Abstract: An electrosurgical method for treating foot ulcer, including diabetic foot ulcer, comprising: positioning an active electrode in close proximity to the ulcer, the active electrode being disposed on a distal end of an electrosurgical shaft; applying a high-frequency voltage potential difference across the active electrode and a return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, the voltage potential being sufficient to generate plasma at the active electrode; and stimulating the ulcer with the active electrode to increase blood flow, remove unhealthy tissue and induce the body's natural healing response.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a request for proposal. The system includes an associative memory including a plurality of data having a plurality of associations. The system also includes an input device in communication with the associative memory. The input device is configured to provide the request for proposal to the associative memory in a format understandable to the associative memory. The associative memory is configured to digest the request for proposal to be included within the plurality of data, wherein a digested request for proposal is formed. The system also includes an analyzer in communication with the associative memory. The associative memory is configured to analyze the digested request for proposal by receiving a query comprising one or more terms, creating relationships among the plurality of data in the associative memory based on the query, and returning an output that includes requirements or other attributes presented in the digested request for proposal based on the query.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for validating content is provided. Data is parsed into at least a first group of data and a second group of data according to a plurality of types of content present in the data. The data is ingested into an associative memory. The associative memory forms a plurality of associations among the data. The associative memory is configured to be queried based on at least one relationship selected from a group consisting of direct relationships and indirect relationships among the data. The associative memory comprises a content-addressable structure, the content-addressable structure comprising a memory organization in which the data is configured to be accessed by the content as opposed to being configured to be accessed by addresses for the data. The first group of data and the second group of data are communicated in a graphical representation.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for identifying a qualified candidate from among a plurality of initial candidates in an efficient and reliable manner. In the context of a system, an associative memory is provided that is configured to store information regarding a plurality of candidate entities and at least one requisition entity. The associative memory is also configured to store information regarding attributes associated with candidate and requisition entities. Further, the associative memory is configured to store information regarding associations between the entities. The system also includes a receiver module configured to receive one or more query terms. The system may also include an identification module configured to identify the qualified candidate based upon the query terms and the associations between the candidate entities and the at least one requisition entity that are provided by the associative memory.

Abstract: A system for analyzing unstructured data. The system includes an associative memory including a plurality of data in associated units having a plurality of associations. The associative memory is configured to be queried based on at least one relationship selected from the group that includes direct relationships and indirect relationships among the plurality of data. The associative memory further includes a content-addressable structure. The system also includes an analyzer in communication with the associative memory, wherein the analyzer is configured to parse and arrange the plurality of data into comparable units in response to a query. The analyzer is configured to establish an ordered list ranking the comparable units in an order of precedence based on the query.

Abstract: A method for processing at least partially unstructured data is provided. The method includes receiving, at a data processing tool, at least partially unstructured data from at least one data source, and processing the at least partially unstructured data to generate at least partially structured data that includes tagged data, wherein processing the at least partially unstructured data includes at least one of processing the at least partially unstructured data using an associative memory application, and processing the at least partially unstructured data using a regular expression processing program. The method further includes transmitting the at least partially structured data to a main application, and incorporating the at least partially structured data into the main application based at least in part on the tagged data, wherein incorporating the at least partially structured data includes at least one of including and excluding data based on the existence, content and/or type of a tag.

Abstract: A set of mission attributes is identified, and a computer is used to apply Autoassociative Memory to a plurality of patterns to predict at least one of a mission outcome and a future event that, given the set of mission attributes, might occur during execution of a mission.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for identifying interchangeable parts in parts catalogs. In one illustrative embodiment, a set of catalogs is searched for first attributes for a set of parts using an intelligent agent. The intelligent agent compares the first attributes for the set of parts to a set of second attributes for a selected part. A weight is assigned to each of the first attributes based on whether each of the first attributes is correlated to an attribute in the set of second attributes. Each part in the set of parts is ranked using the weight assigned to each attribute in the first attributes. A set of interchangeable parts is identified using the ranking for each part in the set of parts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for identifying interchangeable parts in parts catalogs. In one illustrative embodiment, a set of catalogs is searched for first attributes for a set of parts using an intelligent agent. The intelligent agent compares the first attributes for the set of parts to a set of second attributes for a selected part. A weight is assigned to each of the first attributes based on whether each of the first attributes is correlated to an attribute in the set of second attributes. Each part in the set of parts is ranked using the weight assigned to each attribute in the first attributes. A set of interchangeable parts is identified using the ranking for each part in the set of parts.

Abstract: Historical data is processed to identify possible future hostile activities in high threat environments. Pieces of the historical data are collected in computer-readable memory as memory entities, where the memory entities are categorized according to types of attacks and locations of attacks. The memory entities contain attributes taken from the pieces of historical data. A computer system is used to analyze the memory entities with an Associative Memory, wherein correlations of the attributes of the different memory entities are identified. Patterns are discovered from the correlations. The patterns are made available so future hostile activities can be identified.

Abstract: Methods and devices for deploying biological implants are disclosed. The biological implants can include orthopedic, multi-component ankle implants. The target site can be prepared by fixing a rigid, alignable guide or jig with saw holes to the bone(s). Saws configured to fit through the saw holes can then be inserted through the saw holes to cut the bone(s). The jig can then be removed. Slidable implants can be positioned. Implants needing to be forced into place can be attached to elongated members to gently hold the implant and to provide a non-implant surface on which to apply the force.

Abstract: An electrosurgical method for sterilizing chronic wound tissue, comprising: positioning an active electrode in proximity to the chronic wound tissue; delivering an electrically conductive fluid proximate the active electrode; and applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode in the presence of the electrically conductive liquid sufficient to generate an ionized vapor layer at the active electrode, wherein the ionized vapor layer sterilizes at least a portion of the chronic wound tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical method for treating chronic wound tissue, comprising: positioning an active electrode in close proximity to the chronic wound, the active electrode being disposed on a distal end of an electrosurgical shaft; applying a high-frequency voltage potential difference across the active electrode and a return electrode sufficient to debride and sterilize at least a portion of the chronic wound tissue; and applying a skin graft in the vicinity of the chronic wound tissue.

Abstract: A system for assisting a user in determining a cause of a manufacturing non-conformance situation in a manufacturing application. The system may include an associative memory subsystem that is populated with a plurality of entity types, with each entity type including at least one entity, to form an associative memory. A user input device enables a user to input manufacturing non-conformance information into the associative memory subsystem that causes the associative memory subsystem to perform an initial search. The initial search generates a plurality of the entities that has a primary relevance useful for investigating the manufacturing non-conformance situation. An output device is responsive to the associative memory subsystem presents the plurality of entities found during the initial search to the user.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a non-conformance analysis system may include at least one information storage tool that stores previously generated non-conformance information; a data mining tool that retrieves specific attributes of the previously generated non-conformance information stored in the at least one information storage tool; an associative memory subsystem that is populated with information involving a plurality of entity types, with each entity type including at least one entity, to form an associative memory; and a user input device that enables a user to input a non-conformance query into the associative memory subsystem, that causes the associative memory subsystem to generate all of the entity types and entities that include information useful for investigating the non-conformance query.

Abstract: A non-conformance analysis system may have an associative memory subsystem populated with information involving a plurality of entities defining different attributes of a component, with each entity being categorized under a user defined entity type, the entities and entity types forming an associative memory. A user input device may be used for enabling a user to input a query concerning the component, and to obtain information useful for managing a lifecycle of said component. An associative memory entity analytics engine in communication with the associative memory subsystem, and responsive to said user input device, searches the associative memory using the information provided in the query to retrieve entities helpful to the user in assessing the lifecycle of the component.

Abstract: An electrosurgical method for sterilizing chronic wound tissue, comprising: positioning an active electrode in proximity to the chronic wound tissue; delivering an electrically conductive fluid proximate the active electrode; and applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode in the presence of the electrically conductive liquid sufficient to generate an ionized vapor layer at the active electrode, wherein the ionized vapor layer sterilizes at least a portion of the chronic wound tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical method for treating foot ulcer, including diabetic foot ulcer, comprising: positioning an active electrode in close proximity to the ulcer, the active electrode being disposed on a distal end of an electrosurgical shaft; applying a high-frequency voltage potential difference across the active electrode and a return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, the voltage potential being sufficient to generate plasma at the active electrode; and stimulating the ulcer with the active electrode to increase blood flow, remove unhealthy tissue and induce the body's natural healing response.

Abstract: An electrosurgical method for treating foot ulcer, including diabetic foot ulcer, comprising: positioning an active electrode in close proximity to the ulcer, the active electrode being disposed on a distal end of an electrosurgical shaft; applying a high-frequency voltage potential difference across the active electrode and a return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, the voltage potential being sufficient to generate plasma at the active electrode; and stimulating the ulcer with the active electrode to increase blood flow, remove unhealthy tissue and induce the body's natural healing response.

Abstract: An electrosurgical method for treating foot ulcer, including diabetic foot ulcer, comprising: positioning an active electrode in close proximity to the ulcer, the active electrode being disposed on a distal end of an electrosurgical shaft; applying a high-frequency voltage potential difference across the active electrode and a return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, the voltage potential being sufficient to generate plasma at the active electrode; and stimulating the ulcer with the active electrode to increase blood flow, remove unhealthy tissue and induce the body's natural healing response.