Abstract: A method for the production of films/fibers of UHMWPE below 3 mils and preferably about 2 mils in thickness. The process involves calendering and/or drawing the materials of the prior art under careful tension control at a temperature above the melting point of the UHMWPE material. Before and after subsequent slitting, and/or fibrillation, UV resistance treatments, etc the thin films/fibers thus produced find use in such diverse applications as personal armor, dental floss, and sails for sail boats.

Abstract: In a fiberoptical network, for example in a LAN, spread spectrum modulation is used, for example, CDMA, by providing an electrical digital data signal to a spreading device including a multiplier also receiving the spreading code. Then a modulation is made of the spread signal at radio frequencies, the signal being multiplied by a subcarrier wave generated in a oscillator, whereby the data signal is carried on an RF subcarrier. A control channel signal from a control unit is added to the modulated signal, so that the control signal will be located in the baseband. The added signal is converted to an optical signal transmitted on an output fiber. The control channel signal can be TDMA-modulated using collision detection. Making spectrum spreading in the electrical domain allows the use of standard components developed for example for mobile telephone systems. No wavelength control and no optical filters are necessary, which allows a low cost system to be constructed.

Abstract: A system and process for unwinding materials in forming absorbent articles is described. The system includes an unwind device in association with a festoon. The festoon is for accumulating a determined length of material. The amount of material contained in the festoon is increased or decreased depending upon the rate at which a roll of material is unwound in relation to the rate at which the first material is fed into a downstream process. In order to minimize the capacity of the festoon and in order to minimize tension swings in the festoon, the festoon includes a plurality of drive devices associated with selected guide rolls contained in the festoon. The drive devices can accelerate and/or decelerate the guide rolls in response to rate increases or decreases occurring at the unwind device in relation to the downstream process speed. In one embodiment, each of the guide rolls is controlled independently of the remaining guide rolls in the festoon.

Abstract: A device is described that can be easily used to warn an athlete of potential risk of hyperthermia due to an elevated core body temperature. The mouth guard device continually monitors the users internal or core body temperature and emits an alarm signal when body temperature exceeds a preset value. This invention can protect the physical well being of an athlete as well as improve overall team performance.

Abstract: Biocompatible materials are propelled at the skin with sufficient velocity to cause desired resurfacing of skin layers to the desired penetration depth. The materials, such as dry ice or water ice, are harmonious with the human body and thus eliminate foreign body reactions. Various materials may be used in combination, including local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors in solid or liquid form. The biocompatible solid or liquid particles are suspended in a cold carrier fluid and propelled through an insulated delivery system to the surface of the skin. The treatment of diseased skin lesions may be accomplished using the present invention as a drug delivery system.

Abstract: A device is described that can be used quickly and accurately by surgeons to provide uniform facial tissue planes that are tunnel-free and wall-free thus optimizing face lifting, tightening, and implant delivery. The device is comprised of a shaft with a substantially planar tip further comprised of relative protrusions and energized relative recession lysing segments. Forward motion of the device precisely divides and energizes various tissue planes causing contraction, especially via the fibrous tissues. Other forms of energy and matter can be delivered down the shaft to further enhance desirable tissue modification and contraction.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the strain of a web material supplied to a machine by adjusting a tension force applied to the web material. An operator defines a target web strain via an input device. A speed sensor senses the speed of the web material supplied to the machine at a first position and a second position and generates a speed signal representative of the difference. A tension sensor senses a tension force applied to the web prior to the first position and after the first position and generates a tension signal representative of the difference. A control system calculates web strain as a function of the tension signal and speed signal, and compares the calculated strain with the target web strain and generates a speed control signal as a function of the comparison. The feed device is responsive to the speed control signal for adjusting a speed differential of the web to adjust tension force applied to the web.

Abstract: A method of deploying a prosthesis includes engaging a hub assembly of a handle to a threaded outer surface of a slide shaft of the handle; rotating the hub assembly to cause axial translation of the hub assembly and a sheath coupled to the hub assembly to initiate deployment of the prosthesis; disengaging the hub assembly from the threaded outer surface by pivoting a thread tooth of the hub assembly out of threaded engagement with the threaded outer surface; and sliding the hub assembly on the slide shaft to further retract the sheath and complete deployment of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the strain of a web material supplied to a machine by adjusting a tension force applied to the web material. An operator defines a target web strain via an input device. A speed sensor senses the speed of the web material supplied to the machine at a first position and a second position and generates a speed signal representative of the difference. A tension sensor senses a tension force applied to the web prior to the first position and after the first position and generates a tension signal representative of the difference. A control system calculates web strain as a function of the tension signal and speed signal, and compares the calculated strain with the target web strain and generates a speed control signal as a function of the comparison. The feed device is responsive to the speed control signal for adjusting a speed differential of the web to adjust tension force applied to the web.

Abstract: An exchange infrastructure for message-based exchange and integration of a collection of heterogeneous software components is disclosed. The exchange infrastructure includes a repository for storing design-time collaboration descriptions of a plurality of software components, and a directory for storing configuration-specific collaboration descriptions of a runtime system landscape. The exchange infrastructure further includes a runtime engine configured for message-based exchange of information based on the configuration-specific collaboration descriptions. At runtime, the runtime engine receives messages, and resolves intended or required receivers based on message content and parameters provided by the configuration-specific collaboration descriptions from the directory.

Abstract: A device is described that can be easily used to warn an athlete of potential risk of hyperthermia due to an elevated core body temperature. The mouth guard device continually monitors the users internal or core body temperature and emits an alarm signal when body temperature exceeds a preset value. This invention can protect the physical well being of an athlete as well as improve overall team performance.

Abstract: A system for monitoring WDM channels in an optical system includes a phased array optical wavelength demodulator (phasar). The phasar is controlled to vary the effective optical length of the waveguides in the array such that a particular wavelength signal can be output for monitoring.

Abstract: In a tunable laser device a plurality of basically identical lasers are arranged adjacent to each other in a line or row on a common substrate. The lasers can be DFB-type and they have different emission wavelengths, obtained from e.g. different pitches of gratings which define the wavelengths of the respective lasers. The lasers can be activated to emit light independently of each other by supplying electrical current to contacts located on the top sides of the lasers. When a laser is activated, the other lasers are biased, so that lasers located at one of side of the active laser will be transparent to the emitted light, which can then travel from the lasers through an electrooptic modulator, and the lasers located at the other side will absorb the light. By controlling the temperature the wavelength of emitted light can be finely adjusted.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for transmitting signals in an optical fiber, an amplitude modulator (1) is provided for amplitude modulating an optical carrier at high speed with signals to be transmitted. A suppressing means is provided to suppress at least part of one of the side bands of the modulated carrier to reduce the effect of group velocity dispersion in the optical fiber.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method route wavelength dependent optical signals including a number of wavelengths. The arrangement includes an optical Add-Drop multiplexing arrangement with input and output waveguides and a routing device with inputs and outputs. The routing device includes a splitting device with a number of inputs and a combining device with a number of outputs. One of the inputs and outputs, respectively, are used for a multi-wavelength input, whereas another input and another output, respectively, are used for an add/drop wavelength. The other inputs and outputs are used for looping back of the remaining wavelengths. Between the splitting and combining devices a number of branch waveguides are arranged, and both wavelength demultiplexing/multiplexing and switching are provided for by the routing device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wavelength selective switch. Said switch comprises at least one MMI waveguide, at least one Mach Zehnder waveguide, at least one phase control element and at least one Bragg grating, where said Mach Zehnder waveguide comprises said phase control element and said Bragg grating and is arranged in connection to at least one MMI waveguide. The invention further comprises a method for switching wavelength channels by using the above mentioned wavelength selective switch.

Abstract: A device and method for defining a three-dimensional structure of an object having a submicrometer size splits a coherent electromagnetic radiation beam into two partial beams including a first partial beam and a second partial beam. The first partial beam is focused on the object. The first partial beam is reflected from or dispersed from the object to yield a first radiation directed toward a locus. The second partial beam is directed toward the locus. The first radiation and the second radiation form an electromagnetic combination in a region of the locus. Second phase values are established from the initial phase values via multiplication of the initial phase values by one or more predetermined values to provide information for generating a magnified image representative of the object.

Abstract: A surgical clip for maintaining tension on a suture of a patient which comprises a spring member, a pair of opposing holding means at each end of the spring means for holding tied ends of the suture whereby the suture is continuously maintained under tension.

Abstract: A paint for structures comprising infrared reflecting particles of a metal oxide or noble metal on a substrate comprising a plastic or mica.

Abstract: A package and method of packaging for powder and other fluent material wherein a first covering is provided over a receptacle and affords access to the receptacle interior, and a second covering is applied over the first covering to effectively seal the contents in the receptacle.