Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating a query to a DICOM server are disclosed. The system comprises patient identification information encoded in a tangible medium. The system further comprises a reading device to read the encoded patient identification information from the tangible medium. The system also includes a computer-based platform hosting a medical software application. The computer-based platform operationally interfaces to the reading device to receive the read patient identification information from the reading device and to automatically generate a DICOM query, using the medical software application, such that the DICOM query includes at least a portion of the patient identification information. The system further comprises at least one DICOM server operationally interfacing to the computer-based platform to receive the DICOM query from the computer-based platform.

Abstract: A method for applying a braided fabric over a mandrel using a braiding apparatus having a central axis and providing braiding yarns drawn toward a braiding point where a braid is formed on the mandrel, the method comprising the steps of advancing the mandrel through the braiding point of the braiding apparatus, determining a current position of the mandrel; and controlling the position of the mandrel transversely to the central axis of the braiding apparatus responsive to the current position such that a center point of a mandrel cross-section passing through the braiding apparatus is coincident with the braiding point.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attenuating the sound generated by a fan powered terminal unit or other equipment in an HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) system is described. The apparatus utilizes internal geometry to minimize noise due to air disturbances and aerodynamic effects within the apparatus. Specifically, a silencer is described comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet; a condensate deflector positioned at the inlet to the casing; at least one baffle being operable to attenuate noise in a gas flowing through the silencer; and an air pathway through the silencer, defined by positions of the condensate deflector and the at least one baffle within the casing. The air pathway is angled or curved to substantially minimize the line-of-sight pathway from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: A portable wire feeder for providing welding wire and welding current to a welding operation includes an input electrically connected to a power source. An output is selectively electrically connected to the input to receive welding current delivered to the input from the power source and to provide the welding current and welding wire to the welding operation through a guide hose. A contactor includes a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal and a conductive bridge member for selectively electrically connecting the input to the output. The first electrical terminal is electrically connected to the input. The second electrical terminal is electrically connected to the output.

Abstract: A hand tool (10) for shaping joint compound (64) applied to a wall including a substantially rigid blade (12) having a handle (14), and wherein the blade (12) has a preselected non-adjustable curvature (12).

Abstract: Apparatus and method of controlling strip geometry in casting strip having a rolling mill. A target thickness profile is calculated as a function of the measured entry thickness profile of the strip while satisfying profile and flatness parameters. A differential strain feedback from longitudinal strain in the strip is calculated by a control system by comparing the exit thickness profile with the target thickness profile, and a control signal is generated to control a device capable of affecting the geometry of the strip processed by the hot rolling mill. A feed-forward control reference and/or sensitivity vector may also be calculated as a function of the target thickness profile, and used in generating the control signal sent to the control device. The control device may be selected from one or more of the group consisting of a bending controller, gap controller and coolant controller.

Abstract: An electric arc device and methods to build up, clad, join, or overlay an alloyed metal onto a parent metal with minimal admixture. The methods employed in the electric arc device provide a high frequency waveform with a high amplitude pulse, a low amplitude background current, and a special shorting routine, to alleviate the problem of generating too much ad-mixture. A fast transition from a peak current level to a background current level along with a shorting response and a plasma boost pulse reduces the droplet size and reduces the heat input required to achieve good welding performance.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously casting metal strip includes a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls laterally positioned to form a nip there between through which thin strip can be cast, a pair of confining side dams adjacent the ends of the casting rolls capable of confining a casting pool of molten metal supported on the casting rolls above the nip, each side dam having a surface capable of contacting the molten metal of the casting pool, with unraised portions and raised portions to form troughs with the unraised portions as base between the raised portion of the side dam and the casting surfaces of the casting rolls to guide the flow of molten metal, and a metal delivery system disposed above the nip and capable of discharging molten metal to form the casting pool supported on the casting rolls.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a market price charting method for displaying both current and historical price activity in terms of valuation rather than absolute price. The invention allows users to quantify the degree in which a market is overbought or oversold. Results may be displayed electronically or on a hard copy for viewing or used in additional analysis of a market.

Abstract: A fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue may be a single-chain insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, containing an insulin A chain sequence or an analogue thereof and an insulin B chain sequence or an analogue thereof connected by a polypeptide of 4-10 amino acids. The fibrillation-resistant insulin analogue preferably displays less than 1 percent fibrillation with incubation at 37° C. for at least 21 days. A single-chain insulin analogue displays greater in vitro insulin receptor binding than normal insulin while displaying less than or equal binding to IGFR than normal insulin. The fibrillation-resistant insulin may be used to treat a patient using an implantable or external insulin pump, due to its greater fibrillation resistance.

Abstract: An article for use in a torque transmitting system which has a drive surface configuration having side and end surfaces is disclosed. The end surface tapers upwardly and outwardly from a lowermost point provided along a longitudinal axis to the side surface. The end surface defines a plurality of identically configured lobes that extend from a first point to a second point. The first point of one lobe is identical to the second point of an adjacent lobe. The first and second points of each lobe are provided along an imaginary circle having its center along the longitudinal axis. Each lobe extends from the first point to the second point by a series of edges that are straight, concave and/or convex. Two of the edges are tangential to the imaginary circle. The side surface extends upwardly from the edges defining the plurality of lobes.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for full-mouth intraoral image acquisition. An intraoral sensor configuration includes a multi-aperture digital camera and/or a conformal layered sensor structure, a bite piece, and an electronic cable for imaging inside surfaces of a mouth of a patient without having to re-position the digital camera and/or the conformal layered sensor structure within the mouth of the patient during an image acquisition session. Images may be acquired sequentially or simultaneously.

Abstract: Provided is a direct heating tube which has a sufficient heating rate and a sufficient cooling rate, and has no cold spots therein, making it possible to ensure a uniform temperature distribution in the whole part thereof or a temperature distribution having a desired temperature gradient, and making it possible to keep constant the temperature of a fluid which is caused to flow through the tube or to give a desired change to the temperature of the fluid. Provided also is a direct heating tube which does not exert an adverse influence on devices near the tube, such as a detector and an oven, even by heating the tube. In a desired portion of the tube to be heated, a second heated tube connected to a first heated tube is provided outside the first heated tube, and an electrode portion is connected to the second heated tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously casting thin strip includes a caster having a pair of casting rolls having a nip there between capable of delivering cast strip downwardly from the nip and an first enclosure capable of forming a protective atmosphere into which the strip can be formed in loop to extend over a plurality of rollers into pinch rolls with the strip having a strain of less than 0.4%, which may be provided by a plurality of rollers at entry of the strip into the pinch rolls to carry the strip into the pinch rolls, with at least a first entry roller having a diameter between 200 and 650 millimeters and being below a majority of other rollers.

Abstract: A spool or reel for retaining continuously wound material may include a central barrel and spaced apart flange members extending from the central barrel. The central barrel has an outer face for receiving the continuously wound wire, wherein both ends of the barrel are castellated. The inner face of a first and second flange include an interrupted groove comprised of a series of slots that are sized to receive the castellated first end of the barrel and the flanges are secured to the barrel by a plurality of through-bolts extending from the first flange to the second flange, securing the first flange to the first end of the barrel and the second flange to the second end of the barrel. The castellated ends of the barrel and the portions of the interrupted groove between the slots form a criss-crossed pattern that prevents the wire from entering the slots or entering the barrel and tangling during payoff of the wire, even when the spool is heated.

Abstract: A hearth furnace 10 for producing metallic iron material has a furnace housing 11 with a drying/preheat zone 12 capable of providing a drying/preheat atmosphere for reducible material, a conversion zone 13 capable of providing a reducing atmosphere for reducible material, a fusion zone 14 capable of providing an atmosphere to at least partially reduced metallic iron material, and optionally a cooling zone 15 capable of providing a cooling atmosphere for reduced material containing metallic iron material. A hearth 20 is movable within the furnace housing 11 in a direction through the drying/preheat zone 12, then the conversion zone 13, then the fusion zone 14, and then the cooling zone 15.

Abstract: Controllable electrical outlets and systems and methods for controlling and disabling the electrical outlets. A controllable electrical outlet includes a current sensor, an electrical switch, and a microcontroller. When an electrical load is plugged into the electrical outlet, the current sensor senses the flow of current and a current sense event is reported from the electrical outlet to a central computer. The central computer provides timing and control of the electrical outlet. When a predetermined elapsed time has passed, as measured by the central computer, a timed-out event is communicated from the central computer to the electrical outlet triggering the electrical switch, opening the current path within the electrical outlet such that electrical current no longer flows to the electrical load. Communication between the central computer and an electrical outlet may occur, for example, via existing electrical wiring, wirelessly, or via dedicated communication wiring.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods of coating stents and stents produced in accordance therewith. The object of the invention is to provide methods of coating stents with a polysaccharide layer which has improved adhesion capacity on the substrate surface of the implant, and to afford correspondingly functionalized stents. That is achieved inter alia by covalent bonding of a non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid to a substrate surface of the stent with the formation of hyaluronic acid layer and crosslinking of the hyaluronic acid layer.

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for relieving excess pressure or vacuum pressure from a tank interior. An embodiment of a pressure relief device includes a housing having an opening associated with a first end, an opening associated with a second end, and an over-pressure opening. The device further including a pressure relief valve for selectively relieving pressure from a tank, the valve including an over-pressure opening seal biased by a first pressure bias means against a pressure valve seat associated with the over-pressure opening. The device also including a guide block translatable in an axial direction of a second bore of the housing and being biased toward the pressure valve seat by a second pressure bias means. The guide block is translatable independent of the over-pressure opening seal. The device also includes a vacuum relief valve for selectively relieving vacuum pressure in the tank.