Abstract: Boron neutron capture therapy can be used to destroy tumors. This treatment modality is enhanced by delivering compounds to the tumor site where the compounds have high concentrations of boron, the boron compounds being encapsulated in the bilayer of a liposome or in the bilayer as well as the internal space of the liposomes. Preferred compounds, include carborane units with multiple boron atoms within the carborane cage structure. Liposomes with increased tumor specificity may also be used.

Abstract: A method of directly fabricating metal parts with surface features only requires first preparing a mold of the desired metal part. A powder blend is poured into the mold, which includes a base metal, a lower melting temperature alloy of the base metal, and a polymer binder. The mold containing the powder blend is heated until the polymer binder melts and adheres the metal particles to form a green part. The green part is removed from the mold and placed in a crucible, and loose ceramic powder is packed around the part to support it. The supported green part is then heated as needed to vaporize the binder and consolidate the part via liquid phase sintering. Once cool, the consolidated part can be machined to meet precise dimensional tolerances, if necessary.

Abstract: Naturally occurring polarization-induced electric fields in a semiconductor light emitter with crystal layers grown along a polar direction are reduced, canceled or reversed to improve the emitter's operating efficiency and carrier confinement. This is accomplished by reducing differences in the material compositions of adjacent crystal layers, grading one or more layers to generate space charges and quasi-fields that oppose polarization-induced charges, incorporating various impurities into the semiconductor that ionize into a charge state opposite to the polarization induced charges, inverting the sequence of charged atomic layers, inverting the growth sequence of n- and p-type layers in the device, employing a multilayer emission system instead of a uniform active region and/or changing the in-plane lattice constant of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ink jet printing on textiles is disclosed, wherein the steps of pre-treating, ink jet printing, and post-treating the textile takes place at the ink jet printer. A preferred method includes the steps of applying a pre-treat to the textile, evaporating excess water from the pre-treat, ink jet printing a pattern on the pre-treated textile, evaporating water from the ink in the pattern, applying a binder/post-treat to the pattern and curing the binder. The textile printing apparatus prints on an untreated textile by having a first application device to apply a pre-treat aqueous solution to the textile. A first heating element is arranged to evaporate most or all of the water from the pre-treated textile as it passes. An ink jet printer then accepts the pre-treated textile and prints the desired pattern on it. A second heating element at the output of the printer evaporates water from the ink in the pattern as the printed textile passes.

Abstract: A reservoir component is disclosed that provides fiber optic illumination to the water within the reservoir. The reservoirs of water include pools, spas, tubs and the like, and their components include jets, returns, drains and skimmers. An elongated and transparent probe is mounted within the component and extends from the rear of the component toward the front. The probe is open at the rear of the jet and is hollow through most of its length to receive and house an optical fiber. The light emitting from the end of the fiber passes through the end of the probe and out of the component. The probe can protrude from the front of the component and transmit the light directly into the water. Alternatively the probe can transmit short the components front end which is constructed of transparent material to transmit the light from the probe into the water.

Abstract: A device for locating radiopharmaceutical labeled diseased or malfunctioning candidate cells within a human body and a method for using the device. The method includes the labeling of target cells in a body with a radionuclide and the identification in situ of the candidate cells using a body insertable nuclear probe sensitive to the presence of the radionuclide label. More particularly, the invention relates to using a beta or gamma probe to locate labeled cells, also referred to as candidate cells while simultaneously generating an MRI image and/or a visual image. The device may also include attachments to the distal tip if the probe which allows the position of the tip within the body to be tracked and recorded or the aperture to be varied in size.

Abstract: A circuit is presented which sets the transconductance of a FET using a resistor. The circuit comprises a resistor and first and second FETs series-connected in sequence between a supply voltage and a circuit common point, and third and fourth FETs and a bias current source series-connected in sequence between the supply voltage and the circuit common point. The drain and gate of the fourth FET are connected to the gate of the second FET and the gates of the first and third FETs are cross-coupled to the drains of the third and first FETs, respectively. The bias current source provides a starting current for the circuit. When so arranged, and with the threshold voltages of the first and second FETs matched, the transconductance of the second FET is directly proportional to 1/R1. The circuit can in turn be used to bias other transistors in a reproducible way to fix the transconductance of an amplifier according to the selected resistor value.

Abstract: A treatment tool and tissue collection system, for removal of outer layers of skin to provide a revitalized, fresh skin surface, and a method of using same, comprising a abrasive tipped tool mounted on the end or within the end of a hollow tube, said tube being connected to a source of vacuum. The vacuum aids in maintaining intimate contact between the abrasive tip and the skin during the treatment process and transports the removed tissue to a collection container. The abrasive surface within the tube is a motor driven abrasive pad. Contact between the pad and the abrasive disk is brought about or increased by application of a vacuum through the tube to the skin surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dietary supplement for the treatment of migraine headache. An extract of the feverfew plant containing parthenolide in combination with magnesium, with or without riboflavin, provided significant reduction of migraine headaches and the associated symptoms. The magnesium is present as a combination of magnesium oxide and a magnesium salt of an organic acid.

Abstract: A ping-pong amplifier includes two differential amplifiers A1 and A2 and an error amplifier. The error amplifier has one input connected to a predetermined common-mode reference voltage VCMR, its other input switchably connected to the common-mode outputs of A1 or A2, and an output which is switchably connected to the common-mode reference (CMR) voltage inputs of A1 and A2. Respective memory capacitors CM1 and CM2 are connected to the two CMR inputs. The error amplifier is periodically connected between A1's common-mode output and its CMR input to form a closed-loop which forces A1's common-mode output voltage to be equal to VCMR, with the error amplifier's output voltage stored on CM1. A2's common-mode output voltage is similarly calibrated, with the error amplifier's output voltage stored on CM2. Both common-mode output voltages are thus made equal to VCMR, thereby reducing transients that might otherwise appear in the output as the amplifier ping-pongs between A1 and A2.

Abstract: A laser-based technique to determine glass thickness employs a pulsed laser to induce an ultrasonic wave between the surfaces of a region of glass, causing the surfaces to move in and out at a characteristic frequency. The surface motion is monitored to determine the characteristic frequency, which is proportional to the thickness of the glass in the region of the ultrasonic wave. The pulsed laser produces a short duration pulse that illuminates a surface of the glass, which is absorbed within the glass to cause a rapid thermal expansion that generates the ultrasonic wave. The surface motion induced by the ultrasonic wave is preferably detected with a laser interferometer system, the output of which is analyzed to determine the surface motion's characteristic frequency.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery measurement and calibration system for use with a removable battery pack suitably used to power a mobile computer locates current measurement and battery status intelligence outside of the battery pack, thereby reducing the cost, complexity, and power consumption of the battery pack when compared with prior art systems. A system host controls the measurement and calibration of the battery system; the host requests current measurements under both zero-current and non-zero calibration current conditions, with the resulting calibration values enabling linearity errors that might otherwise be present in the current measurements to be totally and easily identified and accounted for in a fuel gauge measurement. The present system complies with the SBS-IF specification for Smart Battery systems.

Abstract: A directional borehole drilling system employs a controllable drill bit, which includes one or more drilling surfaces which are dynamically positionable in response to respective command signals. Instrumentation located near the bit measures present position when the bit is static, dynamic and drilling surface position information when the bit is rotating, and stores a desired trajectory. This data is processed to determine the error between the present position and the desired trajectory, and the position of one or more of the bit's drilling surfaces is automatically changed as needed to make the bit dig in the direction necessary to reduce the error. The controllable drill bit preferably comprises three cone assemblies mounted about the bit's central axis, each of which includes a cone and an eccentric cam that rotate about a common axle.

Abstract: A bipolar rail-to-rail input stage with emitter degeneration includes a current reduction circuit arranged to reduce the amount of current which the PNP and NPN input pairs would otherwise conduct when the common mode input voltage is such that both pairs are conducting. The current reduction circuit is preferably arranged such that the transconductance (Gm2) of the input stage when both pairs are conducting is equal to its transconductance (Gm) when only one pair is active. The current reduction circuit preferably comprises a current shunt circuit made from four bipolar transistors: a pair of PNP transistors, the emitters of which are connected to respective emitters of the PNP input transistors, and a pair of NPN transistors, the emitters of which are connected to respective emitters of the NPN input transistors, with the bases and collectors of all four shunt transistors connected together at a summing node.

Abstract: A new and improved tube or catheter for administrating or withdrawing a substance from the human body which can be temporarily attached to the tissue site. The catheter consists of a dual lumen, side-by-side, tube. One lumen is used to administer or withdraw a substance. The second lumen contains an attachment means consisting of a loop of filament extending beyond the both ends of the lumen in the second tube. During use the surgeon fixes a suture at the tissue site and ties the suture around the filament loop extending from the distal end of the second tube. The surgeon then grasps the proximal end of the filament and slides the catheter over the filament and the suture until it rests against the tissue attachment site. The filament or suture is then tied around the proximal end of the tube to hold the catheter in place. To remove the catheter, the surgeon cuts the suture where tied to the proximal end of the tube, pulls off the catheter, and slides the suture out of the tissue.

Abstract: A low temperature coefficient (TC) voltage output circuit compensates for the TC of a base circuit's output voltage with a compensation circuit that includes first and second current sources with different TCs. The differential between the current sources is applied to a voltage drop circuit that generates a temperature dependent compensation voltage with a TC of opposite polarity to the TC of the base circuit's output. To provide compensation over a desired temperature range, the two current sources are set equal to each other at one temperature within the range, and the compensated voltage output is trimmed at another temperature within the range to the desired output value. The result is a compensated voltage, with a TC of opposite polarity to that of the base circuit's output, which combines with the base circuit output to yield a low TC compensated output. The compensation scheme is particularly useful for voltage references.

Abstract: A photodetector sensitive to ultraviolet wavelengths is capable of single photon sensitivity at room temperatures and video frame rates. It includes (a) a compound semiconductor photodiode, biased below its avalanche breakdown threshold, comprising III-V elemental components and having a bandgap with transition energy higher than the energy of visible photons; and (b) a high input impedance MOS interface circuit, arranged to receive a signal from the photodiode junction and to amplify said signal. Preferably, the photodiode junction is integrated in a first microstructure on a first substrate, and its interface circuit in a second microstructure on a second substrate. Both microstructures are then joined in a laminar, sandwich-like structure and communicate via electrically conducting contacts.

Abstract: Microelectronic-device assemblies and methods are provided that enhance operation of microelectronic devices because they exclude extraneous elements from sensitive device areas. They are especially suited for devices that carry a plurality of bonding pads on a circuit face that has a sensitive area. A lead frame defines a paddle that has an area less than that of the device face. The paddle is spaced from the face and positioned to cover the sensitive area and expose the pads. A plastic ring is arranged to surround the sensitive area and abut the face and the paddle. Encapsulation in an overmold thus forms a void within the ring and between the device face and the paddle and extraneous elements are excluded from this void.