Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting a structural change in a molecule, said molecule being attached to a surface, said surface being electrically conductive, wherein the phase of the electrochemical impedance at said surface is monitored, and wherein a change in the phase in the electrochemical impedance at said surface indicates a change in the structure of said molecule. The invention further relates to methods for making arrays having molecules such as, polypeptides attached to electrically conductive surfaces such as electrodes, and to arrays.

Abstract: A breast scanning system scans a breast of a patient with transducer arrays that transmit and receive ultrasound signals in a bath containing a medium, such as a liquid. A table is disposable over the bath to receive the patient thereon, and has an aperture formed in the table and positionable over the bath to receive the breast of the patient pendent therethrough and into the bath. The table is linearly vertically displaceable with respect to the bath. The system includes a preconditioning tank to precondition the liquid prior to being introduced into the bath. The bath includes means for securing the breast within the bath.

Abstract: Ports for accessing a vessels within a patient include passageways that can guide needles or other access devices directly into the vessels. The ports can be implanted subcutaneously within a patient. Some ports may be used in the creation and use of vascular access buttonholes.

Abstract: Ports for accessing a vessels within a patient include passageways that can guide needles or other access devices directly into the vessels. The ports can be implanted subcutaneously within a patient. Some ports may be used in the creation and use of vascular access buttonholes.

Abstract: Soap bars that are not of essentially a square or rectangular shape, but of a generally rectangular shape, can be packaged using a single plastic film wrapper. This plastic film preferably is biaxially oriented polypropylene of from about 60 micron to about 180 microns. It can be a monolayer or a multilayer laminated. However, any plastic film having a Taber stiffness of more than about 5 and preferably about 7 to 20 can be used. The soap bar in order to facilitate making an effective longitudinal seal on the bottom of the soap bar package should have a planar surface adjacent to the position of the overlapping longitudinal edges of the wrapping film. This provides a surface for the sealing plate to seal the longitudinal edges against.

Abstract: A method for imaging and treating a breast of a patient includes: disposing the breast into a bath of medium; physically securing the breast and maintaining the breast in a repeatable position and in a repeatable shape with respect to a chest wall of the patient; scanning the breast with ultrasound signals from transducer arrays to create a three-dimensional image of the breast and to locate a position of a tumor or a lesion in the breast with respect to the three-dimensional image; and further treating the tumor or the lesion of the breast while maintaining the position and the shape of the breast with respect to the chest wall of the patient as during scanning.

Abstract: A transmission wave field imaging method, comprising the transmission of an incident wave field into an object, the incident wave field propagating into the object and, at least, partially scattering. Also includes the measuring of a wave field transmitted, at least in part, through an object to obtain a measured wave field, the measured wave field based, in part, on the incident wave field and the object. Additionally, the processing of the measured wave field utilizing a recursive reconstruction algorithm to generate an image data set representing at least one image of the object.

Abstract: An air filter assembly for removing particulate matter from an incoming dirty air stream. The assembly includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a dirty air chamber and a clean air chamber and a non-cylindrical shaped elongated filter element arranged within the dirty air chamber constructed to remove particulate matter from an incoming air stream. A plurality of non-cylindrical filter elements are preferred. The non-cylindrical filter elements provide a decreased incoming air stream velocity when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area. Alternately, the non-cylindrical filter elements allow an increase in the volume of incoming air when compared to conventional cylindrical filter elements having the same surface area.

Abstract: Digital rights management (DRM) of video data is selectively applied to video data by a video processing system that receives a video, comprising a number of frames, and processes at least one frame from the video to determine the contents of the video. The digital rights management for the video is then configured based on the contents of the video.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a wait time for a transaction queue is disclosed. In the method, video data related to a first transaction queue is received. The video data is processed to determine a number of items presented by a first entity for a transaction in the first transaction queue. A total transaction time is estimated for the first entity based on the number of items presented by the first entity and a transaction time for each of the number of items. A wait time for the first transaction queue is determined based on the estimated total transaction time for the first entity. If the wait time for the first transaction queue is greater than a first threshold, then the availability of a second transaction queue is indicated to a second entity.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of reels, each reel comprising a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols, a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from each reel for display, a reel selector arranged to select at least one reel, a function allocator arranged to allocate a function to at least one selected reel such that each displayed symbol on said at least one selected reel acquires the function, and a game outcome generator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols and on the function allocated to said at least one selected reel. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for increasing the speed of the parabolic marching method by about a factor of 256. This increase in speed can be used to accomplish a number of important objectives. Firstly, the speed can be used to collect data to form true 3-D images or 3-D assembled from 2-D slices. Speed allows larger images to be made. Secondly, the frequency of operation can be increased to 5 MHz to match the operating frequency of reflection tomography. This allow the improved imaging of speed of sound which in turn is used to correct errors in focusing delays in reflection tomography imaging. This allows reflection tomography to reach or closely approach its theoretical spatial resolution of ½ to ¾ wave lengths. A third benefit of increasing the operating frequency of inverse scattering to 5 MHz is the improved out of topographic plane spatial resolution. This improves the ability to detect small lesions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing data for broadcast via digital radio broadcast transmission is disclosed comprising the steps of receiving a plurality of content files corresponding to programming information for program content to be broadcast; receiving an index file having a pointer for each of the plurality of content files, wherein the index file is associated with a first logical address; storing the index file and the plurality of content files; scheduling a broadcast rotation of the index file and the plurality of content files (wherein the index file is scheduled for repeated transmission intermittently relative to selected ones of the content files); and transmitting the index file and the plurality of content files to an importer in accordance with the broadcast rotation.

Abstract: Rendering content in a graphical user interface (GUI) is disclosed. A region of a GUI is defined as a graphical object. The graphical object corresponds to content. Input is received from an input device. The received input identifies a location on the GUI. The location is in spatial proximity to the defined region of a graphical object. In response to receiving such input, the content corresponding to the graphical object is rendered in the defined region of the GUI. The content may be rendered only in a subset of the defined region of the GUI. Further input, such as input corresponding to a particular location on the GUI, or input corresponding to a change in locations on the GUI in a particular direction, may be received, causing one or more commands to be executed on the rendered content.

Abstract: Various disclosures of an oxygen generator apparatus and methods of using such are disclosed.

Abstract: Soap bars that are not of essentially a square or rectangular shape, but of a generally rectangular shape, can be packaged using a single plastic film wrapper. This plastic film preferably is biaxially oriented polypropylene of from about 60 micron to about 180 microns. It can be a monolayer or a multilayer laminated. However, any plastic film having a Taber stiffness of more than about 5 and preferably about 7 to 20 can be used. The soap bar in order to facilitate making an effective longitudinal seal on the bottom of the soap bar package should have a planar surface adjacent to the position of the overlapping longitudinal edges of the wrapping film. This provides a surface for the sealing plate to seal the longitudinal edges against.

Abstract: A digital disc interface for a plurality of audio-video streams produced from multiple recordings of an event is described. The video recordings include a primary audio-video recording, as well as one or more participant audio-video recordings. The interface provides time-synchronized rendering of a composite video image of the various video streams, including a main full-size rendering of one video stream, the accompanying audio stream, and miniaturized versions of participant streams. Using a video menu-driven interface, the consumer is able to simultaneously monitor the streams, and when desired, to navigate among the various video streams and select an alternative audio-video stream for full-size rendering and an accompanying audio stream.

Abstract: A method of seismic retrofitting a concrete structure includes removing material from a portion of the concrete structure by irradiating the portion with a laser beam having a laser energy density. The method further includes positioning a stabilization structure in proximity to the portion of the concrete structure. The method further includes attaching the stabilization structure to the portion of the concrete structure, whereby the stabilization structure provides structural support to the concrete structure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-intrusive data transmission network for use in a healthcare facility and method for implementing such network. Each individual patient's room is equipped with a set-top control device, a separate camera, microphone, control module camera control device. The SCD allows for a non-intrusive installation within a minimum amount of time. By utilizing the existing cable television infrastructure, the device creates a high-speed data network throughout the facility. The interface between the SCD and the CCD is accomplished through a standard interface for universally connecting auxiliary devices, such as USB, for enabling expandable, hot-pluggable Plug and Play serial device interfaces. These ports allow external devices such as the camera, microphone, infrared keyboard and privacy control unit to communicate with the SCD. Additional USB ports on the SCD allow for other devices to be connected to the network at a future time.