最新美国发明专利第2012-07-10期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08217009B2	Allorestricted peptide-specific T cells The present invention is directed to a T cell receptor (TCR) recognizing antigenic peptides derived from tumor-associated antigen FMNL1/KW13 and being capable of inducing peptide specific killing of a target cell. The present invention is further directed to one antigenic peptides derived from tumor-associated antigen FMNL1/KW13, to an antigen specific T cell, comprising said TCR, to a nucleic acid coding for said TCR and to the use of the antigen specific T cells for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of malignancies characterized by overexpression of FMNL1/KW13.
US08217007B1	Synthetic peptide amides The invention relates to synthetic peptide amide ligands of the kappa opioid receptor and particularly to agonists of the kappa opioid receptor that exhibit low P450 CYP inhibition and low penetration into the brain. The synthetic peptide amides of the invention conform to the structure of formula I: Pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds are useful in the prophylaxis and treatment of pain and inflammation associated with a variety of diseases and conditions. Such treatable pain includes visceral pain, neuropathic pain and hyperalgesia. Inflammation associated with conditions such as IBD and IBS, ocular and otic inflammation, other disorders and conditions such as pruritis, edema, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, ileus, tussis and glaucoma are treatable or preventable with the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.
US08217005B2	Controlled release of phenolic opioids A method of providing a patient with controlled release of a phenolic opioid using a prodrug capable, upon enzymatic activation, of releasing the phenolic opioid through intra-molecular cyclization leading to formation of a cyclic urea, carbamate or thiocarbamate.
US08217004B2	Sequestering agent for micronutrient fertilisers According to the present invention, there is provided a method of sequestering micronutrients when used to provide the micronutrients to a plant, which comprises applying to an area of the plant or soil/substrate surrounding the plant an effective amount of a plant fertilizer composition comprising a surfactant, such as general formula (III), that is capable of forming coordinate bonds with micronutrients.
US08216992B2	Cleaner composition for formed metal articles The present invention discloses an improved cleaning composition for cleaning metal surfaces such as aluminum and aluminum-containing alloys. The cleaning composition of the present invention comprises water and an ethoxylate of an alcohol having Formula R1—OH wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, straight-chain or branched aliphatic having from 12 to 80 carbon atoms; an inorganic pH adjusting component; and at least one surfactant that is different than the ethoxylate set forth above. The cleaning composition of the present invention also has an average water-break-free percent reduction of less than 50% after 7 days aging of a working composition prepared from the cleaning composition. The present invention also provides a method of cleaning a metal surface with the cleaning composition of the invention.
US08216989B2	Cleaning composition for removing/preventing redeposition of protein soils A composition is provided for removing protein soil and preventing redeposition of soils onto a surface. The composition includes between about 1% and about 90% by weight sugar, between about 1% and about 80% by weight alkalinity source and between about 15 and about 10% by weight surfactant composition. The sugar may be a saccharide or a non-saccharide based sugar. The composition is substantially free of phosphorus-containing compounds and includes less than about 0.05% by weight alkali earth metal.
US08216986B2	Low-phosphorous lubricant additive A lubricant additive produced by the process comprising mixing a metal halide with an organophosphate, the metal halide participating as a reactant and reacting the metal halide and the organophosphate to produce a reaction mixture comprising the lubricant additive. Also disclosed is a lubricant produced by the process comprising forming a lubricant additive by reacting metal halide and organophosphate together to form a reaction mixture, the metal halide participating as a reactant, and adding at least a portion of the reaction mixture to a lubricant base.
US08216984B2	Dry lubricant for conveying containers The passage of a container along a conveyor is lubricated by applying to the container or conveyor a mixture of a water-miscible silicone material and a water-miscible lubricant. The mixture can be applied in relatively low amounts, to provide thin, substantially non-dripping lubricating films. In contrast to dilute aqueous lubricants, the lubricants of the invention provide drier lubrication of the conveyors and containers, a cleaner conveyor line and reduced lubricant usage, thereby reducing waste, cleanup and disposal problems.
US08216981B2	Drilling fluid additive system A drilling fluid additive system is provided and the system comprises: syrup solids which are heated and/or hydrolyzed and then admixed with a liquid medium, and the syrup solids are derived from a group consisting essentially of agave syrup, barley syrup, sugar syrup, beets syrup, birch syrup, rice syrup, cane syrup, chocolate syrup, coconut syrup, corn syrup, date syrup, fruit syrup, golden syrup, high fructose corn syrup, karo syrup, citrus fruit syrup, maple syrup, molasses, Muscavado syrup, palm syrup, rice syrup, sorghum syrup, Turbinado syrup, vanilla syrup and mixtures and blends thereof.
US08216979B2	Method of manufacturing superconducting thin film material, superconducting device and superconducting thin film material A method of manufacturing a superconducting thin film material includes a vapor phase step of forming a superconducting layer by a vapor phase method and a liquid phase step of forming a superconducting layer by a liquid phase method so that the latter superconducting layer is in contact with the former superconducting layer. Preferably, the method further includes the step of forming an intermediate layer between the former superconducting layer and a metal substrate. The metal substrate is made of a metal, and preferably the intermediate layer is made of an oxide having a crystal structure of any of rock type, perovskite type and pyrochlore type, and the former superconducting layer and the latter superconducting layer both have an RE123 composition. Accordingly, the critical current value can be improved.
US08216976B2	Herbicidal compositions The present invention provides an improved herbicidal composition including (a) an effective amount of an herbicidal cyclohexandione oxime compound or agriculturally acceptable salt thereof; (b) one or more esters of a fatty acid; (c) a salt of dodecylbenzensulfonic acid; (d) at least one nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene plant oils and polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters; and (e) optionally another herbicide.
US08216966B2	Composite adsorbent from natural raw material and using the same to remove heavy metal from industrial waste water An adsorbent composition and method of cleaning the industrial waste water using the composite is described. The method for removing heavy metals from contaminated water is done by mixing contaminated water having a concentration of one or more heavy metals with an adsorbent composite comprising granules of a mixture of 50.363 wt % kaolin clay, a 4.477 wt % roasted date pits powder, a 5.54 wt % silica powder a 14.99 wt % magnesite powder and a 24.623 wt % water. After reacting the contaminated water and adsorbent composite together for a specific time the water is filtered and was found to contain reduced amount of heavy metals. The cleaned water can further be used for industrial cooling systems or watering gardens.
US08216965B2	Hazardous particle binder, coagulant and re-aerosolization inhibitor A copolymer and water/ethanol solvent solution capable of binding with airborne contaminants or potential airborne contaminants, such as biological weapon agents or toxic particulates, coagulating as the solvent evaporates, and adhering the contaminants to a surface so as to inhibit the re-suspension of such contaminants. The solution uses a water or ethanol/water mixture for the solvent, and a copolymer having one of several functional group sets so as to have physical and chemical characteristics of high adhesion, low viscosity, low surface tension, negative electrostatic charge, substantially neutral pH, and a low pKa. Use of the copolymer solution prevents re-aerosolization and transport of unwanted, reactive species thus increasing health and safety for personnel charged with decontamination of contaminated buildings and areas.
US08216961B2	Nanoparticles including metal oxide having catalytic activity Core-shell nanoparticles having a core material and a mesoporous silica shell, and a method for manufacturing the core-shell nanoparticles are provided.
US08216959B2	Photocatalyst-coated body, coating composition for the same, and process for producing photocatalyst-coated body A photocatalyst-coated body includes a substrate with an organic material as a surface thereof, a photocatalyst layer with interstices between the particles in the layer and an intermediate layer provided between the substrate and the photocatalyst layer. The photocatalyst layer includes photocatalyst particles in a range of 1 part≦x<20 parts by mass, inorganic oxide particles in a range of 70 parts≦y<99 parts by mass, and a dried substance of a hydrolyzable silicone in a range of zero parts≦z<10 parts by mass, provided that a total amount of the photocatalyst particles, the inorganic oxide particles, and the dried substance of the hydrolyzable silicone is 100 parts by mass in terms of silica. The intermediate layer comprising a silicone-modified resin, wherein the silicone-modified resin includes silicon atom in an amount of 0.2% by mass or more and less than 16.5% by mass.
US08216958B2	Selective catalysts having silica supports for naphtha hydrodesulfurization A method for hydrodesulfurizing FCC naphtha is described. More particularly, a Co/Mo metal hydrogenation component is loaded on a silica or modified silica support in the presence of organic ligand and sulfided to produce a catalyst which is then used for hydrodesulfurizing FCC naphtha. The silica support has a defined pore size distribution which minimizes olefin saturation.
US08216956B2	Layered electrocatalyst for oxidation of ammonia and ethanol A layered electrocatalyst for oxidizing ammonia, ethanol, or combinations thereof, comprising: a carbon support integrated with a conductive metal; at least one first metal plating layer at least partially deposited on the carbon support, wherein the at least one first metal plating layer is active to OH adsorption and inactive to a target species, and wherein the at least one first metal plating layer has a thickness ranging from 10 nanometers to 10 microns; and at least one second metal plating layer at least partially deposited on the at least one first metal plating layer, wherein the at least one second metal plating layer is active to the target species, and wherein the at least one second metal plating layer has a thickness ranging from 10 nanometers to 10 microns, forming a layered electrocatalyst.
US08216955B2	Synthesized hybrid rock composition, method, and article formed by the method The invention relates to synthetic hybrid rock compositions, articles of manufacture and related processes employing mineral waste starting materials such as mine tailings, mine development rock, ash, slag, quarry fines, and slimes, to produce valuable articles of manufacture and products, which are characterized by superior physical and structural characteristics, including low porosity, low absorption, increased strength and durability, and retained plasticity. The resulting materials are compositionally and chemically distinct from conventional synthetic rock materials as demonstrated by scanning electron microprobe analysis, and are useful in a wide variety of applications, particularly with respect to commercial and residential construction.
US08216948B2	Exposure mask and method for forming semiconductor device using the same Disclosed herein is a method for forming a semiconductor device that stacks an etched layer and a first hard mask layer on a semiconductor substrate, patterns the first hard mask layer in a high density region and a low density region, using a first exposure mask, forms a first spacer on a sidewall of the first hard mask layer in the high density region, forms a second spacer on a sidewall of the first hard mask layer in the low density region at the same time, etches an end with the first spacer connected thereto using a second exposure mask to thereby form a first spacer pattern, forms a planarized second hard mask layer that exposes the first spacer pattern and the second spacer, removes the first spacer pattern and the second spacer such that the second hard mask layer is left, and etches the etched layer using the second hard mask layer as an mask. This method makes it possible to easily form a micro pattern in the high density region and the low density region.
US08216947B2	Methods of forming fine patterns in integrated circuit devices A method of fabricating an integrated circuit device includes forming first and second mask structures on respective first and second regions of a feature layer. Each of the first and second mask structures includes a dual mask pattern and an etch mask pattern thereon having an etch selectivity relative to the dual mask pattern. The etch mask patterns of the first and second mask structures are isotropically etched to remove the etch mask pattern from the first mask structure while maintaining at least a portion of the etch mask pattern on the second mask structure. Spacers are formed on opposing sidewalls of the first and second mask structures. The first mask structure is selectively removed from between the spacers in the first region using the portion of the etch mask pattern on the second mask structure as a mask to define a first mask pattern including the opposing sidewall spacers with a void therebetween in the first region, and a second mask pattern including the opposing sidewall spacers with the second mask structure therebetween in the second region. The feature layer may be patterned using the first mask pattern as a mask to define a first feature on the first region, and using the second mask pattern as a mask to define a second feature on the second region having a greater width than the first feature.
US08216946B2	Patterning method A patterning method has a mask layer and undoped patterns sequentially formed on a target layer. A doping process is performed to surfaces of the undoped patterns to form doped patterns from the surfaces of the undoped patterns. A material is filled in the gaps between the doped patterns. A portion of the doped patterns are then removed to expose the top surfaces of the remaining undoped patterns. The material and the exposed undoped patterns are removed. A portion of the mask layer is removed using the remaining doped patterns as a mask to form a first pattern on the mask layer. A portion of the target layer is removed using the mask layer having the first pattern thereon as a mask so as to form on the target layer a second pattern complementary to the first pattern.
US08216944B2	Methods of forming patterns in semiconductor devices Methods of forming patterns in semiconductor devices are provided including forming first patterns spaced apart from one another on an object structure. A first sacrificial layer is formed conformally on the first patterns and the object structure. A second pattern is formed on a sidewall of the first sacrificial layer, the second pattern having a height smaller than that of the first pattern from an upper surface of the object structure. The first patterns are selectively removed to form an opening that exposes the object structure. A third pattern is formed on a sidewall of the opening.
US08216943B2	Epitaxial growth method Epitaxial growth methods and devices are described that include a textured surface on a substrate. Geometry of the textured surface provides a reduced lattice mismatch between an epitaxial material and the substrate. Devices formed by the methods described exhibit better interfacial adhesion and lower defect density than devices formed without texture. Silicon substrates are shown with gallium nitride epitaxial growth and devices such as LEDs are formed within the gallium nitride.
US08216942B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprises forming a first film above a pattern forming material, patterning the first film to form a core material pattern, forming a second film above the pattern forming material so as to cover a side surface and an upper surface of the core material pattern, forming a third film above the second film as a protective material for the second film, etching the second and third films so that side wall sections including the second film and the third film are formed on both sides of the core material pattern and the second film and the third film of an area other than the side wall sections are removed, removing the core material pattern between the side wall sections, and transferring patterns corresponding to the side wall sections on the pattern forming material by using the side wall sections as a mask.
US08216939B2	Methods of forming openings Some embodiments include methods of forming openings. For instance, a construction may have a material over a plurality of electrically conductive lines. A plurality of annular features may be formed over the material, with the annular features crossing the lines. A patterned mask may be formed over the annular features, with the patterned mask leaving segments of the annular features exposed through a window in the patterned mask. The exposed segments of the annular features may define a plurality of openings, and such openings may be transferred into the material to form openings extending to the electrically conductive lines.
US08216938B2	Method for forming semiconductor device A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a partition line pattern and a partition pad pattern connected to an end part of the partition line pattern over the semiconductor substrate. Spacer insulation layers are formed at sidewalls of the partition line pattern and the partition pad pattern. A gap-filling layer is formed between the spacer insulation layers. A first cutting mask pattern is formed to expose a connecting part between the partition line pattern and the partition pad pattern. The partition line pattern and the gap-filling layer adjacent to the spacer insulation layer are removed using the first cutting mask pattern as a mask. A second cutting mask pattern including a first pattern and a second pattern are formed. The spacer insulation layer is removed using the second cutting mask pattern as a mask to form a gate trench in the substrate.
US08216935B2	Methods of forming transistor gate constructions, methods of forming NAND transistor gate constructions, and methods forming DRAM transistor gate constructions A method of forming a transistor gate construction includes forming a gate stack comprising a sacrificial material received over conductive gate material. The gate stack has lateral sidewalls having insulative material received there-against. The sacrificial material is removed from being received over the conductive gate material to form a void space between the insulative material over the conductive gate material. Elemental tungsten is selectively deposited within the void space over the conductive gate material and a transistor gate construction forming there-from is formed there-from, and which has a conductive gate electrode which includes the conductive gate material and the elemental tungsten. The transistor gate might be used in NAND, DRAM, or other integrated circuitry.
US08216929B2	Method of manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device In a method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate made of silicon carbide and having first and second opposing surfaces is prepared. The second surface of the semiconductor substrate is processed so that a surface roughness of the second surface is less than or equal to 10 nm and a value of (100%-reflectance-transmittance) at a wavelength of a laser light is greater than or equal to 80%. A metal layer is formed on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate after the processing the second surface. The metal layer is irradiated with the laser light and thereby an ohmic electrode is formed on the second surface.
US08216927B2	Method of reducing contamination by providing a removable polymer protection film during microstructure processing By providing a protective layer in an intermediate manufacturing stage, an increased surface protection with respect to particle contamination and surface corrosion may be achieved. In some illustrative embodiments, the protective layer may be used during an electrical test procedure, in which respective contact portions are contacted through the protective layer, thereby significantly reducing particle contamination during a respective measurement process.
US08216923B2	Integrated shadow mask/carrier for patterned ion implantation An improved, lower cost method of processing substrates, such as to create solar cells is disclosed. In addition, a modified substrate carrier is disclosed. The carriers typically used to carry the substrates are modified so as to serve as shadow masks for a patterned implant. In some embodiments, various patterns can be created using the carriers such that different process steps can be performed on the substrate by changing the carrier or the position with the carrier. In addition, since the alignment of the substrate to the carrier is critical, the carrier may contain alignment features to insure that the substrate is positioned properly on the carrier. In some embodiments, gravity is used to hold the substrate on the carrier, and therefore, the ions are directed so that the ion beam travels upward toward the bottom side of the carrier.
US08216920B2	Silicon epitaxial wafer and manufacturing method thereof Provided is a method for manufacturing a silicon epitaxial wafer by growing an epitaxial layer by placing a silicon substrate on a susceptor. The method includes at least a step of forming a silicon oxide film entirely on the rear surface of the silicon substrate; a step of removing the silicon oxide film formed at least on an edge section of the silicon substrate; and a step of placing the silicon substrate on the susceptor with the silicon oxide film in between. An epitaxial layer is grown on the silicon substrate, while holding the silicon substrate by the susceptor with the silicon oxide film in between. Thus, the silicon epitaxial wafer by which generation of particles can be reduced in a device manufacturing process and a method for manufacturing such silicon epitaxial wafer are provided.
US08216919B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and substrate carrier structure A substrate carrier structure includes a tray and a secondary electron absorbing material. The tray holds a semiconductor substrate having a first surface on which semiconductor device elements are formed. The secondary electron absorbing material is interposed between the tray and this first surface of the semiconductor substrate. When the semiconductor substrate is irradiated with charged particles to form lattice defects, the secondary electron absorbing material prevents unwanted trapping of secondary electrons emitted from the tray, and thereby reduces the variability of electrical characteristics of semiconductor device elements formed on the semiconductor substrate.
US08216911B2	Methods for etching doped oxides in the manufacture of microfeature devices Methods for selectively etching doped oxides in the manufacture of microfeature devices are disclosed herein. An embodiment of one such method for etching material on a microfeature workpiece includes providing a microfeature workpiece including a doped oxide layer and a nitride layer adjacent to the doped oxide layer. The method include selectively etching the doped oxide layer with an etchant comprising DI:HF and an acid to provide a pH of the etchant such that the etchant includes (a) a selectivity of phosphosilicate glass (PSG) to nitride of greater than 250:1, and (b) an etch rate through PSG of greater than 9,000 Å/minute.
US08216909B2	Field effect transistor with air gap dielectric A field effect transistor (FET) that includes a drain formed in a first plane, a source formed in the first plane, a channel formed in the first plane and between the drain and the source and a gate formed in the first plane. The gate is separated from at least a portion of the body by an air gap. The air gap is also in the first plane.
US08216907B2	Process to fabricate a metal high-K transistor having first and second silicon sidewalls for reduced parasitic capacitance A method forms a metal high dielectric constant (MHK) transistor and includes: providing a MHK stack disposed on a substrate, the MHK stack including a first layer of high dielectric constant material, a second overlying layer, and a third overlying layer; selectively removing only the second and third layers, without removing the first layer, to form an upstanding portion of a MHK gate structure; forming a first sidewall layer on sidewalls of the upstanding portion of the MHK gate structure; forming a second sidewall layer on sidewalls of the first sidewall layer; removing a portion of the first layer to form exposed surfaces; forming an offset spacer layer over the second sidewall layer and over the first layer, and forming in the substrate extensions that underlie the first and second sidewall layers and that extend under a portion but not all of the upstanding portion of the MHK gate structure.
US08216902B2	Nanomesh SRAM cell Nanowire-based devices are provided. In one aspect, a SRAM cell includes at least one pair of pass gates and at least one pair of inverters formed adjacent to one another on a wafer. Each pass gate includes one or more device layers each having a source region, a drain region and a plurality of nanowire channels connecting the source region and the drain region and a gate common to each of the pass gate device layers surrounding the nanowire channels. Each inverter includes a plurality of device layers each having a source region, a drain region and a plurality of nanowire channels connecting the source region and the drain region and a gate common to each of the inverter device layers surrounding the nanowire channels.
US08216901B2	Fabrication method of trenched metal-oxide-semiconductor device A fabrication method of trenched metal-oxide-semiconductor device is provided. A pattern layer with a plurality of openings is formed on a semiconductor base, and then a spacer is formed on the sidewall of the opening to define the gate trench. After the gate electrode formed in the gate trench, a dielectric structure is formed on the gate electrode by filling dielectric material into the opening. Then, the pattern layer and the spacer are removed and a dielectric layer is formed on the dielectric structure. The portion of the dielectric layer on the sidewall of the dielectric structure defines the source regions. After the source regions are formed in the well, another dielectric layer is formed on the dielectric layer to define the heavily doped regions adjacent to the source regions.
US08216900B2	Nonvolatile memory device, method of manufacturing the nonvolatile memory device, and method of manufacturing flat panel display device provided with the nonvolatile memory device Provided are a nonvolatile memory device, a method of manufacturing the nonvolatile memory device, and a method of manufacturing a flat panel display device provided therein with the nonvolatile memory device. According to an embodiment, an amorphous silicon layer is formed on a substrate, and then annealed by using an Excimer laser to form a crystallized silicon layer. A nitrogen plasma treatment is performed for the crystallized silicon layer to planarize an upper surface of the crystallized silicon layer. An ONO layer is formed on the nitrogen plasma-treated crystallized silicon layer. A metal layer is formed on the ONO layer. The metal layer, the ONO layer and the nitrogen plasma-treated crystallized silicon layer are patterned.
US08216899B2	Flash memory device and method manufacturing the same According to the present disclosure, a flash memory device includes a semiconductor substrate that includes selection transistor regions and a memory cell region defined between the selection transistor region, first isolation layers formed in the selection transistor regions, and second isolation layers formed in the memory cell region. The second isolation layers have a lower height than the first isolation layers.
US08216898B2	Fabrication methods for electronic devices with via through holes and thin film transistor devices Fabrication methods for electronic devices with via through holes and thin film transistor devices are presented. The fabrication method the electronic device includes providing a substrate, forming a patterned lower electrode on the substrate, and forming a photosensitive insulating layer on the substrate covering the patterned lower electrode. A patterned optical shielding layer is applied on the photosensitive insulating layer. Exposure procedure is performed curing the exposed photosensitive insulating layer. The optical shielding layer and the underlying photosensitive insulating layer are sequentially removed, thereby forming an opening. A patterned upper electrode is formed on the photosensitive insulating layer filling the opening to create a conductive via hole.
US08216892B2	Method for manufacturing crystalline semiconductor film There is provided a method for manufacturing a crystalline semiconductor film. An insulating film is formed over a substrate; an amorphous semiconductor film is formed over the insulating film; a cap film is formed over the amorphous semiconductor film; the amorphous semiconductor film is scanned and irradiated with a continuous wave laser beam or a laser beam with a repetition rate of greater than or equal to 10 MHz, through the cap film; and the amorphous semiconductor film is melted and crystallized At this time, an energy distribution in a length direction and a width direction in a laser beam spot is a Gaussian distribution, and the amorphous semiconductor film is scanned with the laser beam so as to be irradiated with the laser beam for a period of greater than or equal to 5 microseconds and less than or equal to 100 microseconds per region.
US08216890B2	Lateral hyperabrupt junction varactor diode in an SOI substrate A varactor diode includes a portion of a top semiconductor layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and a gate electrode located thereupon. A first electrode having a doping of a first conductivity type laterally abuts a doped semiconductor region having the first conductivity type, which laterally abuts a second electrode having a doping of a second conductivity type, which is the opposite of the first conductivity type. A hyperabrupt junction is formed between the second doped semiconductor region and the second electrode. The gate electrode controls the depletion of the first and second doped semiconductor regions, thereby varying the capacitance of the varactor diode. A design structure for the varactor diode is also provided.
US08216888B2	Eliminating poly uni-direction line-end shortening using second cut A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a substrate including a first active region and a second active region; forming a gate electrode layer over the substrate; and etching the gate electrode layer. The remaining portions of the gate electrode layer include a first gate strip and a second gate strip substantially parallel to each other; and a sacrificial strip unparallel to, and interconnecting, the first gate strip and the second gate strip. The sacrificial strip is between the first active region and the second active region. The method further includes forming a mask layer covering portions of the first gate strip and the second gate strip, wherein the sacrificial strip and portions of the first gate strip and the second gate strip are exposed through an opening in the mask layer; and etching the sacrificial strip and the portions of the first gate strip and the second gate strip through the opening.
US08216884B2	Production methods of electronic devices A method of producing an electronic device having mounted thereon a microelectromechanical system element. The method includes forming a micromachine component and electronic component for operation of the micromachine component on a substrate to form the system element, and bonding to the substrate a lid covering an active surface of the substrate and provided with wiring patterns to define an operating space for the micromachine component and electrically connecting the electronic component and the wiring patterns of the lid at a bonded part of the substrate and the lid.
US08216882B2	Method of producing a microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor device A device (20, 90) includes sensors (28, 30) that sense different physical stimuli. A pressure sensor (28) includes a reference element (44) and a sense element (52), and an inertial sensor (30) includes a movable element (54). Fabrication (110) entails forming (112) a first substrate structure (22, 92) having a cavity (36, 100), forming a second substrate structure (24) to include the sensors (28, 30), and coupling (128) the substrate structures so that the first sensor (28) is aligned with the cavity (36, 100) and the second sensor (30) is laterally spaced apart from the first sensor (28). Forming the second structure (24) includes forming (118) the sense element (52) from a material layer (124) of the second structure (24) and following coupling (128) of the substrate structures, concurrently forming (132) the reference element (44) and the movable element (54) in a wafer substrate (122) of the second structure (24).
US08216877B2	Phase-change memory and fabrication method thereof A phase-change memory is provided. The phase-change memory comprises a substrate. A first electrode is formed on the substrate. A circular or linear phase-change layer is electrically connected to the first electrode. A second electrode formed on the phase-change layer and electrically connected to the phase-change layer, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises phase-change material.
US08216866B2	Method to manufacture semiconductor device with optical grating A method to manufacture an optical device with enhanced high frequency performance is disclosed. The method includes steps of: (a) forming semiconductor layers on a semiconductor substrate, (b) etching the semiconductor layers by using a mask to form a plurality of diffraction gratings, where the mask provides a plurality of periodic patterns each corresponding to respective gratings and having a specific pitch different from others, (c) forming an active layer on the etched semiconductor layers, (d) measuring a maximum optical gain of the active layer, (e) selecting one of diffraction gratings based on the measured optical gain, and (f) forming a current confinement structure aligned with the selected diffraction grating.
US08216862B2	Forming and training processes for resistance-change memory cell During the manufacture of a set of non-volatile resistance-switching memory elements, a forming process is performed in which a voltage is applied over forming period until a conductive filament is formed in a resistance-switching layer. A heat source at a temperature of 50° C. to 150° C. is applied to expedite the forming process while reducing the required magnitude of the applied voltage. Manufacturing time and reliability are improved. After the forming process, an expedited training process can be performed in which a fixed number of cycles of voltage pulses are applied without verifying the memory elements. Subsequently, the memory elements are verified by determining their read current in an evaluation. Another fixed number of cycles of voltage pulses is applied without verifying the memory elements, if the memory elements do not pass the evaluation.
US08216860B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes forming an interlayer insulating film on a semiconductor substrate; depositing a first soft magnetic thin film on the interlayer insulating film through sputtering using a target containing at least one of Fe, Co, Ni, or alloys thereof, the target further containing at least one of Ti, Hf, or B, the sputtering being performed using an N2 reactive gas; forming a metal film on the first soft magnetic thin film; depositing a second soft magnetic thin film on the metal film through sputtering using the same or another target containing at least one of Fe, Co, Ni, or alloys thereof, the target further containing at least one of Ti, Hf, or B, the sputtering being performed using an N2 reactive gas; and patterning to form an inductor.
US08216856B2	Luminescent lanthanide labelling reagents and their use The invention relates to a detectable molecule comprising a biospecific binding reactant attached to a luminescent lanthanide chelate comprising a lanthanide ion and a chelating ligand of the formula (I) wherein, R1A R1B are independently of each other selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, —COOH, —COO—, —CH2COOH, —CH2COO—, hydroxyl or OR2; R2 is selected from the group consisting of —CH3, —C(CH3)3, —C(CR4)3, wherein R4 is an alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, —CH2COOH, —CH2COO−, and appropriate hexose residues; R3 is a linker for coupling to a biospecific binding reactant selected from the group consisting of thiourea (—NH—CS—NH—), aminoacetamide (—NH—CO—CH2—NH—), amide (—NH—CO— and —CO—NH—), aliphatic thioether (—S—), disulfide (—S—S—) and 6-substituted-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine; and the lanthanide ion is selected from the group consisting of europium(III), terbium(III), dysprosium(III) and samarium(III). The invention also relates to corresponding lanthanide chelates. The invention further relates to the use of the detectable molecule of the invention.
US08216847B2	Means and method for predicting diabetes The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing a predisposition for diabetes, comprising determining a metabolite in a test sample of a subject suspected to have a predisposition for diabetes and comparing the metabolite to a reference to diagnose the, predisposition for diabetes. Moreover, the present invention encompasses a collection of metabolites, a data collection comprising characteristic values of metabolites and a storage medium comprising the data collection. The present invention also relates to a system comprising methods or devices for comparing characteristic values of metabolites of a sample operatively linked to a data storage medium. Additionally, diagnostic methods or devices comprising a metabolite and its use for manufacture of the diagnostic method or device for diagnosing a predisposition for diabetes are provided, along with a method for identifying diabetes-related metabolites.
US08216845B2	Gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines linked by network and control method thereof A gaming system of the present invention comprising a plurality of gaming machines each including a controller and a control device including a processor, wherein the processor is programmed to execute the processing of (A) cumulatively counting a part of a number of betted game media as a cumulative value based on number-of-game-media information received from the gaming machine, and (B) transmitting a common-game execution signal to the gaming machine, when the cumulative value has reached a predetermined value.
US08216842B2	Enhancement of hybridoma fusion efficiencies through cell synchronization The present invention provides methods of enhancing hybridoma fusion efficiencies through cell synchronization of the fusion partners, in order to aid in production of antibodies.
US08216838B2	Method for efficient production of monocyte-derived multipotent cell (MOMC) It is to provide a practical method for producing efficiently a large amount of MOMC, which is a multipotent cell which is very suitable for cell transplantation for organ regeneration. It was found that by culturing peripheral blood monocytes in vitro on fibronectin in the presence of SDF-1, MOMC can be produced more efficiently, and the present invention has been completed. Specifically, it is a method for producing MOMC by culturing in vitro peripheral blood monocytes expressing CD14 on fibronectin, wherein the in vitro culture is performed in the presence of SDF-1.
US08216837B2	Method of producing lymphocytes A method of producing lymphocytes characterized by comprising the step of culturing lymphocytes in the presence of a modified recombinant fibronectin fragment which has overlapping parts of the heparin-binding domain of fibronectin. This method makes it possible to achieve a high cell proliferation rate. The lymphocytes obtained thereby are appropriately usable in, for example, adoptive immunotherapy and, therefore, expected as highly useful in the clinical field. Moreover, a novel modified recombinant fibronectin fragment is provided.
US08216830B2	Culture apparatus A culture apparatus includes a culture chamber in which culture is cultured, a shelf plate included in the culture chamber, on which the culture is placed, and shelf rests in a left-and-right pair configured to support the shelf plate and a plurality of shelf supports configured to support the shelf rests. The shelf rests each include one piece supporting the shelf plate and the other piece supported by the shelf supports. The shelf rests are in an L-shape in a cross-sectional manner whose angle between the one piece and the other piece is an acute angle. The one piece is in line contact with a lower face of the shelf plate at an end of the one piece extending obliquely upward from a side face of the culture chamber toward the inside of the culture chamber. The culture chamber is supplied with sterilizing gas to be sterilized.
US08216826B2	Fluid analyzing apparatus A fluid analyzing apparatus. The fluid analyzing apparatus sequentially or simultaneously detects and analyzes a multiplex fluid sample with suitable analyzing elements. Meanwhile, the fluid analyzing apparatus may be disassembled to a first unit, a second unit and a third unit, such that the analyzing elements therein are easily disposed and replaced. The fluid analyzing apparatus analyzes and detects the multiplex fluid sample by allowing the multiplex fluid sample to sequentially or simultaneously flow through a plurality of target chambers. The fluid analyzing apparatus sequentially or simultaneously transports the multiplex fluid sample to the target chambers, thereby enhancing the speed and analysis thereof.
US08216821B2	Regulation of heterologous recombinant protein expression in methylotrophic and methanotrophic bacteria Methylotrophic or methanotrophic bacteria such as Methylobacterium are transformed with a gene of interest, and expression of the gene is regulated by means of a cumate repressor protein and an operator sequence which is operatively linked to the gene of interest, and the addition of an external agent. Specifically, the cymR repressor and cmt operator from Pseudomonas putida may serve to regulate gene expression in methylotrophic or methanotrophic bacteria with the addition of cumate.
US08216819B2	Generation of oncolytic adenoviruses and uses thereof The present invention relates to a method for the production of onolytic adenoviruses having increased potency and their therapeutic applications for cancer. Recombinant adenoviruses and methods to produce them are provided.
US08216816B2	Ethanol production in microorganisms The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for engineering photoautotrophic organisms to convert carbon dioxide and light into fatty acid esters and other molecules, including biofuels. The molecules are then secreted by the organism into a growth medium.
US08216814B2	Microorganisms for the production of adipic acid and other compounds The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having an adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in the respective adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam. The method can include culturing an adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount to produce the respective product, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam.
US08216813B2	Process for enzymatically preparing carboxylic esters Process for enzymatically synthesizing carboxylic esters, characterized in that mixing and discharge of the water of reaction are effected by introducing a gas while achieving low effectiveness ratios EV.
US08216811B2	Methods for converting glucose to ascorbic acid Described herein are novel nucleic acids, proteins and methods that can be used to provide new catalysts with desirable traits for industrial processes. In particular, novel reductases isolated from the environment using PCR methods are described.
US08216809B2	Organic solvent pretreatment of biomass to enhance enzymatic saccharification Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of elemental sulfur and optionally one or more alkylamine and/or one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.
US08216804B2	Orthogonal translation components for the in vivo incorporation of unnatural amino acids The invention relates to orthogonal pairs of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that can incorporate unnatural amino acids into proteins produced in eubacterial host cells such as E. coli, or in a eukaryotic host such as a yeast cell. The invention provides, for example but not limited to, novel orthogonal synthetases, methods for identifying and making the novel synthetases, methods for producing proteins containing unnatural amino acids, and translation systems.
US08216800B2	Substrates for detecting peptidase activity and methods using the substrates An enzyme substrate of formula (I) detects peptidase activity: Methods of detecting peptidase activity of a microorganism may include incubating a biological sample with the enzyme substrate of formula (I), and detecting peptidase activity if a microorganism having peptidase activity is present in the biological sample. The enzyme substrate may be included in a reaction medium.
US08216796B2	Methods for treating and diagnosing fibrotic and fibroproliferative diseases The present invention provides compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating fibrotic lung disease. In one embodiment the diagnostic method comprises determining the amount of circulating CXCL-12 in a patient relative to a control.
US08216794B2	Extracellular serine protease The present invention provides a DNA encoding a novel extracellular serine protease termed Tumor Antigen Derived Gene-14 (TADG-14) which is overexpressed in ovarian, breast and colon carcinoma samples. Also provided are vector and host cells capable of expressing the DNA of the present invention, as well as the uses of the DNA and protein of the present invention. Also provided is a TADG-14 protein variant that has a potential role for detecting and targeting of ovarian carcinomas.
US08216781B2	Gene polymorphisms as predictors of tumor progression and their use in cancer therapy The invention provides compositions and methods for determining the likelihood of successful treatment with a pyrimidine based antimetabolite chemotherapy drug and a platinum based chemotherapy drug, such as 5-FU/oxaliplatin. The methods comprise determining the genomic polymorphism present in a predetermined region of a gene of interest and correlating the polymorphism to the predictive response. Patients identified as responsive are then treated with the appropriate therapy.
US08216776B2	Dialysate of peritoneal dialysis and its preparation method An aqueous solution of electrolytes, a sugar osmotic agent and a physiologically safe salt of a reductive sulfur oxy-acid. Alternatively, the dialysate comprises an aqueous solution of electrolytes, a salt of a reductive sulfur oxy-acid, and osmotic agents which contain an oncotic agent other than a sugar osmotic agent.
US08216775B2	Anti-reflection film forming material, and method for forming resist pattern using the same The anti-reflection film forming material according to the present invention includes (a) a water soluble resin having a vinyl acetate constituent unit, and (b) a compound having a constituent unit represented by the following general formula. Wherein, R1 and R2 represent a direct bond or a methylene chain; R3 and R4 represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a group represented by —(CH2)n—O—R5—R6; and at least one of R3 and R4 is a group represented by —(CH2)n—O—R5—R6, wherein: R5 represents a direct bond or an alkylene chain having 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may be interrupted with —O—; R6 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms in which a portion or all hydrogen atoms are substituted with a fluorine atom; and n represents an integer of 0 to 10. Wherein, the total number of carbon atoms present in R1 and R2 is 1 or 2.
US08216770B2	Resin composition comprising cardo resin, method for forming pattern using the resin composition and color filter using pattern formed by the method Disclosed is a resin composition including a cardo resin. Exemplary resin compositions can include (a) a cardo resin having a structural unit represented by Formula 1, (b) a reactive unsaturated compound, (c) an initiator, and (d) a solvent, wherein each R1 and R2 is independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1-C5 alkyl group, R3 is a vinyl, acryl or methacryl group, Z represents the residue of an acid anhydride or dianhydride, X is —CO—, —SO2—, —C(CF3)2—, —Si(CH3)2—, —CH2—, —C(CH3)2—, —O—, (R4═H, Et, C2H4Cl, C2H4OH, CH2CH═CH2 or Ph), and k is integer from 1 to 40. Further disclosed is a color filter which includes a fine pattern formed using the composition. The color filter can exhibit superior resistance to heat and chemicals, improved developability, and good adhesiveness.
US08216769B2	Negative working, heat sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a binder, and an infrared absorbing dye; wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle diameter, measured by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, of more than 10 nm and less than 40 nm; the amount of the IR-dye, without taking into account an optional counter ion, is more than 0.80 mg per m2 of the total surface of the thermoplastic polymer particles, measured by Hydrodynamic Fractionation; and the amount of hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles relative to the total weight of the ingredients of the imaging layer is at least 60%.
US08216767B2	Patterning process and chemical amplified photoresist with a photodegradable base A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate; forming a first material layer over the substrate; forming a second material layer over the first material layer, wherein the second material layer comprises a photodegradable base material; and exposing at least a portion of the second material layer.
US08216766B2	Polymer, polymer preparation method, resist composition and patterning process A polymer having a rate of dissolution in an alkaline developer that increases under the action of acid is provided. The polymer is prepared by reacting a hydrogenated ROMP polymer with an O-alkylating agent in the presence of a base.
US08216764B2	Positive resist composition and method of forming resist pattern A positive resist composition including a resin component (A) which exhibits increased alkali solubility under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the resin component (A) including a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester having a tertiary alkyl ester-type acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group containing an aliphatic monocyclic group and/or an aliphatic branched, tertiary alkyl ester-type acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group, and the acid-generator component (B) including an acid generator (B1) having a cation moiety represented by general formula (b′-1) shown below: wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents a naphthyl group which may have a substituent; and R3 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group exclusive of a naphthyl group.
US08216761B2	Method of producing polymerized toner Disclosed is a method for producing a polymerized toner. In the method, a mixture of colloidal silica as an aqueous dispersant and a polyvinylpyrrolidone is used during suspension polymerization. The amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone/colloidal silica aggregates having a diameter smaller than 100 nm is also limited to 1% by weight or less, based on the total weight of all aggregates. A polymerized toner produced by the method has a volume average particle diameter (dv) of 5 to 10 μm and a volume average particle diameter/number average particle diameter ratio (dv/dp) of 1.5 or less. The polymerized toner is consumed in a small amount during printing. According to the method, the formation of emulsion particles having a size smaller than 0.5 μm is inhibited.
US08216759B2	Electrophotographic carrier and use thereof The present invention provides an electrophotographic carrier which includes a core particle, a first resin layer containing a charge-generating material for coating the core particle, and a second resin layer containing a hole-transporting material for coating the first resin layer. The invention also provides a two-component developer comprising said carrier, and an image-forming process and apparatus using said developer. According to the invention, high quality images can be formed, with excellent image density (especially when developing solid images) and less fogging.
US08216752B2	Organic photoreceptor and image forming apparatus An objective is to provide an organic photoreceptor exhibiting high sensitivity, suitable for exposure to a semiconductor laser having an emission wavelength of 350-500 nm or a light emitting diode, with which generation of memory images as well as image defects caused by very small charge leakage is inhibited, and also to provide an image forming apparatus fitted with the organic photoreceptor. Also disclosed is an organic photoreceptor possessing a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer provided on a conductive support, wherein the charge generation layer contains particles made of a condensed polycyclic pigment, having an average major axis length of 500 nm or less, an average aspect ratio of 2.5-5.0, and an aspect ratio variation coefficient of 16% or less.
US08216745B2	Half-tone mask, half-tone mask blank and method for manufacturing half-tone mask A halftone mask increasing the versatility of an etching stopper layer. The half tone mask (10) is provided with a transparent portion (TA) using a glass substrate (S), a first semi-transparent portion (HA) including a first semi-transparent layer (11) formed on the glass substrate, and a light shield portion (PA) including a first semi-transparent portion, a light shield layer (13) superimposed above the first semi-transparent layer, and an etching stopper layer (12) formed between the first semi-transparent layer and the light shield layer. The first semi-transparent layer and the light shield layer are each formed from Cr or at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxide, nitride, carbide, oxynitride, oxycarbide, carbonitride, and oxycarbonitride of Cr. The etching stopper layer includes a first element of at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, and Co and a second element of at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Ti, Nb, Ta, Hf, and Zr.
US08216740B2	Fuel cell A fuel cell including an MEA sealed by a multi-block copolymer gasket is disclosed. The self-assembling, nanophase-separated polymer exhibits higher corrosion resistance relative to typical silicone gaskets while providing a better seal of the MEA to the fuel cell housing than PTFE.
US08216739B2	Fuel cell with large exchange surface area A support wafer made of silicon wafer comprising, on a first surface a porous silicon layer having protrusions, porous silicon pillars extending from the porous silicon layer to the second surface of the wafer, in front of each protrusion. Layers constituting a fuel cell can be formed on the support wafer.
US08216738B2	Deactivation of SOFC anode substrate for direct internal reforming A SOFC includes a cathode electrode, a solid oxide electrolyte, an anode electrode, and a hydrocarbon fuel inlet. The SOFC is configured for internal reforming of a hydrocarbon fuel at the anode electrode. The SOFC is configured to limit an interaction between the hydrocarbon fuel and the anode electrode adjacent to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet, or to limit an area of the anode electrode exposed to the hydrocarbon fuel adjacent to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet, or to provide a gradual introduction of the hydrocarbon fuel to the anode electrode.
US08216737B2	End plate for a fuel cell stack The present invention relates to an end plate for a fuel cell stack, containing at least one channel (7) for the supply and/or removal of at least one reactant and/or a reaction product and/or a coolant, wherein at least a part at least of one pump (8) for delivering the reactants and/or reaction products and/or coolant and which is arranged in the course of the respective channel (7) is integrated into the end plate. The invention further relates to a fuel cell stack which contains such an end-plate.
US08216736B2	Fuel cell system using evaporative cooling method The present invention provides a fuel cell system using evaporative cooling that generates electricity by reacting hydrogen as a fuel and air as an oxidant. The system includes a fuel cell stack including a cooling channel provided on a bipolar plate separately from an air channel and a hydrogen channel, an air inlet line connected to an inlet side of the cooling channel of the fuel cell stack, a water injection means provided at the inlet side of the cooling channel to inject water into air introduced to the cooling channel through the air inlet line, and an air compression means provided at the rear of the fuel cell stack and connected to a discharge line coupled to an outlet side of the cooling channel to provide a suction force to the cooling channel and to compress a mixture of air and water vapor sucked from the cooling channel. The present system provides advantages in that the configuration of the fuel cell system is simplified, lightweight, and downsized, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
US08216735B2	Thermal management system for high-temperature fuel cell A thermal management system for high-temperature fuel cell mainly comprises a first mixer to introduce external fuel to a reformer, a reformer to adjust the gaseous fuel to a proper composition ratio and output the fuel to the anode input of the fuel cell, a second mixer to introduce external ambient air to the cathode input of the fuel cell, a cathode thermal cycle pipeline to deliver the high-temperature air from the cathode output of the fuel cell to pass through the second mixer and the reformer and also heat the second mixer and the reformer to recover the heat, an anode thermal cycle pipeline to introduce the water steam from the anode output of fuel cell, remaining fuel and thermal energy to the first mixer to mix with incoming fuel, and provide sufficient water-to-carbon ratio and the inlet temperature required for the reformer.
US08216733B2	Fuel cell system Voltage rising detection unit detects a voltage rising condition of a fuel cell stack after the supply of reactant gas to the fuel cell stack is started. A control unit determines an internal state of the fuel cell stack on the basis of the detected voltage rising condition of the fuel cell stack, and then decides a subsequent operation of the fuel cell stack in accordance with the determination. This makes it possible to minimize deterioration of the fuel cell stack which is caused by generating power continuously in an unsuitable state.
US08216732B2	Fuel cell power generation system An electric power generator is particularly suitable for providing back-up power to sites with multiple power requirements. This generator comprises a rack having multiple module bays; at least one power conversion module is mounted in one of the bays and is electrically coupled to a fuel cell stack also mounted in the rack or located remote from the rack. The power conversion module converts the voltage level and/or current type of some of the electricity produced by the stack such that the generator can simultaneously output electricity at multiple voltage levels and/or current types. The rack can be a standardized nineteen relay rack, making the generator relatively compact and compatible with sites configured accept such racks.
US08216731B2	Fuel cell system and fuel control method A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a supplying unit, which supplies reactive gases to the fuel cell. A control unit includes a power production effective area calculator calculates the areas of the electrodes available for power production as a power production effective area. A current density calculator which calculates a current density of the power production effective area calculated by the power production effective area calculator based on the total amount of power required by the fuel cell. A gas supply amount determiner determines the amount of reactive gas to be supplied to the fuel cell depending on the current density. A gas supply controller controls the supplying unit so as to supply the amount of reactive gas determined by the gas supply amount determiner to the fuel cell.
US08216730B2	Fuel cell system There is disclosed a fuel cell system capable of appropriately performing the impedance measurement and scavenging control of a fuel cell during the stop of the fuel cell system. According to the present embodiment, in the fuel cell system including a control section which monitors and controls the state of a fuel cell, the control section stops the supply of a fuel gas to the fuel cell, then executes scavenging process to discharge, from the system, a water content in the fuel cell, and intermittently measures the impedance of the fuel cell during the scavenging process of the fuel cell, and the control section is characterized in that the fuel gas is intermittently supplied to the fuel cell during the scavenging process of the fuel cell.
US08216729B2	Fuel cell system and gas leak determination method for fuel cell system A fuel cell system (10) of the present invention comprises determination means (50) for consuming a fuel gas present at a gas leak detection portion of a fuel gas supply system (31, 32) through the power generation of a fuel cell (20), and performing a gas leak determination on the basis of a pressure decrease margin of the fuel gas present at the gas leak detection portion, and comprises discharge means (H51) for reducing the pressure at the gas leak detection portion by purging the fuel gas present at the gas leak detection portion to the outside of the fuel gas supply system (31, 32). By not only consuming the fuel gas present at the gas leak detection portion through power generation, but also purging the fuel gas to the outside of the fuel gas supply system, the pressure at the gas leak detection portion can be brought close to a target pressure within a short time period, and the gas leak determination can be performed in a short period of time and with a high level of precision.
US08216727B2	Aromatic hydrocarbon based proton exchange membrane and direct methanol fuel cell using same A proton exchange membrane is obtained which can give an excellent power generation characteristic when the membrane is applied to, in particular, a fuel cell wherein high-concentration methanol is used as a fuel. In the aromatic hydrocarbon based proton exchange membrane of the invention, the ion exchange capacity is set into the range of 0.6 to 1.3 meq/g. Moreover, the area swelling rate for a 30% by mass methanol aqueous solution at 40° C. is set into the range of 2 to 30%. Preferably, a sulfonic acid group is bonded to an aromatic ring of the aromatic hydrocarbon based polymer contained in the aromatic hydrocarbon based proton exchange film. Preferably, the aromatic hydrocarbon based polymer is a polyarylene ether based polymer.
US08216726B2	Battery A battery is provided. The battery includes an electrolytic solution, a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The negative electrode has a negative electrode active material layer containing a carbon material and having a thickness per one face of 70 μm or more and not more than 120 μm. The electrolytic solution contains a solvent containing 15% by mass or more and not more than 30% by mass of a cyclic carbonate represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 to R4 each independently represents hydrogen, a halogen, an alkyl group or a halogenated alkyl group. A mass content ratio (B/A) of a halogenated cyclic carbonate (B % by mass) contained in the cyclic carbonate (A % by mass) which is represented by the formula (1) being from 0.5 to 1.0.
US08216721B2	Sealed battery A sealed battery includes an electrode group formed by winding or stacking a positive electrode including a current collector carrying an active material layer thereon, a negative electrode including a current collector carrying an active material layer thereon and a separator interposed therebetween. The current collectors of the positive and negative electrodes are exposed at an end thereof and the exposed ends are welded to current collector terminals, respectively. The active material layers formed on the surfaces of the current collectors are covered with heat resistant porous films, respectively. An end face of the separator is flush with or positioned inside relative to end faces of the heat resistant porous films. The heat resistant porous films have a melting point higher than that of the separator and have a thermal conductivity lower than that of the current collectors.
US08216719B2	Non-aqueous secondary battery and method for producing the same A non-aqueous secondary battery of the present invention includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode material mixture layer containing a lithium-containing transition metal oxide. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode material mixture layer and a porous layer containing an insulating material unreactive with lithium formed thereon. The negative electrode material mixture layer includes a negative electrode material including a core and a carbon covering layer covering a surface of the core. The core includes a material containing silicon and oxygen at an atomic ratio x of the oxygen to the silicon of 0.5≦×≦1.5. The material containing silicon and oxygen has a peak at least in a range of 1850 to 1860 eV in an X-ray absorption near edge structure spectrum at the K absorption edge of Si in a state in which discharge of the battery is finished.
US08216717B2	Heat flow regulating cover for an electrical storage cell A temperature regulating cover for use on an electrical energy storage cell that may produce heat at a hot spot during a short circuit condition. The cover includes a first layer of thermally conductive material that is shaped to conform to an outer surface of the electrical energy storage cell and spreads heat from the hot spot over surface area that is larger than the hot spot. The cover also includes a second layer of thermally insulating material that is shaped to conform to an outer surface of the first layer and that retards heat flow to an outer surface of the second layer.
US08216715B2	Prismatic battery A prismatic battery is provided with a fixing portion composed of projections 29Aa and 29Ba for fixing the position of a flat electrode assembly 11 and a battery outer can 12 by contacting with an insulating sheet 32 on at least one of a positive electrode collector member 16 and a negative electrode collector member 18. The insulating sheet 32 is provided between the projections 29Aa, 29Ba and the battery outer can 12. Tips 29Ab and 29Bb of the projections 29Aa and 29Ba project from the flat electrode assembly 11 towards the battery outer can 12 side. The height of the projections is smaller than the thickness of the insulating sheet 32. This prevents short-circuiting between the positive electrode collector member or the negative electrode collector member, and the battery outer can. Thus, a prismatic battery suitable for EVs and HEVs with excellent safety can be obtained.
US08216709B2	Battery unit having case to contain cells According to one embodiment, a battery unit comprises a plurality of cells and a case to contain the cells. The case includes a first part to contain at least one cell, a second part to contain at least one cell, and a third part to connect the first and second parts. At least a portion of the third part is made thinner than the first and second parts.
US08216707B2	Rechargeable battery A rechargeable battery includes an electrode array for generating current, a case for containing the electrode array and a cap electrically connected to the electrode array through the case. The rechargeable battery also includes a current interruption device having a connection to electrically connect the electrode array and the cap assembly and a magnet proximate the connection of the current interruption device for forming a magnetic field at the connection.
US08216706B2	Battery pack A battery pack includes a bare cell including a cap plate and an electrode terminal insulated from the cap plate and a circuit module including a circuit board having a first short side, a second short side generally opposite the first short side, a first long side and a second long side generally opposite the first long side. The circuit board includes a base lead plate attached to the circuit board and a base fixing protrusion extending from the base lead plate, wherein the circuit module is on and electrically connected to the bare cell. The battery pack also includes an upper cover covering the circuit module, the upper cover including a base fixing groove adapted to receive the base fixing protrusion, wherein base fixing protrusion is in the base fixing groove.
US08216703B2	Magnetic tunnel junction device A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) (10) employing a dielectric tunneling barrier (16), useful in magnetoresistive random access memories (MRAMs) and other devices, has a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) structure (14, 16), comprising two ferromagnetic (FM) layers (26, 41; 51, 58; 61, 68) separated by a coupling layer (38, 56, 66). Improved magnetoresistance (MR) ratio is obtained by providing a further layer (44, 46, 46′, 47, 52, 62), e.g. containing Ta, preferably spaced apart from the coupling layer (38, 56, 66) by a FM layer (41, 30-2, 54). The further layer (44, 46, 46′, 47, 52, 62) may be a Ta dusting layer (44) covered by a FM layer (30-2), or a Ta containing FM alloyed layer (46), or a stack (46′) of interleaved FM and N-FM layers, or other combination (47, 62). Furthering these benefits, another FM layer, e.g., CoFe, NiFe, (30, 30-1, 51, 61) is desirably provided between the further layer (44, 46, 46′, 47, 52, 62) and the tunneling barrier (16). Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti, Mg, Nb, V, Zn, Cr, NiFeX, CoFeX and CoFeBX (X═Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti, Mg, Nb, V, Zn, Cr) are useful for the further layer (44, 46, 46′, 47, 52, 62).
US08216702B2	Coated cutting tool for metal cutting applications generating high temperatures A cutting tool insert includes a body of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, high speed steel (HSS), polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), a hard and wear resistant coating is applied, grown by physical vapour deposition (PVD) such as cathodic are evaporation or magnetron sputtering. The coating includes at least one layer of (ZrxAl1-x)N with 0.05
US08216700B2	Hard coating film, material coated with hard coating film, and die for cold plastic working Disclosed herein are a hard coating film, a material coated with the hard coating film, and a die for cold plastic working, the coating film excelling conventional surface coating layers in wear resistance as well as slidability with a low frictional coefficient.The hard coating film is characterized by a chemical composition of (VxM1-x) (BaCbN1-a-b), where 0.4≦x≦0.95 (1A) 0≦a≦0.2 (2A) 0≦1-a-b≦0.35 (3A) 0.6≦b≦1 (4A) M denotes at least one species of elements belonging to Groups 4a, 5a, and 6a and Si and Al; and x, 1-x, a, b, and 1-a-b represent respectively the atomic ratio of V, M, B, C, and N.
US08216692B2	Slide member A slide member including a base material; an intermediate layer consisting of Ag or Ag-based alloy and an additive element of a first quantity formed over the base material; and an overlay comprising Bi or Bi-based alloy and the additive element of a second quantity formed over the intermediate layer, wherein the additive element consists of a low melting point metal, the first quantity being five times or greater than the second quantity.
US08216691B2	Metal, ceramic and cermet articles formed from low viscosity aqueous slurries Metal, ceramic and cermet articles produced from low viscosity suspensions. The articles include micro diameter hollow fibers, meshes and open cell foams. The articles are useful for filters, catalyst media, fuel cell electrodes, body implantation devices, structural materials, vibration and noise control, heat exchangers, heat sinks, heat pipes, heat shields and other applications.
US08216690B2	Electrophotographic belt and electrophotographic apparatus An electrophotographic belt, excellent in surface lubrication property and smoothness, includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene terephthalate and a polyalkylene naphthalate, and a thermoplastic silicone elastomer having a specific structure.
US08216688B2	Dyeing method of aluminum-based member, and aluminum-based member In a dyeing method of an aluminum-based member, a first color forming material is held in a hole of a first region of an anodized film, a second color forming material is held in holds of a second region that is smaller than the first region by diagonally spraying, When the second colored layer is formed, a gradation region is formed in a boundary with the first region and the second region, and the hole are closed.
US08216683B2	Interlayers comprising stabilized tungsten oxide agents The present invention includes polymer interlayers that are used in multiple layer glazing panels. Interlayers of the present invention comprise a thermoplastic polymer, a plasticizer, a tungsten oxide agent, and a stabilizing agent that prevents the degradation of the tungsten oxide agent. Interlayers incorporating such components have improved ultraviolet light blocking character, and also maintain optical quality over time.
US08216678B2	Temporary protective polymer coating and removal system A system for providing temporary durable protective coatings onto surfaces of building construction elements, and for controllably removing said temporary protective coatings from said surfaces. The system comprises coating compositions configured to provide pliable resilient yet durable temporary protective coverings on surfaces of building construction elements, stripping compositions configured to at least partially dissolve the temporary protective coverings, and methods for use of said coating compositions and said stripping compositions. The coating compositions are provided with at least a first component comprising a film-forming carboxylic-acid-containing polymer, a second component comprising a plasticizer chemically compatible with the first component, a third component comprising a grafting polymer suitable for forming cross-linking bonds between the first and second components, a fourth component comprising a solvent chemically suitable for solubilizing therein said first, second and third components, and a fifth component comprising a surfactant.
US08216675B2	Methods for producing sintered particles from a slurry of an alumina-containing raw material Sintered, substantially round and spherical particles prepared from a slurry of a calcined, uncalcined or partially calcined raw material having an alumina content of more than 55% by weight, and a mullite growth promoter in an amount of from about 2 to about 10% dry weight of the total solids in the slurry. The sintered particles are suitable for use as a propping agent or as a foundry media.
US08216673B2	Glass fiber-treating agent and glass fiber-treating composition Glass fiber-treating agent which includes: (A) 5-95% by weight of an acetylene glycol or an ethylene oxide and/or a propylene oxide adduct of an acetylene glycol; and (B) 5-95% by weight of a silicone surfactant which may be polyoxyalkylene-modified. The glass fiber-treating agent reduces dynamic and static surface tension and contact angle. The glass fiber-treating agent provides excellent wetting, penetration, and antifoaming properties when glass fibers are treated therewith.
US08216672B2	Structured resin systems with high thermal conductivity fillers In one embodiment the present invention provides for a high thermal conductivity highly structured resin that comprises a host highly structured resin matrix, and a high thermal conductivity filler 30. The high thermal conductivity fillers are from 1-1000 nm in length, and high thermal conductivity fillers have an aspect ratio of between 3-100. Particular highly structured highly structured resins include at least one of liquid crystal 40 polymers, interpenetrating networks, dendrimer type matrices, expanding polymers, ladder polymers, star polymers and structured organic-inorganic hybrids 60.
US08216671B2	Luminescent glass element, producing method thereof and luminescing method thereof The present invention relates to a luminescent glass element comprising a luminescent glass substrate, which a metal layer is positioned on a surface thereof. The metal layer is provided with a metal microstructure. The luminescent glass substrate has composite oxides represented as the following formula: aM2O.bY2O3.cSiO2.dCe2O3, wherein M represents alkali metal element, a, b, c and d are, by mol part, 25-60, 1-30, 20-70 and 0.001-10 respectively. The present invention also provides a producing method of the luminescent glass element and a luminescing method thereof. The metal layer is positioned on the luminescent glass substrate, thereby improving luminescence efficiency of the luminescent glass substrate. The luminescent glass element can be used in luminescent devices with ultrahigh brightness or high-speed operation.
US08216670B2	Heat ray shielding glass for vehicle and process for producing the same A heat ray shielding glass for vehicle, including a glass substrate and a heat ray shielding film formed on at least one surface of the glass substrate, in which the heat ray shielding film includes: conductive oxide ultrafine particles dispersed in the film; and a silica binder for binding the ultrafine particles to each other, the silica binder including solid contents produced by hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraalkoxysilane and trialkoxysilane.
US08216669B2	Composition for anti-glare film and anti-glare film prepared using the same The present invention provides a composition for an anti-glare film that includes a binder resin; and an organic particle which is included in an amount of 1 to 30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin and in which concave and convex patterns are formed on a surface thereof, and an anti-glare film that is manufactured by using the same. Accordingly, the storage stability of a particle that is included in an anti-glare film for high resolution is improved to increase the durability and a lifespan of products, a glare phenomenon that is caused by incident light and recognized by an user is prevented, and image clarity and contrast ratio that is realized by using an image display device are improved.
US08216662B2	Glass-ceramic plate and method for making same A glass-ceramic plate intended in particular to cover heating elements, and having at least one bevel 35 mm or more wide, a method of manufacturing the plate, and a cooking appliance including the plate.
US08216657B2	Preform for making a prosthetic limb socket A preform for making a prosthetic limb socket includes an injection molded disk of thermoplastics material, and a peripheral portion of the disk is supported by a rigid metal ring. The ring and the peripheral disk portion have an interfitting connection which permits the disk and ring to be heated in an oven. The ring and softened disk are then inverted and stretched downwardly over a positive model of a residual limb while a vacuum is introduced through holes within the model to form a plastic socket which conforms to the model. The interfitting connection may be peripherally spaced studs on the ring and projecting into corresponding holes in the disk or may be an annular rib or arcuate rib sections on the ring which project into an annular recess or arcuate cavities within the disk. After the plastic cools, the ring is separated for reuse.
US08216655B2	Optical information recording medium An optical information recording medium is provided and includes a supporting substrate, a light-transmissive protective layer, information recording layers, and at least one interlayer transparent to a laser beam having a wavelength of 400 to 410 nm. Among the information recording layers, one or a plurality of information recording layers other than the information recording layer closest to the supporting substrate each function as a semi-transmissive information recording layer that transmits the laser beam. Some or all of the one or the plurality of semi-transmissive information recording layer include, from the laser beam incident side, a first dielectric portion having a refractive index of 2.4 or more for the wavelength of the laser beam, a recording material portion having a thickness of at least 5.2 nm, a second dielectric portion, a metal portion having a thickness of at least 7 nm, and a third dielectric portion in that order.
US08216652B1	Composition and method for manufacturing chlorosulfonated polyethylene latex and articles Composition and method for manufacturing coagulable chlorosulfonated polyethylene latex and articles are disclosed. Chlorosulfonated polyethylene solid rubber is converted to chlorosulfonated polyethylene latex that can produce strong elastic dry film. Sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate is used as an emulsifier to provide stable emulsion of ionic chlorosulfonated polyethylene latex. Anioinc ammonium salt of alginic acid solution is used as a creaming agent to provide effective creaming function and produce high yield, stable, coagulable ionic chlorosulfonated polyethylene latex. Epoxy resin, sulfur, zinc oxide, rubber accelerators and polymeric hindered phenol antioxidant are used to prepare chlorosulfonated polyethylene latex compositions for making high strength chlorosulfonated polyethylene articles.
US08216650B2	Protective and decorative ornament for a vehicle A protective and decorative ornament that remains substantially in place on a vehicle's outer surface under substantially all vehicle operating conditions. The ornament includes a top decorative layer, upper and lower foam layers beneath the top layer, fastening members that extend outward from at least two edges thereof, a weighted element between the upper and lower foam layers and proximate an edge that does not include a fastening member, a substantially rigid element beneath the lower foam layer, and a substantially smooth bottom layer coupled to contact the vehicle's surface.
US08216649B2	Liquid crystal aligning agent, method of producing a liquid crystal alignment film and liquid crystal display device The present invention relates to a liquid crystal aligning agent which contains a reaction product of at least one selected from the group consisting of a polysiloxane having a structure represented by the following formula (S-1), a hydrolysate thereof and a condensate of the hydrolysate and a compound represented by the following formula (1): (YI in the formula (S-1) is a hydroxyl group, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, R in the formula (1) is a group having an alkyl group with 4 to 20 carbon atoms, a fluoroalkyl group with 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a cyclohexyl group, or a group having 17 to 51 carbon atoms and a steroid skeleton, and XI in the formula (S-1) and Z in the formula (1) are reacted with each other to form a bond group for bonding the silicon atom in the formula (S-1) to R in the formula (1)).
US08216648B2	Film formation method and apparatus A film formation method includes setting a target object at a temperature of 150 to 550° C., the target object being placed inside the process container configured to hold a vacuum state therein, and then, repeating a cycle alternately including a first supply step and a second supply step a plurality of times to form a silicon nitride film on the target object. The first supply step is a step of supplying monochlorosilane gas as an Si source into the process container while setting the process container at a pressure of 66.65 to 666.5 Pa therein. The second supply step is a step of supplying a nitrogen-containing gas as a nitriding gas into the process container.
US08216643B2	Methods for preparation of high-purity polysilicon rods using a metallic core means A method for preparing a polysilicon rod using a metallic core means, including: installing a core means in an inner space of a deposition reactor used for preparing a silicon rod, the core means being constituted by forming at least one separation layer on the surface of a metallic core element and being connected to an electrode means, heating the core means by supplying electricity through the electrode means, and supplying a reaction gas into the inner space for silicon deposition, thereby forming a deposition output in an outward direction on the surface of the core means. The deposition output and the core means can be separated easily from the silicon rod output obtained by the process of silicon deposition, and the contamination of the deposition output caused by impurities of the metallic core element can be minimized, thereby a high-purity silicon can be prepared more economically and conveniently.
US08216642B2	Method of manufacturing film A technique that enables the formation of a low resistivity barrier film at low temperatures, in which a catalyst is placed inside a vacuum chamber and heated, a raw material gas and a reactive gas (such as H2, NH3 or SiH4) are introduced alternately into the vacuum chamber, and a reaction is effected between the raw material gas adsorbed to the surface of an object, and radicals generated by decomposition of the reactive gas on contact with the catalyst, thereby depositing a thin film on the object. Furthermore, a technique for removal of impurities (such as oxides, fluorides, carbides or nitrides), in which the catalyst is placed in a vacuum atmosphere and heated, and a treatment gas having a hydrogen atom in its chemical structure is brought into contact with the catalyst, thereby generating radicals. The surface of an object to be treated is exposed to these radicals.
US08216639B2	Methods for elimination or reduction of oxide and/or soot deposition in carbon containing layers One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for the deposition of a Carbon containing layer on a Silicon surface wherein a (i) substantially Silicon-oxide-free or reduced oxide interface results between Silicon and the Carbon containing layer during the deposition. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for deposition of a Carbon containing layer wherein the deposition process is substantially soot (particle)-free or reduction of soot.
US08216638B2	Arranging materials on a substrate Techniques for arranging materials on a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a driver for providing a rotational force, an outer body having an inner surface, and an inner body having an outer surface and disposed within the outer body in a concentric relationship therewith. The inner body may be coupled to the driver to be rotated by the rotational force. The system may further comprise a coupler attached to the outer body in order to retain a substrate, which forms at least one patterned groove therein. A fluid channel, which may be defined between the inner and outer bodies, may be filled with a fluid medium containing materials such as nano materials. When the inner body rotates via the rotational force, the materials contained in the fluid medium may be arranged in the patterned groove of the substrate.
US08216637B2	Thermally stabilized waveguides An apparatus comprising a planar optical waveguide having an optical core and optical cladding next to the optical core. The optical core or cladding includes a plurality of particles therein. Each particle has a nucleus and polymeric molecules permanently bonded to the nucleus to form a shell. A plurality of nuclei are dispersed in said core or cladding.
US08216631B2	Heart valve prosthesis and method of manufacture A cardiac valve prosthesis having a frame and two or more leaflets (preferably three) attached to the frame. The leaflets are attached to the frame between posts, with a free edge which can seal the leaflets together when the valve is closed under back pressure. The leaflets are created in a mathematically defined shape allowing good wash-out of the whole leaflet orifice, including the area close to the frame posts, thereby relieving the problem of thrombus deposition under clinical implant conditions.
US08216629B2	Lubricious intraocular lens insertion device This invention relates to a method of making an intraocular lens insertion device comprising a lubricious insertion tip assembly and to the device itself.
US08216628B2	Process for purifying starches The present invention relates to a process for purifying starches. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of removing off-flavors, off-odors, and off-colors from starches by extraction of the components causing the off-flavors, off-odors, and off-colors with a fluid in the supercritical or liquid phase.
US08216625B2	Acidic emulsified mayonnaise-like food An acidic emulsified mayonnaise-like food of the present invention contains an esterified compound composed of a starch and a hydrolysate thereof and an alkenylsuccinic acid, and a thickening polysaccharide, wherein the content of protein is 0% by mass.
US08216614B2	Powder mix of potassium calcium citrate for the treatment of kidney stones and osteoporosis A composition comprising a powder mixture of potassium citrate and calcium citrate as mixtures of pure chemical salts and methods of making and using the composition are disclosed. The composition is useful for the treatment and prevention of kidney stones and osteoporosis and better delivers potassium and calcium than commonly used potassium and calcium supplements.
US08216612B2	Embolization Embolization, as well as related particles, compositions, and methods, are disclosed.
US08216611B2	Combined-step process for pharmaceutical compositions The invention relates to a process for the solid oral pharmaceutical formulation of a pharmaceutically active ingredient such as levetiracetam, comprising a wet granulation of the pharmaceutically active ingredient and simultaneous fluid bed drying such that, as the pharmaceutical blend granulates it is simultaneously dried thus preventing it from becoming a paste. The invention therein thus provides a novel formulation preparation process characterized by a “combined” Granulation and Fluid Bed Drying process step.
US08216608B2	Gastric antacid A novel particulate composite hydrotalcite which offers antacidic effect comparable to that of a particulate hydrotalcite so far used as a gastric antacid and, further, offers excellent stomach inner wall protection effect. A particulate composite hydrotalcite represented by the following formula (1), (MgaZnb)1-xAlx(OH)2(An−)x/n.mH2O (1) wherein An− is CO32−, SO42− or Cl−, n is 1 or 2, and x, a, b and m are values that satisfy the following conditions, 0.18≦x≦0.4, 0.5≦a<1, 0
US08216603B2	Method, device, and system for delivery of therapeutic agents to the eye A method, device, and system for easier, consistent, and comfortable delivery of therapeutic agents to the front of the eye.
US08216602B2	Nerve guide The aim of the invention is to provide a nerve guide that allows the axons to develop fairly freely during regeneration. For this purpose, the nerve guide is produced based on a shaped body from a cross-linked, resorbable, gelatin-based material. The shaped body is a tubular hollow body having a wall with an exterior surface and an interior surface, which wall defines a lumen. The nerve guide comprises a semipermeable layer surrounding the lumen.
US08216596B2	Stabilized body care products, household products, textiles and fabrics Disclosed are stabilized body care products, household products, textiles and fabrics which comprise certain sterically hindered amine salt compounds. Dyed products and articles are effectively stabilized against color degradation. The products are for example skin-care products, hair-care products, dentifrices, cosmetics, laundry detergents and fabric softeners, non-detergent based fabric care products, household cleaners and textile-care products.
US08216592B2	Infection model for developing chemotherapeutic agents The present invention relates to a small animal model useful in identifying novel therapies for treating pathogenic diseases. This flexible biotechnology tool is valuable for developing novel chemotherapeutics for a broad range of microbial pathogens.
US08216591B2	Pharmaceutical compositions containing botulinum toxin This invention relates to the use of a composition comprising a polysaccharide and a botulinum toxin for reducing a skin wrinkle. In some embodiments, the polysaccharide comprises disaccharides. In some embodiments, the average molecular weight of a disaccharide unit of the polysaccharide is between about 345 D and about 1,000 D.
US08216590B2	HCV fusion polypeptides The invention provides HCV fusion polypeptides including truncated or full-length HCV NS5 polypeptides, and a portion of the HCV NS2 polypeptide, fused to at least one other HCV epitope derived from another region of the HCV polyprotein. The fusions can be used in methods of stimulating an immune response to HCV, for example a cellular immune response to HCV, such as activating hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cells, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The method can be used in model systems to develop HCV-specific immunogenic compositions, as well as to immunize against HCV.
US08216587B1	Method of vaccination The present invention provides a method of expressing an antigenic molecule or a part thereof on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell, said method comprising introducing a molecule into the cell cytosol by photochemical internalisation, wherein said molecule, or a part thereof, is subsequently presented on the surface of said cell. Methods of vaccination comprising this method, together with compositions comprising said cells and uses involving said cells expressing antigenic molecules are also provided.
US08216584B2	Imaging, diagnosis and treatment of disease The present invention relates to endothelial cell-specific genes and encoded polypeptides and materials and uses thereof in the imaging, diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the vascular endothelium.
US08216582B2	Polynucleotides and polypeptide sequences involved in cancer The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences which are differentially expressed in cancer cells compared to normal cells. The present invention more particularly relates to the use of these sequences in the diagnosis, prognosis or treatment of cancer and in the detection of cancer cells.
US08216579B2	Humanized FcγRIIB-specific antibodies and methods of use thereof The present invention relates to humanized FcγRIIB antibodies, fragments, and variants thereof that bind human FcγRIIB with a greater affinity than said antibody binds FcγRIIA. The invention encompasses the use of the humanized antibodies of the invention for the treatment of any disease related to loss of balance of Fc receptor mediated signaling, such as cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory disease. The invention provides methods of enhancing the therapeutic effect of therapeutic antibodies by administering the humanized antibodies of the invention to enhance the effector function of the therapeutic antibodies. The invention also provides methods of enhancing the efficacy of a vaccine composition by administering the humanized antibodies of the invention. The invention encompasses methods for treating an autoimmune disease and methods for elimination of cancer cells that express FcγRIIB.
US08216574B2	Engineering Fc antibody regions to confer effector function The present invention relates to molecules having a variant Fc region, wherein said variant Fc region comprises at least one amino acid modification relative to a wild-type Fc region. These modified molecules confer an effector function to a molecule, where the parent molecule does not detectably exhibit this effector function. In particular, the molecules of the invention have an increased effector cell function mediated by a FcγR, such as, but not limited to, ADCC. In one embodiment, the variant Fc region binds FcγRIIIA and/or FcγRIIA with a greater affinity, relative to a comparable molecule comprising the wild-type Fc region. The molecules of the invention have particular utility in treatment, prevention or management of a disease or disorder, such as cancer, in a sub-population of patients, wherein the target antigen is expressed at low levels in the target cell population, in particular, in patients refractory to treatment with an existing therapeutic antibody due to the low level of target antigen expression on the cancer or associated cells.
US08216570B2	TES7 and antibodies that bind thereto The invention provides the identification and characterization of a disease and cancer-associated antigen, TES7. The invention also provides a family of monoclonal antibodies that bind to antigen TES7, methods of diagnosing and treating various human cancers and diseases with TES7.
US08216569B2	Vascular endothelial growth factor 2 Disclosed are human VEGF-2 antibodies, antibody fragments, or variants thereof. Also provided are processes for producing such antibodies. The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing, treating or ameliorating a disease or disorder comprising administering to an animal, preferably a human, an effective amount of one or more VEGF-2 antibodies or fragments or variants thereof.
US08216558B2	Polymer coating of cells Polymers and methods of making them are described. The polymers may be used to coat living cells. The polymer-coated cells are useful in cell therapy applications.
US08216557B2	Methods of treating skin disease, scalp disease, sensitive skin or suppressing hair loss with microbubble washing compositions The present invention provides a microbubble washing composition for washing a human body or an animal, a microbubble washing method using the microbubble washing composition, and a microbubble washing apparatus suitable for carrying out the method are provided which are capable of safely removing sebum and old keratin adhering to the surfaces of the pores in a short period of time, keeping the skin clean for a long period of time, preventing an odor. Specifically, the present invention provides a microbubble washing composition for washing a human body or an animal including a protease and a lipase, a microbubble washing method for washing a human body or an animal including washing a human body or an animal using a washing liquid containing the washing composition and microbubbles, and a microbubble washing apparatus.
US08216554B2	Stable transfer-resistant self-tanning gel containing a water-soluble or water-dispersible gelling agent A self-tanning aqueous gel composition containing: (a) a cosmetically acceptable support; (b) at least one monocarbonyl or polycarbonyl self-tanning agent; (c) at least one aqueous phase gelling agent comprising at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible, crosslinked or non-crosslinked polymer or copolymer; d) at least one tinting agent; and (e) optionally, at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming agent.
US08216551B2	In vivo system to monitor tissue responses in birds Methods of evaluating the tissue response to an agent in birds are provided. Also disclosed are methods of monitoring exposure to agents in birds and methods of determining the efficacy of vaccines.
US08216544B2	ZnO varistor powder A ZnO varistor powder can be obtained with high operating voltage and excellent current-voltage nonlinear resistance characteristics. In the ZnO varistor powder, the main ingredient is zinc oxide (ZnO); and at least bismuth (Bi), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), antimony (Sb), nickel (Ni), and aluminum (Al), calculated as Bi2O3, CO2O3, MnO, Sb2O3, NiO, and Al3+, are contained as accessory ingredients in amounts of 0.3 to 1.5 mol % Bi2O3, 0.3 to 2.0 mol % Co2O3, 0.3 to 3 mol % MnO, 0.5 to 4 mol % Sb2O3, 0.5 to 4 mol % NiO, and 0.0005 to 0.02 mol % Al3+. ZnO content is greater than or equal to 90 mol %; the bulk density is greater than or equal to 2.5 g/cc; the powder is a spherical powder in which the 50% particle diameter in the particle size distribution is 20 μm to 120 μm.
US08216542B2	Method for separating nanotubes using microwave radiation A method for separating carbon nanotubes is disclosed where nanotubes with specific properties are separated from a mixture of nanotube products, which contains various types of nanotubes and impurities.
US08216539B2	Cascading purification The present invention provides a method of purifying a material using a cascading dissolution and washing process. The dissolution and washing processes can contain single or multiple stages. Water and dissolving chemicals are recycled through the process towards the beginning of the process.
US08216537B2	Silicon-germanium hydrides and methods for making and using same The present invention provides novel silicon-germanium hydride compounds, methods for their synthesis, methods for their deposition, and semiconductor structures made using the novel compounds.
US08216532B1	Methods of recovering rare earth elements Processes described include reacting a fresh or spent catalyst, or sorbent, with a solution containing an extracting agent (such as an acid or a base). Preferably, the catalyst contains both alumina and a molecular sieve (or a sorbent), and the reaction is performed under relatively mild conditions such that the majority of the base material does not dissolve into the solution. Thus, the catalyst can be re-used, and in certain instances the performance of the catalyst even improves, with or without re-incorporating certain of the metals back into the catalyst. Additionally, metals contained in the catalyst, such as Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, V, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Zn Sb, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pb, or their equivalent oxides, can be removed from the catalyst. Some of the metals that are removed are relatively valuable (such as the rare earth elements of La, Ce, Pr and Nd).
US08216529B2	Fluid-containing pouches with reduced gas exchange and methods for making same The invention is directed to fluid-containing pouches and to methods for forming fluid-containing pouches. In one embodiment, the invention is to a fluid-containing pouch, comprising first and second opposing sheets, and a fluid (e.g., a calibrant fluid, a reactant fluid or a wash fluid) disposed between the first and second opposing sheets. The first sheet and the second sheet have a substantially liquid and gas impermeable perimeter seal. The sheets may be sealed, for example, by one or more of heat crimping, pressure crimping, heat and pressure crimping, ultrasonic welding, metal-to-metal welding or laser welding. Fluid-containing pouches sealed according to the disclosed methods and apparatuses show substantially improvement in terms of reduced gas exchange, notably CO2 pressurization levels.
US08216525B2	Modular microfluidic system A modular microfluidic system includes modules which are arranged next to each other in a row. Every module has a microfluidic part which rests on a contact surface of the module in a locally limited area and is forced against the contact surface by a fastening element. The microfluidic part includes a fluid channel system with fluid connections that are arranged on the top surface of the microfluidic part in edge areas relative to the adjoining microfluidic parts. The fluid connections of adjoining microfluidic parts are interlinked by respective connecting channels in a connecting part bridging the microfluidic parts, wherein the connecting part rests on the microfluidic parts in the edge areas. A clamping part rests against the lower surfaces of the adjoining microfluidic parts and is connected to the connecting part via an additional fastening element in the area between the microfluidic parts.
US08216523B2	Decontamination unit with collapsible decontamination enclosure and decontamination process The disclosed invention relates to a decontamination unit that employs a collapsible decontamination enclosure and a decontaminant air stream generator that uses catalytic discharge. The invention also relates to a decontamination process using the decontamination unit. The decontamination unit may be carried by an individual person, for example, in the form of a backpack. The decontamination unit may be ruggedized for use in hostile environments such as those that may be anticipated for military applications.
US08216514B2	Method of determining the nucleotide sequence of Oligonucleotides and DNA molecules The present invention relates to a novel method for analyzing nucleic acid sequences based on real-time detection of DNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of each of the four nucleotide bases, supplied individually and serially in a microfluidic system, to a reaction cell containing a template system comprising a DNA fragment of unknown sequence and an oligonucleotide primer. Incorporation of a nucleotide base into the template system can be detected by any of a variety of methods including but not limited to fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection. Alternatively, microcalorimetic detection of the heat generated by the incorporation of a nucleotide into the extending template system using thermopile, thermistor and refractive index measurements can be used to detect extension reactions.
US08216513B2	Method and apparatus for programmable fluidic processing A method and apparatus for microfluidic processing by programmably manipulating a packet. A material is introduced onto a reaction surface and compartmentalized to form a packet. A position of the packet is sensed with a position sensor. A programmable manipulation force is applied to the packet at the position. The programmable manipulation force is adjustable according to packet position by a controller. The packet is programmably moved according to the programmable manipulation force along arbitrarily chosen paths.
US08216512B2	Apparatus for automated processing biological samples The present invention concerns an apparatus for automatic processing at least one biological sample accommodated on a carrier member, such as a slide by applying a predetermined amount of reagents in a predetermined sequence according to a processing protocol, said apparatus comprising; a housing frame; at least one processing section for accommodating at least one slide, the at least one processing section is provided within the housing; a hood cover protecting the at least one processing section in said housing; wherein the hood cover completely encloses the processing section defining an interior space; and wherein the apparatus further comprises climate control device provided to control the environment within the interior space.
US08216510B2	Clean room food processing methods Some food pathogens are not well controlled by lethality treatments followed by refrigeration. A food processing facility according to this invention reduces the likelihood that food pathogens will be able to enter the food processing facility, or spread should they be able to enter. The food processing facility is divided into a plurality of areas, with different areas having different allowed actions that can be taken on the food product, different rules and/or procedures for persons who are allowed entry, and/or different levels of cleanliness. The food processing facility includes a plurality of separate rooms individually, atmospherically and structurally isolated from each other for processing the food product, each including separate single food processing machines lines of series connected food processing, air handling systems, drain systems and/or often-used supplies and tools. If any one of the isolated food processing rooms should become contaminated, that room can be shut down and sterilized without affecting the operation of the other food processing rooms. Different air pressures within different areas limit the possible movement of airborne food pathogens. Sanitizing stations are placed between various ones of the different areas.
US08216501B2	Process for producing molded parts, in particular decorative part and/or trim part for the passenger compartment of a vehicle Implementations of the present invention relate to a molded part, in particular a decorative part and/or a trim part for the passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising a support of plastic, a decorative layer and a ductile insert of ductile material. According to implementations of the present invention, the ductile material for forming the ductile insert is or comprises a nonmetallic mat, in particular a textile mat or a prepreg mat. Implementations of the present invention also relate to an injection molding process and a compression molding process for producing molded parts, in particular decorative parts and/or trim parts for the passenger compartment of a vehicle, the molded parts comprising a support of plastic, a decorative layer and a ductile insert of ductile material.
US08216500B2	Method of manufacturing pre-bent wind turbine blades In a method of manufacturing a blade shell half of a pre-bent wind turbine blade by means of vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM), a fibre lay-up (16) is placed on a mould surface (14) and a distribution layer (24) is placed above the fibre lay-up (16). At least one segmentation area is provided in the distribution layer by providing at least one transversely extending flow barrier in the distribution layer (24) preventing or restricting longitudinal resin flow to the distribution layer. A longitudinally extending first feed channel (27) is placed above the distribution layer (24). The first feed channel (27) is divided into at least two feed channel sections, a feed channel section being arranged in each distribution layer segment. A vacuum bag (43) is arranged on top of the mould part (13) to define a mould cavity. The mould cavity (44) is evacuated and liquid resin is supplied to each feed channel section through a resin inlet to fill the mould cavity and impregnate the fibre lay-up.
US08216491B2	Thin film production A method of producing a thin film comprising uniformly dispersed carbon nanotubes, the method comprising the steps of: adapting a molecular semiconductor to make it soluble; adapting the molecular semiconductor to facilitate the formation of a high degree of molecular order and frontier orbital overlap between adjacent molecules; adapting carbon nanotubes to make them soluble; combining the soluble carbon nanotubes and the soluble molecular semiconductor in a solvent to form a solution; producing the thin film from the solution.
US08216487B2	Copolymer of propylene or ethylene oxide and of an oxirane bearing an ionic group The invention relates to a copolymer of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide and at least one substituted oxirane bearing an ionic group.The copolymer is characterized in that its chain comprises repeat units —O—CH2—CH(—CH2—O—SO3−Li+)—, repeat units —O—CH2—CHR— in which R is H or CH3, optionally, repeat units —O—CH2—CH(—CH2R′)— in which R′ is a functional group. x Uses: electrolyte in electrochemical, selective-membrane and reference-membrane devices.
US08216486B2	Temperature control module using gas pressure to control thermal conductance between liquid coolant and component body A temperature control module for a semiconductor processing chamber comprises a thermally conductive component body, one or more channels in the component body and one or more tubes concentric therewith, such that gas filled spaces surround the tubes. By flowing a heat transfer liquid in the tubes and adjusting the gas pressure in the spaces, localized temperature of the component body can be precisely controlled. One or more heating elements can be arranged in each zone and a heat transfer liquid can be passed through the tubes to effect heating or cooling of each zone by activating the heating elements and/or varying pressure of the gas in the spaces.
US08216485B2	Plasma etching method, plasma etching apparatus, control program and computer-readable storage medium A plasma etching method etches an organic film formed on a target substrate by using a plasma of a processing gas via a silicon-containing mask. The processing gas is a gaseous mixture of an oxygen-containing gas, a rare gas and a carbon fluoride gas. A computer-executable control program controls a plasma etching apparatus to perform the plasma etching method. A computer-readable storage medium stores therein a computer-executable control program.
US08216484B2	Method for fabricating capacitor A method for fabricating a capacitor includes forming a first storage node (SN) oxide layer over a substrate, forming a second SN oxide layer over the first SN oxide layer, forming a mask pattern over the second SN oxide layer, dry-etching the first and the second SN oxide layers using the mask pattern as an etch barrier to form a capacitor region, and wet-etching a resultant structure including the capacitor region to enlarge a bottom width of the capacitor region, thereby forming a final capacitor region having the enlarged bottom width, wherein the first SN oxide layer comprises one portion of high impurity concentration and the other portion of low impurity concentration, the one portion corresponding to a region where the final capacitor region is to be formed.
US08216479B2	Stormwater filter and mount assembly A stormwater filtration system includes a dry well structure including a top having an access opening, a bottom and a sidewall extending between the top and the bottom to define an internal volume of the dry well structure. A deck assembly partitions the dry well structure into an upper region and a lower region. The deck assembly includes a plurality of deck members sized to be delivered through the access opening of the dry well structure and configured to be assembled within the internal volume to form the deck assembly.
US08216476B2	Method for removing phosphorus A method for removing phosphorus includes at least the steps of: 1) placing lanthanum oxide hydrate (absorbent) into a device for removing phosphorus, and allowing sewage having a phosphorus content of less than 100 mg/L to flow through the device; 2) adding sodium hydroxide (regeneration solution of the absorbent) when the absorption capacity of the device is exhausted, and allowing the regeneration reaction to proceed for between 4 and 12 hours; and 3) collecting eluate from step 2) and recycling phosphorus.
US08216474B2	Systems and methods for purification of liquids The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying liquids. In a particular implementation, the system includes a forward-osmosis unit for diluting a water source for a downstream desalination unit. A pretreatment unit may be located hydraulically upstream of the desalination unit, such as upstream or downstream of the forward-osmosis unit. In certain embodiments, the system includes an extraction unit for extracting a relatively easily extractable osmotic agent from an osmotic draw solution. The system may include one or more forward-osmosis units downstream of the desalination unit for diluting a concentrated brine stream produced by the desalination unit. In particular embodiments, a downstream forward-osmosis unit uses the concentrated brine stream as an osmotic agent, such as to extract water from seawater or brackish water. Another downstream forward-osmosis unit may use impaired water as a feed stream.
US08216471B2	Integrated bioreactor and method of using the same for treatment of highly concentrated organic wastewater An integrated bioreactor and its applications as well as a method for treatment of highly-concentrated organic wastewater using the same. The integrated bioreactor with a concentric columnar structure includes an inner layer and an outer layer, in which the inner layer is an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and the outer layer is a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR). The effluent of the MBBR is recycled into UASB via a reflux pump mounted between a water tank and the integrated bioreactor. A water outlet of the UASB is arranged with an on-line pH monitor and a mechanical agitation device is arranged on the top of a bottom water distributor. The bioreactor is low in cost, features friendly maintenance, stable operation, and high degree of automation, and can be applied under low temperature.
US08216470B2	Multi-stage filter cartridge with polyurethane endcaps A filter cartridge is described that is designed to accommodate for example dual stage filtration. The filter cartridge has an endplate structure formed of a heat cured material, such as polyurethane, where at least one of the top end and the bottom end of the outer filter and the inner filter are embedded within the heat cured material. The heat cured material can provide an endplate structure that is convenient for manufacture and that has one or more sealing surfaces to seal with a housing that the filter cartridge is assembled with. For example, the heat cured material of the endplate can seal non-filtered fluid from filtered fluid that has passed through each of the filtration stages available in the cartridge.
US08216469B2	Filter device A filter device includes a plurality of filter elements (21) received in a filter housing having a filter inlet for a fluid to be filtered and a filter outlet for the filtered fluid. Flow through the filter elements (21) is possible in both directions for filtration or backwashing. Because the shut-off element (41) is a fast-closing plate valve (43) actuated by a hydraulic piston (53) and blocks the fluid connection so quickly, a feeding effect is created in the manner of a pressure blow on the backwashed filter element (21). The feeding effect increases the cleaning of pollution on the filter element (21), achieving an improved backwashing cleaning.
US08216468B2	Water treatment apparatus and method A mobile wastewater separator and recover unit and method for the separation and disposal/recovery of waste water for example in the oil and gas industry. It is fully self-contained and maintains the ability to separate heavy solids, floating contaminants, and water for recovery and reuse or disposal as required. Main components of the system are a large wastewater holding capacity implementing various compartments & separator/recovery mechanisms, evaporation compartments that are interchangeable for efficiency in both warm & extreme cold temperature operations, and finally a condensation recovery system and clean water holding compartment.
US08216459B2	Apparatus for removing hydrocarbons and contaminates One or more apparatuses for removing hydrocarbons and contaminates are provided. The apparatus for removing hydrocarbons and contaminates can include a hopper in communication with a material moving device. The material moving device can be at least partially disposed within a trough. An injection port can be disposed in the trough. A separation tank can be communication with the material moving device, and the separation tank can be in fluid communication with a scalper, a shaker screen, a screen, a hydrocyclone, a dewatering centrifuge, a clarifying tank, or combinations thereof.
US08216456B2	Water treatment apparatus adaptible to natural water environment A water treatment apparatus includes a first fluid channel that can circulate contaminated water in the water body, a first inlet that draws the contaminated water into the first fluid channel, and an outlet that allows the contaminated water to exit the first fluid channel. A second fluid channel installed with a filter therein can filter contaminated water in the water body to produce a filtered water flow. A fluid transport apparatus can draw the contaminated water through the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. A flow control system allows water to flow in a predetermined angular range while blocking at least a portion of the remaining angular range in at least one of the first inlet and the outlet to achieve mixing coverage with different aspect ratio. The position of the outlet can be adjusted to optimize the flow rate and pattern.
US08216453B2	Grate cover apparatus The present invention relates to a temporary grate cover apparatus for placement over a storm water grate to filter sediment and trash from entering the storm drain during a construction project.
US08216452B2	Dialysis system including multi-heater power coordination A dialysis system includes a first fluid heater, a second fluid heater, a supplemental power source and a logic implementer. The logic implementer is configured to use the supplemental power source such that when the first and second heaters are powered simultaneously, a collective current draw does not exceed a maximum allowable current draw of a branch power source powering the system.
US08216445B2	Nanoporous insulating oxide deionization device having asymmetric electrodes and method of use thereof A nanoporous insulating oxide deionization device, method of manufacture and method of use thereof for deionizing a water supply (such as a hard water supply), for desalinating a salt water supply, and for treating a bacteria-containing water supply. The device contains two composite electrodes each constructed from a conductive backing electrode and a composite oxide layer being an insulating oxide or a non-insulating oxide and an intermediate porous layer. The composite layer being substantially free of mixed oxidation states and nanoporous and having a median pore diameter of 0.5-500 nanometers and average surface area of 300-600 m2/g. The composite layer made from a stable sol-gel suspension containing particles of the insulating oxide, the median primary particle diameter being 1-50 nanometers. The difference in zeta potential, at a pH in the range of 6-9, being sufficient to suitably remove alkaline and alkaline earth cations (such as Ca2+ and Na1+), various organic and other inorganic cations and organic and inorganic anions from water, preferably household hard water. One composite layer being constructed from a mixture of Al2O3, MgAl2O4 and/or Mg-doped Al2O3 particles, and the other composite layer being constructed from SiO2 or TiO2.
US08216444B2	Device for the separation of mercury from caustic soda in chlor-alkali plants The invention relates to a device for breaking the electrical continuity of the stream of caustic soda produced in mercury-cathode chlor-alkali plants. The device is comprised of a vessel internally subdivided into three compartments by two flow-conveying septa, the three compartments being in communication and defining a caustic soda tortuous flow-path allowing the centrifugal deposition of mercury microdroplets released by the upstream amalgam decomposer.
US08216438B2	Copper anode or phosphorous-containing copper anode, method of electroplating copper on semiconductor wafer, and semiconductor wafer with low particle adhesion Provided is a copper anode or a phosphorous-containing copper anode for use in performing electroplating copper on a semiconductor wafer, wherein purity of the copper anode or the phosphorous-containing copper anode excluding phosphorous is 99.99 wt % or higher, and silicon as an impurity is 10 wtppm or less. Additionally provided is an electroplating copper method capable of effectively preventing the adhesion of particles on a plating object, particularly onto a semiconductor wafer during electroplating copper, a phosphorous-containing copper anode for use in such electroplating copper, and a semiconductor wafer comprising a copper layer with low particle adhesion formed by the foregoing copper electroplating.
US08216437B2	Electrochemical cell for oxidation of ammonia and ethanol An electrochemical cell for causing a reaction that produces hydrogen, the electrochemical cell comprising: a first electrode comprising: at least one layered electrocatalyst formed of at least one active metal layer deposited on a carbon support, wherein the at least one active metal layer is active to a target species; a second electrode comprising a conductor; a basic electrolyte; ammonia, ethanol, or combinations thereof; and electrical current in communication with the first electrode.
US08216436B2	Hetero-nanostructures for solar energy conversions and methods of fabricating same The embodiments disclosed herein relate to hetero-nanostructures for efficient solar energy conversions, and more particularly to the fabrication of titanium dioxide hetero-nanostructures and methods of using same for water splitting. In an embodiment, a hetero-nanostructure includes a plurality of connected and spaced-apart nanobeams linked together at an about 90-degree angle, the plurality of nanobeams including a conductive silicide core having an n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell. In an embodiment, a device for splitting water to generate hydrogen and oxygen includes a first compartment two-dimensional hetero-nanostructure having a plurality of connected and spaced-apart nanobeams, each nanobeam substantially perpendicular to another nanobeam, the plurality of nanobeams including an n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell having a highly conductive core; and a second compartment copper-doped titanium dioxide nanostructure, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a semi-permeable membrane.
US08216434B2	MEMS vascular sensor A micromachined sensor for measuring vascular parameters, such as fluid shear stress, includes a substrate having a front-side surface, and a backside surface opposite the front-side surface. The sensor includes a diaphragm overlying a cavity etched within the substrate, and a heat sensing element disposed on the front-side surface of the substrate and on top of the cavity and the diaphragm. The heat sensing element is electrically couplable to electrode leads formed on the backside surface of the substrate. The sensor includes an electronic system connected to the backside surface and configured to measure a change in heat convection from the sensing element to surrounding fluid when the sensing element is heated by applying an electric current thereto, and further configured to derive from the change in heat convection vascular parameters such as the shear stress of fluid flowing past the sensing element.
US08216433B2	Plasma generator and method of generating plasma using the same A plasma generator in which the variation of the impedance in the cavity before and after plasma is ignited is less and hardly affected by the shape of the cavity, and the ignitability of the plasma is improved and a method of generating plasma using the plasma generator are provided. The plasma generator comprises a nonconductive gas flow pipe (1) for introducing a gas (9) for generating plasma and discharging it into the atmosphere and a conductive antenna pipe (2) surrounding the gas flow pipe. A microwave (7) is applied to the antenna pipe to change the gas in the gas flow pipe into plasma. The plasma generator is characterized in that a slit (3) with a predetermined length is formed in the antenna pipe (2) along the axial direction of the gas flow pipe. Preferably, the plasma generator is characterized in that the length of the slit is an integral multiple of the half-wave length of the applied microwave.
US08216432B2	Optimizing reactions in fuel cells and electrochemical reactions This invention relates to novel methods for affecting, controlling and/or directing various reactions and/or reaction pathways or systems by exposing one or more components in a fuel cell reaction system to at least one spectral energy pattern. In a first aspect of the invention, at least one spectral energy pattern can be applied to a fuel cell reaction system. In a second aspect of the invention, at least one spectral energy conditioning pattern can be applied to a conditioning reaction system. The spectral energy conditioning pattern can, for example, be applied at a separate location from the reaction vessel (e.g., in a conditioning reaction vessel) or can be applied in (or to) the reaction vessel, but prior to other reaction system participants being introduced into the reaction vessel.
US08216431B1	Passive liquid distillation system There is described a water distillation system comprising a boiler assembly and a condenser assembly communicating by means of superheated steam through a passive magnetic valve opening directly under force of pressure. This allows the recovery of the latent heat of evaporation through a passive process. Additional features are described which complement the efficient transfer and recapture of heat energy, and the management of miscible fluid constituents. The distillation system described is useful for producing potable water and can be transportable or fixed in location and/or scaled for residential, neighborhood and municipal application. The distillation system may also be used for efficiently clarifying other fluids, such as for ‘de-watering’ ethanol.
US08216430B2	System and method for biomass fractioning A biomass fractionator and method are described for inputting ground biomass and outputting several vapor streams of bio-intermediate compounds along with syngas and biochar. A method for biomass fractioning comprises dispensing biomass into thin sheets of ground biomass; subjecting the thin sheets to ramps of temperature; and selectively collecting various groups of compounds as they are released from the thin sheets.
US08216429B2	Detection of distillation column flooding A method comprises sensing a differential pressure signal, filtering the differential pressure signal, generating a flooding indicator as a function of the filtered differential pressure signal, and indicating the onset of flooding. The differential pressure signal is sensed along a distillation flow path. The filtered differential pressure signal is responsive to a phase inversion along the flow path, and the flooding indicator is responsive to an onset of a flooding condition, based on the phase inversion. The onset of the flooding condition is indicated based on a change in the flooding indicator.
US08216428B2	Screen The present invention relates to a method for the production of a screen and to a screen for the treatment of a fibrous material suspension suitable for the production of a fibrous material web, the screen including at least two screen layers that are connected to each other and have apertures, at least some of the apertures being arranged in such a way that the result is screen openings leading through the screen. The production of the screen is simplified in that some of the apertures are arranged in such a way that the result is recesses on the front side of the screen which do not pass through the screen, and at least the apertures forming the recesses are introduced into the screen layers before the latter are connected.
US08216427B2	Structuring belt, press section and tissue papermaking machine for manufacturing a high bulk creped tissue paper web and method therefor A structuring layer of a structuring belt for structuring a wet fibrous web in a press section of a tissue papermaking machine for manufacturing high bulk tissue paper, the structuring layer having a web-carrying side with a surface for cooperating with the fibrous web, the surface having depressions distributed over the web-carrying side and forming a three-dimensional structure of the surface. The depressions altogether constitute 20-80% of the surface. Each depression has a dimension l of 0.25-2.5 mm in a first direction in the plane of the top surface area, a dimension b of 0.25-2.0 mm in a second direction in the plane of the top surface area, such directions being at right angles to each other, a mean depth d of 0.05-0.6 mm, and an area a as measured in the plane of the top surface area of 0.063-5.0 mm2.
US08216422B2	Substrate support bushing An apparatus for supporting a substrate within a processing chamber is provided. In one aspect, a substrate support member is provided comprising a housing having a bore formed therethrough, a support pin at least partially disposed within the bore, and a plurality of bearing elements disposed about the housing. In one aspect, the bearing elements comprise a roller having a central bore formed therethrough, a contoured outer surface, and a shaft at least partially disposed through the central bore. In another aspect, the bearing elements comprise a ball assembly comprising a larger spherical member and four smaller spherical members arranged about the larger spherical member.
US08216421B2	Plasma stabilization method and plasma apparatus A plasma technique in which a plasma generation technique frequently used in various fields including a semiconductor manufacturing process is used, and generation of plasma instability (high-speed impedance change of a plasma) can efficiently be suppressed and controlled in order to manufacture stable products. In a method of disposing an object in a chamber and generating the plasma to treat the object, the chamber is sealed by a surrounding member so as to have an inner space, with at least a part of the member including a dielectric material, an RF induction coil is disposed outside the dielectric member, and a direct-current electric field is supplied into the inner space by a method of passing a direct current through the RF induction coil or another method, so that the plasma is stabilized.
US08216412B2	Gluing machine and method for the gluing of the final edge of a log A gluing machine for gluing the final edge of a log successively comprising an introduction group of the logs one after the other into the machine, an unwinding group of the log associated with identification means of the final edge, an opening group of the final edge from the log, a glue transfer group onto the log and a rewinding group of the final edge onto the log, in which the unwinding group of the log comprises a pair of rollers arranged one on top of the other to make a passage for the log, the pair of rollers being selectively for the feeding and for the retention in rotation of the log, at least one inclined surface of free rolling of the log being provided downstream of the pair of rollers.
US08216406B2	Method for manufacturing thermally expandable base material for vehicle interior and method for manufacturing base material for vehicle interior using same A method for producing a thermally expandable base material for a vehicle interior, the method includes needling a web to produce a fiber mat. The web includes an inorganic fiber, a thermoplastic resin fiber, and a thermally expandable microcapsule. The fiber mat is heated to a temperature at which the thermoplastic resin fiber is melt and which is lower than a thermal expansion starting temperature of the thermally expandable microcapsule. The fiber mat is hot-pressed. The fiber mat is cooled.
US08216405B2	Making an optic with a cladding Embodiments related to making an optic comprising a cladding are disclosed. One example embodiment comprises forming a wedge-shaped light guide having opposing first and second faces and comprising a material having a first refractive index. The embodiment further comprises applying a cladding layer to the first face, and, applying an interface layer to the cladding layer. In this embodiment, the cladding layer has a second refractive index less than the first refractive index, and the interface layer has a third refractive index matched to the first refractive index.
US08216403B2	Perchlorate-free red signal flare composition Perchlorate-free flare compositions are disclosed which, when burned, produce red smoke and flames. Methods of producing the compositions are also disclosed.
US08216399B1	Quench tank water circulation loop An improved quenching process is provided by supplying a secondary quenching tank with cooling medium from the pit of a forging press. Only heated, but unprocessed, billets are quenched in the secondary quench tank. The cooling medium from the pit of the forging press is not as clean as fresh water, but because the billets will be reheated, forged and quenched later with a fresh or conditioned cooling medium, the secondary tank quenching medium quality is not restrictive.
US08216393B2	Method for the production of powder composite cores and powder composite core A powder composite core is to be particularly dense and strong while being produced from soft magnetic alloys. In particular, the expansion of the heat-treated core is to be avoided. To produce this core, a strip of a soft magnetic alloy is first comminuted to form particles. The particles are mixed with a first binder having a curing temperature T1,cure and a decomposition temperature T1,decompose and a second binder having a curing temperature T2,cure and a decomposition temperature T2,decompose, wherein T1,cureT2,cure.
US08216392B2	Device and method for cleaning the core engine of a jet power plant The object of the invention is a device for cleaning the core engine of a jet engine, having a supply unit, which provides the cleaning medium, a nozzle unit, which is configured for feeding the cleaning medium into the core engine, and a line connection (10) between the supply unit and the nozzle unit. The invention provides that the nozzle unit has a means for the rotationally fixed connection to the fan shaft of the jet engine, and that a rotary coupling (5) is provided between the nozzle unit and the line connection (10). The object of the invention is further an arrangement of such a device and a turbo fan jet engine, and a method for cleaning the core engine of a jet engine using the device.
US08216390B2	Cleaning and drying-preventing method, and cleaning and drying-preventing apparatus A cleaning and drying-preventing method including: positioning a nozzle in a container such that a funnel-like inner circumferential surface of the container is located around a periphery of a distal end of the nozzle; sucking a liquid in the nozzle to retract a level of the liquid to a side of a supply passage; supplying a solvent into the container to form a swirl flow of the solvent turning around the distal end of the nozzle, and cleaning the nozzle by the swirl flow; supplying a solvent into the container to form a liquid pool of the solvent; and further retracting the level of the liquid in the nozzle to the side of the supply passage. A liquid layer, an air layer, and a solvent layer are formed in the nozzle in this order from the side of the supply passage, to prevent drying of the liquid in the nozzle.
US08216389B2	Substrate cleaning method and substrate cleaning apparatus A substrate cleaning method that includes: a step in which, while a substrate holder is being continuously rotated, a to-be-discharged position of the cleaning liquid on the substrate is changed to an eccentric position deviated from the central part of the substrate, and a gas is discharged from a gas nozzle to the central part of the substrate so as to form a dried area of the cleaning liquid under a condition in which a shortest distance between an edge of a cleaning liquid flow output from the cleaning-liquid nozzle and an edge of a gas flow output from the gas nozzle is set between 9 mm and 15 mm.
US08216385B2	System and method for cleaning a grinding machine A grinding machine cleaning system and method provides a range of human safe products that can easily be introduced into the grinding chamber and cycled through the equipment. Some of the products include corn cobs, walnut shells, pecan shells, nuts, rice, dried corn kernels, corn meal, barley, wheat, bulgur, and other grain, fiber, legume, nut, bark, and shell products in varying shapes and sizes. Organic products have largely been considered ideal. However, inorganic materials also my be used with equal effect.
US08216383B2	Methods and composition for cleaning a heat transfer system having an aluminum component Disclosed herein is a method and treatment system for rapid cleaning and protecting of automotive cooling systems containing controlled atmosphere brazed aluminum heat exchangers. The method and treatment system can optionally include a conditioning (passivating) step. The treatment system can comprise three different parts: (1) cleaner or cleaning solution; (2) conditioner or conditioning solution; and (3) compatible CAB aluminum protective heat transfer fluid.
US08216380B2	Gap maintenance for opening to process chamber A semiconductor processing apparatus includes a reaction chamber, a movable susceptor, a movement element, and a control system. The reaction chamber includes a baseplate. The baseplate includes an opening. The movable susceptor is configured to hold a workpiece. The movable element is configured to move a workpiece held on the susceptor towards the opening of the baseplate. The control system is configured to space the susceptor from the baseplate by an unsealed gap during processing of a workpiece in the reaction chamber. Purge gases may flow through the gap into the reaction chamber. Methods of maintaining the gap during processing include calibrating the height of pads and capacitance measurements when the susceptor is spaced from the baseplate.
US08216379B2	Non-circular substrate holders A substrate holder comprises a generally circular planar body, the body having greater than or equal to two pairs of diametrically opposed, parallel flat edges, and wherein the substrate holder is configured to fit on a generally circular susceptor within a processing chamber. In some embodiments the substrate holder has four pairs of diametrically opposed, parallel flat edges, whereby the substrate holder is substantially octagonal. Furthermore, in some embodiments the substrate holder covers less than eighty percent of the susceptor area. A method of processing a substrate using the substrate holder includes: loading the substrate into a recess in the substrate holder; transferring the substrate holder through a loadlock into the processing chamber, the substrate holder being presented with a smallest cross-section aligned for passage through the loadlock; placing the substrate holder on the susceptor; and processing the substrate. The substrate holder may carry a plurality of substrates. Alternatively, the substrate holder may carry a single large substrate, the substrate being trimmed to fit the substrate holder.
US08216377B2	Method and system for binding halide-based contaminants A method and apparatus are presented for reducing halide-based contamination within deposited titanium-based thin films. Halide adsorbing materials are utilized within the deposition chamber to remove halides, such as chlorine and chlorides, during the deposition process so that contamination of the titanium-based film is minimized. A method for regenerating the halide adsorbing material is also provided.
US08216375B2	Slab cross flow CVD reactor A method and system for performing chemical vapor deposition are disclosed. A chemical vapor deposition reactor can have a generally rectangular chamber that is configured for cross flow and/or zone flow control of reactant gases therethrough. One reactant gas can be injected into the chamber from one end thereof to create cross flow. Another reactant gas can be injected through the top of the chamber. Inert gas can be injected into the chamber to enhance flow control. By providing cross flow and zone flow control, more uniform deposition can be obtained. Also, parameters such as gas flows are less coupled to one another and can therefore be more easily controlled.
US08216372B2	Apparatus for growing high quality silicon single crystal ingot and growing method using the same The invention relates to an apparatus and method for growing a high quality Si single crystal ingot and a Si single crystal ingot and wafer produced thereby. The growth apparatus controls the oxygen concentration of the Si single crystal ingot to various values thereby producing the Si single crystal ingot with high productivity and extremely controlled growth defects.
US08216367B2	Method for production of silicon carbide layer, gallium nitride semiconductor device and silicon substrate A method for producing a silicon carbide layer on a surface of a silicon substrate includes the step of irradiating the surface of the silicon substrate heated in a high vacuum at a temperature in a range of from 500° C. to 1050° C. with a hydrocarbon-based gas as well as an electron beam to form a cubic silicon carbide layer on the silicon substrate surface.
US08216364B1	System and method for low-power nanotube growth using direct resistive heating Direct resistive heating is used to grow nanotubes out of carbon and other materials. A growth-initiated array of nanotubes is provided using a CVD or ion implantation process. These processes use indirect heating to heat the catalysts to initiate growth. Once growth is initiated, an electrical source is connected between the substrate and a plate above the nanotubes to source electrical current through and resistively heat the nanotubes and their catalysts. A material source supplies the heated catalysts with carbon or another material to continue growth of the array of nanotubes. Once direct heating has commenced, the source of indirect heating can be removed or at least reduced. Because direct resistive heating is more efficient than indirect heating the total power consumption is reduced significantly.
US08216363B2	Continuous antisolvent crystallization process and system using plug flow reactors A process and system for continuous crystallization of a compound using antisolvent addition in which a solution is prepared with an organic compound and a solvent. An antisolvent is added to the solution in a continuous plug flow system comprising at least one process module. The antisolvent can be added in multiple addition points such that the overall amount of antisolvent added to the continuous plug flow reactor remains fixed. The multiple addition point technique provides every process module with an equal volume of antisolvent. Finally, crystals are recovered from the slurry upon exiting the system. Preferably, the mean crystal size is less than 100 μm.
US08216362B2	Controlling agglomerated point defect and oxygen cluster formation induced by the lateral surface of a silicon single crystal during CZ growth Processes for preparing a single crystal silicon ingot are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the processes involve controlling (1) a growth velocity, v, of the ingot as well as (2) an average axial temperature gradient, G, a corrected average axial temperature gradient, Gcorrected, or an effective average axial temperature gradient, Geffective, during the growth of at least a segment of the constant diameter portion of the ingot.
US08216356B2	Ink set for ink jet, ink jet coloring process and colored product for outdoor An object of the present invention is to provide an ink set for ink jet capable of obtaining printed articles superior in warm color representation and weather resistance, an ink jet coloring process and a colored product for outdoor. An ink set for ink jet containing an orange pigment ink (a) and a red pigment ink (b) wherein the orange pigment ink (a) includes iron oxide serving as an orange pigment and a solvent, and the red pigment ink (b) includes iron oxide serving as said red pigment; at least one of a pigment selected from condensed polycyclic compound pigments, said at least one of a pigment serving as said red pigment; and a solvent.
US08216355B2	Ink, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge, and ink jet recording apparatus An ink contains at least a pigment, wherein the pigment is C.I. Pigment Red 282, and a primary particle diameter D (nm) of the pigment and a 50%-cumulative diameter D50 (nm) in particle diameter distribution of the pigment satisfy a relation of D×0.95≦D50≦150, and a 90%-cumulative diameter D90 (nm) in particle diameter distribution of the pigment and the 50%-cumulative diameter D50 (nm) satisfy a relation of 1.5≦D90/D50≦2.5.
US08216353B2	Ink-jet ink and ink-jet recording method An ink-jet ink comprising at least water, a water-soluble solvent, a radically polymerizable compound, and a photoinitiator, wherein the photoinitiator is a benzyl ketal compound incorporating a pendent water-soluble group via an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
US08216351B2	Carbon dioxide purification apparatus An Apparatus for purifying a feed stream containing carbon dioxide in which the feed stream, after having been compressed and dried, is partly cooled and then used to reboil a stripping column. Thereafter, the feed stream is further cooled and expanded to a lower operational temperature of the stripping column. A carbon dioxide product stream composed of the liquid column bottoms of the stripping column is expanded at one or more pressures to generate refrigeration, then fully vaporized within the main heat exchanger and compressed by a compressor to produce a compressed carbon dioxide product. Refrigeration is recovered in the main heat exchanger from a column overhead stream extracted from the stripping column within the main heat exchanger either directly or indirectly by auxiliary processing in which carbon dioxide is further separated and optionally recycled back to the main compressor used in compressing the feed stream.
US08216350B2	Dryer for air suspension for vehicle A dryer for an air suspension for a vehicle, includes a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a desiccant disposed between first and second filters within the housing, and a guide member including a shielding cylinder portion and a plate portion having plural communication holes, wherein the guide member is disposed between the inlet port and the first filter positioned closer to the inlet port, supports the first filter and the desiccant and guides a fluid to the desiccant, the shielding cylinder portion includes an opening and forms a flow passage for guiding the fluid, the fluid is guided to the desiccant from the inlet port via the shielding cylinder portion, and the flow passage and the communication holes, so that the fluid is dried by the desiccant and is then discharged from the dryer as a dry air to the air suspension for the vehicle.
US08216349B2	Evaporative emissions filter An evaporative emissions filter for an engine air induction system. The evaporative emissions filter includes a hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member disposed within the air induction system outside the direct air flow path. A mechanism is provided for mounting the evaporative emissions filter within the air induction system. Hydrocarbon vapors present in the air induction system after engine shut-down are substantially retained in the adsorbent member until air flows through the air induction system after the engine starts.
US08216343B2	Radial flow reactor with movable supports A radial flow reactor vessel is disclosed for use in gas purification, separation or reaction processes and most suitably used in prepurification processes. The reactor has internal baskets for confining a bed of active material. The baskets are rigidly supported at both the top and bottom ends of the reactor and have walls that are axially flexible and radially rigid. The vessel has multiple movable support columns designed to facilitate pre-stressing of the baskets to offset axial compressive loads induced from thermal cycling.
US08216334B2	Air filter arrangement; assembly; and, methods Air cleaner assemblies and components therefor are described. An example first or main filter cartridge is described which includes a media pack comprising strips of fluted material secured to facing sheets, oriented in a stack. The media pack defines opposite inlet and outlet flow faces, with flutes extending in a direction therebetween. The media pack is non-removably secured within a filter cartridge housing, at a location between opposite sections of a shell, typically secured thereto with an adhesive. The shell also defines a closed end, spaced from, but in overlap with, the outlet end face of the media pack. The closed end is typically curved and the shell typically provides either a d/b-shape or a u-shape. The filter includes an end member, with a outlet flow aperture arrangement therein, allowing for outlet flow from the filter cartridge in a general direction orthogonal to air flow through the media pack. The air cleaner assembly includes a housing having features for receipt of, and engagement by, the filter cartridge. An optional secondary filter cartridge is provided, mountable on the housing in an orientation projecting into a clean air volume in the main filter cartridge.
US08216331B2	Plate-like separator for separating liquids from a gas stream A separator is provided for separating liquids from a gas stream and has a plurality of separating profiles juxtaposed parallel to one another, each profile forming two curved deflection surfaces which lie opposite one another with the concave side laterally offset, wherein the deflection surfaces between them include a swirl chamber having an inlet gap and an outlet gap and terminate at their longitudinal edges in a projection that projects from the deflection surfaces and extends along the longitudinal edges. At least one of the projections has a first, substantially planar outer surface emanating from the deflection surface substantially transversely thereof and a second, substantially planar outer surface adjoining the first outer surface at an acute angle, so that the at least one projection forms a sharp edge that projects into the gas stream flowing along the deflection surfaces.
US08216330B2	Powered air cleaning system and air cleaning method A powered air cleaning system has a flow path extending through the system from an inlet to an outlet. A motor-driven fan is located along the flow path to draw particulate debris laden air into the inlet and rotate it about an axis to form a rotating flow that stratifies the debris laden air with the heaviest particles in the outermost orbits of the rotating flow. An ejector port ejects particulate debris laden air from the stratified rotating flow in the system. At least one de-swirl component located within the rotating flow aerodynamically redirects clean air from the innermost orbits of the stratified rotating flow toward the outlet to provide a positive airflow pressure out of the outlet. The system has a variable speed fan motor and an integrated controller for adjusting the speed of the motor and thereby the flow rate of clean air through the outlet of the system. The controller receives a signal that is a function of airflow requirements of a device supplied with clean air by the system. The system can be mounted above or below a hood housing an engine to be supplied with clean air.
US08216328B2	Ceria material and method of forming same A particulate material comprising cerium oxide particles having a secondary particle size distribution in a range of 80 nm to 199 nm and a density of at least 6.6 g/cm3.
US08216326B2	High porosity vitrified superabrasive products and method of preparation A vitrified superabrasive product includes a superabrasive component and a vitrified bond component in which the superabrasive component is dispersed, wherein the vitrified bond component defines pores occupying greater than about 50% of the total volume of the vitrified superabrasive product. The vitrified superabrasive product can be in the form of a grinding tool, such as a grinding wheel. A superabrasive mixture includes a glass powder, a superabrasive grit, a binder and a silicon carbide. The mixture can be in the form of a green body, which is fired under an atmosphere and pressure, and at a temperature sufficient to form a porous vitrified superabrasive product.
US08216323B2	System and method for hydrogen production A system comprises a mixed reforming zone configured to receive a first fuel steam mixture and an oxidant to produce a first reformate stream comprising hydrogen. The system further comprises at least one steam-reforming zone configured to receive the first reformate stream, a first portion of steam and a second fuel to produce a second reformate stream comprising hydrogen. The first reformate stream is mixed with the first portion of steam and second fuel before entering the steam reforming zone.
US08216320B2	Expanding trial stem for orthopaedic surgery A trial device and a method for using the device in surgery are disclosed. The device includes a body including a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion has a post or trunion projecting therefrom. The distal portion extends from the proximal portion and includes a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms being moveable with respect to one another. The body further includes a cavity formed therein so as to extend through the proximal portion and into the distal portion. The device further includes a driver adapted for sliding engagement within the internal cavity of the body such that movement of the driver, preferably in a distal direction, causes movement of a portion of the first arm away from a portion of the second arm.
US08216319B2	Method of repairing a knee joint A knee joint is repaired by implanting a trochlear implant component, a patellar implant component and an anti-abrasion stud. The stud has a bearing surface, a bone-facing surface and a fixation post. The fixation post is implanted in the distal femur so that the bearing surface of the stud stands above the patient's native articular cartilage. The stud and trochlear component are implanted in close enough proximity to limit contact between the patellar component and the native articular cartilage around the trochlear component during flexion and extension of the knee joint.
US08216314B2	Distractable spinal implant assembly A spinal implant assembly includes a housing for containing a bearing member therein and seating within an intervertebral space and a bearing member disposed within the housing for enabling disc-like movement between vertebrae defining the intervertebral space. The combination of the housing and bearing member provide a distracting mechanism disposed within the housing halves 12, 14 for distracting the housing halves 12, 14 from a first condition in which the housing halves 12, 14 are floatable into the intervertebral space to a second condition in which the housing halves 12, 14 are distracted to fixedly engage the opposing vertebral services defining the intervertebral space. A method of inserting the spinal implant assembly into the intervertebral space includes the steps of inserting the spinal implant assembly into the intervertebral space and then distracting the spinal implant assembly from a first condition in which the spinal implant assembly is floatable into the intervertebral space to a second condition in which the assembly is distracted to fixedly engage opposing vertebral services defining the intervertebral space.
US08216313B2	Spondylolisthesis correction apparatus and method An apparatus and method are provided that allow for the realignment and stabilization of adjacent vertebrae. An implant of this invention both repositions adjacent vertebrae and remains in situ to maintain a new position. The implant has an upper half and a lower half, which are interlocked such that they can slide horizontally with respect to each other. Movement of the implant halves and their respective positions are controlled by a reduction bar and reduction rod in combination with an internal locking block within the implant. The reduction rod, being connected to a lower half and placed adjacent to the upper half, is rotated to bring the implant halves into alignment. The internal locking block engages to permanently hold the alignment and maintain the new position. A release mechanism for the internal locking block allows for readjustment of the implant halves and realignment of the vertebrae.
US08216312B2	Spinal interbody system and method Embodiments of the present invention provide spinal implant systems and methods. According to one embodiment, a plate attached to one or more vertebrae can prevent expulsion of an interbody device from a disc space. The plate and interbody device can be coupled by an attachment member. According to one embodiment, the attachment member is coupled to the plate and includes a portion inserted in a threaded or non-threaded cavity. Preferably, the coupling between the plate and attachment member allows rotation in three dimensions thereby allowing the plate to rotate relative to the interbody device. This allows the plate to be better positioned for attachment to the spine during an operation.
US08216309B2	Vision prosthesis A vision prosthesis includes an intra-ocular lens system having a variable focal length; and a controller that causes a change in the focal length thereof.
US08216305B2	Systems and methods for implanting and examining intraocular lens Systems and methods for designing and implanting a customized intra-ocular lens (IOL) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes an eye analysis module that analyzes a patient's eye and generates biometric information relating to the eye. The system also includes eye modeling and optimization modules to generate an optimized IOL model based upon the biometric information and other inputted parameters representative of patient preferences. The system further includes a manufacturing module configured manufacture the customized IOL based on the optimized IOL model. In addition, the system can include an intra-operative real time analyzer configured to measure and display topography and aberrometry information related to a patient's eye for assisting in proper implantation of the IOL.
US08216304B2	Annuloplasty ring and holder combination An annuloplasty ring holder includes an angled post for improved visibility and access by the surgeon. The post may be configured to be adjusted in angle and rotation. The ring holder can include a relatively open lower template, including relatively narrow extending radial arms with short, generally arcuate ring-retaining distal portions. The invention includes placements of suture holes and cutting wells which, in combination with improved suture routing, afford the user improved access to cutting the suture that is used to retain the annuloplasty ring to the holder. Another annuloplasty ring and ring holder combination disclosed includes a generally triangular-shaped ring and a generally T-shaped holder. The ring holder has a base portion forming the top of the T shape and engaging against a first segment of the ring, with a radial arm extending from the base portion and forming the post of the T. The radial arm engages against a junction between two segments of the ring.
US08216303B2	Apparatus and method for treating a regurgitant heart valve An apparatus is provided for treating regurgitation of blood flow through a diseased heart valve. The apparatus includes an annular support member and at least one posterior leaflet support member. The annular support member has an anterior end portion, a posterior end portion, and oppositely disposed first and second intermediate portions extending between the end portions. The at least one posterior leaflet support member is securely connected to the annular support member and is dimensioned to extend across a portion of a free edge of a posterior valve leaflet. The posterior leaflet support member comprises an arcuate center portion integrally formed with and extending between first and second end portions. The arcuate center portion has a concave shape relative to the anterior end portion. At least one of the first and second end portions is securely attached to the posterior end portion.
US08216301B2	Implant implantation unit The implant implantation unit, at a determined position in the tubular element with a wall comprising a cavity, is pushed there by a catheter and the unit comprises deformable feelers to, under the control of remote activation elements, change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.
US08216300B2	Drug delivery from electroactive molecularly imprinted polymer A device delivers a chemical or biological agent, the device comprises an imprint molecule (IM) to be delivered by the device; an electroactive molecularly imprinted polymer (EMIP) imprinted with the imprint molecule, the EMIP having a plurality of binding sites capable of binding the imprint; and an electric potential producing member (EPM), the EPM being capable of producing an electric potential between the EPM and the EMIP; whereby when the EMIP has a predetermined density of imprint molecule bound at the binding sites, and whereby when a sufficient potential is produced between the EPM and the EMIP, the imprint molecule is released from the binding site and thereby delivered by the device.
US08216299B2	Method to retract a body vessel wall with remodelable material The present invention provides remodelable materials for retracting the interior walls of a body vessel via remodeling processes. Also provided are methods, kits and devices for the same.
US08216293B2	Flexible shaft A flexible shaft (28) to be inserted into a channel of a living body provided with a plurality of adjacently abutting cells (26), the walls (30) of which are formed from wall sections. For this reason the flexible shaft (28), which is particularly cost-effective to produce and which demonstrates high flexibility paired with ample stability, is constructed such that in at least one cell (26) in the cross-section of the wall (30) a concave wall section (44, 46, 48) is circumferentially alternated with a corresponding neighboring convex wall section (50, 52, 54).
US08216292B2	Chemically based vascular occlusion device deployment A vascular occlusion device deployment system for placing an occlusion device at a preselected site within the vasculature of a patient. The deployment system employing a pusher having a lumen with an opening at the distal end of the pusher. A vascular occlusion device is connected to the distal end of the pusher by a portion that is removeably disposed within the opening. The portion of the occlusion device is forced out of the opening by an expandable reaction chamber, thereby deploying the occlusion device. The expandable reaction chamber, prior to deployment, has multiple chambers separated by a heat-dissolvable membrane. When the membrane is dissolved, components from the chambers react and expand, leading to deployment.
US08216289B2	Illuminator for photodynamic therapy An apparatus and method for photodynamic therapy or photodynamic diagnosis using an illuminator comprising a plurality of light sources generally conforming to a contoured surface and irradiating the contoured surface with substantially uniform intensity visible light. The light sources may comprise generally U-shaped fluorescent tubes that are driven by electronic ballasts. Adjustment of the ballast voltage controls the output power of the tubes. The tubes are supported by a sheet-metal or plastic housing and are covered by a polycarbonate shield which directs cooling airflow within the unit and prevents glass-patient contact in the vent of tube breakage. An aluminum reflector located behind the tubes increases both the output irradiance and the uniformity of the output distribution. The spacing of the U-shaped tubes is varied to increase the output at the edges of the illuminator to make the output more uniform. Also, different portions of the tubes are cooled at different amounts, to improve uniformity. A light sensor monitors output from the U-shaped tubes to provide a signal for adjusting the output from the tubes.
US08216281B2	Low profile spinal prosthesis incorporating a bone anchor having a deflectable post and a compound spinal rod A spine stabilization prosthesis which supports the spine while providing for the preservation of spinal motion. The spine stabilization prosthesis incorporates a bone anchor having a deflectable post and a compound spinal rod which provide for load sharing while preserving range of motion and reducing stress exerted upon the bone anchors and spinal anatomy. The bone anchor includes a deflectable post connected by a ball-joint to a bone screw. The compound spinal rod includes a coupling mounted to the deflectable post and connected by a pivoting joint to a rod. The combined motions of the ball-joint and the pivoting joint support a range of motion of adjacent vertebrae which closely approximates the natural range of motion of the spine.
US08216280B2	Mobile spine stabilization device An orthopedic device is described for stabilizing the spinal column between first and second vertebral bodies. The device has first and second screws adapted for fixation to the first and second vertebral bodies, respectively. The device further includes an elongated ligament with a first end connected to the first screw and the second end operatively connected with the second screw. The ligament is made preferably of a nickel titanium alloy selected to have ductile inelastic properties at body temperature and is capable of plastic deformation to allow relative constrained motion between the vertebral bodies. The preferred nickel titanium has a martensite/austenite transition temperature above body temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the second pedicle screw includes a bearing for receiving the ligament in a slidably engageable relationship. The device further includes optional first and second dampening members surrounding the ligament for restraining the spinal column during flexion and extension.
US08216279B2	Spinal implant kits with multiple interchangeable modules An interspinous implant kit includes a receiver body and multiple modules. The receiver body is adapted to be implanted between a spinous processes and includes corresponding saddles with an intermediate section therebetween. The intermediate section includes a module-receiving bay. The modules are configured to be interchangeably received in the bay. The first module may have a sensor adapted to generate measurement data indicative of at least one of forces acting on said receiver body and strain when mated to said receiver body. The second and third modules have mechanical material properties that are the of the same type, but different. One of the modules is advantageously mated to the receiver body to form a long-term implant.
US08216277B2	Spine distraction implant and method A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
US08216274B2	Longitudinal member for use in spinal or trauma surgery and stabilization device with such a longitudinal member A longitudinal member for use in spinal or trauma surgery is provided which is sized to span a distance between at least two vertebrae or two bone parts, wherein the longitudinal member is made at least partially of a polymer material, such as an elastomer, which is extruded. The polymer chains of the longitudinal member are substantially aligned in the longitudinal direction of the member. The longitudinal member is included in a dynamic stabilization device having at least two bone anchoring elements and such a longitudinal member connecting the bone anchoring elements.
US08216272B2	Absorbable anchor for hernia mesh fixation A delivery device for delivering at least one surgical anchor into a patient's tissue is provided and includes a housing; a delivery tube with distal and proximal ends, the delivery tube including a retention member disposed at the distal end thereof and extending inwardly at an angle transverse with respect to a longitudinal axis of the delivery tube; and a reciprocating anchor carrier with distal and proximal positions and distal and proximal ends, the distal end of the anchor carrier terminating in a tissue penetrator member, the anchor carrier being moveable distally and proximally with respect to the delivery device, the tissue penetrator member defining an annular shoulder configured to removably retain a plurality of surgical anchors about the anchor carrier.
US08216270B2	Embolic protection device An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire. The filter element collapses into an outer end of a catheter for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow through passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body. After use, the catheter is movable along the guidewire to engage the proximal end of the filter element and close the inlet openings before sliding over the filter element from the proximal end to the distal end to progressively collapse the filter body on the guidewire for retrieval.
US08216269B2	Embolic protection device having reduced profile A device for capturing emboli during treatment of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a base having expanded and collapsed states, and proximal and distal portions. The distal portion has a support portion configured to deploy in the body vessel when the base is in the expanded state. The device further comprises a filter portion disposed on the distal portion of the base. The filter portion includes a lip extending to a filter body to a filter end. The filter portion is configured to engage the support portion when deployed to define an opening of the filter portion for capturing emboli. The device further comprises a collector through which the base is slideably disposed for delivery and retrieval of the device.
US08216268B2	Intragastric bag for treating obesity An apparatus and method comprising at least one intragastric member made of a digestive-resistant or substantially indigestible material that is introduced into a bag located in the gastric lumen of a mammal for the treatment of obesity. One or more intragastric members are loaded into a delivery tube in a partially compacted first configuration and delivered to an overtube. The overtube includes a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen configured to receive the intragastric members in the first configuration for delivery to the bag located in the gastric lumen wherein the intragastric member is expanded to a second configuration. The apparatus further comprises a constraining element engaged with the bag to secure the intragastric member upon delivery into the gastric lumen.
US08216266B2	Gastric bariatric apparatus with selective inflation and safety features A gastric bariatric balloon includes an upper balloon chamber for sealing against the fundus, a lower balloon chamber for sealing against the antrum and occupying the body of the stomach, and a supplementary chamber for filling at least a portion of the fundus. A tubular inlet is proximal the esophagus entry for receiving a hollow needle. This inlet is filled with a self-sealing material so that when punctured by the needle the material closes the needle hole upon withdrawal of the needle. Spaced apart voids in the material enable fluid interchange between the needle and each of the three chambers separately depending upon the depth of the needle within the inlet tube. Safety arms are mounted on the upper balloon chamber so as to prevent passage of the balloon through the pylorus in case of sudden deflation.
US08216263B2	Lancet removal tool A lancet removal tool 26 comprises an elongate hollow body 28 having an opening 32 at one end. The opening 32 is bounded by resilient fingers 36 which can flex to expand the opening 32 to engage the body 16 of the lancet 14. Withdrawal of the tool 26 after engagement with the lancet body 16 causes the lancet 14 to be removed from the lancet device. Subsequently, the lancet 14 can be moved from the opening 32 into the interior of the tool 26. The tool 26 and the removal procedure enables lancets 14 to be removed without risk of injury or infection from contact with the contaminated needle 18 of the lancet 14.
US08216256B2	Detachment mechanism for implantable fixation devices The invention provides devices, systems and methods for tissue approximation and repair at treatment sites. The devices, systems and methods of the invention will find use in a variety of therapeutic procedures, including endovascular, minimally-invasive, and open surgical procedures, and can be used in various anatomical regions, including the abdomen, thorax, cardiovascular system, heart, intestinal tract, stomach, urinary tract, bladder, lung, and other organs, vessels, and tissues. The invention is particularly useful in those procedures requiring minimally-invasive or endovascular access to remote tissue locations, where the instruments utilized must negotiate long, narrow, and tortuous pathways to the treatment site. In addition, many of the devices and systems of the invention are adapted to be reversible and removable from the patient at any point without interference with or trauma to internal tissues.
US08216255B2	Endoscopic clip applier actuator A flexible endoscopic clip applier includes a flexible coil with a manual actuator coupled to one end and a jaw assembly coupled to the other end. A store of clips is arranged adjacent to the jaw assembly and a clip pusher is arranged adjacent to the store of clips. The actuator includes a lever for opening and closing the jaws, a knob for rotating the jaw assembly, and a crank for dispensing clips. The knob and the lever are coupled to a single control member which extends through the coil to a joiner where it is joined to a pair of pull wires coupled to the jaws. The crank is coupled to a second control member which is threaded along a distal portion. The threaded portion engages a threaded member near the pusher and is coupled to the pusher such that rotation of the threaded control member by the crank causes the pusher to be moved distally.
US08216253B2	Apparatus for manipulating and securing tissue Apparatus for manipulating and securing tissue are described herein. In creating tissue folds within the body of a patient, a tissue manipulation assembly may generally have an elongate tubular member, an engagement member slidably disposed through the tubular member and a distal end adapted to engage tissue via a helical member, tissue stabilizing members positioned at the tubular member distal end which are adapted to stabilize tissue therebetween, and a delivery tube pivotable about the tissue stabilizer. The stabilizing members can be adapted to become angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member. Moreover, one or all the articulation controls and functions can be integrated into a singular handle assembly connectable to the tissue manipulation assembly via a rigid or flexible tubular body.
US08216250B2	Sterile surgical adaptor A sterile drape with integrated sterile adaptor, a telerobotic surgical system, and method of use are provided for draping portions of a telerobotic surgical system to maintain a sterile barrier between the sterile surgical field and the non-sterile robotic system while also providing an interface for transferring mechanical and electrical energy and signals.
US08216249B2	Umbilical cord clamp and cutter An umbilical cord clamping and cutting device assembled within opposing shields for minimizing the spray of blood during severing of the umbilical cord.
US08216246B2	Retractable tip for vitrectomy tool A probe for a vitrectomy tool is provided having a vitreous cutter tube having a blunt tip at a distal end and adapted to be coupled at a proximal end to a handpiece of a vitrectomy tool; a retractable outer trocar tube surrounding the vitreous cutter tube having an open distal end with a sharpened edge; and a retraction mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the outer trocar for selectively extending and retracting the outer trocar tube between a first extended position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is extended beyond the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate insertion into the eye and a second retracted position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is retracted behind the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate safe operation of the probe. A vitrectomy tool for removing material from an eye of a patient is provided having a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a probe coupled to the proximal end of the housing.
US08216239B2	Device for bone fixation A bone fixation device includes an intramedullary pin having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal tip configured and dimensioned for insertion into a medullary canal of a bone and a bone plate disposed at the proximal end of the intramedullary pin, wherein the bone plate includes an angled tab configured and dimensioned to have a center of gravity lying on a radius of a cross-sectional area of the intramedullary pin taken orthogonally to the intramedullary pin's longitudinal axis.
US08216238B2	Method of using an intramedullary implant for fracture fixation An intramedullary implant, useful particularly for the fixation of fractures of the radius, the implant comprising a first and second end, both ends configured for entry into the intramedullary canal through an entry point on the bone, such as the fracture site, and configured for positioning within the intramedullary canal of the fractured bone, the first end positioned in the intramedullary space of a first bone fragment and the second end positioned in the intramedullary space of a second bone fragment on the opposite side of the fracture. The first end is positioned by displacing the implant in a first direction and the second end is positioned by displacing the implant in a second direction, substantially opposite to the first direction. The implant further comprises a tip configured to abut an end surface of the second fragment to provide axial support to second fragment.
US08216224B2	Tissue surface treatment apparatus and method A method of controlling ablation volume depth includes providing a treatment apparatus. The apparatus comprises a housing having a proximal and distal end including a tissue contacting surface. The housing defines an interior with an energy delivery device positionable in the interior. The energy delivery device includes at least one electrode with a tissue penetrating distal end and is configured to be advanced from the interior into a target tissue site to define an ablation volume. An advancement device is coupled to the energy delivery device and is configured to advance the at least one electrode. The at least one electrode is advanced to a selected deployment depth beneath a tissue surface while avoiding a critical structure. Energy is delivered from the energy delivery device. An ablation volume is created at a controlled depth below the tissue surface responsive to the deployment depth while minimizing injury to the critical structure.
US08216222B2	Temperature sensing return electrode pad An electrosurgical return electrode is disclosed. The return electrode includes a conductive pad having one or more temperature monitoring zones and a patient-contacting surface configured to conduct electrosurgical energy and a temperature sensing circuit coupled to the conductive pad. The temperature sensing circuit includes at least one diode disposed within the at least one temperature monitoring zone, the at least one diode having a predetermined forward voltage drop that is indicative of temperature of at least one temperature monitoring zone.
US08216221B2	Cardiac ablation systems and methods Cardiac ablation systems and methods of their use and manufacture involve an ablation mechanism, a stabilizer mechanism, and a cinching mechanism that urges the ablation mechanism toward a patient tissue. Embodiments encompass methods for administering epicardial and endocardial lesions, including box lesions and connecting lesions, to patient tissue.
US08216216B2	Ablation devices with sensor structures A cardiac ablation device, including a steerable catheter (10) and an expandable ablation element (18) incorporating one or more balloons (20, 22) at the distal end of the catheter, has a continuous passageway (28, 30) extending through it from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal side of the expandable ablation element. A probe (72) carrying electrodes is introduced through this passageway and deploys, under the influence of its own resilience, to a structure incorporating a loop (82) which is automatically aligned with the axis of the expandable ablation device, so that minimal manipulation is required to place the sensor probe.
US08216215B2	Disposable electromagnetic energy applicator and method of using it A skin treatment apparatus that includes, a disposable electrode carrier with a plurality of voltage-applying dome-shaped elements protruding from the surface of the electrode carrier. Further, the protruding elements are spaced apart in a pattern. The apparatus operates to apply a voltage to at least some of the protruding elements. The apparatus applies a voltage to the protruding elements with a magnitude that is sufficient to result in an electrical break down of the skin and thereby cause electric current enabling the desired treatment.
US08216213B2	Application of blend zones, depth reduction, and transition zones to ablation shapes Methods, devices, and systems for reprofiling a surface of a cornea of an eye ablate a portion of the cornea to create an ablation zone with an optically correct central optical zone disposed in a central portion of the cornea, and a blend zone disposed peripherally to the central optical zone and at least partially within an optical zone of the eye. The blend zone can have an optical power that gradually diminishes with increasing radius from the central optical zone.
US08216211B2	Holding device for medical instruments A medical instrument holding device for holding instrument of different axial cross sections comprising a holding site unit, comprising a plurality of holding sites at predefined holding angles around an axis, the holding sites comprising different holding sizes for holding parts of instruments of different axial cross sections; and a coupling unit constituted to define a plurality of coupling angles around the axis with respect to a device support, the coupling unit being constituted to block rotational movement around the axis and to allow coupling of the holding site unit to the device support only at the plurality of coupling angles, when coupled to the device support.
US08216209B2	Method and apparatus for delivering an agent to a kidney A method is described including introducing a delivery device to a point within a renal artery or a renal segmental artery and delivering a treatment agent from the delivery device according to conditions that create a turbulent blood flow and wherein the treatment agent is capable of inhibiting a biological process contributing to nephropathy. In other embodiments, an apparatus and kit are described including a delivery device for insertion to a point within a renal artery or renal segmental artery and delivery of a treatment agent capable of inhibiting a biological process contributing to nephropathy.
US08216208B2	Method relating to infusion device A medication-delivery method relating to an infusion device specifically adapted for syringe injections.
US08216203B2	Progressively functional stretch garments A pant-like absorbent article, such as a child's training pant, includes an outercover with at least three elastic regions, that is two in the side seam areas, and one in the central crotch areas. In an alternative, such articles include a fourth elastic region in the article waist band area. In this fashion, the article can demonstrate progressive stretch functionality to help accommodate various consumer body sizes and provide for more conforming fit and reduced leakage.
US08216199B2	Manifold receiver for a medical/surgical waste collection system that includes a valve actuated by the manifold seated in the receiver A removable manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system. The manifold is dimensioned to be mounted to a receiver integral with the system. The manifold includes a driver for engaging a complementary valve internal to the receiver. The valve regulates flow between the receiver and the down line components of the waste collection system. The valve is normally closed. When the manifold is fitted to the receiver the driver engages the valve so as move the valve to the open position. This allows fluid flow from the manifold and receiver to the downstream components of the system.
US08216195B2	Dispenser cap for eye-drop container A dispenser cap for an eye-drop container includes a cap holder, an eyelid-engaging member, and a cap enclosure pivotally extended from the cap holder alongside the eyelid-engaging member. The eyelid-engaging member has topside adapted for contacting with an eyelid of a user to maintain the eyelid in an opened position. The cap enclosure is outwardly folded away from the eyelid-engaging member for exposing the dispensing nozzle and is folded in to engage with the eyelid-engaging member to create a nozzle cavity for enclosing the dispensing nozzle. Therefore, the dispenser cap not only provides a sealing device for enclosing the dispensing nozzle of the eye-drop container but also forms an eyelid retractor for maintaining the eyelid of the user in an opened position and aligning the dispensing nozzle to the eye of the user.
US08216193B2	Syringe for administering multiple doses comprising an injection needle with sterility protection A plurality of dosage-control members are detachably connected to the plunger rod of a multi-dose syringe along two opposing sides of the rod. Each dosage-control member has a cut in which the external diameter of the top rim of the syringe fits to prevent forward and reverse movement of the rod. Removal of one dosage-control member from one of the two opposing sides of the rod permits forward movement of the rod and plunger until the top rim snaps into the cut of another dosage-control member. Flexible salient arms extend obliquely from the rod in one-to-one correspondence with the dosage-control members to prevent reverse movement of the rod.
US08216185B2	Cannulated apertured grooved director A surgical instrument including a fixed or removable handle and a tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough with apertures at its proximal and distal ends permitting visualization of and access to body tissues. An access window in a distal portion of the instrument is formed through the wall of the tubular member and in communication with the lumen.
US08216183B2	Heating device A heating device (1) is described for a container (7) of a liquid pharmaceutical product having a viscosity of 50-500 cP at 4° C. and contained within a glass container. The device (1) comprises a substantially rigid, thin-walled housing (2) defining an openable chamber for receiving the container (7), a heat source (6) in the chamber comprising a hermetically sealed package containing a super-cooled metal salt fluid or liquid and an actuator (14) for activating the super-cooled metal salt to produce heat, wherein the ratio of the volume of the metal salt to the intended volume of the product is no more than 1:1.
US08216181B2	Apparatus and methods for support of a membrane filter in a medical infusion system A removable clamp, for supporting a membrane filter in a medical infusion system, includes connected and opposing walls. A locking feature, which may be connected to an end of one of the walls, engages and disengages a terminal end of the other wall. The filter may be inserted between the opposing walls of the clamp, and an inner surface of each of the opposing walls may be secured against corresponding major surfaces of the inserted filter, by only pressing at least one of the opposing walls of the clamp toward the other of the opposing walls.
US08216177B2	Implantable drug delivery systems and methods Devices, systems and methods for delivering one or more drugs to one or more internal body locations (such as the cerebrospinal fluid) are disclosed. In various aspects, the systems and methods may involve catheters having infusion sections with permeable membranes that develop significant back pressure to enhance uniform delivery of the drug over an infusion section; catheters that have two or more infusion sections spaced apart along the length of the same catheter, catheters that include two or more infusion sections serviced by independent lumens (such that, e.g., different drug solutions can be delivered to the different infusion sections); implantable drug delivery systems with pumps and multiple reservoirs from which drugs can be delivered; systems that are capable of delivering drug solutions with selected densities; etc.
US08216175B2	Therapy delivery systems and methods Fluid removal systems and methods for removing fluid from a tissue site are presented. The system includes a semi-permeable inbound conduit, which is fluidly coupled to a treatment-fluid delivery unit, for placement proximate to the tissue site, and a semi-permeable outbound conduit, which is fluidly coupled to the inbound conduit and to a treatment-fluid collector, for placement proximate to the tissue site of a patient. The treatment-fluid collector receives a treatment fluid and a recruited fluid from the tissue site. A recruited-fluid determination unit may be coupled to the treatment-fluid collector to determine a volume of fluid recruited from the patient. The treatment fluid is any fluid (including a gas) that pulls fluid from the interstitial and intracellular space. A reduced-pressure treatment subsystem may also be included, among other things, for removing ascites and other fluids from a body cavity.
US08216172B2	Method of performing hemofiltration A multi-part substitution infusion fluid for an extracorporeal blood treatment and methods for using same are provided. Generally, the multi-part substitution fluid comprises a first solution composed of electrolytes but without divalent cations and a second solution comprising divalent cations. Another embodiment includes a third solution comprising a matching citrate/citric acid anticoagulant. The described methods of using the multi-part substitution infusion fluids significantly reduce risks associated with various extracorporeal blood treatments.
US08216171B2	Individual dose packaging A method for packaging an agent for delivery within a body cavity. A reservoir within a package contains a specified quantity of the agent and is either contiguous with, or coupled to, a dispensing node such as a swab. Depth of insertion of the dispensing node into the body cavity is restricted to a specified depth by a penetration-restricting feature that forms part of the package.
US08216170B2	Orthopedic device A spacer element for use in an orthopedic or prosthetic device includes an apertured fabric layer having first and second fabric layers. A discrete and continuous web-like frictional layer is laminated onto the first fabric layer and has greater frictional properties than the fabric layer. The frictional layer has a plurality of apertures arranged in a pattern in direct correspondence to a pattern of the first surface layer apertures. A compressible material layer has opposed first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface is secured to the second surface layer. The compressible material layer has a first compression molded region with reduced thickness and increased density relative to a second region of the compressible material having a predetermined thickness.
US08216167B2	Cervical-thoracic orthotic with cervical collar An orthosis comprises a cervical portion that holds a head in place relative to a thoracic portion worn by a wearer. The orthosis has an intermediate portion disposed intermediate the cervical and thoracic portions. The orthosis also has a first adjustment region that provides at least 15° of relative movement between the cervical and intermediate portions, and a second adjustment region that provides at least 15° of relative movement between the thoracic and intermediate portions. First and second adjustment regions allow the orthosis to comfortably accommodate differently proportioned wearers, and each comprises one or more locking devices to prevent undesired movement of the cervical and thoracic portions relative to the intermediate portion.
US08216164B2	Orthotic device responsive to atmospheric pressure change and method An orthotic such as a knee, ankle, elbow or wrist brace is provided. The orthotic includes one or more compression devices that adjust the amount of compressive force applied to a body part based upon fluctuations in atmospheric pressure. One embodiment of the invention incorporates one or more inflatable air bladders connected to an air pump and an atmospheric pressure sensor. The brace places the inflatable air bladder proximate a joint where it can be inflated to provide compressive support for the joint. The invention also comprises a method for adjusting the compressive force applied to a body part based upon fluctuations in atmospheric pressure.
US08216162B2	System for treatment of plantar fasciitis An stretch resistant plantar fascia support system is provided. The stretch resistant plantar fascia support system is adhesively applied to the foot of a patient for providing relief from plantar fasciitis. A portion of the stretch resistant plantar fascia support system is adhesively attached to the bottom surface of the foot for reducing stress on the plantar fascia.
US08216161B2	Optimization and feedback control of HIFU power deposition through the frequency analysis of backscattered HIFU signals A system and method for dynamically adjusting the energy of HIFU signals delivered to a patient, and/or to aid in visualizing the likely degree and location of HIFU effects on patient tissue. The system transmits a HIFU signal into a patient and receives echoes therefrom. The echo signals are analyzed to determine the energy of the signals in a first range, such as at one or more harmonics and/or sub-harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal, and energy of the echo signals in a second range such as at the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal. Based on the comparison, the energy and/or focus of the HIFU signals delivered to the patient is adjusted. An image of the compared echo signal powers in two or more frequency ranges may also be displayed for a user or used to adjust the focus point of the HIFU signals.
US08216160B2	Flexibility assessment apparatus A sit and reach flexibility assessment apparatus comprises a spine with a measuring rule, footplates mounted on either side of the spine and rotatable out of the and at approximate right angles to the plane of the spine, and heel rests mounted at the base of the footplates and rotatable to a position at approximate right angles to the footplates and the spine. The apparatus also has storage compartments and a carry handle.
US08216157B2	Device for measuring the internal rotation of a hip joint Device for measuring the internal rotation of a hip joint, whereby the following steps are performed: a) Positioning a person to be examined (1) on the seating surface (8) of a chair-like positioning aid (5) in a sitting position; b) Fixating at least one of the upper thighs to be examined (3) of the person (1) on the seating surface (8) against translational motions, so that a rotation of the upper thigh (3) around its longitudinal axis is still possible; c) Moving the corresponding lower thigh (4) across the sagittal plane (20) by using a force K of a constant value Z acting on the lower thigh (4), so that the distal end of the lower thigh (4) is deviated from the sagittal plane; and d) Measuring the angle α between the sagittal plane (20) and the longitudinal axis of the lower thigh (4).
US08216155B2	Bodily fluid sampling systems, methods, and devices A fluid sampling system is disclosed comprising a fluid drawing device, a fluid sampling device, and an analysis device. The fluid drawing device can be used to draw bodily fluid into a sample port of an IV tube. The fluid sampling device can be used to access the sample port to obtain a fluid sample. The fluid sampling device can include a test strip housing for receiving a test strip therein. Extending from an end of the test strip housing is a blunt cannula that can be inserted into the sample port to obtain the fluid sample and communicate the fluid sample to the test strip. The test strip housing is configured to allow the one end of the test strip to be received within an analysis device to facilitate analysis of the fluid sample.
US08216154B2	Tissue penetration device A method of lancing the tissue of a patient provides a tissue penetration element with a tip configured to penetrate tissue. The tissue penetration element is disposed in proximity to the tissue of the patient. A lancing cycle is initiated. The lancing cycle advances the tip into the tissue during a penetration stroke and displaces the tissue penetration element proximally over a withdrawal stroke. Tissue data is acquired based on an interaction between the tissue penetration element and the tissue during at least a portion of the lancing cycle.
US08216151B2	Pressure wire assembly A pressure sensor wire assembly measures pressure inside a body of a patient. The assembly comprises a pressure sensor element for measuring pressure and to generate a pressure sensor signal representative of the pressure, and a pressure sensor wire having the pressure sensor element at its distal portion, and adapted to be inserted into the body in order to position the sensor element within the body. A sensor signal adapting circuitry is an integrated part of the assembly, wherein the pressure sensor signal is applied to the adapting circuitry which is adapted to automatically generate an output pressure signal, related to the sensor signal, in a standardized format such that the measured pressure is retrievable by an external physiology monitor. The assembly further comprises an external pressure sensor to measure the pressure outside the patient's body and to generate external pressure values in dependence thereto.
US08216147B2	Ultrasonographic equipment A technology for structuring a three-dimensional image in a more accurate position spatially even when an ultrasonic transducer unit does not perform oscillation scanning at completely constant angular velocity is disclosed. According to the technology, an oscillation angle detection means 104 detects an oscillation angle of an ultrasonic transducer unit 1, and a three-dimensional image processing means 11 forms a three-dimensional image based on the oscillation angle detected by the oscillation angle detection means and image data outputted from an ultrasonic receiving means 4.
US08216145B2	Ultrasonic diagonstic apparatus, ultrasonic image processing apparatus, and ultrasonic image processing method Low-resolution image data for recognizing signal components macroscopically is generated, an effective diagnostic component and an ineffective diagnostic component are determined by using the low-resolution image data, and a correction coefficient is decided for every pixel such that the correction coefficient is set to 1 for the effective diagnostic component and the correction coefficient is set to equal to or larger than 0 and smaller than 1 for the ineffective diagnostic component. In addition, correction processing for raising the contrast between the effective diagnostic component and the ineffective diagnostic component by multiplying each pixel value of original image data by a corresponding correction coefficient is executed.
US08216144B2	Ulstrasound diagnostic apparatus and volume data processing method An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus capable of extracting an object tissue within a living body with high precision is provided. A row of reference cross sections is set with regard to volume data. The row of reference cross sections includes a plurality of manual tracing reference cross sections and the remaining sections, i.e. a plurality of automatic tracing reference cross sections. With regard to the manual tracing reference cross sections, manual tracing processing and automatic correction processing is applied. With regard to the automatic tracing reference cross sections, automatic generation processing and automatic correction processing for interpolation tracing lines is applied. Finally, the object tissue is extracted or the volume thereof is calculated based on a plurality of tracing lines. When the similarity between shapes of adjacent manual tracing lines is small, one or a plurality of manual tracing lines may be additionally provided between these tracing lines.
US08216139B2	Signal processing for continuous analyte sensor Systems and methods for dynamically and intelligently estimating analyte data from a continuous analyte sensor, including receiving a data stream, selecting one of a plurality of algorithms, and employing the selected algorithm to estimate analyte values. Additional data processing includes evaluating the selected estimative algorithms, analyzing a variation of the estimated analyte values based on statistical, clinical, or physiological parameters, comparing the estimated analyte values with corresponding measure analyte values, and providing output to a user. Estimation can be used to compensate for time lag, match sensor data with corresponding reference data, warn of upcoming clinical risk, replace erroneous sensor data signals, and provide more timely analyte information encourage proactive behavior and preempt clinical risk.
US08216136B2	Systems and methods for monitoring heart rate and blood pressure correlation Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a correlation between heart rate and blood pressure in a patient. When a characteristic of the correlation exceeds a threshold, a patient status indicator signal is sent to a monitoring device. In some embodiments, the patient status indicator signal indicates a particular medical condition or alerts a care provider to a change in status. In some embodiments, the heart rate signal is used to improve a blood pressure estimate generated by a different signal. In some embodiments, the heart rate, blood pressure and correlation signals are used in a predictive mathematical model to estimate patient status or outcome.
US08216135B2	Ambulatory repeater for use in automated patient care An ambulatory repeater for use in automated patient care is presented. A local memory store includes a cryptographic key, sensitive information, and physiological measures. The cryptographic key is uniquely assigned to the implantable medical device prior to implant of the implantable medical device into a patient. The sensitive information is preencrypted under the cryptographic key and physiological measures are measured by the implantable medical device. An authentication module is in receipt of the cryptographic key. A permissions module confirms authorization of an external data processing device against the cryptographic key. A decryption module decrypts the sensitive information with the cryptographic key into decrypted information. A processor is operatively coupled to the local memory store. A communications module exchanges the decrypted information and the physiological measures with the external data processing device over a wireless interface contingent upon the authorization confirmation. An internal power supply supplies power to the foregoing components.
US08216131B2	Protective cap for arthroscopic instruments A protective cap for use on arthroscopic instruments and sheaths disposed over arthroscopic instruments. The cap protects the distal end of the instrument from accidental damage caused by other instruments used during a surgical procedure. The portion of the cap that covers a view port on an arthroscope is transparent in order to allow a user to see through the instrument and through the cap.
US08216128B2	Medical system with a biological information acquiring apparatus and a manipulation information acquiring apparatus A medical system includes an endoscope which is a first medical instrument, a gas supply apparatus which is a second medical instrument that supplies a gas to an insertion site at which an insertion portion of the endoscope is inserted, a biological information acquiring apparatus which is a biological information detection section that detects a blood flow rate at the insertion site as a biological information detected value, a manipulation information acquiring apparatus which is a manipulation information detection section that contacts the insertion portion of the endoscope and is combined with a roller that rotates as the insertion portion moves forward or backward to detect an amount of rotation of the roller as manipulation information, and a system control apparatus provided with a control section that outputs an instruction signal for changing an amount of gas supply to the gas supply apparatus according to the detected value detected by the biological information acquiring apparatus and the manipulation information detected by the manipulation information acquiring apparatus.
US08216127B2	Endoscope and a method of manufacturing the same The present invention is directed to an endoscope that comprises a telescope, an imaging means, an image sensor for converting optical images produced by the imaging means to electrical signals, and a circuit board for receiving and outputting the electrical signals, the imaging means, image sensor and circuit board being located in the telescope. In some embodiments, the endoscope includes a connector that electrically connects the image sensor and the circuit board to form a first assembly.
US08216123B2	Implantable middle ear hearing device having tubular vibration transducer to drive round window An implantable middle ear hearing device having a tubular vibration transducer to drive a round window is designed to input sound to a round window opposite an oval window in an inner ear. The tubular vibration transducer has a unique structure that does not attenuate the magnitude of a signal, particularly, in a high frequency band. Sound delivery effect is much higher than those of conventional schemes. It is also possible to minimize difficulties associated with and problems resulting from the operation, which the conventional methods would have. Further, the transducer can have a relatively less compact than ossicle contact type transducers, and thus be easily fabricated. The hearing device can be applied to a sensorineural hearing loss patient with the ossicle damaged. Moreover, since sound is directly transmitted without through the ear drum and the ossicle, high efficiency sound delivery is achievable and hearing loss compensation are easy.
US08216119B2	Paper sack bottoming device A base insert device for forming crossed bases in paper bags has folding devices, which introduce folds in tubular sections from which the bags are produced, gluing stations, which apply glue to the regions of the folds for gluing and/or to sheets provided for gluing to the base, and a pressing station in which the folded bases and the sheets are brought into contact with one another and glued. Glue outlet openings in the gluing station are provided with an application head that supports valves which can selectively open and close a connection between the glue outlet openings and a glue supply unit. The glue supply unit has glue supply lines and at least one chamber through which at least one part of the valves is supplied with glue. The chamber has a diameter of at least 5 mm in at least one point.
US08216118B2	Carton with multi-ply handle A method of forming a carton from a blank. The method comprises obtaining a blank. The blank comprising a first top panel comprising a first handle portion, a handle feature located adjacent to the first handle portion, and a reinforcing handle portion located adjacent to the first handle portion, a first side panel, a bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the second top panel, and a second top panel comprising a second handle portion. The method comprises folding the reinforcing handle portion of the first top panel about the first fold line, adhering the reinforcing handle portion to the first handle portion, folding the blank so that the second top panel overlaps the first top panel, and adhering the second top panel to the first top panel.
US08216113B2	Engine powered device having accessory drive and reversing motor for selectively starting engine and powering accessory drive A device having an engine, a motor/generator and an accessory system having an accessory that is driven by rotary power. The device can be operated in a first mode in which the engine provides rotary power for driving the accessory and the motor/generator. The device can be operated in a second mode for starting the engine and driving the accessory in which rotary power is output from the motor/starter in a first rotational direction. The device can also be operated in a third mode in which the motor/generator outputs rotary power in a second, opposite rotational direction for driving the accessory while the engine is not operating. A method for operating the device is also provided.
US08216112B2	Methods and systems for assisted direct start control Systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle system including an engine that is selectively shut-down during engine idle-stop conditions, the system further including a hydraulic circuit comprising a hydraulically actuated transmission component, an accumulator, and an auxiliary transmission fluid pump. One example method comprises, during a first idle-stop engine shut-down condition, where the accumulator pressure is above a threshold, delivering pressurized transmission fluid to the hydraulic circuit from the accumulator, while disabling the auxiliary pump. The method further comprises, during a second idle-stop engine shut-down condition, where the accumulator pressure is below the threshold, operating the auxiliary pump and delivering at least some pressurized transmission fluid to the hydraulic circuit from the operating pump without travelling through the accumulator.
US08216111B2	Clutch control for a transmission A system and method for controlling torque includes a first torque transmitting mechanism and a second torque transmitting mechanism. The first torque transmitting mechanism is engageable to achieve a first gear ratio of the transmission. The second torque transmitting mechanism has an apply chamber that is pressurized at a first pressure level to achieve a first engaged position and is pressurized at a second pressure level to achieve a second engaged position. The first pressure level is less than the second pressure level and the second engaged position achieves a second gear ratio of the transmission. A controller is in communication with the first and second torque transmitting mechanisms. The controller includes a control logic for pressurizing the apply chamber of the second torque transmitting mechanism to the first pressure level if the first operating condition has exceeded a threshold operating condition.
US08216107B2	Planetary ring gear lug design for NVH improvement In the present invention, an improved planetary gearset which reduces the amount of vibration transferred from the planetary gearset to a housing. The present invention is a new way to interface the ring gear of a planetary gearset with the housing by incorporating a series of lugs around the ring gear and adjusting the number of lugs and the size and the shape of the lugs. The distribution of these lugs affects the sound levels transferred from the planetary gearset. Additionally, multiple rows of lugs can also be strategically arranged on one ring gear to gain further noise and vibration improvement.
US08216100B2	Belt installation/removal guide A guide useful to install or remove a belt from a belt module is shown. This guide is made up of two pivotable wings over which an endless belt is initially draped. Once pivotly attached to a belt module, the guide wings are moved away from each other to form a belt form over a top of the top drive rollers. A tube is attached to a bottom drive roller to help transfer the belt to the bottom drive roller. Once the belt is slidably positioned adjacent each drive roller, the belt is transferred from the guide and tube to the drive rollers for final installation.
US08216099B2	Continuous variable transmission deice with high and low shift transmission pulley trains The invention is disclosed by that a high shift transmission pulley train is installed between the input shaft and the output shaft of the continuous variable transmission device, and a clutching device is installed between the output shaft and the driven pulley of the high shift transmission pulley train as well as that a low shift transmission pulley train matching with an unidirectional transmission device is installed between the input shaft and the output shaft of the continuous variable transmission device.
US08216098B2	Sports ball New designs for a sports ball comprising at least two polygonal panels and having an improved performance and uniformity. Each panel has doubly-curved edges that curve along and across the surface of the sphere. The panels are p-sided curved polygons, where p is an integer greater than 1. The single panels, in an imagined flattened state, have curved edges where each edge curves inwards, outwards or undulates in a wave-like manner. The edges are arranged so each individual panel is without mirror-symmetry and the edge curvatures are adjusted so the panel shape can be varied to achieve more uniform panel stiffness as well as economy in manufacturing. The ball also has a possible shape-induced spin due to the panel design and the overall rotational symmetry of the design. In various embodiments, the ball comprises at least two multi-paneled layers that are topological duals of each other, wherein each layer provides a compensatory function with respect to the other layer such that the ball has a uniformly performing surface. Applications include but are not limited to designs for soccer balls, baseballs, basketballs, tennis balls, rugby, and other sports or recreational play. The shape of the ball can be spherical, ellipsoidal or other curved convex shapes.
US08216096B2	Hockey stick Hockey stick configurations and hockey stick blade constructs are disclosed. The blade is comprised of one or more inner core elements, surrounded by one or more walls made of reinforcing fibers or filaments disposed in a hardened matrix resin material. One or more of the inner core elements comprises an elastomer material.
US08216093B2	Strengthened support structure for a net post assembly used in ball games A strengthened support structure for a net post assembly used in ball games comprises a plurality of lower support units disposed between two lateral support rod assemblies thereof, and each of the lower support units includes a first support section, a second support section, and a support body. The first support section and the second support section are connected to define an angle therebetween, and the support body is connected to the free ends of the first support section and the second support section. Each of the lower support units acts as an independent stress-sharing structure, so that stress can be equally distributed over the lower support units. The angle defined between the first support section and the second support section cooperate with the support body to strengthen the structural strength of the respective lower support units, which maintains the distance between the two lateral support rod assemblies constant.
US08216092B2	Goal device for team games A construction for a goal for a team game, especially a soccer goal, and more particularly a mini goal for soccer and football training, wherein the construction comprises two vertical pole elements connected to a completely or partially hollow cross bar element through two corner joints, said corner joints being able to be placed inside the at least partially hollow horizontal cross bar element, and said corner joints being hinged for leading the vertical pole axis to a position wherein the pole elements of the vertical pole elements mainly coincide with the pipe axis of the at least partially hollow horizontal cross bar element, and wherein the vertical pole elements may be passed substantially completely inside the at least partially hollow horizontal cross bar element. Such a construction may be compacted into an easily transportable form of said goal.
US08216091B2	Sliding impulse device A structure motivated by an impulse to slide over a surface, including: an impulse-receiving portion for receiving the impulse, the impulse-receiving portion defining a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure and produced from a foam material patterned to represent at least a portion of a sports ball; and a sliding portion, coupled to the impulse-receiving portion, for sliding contact with the surface on a contact surface of the sliding portion responsive to the impulse the contact surface having a generally planar smooth surface having a periphery surrounded by an extension of the impulse receiving portion, wherein a tumbling of a coupled combination of the impulse-receiving portion and the sliding portion is inhibited by shifting a center of gravity downward by a greater weighting of the sliding portion relative to the impulse-receiving portion.
US08216089B2	Golf club head This invention provides a golf club head including a face member. The face member includes a face portion forming a face, and a crown extending portion extending backward from the upper edge of the face portion. The width of the crown extending portion in a face to back direction at the toe side is larger than that in the face to back direction at the heel side.
US08216088B2	Golf clubs and golf club heads A golf club includes a golf club head having a body, a ball-striking face member and one or more mass members. The body extends from a shaft-attachment structure. The ball-striking face member is located on a front surface of the body. The body is configured to releasably accommodate a first mass member in a first region on its back surface and a second mass member in a second region on its back surface. At least one of the first and second mass members may be releasably attached to the back surface. The ball-striking face member may have an average density that is less than the average density of the body. The mass members may have an average density that is more than the average density of the ball-striking face member and/or of the body. The mass distribution of the club head may be customized via the selection and attachment of a particular mass member. The golf club head may be an iron-type golf club head.
US08216083B1	Golf practice apparatus A golf practice apparatus comprises a chipping mat and a target assembly. The chipping mat comprises a surface from which a user strikes golf balls. The target assembly comprises a frame and a target mat. The frame is further comprised of a lightweight, collapsible framework for supporting a target mat further comprising various markings indicated targets for a user. In a preferred embodiment, the frame is comprised of pipe segments, connecting joints, and a plurality of common fasteners. The target mat is suspended from the frame and attaches via corresponding common fasteners. The target assembly is disposed of various segments to allow a user to simulate short game aspects of golf by choosing a target based upon the desired angle and velocity that the user desires to emulate.
US08216079B1	Golf club training implement A golf club training implement is described which includes a tapered sleeve having a first end, a tapered second end, and a longitudinal slit opening therein so that the implement fits over a shaft of a club for slidable placement on or along a golf club grip. A substantially circular guard is attached to and abuts the sleeve first end. The guard is oriented at an angle relative to the sleeve first end so that the sleeve has a longer first side and an opposite shorter second side between the sleeve first and second ends.
US08216075B2	Joint arrangement with cage offset A joint arrangement in the manner of a counter track joint, wherein a cage is provided which is arranged between a joint outer part and joint inner part, which has a cage outer sphere with an outer sphere centripetal point and a cage inner sphere with an inner sphere center point and which has a plurality of cage windows which each hold at least one ball, wherein at least the outer sphere center point and the inner sphere center point of the cage are arranged offset with respect to the joint center plane.
US08216073B2	Game device, control method of game device and information storage medium A game device capable of realizing a user interface which allows a user to instruct a mobile character to stay within a predetermined region in a case where a movement target position for the mobile character is set outside the predetermined region while preventing the mobile character from exhibiting an unnatural action at a time of changing a moving direction is provided. In the game device, a mobile character which has arrived at a region whose distance from an intersection is equal to or less than a first reference distance is caused to move in parallel with a direction from the intersection towards another intersection, and a mobile character which has arrived at a region whose distance from the intersection is equal to or less than a second reference distance is caused to move toward a movement target position.
US08216067B2	Detection device capable of accurately reading dots on dice A detection device is used in a gaming machine that detects numbers of dots on a plurality of dice having wireless tags. The detection device reads the wireless tags which are embedded on each face of the dice by a reader having an antenna. The antenna of the reader includes a first antenna portion disposed substantially in a central portion of a field that supports the dice, and formed in a substantially circular shape, and a plurality of second antenna portions disposed so as to superimpose a detection area of the first antenna portion, and having a detection area larger than the first antenna portion. The first antenna portion and the plurality of the second antenna portions are disposed so as to have a portion of detection areas mutually superimposed on a playing board.
US08216062B2	Gaming system and method for providing an additional gaming currency A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system includes a point or count based system to provide one or more awards to one or more players. Such points are accumulated by a player based on one or more events associated with the player's gaming experience. The points or counts utilized in the gaming system are selectively redeemed by the player in exchange for one or more opportunities to win an award. It should be appreciated that in one embodiment, the equalizing units disclosed herein are different, separate and independent from any monetary based points or credits, any promotional based points or credits, or any player tracking points.
US08216061B2	Wagering games with unlockable bonus rounds Method and system are disclosed for allowing players at wagering game terminals to select entire sets of bonus games instead of a single bonus game upon occurrence of a certain randomly selected basic game outcome. One or more of the bonus games or sets of bonus games may be temporarily unavailable or “locked” to the player. The player may unlock the bonus games or sets of bonus games by acquiring certain game assets, reaching certain game milestones, and/or exceeding certain wagering levels. The unlocked games may reveal credits, prizes, progressives, basic and/or bonus game updates, or additional bonus games, some of which may also be locked. The updates and additions may already be present in the wagering game terminals or they may be downloaded from a central location. The player may retain the locked and unlocked statuses of the bonus games across multiple wagering game sessions and/or wagering game terminals.
US08216058B2	Providing alternative persistent state recovery techniques This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for alternative persistent state recovery methods. A method comprises detecting persistent state recovery information from one of two or more persistent state recovery techniques, wherein the persistent state recovery information identifies a persistent state in a wagering game; and restoring the persistent state of the wagering game from the detected persistent state recovery information.
US08216057B2	Gaming machine that prevents game from continuing without dice position and dots changing A gaming machine receives capturing data from an infrared camera, determines a position, classification, and number of dots of dice based on the capturing data thus received, stores the position, classification, and number of dots thus determined in RAM for each game, and compares the position, classification, and number of dots for each of the dice stored in the RAM in a previous game with a position, classification, and number of dots for each of the dice stored in the RAM in a present game.
US08216055B2	Gaming machine that changes the number of free games depending on football game result thereof It is determined whether to execute a mini game at least during execution of a basic game. When it is determined to execute the mini game, it is displayed the predetermined number of penalty-kick shoot-out images in a display. When the penalty-kick shoot-out ends in victory, a point-number corresponding to the number of victory times is added to an accumulated point-number. Then, a free game is executed in accordance with the accumulated point-number.
US08216054B2	Gaming machine that changes the number of free games depending on golf game result thereof When a coin is bet, symbols are rearranged in several areas. A winning is determined on the basis of the rearranged symbols. A golf game is randomly started. A point is awarded to a player depending on a golf game result. A free game is continued depending on the awarded point.
US08216049B2	System and method for constraining bingo card faces to limit liability of number of random drawn winners A method for adapting a game of bingo to a lottery, includes predetermining a plurality of bingo faces to achieve a desired liability profile. One or more of the plurality of bingo faces are distributed. Random call numbers are generated until a desired pattern is achieved on one or more of the distributed bingo faces.
US08216047B2	Gaming and/or entertainment device The present invention relates to a gaming and/or entertainment device, in particular in the form of a roulette game device, having a game field comprising a plurality of wager fields which can be covered individually and/or group-wise by a wager of a player and/or of a plurality of players, as well as having a playing field, in particular in the form of a roulette wheel, comprising a plurality of winning fields of which one or, optionally, more can be selected by means of a winnings determination means. In accordance with the invention, bet display means are provided at the winning fields of the playing field for the marking of the winning fields which produce a win according to the bets made, with a detection apparatus being associated with the wager fields for the detection of the wager fields respectively covered by a bet and with a control apparatus being provided for the control of the bet display means at the winning fields in dependence on the wager fields covered by bets and detected by the detection apparatus.
US08216046B2	Multi-station game machine A multi-station game machine, including at least two stations that are configured to accept player inputs, a wheel having a plurality of sections including symbols, the wheel being configured to rotate, the wheel being disposed so that a front surface of the wheel can be seen from at least two players, and a controller for controlling a first game performed by the wheel and a second game performed on the stations, wherein the wheel is configured to enable at least two players to simultaneously play the first game respectively using the stations, wherein the stations are configured such that the players bet a game value on the symbols via a bet area displayed on a display provided on each of the stations, and wherein the controller triggers the second game based on a win of the first game.
US08216043B1	Sports based interactive wagering game with variable odds An interactive wagering game wherein a player can interact with and view a sports situation and place a wager on which of several potential outcomes a result of the situation will be. The sports situation can for example be a golfer with a ball in a sandtrap and potential results can be whether the golfer will succeed in getting the ball out of the sandtrap or not. The payout of each wager can be variable based on, for example, the difficulty or likelihood of achieving that result from the ball's current position and/or lie.
US08216041B2	Multi-play poker game with pool hand A method for playing a multiple-play poker game includes the step of displaying a pool hand in the form of a plurality of face up cards. The pool hand is not played, subject to wager, or subject to poker hand rankings. The pool hand is provided solely as a device for designation of none, one or more of the cards of the pool hand as held cards. Preferably, at the time of display of the pool hand and designation of held cards, playing hands are not displayed, keeping the player focused on the selection process. The method continues with reproducing the held cards in a plurality of playing hands, completing the plurality of playing hands with new face up cards, if any, and determining a ranking of each of the completed playing hands.
US08216037B2	Game device, game device control method, and information storage medium A game device executes a sport game. When a second team keeps the moving object, a first control unit controls the position of a player character belonging to a first team, based on both of either the position of a player character keeping the moving object or the position of the moving object, and the position of a predetermined area correlated to a first team, and a second control unit controls the position of the player character belonging to the first team, based on only one of either the position of the player character keeping the moving object or the position of the moving object, and the position of the predetermined area. In the case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, a control switching unit causes the second control unit to carry out the above-described control, instead of the first control unit.
US08216034B1	Universal air vent cover system An air vent cover system for mounting within a duct has a pair of side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The air vent cover system comprises a housing with an opening. A tensioning mechanism releasably maintains the housing within the duct by applying an outward force on two opposite walls of the duct causing the other two opposite walls to move inward against the housing. A non-pivoting, stationary grate is secured to the housing with the stationary grate having horizontal and vertical bars and the bars spaced from each other to maintain a child-sized hand from going between the bars. A cover grate is pivotally mounted to the housing and has a plurality of semi-circular slits for allowing maximum amount of air to pass therethrough. A latching mechanism secured to the housing and cooperating with the cover grate releasably maintains the cover grate against the housing.
US08216031B2	Euthanasia of poultry Euthanasia of birds is carried out by locating a tool on the neck of the bird and crushing the neck between two co-operating members each having a front face for engaging the neck which is sufficiently blunt to prevent cutting of the skin of the neck during the crushing action so as to prevent escape of blood from the neck with the members being held separated at an end of the crushing action to prevent severing of the neck. The members can be driven together for example by hand pressure or on a frame by a foot lever or can be provided as a pair of counter-rotating wheels.
US08216029B2	Cutting machine It is an object of the present invention to provide a cutting machine capable of sharpening in such a manner that an angle of a cutting edge can be kept constant. A support block 14 is provided with two arms 14a, 14b which are spaced at a certain angle, and the arms 14a, 14b have rotation shafts 12a, 13a of rotary whetstones 12, 13, respectively, extending upright from the vicinities of the front ends thereof. The rotary whetstones 12, 13 has, at front ends thereof, flat surfaces perpendicular to the rotation shafts 12a, 13a to sharpen the one side 11b and the other side 11c of the cutting edge 11a of the cutting blade 11, respectively. The whetstone holding mechanism 15 can be moved in parallel linearly or can swing almost linearly, as mainly indicated by the arrow 15a, to bring the flat surface 12b of the rotary whetstone 12 into contact with the one side 11b of the cutting blade 11, as depicted by a broken line, thereby allowing the switch to the sharpening state. Even when the sharpening progresses, since parallelism between the flat abrasive surface 12b and the one side 11b of the cutting blade and between the flat abrasive surface 13b and the other side 11c of the cutting blade is kept, the angle of the cutting edge is kept constant.
US08216024B2	Spectacle lens edging method A lens holder (16) is attached to a processing target lens (2) such that a holder center (O) coincides with a processing center position (21) of the lens. An axial deviation measuring mark (81a, 81b) is displayed on the processing target lens (2) to coincide with a reference position mark (80a, 80b) of the lens holder (16), and the circumferential surface of the processing target lens (2) undergoes primary processing. After primary processing, the axial deviation of the processing target lens (2) is measured from the reference position mark (80a, 80b) and axial deviation measuring mark (81a, 81b). When axial deviation exists, the lens holder (16) is removed from the processing target lens (2) and the processing target lens (2) is held again, so that the axial deviation is corrected. After that, the processing target lens (2) undergoes secondary processing.
US08216017B2	Method of fabricating planar light source In a method of fabricating a planar light source, a first substrate is formed at first. First electrodes approximately parallel to each other are formed on the first substrate. Sets of first dielectric patterns are formed on the first substrate. Each set of the first dielectric patterns includes at least two first striped dielectric patterns, and each of the first striped dielectric patterns covers one of the first electrodes correspondingly. The edges of the top of each first striped dielectric pattern are raised in a peak shape. A phosphor layer is formed between the first striped dielectric patterns of each set of the first dielectric patterns. A second substrate is formed. The first and second substrates are bound; meanwhile, a discharge gas is injected into the discharge space.
US08216011B2	Outboard engine unit Outboard engine unit includes: an anti-splash plate and an anti-cavitation plate provided on a gear case at a vertical interval from each other and extending horizontally from the gear case; an exhaust port provided in a side surface of the gear case for discharging exhaust gas from an engine; and a protruding section provided on the side surface of the gear case at a position located rearwardly of the exhaust port, the protruding section protruding laterally outwardly from the side surface for changing a direction of water flows flowing along the side surface.
US08216009B1	Tilt and trim device for an outboard motor A tilt and trim device for an outboard motor comprising a transom mounting portion with a transom plate and a motor mounting portion with a motor plate. The tilt and trim device having an upper and a lower hydraulic cylinder mounting bracket. A hydraulic cylinder being operatively coupled to a hydraulic pump and hydraulic pump control. The hydraulic cylinder having an upper fluid line and a lower fluid line, with a hydraulic cylinder having a piston contained therein. The hydraulic cylinder having a hydraulic line fluid restrictor.
US08216005B2	Lead plate with a mounting portion being heavier than its joint portion A lead plate for connecting a printed circuit board (PCB) of a secondary battery to an bare cell includes a mounting portion connected to the PCB, a joint portion connected to the bare cell, a surface area of the joint portion facing the bare cell being smaller than a surface area of the mounting portion facing the PCB, and a step portion connecting the mounting portion and the joint portion to each other.
US08216004B2	Vertical cable management system with ribcage structure A cable management system is provided including a rack for holding telecommunications equipment, and a ribcage cable support member along a vertical side of the rack. The ribcage cable support member includes a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly extending ribs. The ribs each include cable retention tabs. A plurality of spools are provided for cable storage on the ribcage cable support member. Holes through the ribcage cable support member allow access between the front and rear portions. An additional rack may be positioned on an opposite side of the ribcage cable support member to the first rack, and two columns of ribs are provided.
US08216001B2	Connector assembly having adjacent differential signal pairs offset or of different polarity A connector for connecting a first printed circuit board with a second printed circuit board that comprises a first column of differential signal pair launches offset from a second column of differential signal pair launches on the first printed circuit board so that each differential signal pair in the first column is closest to a launch of a first polarity in a corresponding differential signal pair in the second column on the first circuit board, a first column of differential signal pair launches offset from a second column of differential signal pair launches on the second printed circuit board so that each differential signal pair in the first column is closest to a launch of a second polarity, opposite the first polarity, in a corresponding signal pair in the second column on the second circuit board, and a connector electrically connecting the first column of differential signal pair launches on the first printed circuit board to the first column of differential signal pair launches on the second printed circuit board and electrically connecting the second column of differential signal pair launches on the first printed circuit board to the second column of differential signal pair launches on the second printed circuit board.
US08216000B2	Audio jack connector An audio jack connector adapted for receiving a plug has a base having a socket. The base has a first terminal groove and a second terminal groove opened at one side of the socket. The second terminal groove is located between the socket and the first terminal groove and connects with the socket by means of a first connecting passage. A stationary switch terminal has a first fixing slice fastened in the second terminal groove, a first contacting end projected in the first connecting passage and an opening opened in first fixing slice. A resilient switch terminal has a second fixing slice fastened in the first terminal groove, a second contacting end projected into the socket through the first connecting passage and elastically received in the opening when the second contacting end is biased by the plug to be disconnected from the first contacting end.
US08215999B2	Auxiliary electric socket for automobile An auxiliary electrical socket for automobile vehicles that includes a unitary body having a connecting tongue and a barrel adapted to receive a plug. This socket also includes a one-piece assembly that has a connecting member and a ring. The ring receives the barrel and constitutes a member for joining the socket and a structural element of the vehicle. The unitary body and the one-piece assembly include integral nesting-type assembly and positioning means.
US08215990B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector comprises a housing, a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, a plurality of third terminals and a cage provided on the exterior of the housing. The housing comprises a base and a tongue. The base is provided with a base wall and an assembly slot provided on the base wall to which the mated tongue mates. The tongue is provided with a body and a plurality of terminal installation slots recessed downward at intervals from the top surface of the body, the rear end of the terminal installation slots being defined by a boss part. A yield notch is provided at each location where each terminal passageway corresponds to the boss part. Because the boss parts increase the strength of the tongue, and by utilizing the yield notches, the contacts are able to prevent the boss parts from entering the terminal installation slots.
US08215987B2	Fluidproof connector A retainer (40), a rubber plug (60) and a rubber plug pressing member (70) are mounted in a housing (10). The retainer (40) is movable between a partial locking position and a full locking position, and the rubber plug pressing member (70) is movable between an initial position and a pushed-in position. The rubber plug pressing member (70) is formed with arm portions (74) projecting therefrom. The retainer (40) is formed with unlock linking portions (46) for linking a movement of this retainer (40) from the full locking position to the partial locking position and a movement of the rubber plug pressing member (70) from the pushed-in position to the initial position with each other by coming into sliding contact with the arm portions (74).
US08215985B2	Step up pin for coax cable connector A coaxial cable connector includes a step up pin that engages the center conductor of a coax cable to increase the diameter of the center conductor to thereby make it more manageable. The pin is stored with the connector until the pin and connector are affixed to a coax cable.
US08215981B2	USB device with heat dissipating thermal link A USB device is provided. The USB device includes a housing, a circuit board, a chip, a USB connector and a metal connector. The circuit board is disposed in the housing. The chip is disposed on the circuit board. The USB connector is connected to the circuit board. The metal connector is connected to the USB connector, wherein the metal connector includes an extended portion, and the extended portion contacts the chip to dissipate heat from the chip.
US08215978B1	Connector retaining device A connector retaining device for retaining interconnection between two connectors includes an upper frame and a lower frame. The upper frame includes two parallel side members and two parallel end members connected between opposite ends of the side members. Each side member includes a cutout defined in an upper edge thereof and a hook extending downwardly beyond a lower edge thereof, each end member defines a recess in a lower edge thereof. The a lower frame includes two parallel side members and two parallel end members connected between opposite ends of the side members. Each side member included a cutout defined in a lower edge thereof and a hook extending upward beyond an upper edge thereof, each end member defines a recess in an upper edge thereof. The upper frame is attachable to the lower frame for sandwiching the combined connectors therebetween and surrounding the combined connectors therein.
US08215977B2	Electrical plug-and-socket connector with locking means In a plug-and-socket connector with a locking means having an unlocking ring, it is proposed according to the invention that the first connector element be provided in its end section with an external circumambient groove, in which the unlocking ring is rotatably guided, which ring has pockets distributed across its periphery for the catch projections of catch hooks fixed in the second connector element. The second connector element has a window-like cut-out through which the unlocking ring is accessible and can be turned in the locked state.
US08215972B2	Anti-tamper adapter with a mechanism to block a release mechanism of a plug Apparatuses, devices, systems, and methods are provided for prevention of tampering with cables and associated systems. In one aspect, an anti-tamper adapter is provided that can inhibit or prohibit cable tampering for existing cables. The provided embodiments can economically and flexibly facilitate cable tamper prevention in a wide array of cable technologies.
US08215969B2	Contact structure and forming method thereof and connecting structure thereof A contact structure disposed on a substrate is provided. The contact structure includes a pad, a polymer bump and a conductive layer. The pad is on the substrate. The polymer bump having a curve surface and a steep surface connecting with the curve surface is disposed on the substrate. The polymer bump is covered by the conductive layer and the conductive layer is electrically connected with the pad.
US08215967B2	Connecting member A connecting member includes a cable used to transmit signal, a first connector and a second connector connected to the cable, and an elastic member mounted on the cable. The first connector and the second connector are configured for being electronically connected to two electronic components. The elastic member is elastically deformable between a first state, where the elastic member and the cable are constricted, and a second state, where the elastic member and the cable are extended.
US08215965B2	Female connector, male connector assembled to the same, and electric/electronic apparatus using them A female connector which is useful for space saving and height reduction of a connector connection portion is a female connector including: an insulating film having flexibility; a plurality of pad portions formed at predetermined positions on one face of the insulating film in an arranged manner; female terminal portions composed of openings formed at one lateral portions within faces of the pad portions so as to extend up to the other face of the insulating film; and spacer bumps formed at positions corresponding to the other lateral positions within the faces of the pad portions in a standing manner within the other face of the insulating film, proximal portions of the spacer bumps being electrically connected to the pad portions.
US08215960B2	Water and sodium hypochlorite indicating endodontic monitoring devices Water and aqueous sodium hypochlorite indicating endodontic monitoring devices include a cone-shaped water absorptive material and color changing system applied thereto that selectively changes to different colors when exposed to either water or aqueous sodium hypochlorite within a root canal chamber. The devices include a pH changing material, pH indicator, and pH insensitive dye. The dye imparts an initial color when the device is dry. The pH changing material and pH indicator react with water to yield a second color. In the presence of aqueous sodium hypochlorite, the device changes to a third color different from the initial color and second color as a result of bleaching the dye and/or pH indicator. Color changing devices are manufactured by applying an aqueous solution that includes a pH changing material and dye to a water absorptive cone, drying the cone, applying an anhydrous pH indicator solution, and then drying the cone again.
US08215958B2	Dental irrigator The invention is a dental irrigator for delivering irrigant solution from an irrigation solution reservoir to the site of a dental procedure. The irrigator comprises: a hollow dental tool modified by the addition of one or more curved blades either formed directly on the neck of the tool or on a sleeve attached coaxially to the neck, one or more inlets associated with each of the curved blades, a housing that provides a watertight volume surrounding the inlets while allowing the tool to be freely moved with respect to the housing, and a supply hose, which conducts the irrigant solution at relatively low pressure from the reservoir to the housing. When the dental tool is attached to the distal end of a dental hand-piece and the hand-piece is activated causing the tool to move, irrigation solution enters the hollow interior of the neck of the tool and, as a result of the forces created by the motion of the curved blades, is delivered at relatively high pressure to the site.
US08215957B2	Dental implant placement locator and method of use The present invention provides a device and method for facilitating the placement of dental implants by use of an implant placement locator and a sequentially sized drill orientation tube series. The implant placement locator disclosed herein comprises a visible radiolucent moldable grid, a set of radiopaque markers located at known intervals within the moldable grid, and a plastic sheeting encasing the visible radiolucent moldable grid and the radiopaque markers. The method of the present invention comprises obtaining a radiograph of a patient's mouth with the implant placement locator overlaying the patient's dental ridge and then transferring reference points as indicated by the location of the radiopaque markers relative to existing teeth and other oral structures to a dental stone model. In a preferred embodiment, drill bits are directed in the desired trajectory into the patient's available lower or upper jaw bone by use of drill orientation tubes in combination with the implant placement locator. A sequentially sized set of spacers is provided having sequentially sized inside diameters to direct varying diameter drills. Drill guide parallelism is thus provided by the invention.
US08215956B2	Dental articulator with positioning key The systems and methods disclosed herein employ a combination of digital three-dimensional modeling and rapid fabrication technologies to provide pre-indexed, pre-registered, and/or precut components for articulated dental models. Dental articulators and components of dental models as described herein use a positioning key to encode positional information for components of the dental model, and/or a reference grid on mounting surfaces to enforce local accuracy of fabricated parts against a fixed reference array.
US08215955B2	Endodontic instrument for root canal filling and heating tip adapted to the same An endodontic instrument for root canal filling includes a body having DC power source and printed circuit board, a heating tip connected to the body, a switch, and a control circuit for switching on/off power supply to the heating tip. The heating tip includes a first metal part serving as a resistant tube, a second metal part disposed inside the first metal part and configured to supply power, check a thermoelectric power (+) terminal, a third metal part disposed inside the first metal part and configured to supply power, a contact part, an insulator disposed inside the first metal part and enclosing surfaces of the second and third metal parts, first conductive tube, a second conductive tube; and an insulator connected and fixed to the first and second conductive tubes, where temperature is detected using thermoelectric power of the thermocouple.
US08215952B2	Burner having variable output structure A burner having a variable output structure includes a flame-hole plate having a plurality of flame holes located on a surface of the flame-hole plate. The plurality of flame holes are exposed to a combustion chamber. Further, the burner can include a flame hole adjusting unit configured to change an output of the burner by adjusting a size of each of the plurality of flame holes according to a load required in a combustion device.
US08215950B2	Low emission and flashback resistant burner tube and apparatus A burner tube to provide combustible materials to a combustor is provided and includes an annular shroud and a center body, having a cavity defined therein, disposed within the annular shroud to form an annular passage, the annular passage being communicable with a combustion zone of the combustor at an aft portion thereof and including a fore portion in which fuel is injected into the annular passage. The center body includes a surface having a passage defined therein through which air is to be supplied to the annular passage from the cavity at a position, which is downstream from the fuel injection and upstream from the combustion zone. Also provided is a contouring of the centerbody.
US08215946B2	Imprint lithography system and method System, method and process for imprinting a substrate using controlled deformation of a substrate and/or a template. The substrate and/or template may be positioned in single wave formation or double wave formation during an imprint lithography process.
US08215945B2	Method and apparatus for forming a hollow FRP article by internal pressure molding An apparatus for forming a hollow FRP article by internal pressure molding includes a vacuum chamber, a forming die positioned in the vacuum chamber, a vacuum-chamber opening/closing mechanism, a composite-body support device for supporting a composite body without making the composite body come into contact with the forming die in a state where the forming die is opened by the vacuum-chamber opening/closing mechanism, the composite body including an airtight internal-pressure holding tube and a prepreg fitted on said airtight internal-pressure holding tube, an evacuation system for evacuating the vacuum chamber, an internal-pressure supplying device for applying pressure to an inside of the internal-pressure holding tube, and a controller for actuating the vacuum-chamber opening/closing mechanism to clamp the forming die to thereby bring the forming die and the composite body into intimate contact with each other.
US08215944B2	Imprinting device and imprinting method The present invention provides an imprinting device and an imprinting method which can uniformly apply pressure between a mold and a molding object and which can increase and decrease a temperature at a fast speed. An imprinting device is for transferring a pattern on a mold to a film molding object and comprises a stage for holding the mold, a pressurizing-chamber casing which configures a pressurizing-chamber together with the molding object, sealing means which airtightly seals a space between the pressurizing-chamber casing and the molding object, opening and closing means which opens and closes the space between the pressurizing-chamber casing and the molding object, pressurizing means which adjusts atmospheric pressure in the pressurizing-chamber, heating means which heats either one of or both of the mold and the molding object, and degassing means which eliminates any gas present between the mold and the molding object.
US08215943B2	Heat-transfer label assembly and apparatus for applying heat-transfer labels A heat-transfer label assembly and an apparatus for applying heat-transfer labels. In a preferred embodiment, the heat-transfer label assembly includes a support. A plurality of labels are positioned over the support for transfer from the support to an article, each of the labels including an ink design. A plurality of spacers are positioned over the support but not over the label, the spacers not being transferable with the labels from the support to an article. The distance from the top of the spacers to the support exceeds the distance from the top of the labels to the support so that, when the assembly is wound into a roll, the labels do not come into contact with the bottom surface of an underlying portion of the support. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus for applying heat-transfer labels includes a pad, a die-mark reduction device on the pad, a heated die positioned over the pad, and a motor for moving the heated die into and out of engagement with the die-mark reduction device. One type of die-mark reduction device has a top that includes a plurality of recesses spaced apart from one another, the recesses constituting non-contact areas with the die, the spaces between the recesses constituting contact areas with the die.
US08215930B2	Diaphragm pumps and transporting drag reducers An apparatus for a diaphragm pump and a method for transporting at least a portion of a latex and/or a latex drag reducer through a diaphragm pump are disclosed. A method for reducing the pressure drop associated with flowing a hydrocarbon-containing fluid through a pipeline also is disclosed.
US08215926B2	Scroll compressor counterweight with cooling flow directing surface A sealed compressor includes a housing for receiving a compressor pump unit and an electric motor. The electric motor drives a driveshaft. The driveshaft extends to drive an element within the compressor pump unit to compress a fluid. The motor includes a rotor spaced from a portion of the housing by a gap. The driveshaft drives a counterweight, which has a radially outermost portion extending radially outwardly beyond a radially innermost portion of the stator. The radially outermost portion of the counterweight has an angled face to drive fluid into the gap.
US08215925B2	Pump assembly and tappet therefor A tappet suitable for use with a fluid pump includes a side wall portion and an end face which define an internal chamber of the tappet, the end face having a drive surface for co-operating with a drive arrangement, in use, and a plurality of vents through the end face for allowing fluid flow between the internal chamber and an area outside the tappet. A plurality of longitudinal grooves are formed in an internal surface of the side wall portion, the grooves communicating with respective the vents to form a flow path for fluid into the internal chamber.
US08215922B2	Compressible fluid pumping system for dynamically compensating compressible fluids over large pressure ranges An invention is claimed that enables the pumping of compressible fluids at high pressures when an accurate flow is desired. Two pressure sources, for example pumps plumbed in series, separate thermodynamic work, such as pressurization, at the first pressure source from a volumetric or matter metering function in the second pressure source. One example is a flowstream delivery for a chemical instrumentation system that is manufactured from relatively unsophisticated pumps yet delivers precise flows with low pulsation (<1%) over pressures greater than 100 bar. An advantage of one embodiment allows the economical conversion of typical HPLC systems to state of-the-art supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) systems with minimal modification to system components.
US08215921B2	Methods and systems for defogging transparent doors in display cases A system for defogging doors to a display case is described and includes an electric motor and an air moving device. The air moving device is operatively coupled to the electric motor and positioned to provide an output proximate to at least one door of the display case. The motor is configured to operate at a first speed under standard closed door conditions, at a second speed when the door of the display case is open, and at a third speed for a predetermined length of time after the door is moved from an open position to a closed position.
US08215916B2	Axial flow fan The axial flow fan includes a plurality of blades disposed around and rotating together with the rotation shaft, the blades each including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a leading edge portion proximate the leading edge, a trailing edge portion proximate the trailing edge, a suction surface, a pressure surface, the suction surface having a curved shape; wherein the blade trailing edge portion has a constant thickness; and the trailing edge is formed in a semi-circle which is bi-sected by a mean camber line of the air foil.
US08215914B2	Compliant seal for rotor slot A compliant seal assembly for sealing a gap between a dovetail tab of a bucket and a slot of a rotor. The compliant sealing assembly may include a sealing groove positioned about the slot and a compliant seal positioned about the sealing groove. The compliant seal is forced into the gap and about the dovetail tab when the bucket rotates.
US08215909B2	Turbine blade A turbine blade comprising a plurality of ribs arranged one after the other in a cooling channel extending along a leading edge is provided. The plurality of ribs is split into pairs of ribs formed by two ribs arranged in the form of a skating step.
US08215906B2	Variable tip speed ratio tracking control for wind turbines The present invention relates to a method of controlling the aerodynamic load of a wind turbine blade by controlling the tip speed ratio (TSR) and/or blade pitch setting of the wind turbine blade so as to optimize power production. A wind turbine blade undergoes an aero-elastic response including deflection and twist that is a function of the blade loading. The blade loading is dependent on the wind speed, TSR, and pitch setting. The aero-elastic response requires a different TSR and/or pitch to be selected throughout the power curve in order to maintain the optimum power production and to improve energy capture.
US08215904B2	Assembling method of stator blade ring segment, stator blade ring segment, coupling member, welding method A groove 50 formed in each stator ring segment piece 41 is formed to have side wall portions 50b on opposite sides inclined with respect to a bottom 50a so that a width of the groove 50 gradually decreases from an outer peripheral side toward the bottom 50a. A coupling member 42 has a sectional shape so as to have a maximum width at protrusions 42b at an intermediate portion in a thickness direction. The protrusions 42b on the opposite sides abut against or approach the side wall portions 50b of the groove 50 when the coupling member 42 is placed in the groove 50, a space 100 is formed on the side of the bottom 50a of the groove 50, and a welding groove 200 having a substantially V-shaped section is formed on the side remote from the bottom 50a of the groove 50.
US08215901B2	Gas turbine engines and related systems involving offset turbine frame struts Gas turbine engines and related systems involving offset hub struts are provided. In this regard, a representative bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a bearing operative to support a rotatable shaft; an annular hub positioned about the bearing; and an annular array of struts extending radially outwardly from the hub, at least two of the struts being positioned in different planes, the planes being oriented transversely with respect to the rotatable shaft. The method of assembling the struts by mounting first and second pluralities of struts, each plurality in a common plane, between the hub and the turbine exhaust case, with the second plurality of struts longitudinally offset from the first plurality of struts.
US08215900B2	Turbine vane with high temperature capable skins A turbine vane assembly includes an airfoil extending between an inner shroud and an outer shroud. The airfoil can include a substructure having an outer peripheral surface. At least a portion of the outer peripheral surface is covered by an external skin. The external skin can be made of a high temperature capable material, such as oxide dispersion strengthened alloys, intermetallic alloys, ceramic matrix composites or refractory alloys. The external skin can be formed, and the airfoil can be subsequently bi-cast around or onto the skin. The skin and the substructure can be attached by a plurality of attachment members extending between the skin and the substructure. The skin can be spaced from the outer peripheral surface of the substructure such that a cavity is formed therebetween. Coolant can be supplied to the cavity. Skins can also be applied to the gas path faces of the inner and outer shrouds.
US08215899B2	Vertically rotatable shaft assembly with thermally insulated housing A vertically mountable shaft and bearing assembly includes a thermally insulated housing which protects the shaft, bearing(s), seal(s), and bearing lubricant from overheating due to a surrounding process fluid at a temperature exceeding 65° C. The thermal insulation, which in some embodiments includes vacuum, air, or an insulating material, enables a rolling element bearing to be located near the shaft's distal end, thereby reducing shaft and bearing size requirements. Lubricant is circulated past the bearing(s) by a circulation and cooling system having a capacity typical of systems used with process fluids at much lower temperatures. Additional roller and/or journal bearings can be included. The lubricant circulation system can be actuated by the shaft or driven separately. Lubricant within the shaft housing can be pressurized, for example by pressurizing gas or by filling the lubricant above the surrounding process fluid level. The shaft can operate a process fluid pump impeller.
US08215898B2	Turbine unit for refrigerating/cooling air cycle A compressor rotor 6a and a turbine rotor 7a are respectively attached at either end of the main shaft 13 so that the compressor rotor 6a is driven by the power generated by the turbine rotor 7a. The main shaft 13 is supported by rolling contact bearings 15 and 16 relative to the radial direction. The thrust force applied to the main shaft 13 is supported by electromagnets 17. A sensor 18 is provided to detect the thrust force which affects the main shaft 13 through air within the compressor 6 and the expansion turbine 7. In the sensor 18, sensor elements having the properties changeable in accordance with a pressing force and capable to electrically detect the change in the properties are arranged in a circumferential direction of the main shaft. The sensor 18 detects the thrust force from the output of the sensor elements.
US08215897B2	Cylindrical wind turbine A vertical wind turbine includes a blade which has opposite force producing sides that lie on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis along its direction of travel. The aerodynamic surfaces are driven by the wind through four phases of rotation. Driving torque is produced during three of the four phases. The blade includes a v-shaped nosepiece with rearward facing surfaces on each side that cup the wind during three of the four phases. The split tail of the blade captures the wind during a down wind phase of rotation.
US08215892B2	Arrangement for moving a cargo-carrying apparatus on a vehicle A method and an arrangement for moving a cargo-carrying apparatus on a vehicle from a first position to a second position. The vehicle has a longitudinal center line and includes a hook arm having a pivot end and a hook end, with the hook end coupled to the cargo carrying apparatus. The arrangement comprises a plurality of rollers mounted on one of the vehicle and the cargo-carrying apparatus. A pivot joint is positioned in the hook arm between the pivot end and the hook end. The hook end maintains engagement with the cargo-carrying apparatus on the vehicle in both the first position and the second position.
US08215891B2	Substrate treating apparatus, and a substrate transporting method therefor A substrate treating apparatus includes a treating section, a table for receiving a FOUP (Front Opening Unified Pod) storing the substrates, and an attaching and detaching unit for a lid to/from an access opening of the FOUP placed on the table. A transport unit is movable to a transfer position opposed to the access opening of the FOUP, and has support members for supporting the substrates, the transport unit transporting the substrates held by the support members between the treating section and the FOUP. A substrate detecting unit detects the substrates stored in the FOUP with the lid detached, a support member detecting unit detects the support members of the transport unit, and a control unit determines whether to transport the substrates, with the lid detached and the transport unit moved to the transfer position, based on detection of the substrates, and detection of the support members.
US08215888B2	Cartridge tubular handling system A cartridge of tubulars may be removably positioned with a carriage, and the carriage may move the cartridge transversely, vertically, and/or rotationally to roll tubulars on an adjacent tubular receiving member using only gravity from a selected tier of tubulars without human contact. A single trolley disposed with the tubular receiving member both pushes and pulls tubulars toward or away from the drilling deck.
US08215884B2	Connector for use in high vibration environment A locking mechanism inhibits rotational movement of a nut of a first cable connector that is threadingly engaged with a mating second cable connector. The nut has at least one recess in its outer surface along an edge and is rotatably mounted on a fixed housing of the first cable connector. The mechanism includes a component adapted to removably surround at least a portion of the housing and includes at least one first element matingly engageable with a corresponding second element positioned on the housing. A projection is rigidly mounted on the component. The projection is adapted to engage the at least one recess of the nut when the component is engaged with the outer surface of the housing.
US08215878B2	Indirect cooling of a rotary cutting tool An indirect cooling system for a rotating cutting tool uses a cryogenic coolant that is delivered to a cavity formed on the back surface of the cutting element, providing cooling near the cutting edge of the element. Because the total flow rate of the working fluid is low (less than 0.08 Liters/min/cutting edge), the fluid can be safely vented to atmosphere from the cavity, and as a result, no specialized coolant recovery or ventilation equipment is needed. The cavity may be formed with fins to enhance the heat transfer between the cutting element and the coolant, and coolant may additionally be sprayed directly onto the exterior surface of the element to cool the tool-chip interface. The indirect cooling system may be used for hard to machine metals and composites, as well as the machining of conventional materials without the use of traditional cutting fluids.
US08215877B2	Device for conveying fluid The device according to the invention for conveying fluid comprises a conveying chamber, an inlet valve, which is located in the direction of flow, upstream of the conveying chamber, and with an outlet valve, which is located in the direction of flow, downstream of the conveying chamber. Moreover, an injector is provided for, whose suction duct is connected with the conveying chamber. Via an air duct, which is connected to the conveying chamber, exhaust air (AL) can be blown into the conveying chamber.
US08215873B1	Auger anchor pile assembly and method of connecting anchor piles An anchor pile apparatus for placement in subsea soil has a tubular member has an interior passageway, a support structure affixed to the upper end of the tubular member, a shaft rotatably mounted in the support structure and extending downwardly through the interior passageway of the tubular member, and an auger connected to the shaft. A suitable hydraulic torquing tool can be connected to the shaft so as to cause the shaft to rotate for the purpose of rotating the auger. The auger is rotated so as to draw the tubular member into the subsea soil. The tubular member has a plurality of fins extending radially outwardly therefrom.
US08215872B2	Ram style tensioner with fixed conductor and floating frame A riser tensioner for an offshore floating platform has a frame stationarily mounted to the upper portion of the riser. Pistons and cylinders are spaced circumferentially around the riser and connected between the frame and the floating platform. A tubular guide member is mounted to the floating platform for movement in unison in response to waves and currents. The riser extends through the guide member. A guide roller support is mounted to and extends downward from the frame around the guide member. At least one set of guide rollers is mounted to the guide roller support in rolling engagement with the guide member as the guide member moves in unison with the platform.
US08215867B2	Trench compacting apparatus A compacting device (40) for attachment to an earthmoving machine (2) to compact a substrate is described. The compacting device (40) includes a plurality of wheel assemblies (41, 42, 43) mounted for rotation in bearings (46). A support is also provided, having a base part (48) that is adapted to be mounted to the earthmoving machine (2). One or more bearing support members (47) extend from the base part (48) and between the wheel assemblies (41, 42, 43) to support the bearings (46). Each wheel assembly (41, 42, 43) includes a set of ground-contacting feet (44) secured to and peripherally spaced apart around a rim portion of the wheel assembly (41, 42, 43). In this arrangement, when the device (40) is rolled over the substrate a first foot of said set of ground engaging feet (44) contacts the substrate between axial width limits that differ from axial width limits of a second foot of said set of ground engaging feet (44).
US08215866B2	Portable perimeter defense barrier and system A portable perimeter defense system is provided that is configured for preventing unwanted intrusions by vehicles or other heavy and fast-moving vehicles into a protected area while also providing requisite ballistic resistance capabilities. The defense system includes at least one individual modular barrier that can be readily transported to a point of use and can be secured in place without requiring heavy equipment or power sources, such as electricity. The modular barrier includes a front plate configured to provide ballistic protection in the direction of impact and to provide an impact surface capable of withstanding impact. The front plate extends upwardly from a base plate and a kick plate extends outwardly from the rear or aft side of the front plate. The front or fore edge of the base plate defines a vehicle engaging interface, the rear or aft edge of the base plate is arcuate and defines a ground engaging interface, and the rear or aft edge of the kick plate defines a ground engaging interface. A ramp is positioned on the base plate in front of the front plate facing the impact direction. When circumstances warrant additional protection and/or a greater span of protection, a plurality of modular barriers may be provided in predetermined configurations. Adjacent barriers may be secured to one another along side edges thereof. The portable perimeter defense system including modular barriers provides exceptional protection to a protected area and may be rapidly deployed.
US08215864B2	Impact attenuator system An impact attenuator system includes a hyperelastic member that comprises an energy-absorbing material which behaves in a rate-independent hyperelastic manner so that its permanent set is minimized and the material can absorb tremendous amounts of impact energy while remaining fully recoverable.
US08215862B2	Tube with resilient applicator and scraper for dispensing texture materials A method of patching a destination surface to substantially match a structure of an existing sprayed on visible texture pattern. A sponge member is displaced in a dabbing direction towards and away from the destination surface to transfer texture material to the destination surface. Individual particles of the texture material are supported by binder on the applicator surface such that at least a portion of the structure at least some of the individual particles supported on the applicator surface visibly extend from the destination surface. The portion of the structure of the individual particles supported by the binder that extends outwardly from the binder on the destination surface forms a visible structure on the destination surface. The visible structure substantially matches the structure of the existing sprayed on visible texture pattern.
US08215857B2	Retractable substance dispenser The application relates to a dispenser featuring a body and a reservoir housed in said body wherein the reservoir is configured to hold a substance; wherein there is an applicator selectively extendable or retractable from the dispenser; and further featuring a means for ejecting the substance through the applicator.
US08215856B1	Corn buttering apparatus A corn buttering apparatus includes a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall is attached to and extends between the top and bottom walls. The perimeter wall has a break therein to divide the housing into a first section and a second section. The top wall has an elongated trough therein. The trough extends into an outer surface of the top wall. The top wall has a plurality of drain openings therein extending through the top wall. Each of the drain openings is positioned within the trough. A container is mounted on the housing and is in fluid communication with the trough. The container is configured to receive butter that can be melted and drained through the drainage openings to fall onto a cob of corn positioned within the housing.
US08215855B2	Method and device for the alignment of sheet-shaped substrates Provided is a device for the alignment of sheets in a printing machine, said device comprising two pairs of rollers for the alignment of the sheets in their advance direction, for the alignment transverse to their advance direction and with respect to skewing, whereby each pair of rollers consists of a driving roller and of a counter-pressure roller. One drive unit is provided for each of the two driving rollers, whereby each of the drive units consists of a motor and a drive shaft linked therewith, whereby the driving rollers are non-torsionally accommodated on respective drive shafts. The driving rollers can be slid in linear direction on their drive shaft, or the respective drive shafts, and thus the driving rollers accommodated thereon, can be linearly shifted with respect to their drive motors.
US08215851B2	Print control apparatus that controls printing device performing printing on print sheet having tab When a printer driver is activated in a PC for performing setting about a tab sheet, the printer driver presents a screen for setting a background color of the tab sheet and receives designation of a desired background color for each tab sheet. It also receives designation of an area of the tab sheet to be colored, and in the case of coloring by bordering, it receives designation of thickness and style thereof. It further receives designation of presence/absence of a background color for the back surface of the tab sheet, and designation of the background color when present.
US08215841B2	Bearing assembly for use in earth drilling A bearing assembly has an outer housing, and an inner mandrel extending into outer housing. Radial bearing sleeves are positioned between the inner mandrel and the outer housing at both of ends of the outer housing. A thrust bearing assembly is positioned within the interior cavity of the outer housing, and includes a fixed bearing carrier fixed to the inner mandrel, first and second floating bearings carriers, and first and second pressure responsive fillers. Floating bearing carriers support hard face bearings that engage hard face bearings on the fixed bearing carrier to withstand axial loads. Pressure responsive fillers permit the floating bearing carriers limited angular adjustment in relation to the fixed bearing carrier to maintain their respective at least one hard face bearing in face to face relation notwithstanding deflections within required radial bearing tolerance.
US08215835B2	Temperature-stabilized medicinal storage systems Systems include one or more medicinal storage containers. For example, an integrally thermally sealed medicinal storage container may include one or more segments of at least one ultra efficient insulation material, the one or more segments having one or more surface regions, the one or more segments principally defining at least one storage region, one or more regions of substantially thermally sealed connections between at least one of the one or more surface regions of the one or more segments wherein the one or more regions of substantially thermally sealed connections and the one or more segments form at least one integrally thermally sealed medicinal storage region, one or more thermal variant units, and at least one selectively-operable thermal conduction unit.
US08215834B2	Optical fiber based polymer core sensor An optical fiber based polymer core sensor includes an optical fiber having a core and an end having a cured polymer core affixed to the core of the optical fiber. The cured polymer core extends outward from the end of the optical fiber and has a diameter approximately equal to the core of the optical fiber. Note the cured polymer core can be substantially cylindrical, tapered or geometrically shaped. The optical fiber based polymer core sensor can be used to measure a temperature, measure a strain, measure a distance, measure a refractive index, detect or measure an analyte, detect a toxin, detect a biological agent, monitor a chemical process, or a combination thereof.
US08215832B2	Infrared sensor and manufacturing method thereof A first thermosensitive element including a temperature detecting unit that outputs a voltage corresponding to a temperature to which the unit rises from ambient temperature (temperature of surrounding environment) due to incident infrared, and a second thermosensitive element including a temperature detecting unit that outputs a voltage based on ambient temperature are formed above/on a silicon substrate. The temperature detecting unit of the first thermosensitive element is thermally insulated from the silicon substrate by a clearance (space). The temperature detecting unit of the second thermosensitive element is formed on a first sacrifice layer made of deposited diamond like carbon, and thermally connected to the silicon substrate by the first sacrifice layer. The infrared sensor detects an amount of incident infrared based on the difference between output voltages of the first and second thermosensitive elements.
US08215829B2	Method of analyzing thermal stress according to filling factor of filler in resin A method of analyzing thermal stress includes calculating a distribution of the number of fillers in a composite integrally molded product by using physical property values of resin material containing fillers, and determining a coefficient of linear expansion of the resin material in the composite integrally molded product, that is used as an input condition of a thermal stress analysis, based on the distribution of the number of the fillers.
US08215826B2	Device and method for moving liquid containers A method according to Claim 25, wherein essentially homogeneous material mixtures are achieved or maintained in these liquid containers.
US08215825B2	Fluid mixing apparatus and method Methods and apparatus are provided for influencing mixing of a first fluid injected through a slot into a second fluid flowing through a conduit, by automatically or remotely adjusting the slot width to provide at least a certain slot velocity of the first fluid being introduced into the conduit. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for mixing control in injecting titanium tetrachloride into an oxygen stream in a process for making titanium dioxide.
US08215824B2	Homogenizer device having horizontally mounted gear rims In the case of a homogenizer device for dispersing and/or homogenizing substances capable of flow, having a container having one or more inlet openings for introducing the substances to be homogenized, which container has a container outlet opening for feeding the substances into a processing unit disposed below the bottom, in a central region of its bottom, which unit contains two gear rims, which are mounted to rotate independent of one another, are disposed concentrically and configured in circular shape, and are separated from one another by way of a predetermined interstice, effective homogenization, which can be adapted to a predetermined substance mixture, is achieved in that the drive shafts of a first gear rim and of a second gear rim of the processing unit are disposed perpendicular to the transport direction of the substances that leave the outlet opening, in each instance.
US08215823B2	Straight through cement mixer A cement mixing method for mixing cement used in cementing oil wells casing and the mixer used in that method. The mixer employs a straight bulk cement inlet, five annular recirculation jets and five annular water jet orifices located downstream of the recirculation jets so that all of the jets discharge at an angle towards the mixing chamber and the discharge from the water jet orifices intersects with the flow from the recirculation jets. This five jet, intersecting flow design allows for more thorough wetting of the cement powder with a smaller, lighter, less expensive and more durable mixer that is less inclined to foul and easier to clean.
US08215821B2	Vessel agitator assembly A test vessel agitator assembly that agitates test vessels and the contents therein within an immunoassay automated analyzer system. The test vessels are transported along an element that is comprised of ridges and troughs such that the test vessel is moved in a directions that is approximately perpendicular to the direction of transportation.
US08215817B2	Backlight unit and LCD having the same for preventing transmission caused by light emitted from a lateral side of the light guide plate Provided is a backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a frame, a light guide plate, a light absorption adhesive member, and a white light source. An opening is formed in the frame. The light guide plate is attached to the frame and formed larger than the opening. The light absorption adhesive member attaches the light guide plate to the frame and absorbs incident light. The white light source provides white light to the light guide plate.
US08215816B2	Light emitting panel assemblies A light emitting assembly comprises a light source, a light emitting panel member having an input edge that receives light from the light source, and end edge and side edge reflectors. The panel member is received in a cavity or recess of a tray or housing. An additional component overlies the panel member. Light extracting deformities on or in a surface of the panel member cause light to be emitted from the panel member.
US08215809B2	Light control apparatus and recording medium The present invention provides, as one aspect, a light control apparatus for controlling directions of optical axes of headlights mounted in a vehicle. The apparatus includes a position detecting section that detects positions of the headlights with respect to a road surface, an optical axis direction calculating section that calculates the directions of the optical axes of the headlights, individually, so that the optical axes are directed to illumination targets positioned at predetermined distances from the positions of the headlights detected by the position detecting section, a leveling control section that controls the directions of the optical axes of the headlights in the vertical direction, individually, and a leveling output section that outputs a control command based on a calculation result of the optical axis direction calculating section to the leveling control section.
US08215808B2	Lighting system for a stroller A lighting system for a stroller includes: a power generation system coupled to at least one wheel of the stroller; a power source operationally coupled to the power generation system and configured to receive and store power generated by the power generation system; at least one first light source coupled to at least one leg of the stroller and configured to be powered by the power source; and at least one second light source coupled to a central hub of the stroller and configured to be powered by the power source. The at least one first light source is controlled to provide constant lighting for safety purposes and the at least one second light source is controlled to provide light to a pathway in a low light condition.
US08215807B1	Illuminating flagpole assembly A flagpole and light combination assembly includes a pole having a top end. A light emitter is attached to the pole. A power source is electrically coupled to the light emitter and comprises a rechargeable battery mounted in the pole. A solar panel is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery. The solar panel is mounted on the pole. A connecting apparatus releasably connects the flag to the pole and positions the flag adjacent to the light emitter. The light emitter is spaced from the top end of the pole to emit light laterally of the pole and onto the flag. The connecting apparatus includes an upper flag coupler and a lower flag coupler spaced from each other. The light emitter is positioned between the upper and lower flag couplers and emits light orthogonally to the pole to illuminate the flag.
US08215798B2	Solid state lighting system with optic providing occluded remote phosphor The present teachings relate to semiconductor-based lighting systems and fixtures which process electromagnetic energy from light emitting diodes or the like. A disclosed exemplary system includes at least one occluded remote phosphor and produces substantially white light of desired characteristics. The remote phosphor extends over at least a portion of a surface of a macro optic at an occluded location such that none of the remote phosphor is directly visible through an optical aperture. The phosphor is responsive to electromagnetic energy from a semiconductor device to emit visible light for the emission through the optical aperture.
US08215795B2	Under-shelf lighting system A lighting assembly (9) for a standard in-store display shelf (2). The standard shelf is mounted on a standard in-store shelf bracket (4), having in-store header mounting hardware (6), which standard in-store display shelf (2) includes a conventional metal spring clip (10) for mounting a standard light fixture. The lighting assembly has a mount (11) for spring mounting to clip (10). The mount has rails (16-19), which form a pair of board channels (19A-B). A circuit board (20) slide mounts into the board channels. The circuit board serves as a mount for an array of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
US08215794B2	Large-angle LED lighting apparatus A large-angle LED lighting apparatus includes a lamp shield having an outer cover and a diffusing cover; a printed circuit board; a plurality of LED lamps electrically coupled to the printed circuit board; and a heat dissipating post. Wherein, the LED lamps are annularly arranged around a center of the printed circuit board, the LED lamps are electrically coupled to an upper surface or a lower surface or the upper and lower surfaces of the printed circuit board, the LED lamps are arranged to form an angle at a range from 20 degrees to 170 degrees relative to the printed circuit board, and the heat dissipating post is fixedly or detachably connected with the printed circuit board.
US08215791B2	Illuminating headlamp providing substantially uniform illumination An illuminating headlamp consisting of a headband and at least one optical device providing illumination at a known distance from said optical device attached to said headband. Each optical device consists of a housing having an open first end and an open second end. There is a light emitting device attached to a mounting which is attached to the second end causing said light emitting device to be orientated at a known angle to an axis of said housing. At least one optically transparent lens is incorporated into said first end, and a means for adjusting said optically transparent lens in order to cause a focal point of the lens to be positioned behind said light emitting device, wherein a zone of substantially uniform illumination is projected at said known distance.
US08215789B2	Light-emitting apparatus A light-emitting apparatus includes a housing defining an interior space. A light-emitting diode in the interior space of the housing projects upward from the interior bottom surface. A support surface in the interior space above the light-emitting diode is configured to support a candle in the interior space over the light-emitting diode so that the light-emitting diode is hidden from view.
US08215787B2	Organic light emitting diode products A plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices can be spatially distributed to form various lighting systems and luminaires. The lighting systems can be configured to readily replace conventional light bulbs or tubular fluorescent lamps. A networked lighting system including a plurality of OLED devices can have a variable light field based on a feedback.
US08215786B2	Flexible perimeter lighting apparatus An elongated flexible lighting system according to the present invention comprises an array of light sources that are illuminated by electric power. It further comprises an elongated translucent extrusion of flexible material. The array of light sources is integral to the extrusion with said extrusion transmitting and dispersing the light from the array such that the lighting system gives the appearance that the array of light sources is a continuous light source. The elongated lighting system can be used for many different applications including, but not limited to, the lighting of structural features and illumination of sign features.
US08215785B2	Electronic device and film for the same An electronic device that includes a light-emitting board and a light characteristics enhancing member. The light-emitting board includes a driving substrate, a semiconductor device disposed on a first surface of the driving substrate, and a signal-receiving member receiving an external wireless control signal to control the semiconductor device. The light characteristics enhancing member includes a base film disposed over the light-emitting board, and a light characteristics enhancing layer formed on a lower surface of the base film, the lower surface facing the light-emitting board. A second refractive index of the light characteristics enhancing layer is greater than a first refractive index of the base film. Therefore, the receive sensitivity of the external wireless control signal is improved.
US08215783B2	LED lamp An LED lamp includes a lamp support and a light-source module mounted on the lamp support. The lamp support includes a main post and a branch post extending from the main post. The main post is tubular and defines a first airflow tunnel inside the main post. The branch post is tubular and defines a second airflow tunnel inside the branch post, and the second airflow tunnel is directly communicated with the outer environment. The first and second airflow tunnels are communicated with each other. The light-source module is located at a position through which an airflow from the first and second airflow tunnels of the main post and the branch post flows.
US08215779B2	Projector having a plurality of light source devices A projector includes: a plurality of light source devices; an image projecting unit, and projects the image light; a power supply device; and an outer housing, wherein the plurality of light source devices include a same shape, a plurality of light source storage units each of which accommodates the corresponding one of the plurality of light source devices are provided inside the outer housing, an opening through which the light source devices are attached and detached in the side direction of the outer housing is formed on the outer housing, and the plurality of light source devices are inserted into the plurality of light source storage units through the opening with the same surfaces of the respective light source devices located on the upper side.
US08215776B2	Line illumination apparatus using laser arrays An illumination apparatus forms, onto a linear array light modulator, a line of illumination that extends in a linear direction. The illumination apparatus has a first laser array with laser emitters for forming a first linear beam array and a second laser array with laser emitters for forming a second linear beam array. An array combiner aligns at least the first and second linear beam arrays in the linear direction and directs the first and second linear beam arrays along a propagation path to form a mixed illumination. At least first and second cylindrical lens elements having power in the linear direction relay the mixed illumination from the propagation path toward the linear array light modulator. At least third and fourth cylindrical lens elements having power in the cross-array direction that is orthogonal to the linear direction focus the mixed illumination onto the linear array light modulator.
US08215773B2	Weighting garments and orthotics for improving balance Weighting garment and orthotics are provided for improving balance. In particular, adjustable balance evaluation systems are used to determine placement of a weight to improve a subject's balance. These evaluation systems may be used to create customized garments for enhancing or improving balance. Described herein are customized garments for enhancing balance. Methods of creating customized garments enhance balance from the adjustable balance evaluation systems. Methods and apparatus further include eyeglasses with weights and testing methods to improve vision.
US08215771B2	Toric intraocular lens with spatially-variant astigmatism An intraocular lens for correcting or reducing the astigmatism of a cornea includes a pupil that is spatially divided into discrete zones, with each zone having a particular astigmatism magnitude and astigmatism orientation. In one embodiment, the zones all have the same astigmatism magnitude, which is equal and opposite the cornea astigmatism magnitude to within a particular tolerance, such as 0.25 diopters. In one embodiment, some or all of the zones all have different astigmatism orientations, with the angular separation between astigmatism orientations being on the order of the rotational misalignment tolerance of the lens to the cornea. The visual performance of such a lens deteriorates more slowly with rotational misalignment, when compared to a comparable lens having a uniform astigmatism orientation across its entire pupil, leading to more relaxed tolerances for a surgeon that implants the lens.
US08215770B2	Ophthalmic dynamic aperture Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electro-active element having a dynamic aperture. The electro-active element provides increased depth of field and may be used in a non-focusing ophthalmic device that that is spaced apart from but in optical communication with an intraocular lens, a corneal inlay, a corneal onlay, a contact lens, or a spectacle lens that provide an optical power. The electro-active element provides increased depth of field and may also be used in a focusing or non-focusing device such as an intraocular optic, an intraocular lens, a corneal inlay, a corneal onlay, or a contact lens which may or may not have an optical power. By changing the diameter of dynamic aperture either increased depth of field or increased light reaching the retina may be achieved.
US08215769B2	Method and manufacture method of spectacle lens A design method of a spectacle lens, includes: measuring an angle formed by a direction of a head of a person seeing the front without lens and a direction of the head of the person seeing an object located in a direction angled to the front direction of the person without lens to calculate a visual action index Mn according to the following equation (1) as an initial value; temporarily designing a spectacle lens based on the visual action index; and simulating visual action of the person wearing the temporarily designed spectacle lens and correcting the visual action index based on the simulation result M n = β n α n ( 1 ) wherein αn is an angle formed by the front direction of the person and a direction in which the object actually exists, βn is a rotation angle of the head of the person seeing the object without lens, and n represents the object.
US08215768B2	Telescopic spectacles Optical apparatus (20, 60) includes a spectacle frame (30, 64) configured to be worn by a user (22). A telescope (26, 62) is fixed to the spectacle frame and includes an objective (44), an eyepiece (28), and multiple optical surfaces (48, 56, 58) defining a folded optical path for providing a magnified image to an eye (40) of the user while at least one of the optical surfaces is located at least partially posterior to a coronal plane (41) located at a rear surface of the eyepiece.
US08215765B2	Ink jet recording apparatus To print an excellent image formed without distortion or image failure by mitigating irregularities, inclination, or the like of an installation floor surface. In an ink jet recording apparatus including an ink jet recording apparatus main body and a leg portion, a deformation absorbing member is interposed in a joint portion between the ink jet recording apparatus main body and the leg portion. Therefore, even if there are the irregularities, the inclination, or the like on a floor surface to which the ink jet recording apparatus is installed, it is possible to ensure leveling of a print surface in the ink jet recording apparatus main body, thereby being capable of obtaining the excellent image without the distortion or the image failure.
US08215757B2	Ink jet apparatus and liquid circulating method According to one embodiment an ink jet apparatus includes, an ink jet head, a first tank, a second tank, a third tank, a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a flow control mechanism. The first tank is disposed upstream of the ink jet head with respect to a flow of ink. The second tank is disposed downstream of the ink jet head with respect to the flow of ink. The third tank is disposed downstream of the ink jet head with respect to the flow of ink. The first flow channel connects the first tank to the ink jet head and connects the ink jet head to the second tank and the third tank. The second flow channel connects the second tank and the third tank with the first tank. The flow control mechanism controls a pressure state of at least one of the second tank and the third tank.
US08215756B2	Labelling machine A labelling machine and a method of applying information onto containers and/or labels by means of an ink jet printer which has at least one print head with at least one nozzle and in the case of which a cover can selectively be moved to a position in front of the discharge opening of the nozzle so as to recirculate ink discharged from the nozzle into the ink circuit. The printer can also be operated during a printing pause whereby the ink is prevented from drying up in the print head.
US08215745B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus is provided, which includes a plurality of recording heads, a cap unit, waste ink container and communicating member. Each recording head includes a nozzle face with inkjet nozzles. The cap unit includes a plurality of first ink receiving members and a second ink receiving member. Each first ink receiving member is disposed below and corresponding to each recording head and has a first receiving portion receiving ink discharged from the inkjet nozzles and a first discharging hole discharging the received ink. The second ink receiving member is disposed below and corresponding to the first ink receiving members and has a second receiving portion that collectively receives the ink discharged through a plurality of first discharging holes and a second discharging hole. The communicating member connects the second discharging hole with an ink storage chamber of the waste ink container.
US08215740B2	Inkjet recording apparatus and inkjet recording method Gradation data for each color to be input to a recording apparatus includes dot-recording-position information for every unit pixel and information for determining a nozzle position in a recording head for recording a dot. The information for determining the nozzle position makes determination in accordance with image data of an ink with resin and image data of an ink without resin. In a region where the ink with resin and the ink without resin overlap with each other, the ink without resin can land first.
US08215739B2	Ink jet printing method and mist-reduction-condition setting apparatus Before a printing operation, printing conditions related to occurrence of mist are acquired. According to the printing conditions, mist reduction device and a mist-reduction correction amount for controlling a degree of reducing the mist by the mist reduction device are set. Thereafter, printing is performed on a print medium by use of the set mist-reduction correction amount and mist reduction device. Accordingly, an appropriate mist reduction method is adopted according to the various printing conditions. Thus, optimum printing can be executed without impairing image quality or user-friendliness more than necessary.
US08215738B2	Droplet ejection apparatus and image forming apparatus The droplet ejection apparatus includes a plurality of nozzles in a row connected to the same liquid supply flow channel are divided into M nozzle group blocks, and the ejection timings are shifted for blocks so that the number of nozzles ejecting simultaneously within the same nozzle row can be reduced and the effect of crosstalk can be reduced, whereby reduction of power source capacity in a drive circuit system can be achieved. Furthermore, shifting of the deposition position caused by the difference in the ejection timing is resolved by the nozzle arrangement, whereby good recording can be performed without shifting dot positions.
US08215737B2	Demodulator for recording head, data transfer unit for recording head and recording apparatus A demodulator for recording head includes a reference-clock input section to which a reference clock is inputted; a modulated-signal input section to which a plurality of types of modulated signals generated by modulating a plurality of types of recording signals corresponding to a plurality of types of jetting modes of the recording head are inputted; a demodulation-clock generating circuit which generates from the reference clock, a demodulation clock for detecting the timing at which the value of the modulated signal changes; and a demodulator circuit which demodulates the modulated signal to the recording signal by detecting the timing, at which the value of the modulated signal changes, by using the demodulation clock, and the plurality of types of modulated signals have different timings, based on the reference clock, at which values of the modulated signals change, respectively.
US08215735B2	Inkjet printer An inkjet printer with a frame and a printhead module further includes an adjusting piece and a pair of adjusting units, for adjusting a distance between the printhead module and a printing medium. An indicating portion and a scale portion are further disposed on the adjusting unit to indicate up-and-down moving amplitude of the adjusting piece. Thereby, the up-and-down moving amplitude of the printhead module is quantized, and the adjustment of the distance between the printhead module and the printing medium is precisely controlled.
US08215724B2	Pressure regulating reservoir A pressure regulating reservoir includes, first and second conduits, a reservoir chamber, first and second reservoir ports, a valve portion including a first hydraulic passage, first and second valve bodies, and a valve seat including a second hydraulic passage, a piston portion including a piston and a spring, a mobile member, a protruding portion and a shaft, wherein the first hydraulic passage is closed by the second valve body thereby interrupting the fluid communication when the pump is not actuated, a pressure difference between a brake hydraulic pressure within the reservoir chamber and a brake hydraulic pressure within the first reservoir port is regulated when the pump is actuated while the brake hydraulic pressure is generated by the brake hydraulic pressure generating means, and the second hydraulic passage is opened to establish the fluid communication when the pump is actuated while no brake hydraulic pressure is generated.
US08215722B2	Method for calculating the control current of an electrically controllable hydraulic valve A method shall render it possible that an especially favorable pilot control can be achieved with an electrically controllable hydraulic valve (10), in particular an analog/digital inlet valve of a friction brake of a motor vehicle brake system. To this end, an actuating current is applied to the hydraulic valve (10), which is determined by linking an available opening current characteristic curve (Iopen(ΔP)table) of the hydraulic valve (10) to a correction value (igrad), with the correction value (igrad) being predetermined depending on a number of parameters that are characteristic of the hydraulic valve (10).
US08215721B2	Parking brake control device The parking brake control device sets a lock control target tension TTAR to a value which depends on the brake fluid pressure (i.e. M/C pressure), wherein the lock control target tension TTAR is used as a threshold determining whether the condition for terminating a lock control is satisfied or not. This operation is aimed for compensating the decrease of the tension applied to the brake cable which occurs caused by the service brake when the service brake is operating and does not occur when the service brake is not operating. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the service brake from causing a problem in which the lock control is terminated while a desired brake force is not achieved at the EPB.
US08215720B2	Spoke wheel assembled without tension or compression The invention relates to a spoke wheel that includes a peripheral rim, a central hub, and individual connecting spokes between the rim and the hub. In their free state, the spokes of the wheel are mounted without tension or compression between the rim and the hub, and each spoke can bear a compression load of at least 60 daN without bowing. Furthermore, the wheel includes a play-free connection or bilateral connection device for connecting at least one end of each spoke to the rim or the hub.
US08215718B2	Multi-position end gate assembly An end gate assembly of a dump box comprises an end gate panel supported for pivotal movement about a lower pivot axis of a pair of lower latch assemblies in a first released position and about an upper pivot axis of a pair of upper latch assemblies in a second released position. A common actuator is arranged to release both upper latch assemblies in the first released position of the actuator and is arranged to release both lower latch assemblies in the second released position. The common actuator communicates between the latch assemblies on opposing sides of the end gate panel through a connecting member extending across the gate opening below a floor of the dump box.
US08215716B2	Buckle structure for vehicle seat A buckle structure of a vehicle seat includes: a seat belt that restrains an occupant; a tongue member that is provided at the seat belt; and a buckle member that is configured to lock the tongue member. The buckle member is disposed at a restraint position of the vehicle seat so that a protruding unit provided at the buckle member protrudes from the restraint position due to a pushing member, and when the tongue member is inserted into the buckle member, the tongue member is locked to the buckle member after the protruding unit returns to the restraint position against pushing forces of the pushing member.
US08215713B2	Child booster seat with a height-adjustable armrest A child booster seat includes a seat base, and an armrest support coupled to the seat base and formed with an installation space that opens upward. The armrest support has a wall confronting the installation space and formed with a plurality of restraining parts located at different heights of the armrest support. The child booster seat further includes an armrest assembly including a latching component having a tongue board that extends into the installation space and that is movable vertically within the installation space and a stop piece that projects from the tongue board for engaging selectively the restraining parts, and an armrest component coupled to the tongue board and vertically co-movable with the tongue board relative to the armrest support.
US08215704B2	Acoustic baffle A heat expandable baffle having a shape corresponding to, but smaller than, the shape of the cross section of a cavity to be sealed, and comprising a rigid support plate, a carrier for a heat expandable material and a heat expandable material mounted only to the outer periphery of the carrier. When activated by heating, the expandable material expand radially from the carrier to seal the cross sectional gap between the carrier and the cavity wall.
US08215703B2	Passenger motor vehicle with rear-side air guiding device An air guiding device (8) is mounted in the rear end (2) of a passenger motor vehicle (1) and a setting-out mechanism (7) is connected to the underside of the air guiding device (8) for moving the air-guiding device (8). A collar (14) with a streamlined profile extends from the air guiding device (8) and surrounds the setting-out mechanism (7). Thus, the end of the setting-out mechanism (7) that faces toward the air guiding device (8) is concealed, and there is an optimum flow around the setting-out mechanism (7) in the region of the setting-out mechanism (7) when the air guiding device (8) is deployed.
US08215702B2	Vehicle door In the case of a vehicle door with an inside door part and an outside door part which are connected to an inner and outer door shaft reinforcing device, a mirror base of a vehicle exterior rearview mirror is held at a corner of the door. The mirror base is supported on a reinforcing element arranged within the vehicle door. The reinforcing element is arranged between a support of the outer door shaft reinforcing device and a further support of the inner door shaft reinforcing device.
US08215701B1	Automotive vehicle door seal An automobile vehicle including a vehicle body having a passage receiving a door. A plurality of sealing elements are located between the door and the vehicle body. A first sealing element having a resilient surface portion and a relatively more rigid body portion shaped to engage a body flange is provided to seal an upper region of the passage. A second sealing element comprising a resilient section and a mating section adapted to mate with a door panel is provided and cooperates with the vehicle body to seal the lower region of the passage.
US08215699B2	Mounting structure of side-impact-resistant resin-made shock absorbing member A mounting structure between a door trim and a door panel is provided and includes at least a shock absorbing member and movement restricting members. The shock absorbing member includes a cross-shaped rib including four ribs coupled into a cross shape and arranged perpendicular to the door trim, an outer wall portion coupled to a side edge of at least one of the ribs and has a contact edge in contact with the door trim, and a mounting bearing projecting from the contact edge along the door trim and configured to be fixed to the door trim together with the cross-shaped rib and the outer wall portion. The movement restricting members restrict the ribs from moving relative to the door trim at side impact.
US08215696B2	Vehicle sun visor A vehicle sun visor includes a sun visor main body, an auxiliary visor provided on the sun visor main body, and a support mechanism that is provided between the sun visor main body and the auxiliary visor and supports the auxiliary visor with respect to the sun visor main body so as to be movable along a longitudinal direction of the sun visor main body and so as to be rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sun visor main body.
US08215691B2	Cargo access and retention system for a passenger vehicle An improved access and retention system for sedans includes a protective cover for safeguarding a lower peripheral region of a rear cargo region while loading, unloading, and transporting cargo. The protective cover can conveniently and remotely stow within the cargo region. An integral tie-down assembly, exposed by deploying the protective cover, secures cargo loaded in the rear cargo region and cargo placed along the protective cover. The system also includes a double hinging rear closure member which has a rear facing portion which can be locked in open and closed positions. Arranging the rear facing portion in the open position is particularly advantageous for hauling oversized cargo articles which may extend from the rear of the vehicle.
US08215687B2	Remotely operated single joint elevator A remotely operated joint elevator for use in handling a tubular is provided. The single joint elevator including a housing having an access opening configured to receive the tubular. The single joint elevator further including at least one closure member connected to the housing via a hinge pin. Additionally, the single joint elevator including a power assembly configured to rotate at least one closure member around the hinge pin to selectively open and close the access opening. In another aspect, a method of handling a tubular using a remotely operated joint elevator is provided. In yet a further aspect, a remotely operated joint elevator for use in handling a tubular.
US08215679B2	Subsea choke insert locking apparatus A connection for sub-sea use employs locking dogs that are isolated from seawater and a backup system for operating the backup sleeve to the dogs. The normal actuation system for the backup sleeve is also isolated from seawater exposure. The set position of the backup sleeve is positively retained against the prospect of axial movement that could be triggered by transmitted vibration into the connection.
US08215677B2	Arrangement structure for canister of saddle type vehicle An arrangement structure is provided for a canister of a saddle type vehicle wherein a canister can be arranged closely to a fuel tank to simplify a pipe arrangement structure. A fuel tank disposed forward of an engine is structured such that a tank upper half and a tank lower half of a concave shape formed by pressing are joined together at joining flanges. The joining flanges are disposed on a vehicle body such that a front portion thereof is positioned on the upper side. A rear inclined wall, which is inclined toward a rear upper direction such that it forms a substantially right angle to the joining flange, is provided at a rear portion of the tank lower half. A canister is disposed in a dead space below the rear inclined wall.
US08215675B2	Restraint system for a seat belt device A restraint system (14) for a seat belt (22) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The restraint system (14) comprises one or more pneumatic ports (42, 44) for actuating the restraint system (14) from a first position to a second position. The restraint system (14) also comprises one or more pyrotechnic ports (52, 54) for actuating the restraint system (14) from either the first position or the second position to a third position.
US08215673B2	Perceived jack position drift compensation method and apparatus A controller commands a jack drive to extend and retract a jack leg relative to a jack base along a stroke having retraction and extension limits. The controller updates a perceived present leg position value in response to position change signals from a position change sensor. The controller occasionally applies compensation factors to the perceived present leg position value in the extension direction. The controller resets the perceived present leg position value whenever the jack leg reaches the retraction limit.
US08215672B2	Control device for tread contact conditions of vehicles This invention is a control device to vary the contact conditions of the tread of a vehicle to improve driving functions, such as skid prevention, noise reduction, road surface protection or road marking, by the choice of the appropriate trodden tips in given road conditions. The trodden tips and connected parts are unified to make a unit which is attached or detached with a simple connection such as the insertion at a convenient position, which enables the device to function properly with a lowered safety factor, reducing the size only to avoid damages of the device and around.
US08215668B2	Vehicle Disclosed is a vehicle including a seat on which a passenger may be seated; an airbag cushion that is expanded according to an inflow of a gas to protect the passenger seated on the seat; an inflator that introduces the gas into the airbag cushion; a first vent hole provided at the airbag cushion to exhaust therethrough the gas introduced from the inflator; a second vent hole provided at the airbag cushion to face the passenger to exhaust therethrough the gas introduced from the inflator; and a vent amount adjustment member connected to the second vent hole to adjust the amount of the gas exhausted through the second vent hole depending on whether an adult is seated on the seat or a child restraint system is installed on the seat.
US08215667B2	Knee airbag device for a vehicle A knee airbag device for a vehicle is provided that is capable of effectively protecting both knees of a seat occupant, regardless of position, shape or the like of an airbag door relative to the seat. In a passenger seat knee airbag device, a tear line of an airbag door retainer is broken and airbag doors are deployed upward and downward by deployment force of a knee airbag that receives a gas supply from an inflator. Thus, the knee airbag is deployed toward the knees of the occupant through an aperture portion formed in the airbag door retainer. A tear line of a form that is non-symmetrical between left and right is formed in a retaining sheet that is for retaining the knee airbag in a folded state. Thus, timings of deployment of the airbag doors by inflation pressure of the knee airbag are caused to differ between a left side portion and a right side portion.
US08215665B2	Airbag device The present invention obtains an airbag device that can effectively protect an upper body and knees of a passenger by a simple airbag structure. An airbag that structures an airbag device for a passenger's seat has a main bag that restrains an upper body of a vehicle passenger from a front side in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a sub-bag that has a smaller volume than the main bag and that restrains knees of the passenger from the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and an inner tube that is folded-up together with the main bag and the sub-bag and is inflated and expanded within the airbag by a gas supply from an inflator. The inner tube directly supplies gas of the inflator to the main bag and the sub-bag respectively. A check valve is provided at a gas exit that communicates the inner tube with the sub-bag.
US08215661B2	Stroller A stroller at least comprises a collapsible frame, which is provided with wheels near a first side and which is provided with a push member on a side remote from the wheels. The stroller further comprises at least one locking device for locking the frame in an unfolded position, as well as at least first and second actuating devices, which locking device can be unlocked in use by operating the two actuating devices, after which the collapsible frame can be collapsed from the unfolded position to a collapsed position. The first actuating device is slidable from a position in which it blocks the second actuating device to a releasing position, in which releasing position the second actuating device is slidable to an unlocking position, in which the locking device is unlocked.
US08215660B2	Convertible toe strap A convertible toe strap for securing a toe area of a snowboarding boot is selectively and repeatedly convertible between different restraining configurations. The convertible toe strap includes a first configuration where one of toe lift or forward movement is resisted and a second configuration where both toe lift and forward movement is resisted.
US08215657B1	Load bearing dollies A dolly to, inter alia, provide load support to a tractor trailer rig in which the dolly may be selectively attached to the tractor or the trailer as a means of engaging a second trailer. A coupling assembly in which the engaging vehicle, whether tractor or trailer, includes a transverse locking bar disposed at an acute angle to the direction of movement, which is selectively coupled to the dolly having a plate disposed at substantially a same acute angle as the transverse locking bar, wherein the plate includes a channel adapted to receive the locking bar, and the dolly having an air bag suspension system engaged with the air system of the tractor, wherein the pumping up of the air bag suspension system secures the locking bar in the channel.
US08215656B1	Trailer wiring connection A trailer hitch apparatus for mechanically and electrically coupling a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle includes: a receiver and a trailer mount. The receiver has a receiver tube with an open end; a first electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts for attaching to the towing vehicle electrical system; and a second electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to the plurality of electrical contacts of the first electrical connector. The trailer mount is installed within the open end of the receiver tube and includes a mounting tube comprising a first end and a second end for inserting into the receiver tube; a third electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts and operable to mate with the second electrical connector; an attachment mount connected to the second end of the mounting tube; a trailer attachment device connected to the attachment mount for attaching a towed vehicle; and an electrical receptacle electrically having a plurality of electrical contacts and connected with the third electrical connector for providing an electrical signal to an electrical system of the towed vehicle.
US08215652B2	Mobilizer for exercise, rehabilitation and wellness The mobilizer consists of an open, inverted “U” shaped frame when view from above with the legs or the “U” pointed towards the rear. Pivoting caster wheels are attached to the front lower corners and rear wheel support arms extend rearward and curve downward each bearing a smaller non-pivoting wheel. Two vertical upright support members rise from the frame and are equipped with height adjustment mechanisms. Horizontal arm support assemblies, each with a hand grip and brake handle are attached to the upper ends of the support members. The user is supported by his elbows and shoulder girdle resulting in decompression of his spine. The arm support assemblies can be pivoted 180 degrees so that the grip portions and the hand brake levers face the rear of the mobilizer at about waist height. This allows the user to stand and grasp the handles as he walks forward.
US08215643B2	Apparatus for delivering sealant at a predetermined pressure to a stuffing box of a shaft A delivery unit (40) for automatically delivering a viscous sealant at a predetermined pressure to a stuffing box (70) of a shaft (20) is disclosed. The delivery unit (40), such as a pressure booster incrementally displaceable piston, is controlled to deliver the sealant at a predetermined pressure on demand when the pressure of the sealant within said stuffing box is less than the predetermined delivery pressure being sufficient to promote adhesion of the sealant onto a shaft segment and to thereby prevent or retard the egress of working fluid from a corresponding working chamber (17) of a machine adapte to perform work by the shaft. A system for reducing the pressure of sealant within a stuffing box by use of the delivery unit and of an impeller-based dynamic seal is also disclosed.
US08215640B2	Gaming machine that randomly determines oscillation mode of table for rolling dice A gaming machine starts a unit game, extracts one set of oscillation pattern data from memory at random when the unit game is started, and performs control to oscillate a playing unit based on the one set of the oscillation pattern data thus extracted.
US08215638B2	Sheet conveyance apparatus and printing apparatus A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a guide unit for guiding the side end of the sheet; a first roller pair arranged on the downstream side of the guide unit for conveying the sheet, including a driven roller held in contact with a whole sheet in a sheet width direction; and a second roller pair having a conveyance roller arranged on the downstream side of the roller and adapted to convey the sheet, and a plurality of pinch rollers pinching the sheet in cooperation with the conveyance roller, wherein each of the plurality of pinch rollers applies to the sheet a conveyance force inclined toward a conveyance path side end, which is nearer to the pinch roller, and wherein the smaller the distance between the pinch roller and the conveyance path side end, the greater the inclination of the conveyance force thereof.
US08215633B2	Media stopper method for a printing system A method of feeding media in an inkjet printer including moving a media stopper element for selectively allowing a sheet of media to advance along a media advance path in a media advance direction. A shaft is connected to the media stopper element for moving the media stopper element by rotating the shaft. The media stopper element can be moved via biasing to a first position for preventing the sheet of media from advancing and to a second position for allowing the sheet of media to advance along the media advance path.
US08215629B2	System and method for producing and arranging sheet material for use in a mailpiece inserter A system and method for producing printed sheet material for use in a mailpiece inserter. The system comprises an input module for supplying the printed sheet material associated with a mailpiece fabrication job of the mailpiece inserter and a transfer module adapted to receive the printed sheet material from the input module and dispense the printed sheet material. An output module is adapted to receive the printed sheet material from the transfer module and convey the printed sheet material along the transport deck. A processor is operatively coupled to a mail run data file of the mailpiece fabrication job for controlling the input, transfer and output modules to stack the printed sheet material in accordance with the mail run data file. In the method, the output module includes at least two transport decks which may be repositioned such that one of the transport decks receives/stacks the printed sheet material in a manner which is best suited for subsequent use by the mailpiece inserter.
US08215628B2	Folding roller control for sheet processing apparatus/method A sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet processing apparatus control unit; a folding motor, a rotating direction of which is controlled by the sheet processing apparatus control unit; a low-speed gear train configured to be driven when the folding motor normally rotates; a high-speed gear train configured to be driven when the folding motor reversely rotates; and a saddle-folding driving roller configured to be driven by a gear train selected from the low-speed gear train and the high-speed gear train. When the number of recording media to be saddle-stapled or saddle-folded exceeds predetermined numbers respectively set for the saddle stapling and the saddle folding, the sheet processing apparatus control unit drives the saddle-folding driving roller at low speed. When the number of recording media to be saddle-stapled or saddle-folded does not exceed the predetermined numbers, the sheet processing apparatus control unit drives the saddle-folding driving roller at high speed.
US08215626B2	Sheet processing apparatus and sheet processing method There is provided a technique in which in a sheet processing apparatus including a switchback portion in a sheet transport path, a contribution can be made to the improvement of maintenance in the case where a sheet jam occurs in the vicinity of a switchback position. In a sheet processing method of a sheet processing apparatus for performing a specified process to a sheet, the sheet processing apparatus includes a first sheet transport path for transporting the sheet, and a second sheet transport path that is for performing switchback transport of the sheet transported in the first sheet transport path and includes at least one of a hole, a projection and a recess in the vicinity of a meeting position between the second sheet transport path and the first sheet transport path, and the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path are enabled to be integrally pulled out to the outside of the sheet processing apparatus.
US08215625B2	Key blank selector A key blank selector has a base, a template and a clamp. The base defines a chamber and a platform having a recess communicating with the chamber. The template is soft and pliable corresponds to and is detachably mounted in the recess of the platform. The clamp is detachably mounted around the platform of the base to hold and position the template in the recess and has an opening formed corresponding to the chamber of the base. A mother key is positioned perpendicularly on and force applied to pierce through the template and form a figure corresponding to a cross sectional profile of the mother key in the template; therefore, facilitating key blank selection and preventing misjudgment.
US08215622B2	Clamp device A clamp device including a detection mechanism provided to detect whether the clamp device is in a clamped state or an unclamped state. The detection mechanism includes a tilt plate tiltably placed inside a switch holder installed on a body and a sliding rod displaced together with a piston rod and displaced in the direction normal to the tilt plate. When the sliding rod presses and tilts the tilt plate while a piston is displaced, a second detection switch detects that the clamp device is in the unclamped state.
US08215620B2	Self-pumping ride level control system Self-pumping spring and damper unit (13) with automatically activated ride level control system for chassis of vehicles having a pump which is driven as a result of the distance between the articulation points (14, 15) which changes as a result of the spring compression and spring extension of the vehicle, wherein an elastic connecting element (35) is arranged between at least one pump part (33) and the associated articulation point (14) in such a way that it at least partially elastically compensates the distance between the pump parts (32, 33) which changes when the vehicle experiences spring compression and spring extension.
US08215608B2	Curved concrete radius forming system having flexible form members with attached stake holders A radius forming system has at least one flexible form member with a plurality of stake pockets. The stake pockets are each formed in a single piece having a first and second opening therethrough arranged to receive a fastening element and an intermediate portion having an enclosing shape defining a stake holder. The intermediate portion has at least one opening therethrough and a locking member is received in the opening arranged to engage a stake positioned in the stake holder. The form member has a plurality of vertically aligned pairs of openings spaced along the length of the form member. A plurality of fastening elements are received in the various openings in the form member and the stake pockets to hold the form member and stake pockets together.
US08215601B2	Beverage container receptacle and method of installing the same A beverage container receptacle adapted for installation relative to fixed first and second structures. The receptacle includes a container-holding first part having a container rest and a periphery that defines a void in which is received a portion of the fixed first structure that extends along a first axis. The periphery at least partially surrounds the first axis, and the receptacle is supported by the first structure when it is installed relative thereto. The receptacle also includes a receptacle-retaining second part slidably positioned relative to the first part. The second part is adapted for movement relative to the first structure received in the void and toward engagement with the second structure. The receptacle is adapted for being supported against angular movement in at least one direction about the first axis through the engagement of the second part with the second structure. Also, a method for installing a beverage container receptacle including the steps of: receiving a portion of a fixed first structure having a first axis in a void defined in a first part of the receptacle and at least partially surrounding the first axis with a periphery of the void; supporting the receptacle through the first structure; slidably moving a second part of the receptacle relative to the first part toward engagement with a fixed second structure; and supporting the receptacle against rotation in at least one direction about the first axis through engagement between the second part and the second structure.
US08215599B2	Fastening device A fastening device for securing an appliance within a receiving frame in the interior of a motor vehicle. The receiving frame has a built-in opening into which the appliance can be introduced on an introductory plane along an installation direction and is locked releasably in an end position in the receiving frame. The fastening device has at least one latching hook. The latching hook is movable in the direction of a surface normal of the introductory plane and, in an end position, engages behind at least one retaining device such that the appliance is locked in the end position in the receiving frame against a movement counter to the installation direction.
US08215596B2	Hinge assembly A hinge assembly includes a pivot shaft, a first supporting member, a second supporting member, and a positioning member. The first supporting member is rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft. A positioning protrusion is formed on the first supporting member. The second supporting member is non-rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft. The positioning member has an elastic portion and is non-rotatably sleeved on the pivot shaft. A positioning groove receiving the positioning protrusion is defined in a periphery of the positioning member and adjacent to the elastic portion. An LCD device is further provided in the present disclose.
US08215594B1	Musical instrument cable clip A musical instrument cable clip is provided which secures the musical instrument cable loop to the musical instrument. The clip includes a base portion to one end of which may be appended a strap post. The other end includes a switchback portion which has a rib with a ridge appended to an interior surface of the switchback. The clip is secured to the musical instrument and the cable is placed within the switchback where it is held by being grabbed or bit by the ridge.
US08215585B2	Impact resistant core Impact resistant cores and methods of manufacturing such impact resistant cores are provided. Additionally, components made using the impact resistant cores are provided. A particular impact resistant core includes a composite structure of at least one non-woven sheet including poly p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole fiber and a binding resin.
US08215584B2	Aircraft structure including stiffener edge junctions An aircraft structure including stiffened panels assembled at the junction, without continuity of the stiffeners. Multiple panels are used to form the fuselage, tail units and wings of an aircraft. These panels include stiffeners which are interrupted at each panel junction. However, the stresses experienced by the stiffeners must be transmitted despite these interruptions. Known solutions require the use of at least one additional part per stiffener and per interruption. In order to solve this problem, the disclosed embodiments include a doubler necessitating at most one additional part per panel junction area for all of the interrupted stiffeners in this area.
US08215579B2	Paper sheet storing and feeding unit The present invention is to provide a banknote storing and feeding unit 19 capable of increasing the maximum storage quantity of banknote 45 and stably storing and feeding banknote 45. A first tape 36 and a second tape 37 are pressed by a tape pressing body 87 between first and second winding reels 38 and 39 and a winding drum 40 so as to come into contact with each other. Even the banknote 45 having a short length in a transporting direction is held between the first tape 36 and second tape 37 at a position of the tape pressing body 87 for transportation. An outer diameter of the winding drum 40 is detected by an outer diameter detecting unit 85, and the tape pressing body 87 is moved by a moving unit 92 in accordance with the detected outer diameter of the winding drum 40, and the tape pressing body 87 is moved to an appropriate position following a change in the outer diameter of the winding drum 40. Thus, the maximum storage quantity of the banknote 45 can be increased and the banknote 45 can be stably stored and fed.
US08215577B2	System and method for storage and temporary installation of secondary flooring surface Systems and methods of rolling and unrolling secondary flooring surfaces, such as tall pile turf, are provided. The system includes a core onto which the secondary flooring surface is rolled, the core being coupled on both ends to a frame that moves along a track mounted on or in a primary surface. The system includes a drive system that allows for the conversion of a primary surface into a secondary flooring surface in a relatively short period of time. The drive system includes core adjustable speed drive units for controlling the speed and torque of the motors that drive the core, as well as frame adjustable speed drive units for controlling the speed of the movement of the frames along the tracks. The core adjustable speed drive units control the torque of the core motors during roll up and control the speed of the core motors during roll out.
US08215576B2	Crusher device A gyratory crusher is provided that has a crusher head, an eccentric assembly connected to the crusher head, a bushing positioned between the eccentric assembly and the crusher head, a retaining member, and a plurality of fasteners. The retaining member has an opening and a plurality of holes. The retaining member is positioned adjacent to the eccentric assembly such that a portion of the eccentric assembly is within the opening. Each fastener extends through a respective hole to the crusher head. The retaining member is positioned adjacent to the crusher head and the eccentric assembly such that the retaining member is decoupled from the bushing. The cone crusher is preferably configured to crush rock, stone, ore or minerals. A method of making or retrofitting a crushing device such as, for example, a cone crusher or other gyratory crusher, is also provided.
US08215573B2	Automotive gasoline solenoid double pole direct injector A direct fuel injector (10) includes a body (12) having a passage between inlet and outlet ends. A seat (16) is at the outlet end and a closure member (28) is associated with the seat. A needle member (30) is associated with the closure member and is movable with respect to a pole piece (35) between a first, closed position and a second, open position. A spring (42) biases the needle member to the first position. An armature (32) is free-floating with respect to the needle member. An intermediate pole structure (38) is coupled with the needle member and is disposed between the pole piece and the armature and is decoupled there-from. An armature stop (40) is coupled to the needle member and is spaced from the intermediate pole structure. An electromagnetic coil (46) is associated with the pole piece, intermediate pole structure and armature. The injector reduces bounce of the needle assembly.
US08215567B1	Model railroad assembly A model railroad assembly incorporating a table, an arm having proximal and distal ends, first and second track matrices, the first and second track matrices having electrically positive rails and electrically negative rails, the first track matrix being positioned upon the upper surface of the table, and the second track matrix being positioned upon the arm's upper surface; a hinge connector operatively attaching the arm to the table, the hinge connector facilitating movement of the arm between first and second positions; and a plurality of pivoting electric switch contacts adapted for electrifying the second track matrix upon movement of the arm to the first position, and for de-electrifying the second track matrix upon movement of the arm toward the second position.
US08215566B2	System for imaging and decoding coded data pattern using redundantly-encoded orientation A system includes a substrate having a coded data pattern disposed on a surface thereof. The coded data pattern encodes a plurality of Reed-Solomon symbols defining tag data and an orientation of a layout of the tag data. An optically imaging sensing device configured for imaging part of the coded data pattern; determining the orientation of the layout of the tag data; and decoding the tag data contained in the imaged part of the coded data pattern.
US08215564B2	Method and system for creating and using barcodes Methods for efficiently retrieving information from an image of a symbol are described. Symbols are described that contain detection patterns that facilitate the determination of location, alignment, size and orientation of the symbol in an image. Detection patterns are described that possess geometric shapes susceptible to efficient decoding using probabilistic detection algorithms. Detection patterns are described that are provided in colors, shapes and sizes different from the color, shape and sizes of modules carrying information in the symbol. Methods are described for identifying the location and size of detection patterns in images of the symbol and for locating modules in the symbol to facilitate extraction of information carried by the modules.
US08215562B2	Wireless tag The present invention provides a wireless tag to be attached onto a disc-shaped recording medium including first and second regions. The first region, made of a nonconductive member, is disposed on the inner radial part of the recording medium, whereas the second region, including a conductive member, is disposed on the outer radial part of the recording medium. The wireless tag includes: a feed section connected to a wireless IC chip; a conductive plate including a slot therein; and a slot antenna for receiving power from the feed section. The conductive plate is formed for at least partially overlapping with the second region when the wireless tag is attached onto the inner radial part of the recording medium. The slot has a length set for obtaining an inductance enough to cause a resonance between the slot antenna and the wireless IC chip at a predetermined wireless frequency.
US08215560B2	Real-time card balance on card plastic A system, method and prepaid payment card configured to display a current card balance on the prepaid payment card. The prepaid payment card receives a balance request from a button on the card. After retrieving the current card balance encoded on the prepaid payment card, the card displays the current card balance. Remote terminals may be configured to support the real-time display of a balance on a prepaid payment card by writing the current balance to the card after a payment transaction has occurred.
US08215555B2	Barcode data management device, printing apparatus There is provided a barcode data management device including: a conversion unit that converts print data including barcode data into electronic format data for viewing; an extraction unit that extracts barcode data included in the print data, the barcode data including a start position, a range, a type and actual encoded data from the barcode image rendered into a viewable state; and an attachment unit that attaches the barcode data extracted by the extraction unit to a non-viewing region provided in the electronic format data.
US08215554B2	Graphical code readers for balancing decode capability and speed by using image brightness information A method for adaptively varying resolutions of captured images may include capturing images and processing the captured images. The method may also include determining brightness information about the captured images. The method may also include varying the resolutions of the captured images based on the brightness information that is determined about the captured images. The method may also include determining intended brightness information corresponding to the captured images, and the resolutions of the captured images may be varied based on the intended brightness information as well as the brightness information.
US08215553B2	Physical credentials and related methods Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through us of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article through use of a variety of different card constructions (e.g., involving quantum dots, phase change materials, MEMS structures, etc.). A variety of other arrangements and features are also detailed.
US08215546B2	System and method for transportation check-in There is provided a method and system for transportation check-in (e.g., ticketing and identification) via near field communication (NFC) using a handheld electronic device, such as a cellular phone or a personal media player. The handheld device may store and transmit travel reservations and traveler identifications using a travel management application. Various methods may be employed to acquire the reservation and identification information on the handheld device. For example, travel reservations may be made via the management application or may be retrieved from an email, a website, another NFC-enabled device, or a carrier-provided confirmation number. User identification may be acquired by scanning a radio frequency identification tag embedded in a government-issued I.D. In another embodiment, an I.D. number may be entered via the travel management application, and the user's identification information may be downloaded from the issuing authority.
US08215545B2	Controlling device and method for controlling an apparatus A controlling device that controls an apparatus includes a display unit configured to display an image representing a certain scene included in content that is being played back by the apparatus; and an obtaining unit configured to obtain image data of the image from an apparatus that is providing the content.
US08215542B2	Method and system for making a change of address The invention in one aspect consolidates COA reject data to a central location and provides reports and queries that allow analysis of this data and to answer customer complaints as to why their change was not processed. In another aspect the invention provides an improved process for handling of the printed or handwritten COA forms. A paper COA form is generated by hand or use of the USPS online COA system. The paper form includes indicia such as a bar code which aids in determining the contents of the form when it is scanned.

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