Abstract: The present invention may be regarded as a disk drive comprising a disk, an actuator arm comprising a head, and a voice coil motor for actuating the actuator arm to position the head radially over the disk. The voice coil motor comprises a first magnet for generating a first magnetic flux, and a rotary voice coil yoke comprising a magnetic flux conductor shaped to form an air gap with respect to the first magnet, the magnetic flux conductor comprising a first end having a first reluctance and a second end having a second reluctance, wherein the first reluctance is substantially lower than the second reluctance such that the magnetic flux conductor guides the first magnetic flux through the air gap and through the first end. A voice coil is wrapped around at least part of the magnetic flux conductor for conducting a current to generate a second magnetic flux such that at least part of the second magnetic flux is within the air gap for interacting with the first magnetic flux.

Abstract: A spine stabilization device is placed between adjacent vertebral bodies of the vertebrae of a spine to maintain a desired orientation and spacing between the adjacent vertebral bodies and support the adjacent vertebral bodies for fusion at the desired orientation and spacing. The stabilization device includes a plate adapted for fixation to the sides of adjacent vertebral bodies, and at least two legs attached to the plate which are adapted for disposal between the adjacent vertebral bodies to provide support therebetween, there being a space between two of the legs such that together with the plate a U shape is formed as viewed superior to inferior.

Abstract: A pipeline treating apparatus (10) is disclosed which is used to clean the exterior of a pipeline (12) with high pressure air with entrained abrasive. The apparatus has an improved classifier and separator to separate the abrasive grit from lighter debris which includes a classifier and separator within a manifold duct (56) which returns the grit to a collection pan (40) for recovery and causes the lighter airborne dust to be removed through a return duct (58). A series of pressure relief filters (82) reduce the air pressure within a blast chamber (28) and resist debris escaping from the blast chamber past the triple seals (76, 78, 80). The blast nozzle assemblies (834) are attached to the nozzle oscillating frames by snap fittings (74) which avoids threaded connections which may become contaminated by the debris.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved device for external fixation of bone fractures, specifically for ankle fractures, of the type adapted for mounting to a unilateral external fixator and comprising an extendible central body and opposed articulated portions which are connected to the respective ends of the central body by ball joints. The device is an ankle clamp having a stem, preferably made of a transparent material to X-radiation, with a bifurcated end formed with a pair of prongs having a first jaw portion of a tilting clamp journalled on a pivot provided between the prongs and comprises a second jaw portion coupled to the first jaw portion and fastened thereto by a pair of screws.

Abstract: An apparatus that is capable of achieving self-stabilization while walking comprises two front legs and two rear legs with each leg having three joints including a hip joint, an upper leg joint, and a lower leg joint. Each joint is powered by a motor and is monitored by an encoder, totaling twelve of each for the entire apparatus. Stability is maintained by adding weight to the two front legs and by positioning a separate weight toward the front and middle of the apparatus, thereby moving the center of balance of the apparatus further within the stability envelope of the apparatus. As a result, the apparatus maintains its stability by itself without the need for additional CPU's. The apparatus also includes an animation motor that is capable of causing the apparatus to make non-ambulatory movement and a cartridge slot which allows the user to download new programming which facilitates new behavior being exhibited by the apparatus.

Abstract: Fabry disease results from an X-linked deficiency in the enzyme &agr;-galactosidase A. The present invention is directed to recombinant human &agr;-galactosidase A and provides baculovirus expression vectors and recombinant virus that provide stable expression of extracellular and intracellular levels of this enzyme in an insect cell culture. The recombinant-derived enzyme can be used in enzyme replacement therapy to treat Fabry patients. Composition useful in therapeutic administration of &agr;-galactosidase A are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions adapted to be reacted with hydrogen peroxide to provide chemiluminescent light are disclosed wherein the fluorescer is selected from 1,7-disubstituted perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acids, their dianhydrides and diimides.

Abstract: A breakaway link or flexible connector take the form of a short coil of wireform material having known elastic and tensile properties. The breakaway link is used to link articles in circumstances where it is desirable to have the articles separate when exposed to a pre-determined level of force. The breakaway link is a simple coil and will uncoil or release when exposed to predictable levels of force. The flexible connector is used to link articles in circumstances where some flexibility is desirable but release is not desirable. The flexible connector can be a crossed and hooked coil which will expand and/or respond predictably to a given range of force, but will resist opening until exposed to a much higher level of force. Both the breakaway link and the flexible connector are preferably constructed of known superelastic materials whose unique properties give the devices increased repeatability.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck 55 comprises an electrical connector 140 which is connected to the electrode 105 to conduct an electrical charge to the electrode 105. The electrical connector 140 comprises a refractory metal having a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C., such as for example, tungsten, titanium, nickel, tantalum, molybdenum, or alloys thereof. Preferably, the electrical connector 140 is bonded to the electrode 105 by a metal having a softening temperature of less than about 600° C., such as aluminum, indium, or low melting point alloys.

Abstract: A stepper motor controlling apparatus having a storing unit storing driving data for generating a stepper motor driving phase signal in each of plural controlling circuits, which share the driving data in the storing unit, thereby decreasing the total amount of the driving data. It is therefore possible to minimize the required capacity of the storing unit required for the driving data.

Abstract: A system and method for executing commands on a specific virtual desktop operating in a multi-user server environment. The present invention provides a system and method for executing commands associated with a specific virtual desktop. A virtual process broker (20) running on a server communicates with a remote requester and multiple virtual desktops. A virtual process agent (24) running in each of the virtual desktops communicates with the virtual process broker. A virtual desktop identifier is assigned to each of the virtual desktops and communicated to the virtual process broker. The virtual process broker records a status for the virtual desktop identifier in a virtual process broker database. Later, a remote requester such as a remote system or a virtual desktop generates a command request that is received by the virtual broker. The virtual broker determines whether the user associated with the command request is currently logged in by querying the virtual process broker database.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting a gas, in particular hydrogen, from a fluid stream utilizing a plate membrane flattened with a wave spring on the low pressure side of the membrane and a turbulence generator on the high pressure side. Alternately, the membrane is folded and wrapped against a central conduit within the membrane fold. Extraction membranes have a substrate layer of Ta—W, V—Co, V—Pd, V—Au, V—Cu, V—Al, Nb—Ag, Nb—Au, Nb—Pt, Nb—Pd, V—Ni—Co, V—Ni—Pd, V—Nb—Pt or V—Pd—Au alloy or combination thereof and a first layer affixed to the outer surface of the substrate towards a mixed gas flow which is composed of palladium, platinum, rhodium, or palladium alloys.

Abstract: A filter, such as a transmit filter of a duplexer, includes an array of acoustic resonators that cooperate to establish an asymmetrically shaped filter response over a target frequency passband. The acoustic resonators are preferably film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs). The filter response defines an insertion loss profile in which a minimum insertion loss within the target passband is located at or near a first end of the frequency passband, while the maximum insertion loss is located at or near the opposite end of the frequency passband. In the transmit filter embodiment, the minimum insertion loss is at or near the high frequency end of the filter response, which is tailored by selectively locating poles and zeros of the array of FBARs.

Abstract: Bone augmentation in a mammalian body to enhance the mechanical strength of a prosthesis is provided by reinforcement of bone in the region surrounding the implant device. A number of fibrillar wires are formed on the prosthetic implant device. Formation of the fibrillar wires comprises gauging the implant device so that the fibrillar wires are formed by peeling them from the implant device. Alternatively, formation of the fibrillar wires may comprise forming a mesh of fibrillar wires having a woolly structure, forming the mesh around the prosthetic implant device, and attaching a number of the fibrillar wires to the prosthetic implant device. A coating is formed on the fibrillar wires and an associated prosthetic implant device. The coating comprises bone morphogenetic proteins along with osteoinductive factors and osteoconductive factors that function as nutrients, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory agents, and blood-clotting factors.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for supplying a liquid raw material wherein the liquid raw material is deaerated and supplied from a liquid raw material container to a liquid flow control section, the method comprising passing the liquid raw material, supplied from a liquid raw material container by the pressure of a first inert gas, inside of a gas permeable synthetic resin tube, passing a second inert gas having a lower permeability into the synthetic resin tube than the first inert gas along the external surface of the synthetic resin tube whereby the first inert gas dissolved in the liquid raw material is allowed to penetrate into the outside of the synthetic resin tube and then supplying the liquid raw material to the liquid flow control section and an apparatus for supplying a liquid raw material which apparatus is used in the method. The invention ensures that inert gas dissolved in a liquid raw material can be removed easily and efficiently in a semiconductor manufacturing process using a liquid raw material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient handling of product returns to reduce associated costs. A computer system at a regional product return center scans a returned product for identifying information, accesses a manufacturer return approval computer system through the internet or the like, and then submits the identifying information to the manufacture for return approval. The manufacturer computer system utilizes the identifying information to access an electronic registration database to determine whether the returned product satisfies applicable return criteria. If so, the product is approved for return to the manufacturer. The regional product return center preferably scans a plurality of returned products in a single session. In response to the product identifying information submitted by the regional product return center, the manufacturing provides a list of approved returns and unapproved returns, along with a return authorization number for the batch of approved returns.

Abstract: A high permeability grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet with a higher tension-imparting effect and more excellent cohesion and magnetic properties compared to the prior art, which also maintains sufficient corrosion resistance to withstand practical use; the grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet has on its surface an insulation coating comprising a first layer composed mainly of a divalent or trivalent metal hydrogen phosphate salt and silica, and a second layer composed mainly of aluminum borate and leaving a surface roughness of 0.1 &mgr;m-0.35 &mgr;m in terms of Ra (center like average roughness).

Abstract: A heat curable, a one-component epoxy protective or decorative coating or adhesive composition comprising an epoxy resin, acid anhydride latent heat activated curing agent and an accelerator for the acid anhydride curing agent characterized in that 2-phenylimidazole phosphate salt is the accelerator.