Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device, a method of manufacture therefor, and an integrated circuit including the same. The semiconductor device may include a doped buried layer located over a doped substrate and a doped epitaxial layer located over the doped buried layer. The semiconductor device may further include a first doped lattice matching layer located between the substrate and the buried layer and a second doped lattice matching layer located between the doped buried layer and the doped epitaxial layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a devices and methods for their use for the release of medical workpieces such as, without limitation, embolic devices, from apparatuses used to deliver them to a target site in a patient's body involving use of a piezoelectric member that is fracturable and/or an adhesive layer that is susceptible to adhesive or cohesive failure.

Abstract: A controller in a fuel cell system performs various operating parameter checks at a predefined schedule, including one or more of a stack current check; a stack voltage check; a cell voltage check; a purge cell check; an oxygen concentration check; a hydrogen concentration check; a stack temperature check; an ambient air temperature check; a fuel pressure check; and an airflow rate check; a hydrogen sensor heater check; a battery voltage check; a microcontroller self-check; and/or toggling a watchdog. The frequency of the checks are set relative to achieve an efficient control of the fuel cell system by selectively distributing the load on the microcontroller.

Abstract: A projection-type rotary encoder is provided which has a light source, an object grating plate in which a substantially fan-shaped object grating for transmitting light is arranged at constant angular intervals in the circumferential direction, a rotary scale plate in which a substantially fan-shaped scale grating for transmitting light is arranged at constant angular intervals in the circumferential direction, and a photodiode grating plate in which a substantially fan-shaped photodiode photosensitive surface grating is arranged at constant angular intervals in the circumferential direction. A scale grating 32A is formed in the rotary scale plate with a shape and size that correspond to a light image of the object grating 31A incident on the surface thereof. A photodiode photosensitive surface grating 33A is formed in the photodiode grating plate with a shape and size that correspond to a light image of the scale grating 32A incident on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A medical system is a medical device, such as a catheter, that includes an inner core and an imager that is extendable from within an elongated tubular member and configured to penetrate a body tissue within a living body. The elongated tubular member has a distal end and is configured to slideably receive the inner core. The distal end is further configured to allow the inner core to advance outside the elongated member. The inner core has a distal end and is configured to rotate radially around a longitudinal axis of the elongated member. The device can further include an imager located at the distal end of the inner core, and the imager can be configured to image a body tissue and output an image signal to an imaging system communicatively coupled with the imager. The imaging system is configured to generate an image of the body tissue from the image signal of the imager when the imager is rotated and placed into contact with the body tissue such that the imager penetrates the body tissue.

Abstract: Intravascular filter devices adapted for temporary or permanent insertion in a blood vessel are disclosed. An intravascular filter device may comprise a first set of filter legs configured to attach to a vessel wall, and a second set of shorter filter legs configured to attach at a different location to the vessel wall. Both sets of filter legs may include a proximal filtering portion and a distal centering portion, and can be configured to radially expand in an outward direction and with equal force when placed in the vessel. Moreover, the filter device may employ one or more features to ensure uniform clot capturability across the vessel.

Abstract: Memory may be partitioned into,ever-sliding FIFOs. Each of the FIFOs may be stacked end-to-end in memory with the oldest data at the base offset and the newest at the end (or vice-versa). Each symbol, the pointer may be incremented (modulo the set size) by an appropriate amount (typically J more than for the previous symbol). After each set, the pointers may be incremented by J more than the previous increment and the process starts over, wrapping around the memory if the end of the memory is reached. After a preset number of symbols, the process may restart from an increment of J. Alternatively, the pointers may be decremented rather than incremented. Thus, the newest symbol cannibalizes the memory position vacated by the oldest symbol in the current FIFO, causing the FIFOs to “slide”, providing for a very efficient and reliable use of memory for error-correcting code interleaving.

Abstract: A powder blend for use in laser sintering and a method for forming tough, strong, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant infiltrated metal products are provided. The powder blend comprises a steel alloy, a polymeric binder and a high melting temperature fine particulate which are blended together, then applied layer by layer to a working surface in a laser sintering system, exposed a layer at a time to fuse together the powder until a green part of high strength is formed, and then the green part is infiltrated with a metal infiltrant in a non-reducing gas atmosphere at an effective temperature for an effective period of time. The preferred steel is a mild steel alloy.

Abstract: A medical stent is sized for placement in a ureter. The stent includes a first section which includes a first material, defines a lumen, and includes a first coil completing at least one revolution. A second section of the stent includes a second material, defines a lumen, and includes a second coil completing at least one revolution. A third section defines a lumen and is located between the first and second sections. The third section includes a co-extrusion of the first and second materials. One of the first or second sections is harder than the other section.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method and device for identification and authentication of an object by means of coded information applied to the object. The function of said method and device is based on the principle of a laser scanner comprising two photoelectric detectors provided with decoding devices. In a first measuring channel and in classical manner an open coding in the form of a barcode is registered based on the different reflection/absorption of light at dark and light spots. In a second measuring channel the coded safety information applied on the same object is detected. By preference, the latter information is applied in form of luminescent safety pigments/coloring substances. By means of the source of light of the barcode scanner said safety pigments/coloring substances are excited at a defined optical wave length and show a specific luminescence in another wave length band. By preference, the detector device of the second measuring channel is provided with a wave length selecting element.

Abstract: A method for electrostatic spray-coating a medical device having a tubular wall, such as a stent, having an inner surface, an outer surface and openings therein. The tubular wall is grounded or electrically charged, and an electrically charged conductive core wire is located axially through the center of the stent. An electrical potential is applied to the conductive core wire to impart an electrical charge to the conductive core wire. The tubular wall is exposed to an electrically charged coating formulation, and the electrically charged coating formulation is deposited onto a portion of the tubular wall to form a coating. The electrical potentials of the conductive core wire and tubular wall can be repeatedly alternated.

Abstract: The improved system and method converts medical imaging data in R-&thgr; or polar format to a Cartesian format that is readily recognizable to the human eye. The system and method texturize or wrap the R-&thgr; imaging data around an object, which is preferably a cone. The height of the cone is zero, or reduced to zero, to create the Cartesian format. To texturize or wrap the R-&thgr; imaging data around the cone, the preferred embodiment uses a commercially available graphics processing unit and software.

Abstract: A powder blend for use in laser sintering and a method for forming tough, strong, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant infiltrated metal products are provided. The powder blend comprises a steel alloy, a polymeric binder and a high melting temperature fine particulate which are blended together, then applied layer by layer to a working surface in a laser sintering system, exposed a layer at a time to fuse together the powder until a green part of high strength is formed, and then the green part is infiltrated with a metal infiltrant in a non-reducing gas atmosphere at an effective temperature for an effective period of time. The preferred steel is a mild steel alloy.

Abstract: A catheter system for use during biliary procedures, including a first elongate member carrying a guidewire lumen, and a channel extending longitudinally along the member which provides access to the guidewire lumen and defines two edge surfaces. A second elongate member is also included which is disposed within the guidewire lumen and mates with the cross-sectional profile of the guidewire lumen of the first elongate member, thereby converting a guidewire lumen having a C-shaped design into one having an O-shaped design. The catheter may be used in rapid exchange catheter procedures requiring the use of small diameter guidewires which would otherwise slip out of the channel during use.

Abstract: A lightweight bearing and wave gear drive are provided. An outer or inner bearing ring of the bearing has fixing holes to enable the ring to be attached to another member. The parts of the bearing on which raceway surfaces are formed are made of an iron-based material, while the main bearing ring member is formed of a lightweight material that is lighter than the iron-based material. Surface portions that constitute fixing bolt seats are plated to increase the strength of such portions. The wave gear drive includes a rigid internal gear, a flexible external gear located inside the internal gear, and a wave generator located inside the external gear. The internal and external gears are coupled by the lightweight bearing in a way that allows the gears to rotate relative to each other.

Abstract: A method for removing supports from a three-dimensional objected formed by selective deposition modeling. The three-dimensional object is formed from a curable phase change material and the supports are formed from a non-curable phase change material. The curable phase change material contains between about 5% to about 25% of a non-reactive wax in order to achieve the desired phase change characteristics of the material. When removing the supports with heat, discoloration undesirably occurs in the three-dimensional object as the non-reactive wax migrates within the object. The method prevents wax migration by cooling the object slowly past the freezing point of the build material such that a temperature differential no greater than about 5° C. is present within the object. With the preferred build material having a freezing point of about 49.5° C., this is achieved by lowering the temperature between about 62° C. to about 52° C.

Abstract: A system for carrier phase tracking of symbols. In an embodiment employing a feedback structure, a symbol derotator pre-rotates a symbol by a derotation phase. A symbol and reliability estimation engine provides, responsive to the pre-rotated symbol, an estimate of the symbol and a reliability metric for the estimate. A tracking loop module determines a residual between the pre-rotated symbol and the symbol estimate, weights the residual by the reliability metric for the estimate, and determines a phase offset estimate responsive to the weighted residual. An accumulator then determines a next derotation phase responsive to the phase offset estimate. In an embodiment employing a feedforward structure, a symbol and reliability estimation engine provides an estimate of a symbol and a reliability metric for the estimate.

Abstract: A prosthesis is provided for treating aneurysms, occlusive disease of vessels and body organs, and arterio-venous fistulas, occurring in single and bifurcated lumens. The prosthesis comprises an expandable coiled sheet portion having a biocompatible graft, either a sheet or tube, affixed thereto along part or all of the circumference of the coiled sheet portion. The prosthesis has a small delivery profile, making it suitable for use in a variety of body vessels. Methods of making and deploying the prosthesis in single and bifurcated lumens are also provided.

Abstract: A decomposable ROM image sequentially including an OS header corresponding to an OS image, the OS image, a non-OS header corresponding to a non-OS image and the non-OS image. To compose the decomposable ROM image, the OS header, which includes OS size information of the OS image and the non-OS header, which includes non-OS size information of the non-OS image are created first. Then, the OS header, the OS image, the non-OS header and the non-OS image are sequentially combined. To decompose the decomposable ROM image, the OS image is retrieved from the ROM image according to the OS size information obtained from the OS header. The non-OS image is then retrieved from the ROM image according to the non-OS size information obtained from the non-OS header.

Abstract: Multiple level logic bus drivers and receivers communicate over a bus using a multiple-level logic protocol that transfers multiple bits on each signal wire of a bus in a given interval without increasing the bus width or power dissipation. In one embodiment, four logic levels are employed using CMOS transistor circuitry operating with low voltage (e.g., 1.2V or 1.3V) power supplies (Vdd) and P and N transistor threshold voltage levels of Vtp and Vtn on the order of 0.4--0.5V. Thus, the separation between the following four logic levels is approximately uniform: Vdd; Vdd−Vtp; Vss+Vtn; and Vss. The approximately equal voltage gaps between each quantization level provide uniform noise margins for all levels. A bus noise minimization scheme and a quick recovery scheme ensure the correct data transfer in the presence of injected noise. An initial over drive feature is disclosed for shorter transition times.