Abstract: A method of mixing paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes: (a) feeding liquid and feeding paper pulp into a vessel to form a mixture; (b) providing at least one counterflow impeller that is submerged in the mixture, the counterflow impeller being capable of simultaneously inducing both upward flow and downward flow; (c) rotating the counterflow impeller such that downward flow from the impeller is partially recirculated by upward flow from the impeller to form a mixing zone; (d) sensing a parameter of the mixture discharged from the vessel; and (e) controlling the feed rate of the liquid and the feed rate of the paper pulp in the feeding step (a) based on the sensing step (d). An apparatus for mixing of paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes a vessel for containing liquid and paper pulp, at least one counterflow impeller, and a feedback system for controlling outlet consistency.

Abstract: A method for producing ceramic articles with multiple distinct regions of density by blending pore formers of different types or amounts with ceramic particles to create multiple pore former/ceramic particle mixtures. The mixtures are placed in a divided die cavity, divider removed and subjected to compaction under pressure to produce a compacted billet. The compacted billet is thermally processed to volatilize organics from the billet and sinter the billet, creating a cohesive billet of ceramic having two or more regions of density.

Abstract: A method is provided for animating a three-dimensional object using an animation rig. An exemplary method according to the invention is a method that defines a positional relationship between the location of one or more known points on first surface and an equal number of corresponding points on a virtual surface, and a time interval. The time interval is incremented, and the positional offsets of one or more known points on the first surface are determined. The corresponding point or points on the virtual surface are then transformed by the positional offset, and the change in animation rig control values for the transformed points on the virtual surface are calculated. The animation rig control values are then updated based on said calculations.

Abstract: A flapper valve and a method of making the same that does not require bearing assembly. More particularly, the flapper valve includes a shaft having one or more flap portions and one or more bearing portions molded in place on the shaft as a unitary structure. The bearing portions are separated from adjacent flap portions and/or the shaft thereby forming a bearing that rotates independently of flap portions on the shaft. Accordingly, the flapper valve with mold-in-place bearings does not require bearings to be separately assembled or installed prior to installation of the valve.

Abstract: A method of detecting Parkinson's disease through MRI of substantial nigra pars compacta (SNc) tissue. The method involves obtaining a gray matter suppressed (GMS) MRI signal from the SNc tissue, obtaining a white matter suppressed (WMS) MRI signal of the SNc tissue, and combining information from the GMS and WMS MRI signals to produce resultant signals indicative of Parkinson's disease. A similar method can be used to detect Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. A method of distinguishing between the two diseases involves obtaining at least two starting MRI images of SNc tissue using different MRI parameters, and combining the starting images to compute resultant signals differentiating between the two forms of parkinsonism.

Abstract: A method of mixing paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes: (a) feeding liquid and feeding paper pulp into a vessel to form a mixture; (b) providing at least one counterflow impeller that is submerged in the mixture, the counterflow impeller being capable of simultaneously inducing both upward flow and downward flow; (c) rotating the counterflow impeller such that downward flow from the impeller is partially recirculated by upward flow from the impeller to form a mixing zone; (d) sensing a parameter of the mixture discharged from the vessel; and (e) controlling the feed rate of the liquid and the feed rate of the paper pulp in the feeding step (a) based on the sensing step (d). An apparatus for mixing of paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes a vessel for containing liquid and paper pulp, at least one counterflow impeller, and a feedback system for controlling outlet consistency.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed which relates to reading test strips. The method may include reading and storing initial values of a front photodiode and a rear photodiode, reading current values of the front and rear photodiodes, detecting at least one change between initial and current values in the front or the rear photodiodes, comparing the detected value change of one of the photodiodes with the value of the other photodiode, and determining a condition of the test strip in response to the resulting comparison.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting and treating blood component. An apparatus and methods for improvement of an extracorporeal photopheresis treatment is described. A cassette having flexible tubes inside its housing and on the bottom surface outside the cassette housing for ease of manufacturing is operated with a centrifuge bowl having an inlet and two outlets, pressure domes for measuring pressures in tubes, an improved irradiation plate, and a dual chamber bag in an extracorporeal photopheresis treatment.

Abstract: Patching of software application. A software application is stored on a smart card as partitions and is loaded from the smart card into the memory of a host computer to which the smart card is connected. The software application is executed on the host computer; which using the instructions of the software application establishes a communications channel between the software application and a remote patch server containing a patch for at least one partition of the software application. Upon detecting that a patch is available for the at least one partition of the software application, downloading the at least one partition from the remote server into volatile memory allocated to the software application on the host computer via the first communications channel, and uploading the at least one partition from the volatile memory allocated to the software application to the smart card. Other systems and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A detector assembly is provided. The detector assembly includes a configurable x-ray detector having an area no greater than 10.2 centimeters (cm)×10.2 centimeters (cm) and an embedded controller coupled to the configurable x-ray detector and configured to control the configurable x-ray detector and to format image data from the configurable x-ray detector for wireless transmission. The detector assembly also includes a wireless transmission device configured to wirelessly transmit the image data to a user interface device and a power storage device configured to provide electrical power to the configurable x-ray detector, the wireless transmission device and to the embedded controller.

Abstract: In accordance with certain disclosed embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an assay test device for determining whether a fluid under test contains a certain substance, wherein the device includes a test strip disposed at least partially within a housing for receiving the fluid under test. A sensor mounted on the housing detects the certain substance in the fluid under test received on the test strip to generate an electrical signal indicative of the amount of the substance detected. A processor responds to the signal for determining whether or not the fluid under test contains a predetermined quantity of the certain substance to generate an electrical signal. A display mounted on the housing responds to the output signal to indicate the presence or absence of a predetermined quantity of the certain substance contained within the fluid under test.

Abstract: In accordance with certain disclosed embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of analyzing assay test results for determining whether a fluid under test contains a certain substance. The disclosed method includes detecting the certain substance in the fluid under test received on a test strip, and generating an electrical signal indicative of the amount of the substance detected. The disclosed method further includes responding to the signal, and determining whether or not the fluid under test contains a predetermined quantity of the certain substance to generate an electric output signal. The method disclosed also includes responding to the output signal to indicate the presence or absence of a predetermined quantity of the certain substance contained within the fluid under test. The disclosed method includes delaying in the detecting until after a predetermined time delay interval, and storing the detected information at the completion of the time delay interval.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, methods and apparatus for improving the yield for separating components of fluids, for example biological or sensitive fluids such as blood, and improving the component yield, for example, from donated whole blood by separating its components by density in a centrifuge bowl with a multi-axial lumen. The apparatus, system, and method eliminate the need to batch-type separate blood and can reduce the time needed to treat patients suffering from T-cell or white blood cell mediated diseases or conditions to less than 70 minutes. In one aspect, the invention is a centrifuge bowl (10) comprising an outer housing (100); a core (200); a lower plate (300); a lumen (400); a first bowl channel (420) within said lumen (400) for inflowing said fluid (800); a second bowl channel (410) for removing a first separated fluid component (810); and a third bowl channel (740) for removing a second separated fluid component (820).

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed which relates to reading test strips. The method may include reading and storing initial values of a front photodiode and a rear photodiode, reading current values of the front and rear photodiodes, detecting at least one change between initial and current values in the front or the rear photodiodes, comparing the detected value change of one of the photodiodes with the value of the other photodiode, and determining a condition of the test strip in response to the resulting comparison.

Abstract: A control deck and system for controlling and driving blood fluids through an extracorporeal blood circuit kit. In one aspect, the invention is a deck having an improved mechanism for securing a cassette in place during treatment operations. The improved deck comprises catches for slidably receiving tabs of the cassette and one or more rotating clamps for locking and securing the cassette in a loaded position. In another aspect the invention is a system for controlling and driving blood fluids having infrared communication abilities to transmit and receive real time data. In still another aspect, the invention is a system for controlling and driving blood fluids having an upright tower design that reduces the footprint of the system. In this embodiment, a centrifuge chamber is positioned in an upper portion of the system while the control deck and photoactivation chamber are located in a base portion of the system.

Abstract: A control deck and system for controlling and driving blood fluids through an extracorporeal blood circuit kit. In one aspect, the invention is a deck having an improved mechanism for securing a cassette in place during treatment operations. The improved deck comprises catches for slidably receiving tabs of the cassette and one or more rotating clamps for locking and securing the cassette in a loaded position. In another aspect the invention is a system for controlling and driving blood fluids having infrared communication abilities to transmit and receive real time data. In still another aspect, the invention is a system for controlling and driving blood fluids having an upright tower design that reduces the footprint of the system. In this embodiment, a centrifuge chamber is positioned in an upper portion of the system while the control deck and photoactivation chamber are located in a base portion of the system.

Abstract: A control deck and system for controlling and driving blood fluids through an extracorporeal blood circuit kit. In one aspect, the invention is a deck having an improved mechanism for securing a cassette in place during treatment operations. The improved deck comprises catches for slidably receiving tabs of the cassette and one or more rotating clamps for locking and securing the cassette in a loaded position. In another aspect the invention is a system for controlling and driving blood fluids having infrared communication abilities to transmit and receive real time data. In still another aspect, the invention is a system for controlling and driving blood fluids having an upright tower design that reduces the footprint of the system. In this embodiment, a centrifuge chamber is positioned in an upper portion of the system while the control deck and photoactivation chamber are located in a base portion of the system.

Abstract: A collection device for a testing system includes a central volume and a trough, adjacent the central volume. The trough is configured with a pour spout such that, as fluid is poured from the collection device, a controlled volume remains in the trough. The trough is configured to receive a portion of a test kit and to apply the controlled volume of the sample to test strips within the test kit. The trough can also include apertures in the wall between the trough and the central volume which allow excess sample to flow back into the cup when the cup is placed upright after pouring and when the test kit is inserted into the trough.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting and treating blood component. An apparatus and methods for improvement of an extracorporeal photopheresis treatment is described. A cassette having flexible tubes inside its housing and on the bottom surface outside the cassette housing for ease of manufacturing is operated with a centrifuge bowl having an inlet and two outlets, pressure domes for measuring pressures in tubes, an improved irradiation plate, and a dual chamber bag in an extracorporeal photopheresis treatment.

Abstract: A pet grooming aid comprises a flexible, elongate handle coupled to a head bearing rigid tines adapted to reach through a pet's fur to its skin. The handle includes a reservoir for treatment fluids, the reservoir being coupled through a gate valve to a manifold within the head that distributes the fluid to a tube within each tine. Squeezing the handle forces treatment fluid through the manifold and tines onto the pet's skin, while the gate valve prevents fluid flow when the handle is not squeezed. A recharge nozzle and cap at on the handle opposite the head allows filling the reservoir without spilling fluid out the tines, and seals the reservoir for use.