Abstract: An activity area restriction method for restricting an activity area of a robot includes: an area setting information acquisition step of acquiring area setting information notified by a notifier, the area setting information including a range of a predetermined restricted area with a height; an area restriction condition recognition step of recognizing the range of the restricted area, based on the area setting information; and an activity restriction step of restricting activity of the robot with respect to the restricted area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting yearly performance improvement rates for nearly all definable technologies for the first time are provided. In one embodiment, a correspondence of all patents within the U.S. patent system to a set of technology domains is created. From the identified patent sets, the invention may calculate average centrality of the patents in each domain to predict improvement rates, following a patent network-based methodology. Also disclosed is a system to intake a user technology search query and match user intent with the technology domain as well as the corresponding improvement rate.

Abstract: A microporous biocomposite that is suitable for surgical implantation in an avascular environment is provided. The microporous biocomposite includes (1) a polymer scaffold having a thickness less than about 100 ?m and nodal structures that extend to at least one surface of the polymer scaffold and (2) a hydrophilic coating on the polymer scaffold. In some embodiments, the porous scaffold is a microporous biomaterial with nodal structures that extend from a first surface to a second surface of the microporous biomaterial. The hydrophilic coating may be a node and fibril coating. The microporous biocomposite allows for the integration and sustained viability of epithelial cells on the surface thereof as well as tissue integration and the internal colonization of the biomaterial with other cell types, such as keratocytes and fibroblasts. In at least one embodiment, the microporous biocomposite may be incorporated into an artificial corneal implant or in other avascular mesoplants.

Abstract: Artificial corneas suitable for surgical implantation are provided. Embodiments of artificial corneas include an optical an optical element that includes a body having an anterior side and a posterior side, an annular flange extending about the body, the anterior side including an anterior optical surface and the posterior side of the body including a posterior optical surface, and a tissue integration skirt coupled to the optical element, the tissue integration skirt being configured to promote tissue ingrowth, the tissue integration skirt being coupled to the optical element such that at least a portion of a periphery of the annular flange defined between the anterior and posterior sides of the optical element is covered by the tissue integration skirt.

Abstract: An activity area restriction method for restricting an activity area of a robot includes: an area setting information acquisition step of acquiring area setting information notified by a notifier, the area setting information including a range of a predetermined restricted area with a height; an area restriction condition recognition step of recognizing the range of the restricted area, based on the area setting information; and an activity restriction step of restricting activity of the robot with respect to the restricted area.

Abstract: The present invention is an artificial cornea designed to restore vision in patients who are not candidates to receive a natural cornea transplant (allograft). The present device construction involves the use of a biocompatible, non-porous optic disk intimately bonded to one or more anchoring layers of porous polymeric material, and a unique sealing region which enhances sealing of the artificial cornea in the recipient's eye.