Abstract: A continuous furnace 4 to which a laser is coupled by conventional optical means that allows the surface treatment of a part, with which it is possible to achieve temperatures of up to 3000° C. on said surface while the remainder of the part is at a substantially lower temperature. The part in the furnace is heated to a temperature of the order of 500° C. and, via an opening 5, a laser-beam bundle is applied to the part, scanning a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the part such that the entire surface is scanned by means of the mechanical advance of the part. This scanning should extend beyond the lateral ends of the part. This type of laser-beam generator must be made compatible with the various colors with which the surface of the part is decorated. The furnace is divided into different zones, with independent temperature controls, for successfully achieving the desired values, both for heating and for cooling.

Abstract: A spark plug exhibits a satisfactory withstand voltage characteristic and sufficient mechanical strength in a high temperature environment exceeding 700° C. The spark plug has a center electrode, an insulator, and a ground electrode, characterized in that the insulator is formed of an alumina-based sintered material containing an Si component, a Group 2 element (2A) component, and a rare earth element (RE) component; that the alumina-based sintered material has an RE-?-alumina crystal phase; and that the mean crystal grain size DA(RE) of the RE-?-alumina crystal phase and that of alumina DA(Al) satisfy the following relationship (1): 0.2?DA(RE)/DA(Al)?3.0.

Abstract: An electrophysiology (EP) system includes an interface for operator-interaction with the results of code executing therein. A template model can have channels positioned or repositioned thereupon by the user to define a set-up useful in rapid catheter positioning. Mapping operations can be performed without the requirement for precise catheter location determinations. A map module coordinates EP data associated with each selected channel and its associated position on the template model to provide this result, and can update the resulting map in the event that the channel or location is changed. Messaging and other dynamic features enable synchronized presentation of a myriad of EP data. Additional systems and methods are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A boring tool can form a hole accurately by improving the rigidity of a reamer so that the runout of the reamer can be prevented at high speeds, extending product life by suppressing the breakage caused by cutting resistance. The boring tool is inserted into a pilot hole formed in a workpiece beforehand to cut the inner wall of the pilot hole. The boring tool comprises a shank part rotated about an axis, an edge part with a cutting edge at the tip of the shank part, and a chip discharging groove formed in the outer peripheral part of the edge part and extending from the tip to the rear end. The cutting edge is formed at a crossed ridge part between the wall surface of the chip discharging groove and the outer peripheral surface of the edge part. The cross-section of the chip discharging groove is formed in a U-shape.

Abstract: A high-strength sputtering target for forming a protective film for an optical recording medium, obtained by sintering a mixed powder containing, in mol %, 10 to 70% of a zirconium oxide or hafnium oxide and 50% or less (over 0%) of silicon dioxide, and 0.1 to 8.4% of yttrium oxide as necessary, and the remainder containing aluminum oxide, lanthanum oxide, or indium oxide and inevitable impurities, wherein a complex oxide phase of Al6Si2O13, La2SiO5, or In2Si2O7 is formed in a base of the target.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. In one embodiment a deflectable sheath catheter includes an elongate catheter body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a distal tip region that includes a plurality of flexible segments with varying degrees of stiffness. A handle portion can be located at the proximal end of the catheter body to provide a steering mechanism that causes the distal tip region to deflect according to a compound curve.

Abstract: A controlled switching arrangement from a first mode of power transfer, in which an ecological power source (EPS) directly charges a battery during times of a utility power outage to a second mode of power transfer in which the EPS output is fully delivered through a grid-interactive inverter so as to provide A.C. power to the grid power connection. A single switching operation switches between power transfer modes as a function of an availability of the utility power output over the grid power connection such that a percentage of utility power output is supplied directly to the battery in the second mode so as to maintain the battery in a charged condition for use during the times of the utility power outage, and an off-grid inverter converts charge stored in the battery into A.C. power when the controller is switched to the first mode of power transfer.

Abstract: An infusion bag according to one exemplary embodiment includes a body having an interior space for holding a fluid. The interior space is defined by a pair of side walls and an inner wall and an opposite bottom wall. The inner wall extends across the body from one side wall to the other side wall such that a first angle ?1 is formed between a first end of the inner wall and one side wall and a second angle ?2 is formed between a second end of the inner wall and the other side wall. The first angle is different from the second angle. The bag also includes a needleless port that is in fluid communication with the interior and is configured to sealingly mate with an external device. The needleless port is disposed in an upper corner of the body.

Abstract: A method and gem pattern matching technique to analyze a target gemstone by analyzing a pattern created by transmitting a light source such as a laser beam through the gemstone to create a visual optical pattern and comparing the pattern to a database of known gemstone patterns to determine the percentage likelihood that the target gemstone will match a gemstone in the database. The matching is based on the weight of the heaviest spot in the pattern and its location in the gemstone image and comparing it to the weight and location of the heaviest spots in each gemstone image in the database to determine a percentage matching.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are used to enhance the sensitivity of a spectrometer (sensor) for trace gas species detection by employing an external cavity continuously tunable CW quantum cascade laser and integrating the absorption spectra across multiple lines of the species. With this method the absorption spectra of NO2 is continuously recorded across the R-branch from 1628.8 cm?1 to 1634.5 cm?1. By integrating the resulting spectra, the detection sensitivity for NO2 is improved by a factor of 15 compared to the sensitivity achieved using single line laser absorption spectroscopy with the same apparatus. This procedure offers much shorter data acquisition times for the real-time monitoring of trace gas species compared with adding repeated scans of the spectra to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating a proposed transaction between a first party and a seller is provided. The method includes providing a transaction intermediary machine (TIM) on a network that is associated with a transactional limitations database storing in relation to each of a plurality of unique identifiers at least one criterion that has been established by a second party, and concerning one or more transactional limitations imposed by the second party on the first party. A request for approval (RFA) is received from the seller at the TIM having a unique identifier provided by the first party and details concerning the proposed transaction between the first party and the seller. Then, the RFA is compared with the criteria, completion of the proposed transaction is approved and a payment to the seller is also approved, and personal identification information is provided from the TIM to the seller.

Abstract: A portable heating and cooling apparatus and method of using the same wherein a temperature-set material is secured in a housing with both rigid and expandable sides. The housing is placed within a container which is so configured such that there is little or no disruption of the contact between the rigid surface and an object to be heated or cooled, whether such contact is direct or via some thermal conductive material.

Abstract: Presented are apparatus and methods for providing online health monitoring and accumulating data from patients applicable in both diagnosing and prescribing preventive medical treatment. Methods and devices include using a sensitive acoustic device to analyze a patient's health function from a location such as a public computer kiosk, a doctor's office or a patient's computer. The data may be downloaded to a central database, for example, via the Internet. The data may be retrieved by the patient, or accessed by doctors for purposes of diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. The data may include demographic data that can be stored while maintaining patient anonymity. The data may be accessible to researchers providing medical statistics on a wide variety of patients from various age groups, ethnic backgrounds, medical histories and the like.