Abstract: A device for attaching at least three electrodes to a subject for stimulating abdominal muscles of the subject. The device comprises an attachment mechanism that further comprises a main locating element for locating a central electrode of the at least three electrodes, and two secondary locating elements disposed on respective opposite sides of the main locating element for locating two corresponding side electrodes of the at least three electrodes spaced apart from the central electrode. A receiver is also provided for receiving a signal generated by a signal generator for generating at least one pulsed signal. A selector is also provided for selecting one or more of the electrodes through which a pulsed signal is to be applied.

Abstract: A method for stimulating abdominal muscles of a subject, comprising the steps of providing at least three electrodes, one of the at least three electrodes being a central electrode and the other two of the at least three electrodes being side electrodes located on the subject spaced apart from the central electrode on respective sides thereof, and passing at least one pulsed signal subcutaneously through the subject between selected electrodes of the at least three electrodes.

Abstract: A digital signal processing system capable of compensating for frequency response variations and generating a response characteristic that complies with a provided specification. The system automatically generates digital filters to provide this compensation with almost any form of channel frequency response information and with user defined specifications. The capability of this system to trade-off noise performance, pulse response, and frequency response flatness in order to provide an optimized response is demonstrated. The system also provides feedback to the user on the final response characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for use in removing liquid from under a corneal flap generated during LASIK surgery. The apparatus comprises a handle, a sickle-shaped end coupled to the handle, the sickle-shaped end having a concave and a convex portion, and a sponge coupled with the concave portion of the sickle-shaped end, extending along the convex portion thereof, and being shaped substantially similarly to the sickle-shaped end. The sickle-shaped end extends from approximately 180° to 270°, or any other desired part of a circle and may have sponge on one or both sides thereof. The radius of the sickle-shaped end is the same or slightly larger than the diameter of a corneal flap generated during LASIK surgery so that when the apparatus is placed adjacent the cornea of a patient about the corneal flap, liquid is wicked from thereunder without requiring any contact with the corneal flap.

Abstract: Self-calibration of a digitizer is carried out by using a square-wave test signal which is digitized by the digitizer, and temporal positions of the digitized values output by the digitizer are compared to respective reference periods of the test signal. The results of the comparison operations are then used by a microprocessor to calculate a time delay for adjusting a clock signal supplied to the digitizer.

Abstract: A transmitter for transmitting news data via satellite and which includes an information storage unit for storing news data, an information scramble processing unit for scrambling the news data using a predetermined first key to output once scrambled news data, a data scrambler for scrambling the once scrambled news data using a predetermined second key and outputting twice scrambled news data, a transmitter for broadcasting the twice scrambled news data via a transmitter antenna to a receiver which includes a data descrambler for descrambling the twice scrambled news data using the second key and outputting once descrambled news data, a storage medium for storing the once descrambled news data, an information descramble processing unit for reading the once descrambled data from the recording medium and descrambling the once descrambled news data using the first key to produce fully descrambled news data, and a user terminal for reading the fully descrambled news data.