107results about How to "Preventing and minimizing" patented technology

A system and method for maintaining a vehicle at a predetermined velocity on a graded surface is provided, which includes a propulsion system to supply motive torque to a vehicle wheel, a vehicle stability sensor, and a control system adapted to receive signal input from the vehicle stability sensor. The control system controls magnitude of the motive torque supplied to the wheel. The propulsion system may include an electric wheel motor powered by an electrical energy storage system, a hybrid powertrain system, and an internal combustion engine and transmission. The vehicle stability sensor determines orientation of the vehicle relative to a horizontal plane, including a longitudinal acceleration sensor and a virtual longitudinal acceleration sensor. The control system receives inputs from a wheel speed sensor, an accelerator pedal sensor, and a brake pedal sensor to control motive torque. Motive torque is controlled to maintain wheel speed sensor at a null output.

An improved bone screw is disclosed which includes a shaft with distal portion having a threaded surface thereon, a sleeve having an opening which receives the shaft such that the shaft is able to move within the sleeve without moving the sleeve. A compressive device may be incorporated between the sleeve and the proximal portion of the shaft such that the compressive device forces the shaft and sleeve towards at least a portion each other, thereby maintaining the compressive load at the union of the fracture. As additional compression is exerted on the load from weight bearing, the force may be reduced, but the head of the sleeve is still substantially maintained against the lateral cortex.

An improved bone screw is disclosed which includes a shaft with distal portion having a threaded surface thereon, a sleeve having an opening which receives the shaft such that the shaft is able to move within the sleeve without moving the sleeve. A compressive device may be incorporated between the sleeve and the proximal portion of the shaft such that the compressive device forces the shaft and sleeve towards each other, thereby maintaining the compressive load at the union of the fracture. As additional compression is exerted on the load from weight bearing, the force may be reduced, but the head of the sleeve is still substantially maintained against the lateral cortex.

A filter-less regulator is implemented for use in fluid flow systems that process low concentration reactive gases. The regulator includes an inlet, an outlet and a fluid flow path defined between the inlet and outlet by internal surfaces of the housing. The regulator further includes a pressure regulating section to reduce the pressure of a reactive gas flowing through the regulator between the housing inlet and the housing outlet. The internal surfaces of the housing are formed of a suitable material and the combined area of the internal surfaces is sufficiently sized to facilitate use of the regulator in the system without prior passivation for reactive gases at low concentrations (e.g., in the range of about 10 ppm or lower) while minimizing or substantially preventing significant loss of the reactive gas due to reaction and/or adsorption within the regulator.

The present invention provides novel biomaterials comprising one or more of Mg, Zn and F ions in a carbonate-containing biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) system. The biomaterial may contain Mg, Zn, F, Mg and Zn, Mg and F, Zn and F, or Mg, Zn and F. The biomaterial may be substantially similar in composition to bone mineral (a carbonate apatite). The biomaterial may feature slow release of Mg, Zn, F, Ca, and P ions. The biphasic calcium phosphate, BCP, may be a mixture of unsubstituted hydroxyapatite (HA) and unsubstituted .-TCP, Ca₃(PO₄)₂. BCP of varying HA/.-TCP ratios may be produced by sintering calcium-deficient apatite, for instance having a Ca/P<1.5, 1.6, 1.67, 1.75 or 1.8 that has been prepared either by a precipitation or by a hydrolysis method or by a solid-state reaction. The amount of each component (by weight %) present in the biomaterials may be as follows: Mg 0.5 to 12 wt %, Zn 1 to 12 wt %, F 0.1 to 4 wt %, calcium 20 to 40 wt %, phosphate 10 to 20 wt %, and carbonate (CO₃) 1 to 20 wt %. The biomaterial may further comprise one or more other ion such as strontium, manganese, copper, boron or silicate, or one or more other organic moiety such as a protein, a peptide, or a nutraceutical which may provide antioxidant, anti-bacterial or anti-inflammatory properties. The invention also provides methods of inhibiting bone resorption, methods of treating osteoporosis or delaying the onset of osteoporosis, methods of treating a bone fracture, and methods of inhibiting osteoclast activity. Further, the invention provides methods of treating or reversing bone deficiencies such as bone loss, similar to osteoporosis, caused all or in part by a mineral deficient diet, a disease such as cancer or osteopenia, a treatment such as steroid therapy or radiation therapy, or a physical condition such as immobilization.

Prior to the conference, a Concurrent Real Time and Distributed Computing/Objects Conferencing Module communicates a library of digital objects to at least one participant communications device via a distributed computing and/or distributed objects network. During the conference, the host communicates a synchronization command to the at least one participant communications device, and the synchronization command instructs the participant communications device to present a synchronized object. Then, a non-participant communicates with the host to join the conference, and in response, the host communicates a real-time object to the add-in participant communications device. Concurrently, the host analyzes a conference communications factor to determine a subsequent conference communications connection that leverages distributed computing and/or distributed objects of the conference network. Thereafter, the subsequent communications connection is established. Furthermore, the add-in participant communications device and participant communications device may communicate a synchronization acknowledgment back to the Concurrent Real Time and Distributed Computing/Objects Conferencing Module. The synchronization confirmation acknowledges a successful presentation of the synchronized object to the add-in participant and/or participant communications device.

A check valve for use in a Y-site in an infusion system comprises a fixation portion configured to retain the check valve in a common lumen of the Y-site, and a flap member extending axially from the fixation portion. The flap member has an outer surface, at least a portion of which is configured to engage an internal wall of the common lumen overlying an inlet from a main lumen. In one embodiment, the flap member comprises a pocket surrounding the hole and any burr extending from the wall adjacent the hole. In some embodiments, the flap member is resiliently biased towards a sealed position, and can flex to allow fluid flow from the main lumen to the common lumen.

A valve holder assembly for delivering a prosthetic heart valve having a stent base an multiple extending commissure posts. The valve holder assembly includes a holder and a rotor that is rotatable relative to the holder.

A lubrication system includes an external pump system which pumps air out of the housing and develop negative pressure therein in response to a loss of lubrication condition. The negative pressure operates as an air lock to minimize or prevent lubricating oil loss from the housing while an internal lubrication system continues to distribute lubricating oil—which although now increasing in temperature—still operates to lubricate the gearbox components. For further ballistic tolerance, the housing is a compound housing that reduces or closes the penetration and further minimizes lubricating oil and negative pressure loss. The housing may be still further hardened by an armor layer.

A temperature regulating arrangement (7) at least partially surrounds a fuel or oxidizer storage tank (1). The tank (1) is divided by a polymer membrane (3) into a first partial chamber (2) receiving the fuel (2') therein, and a second partial chamber (4) receiving a gaseous pressure medium (4') therein. The temperature regulating arrangement (7) includes thermal insulation, at least one heater, at least one heat sensor, and a temperature control and regulating unit. By heating the second partial chamber containing the gaseous pressure medium, any fuel vapor permeating through the membrane (3) from the first partial chamber (2) into the second partial chamber (4) is prevented from condensing within the second partial chamber (4). The permeation process is also limited. It is simply necessary to maintain the second partial chamber (4) at a temperature a few degrees Celsius higher than the temperature of the liquid fuel. This tank arrangement is especially suitable for use as a fuel tank or oxidizer tank in a satellite or orbital space station.

A number of different approaches are described for minimizing or preventing false alarms. In one case, override panels are used such as locally near or in the protected space or remotely at a security desk, for example. These override panels are used to deactivate or block the generation of a fire alarm signal in the case where the occupants or a management personnel recognizes that the fire alarm signal should not be generated. In this way, an alarm verification step is included. In another aspect, additional, contextual information is used to characterize or adjust when fire alarm signals are generated. This contextual information can be generated from sources that are not typically used in the generation of the fire alarm signal but instead are based on other sources of the information concerning the protected space.

A protective cover for an animal's extremity, that: is soft or comfortable to the animals hoof, foot or pads; is adjustable for fit; can protect or cover the length of the animal's leg; is durable; and easy to put on and take off; is easily cleaned and re-useable; and can reduce the wear or tear upon a bandage, splint or cast reducing the need for re-bandaging, splinting or casting. The device employs a stable and moldable base with an open ended piece of durable material, called a shell, which is fashioned into a tapered tube that is opened up on the side so as to allow the animal's foot or hoof to be inserted. The tapered tube wraps and closes around the horse's lower leg by use of several elastic straps sewn horizontally onto the exterior of the tapered tube material. The sizing of the protective covering allows the tube to be closed over most sized bandages, wraps or casts placed upon the injured animal and means for closing the tube from dirt or other items that might damage or degrade a bandage, wrap, splint or cast placed upon the animal's leg. Inserted or attached to the top of the moldable base is a soft neoprene pad that is resilient and provides a barrier from the ground with bottom of the horse's hoof This barrier is waterproof yet breathable and beneficial for the horse in that the horse's hoof is protected from contact with the ground yet the pliable nature allows for a more even distribution of weight to be applied on the animal's limbs.

This application provides a bead with a covalently attached chemical compound and a covalently attached DNA barcode and methods for using such beads. The bead has many substantially identical copies of the chemical compound and many substantially identical copies of the DNA barcode. The compound consists of one or more chemical monomers, where the DNA barcode takes the form of barcode modules, where each module corresponds to and allows identification of a corresponding chemical monomer. The nucleic acid barcode can have a concatenated structure or an orthogonal structure. Provided are method for sequencing the bead-bound nucleic acid barcode, for cleaving the compound from the bead, and for assessing biological activity of the released compound.