51results about How to "Minimizing (" patented technology

Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The system, delivery devices, and methods can damage tissue and manage scarring and stenosis.

Blood filters (10a, 10b) sized and configured to be positioned within a vascular vessel include a plurality of anchoring arms (22) having a removable sleeve (22-2) for temporarily anchoring the blood filter to a vessel wall. In especially preferred embodiments, the removable sleeve (22-2) is formed of bioabsorbable material. When the filter (10a, 10b) is deployed, it is this removable sleeve (22-2) which comes into contact with the inner tissue wall of the patient's blood vessel (typically the inferior vena cava). When it is desired to remove the filter, endothelization of the sleeve (22-2) has typically occurred but since the sleeves are a removable (separable) component part of the anchoring arms (22), the entire filter device (10a, 10b) can be retrieved thereby leaving the endothelized sleeves (22-2) remaining in place on the interior wall of the patient's vascular vesse. However, such sleeves (22-2) will be absorbed over time (preferably by means of hydrolysis) since they are formed of a bioabsorbable polymeric material. In such a manner, the filters (10a, 10b) of the present invention allow relatively easy retrieval while minimizing (if not preventing entirely) harm to the vascular endothelium.

An improved total disc replacement system and related methods, wherein a pair of anchor plates, each adapted to engage a vertebral body, and a translating internal member are provided. The translating internal member boasts the ability to move or translate between the anchor plates without compromising the conformity of the interface between the translating internal member and the anchor plates. In a significant aspect, the anchor plates may be locked in place relative to one another after implantation to effect fusion between the vertebral bodies.

An apparatus and method for transmitting and / or receiving data in a closed-loop multi-antenna system, the method of receiving data including: acquiring CQIs of data streams by channel estimation of a received signal; selecting at least one CQI from among the acquired CQIs; calculating a common CQI using the acquired CQIs; generating feedback information with the at least one CQI, the common CQI, and an index of a data stream with the at least one CQI; and transmitting the feedback information to a transmitter.

A method and system are provided for utilizing a logical failover circuit for rerouting data from a failed network circuit in a first data network to a second data network. The network circuit in the first data network includes a logical circuit for communicating data. When a failure in the network circuit in the first data network is detected, a network failover circuit is selected in the second data network. The network failover circuit in the second data network includes a logical failover circuit for communicating data. The data in the failed logical circuit in the first data network is rerouted over the logical failover circuit in the second data network until the failure in the network circuit in the first data network is resolved. After the failed network circuit in the first data network has been restored, the data is rerouted over the restored logical circuit. The first data network may be contained within an Inter-Exchange Carrier and the second data network may be contained within a Local Exchange Carrier.

A spiral casing for a turbine of a turbocharger is made from thin (0,2 to 2 mm thick) sheet metal. The spiral casing can be made from two matching parts and can be insulated.

A process for aligning at least two layers in an abutting relationship with each other comprises forming a plurality of sprocket openings in each of the layers for receiving a sprocket of diminishing diameters as the sprocket extends outwardly from a base, with the center axes of the sprocket openings in each layer being substantially alignable with one another, the diameter of the sprocket openings in an abutting layer for first receiving the sprocket being greater than the diameter of the sprocket openings in an abutted layer. This is followed by forming a plurality of reservoir openings in each of at least two of the layers and positioning the sprocket openings in the layers to correspond with one another and the reservoir openings in the layers to correspond with one another so that substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding sprocket openings in the layers effects substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding reservoir openings in the layers. Engaging the sprocket openings with the sprocket by inserting the end of the sprocket having the smallest diameter into the sprocket openings having the largest diameter in the layers and continuing through to the sprocket opening having the smallest diameter in the layers effects substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding sprocket openings and substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding reservoir openings in the layers. The invention also comprises apparatus-for performing this process.

Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The system, delivery devices, and methods can damage tissue and manage scarring and stenosis.

A multi-bit flip-flop includes a plurality of multi-bit flip-flop blocks that share a clock signal. Each of the multi-bit flip-flop blocks includes a single inverter and a plurality of flip-flops. The single inverter generates an inverted clock signal by inverting the clock signal. Each of the flip-flops includes a master latch part and a slave latch part and operates the master latch part and the slave latch part based on the clock signal and the inverted clock signal. Here, the flip-flops are triggered at rising edges of the clock signal. Thus, the multi-bit flip-flop operating as a master-slave flip-flop may minimize (or, reduce) power consumption occurring in a clock path through which the clock signal is transmitted.

A data storage system includes a set of disks where each disk is operable in a plurality of discrete angular velocity levels. A disk controller controls the angular velocity of each active disk. The controller replicates a first portion of data on a plurality of the disks stores a second class of data in the set of disks without replication. The disk controller routes data requests to one of the active disks based, at least in part, on the current loading of the active disks to maintain balanced loading on the active disks. The disk controller alters the angular velocity of at least one of the active disks upon detecting that the latency of one or more of the data requests differs from a specified threshold. In this manner, the disk controller maintains the angular velocity of the active disks at approximately the same minimum angular velocity needed to attain acceptable performance. The disk controller may replicate the first portion of data on each of the disks in the set of disks. The disk controller may balance the loading on the active disks by routing an incoming request to the active disk with the least loading. The disk controller may maintain each of the active disks at approximately the same angular velocity by preventing the angular velocity of any active disk from differing from the angular velocity of any other active disk by more than one discrete level. The disk controller may recognize two or more levels of request priorities. In this embodiment, the disk controller routes requests of a first priority to an active disk in a first subset of active disks based, at least in part, on the current loading of the disks in the first subset and route requests of a second priority to an active disk in a second subset of active disks based, at least in part, on the current loading of the disks in the second subset.

There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of minimizing the adhesion of a mold release wax vaporized at the time of heating a toner image to components excluding a fixing device inside the image forming apparatus. The mold release wax vaporized at the time of heating and fixing a toner image to a recording material is collected by a collection member, which is provided between a nip portion forming member and the frame of the fixing device, and kept at a temperature between the melting point and the sublimation point of the mold release wax.

A method is provided for forming a silicon nitride (SiNx) film. The method comprises: providing a Si substrate or Si film layer; optionally maintaining a substrate temperature of about 400 degrees C., or less; performing a high-density (HD) nitrogen plasma process where a top electrode is connected to an inductively coupled HD plasma source; and, forming a grown layer of SiNx overlying the substrate. More specifically, the HD nitrogen plasma process includes using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source to supply power to a top electrode, independent of the power and frequency of the power that is supplied to the bottom electrode, in an atmosphere with a nitrogen source gas. The SiNx layer can be grown at an initial growth rate of at least about 20 Å in about the first minute.

A beverage bottle for storing and dispensing water and impure sports beverages having a container and a dispensing opening on a top wall movable between an open position and a closed position and a unitary valve disposed within the container bottom wall having a vertically sinuous contour, and laterally opposed, laterally actuating, compliant slit faces and a substantially rigid annular flat surface. As the vertically sinuous contour is flattened upon the annular flat surface, the slit faces are laterally urged together establishing a preloaded seal, for leak resistant valve operation, and reduced restriction dispensing of water and impure sports beverages.

A module, included in an electrophotographic printer, for making toner images by a method in which transfer current for electrostatic transfer of toner images to receiver members is adjusted to compensate for ambient variations of toner charge-to-mass ratio (q / m). A predetermined functional relationship between transfer current and a control voltage parameter is utilized. Magnitudes of the control voltage parameter are derived from voltage measurements relating to creation of toner control patches on a photoconductive image-recording member included in a modular electrophotographic printer. Control voltage magnitude is linearly dependent on q / m. The functional relationship, which is characterized by three experimentally determined parameters, is co-optimized for providing efficient transfer of toner images and for minimizing back-transfer of toner away from a receiver member in a transfer station included in the module.

A process for aligning at least two layers in an abutting relationship with each other comprises forming a plurality of sprocket openings in each of the layers for receiving a sprocket of diminishing diameters as the sprocket extends outwardly from a base, with the center axes of the sprocket openings in each layer being substantially alignable with one another, the diameter of the sprocket openings in an abutting layer for first receiving the sprocket being greater than the diameter of the sprocket openings in an abutted layer. This is followed by forming a plurality of reservoir openings in each of at least two of the layers and positioning the sprocket openings in the layers to correspond with one another and the reservoir openings in the layers to correspond with one another so that substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding sprocket openings in the layers effects substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding reservoir openings in the layers. Engaging the sprocket openings with the sprocket by inserting the end of the sprocket having the smallest diameter into the sprocket openings having the largest diameter in the layers and continuing through to the sprocket opening having the smallest diameter in the layers effects substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding sprocket openings and substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding reservoir openings in the layers. The invention also comprises apparatus-for performing this process.

The invention relates to design of short oligonucleotides and analogs thereof (such as, di-, and trinucleotide compounds) useful for various therapeutic applications. It is believed that the compounds of the invention can be used as antiviral agents, anticancer agents and so on. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention can modulate immune-stimulatory pathways and non-TLR pathways. The invention also relates to design modified oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications, by excluding nucleotide segments having off-target effects from the modified oligonucleotides. In another aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of the invention.It is believed that the compounds and compositions as described herein have therapeutic utility against a variety of diseases, including viral diseases, autoimmune diseases (such as, allergy, asthma, and inflammatory disorders) and cancer.

The present invention is a container having a diptube inlet, at least one baffle disc positioned between the outlet of the diptube and the outlet of the container to provide a narrow annular space between the baffle disc and the sidewall of the container to prevent liquid droplets from entering the outlet to the container and the inner surface of the container sidewall and an annular, radially inward projecting deflector ledge on the sidewall, proximate the baffle disc. The present invention is also a process of delivering a chemical precursor from a container having the above structure. Liquid and vapor delivery are both contemplated.

An implantable assembly is disclosed comprising a diode device charging assembly having the means for transferring thermal energy from a living organism to a diode device, means for creating electrical energy from said thermal energy, and means for charging an implantable device with said electrical current. The diode device of this invention is a thermotunneling or thermionic converter. In a preferred embodiment the electrodes of the diode device have been modified to reduce their work function by through the addition a periodically repeating structure comprised of one or more indentations of the dimensions so as to create de Broglie wave interference, leading to a change in electron work function. The implantable assembly utilizes a temperature difference in a body to efficiently generate energy to be harnessed by a wide range of devices.

A CMOS image sensor and method of manufacturing same is provided. The CMOS image sensor can include: photodiodes formed on a semiconductor substrate for generating a charge according to an amount of incident light; a first planarization layer formed on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of color filter layers formed on the first planarization layer, an upper surface of each of the color filter layers being curved; and a plurality of microlenses formed on the plurality of color filter layers.

The present disclosure is directed to methods of making a dental restoration comprising making a framework or framework precursor from a ceramic material, making a facing precursor from a glass ceramic material, providing a dental restoration precursor from the framework precursor and the facing precursor, and removing part of the dental restoration precursor to form the dental restoration.

An anti-glare rearview mirror assembly and a reflectance control method thereof are disclosed. The assembly includes an electrochromic rearview mirrors, two rearward light sensors, and a comparative controller. The sensors receiving a first rearward light from a first specified region and a second rearward light from a second specified region at the same time point, respectively, wherein the first and second specified regions partially overlap with each other. The intensities of the first and second rearview mirror light are compared to obtain a light difference. The reflectance of the anti-glare rearview mirror is adjusted according to the light difference.

A multi-bit flip-flop includes a plurality of multi-bit flip-flop blocks that share a clock signal. Each of the multi-bit flip-flop blocks includes a single inverter and a plurality of flip-flops. The single inverter generates an inverted clock signal by inverting the clock signal. Each of the flip-flops includes a master latch part and a slave latch part and operates the master latch part and the slave latch part based on the clock signal and the inverted clock signal. Here, the flip-flops are triggered at rising edges of the clock signal. Thus, the multi-bit flip-flop operating as a master-slave flip-flop may minimize (or, reduce) power consumption occurring in a clock path through which the clock signal is transmitted.

The present invention is a container having a diptube inlet, at least one baffle disc positioned between the outlet of the diptube and the outlet of the container to provide a narrow annular space between the baffle disc and the sidewall of the container to prevent liquid droplets from entering the outlet to the container and the inner surface of the container sidewall and an annular, radially inward projecting deflector ledge on the sidewall, proximate the baffle disc. The present invention is also a process of delivering a chemical precursor from a container having the above structure. Liquid and vapor delivery are both contemplated.

A counterweighted well pumping unit comprises two or more reversible motors, each of which is directly and operatively connected to a rotatable drive component mounted on a support structure positioned over a wellhead. For each motor, an elongate, flexible drive element is trained over the associated rotatable drive component, with one end of the flexible drive element connected to a counterweight assembly and the other end connected to a pump rod string associated with the wellhead. Actuation of the motors rotates the rotatable drive components, thus causing the drive elements to move the pump rod string and the counterweight assembly in opposite vertical directions. The rotational direction of the drive motors is alternated so as to alternate the directions of vertical movement of the pump rod string and the counterweight. The counterweight assembly may be concentric with or offset from the wellhead.

A multi-bit flip-flop includes a plurality of multi-bit flip-flop blocks that share a clock signal. Each of the multi-bit flip-flop blocks includes a single inverter and a plurality of flip-flops. The single inverter generates an inverted clock signal by inverting the clock signal. Each of the flip-flops includes a master latch part and a slave latch part and operates the master latch part and the slave latch part based on the clock signal and the inverted clock signal. Here, the flip-flops are triggered at rising edges of the clock signal. Thus, the multi-bit flip-flop operating as a master-slave flip-flop may minimize (or, reduce) power consumption occurring in a clock path through which the clock signal is transmitted.

A semiconductor device and related method of manufacture are disclosed. The device comprises; a trench having a corner portion formed in the semiconductor substrate, a first oxide film formed on an inner wall of the trench and having an upper end portion exposing the corner portion of the semiconductor substrate, a nitride liner formed on the first oxide film, a second oxide film formed in contact with the upper end of the first oxide film and on the exposed corner portion and an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, a field insulating film formed on the nitride liner to substantially fill the trench, and a field protecting film formed in contact with the second oxide film and filling a trench edge recess formed between the field insulating film and the second oxide film.

This invention provides a cosmetic kit and method of applying cosmetics onto a face without visualizing said face. The cosmetic kit enables cosmetic products for face, eyebrow and lips to be applied evenly and accurately without visualizing the face.

The invention relates to design of short oligonucleotides and analogs thereof (such as, di-, and trinucleotide compounds) useful for various therapeutic applications. It is believed that the compounds of the invention can be used as antiviral agents, anticancer agents and so on. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention can modulate immune-stimulatory pathways and non-TLR pathways. The invention also relates to design modified oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications, by excluding nucleotide segments having off-target effects from the modified oligonucleotides. In another aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of the invention.It is believed that the compounds and compositions as described herein have therapeutic utility against a variety of diseases, including viral diseases, autoimmune diseases (such as, allergy, asthma, and inflammatory disorders) and cancer.