Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing the heart's mitral valve by using anatomic restoration without the need to stop the heart, use a heart-lung machine or making incisions on the heart. The method involves inserting a leaflet clamp through the heart's papillary muscle from which the leaflet has been disconnected, clamping the leaflet's free end and then puncturing the leaflet. One end of a suture is then passed through the hollow portion of the clamp, while the other end of the suture is maintained external to the heart. The clamp is then removed and the suture's two ends are fastened together with a securement ring/locking cap assembly to the heart wall exterior, thereby reconnecting the leaflet to the corresponding papillary muscle. The introduction of the clamp, puncturing of the leaflet, passage of the suture therethrough and removal of the clamp can be conducted a plurality of times before each suture's two ends are fastened to the securement ring/locking cap assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to materials used as electrodes and/or catalysts, as well as methods associated with the same. The materials may comprise an alloy or intermetallic compound of a transition metal (e.g., Ni) and a metal additive (e.g., Sn). The transition metal and additive are selected to provide improved electrode and/or catalytic performance. For example, the materials of the invention may have a high catalytic activity, while being less susceptible to coking than certain conventional electrode/catalytic materials. These performance advantages can simplify the equipment used in certain applications, as well as reducing energy and capital requirements. Furthermore, the materials may be manufactured using traditional ceramic processing methods, without the need for complex, unconventional fabrication techniques. The materials are particularly suitable for use in fuel cells (e.g., SOFCs electrodes) and in reactions that use or produce synthesis gas.

Abstract: A game play device supports a video display and processor control unit together with a plurality of user inputs. The control unit operates and plays a lotto type game having six cards arranged in pairs each of which defines a three-by-five number matrix. A plurality of ball spaces are positioned across the upper display and correspond to the numbered balls selected in game play. A second plurality of ball spaces corresponding to the colored and letter bearing balls of the game play are also positioned upon the display. During game play, a random number generator provides three-by-five number sets for each card and selects a random group of numbers from a number pool. The game play also selects a random number of colored letter bearing balls to be inserted during game play. Thereafter, numbered balls and letter bearing colored balls are presented and fill the spaces within the display. As each numbered ball is presented, the corresponding numbers on any of the three-by-five cards is illuminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cashless gaming wherein a player can access credits via a pin activated keypad located on the gaming machine. Real-time accounting allows the player to redeem credits and secure perquisites as a function of patronage.

Abstract: A lottery kiosk includes a stand alone cabinet supporting a display, a plurality of user input buttons, a magnetic card reader, a ticket reader, and a ticket printer. In addition, the stand alone cabinet supports a controller having a microprocessor based control circuit therein. The software within the microprocessor controller contains the appropriate instruction set for facilitating the selection and purchase of lottery tickets. In addition, the controller further includes a game enhancement which is integrated with the lottery ticket purchase system to provide additional entertainment and amusement together with the potential of winning additional credits and lottery tickets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing game design and development upon multiple gaming systems includes an authoring system in which a set of authoring tools and game components are provided to an authoring computer. The authoring computer operates under the control of a game designer to produce a set of game design files which define a game to be played upon a gaming device such as a slot machine. A collector transforms the game design files into ordered game data files which may then be transferred to a host gaming device. A game data player and interface are provided within the host gaming device. The game data player in response to the game data files provides a sequence of interpretive instruction commands which are communicated to and which interpretive sequence the game play of the host game play device.

Abstract: An electrophotographic element comprises: an electrically conducting layer, a charge generating layer overlying the electrically conducting layer, and a charge transport layer overlying the electrically conducting layer. The charge transport layer, which can be an overcoat overlying the charge generating layer, comprises the reaction product in an aqueous medium of a mixture comprising a silsesquioxane polymer and a hole transport compound that comprises a tertiary arylamine containing at least one alcoholic or one phenolic hydroxy substituent.

Abstract: This invention relates to synthetic polynucleotides which encode lysyl oxidase, lysyl oxidase like molecules or variants of these species. The synthetic polynucleotides of the invention permit the expression of functional lysyl oxidase, lysyl oxidase like molecules or variants of these species, typically in good yield. The invention also relates to recombinant DNA molecules containing these, synthetic polynucleotides, to cells containing them and to uses of the expression products.

Abstract: Recombinant tropoelastins and variants of recombinant tropoelastins produced from synthetic polynucleotides, as well as the synthetic polynucleotides themselves are provided. Also provided are cross-linked elastins or elastin-like products prepared from the tropoelastins or variants.

Abstract: An x-ray detector, detection assembly, and method of using the detector and detection assembly. The detector is used with an x-ray source and has a converter including a mass of prompt emitting radiographic phosphor particles and a photoconductive binder. The mass of particles is dispersed and embedded in the binder. The phosphor absorbs x-rays emitted by the source and emits longer wavelength actinic radiation responsive to the x-rays. The photoconductive binder absorbs the actinic radiation and produces electron-hole pairs responsive to the actinic radiation.

Abstract: Glassy solid electrolytes and charge transporting elements including antistatic elements and charge generating elements. The charge generating element has an electrically conductive layer, a charge generating layer overlying the electrically conductive layer, and a layer of glassy solid electrolyte overlying the electrically conductive layer. The glassy solid electrolyte includes a complex of silsesquioxane and a charge carrier. The complex has a surface resistivity from about 1.times.10.sup.10 to about 1.times.10.sup.17 ohms/sq. The complex has a T.sup.2 -silicon:T.sup.3 -silicon ratio of less than 1 to 1. The complex has a ratio of carbon atoms to silicon atoms of greater than about 1.2 to 1.

Abstract: Glassy solid electrolytes and charge transporting elements including antistatic elements and charge generating elements. The charge generating element has an electrically conductive layer, a charge generating layer overlying the electrically conductive layer, and a layer of glassy solid electrolyte overlying the electrically conductive layer. The glassy solid electrolyte includes a complex of silsesquioxane and a charge carrier. The complex has a surface resistivity from about 1.times.10.sup.10 to about 1.times.10.sup.17 ohms/sq. The complex has a T.sup.2 -silicon:T.sup.3 -silicon ratio of less than 1 to 1. The complex has a ratio of carbon atoms to silicon atoms of greater than about 1.2 to 1.

Abstract: A charge generating element having an electrically conductive layer, a charge generating layer overlying the electrically conductive layer, and an overcoat overlying the charge generating layer. The overcoat includes dye and a complex of inorganic oxide polymer and a charge carrier. The overcoat has a surface resistivity of from about 1.times.10.sup.10 to about 1.times.10.sup.17 ohms/sq.

Abstract: A TVRO earth station having a satellite seeking system comprising at least one controllable motor for adjusting the position of an antenna for receiving signals from a satellite having multiple transponders transmitting signals at prescribed nominal center frequencies and with different polarizations, control means for energizing the motor to move said antenna along a predetermined satellite-searching path, a receiver for receiving the incoming signals from the antenna and successively tuning to the center frequencies at each of a succession of intervals along the searching path, means responsive to the signals detected by the receiver for producing a signal or value representing the quality of the detected signals at each of the successive intervals along the searching path, and means responsive to the quality-representing signal or value for identifying the locations along the searching path at which the antenna receives signals from a satellite.

Abstract: In a TVRO earth station having an antenna for receiving incoming satellite signals and polarizing means associated with the antenna for adjusting the relative alignment of the antenna orientation and the polarization of the incoming signals, an automatic polarization control system comprising means for producing an electrical control signal for controlling the polarizing means to adjust the relative alignment, means for detecting the noise level in the satellite signals received by the antenna, and means responsive to the detected noise level for adjusting the control signal, and thereby adjusting the polarizing means, to minimize the detected noise level.

Abstract: A digitally temperature compensated oscillator (TCO) system is provided which is capable of ascertaining and memorizing in an EEPROM-based look-up table, appropriate digital values of a temperature-compensating tuning voltage to the TCO during calibration. An on-board temperature sensing mechanism tracks variations in temperature in the TCO and produces an analog voltage value corresponding to the instantaneous temperature. The voltage value of the sensor output is digitized and designated to constitute an address into the EEPROM based look-up table. As the temperature changes, the digitized output of the temperature sensor and hence the address to the EEPROM changes accordingly.

Abstract: An improved system is provided for accurately referencing the revolving motion of electric motors used as positioning devices, and is particularly applicable to the automatic positioning and repositioning of ground station antennas in the reception of satellite TV signals.The system utilizes the action of the positioning motor itself as a reference and involves the extraction and counting of variations in the form of pulses produced in the current within the motor as a result of pulses generated, during motor operation, by the commutation process. A low impedance source senses the motor current pulses and feeds them to an active lowpass filter which suppresses any high frequency noise produced during motor commutation. Peak following circuitry, including separate positive and negative peak detectors, detects and follows the positive and negative peaks of the motor current pulses and produces a pulsating output waveform which is proportional to the number of motor current pulses detected by the peak detectors.