Abstract: An apparatus and method for stimulating animal tissue (for example to trigger a nerve action potential (NAP) signal in a human patient) by application of both electrical and optical signals for treatment and diagnosis purposes. The application of an electrical signal before or simultaneously to the application of a NAP-triggering optical signal allows the use of a lower amount of optical power or energy than would otherwise be needed if an optical signal alone was used for the same purpose and effectiveness. The application of the electrical signal may precondition the nerve tissue such that a lower-power optical signal can be used to trigger the desired NAP, which otherwise would take a higher-power optical signal were the electric signal not applied. Some embodiments include an implanted nerve interface having a plurality of closely spaced electrodes placed transversely and/or longitudinally to the nerve and a plurality of optical emitters.

Abstract: A tether system for an underwater vehicle, including: a drum including a substantially cylindrical spooling segment, the spooling segment including: an axially aligned first portion with an outer circumference including a first opening; and a second portion at an axial end of the first portion and including a second opening. The system also includes a tether cable connected to the storage drum. The first and second openings form a portion of a passage from an exterior of the drum through the first portion to the outer circumference of the first portion. A tether cable for an underwater vehicle, including: a core including conductive wire or optical fiber and a buoyant jacket surrounding the core of conductive material. The buoyant jacket includes a plurality of first portions with a first outside diameter and a plurality of second portions having respective second outside diameters less than the first outside diameter.

Abstract: A seal assembly is provided for a joint between a first pipe segment and a second pipe segment. The seal assembly has at least one primary sealing member mounted on the first flange and at least one supplemental sealing member mounted on the first flange between the first pipe segment and the at least one primary sealing member. A first sealed containment area is formed between the at least one primary and at least one supplemental sealing members when the sealing members are compressed. A plurality of conduits are formed in the first flange. A first supply conduit is located between the at least one primary sealing member and the at least one supplemental sealing member and a return conduit is located so that the at least one primary sealing member is positioned between the supply conduit and the return conduit.

Abstract: A device and method for processing an image to create appearance and shape labeled images of a person or object captured within the image. The appearance and shape labeled images are unique properties of the person or object and can be used to re-identify the person or object in subsequent images. The appearance labeled image is an aggregate of pre-stored appearance labels that are assigned to image segments of the image based on calculated appearance attributes of each image segment. The shape labeled image is an aggregate of pre-stored shape labels that are assigned to image segments of the image based on calculated shape attributes of each image segment. An identifying descriptor of the person or object can be computed based on both the appearance labeled image and the shape labeled image. The descriptor can be compared with other descriptors of later captured images to re-identify a person or object.