Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating or reducing the severity of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), also known as thyroid eye disease (TED) or Graves' ophthalmopathy or orbitopathy (GO), as well as antibodies, or antigen binding fragments thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, useful in the methods.

Abstract: A brace for a carpometacarpal joint of a thumb includes a body made of an elastomeric material. The body includes a wrist strap configured to surround a wrist, a dorsal projection extending from the wrist strap, a first palmar strap extending between a proximal end connected to the wrist strap and a distal end configured to removably attach to the dorsal projection, and a second palmar strap extending between a proximal end connected to the wrist strap and a distal end configured to removably attach to the dorsal projection. The brace also includes a heat-moldable insert positioned within the body. The heat-moldable insert is configured so as to be positioned over a CMC joint of the thumb.

Abstract: A vehicle engine warm-up apparatus includes a vehicle engine, a heating system, a coolant temperature sensor, a coolant heater and a controller. The vehicle engine has a coolant passage defined therein. The heating system provides heat to a passenger compartment of a vehicle using heat transferred from the vehicle engine to coolant flowing through the coolant passage. The coolant temperature sensor measures a temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant passage. The coolant heater is configured to heat the coolant flowing through the coolant passage of the vehicle engine. The controller is configured to operate the coolant heater with the vehicle engine running to increase a rate of heating of the coolant to more rapidly make heat available to the heating system in response to determining that the coolant temperature is below a first temperature threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle engine warm-up apparatus includes a vehicle engine, a heating system, a coolant temperature sensor, a coolant heater and a controller. The vehicle engine has a coolant passage defined therein. The heating system provides heat to a passenger compartment of a vehicle using heat transferred from the vehicle engine to coolant flowing through the coolant passage. The coolant temperature sensor measures a temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant passage. The coolant heater is configured to heat the coolant flowing through the coolant passage of the vehicle engine. The controller is configured to operate the coolant heater with the vehicle engine running to increase a rate of heating of the coolant by the vehicle engine to more rapidly make heat available to the heating system in response to determining that the coolant temperature is below a first temperature threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems of parasitic sensing are shown and described. The method includes, measuring, at a first time using one or more electrical elements native to a domain, a parameter of a circuit within the domain and measuring, at a second time using the one or more electrical elements native to the domain, the parameter. The method also includes, comparing the parameter measurement from the first time to the parameter measurement at the second time and determining, in response to the comparison, that an activity occurred within the domain.

Abstract: An engine balancing device is provided that is adapted to be coupled to an axial end of a crankshaft of an engine. The engine balancing device comprises a generally disk shaped main body and at least one balance tab. The generally disk shaped main body includes a hub portion with a centrally located crankshaft mounting bore configured and arranged to receive the crankshaft therein. The at least one balance tab is disposed on the main body and configured and arranged to be selectively removed to adjust a dynamic balance of the engine.

Abstract: A variable reluctance load cell for measuring the static or slowly fluctuating load, or tension, on devices is contained in a support tube. A sensor in the tube utilizes opposing C and I shaped magnetic cores attached to opposing ends of the support tube. A magnetic circuit is formed having an inductance defined by the size of the gap between the magnetic cores with the reluctance dominated by the gap. The sensor inductance is coupled with a fixed, predetermined capacitance in a resonant LC circuit, and the resonant frequency is a function of the gap. The sensor is in a cavity within the tube, and the cavity is sealed in a manner that prevents water or other damaging agents from entering the sensor. In this manner, mounting the sensor and tube to a static device and measuring the AC voltage at the sensor, the amount of load, or stress can be determined.

Abstract: Methods and systems of parasitic sensing are shown and described. The method includes, measuring, at a first time using one or more electrical elements native to a domain, a parameter of a circuit within the domain and measuring, at a second time using the one or more electrical elements native to the domain, the parameter. The method also includes, comparing the parameter measurement from the first time to the parameter measurement at the second time and determining, in response to the comparison, that an activity occurred within the domain.

Abstract: An engine balancing device is provided that is adapted to be coupled to an axial end of a crankshaft of an engine. The engine balancing device comprises a generally disk shaped main body and at least one balance tab. The generally disk shaped main body includes a hub portion with a centrally located crankshaft mounting bore configured and arranged to receive the crankshaft therein. The at least one balance tab is disposed on the main body and configured and arranged to be selectively removed to adjust a dynamic balance of the engine.

Abstract: A variable reluctance load cell for measuring the static or slowly fluctuating load, or tension, on devices is contained in a support tube. A sensor in the tube utilizes opposing C and I shaped magnetic cores attached to opposing ends of the support tube. A magnetic circuit is formed having an inductance defined by the size of the gap between the magnetic cores with the reluctance dominated by the gap. The sensor inductance is coupled with a fixed, predetermined capacitance in a resonant LC circuit, and the resonant frequency is a function of the gap. The sensor is in a cavity within the tube, and the cavity is sealed in a manner that prevents water or other damaging agents from entering the sensor. In this manner, mounting the sensor and tube to a static device and measuring the AC voltage at the sensor, the amount of load, or stress can be determined.

Abstract: A system (200) monitors a load associated with a load carrying member. The system (200) may include a voltage divider (240) and a computer device (250). The voltage divider (240) measures inductance associated with load sensing elements (210) that monitor the load carrying member. The computer device (250) determines displacements of the load sensing elements (210) based on the inductance associated with the load sensing elements (210) and determines the load associated with the load carrying member based on the displacements of the load sensing elements (210). The system may be designed to be portable and/or DC powered.

Abstract: A mechanical amplifier includes first and second amplifier mounting pads (110, 120) and first and second sensor mounting pads (130, 140). At least one of the first and second amplifier mounting pads (110, 120) receives a load or displacement. The first and second sensor mounting pads (130, 140) connect to the first and second amplifier mounting pads (130, 140) via flexible connecting members. A sensor (150) may connect to the first and second sensor mounting pads to measure the amount of load or displacement.

Abstract: A variable reluctance load cell for measuring the static or slowly fluctuating load, or tension, on devices is contained in a support tube. A sensor in the tube utilizes opposing C and I shaped magnetic cores attached to opposing ends of the support tube. A magnetic circuit is formed having an inductance defined by the size of the gap between the magnetic cores with the reluctance dominated by the gap. The sensor inductance is coupled with a fixed, predetermined capacitance in a resonant LC circuit, and the resonant frequency is a function of the gap. The sensor is in a cavity within the tube, and the cavity is sealed in a manner that prevents water or other damaging agents from entering the sensor. In this manner, mounting the sensor and tube to a static device and measuring the AC voltage at the sensor, the amount of load, or stress can be determined.

Abstract: A system (200) monitors a load associated with a load carrying member. The system (200) may include a voltage divider (240) and a computer device (250). The voltage divider (240) measures inductance associated with load sensing elements (210) that monitor the load carrying member. The computer device (250) determines displacements of the load sensing elements (210) based on the inductance associated with the load sensing elements (210) and determines the load associated with the load carrying member based on the displacements of the load sensing elements (210). The system may be designed to be portable and/or DC powered.

Abstract: A variable reluctance load cell for measuring the static or slowly fluctuating load, or tension, on devices is contained in a support tube. A sensor in the tube utilizes opposing C and I shaped magnetic cores attached to opposing ends of the support tube. A magnetic circuit is formed having an inductance defined by the size of the gap between the magnetic cores with the reluctance dominated by the gap. The sensor inductance is coupled with a fixed, predetermined capacitance in a resonant LC circuit, and the resonant frequency is a function of the gap. The sensor is in a cavity within the tube, and the cavity is sealed in a manner that prevents water or other damaging agents from entering the sensor. In this manner, mounting the sensor and tube to a static device and measuring the AC voltage at the sensor, the amount of load, or stress can be determined.

Abstract: A system (200) monitors a load associated with a load carrying member. The system (200) may include a voltage divider (240) and a computer device (250). The voltage divider (240) measures inductance associated with load sensing elements (210) that monitor the load carrying member. The computer device (250) determines displacements of the load sensing elements (210) based on the inductance associated with the load sensing elements (210) and determines the load associated with the load carrying member based on the displacements of the load sensing elements (210). The system may be designed to be portable and/or DC powered.

Abstract: A system (200) monitors a load associated with a load carrying member. The system (200) may include a voltage divider (240) and a computer device (250). The voltage divider (240) measures inductance associated with load sensing elements (210) that monitor the load carrying member. The computer device (250) determines displacements of the load sensing elements (210) based on the inductance associated with the load sensing elements (210) and determines the load associated with the load carrying member based on the displacements of the load sensing elements (210). The system may be designed to be portable and/or DC powered.

Abstract: A variable reluctance load cell for measuring the static or slowly fluctuating load, or tension, on devices is contained in a support tube. A sensor in the tube utilizes opposing C and I shaped magnetic cores attached to opposing ends of the support tube. A magnetic circuit is formed having an inductance defined by the size of the gap between the magnetic cores with the reluctance dominated by the gap. The sensor inductance is coupled with a fixed, predetermined capacitance in a resonant LC circuit, and the resonant frequency is a function of the gap. The sensor is in a cavity within the tube, and the cavity is sealed in a manner that prevents water or other damaging agents from entering the sensor. In this manner, mounting the sensor and tube to a static device and measuring the AC voltage at the sensor, the amount of load, or stress can be determined.

Abstract: A variable reluctance load cell for measuring the static or slowly fluctuating load, or tension, on devices is contained in a support tube. A sensor in the tube utilizes opposing C and I shaped magnetic cores attached to opposing ends of the support tube. A magnetic circuit is formed having an inductance defined by the size of the gap between the magnetic cores with the reluctance dominated by the gap. The sensor inductance is coupled with a fixed, predetermined capacitance in a resonant LC circuit, and the resonant frequency is a function of the gap. The sensor is in a cavity within the tube, and the cavity is sealed in a manner that prevents water or other damaging agents from entering the sensor. In this manner, mounting the sensor and tube to a static device and measuring the AC voltage at the sensor, the amount of load, or stress can be determined.

Abstract: The present invention is noise attenuation system and related method for suppressing noise generated by a noise source, such as a jet engine, contained in a housing. An impedance device is positioned in the housing to attenuate the amplitude of sound waves generated by the noise source propagating in one direction and to create a reflected sound wave. The reflected sound wave is out of phase with the sound waves propagating from the noise source away from the impedance device. The reflected sound wave destructively interferes with this sound wave to attenuate the amplitude.