Abstract: A TANK filter is provided for a lead wire of an active medical device (AMD). The TANK filter includes a capacitor in parallel with an inductor. The parallel capacitor and inductor are placed in series with the lead wire of the AMD, wherein values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the TANK filter is resonant at a selected frequency. The Q of the inductor may be relatively maximized and the Q of the capacitor may be relatively minimized to reduce the overall Q of the TANK filter to attenuate current flow through the lead wire along a range of selected frequencies. In a preferred form, the TANK filter is integrated into a TIP and/or RING electrode for an active implantable medical device.

Abstract: After receiving a telephone number, various characteristics of the telephone number are determined. These include, the type of phone associated with the telephone number, the phone carrier of the telephone number, and geographic characteristics of the telephone number. This can be done, for instance, by analyzing the telephone connection or querying a database containing a plurality of telephone numbers and characteristics of each of the telephone numbers. The determination may be used to prevent fraudulent or restricted access to a website or system.

Abstract: One or more inductors and one or more capacitors are physically disposed relative to one another in series and are electrically connected to one another in parallel to form a bandstop filter. Chip inductors and chip capacitors having spaced apart conductive terminals are physically arranged in end-to-end abutting relation to minimize electrical potential between adjacent conductive terminals. The bandstop filter may be hermetically sealed within a biocompatible container for use with an implantable lead or electrode of a medical device. The values of the inductors and the capacitors are selected such that the bandstop filter is resonant at one or more selected frequencies, such as an MRI pulsed frequency.

Abstract: An EMI filter capacitor assembly and implantable passive electronic network components utilize biocompatible and non-migratable materials to adapt the electronic components for direct body fluid exposure. The assembly includes a capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates which are constructed of non-migratable biocompatible material. A conductive hermetic terminal of non-migratable and biocompatible material adjacent to the capacitor is conductively coupled to the second set of electrode plates. One or more conductive terminal pins having at least an outer surface of non-migratable and biocompatible material are conductively coupled to the first set of electrode plates, while extending through the hermetic terminal in non-conductive relation. The terminal pins may be in direct contact with the first set of electrode plates, or in contact with a termination surface of conductive connection material. The termination surface is also constructed of non-migratable and biocompatible materials.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for use with active implantable medical devices (AIMD) implanted in a patient comprises an interrogator and an RFID tag comprising a substrate, an RFID chip, and an antenna. The RFID is typically enclosed in a biocompatible and hermetically sealed container comprising a ceramic housing, an end cap and an encapsulant. The RFID tag or sealed container may be affixed to an AIMD or surgically implanted in a patient adjacent to an AIMD. Alternatively, the sealed container may be injected into body tissue by a large needle syringe. The RFID tag may store information about an AIMD including manufacturer, model number and serial number. The RFID tag may also store information about a treating physician and/or patient including the treating physician's name and contact information, the patient's name, contact information, medical condition, treatment and other relevant information.

Abstract: A hand-held paint tool has an integral adjustable masking guide adjacent to at least one edge of a painting material such that paint being applied to a surface is not simultaneously applied to adjoining or abutting surfaces. The paint mask guide is adjustable through the action of a lever or trigger connected thereto and positioned under a handle of the painting tool.

Abstract: A leash assembly includes a housing having a hand grip. A leash forming part of the assembly includes a first end and a second end that defines a leash handle. An intermediate section of the leash is extendable and retractable through the housing. The assembly also includes features for allowing travel of the leash in a first direction through the housing in response to a user pulling on the leash handle, and simultaneously preventing travel of the leash in an opposite second direction through the housing. Another feature of the assembly allows selective disengagement of the leash so that it may travel in the opposite second direction through the housing.

Abstract: Medical lead systems utilizing electromagnetic bandstop filters are provide which can be utilized in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment for patients who have implanted medical devices. Such lead systems may be advantageously used in left ventricle cardiac stimulation systems, neuro-stimulation systems, and deep brain electrodes used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. The bandstop filters, which include a tuned parallel capacitor and inductor circuit, are backwards compatible with known implantable deployment systems.

Abstract: A damped guiding unit for a portable implement includes a connection element arranged at one end of a guide rod element, for connection of a tool element for the sawing, cutting and/or scything of undergrowth or of grass. A damping element is arranged on the connection element for the damping of oscillations or vibrations caused by the tool element. A holding element is arranged on the guide rod element for holding the portable implement. The holding element and the connection element are structural elements which are respectively separated from each other in that the holding element is associated with a first assembly and the connection element is associated with a further assembly separated from the first assembly. The holding element is further arranged at a distance from the connection element between the one end and the other end of the guide rod element, so that both a direct guiding of the portable implement and also an intensive vibration damping of the holding element is achieved.

Abstract: A robotic harmonic flex-drive has an outer generally cylindrical spline having inner diameter gear teeth and an inner generally cylindrical spline having outer diameter gear teeth concentric to the outer spline. A wave generator including a pair of rollers disposed adjacent to an outside surface of the outer spline and an inner surface of the inner spline deforms the outer and inner splines into ellipses whereby the inner diameter gear teeth of the outer spline engage the outer diameter gear teeth of the inner spline at a pair of diametrically opposed points along a major axis of the deformed outer and inner splines.

Abstract: Methods of forming a shaped article having a matrix that contains sintered fly ash are disclosed that include forming a fly ash dough that includes fly ash and water. In one form a superplasticiser is added in the dough. A green article is formed in a desired shape from the fly ash dough that is subsequently fired so that the shaped article is hardened by sintering its fly ash matrix. In one form, the green article is cured under conditions of moderate heating and high humidity. A building element having a matrix of sintered fly ash is also disclosed.

Abstract: A field-sport game modifies various aspects of rugby so as to be more appealing to the American audience. The playing field is substantially reduced in size, altering the strategy and play of the game. Moreover, walls may be provided in place of sidelines so as to eliminate out of bound rules. Alternatively, walls may be provided at opposite ends of the field which define in-goal areas to be touched by a ball in order to score.

Abstract: A wine glass constructed from molded plastic includes an upper body defining an upwardly narrowed flume for concentrating the wine bouquet, in combination with a contoured lower base defining an annular moat surrounding a central punt for enhanced visual inspection of the wine. In addition, the upper body further includes a notched indent at an outboard side thereof forming a shelf for facilitated fingertip grasping and manipulation of the assembled glass. In one form, the upper body and lower base of the wine glass are provided as separate modules adapted for assembly to form the wine glass, and disassembly for respective compact stacking. In another form, the wine glass has a one-piece construction adapted for compact stacking by nested reception of the upwardly narrowed flume partially into the underside of the lower base of an overlying glass in the stack.

Abstract: A process for determining object level profitability includes the steps of (1) preparing information to be accessed electronically, (2) establishing rules for processing the prepared information, (3) calculating at least one marginal value of profit using established rules as applied to a selected set of prepared information, (4) calculating a fully absorbed value of profit adjustment using established rules as applied to the selected set of prepared information, and (5) combining the at least one marginal value of profit and fully absorbed value of profit adjustment to create a measure for object level profitability. The inventive process gives management profit measures tailored to its need for accurate decision oriented profit information required to manage a large organization based on profit measurement.

Abstract: A method of preparing a depilatory composition includes placing a quantity of sucrose into a heating vessel. Vinegar and citric acid are added into the heating vessel in the respective amounts of about 30 to 35% and 2.0 to 2.5% of the quantity of sucrose. The sucrose, vinegar and citric acid are stirred to create a mixture. The mixture is heated to about 230 degrees Fahrenheit. The mixture is diluted with water in an amount of 2.0 to 2.5% of the quantity of sucrose. The diluted mixture is cooled to form a soft was a room temperature once the temperature of the diluted mixture reaches about 230 degrees Fahrenheit.