Abstract: Formulations, kits and methods for bone or cartilage repair, including treatment of osteogenic defects, including formulations of synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs, non-ionic polymers, gelling agents and calcium-containing agents.

Abstract: Medical images are automatically segmented by customizing the morphological segmentation of features identified in the image based upon statistical analysis of the features within each region to be analyzed. The statistical description of the features, as reported through a feature vector, informs the system as to which input variables to select for further segmentation analysis for features residing within the region of the image analyzed. By customizing the automatic segmentation analysis to produce an enhanced image, features within the image are characterized more efficiently and precisely. False positive identification of lesions are minimized without sacrifice of true positive identifications.

Abstract: A powered or hand-activated stationary and/or portable hose fitting insertion apparatus and method. A hose is preferably held in place with a clamp, strap or other apparatus on a platform or in a trough and a fitting is caused to be inserted into an end of the hose by a force applied to the fitting from a pad.

Abstract: A lock and key mechanism comprising a sensor detecting friction between first and second nanostructured surfaces and a controller receiving output from the sensor and comparing same to stored values. Also a method for activating or deactivating a lock comprising providing a first nanostructured surface, causing a second nanostructured surface to frictionally interact with the first nanostructured surface, sensing the interaction with a sensor, the sensor producing an output signal, and via a controller comparing the sensor output signal to a reference signal.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) coil linear actuator is disclosed. The actuator includes a coil assembly and a magnet assembly. The coil assembly includes a plurality of PCB coils electrically connected in series. The PCB coils arranged in a row and adjacent PCB coils are separated by a gap. Each PCB coil includes a low aspect ratio, multi-layer coil member disposed on a board member. The actuator assembly includes a plurality of magnet units arranged in a row, wherein adjacent magnet units are separated by a gap. When the actuator is assembled, the PCB coils arranged in alternating sequence with the magnet units. The PCB coil linear actuator is intended to replace traditional slotted bobbin voice coil actuators (VCAs) and is particularly useful in fast steering mirror (FSM) applications. The PCB coil linear actuator provides many advantages over a VCA of an equivalent motor constant, including improved performance, lower weight and a lower profile.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the deposition of a source material (10) are disclosed. An atomizer (12) renders a supply of source material (10) into many discrete particles. A force applicator (14) propels the particles in continuous, parallel streams of discrete particles. A collimator (16) controls the direction of flight of the particles in the stream prior to their deposition on a substrate (18). In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the viscosity of the particles may be controlled to enable complex depositions of non-conformal or three-dimensional surfaces. The invention also includes a wide variety of substrate treatments which may occur before, during or after deposition. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a virtual or cascade impactor may be employed to remove selected particles from the deposition stream.

Abstract: A thin emitter wrap-through solar cell and method for making a thin emitter wrap-through solar cell. The cell preferably includes a silicon wafer substrate having a thickness of less than 280 microns. The p-type area on the back side of the cell is minimized, which maximizes the collector area and reduces or eliminates stress due to passivation of the p-type area, which is required for conventional solar cells. The efficiency of the cell of the present invention peaks for a much smaller thickness than that for conventional cells. Thus thin wafers of inexpensive, lower quality silicon may be used without a significant efficiency penalty, providing a large cost advantage over other solar cell configurations. Vias through the substrate, which connect emitter layers on the front and back surfaces of the substrate, may consist of holes which are doped, or alternatively may be solid doped channels formed by migration of a solvent, which preferably contains a dopant, caused by a gradient-driven process.

Abstract: A vertically folded probe is provided that can provide improved scrub performance in cases where the probe height is limited. More specifically, such a probe includes a base and a tip, and an arm extending from the base to the tip as a single continuous member. The probe arm is vertically folded, such that it includes three or more vertical arm portions. The vertical arm portions have substantial vertical overlap, and are laterally displaced from each other. When such a probe is vertically brought down onto a device under test, the probe deforms. During probe deformation, at least two of the vertical arm portions come into contact with each other. Such contact between the arm portions can advantageously increase the lateral scrub motion at the probe tip, and can also advantageously reduce the probe inductance.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing enhanced peripheral vision to a wearer of a helmet in accordance with the present invention includes at least one lens member adapted to be received at a predetermined location in the helmet. The lens member is operable to direct light from a side portion of the helmet to a location adjacent the eyes of a wearer of the helmet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing terrorism intelligence indications and warning consisting of multiple tasks that create warning products on a Website and in which the associated computer program maintains a Webpage that tracks and displays each analyst's pending tasks based on their assigned responsibilities in the system.

Abstract: Glasses, comprising a frame and a lens system for the correction of defective vision, which comprises at least one pair of lenses formed by a first lens and a second lens, which first and second lens, viewed in the path of vision, are disposed one behind the other and are mutually adjustable for realizing a desired degree of correction of vision, wherein the first lens is position-invariantly received in the frame, and the second lens can be moved longitudinally along the first lens.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for control of an alternating current appliance comprising locating in either an appliance plug or a plug-in module programmable control means and providing a plurality of electrical connections between the programmable control means and programming means.

Abstract: A vibratory plow for installing a conduit below a ground surface. A portable vibrating compactor and a series of rollers provide a “seamless” finish to the ground.

Abstract: An optical spectroscopy apparatus and method for measurement of species concentration, number density, or column density comprising emitting light from a laser light source, receiving light via a fixed length optical path from the source and containing a species to be detected, receiving light via a detector at an end of the path, determining one or more of species concentration, number density, and column density via signal processing electronics connected to the detector, and switching between a plurality of operational modes measuring a same absorption feature of the species depending on measured absorbance.

Abstract: A device and method for mass producing reflection holograms. Photosensitive material is drawn across an object to be copied and coherent radiation is scanned across the material and the object. The object may comprise a component which is variable, such as a counter, or a hologram. The exposed photosensitive material is removed from the object, the symbols on the object are changed if desired, fresh material is moved into place, and a new hologram is created. The holograms of the present invention preferably have the capability to be sequentially or individually numbered or otherwise customized with a variety of symbols, for example for security purposes.

Abstract: A method of filtering a fluid wherein after filtering a contaminated fluid, which causes the formation of a filter cake, a substantially non-contaminated fluid is fed through the filter cake and filter at varying flux or at varying driving force. At the same time the necessary driving force or the obtained flux, respectively, are measured. The measured value and the respective value setting are compared with at least one standard set of data and on the basis of this comparison the fouling status of the fluid to be filtered, the filter and the filter cake is determined. The method makes it possible to accurately determine characteristics of a fluid to be filtered. This may be realized by simply varying the flux and measuring the driving force at different flux values, or vice versa.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus for, computers software for, and method of providing personalized search capabilities of hypertext transmission protocol pages comprising: providing an index server maintaining an index to hypertext transmission protocol pages and employing a hierarchical plurality of topic categories; permitting a user to specify any subset of the plurality of topic categories; and adding to a hypertext transmission protocol page controlled by the user link information permitting execution of searches of the index server in any category of the subset but only of categories in the subset.