Abstract: Methods and systems for aerosol delivery of agents to a patient are described herein. The present system can be used to administer various types of agents, such as a vaccine or other types of pharmaceutical substances. Certain embodiments of the present system utilize an actuator coupled to a disposable aerosolizing element that aerosolizes an agent for delivery to a patient when acted upon by the actuator. The aerosolizing element prevents the agent from contacting the actuator and other non-disposable components of the system so that little or no cleaning or maintenance is required. The present system also can include an aerosolization rate monitor that monitors the rate at which an agent is being aerosolized and provides feedback to the user to ensure that the proper dose is being administered.

Abstract: Aerosol delivery systems and methods for delivering an agent to a patient are described herein. In particular embodiments, an insulated receptacle is connected to a housing and holds a vial of an agent to be delivered to a patient. The vial is located in an inverted position within the receptacle. One or more reusable thermal packs can be located on the inner sides of the receptacle, to maintain a selected temperature surrounding the vial. The agent is administered to a patient by placing a prong into one of the patient's orifices and then activating an aerosol delivery system. Such systems can include jet aerosolization and pneumatic and ultrasonic nebulizers and preferably are portable.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a stack of components in a device are in a desired order includes irradiating each of the components in the device with an energy beam. The radiation emissions from each of the irradiated components are detected with a radiation detector. The detected radiation emissions are analyzed using a central processing unit (CPU) to determine whether the components in the device are stacked in the desired order.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a stack of components in a device are in a desired order includes irradiating each of the components in the device with an energy beam. The radiation emissions from each of the irradiated components are detected with a radiation detector. The detected radiation emissions are analyzed using a central processing unit (CPU) to determine whether the components in the device are stacked in the desired order.

Abstract: Aerosol delivery systems and methods for delivering an agent to a patient are described herein. The present invention includes embodiments comprising an insulated receptacle connected to a body to hold a vial of an agent to be delivered to a patient. The vial is located in an inverted position within the receptacle and connected to the housing. One or more reusable thermal packs can be located on the inner sides of the receptacle, to maintain a selected temperature surrounding the vial. The agent is administered to a patient by placing a prong into one of the patient's orifices and then activating an aerosol delivery system. Such systems comprise jet aerosolization and pneumatic and ultrasonic nebulizers and preferably are portable.

Abstract: A protective cover system for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object. The protective cover system includes a cover for defining a microenvironment adjacent a metallic object and a corrosion inhibitor source for releasing one or more corrosion inhibitors into the microenvironment.

Abstract: A health care monitoring system and network for monitoring a patient's use of medications, physiological conditions, and/or the environment around the patient. The system takes advantage of a hierarchical nodal network to allow for the transfer of information from sensors to authorized users of the network while providing personal control of sensitive information and providing a distributed database structure for increased data security. In one embodiment, sensors transmit information to wearable personal data recorders that use a combination of random access and overwriting to store information in a time-sequenced organization.

Abstract: Methods and systems for aerosol delivery of agents to a patient are described herein. The present system can be used to administer various types of agents, such as a vaccine or other types of pharmaceutical substances. Certain embodiments of the present system utilize an actuator coupled to a disposable aerosolizing element that aerosolizes an agent for delivery to a patient when acted upon by the actuator. The aerosolizing element prevents the agent from contacting the actuator and other non-disposable components of the system so that little or no cleaning or maintenance is required. The present system also can include an aerosolization rate monitor that monitors the rate at which an agent is being aerosolized and provides feedback to the user to ensure that the proper dose is being administered.

Abstract: Methods and systems for aerosol delivery of agents to a patient are described herein. The present system can be used to administer various types of agents, such as a vaccine or other types of pharmaceutical substances. Certain embodiments of the present system utilize an actuator coupled to a disposable aerosolizing element that aerosolizes an agent for delivery to a patient when acted upon by the actuator. The aerosolizing element prevents the agent from contacting the actuator and other non-disposable components of the system so that little or no cleaning or maintenance is required. The present system also can include an aerosolization rate monitor that monitors the rate at which an agent is being aerosolized and provides feedback to the user to ensure that the proper dose is being administered.

Abstract: A protective cover system for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object. The protective cover system includes a cover for defining a microenvironment adjacent a metallic object and a corrosion inhibitor source for releasing one or more corrosion inhibitors into the microenvironment.

Abstract: A protective cover system for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object. The protective cover system includes a cover for defining a microenvironment adjacent a metallic object and a corrosion inhibitor source for releasing one or more corrosion inhibitors into the microenvironment.

Abstract: A protective cover system for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object. The protective cover system includes a cover for defining a microenvironment adjacent a metallic object and a corrosion inhibitor source for releasing one or more corrosion inhibitors into the microenvironment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for aerosol delivery of agents to a patient are described herein. The present system can be used to administer various types of agents, such as a vaccine or other types of pharmaceutical substances. Certain embodiments of the present system utilize an actuator coupled to a disposable aerosolizing element that aerosolizes an agent for delivery to a patient when acted upon by the actuator. The aerosolizing element prevents the agent from contacting the actuator and other non-disposable components of the system so that little or no cleaning or maintenance is required. The present system also can include an aerosolization rate monitor that monitors the rate at which an agent is being aerosolized and provides feedback to the user to ensure that the proper dose is being administered.

Abstract: A protective cover system for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object. The protective cover system includes a cover for defining a microenvironment adjacent a metallic object and a corrosion inhibitor source for releasing one or more corrosion inhibitors into the microenvironment.

Abstract: Aerosol delivery systems and methods for delivering an agent to a patient are described herein. The present invention includes embodiments comprising an insulated receptacle connected to a body to hold a vial of an agent to be delivered to a patient. The vial is located in an inverted position within the receptacle and connected to the housing. One or more reusable thermal packs can be located on the inner sides of the receptacle, to maintain a selected temperature surrounding the vial. The agent is administered to a patient by placing a prong into one of the patient's orifices and then activating an aerosol delivery system. Such systems comprise jet aerosolization and pneumatic and ultrasonic nebulizers and preferably are portable.

Abstract: A protective cover system (100) for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object. The protective cover system includes a cover (101, 200, 600) for defining a microenvironment and a corrosion inhibitor source for releasing one or more corrosion inhibitors into the microenvironment. In one embodiment, cover 200 comprises an outer liquid-impermeable layer (204), an inner liquid-permeable layer (202), and a superabsorbent layer (206) located between the outer and inner layers. In another embodiment, cover 600 includes a water-vapor-permeable layer (602) and a porous support layer (606) for supporting the water-vapor-permeable layer. In both of these embodiments, one or more corrosion inhibitors may be incorporated into the cover in one or more of the corresponding above-mentioned layers or in a layer separate from these layers, or may be provided in a separate container that fluidly communicates the corrosion inhibitor(s) to the microenvironment.

Abstract: A cover (200) for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object over which the cover is placed. The cover has an inner surface (104) defined by a liquid-permeable layer (202) and an outer surface (102) defined by a liquid-impermeable layer (204). A moisture-absorbing layer (206) is sandwiched between the liquid-permeable layer and the liquid-impermeable layer. The liquid-permeable layer allows vapor and liquid moisture beneath the cover to be absorbed into the moisture-absorbing layer to reduce the amount of moisture beneath the cover. The liquid-impermeable layer repels environmental liquid moisture, such as rain, sea spray, dew and the like and prevents such moisture from penetrating the cover. A radar-influencing layer (308) and vapor corrosion inhibitors (214) may be included in the cover. A method of protecting an object is also disclosed. The method includes covering a metallic object with cover (200).

Abstract: A method and structure for welding an air-sensitive metal, such as titanium, in an ambient environment containing air. The method (10) includes forming a weld (12) through a weld-through coating (14) applied to the weld face(s) (28) and heat-affected zone (30) of one or more workpiece(s) (16) to be welded. The weld-through coating may contain a reactive material that comprises one or more halogenides of alkali metal, e.g., fluorides of barium, calcium, and strontium. The weld-through coating may be applied to the workpiece using a thermal-spray process, such as a plasma-spray process (32), prior to forming the weld. The weld-through coating may be applied to the workpiece(s) generally contemporaneously with the formation of the weld just ahead of the weld or may be applied at any time prior to forming the weld.

Abstract: A cover (200) for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object over which the cover is placed. The cover has an inner surface (104) defined by a liquid-permeable layer (202) and an outer surface (102) defined by a liquid-impermeable layer (204). A moisture-absorbing layer (206) is sandwiched between the liquid-permeable layer and the liquid-impermeable layer. The liquid-permeable layer allows vapor and liquid moisture beneath the cover to be absorbed into the moisture-absorbing layer to reduce the amount of moisture beneath the cover. The liquid-impermeable layer repels environmental liquid moisture, such as rain, sea spray, dew and the like and prevents such moisture from penetrating the cover. A radar-influencing layer (308) and vapor corrosion inhibitors (214) may be included in the cover. A method of protecting an object is also disclosed. The method includes covering a metallic object with cover (200).

Abstract: A protective cover system (100) for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object. The protective cover system includes a cover (101, 200, 600) for defining a microenvironment and a corrosion inhibitor source for releasing one or more corrosion inhibitors into the microenvironment. In one embodiment, cover 200 comprises an outer liquid-impermeable layer (204), an inner liquid-permeable layer (202), and a superabsorbent layer (206) located between the outer and inner layers. In another embodiment, cover 600 includes a water-vapor-permeable layer (602) and a porous support layer (606) for supporting the water-vapor-permeable layer. In both of these embodiments, one or more corrosion inhibitors may be incorporated into the cover in one or more of the corresponding above-mentioned layers or in a layer separate from these layers, or may be provided in a separate container that fluidly communicates the corrosion inhibitor(s) to the microenvironment.