Abstract: The present invention provides methods for reducing pain in a subject in need of such pain reduction by delivering, e.g., intrathecally or epidurally, a volatile anesthetic such as a halogenated ether compound in an amount effective to reduce pain. Chronic or acute pain may be treated, or the anesthetic may be delivered to the subject to anesthetize the subject prior to a surgery. In certain embodiments, isoflurane, halothane, enflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, methoxyflurane, xenon, and mixtures thereof may be used. Dosing regimens including a one-time administration, continuous and/or periodic administration are contemplated.

Abstract: A shield cover (1) made of metal is configured to be attached to a device and includes a cover body (10) configured to cover a shield target. Two planar attachment plates (11, 13) protrude from the cover body (10). Bolt insertion holes (11A, 13A) extend through the respective attachment plates (11, 13) in a thickness direction thereof and receive bolts (30) for attaching the shield cover (1) to the device. The attachment plates (11, 13) are configured to be attached to the device with brackets (20) sandwiched between the device and the attachment plates (11, 13). A rib (12) extends up along an edge of at least one of the attachment plates (11, 13) to reinforce a portion of the attachment plate (11, 13) that will not be sandwiched between the bolt (30) and the bracket (20).

Abstract: A flat cable 10 according to the invention has a plurality of arrayed conductors 11; and an insulating layer 12 covering the periphery of the conductors 11 with a coating film, in which the insulating layer 12 includes a plurality of layers, the outermost layer 13 of the insulating layer 12 and the innermost layer 14 contacting the conductors are both formed from polyphenylene sulfide-based resins, and the melting point of the polyphenylene sulfide-based resin constituting the innermost layer 14 is lower by 5° C. or more than the melting point of the polyphenylene sulfide-based resin constituting the outermost layer 13.

Abstract: A system for establishing a mesh network can include one or more computing platforms that initiates execution of a software application for each of a plurality of nodes. Each of the plurality of nodes establishes, by a respective node of the plurality of nodes, a communication link in a mesh network with another node of the plurality of nodes in response to a multicast identification message from the other node. Additionally, each of the plurality of node records, in a token register, a given indication of each node in the plurality of nodes for which a communication link is established and another indication of each node of the plurality of nodes that is identified in one or more multicast identification messages with which a communication link is not established. Further, each of the plurality of nodes broadcasts multicast identification messages on the mesh network.

Abstract: In the case of a OXC device having a route & select-type configuration of the conventional technique, when the port number is 20, then the entire device requires 120 WSSs having a 1×9 configuration. In the case of a route & select-type OXC device having ports more than 20 ports, a large amount of expensive WSSs is required. Thus, such a device is impractical from the viewpoint of cost. Thus, the expansion depending on an increase of traffic at nodes was impossible, flexible scalability could not be provided, and a reasonable network operation from the viewpoint of economy was difficult. According to the OXC device of this disclosure, regardless of the input port number and the output port number of the device, WSSs having a smaller scale than the conventional technique are used and the WSSs are internally-connected from a viewpoint different from that of the conventional technique, thus providing the device having a significantly-reduced cost.

Abstract: Ureteral or bladder catheters are provided, including (a) a proximal portion; and (b) a distal portion, the distal portion including a retention portion that includes one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations and is configured to establish an outer periphery or protective surface area that inhibits mucosal tissue from occluding the one or more protected drainage holes, ports or perforations upon application of negative pressure through the catheter. Systems, kits and methods for inducing negative pressure to increase renal function also are provided.

Abstract: The versatility of a slotter device, a sheet slicing method and a carton former is improved by providing first slotter heads and first lower blades, first slotter knives and second slotter knives mounted on the circumferences of the first slotter heads, second slotter heads and second lower blades, third slotter knives and fourth slotter knives mounted on the circumferences of the second slotter heads, third slotter heads and third lower blades, and fifth slotter knives and sixth slotter knives mounted on the circumferences of the third slotter heads, to process cuts of differing lengths.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, compositions, and devices for occluding cavities or passageways in a patient, in particular cavities or passageways in the cardiovascular system of a patient, such as the LAA of a patient's heart. The methods, compositions, and devices can be used to percutaneously occlude the LAA, decreasing the risk of thromboembolic events associated with AF.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for treating irrigation water by introducing a propagating electromagnetic field into the irrigation water as it flows through an irrigation system. The treatments described herein may have a variety of beneficial effects on the water, including a significant increase in the percentage of the water that is maintained in the root zone of a given crop as plant-available water and the essential mineral, e.g. calcium and/or magnesium, uptake of that crop.

Abstract: A kit for plantar plate repair may include implants and instruments specific to the procedure, such as an implant assembly, a needle assembly, a distractor, a needle driver, and k-wires. Methods of assembling the items of the kit and methods of plantar plate repair are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device capable of reducing the resistance and increasing the ion exchange rate in an electrodialysis, electro-deionization, or capacitive deionization apparatus and a method for producing said device. More specifically, the device is an electrodialysis spacer designed to have an ionically conductive surface of either cationic nature, anionic nature or a combination of both, which act as conductive pathways for ions as they move towards their respective electrode. The method of producing said spacer involves coating a substrate, such as a woven mesh, expanded netting, extruded netting or non-woven material, with perm-selective ionomer solutions and applying that substrate to an inert spacer material that has undergone chemical or mechanical etching.

Abstract: A 3D printing estimation apparatus includes a database storing 3D model data indicating a printing part and usage amount information of each material in one spraying process, a printing data generating part for generating 3D data of a printing object including the printing part and a support, an area splitting part for splitting the 3D data into at least one area, a material determining part for determining a type and a printing pattern of each material constituting each of the at least one area, and a material usage amount estimating part for determining a number of times each material is sprayed on the at least one area based on the determined type and the printing pattern of each material, and estimating a usage amount of each material to be printed the printing object based on the determined number of times and the usage amount information.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing an electronic design having embedded circuits. These techniques identify connectivity of an electronic design that includes an embedded circuit, and the embedded circuit is located between a first actual layer and a second actual layer of the electronic design. The electronic design is then transformed, but one or more embedded circuit modules, into a transformed electronic design at least by generating one or more artificial interconnects between the embedded circuit and a plurality of metal patches. The connectivity may be re-established based at least in part upon the plurality of metal patches. The electronic design may then be implemented based at least in part upon predicted behaviors of the transformed electronic design.

Abstract: Uplink leveling systems and methods for a distribution antenna are provided. An uplink leveling system includes at least one communication path between a base station point of interface and a remote antenna unit. A broadband measurement detector is communicatively coupled to measure signal power in the at least one communication path at the base station point of interface. A signal measurement receiver is communicatively coupled to measure signal power in the at least one communication path. A test signal generator is configured to generate a test signal in the at least one communication path in an uplink. At least one controller is configured to level the communication path in the uplink direction based at least in part on measurements by the broadband measurement detector and the signal measurement receiver in response to the generated test signal by the test signal generator.

Abstract: A hydrostatic drive, as a whole system, includes two fluidic displacement units (1, 3), which can be adjusted at least in respect of the volumetric flow. One unit is coupled to an input (9). The other unit is coupled to an output (11). The units can be connected to each other in the manner of a closed fluidic circuit, to which a storage circuit (23) is connected. The storage circuit has at least one storage device (33), is divided into a low-pressure side (27) and a high-pressure side (25), and has a valve control (17) for controlling the whole system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electric driving device in which: two positive-electrode-side power lines (32, 33) are arranged from an outer peripheral side to an inner side of a mounting substrate (19); power conversion circuits (36, 37; 44, 45; 46, 47) are arranged on both sides of the mounting substrate, with respect to the positive-electrode-side power lines, to perform drive control of an electric motor; and output terminals (52, 53) are arranged on the mounting substrate at a location outward of the power conversion circuit so as to establish a connection to the electric motor. As the power conversion circuits are disposed from the center to the periphery of the mounting substrate, it is possible to decrease the wiring length and circuit mounting area of the mounting substrate (19) and suppress a radial size increase of the mounting substrate on which the redundant power conversion circuits are mounted.

Abstract: A convertible carrier includes first and second carrier units (101A, 101B). The first carrier unit includes a first side panel (114A) and a first medial panel (110A) disposed opposed to the first side panel. The second carrier unit includes a second side panel (114B) and a second medial panel (110B) disposed opposed to the second side panel. The first and second medial panels are in a face-contacting arrangement to form a medial wall disposed between the first and second side panels. The first and second medial panels are retained in the face-contacting arrangement by at least one hinged connection (149, 161) between the first and second medial panels and by at least one removable joint. The removable joint is formed in part from part (162A) of the first medial panel and in part (162B) from part of the second medial panel.

Abstract: An overfill-prevention valve system includes a testing mechanism, operable by a user from the inlet end of the drop tube, which can be used to verify proper valve function without actually filling the storage tank. The testing mechanism allows the user to actuate the valve manually using a test probe, such as by elevating a float to simulate a full storage tank. The testing mechanism may be located upstream of the valve to facilitate the testing operation without interfering with the valve body. The mechanism may further provide non-contact functionality, such as with magnetic actuators on either side of the drop tube wall, to eliminate a potential test mechanism leak points. The test probe used to actuate the test mechanism may be shaped to define a desired rotational position at the test location within the drop tube, ensuring proper rotational alignment of the magnetic actuators.

Abstract: A heat sink allowing a reduced thickness of an electronic device includes a housing, a wick structure, and a heat transfer fluid. The housing, comprising an upper housing and a lower housing, are opposite and form a sealed cavity. The wick structure and the heat transfer fluid are received in the cavity, the liquid absorbing heat and becoming gaseous upon reaching a certain temperature. The area of the upper housing is larger than the area of the lower housing. The upper housing forms a protrusion with respect to an edge of the lower housing. An electronic device using the heat sink is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates, inter alia, to a belt retractor (10) for a safety belt device, with a belt reel (20) for winding up and unwinding the safety belt, a pretensioner drive (40) and a pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30), wherein the pretensioner drive (40) has a force-flux-control element (100) which, in a deactivation position, interrupts the force flux between pretensioner drive (40) and belt reel (20). It is provided that the pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30) has one or more drive elements (33) which, after activation of the pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30), is or are set into motion, and, after activation of the pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30), the force-flux-control element (100) is adjusted directly or indirectly by the drive element (33) or—in the case of a plurality of drive elements (33)—by at least one of the drive elements (33) of the pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30) into the deactivation position.