Document Document Title
US07943920B2 Resistive memory structure with buffer layer
A memory device comprises first and second electrodes with a memory element and a buffer layer located between and electrically coupled to them. The memory element comprises one or more metal oxygen compounds. The buffer layer comprises at least one of an oxide and a nitride. Another memory device comprises first and second electrodes with a memory element and a buffer layer, having a thickness of less than 50 Å, located between and electrically coupled to them. The memory comprises one or more metal oxygen compounds. An example of a method of fabricating a memory device includes forming first and second electrodes. A memory, located between and electrically coupled to the first and the second electrodes, is formed; the memory comprises one or more metal oxygen compounds and the buffer layer comprises at least one of an oxide and a nitride.
US07943917B2 Non-volatile memory cell and fabrication method thereof
A non-volatile memory cell and the fabrication method thereof are provided. The non-volatile memory cell comprises a top electrode, a bottom electrode and an oxide layer disposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The oxide layer comprises a relatively low oxygen content layer adjacent to the bottom electrode, a relatively high oxygen content layer adjacent to the top electrode, and a transition layer disposed between the relatively high and the relatively low oxygen content layers. The transition layer has an oxygen concentration within a range between those of the relatively high and the relatively low oxygen content layers.
US07943907B2 Method and circuit arrangement for determining the radiation intensity using directly counting detector
A method and a circuit arrangement are disclosed for determining radiation intensity using counting detectors or detector elements, in which x-ray radiation photons, which are either absorbed or absorbed in part, generate electrical signals, the pulse number and pulse height of which is correlated to an incident radiation intensity, and the radiation intensity is at least determined by counting the pulses. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the signal pulses incident on at least one detector or detector element are detected simultaneously by at least one continuously operating pulse height discriminator and by at least one pulse height discriminator operating in a clocked fashion, with the number of incident signal pulses being determined with the aid of these two items of detection information.
US07943906B2 High spatial resolution X-ray and gamma ray imaging system using diffraction crystals
A method and a device for high spatial resolution imaging of a plurality of sources of x-ray and gamma-ray radiation are provided. The device comprises a plurality of arrays, with each array comprising a plurality of elements comprising a first collimator, a diffracting crystal, a second collimator, and a detector.
US07943905B2 Infrared solid-state image sensor
An infrared solid-state image sensor comprises: a pixel area comprising a sensitive pixel area where infrared detection pixels are arranged in a matrix form to detect incident infrared rays on the semiconductor substrate and a reference pixel area where reference pixels are provided, each of the infrared detection pixels comprising a thermoelectric conversion part, the thermoelectric conversion part comprising an infrared absorption film to absorb the incident infrared rays and convert the incident infrared rays to heat and a first thermoelectric conversion element to convert the heat obtained by the conversion in the infrared absorption film to a electric signal, each of the reference pixels comprising a second thermoelectric conversion element. Each of first ends of the reference pixels are connected to a reference potential line, and a difference between the signal potential read out from a corresponding signal line and a reference potential supplied from the reference potential line is amplified and outputted.
US07943904B2 Bispectral detection device and bispectral detector comprising said device
The present invention relates to a bispectral detection device, particularly of an infrared radiation and a visible radiation, including a monolithic substrate; an array of bolometric micro-bridges sensitive to infrared radiation, the bolometric micro-bridges being suspended over a first face of the substrate by means of support and connection arms; and an array of photoelectric elements fowled in the substrate, and sensitive to visible radiation, the bolometric micro-bridges and the photoelectric elements being stacked. According to the invention, the substrate portion between the photoelectric element array and a second face of the substrate, opposite to the first face thereof, is thinned so that the photoelectric elements are capable of detecting a visible radiation incident on the second face.
US07943901B2 Practical ion mobility spectrometer apparatus and methods for chemical and/or biological detection
This invention describes an ion mobility spectrometer system for chemical detection in the field. The system allows: a high throughput operation, an interface to new ionization methods, and an interface to a mass spectrometer.
US07943900B2 Mass analysis using alternating fragmentation modes
A method for the analysis of mixtures of components includes separating or partially separating different components of a mixture of a sample by means that causes the components to elute sequentially over a period of time, forming precursor ions from the components in the eluent, repeatedly switching, altering or varying an Electron Transfer Dissociation fragmentation device back and forth between a hi-fragmentation mode and a low-fragmentation mode to alternately produce product ions from the precursor ions in the hi-fragmentation mode and to produce substantially fewer product ions in the low-fragmentation mode, and obtaining mass spectra during the period of time from the precursor and product ions received from the Electron Transfer Dissociation fragmentation device.
US07943899B2 Method and apparatus for identifying the apex of a chromatographic peak
A technique for mass spectrometry includes: receiving first time domain data generated from a chromatographic output, the first time domain data including mass spectra; extracting second time domain data from the first time domain data, the second time domain data corresponding to a selected range of mass-to-charge ratios; transforming the second time domain data into frequency domain data; and identifying, as a function of the frequency domain data, an elution peak for a mass-to-charge ratio within the selected range. Material from the chromatographic output may thereafter be processed as a function of the identified elution peak.
US07943897B2 Optical encoder and electronic equipment
This optical encoder includes a light emitting section and a plurality of light receiving elements placed so as to be aligned in one direction in an area where a light beam from the light emitting section may reach. A moving object includes a light-ON section, a light-OFF section and an index pattern section. The light receiving element outputs a first light receiving signal when the light-ON section and the light-OFF section of the moving object pass through a predetermined position corresponding to the light receiving element. The light receiving element outputs a second light receiving signal when the index pattern section of the moving object passes through a predetermined position corresponding to the light receiving element. The output section outputs an incremental channel signal indicating movement information of the moving object based on the first light receiving signal while outputting an index channel signal indicating reference position of the moving object based on the second light receiving signal. The incremental channel signal and the index channel signal are out of phase with each other.
US07943896B1 Mechanical galvanometer tilt correction control
A mechanical galvanometer tilt control system includes two beam detection sensors that detect vertical displacement caused by the horizontal rotation of a galvanometer and the vertical rotation of a photoconductive drum. The galvanometer may be in communication with a mirror holder that holds a mirror. The mirror holder may be operable to horizontally rotate the mirror as the mirror reflects a light beam onto a photosensitive image forming surface of the photoconductive drum. The two beam detection sensors receive the reflected light beam as the galvanometer generates one or more forward-going and one or more reverse-going scanlines on the photosensitive image forming surface. The mechanical galvanometer tilt control system may further determine an amount of vertical correction required to correct for the vertical displacement caused by the rotation of the galvanometer and the rotation of the photoconductive drum.
US07943895B2 Wavelength splitting element, method for manufacturing the same and optical module
A wavelength splitting element for splitting a multiplexed light beam into separate wavelength bands and emitting the beams from separate emission ports including a first filter for splitting the multiplexed light beam into light beams in wavelength band λ1, which passes in a first direction, and wavelength bands λ2 and λ3, which reflects; a second filter, for splitting the reflected light into light beams in wavelength band λ3, which passes in a second direction, and wavelength band λ2, which reflects in a third direction; and a third filter, for passing the light beam in the wavelength band λ2. The first filter passes the light beam in the wavelength band λ2 reflected by the second filter and incident to the first filter again based on an incident angle, and the third filter passes only the light beam in the wavelength band λ2 that the first filter passes in the third direction.
US07943894B2 Optical element for free-space propagation between an optical waveguide and another optical waveguide, component, or device
An optical element comprises a substantially transparent material having opposing first and second transmission surfaces and a substantially flat mounting surface between them, an alignment mark, and an optical coating. The optical element is mounted self-supporting on a substrate with the mounting surface on a mating portion thereof. With the alignment mark aligned to a corresponding mark on the substrate, waveguides on the substrate can be end-coupled by reflection from the first transmission surface. The transmission and mounting surfaces are arranged to position the transmission surfaces at respective orientations relative to the substrate surface so that an optical beam propagating substantially parallel to the substrate surface and entering the optical element through the first transmission surface propagates as an optical beam through the optical element above the mounting surface and exits the optical element through the second transmission surface. The optical element can further include a lens or an aperture.
US07943893B2 Illumination optical system and image projection device having a rod integrator uniformizing spatial energy distribution of diffused illumination beam
An illumination optical system has: a light source, a diffusion member, and a rod integrator, and illuminates an image display surface of a display element. The light source emits an illumination beam having a flat cross section. The diffusion member isotropically diffuses the illumination beam. The rod integrator uniformizes spatial energy distribution of the illumination beam put into a diffused state by the diffusion member.
US07943889B2 Apparatus for improving detection efficiency of multiphoton microscopy systems by focus compensation, pupil image division, and parallel pupil rearrangement
Disclosed is an apparatus for division and rearrangement of light from a source object. The apparatus splits the light from the source object, or image of the source object, and recombines it in a parallel, fashion to increase the efficiency of multiphoton microscopy in general and harmonic or fluorescence emission microscopy in particular. The apparatus includes a beam splitter configured to split a light beam into at least two independent light paths to yield a first light path and a second light path; a first beam focuser configured to direct and focus the first light path onto a focal plane; and a second beam focuser configured to direct and focus the second light path onto the same or different focal plane to which the first light path is focused; and wherein the first and second light paths may be superimposed upon one another at a common focal plane or directed independently to different positions.
US07943887B2 Indexing method and apparatus for an electroheating technology oven
An oven includes: an inlet elevator having multiple receiving bays for receiving a piece to be heated in the oven where the receiving bays are stacked vertically and the elevator is configured to move up or down to align a receiving bay; a mandrel having multiple shelves to correspond a shelf to a bay of the inlet elevator, each shelf configured to support a piece received from the inlet elevator, the mandrel configured to rotate each piece on a shelf between a loading position, a baking position, and an unloading position; an outlet elevator having multiple receiving bays for unloading a piece heated in the oven, the unloading bays are stacked vertically and the elevator is configured to move up or down to align an unloading bay with a material handling system moving the heated pieces; and a microwave generator configured to heat at least one of the pieces when the pieces are in the baking position. A method of heating a material is also provided.
US07943883B2 Method for joining iron member and aluminum member and iron-aluminum joined body
There is provided a method for joining an iron member and an aluminum member, the iron member including a plated layer at least on a joining side with the aluminum member; the aluminum member formed of an aluminum cladding material including an aluminum core material mainly formed of aluminum and an aluminum alloy layer with a melting point lower than that of the aluminum core material, cladded on a joining side with the iron member; the method including a step of stacking the iron member and the aluminum member, and a step of joining the iron member and the aluminum member.
US07943875B2 Switch structure integrated with display and playback device
A switch structure integrated with a display and playback device is provided. Therein, a lower housing has a rectangular through-hole, a conductor through-hole, a terminal through-hole and a guide post formed peripherally with semi-cylindrical ribs. The display and playback device is equipped with a bus line and display and playback device terminals, and covered with a display and playback device housing, which in turn is covered by a transparent cover. A conductor and a terminal are inserted in the conductor through-hole and the terminal through-hole, respectively. Resilient elements are provided between the lower housing and an actuation element having a guide post through-hole for cooperating with the guide post. Upon movement of the actuation element relative to the lower housing, the ribs on the guide post make contact with an inner wall of the guide post through-hole, allowing the actuation element to move smoothly, vertically relative to the lower housing.
US07943873B2 Circuit breaker with locking mechanism
A circuit breaker with a locking mechanism is provided, which ensures that circuit breaker is switched OFF before applying any trip free locks. The circuit breaker includes a lay shaft coupled to the circuit breaker contacts, a lay shaft cam coupled to the lay shaft, a lifting plate configured to interface with the lay shaft cam, and a padlock plate configured to engage the lifting plate.
US07943868B2 Sealed housing, a kit of parts including at least one housing, a combination including the housing or a kit of parts and a use of a friction enhancing element
A sealed housing (10) accommodates at least one electric or electronic component (12, 14), and has a portion (20) extending through the mounting surface, as well as a rotation preventor (16, 28) preventing rotation of the housing (10) relative to the mounting surface. A kit of parts includes at least one such housing (10) and at least one spacer (18). A combination of the housing or kit of parts and a door, preferably of a cabinet or an installation room, or a cabinet in the field of telecommunications having the mounting surface is described. A use of a friction enhancing element, preferably an O-ring, for mounting a housing to a mounting surface in a non-rotatable manner is also described.
US07943860B2 Material board for producing hybrid circuit board with metallic terminal plate and method for producing hybrid circuit board
A material board for producing a hybrid circuit board includes a plurality of hybrid circuit board sections 1 on each of which an electronic component 2 is mounted and a metallic terminal plate 3 for external connection is bonded so as to project from the hybrid circuit board section. A frame portion 6 is defined between the hybrid circuit board sections, and the hybrid circuit board sections are integrally connected to the frame portion via a thin strip 8 provided at an intermediate portion of grooves 7 each surrounding a respective one of the hybrid circuit board sections entirely. In bonding the terminal plate 3 to the hybrid circuit board by soldering, the terminal plate is temporarily bonded to the frame portion 6 with an adhesive 9. The adhesive is prevented from spreading toward the end of the terminal plate. A hole or a recess 10 is formed in the frame portion 6 at a region with which the terminal plate 3 is to overlap and which is closer to an end of the terminal plate than a portion to which the adhesive 9 for temporarily bonding the terminal plate to the frame portion is to be applied is.
US07943846B2 Group IV nanoparticles in an oxide matrix and devices made therefrom
Photoactive materials made from Group IV semiconductor nanoparticles dispersed in an inorganic oxide matrix and methods for making the photoactive materials are provided. In some instances, the nanoparticles are functionalized with organosilanes to provide nanoparticle-organosilane compounds. The photoactive materials may be formed by subjecting the nanoparticles or nanoparticle compounds to a sol-gel process. The photoactive materials are well-suited for use in devices which convert electromagnetic radiation into electrical energy, including photovoltaic devices, photoconductors, and photodetectors.
US07943844B2 Thermoelectric module and manufacturing method for same
A thermoelectric module and method of manufacture thereof, capable of preventing short-circuits between electrodes due to solder without causing increases in size or cost. A thermoelectric module is configured with lower electrodes formed on the inside surface of a lower substrate, placed in opposition to an upper substrate, on the inside surface of which are formed upper electrodes; the end faces of thermoelectric elements are soldered to the lower electrodes and upper electrodes. Each of the electrodes is configured from three layers, which are a copper layer, a nickel layer formed on one face of the copper layer, and a gold layer formed on one face of the nickel layer; a visor portion, protruding outward, is formed in the nickel layer, so that when positioning the thermoelectric elements above the electrodes and soldering the electrodes to the thermoelectric elements, the flowing of solder 18a from the side portions of electrodes to the insulating substrate is prevented.
US07943843B2 Reactive force control apparatus for pedal of electronic keyboard instrument
Reactive force control apparatus for a pedal comprises: a movement detection section that detects movement of the pedal; a solenoid that produces a reactive force in response to operation of the pedal; a reference reactive force impartment table defining intensities of the reactive force corresponding to amounts of the operation of the pedal; a setting value input section operable to input a setting value for changing the reactive force responsive to the operation of the pedal; and a control section that controls the reactive force to the pedal by changing content of the table, on the basis of the input setting value, to thereby create a changed reactive force impartment table, so that the reactive force to the pedal is controlled on the basis of the changed table and detected movement of the pedal.
US07943842B2 Methods for generating music using a transmitted/received music data file
Systems and methods for creating, modifying, interacting with and playing music are provided, particularly systems and methods employing a top-down process, where the user is provided with a musical composition that may be modified and interacted with and played and/or stored (for later play). The system preferably is provided in a handheld form factor (860), and a graphical display is provided to display status information, graphical representations of musical lanes or components which preferably vary in shape as musical parameters and the like are changed for particular instruments or musical components such as a microphone input (845) or audio samples. In addition, the present invention makes use of node-based music generation as part of a system and method to broadcast and receive music data files, which are then used to generate and play music. The present invention is characterized by the broadcast of relatively small data files that contain various parameters sufficient to describe the music to the node/subscriber music generator.
US07943839B2 Tuning device
Provided is a tuning device including: a tuning device main body including an electric circuit for computing a tuning state of a musical instrument; a clip portion including a pair of plate materials for attaching the tuning device main body to the musical instrument; a joint member for joining the tuning device main body and the clip portion; and a vibration sensor for sensing a sound emitted from the musical instrument, the joint member including: a first pivot portion for making the clip portion free to pivot about an extension direction of the joint member; and a second pivot portion for making the tuning device main body free to pivot about a direction perpendicular to the extension direction. The vibration sensor is incorporated into the joint member, and is structured to be rotatable about the extension direction unitarily along with the tuning device main body.
US07943838B2 Saddle for stringed instruments
A saddle for a stringed instrument comprising an elongate member having a string support surface and a base that abuts the stringed instrument. The elongate member has at least one internal cavity and a pickup element received in the internal cavity, the element being dimensioned to provide an airspace gap between the element and the base of the elongate member to provide a separation between the element and the instrument. The airspace gap between the element and the base of the saddle means that no pressure is applied to the bottom of the element, thereby eliminating string imbalance due to uneven pressure between the saddle and the instrument.
US07943836B2 Progeny of inbred corn line PHCPR
A novel inbred maize line designated PHCPR and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing inbred maize line PHCPR with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHCPR through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the inbred line PHCPR or a trait conversion of PHCPR with another maize line. Inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PHCPR, methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PHCPR and the inbred maize lines and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US07943831B2 PMMoV resistant capsicum plants
The present invention relates to a plant of the Capsicum genus, which plant exhibits resistance to Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) pathotype 1.2.3 due to the presence of the L4 resistance allele in the genome of said plant, wherein the genetic information responsible for the SNFD phenotype is absent from or is repressed in the genome of said plant at least to such an extent that the SNFD phenotype is not expressed. The present invention further relates to a method of producing a plant of the Capsicum genus that exhibits resistance to PMMoV pathotype 1.2.3, comprising the steps of a) providing a recipient plant of the Capsicum genus that is susceptible to PMMoV pathotype 1.2.3 or a part thereof, and b) introducing into the genome of said recipient plant or a part thereof or a progeny plant thereof a genomic region comprising a truncated L4 resistance allele, wherein said allele comprises genetic information capable of being expressed in said plant or plant part or progeny plant thereby conferring resistance to PMMoV pathotype 1.2.3 to said plant or plant part or progeny plant, and wherein genetic information that confers the SNFD phenotype is absent from said allele at least to such an extent that the SNFD phenotype is not expressed.
US07943828B2 Cotton variety 07X440DF
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 07X440DF. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 07X440DF. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 07X440DF and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 07X440DF with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07943825B2 Metacaspase II in engineering soybean for disease resistance
The present invention is in the field of soybean genetics. More specifically, the invention relates to nucleic acid molecules from regions in the soybean genome, which are associated with soybean Phytophthora resistance. The invention also relates to methods of transforming soybean with constructs containing nucleic acid molecules encoding proteins for Phytophthora resistance, to produce modified or transgenic plants and plant cells having enhanced disease resistance.
US07943817B2 Generation of plants with altered protein, fiber, or oil content
The present invention is directed to plants that display an improved oil quantity phenotype or an improved meal quality phenotype due to altered expression of an IMQ nucleic acid. The invention is further directed to methods of generating plants with an improved oil quantity phenotype or improved meal quality phenotype.
US07943812B2 Layered adhesive construct having a mouldable layer as skin contact surface
A layered adhesive construct is provided having a backing layer, a first layer of a hydrocolloid adhesive, and a second layer of a hydrocolloid adhesive, where the first and second layers of hydrocolloid adhesives have different composition, and the second layer of hydrocolloid adhesive is interposed between the first layer of hydrocolloid adhesive and the backing layer. The first adhesive layer is a layer of moldable adhesive paste including hydrocolloids having a Strain Recovery below 45% and the second adhesive layer is a layer of hydrocolloid adhesive having a Strain Recovery above 55%.
US07943811B2 Adhesive bandage and a process for manufacturing an adhesive bandage
An adhesive bandage having a support layer with a first surface facing the skin of the user and which defines a first surface area, at least one first composite layer having an adhesive element applied to the first surface and substantially covering the whole of the first surface area, and at least one multi-layer system associated to at least a section of the first composite layer. The multi-layer system includes at least one permeable polymeric film layer and at least one second composite layer having at least one adhesive element and at least one hydrocolloidal element. The multi-layer system is associated to the first composite layer via the second composite layer or the permeable polymeric film layer.
US07943810B2 Method and apparatus for hemostasis
Devices and methods are disclosed for achieving hemostasis in patients who have received skin-penetrating wounds to the periphery, including the head, arms, and legs. Such haemostatic packing devices and methods are especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery, or military setting. The devices utilize fluid impermeable barriers surrounded by exterior dams and pressure to achieve tamponade and hemostasis, primarily by exertion of force to hold the dams against the skin surrounding a wound. The devices are capable of serving as carriers for thrombogenic, antimicrobial or antipathogenic agents. The devices do not require the use of adhesives to work as they are attached to the patient using mechanical locking devices. Peripheral haemostatic packing devices include optional adhesive hemostatic barriers to attach at least a portion of the device to the skin or to assist with initial coupling of a hold-down strap to another strap using a more secure mechanical lock. The peripheral hemostatic packing system does not completely surround the extremity having the wound and therefore do not cause a tourniquet effect. The peripheral hemostatic packing system preferably is held against the skin surrounding a wound by a force that is generally unidirectional and substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the skin of the wound resides.
US07943809B2 Composition and method for inhibiting polymerization and polymer growth
A method for inhibiting the premature polymerization and the polymer growth of ethylenically unsaturated monomers is disclosed wherein the method comprises adding to said monomers an effective amount of at least one hydrogen donor or electron acceptor. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogen donor or electron acceptor is used in combination with a stable nitroxyl free radical.
US07943805B2 Method of producing lower alcohols from glycerol
A reactive-separation process converts glycerin into lower alcohols, having boiling points less than 200° C., at high yields. Conversion of natural glycerin to propylene glycol through an acetol intermediate is achieved at temperatures from 150° to 250° C. at a pressure ranging from 1 and 25 bar. The preferred applications of the propylene glycol are as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound. The preferred catalyst for this process in a copper-chromium powder.
US07943804B2 Lutein extraction from ozone-treated plant sources
The use of ozonation has been discovered to increase the lutein extraction from aflatoxin-free corn and for some batches of alfalfa. In addition, the ozonation will substantially decrease any aflatoxin in the plant source. The structure of lutein as indicated by HPLC elution profile and the function of lutein using an antimutagenic activity was shown not to be affected by the ozonation.
US07943803B2 Clathrate compound, method for controlling concentration of aqueous agricultural chemical active ingredient solution, and agricultural chemical formulation
A clathrate compound containing a polymolecular host compound as a host compound and an agricultural chemical active ingredient having a saturated solubility in water at 25° C. of not less than 500 ppm as a guest compound.
US07943802B2 Nanoparticle composite
A nanoparticle composite includes a host molecule including a chain oligomer section having a hydrophilic group and fluoroalkyl groups respectively at opposite terminals thereof and a three-dimensional silica network section, and having a structure represented by the following formula (1): where X is the hydrophilic group and is independent OH group, independent NCO group, independent NH2 group, independent NHR group (where R is alkyl group) or independent OCY group (where Y is a hydrophilic group); RF is the fluoroalkyl group having a carbon number of 2 to 10 and a molecular weight of 119 to 1000; 3D-SN is the three-dimensional silica network section; B is independent O, independent O═C—O, independent NH—C═O or independent NR—C═O (where R is alkyl group); n is 1≦n≦10; and m is 1≦m≦n; and a guest molecule included in the host molecule.
US07943801B2 Catalyst composition including phosphite ligands and hydroformylation method using the same
The present invention relates to a catalyst composition that includes a bis-phosphite ligand, a poly-phosphite ligand or a mono-phosphite ligand, and a transition metal catalyst, and a hydroformylation reaction using the same. The catalyst composition has the excellent catalytic activity, and the normal/iso (N/I) selectivity of aldehyde generated by the hydroformylation reaction using the same is increased.
US07943797B2 Products for the treatment of the iron chlorosis
The present invention consists on the synthesis of new products for the treatment of the iron chlorosis. These products may have improved properties regarding the currently known treatments. The new products are non-symmetrical ethylene diamino hydroxyphenyl acetic acid derivatives possessing only five coordination sites able to chelate metals.
US07943794B2 Processes for the preparation of intermediates of valsartan
The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of intermediates of valsartan.
US07943788B2 Glucopyranoside compound
A compound of the formula: wherein Ring A and Ring B are: (1) Ring A is an optionally substituted unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclic ring, and Ring B is an optionally substituted unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclic ring, an optionally substituted unsaturated fused heterobicyclic ring, or an optionally substituted benzene ring, (2) Ring A is an optionally substituted benzene ring, and Ring B is an optionally substituted unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclic ring or an optionally substituted unsaturated fused heterobicyclic ring, or (3) Ring A is an optionally substituted unsaturated fused heterobicyclic ring, and Ring B are independently an optionally substituted unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclic ring, an optionally substituted unsaturated fused heterobicyclic ring, or an optionally substituted benzene ring; X is a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; Y is —(CH2)n— (n is 1 or 2); a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof.
US07943785B2 Process for producing (Z)-1-phenyl-1-(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)-2- phthalimidomethylcyclopropane
The present invention provides a process for producing (Z)-1-phenyl-1-(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)-2-phthalimidomethylcyclopropane, which includes reacting (Z)-1-phenyl-1-(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)-2-hydroxymethylcyclopropane with an orthoester and a brønsted acid, and reacting the reaction product with a phthalimidating agent; and a process for producing (Z)-1-phenyl-1-(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)-2-aminomethylcyclopropane hydrochloride through the above process.
US07943780B2 Process for the preparation of candesartan cilexetil
The invention relates to process for the preparation of Candesartan cilexetil. More particularly, it relates to the preparation of pure candesartan cilexetil by the deprotection of Trityl candesartan cilexetil with inorganic acids.
US07943777B2 Fluorescent chemical compounds having high selectivity for double stranded DNA, and methods for their use
Chemical compounds having a high selectivity for double stranded DNA over RNA and single stranded DNA are disclosed. The chemical compounds are stains that become fluorescent upon illumination and interaction with double stranded DNA, but exhibit reduced or no fluorescence in the absence of double stranded DNA. The compounds can be used in a variety of biological applications to qualitatively or quantitatively assay DNA, even in the presence of RNA.
US07943776B2 Amide derivatives bearing a cyclopropylaminoacarbonyl substituent useful as cytokine inhibitors
The invention concerns a compound of the Formula (I), wherein Qa is heteroaryl and is substituted with halogeno; R1 and R2 are each hydrogen; and Qb is phenyl or heteroaryl, and Qb may optionally bear 1 or 2 substituents selected from hydroxy, halogeno and (1-6C)alkyl, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof; processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of diseases or medical conditions mediated by cytokines.
US07943772B2 Crystalline forms of an 8-azabicyclo(3.2.1)octane compound
The invention provides a crystalline sulfate salt of 3-endo-(8-{2-[cyclohexylmethyl-((S)-2,3-dihydroxy-propionyl)amino]ethyl}-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl)benzamideor a solvate thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such crystalline salt forms, methods of using such crystalline salt forms to treat diseases associated with mu opioid receptor activity, and processes useful for preparing such crystalline salt forms.
US07943766B2 Low-carbohydrate digestible hydrocolloidal fiber compositions
A novel low-carbohydrate digestible hydrocolloidal composition is separated from a cereal-based substrate by means of a specific sequence of steps for treating an aqueous slurry of the substrate. These all-natural compositions are low in digestible carbohydrates, principally starches, and rich in soluble fiber, principally β-glucan, as well as proteins. The hydrocolloidal products are recovered in high yields, are smooth in texture, have unexpected thickening properties, have a bland flavor, and are useful for texturizing food, especially bakery products. These hydrocolloidal products can also be used as food ingredients for increasing the nutritional level of foods and supplements.
US07943765B2 Polysaccharide based network and method for the production thereof
The production of polysaccharide networks, especially starch networks, having a high network density, high solidity, a low swelling degree, and exhibiting reduced water absorption and to the uses thereof, especially, in the field of biodegradable plastics.
US07943758B2 3′-end nucleoside unit comprising phosphoramidite
Methods of synthesizing nucleic acid oligomers on a solid-phase support having a 3′-end nucleoside unit introduced thereon-as represented by formula II: wherein of formula II represents a 2′-deoxyribonucleoside or its N-protected derivative, the substituent —O—(R1)Si(R2)—(C6H3R6)—(CH2)n—O—P(OR3)XO)—(CH2)n is attached at the 3′ position of the sugar moiety of the nucleoside substituent; each of R1 and R2 is an alkyl or optionally substituted aryl group, wherein the optionally substituted aryl group has a substituent selected from the group consisting of C1-4 alkyl, nitro, cyano, halo and methoxyl; R3 is a protecting group; X is S or O; R7 is H or 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl; each n is an integer of from 1 to 5; and the solid-phase support has hydroxyl groups on its surface.
US07943757B2 RNA interference mediated inhibition of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA)
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of ICAM gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of ICAM genes.
US07943756B2 Anti-microRNA oligonucleotide molecules
The invention relates to isolated anti-microRNA molecules. In another embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated microRNA molecule. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method for inhibiting microRNP activity in a cell.
US07943753B2 Auxin transport proteins
This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an auxin transport protein. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a substantial portion of the auxin transport protein, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the auxin transport protein in a transformed host cell. The present invention also relates to methods using the auxin transport protein in modulating root development, and in discovering compounds with potential herbicidal activity.
US07943752B2 Modified oligonucleotides and applications thereof
Disclosed, among other things, are primers containing certain modified nucleobases in the 3′ terminal region of the primers that provide reduced formation of primer-dimers during amplification reactions, and various methods of use thereof.
US07943747B2 Organosilicon compounds and process for the preparation thereof
Functionalized organosilicon compounds comprising at least one activated azo group of formula (I): [(G0)3SiO1/2]m [(G0)2SiO2/2]n [G0SiO3/2]o [SiO4/2]p [(G2)a(G1)a′(Z-CO—HN═NH—CO-A)SiO(3-a-a′)/2], for example a mixture of silane species of formula (ia): (C2H5O)3Si—(CH2)3—NH—CO—N═N—COOC2H3; with siloxane species of formulae: (2i.1a): [(CH3)3SiO1/2] [(C2H5O)2 {(CH2)3—NH—CO—N═N—COOC2H5} SiO2/2] and (2i.2a): [(CH3)3SiO1/2]2 [(C2H5O) {(CH2)3—NH—CO—N═N—COOC2H5} SiO2/2], are prepared from at least one hydrazino precursor (II) (—HN—NH—) of compound (I), by oxidizing the precursor (II) into an azo group for the compound (I) utilizing at least one oxidizing agent (Ox) and at least one vase (B) and also a supplementary reagent selected from among silanes of formula (III): (G DEG)4-p1Si (G2′)p1 [for example, (CH3)3(C2HSO)Si].
US07943746B2 Process for the purification of IL-18 binding protein
The invention relates to a process for the purification of IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) from a fluid using aqueous two-phase partitioning.
US07943740B2 Compositions and methods for the treatment and diagnosis of neoplastic and infectious diseases
Methods and compositions for the detection, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases, including, but not limited to human sarcomas and carcinomas are provided. In particular, the detection, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and cancer mediated and/or indicated by the presence and co-localization of a member of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated athanogene (Bag) family, especially Bag4 and membrane-bound heat shock protein (Hsp) on the cell surface of diseased tissue or cells are described.
US07943739B2 Methods for separating casein from soluble proteins in a composition
A method for precipitating casein from a suspension comprising milk is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: adding a phosphate solution to a suspension; mixing the phosphate solution with the suspension to form a mixture having a phosphate concentration greater or equal to 40 mM; freezing the mixture having a phosphate concentration greater or equal to 40 mM to obtain a frozen mixture; and thawing the frozen mixture to obtain casein-containing aggregates in the mixture, in which the phosphate solution is buffered at a pH value of no less than 4.4.
US07943738B2 IL-17 receptor like molecules and uses thereof
The present invention provides for IL-17 receptor like polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also provides vectors, host cells, agonists and antagonists (including selective binding agents), and methods for producing IL-17 receptor like polypeptides. Also provided for are methods for treatment, diagnosis, amelioration, or prevention of diseases with IL-17 receptor like polypeptides.
US07943731B1 Dimerizing peptides
The invention provides nonnaturally occurring dimerizing peptides, and methods for their production. Such peptides are useful to mediate association of linked functional proteins domains. In particular, such peptides are useful for mediating association of complexes of multiple zinc finger proteins thereby affording greater specificity and/or affinity in binding of the zinc finger proteins to proximately spaced target segments.
US07943728B2 Disintegrin variants and their use in treating osteoporosis-induced bone loss and angiogenesis-related diseases
Disintegrin variants and pharmaceutical uses thereof are disclosed. The disintegrin variant includes an isolated polypeptide that has integrin αvβ3 receptor-antagonist activity and substantially reduced integrin αllbβ3 and/or α5β1 receptor-blocking activity as compared to a wild-type disintegrin. The variant is encoded by a modified disintegrin nucleotide sequence that encodes a modified amino acid sequence, resulting in a polypeptide having substantially reduced affinity to integrin αllbβ3 and/or α5β1 as compared to a wild-type disintegrin. The variant is useful for treatment and/or prevention of αvβ3 integrin-associated diseases in a mammal, which include osteoporosis, bone tumor or cancer growth, angiogenesis-related tumor growth and metastasis, tumor metastasis in bone, malignancy-induced hypercalcemia, angiogenesis-related eye diseases, Paget's disease, rheumatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis. The angiogenesis-related eye diseases include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, corneal neovascularizing diseases, ischaemia-induced neovascularizing retinopathy, high myopia, and retinopathy of prematurity.
US07943725B2 1,3/1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol based monomers and polymers
A mixture of compounds useful to make a polymer or a prepolymer, the mixture of compounds including compounds having the formula I; wherein R1 is H, acryloyl, methacryloyl or vinyl, wherein R2 is acryloyl, methacryloyl or vinyl, wherein compounds having the formula I consist of a mixture of cis and trans-1,3- and 1,4-substituted cyclohexane and wherein the trans-1,4-substituted cyclohexane content of the compounds having the formula I is less than forty mole percent. A process for producing a mixture of compounds including compounds having the formula II: wherein compounds having the formula II consist of a mixture of cis and trans-1,3- and 1,4-methanol substituted cyclohexane and wherein the trans-1,4-methanol substituted cyclohexane content of the compounds having the formula II is less than twenty five mole percent.
US07943722B2 Fire-retardant polyarylate resin containing dihydroxyphenylacetylene and compositions thereof
Provided is a flame-retardant polyarylate resin and a composition thereof, and more particularly, a polyarylate resin prepared by co-polymerizing 4,4′-dihydroxyphenylacetylene (DHPA), phthaloyl chloride (PC) and bishydroxyphenol (BHP) and a composition of the polyarylate resin. The polyarylate resin has lower heat release capacity than a conventional resin or a resin containing a halogen-based flame-retardant, is environmentally friendly, does not produce toxic materials, and has more excellent flame-retardancy than a conventional halogen-based flame-retardant and a flame-retardant resin. In addition, the polyarylate resin has excellent processibility and compatibility due to high solubility in a commonly used industrial solvent and has excellent thermal stability due to a high molecular weight.
US07943721B2 Linear and cross-linked high molecular weight polysilanes, polygermanes, and copolymers thereof, compositions containing the same, and methods of making and using such compounds and compositions
Methods are disclosed of making linear and cross-linked, HMW (high molecular weight) polysilanes and polygermanes, polyperhydrosilanes and polyperhydrogermanes, functional liquids containing the same, and methods of using the liquids in a range of desirable applications. The silane and germane polymers are generally composed of chains of Si and/or Ge substituted with R′ substituents, where each instance of R′ is, for example, independently hydrogen, halogen, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydrocarbyl, aromatic hydrocarbyl, heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbyl, SiR″3, GeR″3, PR″2, OR″, NR″2, or SR″; where each instance of R″ is independently hydrogen or hydrocarbyl. The cross-linked polymers can be synthesized by dehalogenative coupling or dehydrocoupling. The linear polymers can be synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. The polymers can be further modified by halogenation and/or reaction with the source of hydride to furnish perhydrosilane and perhydrogermane polymers, which are used in liquid ink formulations. The synthesis allows for tuning of the liquid properties (e.g., viscosity, volatility, and surface tension). The liquids can be used for deposition of films and bodies by spincoating, inkjetting, dropcasting, etc., with or without the use of UV irradiation. The deposited films can be converted into amorphous and polycrystalline silicon or germanium, and silicon or germanium oxide or nitride by curing at 400-600 DEG C. and (optionally) laser- or heat-induced crystallization (and/or dopant activation, when dopant is present).
US07943720B2 Method of manufacturing purified products of liquid medium-chain alkyl-modified polydimethysiloxane and cosmetics prepared therefrom
A method of manufacturing a purified product of a liquid medium-chain alkyl-modified polydimethylsiloxane that is free of a specific (unpleasant) odor and is practically odorless, the method comprising the steps of: [A] synthesizing a liquid medium-chain alkyl-modified polydimethylsiloxane by carrying out a hydrosilylation reaction between a hydrosilyl-containing polydimethylsiloxane and an α-olefin with 4 to 18 carbon atoms; and [B] subjecting a crude product of the liquid medium-chain alkyl-modified polydimethylsiloxane obtained in preceding step [A] to an odor-removing treatment by conducting a hydrogenation reaction which is carried out in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.
US07943718B2 Hydrophobic modified polyrotaxane and crosslinked polyrotaxane
To provide a hydrophobic modified polyrotaxane soluble in an organic solvent, and a crosslinked polyrotaxane using this. A hydrophobic modified polyrotaxane has a cyclic molecule, a linear molecule including the cyclic molecule with piercing through the cyclic molecule, and blocking groups which are placed at both end terminals of the linear molecule to prevent the cyclic molecule from leaving from the linear molecule. The cyclic molecule is cyclodextrin, and each of all or a part of the hydroxyl groups in the cyclodextrin is modified with a hydrophobic modification group.A crosslinked polyrotaxane is formed by combining this hydrophobic modified polyrotaxane and a polymer through the cyclic molecule.
US07943716B2 Process for polymerizing 1-hexene or higher alpha-olefins
A process for preparing a polymer containing derived units of one or more alpha olefins of formula CH2═CHW wherein W is a C3-C10 hydrocarbon radical and optionally from 0 to 81% by mol of derived units of propylene or 1-butene, comprising contacting under polymerization conditions one or more alpha olefins of formula CH2═CHW and optionally propylene or 1-butene in the presence of a catalyst system obtainable by contacting: a) a metallocene compound of formula (I) wherein M, X, L, T1, T2, T3 and R1 are described in the text; and (b) an alumoxane or a compound capable of forming an alkyl metallocene cation.
US07943715B2 Diene polymer and process for producing the same
A polymer containing units represented by the defined formula (1); and a process for producing the polymer, which comprises the step of polymerizing a compound represented by the defined formula (3), the units represented by the formula (1) being polymerized units of the compound represented by the formula (3) such as 1,6-heptadiene.
US07943712B2 Catalyst system for synthesizing amine functionalized rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure
The present invention is directed to a catalyst system for synthesizing rubbery polymers, such as polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber, or styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, that are amine functionalized and have a high trans microstructure. The catalyst system, in one embodiment, includes (a) an organolithium amine compound, (b) a group IIa metal salt of an amino glycol or a glycol ether, (c) an organoaluminum compound, and optionally (d) an amine compound. The amine functionalized rubbery polymers can be utilized in tire tread rubbers where the rubbery polymers may provide desirable wear properties without substantially sacrificing other performance characteristic(s), e.g., traction properties.
US07943711B2 Ethylene elastomer compositions
In a process for producing an elastomer composition, ethylene, at least one alpha-olefin, and at least one diene is contacted with a catalyst system comprising at least two metallocene catalyst compounds and a non-coordinating anion activator wherein one of the metallocene catalyst compounds is an indenyl complex having the general formula: (In1R1m)R3(In2R2p)MXq, and at least one metallocene catalyst compound comprises a compound having the general formula: wherein M is a transition metal from Group 3, 4, or 5 of the Periodic Table of the Elements and other deatures defined herein.
US07943709B2 Copolymer comprising alkene, acrylate and unsaturated organic acid, and method for preparing the same
The present invention provides a copolymer that includes at least one alkene monomer, at least one acrylate monomer and at least one the unsaturated organic acid monomer having one or more double bonds, and a method of manufacturing the same.
US07943707B2 Vinylidene fluoride polymer and process for producing the same
A monomer comprising vinylidene fluoride as a principal component is suspension-polymerized by supplying the monomer in division to a polymerization system containing a polymerization initiator at a pressure below a critical pressure Pcr (=4.38 MPa) of vinylidene fluoride and at a pressure above Pcr. As a result, a vinylidene fluoride polymer having excellent high-temperature coloring resistance and with remarkably less elution of organic matter and ionic components is produced, without using a specific halogenated hydrocarbon and without incurring troublesome labor and cost for recovery thereof.
US07943706B2 Semiconductor encapsulating epoxy resin composition and semiconductor device
An epoxy resin composition comprising(A) at least one epoxy resin comprising (a) a naphthalene ring-containing epoxy resin having at least one substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene ring in a molecule and having an epoxy equivalent of 175 to 210,(B) a phenolic resin having at least one substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene ring in a molecule, and(C) an inorganic filler,the substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene ring of the epoxy resin (a) being contained in an amount of 45 to 60% by weight in the total amount of the epoxy resin (A) is best suited for semiconductor encapsulation because it has good flow, a low coefficient of linear expansion, a high Tg, minimal moisture absorption, and crack resistance upon lead-free soldering.
US07943704B2 Method for producing emulsion polymers
The present invention provides a process for preparing emulsion polymer particles of a hollow core/shell structure in the presence of a monomer plasticizer having a ceiling temperature less than 181° C. wherein a polymerization inhibitor or reducing agent is not added to the aqueous emulsion of the core shell particles during the neutralization and swelling stage. The obtained core shell particles are useful in paints, paper coatings, foams, and cosmetics.
US07943695B2 Magnetic polymer particle, method of producing the same, and aqueous dispersion, cartridge, and image forming apparatus using the same
The present invention provides a magnetic polymer particle, including a magnetic powder; a crosslinked polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer; and a non-crosslinked polymer, in which an amount of the magnetic powder with respect to a total amount of the magnetic polymer particle is in a range of about 2.5 to about 50% by mass, the ethylenically unsaturated monomer includes a monomer having a hydroxyl group and a hydrophobic monomer which is free from a hydroxyl group, and an amount of the hydroxyl groups included in the crosslinked polymer and the non-crosslinked polymer is in a range of about 0.1 to about 5.0 mmol/g with respect to a total amount of the crosslinked polymer and the non-crosslinked polymer. Further, the invention provides a method of producing the magnetic polymer particle, and an aqueous dispersion, a cartridge, and an image forming apparatus, all of which use the magnetic polymer particle.
US07943693B2 Elastomers containing surface metalated siliceous fillers
This invention is based upon the concept of modifying the surface of silica with a metal, such as titanium or zirconium, which will catalyze silanol condensation reactions on the surface of the silica. In other words, modifying the surface of silica with titanium or zirconium provides a catalyst for the silanol condensation reaction between the silica surface and silane coupling agents used in silica filled compounds. The utilization of such metalated silica as a filler in rubber compositions results in improved polymer filler interaction and in turn improved physical properties. For instance, such surface metalated siliceous fillers can be used in tire tread compounds to attain improved rolling resistance and treadwear without compromising traction characteristics. The present invention more specifically discloses an elastomeric composition which is comprised of (1) a rubbery polymer, (2) a silica coupling agent, and (3) a surface metalated siliceous filler. The subject invention further reveals a tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, and wherein said tread is comprised of (1) a rubbery polymer, (2) a silica coupling agent, and (3) a surface metalated siliceous filler.
US07943692B2 Polycarbonate resin composition and molded articles with the same
A polycarbonate composition and its use as a molded article and as housing or a part of electronic device are disclosed. The polycarbonate composition includes a polycarbonate resin, a liquid crystalline polymer resin, a core-shell grafted copolymer and a low molecular weight polyolefin. The composition has an impact strength of at least about 68 kg·cm/cm when a specimen of the composition is subject to a chemical treatment and the chemically treated specimen is tested according to the standard ASTM D256 (⅛″ notched). The composition has an impact resistance of exhibiting substantially no cracking when a specimen of the composition is subject to a chemical treatment and the chemically treated specimen is tested at 0.6 m according to the standard ASTM D3029. The chemical treatment includes submerging the specimen in paint thinner for 20 seconds and thereafter drying the specimen at 70° C. for 5 minutes. Further, the composition has a fatigue resistance of at least about 130,000 when a specimen of the composition is tested at 4000 psi at 5 times per second according to the standard ASTM D638.
US07943689B2 Golf ball and process for preparing the same
An object of the present invention is to improve abrasion-resistance and spin performance of a golf ball having a polyurethane cover.The golf ball of the present invention is a golf ball having a core and a cover covering the core. The cover contains a layered silicate and a polyurethane resin having a secondary or a tertiary amine structure in a molecular chain thereof. In the present invention, the polyurethane resin used as a resin component constituting the cover has a secondary or tertiary amine structure in a molecular chain. Thus, it has a strong interaction with the layered silicate, and a reinforcing effect of the filler becomes even higher. As a result, abrasion-resistance and spin performance of the resultant cover are improved.
US07943685B2 Composition and method for curing latex compounds
The invention pertains to a latex compound comprising a natural rubber or a synthetic rubber material and a curing system having organic peroxide. The invention also concerns a method of curing a latex film comprising the steps of forming a film from a latex compound comprising a natural rubber or synthetic rubber material and a curing system having organic peroxide and heating the film to obtain cured natural rubber or synthetic rubber materials.
US07943682B2 Radiation-curable water-emulsifiable polyisocyanates
The invention relates to radiation-curable, water-emulsifiable compounds containing isocyanate groups or capped isocyanate groups, and to their use.
US07943680B2 Stress relaxation in crosslinked polymers
The invention provides methods for inducing reversible chain cleavage of polymer chains in a crosslinked polymeric material. Reversible cleavage of the polymer backbone is capable of relieving stress in the polymeric material as the bonds reform in a less stressed state. The invention also provides methods for making polymeric materials capable of reversible chain cleavage, materials made by the methods of the invention, and linear monomers containing reversible chain cleavage groups which are useful in the materials and methods of the invention.
US07943679B2 Method of molding rigid polyurethane foams with enhanced thermal conductivity
The present invention is to a molded rigid polyurethane foam for application in appliance, having a reduced thermal conductivity at densities between 33 and 38 kg/m3 and a process for the production of such foams. The molded rigid polyurethane foam have a ratio of applied foam density (kg/m3) to lambda (mW/mK), measured at 10° C., 24 hours after foam production from 1.65 and to 2.15 and are obtained by the process of injecting into a closed mold cavity under reduced pressure a reaction mixture at a packing factor of 1.1 to 1.9 and the reaction mixture comprises: A) an organic polyisocyanate; B) a physical blowing agent, C) a polyol composition containing at least one polyol with a functionality of 3 or greater and a hydroxyl number between 200 and 800 and a water content of 0 to 2.5 weight percent of the total polyol composition; D) catalyst and E) auxiliary substances and/or additives.
US07943675B2 Electrolytes for fuel cell electrodes
Improved polymer-based materials are described, for example for use as an electrode binder in a fuel cell. A fuel cell according to an example of the present invention comprises a first electrode including a catalyst and an electrode binder, a second electrode, and an electrolyte located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte may be a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). The electrode binder includes one or more polymers, such as a polyphosphazene.
US07943674B1 Zeolite supported cobalt hybrid fischer-tropsch catalyst
A method for performing synthesis gas conversion is disclosed which comprises contacting synthesis gas with a hybrid Fischer-Tropsch catalyst formed by impregnating a ZSM-12 zeolite extrudate using a solution, for example, a substantially non-aqueous solution, comprising a cobalt salt and activating the impregnated zeolite extrudate by a reduction-oxidation-reduction cycle. The method results in reduced methane yield and increased yield of liquid hydrocarbons substantially free of solid wax.
US07943672B2 Foaming method and apparatus therefor
A gas mixing/supplying device and a method includes of introducing a gas into a high-viscosity material. The method the steps of effecting a first suction stroke in which the piston (25) is moved in the cylinder (27); supplying a high-viscosity material to the cylinder, using a suction force in the cylinder generated in said first suction stroke; stopping the piston after the first suction stroke; effecting a second suction stroke in which the piston is moved in the cylinder after the supply of the high-viscosity material; supplying a gas to the cylinder, using a suction force in the cylinder generated in the second suction stroke; effecting a pressurizing stroke in which the piston is moved in the cylinder after completion of the supply of the gas; and effecting a discharge stroke in which the high-viscosity material and the gas are discharged into a conduit. Then, the high-viscosity material is foamed under atmospheric pressure.
US07943668B2 Process for preparing a pharmaceutical composition with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity for administration via a patch for external use, and composition thus obtained
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a pharmaceutical composition with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity for administration via a patch for external use, its components including as active principle a salt of diclofenac, 2[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino]benzene-acetic acid, with a cyclic organic base chosen from hydroxyethylpyrrolidine or hydroxyethylpiperidine characterized in that said active principle is added to a mixture of one or more of said components, in the form of a solution in water and propylene glycol in a ratio of about 1:1 parts by weight.
US07943667B2 Potentiating the effect of compound comprising nitric oxide
Treatment of or prophylaxis against the occurrence of pulmonary disorders associated with hypoxemia and/or smooth muscle constriction or infection in the lungs comprises administration into the lung(s) as a gas composition comprising nitric oxide, e.g. ethyl nitrite or nitric oxide, and also administering into the lungs L-cysteine. The pulmonary disorder can be persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn to increase SpO2 and decrease systolic blood pressure. In another case administration is to a premature newborn to prophylax against the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
US07943662B2 Flavonoid complexes
The invention relates to complexes of certain flavonoid derivatives, of the formula (I), where R1 and R2 are selected from H and OR11, where OR11 stands, independently of one another, for OH, straight-chain or branched C1- to C20-alkoxy groups, straight-chain or branched C3- to C20-alkenyloxy groups, straight-chain or branched C1- to C20-hydroxyalkoxy groups, where the hydroxyl group(s) may be bonded to a primary or secondary carbon atom in the chain and furthermore the alkyl chain may also be interrupted by oxygen, and/or C3- to C10-cycloalkoxy groups and/or C3- to C12-cycloalkenyloxy groups, where the rings may in each case also be bridged by —(CH2)n— groups, where n=1 to 3, and/or mono- and/or oligoglycosyl radicals, with the proviso that at least one radical from R1 and R2 stands for OR11, and R3 to R10 may be identical or different and stand, independently of one another, for radicals which are substantially inert with respect to the UV properties, to compositions which comprise such complexes, to corresponding processes for the preparation of the complexes or the compositions comprising the latter, and to the use thereof, in particular for the care, preservation or improvement of the general condition of the skin or hair and for light protection.
US07943654B2 1H-thieno[2,3-c]pyrazole compounds useful as kinase inhibitors
There are provided thieno[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives of formula (I), wherein A is an aryl or heteroaryl ring, on which the substituent-NHZR5 is at the ortho position to the CONH linker; R1 and R2 are the same or different and, independently from each other, represent a hydrogen atom or an organic group; R4 is a hydrogen or halogen atom or an organic group; Z is direct bond, >C═O, or —C(═O)NH—; R5 is hydrogen or an organic group; or isomers, tautomers, carriers, metabolites, prodrugs, and pharamaceutically acceptable salts thereof. A process for their preparation and pharamaceutical compositions comprising them are also disclosed; the compounds of the invention may be useful, in theraphy, in the treatment of diseases associated with a disregulated protein kinase activity, like cancer.
US07943652B2 Hydroxamate-based inhibitors of deacetylases B
The present teachings relate to compounds of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, esters, and prodrugs thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, Y, Z, and are as defined herein. The present teachings also provide methods of preparing compounds of Formula I and methods of using compounds of Formula I in treating, inhibiting, or preventing pathologic conditions or disorders mediated wholly or in part by deacetylases.
US07943651B2 Compounds
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I): pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and the use of the compounds for the manufacture of a medicament, particularly for the treatment of inflammation and/or allergic conditions.
US07943646B2 Benzamidine derivative, process for the preparation thereof and pharmaceutical composition comprising same
The present invention relates to a novel benzamidine derivative, a process for the preparation thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same. The benzamidine derivative of the present invention effectively inhibits osteoclast differentiation at an extremely low concentration, and greatly increases the trabecular bone volume, and thus it can be advantageously used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
US07943640B2 Compositions and methods for inhibiting TGF-β
The present invention provides compounds of the formula: and pharmaceutically acceptable isomers, salts, hydrates, solvates, and prodrug derivatives thereof, wherein R1, R6, R7, R8, Pg, and n are those defined herein. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and methods for using the same. In particular, compounds of Formula I are useful in modulating TGF-β activity.
US07943634B2 Substituted benzo[4,5]furo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives as PDE 4 inhibitors
The present invention relates to novel Phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitors of the formula (1) and analogs, tautomers, enantiomers, diasteromers, regioisomers, stereoisomers, polymorphs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, appropriate N-oxides, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates thereof and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them which are useful in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases including asthma, chronic bronchitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, eosinophilic granuloma, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic shock, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, reperfusion injury of the myocardium and reperfusion injury of the brain, chronic glomerulonephritis, endotoxic shock and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
US07943632B2 High potency dopaminergic treatment of neurological impairment associated with brain injury
Methods and compositions are described for treating impaired neurological function, including altered state of consciousness disorders, in an individual who has sustained a brain injury comprising administering to the individual apomorphine. Methods and compositions are described for treating impaired neurological function, including altered state of consciousness disorders, in an individual who has sustained a brain injury comprising administering to the individual at least 1000 mg or more of L-dopa (levodopa) per day. The use of potent dopaminergic agents to stimulate emergence from an altered consciousness state, such as a coma, is disclosed.
US07943612B2 Compounds that modulate PPAR activity, their preparation and use
Novel compounds of the general formula (I), the use of these compounds as pharmaceutical compositions, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of treatment employing these compounds and compositions. The present compounds are activators of PPARδ and should be useful for treating conditions mediated by the same.
US07943610B2 Pyrazolopyridine-1,4-diamines and analogs thereof
Pyrazolopyridine-1,4-diamines and analogs thereof, e.g., pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-1,4-diamines, pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,4-diamines, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,4-diamines, and pyrazolo[3,4-c]naphthyridine-1,4-di-amines, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, methods of making these compounds, and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases are disclosed.
US07943609B2 Chiral fused [1,2]imidazo[4,5-C] ring compounds
Fused [1,2]imidazo[4,5-c] ring compounds (e.g., imidazo[4,5-c]quinolines, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-c]quinolines, imidazo[4,5-c]naphthyridines, and 6,7,8,9-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-c]naphthyridines) with a —CH(—X1—R1)-group in the fused ring at the 1-position of the imidazo ring, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, methods of making the compounds, and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US07943607B2 Heteroaryl benzamide derivatives for use as GLK activators in the treatment of diabetes
Compounds of formula (I), wherein R1, R4, HET-1 and HET-2 are as described in the specification, and their salts and pro-drugs, are activators of glucokinase (GLK) and are thereby useful in the treatment of, for example, type 2 diabetes. Processes for preparing compounds of formula (I) are also described.
US07943598B2 Use of organic glucosamine salts
The present invention relates to the use of an organic glucosamine salt selected from glucosamine glucuronate, glucosamine ascorbate, glucosamine malate, glucosamine hydrogen malate, glucosamine citrate, glucosamine hydrogen citrate, and glucosamine dihydrogen citrate for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of arthrosis and inflammation and pain associated with arthrosis. The present invention also relates to the use of an organic glucosamine salt, selected from the ones mentioned above, for the preparation of a nutritional supplement acting as a chondroprotector, to nourish the cartilage, protect the joints, prevent water deficit in the tissues that form the joint, improve the joints' functional capacity, elasticity, and flexibility, and prevent and revert the physical overexertion syndrome in athletes, and the effects associated therewith.
US07943596B2 Medicinal composition for ophthal use containing acetylated hyaluronic acid
The present invention provides an ophthalmic pharmaceutical composition containing acetylated hyaluronic acid and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier. Preferably, the average molecular weight of the acetylated hyaluronic acid is 10,000 to 1,000,000, and the acetyl group substitution number is from 2.0 to 4.0. In a preferred embodiment, this ophthalmic pharmaceutical composition is used in the treatment or prevention of dry eye, and in an even more preferred embodiment it is a dry-eye instillation.
US07943589B2 siRNA microbicides for preventing and treating diseases
The invention provides a microbicidal composition comprising at least one siRNA. The siRNA is an RNA duplex made of one or two molecules. A portion of the siRNA is identical to a target sequence in an essential gene of a virus. The virus may be a herpesvirus, for example, HSV-1 or HSV-2. Preferably, the herpesvirus is HSV-2. The microbicidal composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Also included in the invention are methods to prevent and treat viral infections by administration of the microbicidal composition. Preferably, the microbicidal composition is administered transmucosally.
US07943585B2 Extended release antibiotic composition
An extended-release antibiotic composition comprising at least one antibiotic, and greater than 50 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition, of a polymer component, wherein said polymer component comprises at least one pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic polymer, and said polymer component has a viscosity of less than about 50 cps.
US07943584B2 Medicinal composition containing diabetes remedy
A pharmaceutical composition effective for the prophylaxis and treatment of diabetes is provided. This pharmaceutical composition comprises the combination of an α-amylase inhibitor selected from a compound represented by the following general formula (I): [wherein A represents, for example, a cyclic group, etc. R1 and R2 represent an alkyl group, hydroxymethyl group, etc., and n represents 1 or 2], or a pharmacologically acceptable salt or ester thereof, and at least one type of drug selected from an insulin sensitizer, an insulin secretagogue, a biguanide drug, an insulin preparation and a DPP-IV inhibitor.
US07943583B2 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl) ascorbic acid, process for its production, and foods cosmetics containing compositions comprising it
The present invention provides a novel ascorbic acid derivative as a provitamin C with improved stability in the body and prolonged life in the body compared to conventionally known 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid. The composition comprising the novel compound 2-O- (β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid has been extracted from plants such as from Ningxia Lycium barbarum L. and/or Lycium chinense Mill. The compositions comprising 2-O-(βD-glucopyranosyl) ascorbic acid may be enzymatically synthesized using β-D-glucosyltransferase. Pure 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid may be produced from such compositions. Alternatively, 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid may be produced by chemical synthesis. The 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid results in higher stability and a prolonged life of vitamin C when ingested in the body compared to the corresponding α-D-glucopyranosyl derivative, and is therefore highly suitable as a provitamin C to be used in cosmetics and foods.
US07943581B2 Cell penetrating peptides for intracellular delivery of molecules
The present invention concerns cell-penetrating peptides which comprise an amino acid sequence consisting of GLX9WRAX9WRX1LX2RSLX9WX3X4X5X6X7X8(SEQ ID No: 1), wherein X1 is A, L or G, X2 is W or none, X3 is R or K, X4 is K, L or S, X5 is L or K, X6 is R or W, X7 is K or S, and X8 is A, V or Q, and X9 is W, F or Y. These CPPs can be used as vectors for delivering nucleic acids and/or proteins and/or peptides to cells, in vitro or in vivo.
US07943571B2 Modified proteins, designer toxins, and methods of making thereof
The present invention concerns methods of reducing the antigenicity of a proteinaceous compound while maintaining the compounds biological activity, as well as proteinaceous compositions with biological activity but reduced antigenicity. These methods and compositions have significant benefits to a subject in need of such compounds and compositions. Also included are modified toxin compounds that are truncated and/or possess reduce antigenicity. Such designer toxins have therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventative benefits, particularly as immunotoxins. Methods of treating cancer using these immunotoxins are provided.
US07943566B2 Dryer sheet and methods for manufacturing and using a dryer sheet
A dryer sheet is provided that includes a nonwoven substrate comprising a mixture of natural fiber and polylactide fiber, and a fabric conditioning agent. The dryer sheet, if desired, can be provided so that it satisfies the test for biodegradability according to ASTM D 6868-03. A method for manufacturing and a method for using a dryer sheet are provided.
US07943563B2 Method of cleaning firearms and ordnance
A method of removing metallic copper from a steel surface defining a bore or cylinder of a gun is provided. The method involves contacting the surface with a composition comprising a polyphosphonic acid, a hydroxyl-substituted primary amine, and water.
US07943560B2 Cyclopropanated macrocyclic ketones and lactones
The present invention is directed to novel cyclopropanated macrocyclic ketone and lactone compounds of the general formula: wherein X is an atom or a functional group selected from the group consisting of O, N, S, R—CH, and CH2; wherein R is a C1-C3 alkyl group; wherein Y and W independently represent is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, optionally substituted, consisting of less than 10 and preferably less than 7 carbon atoms; and wherein O is an oxygen atom, and the use of these novel compounds in creating fragrances and scents in items such as perfumes, colognes, and personal care products.
US07943558B2 Lubricant with non-terminal functional groups
Lubricant with non-terminal functional groups. The location of the functional groups minimizes free chain length and molecular weight of a lubricant while simultaneously maximizing evaporation temperature. The locations of the functional groups to the backbone of the molecule of the lubricant allows for shorter lengths of free backbone length between functional groups attached to a lubricated surface. The lubricant lubricates mechanical devices including hard disk drives.
US07943556B2 Environmentally friendly solid lubricant sticks
A solid lubricant and composition useful for lubricating the flanges of locomotive wheels, railcar wheels, rail tracks and in applications where it is desirable to reduce friction when metal contacts metal. The solid lubricant having from about 25% to about 70% by volume of a biopolymer polymeric carrier, about 5% to 75% percent by volume of organic and inorganic extreme pressure additives, about 0% to 20% by volume synthetic extreme pressure anti-wear liquid oil, and about 0% to 1% by volume optical brightener.
US07943553B2 Randomized libraries of zinc finger proteins
The present invention relates to methods of using libraries of randomized zinc finger proteins to identify genes associated with selected phenotypes.
US07943541B2 Sintered refractory product exhibiting enhanced thermal shock resistance
The invention concerns a sintered refractory product having the following average chemical composition, in weight percentages based on oxides: 20%
US07943540B2 Optical glass for precision molding having high refractive index
An optical glass for precision molding having a high refractive index (nd) and a low yield temperature (At). The optical glass comprises, as glass components in wt %, 64 to 83% of Bi2O3; 4 to 17% of B2O3; 0 to 12% of GeO2 (wherein the total of B2O3 and GeO2 is 10 to 20%); 0 to 7% of La2O3; 0 to 7% of Gd2O3 (wherein the total of La2O3 and Gd2O3 is 1 to 13%); 0 to 4% of ZrO2; 0 to 5% of Ta2O5; 0 to 15% of ZnO; 0 to 2% of Sb2O3; and 0 to 1% of In2O3. The optical glass has optical constants, that is, a refractive index (nd) of 2.05 to 2.25 and an Abbe number (vd) of 15 to 22, and a yield temperature (At) of 510° C. or less.
US07943534B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor device manufacturing system
A semiconductor device manufacturing method and a semiconductor device manufacturing system for irradiating a first laser light (50) and a second laser light (52) with a wavelength different from that of the first laser light to a substrate (46) to perform a thermal processing on the substrate are provided. In the step for performing the thermal processing, at least one of an irradiation intensity and an irradiation time of a first laser and a second laser is controlled to control a temperature distribution in the substrate or a film on the substrate in a depth direction.
US07943531B2 Methods for forming a silicon oxide layer over a substrate
A method of depositing a silicon oxide layer over a substrate includes providing a substrate to a deposition chamber. A first silicon-containing precursor, a second silicon-containing precursor and a NH3 plasma are reacted to form a silicon oxide layer. The first silicon-containing precursor includes at least one of Si—H bond and Si—Si bond. The second silicon-containing precursor includes at least one Si—N bond. The deposited silicon oxide layer is annealed.
US07943530B2 Semiconductor nanowires having mobility-optimized orientations
Prototype semiconductor structures each including a semiconductor link portion and two adjoined pad portions are formed by lithographic patterning of a semiconductor layer on a dielectric material layer. The sidewalls of the semiconductor link portions are oriented to maximize hole mobility for a first-type semiconductor structures, and to maximize electron mobility for a second-type semiconductor structures. Thinning by oxidation of the semiconductor structures reduces the width of the semiconductor link portions at different rates for different crystallographic orientations. The widths of the semiconductor link portions are predetermined so that the different amount of thinning on the sidewalls of the semiconductor link portions result in target sublithographic dimensions for the resulting semiconductor nanowires after thinning. By compensating for different thinning rates for different crystallographic surfaces, semiconductor nanowires having optimal sublithographic widths may be formed for different crystallographic orientations without excessive thinning or insufficient thinning.
US07943529B2 Passivation structure and fabricating method thereof
A passivation structure and fabricating method thereof includes providing a chip having a main die region and a scribe line region defined thereon and a plurality of metal pads respectively positioned in the main die region and the scribe line region, forming a first patterned passivation layer having a plurality of first openings and second openings respectively exposing the metal pads in the main die region and the scribe line region on the chip, and forming a second patterned passivation layer filling the first openings in the scribe line region and having a plurality of third openings corresponding to the first openings thus exposing the metal pads in the main die region.
US07943524B2 Method of etching and etching apparatus
Silicon oxide film having, as a sublayer, a silicon nitride film layer serving as a protective film layer for 5 gate formed on silicon substrate is etched by introducing a processing gas including a gaseous mixture containing at least C4F6, Ar, O2 and N2 into an airtight processing chamber and carrying out a plasma treatment in a self-alignment contact process, thereby forming contact hole. For the 10 processing gas, e.g., the ratio of N2 gas flow rate to C4F6 gas flow rate ranges from 25/8 to 85/8, the ratio of O2 and N2 gas flow rate to C4F6 gas flow rate ranges from 15/4 to 45/4 and the ratio of N2 gas flow rate to O2 gas flow rate ranges from 5 to 17. Accordingly, stable contact holes of 15 high aspect ratio exhibiting desirable control characteristics is formed while minimizing etching the silicon nitride film, a protective film layer for gate.
US07943520B2 Hole pattern forming method and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A hole pattern forming method that forms a fine hole pattern in a work target layer that is formed on a semiconductor substrate, includes: forming a three-layer structure by laminating a carbon film layer, an intermediate mask layer, and a photoresist layer in that order on the work target layer; after patterning a hole pattern in the photoresist layer, patterning the hole pattern in the intermediate mask layer with the patterned photoresist layer serving as a mask; forming a sidewall oxide film on exposed portions of the photoresist layer, the intermediate mask layer, and the carbon film layer; forming a sidewall portion that includes the sidewall oxide film on inner wall surfaces of the hole pattern by etching back the sidewall oxide film; and after patterning a fine hole pattern in the carbon film layer with the sidewall portion and the intermediate mask layer serving as a mask, patterning the fine hole pattern in the work target layer with the patterned carbon film layer serving as a mask.
US07943519B2 Etchant, method for fabricating interconnection line using the etchant, and method for fabricating thin film transistor substrate using the etchant
An etchant, a method for fabricating a multi-layered interconnection line using the etchant, and a method for fabricating a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate using the etchant. The etchant for the multi-layered line comprised of molybdenum/copper/molybdenum nitride illustratively includes 10-20 wt % hydrogen peroxide, 1-5 wt % organic acid, a 0.1-1 wt % triazole-based compound, a 0.01-0.5 wt % fluoride compound, and deionized water as the remainder.
US07943518B2 Semiconductor chip, semiconductor mounting module, mobile communication device, and process for producing semiconductor chip
A semiconductor chip comprising a capacitor capable of effectively controlling the voltage drop of an LSI is provided. A semiconductor substrate is provided with an element electrode having at least its surface constituted of an aluminum electrode. The surface of the aluminum electrode is roughened. An oxide film is provided on the aluminum electrode. A conductive film is provided on the oxide film. The aluminum electrode, oxide film and conductive film form a capacitor.
US07943516B2 Manufacturing method for semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device forms an interlayer insulating film on a nickel silicide layer formed on a substrate, and forms a through hole by performing dry etching using a resist pattern, formed on the interlayer insulating film, as a mask and then removing the resist pattern by ashing. A wafer after an ashing process is cleaned using a cleaning solution comprised of aqueous solution having a content of the fluorine-containing compound of 1.0 to 5.0 mass %, a content of chelating agent of 0.2 to 5.0 mass %, and a content of the organic acid salt of 0.1 to 3.0 mass %.
US07943514B2 Integrated circuits having TSVs including metal gettering dielectric liners
An IC includes a substrate having a semiconductor top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the semiconductor top surface includes one or more active circuit components and a plurality of through silicon vias (TSVs) extending through the substrate. The plurality of TSVs include an outer dielectric liner. The dielectric liner includes at least one halogen or a Group 15 element metal gettering agent in an average concentration from 1 to 10 atomic %. A metal diffusion barrier layer is on the dielectric liner and a metal filler is on the metal barrier layer. The metal gettering agent getters metal filler that escapes the metal barrier layer.
US07943513B2 Conductive through connection and forming method thereof
A conductive through connection having a body layer and a metal layer is disposed on a semiconductor device, which the metal layer is on a top of body layer and includes a conductive body configured to penetrate the body layer and the metal layer. The width/diameter of one end of the conductive body is larger than that of another end thereof. The shape of these two ends of the body layer can be rectangular or circular.
US07943508B2 Fabricating method of a semiconductor device
Disclosed is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, in which the process steps of a photoresist process for forming a metal line are simply reduced, and a process exerting an influence on the contact hole is minimized, so that the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device can be improved. A reactive ion etching process is repeatedly performed, so that the depth of the trench or the aspect ratio of the contact hole can be adjusted. In addition, the region, in which the lower metal interconnection and the contact hole make contact with each other, can be cleaned.
US07943500B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises; forming an HfSiO film 36 on a silicon substrate 26; exposing the HfSiO film 36 to NH3 gas to thereby form an HfSiON film 38; forming an HfSiO film 40 on the HfSiON film 38; adhering Al to the surface of the HfSiO film 40 to thereby form an Al adhered layer 58 on the surface of the HfSiO film 40; and forming a polysilicon film 42 on the HfSiO film 40 with the Al adhered layer 58 formed on the surface.
US07943498B2 Method of forming micro pattern in semiconductor device
A method of forming a micro pattern in a semiconductor device includes: forming an target layer, a hard mask layer and first sacrificial patterns over a semiconductor substrate on which a cell gate region, a selective transistor region and a periphery circuit region are defined; forming an insulating layer and a second sacrificial layer on the hard mask layer and the first sacrificial patterns; removing the insulating layer and the second sacrificial layer formed in the selective transistor region and the periphery circuit region; performing the first etch process so as to allow the second sacrificial layer formed in the cell gate region to remain on the insulating layer between the first sacrificial patterns for forming second sacrificial patterns; removing the insulating layer placed on the first sacrificial patterns and between the first and second sacrificial patterns in the cell gate region; etching the hard mask layer using the second etch process utilizing the first and second sacrificial patterns as the etch mask to form a mask pattern; and etching the target layer using the third etch process utilizing the hard mask pattern as the etch mask.
US07943497B2 Method for manufacturing an SOI substrate
A substrate surface serving as an SOI region and a substrate surface serving as a bulk region are made to form the same plane easily and highly accurately, a thickness of a buried oxide film is made uniform, and the buried oxide film is also prevented from being exposed on the substrate surface. After partially forming a mask oxide film (19) on a surface of a silicon substrate (12), an oxygen ions (16) are implanted into the surface of the substrate through this mask oxide film, and the substrate is further subjected to annealing treatment to form a buried oxide film (13) inside the substrate. Between the step of forming the mask oxide film and the step of implanting the oxygen ions, a recess portion (12c) with a predetermined depth deeper than a substrate surface (12b) serving as the bulk region where the mask oxide film has been formed is formed in a substrate surface (12a) serving as the SOI region where the mask oxide film is not formed.
US07943496B2 Method of manufacturing GaN-based transistors
A method of manufacturing a GaN-based field effect transistor is provided by which a lower resistance and a higher breakdown voltage are obtained and which is less affected by a current collapse. A method of manufacturing the GaN-based field effect transistor(s) can comprise performing an epitaxial growth of an AlN layer (102), of a buffer layer (103), of a channel layer (104), of a drift layer (105) and of an electron supplying layer (106) in such the order on to a substrate (101) respectively; forming a recess part (108) thereon; performing an alloying process for performing an annealing in order to obtain an ohmic contact; forming a passivation layer (113) at a period of performing the annealing in the alloying process in order to protect the electron supplying layer (106) on to a surface of the recess part (108), on to the electron supplying layer (106), on to a source electrode (109) and on to a drain electrode (110), respectively; removing the passivation layer (113); forming a gate insulating film on to a surface at the inner side of the recess part (108), on to the electron supplying layer (106), on to the source electrode (109) and on to the drain electrode (110), respectively; and forming a gate electrode on to the gate insulating film at a part of the recess part (108).
US07943494B2 Method for blocking dislocation propagation of semiconductor
The present invention provides a method for blocking the dislocation propagation of a semiconductor. A semiconductor layer is formed by epitaxial process on a substrate. A plurality of recesses is formed on the semiconductor layer by etching fragile locations of the semiconductor layer where dislocation occurs. Thereafter, a blocking layer is formed on each of the plurality of recesses. The aforesaid semiconductor layer undergoes epitaxial process again on the aforesaid semiconductor layer, and laterally overgrows to redirect the dislocation defects.
US07943488B2 Transfer method of functional region, LED array, LED printer head, and LED printer
A method includes placing a first bonding layer on at least one of a first functional region bonded on a release layer with a light releasable adhesive layer on a first substrate, and a transfer region on a second substrate; bonding the first functional region to the second substrate by the first bonding layer; irradiating the release layer with light with a light blocking member being provided to separate the first substrate from the first functional region at the release layer; placing a second bonding layer on at least one of a second functional region on the first substrate, and a transfer region on the release layer or a transfer region on a third substrate; bonding the second functional region to the second substrate or the third substrate by the second bonding layer; and separating the first substrate from the second functional region at the release layer.
US07943483B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
In forming an element isolation trench, an insulating film formed above a semiconductor substrate is etched such that relatively thin insulating film situated in the memory cell region is fully removed whereas relatively thick insulating film situated in the peripheral circuit region is etched so as to leave a remainder insulating film. Then, using the remainder insulating film in the peripheral circuit region as an etch stopper, the semiconductor substrate is etched, whereafter the remainder insulating film in the peripheral circuit region is fully removed to subsequently etch the semiconductor substrate.
US07943482B2 Method for semiconductor device having radiation hardened insulators and design structure thereof
A design structure is provided for a semiconductor device having radiation hardened buried insulators and isolation insulators in SOI technology. The device includes a first structure and a second structure. The first structure includes: a radiation hardened BOX layer under an active device layer; radiation hardened shallow trench isolation (STI) structures between active regions of the active device layer and above the radiation hardened BOX layer; metal interconnects in one or more interlevel dielectric layers above gates structures of the active regions. The second structure is bonded to the first structure. The second structure includes: a Si based substrate; a BOX layer on the substrate; a Si layer with active regions on the BOX; oxide filled STI structures between the active regions of the Si layer; and metal interconnects in one or more interlevel dielectric layers above gates structures. At least one metal interconnect is electrically connecting the first structure to the second structure.
US07943480B2 Sub-lithographic dimensioned air gap formation and related structure
Sub-lithographic dimensioned air gap formation and related structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a dielectric layer including interconnects on a substrate; depositing a cap layer on the dielectric layer; depositing a photoresist over the cap layer; patterning the photoresist to include a first trench pattern at most partially overlying the interconnects; forming a spacer within the first trench pattern to form a second trench pattern having a sub-lithographic dimension; transferring the second trench pattern into the cap layer and into the dielectric layer between the interconnects; and depositing another dielectric layer to form an air gap by pinching off the trench in the dielectric layer.
US07943475B2 Process for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising a metal-compound film
There is provided a semiconductor device comprising a dielectric film made of a high dielectric constant material, in which a leak current is reduced in the film and which exhibits improved device reliability. Specifically, a dielectric film 142 is a metal-compound film having a composition represented by the formula MOxCyNz wherein x, y and z meet the conditions: 0
US07943474B2 EDRAM including metal plates
A method for forming a memory device is provided by first forming at least one trench in a semiconductor substrate. Next, a lower electrode is formed in the at least one trench, and thereafter a conformal dielectric layer is formed on the lower electrode.An upper electrode is then formed on the conformal dielectric layer. The forming of the upper electrode may include a conformal deposition of metal nitride layer, and a non-conformal deposition of an electrically conductive material atop the metal nitride layer, in which the electrically conductive material encloses the at least one trench.
US07943472B2 CoSi2 Schottky diode integration in BiSMOS process
Cobalt silicide (CoSi2) Schottky diodes fabricated per the current art suffer from excess leakage currents in reverse bias. In this invention, an floating p-type region encircles each anode of a CoSi2 Schottky diode comprising of one or more CoSi2 anodes. The resulting p-n junction forms a depletion region under the Schottky junction that reduces leakage current through the Schottky diodes in reverse bias operation.
US07943471B1 Diode with asymmetric silicon germanium anode
The present invention is directed to a diode with an asymmetric silicon germanium anode and methods of making same. In one illustrative embodiment, the diode includes an anode comprising a P-doped silicon germanium material formed in a semiconducting substrate, an N-doped silicon cathode formed in the semiconducting substrate, a first conductive contact that is conductively coupled to the anode and a second conductive contact that is conductively coupled to the cathode.
US07943470B2 Chip-stacked semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a through electrode that penetrates through a silicon substrate, an isolation trench provided to penetrate through the silicon substrate to surround the through electrode, a silicon film in contact with an inner surface of the isolation trench, a silicon film in contact with an outer surface of the isolation trench, and an insulation film provided between the silicon films. According to the present invention, the silicon film within the isolation trench can be substantially regarded as a part of the silicon substrate. Therefore, even when the width of the isolation trench is increased to increase the etching rate, the width of the insulation film becoming a dead space can be made sufficiently small. Consequently, the chip area can be decreased.
US07943463B2 Methods of semiconductor processing involving forming doped polysilicon on undoped polysilicon
A number of methods are provided for semiconductor processing. One such method includes depositing a first precursor material on a surface at a particular temperature to form an undoped polysilicon. The method also includes depositing a second precursor material on a surface of the undoped polysilicon at substantially the same temperature, wherein the undoped polysilicon serves as a seed to accelerate forming a doped polysilicon.
US07943455B2 CMOS image sensors and methods of fabricating the same
CMOS image sensors and methods of fabricating the same. The CMOS image sensors include a pixel array region having an active pixel portion and an optical block pixel portion which encloses the active pixel portion. The optical block pixel portion includes an optical block metal pattern for blocking light. The optical block metal pattern may be connected to a ground portion.
US07943447B2 Methods of fabricating crystalline silicon, thin film transistors, and solar cells
The present invention includes methods to crystallize amorphous silicon. A structure including a conductive film with at least one conductive layer in thermal contact with an amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer to be crystallized is exposed to an alternating or varying magnetic field. The conductive film is more easily heated by the alternative or varying magnetic field, which, in-turn, heats the a-Si film and crystallizes it while keeping the substrate at a low enough temperature to avoid damage to or bending of the substrate. The method can be applied to the fabrication of many semiconductor devices, including thin film transistors and solar cells.
US07943446B2 Method of producing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A semiconductor device able to secure electrical effective thicknesses required for insulating films of electronic circuit elements by using depletion of electrodes of the electronic circuit elements even if the physical thicknesses of the insulating films are not different, where gate electrodes of high withstand voltage use transistors to which high power source voltages are supplied contain an impurity at a relatively low concentration, so the gate electrodes are easily depleted at the time of application of the gate voltage; depletion of the gate electrodes is equivalent to increasing the thickness of the gate insulating films; the electrical effective thicknesses required of the gate insulating films can be made thicker; and the gate electrodes of high performance transistors for which a high speed and large drive current are required do not contain an impurity at a high concentration where depletion of the gate electrodes will not occur, so the electrical effective thickness of the gate insulating films is kept thin.
US07943445B2 Asymmetric junction field effect transistor
A junction field effect transistor (JFET) in a semiconductor substrate includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, an upper gate region, and a lower gate region. The lower gate region is electrically connected to the upper gate region. The upper and lower gate regions control the current flow through the channel region. By performing an ion implantation step that extends the thickness of the source region to a depth greater than the thickness of the drain region, an asymmetric JFET is formed. The extension of depth of the source region relative to the depth of the drain region reduces the length for minority charge carriers to travel through the channel region, reduces the on-resistance of the JFET, and increases the on-current of the JFET, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the JFET without decreasing the allowable Vds or dramatically increasing Voff/Vpinch.
US07943444B2 Vertical floating body cell of a semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a tube-type channel formed over a semiconductor substrate. The tube-type channel is connected to first and second conductive lines. A bias electrode is formed in the tube-type channel. The bias electrode is connected to the semiconductor substrate. An insulating film is disposed between the tube-type channel and the bias electrode. A surrounding gate electrode is formed over the tube-type channel.
US07943443B2 Manufacturing method of light-emitting device
The present invention provides a vapor deposition method and a vapor deposition system of film formation systems by which EL materials can be used more efficiently and EL materials having superior uniformity with high throughput rate are formed. According to the present invention, inside a film formation chamber, an evaporation source holder in a rectangular shape in which a plurality of containers sealing evaporation material is moved at a certain pitch to a substrate and the evaporation material is vapor deposited on the substrate. Further, a longitudinal direction of an evaporation source holder in a rectangular shape may be oblique to one side of a substrate, while the evaporation source holder is being moved. Furthermore, it is preferable that a movement direction of an evaporation source holder during vapor deposition be different from a scanning direction of a laser beam while a TFT is formed.
US07943440B2 Fabrication method of thin film device
A method for fabricating a thin film device includes the step of forming a sacrificial layer on a first substrate. A portion other than a region of the sacrificial layer is selectively removed. A material film is formed on the sacrificial layer to be connected to the first substrate via the selectively removed region. The material film portion filled in the selectively removed region is provided as an anchor. A thin film lamination is formed on the material film. The desired thin film device is formed by using a selective etching process. After removing the sacrificial layer, the thin film device floats over the first substrate with being supported by the anchor. A support body is temporarily attached on the thin film lamination. The thin film device is transferred to the support body onto a second substrate.
US07943434B2 Monolithic molded flexible electronic assemblies without solder and methods for their manufacture
A method (10) for manufacturing a monolithic molded electronic assembly (12). A mold (14) having first and second mold potions (14a-b) that mate to form an interior chamber (16) is provided. The mold has an injection port (22) and channel (24) connecting into the chamber. Electronic parts (30) having electronic contacts (32) are populated onto the second mold portion, to be substantially contained in the chamber. The mold potions are mated together and a liquid insulating molding material (36) is injected through the injection port channel to fill the chamber. The molding material is hardened to a solid, thereby embedding the electronic parts in the molding material as a monolithic sub-assembly (40). The monolithic sub-assembly is removed from the mold and one or more solderless conductive circuits (50) are applied to the electronic contacts of the electronic parts, thereby providing the electronic assembly.
US07943430B2 Semiconductor device with heat sink and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are described. The semiconductor device comprises: a heat sink having at least one opening passing through the heat sink; at least one semiconductor chip disposed in the opening, wherein the semiconductor chip includes a first side and a second side on opposite sides; an electricity conducting thin film filling in a first depth portion of the opening, wherein the second side of the semiconductor chip is embedded in the electricity conducting thin film; a heat conducting thick film filling in a second depth portion of the opening, wherein the electricity conducting thin film is directly connected with the heat conducting thick film; at least one wire electrically connecting the semiconductor chip and an external circuit; and an encapsulant covering a portion of the heat sink, the semiconductor chip, the wire and an exposed portion of the electricity conducting thin film.
US07943428B2 Bonded semiconductor substrate including a cooling mechanism
A bonded substrate comprising two semiconductor substrates is provided. Each semiconductor substrate includes semiconductor devices. At least one through substrate via is provided between the two semiconductor substrates to provide a signal path therebetween. The bottom sides of the two semiconductor substrate are bonded by at least one bonding material layer that contains a cooling mechanism. In one embodiment, the cooling mechanism is a cooling channel through which a cooling fluid flows to cool the bonded semiconductor substrate during the operation of the semiconductor devices in the bonded substrate. In another embodiment, the cooling mechanism is a conductive cooling fin with two end portions and a contiguous path therebetween. The cooling fin is connected to heat sinks to cool the bonded semiconductor substrate during the operation of the semiconductor devices in the bonded substrate.
US07943427B2 Semiconductor device, substrate for producing semiconductor device and method of producing them
A substrate B for use in production of a semiconductor device is used, which substrate includes an adhesive sheet 50 having a base layer 51 and an adhesive layer 52, and a plurality of independently provided electrically conductive portions 20. A semiconductor element having electrodes 11 formed thereon is firmly fixed onto the substrate B, and upper portions of the plurality of electrically conductive portions 20 and the electrodes 11 of the semiconductor element 10 are electrically connected by using wires 30. The semiconductor element 10, wires 30 and electrically conductive portions 20 are sealed by using a sealing resin 40. Each of the electrically conductive portions 20 has overhanging portions 20a, and a side face 60a of the electrically conductive portion 20 is roughened, thus enhancing the joining strength between each electrically conductive portion 20 and the sealing resin 40.
US07943425B2 Semiconductor wafer sawing system and method
Semiconductor wafer sawing systems and methods are described in which a wafer may be secured in a sawing position having a surface exposed to incur sawing with at least a portion of the exposed wafer surface positioned below the center of gravity of the wafer such that prevailing force of gravity may be used to assist in the removal of contaminants from the wafer.
US07943421B2 Component stacking using pre-formed adhesive films
A method of forming integrated circuits includes laminating a patterned film including an opening onto a wafer, wherein a bottom die in the wafer is exposed through the opening. A top die is placed into the opening. The top die fits into the opening with substantially no gap between the patterned film and the top die. The top die is then bonded onto the bottom die, followed by curing the patterned film.
US07943416B2 Local heterostructure contacts
Disclosed is a novel method for creating local contacts in solar cells. In the method, a surface passivation that has been applied to a semiconductor substrate is locally etched away using a plasma process with the help of a thin stretched, elastic foil. If necessary, deep doping gradients are then locally created at the same points by means of a hydrogen plasma treatment with the help of thermal donors so as to increase the diffusion length of the charge carriers in the direction of the contacts. Finally, local heterostructure contacts are applied through the same mask openings. The contacts are characterized by a much lower saturation current than common diffused contacts and are therefore particularly suitable for high-performance solar cells.
US07943414B2 Method for manufacturing SOI substrate
An object of an embodiment of the present invention to be disclosed is to prevent oxygen from being taken in a single crystal semiconductor layer in laser irradiation even when crystallinity of the single crystal semiconductor layer is repaired by irradiation with a laser beam; and to make substantially equal or reduce an oxygen concentration in the semiconductor layer after the laser irradiation comparing before the laser irradiation. A single crystal semiconductor layer which is provided over a base substrate by bonding is irradiated with a laser beam, whereby the crystallinity of the single crystal semiconductor layer is repaired. The laser irradiation is performed under a reducing atmosphere or an inert atmosphere.
US07943412B2 Low temperature Bi-CMOS compatible process for MEMS RF resonators and filters
A method of formation of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonator or filter which is compatible with integration with any analog, digital, or mixed-signal integrated circuit (IC) process, after or concurrently with the formation of the metal interconnect layers in those processes, by virtue of its materials of composition, processing steps, and temperature of fabrication is presented. The MEMS resonator or filter incorporates a lower metal level, which forms the electrodes of the MEMS resonator or filter, that may be shared with any or none of the existing metal interconnect levels on the IC. It further incorporates a resonating member that is comprised of at least one metal layer for electrical connection and electrostatic actuation, and at least one dielectric layer for structural purposes. The gap between the electrodes and the resonating member is created by the deposition and subsequent removal of a sacrificial layer comprised of a carbon-based material. The method of removal of the sacrificial material is by an oxygen plasma or an anneal in an oxygen containing ambient. A method of vacuum encapsulation of the MEMS resonator or filter is provided through means of a cavity containing the MEMS device, filled with additional sacrificial material, and sealed. Access vias are created through the membrane sealing the cavity; the sacrificial material is removed as stated previously, and the vias are re-sealed in a vacuum coating process.
US07943407B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor laser
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser includes the steps of forming a mask layer having a stripe-shaped mask portion corresponding to a ridge stripe to be formed on a nitride-based group III-V compound semiconductor layer, etching the nitride-based group III-V compound semiconductor layer to a predetermined depth using the mask layer to form the ridge stripe, forming a resist to cover the mask layer and the nitride-based group III-V compound semiconductor layer, etching-back the resist until the stripe-shaped mask portion of the mask layer is exposed, removing the exposed mask portion of the mask layer by etching to expose the upper surface of the ridge stripe, forming a metal film on the resist and the exposed ridge stripe to form an electrode on the ridge stripe, removing the resist together with the metal film formed thereon, and removing the mask layer by etching.
US07943403B2 Light-emitting diode chip package body and packaging method thereof
AN LED chip package body provides an LED chip with a pad-installed surface, a plurality of pads disposed on the pad-installed surface and a rear surface formed opposite the pad-installed surface. The LED chip package body further has a light-reflecting coating disposed on the pad-installed surface of the LED chip and a plurality of pad-exposed holes for exposure of the corresponding pads of the LED chip. The LED chip package body further comprises a light-transparent element disposed on the rear surface of the LED chip and a plurality of conductive projecting blocks. Each of the conductive projecting blocks is disposed on the corresponding pad of the LED chip.
US07943401B2 Detection and reduction of dielectric breakdown in semiconductor devices
Methods for detecting the breakdown potential of a semiconductor device having a thin dielectric layer are disclosed. The method includes measuring a spectroscopy of the thin dielectric layer and determining whether the spectroscopy exhibits the presence of a breakdown precursor (H2, H interstitial radical, H attached radical, and H attached dimer). Preferably, the method is carried out in the presence of a substantially significant applied electric field across dielectric layer. A semiconductor device tested in accordance with this method is also disclosed. Additionally, methods for reducing dielectric breakdown of a semiconductor device having a thin dielectric layer involving the substitution of a second molecule for H2 molecules present in the dielectric. This second molecule preferably does not react with Si or O to form an undesired attached state and may be an inert gas having a molecular size approximating that of a Hydrogen atom, such as Helium. A semiconductor device made using this method is also disclosed.
US07943399B2 Spin-current switched magnetic memory element suitable for circuit integration and method of fabricating the memory element
A magnetic memory element switchable by current injection includes a plurality of magnetic layers, at least one of the plurality of magnetic layers having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy component and including a current-switchable magnetic moment, and at least one barrier layer formed adjacent to the plurality of magnetic layers (e.g., between two of the magnetic layers). The memory element has the switching threshold current and device impedance suitable for integration with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits.
US07943398B2 Resonant magnetic disks for bioanalyte detection
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to ferromagnetic microdisks, methods of detecting target bioanalyte using ferromagnetic microdisks, and kits (such as for using in the laboratory setting) containing the reagents necessary to make, and/or use ferromagnetic microdisks for bioanalyte detection, depending on the user's planned application. The methods and products allow the fabrication of ferromagnetic microdisks, and their use in the detection of biological molecules with high sensitivity, little or no signal decay, improved safety, convenience, and lowered cost for use and disposal.
US07943391B1 Method of performing in situ calibrated potentiometric pH measurements
A device for the precise and accurate potentiometric pH measurements in situ. Embodiments of a potentiometric device according to the invention consist of one or more glass pH-sensitive electrodes connected to a potentiometer. A key feature of the device is that, rather than being calibrated conventionally with buffers, it can be calibrated with an in situ device that measures pH spectrophotometrically. Spectrophotometric pH measurements obtained via sulfonephthalein absorbance measurements are inherently calibrated (do not require buffers). Thus, devices according to the invention allow for continuous potentiometric pH measurements with occasional spectrophotometric calibrations. The spectrophotometric calibration device consists of a spectrophotometer with associated pumps for combining a sulfonephthalein pH indicator with the aqueous medium whose pH is to be measured. The device will record potentiometric pH measurements for an extended period of time until the spectrophotometric device is autonomously activated for another calibration. In this manner precise and accurate pH measurements can be obtained continuously in the environment, and the low energy expenditure of the potentiometric device provides excellent endurance. Also provided is a method and associated devices for spectrophotometrically determining the salinity of an aqueous medium.
US07943389B2 Method for determining chlorine demand in water
Methods for determining chlorine demand in water are provided. One method comprises (a) providing a test water sample containing at least one contaminant and a source of chlorine and a source of bromide; (b) heating the test water sample for a suitable time and temperature sufficient to substantially oxidize the at least one contaminant in the test water sample; and (c) determining the content of residual chlorine present in the test water sample.
US07943388B2 Acoustic sensors and methods
Acoustic sensors, preferably surface acoustic wave sensors, and more preferably shear horizontal surface acoustic wave sensors that include soluble mixed with oligomers and/or polymers formed from such monomers), or multifunctional compounds, for example, that can function as either waveguide materials, immobilization materials for secondary capture agents (e.g., antibodies), or both.
US07943387B2 Direct mass spectrometric analysis of aggregates of therapeutic proteins
The invention relates to a method of using high-mass matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry for the quantitative analysis of the amount of aggregation (dimers, trimers or multimers) of antibodies or other therapeutic proteins in purified pharmaceutical samples or complex biological matrices, as well as to the use of this method for characterization of antibodies, drug development and quality control of therapeutic proteins, including automated high throughput applications.
US07943385B2 Methods for assaying percentage of glycated hemoglobin
The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase. The amount of hydrogen peroxide generated in the reaction is measured for determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.
US07943375B2 Polynucleotides encoding antigenic HIV type C polypeptides, polypeptides and uses thereof
The present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding immunogenic HIV type C Gag- and/or Env-containing polypeptides. Uses of the polynucleotides in applications including DNA immunization, generation of packaging cell lines, and production of Gag- and/or Env-containing proteins are also described.
US07943369B2 DNA detection device and manufacturing method thereof
A DNA (Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid) detection device and a manufacturing method thereof detects DNA by an electrical method without a separate process for detection by using semiconductor microfabrication techniques. The DNA detection device includes a pair of chambers formed on a semiconductor substrate for accommodating a detection sample, a channel connecting the pair of chambers and a lid covering the pair of chambers. According to the present invention, it is possible to attain a DNA detection device, which can be mass-produced from a silicon substrate by using semiconductor manufacturing technology with improved microfabrication techniques, and a manufacturing method thereof.
US07943365B2 Δ-5 desaturases and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
The present invention relates to Δ5 desaturases, which have the ability to convert dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA; 20:3 ω-6) to arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4 ω-6) and/or eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA; 20:4 ω-3) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 ω-3). Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding Δ5 desaturases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these Δ5 desaturases in oleaginous yeast are disclosed.
US07943360B2 Phospholipases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them
The invention provides novel polypeptides having phospholipase activity, including, e.g., phospholipase A, B, C and D activity, patatin activity, lipid acyl hydrolase (LAH) activity, nucleic acids encoding them and antibodies that bind to them. Industrial methods, e.g., oil degumming, and products comprising use of these phospholipases are also provided.
US07943359B2 Polynucleotides which code for cyanide-tolerant nitrile hydratase and compositions thereof
Disclosed herein are cyanide-tolerant nitrile hydratases especially from Pseudomonas putida or Pseudomonas marginalis strains which exhibit increased cyanide tolerance. Also disclosed are methods of preparing amides from nitriles in the presence of cyanides and polynucleotide sequences coding for cyanide-tolerant nitrile hydratases.
US07943354B2 Method to remove bisulfite by-products from enzyme compositions
Provided are methods of removing bisulfite material from a composition that contains a bisulfite material and an enzyme. The method includes contacting the composition with a compound containing at least one aldehyde functional group to form an aldehyde-bisulfite complex, whereby the aldehyde-bisulfite complex may be separated from the composition.
US07943351B2 Method for acyltransferase reaction using acyl coenzyme A
The present invention relates to a method for acyltransferase reaction in which an acyl group of acyl coenzyme A is transferred to an acyl group receptor characterized in that the reaction is carried out by production and/or reproduction of acyl coenzyme A from coenzyme A in a reaction system by a chemical thioester exchange reaction with acylthioester. The present invention, wherein expensive acyl CoA is reproduced nonenzymatically in a reaction system, enables to continuously carry out acyltransferase reaction only by putting a small amount of acyl CoA with a donor and a receptor of an acyl group into a system. Accordingly, the method of the present invention can be applied to an industrial production method of various kinds of compounds including useful biological molecules and synthesis of polymers such as polyester.
US07943347B2 Nucleic acid amplification method
Provided is a simple and highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification method including hybridizing two types of oligonucleotide probes with a target gene and ligating the oligonucleotide probes with DNA ligase and amplifying the resultant single-stranded oligonucleotide in accordance with LAMP.
US07943345B2 Methods, systems and reagents for improved immunodetection
The instant invention provides methods, systems and reagents for immunodetection involving novel epitope tags and antibodies which recognize these new epitope tags as well as the antibodies which detect the FLAG epitope tag. Fusion proteins comprising the epitope tags, as well as methods of purifying these proteins and kits detecting these proteins are also provided.
US07943344B2 Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) binding proteins
The present invention provides a family of binding proteins that bind and neutralize the activity of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), in particular human HGF. The binding proteins can be used as diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents. With regard to their therapeutic activity, the binding proteins can be used to treat certain HGF responsive disorders, for example, certain HGF responsive tumors.
US07943343B2 Production and use of novel peptide-based agents for use with bi-specific antibodies
The present invention relates to a bi-specific antibody or antibody fragment having at least one arm that is reactive against a targeted tissue and at least one other arm that is reactive against a targetable conjugate. The targetable conjugate encompasses a hapten to which antibodies have been prepared. In preferred embodiments, the hapten is histamine-succinyl-glycine (HSG). In more preferred embodiments, the at least one arm comprises the CDR sequences of the HSG-binding 679 antibody. The targetable conjugate is attached to one or more therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents. The invention provides constructs and methods for producing the bispecific antibodies or antibody fragments, as well as methods for using them and kits comprising them.
US07943340B2 Fungal dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) enzyme for reagent use
Disclosed herein are fungal nucleic acid sequences that encode novel dipetidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) polypeptides. Also disclosed are polypeptides encoded by these nucleic acid sequences, as well as derivatives, variants, mutants, or fragments of the aforementioned polypeptide, polynucleotide, or antibody. The aminopeptidase polypeptides, referred to herein as DPPIV proteins of the invention are useful in a variety of medical, research, and commercial applications.
US07943339B2 Isolated nucleic acid molecules from the genome of citrus leprosis virus and uses thereof
Disclosed are nucleic acids from the Citrus Leprosis Virus (CiLV) genome, associated with Citrus Leprosis (CiL) disease. Cloned CiLV nucleic acids can be used as probes or primers in assays for detecting CiLV in biological samples, particularly leaves, roots and other tissues of plants, such as plants from Citrus and Poncirus. The nucleic acid molecules can be introduced in cloning vectors and cloning the recombinant nucleic acid molecules in cells, such as prokaryotes, and eukaryotes. The cloned CiLV nucleic acids are expressed in cells to provide immunogenic proteins which can be used to raise antibodies against CiLV, which can then be used to detect CiLV virus in biological samples. Also disclosed are SEQ ID Nos. 5 and 8, in whole or part, transgenic plants, such as monocots and dicots, containing CiLV nucleic acids, in any combination, so that expression increases resistance to CiL disease.
US07943335B2 Process for the production of diacylglycerol
The present invention provides a process for producing a diacylglycerol, which comprises, reacting triacylglycerol with water and an enzyme preparation to obtain a mixture comprising of diacylglycerol, monoacylglycerol and free fatty acid; removing water content in the mixture by way of dehydration; and separating monoacylglycerol, free fatty acid and residual triacylglycerol by at least one separation method to obtain a high-purity diacylglycerol. An oil or fat composition comprising of diacylglycerol obtained from the process and phytosteryl esters and/or ferulic acid esters in an amount of from 0.5% to 25% by weight of diacylglycerol is also provided.
US07943333B2 Diagnostic method for identifying carriers of the Marburg I variant of factor VII-activating protease (FSAP) on the basis of differential modulation of FSAP activity
The present invention relates to a diagnostic method for identifying persons with genetically related hetero- or homozygous expression of the MR I variant of factor VII-activating protease (FSAP). The heterozygous or homozygous presence of an MR I polymorphism can be identified by a differential modulation of the FSAP activity.
US07943332B2 Measuring circulating therapeutic antibody, antigen and antigen/antibody complexes using ELISA assays
The present invention relates to the field of immunology and hyperproliferative diseases. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of detecting and monitoring therapeutic antibody:antigen complex, soluble antigen and soluble therapeutic antibody, wherein a patient has undergone at least one course of immunotherapy. Yet further, levels of therapeutic antibody:antigen complexes, soluble antigens or soluble therapeutic antibodies may be measured and used to stage or monitor a hyperproliferative disease.
US07943326B2 Diagnostic assay for anti-von Willebrand Factor cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) antibodies
This invention relates to a kit to be used in an assay system for determination of an anti-von Willebrand Factor-cleaving protease (“anti-vWF-cp”) antibody in a sample. The kit comprises vWF-cp and/or vWF-fragment(s) immobilized on a solid phase. The kit can be used in a method for determination of anti-vWF-cp antibodies from a patient, for the diagnosis of disorders associated with the occurrence of anti-vWF-cp-antibodies, and the differentiation of various forms of thrombotic microangiopathy.
US07943325B2 Diagnosis of fertility conditions using a serine protease
The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing an infertility condition in a human female subject, the method comprising detecting pregnancy-related serine protease (PRSP) protein in a test sample taken from said subject at between 7 and 20 weeks into pregnancy; detecting PRSP protein in a test sample from a fertile control mammal taken within the same period; and comparing the PRSP protein in the test sample with the PRSP protein detected in the control sample, wherein a change in PRSP protein in the sample compared to the control sample is indicative of an infertility condition.
US07943322B2 Polynucleotides for use as tags and tag complements, manufacture and use thereof
A family of minimally cross-hybridizing nucleotide sequences, methods of use, etc. A specific family of 210 24 mers is described.
US07943321B2 Rapid, sensitive and quantitative methods for tissue and cell-based proteomics via consecutive addition of quantifiable extenders
Methods, systems and kits are provided for detecting and quantifying multiple immunogens in a sample via consecutive addition of quantifiable extenders to immunogen bound complexes of immunogen binding agent attached to a DNA containing an RNA polymerase promoter.
US07943320B2 Unsymmetrical cyanine dyes for high resolution nucleic acid melting analysis
The present invention relates to novel unsymmetrical cyanine dyes and to methods of performing nucleic acid analysis in the presence of such dyes. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel unsymmetrical cyanine dyes that have high affinity to double-stranded nucleic acids and that do not inhibit amplification reactions, particularly the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
US07943307B2 Methods for analyzing nucleic acid sequences
The present invention is directed to a method of sequencing a target nucleic acid. The method provides a complex comprising a polymerase enzyme, a target nucleic acid molecule, and a primer, wherein the complex is immobilized on a support Fluorescent label is attached to a terminal phosphate group of the nucleotide or nucleotide analog. The growing nucleic acid strand is extended by using the polymerase to add a nucleotide analog to the nucleic acid strand. The nucleotide analog added to the oligonucleotide primer as a result of the polymerizing step is identified. The time duration of the signal from labeled nucleotides or nucleotide analogs that become incorporated is distinguished from freely diffusing labels by a longer retention in the observation volume for the nucleotides or nucleotide analogs that become incorporated than for the freely diffusing labels.
US07943305B2 High speed nucleic acid sequencing
The present invention is directed to a method of sequencing a target nucleic acid molecule having a plurality of bases. In its principle, the temporal order of base additions during the polymerization reaction is measured on a molecule of nucleic acid. Each type of labeled nucleotide comprises an acceptor fluorophore attached to a phosphate portion of the nucleotide such that the fluorophore is removed upon incorporation into a growing strand. Fluorescent signal is emitted via fluorescent resonance energy transfer between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor fluorophore as each nucleotide is incorporated into the growing strand. The sequence is deduced by identifying which base is being incorporated into the growing strand.
US07943304B2 Method and apparatus for chromosome profiling
A method and apparatus for generating an Interphase chromosome profile. The method comprises obtaining a sample containing cells having chromosomes for profiling; obtaining species specific DNA probes, wherein the DNA probes are capable of marking at least one chromosome at substantially equidistant locations on said chromosome; hybridizing the sample with the DNA probes; using a plurality of enzymes to produce differential color bands on the chromosome for colorimetric analysis of the sample; and using visual analysis for determining the profile of the chromosome.
US07943303B2 Method for engineering strand-specific nicking endonucleases from restriction endonucleases
Methods are provided for engineering novel strand-specific nicking endonucleases by means of an in vivo enrichment of a plasmid library containing a randomly mutagenized restriction endonuclease gene. The plasmids contain adjacent to the gene a cleavable or nickable sequence for cleaving or nicking by the endonuclease product of the gene and a second recognition site for a second endonuclease. The plasmid library is used to transform unmodified host cells. Plasmids from the cultured transformed cells may be analyzed by an in vitro assay for nicking and the nicked plasmids pooled and used to transform host cells. The product is then pooled and the single-stranded specificity of the endonuclease is then determined. The product is either cloned after amplification or identified by use of a selectable marker.
US07943300B2 Method for improved protein expression in bacteria by monitoring and modulating protein folding
This invention relates to a new method for improving functional protein expression whereby the folding process is monitored by online measurement and, if required, the protein folding is influenced by adding folding promoting agents and/or co-expression of the periplasmic chaperone (Skp). In this respect, the invention offers a technology to improve the yield of functionally expressed recombinant proteins.
US07943299B2 Method for determining nucleotide sequences
The present invention relates to an improved method for determining nucleotide sequences or nucleotide sequences on biochips/micro-assays, for example, using p53 mediated hybridization. The present invention relates particularly to the use of p53 polypeptides in determining changes in nucleotide sequences.
US07943297B2 Analysis of HIV-1 coreceptor use in the clinical care of HIV-1-infected patients
A change in viral tropism occurs in many HIV positive individuals over time and can be indicated by a change in coreceptor usage from CCR5 to CXCR4. The change in coreceptor usage to CXCR4 has been shown to correlate with increased disease progression. In patients undergoing HAART, the predominant populations of virus can be shifted back to CCR5-mediated entry after the CXCR4-specific strains have emerged. The present invention relates to a diagnostic method to monitor coreceptor use in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The present invention further relates to a diagnostic method applied to HIV-positive individuals undergoing HAART to monitor the suppression of CXCR4 specific strains. The diagnostic methods can be used to assist in selecting antiretroviral therapy and to improve predictions of disease prognosis over time.
US07943293B2 Media solutions and methods for cryopreservation and thawing of in vitro fertilization specimens
A medium solution which will increase the growth, survival and ultimately the live birth rate of oocytes and embryos which have been or will be subjected to cryopreservation. The solution contains varied amounts of glucose, pyruvates, amino acids, vitamins K5 and C, antioxidants, fatty acids to supply the specimens with the chemical ingredients and uptake requirements required to recover and prosper during and after the cryopreservation process. The solution supplies nutrients to the specimens that will replenish depletion and damage to the specimens and their mitochondria, spindles and structural features, such as cell walls. One formulation addresses the additional requirements of frozen specimens as opposed to the current media solutions and methods which treat the un-frozen specimens the same as the frozen specimens when recovering them from cryopreservation.
US07943289B2 Inverse resist coating process
The invention provides systems and processes that form the inverse (photographic negative) of a patterned first coating. The patterned first coating is usually provided by a resist. After the first coating is patterned, a coating of a second material is provided thereover. The uppermost layer of the second coating is removed, where appropriate, to expose the patterned first coating. The patterned first coating is subsequently removed, leaving the second coating material in the form of a pattern that is the inverse pattern of the first coating pattern. The process may be repeated with a third coating material to reproduce the pattern of the first coating in a different material. Prior to applying the second coating, the patterned first coating may be trimmed by etching, thereby reducing the feature size and producing sublithographic features. In addition to providing sublithographic features, the invention gives a simple, efficient, and high fidelity method of obtaining inverse coating patterns.
US07943282B2 Liquid developer and image forming apparatus
A liquid developer includes: an insulating liquid having dispersed therein toner particles, the insulating liquid containing a fatty acid monoester that is an ester of a fatty acid and a monohydric alcohol, and the insulating liquid having an aniline point of from 5 to 80° C.
US07943281B2 Black toner
In a black toner having at least a binder resin and an iron-titanium composite oxide as a colorant; the iron-titanium composite oxide is contained in a specific amount; the black toner has a specific weight average particle diameter and a specific saturation magnetization; the black toner has, in X-ray diffraction thereof, a maximum peak at 2θ=from 32.5 to 33.1 degrees, having a half width of 0.25 degree or less. The black toner has, in a proportion of less than 30% by number, an iron-titanium composite oxide having, in a sectional photograph of the toner, a maximum frequency of linearity within the range where the linearity is smaller than 2.4 and having a linearity of 3.0 or more, in regard to the number frequency distribution of the linearity of the iron-titanium composite oxide.
US07943276B2 Imaging member
Disclosed is an imaging member comprising a conductive substrate, a photogenerating layer comprising a photogenerating material in contact with the substrate, and a charge transport layer in contact with the photogenerating layer, the charge transport layer comprising a charge transport material, an organic phosphite or organic phosphonite antioxidant, and a hydroquinone antioxidant, wherein the photogenerating layer is situated between the charge transport layer and the conductive substrate.
US07943273B2 Photomask with detector for optimizing an integrated circuit production process and method of manufacturing an integrated circuit using the same
A photomask for integrated circuit production for development of integrated circuit components, where the integrated circuit production uses a radiation source that generates a source image, includes a substrate with one or more layers disposed thereon; a source separator element that separates the source image into one or more duplicate source images; one or more polarizing elements each corresponding to one of the one or more duplicate source images; and one or more sensors each corresponding to one of the one or more polarizing elements, the one or more sensors sensing one or more radiation characteristics of the radiation source.
US07943270B2 Electrochemical device configurations
The present invention generally relates to electrochemical devices such as fuel cells and, in particular, to various component configurations including configurations for converting common fuels directly into electricity without additional fuel reforming or processing. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to configurations in which an anode of the device surrounds the electrolyte and/or the cathode of the device. In some embodiments, all single cells in a fuel cell stack share a common anode fuel chamber. The anode, in some cases, may be exposed to a fuel. In one set of embodiments, the anode of the device may be fluid during operation of the fuel cell, and in some cases, a porous container may be used to contain the anode during operation of the fuel cell. Other aspects of the invention relate to methods of making such devices, methods of promoting the making or use of such devices, and the like.
US07943268B2 Reinforced membrane electrode assembly
The present invention is directed to addressing performance issues attributable to membrane electrode assemblies, and the components thereof, in electrochemical conversion cells. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a device comprising at least one electrochemical conversion cell is provided. The cell is configured to convert first and second reactants to electrical energy and comprises a membrane electrode assembly and at least one membrane reinforcement layer. The combination of elastic modulus and thickness of the reinforcement layer and the bond between the reinforcement layer and the membrane electrode assembly are sufficient to enhance the structural integrity of the membrane electrode assembly beyond the operational degradation threshold of the assembly.
US07943266B2 SOFC seal and cell thermal management
The solid oxide fuel cell module includes a manifold, a plate, a cathode electrode, a fuel cell and an anode electrode. The manifold includes an air or oxygen inlet in communication with divergent passages above the periphery of the cell which combine to flow the air or oxygen radially or inwardly for reception in the center of the cathode flow field. The latter has interconnects providing circuitous cooling passages in a generally radial outward direction cooling the fuel cell and which interconnects are formed of different thermal conductivity materials for a preferential cooling.
US07943263B2 Heat efficient portable fuel cell systems
The invention relates to fuel cell systems with improved thermal efficiency. The systems include a fuel cell that generates electrical energy using hydrogen and a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel. Some heat efficient systems described herein include a thermal catalyst that generates heat when the catalyst interacts with a heating medium. The heat is used to heat the fuel cell. The thermal catalyst may be disposed in proximity to the fuel cell, or remote from the fuel cell and a heat transfer pipe conducts heat from the catalyst to the fuel cell. Another thermally efficient embodiment uses a recuperator to transfer heat generated in the fuel cell system to incoming fuel. A fuel cell package may also include a multi-layer insulation arrangement to decrease heat loss from the fuel cell and fuel processor, which both typically operate at elevated temperatures.
US07943262B2 Fuel cell system
There is disclosed a fuel cell system which can control an output current of a fuel cell even if an error occurs in split flow control of an oxidizing gas. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a feed device for supplying the oxidizing gas under pressure to the fuel cell. A feed channel is connected to a discharge channel by a bypass channel so that the oxidizing gas flows while bypassing the fuel cell. The system includes a regulator valve and a bypass valve which adjust the split flow of the oxidizing gas to the bypass channel and the fuel cell. When the regulator valve or the bypass valve has an error, a controller stops the control of the output current of the fuel cell by control of the regulator valve and switches the control to a control of the output current of the fuel cell by control of the feed device.
US07943260B2 System and method for recirculating unused fuel in fuel cell application
A system and method for delivering an input fluid stream through a fuel cell stack and discharge an unused fluid stream is provided. An inlet of the fuel cell stack is adapted to receive the fluid stream. An ejector is configured to combine the supply fluid stream and the unused fluid stream to generate the input fluid stream and control the flow of the input fluid stream to the fuel cell stack. A blower is configured to control the flow of the unused fluid stream to the ejector. A bypass valve is configured to control the flow of the unused fluid stream to the blower and to the ejector.
US07943259B1 Method of controlled delivery for use of electrochemical power source
A system and method for improving electrochemical power sources through the dispensing encapsulation and dispersion into galvanic chambers of an electrochemical cell. Features of the method include the optimization of the concentration levels of chemicals involved in desired energy producing reactions.
US07943258B2 Alkaline membrane fuel cells and apparatus and methods for supplying water thereto
A device to produce electricity by a chemical reaction without the addition of liquid electrolyte comprises an anode electrode, a polymer membrane electrolyte fabricated to conduct hydroxyl (OH—) ions, the membrane being in physical contact with the anode electrode on a first side of the membrane, and a cathode electrode in physical contact with a second side of the membrane. The anode electrode and cathode electrode contain catalysts, and the catalysts are constructed substantially entirely from non-precious metal catalysts. Water may be transferred to the cathode side of the membrane from an external source of water.
US07943250B1 Electrochemical conversion system for energy management
There is disclosed an electrochemical conversion system (40) for energy management which includes multi-electrochemical cells. The system 40 includes a conduit system (41), an electrical system (42), first electrochemical cell (43), a second electrochemical cell (44), a third electrochemical cell (45), a first recuperative heat exchanger (RHX) (46), and a second recuperative heat exchanger (47). The conduit system, electrical system (42), heat exchangers, and electrochemical cells are all constructed and function in the same manner as previously described. The system (40) also includes an additional, second recuperative heat exchanger (47) (RHX) to thermally isolate the third electrochemical cell from the other two. As shown, the electrochemical cells are electrically and pneumatically connected in series so that the electrical current flow and the proton flow through the electrochemical cells are balanced.
US07943246B2 Solar control glazing
A vehicle glazing is disclosed comprising a pane of tinted glass, tinted by at least 1.0 to 1.8 % wt. of total iron, having a low emissivity coating on its interior surface. The coating has an emissivity from 0.05 to 0.4 and may include a transparent conductive oxide (and optionally a dopant), or a metal layer and at least one dielectric layer. The glass is preferably toughened glass. Also disclosed is a laminated glazing comprising two plies of glass, laminated by a sheet of interlayer material therebetween, wherein at least one ply of glass or the sheet of interlayer material is body tinted, said glazing having a low emissivity coating on its interior surface. The inner ply may be clear glass or tinted glass. The interlayer material may be clear PVB or tinted PVB, and it may further be infra-red reflecting. Either of the glazings may be used as a roof or other vehicle glazing.
US07943245B2 Organic electroluminescent device
The invention provides an organic electroluminescent device having high luminous efficiency, being able to drive at a low voltage and being excellent in driving durability including, between an anode and cathode, a luminescent layer containing a luminescent material, an electron-transport layer (ETL1) and an organic thin film layer (ETL2) in this order from the anode side, wherein the organic thin film layer (ETL2) contains an electron-transport material and has a thickness of 0.01 to 3 nm, and the ratio (ETL1/ETL2) of the thickness of the electron-transport layer (ETL1) to the thickness of the organic thin film layer (ETL2) is in the range of 5 to 500.
US07943243B2 Interference fit assembly
An interference fit assembly (10) is made of a first metal part (12), which has a recess (14) with an inner contact surface (16) and a second metal part (18) arranged in the recess (14) of the first metal part (12), wherein the second metal part has an outer contact surface (20). The inner contact surface (16) of the first metal part is in contact with the outer contact surface (20) of the second metal part (18), and at least one of the contact surfaces (16, 20) features a layer (22), which is made of a material, which differs from the material of the first metal part (12) and the material of the second metal part (18) and which comprises nickel or copper.
US07943242B2 Sealing members, articles using the same and methods of reducing sticktion
The present invention provides rubber sealing members having an exterior surface adapted to sealingly engage an inner surface of a chamber of the medical device, the exterior surface of the sealing member having a coating thereon prepared from a curable composition including: (a) a first organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups; and (b) a second organopolysiloxane having at least two pendant hydrogen groups, the second organopolysiloxane being different from the first organopolysiloxane, wherein at least one of the first organopolysiloxane, the second organopolysiloxane or an optional third organopolysiloxane of the curable composition comprises a fluoro group.
US07943240B2 Conductive polymer composite structure
In order to obtain actuator elements capable of being displaced such as expansion and contract or bending for practical use even when used as actuator elements with larger size, stacked layers or bundles in which conductive polymer-containing layers or fiber-like tubes are provided with conductive polymer composite structures which include conductive substrates and conductive polymers, said conductive substrates have deformation property, and conductivity of said conductive substrates is not less than 1.0×103 S/cm are used.
US07943235B2 Adhesive sheet for processing semiconductor substrates
An adhesive sheet for processing semiconductor substrates comprises a UV rays- and/or radiation-transmittable base film and an adhesive layer that undergoes a polymerization curing reaction by means of UV rays and/or radiation, wherein the adhesive layer is formed using a multifunctional acrylate oligomer and/or monomer having a double bond, and is blended so as to result in 1 double bond per total average molecular weight of 225 to 8000 as determined on the basis of the weight average molecular weight of the multifunctional acrylate oligomer and/or monomer.
US07943234B2 Nanotextured super or ultra hydrophobic coatings
The invention describes compositions that include a polymer having a water contact angle of between about 120° and about 150° or greater adhered to a 1 nm to about a 25 micron diameter sized particle optionally with an oxide layer. In particular, the particle is a silica and one which has been pretreated with a silane.
US07943233B2 Web-like or sheet-like semi-finished product, polymeric foam composite material and plate and method for the production thereof
A web-like or sheet-like semi-finished product capable of forming a polymeric foam composite material by heat treatment, which semi-finished product is formed by a web-like or sheet-like fibrous material and a mixture having curable resin and unexpanded thermoplastic particles of at least two different qualities with mutually different expansion temperature introduced into the fibrous material are provided, in which thermoplastic particles of at least one of these qualities remain unexpanded in the semi-finished product. A polymeric foam composite material is also formed by such a semi-finished product. Furthermore, methods for producing such a semi-finished product and such a polymeric foam composite material are provided.
US07943231B2 Organism simulative phantom
Provided is a tissue mimicking phantom technology capable of controlling an ultrasonic echo intensity and hardness and offering excellent stability. A tissue mimicking phantom includes a first portion and a second portion which is incorporated in the first portion and whose hardness and/or ultrasonic echo intensity is different from that of the first portion. The first portion and second portion are gel structures that are formed with a covalent bond of macromolecular strands or a chemical bond that is as strong as the covalent bond. The gel structure has a solid scatterer (for example, metal-oxide microparticles) dispersed therein. The first portion and second portion exhibit mutually different hardness levels and ultrasonic echo intensities.
US07943228B2 Printing medium
A printing medium includes: a rectangular lens sheet that has a surface formed in a predetermined lens shape; and a thin base that is fixed to a rear surface of the lens sheet on which no lens is formed and has an extending portion extending from one side of the lens sheet to the outside. In the printing medium, when a region corresponding to the rear surface of the lens sheet is referred to as a unit region, the extending portion includes a plurality of unit regions adjacent to one another with adjacent portions, which are common sides, interposed therebetween, and a first printing surface and a second printing surface having predetermined images formed thereon are formed in corresponding unit regions on one surface of the base that is fixed to the rear surface of the lens sheet or the other surface of the base. In addition, at least one unit region is additionally interposed between the unit region where the first printing surface is formed and the unit region where the second printing surface is formed.
US07943221B2 Hinged compliance fiber braid balloon
Composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices are prepared by applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlayer balloon which has been pressurized and expanded to a predetermined pressure or above ambient size, encasing the web with a matrix material to form an assembly with the fiber web bonded to the underlayer balloon. The assembly may have an outer layer formed by inserting the assembly into a preformed outer layer balloon. The overlayer balloon can be bonded to the assembly during a heat set step.
US07943220B1 Lay-flat archival polyester pocket
A polyester pocket with a clear front and back is provided. A spun-bonded polyester strip is positioned near the open end of the polyester pocket to prevent atmospheric contaminants from entering the polyester pocket. The spun-bonded polyester strip also allows the polyester pocket to lay flat when multiple polyester pockets are stacked upon one another. The thickness of the spun-bonded polyester can be made to roughly correspond to the thickness of documents inserted into the polyester pocket.
US07943217B2 Fire protection device for a cable or the like of a civil engineering or a structural work
A protective device (10) for use in the protection of at least a portion of an elongated article (50) which includes a main body (12), first and second parts (22), (27) which are connectible together such that, in an assembled position the main body has a chamber therein (14). The first and second parts each have two longitudinal extending side edge portions (23), (28), respective side edge portions of the first part being adapted to cooperate with the respective side edge portions of the second part to connect the two parts together in the assembled position.
US07943216B2 Method to make single-layer pet bottles with high barrier and improved clarity
The present invention comprises a blend of polyester and a partially aromatic polyamide with an ionic compatibilizer and a cobalt salt. This blend can be processed into a container that has both active and passive oxygen barrier and carbon dioxide barrier properties at an improved color and clarity than containers known in the art. The partially aromatic polyamide is preferably meta-xylylene adipamide. The ionic compatibilizer is preferably 5-sodiumsulfoisophthalic acid or 5-zincsulfoisophthalic acid, or their dialkyl esters such as the dimethyl ester (SIM) and glycol ester (SIPEG). The cobalt salt is selected form the class of cobalt acetate, cobalt carbonate, cobalt chloride, cobalt hydroxide, cobalt naphthenate, cobalt oleate, cobalt linoleate, cobalt octoate, cobalt stearate, cobalt nitrate, cobalt phosphate, cobalt sulfate, cobalt (ethylene glycolate), or mixtures of two or more of these. The partially aromatic polyamide is present in a range from about 1 to about 10 wt. % of said composition. The ionic compatibilizer is present in a range from about 0.1 to about 2.0 mol-% of said composition. The cobalt salt is present in a range from about 20 to about 500 ppm of said composition.
US07943212B2 Mixed turf and method for its production
Turf (1) for playing sport, for recreation and/or for ornamental purpose comprising a flexible not biodegradable support (5) having a plurality of holes (6) for allowing the drainage of water through the support (5) same. To the flexible support (5) fibres (20) are connected of artificial material in order to form a turf of artificial blades extending from the upper side of the support (5). The fibres (20) are then kept substantially vertical by granular filling material (25), can be made of rubber granules (26). The turf (1) is therefore completed by living vegetable material put into the granular material by means of sowing, transplantation of portions of plants (15) or a combination thereof. Finally, the living vegetable material in the form of seeds (27), or of portions of plants (15), is watered and dressed as known in the art. The turf can be easily carried, rolled up, turned over without spreading the granular material, and laid in a desired moment on a desired support surface for immediate use.
US07943206B2 Brightness enhancement film comprising polymerized organic phase having low glass transition temperature
Microstructured articles such as brightness enhancing film and turning films having a (e.g. brightness enhancing) polymerized structure comprising the reaction product an organic phase and at least 10 wt-% inorganic nanoparticles. The reaction product of the organic phase has a glass transition temperature of less than 35° C.
US07943203B2 Colored curable composition, colored pattern and color filter using the same
A colored curable composition containing a pigment (A) made into fine particles in the presence of sodium chloride (NaCl), an alkali soluble resin (B), a polymerizable compound (C), a photopolymerization initiator (D), and a solvent (E), wherein the pigment is included at 40 mass % to 70 mass % with respect to the total solids of the colored curable composition, and the contact angle of water to a coated layer obtained from coating the colored curable composition on a substrate and drying is 60° or greater. The colored curable composition is excellent in pigment dispersibility and dispersion stability, even when a fine pigment is included therein, is capable of forming a highly uniform colored layer, with excellent cleanability and solubility of the dried colored layer. The composition can also suppress the generation of foreign matter and the like in slit coating.
US07943201B2 Robotic tire spraying system
A robotic spray system is provided for accurately spraying mold release onto any size or shaped green tire. The system analyzes individual green tires using an integrated vision system. The system controls the robotic spray position, the fan, fluid, atomizing air, and tire rotation speed for optimal spray coverage on both the inside and outside of green tires. The system includes a conveyor, an overhead mounted camera located over an infeed station, and a second camera located perpendicular to the green tire's tread and several feet away from the center of the tire. Pictures of the green tire in the station are used to estimate the center and radius of the tire and locate the angle of the bar code with respect to the center of the tire. Reference points are provided from the camera images and robot positions are calculated to control the spraying.
US07943199B2 Method of producing metal plated material, metal plated material, method of producing metal pattern material, and metal pattern material
A method of producing a metal plated material, the method including: preparing a polymer solution containing a polymer; preparing a composition by mixing the polymer solution with a monomer at an amount of from 30% by mass to 200% by mass with respect to the polymer, at least one of the polymer or the monomer having a non-dissociative functional group that interacts with a plating catalyst or a precursor thereof, forming a cured layer on a substrate by applying the composition, drying the composition and curing the composition; applying the plating catalyst or the precursor thereof to the cured layer; and conducting plating with respect to the plating catalyst or the precursor thereof to form a plating film on the cured layer.
US07943195B2 Porogens, porogenated precursors and methods for using the same to provide porous organosilica glass films with low dielectric constants
A porous organosilica glass (OSG) film consists of a single phase of a material represented by the formula SivOwCxHyFz, where v+w+x+y+z=100%, v is from 10 to 35 atomic %, w is from 10 to 65 atomic %, x is from 5 to 30 atomic %, y is from 10 to 50 atomic % and z is from 0 to 15 atomic %, wherein the film has pores and a dielectric constant less than 2.6. The film is provided by a chemical vapor deposition method in which a preliminary film is deposited from organosilane and/or organosiloxane precursors and pore-forming agents (porogens), which can be independent of, or bonded to, the precursors. The porogens are subsequently removed to provide the porous film. Compositions, such as kits, for forming the films include porogens and precursors. Porogenated precursors are also useful for providing the film.
US07943193B2 Magnetic recording medium with diamond-like carbon protective film, and manufacturing method thereof
Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic recording medium superior in terms magnetic head flying performance, abrasion resistant reliability and corrosion resistance and a method for manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, comprising forming at least an adhesion layer, a soft magnetic layer, a granular magnetic film and a diamond-like carbon (DLC) protective film on a nonmagnetic substrate. While the DLC protective film layer to protect the granular magnetic layer of the magnetic recording medium is formed, hydrocarbon gas is mixed with hydrogen gas and a bias voltage is applied to the substrate.
US07943191B2 Egg based foodstuff resembling french fries and the method of making same
A method of making an egg based product includes providing a selected amount of a liquid egg base that is poured onto a cooking surface such that the egg base has a selected thickness. The egg base is heated to a selected temperature such that the liquid egg base coagulates into a solid mass. The solid mass is formed into French fry shaped pieces and transferred to an oven where the French fry shaped pieces are subsequently baked for a selected amount of time. The French fry shaped pieces are removed from the oven for consumption or refrigerated or placed in frozen storage for reheating by an end user or consumer.
US07943186B2 Hydroxycitric acid compositions, pharmaceutical and dietary supplements and food products made therefrom, and methods for their use in reducing body weight
Hydroxycitric acid compositions which comprise approximately 14 to 26% by weight of calcium, and approximately 24 to 40% by weight of potassium or approximately 14 to 24% by weight of sodium, or a mixture thereof, each calculated as a percentage of the total hydroxycitric acid content of the composition, together with dietary supplements and food products containing such compositions and methods for utilizing such compositions, dietary supplements and food products to reduce body weight in mammals are disclosed.
US07943178B2 Methods and compositions for delivering peptides
Methods are provided for purifying peptides and proteins by incorporating the peptide or protein into a diketopiperazine or competitive complexing agent to facilitate removal one or more impurities, from the peptide or protein. Formulations and methods also are provided for the improved transport of active agents across biological membranes, resulting for example in a rapid increase in blood agent concentration. The formulations include microparticles formed of (i) the active agent, which may be charged or neutral, and (ii) a transport enhancer that masks the charge of the agent and/or that forms hydrogen bonds with the target biological membrane in order to facilitate transport. In one embodiment, insulin is administered via the pulmonary delivery of microparticles comprising fumaryl diketopiperazine and insulin in its biologically active form. This method of delivering insulin results in a rapid increase in blood insulin concentration that is comparable to the increase resulting from intravenous delivery.
US07943177B2 Polyamide porous spherical particle
Polyamide porous spherical particles having a number-average particle diameter of 2 to 30 μm, a BET specific surface area of 100 to 80,000 m2/kg, and a ratio of a volume-average particle diameter to the number-average particle diameter in the range of 1.52 to 2.50 is reduced in luminous reflectance.
US07943176B2 Oral dosage form for propiverine or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts with an extended release of the active ingredient
By suitable retardation oral pharmaceutical compositions containing propiverine or one or several pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in an amount of 4 mg to 60 mg propiverine and having a prolonged release of the active agent are produced. Preferably a blend of active agent and optionally one or more acidic substances having a pKa value of less than 6.65 are provided with a retarding coating or are embedded in a matrix which is then optionally coated with further retarding layers.
US07943174B2 Controlled release hydrocodone formulations
A solid oral controlled-release oral dosage form of hydrocodone is disclosed. The dosage form comprising an analgesically effective amount of hydrocodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a sufficient amount of a controlled release material to render the dosage form suitable for twice-a-day administration to a human patient, the dosage form providing a C12/Cmax ratio of 0.55 to 0.85, said dosage form providing a therapeutic effect for at least about 12 hours.
US07943173B2 Pharmaceutical combinations of oxycodone and naloxone
Disclosed in certain embodiments is a pharmaceutical composition comprising from 10 to 40 mg of oxycodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and 0.65 to 0.90 mg naloxone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US07943171B2 Use of branched malto-dextrins as granulation binders
A method for preparing granules of active substances containing food fibers which consists in granulating the active substances mixed with branched malto-dextrins having between 15 and 35% of 1-6 glucoside bonds, a reducing sugar content less than 20%, a polymolecularity index less than 5 and a number average molecular weight Mn equal or less than 4500 g/mol, the branched malto-dextrins constituting between 3 and 13 wt. % of the mixture to be granulated.
US07943168B2 Nanoparticle delivery systems comprising a hydrophobic core and a lipid/surfactant layer comprising a membrane-lytic peptide
Compositions which comprise emulsions of nanoparticles for delivery of membrane-integrating peptides are described. The nanoparticles comprise a liquid hydrophobic core coated with a lipid/surfactant layer which contains the membrane-integrating peptides. Methods to use such compositions are also described.
US07943165B2 Saline nose wipe and methods of manufacture and use
The present invention generally relates to a wet wipe or sheet that is suitable for contacting the skin and removing mucus from the skin. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wet wipe having an aqueous saline component suitable for dissolving and removing mucus in combination with the fabric matrix of the wet wipe. Typically, the fabric matrix of the wet wipe has a capacity of about 125 grams of solution per square meter, and it is impregnated with the aqueous saline solution to a level at or below approximately 80% of the absorbent capacity of the matrix.
US07943164B2 Composition and method for treating diabetes and metabolic disorders
A composition and method for treating diabetes and metabolic disorders, and for achieving weight loss in a subject comprising a combination of naturally occurring compounds is provided.
US07943160B2 Pest control methods
Certain embodiments of the methods and compositions of matter disclosed herein relate to: “simultaneous” control of rodents and at least one insect pest (e.g., cockroach, ant, tick) using the same bait; control of ticks by orally administering to mammals a diet composition comprising fipronil; enhancing insecticide efficacy through use of a diet composition that comprises a Generation-I rodenticide and an insecticide; use of imidacloprid in a diet composition orally administerable to mammals in an uncontrolled setting; and use of at least one insecticide to enhance the efficacy of a rodenticide.
US07943156B2 Use of peptides of general formula I X-SEQ ID No.1-Y in the preparation of cosmetic compositions which are intended to improve the firmness of the skin by increasing cell adhesion
The invention relates to cosmetic compositions which are intended to improve the firmness of the skin by increasing adhesion of cutaneous cells in relation to one another and the basal lamina. The aforementioned compositions comprise a cosmetically-effective quantity of peptides having general formula X-isoleucyl-lysyl-valyl-alanyl-valine-Y, known as X-SEQ ID No. 1-Y (FIG. 1). The invention also relates to the use of X-SEQ ID No. 1-Y peptides in the preparation of cosmetic compositions which are intended to improve the firmness of the skin.
US07943154B2 Method for producing multiple emulsions that are stable in storage
A process is described for the preparation of storage-stable, multiple emulsions of the water/oil/water (W/O/W) type which comprise one or more active ingredients.The process comprises the steps a) stirring the active ingredient into an aqueous phase, b) emulsifying the aqueous phase by passing the aqueous phase through a large-pored, porous membrane into an oil phase, c) phase inversion of the emulsion from b), by cooling the mixture at a cooling rate of at least 0.3 K/min, where an emulsifier is added either to the aqueous phase in a) or to the oil phase in b) or to both phases.
US07943142B2 Euglenoid derived alkaloid
Disclosed herein is a purified toxin isolated from Euglena sanguinea. More specifically the toxin, termed euglenophycin, is an alkaloid having herbicidal and cytotoxicity against plant and mammalian cells.
US07943140B2 Compositions and methods for the treatment and prophylaxis of multiple strains and subtypes of HIV-1
A self-adjuvanting immunogenic composition comprising multiple immunogens, each immunogen comprising a lipopeptide cap, a universal T helper sequence and an immunodominant HIV-1 Tat B cell epitope. The immunogen also comprises one or more linker sequences and/or polar charged amino acid sequences. The HIV-1 Tat B cell epitope of each immunogen has an amino acid sequence of V-D-P-Xaa7-L-Xaa9-P-W-Xaa12-Xaa13-Xaa14-Xaa15-Xaa16-amide SEQ ID NO: 1, in which the amino acid positions at Xaa7, Xaa9 and Xaa12 are selected from specific amino acid residues choices and in which the amino acid positions at Xaa13-Xaa16 may be absent or specific amino acid residue choices. The lipopeptide is a dipalmitoyl-S-glyceryl-cysteine or a tripalmitoyl-S-glyceryl cysteine or N-acetyl (dipalmitoyl-S-glyceryl cysteine), each with an optional neutral amino acid linker. Optional polar sequences of at least four charged polar amino acids enhance solubility of the immunogen and are located at the carboxy terminal end of the lipopeptide cap, optionally flanked by neutral linker amino acids, or elsewhere in the immunogen. In the composition, each immunogen differs from another immunogen by an amino acid variation at amino acid position Xaa7, Xaa9 or Xaa12 of the immunodominant HIV-1 Tat epitope. Such compositions can induce anti-HIV-1 Tat antibodies with geometric mean titers of greater than 1,000,000 on multiple HIV-1 Tat variants, when employed to immunize a subject, without any extrinsic adjuvant.
US07943139B2 Methods of generating a humoral immune response against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comprising administering Nef apoptotic motif-containing polypeptide-conjugates
A small peptide of 10 or 11 mers, when linked to an immunogenic moiety, can protect against naferious effects of Nef protein of HIV. The vaccine is not used to induce sterilizing immunity, but to block the ability of soluble Nef protein to induce apoptosis, and to therefore alleviate lymphocyte depletion and organ damage.
US07943135B2 Method of treatment using anti-factor D antibodies
The invention relates to factor D inhibitors, which bind to factor D and block the functional activity of factor D in complement activation. The inhibitors include antibody molecules, as well as homologues, analogues and modified or derived forms thereof, including immunoglobulin fragments like Fab, F(ab′)2 and Fv, small molecules, including peptides, oligonucleotides, peptidomimetics and organic compounds. A monoclonal antibody which bound to factor D and blocked its ability to activate complement was generated and designated 166-32. The hybridoma producing this antibody was deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, under Accession Number HB-12476.
US07943133B2 Mesothelin antibody protein fusions and methods of use
The invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a stress protein fused with an engineered antibody or fragment that binds to mesothelin, or a stress protein fused with a biotin-binding protein in combination with a biotinylated engineered antibody or fragment that binds to mesothelin. The invention also relates to fusion proteins comprising a stress protein fused with an antibody binding protein in combination with an engineered antibody or fragment that binds to mesothelin. The invention also relates to fusion proteins comprising an engineered antibody or fragment that binds specifically to mesothelin fused in frame with a biotin binding protein. The invention also provides fusion proteins comprising an engineered antibody or fragment, that binds to mesothelin, fused with an antibody binding protein. The invention also relates to methods of using fusion proteins of the invention to induce an immune response to mesothelin and to treat disease.
US07943132B2 Methods of treating pain using antagonists of IL-31, IL-31RA and/or OSMRB
Use of antagonists to IL-31Ra and OSMRb are used to treat inflammation and pain by inhibiting, preventing, reducing, minimizing, limiting or minimizing stimulation in neuronal tissues. Such antagonists include soluble receptors, antibodies and fragments, derivative, or variants thereof. Symptoms such as pain, tingle, sensitization, tickle associated with neuropathies are ameliorated.
US07943131B2 Methods for protecting and regenerating bone marrow using CXCR3 agonists and antagonists
CXCR3 agonists, including natural CXCR3 ligands, promote bone marrow regeneration, increase peripheral white blood cells, and increase survival if administered prior to treatment of a subject with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Similar effects are obtained by administering an CXCR3 antagonists following chemotherapy radiotherapy. Compositions and methods are presented for the treatment of cancer and bone marrow diseases.
US07943127B2 Defense and counter-defense compositions and methods
Contemplated compositions and methods are directed to the use of a proteinase to reduce capsaicin-induced pain sensation in a mammal. Preferably, the proteinase comprises a bromelain preparation in a liquid formulation for topical or enteral administration. In additional aspects of the inventive subject matter, a proteinase inhibitor is present in pepper spray to avoid inactivation of capsaicin by a proteinase.
US07943126B2 Compositions and methods for treating hypophosphatasia
The present invention provides compositions and methods for use in enzyme replacement therapy. The inventors disclose a method of producing membrane bound enzymes in an active soluble form by eliminating the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchor. In particular the inventors disclose a soluble active form of the membrane bound enzyme TNSALP which they produced by deleting the GPI anchor single peptide sequence. They have further shown that this composition is useful for treatment of hypophosphatasia. The inventors also disclose oligo acid amino acid variants thereof which specifically target bone tissue.
US07943124B2 Composition for immunostimulation
The present invention relates to a composition for immunostimulation useful for promoting IgA and secretory component productions in mucosal tissues, comprising, alone or in combination, a cell of bifidobacterium belonging to Bifidobacterium bifidum or a processed product thereof, wherein the bifidobacterium has an activity to stimulate secretory component production and a high activity to stimulate IgA production, for example, it is a Bifidobacterium bifidum OLB 6377 strain or Bifidobacterium bifidum OLB 6378 strain.
US07943123B2 Placental stem cell populations
The present invention provides placental stem cells and placental stem cell populations, and methods of culturing, proliferating and expanding the same. The invention also provides methods of differentiating the placental stem cells. The invention further provides methods of using the placental stem cells in assays and for transplanting.
US07943120B2 Olefin wax, silicone-modified olefin wax, silicone-modified room temperature-solidifying composition using the wax, and cosmetics using them
An olefin wax (A) is (i) a copolymer (A1) obtained by copolymerizing ethylene and at least one diene or a copolymer (A2) obtained by copolymerizing ethylene, at least one olefin selected from α-olefins of 3 to 12 carbon atoms and at least one diene; wherein (ii) the content of unsaturated groups per one molecule is in the range of 0.5 to 3.0 groups; (iii) the density is in the range of 870 to 980 kg/m3; (iv) the melting point is in the range of 70 to 130° C.; (v) the number-average molecular weight is in the range of 400 to 5,000; and (vi) the ratio (Mw/Mn) of the weight-average molecular weight to the number-average molecular weight is not more than 4.0. A silicone-modified olefin wax can be obtained by reacting hydrogen silicone with the olefin wax (A). Cosmetics contain the silicone-modified olefin wax.
US07943119B2 Hair cosmetic composition
Provided are a leave-on hair cosmetic composition, containing the following components (A), (B) and (C): (A) an organic dicarboxylic acid or salt thereof, (B) an organic solvent selected from aromatic alcohols, N-alkylpyrrolidones, alkylene carbonates, polypropylene glycols having a number average molecular weight of from 100 to 1000, lactones and cyclic ketones, and (C) an organopolysiloxane having an organopolysiloxane segment and a poly(N-acylalkyleneimine) segment having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (1): (wherein, R1: H, C1-22 alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl, and n: 2 or 3), wherein the latter segment has been bonded to at least one silicon atom of the former segment via a hetero-atom-containing alkylene group; having the organopolysiloxane segment and the poly(N-acylalkyleneimine)segment at a weight ratio of from 98/2 to 40/60; and having a weight average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 500,000; and a hair treating method with the composition. The hair cosmetic composition of the invention can essentially improve the hair quality, give excellent luster, manageability, setting property to the hair, and also give excellent flexible hair feel and elasticity.
US07943116B1 High-yield synthesis of brookite TiO2 nanoparticles
A method for forming non-agglomerated brookite TiO2 nanoparticles without the use of expensive organic surfactants or high temperature processing. Embodiments of this invention use titanium isopropoxide as the titanium precursor and isopropanol as both the solvent and ligand for ligand-stabilized brookite-phase titania. Isopropanol molecules serve as the ligands interacting with the titania surfaces that stabilize the titania nanoparticles. The isopropanol ligands can be exchanged with other alcohols and other ligands during or after the nanoparticle formation reaction.
US07943115B2 Porous 4 group metal oxide and method for preparation thereof
This invention relates to a 4 group metal oxide and to a method for preparation thereof and the 4 group metal oxide prepared by adding a particle growth inhibiter to a hydrosol a hydrogel or a dried product of a hydrous 4 group metal oxide represented by MO(2-x)(OH)2x (wherein M denotes a 4 group metal and x is a number greater than 0.1 or x>0.1) followed by drying and calcining has a specific surface area of 80 m2/g or more, a pore volume of 0.2 ml/g or more and a pore sharpness degree of 50% or more and excellent heat stability and is useful for a catalyst or a catalyst carrier in which a catalyst metal is dispersed to a high degree. This invention further relates to a porous 4 group metal oxide and to a method for preparation thereof and the 4 group metal oxide prepared by application of a pH swing operation is characterized by a large specific surface area, excellent heat stability, high dispersion of a catalyst metal and a controlled and sharp pore distribution and is useful for a catalyst or a catalyst carrier of excellent reaction selectivity.
US07943110B2 Crosslinked carbon nanotube
A crosslinked carbon nanotube, in which multiple carbon nanotubes therein are crosslinked with each other at multiple cross-linking sites via a connecting group containing a π-electron conjugation system, and the bond between the connecting group and the carbon nanotube is not an ester or amido bond.
US07943105B2 Sulfur removal using ferrous carbonate absorbent
Finely divided ferrous carbonate absorbent, siderite granules or absorbent particles made by mixing, agglomerating and shaping finely powdered ferrous carbonate, preferably siderite, in combination with minor effective amounts of water or an optional binder, followed by drying, are used to treat and significantly reduce concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, organic disulfides, mercaptans and other sulfurous compounds and contaminants in gaseous and liquid fluid streams such as natural gas, light hydrocarbon streams, crude oil, acid gas mixtures, carbon dioxide gas and liquid streams, anaerobic gas, landfill gas, geothermal gases and liquids, and the like. Methods for absorbing sulfur compounds in a moist atmospheric environment and for regenerating the absorbent by contacting it with air and steam or, continuously, by mixing the feed stream with moist air are also disclosed.
US07943092B2 Portable surface plasmon resonance biosensor
A surface plasmon resonance biosensor device and system are provided. The simplicity of SPR biosensor design allows easy integration with both QCM and electrochemistry techniques, not found in current SPR biosensor devices. In some embodiments, the surface plasmon resonance biosensor device has a dual SPR/QCM sample holder which allows simultaneous detection by both surface plasmon resonance and also quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) techniques. In additional embodiments, the surface plasmon resonance biosensor device and/or the dual SPR/QCM technique can be integrated with electrochemistry techniques by incorporate reference and counter electrodes in the SPR or SPR/QCM sample holder. Methods of using the device and system to determine whether an analyte of interest is present in a sample are also provided.
US07943090B2 Plastic injection-moulded part with embedded component
A method for producing a plastic injection-moulded part having an insert made of a material different from the plastic material is provided, the method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing and positioning the insert in a cavity of an injection mould; (b) setting the clamping force of the injection mould on a clamping mechanism to a maximum force predetermined by the material of the insert; and (c) seamlessly encapsulating the insert with the plastic material of the plastic injection-moulded part inside the injection mould, wherein the encapsulating is seamless or complete.
US07943084B1 Metal powders with improved flowability
The present invention demonstrates a superior, more economical, and scalable process to increase the fluidity of metal powders by surface modification with alkylsilane reagents. This invention discloses that the most efficient process results from treatment with methyltrichlorosilane in hexane. In particular, the fluidity of aluminum powders having mean diameters smaller than 10 micrometers was considerably improved by the process of the present invention. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims.
US07943075B2 Method for producing fiber-reinforced composite
A method for producing a fiber-reinforced composite member from prepregs of reinforcing fibers impregnated with a matrix resin, comprising placing the prepregs in a cavity of a molding die, cutting off excess margins of the prepregs along the edges of the cavity, and curing the matrix resin.
US07943073B2 Composite materials and method of making
A method for forming improved composite materials using a thermosetting polyester urethane hybrid resin, a closed cavity mold having an internal heat transfer mechanism used in this method, and the composite materials formed by this method having a hybrid of a carbon fiber layer and a fiberglass layer.
US07943068B2 Method of making a dental restoration
Blocks of material are prepared in a variety of shapes and sizes to be used in the fabrication of models for dental restorations. The material comprises a partially sintered ceramic material. The blocks are used to manufacture molds using CAD/CAM methods and equipment. The molds are useful in the manufacture of dental restorations using ceramics, metals, alloys, or powders thereof, and composite materials. The models milled from the blanks may be used to manufacture a variety of dental restorations including, but not limited to, crowns, bridges, space maintainers, tooth replacement appliances, orthodontic retainers, dentures, posts, jackets, inlays, onlays, facings, veneers, facets, implants, abutments, splints, partial crowns, teeth, cylinders, pins, and connectors.
US07943063B2 Thermochromic indicator materials with controlled reversibility
A thermal indicator material which comprises a plurality of polythiophenes having a second low temperature color and a high temperature color. The polythiophenes are structured and arranged to exhibit a color change from the second low temperature color to the high temperature color when the thermal indicator material is exposed to a temperature that meets or exceeds a pre-determined temperature and to exhibit a color change from the high temperature color to a first low temperature color when the thermal indicator material is exposed to a decline in temperature from a temperature that meets or exceeds the predetermined temperature to a temperature of within the range of between about 5 to 20° C. below the pre-determined temperature that occurs in a time period of greater than 2.0 seconds.
US07943052B2 Method for self-assembling microstructures
A method for self-assembling a plurality of microstructures onto a substrate comprising using a bonding material to make the microstructure assembled onto the substrate by a physical attraction force. The microstructures are self-aligned with the substrate, and further permanently fixed on and electrical connection with the substrate by the solder bumps between the microstructures and the substrate, which is formed by the solder bumps via reflow process. There is no need for the using of the conventional pick-and-place device in the present method. The present method could be applied to light emitting diodes, RFID tags, micro-integrated circuits or other types of microstructures.
US07943047B2 Process for the treatment of wastewater from aldolization processes
Process for the treatment of wastewater from an aldolization process which is contaminated with water-soluble and/or dispersed organic impurities by means of single-stage or multistage extraction with an organic liquid of the aldolization process wastewater which has been set to a pH of from 0 to 6, in which an organic liquid obtained by stripping of the acidified aldolization process wastewater or of the acidified and extracted aldolization process wastewater, condensation of the stripped compounds and phase separation of the condensate is used as extractant for the extraction of organic impurities from the acidified aldolization process wastewater and wastewater having a lower content of organic impurities than the aldolization process wastewater fed to the extraction is taken off from the stripping apparatus.
US07943043B2 Magnetic field forming device for active water and fluid treatment apparatus using the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic field forming device for active water capable of uniformly forming a high magnetic field free from any unevenness in its intensity, activating a fluid regardless of the orientation of magnetic polarity of the magnets, bringing about excellent assembling efficiency not requiring assembling while checking the orientation of the magnets, being manufactured at a high product yield ratio without occurrence of defective products resulting from a difference in the orientation of the magnets, remarkably easily taking out the magnets without use of any exclusive special tool, and removing rust and stains adhered to the magnets by wiping off the magnets one by one, the maintenance efficiency of which is excellent. The magnetic field forming device for active water in which a flow path of a fluid is formed in a through hole, and the same magnetic field forming device includes a rod-shaped magnet 2 disposed with predetermined spacing from the inner wall of the through hole and having a fluid flow path formed between the inner wall and the side 3; a guide member 5 adhered to and fixed to the end part of the magnet 2, which is inserted into the interior of the through hole; and a communication portion 8 formed at the guide member 5, which communicates with the fluid flow path.
US07943040B2 Wastewater treatment and recycling system
A system and process for removing contaminants from wastewater where the wastewater is treated into a cleaned water that can be reused or discharged into the environment. The wastewater is transported through purification sections, depending on the system including several of the following: pre-treatment via screening and weirs to remove debris and certain heavy solids; a second pretreatment via a sump; strainer; conductivity solution injection system and electrolytic coagulation system; polymer injection system; inline mixers for mixing the polymer in the wastewater stream; retention tubes for providing residence time for the polymer to react in the wastewater stream; a multi-stage separation system comprised of a plurality of water separation compartments for consecutively separating contaminants from the wastewater stream by removing contaminants that float and heavy contaminants that settle to the bottom; and an ozone treatment system. Except for the pretreatment sections, each of the treatment sections are contained within an enclosure cabinet that includes controller and control panels as well and feed containers for the conductivity fluid and polymer.
US07943037B2 Hydroconversion process for petroleum resids using selective membrane separation followed by hydroconversion over carbon supported metal catalyst
A heavy residual petroleum feed boiling above 650° F.+ (345° C.+) is subjected to membrane separation to produce a produce a permeate which is low in metals and Microcarbon Residue (MCR) as well as a retentate, containing most of the MCR and metals, the retentate is then subjected to hydroconversion at elevated temperature in the presence of hydrogen at a hydrogen pressure not higher than 500 psig (3500 kPag) using a dispersed metal-on-carbon catalyst to produce a hydroconverted effluent which is fractionated to give naphtha, distillate and gas oil fractions. The permeate from the membrane separation may be used as FCC feed either as such or with moderate hydrotreatment to remove residual heteroatoms. The process has the advantage that the hydroconversion may be carried out in low pressure equipment with a low hydrogen consumption as saturation of aromatics is reduced.
US07943036B2 Systems and methods for producing a crude product
A flexible once-through process for hydroprocessing heavy oil feedstock is disclosed. The process employs a plurality of contacting zones and at least a separation zone to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming upgraded products. The contacting zones operate under hydrocracking conditions, employing a slurry catalyst for upgrading the heavy oil feedstock. The plurality of contacting zones and separation zones are configured in a permutable fashion allowing the once-through process to be flexible operating in various modes: a sequential mode; a parallel mode; a combination of parallel and sequential mode; all online; some online and some on stand-by; some online and some off-line; a parallel mode with the effluent stream from the contacting zone being sent to at least a separation zone in series with the contacting zone; a parallel mode with the effluent stream from the contacting zone being combined with an effluent stream from at least another contacting zone and sent to the separation zone; and combinations thereof.
US07943034B2 Method and apparatus for providing a stable voltage to an analytical system
A method and apparatus for provide a stable voltage to an electrochemical cell used for measurement of an analyte such as glucose in a liquid sample. The apparatus uses a circuit in which multiple switching positions provide both calibration information for use in calibration of electronic components in the circuit and error checking functionality.
US07943033B2 Electrolytic copper plating method, pure copper anode for electrolytic copper plating, and semiconductor wafer having low particle adhesion plated with said method and anode
The present invention pertains to an electrolytic copper plating method characterized in employing pure copper as the anode upon performing electrolytic copper plating, and performing electrolytic copper plating with the pure copper anode having a crystal grain diameter of 10 μm or less or 60 μm or more. Provided are an electrolytic copper plating method and a pure copper anode for electrolytic copper plating used in such electrolytic copper plating method capable of suppressing the generation of particles such as sludge produced on the anode side within the plating bath upon performing electrolytic copper plating, and capable of preventing the adhesion of particles to a semiconductor wafer, as well as a semiconductor wafer plated with the foregoing method and anode having low particle adhesion.
US07943031B2 Dewatering treatment system and method
An apparatus and method for reducing the liquid content of a particulate/liquid dispersion, such as a sewage sludge or mine tailings, are described. The apparatus comprises containment means to contain the material, and means to apply pressure to the contained material therein, the containment means being partly defined by a first filtration membrane permeable to the liquid but impermeable to at least some and more preferably substantially all of the solids contained within the material, in particular configured as a continuous belt press. The filtration membrane comprises a textile or other synthetic material in intimate association with a conducting element so as to constitute where so associated a first electrode. A second sheet material, preferably also a filtration membrane, is similarly associated with a conducting element so as to constitute a second electrode to allow application of a potential difference across the material and drive the dewatering process electrokinetically. Preferably, the apparatus is a belt filter press, and includes means to apply a variable and intermittent voltage to, and insulate from each other, two electrodes configured a continuously moving belts.
US07943029B2 Method, composition and kit for isoelectric focusing
The present invention relates to a method, composition and a kit for isoelectric focusing. More closely, the present invention involves the use of to modified carrier ampholytes which are easy to separate from the proteins/peptides following finished focusing. The modification is that the carrier ampholytes are derivatised with handles interacting with a solid phase/matrix which makes them easy to remove and separate from the peptides after finished focusing. In this way, there is very little or no background from carrier ampholytes in the following MS-spectra.
US07943020B2 Cathode for electrolytic processes
The invention relates to a cathode for electrolytic processes, particularly suitable for hydrogen evolution in chlor-alkali electrolysis, consisting of a nickel substrate provided with a coating comprising a protective zone containing palladium and a physically distinct catalytic activation containing platinum or ruthenium optionally mixed with a highly oxidizing metal oxide, preferably chromium or praseodymium oxide.
US07943019B2 Insoluble electrode
Provided is an economical long-life insoluble anode capable of maintaining an anode function stably for a long time even if it is used in a part where severe consumption occurs to generate a cathodizing phenomenon, and also capable of reducing the amount of an electrocatalyst used as much as possible. To realize this, on the surface of a metal substrate 10 composed of a titanium plate, a porous layer 20 including a sintered body of a spherical titanium powder is formed as a base layer. An electrocatalyst layer 30 is formed from the surface of the porous layer 20 to its inside. A part of the electrocatalyst penetrates into the porous layer 20, which provides an incomparably stronger anchor effect than the case of a blast treatment. Even when parts exposed from the porous layer 20 are peeled off and dropped off, the anode function is maintained by the electrocatalyst left in the porous layer 20.
US07943018B2 Apparatus for treating flat brittle substrates
An apparatus for treating flat, brittle substrates is described, in which apparatus the substrates are acted upon in a treatment chamber by a treatment liquid. For this purpose they are guided by a transport device so as to pass horizontally through the treatment chamber. Lateral guide devices which comprise cylindrical, rotatably mounted lateral guide rollers ensure that the substrates are conveyed in an advantageous manner in a conveying direction.
US07943013B2 Shoe press belt for paper making
Disclosed is a shoe press belt (10) which comprises a reinforcing fibrous base material (6) embedded in a polyurethane layer, and has an outer circumference layer (2a, 21) and an inner circumference layer (2b, 22) each formed with a polyurethane. The polyurethane layer comprises a polyurethane which is produced by curing a composition comprising a mixture of an urethane prepolymer (A) and a curing agent (B). The urethane prepolymer (A) is produced by reacting an isocyanate compound (a) containing 55 to 100 mol % of a p-phenylene-diisocyanate compound with polytetramethylene glycol (b) and has an isocyanate group at its terminal. The curing agent (B) is selected from the group consisting of 1,4-butanediol, hydroquinone bis-βhydroxylethyl ether, 3,5-diethyltoluenediamine and 3,5-dimethylthiotoluenediamine. The belt (10) has excellent cracking resistance, bending fatigue resistance and wear resistance.
US07943011B2 Paperboard material with expanded polymeric microspheres
The present invention is related to a paperboard product having a basis weight in a range of 100 to 350 pounds per 3,000 square feet. The paperboard comprises at least one coated surface suitable for printing. The at least one coated surface comprising cellulosic fibers and from about 0.05 to about 0.5 wt. % dry basis expanded synthetic polymer microspheres based on total weight of the of cellulosic fiber dispersed thereof. The coated surface has a Parker smoothness less than about 2.0 and a Hagerty/Sheffield smoothness not less than about 20 Sheffield units.
US07943010B2 Method of making surface-sized paper/board
The invention relates to a method of making surface-sized paper/board. The web to be treated in the method is after surface sizing passed to a treatment process for providing a desired drying shrinkage and/or increase of drying stresses to create thereby a desired effect on the flexural strength and/or bulk of paper/board.
US07943005B2 Method and apparatus for photomask plasma etching
A method and apparatus for etching photomasks is provided herein. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a process chamber having a support pedestal adapted for receiving a photomask. An ion-neutral shield is disposed above the pedestal and a deflector plate assembly is provided above the ion-neutral shield. The deflector plate assembly defines a gas flow direction for process gases towards the ion-neutral shield, while the ion-neutral shield is used to establish a desired distribution of ion and neutral species in a plasma for etching the photomask.
US07943003B2 Low stress to seal expanded PTFE gasket tape
A low stress to seal, unitary gasket tape is provided that is particularly suited for use in form-in-place gaskets. The gasket tape preferably comprises at least two joined porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) tapes aligned along tape side surfaces and a substantially air impermeable layer there between. The plane of expansion of the ePTFE is substantially parallel to the flange surface providing longitudinal and transverse strength. The substantially air impermeable layer prevents fluid from permeating through the gasket in the radial direction.
US07943000B2 Attaching device and method of fabricating organic light emmiting device using the same
An attaching device and a method of fabricating an organic light emitting device using the same are disclosed. The attaching device includes a process chamber, first and second substrate supporters, a substrate detachable part, and an open-close valve. The first and second substrate supporters are positioned inside the process chamber, load and fix substrates. The substrate detachable part is positioned inside the second substrate supporter, and moves up and down to allow the second substrate supporter to instantaneously receive a physical pressure. The open-close valve is positioned on a portion of the process chamber, and opens and closes the process chamber to control a pressure inside the process chamber.
US07942997B2 High resolution inkjet printer
A method of manufacturing a printhead for an inkjet print cartridge includes depositing a metal film on a mandrel; separating the metal film from the mandrel, mounting the metal film to a work holder, modifying the metal film while the metal film remains mounted on the work holder, laminating the metal film to a barrier material and semiconductor substrate to form a printhead, and applying heat to the printhead such that the printhead barrier layer is cured and the metal film is bonded thereto. Laminating the metal film to the barrier material includes preheating the barrier material and placing the metal film on the preheated barrier material.
US07942992B2 Bulky sheet material having three-dimensional protrusions
A bulky sheet material having three-dimensional protrusions comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer provided on at least one side of the first fiber layer. The first fiber layer contains thermally shrunken heat-shrinkable fibers. The second fiber layer comprises heat non-shrinkable fibers. The first fiber layer and the second fiber layer are partly joined together at a large number of joints formed by fusion bonding. The joints are formed by melting and solidification of a heat fusible resin having a higher melting point than the shrinkage starting temperature of the heat shrinkable fiber. The second fiber layer forms a large number of protrusions between the joints by the heat shrinkage of the first fiber layer while leaving the joints as depressions.
US07942991B1 Laminating polyester onto metal substrate
The present invention is a laminating process which is directed toward economical production methods for scalable amounts of production which develop properties suitable for a broad based product line. In particular, the product is capable of important key components of commercial properties such as adhesion, scratch resistance, chemical inertness, and bending without failure.
US07942990B2 Hybrid inflator
The present invention provides a hybrid inflator including: a pressurized gas and a solid gas generating agent that generates a combustion gas as a gas source, the solid gas generating agent including at least an oxidizing agent and a binder, the pressurized gas including 15 mol % or more of oxygen.
US07942989B2 Porous silicon-based explosive
An initiator explosive for detonating a second explosive that includes nanocrystalline silicon containing a plurality of pores and a solid state oxidant disposed within said pores.
US07942986B2 Magnesium alloy
A magnesium-based alloy consists of 1.5-4.0% by weight rare earth element(s), 0.3-0.8% by weight zinc, 0.02-0.1% by weight aluminium, and 4-25 ppm beryllium. The alloy optionally contains up to 0.2% by weight zirconium, 0.3% by weight manganese, 0.5% by weight yttrium and 0.1% by weight calcium. The remainder of the alloy is magnesium except for incidental impurities.
US07942984B2 Steel pipe with good magnetic properties and method of producing the same
A steel pipe blank having a composition containing 0.5% or less C and 85% or more Fe in terms of mass percent is heated, and stretch-reducing is then performed so that the diameter decrease ratio is 15% or more and the rolling finishing temperature is (the Ar3 transformation point−10)° C. or lower. Consequently, a structure in which the ratio of X-ray diffraction intensity obtained from the plane in which the <100> direction of crystal grains is preferentially oriented parallel to the circumference direction and the <011> direction of crystal grains is preferentially oriented parallel to the rolling direction of the steel pipe to that obtained for a three-dimensionally randomly oriented sample is 3.0 or more is formed, and the r-value is increased, thereby improving the magnetic properties of the steel pipe.
US07942981B2 Rotationally symmetrical hollow body made of a deformable permanently magnetic alloy and its use and production process
A seamless, rotationally symmetrical hollow blank formed by a non-cutting operation from a deformable permanently magnetic alloy is provided, said alloy consisting essentially of 5.0 to 20.0 percent by weight cobalt, 20.0 to 35.0 percent by weight chromium, for the remainder iron and impurities caused by melting and/or by chance. The seamless hollow body is suitable in particular for use in hysteresis clutches, hysteresis brakes, and position measuring devices. Furthermore, non-cutting shaping processes for producing the seamless rotationally symmetrical hollow body are provided, with roller spinning being preferred.
US07942980B2 Starch removal process
Starch is removed from the surface of an article using a multi-step method that includes presoaking the article in an acidic solution to remove the starch from the surface of the article and washing the article in an alkaline solution to clean the article.
US07942978B2 Auxiliary rinse phase in a wash machine
A system and method are disclosed for cleaning articles within a chamber of a warewash machine. The warewash machine has a rinse sump for collecting a rinse agent dispensed into the chamber and a wash sump for collecting a wash agent dispensed into the chamber. The method includes a wash phase during which the wash agent is dispensed into the chamber during and an auxiliary rinse phase during which the rinse agent is dispensed into the chamber. The wash machine includes a controllable deflector for directing the wash agent to the wash sump during the wash phase and the rinse agent to the rinse sump during the auxiliary rinse phase. The method also includes a final rinse phase during which water from an external source is dispensed into the chamber. The controllable deflector direct the water dispensed during the final rinse phase to the rinse sump such that the water combines with the rinse agent therein. The rinse agent is re-used during at least one subsequent auxiliary rinse phase.
US07942971B2 Method of manufacturing plasma display panels
A method of manufacturing plasma display panels using a substrate holder for deposition on a substrate of the plasma display panel. The substrate holder is configured with plural frames, and the substrate of the plasma display panel is held by its periphery with at least one of these frames. A frame holding the substrate has a protrusion extending to a non-deposition face of the substrate held in such a way as to surround the substrate. Since the protrusion acts as a blocking sheet, attachment of a deposition material passing through an opening on the substrate holder and reaching onto the non-deposition face of the substrate is suppressed.
US07942968B2 Catalyst enhanced chemical vapor deposition apparatus
A catalyst enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CECVD) apparatus is provided in which the showerhead and catalyst support are separated from each other. The CECVD apparatus has excellent spacing between the showerhead, catalyst wire and substrate and can be purged to prevent contaminants from forming on parts functioning at low temperatures. The CECVD apparatus comprises a reaction chamber, a showerhead for introducing reaction gas into the reaction chamber, a catalyst wire for decomposing the reaction gas, a catalyst support for supporting the catalyst wire, a substrate on which the decomposed gas is deposited, and a substrate support for supporting the substrate.
US07942967B2 Method and system of coating polymer solution on a substrate in a solvent saturated chamber
A method and apparatus of coating a polymer solution on a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus includes a coating chamber having a rotatable chuck to support a substrate to be coated with a polymer solution. A dispenser to dispense the polymer solution over the substrate extends into the coating chamber. A vapor distributor having a solvent vapor generator communicable with the coating chamber is included to cause a solvent to be transformed into a solvent vapor. A carrier gas is mixed with the solvent vapor to form a carrier-solvent vapor mixture. The carrier-solvent vapor mixture is flown into the coating chamber to saturate the coating chamber. A solvent remover communicable with the coating chamber is included to remove excess solvent that does not get transformed into the solvent vapor to prevent the excess solvent from dropping on the substrate.
US07942965B2 Method of fabricating plasma reactor parts
A method of fabricating silicon parts are provided herein. The method includes growing a silicon sample, machining the sample to form a part, and annealing the part by exposing the part sequentially to one or more gases. Process conditions during silicon growth and post-machining anneal are designed to provide silicon parts that are particularly suited for use in corrosive environments.
US07942964B2 Fiber cement composite materials using bleached cellulose fibers
A fiber cement composite material that incorporates a blend of bleached and unbleached cellulose fibers as a partial or complete substitute for premium grade cellulose pulp is provided. Bleached standard grade cellulose fibers are used in conjunction with unbleached, standard grade cellulose fibers to provide a fiber cement composite product having substantially equal or even superior flexibility and strength as an equivalent fiber cement composite material reinforced by premium grade, unbleached cellulose fibers. A synergistic combination of bleached and unbleached standard grade cellulose fibers to produce a composite material with the desired properties previously achievable only through the use of premium grade cellulose pulp.
US07942952B2 Single stage electrostatic precipitator
In an electrostatic precipitator for filtering particulate matter from a gas, a fan (10) draws the gas (5) through an ioniser section (7) and a collector section (6). Ioniser blades (3) with sawtooth spikes (8) create a corona discharge (4) when charged to a high voltage, so that gas-borne particles are charged when passing through the corona area. The collector section (6) consists of a set of metallic plates (1, 2) of which every other plate (1) is connected to ground, while the remaining plates (2) receive a charge by induction from the ioniser blades (3), and act as repeller plates, pushing charged particles in the gas flow (5) over to the grounded plates (1).
US07942948B2 Filter element including a composite filter media
A filter element includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a first end cap, a second end cap, and a composite filter media structure. The composite filter media structure includes a base substrate that includes a nonwoven synthetic fabric formed from a plurality of bicomponent synthetic fibers with a spunbond process, and having a bond area pattern having a plurality of substantially parallel discontinuous lines of bond area. The base substrate having a minimum filtration efficiency of about 50%, measured in accordance with ASHRAE 52.2-1999 test procedure. The composite filter media structure also includes a nanofiber layer deposited on one side of the base substrate by an by electro-blown spinning process. The composite filter media structure having a minimum filtration efficiency of about 75%, measured in accordance with ASHRAE 52.2-1999 test procedure. The composite media structure further includes a plurality of corrugations formed at a temperature of about 90° C. to about 140° C.
US07942946B2 Oil separator with raised holes in perforated tube
A gas/oil separator is provided, wherein a pre-separator tube has an upper solid portion, and a lower perforated portion. Holes in the lower perforated portion allow a gas stream to move radially inwardly, and to a downstream filter pack. The holes have a raised portion extending radially outwardly, and prevent previously separated oil from being reintroduced into the gas stream.
US07942941B2 Pour point depressant additives for oil compositions
The present invention generally relates to oil compositions, primarily to fuel oil and petroleum compositions produced there from susceptible to wax formation at low temperatures, to polymeric amides for use with such fuel oil compositions, and to methods for their manufacture.
US07942939B2 Method and facility for producing a coarse-grained ammonium sulfate product by crystallization
A method and installation for the production of a coarse-grained ammonium sulfate product by crystallization includes firstly generating a crystal having a grain smaller than the desired grain size in a pre-crystallizer and withdrawing a suspension therefrom, from which the fine crystal was previously separated in a classification connecting piece. This suspension, which contains medium-sized grain, is then conducted with a proportion of undersaturated mother liquor, which is sufficient for further crystal growth, into a DTB product crystallizer and crystallized therein to a desired grain size. The heating of the product crystallizer is performed by the heat contained in the vapors of the pre-crystallization. The pre-crystallization may also operate according to the DTB principle, wherein the mother liquor needed for crystallization is supplied in the form of separately admixed concentrated sulfuric acid and ammonia into the external solution loop of the pre-crystallizer. The reaction heat released in this case may be sufficient for the operation of the entire process.
US07942935B2 Device and system for prosthetic knees and ankles
A device and system is provided for a prosthetic device having an articulating joint for a leg amputee. The device includes a joint housing forming a chamber, and the chamber has a first opening. A rotary hub can be disposed within the joint housing and configured to act as the articulating joint. One or more vanes can extend outwardly from the rotary hub, and the vane is configured to actuate fluid flow through the first opening.
US07942934B2 Osteoinductive calcium phosphates
The invention relates to a porous osteoinductive calcium phosphate material having an average grain size in a range of 0.1-1.50 μm, having a porosity consisting essentially only of micropores in a size range of 0.1-1.50 μm, and having a surface area percentage of micropores in a range of 10-40%.
US07942933B2 Frusto-conical spinal implant
The present invention is directed to a variety of interbody spinal fusion implants having at least a partially frusto-conical configuration. The spinal fusion implants of the present invention may be relatively solid or hollow and may have surface roughenings to promote bone ingrowth and stability. The spinal fusion implants of the present invention may have wells extending into the material of the implant from the surface for the purpose of holding fusion promoting materials and to provide for areas of bone ingrowth fixation. A variety of surface irregularities may be employed to increase implant stability and implant surface area, and/or for the purpose of advancing the spinal fusion implant into the fusion site.
US07942930B2 Biocompatible implant system and method
The invention relates to an implantable combination comprising a barrier (12), and a macromolecular bio-compatible material (14). The barrier (12) is porous to allow moieties of the macromolecular bio-compatible material (14), when implanted, to be exposed through the barrier, whereby the surface of the barrier is experienced by the body as an essentially non-foreign object. It also relates to an implant made from a barrier material and a bio-compatible material, the implant being suitable as e.g. a breast implant.
US07942929B2 Coating solutions comprising segmented reactive block copolymers
This invention is directed toward surface treatment of a device. The surface treatment comprises the attachment of reactive segmented block copolymers to the surface of the substrate by means of reactive functionalities of the terminal functionalized surfactant material reacting with complementary surface reactive functionalities in monomeric units along the polymer substrate. The present invention is also directed to a surface modified medical device, examples of which include contact lenses, intraocular lenses, vascular stents, phakic intraocular lenses, aphakic intraocular lenses, corneal implants, catheters, implants, and the like, comprising a surface made by such a method.
US07942924B1 Staged endovascular graft delivery system
The present invention embodies delivery systems and methods of packing an initial endovascular graft components for delivery that achieve a smaller delivery profile and reduce redundancy. Delivery systems and methods for packing the initial endovascular graft components for delivery facilitate a reduced delivery profile while allowing reliable positioning of the components before deployment.
US07942913B2 Bone fixation device
A bone fixation apparatus and associate method. The bone fixation apparatus includes a plate having a fixation hole, and a modular fastener received in the fixation hole. The bone fixation fastener includes a shaft member and an expandable head member. The shaft member has a outer cam at a first end mating with a corresponding inner cam of the head member, such that upon rotation of the head member relative to the shaft member, the head member expands against an inner surface of the fixation hole to prevent back out of the shaft member relative to the bone fixation plate.
US07942911B2 Polyaxial bone screw
A fastening system for bone screws used in spinal fixation systems for reshaping the spine of a patient. The bone screw has threads on one end for anchoring in the spine. The other end has a spherical head with a multi sided recess formed therein for engagement with an appropriate driving tool. The system includes a stabilizing rod, a saddle member, a cap member and a set screw with at least one bone screw having a outer diameter that exceeds the diameter of a cavity formed in the saddle, wherein placement of the bone screw is made possible by matching the threads of the set screw to the threads of the bone screw. The head of the bone screw providing proper positioning of the stabilization rod within the patient.
US07942908B2 Adjustable length implant
A method and apparatus for providing an adjustable length surgical implant is provided, wherein the surgical implant is readily adjustable by a surgeon using a surgical tool sized for use with the surgical implant. Adjustment of the surgical implant further requires a small incision through the skin prior to the adjustment of the length of the implant, such that the potential for infection is greatly reduces and the associated trauma of surgery is lessened for the patient.
US07942907B2 Polyaxial screw assembly
A polyaxial screw assembly includes an internal load dampening mechanism for sharing and dampening loads between at least one screw member and at least one rod member interconnected by the assembly. A method of interconnecting the orthopedic screw with the rod includes dampening with a body member interconnecting the screw to the rod.
US07942904B2 Pedicle screw based vertebral body stabilization apparatus
A pedicle screw stabilization device comprises a superior and inferior pedicle screw anchor with a shaped memory alloy spacer therebetween.
US07942900B2 Shaped horizontal rod for dynamic stabilization and motion preservation spinal implantation system and method
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US07942888B2 Vascular hole closure device
A device for closing an aperture in a vessel wall comprising a covering member having a longitudinal axis and positionable inside the vessel against the internal opening of the aperture and having a dimension to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture. Two curved legs are provided having portions positionable external of the vessel and curving in different directions. At least one retention member is positioned between the covering member and curved legs and positionable external of the vessel.
US07942887B2 Transoral endoscopic gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device, assembly, system and method
The invention provides a device, assembly, and method for transoral endoscopic restoration of a gastroesophageal flap valve. The invention also provides a self-steering and self-closing tissue fixation device for tissue fixation, and an invaginator device for gripping and maneuvering tissue. The restoration device includes a longitudinal member arranged for transoral placement into a stomach, a tissue shaper carried on the longitudinal member that causes stomach tissue to assume a shape related to a gastroesophageal flap, and a tissue fixation device that maintains the shaped stomach tissue in a shape approximating a gastroesophageal flap. The tissue shaper may include a mold. The device may include the invaginator device for gripping and maneuvering esophageal tissue to aid restoration of the gastroesophageal flap, and may include the tissue fixation device.
US07942885B2 Surgical clip applier having clip chamber with clip chain
A surgical clip applier includes a clip chamber defined at the distal end of the instrument. A clip chain of at least two clips is provided in the clip chamber. The clip chain is coupled such that both relatively distal and proximal movement of the proximalmost clip of the clip chain within the chamber results in longitudinal translation of clips within the chamber.
US07942883B2 Acetabular shell removal tool
A tool for separating an acetabular shell of a hip prosthesis from the surrounding pelvic bone includes a fixture which attaches to the acetabular shell and has a chisel guide mounted on it. A chisel associated with the chisel guide is curved to conform to the outer periphery of the acetabular shell, and the chisel guide causes the chisel to circumscribe the acetabular shell as the chisel is inserted between the acetabular shell and the pelvis.
US07942881B2 Microfracture pick
The present disclosure relates to a microfracture pick having a shaft and a handle. The shift has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes an angled tip. The handle has a body with a first end portion, a second end portion, and an impact surface located therebetween. The handle is operatively coupled to the proximal end of the shaft at the first end portion. Methods of microfracture stimulation are also disclosed.
US07942877B2 Guide system and associated method for installing an implant device adapted to apply compression across a fracture site
An implant for fracture fixation in which a wire element has one end installed in bone and an opposite end fixed externally to the bone to apply compression across the fracture wherein a guide system is provided for guiding a tip of the one end of the wire element into a pilot hole in the bone prior to producing compression across the fracture.
US07942875B2 Methods of using minimally invasive actuable bone fixation devices
A method of repairing a bone fracture comprises accessing a fracture along a length of a bone through a bony protuberance at an access point near an end of a bone. A bone fixation device is advanced into a space through the access point at the end of the bone. A portion of the bone fixation device is bent along its length to traverse the fracture. The bone fixation device is locked into place within the space of the bone.
US07942874B2 Apparatus for tissue cauterization
The invention is concerned with cauterizing and resecting tissue. A pair of electrodes are placed on opposed tissue surfaces, and radio frequency power is applied through the electrodes to cauterizing a tissue mass therebetween. After cauterization has been effected, the tissue may be resected along a plane within the cauterized region with minimum or no bleeding. The tissue mass may then be removed.
US07942873B2 Cavity ablation apparatus and method
Ablation devices and associated methods are provided for use in ablating the margin of a cavity such as a surgical or body cavity. The ablation apparatus includes an integral or connected elongate probe and an elongate sleeve. Suction can be applied with a vacuum source operably connected to the proximal end region of the sleeve, whereby tissue of the surgical cavity is drawn against the surface of the sleeve. The probe includes one or more electrodes disposed at the probe's distal end region, for ablating tissue when the electrode(s) are activated to create an ablated margin of tissue at least partially surrounding the surgical cavity.
US07942870B2 Apparatus and method for accurately delimited cryoablation
The present invention is of a system and method for accurate cryoablation, useable to enhance a surgeon's ability to accurately cryoablate a selected cryoablation target and to limit cryoablation to that selected target. Presented are apparatus and method for accurately delimiting a cryoablation volume, for minimizing damage to tissues surrounding a cryoablation volume, and for real-time visualization of a border of a cryoablation volume during cryoablation. Also presented are a method for mildly heating tissues during cryoablation, cryoprobes operable to simultaneously cool first tissues while heating second tissues, and cryoprobes operable to cool tissues extending in a first lateral direction from those probes while not substantially cooling tissues extending in a second lateral direction from those probes.
US07942868B2 Surgical instrument with parallel motion mechanism
A surgical instrument has a parallel motion mechanism coupled between an instrument body segment and the instrument's distal end. The parallel motion mechanism changes the end effector's position without changing the end effector's orientation. In an aspect of the invention, the parallel motion mechanism and the body segment have essentially the same cross section so that the parallel motion mechanism can be inserted through a guide tube. In an aspect of the invention, the parallel motion mechanism is telemanipulatively controlled.
US07942867B2 Remotely controlled substance delivery device
Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled substance delivery device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to some embodiments, a delivery device or related device may be placed in an environment in order to pump a material into the environment or into an additional fluid handling structure within the device. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. The concentration of a substance in the fluid to be delivered may be modified by a remote control signal. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.
US07942865B2 Coronary sinus lead delivery catheter
A guide catheter for accessing the coronary sinus ostium has a proximal portion and a distal portion formed into a preformed shape including a curved segment. The preformed shape includes a first arc, a second arc, a third arc, a fourth arc, and a generally straight terminal portion. The preformed shape is generally a J-shape, having a terminal portion generally parallel to the proximal portion, a generally closed arc or a generally open arc.
US07942862B2 Surgical access apparatus and method
A trocar system for providing access across a body wall includes a trocar and an anchor provided in the form of a first helix. The anchor is adapted for placement in an operative position wherein the anchor extends at least partially through the body wall. A second helix formed on the trocar is size and configured to engage the first helix of the anchor so that rotation of the trocar relative to the anchor moves the second helix along the first helix. In this manner, the trocar is drawn into the anchor as it moves into the body wall. A proximal force applied to the anchor resists tenting of the abdominal wall. The anchor also holds the layers of the body wall together thereby resisting peritoneal separation.
US07942860B2 Piercing member protection device
The invention concerns a piercing member protection device, a kit of a piercing member protection device, a first and second fluid container and a method a method for transferring a fluid between a first and a second container using a piercing member protection device. The piercing member protection device comprises a protection chamber to protect at least the tip of a piercing member. The piercing member protection device further comprises a first and a second member arranged to each other. The first member is further arranged to slide with respect to the second member between a secured position, in which at least the tip of the piercing member is enclosed within the protection chamber so as to prevent the tip of the piercing member from exposure and an unsecured position, in which the tip of the piercing member is arranged outside the protection chamber wherein the first member is arranged to turn with respect to the second member between a locked position and an unlocked position so that when the first member is in the locked position the first member is substantially unable to slide along the longitudinal axis A and when the first member is in the unlocked position the first member is enabled to slide along the longitudinal axis A.
US07942859B2 Disposable wearing article
A wearing article includes a flexible chassis and a semi-rigid absorbent panel laid on inner surface of the chassis. A liner defining an innermost layer of the chassis is bonded to the absorbent panel in a fixed zone defined in a crotch region. A passage is formed through the liner at a position put aside from the fixed zone toward a rear waist region to guide feces through this passage. A first elastic member extends along a peripheral edge of the passage so as to be stretchable and contractible. A second elastic member and a third elastic member are paired and laid outside opposite side edges of the passage so as to be stretchable and contractible in a longitudinal direction in a vicinity of the passage.
US07942858B2 Sanitary napkin including body-facing protrusions and arcuately arranged embossed channels
A sanitary napkin including a first embossing pattern including a first and second plurality of arcuate channels and a second embossing pattern including a third and fourth plurality of arcuate channels, the channels cooperating to define a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the channels.
US07942854B1 Agent delivery catheter including an anchor and injection needle
An agent delivery catheter that uses an anchoring needle and injection needle for treating tissue, such as infarcted heart tissue, includes a first needle, a second needle extendable through the first needle and a control unit for displacing and adjusting the position of both the first and second needles relative to a distal end of the delivery catheter.
US07942853B2 Fluid chamber
A fluid chamber having an inlet and an outlet at the top of the chamber. The inlet is arrange so that fluid entering the chamber at the inlet sweeps the top of the chamber so as to direct any air bubbles naturally collecting at the top of the chamber or which may be trapped in the entering fluid stream toward the outlet.
US07942845B2 Needle-free injector and process for providing serial injections
Needle-free injection devices having a drive assembly to provide an operative force to effect an injection and a dosing assembly to prepare the device for a subsequent injection. In some embodiments, the dosing assembly is configured to transfer injectate from an injectate source to the injectate assembly. In some embodiments, a portion of energy available to the drive assembly urges the injectate towards the injectate assembly. In some embodiments, the device includes a nozzle assembly having one or more ports.
US07942842B2 Apparatus and method for the treatment of blood
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the treatment of the blood in a Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, using a machine which comprises: —connecting means from and to respective blood vessels of a patient; —blood processing means comprising a pump; —means for adding drugs or other therapeutic substances to the blood being treated; —means for feeding refill liquid into the blood; —blood filtration means, cascade-connected to one another by relative conduits, said conduits and said connecting means defining a blood path; wherein the blood to be treated passes through an oxygenating device which comprises an oxygenating membrane and is located upstream from said blood filtration means and downstream from said blood processing means, so that the blood is treated by said oxygenating membrane without the intake pressure along the portion upstream from the blood pump; and wherein the blood is pumped downstream from the connecting means to the oxygenating device at a flow rate of about 280-300 ml/min.
US07942837B2 Composite moldable splint and method of forming same
A composite moldable splint having at least a first splinting member with an inner foam layer, an intermediate thermoplastic layer, and an external securing layer. The inner foam layer provides a soft, moisture transmitting, non-latex padding. The intermediate thermoplastic layer provides remoldable shape, and rigidity and strength after heat forming and cooling. The outer securing layer, preferably covered with continuous loop fabric suitable for hook and loop fastening, provides an essentially infinite plurality of attachment points for retaining straps including at least a section of hook fastening material for holding the splint in place. The layers of the composite moldable splint are preferably heat welded to form a strong unitary structure that is resistant to delamination. Composite moldable splints utilizing multiple splinting members are described.
US07942834B2 Endoscope with ultrasonic vibration isolating protrusions
An endoscope includes an inserted unit for being inserted into a celomic cavity of a body and having therein at least one channel, and an ultrasonic treatment apparatus including a transmitting member that transmits an ultrasonic wave produced by an ultrasonic vibrator, and a treatment unit provided on a distal end of the transmitting member and for being inserted, together with the transmitting member, into the channel. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus is arranged within the channel by positioning a distal end of the treatment unit within a field of vision of the endoscope.
US07942833B2 Motion guide device, and its control system and control program
A device for inducing a user's motion in a rhythm responsive to a motion rhythm after the user's motion rhythm changes suddenly. The walking assist device generates a first oscillator which attains mutual entrainment with a user's hip joint angular velocity to reflect a natural angular velocity. On the other hand, a new natural angular velocity is set based on the phase difference between the hip joint angular velocity and the first oscillator. A second oscillator which oscillates in rhythm reflecting the natural angular velocity is generated. An inducing oscillator is generated based on the second oscillator, and a torque responsive to the inducing oscillator acts on the user's body. If the magnitude of a periodic variation in the hip joint angular velocity exceeds a threshold value, a second oscillator which oscillates in rhythm reflecting the angular velocity of the first oscillator instead of the natural angular velocity is generated.
US07942827B2 Minimally invasive allergy testing system
An allergy testing system includes encapsulated allergens, a microneedle array, and an activation system coupled to the microneedle array and the encapsulated allergens such that the encapsulated allergens are moved into contact with a subject as the microneedle array is moved from a resting position to a penetrating position. A method for determining a degree of reaction to one or more allergens by a patient in a minimally invasive manner is also disclosed. Penetration of one or more microneedles into a skin of the patient is caused. Each of the penetrations into the skin is exposed with an allergen from each of the one or more microneedles. One or more images are captured of each of the penetrations into the skin. Each of the captured images are analyzed to assess the degree of reaction to the specific allergen. Allergic reactivity data is output for at least one of the allergens.
US07942826B1 Insulated pedicle access system and related methods
A pedicle access system including a cannula, a stylet, and a removable T-handle. The pedicle access system may be used to percutaneously approach the pedicle, initiate pilot hole formation, and conduct a stimulation signal to the target site for the purposes of performing a pedicle integrity assessment during the pilot hole formation. To do this, the cannula and stylet are locked in combination and inserted through an operating corridor to the pedicle target site, using the T-handle to facilitate easy movement and positioning of the cannula/stylet combination. A stimulation signal may be applied during pilot hole formation to conduct the pedicle integrity assessment. In a significant aspect, the T-handle may be detached from the cannula/stylet combination to facilitate the use of various surgical tools as necessary.
US07942825B2 Method and device for monitoring thermal stress
A method and device for monitoring thermal stress in a user is described. The device is designed to include a material having specific thermodynamic properties and physical dimensions defined as a function of those thermodynamic properties. A system for thermal stress monitoring including a thermal stress monitoring device configured within a garment is also described.
US07942823B2 Methods and apparatus for stroke patient treatment
Methods and apparatus for assessing the condition of and treating patients for stroke during the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are disclosed. By determining central and obstructive apnea occurrences or the percentile of pressure delivered to the patient from patient airflow, stroke indicators may be calculated and analyzed to provide information on the type of stroke a patient has suffered and the degree of a patient's neuro-recovery. The apparatus may be programmed with a particular protocol intended to identify between alternative forms of CPAP treatment appropriate for the patient based upon an assessment of the patient's condition. The device can select and recommend between the various treatment forms, identify billing reimbursement codes and generate data to track patient response to stroke treatments.
US07942817B2 Patient monitoring and treatment medical signal interface system
A medical signal interface device bidirectionally conveys signals between a patient and patient monitoring devices. The device comprises a bidirectional electrical signal interface that receives and buffers patient parameter monitoring signals received from a patient via patient attached leads and outputs treatment related signals used in applying invasive or non-invasive treatment to a patient. A bidirectional electrical signal processor operates in response to commands received from a control processor and is coupled to the electrical signal interface, for processing received patient parameter monitoring signals using filtering and amplification to provide processed patient monitoring signals for output to at least one patient monitoring device. The bidirectional electrical signal processor processes the treatment related signals for output by buffering the treatment related signals for output to a patient. A control processor provides data representing the commands in response to at least one of, (a) predetermined configuration data and (b) deriving data representing the commands from data entered by a user via a displayed user interface image.
US07942816B2 Psychotic manifestation and mental state evaluation apparatus and evaluation method
A psychotic manifestation and mental state evaluation apparatus and method which can individually discriminate among symptoms by taking advantage of stimulating Noh mask images and also evaluate with a high probability whether a person is suffering from a specific symptom at the time of diagnosing, clinical examination, assessment, or counseling.
US07942814B2 Miniature endoscope with imaging fiber system
An endoscope has a fiber optic waveguide that transmits an image from a distal end to a proximal end, the waveguide having an outer diameter of less than 3 mm. A lens system is positioned at the distal end of the fiber optic waveguide. An imaging device is optically coupled to the proximal end of fiber optic waveguide. A disposable sheath extends about the fiber optic waveguide to provide a sterile barrier, and in a preferred embodiment the sheath includes an illumination channel. In a preferred embodiment, the lens system has a first lens element, a second lens element and an aperture stop.
US07942812B2 Endoscopic apparatus and diagnosis system
A diagnosis system composed of a fluoroscopic apparatus for obtaining a fluoroscopic image of an internal body be radiating x-rays to the body, and an endocopic apparatus for obtaining an optical image of the internal body part to be observed by inserting an insertion section of the endoscope into the body. In an operating section of the endoscope, a fluoroscope operating section for operating the fluoroscopic apparatus is disposed. Operation signals from the fluoroscope operating section are sent from a communication I/F of an endoscopic processor to the fluoroscopic apparatus. The fluoroscoptic apparatus receives the operation signals with a fluoroscopic processor and controls a fluoroscopic table.
US07942810B2 Endoscope and endoscopic system
An endoscope of the present invention includes an insert section inserted in a subject body, an operation section provided at a base end of the insert section, a control process section provided in the operation section, for controlling an image pickup section for capturing a subject body image and a predetermined function in the operation section, a signal circuit extending from the control process section, and a connection section provided to the operation section, for allowing detachable connection of a tube unit through which at least one duct line is inserted.
US07942809B2 Flexible ultrasonic wire in an endoscope delivery system
The flexible ultrasound wire delivered through an endoscope can bend through multiple radii and deliver ultrasonic energy to the business end of the working channel of an endoscope without requiring percutaneous incisions. The flexible ultrasonic wire is wire or fiber that can be flexed in any direction and is connected at one end to an ultrasonic transducer which is connected to an energy delivering device. An insulating layer between the flexible ultrasonic wire and a metallic working channel is non-metallic and resilient and operates to prevent unwanted fragmentation of the device and possible collateral soft tissue injuries.
US07942807B2 Dissolvable protective treatment for an implantable supportive sling
The invention provides, in one embodiment, a sling assembly including an implantable supportive sling and a biocompatible dissolvable protective treatment on at least a portion of the sling.
US07942805B2 VAD connector plug
A plug which may be positioned in place of a Ventricular Assist Device (“VAD”) within a VAD connector mounted to the heart. The VAD connector may have at least one VAD-engaging feature and may define an opening. The plug may have a body adapted to fill the opening of the VAD connector and may engage the VAD connector. The plug may be installed in place of a VAD when the heart heals, and then removed and replaced by a VAD if the patient's condition deteriorates.
US07942795B2 Stretching and toning device
An exercise device that accommodates stretching and toning exercises otherwise performed with an exercise ball. The device comprises a stable support structure and a padded bench that rocks back and forth on the stable support structure safely and predictably in response to the user's movements. The support structure can take a variety of different forms, including an A-frame geometry, a triangular geometry, a T-shaped geometry, and in the form of a pedestal base. A user, during exercise, can support part of his weight on the bench, and cause the bench to rock back and forth by alternately relaxing and contracting selected muscles.
US07942794B2 Training device
The invention relates to a training device (2) which comprises a base body (4) having a bearing surface (6) which is embodied in such a manner that the back of a user can be placed on the bearing surface (6) when in use. The base body (4) is mounted on or is embodied in such a manner with the bearing surface (6) that it can pivot from a first position, wherein the back of the user, who is sitting, is placed on the bearing surface (6) when in use, into a second position, wherein the bearing surface (6) is pivoted from a first position into the horizontal direction.
US07942788B2 Foldable treadmill
A foldable treadmill includes a base and two posts are pivotably connected to the base. A handle is pivotably connected between the two posts and includes at least one pivotal end which is connected the two posts. A positioning unit is located between the two posts and includes a transverse link and at least one passive link which has a first end pivotably and is connected to the transverse link. A lever is connected to the transverse link so as to pivot the transverse link. At least one insertion is connected to a second end of the at least one passive link, the pivotal end of the handle having a restriction port with which the insertion is disengageably inserted to restrict the handle from pivoted about the insertion.
US07942786B2 Training device for targeted training
A training device to target train a body of a person includes a support, a device foot part having action elements for legs of the person, a device arm part having action elements for arms of the training person, and a connecting joint, mounted on the support, to couple the device foot part with the device arm part. The connecting joint allows the device foot part and the device arm part to displace relative to each other about a common longitudinal axis that runs through the connecting joint, device arm part and device foot part which causes a relative turning movement in a region of a vertebral column axis of the person, when lying on the device, between the pelvic girdle and the shoulder girdle of the person.
US07942783B2 Exercise aid device
An exercise aid device has a hip supporting member movable relative to a base, footrests movable relative to the base, drive means for driving the hip supporting member, body constitution estimating unit for estimating at least one of fat mass and muscle mass of a user, and a controller for the drive means. The controller controls the drive means such that a load acting on a femoral region by own weight of the user supported on the hip supporting member changes according to a relative positional displacement between the user's toe and trochanter major, the positional displacement is allowed in a direction of flexion and extension of knee joint of the user, and an angle of the knee joint is maintained substantially constant. In addition, since the controller controls the drive means by use of an output of the body constitution estimating unit, it is possible to provide an exercise with less burden to the knee joint and a suitable strength for the user.
US07942776B2 Two-mode electrically variable transmission
An electrically variable transmission (EVT) is provided with input member and output member, first and second motor/generators, a first and a second planetary gear set, and a final drive gearset. Two torque-transmitting mechanisms that are selectively engagable alone or in different combinations to establish an electric-only operating mode, an input split mode, a compound split mode, and a neutral mode. The first torque-transmitting mechanism may be configured as a one-way clutch in parallel with a friction clutch or a dog clutch, or configured as a lockable one-way clutch. A vehicle having the EVT may be driven electrically using one or both motor/generators, up to a maximum speed of the motor/generators. There are no slipping clutches when operated in an electric-only operating mode, and the engine provides most of the power for high-speed cruising. The EVT can transition from input split mode to compound split mode by synchronous shift.
US07942757B2 Strike face insert
A golf club head, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, comprises a metallic striking wall having a striking surface and at least one through score-line opening. At least one complementary component may be disposed rearward of the striking surface such that at least a part of the at least one complementary component extends into only a part of the at least one through score-line opening.
US07942751B2 Sports facility
A sporting facility comprises a plurality of rotary elements having flexible components extending therefrom, the rotary elements being arranged so that the flexible components thereof provide a substantially continuous supporting surface, and means for rotating the rotary elements. The flexible components are preferably filaments or fibers, extending perpendicular to the substantially continuous surface. The facility is of particular use in providing an artificial surface for skiing, snow boarding, surfing or the like.
US07942747B2 Video game controller rack
The present invention is for a storage rack for game controllers and a method of using it. The present invention provides a safe convenient and practical way of storing game controllers when the game controller is not in use by a gamer. The advantage of the present invention is that it organizes the controllers as well as provides a decorative element to a room. The game controller rack includes a vertical member and one or more pairs of cantilever angle members or posts wherein the members have a predetermined lateral spacing and are angled outwardly and upwardly in a predetermined range of angles to provide support for retaining various game controllers.
US07942746B2 Network game system
A distribution server distributes meteorological data to a first game apparatus. The first game apparatus obtains, from the distribution server, meteorological data corresponding to region data set by region data setting means and transmits the meteorological data to a second game apparatus. The first game apparatus executes an on-line game with the second game apparatus using the obtained meteorological data. The second game apparatus receives the meteorological data transmitted from the first game apparatus. Using the received meteorological data, the second game apparatus executes the on-line game with the first game apparatus.
US07942743B2 Game apparatus and storage medium storing game program
A game apparatus includes two LCDs, a touch panel is provided in association with the one LCD. On the touch panel, an operation button corresponding to each player character is set. A setting of the operation button is changed according to an operation state (frequency of usage, operation coordinates position) by a player during playing the game. For example, a size of an operation effective area and a display position of the operation button are changed according to the frequency of usage. Furthermore, at least any one of the operation effective areas and the display position of the operation button is changed according to the operation coordinates position.
US07942742B2 Accessing identification information to verify a gaming device is in communications with a server
To verify that a gaming device is in communications with a server that provides activities and/or services to a player through the gaming device and maintains information related to these activities and/or services, a verification server determines one or more pieces of the maintained information and sends the determined information to a verification device.
US07942739B2 Storing information from a verification device and accessing the information from a gaming device to verify that the gaming device is communicating with a server
A system includes a server, which provides activities and possibly other services to a player through a gaming device. To verify that the gaming device is communicating with the server, information received from a verification device is stored. Thereafter, in response to a request from the gaming device, the stored information is determined and sent to the gaming device via the server.
US07942738B2 Verifying a gaming device is in communications with a gaming server
A system includes a verification server and a gaming server, which provides gaming activities and possibly other services to a player through a gaming device. The system further includes a verification device in communications with the verification server. The verification server passes an indicator between the verification device and gaming device via the gaming server and in this fashion, verification can be made that the gaming device is in communications with the gaming server.
US07942737B2 Gaming device having a game with multiple selections and progressive game incrementation
A gaming device having a game involving a plurality of selections and at least one progressive game increment associated with at least one of the selections. The gaming device has a progressive award which is displayable if the player picks a selection associated with a progressive game increment.
US07942736B2 Path or flow based bonus game
The present invention is a player participatory bonus game intended for use in a gaming environment. After a primary game event triggers play of the bonus game, the player is presented with a game arena which shows start points, end points, and locations in between where game pieces may be placed. The game pieces are specially themed so that the player wins by created a path or flow from a start point to an end point, using selected bonus pieces and placing them on the indicated location points.
US07942735B2 Methods and systems for conducting live pool and competitive wagering activities
Methods and systems for conducting wagers, such as pari-mutuel wagers. In one exemplary embodiment a series of events, such as horse races, dog races, etc., is identified for which a plurality of bettors may each place at least one wager, and a wagering activity thereon is structured as a contest. Bettors may each be provided with a “play money” bankroll for use in wagering, and play against one another competitively to achieve one or more winning outcomes for the contest as defined by the operator. Alternatively, bettors may have their conventional, live wagers entered into the contest. The prize pool for the contest, which may be multi-tiered, is fixed based on the number of participants and allocated to winners independent of the live wager prize pool, thus not affecting odds for the live wager. The contest wagering activity may be run in parallel with live wagering, and utilizing the same wagering system for administration of both. Wagering systems and a wagering network are also disclosed.
US07942731B2 Method and apparatus for facilitating game play with a mortgaging option
In some embodiments, methods and apparatus allow for a plurality of options to be displayed to a player for playing at least one round of a game in accordance with at least one advantage and/or disadvantage. The player may accept an option. For example, a player may accept an option to play at least one future round of play in accordance with a rule that is different from a rule used in a current round of play.
US07942729B2 Gizzard peeler and method of peeling a gizzard
The invention relates to a gizzard peeler comprising a series of rollersets, each rollerset comprising a first roller and a second roller that in use rotate in opposite directions, wherein the rollersets collectively form a cylindrical wall of a rotatable drum or form part of such a wall, whereby the drum is provided at its outer circumference with a guide and pressure device for guiding and pressing a gizzard along at least a part of the drum's outer circumference.
US07942727B2 Floor edger
A wood floor edger is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the edger comprises a housing and a motor. The housing comprises an opening and a rotatable abrasive disc located in the opening. The rotatable abrasive disc may have a diameter greater than six inches. The motor is operatively connected to the first housing and drivingly connected to the abrasive disc. A motor controller is electrically connected to the motor, wherein the motor is operatable at a speed that is preselected by the motor controller.
US07942724B2 Polishing pad with window having multiple portions
A polishing pad has an opaque polishing layer with an aperture therethrough and a polishing surface, and a solid light-transmissive window in the aperture. The solid light-transmissive window includes an outer portion secured to the polishing layer and an inner portion secured to the outer portion. The outer portion has a upper surface recessed relative to the polishing surface, whereas the inner portion has an upper surface that is substantially co-planar with the polishing surface.
US07942723B2 Back adjuster for brassiere
A length adjuster for connection between two parts of a garment has a flexible tape having an outer end adapted for fixing to one of the garment parts and formed with a longitudinally extending row of grooves and an inner end. A buckle has a base formed with a seat and an upper face from which projects a tooth. A clamp has a lower face turned toward the upper face and pivotal on the base between a position closely juxtaposed with the tooth and a position farther away from the tooth. The tape extends through the buckle between the faces with the grooves open toward and fittable with the tooth and with the inner end fixed in the seat. The tape forms a loop to a side of the buckle opposite the outer end. Structure forms an eye through which the loop passes and through which the tape can slide.
US07942717B2 Brick assembly with automatically recognizing connecting relationships
A brick assembly with automatically recognizing connecting relationships includes a rod brick, a sleeve brick and a frame brick. The rod brick has an irregular polygon-shaped cross-section and an identification IC. The sleeve brick has the internal bore with the same shape with the cross-section of the rod brick to make the rod brick insert into the sleeve brick only in one direction. Also, the sleeve brick is used to connect the rod brick to the frame brick. The signals, caused by the resistor of the sleeve brick, of the identification IC of the frame brick are detected by a computer system to recognize automatically connecting relationships of these bricks.
US07942716B2 Frit sealing system and method of manufacturing organic light emitting display device
A frit sealing system and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device by using the frit sealing system, and more particularly, a frit sealing system and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device by using the frit sealing system, which includes a pressure member so as to physically pressurize a first substrate and a second substrate, thereby increasing adhesion of a frit when the first substrate and the second substrate are adhered to each other by using the frit. The frit sealing system, adhering the first substrate and the second substrate by using the frit, includes: a bed member on which the first substrate is placed; a laser irradiation member irradiating a laser to the frit between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a pressure member disposed on an upper part of the first substrate and the second substrate irradiated with the laser and adhered, thereby pressurizing the first substrate and the second substrate irradiated with the laser and adhered.
US07942711B1 Method for controlling a marine propulsion trim system
A method is provided for controlling a marine propulsion trim system under two distinct modes of operation. A first mode operates hydraulic cylinders at a slower speed when the associated marine vessel is being operated at a speed above a predetermined threshold. For example, when the marine propulsion device is under load, such as when the marine vessel is operating on plane, the first mode of operation is used and the trim/tilt cylinders are operated at a slower speed. A second mode of operation is used when the marine propulsion system is being operated below a predetermined threshold. In other words, if the marine vessel is operating at a slow speed, the faster mode of operation is used. Similarly, if the marine vessel is being prepared for transport on a trailer, the very slow or non-existent speed of operation of the engine is used as an indicator which causes the second mode of operation to be employed.
US07942705B2 Audio jack with pogo pins for conductive contacts
An audio jack can allow electrical connections between an audio plug and an electronic device. The audio jack can include a series of pogo pins operative to extend into an audio jack cavity to provide conductive contacts for an audio plug placed within the audio jack. When an audio plug is inserted in the audio jack, the deflectable tips of each pogo pin can deflect and contact audio plug contact portions or regions. The end of the pogo pins opposite the deflectable tips can be coupled to an appropriate electronic device component, such as a printed circuit board, flex circuit, cable, or any other suitable component to provide a conductive path for signals between the audio plug and the electronic device.
US07942704B2 Crosstalk-proof plug connector
A crosstalk-proof plug connector has an insulating housing, a mounting bracket, multiple first terminals, multiple second terminals and a shell. The first terminals are mounted on the insulating housing. The second terminals are mounted on the mounting bracket. Each terminal has a mounting section, a soldering section and a contacting section. The soldering sections are arranged in a transverse row with a specific sequence to prevent crosstalk interfering with signal transmission.
US07942702B2 Modular connector
A modular connector includes a base and at least one adaptor. The base is provided with at least one first assembling port. The first assembling port has an insertion slot therein. The insertion slot has a plurality of insertion holes. Each of the plurality of insertion holes is provided with an electrical-conductive pin extending outside the base. The adaptor has a rear end with an insertion pin and a front end with a connecting port. The connecting port has a tongue therein. The tongue is provided with a plurality of electrical-conductive terminals. One end of each of the electrical-conductive terminals is electrically connected with the insertion pin. The adaptor is assembled in the first assembling port. The insertion pin is inserted into and electrically connected to the insertion slot.
US07942701B2 Power sourcing unit for power over ethernet system
A power sourcing unit for a power over ethernet system. The unit includes a chassis with a power supply guide and a CPU guide, and a power supply including a power supply connector. The unit also includes a printed circuit board including first and second connectors and being coupled to a plurality of RJ-45 jacks, and a CPU line card including a CPU connector. The power supply guide engages the power supply to allow the power supply to be slid into and out of the unit to couple the power supply connector to the first connector of the printed circuit board. The CPU guide engages the CPU line card to allow the CPU line card to be slid into and out of the unit to couple the CPU connector to the second connector of the printed circuit board. The CPU line card allows the unit to be coupled to a network. Multiple power sourcing units can be daisy-chained together.
US07942700B2 Modular electronic header assembly and methods of manufacture
A device for electrically interconnecting and packaging electronic components. In one embodiment, a modular non-conducting base member having one or more component recesses and a plurality of lead channels formed therein is provided. At least one electronic component is disposed within the recess, and the wire leads of the component routed through the lead channels to a conductive lead terminal. A plurality of lead terminals, adapted to cooperate with the non-conducting base member, are received therein, and adapted to place the device in signal communication with an external printed circuit board. The modular non-conducting base members are assembled or stacked to form a unitary modular assembly. Methods for fabricating the device are also disclosed.
US07942699B1 Electrical connector with a flange secured to an antenna and electrically connected to a ground shield of an electrical power cable
An electrical connector provides electrical power to an antenna from an electrical power cable. The electrical connector includes a housing, and an electrical contact held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a mating segment and a mounting segment. The mating segment is configured to mate with a mating connector that terminates the electrical power cable. The mounting segment is configured to be electrically connected to the antenna. The electrical connector also includes a mounting flange having an opening therein. The housing is held within the opening of the mounting flange such that at least portion of the mounting flange extends outwardly from a periphery of the housing. The mounting flange includes at least one mounting component that is configured to secure the mounting flange to the antenna. The mounting flange is electrically conductive and is configured to be electrically connected to a ground shield of the electrical power cable.
US07942698B2 Connector having contacts with a linkage portion having a width smaller than that of the contact portion
A connector capable of maintaining contact reliability even with reduced arrangement pitch of contacts. First and second contacts are alternately arranged on a housing along contact arrangement direction orthogonal to direction of fitting the housing to a receptacle connector. A first contact portion, first bending portion, and first connecting portion connected to a coaxial cable, of each first contact are disposed on an upper surface, front portion and rear portion of the arranging portion, respectively. A linkage portion connecting the first bending and connecting portions, and a second contact portion continuous with a second connecting portion of each second contact are disposed on a lower surface of the arranging portion. A second bending portion disposed on the front portion is continuous with the second contact portion. The linkage portion is smaller in width in the arrangement direction than the first and second contact portions.
US07942696B2 Pothead connectors for submersible motor head and methods of assembly thereof
A pothead connector for connecting a plurality of electrical cables to the terminal block of a submersible motor head is provided. A method of assembly of the pothead connector is also provided. The pothead connector comprises a housing that defines a plurality of passageways that extend in a longitudinal direction and are each configured to receive one of the electrical cables. Each passageway is further configured to receive a shroud that encircles the electrical cable within that one passageway. A first end of the shroud compresses a packing seal to form a liquid impermeable seal with each passageway and with the outer surface of the electrical cable. Each shroud is biased in the longitudinal direction to compress the packing seal by a plurality of spring stacks separated by a plurality of spacers. The second end of the shroud is capable configured to mate with a recess in the terminal block.
US07942692B2 Connecting element for the connection of switching devices
A connecting element is disclosed for the connection of at least two switching devices and a switching device and an electric distribution system. In order to allow for the rapid and wireless connection of a plurality of electromechanical devices, at least one embodiment of the invention proposes a connecting device for the connection of at least two switching devices, wherein the connecting element includes first element(s) for mechanically connecting the switching devices to one and another and second element(s) for electrically connecting switching poles of the switching devices. The second element(s) include flexible connecting elements for connecting the switching devices to the switching poles that are electrically connected to the connecting device.
US07942689B1 Electrical connector assembly and method
An electrical connector assembly for forming insulation displacement connections with conductors in small wires includes a wire carrier and a base. Pierce points on the base are slid along opposed walls in a slot in the carrier to align small tips on the ends of the pierce points to form electrical connections with a conductor in a wire in the carrier. The connections are located inwardly of the slot walls.
US07942681B2 Safety receptacle with tamper resistant shutter
The disclosed embodiments are directed to a protective shutter assembly that includes a registration member having longitudinal and lateral axes, first and second shutter members slidably mounted in the registration member, each shutter member including a ramp member and a receptacle blocking member, the ramp member being configured to lie in a path of a first receptacle opening and the receptacle blocking member being configured to lie in a path of a second receptacle opening, spring members connected between the registration member and respective ones of the first and second shutter members, the spring members being configured to bias the first and second shutter members so that the ramp members lie in a path of a respective receptacle opening, and wherein the first and second shutter members are independently movable such that when an object exerts a force on only one ramp member, a respective shutter member moves relative to the other shutter member such that the one ramp member is longitudinally displaced allowing the object to contact the receptacle blocking member of the other shutter member.
US07942679B1 Grounding terminal block assembly including conduit adapter for multiple services
A grounding terminal block assembly that includes a conduit adapter, a grounding bar, and a detachable cover. The conduit adapter enables attachment to a wall and to electrical conduit for grounding the assembly. The conduit adapter includes one or more conduit receiving ports for attachment of electrical conduit. The grounding terminal block includes a plurality of grounding terminals for establishing connection points for grounding multiple electrical systems, including phone, data, and cable TV systems. A channel on one end of the grounding bar includes a channel and fastener for establishing a secure connection to a ground wire. Legs are provided on the grounding bar for providing direct connection to the conduit adapter. The detachable insulating cover is secured to the grounding bar to shield the grounding body and all wiring connections to the grounding body.
US07942674B2 Learning bracelet
The invention is directed to a learning bracelet that contains a compartment for placing learning tags for display. The learning tags can either be pre-printed with a word and/or can be made printer friendly so that the desired word and/or concepts can be printed upon the learning tag before being used. Once inserted into the learning bracelet, the learning tag displays the word and/or concept to the person wearing the learning bracelet. The displayed word and/or concepts can be view by the student using the bracelet so as to reinforce the word, its spelling and or meaning.
US07942669B2 Gingival tissue retraction device and method
A method and a device for effecting the cordless retraction of the gingival sulcus tissue that includes a dam shaped to be fitted onto a tooth. In one embodiment, the well of the dam is pre-filled with a predetermined amount of a flowable retraction material having a heavy viscosity or putty consistency. The preloaded tooth dam is fitted to a prepared tooth so that when pressure is applied onto the tooth dam, the retraction material is displaced under pressure and forced into the sulcus, causing the gingival tissue to retract away from the tooth to enlarge the gingival sulcus. In another embodiment the cap is filled with a dilatant material. In another embodiment, the cap is filled with an impregnated compressible porous material. In yet another embodiment, the cap is pre-dosed with an astringent or hemostatic agent.
US07942667B2 Electromagnetic radiation emitting toothbrush and dentifrice system
A device includes a handle coupled with an activated textured surface that can be implemented using a repetitive movement mechanism and a treatment energy source, such as an electromagnetic radiation source. The handle may be used to provide detection, treatment and/or management of sundry conditions including, for example, tooth discoloration, tissue damage, periodontal disease, tumors, pain, halitosis, and bronchitis. The activated textured surface may include a surface topography including corrugations, bristles, protuberances, or pits, or other surfaces for facilitating agitation, cleaning or other surface treatments.
US07942666B2 Apparatus for burning organic substances
An apparatus is described for burning organic substances, comprising a horizontal combustion chamber (2) provided in a housing (1) and heat-insulated against said housing (1), and a counter-flow heat exchanger (8) which preheats the combustion air with the help of the hot exhaust gases from the combustion chamber (2) and which forms a flow duct (10) for the combustion air between the combustion chamber (2) and a heat-exchanger wall (9) enclosing the combustion chamber (2), as well as a flow duct (11) for the hot exhaust gases on the side of the heat-exchanger wall (9) averted from the combustion chamber (2). In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that the heat-exchanger wall (9) of the counter-flow heat exchanger (8) is provided on the outside of the heat insulation (3) of the combustion chamber (2) which comprises an upper exhaust outlet (7) opening into the housing (1), that heat exchangers (6) which extend parallel to the combustion chamber (2) are provided for the heating of a heat-transfer medium with the sensible waste heat of the hot exhaust gases in the upper interstices (4) obtained on either side of the cylindrical combustion chamber (2) between the combustion chamber (2) and the substantially prismatic housing (1), and that the exhaust-gas-receiving flow duct (11) of the counter-flow heat exchanger (8) for the exhaust gases originates from the two interstices (4), while the heat-exchanger wall (9) extends with the flow duct (10) for the combustion air into the interstices (4).
US07942665B2 Igniter
An igniter can include a safety mechanism which is easily operated by an adult but is difficult for a child to release. In particular, an igniter can include: a nozzle section which emits a flame; a fuel introduction section; an ignition section which ignites the introduced fuel, wherein the ignition section is configured in such a manner that the fuel is ignited by movement of an ignition operating section to an ignition position; a movement restricting section having restricting sections which restrict the movement of the ignition operating section; and a permitting section which permits movement. When moving the movement restricting section, either the restricting sections or the permitting section can be disposed so as to correspond to the direction of movement of the ignition operating section.
US07942663B2 Injection molding valve gate system and activating mechanism
A valve gate system for an injection molding machine, having a valve gate unit configured to be in contact with a manifold of an injection molding machine for delivering a molten plastic flow from a hot runner system to an injection chamber. The valve gate unit has a valve pin for controlling the flow of the molten plastic from a hot runner system to an injection chamber and an activating unit coupled with the valve gate unit. The activating unit is configured to be mounted external to a mold unit that houses the injection chamber. In addition, the activating unit has an element that extends through the mold unit to engage the valve pin, so as to control the molten plastic flow from a runner system to an injection chamber.
US07942660B2 Device for mounting a mould in a machine that makes sanitaryware
A device for mounting a mould in a machine (1) that comprises: a mould (2) composed of two half-moulds (2a, 2b), each of which comprises an active filtering portion (2ar, 2br) and a rigid structural portion (5, 6); a mounting platen (3, 4) for each half-mould (2a, 2b), movable towards and away from each other; the service plate (5) of the first half-mould (2a) is rigidly connected, in use, between the active portion (2ar) and the respective platen (3); the device comprises reference and quick connect means (7, 8) located in a region above the center of gravity of the first half-mould (2a), and acting between the platen (3) and the service plate (5) in order to fasten the first half-mould (2a) in a predetermined, hanging position correlated between the platen (3) and the plate (5).
US07942659B2 Injection drive apparatus for injection molding machine
An injection drive apparatus for injection molding machines is revealed. Liquid material is fed into a mold smoothly by a material feeding screw of a material feeding mechanism. Then a reaction force is generated to push the material feeding screw when the material feeding hole is nearly full of the material. Thus the material feeding screw and the slide mechanism assembled therewith are pushed to move backward. Later the injection mechanism is driven by the slide mechanism to move and act on the drive screw. Thus the slide mechanism threaded with the drive screw is driven to push the material feeding screw moving forward and squeezing the material for injection molding. Therefore, the load of the motor is reduced dramatically and the yield rate of the products produced by injection molding is increased due to the two-stage action-feeding of the material and squeezing of the material for injection.
US07942658B1 Systems for forming lightweight concrete block
A method and apparatus for efficiently forming individual building units is provided, generally includes providing a plurality of molds, each capable of simultaneously forming a plurality of building units. Batches of cementitious slurry are individually mixed in order to control the density of each building unit formed. The ingredients are individually measured and combined into the mixing device. The cementitious slurry is then conveyed or transported and poured into one of the molds. The method provides the ability to control the amount of cementitious slurry in each batch in order to control to the extent possible the quantity of cementitious slurry poured into each mold and the ability to precisely control the dimensions of each building unit produced.
US07942655B2 Advanced scroll compressor, vacuum pump, and expander
Modifications of a scroll compressor provide a bellows suitable for liquid cooling and a plunger actuated seal for the scroll tips of various equipment. A bellows spans the fixed and the orbiting scrolls and hermetically seals the scroll device. Using two bellows, the present invention allows for liquid cooling of a compressor with an inlet and an outlet to exhaust heated coolant to a heat exchanger. Then the scrolls have a spiral upon a plate that ends in a tip. A seal upon the tip that abuts the fixed scroll upon a biased plunger modifies existing scroll designs to maintain the seal in contact with the fixed scroll. The modifications also provide an improved coating that seals the fixed and orbiting scrolls to each other without the use of epoxy, disassembly, and cleaning.
US07942654B2 Addressable multi-channel peristaltic pump
The present invention provides an addressable multi-channel peristaltic pump. According to the invention, this pump design allows for selection and operation of one or more pump heads on a drive shaft, while locking other non-selected pump heads in a stationary position. It is possible to operate the multi-channel pump using a limited number of motors, preferably two motors: a selector motor and a dispense motor. Thus, the pump provides for pumping or dispensing of one or more fluids without the need for multiple pumps. Likewise, compared with typical single motor multi-channel systems, where all pump heads on the drive shaft must rotate at the same time, the present invention provides for selective dispensing of one or more fluids. The pumps of the present invention are suitable for any multiple fluid transfer application, including in automated multi-channel reagent dispensing systems, such as nucleic acid purification systems.
US07942651B2 Refrigeration device with improved DC motor
A miniature cooling device includes numerous improvements capable of increasing the reliability and useful lifetime of the device, as well as improving electrical power to cooling power conversion efficiency. The improvements include a DC motor shaft design that incorporates a flywheel mass 314 with a solid shaft cross-section 300 for increasing shaft stiffness and magnetic flux density in the DC motor. Additional improvements include a bend resistant flexible vane 1114 in the DC motor to compression piston drive coupler, and a sealed cover set configured to be removable to make a motor repair and then replaced.
US07942648B2 Air pump
Lifetime required of mobile-use fuel cells is secured and prolonged, stabilized pump performance is maintained by preventing bearing seizure and abnormal wear. The shaft (101) of a pump mechanism section (100) and the shaft (201) of a motor section (200) are integrated, and the shafts (101, 201) are supported by two or more ball bearings disposed in the pump mechanism section (100), thereby making it possible to fill grease in the closed spaces of the ball bearings (300), and secure a sufficient lifetime basically with almost no possibility of the grease leaking out, even if it is used at a relatively high environmental temperature.
US07942643B2 Device and method for pumping fluids employing the movement of gas bubbles in microscale
The present fluid pumping method for micro-fluidic devices uses gas bubbles to move fluid by light beams. The light beams are emitted to the fluid near the gas bubble through an optically transparent cover and correspondingly heat the fluid in the micro channels. The liquid temperature variation changes the surface tension of the gas bubble near the heated fluid side, therefore, a pressure gradient between the end portions of the gas bubble generates accordingly. By moving the light beams, the moved pressure difference will be achieved, which will drive the gas bubbles and pump the fluid. Such a fluid pumping can simplify the structure of a micro-fluidic device and eliminate heat loss because of using a controllable light beam.
US07942642B2 Method and apparatus for highly efficient compact vapor compression cooling
The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for cooling. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a lightweight, compact, reliable, and efficient cooling system. The subject system can provide heat stress relief to individuals operating under, for example, hazardous conditions, or in elevated temperatures, while wearing protective clothing. The subject invention also relates to a condenser for transferring heat from a refrigerant to an external fluid in thermal contact with the condenser. The subject condenser can have a heat transfer surface and can be designed for an external fluid, such as air, to flow across the heat transfer surface and allow the transfer of heat from heat transfer surface to the external fluid. In a specific embodiment, the flow of the external fluid is parallel to the heat transfer surface. In another specific embodiment, the heat transfer surface can incorporate surface enhancements which enhance the transfer of heat from the heat transfer surface to the external fluid. In another specific embodiment, an outer layer can be positioned above the heat transfer surface to create a volume between the heat transfer surface and the outer layer through which the external fluid can flow.
US07942636B2 Annulus filler seal
A seal for an annulus filler for a gas turbine engine comprises a seal body releasably attached in use to the fan annulus filler, the seal body supporting two seal members so that in use one seal member is brought into contact with, and forms a seal against, an aerofoil surface of one of the fan blades, and the other seal member is brought into contact with, and forms a seal against, an aerofoil surface of the other of the fan blades.
US07942628B2 Turbo compressor
A first compression stage and a second compression stage being arranged at positions adjacent to each other. The first centrifugal impeller and the second centrifugal impeller are arranged in such an orientation that back sides of the first centrifugal impeller and the second centrifugal impeller face to each other. A connection flow path is formed in the first housing and the second housing for introducing the compressed fluid from the first compression stage into the second compression stage. An upstream portion of the connection flow path is formed integrally with the first housing, and a downstream portion of the connection flow path is formed integrally with the second housing.
US07942627B2 Axial fan unit
A serial axial fan unit includes a first axial fan arranged to rotate about a central axis, a flow control device connected to the first axial fan along the central axis, and a second axial fan connected to the flow control device along the central axis. The flow control device preferably includes a wind tunnel portion, a base portion, and a plurality of flow control vanes. A flow of air caused by rotation of first blades has a whirl velocity component in substantially the same direction as the rotation direction thereof. This whirl velocity component is converted to a velocity component in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the central axis by interference of first stationary vanes. The above arrangement provides an improvement in air volume characteristics of a serial axial fan unit including two axial fans arranged in series.
US07942626B2 Compressor
A compressor for compressing a gas comprises an impeller wheel mounted within a housing (2) defining an inlet and an outlet. The inlet comprises a map-width enhanced structure with an annular flow passage (11) defined between inner (9) and outer (7) tubular walls. The flow passage (11) is in fluid communication with the impeller wheel by virtue of a slot (13) in the inner wall (9). A flow-conditioning member (14) is positioned in the annular flow passage (11) and serves to remove swirl from the gas flow that recirculates through the passage. The flow-conditioning member (14) comprises a body penetrated by a plurality of bores (15). The arrangement provides for a significant improvement in the surge margin of the compressor and is particularly suitable for use in a turbocharger.
US07942622B2 Transfer/alignment method in vacuum processing apparatus, vacuum processing apparatus and computer storage medium
In a vacuum transfer chamber 10, a position detecting mechanism 33 for detecting the positions of semiconductor wafers W is arranged. The semiconductor wafers W disposed at predetermined positions in a load lock chamber 17 and vacuum processing chambers 11 to 16 are transferred to the position detecting mechanism 33 by a vacuum transfer mechanism 30 and the positions of the wafers are detected. Then, based on the detection results, aligning between the load lock chamber 17 and the vacuum processing chambers 11 to 16 is performed.
US07942619B2 Carrier unit of substrate transfer apparatus
In the present invention, a base 43 of a robot 27 is fixed to a fixing portion 53 of a frame divided body 50. The base 43 allows force exerted from a robot main body 27A to be transmitted to the fixing portion 53 of the frame divided body 50. Contrary, the fixing portion 53 of the frame divided body 50 has rigidity which can prevent the force exerted from the base 43 of the robot 27 from being transmitted to a main body constituting member 51. Accordingly, the base 43 of the robot 27 has only to possess a function for connecting the robot main body 27A and the frame divided body 50. Therefore, even though reducing its rigidity, transmission of vibration to the wafer processing apparatus can be prevented, as well as occurrence of malfunctioning in the substrate processing work can be prevented. In addition, increasing the rigidity of the frame divided body 50 can be achieved easier with a simpler construction and more effective than increasing the rigidity of the robot. Accordingly, more secured wafer processing can be provided.
US07942618B1 Cargo cover and net assembly
A cargo pallet cover and net assembly includes a cargo cover attached to a cargo net. The cargo net is attached to upper and lower side regions of the cargo cover so that the cargo cover and net assembly may be placed over a cargo load in one step. The cargo net is optionally attached at or near the lowermost side regions of the cargo cover so that the cargo cover is substantially prevented from obstructing attachment of the cargo net to a pallet on which the cargo load is supported.
US07942617B2 Nose tip control for cordless high speed rotary tool
A control mechanism for a rotary hand tool of the type having a generally cylindrical housing in which a drive motor is located, the housing having a nose portion from which a motor output shaft extends and a grip portion, the mechanism including an electrical control circuit that controls the application of power to and the operation of the motor, and a light touch switch having at least a first position or state and a second position or state coupled to the electrical control circuit for selectively enabling or disabling the control circuit to turn the motor on and off. The switch is disposed on the nose portion of the rotary hand tool such that an operator can actuate the switch substantially without altering the operator's grip on the tool.
US07942602B2 Barrier system
A barrier system and method for providing a barrier system are disclosed. The barrier system and method relate to a vehicle and pedestrian barrier system which can be positioned in vehicle and pedestrian passageways adjacent a protected structure or area to preclude the vehicle or the pedestrian from reaching and engaging the protected structure or area.
US07942601B2 Fully automatic twistlock to be connected to a container and a method for releasing a first container from a second
The present invention relates to a coupling device (1) to be connected to a corner fitting of a container, the coupling device comprises a housing (2), an engaging part (3) which is at least partially insertable into and releasable from said corner fitting. The engaging part (3) has a guide part (4) for guiding the engaging part with said corner fitting, further the engaging part (3) is rotably mounted in said housing (2) by means of a shaft portion (5) extending into the housing. The guide part (4) has a translation guide path for guiding the engaging part (3) in relation to the corner fitting in a horizontal direction, which translation guide path is rotational asymmetric in relation to an axis (7) of the shaft portion (5). Also included is a method for releasing a first container from a second.
US07942599B2 Coupling mechanism
An agricultural harvesting machine comprises a coupling for connecting a shaft to a driving element mounted for rotation about the shaft. The coupling provides a torque path between the shaft and the driving element which passes through both a lost motion connection and a shear bolt.
US07942597B2 Assembly for delivering protective barriers onto stethoscope heads
An assembly structured to restrict contamination of individuals from association with the heads of stethoscope comprising a housing including a path of travel along which the head portion passes. Different embodiments include the dispensing of cleaning fluid or the delivery of protective barriers onto predetermined portions of the stethoscope heads, while passing along the path of travel. A dispenser assembly and a cooperatively disposed activating assembly are manually operated by moveable, driving engagement with the head portion passing through the housing. The activating assembly is thereby operatively positioned to activate the dispenser assembly when engaged by a head passing along the path of travel. Differently structured dispenser assemblies function to either deliver the cleaning fluid or individually dispense the barriers onto different heads, so as to either facilitate the cleaning or protective covering of exposed surfaces of the stethoscope heads, dependent on the embodiment utilized.
US07942588B2 Hybrid multi-contact connector
The present invention relates to a multi-contact connector comprising: a plug constituting the termination of a cable having at least one optical conductor and/or at least one electrical conductor; and a socket for connecting to the plug and comprising a body and a plate for fastening to a panel; wherein the socket is a single piece of polymer material and wherein the connector includes electromagnetic shielding.
US07942585B2 Wheel bearing apparatus for a vehicle
A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, and double row rolling elements freely rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner and outer members. A brake pilot portion extends from a base of a wheel hub mounting flange toward the outer side to guide an inner circumferential surface of a brake rotor. A wheel pilot portion extends from the brake pilot portion further toward the outer side to guide an inner circumferential surface of the wheel. The wheel pilot portion including a plurality of separated pilots separated along a circumferential direction. A chamfered portion is formed, by forging, on a forward end of each separated pilot in view of its lathe cutting direction. The chamfered portion has a predetermined inclined angle relative to an axial end surface of each separated pilot after lathe cutting.
US07942584B2 Wheel bearing apparatus
A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, double row rolling elements, and seals. At least one seal has a slinger and an annular sealing plate. The sealing plate has a metal core, press fit into the outer member, and a sealing member, integrally vulcanized adhered to the metal core. The sealing member has first and second side lips, formed with an inclination extending radially outward, and a cylindrical inner end portion, surrounding the inner circumferential edge and a portion of the back surface of the metal core. Each tip of the first and second side lips is in sliding contact with the slinger, with a predetermined interference. The cylindrical inner end portion is arranged opposite to the slinger with a slight radial gap therebetween to form a labyrinth seal.
US07942581B2 Anti-friction layer for a bearing element
An anti-friction layer for a bearing element may comprise a synthetic polymer layer. The polymer layer comprises at least a first part-layer and a second part-layer of a different composition.
US07942580B2 Rear suspension for an aircraft engine with shackle in waiting and spring for such a hinge pin in waiting
A rear suspension (10) for an aircraft engine assembly comprises a structure comprising two three-point shackles (12, 12′) and one two-point shackle (14). One of the hinge pins in waiting on the two-point shackle (14), preferably the hinge pin (26) fixed to the engine yoke joint, is mounted with clearance and with a damping ring acting as a spring to prevent vibrations of the engines as long as the hinge pin (26) is not engaged. Each of the suspension connecting pins (10) is a ball joint connection, the beam (16) of the suspension (10) being provided with five aligned orifices (24, 24a, 28, 24′, 24a′).
US07942577B2 Flexible bag having a drawtape closure
A flexible bag comprises flexible sheet material assembled to form a semi-enclosed container having an opening. The bag has a drawtape closure for sealing the opening. The sheet material of the drawtape closure exhibits elastic-like behavior along at least one axis. The sheet material of the drawtape closure comprises a first region and a second region. The first region and said second region are comprised of the same material composition and each has an untensioned projected pathlength. The first region undergoes a substantially molecular-level deformation and the second region initially undergoes a substantially geometric deformation when the sheet material is subjected to an applied elongation in a direction substantially parallel to an axis in response to an externally-applied force upon the sheet material of the drawtape closure.
US07942569B2 Metering system for preparing emulsion paints from multiple aqueous paint components
The invention relates to a dosing arrangement which is used to mix a dispersion paint. The dosing arrangement comprises a mixing vessel and one container for the aqueous paint components. Each container is connected to a dosing valve, which is arranged in the supply area of the mixing vessel, by way of a supply line. The containers for the aqueous paint components are formed by waterproof bags.
US07942564B2 Overspeed prevention structure using plastic optical fiber
An overspeed prevention structure is disclosed herein. The overspeed prevention structure according to the present invention comprises a structural body having a curved convex upper surface; an external light source; and a plastic optical fiber embedded in the structural body and connected electrically to the external light source so as to emit the light outside the structural body.
US07942563B2 LED with light pipe assembly
An LED light pipe assembly includes a light pipe; a heat sink portion; an LED mounted on a substrate in optical communication with the light pipe; and a carrier portion for receiving the light pipe and providing electrical interconnections to the LED. The heat sink portion includes a plurality of fins and a plurality of hollow frame portions configured to dissipate heat generated by the light pipe assembly. Attachment features are provided on the heat sink for attaching the heat sink to the carrier portion. The heat sink portion also includes a hollow cavity for receiving the substrate. The carrier portion is insertable into the cavity in abutting relation with the substrate to secure the substrate in contact against the heat sink.
US07942560B2 Apparatus and method of using an LED light source to generate an efficient, narrow, high-aspect ratio light pattern
An LED light source produces a narrow beam of light having a linear field of illumination, which is substantially uniform across the linear field. The light source comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) and preferably a plurality of LEDs, an optical element for the efficient collection of energy radiating from the LED or LEDs, and an optical element for distributing the collected energy into the linear field of illumination. The apparatus also includes a device or heat sink for thermal management. One or more electronic control circuits are coupled to the LED or LEDs to variably and selectively control them. When a plurality of LEDs are used, the colors produced by the LEDs may different so that the light source is collectively controllable to provide a range of optically mixed colors.
US07942559B2 LED device for wide beam generation
An apparatus and method is characterized by providing an optical transfer function between a predetermined illuminated surface pattern, such as a street light pattern, and a predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source, such as that from an LED. A lens is formed having a shape defined by the optical transfer function. The optical transfer function is derived by generating an energy distribution pattern using the predetermined energy distribution pattern of the light source. Then the projection of the energy distribution pattern onto the illuminated surface is generated. The projection is then compared to the predetermined illuminated surface pattern to determine if it acceptably matches. The process continues reiteratively until an acceptable match is achieved. Alternatively, the lens shape is numerically or analytically determined by a functional relationship between the shape and the predetermined illuminated surface pattern and predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source as inputs.
US07942556B2 Solid state illumination device
A solid state illumination device includes a semiconductor light emitter mounted on a base and surrounded by sidewalls, e.g., in a circular, elliptical, triangular, rectangular or other appropriate arrangement, to define a chamber. A top element, which may be reflective, may be coupled to the sidewalls to further define the chamber. The light produced by the semiconductor light emitter is emitted through the sidewalls of the chamber. The sidewalls and/or top element may include wavelength converting material, for example, as a plurality of dots on the surfaces. An adjustable wavelength converting element may be used within the chamber, with the adjustable wavelength converting element being configured to adjust the surface area that is exposed to the light emitted by the semiconductor light emitter in the chamber to alter an optical property of the chamber.
US07942555B2 Multi-action, battery-powered, trigger-activated lighting system
A multi-action, battery-powered, trigger-activated lighting system automatically provides soft light upon human motion during the night, even in the event of a power outage, and can additionally be deployed quickly for use as an intense flashlight. Furthermore, it can provide low-battery indication to prompt the user to install fresh batteries whenever necessary, before a critical need arises.
US07942553B2 Lighting device and optics package therefor
A lighting device is generally illustrated having a light body having forward facing light sources including a visible white light source, visible colored light source and an infrared light source. Additionally, a side facing light source is provided. The light body also includes switches for activating the visible light sources and a three-position switch for activating the IR light source and the side facing light source. A light source has a first lens. Additionally, a second lens is included in a light illumination path of the light source to focus light illumination into a desired beam. The lighting device further includes a light transparent gel disposed between the first lens and the second lens for enhancing efficiency of light transmission from the first lens to the second lens.
US07942549B2 LED lamp having light guiding heat sink
An LED lamp structure includes a reflection cup, a metal heat sink for receiving a plurality of LEDs, and a heat conducting base. The heat conducting base has a slot for receiving the metal heat sink. The metal heat sink includes guiding planes for redirecting the output of an LED so as to change the angle of projected light. The metal heat sink is made of a good heat conductor with high thermal capacity so that heat produced by the LED is absorbed quickly and conducted to the heat conducting base. The reflection cup is flexed to an outer edge of the metal heat sink to provide a flat lighting characteristic.
US07942545B2 Ballast access hatch in reflector
A hatch is provided for a fluorescent lighting fixture having a continuous reflector covering the central section. The hatch is covered by a cover of compatible contour cut through the reflector underneath the location of the ballast in the housing above the reflector. The hatch cover is finished in the same surface as that of the reflector to minimize any disruption to the intended reflective pattern and to blend visually with the reflector. Two or more preferably quick-connect fasteners attach the hatch cover to the reflector. To gain access to the ballast, the lens or diffuser is removed and then the fluorescent lamp tubes which would interfere with the hatch cover are removed. The hatch cover is then removed to gain unobstructed access to the ballast from the underside of the fixture.
US07942543B2 Light emitting head accessory
A light emitting head accessory includes an array of light emission devices positioned on a front surface of a strip of flexible material, a logic circuit, a power source, and an input device. The logic circuit is connected to the array of light emission devices and programmed to create arrangements on the array of light emission devices by illuminating a plurality of light emission devices in the array of light emission devices. The power source provides power to the array of light emission devices and the logic circuit. The input device is connected to and instructs the logic circuit to display various arrangements on the array of light emission devices.
US07942540B2 Color tunable light source
A lighting module includes a light output window, at least one side wall that defines a cavity and a mounting plate, and at least one light source, and at least one reflector that is within the cavity. The light output window may be one of the side walls in a side-emitting configuration. The spectral distribution of the light coming out of the light output window may be changed by manipulating the relative position of the side wall to the at least one reflector that is within the cavity.
US07942537B2 Light-emitting device with brightness enhancing layer
A brightness enhancing means (5), comprising a collimating means (6) having a receiving area (61), an output area (62) being larger than said receiving area (61), and sidewalls (63) at least partially extending between said receiving and output areas, is provided. At least a portion of the sidewalls (63) of said collimating means (6) comprises a first filter being arranged to reflect light of a first light property, which light is received via said receiving area (61) of said first collimating means (6), towards said output area (62) of said first collimating means (6), wherein said first filter is a dichroic filter or a polarization filter.
US07942529B2 Method for the optimization of the conditions of execution of the vision contrast test, and corresponding system
Described herein is a method for optimization of the conditions of execution of the vision contrast test and the corresponding system with which to implement said method so as to be able to guarantee optimal conditions throughout the test session even when not it is not possible to respect the standards. Furthermore, the method comprises a self-calibration procedure, which definitively eliminates the operations of calibration of the system by specialized centers.
US07942526B2 Diagnostic, prescriptive, and data-gathering system and method for macular pigment deficits and other eye disorders
A macular health measurement and storage system comprises a plurality of macular-pigment measurement machine for measuring macular pigment density in humans, a plurality of computers each of which is associated with a corresponding one the macular-pigment measuring machines, and a central host. The plurality of macular-pigment measurement machines include a device for receiving macular pigment data from a patient, at least one data transfer port, and at least one processor that enables the transfer of the macular pigment data from the transfer port. The computers include a first port coupled to the data transfer port of the corresponding macular-pigment measurement machine for receiving the macular pigment data. Each of the computers includes a second port for transferring patient data. The central host is coupled to the second ports on each of the computers. The central host includes a storage device for storing the patient data.
US07942524B2 Eyewear system for the treatment of unilateral neglect syndrome
An eyewear system for the treatment of unilateral neglect syndrome is disclosed. The eyewear system is comprised of an eyewear device, a lens system, flashcards, an LED system integrated into the eyewear device, a remote control for selective activation of the LED system, and instructional media on the use of the eyewear system.
US07942521B2 Glasses with reflective frames
A structure of reflective glasses includes a frame having a main front section with opposed side ends for supporting at least one lens, the frame further including a pair of side sections extending rearwardly from the respective opposed side ends of the main front section and at least one retroreflective element attached to at least one of the side sections to be visible by others in low-light conditions.
US07942520B2 Eyewear with reflective frame
Reflective eyewear include at least one lens and a substantially opaque frame having a main front section with opposed side ends for supporting the at least one lens. The frame further includes at least one retroreflective element attached to the frame to be visible by others in low-light conditions.
US07942519B2 Ink-jet recording apparatus
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to one aspect comprises: a movable supporting member slidable in a conveying direction of a recording medium while supporting the recording medium to follow the recording medium conveyed; and an interlocking mechanism configured to control a movement of the movable supporting member. The interlocking mechanism is operable to: position the movable supporting member in a predetermined upstream position in the conveying direction when the recording medium is conveyed to the predetermined upstream position; retain the movable supporting member in the predetermined upstream position until the recording medium overhangs the movable supporting member to cover a contact portion and at least a part of a non-contact portion; and slide the movable supporting member toward a downstream side in the conveying direction while supporting an edge of the recording medium with the conveyance of the recording medium.
US07942517B2 Method for lubricating a transfer roller with an image member
A method is implemented by a printer to move a transfix roller selectively to clean the transfix roller. The transfix roller is moved from a transfix nip with the print drum to a position where the transfix roller remains in rolling contact with the print drum, but exerts a pressure on the print drum that is less than the transfix pressure. The transfix roller is later moved out of rolling contact with the print drum in response to the transfix roller rotating a predetermined distance.
US07942514B2 Keying elements for solid ink loader
Insertion elements can be used to provide keying features for ink loaders. Such elements connect to ink stick receptacles in the loader. The insertion elements can provide a border to a non-integer number of edges of the receptacles and be shaped to complement at least a portion of the perimeter of an ink stick. A solid ink loader that includes at least one feed channel for receiving ink sticks can use the insertion elements. The insertion elements can be part of a keying system that includes keying features supplied by both the insertion element and the receptacle itself. Multi-component key plate systems can be used as well.
US07942513B2 Ink cartridges
An ink cartridge includes a frame, and a film connected to the frame. The frame and the film define an ink chamber therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein. The ink cartridge also includes a supporting member configured to support the film, and a movable member pivotably coupled to the supporting member. The movable member is configured to selectively move within the ink chamber in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction based on an amount of ink within the ink chamber, and the supporting member, the movable member, and the film are aligned in a particular direction which is perpendicular to the first direction and to the second direction.
US07942507B2 Ink jet nozzle arrangement with a segmented actuator nozzle chamber cover
A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer comprises a nozzle chamber; an ink supply channel for supplying ink to the nozzle chamber; a cover for covering the nozzle chamber, the cover defining an ink ejection port through which ink is ejected; a plurality of thermal bend actuators radially arranged around the ink ejection port; and a plurality of heater elements each corresponding to one of the plurality of thermal bend actuators. Each heater element is provided at an end of a corresponding thermal bend actuator opposite the ink ejection port.
US07942504B2 Variable-volume nozzle arrangement
A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet; a static ink ejecting member extending from the substrate assembly and bounding the ink inlet; an active ink ejecting member having a roof and sidewalls that depends from the roof towards the substrate, the roof defining an ink ejection port and the active ink ejecting member movably located relative to the static ink ejecting member to define a variable-volume nozzle chamber; and an actuator arrangement configured to reciprocate the active ink ejection member relative to the static ink ejecting member to eject ink in the nozzle chamber out through the ink ejection port. The static ink ejecting member is located within bounds delimited by the sidewalls of the active ink ejecting member.
US07942502B2 Print engine cradle with maintenance assembly
A cradle unit for use in a print engine to receive a cartridge unit that has a printhead assembly. The cradle unit has a main body with an opening for receiving the cartridge and drive rollers for feeding sheets of media past the printhead assembly, a printed circuit board (PCB) movably mounted to the main body, the PCB having control electronics for operative control of the print engine, a cover assembly movably mounted to the main body, the cover assembly being configured for securing the cartridge in the opening and engaging the PCB such that the PCB is moved into electrical contact with the cartridge when in a closed position, and to move the PCB out of electrical connection with the cartridge when in an open position and, a maintenance assembly operated by the PCB control electronics for capping and wiping the printhead assembly.
US07942500B2 Printhead with flex PCB bent between contacts and printhead IC
A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer that has a print engine controller for receiving print data and sending it to the printhead. The printhead has a printhead IC for ejecting ink and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC in the printer adjacent a paper path. The printhead IC is mounted on a face of the support structure that, in use, faces the paper path. A flexible printed circuit board (flex PCB) that has contacts for receiving print data mounted to the support structure on a face that does not face the paper path. The bent section reduces the likelihood of trace cracking by holding the flex PCB at a set radius rather than allowing the flex to follow an irregular curve and thereby risking localized points of high stress on the traces.
US07942498B2 Liquid discharging device
Provided is a liquid discharging device including: a first head unit which discharges liquid; a second head unit which faces a portion of a medium, in which the liquid is discharged from the first head unit, and discharges liquid; and a support member which faces the first head unit and the second head unit and supports the medium, wherein in the first head unit and the second head unit, a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a crossing direction crossing a transporting direction of the medium over an overall dischargeable range of the liquid, and a distance between the second head unit and the support member is larger than that between the first head unit and the support member.
US07942497B1 Ink jet recording head
An ink jet recording head (100) comprising edge shooter type head units (20) each having a head chip provided with a nozzle ejection surface, a positioning plate (41) for arranging the head units (20) in parallel to each other, inclined against a line arranging direction. The positioning plate (41) arranges the head units (20) in parallel to each other, inclined against the line arranging direction, and the angle of the inclination is set so that a nozzle interval, in the line arranging direction, of two nozzles (21a) corresponds to a predetermined resolution, the two nozzles being adjacent to each other on a straight line on the nozzle ejection surface.
US07942494B2 Liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus, and inkjet inkjet recording apparatus
A liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The light-emitting element emits a laser beam in a direction that intersects with a direction in which a droplet of liquid is discharged. The beam is elliptical in cross section. The light-receiving element receives a scattered light generated by scattering of the laser beam by the droplet. The light-receiving element is externally adjacent to a circumference of the beam at a position where a beam diameter of the beam is small.
US07942492B2 Liquid transporting apparatus having temperature regulation
An ink transporting head includes a head main body in which, an ink channel is formed, a transporting electrode which is arranged on an inner surface of the ink channel, an insulating layer which is arranged on the inner surface of the ink channel to cover the transporting electrode, and which changes a wetting angle of liquid on a surface according to an electric potential of the transporting electrode, and a heat generator which heats the ink inside the ink channel. Accordingly, there is provided a liquid transporting apparatus which is capable of suppressing a temperature fluctuation of the liquid inside the liquid channel, and transporting the liquid stably.
US07942487B2 Liquid ejection controlling method and liquid ejection apparatus
A remaining amount of liquid contained in each of a plurality of cartridges is detected. When a small remaining amount is detected, information relating to the cartridge with the small remaining amount is transmitted. A substitute cartridge is determined based on the transmitted information, and liquid ejection data for the substitute cartridge is generated. An expected consumption amount of liquid contained in the substitute cartridge is calculated based on the liquid ejection data. A difference between the remaining amounts of liquid in the cartridge with the small remaining amount and in the substitute cartridge is calculated based on the expected consumption amount and information relating to the remaining amount of liquid. It is determined whether the calculated difference is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.
US07942484B2 Brake system for motorcycle
An ABS modulator for a front wheel is supported on the side surface of an inclined portion located forward of a portion, having the largest width, of the right main pipe with a unit supporting stay in between, while being arranged in a space inside the front cowl covering the front side of the inclined portion. The ABS modulator is arranged on the outer side of the main pipe. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid a case where the arrangement space for other components is occupied by arranging the ABS modulator in a space on the inner side of the right and left main pipes, and to support the ABS modulator by utilizing the main pipes having a high rigidity. Further, the resulting configuration allows to ABS modulator to be located in a portion having a high rigidity without occupying a space for other components, such as an induction system.
US07942483B2 Brake system
During normal operation of a braking force generating device, the wheels are braked by braking force generating device when a depressing force cut-off valve is closed by energizing its solenoid to cut off communication between a master cylinder and wheel cylinders. When an abnormality occurs, a master cylinder generates a brake fluid pressure upon a driver's braking operation, and supplies it to the wheel cylinders when the depressing force cut-off valve is opened by de-energizing its solenoid. When the depressing force cut-off valve is closed, such as during normal operation, since the depressing force cut-off valve functions as a one-way valve that is urged in a valve-closing direction due to a brake fluid pressure generated by the master cylinder, an electromagnetic force generated by the solenoid is smaller, thereby reducing the power consumption of the solenoid.
US07942476B2 Collapsible chair
A collapsible chair frame includes two rear legs and two front legs. A cap is secured to a lower end of each leg. A sheath extends from each cap and continues to receive the related leg when the related cap is lowered beyond the related leg in a collapsed position of the collapsible chair frame. A lower ring is movably provided on each leg. A rear, upper ring is secured to each rear leg. A front, upper ring is movably provided on each front leg. A lateral rod includes a lower end pivotally connected to each lower ring and an upper end pivotally connected to each upper ring. A rear rod, longer than the lateral rods, connects a related cap to a related rear, upper ring. A front rod, as long as the rear rods, connects a related cap to a related front, upper ring.
US07942474B2 Vehicle HVAC control panel receptacles and HVAC control panel assemblies
A receptacle for receiving an HVAC control panel of a vehicle includes a frame and at least one unlocking lever. The frame may define an opening for receiving the HVAC control panel. The at least one unlocking lever may include a handle portion, a shoulder and a tapered portion. The tapered portion pivotally connects the at least one unlocking lever to an underside of the frame while the handle portion may extend from the tapered portion such that, when the handle portion is actuated, the at least one unlocking lever may be elastically flexible with respect to the frame. The shoulder portion is disposed on the at least one unlocking lever between the handle portion and the tapered portion and is operable to engage and retain the HVAC control panel in the frame when the HVAC control panel is inserted into the frame.
US07942473B2 Underframe for motor vehicle
An underframe for an automobile including two side rails, a transverse crossbar, a first floor member attached on the side rails and, on either side, a lateral reinforcing member, and a second floor member. Each of the rails includes an extension in a form of a portion under the crossbar, attached to the lower face of the central crossbar and connected to an attachment portion including a front portion that extends gradually towards the respective lateral reinforcement member and that is attached on a longitudinal portion of the respective lateral reinforcement member.
US07942471B2 Aerodynamic skirt shape
An aerodynamic skirt adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted on a trailer is provided, the resilient aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height. A method of mounting an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height, positioning the forward portion toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion toward a rear portion of the trailer, and securing the skirt panel to the trailer. A kit comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion is equally provided, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being smaller than the rear height; and at least one strut adapted to secure the skirt panel to the trailer.
US07942469B2 Aerodynamic skirt panel
An aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a surface adapted to direct airflow around the trailer is provided, the skirt panel being made of a single part of sheet material. A method of manufacturing a skirt panel and a kit thereof are also provided.
US07942467B2 Aerodynamic skirt support member
A support member adapted to secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is provided, the support member comprising a trailer connecting portion; a skirt connecting portion; and an intermediate portion interconnecting the trailer connecting portion to the skirt connecting portion. A kit of resilient struts adapted to resiliently secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is also provided, the kit comprising at least two resilient struts. A method of using a resilient strut to resiliently secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is equally provided, the method comprising providing at least one resilient strut; securing the resilient strut to the trailer; securing the resilient strut to the aerodynamic skirt; and applying a load on the aerodynamic skirt to resiliently bend the at least one resilient strut.
US07942464B2 Tonneau style pop-up camper for pickup trucks
The Tonneau Pop-up Camper is a fully functional pickup truck pop-up camper. When traveling, the camper fits under a tonneau style cover and does not affect the truck's safety, visibility, aerodynamics or economics. When camping, the tonneau camper is equal or superior to a “Low Profile, Bed over Cab, Pop-Up, Truck Camper.” Changeovers between camping and travel configurations, by one person, are completed in less than a couple of minutes. The sleeping quarters are located on top of the truck bed. The living quarters are at ground level in an attached tent, supported by one frame extension from the camper's base module. Attached steps provide easy access between the sleeping and living quarters. Cabinets, counters and storage bins located under the sleeping area are easily accessed from the living area. Utilities are integrated into one utility module under the front of the camper, and two controllers located at the back of the base module.
US07942457B1 Lever-handled pocket door latching system
With the adoption of this new modern latching system, (FIG. 1) closing and latching a pocket door will be just as simple and convenient as closing and latching a swinging door, irregardless of the physical capability of the operator. This system has been masterfully designed and engineered with appropriate lever handles 20 that are prominently mounted on the face of the door, where they will be convenient to use by people of all ages and physical encumbrances. Coupling these handles to a reliable automatic latching embodiment 15 and complementing the completed assembly with door guides 22, promises to be a bold step forward in latching concepts for modern interior pocket doors.
US07942453B2 Coupling device
Coupling device (60) for mechanically and hydraulically coupling a fuel injector (20) to a fuel rail (18) of a combustion engine (22), the fuel injector (20) having a central longitudinal axis (L) and an injection nozzle (31), having a fuel injector cup (32) being designed to be hydraulically coupled to the fuel rail (14) and to engage a fuel inlet portion (24) of the fuel injector (20), and a spring element (36) being part of the fuel injector (20) and being designed to be in a snap-in engagement with the fuel injector cup (32) to retain the fuel injector (20) in the fuel injector cup (32) in direction of the central longitudinal axis (L) facing towards the injection nozzle (31).
US07942451B2 Medication packaging and labeling system
Method for generating a label for a medication in which information about the medication is obtained and printed on the label in a hierarchical manner with more important information in a more prominent location or more prominent type relative to other less important information. The information may be divided into primary information and secondary information with the primary information being placed on the label before the secondary information. The label may be used in a container having a curved front wall, a planar rear wall, a substantially planar bottom wall and a cap engaging with the front and rear walls to seal the container. The rear wall is constructed with a device for removably received an information card containing information relating to the medication.
US07942450B2 Snowboard
There is provided a snowboard capable of drawing attention of a back sliding person more appropriately than the related art. A snowboard including: a board (20) having a sole member (21); LEDs (60 to 69) which are arranged between a snow contacting point (21a) of a nose (20c) side of the board (20) and a snow contacting point (21b) of a tail (20d) side of the board (20); a front foot binding fixed to the board (20) for fixing the front foot of a user; and a back foot binding fixed to the board (20) for fixing the back foot of the user, wherein the sole member (21) is translucent and covers the LEDs (60 to 69); and the LEDs (60 to 69) are arranged in positions to emit light to the outside of the board (20) through the sole member (21) and are arranged between the front foot binding and the back foot binding to indicate the length between the front foot binding and the back foot binding.
US07942443B2 Airbag system
An airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag cushion, an inflator to inflate the airbag cushion, a sleeve connected to the airbag cushion and a tether configured to pass through the sleeve. A first end of the tether is anchored to a portion of the airbag cushion, module, or a structure of the vehicle and a second, opposite end of the tether is capable of passing through at least a portion of the sleeve during deployment of the airbag. The tether and sleeve are configured to initially restrain the deployment of the airbag cushion to provide a knee bolster, after which the tether is configured to unlace within the sleeve to release the restraint on the airbag cushion.
US07942442B2 Airbag cushion folding methods
The methods for folding an airbag cushion into a housing provide for a predetermined deployment trajectory. The airbag cushion is defined by an upper panel and a lower panel. A first portion of the airbag cushion is tucked into a second portion of the airbag cushion such that the upper and lower panels of the first portion are positioned in between the upper and lower panels of the second portion. The tucked portion is folded in towards the housing. First and second halves of the tucked airbag cushion are folded in towards the housing. Finally, the folded first and second halves of the airbag cushion are folded into the housing.
US07942441B2 Gas flow distributor for an airbag module
A gas flow distributor for an airbag module for the specific distribution of a gas flow through which the released gas flows during inflation of the airbag is provided. The gas flow distributor comprises at least two sleeve parts which are made of a flexible material and are connected to one another by a seam. The seam absorbs the forces which are exerted on the sleeve by the gas flowing through it. An additional releasable connection of both sleeve parts is provided in at least some sections in order to absorb the forces exerted by the gas on the sleeve, wherein the additional connection cooperates with the sleeve for limiting the forces to be absorbed by the seam in such a manner that said connection is released when gas passes through the sleeve.
US07942435B1 Tow bar
A tow bar includes a towing hitch member including a pintle hitch and secured to a towing vehicle; a towed hitch member secured to a vehicle to the towed; a head member with a lunette ring; a pair of tow bar legs, each including a proximal end including an outer member with a distal end, and a distal end including an inner member with a proximal end telescopingly displaceable within the distal end of the outer member; a leg connector mechanism pivotally connecting the proximal ends of the tow bar legs to the head member; towed connector elements secured to the distal ends of the tow bar legs and structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to the towed hitch member; and a locking mechanism structured to automatically and releasably lock each of the tow bar legs in either a stored configuration or a deployed configuration.
US07942433B2 Bracket for fixing a fork of a vehicle
A vehicle has a vehicle body including a head pipe, a lower side bracket disposed below the head pipe for supporting the head pipe upward in a substantial center of the bracket in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of legs of a front fork fixed in vicinities of the ends of the lower side bracket. The lower side bracket is formed to have a downward sloping shape, which slopes from the ends of the lower side bracket toward its center.
US07942432B2 Leveling system for a vehicle air suspension
A system for maintaining a vehicle front end air spring suspension level, for a vehicle having a designed load imbalance, includes a height control valve mounted on the higher load side of the vehicle and controlling compressed air to the air springs of the vehicle suspension. A pressure reduction valve is interposed in a conduit feeding the air spring on the lower loaded side, the pressure reduction valve being set to reduce the pressure of air delivered to the second air spring.
US07942430B2 Device for accommodating objects, as well as transport means
A device for accommodating objects, in particular for use in an airplane, comprising a housing, which has an access opening, as well as a door which is connected to the housing by at least one hinge so as to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The hinge defines a pivot axis for pivoting the door. The access opening is at least partially clear in the open position of the door and the access opening is at least partially closed off by the door in the closed position of the door. The door is lockable relative to the housing in its closed position. The door, in its closed position, is movable in a direction which extends substantially parallel to the pivot axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The door, in its locked position, is locked relative to the housing, and the door, in its unlocked position, is pivotable about the pivot axis.
US07942429B2 Amphibious, submersible, streamlined transport device for scuba gear
A device used in beach-entry scuba dives that both assists the diver to transport scuba tanks and other diving gear to and across the shoreline, and then accompanies the diver and gear underwater. The device holds at least one scuba tank and associated gear such as a buoyancy compensator (BCD), and has a pair of wheels whose rolling position enables the loaded device to be easily transported over natural terrains. Upon reaching or while in the water the wheels may be shifted from the “rolling position” into a streamlined, free-swim position. The means attaching the scuba gear and the scuba tank are easily operated to let the user now don both scuba tank and gear and start their dive, taking the device along for the return cross-shore trip.
US07942428B2 Spark-emitting device for a skateboard
A spark-emitting device for a skateboard. The spark-emitting device includes a housing and a plurality of misch metal barrels inserted into a housing and spaced apart so that the wear rate of the housing in the misch metal barrels is compatible and a desired sparking effect is achieved.
US07942423B2 Lip type seal
A resin lip type seal (1) capable of increasing safety against rupture by reducing rigidity of a plate-like lip (4) bent around a tip point A of a approximately wedge-shaped recessed part (8) to reduce stress concentration at the point A, suppressing the lowering of sealability due to a reduction in creep of the lip, and increasing the follow-up capability of the lip to the eccentricity of its axis. Indentations are formed on the slidable contact surface (41) of the plate-like lip (4) or/and the anti-slidable contact surface (42) thereof. Indentations (7) are also formed on the sloped slidable contact surface (21) of the inner lip (2) of the seal. Then, the ratio of the portion of each of the slidable contact surfaces where the indentations (7) are formed is ½ or more of each of the surface areas of the slidable contact surfaces (21, 41, 42).
US07942419B2 Portable rebound ball game
A portable stepball game apparatus has a collapsible stairway with a plurality of steps. Each step has a vertical riser portion, a horizontal tread portion, and a nosing on the forward or player-facing edges of the tread portions which protrudes over the riser portions. The game's pivotable stairway configuration is readily housed for storage in a carrying case specifically adapted to be easily portable. It is designed such that one person can lift the carrying case with one hand and easily move it from location to location.
US07942417B2 Gaming machine with reels
Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to gaming machines having mechanical reels. The machine is adapted so that the reels to some extent protrude from the front face of the machine to enhance the user's awareness that the reels are genuine and, optionally, the reels may have side walls having matching indicia to the symbols on the periphery of the reels. The reels may also be observed from front and rear sides of the machine or alternatively, rotated about an upright axis to enable a player to observe front and rear outcomes from one point.
US07942413B2 Image forming apparatus provided with output tray and control method thereof
In an image forming apparatus, a sheet is discharged onto an output tray. The image forming apparatus includes a ranging sensor which measures a distance to an object from a position located away by a predetermined distance from a bottom surface of the output tray in a sheet loading direction on a line in parallel with the bottom surface of the output tray and orthogonal to a direction in which the sheet is discharged. In the image forming apparatus, discharge of the sheet onto the output tray is stopped when the distance to the object measured by the ranging sensor is lower than a specific distance.
US07942412B2 Drive control method and apparatus for sheet processing machine
A drive control method for a sheet processing machine includes the steps of operating a driving motor of a sheet feed device which feeds a sheet to a sheet processing device that processes the sheet, in synchronism with a rotary member of the sheet processing device, and adjusting a rotary phase of the rotary member of the sheet processing device and a rotary phase of the driving motor of the sheet feed device relative to each other.
US07942403B2 Sheet lifting with corner projections
Various methods and apparatuses are disclosed for handling a sheet, wherein at least one projection extends across a stack of sheets such that corners of the sheet are bent when being lifted from the stack.
US07942401B2 ATM equipped with structure for preventing rotation of stack roller
The invention provides an ATM that can stably stack paper money by preventing the rotation of stack rollers when paper money is deposited. The ATM includes feed rollers, stack rollers, and elastic members. The feed rollers convey paper money separated one-by-one by pickup rollers onto a money withdrawal path, or convey paper money conveyed along a money deposit path into a recyclebox. Peripheries of the feed rollers are formed of rubber. Each of the stack rollers includes wings. When paper money is deposited, the stack rollers come in contact with the feed rollers. Peripheries of the stack rollers are formed of synthetic resin. The elastic members push the stack rollers against the feed rollers, and apply elastic forces to the stack rollers such that a frictional force between paper money and the stack rollers is smaller than that between paper money and the feed rollers.
US07942398B1 Buffering apparatus for collations
A document handling apparatus includes a document transport buffering apparatus including drive belts and aligner belts. Each of the drive belts has a general continuous loop shape. The aligner belts are intermixed with the drive belts. Each of the aligner belts has a general continuous loop shape and a projection extending in a general cantilever fashion from the aligner belt. A first drive system is adapted to rotate the drive belts. A second drive system is adapted to rotate the aligner belts individually. The first and second drive systems are adapted to rotate the drive belts and the aligner belts such that a plurality of spaced stacks of documents are transported by the drive belts with one of the projections at a leading edge of each of the stacks and another one of the projections at a trailing edge of each of the stacks.
US07942397B2 Method and device for opening printed products
A device for opening folded or bound printed products, comprises a feeder device (2, 13) for feeding-in individual folded or bound sub-products (4) and an opening device (6) for opening the sub-products (4), as well as furthermore an opening verifying installation (11, 14, 15, 16), in order to with optical means (14) identify deficiently opened sub-products (4) before the sub-products (4) are further processed. In case of sub-products (4) identified as being deficiently opened, the further processing is not carried out, but rather a deficiently opened sub-product (4) is conducted back to the opening device once more.
US07942396B2 Sheet finisher, image forming apparatus using the same, and sheet finishing method
A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a first roller and a second roller, nips the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit between the first roller and the second roller, and moves along a direction of the fold line while pressing, and a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position located at a position separate from an end of the sheet bundle, and the first roller and the second roller are separate from each other at the standby position, and approach each other to nip the fold line in a region where the fold line of the sheet bundle exists.
US07942395B2 Rotary cutting mat
A rotary cutting mat of the present invention has a base plate and a rotary mat, which can be rotated relative to each other. The rotary mat is provided with a shaft member projected from a reverse side thereof. The base plate is provided with a receiving portion, which rotatably receives the shaft member of the rotary mat. Since the rotary mat is simply placed on the base plate with the shaft member being inserted in the receiving portion, there is no need of a rivet for connecting the rotary mat and the base plate. Thus, the constitution on the mat is simplified and the surface of the mat can be maintained flat without any buried rivet head in the mat.
US07942394B2 Locking support fixture
A pin locking apparatus (1) includes a housing, at least one pin (40) and at least one locking piston (11). The housing includes at least one locking bore (12) and at least one pin bore (14). The at least one pin is slidably contained within the pin bore and is positioned by application of pressure in the pin bore. The at least one locking piston is slidably contained within the locking bore and is actuated by pressure in the locking bore to apply a locking force on the pin.
US07942392B2 Release explosion damper
A clamping and/or spreading tool comprising a push or pull rod to which a mobile jaw is fixed, a fixed jaw, a gear mechanism which can be used to move the mobile jaw towards or away from the fixed jaw by moving the push or pull rod in a clamping or spreading direction, and to apply clamping and/or bracing forces between the jaws, and a lock used to block movement of the push or pull rod in an opening direction opposing the clamping or spreading direction, in order to maintain clamping and/or spreading forces produced between the jaws. A mechanism for dissipating the stored clamping and/or spreading forces enables an absorption movement of the push or pull rod in the opening direction along a pre-determined absorption course, and especially detachably blocks an absorption movement of the push or pull rod over the predetermined absorption course, in the opening direction.
US07942391B2 Evaporative cooling tower and method
A cooling tower for evaporating water from a brine solution is provided and may include an air inlet, a brine inlet for receiving the brine solution, and a heat-exchange assembly receiving the brine solution from the brine inlet and receiving air from the air inlet. The heat-exchange assembly transfers moisture from the brine solution to the air received from the air inlet to reduce the moisture content of the brine solution.
US07942384B1 Internal clip for a rail
A resilient clip adapted for internal installation within a rail having a longitudinally extending internal gap. The clip includes a lower leg that engages the base of the rail, and an intermediate leg, which engages a side wall of the rail. An indented upper leg of the clip is capable of clamping an elongate line, such as an electrical or communication line, in an elevated position in the upper section of the rail. Plural clips may be installed in the rail to support such a line at multiple spaced points along its length. A strengthening cable may be installed in the lower section of the rail, in overlying relationship to the lower legs of the clips.
US07942382B2 Compact optical microcable driver
The invention relates to an optical cable laying device comprising a mechanism for fixing a rotary motor (i0), at least one friction drive roller (60, 70) for driving the cable (200), and a compressed air inlet (130) for driving the cable (200), the device being characterized in that the motor fixing mechanism, the at least one roller (60, 70) and the compressed air inlet (130) are disposed so that the axis of the motor (10), the compressed air arrival direction (130), and the cable (200) driven by the roller (60, 70) are substantially parallel to one another.
US07942380B2 Portable positive airway pressure device accessories and methods for use thereof
A portable cradle for carrying a PAP device includes a base and a handle that is provided on the base. The base is structured to receive the PAP device and attachments to the PAP device. The base is oriented in a substantially horizontal position when the handle is lifted. A trolley may be provided to easily wheel the PAP device and store multiple accessories. Detachable battery packs may also be provided for attachment to a cradle.
US07942379B2 Active vibration isolation system with a combined position actuator
The invention relates to a vibration isolation system, comprising at least one fluid bearing having a first control device in order to control the fluid pressure and having at least one actuator in order to compensate for position changes of the load to be isolated, which actuator is controlled by at least one second control device, wherein the input of one control device is connected to the output of the other control device.