7637results about How to "Smooth connection" patented technology

An ultrasonic surgical instrument for dissection and coaguation of tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes a vibration coupler supported within a housing and operably connected to an ultrasonic generator. An angled blade member is connected to the distal end of the vibration coupler to conduct high frequency vibration from the ultrasonic generator to the blade member. A clamp member is positioned adjacent to the blade member and is movable from a first position to a second approximated position. The clamp member and angled blade member combine to enhance contact between the tissue and the blade member during operation of the instrument to improve the performance of the instrument.

According to the present invention, a catheter having at least one multi-purpose lumen formed through the catheter terminates proximal a relatively complex-shaped distal portion thereof. In one form of this embodiment, the relatively complex-shaped distal portion comprises a looped portion having diagnostic- and/or ablation-type electrodes coupled thereto and an elongated diameter-adjusting member coupled proximal the distal end of the looped portion. The multi-purpose lumen may be used to alternately accommodate a variety of dedicated materials; such as, (i) a guide wire for initial deployment or later repositioning of the catheter, (ii) a volume or flow of a contrast media and the like, (iii) a deployable hollow needle or tube and the like used to biopsy adjacent tissue or dispense a therapeutic agent into a volume of tissue, and (iv) a cooling fluid, such as saline solution and the like dispensed at least during therapeutic tissue ablation procedures.

Provided are a thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor may include a gate; a channel layer; a source and a drain, the source and the drain being formed of metal; and a metal oxide layer, the metal oxide layer being formed between the channel layer and the source and the drain. The metal oxide layer may have a gradually changing metal content between the channel layer and the source and the drain.

A spinal implant may be used to stabilize a portion of a spine. The implant may promote bone growth between adjacent vertebrae that fuses the vertebrae together. An implant may include an opening through a height of a body of the implant. The body of the implant may include curved sides. A top and/or a bottom of the implant may include protrusions that contact and/or engage vertebral surfaces to prevent backout of the implant from the disc space. A variety of instruments may be used to prepare a disc space and insert an implant. The instruments may include, but are not limited to, a distractor, a rasp, and one or more guides. The implant and instruments may be supplied in an instrument kit.

A piezoelectric device for an ink jet print head that has a greater displacement at a low drive voltage. The ink-jet recording head includes a vibration plate, on which is mounted one or more piezoelectric devices that change the volumes of pressure chambers upon application of a voltage. The device is mounted at least on one face of a pressure chamber substrate that is to be filled with ink. Such piezoelectric device includes a second piezoelectric layer having a piezoelectric constant g of a constant value or higher; and a first piezoelectric layer having a dielectric constant of a specific value or higher. Since the piezoelectric constant d of the piezoelectric device correlates with the product of the largest piezoelectric constant g and the largest dielectric device of the piezoelectric devices, a piezoelectric constant d larger than in the conventional case, i.e., having a greater displacement, can be obtained.

A delivery system and kit for endovascularly delivering a prosthesis along a guidewire to an curved implantation site includes a control handle having a handle body with a prosthesis movement control assembly movably disposed thereto. A proximal end of a catheter is connected to the control handle. A prosthesis delivery assembly is movably disposed in the catheter. The delivery assembly has a guidewire lumen slidably receiving therein the guidewire and having a curved distal end orienting the delivery assembly when passing through a curved vessel portion. A method for automatic endovascular alignment of the prosthesis includes loading it in the distal delivery assembly, positioning the guidewire into the curved implantation site, and threading the guidewire lumen over the guidewire with the delivery assembly and into the implantation site to at least approximately align the curved distal portion to a curve of the curved implantation site and, thereby, orient the prosthesis.

Methods and systems are provided for routing callers to agents in a call-center routing environment. An exemplary method includes identifying caller data for a caller in a queue of callers, and jumping or moving the caller to a different position within the queue based on the caller data. The caller data may include one or both of demographic data and psychographic data. The caller can be jumped forward or backward in the queue relative to at least one other caller. Jumping the caller may further be based on comparing the caller data with agent data via a pattern matching algorithm and/or computer model for predicting a caller-agent pair outcome. Additionally, if a caller is held beyond a hold threshold (e.g., a time, “cost” function, or the like) the caller may be routed to the next available agent.

Methods and systems are provided for routing callers to agents in a call-center routing environment. An exemplary method includes routing a caller from a pool of callers based on at least one caller data associated with the caller, where a pool of callers includes, e.g., a set of callers that are not chronologically ordered and routed based on a chronological order or hold time of the callers. The caller may be routed from the pool of callers to an agent, placed in another pool of callers, or placed in a queue of callers. The caller data may include demographic or psychographic data. The caller may be routed from the pool of callers based on comparing the caller data with agent data associated with an agent via a pattern matching algorithm and/or computer model for predicting a caller-agent pair outcome. Additionally, if a caller is held beyond a hold threshold (e.g., a time, “cost” function, or the like) the caller may be routed to the next available agent.

Systems and methods are disclosed for routing callers to agents in a contact center, along with an intelligent routing system. An exemplary method includes combining multiple output variables of a pattern matching algorithm (for matching callers and agents) into a single metric for use in the routing system. The pattern matching algorithm may include a neural network architecture, where the exemplary method combines output variables from multiple neural networks. The method may include determining a Z-score of the variable outputs and determining a linear combination of the determined Z-scores for a desired output. Callers may be routed to agents via the pattern matching algorithm to maximize the output value or score of the linear combination. The output variables may include revenue generation, cost, customer satisfaction performance, first call resolution, cancellation, or other variable outputs from the pattern matching algorithm of the system.

The present invention relates to lighting strips and more particularly to modular lighting systems comprising lighting devices, for example, lighting strips, physically and electrically connectable with one another by way of a plug and socket integrally formed at opposing ends of the lighting strips. The lighting strip devices can be made of flexible material to allow for applying the lighting devices along flat as well as contoured surfaces. The lighting strips can also be rigid. More particularly, embodiments of the invention include modular lighting strips comprising: a non-conductive substrate strip comprising an electrical circuit; a plurality of light sources operably connected to the electrical circuit; a plug integrally formed at an end of the substrate strip; and a socket integrally formed at an opposing end of the substrate strip; wherein the plug and socket provide for removable, friction-fit, latch or latchless, and electrical interconnection of two or more circuits. Also included in the invention are connector assemblies comprising the inventive socket and plugs integral to PCBs for use in the field of electronics. One or more lighting strip can be combined to form lighting systems, which are useful in many functional and decorative lighting applications. The lighting systems are useful for any residential or commercial application where modular, discrete, low-profile, and/or flexible lighting is desired. The lighting strips of the invention can be used in particular for back lighting, accent lighting, aisle or path lighting, contour lighting, elegant interior decoration, holiday decorations, or landscape lighting.

A variety of techniques may be employed, alone or in combination, to enhance contact between a processed substrate and applied megasonic energy. In accordance with one embodiment of the new invention, the vibration plate is brought into intimate contact with one surface of the substrate, while cleaning or processing fluid contacts the other. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a reflecting surface may be provided to cause emanated energy to be reflected back into the near field and make it more uniform. In accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention, energy may be transferred across a substrate bounded on both sides by liquid with incidence of megasonic energy that is either normal to the substrate surface or within a critical range of incident angles. In yet another embodiment, generated dilatational waves may be converted to surface waves prior to contacting the substrate.

An artificial disc device, comprising a plurality of interconnected elements, adapted to be assembled in situ.