Abstract: The invention provides an automated hand hygiene/infection control monitoring sensor-based system suitable for improving hand hygiene and multiple infection control measures and ensuring compliance by health care workers as well as visitors to hospitals and clinics. The use of biometric identification devices such as cameras for face recognition and profiling, microphones for voice recognition, etc. permit highly accurate identification without the use of removable identification devices such as identification badges which may include bar codes, magnetic strips or wireless devices such as RFIDS. Identification badges are removable and hence susceptible to being lost, misplaced, etc. Visitors are typically not assigned identification badges and hence enforcement of hand hygiene policies is minimal.

Abstract: The invention provides an automated hand hygiene/infection control monitoring sensor-based system suitable for improving hand hygiene and multiple infection control measures and ensuring compliance by health care workers as well as visitors to hospitals and clinics. The use of biometric identification devices such as cameras for face recognition and profiling, microphones for voice recognition, etc. permit highly accurate identification without the use of removable identification devices such as identification badges which may include bar codes, magnetic strips or wireless devices such as RFIDS. Identification badges are removable and hence susceptible to being lost, misplaced, etc. Visitors are typically not assigned identification badges and hence enforcement of hand hygiene policies is minimal.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for effectively implementing a patient's specific wishes (advance directives) regarding medical care even in a setting where the patient is incapacitated or is unable to communicate directly with care providers. In one implementation an Advance Directives portable combined identification unit device or equivalent device is employed to register and access a patient's wishes concerning limitations on health care measures to be applied when the patient is unresponsive. The patient's Advance Directives and identification material such as biometric information may be stored on a server (including the Cloud) or on a Personal Data Containment System device such as a RFID-enabled chip, a flash drive, a phone Application, etc. The Advance Directives information can be accessed by an automated code robot device which may result in alterations to protocol-driven medical procedures such as CPR and defibrillation.

Abstract: The invention provides an automated hand hygiene/infection control monitoring sensor-based system suitable for improving hand hygiene and multiple infection control measures and ensuring compliance by health care workers as well as visitors to hospitals and clinics. The use of biometric identification devices such as cameras for face recognition and profiling, microphones for voice recognition, etc. permit highly accurate identification without the use of removable identification devices such as identification badges which may include bar codes, magnetic strips or wireless devices such as RFIDS. Identification badges are removable and hence susceptible to being lost, misplaced, etc. Visitors are typically not assigned identification badges and hence enforcement of hand hygiene policies is minimal.

Abstract: A multi-connector block device for retaining A/V cable plugs for easier insertion and removal from corresponding ports in electronic devices. The device may include a body portion with a cable end and a plug end. The cable end preferably has a cable hole therein, although the cable end may have individual holes for each A/V cable to be retained by the device. The plug end preferably has at least two plug holes therein. The body portion has a hollow which extends from the cable hole to the plug holes. The device also includes at least two plug-retaining sections formed by the hollow. The plug-retaining sections are each sized and shaped to retain an A/V cable plug, such that a connector prong of the plug extends from the corresponding plug hole of the body when the plug is retained by the corresponding plug-retaining section.

Abstract: A method for overcoming a stiction condition in a disk drive is disclosed.

Abstract: A spin up procedure for use with a DC brushless motor uses a variable rotor position sampling interval during the early stages of rotor acceleration. Prior to applying a drive current to the motor, the present position of the rotor with respect to the stator is sensed. Once the initial rotor position is known, a selected drive current state is applied to the stator coil windings to initiate motion of the rotor. While the rotor accelerates, rotor position samples are repeatedly taken to provide the needed position feedback for commutation purposes. The rotor position samples are taken using a decreasing sampling interval during the rotor acceleration phase. Preferably, the rotor position update rate roughly tracks the increasing rotational velocity of the rotor during the spin up operation.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a condition, such as the presence of electrical power, at a remote location and for generating a telephone call on to a telephone line that delivers to a central control unit notification of a change in the monitored condition in the form of a set of unique identifying signals. According to the method, the condition is monitored at the remote location and is sensed for changes in the condition from a first state to a second state. Responsive to a change in the condition to the second state, the telephone line is tested and a line availability signal generated. Responsive to indicia of line availability, the line is selectively seized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information, such as power consumption, to a subscriber over an electronic network in response to commands provided by the subscriber. The apparatus includes a remote unit which detects and stores the power consumption information, a subscriber device, i.e., a telephone, for generating request commands and a control device which tracks the information. The subscriber using the subscriber device, feeds the request commands via the network to the control device. The control device responds to the commands by directing the remote unit to feed its stored power consumption information onto the network to the control device. The control device then processes the information and indicates the result back to the subscriber.

Abstract: A sharps disposal apparatus is provided for reducing contaminated medical sharps into unrecognizable, ordinary waste. The disposal apparatus comprises a disposal unit including a disposer, disposable waste receptacle, and sterilant recycling system. During the destruction and sterilization operation, the sterilant recycling system introduces sterilant into the disposer to sterilize the contaminated medical sharps while the disposer is grinding the sharps into small fragments. Once the medical waste is reduced to small fragments and is sterilized, the reduced waste is deposited in the disposable waste receptacle. Excess disinfectant flows through the waste receptacle and is recovered by a reservoir to be recycled. After the waste receptacle is full, the waste receptacle is easily removed from disposal unit, without the reduced medical waste coming into contact with human hands, and is disposed as ordinary waste.

Abstract: An integrated servo circuit that controls the spin motor and voice coil motor of a hard disk drive in response to digital commands that are generated by a microprocessor based controller chip. The servo chip contains a spin motor control circuit and a voice coil control circuit that control the speed of the spin motor and the position of the actuator arm, respectively. The spin motor and voice coil motor control circuits are coupled to a digital to analog converter which converts the digital commands from the controller chip into analog control signals which are utilized to control the spin motor and voice coil motor. Additionally, the servo chip has an analog to digital converter to convert analog signals, such as the servo burst signals, to digital bit strings that relayed to the controller chip. The controller chip and servo chip communicate through a 16 bit synchronous serial port.

Abstract: A cemented carbide composition is disclosed that consists essentially of a carbide of a refractory metal selected from Group 4, Group 5, and Group 6 metals and mixtures thereof and a binder selected from one of the foregoing refractory metals and from 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of an iron group metal. A process for producing these materials is also disclosed which comprises forming an intimate admixture of the desired refractory metal carbide, the desired refractory metal, an iron group metal, a paraffin wax and a volatile mixing aid. Thereafter, the mixing aid is removed by heat. The resulting powder particles are compacted to a predetermined shape and heated at a temperature sufficient to remove the wax and thereafter are heated at a temperature above the melting point of the catalyst and thereafter elevated in temperature to achieve suitable sintering.