191results about How to "Increased and decreased" patented technology

The invention relates to a method and a system for the simultaneous reconstruction of the three-dimensional vessel geometry and the flow characteristics in a vessel system. According to one realization of the method, vessel segments (41) of a parametric models are fitted to differently oriented X-ray projections (P1, Pk, PN) of the vessel system that are generated during the passage of a bolus of contrast agent, wherein the fitting takes the imaged contrast agent dynamics and physiological a priori knowledge into account. In an alternative embodiment, the vessel geometry is reconstructed progressively along each vessel, wherein a new segment of a vessel is added based on the continuity of the vessel direction, vessel radius and reconstructed contrast agent dynamics.

The reliability is improved at a low cost even in a virtualized server environment. The number of spare servers is reduced for improving the reliability and for saving a licensing fee for software on the spare servers. A server system comprises a plurality of physical servers on which a plurality of virtual servers run, a single standby server, a module for detecting an active virtual server, and a module for switching the correspondence of boot disks of virtualization modules for controlling virtual servers to the physical servers. When a physical server fails, the boot disk of the associated virtualization module is connected to a spare server to automatically activate on the spare server those virtual servers which have been active upon occurrence of the failure.

The invention comprises a product. The product comprises a composite panel comprising a foam insulating panel having a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface, and a first layer of a polymeric elastomeric material on the first primary surface such that at least a portion of a first layer of reinforcing material is at least partially embedded in the polymeric elastomeric material. The composite panel also comprises a fastener for attaching the composite panel to a framing structure, wherein the fastener comprises a washer and wherein at least a portion of the first layer of a polymeric elastomeric material and the first layer of reinforcing material are disposed between the washer and the first primary surface. A method of making and using the composite panel is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a system to deliver insulin to a user's body. The system includes a dispensing unit to deliver the insulin to the body, and a control mechanism to control delivery of basal insulin according to a predetermined basal infusion pattern, the basal infusion pattern selected from a plurality of predetermined basal infusion patterns. In some embodiments, selection of the basal infusion pattern may be based on one or more personal characteristics of the user.

This invention is a transvascularly placed punch, further including internal steerability and the ability to articulate in a direction at right angles to its longitudinal axis at or near its distal end. The punch is generally fabricated from stainless steel and includes an outer tube, an intermediate tube, a central stylet, hub structures, and a distal articulating region. The punch can be advanced through a body lumen in its straight configuration and then be selectively articulated or curved to permit negotiation of tortuous curvature or to permit optimal approach or access to a puncture site. The punch is able to create holes in the atrial septum of the heart or other structures and is easier to use than punches that are pre-curved near their distal tip since it is easier to advance through accessory catheters.

A method and system for transferring telephone calls and data between computer programs in a call center. Flow connection modules associated with call center application programs allow data and telephone calls to be transferred from one computer program to another in the call center. The flow connection modules may be combined with a locator program such that the combination replaces the automatic call distributor (“ACD”) in a call center. The flow connection modules enable development of modular call centers, allowing call center agent workstations to be easily increased or decreased. In operation, an application notifies its flow connection module that a call on a telephone in the workstation should be transferred to another application. The flow connection module establishes a data connection with a flow connection module associated with the other application. The flow connection module sends call-related data to the other flow connection module which then returns the telephone extension associated with the other application. The flow connection module requests a computer telephony interface (“CTI”) link associated with a phone switch to transfer the call to the other application's telephone. The CTI link directs the phone switch to transfer the telephone call from the original application's workstation to the telephone of the other workstation. Having received notification of the transferred call, the other flow connection module informs the original flow connection module that the call has been successfully transferred, and the original flow connection module then disconnects the data connection.

Response of a variable frequency switching constant on-time or adaptive on-time controlled power converter to a large step-up or step-down change in load is improved with a simple circuit that detects magnitude and polarity of a change in output voltage and initiates, extends or terminates conduction of power pulses from an input source through said power converter. Both the amplitude and duration of undershoot or overshoot of the transient response are reduced or, alternatively, the capacitance of an output filter may be significantly reduced and still provide comparable transient performance. The fast adaptive on-time control is applicable to multi-phase power converters using phase managers or one or more phase-locked loops for interleaving of power pulses.

A magnetic heat pump cycle has a first to a fourth steps, which are repeatedly carried out. In the first step, a movement of heat medium is stopped by a pressure valve and a pressure accumulating tank and a magnetic field is applied by a magnetic-field control unit to a magnetic working material. In the second step, the pressure valve is opened so that the heat medium flows in a working chamber from a second axial end to a first axial end, and the magnetic field is increased depending on a moving speed of the heat medium. In the third step, the movement of the heat medium is stopped and the magnetic field is decreased. In the fourth step, the heat medium is moved in a revered direction and the magnetic field is decreased depending on the moving speed of the heat medium.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for modulating hemichannel function in a cell, tissue or organ. The invention also relates to useful screens for detecting such compounds, particularly those capable of modulating connexin phosphorylation. Further provided are therapeutic methods for preventing or treating conditions impacted by undesired hemichannel function in a mammal such as heart arrhythmia.

The invention provides modified collagen and related therapeutic and diagnostic methods.

A composite capacitance between a common electrode and an X detection electrode having a plurality of detours is small, whereas lengths of parallel electrodes of the X detection electrode are set to have large values. A comprehensive composite capacitance is set to be constant by increasing a composite capacitance between the common electrode and the X detection electrode. For this reason, although the detours are formed in the electrode patterns, a coordinate position can be detected with high accuracy.

A method of improving longevity and / or alleviating a symptom of aging or preventing age related diseases is provided. The method includes a step in which the subject's average and type of daily protein intake, IGF-I, and IGFBP1 levels, and risk factors for overall mortality, cancer and diabetes are determined. With respect to protein consumption, the relative amounts of protein calories from animal and plant sources are determined. A periodic normal calorie or low calorie but low protein fasting mimicking diet with frequencies of every 2 weeks to 2 months is provided to the subject if the subject's average daily protein intake level and type and / or IGF-I levels, and / or IGFBP1 levels is identified as being greater or lower than a predetermined cutoff intake / level and if the subject is younger than a predetermined age. The method is also shown to alleviate symptoms of chemotoxicity.

An anti-spamming agent filters incoming email messages to eliminate unsolicited and unwanted email messages, particularly bulk email messages commonly known as spam. The anti-spamming agent gives all incoming mail messages a score and processes the messages based on the message score. Messages receiving a qualifying score are forwarded to the user. All other messages are either discarded or quarantined while the anti-spamming agent performs further authorization procedures, such as a challenge-response procedure. When a message from an unknown sender is received, a verified mail registry may be queried to authenticate the sender, and the mail may be processed based on the response from the verified mail registry.

A control device and a control method for a vehicle with an auto clutch, and a vehicle with an auto clutch which is able to control the unexpected roll back of the vehicle caused by the security function when the abnormality of a clutch is detected. When temperature abnormality judgment means 102 detects the abnormality of temperature of clutch 3, clutch release command generation means 104 releases the clutch. When clutch release state judgment means 105 judges the release state of the clutch, braking force command generation means 106 outputs a command to generate the restraint force to brake actuator 6 in order to control the roll back of the vehicle. Brake actuator 6 generates the braking force to the vehicle.

Systems are provided for electromagnetic actuation of a valve mechanism. A valve is linearly moveable between a first closed position and a second open position. A first spring is compressed when the valve is in the first closed position, and a second valve spring is compressed when the valve is in the second open position. An electromagnetic actuation assembly and a permanent magnet is combined with the valve, such that the valve is latchable in either a closed or open position, and is readily movable between positions through application of energy to the electromagnetic circuitry. The electromagnetic circuitry is controllable to increase or decrease the local magnetic flux, such as to promote movement of the valve, or to provide a soft landing of the valve at either end of movement. Some system embodiments provide energy recovery, feed back, and / or feed forward sensing and control. The electromagnetic valve system can be implemented for a wide variety of engines, valves and actuators, such as for variable valve timing, valve disablement, and / or hybrid engine and energy storage applications.

The invention is directed to an airbag system and, more particularly, to such a system employed as a rescue or life-saving system to enable a person to survive an avalanche. In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to an airbag system utilized with a backpack to be worn by a skier, snowboarder, hiker, or snowmobiler, for example. Instead of relying upon compressed gas cartridges or cylinders to inflate the airbag(s), the invention inflates the airbag(s) with ambient air only. In a particular embodiment, air is supplied to the airbag by means of a battery-powered electrical motor.

A thoraco-lumbar spine support / brace for correcting lateral spinal alignment. The brace comprises a frame member defined by two elongate bracing rods extending vertically in generally parallel relation to one another on opposed sides of the body of the wearer that extend generally from the wearer's shoulders to pelvis. Extending across the uppermost ends of the bracing rods is a posterior traction belt. At least two anterior traction slings are provided that extend across an intermediate portion of the bracing rods. A pelvic arch is further provided that extends across the bottom-most ends of the opposed bracing rod members. The posterior traction belt, anterior traction slings and pelvic arch may all be selectively positioned to impart a desired physiological orientation of the waerer's spine, and can be utilized to treat a given condition such as abnormal thoracic kyphosis, pelvic inclination and lumbar lordosis.

The reliability is improved at a low cost even in a virtualized server environment. The number of spare servers is reduced for improving the reliability and for saving a licensing fee for software on the spare servers. A server system comprises a plurality of physical servers on which a plurality of virtual servers run, a single standby server, a module for detecting an active virtual server, and a module for switching the correspondence of boot disks of virtualization modules for controlling virtual servers to the physical servers. When a physical server fails, the boot disk of the associated virtualization module is connected to a spare server to automatically activate on the spare server those virtual servers which have been active upon occurrence of the failure.

A control system for an internal combustion engine includes a virtual engine model which mathematically represents the states of the engine in real time, but which is programmed to provide the engine's states at least a fraction of an engine cycle (and preferably at least one-fourth of an engine cycle, i.e., one stroke) to several engine cycles in advance of the real engine. The mass flow entering and leaving the cylinder is modeled, allowing parameters such as the mass of air per cylinder (MAC) and residual exhaust gas to be computed, and thereafter used to generate engine control commands related to fuel injection (air / fuel ratio), spark advance, and so forth.

Disclosed is a novel life insurance product that provides an improved return to a purchaser. The life insurance product contains a benefit payment, and has a fixed benefit amount and a variable benefit amount. A policy protection benefit prevents a purchaser's life insurance product from lapsing, and a minimum death benefit ensures that the purchaser receives the greater of the face value of the product and a predetermined percentage of the account value.

A vehicle seat suspension that includes a suspension cartridge which houses suspension components that includes one or more of the following: one or more biasing elements, a suspension arm arrangement, a damper arrangement, a height adjust assembly, and a weight adjust assembly. In one preferred embodiment, the cartridge includes all of these. The suspension can include a truncated roller that provides a larger effect of radius. The suspension can also include a cam upon which a suspension roller rides that increases maximum suspension stroke while minimizing collapsed suspension height. The suspension can also include a damper that is oriented so as to provide a nearly linear response over all regions of suspension stroke or travel.

Various embodiments of the invention include a motor system for driving a swing and controlling the speed and / or amplitude of the swing. In one embodiment, the motor system includes a DC motor, a swing velocity sensor system, and a swing velocity control circuit. The DC motor drives the swing through at least one fill swing cycle, and then the motor is allowed to free-wheel for at least a half swing cycle. During the free-wheeling half cycle, the swing velocity sensor system measures the velocity of the swing and compares the measured velocity to a goal velocity. The control circuit increases or decreases the velocity depending on this comparison. In other embodiments, the system includes a swing amplitude sensor system that measures the amplitude of the swing and a swing amplitude control circuit that compares the measured amplitude to a goal amplitude.

A system and methodology for human behavior modification or maintenance implemented by electronic two way communication between a host computing device with software adapted to the task, and a user. The system employs collected data regarding user identity, availability, and behavior, and generates a customized program of sequential events during identified user available time segments on a plurality of days. The events are constantly re-allotted to the available time in given daily time segments through a feedback acknowledgment from the user subsequent to communications sent to the user about an event. This results in a constantly updated program based on user responses which continually adjusts for the remaining time in the time segment on any day during the program. The program is customizable by user input requests such as exclusion of time during the daily time segments, front loading or rear loading of daily events, program day extensions or reductions, starting a program day earlier than the regularly scheduled time, inserting plateaus to repeat days in a program, and backsetting or forwardsetting within a program profile. A shaping function may be employed to further customize the program.

A check valve having a thermostat function is provided between an engine and a thermal storage tank that stores a portion of the coolant circulating in the engine. The check valve restricts the flow of the coolant from the engine to the thermal storage tank, and loosens the restriction when the temperature of the coolant increases. Through such operation of the check valve, the warm coolant is collected in the thermal storage tank and engine preheating may be performed before engine start. Thus, by providing between the engine and the thermal storage tank the check valve that operates in response to the temperature of the coolant, engine preheating can be accomplished with a simple structure and at a low cost, without using a three-way valve and performing an electrical valve switching control.

A control system for an internal combustion engine includes a virtual engine model which mathematically represents the states of the engine in real time, but which is programmed to provide the engine's states at least a fraction of an engine cycle (and preferably at least one-fourth of an engine cycle, i.e., one stroke) to several engine cycles in advance of the real engine. The mass flow entering and leaving the cylinder is modeled, allowing parameters such as the mass of air per cylinder (MAC) and residual exhaust gas to be computed, and thereafter used to generate engine control commands related to fuel injection (air / fuel ratio), spark advance, and so forth.

A liquid storage unit including a first liquid storage chamber having a constant volume and being capable of holding liquid supplied from a liquid tank; a second liquid storage chamber communicating with the first liquid storage chamber; a pressure control chamber configured to change a pressure of the pressure control chamber through actuation of a pressure control unit; and an elastic member being configured to tightly partition the second liquid storage chamber and the pressure control chamber from each other and being deformable so as to increase and decrease a volume of the second liquid storage chamber in accordance with the pressure of the pressure control chamber. The elastic member is capable of removing bubbles in the first liquid storage chamber by increasing and decreasing the volume of the second liquid storage chamber through the deformation.