Abstract: A computational model of the human vaginal environment is disclosed. The model comprises finite element analysis software, segmented tissue regions, at least one defined material parameter for each of said segmented tissue regions, and at least one boundary condition for each of said segmented tissue regions. At least one of the boundary conditions is subject to physiological condition changes and the model comprises computing means for manipulating the material parameters and the boundary conditions with the finite element analysis software.

Abstract: A polymeric, surgical clip having first and second curved legs with each having a pair of opposing side surfaces joined at their proximal ends by a flexible hinge section and movable from an open position to a closed position for clamping a vessel between curved opposing inner surfaces. The first leg terminates at its distal end in a female locking member, and the second leg member terminates in a male locking member complimentary to the female locking member such that when the first and second leg members are moved from an open position to a closed position about the hinge section the male member is lockingly engaged in the female locking member. The clip has a détente positioned on the outer surface of the first leg between the hinge section and the female locking member which serves to urge the first leg to straighten during closure of the clip to reduce the force required to close the surgical clip.

Abstract: A seed point is selected inside a structure that is to be segmented in image data. An adaptive model is defined around the seed point, and a preprocessing filter is applied only within the bounding region. A presegmentation of the preprocessed result is performed, and the bounding region is expanded if necessary to accommodate the presegmentation result. An adaptive model for post-processing may be used. The model is translated, rotated and scaled to find a best fit with the pre-segmented data. Additional models can be grown based on testing performed on points on a perimeter of previous models to improve the segmentation of an object.

Abstract: A switch enables a telephone to use one virtual circuit to connect through a packet switched network to any number of other telephones. The switch supports multiple network types, permitting, for example, the conversion of UDP and AAL5 data to AAL2 data. Multiple switches, each connected to several other switches by ATM virtual circuits, are used to form a telephone network. Each telephone connects to just one switch. When a telephone call is made, the call is sent to the associated switch, which then determines, based on destination, to where the call should be routed. The call is sent through the telephone network to the destination switch, which in turn sends the call down the one virtual circuit to the destination telephone. Header stripping using out-of-band signaling minimizes bandwidth wastage by not requiring the ingress and egress points of the packet-switched network to maintain a synchronized connection state that must be regularly validated and updated with state and error information.

Abstract: A switch enables a telephone to use one virtual circuit to connect through a packet switched network to any number of other telephones. The switch supports multiple network types, permitting, for example, the conversion of UDP and AAL5 data to AAL2 data. Multiple switches, each connected to several other switches by ATM virtual circuits, are used to form a telephone network. Each telephone connects to just one switch. When a telephone call is made, the call is sent to the associated switch, which then determines, based on destination, to where the call should be routed. The call is sent through the telephone network to the destination switch, which in turn sends the call down the one virtual circuit to the destination telephone. Header stripping using out-of-band signaling minimizes bandwidth wastage by not requiring the ingress and egress points of the packet-switched network to maintain a synchronized connection state that must be regularly validated and updated with state and error information.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) structured report (SR) for workflow optimization are provided. A method for providing a DICOM SR in an extensible markup language (XML) comprises: generating the DICOM SR; mapping attribute fields of the DICOM SR to an XML document; defining the XML document as a DICOM SR binary object; and storing the XML document in the DICOM SR.

Abstract: A polymeric, surgical clip having first and second curved legs joined at their proximal ends by a flexible hinge section and movable from an open position to a closed position for clamping a vessel between curved opposing inner surfaces. The first leg terminates at its distal end in a female locking member comprising a resilient inwardly turned hook having a recess in the mouth of the hook, and the second leg member terminates in a male locking member complimentary to the female locking member and comprising a detent such that when the first and second leg members are moved from an open position to a closed position about the hinge section the hook member will deflect about the distal end of the second leg member thereby engulfing the male locking member in the mouth of the hook and matingly engaging the detent in the recess thereof, thus securely locking the clip in the closed position. The locking feature provides greater closure security to the clip when clamping large diameter or uncompressible tissue.

Abstract: Among the many potential embodiments is a searchable electronic medical record system comprising: an interface for receiving data representing a search item; at least one repository associating a subject identifier with medical information specific to a particular subject comprising: genomic information, clinical data, and laboratory test results; and a search processor for searching said at least one repository to find medical information comprising said search item.

Abstract: A method and/or apparatus for efficiently operating a combustion device including at least one control zone, with each control zone including at least one burner assembly, is disclosed and includes a) individually supplying fuel to each of the burner assemblies in each of the control zones, b) individually measuring a separate combustion characteristic of the collective combusted gas from each of the burner assemblies in each of the control zones, and c) individually adjusting the flow of air to each of the burner assemblies in response to the value of the combustion characteristic corresponding to each of the control zones to keep the value of each separate combustion characteristic within a predetermined range. In a preferred embodiment, primary air and secondary air are separately supplied and controlled to each of the burner assemblies in each of the control zones in response to the value of the combustion characteristic corresponding to each of the control zones.

Abstract: A process for recovering DCPD from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising introducing the hydrocarbon feedstock to a first column, recovering an overhead stream from the first column comprising C9− hydrocarbons, recovering a bottom stream from the first column comprising C10+ hydrocarbons, feeding the bottom stream from the first column to a second column, recovering an overhead stream from the second column comprising DCPD, and recovering a bottom stream from the second column comprising fuel oil, wherein the two columns are sized and operated at defined conditions such as pressures, temperatures, reflux rates, and reboil rates.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock containing C5 olefins, C5 diolefins, CPD, DCPD, and aromatics is processed by the steps of heating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing CPD, DCPD, C5 diolefins, benzene, toluene, and xylene in a heating zone, to dimerize CPD to DCPD, thereby forming a first effluent; separating the first effluent into a C6+ stream and a C5 diolefin stream; separating the C6+ stream into a C6-C9 stream and a C10+ stream; separating the C10+ stream into a fuel oil stream and a DCPD stream; and hydrotreating the C6-C9 stream to thereby form a BTX stream.

Abstract: A system for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream wherein desulfurization is enhanced by oxidizing certain organosulfur compounds of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream prior to desulfurization.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for injecting an antifoulant has been developed for suppressing coke formation during pyrolysis in a cracking furnace. The apparatus and method result in the antifoulant being atomized and vaporized, which is critical for proper distribution of the antifoulant. The proper distribution of the antifoulant through this novel apparatus and method results in longer runtime and higher efficiencies for cracking furnaces.

Abstract: A method and/or apparatus for efficiently operating a combustion device including at least one control zone, with each control zone including at least one burner assembly, is disclosed and includes a) individually supplying fuel to each of the burner assemblies in each of the control zones, b) individually measuring a separate combustion characteristic of the collective combusted gas from each of the burner assemblies in each of the control zones, and c) individually adjusting the flow of air to each of the burner assemblies in response to the value of the combustion characteristic corresponding to each of the control zones to keep the value of each separate combustion characteristic within a predetermined range. In a preferred embodiment, primary air and secondary air are separately supplied and controlled to each of the burner assemblies in each of the control zones in response to the value of the combustion characteristic corresponding to each of the control zones.

Abstract: A process for desulfurizing middle distillates by charging a sulfur-containing middle distillate and a hydrogen-containing diluent to a reaction zone in respective amounts and under reaction conditions sufficient to vaporize substantially all of the sulfur-containing middle distillate present in the reaction zone. In the reaction zone, the vaporized middle distillate is contacted with a sorbent comprising a promoter metal and zinc oxide to thereby provide a desulfurized middle distillate comprising less sulfur than the sulfur-containing middle distillate initially charged to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock containing C5 olefins, C5 diolefins, CPD, DCPD, and aromatics is processed by the steps of heating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing CPD, DCPD, C5 diolefins, benzene, toluene, and xylene in a heating zone, to dimerize CPD to DCPD, thereby forming a first effluent; separating the first effluent into a C6+ stream and a C5 diolefin stream; separating the C6+ stream into a C6-C9 stream and a C10+ stream; separating the C10+ stream into a fuel oil stream and a DCPD stream; and hydrotreating the C6-C9 stream to thereby form a BTX stream.