Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for high performance image signal processing of continuous images in real time. The system comprising a focal plane array for generating continuous source image frames in real time. The focal plane array divided logically into blocks of sub-frames. The system also comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) layer having an array of ADC elements for converting the source image frames into a digital data. The system further comprising a digital processor layer having an array of processing elements for processing the digital data and an interconnecting layer for connecting each one of the ADC elements and the digital processing elements substantially vertically to the focal plane and substantially parallel to one another. The processing comprising reducing image motion blur, increasing image dynamic range, increasing image depth of field and obtaining features of the images.

Abstract: An apparatus for dynamically positioning a rotary actuator that positions an objective lens in three dimensions relative to the surface of an optical disk. A first voice coil motor positions the actuator generally in two dimensions parallel to the surface of the disk and a second voice coil motor positions the objective lens generally along an arcuate path orthogonal to the surface of the disk.

Abstract: A fluid filled cartridge having a fixed needle and a piston assembly for expression of its contents is mounted inside an applicator. In order to extend the needle from the body prior to cartridge contents expression and without premature leakage of fluid therefrom, an actuator is mounted in the body to drive the cartridge forwards. This is accomplished by co-operating driving and driven parts of the actuator and the cartridge (or any carrier it may have) which are decoupled by release formations in the applicator body after the cartridge has been moved sufficiently to extend the needle. The applicator also includes provision for automatic needle retraction after cartridge contents expression. A separate inventive feature is the deformability of the piston so that force transmission to the trigger means to initiate needle retraction only occurs upon full content expression when the piston has “bottomed out” within the cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic signal switching module with connectors on a first side for connecting with a variety of devices and sources and with jacks for receiving patch cords on a second side. The switching modules include two position switches in the circuitry connecting the jacks with the connectors which allow the module to be configured as a straight-through patching module, a fully normal module with paired jacks or a half normal module with paired jacks. One alternative of the invention utilizes card edge connectors on the first side. Another aspect of the invention involves a chassis for holding a plurality of switching modules adjacent to and electronically connected with a plurality of connecting modules. The switching modules may also include designation lenses adjacent to the jacks for holding indicia.

Abstract: First and second hollow needles extend from opposing sides of a common hub which is formed in one piece of transparent material. Proximal ends of the respective needles are in communication with each other by a narrow passageway through the hub. The projecting portion of the second needle is covered by an elastomeric sheath. The hub preferably includes a magnifying formation overlying the passageway portion between the proximal ends of the needles. In use, once the point of the first needle penetrates a vein, the patient's blood pressure is sufficient to displace air from the entire first needle and at least part of the passageway through the hub. The sheath over the second needle is sufficiently elastic to allow this and expand accordingly. The blood flows into the piercing needle and the passageway between the needles, thus being viewable through the surrounding transparent material and the magnifying portion, if present.

Abstract: To eliminate needle-stick risk by encapsulating the needle of a syringe immediately after discharge of syringe contents (43), the entire syringe, such as a pre-filled miniature glass syringe (40), is housed in a device comprising a hollow body (10), a spring (20) and a plunger (30). The barrel (41) of the syringe (40) is held in the body interior against the force of the spring (20) by latching formations (IS) internal to the body (10). The plunger (30) itself is hollow so as to provide a chamber (36) to receive the syringe piston means (45, 46) and at least part of the barrel (41) upon retraction of the syringe. The plunger (30) has deflectable engagement elements (33) at its forward end so that as it is pushed in to the body (10), it reliably displaces the syringe piston/rod (45, 46) to discharge the syringe contents (43) via a hollow needle (42), the elements (33) ultimately being deflected outwards as the contents are fully discharged so as not to impede syringe retraction into the hollow plunger (30).

Abstract: An unshrouded rotor blade 24 comprising an aerofoil 28, said aerofoil 28 having a leading edge 34, a trailing edge 36, a pressure surface 30 and a suction surface 32, there being provided at a radially outer extremity of the aerofoil 28 a gutter 40 which is wider than the aerofoil 28 adjacent the trailing edge 36 thereof, wherein at least a part of the gutter 40 is offset towards the aerofoil pressure surface 30.

Abstract: A fluid filled cartridge having a fixed needle and a piston assembly for expression of its contents is mounted inside an applicator. In order to extend the needle from the body prior to cartridge contents expression and without premature leakage of fluid therefrom, an actuator is mounted in the body to drive the cartridge forwards. This is accomplished by co-operating driving and driven parts of the actuator and the cartridge (or any carrier it may have) which are decoupled by release formations in the applicator body after the cartridge has been moved sufficiently to extend the needle. The applicator also includes provision for automatic needle retraction after cartridge contents expression. A separate inventive feature is the deformability of the piston so that force transmission to the trigger means to initiate needle retraction only occurs upon full content expression when the piston has “bottomed out” within the cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dynamically positioning the objective lens in an optical disk drive to maintain focus despite loss of perpendicularity between the light beam and the information layer of the optical disk. Loss of perpendicularity may occur as a result of any number of factors, including irregularities in the manufacture of the disk, manufacturing tolerances and assembly of the disk drive components, bearing defect frequencies, shock and vibration. Failure to maintain perpendicularity may interference with the ability of the optical pick up unit of the drive to accurately read and write. The tilt focus mechanism of the present invention utilizes a rotary actuator that positions the objective lens in three dimensions relative to the surface of the optical disk.

Abstract: Materials delivery devices, e.g. for drugs etc. (FIGS. 1-7) or body fluids (FIGS. 8-12), have administration means of piston-and-cylinder (100; 300) or peristaltic rollers and tube (546, 565; 646, 665; 746, 765; 846, 865; 946, 965) type, and intermittently incremental drive transmission means of cooperating toothed rack (143) or wheel (345, 445; 545; 645; 745; 845; 945) and deflectable biassed pawl (153, 156; 343, 356; 453, 456; 553, 556; 653, 656; 753, 756; 853, 856; 953, 956) type driven by pulsed reciprocating solenoid action (110; 310; 410; 510). Portable patient-wearable drug delivery devices (10; 30; 40; 50) can use pre-loaded cartridges (120; 320; 420; 520) and have solenoid drive (130) for needle-entry and battery-powered electronic control, etc. Intravenous infusion pumps (60; 70; 80; 90) can operate relative to body fluid reservoirs or for body fluid transfers.

Abstract: New, highly multifunctional reactive dye compounds are provided. The number of leaving groups in the non-chromophoric part of the molecule added to the number of chromophore moieties is at least equal to 5, preferably in the range of from 5 to 12, more preferably from 5 to 6. The new reactive dye compounds preferably have at least two asymmetric bridges.

Abstract: A system for removing heat from a plurality of electronic assemblies including a cabinet having brackets for supporting electronic assemblies in a vertical array between a first vertical airflow path and a second vertical air flow path of the cabinet, and a plinth underlying the cabinet and having an input port receiving air from the first vertical airflow path of the cabinet, an output port transmitting air to the second vertical air flow path, a heat exchanger positioned in an air flow path extending between the input and the output ports, and a fan assembly for driving air through the heat exchanger and towards the input port. The system further includes at least one air flow distribution device establishing a predetermined flow rate distribution through electronic assemblies supports by the brackets.

Abstract: A reactive dye compound comprising: (a) at least one chromophore moiety; (b) at least one SO2C2H4 group which is attached to the chromophore moiety either directly via the sulphur atom of the SO2C2H4 group or via a linking group L; characterized in that at least one SO2C2H4 group is substituted on its terminal carbon atom with at least one Y group wherein Y is derived from a hydrated aldehyde, a hydrated ketone, a hydrated alpha-hydroxy ketone or the hydrated form of formic acid, and linked via one of its oxygen atoms to the terminal carbon of the SO2C2H4 group thereby forming a hemiacetal.

Abstract: A reactive dye compound comprising: (a) at least one chromophore moiety; (b) at least one nitrogen-containing heterocycle (c) a linking group to link each chromophore moiety to each nitrogen-containing heterocycle; characterized in that at least one nitrogen-containing heterocycle is substituted with at least one Y group wherein Y is derived from a hydrated aldehyde, a hydrated ketone, a hydrated alpha-hydroxy ketone, or the hydrated form of formic acid and linked via one of its oxygen atoms to the nitrogen-containing heterocycle thereby forming a hemiacetal.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for screening, diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease, for monitoring the effectiveness of Alzheimer's disease treatment, and for drug development. Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Features (AFs), detectable by two-dimensional electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid, serum or plasma are described. The invention further provides Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Protein Isoforms (APIs) detectable in cerebrospinal fluid, serum or plasma, preparations comprising isolated APIs, antibodies immunospecific for APIs, pharmaceutical compositions, diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and kits comprising or based on the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminated actuator assembly and the method for making the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is intended for use in miniature personal electronic devices, but could be used in any type of disk drive. The actuator is primarily constructed from strong, stiff, lightweight composite materials. The upper and lower planar elements of the actuator assembly, each comprising multiple composite layers, include a forward portion and a rearward portion. A flexure member, typically positioned between the layers of composite material, allows the forward portion of each planar element to pivot in unison relative to the rear portion of each planar element. In this manner, the position of an optical pick up unit or other read/write device positioned at the distal end of the actuator assembly can be adjusted relative to the surface of a data disk. The composite and flexure planar elements are formed in arrays of multiple component pieces with aligned registration members.

Abstract: Apparatus and a concomitant method of identifying the direction of motion within a scene that is represented by a sequence of images, e.g., a series of frames in a video sequence. The apparatus contains a flow field generator, a flow field segmentor, and alarm detector and an alarm processor. The flow field generator processes the sequence of images and generates a substantially distortionless flow field representing the motion within a scene. The flow field is a vector representation of the motion of the scene that represents both the magnitude and the direction of the motion. The flow field is generated by correlating at least two frames in the sequence of images. This flow field is analyzed by a flow field segmentor to determine the magnitude and direction of motion with the scene and segment the motion information from the static portions of the scene. An alarm detector then processes the motion information to determine if an alarm should be generated based upon the motion information.

Abstract: The disclosed endotracheal tube includes a silicone tubular member that has a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending through the member to supply air from the proximal end to the distal end. The tubular member defines a first zone and a second zone. At least a portion of the first zone has a first outer diameter. The second zone has a second outer diameter. The first outer diameter is less than the second outer diameter. The first and second zones are adjacent to one another and are configured for insertion into the trachea of a human patient. A silicon cuff is attached to the tubular member such that the cuff extends over at least a portion of the first zone. The silicone cuff is mounted such that when the cuff is inflated in a trachea, the cuff reaches its plateau pressure prior to circumferentially contacting the inner wall of the trachea so that an accurate pressure reading may be taken of the pressure the cuff exerts on an inner wall of the trachea.

Abstract: A method of forming non-spherically shaped solder interconnects, preferably conical, for attachment of electronic components in an electronic module. Preferably, the solder interconnects of the present invention are cone shaped and comprise of depositing a first solder followed by a second solder having a lower reflow temperature than the first solder. Warm placement of the electronic component at a somewhat elevated temperature than room temperature but less than the solder reflow temperature reduces the force required during placement of a semiconductor chip to a substrate. After warm placement, reflow of the module occurs at the lower reflow temperature of the second solder. The conical shape of the solder interconnects are formed by a heated coining die which may also coin a portion of the interconnects with flat surfaces for stand-offs.

Abstract: A data carrier, such as a security card or bank card is disclosed having a stripe of machine readable markers formed on it. The markers (10, 12, 16, 18) are different colours, and more precisely, different spectra. By passing light through the markers and detecting the spectrum of a marker, information represented by different spectra can be decoded.