86results about How to "Minimal degradation" patented technology

Improvements to prosthetic heart valves and grafts for human implantation, particularly to methods and apparatus for coupling a prosthetic heart valve with an artificial graft during a surgical procedure to replace a defective heart valve and blood vessel section, e.g., the aortic valve and a section of the ascending aorta, are disclosed. An annular exterior surface of the prosthetic heart valve is fitted within a vascular graft lumen to dispose the vascular graft proximal end overlying the annular exterior surface, and the proximal end of an elongated vascular graft is compressed against the valve annular exterior surface in a manner that inhibits blood leakage between the vascular graft and the prosthetic heart valve.

A network file access appliance operates as a secure portal for network file access operations between client computer systems and network storage resources. The file access appliance terminates network file access transactions, identified by packet information including client system, mount point, and file request identifiers, between client systems and mount points supported by the access controller. A policy parser determines, based on the packet information, to selectively initiate network file access transactions between the access controller and network storage resources to enable completion of selected network file access transactions directed from the clients to the network file access appliance. The network file access transactions directed to the network storage resources are modified counterparts of policy selected client network file access transactions modified to reference mapped network storage resource mount points and support the secure transfer and storage of network file data.

Methods and systems for mass storage of data over two or more tiers of mass storage media that include nonvolatile solid-state memory devices, hard disk devices, and optionally volatile memory devices or nonvolatile MRAM in an SDRAM configuration. The mass storage media interface with a host through one or more PCIe lanes on a single printed circuit board.

A system and method for image guided assisted medical procedures. The system and method may utilize MRI real time guidance during the above procedures.

A method for the oxidation of substrates comprising treating an aqueous, basic solution of a substrate having an oxidizable functionality using an elemental halogen as terminal oxidant in the presence of an oxoammonium catalyst / halide co-catalyst system. Use of elemental halogen, preferably chlorine gas or elemental bromine, unexpectedly allows oxidation without significant degradation of the substrate. The substrate is preferably a monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or polysaccharide, and the oxidizable functionality is preferably an aldehyde, hemiacetal, or a primary alcohol. An effective source of the oxoammonium catalyst is 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy (TEMPO) and a particularly economical and effective catalyst is 4-acetylamino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy.

Audio spatial localization is accomplished by utilizing input parameters representing the physical and geometrical aspects of a sound source to modify a monophonic representation of the sound or voice and generate a stereo signal which simulates the acoustical effect of the localized sound. The input parameters include location and velocity, and may also include directivity, reverberation, and other aspects. The input parameters are used to generate control parameters which control voice processing. Thus, each voice is Doppler shifted, separated into left and right channels, equalized, and one channel is delayed, according to the control parameters. In addition, the left and right channels may be separated into front and back channels, which are separately processed to simulate front and back location and motion. The stereo signals may be fed into headphones, or may be fed into a crosstalk cancellation device for use with loudspeakers.

A metallic silicon powder is prepared by effecting chemical reduction on silica stone, metallurgical refinement, and metallurgical and / or chemical purification to reduce the content of impurities. The powder is best suited as a negative electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells, affording better cycle performance.

An implantable medical apparatus includes a structure formed from bioabsorbable polymers. The apparatus also contains a therapeutic agent dispersed throughout the structure or coated on the structure in such a manner as to elute the therapeutic agent when implanted in an anatomical conduit. The apparatus can be constructed from a blend of polymers and other agents. The apparatus is implanted into the conduit by expansion with a balloon or some other expandable means. The morphology or arrangement of the polymeric structure ensures that the device maintains its shape characteristics to ensure proper modeling of the vessel. In particular, the crystallinity of the polymeric structure is adjusted so as to resist recoil.

A method of establishing a session between a first device and a second device. The session is established over a telecommunications network using an accelerated session setup technique. The method includes providing a first accelerated session setup technique and providing a second accelerated session setup technique. The method also includes establishing the session using either the first accelerated session setup technique or the second accelerated session setup technique based on a predetermined process.

Provided is a heat-conductive silicone composition, including: (A) 100 parts by volume of an organopolysiloxane having a specific structure, (B) 0.1 to 50 parts by volume of an organosilicon compound that functions as a wetter and contains a triorganooxysilyl group bonded to one terminal via an alkylene group that may be branched, (C) 100 to 2,500 parts by volume of a heat-conductive filler, and (D) an effective quantity of a curing agent. Also provided is a heat-conductive silicone cured product obtained by curing this composition. The heat-conductive silicone composition, even when filled with a large quantity of a heat-conductive filler in order to provide superior thermal conductivity, exhibits a minimal increase in viscosity or plasticity, and retains favorable handling properties and moldability. The heat-conductive silicone cured product exhibits excellent flexibility even when filled with a large quantity of a heat-conductive filler. Heat generated by a heat-generating electronic component can be dissipated into a heat-radiating component by sandwiching the cured product between the heat-generating electronic component and the heat-radiating component.

A reflector antenna with a self supported feed assembly that may be formed by injection molding. A waveguide portion of the feed assembly has a dielectric cone at a distal end that supports and retains a sub reflector, for example along a periphery of the sub reflector. A conductive surface coating on an internal surface of the waveguide and a bottom surface of the sub reflector creates surfaces with RF reflective and conductive properties. The return loss of the feed assembly is reduced due to a reduction of the thickness of the material forming the dielectric cone, compared to prior dielectric block designs and a soft boundary condition produced by dielectric coating of the waveguide which aids in reducing reflections to the vertex area of the reflector.

A composition and method for enhancing skin adhesion of cosmetics by using pigments and extender pigments for the cosmetics, which pigments and extender pigments are treated with at least one hydrophobidizing agent and / or hydrophobidizing / lipophobidizing agent and one or more high viscosity esters having a viscosity in excess of 30 cps. The present invention further comprises such coated pigments and extender pigments as well as cosmetics made therewith.

Methionine is an effective antioxidant for polypeptides having an amino acid sequence lacking methionine. Compositions containing polypeptides having an amino acid sequence that is free of methionine residues are stabilized from oxidative degradation by combining methionine in the composition in an amount effective to inhibit oxidation of the polypeptide.

Methods and systems for mass storage of data over two or more tiers of mass storage media that include nonvolatile solid-state memory devices, hard disk devices, and optionally volatile memory devices or nonvolatile MRAM in an SDRAM configuration. The mass storage media interface with a host through one or more PCIe lanes on a single printed circuit board.

A polymeric medical device is constructed from bioabsorbable polymers. The device is constructed from a tube comprised of at least one polymer. The polymer is treated at pre-determined heating and cooling temperatures to obtain a desired morphology. The morphology or arrangement of the polymeric structure ensures that the device maintains its shape characteristics to ensure proper modeling of the vessel. In particular, the crystallinity of the polymeric structure is adjusted so as to resist recoil. The device can also contain a therapeutic agent dispersed throughout the structure or coated on the structure in such a manner as to elute the therapeutic agent when implanted in an anatomical conduit. The device can also be constructed from a blend of polymers and other agents such as plasticizers.

In a SAW-less receiver involving a passive mixer, novel degenerative impedance elements having substantial impedances are disposed in incoming signal paths between the differential signal output leads of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and the differential signal input leads of the passive mixer. The passive mixer outputs signals to a transimpedance amplifier and baseband filter (TIA). Providing the novel degenerative impedance elements decreases noise in the overall receiver as output from the TIA, with only minimal degradation of other receiver performance characteristics. In some examples, the passive mixer receives local oscillator signals having duty cycles of substantially less than fifty percent. In some examples, the degenerative impedance elements can have one of several impedances.

Systems and methods for reducing the visibility of rain in acquired images are provided. One or more inputs relating the scene desired to be acquired by the user are used to retrieve camera settings that will reduce the visibility of rain in acquired images. Additionally, features relating to the scene may be automatically determined and used alone, or in combination with user inputs, to retrieve camera settings. The acquired images may be part of a video. Another feature of the invention is its use as a rain gauge. The camera settings are adjusted to enhance the visibility of rain, then one ore more images are acquired and analyzed for the amount and size of raindrops. From this analysis the rain rate can be determined.

A resonant frequency device provided with a transmitter, an amplifier and an impedance matching circuit connected to an antenna, such as a plasma antenna. A voltage or current balun could be provided between the impedance matching circuit and the antenna.

A method of reducing noise in an environment where the noise source is in a fixed location relative to a pair of microphones, such as in a camera with a zoom motor, involves receiving signals x1(t), x2(t) from the respective microphones, and filtering each of the signals x1(t), x2(t) with respective first and second linear filters having filter coefficients obtained by computing eigenfilters corresponding to data samples from the respective microphones for noise only and signal only conditions.

Disclosed are current sink and source circuits, a charge pump that incorporates them, and a phase locked loop that incorporates the charge pump. The current sink and source circuits each have a current mirror that biases a transistor connected to an output node. These circuits each further have a two-stage feedback amplifier to sense the current mirror drain voltage and to control the transistor gate voltage in order to stabilize the current mirror drain voltage independent of output voltage at the output node. The amplifier also increases output resistance at the output node. This configuration allows for a wide operation voltage range and ensures good circuit performance under a very low power supply. A charge pump that incorporates these circuits generates highly matched charging and discharging currents. A PLL that incorporates this charge pump exhibits minimal bandwidth shifts and minimal locking speed and jitter performance degradation.

The present invention provides a dust core including, as principal components, a pulverized powder of an Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon; and a Cr-containing Fe-based amorphous alloy atomized spherical powder, and the pulverized powder is in the shape of a thin plate having two principal planes opposing each other, and assuming that a minimum dimension along a plane direction of the principal planes is a grain size, the pulverized powder includes a pulverized powder with a grain size more than twice and not more than six times as large as a thickness of the pulverized powder in a proportion of 80 mass % or more of the whole pulverized powder and includes a pulverized powder with a grain size not more than twice as large as the thickness of the pulverized powder in a portion of 20 mass % or less of the whole pulverized powder.

An antenna device includes a signal-band separating circuit that is interposed between a communication antenna and a ground portion that are disposed on a circuit board. The communication antenna is connected to a communication circuit by a signal line via a signal-band separating circuit. A telecast-receiving antenna is connected to a broadcast circuit by a signal line. The signal-band separating circuit transmits signals in a frequency band for communication between the communication antenna and the communication circuit, and transmits signals in a frequency band for telecasts between the communication antenna and the ground portion. The antenna length (electrical length) of the telecast-receiving antenna is extended by adding the antenna length of the communication antenna in addition to the antenna length of the ground portion, thereby improving the antenna gain during telecast reception.

A solid state foaming process permits the use of up to 100% recycled pre- and post-consumer polymer for the manufacture of foamed polymer material and thermoformed foamed polymer articles. The process enables the optional formation of integral unfoamed skins of controllable depth and crystallinity on foamed polymeric materials suitable for a wide variety of applications. Because this process does not alter the underlying chemistry of the material all scrap from the manufacturing process may be reused without additive to form new foamed polymeric materials and articles.

Provided is a heat-conductive silicone composition, including: (A) 100 parts by volume of an organopolysiloxane having a specific structure, (B) 0.1 to 50 parts by volume of an organosilicon compound that functions as a wetter and contains a triorganooxysilyl group bonded to one terminal via an alkylene group that may be branched, (C) 100 to 2,500 parts by volume of a heat-conductive filler, and (D) an effective quantity of a curing agent. Also provided is a heat-conductive silicone cured product obtained by curing this composition. The heat-conductive silicone composition, even when filled with a large quantity of a heat-conductive filler in order to provide superior thermal conductivity, exhibits a minimal increase in viscosity or plasticity, and retains favorable handling properties and moldability. The heat-conductive silicone cured product exhibits excellent flexibility even when filled with a large quantity of a heat-conductive filler. Heat generated by a heat-generating electronic component can be dissipated into a heat-radiating component by sandwiching the cured product between the heat-generating electronic component and the heat-radiating component.

A method for thawing and infusing partially frozen fruits or vegetables. Individually quick frozen fruits or vegetables are introduced into a mixing kettle. An infusion solution is circulated from a solution tank, through a bed of fruits or vegetables, and back to a solution tank. The infusion solution is maintained at a temperature of about 45° to about 50° F. and at a Brix of about 40° to about 50°. The infusion solution is pumped and circulated at a high rate which reduces thaw time but does not result in product degradation. After thawing, the pumping and re-circulating rate is decreased to allow for increased infusion efficiency. Pressure pulses are applied to the product in the mixing tank which decreases the infusion time. Thus, thawed and infused fruit and vegetables are produced quickly and with minimal product degradation.

The present invention relates generally to optical waveguides for the transmission of electromagnetic energy. The present invention relates more particularly to optical couplers for coupling optical fibers, and methods for making them. One aspect of the present invention is an optical coupler for use with a polarization-maintaining input optical fiber and a polarization-maintaining output optical fiber. The coupler includes: a tube having a wide end, a narrow end having an end face, and a taper therebetween; a polarization-maintaining feed-through optical fiber having a first end having an end face and a second end, the polarization-maintaining feed-through optical fiber being disposed within the tube from the wide end to the narrow end, at least the narrow end of the tube being fused around a first length of the polarization-maintaining feed-through optical fiber including the first end of the polarization-maintaining feed-through optical fiber to form a coupler end face comprising the end face of the tube and the end face of the first end of the polarization-maintaining feed-through optical fiber. In one aspect of the invention, the polarization-maintaining feed-through optical fiber has an outer diameter no greater than about 200 μm in the region in which the tube is fused around it. In another aspect of the invention, the polarization-maintaining feed-through optical fiber has an outer diameter at the coupler end face no greater than about 75% of the diameter of the polarization-maintaining input optical fiber.

A writing instrument with multiple embedded image sensors. Partial fingerprint images are combined with kinematic sensors to verify or identify a user.