Abstract: A clot and foreign body removal device is described which comprises a catheter with at least one lumen. Located within the catheter is a clot capture coil that is connected to an insertion mandrel. In one embodiment, the clot capture coil is made out of a solid elastic or superelastic material which has shape memory, preferably nitinol. The elasticity or superelasticity of the coil allows it to be deformed within the catheter and to then reform its original coil configuration when the coil is moved outside of the catheter lumen. In another embodiment the coil is a biphasic coil which changes shape upon heating or passing an electric current. Once the coil configuration has been established, the coil can be used to ensnare and corkscrew a clot in a vessel. A clot is extracted from the vessel by moving the clot capture coil and catheter proximally until the clot can be removed or released into a different vessel that does not perfuse a critical organ.

Abstract: A porous gas diffusion electrode for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The electrode contains an electrocatalyst, a polymer electrolyte and nanosized pores. The pores are formed using nanosized pore-formers. The pore-former is applied to a substrate along with a polymer electrolyte and an electrocatalyst and the resulting structure is treated to remove the pore-former.

Abstract: An apparatus for boiling a liquid includes an audible alarm for notifying an individual when the liquid is boiling. The audible alarm makes use of steam generated by the boiling liquid to drive a turbine which is connected to a means for ringing a bell to notify an individual that the liquid is boiling.

Abstract: The video-assisted remote control device disclosed comprises a remote control station and a station on board the machine to be remote controlled. The latter comprises a real-time mixing unit, a video and audio transmitter and a remote control receiver. The control station comprises several monitors, a video and audio receiver and a remote control transmitter. Application to the remote control of public works machines.

Abstract: A method and Internet system is provided that attempts to improve response times by automatically selecting for use a server (e.g., mirror server or alternative server) located relatively close to a requesting host. Alternatively, the method and Internet system can automatically select for use a server (e.g., alternative server) that is relatively appropriate for the requesting host. More specifically, the Internet system can operate to select the closest server or the most appropriate server from a plurality of servers providing the same service (e.g., mirror servers) or slightly adapted variants of the same service (e.g., alternative servers) each assigned a common host name and a unique Internet Protocol address. The Internet system includes a database (e.g., Domain Name System (DNS) server) for storing the common host name and the plurality of unique Internet Protocol addresses.

Abstract: A multiple integrated circuit chip structure provides interchip communication between integrated circuit chips of the structure with no ESD protection circuits and no input/output circuitry. The interchip communication is between internal circuits of the integrated circuit chips. The multiple integrated circuit chip structure has an interchip interface circuit to selectively connect internal circuits of the integrated circuits to test interface circuits having ESD protection circuits and input/output circuitry designed to communicate with external test systems during test and burn-in procedures. The multiple interconnected integrated circuit chip structure has a first integrated circuit chip mounted a second integrated circuit chip to physically and electrically connect the first integrated circuit chip to the second integrated circuit chip.

Abstract: A process of producing a propellant charge igniter for cartridge ammunition of the type including an ignition tube with a booster charge, wherein the ignition tube is composed of a sheathing tube (4) with ignition openings (3) and a thin-walled protective tube (6) which is arranged inside the sheathing tube (4) in order to protect the booster charge, and wherein the external wall of the protective tube fits against the internal wall of the sheathing tube (4) and covers the ignition openings (3). To avoid microscopic gaps between the sheathing tube and the protective tube, which gaps influence the performance of the propellant charge igniter, a paste-like sealing agent (5) is introduced into the sheathing tube (4) before the protective tube (6) is inserted into the sheathing tube (4), and only then is the protective tube (6) inserted into the sheathing tube (4) to displace the sealing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rivet setting device comprising a rivet setting means and a drive which actuates the rivet setting means, as well as a magazine-strip pulling means which comprises a roll in operative communication with the drive. According to the invention, in order to be able to operate rivet setting devices of such a type also in a pneumatic and/or hydraulic manner, the drive comprises a pneumatic and/or hydraulic linear drive including a piston-cylinder means and a gearing is provided for translating a linear movement of the piston-cylinder means into a rotational movement of the roll at least temporarily.

Abstract: A method for purification of acetone containing at least one oxidizable impurity. The method comprises the steps of: (a) contacting acetone containing at least one oxidizable impurity with a heterogeneous oxidation catalyst in the presence of oxygen for a time and at a temperature sufficient to oxidize at least a portion of at least one of the oxidizable impurities; and (b) substantially separating purified acetone from the resulting mixture obtained from step (a).

Abstract: A method includes providing a starting material having a Young's modulus (202). Second, from a plurality of possible modifiers, a modifier is identified and selected that has a Young's modulus comparable to or greater than that of the starting material and that, when blended with the starting material, creates a blend with a stable morphology (204). Third, the scratch resistance of the starting material is increased by blending the modifier with the starting material to form a blend (206). Alternatively, the scratch resistance of the starting material is maintained while the toughness of the starting material is increased by blending the modifier with the starting material to form a blend.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a disposable glove 1 comprising first and second juxtaposed shaped film of heat resistant plastics material, said films being sealed together around their peripheries 2 except in the vicinity of an opening 3 dimensioned and located to accommodate insertion and withdrawal of a hand. The heat resistant plastics material may be a polyamide. The glove is shaped so as to facilitate donning and removal, the finger compartments, e.g. 4, 5 accommodating only an upper part of each finger.

Abstract: A method for producing a conjugate vaccine includes mixing a uronium salt reagent with a first moiety (e.g., a polysaccharide). According to the invention, the uronium salt reagent has a chemical structure corresponding to formula I: wherein R1 is defined as wherein R6 represents the carbon, hydrogen, and optionally one or more heteroatoms which, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, constitute a 5 to 10 membered heterocyclic ring, which may be substituted or unsubstituted. R2, R3, R4, and R5, each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkynyl having 2 to 6 carbon atoms. Alternatively, R2 and R3, when taken together, can represent the carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, or oxygen atoms necessary to complete a 5 to 7 membered heterocyclic ring with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes: locating the substrate and a first connector between a bonding head and an optical radiation detector, the substrate having an optical radiation conductive zone and a second connector that is at least partially coincident with the optical radiation conductive zone; and bonding the first connector to the second connector so as to form an electronic connection between the first connector and the second connector, wherein bonding includes moving the bonding head away from both the first connector and the second connector after a time period that is at least in part a function of a temperature that is measured by the optical radiation detector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing sparseness in a coded speech signal. Sparse codebook values are generated from a codebook. An anti-sparseness operation is performed on the sparse codebook values to produce output codebook values having a greater density of non-zero values than the sparse codebook values. The output codebook values are processed by a speech processor to generate an encoded speech signal during an encoding operation or a decoded speech signal during a decoding operation.

Abstract: A directional control system for a vehicle includes a driver input device operable to receive a driver input corresponding to a desired lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller in communication with the driver input device, the controller being operable to generate a control signal in response to comparing the received desired lateral acceleration and an actual lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The system further includes an actuator in communication with the controller, the actuator being operable to effect a change in the direction of travel of the vehicle in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) in a radio telecommunications network. The CTN indicates that a call transfer feature is activated, and is displayed on the MS display until the call transfer feature is deactivated or the MS is turned off. The network includes a serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC) which serves the MS, and a Home Location Register (HLR) which stores a subscriber profile associated with the MS. The method begins by storing in the subscriber profile, a CTN Active parameter that indicates whether or not the CTN should be sent to the MS whenever the MS is powered up. A CTN Type parameter is also stored in the subscriber profile and indicates which type of call transfer feature is activated. When the HLR is notified that the MS has been powered up, the CTN Active parameter is checked in the subscriber profile to determine whether the CTN should be sent to the MS.

Abstract: A catheter shaft is disclosed utilizing perfluoroalkoxy polytetrafluoroethylene (PFA) as a lubricious inner lumen for which to aid the advancement of additional medical devices. PFA possesses adequate lubricity while requiring no special fabricating techniques. Thus, PFA may be processed by conventional melt-extrusion techniques, as well as by injection, compression, rotational transfer, and blow molding processes; optimizing the manufacturability of the lubricious inner lumen. Additionally, the catheter shaft includes portions of the outer tubular member modified through an ablation process. The ablation process selectively removes extruded polymeric material around and between the contours of a braided support layer. In one illustrative embodiment, a portion of the outer layer of the catheter is removed by laser ablation and then refilled by polymeric inserts having various flexibility characteristics.

Abstract: A grain wagon includes a wheel supported frame on which is mounted a hopper or container for receiving grain, and the wagon is pulled by a tow vehicle or tractor. An inclined discharge conveyor or auger has a folding outer section which projects upwardly and forwardly and laterally outwardly from the container. The auger has a pivotal discharge spout and a pivotal internal baffle, and the spout is actuated by a double acting hydraulic cylinder controllable through hydraulic lines from the cab of the tractor so that the tractor operator may fully load and “top off” the grain within an adjacent semi-trailer as the tractor operator pulls the wagon along the length of the semi-trailer.

Abstract: A system and method of providing Internet access to a roaming mobile subscriber located in a visited service area served by a serving MSC of a radio telecommunications network. The radio telecommunications network includes a home service node which comprises a Home Location Register (HLR) and a Service Control Point (SCP). The home service node stores a subscriber service category associated with the mobile subscriber for identifying an Internet Service Provider preferred by the mobile subscriber. An ISP database associated with the identified ISP is coupled to the home service node. When the roaming mobile subscriber initiates an Internet access service while located in the visited service area, the serving MSC sends a message to the home service node in response thereto.