Abstract: This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

Abstract: A bag structure includes a bag body including side walls having inner and outer surfaces, and the bag body further includes a top end and a bottom end. A closure member is coupled to the top end for opening and closing the bag body, and an adhesive member is secured to the bag body. The adhesive member includes a reinforced section and an adhesive section. The adhesive member is configured to retain the top end of the bag body in a folded over relationship until the adhesive member is severed along the reinforced section.

Abstract: A persistent p-type group II-VI semiconductor material is disclosed. The group II-VI semiconductor includes atoms of group II elements, atoms of group VI elements, and one or more p-type dopants. The p-type dopant concentration is sufficient to render the group II-VI semiconductor material in a single crystal form. The semiconductor resistivity is less than about 0.5 ohm·cm, and the carrier mobility is greater than about 0.1 cm2/V·s. Group II elements include zinc, cadmium, the alkaline earth metals such as beryllium, magnesium calcium, strontium, and barium, and mixtures thereof. Group VI elements include oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and mixtures thereof. P-type dopants include, but are not limited to, nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, chalcogenides of the foregoing, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to various sets of unit operations for treating aqueous effluents and logic for designing and effecting the treatment. The unit operations include stabilization of subterranean waters, sequential oxidation steps to alter selected target materials, oxidation to break up emulsions prior to removal of the emulsion components, and intense oxidation to break up difficult-to-remove organic target materials.

Abstract: A method of improving scavenging operation of a two-stroke internal combustion engine. The exhaust pressure of the engine is analyzed to determine if there is a pulsation frequency. Acoustic modeling is used to design an absorber. An appropriately designed side branch absorber may be attached to the exhaust manifold.

Abstract: A trocar fixation device includes a cannula and an elongate tube mounted onto and coupled to the exterior surface of the cannula with the distal end of the cannula extending distally beyond the distal end of the elongate tube. The elongate tube includes a plurality of slits cut at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tube. The trocar fixation device is activated by rotating the proximal-end region of the elongate tube in a first direction and is deactivated by rotating the proximal-end region of the elongate tube in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. Activation of the trocar fixation device compresses the material positioned between adjacent slits and forces the material radially outwardly, away from the exterior surface of the cannula, thereby forming ridges. Deactivation of the trocar fixation device returns the exterior surface of the elongate tube to a substantially smooth condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling data messaging in a wireless communications system is provided in one embodiment. Wireless messaging is enabled by having a host service send enable messages to a mobile communications device. Once an enable message has been received at the mobile communications device, the generation of an event causes the mobile communications device to send a fetch message to the host service to retrieve messages.

Abstract: An optical mouse images as an array of pixels the spatial features of generally any micro textured or micro detailed work surface below the mouse. The photo detector responses are digitized and stored as a frame into memory. Motion produces successive frames of translated patterns of pixel information, which are compared by autocorrelation to ascertain the direction and amount of movement. A hold feature suspends the production of movement signals to the computer, allowing the mouse to be physically relocated on the work surface without disturbing the position on the screen of the pointer. This may be needed if the operator runs out of room to physically move the mouse further, but the screen pointer still needs to go further. The hold feature may be implemented with an actual button, a separate proximity detector or by detecting the presence of a characteristic condition in the digitized data, such as loss of correlation or velocity in excess of a selected limit.

Abstract: A pressure regulator comprising a body portion having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a flow passage positioned therebetween is provided. A valve member and a valve seat are positioned in the flow passage. A spring is coupled to the valve member to urge the valve member along an axis towards the valve seat, wherein the flow passage is substantially closed when the valve member engages with the valve seat. The spring has an extended segment in contact with a fixed surface, whereby the extended segment restricts displacement of the spring in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: The invention is related to polynucleotide-based anthrax vaccines. In particular, the invention is plasmids operably encoding Bacillus anthracis antigens, in which the naturally-occurring coding regions for the B. anthracis antigens have been modified for improved translation in human or other mammalian cells through codon optimization. In certain embodiments, the coding regions are also modified so as to remove potential N-linked glycosylation sites. B. anthracis antigens which are useful in the invention include, but are not limited to protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and fragments, variants or derivatives of either of these antigens. The invention is further directed to methods to induce an immune response to B. anthracis in a mammal, for example, a human, comprising delivering a plasmid encoding a codon-optimized B. anthracis antigen as described above. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising plasmids encoding a codon-optimized B.

Abstract: Thermal transfer coating comprising a plurality of metal bodies and a plurality of interstitial elements disposed between and connecting the plurality of metal bodies to one another. The metal bodies comprise an inner portion comprising a first metal and an outer portion comprising an alloy comprising the first metal and a second metal. The interstitial elements comprise the alloy of the outer portion.

Abstract: A contrast media injection system includes detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes.

Abstract: A method of developing a laser sensitive lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser and deactivated under a safe light or in the dark, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution preferably under white light. Alternatively, the plate is developed with ink and/or fountain solution or the likes off press, and then mounted on press for lithographic printing.

Abstract: A speech processing method including the step of identifying prerecorded audio comprising an original speech segment and a corresponding original noise segment. An audio stream can be generated from the prerecorded audio. The audio stream can comprise a stream speech segment and a stream noise segment. The stream speech segment can have approximately a same duration as the original speech segment. The stream noise segment can have a longer duration than the original noise segment. The audio stream can be conveyed to a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine can automatically determine an end of utterance condition based upon the stream noise segment. The original noise segment can be of insufficient duration for the speech recognition engine to determine the end of utterance condition. Responsive to the determining of the end of utterance condition, the stream speech segment can be speech recognized.

Abstract: The shop on-demand (OD) purchasing method includes an on-line shopping list compiled via a supplemental communications channel (cell phone, land line, Internet, etc.) or compiled via the shop OD VOD process. The list is displayed on the interactive TV (STB-enabled TV) via VOD menu or asset metadata or VOD-VA assets from the cable head end (HE) or shop OD client application operative at the cable HE. To motivate the user-buyer, complementary advertisements for related purchased-ordered goods are (a) compiled at the shop OD server and (b) displayed to the user via metadata or VOD-VA assets. External marketing incentives are sent via supplemental channels (discounts, time-limited offers, limited inventory offers and special sales). A transaction ID is sent to the cable HE with a promoted goods tag. At the shop OD server, a report for promoted goods is created for vendors.

Abstract: The VOD purchasing method enables a user-viewer to purchase goods via a shop OD (on-demand) process on an interactive TV (STB enabled TV). The user selects shop OD goods and the STB-TV creates a transaction ID code with the STB-ID code or the cable head end (HE) or shop OD client application at the HE creates the trans-ID. The trans-ID is displayed on the user's TV. If created at the HE, the trans-ID is sent as metadata or configured VA to the STB-TV. Supplemental communications channels may deliver carry trans-ID to the user (cell phone, VoIP, land-line telephone, Internet or fax). User profile data is gathered via supple-comm channel lists purchasing limits (time, day, monetary, and PIN). The shop OD computer server limits purchases thereby. Financial fraud and abuse parameters are set at the OD server as are parental control parameters.

Abstract: Structured thermal transfer article comprising a plurality of metal bodies and a plurality of interstitial elements disposed between and connecting the plurality of metal bodies to one another. The metal bodies comprise an inner portion comprising a first metal and an outer portion comprising an alloy comprising the first metal and a second metal. The interstitial elements comprise the alloy of the outer portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method of formulating a batch comprising at least two chemicals. An embodiment is disclosed wherein a feedforward algorithm can be used to control the target blend. Subsequently a feedback closed loop control loop algorithm is provided for a multivariant blend. Use of this approach allows for a continuously autoreplenished and controlled blend. Also disclosed is the ability to control via feedforward and feedback algorithms a fast responding control mode that allows for the elimination of a container. This approach will allow for “one pass” blending with control. The controller implements an automated fault detection and correction system, thereby identifying necessary maintenance prior to failure. If failure does occur the signature recognition allows rapid analysis and correction thus maximizing tool availability.

Abstract: A prosthetic device for golfing having an elongate resilient body with an axis, a first end, a second end and an exterior golf club support surface extending along the axis between the first end and the second end. Gripping members are positioned on opposed sides of the golf club support surface adjacent the first end. The gripping members are adapted to grip a golf club shaft and maintain the golf club shaft engaged with the golf club support surface. A coupling is provided at the first end which is adapted to be secured to a terminal device worn by the user. The coupling element may be either a male end or female end attached to the first end.

Abstract: A multi-channel process enrolls user-viewers via VOD inputs and supplemental communications channels (cell phone, VoIP, land-line telephone, Internet or fax). Goods are advertised for the shop on-demand (OD) process via user's interactive TV (STB enabled TV set). A buy-now command is sent with the STB-ID code to the cable head end (HE) and shop OD client application operative thereat and to the shop OD computer server. If the set ID code matches the approved list at the HE, a purchase-confirmation is sent to the user via the STB-TV from the cable HE. One methodology sends a local confirm via metadata or specially configured VA asset. Supplemental communications channels handle supplemental confirms to the user. If not enrolled, supplemental communications network gathers user-viewer profile data. The profile lists user-selectable supple-comm message format (email, voice, text, fax). Non-enrollees may be given discounts to enroll. PINs are also used to control purchasing processes.