Abstract: A shaft assembly for use in a temperature-controlled K-mixer is provided, along with the mixer including the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes an inner hollow shaft defining an inner passage, and an outer hollow shaft coaxially surrounding the inner hollow shaft. An outer passage extends between the inner and outer hollow shafts. The shaft also includes a plurality of blades extending from the outer hollow shaft, for mixing the material. Each of the blades is provided with channels. The inner passage, the channels and the outer passage form a continuous flow path allowing a pressurized fluid to circulate within inner and outer hollow shafts and the blades, for controlling temperature of the shafts and the blades. The channels allow a flow of the fluid in the blades in an opposite direction of a rotational direction of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: It has been discovered that compositions comprising magnetically heatable entities (MHEs), therapeutic agents and optional carriers such as hydrogels can be piloted from an injection point in a blood vessel to a specific location of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using for example, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device for propelling, steering and tracking of MHEs. Once the MHEs have reached their target location at or near the desired blood vessel of the BBB, an alternating magnetic field causes the MHEs to controllably heat up, thereby reversibly increasing the permeability of the BBB and allowing the therapeutic (or cytotoxic) agent to enter brain tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a MR tracking method and device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnetic resonance tracking method and device, using a magnetic-susceptible object. A magnetic iso-surface induced by the object is selectively excited with a corresponding frequency offset; the magnetic iso-surface is then projected on three axes of a k-space, from which projections the spatial position of the object is calculated.

Abstract: There are disclosed a regenerated rubber, a method and apparatus for obtaining regenerated rubbers from vulcanized crumb rubber, such as rubber from scrap. The apparatus is a thermokinetic mixer having the particularity to have an air tight stationary chamber with inner non-uniform surface. The method comprises the steps of raising the speed of the rotor shaft in order to increase a temperature of a mixture made of vulcanized crumb rubber and a lubricant, such as oil, until a devulcanizing temperature is reached; and reducing the temperature of the mixture to a lower temperature during a second period of time. The method of the invention is environmentally friendly or “green”, since the regeneration method does not use chemicals, includes a shorter period of treatment at higher temperature avoiding the risks of rubber cracking and spontaneous combustion, and further allowing mass-production of regenerated rubber with lower energy consumption.

Abstract: There are disclosed a regenerated rubber, a method and apparatus for obtaining regenerated rubbers from vulcanized crumb rubber, such as rubber from scrap. The apparatus is a thermokinetic mixer having the particularity to have an air tight stationary chamber with inner non-uniform surface. The method comprises the steps of raising the speed of the rotor shaft in order to increase a temperature of a mixture made of vulcanized crumb rubber and a lubricant, such as oil, until a devulcanizing temperature is reached; and reducing the temperature of the mixture to a lower temperature during a second period of time. The method of the invention is environmentally friendly or “green”, since the regeneration method does not use chemicals, includes a shorter period of treatment at higher temperature avoiding the risks of rubber cracking and spontaneous combustion, and further allowing mass-production of regenerated rubber with lower energy consumption.

Abstract: There are disclosed a regenerated rubber, a method and apparatus for obtaining regenerated rubbers from vulcanized crumb rubber, such as rubber from scrap. The apparatus is a thermokinetic mixer having the particularity to have an air tight stationary chamber with inner non-uniform surface. The method comprises the steps of raising the speed of the rotor shaft in order to increase a temperature of a mixture made of vulcanized crumb rubber and a lubricant, such as oil, until a devulcanizing temperature is reached; and reducing the temperature of the mixture to a lower temperature during a second period of time. The method of the invention is environmentally friendly or “green”, since the regeneration method does not use chemicals, includes a shorter period of treatment at higher temperature avoiding the risks of rubber cracking and spontaneous combustion, and further allowing mass-production of regenerated rubber with lower energy consumption.

Abstract: There is described a self-powered lock system for a movable member coupled to a lock mechanism having a first state in which the movable member is locked and a second state in which the movable member is unlocked. The system comprises an electrical energy storage device having an electrical charge stored therein, a control unit for controlling the lock mechanism, a trigger unit for triggering an unlocking of the lock mechanism, and a passive detection unit for detecting an activation of the trigger unit. Upon detection of the activation, a conductive path is provided between the control unit and the storage device for powering the control unit with the charge stored in the storage device. The lock mechanism is in turn unlocked by the control unit. A generator coupled to the storage device may then generate electrical energy and store the generated energy in the storage device for future use.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imager (MRI) controllably propels at least one magnetic field responsive body within a subject. The MRI comprises a bore magnet producing an intense magnetic field sufficient to magnetically saturate the magnetic field responsive body. A magnetic field gradient generator is configured to apply variable magnetic gradients to at least a portion of the subject containing the magnetically-saturated body. A controller instructs the magnetic field gradient generator to acquire image data of the magnetically-saturated body within the subject and to apply a calculated magnetic gradient that will propel the magnetically-saturated body towards a target location in the subject. A tracking unit of the MRI provides position feedback information of the magnetically-saturated body within the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a MR tracking method and device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnetic resonance tracking method and device, using a magnetic-susceptible object. A magnetic iso-surface induced by the object is selectively excited with a corresponding frequency offset; the magnetic iso-surface is then projected on three axes of a k-space, from which projections the spatial position of the object is calculated.

Abstract: A brain implant system consistent with embodiments of the present invention includes an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes for sensing neuron signals. A method for manufacturing the electrode array includes machining a piece of an electrically conductive substance to create a plurality of electrodes extending from a base member. Each electrode also has a corresponding base section. A nonconductive layer is provided around at least a portion of the base section of each electrode to support the plurality of electrodes. The base section of the electrodes are then cut to separate the base member from the plurality of electrodes supported by the nonconductive support layer. The present invention also includes a complete brain implant system using the above electrode array.

Abstract: A brain implant system consistent with embodiments of the present invention includes an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes for sensing neuron signals. A method for manufacturing the electrode array includes machining a piece of an electrically conductive substance to create a plurality of electrodes extending from a base member. Each electrode also has a corresponding base section. A nonconductive layer is provided around at least a portion of the base section of each electrode to support the plurality of electrodes. The base section of the electrodes are then cut to separate the base member from the plurality of electrodes supported by the nonconductive support layer. The present invention also includes a complete brain implant system using the above electrode array.

Abstract: Moving components with dimensions much smaller than what micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology can accomplish in terms of force generated and power efficiency, are integrated onto micro-systems. These moving components referred to herein as “bio-components” are special bacteria (magnetotactic bacteria) where the motion of these bio-components can be controlled by generating an “artificial pole” by a magnetic field generated by a constant electrical current that can be varied to change the location of the “artificial pole” from an electrical system such as an embedded electronic micro-circuit. According to the present invention, it is possible through a software program or codes, to control the direction of motion of these magnetotactic bacteria, for example, by downloading such program onto the embedded electronics (controller or the like), and to generate the required magnetic field to control such bacteria to accomplish a particular task.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for propelling and controlling displacement of a microrobot through a patient's blood vessel. The microrobot is formed with a body containing field-of-force responsive material wherein, in response to a field of force, the material undergoes a force in the direction of a gradient of the field of force. The microrobot is positioned in a blood vessel for displacement through the blood vessel, and a field of force with a given gradient is generated and applied to the microrobot in view of propelling the microrobot through the blood vessel in the direction of the gradient of the field of force. A direction and amplitude of the gradient of the field of force is calculated to thereby control displacement of the microrobot through the patient's blood vessel.

Abstract: A brain implant system consistent with embodiments of the present invention includes an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes for sensing neuron signals. A method for manufacturing the electrode array includes machining a piece of an electrically conductive substance to create a plurality of electrodes extending from a base member. Each electrode also has a corresponding base section. A nonconductive layer is provided around at least a portion of the base section of each electrode to support the plurality of electrodes. The base section of the electrodes are then cut to separate the base member from the plurality of electrodes supported by the nonconductive support layer. The present invention also includes a complete brain implant system using the above electrode array.

Abstract: A dynanically reconfigurable hardware system for real-time control of ,an external device. Configuration of a dynamically reconfigurable logic module is provided on the basis of a hardware configuration established in a local configuration memory by a configuration signal received over a data bus from a host processor, thereby enabling an external device to be controlled in real-time independently of the host processor.