Abstract: Provided are methods of forming sealed via structures. One method involves: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; (b) forming a layer on the first surface of the substrate; (c) etching a via hole through the substrate from the second surface to the layer, the via hole having a first perimeter at the first surface; (d) forming an aperture in the layer, wherein the aperture has a second perimeter within the first perimeter; and (e) providing a conductive structure for sealing the via structure. Also provided are sealed via structures, methods of detecting leakage in a sealed device package, sealed device packages, device packages having cooling structures, and methods of bonding a first component to a second component.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a transmit/receive (T/R) module utilizing low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material in place of high temperature co-fired ceramic (HTCC) material and utilizing a combination of multiple lamination steps which also include forming a ceramic frame, as opposed to a metal ring frame, in the process. Brazing metallization is also utilized to attach heat sinks and lids as well as pin connectors. The formation of the pin connectors is provided on the side surface of the T/R module with a side printing process.

Abstract: A dual action biopsy needle scrapes tissue of cellular thickness from a lesion during proximal-to-distal travel of the needle along its longitudinal axis of symmetry. A first sharp edge, formed by a beveled distal end of the needle, scrapes tissue during proximal-to-distal travel of the needle. A transversely disposed slot formed in the needle near the first sharp edge provides a second sharp edge. A bottom of the slot is proximal to the opening of the slot. The second sharp edge also scrapes tissue during proximal-to-distal travel of the needle. The second sharp edge is coincident with an exterior surface of the needle. A vacuum pulls the scraped cellular material into the lumen of the needle.

Abstract: An optical switch and method for assembling are described. Optical arrays are mounted on a flex plate with an interface between them. The direction of certain forces on the flex plate allows coupling/decoupling of the optical arrays. The flex plate includes an area which exhibits a different flex profile than the remainder of the flex plate and that is located beneath the optical arrays interface. Flexing of the flex plate optically couples the optical arrays. A tool with grooves is used to align the optical arrays relative to each other. The tool uses grooves and spheres to mate with the optical arrays in such a way as to provide an appropriate interface between the optical arrays.

Abstract: An airbag module utilizes tape dispensing cartridges. A tape end extends from each cartridge to the inside surface of an airbag. As the airbag inflates, tape is drawn from the tape cartridges as the tapes are drawn along with the deploying airbag. The rate at which tape is withdrawn from the cartridges is measured by sensible indicia of a magnetic or optical nature positioned on the tape and drawn past a sensor contained within the tape cartridge. The markings on the tape can be nonuniform along the length of the tape. The tape storage area outlet and the cartridge outlet are each formed by two relatively large radius corners. The tape is sealed to the cartridge to prevent the ingress of contaminants. As the airbag withdraws tape from the cartridges, the seals are unseated.

Abstract: A method for visualizing a blood clot or plaque disposed within a body lumen comprising: binding a contrasting complex comprising a contrast material and a thrombolytic material or a clot dissolving agent to the blood clot or plaque; and visualizing the blood clot or plaque over a period time by a visualizing system.

Abstract: An improved process for fabricating an electrically conductive shaped article is disclosed. The process includes one or more process stages selected from the group consisting of: preparing one or more feeds of the plastic and fillers; feeding the plastic and fillers to a melt compounding stage wherein a homogeneous melt of the composition is obtained; transferring the homogeneous melt ; and subjecting the homogeneous melt to a moulding process to produce the conductive shaped article. One or more of the process stages is conducted under low shear strain conditions so that the article has a through-plane resistivity of less than about 600 ?Ohm-m. Also disclosed are the conductive plates having improved performance properties such as flexural strength, conductivity and surface smoothness.

Abstract: An orthopaedic joint prosthesis comprises first and second articulating components having respective bearing surfaces in contact with one another. The material of the first bearing surface (14) comprises a metallic material and the material of the second bearing surface (6) comprises a ceramic material. The hardness of the metallic material is at least about 2500 MPa, and the hardness of the ceramic material is greater than that of the metallic material by at least about 4000 MPa.

Abstract: An optical switch and method for assembling are described. Optical arrays are mounted on a flex plate with an interface between them. The direction of certain forces on the flex plate allows coupling/decoupling of the optical arrays. The flex plate includes an area which exhibits a different flex profile than the remainder of the flex plate and that is located beneath the optical arrays interface. Flexing of the flex plate optically couples the optical arrays. A tool with grooves is used to align the optical arrays relative to each other. The tool uses grooves and spheres to mate with the optical arrays in such a way as to provide an appropriate interface between the optical arrays.

Abstract: A method of preparing matrices or tissue engineered biomaterials for implantation, and in particular to a method of improving decellularisation of matrices or tissue engineered biomaterials prior to implantation. The method employs a single anionic detergent in combination with protease inhibitors.

Abstract: A method for defining targets in hyperspectral image data of a scene, has the steps: (1) identifying a target within the scene; (2) fitting a plurality of conjoined hyperplanes about the target in the scene; and (3) fitting a shape to the identified target by shrinkwrapping the hyperplanes about the target by translating and rotating the hyperplanes until a specified fit parameter is satisfied.

Abstract: An airbag module utilizes tape dispensing cartridges. A tape end extends from each cartridge to the inside surface of an airbag. As the airbag inflates, tape is drawn from the tape cartridges as the tapes are drawn along with the deploying airbag. The rate at which tape is withdrawn from the cartridges is measured by sensible indicia of a magnetic or optical nature positioned on the tape and drawn past a sensor contained within the tape cartridge. The markings on the tape can be nonuniform along the length of the tape. The tape storage area outlet and the cartridge outlet are each formed by two relatively large radius corners. The tape is sealed to the cartridge to prevent the ingress of contaminants. As the airbag withdraws tape from the cartridges, the seals are unseated.

Abstract: A theatre chair having a frame to which there is connected at least a seat component (21) and a backrest component and, providing means on the seat component (21) to co-operate with a seat member (30) and means on the backrest component to co-operate with a backrest member whereby the seat member (21) and backrest member can each be readily attached to the appropriate component to be positively affixed thereto, the members being able to be removed from the appropriate component when required. The connection between the components and the members can be by way of interacting lugs (24), interacting ribs (26) and means (25) whereby the parts are held in compression and tension. Means to rapidly replace the upholstery and means whereby the same components can be used for chairs of different widths are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing between a semi-soft magnetic material, having a magnetic saturation field H sub s ranging from 100A/m to 3000 A/m, and a soft magnetic material, having a magnetic saturation field H sub s ranging from 3 A/m to 100 A/m, includes (a) emitting an electromagnetic drive signal of one or more particular frequencies to an article so that any present semi-soft magnetic material or soft magnetic material in the article go into saturation for both positive and negative magnetic fields; (b) detecting an electromagnetic detection signal (20) emanating from the article; (c) measuring time or relative phase delays (A, B) between one or more reference points of the drive signal and points at which positive and negative peaks of the detection signal occur; (e) comparing the measured time or relative phase delays with values which are typical for semi-soft magnetic or soft magnetic features in order to make a decision whether the material is soft magnetic or semi-soft magnetic.

Abstract: Measurement of jitter in a digital communications signal is accomplished by generating multiple successive samples representative of jitter in a digital communications signal and supplying the successive samples in parallel to several (e.g. five) high-pass filter functions to generate filtered samples. The filtered samples from each high-pass filter function are passed to a respective measurement function, for measurement of parameters of the filtered samples from the corresponding high-pass filter function. The parameters include jitter peak amplitude and jitter RMS amplitude. Parameter measurements provided by the measurement functions are selected according to the measurement bandwidth(s) required for the jitter measurement, and a measurement of jitter in the communications signal is derived from those parameter measurements.

Abstract: A method for checking the authenticity of a security article of the type containing magnetic particles having a magnetic saturation field Hs being greater than 100 A/m. The method includes the following steps: (a) generating an alternating field of one or more fundamental frequencies; (b) subjecting an article to be detected to the field; (c) detecting a detection signal emanating from the article to be detected; and (d) examining the detection signal for the presence of any particular higher harmonics of the fundamental frequencies or of any linear combination of the fundamental frequencies and of the harmonics, the particular harmonics or the linear combination being indicative of the presence of the magnetic particles. The method is applied at point of transaction locations, where the article to be detected is brought into close proximity with a sensor.

Abstract: An instrumentation system for monitoring various physiological functions in small animals utilizes injectable electronic devices. These implanted devices receive power and control data from an RF carrier signal by inductive coupling. The RF carrier is generated by an external control unit with a coil that surrounds the animals and simultaneously energizes one or more implanted devices. Digitally encoded commands can be addressed to each uniquely addressed implant. These commands permit the implant to select among analog signals from various sensors and to adjust the gain of amplification before digitizing these signals. These commands instruct each implant in turn to generate a back-telemetry signal during pauses in the externally generated RF carrier. The back-telemetry signal is an amplitude-modulated RF signal that encodes the digitized data from the selected sensor. The back-telemetry signal is detected by the external coil and control unit.

Abstract: An optical switch and method for assembling are described. Optical arrays are mounted on a flex plate with an interface between them. The direction of certain forces on the flex plate allows coupling/decoupling of the optical arrays. The flex plate includes an area which exhibits a different flex profile than the remainder of the flex plate and that is located beneath the optical arrays interface. Flexing of the flex plate optically couples the optical arrays. A tool with grooves is used to align the optical arrays relative to each other. The tool uses grooves and spheres to mate with the optical arrays in such a way as to provide an appropriate interface between the optical arrays.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) and salts thereof, wherein R1 is hydrogen, halo, cyano, cyanoalkyl, alkyl, alkoxy, phenoxy, phenyl, alkoxycarbonyl, —NR13R14, —N(R15)SO2R16, haloalkoxy, haloalkyl, arylalkoxy, hydroxy, phenylalkyl, alkoxycarbonylvinyl, —SOnR7, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, carboxylalkyl, —CONR11R12, carbamoylvinyl, —O—SO2R21, 4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl, 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolin-2-yl, —NR60R61 or —(O)z—L3—G (G=−NR22R23, —SOmR26, CONR27R28 or —OR29); R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen halo, alkyl, alkoxy, —NR13R14, haloalkoxy, haloalkyl, hydroxy, —SOnR7 or —NR60R61; L1 is a bond, alkylene, cycloalkylene or cycloalkylidene; T is a bond, O, S, SO, SO2, CO or 1,3-dioxolan-2-ylidene; L2 is alkylene, cycloalkylene or cycloalkylidene; R6 is hydrogen or alkyl; Q is alkylene; and Y is imidazolyl, which are antiinflammatory, antiallergic and immunodulant agents.

Abstract: A method for shaping an end of an optical fiber having a core to provide a novel optical fiber (or waveguide) includes the steps of contacting the fiber against a mold having a predetermined shape, The fiber and/or mold is heated. The fibers can be made of silica. The method is well suited for making wedge-shaped (i.e., standard screwdriver-like shaped) fiber tips. In addition, an apparatus for molding a shaped tip precisely located with respect to a core of an optical fiber includes a mold having one or more surfaces of the mold being configured and dimensioned to impart a predetermined shape to an end of an optical fiber contacted therewith, the predetermined shape being precisely located with respect to the core of the optical fiber.