Abstract: A method for making an integrated electrolytic capacitor wherein a substrate (40) is coated with at least one sequence of each of the following layers: a vacuum deposited film (42) having a high specific surface area, which is selected from the group consisting of valve metals and mixtures of valve metals with valve metal oxides; superimposed on the film having a high specific surface area, at least one dielectric film (46) comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of valve metal oxides, their complex oxides with at least one rare earth metal and their complex oxides with at least one alkaline earth metal; and a solid electrolyte film (48) superimposed on the at least one film.

Abstract: A method is provided for using an uncooled laser package having pre-established performance specifications that include a pre-established optical power level. The package is to be used at a second set of performance specifications that include a second optical power level greater than the preestablished optical power level. The method begins by applying a bias level to a laser diode in the uncooled laser package that optimizes distortion and causes the laser package to generate the second optical power level. The bias level is greater than a pre-established bias level specified to generate the pre-established optical power level. Next, the uncooled laser package is heated or cooled to maintain a substantially constant laser diode temperature.

Abstract: A surface geometry for a MOS-gated device is provided that allows device size to be varied in both the x-axis and the y-axis by predetermined increments. The actual device size is set or “programmed” by the metal and pad masks or the contact metal and pad masks. This approach saves both time and expense, since only new contact, metal and pad masks, or new metal and pad mask are required for each new device. Wafers may also be manufactured and stored at an inventory location prior to contact or metal mask, significantly reducing the time required to manufacture new devices. It is also be possible to qualify a family of devices made using this approach without qualifying each device. In addition, the location of the source or the source and gate bonding pads may be easily moved for assembly in a new package or for a new application.

Abstract: A technique for controlling outliers in offered load estimation in a shared medium communication network is achieved by partitioning the set of all possible sample value combinations, according to some predetermined partitioning scheme, based on a measure of proximity to a locus of expected sample values into a set of “trusted” sample value combinations and “untrusted” sample value combinations.

Abstract: A composition for delivery of a therapeutic agent is provided. The composition comprises: (a) a biocompatible block copolymer comprising one or more elastomeric blocks and one or more thermoplastic blocks and (b) a therapeutic agent, wherein the block copolymer is loaded with the therapeutic agent. The block copolymer is preferably of the formula X—(AB)n, where A is an elastomeric block, B is a thermoplastic block, n is a positive whole number and X is a seed molecule. The elastomeric blocks are preferably polyolefin blocks, and the thermoplastic blocks are preferably selected from vinyl aromatic blocks and methacrylate blocks. According to another aspect of the invention, a medical device is provided, at least a portion of which is insertable or implantable into the body of a patient. The medical device comprises (a) the above biocompatible block copolymer and (b) a therapeutic agent, wherein the block copolymer is loaded with the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A method for making trench DMOS is provided that utilizes polycide and refractory techniques to make trench DMOS which exhibit low gate resistance, low gate capacitance, reduced distributed RC gate propagation delay, and improved switching speeds for high frequency applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding an input MPEG video stream are provided that includes a core processor with a very long instruction word (VLIW) processor and a co-processor that includes a variable length decoder (VLD) for decoding the MPEG video stream. The input MPEG video stream is organized into macroblocks, wherein each macroblock includes a header for a macroblock that is not decoded, and encoded data for a macroblock whose header is previously decoded by VLD. Thereafter, VLD decodes the encoded video data of a first macroblock whose header has been decoded, and decodes the header of a second (current) macroblock. VLIW then performs motion compensation on a current macroblock based upon reference data of a previously decoded macroblock. VLIW also adds a fake slice start code and fake macroblock data at the end of each picture into the input MPEG video data stream; and utilizes the fake slice start code and fake macroblock data to skip to a next slice.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for symmetric line coding is provided where a binary input signal d is received; a value for each of a pair of binary bits p and q are dynamically defined in response to the input stream; and a pair of output bitstreams v1 and v2 are dynamically generated in accordance with the following: if d=1, then v1=p and v2=p, and if d=0, then v1=(1?q) and v2=q. In illustrative embodiments of the invention, the generation may be performed by symmetric-line coding machines, including: a bitstream symmetric line coding machine, a regular bitstream symmetric line coding machine, a complementary regular bitstream symmetric line coding machine, a binary complementary regular symmetric line coding machine, a bitstream parallel symmetric line coding machine, a regular bitstream parallel symmetric line coding machine, a complementary regular bitstream parallel symmetric line coding machine, and a binary complementary regular parallel symmetric line coding machine.

Abstract: A device and method for providing body cooling. The cooling device applies cooling to blood flowing in a vena cavae that is then distributed throughout the body. The cooling can be assisted by use of thermoregulatory drugs or warming devices to prevent shivering and vasoconstriction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for using optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) with a WDM transmission system that includes a plurality of terminals interconnected by at least two pairs of unidirectional optical transmission paths each of which has at least one repeater therein. The method begins by transmitting an optical probe signal from a first OTDR unit associated with a first terminal into the repeater over a first optical path in a first of the at least two pairs of unidirectional optical transmission paths. The first OTDR unit receives a first returned OTDR signal over a second optical path in the first optical path pair. The first OTDR signal contains status information concerning the first optical path in the first optical path pair. The optical probe signal from the first optical path in the first optical path pair is coupled to a second optical path in the second optical path pair.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided which comprises an elongated body adapted for insertion into a body lumen, and a plurality of electrically controlled actuators associated with the body which are controllable to impart an orientation to the body that is complimentary to the natural orientation of the lumen into which the endoscope is inserted.

Abstract: An implantable or insertable medical device is provided which comprises (a) a superoxide dismutase mimic and (b) a polymeric release region. Upon administration to a patient, the polymeric release region controls the release of the superoxide dismutase mimic, which is beneficially selected from a metal-chelate superoxide dismutase mimic and a nitroxide superoxide dismutase mimic. Also provided is a method of making an implantable or insertable medical device.

Abstract: An organic electronic device structure, according to a first aspect of the invention, includes: (a) a substrate layer; (b) an organic electronic region disposed over the substrate layer; (c) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed over the organic electronic device; and (d) a barrier layer disposed over the adhesive layer. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an organic electronic device structure includes: (a) a substrate layer; (b) an organic electronic region disposed over the substrate layer; (c) a barrier layer disposed over the organic electronic region; (d) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed over the substrate layer and over the barrier layer; and (e) an additional layer disposed over the adhesive layer. In many preferred embodiments, the organic electronic device region is an OLED region.

Abstract: A method for receiving and quantizing a data set originating from collected data is provided. The data set has a plurality of dimensions defined by perpendicular axes, and includes a plurality of data points. Each data point has a data characteristic.

Abstract: A filtering device such as an optical interleaver/deinterleaver includes first and second optical couplers each having two inputs and two outputs. The inputs of the first coupler are adapted to receive input optical signals to be filtered and the outputs of the second coupler are adapted to provide filtered output optical signals. A first optical waveguide optically couples a first output of the first coupler to a first input of the second coupler. A second optical waveguide optically couples a second output of the first coupler to a second input of the second coupler. The filtering device also includes an optical resonator and a third optical coupler optically coupling the optical resonator to the second optical waveguide.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, strategies for optimizing the rewarming of patients for various medical procedures are provided, including stroke, neurosurgery, and myocardial infarction.

Abstract: An implantable composite device for regulated delivery of bioactive agents to the site of implantation includes at least two zones of distinct porosities through its cross-section. One zone is of a sufficient porosity to permit regulated transport of bioactive agents associated with the device to an area of the body in need of treatment. The bioactive agent associated with the device can be either a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the device includes a tubular body consisting of a first luminal layer of ePTFE having a porosity sufficient to promote cell endothelization along the luminal surface; and a second polymeric layer disposed on the first layer of a porosity permitting regulated transport of the bioactive agents.

Abstract: A portable proximity alert detector is provided for a user to determine when at least one companion comes within a predetermined range of the user. The device includes a receiving portion for wirelessly receiving a first signal encoded with a code identifying a companion and a transmitting portion for wirelessly transmitting a second signal encoded with a user identifying code. The device also includes a processor, a modulator operationally coupling the processor to the transmitting portion for modulating the user identifying code, and a demodulator operationally coupling the processor to the receiving portion for demodulating the companion identifying code. A first memory segment is operationally coupled to the processor for storing companion identifying codes received by the receiving portion. A second memory segment is operationally coupled to the processor for storing companion identifying codes of companions whom the user desires to contact.

Abstract: A trench MOSFET transistor device and a method of making the same.