Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to intravascular devices, systems, and methods having a core wire with multiple flattened sections. In one aspect, a sensing guide wire is provided. The guide wire includes a first flexible elongate member; a sensing element positioned at a distal portion of the first flexible elongate member; and a second flexible elongate member coupled to the first flexible elongate member such that the second flexible elongate member extends distally from the first flexible elongate member; and wherein a distal portion of the first flexible elongate member includes at least two flattened sections, and wherein the first and second flexible elongate members are coupled along a portion of one of the at least two flattened sections. In other aspects, methods of forming a sensing guide wire are provided.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire that includes separate sections with engaged core components. For example, a sensing guide wire can include a proximal portion having a proximal core member and at least one proximal electrical conductor and a distal portion coupled to the proximal portion, the distal portion having a distal core member, a sensing element, and at least one distal electrical conductor coupled to the sensing element, wherein engagement structures of the proximal and distal core members are engaged and wherein the at least one distal electrical conductor is coupled to the at least one proximal electrical conductor such that the at least one proximal electrical conductor is in electrical communication with the sensing element. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.

Abstract: Drug delivery balloons have densely packed crystals of small particle size of the drug thereon. An amorphous drug coating is applied to a balloon surface and annealed to provide the crystals. The balloon surface is nucleated to induce formation of drug crystals in the annealing step to provide the crystals in high density with small size.

Abstract: A general high-throughput screening (HTS) process using an atomic force microscope (AFM) to detect and measure molecular recognition events. The AFM is used to measure changes in molecular complex height, friction, shape, elasticity or any other relevant parameters that report a molecular recognition event. In addition, the force involved in molecular recognition and bonding is directly measured using the technique of force spectroscopy. In one embodiment, a flow chamber is used to introduce molecules and assay their effect on a molecular interaction occurring between molecules on the AFM probe and a surface. In some cases the surface may be an introduced microparticle. In a second embodiment, the sample is a solid phase array of molecules that is interrogated by a functionalized AFM probe, and the effects of introduced agents at each molecular address in the array is measured by force spectroscopy.

Abstract: A method for forming a plate-mat bag using a form, fill, and seal machine and the resultant bag. The film used to form the bag is oriented so that the product side layer is not a critical barrier layer. The top most portion of the bag is unsealed forming a tab. Below the top most portion, a peelable upper seal is utilized so that a consumer can destroy the upper seal using the tab and tear open the bag along slits made in the product side layer. This results in an easy open package which when opened can serve as a plate.

Abstract: The interrogation of extremely small sample volumes can be accomplished with the present invention. Provided are probes having disposed thereon a plurality of domains forming an array, which is suitably a nanoarray. Also provided are methods of detecting molecules and molecular interaction events, retrieving and analyzing analytes, and delivering substances to cells or tissues using probes of the invention.

Abstract: A device for performing polymerase chain reactions using cooling members not used in conventional thermal cyclers. A device for performing polymerase chain reactions may include a sample holder configured to receive a nucleic acid sample, a heating system configured to raise the temperature of the sample, a cooling system configured to lower the temperature of the sample, and a controller configured to operably control the heating system and the cooling system to cycle the device through a desired time-temperature profile. The cooling system may comprise at least one cooling member selected from a synthetic jet ejector array, a vibration-induced droplet atomization system, a vibrating diaphragm system, a piezo fan, a Cold Gun, a microchannel cooling loop, and a Cool Chip.

Abstract: A device for performing biological analysis may include at least one reaction chamber configured to receive at least one sample for biological analysis and a thermal system configured to modulate a temperature of the at least one reaction chamber to cycle a temperature of the at least one biological sample. The thermal system may include a cooling system configured to cool the at least one reaction chamber. The cooling system may include a cooling fluid source positioned distally from the at least one reaction chamber, the cooling fluid source being in flow communication with at least one conduit configured to flow cooling fluid from the cooling fluid source to at least one location in thermal communication with the at least one reaction chamber.

Abstract: A method is provided of forming a multi-pack container assembly having at least two containers joined together by a channel. The method includes the steps of providing sheet having a barrier layer thermoforming the sheet into a multi-pack container assembly having a plurality of containers wherein each container comprises a flange and the flanges of adjacent containers are connected by an engineered area of weakness or channel. Resultant containers can be used for low-moisture, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat food products.

Abstract: A telecommunications system gateway architecture comprises at least one service logic module communicatively coupled to a plurality of mediation layer modules, each respective mediation layer module adapted to interface the at least one service logic module with a respective different network domain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a network interface adapter for connecting a client computer to a computer network that includes a reduced hardware media access controller (MAC) coupled through a physical interface (PHY) to the network physical link. A significant portion of the MAC functionality is implemented as software within the processor of the host client computer. The hardware portion of the preferred MAC implementation provides memory for buffering communications between the PHY and the client computer. The preferred hardware aspects of a MAC in accordance with the present invention also includes a register interface for register-driven communications between the hardware portion of the MAC and the software portions of the MAC implemented within the client computer. By implementing most of the MAC functionality in software within the host computer, the preferred MAC provides lower cost, lower power consumption, and generally greater flexibility.

Abstract: The present invention is a generator control system where each generator in the system has an associated controller. Each controller communicates generator data or information with the other controllers in the generator control system. Each of the controllers includes a digital signal processor for analyzing the generator signal from the associated generator and information from the other controllers in the generator control system. The controllers each compare their generator signal with a system average and adjust the associated generator until the generators all supply equal amounts of power to the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a network interface adapter for connecting a client computer to a computer network that includes a reduced hardware media access controller (MAC) coupled through a physical interface (PHY) to the network physical link. A significant portion of the MAC functionality is implemented as software within the processor of the host client computer. The hardware portion of the preferred MAC implementation provides memory for buffering communications between the PHY and the client computer. The preferred hardware aspects of a MAC in accordance with the present invention also includes a register interface for register-driven communications between the hardware portion of the MAC and the software portions of the MAC implemented within the client computer. By implementing most of the MAC functionality in software within the host computer, the preferred MAC provides lower cost, lower power consumption, and generally greater flexibility.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for selectively removing objects from a surface utilizing a probe. The probe is scanned over the surface utilizing a greater and greater relative amount of force so that a certain number of the objects are removed from the surface. The force required to remove the objects from the surface can be calculated utilizing Hook's law and the spring constant of the probe. After removal of the objects that have a relatively weaker binding affinity with the surface, the remaining objects can be harvested, characterized, and subjected to further study.

Abstract: The present invention is a generator control system where each generator in the system has an associated controller. Each controller communicates generator data or information with the other controllers in the generator control system. Each of the controllers includes a digital signal processor for analyzing the generator signal from the associated generator and information from the other controllers in the generator control system. The controllers each compare their generator signal with a system average and adjust the associated generator until the generators all supply equal amounts of power to the system.

Abstract: The present invention is a dedicated apparatus for the formation of array that includes one or more deposition domains comprised of one or more deposition materials. The present invention may include an X, Y controller, an X, Y translation stage, a loading substrate, a deposition substrate, a Z controller, and a deposition probe. A computer controls all of the relative positions of each of the components. Furthermore, the present invention utilizes a humidity control system to create a capillary bridge between the probe and the substrate for transferring the deposition material between the loading substrate, the deposition probe, and the deposition substrate.

Abstract: A solid state power control includes a sensor to detect when the power control is not connected to a power source. Disconnecting the power source turns off an output stage in the power control. If the power control receives a command to turn on its output stage while the power source is disconnected from the power control or otherwise not present, logic in the power control prevents the command from reaching the output stage. When the power source is connected or reconnected to the power control, the output stage remains off until the logic detects a zero crossing in the power source, thereby preventing high inrush currents into the power control. Suppressing high inrush currents caused by power source reconnection ensures that any current trip circuitry in the power control will be activated only by short circuit conditions and not by abnormal inrush currents.

Abstract: The interrogation of extremely small sample volumes can be accomplished with the present invention. Provided are probes having disposed thereon a plurality of domains forming an array, which is suitably a nanoarray. Also provided are methods of detecting molecules and molecular interaction events, retrieving and analyzing analytes, and delivering substances to cells or tissues using probes of the invention.

Abstract: The invention is a method for the formation and analysis of novel miniature deposition domains. These deposition domains are placed on a surface to form a molecular array. The molecular array is scanned with an AFM to analyze molecular recognition events and the effect of introduced agents on defined molecular interactions. This approach can be carried out in a high throughput format, allowing rapid screening of thousands of molecular species in a solid state array. The procedures described here have the added benefit of allowing the measurement of changes in molecular binding events resulting from changes in the analysis environment or introduction of additional effector molecules to the assay system. The processes described herein are extremely useful in the search for compounds such as new drugs for treatment of undesirable physiological conditions.

Abstract: Implementing an investment strategy to be executed for an individual investor in a single financial contract, covering a plurality of assets. The assets underlying the financial contract are managed using at least a tactical and a strategic asset allocation model. Information regarding risk tolerance, investing time horizon and investment needs of the investor is used to determine (i) a combination of tactical and strategic asset allocation models to manage the assets in the contract; and (ii) a relative percentage of allocation of the assets between the tactical and strategic asset allocation models.