Abstract: A system and method for recovering high-quality biomethane (RNG) from biogas sources is provided. The gas stream is compressed and liquids are separated from the gas stream at elevated pressure and reduced temperature. The compressing is performed using a plurality of compressors operating in parallel with common control set points. The system and method improve upon conventional practices and yield a biomethane product which meets strict gas pipeline quality specifications. Additionally, the system and method are an improvement to the overall methane recovery efficiency for biogas processing facilities.

Abstract: A crafting apparatus (10) includes a working portion (22) and a base portion (20). The working portion (22) includes a lower surface (32) and an upper surface (34). The upper surface (34) defines a working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system (X-Y-Z). The base portion (20) includes a lower surface (24) and an upper surface (26). The lower surface (32) of the working portion (22) is disposed adjacent to the upper surface (26) of the base portion (20). The lower surface (24) defines a non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system (XS-YS-ZS). The upper surface (34) of the working portion (22) extends relative to the lower surface (24) of the base portion (20) at an angle (?22) for angularly-offsetting the working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system (X-Y-Z) from the non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system (XS-YS-ZS). Methods (200, 300) are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately measuring changes in biomarker sensitive hydrogel volume and shape due to exposure to various biomarkers include a system for identifying one or more dimensional changes in a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment. The system includes a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment and configured to dimensionally change in response to interaction with predefined biomarkers. The system additionally includes an ultrasound transducer for locating and identifying one or more characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel and a computer system in electrical communication with the ultrasound transducer. The computer system is configured to receive characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel from the ultrasound transducer and determine dimensional changes of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel based on the received characteristics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately measuring changes in biomarker sensitive hydrogel volume and shape due to exposure to various biomarkers include a system for identifying one or more dimensional changes in a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment. The system includes a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment and configured to dimensionally change in response to interaction with predefined biomarkers. The system additionally includes an ultrasound transducer for locating and identifying one or more characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel and a computer system in electrical communication with the ultrasound transducer. The computer system is configured to receive characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel from the ultrasound transducer and determine dimensional changes of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel based on the received characteristics.

Abstract: A technology is described for multipoint tissue elastic property measurement. An example method (700) 700 includes generating a treatment map (710) of an anatomical region that shows focal points within the anatomical region to be exposed to Focused Ultrasound (FUS) pulses; acquiring a reference MR-ARFI image (720) of the anatomical region containing the focal points using the treatment map; acquiring an active MR-ARFI image (730) for each of the focal points in the anatomical region during exposure of the focal points to the FUS pulses using the treatment map; interleaving the reference MR-ARFI image and active MR-ARFI images (740) to create a combined image of the anatomical region and the focal points; and calculating a tissue displacement measurement (750) for the focal points exposed to the simultaneous and/or rapidly interleaved FUS pulses using the combined image of the anatomical region and the focal points exposed to the simultaneous FUS pulses.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for cannulation of blood vessels. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly including two linear transducer arrays oriented perpendicular to each other to form a “T” shape to provide ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patient's body in two perpendicular planes. The sensor assembly may have graphic markings on an exterior surface thereof to facilitate orientation of the sensor assembly on the patient and guidance of a needle toward a desired target vessel during the cannulation procedure. The sensor assembly may also include an associated structure to cooperate with a reference location element to place, align and secure the sensor assembly to the patient's skin at a desired location.

Abstract: A composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprising a substrate layer having one or more thin-film waveguide channels deposited thereon. Binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin-film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide includes integral light input coupling means adapted to the thin-film channels. Light coupling means may include a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has an input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end, propagating it by total internal reflection. Propagated light is coupled evanescently into the thin film across a spacer layer of precise thickness with a lower index of refraction than that of the input waveguide or the thin-film waveguide.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, component kit and protective sheath for cannulation of blood vessels are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly to provide ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patient's body in two perpendicular planes. The sensor assembly may have graphic markings on an exterior surface thereof to facilitate orientation of the sensor assembly on the patient and guidance of a needle towards a desired target vessel during the cannulation procedure. The sensor assembly may also include associated structure to cooperate with a reference location element to place, align and secure the sensor assembly to the patient's skin at a desired location.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for forming a fabric for an architectural opening covering. The apparatus comprises a joining section, an accumulator, a cutting station, and a stacker. The joining section is configured to join together first, second, third and fourth material strips into a fabric strip. The accumulator is configured to accumulate the fabric strip upon leaving the joining section. The cutting station is configured to sever the fabric strip into an upstream fabric strip and a first downstream fabric strip. The stacker is configured to join the first downstream fabric strip with a second downstream fabric strip to form the fabric.

Abstract: A transmission wave field imaging method, comprising the transmission of an incident wave field into an object, the incident wave field propagating into the object and, at least, partially scattering. Also includes the measuring of a wave field transmitted, at least in part, through an object to obtain a measured wave field, the measured wave field based, in part, on the incident wave field and the object. Additionally, the processing of the measured wave field utilizing a parabolic approximation reconstruction algorithm to generate an image data set representing at least one image of the object.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide and optionally has multi-well features and improved evanescent field intensity. The preferred biosensor and assay method have the capture molecules immobilized to the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling chemistry. Additionally, the coatings used to immobilize the capture molecules provide reduced non-specific protein adsorption.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide with an integral semicylindrical lens, and has multi-analyte features and calibration features, along with improved evanescent field intensity. A preferred embodiment of the biosensor and assay method has patches of capture molecules, each specific for a different analyte disposed adjacently within a single reservoir. The capture molecules are immobilized to the patches on the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling of thiol groups on the capture molecules to photo-affinity crosslinkers, which in turn are coupled to the waveguide surface or to a nonspecific binding-resistant coating on the surface. The patches of different antibodies are produced by selectively irradiating a portion of the waveguide surface during the process of coupling the photo-affinity crosslinkers, the selective irradiation involving a mask, a laser light source, or the like.

Abstract: A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for cannulation of blood vessels. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly including two linear transducer arrays oriented perpendicular to each other to form a “T” shape to provide ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patient's body in two perpendicular planes and optionally determine flow direction within the at least one blood vessel. The sensor assembly may be disposed within a graphically marked cover to facilitate orientation of the sensor assembly on the patient and guidance of a needle towards a desired target vessel during the cannulation procedure. The cover may also include associated structure to cooperate with a reference location element to place, align and secure the sensor assembly to the patient's skin at a desired location.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for cannulation of blood vessels. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly including two linear transducer arrays oriented perpendicular to each other to form a “T” shape, to provide ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patient's body in two perpendicular planes. The sensor assembly may be disposed within an elongated, flexible, protective sheath and secured to a frame to facilitate orientation of the sensor assembly on the patient and guidance of a needle towards a desired target vessel during the cannulation procedure. The sensor assembly may also include associated structure to cooperate with a reference location element to place, align and secure the sensor assembly to the patient's skin at a desired location.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for cannulation of blood vessels. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly including two linear transducer arrays oriented perpendicularly to each other to form a “T” shape to provide substantially simultaneous ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patient's body in two perpendicular planes. The apparatus may also include one or more Doppler transducer elements to transmit and receive one or more Doppler beams at an incident angle beneath one of the transducer arrays and in alignment therewith to determine blood flow direction and velocity within the at least one blood vessel. The sensor assembly may be disposed within an elongated, flexible, protective sheath and secured to a graphically marked cover to facilitate orientation of the sensor assembly on the patient and guidance of a needle towards a desired target vessel during the cannulation procedure.

Abstract: Improvements in a biosensor are disclosed. A biosensor includes a waveguide, at least a portion of which is substantially planar. One or more reservoirs may be formed adjacent to a chemistry-bearing surface of the waveguide. The biosensor may include a gasket to form a seal between the waveguide and side walls of the reservoir. A sample solution may be introduced into the reservoir or otherwise onto the surface of a waveguide through an input port. Waveguides of varying composition (e.g., plastic, quartz, glass, or other suitable waveguide materials) may be used in the biosensor. Also disclosed is a sled-shaped waveguide, which includes a planar portion and a lens at an end thereof and angled relative thereto for coupling light into the waveguide.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for cannulation of blood vessels. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly including two linear transducer arrays oriented perpendicular to each other to form a “T” shape, to provide substantially simultaneous ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patient's body in two perpendicular planes. The apparatus may also include one or more Doppler transducer elements to transmit and receive one or more Doppler beams at an incident angle beneath one of the transducer arrays and in alignment therewith to determine blood flow direction and velocity within the at least one blood vessel. The sensor assembly may be disposed within an elongated, flexible, protective sheath and secured to a graphically marked cover to facilitate orientation of the sensor assembly on the patient and guidance of a needle towards a desired target vessel during the cannulation procedure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide with an integral semi-cylindrical lens, and has multi-analyte features and calibration features, along with improved evanescent field intensity. A preferred embodiment of the biosensor and assay method have patches of capture molecules each specific for a different analyte disposed adjacent within a single reservoir. The capture molecules are immobilized to the patches on the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling of thiol groups on the capture molecules to photo-affinity crosslinkers which in turn are coupled to the waveguide surface or to a non-specific-binding-resistant coating on the surface. The patches of different antibodies are produced by selectively irradiating a portion of the waveguide surface during the process of coupling the photo-affinity crosslinkers the selective irradiation involving a mask, a laser light source, or the like.

Abstract: Improvements in a biosensor of the type having reservoirs or wells for analyzing a biological liquid are disclosed. A biosensor (190) includes a waveguide (164) placed between a plurality of members such as plates (100, 186), at least one of the members (100) being formed to define the walls (132, 134, 136) of the reservoirs where the liquid is biologically analyzed. The walls of the reservoirs are made of an inert, opaque material such as a metal. Although the biosensor may include a gasket (162), the gasket is associated with the members and waveguide in such a way (e.g. by recessing the gasket into a channel formed into a metal plate) so that the gasket does not form any significant portion of the reservoir wall. Waveguides of varying composition (e.g. plastic, quartz or glass) may be associated with the members to form the biosensor. The metal plate of the biosensor has input and output ports for infusing, draining, or oscillating the liquid to be analyzed in the reaction reservoir.