208 results about "Slow rate" patented technology

Apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes a bioabsorbable sealing member secured to one end of a filament or other retaining member. The sealing member is delivered through the puncture into the vessel, and retracted against the wall of the vessel to provide temporary hemostasis. The sealing member is rapidly absorbed after exposure within the vessel, e.g., to an aqueous or heated physiological environment (e.g., exposure to blood or body temperature), immediately or shortly after completing a medical procedure via the puncture, e.g., within the time period that the patient is ambulatory optionally, extravascular sealing material is delivered into the puncture proximal to the sealing member. The retaining member and / or extravascular material may be bioabsorbable, being absorbed at a slower rate than the sealing member. Alternatively, the filament is removed from the puncture after hemostasis is established.

PEG and related polymer derivatives having weak, hydrolytically unstable linkages near the reactive end of the polymer are provided for conjugation to drugs, including proteins, enzymes, small molecules, and others. These derivatives provide a sufficient circulation period for a drug-PEG conjugate, followed by hydrolytic breakdown of the conjugate and release of the bound molecule. In some cases, drugs that demonstrate reduced activity when permanently coupled to PEG maintain a therapeutically suitable activity when coupled to a degradable PEG in accordance with the invention. The PEG derivatives of the invention can be used to impart improved water solubility, increased size, a slower rate of kidney clearance, and reduced immunogenicity to a conjugate formed by attachment thereto. Controlled hydrolytic release of the bound molecule into an aqueous environment can then enhance the drug's delivery profile by providing a delivery system which employs such polymers and utilizes the teachings provided herein.

Method and apparatus for monitoring a patient having a tumor to determine perfusion tumor heterogeneity wherein a solution containing a tracer, preferably a <2>H-saline solution is infused into the patient's bloodstream at a predetermined slow rate to effect perfusion into the tumor. An MRI machine is adjusted to acquire a set of dynamic <2>H magnetic resonance images of the tumor. The <2>H-images are obtained before infusion, during infusion and post infusion. First, the obtained images are processed to quantitatively determine perfusion per voxel of the images. Next, maps of perfusion parameters are generated to indicate spatial distribution of tumor perfusion. The maps are displayed in color code and analyzed.

An ultrasound coupling device for acoustically coupling an ultrasound transducer with a patient's body comprises a fluid chamber having an ultrasound transducer interface for placing an ultrasound transducer in contact with water within said fluid chamber. The coupling device also has a patient interface comprising a water permeable membrane. The membrane has an internal membrane surface which is in contact with the water in the water tank and an external membrane surface can be placed in contact with the patient's body. The membrane is specially designed to allow water from inside the water tank to slowly permeate or “leak” to the external membrane surface while such surface is in contact or placed in very close proximity to the patient's skin. The slow permeation rate maintains the external membrane surface wet and free of air bubbles during a procedure which can take several hours. At the same time, the slow rate of permeation does not cause any water spillage around the patient.

A novel method for retiming a portion of a media content (e.g., audio data, video data, audio and video data, etc.) in a media-editing application is provided. The media editing application includes a user interface for defining a range in order to select a portion of the media content. The media editing application performs retiming by applying a speed effect to the portion of the media content selected by the defined range. For a faster speed effect, the media editing application retimes the selected portion of the media content by sampling the media content at a faster rate. For a slower speed effect, the media editing application retimes the selected portion of the media content by sampling the content at a slower rate.

Rows of DRAM memory cells are refreshed at either a relatively high rate during normal operation or a relatively slow rate in a reduced power refresh mode. Prior to refreshing the rows of memory cells, the data are read from the memory cells, and corresponding syndromes are generated and stored. When transitioning from the reduced power refresh mode, data from the rows of memory cells are read, and the stored syndromes are used to determine if there are errors in the read data. The syndromes are also used to correct any errors that are found, and the corrected data are written to the rows of memory cells. By correcting any errors that exist when transitioning from the reduced power refresh mode, it is not necessary to use the syndromes to detect and correct errors while operating in the reduced power refresh mode.

A system and method which employs atrial discrimination algorithms to distinguish between different atrial arrhythmias occurring in a patient for selecting an optimal pacing therapy corresponding to the type of arrhythmia identified. The invention may be implemented in a bradycardia pacemaker or other implantable cardiac device. In response to the detection of an atrial rate above the atrial tracking rate, discrimination criteria are applied to a detected atrial activity signal to distinguish between different types of supraventricular tachycardia, such as fast atrial flutter and other atrial flutter at a relatively slower rate, which may be occurring in the patient. The discrimination criteria may be, for example, rate-based or morphology based. The pacer is controlled to provide pacing therapy to a heart in a manner corresponding to the type of supraventricular tachycardia identified. For example, antitachycardia pacing may be provided to the heart in response to the detection of a relatively lower rate supraventricular tachycardia / other atrial flutter, whereas another pacing control, e.g., ventricular pacing, such as ventricular rate regulation or Rate Smoothing, may be applied if a more rapid rate supraventricular tachycardia / fast atrial flutter is identified. The output of an atrial discrimination algorithm may be tracked and the trend thereof used to improve therapy timing.

PEG and related polymer derivatives having weak, hydrolytically unstable linkages near the reactive end of the polymer are provided for conjugation to drugs, including proteins, enzymes, small molecules, and others. These derivatives provide a sufficient circulation period for a drug-PEG conjugate and then for hydrolytic breakdown of the conjugate and release of the bound molecule. In some cases, drugs that previously had reduced activity when permanently coupled to PEG can have therapeutically suitable activity when coupled to a degradable PEG in accordance with the invention. The PEG of the invention can be used to impart water solubility, size, slow rate of kidney clearance, and reduced immunogenicity to the conjugate. Controlled hydrolytic release of the bound molecule in the aqueous environment can then enhance the drug delivery system.

A method and system of reconstructing data signals from one of incomplete measurements comprising a receiver for receiving data signals, an ADC system operatively connected to the receiver that digitizes the received data signal at a slower rate than the Nyquist rate to obtain sparse measurements; first and second dictionaries comprising a plurality of time shifted responses recovered from the data signal; the first dictionary comprising time shifted versions of the previously observed data signals which are sampled at or above the Nyquist minimum sample rate; the second dictionary comprising time shifted versions are sampled below the Nyquist minimum, and at least one processor for reconstruction of the waveform signals by transforming the sub-Nyquist digitized output using the first and second dictionaries to produce the data signal.

A drip irrigation hose formed with a plurality of outlets for discharging the water at longitudinally-spaced locations along the length of the hose includes a plurality of emitter elements secured to the hose at longitudinally-spaced locations along its length to define a plurality of turbulent flow passageways each in communication with the interior of the hose for discharging water from a hose outlet at a slow rate. Each of the turbulent flow passageways is defined by a relatively elastic first material coextruded with a relatively stiff second material different from the first material, such that the relatively elastic material is pressure-deformable as compared to the relatively stiff material to change the turbulent flow of each emitter element in response to the pressure of the water in the hose at the respective emitter element.

A method and apparatus for controlling a power supply to prevent instabilities due to dynamic loads in RF plasma processing systems, operating at frequencies of from 1 MHz and up, uses a feedforward type of control loop to tightly regulate the power supplied to the dynamic electrical load, such as loads caused by variable and inconsistent plasma impedance. A feedback control loop can also be used in combination with the feedforward loop, but at a slower rate, to help regulate the amount of power provided to the load.

Rows of DRAM memory cells are refreshed at either a relatively high rate during normal operation or a relatively slow rate in a reduced power refresh mode. Prior to refreshing the rows of memory cells, the data are read from the memory cells, and corresponding syndromes are generated and stored. When transitioning from the reduced power refresh mode, data from the rows of memory cells are read, and the stored syndromes are used to determine if there are errors in the read data. The syndromes are also used to correct any errors that are found, and the corrected data are written to the rows of memory cells. By correcting any errors that exist when transitioning from the reduced power refresh mode, it is not necessary to use the syndromes to detect and correct errors while operating in the reduced power refresh mode.

A load balancing technology segregates various inventory types (e.g., potatoes vs. milk, vs. pretzels, vs. tissue paper, etc.) based upon how frequently they are ordered in a distribution center. Inventory types that are ordered at the slowest rate are not “replicated” over multiple pods in the distribution center. Rather, they are constrained to reside at a single pod within the distribution center. Items that are ordered somewhat more frequently than those in the slowest group are replicated in multiple pods across the distribution center. In other words, these items are separately stocked at locations on more than one pod in the distribution center. This means that a container passing through the distribution center can obtain each of the items in the second group of item types at multiple pods in the distribution center. Thus, these items do not create a bottleneck in the order fulfillment process. Inventory types in a third group, the fastest movers, are segregated from items in the first two groups. They are stored in a separate type of pod that fulfills orders even faster than the other type of pods.

A DRAM memory device includes several banks of memory cells each of which are divided into first and second sets of memory cells. The memory cells in the first set can be refreshed at a relatively slow rate to reduce the power consumed by the DRAM device. Error checking and correcting circuitry in the DRAM device corrects any data retention errors in the first set of memory cells caused by the relatively slow refresh rate. The memory cells in the second set are refreshed at a normal rate, which is fast enough that data retention errors do not occur. A mode register in the DRAM device may be programmed to select the size of the second set of memory cells.

A method and apparatus for controlling a power supply to prevent instabilities due to dynamic loads in RF plasma processing systems, operating at frequencies of from 1 MHz and up, uses a feedforward type of control loop to tightly regulate the power supplied to the dynamic electrical load, such as loads caused by variable and inconsistent plasma impedance. A feedback control loop can also be used in combination with the feedforward loop, but at a slower rate, to help regulate the amount of power provided to the load.

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing data in a cache. Data in the cache is identified that has been designated by an application to form identified data. The identified data is aged in the cache at a slower rate than other data in the cache that is undesignated for slower aging in response to identifying the data in the cache.

A drip irrigation hose includes a plurality of emitter elements secured to a tube at longitudinally-spaced locations to define, with an inner surface of the tube, a plurality of labyrinths each having an inlet in communication with the interior of the tube, and an outlet in communication with a tube outlet for discharging water from the tube outlet at a slow rate. The labyrinths are defined by a continuous strip of a relatively inelastic material bonded to the inner surface of the tube, and a formation of a relatively elastic material shaped to define at least the tips of a group of teeth for each of the emitter elements producing, with the inner surface of the tube a turbulent flow passageway at each of the longitudinally spaced locations along the length of the tube. In some embodiments the drip irrigation hose is formed with a clearance between the inner surface of the tube and the teeth normally bypassing at least a part of each labyrinth in the non-pressurized condition of the tube, which clearance is closed in the pressurized condition of the tube to render the labyrinths effective to regulate the flow therethrough in response to pressure.

A drip irrigation hose includes a tube for conducting pressurized water through its interior and formed with a plurality of outlets for emitting water at longitudinally-spaced locations along the length of the tube; and a plurality of flow-control elements fixed with respect to the inner surface of the tube at longitudinally-spaced locations thereof to define, with the inner surface, a plurality of labyrinths each having an inlet communicating with the interior of the tube and an outlet communicating with a tube outlet for emitting water there from at a slow rate. The labyrinth includes a bottom wall constructed to produce, adjacent to the bottom wall, a significant laminar flow of water in which the laminar flow decreases, and thereby turbulent flow increases, with an increase in the water pressure within the tube to thereby provide pressure-compensation for the water flow through the respective tube outlet.

A multirate execution unit is capable of being operated in a plurality of modes, with the execution unit being capable of clocked at multiple different rates relative to a multithreaded issue unit such that, in applications where maximum performance is desired, the execution unit can be clocked at a rate that is faster than the clock rate for the multithreaded issue unit, and in applications where a lower power profile is desired, the execution unit can be throttled back to a slower rate to reduce the power consumption of the execution unit. When the execution unit is clocked at a faster rate than the multithreaded issue unit, the issue unit is permitted to issue more instructions per cycle than when the execution unit is throttled to the slower rate to increase overall instruction throughput.

A method and apparatus to receive and demodulate call related information, e.g., Caller ID information, in an audio codec placed on the line side and powered by current drawn from the telephone line. The audio codec includes a 1st order SIGMA / DELTA A / D converter to digitize the signal from the telephone line with SIGMA / DELTA modulation. The 1st order SIGMA / DELTA A / D converter may be a scaleable component capable of alternative operation in a 2nd order. The SIGMA / DELTA encoded digitized signal is digitally processed by a DSP including an amplifier module, a digital filter, a limit / slice module, and an FSK decoder to receive and output the call related information. Placement of the audio codec on the line side and the scaleable SIGMA / DELTA A / D converter provides significantly reduced power requirements for the audio codec, thus allowing operation from power derived from the telephone line. In another embodiment, to further reduce power consumption of the audio codec, the 1st order SIGMA / DELTA A / D converter is sampled at a slower rate than is conventional, e.g., by first dividing or otherwise providing a slower sampling clock.

The present invention is an apparatus and a method for delivery of mitomycin through an eluting biocompatible implantable medical device. A biocompatible drug release matrix comprises a biocompatible drug release matrix and a drug incorporated into the biocompatible drug release matrix. The drug has antibiotic and anti-proliferative properties and is an analogue related to the quinone-containing alkylating agents of a mitomycin family. The drug is initially released from the biocompatible drug release matrix at a faster rate followed by a release at a slower rate. The drug release rate maintains tissue level concentrations of the drug for at least two weeks after implantation of the medical device. The present invention provides a coating for a vascular prosthesis that elutes the drug at a controlled rate to inhibit proliferation of smooth muscle cells causing restenosis.

A drip irrigation hose includes a tube for conducting pressurized water through its interior and formed with a plurality of outlets for emitting water at longitudinally-spaced locations along the length of the tube; and a plurality of flow-control elements fixed with respect to the inner surface of the tube at longitudinally-spaced locations thereof to define, with the inner surface, a plurality of labyrinths each having an inlet communicating with the interior of the tube and an outlet communicating with a tube outlet for emitting water there from at a slow rate. The labyrinth includes a bottom wall constructed to produce, adjacent to the bottom wall, a significant laminar flow of water in which the laminar flow decreases, and thereby turbulent flow increases, with an increase in the water pressure within the tube to thereby provide pressure-compensation for the water flow through the respective tube outlet.

The invention provides a computer implemented method to automate the calibration of the drive voltage waveform of a solenoid operated valve. An initial estimate of valve electromagnetic parameters and valve closure point is derived and the drive voltage waveform is created based in part on circuit constraints and the parameters and valve closure point. The drive voltage waveform is applied to the valve coil and the coil current feedback is obtained and used to update the initial estimate. This process is repeated until the coil current feedback meets predetermined criteria. The electromagnetic parameters include the L / R ratio of the valve during the pull-in time and decay time, the valve back emf during the pull-hold time, and the average resistance during hold when current is steady. The closure point is used to anchor the drive voltage waveform and is adjusted at a slower rate than the other parameters.

The present invention is directed to methods and systems for allocating bandwidth (or other shared resource) among multiple masters. According to an aspect of the present invention, an arbiter assigns a bucket to each CPU (or other device) where each bucket holds the credits for that CPU. Each bucket has a predetermined fill rate and a drain rate. Depending on the priority given to a particular CPU, the corresponding bucket will drain (or fill) at a particular rate. For example, CPUs with a higher priority will drain at a slower rate. For each clock tick (or other period of time) that a CPU is stalled, a number of credits is accrued. The bucket with the highest number of credits has priority and will be given access to the shared resource (e.g., DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, EPROM, etc.).

A coform nonwoven web that contains a matrix of meltblown fibers and an absorbent material is provided. The meltblown fibers are formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains at least one propylene / α-olefin copolymer of a certain monomer content, density, melt flow rate, etc. The selection of a specific type of propylene / α-olefin copolymer provides the resulting composition with improved thermal properties for forming a coform web. For example, the thermoplastic composition crystallizes at a relatively slow rate, thereby allowing the fibers to remain slightly tacky during formation. This tackiness may provide a variety of benefits, such as enhancing the ability of the meltblown fibers to adhere to the absorbent material during formation of the coform web. In certain embodiments, the coform web may also be imparted with texture using a three-dimensional forming surface. In such embodiments, the slow crystallization rate of the meltblown fibers may increase their ability to conform to the contours of the three-dimensional forming surface. Once the fibers crystallize, however, the meltblown fibers may achieve a degree of stiffness similar to conventional polypropylene, thereby allowing them to retain their three-dimensional shape and form a highly textured surface on the coform web.

This inventive electrode slurry comprising: binder, conductive agent, electrode active substance and solvent are mixed evenly by agitating. Said conductive agent in the form of conductive system is mixed with the binder, electrode active substance and solvent. Said conductive system comprises conducting agent and conductive dispersion medium, said conducting agent having D50 size of 200-3000 nanometer. The slurry thus prepared has advantages of: excellent electric capacity of electrode active substance, slow rate of decay of electric capacity, stable discharging platform, stable internal resistance.

A dental syringe (10) has a needle (11) affixed to a carpule holder (12), which carpule holder (12) is affixed to a power drive unit (13). A harpoon (20) is provided to affix the drive unit to the carpule plunger (32). The harpoon (20) is made of stainless steel or other hard, corrosion resistant, sterilizable, material. Harpoon 20 has a unique barb geometry and hardened, knife-like, edges (21). The syringe (10) may operate to divide the delivery of anesthesia into two phases. According to the method, during the first about 10 seconds of the injection, anesthetic is delivered at an extremely slow rate to maximize patient comfort. The injection rate then automatically increases to the preprogrammed rate associated with the injection type selected.

Apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes a bioabsorbable sealing member secured to one end of a filament or other retaining member. The sealing member is delivered through the puncture into the vessel, and retracted against the wall of the vessel to provide temporary hemostasis. The sealing member is rapidly absorbed after exposure within the vessel, e.g., to an aqueous or heated physiological environment (e.g., exposure to blood or body temperature), immediately or shortly after completing a medical procedure via the puncture, e.g., within the time period that the patient is ambulatory. Optionally, extravascular sealing material is delivered into the puncture proximal to the sealing member. The retaining member and / or extravascular material may be bioabsorbable, being absorbed at a slower rate than the sealing member. Alternatively, the filament is removed from the puncture after hemostasis is established.

A drip irrigation emitter includes a housing containing an inlet opening for receiving water from a supply tube and an outlet opening for emitting water at a pressureless drip rate. A labyrinth inside the emitter receives water from the supply tube through the inlet opening, reducing its pressure and emitting the water at a drip rate. A flexible pressure-compensating diaphragm inside the housing flexes elastically under pressure changes of water entering in the opening from the supply tube. A raised structured surface positioned between the inlet opening and the diaphragm prevents the diaphragm from sealing off water entry to the emitter housing through the inlet opening when water pressure in the supply tube is shut off. The raised structured surface is configured to allow air contained in the soil to be drawn backwards through the emitter at a very slow rate, thereby inhibiting emitter blockage caused by soil ingestion.

A liquid dispensing device, includes a container for holding a supply of a liquid to be dispensed; a liquid feed tube having one end exposed to the interior of one end of the container for feeding liquid by gravity through the opposite end of the liquid feed tube when the container is inverted with the one end of the container facing downwardly and the opposite end of the liquid feed tube located at a lower elevation than the level of the liquid in the container; an air inlet leading from the atmosphere into the interior of the one end of the container so as to be immersed by the liquid therein when the container is filled with a liquid and inverted; and an air inlet control device effective, when the container is inverted, to block the outflow of liquid from the interior of the container via the air inlet, but to permit atmospheric air to enter, via the air inlet into the interior of the container at a very slow rate and to bubble through the liquid within the container, whereby dispensing of the liquid from the container via the liquid feed tube is also effected at a very slow rate.