Abstract: A pipelined arbitration mechanism allows a routing control decision to be effected for a later packet while a current packet is being transferred. The later packet can be issued a fixed number of cycles after the current request. The mechanism has particular advantages when used with a plurality of functional modules connected to a packet router, whereby a single functional module can generate a current request relating to a current packet and a deferred arbitration request relating to a later packet to be issued a fixed number of cycles after the current request.

Abstract: A data reception unit for receiving a plurality of data streams over a data channel. The data streams are received as amounts of data, each amount of data comprising a data portion including data from a data stream and an identity portion identifying that data stream. The data reception unit comprises a data stream memory comprising a plurality of data stream storage areas, and a buffer; a first storage information memory for holding first storage information a processing unit, and a data storage controller. The data storage controller, for each received amount of data, receives the identity portion of the amount of data and performs a storage operation based on the identity portion.

Abstract: Provided is a method for loading electrode-corroding ingredients into an un-loaded donor gel reservoir of an electrode for an electrically assisted drug delivery system. The method provides that a salt, such as sodium chloride or an organic salt, is provided in the un-loaded donor gel reservoir, contrary to convention. Related electrically assisted drug delivery electrode assemblies also are provided.

Abstract: A reservoir-electrode for an iontophoretic delivery device of the present invention includes an electrode; and a hydrophilic reservoir situated in electrically conductive relation to the electrode. The reservoir is formed from a bibulous hydrophilic cross-linked polymeric material having a substantially uniform concentration of an alkali metal chloride salt therein thereby substantially eliminating concentration gradients of the salt with respect to the electrode. The polymeric material has a first surface and a second surface that is adhesively adherent to the electrode. The first surface of the polymeric material is releasably adhesive to an applied area of a patient's skin.

Abstract: Data stream transfer apparatus for receiving a data stream of data cells at variable time intervals and transmitting data frames at predetermined time intervals, including a receiving apparatus, a buffer memory, a data transfer interface, a central processing unit (CPU), and a memory access unit. The receiving apparatus receives the data cells and stores them in the buffer memory. The data transfer interface transfers data frames out of the apparatus at the predetermined time intervals and generates an indication that the data frame has been transferred. The memory access unit receives data defining a location of a data frame in the buffer memory, accesses the buffer memory to retrieve that data frame and transmits that data frame to the data transfer interface. The CPU, upon receiving the indication, determines a time for transfer of a subsequent data frame, and upon reaching that time, transmits to the memory access unit the location of the subsequent frame in the buffer memory.

Abstract: A data reception unit for receiving a plurality of data streams over a data chanel. The data streams are received as amounts of data, each amount of data comprising a data portion including data from a data stream and an identity portion identifying that data stream. The data reception unit comprises a data stream memory comprising a plurality of data stream storage areas and a reserve buffer, a first storage information memory for holding first storage information, a processing unit, and a data storage controller. The data storage controller, for each received amount of data, receives the identity portion of the amount of data and performs a storage operation-based on the identity portion.

Abstract: The implementation of transactions on an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of functional modules connected to a packet router is described. Each functional module generates request packets for implementing memory access operations, each request packet having an operation field comprising eight bits of which a packet type bit denotes the type of the packet, four operation family bit denote the function to be implemented by the packet and three operation qualifier bits act to qualify the function.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the distribution of a chemical species within a defined space, for example a vessel such as an internal combustion engine cylinder. A plurality of radiation sources and radiation detectors are distributed around the perimeter of the vessel. The radiation sources are distributed to emit beams of radiation across the interior of the vessel, the wavelength of the radiation being selected such that an interaction such as fluorescence or absorption occurs between the radiation and the chemical species which can be detected by the detectors. A representation of the distribution of the chemical species within the vessel can then be derived from the detected interactions by conventional tomography techniques.

Abstract: An integrated circuit which has a packet router to which a plurality of functional modules are connected by respective ports is described. One of the ports acts as a socket port for an expansion socket. The expansion socket provides a plurality of additional expansion ports to which additional functional modules can optionally be connected. All the ports connected to the packet router, including the expansion socket port, preferably lie in a common address space for the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electroplating at least part of the surface area of an article with a metal coating is described, the method including the steps of: placing the article in a vessel, the vessel being provided with machinery to allow access of fluid to an interior volume; the article being contained in the interior volume and, machinery to allow egress of the fluid; providing the vessel with anode and cathode connections such as to enable the article to become cathodic with regard to an anode extending into the interior volume; providing machinery to cause at least two different fluids including at least one plating electrolyte to be introduced into the vessel in sequence, flow through the interior volume and to exit therefrom for a sufficient time to allow a required thickness of the metal coating to be deposited.

Abstract: Apparatus for re-assembling information cells of messages, comprising a message memory, a message data memory, a location memory, and loading apparatus. The message memory stores each message in blocks that can be different lengths. The message data memory stores, for each message, message data defining a location in message memory, a position in the block, and a length of the block that is to receive the cells of the message. The location memory stores, for each message, an indication of the location of the message data. The loading apparatus receives the cells, and for each cell, accesses location memory to determine the location of message data, stores the cell in the message memory at the indicated location, increments the message data defining the location and the position, and compares the incremented position with the stored length of the block to determine whether the end of the block has been reached.

Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit comprising at least one requester and at least one target, said at least one requester and at least one target being connected by a connection network, said method comprising the steps of defining at least one parameter for said at least one requester to model said requester; defining at least one parameter for said at least one target to model said target; defining connection information for said connection network to model said network; and producing from said defined parameters and connection information implementation information for implementing said system.

Abstract: Provided is a method for loading electrode-corroding ingredients into an un-loaded donor gel reservoir of an electrode for an electrically assisted drug delivery system. The method provides that a salt, such as sodium chloride or an organic salt, is provided in the un-loaded donor gel reservoir, contrary to convention. Related electrically assisted drug delivery electrode assemblies also are provided.

Abstract: In a system comprising an interconnect and a plurality of modules connected to the interconnect, a circuit for controlling which of said modules is able to put information onto said interconnect, said circuit comprising a store which stores status information for each module, said status information defining if the respective module is permitted to put information on said interconnect.

Abstract: Cosmetic method for reducing or preventing body malodor by topically applying to human skin an active agent capable of sub-lethally reducing the bacterial production of odoriferous steroids, characterized in that the agent is an inhibitor of bacterial 4-ene reductase and/or 5&agr;-reductase.

Abstract: An apparatus for an efficient display flip is disclosed. The apparatus has a computer readable medium having a graphics driver. The execution of the graphics driver is configured to generate instructions for checking status of a graphics device to determine whether the graphics device is ready to display a next frame data on a display device. The graphics device is coupled to a system memory. The graphics device is configured to forwarding a display flip status to the system memory for access by the graphics driver in response to the instructions.

Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is a method for performing direct memory access. The method includes arbitrating between a chained, low priority, direct memory access and a high priority, direct memory access, the arbitration occurring between two links in the chained, low priority, direct memory access.

Abstract: A graft assembly for securely positioning a graft at a predetermined location across an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The assembly includes a resilient self-expanding anchor that is secured to the graft. The anchor is characterized as being at least as long as the graft, and further as being adapted to be removed or repositioned at any time prior to complete deployment in the patient.

Abstract: Downhole oilfield tools often consist of complicated "blocks" that are small in diameter (typically 111/16-inch to 43/4-inch) and long (typically 2 to 10 feet). The invention describes a novel method of designing and manufacturing the "blocks" which significantly reduces the machining and manufacturing complexity of the part. After designing the "blocks" and machining them by conventional "easy access" metal-removal methods, the new manufacturing process disclosed herein uses a full penetration electron beam weld to join two "blocks" together to create a final piece that previously would have been made from a single monolithic piece requiring extremely difficult machining processes. A preferred embodiment utilizes a variable penetration welding procedure, i.e., a weld that varies the intensity of the electron beam as it is directed around the "blocks" to be welded together.