Abstract: An analyte meter, such as a blood glucose meter, uses electrochemical test strips and has a contoured strip port to improve electrochemical test strip reliability. The analyte meter has a strip connector with strip terminals that electrically connected to strip electrodes when a test strip is inserted through the strip port opening next to the strip connector. The contoured strip port is located next to the strip connector and comprises a strip shelf having side guides for aligning the test strip with the strip port, a strip port opening having a bottom opening extending from a first bottom edge to a second bottom edge, top guides located at a first top edge and a second top edge, and a contoured top extending between the top guides creating an arched clearance above the bottom opening to provide clearance for test strip electrical traces.

Abstract: A method for managing digital content is provided. The method includes accessing the digital content and applying at least one content management rule by a set-top box to the digital content. The content management rule operative to place the digital content in one of a first storage location and a second storage location, which are associated with the set-top box. The digital content may include programs or movies and the storage locations are generally operable to store multiple programs and/or movies.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the method and system according to the present invention provide a system and method for controlling access to audiovisual content such as television shows, video-on-demand services or streaming video which can be delivered by cable, satellite, wired or wireless networks, cell phones, the Internet, etc. More particularly, the present invention provides a capability to define certain criteria which can be used to restrict access to content based on combinations of various parameters including, but not limited to, time of day, day of the week, type of content, source of content, content display device, etc. These criteria may also be provided by data storage arrangements or a network, and access restrictions specified by such criteria can be associated with a plurality of display devices.

Abstract: A surgical tool for removing a portion of an implant is provided that includes a housing, a motor contained within the housing and coupled to the housing, and an output shaft having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the motor and the distal end has an opening configured to rotateably engage an implant. The surgical tool further includes a counter-torque sleeve extending around the output shaft having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the housing and the distal end is configured to couple to the implant relative to the counter-torque sleeve. Upon a rotational force to the implant, the forces transmitted by the output shaft and the counter-torque sleeve are balanced by the coupling of the output shaft and counter-torque sleeve through the housing.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the method and system according to the present invention provide a system and method for controlling access to audiovisual content such as television shows, video-on-demand services or streaming video which can be delivered by cable, satellite, wired or wireless networks, cell phones, the Internet, etc. More particularly, the present invention provides a capability to define certain criteria which can be used to restrict access to content based on combinations of various parameters including, but not limited to, time of day, day of the week, type of content, source of content, content display device, etc. These criteria may also be provided by data storage arrangements or a network, and access restrictions specified by such criteria can be associated with a plurality of display devices.

Abstract: A method for managing digital content is provided. The method includes accessing the digital content and applying at least one content management rule by a set-top box to the digital content. The content management rule operative to place the digital content in one of a first storage location and a second storage location, which are associated with the set-top box. The digital content may include programs or movies and the storage locations are generally operable to store multiple programs and/or movies.

Abstract: A method for managing digital content is provided. The method includes accessing the digital content and applying at least one content management rule by a set-top box to the digital content. The content management rule operative to place the digital content in one of a first storage location and a second storage location, which are associated with the set-top box. The digital content may include programs or movies and the storage locations are generally operable to store multiple programs and/or movies.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the method and system according to the present invention provide a system and method for controlling access to audiovisual content such as television shows, video-on-demand services or streaming video which can be delivered by cable, satellite, wired or wireless networks, cell phones, the Internet, etc. More particularly, the present invention provides a capability to define certain criteria which can be used to restrict access to content based on combinations of various parameters including, but not limited to, time of day, day of the week, type of content, source of content, content display device, etc. These criteria may also be provided by data storage arrangements or a network, and access restrictions specified by such criteria can be associated with a plurality of display devices.

Abstract: A system for accessing entertainment options includes a graphic user interface generator that generates program listing display data to display a listing of programs available for downloading to a user on an associated display device. A user may select one or more programs from the listing displayed on the associated display device using the user access device, thereby initiating download of the selected program by the communication component. The storage device stores user history data, which is used to generate recommendation display data based upon the recommendation data to enable the user to view and/or select for download recommended programs. The graphic user interface generator may generate download queue data for display on the associated display device, wherein the displayed download queue data enables the user to view and/or edit the current download status of each program to be downloaded.

Abstract: A method for managing digital content is provided. The method comprises accessing the digital content and applying at least one content management rule to the digital content. The content management rule operative to place the digital content in one of a first storage location and a second storage location.

Abstract: A donor processing and information management system disclosed herein allows donor processing centers to facilitate their operations and decrease the use of paperwork and forms by using electronic workstations to enter donor and donation information. Embodiments of the system also facilitate operations of the donor processing centers by automating the management of donors, thus reducing the number of staff necessary to run the center. Donors and donor center staff use workstations to enter biographical data, answer questions, and edit information entered into a database in order to reduce human error and increase efficiency. Thus, embodiments of the system may completely eliminate the use of burdensome forms and automate the entire blood donation process for donor processing centers, whether operating with in-line, real time hardware interfaces at a fixed location, or at mobile locations, where data is collected onsite and transmitted to one or more offsite databases.

Abstract: A method for constructing an index suitable for indexing a large set of records identified by long generally randomly distributed record names, and for answering membership queries about the set, the method comprising adding a new record to the set and assigning the new record a new record name using a process designed to produce names where at least a portion of each name is at least approximately random, determining that the new record name is not already represented in the index by checking a first level index that does not contain information sufficient to reconstruct the complete record names of records that have already been added to the index, abbreviating the new record name to form a new abbreviated name that is shorter than the new record name but that is sufficient to distinguish it from record names already represented in the index, combining the new abbreviated name with an abbreviated name of a record already represented in the first level index, to form a combined record name which is shorter t

Abstract: A method for constructing an index suitable for indexing a large set of records identified by long generally randomly distributed record names, and for answering membership queries about the set, the method comprising adding a new record to the set and assigning the new record a new record name using a process designed to produce names where at least a portion of each name is at least approximately random, determining that the new record name is not already represented in the index by checking a first level index, combining the new record name with record name information already represented in the index to form a combined record name which is shorter than the new record name, and adding the combined record name to the first level index to form a new first level index entry that represents the new record, wherein the first level index does not contain information sufficient to conclude that the new record name has been added to the index, wherein each different record in the set is assigned a different record

Abstract: A printer for adding accent colors to preprinted documents includes a transport which defines a curvilinear path along which the documents move during the printing of the accent colors thereon. The printing is accomplished through the use of multiple print heads which discharge wax based ink through multiple jets. The documents to which the accent colors are to be added are edge justified and then released in timed sequence to the curved transport path which leads through a printing zone defined by the print heads.

Abstract: A holder is disclosed for use with a needle for collecting blood from a donor, the needle having a sharp tip at one end and being mounted in a hub at the other end. The holder is in the form of an elongated tubular member made of plastic and which is open at one end to allow insertion of a blood collection tube and has an opening at the other end to allow insertion of the needle, the latter end being sized so as to allow the needle to pass through but to frictionally engage and snugly hold the hub of the needle when the needle is inserted therein. A cover is hingedly mounted on the holder for closing off the end for receiving the blood collection tube and a bracket is fixedly attached to the tubular member for mounting purposes. The holder may be used as a device for assisting a person in safely and easily inserting the type of needle described above into a blood collection tube and may also be used as a receptacle for temporary or permanent storge of such a needle.

Abstract: An endless loop multi layered belt for an electrographic printer is supported on a plurality of rollers and driven by sprocket holes along one belt edge, the belt having coextensive conductive and charge receiving layers. Another embodiment provides a conductive endless strip along the other lateral edge to maintain electrical contact with the conductive layer and a further embodiment provides support for the belt system.

Abstract: In an electrographic printing apparatus, a dielectric belt cleaning system includes counter-rotating pairs of adjoining cylinders mounted to a housing. A vacuum source forces the dielectric belt in free span against the surfaces of the cylinders which are covered by a directional raised nap. Residual toner on the belt is dislodged and drawn through a low pressure zone between each pair of cylinders leading to a filtered discharge outlet. The brushes are cleaned by their interengagement along adjacent cylinder surfaces where the cylinder brushes mesh and also between each cylinder brush and a rake therefor fixed to the housing.

Abstract: A device for use in detaching a segment filled with blood from a blood transfusion bag and at the same time making a tear in the segment so that the blood contained therein can be extracted for test purposes is disclosed. The device comprises a unitary rigid structure molded from plastic and having a pair of channel shaped cavity sections hingedly interconnected and sized and shaped so as to fit around at least a portion of the sample segment to be removed along its length, with one cavity section on each side thereof. A pair of projections, each terminating in a sharp point, are formed on one of the cavity sections. One of the projections is positioned so that it penetrates and produces a tear in the end seal at the inner end of the sample segment when the sample segment is placed properly in the device and two cavity sections are closed around the sample segment, the tear enabling the sample segment to be easily pulled or broken off from the blood transfusion bag.

Abstract: A holder is disclosed for use with a needle for collecting blood from a donor, the needle having a sharp tip at one end and being mounted in a hub at the other end. The holder is in the form of an elongated tubular member made of plastic and which is open at one end to allow insertion of a blood collection tube and has an opening at the other end to allow insertion of the needle, the latter end being sized so as to allow the needle to pass through but to frictionally engage and snugly hold the hub of the needle when the needle is inserted therein. A cover is hingedly mounted on the holder for closing off the end for receiving the blood collection tube and a bracket is fixedly attached to the tubular member for mounting purposes. The holder may be used as a device for assisting a person in safely and easily inserting the type of needle described above into a blood collection tube and may also be used as a receptacle for temporary or permanent storage of such a needle.