Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating information through a USB device with A/D converters are presented. Active components which provide analog signals to the A/D converters are switched off to cause spikes in the analog signals/channels. The spikes are digitized by the A/D converters and sent to the host through a USB interface. The active components are switched on and off in a pattern corresponding to a message, such that the host can determine the message from the resulting spikes. If multiple active components and A/D converters are used, then multiple ‘bits’ can be transmitted simultaneously using the different channels.

Abstract: Method and systems are disclosed for radiating a moving target inside a heart. The method includes acquiring sequential volumetric representations of an area of the heart and defining a target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region in 3D for a first of the representations. The target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region are identified for another of the representations by an analysis of the area of the heart from the first representation and the other representation. Radiation beams to the target tissue region are fired in response to the identified target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region from the other representation.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to assembly techniques. According to the present invention, the alignment and probing techniques to improve the accuracy of component placement in assembly are described. More particularly, the invention includes methods and structures to detect and improve the component placement accuracy on a target platform by incorporating alignment marks on component and reference marks on target platform under various probing techniques. A set of sensors grouped in any array to form a multiple-sensor probe can detect the deviation of displaced components in assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a needle safety device for a medical device. The needle safety device includes: a base portion having a bore extending therethrough for receiving a needle; and two opposing jaws extending from the base portion each having a head portion in the region of its free end. At least one of the head portions forms a locking shoulder for securing the needle safety device in a housing of the medical device. An elastic element surrounds the jaws in a region between the base portion and the head portions. The jaws can be spread apart against a restoring force of the elastic element in order to allow the needle received in the bore to extend all the way-through the needle safety device. The invention also relates to a needle for a medical device and to an intravenous catheter apparatus comprising a needle and a needle safety device.

Abstract: A method for a computer system comprising receiving a displacement for a first object model surface from a user determined in response to a first physical motion captured pose, determining a weighted combination of a first displacement group and a second displacement group from the displacement, wherein the first displacement group is determined from displacements between the first object model surface and a second object model surface, wherein the second object model surface is determined from displacements between a second physical motion captured pose, wherein the second displacement group is determined from displacements between the first object model surface and a third object model surface, wherein the third object model surface is determined from a third physical motion captured pose, determining a fourth object model surface from the first object model surface and the weighted combination, and displaying the fourth object model surface to the user on a display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which have inhibitory activity on the phosphorylation of kinases, which inhibits the activity of such kinases. The invention is also related to a method of inhibiting kinases and treating disease states in a mammal by inhibiting the phosphorylation of kinases. In a particular aspect the present invention provides nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which inhibit phosphorylation of a PDGF receptor to hinder abnormal cell growth and cell wandering, and a method for preventing or treating cell-proliferative diseases such as arteriosclerosis, vascular reobstruction, cancer and glomerulosclerosis.

Abstract: Minimally invasive systems and methods are described for measuring pulmonary circulation information from the pulmonary arteries. A transbronchial Doppler ultrasound catheter is advanced through the airways and in the vicinity of the pulmonary artery. Doppler ultrasound energy is sent through the airway wall and across the pulmonary artery to obtain velocity information of blood flowing through the artery. The velocity information is used to compute pulmonary circulation information including but not limited to flowrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides hydrophobic prodrugs of bases, nucleosides, and nucleotides as well as methods of using the prodrugs as antiviral and anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-invasive system and method for treatment of the heart. In a first aspect, a method for treatment of an anatomical site related to arrhythmogenesis of a heart of a patient comprises creating a target shape encompassing the anatomical site, directing particle beam radiation or x-ray radiation from outside the patient toward the target shape wherein one or more doses of radiation ablates the target shape and disregarding at least one orientation of cardiac motion while creating the target shape or directing the particle beam or both.

Abstract: Medical devices, systems, and methods for pain management and other applications may apply cooling with at least one probe inserted through an exposed skin surface of skin. The cooling may remodel one or more target tissues so as to effect a desired change in composition of the target tissue and/or a change in its behavior, often to interfere with transmission of pain signals along sensory nerves. Alternative embodiments may interfere with the function of motor nerves, the function of contractile muscles, and/or some other tissue included in the contractile function chain so as to inhibit muscle contraction and thereby alleviate associated pain. In some embodiments, other sources of pain such as components of the spine (optionally including herniated disks) may be treated.

Abstract: A system certifying a business process includes a business process associated with a user, and a process certification manager for associating a certification status with the business process and for communicating a certification request to the user. The process certification manager receives messages from the user and modifies the certification status in response. The process certification manager displays the business process and its associated certification status. The business process may include a number of subprocesses each associated with a different users. The process certification manager associates a certification status with each of the subprocesses and communicates a certification request to each of the users, and modifies the certification status of the subprocesses in response to messages from the users.

Abstract: Users are allowed to communicate with a server via a local client even when the server experiences an abnormal peak of traffic. The local client is configured to send a new connection request only after a specified time interval passes from a previous connection. The local client presents content, such as a game, that makes it appear to the user as if the user is interacting with the server while the local client is waiting for reconnection to the server. The user interactions during the time interval are locally stored and later provided to the server for further process.

Abstract: The invention provides parylene membrane filters, filter devices and methods of making them and using them in the mechanical separation of cells and particles by size. The provision of parylene membrane filters with high figures of merit and finely controlled hole sizes allows the separation of cells and particles in a variety of biological and other fluids according to sizes.

Abstract: A system and method for electrostatic discharge protection. The system includes a first transistor coupled to a first system and including a first gate, a first dielectric layer located between the first gate and a first substrate, a first source, and a first drain. The first system includes or is coupled to a core transistor, and the core transistor includes a second gate, a second dielectric layer located between the second gate and a second substrate, a second source, and a second drain. The first transistor is selected from a plurality of transistors, and the plurality of transistors include a plurality of gate regions, a plurality of source regions, and a plurality of drain regions. A plurality of polysilicon regions are disposed in an proximity of at least one of the plurality of gate regions. The plurality of polysilicon regions are separated from the first substrate a plurality of dielectric layers.

Abstract: A lightweight throttling mechanism allows for dynamic control of access to resources in a distributed environment. Each request received by a server of a server group is parsed to determine tokens in the request, which are compared with designated rules to determine whether to process or reject the request based on usage data associated with an aspect of the request, the token values, and the rule(s) specified for the request. The receiving of each request can be broadcast to throttling components for each server such that the global state of the system is known to each server. The system then can monitor usage and dynamically throttle requests based on real time data in a distributed environment.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for delivery or implantation of prostheses within hollow body organs and vessels or other luminal anatomy are disclosed. The subject technologies may be used in the treatment of atherosclerosis in stenting procedures or be used in variety of other procedures. The systems may employ a self expanding stent restrained by one or more members released by an electrolytically erodable latch. Such release means do not connect directly to the implant, though one or more portions may contact it.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device having a capacitor structure and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The device has a substrate, e.g., silicon wafer, silicon on insulator, epitaxial wafer. The device has a dielectric layer overlying the substrate and a polysilicon layer overlying the dielectric layer. The device has a tungsten silicide layer overlying the polysilicon layer and a first oxide layer overlying the tungsten silicide layer. A nitride layer overlies the oxide layer. A second oxide layer is overlying the nitride layer to form a sandwiched oxide on nitride on oxide structure to form a capacitor dielectric. The device also has an upper capacitor plate formed overlying the second oxide layer.

Abstract: A method for processing a photomask for semiconductor devices. The method includes providing a partially completed mask structure, which has a backside and a face. The face includes a substrate material, a light blocking layer overlying the substrate material, and an overlying patterned photoresist layer overlying the light blocking layer. The method includes supporting the backside of the mask structure to maintain the mask structure in place and maintaining the face of the patterned photoresist layer in a direction parallel to a gravitational force and toward the gravitational force. The method includes rotating the mask structure in an annular manner as the patterned photoresist layer of the mask structure is being maintained in the direction parallel to the gravitational force and toward the gravitational force.

Abstract: Horizontal electrophoresis is performed in a cell that includes a tank and a pair of electrodes, each mounted on an electrode support that is easily inserted into and removed from the tank, and once inserted, is secured in position by one or more spring-loaded, manual-release locking features.

Abstract: Each portable payment device associated with a single account within a payment processing system is distinguished using track data. The track data from the portable payment device is read at each of a plurality of merchant point of sale terminals (POS). Rather than relying on the PAN alone, a merchant may utilizes the track data, or a proxy thereof, as the unique identifier for the portable payment device. The merchant may then process transactions involving the portable payment device based on the unique identifier. For example, in the transit environment the transit fare for each rider with different portable payment devices but the same account can be calculated using the unique identifier, such as the full track data read from both tracks of the corresponding portable payment devices.