49results about How to "Minimize the risk of damage" patented technology

The invention provides a two-part package and method of use for a pre-attached medical implant and delivery tool system. The package includes a wet compartment and a dry compartment and allows a pre-attached implant and delivery tool system to be at least partially stored immersed in a fluid in the wet compartment and at least partially stored in the dry compartment. In one embodiment the implant comprises a replacement heart valve, and the heart valve is stored inside the wet compartment while the heart valve delivery tool remains dry in the dry compartment.

An automated banking machine system includes ATMs that can accept checks. Cash may be dispensed from an ATM to the user in exchange for a check. Cancellation indicia can be marked on the check by the ATM. The ATM can acquire image data and magnetic data from a received check to determine the genuineness of the check and the authority of the user to cash the check. A check imaging device of the ATM can generate a digital image of a received check. The check image data can be stored in correlated relation with the related transaction data. The ATM can also modify the check image data to produce a modified check image that excludes sensitive check information, such as the user's account number in the micr line. The ATM can then print this modified check image on the user's transaction receipt.

Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the formation of blood clots. Therapeutic agents may also be delivered to the region of a disease site. In regional delivery, liquid formulations may be desirable to increase the efficacy and deliverability of the particular drug. Also, the devices may be modified to promote endothelialization. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned. In addition, the devices utilized to deliver the implantable medical devices may be modified to reduce the potential for damaging the implantable medical device during deployment. Medical devices include stents, grafts, anastomotic devices, perivascular wraps, sutures and staples. In addition, various polymer combinations may be utilized to control the elution rates of the therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds from the implantable medical devices.

An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash is then dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check. The ATMs dispense cash responsive to communications with a transaction host. The transaction host provides transaction identifying data to the ATM. The ATM sends the transaction identifying data and check images to an image and transaction data server for processing.

The invention relates to spinal fusion implants or grafts and to apparatus for the installation thereof. More specifically, the invention is a serrated cutting or abrading tool designed to be pushed into an intervertebral space and thereby remove and partially penetrate the cortical bone layer that defines the endplates of the respective mutually adjacent vertebral bodies.

An intraocular lens is laterally compressed prior to insertion through an eye incision using an inserter adapted to minimize damage to the intraocular lens. The inserter includes a handpiece with a longitudinal bore, a cartridge holder at the distal end of the handpiece bore, and a discharge nozzle with a tapered bore on the distal side of the cartridge holder. A prepackaged cartridge holding an intraocular lens is mounted in the cartridge holder. The intraocular lens has an optic with leading and trailing haptics axially aligned with the handpiece and nozzle bores. A plunger compresses the lens by moving the lens through the nozzle tapered bore. One plunger described includes flexible distal arms that compress inwardly to maintain the arm tips against the sides of the optic, while another plunger includes an angular tip that engages a hole in the leading haptic to pull the lens through the tapered bore.

An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash may be dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check. The ATMs dispense cash responsive to communications with a transaction host.

The conveyor apparatus disclosed herein is generally formed of a first rail and a second rail, each rail having a plurality of rollers. A portion of the rollers are desirably drive rollers, receiving power from an integral motor assembly. The motor generally comprises a stator that is coupled to the rail and an outer roller assembly rotatably coupled to the rail. The roller assembly includes an outer circumferential magnetized portion positioned in surrounding engagement to the motor stator and functions both as the motor rotor and the conveying surface of the roller. Non-slip roller covering material may be attached to the exterior of the roller assembly. A circuit board having logic controls is preferably in communication with at least one sensor and the motor rotor to regulate rotation of the motor rotor during use of the conveyor.

A corrosion-resistant lath is provided for use in exterior finishing systems, such as stucco systems and exterior insulation and finish systems (“EIFS”). The lath includes in a first embodiment an open, woven fabric comprising weft and warp yarns containing non-metallic fibers, such as glass fibers. A portion of the weft yarns are undulated, resulting in an increased thickness for the fabric. The fabric is coated with a polymeric resin for substantially binding the weft yarns in the undulated condition. This invention also includes methods for making an exterior finish system and building wall including an exterior finish system using such a lath.

Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the formation of blood clots. The drugs, agents, and/or compounds may also be utilized to treat specific diseases, including vulnerable plaque. Therapeutic agents may also be delivered to the region of a disease site. In regional delivery, liquid formulations may be desirable to increase the efficacy and deliverability of the particular drug. Also, the devices may be modified to promote endothelialization. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned. In addition, the devices utilized to deliver the implantable medical devices may be modified to reduce the potential for damaging the implantable medical device during deployment. Medical devices include stents, grafts, anastomotic devices, perivascular wraps, sutures and staples. In addition, various polymer combinations may be utilized to control the elution rates of the therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds from the implantable medical devices.

An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. The authority of the user is determined based on the user being associated in a data store with the maker of the check. The check cannot exceed certain programmed thresholds or be presented earlier than the expiration of a delay period from when a prior check from the same maker is presented. In exchange for acceptable checks cash is dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check.

An eddy current inspection probe provides multiple interchangeable configurations for enabling an inspector to reach most or all portions of most or all turbine blades within a combustion turbine by inserting the probe through an inspection port, without disassembling the turbine. The probe shaft contains the electronic signal wire for the inspection tip and a port for a video probe, thereby facilitating use of the video probe and protecting these components. The inspection tip connector at the end of the main shaft is pivotally secured to the shaft, and may be set at any desired angle by using a semirigid or rigid member passing through the shaft, and connected to lever within the handle. Any one of a plurality of probe tips and shaft extensions may be selected to configure the inspection probe to reach a desired location within the turbine.

Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the prevention of thrombosis. The drugs, agents, and/or compounds may also be utilized to treat specific disorders, including vulnerable plaque. Therapeutic agents may also be delivered to the region of a disease site. In regional delivery, liquid formulations may be desirable to increase the efficacy and deliverability of the particular drug. Also, the devices may be modified to promote endothelialization. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned. In addition, the devices utilized to deliver the implantable medical devices may be modified to reduce the potential for damaging the implantable medical device during deployment. Medical devices include stents, grafts, anastomotic devices, perivascular wraps, sutures and staples. In addition, various polymer combinations may be utilized to control the elution rates of the therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds from the implantable medical devices.

An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash may be dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited checks.

The present invention is directed to a method for the generation of periodic curved structures in a basic support material such as the basic layer for the magnetic bit cells of a magnetic storage device. The method includes the steps of generating a number of diffraction masks such that each mask comprises at least one transmission diffraction gratings having at least one of a different periodic concentric circular pattern, spiral-like periodic pattern and periodic radial spoke pattern; positioning at least one of the diffraction masks simultaneously or successively in a certain distance of the basic support material to be patterned, the distance being mask dependent; exposing the basic support material by directing light beams through each of the diffraction masks; and interfering the different light beams diffracted by the gratings on each mask in order to generate coincident light intensity patterns on the surface of the basic support material.

A test connector (1) includes a base (10), a cover (20), a metallic stiffener (70), two operating members (60), and a lid (30). An opening (703) is defined in the stiffener for receiving the cover therein. Two spaced projections (704) are formed on one end of the stiffener. Two receiving grooves (705) are defined in bottoms of the projections respectively. Each operating member comprises a first operating lever (601) engaged with the receiving grooves via a first shaft (603), and a second operating lever (602) engaged with the base. The lid is engaged with the operating members for pivotably moving the first and second operating levers so that the operating members actuate the stiffener and the cover to move. When the cover moves to make the terminals connect a CPU during applying an unduly force on the lid, the metallic stiffener can protect the plastic cover from damage.

A holding device for at least one object carrier, the object carrier being suitable to receive one or more organic and/or inorganic samples and comprising materials such as glass, plastic, silicon, pyrolytic graphite, and/or metal, this holding device being configured to be gripped by grippers of a robot. The holding device comprising two essentially parallel lengthwise walls and two essentially parallel transverse walls which extend substantially at right angles from the lengthwise walls. Holding devices according to preferred embodiments are constructed in a frame shape, wherein the lengthwise and transverse walls define a frame surrounding at least one opening which completely transverses the device. Holding devices according to further embodiments are constructed a plate shape, in that the region between the lengthwise walls and transverse walls is implemented as a carrying surface. All embodiments comprising gripping surfaces on the external surface profile of the lengthwise and transverse walls.

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure having a wafer through-contact that can be achieved easily and safely. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure having a wafer through-contact comprises: a step of providing a semiconductor wafer (1) having a bulk region (1a) and an active region (1b); a step of forming multiple contact trenches (5a-5f), which extend from the top surface (0) of the active region (1b) to the bulk region (1a), in the semiconductor wafer (1); a step of forming a first dielectric isolation layer (8) on the sidewalls and the bottoms of the contact trenches (5a-5f); a step of providing a first conductive filler (10) in the multiple contact trenches (5a-5f); a step of forming a via (V) that is arranged in the semiconductor wafer (1), extends from the backside (B) of the bulk region (1a) to the multiple contact trenches (5a-5f), and exposes the conductive filler (10); a step of forming a second dielectric isolation layer (15) on the sidewall of the via (V); and a step of providing a second conductive filler (20) in the via (V) which comes into contact with the exposed conductive filler (10).

A system for processing a portion in a processing volume of a transparent material by application of focused radiation including a device for generating and an optical system for focusing radiation, with a device for changing the position of the focus of the radiation and a control device. This system performs a slow scanning movement of the focus and an independent fast scanning movement of the focus which section can be moved by the slow scanning movement in the entire processing volume in an arbitrary direction; as well as by a system into which a scan pattern is encoded, with scanning movement including at least one lateral base component in the x- and/or y-direction, which is superimposed by components with synchronous change-of-direction-movements in the z-direction and in x-direction and/or y-direction. The invention also includes corresponding methods, a control program product and a planning unit.

It is proposed a method for controlling the depressurization of a fuel system mounted on board of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle impact sensor (14, 15), the method comprising the steps of: - detecting, using the vehicle impact sensor, whether an impact on the vehicle is present; and - when the impact on the vehicle is detected, using a controller (9, 10) for generating at least one signal for controlling the opening of at least one valve disposed in the fuel system, so as to release the internal pressure of the fuel system.

A mobile pressure washing system is provided. The system comprises a frame with hinged elements for transitioning the frame between an upright position of use and a compact position for secure transport and storage of the system. System features further include a removable and replaceable tank adapted to fit on a portion of the frame, storage features, and pressure washing features such as a motor and pump.

The invention discloses a frozen soil layer natural gas hydrate horizontal branch well pattern mining system and method. The system comprises a main drilling well, a production area, a production well, an area multi-branch well, a production area boundary, a filling body, a decomposition enhancement area, a main drilling well horizontal section, a main drilling well vertical section, a branch well, a decomposition circle and an arch structure. The multi-branch well pattern has the beneficial effects that the multi-branch well pattern can improve the pressure sensitivity of formation fluid andprovide more decomposition free surfaces for natural gas hydrates; after mining is finished, grouting operation is carried out to fill cavities and through cracks formed after mining, the rock stratumarch structure is enhanced, potential environment damage risks are reduced, and the division of production areas and the succession order between the production areas in the long-term production process are planned.

A connector for attaching first and second photovoltaic modules to a mounting rail, with a lower body portion that rotates to lock into a mounting rail groove and an upper body portion with a hook that is lowered towards the lower body portion to grasp onto the first photovoltaic module and a key that receives the second photovoltaic module slidably-connected thereon.

A method for detecting defects in a piston for an internal combustion engine may include a) providing the piston (3) in a measurement arrangement (1) that includes a measurement probe (5) having a first electrical coil element (6a) for generating an electromagnetic alternating field and a second electrical coil element for detecting an electromagnetic alternating field. The method may also include b) moving the measurement probe (5) over a piston surface (7) of the piston, and providing an electrical alternating current (I1) in the first coil element (6a) to generate an electromagnetic alternating field (13) that interacts with a material of the piston in the region under the piston surface (7). The method may further include evaluating an electrical alternating voltage (U2) induced in the second coil element (6b) by the electromagnetic alternating field (18) after interaction with the material of the piston (3).

A method and device for forming a stack of sheets including a delivery surface, and also a stop and a pusher element movable in the direction of the stop, and also a guide which can occupy a first and a second position, in which the first position a sheet can be received in the guide, and in which the second position a guide path is formed, wherein the freedom of movement of the sheet edge is substantially limited in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pushing direction and substantially perpendicular to the delivery surface of the preceding sheet.

A cycle footrest assembly including a footrest and a locking device fixedly mounted to the footrest. The locking device preferably includes a body, a locking mechanism, and a movable locking arm rotatably coupled to the body wherein the movable locking arm is operable by manipulating the locking mechanism.

A vehicle washing system and a method for operating such a vehicle washing system in which a vehicle is scanned in a longitudinal direction by a sensor device. Measurement data are captured so that position data for the positions of vehicle wheels are determined based on an evaluation of the measurement data. The determined position data of the positions of the wheels are subjected to a confidence check, so that a confidence measure is determined. If the determined confidence measure is greater than or equal to a confidence threshold value, a treatment of the wheels is carried out in a first mode at the positions associated with the position data, and, if the determined confidence measure is smaller than the confidence threshold value, a treatment of the wheels is not carried out, or is carried out in a second mode at the positions associated with the position data.