Abstract: A slitting machine for removing a strip from a sheet of material. The slitting machine has a blade assembly with first and second cutting blades, and a perforating blade arranged between the first and second cutting blades. The first and second cutting blades are arranged to cut the sheet of material to define the strip and the perforating blade is arranged to perforate the sheet of material to define an end of the strip.

Abstract: A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content.

Abstract: A hinged support apparatus for a portable electronic display device is disclosed that includes a mounting plate having a first and a second end portion. The mounting plate comprises an opening or mortise into which a magnetically susceptible material, such as a metallic plate, can be embedded. The disclosed hinged support apparatus also includes an elongated base having a proximal end and a distal end in which the proximal end is attached to the first end portion of the mounting plate. The elongated base can include at least one living hinge and, in some embodiments, one or more magnets. The magnets can be made of any ferromagnetic material. The disclosed hinged support apparatus can include an elastic band having a first end and a second end. The first end of the elastic band can be attached to the first end of the base, and the second end of the elastic band can be attached to the second end of the base.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for communicating at least one real-time specially-composed bulletin message to at least one subscriber of a provider of Internet services, comprising a first device, and a second device communicably coupled to the first device, wherein the first device: accesses only subscriber upstream traffic to a destination web site requested by the subscriber, wherein the first device inter-connects between the at least one subscriber and the destination web site, identifies the at least one subscriber's identification based on the accessed subscriber upstream traffic automatically provided by the subscriber, and provides the unique subscriber identification to the second device located at the provider of Internet services providing data services and management control to the first device, wherein the second device determines the subscriber associated with the unique subscriber identification.

Abstract: A robotic catheter procedure system is provided. The robotic catheter procedure system includes a bedside system and a remote workstation. The bedside system includes a percutaneous device and a drive mechanism configured to engage and to impart an axial force to the percutaneous device and to advance and retract the percutaneous device. The bedside system includes an actuator providing torque to the drive mechanism to impart the axial force to the percutaneous device, and the torque provided by the actuator is variable. The remote workstation includes a user interface configured to receive a first user input and a control system operatively coupled to the user interface. The control system is configured to communicate a control signal to the actuator. The control signal is based upon the first user input and a second input, and the actuator provides torque to the drive mechanism in response to the control signal.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to provide notification messages such as service updates to subscribers via redirected web pages. In order for the web pages to be treated as originating from the ISP, the ISP provides a shared secret in the browser message. The shared secret may be a secret not derivable by viruses or trojans in the subscriber computer, such as a MAC address of the subscriber modem.

Abstract: The various inventions relate to robotic surgical devices, consoles for operating such surgical devices, operating theaters in which the various devices can be used, insertion systems for inserting and using the surgical devices, and related methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of manufacturing a mouth piece by 3D printing a 3D printer readable file encoding the mouth piece, the method comprising steps of: obtaining a scan file comprising physical data representing a user's teeth and gum line using 3D scanner means (100); removing outlier data from physical data in the scan file; generating representative geometrical data of the curvature of the user's teeth and gum line from the physical data; generating a virtual base model representing a mouth piece from the physical data and the representative geometrical data, the virtual base model having customisable dimensions (101); removing selected regions from the mouth piece represented by the virtual base model (102); and from the virtual base model, generating the 3D printer readable file encoding the mouth piece for printing on 3D printing means (103).

Abstract: An introducer assembly includes an elongate sheath sized for insertion into a blood vessel of a patient and a hub. The hub can be coupled to a proximal portion of the sheath and can include a first hub portion and a second hub portion. The hub can include various features to facilitate breaking apart or separating the introducer assembly from a patient. For example, the first hub portion can have a first notch which can facilitate breaking, splitting, or fracturing the hub. The second hub portion can partially surround the first hub portion and can include two wings and an opening disposed above the first notch. The first hub portion can be formed from a first material and second hub portion can be formed from a second material. In some embodiments, the second material can be stiffer than the first material to facilitate fracturing the hub.

Abstract: A robotic catheter procedure system is provided. The robotic catheter procedure system includes a bedside system and a remote workstation. The bedside system includes a percutaneous device and a drive mechanism configured to engage and to impart an axial force to the percutaneous device and to advance and retract the percutaneous device. The bedside system includes an actuator providing torque to the drive mechanism to impart the axial force to the percutaneous device, and the torque provided by the actuator is variable. The remote workstation includes a user interface configured to receive a first user input and a control system operatively coupled to the user interface. The control system is configured to communicate a control signal to the actuator. The control signal is based upon the first user input and a second input, and the actuator provides torque to the drive mechanism in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for communicating at least one real-time specially-composed bulletin message to at least one subscriber of a provider of Internet services, comprising a first device, and a second device communicably coupled to the first device, wherein the first device: accesses only subscriber upstream traffic to a destination web site requested by the subscriber, wherein the first device inter-connects between the at least one subscriber and the destination web site, identifies the at least one subscriber's identification based on the accessed subscriber upstream traffic automatically provided by the subscriber, and provides the unique subscriber identification to the second device located at the provider of Internet services providing data services and management control to the first device, wherein the second device determines the subscriber associated with the unique subscriber identification.

Abstract: A sheath assembly for the insertion of a percutaneous pump includes a tubular sheath body dimensioned for insertion into a blood vessel through a vessel aperture. The tubular sheath body includes a wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a first lumen substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second lumen disposed within the wall between the inner surface and the outer surface and extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The first lumen is dimensioned to allow passage of a portion of the percutaneous pump, and the second lumen is dimensioned for passage of a guidewire. A stylet is removably positioned to substantially occlude the second lumen. The stylet has a proximal end releasably secured to the sheath assembly.

Abstract: A robotic system includes a bedside system comprising an axial drive mechanism and a rotational drive mechanism. An engagement mechanism engages and disengages a percutaneous device from at least one of the axial drive mechanism and rotational drive mechanism. A remote work station includes a user interface and a control system operatively coupled to the user interface. The control system is configured to communicate a control signal to the engagement mechanism to engage and disengage the percutaneous device from one of the axial drive mechanism and rotational drive mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning and orienting an orthopedic implant that includes an implant body; a sensor system integrated into the implant body, the sensor system comprising of at least a plurality of electrodes positioned within the implant body such there is at least one exposed region on the surface of the implant body for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes; a sensor processing control system communicatively coupled to the sensor system, the sensor processing control system configured with instructions that when executed cause the sensor processing control system to collect sensor data from the sensor system and generate adjacency data from the sensor data; and an implant feedback system, that updates state based in part on the adjacency data.

Abstract: The various inventions relate to robotic surgical devices, consoles for operating such surgical devices, operating theaters in which the various devices can be used, insertion systems for inserting and using the surgical devices, and related methods.

Abstract: A sheath assembly for the insertion of a percutaneous pump includes a tubular sheath body dimensioned for insertion into a blood vessel through a vessel aperture. The tubular sheath body includes a wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a first lumen substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second lumen disposed within the wall between the inner surface and the outer surface and extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The first lumen is dimensioned to allow passage of a portion of the percutaneous pump, and the second lumen is dimensioned for passage of a guidewire. A stylet is removably positioned to substantially occlude the second lumen. The stylet has a proximal end releasably secured to the sheath assembly.

Abstract: In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

Abstract: A method for communicating in real-time to users of a provider of Internet access service, without requiring any installation or set-up by the user, that utilizes the unique identification information automatically provided by the user during communications for identifying the user to provide a fixed identifier which is then communicated to a redirecting device. Messages may then be selectively transmitted to the user. The system is normally transparent to the user, with no modification of its content along the path. Content then may be modified or replaced along the path to the user. For the purposes of establishing a reliable delivery of bulletin messages from providers to their users, the system forces the delivery of specially-composed World Wide Web browser pages to the user, although it is not limited to that type of data.

Abstract: A redirection of a URL page request may be performed by monitoring an upstream path from a subscriber to the internet through an ISP. When a URL page request is detected from a subscriber for whom a redirection is required, a redirection device generates a single TCP packet response that mimics a response from the intended destination server. The single TCP packet includes a set FIN bit that closes any active session with the destination server to prevent the subscriber from accepting packets from the destination server.

Abstract: A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content.