Abstract: A system and method for valuating weather-based financial instruments including weather futures, options, swaps, and the like. The system includes weather forecast, weather history, and financial databases. Also included in the system is a central processing trading server that is accessible via a plurality of internal and external workstations. The workstations provide a graphical user interface for users to enter a series of inputs and receive information (i.e., output) concerning a financial instrument. The method involves collecting the series of inputs—start date, maturity date, geographic location(s), risk-free rate, and base weather condition—affecting the value of the financial instrument and applying a pricing model modified to account for weather.

Abstract: An insurance or warranty method protects financial interests of producers, such as farmers planting transgenic varieties of seed as a primary asset, who use proper refuges of similar but non-transgenic, secondary assets for maintaining a non-resistant pest population. Refuge acre methods, now sometimes called “refugia”, as such are recently known in crop pest management, but producers have had no effective incentive and much risk in using them. That is, losses in the refuge from pests, as to corn from European Corn Borers and others, are immediate and could be severe, whereas build-up of resistance to the related control technique is a long-term problem. Providing insurance as part of the cost of the primary production input, or as an add-on “technology fee” or the like, for protecting a set amount of the similar, secondary asset, removes the risks from the pest in producing secondary assets in the refuge.

Abstract: A method on a data processing server for creating customizable electronic documents in a client-server computer network having one or more data processing servers electronically connected to a plurality of data processing clients. In one embodiment, the method provides the sender with the ability of defining, via one or more interface controls, which portions of an electronic bill are changeable and modifiable by one or more recipients. This permits the subsequent users the authority to only modify the fields as controlled by the sender. In another embodiment, the system permits tracking of changes made by each subsequent recipient of the bill compared with the original billing data. In another embodiment, the method provides the recipient a user preference file which controls how the bill is laid-out by the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented two-tiered electronic market system includes a data repository storing information corresponding to an inventory of one or more available items and a first-tier electronic market (e.g., a retail tier) that provides a first participant (e.g., a retail consumer) access to the inventory of one or more items in the data repository. The inventory is offered to the first participant under a first (e.g., retail) pricing scheme. The two-tiered electronic market system also includes a second-tier electronic market (e.g., a wholesale tier) that provides a second participant (e.g., a wholesale dealer), different from the first participant, access to the inventory of one or more items in the data repository. The inventory is offered to the second participant under a second (e.g., wholesale) pricing scheme different from the first pricing scheme.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis including a tibial plateau for anchoring to an upper end of a tibia. The tibial plateau includes an orifice and a projection. An insert is moveably disposed on the tibial plateau and is adapted to cooperate with a femoral component anchored to a lower end of a femur. The insert includes a boss and an indentation and moveably engages the tibial plateau such that the boss extends at least partially into the orifice and the projection shoulder extends at least partially into the indentation.

Abstract: A sleeve component for engagement with a prosthetic component, such as a revision femoral component, compensates for bone loss and/or anatomical anomalies. In one embodiment, the sleeve includes a compensating region which provides an eccentric outer surface for offsetting proximal, posterior bone loss in the patient's femur. The sleeve has a bore through which the stem of a femoral component is insertable. The inner walls of the bore taper so as to complement a proximal outer surface of the stem when the sleeve abuts a shoulder portion of the femoral component. In one embodiment, the compensating region is defined by a radius which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. In another embodiment, the compensating region is defined by a radius extending from the longitudinal axis and having an increased length.

Abstract: In a biofeedback device adapted for sensing position of the Transverse Abdominis Muscle (TAM) on small excursions of the abdominal wall including a sensor which changes resistance on a change in dimension thereof in any direction. The sensor element includes a plurality of interlaced electrodes in juxtaposition with a resilient antistatic device. A particular implementation is in the form of a two pole sensor incorporated into a bio-feedback monitor. The sensor is physically attached to the monitor which can be worn on the belt or at or near the waist line. A lever on the back of the monitor rests against the body and engages the sensor comprising a variable resistance foam component. Pressure exerted against the lever, when the TAM is relaxed causes a change in the resistance which energizes the electrical circuit above a given threshold and causes a variable pitch sound to be generated or alternatively drives an electrical vibrator motor at a variable speed.

Abstract: An anesthesia machine includes a breathing system for delivering a gas mixture, including an anesthetic gas, to a patient for inhalation and for collecting exhaled gas from the patient. A cannister flow communicates with the breathing system and removes carbon dioxide from the exhaled gas. A pressure relief valve includes a housing that defines a chamber in flow communication with the breathing system, a valve member for regulating a flow of gas from the breathing system into the chamber and venting gas into the chamber when pressure in the breathing system exceeds a pressure threshold setting, and a plunger for preventing the flow of gas into the chamber independent of the pressure in the breathing system without changing the pressure threshold setting. The cannister, pressure relief valve, and other components are secured to a manifold having internal flow channels.

Abstract: A face mask for filtering airborne particles formed by an upper portion adapted for placement over a user's nasal area and a lower portion adapted for placement over a user's oral area. Ribs are formed ultrasonically extending along the length of the upper portion, and a pair of ears are formed at either end having openings therethrough to receive a plastic strap for passing through the openings of the ears to secure the mask to a user's face. The mask is formed by layers of plastic material including scrim and filtration material forming the upper and lower portions that have been ultrasonically bonded together. A process for making the mask includes providing plastic fabric layered materials that are ultrasonically welded with a plurality of ribs and slitting and sealing them to form two portions. The two portions are fed in overlying sandwiched relationship to each other and scored for the ears while at the same time welding them together to form an upper and lower portion of the mask.

Abstract: A gas regulating valve, especially for use in breathing valves for diver masks and the like. The valve comprises a sleeve-shaped housing (1) having an inlet chamber (I) and an outlet chamber (II), a main valve body (2) cooperating with a seat (3) separating the inlet chamber (I) from the outlet chamber (II), a piston (12) or the like separating the outlet chamber (II) from a servo chamber (III), and a control valve (5,6) arranged to be opened and closed by the main valve body (2). The control valve (5,6) causes a controlled gas flow to the servo chamber (III), which entails that the main valve body (II) is forced to move such that the seat (6) of the control valve at all times rests sealingly against the valve body (5) of the control valve.

Abstract: A second stage breathing regulator especially suited for use in scuba diving comprises an automatically adjustable air flow deflector or vane to redirect a portion of inlet high velocity air of a venturi-initiated vacuum assist-type regulator configuration. At greater depths the flow vane increasingly interrupts and redirects a selected portion of the air stream to increase the venturi effect. As a result, the diver's inhalation effort requirements can be relatively constant throughout the breathing cycle at any depth or can be tailored to a desired non-constant profile as a function of depth. A piston responsive to ambient water pressure by extension proportional to depth, places the flow vane to increasingly redirect the air flow at greater depths thereby increasing the venturi effect. The diver is thus freed of having to make manual adjustments to the second stage under water.

Abstract: Catheter and method of manufacturing such catheter. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having an interior lumen extending therethrough. The interior surface of the lumen is geometrically configured to reduce friction and increase catheter performance. Additionally, the geometrically configured inside surface allows dye or blood to perfuse past the distal end of the catheter when engaged in the coronary artery. The catheter may also include a geometrically configured outer surface at its distal end having perfusion channels to allow blood to perfuse past the distal end of the catheter during catheter engagement.

Abstract: A device for the administration by inhalation of a medicament in powdered form comprises a medicament reservoir (3) and metering means for dispensing a dose of medicament from the reservoir (3), characterized in that the reservoir (3) comprises a compacted body of powdered medicament (10) and the metering means includes means (11) for abrading the compacted body (10).

Abstract: A resuscitation/ventilation apparatus incorporates an entrainment mixer with a nozzle, discharging entraining gas into an entrainment chamber, the nozzle being connected with a high pressure source of the entraining gas. One entrainment port to the entrainment chamber is connected to atmosphere and another entrainment port is connected to an oxygen source. A continuously variable restriction is disposed in the oxygen supply conduit upstream of the other entrainment port and is variable independently of any control of the entraining gas supply, to enable delivery of a gas mixture of steplessly variable oxygen concentration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement in connection with vaporizing an anaesthetic. The invention comprises a vaporizing chamber for an anaesthetic liquid to be vaporized and means for mixing vaporized anaesthetic with fresh gas and delivering the mixture to be inhaled by a patient. To stabilize the temperature of the anaesthetic liquid in the vaporizing situation, an air flow enhancing the transfer of heat energy between the anaesthetic liquid within the vaporizing chamber and air outside the vaporizing chamber is applied to at least one exterior surface of the vaporizing chamber in forced circulation.

Abstract: An airway device in the form of a modified laryngeal mask is fitted with single, multiple or paired electrodes (herein termed "internal electrodes") so placed as to enable stimulation of or to record a spontaneous degree of activity of selected excitable tissues (a) lying in direct contact with or in close proximity with the mask, or (b) in conjunction with suitably placed body-surface electrodes (herein termed "external electrodes") at one or more body-surface regions known to have muscular, neuro-muscular or other conductive relationship with organs more remoted situated from the mask, such internal electrodes being adapted for flexible connection to external monitoring or stimulating apparatus for diagnostic, therapeutic, palliative or sedative purposes.

Abstract: An endotracheal device to facilitate joining an endotracheal tube to an adaptor connected to a suction or gas source is disclosed. The device is a tubular connector having opposed ends, one end of which has a locking means for temporarily locking the connector to the adaptor and another end for receiving and securing the tube to the connector.

Abstract: A mystical astrological predictive-type board game including a deck of teliotarotarcane cards including a first sub-deck of minor tarot cards, a second sub-deck of minor shustah cards, a third sub-deck of major tarot cards, a fourth sub-deck of premium cards, and a fifth sub-deck of maximum mystique cards and with each card having a point value; and a game board bearing indicia of a cross, a star with a first rectangle therearound, a second rectangle with a distinctive word thereon, a circle with a distinctive symbol thereon, an ankh, an encircled eye, an encircled triangle, an encircled star, and an answer area formed of an upper circle with an affirmative symbol disposed thereon, a lower circle with a negative symbol disposed thereon, and a segment interconnecting the upper circle with the lower circle; and a rule book providing the rules of play.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a golf ball teeing device comprising a forwardly open receiver for receiving a golf ball, the receiver having a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels, the side panels diverging in forward direction a given angle A, the bottom panel having a slot rearwardly extending from a forward edge of the bottom panel wherein the slot is tapered inward a given angle B for receiving a stem of a tee with the head of the tee disposed in the receiver, wherein the angle B is smaller than the angle A; a tubular shaft extends upward from the top panel, a push rod is slidably disposed in the shaft, the push rod having a bottom end extending through the top panel for clamping a golf ball against the head of the tee and a top end extending above an upper end of the shaft for receiving a clamping force applied to the top end of the shaft, further including a handle attached to the upper end of the shaft, the handle including a button attached to the upper end of the

Abstract: A set of golf club heads, each head comprising a shell having toe and heel portions, and a front wall defining a ball striking face, and top or bottom walls, the ball striking faces of the heads having varying angularities with respect to vertical, the bottom wall of each head having a medial ridge, and forming two dished, similar shallow recesses, one recess between the ridge and heel portion and the other recess between the ridge and toe portion, the recesses located rearwardly of said front wall, one recess having an arcuate peripheral edge generally convex toward the heel portion and the other recess having an arcuate peripheral edge generally convex toward the toe portion.