Abstract: A paver for laying down a strip of concrete and inserting therein dowel bars parallel to the strip. A dowel bar inserter orients the bars and places them into the concrete. A pair of transport chains transverse to the travel direction extends across a width of the inserter. Pairs of generally L-shaped opposing cups hold the bars so that they can drop downwardly from the cups towards the strip. The chains move in a single direction. A dowel bar holding magazine, above the chains, stores bars, and gravitationally moves the bars towards the chains for pick-up by cups as the chains move the cups past a bar loading station. Elastic bands extend about a bar engaging surface defined by a wheel and resiliently bias the bars moving along the chain turn-around section against the wheel.

Abstract: A paver for laying down a strip of concrete and inserting therein dowel bars parallel to the strip. A dowel bar inserter orients the bars and places them into the concrete. A pair of transport chains transverse to the travel direction extends across a width of the inserter. Pairs of generally L-shaped opposing cups hold the bars so that they can drop downwardly from the cups towards the strip. The chains move in a single direction. A dowel bar holding magazine, above the chains, stores bars, and gravitationally moves the bars towards the chains for pick-up by cups as the chains move the cups past a bar loading station. Elastic bands extend about a bar engaging surface defined by a wheel and resiliently bias the bars moving along the chain turn-around section against the wheel.

Abstract: A paver for laying down a strip of concrete and inserting therein dowel bars parallel to the strip. A dowel bar inserter orients the bars and places them into the concrete. A pair of transport chains transverse to the travel direction extends across a width of the inserter. Pairs of generally L-shaped opposing cups hold the bars so that they can drop downwardly from the cups towards the strip. The chains move in a single direction. A dowel bar holding magazine, above the chains, stores bars, and gravitationally moves the bars towards the chains for pick-up by cups as the chains move the cups past a bar loading station. Elastic bands extend about a bar engaging surface defined by a wheel and resiliently bias the bars moving along the chain turn-around section against the wheel.

Abstract: A slipform paver including a dowel bar inserter unit having a pair of spaced-apart, endless transport chains oriented transversely to the travel direction. Each chain defines upper and lower strands with turn around chain sections at respective ends of the chain strands. A plurality of pairs of generally L-shaped opposing cups carried by exterior sides of the chain hold the dowel bars so that they can drop downwardly from the cups towards the concrete strip. A dowel bar holding magazine is located above the upwardly facing sides of the chains. Elastic bands having ends fixedly attached to the magazine extend generally about a portion of a convexly curved dowel bar engaging surface defined by a wheel and resiliency bias the dowel bars moving along the chain turn-around section against the wheel.

Abstract: A concrete paving machine which has a main frame and two hydraulic jacking columns at each end of the frame for raising and lowering the machine frame. Crawlers attached to the jacking columns move the paving machine in the travel direction. A paving kit is secured to the main frame and has a rigid center portion. Each terminal kit has an end frame secured to the center portion, an adjustable length support structure between the end frame and the slipform, and a hydraulic actuator. Spacers are interposed between the end frame and the slipform. A finishing pan is provided to finish the concrete surface. All replaceable components of the terminal are constructed and arranged so that they can be manually exchanged be one or two persons without removing the paving kit from the main frame and without needing the help of lifting equipment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ceramic monolith for use as a feedthrough in medical devices and method of making. The monolith includes a first surface, a second surface, and a passageway extending from the first surface to the second surface. The first surface is high temperature co-fired ceramic and the second surface is low temperature co-fired ceramic, and the two ceramics are intermixed in a blended interface located between the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: A slipform paver for laying down a strip of concrete over a ground surface and for intermittently inserting into the strip spaced-apart dowel bars that are oriented substantially parallel to the length of the strip that is being laid down. The paver has a dowel bar inserter unit that orients the dowel bars substantially parallel to the travel direction of the paver and places the dowel bars into the concrete as the strip is being laid down. The inserter has a pair of spaced-apart, endless transport chains oriented transversely to the travel direction that substantially extends across a width of the inserter unit. Each chain defines upper and lower strands with turn-around chain sections at respective ends of the chain strands. A plurality of pairs of generally L-shaped opposing cups carried by exterior sides of the chain hold the dowel bars so that they can drop downwardly from the cups towards the concrete strip when the pair of cups holding the dowel bar are on the exterior chain side that faces downwardly.

Abstract: A paving machine that moves in a travel direction spreads, levels and finishes concrete into a form having a generally upwardly exposed, finished concrete surface that terminates in lateral sides. The paving machine has a main frame with first and second bolsters arranged at opposite ends of the main frame. Each set of bolsters has two hydraulic jacking columns used to raise and lower the machine frame. Crawlers attached to the bottom of the jacking columns engage the ground and move the paving machine in the travel direction. A paving kit is secured to the machine frame and has a substantially rigid center portion oriented transverse to the travel direction. It terminates in lateral ends and is disposed between the bolsters. A variable length terminal paving kit is secured to each lateral end of the center portion.

Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor cell for use in implantable medical devices and associated method for manufacture are provided. The capacitor cell includes an electrode substrate having a dielectric layer formed thereon by atomic layer deposition. In various embodiments, the dielectric layer includes an oxide of one or more valve metals.

Abstract: A medical device comprising a least one photocatalytic layer or superhydrophilic layer. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a waveguide. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises an electrode comprising an optically transparent conductive oxide. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a electroluminescent layer. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a photovoltaic cell. According to some embodiments, the medical device comprises a doped semiconductor oxide. A method for increasing the energy efficiency of a photocatalytic surface comprises electrically biasing a transparent conductive oxide layer. A method for illuminating a complex three-dimensional surface comprises illuminating a photocatalytic layer with electromagnetic radiation from an electroluminescent layer. A method for removing or preventing the formation of organic matter on a sensor window.

Abstract: A medical device comprising a least one photocatalytic layer or superhydrophilic layer. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a waveguide. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises an electrode comprising an optically transparent conductive oxide. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a electroluminescent layer. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a photovoltaic cell. According to some embodiments, the medical device comprises a doped semiconductor oxide. In some embodiments the medical device is a hydrocephalus shunt. A method for increasing the energy efficiency of a photocatalytic surface comprises electrically biasing a transparent conductive oxide layer. A method for illuminating a complex three-dimensional surface comprises illuminating a photocatalytic layer with electromagnetic radiation from an electroluminescent layer. A method for removing or preventing the formation of organic matter on a sensor window.

Abstract: A computer-based video recording and management system is provided which is used in conjunction with medical diagnostic equipment. The system allows a physician or medical personnel to record and time-mark significant events during a medical procedure on video footage, to index patient data with the video footage, and then to later edit or access the video footage with patient data from a database in an efficient manner. The system includes at least one input device that inserts a time-mark into the video footage; and a workstation that associates an index with each time-mark, extracts a portion of the video footage at the time-mark beginning just before and ending just after the time-mark, concatenates the portion of the video footage with other portions of video footage, into a shortened summary video clip, and stores both the video footage and summary video clip into a searchable database.

Abstract: A slipform paver having a dowel bar inserter pan. The inserter pan has a plurality of dowel bar receiving stations therein. The inserter pan is movable relative to the suspended slip form such that the pan moves towards and away from the slip form during dowel bar insertion.

Abstract: A computer-based video recording and management system is provided which is used in conjunction with medical diagnostic equipment. The system allows a physician or medical personnel to record and time-mark significant events during a medical procedure on video footage, to index patient data with the video footage, and then to later edit or access the video footage with patient data from a database in an efficient manner. The system includes at least one input device that inserts a time-mark into the video footage; and a workstation that associates an index with each time-mark, extracts a portion of the video footage at the time-mark beginning just before and ending just after the time-mark, concatenates the portion of the video footage with other portions of video footage, into a shortened summary video clip, and stores both the video footage and summary video clip into a searchable database.

Abstract: A dowel bar inserter kit is used, typically in combination with a paver. The dowel bar inserter kit is removably detachable from the paver and includes at least two laterally extending support beams supported from the paver extending away from and behind the paver over the formed plastic concrete slab. A plurality of support carriages move synchronously on each laterally extending support beam towards and away from the supported frame of the paver. A suspended dowel bar inserter pan is attached at distal ends to the support carriages, the suspended dowel bar inserter pan defines apertures for insertion of dowel bars through the suspended dowel bar inserter pan. The dowel bar inserter pan has a medial dowel bar insert pan hinge to enable the suspended dowel bar inserter pan to crown with respect to the freshly placed plastic concrete slab. An inserter beam is supported at distal ends to the support carriages.

Abstract: In combination with a slipform paver, a new chain feeder is disclosed which is contained within the profile of a slipform paver. The chain feeder is used in combination with a plurality of dowel bar inserter stations. A single file dowel bar path is provided immediately above the plurality of dowel bar inserter stations overlying an upper dowel bar shuttle for each inserter station. The feeder includes a plurality of feeding lugs for pushing dowel bars along the single file dowel bar path parallel to openings in the upper dowel bar shuttle. This enables dowel bars to fall into the upper dowel bar shuttle until all inserter stations are loaded with dowel bars. When the dowel bars are inserted, the upper dowel bar shuttle moves relative to the lower dowel bar shuttle. This permits an upper shuttle bar opening in the upper dowel bar shuttle and the lower shuttle bar opening in the lower dowel bar shuttle to move into registration one with another.

Abstract: In combination with a slipform paver, a new chain feeder is disclosed which is contained within the profile of a slipform paver and enables improved cycling time for the insertion of dowel bars. The chain feeder is used in combination with a plurality of dowel bar inserter stations. A single file dowel bar path is provided immediately above the plurality of dowel bar inserter stations overlying an upper dowel bar shuttle for each inserter station. The feeder includes a plurality of feeding lugs for pushing dowel bars along the single file dowel bar path parallel to openings in the upper dowel bar shuttle. This enables dowel bars to fall into the upper dowel bar shuttle until all inserter stations are loaded with dowel bars. When the dowel bars are inserted, the upper dowel bar shuttle moves relative to the lower dowel bar shuttle. This permits an upper shuttle bar opening in the upper dowel bar shuttle and the lower shuttle bar opening in the lower dowel bar shuttle to move into registration one with another.

Abstract: A dowel bar inserter kit has removable attachment to and from a slipform paver. The kit includes a track bolster on each side having a crossbeam tying the bolsters together at the rear of the inserter. Each bolster is provided with two flange attachments to the paver, typically one flange attachment to the frame and one flange attachment to the jacking column of the paver. These paired attachments of each side bolster assure the kit maintains the same overall level maintained by the rectilinear frame of the paver during paver travel. Each bolster defines support car tracks. These support car tracks enabling inserter support cars to travel on the tracks during machine paving. During dowel bar placement, the support cars remain stationary with respect to the formed slab while the slip form paver continues with its required forward motion. These support cars also enable vertical up and down movement to permit insertion and removal of the dowel bar inserters from the recently formed slab.