110results about How to "Minimize opportunity" patented technology

An ultrasonic surgical clamp coagulator apparatus is configured to effect cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue by cooperation of a clamping mechanism of the apparatus with an associated ultrasonic end-effector. The handle of the apparatus is configured to permit hand activation for cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. In order to promote convenient and efficient use of the apparatus, the fingertip controls are provided directly into the disposal shears handle in a position that allows surgeons to activate the device without repositioning their hand. The two buttons provide independent control of the two power levels available from the generator, matching the two foot pedal configuration of the prior art.

A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.

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.

Embodiments of the invention provide printing incentive methods and systems. In one embodiment, a method of providing advertising content to a customer can be provided. The method can include receiving information associated with a customer. In addition, the method can include receiving information associated with at least one advertiser. Furthermore, the method can include associating at least one keyword with the at least one advertiser. Moreover, the method can include comparing the at least one keyword to a portion of information associated with the customer. Further, the method can include outputting advertising content to the customer based at least in part on the comparison.

A fire and/or water resistant expansion joint system for installation between substrates of a tunnel. The system includes a coating applied at a predetermined thickness to the substrates and a fire and water resistant expansion joint. The expansion joint includes a core and a fire retardant infused into the core. The core is configured to define a profile to facilitate the compression of the expansion joint system when installed between the substrates. The coating and the fire and water resistant expansion joint are each capable of withstanding exposure to a temperature of at least about 540° C. or greater for about five minutes.

A method and apparatus to be mounted upon a planter row unit for delivering liquid fertilizer to the bottom of a trench without contacting the seed to be planted is disclosed and claimed. The system as claimed and described is adapted for mounting to substantially all modern row units employing floating row units. The method and apparatus as described does not interfere with existing down pressure or seed placement systems as found on modern row crop planters. As described and implemented, the method and apparatus is more compact and lighter in weight than the prior art. The attached assembly for a seed planting unit works in combination with a seed trench opener to form a trench for the deposit of liquid fertilizer offset from and parallel to the later formed seed trench. The apparatus allows directed liquid fertilizer delivery in close proximity to the seed trench with minimal disruption of said seed trench. The attachment includes a single disk blade disposed forward of the seed trench forming unit. The single disk blade is disposed at an angle of four degrees or less from the line defining the direction of travel of the seed planting implement in combination with a furrow strap. The attachment includes a selectively adjustable down force structure and a selectively adjustable depth control mechanism.

An automated banking machine (10, 70, 146) is operative to enable a plurality of authorized software components (80) to be selectively configured. The machine may be provided with either an authorization key (46, 72) or a configuration certificate (48, 150, 160) that is generated by a licensing authority (30, 62, 140). The machine is operative to authenticate the key or certificate prior to granting a user permission to configure the machine. The machine is operative to authenticate a configuration certificate by evaluating a digital signature (154, 190) associated with the configuration certificate. An authorization key may be authenticated by comparing it to a second authorization key generated responsive to a plurality of configuration parameters and one-way hash functions (92, 94). The key or certificate may be associated with a plurality of configuration rules (84, 152) which specify the configuration software components and parameters for specific ATM software and hardware.

A fire and/or water resistant expansion joint system for installation into a building joint in vertical and horizontal configurations is designed such that it can be used for either an inside or outside corner. The system comprises a core having a fire retardant infused therein. A layer of an elastomer is disposed on the core and is tooled to define a profile to facilitate the compression of the expansion joint system when installed between coplanar substrates. The system can be delivered to a job site in a pre-compressed state ready for installation into the building joint.

A sample carrier comprising a top wall, a base, and a support wall joining the top wall and the base. The top wall includes aligned, spaced-apart openings on at least one side of the support wall which are sized to receive sample tubes. Sleeves depending from the top wall and circumscribing each opening direct sample tubes into sample tube holding areas. The sample tube holding areas each include one or more retaining walls extending upward from the base opposite the support wall. Springs extending outward from the support wall bias sample tubes against the retaining walls. A drip shield comprising a cover plate, a pair of through-holes for accessing sample tubes in the sample carrier, and a depending fin which separates sample tubes on opposite sides of the support wall protects against cross-contamination between sample tubes held by the sample carrier.

A signal detection system configured for detecting a signal emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle is also configured to apply thermal energy to a portion of the reaction receptacle to affect a reaction occurring within the reaction receptacle. More particularly, a system for detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle includes a transmission element configured for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the contents of the receptacle, a thermal element associated with the transmission element and configured to apply thermal energy to at least a portion of the receptacle, and a detector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from the transmission element and to generate a signal corresponding to a characteristic of the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector.

Selectable objects in a computer display are arranged in a cascading menu including parent menu and submenu objects in which an activation area is provided in association with each submenu displayed which spans between the submenu and the associated parent menu object. The activation area provides the function of maintaining display of a submenu associated with a selected parent menu object while the cursor remains in contact with the activation area. An override function is provided to minimize trapping of the cursor within the activation area. The shape of the activation area is generally triangular with opposing side edges extending from an apex and the parent object being curved inwardly towards one another to also minimize trapping. The characteristics of the activation area can also be varied according to user motion patterns.

An automated banking machine is operative to authorize the installation, use, and/or configuration of ATM software applications and components. The machine may be provided with either an authorization key or a configuration certificate that is generated by a licensing authority. The machine is operative to authenticate the key or certificate prior to granting a user permission to install, run, and/or configure the software. The machine is operative to authenticate a configuration certificate by evaluating a digital signature associated with the configuration certificate. An authorization key may be authenticated by comparing it to a second authorization key generated responsive to inputted license information and one-way hash functions. The key or certificate may be associated with a plurality of configuration rules which specify the configuration software components and parameters for specific ATM software and hardware.

The present invention relates to the use of a combination of nordihydroguaiaretic acid and an aminoglycoside for treating a microbial infection or for killing clinically latent microorganisms associated with microbial infections.

An inventoriable-object control and tracking system comprising, in accordance with its preferred embodiments, an object identification assembly having an electronic device, with a unique electronically-readable identification code, which is connected to an inventoriable-object to enable control over access to the object and tracking of the object to identify a user in possession of the object. The system further includes a row and column matrix of electrical connectors located offset from a panel defining a corresponding row and column matrix of polarized slots for receipt of a plurality of object identification assemblies in a single orientation. Each connector of a matrix of electrical connectors comprises a pair of opposed, spring contacts having independently-deflectable portions to insure proper electrical contact with an electronic device of each object identification assembly. The system also includes a local controller connected to the matrix of electrical connectors and to a remote controller which executes, in accordance with the preferred methods, a plurality of software routines that communicate bi-directionally using a serial protocol, via a parallel data communications interface, to acquire and process data from each object identification assembly present. In accordance with the preferred apparatus, the system additionally comprises a storage unit having a drawer which is withdrawable from an enclosure upon operation of an electronically-actuated locking mechanism. The storage unit includes a slot and electrical connector positioned in a drawer face plate assembly for receipt of a personal identification assembly which enables a user to gain access to the plurality of object identification assemblies residing in the storage unit.

A smart fluid storage container assembly and methods of using the container assembly. The container assembly includes features that minimize the risk of degradation of any fluid or other material contained in the container, provide for monitoring of the conditions the fluid has and is being subjected to, and provide for storage of identifying information and other data with the container itself. The information accompanying the container can be used to identify the contents of the container and/or the proper storage and use of the material contained within the container.

A mis-fuel inhibitor in an inlet neck assembly of a vehicle fuel system discriminates between nozzle diameters, allowing entrance of nozzle diameters at or greater than a predetermined minimum diameter while inhibiting entrance of nozzles having diameters less than the predetermined minimum diameter. An actuator responsive to nozzle diameters opens and closes shutters blocking nozzle entrance.