Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of prismatic format batteries in a stacked configuration. Flexible graphite sheet heat spreaders are interposed between adjacent prismatic batteries in the stack. A heat sink extends the length of the stack of prismatic format batteries. But heat spreader major surfaces contact the heat sink and extend into the heat sink by at least 30 percent of the thru-thickness of the heat sink.

Abstract: A battery pack thermal management assembly draws heat from prismatic batteries having opposed major surfaces and arranged in a stacked configuration inside a housing. The thermal management assembly includes a plurality of thermal transfer sheets made from sheets of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles. Each thermal transfer sheet is positioned to contact the major surface of at least one of the prismatic batteries. A cover plate has a top face and a bottom face and includes a plurality of apertures through which the plurality of thermal transfer sheets extend. The apertures include at least one curved sidewall and the thermal transfer sheets are bent over the curved sidewall. At least a portion of each of the thermal transfer sheets is secured between a heat sink and the top face.

Abstract: A device includes an ear occlude, an output transducer that is acoustically coupled to an ear canal of a wearer of the device, a voice microphone configured to generate a first electrical signal that is proportional to a voice-generated sound pressure at the microphone, and signal processing circuitry, electrically coupled to the output transducer and the microphone, including a compensator configured to generate, from the first electrical signal, a second electrical signal, and output the second electrical signal to the output transducer, wherein the compensator is tuned to cause GOE, a ratio of a sound pressure within the ear canal to a voice-generated sound pressure at a mouth reference point when the ear is occluded and electronically-aided to be approximately equal to GU, a ratio of the sound pressure within the ear canal to the voice-generated sound pressure at the mouth reference point when the ear is unoccluded.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition in concentrated form (“the concentrate”) for dilution with water in the preparation of an agricultural composition for application to crops, soil or animals, comprising a carbohydrate-based pH modifying agent and a pH indicator. The agricultural composition comprises an agricultural chemical whose agricultural activity varies with the pH of the water. The proportions of the pH indicator and the pH modifying agent in the concentrate are selected so that when the concentrate is diluted with an appropriate amount of water, the pH indicator indicates visually by coloration of the composition, whether or not the pH of the water is suitable for acceptable agricultural activity of the chemical. The invention also provides a process for preparing the agricultural composition by mixing the concentrate with water, and adding the agricultural chemical to the composition, if it is not already present in the concentrate.

Abstract: A core for obturating a root canal includes a body that has a pre-formed contour that closely matches a contour of the root canal. When the core is inserted in the root canal with or without sealer, there are essentially no voids in the root canal. A method of making a customized root canal obturation core includes generating a three-dimensional image of a root canal. The method also includes manufacturing the customized root canal obturation core based on the three-dimensional image of the root canal. The customized root canal obturation core has a preformed contour that closely matches a contour of the root canal such that when the core is inserted in the root canal with or without sealer there are essentially no voids in the root canal.

Abstract: A polycrystalline CVD diamond material comprising a surface having a surface roughness Rq of less than 5 nm, wherein said surface is damage free to the extent that if an anisotropic thermal revealing etch is applied thereto, a number density of defects revealed by the anisotropic thermal revealing etch is less than 100 per mm2.

Abstract: There is herein described light emitting medical devices and a method of manufacturing said medical devices. More particularly, there is described integrated light emitting medical devices (e.g. neural devices) capable of being used in optogenetics and a method of manufacturing said medical devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a diamond surface including the steps of providing an original diamond surface, subjecting the original diamond surface to plasma etching to remove at least 2 nm of material from the original surface and produce a plasma etched surface, the roughness Rq of the plasma etched surface at the location of the etched surface where the greatest depth of material has been removed satisfying at least one of the following conditions: Rq of the plasma etched surface is less than 1.5 times the roughness of Rq of the original surface, or Rq of the plasma etched surface is less than 1 nm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an automatically upgradeable software application includes targeted advertising based upon demographics and user interaction with the computer. The software application includes a display region used for banner advertising that is downloaded over a network such as the Internet. The software application is accessible from a server via the network and demographic information on the user is acquired by the server and used for determining what advertising will be sent to the user. The software application further targets the advertisements in response to normal user interaction with the computer. Data associated with each advertisement is used by the software application in determining when a particular advertisement is to be displayed. This includes the specification of certain programs that the user may have so that, when the user runs the program (e.g., a spreadsheet program), a relevant advertisement will be displayed (e.g., an advertisement for a stock brokerage).

Abstract: A signal assembly is provided that includes a chamber defined by isotropically luminant back and side surfaces, and a front surface having a lens and a diffuser. The signal assembly also includes LED light sources having a beam angle ?70° coupled to the back surface. The back and front surfaces are separated by a depth, and each source is located at a spacing from the other sources ?the depth divided by a predetermined factor. The predetermined factor may be set to approximately 2.5 or 2.0 when the divergence angle of the diffuser is ?20° or ?30°, respectively. The signal assembly and its components can be configured to operate as a vehicular signal lamp.

Abstract: A headset includes a microphone for receiving a user's voice, a microphone for receiving ambient noise, a receiver for receiving a plurality of voice signals, a speaker for delivering sound to the user's ear and a processing device. The processing device is configured to identify a signal level of a first one of the plurality of voice signals and a second one of the plurality of voice signals, the signal level of the second voice signal being different than the signal level of the first voice signal. The processing device is also configured to measure the ambient noise level and adjust a gain applied to at least one of the first and second voice signals, taking into consideration the ambient noise level. The first and second voice signals are provided to the speaker.

Abstract: A device for pumping blood, includes a housing having a distal end adapted to be coupled to a catheter, a proximal end having an outlet, and a tubular body extending between the distal and proximal ends along an axis. A rotor is rotatably disposed within the housing. A first magnetic bearing is operative to levitate the rotor along the axis within the housing. A second magnetic bearing controls a rotational frequency of the rotor. A third magnetic bearing controls a radial position of the rotor.

Abstract: A device for pumping blood, includes a housing having a distal end adapted to be coupled to a catheter, a proximal end having an outlet, and a tubular body extending between the distal and proximal ends along an axis. A rotor is rotatably disposed within the housing. A first magnetic bearing is operative to levitate the rotor along the axis within the housing. A second magnetic bearing controls a rotational frequency of the rotor. A third magnetic bearing controls a radial position of the rotor.

Abstract: A device for pumping blood, includes a housing having a distal end adapted to be coupled to a catheter, a proximal end having an outlet, and a tubular body extending between the distal and proximal ends along an axis. A rotor is rotatably disposed within the housing. A first magnetic bearing is operative to levitate the rotor along the axis within the housing. A second magnetic bearing controls a rotational frequency of the rotor. A third magnetic bearing controls a radial position of the rotor.

Abstract: A signal assembly is provided that includes a chamber defined by isotropically luminant back and side surfaces, and a front surface having a lens and a diffuser. The signal assembly also includes LED light sources having a beam angle ?70° coupled to the back surface. The back and front surfaces are separated by a depth, and each source is located at a spacing from the other sources?the depth divided by a predetermined factor. The predetermined factor may be set to approximately 2.5 or 2.0 when the divergence angle of the diffuser is ?20° or ?30°, respectively. The signal assembly and its components can be configured to operate as a vehicular signal lamp.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of cell assemblies each of which include one or more prismatic batteries. A frame has legs sized and configured to be positioned around the prismatic batteries. At least one leg includes a rear face, curved outer edge and a side face. A thermal transfer sheet is made from a sheet of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles. Each thermal transfer sheet is positioned to contact the major surface of the at least one prismatic battery and is bent over the curved outer edge. At least a portion of each thermal transfer sheet is secured between a heat sink and the side face.

Abstract: In an active noise reducing headphone, a signal processor applies filters and control gains of both the feed-forward and feedback active noise cancellation signal paths. The signal processor is configured to apply first feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path and apply first feedback filters to the feedback signal path during a first operating mode providing effective cancellation of ambient sound, and to apply second feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path during a second operating mode providing active hear-through of ambient sounds with ambient naturalness.

Abstract: In one inventive aspect, a method of reactive targeted advertising provides for display of advertising, via the internet, to computers of users. In a particular example, a plurality of keywords are stored in a memory. The method comprises determining whether one or more of those keywords are used in a web page, and for any keywords determined to be used, an advertisement is selected using those keywords. The advertisement is for display on the computer of the user who is accessing the web page. A request is received for the selected advertisement, and the advertisement is provided, from an advertising server and over the internet, for display on the computer of the user.

Abstract: A device for performing fetotomy on a dead fetus or repositioning of a live fetus has a primary attachment in the form of a looped brace that is provided around a fetal limb within the birth canal of the mother animal and engages the armpit or groin of the fetus. An extension bar connects the brace to a tensioning device. A secondary attachment such as a cable or chain is attached at the foot of the fetal limb and connected to the tensioning device. The tensioning device is operated to provide tension between the brace and the secondary attachment, thereby placing the fetal limb in traction. Sufficient traction causes removal of the entire limb without exposing sharp bone edges. Variations of the device may be used for a fetal repositioning procedure.