最新美国发明专利第2013-11-12期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08580907B2	Insulating film material, multilayer wiring board and production method thereof, and semiconductor device and production method thereof An insulating film material, which contains a polycarbosilane compound expressed by the following structural formula 1: where R1 may be the same or different to each other in the unit repeated “n” times, and each represents C1-4 hydrocarbon or aromatic hydrocarbon; R2 may be the same or different to each other in the unit repeated “n” times, and each represents C1-4 hydrocarbon or aromatic hydrocarbon; n is an integer of 5 to 5,000.
US08580904B2	Silicone monomer The invention provides a silicone monomer which is suitable for the manufacture of ophthalmic devices, such as contact lenses, intraocular lenses, and keratoprosthesis, a monomer composition containing the monomer, and a polymer which fulfills both surface hydrophilicity and oxygen permeability at the same time. The silicone monomer of the present invention is represented by the formula (1a) or (1b): (X: a monovalent C2 to C6 organic group having one or more —OH and optionally one O or N in its main chain; Z1 to Z9: a C1 to C4 alkyl group; n: 1 to 3; a and b: 0 or 1).
US08580902B2	Catalyst system, process for olefin polymerization, and polymer compositions produced therefrom Provided are catalyst systems, processes for polymerizing one or more olefins, polymers resulting therefrom, and articles prepared from such polymers. The processes comprise contacting under polymerization conditions one or more olefin monomers, preferably propylene, with a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and an activator of the formula (1) or (2) as described herein. The polymer compositions described herein exhibit advantageously narrow composition distributions and high melting points in comparison to conventional polymers having the same comonomer content. The polymers described herein exhibit improved properties, e.g., pellet stability, impact properties, heat seal properties, and structural integrity in film and fabricated parts applications.
US08580901B2	Crosslinkable coating compositions containing polyurethane An aqueous crosslinkable coating composition that includes a PU polymer and a vinyl polymer bearing carbonyl groups (i.e., a carbonyl-functional vinyl polymer) and/or latex polymer. The composition also preferably includes carbonyl-reactive amine and/or hydrazine functional groups.
US08580900B2	Thermoplastic amphiphilic co-networks The present invention relates generally to thermoplastic amphiphilic networks and/or co-networks. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to thermoplastic (TP) amphiphilic co-networks (APCNs) and the preparation of membranes from such APCNs. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an amphiphilic network comprising at least one hydrophilic polymer-derived portion, at least one hydrophobic polymer-derived portion and at least one thermoplastic polymer-derived portion. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to thermoplastic amphiphilic co-networks prepared by combining the chemistries of APCNs and polyurethanes (PUs) and to the preparation of membranes therefrom.
US08580895B2	Caps and closures This invention discloses caps and closures produced by injection molding with a bimodal high density polyethylene (HDPE) resin comprising a low molecular weight, high density polyethylene fraction substantially free of comonomer and a high molecular weight, low density polyethylene fraction, having a molecular weight distribution of at least 3.5, preferably greater than 4.0, prepared in two reactors connected in series in the presence of a metallocene-containing catalyst system, wherein the metallocene comprises a bisindenyl or a bis-tetrahydrogenated-indenyl component.
US08580891B2	Silicone acrylic hybrid polymer-based adhesives Silicone acrylic hybrid compositions prepared by reacting together silicone polymers, silicone resins, and silyl containing acrylic polymers are useful in adhesive compositions that find use in skin contact applications.
US08580890B2	Heterophasic propylene copolymer with improved properties for injection molding applications The present invention concerns a heterophasic propylene copolymer of high melt flow for injection molding, which comprise a propylene polymer matrix and a rubber. The heterophasic propylene copolymers of the present invention are characterized by a high viscosity of the rubber phase and a well-defined ratio of the intrinsic viscosities of the rubber phase and the propylene polymer matrix, thus resulting in improved mechanical properties. The present invention further relates to a process for the production of such heterophasic propylene copolymers, their use and articles produced with them.
US08580886B2	Method for the preparation and use of bis (alkoxysilylorgano)-dicarboxylates A method for preparing a bis(alkoxysilylorgano)dicarboxylate includes reacting a haloorganoalkoxysilane, a dimetal salt of a dicarboxyl functional compound, and a phase transfer catalyst. A quaternary iminium compound of a polyaza, polycycloalkene is useful as the phase transfer catalyst. The product may be a bis(alkoxysilylalkyl)fumarate, which is useful as a coupling agent in rubber compositions for tire applications.
US08580882B1	Glove-forming solution A glove-forming liquid solution that when rubbed on a user's hand forms a solid glove around the hand, the solution features a percentage latex, a percentage water, a percentage aloe-barbadensis leaf juice, a percentage glycerin, a percentage stearic acid, a percentage glyceryl, a percentage cetyl alcohol, a percentage safflower seed oil, and a percentage lanolin.
US08580875B2	Acrylic emulsion polymers for removable pressure sensitive adhesive applications An improved aqueous acrylic emulsion pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) composition of improved sheer strength includes an aqueous acrylic emulsion including at least one hydrophobic monomer, at least one hydrophilic monomer, and at least one hydrogen bonding monomer; and a peel control additive. The PSA composition is substantially devoid of phosphate-based surfactants.
US08580869B2	Seamless model and method of making a seamless model The present disclosure relates to a seamless model free of bond lines made by a method which includes the steps of providing a substructure having an exposed outer surface, applying a modeling paste to the outer surface of the substructure in the form of a continuous layer, curing the continuous layer of applied modeling paste, and machining said cured layer of modeling paste to the desired contour to form the seamless model. The modeling paste may be a mechanically frothed syntactic foam prepared by injecting inert gas with mechanical stirring into either a formed froth-forming polyurethane or epoxy composition containing microballoons.
US08580866B2	Dry powder polymer finish A dry powder composition for preparing a dry form of an acrylic finish is provided. The dry powder composition includes: calcium carbonate filler, coalescing aid, pH adjuster, and an acrylic-based re-dispersible polymer in powder form. In various embodiments, aggregate, silica sand, titanium dioxide, cellulose thickener, biocide, clay, cellulose fiber, mica filler, and/or defoamer are added. The dry powder composition can further comprise a hydrophobic agent. The dry powder can be mixed with a volume of water to produce a wet coating for application to a substrate.
US08580861B2	Chemical composition for skin care formulations The present invention provides preservative compositions suitable for replacing, partially or in totality, conventional preservatives in skin care and hygiene cosmetic or pharmaceutical products. The preservative formulations include an organic carboxylic acid present in a concentration from about 0.01 to about 30 wt./wt. % of the formulation, an alcohol present in a concentration from about 0.01 to about 60 wt./wt. % of the formulation. The formulations include an inorganic salt present in a concentration from about 0.01 to about 80 wt./wt. % of the formulation, and a chelating agent present in a concentration from about 0.01 to about 20 wt./wt. % of the formulation.
US08580860B2	Foamable alcoholic composition A foamable composition includes greater than about 40 weight percent of an alcohol, based upon the total weight of the alcoholic composition, and a foaming surfactant selected from gemini surfactants, sulfuric acid esters, di-esters, C10-34 fatty alcohols, polyquaternium polymers, and combinations thereof.
US08580857B2	Methods and compositions to determine the chemosensitizing dose of suramin used in combination therapy A method for determining a therapeutically effective amount of suramin for administering to a patient, who is to receive a cytotoxic agent, which comprises the steps of determining the circulating suramin concentration in the patient; administering suramin, if required, to establish a low circulating concentration of suramin in the patient of below about 200 μM; and administering the chemotherapeutic agent to the patient when the low circulating concentration of suramin is present in the patient. Conveniently a nomogram can be constructed for use in clinical settings with the suramin.
US08580852B2	2-oxamide inhibitors of phospholipase A2 activity and cellular arachidonate release based on dipeptides and pseudopeptides The disclosure provides a series of 2-oxoamides based on dipeptides and pseudodipeptides, which were synthesized and their activities toward two human intracellular phospholipases A2 (GIVA CPLA 2 and GVIA 1PLA 2) and one human secretory phospholipase A2 (GV sPLA 2) were evaluated. Derivatives containing a free carboxyl group are selective GIVA cPLA 2 inhibitors. A derivative based on the ethyl ester of an ether pseudodipeptide is the first 2-oxoamide, which preferentially inhibits GVIA iPLA 2. The effect of 2-oxoamides on the generation of arachidonic acid from RAW 264.7 macrophages was also studied. It was found that selective GIVA cPLA 2 inhibitors preferentially inhibited cellular arachidonic acid release; in which one pseudodipeptide gave an IC50 value of 2 μM.
US08580843B2	Use of diindolylmethane (DIM) compounds and derivatives as neuroprotective agents Presented herein are diindolylmethane derivative compounds useful for the prevention and or treatment of neurological conditions, including neurological conditions related to neuroinflammation. One such neurological condition is Parkinson's disease.
US08580838B2	5-membered heterocycle-based p38 kinase inhibitors Provided are 5-membered heterocycle-based p38 kinase inhibitors. Further provided are pyrazole and imidazole-based p38 kinase, including p38α, and p38β kinase, inhibitors. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are also provided. Methods of use of the compounds and compositions are also provided, including methods of treatment, prevention, or amelioration of one or more symptoms of p38 kinase mediated diseases and disorders, including, but not limited to, inflammatory diseases and disorders.
US08580837B2	Parasiticidal formulation The present invention provides a parasiticidal formulation comprising: Fipronil, or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof; at least one C1-C6 alcohol co-solvent, wherein the total amount of C1-C6 alcohol is up to 8% by weight of the formulation; at least one organic solvent which is not the C1-C6 alcohol co-solvent; and at least one crystallization inhibitor, wherein the total amount of crystallization inhibitor is from 2 to 20% by weight of the formulation. The formulations of the invention have higher flash points than known parasiticidal formulations comprising Fipronil and therefore provide safer formulations for use in the home, storage, manufacture and distribution.
US08580836B2	Plant disease control composition and method of controlling plant disease A plant disease control composition comprising a carboxamide compound represented by formula (I) whose enantiomer ratio R form/S form of the carboxamide compound is 80/20 or more has an excellent plant disease controlling activity.
US08580833B2	Substituted imidazole derivatives and methods of use thereof The present invention provides imidazole derivatives of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds are useful in the treatment of RAGE-mediated diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease. The present invention further relates to methods for the preparation of compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use the such compounds and/or pharmaceutical compositions in treating RAGE-mediated diseases.
US08580830B2	Non-mucoadhesive film dosage forms Orally disintegrating film dosage forms for delivering active pharmaceutical agents, methods of formulating the dosage forms to retard absorption through the oral mucosa, and methods of using the dosage forms for the treatment of various medical conditions are provided.
US08580829B2	Oxadiazole inhibitors of leukotriene production The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1-R5 are as defined herein. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, processes for preparing these compounds and intermediates useful in these processes.
US08580827B2	Anti-Francisella agents A series of celecoxib derivatives defined by Formula I: were prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit the gram-negative bacteria Francisella tularensis. Pharmaceutical compositions including celecoxib derivatives and their use in methods for treating or preventing infection by Francisella tularensis in a subject are described.
US08580823B2	Piperidine renin inhibitors The present invention is directed to aspartic protease inhibitors represented by the following structural formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aspartic protease inhibitors of Structural Formula (I).Methods of antagonizing one or more aspartic proteases in a subject in need thereof, and methods for treating an aspartic protease mediated disorder in a subject using these aspartic protease inhibitors are also disclosed.
US08580819B2	Deuterated N-ethyl-N-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-chloro-1-methyl-2-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide, salts and uses thereof The subject invention provides deuterated N-ethyl-N-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-chloro-1-methyl-2-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide, its salts and uses.
US08580817B2	1-(1-OXO-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-YL)urea derivatives as N-formyl peptide receptor like-1 (FPRL-1) receptor modulators The present invention relates to novel 1-(1-Oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-yl)urea derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of the N-formyl peptide receptor like-1 (FPRL-1) receptor.
US08580816B2	Carboxylic acid derivatives having an oxazolo[5,4-b]pyridine ring The invention therefore relates to compounds of the formula I in which X, Y, R1, R2 and R3 have the given meanings. The compounds of the formula I are suitable, for example, for wound healing.
US08580815B2	Derivatives of azaindoles as inhibitors of protein kinases ABL and SRC The present invention relates to compounds of general formula I and use thereof as inhibitors of protein kinases AbI and Src and the method of production thereof. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and medicinal products comprising these compounds.
US08580810B2	Compounds and formulations suitable for radical scavenging The present invention relates to compositions and methods of using free radical scavengers with reduced 1O2 generation. In certain embodiments, these compositions and methods of use relate to fullerene-derived ketolactams and fullerene-derived keto lactam derivatives, fullerene derivatives, and/or fullerenes. In yet other embodiments, the invention relates to cosmetic or dermatological compositions comprising said free radical scavengers with reduced 1O2 generation.
US08580809B2	Filamin A-binding anti-inflammatory analgesic A compound, its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a composition containing the same and method of treatment that can provide analgesia and/or reduce inflammation are disclosed. A contemplated compound has a structure that corresponds to Formula A, wherein G, W, Q, Z, D, E, F, K, Y, d, e, f, k, n, m, and circle B and all R groups are defined within.
US08580808B2	Filamin A-binding anti-inflammatory analgesic A compound, its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a composition containing the same and method of treatment that can provide analgesia and/or reduce inflammation are disclosed. A contemplated compound has a structure that corresponds to Formula A, wherein G, W, Q, Z, D, E, F, K, Y, d, e, f, k, n, m, and circle B and all R groups are defined within.
US08580807B2	Bicyclic piperidine and piperazine derivatives as GPCR modulators for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and other metabolic disorders The present invention relates to Bicyclic Piperidine and piperazine Derivatives, compositions comprising a Bicyclic Piperidine and piperazine Derivative, and methods of using the Bicyclic Piperidine and piperazine Derivatives for treating or preventing obesity, diabetes, a metabolic disorder, a cardiovascular disease or a disorder related to the activity of a GPCR in a patient.
US08580806B2	Salts of 4-methyl N-[3-(4-methyl-imidazol-1-yl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-3-(4-pyridin-3-yl-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)-benzamide Salts of 4-methyl-N-[3-(4-methyl-imidazol-1-yl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-3-(4-pyridin-3-yl-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)-benzamide are prepared by various processes.
US08580805B2	Pyrimidine carboxamide derivatives The invention relates to a compound of the formula wherein the substituents are as defined herein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of formula (1). The compounds of formula (1) and their salts possess inflammation inhibiting properties and are therefore useful in the treatment and prevention of conditions related to inflammations such as inflammatory joint diseases. The compounds of formula (1) are also useful for the treatment of diseases where chronic inflammation is the underlying cause. This application relates to compounds of formula (1), methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and their use for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of humans and animals.
US08580804B2	Compound having hetero ring skeleton, and process for producing optically active compound using the aforementioned compound as asymmetric catalyst The invention provides a compound having a heterocyclic skeleton of formula (I): wherein the indicated moieties are as described in the specification, as well as a tautomer thereof or a salt thereof. The compound is useful as a catalyst for an asymmetric synthesis.
US08580801B2	Phosphodiesterase inhibitor treatment Methods and compositions are disclosed for the treatment of diseases or conditions produced by or associated with low cyclic nucleotide levels. The compositions comprise phosphodiesterase inhibitors and are formulated for intranasal and pulmonary administration.
US08580792B2	Inhibitor compounds and cancer treatment methods A synergistically effective combination of an anti-cancer agent and a therapeutic compound, such as an mTOR-Rictor complex inhibitor, a Serine 473 phosphorylation inhibitor, an AKT2 inhibitor, or a combination thereof, for use in the treatment of cancer, and methods and uses thereof. Also included are methods and uses of a thiosemicarbazone for treating a cancer in a mammal in need thereof characterized by over-expression of RAS, by an EGFR mutation, and/or by over-expression of AKT2.
US08580790B2	(Heterocycle/condensed piperidine)-(piperazinyl)-1-alkanone or (heterocycle/condensed pyrrolidine)-(piperazinyl)-1-alkanone derivatives and use thereof as p75 inhibitors The disclosure relates to (heterocycle-fused piperidine)-(piperazinyl)-1-alkanone derivatives and (heterocycle-fused pyrrolidine)-(piperazinyl)-1-alkanone derivatives of formula (I): wherein A, W, R2 and n are as defined in the disclosure, to the method of preparation thereof and the therapeutic use thereof.
US08580789B2	Treating glaucoma Provided herein are methods of protecting all or a portion of the optic nerve fiber layer within the optic nerve/lamina cribrosa (ONLC) complex in an individual in need thereof, comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that results in crosslinking of collagen in the indiviudal's peripapillary sclera, thereby stiffening the individual's peripapillary sclera and protecting all or a portion of the optic nerve fiber layer within the ONLC of the individual. In a particular embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of treating glaucoma in an individual in need thereof, comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that results in crosslinking of collagen in the indiviudal's peripapillary sclera, thereby stiffening the individual's peripapillary sclera and treating the glaucoma in the individual. In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of treating glaucomatous optic neuropathy in an individual in need thereof, comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that results in crosslinking of collagen in the indiviudal's peripapillary sclera, thereby stiffening the individual's peripapillary sclera and treating the glaucomatous optic neuropathy in the individual. The method can further comprise administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that results in crosslinking of collagen in the indiviudal's lamina cribrosa (LC).
US08580785B2	Insecticides Compounds of formula (I), wherein the substituents are as defined in claim (1), and the agrochemically acceptable salts and all stereoisomers and tautomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) can be used as agrochemical active ingredients and can be prepared in a manner known per se.
US08580784B2	Method for treating a disease related to the glucocorticoid receptor A method for preventing or treating a disease related to the glucocorticoid receptor involving administering a pharmacologically effective amount of a 1,2-dihydroquinoline compound.
US08580783B2	[1,2,4]triazolo [1,5-c]pyrimidine derivatives as Hsp90 modulators The present invention relates to [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine derivatives of formula (I) which inhibit the activity of Heat Shock Protein Hsp90. The compounds of the invention are therefore useful in treating proliferative diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The present invention also provides processes for preparing these compounds, methods of treating diseases and the pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.
US08580782B2	Substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines as cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors In its many embodiments, the present invention provides a novel class of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine compounds as inhibitors of cyclin dependent kinases, methods of preparing such compounds, compositions containing one or more such compounds, methods of preparing pharmaceutical formulations comprising one or more such compounds, and methods of treatment, prevention, inhibition, or amelioration of one or more diseases associated with the CDKs using such compounds or compositions.
US08580779B2	1,2-bis-sulfonamide derivatives as chemokine receptor modulators The present invention relates to novel bis-sulfonamide derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of chemokine receptors.
US08580770B2	Method of treating actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma A method for treating actinic keratosis or basal cell carcinoma. A person's skin is inspected to identify areas that exhibit lesions indicating actinic keratosis or basel cell carcinoma. If such areas are found, a treating composition is applied to the skin in that area. The treating composition may include avobenzone, octocrylene, octyl salicylate, and oxybenzone, and optionally may additionally include SD alcohol 40, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, acrylates, octylacrylamide copolymer, hydroxypropyl cellulose, PEG-40 sorbitan peroleate, tocopherol, and aloe barbadensis extract. The skin is monitored regularly to determine whether the skin lesions remain, and the treating composition is applied several times daily for a period of at least two months until the area is substantially free of the lesions.
US08580769B2	Treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes with protein kinase C inhibitors Disclosed herein are methods for treating obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, or a combination of these conditions. The methods include selecting a subject with obesity, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes and administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a compound that specifically inhibits hepatic protein kinase C (PKC)-ι, thereby treating the obesity, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes in the subject. In some embodiments the compound that specifically inhibits hepatic PKC-ι includes a thio-gold compound (such as aurothiomalate, aurothioglucose, and auranofin) or a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In other embodiments, the compound that specifically inhibits hepatic PKC-ι includes 1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide, 5-amino-1-[2,3-dihydroxy-4-[(phosphonooxy)methyl]cyclopentyl]-[1R-(1α,2β,3β,4α)] (ICAPP) or a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08580767B2	Oxazolidinone containing dimer compounds, compositions and methods to make and use Dosage forms or pharmaceutical compositions comprise a compound having the structure of Formula IV: wherein n is a non-negative integer; wherein each Z is an oxazolidinone-containing moiety having antibiotic activity in vivo upon cleaving, wherein M is independently OR1 or NR1R2; wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, an optionally-substituted hydrocarbyl residue or a pharmaceutically acceptable cation; wherein the compound in the dosage form or a pharmaceutical composition is present in an amount effective for treating or preventing an antibacterial infection in a mammalian subject. Methods of preparing and using these dosage forms or pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.
US08580764B2	Combinational compositions and methods for treatment of cancer The present invention provides methods of treating a cell proliferative disorder, such as lung cancer and breast cancer, by administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pyrroloquinolinyl-pyrrole-2,5-dione compound or a pyrroloquinolinyl-pyrrolidine-2,5-dione compound, such as (−)-trans-3-(5,6-dihydro-4H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-1-yl)-4-(1H-indol-3-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of a second anti-proliferative agent, such as gemcitabine.
US08580763B2	2, 6-dinitrogen-containing substituted purine derivatives, the preparation and uses thereof The present invention provides 2,6-dinitrogen-containing substituted purine compounds of formula (A) or salts or solvates thereof or the solvates of salts thereof, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. The compounds of the present invention have the characteristics of lower toxicity, broad anticancer spectrum, higher anticancer activity, good stability and the like. The compounds are useful for the manufacture of an antitumor medicament. The present invention also provides a process for preparing these compounds.
US08580761B2	Bispecific antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 and methods of using same Bispecific antisense oligonucleotides which consist essentially of a sequence of bases that is complementary to portions of both the gene encoding human IGFBP-2 and the gene encoding human IGFBP-5 are useful in as antisense therapeutics in the treatment of endocrine-regulated cancers.
US08580759B2	Anti-hepatitis C virus composition The present invention provides an anti-hepatitis C virus composition that includes a substance that suppresses the expression or function of a PA28γ gene, a method for preventing hepatitis C viral infection or suppressing hepatitis C virus growth that includes the step of administering the composition to a subject, and a method for screening an effective component of an anti-hepatitis C virus composition that includes the step of selecting a substance that inhibits the expression or function of a PA28γ gene.
US08580757B2	Methods of modulating mesenchymal stem cell differentiation The present disclosure includes compositions and methods for modulating the differentiation of cells having osteogenic differentiation potential (such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)) towards the osteogenic fate, and for obtaining diagnostic and prognostic information relating to diseases and disorders characterized by defects in osteogenic differentiation. The compositions include miRNAs, rm′RNA mimics, miRNA inhibitors, and siRNAs.
US08580751B2	Esterified α-galactosylceramide The invention provides esterified α-galactosylceramides effective for cancer treatment and the like, and a medicament containing same. In particular, the invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon group having a carbon number of 1 to 30, R2 is a hydrocarbon group having a carbon number of 1 to 20, R3 is a hydrogen atom or hydrocarbon group having a carbon number of 1 to 5, R4 and R5 are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having a carbon number of 1 to 5, or R4 and R5 in combination form a divalent hydrocarbon group having a carbon number of 1 to 5, and optionally form a ring structure together with the adjacent ethylenedioxy, or a salt thereof.
US08580750B2	Composition for moderating alcohol metabolism and for reducing the risk of alcohol induced diseases The present invention is directed to a composition of matter, in particular a food composition, dietary or food supplementation, and pharmaceutical composition, respectively. The composition of matter reduces the risk of neuropathy, neurodegenerative diseases including late-onset Alzheimer's disease, and cancer, in particular of pancreatic, esophageal, oropharyngolaryngeal, liver, colorectal, lung and/or breast cancer, in particular the drug and/or alcohol induced risk of said diseases. In this respect, the present invention is also directed to a composition of matter; in particular a food composition, dietary or food supplementation, and pharmaceutical composition, respectively, which supports and/or moderates the alcohol degradation process within the human body.
US08580745B2	Composition for therapeutic and cosmetic botulinum toxin This invention relates to a composition of botulinum based pharmaceuticals used for therapeutic and cosmetic treatment. This invention offers an improvement on the prior art by eliminating the potential of blood-borne contamination with botulinum based pharmaceuticals. Recombinant serum albumin is taught for use in the place of human serum albumin as a stabilizing or enhancing agent.
US08580737B2	Synergistic therapeutic use of prothrombin complex concentrates with FVIII concentrates The field of the invention is the treatment of acquired bleeding, a clinical condition associated with severe traumatic, peri- or post-operative bleeding. A novel treatment is proposed in which synergistic pro-coagulatory properties of Prothrombin Complex Concentrates (PCC) together with medicaments comprising FVIII and/or vWF are exploited.
US08580731B2	Insulin-gold nanocluster, pharmaceutical composition for reducing blood glucose comprising the same, and method for detecting adipose cells in tissue by using the same An insulin-gold nanocluster, a pharmaceutical composition for treating diabetes comprising the insulin-gold nanocluster, and a method for detecting adipose cells in a tissue by using the insulin-gold nanocluster are provided. Herein, the insulin-gold nanocluster of the present invention comprises: a gold nanocluster, and insulin connecting to the gold nanocluster, wherein the insulin-gold nanocluster emits red fluorescence at maximized wavelength of 670 nm.
US08580730B2	Methods of treating lesional vestibular disorders by administering serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists The invention relates to serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists or inhibitors of serotonin 5-HT3 receptor gene expression for use in the treatment of a lesional vestibular disorder.
US08580729B2	Organopolysiloxane compositions containing an active material This invention relates to organopolysiloxane (silicone) compositions containing an active material chosen to have a desired effect in the composition, such as a perfume, sunscreen, vitamin, drug, biocide, pest repellent, catalyst or cooling agent. The active material is generally an organic material which is not silicon-containing. In particular the invention relates to such composition in which the release of the active material from the composition is inhibited or controlled. The active material is incorporated in a blend of a wax with an organopolysiloxane which has been formed by polymerization in the presence of the wax. It was found that by polymerizing an organopolysiloxane in admixture with molten wax, a stable wax silicone dispersion is obtained which allows ready incorporation of an active material such as a perfume and which releases the perfume only slowly, and may be controlled to release the perfume or other active material in desired circumstances.
US08580726B2	Color-protecting washing or cleaning agent The invention relates to washing and cleaning agents for washing or cleaning colored textile surface structures, used for improving the color-fastness thereof. The aim was substantially met by adding polymers obtained by the polymerization of benzoxazine monomers to the agent.
US08580722B2	Portable cleaning article and the forming method thereof A portable cleaning article includes a coated capsule and cleaning agent, in which the cleaning agent is contained within the coated capsule, the characteristic in that: the coated capsule having a thin-film layer and an oil layer that is coated over the surface of the thin-film layer to form a portable cleaning article. When the coated capsule is brought into contact with water by the user, the coated capsule dissolves in water for the cleaning agent to exert its cleaning function.
US08580715B2	Fluorinated cationic surfactant A composition comprising a fluorinated pyridinium cationic compound of formula (I) wherein Rf is R1(CH2CH2)n—, R1 is a C7 to C20 perfluoroalkyl group interrupted by at least one catenary oxygen atom, each oxygen bonded to two carbon atoms, n is an integer of 1 to 3, and R is H, C1 to C5 linear or branched alkyl, or C1 to C5 linear or branched alkoxy, having surfactant properties for lowering surface tension in an aqueous medium or solvent medium, and for use as a foaming agent.
US08580711B2	Decreasing or preventing sub-surface geological matter contamination by agrochemicals Method of exposing agricultural substrates (plant matter 10, animal matter 12) to agrochemicals (A); method of decreasing or preventing sub-surface geological matter (20, 22) contamination resulting from exposing agricultural substrates to agrochemicals; composition [(A)/(T)] 30 used therein; article-of-manufacture including the composition. Includes exposing agricultural substrates to composition including combination (mixture) of an agrochemical and at least one transforming agent capable of decreasing or eliminating concentration of the agrochemical which contacts sub-surface geological matter (at temporally varying times, and at spatially varying depths). Before entering sub-surface geological matter, transforming agent exhibits inactivity for decreasing agrochemical concentration, and inactivity for affecting or/and interfering with agrochemical functionality with respect to agricultural substrates. Transforming agent co-migrates and is co-distributed with agrochemical within and throughout sub-surface geological matter, and exhibits activity for decreasing or eliminating agrochemical concentration therein. Transforming agent activity is exhibited at spatially varying depths, at temporally varying times, within sub-surface geological matter.
US08580707B2	Use of abscisic acid on ornamental plants The present invention describes a method for increasing the drought tolerance of selected ornamental plants comprising administering abscisic acid (ABA) or its salts to said plants.
US08580705B2	Exhaust gas purifying catalyst An exhaust gas purifying catalyst includes a substrate that defines an exhaust gas passage; a lower catalyst layer formed over the substrate, and an upper catalyst layer formed over the lower catalyst layer. The lower catalyst layer has a lower catalytic precious metal that contains at least one of Pt and Pd, and a lower-layer carrier that supports the lower catalytic precious metal. The upper catalyst layer has an upper catalytic precious metal that contains Rh, and an upper-layer carrier that supports the upper catalytic precious metal. The upper-layer carrier includes an inorganic mixed oxide that contains Ce, Zr, Al, Nd, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements other than Ce and alkaline earth elements. The Nd is unevenly distributed in covering layers that covers surfaces of interior regions within the inorganic mixed oxide.
US08580704B2	Catalyst precursors, catalysts and methods of producing same A catalyst precursor comprising (A) a microporous support, (B) a non-noble metal precursor, and (C) a pore-filler, wherein the micropores of the microporous support are filled with the pore-filler and the non-noble metal precursor so that the micropore surface area of the catalyst precursor is substantially smaller than the micropore surface area of the support when the pore-filler and the non-noble metal precursor are absent is provided. Also, a catalyst comprising the above catalyst precursor, wherein the catalyst precursor has been pyrolysed so that the micropore surface area of the catalyst is substantially larger than the micropore surface area of catalyst precursor, with the proviso that the pyrolysis is performed in the presence of a gas that is a nitrogen precursor when the microporous support, the non-noble metal precursor and the pore-filler are not nitrogen precursors is also provided. Methods of producing the catalyst precursor and the catalyst are provided.
US08580700B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device To provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using a method in which a desired position is rapidly subjected to laser irradiation while switching laser irradiation patterns. With respect to an organic memory element having a structure in which an organic compound layer is interposed between a pair of conductive layers, data is written to the organic memory element by laser irradiation using a laser irradiation apparatus. Further, a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator is split by a diffractive optical element into a plurality of laser beams, thereby irradiating a plurality of portions on the organic compound layer with laser beams by single irradiation.
US08580699B2	Embedded catalyst for atomic layer deposition of silicon oxide Catalyzed atomic layer deposition from a reduced number of precursors is described. A deposition precursor contains silicon, oxygen and a catalytic ligand. A hydroxyl-terminated substrate is exposed to the deposition precursor to form a silicon bridge bond between two surface-bound oxygens. The surface-bound oxygens were part of two surface-bound hydroxyl groups and the adsorption of the deposition precursor liberates the hydrogens. The silicon atom is also chemically-bound to one or two additional oxygen atoms which were already chemically-bound to the silicon within a same deposition precursor molecule. At least one of the additional oxygen atoms is further chemically-bound to the catalytic ligand either directly or by way of a hydrocarbon chain. Further exposure of the substrate to moisture (H2O) results in displacement of the additional oxygen which are replaced by hydroxyl groups from the moisture. The surface is again hydroxyl-terminated and the process may be repeated. The catalytic nature of the reaction enables the deposition to occur at low substrate temperatures. The chemically-embedded nature of the catalyst increases the deposition per cycle thereby reducing the number of precursor exposures to grow a film of the same thickness.
US08580698B2	Method for fabricating a gate dielectric layer A method for fabricating the gate dielectric layer comprises forming a high-k dielectric layer over a substrate; forming an oxygen-containing layer on the high-k dielectric layer by an atomic layer deposition process; and performing an inert plasma treatment on the oxygen-containing layer.
US08580697B1	CVD flowable gap fill The present invention meets these needs by providing improved methods of filling gaps. In certain embodiments, the methods involve placing a substrate into a reaction chamber and introducing a vapor phase silicon-containing compound and oxidant into the chamber. Reactor conditions are controlled so that the silicon-containing compound and the oxidant are made to react and condense onto the substrate. The chemical reaction causes the formation of a flowable film, in some instances containing Si—OH, Si—H and Si—O bonds. The flowable film fills gaps on the substrates. The flowable film is then converted into a silicon oxide film, for example by plasma or thermal annealing. The methods of this invention may be used to fill high aspect ratio gaps, including gaps having aspect ratios ranging from 3:1 to 10:1.
US08580690B2	Process of planarizing a wafer with a large step height and/or surface area features A blanket stop layer is conformally formed on a layer with a large step height. A first chemical mechanical polishing process is performed to remove the blanket stop layer atop the layer in the raised region. A second chemical mechanical polishing process is performed to planarize the wafer using the blanket stop layer as a stop layer when the layer is lower than or at a same level as the blanket stop layer or using the layer as a stop layer when the blanket stop layer is lower than or at a same level as the layer, or a selective dry etch is performed to remove the layer in the raised region. Thus, the layer in the raised region can be easily removed without occurrence of dishing in the non-raised region which is protected by the blanket stop layer.
US08580687B2	Semiconductor structure and method for making same One or more embodiments relate to a method for forming a semiconductor structure, comprising: providing a workpiece; forming a dielectric barrier layer over the workpiece; forming an opening through the dielectric barrier layer; forming a seed layer over the dielectric barrier layer and within the dielectric barrier layer opening; and electroplating a first fill layer on the seed layer.
US08580685B2	Integrated circuit having interleaved gridded features, mask set, and method for printing A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a semiconductor surface; providing a hardmask material on the semiconductor surface. For at least one masking level of the integrated circuit: providing a mask pattern for the masking level partitioned into a first mask and at least one second mask, the first mask providing features in a first grid pattern and the at least one second mask providing features in a second grid pattern, wherein the first and the second grid pattern have respective features which interleave with one another over at least one area; applying a first photoresist layer with the first mask; exposing the first grid pattern using the first mask; developing the first photoresist layer; etching the hardmask material to transfer the first grid pattern in the surface of the substrate; removing the first photoresist layer.
US08580684B2	Contact elements of semiconductor devices comprising a continuous transition to metal lines of a metallization layer In sophisticated semiconductor devices, contact elements in the contact level may be formed by patterning the contact openings and filling the contact openings with the metal of the first metallization layer in a common deposition sequence. To this end, in some illustrative embodiments, a sacrificial fill material may be provided in contact openings prior to depositing the dielectric material of the first metallization layer.
US08580682B2	Cost-effective TSV formation A device includes a substrate having a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface. A through-substrate via (TSV) extends from the first surface to the second surface of the substrate. A dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. A metal pad is disposed in the dielectric layer and physically contacting the TSV, wherein the metal pad and the TSV are formed of a same material, and wherein no layer formed of a material different from the same material is between and spacing the TSV and the metal pad apart from each other.
US08580680B2	Metal silicide formation Techniques for forming metal silicide contact pads on semiconductor devices are disclosed, and in one exemplary embodiment, a method may comprise depositing a metal layer on and between a plurality of raised silicon-based features formed on a semiconductor substrate, the metal layer comprising metal capable of reacting with external silicon-based portions of the features to form a metal silicide. In addition, such a method may also include depositing a cap layer on the metal layer deposited on and between the plurality of raised silicon-based features, wherein a thickness of the cap layer on the metal layer between the raised features is greater than or equal to a thickness of the cap layer on the metal layer on the raised features. Furthermore, such a method may also include annealing the structure to cause portions of the metal layer to react with portions of the external silicon-based portions of the features to form metal silicide pads on and between the raised features.
US08580679B2	Designs and methods for conductive bumps Methods, techniques, and structures relating to die packaging. In one exemplary implementation, a die package interconnect structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a first conducting layer in contact with the semiconductor substrate. The first conducting layer may include a base layer metal. The base layer metal may include Cu. The exemplary implementation may also include a diffusion barrier in contact with the first conducting layer and a wetting layer on top of the diffusion barrier. A bump layer may reside on top of the wetting layer, in which the bump layer may include Sn, and Sn may be electroplated. The diffusion barrier may be electroless and may be adapted to prevent Cu and Sn from diffusing through the diffusion barrier. Furthermore, the diffusion barrier may be further adapted to suppress a whisker-type formation in the bump layer.
US08580673B2	Underfill flow guide structures and method of using same Underfill flow guide structures and methods of using the same are provided with a module. In particular the underfill flow guide structures are integrated with a substrate and are configured to prevent air entrapment from occurring during capillary underfill processes.
US08580672B2	Methods of forming bump structures that include a protection layer One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a conductive pad in a layer of insulating material, forming a passivation layer above the conductive pad, performing at least one etching process on the passivation layer to define an opening in the passivation layer that exposes at least a portion of the conductive pad, forming a protective layer on the passivation layer, in the opening and on the exposed portion of the conductive pad, forming a heat-curable material layer above the protective layer, performing an etching process to define a patterned heat-curable material layer having an opening that exposes a portion of the protective layer, performing an etching process on the protective layer to thereby expose at least a portion of the conductive pad and forming a conductive bump that is conductively coupled to the conductive pad.
US08580671B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and substrate processing apparatus A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device of the present invention includes a first step of forming a metal oxide film containing at least one or more kinds of elements selected from the group consisting of hafnium, yttrium, lanthanum, aluminum, zirconium, strontium, titanium, barium, tantalum, niobium, on a substrate having a metal thin film formed on the surface, at a first temperature allowing no oxidization of the metal thin film to occur, and allowing the metal oxide film to be set in an amorphous state; and a second step of forming a metal oxide film containing at least one or more kinds of elements selected from the group consisting of hafnium, yttrium, lanthanum, aluminum, zirconium, strontium, titanium, barium, tantalum, niobium on the metal oxide film formed in the first step, up to a target film thickness, at a second temperature exceeding the first temperature.
US08580668B2	Method of forming ohmic contact layer and method of fabricating light emitting device having ohmic contact layer A method of manufacturing an ohmic contact layer and a method of manufacturing a top emission type nitride-based light emitting device having the ohmic contact layer are provided. The method of manufacturing an ohmic contact layer includes: forming a first conductive material layer on a semiconductor layer; forming a mask layer having a plurality of nano-sized islands on the first conductive material layer; forming a second conductive material layer on the first conductive material layer and the mask layer; and removing the portion of the second conductive material on the islands and the islands through a lift-off process using a solvent. The method ensures the maintenance of good electrical characteristics and an increase of the light extraction efficiency.
US08580657B2	Protecting sidewalls of semiconductor chips using insulation films A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a wafer having a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip, and a scribe line between and adjoining the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip; forming a notch in the scribe line, wherein the notch has a bottom no higher than a top surface of a semiconductor substrate in the wafer; forming a first insulation film over the wafer, wherein the first insulation film extends into the notch; removing a portion of the first insulation film from a center of the notch, wherein a remaining portion of the first insulation film comprises an edge in the notch; and sawing the wafer to separate the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip.
US08580656B2	Process for inhibiting corrosion and removing contaminant from a surface during wafer dicing and composition useful therefor Adherence of contaminant residues or particles is suppressed, corrosion of exposed surfaces is substantially reduced or eliminated during the process of dicing a wafer by sawing. A fluoride-free aqueous composition comprising a dicarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof; a hydroxycarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof or amine group containing acid, a surfactant and deionized water is employed.
US08580655B2	Processing method for bump-included device wafer A processing method for a bump-included device wafer which includes an adhesive providing step of providing an adhesive in an annular groove of a carrier wafer so that the adhesive projects from the upper surface of an annular projection of the carrier wafer; a wafer attaching step of attaching and fixing the front side of the device wafer through the adhesive to the front side of the carrier wafer so as to accommodate bumps in a recess of the carrier wafer after performing the adhesive providing step; and a thickness reducing step of grinding or polishing the back side of the device wafer to reduce the thickness of the device wafer to a predetermined thickness after performing the wafer attaching step.
US08580653B2	Method for fabricating an isolation structure A method of fabricating an isolation structure including forming a trench in a top surface of a substrate and partially filling the trench with a first oxide, wherein the first oxide is a pure oxide. Partially filling the trench includes forming a liner layer in the trench and forming the first oxide over the liner layer using silane and oxygen precursors at a pressure less than 10 milliTorr (mTorr) and a temperature ranging from about 500° C. to about 1000° C. The method further includes producing a solid reaction product in a top portion of the first oxide. The method further includes sublimating the solid reaction product by heating the substrate in a chamber at a temperature from 100° C. to 200° C. and removing the sublimated solid reaction product by flowing a carrier gas over the substrate. The method further includes filling the trench with a second oxide.
US08580650B2	Lateral superjunction extended drain MOS transistor An integrated circuit containing an extended drain MOS transistor with deep semiconductor (SC) RESURF trenches in the drift region, in which each deep SC RESURF trench has a semiconductor RESURF layer at a sidewall of the trench contacting the drift region. The semiconductor RESURF layer has an opposite conductivity type from the drift region. The deep SC RESURF trenches have depth:width ratios of at least 5:1, and do not extend through a bottom surface of the drift region. A process of forming an integrated circuit with deep SC RESURF trenches in the drift region by etching undersized trenches and counterdoping the sidewall region to form the semiconductor RESURF layer. A process of forming an integrated circuit with deep SC RESURF trenches in the drift region by etching trenches and growing an epitaxial layer on the sidewall region to form the semiconductor RESURF layer.
US08580649B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which provides an isolation region in which a dense silicon oxide film is formed in a trench that requires high aspect ratio. The method includes forming an isolation trench using, as an etching mask, a nitride mask film formed on a substrate, forming a liner nitride film in the isolation trench, depositing a flowable silazane compound by a CVD method such that the height of the flowable silazane compound is higher than the upper surface of the nitride mask film from the upper portion of the trench, performing heat treatment under an oxidizing atmosphere to convert the flowable silazane compound film into a silicon oxide film and simultaneously densifying therefore, and planarizing the silicon oxide film to the height of the upper surface of the nitride mask film.
US08580646B2	Method of fabricating field effect transistors with low k sidewall spacers Field effect transistors and method for forming filed effect transistors. The field effect transistors including: a gate dielectric on a channel region in a semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode on the gate dielectric; respective source/drains in the substrate on opposite sides of the channel region; sidewall spacers on opposite sides of the gate electrode proximate to the source/drains; and wherein the sidewall spacers comprise a material having a dielectric constant lower than that of silicon dioxide and capable of absorbing laser radiation.
US08580644B2	Multi-level lateral floating coupled capacitor transistor structures A semiconductor device includes an active region having a first floating charge control structure and a termination region having a second floating charge control structure. The second floating charge control structure is at least twice as long as the first floating control structure.
US08580642B1	Methods of forming FinFET devices with alternative channel materials One illustrative method disclosed herein involves performing a first etching process through a patterned hard mask layer to define a plurality of spaced-apart trenches in a substrate that defines a first portion of a fin for the device, forming a layer of insulating material in the trenches and performing a planarization process on the layer of insulating material to expose the patterned hard, performing a second etching process to remove the hard mask layer and to define a cavity within the layer of insulating material, forming a second portion of the fin within the cavity, wherein the second portion of the fin is comprised of a semiconducting material that is different than the substrate, and performing a third etching process on the layer of insulating material such that an upper surface of the insulating material is below an upper surface of the second portion of the fin.
US08580637B2	Method of patterning a semiconductor device having improved spacing and shape control and a semiconductor device A pattern on a semiconductor substrate is formed using two separate etching processes. The first etching process removes a portion of an intermediate layer above an active region of the substrate. The second etching process exposes a portion of the active region of the substrate. A semiconductor device formed using the patterning method has a decreased mask error enhancement factor and increased critical dimension uniformity than the prior art.
US08580636B2	Highly integrated phase change memory device having micro-sized diodes and method for manufacturing the same A highly integrated phase change memory device and a method for manufacturing the same is disclosed. The highly integrated phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cell area and a peripheral area with impurity regions formed in the cell area and extending in parallel to each other in a first direction to form a striped pattern. A gate electrode is formed in the peripheral area and dummy gate electrodes are formed in the cell area and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction of the impurity regions. An interlayer dielectric layer pattern exposes portions of the cell area and the peripheral area and a PN diode is formed in a space defined by a pair of dummy gate electrodes and a pair of interlayer dielectric layer patterns.
US08580630B2	Methods for forming a metal gate structure on a substrate Methods for forming a metal gate structure on a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for forming a metal gate structure on a substrate having a dielectric layer formed on the substrate may include depositing a metal layer while providing a process gas comprising oxygen to form an oxygen doped work function layer atop the dielectric layer; and depositing a metal gate layer atop dielectric layer.
US08580629B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device using a work function control film A method of fabricating a semiconductor device may include: preparing a substrate in which first and second regions are defined; forming an interlayer insulating film, which includes first and second trenches, on the substrate; forming a work function control film, which contains Al and N, along a top surface of the interlayer insulating film, side and bottom surfaces of the first trench, and side and bottom surfaces of the second trench; forming a mask pattern on the work function control film formed in the second region; injecting a work function control material into the work function control film formed in the first region to control a work function of the work function control film formed in the first region; removing the mask pattern; and forming a first metal gate electrode to fill the first trench and forming a second metal gate electrode to fill the second trench.
US08580628B2	Integrated circuit contact structure and method An integrated circuit having a mis-alignment tolerant electrical contact is formed by providing a semiconductor containing substrate over which is a first FET gate laterally bounded by a first dielectric region, replacing an upper portion of the first FET gate with a second dielectric region, applying a mask having an opening extending partly over an adjacent source or drain contact region of the substrate and over a part of the second dielectric region above the first FET gate, forming an opening through the first dielectric region extending to the contact region and the part of the second dielectric region, and filling the opening with a conductor making electrical connection with the contact region but electrically insulated from the first FET gate by the second dielectric region. A further FET gate may also be provided having an electrical contact thereto formed separately from the source-drain contact.
US08580626B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing thereof A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a semiconductor substrate and a GaN-type layer stack on top of the semiconductor substrate. The GaN-type layer stack has at least one buffer layer, a first active layer and a second active layer. Active device regions are definable at an interface of the first and second active layer. The semiconductor substrate is present on an insulating layer and is patterned to define trenches according to a predefined pattern, which includes at least one trench underlying the active device region. The trenches extend from the insulating layer into at least one buffer layer of the GaN-type layer stack and are overgrown within the at least one buffer layer, so as to obtain that the first and the second active layer are continuous at least within the active device regions.
US08580625B2	Metal oxide semiconductor transistor and method of manufacturing the same A method for manufacturing a MOS transistor is provided. A substrate has a high-k dielectric layer and a barrier in each of a first opening and a second opening formed by removing a dummy gate and located in a first transistor region and a second transistor region. A dielectric barrier layer is formed on the substrate and filled into the first opening and the second opening to cover the barrier layers. A portion of the dielectric barrier in the first transistor region is removed. A first work function metal layer is formed. The first work function metal layer and a portion of the dielectric barrier layer in the second transistor region are removed. A second work function metal layer is formed. The method can avoid a loss of the high-k dielectric layer to maintain the reliability of a gate structure, thereby improving the performance of the MOS transistor.
US08580624B2	Nanowire FET and finFET hybrid technology Hybrid nanowire FET and FinFET devices and methods for fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method for fabricating a CMOS circuit having a nanowire FET and a finFET includes the following steps. A wafer is provided having an active layer over a BOX. A first region of the active layer is thinned. An organic planarizing layer is deposited on the active layer. Nanowires and pads are etched in the first region of the active layer using a first hardmask. The nanowires are suspended over the BOX. Fins are etched in the second region of the active layer using a second hardmask. A first gate stack is formed that surrounds at least a portion of each of the nanowires. A second gate stack is formed covering at least a portion of each of the fins. An epitaxial material is grown on exposed portions of the nanowires, pads and fins.
US08580623B2	Thin film transistor substrate and display device including the same, and method for manufacturing thin film transistor substrate A TFT (20) includes a semiconductor layer (12s1) of an oxide semiconductor, a source electrode (13sd) and a drain electrode (13dd) provided on the semiconductor layer (12s1) and separated from each other, a gate insulating film (15) covering a portion of the semiconductor layer between the source electrode (13sd) and the drain electrode (13dd), a gate electrode (18gd) provided over the semiconductor layer (12s1) with the gate insulating film (15) being interposed between the gate electrode (18gd) and the semiconductor layer (12s1). The source electrode (13sd) is integrally formed with the source line (13s1). The gate electrode (18gd) is integrally formed with the gate line (18g1). The semiconductor layer (12s1) extends below the source line (13s1). The entireties of the source line (13s1), the source electrode (13sd), and the drain electrode (13dd) are provided on the semiconductor layer (12s1).
US08580620B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device To aim at improvement of reliability of a semiconductor device of flip chip connection type. In assembling a BGA of flip chip connection type, when a semiconductor chip is solder-connected by a flip chip connection, because solder precoat is formed on the surface of a land on the side of an undersurface of a wiring substrate, the connection between the land and a solder ball, which is an external terminal, is solder-connection, and therefore, it is possible to increase impact resistance of a connection part between the land and the solder ball and to aim at improvement of reliability of the BGA.
US08580615B2	Method and system for wafer level singulation A method of singulating a plurality of semiconductor dies includes providing a carrier substrate and joining a semiconductor substrate to the carrier substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of devices. The method also includes forming a mask layer on the semiconductor substrate, exposing a predetermined portion of the mask layer to light, and processing the predetermined portion of the mask layer to form a predetermined mask pattern on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming the plurality of semiconductor dies, each of the plurality of semiconductor dies being associated with the predetermined mask pattern and including one or more of the plurality of devices and separating the plurality of semiconductor dies from the carrier substrate.
US08580608B2	Fabrication method of package structure having embedded semiconductor component A package structure having an embedded semiconductor component, includes: a chip having an active surface with electrode pads and an inactive surface opposite to the active surface; a first insulating protection layer having a chip mounting area for the chip to be mounted thereon via the active surface thereof; a plurality of connection columns disposed in the first insulating protection layer at positions corresponding to the electrode pads and electrically connected to the electrode pads via solder bumps; an encapsulant formed on one surface of the first insulating protection layer having the chip mounted thereon for encapsulating the chip; and a built-up structure formed on the other surface of the first insulating protection layer and the connection columns. Due to the bending resistance of the encapuslant, the warpage of the built-up structure is prevented.
US08580604B2	Method for preparing OLED by imprinting process A method for preparing an OLED by an imprinting process is disclosed, which comprises the following steps: (A) providing a substrate, and a first electrode is formed thereon; (B) coating a mold with a first organic material ink; (C) pressing the mold coated with the first organic material ink on the substrate to transfer the first organic material ink onto the first electrode of the substrate, to obtain a first light-emitting array; (D) baking the substrate having the first light-emitting array formed thereon; and (E) forming a second electrode on the first light-emitting array.
US08580601B2	Pixel sensor cell with a dual work function gate electrode Pixel sensor cells, methods of fabricating pixel sensor cells, and design structures for a pixel sensor cell. The pixel sensor cell has a gate structure that includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode on the gate dielectric. The gate electrode includes a layer with first and second sections that have a juxtaposed relationship on the gate dielectric. The second section of the gate electrode is comprised of a conductor, such as doped polysilicon or a metal. The first section of the gate electrode is comprised of a metal having a higher work function than the conductor comprising the second section so that the gate structure has an asymmetric threshold voltage.
US08580595B2	Solid-state image sensing device and camera system the same A solid-state image sensing device includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel has a photodiode, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The photodiode is constituted by a first-conductivity-type semiconductor region and a second-conductivity-type semiconductor region. The first and second conductivity types are opposite to each other. The first transistor has a first-conductivity-type drain region formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region to transfer signal charge to the drain region. The second transistor has a source region and a drain region which are formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region and which have the first conductivity type. At least one second-conductivity-type potential barrier is provided under the drain region of the first transistor and the source region and/or the drain region of the second transistor.
US08580594B2	Method of fabricating a semiconductor device having recessed bonding site The present disclosure provides a method including providing a first substrate; and forming a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device on a first surface of the first substrate. A bond pad is formed on at least one bonding site on the first surface of the first substrate. The bonding site is recessed from the first surface. Thus, a top surface of the bond pad may lie below the plane of the top surface of the substrate. A device with recessed connective element(s) (e.g., bond pad) is also described. In further embodiments, a protective layer is formed on the recessed connective element during dicing of a substrate.
US08580590B2	Method for manufacturing polychromatic light emitting diode device having wavelength conversion layer made of semiconductor A method for manufacturing a polychromatic light emitting diode device, comprising steps of providing an epitaxial substrate and forming a multiple semiconductor layer on the epitaxial substrate, wherein the multiple semiconductor layer comprises an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer and an active layer. The active layer emits light of a first wavelength. Thereafter a first wavelength conversion layer is formed on the multiple semiconductor layer. The first wavelength conversion layer is made of semiconductor and absorbs a portion of the light of a first wavelength and emits light of a second wavelength, wherein the second wavelength is longer than the first wavelength.
US08580589B1	Wafer-level process for fabricating photoelectric modules A wafer-level process for fabricating a plurality of photoelectric modules is provided. The wafer-level process includes at least following procedures. Firstly, a wafer including a plurality of chips arranged in an array is provided. Next, a plurality of photoelectric devices are mounted on the chips. Next, a cover plate including a plurality of covering units arranged in an array is provided. Next, a plurality of light guiding mediums are formed over the cover plate. Next, the cover plate is bonded with the wafer by an adhesive, wherein each of the covering units covers and bonds with one of the chips, and the light guiding mediums are sandwiched between the cover plate and the wafer. Then, the wafer and the cover plate are diced to obtain the plurality of photoelectric modules.
US08580584B2	System and method for increasing productivity of organic light emitting diode material screening A system and method of increasing productivity of OLED material screening includes providing a substrate that includes an organic semiconductor, processing regions on the substrate by combinatorially varying parameters associated with the OLED device production on the substrate, performing a first characterization test on the processed regions on the substrate to generate first results, processing regions on the substrate in a combinatorial manner by varying parameters associated with the OLED device production on the substrate based on the first results of the first characterization test, performing a second characterization test on the processed regions on the substrate to generate second results, and determining whether the substrate meets a predetermined quality threshold based on the second results.
US08580583B2	Magnetic tunnel junction device and fabrication A magnetic tunneling junction device and fabrication method is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes depositing a capping material on a free layer of a magnetic tunneling junction structure to form the capping layer and oxidizing a portion of the capping material to form a layer of oxidized material.
US08580582B2	Semiconductor fabricating device and method for driving the same, and method for fabricating magnetic tunnel junction using the same In a method for fabricating a magnetic tunnel junction, a first magnetic layer is formed on a substrate, and a tunnel insulating layer is formed on the first magnetic layer. Subsequently, a second magnetic layer is formed on the tunnel insulating layer. In the method, the first magnetic layer is formed by periodically sputtering a magnetic target while a metal target is continuously sputtered.
US08580581B2	Substrate for electronic device, stack for electronic device, electronice device, and method for manufacturing the same A method for manufacturing an electronic device, including a step of aligning and stacking a plurality of substrates, each of the plurality of substrates having a plurality of vertical conductors and magnetic films, the vertical conductors being directed along a thickness direction of the substrate and distributed in a row with respect to a substrate surface, the magnetic films being disposed in place on the substrate surface in a predetermined positional relationship with the vertical conductors, upon aligning the plurality of substrates, the electronic device manufacturing method including a step of applying an external magnetic field to produce a magnetic attractive force between the magnetic films of adjacent stacked substrates and align the vertical conductors by the magnetic attractive force.
US08580580B2	Magnetic element with varying areal extents An apparatus and associated method for a magnetic element capable of detecting changes in magnetic states. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a free layer that has a first areal extent that is sensitive to a magnetic field and a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer adjacent to the free layer and has a second areal extent that is greater than the first areal extent.
US08580579B2	Hydrophilic and lipophilic rhodamines for labelling and imaging The invention relates to novel and improved photostable rhodamine dyes of the general structural formulae I or II and their uses as fluorescent markers, e.g. for immunostainings and spectroscopic and microscopic applications, in particular in conventional and stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The partially deuterated analogues are useful as molecular mass distribution tags in mass spectroscopic applications, wherein R1=an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, including a cycloalkyl group, or heterocycloalkyl group; R2=H, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, including a cycloalkyl group, or heterocycloalkyl group, or an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group or heteroaryl group, or any combination of such groups; X=CH2, C═O, C═NORa, C═NNRaNRb, CH(ORa), O, S, SO, SO2, or any other derivatives of these groups, with Ra and Rb independently being H or an organic residue, in particular an unsubstituted or substituted (cyclo)alkyl group or heterocycloalkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group or heteroaryl group; Z=a negatively charged group with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 charges per anion.
US08580577B2	Method for detecting an analyte in a sample The present invention relates to a method for detecting an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of providing detection probes being labeled with a first reporter, which detection probes are capable of binding to the analyte, providing a solid support, providing capture probes being bound or capable of binding to the solid support, which capture probes are capable of binding to the analyte, thus concentrating the analyte on the solid support, contacting the sample with the detection probes, the solid support and the capture probes, and detecting the detection probes, wherein the detection of detection probes is conducted in the presence of quenching probes binding to surplus detection probes not being bound to the analyte and thereby quenching at least partially an emission of the first reporter of said surplus detection probes and/or the solid support is labeled with a second reporter different from the first reporter, imaging the sample at an emission wavelength of the second reporter, generating a mask obtained from imaging the sample at the emission wavelength of the second reporter and applying this mask to an image of the sample used for detecting the detection probes.
US08580576B2	Method for bodily fluid sample transfer during analyte determination A method for the transfer of a bodily fluid sample (such as a whole blood sample) during the determination of an analyte (e.g., glucose) in the bodily fluid sample includes applying the bodily fluid sample to a sample collection reservoir of an analytical test strip (for example, an electrochemical-based analytical test strip). During such application, the sample collection reservoir is isolated from fluid communication with a determination chamber of the analytical test strip. The analytical test strip is subsequently inserted into a test meter such that the sample collection reservoir is placed into fluid communication with the determination chamber and such that at least a portion of the bodily fluid sample is consequentially transferred from the sample collection reservoir to the determination chamber. The method further includes determining the analyte in the bodily fluid sample transferred to the determination chamber.
US08580575B2	Reactor plate and reaction processing method Disclosed herein is a reactor plate which prevents the entry of foreign matter from outside and the pollution of an outside environment. The reactor plate includes a sealed reaction well (5), reaction well channels (13, 15, 17) connected to the reaction well (5), and a syringe (51) for sending a liquid to the reaction well channels (13, 15, 17) and the reaction well (5). The syringe (51) has a cylinder (51a), a plunger (51b), and a cover body (51d). The cover body (51d) has flexibility in the sliding direction of the plunger (51b), and is connected to the cylinder (51a) and the plunger (51b) to create a sealed space (51e) enclosed with the cylinder (51a), the plunger (51b), and the cover body (51d). The cover body (51d) is provided to hermetically cut off a part of an inner wall of the cylinder (51a) to be brought into contact with the plunger (51b) from an atmosphere outside the cylinder (51a).
US08580568B2	Traceability for automated staining system A method including automatically displaying information obtained from a first identifier associated with a slide and a second identifier associated with a reagent cartridge. The method further including generating a staining log based on the information obtained from the first identifier and the second identifier. A further method includes displaying a location of a slide within a sample processing system and information obtained from a first identifier associated with the slide in a first table and displaying a location of a reagent cartridge within a sample processing system and information obtained from a second identifier associated with the reagent cartridge in a second table. The first table is then aligned with the second table.
US08580565B2	Stem cell cultivation devices and methods The present invention relates to a device and methods for culturing stem cells, and in particular, for culturing ocular stem cells and the use of stem cells cultured using the devices and methods of the invention for the treatment of diseases.
US08580563B2	Placental stem cells The present invention provides a method of extracting and recovering embryonic-like stem cells, including, but not limited to pluripotent or multipotent stem cells, from an exsanguinated human placenta. A placenta is treated to remove residual umbilical cord blood by perfusing an exsanguinated placenta, preferably with an anticoagulant solution, to flush out residual cells. The residual cells and perfusion liquid from the exsanguinated placenta are collected, and the embryonic-like stem cells are separated from the residual cells and perfusion liquid. The invention also provides a method of utilizing the isolated and perfused placenta as a bioreactor in which to propagate endogenous cells, including, but not limited to, embryonic-like stem cells. The invention also provides methods for propagation of exogenous cells in a placental bioreactor and collecting the propagated exogenous cells and bioactive molecules therefrom.
US08580548B2	Production of nucleic acid The present invention provides a process for the production of nucleic acid encoding a target protein, which comprises: (a) providing an array of RNA or DNA molecules including one or more encoding the target protein; (b) generating a target protein from the array to form RNA-protein or DNA-protein complexes in which the RNA or DNA molecule is non-covalently or covalently bound to the complex; (c) separating the complexes into compartments wherein most or all of the compartments contain no more than one complex; (d) subjecting the complexes to reaction conditions which allow target protein activity; and (e) selecting nucleic acid encoding the target protein on the basis of the activity associated therewith, wherein when the complex is a DNA-protein complex in which the DNA is non-covalently bound, step b) is performed in the absence of separate compartments for each complex.
US08580547B2	Variants of PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase having improved substrate specificity The invention relates to novel PQQ-dependent soluble glucose dehydrogenases (sPQQGDH) which have an increased substrate specificity compared with the wild type, and also to methods for production and identification thereof.
US08580545B2	Biodegradable linkers for molecular therapies A method and a composition for delivery of a biomaterial to an animal cell or a tissue, the composition includes (a) a biomaterial; (b) a biodegradable cross-linker portion having a hydrolyzable bond, wherein the biodegradable cross-linker portion is covalently bound to the biomaterial; and (c) a substrate, wherein the substrate is covalently bound to the biodegradable cross-linker portion, provided that the biodegradable cross-linker is adapted to hydrolyze by breaking the hydrolyzable bond and thereby release and deliver the biomaterial. A process of making the composition is also provided.
US08580544B2	Apparatus for introducing biological material, method of introducing biological material and magnetic support for introducing biological material The invention relates to an apparatus for introducing a biological material, a method of introducing a biological material, and a magnetic support for introducing a biological material with the object of providing an apparatus for introducing a biological material, a method of introducing a biological material, and a magnetic support for introducing a biological material whereby a biological material can be efficiently introduced into a host.The invention comprises: one or more packing units in which a mixture solution containing a large number of magnetic supports carrying a biological material to be introduced into a host such as cells upon using, together with a large number of the hosts in a liquid is pooled; and an introduction treatment unit in which a magnetic force affecting the inside of the packing unit is controlled so as to move the magnetic supports relatively with respect to the host so that the biological material can be introduced into the host.
US08580541B2	Lignin blockers and uses thereof Disclosed is a method for converting cellulose in a lignocellulosic biomass. The method provides for a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein treatment of high lignin solids. The treatment enhances cellulase availability in cellulose conversion and allows for the determination of optimized pretreatment conditions. Additionally, ethanol yields from a Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation process are improved 5-25% by treatment with a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein.
US08580540B2	Fractionation of oil-bearing microbial biomass The invention generally relates to the production of hydrocarbon compositions, such as a lipid, in microorganisms. In particular, the invention provides methods for extracting, recovering, isolating and obtaining a lipid from a microorganism and compositions comprising the lipid. The invention also discloses methods for producing hydrocarbon compositions for use as biodiesel, renewable diesel, jet fuel, and other materials.
US08580539B2	Phospholink nucleotides for sequencing applications The present invention provides labeled phospholink nucleotides that can be used in place of naturally occurring nucleotide triphosphates or other analogs in template directed nucleic acid synthesis reactions and other nucleic acid reactions and various analyses based thereon, including DNA sequencing, single base identification, hybridization assays, and others.
US08580538B2	Enzymatic production of an ethylenically unsaturated glycoside Ethylenically unsaturated glycosides of the formula I: wherein n, A, X, R3 and R4 have the meanings given in the description are produced by reacting an ethylenically unsaturated alcohol of formula II: with a saccharide of formula III: in the presence of a glucosidase at a molar ratio of the alcohol to the saccharide of from 2:1 to 30:1 in the presence of a solvent mixture of water and 1,4-dioxane at a weight ratio of 0.1:1 to 9:1 and a weight ratio of solvent mixture to saccharide of from 3:1 to 30:1.
US08580534B2	Method for incorporation of two oxygen atoms into digested peptides using peptidases A method for comparative proteomics using a peptidase under enzymatic conditions that permits the optimal incorporation of two oxygen atoms into a digested peptide. The method employs a peptidase to incorporate two 18O atoms into a peptide set derived from a population of proteins at a conditioned state, which is compared to a second peptide set incorporated with a single 16O atom derived from a population of proteins at a second conditioned state. Upon combining the two peptide sets, the populations of proteins are analyzed for qualitative and quantitative differences based on the content of 18O atoms and 16O atoms in the digested peptides using mass spectrometry instrumentation. The method is advantageous to improve the efficiency and timeframe of peptidase catalyzed 18O labeling reactions which increased the accuracy and reliability of quantitative proteomic experiments.
US08580533B2	Destructible surfactants and uses thereof The present invention provides methods for enhancing chemical reactions of molecules, e.g., biomolecules, with destructible surfactants. The chemical reactions may involve and/or be associate with analysis, e.g., solubilizing, separating, purifying and/or characterizing the molecules. In one aspect, the anionic surfactants of the present invention may be selectively broken up at relatively low pH. The resulting breakdown products of the surfactants may be removed from the molecule/sample with relative ease. The invention has applicability in a variety of analytical techniques.
US08580532B2	Method for stabilizing α-thrombin in thrombin-containing solution To provide a method for stabilizing unstable α-thrombin in a thrombin-containing solution, a solution containing stabilized α-thrombin, and a liquid fibrinogen assay reagent containing the solution. The method for stabilizing α-thrombin in a thrombin-containing solution, which includes adjusting the percentage of α-thrombin to 70% or more with respect to the amount of total thrombin in the thrombin-containing solution.
US08580531B2	Detection of antigens carried by erythrocytes and of anti-erythrocyte antibodies The invention relates to a method for detecting a plurality of antigenic molecules carried by erythrocytes and/or a plurality of anti-erythrocyte antibodies, said antigenic molecules carried by the erythrocytes consisting of antigenic molecules carried not only by the erythrocytes, but also by at least one other cell population, other than the blood group antigen molecules, said method comprising bringing a sample into contact with distinguishable beads, on which are attached a) antibodies specific for said antigens, or b) erythrocytes or erythrocyte membrane fragment.
US08580529B2	Diagnosis of collagen IX destruction A method for detecting or monitoring the presence of protein fragments, cleaved at novel cleaving sites near the N-terminal part of the collagen IX alpha 1 chain, close to the C-terminal part of the NC4 domain, and at the COL3 domain close to the NC3 domain. Neoepitope antibodies against the neoepitopes were created by the cleavages and an epitope in the cleaved N-terminal part of the NC4 domain unique to collagen IX. A diagnostic kit and antibodies useful in carrying out such methods are also presented.
US08580522B2	Methods for diagnosing pervasive development disorders, dysautonomia and other neurological conditions Methods for aiding in the diagnosis of disorders including, but not limited to, PDDs (Pervasive Development Disorders), Dysautonomic disorders, Parkinson's disease and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). In one aspect, a diagnosis method comprises analyzing a stool sample of an individual for the presence of a biological marker (or marker compound) comprising one or more pathogens, which provides an indication of whether the individual has, or can develop, a disorder including, but not limited to, a PDD, Dysautonomia, Parkinsons disease and SIDS. Preferably, the presence of one or more pathogens is determined using a stool immunoassay to determine the presence of antigens in a stool sample, wherein such antigens are associated with one or more pathogens including, but not limited to, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. histolytica, C. difficile, Adenovirus, Rotavirus or H. pylori.
US08580518B2	Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting roundworm Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting the presence or absence of roundworm in a fecal sample are disclosed herein. The methods, devices, kits and compositions of the present invention may be used to confirm the presence or absence of roundworm in a fecal sample from a mammal that may also be infected with one or more of hookworm, whipworm, and heartworm. Confirmation of the presence or absence of roundworm in the mammal may be made, for example, for the purpose of selecting an optimal course of treating the mammal and/or for the purpose of determining whether the mammal has been rid of the infection after treatment has been initiated.
US08580515B2	Surface-modified single-walled carbon nanotubes and methods of detecting a chemical compound using same A method for surface modification of single walled carbon nanotubes is described. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a detergent solution, adding a plurality of single walled carbon nanotubes into the detergent solution, performing a first sonication to disperse the single walled carbon nanotubes in the detergent solution, and performing a second sonication after the first sonication to make detergent encased single walled carbon nanotubes. At least one of the plurality of single walled carbon nanotubes is at least partially wrapped by one or more detergent molecules to make it a detergent encased single walled carbon nanotube. In one embodiment, the detergent comprises SDS, PSS or a combination of them. The surface modified carbon nanotubes can be used to detect a chemical compound by associating a solution of the surface modified nanotubes with the chemical compound and optically detecting a chemical property change of the solution.
US08580512B2	Yeast-based methods of identifying nucleic acids and compounds for treating neurodegenerative diseases The disclosure encompasses methods for the screening of small molecules or nucleic acids that may reverse the inhibition of growth of the unicellular yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe by rotenone. The use of a yeast as the screening target allows for the high-throughput screening of small molecule and nucleic acid libraries for candidates that may then be screened in animal models as therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The plant-derived isoflavonoid, rotenone, while only moderately inhibitory to S. pombe cell growth on complex rich medium, is highly inhibitory to growth on synthetic minimal medium. S. pombe cells carrying a deletion in the gene pmk1 are hypersensitive to rotenone. S. pombe, therefore, provides a model for elucidating complex 1-independent targets of rotenone, and can serve as a screening tool for identifying compounds or oligonucleotides potentially able to reverse the effects of rotenone or Parkinson's disease in animal or human subjects.
US08580510B2	Tagged oligonucleotides and their use in nucleic acid amplification methods The present invention provides nucleic acid amplification systems and methods that desirably reduce or eliminate false positive amplification signals resulting from contaminating biological material, e.g., nucleic acid, that may be present in one or more reagents used in an amplification reaction and/or that may be present in the environment in which an amplification reaction is performed. The invention offers the further advantage of requiring less stringent purification and/or sterility efforts than conventionally needed in order to ensure that enzymes and other reagents used in amplification reactions, and the environment in which an amplification reaction is performed, are free of bacterial or other nucleic acid contamination that may yield false positive results.
US08580508B2	Fluorescence energy transfer by competitive hybridization A method is provided for detecting the presence of nucleotides or monitoring nucleotide amplification. It utilizes fluorescence energy transfer by competitive hybridization. Competitive hybridization is achieved by using unequal length complementary probes which have a fluorophore on one probe and a quencher on the other. The fluorophore and quencher are juxtaposed in a manner wherein the proximity of the quencher to the fluorophore produces quenching of the fluorescence of the fluorophore.
US08580505B2	Fast PCR for STR genotyping Disclosed is a method of amplifying a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the method comprises subjecting a reaction mixture to at least one amplification cycle, wherein the reaction mixture comprises a double-stranded nucleic acid and at least two primers capable of annealing to complementary strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid and amplifying at least one short tandem repeat (STR) using a Family A DNA polymerase in a Fast PCR protocol having a two-step amplification cycle in 25 seconds or less. Also disclosed are real-time PCR methods using the two-step protocol and kits for STR profiling using the Fast PCR protocol.
US08580499B2	Detection and/or quantification method of target molecules on a solid support The present invention relates to a method and device for detecting and/or quantifying one or multiple target molecules present in a solution by quantifying online their binding on specific capture molecules immobilized at different locations (spots) of a surface of an optically transparent solid support without substantial detection of target molecules present in solution. The present invention allows multiple target assays to be performed in a simultaneous detection. More particularly, the invention comprises detecting in real-time the hybridization between capture DNA molecules present on a micro-array and target polynucleotides present in solution. The invention is also related to real-time PCR of multiple targets on a micro-array.
US08580495B2	Polynucleotides for the amplification and detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Polynucleotides useful for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a test sample, kits, a nucleic acid amplification method and detection method including the same.
US08580488B2	Cell culture model for acquired chemoresistance of chronic myelogenous leukemia and related methods for identifying agents to overcome resistance A method of generating a chronic myelogenic leukemia (CML) acquired chemoresistant culture model is provided. Such a method may comprise providing a naïve blast crisis CML cell line; administering/contacting the cell line with a mutation-inducing dose of imatinib; maintaining a culture of the treated cell line for a period of time until the treated cell line relapses and repopulates the culture; and determining the repopulated cell culture is a CML acquired chemoresistant cell line by detecting a BCR-ABL mutation, wherein the acquired chemoresistance is achieved by a BCR-ABL mutation.
US08580485B2	Method for forming three-dimensional pattern A method for forming a three-dimensional pattern includes following steps. A shaped workpiece having an inner surface and an outer surface is provided, and a first photoresist layer and a second photoresist layer are respectively formed on the outer surface and the inner surface. The shaped workpiece is placed on a transparent fixture. The first photoresist layer and the second photoresist layer are exposed and developed, such that the first photoresist layer forms a patterned photoresist layer, and the second photoresist layer forms an etching protection layer. The shaped workpiece is etched to form the three-dimensional pattern on the outer surface of the shaped workpiece. The patterned photoresist layer and the etching protection layer are removed.
US08580484B2	Photosensitive compositions useful for forming active patterns, methods of forming such active patterns and organic memory devices incorporating such active patterns Example embodiments herein relate to compositions useful in forming organic active patterns that may, in turn, be incorporated in organic memory devices. The compositions comprise N-containing conjugated electroconductive polymer(s), photoacid generator(s) and organic solvent(s) capable of dissolving suitable quantities of both the electroconductive polymer and the photoacid generator. Also disclosed are methods for patterning organic active layers formed using one or more of the compositions to produce organic active patterns, portions of which may be arranged between opposed electrodes to provide organic memory cells. The methods include directly exposing and developing the organic active layer to obtain fine patterns without the use of a separate masking pattern, for example, a photoresist pattern, thereby tending to simplify the fabrication process and reduce the associated costs.
US08580483B2	Method of making nozzle chip The present disclosure provides a method of making a nozzle chip including a step of forming an ejection orifice row by performing irradiation with light rays using a mask having ejection orifice row patterns that form an ejection orifice row pattern of one nozzle chip when the ejection orifice row patterns are connected to each other through a connection portion. The mask is configured such that, with respect to a direction in which ejection orifices of the ejection orifice row are arranged, an absolute value of off-axis telecentricity of one of the light rays with which an ejection orifice that is at the smallest distance from the connection portion is irradiated is less than an absolute value of off-axis telecentricity of one of the light rays with which an ejection orifice that is at the greatest distance from the connection portion is irradiated.
US08580480B2	Radiation-sensitive resin composition, method for forming resist pattern, polymer and compound A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (A) a fluorine-containing compound that includes a group shown by the following formula (1), and (B) a photoacid generator. wherein RC represents a (p+1)-valent aromatic ring group, Q represents a linking group obtained by removing one hydrogen atom from a monovalent hydrophilic group, RE represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, p is an integer from 1 to 5, provided that a plurality of Q and a plurality of RE may respectively be either the same or different when p is an integer from 2 to 5, and “*” indicates a bonding hand.
US08580477B2	Aqueous base-developable negative-tone films based on functionalized norbornene polymers Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass negative-tone, aqueous base developable, self-imageable polymer compositions useful for forming films that can be patterned to create structures for microelectronic devices, microelectronic packaging, microelectromechanical systems, optoelectronic devices and displays.
US08580476B2	Method for preparing particulate release agent, toner using the particulate release agent, and method for preparing the toner A toner for developing an electrostatic image is provided. The toner includes at least a binder resin; a colorant; and a particulate release agent. The particulate release agent is prepared by heating the release agent to a temperature not lower than a melting point of the release agent to melt the release agent, dissolving the melted release agent in a supercritical fluid or a sub-critical fluid, and feeding the solution into a liquid so that the solution is depressurized and the particulate release agent is formed in the liquid.
US08580475B2	Electrostatic charge image developing carrier, method of producing electrostatic charge image developing carrier, electrostatic charge image developing developer, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and image forming method An electrostatic charge image developing carrier includes a core particle and a coating layer with which the surface of the core particle is coated. The coating layer includes an acrylic resin having a constituent unit in which a silicone chain is disposed in a branch.
US08580472B2	Rosin-based resin and toner containing same Disclosed is a polyester resin comprising the polycondensation product of (a) at least one diacid, acid ester, or diester; and (b) at least one diol; wherein either (i) at least one diacid, acid ester, or diester comprises a rosin diacid, rosin acid ester, or rosin diester; or (ii) at least one diol comprises a rosin diol, and wherein at least one of the rosin diacid, rosin acid ester, rosin diester, or rosin diol is either (A) an ester of a functionalized rosin or an ester of a reduced functionalized rosin, or (B) a dimerized rosin. Also disclosed is a toner composition comprising particles which comprise the disclosed polyester resin and an optional colorant.
US08580458B2	Fuel cell system with a cell unit and fuel tank unit in a housing and electronic device A fuel cell system that includes a cell unit comprising a fuel cell, a fuel tank unit for storing a fuel to be supplied to the cell unit, and a fuel feed unit for supplying the fuel from the fuel tank unit to the cell unit in a thin housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The fuel tank unit, the fuel feed unit, and the cell unit are located in a specific order in one direction between two opposite ends of the housing. The fuel tank unit includes a valve, which supplies fuel to the fuel feed unit and opens to supply the fuel to the fuel feed unit only when the fuel tank unit is mounted. The fuel feed unit connects sides of the fuel tank unit and the cell unit that face each other and reduces a pressure of a gaseous fuel supplied from the fuel tank unit.
US08580456B2	Phase stable doped zirconia electrolyte compositions with low degradation A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, a solid oxide electrolyte, and an anode electrode. The electrolyte and/or electrode composition includes zirconia stabilized with (i) scandia, (ii) ceria, and (iii) at least one of yttria and ytterbia. The composition does not experience a degradation of ionic conductivity of greater than 15% after 4000 hrs at a temperature of 850° C.
US08580454B2	Combined subgasket and membrane support A combined subgasket and membrane support for a fuel cell is provided. The combined subgasket and membrane support includes a substantially fluid impermeable feed region circumscribing a porous membrane support region. The membrane support region is integrally formed with the feed region. At least one of the membrane support region and the feed region is at least partially formed by a radiation-cured structure. A method for fabricating the subgasket and membrane support for the fuel cell is also provided.
US08580451B1	Fuel cell system and method of operation that recycles water from the fuel processor raffinate of a hydrogen separator A power generation system and a fuel processor for use within a power generation system. A fuel processor is connected to both a fuel supply line and a water supply line. The fuel processor reacts the hydrocarbon fuel with the water to produce hydrogen gas and raffinate gases. The hydrogen gas is directed into a hydrogen gas line. The raffinate gases are directed into a raffinate gas line. A fuel cell is powered using the hydrogen gas. A heat exchanger is provided that exchanges heat between the fuel supply line, the water supply line, the hydrogen gas line and the raffinate gas line. This enables heat to be recycled. In addition the raffinate gases also travel into a water recovery subsystem. The water recovery subsystem condenses water out of the raffinate gases The recovered water is returned to the system.
US08580449B2	Fuel cell system and power supply control method In order to determine the air stoichiometric ratio without using multidimensional mapping, a fuel cell system of the invention computes a command current value and command voltage value in a fuel cell during low-efficiency electrical power generation based on the required electrical power, estimates a reference voltage of the fuel cell from the command voltage value and the water temperature when the command current value is taken as a reference current, determines the difference between the reference voltage thus obtained and the command voltage value as an air concentration overvoltage target value, computes the air stoichiometric ratio based on the air concentration overvoltage target value, computes the air amount during low-efficiency electrical power generation based on the air stoichiometric ratio, and controls the amount of air supplied to the fuel cell according to the air amount thus computed.
US08580448B2	Fuel cell with selectively conducting anode component By incorporating a selectively conducting component in electrical series with the anode components in a solid polymer fuel cell, degradation during startup and shutdown can be reduced. As a result, the startup and shutdown procedures can be simplified and consequently certain system apparatus may be omitted. The anode does not need to be rapidly purged with hydrogen on startup or with air on shutdown. Additionally, the auxiliary load usually employed during such purging is not required.
US08580445B2	Shutdown strategy to avoid carbon corrosion due to slow hydrogen/air intrusion rates A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, each of the fuel cells including an electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode and a cathode, an anode supply manifold in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, the anode supply manifold providing fluid communication between a source of hydrogen and the anodes, an anode exhaust manifold in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, and a fan in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, wherein the fan controls a flow of fluid through the anodes of the fuel cells after the fuel cell system is shutdown.
US08580438B2	Monolithic three-dimensional electrochemical energy storage system on aerogel or nanotube scaffold A monolithic three-dimensional electrochemical energy storage system is provided on an aerogel or nanotube scaffold. An anode, separator, cathode, and cathodic current collector are deposited on the aerogel or nanotube scaffold.
US08580434B2	Cathode active material, method of preparing the same, cathode containing the cathode active material, and lithium battery containing the cathode active material A cathode active material includes a lithium metal phosphate represented by Formula 1; and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of a metal oxynitride, a metal nitride, and a mixture thereof: LiMPO4 where M is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ti, V, Cr, Co and Ni.
US08580432B2	Nano graphene reinforced nanocomposite particles for lithium battery electrodes A solid nanocomposite particle composition for lithium metal or lithium ion battery electrode applications. The composition comprises: (A) an electrode active material in a form of fine particles, rods, wires, fibers, or tubes with a dimension smaller than 1 μm; (B) nano graphene platelets (NGPs); and (C) a protective matrix material reinforced by the NGPs; wherein the graphene platelets and the electrode active material are dispersed in the matrix material and the NGPs occupy a weight fraction wg of 1% to 90% of the total nanocomposite weight, the electrode active material occupies a weight fraction wa of 1% to 90% of the total nanocomposite weight, and the matrix material occupies a weight fraction wm of at least 2% of the total nanocomposite weight with wg+wa+wm=1. For a lithium ion battery anode application, the matrix material is preferably amorphous carbon, polymeric carbon, or meso-phase carbon. Such a solid nanocomposite composition provides a high anode capacity and good cycling stability. For a cathode application, the resulting lithium metal or lithium ion battery exhibits an exceptionally high cycle life.
US08580428B2	Battery and method for manufacturing the same A battery (100) provided by the present invention includes an electrode body (80) having a positive electrode and a negative electrode (84), a bottomed battery case (10) for holding the electrode body (80), and a current collecting plate (20) that connects the battery case (10) with either the positive electrode or the negative electrode of the electrode body. A part of the current collecting plate (20) and a bottom part (16) of the battery case (10) are fixed to each other by welding, and a sealed structure (40) that surrounds a weld (30) composed of a portion that has been welded is formed at the periphery of the weld (30).
US08580427B2	Assembled battery In this assembled battery, connections between electrode terminals of electrical cells and connection members for the electrode terminal are reliably maintained for a long period of time. The electrode terminal is formed in a tapered pillar shape whose width decreases from the front end of the electrode terminal toward a battery case. Also, a groove, which is shaped from the front end toward the battery case and divides at least a portion of the front end into segmented portions, is provided to the electrode terminal. The segmented portions are elastically deformable to move close to or away from each other. The bus bar (connection member for the electrode terminals) includes a through-hole whose width decreases from the front end of the electrode terminal toward a battery case. The bus bar is fitted to the electrical terminal, by elastically deforming and moving the segmented portions close to each other.
US08580422B2	Aqueous electrolyte energy storage device An electrochemical device including a housing and a stack of electrochemical cells in the housing. Each electrochemical cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, a separator located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode and an electrolyte. The electrochemical device also includes a current collector located between adjacent electrochemical cells, an anode bus operatively connected to the anodes of the electrochemical cells in the stack and a cathode bus operatively connected to the cathodes of the electrochemical cells in the stack. The housing, the anode electrode, the cathode electrode, the separator, the anode bus and the cathode bus are non-metallic.
US08580419B2	Secondary battery with improved storage characteristics and method for manufacturing the same Provided is a secondary battery comprising a separator having an inorganic layer wherein active sites of inorganic particles in the inorganic layer are modified into non-reactive sites. Use of the separator leads to improvements in wettability of an electrolyte and thermoelectric stability and storage characteristics of the secondary battery. Provided is also a method of manufacturing the same secondary battery.
US08580415B2	Method and apparatus for an electrical interface In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus, comprises an energy storage device having an interface and at least one terminal, the interface having first and second surfaces, the first surface having at least one first surface opening and the second surface having at least one second surface opening, wherein the at least one first surface opening allows access to the at least one terminal, wherein the at least one second surface opening allows access to the at least one terminal, and wherein the at least one first surface opening is distinct from the at least one second surface opening.
US08580412B2	Battery pack In a battery pack, a component for attaching a secondary protection device to a bare cell may be omitted to reduce manufacturing costs and improve productivity. The battery pack includes a bare cell, a flexible printed circuit board in which at least one portion thereof contacts the bare cell, the flexible printed circuit board being electrically coupled to the bare cell through a lead pattern surrounded by an insulation cover, a secondary protection device on the flexible printed circuit board, the secondary protection device being electrically coupled to the flexible printed circuit board through the lead pattern, and a protective circuit module electrically coupled to the flexible printed circuit board through the lead pattern.
US08580405B2	Naphthothiophene compound and organic light-emitting device including the same The present invention provides a novel naphthothiophene compound having a high lowest excited triplet level (T1).
US08580403B2	Organic light-emitting diode, display and illuminating device According to one embodiment, there is provided an organic light-emitting diode including an anode and a cathode which are arranged apart from each other, and an emissive layer interposed between the anode and the cathode and including a host material and an emitting dopant. The host material includes a polymer containing dibenzothiophene backbones represented by the following formula (1) as repeating units: wherein n is an integer of from 20 to 10,000.
US08580401B2	Curable material and its application A curable material is provided. The curable material has the structure of formula I or formula II: wherein, X, R1, R2, m1 to m3, and n1 to n3 are defined as cited in the description.
US08580395B2	Electroluminescent polymers, method for the production thereof, and use thereof The present invention relates to electroluminescent polymers which comprise 2-vinylthiophenylbenzene derivatives as recurring units, to a process for the preparation thereof, to blends and formulations comprising these polymers, and to the use of these polymers in electronic devices, in particular in organic light-emitting diodes, so-called OLEDs.
US08580394B2	3-coordinate copper(I)-carbene complexes Novel phosphorescent trigonal copper carbene complexes are provided. The complex comprise a carbene ligand coordinated to a three coordinate copper atom. The complex may be used in organic light emitting devices. In particular, the complexes may be especially useful in OLEDs used for lighting applications.
US08580389B2	Articles comprising phyllosilicate composites containing mica Disclosed is a mica paper composite and a process for making the mica paper composite. Articles comprising the mica paper composite are also disclosed.
US08580387B1	Polyurea composite armor A composite armor including a ballistic armor layer and a directly attached polyurea layer. The polyurea layer is the cured reaction product of an isocyanate curing agent and a mixture of diamines having the general formula: H2N-Ph-(C═O)—O—(CH2—CH2—CH2—CH2—O)n—(C═O)-Ph-NH2, wherein in the mixture n in the ranges from 3 to 14 and the weight average value of n is about 9 to 10. Ph represents phenyl. In a preferred embodiment, the polyurea layer is the strike face. The composite armor is useful for light armor applications in which weight is a factor such as military vehicle armor and military boat armor.
US08580383B2	First-wall component for a fusion reactor with a heat sink of a copper alloy A first-wall component of a fusion reactor has a heat shield and a heat sink. The heat shield is formed of a material from the group of graphite material, carbidic material, tungsten and tungsten alloy. The heat sink is formed of a spray-compacted copper alloy.
US08580380B2	Polybenzazole fiber and pyridobisimidazole fiber To provide fibers which retain the excellent heat resistance and flame retardancy inherent in polybenzazole fibers and pyridobisimidazole fibers, have improved post-processability and neither necessitate considerable change in production process conditions nor require a high-temperature and long-time heating treatment. With respect to the polybenzazole fiber and pyridobisimidazole fiber, in an electron diffraction diagram of a surface layer part (from the surface to 1 μm) of the fibers, the fibers containing a crystal present in a state satisfying that S2/S1 is in a prescribed range, wherein S1 is a diffraction peak area derived from a crystal (200) plane and S2 is a diffraction peak area derived from a plurality of other crystal planes along an equatorial direction profile.
US08580378B2	Organic glass for automobile and process for producing the same An organic glass for automobile is provided which has excellent weatherability, wear-resistance and abrasion-resistance, and which can be mass-produced by a simple and inexpensive process. The organic glass comprises a transparent resin base plate 12 and a hard coat layer 14 formed on at least one surface of the resin base plate. The hard coat layer includes an organic thin film 16 formed by vacuum deposition polymerization.
US08580372B2	Optical film The present invention provides an optical film comprising a substrate having a first optical surface and a second surface and a micro structure layer on the first optical surface of the substrate, wherein the micro structure layer comprises a plurality of first light-adjusting structures selected from the group consisting of prism columnar structures, conical columnar structures, solid angle structures and orange-segment like structures and a combination thereof and a plurality of second light-adjusting structures selected from the group consisting of arc columnar structures, lens-like structures, and capsule-like structures and a combination thereof, wherein at least a portion of the second light-adjusting structures has a height greater than those of all the first light-adjusting structures. The optical film of the present invention will not suffer the damage caused on the microstructure layers while achieving a light-gathering effect and effectively reducing optical interference.
US08580370B2	Adhesive assembly and method for making same An adhesive assembly includes a first member, a second member, and an adhesive. The first member includes a first surface, a receiving groove defined in the first surface, a flowing groove defined in the first surface apart from the receiving groove, an injecting inlet defined in the bottom surface of the receiving groove, and an outlet defined in the bottom surface of the flowing groove. The flowing groove partially communicates with the receiving groove. The adhesive is injected in the receiving groove through the injecting inlet to adhere the first member to the second member. A method for making the adhesive assembly is also provided.
US08580369B2	Method and apparatus for wrapping a shipment Embodiments of the invention relate to a cover, a method of covering, and a cover system to be used with shipments of products transported by air with ULDs. The cover system provides thermal protection to temperature-sensitive products in or on the ULD. The cover system maintains the proper relative humidity level and gas concentrations (oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene) for horticultural product loads. The cover system can also have antimicrobial properties. In addition, the cover system decreases the amount of water vapor released in the cargo holds which is known to affect the reliability of the aircraft smoke detection system and to cause false fire alarms.
US08580366B2	Hose for refrigerant transport use A hose for refrigerant transport use comprising an inner layer with superior deterioration resistance performance. The innermost layer comprised in the hose for refrigerant transport use of the present invention is formed using a polyamide resin composition comprising a polyamide and, per 100 parts by mass thereof, from 0.5 to 20 parts by mass of an acid acceptor.
US08580361B2	Insulated glass unit with sealant composition having reduced permeability to gas The invention relates to a high thermal efficiency, insulated glass unit structure sealed with a cured composition containing, inter alia, moisture-curable linear silylated resin and organic nanoclay, the cured composition exhibiting low permeability to gas(es).
US08580359B2	Bottom chassis, method of fabricating the same, and liquid crystal display including the same Provided are a bottom chassis, a method of fabricating the same, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) including the same. The bottom chassis is fabricated using an aluminum alloy plate including, by weight, 0.5 to 1.5% manganese, 0.8 to 1.5% magnesium, 0.01 to 0.03% titanium, less than 0.02% molybdenum, and 96% or more aluminum.
US08580353B2	Method for treating surface of glass substrate and apparatus for performing same A method for treating a surface of a glass substrate according to the invention has the steps of placing the glass substrate into a vacuum treatment chamber, introducing a gas into the vacuum treatment chamber, providing electric power to generate an ion source and using the ion source to treat the surface of the glass substrate. By this way, the invention can achieve an effect of surface cleaning and further render the conductive film to be coated on the glass substrate in the subsequent stage to have a reduced surface resistance, thereby improving the conductivity of the glass substrate. The film coated on the glass substrate in the subsequent stage will have higher crystalline level as well.
US08580350B2	Corrosion resistant neutron absorbing coatings A method of forming a corrosion resistant neutron absorbing coating comprising the steps of spray or deposition or sputtering or welding processing to form a composite material made of a spray or deposition or sputtering or welding material, and a neutron absorbing material. Also a corrosion resistant neutron absorbing coating comprising a composite material made of a spray or deposition or sputtering or welding material, and a neutron absorbing material.
US08580349B1	Pigmented spray texture material compositions, systems, and methods A coating material adapted to be applied to a target surface comprises a texture material base and pigment material. The texture material base comprises solvent/carrier material comprising water, resin/binder material comprising a latex binder, and filler material comprising a polymeric thickener. The texture material base and the pigment material are combined and deposited on the target surface to form a durable, irregular, colored surface.
US08580348B2	Treatment of textile materials The present invention provides a method for treating textile material to confer flame retardant properties, the method comprising the steps of impregnating the material with an aqueous solution of a treatment agent which is a poly(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium compound; drying the impregnated material; curing the dried impregnated material with ammonia to produce a cured, water-insoluble polymer which is mechanically fixed within the fibers of the material; oxidizing the cured polymer to convert trivalent phosphorus to pentavalent phosphorus; and washing and drying the material; wherein one or both of steps (d) and (e) result in the co-production of an aqueous effluent; and wherein the conditions are controlled such that the atomic ratio of N:P present on the material increases during step (c) by 0.8 or more.
US08580347B2	Method for producing calcium phosphate complex A method of the present invention for producing a calcium phosphate complex including a substrate and calcium phosphate bonded to a surface of the substrate, the method includes the steps of: (a) treating the surface of the substrate; and (b) bonding the calcium phosphate onto the surface of the substrate after the step (a), the step (a) being the step of placing the surface of the substrate in contact with ozone water. Therefore, the method of the present invention makes it possible to bond calcium phosphate and the substrate at a high bonding strength and at a high coverage. In addition, the method of the present invention provides an easy method for producing a calcium phosphate complex.
US08580345B2	Method of protecting a fixture A method including placing a body defining an undifferentiated lumen therein over a portion of a fixture coupled to a building structure, the body having at least one opening that can be expanded from a contracted state and that is biased toward the contracted state, the placing including applying an expansion force to the opening; conforming the body to a shape of the fixture at a contact portion where the fixture contacts the structure by releasing the expansion force; and treating the structure.
US08580344B2	Stamp usage to enhance surface layer functionalization and selectivity This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for using a stamp to enhance selectivity between surface layers of a substrate, and to facilitate functionalizing selected layers. An array of flat stamps may be used to concurrently stamp multiple regions of a substrate to transfer one or more substances to the topmost layer or layers of the substrate. If desired, the affected regions of the substrate may be isolated from each other through the use of a reactor plate that, when clamped to the substrate's surface, forms reaction wells in the area of stamping. The stamp area can, if desired, be configured for stamping the substrate after the reactor plate has been fitted, with the individual stamps sized and arranged in a manner that permits stamping within each reaction well. If applied in a combinatorial process, a robotic process may be used to transfer multiple combinations of contact substances and processing chemicals to each reaction well to perform many concurrent processes upon a single substrate (e.g., a single coupon). The methods, devices and systems provided facilitate semiconductor design, optimization and qualification, and may be adapted to production manufacturing.
US08580341B2	Method of making composite membrane The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous base membrane and a polyamide coating disposed on said porous base membrane, said polyamide coating comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound and a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety. In addition the present invention provides a method of preparing a composite membrane comprising contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine, said contacting being carried out on a surface of a porous base membrane, said organic solution further comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound, said aqueous solution comprising a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety.
US08580337B2	Thermoplastic coating and removal using bonding interface with catalytic nanoparticles An article may be fabricated by coupling a thermoplastic to a bonding interface layer, and applying a coating layer to the surface of the bonding interface layer. A bonding interface layer may comprise catalytic nanoparticles embedded within and/or encapsulated by one or more radiatively unstable polymers. Application of ionizing radiation to the article may release a catalyst at the bonding interface. Application of heat and/or stress to the article may enhance catalytic degradation of the remaining bonding interface and uncoupling of the thermoplastic from the coating layer. Embodiments of methods, compositions, articles and/or systems may be disclosed.
US08580330B2	Method of producing a canola protein isolate Canola protein isolates are provided which contain both albumin and globulin protein fractions that are soluble and transparent in an acidic aqueous environment. The canola protein isolates are completely soluble in water at low pH, low in phytic acid and useful in products for human consumption, pet foods and aquaculture.
US08580328B2	Salt substitute and composition, for example food composition, comprising it Methods for replacing salt in a food composition comprising substituting all or part of the salt in the food composition with vinegar, while conserving the food composition's gustative, olfactive and physical values the presence of salt instead of the vinegar would give. In various embodiments, the food composition is a product of bakery comprising water, salt, yeast, and flour or a mix of flours. For example, vinegar may replace at least 60% of the salt in the food composition, and may have an acidity of 3% to 10%.
US08580326B2	Treating meat from dark-cutting carcasses using an acidification process A system and method for treating dark-cutter meat includes contacting the meat with one or more acidulants in an amount and for a time sufficient to allow the acidulant to hydrolyze and decrease the pH level of the meat. The acidulant may be added to the meat by injecting, marinating, spraying, or rubbing.
US08580314B2	Dried and irradiated skin equivalents for ready use The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for preparing, storing, shipping and using skin equivalents made by organotypic culture. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for producing, transporting, storing and using skin equivalents produced by organotypic culture at reduced temperatures, preferably from 2-8 degrees Celsius to ambient temperature. The methods include sterile packaging of the grafts so that the sterility and integrity of the package is maintained until the time of use for grafting purposes.
US08580311B2	Nanoparticles Methods for the preparation of polymer-templated core-shell nanoparticles include the steps of (a) preparing a cationic polymeric core material comprising polymeric micelles, and (b) coating the core material with a silica-comprising shell by depositing the shell onto the polymeric micelles from at least one silica precursor to form the core-shell nanoparticles. Compositions which include the core-shell nanoparticles are adapted to facilitate controlled delivery of at least one active agent into a system in response to controlled changes in the pH of the system.
US08580308B2	Modafinil pharmaceutical compositions Pharmaceutical compositions comprising modafinil in the form of particles of defined size and methods for preparing same. The particle size of modafinil can have a significant effect on the potency and safety profile of the drug.
US08580297B2	Components for producing amphoteric liposomes The invention suggests amphoteric lipids wherein one or more amphoteric groups having an isoelectric point between 4 and 9 are substituted on a membranous or membrane-forming amphiphilic substance, as well as liposomes containing such compounds.
US08580289B2	Tissue matrix system The present application discloses matrix compositions to support the repair of tissue defects such as an injury to tendon tissue, ligament tissue, vascular tissue, dermal tissue, or muscle tissue. A matrix described herein comprises a polyester polymer entangled with a polysaccharide polymer. Also disclosed are methods of preparing a matrix, and methods of using a matrix in the repair of tissue. In certain configurations, a matrix can comprise a polyester cross-linked with a polysaccharide, which can be an oxidized polysaccharide. In some configurations, a matrix can further comprise one or more additional components, such as a growth factor or an anti-infective agent. In some configurations, a matrix can be a viscous fluid or a paste, while in other configurations a matrix can be comprised by a solid such as a plug, a granule or a membrane.
US08580287B2	Oil-based agrochemical compositions with increased viscosity Suggested are oil-based agrochemical compositions with increased viscosity, comprising (a) biocides, (b) hydrophobic carriers, and (c) polymers selected from the group consisting of poly(meth)acrylates, polymaleates and polyfumarates.
US08580285B2	Clarifying agents for organomodified silicones There is provided herein a composition comprising a silicone copolymer of the general formula (I) MaMEcDdDEeTfTEgQh where M=R1R2R3SiO1/2; ME=R4R5RESiO1/2; D=R6R7SiO2/2; DE=R8RESiO2/2; T=R9RESiO2/2; T=R9SiO3/2; TE=RESiO2/2; and Q=SiO4/2; where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are each independently selected from the group of monovalent hydrocarbon radicals RE is a monovalent radical defined as: —R10O—(C2H4O)h(C3H6O)i(C4H8O)i—R11 or —R12 with the provision that the copolymer must contain at least one RE group; R10 is a linear or branched divalent hydrocarbon radical containing from 3 to about 10 carbon atoms; R11 is H or —C(═O)CH3 or a monovalent saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical, optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, containing from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms; R12 is a hydrocarbon radical, containing from 2 to about 30 carbon atoms and at least 1 hydroxyl group, optionally containing heteroatoms; subscripts a, b, c, d, e, f, and g are 0 or positive subject to the limitation a+b+c+d+e+f+g<1000; subscripts h, i, and j are 0 or positive subject to the limitation h+i+j is less than 100; and, b) an organic oil.
US08580284B2	Oil-based cosmetic preparation Abstract Provided is an oil-based cosmetic preparation which retains a smooth feel. Provided is an oil-based cosmetic preparation containing the following components (A), (B), and (C): (A) a cellulose derivative having a cellulose skeleton in a main chain, in which 67 mol % or more in total hydroxyl groups are substituted with a group —O-M-R, wherein M represents CH2 or a carbonyl group C═O, and R represents a straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 3 to 40 carbon atoms; (B) an ester oil which is liquid at 25° C.; and (C) a hydrocarbon oil which is liquid at 25° C., in which a weight ratio (B)/(C) of the component (B) to the component (C) is 8/1 to 1/4.
US08580280B2	Adjuvant compositions This invention relates to adjuvant formulations comprising various combinations of triterpenoids, sterols, immunomodulators, polymers, and Th2 stimulators; methods for making the adjuvant compositions; and the use of the adjuvant formulations in immunogenic and vaccine compositions with different antigens. This invention further relates to the use of the formulations in the treatment of animals.
US08580279B2	Compounds The invention provides BASB082, BASB083, BASB091, BASB092 and BASB101 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding BASB082, BASB083, BASB091, BASB092 and BASB101 polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses.
US08580277B2	Influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase variants Polypeptides, polynucleotides, methods, compositions, and vaccines comprising (avian pandemic) influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase variants are provided.
US08580273B2	TNF superfamily member light fusion proteins The present invention refers to fusion proteins comprising a TNF superfamily (TNFSF) cytokine or a receptor binding domain thereof fused to a trimerization domain and a nucleic acid molecule encoding the fusion protein. The fusion protein is present as a trimeric complex or as an oligomer thereof and is suitable for therapeutic, diagnostic and/or research applications.
US08580270B2	Respiratory synctial virus (RSV) sequences for protein expression and vaccines The invention provides RSV fusion (F) protein ectodomain polypeptide sequences and nucleotide sequences encoding them, as well as cells containing the invention's polypeptide and nucleotide sequences. The invention further provides VLPs that contain the invention's polypeptides, and methods for using the VLPs for protein expression and vaccine formulation. Also provided are methods for distinguishing between subjects immunized with the invention's compositions and subjects infected with RSV.
US08580269B2	Survivin peptides for autoimmune therapies Compositions and methods for stimulating an immune response against cells that express survivin are provided. The method is suitable for prophylaxis and/or therapy of autoimmune disorders. The method involves administering to an individual a composition that contains a survivin peptide mimic that has a cysteine to methionine alteration at amino acid position 57 of wild type survivin. Fragments of the peptides can also be used.
US08580267B2	Immunocytokines for tumour therapy with chemotherapeutic agents Immunocytokine comprising cytokine, e.g. interleukin 2 (IL-2), conjugated to antibody against tumour neovasculature antigen, e.g. tenascin-C, for use in combination therapy with chemotherapeutic agent such as temozolomide. Use of immunocytokine and chemotherapy for treatment of tumours e.g. glioblastoma and other cancers.
US08580266B2	Immune modulation via C-type lectin The invention relates to the regulation of the immune system, and in particular to the finding that the CLEC9a molecule is a marker for dendritic cells which are capable of cross-presenting extracellular antigens via the MHC class I pathway. This makes them particularly suitable for generation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Materials and methods are provided both for the induction of immune responses against target antigens, and for the inhibition or suppression of undesirable immune responses in which these cells are involved.
US08580261B2	Methods for prevention and treatment of inflammation using anti-chemokine antibodies It is possible to inhibit inflammatory processes by administration of antibodies to chemokines. Identification of chemokines which are over-produced makes it possible to block specific chemokine activity using antibodies to the over-expressed chemokines.
US08580260B2	Method of using anti-IL-13 antibodies The present invention relates to human anti-IL-13 binding molecules, particularly antibodies, and to methods for using anti-IL-13 antibody molecules in diagnosis or treatment of IL-13 related disorders, such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease and Hodgkin's lymphoma.
US08580257B2	Antibodies that specifically block the biological activity of kidney associated antigen 1 (KAAG1) Novel monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to KAAG1 are described. In some embodiments, the antibodies block the biological activity of KAAG1 and are useful in composition in certain cancers, more particularly in cancers that have increased cell surface expression of KAAG1, such as ovarian, renal, lung, colorectal, breast, brain, and prostate cancer, as well as melanoma. The invention also relates to cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies and antigen binding fragments such as humanized and chimeric antibodies. Additionally, method of detecting and treating cancer using the antibodies and fragments are also disclosed.
US08580255B2	Method for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using a TLR2 antagonistic antibody The present invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, in particular rheumatoid arthritis. Compounds which function as antagonists of Toll-like Receptor 2 are shown to suppress the immune response which result in the onset and progression of autoimmune disease. In particular monoclonal antibodies which have a binding specificity to Toll-like receptor 2 are disclosed for use in methods for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disease.
US08580254B2	Anti-IGF antibodies Antibody molecules, in particular fully human antibodies that bind to human IGF-1 and cross-react with IGF-2 such that binding of IGF-1 and IGF-2 to the IGF-1 receptor is prevented and IGF-1 receptor-mediated signaling is inhibited. The antibodies do not bind to insulin and thus do not affect the mitogenic properties of insulin that are mediated by its binding to the insulin receptors. The antibodies are useful for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, in particular cancer.
US08580253B2	Immunomodulating compositions and methods of use This invention is directed to β-1-6-glucans, compositions and devices comprising the same, and methods of use thereof in modulating immune responses. The β-1-6-glucans of certain embodiments of the invention are enriched for O-acetylated groups and/or conjugated to a solid support or linked to a targeting moiety.
US08580247B2	PS-1 antibodies in combination with a cytokine-secreting cell and methods of use thereof The present invention relates to a method of enhancing the anti-tumor response in a mammal. More particularly, the invention is concerned with combinations comprising a cytokine-secreting cell and an anti-PD-1 antibody, and methods of administering the combination for enhanced immune response to tumor cells in a patient with a cancer.
US08580246B2	Surfactant-free stable pharmaceutical composition comprising granulocyte-colony stimulating factor The present invention provides a new stable pharmaceutical composition of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF).
US08580241B2	Glycerol group-containing organopolysiloxane, cosmetic, and method for producing glycerol group-containing organopolysiloxane There is disclosed a novel glycerol group-containing organopolysiloxane is formed of a glycerol group-containing substituent shown by the following general formula (1) which is bonded to at least one silicon atom of a main chain organopolysiloxane segment, wherein each X and Y independently represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; m represents an integer of 0 to 4; and Z represents an organic group shown by the following general formula (2), wherein Ra represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms; and m′ represents an integer of 1 to 5. As a result, there is provided a novel glycerol group-containing organopolysiloxane and a method for producing it without requiring special purification processes, and in addition, provided is a cosmetic not generating an odor with passage of time while giving a moist feeling without stickiness.
US08580239B2	Skin grafting devices and methods The present invention provides skin grafting and devices that comprise a systematic approach to the process of skin grafting, i.e., harvesting, post-excision processing and application of donor skin and pre and post-graft treatment of the recipient site.
US08580236B2	Hair sustaining formulation A multi-dimensional hair sustaining formulation having a liquid transport agent that carries multi-ingredients to hair follicles in order to prevent Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from attaching to receptor sites on the follicles of existing hair, hence promoting the protection and continued growth of existing hair—which otherwise would succumb to DHT attack and loss—rather than trying to re-grow hair that has already been lost.
US08580235B2	Hair cosmetic An object of the present invention is to establish means for reliably incorporating a poorly soluble UV-absorbing agent into a hair cosmetic composition, to thereby provide a hair cosmetic composition which has excellent effect of preventing UV-hair damage and which exhibits favorable sensation in use thereof. Specifically, the object can be attained through provision of a hair cosmetic composition including the following ingredients (1) and (2): (1) a polyoxy(lower alkylene) addition compound represented by formula (I): wherein R represents a phytosterol residue or a phytostanol residue; m is a number from 0 to 100; and n is a number from 5 to 100, and (2) a UV-absorbing agent having a triazine group.
US08580233B2	Tooth whitening compositions and methods A method of whitening a tooth surface including contacting the surface of a tooth with an efficacious amount of a substantially non-cytotoxic composition. The non-cytotoxic composition includes chlorine dioxide and no more than about 0.25 milligrams oxy-chlorine anions per gram of the composition.
US08580232B2	Compositions for enhancing effects of other oral care compositions An enhancing composition comprising a solvent and a base compound creates an alkaline environment for activating peroxide whiteners and accelerating the formation of free radicals from the peroxide to effect the oxidation of organic molecules causing staining of the dentition. In one embodiment, potassium hydroxide is dissolved in water to form a strongly alkaline liquid. A surfactant may also be included to clean the surfaces of the user's teeth in advance of application of the whitening composition. A peroxide may be added to the enhancing composition to provide a tooth whitening. Other additives for taste, texture, viscosity, and other oral care or oral hygiene purposes may also be included in the enhancing composition. The enhancing composition may be used for advance application to the dentition before a whitening compound. In addition, a rinse may be used after the whitening composition to neutralize the alkaline environment.
US08580231B2	Compositions and methods comprising magnetic resonance contrast agents The present invention relates to compositions and methods for imaging with magnetic resonance contrast agents. In particular, the present invention provides targeted contrast agents for selective imaging.
US08580230B2	Materials and methods for MRI contrast agents and drug delivery A material useful as a MRI contrast agent used for medical imaging, drug delivery platform or other functions are provided as a class of non-gadolinium and non-iron oxide based materials that comprise Prussian blue materials or analogue materials. The materials may be used as T1-weighted and/or T2-weighted MRI contrast agents for imaging, including cellular imaging, in clinical diagnosis and biomedical research applications. The agent is a compound created from Prussian blue materials that is non-toxic, and can be internalized by cells through endocytosis. The Prussian blue materials may also be used for drug delivery applications. The Prussian blue materials may be administered orally to a subject in either medical imaging or drug delivery applications or dual modality MRI-Fluorescence imaging agent.
US08580228B2	Treatment of cold start engine exhaust The present invention relates to a process for reducing cold start emissions in an exhaust gas stream (such as from an internal combustion engine) by contacting the exhaust stream with a combination of molecular sieves comprising (1) a small pore crystalline molecular sieve or mixture of molecular sieves having pores no larger than 8 membered rings selected from the group consisting of SSZ-13, SSZ-16, SSZ-36, SSZ-39, SSZ-50, SSZ-52 and SSZ-73 molecular sieve and having a mole ratio at least 10 of (a) an oxide of a first tetravalent element to (b) an oxide of a trivalent element, pentavalent element, second tetravalent element which is different from said first tetravalent element or mixture thereof and (2) a medium-large pore crystalline molecular sieve having pores at least as large as 10 membered rings selected from the group consisting of SSZ-26, SSZ-33, SSZ-64, zeolite Beta, CIT-1, CIT-6 and ITQ-4 and having a mole ratio of at least 10 of (a) an oxide of a first tetravalent element to (b) an oxide of a trivalent element, pentavalent element, second tetravalent element which is different from said first tetravalent element or mixture thereof.
US08580227B2	Method for producing hydrogen using block copolymer and oxidation reaction of metals The present inventions are a method for production of hydrogen which decomposes water into hydrogen by oxidation of metals only when the metals are exposed to the water, while preventing oxidation of pure metal nanoparticles using block copolymers and, in addition, hydrogen produced by the method described above. The method of the present invention has advantages of improved convenience and simplicity, achieves a preferable approach for hydrogen storage because the metal nanoparticles enclosed by the block copolymer have the ease of delivery and reaction thereof. Additionally, the method of the present invention only using water and the metal is considered eco-friendly and useful in industrial energy applications.
US08580226B2	Synthesis of sodium titanate and ion exchange use thereof This invention relates to a process for producing a sodium titanate that can be utilized in an ion exchange media. The sodium titanate ion exchange media can be subsequently used to remove contaminants such as metals from water in a variety of applications. The sodium titanate can be synthesized by utilizing a source of titanium that includes a nano-crystalline titanium having a mean primary crystallite diameter of about 1 nm to about 30 nm.
US08580225B2	Use of hydrophilic organomodified siloxanes as a processing aid for melt granulation Use of organomodified polysiloxanes which have at least three different polyether radicals, at least two of these polyether radicals differing by at least 9% by mass in the proportion of ethylene oxide units therein in the total weight of the polyether radical, as a release agent or release agent constituent in melt granulation.
US08580224B2	Method for increasing the sulfuric acid concentration of a sulfuric acid solution Described is a method of increasing the sulfuric acid concentration of a first aqueous sulfuric acid solution with a sulfuric acid concentration of 82-89% to a concentrated sulfuric acid solution with a sulfuric acid concentration of at least 90%, including evaporating water from the first aqueous sulfuric acid solution in an evaporator vessel to the concentrated sulfuric acid solution, pumping around a mixture of the first aqueous sulfuric acid solution, part of the concentrated sulfuric acid solution, a second aqueous sulfuric acid solution, and hydrogen peroxide through an enameled piping system comprising the evaporator vessel and one or more heaters and pumps, wherein the piping system is operating at a temperature of at least 180° C., and the sulfuric acid concentration of the second aqueous sulfuric acid solution is at least 90%.
US08580221B2	Chromium (III) carbonate and process for producing the same The chromium (III) carbonate of the present invention exhibits a light blue color in a solid state. This chromium (III) carbonate has an L* value of 50 to 70, an a* value of −4 to −2, and a b* value of −10 to −7, which are represented by the Lab* color system (JIS Z8729). This chromium (III) carbonate is preferably completely dissolved within 30 minutes when the chromium (III) carbonate is added, in an amount corresponding to a Cr content of 1 g, to 1 liter of an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid having a pH of 0.2 at a temperature of 25° C. This chromium (III) carbonate is preferably obtained by contacting an aqueous solution of carbonate and an aqueous solution containing trivalent chromium at a pH of 6 to 12 under the condition of a reaction liquid temperature of 0° C. or more and less than 50° C. Also, preferably, after production of the chromium (III) carbonate, filtration is performed, and the chromium (III) carbonate is washed with water until the conductivity of the filtrate is 5 mS/cm or less.
US08580219B2	Ammonium recovery methods The methods are utilized to recover ammonium from waste water using CO2 acidified absorption water. The process is particularly suited for utilization of cellular matter and a CO2 rich tail gas from a syngas fermentation process and derives significant benefit from the recovery of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbonate. Ammonia and ammonium are recovered from the treatment of the syngas as an ammonium rich solution, at least a portion of which is recycled to the fermentation zone to aid in the production of liquid products. A carbon dioxide rich gas produced by fermentation is used to capture the ammonia and ammonium, forming the ammonium rich solution.
US08580215B2	Exhaust gas control apparatus and method for internal combustion engine A NOx selective reduction catalyst for reducing NOx by the ammonia adsorbed is disposed in an engine exhaust gas passage. As states of adsorption of ammonia by the catalyst, there are a first adsorption state of ammonia that occurs when the ammonia is adsorbed during low temperature and a second adsorption state of ammonia that occurs when the ammonia is adsorbed or has already been adsorbed during high temperature. The amount of adsorbed ammonia in the first state is restricted to control concentration of the ammonia that is in the first state and desorbed when the temperature of the catalyst increases so as to be not higher than an allowable concentration, and that in the second state is restricted to control concentration of the ammonia that is in the second state and desorbed when the temperature of the catalyst increases so as to be not higher than an allowable concentration.
US08580214B2	Emission control system Methods of treating mercury contaminated gas comprising: introducing a hydrogen halide selected from HBr and HI into a mercury contaminated gas stream containing a quantity of particulate matter at an introduction rate sufficient to create a concentration of at least 0.1 ppmvd; wherein greater than 50% of all particulate matter in the mercury contaminated gas stream is a native particulate matter; contacting a quantity of active bromine with the native particulate matter; creating a doped particulate matter; coating a filtration media with the doped particulate matter; and passing a portion of the mercury contaminated gas stream through the doped particulate matter on the filtration media and other related methods are disclosed herein.
US08580212B2	Process for preparing trichloroammineplatinate salt and the products obtained therein The present invention relates to a process for preparing a trichloroammineplatinate salt by reacting a tetrachloroplatinate salt in aqueous solution in the presence of ammonium chloride and an alkali chloride with one or more carbonate salts selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium and ammonium carbonate while keeping the pH value below 7 during the reaction; the product obtained therein and a use thereof.
US08580206B2	Purification of carbon dioxide SO2 and/or NOx are removed from gaseous CO2 at elevated pressure(s) in the presence of molecular oxygen and water and, when SO2 is to be removed, NOx, to convert SO2 to sulfuric acid and/or NOx to nitric acid. The sulfuric acid and/or nitric acid is/are then removed from the gaseous carbon dioxide to produce SO2-free, NOx-lean carbon dioxide gas. The invention has particular application in the removal of SO2 and/or NOx from carbon dioxide flue gas produced in an oxyfuel combustion process, for example, in a pulverized coal fired power station.
US08580202B2	Slurry phase polymerisation process A process comprising polymerizing in a loop reactor an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin commoner in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the Froude number is maintained at or below 20 is disclosed.
US08580201B2	Wicking-based reagent-solution draining in an automated system Embodiments of the present invention include processing steps and subsystems, within automated-biopolymer-synthesis systems and within other automated systems for organic-chemistry-based processing, for removing reagent solutions and solvents from reaction chambers following various synthetic reaction steps and washing steps undertaken during biopolymer synthesis. Embodiments of the present invention employ any of various different types of liquid-absorbing materials to wick, or remove by capillary action, liquids from reaction chambers. Wicking-based methods and subcomponents of the present invention remove significantly greater fractions of solutions from reaction chambers than conventional methods and subsystems and, in addition, are mechanically simpler and produce fewer deleterious side effects than currently used methods and subsystems.
US08580200B2	Method for label-free multiple analyte sensing, biosensing and diagnostic assay Methods and systems for label-free multiple analyte sensing, biosensing and diagnostic assay chips consisting of an array of photonic crystal microcavities along a single photonic crystal waveguide are disclosed. The invention comprises an on-chip integrated microarray device that enables detection and identification of multiple species to be performed simultaneously using optical techniques leading to a high throughput device for chemical sensing, biosensing and medical diagnostics. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08580196B2	Automatic analyzer When a problematic reagent is identified while operating an automatic analyzer, it is required to have a plurality of screens displayed, and it is difficult for inexperienced operators to identify a problematic position of a reagent. With the present invention, control information for reagents and a calibrator required for analysis with an automatic analyzer are displayed concurrently, so that all necessary information can be referred to one screen. In the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, screen switching as required in the conventional technology is not necessary, and improved operability and visibility are provided.
US08580195B2	Laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly A laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly are disclosed. The laboratory system to handle laboratory sample tube racks comprises a robotic arm (220) with a gripper (222) for gripping primary racks (PR), wherein the primary racks (PR) to be handled comprise a first end surface (76) and a second end surface (78), the first end surface (76) having a first surface geometry and the second end surface (78) having a second surface geometry, and wherein the gripper (222) comprises a first gripping arm (226) and a second gripping arm (228), with the first gripping arm (226) having a gripping surface being complementary to the first surface geometry, and the second gripping arm (228) having a gripping surface being complementary to the second surface geometry.
US08580189B2	Stainless steel alloy having lowered nickel-chrominum toxicity and improved biocompatibility The present invention is directed towards an austenitic, stainless steel series 300 alloy having improved biocompatible characteristics. The modified stainless steel alloy consists essentially of, in weight percent, about CMnSiPS ≦0.030≦2.00≦0.750≦0.023≦0.010 CrMoNiFe“X” 8.5-11.50.0-6.256.5-7.546.185-74.0005.0-10.0 whereby variable “X” could be comprised from a group consisting of Gold, Osmium, Palladium, Platinum, Rhenium, Tantalum, or Tungsten. The alloy provides a unique combination of strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and other mechanical properties which also has improved biocompatible characteristics.
US08580187B2	Melt supply pipe for aluminum die casting There is provided a melt supply pipe comprising a melt supply pipe body composed of an inner ceramic pipe and an outer steel pipe, the outer steel pipe having a Ni alloy layer formed over the inner circumferential surface, and TiC particles attached to the surface of the Ni alloy layer, wherein grooves are formed at both ends of the melt supply pipe body, each groove forming an annular space overlapping the boundary between the outer circumferential surface of the inner ceramic pipe and the inner circumferential surface of the outer steel pipe, and a fibrous sheet of an inorganic material is inserted into each of the annular grooves such that the sheet extends over the entire circumference of the groove. The melt supply pipe is strong to mechanical impact owing to the use of the steel pipe in combination with the ceramic pipe and can prevent intrusion of an aluminum melt despite the difference in thermal expansion between the steel pipe and the ceramic pipe.
US08580186B2	Flow control apparatus for molten metal Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a flow control apparatus for control of molten metal flow through a trough. The apparatus includes a flow control element (e.g. a movable dam or flow restrictor) movable between an operating position and an inactive position. A guide element provides an elongated track having a first part extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flow control element. One or more track followers are retained by the guide element and are movable along the track. An elongated arm is attached at one end to the flow control element and to the track follower at an opposite end. An actuator operably connects to the track follower to move the track follower along the track. The track causes the flow control element to move away from the operating position with a straight (non-pivoting) motion, but preferably causes the flow control element to pivot as it approaches the inactive position. The flow control apparatus may be combined with a connector unit for connecting sections of a metal-conveying trough or the like, or may be used directly with such trough or trough sections.
US08580183B2	Collection tubes apparatus, systems, and methods Methods of producing collection tubes are presented. The methods include providing a separator substance that can rapidly polymerize in a short time to a desired hardness and disposing the separator substance within the lumen of the tube. The separator substance is formulated to have a density between an average density of a serum fraction of whole blood and a cell-containing fraction of whole blood, and to be flowable with whole blood. Upon centrifugation of a tube having blood, the separator substance forms a barrier between the whole blood fractions. The barrier rapidly hardens forming a solid barrier when triggered by a suitable energy source.
US08580181B1	Fabrication of three dimensional aligned nanofiber array Disclosed are methods of forming three dimensional arrays of aligned nanofibers in an open, loose structure of any desired depth. The arrays are formed according to an electrospinning process utilizing two parallel conducting plates to align the fibers and rotating tracks to distribute the fibers throughout the array. Arrays can be used as formed, for instance in tissue engineering applications as three dimensional scaffolding constructs. As-formed arrays can be combined with other materials to form a composite 3-D structure. For instance, composite polymeric materials can be electrospun to form composite nanofibers within the array. Multiple polymeric materials can be electrospun at different areas of the array to form a composite array including materially different nanofibers throughout the array. The arrays can be loaded with other fibrous or non-fibrous materials to form a composite array. Arrays can also be rolled to form a uniaxial fiber bundle.
US08580178B2	Method and apparatus for forming slats for fabric in coverings for architectural openings A method and apparatus for forming a transversely curved or formed strip of material which can be cut to length for use in a fabric for coverings for architectural opening includes a supply role of a flexible fabric strip material that is sequentially passed through a heating chamber with an elongated upwardly convex extrusion across which the strip material is drawn and a cooling station before being wrapped on a take-up drum. The apparatus includes driven rollers about which the strip material passes and the strip material is exposed to tension detectors and controlled temperatures such that the strip material formed in the apparatus is uniform along its length.
US08580177B2	Method for manufacturing a resilient rail support block assembly A rail support block assembly includes a resilient member and a molded block having a top, a bottom and peripheral wall. The block is adapted for fastening one or more rails on the top. The prefabricated resilient member has an outer tray and inner tray arranged within the outer tray, and includes a resilient intermediate structure between the trays. The block is molded. The block is fixed in the inner tray to extend under the bottom of the block and along a lower region of the peripheral wall. The resilient member may form a part of the block mold, so that a mold member combined with the resilient member delimit the mold for the block. The moldable material is introduced and adheres directly to the inner tray of the prefabricated resilient member.
US08580175B2	Continuous curing and post-curing method A method of continuous curing and post-curing of a plurality of extruded strands is provided. A plurality of extruded strands is wrapped through a plurality of spindle units rotatably connected to a rigid frame structure. A plurality of dual spindles are provided in a plurality of upper and lower spindle units, wherein each dual spindle comprises a free spinning roller and a driven roller. A chamber that comprises a dual function chamber configured for heating and cooling is supported on the rigid frame structure. The plurality of extruded strands is continuously transferred between the upper spindle units and the lower spindle units such that the plurality of extruded strands runs in a vertical fashion that continuously alternates between the lower spindle units and the upper spindle units. Each of the plurality of strands is transferred independently of each other and continuously passed through the chamber for continuous curing and post-curing.
US08580174B2	Method for texturing polymeric films and articles comprising the same Disclosed herein is a method comprising deforming an organic polymer composition at a temperature below a glass transition temperature of an organic polymer in the organic polymer composition; the deforming being conducted by an application of a shear force, an elongational force, a compressive force, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing forces; the forces being applied to the organic polymer composition as it is disposed between a first roll that comprises a rubber surface and a second roll that comprises a textured metal surface; the deforming producing a textured film having a ratio of texturing of about 0.5 to about 3; the textured film having a thickness of about 5 to about 75 micrometers and an average roughness of about 0.3 to about 6 micrometers on opposing surfaces of the film.
US08580173B2	Assembly and a method for extruding a tire component In order to facilitate the assembly of a tire component like an Off the Road tire shoulder wedge, it is proposed to extrude this component with a high tack compound coating at its periphery by using a dual extruder which otherwise can extrude the tire component with a first high tack compound coating on one side, combined with an assembly for the extruder comprising a splice bar, a holder and a die which are designed to provide a channel deriving and guiding a portion of the high tack compound of the extruder to the stream of compounds before extrusion through the die, on a side opposite to the first coating, thereby providing a coating at almost the whole periphery of the component.
US08580172B2	Method and apparatus for providing multiple tile shapes or appearances of same A method apparatus and product is provided which includes the use of an S-Tile mold, combined with a scoring/knifing process, which allows for subsequent controlled separation of what would normally be an S-Tile into two separate tile sections each having a general C-shaped cross section. This allows for two types of tiles (S-tiles and Two-Piece Mission tiles) to be made from one type of mold (S-tile). A method, apparatus and product is also provided which includes the use of an S-Tile mold, including or combined with a scoring, knifing, or forming process for providing a channel or other suitable shape, which allows for an S-Tile to be produced which appears to be two separate but cooperating tile sections having a general C-shaped cross section. The longitudinal channel 9 or other shape and or proximate area may also be painted, colored, or otherwise darkened in order to accent a “shadow” effect which causes the eye to better perceive separation of the two portions 6 and 7 of the tile 5. A method is also provided which allows for tiles to be broken or not broken depending on the installer's preference.
US08580171B2	Process for manufacture of a latent heat storage device A process for the preparation of latent heat storage composites is provided. The process comprises the steps of preparation of an expanded graphite material with a bulk density between 5 and 200 grams/liter which is readily wetted by a liquid phase change material, preparation of a pre-compressed matrix or a packed bed of the expanded graphite material, and manufacture of a latent heat storage composite by infiltration of the matrix or a packed bed with a phase change material in a liquid state.
US08580170B2	Process for producing a substantially shell-shaped component Disclosed is a process for producing a substantially shell-shaped component, from substantially carbon-fiber-reinforced synthetic material having at least one local reinforcing zone and at least one stiffening element, in particular a fuselage shell, a wing shell, a vertical stabilizer shell or horizontal stabilizer shell of an aircraft or the like. The process according to the invention comprises the following steps: arranging at least one doubler which has already been cured, on an at most partially cured shell skin to form the local reinforcing zone, applying at least one stiffening element which has already been cured, and placing at least one at most partially cured connecting angle bracket against the at least one stiffening element at least in the region of the at least one doubler, and curing the shell skin and the connecting angle bracket.
US08580168B1	System and method to account for thermal die expansion A system and method for effecting die height adjustments of a casting machine, such as to account for thermal die expansion. The system and method finds use on a die casting machine having a driven gear train for causing linear movement of a movable platen thereof. Based on known characteristics of the gears of the gear train and of threaded tie bar nuts upon which the gear train operates, a given rotation of a gear train gear can be converted into a linear movement of the movable platen. A sensor is used to count the teeth of a rotating gear train gear and a controller is provided to correlate the tooth count with a corresponding linear travel distance of the movable platen.
US08580163B2	Process for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens There is described a process for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens and an apparatus for forming an ophthalmic lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens, wherein in a mold assembly a first and a second mold half (101, 102) are first arranged in an intermediate closed position in which the mold surfaces of the two mold halves are spaced apart from each other at a distance increase (d1) of preferably 1 to 100 μm relative to a final distance (d0) in a final closed position, and wherein, during curing of the lens forming material (202), the mold surfaces (105, 106) of the mold halves (101, 102) are actively or passively moved or moving from the intermediate closed position to the final closed position, where the distance increase (d1) is 0.
US08580161B2	Fluidic devices comprising photocontrollable units Photochromic materials that are useful for a variety of applications, including for making various unit functions of fluidic devices, particularly microfluidic devices, such as microchannels, valves and gates, using spiropyran materials, such as a polymeric composition comprising a spiropyran. In certain disclosed embodiments the spiropyran is admixed with a polymeric material. For example, the spiropyran may be intercalated into a polyalkylene or polyalkylene phthalate. The spiropyran also may be polymerized with at least one additional monomer to form a heteropolymer, such as by polymerization with styrene, styrene derivatives, acrylate and acrylate derivatives. The spiropyran compositions can be used to make, for example, a photoactuatable valve, a fluidic channel, etc. The valve may be associated with a microchannel, including photochromic microchannel. In certain disclosed embodiments, the valve, at least one microchannel, or both, are re-patternable by light exposure. Embodiments of a method for using a photochromic material in a microfluidic device also are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment concerns providing a microfluidic device comprising at least one re-patternable microchannel defined by a spiropyran photochromic material, at least one photoactuatable valve comprising the same or a different spiropyran photochromic material, or both. Spiropyran photochromic material is serially exposed to light of different wavelengths to move a fluid, to actuate a gate or valve, or both.
US08580160B2	Algae oil based dielectric fluid for electrical components The disclosure is directed to a dielectric fluid. The dielectric fluid includes an algae oil. The algae oil includes a natural algae antioxidant. The natural algae antioxidant is selected from β-carotene, astaxanthin, tocopherol, polyunsaturated triglycerides, and combinations thereof.
US08580157B2	Sulfide and photoelectric element The sulfide has the following composition, and the photoelectric element uses the sulfide. (1) The sulfide contains Cu, Zn, and Sn as a principal component. (2) When x is a ratio of Cu/(Zn+Sn), y is a ratio of Zn/Sn (x and y being atomic ratios), and the composition of the sulfide is represented by the (x, y) coordinates, with the points A=(0.78, 1.32), B=(0.86, 1.32), C=(0.86, 1.28), D=(0.90, 1.23), E=(0.90, 1.18), and F=(0.78, 1.28), the composition (x, y) of the sulfide is on any one of respective straight lines connecting the points A→B→C→D→E→F→A in that order, or within an area enclosed by the respective straight lines.
US08580150B2	Submicronic barium and magnesium aluminate phosphors Submicronic barium and magnesium aluminates, useful as phosphors, are in the form of a liquid-phase suspension of substantially monocrystalline particles having an average particle size ranging from 80 to 400 nm; such aluminates are prepared by a process that includes: providing a liquid mixture containing compounds of aluminum and of other elements that are part of the aluminate composition; drying the mixture by atomization; calcining the dried product in a reducing atmosphere and wet-grinding this product.
US08580148B2	Phosphor and method for producing same It is an object of the present invention to provide an alkaline earth metal aluminate phosphor having good heat resistance and durability against vacuum ultraviolet rays and ultraviolet rays, among others, and a method of producing the same.An alkaline earth metal aluminate phosphor containing bivalent europium as an activator, which contains at least one element (e) selected from the group consisting of indium, tungsten, niobium, bismuth, molybdenum, tantalum, thallium and lead.
US08580143B2	Lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal composition, method for manufacture of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal coating film, and lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal coating film manufactured thereby The present invention relates to a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal composition, a method for manufacturing a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal coating film and a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal coating film manufactured thereby. The lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes chromonic liquid crystal compounds and monomers each having opposing acid-base properties. Use of the lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal composition in the formation of optical films leads to improvements in electrical and optical properties such as mechanical strength, an insulating characteristic and a refractive index.
US08580142B2	Liquid crystal compound, liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device The invention provides a liquid crystal compound having stability to heat, light and so forth, a wide temperature range of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a suitable elastic constant K33, a suitable and negative dielectric anisotropy, and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. The invention provides a liquid crystal composition containing the compound described above and having stability to heat, light and so forth, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a suitable and negative dielectric anisotropy, a suitable elastic constant K33, a low threshold voltage, a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, and a low minimum temperature of the nematic phase.The invention also provides a liquid crystal display device having a short response time, a small power consumption, a low driving voltage, and a large contrast, and containing the composition described above which can be used in a large temperature range.For example, a liquid crystal compound having four or more rings in which the central ring has 2,3-difluorophenoxy such as trans-4′-[2,3-difluoro-4-(trans-4-propylcyclohexyl)phenoxymethyl]-trans-4-pentylbicyclohexyl is provided. Further provided is a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display device using this liquid crystal composition.
US08580138B2	Nanofluids and a method of making nanofluids for ground source heat pumps and other applications This invention covers nanofluids. Nanofluids are a combination of particles between 1 and 100 nanometers, a surfactant and the base fluid. The nanoparticles for this invention are either pyrogenic nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes. These nanofluids improve the heat transfer of the base fluids. The base fluid can be ethylene glycol, or propylene glycol, or an aliphatic-hydrocarbon based heat transfer fluid. This invention also includes a method of making nanofluids. No surfactant is used to suspend the pyrogenic nanoparticles in glycols.
US08580133B2	Methods of controlling the etching of silicon nitride relative to silicon dioxide Disclosed herein are methods of controlling the etching of a layer of silicon nitride relative to a layer of silicon dioxide. In one illustrative example, the method includes providing an etch bath that is comprised of an existing etchant adapted to selectively etch silicon nitride relative to silicon dioxide, performing an etching process in the etch bath using the existing etchant to selectively remove a silicon nitride material positioned above a silicon dioxide material on a plurality of semiconducting substrates, determining an amount of the existing etchant to be removed based upon a per substrate silicon loading of the etch bath by virtue of etching the plurality of substrates in the etch bath and determining an amount of new etchant to be added to the etch bath based upon a per substrate silicon loading of the etch bath by virtue of etching the plurality of substrates in the etch bath.
US08580130B2	Laser-assisted nanomaterial deposition, nanomanufacturing, in situ monitoring and associated apparatus Laser-assisted apparatus and methods for performing nanoscale material processing, including nanodeposition of materials, can be controlled very precisely to yield both simple and complex structures with sizes less than 100 nm. Optical or thermal energy in the near field of a photon (laser) pulse is used to fabricate submicron and nanometer structures on a substrate. A wide variety of laser material processing techniques can be adapted for use including, subtractive (e.g., ablation, machining or chemical etching), additive (e.g., chemical vapor deposition, selective self-assembly), and modification (e.g., phase transformation, doping) processes. Additionally, the apparatus can be integrated into imaging instruments, such as SEM and TEM, to allow for real-time imaging of the material processing.
US08580127B2	Method of manufacturing RFID based thermal bubble type accelerometer An RFID based thermal bubble type accelerometer includes a flexible substrate, an embedded system on chip (SOC) unit, an RFID antenna formed on the substrate and coupled to a modulation/demodulation module in the SOC unit, a cavity formed on the flexible substrate, and a plurality of sensing assemblies, including a heater and two temperature-sensing elements, disposed along the x-axis direction and suspended over the cavity. The two temperature-sensing elements, serially connected, are separately disposed at two opposite sides and at substantially equal distances from the heater. Two sets of sensing assemblies can be connected in differential Wheatstone bridge. The series-connecting points of the sensing assemblies are coupled to the SOC unit such that an x-axis acceleration can be obtained by a voltage difference between the connecting points. The x-axis acceleration can be sent by the RFID antenna to a reader after it is is modulated and encoded by the modulation/demodulation module.
US08580125B2	Method and apparatus for control of a gas or chemical A method and system for control of a gas or chemical. In one embodiment, the system comprises a reactor for receipt of a fluid and the gas and/or chemical for dissolving, mixing, diffusing, or infusing the gas and/or chemical into the fluid, and a controller to control the flow of the fluid and the gas and/or chemical into the reactor. In some embodiments, the system may also monitor the operation of the system in accordance with predetermined operating conditions. In at least one embodiment, the system also comprises a gas/chemical generation system for generation of the gas and/or chemical to be introduced into the reactor.
US08580121B2	Method for monitoring and controlling a process for treatment of a treatable fluid The present invention relates to a means of monitoring and controlling a process step, or steps for a treatable fluid being processed, whereby a sampled volume of the treated fluid is delivered to a vessel, within which the sampled treated fluid emulates the expected reaction or reactions of the treatable fluid being processed within the process step. The sampled volume of the treated fluid is detained, monitored, recorded and analyzed by the present invention. The resulting data is translated into commands that are conveyed to process control devices which control the processing of the treatable fluid. Sampling and analyzing of the treatable fluid is automatically repeated on a cyclical basis.
US08580119B1	Transesterification of biodiesel feedstock with solid heterogeneous catalyst Process and steps for the production of biodiesel and/or glycerin from feedstock are provided.
US08580111B2	Device for separating fuel components A device for separating fuel components comprising a separating membrane for separating high-octane fuel components from un-separated fuel and a heat exchanger between first liquid passing through the heat exchanger and second liquid passing through the heat exchanger, is provided. The first liquid is un-separated fuel passing through the heat exchanger before being supplied to the separating membrane. The second liquid is low-octane fuel remaining when the high-octane fuel components are separated from the un-separated fuel, passing through the heat exchanger after changing to an almost liquid phase.
US08580109B2	Electronic interface for water filter system A water filter system includes a filter unit having a body portion adapted to be rotatingly received into a filter head assembly. An engagement protrusion extends from the body portion and is adapted for reception in a complementary receiver in the filter head assembly. An electronic device is disposed on the filter unit having a memory storage unit. A laterally extending key member is disposed on the body portion between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface. The laterally extending key member is adapted to reposition an interference member from an interference position, whereby the body portion can be fully inserted into the filter head assembly to a non-interference position, whereby the body portion can be fully inserted into the filter head assembly.
US08580100B2	Metal deposition using seed layers Methods of forming a conductive metal layers on substrates are disclosed which employ a seed layer to enhance bonding, especially to smooth, low-roughness or hydrophobic substrates. In one aspect of the invention, the seed layer can be formed by applying nanoparticles onto a surface of the substrate; and the metallization is achieved by electroplating an electrically conducting metal onto the seed layer, whereby the nanoparticles serve as nucleation sites for metal deposition. In another approach, the seed layer can be formed by a self-assembling linker material, such as a sulfur-containing silane material.
US08580097B2	Isotachophoresis of blood-derived samples Methods are provided for forming a complex comprising an analyte (or an analyte analogue) from a blood-derived sample and labeling substances, and separating the complex from excess labeling substances and coexisting substances from the blood-derived sample, in a rapid, simple, convenient, and highly precise isotachophoresis (ITP) process by adding 2-(N-morpholino)ethane sulfonate (MES) salt and/or glutamate salt to the ITP sample. Methods are also provided for measuring the analyte in blood-derived samples with high precision and high sensitivity, based on the amount of the complex separated or the amount of uncomplexed labeling substance-containing molecules.
US08580083B2	Device and method for producing a material web A method to dewater a fibrous web includes directing the fibrous web through a first press zone defined between a revolving permeable belt and a revolving permeable support belt and having a first press zone length. The fibrous web is arranged lying between the revolving permeable belt and the revolving permeable support belt. A fluid is caused to flow through the permeable belt, the fibrous web and the support belt at least over a section of the first press zone length. The fibrous web is dewatered in a second press zone following the first press zone and defined between the revolving permeable belt and the revolving permeable support belt, the second press zone having a second press zone length. The fibrous web is led through the second press zone between the permeable belt and the support belt, the permeable belt and the support belt each having a different compressibility.
US08580079B2	Electrode carrier assemblies In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrode carrier assembly is provided including an electrode carrying annulus and a plurality of electrode mounting members. The electrode carrying annulus includes an electrode containment sidewall that forms an inner or outer radius of the electrode carrying annulus. The electrode carrying annulus further includes a plurality of radial sidewall projections that project radially away from the electrode containment sidewall. The radial sidewall projections each include an upward-facing tapered spacer including an upward-facing micro-mesa. The electrode mounting members each include a downward-facing tapered spacer including a downward-facing micro-mesa. The electrode mounting members are rotatably engaged with the electrode carrying annulus, and are configured to rotate between a free position and a bracketed position.
US08580076B2	Plasma apparatus, gas distribution assembly for a plasma apparatus and processes therewith A plasma apparatus, various components of the plasma apparatus, and an oxygen free and nitrogen free processes for effectively removing photoresist material and post etch residues from a substrate with a carbon and/or hydrogen containing low k dielectric layer(s).
US08580074B2	Seam construction method of flexible apparel A flexible apparel with non-stitch seams and a fabrication method thereof is provided. The non-stitch seams between foamed rubber sheets are sealed by coating a liquid sealant solution containing a thermoplastic polyurethane and a plasticizer.
US08580069B2	Plastic bonding method To provide a method of bonding two materials directly with each other, at least one of which is made of a plastic material, which method is applicable to bonding two materials, with no need to use any bonding agent and without allowing the materials to be exposed to high temperature and/or high pressures. In this method in which a first member made of a plastic material and a second member are bonded together, one surface of the first member to be bonded with the second member is irradiated with energy rays having a quantity of energies not lower than 4 eV, followed by directly bonding the first and second members together without any bonding agent being used.
US08580066B2	Method for manufacturing multilayer wiring substrate A method for manufacturing a reliable multilayer wiring substrate at a relatively low cost having little or no warpage or distortion is provided. In certain embodiments an insulation core made of an insulation material that is more rigid than that of resin insulation layers is prepared. A through hole is formed through core upper and lower surfaces of the insulation core, and a through hole conductor is formed therein. A plate-like substrate is prepared, and resin insulation layers and at least one conductor layer are laminated on the substrate to form a first buildup layer. The insulation core is laminated on the first buildup layer so as to electrically connect the conductor layer and the through hole conductor. Resin insulation layers and at least one conductor layer are then laminated on the insulation core. Lastly, the substrate is separated from the first buildup layer to yield a multilayer wiring substrate.
US08580064B2	Process for fastening an accessory to a plastic hollow body during the molding thereof and a connection piece Process for fastening an accessory to a hollow body obtained by molding a molten plastic parison and using a plastic connector comprising coupling means for the accessory and a stop surface intended to limit the penetration of the connector into the molten plastic, according to which the stop surface is provided with a curved double lip (or one-piece part having two concentric curved edges, i.e., two protuberances located preferably at its periphery, which are concentric and are in relief relative to the remainder of the part) and the connector is welded to the inner wall of the parison using this double lip.
US08580063B2	Method for producing endoscope flexible tube A method for producing an endoscope flexible tube comprising the steps of: preparing a flexible tube assembly including a spiral tube formed by spirally winding a metal strip and a cylindrical mesh sleeve, covering the spiral tube, formed by knitting metal wires; covering the flexible tube assembly with an outer coat from one end toward the other end of the flexible tube assembly by using an extrusion molding machine wherein the outer coat has a lower layer formed of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and an upper layer formed of a thermoplastic polyester elastomer and the total thickness of the upper layer and the lower layer is made constant; and annealing the covered flexible tube assembly at a temperature in the vicinity of the softening point of the layer lower in softening point of the upper layer and the lower layer after the step of covering the flexible tube assembly with the outer coat, wherein in the step of covering with the outer coat, the melt viscosity ratio (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer/thermoplastic polyester elastomer; with reference to the exit temperature of the extrusion molding machine) between the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and the thermoplastic polyester elastomer is set to fall within a range from 1 to 35, and the thickness ratio between the upper layer and the lower layer is gradually varied in such a way that one of the upper layer and the lower layer has the maximum thickness at the one end and the one of the upper layer and the lower layer has the minimum thickness at the other end.
US08580062B2	Apparatus for application of a hook-and-loop fastener component to a turn-up system tear strip An apparatus and method for securing a hook-and-loop fastener component to the end of a tear strip used in a turn-up operation, the hook-and-loop fastener mechanism provided to secure the end of the tear strip to a rotating component of a spool winding assembly, the apparatus for forming the tear strip assembly having a feed roller, a transfer roller and a press roller, whereby hook-and-loop components presented on a feed tape are adhesively bonded to the tear strip.
US08580061B2	Apparatus and method for making a corrugated product The invention describes a device and method for making corrugated products. The device can be used with any substrate and includes, at least, first and second drive rollers for driving a middle substrate and a single wall corrugated product. In other embodiments the invention includes upper drive rollers, lower drive rollers and middle drive rollers for driving an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a middle substrate. The middle substrate is driven between the upper and lower substrates at a higher velocity to form flutes that are anchored between the upper an lower substrates thereby forming a corrugated product. The invention also provides for customized corrugated products having multiple fluted substrates in various desirable arrangements. Examples of such products include mattress, partition panels, other furniture and construction products.
US08580058B2	Structurally reinforced members There is disclosed a reinforcement material for forming reinforced members. The reinforcement material includes a strengthening material which is preferably a fabric disposed at least partially between portions of matrix material.
US08580056B2	Method of making wearing article A wearing article configured so that loop elements engaged with associated hook elements will not ride up or curl up in the course of the production process. Mount members are attached to an inner sheet in a front waist region so as to extend along first lateral zones of the front waist region and hook elements are attached to a chassis by the intermediary of these mount members. Loop elements are attached to the inner sheet in a rear waist region so as to extend along second lateral zones of the rear waist region. Third regions of the respective mount members are formed with sticking zones operatively associated with outer lateral edges of the respective loop elements. The sticking zones formed on the respective mount members are temporarily joined to the loop elements as the hook elements are engaged with the associated loop elements.
US08580054B2	Melt-castable energetic compounds comprising oxadiazoles and methods of production thereof In one embodiment, a melt-castable energetic material comprises at least one of: 3,5-bis(4-nitro-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole (DNFO), and 3-(4-amino-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-yl)-5-(4-nitro-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole (ANFO). In another embodiment, a method for forming a melt-castable energetic material includes reacting 3,5-bis(4-amino-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole (DAFO) with oxygen or an oxygen-containing compound to form a mixture of at least: DNFO, and ANFO.
US08580053B2	Ta sputtering target and method for producing the same A method for producing a Ta sputtering target including the following steps: (a) a step of forging a Ta ingot, comprising subjecting the Ta ingot to a forging pattern over at least 3 times, wherein each forging pattern is “a cold forging step comprising stamp-forging and upset-forging operations alternatively repeated over at least 3 times; (b) an in-process vacuum heat-treating step carried out between every successive two forging patterns to thus prepare a Ta billet; (c) a step of rolling the Ta billet to obtain a rolled plate; and (d) a step of vacuum heat-treating the rolled plate to obtain a Ta sputtering target. A sputtering target produced by the above method.
US08580046B2	Method for the treatment of a semiconductor wafer Semiconductor wafers are treated in a liquid container filled at least partly with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, such that surface oxide dissolves, are transported out of the solution along a transport direction and dried, and are then treated with an ozone-containing gas to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein part of the semiconductor wafer surface comes into contact with the ozone-containing gas while another part of the surface is still in contact with the solution, and wherein the solution and the ozone-containing gas are spatially separated such that they do not come into contact with one another.
US08580043B2	Automated cleaning method for an aircraft fuselage interior An automated cleaning system for an aircraft fuselage interior is provided. The system has a movable assembly designed to fit within an aircraft fuselage interior to be cleaned. The movable assembly has a removable track assembly and an automated transport mechanism mounted on the removable track assembly, the automated transport mechanism being a guided cart that travels on the removable track assembly. The movable assembly further has a manifold and frame assembly mounted on the automated transport mechanism and a fluid dispensing assembly coupled to the manifold and frame assembly for dispensing fluids onto an aircraft fuselage interior surface. The system further has a fluid management system coupled to the movable assembly for supplying the fluids to the fluid dispensing assembly. The system further has a control system that communicates with and controls the movable assembly and the fluid management system.
US08580041B2	Process for cleaning resin out of an electrical generator parallel ring A process of cleaning resin out of an electrical generator parallel ring is provided. The process includes inserting a cleaning ball mounted on a shaft into the parallel ring; verifying a location of the cleaning ball; rotating the shaft; measuring a rotational speed of the cleaning ball with a tachometer; and removing resin with the cleaning ball.
US08580037B2	Method of depositing materials on a non-planar surface A method of depositing materials on a non-planar surface is disclosed. The method is effectuated by rotating non-planar substrates as they travel down a translational path of a processing chamber. As the non-planar substrates simultaneously rotate and translate down a processing chamber, the rotation exposes the whole or any desired portion of the surface area of the non-planar substrates to the deposition process, allowing for uniform deposition as desired. Alternatively, any predetermined pattern is able to be exposed on the surface of the non-planar substrates. Such a method effectuates manufacture of non-planar semiconductor devices, including, but not limited to, non-planar light emitting diodes, non-planar photovoltaic cells, and the like.
US08580031B2	Method of producing three-dimensional photonic crystal and optical functional device A method of producing a three-dimensional photonic crystal by laminating a layer having a periodic structure, the method including the steps of forming a first structure and a second structure each including the layer having the periodic structure; and bonding a first bonding layer of the first structure and a second bonding layer of the second structure. The first bonding layer is one layer obtained by dividing a layer constituting the three-dimensional photonic crystal at a cross section perpendicular to a lamination direction, and the second bonding layer is the other layer obtained by dividing the layer constituting the three-dimensional photonic crystal at the cross section perpendicular to the lamination direction.
US08580027B1	Sprayed on superoleophobic surface formulations Fluoroalkylsilane-treated metal oxide particles and a fluoroelastomeric binder are dispersed in a fluorinated solvent with a low boiling point and applied to a substrate via spray deposition. The spray deposition process rapidly produces a conformal coating that features low surface energy and surface topography with a large range of characteristic length scales and re-entrant curvature, thereby imparting superoleophobicity. The degree of superoleophobicity is readily adjusted by means of altering the ratio of particles to binder. The choice of particle and binder result in coatings with thermal stability for thousands of hours at temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius as well as desirable mechanical characteristics.
US08580025B2	Ink set, recording method, recorded material and printed material The ink set includes a yellow ink composition and either a magenta ink composition or a cyan ink composition, or both, wherein a coloring agent of the yellow ink composition is one which includes an azo pigment represented e.g. by the following formula or its tautomers or their salts or hydrates, the magenta ink composition contains as a coloring agent at least one pigment selected from the following: C.I. Pigment Violet 19, C.I. Pigment Red 122, C.I. Pigment Red 202 and C.I. Pigment Red 209, and the cyan ink composition contains as a coloring agent at least one pigment selected from the following: C.I. Pigment blue 15:1, C.I. Pigment Blue 15:2, C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3, C.I. Pigment Blue 15:4 and C.I. Pigment Blue 15:6.
US08580024B2	Inkjet ink compositions comprising modified pigments The present invention relates to an inkjet ink composition comprising a liquid vehicle and a modified pigment, which comprises the reaction product of a non-modified pigment and at least one reagent having the formula H2N-A-Y. The modified pigments themselves, as well as methods for preparing them, are also described.
US08580023B2	Run-safe filter system A run-safe filter system is provided for confirming installation of a qualified filter element in a housing. An electrical switch has a first electrical condition in response to a qualified filter element being installed in the housing, and a second electrical condition in response to the absence of a qualified filter element installed in the housing.
US08580021B1	Portable air scrubber device The portable air scrubber device provides for removably covering an existing chimney with the chimney cap. The axial fan forces airflow through the device hoses, removable filters, flex joints, and tank. The hose flex joints allow adaptation to various chimneys and roofs. The device may be disassembled into its various components such as the hoses, the fan housing, the chimney cap, the flex joints, and the tank components, thereby aiding portability. Liquid filtration media used for filtration may include water, water and glycol mix, and other additives that aid in air filtration and particulate removal. Air once passed through the filters and sprayed by the liquid filtration media may exit the top section holes. Excessive liquid filtration media may also exit the top section holes.
US08580017B2	Electrostatic precipitator An electrostatic precipitator including a charger to charge dust particles in air and a collector to collect the dust particles. The collector includes a collector case including high-voltage electrodes, to which high-voltage is applied, low-voltage electrodes alternately stacked with the high-voltage electrodes so as to be grounded, and first electrode support elements to support the high-voltage and low-voltage electrodes with a distance therebetween. The first electrode support elements include electrode contact terminals to support extreme edge portions of the high-voltage and low-voltage electrodes. The high-voltage and low-voltage electrodes are formed of a conductive material, or a non-conductive material, the surface of which is subjected to conductive treatment. The electrode contact terminals for the high-voltage electrodes are formed of a semiconductive material. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain a constant distance between the electrodes and to prevent insulation breakdown without deterioration in the performance of the collector.
US08580010B2	Desiccant air-conditioning system and operating method thereof A dew point temperature sensor detects and sends the dew point temperature of the supply air to a dry area, as a supply air dew point temperature, to a controller. The controller has a speed of rotation of the regenerating side fan (the regenerating air flow rate) to control, and determines a control value (the regenerating air flow rate) that causes the supply air dew point temperature to go to a target dew point temperature, and determines a supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value in accordance with this control value (where if the control value is in the direction of reducing the regenerating air flow rate, the supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value is increased). Note that what is controlled is the speed of rotation of the desiccant rotors, or the exit temperatures of the air heated by the hot water coils.
US08580009B2	Honeycomb filter There is provide a honeycomb filter which can suppress generation of cracks in plugged portions due to heat generated by burning of a PM during regeneration and comprises a honeycomb basal body including porous partition walls arranged to form a plurality of cells disposed in parallel with one another and including inflow cells and outflow cells which are formed adjacent to the inflow cells; first plugged portions with which one end of each of the inflow cells is plugged; second plugged portions with which another end of each of the outflow cells is plugged; porous collecting layers formed on the inflow-cells side surfaces of the partition walls; and end aggregate layers made of a particulate aggregate material and formed on the inflow-cells-side surfaces of the first plugged portions, and a thickness of the end aggregate layers is from 0.5 to 5 mm.
US08580008B2	Vertical filtering and separating suction machine of chips, steam and smoke by change of air direction, for machining center, lathe machine or other machines generating steam from oil or coolant The invention hereby disclosed is a vertical filtering and separating suction machine of chips, steam and smoke for machining center, lathe machine or other machines, which operates by sudden changes of sucked air, thus generating hits which separate heavy particles, whose suction pipe extends almost up to the bottom of the rotor, which only uses filters at the end of the process of air purification, whose rotor has outer paddles modified in order to improve suction power and to cause more hits of air flow, and which includes an air pressure alarm showing the filter is saturated.
US08580006B2	Filter lock and seal system The present concept a filter lock and seal system for sealing a filter assembly to a tubesheet includes a filter assembly which includes filter media mounted between top and bottom end caps. The top end cap includes an annular seat portion extending longitudinally from the top of a lower flange and terminating at an annular radial outward projecting shoulder. The filter assembly further includes a snap band for sealing the filter assembly to the tubesheet and cooperatively seating against the annular seat portion. Wherein the snap band including a cavity and a deformable portion for engaging with a tubesheet end.
US08580005B2	Tractor cab air filter housings A tractor cab filter housing (20) has at least one air intake (20a) through which air is drawn into the housing, an outlet (20c) through which air leaves the housing, a filter element (18) positioned between the inlet and outlet, and an opening access door (21) through which the filter element can be accessed for servicing/replacement. The housing access door (21) includes an integral storage chamber (21f) in which liquids or other items can be stored. The housing door is a hollow plastics molding having an access opening (21d) through which liquid can be introduced into the storage chamber, the opening having a cap (21e) for closing of the opening. A pump (50) may be provided for pumping the liquid out of the storage chamber.
US08580004B1	Unitary filter cartridge with flow transition mouth A high efficiency unitary cartridge filter for installation with a separate sealing gasket in a generally uniform circular or oblong hole of a baghouse tube sheet. The cartridge includes a plastic or metal tubular core around which is wrapped elongate pleated filter media to form a pleat pack. The pleat pack is sealed at the lower end thereof by a molded cap. A molded upper fitting includes an aerodynamically contoured transition mouth comprising compound radii of curvatures and a bore which closely corresponds to the bore of the tubular core for improved cleaning power and increased pressure during a cleaning cycle and for reduced pressure drop during normal filtering operation. The molded top may optionally incorporate and bond with a metal collar for added structural integrity and may also incorporate electrical grounding elements for grounding a metal core to the baghouse tube sheet.
US08579999B2	Method of enhancing the quality of high-moisture materials using system heat sources The present invention harvests and utilizes fluidized bed drying technology and waste heat streams augmented by other available heat sources to dry feedstock or fuel. This method is useful in many industries, including coal-fired power plants. Coal is dried using the present invention before it goes to coal pulverizers and on to the furnace/boiler arrangement. Coal can be intercepted on current coal feed systems ahead of the pulverizers. Drying fuel, such as coal, is done to improve boiler efficiency and reduce emissions. A two-stage bed utilized in the process first “pre-dries and separates” the feed stream into desirable and undesirable feedstock. Then, it incrementally dries and segregates fluidizable and non-fluidizable material from the product stream. This is all completed in a low-temperature, open-air system. Elevation of fan room air temperature is also accomplished using waste heat, thereby making available to the plant system higher temperature media to enhance the feedstock drying process.
US08579997B2	Systems and methods for producing engineered fuel feed stocks from waste material Systems and methods for producing engineered fuels from solid waste material are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a waste stream at a multi-material processing platform and separating the waste stream to remove non-processable waste and marketable recyclables. The method further includes conveying processable materials to a material classification system and incorporating additives to produce an engineered fuel from the constituents of the waste stream.
US08579996B2	Process and apparatus for converting organic matter into a product A process for treating organic matter to convert it into a product comprises the step of contacting the organic matter with supercritical liquid whereby it reacts to form the product. The liquid may be heated by an external heating medium, or may be heated internally of the process by co-feeding an oxidising agent with the liquid. This agent can be in an amount that is predetermined to control the extent to which the reaction mixture is heated. The heat can be supplied to provide sufficient activation energy for the process reaction to occur with sufficient speed and for the liquid to attain sufficient characteristics to cause the reaction.
US08579995B2	Method for forming a thin-film lithium-ion battery A method for forming an integrated lithium-ion type battery, including the successive steps of: forming, on a substrate, a stack of a cathode layer made of a material capable of receiving lithium ions, an electrolyte layer, and an anode layer of the battery; forming a short-circuit between the anode and cathode layers; performing a thermal evaporation of lithium; and opening the short-circuit between the anode and cathode layers.
US08579994B2	Method for producing a solid-state cell and a solid-state cell A method for producing a solid-state cell which makes it possible to produce a highly reliable solid-state cell that suppresses a decrease in the thickness of the solid electrolyte layer and a short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes, and which is highly flexible in the size and shape of the solid electrolyte layer and electrodes. The method comprising: a structure preparing step for preparing a first structure, a second structure, or a third structure, a solid electrolyte material powder layer, and a positive electrode material powder layer are stacked, in this sequence; an insulating member disposing step for disposing a heat-resistant insulating member which is in contact with an outer periphery of the structure in the stacking direction of the structure and surrounds the outer periphery; and a heat-compressing step for heat-compressing the structure and heat-resistant insulating member, in the stacking direction of the structure.
US08579992B2	Hair dye It is an object of the present invention to provide a safe hair dye, which has a good dyeing property and is easy-to-use, and which has less uneven dyeing and has high stability of the formulation. The present invention provides a hair dye which comprises a combination of (1) a first gel agent containing tannic acid, benzyl alcohol and xanthane gum, and (2) a second agent containing an iron salt.
US08579990B2	Tissue repair devices of rapid therapeutic absorbency Novel implantable tissue repair medical devices are disclosed. The devices have a central fabric member having anti-adhesion films on both opposed sides. The films have pores, and are arranged such that the pores on the opposed films are offset. The devices are useful in hernia repair procedures.
US08579981B2	Expanding interbody implant and articulating inserter and method A device to space vertebral members with first and second members that may have at least one ramped section. The first and second members may be positioned in a vertically overlapping arrangement with interior sides of the members facing together. The device may be positionable between a first orientation with the ramped section of the first member positioned away from the ramped section of the second member, and a second orientation with the ramped section of the first member positioned against the ramped section of the second member. The device may include a greater height measured between the exterior sides in the second orientation than in the first orientation.
US08579974B2	Method for drilling angled osteal tunnels Methods for drilling an angled osteal tunnel into a bone by drilling or punching at least one first tunnel portion into the bone from a first surface location on the bone, the at least one first tunnel portion having an interior end within the bone and then drilling or punching at least one second tunnel portion into the bone from a second surface location on the bone using a guide component to guide a drill to the interior end of the first tunnel portion, whereby the at least one first tunnel portion and the at least one second tunnel portion intersect and connect at an angle, resulting in an angled osteal tunnel.
US08579973B2	Eustachian tube device A device stenting the Eustachian tube is inserted through the nasopharynx and provides enhanced ventilation and drainage to the middle ear. Also provided is a method for inserting the device into the Eustachian tube and through the isthmus of a human subject.
US08579969B2	Dual mode automated intraocular lens injector device An IOL injector device allows for both powered and manual delivery of an IOL. The injector has a tubular housing. A plunger is longitudinally disposed within the housing and has first and second ends. The first end is disposed towards the front end of the housing. A drive system is coupled to the housing. The drive system causes longitudinal translation of the plunger along the primary axis of the housing. A normally engaged clutch system is coupled to the drive system. The normally engaged clutch system allows manual disengagement of the drive system. A knob coupled to the plunger allows for manual operation of the injector.
US08579966B2	Prosthetic valve for transluminal delivery A prosthetic valve assembly for use in replacing a deficient native valve comprises a replacement valve supported on an expandable valve support. The valve support, which entirely supports the valve annulus, valve leaflets, and valve commissure points, is configured to be collapsible for transluminal delivery and expandable contact the anatomical annulus of the native valve when the assembly is properly positioned. Portions of the valve support may expand to a preset diameter to maintain coaptivity of the replacement valve and to prevent occlusion of the coronary ostia.
US08579964B2	Transcatheter mitral valve prosthesis A prosthetic cardiac valve comprises an anchor having an atrial skirt, an annular region, and a ventricular skirt. The prosthetic valve also has a plurality of prosthetic valve leaflets each having a first end and a free end. The first end is coupled with the anchor and the free end is opposite the first end. The prosthetic cardiac valve has an open configuration in which the free ends of the prosthetic valve leaflets are disposed away from one another to allow antegrade blood flow therepast, and a closed configuration in which the free ends of the prosthetic valve leaflets engage one another and substantially prevent retrograde blood flow therepast. The anchor has a collapsed configuration for delivery to the heart and an expanded configuration for anchoring the prosthetic cardiac valve to a patient's heart.
US08579961B2	Sectional crimped graft The present invention provides a sectional crimped graft that allows graft flexibility where required and limits the overall longitudinal extension. The present invention overcomes the disadvantage of fully crimped grafts by controlling the number of crimps per unit length, crimp height, crimp geometry and their location along the graft wall, dependent on the particular end-use application. In so doing, flexibility and elongation can be controllably tailored only in areas where significant anatomical angulation is present. It may also be useful in applications other than stent grafts such as surgical grafts for aortic and peripheral areas. Limiting the overall graft longitudinal extension also facilitates the deployment of the stent-graft into the blood vessel.
US08579959B2	Radiopaque reinforcing member A reinforcement member (10) for a fenestration in a stent graft (30) comprises a composite wire (12) formed from wire strands of at least two types (14, 16, 18). A first type of wire strand comprises a metal alloy with shape memory characteristics and a second type of wire strand comprising a metal with radiopaque characteristics. The first type of wire strand and the second type of wire strand are twisted or braided together to form the composite wire and then formed into the circular ring with at least two turns of the composite wire forming the ring. The reinforcement member can be a circular ring mounted into a fenestration (40) in a wall (32) of a stent graft, or mounted around a stent graft, or it can be a substantially U-shaped edging along the edge of a scalloped fenestration (44).
US08579949B2	Provisional fixation for a multi-axial screw assembly A multi-axial screw assembly comprises a receiver, a base member, a crown and a bone screw. The base member includes an aperture extending through the base member and an opening on a bottom portion of the base member. The base member is rotatable relative to the receiver and has an inner wall extending partially around the aperture. The crown is received in the receiver and configured to mate to the base member. The crown has a projection configured to extend into the opening of the base member. The projection is configured to have an abutting surface. The bone screw is located between the base member and the crown, the bone screw is configured to be provisionally fixed within the receiver by a force between the abutting surface of the projection and the inner wall of the base member.
US08579946B2	Anatomical distal radius fracture fixation plate A fixation plate includes a set of threaded peg holes adapted to individually receive fixation pegs therethrough and non-threaded alignment holes having a relatively smaller diameter than the peg holes and preferably sized to closely receive a K-wire. The alignment holes are located between the peg holes. One peg hole is configured for aligning the plate during an osteotomy procedure, while other peg holes are configured for use after fracture reduction and receive K-wires to temporarily secure the plate to the bone and determine whether pegs inserted through adjacent respective peg holes will be properly located before drilling relatively larger holes for such pegs.
US08579945B2	Bone stabilization device A bone plate for the stabilization of bones includes upper and lower surfaces extending along a central longitudinal axis. The lower surface is configured to contact a target portion of bone when in an operative configuration a through opening extending through the plate from the upper surface to the lower surface. The through opening is sized and shaped to receive a stabilization plate. The through opening has an elongated curved shape selected to conform to a cross-sectional shape of a proximal portion of the stabilization plate.
US08579944B2	Bone plate with suture loops A bone plate and method of forming a bone plate having a plurality of suture loops pre-attached to the bone plate. The suture loops may be flexible and formed of a strong suture material. The suture loops may have various shapes, forms and configurations and may be provided on the bone plate in any number, depending on the characteristics of the fractured bone or bone segments, or of the plate design. Preferably, the suture loops are attached to a surface of the bone plate. The suture loops may receive a strand of suture for fixation of soft tissue to the bone plate.
US08579938B2	Staple for use in surgical procedures A staple is provided having a backspan and a first and second legs extending distally from the backspan. Each of the first and second legs includes a bend dividing each leg into a traversing leg portion and a substantially linear clenching leg portion. A staple plate is positionable over the first and second legs between the backspan and the first and second clenching leg portions. An anvil assembly has first and second movable members which move toward to one another to engage outer surfaces of the first and second clenching leg portions. There is further disclosed a method of forming the staple through tissue.
US08579937B2	Tool member cover and cover deployment device A surgical instrument including a tool member cover and a cover deployment device are disclosed. The cover is supported adjacent to or on the tool assembly of the surgical instrument and is movable from a first position in which the tool assembly is uncovered to a second position in which the tool assembly is at least partially encompassed by the cover. The deployment device is provided for moving the cover from the first position to the second position.
US08579936B2	Centering of delivery devices with respect to a septal defect A system for treating a septal defect having an implantable treatment apparatus and devices for delivering the implantable treatment apparatus, devices for controlling delivery of the treatment apparatus and methods for treating a septal defect are provided. The implantable treatment apparatus is preferably implantable through a septal wall or portion thereof. The treatment system can include a flexible elongate body member, a delivery device configured to deliver the implantable apparatus, and a proximal control device for controlling delivery of the implantable apparatus, among others.
US08579930B2	Surgical instrument and method of use for releasing soft tissue A surgical instrument for use in releasing soft tissue within the human body. The surgical instrument has a handle with proximal and distal ends with a tube connected to the distal end. The surgical instrument also includes a blade member that slidingly engages the tube moving along the length of the tube to cut soft tissue. Further included in the surgical instrument is a guard member that is attached to the blade member. The guard member has a hood portion and a capture portion. The hood portion is connected to the blade member with the distally positioned capture portion acting to displace surrounding tissue while capturing certain soft tissue structures resulting in the blade member being in operative position to cut and release the soft tissue. A surgical instrument kit including a plurality of modular surgical instruments and method for releasing soft tissue using the surgical instrument are also disclosed.
US08579919B2	Surgical helical fastener with applicator A helical fastener having a high retentive surface area is provided and has a first end for enhancing penetration into tissue and a second end comprising a coil sectioning a diameter of the fastener for receiving longitudinal and rotational forces. The helical fasteners are attached to body tissue by a fastener applicator having a proximal portion comprising a handle and an actuator and an elongate distal portion for housing a plurality of fasteners. A transferring action of the actuator provides longitudinal and rotational movement of the fasteners out of the distal portion and into body tissue.
US08579917B1	Surgical staple remover with removable front end A surgical staple remover apparatus includes a handle located at a rear of the apparatus, a housing having an interior volume and a distal opening, and an insert element located in the distal opening, wherein the insert element comprises at least two sidewalls and an upward sloped jaw element comprising a pair of parallel jaws. The apparatus includes an arm having a hook element and a lever mechanically coupled to the arm, wherein moving the lever closer to the handle results in the hook element pressing against a crown of a surgical staple, deforming the surgical staple for removal and moving the surgical staple towards the rear. The surgical staple remover apparatus further includes a strip element, such that when the hook element moves the surgical staple towards the rear, the surgical staple is moved under the strip element and held in place by same.
US08579913B2	Drive assembly for facilitating deployment of an implantable medical device A driver assembly (50) for an introducer assembly (10) for the deployment of an implantable medical device (16) includes a sprung element (52) coupled to a yoke (56). The yoke (56) is coupled to a gripper element (58). The yoke (56) is coupled to a first handle unit (30) of the introducer (10). The sprung element (52) is coupled to a proximal handle unit (32). A brake element (66) acts to prevent operation of the sprung element (52) when no manual force is being applied to attract a sheath (24) and the assembly (10). When manual retraction force is applied to the assembly (50) the gripper element (58) the brake element (66) releases a sprung element (52) so that the lighter can apply a force assistance to assist in the retraction of the sheath (24) and thereby to assist in the deployment of a medical device.
US08579912B2	Sacroiliac joint fusion alignment guide A device and method for defining a trajectory for instruments in a sacroiliac joint fusion procedure employs a handle and two movable guidance arms that are separated by an adjustable distance. The first guidance arm has a substantially straight pronged distal end terminating in a first prong, a second prong and a space between the first prong and second prong defining a first point in a straight trajectory for inserting screws into a sacroiliac joint. The guidance arm forms a receiving bore on a distal end thereof to define a second point in the trajectory. The pronged distal end is inserted through a posterior incision in the patient into a cored-out sacroiliac joint, with the second guidance arm outside the body, and the orientation of the alignment guide is adjusted by pivoting the alignment guide about the pronged distal end to determine a suitable trajectory. Instruments and implements are placed along the trajectory and guided by the alignment guide to drill screw holes and insert screws used in the sacroiliac joint fusion procedure into the screw holes.
US08579911B2	Instruments and methods for inserting artificial intervertebral implants Apparatus and methods for preparing a disc space and inserting an intervertebral disc implant therein are disclosed. Among the various instruments disclosed are a midline marker, a reference pin drill and insertion guide, a fin drill guide, a chisel guide, a sizer, a serrated broach, an implant dispenser, and an implant insertion tool. Methods of utilizing these tools are also disclosed.
US08579910B2	Insertion blade assembly and method of use A spinal implant insertion device is hereby provided. The device includes an insertion blade assembly having a set of opposed insertion blades wherein the assembly is adapted to slide from a retracted position to an extended position relative to an elongate shaft. In the extended position, a blades are adapted to be positioned above and below a portion of a spinal implant so as to shield the portion of the implant during delivery to an intervertebral space. The insertion blades assembly can also be modular so as to utilize a wide range of distinct insertion blades. Additionally, a method for delivering a spinal implant to an intervertebral space is herein provided. Like above, the method utilizes an insertion blade assembly adapted to slide along a shaft of a spinal implant insertion device.
US08579909B2	Methods and instrument for vertebral interbody fusion Methods and instrumentation particularly adapted for disc space preparation for insertion of implants from an anterior approach to the spine are provided. The instruments include a guide sleeve defining a channel having overlapping cylindrical working channel portions and lateral non-distracting extensions extending from reduced thickness wall portions. The guide sleeve has an overall reduced width configuration. A pair of distractors are provided. A first distractor includes a shaft and distal tip, each having convex walls. A second distractor includes a shaft and distal tip including a recessed area at least along the tip. The first distractor is at least partially received within the recessed area of the second distractor when the first and second distractors are in side-by-side relation and a reduced overall width of the distractors is obtained. Preferably, the first and second distractors are used with the guide sleeve. Methods using the disclosed instruments are also provided.
US08579906B2	Apparatus and measuring instrument An apparatus and measuring instrument includes a first part and a second part slidably moveable with respect to one another. The first part includes a locking member that has a hard portion which is movable from a first position to a second position. The second part includes a compressible portion that has a Shore hardness less than the hard portion and is positioned such that when the locking member is in the first position the compressible portion is not engaged by the hard portion, and when the locking member is in the second position the compressible portion is at least partially compressed by the hard portion thereby preventing relative movement of the first and second parts.
US08579897B2	Bipolar forceps In various surgical techniques, a bipolar forceps can be used to seal a vessel in two locations such that the vessel can be incised at a location positioned intermediate the two seal locations. The bipolar forceps can include a cutting element which can be configured to incise the vessel. In various embodiments, the cutting element can include a sharp edge which can be moved relative to the vessel. In at least one embodiment, the cutting element can be electrically connected to a source of energy. The bipolar forceps can include first and second electrodes positioned within first and second jaw members, respectively, wherein at least one of the jaw members can include a substantially tapered profile and can be configured to pull the vessel away from the surrounding soft tissue. Such jaw members can include ridges, teeth, and/or a textured outer surface configured to grip the soft tissue and/or vessel.
US08579895B2	Method of and apparatus for positioning and maintaining the position of endoscopic instruments The present invention provides an apparatus for, and a method of, accurate positioning of endoscopic instruments. Accurate positioning of the instruments is accomplished through the inclusion of a steering ability within the device. After the endoscopic instrument is properly positioned, the present invention may use rapid exchange technology, soft locks, and mechanical locks to maintain the position of the endoscopic instrument. Rapid exchange technology is used to minimize displacement forces present on the guidewire or catheters. Soft locks and mechanical locks resist movements caused by displacement forces.
US08579888B2	Medical probes for the treatment of blood vessels Devices and methods for thermally-mediated treatment of blood vessels to elicit an immune response to cause rapid endothelial growth over at least portions of an implant or stent to prevent adverse events such as restenosis. Devices and methods for thermally-mediated treatment to inhibit contraction of vessels to elicit an immune response to cause rapid endothelial growth over at least portions of a stent to prevent adverse events such as restenosis.
US08579885B2	MEMS electrochemical bellows actuator An implantable fluid delivery system may include a fluid reservoir configured to hold a supply of fluid, dispense that fluid under the control of an actuator, and be implanted within the body of a living host. The actuator may include a bellows configured to expand in a direction when inflated. The bellows may have folds with surfaces which run substantially perpendicular to the direction of expansion in a collapsed state and which define a stacked set of convolutions. Each convolution may have a collapsed height of no more than 1 mm and a width perpendicular to the direction of expansion of no more than 8 mm. Electrodes may be configured to come in electrical contact with an electrolyte within the bellows and to cause electricity to run through the electrolyte, thereby causing the electrolyte to break down into a gas and, in turn, to cause the bellows to expand.
US08579884B2	Infusion pump assembly A wearable infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir for receiving an infusible fluid, and an external infusion set configured to deliver the infusible fluid to a user. A fluid delivery system is configured to deliver the infusible fluid from the reservoir to the external infusion set. The fluid delivery system includes a volume sensor assembly, and a pump assembly for extracting a quantity of infusible fluid from the reservoir and providing the quantity of infusible fluid to the volume sensor assembly. The volume sensor assembly is configured to determine the volume of at least a portion of the quantity of fluid. The fluid delivery system further includes at least one optical sensor assembly configured to sense the movement of the pump assembly, a first valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the pump assembly from the reservoir, and a second valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the volume sensor assembly from the external infusion set.
US08579882B1	Cannula system The present disclosure provides a cannula useful for introducing a thermally responsive polymer in situ. In embodiments, the cannula possesses more than one cannula, with the thermally responsive polymer introduced in one cannula, and a material such as a coolant in a second cannula which prevents premature gelling of the thermally responsive polymer.
US08579881B2	Single operator exchange biliary catheter Catheter for use in biliary procedures, including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A guidewire lumen is carried by the shaft extending from a location proximal the distal end of the shaft to a location proximate the distal end of the shaft. An opening is included for accessing the guidewire lumen from a location exterior the catheter shaft located distal the proximal end of the shaft. The guidewire lumen may be formed integral the catheter shaft. The catheter may be used in rapid exchange catheter procedures. The catheter may further include a port and channel design including a first opening into the guidewire lumen located proximal the distal end of the shaft, a second opening located proximal the first opening, and a channel extending longitudinally between the first opening and the second opening.
US08579876B2	Tucked fastener for improved fastener performance A folded disposable absorbent garment has an absorbent chassis, a pair of front side panels extending from a front region of the absorbent chassis, and a pair of back side panels extending from a back region of the absorbent chassis. A first fastening component is disposed on each of the front side panels and a second fastening component is disposed on each of the back side panels. Each of the second fastening components is releasably attached to a respective one of the first fastening components to define a pair of refastenable seams. The front side panels and the back side panels are folded such that each of the refastenable seams overlies an outer surface of one of the front region and the back region of the absorbent chassis in a plane generally parallel to the front and back regions of the absorbent chassis.
US08579870B2	Sealing valve assembly for medical products A sealing valve assembly is provided for medical products. The valve assembly includes a valve member mountable within a passageway of a medical product body element, the valve member defining a peripheral portion spaced from a central axis and including two walls extending from the peripheral portion toward the central axis. The walls include ends that contact each other to preclude flow through the passageway. The valve member may be formed of a material having a durometer of less than about 20 Shore A. The valve member may also have a higher durometer material with other wall configurations, or may have a wall member having a varying durometer.
US08579865B2	Hazardous agent injection system Injection systems comprising a powered injector and one or more hazardous agents are disclosed.
US08579862B2	Applicator for microneedle array Provided is a microneedle device which protects microneedle, has an easily portable shape, is free from such problems as breakage of small needles in the step of puncturing the skin with the microneedle, and ensures appropriate skin puncture for administering a drug. By studying the relationship between a device to be pressed to the skin and the height of an elevation on the skin surface under the pressing and thus producing a device equipped with microneedle that are embedded in a concave part having a definite depth, the microneedle can be surely and easily inserted and punctured into the skin while avoiding such problems as breakage of the small needles of the microneedle. Thus, a microneedle patch formulation, which is easily portable and ensures convenient drug administration to the skin, can be produced.
US08579852B2	Apparatus and methods for repairing tissue defects Methods and devices to process harvested skin tissue and to immediately reintroduce the ground tissue into the patient to repair a tissue defect are disclosed. A hand-held portable tissue grinder comprising a housing and a grinding element are disclosed. The tissue grinder is used for grinding skin and subcutaneous tissue and includes a sterile polymer housing having a first opening adapted to receive the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The tissue grinder also includes a sterile grinding element disposed substantially within the housing. The grinding element includes a plurality of cutting surfaces adapted to operably engage with the housing to provide ground tissue and further includes a handle mechanism coupled to the grinding element to move the grinding element with respect to the housing to grind the skin and subcutaneous tissue, wherein the ground tissue can be removed from the housing.
US08579844B1	Traction device and associated method for increasing intervertebral space and lengthening the spine A therapeutic traction device for increasing intervertebral spaces along a cervical spine of a user includes a user interface, a controller, a neck rest section, a crossbar provided with first and second clamps, a curvilinear back pad connected to an anterior side of the crossbar, and a utility box connected to a posterior side of the crossbar. The utility box includes a rectilinear driven rod partially seated within the utility box and statically mated to the neck rest section, and a mechanism for linearly reciprocating the driven rod along a first vertical travel path defined posterior of the back pad such that the neck rest section is synchronously raised and lowered above the crossbar. In this manner, the back pad remains statically mated to the crossbar while the neck rest section is raised and lowered along a second vertical travel path defined anterior of the first vertical travel path.
US08579840B1	Spring fingers massager A massager has a base and a shaft mounted horizontally on the base. The shaft is rotated by a motor at a slow speed. The shaft has a plurality of spaced apart cams affixed to it. Elongate spring fingers are each affixed at one end to the base. Each finger has an intermediate portion that springably engages one of cams. A free end of the finger moves up and down as the cam rotates. The free end is provided with a projection that is suited to engage a body part. The projection is periodically pressed against the body as the cam rotates. The cams are mounted on the shaft so that they raise and lower the projections as different times. This action causes the projections to each press against the body at different times to emulate massaging fingers.
US08579838B2	Multi-sensor signal processing system for detecting walking intent, walking supporting apparatus comprising the system and method for controlling the apparatus Provided is a walking supporting apparatus for supporting a user walking by using a multi-sensor signal processing system that detects a walking intent. A palm sensor unit detects a force applied to a palm through a stick to generate a palm sensor signal. A sensor unit detects a force applied to a sole through the ground to generate a sole sensor signal. A portable information processing unit checks a user's walking intent by using the palm sensor signal, and if it is checked that the user has a walking intent, the portable information processing unit generates a driving signal in response to the sole sensor signal. A walking supporting mechanism includes a left motor attached to a user's left leg and a right motor attached to a user's right leg to support the user's walking when the left and right motors are driven in response to the driving signal.
US08579834B2	Display of detected patient posture state The disclosure provides a system that displays an indicator of patient posture state that changes according to posture state data. The posture state data may be transmitted from a medical device, for example, in or near real-time. In some examples, the disclosure relates to a method comprising receiving posture state data for a patient from a medical device; and presenting an indicator indicative of two or more of posture states based on the received posture state data, wherein each posture state of the two or more posture states is determined based on different detection criteria.
US08579828B2	Managing preload reserve by tracking the ventricular operating point with heart sounds A system and method for managing preload reserve and tracking the inotropic state of a patient's heart. The S1 heart sound is measured as a proxy for direct measurement of stroke volume. The S3 heart sound may be measured as a proxy for direct measurement of preload level. The S1-S3 pair yield a point on a Frank Starling type of curve, and reveal information regarding the patient's ventricular operating point and inotropic state. As an alternative, or in addition to, measurement of the S3 heart sound, the S4 heart sound may be measured or a direct pressure measurement may be made for the sake of determining the patient's preload level. The aforementioned measurements may be made by a cardiac rhythm management device, such as a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator.
US08579827B1	Monitoring device with an accelerometer, method and system A monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device is preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to create a filtered vital sign signal used to generate a real-time vital sign for a user.
US08579824B2	Method and apparatus to monitor change in inspiratory effort using intrathoracic blood pressure waveform morphology An implantable medical device and associated method detect obstructed inspiration by monitoring an blood pressure signal. A respiration signal is monitored and a phase of respiratory inspiration is detected from the respiration signal. A trend in the pressure signal is measured during the inspiration phase. Obstructed inspiration for the inspiration phase is detected in response to the measured the trend.
US08579820B2	Fetal heart monitoring A transmit amplifier (12) drives an ultrasound transducer (11) to emit a pulse, and a receive amplifier (13) amplifies the echo signal detected by the transducer. The receive amplifier's gate opens a fixed delay after the end of the transmit pulse, and a demodulator (14) multiplies the received signal by the local oscillator signal. A low-pass filter removes the sum of the frequencies and passes the difference of the frequencies (the received signal's Doppler frequency) to be digitized by an ADC. ADC readings are made for each of several range bins in intervals during the receive gate-open interval. One or two of the Doppler audio signals will contain the signal from the fetal heart. When a periodic signal is found, its rate is tested to see if it lies within or outside the typical range of a fetal heart.
US08579818B2	Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body, a support member provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body to support the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body on an installation surface, a movable body provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body in a movable state by a moving member while protruding from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body in a direction away from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body, and a tipping-preventing support member provided in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body and having a support portion able to support the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body on the installation surface on the protruding side of the movable body with respect to the support member.
US08579813B2	Handheld personal data assistant (PDA) with a medical device and method of using the same A medical device module for use in a system with a remote programmer and/or a personal data assistant (PDA) with at least one medical device includes a housing, at least one medical device and a processor. The housing is adapted to couple with the PDA. The at least one medical device interface is coupled to the housing for interfacing with the at least one medical device. The processor is coupled to the at least one medical device interface to process data from the at least one medical device. The processor is also capable of interfacing with the PDA.
US08579811B2	Medical diagnosis derived from patient drug history data In general the invention is directed to systems, methods, and/or software modules which may analyze a patient's drug history, and optionally other data, and derive a probable diagnosis for the patient based on rules.
US08579810B2	Expandable thoracic access port A surgical access assembly includes first and second wings disposed in opposed relation relative to one another. Each wing includes a body portion, a distal portion and first and second portions. A side wall section hingedly connects the body portions of the wings to one another at the first portion thereof and at the second portions thereof. Each of the side wall sections is movable with respect to the other side wall sections between a first position and a second position wherein each of the side wall sections is angled with the first and second wings. The first and second wings are moveable between an approximated position corresponding to the first position of the side wall sections and a spaced apart position corresponding to the second position of the side wall sections.
US08579809B2	Radially expanding surgical retractor A radially expanding surgical retractor which includes a base having a thickness, the base having a first slot extending through the thickness in a first arc, and a second slot discrete from the first slot and extending through the thickness in a second arc. The radially expanding surgical retractor further includes a first handle, a second handle, a first blade extending through the first slot and connected to the first handle, and a second blade extending through the second slot and connected to the second handle.
US08579808B2	Tensioning device of a surgical retractor A tensioning device of a surgical retractor has a tensioning section for applying a tensile force to a tool that is to be arranged thereon, and a holding bar fixed in position relative to the tensioning section, and also a locking device. The locking device is provided between the holding bar and the tensioning section and has a releasable locking function counter to the direction of the tensile force. The tensioning device can be operated comfortably, with minimal force being applied, is optimally accessible and takes up only a small overall volume. This is made possible by the fact that the locking device is configured as a linear ratchet or linear feed mechanism and that the feed mechanism has an actuating lever and an unlocking device.
US08579804B2	Variable length nephrostomy sheath An adjustable sheath assembly sized to accept a medical instrument and adapted for insertion into a body of a patient for maintaining a passageway therein. The device includes a first hollow member having a first length, and a second hollow member having a second length, the first and second members being coaxially joined together through a length adjustment element. At least one of the first and second hollow members is sized to accept a medical instrument. The length adjustment element allows for the length of the sheath assembly to be fitted to bodies of various sizes by adjusting the length prior to insertion into the patients body. A properly adjusted length ensures that at least a portion of the sheath assembly remains outside of the patient's body.
US08579803B2	Endoscope An endoscope includes an insertion portion including an image pickup section, an illumination section, and a light guide inserted inside the insertion portion, the light guide including a plurality of fibers made of a glass not containing lead, the plurality of fibers guiding illuminating light from a light source apparatus to the illumination section, the light guide having a numerical aperture of 0.46 to 0.90. A core glass of a fiber have a refractive index nd of 1.56 to 1.74, and a composition of (A) 20 to 55 wt % SiO2, (B1) 0 to 4.0 wt % B2O3, (B2) neither P2O5 nor GeO2 contained, (C) 25 to 72 wt % (BaO+SrO+La2O3+Lu2O3+Ta2O5+Gd2O3+WO3), (D) 0 to 30 wt % ZnO, (E) no Al2O3 contained, (F) no ZrO2 contained, (G) neither PbO nor As2O3 contained, (H) 0 to 15 wt % (Na2O+K2O), (I) 0 to 0.050 wt % Sb2O3 and (J) 0.26 to 1.63 wt % (Na2SO4+K2SO4).
US08579801B2	Endoscope riveted deflection section frame An endoscope deflection section frame including a plurality of rings and rivets. Each ring has front ears and rear ears with rivet holes through the ears. The rivets are located in the rivet holes to thereby pivotably connect the rings to one another. Each rivet includes a head at an interior side of an inner one of the ears and an opposite end at an exterior side of an outer one of the ears. The opposite end is welded to the outer ear.
US08579799B2	Electronic endoscope system, processor for electronic endoscope, image search system, and image search method In a search mode of an electronic endoscope system, ordinary light images and special light images are captured from a body cavity respectively under white light and special light. Simultaneously, biological information on the body cavity is acquired from image signals obtained under the special light. The ordinary and special light images are associated with the acquired biological information and stored in an image accumulator. By pressing a lock-on switch while confining a target in an area designating frame on an ordinary image on a monitor, the target is designated and biological information on the target is determined. Thereafter, biological information associated with the latest image in the image accumulator is compared with the biological information on the search target. If the latest image contains an area having the same biological information as the search target, the area designating frame is displayed on that area on the monitor.
US08579796B2	Tinnitus treatment A method of treatment of the symptoms of tinnitus is disclosed in which a non-sinusoidal pulsating electric waveform having a pulse repetition rate (frequency) less than 100 Hz is applied to a headphone or an earphone or a like acoustic transducer worn by a tinnitus sufferer. Square, sawtooth and triangular waveforms are suitable. Preferably a sequence of square, triangular, square and square waveforms each of duration of 3 minutes, and separated by a silent pause of 10-15 seconds, is applied. Various devices for applying such waveform(s) to such transducers are disclosed including a clinical oscillator, an internet distribution system, a playback device, electronic or magnetic storage devices, and a cochlear implant.
US08579795B2	Light modulation device and system Light modulation devices are provided. At least one Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) is used to create an oscillating signal used to drive an intensity parameter, a color parameter or both in a light modulator. The oscillating signal may be mixed with a base signal. The modulated signal driving either of the intensity or color parameters may be simple or complex. Systems having a plurality of light projection devices, each associated with a corresponding light modulation device, are also provided. Such Light modulation systems may be used for a variety of applications.
US08579785B2	Source/seed delivery surgical staple device for delivering local source/seed direclty to a staple margin A source delivery surgical staple device delivers a source/seed to a staple margin. The surgical staple delivery device includes a main staple body segment hingedly attached to a second body segment. Each of the segments is appointed for engagement to dispense the sources/seeds and/or a surgical staple to the staple margin. The device also includes a cartridge removably attached and snapped onto the main staple body segment. The cartridge has at least one staple line appointed for housing surgical staples, and being operative to form at least one staple line of surgical staples, and at least one cut line. The cartridge also has at least one source/seed/brachy staple line forming a brachy or radioactive seeds and/or chemotherapy agent dosage source. The radioactive seeds have a radioactive and/or chemotherapy source supported by leg portions that are manipulated during insert for fastening the radioactive staples to tissue at an incision margin. With this arrangement, a hybrid of chemotherapy agent and radiation is delivered directly into the staple lines and different dosage brachy loads can be loaded in the cartridge.
US08579784B2	Personalized prognosis modeling in medical treatment planning Automated treatment planning is provided with individual specific consideration. One or more prognosis models indicate survivability as a function of patient specific information for a given dose. By determining survivability for a plurality of doses, the biological model represented by survivability as a function of dose is determined from the specific patient. Similarly, the chances of complications or side effects are determined. The chance of survivability and chance of complication are used as or instead of the tumor control probability and normal tissue complications probability, respectively. The desired tumor dosage and tolerance dosage are selected as a function of the patient specific dose distributions. The selected dosages are input to an inverse treatment planning system for establishing radiation treatment parameters.
US08579783B2	Weir and choke plate for solid bowl centrifuge A centrifuge for separating solid-liquid mixtures including: a rotating bowl having a head wall with at least one drain opening for clarified liquid, said bowl having a rotational axis; a weir plate fixed to the head wall of the bowl and rotating with bowl, wherein the weir plate is aligned with the at least one drain opening; a choke plate coupled to and rotating with the rotating bowl, the choke plate having surface axially aligned with the drain opening or the weir plate, wherein said choke plate is movable axially with respect to the head wall, and a gap having between the drain opening or the weir plate, wherein the gap has a radially inward inlet receiving the clarified liquid from the bowl and a radially outward outlet for discharging the clarified liquid from the bowl.
US08579782B2	Method for application of a film at an envelope window made of a sheet or a portion of sheet The method relates to application of a transparent film (3) to a window (2) realized in a portion of paper (1), the portion of paper (1) being defined in a continuous strip (10) destined to be wound in a reel. The film (3) exhibits larger dimensions than the window (2), such that a frame (30) is defined about the window (2), a total thickness of which is given by the portion of paper (1) plus the film (3). The method includes a stage of pressing with which at least a part of the frame (30) is brought to a total thickness which is not greater than an original thickness of the portion of paper (1). This enables the strip (10) to be wound strictly adheringly in the various spires thereof.
US08579779B2	Plastic bag making apparatus The apparatus includes panel portions forming means by which two webs of panel material are opposed to and superposed on each other and fed longitudinally thereof, the panel portions being formed by the webs of panel material. The apparatus further includes side gusset portions forming means by which sheets of side gusset material are folded into halves and combined with and interposed between the webs of panel material to extend widthwise thereof, the side gusset portions being formed by the sheets of side gusset material. The apparatus further includes bottom gusset portion forming means by which a web of bottom gusset material is combined with the webs of panel material to extend longitudinally thereof, the bottom gusset portion being formed by the web of bottom gusset material with at least one bottom protrusion protruding from the bottom gusset portion. In addition, the apparatus includes option means by which the bottom protrusion is provided with a handle hole, zipper, opening or adhesive means.
US08579776B2	Method and apparatus for making cigarette filters with a centrally located flavored element A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.
US08579775B2	Supply roller of developing device for image forming apparatus and method of manufacturing the same A supply roller of a developing device for an image forming apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, which is small and exhibits excellent toner supply properties while preventing occurrence of the ghost phenomenon and toner-filming phenomenon, which cause a deterioration in image quality. The supply roller of the developing device for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a shaft, and a conductive resilient member enclosing an outer circumference of the shaft. The conductive resilient member has a density of about 60 kg/m3 to about 120 kg/m3, and an outer diameter of about 8.0 mm to about 10.0 mm.
US08579773B2	Exercise apparatus with a pull cord central pulley attached to a carriage and a pulley locking mechanism An exercise apparatus including a frame, a carriage, a central pulley, first and second frame pulleys, a pull cord, and a locking mechanism. The frame defines a longitudinal axis. The carriage is mounted on the frame and movable along the longitudinal axis. The central pulley is attached to the carriage. The first and second frame pulleys are attached to the frame. The pull cord has first and second handle portions. The pull cord is looped about the pulleys. The central pulley is between the first and second frame pulleys along the pull cord. The first frame pulley is between the first handle portion and the central pulley along the pull cord. The second frame pulley is between the second handle portion and the central pulley along the pull cord. The locking mechanism is configured to engage the central pulley.
US08579771B2	Walk-assist devices and methods A method for reducing an exerted energy associated with muscles acting across a joint is provided. The method including: storing energy during one or more periods of a periodic motion of the joint in which energy is absorbed by the muscles; and at least partially returning the stored energy to the muscles during one or more periods of the periodic motion in which the muscles are performing work.
US08579767B2	Performance monitoring apparatuses, methods, and computer program products We have disclosed apparatuses, methods, and computer program products to monitor an individual's performance during a physical activity with a portable performance monitoring device. The methods may include obtaining position points using a satellite positioning system receiver of the monitoring device during a physical activity, determining performance information based on the position points using a processor of the monitoring device during a physical activity, conveying at least some of the performance information to the individual by an output device of the monitoring device during a physical activity, and wirelessly transmitting at least some of the performance information to a remote device using a monitoring device.
US08579760B2	Engine startup control device for vehicle An engine start-up control device for a vehicle is provided with a structure which prevents the occurrence of an uncomfortable shock arising from amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance, when an output of a first motor generator starting up an engine by driving the same is limited. With a second motor generator having reactive torque restricting the rotation of a transfer member, the first motor generator rotatably drives a sun gear to crank the engine for start-up thereof. When this takes place, if the output of the first motor generator is limited, torque reference reactive-force control is executed to control reactive torque of the second motor generator in accordance with a predetermined torque whereby when the engine load torque exceeds a predetermined value, a rotation speed variation of the transfer member is permitted against reactive torque such that the rotation speed variation of the transfer member allows engine load torque to escape for thereby precluding engine load torque fluctuation to be amplified due to resonance.
US08579759B2	Vehicle control apparatus and vehicle control method A hybrid electric vehicle has a first mode in which slippage of a clutch between an electric motor and a driving wheel is allowed and controlled by rotational speed control of the electric motor and a second mode in which the slippage of the clutch is allowed and controlled by rotational speed control of an engine. When the vehicle is stationary in the first mode, a controller reduces a control setpoint of hydraulic pressure of the clutch from an initial point. The controller identifies a reference point of the control setpoint with which actual output torque of the electric motor is substantially constant with respect to the reduction of the control setpoint. Then, the controller increases the control setpoint to a precharge point, and reduces the control setpoint to a corrected point that is lower than or substantially equal to the initial point and higher than the reference point.
US08579753B2	Compound planetary front wheel drive continuously variable transmission The present invention provides an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle having a compact single mode transfer gear continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a compound planetary gear carrier for use in front wheel drive vehicles. The automatic transmission includes an input shaft, a variator or other, similar device which provides a continuously variable input to output speed ratio over a limited range, a compound planetary gear assembly having a sun gear, a planet gear carrier with compound gear sets and a ring gear, a friction brake, a friction clutch and a plurality of transfer gears and layshafts.
US08579752B2	Hydraulic coupling having improved hydraulic porting path design A hydraulic coupling for use in a vehicle drivetrain to couple a pair of rotary members and includes a coupling mechanism supported in a casing and that is operable to couple the pair of rotary members together. A piston is responsive to pressurized fluid generated by a pump to move between first and second positions, thereby engaging the coupling mechanism. The pump has an outlet located in a direction away from the piston. An internal passage provides fluid communication between the outlet of the pump and an expandable chamber formed adjacent the piston. A control valve controls the flow of pressurized fluid from the pump between the sump and the expandable chamber.
US08579746B2	Chain guide mechanism In a chain guide mechanism having a guide bridge for integrally holding two chain guides, a chain and a driving sprocket for more efficient assembly and maintenance, the guide bridge has a oil inlet on a surface of its sprocket-pressing base for receiving oil from an oil supply port in an engine block on which the guide bridge is mounted. The oil inlet communicates, through an internal passage within the base of the guide bridge, with an oil discharge port within a groove in which teeth of the driving sprocket travel.
US08579741B2	Playing object having a bounce with limited unpredictability The present invention relates to a playing object (21) having a main surface (13, 14, 16) enclosing and provided around a center of gravity, said main surface being provided with elements (22) in a pattern around the center of gravity, where each element has an element surface extending away from the main surface. The playing object may be a polyhedron and some of the elements may have a different appearance than the majority of elements.
US08579734B2	Throwing target, system, and method The present application is directed to a throwing target. The throwing target comprises a baseball strike zone, one or more target zones located in the strike zone and one or more target zones located around the strike zone. The throwing target also comprises one or more non-target zones located in the strike zone. The total surface area of the target zones located around the strike zone is greater than the total surface area of the target zones located within the strike zone.
US08579733B2	Direct prize-dispensing game with crane dispenser A direct prize-dispensing game dispenses prizes using a crane assembly under control of the game player. The player participates in an underlying game of the prize-dispensing game that is independent from the prize dispensing function of the crane assembly. When the player successfully achieves an object of the game entitling the player to a prize, the prize-dispensing game switches player control to the crane assembly for dispensing an associated prize selection. The player then controls the crane assembly to select a desired prize. The prize-dispensing game keeps the controls to the crane assembly until a prize is dispensed to the player.
US08579731B2	Computing device for custom golf club fitting In an example embodiment, a method is provided using a computing device that has a sensor for custom golf club fitting. Here, a hand dimension is detected using the sensor of the computing device. The hand dimension correlates to a grip size of a golf club. A query is composed with a parameter based on the detected hand dimension. The query is then communicated to an online platform that facilitates sales of golf clubs. In response to the query, an inventory of a number of the golf clubs having the grip size is received from the online platform.The inventory is then provided for display on the computing device.
US08579729B2	Wedge type golf club head A wedge type golf club head is disclosed herein where the wedge type golf club head has enhanced performance characteristics such as improved backspin, ball speed, and launch angle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wedge type golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, where the center of gravity may be adjusted based on different backing profiles that comprises at least one hollow chamber. The wedge type golf club head disclosed above may also have a thickened topline, wherein the thickness of the topline progressively changes as a function of the loft angle of the wedge type golf club head.
US08579728B2	Golf club heads with weight redistribution channels and related methods Embodiments of golf club heads with weight redistribution channels are described herein. Other examples and related embodiments are also disclosed herein.
US08579726B2	Method for manufacturing and golf club head A method for forming a golf club head comprises placing an uncured composite material between a core and a mold that comprises a first piece and a second piece. The second piece is moved towards the first piece such that the uncured composite material is compressed between the core and at least a portion of the mold. The uncured composite material is heated. A first portion of the golf club head is removed from the mold. A second portion of the golf club head is provided. The first portion is attached to the second portion. In certain arrangements, the second portion is formed from a metallic material.
US08579723B2	Golf club head and method for manufacturing the same A golf club head has a clubface for striking a ball, wherein face grooves are formed by pressing a die; a metallic skin is forming on the clubface including the interior surfaces of the face grooves so that the surface roughness Ral of the interior surfaces of the face grooves becomes not more than 0.20 micrometers; the interior surface of the face grooves is masked with a masking agent; the clubface is provided with a surface roughness of more than 0.20 micrometers by blasting abrasive; and then the masking agent is removed from the face grooves.
US08579721B1	Clean-burn vortex generator for a ballistic impeller golf club A unique quiet reliable golf club having a Clean Burning Vortex Generator capable of varying the degree of kinetic energy applied to driving a golf ball in a linear fashion, without swinging the club. The striker piston and cylinder are disposed within the golf club head casting that contains a silencing chamber to lower the db output level. The striker piston is propelled outward by a firing mechanism releasing kinetic energy to fire a cartridge. The cartridge injects burning gas pressure into a vortex generator, located at the breech end of the cylinder. The vortex generator eliminates unburned gas and disperses the gas according to a desired distance setting of a ball travel distance scale. The one piece striker piston is sealed with a piston ring and is movable on a hard-coat cylinder-bearing surface that eliminates lubrication for the purpose of driving a golf ball in a new sport played by non-golfers.
US08579720B2	Putting stroke training system A putting stroke training system identifies a preferred putting stroke and facilitates training for a golfer to repeat the preferred putting stroke. The training system includes a grid box with a fixed side wall and a movable side wall. The movable side wall is positionable relative to the fixed side wall into alignment with the preferred putting stroke. The training system also includes an alignment sensor attachable to a putter head. In some embodiments, the alignment sensor signals when the putter head deviates from the preferred stroke.
US08579718B2	Putter head Embodiments of a putter-type golf club head with an increased moment of inertia about the X axis (MOIXX) and an increased moment of inertia about the Z axis (MOIZZ) are disclosed. Generally, the MOIZZ is increased by designing the putter such that the center of gravity (CG) of the putter head is located at or behind the geometric center of the putter head. Additionally, the mass of the putter head is concentrated at the outer edges of the putter head. To accomplish this, the ratio of the width of the front of the putter head to the width of the rear of the putter head is no greater than 0.55:1. The MOIXX is further increased by locating the CG relatively close to the bottom of the putter head.
US08579712B2	Controlled access of secure area within a gaming machine using display A gaming machine having a cabinet having an interior portion, the interior portion having a front section and a back section, a gaming machine door coupled to the cabinet, a display positioned between the gaming machine door and the interior portion to display a game of chance, the display having a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side, a connection assembly to couple the display to the gaming machine, and at least one lock coupled to the connection assembly to releasably lock the display in a closed position to prevent unauthorized access to the interior portion, the interior portion having at least one of a cash box, a coin hopper, a printer, or a paper holder, wherein the display is configured to be moved when the at least one lock is in an unlocked position to provide access to the interior portion.
US08579711B2	Module for providing additional capabilities to a gaming machine The present invention provides various modules for use with gaming machines. One such module is configured to receive data from a portable memory device and/or from a network device, e.g., from a game server. In some embodiments, the module includes, or is disposed within, a player tracking unit. Some embodiments of the module include a central processing unit (“CPU”) and a memory device such as a dual-ported random access memory (“DPRAM”). Data, such as software or content, may be downloaded to the module's CPU and written to the module's memory. According to some embodiments, data are written to a DPRAM in the module and simultaneously written from the DPRAM to the gaming machine via a high-speed digital bus. In some implementations, a memory in the module is configured to emulate a memory of the gaming machine. This allows a CPU of the gaming machine to execute software stored in the memory in the module. In alternative implementations, a CPU in the module can execute software stored in the memory in the module.
US08579710B2	Systems and methods of virtual goods trading using ratings to ascribe value to virtual goods A method is provided for trading virtual goods. A game environment is provided in which a first player can acquire or develop a virtual good. This virtual good has a starting value. At least one rating of the virtual good is received from a second player via the game environment. The starting value is automatically increased or decreased as a function of the at least one rating of the virtual good. The virtual good is then made available for purchase at the new value. A system for trading virtual goods is also provided.
US08579706B2	Game program and game device A piece of coordinate data indicating coordinates, which are inputted via a touch panel, is sequentially stored into a RAM. A piece of coordinate data in a coordinate data array stored in the RAM is sequentially invalidated when a predetermined time has passed after the piece of coordinate data has been stored into the RAM, and game processing is performed by using a valid coordinate data array. Further, an image of an operation track which comprises points respectively corresponding to a plurality of pieces of valid coordinate data stored in the RAM is generated, the image having a width which changes according to a remaining time until each of the plurality of pieces of valid coordinate data is invalidated. A game image including the image of the operation track is displayed.
US08579705B1	Software verification and authentication A device for controlling electronic gaming machines comprises a single board computer (SBC) having a microprocessor, memory means, storage means and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The ROM includes: a loader program; verification program; an authentication program; and a presentation program. Additional Mass storage media in communication with the SBC store pre-verified and approved gaming software (program files) and related data files, each of which have a verification signature appended to them. Prior to usage of the gaming software, the program file software or data file is retrieved by the loader program and checked by the verification program which compares the verification signature with a newly calculated verification signature. If the newly calculated signature matches the verification signature, the requested file is deemed to be intact (a validated image). The verification processes ensure that the file has been retrieved in its entirety and is free from corruption caused by storage media faults. If any corruption has occurred, the control device displays an error and the process is halted. After verification, all pending requests for authorization from authentication agents are processed by a queuing means. Each request includes a set of authentication instructions and a reply destination. After queuing, an authentication interpreter processes the validated image pursuant to the requester's instruction. The presentation program reports the resulting authentication identification to the requested destination which either acknowledges or refuses authentication. If acknowledged, the image is used or executed. If refused, an error is displayed and the process is halted.
US08579697B2	Gaming system including multiple displays having game symbols with common characteristics A gaming system and method involving a game having a plurality of symbols. The gaming system displays a play of the game on a first display while displaying a sequence of the symbols on a second display. The gaming system includes one award associated with the play and another award associated with a characteristic in common between a symbol displayed on the first display and a symbol indicated on the second display.
US08579695B1	Class II gaming system and method A video-based gaming device and method of using the same. The gaming device includes a primary game configured to present a game of chance wherein outcomes of the game of chance are based on bingo ball draws and patterns formed on bingo cards, and a bonus game activated by certain pre-established primary game outcomes wherein the bonus game presents one or more bonus game icons each associated with a separate bonus game award from a set of bonus game awards wherein each bonus game award is determined by mapping a set of bonus game patterns to the set of bonus game awards by an order that the bonus game patterns forming the set of bonus game patterns are achieved by applying an original ball draw, in an order bingo balls were originally drawn, to an original bingo card, and randomly assigning the bonus game patterns to the bonus game icons.
US08579694B2	Method of lottery wagering on real-world events A method for lottery wagering on real-world events. One method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes selecting a set of variables, each variable representing a time-varying value capable of having a fixed value at a specified time. For each variable, the method includes selecting a range of values for the fixed value of the variable at the specified time, dividing the range of values into a set of n increments, randomly assigning a lottery number from a set of lottery numbers, 1 to n, to each increment, selecting a winning lottery number from the set of lottery numbers based on correlating the fixed value of the variable at the specified time with the increment associated with the winning lottery number; and determining a set of winning lottery numbers from the winning lottery numbers selected for each variable.
US08579692B2	Systems and methods wherein a lottery number combination is associated with a limited number of occurrences Systems and methods are provided to facilitate lottery ticket transactions. A request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery number combination, such as a limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of players. An indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences is also received. For example, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with only a single lottery ticket may be received. A price associated with the lottery ticket is determined based on the received indication. According to one embodiment, the price is increased by a predetermined amount based on the received indication.
US08579691B2	Gaming system A ticket management system (10) for a gaming system is disclosed. The ticket management system comprises at least one gaming machine (12) and is arranged to allocate tickets (22) to at least one gaming machine (12) in accordance with at least one allocation criterion (36). An award is provided to a player of a gaming machine (12) when a ticket allocated to the gaming machine corresponds to a winning outcome.
US08579689B2	Awarding of game features in a gaming machine A game played on a gaming machine, or any other suitable device, is described wherein a player plays a base game, such as the random selection and display of symbols where combinations of symbols across one or more paylines grant awards to a player. Upon a triggering event, such as a certain outcome in the base game, special features are randomly selected for application to the base game. The special features may include wild cards, multipliers, and the number of game to which the special features apply. Any combination of special features may be randomly selected in response to a triggering event. Many other features are described.
US08579683B2	Device and method for separating a surface layer from animal food products An apparatus for separating a surface layer from animal food products comprises a carrier roller, a cutting device opposite the carrier roller with a blade holder pressure body and a pressing device exerting a pressing force on the blade holder pressure body. An automatic traction gap for transporting the separated surface layer is formed between the driven carrier roller and the blade holder pressure body. A rear pressure body pivoting axis is set up on a side of the blade holder pressure body facing away from the carrier roller. The apparatus has a pressure body guiding device automatically shifting the blade holder pressure body out of the defined initial position, with which the rear pivoting axis is arranged and is automatically shiftable such that, in the case of the blade holder pressure body pivoting up through inlet of the surface layer against the pressing force, the traction gap becomes wider in an inlet area and narrower in an outlet area. The blade holder pressure body is held freely switchable against the pressing force so that that a floating application on the surface layer completely pulled into the traction gap occurs along the traction gap. A method for automatically separating the surface layer is executed in that during inlet of the surface layer into the traction gap the inlet area is simultaneously expanded and the outlet area is narrowed. The rear pivoting axis in an area behind the zenith of the carrier roller is shifted in an automatically guided manner towards it and the blade holder pressure body is held in a floating, switchable working position in the case of a traction gap completely filled with the surface layer.
US08579678B2	Grinding method for workpiece having a plurality of bumps A grinding method of grinding the back side of a workpiece having a projection on the front side thereof. The grinding method includes a holding jig preparing step of preparing a holding jig having a circular recess and an annular projection surrounding the circular recess, a setting step of setting the workpiece in the circular recess of the holding jig with the back side of the workpiece exposed, a liquid curing agent supplying step of supplying a liquid curing agent into the circular recess (either before or after the setting step), a fixing step of curing the liquid curing agent with the workpiece set in the circular recess and the liquid curing agent present in the circular recess, thereby fixing the workpiece in the circular recess, and a grinding step of grinding the back side of the workpiece and the annular projection of the holding jig by using grinding means.
US08579676B2	Grinding machine A first angular grinding wheel and a straight grinding wheel having rotation axes parallel to each other are arranged on a swivel slide that turns about a turning axis. A reference symmetry plane (MA) that is parallel to a grinding wheel rotation axis and that includes the turning axis and a reference perpendicular plane (MB) that is perpendicular to the reference symmetry plane and that includes the turning axis are defined. A grinding reference point (PA1) of the first angular grinding wheel (TA1) and a grinding reference point (PP1) of the straight grinding wheel (TP1) are arranged asymmetrical with respect to the reference symmetry plane. A distance from the grinding reference point of the straight grinding wheel to the reference symmetry plane is equal to a distance from the grinding reference point of the first angular grinding wheel to the turning axis.
US08579674B2	Mobile toy with displaceable flywheel A mobile toy which is propelled by a flywheel is described. The mobile toy includes a body member having a set of protrusions which extend beyond the body member. An axle extending through the flywheel is positioned in the set of protrusions, such that each protrusion operates as an axle cap. Alternatively, a set of axle caps are formed at the end of the axle. The flywheel is formed as a displaceable flywheel which is repositionable or removable from the body member. The flywheel may be adjusted within the mobile toy at multiple positions relative to the mobile toy for use of the mobile toy on multiple types of surfaces and for various play configurations. A set of detachably attachable extension elements attached with the axle caps alter the appearance as well as the play capabilities of the mobile toy.
US08579673B1	Convertible starting gate for racing track A race track including a first racing lane, a second racing lane, a first starting mechanism, a second starting mechanism and a linking mechanism. The first starting mechanism is operably mounted to the first racing lane. The second starting mechanism is operably mounted to the second racing lane. The linking mechanism is capable of selectively attaching to the first starting mechanism and the second starting mechanism. The first starting mechanism and the second starting mechanism are independently operable unless the linking mechanism is attached to the first starting mechanism and the second starting mechanism which causes the first starting mechanism and the second starting mechanism to move in unison.
US08579672B2	Lighting for wheels A car 1 for amusement devices comprises a frame (not shown), which is connected to a person-receiving apparatus 10. A running gear 30 is arranged on the frame. Arranged on the running gear 30 and spaced at a distance from the frame and from the person-receiving apparatus 10 are rotatable wheels with coils and illumination elements 33 integrated therein. Between the wheels 31 and the running gear 30 is arranged in each case at least one magnet 32, such that electric current is induced in the coil by rotation of the wheels 31 for feeding the illumination elements 33.
US08579670B2	Energy saving gas discharge lamp including a xenon-based gaseous mixture An energy saving gas discharge lamp, and method of making same, is provided. The gas discharge lamp includes a light-transmissive envelope, and an electrode within the light-transmissive envelope to provide a discharge. A light scattering reflective layer is disposed on an inner surface of the light-transmissive envelope. A phosphor layer is coated on the light scattering reflective layer. A discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture is retained inside the light-transmissive envelope. The discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture includes more than 80% xenon, by volume, at a low pressure.
US08579665B2	Power connector A power connector mountable on a circuit board, includes an insulating housing, a conductive pin and a pair of spring contacts received in the insulating housing. The insulating housing defines a central channel extending therethrough along a lengthwise direction thereof, and a passageway positioned besides and communicating with the central channel. The insulating housing has a pair of heat dissipation cavities extending through the insulating housing along a longitudinal direction of the insulating housing.
US08579663B2	Digital card adapter A digital card adapter comprises a cover configured to a large-size appearance in shape of the SD card, a printed circuit board disposed at the cover, a set of terminals disposed in the center of the cover, and an insulative housing. The adapter provides a print circuit board being mounted inside a card-shape cover, and accomplishes to transfer data there between two different sizes cards in accordance with standard of SD 4.0 specification, meanwhile, achieves adapting two SD 4.0 card in different sizes.
US08579660B2	High speed modular jack A modular jack (100) comprising a housing (200) defining an upper cavity and a lower cavity vertically stacked under the upper port, and a contact module (400) assembled to the housing. The contact module further comprises an upper row of mating contacts (42) extending into the upper cavity for mating with a module plug inserted therein, a horizontal upper PCB (43) bearing the upper row of contacts, a vertical right PCB (47) electrically connecting the upper PCB, a number of right transferring contacts (524) electrically connecting the right PCB, a lower row of mating contacts (44) extending into the lower cavity for mating with another module plug inserted therein, a horizontal lower PCB (45) bearing the lower row of contacts, a vertical left PCB (46) electrically connecting the lower PCB, a number of left transferring contacts (522) electrically connecting the left PCB.
US08579659B2	SMP electrical connector and connector system A push-on connector system includes a male push-on bore including a center conductor pin, and a female push-on core including a socket. The male push-on bore receives the female push-on core. A second bore is configured forwardly of the male push-on bore, and a latch track is positioned in the second bore and forms a plurality of inclined latch surfaces. A movable collar is mounted rearwardly of the female push-on core with a plurality of bayonet pins as is configured for engaging the second bore. The bayonet pins slide along the inclined latch surfaces to axially drive the movable collar into the second bore and secure the female push-on core into the male push-on bore. A resilient member is coupled between the movable collar and female push-on core to bias the female push-on core into the male push-on bore.
US08579657B2	Electric terminal for leading a line through a wall The invention relates to an electric terminal for leading a conductor through a wall, comprising a first terminal piece (1) to be mounted on one side of the wall, and a second terminal piece (2) to be mounted on the other side of the wall. The first terminal piece (1) has a first connecting element (5) and a holding element (7) for positioning the first connecting element (5), while the second terminal piece (2) has a busbar (4) to be electrically connected to the first connecting element (5). According to the invention, the first connecting element (5) in such an electric terminal for leading a conductor through a wall can be connected to the conductor and/or the busbar (4) in a particularly simple fashion because the first connecting element (5) is positioned in the first terminal piece (1) by the holding element (7).
US08579656B2	Power supply with detachable plug A power supply includes a plug including a base having an accommodating space. Two conductors are provided in the accommodating space. A positioning cover connects a body and further covers the accommodating space. The positioning cover is provided with guiding slots, and a braking ring is arranged between the conductors and the positioning cover. The interior edge of the braking ring is provided with a plurality of positioning grooves, and the plug can rotate on the body. Conductive connecting terminals slide in the guiding slots and are positioned in the positioning groove to be in contact with the conductors.
US08579654B2	Connector for flexible printed circuit An electrical connector for connecting a flat circuit includes an insulating housing defining an insertion slot for receiving the flat circuit, a plurality of terminals arranged in the housing in parallel relationship, a shielding shell surrounding the insulating housing and an actuator. The terminals have contacting projections extending into the insertion slot. The shell provides a plurality of spaced spring fingers extending into the inserting slot and establishes a receiving path between the contacting projections and the pivot beams. The actuator is mounted on the electrical connector for movement between an open position lifting up the spring fingers of the shielding shell and allowing insertion of the flat circuit into the inserting slot and a closed position allowing the pivot beam restore and pressing against the flat circuit toward the contacting projections.
US08579650B2	Electrical disconnect with push-in connectors having a busbar An electrical disconnect includes a male housing having an enclosed contact and a female housing similarly having an enclosed contact. The contact in at least one of the housings includes a busbar to electrically couple a plurality of wires. Upon joining the disconnect, the contacts in the two housing engage to form as releasable connection. By including a busbar, multiple conductors in one of the housings may be coupled to a single conductor in the second housing. Additionally, by disconnecting the housing, each load in the circuit may be simultaneously interrupted as desired.
US08579648B2	Component for electronic apparatus A component for an electronic apparatus has an insulating member that has a plurality of through holes in parallel in which the lead wires are inserted and a shield cover in which an insulating member insertion hole where the insulating member is inserted is formed that cut offs an electrical noise. The insulating member is formed in an integrated shape where parts of adjoining cylindrical parts in which the through holes are formed overlapping mutually when seen along an axial direction of the through hole. The insulating member insertion hole becomes a single hole formed identical to an outer shape of the insulating member when seen along the axial direction of the through hole.
US08579646B2	Communication plug A communication plug for connecting to a communication connector is disclosed, wherein the communication connector has an accommodating slot and the communication plug includes a main body and a fixing portion. The main body can be accommodated in the accommodating slot and the fixing portion is connected to the main body. The fixing portion includes a first part, a second part, and a third part, wherein the third part is connected to the first part and the second part. While the main body is accommodated in the communication connector, the third part is accommodated within the accommodating slot. Consequently, the communication plug is fixed within the communication connector.
US08579643B2	Connector assembly and method of fabricating the same A method of fabricating a connector assembly for connecting a wire to a device of a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a wire having a termination and providing a first shell having a first proximal end, a first distal end, and a first passage extending from the first proximal end to the first distal end. The method further includes coupling the first shell to the wire such that the wire extends into the first passage through the first proximal end, wherein the first shell is displaceable along the wire relative to the termination.
US08579638B2	Pressfit contact for connecting an electronic component to a circuit board and pressfit tool and method for producing a pressfit contact A press-in contact and a press-in tool for connecting an electronic component to a printed circuit board, the press-in contact of the electronic component being pressed into a contact opening of the printed circuit board by the press-in tool. Also a method for producing a press-in contact. The press-in contact includes at least one guide region which can be received in a guide contour of the press-in tool in a position-fixing manner. The maximum length of the guide region is a multiple of the maximum width or is substantially equal to or only slightly shorter than the maximum width and/or the guide region is highly rigid in the press-in direction (z direction) and flexible in the other directions (x/y directions). The method according to the invention is characterized in that contiguous, interlinked contours of the press-in contacts, which contours are produced as a ribbon or band, are supplied to a separating station and are separated at predetermined separation points into individual press-in contacts.
US08579636B2	Midplane orthogonal connector system A receptacle assembly for a midplane connector system has a receptacle housing having openings receiving signal contacts and ground shields of a header assembly. The receptacle assembly includes contact modules coupled to the receptacle housing that each have a leadframe, a dielectric frame and a ground shield. The leadframe has signal contacts arranged in pairs carrying differential signals that are generally arranged along a leadframe plane with mating portions at ends thereof that have at least two points of contact electrically connected to a corresponding signal contact of the header assembly. The dielectric frame holds the signal contacts. The ground shield is coupled to a side of the dielectric frame and has ground tabs extending into the dielectric frame to provide electrical shielding between the pairs of signal contacts and grounding beams electrically connected to ground shields of the header assembly.
US08579635B2	Funnel shaped charge inlet A vehicle charge inlet integrated into a port assembly surface is provided. The charge inlet includes an inlet housing with a perimeter that is curvilinear, non-cylindrical and shaped so that only a single orientation of a complementary sized and shaped electrical connector may be inserted into the inlet. A plurality of electrical contacts, a latching mechanism and a divider are also integrated into the charge inlet housing, the divider extending from the bottom surface of the inlet housing and configured to fit within a complementary slot of the charge connector, the divider providing further electrical isolation between the electrical contacts. A funneling surface connects the open end of the inlet housing to the port assembly surface.
US08579633B2	Extensible exam language (XXL) protocol for computer based testing A memory stores a plurality of first data structures, which includes element specific data objects indicating a classification of at least one of the plurality of segments of the test definition language, and second data structures, which include attribute specific data objects indicating at least one attribute of the segments of the test definition language implemented by a computer. A method for computer-based testing includes authoring a test specification and content of the at least one test using a test definition language, compiling the test specification and content of the at least one test to create a compiled test specification and content, which includes validating the test specification and content, storing the compiled test specification and content to a resource file, and retrieving the compiled test specification and content from the resource file during delivery of the test.
US08579632B2	Electronic analysis of athletic performance The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a computer-implemented athletic performance analysis method that includes obtaining, at a computer system, first motion data reflecting motion of a sporting device during one or more drills performed by an athlete. The method also includes creating and storing action data by identifying a plurality of portions of the motion data, where each of the portions correspond to one or more actions by the athlete; comparing the action data for the athlete, with the computer system, to corresponding aggregated action data for a plurality of other athletes to determine a relative skill level for the athlete with respect to the one or more actions; and generating data for a report that reflects the relative development level of the athlete.
US08579630B2	Apparatus and method for measuring dentin hypersensitivity An apparatus for measuring dentin hypersensitivity is provided. The apparatus has a dental probe configured to apply force increasingly on a tooth until the applied force corresponds to a threshold force. Further, the apparatus has a load cell that is positioned in the dental probe. The load cell is configured to generate an electrical signal proportional to the applied force. Further, the apparatus has a microcontroller which is in communication with the load cell. The microcontroller is configured to determine an applied force value corresponding to the electrical signal. Furthermore, the apparatus has a display device. The display device is in communication with the microcontroller. The display device is configured to display the applied force value and a threshold force value digitally. The threshold force value is a quantifiable value of the applied force to which a patient responds and is a measure of the dentin hypersensitivity.
US08579628B2	Arrangement comprising an instrument for the preparation or execution of the insertion of an implant An arrangement including an instrument for the insertion of a dental implant including a template placeable on a bone or surrounding tissue. The template, or a first sleeve arranged within the template, includes a through-recess, through which the instrument can be guided. The arrangement enables exact alignment and guidance of the instrument and easy handling. A second sleeve that is axially displaceable on the instrument is provided, and axially fixed in a base position through automatically releasable connecting elements with predetermined retaining force such that when the retaining force is exceeded, the connecting elements can be automatically released and the second sleeve can be axially displaced. The instrument, together with the axially fixed second sleeve, can be inserted in the continuous recess and is aligned in the template via the outer surface of the second sleeve, the surface being configured relative to the inner surface of the recess.
US08579625B2	Imprint lithography An imprint lithography apparatus is disclosed that includes a support structure configured to hold an imprint template. The apparatus further includes an actuator located between the support structure and a side of the imprint template, when the imprint template is held by the support structure, configured to apply a force to the imprint template and a force sensor between the support structure and a side of the imprint template, when the imprint template is held by the support structure.
US08579621B2	Porous film manufacturing method and successive biaxial stretching apparatus for manufacturing porous film Provided is a method for manufacturing a high-quality porous film. Here, while the porous film is being manufactured through forming micropores by stretching, a raw film is prevented from slipping on the surfaces of the respective rolls as much as possible even though the raw film includes oil or liquid paraffin as a solvent. The method is for manufacturing a porous film through forming micropores by successive biaxial stretching. A tensile force applied to the raw film F transferring from the longitudinal stretching machine (10) to the transverse stretching machine (50) is set not less than a stretching force necessary for the longitudinal stretching, and thus the raw film is prevented from slipping on a contact surface between the raw film and each roll of the longitudinal stretching machine (10).
US08579620B2	Single-action three-dimensional model printing methods Methods and techniques of using 3D printers to create physical models from image data are discussed. Geometric representations of different physical models are described and complex data conversion processes that convert input image data into geometric representations compatible with third party 3D printers are disclosed. Printing templates are used to encapsulate complex geometric representations and complicated data conversion processes from users for fast and simple 3D physical model printing applications.
US08579619B2	Internal gear pump for a brake system The invention relates to an internal gear pump for a braking system, in the pump housing of which an inner toothed hollow wheel and a gearwheel engaging in the toothing of the hollow wheel are mounted to rotate about parallel axes. The toothing thereof defines a tapering roughly crescent-shaped pump chamber, in which a filling piece is arranged supported along the length thereof. The circumferential surfaces of the filling piece closely correspond to the head diameter of the inner toothing of the hollow wheel or the gearwheel toothing and contact in a sealing manner with several tooth crowns covered thereby. A radial supporting force acts over a longitudinal range of the filling piece for improved sealing of a circumferential surface of the filling piece against the tooth crowns supporting the circumferential surface. According to the invention, a loose fit is provided between the circumferential surfaces of the filling piece and the opposing tooth crowns of the hollow wheel and gearwheel and the play acting on the filling piece is partly eliminated by support forces acting in opposing radial directions which act on the filling piece at a distance from each other.
US08579618B2	Internal gear pump with optimized noise behaviour An internal gear pump (1) is proposed for conveying a fluid by a driven pump gear wheel (3) and a ring gear (4), as a gear pair residing in an enclosure, which are, for instance, meshing and hereby generating a sealed area. Hereby, viewed cross-sectionally, a sickle shaped part (5) is provided for sealing the free space, located nearly opposite to the sealed area, whereby a first end piece (12) and a second end piece (13) of the part (5) are assigned to a high pressure area. In accordance with the invention, the two end pieces (12, 13) of the part (5) are constructed differently.
US08579616B2	Gear pump A gear pump includes a gear to be driven by a drive shaft, a pair of side plate members adjoining side surfaces of the gear, respectively, to restrain leakage of an operating fluid, and a tip seal member or seal block for sealing the gear tip or circumference of the gear. At least one of the side plate members and the tip seal member are integral parts of a sealing member.
US08579615B2	Pivoting, hinged arc vane rotary compressor or expander A rotary compressor or expander include a cylindrical housing chamber, a rotatable cylindrical rotor mounted eccentrically with respect to housing chamber center, a cylindrical rotor liner free to move around the rotor, and a pivoting generally circular arc vane hinged to the rotor liner. Cavity or buckets engraved to the outer surface of the rotor liner together with corresponding inlet nozzle flow provide additional momentum impulse transfer from working fluid to expander eccentric rotor. The inlet of the rotary expander is equipped with a rotating valve synchronous to the eccentric rotor, regulating the admission time and duration of the entering working fluid. The exhaust of the rotary compressor is equipped with either a check valve or a rotating valve synchronizing the fluid discharge time and duration.
US08579610B2	High compression downhole pump A downhole pump has a barrel and a plunger. The barrel has a first one-way valve and the plunger has a second one-way valve. The plunger is of the box end type. The pump prevents or minimizes gas lock by achieving high compression in the compression chamber between the two valves. The second valve is located close to the bottom end of the plunger. In the second valve, the valve seat is in contact with the seat plug, which seat plug has a seal. Alternatively, the valve seat is incorporated into the seat plug, which seat plug also has a seal. The plunger lacks reliefs at the bottom end and thereby achieves tight tolerances with the barrel, further contributing to high compression.
US08579609B2	Fan and inner rotor motor thereof A fan includes an impeller and an inner rotor motor. The inner rotor motor connects to the impeller and drives it to rotate. The inner rotor motor includes a bushing, a shaft, a magnetic conducting shell, a magnetic element and a stator. The shaft passes through the bushing and is coupled to the impeller. The magnetic conducting shell is coupled to the shaft and telescoped to the bushing. The magnetic element is disposed around outside of the magnetic conducting shell. The stator is disposed around outside of the magnetic element.
US08579608B2	Fluid energy machine A fluid energy machine, in particular a compressor, is provided. The fluid energy machine includes a common rotor, which is mounted using magnetic bearings, for the flow machine and the drive. In addition to the magnetic bearings, auxiliary bearings are provided, wherein a friction bearing is provided on the bottom part of the vertically oriented rotor and a roller bearing, which provides both radial and also axial mounting, and is implemented as a ball bearing, is provided on the upper end.
US08579606B2	Fluid transportation device A fluid transportation device includes a valve seat, a valve cap, a valve membrane, and an actuating module. The valve seat has an outlet channel and an inlet channel. The valve cap has a tilt structure. The valve membrane has an inlet valve structure and an outlet valve structure. The actuating module has a vibration film and an actuator. When the fluid transportation device is in a non-actuation status, a pressure cavity with a gradually-increasing depth is defined. When a voltage is applied on the actuator to result in deformation of the actuator, the vibration film generates a pressure difference to push the fluid. The fluid is introduced into the inlet valve structure through the inlet channel, guided by the tilt structure of the valve cap to be flowed from the pressure cavity to the outlet valve structure, and then flowed out of the outlet channel.
US08579603B2	Centrifugal pump A hydraulic turbocharger having an outer housing having a first section, a turbine end section and a pump end section. The pump end and turbine end sections are removably secured to the first section. A first cavity being formed between the first section and the turbine end section. A second cavity being formed between the first section and the pump end section. A first insert positioned in the first cavity and a second insert positioned in the second cavity. The first and second inserts being formed have more than one piece and defining a volute passageway in the first and second cavities respectively. The first and second inserts being designed to be capable of being machined to form the volute passageway.
US08579602B1	Isolated de-coupling of fan drive in exhaust assembly An exhaust fan has an annular exhaust duct, a fan wheel, and a drive motor inside the core of the exhaust duct, and not inside the annular passage for the exhaust fluid. The exhaust duct has a tubular window frame extending between the inner and outer walls of the exhaust duct and creating service windows for a worker to reach in an de-couple the driver motor from both a bracket for its mount and also from the fan wheel. Temporary locking mechanisms actuated from reaching through the service windows removably hold the fan wheel to the exhaust duct while the drive motor is de-coupled and removed. The exhaust fan further includes self-centering mechanical connections between the drive motor and fan wheel so that the fan wheel does not have to be removed to be re-balanced.
US08579599B2	System, apparatus, and method for rapid pump displacement configuration A system for changing a pump displacement configuration includes a blender that provides low-pressure fluid to a pump. The pump has a power end and fluid end, where the fluid end includes a number of plungers. The system includes an actuator that couples the power end with a selectable subset of the plungers. The system further includes a controller that selects a subset of the plungers according to a job pumping rate, a job pumping pressure, and/or a fluid end failure event indicator. The controller further commands the actuator to couple the selected subset of the plungers to the power end.
US08579596B2	Ejector pump An ejector pump (100) includes a chamber having a gas mixing portion (108) and a diffuser portion (112). An inlet (10S) conveys a gas stream into the gas mixing portion, and an outlet (114) conveys the gas stream from the diffuser portion. To provide a motive fluid for the pump, a stream of plasma is ejected through a nozzle (116) into the gas mixing portion (108) of the chamber. Reactive species contained within the plasma stream react with a component of the gas stream to provide simultaneous pumping and abatement of the gas stream.
US08579595B2	Cooling device for construction machinery A cooling device of a construction machine according to the present invention includes: two or more hydraulic motors that rotate positively and reversibly to correspond to a supplying direction of pressure oil and drives rotatably cooling fans connected thereto, respectively; a switching valve switching rotation directions of the two or more hydraulic motors by switching the supplying direction of the pressure oil supplied to the two or more hydraulic motors from the hydraulic motor; and flow rate makeup valves controlling an additional flow supplied upstream of the two or more hydraulic motors when a pressure drop is generated upstream of the two or more hydraulic motors on the basis of the supplying direction of the pressure oil.
US08579594B2	Wind turbine blade with submerged boundary layer control means A wind turbine blade having a longitudinal direction with a root end and a tip end as well as a chord extending in a transverse direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge is described. The blade comprises a flow control surface with a suction side and a pressure side. A number of boundary layer control means is formed in the flow control surface. The boundary layer control means include a channel submerged in the flow control surface with a first end facing towards the leading edge and a second end facing towards the trailing edge of the blade. The channel comprises: a bottom surface extending from the first end to the second end, a first sidewall extending between the flow control surface and the bottom surface and extending between the first end and the second end, the first sidewall forming a first sidewall edge between the first side wall and the flow control surface, and a second sidewall extending between the flow control surface and the bottom surface and extending between the first end and the second end, the second sidewall forming a second sidewall edge between the second side wall and the flow control surface. The channel at the first end comprises a first flow accelerating channel zone adapted for accelerating a flow, and at the second end comprises a second channel zone, where the first sidewall and the second sidewall are diverging towards the trailing edge of the blade.
US08579589B2	Mechanism for attenuating torque pulsations between an engine and a rotorcraft rotor driven by the engine The invention provides a mechanism for attenuating torque pulsations between an engine (2) and a rotor (1) of a rotorcraft. Torsion means (5) are interposed between the driving and driven shafts and comprise a torsion shaft (6) axially engaged with the drive shaft (3) and the driven shaft (4) an inlet shaft (9) and an outlet shaft (10) respectively engaged with the drive and driven shafts (3, 4) a lever system (7) that extends radially relative to the torsion shaft (6) and that has the inlet and outlet shafts (9, 10) hinged thereto via points (11, 12) that are spaced apart; and a mass (8) carried by said lever arm (7) at its free end (13) radially farthest away from the axis along which the torsion shaft (6) extends.
US08579586B2	Bell mouth for scroll case A bell mouth for a scroll case according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a bell mouth which is provided on the top plate of the scroll case to form an air inlet in order to allow air flow into the scroll case by a centrifugal blower installed inside the scroll case, and the volume of two parts of the bell mouth in respect to a rotation shaft of the centrifugal blower is different from each other. According to the present invention, it is possible to minimize generation of reverse flow of inflow air by increasing or decreasing a variation of the cross-section area of the bell mouth according to an increase in the pressure of the flow rate.
US08579585B2	Inlet swirl control for turbochargers An inlet duct, an induction system, and a system are disclosed for directing an inlet flow into an inlet compressor for use in an internal combustion engine. An example inlet duct may include one or more relief features disposed on an inner surface of the inlet duct. The one or more relief features may be made integral with the inlet duct. The one or more relief features may be disposed to protrude into the inlet flow to cause the inlet flow to swirl before reaching the inlet compressor.
US08579583B2	Strut for an intermediate turbine housing, intermediate turbine housing, and method for producing an intermediate turbine housing The present invention relates to a strut for a turbine center frame of a jet engine, in particular a gas turbine, with a first end for disposition on an internal structure of the turbine center frame and a second end opposite the first end for attaching the strut on a housing or an internal boundary wall of the turbine center frame, and on the second end at least one flange-like element with at least one first aperture is removably arranged with at least one first aperture for accommodating or passing through an attachment means. The invention further relates to a turbine center frame for a jet engine, in particular a gas turbine as well as a method for producing a turbine center frame of a jet engine, in particular a gas turbine.
US08579582B1	Efficient drying fan A drying fan has a shroud with a shape selected to improve fan efficiency by designated fluid dynamics of air flow through the fan.
US08579575B2	Wind turbine A wind turbine has a spindle, a first fan device and a second fan device. The first fan device is rotatably mounted around the spindle and has a first pivot hole and at least two first blades. The first pivot hole is formed through a center of the first fan device and is mounted around the spindle. The at least two first blades are radially mounted on and protrude from an external surface of the first fan device. The second fan device is rotatably mounted around the spindle, abuts with the first fan device and has a second pivot hole and at least two second blades. The second pivot hole is formed through a center of the second fan device and is mounted around the spindle. The at least two second blades are mounted on and protrude from an external surface of the second fan device.
US08579571B2	Connecting fastener In a connecting fastener consisting of a plurality of fasteners connected through a connecting member of synthetic resin, the connecting member includes a ring-shaped portion attached to so as to encircle the shaft of each of the fasteners to be connected and a connecting portion connected to the ring-shaped portions encircling adjacent fasteners. When the fasteners each suffers from the blow at the time of driving by a fastener driving tool, the ring-shaped portions each has strength enough to be held over the shaft and the connecting portion has strength enough to be broken.
US08579564B2	Protective wheel chock for transporting motor vehicle A protective chock for use when transporting a vehicle having a wheel and a flexible underbody component, such as an air dam or skirt, adjacent the wheel. The chock includes at least one wheel positioning bump for placement on a deck of the transporter vehicle (railway car, road vehicle, ship, aircraft, etc.) with the bump projecting upwardly from the deck to contact the wheel when the vehicle is in a pre-tie-down position. The chock further includes a sloped portion extending from positioning bump(s) and the wheel to be located between the flexible underbody component and the deck. As the vehicle is urged downwardly to a tied-down position, the flexible underbody component contacts the sloped portion and is deflected either away from or toward the wheel to protect it from damaging contact with the deck.
US08579561B2	Spindle device of machine tool A spindle device of machine tool includes a pressure sensor (31) that detects a pressing force to a rod (18) by a drive (25), a displacement sensor (32) that detects displacement of the rod (18), a tool clamping-force detector (33) that detects a clamping force to a tool (19) by a collet (20) based on the pressing force to the rod (18) and the displacement of the rod (18), and a spring-replacement-timing determining unit (36) that determines a replacement timing of disc springs (24) based on the tool clamping force and a preset biasing force characteristic value of the disc springs (24), thereby allowing highly accurate determination of a replacement timing of a biasing unit by appropriately detecting a tool clamping force.
US08579559B2	Grooving work method and grooving work apparatus When a groove having a section of Christmas tree shape for fitting the blade legs of a turbine is to be generated in the outer circumference of a turbine shaft by cutting work, cutting blades cut that groove by moving them gradually in a direction perpendicular to an axis parallel to female groove center line while rotating them on the axis. Three wide portions are cut one by one. A method for that grooving work includes a first cutting step of cutting a slope portion, an outer circumference portion and an undercut portion by using a first cutting tool, and a second cutting step of cutting a constricted portion by using a second cutting tool.
US08579556B2	Insert for drill, drill and method of cutting work material An insert for a drill, a drill using the insert for a drill, and a method of cutting a work material are provided. The insert has an insert main body provided with a top surface and a side surface, a first cutting edge being formed on one side of an intersection part between the top surface and the side surface, a second cutting edge being formed on the other side of the intersection part between the top surface and the side surface, and being intersected with a virtual extension of the first cutting edge or the first cutting edge so as to have an outward convexity when viewed from above, a first breaking groove being formed in a concave shape along the first cutting edge in the top surface and having a maximum groove width at an end portion of the first cutting edge adjacent to the second cutting edge, and a second breaking groove being formed in a concave shape along the second cutting edge in the top surface and having a maximum groove width at an end portion of the second cutting edge adjacent to the first cutting edge.
US08579551B2	MSE anchor system A mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) system includes a vertically oriented wall offset from an earthen feature, backfill disposed between the wall and the earthen feature, and a plurality of anchor elements attached at one end to the wall and extending from the wall toward the earthen feature. The plurality of anchor elements are embedded within the backfill and include an elongated strap having an attachment end configured for attachment to the MSE wall and opposite surfaces along the length thereof. The anchor element further includes a plurality of punched openings along the length of the strap, each opening including a punched tab projecting outward from one of the opposite surfaces.
US08579550B2	Truss shoe for use with a threaded rod A truss shoe for a roof support system includes a bolt receiving section, an intermediate section, and a housing having a threaded rod engaging section. The threaded rod engaging section has a passageway having a first open end spaced from, and in facing relationship to, the bolt receiving section and an opposite second end. The passageway has a threaded portion extending from the first end of the passageway toward the second end. A stop member is positioned spaced from the first open end of the passageway. With this arrangement, the end of the threaded rod passes through the space between the first open end of the passageway and the stop member into engagement with the stop member, whereby all of the threads of the threaded portion of the passageway are in engagement with the threads of the threaded bar.
US08579548B1	Method of piling remediation A piling planing tool utilizes a cylindrical cutter head connected to a cylindrical cutter ring having teeth for planing the outer surfaces of damaged or deteriorating in situ pilings. Spacer rings are attached between the cutter head and cutter ring to lengthen the planing tool, in order to extend the tool to plane lower outer surfaces of the pilings. A drill bit extends through the planing tool to bore center channels into the pilings. A circular cutting blade is provided beneath the cutter head to plane the top of the piling. The method of reforming in situ pilings utilizes the planing tool to shape pilings so that they can be connected with new pilings. The pilings are connected by an internal steel rebar and sleeve, permanently secured with bonding material to form a single reformed piling having high tensile strength.
US08579547B2	Vessel comprising transverse skirts A vessel having an elongated shape, and being moored to the sea bed in a substantially fixed orientation. The vessel includes at least along its longitudinal sides, near keel level, two transverse skirts having such a width that the natural roll period of the vessel is above a predetermined period, the natural roll period of the vessel without the skirts being below the predetermined period.
US08579546B2	Apparatus and method for inhibiting vortex-induced vibration Apparatus and methods for reducing vortex induced vibration are provided. An apparatus for reducing vortex induced vibration can include a first body at least partially disposed within a second body. The first body can be made of a material having more weight per linear foot than the second body. The apparatus can also include one or more helical fins.
US08579545B2	Apparatus and methods for an ocean bottom seismic sensor deployment vehicle Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for transferring one or more seismic sensor devices to or from a support vessel on or near a surface of a body of water and a subsurface marine location. In one embodiment, an apparatus for transferring seismic sensor devices is provided. The apparatus includes a frame structure having one or more rails disposed thereon, the one or more rails comprising an elevator mechanism and defining at least one exit path for one or more seismic sensor devices, and one or more motors coupled to the elevator mechanism.
US08579543B2	Paver A paver includes an enclosed furnace for melting an inorganic paving material and a carriage for carrying the furnace. The furnace includes a heating chamber for receiving the paving material, a heater for heating the heating chamber to a temperature greater than 1,600° C. to melt the paving material, and an outlet for discharging melted paving material to form a paved road surface.
US08579542B2	Vehicle arresting bed Arresting beds for decelerating vehicles, especially passenger air-crafts unable to stop on available run-way, including a vehicle arresting system. The vehicle arresting system also includes a bed filled with foamed glass aggregate with particle sizes ranging from 0.25 cm to 15 cm and nominal void fractions from about 70 to 98%, and a top cover covering the upper surface of the bed of foamed glass aggregate.
US08579540B2	Access control device including a retractable obstacle The invention relates to an access control device (20) comprising a first housing (21), an obstacle (25) mounted to move in translation in the first housing, a second housing (23) remote (34) from the first housing and receiving an electric motor-and-gearbox unit (26), a deformable link connected to the obstacle and co-operating with the unit, and a mechanical return device for returning the obstacle towards a position projecting out from the first housing, which return device is connected to the deformable link and is arranged in the second housing.
US08579538B2	Turbine engine coupling stack An example coupling stack includes a first rotating member and a second rotating member. A plurality of aligned slots is defined in the first rotating member and the second rotating member. A tab lock is provided having an annular body with an axial front side, an axial back side, and a radial inner periphery. Tabs are formed on the axial back side and inserted into the plurality of aligned slots. The annular body of the tab lock also includes a plurality of openings extending into the radial inner periphery. A plurality of flanges is provided on the axial back side of the annular body adjacent to the plurality of openings.
US08579533B2	Container for a viscous cosmetic Provided is a container for a viscous cosmetic such that even when the viscous cosmetic makes contact with the applicator comprised of silicone resin there is little swelling of said applicator and the quality of the viscous cosmetic container is well maintained. An applicator made of silicone resin inside which is formed a flow-way which can communicate with a housing for internally housing a viscous cosmetic is connected to one end of the housing. A distributing port which communicates with the flow-way is formed in the applying-surface of the applicator and the viscous cosmetic within the housing can be discharged outward from the distributing port. The degree of swelling of the applicator produced by contact with the viscous cosmetic is set to from 0 wt % to 5.0 wt % by including from 50 to 100 wt % with respect to the whole of the fluid oil fraction of any one, or combination, of deodorized polybutene, isostearyl oxystearate, polyglyceryl tri-isostearate or macadamia nut oil for the fluid oil fraction of the viscous cosmetic.
US08579530B2	Aerosol system Aerosol System comprising at least two aerosol containers for separately keeping different substances, wherein each aerosol container has a valve portion; and a head portion containing a channel system and an exhaust opening, where the channel system provides communication between at least one of the valve portions and the exhaust opening; characterized in that the head portion or parts of the head portion are movable in respect to at least one aerosol container, such that the channel system can take different configurations.
US08579528B2	Thermal printer The platen bearings attached to the shaft end parts of the removable platen roller are pressed by lock levers to bearing insertion slots that are formed in the main frame of the thermal printer so that the positions of the platen bearings are determined by two points on the main frame and one point on the lock lever.
US08579525B2	Hydraulic stop valve for a camera crane A stop valve for a camera support such as a telescoping camera crane may include a valve pin engagable onto a valve seat, with a pin plate attached to the valve pin. A spring urges the valve pin in a first direction, which may be an opening direction or a closing direction. First and second dampener pins in first and second cylinders are attached to the pin plate. A closed loop fluid filled flow path connects the first and second cylinders. First and second check valves may be used to control flow in the flow path.
US08579520B2	Latching optical digital audio connector and method of use thereof An optical digital audio connector including a ferrule radially disposed over an optical fiber, an outer shell, having a first end and a second end, disposed over the ferrule, the outer shell having an extension extending from the first end of the outer shell, wherein the outer shell and extension have at least one axial slot, the at least one axial slot starting proximate the second end of the shell and axially extending through the outer shell and extension to facilitate radial movement of the outer shell and the extension, and a latching feature structurally integral with the extension, wherein the latching feature is a ramped surface forming a peak, the peak raised a distance from the outer surface, is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
US08579519B2	Cable assembly transmitting with electrical and optical signals A cable assembly (100) includes a first connector (1), a second power connector (2) arranged with the first connector in a side by side manner, and a cable (3). The first connector includes a first insulative housing (11), a set of terminals coupled to the first insulative housing for transmitting electrical signals, and an optical module (14) attached to the first insulative housing and stacked with the terminals for transmitting optical signals. The cable includes a set of first electrical wires (31) connecting with the first terminals, a plurality of optical fibers (32) connecting with the optical module, and a plurality of second electrical wires (33) connecting with the second power connector.
US08579510B2	Rotatable bar pin bushing assembly A rotatable bar pin bushing assembly is disclosed for connecting components in a vehicular system, such as a suspension and/or axle system. The rotatable bar pin bushing assembly includes an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve positioned around the inner sleeve, and an insert positioned between the inner and outer sleeves. The rotatable bar pin bushing assembly also includes a bar pin rotatably positioned within the inner sleeve. The bar pin has at least one end with at least one bore extending therethrough to receive a fastener. The bar pin is rotatable within the inner sleeve to allow indexing of the bar pin for registering the at least one bore of the bar pin with a connector of a different component. A method for assembling the rotatable bar pin bushing assembly is also disclosed.
US08579508B2	Relative sliding rail structure using pivoting mechanism A relative sliding rail structure using a pivoting mechanism mainly includes a pivot shaft, a main frame, a sliding-guided member and a pivoting seat. The main frame is connected to the pivot shaft via the pivoting seat. The sliding-guided member includes at least one sliding-guided portion engaged to a sliding seat of the main frame, so that the main frame and the sliding-guided member are relatively moved when the main frame is moved along the sliding-guided member. The main frame includes a hollow portion disposed on the sliding seat, and the pivoting seat is combined with at least one roller, wherein the roller is appropriately passed through the hollow portion to enter the sliding seat of the main frame to abut against the sliding-guided portion of the sliding-guided member, so that the main frame and the sliding-guided member are connected to each other to form a stable mutual sliding combination.
US08579507B2	Reinforced bag A bag has a reinforcement that is configured in a predetermined manner for reinforcing at least a portion of the bag. One or more predetermined areas of the bag may be reinforced. The bag may have one or more layers, and may be reinforced by placing and affixing reinforcing media in selected areas. The nature of the reinforcing media—its dimensions and structural properties—may be selected with respect to targeted uses of the bag. The bag may be subjected to one or more types of potentially failure-causing strain (e.g. bending, twisting, puncture, tensile, compression) during the useful life of the bag. For example, the bag may be stressed during filling the bag with product, top sealing, conveying by hand or machine, loading and stacking, transportation, storage, selling and final use by the consumer.
US08579506B2	Gantry scanner systems A gantry scanner system includes a radiation source, a plurality of detectors and a support frame supporting the detectors. The support frame includes an elongate support member arranged to support the detectors, cable support means arranged to support power cables or signal cables connected to the detectors, and cover means arranged to cover the support member, the cable support means and the detectors.
US08579503B2	Device to continuously determine the rate of extraction of water steam used for drying transformers A moisture flow meter is provided in the air at negative pressures in the drying of transformers by means of a vacuum process for water extraction, causing a differential of pressure through a device of orifice plate and the continuous measurement of the dewpoint. The meter includes a pipeline, a continuous dewpoint meter able to support negative pressure, as well as the use of a orifice plate and two vacuum meters (vacuum meters) capable of measuring the pressure of condensable steam as well as a orifice which, allow a pressure drop. The signals on both sides of the orifice plate and the one from the dewpoint temperature are sent to a data acquisition card, which allows to measure, with the help of an algorithm, the amount of water in weight that flows per time unit.
US08579502B2	Method for determining leak rate through a bond line of a MEMS device A method for optimizing direct wafer bond line width for reduction of parasitic capacitance in a MEMS device by reducing the width of a bond line between a first and a second wafer, exposing the MEMS device to a water vapor for a predetermined time period and at a first temperature capable of evaporating water, cooling the MEMS device at a second temperature capable of freezing the water, and operating the MEMS device at a third temperature capable of freezing the water to determine if there is discontinuity during operation.
US08579501B2	Magnetic and/or electrostatic anti-shock device Anti-shock device for the protection of a timepiece component pivotally mounted between a first and a second end in a chamber. The component is freely mounted in the chamber between pole pieces, which are distinct from the component and located in proximity to the chamber and the device includes a device for attracting the first end held in abutment on only the first pole piece, and a device for attracting the second end towards a second pole piece, the devices for attracting the first end and the second end, which are of magnetic and/or electrostatic nature, can move along an axial direction between stop members.
US08579488B2	Computer bezel with light-guide structure A computer bezel includes a bezel body, a light-guide structure, and a light source. The light-guide structure includes a guiding portion and a lighting portion. The lighting portion defines an outer surface exposed out of the bezel body. The guiding portion includes a first bottom surface and a first end surface. The lighting portion includes an end portion. The end portion defines a first distal surface. The lighting portion defines a second distal surface, a second bottom surface connected between the first distal surface and the second distal surface, a third distal surface, and a connecting surface connected between the third distal surface and the second distal surface. The guiding portion is configured to guide a plurality of light beams emitted from the light source to the lighting portion to enable the light beams to be refracted from the outer surface so as to be visible to a user.
US08579481B2	Lit door handle for a vehicle A door handle apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The door handle includes a door handle body that is configured to be disposed at a door of the vehicle. A light source is mounted inside the door handle body. A light-transmitting member is located between the light source and the door handle body. The light-transmitting member is partially exposed to an exterior of the door handle body.
US08579476B2	Thermal management of led-based illumination devices with synthetic jet ejectors An illumination device (b1-01) is provided which comprises a housing (b1-03) equipped with an aperture (b1-37), first (b1-33) and second (b1-35) diaphragms disposed in said housing and in fluidic communication with said aperture, and an LED (b1-15) disposed between said first and second diaphragms.
US08579472B2	Illumination lens The present invention provides an illumination lens which suppresses a change of an illuminance distribution following a change of an arrangement position of a light source with respect to the illumination lens. A reflection surface and emission surface of the illumination lens are configured to refract and emit, in the emission surface, second illumination light and third illumination light with refracting power of different signs. By changing an illuminance distribution of third illumination light to cancel the change of an illuminance distribution of the second illumination light when a light source is moved, it is possible to suppress the change of the illuminance distribution small even when the light source is moved back and forth.
US08579471B2	Pendant luminaire A luminaire includes an optics module and a heat sink. The optics module includes a body, an LED light source, an electronic driver circuit, and a holder. The LED light source is thermally coupled to the body. The electronic driver circuit is disposed within the body and is electrically connected to the LED light source, the driver circuit having an electrical connector configured to receive electrical power from a power source. The holder is mechanically secured to the body, the LED light source being securely retained between the holder and the body. The heat sink has a plurality of radially projecting fins and is thermally and removably coupled to the body of the optics module.
US08579467B1	Linear LED array having a specialized light diffusing element A lighting assembly where the light from multiple LEDs is blended to provide uniform lighting over a wide area without bright spots or interference anomalies. The assembly has a metal base that defines a channel. The channel has a bottom surface and opposing side walls. An array of LEDs is mounted on a circuit board. The circuit board is mounted to the bottom surface of the channel. A panel of light diffusing material is suspended over the LED array between the opposing side walls of the channel. The light diffusing material is configured to have lenticules that run parallel to the alignment of the LEDs. The lenticules vary between regions of the panel. Light emitted by the LED array passes through, and is diffused by, the lenticules. The result is a uniform patch of light that does not have bright areas or dark areas.
US08579459B2	Double-walled illuminated container An illuminated bucket is a double-layered or walled carrier, with LED light, or other illuminated source, established between the layered inner and outer walls for the formed carrier. The circuitry for the LED lights includes a battery, and may further include a flasher that allows for blinking of the lights.
US08579455B2	Direct type backlight module and liquid crystal display device The present invention discloses a direct type backlight module and a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device. A direct type backlight module comprises a diffuser plate located on the light emergent surface and a backplane opposite to the diffuser plate; a support pin is arranged between the backplane and the diffuser plate, and the support pin is rigidly fixed to the backplane. Because the support pin of the present invention is rigidly fixed on the backplane, there is no direct relationship between the present invention and the thicknesses of the backplane and the LED light plate fixed on the backplane, and no noise is produced by the loosed “mushroom head” due to infirm gripping; therefore, the support pin can be firmly fixed. The support pin can be rigidly fixed by modes facilitating the automatic operation like SMT welding and riveting, which is advantageous for promoting the productivity and the conformance rate.
US08579454B2	Lighting device, display device and television device An edge light-type lighting device with which uneven brightness on a display surface hardly occurs or is less likely to occur even though a positioning structure for positioning a light guide plate is included is provided. A backlight unit 24 according to the present invention includes a light guide plate 20, an LED unit 32, a reflection sheet 26, a backlight chassis 22, and a positioning pin 40. The light guide plate 20 has a light entrance surface 20a on the side, a light exit surface 20b on the front, an opposite surface 20c on the back, and a cutout 38 at edges. The LED unit 32 is arranged opposite the light entrance surface 20a of the light guide plate 20. The reflection sheet 26 is arranged on the opposite surface 20c side. The backlight chassis 22 includes a bottom plate 22a and side plates 22b, 22c. The positioning pin 40 is provided on the backlight chassis 22 and for positioning the light guide plate 20 when fitted in the cutout 38. The positioning pin 40 is fitted in the cutout 38. The reflection sheet 26 includes a portion that is bent in a location where the cutout 38 is located and covers a part of the positioning pin 40 exposed on an opposite side to the side plate 22b or 22c.
US08579453B1	Decorative lighting assemblies utilizing scent releasing cartridges and related methods Fragrance-releasing cartridges for decorative illuminated assemblies of the type having an electrical cord terminated by at least one electrical connector, at least one lighting element, and at least one lighting element socket electrically coupled to the electrical cord and dimensioned and arranged to retain and make electrical contact with a corresponding lighting element. Each cartridge is formed from a molded polymer impregnated with a scented compound that is released at a substantially higher rate while heated by one of an associated lighting element and a discrete, resistive heating element.
US08579450B2	Sighting device containing an elongated body made from light conducting or light collecting material and coaxially disposed with a light source The invention relates to a sighting device, containing an elongate light source (11) and an elongate body (15) made from a material which conducts light and/or collects light. The light source (11) and body (15) are disposed coaxially. A user looking into the device in the viewing direction (3) sees at least one luminous mark under all light conditions. In weak or failing ambient light, at least the light source (11) appears as a luminous dot and in strong ambient light, the face of the body (15) directed towards the user radiates collected light. In the transition range between weak and strong ambient light, both the light source (11) and the luminous face of the body (15) are visible to the user.
US08579446B2	Variable-spectrum solar simulator The invention relates to a variable-spectrum solar simulator for characterising photovoltaic systems. The simulator can be used to obtain a spectrum adjusted to the solar spectrum, both for a standard spectrum or a real spectrum adjusted to local irradiation conditions. The simulator also allows the spatial-angular characteristics of the sun to be reproduced. The invention comprises: a broad-spectrum light source, the flux from which is emitted through an aperture; an optical system which collimates the primary source; a system which disperses the beam chromatically; an optical system which forms an image of the dispersed primary source at a given position, at which a spatial mask is placed in order to filter the received irradiance spectrally; an optical system which captures the filtered spectrum and returns, mixes and concentrates same in a secondary source with the desired spectral, angular, and spatial characteristics; an optical system which collimates the secondary source such that it reproduces the angular characteristics of the sun; and a control system.
US08579441B2	Measurement device and measurement method for flickering perception threshold The measurement method involves a step for displaying on a display screen an image in which one corresponding region exclusively that has been selected from regions provided has a contrast difference when on and when off; a step for enlarging the contrast difference in the image display in cases which an operation for an operation unit accompanying the flickering perception of a subject is assessed to not be correctly specifying the one aforementioned selected region, and, in cases which a correct specification has been assessed, recording the contrast difference at that point in a recording unit as the measurement contrast difference; and a step for assessing whether the aforementioned recorded measurement contrast difference has converged, reducing the contrast difference when convergence has not been assessed, and determining the convergence value of the aforementioned measurement contrast difference as information corresponding to the flickering perception threshold when convergence has been assessed.
US08579440B2	Eyesight testing apparatus An eyesight testing apparatus includes an imaging device for virtual imaging a test object located within a focal length of the imaging device and imaged at different distances into eyes of a subject located in a focal point of the imaging device, an optical deflection device arranged in a beam path between the imaging device and the test object to deflect the beam path by 180°, wherein the deflection device is displaceable in the direction of the beam path and the test object is not, a monitor device that generates the test object and that comprises a single monitor, optical components lying in the beam path sized so that both eyes are able to take part in a test, and so a partial beam path is formed for each eye, and a blocking device arranged in the beam path, which comprises two LCD blocking elements for the partial beam paths.
US08579439B2	System and method for tracking eyeball motion Detecting position information related to a face, and more particularly to an eyeball in a face, using a detection and ranging system, such as a Radio Detection And Ranging (“RADAR”) system, or a Light Detection And Ranging (“LIDAR”) system. The position information may include a location of the eyeball, translational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., displacement, velocity, acceleration, jerk, etc.), rotational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., rotational displacement, rotational velocity, rotational acceleration, etc.) as the eyeball rotates within its socket.

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