Abstract: A ladder, system, and methods are disclosed. The ladder is used on a steep-pitched roof and has a first section with rungs, a second section connected to the first section, a third section connected to the second section, and a paw pivotally connected to the third section. The third section has a length less than or equal to a length of the second section, and the third section also has a length less than a distance between a first rung of the rungs and an end of the first section. The ladder can be used in a system that utilizes the ladder and a roof anchor apparatus, where the roof-anchor apparatus has two portions and two shoes interconnected to the portions. A method includes positioning the ladder and then positioning the roof anchor apparatus, on and over a steep-pitched roof, respectively.

Abstract: A rigid extractor is revealed, a rigid device for use in percutaneous procedures to remove kidney stones directly from the kidneys. The rigid extractor uses a handle fixed to an outer rigid cannula, and an inner cannula to control an extraction device that may be removable from the inner cannula. The extractor is desirably used with a fluoroscope, in which the surgeon maneuvers the extractor with the aid of a view of the operating field provided by the fluoroscope. The surgeon then maneuvers the extractor to grasp the kidney stones and remove from the patient. The extractor may also be used with a nephroscope. The device may be used with a removable extraction device such as a basket, a grasper a pair of jaws, or a pair of scissors.

Abstract: A low clearance drive system includes a low clearance socket and/or a low clearance male driver (50). The socket has a reduced depth drive receptacle and a reduced-depth output fastener receiving receptacle. Each of the male driver and the socket drive receptacle has an axial length (L3) or depth which is less than its nominal transverse width (w). The male driver may have a detent ball (55) adapted to be engaged in a detent recess in the female drive receptacle, such that the ball diameter is less than half the nominal transverse drive width and may be either equal to or less than the diameter of the detent recess.

Abstract: The instant invention is a process for planarizing a microelectronic substrate with a cross-linked polymer dielectric layer, comprising the steps of: (a) heating such a substrate coated with a layer comprising an uncured cross-linkable polymer and a glass transition suppression modifier to a temperature greater than the glass transition temperature of the layer, the temperature being less than the curing temperature of the uncured cross-linkable polymer to form a substrate coated with a heat flowed layer; and (b) heating the substrate coated with the heat flowed layer to a curing temperature of the uncured cross-linkable polymer of the heated layer to cure the uncured cross-linkable polymer to form a planarized substrate wherein the percent planarization at 100 micrometers is greater than fifty percent. The instant invention is a microelectronic device made using the above-described process.

Abstract: Double ended wire guides are manufactured so that either end, or both ends sequentially, may be inserted into a patient. The ends are different, so that the inventory requirements of wire guides are minimized. For example, a wire guide may have a straight end and an angled end, either end suitable for use on the patient. The wire guides may also differ in other characteristics, such as the stiffness or the diameters of the distal and proximal portions. The wire guide may also be stored in a package, the package including a fitting so that wetting solution may be injected into the package to wet the wire guide and prepare it for use.

Abstract: A method of forming an air gap within a semiconductor structure by the steps of: (a) using a sacrificial polymer to occupy a space in a semiconductor structure; and (b) heating the semiconductor structure to decompose the sacrificial polymer leaving an air gap within the semiconductor structure, wherein the sacrificial polymer of step (a) is: (a) a copolymer of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and vinylbenzocyclobutene (or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative); or (b) a copolymer of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and 5-(3benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene; or (c) a polymer of 5-(3benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene. In addition, a semiconductor structure, having a sacrificial polymer positioned between conductor lines, wherein the sacrificial polymer is: (a) a copolymer of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and vinylbenzocyclobutene (or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative); or (b) a copolymer of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and 5-(3benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene; or (c) a polymer of 5-(3benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.

Abstract: A method of forming an air gap within a semiconductor structure by the steps of: (a) using a sacrificial polymer to occupy a space in a semiconductor structure; and (b) heating the semiconductor structure to decompose the sacrificial polymer leaving an air gap within the semiconductor structure, wherein the sacrificial polymer of step (a) is a copolymer of bis[3-(4-benzocyclobutenyl)]1,n (n=2-12) alkyldiol diacrylate (such as bis[3-(4-benzocyclobutenyl)]1,6 hexanediol diacrylate) and 1,3 bis 2[4-benzocyclobutenyl(ethenyl)]benzene. In addition, a semiconductor structure, having a sacrificial polymer positioned between conductor lines, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer of bis[3-(4-benzocyclobutenyl)]1,n (n=2-12)alkyldiol diacrylate and 1,3 bis 2[4-benzocyclobutenyl(ethenyl)]benzene.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and an coupler disposed between the spindle and the dissection tool. The coupler includes a tool collet and an attachment locking mechanism operable to permit tool collet operation and telescoping movement of an attachment tube with respect to the dissection tool. A method is also provided for convenient coupling of the dissection tool and adjustment of the attachment tube length.

Abstract: A rigid extractor is revealed, a rigid device for use in percutaneous procedures to remove kidney stones directly from the kidneys. The rigid extractor uses a handle fixed to an outer rigid cannula, and an inner cannula to control an extraction device that may be removable from the inner cannula. The extractor is desirably used with a fluoroscope, in which the surgeon maneuvers the extractor with the aid of a view of the operating field provided by the fluoroscope. The surgeon then maneuvers the extractor to grasp the kidney stones and remove from the patient. The extractor may also be used with a nephroscope. The device may be used with a removable extraction device such as a basket, a grasper a pair of jaws, or a pair of scissors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for more effectively performing wound irrigation and cleansing. The device consists of a coupling member that may be releasably coupled by threaded engagement with the dispensing outlet of a manually compressible container having a reservoir of cleansing fluid. The coupling member has an upstream end portion containing a void region which is in fluid communication with the reservoir after coupling. A magnifying lens is carried by the coupling member and is located intermediate the upstream and downstream ends of the coupling member. The magnifying lens has a multiplicity of orifices adjacent its peripheral edge where the orifices communicate with both the void region and a chamber region. The chamber region is located downstream of the lens and has an opening of its downstream end to permit cleansing fluid to be delivered to the wound upon manually compressing the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for more effectively performing wound irrigation and cleansing. The device consists of a coupling member that may be releasably coupled by threaded engagement with the dispensing outlet of a manually compressible container having a reservoir of cleansing fluid. The coupling member has an upstream end portion containing a void region which is in fluid communication with the reservoir after coupling. A magnifying lens is carried by the coupling member and is located intermediate the upstream and downstream ends of the coupling member. The magnifying lens has a multiplicity of orifices adjacent its peripheral edge where the orifices communicate with both the void region and a chamber region. The chamber region is located downstream of the lens and has an opening at its downstream end to permit cleansing fluid to be delivered to the wound upon manually compressing the container.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for inhibiting apoptosis and for the treatment of conditions related thereto.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and an coupler disposed between the spindle and the dissection tool. The coupler includes a tool collet and an attachment locking mechanism operable to permit tool collet operation and telescoping movement of an attachment tube with respect to the dissection tool. A method is also provided for convenient coupling of the dissection tool and adjustment of the attachment tube length.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing polymeric films, preferably electroactive films, with enhanced physical properties by the steps of applying to a substrate a solution of a polymer containing pendant labile solubilizing groups, then removing the solvent and a sufficient concentration of the labile solubilizing groups render the polymer less soluble in the solvent than before the labile groups were removed. It is believed that the removal of pendant soluble groups a) permits optimization of the semiconducting backbone for charge transport performance, b) allows direct control of microstructure in the final film, and c) renders the final film more robust during subsequent process steps needed to construct multilayer devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved system for withdrawing and dispensing a measured dose of liquid medication from a medication container and includes a medication container of the type having a bottle neck with a void therethrough communicating with the reservoir of the container and a suction syringe having a needle portion through which the medication is suctioned by the syringe. An improved neck insert has a first passageway passing therethrough and a second passageway passing therethrough where the second passageway communicates with the atmosphere and the container reservoir; the first passageway is so dimensioned and proportioned to sealingly receive the needle portion of the syringe. The improved neck insert is resiliently compressible radially and peripherally seals the bottle neck void upon sufficient insertion into the void. A retrieving tube has a distal portion and a proximate portion and a lumen extending therethrough.

Abstract: A rotary switch (102) for an electronic device (100) includes a bump stop (104) that triggers a ratcheting feature when hit. The range of the rotary switch (102) is expanded via the ratcheting feature. The ratcheting feature inhibits scrolling through a device parameter in one rotation direction and enables scrolling through the device parameter in the opposite rotation direction. Depending on which direction the bump stop (104) is hit, the parameter is either incremented or decremented. The range of the rotary switch can also be expanded by modifying the step size of the rotary switch based on the range of a selected parameter (504). The coarse step is then narrowed with each change in rotation direction (510, 518) based on current, previous and useable switch positions (512, 514).

Abstract: A text mining system for collecting business intelligence about a client, as well as for identifying prospective customers of the client, for use in a lead generation system accessible by the client via the Internet. The text mining system has various components, including a data acquisition process that extracts textual data from Internet web sites, including their logs, content, processes, and transactions. The system compares log data to content and process data, and relates the results of the comparison to transaction data. This permits the system to provide aggregate cluster data representing statistics useful for customer lead generation.

Abstract: A text mining system for collecting business intelligence about a client, as well as for identifying prospective customers of the client, for use in a lead generation system accessible by the client via the Internet. The text mining system has various components, including a data acquisition process that extracts textual data from various Internet sources, a database for storing the extracted data, a text mining server that executes query-based searches of the database, and an output repository. A web server provides client access to the repository, and to the mining server.

Abstract: A text mining system for collecting business intelligence about a client, as well as for identifying prospective customers of the client, for use in a lead generation system accessible by the client via the Internet. The text mining system has various components, including a data acquisition process that extracts textual data from Internet web sites, including their logs, content, processes, and transactions. The system compares log data to content and process data, and relates the results of the comparison to transaction data. This permits the system to provide aggregate cluster data representing statistics useful for customer lead generation.