Abstract: Systems and methods for delayed delivery of a drug are disclosed. A drug delivery system may include a delivery member for insertion into a patient and a reservoir configured to receive a volume of a drug. An energy source may be activatable by the patient to actuate the reservoir to deliver the drug to the patient as a single bolus. A lockout system may be configured to have a locked state, wherein the lockout system prevents movement of the delivery member and/or activation of the energy source, and an unlocked state, wherein the lockout system permits movement of the delivery member and/or activation of the energy source. The lockout system may be configured to automatically change from the locked state to the unlocked state after a preselected time period has elapsed. An output element may generate a detectable output after the preselected time period has elapsed for notifying the patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to methods and systems useful in imaging applications, especially biological imaging applications, and applications in the metrology, atmospheric, scientific and medical fields. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method of imaging an object, including illuminating the object with incident radiation through one or more adaptive optical elements; receiving transmitted radiation from the object at a photodetector to provide a base image; and performing the following steps one or more times: adjusting the one or more adaptive optical elements, the adjustment including modifying an optical transfer function of the one or more adaptive optical elements, and receiving transmitted radiation from the object at the photodetector to provide an adjusted image; wherein the adjustment and receiving steps are performed until the adjusted image has substantially reduced aberrations compared to the base image.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an air cleaning system comprising: a ducting section comprising an inlet and an outlet; at least one source of ultraviolet radiation arranged to emit ultraviolet radiation into an interior volume of the ducting section, the interior volume between the inlet and the outlet; and a reflective surface arranged to reflect ultraviolet radiation emitted by the source of ultraviolet radiation within the interior volume of the ducting section, wherein the reflective surface is capable of reflecting at least 60% of incident ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: Clutch assemblies and related systems are provided. In some embodiments, the system comprises the clutch assembly, a circulation assembly, and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly. In some embodiments, the clutch assembly allows for selective rotation of a bottom hole assembly of a drill string and the circulation assembly allows for selective exhausting of drilling fluid from the drill string. Related drill strings and methods for drilling a borehole are also provided.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus connectable with a drill pipe and connectable with a drilling assembly comprising a drilling assembly housing, for use in drilling a borehole, including a rotation restraining device actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position, a rotation restraining device actuator for actuating the rotation restraining device between the retracted position and the extended position, a swivel actuatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a swivel actuator for actuating the swivel between the locked position and the unlocked position. A method for drilling a borehole, including connecting a drilling assembly with a drill pipe, wherein the drilling assembly comprises a drilling assembly housing, drilling while rotating the drill pipe and thereby rotating the drilling assembly housing, and drilling while rotating the drill pipe relative to the drilling assembly housing.

Abstract: A method of rehabilitating or remediating a structure comprises forming a sealed region (18) over or about a portion of the structure and drawing air from the region (18). A supply of a structural adhesive is placed in fluid communication with region (18) so that as air is drawn from the region (18) the adhesive flows into the region and fills discontinuities in the structure. Fiber reinforcement or other strengthening material is placed in the region (18) so that the adhesive also penetrates through the material to band the material to the structure.

Abstract: In a computer, a first set of object classes are provided representing active entities in an information-handling process and a second set of object classes are provided representing data and rules in the information-handling process. At least one object class has rules associated with data. The above-mentioned objects are used in constructing a model of an information-handling process, and to provide an output that identifies at least one way in which the information-handling process could be improved. One aspect is a method for handling personally identifiable information. Another aspect is a system for executing the method of the present invention. A third aspect is as a set of instructions on a computer-usable medium, or resident in a computer system, for executing the method of the present invention.

Abstract: Sealing may be provided between alignable windows for lateral wellbore drilling. A method for use with a lateral wellbore includes the steps of: positioning a swellable seal material between a closure device and a housing of a window assembly; swelling the seal material to thereby prevent fluid transfer through a window formed in a sidewall of the housing; and then installing the window assembly in a parent wellbore. A lateral wellbore system includes a window assembly with a window formed through a sidewall of a generally tubular housing, and a swollen seal material preventing fluid transfer through the window. A window assembly includes a generally tubular housing having a window formed through a sidewall of the housing, a closure device having another window formed through a wall of the closure device; and a swellable seal material which prevents fluid transfer between the windows.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for handling personally identifiable information, using a rules model. The invention involves defining a limited number of privacy-related actions regarding personally identifiable information; constructing a rule for each circumstance in which one of said privacy-related actions may be taken or must be taken; allowing for the input of dynamic contextual information to precisely specify the condition for evaluation of a rule; creating a programming object containing at least one of said rules; associating the programming object with personally identifiable information; processing a request; and providing an output. The invention does not merely give a “yes-or-no answer. The invention has the advantage of being able to specify additional actions that must be taken. The invention may use a computer system and network. One aspect of the present invention is a method for handling personally identifiable information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-destructive testing of a structure including the deposition of energy volumetrically into an object and detecting transient temperatures at a surface of the object caused by diffusion of the deposited energy. The energy is typically induced within the object by an induction coil and viewed by an IR camera as the transient energy exits the surface of the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for light curing of composite materials in which the radiation required to initiate the curing is delivered via one or more lossy fiber optics. The fiber optics are made lossy by methods such as bending the fiber, weaving the fiber into a mat to create periodic micro-bends, tailoring the thickness of the fiber cladding to allow evanescent wave transmission, or simply removing the cladding at intervals along the fiber. Distribution of the light through out the composite material results in dramatic power and time reductions over traditional light curing methods. Unlike thermal curing of composite materials, there is no need for an auto-clave and hence no limit on the size of the part that may be created. Additional benefits include the possibility of curing at operational temperature and so avoiding thermal stresses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for light curing of composite materials in which the radiation required to initiate the curing is delivered via one or more lossy fiber optics. The fiber optics are made lossy by methods such as bending the fiber, weaving the fiber into a mat to create periodic micro-bends, tailoring the thickness of the fiber cladding to allow evanescent wave transmission, or simply removing the cladding at intervals along the fiber. Distribution of the light through out the composite material results in dramatic power and time reductions over traditional light curing methods. Unlike thermal curing of composite materials, there is no need for an auto-clave and hence no limit on the size of the part that may be created. Additional benefits include the possibility of curing at operational temperature and so avoiding thermal stresses.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for handling personally identifiable information, using a rules model. The invention involves defining a limited number of privacy-related actions regarding personally identifiable information; constructing a rule for each circumstance in which one of said privacy-related actions may be taken or must be taken; allowing for the input of dynamic contextual information to precisely specify the condition for evaluation of a rule; creating a programming object containing at least one of said rules; associating the programming object with personally identifiable information; processing a request; and providing an output. The invention does not merely give a “yes-or-no answer. The invention has the advantage of being able to specify additional actions that must be taken. The invention may use a computer system and network. One aspect of the present invention is a method for handling personally identifiable information.

Abstract: The present invention involves providing in a computer a first set of object classes representing active entities in an information-handling process, wherein a limited number of privacy-related actions represent operations performed on data, and providing in the computer a second set of object classes representing data and rules in the information-handling process, wherein at least one object class has rules associated with data. The invention also involves using the above-mentioned objects in constructing a model of an information-handling process, and providing output that identifies at least one way in which the information-handling process could be improved. One aspect of the present invention is a method for handling personally identifiable information. Another aspect of the present invention is a system for executing the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A radial configuration of flexible diffuser tubes eliminates short-circuiting by automatically producing a flow pattern extending well beyond the radial extent of the diffuser. A slitted diaphragm at the outer end of a diffuser tube facilitates the removal of water during start-up. A preferred diffuser comprises an inner perforated conduit surrounded by a fabric tube through which air is released into the liquid. Providing a space between the conduit and the fabric tube and filling the space with gravel pellets provides for greatly improved uniformity in air diffusion.