最新美国发明专利第2016-05-24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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US09346923B2	Method for manufacturing block copolymer Providing a method for producing a compound represented by formula (1) from a compound represented by formula (2), by which the additive amount of an aryl (C1-C8) alkyl alcohol which may have a substituent and the amount of residual carboxyl groups of pAsp (polyaspartic acid) are controlled.A production method including obtaining a compound represented by formula (1) by allowing a compound represented by formula (2) to react with an aryl (C1-C8) alkyl alcohol which may have a substituent, and a carbodiimide-based compound in an amount of 2(x+y) equivalents or more relative to the amount of carboxyl groups in formula (2) (sum of x and y), in a solvent at 15° C. to 30° C. for 2 hours to 48 hours, is used.
US09346921B2	Styrene-siloxane triblock copolymers as membranes for selective transport of alcohols and other organic compounds in aqueous mixtures The present disclosure relates to high molecular weight polystyrene-polydialkylsiloxane-polystyrene (“SDS”) triblock copolymer compositions and methods of separating one or more organic compounds from an aqueous solution using membranes derived from SDS triblock copolymers. The methods may be used to separate the one or more organic compounds from an aqueous solution produced in a fermentation process. In some embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include an alcohol, such as, for example, ethanol. In other embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include acetone. In other embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include acetone, ethanol, and n-butanol produced in an acetone-ethanol-n-butanol (ABE) fermentation process. In other embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include one or more byproducts produced in a fermentation process.
US09346920B2	Water-repellent and oil-repellent composition, and water-repellent film formed by using the composition A water-repellent and oil-repellent composition, including an incompletely condensed product P2 obtained by further condensing an incompletely condensed product P1 containing a fluorine-containing alkoxy silane unit a derived from a fluorine-containing alkoxy silane compound α represented by the following general formula (1) with an alkoxy silane compound β represented by the following general formula (2), wherein a content a1 (mol %) of the fluorine-containing alkoxy silane unit a in the incompletely condensed product P1 and a content a2 (mol %) of the fluorine-containing alkoxy silane unit a in the incompletely condensed product P2 satisfy a relationship represented by the following expression (1): Rf-Yq-Ap-Z—SiX3 General formula (1) R—SiX3 General formula (2) a1/a2≧2 Expression (1).
US09346916B2	Fluidized bed reactor and method for preparing polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers from dimethoxymethane and paraformaldehyde The invention belongs to energy chemical technical field, especially relates to a fluidized bed reactor and a method for preparation of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers from dimethoxymethane and paraformaldehyde. The fluidized bed reactor comprises a gas inlet, a gas distributor, a catalyst inlet, a gas outlet, a fluid inlet, a catalyst outlet, a bottom component and an interstage component, a bottom component related gas upward channel, an interstage component related gas upward channel, a fluid outlet, a bottom downcomer and an interstage downcomer. A process for preparation of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers comprises the steps of: fluidizing gas is introduced into a bottom bed from the gas inlet via the bottom component related gas upward channel through the gas distributor; the fluidizing gas goes upwards and flows out of the reactor via the gas outlet; paraformaldehyde and dimethoxymethane are introduced into a bed through the fluid inlet; the fluid goes downwards and leaves the reactor via the fluid outlet. Compared with a conventional cannula reactor, the fluidized bed reactor improves the dispersion uniformity of catalyst and conversion of formaldehyde.
US09346913B2	Methods of preparing monodispersed polydopamine nano- or microspheres, and methods of preparing nano- or microstructures based on the polydopamine nano- or microspheres Methods of preparing monodispersed polydopamine nano- or microspheres are provided. The methods comprise providing a solvent system comprising water and at least one alcohol having the formula R—OH, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, optionally substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, optionally substituted C3-C6 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C3-C6 cycloalkenyl, and optionally substituted C6-C7 aryl; adding dopamine to said solvent system to form a reaction mixture; and agitating said reaction mixture for a time period of 1 to 10 days to form said monodispersed polydopamine nano- or microspheres. Methods of preparing carbon and hollow metal or metal oxide nano- or microspheres using the polydopamine nano- or microspheres are also provided.
US09346912B2	Polymer and organic light-emitting device including the same A polymer and an organic light-emitting device including the polymer represented by Formula 1 wherein at least one of a first dihedral angle between an A1 ring of an nth repeating unit and a first aromatic ring of an (n−1)th repeating unit and a second dihedral angle between an A2 ring of the nth repeating unit and a second aromatic ring of a (n+1)th repeating unit is equal to or greater than an angle of χ50% represented by Equation 1. χ50%=A+B(φ+4θ) Equation 1
US09346911B2	Liquid accelerator composition for hardeners A salicylic acid salt-containing liquid composition useful as an accelerator for a hardener includes a reaction product of (a) salicylic acid; and (b) at least one amine compound compatible with said salicylic acid such that the composition is in liquid form, the composition has a concentration of salicylic acid at from about 35 weight percent to about 55 weight percent, and the composition has a viscosity in the range of from about 500 mPas to about 20,000 mPa-s at 25° C.; a curable epoxy resin composition containing the salicylic acid salt-containing liquid composition accelerator; and a cured product made from the curable composition.
US09346906B2	Preparation of conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic oligomer-containing dielectric polymers and their applications A π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic oligomer-containing vinyl monomer is generally provided, which can include a polymerizable group, a linker group, and a π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic side chain. The π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic side chain includes a first cyclopentadiene ring covalently attached to the linker group, a set of second cyclopentadiene rings covalently attached to the first cyclopentadiene ring, and a third cyclopentadiene ring positioned at a terminal end of the π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic side chain such that the set of second cyclopentadiene rings is positioned between the first cyclopentadiene ring and the third cyclopentadiene ring. Methods are also provided for forming a polymer via polymerizing the π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic oligomer-containing vinyl monomer, and for grafting a π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic oligomer-containing polymer onto a surface of a nanomaterial.
US09346904B2	Thermoplastic lignin condensation polymer, and preparation method therefor The present invention provides a thermoplastic lignin polycondensate. The thermoplastic lignin polycondensate produces no fumes and odor even at a normal melt processing temperature. The melt viscosity of the thermoplastic lignin polycondensate can be measured even when heated to 200° C. or more. The thermoplastic lignin polycondensate can be prepared by selectively activating the hydroxyl reactive groups of lignin to suppress the crosslinking reaction of the hydroxyl reactive groups, which allows a linear or grafted linear growth of the lignin polycondensate.
US09346898B2	Golf ball resin composition and golf ball An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball resin composition excellent in shot feeling and resilience. The golf ball resin composition includes (A) at least one resin component selected from the group consisting of (a-1) a binary copolymer composed of an olefin and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, (a-2) an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of the binary copolymer components, (a-3) a ternary copolymer composed of the binary copolymer components and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, and (a-4) an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of the ternary copolymer components; and (B) a basic metal salt of a fatty acid, and having a storage modulus E′ (Pa) and a loss modulus E″ (Pa) satisfying a following expression; log(E′/E″2)≧−5.84 when measured in a tensile mode using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus.
US09346896B2	Silica-coated alumina activator-supports for metallocene catalyst compositions Silica-coated alumina activator-supports, and catalyst compositions containing these activator-supports, are disclosed. Methods also are provided for preparing silica-coated alumina activator-supports, for preparing catalyst compositions, and for using the catalyst compositions to polymerize olefins.
US09346894B2	Polysaccharides comprising two antithrombin III-binding sites, preparation thereof and use thereof as antithrombotic medicaments The invention relates to sulphated polysaccharides which have the general structure of the constituent polysaccharides of heparin and which have a molecular weight of less than 8000 Daltons, comprising two antithrombin III-binding hexasaccharide sequences corresponding to formula (I) in which: R1 represents an OH group when the hexasaccharide of formula (I) is located at the reducing end of the polysaccharide, or else R1 represents a bond with another saccharide unit of said polysaccharide; R2 represents a hydrogen atom when the hexasaccharide of formula (I) is located at the non-reducing end of the polysaccharide, in which case the bond between carbon atoms 4 and 5 of the first saccharide unit of said hexasaccharide is a double bond, or else R2 represents a bond with another saccharide unit of said polysaccharide, in which case the bond between carbon atoms 4 and 5 of the first saccharide unit is a single bond. Preparation thereof, use thereof as antithrombotic medicaments, and also use thereof in a method for analyzing a sample of a heparin derivative.
US09346885B2	Method of treating type 1 diabetes with antagonist IL-7 receptor antibodies The present invention provides antagonizing antibodies that bind to interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R). The invention further provides a method of obtaining such antibodies and antibody-encoding nucleic acids. The invention further relates to therapeutic methods for use of these antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof for the treatment and/or prevention of type 2 diabetes and immunological disorders, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, graft-versus-host disease, and lupus.
US09346884B2	Biological materials related to c-Met The present invention relates to biological materials related to c-Met possibly in combination with VEGF and/or EGFR, and more in particular to polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides; to methods for preparing such polypeptides; to host cells expressing or capable of expressing such polypeptides; to compositions and in particular to pharmaceutical compositions that comprise such polypeptides, for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. Methods and kits for assessing the responsiveness of a patient to c-Met therapy are also described and provided.
US09346883B2	Antibodies against HER3 The invention relates to antibodies against HER3 and their use in the treatment of cancer.
US09346879B2	Protein purification methods to reduce acidic species The instant invention relates to the field of protein production and purification, and in particular to compositions and processes for controlling the amount of charge variants, aggregates, and fragments of a protein of interest, as well as host cell proteins, present in purified preparations by applying particular chromatography conditions during such protein purification.
US09346874B2	Binding members for human cytomegalovirus The invention relates to binding members, especially antibody molecules, which may neutralize the biological effects of human cytomegalovirus (hCMV). The binding members may be useful for the treatment and prophylaxis of hCMV infection.
US09346870B2	Antibodies that inhibit TSLP activity The invention is directed to purified and isolated novel TSLP polypeptides, the nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, processes for production of recombinant forms of such polypeptides, antibodies generated against these polypeptides, fragmented peptides derived from these polypeptides, and the uses of the above.
US09346861B2	Fermentation process The present invention provides a process for periplasmic expression of a bacterial toxoid comprising the steps of: a) growing a culture of a gram negative host cell in a fermentation medium, wherein the host cell is transformed with a polynucleotide, and wherein the polynucleotide encodes the bacterial toxoid and a periplasmic signal sequence; or providing a gram negative host cell wherein the host cell is transformed with a polynucleotide, the polynucleotide encodes the bacterial toxoid and a periplasmic signal sequence and wherein the gram negative host cell comprises the bacterial toxoid expressed in the periplasm; a(i)) inducing expression of the bacterial toxoid; b) maturing the host cell, wherein the maturing step comprises: I) subjecting the host cell to a pH shock; II) incubating the host cell with no feed addition; and/or III) subjecting the host cell to a temperature below −20° C.; and c) extracting the bacterial toxoid from the host cell wherein the extraction process comprises osmotic shock.
US09346856B2	Isolated nucleic acid molecules from the genome of citrus leprosis virus and uses thereof The present disclosure embraces nucleic acid molecules found in the genome of the Citrus Leprosis Virus (CiLV), which is associated to Citrus Leprosis (CiL) disease. The cloned CiLV nucleic acid molecules can be used as probes or can be used to design oligonucleotide primers for detecting CiLV in biological samples, particularly leaves, roots and other tissues or organs of plants, such as plants from the genera Citrus and Poncirus. The cloned CiLV nucleic acid molecules are expressed in cells to provide immunogenic proteins for raising antibodies against CiLV, which can then be used to detect CiLV in biological samples. It also comprises the nucleic acid molecules represented in SEQ ID Nos. 5 and 8, in whole or part, as well as transgenic plants, such as monocots and dicots, containing the CiLV nucleic acid molecules, in any kind of combination, so that expression increases resistance to CiL disease.
US09346846B1	Anti-cancer compounds and methods for treating cancer The present invention is directed to novel anti-cancer compounds and methods of treating and/or inhibiting cancer in patients, including metastatic cancer, recurrent cancer and drug resistant cancers, including multiple drug resistant cancers. Compounds according to the present invention provide anti-cancer activity, at least in part, by virtue of their nucleotide intercalating activity through the use of analogs of (−)lomaiviticin A, a potent anticancer agent which exhibits cytotoxicity through its principal mechanism of cleavage and to a lesser extent, its intercalation of cellular polynucleotides, especially DNA. In additional embodiments, compounds according to the present invention are also conjugated and/or linked to other bioactive agents, especially agents which selectively target cancer cells (cancer cell targeting moiety or CCTM) to target and increase the delivery of the anticancer agent to the cancer cell. These targeting agents include folate receptor-targeted moieties, other cancer binding moieties such as PMSA binding moieties as otherwise described herein and antibodies, including single chain variable fragment antibodies (scFv antibodies). Pharmaceutical compositions based upon these novel compounds are also disclosed pursuant to the present invention. Methods of treating, inhibiting and/or reducing the likelihood of cancer, including metastatic and recurrent cancer and drug resistant, including multiple drug resistant cancer in a patient are also disclosed.
US09346839B2	Phosphonate derivatives and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease Benzothiazole phosphonate analogs and methods of using the same to inhibit the activity of Amyloid Binding Alcohol Dehydrogenase and in the amelioration or treatment of Alzheimer's disease are provided.
US09346837B2	Cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions and methods using 2-decarboxy-2-phosphinico derivatives A method for treating hair loss in mammals uses compositions containing 2-decarboxy-2-phosphinico prostaglandin derivatives. The compositions can be applied topically to the skin. The compositions can arrest hair loss, reverse hair loss, and promote hair growth. Compositions containing 2-decarboxy-2-phosphinico prostaglandin derivatives can also be used to lower intraocular pressure and treat bone disorders.
US09346836B2	Salts of isophosphoramide mustard and analogs thereof as anti-tumor agents The present disclosure relates to salts and compositions of isophosphoramide mustard and isophosphoramide mustard analogs. In one embodiment the salts can be represented by the formula I: (I) wherein A+ represents an ammonium species selected from the protonated (conjugate acid) or quaternary forms of aliphatic amines and aromatic amines, including basic amino acids, heterocyclic amines, substituted and unsubstituted pyridines, guanidines and amidines; and X and Y independently represent leaving groups. Also disclosed herein are methods for making such compounds and formulating pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Methods for administering the disclosed compounds to subjects, particularly to treat hyper-proliferative disorders, also are disclosed.
US09346834B2	Boron-containing small molecules as antiprotozoal agents This invention provides, among other things, novel compounds useful for treating protozoal infections, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, as well as combinations of these compounds with at least one additional therapeutically effective agent.
US09346827B2	5-amino-oxazepine and 5-amino-thiazepane compounds as beta secretase antagonists and methods of use The present invention provides a new class of compounds useful for the modulation of beta-secretase enzyme (BACE) activity. The compounds have a general Formula (I); wherein variables A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, R2, R7, X and Y of Formula (I) are defined herein. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and corresponding uses of the compounds and compositions for treatment of disorders and/or conditions related to A-beta plaque formation and deposition, resulting from the biological activity of BACE. Such BACE mediated disorders include, for example, Alzheimer's Disease, cognitive deficits, cognitive impairments, schizophrenia and other central nervous system conditions. The invention further provides compounds of Formulas (II) and sub-formula embodiments of Formula (I) and (II), intermediates and processes and methods useful for the preparation of compounds of Formulas (I)-(II).
US09346824B2	Cyclohexyl-4H,6H-5-oxa-2,3,10b-triaza-benzo[e]azulenes as V1a antagonists The present invention provides 4H,6H-5-oxa-2,3,10b-triaza-benzo[e]azulenes, which act as V1a receptor modulators, and in particular as V1a receptor antagonists, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as medicaments. The active compounds of the present invention are useful as therapeutics acting peripherally and centrally in the conditions of dysmenorrhea, male or female sexual dysfunction, hypertension, chronic heart failure, inappropriate secretion of vasopressin, liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, anxiety, depressive disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, autistic spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and aggressive behavior.
US09346820B2	HIV-1 protease inhibitors having gem-di-fluoro bicyclic P2-ligands Various embodiments of the present invention relate to, among other things, compounds and methods of using those compounds to treat an HIV infection. The compounds of the various embodiments of the present invention provide, among other things, therapeutic agents having enhanced penetration capability across the blood-brain barrier, such that they can enter the CNS to treat an HIV-1 infection in the CNS.
US09346812B2	Substituted pyrrolopyrimidine compounds, compositions thereof, and methods of treatment therewith Provided herein are Pyrrolopyrimidine Compounds having the following structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, and L are as defined herein, compositions comprising an effective amount of a Pyrrolopyrimidine Compound, and methods for treating or preventing breast cancer, more particularly triple negative breast cancer, comprising administering an effective amount of such Pyrrolopyrimidine Compounds to a subject in need thereof.
US09346808B2	Hsp90 inhibitors The disclosure relates to Compounds of Formulae (IA) and (IB): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein Z1, Z2, Z3, Xa, Xb, Xc, Xd, Y, X2, and X4 are as defined herein, compositions comprising an effective amount of a Compound of Formula (IA) and/or (IB), and methods to treat or prevent a condition, such cancer which overexpresses Her-kinases, comprising administering to an patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a Compound of Formula (IA) or (IB). The disclosure further relates to compounds of Formulae (IA) and IB) in which X2 is a leaving for introducing a radiolabeled atom, such as 124I or 131I and to methods of using such compounds in the preparation of radiolabeled compounds, particularly for use in imaging.
US09346807B2	Inhibitors of PI3K-delta and methods of their use and manufacture The invention is directed to Compounds of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof, as well as methods of making and using the compounds.
US09346804B2	Tricyclic oxazolidinone antibiotic compounds The present invention relates to antibacterial compounds of formula (I) wherein “----” is a bond or is absent, V is CH, CR6 or N; R0 is H or, if “----” is a bond, may also be alkoxy; R1 is cyano, alkyl, or ethynyl; U is CH or N when “----” is a bond, or, if “----” is absent, U is CH2, NH or NH9; R2 is H, alkylcarbonyl or CH2—R3; R3 is H, alkyl or hydroxyalkyl; R4 is H or, if n is not 0 and R5 is H, may also be OH; R5 is H, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, carboxy or alkoxycarbonyl; R6 is hydroxyalkyl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl or —(CH2)q—NR7R8, q being 1, 2 or 3 and each of R7 and R8 independently being H or alkyl or R7 and R8 forming with the N atom bearing them a ring; R9 is alkyl or hydroxyalkyl; A is —(CH2)p—, —CH2CH2CH(OH)— or —COCH2CH(OH)—; G is substituted phenyl or G1 or G2, wherein Q is O or S and X is CH or N; and Y1, Y2 and Y3 may each be CH or N; and n is 0 when A is —CH2CH2CH(OH)— or —COCH2CH(OH)—, and n is 0, 1 or 2 when A is —(CH2)p—, p being 1, 2, 3 or 4, with the proviso that the sum of n and p is then 2, 3 or 4; and to salts of such compounds.
US09346803B2	Indomethacin analogs for the treatment of castrate-resistant prostate cancer Provided are compositions for inhibiting a biological activity of an aldoketo reductase family 1, member C3 (AKR1 C3) polypeptide. In some embodiments, the compositions are indomethacin derivatives that are AKR1 C3-specific inhibitors. Also provided are methods for producing disclosed indomethacin derivatives that substantially lack cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity but that have AKR1C3 inhibitory activity, methods for inhibiting AKR1C3 polypeptide biological activities, and methods for treating prostate tumors in subjects.
US09346801B2	Substituted 7-oxo-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines and methods of use The invention encompasses compounds, analogs, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions, uses and methods for prophylaxis and treatment of cancer.
US09346792B2	3,5-diaminopyrazole kinase inhibitors Provided herein are 3,5-diaminopyrazoles, for example, compounds of Formula IA, that are useful for modulating regulated-in-COPD kinase activity, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods of their use for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a RC kinase-mediated disorder, disease, or condition.
US09346791B2	Itraconazole analogs and use thereof Provided herein are Itraconazole analogs. Also provided herein are methods of inhibition of Hedgehog pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) glycosylation, angiogenesis and treatment of disease with Itraconazole analogs.
US09346790B2	Hydantoin derivatives useful as Kv3 inhibitors The invention provides compounds of formula (I): Said compounds being inhibitors of Kv3 channels and of use in the prophylaxis or treatment of related disorders.
US09346789B2	Combinations of AKT inhibitor compounds and abiraterone, and methods of use The invention provides a combination of a) a compound of Formula (Ia): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and b) abiraterone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a hyperproliferative disorder, such as cancer.
US09346788B2	TrkA receptor tyrosine kinase antagonists and uses thereof The present disclosure relates to novel synthetic substituted heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, said compounds being capable of inhibiting or antagonizing TrkA receptor tyrosine kinases. In some aspects, the disclosure provides a compound having a structural formula (I): The disclosure further concerns the use of such compounds in the treatment and/or prevention of certain types of cancers, pain, inflammation, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, Alzheimer's, a disease, disorder, injury, or malfunction relating to dysmyelination or demyelination.
US09346785B2	Process for making HCV protease inhibitors Efficient processes for making HCV protease inhibitors are described. In one embodiment, the process uses novel idazolide derivatives of vinyl-ACCA. In another embodiment, the process comprises reacting with to form In still another embodiment, the process comprises coupling with to form
US09346784B2	Phenyl-substituted nicotinic ligands, and methods of use thereof Disclosed are compounds and methods of using them to treat a disorder selected from the group consisting of addiction, pain, obesity, schizophrenia, epilepsy, mania and manic depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, learning deficit, cognition deficit, attention deficit, memory loss, Lewy Body Dementia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Tourette's syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammation, stroke, spinal cord injury, dyskinesias, obsessive compulsive disorder, chemical substance abuse, alcoholism, memory deficit, pseudodementia, Ganser's syndrome, migraine pain, bulimia, premenstrual syndrome or late luteal phase syndrome, tobacco abuse, post-traumatic syndrome, social phobia, chronic fatigue syndrome, premature ejaculation, erectile difficulty, anorexia nervosa, autism, mutism, trichotillomania, hypothermia, and disorders of sleep.
US09346782B2	Alkyl linked quinolinyl modulators of RORγt The present invention comprises compounds of Formula I. wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are defined in the specification. The invention also comprises a method of treating or ameliorating a syndrome, disorder or disease, wherein said syndrome, disorder or disease is rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. The invention also comprises a method of modulating RORγt activity in a mammal by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of claim 1.
US09346781B2	Therapeutic compounds The invention provides compounds useful as anti-cancer agents.
US09346780B2	Process for producing dihydro-2H-pyran derivatives Disclosed is a process for preparing dihydro-2H-pyran derivatives of formula I: wherein R1 and R2 are defined herein. The process of the invention provides the compound of formula I in concise cascade reactions and in one pot. The compound of formulae I prepared by the process of the invention and its further transformed derivatives are useful for making pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of proliferative diseases.
US09346775B2	Method for manufactruring β-(meth)acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactones The art relates to provision of a method for manufacturing an (meth)acrylic polymerizable monomer that can be used in various applications, such as an optical material, a resist material, a coating material and a laminate material, and provision of a new β-(meth)acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone compound by applying the manufacturing method. The method for manufacturing the β-(meth)acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone compound is described, in which a (meth)acrylate compound having a carbonyl group and a ketene compound are condensed and isomerized. Further, the manufacturing method is applied to the new β-(meth)acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone compound.
US09346772B2	Preparation method for an imine compound and reduction method for solid powder of a carbamic acid derivative The present application relates to a preparation method for solid powder of a carbamic acid derivative, which includes reacting an amine derivative with carbon dioxide at a temperature in a range of from about −30° C. to about 500° C. and at a pressure in a range of from about 0.3 MPa to about 100 MPa. In addition, the present disclosure relates to a reduction method for solid powder of a carbamic acid derivative to an amine derivative and carbon dioxide, which includes dissolving solid powder of the carbamic acid derivative prepared in a solvent; refluxing the carbamic acid derivative at a temperature in a range of from about 30° C. to about 100° C.; and evaporating the solvent.
US09346771B2	Purification method A diagnostic imaging agent useful for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging as well as to improved hardware for producing such imaging agents is described. Flutemetamol (18F) Injection for the imaging of β-amyloid plaques in the brain and methods and devices for preparing same are described including the automated synthesis and purification of [18F]flutemetamol by means of solid phase extraction (SPE).
US09346769B2	Tetrazolones as inhibitors of fatty acid synthase Provided herein are tetrazolone FASN inhibitors of the formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable form thereof; wherein the variables RA, RB and RC are defined herein. Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds provided herein as well as methods of their use for the treatment of various disorders such as hyperproliferative disorders, inflammatory disorders, obesity-related disorders and microbial infections.
US09346767B2	Substituted pyrazines and a process for producing the same Described include (1) a substituted pyrazine compound of general formula (VIII): and (2) a process for producing the substituted pyrazine compound of general formula (VIII), where R1 is hydrogen, a halogen, a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, and R4 is a protecting group. The process comprises (1) the step of reacting 2-amino-3,5-dibromo-6-chloropyrazine with R1MgX and ZnCl2 in the presence of a palladium catalyst to produce a compound of general formula (V); (2) the step of reacting the compound of general formula (V) with a compound of general formula (VI) to produce a compound of general formula (VII); and (3) the step of reacting the compound of formula (VII) with tributyl(vinyl)tin in the presence or a palladium catalyst to given the compound of general formula (VIII).
US09346764B2	Imidazolidinedione compounds and their uses Provided are imidazolidinedione compounds of formula (I), processes for preparation, uses and pharmaceutically compositions thereof. The imidazolidinedione compounds posses androgen receptor antagonist activity and can be used for preventing and treating diseases and disorders related to androgen receptor, such as prostate cancer, alopecia, hair regeneration, acne and adolescent acne.
US09346763B2	Process for the preparation of pyrazole carboxylic acid derivatives The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of a pyrazole carboxylic acid derivative of the formula wherein R1 is C1-7-alkyl and R3 is C1-7-alkyl which is optionally substituted with halogen or C1-4-alkoxy. The pyrazole carboxylic acid derivative of the formula I can be used as building block in the preparation of pharmaceutically active principles e.g. for compounds acting as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, particularly PDE10 inhibitors. PDE10 inhibitors have the potential to treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
US09346761B2	Arginine methyltransferase inhibitors and uses thereof Described herein are compounds of Formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Compounds described herein are useful for inhibiting arginine methyltransferase activity. Methods of using the compounds for treating arginine methyltransferase-mediated disorders are also described.
US09346759B2	Polymorphic crystal forms of 5-(2-{[6-(2,2-difluoro-2-phenylethoxy)hexyl]amino}-1-(R)-hydroxyethyl)-8-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-one, heminapadisytlate as agonist of the β2 adrenergic receptor The present invention is directed to novel polymorphic crystal forms of a 5-(2-{[6-(2,2-difluoro-2-phenylethoxy)hexyl]amino}-1-(R)-hydroxyethyl)-8-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-one, heminapadisylate. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said polymorphic crystal forms, methods of using them to treat respiratory diseases associated with β2 adrenergic receptor activity and a process for preparing such polymorphic crystal forms.
US09346758B2	Pyridinone compounds for use in photodynamic therapy A compound which is a compound of formula (I) or any salt thereof: wherein R1 is a Ci-C6 alkyl group, R2 is H or a Ci-C6 alkyl group, R3 is H or a Ci-C6 alkyl group, and n is an integer from 0 to 5.
US09346754B2	Method of treating advanced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis A compound of Formula (I): or a metabolite thereof, or an ester of the compound of Formula (I) or the metabolite thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of each thereof, wherein m, n, X1 and X2 are as defined herein, is useful for inhibiting or treating advanced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, conditions leading to or arising from it, and/or negative effects of each thereof.
US09346752B2	Permanent attachment of pigments and dyes to surfaces containing Calkyl-OH functionality Embodiment of the present disclosure can include a compound, a structure bonded to the compound, and the like. In an embodiment, the compound can be a linker between an agent and a structure, where the agent can be a dye or a pigment and the structure can be a fiber, hair, or another structure.
US09346746B2	R(+)-N-formyl-propargyl-aminoindan The subject invention provides R(+)-N-formyl-propargyl-aminoindan and a composition containing N-propargyl-1(R)-aminoindan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a compound of R(+)-N-formyl-propargyl-aminoindan.
US09346744B2	Process for the preparation of lacosamide and its novel intermediate An improved, cost effective process for the preparation of Lacosamide is disclosed. A novel intermediate of formula (IV) and a process for preparation of the novel intermediate is also disclosed. wherein, X is halogen.
US09346743B2	Processes for the synthesis of 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxybenzamide and other benzamide compounds This invention provides a method for the synthesis of a 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxybenzamide and other benzamides of Compound I: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen, a C1-C6 alkyl, or a C1-C6 alkoxy; and wherein R6 and R7 each independently represent a hydrogen, a C1-C6 alkyl, a protecting group, or a directing group.
US09346741B2	Polyamine transport selective therapeutic agents with enhanced stability Disclosed herein are di-substituted aryl polyamine compounds and methods of making and using the same. The di-substituted polyamine compounds act as PTS targeting agents, which selectively target the polyamine transport system (PTS) with high efficacy and have improved stability in the presence of amine oxidases.
US09346740B2	Production method for 2-alkenylamine compound Provided is a method for producing a 2-alkenylamine compound efficiently and at low cost, using a primary or secondary amine compound and a 2-alkenyl compound as the starting materials therefor. The 2-alkenyleamine compound is produced by 2-alkenylating a primary or secondary amine compound, using a specified 2-alkenylating agent and in the presence of a catalyst comprising a complexing agent and a transition metal precursor stabilized by a monovalent anionic five-membered conjugated diene.
US09346736B2	Oxidation process A process utilizing nitric acid and oxygen as co-oxidants to oxidize aldehydes, alcohols, polyols, preferably carbohydrates, specifically reducing sugars to produce the corresponding carboxylic acids.
US09346729B2	Methods of converting mixtures of palmitoleic and oleic acid esters to high value products The invention describes methods and systems for making particular organic compounds from unsaturated fatty acids derived from biological materials. Particular embodiments describe synthesizing civetone and olefins from a mixture of palmitoleic and oleic unsaturated fatty acid esters. The inventive methods use reaction steps such as metathesis, cyclization, hydrolysis, and/or decarboxylation.
US09346728B2	Hydrocarbon conversion process The invention relates to a process for converting hydrocarbons into products containing aldehydes and/or alcohols. The invention also relates to producing olefins from the aldehyde and alcohol, to polymerizing the olefins, and to equipment useful for these processes.
US09346725B2	Process for the preparation of higher alcohols Process for production of a higher alcohol product from an alcohol synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and lower alcohols, comprising a carbon dioxide and optional alkane removal step. Use a stripper using synthesis gas as stripping gas to purify the liquid phase containing the lower and highers alcohols, in order to strip the lower alcohol from the alcohol stream. Synthesis gas used for stripping is used as recycle stream in the reactor.
US09346721B2	Hydrocarbon conversion The invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion processes, to equipment useful in such processes, to the products of such hydrocarbon conversion processes and the use thereof, and to the use of energy derived from such processes.
US09346720B2	Isomerization of light alpha-olefins to light internal olefins The present invention relates to a process for isomerizing linear alpha-olefins having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms over a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises a hydrogenation metal and a selectivity promoter selected from among selenium and tellurium on a support, and also a process for preparing 1-olefins by a metathesis reaction of 2-olefins with ethene, wherein the 2-olefins are prepared by the above mentioned isomerization process.
US09346715B2	Lanthanum hexaboride sintered body, target and lanthanum hexaboride film each comprising same, and process for production of the sintered body Disclosed are: a lanthanum hexaboride sintered body which contains lanthanum hexaboride as the main component, has an element nitrogen content of 0.1 to 3 mass % inclusive, contains an impurity composed of element carbon and/or at least two elements selected from La, C, O and B at a content of 0.3 vol % or less, and has a relative density of 88% or more; and a target comprising the lanthanum hexaboride sintered body. An LaB6 sintered body can be provided, which enables the production of a highly pure and dense LaB6 thin film having excellent crystallinity and a good work function and which is suitable for a sputtering target or the like.
US09346709B2	Glass with high frictive damage resistance A glass article exhibiting improved resistance to fictive surface damage and a method for making it, the method comprising removing a layer of glass from at least a portion of a surface of the article that is of a layer thickness at least effective to reduce the number and/or depth of flaws on the surface of the article, and then applying a friction-reducing coating to the portion of the article from which the layer of surface glass has been removed.
US09346708B2	Strengthened glass substrates with glass frits and methods for making the same Strengthened glass substrates with glass fits and methods for forming the same are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for forming a glass frit on a glass substrate may include providing a glass substrate comprising a compressive stress layer extending from a surface of the glass substrate into a thickness of the glass substrate, the compressive stress having a depth of layer DOL and an initial compressive stress CSi. A glass frit composition may be deposited on at least a portion of the surface of the glass substrate. Thereafter, the glass substrate and the glass frit composition are heated in a furnace to sinter the glass fit composition and bond the glass frit composition to the glass substrate, wherein, after heating, the glass substrate has a fired compressive stress CSf which is greater than or equal to 0.70*CSi.
US09346706B2	Methods of fabricating glass articles by laser damage and etching Methods of forming a glass article are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of forming a glass article includes translating a pulsed laser beam on a glass substrate sheet to form a laser damage region between a first surface and a second surface of the glass substrate sheet. The method further includes applying an etchant solution to the glass substrate sheet to remove a portion of the glass substrate sheet about the laser damage region. The method may further include strengthening the glass substrate sheet by an ion-exchange strengthening process, and coating the glass substrate sheet with an acid-resistant coating. Also disclosed are methods where the laser damage region has an initial geometry that changes to a desired geometry following the reforming of the glass substrate sheet such that the initial geometry of the laser damage region compensates for the bending of the glass substrate sheet.
US09346705B2	Intermediate to high CTE glasses and glass articles comprising the same Intermediate to high CTE glass compositions and laminates formed from the same are described. The glasses described herein have properties, such as liquidus viscosity or liquidus temperature, which make them particularly well suited for use in fusion forming processes, such as the fusion down draw process and/or the fusion lamination process. Further, the glass composition may be used in a laminated glass article, such as a laminated glass article formed by a fusion laminate process, to provide strengthened laminates via clad compression as a result of CTE mismatch between the core glass and clad glass.
US09346703B2	Ion exchangable glass with deep compressive layer and high damage threshold Glasses comprising SiO2, Al2O3, and P2O5 that are capable of chemical strengthened by ion exchange and having high damage resistance. These phosphate-containing glasses have a structure in which silica (SiO2) is replaced by aluminum phosphate (AlPO4) and/or boron phosphate (BPO4).
US09346700B2	Titania-doped quartz glass and making method Titania-doped quartz glass is manufactured by mixing a silicon-providing reactant gas and a titanium-providing reactant gas, preheating the reactant gas mixture at 200-400° C., and subjecting the mixture to oxidation or flame hydrolysis. A substrate of the glass is free of concave defects having a volume of at least 30,000 nm3 in an effective region of the EUV light-reflecting surface and is suited for use in the EUV lithography.
US09346697B2	Mould-supporting system for a machine for forming hollow glassware A mould-supporting system for a machine for forming hollow glassware includes a supporting structure, and a first carriage and a second carriage, which are slidably mounted, respectively, on a first bar and a second bar of the supporting structure, and, moreover, are slidably mounted on a third bar of the supporting structure, common to the two carriages, the first and second carriages carrying, respectively, a first mould-carrier arm and a second mould-carrier arm. Mutual displacement of the first and second carriages is controlled between a position where they are set close to one another and a corresponding position where they are set apart. The first and second carriages have a first tubular portion that engages, respectively, the first and second bars via first sliding means, and a second tubular portion that engages the third bar via second sliding means. The second sliding means enable adjustment of the position of the second tubular portion in a direction transverse to the third bar.
US09346695B2	Apparatus for purifying wastewater and method thereof The present inventions relates to an apparatus for purifying wastewater and a method thereof, which comprises: a stirring part to make bubbles impregnated into floc through high speed stirring by adding floc forming materials to influent and stirring them; an air supply part to supply air to the stirring part to make more bubbles impregnated; a pumping part to conduct pressurized conveying of the floc included treatment water; a cyclone part to separate high density floc to downstream and treatment water with low density floc to upstream from the pressurized treatment water; and a flotation part to separate floc from the treatment water with floc supplied from the cyclone part. Therefore, the present invention have an effect that it is possible to improve purification speed of wastewater and obtain good quality of purified water.
US09346694B2	Method and apparatus for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment One or more reactor and one or more control methods are used for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment to achieve measured control of maintaining high ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) oxidation rates while achieving nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) out-selection, using various control strategies, including: 1) ammonia and the use of ammonia setpoints; 2) operational DO and the use of DO setpoints; 3) bioaugmentation of anammox and lighter flocculant AOB fraction; and 4) implementation of transient anoxia in several reactor configurations and conditions for removal of oxidized nitrogen using anammox or heterotrophic organisms. Controls described maximize nitrogen removal with minimal aeration, through control of transient anoxia and aerobic SRT, out-selection of NOB, and control of DO concentrations or aeration interval by keeping the reactor ammonia (NH4) and oxidized nitrogen (NOx) concentrations approximately equal, and maximize total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal through nitrification, limited nitritation, nitritation, denitrification, denitritation or deammonification making use of the aforementioned strategies.
US09346692B2	Reduction of organic phosphorus acids The present invention is to a process for reducing and removing organic phosphorus acid from waste stream. The process involves adding a multivalent metal salt to the waste stream and adjusting the pH level of the waste stream to an optimum level to maximize the removal of organic phosphorus acid.
US09346691B2	Tubular high-density plasma reactor, with outer treatment chamber and collinear rotatable inner cylinder An apparatus and method for simultaneously removing materials from fluids without the need for added chemicals, and without the formation of toxic byproducts, by high-density plasma reaction chemistry is described. Applications to removal of contaminants, such as pesticides, organics, PPCPs, and pathogens, as examples, from water are discussed. Changes in the quality of the raw water are not expected to adversely affect the decontamination process.
US09346690B2	Composition and method for retention of solvated compounds and ions Storage stable polyhydroxylated aromatic ether adducts of polyalkylene oxide are described. Reactive compositions are formed by combining an ether adduct with an aldehyde, optionally further adding a phenolic-aldehyde prepolymer. The reactive compositions are cured by removing water, by acidification, or both. The cured compositions sorb solvated compounds from environments containing water. The cured compositions are also useful for pre-loading with compounds that are subsequently released at a controlled rate into environments containing water.
US09346687B1	Water purifying drink system and method A water purification system is described herein. The water purification system comprises a container configured to hold a liquid; an ultraviolet light source configured to irradiate liquid within the container; a reflector configured to reflect light from the ultraviolet light source into the container; a trough adaptor having a first end and a second end and configured to channel a liquid from the first end to the second end while exposing the liquid to light from the ultraviolet light source; and wherein the reflector is configured to reflect light from the ultraviolet light source both onto the trough adaptor and into the container.
US09346685B2	Method for producing substances to be separated having controlled amounts of dopant element A method is provided for producing separated substances, particularly metal compounds, the dopant element amounts of which have been controlled by the use of an apparatus that processes fluid between the processing surfaces of a processing member that can be made to approach/separate and which rotate relative to each other. The substance to be separated is separated by mixing a raw material solution, wherein the substance to be separated is solubilized in a solvent, with the solvent for separation and with the dopant element or dopant element-containing substance solubilized in at least one solvent selected from the solvent of said raw material solution, said solvent for separation or a solvent other than that of said raw material solution or said solution for separation. Separated substances with controlled dopant element amounts are obtained by controlling the solubility of the dopant element or dopant element-containing substance in the solvent for separation.
US09346675B2	Set-up for production of hydrogen gas by thermo-chemical decomposition of water using steel plant slag and waste materials A system for the production of hydrogen from water in the presence of slag, comprising a graphite crucible containing molten slag; a reaction hood disposed over said crucible; a water line for spraying water on the molten slag in the crucible; and a steel tube for collecting and transferring the produced hydrogen gas from said hood into a condenser tank.
US09346674B2	Catalyst for a fuel cell, a method of preparing the same, and a fuel cell system comprising the same The catalyst for a fuel cell of the present invention includes a compound including at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, and titanium, and a catalytic metal.
US09346670B2	MEMS device with differential vertical sense electrodes A MEMS device includes a first sense electrode and a first portion of a sense mass formed in a first structural layer, where the first sense electrode is fixedly coupled with the substrate and the first portion of the sense mass is suspended over the substrate. The MEMS device further includes a second sense electrode and a second portion of the sense mass formed in a second structural layer. The second sense electrode is spaced apart from the first portion of the sense mass in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate, and the second portion of the sense mass is spaced apart from the first sense electrode in the same direction. A junction is formed between the first and second portions of the sense mass so that they are coupled together and move concurrently in response to an imposed force.
US09346668B1	Molded cavity substrate MEMS package fabrication method and structure Methods and systems for a molded cavity substrate Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) package may comprise a MEMS electronic component, a base substrate comprising a first conductive through via, a molded ring coupled to the base substrate, and a lid substrate comprising dielectric material and a metal layer. The molded ring comprises a second conductive through via and a molded cavity, and the MEMS electronic component is located within the molded cavity. The base substrate may comprise a laminate substrate. The lid substrate may comprise a cavity port. A base assembly mounting adhesive may couple an inner surface of the lid to a principal surface of the molded ring. The dielectric material may comprise mold material. The molded ring may comprise mold compound adherent to an outer region of an inner surface of the base substrate with a central region of the base substrate exposed by the molded ring.
US09346667B2	Lead frame based MEMS sensor structure A sensor structure is disclosed. The sensor structure may include a lead frame for supporting a MEMS sensor, a recess in a surface of the lead frame, and a MEMS sensor coupled to the surface of the lead frame and arranged over the recess to form a chamber. Alternatively, the lead frame may have a perforation formed through it and the MEMS sensor may be coupled to the surface of the lead frame and arranged over an opening of the perforation.
US09346666B2	Composite wafer semiconductor A composite wafer semiconductor device includes a first wafer and a second wafer. The first wafer has a first side and a second side, and the second side is substantially opposite the first side. The composite wafer semiconductor device also includes an isolation set is formed on the first side of the first wafer and a free space is etched in the isolation set. The second wafer is bonded to the isolation set. A floating structure, such as an inertia sensing device, is formed in the second wafer over the free space. In an embodiment, a surface mount pad is formed on the second side of the first wafer. Then, the floating structure is electrically coupled to the surface mount pad using a through silicon via (TSV) conductor.
US09346663B1	Fluid transfer coupling Complementary couplers useful in providing a coupling through which liquids may be transferred from a first storage reservoir or tank to a second storage reservoir or tank, which can be an on-board fuel tank of a motorized vehicle. There is a first coupling which is configured to be in fluid communication with the interior of a receiving vessel, fuel tank, etc. and a second coupling which is intended to be in fluid communication with the contents of a storage reservoir containing a chemical, liquid fuel, etc. The disclosure also includes a process for charging a fuel reservoir on board of a motorized vehicle from a remote reservoir, wherein the vapor in the fuel reservoir is displaced by an equal volume of fuel delivered from said remote reservoir, and wherein the vapor in said fuel reservoir is simultaneously caused to be transferred to said remote reservoir, thus permitting no escape of the vapor from said fuel reservoir to the surrounding atmosphere. Through use of the present disclosure, more rapid liquid transfer through individual couplers occurs with reduced losses of liquid chemicals, fuel, etc. versus prior art couplers.
US09346661B2	Liquid dispenser with storage tanks A liquid dispenser has containers, sized, shaped and arranged to enclose different volumes but each of the containers has a top with a refill opening that is substantially the same as the top and openings of the other containers. The containers are provided with curving transition sections that taper the sides of the container to increase or decrease the width of the container to provide a smaller or large top sizes as needed.
US09346660B2	Water dispenser A water dispenser includes a slide table arranged in a lower portion thereof. The slide table includes a cup portion in which a piercing rod of a water supply line is provided, a container supporting portion configured to support from below a shoulder portion of a raw water container which is a transparent and deformable container, and a holder portion configured to guide downwardly s side peripheral portion of the raw water container. Since the surface color of the piercing rod is different from the surface color of the cup portion and the container supporting portion, it is possible to visually confirm how much the raw water container is pierced by the piercing rod.
US09346659B2	Hybrid beverage dispenser Disclosed is a hybrid beverage dispenser that can be configured in a number of flexible arrangements, providing the opportunity for a configurable beverage dispensing “station” having a variable “footprint”. The hybrid beverage dispenser may have “on board” refrigeration and/or heating system for providing both hot and cold beverages from the same dispenser. A remote chiller may provide chilled syrups for the beverages. Also disclosed is a countertop hybrid beverage dispensing unit for situations where limited space is an issue. Also disclosed is a hybrid beverage dispenser that provides the ability to dispense from one dispenser beverages which usually are dispensed from separate dispensers. The countertop unit possesses the same beverage dispensing flexibility; however, all ingredients are remotely chilled and pumped to the point of dispensing.
US09346654B2	Regenerative power capture system for endless track escalators and moving walkways Power is recovered from an escalator or a moving walkway as the step orbits an endless track on rollers. A generator is connected to a roller orbiting the track. A battery backup is provided. The power is used for emergency lighting on the step, and for data transmission. Advertising and messages are displayed on a dynamic video screen mounted on the step. The apparatus is mostly contained within the escalator step. Information is communicated wirelessly to a remotely located central control station and back to the step, so as to display information in real time and to update advertising while the escalator is in operation. The central control station also monitors performance parameters. The visual display can include LED lighting.
US09346652B2	Film winding core, and wound film body using same A film winding core (10) of the present invention includes a bearing portion (12), a plurality of blade portions 13, and a plurality of film supporting portions (14). The bearing portion (12) constitutes a tubular portion into which a shaft used to rotate the film winding core (10) is to be inserted. The plurality of blade portions (13) are provided respectively at a plurality of positions in a rotational direction of the bearing portion (12) and respectively extending outwardly from the bearing portion (12) so as to partition a space around the bearing portion (12) in the rotational direction. The plurality of film supporting portions (14) are respectively provided at positions outward from leading edges of the blade portions (13), and has an outwardly protruding shape so that a film (18) is supported away from the film winding core (10) between the film supporting portions (14) that are adjacent to each other in the rotational direction.
US09346649B2	Finisher, image forming apparatus and image forming system A finisher includes an ejection port, a stacking tray, a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element, a communication section that performs data communication with an image forming apparatus and acquires a coverage rate of paper stacked on the stacking tray, and a paper-amount determination section that determines whether the amount of paper on the stacking tray exceeds a predetermined stack capacity of the stacking tray by comparing a predetermined threshold value with the amount of light received by the light-receiving element. The paper-amount determination section corrects the threshold value by using the coverage rate acquired by the communication section, compares the corrected threshold value with the amount of the light received by the light-receiving element, and determines that the amount of the paper stacked on the stacking tray exceeds the stack capacity of the stacking tray if the light amount is equal to or greater than the corrected threshold value.
US09346648B2	Adhesive bonding sheet processing device and image forming device provided with the same A sheet processing device conveys a paper sheet onto which an adhesive is applied, and includes a bonding member that applies adhesives onto the conveyed paper sheet at intervals in a sheet width direction; and a protruding guide that is positioned on a conveying path, downstream of the bonding member in a sheet conveying direction, and guides the paper sheet, facing an adhesive-applied surface of the paper sheet. The protruding guide is positioned between sheet width direction lines of the adhesive-applied position and includes a protruding portion protruding into the conveying path. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the adhesive from being adhered to a device component even in a configuration in which an adhesive-applied paper sheet is moved inside the device to make a sheet jam due to the adhesion less likely to occur.
US09346645B2	Variable rotational speed coupling for a pitch changing or slow down device An apparatus for driving a pair of nip rollers at a rotational velocity that varies within each revolution is provided. A first nip roller and a second nip roller form a nip therebetween for moving a sheet or signature. A drive configured and arranged to drive a drive shaft at a constant rotational speed. A pair of variable rotational speed couplings each have an input coupled to the drive, and an output connected to a respective one of the first and second nip rollers. Each coupling rotates its respective nip roller at a rotational speed that varies within each revolution.
US09346643B2	Transportation device and recording apparatus A transportation device includes a first roller that transports a sheet-shaped medium from an upstream to downstream in a transporting direction; a guide member that has a guide section extended along the transporting direction and is arranged upstream of the first roller in the transporting direction; and a second roller that is movable between a correcting position where the second roller pinches the sheet-shaped medium with the first roller and corrects a curl of the sheet-shaped medium, and a standby position where the second roller separates from the transporting passage further than the correcting position, wherein the guide member is movable to an escaping position that is separated from a moving passage that is from the correcting position to the standby position of the second roller if the second roller moves to the correcting position.
US09346634B2	System and method for passing matter in a flow passage A system is provided for passing matter in a flow passage of an oil and/or gas drilling or production installation, in particular for passing trash or drill cuttings in a drilling fluid return line. The system includes at least two valves arranged in series in the passage; and a control device configured to selectively or sequentially actuate the at least two valves, such that the material is allowed to pass the at least two valves in the passage. A method is also provided for passing trash or drill cuttings in a drilling fluid return line.
US09346628B2	Handling device, processing system and method for handling and processing a workpiece A handling device for handling workpieces including a rotor mounted for rotation about a rotor axis, a rotary drive for introducing a rotary motion into the rotor and at least one workholder assembly, the workholder assembly including at least two workholders, which are mounted on the rotor and designed for an at least paired picking up of workpieces at a pickup position and for an at least paired delivery of workpieces at a delivery position during the rotary motion of the rotor, and further including adjusting system, which is coupled to at least one workholder of the workholder assembly, and which is designed for a cyclical adjustment of a spacing of workholders of the workholder assembly as a function of the rotary motion of the rotor.
US09346627B2	Conveyor system and method A conveyor system comprising a synchronization unit having a first conveyor belt, a second conveyor belt disposed adjacent to the first conveyor belt, an inlet end and an outlet end. The system further comprises a joint shuttle disposed between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt, each of the first and second conveyor belts having a variable length while the distance between the inlet end and the outlet end is fixed. A discharge conveyor belt is disposed upstream the inlet end and is operating at a first velocity (VD). At a time T1, the velocity of the first conveyor belt (V1T1) is equal to the velocity of the discharge conveyor belt (VD) and, at a time T2, the velocity of the first conveyor belt (V1T2) is equal to the velocity of the second conveyor belt (Vm), without relative movement between the conveyor belts and objects conveyed thereon.
US09346626B1	Screw conveyor Disclosed is an improved screw conveyor that reduces maintenance. The screw conveyor comprises an elongate trough assembly comprising material input and output gates formed thereon and an elongate screw fighting rotably disposed within the trough assembly. The fighting comprises an elongate hollow shaft comprising a plurality of thorough fluid holes disposed thereon, a proximal end of the shaft adapted to receive a fluid therethrough whereby, the received fluid is discharged from the plurality of fluid holes, and a pair of parallel blades helically wound around the shaft, the blades arranged such that, the fluid holes are disposed between the blades. The fluid is discharged from between the blades forms a pressurized shield between the outer edges of blades and the inner surface of the trough assembly so as to prevent the material from entering the space between the edges of the blades and the inner surface of the trough assembly.
US09346623B2	Touchless guide device for a conveyor A conveyor and method for moving articles comprising a conductive material across a conveying surface using a touchless guide device disposed adjacent to a product path. The guide device generates a repelling force on a conveyed product to propel the conveyed product along the product path. Embodiments of the guide device include a linear induction motor and an array of alternating permanent magnets.
US09346619B1	Dynamically reconfigurable inventory pods An inventory system has inventory pods that are freely and independently moved about a facility and include inventory holders having dynamically reconfigurable storage bins. For various operating scenarios, the components of the inventory system are directed to dynamically reconfigure the storage bins, thereby maintaining efficient product density amongst the inventory holders and permitting the use of automated equipment to manipulate inventory items stored in the inventory pods. One or more inventory pods may be used with lifting modules and picking modules to dynamically reconfigure the storage bins as inventory items are added to and removed from the inventory holders.
US09346618B2	Displaceable lift truck equipped with releasable engaging means for making up a mixed pack of slab material and method associated therewith Displaceable lift truck for handling slab material (L) in a storage warehouse, including a carriage movable along a rail, columns which extend upwards from the movable carriage and a material support structure movable along the columns and including a bottom body or platform provided with extractable forks. The material support structure includes, moreover, a pick-up device including extractable arms. Further related, there is a method for making up a mixed pack of slab material.
US09346616B2	Waste container with improved latch A waste container includes a body having a base and a side wall extending upward from the base to define a container interior. A lid is hingeably secured to an upper portion of the side wall. A latch assembly selectively secures the lid to the side wall, the latch assembly including a rotatable latch portion having a latch member selectively interlocking with a hook portion.
US09346613B2	Container A container has a box shape and comprises a bottom wall, side walls forming a circumferential wall of the container and a strap. One or more straps form four lifting loops at the upper side of the container and are fixed to the side walls diagonally such that the strap forms a V-shape on each of said side walls between two adjacent lifting loops. The strap can be free from the side walls at lower ends of the V-shapes so as to form fastening loops.
US09346610B2	Variable volume container A variable volume container comprises a sidewall, a base having a ribbed region, and a diaphragm. The ribbed region has a plurality of concentric ribs extending from the diaphragm, and flexure zones between each rib. The flexure zones allow for accordion-like movement of the diaphragm in response to the internal pressure of the container. The ribs are characterized has having a uniformly arced interior curved surface and a distorted arced exterior curved surface. The ribs are four to eight times the width of the flexure zones, and the flexure zones have an exterior surface shorter than its bottom surface. During vacuum sealing, these features allow the diaphragm to retract upward to reduce the volume of the container while maintaining shape and structural stability of the container. This is especially useful for food packaging operations where containers need to be able to withstand conditions such as high pressure, heat, and/or vacuums.
US09346609B2	Product dispenser Adhesive tabs having individual apertures are adhered to individual miniature products to be dispensed. The products are supported on a product carrier component having passages through which the tabs individually pass. A hook component is movable relative to the product carrier component. The hook component has a hook sized to successively enter each aperture, and to successively catch and successively remove each tab from its individual product during relative movement of the components.
US09346608B2	Chain saw-chain retaining device and organizer A chain retaining device to retain a chain may include a chain mounting section to mount the chain and a handle section being connected to the chain mounting section to carry the chain retaining device. The chain mounting section may include a detachably connected chain holding device to adjust to different sizes chains. The chain holding device may be adapted form a friction connection to the chain mounting section. The chain holding device may include a handle to form the friction connection.
US09346607B2	Portable drinking vessel with battery operated, pump assisted straw A power assisted drinking vessel, using a battery powered liquid pump provides pressurized, low volume liquid from the drinking vessel to a user's mouth through a straw, without the user having to draw or provide suction on the straw. The liquid pump is activated by pressing a momentary on-off electrical power switch. The power assisted drinking cup is capable of pumping many commonly ingested liquids such as water, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, dietary/meal supplements or juices of various viscosity and at various flow rates and pressures. The powered drinking cup will be a benefit to patients in hospital or after dental work has been performed and will have appeal for many novelty use and sporting applications.
US09346603B2	Boil-in-bag pouch A boil-in-bag pouch (1,50) containing a foodstuff (30), wherein said pouch is in the form of an enclosed body (4,52) having a front face (8,78), a back face (7,80), a top end, a bottom end, and first and second sides (9,10,54,56) extending between said top and bottom ends, said pouch comprising: a single sheet of flexible sheet material having first and second opposed edges, wherein said sheet is folded along said first side (10,54) and said second side (9,56) to define said front and back faces, wherein opposed edges of said sheet are bonded by a longitudinal seal (2,70) extending from said top end to said bottom end of said pouch; a top transverse seal bonding said front and back faces together proximate to said top end; a bottom transverse seal bonding said front and back faces together proximate to said bottom end; and wherein said sheet is folded form a pleat extending from the bottom transverse seal to the top transverse seal along only one of said sides (10,54) of said body (4,52).
US09346602B2	Cocktail glass The present invention provides a mixing apparatus comprising a connector container and a first container, said connector container being adapted to said first container forming a connection area between said connector container and first container, wherein said connection area contains a barrier between said connector and first containers, wherein said barrier is capable of preventing the passage of a substance contained in the connector or first container, wherein, upon user intervention, said barrier is capable of allowing the passage of a substance contained in the connector or first container.
US09346599B2	Food packaging Food packaging has a base tray and a second tray which nests in the base tray. The base tray has one or more walls terminating in a land. The land has an indent in its upper surface at least partially surrounded by an indent wall which extends continuously along an inward side of the indent so as to separate the indent from a main cavity formed by the base tray walls. The second tray nested has a flange supported by the land. The flange extends partially over the indent. The indent is sized to admit a finger within the indent below the flange. In consequence, after cooking of the foods in the trays, the consumer can use the indent in gripping the flange of the second tray without direct exposure to steam from the food cooked in the base tray. The consumer can then add a selected amount of food from the second tray to the base tray.
US09346598B2	Scored and labeled resealable packaging A resealable package integrity closure includes a lamination of films comprising a layer forming a top of container and having a scored flap defining an access opening to gain access to the contents of the container. The score that defines the opening flap cuts only into the outer layer of the film lamination and not through the sealing layer of film. A pressure-sensitive label functions as a sealing panel which completely covers the flap of the laminated film layer. A releasable adhesive is provided a pressure sensitive label that is applied over the film layer forming the top of the container. The pressure-sensitive label provides a sealing panel which is releasable from the film layer outside the perimeter of the score by peeling back the sealing panel. After opening the flap, the sealing panel of the pressure-sensitive label is reclosable against the top to seal the access opening.
US09346597B2	Blister card with retention feature A package is disclosed which includes first panel (210) having a blister (150) attached thereto. A second panel (220) is hingedly attached to the first panel (210). The second panel (220) includes a cutout area (221) through which the blister body protrudes. A retention feature (155) on the blister body engages an edge of the cutout (221) to hold the second panel (220) in a position relative to the first panel (210).
US09346595B2	Bottle cap with cosmetic kit A cap for a bottle containing a cosmetic reservoir is cylindrical (not necessarily radially symmetric) and defines an inner volume containing at least one reservoir for cosmetics, the reservoir being accessible when the lid is opened and inaccessible when the lid is closed. The reservoir is refillable and can be a removable tray. The reservoir can be defined by a central wall dividing the reservoir into two or more cosmetic reservoirs. In another embodiment, two or more trays of cosmetics can be stacked, one upon the other. A method for carrying and dispensing cosmetics within a cap for a bottle includes opening the lid and filling a cosmetic reservoir within the cap with a cosmetic; opening the lid to access and remove a portion of the cosmetic from the reservoir; and applying the cosmetic and closing the lid.
US09346594B2	Dispensing container and related method and apparatus A packaged product assembly is provided. The packaged product assembly may include a tray slidably received in a dispensing container. The tray may be a blister pack including units of a product received in sealed cavities. A locking apparatus may be configured to releasably retain the tray in a locked configuration. The locking apparatus may include one or more locking protrusions that engage corresponding locking apertures in the tray. The locking apparatus may also include buttons positioned on opposing sides of the tray. When the buttons are depressed toward one another, the locking protrusions may move relative to the locking apertures such that the tray is unlocked and may be withdrawn from the dispensing container.
US09346591B2	Screw cap closure Composite cap intended to be snapped on the glass ring of a bottle and then to serve as a stopper that can screwed and unscrewed as required, the glass ring being provided with at least one annular bead. It comprises a shell with a skirt provided with an internal annular bead; a first insert, disposed inside said shell, provided with an internal screw thread, characterized in that it also comprises a second insert having at least two roughly cylindrical portions; the first portion being provided on its external wall with a screw thread complementary to that of said first insert, the second portion being provided with axial immobilization means intended to cooperate with said annular bead and axial stop means, cooperating with said internal annular bead, so that the inserts secured together by screwing are trapped inside said shell.
US09346585B2	Modular interlocking containers with enhanced lateral connectivity features Described are devices and containers that are scalable, modular, and lockable laterally and vertically with other like containers for a variety of applications. A container is formed by a wall attached at first end to a top end section with an opening and attached at a second end by a bottom end section. A container may have one or more of a tongue, formed on the wall, having and interconnecting mechanism to be received and interlocked by a groove. Vertical interconnectivity is accomplished with mechanisms to stack containers and prevent swivel using a ridge and channel interlocking arrangement.
US09346583B2	Rack construction A cargo rack includes a frame having a front, a rear, and upper and lower end portions. The lower end portion has a base with a floor providing a load holding position. A tank module that is supported with the frame during use, the lower end portion of the tank module resting upon the load holding position of the base. The frame includes a plurality of side walls that attach to and extend upwardly from the base frame. Each side wall has a pair of corner columns, a central plate, and a plurality of diagonal members, each diagonal member connected to a corner column and a central plate. The frame can include at least one horizontally extending beam connecting between each pair of corner columns. The diagonal members include an upper pair that can form an obtuse angle and a lower pair that can form an acute angle.
US09346581B2	Method of manufacturing and fixing metal label A method of manufacturing and fixing a metal label allowing for the logos or trademarks of products or companies to be displayed as characters or figures on the surfaces of various products includes: forming a metal label to have fixing legs and a connection member thinner than the metal label through etching; forming holes in a product and a backplate in positions corresponding to those of the fixing legs; cutting the connection member connecting the fixing legs; and fixing the metal label to the product and the backplate. By forming the fixing legs thinner than the metal label, sharpness in the edges of the metal label is obtained when the fixing legs are bent. A recess is formed in the backplate, thereby preventing the metal label or the fixing legs from protruding from the surface of the product or the backplate, whereby further improved quality of the product is obtained.
US09346579B2	Method for determining the integrity and leak tightness of containers in filling lines The invention relates to a method for determining the intactness and leaktightness of containers (4) that are processed in a filling plant, wherein the filling plant comprises at least one centering head (2) for holding, gripping and/or turning one of the containers (4), wherein the centering head (2) is arranged movably along a longitudinal axis (3) of the container (4), and wherein the relative position of the centering head (2) on the longitudinal axis (3) is determined and used for the intactness and leaktightness determination.
US09346577B2	Packaging machine A packaging machine of the type that is used to hand-wrap a package with a stretchable film that is heat-fused/sealed. The machine includes a supply of film for wrapping a package and a hot plate mechanism for heat fusing the film after the package is wrapped. The hot plate mechanism includes a fever arm that moves a sealing platform from a raised position to a lowered, heat sealing position when the package is placed on the platform. A control circuit energizes a heating element forming part of the sealing platform and causes it to reach a desired heating temperature in 2 to 4 seconds, whereby fusing of the sealing film is achieved. An interval timer is used to control a signaling device such as a light to Indicate the machine is in a heating cycle. A separate timer, in conjunction with a temperature sensing thermistor, controls a length of time the heating element is energized and terminates power to the heating element prior to the end of a sealing Interval if a predetermined temperature is exceeded. The sealing intervals are selectable by the operator using a multi-positioned switch which connects selected timing resistors to the interval timers. Power to the heating element is only delivered to the heating element during a heating cycle, thus conserving electrical power.
US09346574B2	System and method for activating article protection features of a carton A system and method for activating a series of article protection features formed in product cartons in which a series of articles have been packaged includes an actuating assembly mounted along a path of travel for the cartons. The actuating assembly will include a series of actuating elements that are selectively moved into engagement with the article protection features of the cartons. The article protection features are urged into the cartons, between the articles therein and into positions engaging and supporting the articles.
US09346573B2	System and method for activating article protection features of a carton A system and method for activating a series of article protection features formed in product cartons in which a series of articles have been packaged includes an actuating assembly mounted along a path of travel for the cartons. The actuating assembly will include a series of actuating elements that are selectively moved into engagement with the article protection features of the cartons. The article protection features are urged into the cartons, between the articles therein and into positions engaging and supporting the articles.
US09346570B2	Method and apparatus for pouching tobacco having a high moisture content An apparatus for dispensing charges of high OV moist smokeless tobacco (MST) includes a rotary metering device. The rotary metering device includes a lower disk, a metering disk, a plurality of cavities in the metering disk; and at least one vacuum housing located around the periphery of the lower disk and in communication with the plurality of cavities. A vacuum is applied to the cavities to aid in the filling of the cavities and an air discharge mechanism ejects a charge of the MST from each cavity at a discharge station.
US09346569B2	Process and apparatus for producing packets A process for sequentially forming a plurality of enclosed containers (32) comprising a product, the process involving passing a continuous web (10), comprising a strip of container material having two opposing edges (4, 6), to a folding station (12), whereupon each open container is sequentially formed by folding the web, to bring into contact two contiguous edge portions (9a, 9b) from only one edge of the web, then sealing the two edges together to form a portion of the web into an open container, depositing the product onto the web so that it is held within the open containers, and then sealing the open containers to form the enclosed containers.
US09346568B2	Rotatable packing machine and method for filling open bags Rotary packaging machine and method for filling open-mouth bags with multiple filling units disposed over the circumference and rotating along, each of which having a filling spout with a bottom filling opening, wherein the open-mouth bags can be appended by way of a motion oriented upwardly relative to the filling spout. A transfer device for transferring the open-mouth bags intended for filling to the filling units is provided. The transfer device comprises a gripping arm including a gripping unit provided thereat. The gripping arm is rotatingly disposed at the transfer device. A longitudinal speed of the longitudinal motion of the gripping arm is temporarily adapted to a peripheral speed of the circumferential motion of the filling spouts.
US09346567B2	Disposable vial holder and method to prevent needle stick injuries A vial holder is provided to protect a user's hand from needle sticks. The holder includes a handle and a shield attached to a distal end of the handle. An opening is formed in the distal end of the handle to receive a vial. The vial is placed through the opening and into a passageway of the handle with the upper end of the vial exposed. A user grasps the handle which holds the vial in a stabilized manner. A needle may then safely approach the vial in which inadvertent slippage or movement of the needle results in contact with the needle against the shield and not contact with the user's hand.
US09346561B2	Measurement of coupling misalignment of a driveshaft According to one embodiment, a system for measuring coupling misalignment of a rotorcraft drive shaft includes a reference device and a sensor. The sensor is configured to receive a signal from the reference device indicative of a distance between the reference device and the sensor. The reference device and the sensor are configured to be disposed on opposite sides of a flexible coupling coupled to the drive shaft and disposed between the engine and the pylon. The flexible coupling is configured to rotate with the drive shaft and comprises a flexure portion configured to flex in response to a difference in alignment between the engine and the pylon. A misalignment measurement system may be configured to generate a misalignment value in response to the signal.
US09346559B1	Aeronautical static discharge device and indicator therein A static discharge device includes a body an an electrical path carried in the body for discharging static electricity. Carried on the body is visual indicia indicating a present operational status of the electrical path to discharge static electricity effectively. The visual indicia is observable to an airplane operator or technician to quickly determine the operational or non-operational status of the static discharge device.
US09346557B2	Flight data monitoring and validation A computer-implemented flight data monitoring method is provided for monitoring flight data, for example flight data obtained by a flight data recorder or quick access recorder on an aircraft. The method comprises receiving input flight data, performing flight data validation on the input flight data to generate validated flight data, and performing flight data analysis on the validated flight data to detect at least one predetermined type of flight event. The events may be useful for generating an aircraft safety report, for example. By validating the data before performing the analysis, the number of events which are falsely detected based on invalid or unreliable data can be reduced.
US09346555B2	On board inert gas generation system with rotary positive displacement compressor An on board inert gas generation system receives cabin air, or air from another relatively low pressure source, passing a portion thereof through an energy recovery turbine to ambient to extract power which is used to provide all, or part of, the energy required to drive a positive displacement compressor to compress another portion of cabin air to increase the pressure thereof to be suitable for supply to an air separation module.
US09346554B2	Vent for an aircraft wing fuel tank An aircraft fuel tank vent opening having a liquid separation nozzle, the liquid separation nozzle and the opening dimensioned such that migration across the liquid separation nozzle to the underside of a wing, of fuel escaping from the vent opening, is inhibited during normal operating conditions.
US09346549B2	Method for regulating the de-icing of a leading edge of an aircraft and device for its implementation A method of regulating the de-icing of a leading edge of an aircraft includes regulating the flow of air used for de-icing by at least a first regulator valve in accordance with two regulation levels, a first regulation level corresponding to the regulated position of the first regulator valve and a second regulation level corresponding to the fully open position of the first regulator valve. A de-icing device enables implementation of the regulation method.
US09346547B2	Mechanisms for lowering a payload to the ground from a UAV Embodiments described herein may help to provide medical support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative UAV may include a housing, a payload, a line-deployment mechanism coupled to the housing and a line, and a payload-release mechanism that couples the line to the payload, wherein the payload-release mechanism is configured to release the payload from the line. The UAV may further include a control system configured to determine that the UAV is located at or near a delivery location and responsively: operate the line-deployment mechanism according to a variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload to or near to the ground, determine that the payload is touching or is within a threshold distance from the ground, and responsively operate the payload-release mechanism to release the payload from the line.
US09346546B2	Aerial beneficial insect distribution vehicle A remotely-piloted aircraft for distributing beneficial insects on a target area is provided. The aircraft includes an enclosure, including a top lid, one or more internal compartments, a door for each of the one or more internal compartments, and an actuator to open and close each of the doors. The aircraft also includes a circuit to control the actuators, a wireless receiver, coupled to the circuit, to receive commands to open and close the doors, and one or more power sources to power the actuators and the wireless receiver. An operator controls the aircraft and the circuit with at least one of a wireless transmitter and an uploaded program in the circuit. When the wireless receiver receives a command to open a door, the circuit controls an actuator corresponding to the door. The actuator opens the door, and the beneficial insects are distributed from internal compartments.
US09346540B2	Coupling device of a motorized wheel of aircraft landing gear An elastic device for coupling between an aircraft landing gear wheel and a coaxial motorization member for motorization of the wheel. The elastic device comprises a plurality of arms to be rotationally coupled to the motorization member adjacent a first radially inner end and which are to be linked to the wheel adjacent their radially outer opposite end, the arms being substantially rigid in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the wheel and flexible in directions substantially transverse to the plane.
US09346538B2	Landing gear fairing An aircraft landing gear including wheels and a fairing arranged to be moveable between a first and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the fairing is arranged to shield an element of the landing gear from incident airflow and wherein in the second configuration the fairing is arranged to deflect debris or spray propelled from one or more of the wheels.
US09346537B2	Winglet system A winglet system for an aircraft wing may include an upper winglet and a lower winglet mounted to a wing tip. The upper winglet root chord and the lower winglet root chord may each have a length of no greater than 100 percent of the wing tip chord. The lower winglet may have a static position when the wing is subject to an on-ground static loading. The lower winglet may be configured such that upward deflection of the wing under an approximate 1-g flight loading causes the lower winglet to move upwardly and outwardly from the static position to an in-flight position resulting in an effective span increase of the wing under the approximate 1-g flight loading relative to the span of the wing under the on-ground static loading.
US09346534B2	Support assembly An assembly to support a wing leading or trailing edge device during deployment and retraction of the device includes a fixed support member attachable to the support structure of an aircraft wing, an intermediate link arm having one end pivotally mounted for rotation relative to the support member about a first axis and, a primary link arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the opposite end of the intermediate link arm for rotation relative to the intermediate link arm about a second axis. A second end of the primary link arm is for attachment to the device via a bearing element so that the device can move relative to the primary link arm in any direction when the intermediate and primary link arms rotate about the first and second axes, respectively, during deployment or retraction of the device from the aircraft wing.
US09346532B1	Fill port for a balloon A system for filling balloons with lift gas is provided. The system includes apparatus for use with a balloon envelope of a balloon. This apparatus includes a main body having first and second portions. The first portion has a fill port and a hollow tube portion in communication with the fill port. The second portion has a surface and is insertable into a predefined opening in the balloon envelope. The surface of the second portion is configured to attach to an inner portion of the balloon envelope when the second portion is inserted in the predefined opening.
US09346531B1	Balloon gas release flight termination system A control system for terminating flight of a balloon having a balloon envelope is provided. The control system includes a shuttle that has one or more cutting blades. The cutting blades are configured to cut open the balloon envelope. A tubular track is attached to a section of the balloon envelope. This tubular track has a guiding portion arranged to receive and guide the shuttle along the track. The control system includes a type of releasable ballast attached to the shuttle. When the ballast is released, the ballast is configured to move the shuttle along the tubular track in order to cause at least one of the cutting blades to cut open a portion of the balloon envelope. This allows lift gas to escape from the balloon envelope.
US09346528B2	Hand grip and device comprising a hand grip A hand grip is disclosed. The hand grip has a cross-sectional profile and an axial extent delimited by opposing ends thereof, in which a resilient extension portion is provided at one side of the cross-sectional profile, and which extends substantially the length of the axial extent.
US09346524B2	Universal vertical sport board display system A universal vertical storage and display system for multiple types, sizes and shapes of sport boards. The embodiment is wall or other vertical surface mounted. The display system comprises prefabricated bracket components which through their various arrangement, configuration and orientation exhibit sport boards in a vertical position with the primary deck face parallel to the wall, oriented inward or outward. The embodiment displays sport boards as a work of art in a safe and aesthetically pleasing manner. The display system is suitable for indoor or outdoor applications.
US09346523B2	Barge system An improved barge system comprises a barge with a connecting system built into the barge. The connecting system includes several recessed areas about the periphery of the barge with upper and lower rails about the peripheral edges of the barge. A vertical post having a lower connecting member and an upper connecting member is attached within the recessed area for rotation into position to connect the upper and lower connecting members to adjacent upper and lower rails on the adjacent barges. Wedge blocks attached outwardly on adjacent rails each receive a wedge in the gap between the respective wedge block and a connecting member. Spacer blocks improve parallel alignment of the connected barges.
US09346521B2	Vessel recovery system and method A recovery system and method for recovering a deployed vessel having a rotatable support coupled with a stored recovery assembly, including a release unit, line, deployment weight, and drag device on the deployed vessel. A recovery vessel can have a hoist with a coupling element, such as a grapple. For recovery, the recovery assembly can be deployed from the deployed vessel. The drag device can assist in floating and/or maintaining a taut line, especially when the vessel is downwind of the drag device. The coupling element from the recovery vessel can couple with the taut line. Once coupled, the recovery vessel can raise the coupling element with the line, which can rotate the rotatable support to a lifting position above a center of gravity of the deployed vessel. The recovery vessel can then lift the deployed vessel vertically out of the water to a storage position.
US09346519B2	Fluid shield assembly A fluid shield assembly for preventing fluid from entering a bow of a boat includes a panel that has an outer edge extending between a front side and a back side of the panel. The panel has a pair of slots each extending downwardly from a top side of the outer edge of the panel. The slots are evenly spaced apart from a middle of the top side of the outer edge of the panel to define the door portion of the panel. Each of a plurality of first fasteners engages a boat such that the panel is retained on a bow of the boat. The panel inhibits a fluid from entering the bow of the boat. The door portion of the panel is positioned over a door in the boat to selectively cover and expose the door in the boat.
US09346515B2	Pedal assisted bicycle and method of controlling the pedal assisted bicycle A pedal assisted bicycle a first and a second wheel; a pedaling assembly mechanically decoupled from the first and second wheels by which an user can supply a pedaling power; an electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one of the wheels capable of taking a motor power; a generator device adapted to generate a generator device electric power from the pedaling power, arranged in an energy exchange relationship with the pedaling assembly and the electric motor; an energy storage device arranged in an energy exchange relationship with the electric motor and with the generator device; a control system including a module for controlling the power required to the generator device to be supplied to the electric motor and/or to the storage device; a heartbeat sensor adapted to generate a signal representing heartbeat.
US09346507B2	Front structure of straddle type vehicle A separate member is provided in the space between the side portion of headlight and the side cowl. A front structure of straddle type vehicle includes a joint portion that can be precisely positioned, while an increase in the width of the front portion of side cowl is prevented. A separate air intake cover is provided between the side portion of the headlight and the side cowl and is attached to the headlight stay with the headlight, simultaneously. The side cowl engaging portions is disposed behind the side cowl and with which the side cowl is engaged in the vicinity of the joint portion with the side cowl.
US09346503B2	Trailer for transporting a portable structure A trailer for use primarily for transporting a portable structure in which a frame is mounted on an undercarriage with the wheels of the undercarriage near the longitudinal center and the portable structure is positioned at an angle to reduce wind resistance while the structure is being transported on the trailer. The portable structure is secured to the trailer by placing the skid plates of the portable structure under frame elements affixed to the trailer frame.
US09346501B2	Elliptical bore pin retention system A machine tread including a first and second pair of plates. The plates have corresponding first ends and second ends, and the second ends of the first pair include elliptical bores with elliptical plate bearing surfaces. The first ends of the second pair include aligned bushing bores. The first ends of the second pair fit between the second ends of the first pair. Ends of a bushing including an inner bore with an interior surface and a cylindrical bearing surface engage the bushing bores forming a pin bore through the inner and elliptical bores. A retention pin fits in the segmented pin bore. The first pair has a tensioned position when a force acts in a direction away from the second pair. In the tensioned position, the elliptical plate bearing surfaces and the interior bushing surface abut the cylindrical bearing surface.
US09346500B2	Track and drive sprockets for a tracked vehicle A sprocket wheel and drive track assembly of a tracked vehicle includes at least one drive sprocket having a sprocket wheel. A plurality of internal teeth extending laterally therefrom is distributed in a circumferential direction on a periphery thereof at a sprocket pitch from each other. A belt in contact with the at least one drive sprocket has an inner side, an outer side, a longitudinal and a lateral direction. At least two of a plurality of internal lugs distributed on the inner side thereof are engaged by at least two of the plurality of internal teeth of the at least one drive sprocket. The plurality of internal lugs is disposed to form at least one longitudinal row. At least two consecutive internal lugs are disposed at a first pitch from each other. The first pitch is longer than an arc length corresponding to the sprocket pitch.
US09346499B2	Resilient wheel assemblies A wheel assembly for a remote vehicle comprises a wheel structure comprising a plurality of spokes interconnecting a rim and a hub. The spokes comprise at least one slit extending therethrough radially inward from the rim to the hub. The assembly also comprises a flipper structure comprising an arm, a plurality of legs, and an attachment base. The plurality of legs and the attachment base comprise a four-bar linkage. The assembly further comprises an insert comprising a bore with a flat surface that tapers outward from a top portion to a bottom portion of the insert. The insert being configured to couple the flipper structure to the wheel structure via an axle on the remote vehicle and prevent backlash between the axle and the flipper structure. The flipper structure being configured to transmit axial forces to the wheel structure. The wheel structure being configured to absorb radial and axial forces.
US09346496B2	Aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus for use with vehicles having downstream surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus includes folding panels that extend rearward for use in a drag reducing configuration and collapse for use in a space saving configuration.
US09346491B1	Deck plate for a truck chassis A deck plate assembly is provided for mounting between the first and second frame members of a truck. The assembly includes a horizontally disposed deck plate which is positioned between the first and second frames. Structure is provided for securing the deck plate to the first and second frame members.
US09346489B2	Steering system with magnetic torque overlay A steering system with magnetic torque overlay of a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a hydraulic valve and differential-pressure transducer that monitors pressure created by the valve due to torque exerted by a driver of the vehicle in various directions on a steering wheel thereof. The transducer is fastened to a recirculating ball steering gear. A magnetic actuator generates an output of torque required from the steering gear for a maneuver of the steering wheel and applies the torque to the valve independently of input by the driver. A permanent magnet is located proximate the actuator. A control module calculates an appropriate amount of electric current and sends it to the actuator to generate the output torque. The torque is added to or subtracted from the system in any of the directions independently of the driver input by the pressure-monitoring and inputs from the vehicle into the control module.
US09346488B2	Electronic control system An electronic control system in which a sensor transmits a data to a control unit is provided. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a first detector and a second detector each converting a physical quantity of a detection target into a digital data. An output portion of the sensor outputs in turn a normal data and a monitor data associated with each other. The normal data is the digital data outputted from the first detector, and the monitor data is a reversed data of the digital data outputted from the second detector. The control unit determines that at least one of the first detector, the second detector and the output portion has failure when the reversed data does not match the normal data.
US09346480B2	Hand sensing on steering wheel using heater element A steering wheel system for vehicle includes a steering wheel configured to be gripped by an occupant and a first electrode positioned within a first sensing zone on the steering wheel. The first electrode is configured to generate heat when a first signal is supplied to the first electrode. The first electrode is configured to be used to determine the proximity of a hand of an occupant of the vehicle to the first sensing zone when a second signal is supplied to the first electrode. The steering wheel system also includes a controller configured to control the supply of the first and second signals to the first electrode based on the proximity of the hand of the occupant to the first sensing zone.
US09346479B1	Travel stroller seat support articulated folding mechanism A foldable stroller frame having right and left front, right and left rear legs, and right and left handle supports joined at a right and left folding joints in a manner permitting folding movement about a folding axis between deployed and folded positions. A seat panel connects the front legs and includes a movable portion being movable between first and second positions. A seat back frame is connected to the movable portion at a seat back pivot. Spacing between the seat back pivot and the folding axis is dependent upon the position of the movable portion. When in the first position, the spacing is greatest and precludes frame folding due to interference between the seat back frame and a transverse element between the handle supports. When in the second position, spacing is minimized and frame folding is permissible without interference between the seat back frame and the transverse element.
US09346477B1	Stackable cart A stackable cart comprises a base comprising perimetral edges, front, middle, and rear portions, and an internal wired base support structure with a network of support wires. A plurality of front wheels is provided to support the front portion, wherein a chord of the front wheel corresponds to a stacking space defined between a plurality of front transverse wires of the network support wires. A plurality of rear wheels is provided to support the rear portion, wherein a chord of the rear wheel corresponds to a stacking space defined between a plurality of rear transverse wires of the network support wires. The cart is removably coupled to another equivalent cart by positioning the rear wheels of the cart adjacent to the stacking space of the rear transverse wires of the equivalent cart and positioning the front wheels of the cart adjacent to the stacking space of the front transverse wires of the equivalent cart.
US09346473B1	Material transport and distribution consist with controlled gated hopper cars and conveyor systems A material transport and distribution consist including an offloading car, a generator car, and hopper cars. The offloading car includes a rotatable conveyor that can offload materials forward of and to the sides of the car. The generator car powers a plurality of hopper car conveyors. The hopper cars include a longitudinal conveyor that overlaps with conveyors of forward- and aft-located cars to enable transport of materials between cars and while the cars are negotiating a turn in the tracks. The hopper car hoppers are divided into chutes with respective guillotine-style gates. Each gate includes a resilient panel that flexes to enable closure of the gate without binding on materials exiting therefrom. A control system is provided to manage the gates and conveyors during offloading based on sensed characteristics of the operation thereof. An interlock system is also provided to initiate a cascading shutdown routine when a fault is detected.
US09346471B2	System and method for controlling a vehicle user interface based on gesture angle An in-vehicle computing system allows a user to control components of the vehicle by performing gestures. The user provides a selecting input to indicate that he wishes to control one of the components. After the component is identified, the user performs a gesture to control the component. The gesture and the component that was previously selected are analyzed to generate a command for the component. Since the command is based on both the gesture and the identified component, the user can perform the same gesture in the same position within the vehicle to control different components.
US09346464B2	Power take-off for engine used in multi-function system and load management of such system An apparatus comprising an engine, a power take-off to be driven by the engine, one or more load services to be driven by the engine, a PTO modulator coupled to the power-takeoff output port and operable to selectively engage the power take-off to the engine to provide output rotational power, one or more load-service modulators coupled to the one or more load services and operable to selectively engage the one or more load services to the engine to provide service outputs, and a load controller configured to selectively operate the PTO modulator and the one or more load-service modulators to change the output from the power take-off or the one or more load services based on a condition of the engine and a load priority assigned to the power take-off or the one or more load services.
US09346461B2	Control device for determining vehicle speed for switching from series mode to parallel mode A switching vehicle speed determination section (21) judges a traveling mode requested by a driver on the basis of switch position information of a traveling mode switch operated by the driver and determines a switching vehicle speed for switching a hybrid type from a series mode to a parallel mode. A series/parallel modes switching determination section (22) determines switching between the series mode and the parallel mode on the basis of the switching vehicle speed set for the traveling mode determined by the switching vehicle speed determination section (21) and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor. A clutch control section (23) controls engagement/disengagement of a clutch on the basis of a determination result of the series/parallel modes switching determination section (22).
US09346454B1	Reusable concrete form device The reusable concrete form device especially provides for extreme portability due to light weight, easily assembled components, and tools used repetitively in the application of the forms, flexible forms, braces, and pegs of the device. The device further provides for exact positioning and for maintaining that positioning until desired removal. The sliding dovetail joints of the forms and braces provide this feature. The pegs are located into a surface such as ground, then selectively locked in position relative to each brace via pivot head lock screws disposed within each brace. The headed pegs removably pass through chambers within the braces and are locked in position via pivot headed lock screws. Concrete poured is thereby poured exactly as needed. Joiners with tails are used to also form sliding dovetail joints and to joint forms and flexible forms together.
US09346453B2	Transmission device A compact transmission device that alleviates shift shock and avoids engine stall at the time of deceleration. A discharge resistance changing unit changes discharge resistance of a clutch oil pressure on a side where a clutch is disconnected due to swapping of clutches in two stages. During a shift period where the clutch on a connection side is changed over from a disconnection state to a connection state, an invalid filling zone where a friction force is not generated on a clutch plate is provided. A control unit controls the discharge resistance changing unit at a time of the shift change such that the clutch on a disconnection side is brought into a state where a friction force is not generated after finishing a half clutch zone when the clutch on a connection side is in a half clutch zone after the invalid filling zone is finished.
US09346449B1	Fault warning method and system thereof of electric parking brake A fault warning method of an electric parking brake is provided. The fault warning method includes, a brake is actuated with a motor. An armature current is transmitted from the motor. The armature current is converted to a low frequency current and a high frequency current. A braking force is estimated by the by the low frequency current, and a motor rotating speed is estimated by the high frequency current. The braking force is compared with a predetermined braking force range, and a braking force comparing signal is outputted. The motor rotating speed is compared with a predetermined rotating speed range, and a rotating speed comparing signal is outputted. A determining result is generated by determining the braking force comparing signal and the rotating speed comparing signal. And a warning signal is generated according to the determining result.
US09346445B2	Hydraulically assisted hydraulic braking system Electro-hydraulically boosted hydraulic braking system having a master cylinder (100) including a thrust chamber (105) and on command receives pressurized brake fluid from an accumulator (300) via an electrically operated valve (200) controlled by a computer (400) on the basis of the signal supplied by the brake pedal (411) sensor (410), and an electrical power source (450) powering at least the electrically operated valve (200), the computer (400) and the sensor (410). An auxiliary generator (470) is connected in a manner that is controlled (472) by the computer (400) to the circuit (L0, L1, L2, L3) powering the computer (400), the sensor (410) and the electrically operated valve (200) if failure of the main source (450) is detected so as to allow emergency operation of the electrically operated valve (200) and allow the brake circuit (C1, C2) to be powered for a limited number of braking actions.
US09346444B2	Booster assembly for vehicle A booster assembly includes a booster provided at an engine room partitioned from a passenger compartment by a partition plate, a master cylinder disposed outwardly of a front side of the front cell, and fastening members to simultaneously mount the booster and master cylinder to the vehicle. Each fastening member includes a tube extending through the booster and having a front portion extending through a flange of the master cylinder, nuts fastened to respective front portions of the tubes, to fasten the master cylinder to the booster, through-bolts extending through respective tubes and the partition plate, to be mounted to the front portions of respective tubes, and a non-circular coupler formed at a rear portion of each tube, to prevent the tube from rotating when the corresponding nut is fastened to the tube. The rear cell is provided with a hole having a shape mating with the non-circular coupler.
US09346441B2	Sensor self-diagnostics using multiple signal paths Embodiments relate to systems and methods for sensor self-diagnostics using multiple signal paths. In an embodiment, the sensors are magnetic field sensors, and the systems and/or methods are configured to meet or exceed relevant safety or other industry standards, such as SIL standards. For example, a monolithic integrated circuit sensor system implemented on a single semiconductor ship can include a first sensor device having a first signal path for a first sensor signal on a semiconductor chip; and a second sensor device having a second signal path for a second sensor signal on the semiconductor chip, the second signal path distinct from the first signal path, wherein a comparison of the first signal path signal and the second signal path signal provides a sensor system self-test.
US09346440B2	System and method for controlling braking pressures at wheels on a vehicle A controller controls respective braking pressures at wheels on a vehicle. The controller includes a processor electrically communicating with each of a plurality of switching valves, which controls braking pressures at respective wheels. The processor, during a braking event having a brake demand above a braking demand threshold, controls each of the switching valves to maintain braking pressures at the respective wheels based on at least one additional criteria.
US09346439B2	Steering wheel mounted trailer brake controllers and systems A trailer brake controller for a motor vehicle may include a control unit configured to be mounted to a spoke of a steering wheel of the vehicle, and a brake lever coupled to the control unit and extending along a longitudinal axis of the control unit. The brake lever may be configured to be actuated by a driver of the motor vehicle by being pulled in a forward motion toward the driver. The brake lever may be further configured to transmit a force applied to the lever by the driver to the control unit. The control unit may be configured to generate a manual trailer brake control signal based on the force applied to the lever.
US09346436B2	Electronic key system An electronic key system wirelessly transmits a polling signal at predetermined time intervals into a predetermined transmission area outside a vehicle interior and detects an electronic key by receiving a response signal transmitted from the electronic key that is in the transmission area in response to the polling signal, and causes a predetermined function of an on-vehicle apparatus to be executed when the electronic key is detected. The electronic key transmits the polling signal into an enlarged transmission area which is enlarged from the predetermined transmission area when a state where the electronic key is detected and a state where the electronic key is not detected are repeated a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined time, and does not cause the predetermined function to be executed when the electronic key is detected from the enlarged transmission area.
US09346433B2	Buckle apparatus for seat belt Disclosed is a buckle apparatus for a seat belt. The buckle apparatus Includes an upper cover including a front plate formed with an opening part; a lower cover engaged with a lower portion of the upper cover and provided therein with a base frame; a latch member including one end rotatably supported on the base frame and locked with a tongue plate inserted through the opening part; an ejector assembly provided on the base frame for locking and releasing between the tongue plate and the latch member; and a release button slidably provided on both sides of the base frame and disposed in an upper portion of the opening part so that one side of the release button is exposed. At least one elastic member is integrally provided on an upper end of the front plate to elastically press a bottom surface of the tongue plate.
US09346431B1	Structure for installing side airbag A structure for installing a side airbag includes: an airbag module; an airbag deployment guide path which is in communication with the outside of the vehicle seat from the accommodating space; first and second covers which surround the outside of the vehicle seat, and have one end inserted into the airbag deployment guide path; a connecting tether which has one end that is positioned at a tip portion in the airbag deployment guide path and connected with one end of each of the first and second covers, and the other end that is positioned in the accommodating space at an outer periphery of the airbag module; and a reinforcing fabric which has one end connected with the other end of the connecting tether, and the other end fixed to the airbag module.
US09346427B2	Active countermeasures systems and methods Described are systems and methods for actively countering certain forces experienced by, for example, a person within a vehicle. Adverse effects of blast waves of a mine or other explosive device (including improvised explosive devices [IEDs]) may be mitigated by the countermeasures systems, which may include any or all of a first responder unit (FRU), a control display assembly (CDA), processors, sensors, and an electronic safe and arm device (ESAD). Each component assembly may be incorporated into a line replaceable unit (LRU) if desired, although such incorporation is not necessary.
US09346424B2	Rigid device for low speed damageability of vehicles A bumper assembly includes a beam and a rigid device. The beam is at least partially spaced from a vehicle fascia. The rigid device is disposed on the beam in a space defined between the fascia and the beam. The rigid device is configured to transmit and at least partially absorb a force applied to the fascia and limit damage to a rear of the vehicle. The exemplary bumper assembly may further include at least one crush can disposed on the beam. The rigid device is generally aligned with the crush can but on opposing surfaces of the beam.
US09346423B2	Control device for vehicle and method of controlling vehicle A control device for a vehicle includes: a motor generator mechanically connected to an output shaft of an engine; a main battery electrically connected to the motor generator; a sub battery electrically connected to an electric load of the vehicle; and a relay adapted to switch whether the batteries are to be electrically connected or not by turning the relay on or off. The relay is turned off during a powering operation of the motor generator, and the relay is turned on during a regenerative operation of the motor generator. It is determined that the relay is off-fixed in a case where a voltage of the second battery is a predetermined voltage or lower or a charge current of the second battery is a predetermined current or smaller in a state that a command to turn on the relay is outputted during the regenerative operation of the motor generator.
US09346421B2	Saddle-type electric vehicle A vehicle includes a battery supported by an elastic member. The vehicle is provided with a connector that is electrically connected to a connector on the battery. The connector on the vehicle is switched between an unlock state in which the movement of the connector on the vehicle is allowed to follow the oscillation of the battery, and a lock state in which the movement of the connector on the vehicle is restricted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a stress from being applied to the connector on the battery and the connector on the vehicle when a vehicle is travelling, and it is possible to smoothly connect the connector on the battery and the connector on the vehicle when a user mounts the battery on the vehicle.
US09346416B1	Vehicle cargo liner assembly An apparatus is for a vehicle having a vehicle section. The apparatus includes a vehicle cargo liner assembly configured to be received in the vehicle section of the vehicle, and the vehicle cargo liner assembly having oppositely-facing liner side walls. The apparatus also includes a movable liner panel pivotally mountable to the oppositely-facing liner side walls in such a way that the movable liner panel is pivotally movable, at least in part, between a panel-storage position and a panel-deployed position.
US09346410B2	Utility spoiler A spoiler for a vehicle, the vehicle having a cabin defining a cabin outer surface and a bed located behind the cabin, the spoiler being usable with an object, the spoiler comprising: a main portion and a utility portion extending from the main portion; the main portion being mountable to the cabin and defining substantially opposed main portion top and bottom surfaces; the utility portion being configured and sized for supporting at least part of the object; the main and utility portions being together configured and sized for deflecting air to reduce turbulence when the spoiler is operatively mounted to the cabin and the vehicle moves forward.
US09346409B2	Foldable roof rack assembly for kayaks and the like There is provided a foldable roof rack assembly. The roof rack assembly includes a mounting assembly connectable to a roof of a vehicle. The roof rack assembly includes a foldable arm having a pair of pivotable rigid portions one of which pivotally connects to the mounting assembly. The foldable arm is moveable from a folded position, in which the portions of the arm are folded together laterally along the roof, to an unfolded position in which the portions of the arm extend outward for receiving and at least partially extending around an object.
US09346407B2	Snap-fit vehicle console assembly A vehicle console includes a first console member, a second console member and a snap-fit mechanism that secures the first console member and the second console member together in a self-supporting structure. The console members define a portion of a storage compartment.
US09346406B2	Motor vehicle equipped with dynamic floor section A vehicle incorporates a storage area with a dynamic floor section. That dynamic floor section includes a plurality of interconnected panels that slide and fold so as to be displaceable between a home position and a shifted position. Advantageously, the movement of the panels allows better access to objects resting on the dynamic floor section.
US09346405B2	Retractable vehicle step A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold, interior, or roof of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle step may provide clearance space relative to a tailgate of the vehicle by displacing a stepping member of the vehicle step in a generally lateral direction. The vehicle step desirably has a covered and protected biasing mechanism for transitioning between retracted and extended positions of the stepping member. Advantageously, the vehicle step may be pulled out from under the vehicle by the foot of a user. Another advantage is that the vehicle step is readily attachable to the vehicle using already existing connection members, thereby generally eliminating or mitigating the need for customized retrofitting and avoiding undesirable installation cost and time. Finally, the vehicle step may be configured into at least two different arrangements for attachment to a vehicle utilizing the same components.
US09346401B2	Motor vehicle and method for operating a motor vehicle Motor vehicle with at least one control device, a thermal imaging camera and an image processing device, wherein the image processing device is designed to recognize objects on a thermal image from the thermal imaging camera, wherein the image processing device is designed to ascertain at least one object property of at least one recognized object, particularly of a recognized vehicle, by evaluating the thermal distribution in the thermal image in a region that includes the recognized object, wherein the control device is designed to use the object property for operation of a vehicle system.
US09346398B2	Automatic cancellation means for vehicle turn indicator signals A vehicle turn signal canceling system with means to recognize that a quantified turn has been made in order to deactivate the signaling condition. The system includes a microcontroller and an inertia sensor which measures the lateral or side force created when the vehicle turns left or right. The automatic function cancels the turn based on the side force as follows: at the time the turn signal is activated, the system records the referenced lateral or side force (the “reference point”); second, when the side force exceeds the reference point, plus a pre-determined side force, the unit accumulates exceedance time; and third, when the exceedance time reaches a pre-determined period of time, the turn signal status is then changed to “cancel” and the signaling condition is deactivated.
US09346396B2	Supplemental vehicle lighting system for vision based target detection A supplemental vehicle lighting system that is responsive to a trailer backup assist system is provided. The system includes a rear vehicle fixture defining a keylock hole customarily used in conjunction with a corresponding keylock cylinder. A light assembly is provided in the place of a keylock cylinder and operably coupled to the keylock hole. The light assembly includes a housing having a barrel that is concentrically aligned with the keylock hole and includes a distal end and a proximal end. A lighting device is disposed inside the housing and operable to emit light through the barrel beginning from the proximal end. A lens is coupled to the distal end of the barrel and is disposed to at least partially coincide with the keylock hole, wherein the lens is configured to disperse light emitted from the lighting device to illuminate a rear vehicle area.
US09346389B2	Cargo handling system A cargo handling system includes a guide assembly, a lower extendable assembly, and an upper extendable assembly. The cargo handling system can be placed on a cargo bed of a transport vehicle. The cargo handling system allows a vehicle operator easy access to portions of a cargo bed that are difficult to reach, and facilitates unloading of cargo.
US09346388B2	Adaptable boat trailer and method of use Apparatus and methods relating to an adaptable boat trailer for safely and gently storing, transporting, launching, and recovering a boat. The boat may be a wooden pleasure boat from 18 to 34 feet in length. The adaptable boat trailer comprises a trailer frame, a cover assembly, a rear suspension assembly having wheels, and a front suspension assembly. The cover assembly may include a fixed cabin and a retractable tarp assembly rearward of the fixed cabin. The front suspension assembly is configured for independently raising and lowering the front end of the adaptable boat trailer to clear a hump on a ramp, for example. The rear suspension assembly is configured for raising and lowering the rear end of the trailer frame to launch or recover the boat and escape a washout. A rescue flange may be included forward of the wheels to assist in rescue.
US09346381B2	Vehicle seat with locking apparatus A vehicle seat has a carriage that moves linearly with respect to a base, and a locking apparatus for preventing unwanted movement of the carriage in the event of an emergency. The locking apparatus has first and second toothed components which inter-engage such that, during movement of the carriage with respect to the base, one of the first and second toothed components imparts movement to the other. A locking gear is engaged with the teeth of the first component for rotation thereby, and is movable into a locking state where it also engages with the teeth of the second component to prevent relative movement between the first and second components. The locking gear moves into the locking state in response to a decelerating force above a threshold level.
US09346377B2	Height adjustment mechanism for head rest of child safety seat A child safety seat is provided with a backrest including parallel first and second recesses; a head rest including first and second projections slidable in the first and second recesses respectively, and top first and second holes; an adjustment plate including side slots; a pressing plate on bottom ends of the first and second recesses; first and second trigger rods between the backrest and the head rest wherein the first trigger rod includes a bottom tab member moveable in one slot, and a top finger tab; the second trigger rod includes a bottom tab member moveable in the other opposite slot, and a top finger tab; and the finger tab of the first trigger rod projects out of the first hole and the finger tab of the second trigger rod projects out of the second hole; and a biasing member.
US09346375B2	Cargo management system for a vehicle and including a pair of opposing cargo trim panels, each of which is made by a composite, compression molding process and has a wood grain finish A cargo management system including a vehicle load floor and a pair of opposing cargo trim panels supported above the load floor at opposite sides of the load floor within the interior of the vehicle is provided. The load floor has a wood grain finish. The load floor includes a first outer layer, a second outer layer and a core of cellulose-based material positioned between the outer layers and having a large number of cavities. The outer layers are bonded to the core by press molding. The trim panels are compression-molded, composite cargo trim panels supported above the vehicle load floor at opposite sides of the load floor. Each panel includes a base layer and a coverstock sheet bonded to the base layer by press molding. Each coverstock sheet provides its respective trim panel with a wood grain finish.
US09346373B2	Seatback stabilization device and vehicle employing the same In one or more embodiments, a vehicle seatback stabilization device includes a seatback stabilization portion to be connected to a seatback, and a vehicle body connection portion including an aperture to receive a connector of a vehicle body load-bearing structure. The seatback stabilization portion may include first and second stabilization panels positioned with an angle relative to each other. The vehicle body connection portion may extend away from the second stabilization panel such that the second stabilization panel is positioned between the first stabilization panel and the vehicle body connection portion.
US09346369B2	Charging device A charging device is provided with a charger, a charging time setting unit and a usage latency calculation unit. The charger is configured to charge a vehicle battery. The charging time setting unit sets a charging time for charging the vehicle battery. The usage latency calculation unit calculates a latency of usage of the charger. The usage latency is a time between an end time of charging of a first vehicle connected to the charger and a start time of charging of a second vehicle connected to the charger and charged after the first vehicle. The charging time setting unit compares the usage latency with a first threshold time and a second threshold time shorter than the first threshold time. The charging time setting unit sets the charging time in accordance with whether or not the usage latency is between the first and second threshold times.
US09346366B2	Charge/discharge system A charge/discharge system is mounted on an electric vehicle using a motor as a driving source, which is driven by electric power charged in a battery, and controls at least one of charge from the outside of the vehicle to the battery and discharge from the battery to the outside of the vehicle. The charge/discharge system comprises a power supply unit for controlling power supply to supply power only to a unit contributing charge/discharge among units connected to a wiring system of driving power for the motor when charge/discharge to/from the battery from/to the outside of the vehicle is performed.
US09346365B1	Methods and systems for electric vehicle (EV) charging, charging unit (CU) interfaces, auxiliary batteries, and remote access and user notifications Charge units for charging an electric vehicle and methods for cloud access and programming of data for charge units is provided. In one example, a charging unit is connectable to a charge source (e.g., electricity) and has an connector (cord) for coupling the charge unit to the electric vehicle. The charge unit including a port for interfacing with and charging an auxiliary battery. A display has a graphical user interface (GUI) for providing charge status information of a main battery of a vehicle and/or the auxiliary battery when connected to the port of the charge unit. The charge unit further including a communications port for providing data of the charge unit to the cloud services, for access and control by a remote computer. An advertising system will serve ads to the charge units, vehicle displays and/or the remote computers while charging or after charging.
US09346357B2	Air suspension pressure display A system for displaying the relative air pressure in an air suspension system for a vehicle comprises an intake line connecting from the air suspension system to a manifold. One or more pressure switches are connected to the manifold. A corresponding light is attached to each of the pressure switches. When the pressure within the manifold reaches preconfigured levels, one of the pressure switches is closed, and a corresponding light is illuminated. The lights are located on the side of the vehicle such that they can be easily seen.
US09346355B2	Motorcycle cruise control system A motorcycle cruise control system intended for cooperation with a rotary throttle grip of a motorcycle, comprises a clamping device with a stationary clamping part and a movable clamping part which is movable between a clamping position for clamping the throttle grip and maintaining it in a desired rotary position, and a release position allowing a rotation of the throttle grip, an operating mechanism for moving the movable clamping part between its clamping and release positions and a holding arrangement for holding the clamping device substantially stationary with respect to the motorcycle. The operating mechanism comprises an eccentric mechanism with a first arm and a second arm of which respective first ends are pivotably connected to the stationary clamping part and movable clamping part, respectively, and of which the second ends are pivotably connected to each other.
US09346353B2	Vehicle controller for changing the number of driven wheels A motor vehicle having: a prime mover; first and second groups of one or more wheels; and a driveline to connect the prime mover to the first and second groups of wheels such that the first group of one or more wheels is driven by the prime mover when the driveline is in a first mode of operation and the second group of one or more wheels is additionally driven by the prime mover when the driveline is in a second mode of operation, the driveline including an auxiliary driveline comprising releasable torque transmitting means operable to connect the second group of one or more wheels to the prime mover when the driveline transitions between the first mode and the second mode, wherein when in the first mode the driveline is operable to transition to the second mode responsive to an output of a reactive evaluator and a predictive evaluator.
US09346351B2	Valve device A valve device includes a first passage opened by a first valve member, a second passage opened by a second valve member, and a specific chamber in which an asymmetrical state is caused. When the second valve member is open, escape fluid flows through the specific chamber just before flowing into a second passage and collides a collision part located in the specific chamber. The escape fluid flowing in the specific chamber collides the collision part and is divided into two divided flows, and the two divided flows are joined again at downstream of the collision part. In the asymmetrical state, a difference is caused in a pressure loss between the two divided flows. By the asymmetrical state, a pressure loss as an entire of the specific chamber decreases, and frequency in using a valve mechanism can be reduced. Therefore, the valve mechanism can be used longer without omitting the specific chamber.
US09346349B2	Shutter abnormality notification apparatus for variable duct A shutter abnormality notification apparatus issues a notification of an abnormality in a shutter of a variable duct that is provided in a vehicle front end to be capable of adjusting an amount of introduced outside air by moving the shutter. The apparatus includes: an electric circuit that becomes conductive when the shutter and a receiver that receives the shutter contact each other in a duct seal constituted by the shutter and the receiver while the shutter is in the closed position; and a notifier that issues a warning when the electric circuit becomes non-conductive even though an opening operation instruction has not been issued in relation to the shutter in the closed position.
US09346344B2	Tonneau cover and method of attachment A tonneau cover and a method of attachment are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a self-energizing clamp can be used to retain a tonneau cover onto a side wall of a truck bed, or other vehicle bed. In some embodiments, the clamp can be rotated between a usage position and a storage position in order to prevent the clamp from incidental movement or harm while accessing the truck bed.
US09346339B2	Vehicle door [PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED]To provide a vehicle door, in which the arrangement of the reinforcing bracket is not limited, and the strength of the joined portion between the door frame and the door panel can be improved. The vehicle door has a portion of a door frame that forms a window opening inserted into the inside of a door panel. The door frame is provided with a stepped portion which separates a surface area on the frame forming portion side and a surface area on the insertion portion side from each other; the surface area on the insertion portion side that is continuous with the stepped portion is formed as an inner-panel facing surface facing the inner panel; the inner-panel facing surface is shifted in a direction away from the inner panel by the stepped portion; and the reinforcing bracket is made to overlap the shifted inner-panel facing surface therealong.
US09346338B2	Low refrigerant charge secondary loop air conditioning system A secondary loop air conditioning system for a vehicle that includes a condenser and an integrated assembly is disclosed. The condenser has a first condenser header spaced from a second condenser header, a condenser core extending between the first and second condenser headers, and a refrigerant inlet operatively engaging the first condenser header. The integrated assembly includes a chiller mounted to the first condenser header and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet configured to be in fluid communication with a secondary loop of the air conditioning system, and an expansion device in fluid communication with the condenser and mounted adjacent to the chiller for directing refrigerant into the chiller, and a refrigerant outlet. Also, a receiver/dryer area may be located in one of the condenser and the integrated assembly.
US09346330B2	System and method using a pressure reduction valve An automatic tire inflation system or wheel end assembly may be provided with a pressure reduction valve to allow rapid deflation of a tire. A method of rapidly reducing tire pressure may include use of a pressure reduction valve.
US09346319B2	Advanced composite rim having molded in spoke holes Embodiments of the present invention comprise a composite rim used in spoked wheels, such as bicycle wheels, having molded-in spoke holes along with a method of fabricating the composite rim. Advantageously, the present invention dramatically improves the bearing and loading strength of prior art composite rims, which drill the spoke holes therein after fabrication of the rim hoop.
US09346317B2	Non-pneumatic tire with reinforcement band spacer and method of manufacturing same A non-pneumatic tire and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. More particularly, a non-pneumatic tire having a reinforcement structure with one or more spacers is provided along with a method of placement of a spacer between reinforcing bands of a non-pneumatic tire. A jig can be used to facilitate placement of the spacer.
US09346312B2	Binder with reinforced spine A bound component including a first panel and a second panel pivotally coupled together along a hinge. Each panel includes an outer covering and a substrate positioned in the outer covering, wherein the outer covering of the first panel is directly coupled to the outer covering of the second panel to form the hinge. The substrates of the first and second panels are not directly coupled together. The bound component further includes a reinforcement extending over or forming at least part of the hinge.
US09346308B2	Booklet guide and clamp system in a booklet processing mechanism A booklet processing mechanism is described that includes a booklet guide and clamp system that is configured to act as the guide during entry and exit of the booklet into and from the mechanism, as well as clamp and hold the booklet in its proper position during a processing operation, for example by a laser or during vision verification. The booklet guide and clamp system is moveable between a first position for guiding an upper, free edge of an opened booklet and a second position where the upper, free edge is clamped against a backing plate. At the second, clamping position, the mechanism is out of the way so that it does not interfere with the processing operation. Because the guiding and clamping functions are combined into one mechanism, only one actuator and one sensor are needed for the guiding and clamping functions.
US09346307B2	Printable magnetic receptive composite sheet and method of making Printable magnetic receptive composite sheets are made by calendering a thin layer of a magnetic composition and bonding it to a top printable layer on one or both sides of the magnetic layer wherein the calendered layer has a thickness up to 10 mils.
US09346305B2	Device for ink-jet printing a surface An ink-jet printing device is described, said device comprising a first reservoir designed to contain a first volume of printing fluid at a first height with respect to a reference plane, a supply system for forcing the printing fluid towards the first reservoir and a second reservoir designed to contain a second volume of printing fluid at a second height with respect to the reference plane. The second height is less than the first height by a value. The device also comprises a conduit designed to receive the printing fluid from the first reservoir and convey it towards the second reservoir and an ejection plane in which ejector units lie. The ejection plane is arranged in a position higher than the average of the first height and the second height, so as to generate a back pressure in the ejector units. The flowrate of the printing fluid is between about 5 and about 10 times the maximum flowrate which can be ejected from said ejector units. The printing fluid may be a ceramic ink.
US09346299B2	Recording apparatus Provided is a recording apparatus including a controller which controls a recording operation relating to a recording medium, a carriage which can move in a predetermined movement direction, a cable which is connected to both the controller and the carriage and passes across the upper side of at least a part of a carriage movement area in the predetermined movement direction, and a metallic member which partially shields at least a part of the cable, which is a portion extending in a direction intersecting the predetermined movement direction, a guiding member which is formed of metal and guides the cable and a substrate which constitutes the controller. The metallic member is mounted on the guiding member, in a state where the cable is pinched between the metallic member and the guiding member. The metallic member is electrically connected to a ground in the substrate.
US09346296B2	Tape cassette A tape cassette that includes a generally rectangular box-like housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall defining a periphery of the housing, a first and second cavities extending from the bottom wall and disposed between a tape containing area and the periphery at opposite ends of a diagonal of the generally rectangular box-like housing, at least one tape wound and mounted within the housing in the tape containing area, the at least one tape including a first tape disposed in a first area, the first tape having a hole at a center of winding, and the first area being one of two areas formed by dividing the housing with respect to a line connecting the first and second cavities, and a third cavity that extends in the hole of the first tape from the bottom wall.
US09346289B2	Printing apparatus A printing apparatus includes: an apparatus main body that has a transportation unit which transports a recording medium and a liquid droplet ejection head which ejects an ink onto the recording medium; a curing unit that has a curing heater which heats and cures the ink on the recording medium; and a support mechanism that connects the apparatus main body and the curing unit, and displaceably supports the curing unit to be in an unfolded state and to be in a folded state where a depth which is the total length of the apparatus main body and the curing unit is shorter than that in the unfolded state in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body.
US09346286B1	Printing-driving control device and method for thermal transfer overprinter A printing-driving control device and a method for a thermal transfer overprinter includes pre-drive shaft is connected to two bearings through their inner bores and is fixed to pre-drive support base. Pre-drive support base is connected to pre-drive carriage through pre-drive support shaft. Print spindle is fixed to spindle mounting block and is also connected to pre-drive carriage and print-head assembly through inner bores. Print pressure strut is installed through one inner bore of pre-drive carriage. Pre-drive fixing block is fixed to pre-drive carriage. As pre-drive support base moves to the right along arc on support plate, it rotates anticlockwise around pre-drive support shaft due to resistance of arc. Thus, print-head assembly stretches out and print-head moves down to print. After printing, print-head moves up to its home position. The invention has a simpler and smaller mechanical construction which is more energy-efficient, cost-effective, convenient and practical. The invention is particularly suitable for the thermal transfer overprinter in flexible package coding, and can be applied to all occasions.
US09346284B2	Image forming apparatus configured to give image failure notification An image forming apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a plurality of nozzles discharging liquid droplets; a discharge failure detection unit detecting a defective nozzle of the liquid discharge head, the defective nozzle having a discharge failure; and a notification unit giving, when the defective nozzle is detected during image formation, a notification of the possibility of the generation of an image failure at least one of during and after the image formation.
US09346278B2	Packaging tray and packaging body For a liquid container provided with a handle portion, some contrivance is necessary with respect to the distribution form from the standpoint of protecting the liquid container against breakage. In a packaging tray for an ink container, the ink container having a flexible ink bag, a supply portion provided in the ink bag, and a handle portion provided in the ink bag and protruding outward therefrom, the packaging tray includes a restricting portion that restricts the handle portion at such a position that a clearance is maintained between the supply portion of the ink container and the packaging tray.
US09346273B2	Methods of making an inkjet print head by sawing discontinuous slotted recesses A method of making an inkjet print head may include forming, by sawing with a rotary saw blade, first discontinuous slotted recesses in a first surface of a wafer. The first discontinuous slotted recesses may be arranged in parallel, spaced apart relation. The method may further include forming, by sawing with the rotary saw blade, second discontinuous slotted recesses in a second surface of the wafer aligned and coupled in communication with the first continuous slotted recesses to define through-wafer channels. In another embodiment, the first and second plurality of discontinuous recesses may be formed by respective first and second rotary saw blades.
US09346271B2	Liquid ejecting head A liquid ejecting head includes a fixing plate which includes a bottom surface which is fixed onto the nozzle surface of each of a plurality of head units which are provided to line up in a state in which a first gap is formed along a first direction, and a first side surface which extends from an edge of the bottom surface which is positioned closer to an outside in the first direction than the lined-up head units to the head unit side. The fixing plate includes a second gap which is formed between the first side surface and the head units which are positioned at ends in the first direction among the head units. The liquid ejecting head also includes a second outer circumferential mold which fills at least a portion of the first gap, and a third outer circumferential mold which fills at least a portion of the second gap. The third outer circumferential mold fills the second gap at a position which is distanced further from the bottom surface than the second outer circumferential mold in a direction which is perpendicular to the bottom surface, and a hardness of the third outer circumferential mold is higher than a hardness of the second outer circumferential mold.
US09346263B2	Inkjet printer Upon driving a driver to perform an ejection drive of each of ink chambers subjected to the ejection drive, a controller drives the driver to supply a drive signal having a corrected waveform which increases an ejection amount and an ejection speed of ink compared with those of a normal waveform, when a correction condition is satisfied. The correction condition includes that at least one of the ink chambers arranged next to the ink chamber subjected to the ejection drive is not subjected to the ejection drive in an immediately preceding time slot, and that both the ink chambers arranged next to the ink chamber subjected to the ejection drive in a same group are subjected to the ejection drive.
US09346262B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a heating unit which heats a medium; a head which ejects liquid droplets onto the medium opposed thereto; and a driving signal generating unit which generates a driving signal to be applied to the head in order to eject the liquid droplets and which generates a driving signal different in accordance with whether the heating unit is used.
US09346261B1	Negative air duct sump for ink removal A gas flow duct for use in redirecting drops of liquid ejected from a printhead in a continuous inkjet printer, including a sump, a first duct portion upstream of the sump, and a second duct portion downstream of the sump. The first duct portion rises from an entrance to an apex and then turns downward and exits into the sump, and the second duct portion rises from the sump toward an exit port. A cross-sectional area of the first duct portion is adapted to produce a gas flow velocity sufficient to transport entrained liquid through the first duct portion past the apex and into the sump. A cross-sectional area of the second duct portion is larger than the cross-sectional area of the first duct portion and is adapted to produce a gas flow velocity insufficient to transport entrained liquid through the second duct portion.
US09346257B2	Printing system, method of controlling printing system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium It is determined whether or not a die used for executing designated sheet processing is set to a sheet processing apparatus, and control is performed to stop printing in a case where it is determined that the die is not set.
US09346254B2	Process for producing a polymer coated metal substrate and a metal strip substrate provided with a polymer coating A process for producing a polymer coated metal substrate metal strip substrate provided with a polymer coating.
US09346253B2	Method for imparting elasticity to a non-woven material / elastomer laminate Method for imparting elasticity to a laminate comprising at least one elastic film having a width and at least one ply of non-woven material secured to the film, particularly through interposition of a bonding material, particularly glue, which comprises the following steps in which:the laminate is unrolled in the form of a web in order to pass it between two sets of toothing, of which the teeth engage in each other in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the laminate in order to thus stretch the laminate in the direction of its width, characterised in that:a tension is imparted to the web in the longitudinal direction or machine direction during its unrolling between the toothing, particularly by providing a tensioner roll, particularly downstream of the sets of toothing.
US09346244B2	Composite building boards with thermoplastic coatings and cementitious precoated fibrous mats Disclosed is a composite building board construction. The board includes a set gypsum core and a fibrous mat that is pre-coated with a cementitious layer. A thermoplastic coating is then applied over the cementitious layer. Additives can be added to one or more of the layers to provide enhanced performance characteristics. Also discloses are various manufacturing techniques for applying a hot melt thermoplastic coating to cementitious layer.
US09346242B2	Multi-layer thin film assembly and barrier film for electronic device including the same A multi-layer thin film assembly including a first layer including a first material, wherein the first material includes at least two kinds of functional groups, and a second layer disposed on the first layer and including a second material that interacts with the at least two kinds of functional groups, and a barrier film including the same.
US09346240B2	Open-porous metal foam body and a method for fabricating the same Disclosed are an open-porous metal foam and a method for manufacturing the same. An open-porous metal foam according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is made of an iron-based alloy including 15 wt % or more of chrome and 5 wt % or more of aluminum. The open-porous metal foam is a semi-product that is formed of iron or the iron-based alloy that does not include chrome and aluminum or includes a smaller amount of chrome and aluminum in the powder when manufacturing, and the surface and the open pore thereof are uniformly coated with the powder of the iron-chrome-aluminum alloy and the organic binding agent. When heat treatment is performed under a reduction atmosphere, sintering is performed. In this case, the metal foam body that is formed of the iron-chrome-aluminum alloy is obtained by compensating concentrations of alloy elements between the semi-product and the powder by diffusion, and a content of chrome and aluminum in the metal foam is smaller than a content of chrome and aluminum included in a starting alloy of the used powder.
US09346234B2	Carton with locking feature In one aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a carton for holding at least one product. The carton includes a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around the interior of the carton. The plurality of panels includes a front panel, a top panel, and a lid panel foldably connected to the top panel. The carton includes a lid pivotably attached to the carton. The lid includes the lid panel and the top panel and is moveable between a closed position wherein the lid panels is positioned in face-to-face contact with the front panel and an open position allowing access to the interior of the carton. The carton includes locking features for releasably attaching the reclosable lid in the closed position. The locking features include at least one male locking portion in the front panel and at least one female locking portion in the lid panel.
US09346231B1	Waste compactor system A waste compactor to compact waste for disposal in a waste container includes a compaction chamber for receiving waste to be compacted and a closure assembly configured to seal a first opening during a compaction mode. There is a ram assembly in the compaction chamber and an actuator to move the ram assembly from a retracted position toward an extended position which compacts the waste against the closure assembly. There is a plurality of apertures in an internal surface of the compaction chamber where liquid and residual solid waste exit through the apertures during the compaction mode. There is a collection system to collect liquid and residual solid waste, which includes a filter unit. The filter unit has a first end and a second end, the second end includes an opening in communication with the compaction chamber. And, there is an evaporation system to evaporate the liquid.
US09346229B2	Mold element for vulcanizing a tire tread A mold element for vulcanizing all or part of a tire tread intended to accept studs for driving on ice. The mold element comprises a molding surface able to mold all or part of the tread surface of this tread. The mold element comprises an insert added into the mold element. The insert comprises an insert body intended to be fixed into the mold element, a rod intended for molding into the tread a cavity that is capable of accepting a stud, this rod being fixed removably to the insert body, marking means able to mold a pattern on the tread near the stud. The marking means are fixed removably to the insert body by fixing means.
US09346228B2	Segmented mold operator A segmented mold operator includes a main frame fixed to an upper cavity part of a tire press cavity and a control plunger with an axially movable cylinder rod that is configured to apply a squeeze pressure to the tire press cavity. A rotatable lock ring is rotatably coupled about an end of the cylinder rod and axially movable therewith. The lock ring includes a plurality of teeth radially arranged thereon to interface with a mold ring adapter via a bayonet connection. A lock ring frame is independent from the rotatable lock ring and is separated therefrom along the cylinder rod. A locking plunger is configured to selectively engage the rotatable lock ring to thereby prevent rotation of the rotatable lock ring. An electronic lock sensor is configured to electronically sense an axial position of the lock rod.
US09346227B2	Strip, method for manufacturing the same, and method for manufacturing pneumatic tire A strip of a thermoplastic elastomer to be wound spirally on a cylindrical drum for forming an inner liner for a tire having a shape close to a finished sectional shape is provided. The strip is formed of composite layers of (A) a first layer made of a styrene-isobutylene-styrene triblock copolymer and (B) a second layer containing at least one of a styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer and a styrene-isobutylene diblock copolymer. The strip further has a strip main body and ear portions arranged on opposite sides thereof. The strip main body has a thickness (T1) of 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm. The ear portions have a thickness (T2) thinner than the thickness (T1) of the strip main body and a width (W2) of 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm. This ribbon-shaped strip reduces unevenness of the surface of a sheet formed by the opposite ends of the strip when manufacturing an inner liner.
US09346223B2	Apparatus for and method of inhibiting delamination A compression apparatus for compressing a curved region of a laminated element 2 having a first surface region following a first curved path and a second surface region opposed to the first surface region following a second curved path, wherein a first compression member 40 is placed against the first surface region and urged towards a second compression member 50 placed against the second surface region.
US09346220B2	Method of manufacturing an oriented film from alloyed thermoplastic polymers, apparatus for such manufacture resulting products A blend of two partly incompatible polymers is extruded to form a film under conditions such that the alloy in the blend comprises fibrils extending mainly in one direction, the width and thickness of each fibril having a mean lower than 5 μm, the fibrils being formed of the polymer component having a higher melting point, and the fibrils being surrounded by a matrix of the second polymer, which has a lower coefficient of elasticity. The special morphology is achieved by providing grids in a grid chamber upstream of the exit orifice of the extrusion die, and by sequential hot stretching at a temperature at which the higher melting polymer is at least partly crystalline, and cold stretching, at which both polymers are substantially solid. The second, cold stretching step, is carried out under conditions to give an elongation at break at 20° C. of at least 25%. The films are of particular value for forming crosslaminates having high shock resistance. Preferably the polymer forming fibrils is polypropylene and the polymer forming the matrix is an ethylene polymer, preferably LLDPE.
US09346217B2	Three-dimensional printing apparatus A three-dimensional printing apparatus including a swing tank containing a liquid formation material, a swing mechanism, an elevating platform, a light source and a control unit is provided. The swing tank includes a pivot side and a swing side adapted to be swung about the pivot side. The swing mechanism includes a cam and a driving motor. The cam leans against the swing side for swinging the same. The elevating platform and the light source are respectively disposed above and below the swing tank. The control unit controls the elevating platform to immerge into the liquid formation material. The light source cures the liquid formation material between the elevating platform and the bottom of the swing tank. The control unit then controls the swing mechanism to swing the swing side, so the cured liquid formation material is separated from the bottom and located on the elevating platform.
US09346214B2	Film-forming composition for optical imprint and method for producing optical member A film-forming composition for optical imprint including (A) a photopolymerizable monomer having a hydrophilic group, (B) inorganic nanoparticles, and (C) a photopolymerization initiator, and the composition has an organic solvent content of 20% by mass or less, contains a monomer having a viscosity of 500 cP or less as component (A) at a proportion of 30% by mass or more relative to the total amount of component (A) and component (B), and has a refractive index after curing of 1.56 or higher.
US09346212B2	Deep grip mechanism within blow mold hanger and related methods and bottles Disclosed is a mold hanger for supporting a bottle mold in a blow molding station, the mold hanger comprising a piston and piston sleeve fully contained within the mold hanger configured to push a moveable insert into the mold. Also disclosed is a method of retrofitting an original rotatable blow molding module having multiple existing blow molding stations, each existing mold hanger defining an existing outer envelope. The disclosed method may include providing an improved mold hanger substantially contained within the respective existing outer envelope and including low-profile drive mechanisms configured opposably to drive moveable inserts into the mold. Further disclosed is a method of manufacturing a blow molded bottle with a deep pinch grip, the method including providing within a mold hanger a drive mechanism to drive a moveable insert into the mold. A bottle made by such methods is also disclosed.
US09346205B2	Optical device molding system A substrate having a plurality of protrusion members on its surface is molded by a molding system comprising first and second molds cooperating to apply a clamping force onto the substrate for molding, and a middle plate located between the first and second molds such that the substrate is clamped between the middle plate and the first mold during molding. A plurality of molding cavities is located on the second mold and through-holes formed in the middle plate correspond to positions of the molding cavities, such that each through-hole is sized and configured for inserting a protrusion member of the substrate to enable each protrusion member to be in communication with a molding cavity of the second mold. Molding compound is molded onto the protrusion members by the molding cavities during molding.
US09346203B2	Golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a method may include forming a golf club head having a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and a front portion with a lace portion. The method may form an interior cavity. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09346199B2	Apparatus and method for manufacturing crash pad An apparatus and method for manufacturing a crash pad with a foaming layer formed by injecting a foaming solution between a core and a skin are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first mold and a second mold used to form the skin by injecting molten resin of a skin material into a skin forming cavity when the first and second molds are combined. In addition, a third mold and the fourth mold form the core by injecting molten resin of a core material into a core forming cavity when the third and fourth molds are combined. The first mold has a vacuum aperture in an inner surface of the first mold to adsorb and fix a thread to implement a stitch before the forming of the skin, and the vacuum aperture exerts a vacuum suctioning force to absorb and fix via a vacuum pressure applied from a vacuum pressure providing unit.
US09346195B2	Flexible substrate, method of manufacturing flexible substrate, flexible display device, and method of flexible display device A method of manufacturing a flexible substrate includes providing a support, forming an auxiliary layer including a silicon-containing material and a gold (Au) particle on the support, forming a polymer thin film on the auxiliary layer, and removing the support after forming the polymer thin film.
US09346189B2	Coupling device A coupling device for coupling together a tool holder (3) with a rotatable spindle (2) of a machining machine. The coupling device comprises: —a female-shaped coupling part (10) with an internally cone-shaped section (11) and a male-shaped coupling part (20) with an externally cone-shaped section (21); —an annular groove (25) arranged in the externally cone-shaped section; —locking balls (15), which are radially displaceable in radial holes (16) in the internally cone-shaped section; and —a locking sleeve (30), which is arranged on the outside of the female-shaped coupling part and which is rotatable between a releasing position, in which the locking balls can be displaced radially to a retracted position while allowing a mutual axial displacement between the coupling parts, and a locking position, in which the locking balls are kept in engagement in said groove while preventing a mutual axial displacement between the coupling parts. The locking sleeve is provided with radially springing guide members (31), which co-operates with a respective locking ball.
US09346182B2	Rotary die cutter Each pair of bearing units for each of magnet and anvil rollers are movable in a vertical direction. Each of large diameter portions of the anvil roller is supported by a pair of support rollers. Each of large diameter portions of the magnet roller is pressed against the corresponding large diameter portion of the anvil roller by a pair of press rollers. Each stopper is moved between a first position in which it projects into a clearance between vertically opposed bearing units and a second position in which it retracts from the first position. When the stoppers are located at the first position, the opposed large diameter portions of the magnet and anvil rollers separate from each other, and when the stoppers are located at the second position, the opposed large diameter portions of the magnet and anvil rollers contact with each other.
US09346180B2	Appliance for personal care with automatic fluid dispenser An appliance for personal care, such as skin, dental or hair treatment, comprising a dispensing structure (30) for automatically dispensing a fluid. The dispensing structure (30) includes a fluid reservoir (10), a discharge opening (11) and a fluid drive structure (9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) for driving the fluid to be dispensed from the reservoir (10) and to and out of said discharge opening (11) in accordance with a dispensing rate/time profile (Sx). The fluid drive structure (9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) is arranged for spurting at least once during said dispensing operation for squirting an additional quantity of the fluid to and out of the discharge opening (11) in addition to the fluid being dispensed in accordance with said dispensing rate/time profile (Sx).
US09346179B2	Electric hair cutting apparatus An electric hair cutting apparatus having a motor for rotating a shaft, which, rotates an eccentric about the axis of the shaft, but not about the central axis of the eccentric, A cylindrical bearing is positioned around the eccentric. A drive tip is provided with a follower end which is shaped and positioned to engage with the bearing surrounding the eccentric. As the eccentric rotates, the bearing alternately pushes on left and right arms of the follower end of the drive tip, causing the drive tip to oscillate back and forth about a pivot point, The angle of the bearing with respect to the eccentric allows for generally continuous contact between the arms of the follower end of the drive tip with the bearing, even throughout the pivoting of the drive tip.
US09346177B2	Diver's knife and cutting tool A diver's knife that includes a casing with a bottom portion, a top half and a bottom half, a handle slot disposed on bottom portion of casing to allow a user to grasp diver's knife, a single-sided cutting blade to cut a line with a cutting edge with a top end and a blade aperture, with the single-sided cutting blade being sandwiched between top half and bottom half of casing. The diver's knife also includes a slot disposed on a side of casing to receive a line to be cut by an exposed single-sided cutting blade with cutting edge and an fastener to secure top half of casing, single-sided cutting blade and bottom half of casing together to form diver's knife. The diver's knife can also be double-sided to cut the line from both sides.
US09346171B2	Substrate transport apparatus, and system and method for manufacturing electronic device A substrate transport apparatus including a first substrate holder and a second substrate holder capable of respectively holding substrates includes a first drive arm which has first and second end portions, and is rotatable with rotation of a first drive shaft, a second drive arm which has a third end portion spaced apart from the first end portion by a first distance, and a fourth end portion spaced apart from the second end portion by a second distance, and is rotatable with rotation of a second drive shaft coaxial with the first drive shaft, two first driven arms coupled to the first substrate holder, and two second driven arms coupled to the second substrate holder.
US09346167B2	Trainable convolutional network apparatus and methods for operating a robotic vehicle A robotic vehicle may be operated by a learning controller comprising a trainable convolutional network configured to determine control signal based on sensory input. An input network layer may be configured to transfer sensory input into a hidden layer data using a filter convolution operation. Input layer may be configured to transfer sensory input into hidden layer data using a filter convolution. Output layer may convert hidden layer data to a predicted output using data segmentation and a fully connected array of efficacies. During training, efficacy of network connections may be adapted using a measure determined based on a target output provided by a trainer and an output predicted by the network. A combination of the predicted and the target output may be provided to the vehicle to execute a task. The network adaptation may be configured using an error back propagation method. The network may comprise an input reconstruction.
US09346164B1	Programming and execution of force-based tasks with torque-controlled robot arms A robotic device may receive task information defining (i) a nominal trajectory for an end-effector coupled to a manipulator of the robotic device, and (ii) forces to be exerted by the end-effector along the nominal trajectory; determining, based on the task information, a modified trajectory that is offset from the nominal trajectory; determining, based on the modified trajectory and the forces, torques to be applied to the manipulator over time; causing the torques to be applied to the manipulator so as to cause the end-effector to follow the modified trajectory and substantially exert the forces along the modified trajectory; receiving force feedback information from a sensor coupled to the robotic device indicating respective forces being experienced by the end-effector at respective points along the modified trajectory; and adjusting the torques to be applied to the manipulator based on the force feedback information.
US09346163B2	Robot, robot control device, robot control method, and robot control program A robot having joints includes a position information acquiring section that acquires time series information about a robot position, speed information, or acceleration information, a dynamics parameter switching section that switches a gravity term component and an inertia force term component of a motion equation separately between dynamics parameters including dynamics parameter of the robot gripping no object and dynamics parameter including the object gripped by the robot which robot arm gripping the object, and a desired torque calculation section that outputs a desired robot joint torque value as a desired joint torque based on the motion equation after the dynamics parameter switching section switches the dynamics parameters and the time series information about the robot position, the speed information, or the acceleration information acquired by the position information acquiring section. The robot controls an operation of the robot based on an output from the desired torque calculation section.
US09346162B2	Robot system, control device of robot, and robot control device A robot system includes a robot arm, one or more actuators that are provided in the robot arm to drive the robot arm, a sensor unit that detects an external force applied to at least one of the robot arm and the actuators, and a controller that controls an operation of each of the actuators and limits a torque instruction value for each of the actuators on the basis of a detection result of the sensor unit.
US09346160B2	Modular reconfigurable workcell for quick connection of peripherals An example modular reconfigurable workcell for quick connection of peripherals is described. In one example, a modular reconfigurable workcell comprises modular docking bays on a surface of the workcell that support attachment of docking modules in a fixed geometric configuration, and respective modular docking bays include electrical connections for a variety of power and communication busses of the docking modules to be attached. The workcell also includes an electrical subsystem for coupling the communication busses between the modular docking bays and providing power circuitry to the modular docking bays, and structural features in the modular docking bays to enable insertion of the docking modules in the fixed geometric configuration. The workcell also includes a processor for determining a geometric calibration of attached peripherals based on a location and the orientation of corresponding docking modules attached to the modular docking bays and based on an identification of the attached peripherals.
US09346150B1	Duct closure tool A hand-held duct closure tool 10 has teeth 24, 30 extending outwardly from the distal ends of two pivotably engaged arms 18, 20. The teeth penetrate into insulation material of abutting sections of insulated ducts or ductwork. When the user releases the tool, the teeth from each distal end remain engaged with the insulation material and are urged toward one another to hold the insulated duct sections in abutting relation.
US09346149B1	Polycrystalline diamond compacts and applications therefor Embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) including a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table having a diamond grain size distribution selected for improving leachability. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a PCD table bonded to a substrate. The PCD table includes diamond grains exhibiting diamond-to-diamond bonding therebetween. The diamond grains includes a first amount being about 30 to about 65 volume % of the diamond grains and a second amount being about 18 to about 65 volume % of the diamond grains. The first amount exhibits a first average grain size of about 8 μm to about 22 μm. The second amount exhibits a second average grain size that is greater than the first average grain size and is about 15 μm to about 50 μm. Other embodiments are directed methods of forming PDCs, and various applications for such PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.
US09346145B2	Apparatus and method for blending added material with base material on a manufactured component The present relates to an apparatus and method for blending added material with base material on manufactured components. The apparatus comprises an abrasive device having an abrasive surface for removing exceeding added material, and a guide fixed to the abrasive device. The method determines a trajectory of the abrasive surface with respect to a manufactured component: determines which of a plurality of contact points of the guide shall be in contact with the manufactured component along the trajectory; actuates the abrasive device; and controls position and angle of the abrasive surface en the manufactured component along the trajectory, while keeping the determined contact point in contact with the manufactured component. A force is applied to the abrasive device when the abrasive surface is in contact with the manufactured component and transferred when the guide gets in contact with the base material.
US09346144B2	Hand-held power tool having a support device A hand-held power tool includes a machine housing and a support device configured to guide the hand-held power tool in a plane-parallel manner on a workpiece. The support device has a substantially hollow-cylindrical carrier element configured to at least portionally receive the machine housing. The carrier element has a longitudinal slot and a foot plate. The foot plate is disposed at a defined angle at an axial end facing toward the workpiece. The foot plate has a recess for an insert tool. The carrier element is clampable to the machine housing by a swivelable clamping lever and/or a rotatable clamping knob. The clamping lever and the clamping knob are connected to each other by a clamping screw.
US09346131B2	Nickel-based solder alloy Solder alloy based on nickel is composed of a mixture with a first soldering material, a second soldering material, and a base material, wherein the base material is a nickel-based material which corresponds to the material to be soldered and is present in a proportion of 45-70% by weight in the mixture, the first soldering material is a nickel-based material including chromium, cobalt, tantalum, aluminum and boron, and is present in a proportion of 15-30% by weight in the mixture, and the second soldering material is a nickel-based material including chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, boron and hafnium, and is present in a proportion of 15-25% by weight in the mixture.
US09346129B2	Cardboard-handling system and method A cardboard-handling system with a rule-die associated to a first drum and a counter die associated to a second drum for pre-treating cardboards. A cardboard-alignmentor on a first side of the rule-die and counter-die aligns and conveys a cardboard together with one or more synchronized-cardboard transferors toward a side-gripper conveyor. The side-gripper conveyor transfers the cardboard toward and through the rule-die and counter-die drums for pre-treatment of the cardboard. Next the side-gripper conveyor conveys the cardboard toward and through a laser-treatment module to be further pre-treated. The side gripper conveyor movement is synchronized with a laser-treatment module for which a base with a plurality of protruding elements has moving capabilities and is synchronized with the side-gripper conveyor (via a timing belt for example).
US09346123B2	Device to improve iron loss properties of grain oriented electrical steel sheet and method for improving iron loss properties of grain oriented electrical steel sheet A device reduces dust for safely preventing laser-irradiation capacity from decreasing due to contamination and reliably reducing iron loss of a grain oriented electrical steel sheet. The device improves iron loss properties of a grain oriented electrical steel sheet by irradiating its surface with laser to reduce iron loss, wherein, distance between a laser beam emission port and a laser irradiation point is L (mm); laser irradiation angle formed by a line linking the emission port and the irradiation point with respect to a direction vertical to the sheet is θ (°); and L≧50, the emission port is positioned such that L and θ satisfy: 60−0.3L≦θ≦60 when L≦100; 40−0.1L≦θ≦60 when 100400.
US09346121B2	Method and device for the friction stir welding of two components A method for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft, said method comprising the following method steps: positioning the two components relative to one another in such a way that a connection region is formed between the two components; friction stir welding the two components by means of a friction stir welding tool which penetrates the connection region in order to produce a weld which permeates the connection region with the formation of an unpenetrated weld edge portion of the connection region; and introducing internal compressive stresses, at least in the weld edge portion of the connection region. Further a device for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft is provided.
US09346120B1	Sonotrode apparatus for use in ultrasonic additive manufacturing An ultrasonic welding apparatus that includes a full-wave sonotrode that further includes a first horn, a first nodal region, a welding surface, a second nodal region, and a second horn; first and second bearing assemblies that support the sonotrode at the first and second nodal regions respectively, wherein each bearing assembly further includes a first bearing housing portion; a first low friction bearing disposed within the first bearing housing portion; a second bearing housing portion connected to the first bearing housing portion; and a second low friction bearing disposed within the second bearing housing portion; a first centering apparatus that exerts laterally-acting force on the horn of the full-wave sonotrode; and a second centering apparatus that exerts laterally-acting force on the second horn of the full-wave sonotrode.
US09346114B2	Substrate having laser sintered underplate A substrate includes a metal portion and an underplate that is laser sintered to the metal portion. The metal portion has a melting point that is lower than a sintering temperature of the underplate.
US09346109B2	Unequal helix-angle end mill An unequal helix-angle end mill includes a cutting part and a handle part. The cutting part is provided with a plurality of flutes, each spirally extending from the bottom end to the handle part. The face of each flute facing the cutting rotation direction is a rake face, wherein the rake face and an outer peripheral face of the cutting part are intersected to form an outer peripheral blade, and the helix-angle of at least one of the peripheral blades is different from those of the other peripheral blades. A face joined with the peripheral blade among the outer peripheral face of the cutting part is a rear face. The width B of the edge flap of each peripheral blade is equal on a plane orthogonal to a rotating axis of the end mill. The unequal helix-angle end mill has high strength, and enhances the cutting depth and durability.
US09346108B2	Stator manufacturing method and whirling cutter device A method for machining a helical bore of a stator comprises providing a stator body with a bore. In addition, the method comprises providing a first and a second machining device. The first machining device comprises a milling head coupled to the end of a shaft and a rotary cutter mounted to the milling head for rotation about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The second machining device comprises a whirling head on the end of a shaft and a whirling cutter mounted to the whirling head for rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis but offset therefrom by a selectively variable degree. Further, the method comprises driving the first machining device through the bore multiple times with the rotary cutter following a helical path. Still further, the method comprises driving the second machining device through the bore with the whirling cutter following the same helical path.
US09346107B1	Drill bit jig A drill bit jig includes an elongate member, two jig securing elements and a drill bit guide. The drill bit guide includes a plurality of through holes where the axes of the through holes are parallel to the axis of the elongate member. Each of the plurality of through holes in the drill bit guide has a different diameter for accommodating drill bits of different thicknesses. The jig securing elements each include an L-shaped bolt and a door protecting material encasing one of the straight sections of the bolt. The drill bit jig also includes a core check to determine if a hole being drilled along the width of the door is straight.
US09346106B2	Clamping apparatus A clamping apparatus includes a base, a support mechanism mounted on the base, and a plurality of retaining mechanisms mounted on the base. A wheel rim is mounted on the support mechanism of the clamping apparatus to be worked by a wheel rim working machine. Thus, each of the retaining mechanisms of the clamping apparatus presses the inner wall of the wheel rim to position the wheel rim in place when the wheel rim is worked by the wheel rim working machine, so that the wheel rim is positioned by the clamping apparatus, and will not slip or detach from the clamping apparatus due to the high speed operation of the wheel rim working machine.
US09346104B2	Cutting insert, cutting tool, and method of producing machined product using them A cutting insert includes an upper surface, a side surface having a front clearance surface, and an end cutting edge along an intersection of the upper and the front clearance surfaces. The upper surface includes an end rake surface inclined downward as departing from the end cutting edge, a pair of front protrusions that is located apart from the end cutting edge and are less apart from each other as departing from the end cutting edge, a rear protrusion further apart from the end cutting edge than the pair of front protrusions, and a pair of intermediate protrusions located between the front protrusions and the rear protrusion. Top portions of the pair of intermediate protrusions are respectively located between the front protrusions and the rear protrusion, and are higher than top portions of the front protrusions and a top portion of the rear protrusion.
US09346103B2	Tool for the machining of a workpiece with lateral coolant outlet A tool for machining a workpiece is presented. The tool has a cutting insert with at least one cutting edge, a holder having a shank, and a cutting insert receptacle, wherein the cutting insert receptacle is arranged in a region of a workpiece-side end face of the shank, and the cutting insert is disposed in the cutting insert receptacle. The holder has a coolant bore, which opens out into a plurality of coolant outlets. The plurality of coolant outlets are arranged on the workpiece-side end face of the shank, alongside the cutting insert receptacle, and are oriented such that coolant is discharged towards the cutting insert. At least some of the coolant outlets lie in a coolant outlet plane which runs parallel to and offset from a cutting insert plane running through the cutting insert receptacle, where the coolant outlet plane and the cutting insert plane run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank.
US09346100B2	Method for producing a toothed wheel The invention relates to a method for producing a toothed wheel (1) in net shape or near-net shape quality, in particular a chain wheel, for a VVT system from a powder, with the toothed wheel (1) having an at least approximately cylindrically shaped housing (2) which is delimited in axial direction by one respective end face (6, 7) and which has an outside surface (3), and at the outside surface (3), a toothing (8) having teeth (9) and tooth roots (10) between the teeth (9) is embodied at a distance to both of the end faces (6, 7), and the toothing (8) has a tooth root circle (25) having a tooth root circle diameter, and the powder is filled into a mold (28) and pressed by means of at least one punch, and protrusions (11, 20) are embodied at least in the region of the teeth (9) at the outside surface (3) of the housing (2) and projecting over the latter in radial direction.
US09346096B2	Tool-holder gripper for radial presses Tool-holder gripper for a multiple change of tools in a horizontal radial press having a set of jaws moving radially and axially, comprising a handle, a tool-holder disc, and angular centring devices acting in conjunction with a front flange of the press to angularly align the tools and jaws. The gripper is further provided with a radial, axial centring portion configured to abut against the front surface of at least one radial jaw when the tools and jaws are axially aligned but still disengaged, so that the subsequent axial advancement of the jaws is accompanied by a simultaneous axial reversing of the gripper.
US09346089B2	Extrusion press systems and methods Systems, devices, and methods are described for extruding materials. In certain embodiments, one or more hollow billets are loaded onto an elongate mandrel bar and transported along the mandrel bar to a rotating die. The billets are transported through fluid clamps, which engage the mandrel bar and provide cooling fluid to the mandrel bar tip, and through mandrel grips, which engage the mandrel bar and prevent the mandrel bar from rotating. One or more press-rams advance the billets through a centering insert and into the rotating die. A quench assembly is provided at an extrusion end of the extrusion press to quench the extruded material. A programmable logic controller may be provided to control, at least in part, operations of the extrusion press system.
US09346084B2	Liquid processing apparatus and liquid processing method Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus capable of performing a liquid processing and a drying processing in a position each having a different height. The liquid processing apparatus includes: a substrate holding unit configured to hold a substrate; a rotation driving unit configured to rotate the substrate holding unit; a substrate holding unit elevating member configured to lift and lower the substrate holding unit; a processing liquid supply unit configured to supply a processing liquid to the substrate; a liquid receiving cup configured to surround the substrate when the processing liquid is being supplied to the substrate; a drying cup located above the substrate and the liquid receiving cup when the processing liquid is being supplied to the substrate. The drying cup surrounds the substrate and located above the liquid receiving cup when the substrate is being dried.
US09346079B2	Composite of porous substrate and one-dimensional nanomaterial and method for preparing the same, surface-modified composite and method for preparing the same The present invention relates to a composite of a porous substrate and one-dimensional nanomaterial, which is manufactured by a hydrothermal method. The method for manufacturing the composite of the present invention is simple and low-cost, and the one-dimensional nanomaterial is homogeneously distributed on the porous substrate with tight binding at the interface. The present invention also relates to a surface-modified composite and a method for preparing the same. The composite of the present invention which is hydrophobically modified at the surface can adsorb organic solvents such as toluene, dichlorobenzene, petroleum ether and the like, and greases such as gasoline, lubricating oil, motor oil, crude oil and the like, with a weight adsorption ratio of >10.
US09346076B1	Fine-line applicator device A fine-line applicator device creates an air-tight seal on a container of a substance, while preventing clogging in an applicator tip. The device includes a first cap, a nozzle protruding from the cap, a second cap engaging the nozzle, a hollow-bore needle protruding from the second cap, an end cap engaging the second cap, and an elongated member protruding from the end cap, such that the elongated member can be inserted into the hollow-bore needle. When the device is in a closed position, the elongated member occupies the interior chamber of the hollow-bore needle while the end cap engages the second cap to form a substantially air-tight seal, and when the end cap is removed from the second cap, the elongated member vacates the interior chamber of the hollow-bore needle to allow flow of a substance from the container through the needle.
US09346070B2	Universal atomizer and associated operating method An atomizer, painting machine, paint cabin, and method of operating an atomizer are disclosed. The atomizer includes a first paint inlet for a first paint system, and at least one additional second paint inlet for a second paint system. Each of the paint inlets are separated from each other, so that the atomizer may optionally apply one of the two different paint systems.
US09346066B2	Non-woven polymer fiber mat for use in a lithium ion battery electrochemical cell A method of making a non-woven polymer fiber mat that includes one or more polymer fibers and particles intermingled with the one or more polymer fibers is disclosed. The method, more specifically, includes simultaneously electrospinning the one or more polymer fibers and spraying the particles onto a collection face of a collector substrate. Once formed, the non-woven polymer fiber mat may be incorporated into an electrochemical battery cell of a lithium ion battery.
US09346063B2	Centrifuge and method for loading a device An apparatus includes a robotic system providing movement in three orthogonal directions to an arm operable to receive a pipette tip and to facilitate movement of fluid into and out of the pipette tip. In addition, the apparatus can include a tray for receiving pipette tips, receptacles for receiving tubes, an apparatus for forming an emulsion, a device for forming particles that include copies of the polynucleotide, a device for enriching the particles and an apparatus for loading such particles onto a sensor array. The apparatus can further include receptacles for holding containers of reagent solutions. Optionally, the robot can include a gripper arm in addition to the pipette receiving arm.
US09346058B2	Unit for grinding sample, unit for grinding and collecting sample, and process for grinding same Provided is a unit which is capable of readily grinding and collecting a small amount of a sample which is difficult to be ground. The unit for grinding a sample comprises a club-shaped pestle and a mortar into which the pestle can be inserted, wherein the pestle comprises a roughened taper located at at least one end of its pestle body, wherein the mortar is a tube with an inverted frustoconical bottom, and the surface of the mortar where the taper of the pestle contacts the inverted frustoconical bottom when the pestle is inserted into the mortar is roughened, and wherein the angle of the taper with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the pestle is substantially equal to the angle of the inner wall of the inverted frustoconical bottom with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the mortar. The roughened taper and surface improve grinding efficiency.
US09346055B2	Method and apparatus for amplification of nucleic acid sequences using immobilized DNA polymerase The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses for amplifying nucleic acid sequences using immobilized DNA polymerase. More particularly, it relates to methods and apparatuses useful for amplifying target nucleic acid sequences by forming a plurality of reaction regions in which polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can occur, positioning immobilized DNA polymerase in a specific reaction region, and circulating DNA through the reaction regions. The present invention provides those methods and apparatuses that allow simple separation and recovery of the DNA polymerase after the amplification, that can be operated not only with thermostable DNA polymerases but also with non-thermostable DNA polymerases, and that are simpler in their designs and processes so that they can be readily integrated into complex devices such as Lab-on-a-chip.
US09346054B2	Non-contact heating type of gene amplification system Disclosed is a non-contact heating type gene amplification system. The non-contact heating type gene amplification system includes separate light sources for each step of a polymerase chain reaction in order to perform a high-speed temperature cycle by moving a rotation unit, in which a plurality of sample chambers are formed, to places at which the sample chambers are controlled at the temperatures corresponding to each step.
US09346048B2	Paper-based chemical assay devices with improved fluidic structures A chemical assay device includes a hydrophilic substrate and one or more hydrophobic structures that extend from a first side of the hydrophilic substrate to a second side of the hydrophilic substrate. A hydrophobic structure in the hydrophilic substrate forms a fluid barrier wall that extends from the first side of the hydrophilic substrate to the second side of the hydrophilic substrate with a deviation of less than 20° from a perpendicular axis between the first side and the second side.
US09346046B2	Sintered porous plastic plug for serological pipette The present invention provides sintered porous plastic plugs for use in filtered serological pipettes which facilitate manufacture or assembly of the filtered serological pipettes. In one embodiment, a sintered porous plastic plug of the present invention comprises plastic and a cylindrical body, a first end and a second end, the first end having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical body, and the second end having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical body.
US09346043B2	Honeycomb structure and honeycomb catalyst There is disclosed a honeycomb structure usable as a support of a honeycomb catalyst onto which a large amount of catalyst can be loaded and which has a good purification efficiency, and the honeycomb structure includes porous partition walls 5 defining a plurality of cells to form through channels of a fluid and having a plurality of pores 10 therein, wherein a porosity of the partition walls 5 is from 45 to 70%, and in a cross section perpendicular to an extending direction of the cells, a total area of macro pores 12 having the largest pore diameter of larger than 10 μm is 50% or more with respect to a total area of the pores 10.
US09346041B2	Production of a catalytically active, metallized reactive foam material and use thereof The invention relates to a catalytic material which is used as an optofluidic reactor, and also a method for production thereof. In this case, first a reticulated plastic foam can be fabricated which then is coated with at least one first metal or metal alloy layer. Subsequently, a photocatalytic substrate is then applied to the metal or metal alloy layer. The photocatalytic substrate eliminates bacteria, viruses and other harmful substances, as well as fine dust or fungal spores, when the optofluidic reactor is used.
US09346039B2	Method for preparing refractory alloy-based polymetallic oxide catalysts for the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons into synthesis gas The invention relates to a method for preparation of oxide-polymetallic catalysts containing platinum-group metals for steam-oxidative conversion to obtain carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The method comprises treatment of NiO and CO3O4 by solutions of Al, Ce, Zr nitrates and palladium (Pd(NH3)4Cl2), platinum (H2[PtCl6]·6H2O) and rhodium (H3[RhCl6]) compounds followed by drying, carbonization of the obtained material in a methane flow at 550° C., preparation of slurry from this material, pseudo-boehmite and tetraisopropoxysilane, filling foam nichrome pores with obtained material suspension, elimination of water at 80° C., calcinating during 3 hours in an atmosphere of argon at 1300° C., elimination of carbon by water vapors at 600° C. during 3 hours. The technical result is development of a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst. 3 material claims, 7 tables, 4 examples.
US09346038B2	Fischer-tropsch catalyst comprising cobalt, magnesium and precious metal A method is described for preparing a catalyst precursor suitable for use in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons including 10 to 40% by weight of cobalt oxide crystallites and 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of a precious metal promoter, dispersed over the surface of a porous transition alumina wherein the surface of the transition alumina has been modified by inclusion of 0.25 to 3.5% wt magnesium, including the steps of: (a) forming a modified catalyst support by impregnating a transition alumina with a magnesium compound, drying and calcining the impregnated alumina in a first calcination at a temperature ≦600° C. to convert the magnesium compound into oxidic form, and (b) forming a catalyst precursor by impregnating the modified catalyst support with a cobalt compound and precious metal promoter compound, drying and calcining the impregnated catalyst support in a second calcination to convert the cobalt compound to cobalt oxide.
US09346034B2	Catalysts free from noble metals suitable for the electrochemical reduction of oxygen The invention concerns new catalysts for the reduction of oxygen suitable for PEM fuel cells, the process for their preparation and their use in other electrolytic processes.
US09346031B2	Sodium-nano liquid reactivity experiment apparatus A sodium-nanoliquid reactivity experiment apparatus includes: a storage tank that stores liquid sodium; a mixing tank that is connected to the storage tank through a first transport line to receive supply of the liquid sodium and that injects nanoparticles to mix the nanoparticles with the liquid sodium; and a reactor that is connected to the mixing tank through a second transport line to receive supply of a sodium-nanoparticle mixture and that injects water to react the water with the sodium-nanoparticle mixture.
US09346029B2	Polymer-based serum albumin substitute This invention provides the use of a polymer comprising a hyperbranched polyether polyol such as hyperbranched polyglycerol as a serum albumin substitute. Also provided are high molecular weight hyperbranched polyglycerol polymers suitable for a variety of medical and non-medical uses including methods for making such high molecular weight polymers.
US09346028B2	Expanded color space architectural paint and stain tinting system White-pigmented and unpigmented base paints and stains are custom-tinted using an automated colorant dispenser having a minimum fluid dispensing quantity less than 0.01 fluid ounce (<0.3 cm3) and a set of colorants including a green-hued colorant having a color strength greater than that of a comparison colorant containing 12 wt. % PG7 pigment, a blue-hued colorant having a color strength greater than that of a comparison colorant containing 12 wt. % PB15:2 pigment, a red-hued colorant having a color strength greater than that of a comparison colorant containing 17 wt. % PR209 pigment and a magenta-hued colorant having a color strength greater than that of a comparison magenta-hued colorant containing 7 wt. % PR122 pigment. Light pastel tints in small containers and strong colors in large containers may be prepared without requiring the use of additional colorants having the same general hue and lower color strength.
US09346024B2	Producing or dispensing liquid products A liquid product is dispensed via a membrane contactor. The contactor employs a plurality of gas-permeable hollow fibers. The contactor has a gas port communicating with the interior of the fibers and input and output ports for liquid communicating with space within the contactor surrounding the fibers. A gas comprising carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide is dissolved in the liquid in the contactor. The gas at a controlled pressure is supplied to the gas port. The liquid is supplied at a higher pressure than the gas to the input port for liquid from a supply of such liquid via a first valve having a first valve inlet port communicating with the supply of liquid and a first valve outlet port communicating with the inlet port for liquid. Liquid with the gas dissolved therein is dispensed from the outlet port for liquid via a dispense tap to ambient. The dispensing liquid step includes a start dispense step in which dispensing commences and a stop dispense step in which dispensing is stopped. The first valve is opened with the dispensing tap in the start dispense step, and is closed in the stop dispense step. Pressure build-up is relieved in liquid in communication with the space within the contactor surrounding the fibers after closure of the first valve and while maintaining the first valve closed. The balance between gas pressure and liquid pressure during the systems' standby periods protects the membranes from flooding.
US09346020B2	Multilayered charge-mosaic membrane and manufacturing method therefor There is provided a multilayered charge-mosaic membrane having a porous supporting layer (A), a porous intermediate layer (B) and a charge-mosaic layer (C), wherein the porous supporting layer (A), the porous intermediate layer (B) and the charge-mosaic layer (C) are located in this order; the porous supporting layer (A) and/or the porous intermediate layer (B) are made of a fiber layer containing hydrophilic fibers; a thickness of the porous intermediate layer (B) is 0.1 to 100 μm; a porosity of the porous supporting layer (A) is larger than a porosity of the porous intermediate layer (B); the cationic and/or the anionic polymers constituting the charge-mosaic layer (C) is a polyvinyl alcohol having an ionic group. Thus, there is provided a multilayered charge-mosaic membrane having a large salt permeation flux and excellent mechanical strength.
US09346018B2	Method for the preparation of a catalysed particulate filter and catalysed particulate filter The invention pertains to a catalyzed particulate filter provided in its entire dispersion side and within its partition walls with a first catalyst being active in selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides, and in its entire permeate side with a second catalyst combination with a catalyst being active in oxidation of ammonia mixed with a catalyst being active in oxidation of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and a method for its preparation. The mean particle size of the first catalyst is smaller than the mean pore diameter of the longitudinal porous walls, and the mean particle size of the second catalyst combination is larger than the mean pore diameter of the longitudinal walls. In the example, the first catalyst is a silica aluminum phosphate SAPO-34 promoted with 2% copper and the second catalyst is a mixture of platinum and palladium (molar ratio 3:1) supported on alumina particles and beta zeolite powder with 1.0% copper.
US09346013B2	Integrated chemical looping air separation in large-scale oxy-fuel plants An integrated chemical looping air separation unit (5) in a large-scale oxy-fuel power generating plant takes a portion of recycled flue gas (6) via a recycling conduit (7) through a heat exchanger (8) to a reduction reactor (9). The reduction reactor (9) exchanges oxidized metal oxide with an oxidation reactor (11) via transfer means (10) which return reduced metal oxide from the reduction reactor (9) to the oxidation reactor (11). This enables the reduction reactor (9) to feed a mixture of oxygen and recycled flue gas into the boiler (13) of the power generating plant in a more energy efficient manner than conventional oxy-fuel power plants using air separation units.
US09346011B2	Hollow fiber carbon molecular sieve membrane and preparation and use thereof A hollow fiber carbon molecular sieve membrane, a process for preparing the hollow fiber carbon molecular sieve membrane, and a process for effecting separation of an olefin from a gaseous mixture that comprises the olefin in admixture with its corresponding paraffin and optionally one or more gaseous components selected from hydrogen, an olefin other than the olefin and a paraffin other than the corresponding paraffin. The process and membrane may also be used to effect separation of the olefin(s) from remaining feedstream components subsequent to an olefin-paraffin separation.
US09346008B2	Method and an apparatus for sweetening and dehydrating a hydrocarbon gas, in particular a natural gas A method and an apparatus for removing acid compounds (sweetening) and moisture (dehydration) from a hydrocarbon gas, in particular from a natural gas or from a refinery gas fraction or a gas of synthesis, by subsequent absorption operations using a sweetening liquid and a dehydration liquid. The method comprises a step of prearranging a sweetening chamber (51) and a dehydration chamber (52) within a vertical elongated container (50), each chamber defined by an inner partition wall (68) of said vertical elongated container (50), is wherein a gas transfer passageway (14) is provided between an upper outlet port of the sweetening chamber (51) and an inlet port of the dehydration chamber (52); the method also comprises steps of feeding the absorption liquid from the above into the two chambers and of feeding the gas from below into the sweetening chamber. The apparatus and the method according to the invention make it possible to reduce the overall dimensions of the treatment unit with respect to the prior art units, which is particularly relevant for off-shore installations.
US09346006B2	Filter device A filter device for venting a fuel tank on a motor vehicle may include a filter module attached to the filter device. The filter module may have a module housing having at least two series-connected filter chambers.
US09346005B2	Apparatus for treating a gas stream An apparatus for treating a gas stream includes a plasma abatement device that has a reaction chamber and a plasma torch for generating a plasma stream for injection into the chamber for treating the gas stream. A first inlet conveys a gas stream into the plasma abatement device for treatment, and a second inlet, in a normal condition of the apparatus, is in flow communication with a source of reagent for conveying a reagent into the plasma device for improving the efficiency of the treatment. In a back-up condition of the apparatus, the second inlet is in flow communication with a gas stream source for conveying a gas stream into the device for treatment.
US09346001B2	Air filter cartridges, components thereof; and, air cleaner assemblies Air cleaner assemblies, features thereof and components thereof are described. Among the components described are a main filter cartridge and a safety cartridge.
US09345999B2	Tool-less auto-aligning filter retention system A filter retention system for releasably retaining a filter cartridge in an operable position within air supply and air exhaust systems is comprised of a filter cartridge, filter retainers, mounting frame with integral sealing knife edge and filter alignment brackets. The filter retainers allow for installation and removal of the filter cartridge without the use of tools. The retention system automatically aligns filter cartridges such that an airtight seal is created between the sealant containing groove in the filter cartridge and the sealing knife edge of the retention system.
US09345998B2	Method and device for the decantation of oil contained in a gas stream In this process, a gas stream containing the oil to be separated is circulated between an inlet zone and an outlet zone, and a calm vacuum zone is created where the oil is recovered and evacuated, after having been captured. According to the invention, the gas stream is passed in contact with a porous media, one face of which is in contact with the calm vacuum zone. The drops of oil are thus captured by the porous media and sucked through this media to arrive in the calm zone. This process is applicable to decanters of oil at impacters and also to cyclone separators, in particular in the automotive field.
US09345997B2	Active polymeric filters A polymer includes at least one pendant dioxirane moiety represented by Formula III or IV: In Formulas III and IV, R1 is absent or is alkylene, perhaloalkylene, cycloalkylene, arylene, heteroarylene, heterocyclylene, amino, carbonyl, carboxyl, alkylcarboxy, carboxyalkyl or alkylcarboxyalkyl; R2 is an electron withdrawing group; R8 is —N+R4R5 or alkylene; R9 is —N+R4R5 or alkylene; each R4 is independently H, alkyl, or cycloalkyl; and each R5 is independently H, alkyl, or cycloalkyl.
US09345988B2	Devices and method for continuous distillative separation of a mixture containing one or more alkanolamine(s) Apparatus and processes for continuous distillative separation of a mixture comprising one or more alkanolamine(s) are described. The separation is performed in one or more dividing wall column(s) and the alkanolamine or the alkanolamines is/are withdrawn as a side draw stream or side draw streams (side fraction(s)).
US09345987B2	Stripping absorption module In a process, a portion of a liquid mixture flow is vaporized to produce a vapor and a depleted flow of liquid. The vapor is introduced to a brine which is adapted to exothermically absorb one or more components therefrom, and heat is withdrawn, to produce at least a flow of heat and a flow of brine which is enriched in the one or more components. The heat previously withdrawn is transferred, to drive the vaporization. This transfer can be associated with the change of a working fluid from a gaseous into a liquid state. In this case, the heat withdrawal involves the change of the working fluid from the liquid to the gaseous state. In the liquid state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of gravity, convection and wicking. In the gaseous state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of diffusion and convection.
US09345985B2	Devolatilization apparatus and process Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus or process for devolatilization of flowable materials (such as molten polymers with entrained or dissolved solvent or unreacted monomers or comonomers) using a plate heater having heating channels, the design or operation of which heating channels maintains the flowable material above its bubble point pressure during passage through a larger first zone and then induces flashing in, or downstream of, a smaller second zone of the heating channel. The apparatus enables a higher throughput per heating channel while achieving equivalent or better devolatilization, as compared to current devolatilization apparatus.
US09345983B2	Construction kit Construction kit including construction blocks (2) and connection parts (4, 4′, 4″, 4′″, 6) for coupling the construction blocks. The construction blocks comprise openings (18) for the insertion of the connection parts formed by a pair of constituent elements (4a) pivoting with respect to one another. The rim (26) of the opening comprises eight or more teeth (22) distributed over the periphery of the opening. Some of the connection parts comprise teeth (68) arranged in a groove (66) which are configured to interlock with the teeth (22) of the rim when the connection part is in the locking position.
US09345982B2	Building block universal joint system A toy building block system and method involving a posable structure comprising a metal linkage, the structure having a plurality of ends and a Lego-like brick having means for coupling at least one of the plurality of ends of the posable linkage thereon.
US09345978B1	Action toys employing actuators and including control elements A toy figure assembly including a footing assembly in combination with a dual action actuator employing first and second working surfaces accessible through underside openings of the footing assembly for driving action movements of the toy figure by both a user's fingers and a piston driven controller secured to the footing. Further alternative embodiments with various alternative mechanism appendage couplings with the torso assembly through the footing gears, bracket or channel elements facilitate driven for movements in relation to the torso assembly moved relative to the footing assembly. Battling action game play may be expanded with the controller to battle virtual robots, allowing users to play various interactive computer based games.
US09345975B2	Swinging chair A swinging chair having a base seating portion composed of bungee cords and a suspension system that permits the base seating portion to hang or otherwise be suspended so it dually functions as a swing.
US09345974B1	Customizing offers for sales of combinations of virtual items A method of customizing offers for sales of combinations of virtual items at discounted prices is disclosed. A combination of virtual items of a computer-implemented game is selected such that the sum of the values of each of the combination of virtual items has a proportion to an amount of currency in an account of a user of the computer-implemented game, the selecting being performed by a processor. An offer for a sale of the combination of the virtual items at a discounted price is generated for the user of the computer-implemented game. The offer for the sale of the combination of virtual items at the discounted price is presented to the user.
US09345973B1	Controlling wagering game system browser areas A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include presenting one or more browsers on a shared wagering game display and presenting a graphical image of an object on the shared display in a first area of the one or more browsers. The first area of the one or more browsers is assigned to a wagering game system user account. The operations can further include detecting a player input that initiates a movement of the graphical image of the object along a trajectory toward a second area of the one or more browsers on the shared display. The operations can also include causing the graphical image of the object to move along the trajectory across the shared display from the first area to the second area.
US09345971B1	Computing device independent and transferable game level design and other objects A system which employs a method of creating transferable map schemas, storing the map schemas to storage devices, receiving target device settings, re-sampling the map schemas to fit the target devices using the target device settings, delivering the re-sampled map schemas to the target devices is described. Thereby providing the innovation that map schemas may be accessed by more than one type of device, the method by which maps are scaled from a created map dimension with given details to either a larger map having the ability to be utilized on a more capable playing device or to a map or a smaller map having the ability to be utilized on a less capable device without losing the important game-specific required data is also described.
US09345968B2	Game system, game apparatus, storage medium storing game program and game data exchange method A game system including a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, and a mobile game apparatus that can communicate with another game apparatus that exists within a communicable range by use of a radio communications unit. When a communicated state is established, exchanging conditions for exchanging game data are received and transmitted, and in a case the exchange conditions are coincident with each other, the game data are exchanged.
US09345962B2	Storage medium having stored thereon information processing program, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method An image is displayed on a portable display apparatus that outputs at least body state data based on an attitude and/or a motion of the portable display apparatus body and touch position data based on a touch position on a touch panel provided in the portable display apparatus. On the basis of the body state data and the touch position data, an attitude and/or a position of a first virtual camera for generating an image of a virtual world is controlled. A first image representing the virtual world viewed from the first virtual camera is displayed on the portable display apparatus.
US09345961B2	Electronic gaming device with explosive scatters Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which allow a player, the gaming device, and/or the gaming system to utilize exploding scatters. The electronic gaming device and/or method may utilize a plurality of reels. The plurality of reels may include one or more areas. The electronic gaming device and/or method may utilize a memory and a processor. The processor may generate one or more symbols to be located in the one or more areas. The one or more symbols may include a first expanding scatter symbol and a first dormant scatter symbol. The processor may modify the first dormant scatter symbol into an award value based on a first interaction determination.
US09345960B2	Gaming system and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature The present disclosure provides various embodiments directed to a gaming system and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature. In one embodiment, the gaming system displays a plurality of initial hands of cards, receives a hand formation input, and forms and displays a complete hand for each initial hand. For each complete hand, the gaming system determines whether that complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of a plurality of different winning hand categories. If at least one complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of the winning hand categories, for each complete hand that forms one such winning hand, the gaming system displays the winning hand category associated with that winning hand, receives a selection of a displayed winning hand category, and adds an enhancement to the display of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associated with the selected winning hand category.
US09345956B2	Randomizer unit for simulating game play A device and method is provided for simulating an outcome of a game, the device including a die having a plurality of faces, each face of the die being associated with an index value, a first wheel having a surface for rolling of the die, and a randomization mechanism coupled to the wheel and configured to cause a randomized motion of the wheel and die for a period of time to generate an outcome of game play, the outcome of game play being defined at least in part based on the index value of an exposed face of the plurality of faces of the die after the completion of the randomized motion.
US09345954B2	Cribbage board having illuminating peg holes A cribbage board having illuminating peg holes includes a discrete upper piece and a discrete lower piece. The top side of the upper piece includes a playing surface which is defined by a plurality of holes arranged as a first track and a second track, with each track including a continuous series of holes. The bottom side of the upper piece includes a plurality of distinct hollow channels, each running underneath a separate track of holes. In the hollow channels are a plurality of colored LEDs which illuminate when provided with electrical power. The LEDs are configured to illuminate underneath the first track of holes in a distinct color from the LEDs disposed underneath the second track of holes, so as to enable the different tracks of holes to be readily distinguished in a dark environment.
US09345951B2	Methods and apparatuses for an automatic card handling device and communication networks including same An automatic card handling device, automatic card handling devices within a network, and methods of use are disclosed. An automatic card handling device includes a shuffling apparatus with a controller and configured to deliver a set of shuffled cards, and a communication module operably coupled to the controller. The communication module is configured for establishing an electronic communication with a local or world-wide network and thereafter sending and receiving information related to the operation of the automatic card handling device across the network. A network of automatic card handling devices may include a plurality of automatic card shufflers. The network may also include at least one server operably coupled to the plurality of automatic card shufflers. In addition, the server may be operably coupled to a service center through a world-wide network.
US09345944B2	Golf aid for aligning stance A training device has a base unit configured to provide sensory feedback to a user and a belt unit configured to be worn by the user and emit signals toward the base unit. An electronic system housed in the base unit detects the signals emitted by the belt unit and provides sensory feedback indicating the angular alignment of the belt unit with respect to the base unit.
US09345941B1	Piñata pole support assembly The piñata pole support assembly is a structure that holds a piñata in place during celebrations. The piñata pole support assembly comprises a stand, vertical pole, top pole, brace, pulley, ground post, rope hook, stick holder, and a plurality of hold down pins.
US09345940B2	Multifunctional swaying throwing game apparatus A multifunctional swaying throwing game apparatus is formed by assembling a base and a rod, in which the base is a base able to sway and rock back and forth. The rod is designed to form a Y-shaped rod, and clasp hooks and clasp holes are provided on support rods extending from the upper portion of the rod. The clasp hooks enable hook holes of rings to hook thereon, and the clasp holes enable the peripheral edge of rings to be inserted and fixed therein. The hollow part of each of the rings allows for children to throw sandbags, rubber bands, or other objects therethrough.
US09345938B2	Golf club heads and methods to manufacturing golf club heads Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, a front portion having a face portion with a front surface and a back surface, an interior cavity extending between the top and sole portions and between the face and back portions, and an elastic polymer material in the interior cavity, and a bonding portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09345929B2	Trajectory detection and feedback system A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and/or one or more observers in the area. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and/or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device. The system may be operable to be set-up and to operate in a substantially autonomous manner.
US09345928B2	Device for strengthening pelvic floor musculature in women A hinged vaginal strengthening device has three points of resistance along its length, which correspond with the three layers of pelvic musculature. The device is inserted into a vagina and compressed by the pelvic floor musculature, in accordance with various regimens to achieve goals such as decreasing vaginal gap or overcoming painful intercourse. The device can be of various dimensions, and various compression resiliencies thereby allowing a user to progress through multiple steps to achieve their goal of increasing or decreasing their vaginal space, as well as increasing muscle tone.
US09345926B2	Exercise machine and pivoting assembly therefor There is provided an exercise machine including a frame, a wheel assembly rotatably mounted to the frame and an actuating assembly operatively connected to the wheel assembly, the actuating assembly being operable by a user to urge rotation of the wheel assembly. The frame includes a wheel mounting member having a central opening defined therein for mounting the wheel assembly to the frame. A central mounting plate is sized and shaped for engaging the central opening, the central mounting portion having a concave indent defined therein for rotatable receiving a wheel axle part of the wheel assembly.
US09345925B2	Floor-stretching exercise mat with movement guiding function A floor-stretching exercise mat with movement guiding function includes a base board plural guiding mats and a cushion mat. The base board is reconfigurable between a folded and an unfolded configuration and includes plural plates pivoted to one another by pivot connecting members. The plates each include a chamber and plural pivot portion. The pivot connecting members are each pivotally connected between every two plates and include a connecting portion to be pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the pivot portions. The guiding mats are disposed in the chamber and each includes plural display modules which are capable of producing light by contact pressure. The cushion mat is laid on the base board which is in an unfolded configuration to cover the guiding mats and includes plural light-passing apertures aligned with the display modules. The base board is foldable for easy storage and transportation.
US09345924B2	Stability exercise machine A preacher curl exercise machine with an air filled bladder or other resilient member which provides a support surface for a user exercising thereon. The preacher curl exercise machine providing many of the benefits of a traditional weight bench, while also providing the potential upside of incorporating an instability thereby engaging the user's core during exercise. A resilient member can be shaped according to the needs of the exercise to be performed. The resilient nature of the cushion limits bottoming out providing a true cushion support rather than laying on a hard surface.
US09345921B2	Therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device which includes a cylindrically shaped body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter, the body including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape. One or more of the predetermined density and the predetermined diameter in combination with the predetermined shape of the projections optimize mobilization of soft tissue structures of the human body.
US09345920B2	Fitness hoop having variable impact force An exercise device including a hoop made primarily of two elements, a softer inner element and a more rigid outer element. The inner element of the hoop has a plurality of shock absorbing compression chambers projecting inwardly and formed on an inner diameter thereof. The plurality of chambers each have a convex shape formed by a plurality of ribs connected by a connecting member. The chambers are formed at an angle with respect to a diameter of the hoop and have different compression attributes when the hoop is rotated by and about the user's body in the two different possible rotational directions. In this manner, the hoop will require greater exertion to maintain rotation in one direction versus the other, and also, the impact force which the hoop exerts on the user's skin will also differ depending upon the rotation direction.
US09345919B2	Hinge or the like for folding rebounder A portable exercise system has a foldable perimeter frame comprising at least two elongated frame members that are joined by hinges. The hinges are joined to ends of the frame members, which ends are generally tubular. Each hinge has a cap-like body having an interior surface that defines a cavity configured to nestingly receive one of the ends of the frame members. A deformable plug is located within the central cavity of the one of the ends. A tightening mechanism is operated to expand the plug radially and thereby cause the end to expand radially such the generally tubular outer surface of the end frictionally engages the interior surface of the a cap-like body.
US09345910B2	Methods and systems for generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy A method and system uniquely capable of generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy. Several embodiments of the method and system contemplates the use of unfocused, focused, or defocused acoustic energy at variable spatial and/or temporal energy settings, in the range of about 1 kHz-100 MHz, and at variable tissue depths. The unique ability to customize acoustic energy output and target a particular region of interest makes possible highly accurate and precise thermal bubble formation. In an embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy. In other embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other forms, such radio frequency electric currents (including monopolar and bipolar radio-frequency current). In an embodiment, the energy is various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling.
US09345909B2	Skin ulcer treatment A system and method for facilitating the healing of a skin ulcer, such as a diabetic ulcer, on a treatment region of a body. Ultrasound waves are transmitted to the treatment region. Interferential electrical stimulation is applied to the treatment region, simultaneously with the ultrasound transmission. The treatment region may be massaged with a massaging device during the treatment session. A gel may be applied onto the treatment region to facilitate the ultrasound transmission and electrical stimulation. A measurement system may be used to obtain accurate measurements of the skin ulcer, to provide a quantitative determination of the healing progression.
US09345906B2	Radiopharmaceutical delivery and tube management system A device for delivery of a radiopharmaceutical and delivery of a pharmaceutical agent are described. Various other components for delivery systems including tubing management systems, primer caps, diffusion chambers, radiation shields and syringe shields, needle handles, and other devices and methods are also described. Specifically, needle handles having a needle handle body attachable to a portion of a needle, and one or more wings or fins which are grasped by a user are described. The needle handle may be separated from the needle after insertion of the needle into a subject, and/or may provide access to a portion of tubing extending from the needle.
US09345904B2	Photodynamic therapy using photosensitizing agent or 5-aminolevulinic acid It is to provide photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) which are suitable for the diagnosis and therapy of a part requiring a certain degree of deep penetration, such as subcutaneous cancer and lymph nodes surrounded by blood vessels and fat. This is solved by performing PDT and PDD targeting cancer by administering a composition comprising a photosensitizing agent such as a tetrapyrrole-based compound (photofrin, protoporphyrin IX, etc.) or ALAs such as 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), ALA methyl ester, ALA ethyl ester, ALA propyl ester, ALA butyl ester, ALA pentyl ester, or a hydrochloride, phosphate, or sulfate thereof followed by irradiation with excitation light at a wavelength of 480 to 580 nm.
US09345898B2	Wearable cardiac defibrillator system controlling conductive fluid deployment In embodiments, a wearable cardiac defibrillator system includes an energy storage module configured to store a charge. Two electrodes can be configured to be applied to respective locations of a patient. One or more reservoirs can store one or more conductive fluids. Respective fluid deploying mechanisms can be configured to cause the fluids to be released from one or more of the reservoirs, which decreases the impedance at the patient location, and decreases discomfort for the patient. In some embodiments an impedance is sensed between the two electrodes, and the stored charge is delivered when the sensed impedance meets a discharge condition. In some embodiments, different fluids are released for different patient treatments. In some embodiments, fluid release is controlled to be in at least two doses, with an intervening pause.
US09345896B2	Implantable medical devices including elongated conductor bodies that facilitate device and lead configuration variants Implantable medical devices include elongated conductor bodies and related features including an attachment to the medical device at one end and a connector that receives a medical lead at the other end. The connector may have various features such as a modular design whereby the connector is constructed from a series of stacked contact modules. Other features of the connector include electrical contacts that are relatively thin conductors or the order of 0.040 inches or less and that may include radial protrusions to establish contact with the electrical connectors of the lead. Furthermore, electrical contacts may be mounted within the connector in a floating manner so that radial movement of the electrical contact may occur during lead insertion. Additional features include a feedthrough where conductors exposed beyond a housing of the implantable medical device make direct electrical connection to conductors present within the elongated body.
US09345895B2	Implantable medical device and feedthrough and method of making same Implantable medical device having a feedthrough, a feedthrough and method for making such feedthrough. The feedthrough has a ferrule, an electrically conductive pin, a preform having a preform liquidus temperature, a capacitor, positioned within the ferrule abutting the preform, having a coating having a coating liquidus temperature and being configured to electrically couple with the preform, and an insulative assembly configured, at least in part, to seal against passage of a liquid through the ferrule, and having an insulative assembly liquidus temperature. The coating liquidus temperature is greater than the preform liquidus temperature and the coating liquidus temperature being greater than the insulative assembly liquidus temperature.
US09345893B2	Implantable device header and method Systems and methods for implantable medical devices and headers are described. In an example, an implantable medical device includes a device container including an electronic module within the device container. A header core includes an electronic connection feature electrically coupled to the electronic module within the device container, the electronic connection feature configured to engage with a lead. In some examples, the header core includes a tag holder configured to locate an identification tag in a selected position with respect to the header core. In some examples, the header core includes an antenna attachment feature configured to locate an antenna in a selected position with respect to the header core. A header shell is disposed around the header core and attached to the device container.
US09345890B2	Systems and methods for managing noise in implantable medical devices Embodiments of the invention are related to managing noise in sensed signals in implantable medical devices, amongst other things. In an embodiment the invention includes a method for processing electrical signals obtained from a patient including gathering a first set of electrical signals using an implantable medical device, filtering to provide a second set of electrical signals, the second set including frequencies above a threshold frequency, and estimating the amount of noise present in the first set of electrical signals based on the magnitude of the second set. In an embodiment, the invention includes a medical device configured to gather a first set of electrical signals, filter the first set to provide a second set of electrical signals including frequencies above a threshold frequency, and estimate the amount of noise present in the first set based on the magnitude of the second set. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US09345889B2	Patient specific data driven safety interlocks for medical devices A medical device is provided that includes an input/output, at least one sensor, a memory, a controller and at least one delivery member. The input/output is configured to provide a communication path to and from the medical device. The at least one sensor is used to monitor at least one patient function. The memory is used to store patient specific data from the at least one sensor and operating parameters of the medical device. The controller is used to control operations of the medical device. The controller is in communication with the at least one sensor, the memory and the input/output. The controller is configured to deny device operational change requests received via the input/output based at least in part on the patient specific data sensed by the at least one sensor. The at least one delivery member is under the control of the controller and is configured to provide a therapeutic function of the medical device.
US09345887B2	Local and non-local sensing for cardiac pacing Systems and methods for determining pacing timing intervals based on the temporal relationship between the timing of local and non-local cardiac signal features are described. A device includes a plurality of implantable electrodes electrically coupled to the heart and configured to sense local and non-local cardiac signals. Sense circuitry coupled to first and second electrode pairs senses a local cardiac signal via a first electrode pair and a non-local cardiac signal via a second electrode pair. Detection circuitry is used to detect a feature of the local signal associated with activation of a heart chamber and to detect a feature of the non-local signal associated with activation of the heart chamber. A control processor times delivery of one or more pacing pulses based on a temporal relationship between timing of the local signal feature and timing of the non-local signal feature.
US09345886B2	Timing control for paired plasticity Systems, methods and devices for paired training include timing controls so that training and neural stimulation can be provided simultaneously. Paired trainings may include therapies, rehabilitation and performance enhancement training. Stimulations of nerves such as the vagus nerve that affect subcortical regions such as the nucleus basalis, locus coeruleus or amygdala induce plasticity in the brain, enhancing the effects of a variety of therapies, such as those used to treat tinnitus, stroke, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
US09345883B2	Rechargeable-battery implantable medical device having a primary battery active during a rechargeable-battery undervoltage condition A rechargeable-battery Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed including a primary battery which can be used as a back up to power critical loads in the IMD when the rechargeable battery is undervoltage and other non-critical loads are thus decoupled from the rechargeable battery. A rechargeable battery undervoltage detector provides at least one rechargeable battery undervoltage control signal to a power supply selector, which is used to set the power supply for the critical loads either to the rechargeable battery voltage when the rechargeable battery is not undervoltage, or to the primary battery voltage when the rechargeable battery is undervoltage. Circuitry for detecting the rechargeable battery undervoltage condition may be included as part of the critical loads, and so the undervoltage control signal(s) is reliably generated in a manner to additionally decouple the rechargeable battery from the load to prevent further rechargeable battery depletion.
US09345880B1	Closed-loop feedback-driven sympathetic neuromodulation for affect control A neurological control system for modulating activity of any component or structure comprising the entirety or portion of the nervous system, or any structure interfaced thereto, generally referred to herein as a “nervous system component.” The neurological control system generates neural modulation signals delivered to a nervous system component through one or more neuromodulators, comprising intracranial (IC) and peripheral stimulating electrodes and other actuators, in accordance with treatment parameters. The neurological control system may directly or indirectly control a portion of the autonomic nervous system, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Such treatment parameters may be derived from a neural or physiological response to previously delivered neural modulation signals sensed by one or more sensors, each configured to sense a particular characteristic indicative of a neurological or psychiatric condition.
US09345878B2	System and method for compensating for shifting of neurostimulation leads in a patient A method for determining a change in position of a neurostimulation lead relative to a stimulation target tissue of a patient is provided. The method comprises implanting a first proximity sensor on a surface of the patient, implanting a second proximity sensor on the surface of the patient, measuring a change in a distance between the first and second proximity sensors, and inferring the change in position of the lead relative to the stimulation target tissue from the measured change in distance. The method further comprises inferring an increase in a distance between the lead and the stimulation target tissue when the distance between the first and second proximity sensors increases. The method also comprises conveying electrical stimulation energy to therapeutically stimulate the stimulation target tissue, and modulating a stimulation parameter in response to the measured change in distance.
US09345876B2	Cochlear implant having electrically nonconductive occludent for tissue openings An electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to forcefully infill a tissue opening so as to effectively prevent transport of electrical current, fluid and bacteria through the tissue opening. A cochlear implant comprising: an elongate electrode carrier member having at least one electrode disposed thereon, wherein the carrier member is configured to traverse a cochleostomy to position the electrodes in the cochlea; and an electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to circumferentially surround a portion of the carrier member traversing the cochleostomy, and to forcefully infill cochleostomy thereby segregating perilymphatic canals of the cochlea from extracochlear regions.
US09345875B2	Method and apparatus for cannula fixation for an array insertion tube set An instrument holding system for a drive system is provided. The system can include an array holder that defines at least one bore for receipt of an instrument therethrough. The at least one instrument can be adapted for insertion into an anatomy. The array holder can be in communication with the drive system to receive a driving force. The system can include a fixation plate operable to move relative to the array holder such that the fixation plate is in contact with at least a portion of the at least one instrument to couple the at least one instrument to the array holder to enable the at least one instrument to be driven by the driving force into the anatomy.
US09345873B2	Lead with textured insulative layer Described is a medical device lead including a lead body having a conductor lumen including an inner surface. The lead also includes a conductor assembly extending through the conductor lumen; the conductor assembly comprising a conductor member and an outer insulative layer; and an electrode coupled to the conductor cable. The outer insulative layer includes a textured external surface that reduces the coefficient of friction between the outer insulative layer and the inner surface of the conductor lumen through which the conductor assembly extends. Methods of forming the conductor assembly are also described.
US09345868B2	Ointment applicator The present invention provides an anti-microbial or anti-bacterial treated soft ointment applicator that is used to apply ointment or cream on babies. The ointment applicator with a soft and flexible tapered tip in the present invention can be applied along the curvature of a baby's body without causing harm to baby's sensitive and delicate skin. The present invention provides an anti-microbial or anti-bacterial treated ointment applicator either coated with, or homogeneously manufactured with, such anti-microbial or anti-bacterial protection. In addition, the present invention includes a reservoir filled with a cleaning solution where the ointment applicator is cleaned and stored sterile. Therefore, the present invention helps not only with easy application of ointments or creams on the delicate skin, but also to protect the babies' skin from infection, microbial or bacterial contamination, or any further skin irritations caused from cross contamination between the applicator, ointment or cream, and the babies' skin.
US09345864B2	Methods for treating sinus ostia using balloon catheter devices having a slidable balloon portion A method comprises providing a balloon catheter device; locating a balloon portion within a paranasal sinus ostium while the balloon portion is in the first position such that a distal end of the balloon portion is at a distal end of a paranasal sinus ostium; inflating the balloon portion while the balloon portion is located in the paranasal sinus ostium such that at least a portion of the paranasal sinus ostium is dilated; sliding the balloon portion back to a second position while leaving the distal end of a guide member at the distal end of the paranasal sinus ostium; and viewing an image provided by a camera to determine whether an entirety of the paranasal sinus ostium has been dilated.
US09345862B2	Needle tip protector assembly for safety IV catheter assembly The invention relates to a needle tip guard for a safety IV catheter assembly comprising a catheter tube having a distal end and a proximal end; a catheter hub having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is joined to the said catheter tube and the proximal end defines a chamber; a needle extending through the catheter hub and the catheter tube having opposite proximal and distal ends defining an axial direction A, wherein the proximal end is joined to the needle hub and the distal end forms a sharp tip and a change in profile is provided between the proximal and distal ends of the needle; and a tip protector assembly movably arranged in between the catheter hub and needle hub on the needle such that the tip protector assembly is retained partially and/or completely in the chamber of the catheter hub and wherein the tip protector assembly is configured to entrap the needle tip upon withdrawal of the needle from the catheter hub.
US09345860B2	Steering mechanism for bi-directional catheter A bi-directional catheter with nearly double the throw in its catheter tip deflection defines a puller wire travel path having a U-turn a pulley which minimizes the offset angle between the puller wire and the longitudinal axis of the control handle while maximizing the travel distance of that puller wire for any given distance traveled by the pulley drawing the puller wire. In particular, the control handle of the catheter which includes a steering assembly having a lever arm carrying a pair of pulleys for drawing corresponding puller wires to deflect the tip section of the catheter. The pulleys are rotatably mounted on opposing portions of the lever arm such that one pulley is moved distally as the other pulley is moved proximally when the lever arm is rotated. Because each puller wire is trained on a respective pulley, rotation of the lever arm causes the pulley that is moved proximally to draw its puller wire to deflect the tip section in the direction of the off-axis lumen in which that puller wire extends.
US09345859B2	Hemostasis valve and system for guide catheter control A combined hemostasis valve and drive mechanism is provided. The hemostasis valve has a valve body with a first and second leg. The first leg has a proximal port, a distal port and a lumen extending between the proximal port and the distal port. At least one valve is located in the lumen adjacent the proximal port to permit an interventional device to be passed therethrough. The second leg extends at an angle relative to the first leg and is in fluid communication with the first leg. A rotating male luer lock connector is rotatably connected to the first leg proximate to the distal port. It is configured to secure a guide catheter and has a driven member. The drive mechanism has a drive member removably interfacing with the driven member and a motor operatively connected to the drive member. The motor rotates the guide catheter about its longitudinal axis in a first direction and opposing second direction in response to rotation of the motor in a first direction about an axis of the motor and an opposing second direction about the axis of the motor, through rotation of the drive member, driven member and rotating male luer lock connector.
US09345856B2	Medical catheter with reduced backflow A medical catheter (1) comprising an inner catheter tube (2) and an outer catheter tube (3), wherein the inner catheter tube (2) has at least one outlet port (6) for a medical liquid at its distal end and the outer catheter tube comprises two parts of differing rigidities, namely a flexible part (5) and a rigid part (4), wherein the flexible (5) part is located at the distal end of the outer catheter tube (3) and the distal end of the flexible part (5) is connected to the inner catheter tube (2), and wherein the medical catheter also comprises a drive means (7) for generating a relative movement between the inner catheter tube (2) and the rigid part (4) of the outer catheter tube (3).
US09345853B2	Tube assembly and method for making the assembly A tube assembly including a flexible tube joined to a connector with the tube having an insert liner located therein at least in an area of a distal end of the connector that provides improved retention force between the tube and connector. Methods for preparing the tube assembly are disclosed and include the use of adhesives or solvent for bonding the tube to the connector.
US09345851B2	Direction switching valve unit and cough assisting device using the same Provided is a direction switching valve unit and a cough assisting device using the same for inhaling to and exhaling from a patient's respiratory organ to induce a cough, the cough assisting device has a case body (100) having an inhaling space (110) formed on and passing through a lower surface thereof; an air pressure generating unit (200) provided in the case body (100), the air pressure generating unit generating an air pressure through a rotation force for suctioning air into an air inlet (210) and discharging suctioned air via an air outlet (220); a direction switching valve unit (300) provided in the inhaling space (110) formed through the case body (100), the direction switching valve unit converting a flow direction of the air for forcedly suctioning air toward a patient's respiratory organ or forcedly discharging air from a patient's respiratory organ by means of air pressure generated in the air pressure generating unit (200), whereby the device can be operated with low electric power.
US09345850B2	Apparatus and method to provide breathing support A ventilator, or a breathing assistance apparatus, is disclosed to ventilate patients who may have breathing difficulties, said device comprising a inspiratory pressure control duct configured to be immersed in a first body of fluid; a positive end-expiratory pressure control duct configured to be immersed in a second body of fluid; at least one valve connected to the peak inspiratory pressure control duct and to the positive end-expiratory pressure control duct, and at least one controller communicably connected to the valve to control rate of cycling of the valve, thereby controlling number of breaths per minute, and to control the duration of peak inspiratory pressure also known as inspiratory time.
US09345849B2	Device and method for capturing a surface of an object A device (10) for capturing a surface of an object (30) is provided, wherein the device (10) comprises a flexible membrane (14), which is configured to be deformed from a first shape to a second shape, when at least a part of the flexible membrane (14) is brought into contact with the surface of the object (30), wherein the device (10) comprises a plurality of strain-gauges (18) coupled to the flexible membrane (14), wherein the strain-gauges (18) are configured to measure a plurality of strain signals that depend on the shape of the flexible membrane (14), and wherein the device (10) comprises an output unit (24) for outputting the strain signals for reconstruction of the surface of the object (30) as a function of the strain signals.
US09345847B2	Washing water spraying vessel for nasal cavity cleaner The present invention relates to a washing water spraying vessel for a nasal cavity cleaner. A pumping operation of a pumping member is performed only when a pair of buttons formed on both sides of an outer cap are simultaneously pressed, which allows enabling fundamentally blocking the pumping operation through external pressure unintended by a user, thereby not only preventing washing water from being unnecessarily consumed but also preventing an inner part of the overcap from being contaminated.
US09345846B1	Molding apparatus, method and syringe produced using same A molding assembly for molding a syringe with a needle embedded therein includes a first mold portion and a second mold portion. The second mold portion includes a molding block, an end plate and a needle holding block configured to hold the needle. The assembly moves between an opened position in which the first mold portion is displaced from the second mold portion, and a closed position in which the molding block and the end plate define a molding cavity configured to form a body portion of the syringe, and the first mold portion contacts the second mold portion to hold the needle holding block adjacent to the molding cavity, such that the needle is partially positioned within the molding cavity.
US09345842B2	Adjustable dose setting plunger for syringe A syringe includes a body for receiving a medicament and a plunger movably connected to the syringe body. The plunger is moved with respect to the syringe body to draw in and dispense the medicament. A plurality of dose setting indicators are disposed on the plunger. The plunger is rotated outwardly from the syringe body to draw medicament into the syringe body. The plunger can be pushed or rotated into the syringe body to dispense the medicament.
US09345840B2	Drug delivery dose setting mechanism with variable maximum dose A method and system for proving a drug delivery device having a variable dose. The drug delivery device comprising a first tubular member and a second tubular member rotatably coupled to the first tubular member. A maximum stop component is operatively coupled to the first and second tubular member such that the maximum stop component is movable from a first position to a second position. The first position defines a first maximum dose that may be set by a user of said drug delivery device and the second position defines a second maximum dose that may be set by the user of said drug delivery device.
US09345839B2	Accurate dose control mechanisms and drug delivery syringes A dose control mechanism for a syringe includes a plunger having a coarse pitch screw on its exterior surface, a housing having a corresponding coarse pitch guide along the interior surface of the housing, a screw having a fine pitch screw which interfaces with a fine pitch nut of an adapter, wherein the plunger has an internal annular space within which screw at least partially resides. An accurate dose drug delivery syringe includes such a dose control mechanism, a barrel, a plunger seal, and a barrel adapter assembly having a barrel tip and a needle. The syringe may be a fill-at-time-of-use syringe, a pre-filled syringe, or a safety syringe having integrated needle retraction or needle sheathing safety features, or a combination thereof. Methods of assembly, manufacturing, and operation are similarly disclosed.
US09345838B2	Drug delivery device The invention relates to a disposable drug delivery device for selecting and dispensing a number of user variable doses of a medicament. The device comprises a housing, a cartridge holder for retaining a cartridge containing the medicament, a piston rod displaceable relative to the cartridge holder, a driver coupled to the piston rod, a display member for indicating a set dose and being coupled to the housing and to the driver, and a button coupled to the display member and to the driver.
US09345834B2	Autoinjector Described is an autoinjector comprising a case, a drive carriage disposed in the case, and a plunger coupled to the drive carriage. The plunger is adapted to releasably engage a needle retraction mechanism in a syringe. Translation of the drive carriage in a distal direction relative to the case causes the plunger to engage the needle retraction mechanism and translation of the drive carriage in a proximal direction relative to the casing case the plunger to needle retraction mechanism the stopper.
US09345833B1	Dental instrument The dental instrument includes a syringe and a topical anesthetic dispenser that is slidably attached to the syringe. The topical anesthetic dispenser can include a dispenser plunger, a dispenser barrel that slidably engages the dispenser plunger, a dispenser tube, and a needle cover affixed to the dispenser tube. The syringe can include a syringe plunger, a syringe barrel that slidably engages the syringe plunger, and a hollow needle having a beveled front end and a rear end extending toward the syringe barrel. A first carpule containing topical anesthetic can be loaded in the dispenser barrel. A second carpule containing injectable anesthetic solution can be loaded in the syringe barrel.
US09345831B2	Automatic injection device An injection device for injecting a fluid into an object, the injection device including a plunger assembly for operative engagement with a syringe adapted to contain the fluid and permit ejection of the fluid therefrom via a syringe outlet, the plunger assembly being displaceable in a first direction which causes at least some of the fluid contained in the syringe to be ejected from the syringe via the syringe outlet and an inadvertent fluid ejection prevention assembly coupled to the plunger assembly for preventing ejection of fluid from the syringe in situations where the syringe outlet is neither in operative engagement with a vial adaptor suitable for providing fluid communication with the interior of a vial nor in fluid communication with an injection site within the object.
US09345829B2	Infusion device for IV drugs that are incompatible to each other The present invention is a device and system to permit the isolation of two fluid compounds to be delivered to a patient without intermingling the two fluid compounds, yet permitting the labor saving activity of permitting a nurse or other medical staff member to hang two IV bags simultaneously. Fluid from the first IV bag inflates the barrier pressure valve and seals the system against the intrusion of the second fluid from the second IV bag until the first fluid has been fully delivered. The barrier pressure valve then unseals the system to permit the flow of fluid from the second IV bag to the patient. This implementation permits this isolation and separate delivery of two fluids without using electronics or other technology that would require a battery backup or other uninterruptible power source.
US09345828B2	Safety bag spike interface for hazardous drugs A convenience kit, use of which transforms a conventional IV container spiking and dispensing system to a safety system for handling hazardous drugs. The kit provides a spike receiving subsystem which is interposed between a spike of an IV set and a needle-less syringe connector affixed to a hazardous drug containing IV container to provide a closed pathway for delivering the hazardous drugs and to allow for detaching a spent container without exposing the hazardous drugs to a surrounding environment.
US09345819B2	Marker alloy A marker alloy foreign implant made of a biodegradable metallic material and having the composition MgxYbyMz wherein x is equal to 10-60 atomic percent; y is equal to 40-90 atomic percent; z is equal to 0-10 atomic percent; M is one or more element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Zn, Au, Ga, Pd, Pt, Al, Sn, Ca, Nd, Ba, Si, and Ge; and wherein x, y, and z, together, and including contaminants caused by production, result in 100 atomic percent.
US09345817B2	Modified porous materials and methods of creating interconnected porosity in materials Techniques, mixtures and improved porous materials (interconnected porous constructs) that are capable of maintaining a sufficient porosity while conferring improved mechanical and physical strength to the final construct. A sacrificial construct (for example, a sacrificial material such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)) is used to obtain an inverse porosity of the construct it was molded into. The process provides a less porous end material that may be used as an arthroplasty device or surgical implant (for example, an interference screw of suture anchor) among many other applications. The process employs a sacrificial material to reduce the porosity of the final construct to about 35%.
US09345810B2	Liquefaction of bone matrix The invention relates to methods of preparing a bone matrix solution, a bone matrix implant, and variants thereof. The invention also relates to methods of cell culture using the same. The invention further relates to bone matrix scaffolds comprising one or more bone matrix nanofibers, methods of preparing, and methods of use thereof. The invention also relates to methods of culturing cells and promoting differentiation of stem cells using the same.
US09345806B2	Manufacture of medical implants The invention pertains to a process for the manufacture cola medical implant, said process comprising: reacting a mixture of non functional, monofunctional, and bifunctional perfluoropolyethers comprising hydroxyl terminal groups, wherein the average functionality is of at least 1.97 [mixture (M)] with suitable reactants for producing a thermoplastic elastomer; moulding the so-obtained thermoplastic elastomer for yielding at least a part of the medical implant. It has been surprisingly found that by using a mixture of perfluoropolyethers having high functionality, it is advantageously possible to manufacture, by moulding thermoplastic elastomers therefrom, medical implants which exhibit improved biocompatibility and which are submitted to reduced chemicals extraction by biological fluids.
US09345804B2	S-nitrosothiol-generating skin dressings The present disclosure relates to a skin dressing adapted, on activation, to generate one or more S-nitrosothiols by reaction between a thiol and a nitrite salt in the skin dressing for delivery of nitric oxide to a body site. The skin dressing comprises a source of Cu2+, Zn2+ and/or Fe2+ ions.
US09345803B2	Absorbent material An absorbent product intended particularly for use as a wound dressing comprises an admixture of carboxymethyl chitosan and chitosan wherein the chitosan incorporates at least one antimicrobial agent. Absorbency is provided by the carboxymethyl chitosan and antimicrobial properties by the antimicrobial agent incorporated in the chitosan.
US09345791B2	Ligands for targeting of S1P receptors for in vivo imaging and treatment of diseases The present invention relates to novel compounds of formulae (I) and (II) which are useful in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis, in vivo diagnosis of diseases or disorders related to S1P receptors, in particular, in diseases which are connected to the regulatory function of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and its analogs, such as inflammation, pain, autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
US09345790B2	Cobalt-based MRI contrast agent and imaging system Novel, non-toxic cobalt-based contrast and imaging agents for use in enhanced medical imaging modalities and processes are described, as well the manufacture of markers containing such contrast agents is described, and uses for such imaging markers and contrast agents in a variety of therapeutic applications and devices.
US09345789B2	Specific inhibitors and active site probes for legumain Compounds which specifically inhibit legumain, also known as asparaginyl endopeptidase are provided. The compounds have an epoxide or N-Michael acceptor warhead, and have an asparagine side chain attached to a nitrogen atom in the backbone adjacent the warhead. The compounds also preferably comprise a proline residue adjacent the asparagine, and the compound may also contain a third residue and/or a label for cellular or in vivo imaging of active legumain.
US09345788B2	Reconstituted human breast tumor model A reconstituted human breast tumor model is disclosed. The model, which is incorporated into mice, provides actual tumors that arise spontaneously, thereby mimicking naturally occurring breast cancer. The tumors are genetically human, because they arise from human mammary tissues that develop from human mammary epithelial cells implanted into host mice. Prior to implantation, the mammary epithelial cells are genetically modified to contain a recombinant human oncogene and an SV40 early region.
US09345786B2	Maytansinoid derivatives Disclosed herein are maytansinoid drug linker derivatives which can be linked to a antigen binding unit (Abu), and maytansinoid drugs linked with an antigen binding unit (Drug-Linker-Antigen binding Unit: D-L-Abu), for targeted delivery to disease tissues. D-L-Abu, D-L-Abu derivatives, and methods relating to the use of such drug conjugates to treat antigen positive cells in cancers and immunological disorders are provided.
US09345785B2	Treatment of renal cell carcinoma with anti-CD70 antibody-drug conjugates Disclosed are anti-CD70 antibodies and derivatives thereof conjugated to cytotoxic, therapeutic agents, as well as pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the antibody- and antibody derivative-drug conjugates. Also disclosed are methods, for the treatment of CD70-expressing a cancer, comprising administering to a subject the disclosed pharmaceutical compositions.
US09345783B2	Immunoconjugates with an intracellularly-cleavable linkage The present invention relates to therapeutic conjugates with improved ability to target various diseased cells containing a targeting moiety (such as an antibody or antibody fragment), a linker and a therapeutic moiety, and further relates to processes for making and using the conjugates.
US09345781B2	Targeted dendrimer-drug conjugates The invention provides for dendrimer conjugates useful for liver-specific delivery of therapeutic agents. The therapeutic agent is associated to the dendrimer through a enzyme-cleavable covalent linkage.
US09345776B2	Biodegradable polymers with sulfenamide bonds for drug delivery applications The present invention provides methods for preparing polysulfenamides having a repeating unit of formula (4): wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, ether, cycloether, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxyaryl, arylether, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, halocycloalkyl, and aminocycloalkyl. Each of R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, ether, cycloether, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxyaryl, arylether, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, halocycloalkyl, and aminocycloalkyl. Microparticles comprising polysulfenamides can be used as delivery vehicles for a variety of biological applications.
US09345775B2	Compositions for targeted delivery of siRNA The present invention is directed compositions for targeted delivery of RNA interference (RNAi) polynucleotides to hepatocytes in vivo. Targeted RNAi polynucleotides are administered together with co-targeted delivery polymers. Delivery polymers provide membrane penetration function for movement of the RNAi polynucleotides from outside the cell to inside the cell. Reversible modification provides physiological responsiveness to the delivery polymers.
US09345768B2	Nanoparticle/active ingredient conjugates The present invention relates to nanoparticles, wherein at least one therapeutically active substance is bound to said nanoparticle and wherein the separation of the at least one therapeutically active substance from the nanoparticle is caused or initiated by an alternating magnetic filed. Furthermore, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions, in particular to injection solutions containing the nanoparticles as well as to the use thereof for the treatment of cancer.
US09345764B2	Moesin modulators and uses thereof The present application provides compositions and methods useful for treating and diagnosing diseases and disorders associated with moesin activation.
US09345754B2	Allogeneic tumor therapeutic agent, a vaccine using allogeneic tumor cells for the therapeutic treatment of tumor diseases, and a method for the making of such a vaccine, and transfected human tumor cells for use as a vaccine A vaccine on the basis of allogeneic tumor cells for the therapeutic treatment of defined tumor diseases, and a method for the making of such vaccine is disclosed. The tumor cells were previously transfected ex vivo with expression constructs encoding cytokines and co-stimulatory factors.
US09345751B2	Crotalus durissus terrificus venom administration for cancer treatment A method for treating cancer using an intra-patient dose escalation procedure to deliver dosages of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom.
US09345749B2	Method of treating intraoccular tissue pathologies with nerve growth factor Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), in the form of a preparation to be administered over ocular surface, is suggested as being suitable for therapy and/or prophylaxis of intraocular tissue pathologies, with particular reference to sclera, ciliary body, crystalline lens, retina, optic nerve, vitreous body and choroidea affections. When administered in the form of external ophthalmic preparation, for example as collyrium or ointment, NGF is capable to go through ocular tissues and it has been found out that it shows a therapeutic activity not only against retina and optic nerve pathologies but also against affections involving the above reported internal structures of the eye.
US09345745B2	Methods for treating inflammatory disorders and traumatic brain injury using stabilized non-hematopoietic EPO short peptides The described invention provides methods for treating an inflammatory brain disease, disorder or condition and for treating a traumatic brain injury having an inflammatory component in a subject in need thereof using isolated erythropoietin (EPO)-derived oligopeptides.
US09345742B2	Aminostatin derivatives for the treatment of arthrosis The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) and in particular medicaments comprising at least one compound of the formula (I) for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/or pathophysiological states in the triggering of which cathepsin D is involved, in particular for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of arthrosis, traumatic cartilage injuries, arthritis, pain, allodynia or hyperalgesia.
US09345741B2	Nutritional composition containing a peptide component with adiponectin simulating properties and uses thereof The present disclosure relates to nutritional compositions including a protein equivalent source that includes a peptide component comprising selected peptides. The protein equivalent source may further include intact protein, hydrolyzed protein, including partially hydrolyzed protein, or combinations thereof. The disclosure further relates to methods of promoting healthy body weight in a target subject by stimulating adiponectin levels by providing the nutritional compositions disclosed herein to a target subject, which includes a pediatric subject.
US09345736B2	Topical treatment of radiation dermatitis using hamelia patens Topical compositions are provided useful for treating radiation dermatitis. The compositions comprise an extract of the plant Hamelia patens and are applied topically to skin having radiation dermatitis to relieve symptoms thereof.
US09345733B1	Supplement composition for supporting telomere maintenance and protection and method of use A supplement composition for supporting telomere maintenance and protection, including effective amounts of extract of silybum marianum; N-acetylcysteine; Resveratrol; Extract of Panax ginseng; Extract of Ginkgo biloba; Puerarin; and L-arginine.Further disclosed is a method for supporting telomere maintenance and protection, comprising orally administering a supplement composition to a person one or twice daily, said supplement composition comprising in one dosage: from about 100 mg to about 300 mg of extract of silybum marianum, from about 400 mg to about 600 mg of N-acetylcysteine, from about 40 mg to about 60 mg of trans-resveratrol, from about 80 mg to about 120 mg of extract of Panax ginseng, from about 40 mg to about 60 mg of extract of ginkgo biloba, and from about 80 mg to about 120 mg of puerarin, and from about 400 mg to about 600 mg of L-arginine.
US09345731B2	Herbal extract as sensitivity enhancer toward insulin and antidiabetes A herbal extract composition from Lythraceae and Lauraceae family plants and its usage as insulin resistance reducer, syndrome X normalization, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes treatments, particularly as activator in insulin signal pathway, as modulator in glucose transport system, as modulator in adiponectin secretion, and as suppressor in insulin resistance. Representative from Lythraceae family has been selected Lagerstroemia speciosa, and representative from Lauraceae family has been selected Cinnamomum burmannii. Such herbal extract composition work synergistically to strengthen pharmacological effect produced by each extract if they act alone.
US09345728B2	Non-replicating probiotic micro-organisms protect children against gastrointestinal infections The present invention relates to non-replicating probiotic micro-organisms and their health benefits. In particular, the present invention provides a means to help parents to protect their children from gastro-intestinal infections, in particular diarrhea. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a composition comprising non-replicating probiotic micro-organisms for use in the prevention or treatment of gastrointestinal infections in children.
US09345724B2	Sodium thiosulfate-containing pharmaceutical compositions Provided herein are pharmaceutically acceptable sodium thiosulfate and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods for determining the total non-purgeable organic carbon in a sodium thiosulfate-containing sample. Further provided herein are methods for producing pharmaceutically acceptable sodium thiosulfate. Still further provided herein are methods of treatment comprising the administration of pharmaceutically acceptable sodium thiosulfate.
US09345721B2	Use of lactulose in the treatment of autism A treatment for autism in which an effective amount of lactulose is administered in order to bind excess ammonia in the gastrointestinal tract, the bloodstream, and the nervous system in order to prevent or reverse ammonia poisoning caused by the administration of certain antibiotics. Lactulose molecules in the colon are fermented by certain bacteria. The fermentation process lowers the colonic pH, and ammonia, in the form of ammonium ions, is used by the bacteria for amino acid and protein synthesis. This lowers the serum ammonia levels and reduces neurotoxicity.
US09345716B2	Protein free surfactant composition for pulmonary diseases and a process for preparing the same A protein free surfactant composition comprising dipalmitoylphosphatidyl choline (DPPC) and eugenol having a ratio in the range of 10:5 to 4:2 with >99% airway patency in the presence of albumin, for treating acid lung injury, adult respiratory distress syndrome and meconium aspiration syndrome.
US09345709B2	1,5-naphthyridine derivatives and MELK inhibitors containing the same The present invention directs a compound represented by formula (I).
US09345708B2	Inhibitors of influenza viruses replication Methods of inhibiting the replication of influenza viruses in a biological sample or patient, of reducing the amount of influenza viruses in a biological sample or patient, and of treating influenza in a patient, comprises administering to said biological sample or patient an effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the values of Structural Formula (IA) are as described herein. A compound is represented by Structural Formula (IA) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the values of Structural Formula (IA) are as described herein. A pharmaceutical composition comprises an effective amount of such a compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant or vehicle.
US09345707B2	Process for the production of an enriched natural antioxidant mixture from a single source plant A process for extracting antioxidants from a plant, including contacting a plant material from a guayusa plant for a first time with a solvent, thereby obtaining a first slurry, filtering said first slurry, thereby obtaining a first extract, contacting said plant material for a second time with said solvent, thereby obtaining a second slurry, filtering said second slurry, thereby obtaining a second extract, combining said first extract and said second extract, thereby generating an third extract containing at least antioxidants, xanthines, and amino acids, and substantially drying said third extract.
US09345703B2	Kappa opioid receptor effectors and uses thereof The present invention is a selective kappa opioid receptor effector, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, useful for treating ethanol use disorder withdrawal, anxiety and/or depression, schizophrenia, mania or post-traumatic stress disorder.
US09345701B1	Abuse-resistant controlled-release opioid dosage form Abuse-resistant, controlled release opioid tablets are a combination containing an opioid antagonist such as naloxone at a level above that needed to suppress the euphoric effect of the opioid, if the combination were crushed to break the controlled release properties causing the opioid and opioid antagonist to be released as a immediate release product as a single dose. The controlled release nature of the table prevents the accumulation of orally effective amounts of opioid antagonist when taken normally. The opioid antagonist is contained in a controlled-release matrix and released, over time, with the opioid.
US09345699B2	Isoquinoline, quinoline, and quinazoline derivatives as inhibitors of hedgehog signaling The invention provides isoquinoline, quinoline, and quinazoline derivatives to treat a variety of disorders, diseases and pathologic conditions, and more specifically to the use of isoquinoline, quinoline, and quinazoline derivatives to inhibit the hedgehog signaling pathway and to the use of those compounds to the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases and pathologic angiogenesis.
US09345698B2	Alfentanil composition for the treatment of acute pain There is provided pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of pain e.g. short-term pain, which compositions comprise a mixture comprising: (a) microparticles of alfentanil, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which microparticles are presented on the surfaces of larger carrier particles; (b) a water-soluble weak base; and (c) a compound which is a weak acid, which acid is presented in intimate mixture with the microparticles of alfentanil or salt thereof. The composition may further comprise a disintegrant. The acid is preferably citric acid.
US09345697B2	Methods of treatment of non-histaminic pruritus Described herein are methods of treating a mammal in need of treatment for non-histaminic pruritus by administering to the mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of RS-norketotifen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, thereby reducing the desire to scratch in the mammal. Non-histaminergic types of pruritus are resistant to treatment with selective histamine H-1-, H-2- and H-4-receptor inhibitors. In certain aspects, the non-histaminergic pruritus is associated with a dermal disorder, a psychological disorder, a mental disorder, a nerve disorder, or a systemic disorder.
US09345696B2	Methods for treating nicotinic acetylcholine receptor associated diseases The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating subjects suffering from a disorder associated with a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), methods for treating a subject having a disorder that would benefit from an increase in neural plasticity, and methods for modulating the plasticity of the primary visual cortex in subjects by modulating the expression, stability, and/or activity of Lynx1.
US09345695B2	Pharmaceutical compositions for the coordinated delivery of NSAIDs The present invention is directed to drug dosage forms that release an agent that raises the pH of a patient's gastrointestinal tract, followed by a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The dosage form is designed so that the NSAID is not released until the intragastric pH has been raised to a safe level. The invention also encompasses methods of treating patients by administering this coordinated release, gastroprotective, antiarthritic/analgesic combination unit dosage form to achieve pain and symptom relief with a reduced risk of developing gastrointestinal damage such as ulcers, erosions and hemorrhages.
US09345689B2	Pharmaceutical composition comprising (1r,4r)-6′-fluoro-N, N-dimethyl-4-phenyl-4,9′-dihydro-3′H-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-pyrano[3,4,b]indol]-4-amine and an anticonvulsant The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a first pharmacologically active ingredient selected from (1r,4r)-6′-fluoro-N,N-dimethyl-4-phenyl-4′,9′-dihydro-3′H-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-pyrano[3,4,b]indol]-4-amine and the physiologically acceptable salts thereof, and a second pharmacologically active ingredient which is an anticonvulsant selected from the group consisting of retigabin, lamotrigine, lacosamide, levetiracetam, carbamazepine, sultiame, phenacemide, felbamate, topiramate, pheneturide, brivaracetam, selectracetam, zonisamide, stiripentol, beclamide, mexiletin, ralfinamide, methylphenobarbital, phenobarbital, primidone, barbexaclone, metharbital, ethotoin, phenyloin, amino(diphenylhydantoin) valeric acid, mephenyloin, fosphenyloin, paramethadione, trimethadione, ethadione, ethosuximide, phensuximide, mesuximide, clonazepam, lorazepam, diazepam, clobazam, oxcarbazepine, eslicarbazepine, rufinamide, valproic acid, valpromide, aminobutyric acid, progabide, tiagabine, and the physiologically acceptable salts thereof.
US09345685B2	Methods for Alzheimer's Disease treatment and cognitive enhancement The present invention relates to compositions comprising a combination of PKC activators and PKC inhibitors and methods to modulate α-secretase activity; improve or enhance cognitive ability; and or reduce neurodegeneration in individuals suffering from diseases that impair cognitive ability, particularly Alzheimer's Disease. The invention also relates to methods for improving or enhancing cognitive ability. The present invention also provides methods for increasing the generation of non-amyloidogenic soluble APP (sAPP) comprising the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in the brain and inhibiting PKC in peripheral tissues. Macrocyclic lactones (i.e. bryostatin class and neristatin class) are preferred PKC activators and Vitamin E is a preferred PKC inhibitor for use in the inventive composition.
US09345681B2	Anti-obesity agent comprising high-purity EPA The present invention provides an agent for preventing the increase in a body weight (or for decreasing a body weight) or an anti-obesity agent each comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of EPA and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and derivatives thereof as an active ingredient for obesity in which the increase in the formation of hepatic lipid or the occurrence of fatty liver is mild, preferably the increase in the formation of hepatic lipid or the occurrence of fatty liver is not observed.
US09345677B2	Compositions, methods and kits relating to HER-2 cleavage The present invention relates to compositions, methods and kits based on the ADAM-mediated cleavage of Her-2. The present invention also relates to treatments for cancer, and in particular, breast cancer, by modulating the ADAM-mediated cleavage of Her-2. Further, the invention relates to compositions, methods and kits based on the surprising synergistic effect between inhibition of Her-2 cleavage by an ADAM and certain cytostatic (e.g., Herceptin) and cytotoxic (e.g., Taxol) compounds in, among other things, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing cell death. Additionally, the invention relates to novel variants of ADAM15, designated ADAM15 variant 1 and ADAM15 variant 2, now identified and isolated.
US09345676B2	Method of treating stroke comprising administering metal chelators to the upper one-third of the nasal cavity Methods for treating the animal central nervous system against the effects of stoke, including associated cognitive, behavioral and physical impairments. Effective amounts of therapeutic agents are administered to the upper third of the stroke patient's nasal cavity to bypass the blood-brain barrier and access the central nervous system directly to avoid unwanted and potentially lethal side effects. Therapeutic agents include those substances that interact with iron and/or copper such as iron chelators, copper chelators, and antioxidants. A particular example of a therapeutic agent is the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO).
US09345673B2	Anti-cancer cycloalkyl diamines The invention is directed to a method of treatment of a cancer, in a mammal, the method comprising administering to said mammal in need of such treatment an effective amount of a cell growth inhibitory compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form thereof.
US09345672B2	Ubiquinol and alpha lipoic acid compositions The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of delivery of CoQ that is reduced in the presence of lipoic acid and, optionally a fatty acid and/or optionally in a monoterpene. The compositions that include the reduced CoQ can be formulated in soft gel capsules.
US09345671B2	Adiponectin production enhancer The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for enhancement of adiponectin production, treatment or prevention of hypoadiponectinemia, and the like, comprising as an active ingredient an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.
US09345670B2	Patch preparation The present invention provides a patch preparation that has an extremely low moisture permeability, has a sufficient ODT effect, is excellent in drug releasability, and has a preferred handleability. The patch preparation of the present invention includes a support; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer containing an adherent polymer and a drug on one surface of the support, wherein: the support has a polyester base layer, an inorganic oxide layer, and a polyester nonwoven fabric layer in the stated order; the polyester base layer has a thickness of 1.0 μm to 16 μm; and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is laminated on the polyester base layer.
US09345669B2	Biodegradable natural films based on co-products derived from industrial-scale seed-treatment processes A biodegradable film (4) characterized in that it is prepared from at least one co-product derived from a soya bean-processing process aimed at obtaining soya-based final products by ultrafiltration, said co-product being selected from the group comprising the okara and the permeate. Such a film can be used as a food or pharmaceutical film, in particular for preparing a product for topical administration (1) of a pharmaceutical active ingredient, such as oestrogens.
US09345668B2	Implantable device having a slow dissolving polymer The present invention provides an implantable device having a coating including a slow dissolving polymer or material and the methods of making and using the same.
US09345667B2	Particles having hydrophobic material therein A process for preparing particles having a hydrophobic material therein is disclosed. The process comprises providing a multiple emulsion comprising a first emulsion dispersed in a hydrophobic medium, said first emulsion comprising a hydrophobic phase dispersed in a hydrophilic phase, wherein the hydrophobic phase comprises the hydrophobic material and the hydrophilic phase comprises a precursor which is capable of reacting to form a non-fluid matrix and reacting the precursor in the multiple emulsion to form the matrix in the form of the particles having the hydrophobic material therein wherein the precursor is added prior to formation of the multiple emulsion. Also disclosed are particles having a hydrophobic material therein, which may be releasable, as well as particles having a hydrophobic material therein, which may be releasable, made by the process and methods of using the particles.
US09345665B2	Reduction of flake-like aggregation in nanoparticulate active agent compositions This invention is directed to reduction of flake-like aggregation in nanoparticulate compositions. Also encompassed by the invention are compositions comprising a nanoparticulate active agent, at least one surface stabilizer and a flake-like aggregation reducing agent, such as a buffer and a sugar. The nanoparticulate active agent compositions comprise particles of the active agent having an effective average particle size of less than about 2000 nm.
US09345664B2	Process for preparing a medicament The present invention provides a process for preparing a particulate medicament that has greater homogeneity and a lower adhesion between the particles of the active ingredient and the carrier. The process comprises the steps of: (a) combining a pharmaceutically active ingredient in the form of an agglomerate of primary particles having an agglomerate particle size such that the agglomerate is capable of passing through a sieve having a mesh of 50-3000 μm with a pharmaceutically acceptable particulate carrier, and (b) mixing the resultant material in a mixer to break up the agglomerate into primary particles dispersed in the pharmaceutically acceptable particulate carrier such that 90% or more of the pharmaceutically active ingredient exists as primary particles having a particle size of 50 μm or less.
US09345663B2	Inhalable aztreonam lysinate formulation for treatment and prevention of pulmonary bacterial infections A method and a composition for treatment of pulmonary bacterial infections caused by gram-negative bacteria suitable for treatment of infection caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter species, Serratia marcescens as well as those caused by Burkholderia cepacia, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans, and multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using a concentrated formulation of aztreonam lysinate delivered as an aerosol or dry powder formulation.
US09345662B2	Degradable hydrogel compositions and methods This invention concerns an in situ biodegradable hydrogel drug delivery system in which the components are assembled in a manner that provides a mechanism for the timed cleavage of a particular amide bond in a covalently linked active agent or of the hydrogel structure.
US09345654B2	Hair dye product The invention relates to a hair dye product, in particular to a hair dye product comprising at least two natural dye substances, and the use of the at least two natural dye substances in human or animal hair dyeing or in preparation of hair dye product for human or animal, wherein at least one of the natural dye substances displays yellow or yellowish brown color series; preferably, the natural dye substance displaying the yellow or yellowish brown color series is selected from quercetin or a derivative thereof, or an extract containing the quercetin or the derivative thereof, or a mixture thereof. The at least two natural dye substances of the invention are combined as dyeing ingredient, compared with those used alone, the range of the color is very different, and the color of the dyed hair is natural, which is yellowish black and consistent with human real hair, moreover, the hair dyeing effect is stable and the color is not easy to fade.
US09345651B2	Oil-in-water emulsion composition and method for producing the same Disclosed is an oil-in-water type emulsion composition containing a physiologically acceptable salt of a tranexamate ester and a method for producing the same. An oil-in-water type emulsion composition containing a physiologically acceptable salt of a tranexamate ester can be obtained by preparing an oil phase including: A) a physiologically acceptable salt of a tranexamate ester; B) an amphiphilic substance; C) an oily substance; and D) water, a water-soluble organic solvent or a mixture thereof wherein the weight ratio of the ingredients A:B is in the range of 1:0.5 to 1:2.5, the weight ratio of the ingredients A:C is in the range of 1:1 to 1:5.0, and the weight ratio of the ingredients A:D is 1:0.2 to 1:5.0, and adding the oil phase to a water phase including E) water, a water-soluble organic solvent or a mixture thereof.
US09345649B2	Cosmetic composition containing novel fractal particle-based gels A method of instantly reducing the appearance of wrinkles and skin imperfections while smoothing the skin, which comprises applying a cosmetic composition comprising a fractal particle based gel.
US09345648B2	Photoactivatable oxygen-evolving compositions and methods for teeth whitening Disclosed herein are compositions that can rapidly evolve oxygen and/or activated oxygen generally including an oxidizing agent (e.g., a peroxide) and an activating agent that has an emission wavelength between about 400 nm and about 570 nm (e.g., Eosin B, Eosin Y, or Erythrosine B). Methods of employing these compositions to whiten teeth, and methods of making these compositions and kits that include some or part of the composition ingredients, are also described.
US09345642B2	Vial adapter for a needle-free syringe A vial adapter for a needle-free injection syringe and methods of filling a needle-free syringe from a vial of injectable fluid. One vial adapter embodiment includes a housing and a compliant valve. The housing includes a central divider located between a vial opening and a needle-free syringe opening. The housing also includes a hollow center post extending from the central divider toward the needle-free syringe opening and a hollow filling needle extending from the central divider toward the vial opening. Together, the filling needle and center post provide for fluid communication between the vial opening and the needle-free syringe opening. The compliant valve includes a surface forming a fluid tight seal with the central divider and an inner passageway. In addition, a syringe sealing surface provides for a fluid tight seal with a needle-free syringe placed into contact with the compliant valve. The compliant valve includes an opening in the syringe sealing surface which is biased closed when no needle-free syringe is engaged with the vial adapter and which is opened when a needle-free syringe is fully engaged with the opening.
US09345641B2	Safety drug handling device A drug mixing system including at least one receptacle port adaptor adapted to be inserted into a port of a fluid receptacle, at least one syringe adaptor adapted to be attached to a syringe and to the at least one receptacle port adaptor and at least one vial adaptor adapted for connection to a vial containing a drug and adapted for connection to the at least one syringe adaptor, the system being characterized in that at least one of the receptacle port adaptor, the at least one syringe adaptor and the at least one vial adaptor being vented to the atmosphere in a manner which prevents release to the atmosphere of possibly harmful contents of the vial in a liquid, solid or gaseous form.
US09345637B2	RFID tag and blood container/system with integrated RFID tag The present disclosure relates to arrangements for attaching an RFID tag to a liquid container, and particularly to a blood components container. The RFID tag may be inserted in an enclosure, such as peel tab, or in a sealed cup attached to a container port. The tag could alternately be embedded in a molded plug or component attached to a port. The RFID antenna could be painted or stamped on the surface of the container. Or the tag could be inserted into the container to float freely in the liquid components. The RFID source may be secured around the neck of a rigid or semi-rigid container, attached with a tether or attached to a connector assembled in association with a blood component or other fluid flow path.
US09345636B2	System and processes for automating and verifying medication order fulfillment compliance and medication administration compliance A system and processes for automating and verifying medication order fulfillment and medication administration compliance. A medication package is formed from a package back pane and blister housing, and filled in accordance to a prescription order. The package back pane has a medication housing color pattern that contrasts medication colorings of a prescribed medication, such that a number of empty medication blisters can be determined from a package image matrix generated by analyzing the medication housing color pattern, the medication colorings, and a plurality of reference marks on the package back pane from a captured image of the medication package. The package image matrix is compared to a previous package image matrix in order to determine if the prescribed medication has been administered properly. A unique prescription code of the medication package can program a processor with a scheduling profile, medication order information, and the package image matrix.
US09345631B2	Daneshvar patient elevator, rotator and methods Transportation and placement of elderly patients and patients with movement problems to a exam room and on a exam table is difficult and cumbersome. Many times patients need help to move to the exam room. The customary exam tables in the exam rooms have a higher height thus the patient has to move up one step and then to rotate for being able to sit on the exam table. Performing these movements, moving up and the rotation are difficult and time consuming when the person has neuro-muscular or arthritic problems. Many times a nurse or the doctor has to help the patient which has its own difficulties and make cause back pain of the staff members. The same case is true when a patient needs to be moved from a bed to a stretcher and again significant help is needed which needs a capable worker and may cause back problem in such health care providers. For this reason an easier method will be welcomed in solving this problem.This invention introduces a unique method which a unit allows a patient to be placed in this unit, to be elevated in order to match the height of the exam table and then to be rotated to sit easily on the exam table. One version of this unit also allows the patient to be wheeled to the exam room. Thus decreasing many steps and simplifying the moves. The use of mechanical tools for this purpose will decrease the human work and save time and energy and prevent the human injuries.
US09345629B2	Method for decontaminating the skin with textile composite material The present invention provides a method of decontaminating human skin from noxious substances without a washing and/or massage procedure, wherein the method comprises applying a textile composite to a contaminated skin area for a predetermined period of time, wherein a washing procedure or a massage procedure is not utilized; and removing the textile composite from the contaminated skin area.
US09345628B2	Absorbent article having a tufted topsheet An absorbent article having a topsheet in facing relationship with an absorbent core. The topsheet has a pair of tuft region lateral boundaries. Each tuft region lateral boundary is defined by a line or a portion of a line separating a plurality of first tufts from a plurality of second tufts, first tufts and second tufts differing in either height or area density. The tuft region lateral boundaries are on opposing sides of the longitudinal centerline. The tuft region lateral boundaries extend longitudinally along transversely opposite sides of the topsheet and are spaced apart from each other by a distance gradually increasing or gradually decreasing from a minimum or maximum, respectively, at a parallel transverse axis towards longitudinally opposing ends of the tuft region lateral boundaries. The tufts have fibers integral with and extending from the fibrous nonwoven web.
US09345627B2	Disposable absorbent article having tailored leg edges A disposable absorbent article comprises a first crotch elastic member adjacent a first crotch edge and a second crotch elastic member adjacent a second crotch edge, each crotch elastic member extending generally in a longitudinal direction, each crotch elastic member having a front terminal point and a rear terminal point. In one embodiment, at least one of the terminal points of the first crotch elastic member is positioned transversely inward from a remaining portion of the first crotch elastic member, and at least one of the terminal points of the second crotch elastic member is positioned transversely inward from a remaining portion of the second crotch elastic member. In another embodiment, front end portions of the first and second crotch elastic members or rear end portions of the first and second crotch elastic members converge transversely inward toward each other.
US09345621B2	High-order optical correction during corneal laser surgery Systems and methods related to corneal ablation for treatment of one or more high-order optical aberrations are provided. A method includes providing a defect-correcting prescription, determining an ablation profile to impose the prescription on the cornea, and determining a sequence of laser-energy ablations to impose the ablation profile on the cornea. The prescription provides a high-order optical correction. The ablation profile includes a first-segment profile and a second-segment profile. The second-segment profile corresponds to at least one high-order optical correction. The ablation sequence includes applying ablations corresponding to the first-segment profile prior to applying ablations corresponding to the second-segment profile.
US09345615B2	Inflatable convective pad for surgery An inflatable convective pad for warming a person during surgery has two ends, two sides, and at least two openings, each located in an area of the pad between the two ends and between a respective side and the center of the pad. The openings, which may be in the form of slits, allow the threading of a sheet or the person's arms through the pad to restrain the arms during surgery.
US09345613B2	Regulatable intraoral mandibular advancement device, for preventing snoring and sleep apnoea The invention relates to a regulatable intraoral mandibular advancement device that can be used to prevent snoring and sleep apnoea. Said device comprises two splints connected by a central screw (1) inserted into a sheath (2) comprising an upper ring (3), said sheath being used as a guiding housing (4) for an upper bar (5) of an upper plate (6), and the lower part of the sheath comprising a longitudinal groove (8) enabling the course of an inner mobile threaded (10) ring (9) that is displaced by the screw (1), and on which a lower displacement ring (11) is arranged, open or closed, said ring being provided with a perpendicular hole (12) with elipsoidal conicity, in which the lower bar (13) fixed to the lower maxillary plate (14) is inserted. Said screw (1) is locked to the sheath (2) on its rear part.
US09345610B2	Dorsal lumbar extension brace with tensioning system A spinal brace having a waist or abdominal portion, a dorsal lumbar insert, shoulder straps, and one or more cable tensioning systems that enables a user to tighten the waist or abdominal portion while at the same time tightening the shoulder straps to encourage extension.
US09345608B2	Ankle foot orthosis An ankle foot orthosis includes a leg member, a foot member, and a drive member. The drive assembly includes a link member which may be hingedly secured to the foot member at a hinge location adjacent to the posterior end of the foot member. The drive assembly may be operable to selectively impart pivotal movement between the foot member and the link member about a first pivot axis, and pivotal movement between the foot member and the leg member about a second pivot axis at the hinge location. The leg member and the foot member strut may be selectively movable in a medial-lateral direction relative to a base of the foot member and the drive assembly. The inferior-superior location of the second pivot axis may be selectively adjustable for substantially aligning the second pivot axis with an axis of rotation of an ankle joint of the wearer.
US09345607B2	Configurable subshell components in orthopedic devices A coupling device for an orthopedic brace includes an anchoring member for securing to a frame and protruding therefrom, and a subshell arranged to connect to the frame by the anchoring member. The subshell has a locking element for selectively positioning the subshell on the frame at a plurality of locations. The subshell may include an end portion or contoured edge extending beyond a portion of the frame so as to flex relative to the frame.
US09345602B2	Processes for making crush recoverable polymer scaffolds Methods for making scaffolds for delivery via a balloon catheter are described. The scaffold, after being deployed by the balloon, provides a crush recovery of about 90% after the diameter of the scaffold has been pinched or crushed by 50%. The scaffold structure has patterns that include an asymmetric or symmetric closed cell, and links connecting such closed cells.
US09345601B2	Gradually self-expanding stent A gradually self-expanding stent is provided with a plurality of stent cells. A restraining material is attached to the stent structure and restrains the stent structure from expanding to the expanded configuration. Over time the restraining material releases the stent structure to allow the stent structure to expand to the expanded diameter. An anti-thrombotic drug is incorporated into the restraining material.
US09345597B2	Polymeric stent with structural radiopaque marker An implantable sent comprises a radiopaque marker that provides a structural connection between two parts made of a polymer substrate material. The two parts can be one bending element of one radially expandable ring and another bending element of an adjacent expandable ring. The two parts can be two bending elements of the same radially expandable ring. The radiopaque marker can be in the form of an entire radially expandable ring.
US09345595B2	Low profile non-symmetrical stent A stent for use in a medical procedure having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other set of apices. One or more such stents may be attached to a graft material for use in endovascular treatment of, for example, aneurysm, thoracic dissection, or other body vessel condition.
US09345594B2	Modular stent graft The present invention relates to a modular stent graft which is designed for introduction into a blood vessel in a patient and which has a stent connected by means of a graft material; the stent graft has a first stent graft module having a body, a proximal end and a distal end, as well as at least three tubular arms extending longitudinally in the distal direction from the distal end of the first stent graft module, said arms being integrally connected to the body of the first stent graft module; in addition, a second stent graft module is provided which has a second body, a proximal end and a distal end, as well as at least three tubular arms extending longitudinally in the proximal direction from the proximal end of the second stent graft module, said arms being integrally formed with the body of the second stent graft module; in the assembled state a modular stent graft is formed, the modules of which are situated in the same blood vessel.
US09345593B2	Mounting plate system, vacuum reservoir plate and electronic pump system for prosthetic socket and related methods The mounting plate system is for use with a prosthetic socket, the socket having at least one aperture in a distal end thereof and in fluid communication with an interior portion of the socket which receives a residual limb. The mounting plate system includes a mounting plate having a top face to interface with the socket, and a bottom face for attachment to lower portions of a prosthetic limb. An opening in the mounting plate extends from the top face to the bottom face thereof, and a valve housing is positioned in the opening and has a channel therein for fluid communication with the interior portion of the socket via the at least one aperture. A one-way expulsion valve is secured between the valve housing and the socket adjacent the aperture and for regulating fluid communication between the interior portion of the socket and the channel in the valve housing. A vacuum reservoir seal plate is also provided.
US09345592B2	Hybrid terrain-adaptive lower-extremity systems Hybrid terrain-adaptive lower-extremity apparatus and methods that perform in a variety of different situations by detecting the terrain that is being traversed, and adapting to the detected terrain. In some embodiments, the ability to control the apparatus for each of these situations builds upon five basic capabilities: (1) determining the activity being performed; (2) dynamically controlling the characteristics of the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (3) dynamically driving the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (4) determining terrain texture irregularities (e.g., how sticky is the terrain, how slippery is the terrain, is the terrain coarse or smooth, does the terrain have any obstructions, such as rocks) and (5) a mechanical design of the apparatus that can respond to the dynamic control and dynamic drive.
US09345586B2	Variable angle spinal surgery instrument An instrument for use in a procedure for inserting a spinal implant between human vertebrae may include a shaft and an end member. The end member may rotate with respect to the shaft. An angle of the end member with respect to the shaft may be varied when the end member is in a disc space between the human vertebrae. The instrument may include a slide for securing the end member at selected angles relative to the shaft. The end member may be separable from the shaft when the end member is in a selected orientation with the shaft. An instrument kit may include a shaft assembly and modular end members for various steps in a surgical procedure, such as disc space preparation, disc space evaluation, and spinal implant insertion.
US09345582B2	Method and apparatus for restoring a shoulder joint and/or another joint Apparatus for repairing a shoulder joint, including a baseplate having a base portion having a medially-facing surface and a laterally-facing surface, and an opening passing through the medially-facing and laterally-facing surfaces for receiving a screw; and an anterior flange having an anteriorly-facing surface and a posteriorly-facing surface, the anterior flange extending away from, and perpendicular to, the medially-facing surface, the anterior flange having an opening passing through the anteriorly-facing and posteriorly-facing surfaces for accepting a screw; an articulating surface component for mounting to the laterally-facing surface for covering the laterally-facing surface; and an anterior cover for mounting to the anteriorly-facing surface and configured to lock the articulating surface component to the base portion, such that when the anterior cover is mounted to the anterior flange, the articulating surface component is locked to the base portion.
US09345580B2	Prosthetic having a modular soft tissue fixation mechanism A method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a prosthetic is disclosed. Soft tissue attachment pads having porous metal attachment regions and suture accepting holes are selectively positioned onto an implantable prosthetic to provide coupling locations.
US09345579B2	Tibial tuberosity advancement implant A tibial tuberosity advancement implant and method includes a spacer body made of biocompatible, biodegradable material and having a main section with at least one bony growth orifice therethrough and at least one fin extending from the main section by at least one connector. A metal clip is engageable with of the spacer body main section and includes spaced screw holes for securing the spacer body to the advanced tibial tuberosity and the tibia when the implant is placed in the space between the advanced tibial tuberosity and the tibia.
US09345568B2	Retinal prosthesis system using nanowire light detector, and manufacturing method thereof A retinal prosthesis system can comprise: a flexible substrate; a nanowire light detector which is placed on the substrate, and comprises one or more nanowires of which the resistance changes according to the applied light; one or more micro-electrodes which are placed on the substrate, are electrically connected to the nanowire light detector, and come in contact with retinal cells; and an electric power supply source for applying electric power to the nanowire light detector and the micro-electrodes. The retinal prosthesis system can be implemented into a very thin and flexible substrate type high resolution retinal system by manufacturing a nanowire light detector on a substrate in which micro-electrodes are implemented.
US09345565B2	Steerable dual filter cerebral protection system Single filter and multi-filter endolumenal methods and systems for filtering fluids within the body. In some embodiments a blood filtering system captures and removes particulates dislodged or generated during a surgical procedure and circulating in a patient's vasculature. In some embodiments a filter system protects the cerebral vasculature during a cardiac valve repair or replacement procedure.
US09345564B2	Removable vena cava filter having primary and secondary struts A removable filter has a hub defining a waist and a longitudinal filter axis; a plurality of primary struts extending from a first axial side of the hub, and a plurality of secondary struts extending from a second axial side of the hub opposite the first axial side. The secondary struts form a radially outward arc extending from the hub over an angle of at least about 180° in the expanded state, preferably between about 190° and about 270°. A retrieval coil with a proximal end fastened to an elongated wire has several longitudinally offset windings. The retrieval coil is preferably more rigid than the primary struts. The coil may preferably have a distal winding with an inner diameter that is greater than the diameter of the hub and smaller than the diameter of the filter in the expanded state.
US09345560B2	Metal pillar for dental implants A one-piece, angled metal pillar for dental implants, includes a lower base with a threaded shank, a smooth cylindrical segment having one end connected with one end of the lower base, a bevel shaped as a frustoconical support base having one end connected to an opposite end of the smooth cylindrical segment, and an upper inclined segment connected to an opposite end of the support base, the upper inclined segment including an upper lateral opening in the form of a shaft for insertion of a wrench.
US09345557B2	Orthodontic aligner fabrication by overlay method The orthodontic alignment of misaligned teeth includes preparing a digital and/or physical overlay model which is the superimposed positioning of the patient's original misaligned dentition with the target or final position. The superimposition of one upon the other creates an open space through which teeth may move in a natural manner, allowing for a treatment plan that takes into account the physical interaction of one tooth with another or the differences in tooth movement rates due in part to differences in underlying bone density or the like. An aligner tray fabricated using the model will likewise represent the before and after tooth positions and will also have the open space to allow tooth movement. Force exerting structures are preferably placed into the aligner tray to impinge upon the patient's teeth in a prescribed manner when the aligner tray is inserted into the patient's oral cavity.
US09345556B1	Dental guard system and method for forming A method of forming a user conformable dental guard includes obtaining a storage case with a handle, and inserting a dental guard and an impression tray in which the dental guard is positioned into the storage case. The method includes filling the storage case with water and placing the storage case and its contents into a microwave oven. The storage case and its contents are then subjected to microwave energy for a period of time sufficient to soften the dental guard. The method includes removing the storage case from the microwave over, flushing the storage case with water to slightly cool the dental guard, removing the dental guard and impression tray from the storage case and inserting the dental guard and impression tray into the user's mouth. The dental guard is molded by application of force by the user's teeth.
US09345553B2	Method, system, and computer program product to perform digital orthodontics at one or more sites A set of rules to design an orthodontic appliance for generating an aesthetic smile is maintained in a computational device, where the set of rules is associated with an application that executes in the computational device. At least one measured value is computed from one or more features extracted by processing dental information of a patient. The application generates a parameter to design an orthodontic appliance based on the at least one measured value and the set of rules for generating the aesthetic smile.
US09345551B2	Implant design analysis suite A method for anatomical analysis and joint implant design. Embodiments provide users with the ability to anatomically analyze a single bone or a series of bones that exist in a database, evaluate surgical landmarks and axes, identify differences among specific characteristics of a given population, and modify existing implants or create new implant designs based on anatomical analyses.
US09345548B2	Patient-specific pre-operative planning A method for pre-operative orthopedic planning includes obtaining only a high-resolution knee-joint scan of a patient, determining hip rotation center and ankle rotation center from anthropometric data based on personal data of the patient, and determining a mechanical axis of the knee joint based on the anthropometric data. The method also includes preparing at least a two-dimensional image model of the knee joint using the knee-joint scan and the determined mechanical axis, and preparing a pre-operative surgical plan based on the image of the knee joint.
US09345547B2	Apparatus and method for sizing a connecting element for positioning along a bone structure Apparatus and methods for measuring spacing between first and second bone screws engaged with first and second bone structures are provided. An apparatus comprises first and second arms operably engaged with a single pivot pin. The first arm includes a distal end adapted to engage the first bone screw, and a proximal end comprising a graduated scale. The second arm, operably engaged with the first arm via the single pivot pin, includes a distal end adapted to engage the second bone screw, and a proximal end comprising an indicator segment slidably engaged with the graduated scale. A position of the indicator segment relative to the graduated scale is therefore indicative of a spacing between the first and second bone screws.
US09345545B2	Mechanized multi-instrument surgical system A surgical system includes an instrument driver having a distal end positionable in a body cavity and a user input device. The instrument driver and user input device are positioned to removably receive distal and proximal portions, respectively, of a surgical instrument. The user input device is configured to generate movement signals in response to manual manipulation of the proximal portion of the surgical instrument. At least one motor operable to actuate the instrument driver in response to the movement signals and to thereby change position of the distal portion of the surgical instrument within the body cavity.
US09345543B2	Laser delivery apparatus for endovascular applications An apparatus for delivering energy, and in particular laser energy, to a tissue includes a protective quartz cap that is secured to a laser delivery fiber by a crimp sleeve. The fiber may have a conical tip, and the quartz cap may be secured to the crimp sleeve by a layer of epoxy.
US09345541B2	Cartridge assembly for electrosurgical devices, electrosurgical unit and methods of use thereof The invention provides a cartridge assembly to couple a tissue treatment device with an electrosurgical unit, with the cartridge assembly operable with a power delivery apparatus and a fluid delivery apparatus of the electrosurgical unit. The invention also provides an electrosurgical unit comprising a power delivery apparatus and a fluid delivery apparatus operable with the cartridge assembly and a system thereof.
US09345539B2	Treatment device A treatment device according to the present invention includes: an elongated sheath having flexibility, the sheath being passed through an endoscope and introduced to an object to be treated; an incision knife section disposed approximately along an axial line of the sheath around an outer periphery at the distal end thereof, the incision knife section being used for incising tissue of the object to be treated; and a rotation-torque-transmitting section extending from a proximal end of the elongated sheath maneuvered by an endoscopist to an intermediate section of the incision knife section in the axial line direction, the rotation-torque-transmitting section rotating the sheath by transmitting rotation torque input at the proximal end of the sheath.
US09345536B2	Surgical forceps with bifurcated flanged jaw components A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members. Each jaw member includes a bifurcated proximal flange extending therefrom defining first and second spaced-apart flange components. The first flange components are pivotably engaged to one another via a first engagement portion and the second flange components are pivotably engaged to one another via a second engagement portion. One or both of the jaw members is pivotable relative to the other about the first and second engagement portions between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. A guide member is configured for positioning between the proximal flanges of the jaw members. The guide member includes a tab extending transversely therefrom that is configured to operably engaged one of the first and second engagement portions to retain the jaw members in engagement with one another.
US09345535B2	Apparatus, system and method for performing an electrosurgical procedure The present disclosure provides a bipolar forceps. The bipolar forceps includes a housing having a handle assembly including a movable handle and one or more shafts. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. A solenoid is in operative communication with the movable handle and operatively couples to a drive rod operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second jaw members for causing movement thereof. One or both of the first and second jaw members includes one or more teeth configured to engage one or more teeth located on the drive rod such that rotation of the solenoid imparts one of longitudinal and rotational movement of the drive rod such that at least one of the first and second jaw members moves between the open and closed positions.
US09345534B2	Vessel sealing instrument A bipolar electrosurgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft. An end effector is coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft. A handle assembly includes a movable handle movable relative to a fixed handle for effecting movement of the jaw members from a first position to a second position. Each jaw member is configured to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A switch is disposed on the fixed handle and configured to be depressed between a first position and at least one subsequent position upon biasing engagement with a switch engaging surface disposed on the movable handle. The first position of the switch causes the relay of information to the user corresponding to a desired pressure on tissue grasped between the jaw members and the at least one subsequent position is configured to activate the source of electrosurgical energy.
US09345533B2	Catheter with bendable tip A medical probe includes a flexible insertion tube, having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, and a distal tip, which is disposed at the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity. A coupling member couples the distal tip to the distal end of the insertion tube and includes a tubular piece of an elastic material having a helical cut therethrough along a portion of a length of the piece.
US09345530B2	Devices, systems and methods for evaluation and feedback of neuromodulation treatment The present disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods for evaluating the success of a treatment applied to tissue in a patient, such as a radio frequency ablative treatment used to neuromodulate nerves associated with the renal artery. A system monitors parameters or values generated during the course of a treatment. Feedback provided to an operator is based on the monitored values and relates to an assessment of the likelihood that a completed treatment was technically successful. In other embodiments, parameters or values generated during the course of an incomplete treatment (such as due to high temperature or high impedance conditions) may be evaluated to provide additional instructions or feedback to an operator.
US09345522B2	Bone fixation screw and method A screw device for compressing and fixing together a proximal and distal bone part along a surgical axis comprising: a bone screw portion comprising an elongate body inscribed with bone screw threads at a leading end of an outer surface of said body; an elongate tubular torque stabilizer portion for spanning said bone parts and comprising one or more torsion stops to engage each bone part to limit rotational movement between the bone parts and a translation stop on said torque stabilizer to seat against a portion of the proximal bone to limit translation of said torque stabilizer portion along the surgical axis; and a compressor lock portion engaging the bone screw portion and torque stabilizer portion to draw said bone screw portion proximally along the surgical axis toward said translation stop therein compressing said one parts together.
US09345517B2	Pedicle screw having a removable rod coupling The present invention provides a pedicle screw for spinal fixation having a bone fastener portion a permanent rod coupling, a breakaway portion connected to the permanent rod coupling and a temporary rod coupling. A permanent rod can be positioned in the permanent rod coupling and a temporary rod can be positioned in the temporary rod coupling and when the temporary rod is not needed the temporary rod coupling can be removed by separation at a breakaway portion.
US09345514B2	Orthopedic implant for treatment of bone deformities An implantable orthopedic device. The device includes: a proximal anchor, configured to be implanted inside a first metatarsal; the anchor having a collar larger than the opening in a metatarsal in which the proximal anchor is implanted; the collar preventing cable to bone contact; a distal anchor, configured to be implanted inside a second metatarsal, adjacent to the first metatarsal; the distal anchor having a male thread, a nut threadable onto the male thread of the distal anchor, and a cord mechanically interconnecting the proximal and distal anchors. A shock absorber includes an elongate housing threadedly positioned within the anchor; the shock absorber accommodates a cord holder mechanically connected to the housing via a damping member, the cord holder is freely rotatable within the housing to prevent the cord from twist kinking when the housing is rotated to adjust a tension force.
US09345507B2	Systems and methods for treatment of BPH A prostate therapy system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can access a prostate lobe from the urethra. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can deliver condensable vapor into the prostate to ablate the prostate tissue. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can aspirate tissue from the prostate. Yet another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can rotate during delivery of vapor and aspiration of tissue. Methods associated with use of the prostate therapy system are also covered.
US09345504B2	Motorized medical/surgical handpiece that includes plural magnets disposed within the bore of the motor rotor A surgical tool with an electric motor. The motor rotor includes a bore in which a number of magnets are disposed. Each magnet has an outer surface and two inner surfaces that extend inwardly towards a corner. One pole of each magnet is along the outer surface; the opposed pole is at the corner. The magnets are disposed in the rotor bore so that the corners of arcuately adjacent magnets have opposed magnetic polarities.
US09345503B2	Medical manipulator A medical manipulator has a distal-end working unit including an end effector. The distal-end working unit has a rotor having a hollow tube rotatable in unison with the end effector and a rotational support tube having a posture variable with respect to the shaft. The rotor is rotatably supported by an inner circumferential surface of the rotational support tube. Engaging members that are disposed in side holes formed in the rotational support tube have inner ends inserted in an annular groove.
US09345502B2	Apparatus and method for manipulating stomach tissue and treating gastroesophageal reflux disease Stomach tissue is manipulated to form, for example, a restored flap of a gastroesophageal flap valve. The manipulation includes gripping stomach tissue from within the stomach while the stomach is inflated to promote visualization and stabilization of the gripped stomach tissue. Once the stomach tissue is gripped, the stomach is deflated and pulled into a mold. The molded tissue is then fastened with at least one fastener. The stomach is inflated to a first pressure during visualization and then to a second higher pressure during the stomach tissue gripping.
US09345501B2	Distal protection device There is described an endoluminal filter having an end cap having a lumen sized to receive there through a guidewire used in the positioning of the filter within the vasculature. There is a first support member with a pre-formed counter clockwise spiral shape and a second support member with a pre-formed clockwise spiral shape positioned adjacent to one another to form a proximal support frame, a distal support frame with a crossover between the proximal support frame and the distal support frame with a proximal portion of the first and the second spiral support members being attached to the end cap. A material capture structure having a rim and an apex with the rim attached to the proximal support frame and the apex extending distally through without attaching to the distal support frame.
US09345500B2	Manually actuated function hose instrument and operating device therefor A manually actuated function hose instrument has a hose-shaped function part and a wire-shaped function part extending in the latter, wherein the two function parts are axially movable relative to each other in order to exert a useful function at a distal section remote from a proximal end section. An associated operating device, which has two operating parts, is arranged at the proximal end section of the function parts. A fixing part is provided which serves for the external fixing of the operating device and with which the second operating part is coupled in an axially relatively movable manner, and/or the second operating part is connected non-releasably to the proximal end section of the hose-shaped function part and contains an operating ring with a circumferential finger recess as operating area.
US09345499B2	Pressure activated foreign body removal system and method of use A catheter is provided for retrieving an embolus or foreign body from a body lumen. The catheter can have a distal segment which is movable from a reduced outside diameter for positioning at a target site. Further, the catheter can have an enlarged outside diameter suitable for thrombectomy or foreign body retrieval.
US09345497B2	Jig for placing a shoulder prosthesis joint implant on a humeral head The jig is formed based on a three-dimensional reconstruction of the bone elements of the joint from tomodensitometric data; the marking of points on the humerus being used as a basis for the positioning of the considered prosthetic element. The jig includes: a support base cooperating with the humeral head according to a single position, one portion of the base cooperating with the intertubercular sulcus or bicipital groove; a gripping portion; and a breakable area temporarily receiving a cutting block to allow its fixation to the humeral bone before enabling to perform the humeral resection.
US09345495B2	Systems and methods for altering the surface of a bone Systems and methods provide patient-specific cutting blocks that allow for bone resurfacing procedures, such as milling or burring, with simplified devices. A computer assisted surgical cutting block is produced having a surface region that matches with the surface region of a patient's bone to be altered. A cutting tool may be provided having a contoured bone mating surface and a contoured and patient-specific shaped cutting guide surface, which is located in a plane above the bone mating surface. One or more channels are provided in the cutting block, and as the surgeon moves the cutting tool (a milling or burring, for example) in the channels the tool cuts the bone both laterally along the surface of the bone and vertically into the bone according to the cutting guide surface and other preselected surface features of the cutting block.
US09345494B2	Orthopaedic tool handle and method of manufacturing same An orthopedic tool includes a handle having an exterior profile defined by a first three-dimensional shape having an exterior surface of revolution about a first axis of rotation, and a second three-dimensional shape having an exterior surface of revolution about a second axis of rotation. The second axis of rotation is offset from the first axis of rotation, whereby the first three-dimensional shape and the second three-dimensional shape intersect to define a volume of intersection. The exterior profile is defined only by the volume of intersection. A shaft extends from the handle.
US09345487B2	Precision bone drill and method of use Disclosed is a drilling device and a method for the drilling of human or animal bone tissue. The method comprises the following steps; (a) providing a drill having an electrically conductive bone cutter and an electrically conducting nosepiece assembly spaced apart from the electrically conductive bone cutter and acting as a counter electrode; (b) placing the electrically conductive bone cutter and nosepiece assembly into contact with the bone tissue to be drilled; (c) measuring the electrical impedance between the bone cutter tip and the nosepiece or the current through the cutter motor; (d) commencing drilling and moving the bone cutter toward the bone surface; (e) starting a step counter when the impedance reduces or the cutter motor current increases; (f) incrementing the step counter with every step of the vertical drive motor until the step count reaches the prespecified value thereby controlling the depth of the hole drilled.
US09345486B2	Nanofibrous conduits for nerve regeneration A hollow fibrous conduit for promoting regeneration of a severed nerve, comprising a first end for coapting the conduit to a first end of a severed nerve and second end for coapting the conduit to a second end of the severed nerve, the hollow fibrous conduit comprising chitosan-poly(caprolactone) fibers. Methods for making the conduit and methods for using the conduit for nerve regeneration.
US09345485B2	Implantable flow connector An implantable flow connector for fluidically coupling a source tissue-enclosed body space with a destination element, comprising: a conduit having a lumen terminating at an orifice at a first end of the conduit implantable in the source body space through an opening formed in a tissue wall of the source body space, and a second end of the conduit implantable in the destination element through an opening in a surface of the destination element; and a circumferential flange, radially extending from the conduit proximate the conduit first end, configured to be implanted in the source body space adjacent an opening in the tissue wall of the source body space such that the conduit extends through the opening, the flange comprising one or more circumferentially adjacent sections at least one of which has a rigidity that decreases in a radially-increasing direction.
US09345481B2	Staple cartridge tissue thickness sensor system In various embodiments, a surgical end effector is disclosed. The surgical end effector comprises a staple cartridge comprising a proximal end and a distal end. The staple cartridge is configured to be used to staple tissue within an optimal tissue thickness range. An anvil is movably coupled relative to the staple cartridge. A tissue thickness sensing module is located adjacent to the distal end of the staple cartridge. The tissue thickness sensing module comprises a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to generate a tissue thickness signal indicative of a thickness of the tissue located between the anvil and the staple cartridge. The controller is in signal communication with the sensor. The controller comprises means for identifying a staple cartridge type. The staple cartridge type and the thickness measurement are used to determine if the thickness of the tissue is within the optimal tissue thickness range.
US09345480B2	Surgical instrument and cartridge members for use therewith A surgical kit is disclosed. The kit comprises a surgical instrument, a loading unit, and a plurality of cartridge members. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, and an elongated portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis. The loading unit is configured for selective engagement with a distal portion of the elongated portion. The loading unit including an anvil assembly and a cartridge channel. Each cartridge member includes a plurality of retention slots with at least some of the slots including fasteners therein. Each cartridge member is configured for selective mechanical engagement with the cartridge channel, and includes a longitudinal length and a working length. The working length is the longitudinal distance along retention slots having fasteners therein. The longitudinal length of each cartridge member is substantially the same, and the working length of at least two of the plurality of cartridge members is different.
US09345473B2	Implantable sling systems and methods Various embodiments of sling or implant systems are provided. The sling or implant systems can be employed to treat incontinence, prolapse, and like conditions. A needle delivery device can be included, wherein the delivery device includes a needle and a rotatable sheath. The rotatable sheath can rotate upon actuation relative to the needle to selectively deploy or disengage an implant anchor from the distal end of the needle.
US09345469B2	Vector compression system The present invention is a new technology that addresses some of the deficiencies of current fracture fixation technology used in surgical procedures. It involves the use of a polymeric cored braided suture held in place by anchors implanted on each side of a fracture. The anchors must be secured into the bone while yet maintaining very high tensions in the suture during the deployment process. The polymeric cored braided suture is tensioned so as to compress the fracture and hold it in place, functioning as though it has sewn the bone fragment back together. This provides the rigid fixation of the fracture that is essential for primary healing to occur. Simultaneously, the tension preload provides compression which maintains fixation in the face of tensile and shear loads applied to the bone as a result of movement and weight bearing.
US09345465B2	Actuator for band tensioning system A system for repairing separated body tissues includes a tensioning device having a movable housing, a pair of stationary tensioning tips distal to and attached to the movable housing, and suture tensioning jaws on a proximal end of the movable housing. The tensioning jaws are pivotable between open and closed orientations. A buckle is provided for securing and tensioning suture and the like, having a first plate, a second plate spaced from the first plate so that there is a gap between the first and second plates, and a lock bar within the gap and movable between a first position wherein suture may be freely passed through the gap as tensioning of the suture proceeds, and a second locking position wherein the suture is clamped in place within the gap. A tension tab is provided for securing the lock bar in its first position until tension on the suture exceeds a predetermined level.

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