Abstract: A stringed instrument plectrum being made primarily from a material with desirable edge properties and from one or more secondary materials with desirable flexibility, density, and or tactile qualities. The primary material is formed so that there is one or more central recesses that are then filled by the secondary material in order to modify the flexibility and or tactile nature of the plectrum while maintaining the edge properties of the primary material and keeping the central section of the plectrum a generally uniform thickness.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device and process designed to accelerate the maturation of stringed musical instruments, composed of but not limited to a broad spectrum audio generator coupled with one or more fasteners via one or more armatures dimensioned to allow easy installation, secure attachment, and easy uninstallation from the stringed musical instrument.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly is provided that includes two sections, the first section may be contoured and the second section may be a converging and diverging section that is downstream from the second section in the direction of gas flow. The contoured section, with a range of bend angles, allows for non-line-of-sight cold spray deposition, thereby providing location-specific control of the cold spray deposition process.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device and process designed to accelerate the maturation of stringed musical instruments, composed of but not limited to a broad spectrum audio generator coupled with one or more fasteners via one or more armatures dimensioned to allow easy installation, secure attachment, and easy uninstallation from the stringed musical instrument.

Abstract: A plectrum sheath made of a rigid material designed to retain a single plectrum, having a thin wide opening at the top and a closure at the bottom. Two clip springs are built into the device due to the nature of its fabrication. These clip springs provide downward spring tension that holds a plectrum firmly in place once the plectrum is fully inserted into the plectrum sheath.

Abstract: A medical device inspection system includes a console and a flexible imaging scope. The console includes a housing, a video processor, a light source, a visual display on the housing, and an outlet with two ports. The flexible imaging scope is removably connected to the console via the outlet and includes a CMOS image sensor, an optical fiber bundle, and a connector assembly mounted to a proximal end of the imaging scope. The connector assembly includes an electrical image connector and a light source connector, which plug into the two ports of the outlet to connect the flexible imaging scope to the console.

Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a turbine engine includes an airfoil with an outer wall having a pressure side and a suction side, the airfoil extending axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge to define a chord-wise direction and also extending radially between a root and a tip to define a span-wise direction. An aperture and at least one slot can define at least a portion of a release plane extending through the outer wall.

Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a turbine engine includes an airfoil with an outer wall having a pressure side and a suction side, the airfoil extending axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge to define a chord-wise direction and also extending radially between a root and a tip to define a span-wise direction. An aperture and at least one slot can define at least a portion of a release plane extending through the outer wall.

Abstract: Manufacturing companies deliver large quantities of products every day to multiple customers through different modes of transportation. The variety of products and the spread of manufacturing possibilities creates a complex cost management problem. The system used the mathematical framework of a directed graph to create a mathematical structure that captures dimensions within which the manufacturing facilities operate to deliver thousands of products to customers spread across various parts of the country. By assigning the most cost effective manufacturing facility to the most profitable and most probable demands, it ensures that the overall manufacturing network is optimized for maximum profit not just cost minimization. The solution design for the capacity optimization platform combines capacity and price to maximize profitability.

Abstract: A computerized aggregation system including a computer, a display controlled by the computer, and networking hardware connecting the computer to a network, the computer programmed so that the aggregation apparatus: connects to at least one Internet-connected service; and authenticates itself with each said Internet-connected service; and retrieves input from said Internet-connected service; and connects to at least one appliance computer; and then authenticates itself with each said appliance computer; and retrieves input from each said appliance computer; and parses the input from each said Internet-connected service and parses the input from each said appliance computer so as to produce an aggregation of the parsed input; and renders the aggregation as output.

Abstract: A catheter for collecting fluid such as blood from a vessel such as a coronary sinus of a patient has an elongated, flexible tubular portion and an annular sealing member spaced from a distal end of the tubular member. A proximal end of the tubular member is adapted to be connected to a source of suction for applying suction to a collection lumen of the tubular member. The distal end is placed in a blood vessel with the sealing member spaced from opposing surface of the vessel in an absence of a suction applied to the collection lumen. Suction is applied to the collection lumen in an amount sufficient to draw blood from the vessel through the fluid inlet and into the collection lumen and further sufficient to urge the opposing surface of the vessel to migrate into sealing engagement with the sealing member.

Abstract: A machine and methods, the machine including a computer, networking hardware connecting the computer to the Internet, and a memory storing executable instructions which when executed, enable the end-user computer system to perform the operations of: connecting to a plurality of sites on the Internet; authenticating itself with each of the sites; retrieving information from each of the sites; parsing the information from each of the sites so as to produce an aggregation of the parsed information, wherein the aggregation is produced at the end-user computer system; and rendering the aggregation as output.

Abstract: An aggregation apparatus including: a computer, an output device, a display controlled by the computer, and networking hardware connecting the computer to a network, the computer programmed so that the aggregation apparatus: communicates with at least one computer via the Internet to obtain peer-to-peer information corresponding to real time data shared by at least one other computer; processes the peer-to-peer information to produce an aggregation; and then renders the aggregation as output; and then presents at least some of the aggregation and at least one of at least some of the information in a customizable user interface, at least some of the aggregation in association with an automatically generated score that represents a level of communication activity, and at least some of the information in a user interface which includes an automatically generated list of contacts and their associated recent activity.

Abstract: A catheter for collecting fluid such as blood from a vessel such as a coronary sinus of a patient has an elongated, flexible tubular portion and an annular sealing member spaced from a distal end of the tubular member. A proximal end of the tubular member is adapted to be connected to a source of suction for applying suction to a collection lumen of the tubular member. The distal end is placed in a blood vessel with the sealing member spaced from opposing surface of the vessel in an absence of a suction applied to the collection lumen. Suction is applied to the collection lumen in an amount sufficient to draw blood from the vessel through the fluid inlet and into the collection lumen and further sufficient to urge the opposing surface of the vessel to migrate into sealing engagement with the sealing member.

Abstract: This invention reduces the fuel consumption of the modern day power plant by lowering the main steam condenser operating pressure. The main steam condenser is a heat exchanger located in the power plant steam system for condensing steam. The main steam enters the main steam condenser, flowing around the tubes with the coolant flowing thru the tubes, condensing the steam. This invention replaces the present condenser once thru cooling water system with a refrigerant cooling system. The much lower normal temperature and greater high heat absorption rate of the refrigerant, lowers the main steam condenser operating pressure much below that of the present cooling water system. The lower condenser pressure increases steam flow, extracting more energy from the steam, increasing the plant-operating efficiency. This invention combines the conventional steam cycle with the conventional refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant compressor is driven by the main steam turbine which creates the binary cycle.

Abstract: This invention absorbs available heat from the flue gas of an existing building's heating system and heat from the sun. The heat is absorbed and stored in a heat-collecting sphere of special design. The absorbed heat collected in the sphere is transferred, by the conventional refrigeration cycle, to the heat exchanger located at the air inlet to the building heating system. The refrigerant liquid is sprayed into the collecting sphere, as it absorbs heat, it evaporates and changes into a gas. The refrigerant compressor transfers the gas from the heat-collector to the heat exchanger. The existing heater fan draws air across the heat exchanger finned coil removing heat from the refrigerant. The refrigerant gas gives up heat and is condensed. The heated air combines with the existing furnace air to heat the existing building. The refrigerant liquid from the heat exchanger is transferred to the heat-collecting sphere spray nozzles.

Abstract: A catheter for collecting fluid such as blood from a vessel such as a coronary sinus of a patient has an elongated, flexible tubular portion and an annular sealing member spaced from a distal end of the tubular member. A proximal end of the tubular member is adapted to be connected to a source of suction for applying suction to a collection lumen of the tubular member. The distal end is placed in a blood vessel with the sealing member spaced from opposing surface of the vessel in an absence of a suction applied to the collection lumen. Suction is applied to the collection lumen in an amount sufficient to draw blood from the vessel through the fluid inlet and into the collection lumen and further sufficient to urge the opposing surface of the vessel to migrate into sealing engagement with the sealing member.

Abstract: A catheter for collecting fluid such as blood from a vessel such as a coronary sinus of a patient has an elongated, flexible tubular portion and an annular sealing member spaced from a distal end of the tubular member. A proximal end of the tubular member is adapted to be connected to a source of suction for applying suction to a collection lumen of the tubular member. The distal end is placed in a blood vessel with the sealing member spaced from opposing surface of the vessel in an absence of a suction applied to the collection lumen. Suction is applied to the collection lumen in an amount sufficient to draw blood from the vessel through the fluid inlet and into the collection lumen and further sufficient to urge the opposing surface of the vessel to migrate into sealing engagement with the sealing member.

Abstract: This invention absorbs available heat from the flue gas of an existing building's heating system and heat from the sun. The heat is absorbed and stored in a heat-collecting sphere of special design. The absorbed heat collected in the sphere is transferred, by the conventional refrigeration cycle, to the heat exchanger located at the air inlet to the building heating system. The refrigerant liquid is sprayed into the collecting sphere, as it absorbs heat, it evaporates and changes into a gas. The refrigerant compressor transfers the gas from the heat-collector to the heat exchanger. The existing heater fan draws air across the heat exchanger finned coil removing heat from the refrigerant. The refrigerant gas gives up heat and is condensed. The heated air combines with the existing furnace air to heat the existing building. The refrigerant liquid from the heat exchanger is transferred to the heat-collecting sphere spray nozzles.

Abstract: This invention reduces the fuel consumption of the modern day power plant by lowering the main steam condenser operating pressure. The main steam condenser is a heat exchanger located in the power plant steam system for condensing steam. The main steam enters the main steam condenser, flowing around the tubes with the coolant flowing thru the tubes, condensing the steam. This invention replaces the present condenser once thru cooling water system with a refrigerant cooling system. The much lower normal temperature and greater high heat absorption rate of the refrigerant, lowers the main steam condenser operating pressure much below that of the present cooling water system. The lower condenser pressure increases steam flow, extracting more energy from the steam, increasing the plant-operating efficiency. This invention combines the conventional steam cycle with the conventional refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant compressor is driven by the main steam turbine which creates the binary cycle.