613 results about "Tool use by animals" patented technology

The present invention includes methods, devices, systems, circuits and associated computer executable code for detecting and predicting the position and trajectory of surgical tools. According to some embodiments of the present invention, images of a surgical tool within or in proximity to a patient may be captured by a radiographic imaging system. The images may be processed by associated processing circuitry to determine and predict position, orientation and trajectory of the tool based on 3D models of the tool, geometric calculations and mathematical models describing the movement and deformation of surgical tools within a patient body.

A knowledge-based natural speech dialogue system includes: (i) a knowledge support system, (ii) a flexible dialogue control system, and (iii) a context information system. Flexibilities of the conversation structure, inherent in mixed-initiative mode for dealing with complex user request, are managed because the knowledge structures involved are represented by additional, powerful knowledge representation tools, and because the context information is retained by more specific data structures, which covers larger temporal scopes by the logic of the conversation, rather than by a fixed locality of the grammar flow. This system provides a simple yet reliable method to compensate for these factors to enable more powerful conversation engines with mixed-initiative capabilities.

A system and method for organizing knowledge in such a way that humans can find knowledge, learn from it, and add to it as needed is disclosed. The exemplary system has four components: a knowledge base (215), a learning model (21) and an associated tutor (13), a set or user tools (31, 32), and a backend system (33). The invention also preferably comprises a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow these components to work together, so that other people can create their own versions of each of the components. In the knowledge web a community of people with knowledge to share put knowledge in the database using the user tools. The knowledge may be in the form of documents or other media, or it may be a descriptor of a book or other physical source. Each piece of knowledge is associated with various types of meta-knowledge about what the knowledge is for, what form it is in, and so on.

This medical (human and veterinary) CRM and ERP software affects every step of patient interaction: marketing, sales or service-related. It allows management of the workload by distributing the chores among staff members and automates medical and business processes through workflow rules. It enables users to view and update tasks, medical cases, appointments, sales, phone calls, faxes, emails, letters and automatic input of lab results into the patient's medical record. It also serves the needs of people in human resources; finance and inventory control, and integrates with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Great Plains and other business systems. It delivers detailed diagnostic differentials associated with a likelihood of their applicability to the given patients' record and physician's experience in his contextual situation; selects the most appropriate diagnostic procedures; offers the possibility for the user to implement context-sensitive tutorials; presents a context-sensitive source of information on diseases and medical procedures.

The present invention provides systems and methods of managing planning and delivery of an orthodontic treatment using planning tools, treatment guidelines, instructions and appointment planning tools customized to the individual patient being treated, as well as tools and methods for tracking delivery and patient progression through an orthodontic treatment plan.

A method, system, process, and computer program that receives, collects, displays, and optimizes user-defined data. The collection, analysis, and optimization process is applicable to a wide variety of industries for both real-time and historical data. Some sample industries that will benefit from this invention include: securities trading, vehicular traffic optimization, medical image scanning, wireless communications, and aircraft routing.

The present invention pertains to a portable apparatus for quantitatively measuring the concentration of specific substances in test samples of a lateral flow or microplate assay in medical, biomedical and chemical applications, and for making subsequent analysis and diagnosis. The portable apparatus includes a sample tray for carrying and aligning the test sample in the apparatus; a enclosure that may also serves as the frame of the apparatus; a digital image acquisition system that is used to obtain the digital image of the test sample on the sample tray; and a data display, processing, and analysis unit that is a general purpose or dedicated computer, such as a handheld computer (HHC), a pocket personal computer (PPC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a palm-top computer, a laptop computer, or a dedicated microprocessor and associated hardware, for measuring the concentration of specific substances in the test sample, and making subsequent analysis and diagnosis, based on the measurement, statistical data, prior knowledge and mathematical model. The stated enclosure and frame, the digital image acquisition system, and the data display, processing and analysis unit are integrated to form the portable apparatus for various applications. The integrated apparatus of this invention, with a possible name—Portable Intelligent Multi-Diagnoser (PIMD), thus forms a portable and multiple-purpose tool for measuring the concentration of specific substances in test samples, and making subsequent analysis and diagnosis in a variety of settings, such as a mobile site, point of care or near patient care, and small laboratories.

The invention concerns new computer aided methods and apparatus for designing objects, particularly 3D objects, and especially those having a sculpted form such as found in automobiles, boats, planes, furniture and certain fashion apparel items. Preferred embodiments employ optical sensing of the designers' hands, fingers, or styling implements, or his sketches, in conjunction with large screen displays and several novel software based methods which have the further advantage of direct interface to conventional CAD (Computer Aided design) systems which are then used to physically manifest the results as models, tooling or whatever. Use of the invention not only saves time and cost, but allows, in a “natural” way, much greater freedom of expression for the artist / designer than any known computer based system.

A device and method for treating all types of parts, in particular bones, organs, etc. of the human / animal body, which includes a housing (3), a tool (1) associated with the housing (3), and an actuation unit causing a relative movement between the housing and the tool. The device is designed and constructed to permit process control by the user, while utilizing the specific possibilities of robotics and computer-assisted navigation in such a manner that the position of the tool can be detected, and that the position of the body part being treated can be detected or predetermined, with the actuation unit being activatable in such a manner that it moves the tool within a predetermined work area to a predetermined relative position with respect to the body part being treated.

A training aid for teaching needle biopsy of the human breast. The inventive methods use breast models having lifelike properties providing accurate tactile sensation during palpation of the breast that enable a trainee to learn to locate modeled internal lesions and similar tissues in the breast. These same properties allow learning of tactile sensations indicating relative position and motion of biopsy needles during biopsy needling procedures. To facilitate tactile learning, the breast model includes an opaque skin that blocks the trainee view of a breast cavity containing modeled lesions, ensuring that needling procedures are performed based solely on "feel". The present invention also includes alternative training methods using a second breast model that is sufficiently transparent to allow viewing of modeled lesions from any relative position. The present invention includes training systems incorporating breast models and viewing stands and methods of training using these aids.

A method and workstation for orthodontic treatment planning of a patient. The workstation is based on a computing platform having a graphical user interface, a processor and a computer storage medium containing digitized records pertaining to a patient including image data (3D image data and / or 2D image data). The workstation further includes a set of software instructions providing graphical user interface tools which the user marks a midline and an aesthetic occlusal plane in a two- or three-dimensional virtual model of the patient, marks an occlusal plane in the virtual model; selects a reference tooth in the virtual model; aligns virtual teeth in the virtual model in a proposed arrangement to treat the patient; manages space between the virtual teeth in the proposed arrangement; and repeats one or more of these steps in an iterative fashion to make any further adjustments in the proposed arrangement. When the adjustments are complete, the user selects or identifies a finalized proposed treatment plan for treating the patient.

Method and apparatus to detect a change in a work tool with an engaging portion. A control system senses a change in the relationship between the engaging portion of the work tool and at least one of the work tool and another engaging portion of the work tool. If the change is greater than a predetermined value, the control system produces an error signal.

A system for characterizing an audience can comprise instruments that monitor representative audience members for media exposure and an engine that deduces information about the audience as a whole. A set of instruments can monitor each representative audience member's media exposure. An in-home instrument, such as a set top box or a hand-held remote control, can monitor exposure to in-home television and radio. An in-vehicle instrument can monitor billboard and onboard radio exposure. A manual instrument, such as a diary, can monitor other media exposure. The engine can process exposure data from the instruments for each monitored member to form a comprehensive media exposure profile of venue and system targeted (“VAST”) ratings. The profile can segment exposure according to delivery system, media type, and venue. The engine can extrapolate the data obtained for each monitored member to provide segmented exposure and demographic information about the audience as a whole.

A system and methods of diagnosing and monitoring neurological disorders in a patient utilizing an artificial intelligence based system. The system may comprise a plurality of sensors, a collection of trained machine learning based diagnostic and monitoring tools, and an output device. The plurality of sensors may collect data relevant to neurological disorders. The trained diagnostic tool will learn to use the sensor data to assign risk assessments for various neurological disorders. The trained monitoring tool will track the development of a disorder over time and may be used to recommend or modify the administration of relevant treatments. The goal of the system is to render an accurate evaluation of the presence and severity of neurological disorders in a patient without requiring input from an expertly trained neurologist.

The present invention relates to an intelligent interactive apparatus, system and method that aligns with grooming tools such as hair clippers or trimmers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hair clipper having an attached imaging apparatus assembly that is linked to a display output device allowing for more intelligent and consistent hair grooming views and overall control. The clipper imaging apparatus assembly of the present invention allows for an intelligent interactive system wherein the method used makes a user capable of a more accurate hair grooming experience. The present invention's system is linked by superimposed hair design overlays, and an interactive imaging apparatus for an improved viewing method. The imaging device enables a more accurate grooming experience using an imaging sensor that intelligently follows a grid mapping axis process using predictive analytics to reduce grooming errors and difficulty.

Systems, apparatus, and methods for correlating two items of interest, based on a plurality of data items and characteristics. The data items may include objective and quantitative data, as well as subjective and qualitative data. In one implementation, the relationship of an individual to a metric is determined. The system, apparatus, and methods may store characteristics describing individuals generally, along with metrics relevant to an organization; receive a plurality of data items; extract information associated with the individual from the data items; determine a number of relationships between the data items, individuals, metric, and characteristics; and use the relationships to determine an overall relationship between the individual and the metric, based on the data and characteristics. In addition, related groups of characteristics may be identified. Similarly, the relationships between any individual, metric, sub-metric, group of characteristics, data item, data source, characteristic, or groups thereof may also be determined.

The present invention provides assay tools for the detection of biological or chemical activity in a sample. The assay tools of the invention provide direct detection using a positive signal generated on a surface of the assay tool. These assay tools provide improved methods for detection and / or identification of multiple agents (e.g., enzymes) in a sample, analysis of substrate specificity of such agents, and binding affinities and specificities of such agents. Upon activity a component is released from a first immobilised construct and then captured by a capture surface. At least two different immobilised constructs are used.

A system and method provide nutrition assessments and tools for enabling users to achieve health-related goals based on specific health needs. The tools can include a nutrition assessment tool, a weight solution tool, a meal planning tool, and a meal tracking tool. The method includes receiving patient phenotype data. The phenotype data can include, but is not limited to, biometric data specific to the patient, medical claims data specific to the patient, organizational data specific to an organization to which the patient belongs, and behavioral data including dietary habits and nutritional history. One or more algorithms are executed on at least one processor of a computing apparatus to provide analyses of patient data in order. The results are output to a user in various web pages customized to provide features to the user.

The present invention discloses a method for performing a stochastic analysis of one or more hydrocarbon reservoir exploitation strategies taking into consideration one or more uncertain parameters. The method optimizes an objective function that considers the gain in value of a reservoir management goal attributable to these exploitation strategies. The methodology may be used to decide whether or not to implement a strategy. Alternatively, it may be used to decide which competing strategy will yield the maximum benefit. In another embodiment of the present invention, the value of information obtained from the installation of additional sensors or new measurements is also considered.

A system and method provide nutrition assessments and tools for enabling users to achieve health-related goals based on specific health needs. The tools can include a nutrition assessment tool, a weight solution tool, a meal planning tool, and a meal tracking tool. The method includes receiving patient phenotype data. The phenotype data can include, but is not limited to, biometric data specific to the patient, medical claims data specific to the patient, organizational data specific to an organization to which the patient belongs, and behavioral data including dietary habits and nutritional history. One or more algorithms are executed on at least one processor of a computing apparatus to provide analyses of patient data in order. The results are output to a user in various web pages customized to provide features to the user.

Embodiments of the invention provide virtual reality tools used to develop improved infection control solutions. The virtual reality tools may be applied to a variety of health care environments to develop improved infection control solutions, including improved training systems for modifying human behavior regarding hand washing (or other infection control behaviors), improved systems for evaluating the effectiveness of a proposed infection control solution, and for a producer / seller of anti-microbial products to demonstrate the superiority of one product over another or the superiority of one proposed solution over another.

A parking meter has a vault housing and a vault door removably covering a main opening and having a back facing an interior of the housing. A lock assembly includes a lock cylinder disposed on the door and that has a body and a usually movable portion. A bolting mechanism operatively connects to the movable portion of the lock cylinder for selectively providing a locked position. A support structure is disposed on the interior side of the door and holds the bolting mechanism. A removable retainer engages the body of the lock cylinder, which is usually stationary. This results in the retainer preventing motion of the body sufficient to operate the bolting mechanism. The support structure is configured for releasably maintaining the retainer on the lock cylinder body. The vault housing defines a tool hole providing access to the interior of the housing for insertion of a disengagement tool through the tool hole. The retainer has a portion configured for connecting to the disengagement tool and is configured so that retracting the disengagement tool while connected to the retainer provides enough disengagement from the lock cylinder body to permit motion of the lock cylinder body to operate the bolting mechanism when the movable portion will not move relative to the body.

The invention discloses a method for identifying local discharge signals of a switchboard based on a support vector machine model. The method comprises a model training process and an audio identifying process, and particularly comprises the following steps of: preprocessing audio signals; extracting effective audios according to short-time energy and a zero-crossing rate; segmenting the effective audios and extracting characteristic parameters such as Mel cepstrum coefficients, first order difference Mel cepstrum coefficients, high zero-crossing rate and the like of each segment of the audios; training a sample set by using a support vector machine tool, and establishing a corresponding support vector machine model; after preprocessing audio signals to be identified and extracting and segmenting the effective audios, classifying and identifying segment-characteristic-based samples to be tested according to the support vector machine model; and post-processing classification results, and judging whether partial discharge signals exist. By using the method, the existence of the partial discharge signals of the switchboard is accurately identified, the happening of major accidents involving electricity is prevented and avoided, economic losses caused by insulation accidents are reduced, and the power distribution reliability is improved.

A training system using haptically enhanced simulations of dental procedures to provide the sensorimotor involvement needed for dental training. To provide touch feedback in combination with a realistic visual experience, the system integrates a haptic stylus interface for simulating the movement and feel of the tool-tip with a three-dimensional, stereoscopic display. The haptic stylus enables the dental student to orient and operate simulated dental tools. Working on a virtual model viewed in a stereo display, dental students can use a simulated pick to probe a tooth, or a simulated drill to prepare a tooth for cavity repair. The touch feedback is simulated by representing these dental instruments as force-to-a-point tools which map to haptic simulation procedures executed on a computer workstation that also provides the visual display.

A method and related system to, among other things, automatically infer answers to all of the ADL questions and the first four questions of the IADL in the home. The inference methods detect the relevant activities unobtrusively, continuously, accurately, objectively, quantifiably and without relying on the patient's own memory (which may be fading due to aging or an existing health condition, such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)) or on a caregiver's subjective report. The methods rely on the judicious placement of a number of sensors in the subject's place of residence, including motion detection sensors in every room, the decomposition of each relevant activity into the sub-tasks involved, identification of additional sensors required to detect the relevant sub-tasks and spatial-temporal conditions between the signals of sensors to formulate the rules that will detect the occurrence of the specific activities of interest. The sensory data logged on a computing device (computer, data logger etc.), date and time stamped, is analyzed using specialist data analysis software tools that check for the applicable task / activity detection rules. The methods are particularly useful for the continued in-home assessment of subjects living alone to evaluate their progress in response to medical intervention drug or physical therapy or decline in abilities that may be the indicator of the onset of disease over time. Measuring the frequency of each activity, the time required to accomplish an activity or a subtask and the number of activities / subtasks performed continuously over time can add extremely valuable quantification extensions to the existing ADL and IADL evaluation instruments, as it will not only reveal important information setting up a baseline for activity levels for each activity, but will also easily allow the detection of any drift from these personalized norms.

A hybrid evolutionary algorithm (“HEA”) technique is described for automatically calculating well and drainage locations in a field. The technique includes planning a set of wells on a static reservoir model using an automated well planner tool that designs realistic wells that satisfy drilling and construction constraints. A subset of these locations is then selected based on dynamic flow simulation using a cost function that maximizes recovery or economic benefit. In particular, a large population of candidate targets, drain holes and trajectories is initially created using fast calculation analysis tools of cost and value, and as the workflow proceeds, the population size is reduced in each successive operation, thereby facilitating use of increasingly sophisticated calculation analysis tools for economic valuation of the reservoir while reducing overall time required to obtain the result. In the final operation, only a small number of full reservoir simulations are required for the most promising FDPs.