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Devices and methods are provided for operating and controlling an interventional element on an interventional catheter. The interventional element may be a stent or series of stents, a balloon, or any other interventional element for which length control is necessary or desirable. A handle member includes an elongated body and an actuator knob that rotates around the longitudinal axis of the body. Rotational movement of the actuator knob is translated to rotational movement of one or more lead screws by a system of gears, rollers, or combinations of gears and rollers. Each of one or more axially moveable members is positioned on a lead screw and attached to a portion of the catheter shaft in order to provide the ability to advance or retract the portion of the cathether shaft.

An improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector has different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and / or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a drive handle mechanism. The drive handle mechanism includes an actuator, a drive shaft and a spring assembly for transferring movement of the actuator to the drive shaft, which in turn controls the end effector. The drive handle mechanism limits the amount of force transferred from the drive handle mechanism to the end effector, preventing damage to the tissue. As the actuator is operated, the spring assembly transfers the movement of the actuator to the drive shaft and the end effector. At the same time, the spring assembly compresses to absorb some of the force applied. Such configuration prevents the tissue being unintentionally damaged by the end effector.

A surgical instrument for being endoscopically or laparoscopically inserted into a surgical site for simultaneous stapling and severing of tissue includes an elongate channel that is configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein. An anvil is operably coupled to the elongate channel and is selectively movable between open and closed positions. A closure tube assembly interfaces with the anvil to selectively apply a closing force thereto in response to a closing motion applied to the closure tube assembly. At least one force limiting member interacts with the closure tube assembly to limit an amount of the closing force applied to the anvil by the closure tube assembly in response to a resistive force experienced by the anvil when clamping tissue between the anvil and the elongate channel. The force limiting member may comprise one or more spring sections in the closure tube assembly or at least one leaf spring in the distal end of the closure tube assembly. Other embodiments may include steps formed in a ramp portion of the anvil for engaging the distal end of the closure tube assembly.

The present invention discloses a system for monitoring and estimating the consumption of energy resources in real-time. The system includes an interactive user module, a measuring unit and a wireless network. The measuring unit is interfaced to a utility meter. Optionally, the measuring unit can also function as a stand alone device. The measuring unit is further connected to the interactive user module via the wireless network. The system monitors energy resource consumption such as electricity, gas or water consumption in real-time, generates and displays graphs of energy resource consumption over user selected time periods and enables communication with at least one utility company. The system increases the users' awareness of their energy consumption and aids users in dynamic or deregulated pricing environments to shed load when the energy resource is most expensive. With knowledge of their energy use, the users can take proactive steps to control their energy consumption and save money. A method of estimating the energy resource consumption over a period of time is also provided.

A medication dispensing apparatus that provides a mechanical advantage. During dose preparing, a nut rotating element (410) and a screw element (368) are in a first axial arrangement such that a screwing motion of the nut rotating element and screw element relative to the apparatus housing that moves the elements a first axial distance from a home position screws a nut (364) along a drive member threaded shaft (362) a second axial distance different than the first axial distance. During dose dispensing, the nut rotating element and the screw element are in a second axial arrangement, whereby a screwing motion of the screw element relative to the housing back toward the home position advances a plunger (366) in the distal direction to axially advance the nut and thereby the drive member and a fluid container piston to dispense medicine.

Methods and apparatus are described for modifying unwanted tissue for cosmetic reasons. The methods provide a non-invasive manner to perform body contouring by destroying adipose tissue while simultaneously causing collagen contraction in a single procedure so that as destroyed tissue is removed from a treatment volume, the volume shrinks gradually to maintain the skin tone of the treatment area.

Secondary resonant pickup coils (102) used in loosely coupled inductive power transfer systems, with resonating capacitors (902) have high Q and could support large circulating currents which may destroy components. A current limit or "safety valve" uses an inductor designed to enter saturation at predetermined resonating currents somewhat above normal working levels. Saturation is immediate and passive. The constant-current characteristic of a loosely coupled, controlled pickup means that if the saturable section is shared by coupling flux and by leakage flux, then on saturation the current source is terminated in the saturated inductor, and little detuning from resonance occurs. Alternatively an external saturable inductor (1101, 1102) may be introduced within the resonant circuit (102 and 902), to detune the circuit away from the system frequency. Alternatively DC current may be passed through a winding to increase saturation of a saturable part of a core. As a result, a fail-safe pickup offering a voltage-limited constant-current output is provided.

An electro-optic window is provided which is powered solely by at least one discrete photovoltaic cell within an electro-optic window. The electro-optic window has front and back spaced-apart glass elements sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship and defining a chamber filled with an electro-optic material. The front glass element has a transparent conductive layer on the face of the front glass element confronting the rear glass element and the rear glass element has a transparent conductive layer on the face confronting the front glass element. The seal is generally disposed along the perimeter of three edges of both glass elements and some distance in from the remaining (fourth) edge. The photovoltaic assembly is electrically connected to the two transparent conductive layers and is placed on the outer perimeter along this fourth edge with the photon-absorbing side of all the photovoltaic cells within the photovoltaic assembly facing in one direction ("out" the window). When light impinges on the photovoltaic cell a current is created which darkens the electro-optic material in proportion to the amount of impinging light. By choosing the relative area of the photovoltaic assembly to produce the correct current for the electro-optically active window area, the darkening of the electro-optic portion can be directly and accurately controlled without the need for any circuit, wires or shorting resistors. In addition, an apparatus for making an electro-optic window having two members capable of securing and holding two glass elements in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship is provided. The glass elements may be secured by vacuum-applying members or simple clips. The glass elements may be held in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship by a hydraulic mechanism or by simple spacers placed between the securing members.

A multifocal ophthalmic lens includes a lens element having anterior and posterior surfaces with a central aspherical refractive zone disposed on one of the anterior and posterior surfaces; and a diffractive bifocal zone disposed outside of the aspherical refractive zone. The central aspherical refractive zone may be disposed on the anterior surface and the diffractive bifocal zone may be disposed on the posterior surface.

The invention relates to a method for producing a multilayer on a receiving substrate, including the following steps: the formation of an initial substrate comprising a first material layer formed on the surface of a supporting substrate made of a second material, molecular adhesion bonding of the surface of the initial substrate comprising the first material layer to the bonding surface of a receiving substrate to obtain a bonded structure, partial removal of the initial substrate so as to leave a thin film of said second material on the first material layer, evaporation of the second material thin film with a selective stop on the first material layer, growth of at least one layer from the first material layer bonded to the receiving substrate, with the evaporation step and the growth step being carried out in the same technological apparatus.

An artificial spinal disc is provided for unilateral insertion from the posterior side of the patient and includes a pair of plate members with a bearing associated with one plate member and a depression associated with the other for permitting limited flexibility of patient movement. An outrigger is provided which includes rods extending through the pedicles on one side of each of two adjacent vertebrae and posts connected to the rods which provide an artificial facet joint. A method of insertion of the artificial spinal disc hereof includes cutting channels for receiving longitudinally extending ribs on the plate members and removing the natural facet joint in order to permit insertion of the artificial spinal disc. A tool for insertion of the artificial spinal disc acts as a drill guide for creating a passage through the pedicles.

A patient is provided with an increased sense of satiety by increasing resistance to the outflow of food from the stomach and through the intestines. Stomach emptying may be slowed with devices implantable within the gastrointestinal tract below the stomach. Implants are preferably removable and can include artificial strictures that may be adjustable to vary the rate of stomach emptying. Slowing gastric emptying may induce satiety for a longer period and may therefore reduce food consumption. Many of the embodiments include intestinal liners or sleeves, but they need not. The resistor concept may be applied to a simple anchor and resistor without a long liner.

The present invention discloses a system for monitoring and estimating the consumption of energy resources in real-time. The system includes an interactive user module, a measuring unit and a wireless network. The measuring unit is interfaced to a utility meter. Optionally, the measuring unit can also function as a stand alone device. The measuring unit is further connected to the interactive user module via the wireless network. The system monitors energy resource consumption such as electricity, gas or water consumption in real-time, generates and displays graphs of energy resource consumption over user selected time periods and enables communication with at least one utility company. The system increases the users' awareness of their energy consumption and aids users in dynamic or deregulated pricing environments to shed load when the energy resource is most expensive. With knowledge of their energy use, the users can take proactive steps to control their energy consumption and save money. A method of estimating the energy resource consumption over a period of time is also provided.

A rotating machine valve health monitor. Aspects of the valve monitor include instrumenting each valve of a reciprocating compressor, or other rotating machine, with a sensor capable of detecting at least vibration and instrumenting the crank shaft with a sensor capable of detecting at least rotation. A controller directly monitors the operation and condition of each valve to precisely identify any individual valve exhibiting leakage issues rather than only identifying the region of the leakage. The valve monitor uses a relatively high frequency stress wave analysis technique to provide a good signal-to-noise ratio to identify impact events indicative of leakage. The valve monitor uses circular waveforms of vibration data for individual valves to identify leakage by pattern recognition or visual identification. The valve monitor provides ongoing data collection to give warning of predicted valve failure and scheduling of preventative maintenance for failing valves.

A semiconductor memory device compensates leakage current. A plurality of memory cells is disposed at intersections of word lines and bit lines. A plurality of dummy cells is connected to at least one dummy bit line. A leakage compensation circuit is connected to the at least one dummy bit line that outputs a leakage compensation current to at least one of the bit lines. A read current supply circuit outputs a read current necessary for a read operation to at least one of the bit lines in response to a first control signal. The memory device is a phase-change memory device containing phase-change material. The semiconductor memory device compensates leakage current in a read operation and supplies the leakage compensation current to a selected bit line, thereby suppressing error operation occurrence caused by leakage current.

A catheter delivers an electrode within a vein for a minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency using RF energy. The catheter is introduced into a patient and positioned within the section of the vein to be treated. The electrode radiates high frequency energy towards the vein, and the surrounding venous tissue becomes heated and begins to shrink. The catheter includes a controllable member for limiting the amount of shrinkage of the vein to the diameter of the member. The electrode remains active until there has been sufficient shrinkage of the vein. The extent of shrinkage of the vein may be detected by fluoroscopy. After treating one section of the vein, the catheter and the electrode can be repositioned intraluminally within the vein to treat different sections of the vein until all desired venous sections and valves are repaired and rendered functionally competent.

In a broadband communications system, e.g., a cable system, programming content can be readily reserved and accessed for viewing using interactive program guides in accordance with the invention. Such programming content may include in-progress programs, future programs and previously broadcast programs which are recorded at a headend in the cable system, and which may or may not have overlapping broadcast times. In addition, the user may reserve programs at a set-top terminal, and may also do so remotely from the terminal through a communications network such as, the Internet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless telephone network, etc.

A collaborative cloud DVR system (ccDVR), which includes a cloud storage system and a plurality of participating DVR client devices, acts collaboratively as a single communal entity in which community members authorize each other to upload, remotely store and download licensed content for time shifted viewing, in a manner which rigorously protects legal rights of the content owners while overcoming the potential physical obstacles of limited bandwidth, power failures, incomplete uploads / downloads of content, limited cloud storage capacity, etc. The collaborative cloud DVR community collaboratively shares bandwidth and cloud storage capacity among DVR viewer / users with each owner / user of a DVR client device authorizing his or her individual DVR client device to be utilized by a cloud storage system server and any other owner / user of a DVR client device in the respective service community, and receiving similar permission in return to promote the convenience of cloud storage in an authorized manner.

A full-service turn-key in-application commerce solution with fraud detection is disclosed that provides web service interfaces to a commerce system. The in-application solution features fraud detection with user behavior tracking and fraud controls that limit the features that are offered to a user. Fraud detection involves input from the application, the commerce system, or third party systems. User fraud scores are updated frequently as events are processed. Controls are applied to the user account based on the user fraud score and risk classifications for ranges of fraud scores. An in-application solution also features a wallet with a personal threshold for microtransaction spending, limiting the amount that the user is allowed to spend before a wallet is cleared. The wallet is integrated with the fraud detection such that the personal threshold is determined from the user's latest fraud score.

Methods and apparatus are described for modifying unwanted tissue for cosmetic reasons. The methods provide a non-invasive manner to perform body contouring by destroying adipose tissue while simultaneously causing collagen contraction in a single procedure so that as destroyed tissue is removed from a treatment volume, the volume shrinks gradually to maintain the skin tone of the treatment area.

An exemplary atomizing device includes a main body, a mouthpiece, a liquid chamber, at least one heating element, and a permeating component. The main body defines an air inlet and an air passage. The air inlet is in communication with the air passage. The mouthpiece is arranged at an end of the main body. The mouthpiece defines an air outlet in communication with the air passage. The liquid chamber is configured for storing tobacco liquid. The at least one heating element is arranged in the air passage. The at least one heating element is configured for heating the tobacco liquid to form aerosol. The permeating component has a heat absorbing surface. The at least one heating element is in contact with the heat absorbing surface. The permeating component is configured for guiding the tobacco liquid to the heat absorbing surface for atomization.

A technique for forming an organic polymer thin film on a surface of a substrate with high film formation efficiency and excellent reproducibility and stability is provided. When a vacuum deposition polymerization for forming an organic polymer thin film is performed on a surface of a substrate 12 repeatedly, in which a plurality of kinds of monomers evaporated in a plurality of evaporation source containers 32a, 32b in vacuum state are introduced into a deposition chamber 10 in a vacuum state and polymerized on a surface of the substrate 12 arranged in the deposition chamber 10, each of the monomers in a liquid form is present in the evaporation source containers 32a, 32b in a constant amount every time, at the beginning of the evaporation operation of monomers.

A pressure support system that includes a pressure generating system employing a pressure generator that provides a primary flow of gas to a patient and a supplemental gas system providing a supplemental flow of gas to the patient. A selectively acutable valve associated with the supplemental gas system controls the supplemental flow of gas to the patient, and a control unit coupled to the pressure generating systems controls the valve based on conditions of the pressure generator in the pressure generating system, thereby controlling the flow of the supplemental gas to the patient based on the detected conditions of the pressure generator.

The disclosure provides a method, an electronic apparatus, and a computer readable medium of constructing a classifier for disease detection. The method includes the following steps. A codebook of representative features is constructed based on a plurality of disease-irrelevant data. Transfer-learned disease features are extracted from disease-relevant bio-signals according to the codebook without any medical domain knowledge, where both the disease-irrelevant data and the disease-relevant bio-signals are time-series data. Supervised learning is performed based on the transfer-learned disease features to train the classifier for disease detection.

A fabrication method of a semiconductor wafer can fill trenches formed in a semiconductor substrate with an epitaxial film with high crystal quality without leaving cavities in the trenches. The trenches are formed in the first conductivity type semiconductor substrate. Planes exposed inside the trenches are made clean surfaces by placing the substrate in a gas furnace, followed by supplying the furnace with an etching gas and carrier gas, and by performing etching on the exposed planes inside the trenches by a thickness from about a few nanometers to one micrometer. The trenches have a geometry opening upward through the etching. Following the etching, a second conductivity type semiconductor is epitaxially grown in the trenches by supplying the furnace with a growth gas, etching gas, doping gas and carrier gas, thereby filling the trenches. Instead of making the trenches slightly-opened upward, their sidewalls may be made planes enabling facet formation.

A method and system for controlling traffic on a network. A congestion indicator is generated by network components in response to the flow of network traffic. The congestion indicator is received by a network peripheral node that has a threshold variable which controls the flow of traffic flowing from the network peripheral node. The threshold variable corresponding to the congestion indicator will be reduced in order to restrict the flow of traffic flowing from that network peripheral node. If more than one congestion indicator is received by the network peripheral node, then the threshold variable will continue to be reduced thereby further restricting network traffic. If no further congestion indicators are received, then the network peripheral node will terminate the Back-Off Period state of the threshold variable such that the threshold variable can then be increased and network traffic can increase.