Abstract: Techniques for increasing the safety of medical device programming using general purpose hardware, such as a general purpose personal computer, are described. Some embodiments include a watchdog module that is serviced by the general purpose hardware, a mediator module that monitors programming instructions from the general purpose hardware, and/or a safe mode input that may be activated by a user. In some embodiments, a system comprises an implantable medical device, an intermediate device, a computing device that communicates with the implantable medical device via the intermediate device. The intermediate device may provide any one or more of the safety measures described above. In some embodiments, the intermediate device is dedicated hardware, and critical programming functions are provided by the intermediate device, rather than the general purpose hardware.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically identifying medical devices, e.g., implantable medical device, using wireless communications in order to communicate with the medical devices are described. For instance, a programming system securely discovers a set of medical devices which have the capacity to communicate using wireless communication links. The programming system may then apply one or more search heuristics to identify a set of discovered medical devices that are likely to be a medical device with which a user desires to interact. When the user selects the desired one of the identified medical devices, the programming system launches a device interaction application associated with the desired medical device. The user may use the device interaction application to interact with the desired medical device.

Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) device comprises at least one PV lamp that includes at least one solar cell chip that generates an electrical current upon exposure to light, and an epoxy lens that encapsulates the solar cell chip, the epoxy lens concentrating incident light onto the solar cell chip. A method of manufacturing a PV device that includes at least one PV lamp comprises fabricating at least one solar cell chip that generates an electrical current upon exposure to light, and forming an epoxy lens that encapsulates the solar cell chip, the epoxy lens concentrating incident light onto the solar cell chip, to thereby form the PV lamp.

Abstract: Tube connectors and tube connector systems are provided. An exemplary system includes a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and radially compressible ring. A tube fits radially inside of the ring and the first and second sleeves. As the first and second sleeves are coupled and brought closer together, inner surfaces of the sleeves exert a radial force onto the ring, causing the ring to radially compress onto the tube.

Abstract: A power tool including a motor, an output member and a transmission disposed between the motor and the output member. The transmission includes a ring gear with opposite axial end faces. The power tool also includes a clutch for limiting an output of the transmission. The clutch includes an annular clutch face disposed about the ring gear. At least a portion of a side of the ring gear is configured such that an included angle between the annular clutch face and the at least a portion of the side of the ring gear is about ninety five degrees to about one hundred fifty degrees.

Abstract: Entertainment content complementary to a musical recording is delivered to a user's computer by means of a computer network link. The user employs a browser to access the computer network. A plug-in for the browser is able to control an audio CD or other device for playing the musical recording. A script stored on the remote computer accessed over the network is downloaded. The script synchronizes the delivery of the complementary entertainment content with the play of the musical recording.

Abstract: Presented in one embodiment is a waist chain comprising a plurality of links; a plurality of coupling members which connect the plurality of links, thereby forming a chain with two ends; and at least one end connection member which is connectable to both ends of the chain such that the chain becomes continuous. The waist chain is positioned tightly around the waist of a person such that as the person's weight increases, the waist chain becomes increasingly tight. Presented in another embodiment is a waist chain comprising a plurality of links; a plurality of coupling members which connect the plurality of links, thereby forming a chain with two ends; at least one end connection member which is connectable to both ends of the chain such that the chain becomes continuous and at least one end link which is connectable to one or both ends of the chain and to the end connection member. The end connection member is a hollow cylinder comprising a side wall.

Abstract: An alcohol-free antibacterial wipe comprising a flexible fabric coated with a polymeric latex binder, and an aqueous antibacterial solution wherein the aqueous antibacterial solution is comprised of an effective amount of a cationic antibacterial agent and sufficient amount of a surfactant.

Abstract: A self-expanding metal wire stent made of shape memory alloy such as nitinol in which a plurality of spaced sections of closed cells are interconnected by straight sections of wire which may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent or may be disposed angularly with respect thereto.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of identifying compounds that inhibit specific tRNA:34A deaminases encoded by yfhC genes, compounds that inhibit such deaminases and methods of using the deaminases in a variety of in vitro and in vivo contexts, such as in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for comparing a plurality of rate plans on a net—net basis comprising a computer having a database, the database comprising rate plan characteristics for a plurality of rate plans; an input terminal operatively connected to the computer for entering data; a comparison program executing within the computer for comparing rate plans using the entered data; and an output terminal operatively connected to the computer for reporting the results of the comparison program is used to allow consumers to obtain true net cost comparisons of from a plurality of service plans from one or more service providers. Data are obtained from historical data or theorized and then normalized into appropriate per-second, per-block, or other categories for comparison for each of a set of categories describing the rate plans.

Abstract: A prosthesis delivery system having a balloon catheter with an inflatable balloon on its exterior. The balloon is inflatable by injection of fluid through a lumen in the catheter and the balloon is initially partially constrained against inflation by a constraint. A tubular prosthesis is disposed on the catheter over at least a portion of the balloon and a portion of the constraint. The tubular prosthesis has a contracted condition and an expanded condition. The tubular prosthesis is initially disposed on the catheter in the contracted condition. Further, a balloon catheter includes a constraint so that the balloon may be sequentially inflated for dilatation purposes such as in a valvuloplasty operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hierarchically restructuring at least a portion of a hierarchical database based on selected attributes. In one embodiment, a virtual cell (140) may use a virtual cell mapping function (130) to create a hierarchical netlist. Some embodiments may programmatically create a corresponding generated template to include in the netlist for each virtual cell. Some embodiments may generate multiple templates from the same cell. Some embodiments may generate multiple instances of different templates from the same instance in the database. One application of the present invention is for use in circuit simulation.