Abstract: A visual blood glucose test strip has two membranes that each incorporate a reagent that reacts with glucose in a blood sample applied to the membranes to cause a color change. One of the membranes also includes an inhibitor and a dye. A blood sample applied to the strip causes the two membranes to form two different colors. Comparing the colors to a calibrated color chart permits a user to determine the glucose concentration in the blood sample.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to protect a photomask that is used for semiconductor photolithography at wavelengths outside the visible spectrum include a hinged pellicle that is rotated away from the photomask during exposure. The pellicle can be transparent or opaque. In one embodiment, the photomask is supported by a photomask base, and the pellicle is hinged to one side of the photomask base. The pellicle can be moved away from the photomask by a robot arm. When covering the photomask base, the pellicle can be secured to it with a securing mechanism such as a vacuum arrangement. Methods of use are also described.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter that exhibits the combined features of superior flexibility, softness, radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough. The proximal region of the shaft includes an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer. The reinforcement layer comprises a braid having one or more metallic members and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments, preferably formed of LCP. The polymer members of the braid provide improved flexibility and softness in addition to high burst pressure. The metallic member(s) of the braid provide improved radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter may also include a longitudinal member extending along the reinforcement layer.

Abstract: Lightweight cement compositions and methods of cementing a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore utilizing the compositions are provided. A lightweight cement composition of the invention is basically comprised of a coarse particulate hydraulic cement, an ultrafine particulate hydraulic cement mixture comprised of slag cement and a Portland or equivalent cement, fly ash, fumed silica, hollow glass spheres and water.

Abstract: A visual blood glucose test strip has two membranes that each incorporate a reagent that reacts with glucose in a blood sample applied to the membranes to cause a color change. One of the membranes also includes an inhibitor and a dye. A blood sample applied to the strip causes the two membranes to form two different colors. Comparing the colors to a calibrated color chart permits a user to determine the glucose concentration in the blood sample.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of forming a mask comprising: providing a substrate, the substrate having a first thickness; forming a balancing layer over the substrate, the balancing layer having a second thickness; forming an absorber layer over the balancing layer, the absorber layer having a first region separated from a second region by a third region; removing the absorber layer in the first region and the second region; removing the balancing layer in the second region; and reducing the substrate in the second region to a third thickness. The present invention also describes a mask comprising: an absorber layers the absorber layer having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening uncovering a balancing layer disposed over a substrate having a first thickness, and the second opening uncovering the substrate having a second thickness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microfistula tube including a soluble duct, defining a drainage canal having an inner surface, the duct being biocompatible, wherein the microfistula tube is coated with and/or incorporates biological for forming a basement membrane, or an intracellular matrix and a basement membrane. The biological cells may coat the inner surface of the drainage canal, and the microfistula tube may be made of a mouldable material or an absorbable material. The invention also provides an implantation system for the microfistula tube including a microfistula tube and a surgical instrument including an outer tube for penetrating body tissue, an inner tube, and an innermost rod, wherein the outer tube, the inner tube and the innermost rod are coaxial, the outer tube is adapted to receive said microfistula tube, whereby the inner tube may be used to push the microfistula tube into position and the innermost rod provides mechanical support during implantation of the microfistula tube.

Abstract: A transceiver providing Fiber Channel data transfer speeds may be implemented in a lower performance process technology as a single unit, thereby reducing cost. A serializer and deserializer each having multiple lower frequency clocks are provided to obtain the equivalent of a high speed clock capable of use in Fiber Channel systems. Lower speed parallel data is converted to higher speed serial data, and vice versa. A digital frequency counter along with a phase detection circuit provides synchronization. Comma detection is provided for data word alignment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that can provide estimates of elasto-plastic properties of material samples using data from instrumented indentation tests. Alternatively, or in addition, estimated load-depth curves can be constructed by certain methods and systems provided based on known mechanical properties. Some disclosed systems and methods use large deformation theory for at least part of the analysis and/or determinations and/or may account for strains of at least 5% in the area of contact between the indenter and the material sample, which can result in more accurate estimates of mechanical properties and/or deformation behavior.

Abstract: A method for making a photolithographic mask. The method comprises forming a film on a substrate that deforms the substrate, and applying a deformation reducing agent to the substrate to reduce the amount of deformation that the film caused. In a preferred embodiment, the deformation reducing agent comprises one or more films, which are formed on one side of the substrate, that balance the substrate deformation effect of one or more films that are deposited on the other side of the substrate. The film or films that constitute the deformation reducing agent may be similar to, or different from, an absorption film and/or any other films deposited on the substrate or on the absorption film.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mounting an antenna on a printed circuit board are presented. In accordance with the method, an opening is formed through a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB has a bottom side and a transmission feed on a top side. The PCB is configured to receive an antenna through the opening. An antenna is inserted into the opening on the top side of the PCB. The antenna makes electrical contact with the transmission feed. The antenna is secured to the PCB at the bottom side of the PCB.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of forming a mask comprising: providing a substrate, the substrate having a first thickness; forming a balancing layer over the substrate, the balancing layer having a second thickness; forming an absorber layer over the balancing layer, the absorber layer having a first region separated from a second region by a third region; removing the absorber layer in the first region and the second region; removing the balancing layer in the second region; and reducing the substrate in the second region to a third thickness.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of forming a mask comprising: providing a substrate, the substrate having a first thickness; forming a balancing layer over the substrate, the balancing layer having a second thickness; forming an absorber layer over the balancing layer, the absorber layer having a first region separated from a second region by a third region; removing the absorber layer in the first region and the second region; removing the balancing layer in the second region; and reducing the substrate in the second region to a third thickness.

Abstract: A visual blood glucose test strip has two membranes that each incorporate a reagent that reacts with glucose in a blood sample applied to the membranes to cause a color change. One of the membranes also includes an inhibitor and a dye. A blood sample applied to the strip causes the two membranes to form two different colors. Comparing the colors to a calibrated color chart permits a user to determine the glucose concentration in the blood sample.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel method and apparatus for making a jitter transfer function of a phase-locked loop independent from the data transition density. The present invention is further discloses a phase-locked loop which has a loop bandwidth and a loop gain in the passband which are both independent from the received data patterns. By making the loop bandwidth independent of the received data pattern, the noise filtering performance of the phase-locked loop may be optimized.

Abstract: A modular gas control device for use with a compressed gas cylinder (111) comprises a primary module (152) and a secondary module (252) mounted on the primary module. The primary module comprises a first supporting body (154) having a first main gas flow path (155) through the body. The supporting body has input connecting means (156) for mounting the body on the cylinder (111) and connecting the gas flow path (155) to communicate with the gas cylinder through a first flow. path (157). Pressure reducing means (166) provides gas in the flow path at a lower pressure than in the container. Output connecting means (170) downstream of the pressure reducing means provides a low pressure outlet from the main gas flow path. A high pressure shut-off valve (164) is positioned upstream of the pressure reducing means, and filling means (161, 160) allows filling of the cylinder with compressed gas through the input connecting means (156) along a second flow path (159) separate from the input flow path (157).

Abstract: A method of transporting a reticle is disclosed. The reticle is placed in a reticle carrier that has an ionizer. Moreover, the reticle may be attached with a pellicle. The pellicle consists of a pellicle frame and a pellicle film stretched over the pellicle frame. The pellicle frame has included within an absorbent material.

Abstract: Digital image signal interpretation is the process of understanding the content of an image through the identification of significant objects or regions in the image and analysing their spatial arrangement. Traditionally the task of image interpretation required human analysis. This is expensive and time consuming, consequently considerable research has been directed towards constructing automated image interpretation systems. A method of interpreting a digital video signal is disclosed whereby the digital video signal has contextual data. The method comprising the steps of firstly, segmenting the digital video signal into one or more video segments, each segment having a corresponding portion of the contextual data. Secondly, analysing each video segment to provide a graph at one or more temporal instances in the respective video segment dependent upon the corresponding portion of the contextual data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a MEMS sensor including a sense element and a single anchor that supports the sense element arranged in a central hub-like fashion that reduces the effects of thermal stress. Usually, two or more anchors are required to suitably constrain the sense element's motion. The anchor disclosed herein, however, supports the sense element with connection elements having a connection geometry that substantially limits the motion of the sense element to a single-degree-of-freedom. The connection elements may include, for example, converging flexures, an extender bar, or both.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter that exhibits the combined features of superior flexibility, softness, radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough. The proximal region of the shaft includes an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer. The reinforcement layer comprises a braid having one or more metallic members and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments, preferably formed of LCP. The polymer members of the braid provide improved flexibility and softness in addition to high burst pressure. The metallic member(s) of the braid provide improved radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter may also include a longitudinal member extending along the reinforcement layer.