Abstract: A propellant container for a perforating gun includes a lower cap, one or more pieces of propellant positioned within the lower cap, wherein at least one of the one or more pieces of propellant defines one or more through-holes, and an upper cap matable with the lower cap to secure the one or more pieces of propellant within the lower cap. A filler material is present within interstitial spaces between the one or more pieces of propellant.

Abstract: A propellant container for a perforating gun includes a lower cap, one or more pieces of propellant positioned within the lower cap, wherein at least one of the one or more pieces of propellant defines one or more through-holes, and an upper cap matable with the lower cap to secure the one or more pieces of propellant within the lower cap. A filler material is present within interstitial spaces between the one or more pieces of propellant.

Abstract: A method of creating and finishing perforations in a hydrocarbon well having a well wall that includes causing a high velocity jet of a material to shoot into the well wall, thereby creating a perforation in the well wall. The method further includes introducing a gas blast into the perforation, for a blast time duration, the gas blast creating an increasing pressure at the perforation until a maximum pressure is reached; and allowing the pressure of the gas blast to undergo a period of rapid decline to a level of less than 50% of the maximum pressure.

Abstract: A propellant container for a perforating gun includes a lower cap, one or more pieces of propellant positioned within the lower cap, wherein at least one of the one or more pieces of propellant defines one or more through-holes, and an upper cap matable with the lower cap to secure the one or more pieces of propellant within the lower cap. A filler material is present within interstitial spaces between the one or more pieces of propellant.

Abstract: A method of creating and finishing perforations in a hydrocarbon well having a well wall that includes causing a high velocity jet of a material to shoot into the well wall, thereby creating a perforation in the well wall. The method further includes introducing a gas blast into the perforation, for a blast time duration, the gas blast creating an increasing pressure at the perforation until a maximum pressure is reached; and allowing the pressure of the gas blast to undergo a period of rapid decline to a level of less than 50% of the maximum pressure.

Abstract: A method of creating and finishing perforations in a hydrocarbon well, starting by shooting a high velocity jet of metal particles into the well wall, thereby creating a perforation in the well wall. After this, a gas blast is pushed into the perforation, for a blast time duration, the gas blast creating an increasing pressure at the perforation, until a maximum is reached, the pressure of the gas then undergoing a period of rapid decline to a level of less than 50% of the maximum pressure. The period of rapid decline takes less than one-sixth of the blast time duration. Accordingly, the time pattern of speed and pressure of the gas blast results in a higher maximum pressure at the perforation, resulting in localized fracturing, emanating from the perforation, which permits a greater flow of hydrocarbons into the perforation and from the perforation into the well.

Abstract: A low profile high energy gas fracturing device, comprising a closed steel tube having a uniform wall thickness, except for having thinned areas that are designed to rupture when subjected to pressure greater than a predetermined level. Propellant is packed into the said steel tube sufficient to create high pressure above said predetermined level, when ignited. Finally, an ignition mechanism passes through said tube, to ignite the propellant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating neurological-urological conditions. This is accomplished by administration of at least one neurotoxin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating neurological-urological conditions. This is accomplished by administration of at least one neurotoxin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating neurological-urological conditions. This is accomplished by administration of at least one neurotoxin.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system to maintain an even temperature distribution across a laser detector are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the system includes a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) assembly that includes a first layer comprising a thermally-conductive ring provided circumferentially around a thermally-conductive detector region for mounting the laser detector, a second layer comprising a plurality of resistive elements aligned with the thermally-conductive detector region to generate heat, and a fourth layer comprising a thermally-conductive heat-distribution region aligned with the thermally-conductive detector region. A plurality of thermally-conductive vias is provided to couple the thermally-conductive ring of the first layer to the thermally-conductive heat-distribution region of the fourth layer.

Abstract: A Built-In Test (BIT) for a photoconductive photodiode is performed using the health or characteristics of the photodiode's parasitic capacitance as a “proxy” for the health or characteristics of the photodiode itself. A failure or degradation of the photodiode manifests as a similar failure or degradation of the parasitic capacitance. Under normal operating conditions, the photoconductive photodiode responds to incident photons from a target by generating a photocurrent signal at its cathode. A processor processes the signals from one or more photodiodes to evaluate characteristics of the target. To perform the BIT, a time-varying voltage signal is applied at the photodiode's anode. This signal is coupled through the parasitic capacitance to produce a test current signal at the photodiode's anode. The processor processes the signal to evaluate the health or characteristics of the parasitic capacitance and thus the photodiode.

Abstract: The present invention related to methods for treating neurological-urological conditions. This is accomplished by administration of at least one neurotoxin.

Abstract: The present invention related to methods for treating neurological-urological conditions. This is accomplished by administration of at least one neurotoxin.

Abstract: A Built-In Test (BIT) for a photoconductive photodiode is performed using the health or characteristics of the photodiode's parasitic capacitance as a “proxy” for the health or characteristics of the photodiode itself. A failure or degradation of the photodiode manifests as a similar failure or degradation of the parasitic capacitance. Under normal operating conditions, the photoconductive photodiode responds to incident photons from a target by generating a photocurrent signal at its cathode. A processor processes the signals from one or more photodiodes to evaluate characteristics of the target. To perform the BIT, a time-varying voltage signal is applied at the photodiode's anode. This signal is coupled through the parasitic capacitance to produce a test current signal at the photodiode's anode. The processor processes the signal to evaluate the health or characteristics of the parasitic capacitance and thus the photodiode.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system to maintain an even temperature distribution across a laser detector are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the system includes a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) assembly that includes a first layer comprising a thermally-conductive ring provided circumferentially around a thermally-conductive detector region for mounting the laser detector, a second layer comprising a plurality of resistive elements aligned with the thermally-conductive detector region to generate heat, and a fourth layer comprising a thermally-conductive heat-distribution region aligned with the thermally-conductive detector region. A plurality of thermally-conductive vias is provided to couple the thermally-conductive ring of the first layer to the thermally-conductive heat-distribution region of the fourth layer.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a system and method for diagnosing lower urinary system conditions by receiving urodynamic data and subjective symptomatic impressions concerning a patient. The system and method then assigns weighted point values to the urodynamic data, for example, urethal pressure profiles due to sphincter contraction conditions such as urgency (2) and stress incontinence (4), and the subjective symptomatic impressions, quantifies norms for lower urinary system function, as a whole or in part, and quantifies recognized pathologies of lower urinary system conditions as degrees of departure from the norms. The system and method then determines a lower urinary system condition diagnosis of the patient, as a function of the degrees of departure from the norms, by invoking a set of rules to compare the weighted point values assigned and the quantified norms.

Abstract: The present invention related to methods for treating neurological-urological conditions. This is accomplished by administration of at least one neurotoxin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating neurological-urological conditions. This is accomplished by administration of at least one neurotoxin.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a system and method for diagnosing lower urinary system conditions by receiving urodynamic data and subjective symptomatic impressions concerning a patient. The system and method then assigns weighted point values to the urodynamic data, for example, urethal pressure profiles due to sphincter contraction conditions such as urgency (2) and stress incontinence (4), and the subjective symptomatic impressions, quantifies norms for lower urinary system function, as a whole or in part, and quantifies recognized pathologies of lower urinary system conditions as degrees of departure from the norms. The system and method then determines a lower urinary system condition diagnosis of the patient, as a function of the degrees of departure from the norms, by invoking a set of rules to compare the weighted point values assigned and the quantified norms.