Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a wire based temperature sensing electrode for surgical procedures. A temperature sensing energy delivery device includes an elongated member having a groove formed in at least portion of the elongated member; and a first temperature sensor mechanically connected to the elongated member, the first temperature sensor including a first temperature sensor lead that is routed along the groove. The systems and methods provide advantages in that the wire based temperature sensing electrode for surgical procedures can simultaneously accommodate a temperature sensor and associated leads, exhibit sufficient strength without bulk, and be provided at lower cost.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for thermal processing of semiconductor wafers. The apparatus and method provide the temperature stability and uniformity of a conventional batch furnace as well as the processing speed and reduced time-at-temperature of a lamp-heated rapid thermal processor (RTP). Individual wafers are rapidly inserted into and withdrawn from a furnace cavity held at a nearly constant and isothermal temperature. The speeds of insertion and withdrawal are sufficiently large to limit thermal stresses and thereby reduce or prevent plastic deformation of the wafer as it enters and leaves the furnace. By processing the semiconductor wafer in a substantially isothermal cavity, the wafer temperature and spatial uniformity of the wafer temperature can be ensured by measuring and controlling only temperatures of the cavity walls.

Abstract: A kit is provided for testing a gas produced from a sample for an absolute amount of a hydrogen sulfide. The kit includes a vessel for receiving the sample to be tested. The vessel includes one or more gas flow passages through which gas within the vessel can leave the vessel. The kit also includes one or more testing tubes. Each testing tube includes a lumen through which gas can flow. The lumen includes a column of medium observable from outside the testing tube and has a length which changes in appearance in proportion to the amount of hydrogen sulfide which has passed through the testing tube. Graduations are included on the one or more testing tubes for indicating the length of the column of medium whose appearance has changed. The kit also includes a coupling mechanism for coupling the one or more testing tubes with the one or more gas flow passages such that gas leaving the vessel passes through the one or more testing tubes.

Abstract: A method is described for providing fault tolerance within a computer system. The method allows multiple network interface cards to reside within the same computer system. If a primary network interface card fails, a secondary network interface card automatically begins managing the network communications. In addition, a method of load-sharing data transmissions between each network interface card installed in a server computer is described.

Abstract: An optical system for a scanning probe microscope provides both an optical on-axis view and an optical oblique view of the sample by means of two optical paths each providing an image to a CCD camera via an auto-zoom lens. A shutter alternately blocks the image of either view from reaching the auto-zoom lens. The CCD camera provides the optical image to a video display which also displays the scanning probe image, thus eliminating the need for eyepieces and allowing easy viewing of both the optical and scanning probe images simultaneously.

Abstract: A method based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and oligonucleotide ligase assay (OLA) reaction is provided for analyzing complex genetic systems in a single reaction vessel. The method involves simultaneously incubating a sample containing one or more target polynucleotides with PCR primers and OLA probes in a single reaction mixture. The presence of variant polynucleotide sequences in the sample is determined by detecting and identifying the products of the OLA reaction.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods for deferred resolution of hypertext links. A web page or other network page may contain tags used to select links to other pages. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a network server evaluates tags selected by a user and may selectively defer following selected links. The deferred links may then be displayed and selectively followed by the user.Additional aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods for using cell based computational units to evaluate tags selected by a user and selectively defer the requested actions. In an exemplary embodiment, a thread of execution may be initiated on a server for each deferred action and then be suspended using multi-processing techniques. The threads may then be selectively reactivated to initiate the deferred actions.

Abstract: An apparatus that reduces a volume of a selected site in an interior of the tongue includes a handpiece and an energy delivery device at least partially positioned in the interior of the handpiece. The energy delivery device includes an energy delivery surface and is advanceable from the interior of the handpiece into the interior of the tongue. An energy delivery device advancement member is coupled to the energy delivery device and configured to advance the energy delivery device an advancement distance in the interior of the tongue. The advancement distance is sufficient for the energy delivery surface to deliver energy to the selected tissue site and reduce a volume of the selected site without damaging a main branch of the hypoglossal nerve. A cable is coupled to the energy delivery device.

Abstract: A transmit packet buffer device capable of asynchronous read and write functions is used for receiving frame data from a host and forwarding the data over a network. The device comprises dual-ported memory capable of independent write and read access, a plurality of registers for storing address pointers to locations in the memory, and a logic device coupled to the dual-ported memory and the plurality of registers for controlling downloading data into the memory at a first clock speed, and transmitting data from the memory at a second clock speed. The registers are used to store memory addresses for reference by the logic device, and the data is divided into frames.

Abstract: A position determining system takes the form of a cellular radio system including at least one base station having a base station satellite receiver (6) and a mobile unit including a cellular mobile station (50) coupled to a local satellite receiver (58). The base station transmits base station satellite data via a cellular radio link to the mobile unit, the data including data representing a carrier phase measurement derived from a satellite signal (70) received by the base station satellite receiver (6). The mobile unit determines its position relative to the base station using local satellite data received by the local satellite receiver (58) and corrects errors in this position determination using base station satellite data. The relative positions of the base stations are determined automatically with reference to an external positional reference which may be a satellite-based position determining system.

Abstract: New methods for synchronizing previously unsynchronized BTS's of time division multiple access cellular networks are disclosed. Timing information that is readily available throughout the network is used to determine for each BTS when information representing a particular event is transmitted relative to the timing information. The time differences that are detected are used for steering the clock of each BTS to have the next or some other subsequent event transmitted at the same time.

Abstract: A market making node in a network routes machine readable documents to connect businesses with customers, suppliers and trading partners. The self defining electronic documents, such as XML based documents, can be easily understood amongst the partners. Definitions of these electronic business documents, called business interface definitions, are posted on the Internet, or otherwise communicated to members of the network. The business interface definitions tell potential trading partners the services the company offers and the documents to use when communicating with such services. Thus, a typical business interface definition allows a customer to place an order by submitting a purchase order or a supplier checks availability by downloading an inventory status report.

Abstract: A stent in a non-expanded state has a first column expansion strut pair that includes a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut. A plurality of the first column expansion strut pair form a chevron shaped slot in a first expansion column. A second column expansion strut pair has a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut. A plurality of the second column expansion strut pair form a chevron shaped slot in a second expansion column. A plurality of first serial connecting struts form a first serial connecting strut column. The plurality of first serial connecting struts couple the first expansion column to the second expansion column. The first serial connecting strut ipsilaterally couples the second expansion strut of the first expansion column to the second expansion strut of the second expansion column.

Abstract: A detector assembly comprising: a first signal receiver for receiving position signals transmitted from a stylus of a transcription system; a second signal receiver for receiving the position signals transmitted from the stylus; and a member coupling the first and second signal receivers, the coupling member being capable of adopting two or more configurations where a distance between the first and second signal receivers changes in at least two of the configurations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an intravascular catheter system for crossing a severe or total arterial occlusion; particularly, a steerable intravascular catheter providing a working element and the optical guidance thereof in crossing an occlusion. Also disclosed is a method of crossing a severe or total arterial occlusion with a steerable catheter working element under optical guidance.

Abstract: An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus manipulates disc tissue at a selected location of an intervertebral disc. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis. The catheter has an intradiscal section at its distal end. The intradiscal section is extendible into the disc, has sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through the nucleus pulposus and around the annulus fibrosus of the disc under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal end, has sufficient flexibility in a direction of the disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall, and has insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force. A thermal energy delivery device is located in the intradiscal section for preferentially heating the selected location of the disc. The apparatus is used to locally and controllably heat but not char or burn tissue in a disc. Such heat shrinks the collagen component.

Abstract: A system for electronic commerce (10) having personal agents (12 and 13) that represent consumers and providers in a virtual marketplace (28). Consumer personal agents conceal the identity of the consumer and are capable of creating decision agents (14) that shop for products and assist consumers in comparing and ranking products. Provider personal agents are capable of creating demand agents (16) that quantify demand and target specific consumers without learning the identity of the consumers. Based on data generated by the activities of the decision agents and on preference data maintained by consumer personal agents, provider personal agents can quantify current, historical, and future demand, simulate demand, and target specific consumers for advertising and other messages. Provider personal agents can cooperate with consumer personal agents to collect data about reasons for sales and lost sales and to offer consideration payments to consumers.

Abstract: A method for tuning an adaptive equalizer in order to receive digital signals from a transmission medium both coarse and fine tuning methods to adaptively equalize a signal received from the transmission medium. The coarse tuning method adjusts an equalizer such that the post equalized signal starts to resemble a known data pattern, such as an MLT3 data pattern. The coarse tuning method monitors and corrects for several things: illegal transitions, over equalization, statistical data pattern anomalies and saturation conditions. Fine tuning methods operate concurrently with the coarse tuning methods and function from the point at which the coarse tuning methods stop being efficient. Additionally, the fine tuning methods hold the waveform locked in. In addition to coarse tuning and fine tuning of the equalizer, the present invention also adjusts gain of the overall signal such that the post equalized signal is always a certain amplitude.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing a hydrogen sensing element with a more robust exposed metallization by application of a discontinuous or porous overlay to hold the metallization firmly on the substrate.

Abstract: A circumferentially connected stent in a non-expanded state with a longitudinal axis, including a plurality of expansion struts forming a first expansion column, the first expansion column including a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a first joining strut. The first joining strut couples a distal end of the first expansion strut to a distal end of the second expansion strut, and the first expansion strut has a stepped distal portion and the second expansion strut has a stepped proximal portion. A plurality of expansion struts defines a second expansion column, and the second expansion column includes a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a first joining strut which couples a distal end of the first expansion strut to a distal end of the second expansion strut, and the first expansion strut has a stepped proximal portion and the second expansion strut haves a stepped distal portion.