(s). If a Player makes more than one bet, the Player may win all bets made, the Player may win some bet(s) and lose the other(s), or the Player may lose all bets made. The eight types of bets do not require skill; Players win their wagers based on the strength of the hands as dealt.

Abstract: Therapeutic sources for use in the practice of brachytherapy are fabricated from radioactive composites of a radioactive powder of palladium-103, yttrium-90, phosphorus-32 or gold-198 and a biocompatible polymeric matrix. The particles of radioactive powder are dispersed within the polymer essentially randomly throughout a particular volume. The polymeric matrix is desirably manufactured with preselected flexibility suitable to its intended use, e.g. in the form of a rod, hollow rod, suture, film, sheet, or microspheroidal particles. The radioactive composites produce therapeutic sources which generate a radiation field that is substantially uniform in all directions. The therapeutic source may assembled from the radioactive composite during a medical procedure to emit the desired amount of therapeutic radiation. Optionally, the polymer is selected to dissolve or degrade in the body at a predetermined rate, the rate chosen depending upon the half life of the radioisotope used in the therapeutic source.

Abstract: The invention is a seven-card-stud poker game, played with at least one but preferably one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus at least one but preferably one Joker. Two or more but preferably seven players may participate in the game. One of the players is the Banker whom other players play against. A Player who is not a Banker may play Poker Bet playing against the Banker's hand and/or one to seven side bets betting on the contents of the Player's own hand. After at least one wager is placed, each Player and the Banker are each dealt seven cards. The Players and the Banker each then selects and keeps his best 5-card poker hand and discards two other cards from his own seven cards. To win a Poker Bet wager, a Player's best 5-card poker hand must rank higher than the Banker's best 5-card poker hand. To win a side-bet wager, a Player's best 5-card poker hand must be one of the predetermined winning hands of the type of the side bet he bets on.

Abstract: The present invention provides an important improvement to memory subsystems that use redundant arrays of inexpensive disks (RAID), especially those configured in compliance with the RAID-1 standard. The cache management subsystem, together with a second externally addressable device interface and the communications software necessary for the support thereof, allow for the attached computer systems to access the two disks of the RAID-1 subsystem as if they were a single disk unit having two discrete head-and-data assemblies (HDA), a/k/a “disk arms”. Known technologies maintain the mirroring of the two discrete disk volumes. The present invention adds unique extensions to those technologies to allow the external representation as a single, multi-HDA device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a virtual network, sitting “above” the physical connectivity and thereby providing the administrative controls necessary to link various communication devices via an Access-Method-Independent Exchange. In this sense, the Access-Method-Independent Exchange can be viewed as providing the logical connectivity required. In accordance with the present invention, connectivity is provided by a series of communication primitives designed to work with each of the specific communication devices in use. As new communication devices are developed, primitives can be added to the Access-Method-Independent Exchange to support these new devices without changing the application source code. A Thread Communication Service is provided, along with a Binding Service to link Communication Points. A Thread Directory Service is available, as well as a Broker Service and a Thread Communication Switching Service. Intraprocess, as well as Interprocess, services are available.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for mixing fluids in a manner that ranges from maintaining the integrity of fragile molecular and biological materials in the mixing vessel to homogenizing heavy aggregate material by supplying large amounts of energy. The variety in mixing manner is accomplished using an electronic controller to generate signals to a motor driver in order to control the frequency and the amplitude of the motor, which drives an agitator assembly. The motor may be a stepper motor, a linear motor or a DC continuous motor. By placing a sensor in the mixing vessel to provide feedback control to the mixing motor, the characteristics of agitation in the fluid can be adjusted to optimize the degree of mixing and produce the highest quality mixant, with consistent results.