Abstract: Provided is an acoustic sensor capable of improving an S/N ratio of a sensor without preventing reduction in size of the sensor. A back chamber 45 is vertically opened in a silicon substrate 42. A thin film-like diaphragm 43 to serve as a movable electrode plate is formed on the top surface of the substrate 42 so as to cover the back chamber 45. The back plate 48 is fixed to the top surface of the substrate 42 so as to cover the diaphragm 43, and a fixed electrode plate 49 is provided on the under surface of the back plate 48. Further, the diaphragm 43 is divided into a plurality of areas by the slit 47, and the respective plurally divided diaphragms 43a, 43b and the fixed electrode plate 49 constitute a plurality of parallelly connected capacitors (acoustic sensing sections 60a, 60b).

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device configured to be introduced into a body. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided including a cannulated elongate shaft having a distal working end with a flexible steering platform. The flexible steering platform can includes a plurality of axially aligned links and a plurality of flexible connector elements. Adjacent links can be connected using at least two of the connector elements such that flexing one or more connector elements can bend the steering platform in one or more directions. The surgical device's shaft can be configured to receive a flexible surgical instrument therein such that a working end of the surgical instrument can be received within the steering platform, thereby allowing movement of the surgical instrument's working end to be controlled through movement of the steering platform.

Abstract: A recording medium recording a computer readable computer program thereon, where the computer program enables the computer to generate dot recording data supplied to a dot recording device in order to perform dot recording using the dot recording device which repeats a main scanning pass and a transport based on the dot recording data so that a raster line along a main scanning direction is formed in multiple lines in a sub-scanning direction on a printing medium, where the main scanning pass is for performing the dot recording on the printing medium when an output head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction moves in the main scanning direction, and where the transport is for enabling the printing medium to move in the sub-scanning direction, the computer program enables the computer to implement the functions of: determining a dot reduction degree for reducing the dot recording; setting a recording position of a changing target dot included in the dot recording data, according t

Abstract: A medical inserter tool is provided for introducing medical implants into a surgical site, preferably using minimally invasive techniques. The inserter tool can have a variety of configurations, but in general, the inserter tool should be effective to engage and manipulate the implant into two or more positions. In an exemplary embodiment, the tool includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and a pivoting element that is coupled to the distal end of the shaft and that is adapted to engage a spinal implant. In use, the pivoting element is movable between first and second positions to allow an implant to be introduced through a percutaneous access device in a lengthwise orientation, and to be manipulated subcutaneously to be positioned in a desired orientation.

Abstract: An inkjet recording sheet for forming an image using aqueous pigment ink that includes a substrate and an ink-receiving layer formed on the substrate. The ink-receiving layer is obtained by applying, on the substrate, a coating composition containing: a cationic acrylic silicone emulsion-based resin having a hydrolyzable silyl group as a crosslinking component; a cationic polyether-based urethane resin; and a carbodiimide group-containing resin, followed by curing the applied coating composition. In the coating composition, the content of the cationic acrylic silicone emulsion-based resin is 2 to 7% by mass, the content of the cationic polyether-based urethane resin is 88 to 94% by mass, and the content of the carbodiimide group-containing resin is 2 to 6% by mass in terms of solid matter.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for diagnosing performance of a gastric restriction system. In general, the methods and devices can enable patients, health care providers, and others to use pressure data as a feedback mechanism to monitor efficacy of an implantable restriction device and to identify, train, and/or prescribe treatment plan options. Pressure data monitoring can be used locally and/or remotely to monitor a restriction in a patient and compare gathered pressure data with a typical pressure of the restriction. Based on the results of the comparison, possible problems related to the patient and the restriction can be identified and diagnosed with possible cause(s) and solution(s). Notice of any detected possible problems, causes, and/or solutions can be provided to a user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for service-level based and/or skills-based assignment of a work item to one (or more) of a plurality of resources based on fitness, for example, of skills required by the former to those provided by the latter. Assignment takes into account the level of stress on the work item and/or resources, such that the number of resources fit for assignment varies as the level of stress varies. Systems according to the invention can be used, by way of example, to route a call or other request made by a customer to a service center. The requirements for processing the call (determined, for example, by an incoming call operator) are matched against the skill sets of available customer service agents, taking call and/or resource stress levels into account. For example, some implementations may match an incoming call having a low stress factor (e.g.

Abstract: A remotely-activated injection device for use in vertebroplasty is provided to inject a flourescent probe material into a patient. The injection device includes a pump defining an injection chamber having an exit opening; an actuator; and a cable having a first end coupled to the actuator, and a second end remotely engaging the pump. The actuator remotely controls the pump by responsive movement of the cable to thereby cause injection of a flourescent probe material from the injection chamber of the pump through the exit opening to the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid ejecting apparatus including a fluid ejecting head that ejects fluid, a waveform generator that transmits a driving waveform for driving the fluid ejecting head to the fluid ejecting head, and a waveform designation signal transmitter that transmits a waveform designation signal for designating a driving waveform to be generated to the waveform generator, wherein the waveform generator transmits the driving waveform at a timing based on a reception timing of the waveform designation signal.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for penetrating tissue. In one embodiment, a tissue-penetrating device is provided and includes a flexible hollow elongate shaft having a tissue-penetrating tip at a distal end thereof, and a plunger disposed within the tissue-penetrating tip. The plunger can be movable relative to the tissue-penetrating tip between a distal position in which the plunger is distal of the tissue-penetrating tip to prevent tissue penetration, and a proximal position in which the plunger is proximal of the tissue-penetrating tip to allow the tip to penetrate tissue. The plunger can be adapted to move from the distal position to the proximal position when the plunger is advanced into a tissue surface. The device can also include a biasing element coupled to the plunger that can be adapted to bias the plunger to the distal position. The biasing element can be coupled between a distal end of a stylet that extends through the hollow elongate shaft, and a proximal end of the plunger.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for measuring and mapping oxygen tension in a tissue and, in particular, permit direct non-invasive measurement of retinal tissue oxygen tension. In one aspect, the invention is directed to methods for determining oxygen tension in a target tissue sensitized with an oxygen sensitive probe by imaging the target tissue. In one embodiment, the invention provides a noninvasive method for monitoring oxygen tension in a chorioretinal tissue sensitized with an oxygen sensitive probe. In another aspect, apparatus is disclosed that can determine oxygen tension in tissue by quantifying a signal emitted by an oxygen sensitive probe within the three-dimensional map of a tissue to determine oxygen tension and provide a three-dimensional map of oxygen tension variations.

Abstract: A thermal head avoids a drop in print quality caused by adhesion of printing chaff. A thermal head 39 that presses against thermal paper that moves from one side to the other side and prints by melting dye contained in the thermal paper has a glazed layer 150 that is formed in an area on one part of a ceramic substrate 43 and stores in-flowing heat, and a heating resistor 140 that is located offset to one side from the center of the glazed layer 150, selectively heats the thermal paper S pressed in contact therewith, and melts a dye material contained in the thermal paper. A smooth surface P against which the thermal paper S heated by the heating resistor 140 slides is formed to the other side of the glazed layer 150 from the heating resistor 140.

Abstract: The invention provides container systems, kits and methods for peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions. Such a system, for example, includes a first compartment that contains a PD osmotic agent and a second compartment that contains a PD buffer agent. The compartments maintain their respective contents separately from one another for purposes of transport, storage and/or sterilization. However, the compartments are fluidly couplable, so that their respective contents can be combined with one another, e.g., following sterilization of the agents and prior to their introduction into the patient's abdomen. The invention provides, in other aspects, such systems, kits and methods that provide protective structure which inhibits breaking of a seal prior between the second compartment and an outlet of the system, prior to breaking of a seal between the first and second compartments.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for tensioning a tether. In one embodiment, a tether tensioning device is provided and includes a tensioning mechanism adapted to couple to a tether extending along a path between at least two bone anchors implanted in adjacent vertebrae. The tensioning mechanism can be adapted to apply a tensioning force to the tether along the path of the tether to thereby move the tether along the path. The device further includes an actuation mechanism movably coupled to the tensioning mechanism such that the actuation mechanism is adapted to effect movement of the tensioning mechanism to control the tensioning force applied to the tether.

Abstract: A composite metallic particle made by coating a surface of a base material sheet with a composite metallic thin film layer that contains at least one of a resin layer and a wax layer and at least one of a metal layer and a metal compound layer and step 2 for removing the composite metallic thin film layer from the sheet. The resultant composite metallic particles and conductive ink can be used in a conductive substrate producing apparatus, formed into a pattern on the conductive substrate by screen printing, an ink jet method, or some other liquid-based process.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for enhancing the sensitivity of an inorganic resist composition are disclosed. In one aspect, compositions for use with a matrix material (e.g., a lithographically sensitive polymeric material such as a hydrogen-bearing siloxane material) can be formulated with a sensitizer, where the sensitizer can be present in a relatively small amount. The sensitizer can include a radical generator, and can act to enhance the efficiency of radical generation and/or resist crosslinking when the resist is impinged by a selected lithographic radiation. The methods of the present invention can be especially useful in performing short wavelength (e.g., less than 200 nm) lithography, or for processes such as e-beam lithography, which traditionally suffer from low throughput. Methods of utilizing one or more of these aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: A receipt printer, a control method for a receipt printer, and a program whereby producing counterfeit printout is not possible. A receipt printer 20 has a storage unit 61 that stores encrypted information obtained by encrypting registered information, a specific information acquisition unit 62 that acquires specific information from a POS terminal 10, a comparison unit 63 that compares the specific information with the registered information decrypted from the encrypted information, a printing permission unit 64 the permits printing when the comparison unit 63 confirms a data match, and a printing unit 65 that prints when printing is permitted by the printing permission unit 64.

Abstract: A first reception section is operable to receive an input to designate thumbnails of printing images from an image storage server. A first transmitter is operable to transmit an image transmission request for requesting the thumbnails to the image storage server when the input to designate the thumbnails is received by the first reception section. A first receiver is operable to receive the thumbnails from the image storage server. A second reception section is operable to receive a designation of the printing images based on the thumbnails received by the first receiver. A local area transceiver is operable to transmit an identification information request for requesting identification information of a printing device to the printing device using a local area radio communication and receives the identification information from the printing device.

Abstract: A voucher data management system is provided. An image data generating section reads an original of a voucher to be copied and supplied to a user and generates voucher image data. A database stores the voucher image data. An access code generating section generates an access code for accessing the voucher image data stored in the database. An access code outputting section outputs the access code to the user. An image data outputting section reads out the voucher image data corresponding to the access code from the database in a case where the image data outputting section is accessed from the external terminal based on the access code, determines an attribute of the user who operates the external terminal, determines a range of the voucher image data to be output to the external terminal based on the determined attribute, and outputs the determined range of the voucher image data.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a composition as well as a set of compositions and method for producing cellular or foamed or blown fluoropolymers such as perfluoropolymers and other thermoplastics articles allowing for the creation of a lower cost communications cable, conductor separator, conductor support-separator, jacketing, tape, wire insulation and in some cases a conduit tube as individual components or combined configurations that exhibit improved electrical, flammability and optical properties. Specifically, the foamable or blown fluoropolymer such as a perfluoropolymer cellular insulation composition comprises; talc and the selected fluoropolymer such as perfluoropolymers. Compounded pellets or products resulting in cellular or foamable products using these pellets has also been realized by providing the melt combination in the pellets of only talc and a perfluoropolymer.