Abstract: The invention provides for vaso-occlusive coils comprising fibers.

Abstract: The vacuum orthotic device includes the use of an inner sleeve, a single or multi-piece shell, and an outer sleeve. The shell is positioned between the sleeves and typically includes a fabric liner or other porous material to act as a wick. A valve is provided in the outer sleeve for drawing air from between the inner and outer sleeves, i.e. to create a vacuum. The sleeves overlap and sealingly contact each other at the proximal and distal ends of the orthotic device. A disconnectable hand-pump or otherwise actuated pump may be used to connect to the valve and draw the vacuum between the sleeves. The device effectively prevents the loss of firm contact between the treatment site and the device.

Abstract: The vacuum orthopedic brace and method include the use of an inner sleeve or liner, first and second cuffs, and a hinge connecting the cuffs. The cuffs includes a fabric liner or other porous material to act as a wick, and a gasket surrounding the wick material. A valve is preferably provided in the cuff for drawing air from between the cuff and the liner, i.e. to create a vacuum. Furthermore, an external, internal or integrated chamber or rigid reservoir is preferably included, and in communication with the wick filled area between the cuff and liner, to hold a vacuum.

Abstract: A media game that employs a method for randomly shuffling through a large set of video and/or audio clips stored on readable media using a media player, such as a DVD player, is disclosed. In addition to the readable media, the game also includes a game board, moveable play pieces, trivia question cards, random name cards, a numbered die, and a challenge die. The game board can be converted from long play to short play by lifting the endmost sections of the game board and placing them next to each other on top of intermediate sections of the game board. A path circumnavigates the game board and appears to be continuous in both long and short play modes. The begin and end regions reside at least partially on the endmost sections and appear as unbroken shapes when configured for both long and short play.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blood oxygenation are provided. The apparatus includes a chamber having a first inlet to receive a fluid, e.g., physiologic saline; a second inlet to receive a gas, e.g., oxygen, from a gas supply; and an outlet coupled to a capillary assembly. An atomizer nozzle coupled to the first inlet creates within the chamber fine droplets of fluid into which the gas diffuses to create a gas-supersaturated fluid, which is removed via the outlet. The removed gas-supersaturated fluid mixes with blood within a liquid-to-liquid oxygenation assembly to form oxygenated blood for delivery to a patient. Alternately, the blood may be provided by a pump to a high pressure hollow fiber or other type membrane oxygenator within which oxygen diffuses across the membrane(s) and into the blood to form oxygenated blood, again for delivery to a patient or other site.

Abstract: This invention is directed to compositions for embolizing vascular sites. The compositions described herein comprise fumed silica as a rheological modifier. The fumed silica imparts high viscosity to the compositions under static conditions but allows the compositions to flow readily under shear conditions. This invention is also directed to methods for treatment of aneurysms, arteriovenous fistulae, arteriovenous malformations, tumors, and other vascular diseases using the compositions described herein. Other uses are disclosed as well. Kits of parts including those compositions and devices which can deliver these composition are also described.

Abstract: The invention is a system, device and method that captures wind energy and converts it into mechanical or electrical energy. In a system embodiment, the system transfers wind power to rotational energy. The system includes a wind capture means that uses wind to generate a mechanical force, an energy coupling means for transferring the mechanical force to a horizontally mountable wheel having a shaft coupled thereto, and an energy transfer system that couples the mechanical force from the shaft to a machine. In a device embodiment, a wheel capable of receiving wind power is provided. The wheel includes an airfoil support having a center portion, a stop location, and an airfoil location, and an airfoil is coupled to the airfoil support at the airfoil location. A method of driving the wheel uses a mounted airfoil to capture wind energy in an airflow, where the airfoil is mounted to a horizontally mountable wheel.

Abstract: A log-peeling machine for removing bark from logs to simulate hand peeled logs. A log is held in position on a pair of movable log support frames, each having multiple adjustable log support and drive roller assemblies. An independent high-speed cutting head is movable along the length of the log removing bark in longitudinal strips by adjustably following the log surface which is raised and lowered and rotated for engagement with the cutting head.

Abstract: The invention is a system, device and method that captures wind energy and converts it into mechanical or electrical energy. In a system embodiment, the system transfers wind power to rotational energy. The system includes a wind capture means that uses wind to generate a mechanical force, an energy coupling means for transferring the mechanical force to a horizontally mountable wheel having a shaft coupled thereto, and an energy transfer system that couples the mechanical force from the shaft to a machine. In a device embodiment, a wheel capable of receiving wind power is provided. The wheel includes an airfoil support having a center portion, a stop location, and an airfoil location, and an airfoil is coupled to the airfoil support at the airfoil location. A method of driving the wheel uses a mounted airfoil to capture wind energy in an airflow, where the airfoil is mounted to a horizontally mountable wheel.

Abstract: A simple and inexpensive container is constructed to dispense the contents of the container in predetermined, controlled amounts. Preferably, the container includes a reservoir that is adapted to hold a predetermined amount of material. The reservoir includes an opening through which the predetermined amount of material enters the reservoir. A flow tube is connected with the reservoir and communicates with a pour spout through which the material being dispensed exits the container. When the container is positioned upright, the predetermined amount of material fills the reservoir. When the container is turned upside down to dispense material from the container, only the material in the reservoir is able to flow into the flow tube and be dispensed from the container through the pour spout. The container is preferably formed from a two-dimensional blank, which is folded and secured to form the container. A method of forming the two-dimensional blank into the container is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved hybrid flow control protocol for providing FIFO capacity to prevent overflow due to bytes arriving after the FIFO indicates it is not ready to receive any more bytes utilizes a combination of a high/low watermark and credit based system. In one embodiment, when the byte count exceed the high watermark fixed credits are sent when N bytes are pulled from the FIFO. In a second embodiment, variable credits are sent depending on the difference between the number of bytes received in and pulled from the FIFO.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system includes a number of sub-processor systems, each substantially identically constructed, and each comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and at least one I/O device, interconnected by routing apparatus that also interconnects the sub-processor systems. A CPU of any one of the sub-processor systems may communicate, through the routing elements, with any I/O device of the system, or with any CPU of the system. Communications between I/O devices and CPUs is by packetized messages. Interrupts from I/O devices are communicated from the I/O devices to the CPUs (or from one CPU to another CPU) as message packets. CPUs and I/O devices may write to, or read from, memory of a CPU of the system. Memory protection is provided by an access validation method maintained by each CPU in which CPUs and/or I/O devices are provided with a validation to read/write memory of that CPU, without which memory access is denied.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system includes a number of sub-processor systems, each substantially identically constructed, and each comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and at least one I/O device, interconnected by routing apparatus that also interconnects the sub-processor systems. A CPU of any one of the sub-processor systems may communicate, through the routing elements, with any I/O device of the system, or with any CPU of the system.Communications between I/O devices and CPUs is by packetized messages. Interrupts from I/O devices are communicated from the I/O devices to the CPUs (or from one CPU to another CPU) as message packets.CPUs and I/O devices may write to, or read from, memory of a CPU of the system. Memory protection is provided by an access validation method maintained by each CPU in which CPUs and/or I/O devices are provided with a validation to read/write memory of that CPU, without which memory access is denied.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system includes a number of sub-processor systems, each substantially identically constructed, and each comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and at least one I/O device, interconnected by routing apparatus that also interconnects the sub-processor systems. A CPU of any one of the sub-processor systems may communicate, through the routing elements, with any I/O device of the system, or with any CPU of the system. Communications between I/O devices and CPUs is by packetized messages. Interrupts from I/O devices are communicated from the I/O devices to the CPUs (or from one CPU to another CPU) as message packets. CPUs and I/O devices may write to, or read from, memory of a CPU of the system. Memory protection is provided by an access validation method maintained by each CPU in which CPUs and/or I/O devices are provided with a validation to read/write memory of that CPU, without which memory access is denied.

Abstract: A method of asynchronously accessing a random access memory having a plurality of rows and columns, where each row has a wordline connected to read and write row decoders and each column is connected to bitlines. A row address is assigned to a first and second row, i.e. a pair of rows. A read address is provided to the read row decoder and a write address is provided to the write row decoder. The read and write addresses are decoded by the read and write row decoders, respectively, and one of the first or second rows is selected for reading. Asynchronous with selecting one of the first or second rows for reading, one of the first or second rows is selected for writing. Data is then read from the row selected for reading and asynchronously data is written into the row selected for writing. Signals are provided which coordinate the reading and writing of data, where in the event reading or writing is being performed, another of the reading or writing is deferred until completion of the first reading or writing.

Abstract: A security interface device, such as a keypad, includes a proximity detector sensing a human approach and operating a light source to enhance illumination of the device in response to such approach. A timing device switches the illumination source off after the expiration of a predetermined time period and the proximity detector switches said illumination source on, or enhances the illumination, in response to the detection of movement in the vicinity of the pad. The proximity detector has a short range, and the range preferably does not intercept the floor or ceiling, to reduce triggering by pets, fans, ceiling lights and other non-human sources.

Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in select stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stages to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystems circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system includes a number of central processing unit (CPUs) and at least one input/output (I/O) device interconnected by routing apparatus for communicating packetized messages therebetween. The messages contain address information identifying the source and destination of the message, and may also contain requests to write to, or read from, storage of a CPU. Protection against errant reads or writes is provided by an access validation method that utilizes access validation information contained in plural entries maintained by each CPU. Each entry provides validation by identifying what elements of the system has read and/or write wccss to the memory of that CPU, without which memory access is denied.

Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.

Abstract: A RAM implementation of asynchronous swing buffering is provided in which two buffers are operated asynchronously; one is written while the other is read. Accordingly, this allows for a data stream having a fast rate of through-put to be resynchronized to another rate, while still maintaining a desired rate. In the invention, the write control and read control both have state indicators for communicating which buffer they are using and whether the controls are waiting for access or are, in fact, accessing that buffer.