52results about How to "Inexpensive mean" patented technology

A sampler has a sample chamber for a sample forming from a molten material, at least one lower cooling body, at least one upper cooling body, at least one inner cooling body, and at least one filling part. The sample chamber is surrounded jointly at least by the lower cooling body and the inner cooling body, such that at least the sample chamber can be cooled by at least the lower and inner cooling bodies. The filling part merges into the sample chamber by a filling opening. Between a region of the outer surface of the inner cooling body and a region of the outer surface of the upper cooling body opposite the outer surface of the inner cooling body, the sampler has at least one gap for conducting at least one gas. The volume of the respective cooling bodies is larger than the volume of the gap.

Ophthalmic surgical blades are manufactured from either a single crystal or poly-crystalline material, preferably in the form of a wafer. The method comprises preparing the single crystal or poly-crystalline wafers by mounting them and etching trenches into the wafers using one of several processes. Methods for machining the trenches, which form the bevel blade surfaces, include a diamond blade saw, laser system, ultrasonic machine, a hot forge press and a router. Other processes include wet etching (isotropic and anisotropic) and dry etching (isotropic and anisotropic, including reactive ion etching), and combinations of these etching steps. The wafers are then placed in an etchant solution which isotropically etches the wafers in a uniform manner, such that layers of crystalline or poly-crystalline material are removed uniformly, producing single, double or multiple bevel blades. Nearly any angle can be machined into the wafer, and the machined angle remains after etching. The resulting radii of the blade edges is 5-500 nm, which is the same caliber as a diamond edged blade, but manufactured at a fraction of the cost. A range of radii may be 30 to 60 nm, with a specific implementation being about 40 nm. The blade profile may have an angle of, for example, about 60°. The ophthalmic surgical blades can be used for cataract and refractive surgical procedures, as well as microsurgical, biological and non-medical, non-biological purposes. Surgical and non-surgical blades and mechanical devices manufactured as described herein can also exhibit substantially smoother surfaces than metal blades.

A method and apparatus for focusing a device for imaging a biologic sample is provided. A method aspect includes the steps of: disposing lenslets within a biologic sample, which lenslets have a height and a refractive index, which refractive index is different from that of the sample, wherein one or both of the imaging device and the sample are relatively locatable so a focal position of the imaging device can be moved along the height of the lenslets; imaging a portion of the sample including lenslets using transmittance at one or more wavelengths; determining an average light transmittance intensity of the sample at the wavelengths; determining an average light transmittance intensity of a region of each lenslet at the wavelengths; and determining the focal position of the imaging device using the average light transmittance intensity of the sample and the average light transmittance intensity of the region of the lenslets.

A method of recovering spilled hydrocarbon fluids from a body of water utilizing the increased oleophilic properties of reacted iron particles suspended in a magnetorheological (MR) fluid. The iron particles normally used to create MR fluids, are reacted with an organic compound containing an oleophilic chain end which attaches to the surface of the iron, prior to suspension in a liquid vehicle such as an organic oil. The reacted iron particles in the MR fluid are then applied to and mixed with a hydrocarbon spill on a body of water such as an oil spill, whereby subsequent exposure to a significant magnetic field provides for subsequent recovery of both the reacted magnetic particles and the hydrocarbon spill.

A barrier comprised of a single sheet of inexpensive, disposable and foldable material, sufficient in width to rest upon the full-size toilet seat, with a central cutout sized and positioned so as to provide a smaller toilet seating surface to accommodate the buttocks of a toddler, and which is capable of supporting a child's weight as a result of such material's natural firmness and folds along the distal edge, comprises a disposable toilet seat cover/adapter. Key innovative features include side handles and a fold-under flap to secure the toilet seat in place.

A method and apparatus for focusing a device for imaging a biologic sample is provided. A method aspect of the disclosure includes the steps of: 1) disposing lenslets within a field of a biologic sample, which lenslets have a height, and have a refractive index and which refractive index is different from that of the sample, wherein one or both of the imaging device and the sample are relatively locatable so a focal position of the imaging device can be moved along the height of the lenslets; 2) imaging at least a portion of the sample including a plurality of lenslets using transmittance at one or more predetermined wavelengths; 3) determining an average light transmittance intensity of the sample at the wavelengths; 4) determining an average light transmittance intensity of a region of each lenslet at the wavelengths; and 5) determining the focal position of the imaging device using the average light transmittance intensity of the sample and the average light transmittance intensity of the region of the lenslets.

In order to evaluate the noise related to data issuing from a turbo-encoder, estimates of the noise related to its systematic output, to the data issuing from its first elementary encoder, and to the data issuing from its second elementary encoder are determined. At least two of the estimates of the noise related to the systematic output, to the data issuing from the first encoder, and to the data issuing from the second encoder, are added. The results of these additions are divided by the number of augends added, and then inverted, so as to obtain a noise factor, and the noise factor is multiplied with the data issuing from at least one of the first encoder, second encoder, and systematic output.

Apparatus for passively exercising at least a portion of a human body includes an inflatable bag which exerts a force during inflation, an electrical air pump disposed in fluid communication with the bag for supplying an atmospheric air medium to inflate the bag, a solenoid valve disposed in fluid communication with the inflatable bag for discharging the atmospheric air medium to deflate the bag and a timing control circuit coupled to the pump and to the solenoid valve for cyclically inflating and deflating the bag. The control circuit includes a dual integrated circuit timer operable with an external resistor-capacitor timer control to provide such cyclical inflation and deflation of the bag. The duration of the cycle is adjusted with a variable resistor coupled to the dual timer. The apparatus can be integrated into a seat or an article of furniture.

A window pane is mounted in a closed position outside a window frame, commonly referred to as a frameless window, and is movable into open positions parallel to the closed position. The window pane can be slid into a fully open position. Sliding mechanisms are attached to the window pane. Swing arms connect the sliding mechanisms to the window frame. Control arms also connect the sliding mechanisms to the window frame. They determine the distance of and control the translation of the window pan from the closed position to the initial open position. A handle is attached to at least one of the sliding mechanisms or window pane. Latching mechanisms secure the handle in the open positions. The invention is designed so that a plurality of screens allows air flow through the window frame, preventing passage of insects or debris through the window frame.

A method is presented for facilitating sales transactions by electronic media. A temporary barcode or other design is tattooed onto a tattoo sheet, previously organized by verifiable chronological date. The tattoo sheet is made with an adhesive sufficient to allow the tattoo, once printed, to be transferred onto the skin of a person or to a personal object and remain affixed to said person or personal object during the period of time for which a financial transaction might occur. The transferable temporary tattoo is then removed from the sheet and applied to the skin of the individual or to a personal object in their possession. Before the sales transaction can be consummated, the tattoo information along with the corresponding valid date information is scanned with a scanner. Characteristics about the scanned tattoo are compared to characteristics about other tattoos stored on a computer database for the specific time period in question in order to verify the identity of the buyer for a given time period. Additionally, the chronological information is verified to ensure that the transaction is occurring only during a previously prescribed valid time period for which a given tattoo is valid. Once both pieces of information are verified, the seller may be authorized to debit the buyer's bank electronic bank account in order to consummate the transaction or transactions during the given period of time. The seller's electronic bank account may be similarly updated.

An imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes plural image carriers on which different-colored toner images are formed, the image carriers being driven and rotated to transfer the different-colored toner images onto one of an endless transfer member that is driven to rotate in contact with the image carriers or a transfer material that is carried by the endless transfer member. The imaging apparatus includes a phase calculating unit that extracts a periodic rotational variation component of each of the image carriers from a combination of periodic rotational variation components generated within said imaging apparatus and calculates a rotational phase of each of the image carriers based on the extracted periodic rotational variation component, and a rotational phase adjusting unit that adjusts a rotation stop phase of each of the image carriers based on the calculated rotational phase.

An improved water closet flushing system utilizing a diaphragm flush valve having a fluid flow control means positioned to receive the fluid discharged from the diaphragm flush valve prior to fluid entering the water closet bowl.