Abstract: Methods and apparatuses relate to an implantable apparatus that may be used to apply tensile force(s) to one or more tissue regions (e.g., proximal and distal esophagus portions, bowel, other conduits) within the body. Such tensile force(s) may cause stretch and/or growth of the tissue region(s). In various embodiments, support members (e.g., suture rings) may be attached to respective tissue regions. The support members may accommodate attachment of a number of sutures along the tissue region. Upon suitable attachment of the support member(s) to the tissue region(s), the actuator may be coupled to the support member(s). The actuator may then be controlled so as to cause relative movement between the support members toward or away from one another. Such movement may result in the application of appropriate tensile force(s) to the tissue region(s).

Abstract: A tissue fixation device includes a tack having at least two flexible arms on a first end of said anchor. A deployment device for deploying a tissue fixation device, wherein the deployment device is a deployment gun.

Abstract: A tissue fixation device includes a tack having at least two flexible arms on a first end of said anchor. A deployment device for deploying a tissue fixation device, wherein the deployment device is a deployment gun.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile station (301) interrogates an RFID tag (305) which may be located on a desk top phone (303), or an advertising billboard, and receives data. The mobile station (301) parses the data to obtain a telephone number, which may be an IP address for VoIP devices. Another portion of the data is interpreted to determine a telephony service to be initiated by the mobile station. The telephony services may be for example, calling a telephone number advertised by the billboard, forwarding future calls to the mobile device to the desk top phone (303), or setting up a three-way call using the desk top phone (303) as one of the participants.

Abstract: A method of operating a mobile station (301) is provided in which the mobile station (301) may receive data from transponders corresponding to a set of items such as a brief case (305), wallet (307) and suit case (309). The mobile station (301) may then compare the transponder data to a list of items (317) stored in memory and determine whether an identifier has been received for each item in the list. The mobile station (301) may provide an indication to the mobile station (301) user if an identifier has not been received for each item in the list, and may also transmit a second indication to a security server (311) via a wireless network (313).

Abstract: In a first embodiment of the present invention, a mobile station (101) interrogates an RFID tag (127) located on a service kiosk (129) and receives data. The mobile station (101) parses the data to obtain a server (123) address and information identifying a service offered by the kiosk (129), and connects with the server (123) using a WLAN AP (103) or a wide are network (107). The mobile station (101) may then perform a transaction such as paying a parking fee, by interacting with an application or applet downloaded from the server (123). The server (123) can command the service kiosk (129) to perform an action such as printing out a receipt for the user.

Abstract: A device for duplicating an assembly board includes a master assembly board on which assembly components for a master cable harness are disposed. A displaceably guided component including a scanning device, which is disposed above the master assembly board, and a replica of the assembly board, which is connected in a fixed manner to the master assembly board, enables the positions of the assembly components on the master assembly board to be transferred to the replica of the assembly board. Alternatively, the positions can be stored as data and transferred onto a replica of the assembly board. A method and a system for duplicating an assembly board are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting unauthorized or accidental entry of an object into a body of water is disclosed, wherein the frequency or frequency range of sound waves in a body of water generated by the entry of the object into the body of water is determined. Then the sound waves having the frequency generated in the body of water are detected and an electrical output waveform representative of the amplitude of the sound wave in the frequency is generated. The amplitude of the electrical output waveform is subsequently averaged, so that an alarm signal is generated when the amplitude of the electrical output waveform exceeds the averaged amplitude by a predetermined value in a predetermined period of time. Once the alarm signal is generated an alarm is activated.

Abstract: A state machine bus controller for interfacing the CPU of a micro-computer based system with memory and I/O device is described. The controller, while capable of interfacing with a bus which is synchronous in nature, can maintain synchronous handshake with more than one type of microprocessor while providing function and timing parameters to satisfy requirements of an asynchronous bus and more than one type of device which reside on the bus.

Abstract: A display device having a plurality of select lines includes redundant select line scanners. Each scanner includes a plurality of substantially identical stages having an input terminal and an output terminal. The stages and select lines are ordinally numbered and correspondingly numbered stages are connected to opposite ends of the correspondingly numbered select lines by separate line segments. The stages within each scanner are cascaded by connecting the output terminal of each stage to the input terminal of the immediately succeeding stage. Failed stages of a scanner are replaced by the correspondingly numbered stage of the other scanner simply by opening the separate line segment of the failed stage.

Abstract: A state machine bus controller for interfacing the CPU of a micro-computer based system with memory and I/O device is described. The controller, while capable of interfacing with a bus which is synchronous in nature, can maintain synchronous handshake with more than one type of microprocessor while providing function and timing parameters to satisfy requirements of an asynchronous bus and more than one type of device which reside on the bus.

Abstract: An improved method of forward error correction in a data communications system that includes receiving a data frame that includes a filler symbol, detecting an error in the data frame, replacing the filler symbol with a predetermined symbol, and determining when the error has been corrected. Detecting the error includes performing a first parity check, preferably a CRC computation that is repeated a second time, after replacing the filler symbol, to determine when the error has been corrected. When replacing the filler symbol(s) has corrected the error, an automatic retry request may be foregone thus conserving channel capacity.

Abstract: A method of dynamically allocating active time slots for a terminal (103) that is operating in a packet data communications system (100) which includes a fixed network (101) and user terminals (103), the system using a channel organized into time slots for scheduling data communications between the network and the user terminals, the method including first communicating information, further including a terminal ID and a packet key, representative of an active time slot pattern for the user terminal to the network; and second entering, at the user terminal, an active mode during each active time slot of the active time slot pattern.

Abstract: A ball valve for use particularly in subsea hydrocarbon production systems including a valve body having a cavity of generally conical shape and communicating with inlet and outlet ports having a common axis. An insert assembly is provided with a valve ball, two ports corresponding to the inlet and outlet ports, respectively, and associated seat means. The insert assembly has a generally conical shape which is generally the same as that of the cavity and being adapted to be housed therein and to be retrieved therefrom. The insert assembly is composed of two parts joined together generally along a dividing plane. Connector means are provided for releasably fixing the insert assembly in the cavity, and actuator means are provided for rotating the valve ball about its axis between a closed and an open position with respect to said ports.

Abstract: This invention relates to a valve comprising a valve body and a dismountable closing means. The closing means comprises a closing member and a support which carries the closing member is received in an inner cavity in the valve body. Locking of the closing means in the inner cavity is ensured by means of circular grooves formed in a side wall of the cavity, and movable locking pieces carried by the support and cooperating with an exterior ring via can elements. Axial movement of the ring results in a radial displacement of the locking pieces and thereby permitting insertion and removal of said closing means into and out of said valve body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clear ethanolic composition containing anethole, which is constituted of at least one water-ethanol medium containing from 10 to 30% v/v of ethanol, and 1 to 3 g/l of anethole and, in addition, of a quantity, which is effective to keep the composition clear, of a surfactant or of a mixture of surfactants having the following characteristics:it is acceptable in human foodstuffs,its HLB is 12<HLB<15,the CMC is 10.sup.-1 >CMC>10.sup.-3,the haze point being greater than 30.degree. C. for a non-ionic surfactant and the Krafft temperature being less than 10.degree. C. for an ionic surfactant.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for detecting the injection into an internal combustion engine, and in particular a diesel engine, comprising an injection pump, by means of an injector and at least one length of connecting tubing between the pump and the injector, this apparatus comprising means for detecting the transverse deformation of the connecting tubing under the pressure of the injected fuel.The detection means are disposed between gripper means for firmly locking the connecting tubing at two non-contiguous zones, and are carried by these gripper means in such a way that the sensitive parts of the detection means are applied, in the operative position of the apparatus, at least to the central part of the tubing between these two zones.