Abstract: A software program, for use on a computing device such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, is provided to a health care provider (HCP). The software program configures the computing device with means for inputting profile information regarding patients and means for comparing the patient profile information against a database containing information regarding one or more drug studies performed on patients having similar medical histories and/or symptoms. The patient information is compared against the database, and, where appropriate, the healthcare provider is made aware that the patient associated with the patient profile could benefit from being prescribed to take the drug or drugs on which the study is based, and/or at a particular dose indicated by the study.

Abstract: The present invention improves upon tools of the prior art by enabling a user of such a tool to have alerts sent to an electronic “desktop” of multiple devices, such as a computer screen, the display of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or cell phone, pagers and the like. Further, in accordance with the present invention, the user of the tool is solicited to provide information back to the tool. This interactive aspect can take on many forms and can be used for marketing and or and/or medical research, and can also be used to give the user positive reinforcement for compliant behavior; for example, when the user takes the appropriate dosage of a medication at the appropriate time, the tool's graphics could respond by displaying a positive graphic such as a smiling face. Failure to properly follow a medication regimen could result in the display of a negative graphic, such as a said face.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid distribution of information whereby information gathered from an ongoing conference is incorporated into a single, electronic file. The file may be an interpretable data file, or a personal digital assistant (PDA)-executable application file created to include both the information sought to be distributed, and viewer software for displaying the information via a PDA device. The application file may be created from an easily-created document through a GUI-driven software application for gathering information from a user, manipulating data, and interacting with commercially available code development software, which typically requires a high level of user experience or training, to automate the otherwise complex application development process. The application file may include a checksum to prevent distribution and/or display of altered information. The file is distributed at the conference via wireless transmission to attendees' PDA devices via a beaming station.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for employing temporal service level metrics. The system includes a data gathering module operable to collect trouble tickets from service delivery infrastructure components, individual component time records divided into time segments corresponding to specific periods of time, a component calculator module operable to indicate trouble tickets in, the individual component time records, an aggregate time record also divided into time segments corresponding to specific periods of time, and an aggregate calculator module operable to aggregate the component time records into the aggregate time record.

Abstract: A glide head for detecting asperities on a disc surface is provided. The glide head includes a glide slider which includes a glide slider body that has a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a bottom surface therebetween. The bottom surface is centered along a longitudinal axis that extends between the leading and trailing edges. An inside rail is disposed on the bottom surface on a first side of the longitudinal axis extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. An outside rail is disposed on the bottom surface on a second side of the longitudinal axis. The outside rail also extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The inside and outside rails are substantially equidistant from the longitudinal axis at the bottom surface. The outside rail is positioned lower than the inside rail such that a bottom surface of the outside rail extends further from a point on the longitudinal axis on the trailing edge than does a bottom surface of the inside rail.

Abstract: A glide head for detecting asperities on a disc surface is provided. The glide head includes a glide slider which includes a glide slider body that has a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a bottom surface therebetween. The bottom surface is centered along a longitudinal axis that extends between the leading and trailing edges. An inside rail is disposed on the bottom surface on a first side of the longitudinal axis extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. An outside rail is disposed on the bottom surface on a second side of the longitudinal axis. The outside rail also extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The inside and outside rails are substantially equidistant from the longitudinal axis at the bottom surface. The outside rail is positioned lower than the inside rail such that a bottom surface of the outside rail extends further from a point on the longitudinal axis on the trailing edge than does a bottom surface of the inside rail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling highly deviated wells is disclosed. A drilling assembly is attached to a drill string. The drilling assembly includes a bent sub, a pony collar attached to the bent sub, a motor with a bent housing, and a bit. Improved survey collars and bits are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system of apparatus for the controlled directional drilling of a deviated well bore into the earth has a fluid operated drilling motor and drill bit secured on the bottom end of a drill string. The drill bit is supported for angular drilling relative to a substantially vertical well bore by either using a bent sub for supporting the drilling motor or by using a drilling motor with a bent housing or a combination of the two. A bypass tool is connected to the bent sub or motor housing, an orienting sub and mule shoe keying sub are connected to the bypass tool, and a surveying tool is connected in the drill string above the orienting sub and mule shoe sub. The bypass tool is in fluid connection with the motor and has a telescopic housing and a valve for circulating fluid into the bore hole to flush cuttings and debris therefrom. The surveying tool determines and controls the direction of drilling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prediction of the turn rate of a deviated well is disclosed. The turn rate is determined by collecting data for interference, bend length, and rate of turn from a variety of drilled wells. Using regression technique, turning rate is then expressed as a linear function of the ratio of interference to bend length.

Abstract: An orienting and circulating sub is disclosed for connection in an apparatus for angular drilling in the earth. The drilling apparatus comprises a drill string extending into a substantially vertical well bore in the earth supporting a fluid operated motor and drill bit at its lower end. The drill bit is supported for angular drilling by either using a bent sub for supporting the drilling motor or be using a drilling motor with a bent housing. A surveying tool is connected above the motor for determining and controlling the direction of drilling. A mule shoe keying sub is connected to the surveying tool for orienting the position of the motor in relation to said surveying tool. The orienting sub comprises a tubular housing formed in two sections threaded together with one end connected to the surveying tool by the mule shoe keying sub and the other end connected to the bent sub or to the bent motor housing.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus to practice the method, to complete multiple (triple) branch wells using separate drill and casing templates. Principally this invention finds its greatest utility in the in situ leach mining of deep lying ore bodies. Initially, a generally vertical main hole is drilled in the earth and cased. The particular casing used has an internal indexing dog and specific areas which act as windows from which some of the branch wells are to be drilled. To form the individual branch wells, each window is sequentially drilled out by a drilling assembly which is oriented by a movable drilling template. The template is fixed with respect to the casing for each branch drilling by engaging the indexing dog. After each window and branch well is drilled, the drilling assembly and drilling template are retrieved to the surface and repositioned with respect to each other to provide for the next branch drilling.

Abstract: A drilling mud degasser apparatus and system consists of a vacuum degasser tank, system of blowers or compressors for evacuation, and various control features associated therewith. The tank has an upward spiraling helical shelf which becomes progressively wider from bottom to top so that mud is discharged in a thin film into the evacuated interior of the tank. Mud level in the tank is controlled by a pair of float operated valves, one controlling a bottom discharge and the other controlling an overflow valve. A plurality of compressors are connected in parallel for evacuating the tank. One compressor runs continually and the others are turned on in response to tank pressure and off in response to compressor outlet temperature. A safety conduit is positioned in parallel to the compressors and includes a swing check valve which opens in response to a pressure surge in the tank to permit the increased pressure to bypass the compressors.

Abstract: A gas bubble is circulated from a well by a system that maintains the well and bottom hole pressure substantially constant by progressively increasing the casing pressure as needed to maintain the drill pipe pressure substantially constant. An incrementally increasing casing pressure reference signal is produced by detecting each occurrence of the drill pipe pressure falling a predetermined amount below a drill pipe pressure reference signal. The casing pressure reference signal is compared with the actual casing pressure. A throttling valve is closed a corresponding amount if the acutal casing pressure is less than the casing pressure reference signal. The throttling valve is opened a corresponding amount if the actual casing pressure is greater than the casing pressure reference signal.

Abstract: An improved desilter for drilling muds consists of one or more hydrocyclones with certain features providing for better separation of large particles from the mud. Drilling muds used in drilling oil wells and the like give substantially improved performance when the larger particles are removed therefrom and the mud consists of fine particles having a narrow range of particle size.An improved hydrocyclone for removing coarser particles from the drilling mud has overflow and underflow outlets which discharge openly rather than into a collection manifold. The overflow outlet is in the form of a controllable syphon which may be adjusted in syphon length or which may include means to adjust the effective length of the syphon leg. The adjustment of the syphon leg controls the overflow of the thin, more uniform mud and effects a superior separation of the larger particles from the mud.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for removing gas from drilling mud without allowing the gas to escape to the atmosphere before the gas is treated to prevent contamination. The system includes a mud-gas separator vessel with a drilling mud inlet, means for maintaining a minimum mud level in said mud-gas separator vessel, a separator vessel gas outlet, and a separator vessel drilling mud outlet. A degassing means includes a drilling mud inlet located in a position higher than said minimum mud level. Enclosed conduit means connects the separator vessel drilling mud outlet to said degassing means drilling mud inlet.