282results about How to "Allow flexibility" patented technology

A surgically implanted spinal stabilization system uses posterior anchor hooks attached to vertebrae to retain elastic bands to retain flexibility and mobility while maintaining alignment and preventing excessive motion and deformity. The elastic bands may parallel the longitudinal axis of the spine, or, for enhanced promotion of alignment, they may also arranged in a diagonally crossing configuration. Multi-level fixation can be achieved using the spinal stabilization system with longer elastic bands. A method of applying the spinal stabilization system using an elastic band application tool facilitates simple, rapid application of the system to a patient.

A capture device for remote, virtual on screen data input by hand annotation comprises at least three functional layers including a bottom rigid layer, a middle pressure sensor layer and a top flexible layer. The bottom rigid layer has a surface that provides a mechanical support for writing. The middle pressure sensor layer is adapted to measuring a pressure array or map on the capture active area and to send data representing the measured pressure to a personal computer. The top flexible touch-sensitive passive LCD display layer includes an LCD surface by which whatever is written down on the LCD is impressed graphically due to its liquid crystal physical properties wherein applied pressure changes the crystal particles orientation and light properties, such that when a stylus presses against a writing surface thereof, it leaves a visible trace allowing the user to produce a drawing though no real ink has flown.

A medical device (10) including a tube (11) having a highly uniform and repeatable inner and outer diameter, the tube (11) possessing good trackability, pushability and torquability, and the tube (11) being highly resistant to collapse, necking or kinking during use. The tube (11) first includes a metal coil (14) in a stressed, radially expanded condition, the metal coil (14) preferably being formed as a flat wire. The tube (11) also includes a metal braid (16) extending over at least part of the coil (14). The tube (11) further includes a polymeric bonding layer (18) positioned over and contacting at least the coil (14). The polymeric layer (18) is preferably heat-shrinkable shrinkable tubing made of one or more of nylon or polyurethane. The tube (11) optionally includes an inner liner (20) beneath and in contact with at least part of the coil (14), the liner (20) preferably being composed of PTFE. The polymeric layer (18) maintains the coil (14) in its stressed, radially expanded condition, for example, by adhesion to the coil (14) (such as by thermal bonding to it).

Embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus, method, and system for speech recognition of a voice command. The method can include receiving data representing a voice command, generating a list of targets based on the state information of each target within the system, and selecting a target from the list of targets, based on the voice command.

An interactive multimedia tour guide provides a user with packaged tours in a multimedia format that includes directions and useful information about a selected tour. The packaged tours are composed of principle and ancillary points of interest. The user may preview and select a packaged tour or generate a custom tour by selecting points of interest from two or more packaged tours. On initial installation, a user profile is developed which is used to generate a preference mask. A preference mask also may be generated for one or more travel companions. The user's preference mask or a composite preference mask generated by a combining function of the user's preference mask and one or more travel companions' preference masks is used to customize a selected tour by selecting only those ancillary points of interest that would be of most interest to the user and his or her travel companion(s). The selected tour is stored on a portable self-contained electronic system which includes a GPS navigation system and cell phone. The system includes voice recognition software and speech synthesis software to provide the user with a verbal interface that provides directions and information on various points of interest during the tour. The interactive multimedia tour guide allows the user to modify the tour while in progress and, in addition, serves the function of a concierge to identify dining and lodging options and to make reservations for the user. The flexibility of the interactive multimedia tour guide allows the user to begin a tour at any point and to change the tour as the spirit dictates, allowing the user an unprecedented degree of freedom in their sightseeing. Combined with optional still or video camera, the interactive multimedia tour guide allows for rapid identification and editing of pictures or videos made on a tour.

A computer-implemented process allows emergency plans to be easily and rapidly created for a plurality of different facilities. An emergency plan is provided in electronic form for each facility. Each emergency plan has a standardized format with a plurality of component parts. Each emergency plan has at least some component parts that are accessible by other facilities. An electronic network is provided which allows at least some of the facilities to electronically obtain the accessible component parts of the emergency plans of at least some of the other facilities. A user interface allows the emergency plan of a facility to electronically import into its emergency plan selected content of one or more component parts of the emergency plan of another facility using the electronic network. The electronic importing is facilitated via the use of the standardized format for the emergency plans.

An antenna system that is insensitive to the surface on which it is mounted for use with a RFID tag having a wireless communication device, including a plurality of conductive tabs coupled to the wireless communication device for receiving and radiating radio frequency energy. At least two of the tabs are substantially identical in shape and coupled to the wireless communication device at feedpoint differing in location on each of the two tabs wherein the width of said at least two of said plurality of tabs taken transverse to the longitudinal centerline axis of each tab varies with distance along the longitudinal centerline axis of each of said tabs from its feedpoint. Alternatively, the wireless communication device is coupled to the tab at a feedpoint selected at a location differing on each of the tabs where the conducting area per unit length of the longitudinal centerline axis of each tab varies with distance along the longitudinal centerline axis of each of said tabs from its feedpoint. A radio frequency reflecting structure is coupled to the conductive tabs for reflecting radio frequency energy radiated therefrom. A dielectric material is located intermediate the conductive tabs and the radio frequency reflecting means.

A system and method for automatically steering a vehicle along an intended path is provided. The system is architecturally partitioned. The partitioned design allows each of the system elements to be designed and maintained independently while allowing variation and flexibility in system configuration. An embodiment of the system elements may comprise a local navigation guidance unit, an external positioning system, a steering controller, and an installation and service computer. Additional elements of an embodiment of the system may comprise a steering position sensor, and at least one steering actuator. The system allows the operator to enter an intended target path and certain vehicle parameters. The local navigation guidance unit receives positional data from an external positioning system, preferably DGPS, indicative of a navigational path traversed by the vehicle. The guidance unit compares the positional data with the intended target path to obtain guidance error and transmits the guidance error to the steering controller. The system allows for determination of the current steering angle and generation of a steering angle adjustment based upon the intended target, the navigational path traversed by the vehicle, the vehicle parameters, the steering angle and the guidance error. The steering angle adjustment is used to actuate a steering mechanism to smoothly guide the vehicle along the intended target path.

A system may generate action requests for a service management system. A user preference data store may contain electronic records for a set of users, including, for example, at least one user preference value. A back-end application computer server may receive, from a remote user mobile device, an indication associated with an event. The server may then determine at least one location coordinate associated with the event and select a sub-set of service providers from a service provider data store based on the location and at least one user preference value. The server may generate an action request for a designated one of the sub-set of service providers in accordance with logic based rules and transmit information about the action request to the designated service provider and the remote user mobile device. The server may receive an action request update and transmit a modified action request to another service provider.

Mounting systems are provided for bringing a heat exchanger from a server rack into thermal contact with a heat exchanger from an electronics server. An engaging force is applied to the two heat exchangers to create thermal communication there between. A mounting mechanism is configured to isolate the engaging force applied to the two heat exchangers. The mounting mechanism may include an interlocking mechanism that prevents transfer of the applied force to the rest of the electronics server to lessen the possibility of disconnecting the electrical connections between the electronics server and the rack, and/or lessening mechanical stresses transferred to the electronics server and the rack chassis. The mounting mechanism also may be coupled to the electronics server locking mechanism such that the action of locking the electronics server into the rack causes the heat exchangers to engage in thermal contact.

Detailed resource information, including a resource preference indication, may be stored for a set of potentially available resource units. The system may store, for each resource unit, at least one performance metric score value. For each resource unit, a back-end application computer server may automatically access the performance metric score value in a resource performance metric computer store. Based on the at least one performance metric score value, the back-end application computer server may automatically update a state of the resource preference indication in an available resource computer store and automatically arrange to adjust at least one output parameter in accordance with the updated state of the resource preference indication. According to some embodiments, a diagnosis grouping platform groups similar claims handled by the panel of medical service providers, and a rating platform reviews performance of each medical service provider in the panel based on groups of similar claims.

A mounting system provides mechanisms and form factors for bringing a heat exchanger from a server rack into thermal contact with a heat exchanger from a electronics server. To ensure good thermal contact, pressure is applied between the two heat exchangers, the rejector plate and the chassis cold plate. The mounting mechanism used to engage and disengage the heat exchangers is configured to isolate the force applied to the two heat exchangers. The mounting mechanism includes an interlocking mechanism that prevents transfer of the applied force to the rest of the electronics server. Without isolating this force, the force is applied to the electronics server and/or the rack chassis, possibly disconnecting the electrical connections between the electronics server and the rack, as well as providing mechanical stress to the electronics server and the rack chassis. The mounting mechanism is also coupled to the electronics server locking mechanism such that the action of locking the electronics server into the rack causes the heat exchangers to engage in thermal contact. This is a fail safe procedure since no separate process is required to engage the electronics server cooling loop.

One aspect of the invention is an intelligence engine. The intelligence engine includes a distributor layer operable to communicate with at least one call agent in a telecommunications network. The call agent may receive state-driven information associated with a call between an originator and a termination point. The intelligence engine also includes a telephony management layer. The telephony management layer is operable to receive a plurality of stateless requests from the distributor layer, access a database entry associated with the requests, spawn at least one request to obtain information associated with the originator and the termination point if necessary to route the call, and send the information to the call agent to route the call. In a particular embodiment, the intelligence engine further includes a facility management command and control layer. The facility management command and control layer is operable to receive an indicator signal associated with the call from the network. The call is controlled by the call agent. The facility management command and control layer is also operable to access a database entry associated with the call agent in response to the indicator signal and to reassign control of the call from the call agent to a second call agent.

An external focused ultrasonic beam, non-destructive, open-air, inspection method of sheet metal spot and seam weldments using a probe in combination with motion measurement of the probe over the weldments during inspection without immersion of the material. Reflected ultrasonic waves are received and signals produced and processed or displayed as A-scan, B-scan and C-scan images that are easily recognized. An A-Scan is based on the time-of-flight difference between the outer surface, the weldment and inner and opposite surfaces of the component. B-scan and C-scan indicate the degree of weld fusion and provide data relative to fused thickness and defects sheet metal or welds. A special purpose scanner that enables ultrasonic examination welds. Scanner is pencil like ultrasonic probe with bearing face and position sensing device disposed adjacent a weld position. Scanner collects data for method to determine various characteristics of welded items.

This invention is directed to a system and method for providing a status certification for a voicemail message in a telecommunications network. An embodiment of this invention comprises a voicemail system, which provides a caller in a telecommunications network with the option of certifying a voicemail message when the recording of the message is complete. By certifying the voicemail message, the caller is directing the voicemail system to create a temporary voicemail box and to track any actions related to the message that message that occur within the voicemail system. As changes occur, the voicemail system creates one or more status messages in the temporary voicemail box. If the recipient replies to the messages, the voicemail system also stores the reply in the temporary voicemail box. When a caller subsequently accesses the temporary voicemail box, the caller can access the messages and can also reply to any of the messages. The voicemail system stores the caller's reply in the original recipient's voicemail box.

The automated cage cleaning system is comprised of a pair of robotic arms, a soil side robot and a clean side robot. The soil side robot is utilized for removing the dirty cage bottoms from a cart, rack, pallet, or fixture, emptying soiled bedding from the cage bottoms, and placing the cage bottoms on a conveyer leading to the tunnel washing equipment. The clean side robot is used to grip the clean cage bottoms, and place the cage bottoms on a cart, rack, pallet, or fixture. Additionally, the present invention comprises an optical arranger robot with vision processing for detecting, and moving skewed cage bottoms to a re-grip station. From the re-grip station, the clean side robot places the cage bottoms on a rack, pallet, fixture, or any other device suitable for holding a plurality of cage bottoms.

A digitally controlled can decorating apparatus including digitally controlled print heads arrayed around the blanket cylinder of an offset type decorating apparatus for delivering ink in a selected pattern from each print head to each blanket section of the blanket cylinder, and the blanket cylinder sections thereafter transferring the ink to the cans being decorated.

Mediums, apparatus, computer program code, and means may be provided to evaluate relative risks based at least in part on source inputs received via a distributed communication network by an automated back-end application computer server. According to some embodiments, the server may access a data store containing electronic files associated with a set of entities to retrieve, for each of a plurality of the entities in the set of entities, electronic files associated with that entity. The server may also retrieve structured data elements, unstructured data elements, and external, third-party data elements for that entity. The server may then execute an automated risk model to assign a risk score to that entity based on the electronic files, the structured data elements, the unstructured data elements, and the external, third-party data elements for that entity and transmit indications of the risk scores for the plurality of entities.