Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of recovering one or more metal species from a raw material, such as waste lithium-ion battery material comprising: providing a molten salt comprising at least one metal hydroxide, providing one or more oxoacidity agents, preferably as a reservoir of one or more oxoacidity agents being in communication with the molten salt, setting the oxoacidity of the molten salt with the one or more oxoacidity agents to an oxoacidity value to dissolve at least one metal species in the molten salt, contacting the raw material with the molten salt, performing at least one of the steps b) and c): b) setting an electrical potential of the molten salt to recover a first metal species to a first metal or first metal oxide, c) adjusting the oxoacidity of the molten salt with the one or more oxoacidity agents to precipitate a first metal oxide, d) optionally performing, for one or more further metal species, the method step a) and/or performing at least one of the method steps b) and c).

Abstract: The disclosure related to the field of language processing. A server (30) is configured to respond to a query associated with a user device (21) by sending, to the user device (21), an indication of an item selected based on semantic importance attributed to grams of text in the query. Attributing semantic importance comprises: in the event that a number of occurrences of the gram in a first document is above an occurrence threshold, determining a gram score for said gram based on said number of occurrences; in the vent that the number of occurrences of the gram in the first document is below the occurrence threshold, determining the gram score based on: (i) said number of occurrences, and (ii) a reference score for the gram based on a number of occurrences of the gram in a reference document different to the at least one first document; and attributing the semantic importance based on the gram score.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of language processing. A server (30) is configured to respond to a query associated with a user device (21) by sending, to the user device (21), an indication of an item selected based on semantic importance attributed to grams of text in the query. Attributing semantic importance comprises: in the event that a number of occurrences of the gram in a first document is above an occurrence threshold, determining a gram score for said gram based on said number of occurrences; in the event that the number of occurrences of the gram in the first document is below the occurrence threshold, determining the gram score based on: (i) said number of occurrences, and (ii) a reference score for the gram based on a number of occurrences of the gram in a reference document different to the at least one first document; and attributing the semantic importance based on the gram score.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of language processing. A server (30) is configured to respond to a query associated with a user device (21) by sending, to the user device (21), an indication of an item selected based on semantic importance attributed to grams of text in the query. Attributing semantic importance comprises: in the event that a number of occurrences of the gram in a first document is above an occurrence threshold, determining a gram score for said gram based on said number of occurrences; in the event that the number of occurrences of the gram in the first document is below the occurrence threshold, determining the gram score based on: (i) said number of occurrences, and (ii) a reference score for the gram based on a number of occurrences of the gram in a reference document different to the at least one first document; and attributing the semantic importance based on the gram score.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring movements, utilizing one or more wireless accelerometers attached to one or more limbs of a human subject for the purpose of determining certain temporal and spatial gestures of the subject.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring movements, utilizing one or more wireless accelerometers attached to one or more limbs of a human subject for the purpose of determining certain temporal and spatial gestures of the subject.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device having a plurality of connection terminals able to be connected to electrodes placed in at least three distinct respective sites in a myocardium; circuits for measuring an intracardiac bio-impedance, comprising circuits for injecting a current and circuits for collecting a voltage at respective poles of a configuration of said connection terminals, and circuits able to deliver at an output a dynamic impedance signal that is a function of the injected current and the collected voltage; and circuits for evaluating an intracardiac volume, receiving at in input the impedance signal and delivering at an output a dynamic value of volume representing an instantaneous absolute value of intracardiac volume.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device having a plurality of connection terminals able to be connected to electrodes placed in at least three distinct respective sites in a myocardium; circuits for measuring an intracardiac bio-impedance, comprising circuits for injecting a current and circuits for collecting a voltage at respective poles of a configuration of said connection terminals, and circuits able to deliver at an output a dynamic impedance signal that is a function of the injected current and the collected voltage; and circuits for evaluating an intracardiac volume, receiving at in input the impedance signal and delivering at an output a dynamic value of volume representing an instantaneous absolute value of intracardiac volume.

Abstract: A rate responsive implantable pacemaker generates a metabolic demand parameter which is converted into a corresponding metabolic indicated parameter. The parameter is used to determine certain characteristics related to an exercise period and the patient, including exercise duration and intensity. These characteristics are used to dynamically calculate an exercise recovery period during which the pacing rate is elevated above a rate indicated by the metabolic parameter. Preferably, fuzzy logic circuitry is used for this purpose.

Abstract: A rate responsive pacemaker with improved response to exercise onset includes a detector for detecting a metabolic parameter indicative of the patient's metabolic demand. The metabolic demand parameter derived therefrom is analyzed either using a heart rate sensitive zero crossing detector or a derivative calculator and used to generate an optimized pacing rate.

Abstract: A rate responsive implantable pacemaker generates a metabolic demand parameter such as a thoracic impedance which is converted into a corresponding metabolic indicated parameter. During the conversion, intermediate parameters, such as either tidal volume and respiration rate, or a derivative of the metabolic demand parameter are used by a cross-check circuit to insure that artefacts due for example to stroke volume noise are eliminated. The peak limiter is used to limit the metabolic indicated rate to an acceptable range. Both protection circuits use fuzzy logic components.

Abstract: A rate responsive pacemaker senses an instantaneous metabolic indicative parameter such as minute volume and monitors this parameter over an extended time period of 30 days. A corresponding cumulative rate control parameter is generated. The cumulative rate parameter is converted into a metabolic pulsing rate for generating pulses in accordance with a set of physical activity parameters.

Abstract: A diagnostic device makes use of knowledge based rule system for making a prognosis of a cardiac malfunction based on operation parameters and/or patient characteristics received from a cardiac implant. The device generates a symptoms vector from the information received from the implant, and using the expert rules to generate an appropriate prognosis. Both pathological problems and programming problems may be detected in this manner.

Abstract: An electronic pacemaker generating pacing signals includes both a metabolic rate responsive sensor monitoring a physiological parameter and an activity rate responsive sensor monitoring movement of a patient's body during exercise. The measurements from each of the sensors are used to develop a corresponding rate signal and the two signals are combined to generate a dual sensor rate used to determine the timing of the pacing signals. The physiological parameter may be for example minute volume variation while the body movement may be monitored for example by using an accelerometer. The activity rate responsive sensor output is preferably used as an indication of a transition of a level of exercise, when a faster change in the pacing rate is desirable.

Abstract: A rate responsive pacemaker measures a metabolic demand parameter of a patient. The metabolic demand parameter is converted to a corresponding metabolic indicated rate which determines the pulse rate of the pacer. The converting is based on a profile dependent on the predicted anaerobic threshold level of the patient, as well as his or her age and physical fitness.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly and accurately dispensing measured amounts of powdered material from a vibratory feeder with a shaker rod extending through an orifice at the discharge end of the feeder and which rod undergoes reciprocal movement in response to vibration of the feeder to regulate the advancement of the powdered material. Alternate forms of control algorithms are employed in association with a computer to determine the optimum rate of feed and drive level for a given powder and feeder arrangement to result in a specific final weight within an acceptable tolerance for each fill cycle.

Abstract: Coagulation is detected in a fluid sample such as blood which has been inserted into a cartridge and operated on by an actuator mechanism. The cartridge may be of either of two types: a plunger sensor cartridge wherein a plunger assembly is reciprocated in a predetermined manner within the fluid sample and the descent of the plunger assembly is sensed to determine coagulation conditions, and a gas flow cartridge wherein gas is passed through the fluid sample to transmit liquid in bubbles and the accumulation of the coagulating liquid from the bubbles is sensed to detect coagulation. An actuator mechanism operates with either one or both types of cartridges to create the conditions under which coagulation can be detected and to sense the coagulation detection conditions. The actuator mechanism reciprocates the plunger assembly and forces gas through the liquid sample to create the bubbles.

Abstract: A gas flow cartridge in which to conduct analytical coagulation tests on a sample of fluid such as blood includes a tube-like member and a resilient flexible membrane having a slit formed therethrough to divide the tube-like member into an upper reaction chamber in which the test takes place and into a lower reagent chamber which initially contains reagent to be mixed with the sample of liquid upon which the test is to be conducted. The contents of the reagent chamber are forced through the slit in the resilient flexible membrane due to the flexing of the membrane around the slit when pressure is applied. Once the reagent is in the reaction chamber with the sample of fluid, a flow of gas is forced upward through the slit in the membrane during the analytical test.

Abstract: Coagulation is detected in a fluid sample contained in either a gas flow cartridge or a plunger sensor cartridge, either one of which may be inserted in an actuator mechanism which has the capability of acting on either type of cartridge. Coagulation is detected in the gas flow cartridge by optically sensing the accumulation of coagulating liquid in a foam member at the top of the reaction chamber. In the plunger sensor cartridge, a plunger assembly is raised and released to descend through the sample of liquid in the bottom of the reaction chamber. The plunger assembly descends more slowly upon an increase in the viscosity of the fluid sample due to coagulation. Both cartridges include a lower reagent chamber, an upper reaction chamber, and means initially sealing and thereafter communicating the contents from the reagent chamber to the reaction chamber.