最新美国发明专利第2012-05-15期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08178681B2	3-carbamoyl-2-pyridone derivatives The present invention provides compounds having an agonistic activity to the cannabinoid receptor, which is represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is optionally substituted C1-C8 alkyl and the like; R2 is C1-C6 alkyl; R3 is C1-C6 alkyl and the like; or R2 and R3 taken together with may form an optionally substituted 5 to 10 membered non-aromatic carbon ring; R4 is hydrogen and the like; G is a group selected from the groups shown by the formula an the like: wherein R5 is hydrogen and the like; X1 is a single bond and the like; X2 is optionally substituted C1-C8 alkylene that may be replaced by one or two groups of —O—, or —N(R6)—, wherein R6 is hydrogen and the like, and the like; X3 is a single bond and the like; a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions, atopic dermatitis treating agents, and anti-pruritus agents, especially anti-pruritus agents for oral used and for external application, which each contains the said compound as an active ingredient.
US08178680B2	Process for the preparation of Montelukast and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts An improved process for the preparation of Montelukast and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts comprises of reacting (S) Benzenepropanol α-[3-[2-(7-chloro2-quinolinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]-2-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl ethyl)-α-methane sulfonate compound of formula (II) with 1-(mercapto methyl)cyclo propane acetic acid or its ester or nitrile in presence of alkali or alkaline carbonates and/or alkali or alkaline earth metal alkoxide in a suitable polar aprotic solvent with or without combination of C1-C4 alcoholic solvents and then treating with organic amine in a suitable ester and/or acetone and/or aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and converting the corresponding amine salt compound of montelukast into its sodium salt compound of formula (I) using sodium ion source in methanol, without converting into montelukast free acid.
US08178676B2	Pyridinium boronic acid quenchers for use in analyte sensors Novel pyridinium salts functionalized with boronic acid and methods of making them are disclosed. When combined with a fluorescent dye, the compounds are useful in the detection of polyhydroxyl-substituted organic molecules.
US08178670B2	Method of synthesizing tetrahydrobiopterin The present disclosure provides a method that efficiently produces (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin of Formula I in high yield and purity. The method includes the step of hydrolyzing diacetylbiopterin to biopterin under basic conditions in a biphasic mixture comprising an organic phase and an aqueous phase. After substantially complete hydrolysis of diacetylbiopterin, the aqueous phase containing biopterin can be separated from the organic phase containing most of the organic impurities, which avoids the time-consuming step of isolating biopterin as a solid. The aqueous solution containing biopterin is stereoselectively hydrogenated to (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin under basic conditions and high hydrogen pressure in the presence of a metal catalyst (e.g., a platinum catalyst). To improve the purification of an acid addition salt of (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin (e.g., (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride), any residual salts (e.g., sodium salts) in the aqueous solution after the hydrogenation reaction can be removed by contacting the aqueous solution with an ion (e.g., cation) exchange resin or column. Alternatively, removal of residual salts from the aqueous solution can be omitted if an organic amine (e.g., diethylamine or triethylamine) rather than an inorganic base is used in the hydrolysis and/or hydrogenation reactions.
US08178667B2	Benzyl-substituted quinolone M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators The present invention is directed to benzyl-substituted quinolone compounds of general formula (I) which are M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease, pain or sleep disorders. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved.
US08178659B2	Targets for the identification of antibiotics that are not susceptible to antibiotic resistance To identify conserved and variable regions of the 16 S rRNA, an instant evolution experiment was performed on the entire 16 S rRNA. Analysis of these mutants identified regions that are required for function. These conserved sequences may be used as targets for pharmaceuticals that are taxonomically specific and which are refractory to the development of drug resistance.
US08178658B2	Pesticidal compositions The invention disclosed in this document is related to the field of pesticides and their use in controlling pests. A compound having the following structure is disclosed.
US08178657B2	Polypeptide sequence involved in the modulation of the immunosuppressive effect of viral proteins The present invention relates to a polypeptide having a sequence of 7 to 20 amino acid residues, which is capable of modulating the immunosuppressive properties of a viral protein or a fragment thereof, against the host in which it is expressed (immunosuppression-modulatory sequence) when it substitutes the homologous sequence of the viral protein or fragment, the polypeptide including the minimum following consensus amino acid sequence: X1Y9Y10Y11CY12X2 wherein, X1 and X2 are selected to impact on the immunosuppressive properties, and Y9 to Y12 represent variable amino acid residues.
US08178655B2	Method and composition for crystallizing G protein-coupled receptors Certain embodiments provide a method for crystallizing a GPCR. The method may employ a fusion protein comprising: a) a first portion of a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), where the first portion comprises the TM1, TM2, TM3, TM4 and TM5 regions of the GPCR; b) a stable, folded protein insertion; and c) a second portion of the GPCR, where the second portion comprises the TM6 and TM7 regions of the GPCR.
US08178651B2	Somatostatin-dopamine chimeric analogs Disclosed is a series of somatostatin-dopamine chimeric analogs which retain both somatostatin and dopamine activity in vivo. An example is: 6-n-propyl-8β-ergolinglmethylthioacetyl-D-Phe-c(Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Abu-Cys)-Thr-NH2.
US08178649B2	Immunostimulatory compositions and uses thereof The present invention provides novel immuno-stimulatory polypeptides, and methods for their use and identification.
US08178648B2	Diaminium bis-3,5-dicarboxybenzensulfonate and tri-diaminium bis-3,5-dicarboxybenzensulfonate and methods for producing same A composition of matter comprising a diamine salt and sulfoisophthalic acid in a ratio other than one salt to one acid and a process for producing a diamine salt of sulfoisophthalic acid comprising generating a sulfoisophthalic acid and charging the sulfoisophthalic acid with diamine.
US08178644B2	Impact-resistant polyurethane The present invention teaches a new process to produce novel, hard, optically clear, impact-resistant polyurethane polymers that are characterized by excellent thermo mechanical properties and chemical resistance, and the polymers made as a result of such a process. The polyurethanes are made by reacting a) a prepolymer made by reacting a polyisocyanate with a primary amine-terminated polyether with an amine functionality of about 2 and a molecular weight of >1000, and in which the free —NCO content of the resulting prepolymer is >18% by weight; with b) (i) a polyol having an average hydroxyl functionality greater than or equal to 2 and an average hydroxyl equivalent weight of from about 300 to about 1,000, and (ii) a curing agent that has isocyanate reactive groups, a functionality of 2 to 3 and a molecular weight of <400. More preferably the prepolymer is made by reacting a cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate with a primary amine-terminated polyether diamine of 2000 to about 2500 molecular weight, the polyol is either a polyester polyol triol with a molecular weight of between about 540 and 900, or a polyether glycol with a molecular weight of between about 650 and 2000, or a polyester polyol diol with a molecular weight of up to 2,000, and the curing agent is either dianhydrohexitol, an aromatic diamine, an aromatic ring containing diol or a cyclohexanedimethanol.
US08178643B2	Molded polymeric structural members and compositions and methods for making them A polymer casting formulation for producing molded polymeric structural members comprises a liquid mixture that contains a polyisocyanate component comprising at least two polyisocyanates; and an isocyanate-reactive component comprising at least two isocyanate-reactive compounds, which formulation cures to form a polyurethane. Methods of using the casting formulation to produce molded polymer structural members and the structural members that are produced by such a method are also described.
US08178640B2	Polyvinyl chloride formulations An extrudable polyvinyl chloride composition comprising from 80 to 99.9 percent by weight polyvinyl chloride for use in extruding a first part and a second part, wherein a fusion joint between the first extruded part and the second extruded part is formed by: A) composition at least a portion of a first terminal edge of the first extruded part and a first terminal edge of the second extruded part; B) engaging the melted terminal edges; and C) maintaining pressure between the engaged terminal edges to create a fused joint having a strength that is at least 50% of the tensile strength of the extruded part as measured by ASTM D638-2a. The extruded parts can be pipe sections.
US08178637B2	Controlled polymerization The present invention discloses an emulsion polymerization process that comprises: (1) preparing an aqueous polymerization medium which is comprised of (a) at least one monomer, (b) a polymerization control agent, and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier is prepared in-situ within the aqueous polymerization medium; and (2) initiating polymerization of said monomer within the aqueous polymerization medium. The subject invention more specifically reveals an emulsion polymerization process that comprises: (1) preparing a monomer solution which is comprised of (a) at least one monomer, (b) a conjugate acid of a surfactant with a pKa of less than 14, and (c) a controlled free radical polymerization agent; (2) preparing an aqueous medium which is comprised of (a) water, and (b) a conjugate base of a weak acid wherein the pKb of the base is less than 14; and (3) mixing the monomer solution with the aqueous medium under conditions that result in the in-situ formation of an emulsifier, and (4) initiating free radical polymerization.
US08178632B2	Propylene polymers Propylene polymers having specific values of total comonomer content and melting temperature, articles obtained therefrom, in particular extrusion blow molded articles, and gas-phase process for obtaining said propylene polymers.
US08178630B2	Inorganically modified polyester binder preparation, process for production and use thereof The present invention relates to a preparation comprising at least one specific oligomeric siloxane component and at least one polymer component, to processes for producing it and to its use in formulations, more particularly metal coating formulations.
US08178628B2	Aliphatic polyester resin composition and method for production thereof The present invention relates to an aliphatic polyester resin composition having excellent hydrolysis resistance, added to an aliphatic polyester resin (A), a reactive monomer (B) (e.g. a monocarbodiimide compound) and a reactive polymer (C) (e.g. a polycarbodiimide compound).
US08178626B2	Method for producing modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, and rubber composition The method for producing a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, according to the present invention comprises a step of reacting a conjugated diene based (co)polymer with a metal halide compound to obtain a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, the conjugated diene based (co)polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 150,000 to 2,000,000 and being obtained by bonding, to a polymer having at least a conjugated diene unit, an alkoxysilyl group and an optionally protected primary amino group. The method can satisfactorily produce a conjugated diene based (co)polymer which has a high Mooney viscosity, excellent shape stability and good processability.
US08178620B2	Surface modifying macromolecules with high degradation temperatures and uses thereof The invention relates to surface modifying macromolecules (SMMs) having high degradation temperatures and their use in the manufacture of articles made from base polymers which require high temperature processing. The surface modifier is admixed with the base polymer to impart alcohol and water repellency properties.
US08178619B2	(Meth) acrylic polymer and vinyl chloride resin composition containing the same The present invention provides a (meth)acrylic polymer containing 15 to 65 parts by weight of a polymer (A) having a specific viscosity of 0.90 to 2.00 and containing 70 to 100 weight percent of methyl methacrylate, 0 to 30 weight percent of a (meth)acrylic ester other than methyl methacrylate, and 0 to 10 weight percent of another monomer copolymerizable with these; 20 to 75 parts by weight of a polymer (B) having a specific viscosity of 0.40 or more and less than 0.90 and containing 70 to 100 weight percent of methyl methacrylate, 0 to 30 weight percent of a (meth)acrylic ester other than methyl methacrylate, and 0 to 10 weight percent of another monomer copolymerizable with these; and 1 to 30 parts by weight of a polymer (C) having a specific viscosity of 0.80 to 2.00 and containing 0 to 60 weight percent of methyl methacrylate, 40 to 100 weight percent of a (meth)acrylic ester other than methyl methacrylate, and 0 to 20 weight percent of another monomer copolymerizable with these (the total of the polymer (A), the polymer (B), and the polymer (C) is 100 parts by weight).
US08178617B2	Antimicrobial constructs The invention is based on the recognition that known antimicrobial compounds, such as nisin or other lantibiotics, can be made to form a long lasting antimicrobial surface coating by linking the peptide with a block polymer, such as PLURONIC® F108 or an end group activated polymer (EGAP) in a manner to form a flexible tether and/or entrap the peptide. The entrapped peptide provides antimicrobial action by early release from entrapment while the tethered peptide provides longer lasting antimicrobial protection. Antimicrobial gels and foams may be prepared using the antimicrobial peptide containing block copolymers.
US08178616B2	Emulsion coating agent composition and coated products thereof An emulsion coating agent composition containing: (A) one hundred parts by weight of an organosilicone resin obtained by hydrolysis and/or condensation of a mixture of a silicone oil having both reactive terminals represented by X—[R2Si—O—]m—R2Si—X (R is selected from monovalent hydrocarbon groups containing one to twenty carbon atoms and/or aryl groups, and each R is same or different groups, X is a hydrolyzable group and/or an OH group, and m is a natural number from three to one hundred), a silane and/or a silicone in which the organosilicone resin containing a continuous linear chain structure indicated by —[R2Si—O—]m+1— (R and m are both identical to the R and m in the formula showing the silicone oil with both reactive terminals), and 5 mole % to 60 mole % of the total Si atoms in the organosilicone resin form the chain-like continuous structure; (B) one part by weight to fifty parts by weight of an emulsifier; and (C) twenty-five parts by weight to two thousand parts by weight of water.
US08178615B2	Process for making polymers having nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer The present invention is directed toward a method for making a polymer that has nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer. The method of the invention involves the following steps: mixing a precursor solution for the polymer with a precursor for the nanostructures to form a mixture; forming nanostructures in the mixture from the precursor of the nanostructures; and forming a polymer from the precursor solution of the polymer so that the nanostructures are incorporated into the polymer matrix.
US08178611B2	Polymer composition [Object] To provide a polymer composition composed of a functional liquid compound and a polymer, in which the functional liquid compound is phase-separated from but dispersed in the polymer, and a molded product of the polymer composition at lower prices.[Solution] A polymer composition of the present invention includes: a thermoplastic matrix polymer X; a block copolymer Y dispersed in the matrix polymer X; and an additive Z containing an organic compound which is liquid at a melting point of the matrix polymer X or a solution of the organic compound, wherein any two of the matrix polymer X, the block copolymer Y and the organic compound are phase-separated, the block copolymer Y includes a block Y1 which is composed of polymerized monomers having a ring structure and a block Y2 which is composed of monomers different from the monomers of the block Y1, and the organic compound has an intramolecular ring structure or a ring structure formed in a molecule or between molecules due to intermolecular interaction, the organic compound being bleeding-out in the block copolymer Y dispersed in the matrix polymer X.Selected Figure]None
US08178603B2	Flameproofed impact-modified polycarbonate compositions The present disclosure relates to an impact-modified polycarbonate composition which comprise a first graft polymer containing silicone/acrylate composite rubber as the graft base, wherein the content of silicone rubber is 65-95 wt. % (based on the graft base), a second graft polymer containing a diene rubber, and phosphorus-containing flameproofing agent, the use of the polycarbonate compositions for the production of shaped articles and the shaped articles themselves. The compositions and molding compositions according to the disclosure have an optimum combination of good flameproofing at thin wall thicknesses, good resistance to chemicals and hydrolysis and low melt viscosity.
US08178602B2	Functional surface coating Compositions and methods of preparing functional thin films or surface coatings with low non-specific binding are described. The thin films contain specified functional groups and non-specific binding repellant components. The thin films are either covalently bound to or passively adsorbed to various solid substrates. The specified functional group provides specified activity for the thin film modified solid surfaces and non-specific binding repellant components significantly reduce the non-specific binding to the thin film modified solid surfaces. Non-specific binding repellant components do not affect specified functional group's activity in the thin films. In these methods, specified functional groups are anchored to the solid substrates through a spacer. Surface coatings are also described having both non-specific protein binding properties combined with functional groups for specific binding activity thereby providing surface coating that specifically recognize target proteins but limit binding to non-specific protein.
US08178596B2	Polyacrylamide delivery product The PAM delivery product is a solid form of polyacrylamide polymer (PAM). Among other things, the PAM delivery product can be used to prevent ruts formed during center-pivot irrigation, prevent erosion of irrigation ditches, clarify wastewater, and assist seed germination and seedling establishment. The PAM delivery product includes pure PAM and water to create a solid “loaf.” Water-soluble calcium (Ca) can also be added to the PAM delivery product depending on the specific application for the PAM delivery product. When Ca is used in the PAM delivery product, it is present in a 9:1 ratio to the PAM There are no fixing agents needed in the PAM delivery product; it is pure active ingredient.
US08178586B2	Method for reducing the viscosity of viscous fluids A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O—moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.
US08178584B2	Water-in oil emulsified composition The present invention relates to a water-in-oil emulsified composition containing a sphingosine represented by the following formula (1): (R1 represents a hydrocarbon group optionally having a substituent; Y represents methylene, methine or O; X1, X2 and X3 each represent H, OH or acetoxy group; X4 represents H, acetyl group or the like; R2, R3 each represents H, OH or the like; R represents H, amidino group or the like; and a stands for 2 or 3), (B) a C6-30 fatty acid, and (C) an oil component. This water-in-oil emulsified composition has excellent stability and provides a good feeling to skin upon use.
US08178579B2	Dioxanes and uses thereof In recognition of the need to develop novel therapeutic agents and efficient methods for the synthesis thereof, the present invention provides novel compounds of general formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, n, X and Y are as defined herein. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention further provides compounds capable of inhibiting histone deacetylatase activity and methods for treating disorders regulated by histone deacetylase activity (e.g., cancer and protozoal infections) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) to a subject in need thereof. The present invention additionally provides methods for modulating the glucose-sensitive subset of genes downstream of Ure2p. The present invention also provides methods for preparing compounds of the invention.
US08178577B2	Tricyclic derivatives as potent and selective histone deacetylase inhibitors The present invention relates to certain tricyclic derivatives which are capable of inhibiting histone deacetylases. The compounds of this invention are therefore useful in treating diseases associated with abnormal histone deacetylase activities. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of treating diseases utilizing pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and methods of preparing these compounds are also disclosed.
US08178573B2	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.
US08178571B2	Unsubstituted and substituted 4-benzyl-1,3-dihydro-imidazole-2-thiones acting as specific or selective alpha2 adrenergic agonists and methods for using the same Compounds of Formula 1 where the variables have the meaning defined in the specification are used to activate alpha2 adrenergic receptors. The compounds of Formula 1 are incorporated in pharmaceutical compositions and are used as medicaments in mammals, including humans, for treatment of diseases and or alleviations of conditions which are responsive to treatment by agonists of alpha2 adrenergic receptors.
US08178567B2	Insecticidal substituted amino heterocyclic and heteroaryl derivatives Certain substituted amino heterocyclic and heteroaryl derivatives have provided unexpected insecticidal and acaricidal activity. These compounds are represented by formula (I): wherein R, R1, R2, R3, R4, A, B and Q are fully described herein. In addition, compositions comprising an insecticidally effective amount of at least one compound of formula I, and optionally, an effective amount of at least one of an additional compound, with at least one insecticidally compatible carrier are also disclosed; along with methods of controlling insects comprising applying said compositions to a locus where insects are present or are expected to be present.
US08178565B2	Multi-substituted pyridyl sulfoximines and their use as insecticides Multi-substituted pyridyl sulfoximines are useful as insecticides.
US08178564B2	Use of picoplatin to treat colorectal cancer The invention provides a method of treatment of colorectal cancer by administration of the anti-cancer platinum drug picoplatin in conjunction with 5-FU and leucovorin in a variety of treatment regimens. Dosages, dosing schedules, and ancillary treatments are described.
US08178560B2	Therapeutic agents useful for treating pain A compound of formula: where Ar1, Ar2, X, R3, and m are as disclosed herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (a “Cycloheteroalkenyl Compound”); compositions comprising an effective amount of a Cycloheteroalkenyl Compound; and methods for treating or preventing pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD, IBS, an addictive disorder, Parkinson's disease, parkinsonism, anxiety, epilepsy, stroke, a seizure, a pruritic condition, psychosis, a cognitive disorder, a memory deficit, restricted brain function, Huntington's chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, retinopathy, a muscle spasm, a migraine, vomiting, dyskinesia, or depression in an animal comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Cycloheteroalkenyl Compound are disclosed herein.
US08178559B2	Organic compounds 3,4-substituted piperidine compounds, these compounds for use in the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of a warm-blooded animal, especially for the treatment of a disease (=disorder) that depends on activity of renin; the use of a compound of that class for the preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of a disease that depends on activity of renin; the use of a compound of that class in the treatment of a disease that depends on activity of renin; pharmaceutical formulations comprising a 3,4-substituted piperidine compound, and/or a method of treatment comprising administering a 3,4substituted piperidine compound, a method for the manufacture of a 3,4-substituted piperidine compound, and novel intermediates and partial steps for their synthesis are disclosed. The 3,4-disubstituted piperidine compounds have the formula (I), wherein the symbols have the meanings defined in the specification.
US08178558B2	Substituted pyridylmethyl bicycliccarboxyamide compounds This invention relates to novel substituted pyridylmethyl bicyclocarboxamide compounds and to their use in therapy. These compounds are particularly useful as modulators of the VR1 (Type I Vanilloid) receptor, and are thus useful for the treatment of pain, neuralgia, neuropathies, nerve injury, burns, migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, neuritis, sciatica, pelvic hypersensitivity, bladder disease, inflammation, or the like in mammals, especially humans.
US08178553B2	Compounds for the treatment of inflammatory disorders This invention relates to compounds of the Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or isomer thereof, which can be useful for the treatment of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs, ADAMs, TACE, aggrecanase, TNF-α or combinations thereof.
US08178552B2	7-Azaindole derivatives and their use in the inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase The present invention provides a compound of formula (I); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, the use of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity and the use in medicine and particularly in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory diseases and/or and autoimmune diseases. The invention also provides processes for the manufacture of said compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and compositions containing them.
US08178551B2	Orally bioavailable prodrugs of (+)-3-hydroxymorphinan for Parkinson'S disease prevention or treatment The present invention is directed to a novel prodrug of (+)-3-hydroxymorphinan compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a method for preparing the same, and its use for preventing or treating Parkinson's disease.
US08178548B2	Anti-infective agents and uses thereof This invention relates to: (a) compounds and salts thereof that, inter alia, inhibit HCV; (b) intermediates useful for the preparation of such compounds and salts; (c) compositions comprising such compounds and salts; (d) methods for preparing such intermediates, compounds, salts, and compositions; (e) methods of use of such compounds, salts, and compositions; and (f) kits comprising such compounds, salts, and compositions.
US08178545B2	Dual small molecule inhibitors of cancer and angiogenesis The present invention provides analogs and derivatives of thalidomide which inhibit cancer and angiogenesis. The present invention further provides compounds which disrupt microtubule polymerization. The present further provides methods of treating cancers comprising mutant p53.
US08178544B2	2, 3-diamino-quinazolinone derivatives and their medical use This invention provides 2,3-diamino-quinazolinone compounds of Formula (I) stereoisomers thereof, pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salts thereof, and N-oxides thereof, wherein the variables are as defined in the specification. The 2,3-diamino-quinazolinone compounds have medical utility. The 2,3-diamino-quinazolinone compounds can be used for the manufacture of medicaments, including pharmaceutical compositions. This invention also provides methods of treating disorders, diseases, or conditions which are responsive to activation of Kv7 channels.
US08178541B2	8-[3-amino-piperidin-1-yl]-xanthines, the preparation thereof and their use as pharmaceutical compositions The present invention relates to substituted xanthines of general formula wherein R1 to R3 are as defined herein, the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures, the prodrugs thereof and the salts thereof which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibiting effect on the activity of the enzyme dipeptidylpeptidase-IV (DPP-IV).
US08178539B2	Substituted 3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-5H-1,2a,4a,8-tetraazacyclopenta[cd]phenalenes and methods Substituted 3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-5H-1,2a,4a,8-tetraazacyclopenta[cd]phenalene-9-amines, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds or salts thereof, intermediates, methods of making the compounds or salts thereof, and methods of use of these compounds or salts thereof or pharmaceutical compositions as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US08178537B2	Solid state forms of varenicline salts and processes for preparation thereof Salts and crystalline forms of several salts of Varenicline, i.e., Varenicline sulfate: are provided, along with methods of preparing the solid states and processes for preparing Varenicline base from those Varenicline salts.
US08178533B2	2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine derivatives, processes for preparing them and their uses The present invention concerns 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals.
US08178530B2	Imidazolopyrazine compounds useful for the treatment of degenerative and inflammatory diseases Novel imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine compounds are disclosed that have a formula represented by the following: The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, arthritis, inflammation, and others.
US08178525B2	FXA inhibitors with cyclic amidoxime or cyclic amidrazone as P4 subunit, processes for their preparations, and pharmaceutical compositions and derivatives thereof Disclosed are novel oxazolidinone derivatives with cyclic amidoxime or cyclic amidrazone group, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, methods for preparing the same and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same. The oxazolidinone derivatives with cyclic amidoxime or cyclic amidrazone group or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof can be effectively used for the treatment of thromboembolism and tumor as an anticoagulant based on the inhibition of factor Xa.
US08178524B2	Noribogaine in the treatment of pain and drug addiction The present invention is directed to methods of treating patients for pain by administering noribogaine. Noribogaine may also be used to treat patients for the symptoms associated with withdrawal from drug dependency. In the latter case, the noribogaine treatment should be supplemented with the administration of an opioid antagonist such as naloxone.
US08178516B2	Compositions and method for treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases This invention defines novel compositions that can be used for clinical treatment of a class of chronic inflammatory diseases. Increased generation of carbonyl substances, namely aldehydes and ketones, occurs at sites of chronic inflammation and is common to the etiologies of all of the clinical disorders addressed herein. Such carbonyl substances are cytotoxic and additionally serve to perpetuate and disseminate the inflammatory process. This invention defines use of compositions, the orally administered required primary agents of which are primary amine derivatives of benzoic acid capable of covalently reacting with the carbonyl substances. p-Aminobenzoic acid (or PABA) is an example of the required primary agent of the present invention. PABA has a small molecular weight, is water-soluble, has a primary amine group which reacts with carbonyl-containing substances and is tolerated by the body in relatively high dosages for extended periods. The method of the present invention includes administration of a composition comprising: (1) an orally consumed therapeutically effective amount of at least one required primary agent; (2) at least one required previously known medicament co-agent recognized as effective to treat a chronic inflammatory disease addressed herein administered to the mammalian subject via the oral route; and (3) one or more additional orally consumed required co-agent selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, vitamins, metabolites at risk of depletion, sulfhydryl co-agents, co-agents which may facilitate glutathione activity and nonabsorbable primary amine polymeric co-agents; so as to produce an additive or synergistic physiological effect of an anti-inflammatory nature.
US08178514B2	Inositol pyrophosphates, and methods of use thereof The present invention comprises compounds, compositions thereof, and methods capable of delivering modified inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) comprising an internal pyrophosphate ring to the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to compounds, compositions thereof, and methods that enhance the ability of mammalian red blood cells to deliver oxygen, by delivering IHP to the cytoplasm of the red blood cells.
US08178507B2	Method for the modulation of function of transcription factors There is provided a method of modulating the function of transcription factor by administering an effective amount of an oligonucleotide containing optimal nucleotide binding sites for the transcription factor. A therapeutic agent having an effective amount of an oligonucleotide for modulating function of transcription factors and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is also provided. Also provided is a treatment of patients having illnesses in which the activation of transcription factors play a role by administering to a patient an effective amount of an oligonucleotide which competitively binds the related transcription factor.
US08178504B2	Gene therapy expression of GHRH for increasing RBC count in subjects The present invention pertains to compositions and methods useful for treating anemia and other effects that are commonly associated in cancer bearing animals. The invention is accomplished by delivering an effective amount of a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into a tissue of an animal and allowing expression of the encoded gene in the animal.
US08178503B2	Ribonucleic acid interference molecules and binding sites derived by analyzing intergenic and intronic regions of genomes In one aspect of the invention, a method for regulating the expression of a transcript comprises using at least one interfering RNA molecule that binds to an area of transcript containing a region that corresponds to at least one sequence having SEQ ID NO: 1, the interfering RNA molecule regulating the expression of the transcript through post-transcriptional silencing. In another aspect, a method for regulating the expression of a transcript comprises at least one of the provided sequences having SEQ ID NO: 1 being used to design an interfering RNA molecule that contains a region that corresponds to the reverse complement of one or more sequences having SEQ ID NO: 1, the interfering molecule regulating, through post-transcriptional silencing, transcripts that contain the sequence having SEQ ID NO: 1.
US08178502B2	Effective treatment of esophogeal adenocarcinoma using triciribine and related compounds The inventors have determined, contrary to the prior art and experience, how to successfully use triciribine to treat esophogeal adenocarcinoma by one or a combination of (i) administering triciribine only to patients which according to a diagnostic test described below, exhibit enhanced sensitivity to the drug; (ii) use of a described dosage level that minimizes the toxicity of the drug but yet still exhibits efficacy; or (iii) use of a described dosage regimen that minimizes the toxicity of the drug.
US08178501B2	Antibiotic combinations for providing total solution to the treatment of infections The invention relates to a new pharmaceutical composition, a method of treatment of infection and also a process to prepare the composition. The infectious complications are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) remains the most severe nosocomial infection in intensive care units. Beta-lactams alone are always considered inadequate when P. aeruginosa and/or methicillin-resistant S. aureus are implicated as pathogens or copathognes. The present invention provides the desired empirical therapy for control of all bacterial infections. The invention provides antibiotic combination products for delivering at least two different antibiotics, through parenteral dosage form comprising protein-synthesis-inhibiting antibiotic which is amikacin or its sulphate salt and non-protein-synthesis-inhibiting antibiotic which is cefepime or its hydrochloride salt. The invention provides a total solution, against multiresistant P. aeruginosa, or Acinetobacter spp. and/or methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and are useful for intramuscular or intravenous administration as antibiotics for hospitalized patients with acute or serious infections. The pharmaceutical compositions described here normally have the least nephrotoxicity and have better efficacy and safety of cefepime plus amikacin combination.
US08178497B2	Method of treating HIV in drug resistant non plasma viral reservoirs with monomeric DAPTA Residual HIV-1 replication reemerges after intensive therapy from location or locations in the body called the drug resistant non-plasma viral reservoir. Methods are disclosed of treating HIV by inhibiting or blocking this reemergence with various monomeric therapeutic peptide compositions including monomeric DAPTA prepared in least 80% trifluoroethanol, with vigorous shaking for at least about 24 hours at about 37° C.
US08178496B2	Photoreactive regulator of glutamate receptor function and methods of use thereof The present invention provides a synthetic regulator of glutamate receptor function, which regulator is a light-sensitive (photoreactive) regulator. The present invention further provides a light-regulated glutamate receptor that includes a subject synthetic regulator non-covalently associated with the glutamate receptor. Also provided are cells and membranes comprising a subject light-regulated glutamate receptor. The present invention further provides methods of modulating glutamate receptor function, involving use of light. The present invention further provides methods of identifying agents that modulate glutamate receptor function.
US08178493B2	Method for inducing angiogenesis in a heart of a patient The present invention has multiple aspects. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a unit dose pharmaceutical composition comprising from about 5 ng/dose to less than 135,000 ng of an angiogenic agent, typically from 5 ng to 67,500 ng. Preferably, the angiogenic agent is FGF, more preferably it is basic FGF (FGF-2). In its second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for inducing angiogenesis, or increasing myocardial perfusion or vascular density in a patient's heart, comprising administering directly into the myocardium in an area in need, as a single injection or a series of injections, a unit dose of an angiogenic agent. It is also within the scope of the present invention that a plurality of unit dose compositions be administered directly into the myocardium at a plurality of sites in need of angiogenesis. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for treating a patient for coronary artery disease, comprising administering directly into the myocardium in an area of need of angiogenesis in said patient, a unit dose (i.e., from about 5 ng to less than 135,000 ng) of an angiogenic agent. In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for treating a patient for a myocardial infarction, comprising administering directly into the myocardium in an area in need of angiogenesis in said patient, a unit dose (i.e., from about 5 ng to less than 135,000 ng) of an angiogenic agent.
US08178490B2	Polybasic bacterial efflux pump inhibitors and therapeutic uses thereof Disclosed are compounds having polybasic functionalities. The compounds inhibit bacterial efflux pump inhibitors and are used in combination with an anti-bacterial agent to treat or prevent bacterial infections. These combinations can be effective against bacterial infections that have developed resistance to anti-bacterial agents through an efflux pump mechanism.
US08178486B2	Method for promoting hair growth A method is provided of promoting hair growth in a subject includes applying to the skin of the subject a composition including lactoferrin in an amount effective for at least one of proliferating and activating hair follicles in the hypodermis of skin of the subject.
US08178485B2	Hexahydro ethanochromenes and related compounds and their use in fragrance compositions The present invention relates to novel compounds and their use in fragrance compositions. Novel hexahydro ethanochromene and related hexahydro ethanochromane compounds of the present invention are represented by formula: wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl; R2 and R2′ are identical and are hydrogen or methyl; R3 and R3′ are identical and are hydrogen or methyl; R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen or methyl; R6 is methyl, ethyl, or isopropyl, with the proviso that when R1 is H, R2 and R3′ form an alkylene bridge containing 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and wherein the broken line represents a single or double bond.
US08178482B2	Cleaning compositions for microelectronic substrates A stripping and cleaning composition for cleaning microelectronics substrates, the composition comprising: at least one organic stripping solvent, at least one nucleophilic amine, at least one non-nitrogen containing weak acid in an amount sufficient to neutralize from about 3% to about 75% by weight of the nucleophilic amine such that the stripping composition has an aqueous pH of from about 9.6 to about 10.9, said weak acid having a pK value in aqueous solution of 2.0 or greater and an equivalent weight of less than 140, at least one metal-removing compound selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol and diethylene glycolamine, and water, and method for cleaning microelectronic substrates with these compositions.
US08178478B2	Lubricating oil compositions An internal combustion engine crankcase lubricating oil composition is disclosed. The crankcase lubricating oil composition has a TBN no greater than 6 and contains the following additives: (B1) a metal detergent system having a metal ratio no greater than 3, as the sole detergent system; (B2) an organic ashless friction modifier; (B3) an oil-soluble molybdenum friction modifier; and (B4) a metal dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate.
US08178475B2	Surfactant materials and coatings for weighting agents for use in oil based drilling fluids A wellbore fluid that includes an oleaginous continuous phase; a non-oleaginous phase; and a polymeric additive formed by mixing at least one lipophilic monomer and at least one crosslinking agent, wherein the at least one lipophilic monomer is at least one of an epoxide-functionalized derivative of at least one selected from soybean oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, cashew nut shell oil; perilla oil, tung oil, oiticia oil, safflower oil, poppy oil, hemp oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, high-oleic triglycerides, triglycerides of euphorbia plants, peanut oil, olive oil, olive kernel oil, almond oil, kapok oil, hazelnut oil, apricot kernel oil, beechnut oil, lupine oil, maize oil, sesame oil, grapeseed oil, lallemantia oil, castor oil, herring oil, sardine oil, menhaden oil, whale oil, tall oil, and synthetic aliphatic or aromatic ethers, and the at least one crosslinking agent includes at least one selected from amines, alcohols, phenols, thiols, carbanions, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof is disclosed.
US08178473B2	Superconductive magnet for persistent current and method for manufacturing the same Disclosed are a superconductive magnet manufactured by winding a thin superconductive rod wire in a coil without joint for maintaining a persistent current mode, and a method for manufacturing the same. The method includes winding both ends of a superconductive rod wire (10) on a first bobbin (21) and a second bobbin (22) respectively; forming a first unit rod wire (10a) and a second unit rod wire (10b) by slitting the superconductive rod wire (10) in the lengthwise direction; producing a pancake coil by winding the first and second unit rod wires (10a, 10b) on third bobbins (25) in one direction; and arranging the first and second unit rod wires (10a, 10b) such that magnetic fields (B, B′) in the same direction are generated from the pancake coil, by reversing one of the third bobbins (25) on which the first and second unit rod wires (10a, 10b) are wound.
US08178472B2	Superconducting device and method of manufacturing the same The present invention provides a superconducting device including a substrate, a first superconducting pattern formed on the substrate, an insulating pattern formed on the first superconducting pattern, and a second superconducting pattern formed at the uppermost level in the multilayered superconducting pattern. A barrier layer of a Josephson junction is formed on the lower side of, or within the second superconducting pattern. The second superconducting pattern constitutes a circuit element on the insulating pattern.
US08178470B2	Adducts of amines and polycarboxylic acids, and filter media comprising such adducts Herein are disclosed adducts of amines and polycarboxylic acids, and methods of making such adducts. Such adducts can be used to remove cyanogen chloride. Also disclosed are methods of providing such adducts on supports to form filter media. Also disclosed are methods of combining such filter media with catalysts and/or with porous polymeric webs to form filter systems.
US08178469B1	Highly efficient catalyst using precious metal A catalyst for purifying exhaust gas in vehicles may include a precious metal and porous structures that serve as a supporting material for the precious metal. The porous structures are comprised of a plurality of channels which are connected with each other by a plurality of bridges. The channels may have multiple entrances that allow reactants to pass through and react with the precious metal.
US08178464B2	Isocyanate prepolymer catalysts and related curing processes Isocyanate prepolymer catalysts and processes for rapidly curing isocyanate prepolymers are disclosed herein. Substrates coated with the isocyanate prepolymers are treated with a drying agent and water, which combine to form a hydrated catalyst complex. Co-catalysts, such as organo tins, may be used to further enhance the curing rate.
US08178459B2	Corrosion-resistant member and method of manufacturing same A corrosion-resistant member includes a ceramic member containing yttrium oxide as a main component, containing cerium element, and obtained by firing under a nonoxidizing atmosphere. The corrosion-resistant member that has high corrosion-resistant characteristics and includes a ceramic member having a low volume resistivity can be provided.
US08178458B2	Dielectric ceramic composition A dielectric ceramic composition is disclosed. The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention comprises BaTiO3 as the main component and one or more subcomponents. The one or more subcomponents include Sc2O3, MgCO3, BaSiO3, MnCO3, La2O3, CO3O4 and NiO. An end product of the present invention may be formed after BaTiO3 and the subcomponents undergo the following steps: (1) Wet mixing using a ball mill (2) Sintering in a reducing atmosphere (3) Annealing. The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention can satisfy the X8R characteristic of the EIA standard and is compact or dense enough.
US08178454B2	Optical glass and optical apparatus using the same An optical glass includes a substance A generating light of a wavelength λ2 when irradiated with light of a wavelength λ1 and a substance B generating light of a wavelength λ3 when irradiated with light of the wavelength λ1 in the case where the optical glass includes 5-50 ppm Fe with respect to a 100% basic glass composition containing at least, 2-10% SiO2, 5-45% B2O3, and 30-60% La2O3, by weight, or the relation of the wavelength λ1, the wavelength λ2, and the wavelength λ3 is assumed to be λ1<λ2<λ3 with respect to a 100% basic glass composition containing; at least, 2-10% SiO2, 5-45% B2O3, 30-60% La2O3, 0-15% RO (R=Zn, Sr, Ba), 0-40% Ln2O3 (Ln=Y, Gd), and 0-30% total of ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5, by weight.
US08178446B2	Strained metal nitride films and method of forming A method for forming a strained metal nitride film and a semiconductor device containing the strained metal nitride film. The method includes exposing a substrate to a gas containing a metal precursor, exposing the substrate to a gas containing a first nitrogen precursor configured to react with the metal precursor with a first reactivity characteristic, and exposing the substrate to a gas pulse containing a second nitrogen precursor configured to react with the metal precursor with a second reactivity characteristic different than the first reactivity characteristic such that a property of the metal nitride film formed on the substrate changes to provide a strained metal nitride film.
US08178442B2	Method of forming patterns of semiconductor device A method in the fabrication of a semiconductor device simultaneously forms different patterns on the same level of the device. The device has a first area and a second area. A low density mask pattern of at least one relatively wide topographic feature is formed on the second area, a plurality of relatively narrow topographic features is formed on the first area, first spacers are formed on side walls of the narrow topographic features in the first area, the relatively narrow topographic features are removed, and the patterns of the first spacers and the relatively wide topographic feature(s) are simultaneously transcribed in the first and second areas, respectively.
US08178441B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate insulating layer, a gate and a protective layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a spacer on lateral sides of the protective layer and the gate, forming one or more junction regions in the semiconductor substrate at sides of the gate, partially filling a gap between adjacent gates by selectively forming a conductive layer on an exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate between the adjacent gates, forming an insulating layer over the semiconductor substrate so as to fill a full height of the gap between the adjacent gates, and forming a contact hole partially exposing the conductive layer by etching the insulating layer.
US08178435B2	High performance system-on-chip inductor using post passivation process A system and method for forming post passivation inductors, and related structures, is described. High quality electrical components, such as inductors and transformers, are formed on a layer of passivation, or on a thick layer of polymer over a passivation layer.
US08178433B2	Methods for the formation of fully silicided metal gates An advanced gate structure that includes a fully silicided metal gate and silicided source and drain regions in which the fully silicided metal gate has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the silicided source/drain regions is provided. Methods of forming the advanced gate structure are also provided.
US08178422B2	Method of measurement in semiconductor fabrication Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a device substrate having a front side and a back side, the device substrate having a first refractive index, forming an embedded target over the front side of the device substrate, forming a reflective layer over the embedded target, forming a media layer over the back side of the device substrate, the media layer having a second refractive index less than the first refractive index, and projecting radiation through the media layer and the device substrate from the back side so that the embedded target is detected for a semiconductor process.
US08178419B2	Method to texture a lamina surface within a photovoltaic cell It is advantageous to create texture at the surface of a photovoltaic cell to reduce reflection and increase travel length of light within the cell. A method is disclosed to create texture at the surface of a silicon body by reacting a silicide-forming metal at the surface, where the silicide-silicon interface is non-planar, then stripping the silicide, leaving behind a textured surface. Depending on the metal and the conditions of silicide formation, the resulting surface may be faceted. The peak-to-valley height of this texturing will generally be between about 300 and about 5000 angstroms, which is well-suited for use in photovoltaic cells comprising a thin silicon lamina.
US08178418B1	Method for fabricating intra-device isolation structure A method for fabricating intra-device isolation structure is provided, including providing a semiconductor substrate with a mask layer formed thereover. A plurality of first trenches is formed in the semiconductor substrate and the mask layer. A first insulating layer is formed in the first trenches. The mask layer is partially removed to expose a portion of the first insulating layer in the first trenches. A protection spacer is formed on a sidewall surface of the portion of the first insulating layer exposed by the mask layer to partially expose a portion of the mask layer between the first insulating layer. An etching process is performed to the mask layer exposed by the protection spacer and the semiconductor substrate thereunder, and a plurality of second trenches is formed in the semiconductor substrate and the mask layer. A second insulating layer is formed in the second trenches. The protection spacer, the mask layer, the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer over a top surface of the semiconductor substrate are then removed.
US08178414B2	NMOS architecture involving epitaxially-grown in-situ N-type-doped embedded eSiGe:C source/drain targeting An NMOS transistor is formed with improved manufacturability. An embodiment includes forming N-type doped embedded silicon germanium containing carbon (eSiGe:C) in source/drain regions of a substrate, and amorphizing the eSiGe:C. The use of eSiGe:C provides a reduction in extension silicon and dopant loss, improved morphology, increased wafer throughput, improved short channel control, and reduced silicide to source/drain contact resistance.
US08178411B2	Method for producing a stop zone in a semiconductor body and semiconductor component having a stop zone A method for producing a buried stop zone in a semiconductor body and a semiconductor component having a stop zone, the method including providing a semiconductor body having a first and a second side and a basic doping of a first conduction type. The method further includes irradiating the semiconductor body via one of the sides with protons, as a result of which protons are introduced into a first region of the semiconductor body situated at a distance from the irradiation side. The method also includes carrying out a thermal process in which the semiconductor body is heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time duration, the temperature and the duration being chosen such that hydrogen-induced donors are generated both in the first region and in a second region adjacent to the first region in the direction of the irradiation side.
US08178410B1	Method for fabricating a semiconductor power device A method for forming a power device includes the following steps. An epitaxial layer is formed on a substrate. A pad layer and hard mask are formed on the epitaxial layer. A trench is etched into the hard mask, the pad layer, and the epitaxial layer. The hard mask is removed. A buffer layer is formed on the sidewall of the trench. The trench is then filled with a dopant source layer comprising plural dopants. A drive-in process is performed to diffuse the dopants into the epitaxial layer through the buffer layer, thereby forming a diffusion region around the trench.
US08178409B2	Semiconductor device with alternately arranged P-type and N-type thin semiconductor layers and method for manufacturing the same The invention is related to a semiconductor device with alternately arranged P-type and N-type thin semiconductor layers and method for manufacturing the same. For P-type device, the method includes trench formation, thermal oxide formation on trench sidewalls, N-type silicon formation in trenches, N-type impurity diffusion through thermal oxide into P-type epitaxial layer, oxidation of N-type silicon in trenches and oxide removal. In the semiconductor device, N-type thin semiconductor layers are formed by N-type impurity diffusion through oxide to P-type epitaxial layers, and trenches are filled with oxide. With this method, relatively low concentration impurity in high voltage device can be realized by current mass production process, and the device development cost and manufacturing cost are decreased.
US08178408B2	Methods of manufacturing charge trap-type non-volatile memory devices Some methods are directed to manufacturing charge trap-type non-volatile memory devices. An isolation layer pattern can be formed that extends in a first direction in a substrate. A recess unit is formed in the substrate by recessing an exposed surface of the substrate adjacent to the isolation layer pattern. A tunnel insulating layer and a charge trap layer are sequentially formed on the substrate. The tunnel insulating layer and the charge trap layer are patterned to form an isolated island-shaped tunnel insulating layer pattern and an isolated island-shaped charge trap layer pattern by etching defined regions of the substrate, the isolation layer pattern, the tunnel insulating layer, and the charge trap layer until a top surface of the charge trap layer that is disposed on a bottom surface of the recess unit is aligned with a top surface of the isolation layer pattern. A blocking insulating layer is formed that covers the charge trap layer pattern, the isolation layer pattern, and a defined region of the substrate interposed between the charge trap patterns. A gate electrode pattern is formed on the blocking insulating layer to face the charge trap layer pattern. This manufacturing process may reduce charge spreading between unit memory cells and/or may prevent/avoid reduction in the breakdown voltage of the blocking insulating layer.
US08178407B2	Systems and methods for a high density, compact memory array A memory array comprising vertical memory cells does not require any isolation layers between cells. Thus, a very compact, high density memory array can be achieved. Each memory cell in the memory array is configured to store 4 bits of data per cell. Multi-level charge techniques can be used to increase the number of bit per cell and achieve further increased density for the memory array.
US08178403B2	Method of producing precision vertical and horizontal layers in a vertical semiconductor structure The present invention relates to providing layers of different thickness on vertical and horizontal surfaces (15, 20) of a vertical semiconductor device (1). In particular the invention relates to gate electrodes and the formation of precision layers (28) in semiconductor structures comprising a substrate (10) and an elongated structure (5) essentially standing up from the substrate. According to the method of the invention the vertical geometry of the device (1) is utilized in combination with either anisotropic deposition or anisotropic removal of deposited material to form vertical or horizontal layers of very high precision.
US08178400B2	Replacement spacer for tunnel FETs A semiconductor fabrication method includes depositing a dummy gate layer onto a substrate, patterning the dummy gate layer, depositing a hardmask layer over the dummy gate layer, patterning the hardmask layer, etching a recess into the substrate, adjacent the dummy gate layer, depositing a semiconductor material into the recess, removing the hardmask layer, depositing replacement spacers onto the dummy gate layer, performing an oxide deposition over the dummy gate layer and replacement spacers, removing the dummy gate and replacement spacers, thereby forming a gate recess in the oxide and depositing a gate stack into the recess.
US08178397B2	Field effect transistor A field effect transistor including a gate insulation portion, an organic semiconductor portion, a source electrode and a drain electrode, wherein when a voltage is applied to the gate at 70° C. for 5.0±0.1 hours so that the field strength in the gate insulation portion would be 100±5 MV/m, the change in the threshold voltage is within 5 V. The organic semiconductor portion has a high driving stability, of which the change in characteristics by driving is thereby small.
US08178395B2	Method of making a semiconductor chip assembly with a post/base heat spreader with a thermal via A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing a post, a base, a support layer and an underlayer, wherein the post extends above the base and the support layer is sandwiched between the base and the underlayer, mounting an adhesive on the base including inserting the post into an opening in the adhesive, mounting a conductive layer on the adhesive including aligning the post with an aperture in the conductive layer, then flowing the adhesive upward between the post and the conductive layer, solidifying the adhesive, then providing a conductive trace that includes a pad, a terminal and a selected portion of the conductive layer, providing a heat spreader that includes the post, the base, the underlayer and a thermal via that extends from the base through the support layer to the underlayer, then mounting a semiconductor device on the post, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductive trace and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08178392B2	Electronic system with expansion feature An electronic system is provided including forming a substrate having a radiating patterned pad, mounting an electrical device having an external interconnect over the radiating patterned pad with the external interconnect offset from the radiating patterned pad, and aligning the external interconnect with the radiating patterned pad.
US08178390B2	Semiconductor component and production method A semiconductor component is disclosed. In one embodiment, the semiconductor component includes a semiconductor chip, which is arranged on a substrate, and a housing, which at least partially surrounds the semiconductor chip. The substrate is at least partly provided with a layer of polymer foam.
US08178385B2	Phase change memory that switches between crystalline phases A phase change memory may transition between two crystalline states. In one embodiment, the phase change material is a chalcogenide which transitions between face centered cubic and hexagonal states. Because these states are more stable, they are less prone to drift than the amorphous state conventionally utilized in phase change memories.
US08178384B1	Interfacial architecture for nanostructured optoelectronic devices An optoelectronic apparatus, a method for making the apparatus, and the use of the apparatus in an optoelectronic device are disclosed. The apparatus may include an active layer having a nanostructured network layer with a network of regularly spaced structures with spaces between neighboring structures. One or more network-filling materials are disposed in the spaces. At least one of the network-filling materials has complementary charge transfer properties with respect to the nanostructured network layer. An interfacial layer, configured to enhance an efficiency of the active layer, is disposed between the nanostructured network layer and the network-filling materials. The interfacial layer may be configured to provide (a) charge transfer between the two materials that exhibits different rates for forward versus backward transport; (b) differential light absorption to extend a range of wavelengths that the active layer can absorb; or (c) enhanced light absorption, which may be coupled with charge injection.
US08178383B2	Touch-sensing display device and method for manufacturing the same A display device and method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a touch-sensing element, and a liquid crystal. The first substrate has a first surface and a second surface thereon. The second substrate has a pixel array and is disposed on the second surface of the first substrate. The touch-sensing element locates on the first surface of the first substrate. Furthermore, the touch-sensing element includes a conductive layer, a patterned electrode, and a passivation layer. The patterned electrode is correspondingly located on the periphery of the first substrate, and electrically connected to the conductive layer. The passivation layer covers the conductive layer and the patterned electrode. In addition, the liquid crystal is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08178378B2	Method of manufacturing vertical nitride semiconductor light emitting diode A vertical nitride-based semiconductor LED comprises a structure support layer; a p-electrode formed on the structure support layer; a p-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the p-electrode; an active layer formed on the p-type nitride semiconductor layer; an n-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the active layer; an n-electrode formed on a portion of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer; and a buffer layer formed on a region of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer on which the n-electrode is not formed, the buffer layer having irregularities formed thereon. The surface of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer coming in contact with the n-electrode is flat.
US08178377B2	Method for fabricating lED chip comprising reduced mask count A method for fabricating a light emitting diode chip is provided. In the method, a half-tone mask process, a gray-tone mask process or a multi-tone mask process is applied and combined with a lift-off process to further reduce process steps of the light emitting diode chip. In the present invention, some components may also be simultaneously formed by an identical process to reduce the process steps of the light emitting diode chip. Consequently, the fabricating method of the light emitting diode provided in the present invention reduces the cost and time for the fabrication of the light emitting diode.
US08178376B2	Method for fabricating LED chip comprising reduced mask count and lift-off processing A method for fabricating a light emitting diode chip is provided. In the method, a half-tone mask process, a gray-tone mask process or a multi-tone mask process is applied and combined with a lift-off process to further reduce process steps of the light emitting diode chip. In the present invention, some components may also be simultaneously formed by an identical process to reduce the process steps of the light emitting diode chip. Consequently, the fabricating method of the light emitting diode provided in the present invention reduces the cost and time for the fabrication of the light emitting diode.
US08178375B2	Method of determining compound ratio of compound semiconductor for light generating device A method of manufacturing a light generating device with required wavelength is disclosed. According to the method, a) a required wavelength is determined. b) A polar angle and an azimuthal angle corresponding to the required wavelength in a nitride semiconductor are determined. Then, c) a nitride semiconductor crystal is grown according to the polar angle and the azimuthal angle. Therefore, a light generating device with required wavelength may be manufactured without adjusting amounts of elements of compound semiconductor.
US08178374B2	Thin film patterning method and method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device A thin film patterning method comprising: depositing a first thin film and applying a photoresist layer on the first thin film; exposing and developing the photoresist layer to define first, second and third regions, wherein the photoresist layer in the first region is thicker than that in the second region, and no photoresist layer is left in the third region; over-etching to remove the first thin film in the third region and form an over-etched region in the peripheral region of the first region; removing a part of the photoresist layer to expose the first thin film in the second region; depositing a second thin film so that the first thin film contacts the second thin film in the second region; and lifting off the photoresist layer to remove the second thin film in the first region and exposing the substrate in the over-etched region of the first region.
US08178370B2	Method and system for large scale manufacture of thin film photovoltaic devices using multi-chamber configuration A method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices includes loading a substrate into a load lock station and transferring the substrate in a controlled ambient to a first process station. The method includes using a first physical deposition process in the first process station to cause formation of a first conductor layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method includes transferring the substrate to a second process station, and using a second physical deposition process in the second process station to cause formation of a second layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method further includes repeating the transferring and processing until all thin film materials of the photovoltaic devices are formed. In an embodiment, the invention also provides a method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices including feed forward control. That is, the method includes in-situ monitoring of the physical, electrical, and optical properties of the thin films. These properties are used to determine and adjust process conditions for subsequent processes.
US08178368B2	Test chiplets for devices A method of forming a device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate on which the device is formed. It also includes forming a test cell on the substrate. The test cell includes a defect programmed into the cell to facilitate defect detection.
US08178366B2	Pattern forming method, manufacturing method of semiconductor device, and template manufacturing method In the pattern forming method according to the embodiment, second templates are manufactured by an imprint technology using first templates manufactured by applying a predetermined misalignment distribution for each shot on a first substrate by an exposure apparatus. Then, an upper-layer-side pattern is formed by an imprint technology using a second template in which an inter-layer misalignment amount between a lower-layer-side pattern already formed above a second substrate and the upper-layer-side pattern to be formed above the second substrate becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined reference value.
US08178364B2	Testing method of surface-emitting laser device and testing device thereof A method of performing a wafer level burn-in test for a plurality of surface-emitting laser devices formed on a wafer includes causing a plurality of contact electrodes arranged in a same plane with a pitch same as that of the surface-emitting laser devices being electrically connected to each other to have contact with pad electrodes of the surface-emitting laser devices, respectively, and applying a current to second electrodes of the surface-emitting laser devices and the contact electrodes. The wafer level burn-in test is performed while heating the wafer at a predetermined temperature. Laser lights emitted from the surface-emitting laser devices are monitored during the wafer level burn-in test.
US08178363B2	MRAM with storage layer and super-paramagnetic sensing layer An MRAM is disclosed that has a MTJ comprised of a ferromagnetic layer with a magnetization direction along a first axis, a super-paramagnetic (SP) free layer, and an insulating layer formed therebetween. The SP free layer has a remnant magnetization that is substantially zero in the absence of an external field, and in which magnetization is roughly proportional to an external field until reaching a saturation value. In one embodiment, a separate storage layer is formed above, below, or adjacent to the MTJ and has uniaxial anisotropy with a magnetization direction along its easy axis which parallels the first axis. In a second embodiment, the storage layer is formed on a non-magnetic conducting spacer layer within the MTJ and is patterned simultaneously with the MTJ. The SP free layer may be multiple layers or laminated layers of CoFeB. The storage layer may have a SyAP configuration and a laminated structure.
US08178358B2	Serpine2 as a biomarker for IgA nephropathy The present invention provides a method for diagnosis or prognosis of IgA nephropathy in a subject based on detection of the expression level of one or more biomarker genes selected from the group consisting of thymosin β4 (Tmsb4), serine or cysteine proteinase inhibitor clade E member 2 (Serpine2), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (OPN), butyrophilin-like-2 (BTNL2), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8), Cystatin C (CysC), and any combination thereof.
US08178354B2	Chemical sensors comprising fluorescent conjugated polymers as sensitive materials, and their use in the detection or assaying of nitro compounds The invention relates to chemical sensors comprising fluorescent conjugated polymers as sensitive materials and to their use in detecting or assaying nitro compounds, in particular nitroaromatic compounds. Fields of application: detection of explosives, monitoring and observation of atmospheric pollution and of the quality of relatively confined surroundings, watching over industrial sites.
US08178353B2	Method for determination of polymer concentration in water systems In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method for determining the concentration of anionic polymers or oligomers in industrial water comprising combining a buffer solution and a cationic dye solution, measuring absorbance of the buffer-dye admixture at selected wavelength(s) and determining the polymer or oligomer concentration from the previously determined absorbance values. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the buffer solution may be a multifunctional buffer solution and may be comprised of multiple buffers, masking agents. and/or stabilizing agents and combinations thereof. Other embodiments provide that multiple dyes may be employed.
US08178351B2	Containers for reading and handling diagnostic reagents and methods of using the same A container with a rotatable lid for reading and handling diagnostic reagents in tape form comprising a body portion, a lid portion, a continuous tape, a reagent-sensing device, and a storage device. The body portion includes an inner and outer surface. The lid portion is attached to the body portion and is adapted to rotate from a closed position to an open position. The continuous tape includes a diagnostic reagent. The reagent-sensing device is attached to either the body portion or the lid portion and adapted to read the diagnostic reagent. The storage device is attached to the body portion that is adapted to hold and dispense an unused portion of the continuous tape. During the rotation of the lid portion, the continuous tape is advanced from the first storage device and is extended over the reagent-sensing device.
US08178345B2	Multilayer cell culture vessels A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus includes a unitary flask body including a rigid upper and lower surface, connected by side walls. The cell growth apparatus comprises multiple cell growth chambers stacked in vertical alignment and orientation within the unitary flask body. The stacked chambers are held in position by unitary connecting columns that run through each cell growth chamber and terminate at the rigid upper and lower surfaces of the apparatus. The cell growth chambers are separated by tracheal spaces that allow air from the external environment to contact the cell growth surface of each individual cell growth chamber.
US08178335B2	Intracellular production of a nuclease Methods and compositions are provided that relate to obtaining a recombinant DNA and RNA cleaving nuclease. This involves the over-expression of a fusion protein between maltose-binding protein and a truncated nuclease in a soluble form in the cytoplasm of a host cell from which it can be readily extracted.
US08178333B2	Biocatalytic processes for the preparation of substantially stereomerically pure fused bicyclic proline compounds The present disclosure provides monoamine oxidase enzymes and methods of their use in biocatalytic processes for the preparation of substantially enantiomerically pure heterobicyclic compounds of the following structural formulas, wherein A, M, M′, and R5 are as described herein.
US08178329B2	Process to produce organic compounds from synthesis gases At least one isolated microorganism and a fermentation method to convert hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas, and/or carbon monoxide gas to a lower alkyl alcohol and/or carboxylic acid and to produce at least 2% by volume of the lower alkyl alcohol or carboxylic acid in an aqueous-based medium.
US08178328B2	Fermentive production of four carbon alcohols Methods for the fermentative production of four carbon alcohols is provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably isobutanol is produced by the fermentative growth of a recombinant bacterium expressing an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway.
US08178326B2	Producing esters of fatty acid and C1-C3 alkyl alcohols The invention relates to the utilization of fatty materials with substantial free fatty acid content in the production of biodiesel by the use of microbial enzymes that are effective in a solvent-free process for the production of esters of fatty acids and C1-C3 alkyl alcohols.
US08178325B2	Process for producing sulfur-containing hydroxycarboxylic acid There is provided is a process for producing a sulfur-containing α-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound represented by the formula (2): wherein R1 represents hydrogen, C1-8 alkyl, or C6-20 aryl, which comprises subjecting a sulfur-containing ketol represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is the same as defined above, to the action of microbial cells of a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus or Bacillus capable of converting the ketol into a corresponding α-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound, or a treated material thereof, thereby producing the sulfur-containing α-hydroxycarboxylic acid without using a hydroxynitrile compound as a starting material.
US08178324B2	Deracemisation of amines The present invention relates to a method for the deracemization or chiral inversion of chiral amines by enzymatic treatment. The method employs a stereoselective enzymatic conversion and either a non-selective or partially selective chemical or enzymatic conversion, simultaneously or sequentially. The invention also provides a method for selecting a suitable enzyme, particularly a suitable amine oxidase, and for the generation of novel enzymes suitable for use in the deracemization method.
US08178322B2	Method for producing an L-amino acid or a nucleic acid A method is described for producing an L-amino acid or a nucleic acid by culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce the L-amino acid or nucleic acid in a liquid medium in a fermentation tank containing a stirring impeller, and optionally adding seed crystals to the medium as required to produce and accumulate crystals of the L-amino acid or nucleic acid in the medium, and collecting crystals of the L-amino acid or nucleic acid from the culture. The power density of the stirring impeller is controlled to be 2.4 kW/m3 or lower after either precipitation of the crystals or addition of the seed crystals.
US08178320B2	Artificial antibody library with super-repertory An artificial antibody library with a super-repertory (1011 or more) is constructed by: using a cDNA library as a template, amplifying a fragment containing the CDR1 and CDR2s regions of the VH or VL region of immunoglobulin gene and a fragment containing the CDR3 region each by the PCR method; integrating the VH library and the VL library, which are little contaminated with unexpressionable repertory and have high safety, into an non-expression vector; transferring it into a host; and then shuffling the VH region in the VH library with the VL region in the VL library.
US08178313B2	Method for determining an analyte in a bodily fluid A method for determining (e.g., detecting and/or measuring the concentration of) an analyte in a bodily fluid sample includes obtaining a bodily fluid sample, applying the bodily fluid sample to an analyte test strip, transferring the applied bodily fluid sample to a sample-receiving chamber of the analyte test strip, and determining an analyte in the bodily fluid sample. The analyte test strip employed in the method includes a first port in fluidic communication with the sample-receiving chamber and proximate a platform portion of the analyte test strip. Moreover, the platform portion is configured to receive a first (relatively large) bodily fluid sample of at least 5 micro-liters and transfer at least a portion of the first bodily fluid sample to the sample-receiving chamber via the first port. The analyte test strip also includes a second port in fluidic communication with the sample-receiving chamber and an outer edge of the analyte test strip, the second port configured to receive a second (relatively small) bodily fluid sample of lesser volume than the first bodily fluid sample and for transferring at least a portion of the second bodily fluid sample to sample-receiving chamber. In addition, the applying step involves applying the bodily fluid sample to one of the second port and the platform portion of the analyte test strip depending on the volume of the bodily fluid sample.
US08178310B2	Babesia microti genomic clones containing novel antigens useful in the diagnosis of Babesios Disclosed are the cloning and expression of novel antigens in Babesia microti. The recombinant polypeptides are highly immunogenic. The polypeptides of the present invention provide the basis of a diagnostic assay that is sensitive, rapid and accurate using patient's sera. Also disclosed is an IgG and IgM ELISA using two novel recombinant antigens in the diagnosis of Babesia infection.
US08178309B2	Method of assaying von Willebrand factor activity using agglutinatable, fixed platelet fragments The present invention relates to a method for preparing agglutinatable platelet fragments, in which native platelets are treated with ultrasound and a fixative. The platelet fragments are suitable for use in diagnostic assay methods which include an agglutination reaction, such as, for example, in a method for determining VWF activity.
US08178308B2	Use of IL-27 agonists to increase interferon-gamma production Provided are cytokines and methods of modulating activity of the immune system using cytokine agonists and antagonists. Also provided are methods of treatment of immune and proliferative disorders.
US08178300B2	Method for the identification of the clonal source of a restriction fragment The present invention relates to a high throughput method for the identification and detection of molecular markers wherein restriction fragments are generated and suitable adaptors comprising (sample-specific) identifiers are ligated. The adapter-ligated restriction fragments may be selectively amplified with adaptor compatible primers carrying selective nucleotides at their 3′ end. The amplified adapter-ligated restriction fragments are, at least partly, sequenced using high throughput sequencing methods and the sequence parts of the restriction fragments together with the sample-specific identifiers serve as molecular markers.
US08178293B2	Uses of BNIPXL-beta in premature canities The present invention concerns the use of a polypeptide comprising a sequence having at least 90% identity with all or part of BNIPXLβ, for cosmetic or therapeutic applications, in the treatment or prevention of premature canities in humans, said portion comprising at least 30 amino acids, as well as the use, for the same purpose, of a molecule comprising a RNAi sequence having at least 90% identity with all or part of the cDNA sequence of BNIPXLβ, said part comprising at least 18 nucleotides.The invention also concerns methods for screening molecules modulating the expression of a gene coding for BNIPXL-beta and molecules modulating the activity of the BNIPXL-beta polypeptide, in order to identify an agent for use for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes in the field of pigmentation. The invention also encompasses various uses of molecules which may be identified by these methods.
US08178290B2	Solid support The present invention provides a solid support for performing steps of isolation of cell or extraction and purification of nucleic acid, safely, easily, efficiently, and with high yield in the genetic test for investigating the presence of pathogenic bacterial infection. A solid support for binding with cell as an embodiment of the above-described solid support, comprises a polypeptide having capability of binding with my colic acid-containing glycolipid which is immobilized on the surface of a carrier. In addition, a solid support for binding with nucleic acid as another embodiment of the above-described solid support, comprises a polypeptide having capability of binding with nucleic acid which is immobilized on the surface of a carrier.
US08178289B2	System and method for photolithography in semiconductor manufacturing A method for producing a pattern on a substrate includes providing at least one exposure of the pattern onto a layer of the substrate by a higher-precision lithography mechanism and providing at least one exposure of the pattern onto a layer of the substrate by a lower-precision lithography mechanism. The exposures can be done in either order, and additional exposures can be included. The higher-precision lithography mechanism can be immersion lithography and the lower-precision lithography mechanism can be dry lithography.
US08178285B2	Method for manufacturing piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type element A manufacturing method for a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type element and a film constituting a laminated vibrator made of laminations of an electrode film and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film in a plane position. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type element includes a substrate, a lower electrode film provided on the substrate, and a laminated vibrator made of laminations of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film and an upper electrode film. The lower electrode film is formed by a photolithography method with the substrate, where a cavity is filled with a light shielding agent, as a mask. Thereafter, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film is formed by electrophoresis of powder of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive material toward the lower electrode film, and the upper electrode film is formed by the photolithography method with the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film as a mask. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive film may be formed by the photolithography method with the lower electrode film as a mask.
US08178282B2	Heat-sensitive imaging element A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye, and more particularly a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor includes the IR dye. A method for making the lithographic printing plate produces a print-out image of high contrast upon exposure to IR-radiation or heating.
US08178281B2	Method for improving sensitivity of resist It is an object of the present invention to improve sensitivity of a resist made from hydrosilsesquioxane when a pattern is formed in the resist by irradiation with a charged particle beam. The method for improving sensitivity of a resist of the present invention is a method to improve sensitivity of a resist formed from hydrosilsesquioxane to a charged particle beam when a pattern is formed in the resist by irradiation with a charged particle beam, and is characterized by including prebaking a resist formed from hydrosilsesquioxane and applied onto a substrate at t° C. (20≦t≦300), applying a composition containing a water-soluble conductive polymer compound to a charged particle beam irradiation surface of the prebaked resist, baking the thus applied composition at T° C. (0≦T
US08178279B2	Negative radiation-sensitive resin composition A negative-tone radiation-sensitive resin composition includes an alkali-soluble resin, a radically polymerizable compound, a radiation-sensitive radical initiator, and an organic solvent. The alkali-soluble resin includes a phenolic hydroxyl group. The radically polymerizable compound includes an ethylenically unsaturated double bond. The organic solvent includes an ethylene glycol organic solvent having a saturation vapor pressure of 3 mmHg or less at 20° C. and 1 atmosphere.
US08178274B2	Toner process The present disclosure provides toners and processes for preparing toner particles possessing excellent charging characteristics. The process includes forming a dispersion including at least one organic and/or organometallic charge control agent, and then combining that dispersion with an emulsion suitable for use in forming toner particles.
US08178270B2	Toner for development of electrostatic image A toner for development of electrostatic images, comprising colored resin particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive, wherein the external additive contains fine particles of an inorganic layered clay compound, and the inorganic layered clay compound is an intercalation compound with a quaternary ammonium ion intercalated between layers of the inorganic layered clay compound or has an interlayer distance of 1.5 to 4 nm.
US08178268B2	Magenta toner and developer A magenta toner, produced by a method including suspending an oily liquid comprising a binder resin and a colorant in an aqueous medium, wherein the colorant comprises a naphthol pigment and a quinacridone pigment, and the quinacridone pigment comprises a pigment having a specific formula.
US08178265B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor having a spectral marker and electrophotographic printer using the same A photoreceptor comprising a spectral marker and an electrophotographic printer using the same wherein the presence of the spectral marker is detected by the spectral marker detector, which enables photoreceptor authentication and thickness determinations, thereby permitting adjustment and optimization of component operating parameters within the electrophotographic printer.
US08178263B2	Method for a lithographic apparatus A method of increasing a depth of focus of a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The method includes forming diffracted beams of radiation using a patterning device pattern; and transforming a phase-wavefront of a portion of the diffracted beams into a first phase-wavefront having a first focal plane for the lithographic apparatus, and a second phase-wavefront having a second, different focal plane, wherein the transforming comprises: subjecting a phase of a first portion of a first diffracted beam and a phase of a corresponding first portion of a second diffracted beam to a phase change which results in an at least partial formation of the first phase-wavefront, and subjecting a phase of a second portion of the first diffracted beam and a phase of a corresponding second portion of the second diffracted beam to a phase change which results in an at least partial formation of the second phase-wavefront.
US08178261B2	Optical data storage media and methods for using the same An optical data storage medium is provided. The optical data storage medium includes a polymer matrix; a reactant capable of undergoing a change upon triplet excitation, thereby causing a refractive index change; and a non-linear sensitizer capable of absorbing actinic radiation to cause upper triplet energy transfer to said reactant. The refractive index change capacity of the medium is at least about 0.1. The reactant comprises polyvinyl chlorocinnamate, polyvinyl methoxycinnamate, or a combination thereof.
US08178260B2	Fuel cell electrode catalyst with reduced noble metal amount and solid polymer fuel cell comprising the same An object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of catalytic metal such as Pt in a fuel cell. The present invention provides a fuel cell electrode catalyst comprising a conductive carrier and catalytic metal particles, wherein the CO adsorption amount of the electrode catalyst is at least 30mL/g·Pt.
US08178259B2	Optimized gas diffusion media to improve fuel cell performance A gas diffusion media is described. The gas diffusion media comprises a conductive porous substrate; and a microporous layer; wherein a cathode effective transport length is in a range of about 700 to about 1900 μm; wherein an overall thermal resistance is in a range of about 1.8 to about 3.8 cm2-K/W; and wherein a ratio of the cathode effective transport length to an anode effective transport length is greater than about 2.
US08178256B2	Fuel cell system A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a module area, a first fluid supply area, a second fluid supply area, and an electric parts area. The first fluid supply area is provided on a first side surface of the module area, and an electric parts area is provided on a second side surface of the module area. The second fluid supply area is provided under a bottom surface of the module area. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module area.
US08178255B2	Fuel cell Fuel cell of this invention generates electricity by supplying fuel fluid to one of a pair of electrodes forming an MEA 1, supplying oxidation fluid to the other electrode, at least one of the fuel and oxidation fluids being gas, comprising a gas supply device transferring the gas along a flow path 10 defined on a surface of the MEA 1 and a drive circuit driving the gas supply device comprising a vibrating plate 4 and a reflection wall on both sides of the flow path 10, and the drive circuit performs a normal operation control generating gas flow from inlet to outlet of the flow path 10 due to sound pressure gradient generated in the flow path 10 by vibrating the vibrating plate 4 and a foreign material elimination operation control eliminating foreign material in the flow path 10 by changing a vibration mode of the vibrating plate 4.
US08178253B2	Current collector of end plate for fuel cell and method for controlling the same The present invention provides a current collector of an end plate for a fuel cell and a method for controlling the same, in which a plurality of current collector plates having different resistance values is mounted on an end plate so that the current of a fuel cell is consumed during cold start and during low power operation to improve cold startability of the fuel cell and, further, the durability of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is improved due to an increase in voltage during low power operation.
US08178251B2	Fuel cell system A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an auxiliary unit, a sound volume acquisition unit, and a control unit. The fuel cell supplies an electric power to a sound generating device that generates a sound. The auxiliary unit allows the fuel cell to generate the electric power. The sound volume acquisition unit acquires information that is related to at least one of the volume of the sound that is generated by the sound generating device and the volume of an environmental sound. The control unit controls the operations of the auxiliary unit, based on the information acquired by the sound volume acquisition unit.
US08178248B2	Carbon monoxide remover and fuel cell system with the same A carbon monoxide remover includes a reactor body having an inner space, and a catalyst provided in the inner space of the reactor body to react with the reforming gas. A diffusion unit is installed at an inlet portion of the reactor body for introducing the reforming gas to diffuse the reforming gas over the entire area of the catalyst.
US08178238B2	Positive-electrode active material for lithium-ion secondary battery, positive electrode, manufacturing method thereof, and lithium-ion secondary battery A positive-electrode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery has an average composition expressed by the following formula (1): LixCo1-y-zMyCezOb-aXa (1) wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron B, magnesium Mg, aluminum Al, silicon Si, phosphorous P, sulfur S, titanium Ti, chromium Cr, manganese Mn, iron Fe, cobalt Co, nickel Ni, copper Cu, zinc Zn, gallium Ga, yttrium Y, zirconium Zr, molybdenum Mo, silver Ag, tungsten W, indium In, tin Sn, lead Pb, and antimony Sb, X represents a halogen element, and x, y, z, a, and b satisfy 0.2
US08178233B2	Case for miniature fuel cells A case for fuel cells including an upper plate formed of a stack of a first insulating board, portions of a first conductive layer, a second insulating board, and a second conductive layer, this stack including windows, fuel cells being placed under the first insulating board at the level of the windows to obstruct them, the stack further comprising first openings filled with a heat-transmitting material forming a contact between the periphery of the fuel cells and the second conductive layer.
US08178230B2	Battery pack A battery pack comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells and a housing. The cells have similar shape and size. The shape is a rectangular prism with opposing major faces. The cells are aligned in a stack along an axis of the pack so that one of the major faces of each cell contacts the major face of the adjacent cell. The housing comprises a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion comprises a top plate and four side plates joined to the top plate so as to form a cavity with an opening. The cross-sectional area of the opening is at least slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the stack, and the cross-sectional area of the cavity in a plane closer to the top plate is sized so that the stack fits snugly therein. The battery stack is disposed in the housing. The bottom portion closes the opening.
US08178226B2	Film-covered electric device and method of manufacturing same Battery element 2 is sandwiched between and surrounded by casing films 4, 5 each having a thermo-fusing resin layer, and is sealed by thermally fused region 6 formed by thermally fusing around the overall periphery. Cross-link structure portion 13 is formed in part of thermally fused region 6 by cross-linking casing film 5, and gas release chamber 12 is formed with its leading end positioned in cross-link structure portion 13. Gas release chamber 12 is a portion which is surrounded by thermally fused region 6 along its periphery, and in which casing films 4, 5 are not thermally fused. Tube 14 which is open at both ends is connected to gas release chamber 12, while sandwiched between casing films 4, 5, with its leading end positioned in gas release chamber 12.
US08178223B2	Perpendicular magnetic recording medium In a magnetic recording medium, there are realized an improvement in surface planarity and a reduction in characteristic degradation. The magnetic recording medium is fabricated so that the upper layer of a recording layer and a refill layer are formed of the same material.
US08178220B2	Surface-covered cubic boron nitride sintered body tool and method of manufacturing the same A surface-covered CBN sintered body tool includes a base material formed with a cubic boron nitride (CBN) sintered body and a surface covering film covering a surface of the base material, and has a nega-land exposing the CBN sintered body in at least a portion thereof and a flank having the surface covering film formed thereon. With this, the surface-covered CBN sintered body tool having high defect resistance and wear resistance can be provided. The surface covering film preferably includes a nitride or a carbonitride of a compound including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Cr, Zr, and V and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si and B, or a nitride or a carbonitride of Ti.
US08178213B2	Method for applying a coating material and coating for a metallic surface In a method for applying a multilayer wear-resistant coating on metallic, optionally already coated, surfaces, the coating is composed of at least two anti-wear layers (5) and an intermediate layer (10) each arranged between two anti-wear layers (5). The intermediate layer (10) is comprised of a material composition containing the material of the anti-wear layer (5) and a further material, wherein the application of the intermediate layer (10) is effected with a content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) decreasing over a first transition region (a) and a content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) increasing over a second transition region (b), the content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) in the intermediate layer (10) being selected to be at least 5% by weight in every point.
US08178211B2	Treatment of wood The invention is directed to the use of a specific class of compounds in the treatment of wood, to a method of treating wood, and to the wood obtained by said method.The black insoluble polymer which forms after oxidative polymerisation of this class of compounds is able to color the wood through and through in a homogeneous fashion and cannot be rinsed off or leached with water or solvent and is stable upon UV radiation.In addition it was found that the treated wood of the present invention has a strong resistance against wood degrading fungi.
US08178210B2	Multilayer oriented high-modulus film The invention relates to a high modulus, bi-axially oriented film, heat-shrinkable or non heatshrinkable, comprising a first outer layer comprising a polyester or a copolyester, a second outer layer comprising an ethylene or propylene homo- or co-polymer, a core layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and no core polyamide or polyester layers. The film according to the present invention is prepared by orienting biaxially a flat extruded tape by means of a tenter frame, preferably simultaneously, and has a modulus higher than 6,000 kg/cm2 in at least one direction. The film of the present invention is particularly useful, in the non heat-shrinkable version, for food and non food packaging applications.
US08178209B2	Fuser member having fluorinated polyimide outer layer A fuser member including a substrate, and thereover, an outer layer comprising a crosslinked fluorinated polyimide and a curing agent is described. The fluorinated polyimide comprises: wherein Ar1 and Ar2 independently represent an aromatic group of from about 6 carbon atoms to about 60 carbon atoms; and at least one of Ar1 and Ar2 further contains a fluoro-pendant group; and wherein the fluorinated polyimide includes an active site capable of reacting with the curing agent.
US08178204B2	Acrylate-modified aspartates and gel coat compositions made therefrom A coating composition is provided. The composition comprises as component I, a) a polyaspartic acid ester comprising the reaction product of one more diamines, one or more difunctional acrylate-containing compounds and one or more maleic/fumaric acid esters; b) at least one moisture scavenger; c) at least one deaerator; d) at least one plasticizer; and e) optionally additives; and as component II, one or more polyisocyanates. Methods of making and applying the composition to a substrate are also provided. The coating is particularly suitable for use as a gel coat.
US08178199B2	Nonwovens produced from multicomponent fibers A water non-dispersible polymer microfiber is provided comprising at least one water non-dispersible polymer wherein the water non-dispersible polymer microfiber has an equivalent diameter of less than 5 microns and length of less than 25 millimeters. A process for producing water non-dispersible polymer microfibers is also provided, the process comprising: a) cutting a multicomponent fiber into cut multicomponent fibers; b) contacting a fiber-containing feedstock with water to produce a fiber mix slurry; wherein the fiber-containing feedstock comprises cut multicomponent fibers; c) heating the fiber mix slurry to produce a heated fiber mix slurry; d) optionally, mixing the fiber mix slurry in a shearing zone; e) removing at least a portion of the sulfopolyester from the multicomponent fiber to produce a slurry mixture comprising a sulfopolyester dispersion and water non-dispersible polymer microfibers; and f) separating the water non-dispersible polymer microfibers from the slurry mixture. A process for producing a nonwoven article is also provided.
US08178197B2	Method and apparatus having three surfaces for sealing distribution ducts An application for an arced sealing tape has a bottom, an inner wall and an outer wall. The surfaces of the inner wall and the outer wall that are closest to a center point of the arc have an adhesive. Likewise, a bottom surface of the bottom also has an adhesive.
US08178187B2	Water pressure transfer article A decorative layer is formed by applying an ultraviolet ray hardening resin composite on a print pattern of a transfer film and transferring the print pattern on a surface of an article under water pressure in the state where the print pattern is activated by the ultraviolet ray hardening resin composite to recover the adhesion thereof, but the ultraviolet ray hardening resin composite is wholly united with the print pattern and hardened by an ultraviolet ray and the decorative layer has a glossy variation and/or touch feeling in accordance with a combination of the ultraviolet ray hardening resin composite united and hardened with the print pattern and a composition of the print pattern.
US08178185B2	Honeycomb structured body, method for manufacturing honeycomb structured body and exhaust gas purifying device A honeycomb structured body in which a plurality of porous ceramic members are combined with one another by interposing an adhesive layer, each of the porous ceramic members having a plurality of cells placed in parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction with a cell wall therebetween and having an outer edge wall on the outer edge surface thereof, wherein each of the porous ceramic members has a filling body which is provided so as to fill in at least one corner portion of at least one outermost cell of the porous ceramic members, a cross-sectional shape of the outermost cell at the face orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cells is an almost tetragon, and a cross-sectional shape of the filling body at the face orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cells is an almost right triangle.
US08178183B2	Formable core material The present invention relates to a flexible and drapeable core material for use in a laminate or a sandwich construction comprising at least one exterior of an at least partially permeable material, which exterior forms at least one space into which a filler of freely movable, separate objects is filled. The spaces may be shaped like channels, form a square-shaped pattern or a pattern adapted to the shape of the laminate. The invention further relates to a laminate or a sandwich construction and a blade for a wind turbine featuring such core material and use and manufacture of laminates or sandwich constructions featuring the core material. Moreover the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a core material for use in a laminate or a sandwich construction comprising the steps of forming at least one space from an at least partially permeable material and filling filler into the space.
US08178180B2	Polymer-coated heat-sealable packaging material and a sealed package manufactured thereof The invention relates to a heat-sealable packaging material and a sealed package formed from the same, especially for packaging foodstuffs. The packaging material comprises a base layer of paper or board and polymeric heat-sealable layers on one side of the base layer or, preferably, on both sides thereof. According to the invention, at least two layers of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) with different fractions of ethylene monomer are arranged on the packaging material to provide an oxygen barrier. The layers can locate against each other without a tie layer between them. The heat-sealable polymer can be a polyolefin, and, in addition, other polymeric barrier layers can be incorporated into the material to improve its oxygen, fat and aroma tightness.
US08178179B2	PVDF-based conductive composition The invention concerns a conductive composition comprising (by weight): 30 to 60 parts of a fluid PVDF; 25 to 62 parts of a viscous PVDF; 8 to 13 parts of a conductive filler; 0 to 2 parts of a fire retardant agent; 0 to 0.05 parts of a nucleating agent, based on a total of 100 parts. Preferably, it comprises by weight: 35 to 50 parts of a fluid PVDF; 45 to 55 parts of a viscous PVDF; 8 to 13 parts of a conductive filler; 0 to 2 parts of a fireproof agent; 0 to 0.05 parts of a nucleating agent, based on a total of 100 parts. Preferably, the conductive composition has a viscosity in the molten state at 230° C. of less than 106 Pa·s, preferably between 102 and 106 Pa·s. The invention also concerns multilayer structures combining the conductive composition and a thermoplastic polymer or a metal.
US08178175B2	Thermal transfer donor elements with ionic liquids Disclosed herein are compositions derived from a polycarboxylic acid, and an ionic liquid. The compositions can be used to prepare thermal transfer donor elements.
US08178174B2	Ag base alloy thin film and sputtering target for forming Ag base alloy thin film The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.
US08178171B2	Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same The invention relates to a liquid crystal display utilizing a vertically aligned state of liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied and to a method of manufacturing the same. The invention is aimed at providing a liquid crystal display and a method of manufacturing the same in which the existing step for forming vertical alignment films can be omitted to achieve a cost reduction. The liquid crystal display includes a monofunctional monomer having a structure expressed by X—R (where X represents an acrylate group or a methacrylate group, and R represents an organic group having a steroid skeleton). A liquid crystal material is sandwiched between substrates which is then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the monofunctional monomer, thereby forming a polymer film at an interface of a substrate. The monofunctional monomer has a hydrophobic skeleton such as an alkyl chain and a photoreactive group on one side of the skeleton.
US08178166B2	Apparatus and method for applying coating solution, die and method for assembling thereof A die of a coating apparatus for applying a coating solution includes down- and upstream blocks in a feeding direction of a web, which respectively have a first lip and a second lip. A lip land of the first lip is shorter than a lip land of the second lip in the feeding direction so as to satisfy a predetermined condition. In assembling the coating apparatus, bottoms of down- and upstream blocks are fixed to a fixer with bolts. Between the fixer and the downstream block, a plate member is provided such that the first lip land protrudes from the second lip land.
US08178162B2	Controlled deposition of silicon-containing coatings adhered by an oxide layer We have developed an improved vapor-phase deposition method and apparatus for the application of films/coatings on substrates. The method provides for the addition of a precise amount of each of the reactants to be consumed in a single reaction step of the coating formation process. In addition to the control over the amount of reactants added to the process chamber, the present invention requires precise control over the total pressure (which is less than atmospheric pressure) in the process chamber, the partial vapor pressure of each vaporous component present in the process chamber, the substrate temperature, and typically the temperature of a major processing surface within said process chamber. Control over this combination of variables determines a number of the characteristics of a film/coating or multi-layered film/coating formed using the method. By varying these process parameters, the roughness and the thickness of the films/coatings produced can be controlled.
US08178161B2	Process and apparatus for producing a coated product The present invention relates to a process for producing a coated product comprising: (a) coating a substrate with a coating material to form a coated substrate; and (b) stabilizing the coated substrate to form the coated product; wherein the operating parameter of substrate-substrate contact and coated substrate-coated substrate contact differs between step a) and step b), such that in step b) the contact is minimized. An apparatus is also provided.
US08178160B2	Decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue, methods for their preparation, and articles coated therewith Disclosed are powder coating compositions suitable for producing a decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue, articles comprising a decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue deposited thereon, methods for preparing a decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue, kits capable of producing a decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue, and methods for color matching using powder coating compositions.
US08178158B2	Method for making a current-perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) sensor with a confined-current-path (CCP) A method of making a current-perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magnetoresistive (CPP-GMR) sensor with a confined-current-path (CCP) layer uses an array of self-assembled ferritin protein molecules with inorganic cores to make the CCP layer in the sensor stack. In one embodiment, the ferritin molecules with cores of insulating oxide particles are deposited on an electrically conductive support layer and the ferritin molecules are dissolved, leaving an array of insulating oxide particles. An electrically conducting layer is deposited over the oxide particles and into the regions between the oxide particles to form the CCP layer. In another embodiment, the ferritin molecules with inorganic particles in their cores are deposited on an electrically insulating support layer and the ferritin molecules are dissolved, leaving an array of inorganic particles that function as an etch mask. The insulating support layer is then etched through the mask to form vias down to the underlying layer on which the support layer is formed. An electrically conducting layer is then deposited to form the CCP layer.
US08178155B2	Carbon-based ultracapacitor A method of manufacturing a high surface area per unit weight carbon electrode includes providing a substrate, depositing a carbon-rich material on the substrate to form a film, and after the depositing, activating the carbon-rich material to increase the surface area of the film of carbon-rich material. Due to the activation process being after deposition, this method enables use of low cost carbon-rich material to form a carbon electrode in the capacitor. The electrode may be used in capacitors, ultracapacitors and lithium ion batteries. The substrate may be part of the electrode, or it may be sacrificial—being consumed during the activation process. The carbon-rich material may include any of carbonized material, carbon aerogel and metal oxides, such as manganese and ruthenium oxide. The activation may include exposing the carbon-rich material to carbon dioxide at elevated temperature, in the range of 300 to 900 degrees centigrade. This method may be used to make both symmetric and asymmetric ultracapacitors.
US08178153B2	Heat transfer control structures using thermal phonon spectral overlap A heat transfer control structure and a method for fabrication thereof includes at least one heat transfer control layer interposed between and contacting a heat source material and a heat sink material. The at least one heat transfer control layer is selected predicated upon thermal phonon spectra overlap between the heat source material, the at least one heat transfer control layer and the heat sink material. The at least one heat transfer control layer may enhance or retard heat transfer between the heat source material and the heat sink material. The at least one heat transfer control layer may be selected based upon a value of a thermal phonon correlating parameter such as a Debye temperature, a density or a lattice constant.
US08178149B2	Method and apparatus for producing fruit leather from a fruit mass A method and an apparatus (100, 100′) serve to continuously produce fruit leather from a fruit mass. The fruit leather does not include added sugar or fat. The fruit mass includes a share of dry substance of at least 50% and a share of water. The fruit mass exposed to vacuum is cooked for less than one minute in a way to reduce the share of water in the fruit mass to increase the share of dry substance in the fruit mass to approximately between 80% to 90%. The fruit mass is then formed to attain the fruit leather.
US08178147B2	Coumalic acid to inhibit non-enzymatic browning in teas A tea beverage product that includes at least one tea component as well as coumalic acid or its salt to inhibit non-enzymatic browning of the tea beverage product. The tea component may be a green tea component, red tea component, black tea component, white tea component or a blend of tea components. The coumalic acid may be present in an amount less than 100 ppm. Alternatively, a coumalate may be employed, which will undergo hydrolysis within the tea beverage or concentrate product to form coumalic acid. In addition, a method for inhibiting non-enzymatic browning, by adding at least one of coumalic acid, a coumalic acid salt or a coumalate to a tea beverage composition.
US08178144B2	Method of separating meat components via centrifuge A centrifuge has an inner and an outer screw. The outer screw transfers material towards a cone-shaped section that leads to an outlet of the centrifuge. A mixture of meat components, liquid carbon dioxide, gas, and optionally water, is spun in the centrifuge. The dense components, such as lean meat, will accumulate away from the axis of rotation and be transferred by the outer screw towards the cone-shaped section. The less dense components, such as fat and adipose tissue, accumulate toward the center of rotation, and are transferred toward an outlet of the centrifuge via the inner screw. Gas accumulates in the proximity of the cone-shaped section and impedes liquid carbon dioxide from exiting with the dense components. The centrifuge is pressurized, which maintains carbon dioxide as a liquid.
US08178140B2	PET pouch/package with foldable base A plastic bottle is provided with a mouth, a main unit, for example, a flexible, cylindrical main unit, connecting the interior of the bottle with the mouth, a base structured to close the bottom portion of the main unit and have a greater rigidity compared to the main unit. The main unit includes a lower body section extending upward from the base, a central body section extending upward from the lower body section, and a crease between the lower and central body sections. The central body section can be configured to deform into a substantially flat shape through the action of external force F so as to bend outward.
US08178134B2	Synergistic herbal ophthalmic formulation for lowering intraocular pressure in case of glaucoma The present invention relates to an herbal ophthalmic composition of Withania somnifera and Areca catechu, which reduces intra ocular pressure of eyes in a synergistic manner. A composition of Withania somnifera and Areca catechu acts synergistically with the other ingredients when formulated as a composition of the present invention.
US08178130B2	Preservation and controlled delivery / release of spermatozoa The present invention relates to biopolymer particles for preservation of spermatozoa, wherein the spermatozoa are embedded within the biopolymer particle. The present invention also regards a method for preservation, storage and controlled delivery/release of spermatozoa, and the use of the biopolymer particles according to the present invention in breeding.
US08178128B2	Nanoparticles containing polymeric nucleic acid homologs A nanoparticle capable of delivery of an encapsulated molecule into a living cell. The nanoparticle includes an encapsulation media and an isolated nucleic acid homolog sequence. The encapsulation media is primarily polymeric. The nanoparticles release the encapsulated molecule over an extended period of time. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and articles of manufacture including nanoparticles and methods of preparing and using the nanoparticles.
US08178127B2	Stable laquinimod preparations The subject invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising N-ethyl-N-phenyl-1,2,-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-chloro-1-methyl-2-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide or the salt thereof; a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and not more than 0.5% w/w relative to N-ethyl-N-phenyl-1,2,-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-chloro-1-methyl-2-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide of 2-Chloro-6-(1-ethyl-N-methyl-2-oxoindoline-3-carboxamido)benzoic acid, 1H,3H-spiro[5-chloro-1-methylquinoline-2,4-dione-3,3′-[1]ethylindolin-[2]-one], or 5-Chloro-N-ethyl-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-2,4-dioxo-N-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinoline-3-carboxamide.
US08178125B2	Oral formulations of glycyl-2-methylprolyl-glutamate Oral formulations of G-2MePE including microemulsions, coarse emulsions, liquid crystals, tablets and encapsulated forms of G-2MePE have improved bioavailability than conventional aqueous formulations. In particular, microparticles, nanoparticles and microemulsions can exhibit great neuroprotective effects after oral administration. In a microemulsion formulation, G-2MePE can nearly completely inhibit cerebral infarction in an animal model of stroke even after the stroke had been initiated. Thus, improved oral formulations can be desirably used to treat a variety of neurodegenerative conditions with improved convenience and improved efficacy.
US08178122B2	Use of nanomaterials based on titanium dioxide and zirconium diozide as coatings for osteointegrated biomedical prostheses, and osteointegrated biomedical prostheses prepared therewith Materials and methods, for preparation of coatings based on titanium dioxide for osteointegrated biomedical prostheses. The coatings may comprise nanomaterials having antibacterial properties. For example, an endo-osseous implant is provided with a coating comprised of nanocrystalline material comprising nanoparticles of formula (I) (L-Men+)i, (I) where AOx represents TiO2 or ZrO2; Men+ is a metallic ion having antibacterial activity, with n=1 or 2; L is a bi functional organic molecule which can simultaneously bind to the metal oxide and to the metallic ion Men+, and i is the number of L-Men+ groups bound to one nanoparticle of AOx.
US08178120B2	Methods for processing substrates having an antimicrobial coating Methods for processing substrate surfaces carrying coatings comprising a metal are disclosed. The methods involve providing a substrate surface having a coating comprising a metal, and exposing the substrate surface to a mixture including an oxidizing agent and an anion.
US08178118B2	Magnesium compositions and uses thereof for cognitive function A composition for administration to a subject, such as oral administration to a subject, for example, has been provided. Such a composition may comprise at least one magnesium-counter ion compound. A magnesium-counter ion composition described herein may be useful for any of a variety of applications provided herein, such as maintaining, enhancing, and/or improving health, nutrition, and/or another condition of a subject, and/or cognitive, learning, and/or memory function. A magnesium-counter ion composition provided herein may be useful for administration to a subject presenting magnesium deficiency, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ALS, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, migraine, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and/or hypertension. A kit, method, and other associated technology are also provided.
US08178116B2	Methods and compositions for treating ectoparasite infestation Compositions and methods for killing ectoparasites on a subject. Compositions containing a fatty acid ester, e.g., isopropyl myristate, effective for killing ectoparasites is described. Also described are compositions containing a fatty acid ester and a siloxane (e.g. decacyclomethicone). The compositions can also contain a mectin and/or a mycin, and S-methoprene. The compositions are useful against a variety of ectoparasites that afflict humans, animals, and plants, e.g., head lice, fleas, body lice, crab lice, scabies mites, ticks, and plant parasites.
US08178114B2	Patch device for a fragrance and method of using the patch device A patch device that includes a backing layer which is a barrier to at least a fragrance, a reservoir layer, which is attached to the backing layer and serves for holding a volume of one or more fragrances, and a cover layer for covering the reservoir layer when filled with fragrance. The cover layer is permeable to vapor from at least one fragrance, which cover layer in a first position of the patch device, in which the reservoir layer is free of fragrance, is situated at least partly offset or dislocated from the reservoir layer, and which cover layer in a second position of use, in which the volume of one or more fragrances has been delivered to the reservoir layer, covers the reservoir layer. Support sheets, which support the backing layer, and a flap part of the cover layer, serve as a tool for applying the flap part into covering relationship to cover or encapsulate the reservoir layer.
US08178112B2	Ketoprofen compositions and methods of making them A wide variety of pharmaceutically and commercially acceptable dosage forms of ketoprofen are prepared by dissolving ketoprofen in pharmaceutically acceptable solvents.
US08178110B2	Reovirus compositions and methods of use The present invention relates to novel strains of avian reovirus that were isolated from severe cases of Runting Stunting Syndrome in young broiler chickens in southeast United States. The invention is directed to avian reoviruses that impair digestion in poultry, diagnostic assays using nucleotide- or amino acid-specific components of such viruses, and to vaccines that protect chickens from disease caused by such viruses. Nucleotide sequences for the S1 gene, encoding the sigma C minor outer capsid protein, were amplified, and the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences were compared with sequences from other recently isolated reovirus field isolates and vaccine strains. Antigenic and molecular characterization of the newly isolated reoviruses revealed a lack of homogeneity with current U.S. isolates, with less than 60% percent amino acid similarity across the sigma C protein. Sequence comparisons with previously reported malabsorption isolates from Europe and Asia revealed a higher amino acid similarity, approaching 80%.
US08178106B2	Topical skin care formulations Disclosed is a topical skin care composition comprising: (a) a combination of the following extracts: Malpighia punicifolia (acerola) extract; Argania spinosa (argan) extract; Myrciaria dubia (camu camu) extract; Punica granatum (pomegrannate) extract; Pinus sylvestris extract; Terminalia ferdinandiana (kakadu plum) extract; Linum usitatissimum (linseed) extract; Ribes nigrum (black current) extract; Secale cereale (rye) extract; algae extract; and yeast extract; and (b) a dermatologically acceptable vehicle.
US08178104B2	Methods and compositions for targeting gC1qR/p32 Disclosed are compositions and methods useful for targeting gC1q/p32 receptors. The disclosed targeting is useful for delivering therapeutic and detectable agents to cancerous cells, and to areas of inflammation.
US08178103B2	Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus strains and compositions This invention relates to two attenuated strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and immunogenic compositions comprising one or more strains of attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV).
US08178102B2	Emulsified composition for dilution and cancer vaccine composition Provided is an emulsified composition for diluting a cancer antigen peptide or a dimer thereof. Also provided is a novel cancer vaccine composition or specific CTL inducer that efficiently induces CTL irrespective of the type of cancer antigen peptide when mixing the emulsified composition for dilution and a water phase comprising a cancer antigen peptide or a dimer thereof.The present invention relates to an emulsified composition for diluting a cancer antigen peptide or a dimer thereof, comprising a particular ester, a particular surfactant, a particular emulsifier, and a water phase. The present invention also relates to a cancer vaccine composition or specific CTL inducer obtained by freshly diluting and mixing a water phase comprising a cancer antigen peptide or a dimer thereof with the emulsified composition for dilution.
US08178101B2	Use of anti-IL-6 antibodies having specific binding properties to treat cachexia The present invention is directed to antibodies and fragments thereof and humanized versions thereof having binding specificity for IL-6. Another embodiment of this invention relates to the antibodies described herein, and binding fragments thereof, comprising the sequences of the VH, VL and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. The invention also contemplates conjugates of anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. The invention also contemplates methods of making said anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to the use of anti-IL-6 antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with IL-6. These antibodies may bind at least one of soluble IL-6, cell surface expressed IL-6, IL-6/IL-6R and/or prevent the association of IL-6 and IL-6R, the association of IL-6/IL-6R and gp130 and or the formation of IL-6/IL-6R/gp130 multimers and thereby inhibit a biological effect associated with any of the foregoing.
US08178099B2	Methods of altering bone growth by administration of sost or wise antagonist or agonist The present invention provides a method of promoting local bone growth by administering a therapeutic amount of a Sost antagonist to a mammalian patient in need thereof. Preferably, the Sost antagonist is an antibody or FAB fragment selectively recognizing any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-23. The Sost antagonist may be coadministered together or sequentially with a matrix conducive to anchoring new bone growth. Orthopedic and Periodontal devices comprising an implantable portion adapted to be permanently implanted within a mammalian body and bearing an external coating of a Sost antagonist are also disclosed, as it a method of increasing bone density by administering to a mammalian patient a therapeutic amount of a Sost antagonist together with an antiresorptive drug.
US08178098B2	Method to inhibit airway hyperresponsiveness using aerosolized T cell receptor antibodies Disclosed is a method to reduce airway hyperresponsivesness in an animal by the direct delivery to the lungs of aerosolized antibodies against T cell receptors. The method is particularly useful for treating airway hyperresponsiveness associated with allergic inflammation, is effective at extremely low doses of antibody, and does not have a substantial effect on the peripheral immune system.
US08178092B2	Methods of treating psoriasis by administration of antibodies to the p40 subunit of IL-12 and/or IL-23 The invention provides a method of treating psoriasis in a subject by administering to a subject an antibody capable of binding to the p40 subunit of IL-12 and/or IL-23.
US08178090B2	Recombinant hexose oxidase Use of a preparation as an antimicrobial agent or as an anti-oxidant; wherein said preparation comprises a polypeptide having hexose oxidase activity, the polypeptide being in a substantially pure form, and said polypeptide comprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (i)(SEQ ID NO: 1) Tyr-Glu-Pro-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Val-Pro (ii)(SEQ ID NO: 2) Ala-Ile-Ile-Asn-Val-Thr-Gly-Leu-Val-Glu-Ser-Gly- Tyr-Asp-X-X-X-Gly-Tyr-X-Val-Ser-Ser- (iii)(SEQ ID NO: 3) Asp-Leu-Pro-Met-Ser-Pro-Arg-Gly-Val-Ile-Ala-Ser- Asn-Leu-X-Phe- (iv)(SEQ ID NO: 4) Asp-Ser-Glu-Gly-Asn-Asp-Gly-Glu-Leu-Phe-X-Ala-His- Thr (v)(SEQ ID NO: 5) Tyr-Tyr-Phe-Lys (vi)(SEQ ID NO: 6) Asp-Pro-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Val-Ile-Asp-Val-Asn-Ala-Gly- Thr-X-Asp (vii)(SEQ ID NO: 7) Leu-Gln-Tyr-Gln-Thr-Tyr-Trp-Gln-Glu-Glu-Asp (viii)(SEQ ID NO: 8) X-Ile-Arg-Asp-Phe-Tyr-Glu-Glu-Met where X represents an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Asx, Cys, Gln, Glu, Glx, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr and Val.
US08178085B2	Methods of proliferating stem cells The invention relates to methods of proliferating stem cells. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of glycosaminoglycans or proteoglycans to promote the growth of stem cells in ex vivo culture, while preserving their multipotentiality.
US08178084B2	Pharmaceutical kits comprising mesenchymal stem cells A method of treating a natural soft skeletal tissue injury in a patient the method comprising administering to the patient a composition of mesenchymal stem cells in liquid suspension enriched compared to the natural source of said cells, or tenocytes derived therefrom. The method is particularly suited to the regeneration of tendons in competitive mammals, such as the superficial digital flexor tendon of the horse.
US08178083B2	Treatment of optic neuritis The present invention provides a method for treating a patient having demyelinating optic neuritis (DON) comprising the sequential or simultaneous administration of a steroid compound and an interferon-beta protein. It is found that early, aggressive treatment of IFN-b is beneficial in such a treatment regimen, for example where the interferon-beta protein is administered at a cumulative weekly dose of more than 12 MIL). The method according to the invention is particularly suitable and beneficial for treatment of patients having early stage DON. In particular, the DON that will benefit from being treated according to the present invention may be in subclinical stage.
US08178082B2	Methods for up-regulating PAP1 in animals suffering from pancreatic disorders The present invention is directed to interleukin-22 polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.
US08178079B2	Ethylene copolymers, compositions containing said copolymers and treatment method The invention relates to novel ethylene copolymers comprising 10-60% polyethylenglycol (meth)acrylate monomers and 40-90% substantially cationic monomer. Compositions, in particular cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions, containing the inventive copolymers and a cosmetic treatment method using said copolymers are also disclosed.
US08178077B2	Drug development target protein and target gene, and method of screening The present invention provides novel target proteins and target genes for drug discovery, and the means that enable the development of novel drugs using the same. More particularly, the present invention provides NCS proteins and genes thereof; screening methods for drug (for example, anti-central nervous disease drug); agents for regulating disease (for example, central nervous disease); production methods of a drug derivative; a complex comprising a drug and NCS protein, and a method of producing the complex; a kits comprising a drug or a salt thereof; determination methods for the onset or risk of onset of a specified disease, determination methods for susceptibility to a drug, and determination kits used for the determination methods; and the like.
US08178060B2	Dividing wall fractionation in integrated oxygenate conversion and product cracking Improved processing of an oxygenate-containing feedstock for increased production or yield of light olefins is provided. Such processing involves oxygenate conversion to olefins and subsequent cracking of heavier olefins wherein at least a portion of the C4+ hydrocarbon stream resulting from such oxygenate conversion processing and at least a portion of a cracked olefins effluent stream resulting from such olefin cracking processing are processed with a dividing wall fractionation column to form process streams containing: a) C3−hydrocarbons, b) C6+ hydrocarbons, and c) C4 and C5 hydrocarbons, including C4 and C5 olefins, respectively.
US08178059B2	Systems and methods for supplying chlorine to and recovering chlorine from a polysilicon plant A system for supplying chlorine to and recovering chlorine from a polysilicon plant may include a brine treatment system, at least one membrane cell, a chlorine drying system, a chlorine compression system, a hydrogen drying system, a hydrogen compression system, a hydrogen chloride synthesis/desorption system, a hydrogen chloride liquefaction system, a liquefied hydrogen chloride storage system, a hydrogen chloride vaporizer, and a waste conversion and filtration system. These systems may be operatively joined to generate hydrogen chloride gas for delivery to the polysilicon plant. A method for supplying chlorine to the polysilicon plant may include generating hydrogen gas and chlorine gas from recovered and raw salt, converting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas and at least a portion of the chlorine gas to hydrogen chloride, passing the hydrogen chloride through a cryogenic column, vaporizing the hydrogen chloride, and providing the vaporized hydrogen chloride to the polysilicon plant.
US08178058B2	High throughput cell-based assays, methods of use and kits In the present invention cells are placed in a multiwell plate and grown. When the assay is to be performed, one uses gravity to wash away any unbound ligands rather than vacuum or centrifugation. The cells are then examined to detect the bound ligand. To perform the washing step(s) the plate is placed into a carrier plate having open wells in register with the wells of the filter plate or one may use a wicking device or an underdrain attached to the bottom of the filter plate. Sufficient wash liquid is added to allow for filtration by the effect of gravity to occur. Cells are retained within the wells at a rate of 4 times that of other rapid methods.
US08178057B2	Apparatus for filling a sample volume defining device An apparatus for filling a sample volume defining device for separating at least one small defined volume of a liquid sample from a relatively larger undefined volume of said sample, said device including a first body and a second body movable relative to each other, whereby said first body has at least one cavity in a surface thereof, said at least one cavity having said defined volume. One of said first or said second body has at least one inlet opening adapted to be placed in a drop of the liquid sample. A defined channel is provided between said first and second body, which channel has fluid connection with said at least one opening and at least beyond said at least one cavity whereby the dimensions of said channel being such that said channel and said at least one cavity is filled with said liquid sample.
US08178054B2	Optimized liquid-phase oxidation Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
US08178050B2	Process for feeding a catalyst in a polymerization reactor A process for introducing a catalyst powder into a polymerization reactor comprising:a) metering the catalyst powder by means of a rotary valve comprising a stator, a rotor and sealing means arranged between said stator and said rotor;b) transferring a metered amount of catalyst powder from said rotary valve to a polymerization reactor;the process further comprising the steps of:c) feeding a flushing compound in one or more internal conduits arranged in the rotor of said rotary valve;d) flushing the catalyst powder away from said sealing means.
US08178044B2	Liquid property detecting device A liquid property detecting device includes a switch portion switching an electrode to charge with a standard voltage generated by a generator, or discharge through a grounding. An operation signal output portion outputs an operation signal to the switch portion so as to switch in a predetermined switch period. A voltage of the electrode is output as a detection signal, when the standard voltage is applied to the electrode. A signal process portion calculates liquid property based on the detection signals. A gain of the signal process portion relative to the detection signal is increased, as the detection signal is decreased.
US08178043B2	Device for analyzing samples Embodiments directed to a device for analyzing samples administered from a sample vessel are disclosed. One embodiment may comprise a central unit having a supply of reaction vessels and a sampling unit by which at least part of a sample is transferred from one of the sample vessels into the reaction vessel; at least one analytical unit having a plurality of reagent vessels; a transport unit which transports at least part of the reaction vessels from the central unit to the analytical unit such that the analytical unit supplies the reagent from the reagent vessels into the reaction vessel for triggering a reaction between the sample and the reagent; and at least one measuring unit provided in the analytical unit which measures the physical property of the sample held in the reaction vessel.
US08178042B2	Methods and systems for monitoring sterilization status Methods and systems for monitoring sterilization status are provided.
US08178040B2	Software update for a medical fluid management device A medical fluid management apparatus which includes a plurality of processor systems with respectively associated software programs. The fluid management apparatus has a fluid treatment component and/or a fluid source which can be connected to a patient via a fluid line. The processor systems are connected via a data transfer system to a data input apparatus via which an updating of the software programs belonging to the respective processor systems can take place. After actuation of an operating mode switch, a detection system, while taking into account the existing version of the software programs and/or the existing processor systems, determines which software programs have to be loaded via the data input apparatus. The medical fluid management apparatus allows a simple and user-friendly updating of the operating software even with a complex design of the apparatus.
US08178035B2	Apparatus and method for forming air-laid absorbent cores An apparatus for forming air-laid absorbent cores, having a first and second mat-forming wheel, means for transferring a core element on the first mat-forming wheel onto a core element on the second mat-forming wheel while the latter core element still is maintained in its mold. The apparatus has means for applying a protective layer to the bottom of each mold of the second mat-forming wheel, means for applying a web of casing material on the peripheral surface of the first mat-forming wheel, means for guiding said web of casing material onto the periphery of the second mat-forming wheel, and means for changing the synchronization of the mat-forming wheels in order to control the time at which the leading edge of a mold on one of the mat-forming wheels passes the nip. A method of producing cores with different sizes without change of molds.
US08178034B2	Method and device for the continuous production of a plastic compound pipe comprising a pipe socket Into a molding path moving in a direction of conveyance is extruded an internal tube from a first extruder and an external tube from a second extruder, the external tube being concentric with the internal tube. During the production of a normal compound pipe, the smooth internal tube is welded together with the external tube which is provided with transverse grooves. At the transition from the normal compound pipe to the expanded pipe socket, the extruder speed of the first extruder is increased from a speed n1,1 to a speed n1,2. During the production of the pipe socket, the speed of the first extruder is reduced to a speed in1,3, wherein n1, 2>n1,3>n1,1 applies.
US08178027B1	Method of installation of a request-to-exit (REX) switch A request-to-exit (REX) switch comprises an injection-molded plastic body that can snap into the access hole of a mortise lock mechanism to provide a request-to-exit contact generation. A micro-switch mounts to a distal end of the injection-molded plastic body. Such is precisely oriented, positioned, and secured by pressing onto two posts molded into the distal end. The installation is accomplished without tools, and two snap locking tabs in the injection-molded plastic body automatically secure to the access hole of the mortise lock mechanism. An orienting lip on a front cap of the injection-molded plastic body allows only one possible fit. A strain relief for wiring to the micro-switch is a part of the injection-molded plastic body.
US08178023B2	Method for manufacture of housing part provided with ventilation filter, and method for manufacture of housing provided with ventilation filter A ventilation filter part 19 including a support body 27 and a ventilation filter 25 fixed to the support body 27 is disposed in a concave portion 44c in a stationary die 44. A movable die 40 is brought into close proximity to the stationary die 44 and these dies are clamped together. Resin is injected into a cavity CV defined therebetween as a result of the clamping to make the injected resin and the ventilation filter part 19 into one piece. A housing upper portion 13 (housing part) formed of the ventilation filter part 19 and the injected resin is thus molded.
US08178008B2	Semiconductor material for radiation absorption and detection A semiconductor material for radiation absorption and detection comprising a composition of stoichiometry Li(M12+, M22+, M32+, . . . )(G1V, G2V, G3V, . . . ) and exhibiting an antifluorite-type order, where Li=1, (M12++M22++M32++ . . . )=1, and (G1V+G2V+G3V+ . . . )=1. The material provides two useful characteristics: [1] a high Li-site density, which when enriched in 6Li, produces exceptional neutron-absorbing capabilities and [2] a semiconducting band-gap for the efficient conversion of absorbed photon and neutron energies into electrical currents. These characteristics can be exploited in applications for power generation or the spectroscopic detection of gamma and neutron radiation. The material can be tailored so as to detect only gamma photons, detect only neutron particles, or simultaneously detect gamma photons and neutron particles.
US08178002B2	Oxy-nitride pyrosilicate based persistent phosphors A blue or yellow persistent phosphor composition is provided, along with methods for making and using the composition. In one embodiment, the phosphor comprises a formula of Aa-b-c-BdCe(Of-gNg):Eub,-REc, wherein, A may be Sr, Ca, Ba, or a combination thereof; B may be Mg, Zn, Co, or a combination thereof; C may be Si, Ge, or a combination thereof; a is between 1 and 2.0; b is between 0.0005 and 0.1; c is between 0.0005 and 0.1; d is between 0.9 and 1; e is between 2 and 2.1; f is between 6 and 7; g is between 0.001 and 0.1; and RE is Dy, Nd, Er, Ho, Tm, Yb or a combination thereof. Embodiments use Sr, Mg and Si to produce blue phosphors or Ca, Mg and Si to produce yellow phosphors. In other embodiments, methods for making and applications for using, including uses in toys, emergency equipment, clothing, and instrument panels, are provided.
US08177996B2	Apparatus, system and method of providing a de-icing saline solution for residential use A residential de-icing apparatus, system and method. The apparatus, system and method include a first saline solution having a salinity in a range of 150-360 ppt, a residential container having a volume in a range of 2-5 gallons, a second saline solution resident in the residential container and having a salinity in a range of 30 ppt-250 ppt, wherein the second saline solution results from a mixing of the first saline solution with a volume of water, and a hand-held output nozzle physically associated with the residential container for dispersing the second saline solution at a rate in a range of 6-12 gallons per ¼ mile.
US08177995B2	Perovskite oxide, process for producing the perovskite oxide, and piezoelectric device A process for producing a piezoelectric oxide having a composition (Ba, Bi, A)(Ti, Fe, M)O3, where each of A and M represents one or more metal elements. The composition is determined so as to satisfy the conditions (1) and (2), 0.98≦TF(P)≦1.02, (1) TF(BiFeO3)
US08177991B2	Method of applying a pattern of metal, metal oxide and/or semiconductor material on a substrate The present application relates to a method of applying a pattern of metal, metal oxide and/or semiconductor material on a substrate, to a pattern created by such method and to uses of such pattern. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an assembly of layers that can be used for printing.
US08177990B2	Etching method, plasma processing system and storage medium Disclosed is a method of etching a substrate having a layered structure in which a photoresist mask with a pattern, a coating film made of silicon oxide, and an organic film are laminated in that order from the top. Before etching the coating film of silicon oxide, a deposit is deposited on the photoresist mask by using plasma generated from a hydrocarbon gas such as CH4 gas so as to narrow the size of openings in the pattern of the photoresist mask. The pattern of the photoresist mask is well transferred to the organic film through the coating film, and a pattern with openings having a high aspect ratio can be formed in the organic film and toppling of the pattern in the organic film can be prevented. The organic film with the transferred pattern is used as an etch mask for etching the underlying layer.
US08177983B2	Mercury removal A mercury absorbent comprising a metal sulphide, a support material, a first binder and a second binder, wherein the first binder is a cement binder and the second binder is a high aspect ratio binder having an aspect ratio >2. A mercury removal process comprises contacting a mercury containing feed stream with the absorbent.
US08177977B2	Water purification system and method The invention concerns a water purification system (100) comprising a closed water recirculation loop (106) supplied at one point by a water inlet (101) with water to be purified, (and having) at least one outlet point of use of the purified water (102) and (further comprising) pumping means (103) and water purification means (150) on the loop respectively downstream of the inlet point and upstream of the at least one outlet point (102), in the water flow direction which system is characterized in that it includes two independent valves: a first valve (130) on the loop upstream of the pumping means (103), and a second valve (120) upstream of the at least one point of use outlet point (102). The invention also relates to a water purification method.
US08177975B2	Apparatus for removing air and/or debris from a flow of liquid An apparatus removes air or debris from a flow of liquid. The apparatus includes a shell having an inlet, an outlet, and an elongate inner cavity in fluid communication with each of the inlet and the outlet. A plurality of elongate coalescing medium assemblies are disposed within the cavity of the shell such that the coalescing medium assemblies are oriented substantially parallel to each other. Each coalescing medium assembly includes a plurality of wire mesh tubes oriented substantially parallel to each other. A wire mesh retaining wall substantially surrounds the tubes and holds the tubes together.
US08177971B2	Filter assembly A filter assembly for removing material entrained in a fluid stream includes a housing having a head part and a body part, and inlet and outlet ports for the fluid that is to be filtered, in which at least one of the ports is provided in the head part, the head part having a chamber port fluidly connected to the at least one port in the head part, the head and body parts having first formations which enable them to be connected to one another and separated by relative rotation. The assembly includes a filter element for removing material entrained in the fluid stream that can be received in the body part, the filter element and body part having second formations which restrict relative rotation between them, the filter element having a filter port, in which a fluid tight connection can be provided between the filter port and the chamber port by sliding one of them into the other along a first axis. One of the head part and the filter element provides an inclined surface which is inclined relative to the first axis, and the other provides an ejector part which can act against the said inclined surface so as to push the filter element away from the head part as the head part and the body part are separated by relative rotation, so as to free the filter port from the chamber port.
US08177965B2	Enhancement of saturates content in heavy hydrocarbons utilizing ultrafiltration This invention relates to an ultrafiltration process for separating a heavy hydrocarbon stream to produce an enriched saturates content stream(s) utilizing an ultrafiltration separations process. The enriched saturates content streams can then be further processed in refinery and petrochemical processes that will benefit from the higher content of saturated hydrocarbons produced from this separations process. The invention may be utilized to separate heavy hydrocarbon feedstreams, such as whole crudes, topped crudes, synthetic crude blends, shale oils, oils derived from bitumen, oils derived from tar sands, atmospheric resids, vacuum resids, or other heavy hydrocarbon streams into enriched saturates content product streams. The invention provides an economical method for separating heavy hydrocarbon stream components by molecular species instead of molecular boiling points.
US08177964B2	Delayed coking process with modified feedstock A process of delayed coking with modified feedstock is described maximising the volume of diesel oil and minimising the volume of coke produced by means of feedstock which comprises, in a first embodiment of the invention: the bottom product (8) of the vacuum distillation tower (6), known in the prior art as vacuum residuum, and a fraction (7′) of heavy vacuum gas oil (7) obtained in the aforesaid vacuum distillation. In a second embodiment of the present invention the bottom residuum (5) proceeding from the atmospheric distillation tower (2), known in the prior art as atmospheric residuum, is employed as feedstock of a Delayed Coking Unit (9).
US08177963B2	Partial electro-hydrogenation of sulfur containing feedstreams followed by sulfur removal This invention relates to the partial hydrogenation of sulfur containing petroleum feedstreams by electrochemical means. The partially hydrogenated feedstream is then conducted to processes for either conversion and removal of at least some of the sulfur-containing species from the electrochemical desulfurization process or adsorption and removal of at least some of the sulfur-containing species from the electrochemical desulfurization process.
US08177957B2	Multiple frequency method for operating electrochemical sensors A multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor to measure a parameter of interest using calibration information including the steps of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response, exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response, using the second sensor response at the second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, using the first sensor response at the first frequency, the calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest.
US08177952B2	Preparation method of uranium metal and apparatus thereused Disclosed herein is a method of preparing uranium metal by electrorefining uranium metal, comprising: applying a predetermined current to an anode electrode included in an anode basket receiving fuel segments made of uranium metal and a cathode electrode of carbon material; electrodepositing uranium on the cathode electrode in accordance with the reaction initiated by the applied current; and collecting the electrodeposited uranium by self-weight. An apparatus for electrorefining uranium metal used in the method according to the present invention, comprises: an anode basket (6) receiving fuel segments made of uranium metal and comprising an anode electrode; and a reactor including a cathode electrode (5) made of carbon material and a uranium collector (10) therein. According to the method of the present invention having the above mentioned constitution and the apparatus thereof, it is possible to separate only pure uranium metal with a high capability from the spent metal nuclear fuels conveniently and economically.
US08177950B2	Thermoresponsive microparticle composite hydrogels for electrophoresis Disclosed are thermoresponsive microparticle composite hydrogels comprising poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) and polyacrylamide, and methods regarding their manufacture and their use. The present invention provides in one aspect a thermoresponsive microparticle hydrogel, wherein the matrix morphology is controllably and selectively altered by incorporation of thermoresponsive nano/micro-particles. The particles are preferably poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) particles. The present invention also provides methods of making and using such hydrogels.
US08177947B2	Sputtering target Provided is a sputtering target in which the ratio of X-ray intensity of (110) measured with X-ray diffraction is 0.4 or less, and even 0.2 or less in a Ta or Ta alloy target. Further provided is a sputtering target in which the ratio of X-ray intensity of (110) on a Ta or Ta alloy target surface measured with X-ray diffraction is 0.8 or less, and the ratio of the foregoing X-ray intensity at a depth of 100 μm or deeper is 0.4 or less. This Ta or Ta alloy target is capable of minimizing the fluctuation of the deposition speed for each target throughout the target life of a sputtering target, and thereby improving and stabilizing the production efficiency of semiconductors during the sputtering process, and contributing to the reduction of production costs.
US08177944B2	Plating apparatus and plating method A plating apparatus can form a bump having a flat top or can form a metal film having a good in-plane uniformity even when the plating of a plating object (substrate) is carried out under high-current density conditions. The plating apparatus includes a plating tank for holding a plating solution; an anode to be immersed in the plating solution in the plating tank; a holder for holding a plating object and disposing the plating object at a position opposite the anode; a paddle, disposed between the anode and the plating object held by the holder, which reciprocates parallel to the plating object to stir the plating solution; and a control section for controlling a paddle drive section which drives the paddle. The control section controls the paddle drive section so that the paddle moves at a velocity whose average absolute value is 70 cm/sec to 100 cm/sec.
US08177940B2	Apparatus and method for stabilizing a moving web having transitions in a surface adjacent the web A web stabilizer adapted to stabilize a web moving across a span between two components of a web machine or machines, the stabilizer including: a surface facing and adjacent the moving web, and at least one transition in the surface of the stabilizer, wherein the transition is a protrusion or recess in the surface between a leading edge of the stabilizer facing a direction of web travel and a trailing edge of the stabilizer.
US08177938B2	Method of making regenerated cellulose microfibers and absorbent products incorporating same A method of making regenerated cellulose microfibers includes forming segmented fibers with multiple longitudinally-extending segments of slightly different composition such that there is defined splittable interfaces between juxtaposed segments of the fibers which are then split into microfibers at yields of greater than 50%. Fibers so produced may be incorporated into absorbent sheet with other papermaking fibers to provide strength, softness, bulk and absorbency to tissue, towel, and personal care products.
US08177930B2	Process of production and structural element A process for the production of a structural element in which at least two units of concrete are assembled by gluing, the compressive strength of the concrete being greater than 80 MPa. A structural element includes at least two glued units of concrete, the compressive strength of the concrete being greater than 80 MPa.
US08177928B2	Method of restrained-quenching of annular member A method of restrained-quenching of an annular member, that can readily ensure a sufficient effect of restraint, increase treatment efficiency of a quench hardening treatment, and suppress production cost of the annular member, includes a heating step, a first cooling step, a restraint step, and a second cooling step. In the heating step, a bearing ring formed as the annular member is heated to a temperature not lower than an A1 point. In the first cooling step, the bearing ring is cooled to a first cooling temperature not higher than an MS point. In the restraint step, the bearing ring is restrained with a restraint member. In the second cooling step, the bearing ring is cooled to a second cooling temperature lower than a restraint start temperature while it remains restrained. Then, in the restraint step and the second cooling step, the bearing ring is restrained at a ridgeline portion without the bearing ring and the restraint member being in contact with each other at an outer circumferential surface and an end surface of the bearing ring.
US08177927B2	Method of making shape memory alloy articles with improved fatigue performance A method of making articles made of shape memory alloys having improved fatigue performance and to methods of treating articles formed from shape memory alloy materials by pre-straining the articles (or desired portions of the articles) in a controlled manner so that the resultant articles exhibit improved fatigue performance. The shape memory articles are preferably medical devices, more preferably implantable medical devices. They are most preferably devices of nitinol shape memory alloy, most particularly that is superelastic at normal body temperature. The pre-straining method of the present invention as performed on such articles includes the controlled introduction of non-recoverable tensile strains greater than about 0.20% at the surface of a desired portion of a shape memory alloy article. Controlled pre-straining operations are performed on the shape-set nitinol metal to achieve non-recoverable tensile strain greater than about 0.20% at or near the surface of selected regions in the nitinol metal article. The pre-straining operations result in a significant increase in fatigue life of the selectively treated regions and an overall improvement in the fatigue performance of the device.
US08177926B2	Amorphous Fe100-a-bPaMb alloy foil and method for its preparation Amorphous Fe100-a-bPaMb foil, preferably in the form of a free-standing foil, process for its production by electrodeposition or electroforming of an aqueous plating solution, and its uses as a constitutive element of a transformer, generator, motor, pulse applications and magnetic shieldings. “a” is a real number ranging from 13 to 24, b is a real number ranging from 0 to 4, and M is at least one transition element other than Fe. The amorphous Fe100-a-bPaMb foil has the properties of being amorphous as established by the X-ray diffraction method, an average thickness greater than 20 micrometers, a tensile strength in the range of 200-1100 MPa, an electrical resistivity of over 120 μΩcm, and at least one of a high saturation induction (Bs) greater than 1.4 T, a coercive field (Hc) of less than 40 A/m, a loss (W60), at power frequencies (60 Hz), and for a peak induction of at least 1.35 T, of less than 0.65 W/kg, and a relative magnetic permeability (B/μ0H) greater than 10000, for low values of μ0H.
US08177924B2	High-strength steel sheet and process for producing the same A high-strength steel sheet comprises a metallic structure consisting of a ferrite phase and a hard second phase dispersed in the ferrite phase, the hard second phase in the metallic structure having an area ratio of 30 to 70%, and the ferrite of which grain sizes are not more than 1.2 μm having an area ratio of 15 to 90% in the ferrite phase. The term ds is an average grain size of the ferrite of which grain sizes are not more than 1.2 μm, the term dL is an average grain size of ferrite of which grain sizes are more than 1.2 μm, and the ds and the dL satisfy the following equation (1): dL/ds≧3 (1).
US08177921B2	R-Fe-B rare earth sintered magnet An R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet according to the present invention includes, as a main phase, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound that includes Nd, which is a light rare-earth element, as a major rare-earth element R. The magnet includes a heavy rare-earth element RH (which is at least one of Dy and Tb) that has been introduced through the surface of the sintered magnet by diffusion. The magnet has a region in which the concentration of the heavy rare-earth element RH in a grain boundary R-rich phase is lower than at the surface of the crystal grains of the R2Fe14B type compound but higher than at the core of the crystal grains of the R2Fe14B type compound.
US08177917B2	Cleaning assembly To achieve complete cleaning of a tank (11) by means of a cleaning head (4, 5) having nozzles (6) mounted on a liquid supply pipe (3), the cleaning head (4) according to the invention is provided with one or more nozzle openings, nozzles (7), which eject a jet/jets (8, 9) against the supply pipe/suspension (3). This ensures that the stationary parts of the cleaning equipment (3, 10) are cleaned effectively during the turning (4a) of the cleaning head (4) and thereby of the nozzle/nozzles (7).
US08177916B2	Fragrance dissemination device A malodour-counteracting device adapted to be used in an automatic dishwasher having at least one washing cycle and a final drying cycle, the device having the form of two connected containers, adapted to rest on a horizontal surface within the dishwasher to provide an upper container (2) and a lower container (1), the lower container having the form of an open dish and the upper container, within which is a gradually-releasable evaporable malodour counteractant (6), fitting within the lower container and providing at least one port (3) permitting the passage of malodour counteractant out of the upper container, the lower container being adapted, during the washing cycle, to contain sufficient water to submerge the port, and during the drying cycle to allow the port to be open. The device is easy and cheap to manufacture, and is effective for a prolonged period.
US08177914B2	Dual path blower method and apparatus An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a blower and a method for landscaping and lawn maintenance. The blower includes an outer housing having an inner chamber, the outer housing defining at least one discharge port and an impeller disposed within the inner chamber of the housing. The impeller has a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein a first plurality of blades are mounted to the first side surface and a second plurality of blades are mounted to the second side surface. The second plurality of blades are a mirror image of the first plurality of blades. Air or other fluid is expelled through the discharge ports and can be directed using discharge tubes in order to redistribute debris or fluid.
US08177913B1	Cleaning apparatus and method utilizing sublimation of nanofabricated particles A cleaning apparatus comprises a container configured to hold an article to be cleaned, a cleaning solvent dispenser configured to supply a cleaning solvent to the container, an energy generator configured to provide thermal energy to an interior of the container; and a control device in communication with the energy generator and configured to select thermal energy sufficient to sublimate the particles. The cleaning solvent comprises a solvent and nanofabricated particles dispersed therein. The control device controls the energy generator to provide thermal energy to the cleaning solvent in container in which the article is submerged in order to cause sublimation of the particles.
US08177912B2	Evaporation source and vacuum evaporator using the same An evaporation source having a nozzle structure that makes the distribution of film thickness uniform in the width direction of a substrate and a vacuum evaporator using the same are provided. A vapor produced by evaporation or sublimation by heating to evaporation material is discharged from a long nozzle opening like a band. A deposited substrate is transferred in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle opening while facing the nozzle opening. A discharge flow rate of vapor per unit area in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle opening is made to be maximum in a portion at a nozzle width direction position corresponding to a substrate edge position rather than a central part of the nozzle opening and a plurality of partition plates providing directivity to the flow of vapor are arranged inside the nozzle opening.
US08177903B2	Hydraulic binder with a base of sulfoaluminate clinker and portland clinker The present invention relates to a composition including at least a Portland clinker and a Belite-Calcium-Sulphoaluminate-Ferrite clinker (BCSAF).
US08177902B2	Method for producing liquid composition and pigment particles and ink composition for ink jet recording A method for producing a liquid composition containing pigment particles is provided including (1) maintaining a mixture of a solvent and pigments of at least two types including a pigment A insoluble in the solvent at a normal temperature and a normal pressure, and a pigment B soluble in the solvent at the normal temperature and the normal pressure, at a temperature exceeding the normal temperature and a pressure exceeding the normal pressure, thereby obtaining a pigment solution in which the pigment A and the pigment B are dissolved; and (2) cooling the pigment solution to a temperature precipitating a deposition of the pigment A or lower, thereby precipitating pigment particles containing the pigment A and the pigment B.
US08177901B2	Porous inorganic materials of silcon and oxygen The present invention relates to a process for the production of porous inorganic materials or a matrix material containing nanoparticles with high uniformity of thickness and/or high effective surface area and to the materials obtainable by this process. By the above-mentioned process materials with a defined thickness in the region of ±10%, preferably ±5% of the average thickness are available.
US08177893B2	Fuel vapor processing apparatus One aspect according to the present invention includes a fuel vapor processing apparatus having a case containing a mixture of an adsorption material and a heat storage material therein. A mixing ratio of the heat storage material to the adsorption material is set to be higher for a central area away from a circumferential wall of the case or a flow passage defined in the case than for an outer peripheral area close to the circumferential wall.
US08177892B2	Membrane comprising oxyethylene groups The present invention relates to a membrane wherein said membrane comprises a continuous non-porous layer comprising a polymerized composition that comprised prior to polymerization at least one type of compound having a molecular weight of at least 1500 Da and comprising at least 75 weight % of oxyethylene groups and at least two polymerizable groups each comprising a non-substituted vinyl group. The invention further relates to the use of this membrane for separating polar gases and vapors.
US08177887B2	Aerosol particle collection In one embodiment, an aerosol particle collector includes a duct defining a flow path configured to remove larger particles from aerosol flowing through the duct and to store the removed particles in the duct while maintaining a uniform rate of aerosol flow throughout a predetermined useful life of the duct even as stored aerosol particles accumulate in the duct. In another embodiment, an aerosol particle collector includes a duct and a plurality of baffles in the duct. The duct has an elongated inlet extending along a length of the duct and an outlet located at one end of the length of the duct. A first one of the baffles extends along a first side of the duct for deflecting incoming aerosol toward a second side of the duct opposite the first side. A second one of the baffles is for deflecting aerosol toward the outlet.
US08177886B2	Use of oxygen concentrators for separating N2 from blast furnace gas A method of continuously removing nitrogen from a blast furnace exhaust stream containing oxygen, nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons in order to form a supplemental feed to a gas turbine engine containing residual hydrocarbon fuel by first removing entrained solid particulates in the blast furnace exhaust stream to create a substantially particulate-free gas, passing the particulate-free stream through at least one separator bed containing an adsorptive material capable of adsorbing nitrogen from air, adsorbing substantially all of the nitrogen as interstitial nitrogen on solids within the separator bed, feeding non-adsorbed hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen components leaving the separator to a gas turbine engine and removing the adsorbed nitrogen from the separator bed.
US08177885B2	Gas separation process using membranes with permeate sweep to remove CO2 from gaseous fuel combustion exhaust A gas separation process for treating exhaust gases from the combustion of gaseous fuels, and gaseous fuel combustion processes including such gas separation. The invention involves routing a first portion of the exhaust stream to a carbon dioxide capture step, while simultaneously flowing a second portion of the exhaust gas stream across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, then passing the permeate/sweep gas back to the combustor.
US08177873B2	Separating device for separating out particles A separating apparatus for separating out particles, especially liquid droplets from a gas flow which comprises the particles, comprising a flow channel which conducts the gas flow and has at least one deflection region for deflecting the gas flow, and a collecting vessel for accommodating the particles, the flow channel also having a branch leading to the accommodation vessel for separating the particles out of the gas flow, is in accordance with the invention, characterized in that, in addition to the branch, a line opens into the accommodation vessel and connects the accommodation vessel to the flow channel in a fluid-conducting manner.
US08177872B2	Raincap precleaner, motor vehicle having a raincap precleaner, and method for precleaning air A raincap precleaner is provided according to the present invention. The raincap precleaner includes a sleeve, a cover, and a precleaner assembly. The sleeve is constructed for mounting on an air intake stack and has an air intake flow region for delivering intake air to the air intake stack. The cover includes a top portion having an annular circumference and a depending flange portion extending from the annular circumference of the top portion. The cover is arranged relative to the sleeve to provide a precleaner area and a precleaned air chamber. The precleaner assembly is provided extending around a periphery of the sleeve and in the precleaner area so that environmental air flows through the precleaner assembly and into the precleaned air chamber, and from the precleaned air chamber into the air intake flow region. The precleaner assembly comprises a plurality of inertial separators. A method for precleaning air and a motor vehicle are provided.
US08177870B2	Process for the utilization of ruminant animal methane emissions A process for the utilization of the methane produced by enteric fermentation, specifically to a process that utilizes methane produced by ruminant animals through enteric fermentation as a source of carbon and/or energy for the directed production of methane-based goods or processes is provided.
US08177866B2	Fuel for diesel engines The invention concerns a fuel to operate Diesel engines, in particular in cars, wherein the fuel contains an antioxidant. To achieve that the discoloration of the water white Diesel fuel during longer storage and/or incident light radiation is prevented at least for longer periods, the fuel contains a para-substituted, sterically hindered phenol (I) as antioxidant, the substituent of which in the para position is different from a tertiary butyl group.
US08177865B2	High power diesel fuel compositions comprising metal carboxylate and method for increasing maximum power output of diesel engines using metal carboxylate A high power diesel fuel composition and method for increasing immediate power output of a diesel engine using same, the high power diesel fuel composition comprising: about 50% v/v or more ultra low sulfur diesel fuel; and, from about 40 to about 60 ppmw of one or more metal carboxylate comprising one or more metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, manganese, iron, and combinations thereof; the diesel fuel composition having a cetane value of 48 or more.
US08177864B1	Fuel and fuel additive A sugar based fuel and fuel additive method and solution suitable for use with liquid as well as solid carbon based fuels to improve combustion burning or as a fuel or electrolyte for a fuel cell or battery to produce electricity.
US08177860B2	Oxidation hair dye and hair bleach Provided are an oxidation hair dye and a hair bleach, in particular, an oxidation hair dye and a hair bleach effective in use on dyed hair which has solved the problems in using oxidation hair dye or hair bleach, specifically problems such as hair showing a hard and unfavorable texture when treated by oxidation hair dye and hair bleach due to damage to the hair from those agents. An oxidation hair dye characterized by comprising ceramides and/or sterol esters, lecithin or a lecithin derivative and silicones.
US08177850B2	Joint placement methods and apparatuses Systems and methods for determining placement of prosthetic components in joint including defining patient-specific frame of reference for joint, determining patient-specific postoperative range of motion of joint, evaluating patient-specific range of motion of joint, automatically planning placement of components balancing need for range of motion with prosthesis stability through bony coverage, and applying manual adjustments to the automatically planned placement of component by giving greater or lesser weight to need for range of motion or prosthesis stability through bony coverage. Apparatuses for defining center of prosthetic femoral head and axis of prosthetic femoral neck including primary cylinder, first alignment receptacle and second alignment receptacle, and a divot on exterior of primary cylinder, divot having normal parallel to longitudinal axis of second alignment receptacle and position of the divot being translated toward an opening of the first alignment receptacle on the primary cylinder. Methods for using apparatuses. Apparatus for mounting spatially tracked device to impactor for impacting prosthetic cup into reamed socket.
US08177843B2	Automated pedicle screw rod bender An automated screw rod bender includes a sensing system for sensing a position of each of a plurality of screws that are inserted into a vertebrae, a computing system for converting the positions into a geometric coordinates of the screws and generating a corresponding plurality of rod bending parameters, and a rod bending system for bending a rod based on the rod bending parameters.
US08177841B2	System and method for joint resurface repair An implant comprising a first, second, and third segment wherein the second and third segments partially overlap the first segment and define a load bearing surface comprising an anterior-posterior (AP) curvature including at least two tangential curves of the portion of the articular surface of the femoral condyle, the tangential curves having different radii of curvature. A drill guide comprises a body portion including a first, second and third bushing spaced along the body portion to establish a first, second and third axes, respectively. Each axis may be substantially normal to the articular surface at three different points along a curvature of the articular surface comprising the two tangential curves. A measuring device comprises a housing defining a longitudinally passageway and an outrigger. A guide pin may be received in the longitudinal passageway and a measuring device determines how far the guide pin is in the passageway.
US08177837B2	Percutaneously deployed vascular valves Described are percutaneous vascular valves free of attached support structures and deployment systems and methods for providing attachment of the valves within a vascular vessel.
US08177830B2	Rotatable catheter assembly Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems for a catheter assembly including a catheter shaft, a balloon positioned on the catheter shaft, where the balloon has a first balloon waist, a first lead extending longitudinally through the catheter shaft, and a first sealing member adjacent the first balloon waist and coupled to the first lead, where the first lead can provide electrical current to reversibly transition the first sealing member from a nonactivated state to an activated state in response to a temperature change in the first sealing member, and where at least a portion of the balloon rotates relative the catheter shaft in the nonactivated state and the first sealing member engages the first balloon waist to form a fluid tight seal and to prevent rotation of the balloon relative the catheter shaft in the activated state.
US08177828B2	Underbody convective warming blanket constructions An underbody convective warming blanket includes a duct that is separate from, but in fluid communication with, interior space of the underbody convective warming blanket. The duct may be deployed to provide an air circulation conduit to shunt air around the air distribution structure in the interior space. The duct may be a flexible tube having a first end coupled to a first duct port in the underbody convective warming blanket near a first end of the underbody convective warming blanket and a second end to be coupled to a second duct port in the underbody convective warming blanket near a second end of the underbody convective warming blanket. An underbody convective warming blanket may include a midsection with an elongate columnar configuration which transitions at an end, or at each end, to a plinth-like configuration.
US08177824B2	Disposable cassette for intravenous heat exchange catheter A heat exchange fluid supply system for supplying a heat exchange fluid to an intravascular heat exchange catheter includes a disposable cassette having a bulkhead and an external heat exchanger, and which is configured to operate in combination with a reusable master control unit. The bulkhead includes a reservoir section and a pump section. The reservoir section is provided with a means to monitor the amount of heat exchange fluid that is in the system. The bulkhead provides the mechanism for priming the system with heat exchange fluid from an external source and for circulating fluid to the catheter in a closed circuit. The pump section is configured to allow for pumping of heat exchange fluid at a constant pressure.
US08177821B2	Screw back-out prevention mechanism A screw back-out prevention mechanism for a bone fixation system is provided. The mechanism, when engaged, either locks or retains the screws of the bone fixation system in place thereby preventing the screws of the bone fixation system from backing out of the bone, and in turn reducing the risk of device separation or failure in the bone fixation system.
US08177819B2	Expanded fixation of bones System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for expanded bone fixation with bone plates. A bone plate and an extension plate may be provided. The bone plate may be secured to a proximal portion of a humerus and overlapping the greater tuberosity of the humerus using fasteners received in openings defined by the bone plate. The extension plate may be attached to the bone plate and the humerus using (a) a fastener disposed in an aperture defined by the first end region and in threaded engagement with the bone plate and (b) a fastener received in an aperture defined by the second end region and extending into the humerus. The attached extension plate may extend from a position over the greater tuberosity to a position over the lesser tuberosity of the humerus such that the intermediate region is disposed over a biceps tendon.
US08177817B2	System and method for orthopedic implant configuration Anatomic points within the body are projected outside the body through the use of extenders. Bridges may be used to keep the extenders parallel to each other to provide a spatial transformation of the anatomic points to projected points outside the body. The projected points may then be used for measurement, or to facilitate the selection or configuration of an implant that is to be positioned proximate the anatomic points. Such an implant may be a rod for a posterior spinal fusion system. Pedicle screws may be implanted into pedicles of the spine, and may then serve as anchors for the extenders. The extenders may have rod interfaces that receive the rod in a manner that mimics the geometry of the pedicle screws so that the contoured rod will properly fit into engagement with the pedicle screws.
US08177814B2	Posterior spinal bridge assembly providing static or dynamic N-level spinal bridge interconnection A bio-compatible posterior spinal bridge assembly provides static or dynamic N-level spinal bridge interconnection between adjacent posterior spinal bridges and posterior spinal bridge assemblies. The posterior spinal bridge assembly includes a spinal bridge that is received in posterior vertebral screw assemblies that are affixed a vertebra and to laterally span the posterior side of the vertebra, and an interconnection element that allows static or dynamic connection between adjacent spinal bridges and/or spinal bridge assemblies. The interconnection element is defined by interconnection members that are carried by the spinal bridge and which provide static or dynamic connection between any number of adjacent spinal bridges/bridge assemblies. The interconnection members are attachable at various positions along the spinal bridge such as medially, laterally, or midline on the spinal bridge. Adjacent spinal bridge assemblies may thus be statically or dynamically linked, connected or coupled to one another via the interconnection members when more than one spinal bridge assembly is used.
US08177812B2	Bone fusion device and methods A bone fusion device, system, kit, and/or method can include an elongated structure including at least two anchor portions and at least one deformable segment connected on each end to one of the at least two anchor portions. Each deformable segment can include a plurality of spaced apart deformable members deformable from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration. The bone fusion device may be implanted between two bone structures in the unexpanded configuration utilizing a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The deformable members can be compressed along a longitudinal axis of the device to deform the deformable members to the expanded configuration into contact with the two bone structures. A bone growth promoting material can be placed in the anchor portion lumen and in the interior of each deformable segment to promote bone in-growth between the bone structures.
US08177810B2	Methods of annulus and ligament reconstruction using flexible devices Methods for providing a flexible spinal stabilization system operative to prevent lateral bending, extension, and rotation across two or more adjacent vertebrae are described. Broadly, the invention utilizes a pair of connectors on each vertebrae, and flexible elongated elements, such as sutures or cables, in an axial and crisscrossed pattern to provide an arrangement that resists extension, lateral bending, and torsional/rotational motion. In some embodiments, the flexible stabilization system includes a pair of locking anchors and a pair of hook-like anchors. The locking anchors are pre-threaded with a suture in a loose looped configuration before insertion into the vertebra. Once the locking anchors have been inserted, the suture loops can be looped over hook-like anchors inserted into an adjacent vertebrae to join the vertebrae and apply tension across the disc space. In some embodiments, the hook-like anchors can have multiple hooks for use in joining multiple vertebral levels.
US08177809B2	Inflatable device for enteric fistula treatment Disclosed herein is an implantable fistula closure device. The device may include an expandable longitudinally segmented body including a proximal end and a distal end. The segmented body may further include a plurality of porous bodies and a connecting member operably joining together the plurality of porous bodies. The plurality of porous bodies includes a first porous body with a proximal end and a distal end and a second porous body with a proximal end and a distal end, and the connecting member operably connects the proximal end of the first porous body with the distal end of the second porous body.
US08177807B2	Emboli filtration system and methods of use An emboli filtration apparatus is provided including a guide wire having a filter element captured thereon, so that the guide wire is free to rotate and translate while the filter element remains stationary. The apparatus allows for movement and rotation of the guide wire as devices are advanced over it to treat occlusive disease, substantially without dislodging the filter element. In a preferred embodiment, the guide wire includes a proximal stop configured to reposition the filter element during a medical procedure without having to remove or insert additional interventional devices.
US08177806B2	Dilation balloon having a valved opening and related catheters and methods Dilation catheters including a mechanism used in, for example, removing gas or air from the catheters are disclosed. A dilation catheter may include an elongated tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, a proximal handle proximate the proximal end of the tubular member, and an inflatable balloon proximate the distal end of the tubular member with inflatable balloon being in fluid communication with a fluid port to supply inflation liquid to the inflatable balloon. The inflatable balloon may include an opening for permitting gas to exit the inflatable balloon. In the proximate location of the opening, an expandable material or a barrier material that permits gas to exit through the opening, while retaining inflation liquid in the inflatable balloon.
US08177804B2	Surgical instrument A surgical instrument with a clamping device for holding and/or clamping tissue, a severing device for severing tissue and a handling device for actuating the clamping device and/or the severing device is provided. The clamping device is provided with at least one clamping member having a clamping surface and a clamping member opening. The severing device is provided with a severing member movable at least partially into the clamping member opening. In order to reliably prevent short circuits between the at least one clamping member and the severing member, a severing member guide device is provided for guiding the severing member in the clamping member opening and for maintaining a spacing from inner side surfaces of the clamping member opening.
US08177803B2	Endoscopic cutting instruments having improved cutting efficiency and reduced manufacturing costs The present invention is directed to improving the cutting efficiency and reducing the manufacturing costs associated with endoscopic cutting instruments by eliminating the distal bearing surfaces or providing means for making the contact at the distal bearing intermittent so that surfaces do no undergo high localized heat and galling. In one embodiment, this goal is achieved by modifying or removing the axial constraints on the inner sliding member that are characteristic of conventional endoscopic shavers. In another embodiment, the improved cutting efficiency and reduced manufacturing cost is achieved by eliminating a closed end characteristic of conventional endoscopic shavers (e.g., removing the closed end of either the inner sliding member or the outer sliding member to thereby eliminate the associated bearing surface formed therebetween).
US08177802B2	Apparatus for percutaneously creating native tissue venous valves Percutaneous apparatus for forming a bicuspid venous valve from autologous tissue are disclosed. A multilumen catheter is disclosed that includes a delivery shaft positioned on either side of the balloon. When the balloon is inflated within the vein at a treatment location where a bicuspid valve is to be created, the delivery shafts are pressed into the wall of the vein by the inflated balloon so that exit ports in the delivery shafts are at diametrically opposed locations. The delivery shafts may than be used to deliver puncture elements through the exit ports and into the vessel wall to gain access to a subintimal layer of the vein wall. In this manner, the inventive multilumen catheter aids in making properly positioned flaps of venous tissue for creating a bicuspid venous valve from autologous tissue.
US08177797B2	Suture reinforement material for automatic suturing device The present invention relates to a tubular suture reinforcement material suitable for use in automatic suturing devices that are widely used in surgical operations, etc. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tubular suture reinforcement material with which a tubular shape is easily obtained to thereby increase its productivity, and removal of thread is easily achieved. The present invention provides a tubular suture reinforcement material for an automatic suturing device formed by stacking two sheet-like materials and sewing together both ends of the two sheet-like materials using two chain stitches (intralooping stitches) each thread end at each sewing end is suitably extended, and the thread end is passed through an anterior loop continuous to the thread end, thereby preventing the thread from unraveling.
US08177796B2	Suture passing apparatus and method An endoscopic surgical instrument for passing a suture through tissue includes a first jaw member, a needle, and a capture feature actuable to grip and retain the suture after the suture has been passed through a tissue body. An actuation mechanism can both move the needle between retracted and extended positions, and move the capture feature between open and closed configurations, via a single actuation. The capture feature may be a trap door which is axially translatable relative to the first jaw member to overlap a portion of the first jaw member and trap a portion of the suture between the trap door and the overlapped portion. The first jaw member may be movable relative to a second jaw member to grasp a tissue body. The instrument can grasp a tissue body, pass the suture through the tissue, capture and retain the suture without being repositioned relative to the tissue.
US08177795B2	Meniscal repair systems and methods A device for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue comprises a proximal actuator portion, a transfer needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and a catch needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion. A suture needle is disposed in the transfer needle, and is extendable from the transfer needle toward the catch needle and retractable from the catch needle toward the transfer needle. An extendable catch plunger is disposed in the catch needle for capturing suture therein when it is transferred from the transfer needle. A retractable insertion sheath is provided for covering the transfer needle and the catch needle when the device is inserted into a procedural site. A depth limiting apparatus limits the depth of insertion of the needle into the procedural site.
US08177794B2	Flexible endoscopic stitching devices An endoscopic stitching device including a tool assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws; a rotatably supported camming hub defining a groove formed in an inner surface of a central lumen thereof; and a center rod slidably and rotatably disposed within the lumen of the camming hub. The center rod is operatively engaged with the groove formed in the camming hub and engaged with the pair of jaws. The inner groove of the camming hub is configured such that, in at least one position, axial translation of the center rod relative to the camming hub results in rotation of the camming hub and at least one of opening and closing of the pair of jaws. The inner groove of the camming hub is configured such that, in at least one other position, rotation of the canter rod results in rotation of the tool assembly.
US08177789B2	Distraction osteogenesis methods and devices Methods and devices for distraction osteogenesis are disclosed employing an energy storage device and a controlled release of energy to provide a separating force. For example, bone expansion devices can include a first anchor element attachable to a first segment of bone, a second anchor element attachable to a second segment of bone, and an actuator for applying a separating force between the first and second anchor elements. The actuator can include a potential energy storage device and a controller for releasing energy from the energy storage device to provide the separating force.
US08177783B2	Electric plasma-mediated cutting and coagulation of tissue and surgical apparatus Electrosurgery method and apparatus. In the method, tissue is cut or coagulated, with an electrically low conductive liquid providing cooling. In another method, skin is cut by electrosurgery in a dry field using a low duty cycle signal energizing the cutting electrode, minimizing tissue charring. A combination coagulation and cutting electrode performs both functions. The cutting is performed by a blade edge generating a local plasma adapted for cutting. Superimposed on the blade edge is an electrode of greater surface area electrically insulated from the cutting electrode, for coagulation. In another version, a single component cutting/coagulation blade (electrode) has a cutting and a flat partially insulated portion defining through holes in the insulation for coagulation. Also provided is an electrical circuit whereby each electrode is isolated by a filter from cross talk and feedback of the RF signal from the other electrode, minimizing arcing.
US08177777B2	Soft tip cannula and methods for use thereof A surgical device having a body portion that is gripped by a user, the body portion having a distal end equipped with a soft tip and the proximal end optionally connected to an external vacuum or gas/air source. The surgical device is particularly suitable for use in ophthalmic surgical procedures to remove fluid from the eye or introduce gas/air into the eye. The soft tip is fabricated to protect the delicate tissues if the eye and is further modified so as to enhance a user's visibility of the device in the surgical field.
US08177771B2	Catheter connector A catheter connector for a subcutaneously placed catheter. The catheter connector can be configured for a single lumen catheter or a multiple lumen catheter. The connector facilitates precise positioning of both distal and proximal ends of a catheter, providing enhanced functionability and patient comfort.
US08177767B2	Cartridge and medical delivery system accommodating such cartridge A cartridge having a distal end provided with a mechanical coding. The coding has the form of a circular protrusion where the circular outer diameter is dedicated a specific concentration of insulin contained in the cartridge. The distal end of the cartridge is fitted in to a circular contour in the housing. The outer diameter of the protrusion on the distal end of the cartridge is chosen as a larger diameter for a higher concentration of insulin. In this way only a cartridge containing the correct concentration or a lower concentration fits into a delivery system designed for a specific concentration of insulin.
US08177764B2	Devices and methods for treatment of damaged tissue Methods and devices for treatment of damaged tissue are disclosed, including treatment of wounds by employing non-electrically powered, reduced pressure therapy devices. Maintenance and control of the sub atmospheric pressure exerted may be provided by such devices while minimizing discomfort to the user. The devices may be configured to be worn inconspicuously underneath clothing.
US08177762B2	Septum including at least one identifiable feature, access ports including same, and related methods A septum for use in access port for providing subcutaneous access to a patient is disclosed. More particularly, a septum including at least one topographical feature configured for identification of the septum is disclosed. An access port including such a septum is also disclosed. In addition, an access port comprising a septum and a means for identification of the septum is disclosed. Also, a method of identifying a subcutaneously implanted access port is disclosed. Specifically, an access port including a septum may be provided and at least one topographical feature of the septum of the access port may be perceived. The subcutaneously implanted access port may be identified in response to perceiving the at least one feature of the septum of the access port.
US08177756B2	Medical tubing securement assembly and methods of use A medical tubing securement assembly includes a base having a disc, and a retaining adapter removably and rotatably attached to the disc. The retaining adapter includes a longitudinal passage for receiving a locking adapter. The locking adapter includes a longitudinal passage for receiving a medical tube. Once the tube is inserted into the locking adapter, the locking adapter may be rotated within the retaining adapter, around the tube, to secure the tube within the securement assembly.
US08177755B2	Access sheath with central seal An access apparatus for use during a surgical procedure to provide access to the interior of the body includes an access member defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end for being disposed at an exterior side of the body and a distal end for extending into the interior of the body. The access member has a bore therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an object. A seal is disposed within the longitudinal bore substantially at the rotational center of the access member. The seal has inner seal portions adapted to establish a substantial seal about a surgical instrument introduced within the longitudinal bore of the access member. An access housing may be mounted to the proximal end of the access member. A zero closure valve may be mounted to the access housing. The zero-closure valve may be adapted to close in the absence of the instrument. The seal may be generally disc shaped. The seal may define an aperture for reception of the surgical instrument. The seal may comprise a fabric material, an elastomeric material or a gel material.
US08177751B2	Conveying device in or for an apparatus for administering a drug A conveying device in or for an apparatus for administering a product, including a base, a first conveying member which can be moved relative to the base and includes a first thread, a second conveying member which can be moved relative to the base and includes a second thread for a threaded engagement with the first thread, wherein the second thread extends over an axial portion of the second conveying member which is radially flexible in relation to its threaded axis, such that one of the conveying members can be axially inserted into the other in an overlap of the threads, and a blocking member which can be moved relative to the base, wherein one of the blocking member and the second conveying member can be moved relative to the other into a blocking position in which the blocking member radially stiffens the second thread in the threaded engagement in the region of the flexible axial portion and thus secures the threaded engagement.
US08177747B2	Method and apparatus for drug delivery Disposable injection devices are disclosed herein. In an exemplary arrangement, the disposable injection device comprises an annular sleeve, a predetermined pre-injection quantity of a substance configured for selective injection, and a temperature control element. The annular sleeve at least partially defines a dispensing chamber therein. The predetermined pre-injection quantity of the substance configured for selective injection is disposed within the dispensing chamber. The temperature control element is operably connected to the dispensing chamber, and is configured to selectively heat the substance to a predetermined temperature. The substance expands from the pre-injection quantity at the predetermined temperature to an injection quantity whereby the injection quantity is greater than a volume defined by the dispensing chamber. In this manner, a predetermined minimum quantity of the substance is self-expelled from the dispensing chamber.
US08177746B2	Stretch resistant therapeutic device A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature.
US08177744B2	Apparatus and methods for bone, tissue and duct dilatation Apparatus and methods are disclosed for medical treatment comprising bone, tissue or duct dilatation using inflatable dilatation elements together with apparatus and techniques for tensioning, stretching, folding, and/or wrapping the dilatation elements externally as well as in situ to facilitate insertion, positioning and withdrawal procedures.
US08177743B2	Localized delivery of drug agents Medical devices including a substrate that are expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state; a coating on the substrate, the coating having a drug agent incorporated therein; and a sheath over the coating. The sheath is expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state and has at least one perforation therein. The medical devices are configured such that when the substrate is in a compressed state, the sheath is also in a compressed state and the perforation is substantially closed. When the substrate is in an expanded state, the sheath is also in an expanded state and the perforation is substantially open. The invention also includes a method of using the medical devices for the controlled, localized delivery of a drug agent to a target location within a mammalian body.
US08177741B2	Catheter with superelastic retention device A retention device for use in a human or mammalian body includes superelastic wires that expand when they are released from a confined state. The retention device may have the outer form of a Foley catheter. One or more superelastic wires within the balloon of a Foley catheter help to insure retention within the body, such as within a urinary bladder.
US08177739B2	Rapid infusion system A rapid infusion system for the intravenous delivery of fluids at standard and rapid flow rates. The system includes a pump assembly, a drive assembly to power the pump, and a fluid containment system that keeps the infused fluid out of direct contact with the pump assembly and that is preferably disposable and removable. In one embodiment the drive assembly includes a differential drive that interacts with more than one motor. In one embodiment, the pump assembly includes a roller pump and the pump chamber is a collapsible, preformed tube that is preferably attached to a pump cartridge frame. Optionally, the system includes a self-leveling drip chamber and the fluid containment system is disposable and includes a pump cartridge containing the drip chamber and the pump chamber, I.V. tubing, outlet infusion tubing, and a heater cartridge.
US08177727B2	Method and device for objective automated audiometry The present invention relates to a method for automation of objective hearing test based on the assessment of auditory evoked potential (AEP), for shortening of testing time, and for the minimization of inaccuracy and errors which may be resulted from the automation and time shortening. The method includes the steps for: as a preliminary test, presenting standard test stimulus to a subject; searching the wave V peak and SN10 peak; and as a main test, presenting test stimulus of each frequency, searching the minimal intensity and determining objective hearing threshold of each frequency.
US08177719B2	Contrast agent imaging with agent specific ultrasound detection Highly specific measurements of flow in vessels, such as the coronary artery, can be obtained by processing cubic fundamental information. By showing flow in vessels with a high degree of contrast-to-tissue specificity, ultrasound based 3D contrast agent based coronary artery angiograms may be possible. Measurement and display of the velocity of agent from the cubic fundamental signal is provided simultaneously with display of cubic fundamental energy, such as providing a display map indexed by both energy and velocity. High pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for cubic fundamental detection in conjunction with long velocity measurement intervals may increase low velocity sensitivity and measurement precision. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler may be improved by using a cubic fundamental sensitive pulse sequence. Using cubic fundamental sensitive techniques with other motion estimation techniques, such as two-dimensional velocity estimation or speckle tracking, may operate better than using other contrast agent detection techniques because of substantially reduced clutter.
US08177718B2	Linear array ultrasound transducer with variable patch boundaries An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system has a two dimensional array arranged in multiple patches of multiple transducer elements. Each patch of transducer elements is coupled to a group of microbeamformer delay lines having outputs which can be coupled to a selected channel of a system beamformer, which beamforms the partially summed beams of each patch into a final beamformed signal. The ability to direct a delayed signal from a transducer element to a selected beamformer channel enables the patch boundaries to be changed as the aperture is translated across the array.
US08177717B2	Ultrasonic endoscope An ultrasonic endoscope comprising an insertion portion including a distal hard portion. The insertion portion comprises an ultrasonic transducer arranged in the distal hard portion and a treatment equipment lead-out hole, a slant surface on which an endoscopic viewing section is formed, the slant surface being provided in a position rear of the treatment equipment lead-out hole and a balloon removably arranged in a fit area on the ultrasonic transducer. The distal hard portion comprises a balloon-fit groove between an arrangement region of the ultrasonic transducer and an opening of the treatment equipment lead-out hole. The balloon has an end including a retaining ring that fits in the balloon-fit groove. The distal hard portion further comprises a treatment equipment guide member that slidably guides the treatment equipment across an arrangement area of the balloon-fit groove and up to a position on a beginning side of a scanning range of the ultrasonic transducer.
US08177716B2	Analyte monitoring device and methods of use An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08177715B2	Capsule medical system and biological information acquiring method A capsule medical system is provided with a capsule medical device to be inserted into a subject, at least one electrode pad having a plurality of receiving electrodes, a receiving electrode switching unit, a control unit for controlling operations of the receiving electrode switching unit, and a position detector. The capsule medical device has a biological information acquiring unit for acquiring biological information of the subject, and a transmitting unit for outputting the biological information from a transmitting electrode through a living body. At least one electrode pad detects the biological information by a plurality of receiving electrodes. The receiving electrode switching unit switches a pair of receiving electrodes among the plurality of receiving electrodes. The position detector detects a position of the capsule medical device inside the subject based on the biological information detected by the electrode pad, and position coordinate data of the plurality of receiving electrodes.
US08177714B2	Surgery assisting instrument for retinal surgery A surgery assisting instrument for retinal surgery includes a cylinder and a strip connected with each other. The cylinder and the strip are made of a soft and biocompatible material. The cylinder is preferably connected with the strip at a side surface and close to an edge of the strip. The surgery assisting instrument is placed in a fornix around an eye at a position according to a retinal tear. The cylinder is pressed against the eye and the strip is pressed against the eyelid. Thus the retina is forced toward the back wall of the eye.
US08177710B1	Endoscopic device An endoscope includes an insert portion, a display portion, a manipulation portion, a casing which houses the display portion and the manipulation portion at a front side, and to which the insert portion is connected at a back side, and a battery. The casing has an upper portion in which the display portion is housed and a lower portion in which the manipulation portion is housed. The insert portion is connected to the lower portion and extends from the lower portion in a first direction. And a line connecting a center of gravity of the battery and a center of gravity of the casing while the battery is housed in the casing extends in a second direction that intersects the first direction at an angle.
US08177705B2	Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental implant are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon the implant to form a hearing assembly. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
US08177701B2	Dunnage conversion machine with translating grippers, and method and product A dunnage conversion machine for converting stock material into a dunnage product includes a forming assembly and a pulling assembly. The pulling assembly includes at least two grippers movable together through a transfer region in opposition to one another and cooperative to grip therebetween the dunnage strip for advancing the dunnage strip through the transfer region, and at least one of the grippers including an aperture operative to gather and laterally capture therein the dunnage strip as the grippers move through the transfer region. Also disclosed is a severing assembly including a movable blade and a reciprocating actuator connected to the blade by a motion transmitting assembly that moves the blade through a full severing cycle upon a stroke of the actuator in either direction. Also disclosed is a void fill dunnage product including a three dimensional crumpled strip of dunnage round in cross-section and including at least one ply of sheet material having, in cross-section, a crumpled multi-lobed undulating body, with the lobes thereof extending longitudinally and being dispersed in an irregular pattern.
US08177700B2	Method for making a valve for sealing an evacuation port A valve (20) is provided for sealing an evacuation port (16) in a port area (18) of a wall structure (12) of a container. The valve (20) comprises a casing (22) having a shell portion (30) which is deformable from an open condition, whereat the shell portion (30) forms a chamber (32) over the port area (18), and a closed condition, whereat the shell portion (30) contacts the port area (18). When the shell portion (30) is in its open condition, gas exits from the chamber (32) through gas-releasing holes (24) in the casing (22). When the shell portion (30) is deformed to its closed condition, a port-sealing adhesive (26) adheres to the port area (18) to thereby seal the evacuation port (16).
US08177699B1	Tray forming apparatus A tray forming apparatus forms a blank into a tray having a double glued side wall construction for providing a desirable strength to the tray. A platen drives the blank through a forming rails which fold the blank into a partially formed tray having bottom, end and side walls, and inside corner supports formed about the platen. The platen is retracted prior to folding arms further extended portions of the partially formed tray. A compression plate and the folding arms are biased against adhesive portions of the tray for forming a fully formed tray having a double glued side wall construction.
US08177697B2	Dunnage conversion machine and method A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.
US08177693B2	Calf exercise machine with rocking user support A calf exercise machine has a floor engaging main frame, a user support pivot, a user support assembly pivotally mounted on the main frame via the user support pivot, and a pivotally mounted user engagement device. A user engaging foot plate assembly is pivotally mounted to track movement of the user's feet during a calf exercise, and may comprise either the user support in a standing calf machine or the user engagement device in a seated calf machine. A connecting link translates movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support so that pivotal movement in the user engagement device results in a self-aligning, pivoting movement of the user support.
US08177691B2	Exercising machine The subject matter discloses an exercising device enabled to switch between elliptical course and circular course of footrests used by a user, comprising two main wheels, each connected to a different footrest; two connecting rods, the distal end of each connecting rod is connected to each main wheel and the proximal end of each connecting rod is connected to the body of the exercising device, said connecting rods are enabled to move the two main wheels on a horizontal axis.The subject matter also discloses A mechanism within an exercising device enabling both elliptical and circular movement of a footrest in the exercising device, the mechanism comprising: a main wheel connected to the footrest and rotated upon movement of the footrest; a connecting rod connected on its proximal end to the body of the exercising device and on its distal end to the main wheel; wherein the course of the footrest's movement is elliptical when the distal end is connected to a non-centric position on the main wheel and circular when the connecting rod is connected to a centric position on the main wheel or when the connecting rod is not connected to both the main wheel and the body of the exercising device. The footrests and handlebars of the exercising device fit the new motions enabled by the device. A stepper can also be embedded within the exercising device of the disclosed subject matter.
US08177690B2	Therapeutic hand exercise device A handheld exercise device in the form a single nonresilient ball, or a pair of balls, which have a copper surface and have internal permanent magnets embedded within the balls which generate magnetic fields around the outer surface of the ball. The balls may be grasped in the palm of a hand and manipulated so as to combine the therapeutic effects of exercise, copper absorption into the skin, and magnetic field therapy.
US08177687B2	Power transmission device A power transmission device that can reliably prevent engine stall from occurring. The power transmission device includes a transmission clutch 3 interposed between an engine E and a transmission T/M, and control 22 for controlling connection and disconnection of the transmission clutch 3. The power transmission device also includes first engine stall risk determination 22 for determining based on an engine operation state whether there is an engine stall risk when the transmission clutch 3 is connected. The control 22 disconnects the transmission clutch 3 and controls the engine E to a predetermined rotation speed for a predetermined time when the determination by the first engine stall risk determination 22 is affirmed.
US08177682B2	Apparatus for improving vehicle fuel efficiency An apparatus for improving fuel efficiency of a vehicle is provided, including an engine, a generator system and an air-conditioning system. The generator system and the air-conditioning system are connected respectively through transmission elements and a moveable first active transmission wheel and a second active transmission wheel on the engine core axis. A first clutch is placed between the crank shaft of the engine and the first active transmission wheel, and a second clutch is placed between the first active transmission wheel and the second active transmission wheel. Also, a control circuit is provided to control the operation of the first clutch and the second clutch, in order to control the driving and rotation of the first active transmission wheel and/or the second active transmission wheel. The control circuit further determines according to the signal whether power is provided directly to the generator system and further drives the air-conditioning system.
US08177671B2	Control system for hybrid drive unit To provide a control system capable of setting a various kinds of driving mode, and shifting the driving mode regardless of the rotational speed of the engine.The control system comprises: a power distribution mechanism having three rotary elements rotating differentially amongst each other; a speed change mechanism capable of setting a first speed change mode in which the power transmitted from the second rotary element connected with the first electric motor is outputted to an output member, and a second speed change mode in which the power transmitted from the third rotary element connected with the second electric motor is outputted to the output member; and a first speed change control means (steps S7 and S8), which sets an EV running mode by temporarily disabling the internal combustion engine to transmit the power thereof to the output member while transmitting the power outputted from any of the electric motors to the output member instead of transmitting the power of the internal combustion engine, in case of shifting the speed change mode of the speed change mechanism under a condition in which the power of the internal combustion engine is being transmitted to the output member without being converted into an electric power by the electric motors.
US08177670B2	Bicycle sprocket A bicycle sprocket is provided with a sprocket body and a chain engagement structure. The chain engagement structure includes sprocket teeth defining chain rollers receiving troughs. At least two consecutive ones of the troughs include a driven-side surface and a non-driven-side surface. The driven-side surfaces each have a first chain roller contact points corresponding to a first radius of a first minimum contact circle when one of the chain rollers is positioned to fittingly contact the driven-side surface. The non-driven-side surfaces each have a second chain roller contact points disposed at a second position corresponding to a second radius of a second minimum contact circle when one of the chain rollers is positioned to fittingly contact the non-driven-side surface. The first radius is larger than the second radius. The driven-side surfaces have effective concavities that are equal to or less than the curvatures of the chain rollers.
US08177664B2	Putter head and putter head set A putter head has the performance and characteristics of a putter, such as appearance, center of gravity, moment of inertia, ease of finding a putting line, and ease of setting, and can be adjusted by easily changing the shape of putter head by the golfer himself or herself, and a putter head set is also provided. A putter head includes a body member having a face surface for hitting a ball, and a back member detachably installed to the body member. The back member is detachably installed to the body member with one screw only.
US08177663B2	Golf club with interchangeable faces and weights In accordance with the present invention, a golf putter and method of adjustment of the golf putter are provided. The golf putter includes two threaded connections, one between a weighting element and a putter head, and one between a screw fastener and a replaceable striking surface attachment. The weighting element may be attached to the putter head by manual manipulation. The striking surface attachment may be attached to the putter head by a magnetic connection or any other attachment means suitable for easy replacement during a practice or experimentation mode, and is further configured to be attached to a screw fastener using a tool such that the golf putter is in compliance with rules. The screw fastener passes through the weighting element so that it locks the weighting element simultaneously when affixing the striking surface attachment, thus rendering the weighting element non-removable without the use of a tool.
US08177655B2	Putting stroke teacher A T-shaped golf instructional tool adapted to fit over the grip end of a conventional or belly-type putter for the purpose of teaching a proper putting stroke and improving consistency. An attach bar is fixed to a putter grip using hook and loop fastened straps. The attach bar extends above the putter between the user's forearms, where two horizontal rods are fixed to the attach bar at a common junction. The horizontal rods provide feedback to the user and ensure his or her forearms, wrists and arms stay positioned together through the putting stroke. The horizontal rods align perpendicular to the putter face, allowing alignment of the shoulders and feet relative to the intended target. The attach bar can be adjusted out of plane relative to the putter swing path to accommodate different user geometry and proper posture over the ball.
US08177654B2	Golf training system A golf training system includes a rearward and lower first laser beam defined by a rearward and lower first laser transmitting to a rearward and lower first receiving sensor with a first alarm. The golf training system also includes a forward and upper second laser beam defined by a forward and upper second laser transmitting to a forward and upper second receiving sensor, with a second alarm, located above the shoulder of the user. The first laser beam and the second laser beam are substantially parallel and define an extending ideal path along a designated club head path as a golfer swings. The extending ideal path corresponds to a desired club head path, if the club head crosses the first laser beam, the first alarm associated with the first receiving sensor is activated, and if the club head crosses the second laser beam, the second alarm associated with the second receiving sensor is activated.
US08177653B2	Wearable swing training apparatus A swing training apparatus includes a first plate, a second, plate, a moveable joint, and an angular resistance mechanism. The movable joint connects the first plate to the second plate so that the first plate can rotate with respect to the second plate and about a shared plate axis of rotation. The angular resistance mechanism is connected between the first plate and the second plate. It increases angular resistance between the first plate and the second plate as an angle of rotation about the plate axis of rotation is increased. A shoe of an athlete contacts the first plate. The shoe is positioned on the first plate so that, as the athlete rotates a foot and the shoe enclosing the foot with respect to a part of the foot and about a foot axis of rotation, the foot axis of rotation and the plate axis of rotation coincide.
US08177649B2	Constant velocity joint of tripod type A constant velocity joint for a drive system with a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft, comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of guide grooves therein, the guide grooves extending in an axial direction of the housing and spaced equally apart in a circumferential direction of the housing; a tripod having a plurality of trunnions, each trunnion positioned in a corresponding one of the guide grooves of the hollow housing; and a roller assembly disposed on each trunnion, the roller assembly including an outer roller for rollably receiving in the corresponding guide groove; wherein the outer roller includes a convex outer surface, the convex outer surface having a first radius (Rry) seen from a cross section taken in an orthogonal direction relative to a central axis of the outer roller, the convex outer surface having a second radius (Rrx) seen from a cross section taken along the central axis of the outer roller, a center of the second radius (Rrx) displaced outwardly from a center of the first radius (Rry), and the second radius (Rrx) being shorter than the first radius (Rry). Each of the guide grooves of the housing includes a concave surface for mating with the convex outer surface of the outer roller, and the guide groove further includes a plurality of recess areas respectively recessed from the concave surface of the groove, and thereby defining widened spaces between the guide groove of the housing and its corresponding upper and lower portions of the convex outer roller.
US08177647B2	System for processing gaming activity Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a gaming device configured to record gaming activity, a method of processing the recorded gaming activity to analyze player behavior, and a system including the gaming device. The gaming device may include a gaming display to display gaming events played on the gaming device by a player during a gaming session, a player interface panel including a plurality of gaming buttons and a game initiating button configured to initiate the gaming events, and a game processor configured to record each activity between the player and the gaming device, wherein each recorded activity is associated with a time stamp.
US08177631B2	Gaming machine with insurance pay and playing method thereof A gaming machine includes a display for displaying an image relating to a unit game, in which it is determined whether or not an awarding outcome is provided to a player, a counter for accumulating a count-value with successive execution of the unit games and resetting the count-value when a predefined reset condition is met, and a controller. The controller receives a first wager on the unit game and awards a predefined payout to the player when an outcome of the unit game turns out to be a specific outcome. The controller also receives a second wager for the insurance pay. Furthermore, the controller executes transition into a free game which does not require the first wager, when the count-value reaches a predefined value in the unit game with the second wager, and provides the insurance pay according to an outcome of the free game.
US08177625B2	Gaming machine with multiple games having individual and combined paylines A gaming machine is configured to present multiple individual games to a player. The individual games each have a plurality of symbol locations which display symbols to a user. The symbols displayed in the symbol locations corresponding to one or more primary paylines are compared to predetermined winning symbol combinations to declare a winning outcome. One or more secondary paylines corresponding to symbol locations in more than one of the individual games may be compared to the winning symbol combinations to declare a winning outcome as well. The winning symbol combinations may be defined and presented to players by a paytable. The primary and secondary paylines may be fixed or selected by the player and may constitute a bonus win having a higher payout.
US08177624B2	Gaming machine printing a ticket for promoting play of a bonus event Disclosed are gaming machines, including related methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, for promoting play of a bonus event in a wagering environment with one or more gaming machines providing games of chance. The gaming machines are configured to output an award for play of a game of chance. A wager to play a game of chance is received from a player at an input device of a gaming machine. An indication of occurrence of a trigger event is received for promoting play of a designated bonus event differentiated from games of chance. The designated bonus event excludes any bonus event on the gaming machine at which the wager is placed and/or the player is located. Responsive to the indication of occurrence of the trigger event, a ticket is output from an output device of the gaming machine. The ticket has no associated monetary value and has bonus information thereon. The bonus information authorizes participation in only the designated bonus event and can provide one or more plays of the designated bonus event.
US08177620B2	Gaming device having a modifier activator A gaming machine symbol-bearing reels which are used to play a main game involving, the selection and display of a symbol combination. Bonus events or modifiers are also selected and displayed. This may be an automatic machine function, or the player may have the opportunity to operate a further selection reel, or control buttons. The selected bonus event or modifier may be applied to features associated with or separate from the main game, such as a feature game display to which play can transfer from the main game, or may be applied to subsequent main games which may consist of free spins of the reels, or may be paid for by the player.
US08177609B2	Apparatus for processing crustaceans An apparatus for processing crustaceans comprising a feeder for feeding crustaceans to a singulating and conveying device, said singulating and conveying device delivering the crustaceans individually to at least one separating device, said at least one separating device separating the tail section of each crustacean from the head section thereof.
US08177607B2	Device for blocking optical elements A locking device includes a rigid base (2) and a deformable pocket (3) containing a granular material (13). Discharging elements (4) are provided for gas exchange between the inside and the outside of the deformable pocket (3).
US08177601B2	Peek-a-boo doll with dual activation The invention provides a toy that talks when activated. The toy may be activated by simulating play with the toy or by changing the illumination of the toy's environment. Through electronic circuitry, the toy produces a sound output when its magnetic sensor detects a magnet nearby or when its photosensor detects a change in the level of illumination in the surrounding area. The toy may be used for peek-a-boo play involving children.
US08177599B2	Method for making cathode of emission double-plane light source and emission double-plane light source A method for making a field emission double-plane light source includes following steps. A metallic based network, a pair of anodes, and a number of supporting members, are provided. Each of the anodes includes an anode conductive layer and a fluorescent layer formed on the anode conductive layer. A number of carbon nanotubes, metallic conductive particles, glass particles and getter powders are mixed to form an admixture. The admixture is coated on an upper surface and a bottom surface of the network. The admixture on the upper and bottom surfaces of the network is dried and baked. The anodes, the cathode, and the supporting members are assembled and sealed to obtain the field emission double-plane light source.
US08177598B2	Display manufacturing method In a display manufacturing method including bonding of a light-transmissive substrate onto a display surface of a display body, the bonding includes bending the light-transmissive substrate into an arch-like shape with a bonding surface thereof having a convex shape. An adhesive sandwiched is put between a bonding surface of the display body and a top of a bonding surface of the bent light-transmissive substrate. The bend of the light-transmissive substrate is released while moving two rollers from a center of the light-transmissive substrate in a direction of the bend of the light-transmissive substrate towards both terminal edges of the light-transmissive substrate in mutually reverse directions. The two rollers press a non-bonding surface of the light-transmissive substrate against the display body.
US08177597B2	Method for constructing a lamp for radiating a warning signal A method for constructing a lamp for radiating a warning signal within a desired polar angular range around a mean polar direction includes the steps of fixing a base body at a mounting location, arranging each of an annular support element having an annular reflector, an inner and an outer annular optical system concentrically around a lamp axis to form an optical arrangement and arranging a plurality of lighting elements on the annular support element in an annular distribution around the lamp axis. The annular reflector, inner annular optical system and outer annular optical system and portions thereof are shaped to reflect and/or direct light radiated by the plurality of lighting elements in such a manner that light emerges from the outer annular optical system in a direction within the desired polar angular range around the mean polar direction.
US08177595B2	Scoop point buoy A buoy that is adapted to resist entanglement with a trawler net that may be dragged over the anchor and buoy. The buoy may have an indentation on the body of the buoy that causes the buoy to pivot as a trawler net pulls the tether down and slides across the buoy. A lead-in ramp surface increases in thickness from the lower end to a transition area spaced from the lower end. A reorienting ramp surface extends from the transition area to the side of the housing that tips the buoy to a generally horizontal orientation as the object traverses the reorienting ramp surface.
US08177594B2	Watercraft reverse gate operation A method of controlling a watercraft is disclosed which comprises actuating a reverse gate operator, sensing a speed of the watercraft, controlling a thrust generated by a jet propulsion system differently depending on whether the speed of the watercraft is above or below a predetermine watercraft speed when the reverse gate operator is actuated, and moving the reverse gate to a position in which the reverse gate redirects a jet of water expelled from the jet propulsion system in response to the actuation of the reverse gate operator. A watercraft implementing the above method is also disclosed.
US08177593B2	Outboard motor An outboard motor includes an engine, an exhaust passage, an idle exhaust passage, a contraction portion and an expansion chamber, a bypass passage, and a check valve. The bypass passage includes an upstream end connected to the idle exhaust passage at a downstream side relative to the contraction portion and the expansion chamber, and a downstream end connected to the idle exhaust passage at an upstream side relative to the contraction portion and the expansion chamber. The check valve is provided in the bypass passage. The check valve is arranged such that air flows only from the upstream end side to the downstream end side.
US08177591B2	Terminal fitting and electrical cable equipped with the same A terminal fitting 10 includes a main body 20 to be coupled to a mating conductor, and a crimp contact section 30 rearward from the main body 20. The crimp contact section 30 is crimped on an end of a core wire 42 in a covered electrical cable 40 so as to surround the end. The core wire 42 includes a plurality of metallic strands 41 and is covered with a sheath 43 to form the covered electrical cable 40. Serrations 34 are provided on a contact surface of the crimp contact section 30 for surrounding the core wire 42. Each serration 34 is a polygonal shaped recess with which the core wire 42 engages upon crimping. Both diagonal corner portions 34C of each serration 34 are rounded. Thus, the whole periphery of an opening edge around the recess penetrates an oxide layer on a core wire.
US08177589B2	Terminal connector with a crimping portion with recesses A plurality of recesses are formed on a surface of a wire barrel where an electric wire is provided. In a state before the electric wire is crimped onto the wire, barrel, at least one of sides comprising rims of an opening of each recess of a quadrangular shape is a crossing side crossing at an angle of from 85 degrees to 95 degrees to an extending direction. In a state before the electric wire is crimped onto the wire barrel 16, the crossing sides of a plurality of recesses positioned adjacent to each other in the extending direction are so arranged as to overlap with each other in the extending direction.
US08177586B2	Connector system A connector system (1) includes a plurality of connectors (39 to 45) which each have a plug and a counter plug. Each plug has a plurality of receptacles (29, 30) for contacts and each counter plug has a plurality of receptacles (29, 30) for counter contacts. In at least one receptacle (29, 30) of each plug, a contact is arranged and in at least one allocated receptacle (29, 30) of each counter plug, an allocated counter contact is arranged. In at least one of the connectors (39 to 45), at least one receptacle of a plug does not have a contact. In the allocated receptacle (29, 30) of the counter plug, a coding element is arranged which prevents the insertion of a contact into this receptacle (29, 30) of the counter plug.
US08177582B2	Impedance management in coaxial cable terminations Managing impedance in coaxial cable termination. In one example embodiment, a method for terminating a coaxial cable is provided. The coaxial cable includes an inner conductor, an insulating layer surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the insulating layer, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor. The method includes various acts. First, a section of the insulating layer is cored out. Next, the diameter of the inner conductor that is positioned within the cored-out section is reduced. Then, at least a portion of an internal connector structure is inserted into the cored-out section so as to surround the section of reduced-diameter inner conductor. Finally, an external connector structure is affixed to the internal connector structure. A coaxial cable termination tool for use in the termination of a coaxial cable and a terminated coaxial cable are also disclosed.
US08177579B2	Power receptacle with enlarged heat dissipation path formed on mating face and power connector assembly thereof A power receptacle includes an insulative housing and a number of power contacts received in the insulative housing. The insulative housing has a base extending along a first direction and a mating portion protruding from the base. The mating portion has a first mating surface, a pair of side surfaces extending perpendicularly to the first mating surface, and a first slot recessed into the mating portion from the first mating surface. The first slot extends through the pair of side surfaces of the mating portion along the first direction. The insulative housing includes a first mounting surface opposite to the first mating surface and defines a first through hole extending therethrough which is exposed to the outside from the first mating surface.
US08177578B1	Wiring connector Provided is a wiring connector, including a insulating housing, a wiring contact and a rotary push member. The insulating housing disposes a limiting portion in a receiving cavity and forms and inserting hole on the limiting portion. The wiring contact is mounted in the receiving cavity and includes a clamping portion. The rotary push member is rotatably mounted on the insulating housing and forms a through hole. The rotary push member can be rotated to make the through hole face the inserting hole. One end of the cable can be inserted into the through hole and the inserting hole and be clamped in the clamping portion. The wiring connector can clamp the cable by the clamping portion and fix the cable to the insulating housing by rotating the rotary push member, so that saving the soldering process and enhancing a reliability of connection between the wiring contact and the cable.
US08177576B2	Connector with an inner mold integral with a printed circuit board with pinholes penetrating a body of the connector A connector comprises a connector body (40), a connector upper housing (10), a locking component (20) and a connecting assembly (30) provided within the connector body (40). The locking component (20) includes a locking knob (23) and a locking bolt (21). Holes are provided on the middle of the connecting assembly (30) and the connector body (40) respectively to match with the locking bolt (21). The diameter of the locking knob (23) of the locking component (20) is larger than the width of the connector body (40). The connector upper housing (10) is fixed on the connector body (40) and restricts the locking knob (23) between the connector body (40) and the connector upper housing (10).
US08177571B2	Connector A connector has a housing, an insertion slot into which a connection target is inserted, an actuator and a contact. The actuator has a pusher. The actuator is held on the housing so as to be turnable between an open position and a close position. The actuator allows the connection target to be inserted into the insertion slot when the actuator is positioned at the open position. The pusher pushes the inserted connection target when the actuator is positioned at the close position. The contact is held by the housing. The contact includes a spring section and a supported section supported by the spring section. The supported section includes a press section and a contacting section. The press section presses the pusher against the inserted connection target and receives, from the pusher, a reaction force directed away from the connection target when the actuator is located at the close position. The contacting section is brought into contact with the connection target when the press section is moved away from the connection target by the reaction force.
US08177570B2	Cable connector A cable connector includes a housing and a first contact provided in the housing. The first contact includes a first engaging and pivoting unit opposed to a back surface of the cable. The cable connector also includes a second contact which is provided in the housing and which includes a second engaging and pivoting unit opposed to the back surface of the cable. The second engaging and pivoting unit has a root which is thicker than that of the first engaging and pivoting unit. The cable connector also includes a cover. The cover includes a first through hole into which the first engaging and pivoting unit is inserted, a first cam unit engaged with the first engaging and pivoting unit, a second through hole into which the second engaging and pivoting unit is inserted, and a second cam unit engaged with the second engaging and pivoting unit.
US08177568B2	Electric plug having fuel return The invention relates to a plug module (24, 124) for being received in an attachment component (10), which must be contacted at least electrically, particularly a fuel injector for installation in the cylinder head region of an internal combustion engine. Said engine is supplied with fuel via a fuel injection system, which has a low-pressure region. The plug module is a combined plug module (24, 124), which has a first plug part (26) for electrical contacting and a replaceable return component (38, 138) for a fluid to be removed from the attachment component (10).
US08177566B2	Electrical connection apparatus for conductive contacts, in particular blade contacts A connector apparatus connects the flat electrical conductors of a photovoltaic panel with a plurality of insulated electrical output conductors, respectively. The terminal portions of the flat conductors are bent into electrical engagement with corresponding blade contacts mounted on the photovoltaic panel. A plurality of resilient first electrical contacts are clamped in electrical engagement with the flat conductor bent portions, respectively, and a plurality of second electrical contacts are connected with the output conductors, respectively. An electrical circuit including a plurality of diodes is connected between the first and second electrical contacts. In order to dissipate the heat generated by the diodes, the diodes are mounted on a heat conducting plate that transmits the heat toward the photovoltaic panel. A cover member formed of heat conducting material is adhesively secured to the panel to enclose the connector arrangement, thereby to also transfer the diode-generated heat to the panel.
US08177559B2	Plug element for connecting supply lines for vehicle parts A plug element (1) for connecting supply lines of an articulated train with at least one line element (3) including a fluid contact (4) located in the housing (2) of said train, that is able to be brought into functional engagement with a second plug element (5). The plug element (1) remains in an operationally safe position without the pre-stressing force of a spring element (11a, 11b). The housing (2) of the plug element (1) can be moved laterally relative to a connection socket (6) that is fixed in space and the cross sectional area (AD1, AD2) for pressurization of the line element (3) is configured such that upon impingement with compressed air a force acts in the direction of insertion (8).
US08177551B2	Method and system for comprehensive evaluation of orthodontic treatment using unified workstation A method and workstation for evaluation of an orthodontic treatment plan for a patient. The workstation is based on a computing platform having a graphical user interface, a processor and a computer storage medium containing digitized records pertaining to a patient including image data (3D image data and/or 2D image data). The workstation further includes a set of software instructions providing graphical user interface tools by which the user can create a proposed treatment plan (proposed position of the teeth at the end of treatment) in three dimensions. The workstation also provides tools for evaluation of the proposed treatment plan.
US08177550B2	Vertical heat treatment apparatus and method for operating the same A vertical heat treatment apparatus includes: at least one loading and unloading part 3 and 4 for loading and unloading a carrying container 2 containing a plurality of process objects W into and from said vertical heat treatment apparatus; a first storage part 5 that stores a plurality of carrying containers loaded into said vertical heat treatment apparatus via the loading and unloading part; a heat treatment furnace 7 that accommodates a holder 6 holding a plurality of process objects at multiple levels to perform a predetermined heat treatment to the process objects; and a transfer 8 part that supports thereon a carrying container for transferring process objects between the holder and the carrying container, wherein an upper loading and unloading part 3 and a lower loading and unloading part 4 are provided as said at least one loading and unloading part, and a second storage part 20 that stores a carrying container is disposed between the upper and lower loading and unloading parts. Either one of the loading and unloading parts 3, 4 is utilized as a third storage part 30 that stores a carrying container 2. The carrying container storage capacity may be increased and the throughput may be improved.
US08177549B2	Method and apparatus for processing of materials A method and apparatus processing materials including medical waste, municipal waste, along with other wastes, and processing materials; the apparatus comprising an elongate pressure vessel of generally cylindrical configuration having an inlet end, and an end cap for the inlet.
US08177546B2	Furnace using plasma ignition system for hydrocarbon combustion An apparatus and method for the creation, placement and control of an area of electrical ionization within an internal combustion engine combustion chamber or a fuel burner for a furnace is disclosed. A furnace includes a fuel source, a fuel burner, a plasma nozzle and igniter assembly, and the associated housing and flue structures. The plasma nozzle and igniter assembly is arranged so that the fuel sprayed out from the nozzle into the combustion area passes through or in close proximity to the area of plasma ionization. A fuel burner equipped with this electrical ionization device has its fuel efficiency enhanced by the complete and immediate combustion of substantially all of the fuel that passes through the area of plasma ionization. Exhaust gas recirculation using this system is also disclosed.
US08177541B2	Gypsum board forming device with improved slurry spread Disclosed is a gypsum board forming device which provides improved slurry spread. The device includes a forming table with an arcuate or angled profile that promotes a uniform slurry spread. An arcuate or angled hinge plate can also be included to further promote the uniform distribution of slurry prior to an extrusion plate. As a result of the improved slurry spread, gypsum board with increased strength and durability can be created.
US08177539B2	Device for melt spinning multicomponent fibers A device for melt spinning multi-component fibers including at least two melt inlets for introducing separately guided melt components is presented. The device includes a feed plate having a plurality of feed channels for distributing the melt components, a distributor block associated with the feed plate, and a nozzle plate adjoining the distributor block and including a plurality of nozzle bores, wherein the distributor block has several thin distributor plates stacked on top of each other and each have a hole pattern with multiple distribution openings. The thin distributor plates are configured inside the distributor block such that a plurality of melt channels form, which connect the feed channels of the feed plate to the nozzle bores of the nozzle plate. In order to implement high flow volumes, multiple distributor plates having identical hole patterns of the distribution openings are stacked in a tightly sealing manner inside the distributor block.
US08177536B2	Rotary compressor having gate axially movable with respect to rotor A rotary compressor having a housing and a rotor positioned within an internal cavity of the housing. The rotor being configured to rotate about a rotor axis of rotation eccentric to a housing longitudinal axis. A gate is also provided that is slidably mounted therewith the rotor and movable axially about and between a first position, in which a distal end of the gate is positioned at a first distance from the peripheral surface of the rotor, and a second position, in which the distal end of the gate is positioned at a second distance from the peripheral surface of the rotor. The distal end of the gate being constrained to be spaced proximate from the inner wall surface of the housing as the rotor rotates about the rotor axis of rotation.
US08177535B2	Method for timing a polymer pump containing polymer A method for restoring the registry of opposed shafts that carry meshing pump teeth inside a polymer pump that contains polymer without removing polymer from within the pump, the method using an asymmetric pattern of apertures in the shaft ends and a template having a pattern of holes that matches the pattern of apertures, and dowels that closely fit the holes and apertures.
US08177534B2	Scroll-type fluid displacement apparatus with improved cooling system An axial air cooling system for scroll-type positive fluid displacement apparatus provides needed cooling. The system includes an axial fan and centrifugal pump and internal cooling air channels inside parts integrating main housing, base housing and motor housing with their corresponding shell parts by cooling fins. The cooling air channel also includes passages inside the orbiting scroll, shaft central hole and gaps inside stator slots and winding. Heat pipes are installed inside the fixed and orbiting scrolls to conduct heat from inside of the apparatus to the peripheral condenser portion of the heat pipes to be cooled by the cooling air.
US08177532B2	Expander and expander-compressor unit The expander-compressor unit 70 includes the closed casing 1, the expansion mechanism 4 disposed in the closed casing 1 so that a surrounding space thereof is filled with the oil, the compression mechanism 2 disposed in the closed casing 1 so as to be positioned higher than the oil level, the shaft 5 for coupling the compression mechanism and the expansion mechanism 4 to each other, and the oil flow suppressing member 50 disposed in the surrounding space of the expansion mechanism 4 so that the space 55a filled with the oil is formed between the expansion mechanism 4 and the oil flow suppressing member 50. Thereby the flow of the oil filling the inner reserving space 55a is suppressed, and thus, heat transfer from the high temperature oil to the low temperature expansion mechanism can be reduced.
US08177531B2	Fluid transport system with elastic tube and detaching cam arrangement A fluid transportation system includes an elastic tube, a tube frame to which the tube is attached such that the tube forms a circular arc, a first cam and a second cam disposed inside the tube, and fingers which radially extend from a rotation center in the space between the tube and the first and second cams. The first and second cams produce a first condition where the fingers are all released and a second condition where at least one of the fingers constantly closes the tube. The first and second cams sequentially press the fingers, and the fingers sequentially repeat closure and release of the tube so that fluid can continuously flow.
US08177529B2	Reciprocating compressor In a compressor, a motor includes a stator and a moving member that reciprocates. A frame supports the stator and a conductivity member flows at least a portion of magnetic flux flowing away from the stator back to the stator. Accordingly, the reciprocating compressor has enhanced energy efficiency.
US08177527B2	Fan driven by tip turbine At the time of an operation, high-pressure air 8 fed through an inlet 6 passes a stator vane 4 within a duct 15, so as to adjust its flow, and is supplied to a tip turbine rotor vane 3. The tip turbine rotor vane 3 is supplied with the high-pressure air 8 from the exhaust side 17 toward the intake side 16, so as to drive an upper fan 2 and a lower fan 14 to rotate in the same direction. This can shorten the distance H from a rotation surface 12 of the upper fan 2 to the end part of a fan casing 1 on the intake side 16, and thus reduce an area where a negative pressure occurs when receiving a crosswind 9, thereby lowering an external force 11 caused by the negative pressure.
US08177520B2	Controller for a motor and a method of controlling the motor A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a fluid-pumping application. The pumping apparatus includes a pump having an inlet to receive a fluid and an outlet to exhaust the fluid, and the motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump. The method includes the acts of controlling the motor to operate the pump and monitoring the operation of the pump. The monitoring act includes monitoring a power of the motor, and determining whether the monitored power indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump. The method further includes the act of controlling the motor to cease operation of the pump when the determination indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump and zero or more other conditions exist.
US08177519B2	Controller for a motor and a method of controlling the motor A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller includes a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of at least one of a modeled flow or a modeled pressure based on the first value. The microcontroller is configured to control the motor based on the second value.
US08177515B2	Wind turbine blade A sectional blade for a wind turbine comprising a first and a second blade section extending in opposite directions from a blade joint, and each blade section comprising a spar section forming a structural member of the blade. The blade sections are structurally connected by a spar bridge extending into the first and second blade sections to facilitate joining of the blade sections. The spar bridge comprises a stiffening member protruding from the spar bridge in a chord wise direction of the blade for increasing the edgewise stiffness of the blade, and wherein a part of the surface of the stiffening member is shaped to follow an inner surface contour of the blade. A method of manufacturing such a sectional blade is also disclosed.
US08177510B2	Method and system for braking in a wind turbine A braking system for a wind turbine is provided. The system includes one or more motors for driving a part of the wind turbine, a first group of brakes for braking the part of the wind turbine, and a second group of brakes for braking the part of the wind turbine. The first group of brakes is in a normally closed condition and the second group of brakes is in a normally open condition, so that a default brake torque can be selectively chosen that is less than a maximum brake torque.
US08177508B2	Helicopter provided with a plurality of lift elements for controlling the angles of incidence of its blades A helicopter is fitted with a main rotor (1) having at least two blades (10, 20), each blade (10, 20) being provided with attachment elements (11, 21) for attaching it to a hub (2) of the rotor (1). The rotor is also fitted with one lift element (12, 22) per blade (10, 20), each lift element (12, 22) being mechanically linked to a single blade (10, 20) to vary the pitch of the single blade (10, 20) with which the lift element (12, 22) is linked.
US08177506B2	Microcircuit cooling with an aspect ratio of unity A turbine engine component having improved cooling is provided. The turbine engine component includes an airfoil portion having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, a suction side, a root, and a tip, and at least one cooling circuit in a wall of the airfoil portion. The at least one cooling circuit has at least one passageway extending between the root and the tip. The at least one passageway has an aspect ratio of no greater than 2:1, and preferably substantially unity.
US08177505B2	Method for measuring a rotational position of a rotor blade of a wind turbine and measuring device The present disclosure is related to a method and a measuring device adapted for determining a rotational position of at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine. The method includes a step of measuring a gravity induced blade moment of the at least one rotor blade. Then, an actual rotational position of the rotor blade is determined from the measured gravity induced blade moment.
US08177504B2	Fan module A fan module including a fan frame, at least one fan unit, and a plurality of resilient pins is provided. The fan frame is provided with an accommodation space therein and is disposed with a plurality of mounting slots thereon. The fan unit is disposed in the accommodation space and has a base, in which the base has a plurality of mounting holes corresponding to the mounting slots. Each resilient pin has an insert end and a catch end. The insert end is penetrated through the corresponding mounting hole and the catch end is caught in the corresponding mounting slot, such that the fan unit is mounted to the fan frame by the resilient pins. Since the resilient pins are used to replace conventional screws in the present invention, the fan module is enabled to have a better damping effect, thereby meeting requirements for low-noise operation.
US08177501B2	Stator casing having improved running clearances under thermal load A turbine power generation system, comprising a stator including a shroud and a rotor rotatably situated within the shroud, wherein the shroud is structured such that the inner diameter of the inner surface of the shroud reduces when the inner surface is exposed to a thermal load. The reduction of the inner diameter allows a minimum blade-casing clearance to be achieved during steady-state operation instead of during transient operations. Blade-casing clearance is configured to be greatest at when the engine is in a cold, stationary position. The clearance is further configured to decrease as thermal load increases until a steady-state, thermal equilibrium is achieved. The clearance grows during shutdown as the stator and rotor begin to cool.
US08177500B2	Intake device and a pump station In a first aspect the invention relates to an intake device (3) for creating a uniform flow of liquid entering a pump (4), which flow of liquid is free from rotation and swirls about the inlet of said pump. The inlet device (3) comprises an inlet section (11) having an orifice (14) and a decreasing cross section area seen in the direction from said orifice (14) for gradually accelerating a flow of pumped liquid, a redirection section (12) for redirecting the flow of pumped liquid from a mainly horizontal direction to a mainly vertical direction, and an outlet section (13) arranged to be connected to an inlet (6) of a pump (4). The device is characterized in that at least a part of a circumferential wall edge of said inlet section (11) extending around said orifice (14) comprises a bevel (17). In a second aspect the invention also relates to a pump station comprising such an intake device.
US08177497B2	Joint between a metal part and a ceramic part based SiC and/or C An assembly between a metal piece and a ceramic material piece made of SiC and/or C based ceramic material. The assembly includes a stack structure including the following elements assembled together in pairs in this order, by brazing: the metal piece; a first intermediate piece; a second intermediate piece; and the ceramic material piece. The second intermediate piece is made of another ceramic material, that is chemically less reactive relative to metals than are SiC or C, and that presents a coefficient of expansion smaller than that of the material constituting the metal piece. The first intermediate piece is made of metal and can deform to compensate for expansion difference between the metal piece and the second intermediate piece. The assembly can be used in a turbomachine.
US08177496B2	Tone noise reduction in turbomachines A blade for a turbomachine extends in use, in a radial direction relative to the axis of the turbomachine. The turbomachine has at least one operating condition which generates supersonic fluid flow at the blade. The blade is adapted to provide, at the supersonic operating condition, a leading edge sweep angle which varies such that successive radial positions (i) to (iii) along the leading edge are at respective sweep angle turning points. Position (i) is the radially inner and position (iii) the radially outer of the positions. Position (i) is at or radially outward of the 30% span position, where 0% span is the radially innermost point of the leading edge and 100% span is the radially outermost point of the leading edge.
US08177495B2	Method and apparatus for turbine interstage seal ring A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine including a seal member and an interstage seal ring including an axially forward member coupled to a first radially inward surface of a first disk and an axially aft member coupled to a second radially inward surface of a second disk, wherein the seal ring is configured to move in an axial direction while the upstream and downstream arms are coupled to the first and second disk respectively.
US08177493B2	Airtight external shroud for a turbomachine turbine wheel External shroud for a turbomachine turbine wheel, this shroud being formed of ring sectors (120) positioned circumferentially end to end, and each comprising a circumferentially directed plate (136) bearing a block (138) of abradable material, the plate and the block of each ring sector being offset one with respect to the other in the circumferential direction so that a circumferential end part of the plate of each ring sector overlaps a corresponding end part of the block of an adjacent ring sector.
US08177492B2	Passage obstruction for improved inlet coolant filling A cooled gas turbine engine component includes a cooling passage, one or more cooling inlet apertures in flow communication with a coolant supply and a first end of the cooling passage, and a coolant flow obstruction inside the cooling passage between the one or more cooling inlet apertures and a second end of the cooling passage and configured to direct a portion of coolant from the one or more cooling inlet apertures toward the first end of the cooling passage.
US08177490B2	Control device of variable pitch vanes in a turbomachine A control device of variable pitch vanes in a turbomachine is disclosed. The control device includes a ring surrounding a casing of the turbomachine and connected by links to the variable pitch vanes, and a jack connected to the ring in order to displace it in rotation around the casing. The jack is mounted pivoting on the casing and its piston rod is connected to the ring by a connecting rod. The piston and connecting rods are articulated on an axis which is connected to the casing by a guiding device maintaining it at a substantially constant distance from the casing.
US08177485B2	Cross flow fan structure A cross flow fan structure comprising: a) a housing integrally formed by plastic material in an injection molding process; b) a cross flow fan integrally formed by plastic material in an injection molding process, the right side of the cross flow fan having a mounting hole in axial direction and a damping/positioning body; c) a motor with an end portion attached to a mounting base whereupon the motor is attached to the housing by use of the mounting base in such a way that the driving shaft of the motor is extended into the mounting hole of the damping/positioning body in a tightly clamping state for driving the cross flow fan in rotational operation. In this way, a cross flow fan module made by material is created. Moreover, a convenient assemble and a vibration resisting effect are achieved for a smooth operation with low noise by use of a skillful combination of the material and by a special structure.
US08177483B2	Active casing alignment control system and method A gas turbine with an active clearance control system includes a plurality of actuators circumferentially spaced between an inner shroud and an outer casing. The actuators are configured to eccentrically displace the shroud relative to the outer casing. A plurality of sensors circumferentially spaced around the shroud detect a parameter that is indicative of an eccentricity between the rotor and shroud as the rotor rotates within the shroud. A control system in communication with the sensors and actuators is configured to control the actuators to eccentrically displace the shroud to compensate for eccentricities detected between the rotor and shroud.
US08177480B2	Modular system for generating electricity from moving fluid The invention provides a system for producing electricity from the channel, river, ocean or tidal water currents and wind. Each system module contains a vertical axis fluid driven turbine positioned in a protecting housing. The turbine employs a plurality of rotating paddles with mutually perpendicularly oriented asymmetric blades that are non-rotatably fixed by their leading edges to the poles at both ends. The high efficiency of the turbine comes from creating maximum drug force by vertically oriented blades on the power generating side and practically zero frictional force produced by blades on the resting side of the turbine.
US08177478B2	Darrieus water wheel turbine A reaction turbine system for the generation of hydroelectricity is disclosed. It consists of a Darrieus type turbine with a horizontal axis of rotation. The blades may be straight or helical, and are held equidistant from the central rotating shaft by blade support members. The blades are oriented so that a blade at its rotational apex moves directly opposite to the direction of water flow. The turbine is elevated such that the top portion, where blades travel directly against the direction of water flow, is in the air and above the water level. This design greatly reduces stresses on the system and increases energy output relative to a Darrieus turbine fully immersed in water flow. This design also enables the turbine to self-start.
US08177476B2	Method and apparatus for clearance control A system, in certain embodiments, includes a magnetic actuator configured to adjust a radial clearance between a housing and rotary blades via translational movement along a rotational axis. The system includes a controller configured to engage the magnetic actuator to adjust the radial clearance in response to feedback.
US08177473B2	Sheet feeder The invention concerns an apparatus for transferring sheet-like objects from a stack, said apparatus including separate lifting elements gripping by suction to the upper surface of the sheet-like object to be transferred, positioned in a row extending over the stack of the sheet-like objects, and transfer elements for transferring the lifted sheet-like object. The suction effect of the lifting elements is controlled by means of a control device including a light source making a substantially line-shaped illumination pattern. The illumination of the light source is focused at an inclined angle to the surface of the sheet stack, substantially parallel to the lifting element row. A camera means for observing the illumination pattern forwards information about the uniformity of the uppermost layer of the stack.
US08177469B2	Magnetic disk handling apparatus An apparatus and method for handling disks as part of a magnetic disk manufacturing process is provided. In one embodiment, during a drying process the disks are engaged at the inner diameter rather than the outer diameter to eliminate the formation of residue on the surface of the disks at or proximate data zones. The disks may be engaged individually or in pairs.
US08177468B2	Locking threaded connection A locking threaded connection (a) providing free relative rotation in a first direction, (b) preventing unintended relative rotation in a second opposite direction, and (c) enabling intended relative rotation in the second direction. The connection includes male and female threaded portions and a helical spring therebetween. The spring is sized and configured to interfit with the male and female threads. The spring enables relative rotation in the first direction, but prevents relative rotation in the second direction. If removability is desired, the spring is provided with an accessible tang, enabling the locking force of the spring to be released.
US08177466B2	Apparatus and methods for fastening a panel or other components Fasteners such as clip nut fasteners can include a clip having a nut cage and a nut supported by the nut cage. The nut cage can have a wall supporting a portion of the nut wherein the wall can flex toward and away from the nut. The nut can have projections or other discontinuities for engaging bearing surfaces in the nut cage, for limiting rotation of the nut when under torque.
US08177465B2	Accident sensor An accident sensor having a fastening arrangement is provided, the fastening arrangement allowing an affixation of the accident sensor on a wall in a vehicle. The accident sensor has at least one bore hole, which has a stud in an elastic sleeve as a fastening arrangement. The stud with the sleeve is configured so that the accident sensor having the stud with the sleeve is affixed in the wall by a clamp.
US08177464B2	Connector component with temperature-resistant sensor element The invention relates to a connector component (1) with integrated ultrasonic sensor (5). The ultrasonic sensor (5) is used to determine the prestressing force or the stressing force of the connector component (1), wherein the ultrasonic sensor (5) has a layer construction (20) having an electrode layer (21), at least one mechanical protection layer (22) and at least one layer (23) composed of a material having piezoelectric properties. The at least one electrode layer (21), the at least one mechanical protection layer (22) and the at least one layer (23) composed of a material having piezoelectric properties are arranged in a manner applied by sputtering at a freely accessible end (25, 27) of the connector component (1).
US08177460B2	Cutting insert A cutting insert has a trigonal shape. The cutting insert has a peripheral surface that extends between two opposing identical end surfaces. A median plane (M) bisects the cutting insert between the end surfaces. A through bore extends between the end surfaces. A cutting edge, formed at the intersection of each end surface with the peripheral surface, is divided into three identical cutting sections. Each cutting section is located between two vertexes of the trigonal shape. Each cutting section has a convex primary cutting edge and a concave secondary cutting edge that merge together. An insert tangential abutment surface is located between the cutting edge and the through bore. A primary relief surface forms an insert internal obtuse angle with a first reference plane (P1). A secondary relief surface forms an insert internal acute angle with a second reference plane (P2).
US08177457B2	Pipeline protection and levee module system A levee and barrier module for fluid control and containment is provided including an outer module shell and a module-to-module connection system to attach adjacent outer shells. The outer module shell is formed by opposing side walls and two opposing end walls and is configured to enclose or support filler material. The outer module shell defines a top aperture and a bottom aperture. The bottom aperture allows filler material communication with the earth below the module. The top aperture allows filler material to be added to the module, as well as visual observation of, and maintenance of, the amount of contained filler material. A presented application is directed to protecting pipelines and to allowing pipeline integration or association with levees.
US08177455B2	Quick connect lobed fastener system A connector for a bracket including a male adapter and a female adapter is provided. The male adapter includes a first base structure and a neck structure protruding out of the base structure and is disposed on a surface to be clamped. The neck structure includes multiple first lobes extending radially outward from the neck structure. The first lobes include a first mating surface contour on a bottom surface. The female adapter includes a second base structure. The second base structure includes multiple second lobes made of a flexible material. The second base structure also includes a second mating surface contour on a top surface and is configured to fit into said first mating surface contour thereby deforming said multiple second lobes to induce a clamping force between a shoulder of said female adapter and a surface of a bracket.
US08177454B2	Hydraulic coupler A quick coupler for attaching implements, such as buckets or other tools, to heavy equipment, such as backhoes and excavators, which includes two recesses or channels for receiving a pair of machine pins of an implement. A hydraulic piston actuates a first locking lever to enclose one of the pair of machine pins in one recess and a second locking lever to enclose the other one of the pair of machine pins in the other recess.
US08177450B2	Structure for make-up pen with function of vibration massage An improved structure for a make-up pen with a function of vibration massage comprises an accommodating tube body, a discharging set, a cover, a shelter, a battery cover, an elastic element, a battery, a vibration motor, a tumbler switch, and a switch piece. The accommodating tube body comprises an outlet end, which has a discharging hole. The discharging set is disposed at the outlet end of the accommodating tube body; the cover is female-connected to the outlet end of the accommodating tube body one end of the switch piece is disposed at the tumbler switch and the other end is electrically connected to the battery, the switch piece is electrically connected to the vibration motor through the tumbler switch in order to turn on/off the vibration motor for massage and discharging make-up liquid.
US08177447B2	Slide type writing tools having device for prevent dryness Disclosed herein is a slide type writing tool having a dryness prevention unit. The writing tool includes a hollow shaft (10) having a nib hole, with shutter shaft seats protruding from the inner wall of the shaft. A cartridge (20) is secured to the shaft. A knock part is inserted into an insert hole formed in the shaft, and a pair of pressing parts is provided on a nib extension shaft of the cartridge. A rear O-ring (30) surrounds an end of the cartridge. A spherical shutter (40) is held in the rear O-ring (30), and has a spherical shutter part to isolate a nib from the exterior. A front O-ring (50) contacts the shutter part and the nib hole. A spring contacts at a first end thereof a lower end of a step of the cartridge, and at a second end thereof a step of the rear O-ring.
US08177443B2	Handheld pattern creating device and method of use of same A handheld pattern creating device and method of use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a rotational member is rotatably positioned within a housing under the power of a first drive mechanism to angularly traverse an x-y plane. A rail track is disposed on the surface of the rotational member in order to provide a radial path for a carriage that houses a tool tip. A guide track disposed on a surface of the rotational member includes a curved portion that provides a non-linear path. A second drive mechanism drives the carriage transversely along the radial path of the rail track such that a flexible rack gear travels the non-linear path of the guide track.
US08177437B2	Rolling bearing, retainer segment and main shaft support structure of wind-power generator A rolling bearing (11) comprises a plurality of rollers, and retainer segments (15a) retaining the rollers and split along a split line extending in an axial direction. The retainer segment (15a) has a plurality of pillar parts (22a), (22b), (22c) and (22d) extending in the axial direction so as to form first pockets (23a) and (23c) and a second pocket (23b) for housing the rollers, and a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of pillar parts (22a) to (22d). Here, outer diameter side stopper parts (24a), (24b), (24c) and (24d) are provided on the outer diameter side of the pillar parts (22a) to (22d) positioned on the circumferential both sides of the first pockets (23a) and (23c) to limit the movement of the roller housed in the first pockets (23a) and (23c) toward the outer diameter side, and inner diameter side roller stopper parts (25a) and (25b) are provided on the inner diameter side of the pillar parts (22b) and (22c) positioned on the circumferential both sides of the second pocket (23b) to limit the movement of the roller housed in the second pocket (23b) toward the inner diameter side.
US08177435B2	Manufacturing method of a drawn cup needle roller bearing having seal ring A drawn cup needle roller bearing 30 having a seal ring comprises: a shell 31 having a raceway surface 31a on an inner circumferential face and also having inward flange portions 31b, 31c in both end portions; a cage 32 having a plurality of pockets 32a in a circumferential direction and worked by cutting; a plurality of needles 33 retained in the pockets 32a so that the needles freely rotate along the raceway surface 31a; and a seal ring 34, the shape of which is cylindrical, arranged inside the shell 31 between an end face 32b of the cage 32 and the inward flange portion 31b. The seal ring 34 composes a floating seal and is formed by press working. Due to the foregoing, an excellent dimensional accuracy can be provided and a quantity of lubricant passing through the bearing can be controlled.
US08177434B2	Fluid dynamic bearing device A fluid dynamic bearing device includes a housing injection molded with a bearing sleeve as an insert. Accordingly, the molding of the housing and the assembly of the housing and the bearing sleeve can be performed in a single step. In addition to this, by simply increasing the die precisions the housing and the bearing sleeve can be fixed easily with high precision. Since the housing is opened at both ends, it is possible to sandwich the bearing sleeve, and accordingly, the bearing sleeve can be accurately positioned inside the dies with reliability.
US08177432B2	Linear roller bearing with separate rolling surface parts A guide carriage for a linear roller bearing is supportable in a longitudinally displaceable manner via at least one row of rollers on a guide rail which extends in a longitudinal direction, a separate rolling surface part which includes a rolling surface for the rollers is assigned to each row of rollers, and the rolling surface part is connected via an adhesive layer to a carrier body. The adhesive layer is designed essentially planar on the back side of the rolling surface part which faces away from the rolling surface, the rolling surface part being accommodated in a recess—which has an L-shaped cross section—of the carrier body.
US08177431B2	Flexible container A flexible container comprises a mesh material layer and a thermoplastic layer that forms a wall of the flexible container and is disposed external to the mesh material layer. A flexible handle is disposed external to the mesh material layer. The mesh material layer, the thermoplastic layer, and the flexible handle are joined by a set of stitching disposed therethrough.
US08177427B2	Temperature sensor and method of producing the same A temperature sensor is provided. The temperature sensor includes: a temperature sensitive element having a temperature sensitive body and an element electrode wire; a sheath member having an external cylinder, the sheath member encompassing a sheath core wire to be bonded to the element electrode wire in the external cylinder; an enclosing member having a bottom-closed cylindrical shape extending in an axial direction, at least the temperature sensitive element and a bond portion of the element electrode wire and the sheath core wire being accommodated in an internal space of the bottom-closed cylindrical shape, and a holding member that is filled in the internal space, wherein an air gap is provided at least between an outer surface of the temperature sensitive body and the holding member so as to permit displacement of the temperature sensitive body in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the enclosing member.
US08177424B2	Fiber optic sensor for use on sub-sea pipelines A fiber optic sensor assembly for use on a sub-sea pipeline. The fiber optic sensor assembly is coupled to remotely located equipment by fiber optic cable(s) which extend outside of the pipeline. The fiber optic sensor assembly is affixed to a mounting point on the pipeline. The mounting point is a pipe section having an internal conduit and at least one layer that surrounds the internal conduit for protection and insulation of the internal conduit. A segment of the pipe section has a portion of such layer(s) removed or omitted to define an annular recess. When installed, the assembly has two semi-cylindrical halves that are positioned with the annular recess and coupled together to thereby surround and embrace the segment of the pipe section. The assembly houses a length of optical fiber that is coupled to at least one externally accessible fiber optic connector.
US08177423B1	Thermal history sensor utilizing electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability The present invention provides a thermal history sensor having a plurality of substrates positioned adjacent to an item. The substrates include different compositions, such that the substrates respond to thermal exposures with different changes in electrical conductivity or magnetic permeability. By measuring the electrical or magnetic properties of the substrates following thermal exposure, information about the thermal history may be obtained.
US08177422B2	Transition temperature microscopy A system and method for automatic analysis of temperature transition data over an area of a sample surface. The system relies on the use of a microfabricated probe, which can be rapidly heated and cooled and has a sharp tip to provide high spatial resolution. The system also has fast x-y-z positioners, data collection, and algorithms that allow automatic analysis of and visualization of temperature transition data.
US08177421B2	Infrared target temperature correction system and method Infrared IR thermometer calibration systems and methods are disclosed in which the temperature of an IR thermometer calibration system is controlled such that radiation emitted by a target at a given input temperature is equal to the radiation emitted by a graybody heated to the input temperature and having an emissivity equal to an emissivity setting of an IR thermometer to be calibrated using the IR thermometer calibration system.
US08177420B2	Apparatus and methods for temperature calibration and sensing Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having a first switch, a second switch, and a circuit coupled to the first and second switches. The first switch may be configured to switch between an on-state and an off-state based on a value of a first current flowing through a number of resistors and a diode coupled in series with the resistors. The second switch may be configured to switch between the on-state and the off-state based on a value of a second current on a circuit path. The second current is a function of a voltage at a node between two of the resistors and a resistance of the circuit path. The circuit may be configured to provide a temperature reading based on the number of times the first switch or the second switch switches between the on-state and the off-state during a time interval.
US08177416B2	Dental device The invention relates to a dental device, in particular a dental mixing device, with a housing, and with a frame that supports at least one motor and a mixing arm and is mounted on at least two bearings, preferably at least three bearings, in particular four bearings, inside a housing, each of these bearings being clamped between upper and lower elastic, pretensioned damping elements (32, 34). The damping elements are supported respectively on a first, upwardly directed abutment surface (58) and on a second, downwardly directed abutment surface (50) of the housing, in particular on a stand foot (52).
US08177415B1	System for agitating pouched products A system and method for agitating pouched products traveling along a conveyor belt to facilitate heat transfer, blending, mixing and/or stirring of the contents thereof. An agitation station is located along the conveyor belt, and includes an agitator secured to one end of an arm, the arm being pivotally secured to the frame supporting the conveyor belt.
US08177412B2	Kneading apparatus and method for kneading rubber-based composition using the same A kneading apparatus includes a barrel having a cylindrical chamber; a screw assembly rotating in the chamber so that a material to be kneaded is extruded in the axial direction by the rotation, the screw assembly including a screw section having helical blades and a kneading blade section in order to allow the material to flow into the clearance between the inner wall of the chamber and the kneading blade section, and to apply shearing forces to the material; a metering feeder for feeding the material at a substantially constant volumetric or gravimetric rate into the chamber; an injecting device for injecting a heat-removing medium into the chamber; and a discharging device for separating the heat-removing medium from the material and discharging the heat-removing medium from the chamber. A kneading method using the kneading apparatus is also disclosed.
US08177410B2	Lamp base and lamp The invention relates to a lamp base comprising a plastic base part (320) that is provided with electric connections (61, 62, 63) for supplying power to at least one luminous means (21, 22) of the lamp that is surrounded by the lamp vessel (10). The electric connections (61, 62, 63) comprise contact sections (610, 620, 630) for connecting to power supply lines (51, 52, 53) of the at least one luminous means (21, 22), that protrude from the lamp vessel (10), and the lamp base is equipped with a sealing element (330) for covering the contact sections (610, 620, 630), said sealing element being fixed to the plastic base part (320) by a detent connection (3213, 3223, 3311, 3312, 3321, 3322). Said detent connection is preferably concealed. Said lamp base can be used, for example, in a motor vehicle headlight.
US08177406B2	Display including waveguide, micro-prisms and micro-mirrors A display including a light source for generating light, an optical waveguide for receiving and evenly distributing light in a light propagation direction by total internal reflections and a matrix of electromechanical picture elements for modulating light to produce an image.
US08177404B2	Edge-lit back plate for a product rack An edge-lit back plate has two mounting frames coupled to opposite longitudinal side surfaces of a back plate including a laminate body with a reflector, a light guide and a diffuser. At least one light source assembly is located within a recess of each mounting frame and positioned adjacent to one of the longitudinal side surfaces of the laminate body. The edge-lit back plate is configured to be installed on a rack to illuminate products on such rack.
US08177401B2	Light guide turn signal indicator rear view mirror The invention is related to an exterior rear view mirror assembly with a mirror base and a mirror head comprising at least one of the following features as mirror glass, mirror glass actuator, power fold actuator, lighting elements, indicators and at least one opening for a turn signal indicator light module. The assembly comprises a housing covered by a lens, at least one light guide with a first LED feeding light into the cross sectional area of the light guide, and at least a second LED placed apart the light guide, wherein a decorative, none reflective garnish is fixed between none reflective housing and transparent lens.
US08177400B2	Outer mirror with turn lamp There is provided an outer mirror with turn lamp that facilitates assembling of a housing cover to a mirror housing and increases strength of the housing cover. A turn lamp assembly is mounted to a mirror housing. A housing cover is placed over and mounted to a partial area of the mirror housing. Thus, a lens of the turn lamp assembly is exposed through an opening formed in an outer position of the housing cover. The mirror housing and the housing cover are connected to each other with a ridge and a groove in end surfaces and abutting against and fitting each other. On a wall on an inner side of the mirror that constitutes a part of the component of the groove in the housing cover, at an assembling start position in an outer position outside the opening, an assembling leading rib is formed that protrudes in a direction abutting against the end surface of the mirror housing.
US08177397B1	LED heat management system A heat management system has a first heatsink coupled to a support surface. At least one heat pipe has a heat absorbing end in thermal connectivity with the first heatsink and a heat releasing end in thermal connectivity with a second heatsink.
US08177396B2	Method and apparatus to improve efficiency of lighting A method and apparatus to increase efficiency of wide area lighting fixtures having a lamp mounting opening in a reflector or reflector frame, which results in gap(s) or spaces that do not control incident light to the intended target. The gap(s) or spaces(s) are covered with reflecting surfaces which do control incident light to increase efficiency of the fixture.
US08177393B2	Mechanical bypass light unit A light unit includes a bulb having a light source with lead wires and a separator, a switch member that includes a support member and a pair of spring terminals, and a socket having two or more conductive terminals and adapted to receive the bulb and the switch member. The switch member is adapted to cause the pair of spring terminals to contact one another to form an electrical short circuit across the pair of conductive terminals and the light source when the bulb is completely or partially removed from the socket. The lead wires form an electrical connection across the conductive terminals and the separator breaks contact between the pair of spring terminals when the bulb is seated in the socket.
US08177387B2	Toolbox structure of construction machine An illumination device is installed in a box body of a toolbox of a construction machine, and is protected by a protective cover. Water that flows into the box body through a weep hole formed in a lid is received by the protective cover and is guided to a water drain hole formed in a bottom plate of the box body. Then, the water is drained to the outside of the box body.
US08177385B2	T-bar for suspended ceiling with heat dissipation system for LED lighting The T-bar includes an elongate rigid spine extending between terminal ends including either a fixed anchor or adjustable anchor for attachment to adjacent T-bars or other supports. An upper heat sink is provided on an upper portion of the spine to enhance heat transfer from the T-bar to air surrounding upper portions of the T-bar. A light housing is provided on a lower portion of the T-bar which is configured to support a lighting module therein, such as a light emitting diode (LED) light. A lower heat sink is provided above this light housing and integrated into a rest shelf which supports ceiling tiles adjacent the T-bar. A power supply is provided which can be removably attached to the T-bar and provide appropriately conditioned power for the lighting module.
US08177384B2	Helmet mounted lighting apparatus and method of manufacture Helmet mounted lighting apparatus and method of manufacture. May utilize LED light source and battery power unit designed for mounting for example on a fire fighting helmet. May couple with helmet or to an ornamental leather shield typically mounted on the front of a fire fighting helmet. Enables enhanced visual field at night for benefit of the user. Apparatus is made of material suitable for the harsh conditions encountered by fire suppression and emergency personnel and is mounted in such a fashion as to not conflict with the typical physical features of the helmet or shield. The apparatus includes at least one lamp provided at a front side of the casing, a switch part provided remote to or in one side of the casing, a battery or series of batteries provided remotely or in the interior of the casing and optional time-out, power level adjustment, voltage and/or current control circuitry. May be secured using any method.
US08177383B2	High intensity narrow spectrum light emitting shoe for photodynamic inactivation of floor borne staphylococcus A shoe which emits a high intensity narrow spectrum light out the bottom of the sole and sanitizes the floor directly underneath from staph bacteria.
US08177382B2	Apparatus and methods for multiplanar optical diffusers and display panels for using the same Provided are solid state lighting devices that include multiple solid state light emitters that are configured to emit light and a multiplane light diffuser including a first diffusion plane and a second diffusion plane that are separated by a gap, the multiplane light diffuser including first side that is configured to receive the light emitted from the solid state light emitters and a second side that is configured to transmit diffused light.
US08177381B2	Diffusion bar with spacer collar ring The present invention provides an integrated backlight illumination assembly for an LCD display comprising, a plurality of solid state light sources for providing a point light source and a plurality of light guide films having light redirecting areas provided between the plurality of solid state light sources for redirecting and spreading the point light sources to a uniform plane of light. The invention further provides at least one polymer diffusion bar covering said solid state light sources and spacer collar rings comprising an optical spacer, collar section and an anchoring feature, wherein the spacer collar rings are located around a perimeter of the diffusion bar.
US08177380B2	Light emitting device and lighting device having the same A light-emitting device (10) includes: a light-emitting element (1); and a light flux controlling member (2) for controlling light emitted from the light-emitting element (1), the light flux controlling member (2) has (i) a light-incoming surface (2a) which the light emitted from the light-emitting element (1) enters and (ii) a light-outgoing surface (2b), and the following equation (1) is satisfied where r is a length, from a light axis Z of the light-emitting device (10), of a plane that is provided at a certain distance from the light flux controlling member (2) in a direction parallel to the light axis Z so as to be perpendicular to the light axis Z, φ1 is an angle between the light emitted from the light-emitting element (1) and the light axis, P(φ1) is a light distribution property of the light-emitting element (1). This provides a light-emitting device that scatters light without generating uneven brightness on a liquid crystal display panel, reduces a reflectance caused by the Fresnel's reflection, and has an improved scattering ability.
US08177374B2	Retroreflective sheet structure A retroreflective sheet structure (10) comprising a transparent layer (20) having a front light-receiving surface (30) and a rear retroreflecting surface (32). Light incident on the front surface (30) will pass through the layer (20), impinge on the rear retroreflective surface (32) and reflect back out through the front surface (30) in a predetermined direction. An identifying indicia (44) is chosen and then formed on the retroreflecting surface (32). This indicia (44) can be used for identification purposes, even years after an end product incorporating the reflective sheet structure (10) has been out in the field.
US08177373B2	Projector, projected image adjustment method, and program for projecting an image while correcting the shape of the image to project an image at a desired aspect ratio A projector includes a projection section which projects a calibration image onto a projection target through a projection panel, a shape determination section which determines a shape of the projection target, a correction target area setting section which sets a correction target area, an aspect ratio calculation section which calculates an aspect ratio of the correction target area, a determination section which determines whether or not a value which indicates a difference between the aspect ratio of the correction target area and a reference aspect ratio satisfies a set condition, and an image generation section which generates an image having the shape of the correction target area on the projection panel when the set condition is satisfied, and generates an image having the reference aspect ratio on the projection panel when the set condition is not satisfied.
US08177370B2	Method to display images with metameric jamming to prevent illegal copy Method to display an image using four or more primaries having different spectral distributions that are distributed into three groups of primaries, wherein, in a visual color space, all primaries belonging to the same group have the same visual color and are metamehc. Each image being got from a combination of three primary images and each primary image being associated with each visual color of a group, the different primaries of each group are spatially or sequentially distributed over the primary image associated with this group, then allowing an efficient anti-copy protection based on metamerization of images, without any supplemental video processing.
US08177369B2	Reflective liquid crystal projector and image reproduction apparatus Laser light beams are diffused and shaped by diffractive optical devices such that they are introduced to corresponding pixels of a liquid crystal layer over an entire area of a display region of a reflective liquid crystal panel. The diffused and shaped laser light beams are introduced to the reflective liquid crystal panel through a field lens and a polarizing beam splitter. Red, green and blue pixels are formed on the reflective liquid crystal panel, and a microlens array is formed on an incoming and outgoing side substrate while reflecting layers corresponding to the pixels are formed on a reflection side substrate. The laser light fluxes of the colors are distributed and condensed by the microlenses and introduced to the corresponding pixels and then reflected by the corresponding reflecting layers. Refractive optical devices may be used in place of the diffractive optical devices.
US08177367B2	2D/3D switchable color display apparatus with narrow band emitters A 2D/3D switchable display system having a selector for selecting a two-dimensional (2D) or a three-dimensional (3D) image processing path; a first processor for processing image data through the two-dimensional image processing path; a second processor, independent of the first processor, for processing image data through the three dimensional image processing path; a first set of at least three emitters having corresponding first wavelengths; a second set of at least three emitters having corresponding second wavelengths; and a controller that during a 2D operation activates both first and second sets of emitters to present a single image, while during a 3D operation activates the first set of emitters to present a first image having one half of stereo image information and activates the second set of emitters to present a second image having a second half of stereo image information.
US08177366B2	Stereoscopic image projecting system using circularly polarized filter module A stereoscopic image projection system using a circular polarization filter module is provided. Even though this system uses a single projector, it allows left and right images to have different polarization directions using the circular polarization filter module, thereby reducing crosstalk compared to an LCD-shutter-based system.
US08177365B2	Ophthalmologic device for breaking down eye tissue An opthalmological apparatus (1) comprises a base station (11) having a light source (51) for generating light pulses, and an application head (3) which can be mounted on an eye (2) having a light projector (58) for the focussed projection of the light pulses for punctiform breakdown of eye tissue (22). The application head (3) additionally has movement drivers (57) for moving the light projector (58) in a feed direction and in a first scanning direction. A scanner (52) is arranged in the base station (11) in order to deflect the light pulses in a second scanning direction. In addition, the opthalmological apparatus (1) comprises an optical transmission system for transmitting deflected light pulses from the base station (11) to the application head (3), and for superimposing the light pulses deflected in the second scanning direction onto the movement of the light projector (58) in the first scanning direction. It is possible to use light sources with high light pulse rates, for example femtosecond lasers, without the need for impractical enlargement of the overall size of the application head (3) owing to the scanner. In addition, it is possible while safeguarding a manageable overall size of the application head (3) to make use of light sources with high light pulse rates, something which increases the accuracy of treatment and reduces the burden on the eye (2).
US08177357B2	Method and device for adjusting luminance of light transmitted through glasses An adjustment device adapted to glasses each including two polarization filters having adjustable transmission axes varying an angle therebetween in a front view is constituted of a physical parameter receiving unit for receiving at least one physical parameter which is produced by measuring the user's body, an angle calculation unit for calculating a target angle to be formed between the transmission axes of the polarization filters based on the received physical parameter, and a polarization filter adjustment unit for rotating at least one of the polarization filters, thus making the present angle formed between the transmission axes of the polarization filters agree with the target angle. Thus, it is possible to reduce a load or strain imparted to a user's eyes in light of the user's fatigued condition.
US08177355B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes: a recording head that executes recording by ejecting ink onto a recording surface of a recording material; a platen that supports a face opposite the recording surface of the recording material positioned on a recording execution region by the recording head; and a plurality of suction hole sections provided in the platen. The platen is configured so that both side edge sections in a width direction provided with the suction hole sections are retractable with respect to the recording head, and both side edge sections of the platen are advanced towards the recording head and are retracted after attaching by suction of a curling section of the right and left side edges of the recording material and then after retraction, recording is executed on the recording material by the recording head.
US08177348B2	Direct write and additive manufacturing processes A Direct Write method of forming components on a substrate by deposition of ink by thermally curing the ink in situ, which method overcomes the need for curing by placing the substrate in an oven. The curing is performed in an exemplary embodiment using an induction coil (6) through which an oscillating current is passed. The coil (6) is placed above the region in which Direct Write ink has been deposited. The oscillating current induces eddy currents in the ink to cause heating of the ink and thus fix the ink by curing, sintering etc.
US08177344B2	Image recording apparatus An ink feeding mechanism includes an ink reservoir 31, a subtank 32 for temporarily storing ink, a decompression channel 44 for decompressing the subtank 32 to a fixed pressure, an ink force-feed channel 41 interconnecting the ink reservoir 31 and subtank 32, a first switch valve 35 mounted on the ink force-feed channel 41, a communication channel 43 interconnecting the subtank 32 and an inkjet head 10, an ink circulating channel 42 interconnecting the communication channel 43 and ink reservoir 31, and a second switch valve 34 mounted on the ink circulating channel 42. A lid member 51 forming part of a chamber has a pressure regulating channel 45 connected thereto, which is connected also to a force-feed channel 46 with a pressure pump 37 mounted thereon, and an exhaust channel 47 with an exhaust pump 38 mounted thereon.
US08177343B2	Liquid tank with vent-to-atmosphere mechanism A liquid tank includes a vent-to-atmosphere mechanism configured to open and close a vent-to-atmosphere passageway for venting an internal reservoir space connected to a liquid spray head to atmosphere, the vent-to-atmosphere mechanism including a cylindrical member, a valve seat disposed inside the cylindrical member, a valve plug disposed inside cylindrical member and movable to come in contact with or separate from the valve seat, a movable member disposed inside the cylindrical member on an atmosphere side of the valve plug in a slidable manner to cause a movement of the valve plug, the movable member having an outer surface in movable contact with an inner surface of the cylindrical member and having a communication passageway formed therethrough for communication with atmosphere, and a filter member disposed at the communication passageway to capture foreign material.
US08177342B2	Liquid container and remanufacturing method of liquid container According to one aspect of the invention, a remanufacturing method of a liquid container forms an inlet in a downstream wall surface of a second chamber, which defines part of a bottom face of the liquid container. In the state of closing a liquid feeder and opening an air open structure, the remanufacturing method injects a liquid through the inlet to fill the second chamber with the liquid. In the state of opening the liquid feeder and closing the air open structure, the remanufacturing method injects the liquid through the inlet to fill a space from the second chamber to the liquid feeder with the liquid. The remanufacturing process seals the inlet after completion of the injection of the liquid. This arrangement enables the liquid to be efficiently refilled into the liquid container without damaging the functions of the liquid container.
US08177341B2	Liquid injecting method and liquid container A method of injecting a liquid into a liquid container detachably mounted on a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container including a liquid containing portion, a liquid supply portion connectable to a liquid ejecting portion of the liquid consuming apparatus, a liquid guide passage for guiding the liquid stored in the liquid containing portion to the liquid supply portion, an air communicating passage communicating the liquid containing chamber with air, a liquid detection unit provided in the liquid guide passage and for outputting different signals between in a case where the liquid guide passage is filled with the liquid and in a case where the liquid guide passage includes air entered thereinto, and a bubble trapping passage provided in the liquid guide passage between a detection position of the liquid detection unit and the liquid containing portion to trap bubbles in the liquid, the method includes: forming an injection port communicating with the liquid containing portion in the air communicating passage; injecting a predetermined amount of the liquid through the injection port; and sealing the injection port after injecting the liquid.
US08177332B2	Method and apparatus for fixing a radiation-curable gel-ink image onto a substrate An apparatus prints and/or fixes ink on a substrate, such as in ink-jet printing with UV-curable inks. A conformable member is positioned to contact an ink-bearing side of the substrate at a nip. The conformable member substantially comprises a silicone-based elastomer having a conformability from about 20 shore A to about 10 shore A. A radiation source directs radiation to the ink-bearing side of the substrate at the nip, the radiation suitable for curing the ink on the substrate. The apparatus is particularly useful for printing onto corrugated cardboard or otherwise non-planar surfaces, since the resulting ink image is impressed uniformly onto the substrate by the conformable member without voids in the ink layer in the recesses of the non-planar surface.
US08177329B2	Ink jet print head An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet print head having plural types of nozzles arranged on the same substrate and through which ink droplets of different sizes are ejected, the ink jet print head exhibiting acceptable ejection performance regardless of the type of the nozzle. Thus, according to the present invention, each of the plural types of nozzles includes a bubbling chamber having an ejection energy generating element allowing an ink droplet to be ejected to a position located opposite an ejection port and an ejection port portion allowing the ejection port and the bubbling chamber to communicate with each other. Ratio of opening area of the ejection port portion at a position where the ejection port portion and the bubbling chamber communicate with each other, to the opening area of the ejection port is higher for the nozzle with a smaller ejection amount.
US08177327B2	Ink jet recording apparatus An ink jet recording apparatus in which a head supporting plate having a line head mounted thereon which comprises a plurality of short heads staggered is attached to a carriage whereby recording is performed by ink jet printing with the line head on a recording medium positioned beneath the carriage is rendered capable of using ordinary short heads.To this end, in an ink jet recording apparatus in which a head supporting plate 12 having a line head mounted thereon which comprises a plurality of short heads 11 staggered is attached to a carriage 9 whereby recording is performed by ink jet printing with the line head on a recording medium 2 positioned beneath the carriage, a portion of projection 25 is provided which is formed on a surface of attachment where the head supporting plate is attached to the carriage, the portion of projection entering into a hole 26 formed in the carriage; and a portion of recess is provided which is formed on an obverse side of the head supporting plate and at a position corresponding to that of the portion of projection and whose inner bottom surface becomes a head mounting surface 27 on which a said short head having a nozzle is to be mounted, the head mounting surface being formed with a nozzle accepting hole adapted to accept the nozzle of the short head for mounting the short head on the head mounting surface.
US08177326B2	Image recording apparatus An image recording apparatus includes a carriage which carries a recording head and moves reciprocally in a main scanning direction; and a first support member and a second support member arranged on an upstream side and a downstream side, respectively, in a sub-scanning direction, the first support member and the second support member having a first slide surface and a second slide surface, respectively, for supporting the carriage slidably, the second support member having a third slide surface orthogonal to the second slide surface and positioned between the first slide surface and the second slide surface, and the carriage having one pair of first slidable projection sections slidable in contact with the third slide surface and one pair of second slidable projection sections facing the first slidable projection sections with the third slide surface between them, and a resilient member for resiliently energizing the second slidable projection sections.
US08177317B2	Image recording apparatus An image recording apparatus including a recording head, a feeding mechanism feeding a recording medium such that a second surface is opposed to the head, a first-area determining portion determining a first area, a second-area determining portion determining a second area, a contact-position determining portion determining a contact position on a first surface at which position a roller contacts the first surface, a feed controller capable of controlling feeding of the medium such that where the second surface is opposed to the head, the recording on the second surface is implemented with the second area skipped, and a judging portion determining whether the contact position is included in the first area at the moment of initiation of a skip operation. The feed controller controls an acceleration or a speed at which the medium is fed in the skip operation, on the basis of the determination made by the judging portion.
US08177313B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a print head to eject droplets, a subtank to supply ink to the print head, a main tank to supply the ink to the subtank, a supply pump to supply the ink from the main tank to the subtank, a pump driver to drive the supply pump, an amount sensor to sense an ink amount in the subtank and output a signal when the ink amount in the subtank is at a predetermined level, and a unit to drive and control the pump driver, which is configured to decrease an ink supply rate of the supply pump in response to the signal outputted by the amount sensor and to stop the supply pump when predetermined time has passed after the signal is outputted by the amount sensor.
US08177305B2	Heater connections in mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more shafts. At least two substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels extend from one or more of the shafts. A plurality of heat sources are located in at least one heat source wellbore extending between at least two of the substantially horizontal tunnels. Electrical connections for the heat sources are located in at least one of the substantially horizontal tunnels.
US08177303B2	Seatbelt adjusting device A seatbelt adjusting device includes: a guiding track provided with a plurality of first engaging members; a belt-connecting slider mounted on the guiding track and slidable on the guiding track; an actuator mounted movably on the belt-connecting slider, provided with a second engaging member, and operable to move relative to the belt-connecting slider between an engaging position, in which the second engaging member engages releasably an aligned one of the first engaging members, and a disengaging position, in which the second engaging member is disengaged from the first engaging members; and an urging member urging against the actuator for restoring the actuator from the disengaging position to the engaging position.
US08177300B2	Seat suspension system The present invention relates to a suspension system for a vehicle seat. The system comprises a top portion (9) and a first part (1) having a base portion (2), means (3b, 20) to receive the top portion and means (3, 4) to allow movement of the base portion (2) and top portion (9) towards and away from each other. The system further comprises a second part consisting of a spring element (10, 14) adapted in use to control movement of the base portion (2) and top portion (9) towards and away from each other. The top portion (9) and the second part (10, 14) are, in addition, releasably connected (13, 11a, 20) to the first part (1). This suspension system allows for flexibility in the manufacturing process and the replacement of parts.
US08177299B2	Chair more comfortable when seated in optimum posture while reclining A chair has a link of a chair back, a link of a chair seat, and a link mechanism that pushes up the link of the chair seat when the link of the chair back is pressed to incline rearward, so that the occupant can take the optimum seating posture without being conscious, thus further improving the comfort in the reclined posture.
US08177298B2	Loading flap for a vehicle seat A loading flap is pivotally mounted on the backrest of a vehicle seat and can be locked with the backrest. The locking operation can be carried out using positive and/or non-positive means, e.g. a bolt that moves in a translatory and rotative manner during locking and unlocking. The loading flap includes a housing that may be moved in a translatory manner parallel thereto during opening.
US08177297B2	High chair There is provided a high chair (1) for seating of an infant or toddler comprising a seat (10), including a seat base portion (14) and a seat backrest portion (12); a support (20) for supporting the seat (10) in a raised position relative to a floor surface; a central post (30) projecting away from the sea base portion (14) and having an upper end; and mounting to the upper end of the central post (30), a tray assembly. (40) including a tray (42) laterally movable backwards and forwards relative to the seat (10). The central post (30) mounts to the seat (10) or to the support (20) by an adjustable central post mounting (32) that allows for adjustment of the position of the upper end of the central post (30) relative to the seat (10).
US08177293B2	Vehicle frame assembly, system and method A vehicle frame assembly, system and method includes a vehicle frame assembly having a variable length longitudinal frame component. The longitudinal frame component is formed at a first length when used on a first vehicle type and formed at a second length when used on a second vehicle type.
US08177292B1	Vehicle structural arrangement for enhanced roof strength A vehicle structural arrangement 10 is provided which provides improved roof strength and controlled energy absorption when a load is imposed on the roof structure 60. The vehicle structural arrangement includes an inner panel 12, an outer panel 14 and at least one bridge member 16 having a first region 32, a second region 34, and a middle region 36. The middle region 36 may be disposed between and is integral to the first region 32 and the second region 34. The first region 32 of the middle portion abuts the inner panel and the second region 34 of the middle portion abuts the outer panel.
US08177291B2	Front-end frame concept for the body structure on a multiple platform A longitudinal beam, which is provided for a chassis of a motor vehicle, has a curved section of a tubular member part horizontal reinforcement element. The reinforcement element is directly associated with the highest body of a lower horizontal limb of the tubular member part and is connected to an upper horizontal limb of the tubular member part. This draws the curved section in a crash of the vehicle a high degree of stability.
US08177290B2	Cab reinforcement structure and work machine cab A cab reinforcement structure for reinforcing a cab by a gusset disposed in a corner at which a right rear pillar and a hollow rear lateral beam member joined to the right rear pillar meet each other is formed such that a gusset retaining member for sustaining a load from a gusset side is disposed within the rear lateral beam member in relation to the rear lateral beam member side end of the gusset and the gusset retaining member is composed of a plate-like member for blocking up the inside of the rear lateral beam member at a position corresponding to the rear lateral beam member side end of the gusset.
US08177287B2	Self-deploying drag reducing device A drag reducing apparatus is hingedly mounted to the rear of a truck or trailer vehicle so that the apparatus can be pivoted clear of the rear doors of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a hinge assembly that allows the apparatus to open substantially flat against the side of the vehicle so as not to impede the full movement of the doors. The apparatus includes an arrangement of connected panels that are initially folded flat against the back of the vehicle but automatically open to a drag reducing configuration at a sufficient vehicle speed. The connected panels are further configured so that the force of gravity automatically returns the panels to their initial folded configuration when the vehicle speed falls below a threshold. The apparatus incorporates a modular construction that allows replacement of individual panel sections. The mounting frame is constructed to augment the drag reduction characteristics of the apparatus.
US08177286B2	Side skirt system for a trailer A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer.
US08177283B2	Glass for a vehicle dashboard A curved glass for a motor vehicle dashboard including a mechanism positioning the glass with respect to the dashboard of the vehicle and with respect to a reference point representing an upper observation point. A reference axis to be vertical when the glass is assembled on the vehicle includes the reference point. The glass includes a main portion having partially elliptical sections in vertical cross-sectional planes including the reference axis. Each of the elliptical sections has a first focus situated at the reference point of the glass.
US08177279B2	Vehicular seat To be able to store a seat back and a seat cushion in line from front to back and be able to widely ensure space above a storage position of the seat cushion.In a rear seat (10), when a seat back (18) is rotated to a forwardly collapsed position in a state where a seat cushion (16) has been moved to a storage position, the seat back (18) and the seat cushion (16) are stored in parallel from front to back. Consequently, the seat back (18) and the seat cushion (16) can be thinly stored in an up-down direction of a vehicle. Moreover, the storage position of the seat cushion (16) is set on a rear lower side of a use position, so space above the storage position can be widely ensured.
US08177277B2	Vehicle having a body panel A vehicle having a vehicle body component and a body panel. The vehicle body component has a body mating feature. The body panel has a body panel mating feature that engages the body mating feature to secure the body panel to the vehicle body component.
US08177275B2	Partition for vehicle cargo area A partition for separating the cabin compartment from the cargo area in HHR-style vehicles where the cabin compartment is characterized by a deck having a front wall and recesses. The partition comprises a frame including a panel. The frame is securable to a front wall of the vehicle deck, and includes at least one support, each of the at least one supports receivable in one of the recesses of the deck.
US08177274B2	Mobile radiation therapy The invention provides techniques for diagnosing medical conditions and providing appropriate treatment at a patient's home residence. A mobile x-ray team can be dispatched to the patient's home residence. A technical team reviews patient data to determine a proper therapy plan. A mobile radiation therapy apparatus is dispatched to the patient's home as required by the therapy plan. The mobile radiation therapy apparatus includes a radiation source and shielding, and is capable of superficial radiation therapy and/or High Dose Rate (HDR) implant therapy. For HDR therapy, the mobile radiation therapy apparatus itself is a specialized radiation vault which the patient will enter. The technical team adjusts the therapy plan based on the additional analysis, and the mobile radiation therapy apparatus is dispatched in accordance with adjusted therapy plan.
US08177272B2	Snow/utility shovel having arrangements to lock the handle and blade to the shaft in different rotational positions while preventing axial movement therebetween An ergonomic shovel that has a curved, bent angle shaft that reduces the user's exertion, strain and fatigue. In addition, when not in use, shovel provides a space saving design so it can be stored nearly flat, saving storage space. This is accomplished by rotating the handle and blade 90 degrees in one direction with the use of quick release detent pins that are easily removed and re-inserted at predetermined positions.
US08177270B2	Dog feces collecting device and method of use thereof A dog feces collecting device includes two loops and a plurality of connecting members for holding the two loops together forming a plurality of bag-clamping sections each comprising two loop segments. A rim portion of a bag is inserted between the two loop segments of each bag-clamping section. The two loops are hinged connected to a telescopic shaft. A method of collecting dog feces is also disclosed.
US08177268B2	Lever-handle lock A lever-handle lock includes a stationary support base adapted to mount to a door around a lever handle carried on the door. The lever-handle lock also includes a lever-handle rotation blocker mounted on the stationary support base to block selectively rotation of the lever handle relative to the stationary support base at the option of a user.
US08177261B2	Device for collecting fuel leaks on the supply pipes of an interface A device for collecting fuel leaks on the feed pipes of an interface, such as a fuel injection system for a thermal engine. Each feed pipe includes at each end a nut to secure the feed pipe in position on an interface, behind which nut is arranged a device for collecting fuel leaks. The recovery unit includes a spout and is integral with the nut and with the feed pipe in a sealing manner.
US08177256B2	Vehicle seat having an integrated airbag module A vehicle seat includes a frame and a pad having a portion. A trim cover at least partially surrounds the frame and the portion of the pad. The trim cover includes a tear seam formed therein and has an underside disposed adjacent the portion of the pad. The seat further includes an airbag module having an inflator, a housing defining an opening, and an airbag deployable from a folded position within the housing to an expanded position extending outwardly through the opening of the housing. The seat further includes a deflector having a first portion mounted on the frame and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion. During deployment of the airbag, the second portion flexes relative to the first portion to move the portion of the pad away from the underside of the trim cover. The airbag is directed between the deflector and the underside of the trim material.
US08177255B2	Device for securing an airbag deployment panel This device includes a flexible net (26), a first end portion (28) of which is overmolded by the flap (20) and a second portion (30) is overmolded by a support element (24), the central portion extending between the first and second portions (28, 30) forming a flexible hinge (22) for articulating the flap (20) relative to the support element (24). The second portion (30) includes an end part (32) protruding from the support element (24) on the opposite side to the hinge-forming part (22), the end part (32) including a stop element, such that, when the airbag is deployed, the stop element prevents the second part (32) from being pulled out of the support element (24).
US08177254B2	Vehicle airbag device A vehicle airbag device has: a pad cover provided at the center of a steering wheel constituted of a spoke, a rim, and a hub and secured to the hub or to the spoke; an airbag that is provided, in a folded state, at the pad cover and deploys upon collision of the vehicle by tearing the pad cover to restrain a vehicle occupant; and an inflator secured to the hub or to the spoke to supply inflation gas into the airbag upon collision of the vehicle. The pad cover has an extension portion extending from the center of the steering wheel to the rim such that the extension portion overlaps the spoke. The extension portion has a tear portion that tears upon collision of the vehicle. A portion of the airbag is disposed, in a folded state, at the extension portion.
US08177252B2	Fifth wheel folding hitch A tube is cut to form a tube-formed box with an opening on its top side. A hitch ball is pivotally mounting on the tube-formed box, so as to extend above the tube-formed box when the hitch ball is in the operative position and to reside within the tube-formed box when the hitch ball is in the inoperative, stowed position. The tube-formed hitch box is joined to and extends through an underbed plate, with the top surface of the tube-formed hitch box higher than the top surface of the underbed plate, so the bed of the truck can ride on the underbed plate up to and even with the tube-formed hitch box. In another aspect, the door of the hitch includes one or more recesses around the finger hole, such as a finger access recess on one top side and a finger grip recess on the opposite bottom side of the door.
US08177249B2	Adjustable-length bicycle stem A bicycle stem includes a stem body (2) that is provided with first elements (3) adapted to attach the bicycle stem to a pivoting tube and second elements (25) adapted to attach a handlebar to the stem. The handlebar include a U-shaped cap (27) that has first connecting elements (32) that connect to second connecting elements (33) that are provided at the front end of the stem body (2) to attach the U-shaped cap (27) opposite a recess (30) provided on the front end of the stem body to receive the handlebar. The length of the stem can be modified using a crescent-shaped spacer (35) that is placed in a U shape for obtaining a reduced length of the stem or in the recess (30) to obtain a more significant length.
US08177245B2	Twist-beam rear axle comprising an additional Watt linkage A suspension is provided for non-steered wheels on a motor vehicle body. The suspension includes, but is not limited to a twist-beam rear axle with a Watt linkage. A top rocker arm of the Watt linkage is mounted on the motor vehicle body. The Watt linkage prevents the motor vehicle from oversteering during cornering. The damping bushes can be disconnected in part from wheel-guiding functions as the Watt linkage performs a major part of the wheel guiding functions, which leaves some freedom for designing the characteristics so as to significantly increase motoring comfort.
US08177243B2	Load-transferring trailer assembly attachable to a load-bearing vehicle A trailerable load-transferring assembly is removably attachable to the rear portion of a load-bearing vehicle. The load-transferring assembly includes a pivot connection, an auxiliary axle, an elongate abutment member that extends between a free end and an abutment end, and an actuator assembly disposed between the free end of the abutment member and the auxiliary axle. When the load-transferring assembly is connected to the vehicle by the pivot connection, the actuator assembly is actuated such that it applies a lifting force on the free end relative to the auxiliary axle. The lifting force causes the abutment member to pivot about the pivot connection, bringing the abutment end of the abutment member into an abutting engagement with an abutment surface attached to the frame of the load-bearing vehicle. The lifting force and abutting engagement prevents transverse movement of the load-transferring assembly relative to the vehicle and transfers a portion of the load from the vehicle's rear axles to the auxiliary axle.
US08177240B2	Roller skate The invention relates to a roller skate (2), in particular an inline roller skate, comprising a plurality of rollers (4, 6, 8, 10). In order to simplify braking and to improve the dosage of the braking force and the driving stability of essentially inline roller skates during braking, the roller skate (2) comprises a first frame part (12), which is or can be rigidly connected to a shoe and in which at least one of the front rollers (4, 6) is rotatably mounted, a second frame part (14), in which at least two rear rollers (8, 10) are rotatably mounted, the two frame parts (12, 14) being pivotable about a pivoting axis (24) which is parallel to the rotational axes of the rollers (4, 6, 8, 10), and a braking element (34) that can be pressed against at least one of the rear rollers (8, 10) during pivoting of the two frame parts (12, 14) relative to one another.
US08177234B2	Rotor-based gaming device having a system for changing the quantity of potential game outcomes for subsequent plays A gaming device including a game operable upon one or more wagers. The game is operable for a first play and a second play. Each one of the plays involves a spin of a rotor. The rotor has a plurality of symbols and a plurality of ball landings adjacent to the symbols. A first quantity of the ball landings is available for the first play, and a lower, second quantity of the ball landings is available for the second play. The gaming device also includes an indicator that is operable to indicate information relating to the availability of the second quantity of ball landings.
US08177230B2	Recording medium accumulating device and method Disclosed are a recording medium accumulating device and a method for accumulating recording medium. The device includes a cylindroid roller for winding up the recording medium and at least two endless belts, peripheral surfaces of the cylindroid roller contact with external surfaces of the endless belts respectively, and a closed medium-feeding passage is formed between the contacting surfaces, a medium-entering passage and a medium-discharging passage for the recording medium are respectively formed between two adjacent endless belts, the medium-entering passage and the medium-discharging passage connect with the medium-feeding passage, the medium-feeding passage drives the recording medium to rotate with the cylindroid roller using the friction force of the contacting surfaces, so as to accumulate the recording medium.
US08177223B2	Sheet feeder having lifting unit A lifting unit and a process for lifting a stack of sheets having at least a first support (20, 120, 220) and at least a second support (22, 122, 222) are described. The first support defines a first con-toured or flat support surface, and the second support defines a second support surface which has a substantially horizontal, flat main surface. In the lifting unit at least one unit is provided for lifting the first and second supports. During operation the supports are lifted such that at least a highest point of the first support is kept elevationally above the second support, the second support is lifted more quickly than the first support, and the substantially horizontal, flat main surface of the second support is kept in its horizontal alignment. The lifting unit is described, in combination with a sheet feeder.
US08177220B2	Feeding device and printing apparatus A feeding device includes a pickup roller that picks up a loaded feeding medium and sends the feeding medium to a downstream side of a feeding direction and a regulator that is provided at a location different from the pickup roller in a widthwise direction of the feeding medium and regulates the posture of the feeding medium by moving relative to the pickup roller so as to contact with or separate from the feeding medium and being urged in a direction of approaching the feeding medium.
US08177219B2	Transmission mechanism and automatic sheet feeder using the same A sheet feeder has a transmission mechanism which includes an output gear mesh with a transmission gear train, and a switch element, disposed between the transmission gear train and the output gear, for switching a rotational direction of the output gear. The switch element includes a movable arm, a driving gear driven by the transmission gear train, a switching gear set attached to the arm and meshing with the driving gear, and a clutch device for restricting movement of the arm to enable the switching gear set to be disengaged from the output gear. When the output gear meshes with the switching gear set, the output gear and a transmission shaft of the sheet feeding mechanism may change the direction of their rotation. When the output gear is disengaged from the switching gear set, the output gear and the transmission shaft of the sheet feeding mechanism are not driven by a power source.
US08177213B2	Adjustable tray for printer having cutter An image recording device can accumulate discharged paper neatly stacked in a paper tray even when the length of the discharged paper changes. An inkjet printer 1 that records images on and discharges roll paper 100 from a paper exit 25 has a cutter unit 80 that cuts the roll paper 100 after an image is recorded, and a discharge tray unit 30 that receives slips 110, 120 discharged from the paper exit 25 after being cut by the cutter unit 80. The discharge tray unit 30 is connected by a hinge at an incline to the case 10 so that the paper stop 42 disposed at the distal end of the discharge tray unit 30 is down, and is configured so that the length of the discharge tray unit 30 is adjustable, and the inclination angle of the discharge tray unit 30 is changed by the operation of shortening the length of the discharge tray unit 30 to a more horizontal angle than when the length of the discharge tray unit 30 is extended.
US08177212B2	Apparatus and method of on demand printing, binding, and trimming a perfect bound book A printing and binding apparatus (1) is disclosed which can print on demand, bind, and trim a perfect bound book. The apparatus includes one or more text page printers (110, 200) and a color cover printer (114). The text page printers print the text pages of a book and form the text pages into a book block (BB). The color cover printer (114) prints a cover for the book. The book block and the cover are delivered to a binding station at which the spine (S) of the book block is adhesively bound to the cover. The bound book is then delivered to a trimming station (TS) at which excess margins (are trimmed from the book. A method of printing and binding a perfect bound book on demand is also disclosed.
US08177211B2	Sheet folding apparatus, image forming apparatus using the same, and sheet folding method A sheet folding apparatus includes: a saddle-stitching unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle; a folding unit configured to fold the sheet bundle at the center to form a fold; a loading base onto which the sheet bundle conveyed from the folding unit is loaded; a nipping plate configured to be pressed to and separated from the loading base in parallel to the loading base and to nip the sheet bundle loaded onto the loading base; and first and second rollers that move along a direction of the fold while nipping and pressing the fold of the sheet bundle nipped by the nipping plate to reinforce the fold. Here, a surface, which faces the loading base, of the nipping plate is provided with an elastic member.
US08177205B2	Device for displacing jaws of a clamp A mechanical device for displacing jaws of a spring biased clamp includes a housing for receiving handles of the spring biased clamp. The housing has a platform moveable toward and away from a wall to move the handles of the clamp toward and away from one another, to move the jaws of the clamp away from and toward one another, respectively. A control member activates and deactivates a force applying member operationally connected to the platform, wherein activating the force applying member moves the platform toward the wall and deactivating the force applying member moves the platform away from the wall of the housing. The device is used to apply clamps to marginal edge portions of a stack of two one or more sheets to provide a clamped subassembly. The clamped subassembly in one embodiment is laminated to provide an aircraft transparency.
US08177201B2	Very high damping mount with bolt-through construction A hydraulic mount has an upper support member and a lower support member. An upper elastomeric spring and a lower elastomeric spring are disposed between the upper support member and the lower support member to define an upper fluid chamber and a lower fluid chamber. A channel extends between the upper and lower chambers. During compression and extension of the hydraulic mount, fluid transfers between the upper and lower chamber to provide a damping force for the hydraulic mount.
US08177199B1	Aerosol generator An aerosol generator includes a saturator having an enclosure for passing a gas therethrough, and a porous substrate being adapted for retaining a non-vaporized form of an aerosol material, wherein the porous substrate is further adapted to release a vaporized form of the aerosol material for introduction into the gas within the enclosure, and a condenser adapted for receiving the gas containing the vapor from the saturator to produce an aerosol containing the aerosol material.
US08177194B2	Frangible post for guardrail This invention relates to guardrails and guardrail impact heads for use in roading networks or vehicle road lanes requiring separation by a barrier. The invention provides an impact head for a guardrail including cable routing means adapted to form a convoluted path through which a cable can be threaded. The convoluted path that the cables must follow through the impact head of the invention restricts movement of the cable through the head, thereby providing sufficient friction to slow down the movement of the impact head during a vehicle impact. The invention also provides a method of constructing a guardrail including the steps of slidably interconnecting a plurality of rails and attaching them to posts, positioning an impact head according to any one of the preceding claims at one end of the slidably interconnected rails, threading at least one cable through the impact head and anchoring the cable to the ground.
US08177189B2	Fire protection control valve with rotating plug A differential dry pipe control valve for fire protection sprinkler systems includes an eccentric plug that rotates and separates supply water and system air pressure and uses an integral actuator that maintains the seal of the eccentric plug with a smaller ratio of air pressure to a higher supply water pressure. When the sprinkler system is actuated, the actuator allows the rotary eccentric plug to open the waterway and includes an eccentric plug opening that swings out of the waterway to reduce friction loss of the water supply. The eccentric plug includes a conical rubber coated seat surface and dynamic metal seal seat that seals due to water pressure eliminating close tolerance mating of sealing components. The actuator includes an integral alarm connection to provide a required alarm function and acts as a pilot differential actuator to provide the required operation of an approximately 5.5:1 ratio differential dry pipe control valve. This valve can also function as an open system Deluge valve or closed system Preaction valve for sprinkler systems that operate from separate detection systems where the supply liquid holds the valve closed until a detection system detects a fire and signals the deluge valve to open for discharge of suppressant liquid on the protected fire area.
US08177188B1	Valve manifold A valve manifold includes a valve body carrying pairs of laterally spaced piston actuated valves controlled by control modules operative to selectively pressurize and exhaust an outlet port connected to a fluid device and configured in groupings permitting varying valve functionalities.
US08177185B2	Flag pole assembly A knock down flag pole assembly is provided including a base, a ferrule, and an elongate post. The base may include a coupling with a pocket having a coupling member or portion configured to removably couple to the ferrule. The coupling secures the ferrule to the base, but also permits the flag pole to be knocked out from the base.

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