881 results about "Alternative methods" patented technology

Methods for reconfiguring an atrioventricular heart valve that may use systems comprising a partial or complete annuloplasty rings proportioned to reconfigure a heart valve that has become in some way incompetent, a pair of trigonal sutures or implantable anchors, and a plurality of staples which may have pairs of legs that are sized and shaped for association with the ring at spaced locations along its length. These systems permit relative axial movement between the staples and the ring, whereby a patient's heart valve can be reconfigured in a manner that does not deter subtle shifting of the native valve components. Shape-memory alloy material staples may have legs with free ends that interlock following implantation. Annuloplasty rings may be complete or partial and may be fenestrated. One alternative method routes a flexible wire, preferably of shape-memory material, through the bights of pre-implanted staples. Other alternative systems use linkers of shape-memory material having hooked ends to interengage with staples or other implanted supports which, following implantation, decrease in effective length and pull the staples or other supports toward one another so as to create desired curvature of the reconfigured valve. These linkers may be separate from the supports or may be integral with them and may have a variety of shapes and forms. Various of these systems may be implanted non-invasively using a delivery catheter.

A markerless method is described for tracking the motion of subjects in a three dimensional environment using a model based on linked kinematic chains. The invention is suitable for tracking robotic, animal or human subjects in real-time using a single computer with inexpensive video equipment, and does not require the use of markers or specialized clothing. A simple model of rigid linked segments is constructed of the subject and tracked using three dimensional volumetric data collected by a multiple camera video imaging system. A physics based method is then used to compute forces to align the model with subsequent volumetric data sets in real-time. The method is able to handle occlusion of segments and accommodates joint limits, velocity constraints, and collision constraints and provides for error recovery. The method further provides for elimination of singularities in Jacobian based calculations, which has been problematic in alternative methods.

Featured are a method and apparatus for fixing adjacent vertebrate of a spine that avoids the need and associated problems with prior cage or straight rod and screw systems. Methods and apparatus of the invention utilize a new implant member, which preferably is arcuate. Preferred methods of the invention for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of the spine, include steps of providing a positioning apparatus including two guide sleeves, each guide sleeve having a long axis and locating the two guide sleeves with respect to the adjacent vertebrae such that a vertex formed by the long axis of each guide sleeve is located in the intervertebral space for the adjacent vertebrae. The method further includes forming an aperture in each of the adjacent vertebrae using the guide sleeves and inserting an implant into the apertures formed in each of the adjacent vertebrae so that the implant extends between the adjacent vertebrae and through the intervertebral space. In an alternative method a cutting fixture including a pivot arm is secured to the adjacent vertebrae and a cutting device is secured to the pivot arm. The pivot arm and cutting device are configured and arranged so that rotation of the pivot arm about a particularly located pivot point allows the cutting device to form the aperture in each of the adjacent vertebrae. Another alternative method for fixing adjacent vertebrate of a spine includes the step of forming a common channel in and between the adjacent vertebrae and inserting a biscuit implant in the common so as to bridge between the adjacent vertebrae.

Several alternative spinal access devices are described. A number of alternative methods for performing therapies in the spinal region using the described spinal access devices are also described.

A decentralized asynchronous wireless communication system is disclosed for providing voice and data communication that allows flexibility of communication paths for local communication or for communication to external networks. The system makes use of communication docking bays that may communicate in a local mode with other communication docking bays or handsets within a same microcell via signal extenders. In an extended mode, a communication docking bay located in a first microcell of a first macrocell may communicate with a second communication docking bay or handset in a second microcell of the first macrocell via signal extenders and a network extender. In a remote mode, a communication docking bay located in a first microcell of a first macrocell may communicate with a second communication docking bay or handset in a second microcell of a second macrocell via signal extenders and network extenders. The communication docking bays also provide a communication path to a Public Switch Telephone Network and other communication medium. This feature provides an alternate means of connecting a mobile handset to a Public Switch Telephone Network without communicating through a network extender. The system is particularly suitable for operation in rural areas having a low population density.

A method for storing data in a memory (28) that includes analog memory cells (32) includes identifying one or more defective memory cells in a group of the analog memory cells. An Error Correction Code (ECC) is selected responsively to a characteristic of the identified defective memory cells. The data is encoded using the selected ECC and the encoded data is stored in the group of the analog memory cells. In an alternative method, an identification of one or more defective memory cells among the analog memory cells is generated. Analog values are read from the analog memory cells in which the encoded data were stored, including at least one of the defective memory cells. The analog values are processed using an ECC decoding process responsively to the identification of the at least one of the defective memory cells, so as to reconstruct the data.

A data chunking system divides data into predominantly fixed-sized chunks such that duplicate data may be identified. The data chunking system may be used to reduce the data storage and save network bandwidth by allowing storage or transmission of primarily unique data chunks. The system may also be used to increase reliability in data storage and network transmission, by allowing an error affecting a data chunk to be repaired with an identified duplicate chunk. The data chunking system chunks data by selecting a chunk of fixed size, then moving a window along the data until a match to existing data is found. As the window moves across the data, unique chunks predominantly of fixed size are formed in the data passed over. Several embodiments provide alternate methods of determining whether a selected chunk matches existing data and methods by which the window is moved through the data. To locate duplicate data, the data chunking system remembers data by computing a mathematical function of a data chunk and inserting the computed value into a hash table.

Several alternative spinal access devices are described. A number of alternative methods for performing therapies in the spinal region using the described spinal access devices are also described.

A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying air data for an aircraft. The lift for the aircraft is identified. The number of surface positions for the aircraft is identified. The angle of attack during flight of the aircraft is identified. A synthetic dynamic pressure is computed from the lift, the number of surface positions, and the angle of attack.

A method for making a nanocomposite electrode or circuit pattern includes forming a continuous carbon nanotube layer impregnated with a binder and patterning the binder resin using various printing or photo imaging techniques. An alternative method includes patterning the carbon nanotube layer using various printing or imaging techniques and subsequently applying a continuous coating of binder resin to the patterned carbon nanotube layer. Articles made from these patterned nanocomposite coatings include transparent electrodes and circuits for flat panel displays, photovoltaics, touch screens, electroluminescent lamps, and EMI shielding.

A method and system for assessing blood volume within a subject includes generating a cardiovascular waveform representing physiological characteristics of a subject and determining blood volume of the subject by analyzing the cardiovascular waveform. The step of analyzing includes generating a first trace of the per heart-beat maximums of the cardiovascular waveform, which is representative of the systolic pressure upon the cardiovascular signal, generating a second trace of the per heart-beat minimums of the cardiovascular waveform, which is representative of the diastolic pressure upon the cardiovascular signal, and comparing the respective first trace and the second trace to generate an estimate of relative blood volume within the subject. In accordance with an alternate method of analyzing harmonic analysis is applied to the cardiovascular waveform, extracting a frequency signal created by ventilation and applying the extracted frequency signal in determining blood volume of the subject.

A method and apparatus for determining suitable settings for a servo-ventilator to be used during sleep. Respiratory characteristics of a patient are measured during an awake learning period. With these measured characteristics, a target ventilation setting may be calculated by alternative methods. The calculated setting may then be used for enforcing a minimum ventilation during a treatment period where ventilatory support is provided with a servo-controlled ventilator.

The invention provides systems and methods for layout decomposition to produce exposure layouts that can be used to perform double patterning lithography (DPL). Preferred embodiment methods of the invention are executed by a computer and provide alternate methods for layout decomposition for double patterning lithography (DPL) using integer linear programming (ILP) formulations. Embodiments of the invention meet a key optimization goals, which is to reduce the total cost of layout decomposition, considering the abovementioned aspects that contribute to cost of prior conventional DPL techniques. Embodiments of the invention provide integer linear programming (ILP), phase conflict detection (PCD) and node election bipartization (NBD) formulations for the optimization of DPL layout decomposition, with a process-aware cost function that avoids small jogging line-ends, and maximizes overlap at dividing points of polygons. The cost function can also make preferential splits at landing pads, junctions and long runs.

On-Line and Off-Line methods of simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting an industrial water system are described and claimed. The methods involve the addition to the water of the industrial water system of a Compound selected from the group consisting of the alkali salts of chlorite and chlorate and mixtures thereof; and an acid, followed by allowing the water in the industrial water system to circulate for several hours. The reaction of the alkali salts of chlorite and chlorate and acid produces chlorine dioxide in-situ in the water of the industrial water system. The chlorine dioxide kills microorganisms and the acid acts to remove deposits upon the water-contact surfaces of the equipment. An alternative method involves the use of a chelating agent and a biocide. Other possible cleaning and disinfection reagents may be added as needed including corrosion inhibitors, chelating agents, biocides, surfactants and reducing agents. These cleaning and disinfecting methods work in a variety of industrial water systems including cooling water and boiler water systems.

The detection of red-eye defects is enhanced in digital images for embedded image acquisition and processing systems. A two-stage redeye filtering system includes a speed optimized filter that performs initial segmentation of candidate redeye regions and optionally applies a speed-optimized set of falsing/verification filters to determine a first set of confirmed redeye regions for correction. Some of the candidate regions which are rejected during the first stage are recorded and re-analyzed during a second stage by an alternative set of analysis-optimized filters to determine a second set of confirmed redeye regions.

Systems and methods are disclosed for extracting freshwater from atmospheric humidity in extremely hot and humid climates and supplying freshwater to a small group of people, a building, a farm, or forestation area. The freshwater is treated to provide drinking water by disinfecting to eliminate microorganisms and filtration to remove suspended particulates from air, erosion or corrosion products, and disinfected waste. Compact units provide drinking water for individuals, passengers in cars, vans, trucks, or recreational boats, or crewmembers on a seagoing cargo ship whether from atmospheric humidity or from moisture-laden gases. Furthermore, systems are disclosed for the ample supply of freshwater with minimal treatment for small- to large-sized buildings in a manner that alleviates the heat load on buildings. Collection of freshwater from hot humid ambient air is also provided for other uses, such as irrigation and farm animal drinking. Various methods are used for condensation of water vapor suspended in the air as alternative to conventional refrigeration cycles using CFC refrigerants. Devices are disclosed using naturally occurring brackish cold water, circulation of cooling water cooled by thermoelectric cooling or thermoacoustic refrigeration as well as evaporative cooling and transpiration cooling. Water produced by the systems may flow under gravitational forces entirely or with the assistance of boasting pumps.

A method for segmenting a color document into regions of text and halftone discriminates between text and halftone by examining the texture of the document. A color document is digitized, and a color space transform is preferably applied to the digitized document. The texture of the document is identified and a noise reduction step is preferably applied. Bounding boxes (blocks) within the document are identified and then the areas within the bounding boxes are classified as either text or halftone. Two alternative methods are described for examining the document texture. In the first method, a windowing operation is applied to either an intensity image or a color difference image. In the second method, a wavelet transform step combined with Fuzzy K-Mean clustering is applied. Bounding boxes are classified as either text or halftone based upon the relative periodicity of a horizontal or vertical (or both) histogram of each bounding box.

A method of making a circuitized substrate which includes at least one and possibly several capacitors as part thereof. In one embodiment, the substrate is produced by forming a layer of capacitive dielectric material on a dielectric layer and thereafter forming channels with the capacitive material, e.g., using a laser. The channels are then filled with conductive material, e.g., copper, using selected deposition techniques, e.g., sputtering, electro-less plating and electroplating. A second dielectric layer is then formed atop the capacitor and a capacitor “core” results. This “core” may then be combined with other dielectric and conductive layers to form a larger, multilayered PCB or chip carrier. In an alternative approach, the capacitive dielectric material may be photo-imageable, with the channels being formed using conventional exposure and development processing known in the art. In still another embodiment, at least two spaced-apart conductors may be formed within a metal layer deposited on a dielectric layer, these conductors defining a channel there-between. The capacitive dielectric material may then be deposited (e.g., using lamination) within the channels.

Method and apparatus for disrupting a gastric vagal nerve in the gastroesophageal region and testing the function and disruption of the vagal nerve. In one example embodiment, a treatment device applies ultrasound at a high energy level, such as high intensity focused ultrasound, to a vagal nerve to disrupt it and then ultrasound at a lower energy level to another portion of the vagal nerve, preferably further from the stomach, so as to stimulate the vagal nerve. Alternative ways to test the function or disruption of the vagal nerve involve using PCP-GABA, a pancreatic polypeptide, pressure changes inside the stomach, the gastric mucusol pH, a dye agent in the stomach, and other tests.

A method of fabricating a light emitting device comprises: mounting a light emitting diode chip in a package; heating the light emitting diode chip package assembly to a pre-selected temperature; and dispensing a pre-selected volume of a mixture of at least one phosphor and a light transmissive thermosetting material (silicone, epoxy) on a surface of the chip. The pre-selected volume and temperature are selected such that the phosphor/material mixture flows over the entire light emitting surface of the chip before curing. In an alternative method, using a light transmissive UV curable material such as an epoxy, the phosphor/material mixture is irradiated with UV radiation after a pre-selected time to cure the material. The pre-selected volume and pre-selected time are selected such that the phosphor/material mixture flows over at least the light emitting surface of the chip before curing.

Systems and methods create high quality audio-centric, image-centric, and integrated audio-visual summaries by seamlessly integrating image, audio, and text features extracted from input video. Integrated summarization may be employed when strict synchronization of audio and image content is not required. Video programming which requires synchronization of the audio content and the image content may be summarized using either an audio-centric or an image-centric approach. Both a machine learning-based approach and an alternative, heuristics-based approach are disclosed. Numerous probabilistic methods may be employed with the machine learning-based learning approach, such as naïve Bayes, decision tree, neural networks, and maximum entropy. To create an integrated audio-visual summary using the alternative, heuristics-based approach, a maximum-bipartite-matching approach is disclosed by way of example.