Abstract: Methods for manufacturing and using an apparatus for manipulating and analyzing a large number of microscopic samples of a liquid or materials, including cells, in liquid suspension. Parallel through-holes are formed in a platen and loaded with a liquid. Loading may be performed in such a way as to create a gradient, with respect to the position of the through-holes, of the concentration of a particular substance or of another quantity. Mixing of the contents of through-holes may be obtained by bringing filled microwell arrays into contact with each other with registration of individual through-holes.

Abstract: A method and an array filling system for loading a plurality of disparate sample containers, the sample containers comprising an integral structure. Each receptacle is characterized by a hydrophilic surface, and the receptacles are separated by a hydrophobic surface. The system has a liquid transfer device capable of holding liquid and adapted for motion to cause sequential communication of liquid held in the liquid transfer device with successive receptacles of the array by dragging the liquid across the hydrophobic surface.

Abstract: An endoscopic imaging system includes a reusable control cabinet having a number of actuators that control the orientation of a lightweight endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope is used with a single patient and is then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet. The endoscope is coated with a hydrophilic coating that reduces its coefficient of friction and because it is lightweight, requires less force to advance it to a desired location within a patient.

Abstract: Methods for loading a plurality of liquid samples into a through-hole array. Each transfer member of an array of transfer members is positioned for drawing a liquid sample from a distinct well of a microtiter plate. Liquid samples are drawn from wells of the microtiter plate and the array of transfer members is registered with a subset of through-holes of a through-hole array. The liquid samples are then dispensed from the transfer members into through-holes of the through-hole array.

Abstract: A system and method for high throughput screening of fluid samples. A reduced pressure is applied, via an injection valve, to a sample aspiration tube. A first fluid and a second fluid are alternatively aspirated, via the sample aspiration tube, the first fluid for filling a sample loop with samples, the second fluid for flushing the sample aspiration tube. Excess fluid aspirated from the first fluid source and all fluid aspirated from the second fluid source is captured in an inline trap.

Abstract: A method of producing filters using lower unloaded Q factor components than filters with the same performance characteristics but requiring higher unloaded Q factor components is disclosed. The method includes the steps of defining a desired filter characteristic and applying an algorithm which provides a filter having infinite Q factor elements and having a theoretical characteristic corresponding to the desired characteristic transformed to a compensate for the difference between finite Q factor and infinite Q factor elements.

Abstract: An data packet network telephony system provides identification information of an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to a call center terminal and provides a call center agent with the ability to cause an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to display selected web pages and or to synchronize displays between the agent and end user terminals. In one embodiment, customer identification information is provided in-band. In another embodiment, customer identification information is accomplished out of band, in some cases using an identifier of the PSTN gateway as an index into a table to identify an end user terminal. In another embodiment, an agent may enter DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency tones) to push web pages to an end user terminal. In still other embodiments, a second communications link between the end user terminal and the agent's terminal is established, allowing for data sharing/synchronization.

Abstract: A microwave frequency composite resonator comprising a metal housing having an internal surface and defining a resonator cavity, a dielectric member having a top face and a bottom face and a conducting plate. The dielectric member is located within the resonator cavity and the bottom face of the dielectric member directly abuts the internal surface of the metal housing and the conducting plate directly abuts the top face of the dielectric member.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a hinged lid which covers an opening in the top of a rail wagon when it is in a closed position. The apparatus includes a rod rotatably mounted to the top of the wagon along at least part of a free side of the lid opposite or adjacent a hinged side of the lid. An arm is mounted to such rod which bears on the lid and thereby secures the lid in such closed position. There is a rotation device for rotating the rod. The rotation device is operable to rotate the rod and thereby rotate the arm away from the lid so that the lid may be opened.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing and using an apparatus for manipulating and analyzing a large number of microscopic samples of a liquid or materials, including cells, in liquid suspension. Parallel through-holes are formed in a platen and loaded with a liquid. Loading may be performed in such a way as to create a gradient, with respect to the position of the through-holes, of the concentration of a particular substance or of another quantity. Mixing of the contents of through-holes may be obtained by bringing filled microwell arrays into contact with each other with registration of individual through-holes.

Abstract: A method for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets. The droplets are dispensed onto a moving surface and delayed in a delay line in which the droplets hang from the moving surface for at least a specified minimum period of time. A laminate may be spooled onto the moving surface and each droplet may be dispensed onto the laminate. At least one operation is performed on each droplet from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentration, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing. The laminate may then, in certain embodiments, be spooled off the moving surface, processed, and reused.

Abstract: A method of producing filters using lower unloaded Q factor components than filters with the same performance characteristics but requiring higher unloaded Q factor components is disclosed. The method includes the steps of defining a desired filter characteristic and applying an algorithm which provides a filter having infinite Q factor elements and having a theoretical characteristic corresponding to the desired characteristic transformed to a compensate for the difference between finite Q factor and infinite Q factor elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing synchronization of a transaction in a data processing system where the transaction involves a plurality of agents participating in the transaction and one coordinator for coordinating the transaction. The agents include at least a middleman which coordinates a set of at least one of the agents. A vote is sent indicating the availability or non-availability to commit from each of the agents to the coordinator. The coordinator determines a commit or backout decision when all the votes are received. A Not Known decision message is sent from the middleman to each of the agents in the set available to commit if the decision is not available at the middleman because of a failure. The Not Known decision message stops resynchronization of each of the available agents. If the middleman has responsibility for resynchronization then, on availability of the decision at the middleman, a resynchronization message is sent to each of the available agents.

Abstract: A method of moving records, stored on a recovery log, which are associated with units of work which have waited for a long time is described. Units of work which have waited for a long time, such as those which are in-doubt have their records copied from a recovery log to a secondary log. When the earliest-written record for this in-doubt unit of work has been copied, a new record called a fork record is written on to the recovery log which has two effects: to subtract the log records currently on the recovery log for this unit of work from the recovery log and to refer to the copied records written on the secondary log. The new record achieves this using two pointers, a pointer to point to the most-recently written record on the recovery log for this unit of work and a pointer to point to the most-recently written record on the secondary log for this unit of work.

Abstract: A modified shape memory alloy fibers exhibits a rapid twitch response under timulation by an action potential such as the heating effect of an electromagnetic pulse; in particular the relaxation time of the twitch response is considerably shortened as compared with that of the unmodified fibers; the modification is achieved by simultaneous application of a stretching force and a short, powerful electromagnetic pulse effective to bring about contraction resulting from the shape memory and change material properties; this application is carried out a plurality of times.

Abstract: A tire temperature measurement apparatus comprising a microwave receiver (9 or 11) sensitive to electromagnetic radiation in a waveband in the frequency spectrum 10 to 100 GHz and a directional antenna (5 or 7) coupled to the receiver input and responsive to radiation from a predetermined surface area only of the tire (1 or 3).

Abstract: A missile guidance system uses a television system for viewing targets, and is primarily intended for sea craft. Sectors of the horizon view are displayed one above the other on a television display. Individual sectors can be magnified as required.