210907results about "Machines/engines" patented technology

The present disclosure relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article comprises one or more microheaters. In various embodiments, the microheaters provide for improved control of vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition and provide for reduced power requirements to achieve consistent aerosolization. The present disclosure further relates to methods of forming an aerosol in a smoking article.

Irrigation and drainage systems are disclosed, including a saturated zone and at least one pipe in communication with the saturated zone. The pipe(s) can be configured to comprise a tubarc porous microstructure for conducting water from the saturated zone to an unsaturated zone in order to drain the water from the saturated zone. The water can be delivered from the saturated zone to the unsaturated zone through the tubarc porous microstructure, thereby permitting the water to be harnessed for irrigation or drainage through the hydrodynamic movement of the water from one zone of saturation or unsaturation to another.

A novel capture device apparatus comprising: (a) a capture device portion, at least a part of which is adaptable for insertion into a patient and (b) a control unit. The capture device portion comprises one or more apertures and one or more electroactive polymer actuators that open and close the one or more apertures based on control signals sent from the control unit. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of capturing a specimen within a patient's body of provided. The method comprises (a) providing a capture device apparatus like that above, (b) inserting at least a portion of the capture device portion of the apparatus into the patient such that the capture device portion is adjacent the specimen; and (c) closing the one or more apertures using the control unit, thereby capturing the specimen.

An electromechanical surgical system is provided including a hand-held surgical instrument; an end effector; and a shaft assembly for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the surgical device. The shaft assembly includes a transmission housing; an outer tubular body; a distal neck housing for interconnecting a rotatable drive member of the surgical instrument and a rotation receiving member supported in the end effector, wherein the distal neck housing includes at least one gear system configured to convert a rotational input of the rotatable drive member into at least two output forces to the end effector; and an articulating neck assembly interconnecting the tubular body and the distal neck housing. The articulating neck assembly enables off-axis articulation of the distal neck assembly, and wherein the rotatable drive member extends through the articulating neck assembly.

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices including a cartridge and a control body. The control body may include a coupler and the cartridge may include a base. The base may be configured to releasably engage the cartridge. Further the base and the coupler may include anti-rotation mechanisms configured to prevent rotation of the cartridge relative to the base when engaged with one another. The anti-rotation mechanisms may include alternating protrusions and recesses in some embodiments. Related methods are also provided.

A drive shaft for a wind turbine is shaped so as to allow for increased bending of the shaft, while being suitable for transferring torque in a wind turbine system. An example of such a shaping is a drive shaft having a helical rib defined on the surface of the shaft. A wind turbine incorporating such a shaft, and a method of manufacture of such a shaft are also described.

A filter pack includes a filter construction and a sealing system for sealing the construction within a duct or housing. The filter construction has first and second opposite flow faces and is configured for a straight-through flow. The sealing system includes a frame construction and a compressible seal member. The compressible seal member is molded around a portion of the frame construction. The compressible seal member is sufficiently compressible to form a radial seal between and against the frame construction and a surface of a housing when the filter pack is inserted within the housing.

A surgical instrument having a remotely controllable user interface, and a firing drive configured to generate a rotary firing motion upon a first actuation of the remotely controllable user interface and a rotary refraction motion upon an other actuation of remotely controllable user interface. The instrument includes a first drive member, wherein remotely controllable user interface is selectively engageable with the first drive member, and a second drive member, wherein the remotely controllable user interface is selectively engageable with the second drive member. The instrument also includes an elongate shaft assembly operably engaged with the first drive member and the second drive member. The instrument further includes an end effector coupled to the elongate shaft assembly. The end effector includes an elongate channel configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein, and an anvil movably coupled to the elongate channel. The end effector also includes a cutting member operably supported within the elongate channel, wherein the cutting member is operably engaged with the elongate shaft assembly. The instrument is such that when the remotely controllable user interface operates the first drive member, the first actuation advances the cutting member a first distance, wherein, when the remotely controllable user interface operates the second drive member, the other actuation retracts the cutting member a second distance, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

Guided wave radar (GWR) pulses are launched onto an electromagnetic guide wire using a compact launcher that includes an impedance matching element. The impedance matching element produces reflections that cancel launcher reflections. Short range echoes can be accurately detected after impedance matching. GWR operation in small tanks and in tanks containing low dielectric constant materials, such as propane, can be enhanced with the compact impedance-matched launcher.

The present disclosure provides components useful in heating, particularly heating of an aerosol precursor solution so as to vaporize the solution and form an aerosol. The disclosure particularly provides an electrically conductive, porous carbon heater. The heater may be combined with an aerosol precursor transport element that also is formed of carbon. The heater and transport element may form an atomizer that can be useful in an electronic smoking article, such as in a cartridge that is adapted for attachment to a control body. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a cartridge of an electronic smoking article, the cartridge being formed substantially completely of carbon.

Method and apparatus for providing a leak detection circuit for data monitoring and management system using the guard trace of a glucose sensor by applying a leak detection test signal to determine whether a leakage current is present is provided. The leak detection circuit may includes an interface circuit such as a capacitor coupled to the guard trace to detect the leakage current when the leak detection test signal is applied to the guard trace, such that the user or patient using the data monitoring and management system such as glucose monitoring systems may be promptly and accurately notified of a failed sensor, and to alert the user to replace the sensor.

Low temperature electronic vaporization devices and method are described herein for emulating smoking wherein the devices generate an aerosol for inhalation by a subject by heating a viscous material that can have a tactile response in the mouth or respiratory tract.

An electromechanical surgical system is provided including a hand-held surgical instrument; an end effector; and a shaft assembly for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the surgical device. The shaft assembly includes a transmission housing; an outer tubular body; a distal neck housing for interconnecting a rotatable drive member of the surgical instrument and a rotation receiving member supported in the end effector, wherein the distal neck housing includes at least one gear system configured to convert a rotational input of the rotatable drive member into at least two output forces to the end effector; and an articulating neck assembly interconnecting the tubular body and the distal neck housing. The articulating neck assembly enables off-axis articulation of the distal neck assembly, and wherein the rotatable drive member extends through the articulating neck assembly.

A method for engineering management and planning for the design of a wireless communications network in three-dimensions (3-D) combines computerized organization, database fusion, and radio frequency (RF) site-specific planning models. The method enables a designer to keep track of wireless system performance throughout the process of pre-bid design, installation and maintenance of a wireless system. Using a database of information that defines the desired environment, predictions of antenna coverage, system coverage and interference, and other wireless system performance criteria, such as frame error rate and network throughput, can be made. Watch points are created to ensure, in real time, that any modifications to the design of the wireless system do not degrade the performance of the system with respect to the watch point locations.

This application describes completely in many unique ways and detail all the devices to reduce a vehicle's speed and / or reduce a machines RPMs and / or stop any piece of equipment's as well as guide it if mobile through automated controls. First to slow it down, and guide it and / or control it if necessary (i.e., other pieces of equipment). Secondly it discusses how to stop any piece of equipment completely. And thirdly, the invention secures it in a safe stationary position either entirely or any number of specific moving parts. Many of these systems are initially here described to slow, reduce speed, steer, stop and / or secure equipment functions. However, they also can be used to increase a piece of equipment's functions. In other words their variations are completely capable to serve any remote or automated controls on a vehicle in the future to provide full robotics systems, e.g., for automated transportation systems, automated manufacturing, etc., either through individually isolated remote control systems and / or interfaced with other off-board systems through communication links, gateway computers, computer networks and the world wide web for inexpensive long distance monitoring and remote control. The invention focuses on the automobile industry but as has always been maintained throughout all these applications these devices and systems are designed to control every piece of equipment. The invention includes various accountable protocols and commercial developments to control speed, brake and steering for an automobile shut down to be performed through automation to a safe controlled secured deactivated state to be considered as a basis for a standard in aggressive vehicle remote control and / or to control and guide a vehicle and / or piece of equipment through many different automated systems.

This invention relates to a orthopedic implant that comprises a shape memory polymeric material. The orthopedic implant can be fabricated or molded in a desired configuration selected to provide support or tension to bony structures. Examples of implantable devices include spinal rods, bone plates, and bone fixation cords. The orthopedic implant can be deformed to a second configuration different from the first configuration either prior to implantation or after implantation. When desired, the shape memory polymeric material can be induced to revert to it original molded configuration. This can compress the attached bony structure and / or promote arthrodesis.

A system and method for processing speech input comprising a speech recognizer and a logical command processor which facilitates additional processing of speech input beyond the speech recognizer level. A speech recognizer receives input from a user, and when a command is identified in the speech input, if the command meets conditions that require additional processing, a representation of the speech input s stored for subsequent processing. A logical command processor performs additional processing of command input by analyzing the command and its elements, determining which elements are required for successful processing the command and which elements are present and lacking. The user is prompted to supply missing information, and subsequent user input is added to the command structure until the command input is aborted or the command structure reaches sufficient completeness to enable execution of the command. Thereby, speech input of complex commands in natural language in a system running a plurality of applications and processes is made possible.

This application describes completely in many unique ways and detail all the devices to reduce a vehicle's speed and / or reduce a machines RPM's and / or stop any piece of equipment's as well as guide it if mobile through automated controls. First to slow it down, and guide it and / or control it if necessary (i.e., other pieces of equipment). Secondly it discusses how to stop any piece of equipment completely. And thirdly, the invention secures it in a safe stationary position either entirely or any number of specific moving parts. Many of these systems are initially here described to slow, reduce speed, steer, stop and / or secure equipment functions. However, they also can be used to increase a piece of equipment's functions. In other words their variations are completely capable to serve any remote or automated controls on a vehicle in the future to provide full robotics systems, e.g., for automated transportation systems, automated manufacturing, etc., either through individually isolated remote control systems and / or interfaced with other off-board systems through communication links, gateway computers, computer networks and the world wide web for inexpensive long distance monitoring and remote control. The invention focuses on the automobile industry but as has always been maintained throughout all these applications these devices and systems are designed to control every piece of equipment. The invention includes various accountable protocols and commercial developments to control speed, brake and steering for an automobile shut down to be performed through automation to a safe controlled secured deactivated state to be considered as a basis for a standard in aggressive vehicle remote control and / or to control and guide a vehicle and / or piece of equipment through many different automated systems.

An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline, a front region, a crotch region, and a back region. The absorbent article has a main portion, a side portion, and a waist portion. The waist portion has a belt portion that has a front belt portion having elastomeric material and a back belt portion having elastomeric material. The front belt portion has a first elastic section and a second elastic section, each section having force zones. The back belt portion has a third elastic section and a fourth elastic section, each section having force zones. The force zones in the portions alternate between a high force zone and a low force zone in at least one belt portion.

Disclosed is a bubbler assembly. The bubbler assembly includes a vessel configured to contain a liquid source material and its vapor. It also includes a carrier gas supply line, a downstream end of which discharges in a lower portion of the vessel, and a gas outlet line, an upstream end of which is in fluid communication with an upper portion of the vessel. The gas outlet line includes a constriction. The bubbler assembly further includes a pressurizing gas supply line, a downstream end of which discharges in either the upper portion of the vessel or in the gas outlet line at a point upstream of the constriction.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and devices / systems for amplifying genetic material and may include providing a water-in-oil emulsion in a continuous flow. The emulsion may include a plurality of water droplets comprising microreactors. Each of the plurality of microreactors may include a single bead capable of capturing a nucleic acid template, a single species nucleic acid template and sufficient reagents to amplify the copy number of the nucleic acid template. The method also includes flowing the emulsion across a first temperature zone and a second lower temperature zone to thermally process the microreactors to amplify the nucleic acid template by polymerase chain reaction.

A filter arrangement includes a filter element, a frame construction secured to the filter element, and a handle member secured to the filter element. In preferred embodiments, the handle member is secured to the frame construction. Preferably, the filter element includes a central core member, wherein fluted filter media is coiled around the central core member. Preferably, the central core member includes a plurality of corrugations, wherein the corrugations mateably engage at least some flutes. Preferably, the handle member is integral with the central core member, and also includes a fastening member for connection to a frame construction on the filter element. Methods for cleaning air and servicing an air cleaner preferably include constructions as described herein.