Abstract: An alarm which emits an audible alarm upon the detection of a hazardous condition and which discontinues or changes a characteristic of the audible alarm upon detection that it is unsafe to use the exit with which the alarm is associated. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An image of a patient taken through X-ray computed tomography or the like is registered to physical measurements taken on the patient's body. Different parts of the patient's body are given different numerical weights; for example, if bone measurements are deemed to be more accurate than skin measurements, the bones can be given a higher weight than the skin. The weights are used in an iterative registration process to determine a rigid body transformation function. The transformation function is used in robot-assisted surgical procedures, stereotactic procedures or the like.

Abstract: The jaw assembly includes a master jaw and an insert jaw. An engagement surface on the master jaw provides a mounting surface for the insert jaw. The master jaw is contoured to provide a minimum of mass opposite the mounting surface and opposite the engagement surface to minimize the total rotating mass when the jaw assembly is in operation. In operation, a force is applied substantially perpendicular to the engagement surfaces between the insert jaw and master jaw such that the engagement surface experiences the force rather than the insert fastener.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for online shopping. The system on which the method and computer program product are based determines a shopping district for a customer based on customer-derived information, generates a present order list of at least one item to price, selects from a global database of retailers those selected retailers within the shopping district selling the items, and forms a selection list of the selected retailers. The list indicates the price and availability of the items on the selection list. A shopping basket including selected items and prices of the selected items is determined from the list of selected retailers. A to-be-purchased list is formed for at least a part of the shopping basket list which the customer confirms. The to-be-purchased list is used to generate purchase coupons for redemption at a confirmed retailer. Alternatively, the to-be-purchased list is direct ordered from each confirmed retailer.

Abstract: The jaw assembly includes a master jaw and an insert jaw. An engagement surface on the master jaw provides a mounting surface for the insert jaw. The master jaw is contoured to provide a minimum of mass opposite the mounting surface and opposite the engagement surface to minimize the total rotating mass when the jaw assembly is in operation. In operation, a force is applied substantially perpendicular to the engagement surfaces between the insert jaw and master jaw such that the engagement surface experiences the force rather than the insert fastener.

Abstract: An implantable fiducial marker having a sealed cavity for the introduction of an imaging agent that provides imaging capability in several modes, including Computed Tomographic imaging (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is disclosed. The marker may be permanent, or it may be temporary and readily detachable from its anchor site. Combinations or agents imageable under CT scanning are combined with agents imageable under MRI scanning.

Abstract: An implantable fiducial marker having a sealed cavity for the introduction of an imaging agent that provides imaging capability in several modes, including Computed Tomographic imaging (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is disclosed. The marker may be permanent, or it may be temporary and readily detachable from its anchor site. Combinations or agents imageable under CT scanning are combined with agents imageable under MRI scanning.

Abstract: A lubricating apparatus for an internal combustion engine incorporating a trap in fluid communication with a low point of the sump of the engine. The trap may house a plurality of meshes having a plurality of sizes for trapping precipitating solids. The trap may be isolated from the sump by a valve for cleaning of the trap and meshes. An auxiliary oil pump may provide a small flow of oil through the trap during periods of engine shutdown.

Abstract: A detachable cap for use in determining the location of the center of the imageable portion of a fiducial marker is disclosed. The lower portion of the cap has three arms and a boss for providing a detachable connection with an implanted base portion to which an imaging marker can be attached. The upper portion of the cap includes a divot-like depression that is configured to mate with a ball whose center can be determined. The ball, marker, and divot are configured so that the center of the ball, when mated to the divot, is coincident with the center of the marker when it is attached to the base in place of the cap. Knowledge of the location of the center of the ball when it is brought into engagement with the divot of the cap can be used to determine the location of the center of the marker when it is attached to the base.

Abstract: An automatic computer implemented technique which may be used for identifying markers and determining the centroids of fiducial markers (e.g., cylindrical fiducial markers) attached to the head in magnetic resonance (MR) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) volume images is disclosed. This technique may be referred to as image space localization. A first portion of the technique identifies many candidate voxel points included in a bright area of the image which may correspond to candidate markers. A second portion of the technique selects from the identified candidate voxels a predetermined number of candidate points of the image volume that are most likely to lie within an actual fiducial marker. The centroid for each of these markers is then determined. The method finds markers whose images are of a higher intensity than their surroundings and which have a given shape and size.

Abstract: A surgeon can select an entry point and a target point in a preoperative image volume of the patient. The target point and entry point form a trajectory line along which the surgeon wishes to perform a surgical procedure such as a biopsy and line up a surgical instrument. Once a surgical platform is moved along a guide arm arc close to a point on the trajectory line, the surgical platform is locked to the guiding arm. A pivot point position at the center of a ball joint in the middle of a metal plate is then arranged to be exactly at a point on the trajectory line. The metal plate is locked down and the ball joint is rotated to ensure that the surgical sleeve extends exactly along the trajectory line. This allows a decoupling between the position and orientation movements required to line the surgical sleeve up with the trajectory line to perform a surgical procedure. An interoperative localization device (ILD) is used to track the position of the surgical guide relative to the image space.

Abstract: A detachable cap for use in determining the location of the center of the imageable portion of a fiducial marker is disclosed. The lower portion of the cap has three arms and a boss for providing a detachable connection with an implanted base portion to which an imaging marker can be attached. The upper portion of the cap includes a divot-like depression that is configured to mate with a ball whose center can be determined. The ball, marker, and divot are configured so that the center of the ball, when mated to the divot, is coincident with the center of the marker when it is attached to the base in place of the cap. Knowledge of the location of the center of the ball when it is brought into engagement with the divot of the cap can be used to determine the location of the center of the marker when it is attached to the base.

Abstract: An automatic computer implemented technique which may be used for identifying markers and determining the centroids of fiducial markers (e.g., cylindrical fiducial markers) attached to the head in magnetic resonance (MR) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) volume images is disclosed. This technique may be referred to as image space localization. A first portion of the technique identifies many candidate voxel points included in a bright area of the image which may correspond to candidate markers. A second portion of the technique selects from the identified candidate voxels a predetermined number of candidate points of the image volume that are most likely to lie within an actual fiducial marker. The centroid for each of these markers is then determined. The method finds markers whose images are of a higher intensity than their surroundings and which have a given shape and size.

Abstract: An automatic computer implemented technique which may be used for identifying markers and determining the centroids of fiducial markers (e.g., cylindrical fiducial markers) attached to the head in magnetic resonance (MR) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) volume images is disclosed. This technique may be referred to as image space localization. A first portion of the technique identifies many candidate voxel points included in a bright area of the image which may correspond to candidate markers. A second portion of the technique selects from the identified candidate voxels a predetermined number of candidate points of the image volume that are most likely to lie within an actual fiducial marker. The centroid for each of these markers is then determined. The method finds markers whose images are of a higher intensity than their surroundings and which have a given shape and size.

Abstract: A detachable cap for use in determining the location of the center of the imageable portion of a fiducial marker is disclosed. The lower portion of the cap has three arms and a boss for providing a detachable connection with an implanted base portion to which an imaging marker can be attached. The upper portion of the cap includes a divot--like depression that is configured to mate with a ball whose center can be determined. The ball, marker, and divot are configured so that the center of the ball, when mated to the divot, is coincident with the center of the marker when it is attached to the base in place of the cap. Knowledge of the location of the center of the ball when it is brought into engagement with the divot of the cap can be used to determine the location of the center of the marker when it is attached to the base.

Abstract: A method for determining the location of the center of the imageable portion of a fiducial marker is disclosed. The method includes the use of a detachable cap. The lower portion of the cap has three arms and a boss for providing a detachable connection with an implanted base portion to which an imaging marker can be attached. The upper portion of the cap includes a divot--like depression that is configured to mate with a ball whose center can be determined. The ball, marker, and divot are configured so that the center of the ball, when mated to the divot, is coincident with the center of the marker when it is attached to the base in place of the cap. Knowledge of the location of the center of the ball when it is brought into engagement with the divot of the cap can be used to determine the location of the center of the marker when it is attached to the base.

Abstract: In order to minimize the initial in-rush produced on first energisation of a polyphase induction motor (10), careful control is exercised over the firing of controlled switching means (11) connected in series with each of the supply phases (A, B, C) or motor windings. This control includes effecting an initial selective firing of the switching means (11) such as to cause current to flow between two only (B,C) of the supply phases, the firing being timed to occur such that the voltage between these two phases (B,C) is decreasing in value at the moment of firing. Thereafter, the switching means (11) are sequentially fired in a manner resulting in the progressive increase in the angle of conduction of each switching means (11).

Abstract: This invention relates to phosphoroamidothioate and phosphoroamidodithioate compounds, to compositions thereof which are useful as pesticides, for example, as athropodicides (that is, insecticides and acaricides), nematocides, and fungicides, and to a method of controlling pests, such as insects, acarids, nematodes, and fungi. The compounds of the invention are effective against soil insects, especially the corn rootworm, when applied by soil application techniques and are also effective when applied to agricultural plants and other plants by foliar application techniques.

Abstract: Motor power-factor controllers (12) act, in the presence of varying motor loads, to maintain the phase lag angle (.phi..sub.M) between motor voltage and current at a preset demand or reference phase-lag value (.phi..sub.R) by regulating the firing angle of gate-controlled switching devices (11) connected in series with the motor supply (A, B, C). The optimum reference phase-lag value (.phi..sub.R) depends on the motor characteristics and will be as small as possible while providing for a stable, unambiguous control characteristic. A reference-setting unit (14) is provided for automatically setting an appropriate reference phase lag (.phi..sub.R). This unit (14) monitors the motor phase lag (.phi..sub.M) during start up and sets the reference phase lag (.phi..sub.R) to a value corresponding to the minimum monitored phase lag plus a predetermined amount (for example 8.degree.). The unit (14) can be arranged to seek to improve on the set reference (.phi..sub.

Abstract: This invention relates to phosphoroamidothioate and phosphorcamidodithioate compounds, to compositions thereof which are useful as pesticides. For example, as arthropodicides (that is, insecticides and acaricides), nematocides, and fungicides, and to a method of controlling pests, such as insects, acarids, nematodes, and fungi. The compounds of the invention are effective against soil insects, especially the corn rootworm, when applied by soil application techniques and are also effective when applied to agricultural plants and other plants by foliar application techniques.