58results about How to "Minimize effect" patented technology

A method of image acquisition and data pre-processing includes obtaining from a sensor an image of a subject making a movement. The sensor may be a depth camera. The method also includes selecting a plurality of features of interest from the image, sampling a plurality of depth values corresponding to the plurality of features of interest, projecting the plurality of features of interest onto a model utilizing the plurality of depth values, and constraining the projecting of the plurality of features of interest onto the model utilizing a constraint system. The constraint system may comprise an inverse kinematics solver.

Normalization of the built-in DC offset error in each analog channel is disclosed to reduce image distortion in multi-event (multi-touch or multi-hover) sensor panels. By eliminating the component-dependent offset error from each analog channel, each analog channel will generate approximately the same output value for a given dynamic input signal. Normalization can include “phantom row” compensation, which involves measuring the static output value of each analog channel when no stimulus is applied to any row of a multi-event sensor panel, and subtracting this value out of any subsequent output value generated by the analog channel. Normalization can also include DAC offset compensation, which involves setting the offset compensation voltage of each analog channel to some fraction of its normal value, measuring the output of the analog channel over temperature, determining a temperature coefficient, and adjusting any subsequent output value generated by the analog channel to account for this drift.

The present invention relates to methods for determining whether blood flow is restricted in a blood vessel of an individual suspected of compromised blood flow in the vessel, the method comprising the steps of delivering UTP, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof to the vessel, assessing blood flow quantitatively in the vessel by obtaining a value that correlates to blood flow in said vessel, comparing the obtained value with a reference value, and determining whether the individual has compromised blood flow based on the results of the comparison. The invention also provides for methods of diagnosing atherosclerotic and ischemic heart diseases using UTP, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof, as well as methods for inducing maximal hyperemia for diagnostic purposes.

A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack. The system is comprised of a multi-sided, substantially airtight battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries, where at least one side of the battery pack enclosure includes at least one cavity. An inner wall of the enclosure includes a plurality of perforations configured to pass gas from within the enclosure to the cavity within the at least one side member. The system is further comprised of at least one gas exhaust port integrated into an outer wall of the enclosure and configured to pass gas from within the cavity of the enclosure side member to the ambient environment when one or more batteries contained within the battery pack undergo thermal runaway.

We describe the manufacturing process for and structure of a CPP MTJ MRAM unit cell that utilizes transfer of spin angular momentum as a mechanism for changing the magnetic moment direction of a free layer. The strength of the switching field, H_s of the cell is controlled by the magnetic anisotropy of the cell which, in turn, is controlled by a combination of the shape anisotropy and the stress and magnetostriction of the cell free layer. The coefficient of magnetostriction of the free layer can be adjusted by methods such as adding Nb or Hf to alloys of Ni, Fe, Co and B or by forming the free layer as a lamination of layers having different values of their coefficients of magnetostriction. Thus, by tuning the coefficient of magnetostriction of the cell free layer it is possible to produce a switching field of sufficient magnitude to render the cell thermally stable while maintaining a desirable switching current.

Methods for driving electro-optic displays, especially bistable displays, include (a) using two-part waveforms, the first part of which is dependent only upon the initial state of the relevant pixel; (b) measuring the response of each individual pixel and storing for each pixel data indicating which of a set of standard drive schemes are to be used for that pixel; (c) for at least one transition in a drive scheme, applying multiple different waveforms to pixels on a random basis; and (d) when updating a limited area of the display, driving “extra” pixels in an edge elimination region to avoid edge effects.

Disclosed herein is the use of chemical irritants, such as vanilloid receptor-1 agonists, in sustained/controlled release pharmaceutical preparations which also contain a drug typically having high abuse potential. Inclusion of the VR1 agonist in the pharmaceutical preparation interferes with illicit or inappropriate dosing without significantly interfering with the action of the therapeutic. Also disclosed are exemplary co-formulations of capsaicin (a VR1 agonist) and oxycodone (an opioid therapeutic having high abuse potential) in controlled release preparations.

The present invention provides methods for deriving oligonucleotides for specific internal delivery to one or more target cell types (e.g., cancer cells). The method generally includes selecting at least once with a target cell type to provide a plurality of internalizing oligonucleotides for the target cell type, and in some embodiments, counter-selecting at least once with a non-target cell type to provide a plurality of oligonucleotides that do not bind to features present in the non-target cell type. Therapeutic and diagnostic compositions including the oligonucleotides, and methods of treatment are also provided.

An apparatus can treat biological tissue using a base member, a plurality of needles, and a plurality of fiber optics. The plurality of needles extend from the base member. Each needle defines a bore capable of receiving a fiber optic and has an end. The plurality of needles form an array capable of penetrating a biological tissue and positioning each end within a subsurface volume of the biological tissue. Each fiber optic is adapted for insertion into the bore of each needle, and each fiber optic is capable of delivering electromagnetic radiation to the subsurface volume of the biological tissue to treat the biological tissue.

A medical probe for collecting signals from a body cavity having a profile which is a combination of an outside frustum shape and the multiple surface cavities or indentations situated on the probe outer surface. The probe outer surface when enveloped by a thin probe cover material forms air pockets, thus reducing thermal conductivity across the probe walls and minimizing negative effects of the lateral heat transfer.

An apparatus including an LED lighting system for use within AC current and comprising a multi-phase circuit design providing an improved power delivery means which allows one half of the LEDs in the system to be lit during any given one half of the alternating current cycle and the other half to be lit during the other half of the current cycle. Further, a heat sink module comprising heat sink fins mates with custom LED footprints such that the module is mated to the footprints on at least ⅓ of its total surface area. Finally, the LED lighting apparatus and system comprises a faceplate comprising a beveled aperture through said faceplate directly above each LED, and wherein said bevel angle is at least zero and no more than 120 degrees.

A method of forming registration marks and an image forming apparatus are provided. The registration mark includes two first patterns and one second pattern on an image carrier. The method includes: forming two first patterns on the image carrier; and forming a second pattern on the image carrier between the two first patterns. A specular reflection component in a light reflected by the second pattern is less than a specular reflection component in a light reflected by the image carrier. A diffuse reflection component in a light reflected by the second pattern is less than a diffuse reflection component in a light reflected by the first pattern.

This invention is in the area of tricyclic lactam compounds and methods for protecting healthy cells, and in particular hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC), from the damage associated with ionizing radiation (IR) exposure using selective radioprotectants.

A hybrid battery power source for implantable medical use provides a generally constant low internal resistance during discharge and avoids voltage delays of the type that develop as a result of run down-induced resistance increase in Li/SVO cells. The hybrid battery power source utilizes two batteries or cells, one being a primary cell of relatively high energy density and the other being a secondary cell of relatively low internal resistance that is rechargeable. The primary and secondary cells are connected in a parallel arrangement via a voltage boost/charge control circuit that is powered by the primary cell and adapted to charge the secondary cell while limiting charge/discharge excursions thereof in a manner that optimizes its output for high energy medical device use. The energy storage capacitors of the medical device in which the hybrid battery power source is situated are driven by the secondary cell. The primary cell is used to as an energy source for recharging the secondary cell.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of ion imbalances. In particular, the invention provides polymeric and pharmaceutical compositions comprising crosslinked amine polymers. Methods of use of the polymeric and pharmaceutical compositions for therapeutic and/or prophylactic benefits are disclosed herein. Examples of these methods include the treatment of renal diseases and hyperphosphatemia.

An improved device and method for performing automatic capture/threshold determination that is particularly useful in an implantable cardiac stimulation device. While conventional devices use a fixed shortening of the AV/PV delays during automatic capture/threshold determinations, any shortening can unnecessarily cause discomfort to patients with heart blocks and unnecessarily diminish the atrial kick for other patients. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention periodically measure the AR/PR conduction times and tabulate and/or otherwise process this data. Preferably, these measured conduction times are also correlated with the current heart rate. Finally, when an automatic capture/threshold determination occurs, this measured conduction data, which corresponds to this patient, is used to adjust the AV/PV delays while minimizing patient discomfort and adverse hemodynamic effects. Alternatively, the AV/PV delays may be manually programmable by a medical practitioner.

Methods and systems monitor a patient's mobility and range-of-motion (ROM) for a patient's head and neck area. Monitoring can be provided prior to, during and after associated therapy. At least one large protractor having an outer and an inner surface and including a circular scale including a vertex located along said at least one large protractor's inner surface can be selectively suspended above and in front of a patient measurement location. The at least one large protractor can be adapted for equidistantly positioning a patient's head away with respect to said circular scale of said at least one large protractor in a manner that the patient is generally centered and positioned comfortably in front or beneath the vertex of said at least one large protractor. A head mountable harness including securing means adapted for temporary attachment of a laser about said head mounted harness. At least one laser can be mounted about the head mountable harness and is capable of illuminating a laser beam onto said circular scale. The laser's beam is used to indicate the range of motion of the patient's head based on said laser beam's location indicated along said circular scale.

A method of manufacturing a photomask includes forming an upper layer on a photomask substrate, and patterning the upper layer to form an upper pattern having an inclined sidewall, wherein patterning the upper layer includes anisotropically etching the upper layer using charged particles moving in parallel to a first direction inclined toward a top surface of the upper layer.

Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for the identification of various objects, particularly circulating tumor cells. In one aspect the system includes, but is not limited to, a scanning system, an image storage system, and an analysis system. The analysis system preferably identifies desired objects, such as complete cells, based on various criteria, which may include cell nuclear area or volume, CD-45 negative status, and cytokeratine positive status. Preferably included is a slide for containing the cells during the imaging step, the well including a planar bottom surface, a border at the periphery of the well defining sides for the well, the border being adjacent the bottom surface of the well and providing a fluidic seal there between. The invention herein provides for a single imaging well, providing for substantially a monolayer of objects, e.g., cells.

The present invention relates to a system and method for compensating for the effects of birefringence in a given sample and employs an optical birefringence analyzer to sense the real-time birefringence contributions and then provides a feedback signal to a compound electro-optical system that negates the birefringence contributions found in the given sample. The birefringence contribution vanishes, thus significantly reducing the main error component for polarimetric measurements.

A system includes an antenna array consisting of a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of receivers to process the signals from the antenna elements of the antenna array, and a combiner to combine receiver outputs so as to minimize the effect of undesirable signals such as multipath or interference while maintaining a nominal gain in the direction of the desired signal. The combiner takes into account variation or uncertainty in the assumed antenna array response, such as imprecise knowledge of the angle of arrival and uncertainty in the array manifold and multiplicative uncertainties due to gain variations between receivers, as well as non-uniformity in the response due to coupling between elements and coupling with the antenna structure. This system is applicable to antenna arrays with non-uniform responses, such as closely spaced arrays in which the coupling between elements is significant.

A data communication technique for use in producing wells. Signals are transmitted through the product (p) by varying and monitoring flow rate at respective ends of the communication channel. At low data rates robust communication can be provided.

Provided are fully implantable soft medical devices and related methods. The devices comprise stretchable electronic devices between on an elastomeric substrate and an elastomeric super-state. Electronic components of the electronic device are configured to interface with tissue. Wireless power and control systems provide wireless power and control of the electronic components, thereby providing the fully implantable functionality. The devices may have a plurality of independently addressable electronic components, such as LEDs. In this manner, wireless control of a single implanted device may still provide multi-functional capabilities, including in a multiplexed configuration.

The invention provides an apparatus for use in high temperature conditions, constituted of a downhole element and a master element connected together via a sealed connection; wherein the downhole element comprises a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor without any electronics and is embedded in a sealed housing resistant to high temperature; wherein the master element comprises electronics needed for function of the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor; and wherein the sealed connection is resistant to high temperature.

The invention relates to a fusion protein comprising an albumin, or a fragment or a variant or a derivative thereof and at least one biologically active peptide which activates the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) receptor, or a fragment or variant or a derivative thereof.

An image sensor and a column analog-to-digital converter thereof are provided. The column analog-to-digital converter includes a counter providing a counter result, a ramp signal generator providing a ramp signal and a start signal, a sampling and comparing array, a first latch array, a second latch array, and an arithmetic unit. The sampling and comparing array outputs a plurality of brightness transformation signals according to the ramp signal, the start signal, and initial voltages and brightness voltages of a plurality of photosensitive pixels. The first and the second latch arrays latch the counter result in response to the brightness transformation signals and output a plurality of first brightness latch values during a first period and a plurality of second brightness latch values during a second period. The arithmetic unit calculates the brightness values of the photosensitive pixels according to the first brightness latch values and the second brightness latch values.

A controlled-impedance cable termination that minimizes the effects of cable expansion and contraction on impedance matching. The terminator has an anchor block, an expansion/contraction compensator (ECC) attached to the cable, a compliant signal contact for making the electrical connection between the cable center conductor and the electrical device. The ECC has an electrically-conductive ferrule with a bore. The ferrule bore may be formed in the anchor block instead of in a separate ferrule. The cable shield is attached at the bore. A solid dielectric insert fits into the ferrule bore. An electrically-conductive center pin fits into a bore in the dielectric insert and has a bore that accepts the center conductor such that the center conductor can expand and contracting while maintaining electrical contact with the center pin. A plate abuts the anchor block face and holds the compliant contacts through apertures.

A laser assembly is configured with a frequency conversion laser head operative to shift a fundamental frequency of input light to the desired frequency of an output light. The frequency conversion laser head includes a dump means operative to guide an unconverted output light at the fundamental frequency outside the case of the frequency conversion laser head. The dump means is configured with a guide optics operative to couple the output light at the fundamental frequency to a fiber terminating outside the case of the frequency conversion laser head.

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide for the minimization of the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic leakage electrical currents enabling true measurements of electric. potentials and electric fields. In an embodiment, an ephemeral electric potential and electric field sensor system may have at least one electric field sensor and a rotator coupled to the electric field sensor and be configured to rotate the electric field sensor at a quasi-static frequency. In an embodiment, ephemeral electric potential and electric field measurements may be taken by rotating at least one electric field sensor at a quasi-static frequency, receiving electrical potential measurements from the electric field sensor when the electric field sensor is rotating at the quasi-static frequency, and generating and outputting images based at least in part on the received electrical potential measurements.

A switched capacitor circuit includes a capacitor; a switch element for selectively coupling a first node to a second node according to a control signal, wherein the first node is coupled to the capacitor; and a charge circuit coupled to the first node for coupling the first node to a third node and for controlling a first voltage difference across the first switch element in the off-state to be greater than a charge voltage. By ensuring the charge voltage is large enough to minimize a parasitic capacitance of the switch element, the clock feedthrough effect is eliminated, the locking period of the VCO is shortened, and the phase noise of the VCO is minimized.