Abstract: A line launcher includes a launcher body extending along a longitudinal axis between a rear end and a front end. The line launcher further includes a handle, a trigger, and a removable battery. The line launcher further includes a compressed gas charge assembly. The line launcher further includes an elongated barrel coupled to the body at the front end. The line launcher further includes a throwline assembly, the throwline assembly including a projectile and a throwline, the projectile insertable into and ejectable from the elongated barrel.

Abstract: Teeth are screened for periodontal disease using digitized images manipulated and annotated on a processor. A digitized radiographic image of a tooth shows locations of a bone boundary and a cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) of the tooth. The digitized radiographic image is marked on the processor with a location on the bone boundary and with a pair of CEJ points at opposite ends of the CEJ visible in the radiograph. A ratio between (a) a distance between the bone boundary location and the adjacent CEJ point as numerator and (b) a distance between the CEJ points as denominator is calculated on the processor and compared with a threshold ratio-value for a corresponding tooth from a database accessible by the processor. A calculated ratio-value which is greater than the database threshold ratio-value is indicative of periodontal disease in the tooth. The probability of the correct diagnostic decision is determined by the relative magnitude of the calculated ratio-value and the threshold ratio-value.

Abstract: A method is performed on a processor for detecting duplication anomalies in a set of patient dental insurance records submitted as part of a dental insurance claim. At least one hash code is generated for at least some of the patient dental insurance record documents. A Hamming Distance is calculated by comparing the hash code(s) of recently submitted patient dental insurance record documents against a database which includes hash codes generated from previous dental insurance claims. Those dental insurance forms are flagged for further human review if the calculated Hamming Distance between the compared hash codes is less than a threshold amount.

Abstract: Teeth are screened for periodontal disease using digitized images manipulated and annotated on a processor. A digitized radiographic image of a tooth shows locations of a bone boundary and a cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) of the tooth. The digitized radiographic image is marked on the processor with a location on the bone boundary and with a pair of CEJ points at opposite ends of the CEJ visible in the radiograph. A ratio between (a) a distance between the bone boundary location and the adjacent CEJ point as numerator and (b) a distance between the CEJ points as denominator is calculated on the processor and compared with a threshold ratio-value for a corresponding tooth from a database accessible by the processor. A calculated ratio-value which is greater than the database threshold ratio-value is indicative of periodontal disease in the tooth. The probability of the correct diagnostic decision is determined by the relative magnitude of the calculated ratio-value and the threshold ratio-value.

Abstract: An automatic choke apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine. The choke apparatus includes a choke valve automatically operable in response to the speed of the engine, a thermally conductive assembly that conducts heat from exhaust gases produced by the engine, a thermally responsive member in thermal communication with the thermally conductive assembly, and a mechanism that moves in response to the thermally responsive member to cause the choke valve to remain in at least a partially open position during engine starting when the thermally responsive member senses a temperature above a predetermined temperature. The thermally conductive assembly at least partially surrounds the path of the exhaust gases.