Abstract: Disclosed are improved polymer materials. Also disclosed are fine fiber materials that can be made from the improved polymeric materials in the form of microfiber and nanofiber structures. The microfiber and nanofiber structures can be used in a variety of useful applications including the formation of filter materials.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing cardiac performance through cardiac vibration monitoring is described. Cardiac vibration measures are directly collected through an implantable medical device. Cardiac events including at least one first heart sound reflected by the cardiac vibration measures are identified. The first heart sound is correlated to cardiac dimensional measures relative to performance of an intrathoracic pressure maneuver. The cardiac dimensional measures are grouped into at least one measures set corresponding to a temporal phase of the intrathoracic pressure maneuver. The at least one cardiac dimensional measures set is evaluated against a cardiac dimensional trend for the corresponding intrathoracic pressure maneuver temporal phase to represent cardiac performance.

Abstract: A filter element having multiple formed layers of filtration media is disclosed. The media are layered so as to form a pore size gradient. The filter element is capable of removing both solid and liquid particulates from a moving fluid stream. The filter element has high strength and compressibility. The layers can be supported on a porous or perforate support to provide mechanical stability during filtering operations. The filtration media layers can be formed into various filter element forms such as panels, cartridges, inserts, and the like.

Abstract: In the filtration of fluid materials, the removal of particulate from the moving stream requires substantial pressure to maintain flow and substantial capacity for removing particulate. The filters of the invention are rugged, high wet strength materials having a basis weight, permeability and efficiency suitable to obtain substantial reduction in particulate loading from liquid streams without plugging or mechanical failure. In particular, the filters of the invention permit the removal of substantial proportions of particulate from non-aqueous streams including lubricant oils, hydraulic fluids and other contaminated streams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for selectively removing contaminants from a crude product mixture. In an embodiment the invention includes a method for removing organic acids from a crude product mixture including contacting the crude product mixture with a metal oxide substrate, wherein free organic acids in the crude product mixture bind to the metal oxide substrate, thereby removing free organic acids and forming a refined product mixture; separating the refined product mixture from the metal oxide substrate; and removing the organic acids bound to the metal oxide substrate by contacting the metal oxide substrate with an alkyl ester composition at a temperature of greater than about 100 degrees Celsius. Other embodiments are also described herein.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention includes a measurement system for measuring induced currents within an implantable medical device undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. The measurement system can include a resistor connected in series with a conductive loop and electronic circuitry configured to generate a signal representative of a voltage differential across the resistor. In some embodiments, the measurement system includes a fiber optic cable configured to transmit the signal away from the area subject to magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, the measurement system includes a transmitter to wirelessly transmit the signal away from the area subject to magnetic resonance imaging. In an embodiment, the invention can include an implantable medical device including a measurement system for measuring induced currents. In an embodiment, the invention can include a method of measuring an induced current in an implantable medical device undergoing magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: A system and method for providing synergistic alert condition processing in an automated patient management system is presented. An alert condition is classified along a continuum that includes adverse outcome potential versus medical intervention impact potential. The alert condition is managed by assigning a disposition based on relative placement of the alert condition along the continuum. An alert notification is communicated over a selectable mode of communications and is conditioned upon the assigned disposition being actionable.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an interconnectable circuit board may include one or more of the following features: (a) a first electrically conductive pad located on a top of the circuit board, (b) a plated through hole on the conductive pad which passes through the circuit board, (c) a second electrically conductive pad coupled to the plated through hole; the second conductive pad capable of being electrically connected to a third electrically conductive pad attached to a top of a second interconnectable circuit board, (d) cut marks indicating safe locations for separating the circuit board, and (e) a second cut mark adjacent to the first cut mark where the area between the first and second cut mark can be utilized to make a safe cut through the circuit board.

Abstract: A dual constituent container includes a compartment for liquids and an elongate inwardly directed recess open to the container exterior and isolated from the compartment. The container is formed by blow molding, using a mold that incorporates a shaping feature projected longitudinally into the mold cavity. The shaping feature incorporates an arrangement of longitudinal channels having a channel width such that when a thermoplastic preform is expanded into contact with the mold cavity walls and the shaping feature, portions of the expanded preform span the channels and cooperate with the channels to provide passages that accommodate pressurized air to facilitate separation of the expanded preform from the shaping feature. The same portions of the expanded preform can partially protrude into the channels, thus to form longitudinal ribs along the recess which aid in frictionally holding a secondary constituent.

Abstract: A system and method for providing closely-followed cardiac therapy management through automated patient care is presented. A patient under remote care is enrolled in a monitoring program following commencement of a cardiac therapy regimen to be undertaken by the patient. A wearable monitor, including one or more patient physiology sensors and a wireless interface providing enabling bi-directional data exchange, is provided to the patient. Patient physiometry, including quantitative physiological measures, is periodically collected from the wearable monitor over the wireless interface concomitant to performance of the cardiac therapy regimen. The patient physiometry is evaluated to determine a trend indicating an onset, progression, regression, absence of, and status quo of patient health status.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are related to oxidative opening switches and related methods, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes a switch assembly including a first terminal, a second terminal, and an oxidative switch element in electrical communication with the first terminal and the second terminal, the switch element comprising a conductive material and an oxidizer, the switch element configured to interrupt electrical communication between the first terminal and the second terminal as a result of an oxidation reaction between the conductive material and the oxidizer. In an embodiment, the invention includes a fast opening switch for pulse power applications. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent layer that can act as an moisture sensitive fuel shut-off valve, absorbent, adsorbent or reactant. The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent fabric or layer made of a superabsorbent particle or fiber. The web can comprise a nanofiber layer having dispersed within the nanofiber layer a super absorbent particulate and optionally a second particulate material that can act as an absorbent, adsorbent or reactant. Fluid, gas or liquid, that flows through or by the assemblies of the invention can have any gas, liquid or solid material dispersed or dissolved in the fluid interact with the super absorbent particulate. If needed these materials can also react with, be absorbed by, or adsorbed onto, the active particulate within the nanofiber layer.

Abstract: A method for automatically washing eggs by (a) dispensing a detergent-wetting agent mixture having a detergent concentration onto the eggs; (b) determining if the detergent concentration is at least a pre-set minimum, and going to step (a) if it is; (c) activating a detergent pump pumping at a rate; (d) activating a wetting-agent pump at 1/Nth the rate of the detergent pump, to form the detergent-wetting agent mixture; (e) determining if a pre-set interval has expired, and going to step (b) if it has not; otherwise (f) stopping the detergent pump and the wetting agent pump.

Abstract: In the filtration of fluid materials, the removal of particulate from the moving stream requires substantial pressure to maintain flow and substantial capacity for removing particulate. The filters of the invention are rugged, high wet strength materials having a basis weight, permeability and efficiency suitable to obtain substantial reduction in particulate loading from liquid streams without plugging or mechanical failure. In particular, the filters of the invention permit the removal of substantial proportions of particulate from non-aqueous streams including lubricant oils, hydraulic fluids and other contaminated streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a web or filter structure such as the filtration media comprising a collection of fiber comprising a first polymer and a second polymer in a fine fiber or fine fiber web structure. The combination of two polymers provides improved fiber rheology in that the fiber has excellent temperature and mechanical stability. The combination of polymers imparts the properties of elasticity or tackiness, which is desirable for adhering particles to the fiber web, with high temperature resistance.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a circuit board interconnect may include one or more of the following features: (a) a first circuit board having a plated through hole within a metal pad on the circuit board, the through hole providing a passage for solder to connect the first circuit board to a second circuit board, (b) a second circuit board having a metal pad able to couple to the first circuit board in an overlapping fashion when solder is passed through the plated through hole, and (c) a non-conductive solder repelling material on a surface of one circuit board.

Abstract: A system and method for providing diagnosis and monitoring of congestive heart failure for use in automated patient care is described. At least one recorded physiological measure is compared to at least one other recorded physiological measure on a substantially regular basis to quantify a change in patient pathophysiological status for equivalent patient information. An absence, an onset, a progression, a regression, and a status quo of congestive heart failure is evaluated dependent upon the change in patient pathophysiological status.

Abstract: An ambulatory repeater for use in automated patient care is presented. A local memory store includes a cryptographic key, sensitive information, and physiological measures. The cryptographic key is uniquely assigned to the implantable medical device prior to implant of the implantable medical device into a patient. The sensitive information is preencrypted under the cryptographic key and physiological measures are measured by the implantable medical device. An authentication module is in receipt of the cryptographic key. A permissions module confirms authorization of an external data processing device against the cryptographic key. A decryption module decrypts the sensitive information with the cryptographic key into decrypted information. A processor is operatively coupled to the local memory store. A communications module exchanges the decrypted information and the physiological measures with the external data processing device over a wireless interface contingent upon the authorization confirmation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ink receptive film and methods of using the ink receptive film. The ink receptive film is generally suitable for etching patterns into substrates, and typically includes a photosensitive laminate structure containing at least an ink receptive, radiation transmissive layer; and at least one photosensitive resist layer.