Abstract: A medical needle shield apparatus is provided which includes an extensible shield having a first segment and a second segment extending therefrom. The second segment includes an opening configured for clearance of a medical needle of a medical needle device during attachment of the extensible shield to the medical needle device. The second segment defines a planar surface adjacent a distal portion thereof. The planar surface is configured to engage the needle for disposing the shield in an extended position. In alternate embodiment, the medical needle shield apparatus has a syringe having a needle hub supporting a needle. The first segment articulates from a collar disposed about the needle hub. The collar includes a pair of latches. The opening is configured for travel about the needle to facilitate extension of the shield from a retracted position to an extended position. The second segment further includes a proximal fulcrum that engages the needle to facilitate extension of the shield.

Abstract: A needle safety apparatus is disclosed which includes an inner bearing disposed within an outer bearing. The inner bearing is moveable to extend telescopically in a first interior space defined by the outer bearing. A second interior space is defined by the inner bearing, while extendable linkage segments connect the hub to the inner bearing. A hub retains the proximal end of a needle, while the distal end of the needle extends through the second interior space. A wedging portion is movable with the inner bearing and pivots to secure the distal end of the needle within the second interior space when the distal end of the needle is retracted therethrough. A latch may be formed in the outer bearing to obstruct the first interior space and prevent the inner bearing from retracting therethrough.

Abstract: A medical needle shield apparatus is provided which includes an extensible shield having a first segment and a second segment extending therefrom. The second segment includes an opening configured for clearance of a medical needle of a medical needle device during attachment of the extensible shield to the medical needle device. The second segment defines a planar surface adjacent a distal portion thereof. The planar surface is configured to engage the needle for disposing the shield in an extended position. In alternate embodiment, the medical needle shield apparatus has a syringe having a needle hub supporting a needle. The first segment articulates from a collar disposed about the needle hub. The collar includes a pair of latches. The opening is configured for travel about the needle to facilitate extension of the shield from a retracted position to an extended position. The second segment further includes a proximal fulcrum that engages the needle to facilitate extension of the shield.

Abstract: A method for upgrading one of several computer programs stored on an application server in a distributed computing environment while permitting the application server to continue to service requests for other computer programs. In accordance with the method, the application server is prevented from receiving any new requests for the computer program. The system then waits until all current requests serviced by the application server for that computer program have ended. Then, after acknowledging completion of upgrading of the computer program, the application server is permitted to receive any new requests for the computer program. Apparatuses for carrying out the inventive method are provided.

Abstract: A safety needle device for protecting a user against a needle-stick injury. This needle device includes a needle housing having a distal housing opening. A needle is disposed within the needle housing and has a distal needle portion which extends away therefrom through the distal housing opening. An elongate sheath assembly surrounds the needle within the needle housing. A trigger member retains the sheath assembly within the needle housing against a force urging the sheath assembly towards the distal housing opening. The trigger member is sized and configured to release the sheath assembly from retention to allow the sheath assembly to transition towards and out of the distal housing opening via the force. This causes the sheath assembly to enclose the distal needle portion and protect the user against the needle stick injury.

Abstract: Systems and methods receive a digital signal and generate an analog signal indicative thereof. In one embodiment, a system includes a DAC that receives a multi-bit digital signal, generates at least two analog signals each indicative of the value of the multi-bit digital signal, and filters two or more of the at least two analog signals. In another embodiment, a system includes a DAC that receives digital input signals at an input data rate and outputs analog signals indicative of the digital signals to a signal conditioning stage at an output data rate different than the input data rate.

Abstract: A needle safety apparatus is disclosed which includes an inner bearing disposed within an outer bearing. The inner bearing is moveable to extend telescopically in a first interior space defined by the outer bearing. A second interior space is defined by the inner bearing, while extendable linkage segments connect the hub to the inner bearing. A hub retains the proximal end of a needle, while the distal end of the needle extends through the second interior space. A wedging portion is movable with the inner bearing and pivots to secure the distal end of the needle within the second interior space when the distal end of the needle is retracted therethrough. A latch may be formed in the inner bearing to obstruct the first interior space and prevent the inner bearing from retracting therethrough.

Abstract: A needle safety apparatus is disclosed which includes an inner bearing disposed within an outer bearing. The inner bearing is moveable to extend telescopically in a first interior space defined by the outer bearing. A second interior space is defined by the inner bearing, while extendable linkage segments connect the hub to the inner bearing. A hub retains the proximal end of a needle, while the distal end of the needle extends through the second interior space. A wedging portion is movable with the inner bearing and pivots to secure the distal end of the needle within the second interior space when the distal end of the needle is retracted therethrough. A latch may be formed in the outer bearing to obstruct the first interior space and prevent the inner bearing from retracting therethrough.

Abstract: A method of caching contextually variant objects in a common cache. The method can include identifying an object type for a requested object and determining whether the requested object has an object type which is specified among an enumerated set of cacheable object types which can be stored in the common cache. Importantly, each cacheable object type can have an associated context. If the requested object has an object type which is specified among the enumerated set of cacheable object types, a cache key can be computed for the requested object using cache key formulation rules for the associated context. Finally, the requested object can be retrieved from the common cache using the formulated cache key. Notably, in one aspect of the invention, the method also can include the step of invalidating individual objects in the common cache according to corresponding cache policies of associated contexts.

Abstract: A safety needle device for protecting a user against inadvertent needle-stick injury. This needle device includes a needle housing having a distal housing opening. An arcuate groove extends within the needle housing terminating adjacent the distal housing opening. A needle is disposed within the arcuate groove having a distal needle portion extending away from the needle housing through the distal housing opening. An elongate sheath assembly surrounds the needle within the groove. A biasing member is disposed within the needle housing and is configured to move the sheath assembly throughout the length of the arcuate groove and through the distal housing opening. The sheath assembly then completely enclose the distal needle portion.

Abstract: A medical needle shield apparatus is provided that includes a shield that is extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of a needle. A binding member is disposed within the shield and defines binding surfaces that form an aperture configured for slidable receipt of the needle between the retracted position and the extended position. The binding member includes at least one drag inducing member extending therefrom that is configured for slidable engagement with the needle between the retracted position and the extended position such that the at least one drag inducing member engages the needle to create a drag force with the needle. The drag force causes rotation of the binding member relative to a longitudinal axis of the needle such that the binding surfaces engage the needle to prevent slidable movement of the needle in the extended position of the shield.

Abstract: Systems and methods receive a digital signal and generate an analog signal indicative thereof. In one embodiment, a system includes a DAC that receives a multi-bit digital signal, generates at least two analog signals each indicative of the value of the multi-bit digital signal, and filters two or more of the at least two analog signals. In another embodiment, a system includes a DAC that receives digital input signals at an input data rate and outputs analog signals Indicative of the digital signals to a signal conditioning stage at an output data rate different the input data mute.

Abstract: A medical needle shield apparatus is provided which is slidably movable along a medical needle from a proximal position where a distal end of the needle is exposed, to a distal position where the shield protects the distal end of the needle. The medical needle shield apparatus includes a binding member having an aperture through which the needle passes. The binding member also has binding surfaces for binding to a medical needle. The shield apparatus also includes a retainer integral with the binding member and in communication with the needle for temporarily retaining the binding surfaces in a non-binding position relative to the needle. The shield apparatus also includes a positioning member for positioning the binding surfaces to secure the shield to the needle when a portion of the retainer in contact with the needle is advanced past the distal end of the needle. A housing may be included for enclosing the shield apparatus.

Abstract: A medical needle shield apparatus is provided which is slidably movable along a medical needle from a proximal position where a distal end of the needle is exposed, to a distal position where the shield protects the distal end of the needle. The medical needle shield apparatus includes a binding member having an aperture through which the needle passes. The binding member also has binding surfaces for binding to a medical needle. The shield apparatus also includes a retainer integral with the binding member and in communication with the needle for temporarily retaining the binding surfaces in a non-binding position relative to the needle. The shield apparatus also includes a positioning member for positioning the binding surfaces to secure the shield to the needle when a portion of the retainer in contact with the needle is advanced past the distal end of the needle. A housing may be included for enclosing the shield apparatus.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, methods are included, which may be implemented by employing a program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for anonymously integrating an object oriented software component with message oriented clients. A method is included for anonymously integrating object-oriented software components and message-oriented clients wherein a first object-oriented component performs the steps of performing invocations which are serviced by one of message-oriented clients and object-oriented components and servicing the invocations which are performed by one of the message-oriented clients and the object-oriented components such that the first object-oriented component is unaware that the invocations are performed and serviced by one of the message-oriented clients and the object-oriented components.

Abstract: A safety needle device for protecting a user against needle-stick injuries. This needle device includes a needle housing having a distal housing opening. A needle is disposed within the needle housing and has a distal needle portion which extends away therefrom through the distal housing opening. An elongate sheath assembly surrounds the needle within the needle housing. A biasing member is engaged to the sheath assembly and is configured to apply a force thereupon towards the distal housing opening. A trigger member is engaged to the biasing member for retaining the sheath assembly within the needle housing against the force urging the sheath assembly towards the distal housing opening. The trigger member is sized and configured to release the biasing member. This allows the sheath assembly to transition towards and out of the distal housing opening via the force to thereby enclose the distal needle portion therewith.

Abstract: An offset calibration system includes an analog to digital converter having a first full-scale range with a first offset compensation circuit; a digital to analog converter having a second full-scale range with a second offset compensation circuit; the digital to analog converter having its output connected to the input of the analog to digital converter during calibration of the digital to analog converter; and a range adjustment circuit for accumulating a predetermined number of analog to digital output values and dividing the accumulated values by a preselected power of 2 in the ratio of the voltage corresponding to the analog to digital converter least significant bit to the voltage corresponding to the digital to analog converter least significant bit.

Abstract: A safety needle device for protecting a user against inadvertent needle-stick injury. This needle device includes a needle housing having a distal housing opening. An arcuate groove extends within the needle housing terminating adjacent the distal housing opening. A needle is disposed within the arcuate groove having a distal needle portion extending away from the needle housing through the distal housing opening. An elongate sheath assembly surrounds the needle within the groove. A biasing member is disposed within the needle housing and is configured to move the sheath assembly throughout the length of the arcuate groove and through the distal housing opening. The sheath assembly then completely enclose the distal needle portion.

Abstract: A safety needle device for protecting a user against a needle-stick injury. This needle device includes a needle housing having a distal housing opening. A needle is disposed within the needle housing and has a distal needle portion which extends away therefrom through the distal housing opening. An elongate sheath assembly surrounds the needle within the needle housing. A trigger member retains the sheath assembly within the needle housing against a force urging the sheath assembly towards the distal housing opening. The trigger member is sized and configured to release the sheath assembly from retention to allow the sheath assembly to transition towards and out of the distal housing opening via the force. This causes the sheath assembly to enclose the distal needle portion and protect the user against the needle stick injury.

Abstract: A method of caching contextually variant objects in a common cache. The method can include identifying an object type for a requested object and determining whether the requested object has an object type which is specified among an enumerated set of cacheable object types which can be stored in the common cache. Importantly, each cacheable object type can have an associated context. If the requested object has an object type which is specified among the enumerated set of cacheable object types, a cache key can be computed for the requested object using cache key formulation rules for the associated context. Finally, the requested object can be retrieved from the common cache using the formulated cache key. Notably, in one aspect of the invention, the method also can include the step of invalidating individual objects in the common cache according to corresponding cache policies of associated contexts.