Abstract: Provided herein are chimeric transmembrane proteins, nucleic acids encoding these chimeric transmembrane proteins, and mammalian cells containing these nucleic acids, and methods of making and using these mammalian cells.

Abstract: A wireless earpiece includes a wireless earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the wireless earpiece housing, at least one microphone operatively connected to the processor, and at least one speaker operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to receive audio from the at least one microphone, perform processing of the audio to provide processed audio, and output the processed audio to the at least one speaker. The processing of the audio involves identifying body generated sounds generated by a body of a user of the wireless earpiece and removing the body generated sounds.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the earpiece, a speaker operatively connected to the processor, a microphone operatively connected the processor, and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver disposed within the earpiece. A system may include a first earpiece having a connector with earpiece charging contacts, a charging case for the first earpiece, the charging case having contacts for connecting with the earpiece charging contacts, and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver disposed within the charging case.

Abstract: An earpiece is configured for providing audiometric testing. The earpiece includes an earpiece housing, an intelligent control system disposed within the earpiece housing, at least one transducer operatively connected to the intelligent control, and at least one speaker operatively connected to the intelligent control. The earpiece is configured to perform audiometric testing of a user by reproducing sounds at the at least one transducer and receiving user feedback regarding the sounds to provide audiometric test data.

Abstract: An earpiece may include an earpiece housing, an intelligent control disposed within the earpiece housing, and a glucose sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control. The intelligent control may be configured to determine glucose levels associated with a user of the earpiece using the glucose sensor. The earpiece may further include a wireless transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing, the wireless transceiver operatively connected to the intelligent control. The glucose sensor may be a non-invasive glucose sensor such as a near infrared glucose sensor. The earpiece housing may be configured to position the glucose sensor against a wall of the external auditory canal.

Abstract: A bid platform for electronic commerce uses smart contracts and a distributed ledger to manage bids and offers for products. The bid platform receives a bid for a product, generates a bid event on a distributed ledger using the smart contracts, propagates the bid event to merchants using the smart contracts and the distributed ledger, receives one or more offers, generates one or more offer events on the distributed ledger using the smart contracts, propagates the one or more offer events using the smart contracts and the distributed ledger, and receives an accepted offer.

Abstract: A plurality of waveguide structures are formed in at least one silicon layer of a first member. The first member includes: a first surface of a first silicon dioxide layer that is attached to a second member that consists essentially of an optically transmissive material having a thermal conductivity less than about 50 W/(m·K), and a second surface of material that was deposited over at least some of the plurality of waveguide structures. An array of phase shifters is formed in one or more layers of the first member. An array of temperature controlling elements are in proximity to the array of phase shifters.

Abstract: A system includes at least one wearable device having a housing, at least one sensor disposed within the housing, at least one output device disposed within the housing, and at least one processor operatively connected to the sensors and output devices, wherein one or more sensors are configured to detect electrical activity from a user's facial muscles and to transmit a data signal concerning the electrical activity of the user's facial muscles to one of more of the processors. A method of controlling a wearable device includes determining facial muscular electrical data of a facial gesture made by a user, interpreting the facial muscular electrical data to determine a user response, and performing an action based on the user response.

Abstract: A method of providing an enhanced gaming experience includes steps of sensing environmental audio with at least one microphone of an earpiece, combining a game sound with the environmental audio to provide a composite audio signal, and transducing the composite audio signal at the earpiece. The game sound may be positioned within a three-dimensional audio environment. The composite audio signal may be transduced to provide a three-dimensional audio experience.

Abstract: A system, method and device for a set of wireless earpieces anatomically conformed for wearing in the same ear is disclosed. Each wireless earpiece includes an earpiece housing, a speaker disposed within the earpiece housing, a memory device disposed within the earpiece housing, a transceiver disposed within each earpiece housing; and a processor disposed within each earpiece housing and operatively connected to the speaker and the transceiver.

Abstract: At least one beam of an optical wave is transmitted along a transmission angle toward a target location from a send aperture of a transmitter. The optical wave comprises at least a first portion, and a second portion having a different characteristic from a characteristic of the first portion. Two or more receivers include at least one receiver comprising: a receive aperture arranged in proximity to at least one of the send aperture or a receive aperture of a different receiver, an optical phased array within the receive aperture, the optical phased array being configured to receive at least a portion of a collected optical wave arriving at the receive aperture along a respective collection angle, and a filter configured to filter the received portion of the collected optical wave according to the characteristic of the first portion of the optical wave.

Abstract: A sound processing method for a hearing aid in embodiments of the present invention may have one of more of the following steps: (a) receiving a command from a user to begin an upload and/or download of a file, (b) initiating communications to commence the upload and/or download of the file, (c) selecting the file to upload and/or download to a memory on the hearing aid, (d) downloading and/or uploading the file into or out of the memory, (e) executing the file loaded into memory, (f) asking the user if they wish to download and/or upload another file to/from the memory, and (g) continuing normal hearing aid operations if the user does not wish to execute the file in the memory.

Abstract: A system, method, and wireless earpieces for implementing a medical engine utilizing wireless earpieces. A request is received from a user to be implemented by wireless earpieces. A medical engine is executed on the wireless earpieces. Information associated with the request is retrieved from one or more medical databases accessible to the wireless earpieces. An action is implemented to fulfill the request utilizing the information through the medical engine.

Abstract: An integrated asset integrity management system includes a plurality of asset information identifiers associated with a corresponding plurality of assets, a mobile communication device comprising a reading device for reading the identifiers, and a server in electronic communication with the mobile communication device. The server includes a database structure having a tracking system database that includes tracking system data corresponding to the asset information identifiers, and a performance database that includes data relating to performance of the assets. The mobile communication device transmits read asset information to the server. An electronic processor identifies assets corresponding to the read asset information identifiers and determines asset integrity issues for any of the assets. An output device outputs an indicator associated with the determined integrity issue.

Abstract: A wireless earpiece includes a wireless earpiece housing, at least one microphone for detecting ambient environment sound, and a processor disposed within the wireless earpiece housing, the processor configured to distinguish between two or more sources of sound within the ambient environment sound. The wireless earpiece further includes a user interface operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to receive user input through the user interface to select one of the sources of sound within the ambient environment sound and wherein the processor is configured to process the ambient environment sound to emphasize portions of the ambient environment sound generated by the one of the sources of the ambient environment sound selected by the user to produce a modified sound. The earpiece may further include a speaker operatively connected to the processor to reproduce the modified sound.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, wherein the earpiece housing is configured to substantially encompass an opening of an ear canal to physically block ambient sound from entering the ear canal. The earpiece further includes a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, at least one microphone operatively connected to the processor and configured to sense ambient sound, and a speaker operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to process the ambient sound from the microphone and add additional ambient sound to produce a modified ambient sound at the speaker.

Abstract: A system, method and one or more wireless earpieces for authenticating functionality of one or more wireless earpieces. A request that requires authentication is received through the one or more wireless earpieces. Biometric readings are performed for a user utilizing sensors of the one or more wireless earpieces. The biometric readings are analyzed to determine whether the user is authorized for the one or more wireless earpieces to fulfill the request. The request is authenticated in response to determining the biometric readings performed by the one or more wireless earpieces authorize fulfillment of the request.

Abstract: A drug delivery system for injecting a medicament includes a container including a closure and a stopper configured to move within the container from a pre-use position to a post-use position. The system includes a drive assembly configured to move the stopper between first and second positions, and a spacer assembly engaged with the stopper configured to be engaged by the drive assembly. The spacer assembly includes a first spacer portion received within the stopper, a second spacer portion spaced from the first spacer portion, an inner plunger, and a spacer shuttle received by the inner plunger. The inner plunger, the spacer shuttle, and the second portion are configured to move relative to the stopper, where movement of the second spacer portion is restricted by the spacer shuttle, movement of the spacer shuttle is restricted by the inner plunger, and movement of the inner plunger is restricted by the stopper.

Abstract: An earpiece for use in voice dictation includes a speaker disposed within the earpiece housing, a microphone, and a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the microphone and the speaker, wherein the processor is adapted to capture a voice stream from the microphone. The earpiece may further include a wireless transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing, the wireless transceiver operatively connected to the processor. The earpiece is configured to be controlled by a user through a plurality of different user interfaces to perform voice dictation.

Abstract: A system, method and one or more wireless earpieces for authenticating a transaction utilizing one or more wireless earpieces. An indication that the transaction is pending is received by the one or more wireless earpieces. Biometric readings are performed for a user utilizing sensors of the one or more wireless earpieces. The biometric readings are analyzed to determine whether the user is authorized to perform the transaction. The transaction is authenticated in response to determining the biometric readings authorize the user to perform the transaction.