Abstract: An IV catheter system may have a catheter component and a needle component. The catheter component may have a catheter hub, a cannula extending distally from the catheter hub, and a push feature extending outward from the catheter hub. The push feature may have an outer surface that receives contact from a digit to move the IV catheter system from an insertion configuration, in which the needle is within the cannula, to a fluid delivery configuration, in which the needle is outside the catheter hub. The needle component may have a needle hub and a needle extending distally from the needle hub along an axis. The push feature may be formed of a flexible material that causes the push feature, in response to pressure exerted on the outer surface by a dressing securing the catheter component to a patient, to deflect the outer surface toward the cannula axis.

Abstract: A method for detecting time rollovers is disclosed. The method may include receiving time data including week data and second data and processing the time data to generate a first date. The method may include generating, based on the first date and an offset value, a second date and obtaining, when the second date is prior to a baseline date, a network date. The method may include assigning the network date as the baseline date and processing the network date and the first date to determine an updated offset value. The method may include storing the updated offset value as the offset value and determining, based on the network date, a system date.

Abstract: A method for detecting time rollovers is disclosed. The method may include receiving time data including week data and second data and processing the time data to generate a first date. The method may include generating, based on the first date and an offset value, a second date and obtaining, when the second date is prior to a baseline date, a network date. The method may include assigning the network date as the baseline date and processing the network date and the first date to determine an updated offset value. The method may include storing the updated offset value as the offset value and determining, based on the network date, a system date.

Abstract: An exercise ball stabilizer apparatus includes a ball stabilizing assembly and a telescopically connected platform assembly to allow for length adjustment along an axial distance between the stabilizer assembly and the platform assembly. The stabilizer assembly is adjustable to accommodate different exercise ball diameters. The exercise ball is stably maintained within the stabilizer assembly, thereby providing a stable support during conventional exercise ball exercising activities.

Abstract: A system and method for activating and funding prepaid cards at the point of sale by making innovative use of existing point-of-sale devices and existing credit/debit card acceptance networks and processes. The invention obviates the need to implement new/different technology at point-of-sale terminals that are widely used at retail outlets. This invention makes use of the existing credit and charge card systems and processes, including industry standard message formats, to settle funds and fees between the seller and the issuer of the prepaid card, thus further reducing the expense and time-to-market for product distribution.

Abstract: A process of producing a composite having carbon nanotubes is described where the carbon nanotube formation process of producing carbon nanotubes includes controlled heating of plant fiber materials in an oxygen-limited atmosphere. The plant fiber materials may be heated either cyclically or by rapid heating to produce the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A system and method for activating and funding prepaid cards at the point of sale by making innovative use of existing point-of-sale devices and existing credit/debit card acceptance networks and processes. The invention obviates the need to implement new/different technology at point-of-sale terminals that are widely used at retail outlets. This invention makes use of the existing credit and charge card systems and processes, including industry standard message formats, to settle funds and fees between the seller and the issuer of the prepaid card, thus further reducing the expense and time-to-market for product distribution.

Abstract: A method for controlling a pointing icon in a computer, including the steps of (A) establishing a wireless connection between a pointing device and the computer, (B) generating directional information through one or more three dimensional movements of the pointing device, (C) transmitting the directional information from the pointing device to the computer and (D) translating the directional information into movements of the pointing icon on a screen of the computer using a device driver program stored on the computer.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and retrieving device usage for a device at a vehicle including storing a vehicle data record in the telematics unit, monitoring the device usage for device data, storing the device data at the vehicle, requesting the telematics unit to upload the device data, and transmitting the device data from the telematics unit to a remote location. At least one of the monitoring and the requesting is performed in accordance with the vehicle data record.

Abstract: A system for auditing telecommunication billing data comprises a rule-construction user interface and an audit component. The rule-construction user interface comprises a plurality of rule condition parameter menus to construct an audit rule for at least one telecommunication billing attribute. In a particular embodiment, before baselining the audit rule, a user can test rule conditions against actual data, and the user can compare multiple versions of a single audit rule to determine which version successfully identifies exceptions. The audit component is to perform an audit of a telecommunication billing data set for exceptions to the audit rule constructed using the rule-construction user interface. Once identified, the exceptions can be assigned to additional tool users to assist in exception investigation and maintenance using an exception maintenance component.

Abstract: A method of automatically classifying defects. The method generally includes the steps of (A) receiving information for a current defect, (B) extracting field values from the current defect, (C) counting a number of occurrences of one or more keywords in the current defect, (D) determining one or more new keywords occurring in the current defect and storing the one or more new keywords in a database and (E) creating one or more linkages in the database between a first record corresponding to the current defect and one or more second records corresponding to previous defects based upon one or more similarities between the first and the second records.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube formation process of producing carbon nanotubes includes controlled heating of plant fiber materials in an oxygen-limited atmosphere. The plant fiber materials may be heated either cyclically or by rapid heating to produce the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A process of producing a composite having carbon nanotubes is described where the carbon nanotube formation process of producing carbon nanotubes includes controlled heating of plant fiber materials in an oxygen-limited atmosphere. The plant fiber materials may be heated either cyclically or by rapid heating to produce the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Pathological binaural phase time delay (PBTD) asynchrony is measured at a variety of frequencies and speech stimuli to develop a BPTD profile for a subject. A corrective device (600, 1000) is designed to apply clinical PBTD to compensate for the subject's pathological BPTD. An electronic device (500) is used to measure the subject's ability to comprehend words at a variety of relative time delays between ears to estimate the ideal overall relative time delay. The optimal relative phase shift at a variety of frequencies is also measured. An electronic device (600) may be used to correct the pathological BPTD by delaying sound in different frequency bands differently to the target ear, according to the BPTD profile, or a passive filtered earplug (1000) may be used to correct smaller amounts of BPTD.

Abstract: A method of using a help utility user interface to facilitate data entry into a software application. The method includes receiving via the help utility user interface a first user input relating to a data field of the application software, storing the first user input in a data cell associated with the data field of the application software corresponding with a current item and receiving via the help utility user interface a second user input related to moving to another item. The help utility user interface presents an active data field for receiving the first user input for the current item, a first inactive field representing a previous item and a second inactive field representing a subsequent item.

Abstract: A method of automatically classifying defects. The method generally includes the steps of (A) receiving information for a current defect, (B) extracting field values from the current defect, (C) counting a number of occurrences of one or more keywords in the current defect, (D) determining one or more new keywords occurring in the current defect and storing the one or more new keywords in a database and (E) creating one or more linkages in the database between a first record corresponding to the current defect and one or more second records corresponding to previous defects based upon one or more similarities between the first and the second records.

Abstract: A method that includes an example embodiment for evaluating one or more tests comprising the steps of (A) generating one or more queries relating to an aspect of the one or more tests, (B) comparing results received from the one or more queries to scoring data stored in one or more databases, (C) generating a score in response to the comparison, and (D) determining if a first of the tests should be run based on whether the score is above a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for controlling a pointing icon in a computer, including the steps of (A) establishing a wireless connection between a pointing device and the computer, (B) generating directional information through one or more three dimensional movements of the pointing device, (C) transmitting the directional information from the pointing device to the computer and (D) translating the directional information into movements of the pointing icon on a screen of the computer using a device driver program stored on the computer.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and retrieving device usage for a device at a vehicle including storing a vehicle data record in the telematics unit, monitoring the device usage for device data, storing the device data at the vehicle, requesting the telematics unit to upload the device data, and transmitting the device data from the telematics unit to a remote location. At least one of the monitoring and the requesting is performed in accordance with the vehicle data record.

Abstract: A computer readable medium configured to store instructions for executing the following steps (A) accepting a first number of user parameters to be organized as a patent idea, (B) accepting a second number of user parameters to add to the patent idea, and (C) automatically converting the patent idea into a patent disclosure. The patent disclosure may comply with a number of criteria specific to a particular organization.