391results about How to "Easily employed" patented technology

A cautery tool is provided with a compact, lightweight, user-directable lighting facility that can be powered by either a shared external power source from which a power flow is shared continuously with the cautery function, by a supplemental self-contained power cell that may be recharged by a portion of the external power for use independently of the cautery function, or by sharing of a self-contained power cell by the cautery and the lighting functions. Waste heat generated during exercise of the lighting function is continuously removed from a light-emitting element by electrical conductors also serving as heat transfer conduits.

Multifunctional, polyionic copolymers with molecular architectures and properties optimized for specific applications are synthesized on/or applied to substrate surfaces for analytical and sensing purposes. The coatings are particularly useful for suppression of non-specific interaction, adsorption or attachment of molecular or ionic components present in an analyte solution. Chemical, biochemical or biological groups that are able to recognize, interact with and bind specifically to target molecules in the material containing the analyte to be detected can be coupled to, integrated into, or absorbed to the multifunctional copolymers. These multifunctional copolymer coatings are compatible with a variety of different established methods to detect, sense and quantify the target molecule in an analyte. The multifunctional copolymer coatings typically include brush copolymers based on a polycationic or polyanionic (jointly referred to herein as ‘polyionic’) backbone with side chains that control interaction with the environment, such as poly(ethylene glycol) or poly(ethylene oxide)-based side chains that decrease cellular adhesion, and analyte-specific side chains. They can be used to pattern the surfaces into non-adhesive and specifically adhesive areas by applications of known techniques such as microfluidic or contact printing techniques.

A sensor device for measuring a concentration of a substance within a sample comprises a sensor comprising an optical transmission member having a first end and a second end, the second end having a tip portion attached thereto and an active material incorporated within the tip portion, the tip portion adapted to be inserted into a sample, the active material capable of interacting with a substance within a sample, a light source coupled to the first end of the sensor for emitting a beam of light into and through the sensor and into a sample, the emitted beam of light having a wavelength and the active material interacting with a substance within a sample to change the wavelength of the emitted beam of light to produce a reflected beam of light and the sensor for transmitting the reflected beam of light out of the second end thereof, an optical detector for receiving the reflected beam of light from the second end of the sensor for producing a signal indicative of the reflected beam of light, and a processor for receiving the signal indicative of the reflected beam of light and for processing the signal to determine the concentration of a substance within a sample.

The operating efficiency of indirect evaporative cooling processes and indirect evaporative cooling apparatus employing a dry side channel and a wet side channel separated by a heat exchange plate are improved by placement of holes in the heat exchange plate. Further improvements are obtained when the flow direction in the wet side channel is cross-current to the flow direction in the dry side channel. Placement of desiccant materials in the dry side channel also serve to improve the operating efficiencies of these processes and apparatus.

The present invention is directed toward a method for calibrating a biometric authentication device over time. The method of the present invention involves obtaining an authenticating biometric value from a biometric measurement. The biometric value is then weighted and integrated into the authentication data set or template.

A method for selectively combining multiple membranes for assembly into test strips (such as visual blood glucose test strips with side-by-side membranes). The method includes first measuring a plurality of color parameters (e.g., L*, a* and b*color parameters) associated with membrane samples from at least two membrane lots. Next, response characteristics (e.g., blood glucose response levels) are simulated for a speculative test strip that includes, for purposes of the simulation, combined multiple membranes tentatively selected from the at least two membrane lots. The simulated response characteristics are based on the measured plurality of color parameters of the tentative selection of combined multiple membranes. Optionally, the simulated response characteristics can also be based on simulated color parameters of the tentative selection of combined multiple membranes. Subsequently, assembly of the at least two membrane lots into a test strip with combined membranes is contingent on acceptable simulated response characteristics. Any suitable color parameters can be employed. The method can be used to selectively combine two or more membranes based on any number of color parameters. The assembled test strips can be used to measure glucose, cholesterol, proteins, ketones, phenylalanine or enzymes in blood, urine, saliva or other biological fluid, as well as sample fluid characteristics (e.g., pH and alkalinity).

A training aid for teaching needle biopsy of the human breast. The inventive methods use breast models having lifelike properties providing accurate tactile sensation during palpation of the breast that enable a trainee to learn to locate modeled internal lesions and similar tissues in the breast. These same properties allow learning of tactile sensations indicating relative position and motion of biopsy needles during biopsy needling procedures. To facilitate tactile learning, the breast model includes an opaque skin that blocks the trainee view of a breast cavity containing modeled lesions, ensuring that needling procedures are performed based solely on "feel". The present invention also includes alternative training methods using a second breast model that is sufficiently transparent to allow viewing of modeled lesions from any relative position. The present invention includes training systems incorporating breast models and viewing stands and methods of training using these aids.

A transceiver includes a switching unit configurable for isolating an input of a receiver from an output of a transmitter during a local calibration mode. A known signal present at the output at a first power level during the calibration mode will also be present at the input at a second power level lower than the first power level and will be converted by the quadrature demodulator. A compensation factor is estimated for compensating the receiver section for imbalances in the in-phase and quadrature phase signals resulting from conversion of the known signal. Remote calibration is implemented using a method for remotely compensating for I-Q imbalance wherein a data packet having a known signal is transmitted to a receiver for conversion by a quadrature demodulator and compensation factors are estimated for compensating for imbalances in the in-phase and quadrature phase signals resulting from conversion of the known signal.

An automated transaction machine such as an ATM (10) is provided. The ATM is operative to digitally sign electronic documents (42). The ATM may be in operative connection with a storage server (32). The storage server is operative responsive to the ATM to maintain electronic documents (42) in a data store (34) in association with the user's digital safe deposit account (40) and/or a financial account (48) such as checking, savings, debit, or credit account. The storage server is further operative to store a private key (44) of a user in association with the user's digital safe deposit account and/or financial account. The ATM is operative to cause electronic documents to be signed using the private key associated with the user. The ATM is further operative to output the electronic document on a display device (18) of the ATM where the user may view and edit the electronic document.

The invention relates to a method for minimizing mean blood glucose levels in an insulin dependent patient by administering insulin to the patient in a sufficiently fast manner to provide a difference of 50% or less between high and low blood glucose levels. Advantageously, the insulin is administered to the patient by jet injection and the high and low blood glucose levels differ by an amount that is less than that which would be obtained after injection of insulin by a conventional needle syringe. The invention also relates to a method for reducing mean blood glucose levels in an insulin dependent patient that is receiving insulin through a conventional syringe and needle arrangement. This method provides for administration of the insulin to the patient by jet injection rather than by the syringe by substituting a jet injector for the syringe.

An optical resonator type organic electroluminescent element has a multilayered film mirror 30, a transparent electrode 12, an electron hole transportation layer 14 and a luminescent layer 16 configuring an organic layer, and a metallic electrode mirror 20, formed on a glass substrate 10. The optical resonator type organic electroluminescent element amplifies a specific wavelength (especially, in a range of about 30 nm toward a shorter wavelength side from a luminescence peak wavelength of the organic layer) in luminescence light by a minute optical resonator, which comprises the multilayered film mirror 30 and the metallic electrode mirror 20. It is determined that the minute optical resonator has an optical length L which is twice as long as a resonance wavelength, the organic layer has a thickness of 100 nm or more, and the transparent electrode has a thickness of 50 nm or more or a thickness so to have a sheet resistance of 30 OMEGA/square or less. Thus, the transparent electrode can be prevented from generating heat even when a large current is caused to flow into it, and the element characteristics can be reliably prevented from being deteriorated. Moreover, the reliability of this element can be improved because the organic layer containing the luminescent layer has a sufficient thickness.

Hydrocarbons are extracted from a target formation, such as oil shale, tar sands, heavy oil and petroleum reservoirs, by apparatus and methods which cause fracturing of the containment rock and liquification or volatization of the hydrocarbons by microwave energy directed by a radiating antenna in the target formation.

Medical devices, systems and methods for placing tissue fixation devices are provided. The medical device includes a plurality of elongate delivery devices, a plurality of elongate tubes, and a distal tip. Each delivery device defines a delivery lumen sized to receive a tissue fixation device. Each elongate tube defines a tube lumen sized to receive one of the delivery devices. Each tube lumen has a distal port. The distal tip is connected to the plurality of elongate tubes and defines a guide surface positioned distally of the distal ports. The guide surface is structured to redirect the plurality of delivery devices radially outwardly as the plurality of delivery devices are distally translated through the tube lumens and the distal ports of the plurality of elongate tubes. A medical system is formed by an endoscope that is selectively attachable to the medical device.

An automated transaction machine such as an ATM (10) is provided. The ATM is operative to digitally sign electronic documents (42). The ATM may be in operative connection with a storage server (32). The storage server is operative responsive to the ATM to maintain electronic documents (42) in a data store (34) in association with the user's digital safe deposit account (40) and/or a financial account (48) such as checking, savings, debit, or credit account. The storage server is further operative to store a private key (44) of a user in association with the user's digital safe deposit account and/or financial account. The ATM is operative to cause electronic documents to be signed using the private key associated with the user. The ATM is further operative to output the electronic document on a display device (18) of the ATM where the user may view and edit the electronic document.

An arrangement for determining a body condition score of an animal comprises a three-dimensional camera system directed towards the animal and provided for recording at least one three-dimensional image of the animal; and an image processing device connected to the three-dimensional camera system and provided for forming a three-dimensional surface representation of a portion of the animal from the three-dimensional image recorded by the three-dimensional camera system; for statistically analyzing the surface of the three-dimensional surface representation; and for determining the body condition score of the animal based on the statistically analyzed surface of the three-dimensional surface representation.

Pressure-isolating bulkhead structures with integrated selective electronic switches circuitry are provided. The pressure-isolating bulkhead structure may be a single unit having the integrated electronic switch circuitry, as well as an electrical connector that includes at least one of a wire and a pin contact. Such integrated selective electronic switch circuitry may be fashioned within a self-contained, inner pressure-isolating enclosure body. Such inner pressure-isolating enclosure body may be produced about the selective electronic switch circuitry such that the inner pressure-isolating enclosure body and switch circuitry are produced as a unit, which can be easily placed within a variety of bulkhead structures, and subsequently within a perforating gun.

An endoscope system has an insertion portion and a control portion connected to a base end portion of the insertion portion. An illumination system includes a light guide having a front end positioned near the front end of the insertion portion and a rear end positioned rearward of the base end of the insertion portion, phosphors disposed in the light guide toward the front end thereof and an illumination light source which is positioned toward the rear end of the light guide and emits stimulating light exciting the phosphors.

Provided are a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a driving method thereof for displaying high-resolution images. The LCD device comprises a plurality of pixel groups including a first pixel and a second pixel arranged in a same pixel column of two adjacent pixel rows. Each of the first and second pixels forms a dot in combination with an adjacent pixel disposed at each side of the first and second pixels in a corresponding pixel row. A plurality of gate lines arranged for each pixel row in a horizontal direction to transfer a gate voltage to the respective pixels. A plurality of data lines formed in a vertical direction while traversing the gate lines and arranged for each pixel column to transfer a data voltage to the respective pixels. A switching device is formed in each pixel which has a first side and a second side. The switching devices formed at pixels of a first pixel group row are connected to the data lines on the first side, and switching devices formed at pixels of a second pixel group row are connected to the data lines of the second side.