Abstract: Methods for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, and the devices and systems used in conjunction with the same, are provided herein. In one exemplary embodiment of a method for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, a sample including an analyte is provided in a sample analyzing device having a working and a counter electrode. An electric potential is applied between the electrodes and a fill time of the sample into the device is calculated. A concentration of the analyte in view of fill time can then be determined. Systems and devices that take advantage of the fill time to make analyte concentration determinations are also provided.

Abstract: To provide a digital data transmitting apparatus and a digital data receiving apparatus that can realize, even when a transmission channel characteristic changes because of aged deterioration or the like of a relay, improvement of a reception performance following the change. A transmitting apparatus 1 generates a multiplexing frame formed by N slots including control information, data, outer parities, stuff bits, and inner parities and added with synchronization, pilot, and a transmission control signal and a parity and transmits data of the respective slots in a transmission system designated by the transmission control signal. In this case, pilot signals are symbols allocated to all signal points in order determined in advance for each of modulation schemes. A receiving apparatus 2 rewrites a phase error table 214 to calculate a phase error and performs synchronous detection according to the pilot signals. The receiving apparatus 2 also rewrites a likelihood table 235 to perform inner code decoding.

Abstract: A screw placement guide tool for use in minimally invasive surgery has a proximal handle portion, an extension member extending distally from the handle portion, and an alignment element connected transversely to a distal portion of the extension member and having a screw placement guide located thereon. In this aspect of the invention, the tool is configured so that a surgeon may operate the tool using the handle portion external to a patient's body to align the alignment element with implanted screws so that the screw placement guide indicates a desired position for implantation of an additional screw. Systems and methods for placing a rod receiving screw are also provided.

Abstract: A control system incorporates components that automatically switch information sources in response to actual or potential degradation of information generated by them. Thus, a control system has first and second control components that generate first and second “source” signals, respectively, representing substantially identical or related process control variables. A third control component, which normally processes the first source signal, responds to actual or potential degradation of that signal for processing the second source signal in lieu of the first.