Abstract: A graft caliper provides for a first member having a first pick at its distal end and its proximal end attached to a handle. A second member of the graft caliper is disposed above the first member and has a second pick at its distal end that extends beyond the first pick. The proximal end of the second member is attached to an adjuster which causes the second member to move from a first position to a second position in order to change a distance the second pick extends beyond the first pick. The graft caliper provides for an indication of at least one metric for describing the distance the second pick extends beyond the first pick and places an identifier on a surface of bone representing the location of a tunnel to be formed through a femur, tibia or any other anatomical structure.

Abstract: A glass-coated gasket comprises a gasket main body defining an inner hole and having a first contact surface and a second contact surface opposite the first contact surface, and a glass layer formed over at least a portion of one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface. The glass layer comprises a low melting temperature glass. A hermetic package comprises a substrate/glass-coated gasket/substrate structure that can be sealed using a thermo-compressive sealing step.

Abstract: A bathing apparatus includes an in-line mixing unit and a hand operated injecting unit. The mixing unit is coupled between a water supply pipe and a water dispensing device, such as a showerhead and is in fluid communication with the hand operated injection unit. The injection unit, upon user demand, draws a controllable predetermined quantity of bathing fluid from a standard off the shelf purchased bottle of bathing fluid, such as a bottle of bath oil, and then ejects, upon user demand and in a hands free operation, the drawn bathing fluid, at a user selected flow rate. The ejected bathing fluid passes to the mixing unit which causes the ejected bathing fluid to be mixed within a stream of water being delivered to the water dispensing device.

Abstract: An optical article comprising a plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on a surface of the optical article; a removable electrical device disposed on the surface of the optical article; wherein the electrical device is operatively coupled to the optical article; and wherein the electrical device is configured to interact with an activation signal when brought in direct contact with a communication device that applies the activation signal to the electrical device. A removable electrical device is also provided. A system and a method for activation are also provided.

Abstract: Active directional couplers are provided. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the subject active directional couplers are tunable. The tuning is accomplished via varactors connected to the lines of the active directional couplers. Active directional elements are provided between different lines of the subject active directional couplers to control a signal path between ports of the different lines. The active directional elements are selected from diodes, transistors, inverting amplifiers, non-inverting amplifiers, differential amplifiers, and active baluns. The lines include a phase shift element between the two ports of each line. The phase shift element is selected from a transmission line, a delay line, and a phase shifter. Advantageously, the subject lines do not have to be designed for ideal phase shifting and can be designed at near 90° or near ?/4 values.

Abstract: The disclosed technology describes compositions and methods useful for providing cell based therapy. For example, one embodiment of cell based therapy involves the regeneration of injured tissue and/or promoting wound healing. Certain embodiments provide improved therapeutic compositions using microbubbles by delivering biological progenitor cells to the injured tissues. The administration of the microbubbles is directed by acoustic radiation forces that interact with embodiments of microbubbles comprising an acoustically active gas. As such, a high efficiency of progenitor cell delivery to injured tissue is realized. One advantage of this technique over targeted delivery of pharmaceutical compounds, is that the delivered progenitors cells may be derived from the patient (i.e., personalized therapy), thereby avoiding side effects, allergic reactions, and overall problems associated with refractive drug responses.

Abstract: An optical touch screen that utilizes a planar transparent sheet and that is configured to determine the position of a touch event on the transparent sheet is disclosed. Light-source elements and light-sensing elements are operably disposed at a perimeter of the transparent sheet. Light is detected over lines-of-sight between the light-source elements and the light-sensing elements. Attenuated lines-of-sight due to the touch event are determined. Central lines are established based on the attenuated lines-of-sight. The locations of central-line intersections are then established. The average of the locations of the central-line intersections is then used to establish the location of the touch event.

Abstract: A handheld skin monitoring or measuring device includes a camera having a camera optical axis; and a structured light arrangement configured to project three or more laser fan beams such that the laser fan beams cross at a crossing point in front of the camera.

Abstract: An SMA actuation apparatus comprises: an SMA actuator arranged to drive movement of a movable element; a current supply supplying a drive current; a detection circuit detecting a measure of the resistance of the SMA actuator; and a control unit operative to generate a closed-loop control signal supplied to current supply for controlling the power of the drive current to drive the resistance of the SMA actuator to a target value. The control unit derives: an estimate of a characteristic temperature of the SMA actuation apparatus on the basis of the supplied power, using a thermal model; and a resistance offset on the basis thereof. The closed-loop control signal is generated on the basis of the error between the measure of the resistance of the SMA actuator and the target value of the resistance of the SMA actuator, adjusted by the resistance offset to compensate for variations in resistance.

Abstract: The recognition of a frame synchronization pattern or unique word of a received signal may be enhanced using a data-aided estimator of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) together with a correlation detector of the unique word to be received. Detecting a frame synchronization pattern or a unique word in a received signal, the SNR is estimated on the received signal with a data-aided SNR estimator using the unique word to be received. If the estimated SNR exceeds a certain threshold, an eventual recognition of the unique word established by a correlation correlator of the receiver is considered reliable. Comparing the SNR with the threshold may be carried out either before or after the correlator has processed the unique word.

Abstract: A miniature camera lens actuation apparatus comprises a support structure, a camera lens element supported on the support structure by a suspension system; and an SMA actuator connected between the support structure and the movable element to drive movement of the camera lens element. The control circuit may include a drive circuit and a sensor circuit which have separate electrical connections to the SMA actuator to reduce the impact of the resistance of the electrical connections on the sensing. The control circuit may vary the drive signal in response to a temperature signal indicative of the ambient temperature. An endstop limits movement to prevent extension of the SMA actuator in its unheated state beyond a maximum length which is at or below the length corresponding the local maximum resistance of the resistance-length curve. Control of position is effected using resistance of the SMA actuator as a measure of position.

Abstract: A data store includes, for a dealer of interest, a target inventory mix rate for an item having a feature. A computing device is configured to perform an optimization to obtain a recommended feature allocation of the item including the feature by minimizing a difference between a projected inventory mix rate for the feature and the target inventory mix rate for the feature.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention are directed to a method and apparatus for improvement in the function of dampers used on mobile vehicles such as recreational vehicles. The main function of current dampers (sometimes called shock absorbers) is to extract energy from the suspension system of a moving vehicle by forcing liquid through a system of valves internal to the damper. This invention adds two more functions. One is to lock the suspension so it cannot move when the vehicle is stationary. The second additional function is to level the chassis of the vehicle with respect to the gravity field.

Abstract: A graft caliper provides for a first member having a first pick at its distal end and its proximal end attached to a handle. A second member of the graft caliper is disposed above the first member and has a second pick at its distal end that extends beyond the first pick. The proximal end of the second member is attached to an adjuster which causes the second member to move from a first position to a second position in order to change a distance the second pick extends beyond the first pick. The graft caliper provides for an indication of at least one metric for describing the distance the second pick extends beyond the first pick and places an identifier on a surface of bone representing the location of a tunnel to be formed through a femur, tibia or any other anatomical structure.

Abstract: An electronic device for managing energy is described. The electronic device includes a voltage sensor module that monitors a voltage waveform. The voltage sensor module includes discrete components. The electronic device includes a current sensor module that monitors a current waveform. The current sensor module includes discrete components. The electronic device is coupled to the voltage sensor module and to the current sensor module. The computing module determines a phase margin based on the voltage waveform and the current waveform. The electronic device includes a control module coupled to the computing module. The control module controls a load based on the voltage waveform, current waveform and phase margin. The control module includes discrete components. The voltage sensor module, the current sensor module, the computing module and the control module are housed within a wall box.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing a biological sample for PCR analysis has an inlet (4) for receiving the sample (15) and a sieve (13) through which the sample is forced by screwing down an inlet cap (16). A lysis solution between two rupturable seals (11 and 12) is effective to disrupt the cells of the sample and release nucleic acid. The apparatus is mounted releasably on a PCR machine (2) having a motor (2?) releasably coupled with a drive mechanism (3, 36,40) in the apparatus to effect a rotary and a vertical up and down movement of its components (30, 31, 32, 42). The apparatus has a transparent cuvette (5) and a needle (71) extending to the lower end of the cuvette, by which the prepared sample is dispensed to the cuvette for PCR analysis.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include synthetic compounds (NRP analogues) of peptides termed neural regeneration peptides (NRPs). NRP analogues are made by substituting amino acids in the native peptide sequence, modifying amino acids chemically, by replacing amino acids with synthetic moieties, by stabilizing ?-turns, acetylation of terminal glycine residues or by cyclization. NRP analogues can be used to treat a variety of conditions involving degeneration of neural cells, and includes treating disorders of the nervous system, including peripheral neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, neurotoxin-induced neurodegeneration, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract: A biopsy localization device made according to the invention includes a bioresorbable element, such as a cellulose. The bioresorbable element preferably carries a radiopaque marker. The bioresorbable element preferably swells to fill the biopsied open region. The bioresorbable element and radiopaque marker permit the biopsy site to be relocated by various techniques, including mammography and ultrasound. In addition, the bioresorbable element can be used as a therapeutic tool for treatment of the diseased lesion and for hemostasis.

Abstract: A composition of matter consisting of a stable solution containing a polymer derived from a solution of a polymer containing trace metals, the derived method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a polymer solution containing a polymer, a first solvent and trace metals; (b) passing said polymer solution through an acidic cation ion exchange material to remove said trace metals therefrom and thereby forming a polymer solution containing free acid radicals; (c) precipitating said polymer from said polymer solution of step b by contacting with a second solvent wherein the polymer is substantially insoluble therein; (d) filtering said solution and said second solvent to thereby form a solid polymer cake; and (e) contacting said cake from step d with sufficient quantities of additional said second solvent in order to remove free acid radicals therefrom.

Abstract: An expansion tank for an engine cooling system comprises a housing forming a main chamber and a swirl chamber, the swirl chamber being defined by a cylindrical wall. An inlet connection discharges through an inlet orifice towards a collector duct having an entrance. From the inlet orifice the coolant is directed as a stream or jet along the adjacent surface of the cylindrical wall towards the entrance of the collector duct, guided by circumferential ribs. The kinetic energy of the stream is converted into pressure energy so that the pressure delivered from the outlet connection is slightly above the pressure at the top of the swirl chamber, above the level of liquid. This swirl chamber pressure is set by the relief pressure allowed by a filler cap, the gain in pressure helping to avoid cavitation in a coolant circulation pump.