Abstract: A medical training apparatus comprises a frame defining a work space simulating a body cavity and having an access opening to allow introduction of a medical instrument to the working space from externally of the working space. A sensor platform is rotationally mounted in the working space for rotating the platform to select angular positions for performing a series of simulated medical procedures. A plurality of modules are mounted around a perimeter of the platform. Each module comprises a different model upon which an associated medical procedure can be performed with a medical instrument. A plurality of sensors are each operatively associated with one of the modules for sensing progress of the associated medical procedure. A control unit is coupled to the sensors for monitoring progress of the medical procedures and providing an indication of status of the medical procedures.
Abstract: An apparatus is provided for optically inspecting containers of liquid solutions. The apparatus includes a fixture for gripping the container and a conveyor or indexable table for moving the fixtured container into alignment with a camera or other optical inspection device. The apparatus further includes a vibrator at the inspection station. The vibrator causes the container of the liquid solution to vibrate sufficiently for extraneous material in the solution to move into a position that permits accurate visual inspection.
Abstract: A process of producing organic compounds, such as acetaminophen, nitroalcohols and indoles, employs a catalyst system of an oxyethylene ether and a metal containing inorganic or organic reagent. The oxyethylene ether at least partially complexes the metal of the inorganic or organic reagent. As such, the reactions may be conducted neat. The processes are environmentally friendly and operationally simple.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 19, 2003
Publication date:
July 15, 2004
Applicant:
The Texas A&M University System
Inventors:
Apurba Bhattacharya, Gaurang L. Parmar, Vikram C. Purohit, Nitin C. Patel
Abstract: A system and method of paging mobile stations in a cellular telecommunications network that reduces signaling traffic by reducing the number of page messages sent from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) to Base Stations (BSs) in the network. The MSC sends a single Internet Protocol (IP) broadcast page message over an IP network to which the BSs are connected. User Datagram Protocol (UDP) ports in each BSs are dedicated to listening for IP broadcast page messages directed to a given BS's associated location area, location area group, or the network service area.
Abstract: A flip-chip packaging method for a semiconductor device treats a portion of an interconnect substrate so that a fill material when liquid beads on the treated portion of the interconnect substrate. When the fill material is dispensed on the interconnect substrate to fill a gap under the semiconductor device, the beading of the fill material prevents formation of fillets that might otherwise create a variation in the thermal coefficient of expansion of fill material and/or warp the interconnect substrate. The treated portion of the interconnect substrate can be roughened or coated with a material that differs from other portions of the interconnect substrate and thereby causes beading.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 11, 2001
Date of Patent:
July 13, 2004
Assignees:
Celerity Research Pte. Ltd., ASE Electronics (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Abstract: A new fluid system additive is provided that serves to disperse and maintain fluid system solids in a stabilized condition and also “toughen” the filter cake. Fluid systems containing this additive also tolerate calcium contamination better than existing additives, and in laboratory tests simulating well conditions, the treated fluid systems demonstrate good fluid properties at high temperatures (e.g. 250° F.) in contrast to similar fluid systems treated with conventional, more costly additives.
Abstract: A hand stamp includes a first marking structure having a front surface adapted to print a first ink onto an object, a rear surface and peripheral edges extending between the front and rear surfaces. The hand stamp includes a second marking structure having a front surface adapted to print a second ink onto an object, a rear surface and peripheral edges extending between the front and rear surfaces of the second marking structure. The first and second marking structures are assembled together so that at least one of the edges of the first marking structure opposes at least one of the edges of the second marking structure, whereby at least one of the opposing edges has a non-porous surface for preventing migration of the first ink of the first marking structure with the second ink of the second marking structure.
Abstract: A system and method for enabling flash memory systems to support flash devices with pages that are larger than operating system data sector sizes, while not violating the device's specifications, and also optimizing performance. According to the present invention, the writing logic of a flash memory system must take into account the PPP limitations and page size of the device during sector write operations. The PPP influences the decision when to simply write the new data, and when to allocate a new page and copy previously existing data to the new page. According to the present invention, when a page contains more than one sector, the software makes the standard translation into physical address, but after finding the address, it examines the page containing that address, and counts the number of other sectors within the same page already containing data.
Abstract: A tubular body or mandrel incorporated into a string of tubular pipe, on which first and second swab cups and first and second metal brushes and a casing scraper are mounted, is run into a cased earth borehole to displace a first fluid in the borehole, usually a drilling fluid, with a second fluid, usually either a completion fluid or a workover fluid. In a first embodiment, reverse circulation, in which the second fluid is pumped into the borehole annulus above the swab cups and/or the metal brushes, and in which the first fluid is thereby pumped back towards the earth's surface through the interior of the string of tubular pipe, causes displacement of the first fluid merely by lowering the string of pipe while pumping the second fluid into the borehole annulus.
Abstract: A missile includes a missile body and a guide assembly mounted on the missile body. The guide assembly has a plurality of pivots and a plurality of vanes mounted on respective pivots for a swinging motion between a folded position of rest and a deployed flight position. The vanes are arranged for free pivotal motion during flight in response to forces acting thereon to determine the flight position. In the folded position of each vane, its center of gravity is situated at a greater distance from the longitudinal axis of the missile body than the pivotal axis of the respective vanes. Abutments limit the flight position of the vanes to a maximum angle between the length dimension of the vanes and the longitudinal axis of the missile body. The maximum angle is greater than 90°.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 23, 2002
Date of Patent:
July 6, 2004
Assignee:
Rheinmetall W & M GmbH
Inventors:
Torsten Niemeyer, Manfred Dieter Schwies, Uwe Naderhoff, Thomas Heitman, Michael Imdahl, Rudolf Rombach
Abstract: A method and apparatus for link quality estimation of a potential TDMA-based wireless communication link between a mobile station (10) and a target base station (16a). The mobile station (10) receives a signal on a channel frequency of the target base station (16a c) for measuring a link quality and identifying the target base station (16a c) simultaneously based on the same received signal. The mobile station (10) qualifies the measurement if the target base station (16a e) was identified properly. If not, the measurement is discarded. Measurements can then be tied to specific base stations more reliably, and are at the same time up to date when reported. This provides for secure connections and enables a tighter frequency reuse for enhancing the overall traffic capacity in the network.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 23, 2003
Publication date:
July 1, 2004
Applicant:
Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson
Inventors:
Peter Schramm, Stephen G. Craig, Mikael Hook
Abstract: A wellbore fluid having an oleaginous phase and an additive for increasing the density of the wellbore fluid. The additive comprises solid colloidal particles coated with a dispersant coated onto the colloidal particle during the comminution process of forming the particles. Exemplary starting materials for the colloidal particles include commonly known weighting agents including barite, calcium carbonate, dolomite, ilmenite, hematite or other iron ores, olivine, siderite, and strontium sulfate as well as mixture and combinations of these and other similar weighting materials. The dispersant in one illustrative embodiment, is selected from carboxylic acids of molecular weight of at least 150 Daltons.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 30, 2003
Publication date:
July 1, 2004
Applicant:
M-I LLC
Inventors:
Andrew J. Bradbury, Jarrod Massam, Christopher A. Sawdon
Abstract: A radio receiver and method is provided that effectively compensates for an undesirable DC offset in a digital section of the radio receiver by preloading a filter with an average DC offset before filtering a signal within the filter. More specifically, the radio receiver includes an antenna for receiving a radio signal, and an analog section for demodulating the received radio signal into at least one baseband signal. The radio receiver also includes an analog-to-digital section for converting the at least one baseband signal into at least one digital baseband signal. The radio receiver further includes a preloading system for calculating an average DC offset using a predetermined number of symbols from the at least one digital baseband signal and for preloading a filter with the calculated average DC offset prior to filtering the at least one digital baseband signal in the filter.
Abstract: A process for preparing a protein-polysaccharide conjugate includes reacting a protein with a polysaccharide to produce a mixture including a protein-polysaccharide conjugate and free protein. At least one unreacted reagent or low molecular weight component is removed from this mixture, without removing all of the free protein, to provide a purified mixture that contains the protein-polysaccharide conjugate and free protein. This purified mixture can be used as a conjugate vaccine, immunogen, or immunological reagent. Keeping the free protein in the purified mixture with the conjugate saves time and money in the conjugate production process. In another aspect of the invention, the purified mixture of the protein-polysaccharide conjugate and free protein is reacted with a hapten to produce a conjugate mixture including a hapten-protein conjugate and a hapten-protein-polysaccharide conjugate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 13, 2000
Date of Patent:
June 29, 2004
Assignee:
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military
Medicine
Abstract: A data storage device that can be reversibly associated with one or more of a plurality of hosts. A “trusted” host on which the device is mounted is allowed access to a secure data area of the device automatically, without the user having to enter a password. Ways in which a host is designated as “trusted” include storing the host's ID in a trusted host list of the device, storing a representation of the host's ID that was encrypted using a trust key of the device in a cookie in the host, or storing a storage password of the device in a password list of the host. Alternatively, an untrusted host is allowed access to the secure data area if a user enters a correct user password.
Abstract: The present invention provides for a telephone caller response and option selection. An interface system provides to a telephone caller a visual representation of a hierarchy of one or more menus. A caller phone is employable to select at least one option from the visual representation of a hierarchy of menus provided by the telephone interface system. A caller computer is employable to receive the visual representation of a hierarchy of menus from the interface system. A caller monitor is employable to display the visual representation of a hierarchy of menus, thereby avoiding the more time consuming presentation of the hierarchy of menus in an oral fashion. The interface system is further employable to reconnect with a telephone caller at a later time if the telephone caller is to wait in a queue of the interface system longer than a specified time.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 14, 2003
Publication date:
June 24, 2004
Applicant:
J. M. Buzbee Family Limited Partnership
Abstract: The present invention provides for a telephone caller response and option selection. An interface system provides to a telephone caller a visual representation of a hierarchy of one or more menus. A caller phone is employable to select at least one option from the visual representation of a hierarchy of menus provided by the telephone interface system. A caller computer is employable to receive the visual representation of a hierarchy of menus from the interface system. A caller monitor is employable to display the visual representation of a hierarchy of menus, thereby avoiding the more time consuming presentation of the hierarchy of menus in an oral fashion.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 20, 2002
Publication date:
June 24, 2004
Applicant:
J. M. Buzbee Family Limited Partnership