Abstract: There is provided an electrical switch comprising a length of superconducting material. In some forms the electrical switch is configured to be controlled between a low-resistance state and a higher-resistance state by the selective application of one or more switching mechanisms. In the higher-resistance state, current flowing through the length of superconducting material may approach the critical current of the length of superconducting material, may be substantially equal to the critical current or may be greater than the critical current. In some forms, the length of superconducting material is a length of high temperature superconducting material.

Abstract: A clot removal system comprises a catheter, a vacuum source, and a controller. The catheter comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and controller operating parameters and defines a lumen configured to be filled with a liquid column having a proximal portion. The vacuum source is configured to supply vacuum. The controller is configured to carry out a control pattern of turning on and off the vacuum based upon the controller operating parameters and is configured to receive the controller operating parameters in an automatic response to the catheter being operatively connected to at least one of the vacuum source and the controller and, responsive to the connection, to carry out the control pattern to change a level of vacuum at the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to, in a first aspect a handheld modular spectrometer comprising at least a light source, a detector, a sampling means and a processing unit, wherein at least the processing unit is within a spectrometer body that further comprises a connection node, at least the sampling means is within a spectrometer head module that attaches to the spectrometer body, the spectrometer head module further comprises a node interfacing means that interfaces with the connection node upon attachment of the spectrometer head module to the spectrometer body, and the attached spectrometer head module is able to be detached from the spectrometer body, enabling attachment of an alternate spectrometer head module also having a sampling means and node interfacing means, so as to alter at least one functional property of the handheld modular spectrometer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to facilitate recycling of at least one fraction of bitumen-containing materials. This can be accomplished by dissolving the at least one fraction, for example, maltenes or asphaltenes in roofing shingles, into at least one solvent. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a dissolution vessel, a tumbler positioned therein, and at least one solvent distributor. The tumbler is configured to facilitate wetting the bitumen-containing materials with solvent. In a second aspect, a system comprises the apparatus, a solid-liquid separator, for example, a vibratory screen, and at least one solvent-fraction separator, for example, a flash drum. The at least one solvent can comprise one or more solvents useful to extract the at least one fraction. In a third aspect, a first fraction is extracted from the bitumen-containing materials with a first solvent composition, then a second fraction is extracted from the remaining bitumen-containing materials with a second solvent composition.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate to monitoring changes in conditions of multiple individuals in areas. In some embodiments, a patient monitoring queue may be established (504) that includes a plurality of patients in an area (104, 304) such as a waiting room. The area may be capturable by vital sign acquisition camera(s) (276. 376, 476) mounted in or near the area. Updated vital sign(s) may be unobtrusively acquired (510) by the vital sign acquisition camera(s) from a given patient selected (506) from the patient monitoring queue. Based on the updated vital sign(s) and prior vital signs acquired previously from the given patient, deterioration of the given patient may be detected (512). Output may be provided (514) alerting medical personnel of the deterioration of the given patient.

Abstract: Head-mounted augmented reality (AR) devices can track pose of a wearer's head to provide a three-dimensional virtual representation of objects in the wearer's environment. An electromagnetic (EM) tracking system can track head or body pose. A handheld user input device can include an EM emitter that generates an EM field, and the head-mounted AR device can include an EM sensor that senses the EM field. EM information from the sensor can be analyzed to determine location and/or orientation of the sensor and thereby the wearer's pose. The EM emitter and sensor may utilize time division multiplexing (TDM) or dynamic frequency tuning to operate at multiple frequencies. Voltage gain control may be implemented in the transmitter, rather than the sensor, allowing smaller and lighter weight sensor designs. The EM sensor can implement noise cancellation to reduce the level of EM interference generated by nearby audio speakers.

Abstract: Head-mounted augmented reality (AR) devices can track pose of a wearer's head to provide a three-dimensional virtual representation of objects in the wearer's environment. An electromagnetic (EM) tracking system can track head or body pose. A handheld user input device can include an EM emitter that generates an EM field, and the head-mounted AR device can include an EM sensor that senses the EM field. EM information from the sensor can be analyzed to determine location and/or orientation of the sensor and thereby the wearer's pose. The EM emitter and sensor may utilize time division multiplexing (TDM) or dynamic frequency tuning to operate at multiple frequencies. Voltage gain control may be implemented in the transmitter, rather than the sensor, allowing smaller and lighter weight sensor designs. The EM sensor can implement noise cancellation to reduce the level of EM interference generated by nearby audio speakers.

Abstract: A weatherproof solar illuminator and method for use with a carved cucurbit having an external housing with integral cucurbit flesh auger, power source, solar-activated charging panel, light emitting diode (LED) and clear lens at the end of the flesh auger to illuminate the cucurbit. The weatherproof solar illuminator is inserted and screwed down flush to the exterior surface of the cucurbit. The illuminating end of the weatherproof solar illuminator protrudes into the cavity of the carved cucurbit to illuminate the inside of the cucurbit. The flesh auger holds the weatherproof solar illuminator secure and flush to the exterior surface of the cucurbit. A concaved/curved bottom of the housing weatherproofs the opening of the cucurbit into which the apparatus is inserted.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to facilitate recycling of at least one fraction of bitumen-containing materials. This can be accomplished by dissolving the at least one fraction, for example, maltenes or asphaltenes in roofing shingles, into at least one solvent. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a dissolution vessel, a tumbler positioned therein, and at least one solvent distributor. The tumbler is configured to facilitate wetting the bitumen-containing materials with solvent. In a second aspect, a system comprises the apparatus, a solid-liquid separator, for example, a vibratory screen, and at least one solvent-fraction separator, for example, a flash drum. The at least one solvent can comprise one or more solvents useful to extract the at least one fraction. In a third aspect, a first fraction is extracted from the bitumen-containing materials with a first solvent composition, then a second fraction is extracted from the remaining bitumen-containing materials with a second solvent composition.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for transforming clinical guideline documents into computer interpretable guidelines (“CIGs”). One embodiment refers to a method comprising prompting a user, via a graphical user interface (“GUI”), for a plurality of clinical guideline entry steps, receiving, via the GUI, clinical guideline data, prompting the user, via the GUI, for a plurality of formal expression entry steps related to the clinical guideline data, receiving, via the GUI, a formal representation of the clinical guideline data and mapping the formal representation of the clinical data to a CIG.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spectrometer for detecting multiple spectra, the spectrometer comprising a light source, a sample tray, a detector adapted to detect Raman spectra and at least one of absorbance spectra or reflectance spectra, an incident light path extending from the light source to the sample tray, and a sample light path extending from the sample tray to the detector, wherein in use, the incident light path directs incident light from the light source to a sample in the sample tray, whereupon it interacts with the sample to form a characteristic signal, the sample light path directs sample light comprising the characteristic signal from the sample to the detector, and the characteristic signal comprises at least one of a Raman spectrum, an absorbance spectrum and a reflectance spectrum that is characteristic of the sample in the sample tray.