Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for securing bone portions is provided that includes a surgical cable having a plurality of elongate elements and a connector. The connector includes a body and a deformable sleeve associated with the body and having a through opening for receiving the surgical cable. The through opening of the surgical cable has a non-deformed configuration sized to compress the elements of the surgical cable together with the surgical cable extending in the sleeve through opening. An actuator is connected to the body and is operable to deform the sleeve and further compress the compressed elements of the surgical cable therein to secure the surgical cable relative to the body.

Abstract: A bone plate system for securing a plurality of bones is provided including a plate member, a locking device of the bone plate, and a surgical cable having a trailing end for being connected to the bone plate and a leading end for being advanced around the bones and into the locking device. The surgical cable may be tensioned to approximate the bones, urge the bones together, and seat the bone plate against the bones. The locking device may be reconfigured to a locked configuration to fix the bone plate to the surgical cable. The bone plate further includes a plurality of throughbores for receiving bone anchors that rigidly fix the bone plate to the bones. The bone plate system utilizes the tensile strength of the surgical cable and the rigid fixation between the bone anchors and the bone plate to resist relative movement of the bones.

Abstract: A bone plate system for securing a plurality of bones is provided including a plate member, a locking device of the bone plate, and a surgical cable having a trailing end for being connected to the bone plate and a leading end for being advanced around the bones and into the locking device. The surgical cable may be tensioned to approximate the bones, urge the bones together, and seat the bone plate against the bones. The locking device may be reconfigured to a locked configuration to fix the bone plate to the surgical cable. The bone plate further includes a plurality of throughbores for receiving bone anchors that rigidly fix the bone plate to the bones. The bone plate system utilizes the tensile strength of the surgical cable and the rigid fixation between the bone anchors and the bone plate to resist relative movement of the bones.

Abstract: A handheld skin monitoring or measuring device includes a camera having a camera optical axis; and a structured light arrangement configured to project three or more laser fan beams such that the laser an beams cross at a crossing point in front of the camera.

Abstract: This invention relates to the separation of particulate contaminants from a fluid. In one embodiment of the invention, two sand separators placed in series may be used to separate sand from liquid or gaseous natural gas. This invention has some of its applications in the oil gas industry, particularly for use in separating sand from gas produced by natural gas wells that have been opened by hydraulic fracturing.

Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a method for capturing vehicle mileage information. The method includes initiating an application program configured on the mobile wireless device without any user input required to start tracking a drive. The method includes initiating movement of the mobile wireless device. The method includes using a mapping module to track a start point of a route for the mobile wireless device. The method includes moving the mobile wireless device from the start point through one or more legs. The method includes using algorithms or traffic data to identify one or more of the legs as a route or drive.

Abstract: A handheld skin monitoring or measuring device includes a camera having a camera optical axis; and a structured light arrangement configured to project three or more laser fan beams such that the laser fan beams cross at a crossing point in front of the camera.

Abstract: A bone plate system for securing a plurality of bones is provided including a plate member, a locking device of the bone plate, and a surgical cable having a trailing end for being connected to the bone plate and a leading end for being advanced around the bones and into the locking device. The surgical cable may be tensioned to approximate the bones, urge the bones together, and seat the bone plate against the bones. The locking device may be reconfigured to a locked configuration to fix the bone plate to the surgical cable. The bone plate further includes a plurality of throughbores for receiving bone anchors that rigidly fix the bone plate to the bones. The bone plate system utilizes the tensile strength of the surgical cable and the rigid fixation between the bone anchors and the bone plate to resist relative movement of the bones.

Abstract: A handheld skin monitoring or measuring device includes a camera having a camera optical axis; and a structured light arrangement configured to project three or more laser fan beams such that the laser fan beams cross at a crossing point in front of the camera.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for an airflow system, wherein the positive applied pressure is maintained at an approximately constant level over a variety of conditions. In one embodiment, a laminar flow is maintained by a foam housing and configuration. The use low air volume is enabled by using a closed system, wherein feedback information from the system is used to control the speed of an impeller. In one embodiment, moisture recirculation and recycling is applied to extract moisture from exhalation and inject the moisture back into the inhalation portion of the breathing cycle.

Abstract: A computer system and method for efficiently processing a digital image into reflow content is presented. The method comprises each of the following as executed on a computer. A digital image is obtained for processing. The digital image includes at least some content suitable for conversion into reflow content. The digital image is processed into a digital content file. The digital content file includes both reflow content and non-reflow blocks of content. For each non-reflow block of content in the digital content file, the following are performed. A determination is made as to whether the non-reflow block of content should be manually evaluated for editing. A manual evaluation is automatically triggered for editing if it is determined that the non-reflow block of content should be manually evaluated for editing.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for converting a scanned-in electronic image into a token-based file. The method includes generally five steps. First, various tokens (i.e., graphical units) are identified in the electronic image. Second, the identified tokens having similar shapes are classified together to form a token group, to thereby form multiple token groups, each including one or more tokens having similar shapes. Third, in each token group, a representative token is found, which morphologically represents the shapes of tokens included in the group. Fourth, each representative token is converted into a vectorized token, which is a mathematical representation of the shape of the representative token. Fifth, each of the vectorized tokens is associated with the positions of the tokens in the electronic image represented by the vectorized token. Thus, upon rendering, the vectorized token is displayed to thereby create a page image consisting only of clean images of vectorized tokens.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for creating an image-based reflowable file. The image-based reflowable file is configured to automatically adapt itself to be rendered on various sized displays and windows, by permitting the lines of reflow objects to “reflow” according to the given size of a display or window. The method includes receiving. First, an image of content having reflow objects and identifying bounding regions to enclose a reflow object contained in the image. A reflow object baseline for each of the reflow objects is then identified and the position of each of the bounding regions containing the reflow objects is determined, relative to the image and also relative to the corresponding reflow object baseline. The size of each of the bounding regions is then determined, for example in terms of width and height, and stored.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a choke control system that provides for local and off-site monitoring and control of the annulus flow pressure of a well. The choke control system includes a choke manifold connected to at least one choke and its associated actuator; a variety of instrumental drilling sensors, pump stroke counter switches, and choke position indicators; a local choke and hydraulic pressure control console; and a programmable controller in communication with the local choke and hydraulic pressure control console. The programmable controller handles the logical operations of the choke control system, including processing instrument measurements and operator input data to produce control signals for operating the choke, the choke actuator and the various valves associated with the choke manifold. The programmable controller is typically either an electronic digital computer and/or a programmable logic controller (PLC).

Abstract: Sample collection apparatus is provided which allows for fast, accurate, repeatable sample collection, particularly of blood and saliva samples. This apparatus is adapted to interconnect with a device designed to carry out analyte detection. Kits comprising the sample collection apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention features a seat-lifting device for use with commonly available toilets, which is easily manufactured, easily installed in a household about the toilet. Such a seat-lifting device also would be simple and safe to use by the persons who desire to use the toilet. Such a seat-lifting device also would repeatedly, reliably and safely move the person from and between the upright and seated positions. Also featured are methods related thereto. A seat-lifting device according to the present invention features a toilet seat, a motor, a drive mechanism and seat lift linkage. The seat lift linkage is operably interconnected to the motor by the drive means and also is interconnected to the toilet seat. In this way, motion of the motor in a first direction causes the seat lift linkage to move the toilet seat from a one position, corresponding to a seated position, to a second position, an elevated position.

Abstract: A media buffer capable of buffering two lengths of media, is fed a first length of media from an imagesetter at a first speed, and releases the media to a processor at a second speed. An input media sensor senses the media entering the buffer. Drive rollers take up the leading edge of the media at the imagesetter speed. Shortly thereafter a signal from an output media sensor located between the drive rollers and the processor, opens an input door to an input bin and stops the drive rollers. The incoming media continues to be fed by the imagesetter forming a first slack loop within the input bin. The imagesetter signals the buffer that the media has been cut, thereby actuating drive rollers to advance the media at the processor speed to a pair of rollers in the processor. A signal from the processor sensor opens an output door to an output bin. The drive rollers increase speed to transport the first piece of media from the input bin to the output bin thereby forming a second slack loop.

Abstract: A media buffer capable of buffering two lengths of media, is fed a first length of media from an imagesetter at a first speed, and releases the media to a processor at a second speed. An input media sensor senses the media entering the buffer. Drive rollers take up the leading edge of the media at the imagesetter speed. Shortly thereafter a signal from an output media sensor located between the drive rollers and the processor, opens an input door to an input bin and stops the drive rollers. The incoming media continues to be fed by the imagesetter forming a first slack loop within the input bin. The imagesetter signals the buffer that the media has been cut, thereby actuating drive rollers to advance the media at the processor speed to a pair of rollers in the processor. A signal from the processor sensor opens an output door to an output bin. The drive rollers increase speed to transport the first piece of media from the input bin to the output bin thereby forming a second slack loop.