Abstract: A manifold for use in a medicament dispenser device for the delivery of medicament powder from an open blister pocket of a blister pack comprises a body, the body defining a chimney having a chimney inlet and a chimney exit for directing airflow from said chimney inlet to the chimney exit; the body further defining a chamber having a chamber inlet and a chamber exit, wherein the chimney exit and the chamber inlet lie side-by-side each other such that when the open blister pocket of the blister pack is positioned adjacent thereto the airflow is directed from the chimney exit to the chamber inlet via the open blister pocket to entrain the medicament powder and enable transport thereof in the airflow from the chamber inlet to the chamber exit, and wherein one or more bleed holes are provided between the chimney and the chamber such that bleed airflow is able to be directed into the chamber to disruptively impact the airflow that transports the entrained medicament powder.

Abstract: A pump including a pressure compensated piston is disclosed. In some embodiments, the pump includes a piston with an annular body and an annular sealing element disposed radially outward of the annular body. The annular body has a radially-facing outer surface adjacent an inner surface of the sealing element and an axially-facing surface with an inlet port. A flowpath extends between the inlet port and the radially-facing outer surface of the annular body.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatuses for inserting pedicle screws in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include an image correction algorithm. In various embodiments, an original image of a region of interest of a patient including a pedicle is created with an X-ray emitter and an X-ray detector. Due to the X-ray emitter not being aligned orthogonal to the X-ray detector, the original image will be skewed. Using a known location and orientation of the X-ray detector, a location and orientation of the X-ray emitter provided by a position monitoring system, and the original image, a processing system can execute the image correction algorithm to provide a corrected image to allow a surgeon to properly insert a pedicle screw along the axis of the pedicle while viewing an accurate corrected image in real time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for acquiring a pre-approval from a responsible party and receiving funds from a financial account related to the pre-approval in the healthcare field are described herein. A method for collecting payment from an individual for services rendered by a provider is disclosed. The method includes verifying an individual's eligibility for benefits, estimating an individual responsibility amount, acquiring authority from the individual for up to the individual responsibility amount on at least one financial account held by the individual, submitting one or more claims to one or more payer entities requesting compensation for the services rendered by the provider, deducting an amount from the at least one financial account held by the individual, and transferring the deducted amount to the provider.

Abstract: A process for forming a vertically conducting semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a topside surface and a backside surface. The semiconductor substrate serves as a terminal of the vertically conducting device for biasing the vertically conducting device during operation. The process also includes forming an epitaxial layer extending over the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate but terminating prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a recessed region along a periphery of the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming an interconnect layer extending into the recessed region but terminating prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect layer electrically contacts the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate in the recessed region to thereby provide a topside contact to the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A MANET may include a plurality of MANET nodes each comprising a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith for establishing a wireless communication link with an adjacent MANET node based upon a time division multiple access (TDMA) implementation. The TDMA implementation may use a repeating scheduling of a plurality of temporally spaced-apart time slot units within a control epoch to thereby reduce a latency of communication.

Abstract: A social networking environment supporting collaborative social interaction is disclosed. The social networking environment may be implemented by a computing system including a number of client computing devices and a server system that communicate with each other via a communications network. User profile and geographic location information associated with users of the social networking environment may be shared with each other. Users may request commentary from other users regarding a target user. Users may receive and fulfill requests for commentary to facilitate social interactions between two or more other users. Users may define an inner-circle of users from which commentary may be requested by that user.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston includes a piston body of steel and including a crown portion, a pair of skirt portions and a pair of pin boss panels. The crown portion has an upper combustion surface, a lower surface having an undercrown surface area and an outer annular ring belt with at least one ring groove. The pin boss panels depend from the crown portion and extend in spaced relationship with one another between the skirt portions. Each pin boss panel includes a pin boss having a pin bore, and the pin bores are aligned with one another for receiving a wrist pin. Each pin boss panel also has at least one recess located vertically between the associated one of the pin bores and the crown portion to increase the undercrown surface area for improved cooling of the crown portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and system for providing diagnosis information to a requestor. A request module receives information related to a request from the requestor for diagnosis and to facilitate communication to at least one expert resource. A receive module receives at least one response to the request for diagnoses from the at least one expert resource. A select module in communication with the receive module analyzes the at least one response and, based on the analysis, communicates information to at least one predetermined destination. A method is disclosed where a request module receives a request, a receive module receives a plurality of responses to the request and from the plurality of responses, a select module selects a subset of responses and communicates the subset of responses to a predetermined destination.

Abstract: Organic, small pore area materials (“SPMs”) are provided comprising open cell foams in unlimited sizes and shapes. These SPMs exhibit minimal shrinkage and cracking. Processes for preparing SPMs are also provided that do not require supercritical extraction. These processes comprise sol-gel polymerization of a hydroxylated aromatic in the presence of at least one suitable electrophilic linking agent and at least one suitable solvent capable of strengthening the sol-gel. Also disclosed are the carbonized derivatives of the organic SPMs.

Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a frame that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the frame is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. For example, the frame may define a multi-sided cross-section with an inner edge thereof configured to engage a chamfered edge of the consumer electronic device. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations.

Abstract: Amplifier architectures are provided for current sensing applications. An amplifier includes a load device, an operational amplifier, a current source, and a bipolar transistor. The operational amplifier has a first input terminal connected to a first input node that receives an input current, and a second input terminal connected to a second input node that receives a reference voltage. The current source is connected to an output of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier, the current source, and the bipolar transistor form a feedback loop that generates and maintains a bias voltage on the first input node based on the reference voltage applied to the second input node. The bipolar transistor amplifies the input current received on the first input node, and generates an amplified input current. The load device converts the amplified input current to an output voltage, wherein the output voltage is used to sense the input current.

Abstract: A method and system comprising measuring concentrations of first and second isotopologues of a gas of interest within a first cavity that is sealably in contact with a soil location through an inlet membrane, and the first cavity being defined by chamber walls having openings covered by outlet membranes. Reference concentrations of the first and second isotopologues are measured in a second cavity having a closed bottom, the second cavity being defined by chamber walls having openings covered by more outlet membranes. Relative flux of the isotopologues can be calculated using the measured concentrations.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to systems and methods for securing adjacent vertebrae in a fixed spacial relationship. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one interbody repair implant, at least one implantable vertebral frame and at least one retention member. In this embodiment, the interbody repair implant is sized to fit in an intervertebral space. The at least one implantable vertebral frame is configured to span between the adjacent vertebrae. The frame is also configured to attach to each of the adjacent vertebra to postoperatively maintain a desired spatial relationship between the vertebrae. The frame has at least one internal aperture there-through for providing visual access to at least a portion of the interbody repair implant, both intra-operatively and post-operatively. Methods of fusing two or more adjacent vertebral bodies in a portion of a spinal column are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise, the pallet container comprising a frame structure defining a base, and a periphery, wherein one or more side restraints are provided to be mounted on-board the pallet to inhibit movement of windshields internally of the pallet container, wherein a said side restraint comprises a flexible fluid containing device. In an alternative realisation the pallet container is expandable in height and length and/or collapsible by means of opposed pivoted side frames and a connecting frame.

Abstract: A milestone manager receives a milestone message from a first application. The milestone message includes information associated with a periodic event. The milestone manager applies a rule based process on the milestone message information and sends a trigger to a second application in response to the milestone. The trigger initiates processing of the second application in response to the milestone.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing impedance measurements on a subject. The apparatus includes a first processing system for determining an impedance measurement procedure and determining instructions corresponding to the measurement procedure. A second processing system is provided for receiving the instructions, using the instructions to generate control signals, with the control signals being used to apply one or more signals to the subject. The second processing system then receives first data indicative of the one or more signals applied to the subject, second data indicative of one or more signals measured across the subject and performs at least preliminary processing of the first and second data to thereby allow impedance values to be determined.

Abstract: A monohydroxy cyclic phosphonate substantially free of polyhydroxy phosphonate is employed as a reactive flame retardant in flexible polyurethane.

Abstract: A merchandising system and method allow a retailer to determine whether a retail store is in compliance with an electronic retail merchandising program implemented by the retailer. A merchandising display configured to display an item of merchandise at the retail store is provided. A control module is configured to provide information relating to the item of merchandise when a customer interacts with the item of merchandise and to communicate with a network to report data relating to the merchandising display. The retailer may analyze the data obtained from the merchandising system and reported to the network in various ways to determine whether a retail store is in compliance with the electronic retail merchandising program.

Abstract: A system and method for determining approval of a multi-currency transaction between a customer and a merchant over a network. The system includes a customer computer which is connected to a communication network, a merchant computer which is connected to the communication network, and a server connected to both the customer computer via the communication network and to the merchant computer via the communication network. The customer computer includes a first set of data which contains an amount the customer is willing to pay the merchant for a product in a first currency. The merchant computer includes a second set of data which contains a product price at which the merchant agrees to sell the product in a second currency. The server receives the first set of data and the second set of data. The server then converts the amount in the first currency into a converted amount in the second currency.