Abstract: A method of providing navigational information includes processing destination information spoken by a mobile processing system user. The processed voice information is transmitted to a remote center wirelessly. The processed voice information is voice recognition analyzed to recognize components of die destination information spoken. The remote center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information listed by confidence levels. The list of hypothetical recognized components is displayed with confidence levels at the remote center for selective checking by a human data center operator. A component set is selected based on the confidence levels and accuracy of the selected set is confirmed by interactive voice exchanges. A destination is determined from confirmed components of the destination information.

Abstract: A method for releasing an aortic prosthesis includes positioning an introducer in femoral arteries of a patient. Guiding balloon catheters are positioned through the introducers to locate balloons thereof in terminal parts of common iliac arteries. The proximal aorta is clamped, balloons of the guiding catheters are inflated, and the aorta is opened for outside access. Distal ends of releasing balloon catheters are threaded through the guiding catheters and are recovered outside the patient through the introducers. Distal ends of the releasing catheters are connected to distal portions of the prosthesis, which is moved by the catheters until distal portions thereof contact the guiding catheters. The proximal part of the prosthesis is sutured to the aorta. The balloons of the releasing catheters are inflated to fix the distal portions of the prosthesis. Balloons are deflated, catheters are removed, the aorta is sutured, and the introducers are removed.

Abstract: A method for recording shadow keystrokes in an electronic stenographic recording machine having keys forming stenographic keystrokes when actuated includes the steps of sensing an extent of an actuation of a subset of the keys as a stenographic keystroke, recording values selected from the group consisting of a full value and at least one intermediate value corresponding to the extent of the actuation of each of the subset of keys, and determining a first subset of possible translations of the stenographic keystroke based upon a second subset of possible combinations of the recorded values of the subset of the keys. Also, an extent of an actuation of at least one key can be sensed and at least one intermediate value corresponding to the extent of the actuation of the at least one key can be recorded.

Abstract: A method and device for treating a Chronic Total Occlusion provides a controllable stiffness catheter with a shaft having a stiffness sheath and an access lumen. The device has a stiffness device in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the temperature, a temperature-changing device in thermal contact with the stiffness device, the temperature-changing device changing a temperature of the stiffness device below and above the temperature, and a power controller electrically connected to the stiffness device and selectively supplying power to the temperature-changing device to change a stiffness of the stiffness device between the stiff and soft states. A guidewire is moved to a treatment site and the catheter moves along the guidewire up to CTO in its soft state. The catheter stiffens without straightening and, in the stiff state, the catheter or the guidewire is projecting through the CTO.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a device, at first a plurality of components each having at least a first terminal region are provided. Furthermore, a support with a first surface, in which a plurality of recesses are formed, is provided. The components provided are inserted into the recesses such that the first terminal region of each component faces the first surface of the support. Conductive material is applied on the first surface of the support such that the conductive material is in contact with the first terminal region of each component. Finally, the support is diced to obtain the individual devices.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrochemical cell first includes providing a cup-shaped housing with at least one first indentation. Thereafter, an electrode stack is placed in the housing and then, the first indentation is indented further in a direction towards the inside of the housing by a applying a force on the housing laterally to the first indentation, during which the electrode stack becomes fixed in the housing. As a result, electrode stacks can be fixed particularly easily and reliably in cup-shaped housings. An electrochemical cell is also provided.

Abstract: A mechanical force switch to be disposed along a longitudinal device axis of a medical device includes an electrically conductive switching piston to form a first electrical contact of the switch, a hollow body, an end stop, a bias device, and an electrically conductive second contact of the switch electrically insulated from the piston. The piston is movably disposed in the body hollow along the axis to define different switch-making and -breaking positions. The piston is also movably disposed in a cavity of the stop and the stop is disposed in the body. The stop can be a smooth or threaded puck. The bias device surrounds the piston and imparts bias against it to retain it in one of the two positions until an external axis force overcomes the bias, at which time the switch indicates a state changeover. The switch can be normally open or closed.

Abstract: A façade covering for covering an outer wall of a building comprises a plurality of façade covering boards formed by circuit boards mountable to the outer wall of the building.

Abstract: A transmitter module of a wireless transmission system with at least one transmission path having a power amplifier disposed at the input side includes a low-pass filter disposed at the output side and an impedance converter disposed therebetween. The power amplifier and the low-pass filter are, thereby, disposed on the top surface of a multi-layer carrier substrate. Preferably, the impedance converter is disposed in metallization planes of the carrier substrate. The inventive integration of all of these components in one module especially allows for a step-wise impedance adaptation between the low-impedance amplifier output and the output of the transmitter module having a defined output impedance (e.g. 50 ohm), whereby the impedance adaptation is partially carried out by the low-pass filter. A multistage impedance adaptation allows for a reduction of, e.g., the length of the line sections used in the impedance converter and the signal losses involved.

Abstract: A method for producing contacts in the form of bumps on a component that comprises a base body includes, first, positioning a template on the base body. Through holes are produced through the template. By filling the through holes with an electrically conductive material and subsequently hardening, fillers are produced. Bumps for the external electrical contact of the fillers are, then, produced directly on the surfaces of the fillers.

Abstract: A medical device includes a surgical end effector, an end effector control handle, and a control shaft having a longitudinal axis and a handle portion connecting the control shaft to the control handle rotatably about the longitudinal axis. A passive articulation joint connects the end effector to the control shaft. An articulation joint release unlocks the articulation joint when actuated and locks the articulation joint when unactuated. An end effector control device is rotationally fixedly connected to at least a portion of the control shaft to correspondingly rotate the control shaft about the longitudinal axis when the control device is rotated and is longitudinally connected to the joint release to selectively unlock the articulation joint when actuated.

Abstract: An electrical component has electrically conducting structures placed on an electrically isolating or semiconductive substrate and component structures sensitive to a voltage or an electrical arcing and galvanically separated from one another. To prevent an arcing between the galvanically separated component structures, the component structures are short-circuited with a shunt line having a smaller cross-section than the remaining electrical conductor tracks. The shunt lines can be burnt through by application of an electrical current at any given time, whereby a galvanic separation of the component structures is effected, if necessary, for the function of the component.

Abstract: A medical device includes a control handle, an end effector, and a passive articulating joint connecting the end effector to the handle. The handle has a stapling actuator, an articulation joint actuator different from the stapling actuator, and a body through which the stapling and articulation joint actuators traverse. The end effector has an anvil, a stapler cartridge with staples, and an anvil-cartridge control device connected thereto and to the stapling actuator and staples when the stapling actuator is actuated. The stapling actuator passes through the articulating joint and flexes correspondingly to articulation of the articulating joint. The articulation joint actuator, when unactuated, holds the articulation joint and, thereby, the end effector, in a substantially fixed articulation position, and, when actuated, releases the articulation joint into its freely articulating state to permit free articulation of the end effector dependent upon external forces acting upon the end effector.

Abstract: A catheter for treatment of chronic total occlusions includes an occlusion breach device, a catheter body made of a temperature-dependent softening, shape-memory, thermoplastic polymer having a first flexible state and a second stiff state. The catheter body has a heat transfer conduit and a conduit for slidably receiving the breach device. A heat-transferring device selectively changes a temperature of the heat transfer conduit to, thereby, change stiffness of the catheter body between the two states. To treat a CTO with the catheter, it is warmed above the glass-transition temperature and below the melting-temperature to make the catheter flexible. The catheter has a shape when inserted at the occlusion site and is cooled to, thereby, stiffen. Breaching of the occlusion is assisted with the stiff catheter. The catheter is removed by warming the polymer. Also provided is a method for manufacturing such a selectively stiffening catheter.

Abstract: A method of providing navigational information to a vehicle operator includes processing destination information spoken by a vehicle operator with an on-board processing system on a vehicle. The processed voice information is transmitted via a wireless link to a remote data center and analyzed with a voice recognition system at the remote data center to recognize components of the destination information spoken by the vehicle operator. The accuracy of the recognition of the components of the destination information is confirmed via interactive voice exchanges between the vehicle operator and the remote data center. A destination is determined from confirmed components of the destination information, route information to the destination is generated at the remove data center, and the route information transmitted to the on-board processing system from the remote data center via the wireless link.

Abstract: A test pattern or set of patterns, a method of evaluating the transfer properties of the pattern, and a method of determining a parameter of a transfer process (e.g., imaging process) making use of the test pattern is provided. With the test pattern, the impact of line edge roughness on a transferred pattern may be analyzed. For example, the test pattern may be based upon a lines/spaces pattern, wherein periodic structures having a well-defined period and amplitude are adjacent to the lines. A photomask is provided with the test pattern and an image of the pattern is obtained. Edges of the image are determined and, therefrom, a set of edge position data are obtained. Edge position data are fitted to a straight line to determine edge position residuals. An amplitude spectrum is calculated dependent upon spatial frequencies to obtain a amplitude/spatial frequency relationship. A ratio of determined maximum is formed.

Abstract: A wave shim and a method of shimming two elements is provided. The method includes inserting between two elements, at least one wave shim, which is a wave-shaped compressible body with a slot subdividing a portion of the body at the end into a pair of wave-shaped extending arms, and a tab attached to the body at a side opposite the wave-shaped extending arms. The shim has an area of reduced body material at a junction point between the tab and the body so that the tab can be broken off, and at least one area of reduced body material exists at corresponding locations along each of the wave-shaped extending arms so that the length of the arms can be reduced. The tab and arms define through-holes and grooves, which can be used in conjunction with a guide-line to align several elements.