Abstract: A lighting device can include a housing having a viewing axis and at least one light source. The light source can be comprised of at least one LED, and can be configured to emit light having a spectrum that approximates a noon-day sunlight spectrum. The light source can be disposed in or coupled with the housing, and oriented with respect to the housing so that the emitted light has an angle of incidence from about 15 degrees to about 75 degrees. Thus, the emitted light can have an angle from about 15 degrees to about 75 degrees with respect to the viewing axis. The lighting device can be used to compare the color of different materials having different compositions. Also, the lighting device can be used to illuminate objects that are sensitive to IR and/or UV light.

Abstract: A blood glucose measuring system includes a lancet assembly and a meter for use with the lancet assembly. The lancet assembly has a lancet member with a lance, a lancet body having a drive wing extending outwardly from a side, and a sinuous portion, and an elongated carrier having a lancet member recess to contain the lancet member. The elongated carrier has an open end, a closed end, a side elongated opening for receiving the drive wing therethrough, and an anchoring member operatively connected to the end of the sinuous portion. The meter includes a measuring circuit, a lancet trigger, and a lancet driver where the lancet driver includes a driver piston engageable with the lancet trigger and a charging member that operatively engages with the driver piston to move the driver piston into an armed position and to stop the driver piston when released from the armed position.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system to generate corporate data pertaining to a corporate entity. The system includes an interface to communicate, to each of a plurality of users of a data system, a corporate data attribute relating to a corporate entity and a plurality of candidate data attribute values for the corporate data attribute and to receive, at the system and from the plurality of users, votes for at least one candidate data attribute value of the plurality of candidate data attribute values for the corporate data attribute. The system further includes a vote module automatically to tally the votes and publish vote information based on the votes received from the plurality of users in connection with the plurality of candidate data attribute values for the corporate data attribute.

Abstract: A strip dispenser has a strip magazine, a magazine spring, a strip vial component, and a cover. The strip magazine has a magazine open end and an outer magazine casing surrounding the strip magazine adjacent the open end for a predefined distance along the strip magazine where the magazine has a magazine volume with an open magazine top. The magazine spring is contained within the strip magazine. The strip vial component has a magazine receiving end, a closed end and a vial recess for slidably receiving the strip magazine between a first position and a second position where the vial recess has a shoulder portion spaced from the closed end and adjacent to and aligned with the open magazine top. The cover encloses the magazine open end and has a slit spaced a predefined distance from an edge of the cover where the slit is in communication with the magazine volume and the open magazine top and in spatial alignment with the shoulder portion.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system to maintain published contact information. The system includes a storage facility to store contact information of a first entity at the system. The system further includes an interface to electronically publish, via a communications network, the contact information of the first entity to a plurality of users of the system and receive, at the system, information relating to validity of the contact information of the first entity. The information is received via the communications network from a first user of the plurality of users. The system further includes a stored value module automatically to provide a reward to the first user responsive to the receipt of the information relating to the validity of the contact information of the first entity.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system to generate corporate data pertaining to a corporate entity. The system includes an interface to communicate, from a data system and via a communications network, a request to a plurality of users of the data system for corporate information relating to a corporate entity and to receive, at the data system and via the communications network, first corporate information relating to the corporate entity from a first user of the plurality of users of the data system responsive to the request. The system further includes a stored value module automatically to provide a reward to the first user responsive to receipt of the first corporate information relating to the corporate entity.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system to incentivize provision of contact information. The system includes an interface to receive first contact information pertaining to a first entity. The first contact information is received from a first user and via a communications network at the interface. The system also includes a stored value module that responds to receipt of the first contact information to award a first predetermined value to the first user. The first predetermined value is redeemable for second contact information pertaining to a second entity. The awarding of the first predetermined value to the first user includes adding the first predetermined value to a total stored value for the first user maintained by the contact information computer system.

Abstract: A lancet assembly has a lancet body with a needle end, a sinuous portion end, and a slot, a lancet tip connected to the needle end, a sinuous portion connected to the sinuous portion end, an anchor structure connected to the sinuous portion. The lancet assembly may also include a lancet enclosure having an elongated chamber with a needle end, an anchor end in communication with the elongated chamber opposite the needle end, and a lancet enclosure slot in communication with the elongated chamber and spaced from the needle end. The anchor end is configured to receive and hold the anchor structure in a substantially static position. The elongated chamber is sized to receive in sliding engagement the lancet tip, the lancet body where the lancet body slot is in communication with the lancet enclosure slot and the sinuous portion and to permit slidable movement of the lancet tip through the open end between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A halo surrounding the ultrasonic image of a liver tumor is automatically evaluated by detecting the boundary of the tumor and defining two annular regions around that boundary. The brightness of pixels in the two annular regions are compared to determine if a halo of darker pixels surround the tumor. Presence of this halo is indicative of a malignant tumor.

Abstract: A halo surrounding the ultrasonic image of a liver tumor is automatically evaluated by detecting the boundary of the tumor and defining two annular regions around that boundary. The brightness of pixels in the two annular regions are compared to determine if a halo of darker pixels surround the tumor. Presence of this halo is indicative of a malignant tumor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing labels onto cylindrical items includes an apparatus for applying a label onto a cylindrical object including a feed mechanism for feeding a label strip. A plate having a sharply angled separator edge is positioned to receive the label strip and peel a label from the label strip. A guide member has a pair of opposed rollers. The guide member and opposed rollers are positioned to receive the label. The opposed rollers are adapted to allow the cylindrical object to contact the label and affix the label to the cylindrical object as the cylindrical object is passed between the opposed rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing labels onto cylindrical items includes an apparatus for applying a label onto a cylindrical object including a feed mechanism for feeding a label strip. A plate having a sharply angled separator edge is positioned to receive the label strip and peel a label from the label strip. A guide member has a pair of opposed rollers. The guide member and opposed rollers are positioned to receive the label. The opposed rollers are adapted to allow the cylindrical object to contact the label and affix the label to the cylindrical object as the cylindrical object is passed between the opposed rollers.

Abstract: A post support socket, in which an end portion of a post is supportable by a wedge member, and the post support socket has an elongate body in which a longitudinal bore extends from an inlet end of the body. The body includes a peripheral wall which has an internal surface defining the bore. A slot defined by the peripheral wall extends longitudinally from the inlet end of the body and opens to the bore along its length. The peripheral wall has a laterally offset portion which bridges the slot over part of the length of the slot from the inlet end of the body. In use of the post support socket, a post having an end portion received in the bore can be secured by forcefully driving a wedge member longitudinally into the slot from the inlet end, between the offset portion and the post end portion.

Abstract: A modular interconnecting component support unit has a rigid plate (14) with a planar face (16) and a rib (24) and a slot (38) extending parallel the plate face but from opposite sides or edges (22, 34) of the plate so that two such units may be slid together while their faces are in planar relationship. Locking arms (46) adjacent the ends (40) of the slots (38) are provided to releasably grip a rib (24) of one unit received in the slot (38) of a second unit. A medical device, such as a reusable portion of a medical pressure transducer (20), may be permanently affixed to the plate face (16).

Abstract: An electrolytic oxidant generator including an anode and cathode within different chambers separated by an ion permeable membrane, and a mixer for circulating saline solution within the anode chamber to enhance dispersal of salt in the solution and maintain the saline solution at high density throughout that chamber. The generator preferably includes an outer shell and a tubular member extending generally vertically within the shell and separating the anode and cathode chambers, with the side wall having a curving portion containing at least one aperture curving with the wall, and with the membrane being secured to and curving with the wall and bridging across the aperture. The inner chamber may take the form of a unit which is removable upwardly from the shell and interfits with the shell in locating relation upon downward movement thereinto.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for filling foamable insulating material into a cavity or cavities within the interior of a hollow building panel, by first positioning the panel within a chamber in a press, inflating a flexible bladder within the press at the outside of the panel, filling the foamable insulating material into the cavity or cavities in the panel, and restraining at least one wall of the panel by the force of said bladder against deflection by the foamable insulating material.

Abstract: An apparatus, for measuring head accelerations of a test subject, having a mouthpiece which includes metal clips for securing the mouthpiece to the upper teeth of the test subject. Three accelerometers are secured to a mounting block which is attached to the mouthpiece. The three accelerometers have their active axis located along three orthogonal axis through the mounting block. The mounting block, the accelerometers and the accelerometer leads are embedded in an electrically insulating material.