Abstract: A bone cement delivery system for vertebroplasty with a cannula having a rigid metal tubular inner wall surrounding a central conduit with a distal outlet port, a rigid metal tubular outer wall extending around the inner wall to define a peripheral conduit with a distal inlet port in the form of fenestrations defined in the tubular outer wall, unobstructed and directly exposed to an environment of the delivery system, a proximal inlet port in communication with the central conduit and a proximal outlet port in communication with the peripheral conduit. A vacuum pump communicating with the proximal outlet port of the peripheral conduit applies a pressure in the range of 10 to 100 KPa to create a pressure gradient between the central conduit and the peripheral conduit to produce a difference in flow rate between the conduits guiding the displacement of bone fluid and the flow of cement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for generating low-energy electrons in a biological material. The biological material is held in position by a support. Laser beam pulses are directed by a focusing mechanism toward a region of interest within the biological material. This generates filaments of low-energy electrons within the region of interest. The method and system may be used for radiotherapy, radiochemistry, sterilization, nanoparticle coating, nanoparticle generation, and like uses.

Abstract: A cement delivery system for vertebroplasty including a rigid cannula having a tubular inner wall defining a central conduit to deliver bone cement and a tubular outer wall extending around the inner wall and spaced apart therefrom to define a peripheral conduit for aspirating bone fluids. Aspirating means communicate with a proximal outlet port of the peripheral conduit to create a pressure gradient between the central conduit and the peripheral conduit to provide a hydraulic force guiding the displacement of bone fluid and the flow of cement. Also, a bone cement delivery system including a rigid cannula having a tubular inner wall defining a central conduit, a tubular outer wall extending around the inner wall and spaced apart therefrom to define a peripheral conduit, and a tubular middle wall extending between the inner and peripheral walls and spaced apart therefrom to define a middle conduit around the central conduit.

Abstract: A spiking neural network has a layer of connected neurons exchanging signals. Each neuron is connected to at least one other neuron. A neuron is active if it spikes at least once during a time interval. Time-varying synaptic weights are computed between each neuron and at least one other neuron connected thereto. These weights are computed according to a number of active neurons that are connected to the neuron. The weights are also computed according to an activity of the spiking neural network during the time interval. Spiking of each neuron is synchronized according to a number of active neurons connected to the neuron and according to the weights. A pattern is submitted to the spiking neural network for generating sequences of spikes, which are modulated over time by the spiking synchronization. The pattern is characterized according to the sequences of spikes generated in the spiking neural network.

Abstract: A blood counting device comprises a capillary conduit for drawing from a subject in which a radiotracer has previously been injected a quantity of blood in the micro-liter range to produce in the capillary conduit a flow of blood from which beta radiation is emitted. At least one direct beta radiation detector is placed closely adjacent to the capillary conduit. The direct beta radiation detector consists of a semiconductor photodiode which detects the beta radiation from the flow of blood when directly hit by this beta radiation.

Abstract: A cannula assembly for injecting implant material into a bone, including an inner cannula defining a central conduit including a first proximal port in communication with the central conduit, an outer cannula surrounding the inner cannula to define a peripheral conduit, and a connector interconnecting the cannulas and detachable from at least one of the cannulas, and at least one of the connector, the first cannula and the second cannula including a second proximal port in communication with the peripheral conduit defined along a direction different than a longitudinal axis of the first and second cannulas.

Abstract: An iterative image reconstruction method used with an imaging system that generates projection data, the method comprises: collecting the projection data; choosing a polar or cylindrical image definition comprising a polar or cylindrical grid representation and a number of basis functions positioned according to the polar or cylindrical grid so that the number of basis functions at different radius positions of the polar or cylindrical image grid is a factor of a number of in-plane symmetries between lines of response along which the projection data are measured by the imaging system; obtaining a system probability matrix that relates each of the projection data to each basis function of the polar or cylindrical image definition; restructuring the system probability matrix into a block circulant matrix and converting the system probability matrix in the Fourier domain; storing the projection data into a measurement data vector; providing an initial polar or cylindrical image estimate; for each iteration; reca

Abstract: The present invention relates a mechanical differential actuator for interacting with a mechanical load. The mechanical differential actuator comprises first and second semi-active sub-actuators, a velocity source and first and second mechanical differentials having three interaction ports each. The first mechanical differential includes a first interaction port coupled to the velocity source, a second interaction port and a third interaction port coupled to the first semi-active sub-actuator. The second mechanical differential includes a first interaction port coupled to the velocity source, a second interaction port and a third interaction port coupled to the second semi-active sub-actuator. Finally, the second interaction ports of the first and second mechanical differentials are coupled together to form an output which is configured so as to be coupled to the load.

Abstract: Described are a method and device for needleless injection of a liquid substance in the skin or other target tissue of a patient, in which droplets of the liquid substance are produced, and the droplets of liquid substance are directed toward the surface of the patient's skin or other target tissue at a velocity sufficiently high to inject the droplets of liquid substance in the patient's skin or other target tissue. The droplets of the liquid substance are accelerated toward the surface of the patient's skin or other target tissue in order to inject the accelerated droplets of liquid substance in the patient's skin or other target tissue.

Abstract: A digital method and system allowing crystal identification in radiation detector machines is described. The crystal identification is based on recognition of radiation detector signal shape through discrimination of detector signal's dynamic characteristics. The digital method is based on recursive and non-recursive algorithms, such as adaptive filtering combined or not with quantization methods. These digital algorithms, commonly used in other engineering applications, were modified and tailored for radiation detection. Although the method was specially designed for crystal identification measurement, which is exemplified here, it can effectively recognize the detector signal shape in any radiation detection context.

Abstract: There is described a method for enabling session mobility in a multi-participant IP-based multi-media communication network in full-mesh conference model, the method comprising: mapping a full-mesh communication protocol to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP); defining an extended message protocol including new message mechanisms to support session mobility options; mapping the extended message protocol to the Session Initiation Protocol; and adding headers to mapped messages from the extended message protocol and from the full-mesh communication protocol to comply with full-mesh message signalization protocol mechanisms.

Abstract: The solid oxide fuel cell can comprise: an electroconductive and porous reformer including a catalytically active material and shaped to constitute a solid slab having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of adjacent grooves along the first surface, and flat regions adjacent the plurality of grooves; an anode layer covering the plurality of grooves of the reformer slab and having a corresponding grooved shape; an electrolyte layer covering the anode layer over the plurality of grooves of the reformer slab and having a corresponding grooved shape, and extending over the flat regions; and a cathode layer covering the electrolyte layer over the grooves of the reformer slab and having a corresponding grooved shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stretcher having a brake mechanism that can be selectively activated to influence the movement of the stretcher supported by an inclined surface. The brake mechanism of the stretcher progressively increases the amount of friction between the stretcher and the surface of which the stretcher is supported to reduce or stop movements of the stretcher. The stretcher further includes a pulling member influencing the position or the activation of the brake mechanism on the stretcher and high friction means associated with the bottom side of the stretcher. The present invention also provides a size reduction mechanism requesting limited storage space for the stretcher when not in use and a foot restraint to secure the feet of the patient on the stretcher and offer additional volume to carry additional material with the patient. A method for braking a stretcher on an inclined plane is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cement delivery system for vertebroplasty including a rigid cannula having a tubular inner wall defining a central conduit to deliver bone cement and a tubular outer wall extending around the inner wall and spaced apart therefrom to define a peripheral conduit for aspirating bone fluids. Aspirating means communicate with a proximal outlet port of the peripheral conduit to create a pressure gradient between the central conduit and the peripheral conduit to provide a hydraulic force guiding the displacement of bone fluid and the flow of cement. Also, a bone cement delivery system including a rigid cannula having a tubular inner wall defining a central conduit, a tubular outer wall extending around the inner wall and spaced apart therefrom to define a peripheral conduit, and a tubular middle wall extending between the inner and peripheral walls and spaced apart therefrom to define a middle conduit around the central conduit.

Abstract: A method and an algorithm allowing the use of surface waves. In particular, the method uses separation of the modes and, by the dispersion curve of more than one mode in the inversion process, it allows a determination of a shear wave propagation velocity profile that, with the aid of the Poisson ratio, constitutes a unique solution and a complete characterization of a medium on the point of view of its elastic properties.

Abstract: A needleless syringe for subcutaneously delivering a therapeutic agent comprising a generally constant diameter elongate tubular nozzle and an inert gas reservoir thereto is described herein. The reservoir is advantageously mounted to the upstream end of the tubular nozzle through a contraction that is either gradual or sudden and wherein a membrane is positioned between the reservoir and the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing a selected tonal noise generated by an axial flow fan operating in a non-uniform flow by locating at least one obstruction in the non-uniform flow such that the at least one obstruction generates a noise that is out of phase with the selected tonal noise. The noise generated by the at least one obstruction interferes with the selected tonal noise, thus reducing the selected tonal noise. It is also contemplated to use additional obstructions to reduce other tonal noises generated by the axial flow fan.