152results about How to "Many types" patented technology

A seal element (70) for providing a static or dynamic seal between two components (74, 78) in a downhole tool includes a polymer host material (212) and a plurality of nanostructures (220) forming a nanocomposite material (210). The polymer host material (212) has a plurality of regions of free volume (222) that receive the nanostructures (220). The nanostructures (220) and the polymer host material (212) form interfacial interactions that improve the useful life of the seal element (70) by minimizing seal failures associated with explosive decompression, extrusion, spiral failure, abrasion, temperature degradation and the like.

A safety shield including a protective device is provided including a piercing member having a proximal end, a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis. A clip defines a first cavity dimensioned for movement of the piercing member therethrough and is oriented in an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The first cavity is movable between a movable orientation and a binding orientation. The clip includes a first leg that defines a second cavity dimensioned for movement of the piercing member therethrough and a distal part being configured to engage a medical device. The clip further includes a second leg having a bearing surface that engages the piercing member. The legs are biased for convergent movement such that the first cavity is disposed in the binding orientation and the distal part of the first leg disengages the medical device.

A network of data processing-based and telecommunications-based apparatuses and systems are disclosed, including a product sub-system that interacts with a user, gathers information from the user, communicates the information to the product's vendor, and receives new pre-programmed interactions from the vendor for future interactions with the user. In addition to this computing / networking apparatus which is a sub-system in or attached to a product or service, other components of this invention include a data processing system for constructing and downloading pre-programmed interactions to the product sub-system; a communications sub-system for transmitting the data directly from the product sub-system to the vendor's computer; a communications apparatus for reading the product sub-system's data, transmitting it to the vendor's computer, and downloading new pre-programmed interactions to the product sub-system; a data processing system that resides in the product sub-system and conducts numerous types of interactions with a user; and a data processing system that resides in the vendor's computer and analyzes and reports the information gathered from product users. This invention may be built into a variety of products and services to establish networks of customer-vendor interactions and communications. It makes possible new customer roles and contributions to the design and development of products and services, and the nature of customer-vendor relationships. A variety of functions are enabled by this invention, which include (depending on the configuration of a particular product sub-system) inquiries, reports, suggestions, help, interactive services, transactions and two-way real-time communications. As a complete system, this invention may be viewed as a new medium through which customers interact directly with products and services at the time they are using them, to describe their conception of what the product or service should be and how the vendor should work with them to satisfy their needs better. The customer data, suggestions and other information are transmitted to the product vendor's computer where they are collected, analyzed by automated means and presented in automated reports to product managers, product designers and other decision makers. This source of continuous customer-based information may assist in improving products, services and customer relationships both sooner and more accurately, thereby producing strategic business advantages over competitors who do not engage in a similar improvement dialog with their customers. Over time, the cost of incorporating such sub-systems may fall and the impact from using them may rise, producing a greater reliance on customer involvement and customer input into a growing range of business decisions. This may produce a gradual transfer, from vendors to customers, of conceptual commercial guidance, both in individual cases and in aggregate. This invention suggests the emergence of a “partnership capitalist” economy in which a variety of interactive products and services link customers and vendors with networks that are built into those products and services, producing greater understanding, efficiency and accuracy in designing, manufacturing and selling the products, services and lifestyles that customers truly want.

The present invention provides control methods, control systems, and control software for microfluidic devices that operate by moving discrete micro-droplets through a sequence of determined configurations. Such microfluidic devices are preferably constructed in a hierarchical and modular fashion which is reflected in the preferred structure of the provided methods and systems. In particular, the methods are structured into low-level device component control functions, middle-level actuator control functions, and high-level micro-droplet control functions. Advantageously, a microfluidic device may thereby be instructed to perform an intended reaction or analysis by invoking micro-droplet control function that perform intuitive tasks like measuring, mixing, heating, and so forth. The systems are preferably programmable and capable of accommodating microfluidic devices controlled by low voltages and constructed in standardized configurations. Advantageously, a single control system can thereby control numerous different reactions in numerous different microfluidic devices simply by loading different easily understood micro-droplet programs.

An electric power line communication system operates with an electric power distribution system to provide through premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among power line communication devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines. Each power line communication device associated with a set of premises power distribution lines has an identification address. A master code identifies the power line communication devices as members of a system domain of power line communication devices associated with the set of premises power distribution lines. Association of the master code with the identification addresses renders the member power line communication devices capable of operation without unintended communication with power line communication devices associated with a separate, different set of premises power distribution lines.

Joint execution type compound orders can be processed in an anonymous trading system comprising a plurality of broker nodes each of which includes an order matching functionality and a market distribution functionality. Trader agent nodes are connected to a number of dealer terminals grouped in trading floors and also to a broker node. Joint execution orders are entered as hit orders and are all matched by the broker during the hit or the order is cancelled. If matches are made the taker's trading agent does not complete any of the deals marking up the order until it knows that all the deals are executable. The system may be used to allow traders to hit bids and offers in currency pairs synthesised from other currency pairs. In this arrangement the dealer enters a simple order in the synthetic currency and the taker's trading agent converts it into a joint execution order.

A mandolin slicer having one or more safety features, including a food carrier having one or more guards to protect a user's hand and a food carrier delivery system that helps ensure uniform and predictable movement. The mandolin slicer also provides an ability to safely and effectively cut oversized, long, and awkwardly shaped food articles.