Abstract: A disk drive 100 capable of receiving a cartridge 20 having a disk 42 with a diameter of about 3.5 inches which can contain at least 105 megabytes of data includes an operating mechanism 112 for initiating and controlling the positioning of an actuator arm 176 upon which is mounted a read/write transducer 178, the position of a spindle motor 224 which is used to spin up the disk 42 contained in the cartridge 20 to an operating speed, the locking of the cartridge 20 in the disk drive 100 in an operating mode and the ejection of the cartridge 20 from the drive 100. The operating mechanism 112 can function to eject the cartridge 20 whether or not the drive 100 is powered up in order to be able to remove the cartridge 20 and transport it to another disk drive 100 or to a secured location.

Abstract: Workpieces requiring low levels of contamination, such as semiconductor wafers, are loaded into a workpiece support or holder within a process chamber. The process chamber has a drain opening, slot or edge. The chamber is closed via a door. A process or rinsing liquid is introduced into the chamber. The liquid rises to a level so that the workpieces are immersed in the liquid. The chamber slowly pivots or rotates to move the drain opening down to the level of the liquid. The liquid drains out through the drain opening. The drain opening is kept near the surface of the liquid to drain off liquid at a uniform rate. An organic solvent vapor is introduced above the liquid to reduce or prevent droplets of liquid from remaining on the workpieces as the liquid drains off. An outer chamber may be provided around the process chamber to provide increased control of the process environment.

Abstract: A cryocooler having an improved linear motor assembly. The cryocooler comprises a displacer unit, heat exchanger unit and compressor and linear motor assembly. The compressor and linear motor assembly includes a linear motor having both a stationary internal return iron element and a moving internal return iron element, thus enabling the motor to operate at a predetermined resonant frequency. In a preferred form, the compressor and linear motor assembly comprise a unitary structure.

Abstract: A plurality of conductors and an electrical component are disposed on a substrate, wherein the electrical component has a plurality of leads that are connected to the conductors on the substrate by a plurality of bond wires. A damping material is then situated in contact with the plurality of bond wires, the damping material chosen so that the plurality of bond wires can move in relation to the damping material. The damping material may be a viscous liquid kept in contact with the bond wires by a containing lid attached to the substrate. Alternatively, the damping material may be a colloidal mixture involving a liquid or an elastomer.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from the larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater air flow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.

Abstract: A flashlight has a switch housing in between the battery compartment and reflector. The neck of the switch housing holds a lamp support at a central position within a reflector. A o-ring on the rear of the switch housing seals the battery compartment. The switch housing partially floats within the flashlight tube to allow for a slight adjustment of the lamp relative to the reflector to insure centering.

Abstract: This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating alopecia and promoting hair growth using an N-oxide of a heterocyclic ester, amide, thioester, or ketone.

Abstract: An arbitration system and method provides self-arbitration among a plurality of processors or other entities vying for access to the bus or other shared resource. The entities vying for access to the shared resource present their respective priority values to an evaluation medium. The evaluation medium determines the highest priority value of those values presented, and provides this “winning” value to the competing entities. The entities compare the received “winning” value to their respective presented values. If an entity makes a positive comparison, that entity won the arbitration and is granted access to the shared resource.

Abstract: Electrode assemblies and associated systems employ a nonporous wall having an exterior for contacting tissue. The exterior peripherally surrounds an interior area. The wall is essentially free of electrically conductive material. The wall is adapted to assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter. The assemblies and systems include a lumen that conveys a medium containing ions into the interior area. An element free of physical contact with the wall couples the medium within the interior area to a source of electrical energy to enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the source through the medium to the wall for capacitive coupling to tissue contacting the exterior of the wall.

Abstract: A stent including a helical mesh coil is provided having a substantially rectangular cross-section and a band width equal to at least one-quarter to one-third of the maximum expanded circumference of the stent. The helical mesh has a multiplicity of openings forming a lattice that preferably provides about 60% open space or more. Alternative embodiments of the stent include free ends that preferentially overlap neighboring turns of the coil, and integrally formed barbs that enhance resistance to localized compressive forces. Methods of deploying the helical mesh coil stent also provided.

Abstract: A composition for a creamer powder is disclosed that comprises approximately 40% to approximately 60% by weight water-soluble protein, edible fat, at least one emulsifier, at least one stabilizer and less than 5% by weight carbohydrate. The creamer powder composition is dispersible in either hot or cold water-based liquids. The low-carbohydrate high-protein creamer powder may be used in the preparation of nutritious, low-carbohydrate foods.

Abstract: This is an implant for placement in the human body and an assembly for so placing that implant. Most desirably, it is an implant for use in the vasculature of the human body and is used to occlude some space in that vasculature as a portion of a treatment regimen. The implant itself is preferably a component of a deployment device using an electrolytically severable joint. The implant component is at least partially covered with a highly resistive or insulative covering. The highly resistive or insulative layer or covering appears to enhance the susceptibility of the electrolytic joint to quick erosion and thus detachment of the implant. Although the implant itself is preferably a vaso-occlusive device, it may instead be a stent, a vena cava filter, or other implant which may be installed in this manner. The implant may be independently coated with insulative or resistive material or may be formed using a material with such as tantalum, which forms such an insulator or resistor in situ.

Abstract: Vectors which establish controlled expression of recombinant GHRH genes within tissues at certain levels. The vector includes a 5′ flanking region which includes necessary sequences for expression of a nucleic acid cassette, a 3′ flanking region including a 3′UTR and/or 3′NCR, and a linker which connects the 5′ flanking region to a nucleic acid sequence. The linker has a position for inserting a nucleic acid cassette. The linker does not contain the coding sequence of a gene that the linker is naturally associated with. The 3′ flanking region is 3′ to the position for inserting the nucleic acid cassette.

Abstract: A multilayer, laminated device for performing fluidic operations includes a first exterior support layer, an adjacent layer disposed in laminated relationship with a portion of the exterior support layer, a second exterior support layer disposed in laminated relationship with a portion of the adjacent layer, and a fluidic pump that is disposed in the adjacent layer. The fluidic pump includes a first gear rotationally mounted to the adjacent layer, the first gear having a magnet contained therein. A second gear is rotationally mounted to the adjacent layer, the second gear having a magnet contained therein, the second gear being engaged with the first gear in a meshed relationship.

Abstract: A solar array according to this invention includes a solar blanket which is folded into adjacent panels that are hinged together in an accordion-folded mode at parallel hinges. A pair of foldable spines is fixed to the panels and runs the length of the array. The hinges are included in the spine. The spines are mounted at one end to a base plate, and also at the other end to a tip plate. The base plate is intended to be attached to the spacecraft structure with a yoke which will provide required standoff for rotational clearance during sun-tracking. A pantograph deployment structure extends between the two plates. It can be retracted for storage and extended to deploy the blanket. A conductive harness is attached to the blanket to collect current from the panels.

Abstract: Novel structures and methods for forming useful high temperature superconducting devices, most particularly resonators, are provided. Structures resulting in reduced peak current densities relative to known structures achieve numerous desirable benefits, especially including the reduced intermodulation effects of earlier resonators. In one aspect of this invention, a spiral in, spiral out resonator is provided, characterized in that it has an odd number of long runs, at least equal to five long runs, where the long runs are connected by turns, and wherein there are at least two sequential turns of the same handedness, followed by at least two turns of the opposite handedness. In yet another aspect of this invention, it has been discovered that reducing the size of the input and output pads of HTS resonators increases the relative inductance compared to the capacitance. Yet another resonator structure is a spiral snake resonator having a terminal end disposed within the resonator.