34results about How to "Time-consume and expensive" patented technology

A microfluidic device comprises first and second inlet passages (13) for respective immiscible fluids, these inlet passages merging into a third passage (8) along which the two fluids flow under parallel laminar flow conditions, the third passage being formed with a constriction or other discontinuity (9) causing the two fluids to form into a flow of alternate segments.

Systems and methods for applying electrical stimulation to the brain to treat headaches and neuralgia use at least one implantable system control unit (SCU), specifically an implantable signal/pulse generator (IPG) with one or more electrodes. The IPG is implanted in the skull and communicates with at least one external appliance, such as a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) unit. In a preferred embodiment, the system is capable of open- and closed-loop operation. In closed-loop operation, at least one SCU includes a sensor, and the sensed condition is used to adjust stimulation parameters.

To facilitate the use of relatively high frequency data transmission services over a wireline communication resource originally deployed to support low frequency voice band services, an assessment of the wireline communication resource (50-52) is based on attenuation of high frequency test signals, of known original level, that are generated (18) injected into the wireline communication resource from a test point (12). A detector (60) at a potential point of service, e.g. at a customers' premises (14), detects an attenuated level of the test signals and generates a control signal (70, 82), such as a drive current, indicative of the attenuation caused by the wireline communication resource (50-52). The control signal (70, 82) is then indirectly communicated back to the test point (12) in a coded form, and preferably within a voice band transmission. The coded form may be realized as modulation of a power supply provided to the customers' premises by the wireline communication resource, or could be achieved by up-link frequency mixing. In its most basic form, the control signal causes fluctuation on a visual level indicator at the customers' premises and therefore relies on a customer providing a verbal or toned response to the test point as to the level of the visual indicator. Effective attenuation at high frequencies can then be assessed based upon analysis of information coded into the voice band signal and its direct relationship with the original level of the injected high frequency signals.

A multi-chip stack structure and method of fabrication are provided utilizing self-aligning electrical contact arrays. Two or more arrays of interconnection contacts are provided, with one array being a rough aligned contact array, and a second array being a high bandwidth contact array. The rough aligned contact array has larger contacts and at least a portion thereof which melts at a substantially lower temperature than the melting temperature of the contacts of the high bandwidth contact array. By positioning two integrated circuit chips in opposing relation with the arrays mechanically aligned therebetween, and applying heat to melt the contacts of the rough aligned array, the two chips will rotate to align the respective contacts of the high bandwidth contact arrays, thereby achieving improved connection reliability between the structures.

A method and structure polishes and cleans silicon wafers by mixing a marker with a slurry to form a slurry mixture, performs chemical mechanical polishing on a silicon wafer using the slurry mixture, rinses the slurry mixture from the silicon wafer, checks the silicon wafer for marker residue, and repeats the rinsing process if the checking process detects the marker residue on the wafer.

The present invention provides novel monofunctional polyethylene glycol aldehydes for the pegylation of therapeutically active proteins. The pegylated protein conjugates that are produced, retain a substantial portion of their therapeutic activity and are less immunogenic than the protein from which the conjugate is derived. New syntheses for preparing such aldehydes are described.

Novel monofunctional polyethylene glycol aldehyde for pegylating therapeutically active proteins to produce pegylated protein conjugates which retain a substantial portion of their therapeutic activity and are less immunogenic than the protein from which the conjugate is derived and a new synthesis for preparing such aldehydes.

The present disclosure relates to a rotary mixing device that is easy to produce, assemble, use and dispose of. The device comprises a shaft, and at least one mixing member. The shaft and mixing member are formed of the same composite material and are produced by molding the components in essentially a single plane. Moreover, the runners that provide the liquid polymer material to form the components of the rotary mixing device also serve as holding elements. Consequently, a one-piece, single shot molded unit is produced containing the components and the holding elements.

A protective shelter is disclosed. The shelter may be sized to protect an existing, unhardened structure, and its contents. Or, the shelter may be sized to protect an individual or other objects of similar size. In either case, the shelter provides protection from blasts from explosive shells, rockets, and the like. The shelter has a support frame that supports a blast cover that is positioned above the object or objects to be protected. A burster screen is positioned above the blast cover and may be supported by the support frame. The burster screen serves to detonate incoming ordinance before the ordinance reaches the protected object or objects. The blast cover is strong enough to withstand the resulting shock from the detonated ordinance, and thus prevents damage to the protected object or objects located below the protective shelter. This invention may be used to retrofit existing, unhardened structures in areas where additional protection is needed. It also may be used as part of the design of new facilities, and offers the option to later remove the hardened, protective part of the structure if the threat level changes for the better. In the smaller, personnel-protection embodiment, the invention may be air dropped to remote locations and assembled by personnel in the field.

A sintered material and a method for the production thereof is described. The material comprises an alloy selected from one of the groups having a composition comprising in weight %: either Cr 5-30/Mo 0-15/Ni 0-25/W 0-15/C 0-5/Si 0-5/Fe 0-5/Mn 0-5/others 10 max/Co balance, or Cr 10-20/Mo 0-15/Co 0-20/W 0-5/Fe 0-20/Al 0-5/Ti 0-5/others 15 max/Ni balance; said alloy having incorporated therein from 3-15 weight % of Sn; and optionally from 1-6 weight % of a solid lubricant material.

The invention combines a microarray and cell-based screening strategy that enables rapid identification of possible mechanisms underpinning the pharmacology and toxicology of drug candidates. The methods of the invention identified unique properties relating to apoptosis and the anti-inflammatory response elicited by several peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligands. The methods illustrate, for example, that PPARγ ligands that are safe and effective drugs (e.g., Actos, Avandia) either do not induce apoptosis or only modestly induce apoptosis. Conversely, PPARγ ligands that have failed clinical development (e.g., Ciglitazone; Day, C., Diabet. Med., 16: 179-192 (1999)) or that have been withdrawn from the market (e.g., Troglitazone (Rezulin)) due to hepatotoxicity are potent inducers of apoptosis. The methods of the invention also illustrate that suppression of gene expression and protein expression for several pro-inflammatory factors by some PPARγ ligands occurs as a consequence of apoptotic induction (i.e., apoptosis produces an anti-inflammatory response). The invention also provides biomarkers for cellular pathways and methods for stratifying patient groups according to their biomarker expression as well as biomarkers that discriminate safe and effective drugs from compounds that have acute toxicities. These biomarkers provide novel insights into the mechanism of action and toxicity for test compounds, including cell death, anti-inflammatory activity, hepatotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. The methods are highly scalable and have broad application from discovery to the clinic, including compound prioritization, predictive pharmacology and toxicology; mechanism of action studies; and prognostic and diagnostic biomarker discovery.

A wastewater drain assembly is provided that includes a selectively openable drain stopper. The wastewater drain assembly is interconnected to a fluid basin wherein a flange, which is interconnected to wastewater plumbing, is situated within the sink. The flange receives an insert that has a portion that conceals the flange.

A device adapted to protect integrated circuits from reverse engineering comprising a part looking like a via connecting two metal layers, but in fact attached only to one metal layer and spaced from the other. Having such "trick" via would force a reverse engineer to think there is a connection where there is none. A method for fabricating such device.

The present invention relates to novel, soluble, recombinant variants RANKL (Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor—κB Ligand) proteins, which may be expressed solubly in E. coli, variants that act as RANKL antagonists, and methods for generating the same.

This invention relates to a method for characterizing the pores of reticulated framework structures and using these characteristics to predict the actual performance characteristics of the reticulated framework structures as membranes for gas separation, and other purposes.

A housing assembly for an integrated display unit is provided. The display unit display unit comprises an open loop pathway for ambient air, a closed loop pathway for circulating gas, and at least one electronic display. A first and second horizontal member extend between a vertically extending first and second side member and are secured within a first channel and a second channel. The first and second side members form exterior side surfaces of the display unit to define, in part, the closed loop pathway. The first horizontal member forms an upper surface of the display unit and the second horizontal member forms a lower surface of the display unit to further define, in part, the closed loop pathway.

The present invention provides novel monofunctional polyethylene glycol aldehydes for the pegylation of therapeutically active proteins. The pegylated protein conjugates that are produced, retain a substantial portion of their therapeutic activity and are less immunogenic than the protein from which the conjugate is derived. New syntheses for preparing such aldehydes are described.

It is described a device (100) for analyzing biological cell material (115). The device (100) comprises a light source arrangement (120), which is adapted for directing a first (131) and a second illumination light (132) towards the cell material (115), wherein the first (131) and the second (132) illumination light comprises a first and a second spectral radiation component, respectively. The device (100) further comprises a detector arrangement (170), which is adapted for receiving a first measurement light (151) based on a first interaction of the first illumination light (131) with the cell material (115) and a second measurement light (152) based on a second interaction of the second illumination light (152) with the cell material (115). Further, the device (100) comprises an evaluation unit (180), which is coupled the detector arrangement (170) and which is adapted to evaluate a first signal (171a) and a second signal (171b) being indicative for the first (151) and the second measurement light (151), respectively. The device (100) may be used for accomplishing ultraviolet DNA image cytometryin combination with autofluorescence measurements of NAD(P)H.

A method is provided for producing 3D structures in a semiconductor substrate using Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE), comprising at least the steps of: providing a substrate, and then grinding the backside of the substrate in order to achieve a thinned substrate, wherein extrusions and native oxides are left after said grinding step, and then performing a surface treatment selected from the group consisting of a wet etching step and a dry etching step in order to remove at least said native oxides and extrusions on the surface of said backside of the substrate which are causes for the grass formation during subsequent etching, and then performing deep reactive ion etching in order to achieve 3D vias.

A lifting assembly (10) having a structure (11) with three or more receptacles and a two or more connectors (1). The structure comprises one or more receptacles (12). Each receptacle comprises one or more circumferential grooves (17) in its inside surface. The connector comprises a male element (4) for insertion into a receptacle, an attachment point (2), and one or more locking elements (6) provided on the outside surface of the male element for engaging with the or each groove in the inside surface of the or each receptacle so as to rotatably mount the attachment point relative to the structure. The connectors may be rotationally positioned within the receptacles to permit different lifting configurations to be used.

The present invention includes a system for marking a plurality of wires connected to a 3 phase electric distribution system that includes a plurality of preprinted self-adhesive labels for use on electrical wires wherein each of the labels in the plurality of labels bears one of first, second and third unique indicia and a preprinted unique integer number.

The present invention is an artificial surfing reef for modifying a body of water's bathymetry to create surfing waves. The artificial surfing reef is a shaped structure made up of many sized and shaped Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam blocks. As swell moves toward the shore, its bottom is resisted by the leading edge of the Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam artificial surfing reef. As the swell transverses over the Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam Artificial reef, the wave topples over and forms a plunging surfing wave. An earth anchor, connected to a cable, linked to a round shaped anchor disc, is attached to each Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam block for maintaining the foam artificial reef at a desired location submersed underwater. A plurality of Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam blocks may be attached to one another and configured so as to define a surf reef, which enhances the suitability of waves for surfing.