Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument including two coaxially arranged tubular members. The first tubular member has a cutting tip and is co-axially disposed within the second tubular member, which in turn has a cutting window to expose the cutting tip to tissue and bone through the cutting window. Movement of the tubular members with respect to each other debrides soft tissue and thin bone presented to the cutting window. The second (outer) tubular member has one or more features which contribute to reduced clogging of the cutting tip as a whole.

Abstract: A package for a multi-component medical device is disclosed. The package includes a bottom portion with cavities providing individual access to different components of the medical device, thereby enabling a user to remove components from the package in any order without disturbing the remaining component or components. The package also includes a barrier affixed to the bottom portion for sealing the package.

Abstract: A wirelessly powered device and operating method to aid in locating the device in relation to an energy transmitter. A device positioning aid processor places at least one component into a high electrical current consumption mode and determines, based on placing the at least one component into a high electrical current consumption mode, an amount of electrical current induced in a receiving coil that is adapted to inductively couple to a transmission coil external to the wirelessly powered device. An indicator, which is communicatively coupled to the device positioning aid processor, is configured to provide, in response to a determination of the amount of electrical current, an indication corresponding to the amount of electrical current.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to self-adhesive labels, label sheet assemblies, and related methods. The label sheet assembly includes a release liner assembly having a detachable portion, and a label releasably coupled to the release liner assembly and overlying the detachable portion. Weakened separation lines, a U-shaped cut, and a transverse cut define the detachable portion. The detachable portion is configured to remain coupled to the label as the label is peeled from the release liner assembly in a first direction, and the detachable portion is configured to remain part of the release liner assembly and separate from the label as the label is peeled from the release liner assembly in a second direction.

Abstract: A system and method for storing and retrieving a sparse matrix from memory of a computing device while minimizing the amount of data stored and costly jumps in memory. The computing device may be an FPGA having memory and processing elements. The method comprises storing non-zero data elements of the matrix in a data array and storing their corresponding column address values in a column index array. To read this stored data from memory, each preceding value of the column index array may be compared with each current value of the column index array to determine if the data array value corresponding with the current column index array value belongs on the next row of the matrix. The method may include pre-ordering the matrix with zero-pad placeholders or creating a row increment pointer array which typically stores fewer values than the number of rows in the matrix.

Abstract: A torque converter includes a cover, a piston plate, a first damper, a pendulum plate, and a drive plate. The cover forms at least a portion of a housing for the torque converter. The piston plate includes a friction surface for clutching engagement with the cover. The first damper includes a first elastic member and a first flange drivingly engaged with the first elastic member. The pendulum plate is axially disposed between the piston plate and the first flange and includes first slots arranged for supporting a pendulum mass. The drive plate includes a first portion fixed to the piston plate and an axial tab extending through the pendulum plate to engage the first flange.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to process items for sale or bid, to transmit electronic negotiations between prospective buyer and seller, and to verify the condition of the item before delivery to the buyer. The invention facilitates autonomous and remote negotiation between sellers and prospective buyers while protecting buyers from fraud and item misrepresentation. With the present invention, items can be sold individually and are not treated as standardized items that are interchangeable with similar commodity goods. The present invention also provides a waitlisting function. In addition, the functionality of traditional auction systems may be integrated with the novel features of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention provides a system and method for conducting a reverse auction by allowing prospective buyers to list desired items.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method for categorizing at least one image includes obtaining the at least one image and mapping the at least one image to at least a first grid. The first grid is a two-dimensional grid that includes a plurality of cells. The method also includes characterizing the first grid, wherein categorizing the first grid includes determining whether the first grid is indicative of an offensive characteristic, and identifying the at least one image as offensive when it is determined that the first grid is indicative of the offensive characteristic. When it is determined that the first grid is not indicative of the offensive characteristic, the at least one image is identified as not offensive.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument including two coaxially arranged tubular members. The first tubular member has a cutting tip and is co-axially disposed within the second tubular member, which in turn has a cutting window to expose the cutting tip to tissue and bone through the cutting window. Movement of the tubular members with respect to each other debrides soft tissue and thin bone presented to the cutting window. The second (outer) tubular member has one or more features which contribute to reduced clogging of the cutting tip as a whole.

Abstract: A serviceable drive assembly is disclosed. The leg housing assembly may include a flange disposed around an opening at a first end. The leg housing may also include a plurality of brake hub retention tabs extending radially inward from the flange into the opening. A method of servicing an output shaft locating within the leg housing assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining an impact of simultaneous switching noise (SSN) for a linearly based metric is provided. The method includes generating a waveform representing an impact of SSN from a rising aggressor for each of at least two victim pins associated with the metric and generating a waveform representing an impact of SSN from a falling aggressor for each of at least two victim pins associated with the metric. The waveforms from the rising aggressor are collapsed into a single waveform for the rising aggressor and the waveforms from the falling aggressor are collapsed into a single waveform for the falling aggressor. The single waveform for the rising aggressor and the single waveform for the falling aggressor are merged into a merged waveform. Through a computing device, switching window SSN analysis of the circuit design is performed with a common uncertainty removal utilizing the merged waveform.

Abstract: A surgical tissue cutting instrument comprises a tubular outer member, an inner member rotatably disposed within the outer member and having a cutting element, a handpiece, and an irrigation system. The irrigation system includes an irrigation channel composed of a first irrigation passage within the handpiece and a second irrigation passage within the thickness of the annular wall of the outer member, and a sleeve disposed over a front end of the handpiece and over the outer member adjacent an outlet opening of the second irrigation passage. The sleeve allows communication through the outlet opening of the second irrigation passage and an inlet port of the first passage. The inlet port is connectible with a source of irrigation fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to the veracity of information displayed to a user of a computer, and information provided to a computer by human input devices such as mice and keyboards. A digital video guard (DVG) device is a peripheral that is retrofitted to commodity computer devices. The DVG resides in-line with a digital display and enables secure end-to-end interactions between a user and a displayed (usually remote) application. In-band signalling within the digital video stream is used to carry encrypted information from a local or remote source, over untrusted network infrastructure through the digital video guard device to a user. The DVG decrypts and verifies the integrity of the digital video. The integrity of the displayed information is indicated by a trusted LED on the DVG hardware. Portions of the video signal may be designated as trusted, if the received data has been encrypted, signed, or labelled as trustworthy.

Abstract: This invention provides methods, computer program products, and systems to guide a user in optimizing the Simultaneous Switching Noise (SSN) of an electronic device by using visual approaches on a graphical user interface (GUI). Also provided is an interactive feedback mechanism that enables the user to evaluate the effectiveness of an optimization method. A matrix representation of the different I/O pins on the device shows the level of SSN at different victim pins caused by switching aggressor pins. The SSN is depicted using different graphical representations. Associated with the SSN of each victim pin is the graphical representation of its accuracy. The accuracy rating denotes the reliability of the SSN and is an indication of how sensitive a victim pin is to errors. In the interactive feedback mechanism, user input on SSN optimization is received and used to calculate the new SSN and accuracy rating of different victim pins on the device. The new data is then updated in a timely manner on the GUI.

Abstract: Among other things, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for manipulating media. In one aspect, one or more processes executing on a host computer system detect that a portable electronic device is within a predefined communications proximity relative to the host computer system, establish wireless communications and exchange information with the portable electronic device sufficient to determine that metadata relating to one or more items of visual media content reside on the portable electronic device. The metadata is used to retrieve the one or more items of visual media content from a storage location separate from the portable electronic device. The retrieved one or more items of visual media content are added to a list of visual media content available for presentation on a presentation device associated with the host computer system.

Abstract: A pen needle hub and cover for a pen needle assembly that provides tactile and/or audible indicia of proper attachment between the hub of the pen needle and the pen is provided. Such indicia substantially prevent under- and over-torquing of the pen needle. The tactile indicia may include a user sensing a wave of a torque of peak value followed by a torque of lesser value.

Abstract: Optical apparatus comprises at least one variable power lens 1 formed by a fluid-filled cavity 2 defined between two transparent walls 3, 4, at least one of which is provided by a flexible membrane 4. The apparatus further comprises a first pump 10 in fluid communication with the cavity 2 for varying the volume of fluid in the cavity 2 in order to change the optical power of the lens 1. A second pump 20 is provided in fluid communication with the cavity 2 for varying the volume of fluid in the cavity 2 in order to change the optical power of the lens 1. The second pump 20 is in fluid communication with the cavity 2 via a detachable connection 7, so that the second pump 20 can be removed from the apparatus after adjustment of the optical power of the lens 1.

Abstract: A method of treating autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection, comprising the step of treating the autoimmune or transplant patient with an effective amount of SU-5416 is disclosed.