最新美国发明专利第2013-01-01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
US08344572B2	Electromotive part of an elevator drive The present invention relates to an electromotive part of an elevator drive, comprising a rotor (24) and a stator (10, 22), wherein windings of the stator and/or the rotor (24) are provided as single tooth windings. An electromotive part of an elevator drive, is provided as an internal rotor motor, and includes a rotor and a stator. Windings of the stator and/or the rotor are provided as single tooth windings, the windings are, at least in part, encapsulated, and the windings are provided as two-layer windings. A method for winding-up windings of an electromotive part of an elevator drive with two-layer windings, includes inserting the windings of individual phases as alternating upper and lower layers.
US08344571B2	High-efficiency permanent magnet motor The present invention relates to a high-efficiency permanent magnet motor driven by a direct current (DC) without alternation, with the motor generating a high-efficiency kinetic energy synthesized from active energy of a stator and passive energy of a rotator, comprising: a stator comprising a coil distributively wound radially around a circular planar PCB, creating a magnetic field on both sides of the stator located at the center of two rotators; and a rotor comprising two circular planar permanent magnets with a corresponding size to the magnetic field of the stator, with the magnet having both faces magnetized arranged such that the magnetized faces of the magnets and the magnetic fields on both sides of the stator facing each other have the same polarity. Constant power is provided when DC power is applied to the coil of the stator, the rotor rotates, in the absence of an AC.
US08344570B2	Interior permanent magnet rotor, electric motor using the same and electric device A rotor (21) is an interior permanent magnet rotor formed of a rotor core (24) in which a plurality of permanent magnets (25) are embedded at predetermined intervals. First protruding portions (26) and second protruding portions (27) are formed on an outer peripheral face of the rotor, the first protruding portions (26) each opposing the vicinity of a central portion of each of the permanent magnets and having a substantially arc-shaped cross section protruding outward and the second protruding portions (27) each opposing the vicinity of an end portion of each of the permanent magnets and protruding outward. One first protruding portion and two second protruding portions correspond to one permanent magnet. The formation of the first and second protruding portions as described above on the outer peripheral face of the rotor makes it possible to sufficiently reduce the torque ripple and the noise caused by the distortion of air-gap magnetic flux distribution.
US08344564B2	Drive device A driving device (100) is provided with first and second rotating electrical machines (MG1, MG2); an inverter (30); a first storing case (23) having a first rotating electrical machine storing section (21) for storing the first rotating electrical machine (MG2), and an inverter storing section (300) for storing the inverter (30); and a second storing case (13) which can store the second rotating electrical machine (MG1) and can be attached to the first storing case (23); a first terminal section (121) connected to the inverter; and a second terminal section (15) which is arranged on the second storing case (13) and is connected to the second rotating electrical machine (MG1). The first terminal section (121) and the second terminal section (15) are arranged so that one protrudes toward the other.
US08344563B2	Rotating electrical machine having fans on frame A rotating electrical machine includes a flange provided at one end of a substantially rectangular, hollow frame in an axial direction; a lid provided at the other end of the frame in the axial direction; a rotor including a shaft, the shaft being rotatably supported by the flange and the lid; a stator fixed to an inner section of the frame, the stator surrounding the rotor; and a plurality of fans provided on opposite side surfaces of the frame in a plan view of the frame as viewed in the axial direction.
US08344561B2	Stepping motor with first pole teeth and second pole teeth alternately disposed A stepping motor may include a rotor having a drive magnet and a stator having a drive coil wound in a tube shape and disposed on the drive magnet. The stator may include a first yoke, a second yoke, a plurality of first pole teeth, and a plurality of second pole teeth. The plurality of the first and second pole teeth may be alternately disposed in a circumferential direction of the rotor.
US08344560B2	Magnetically actuated reciprocating motor and process using reverse magnetic switching A magnetically actuated reciprocating motor utilizes the stored energy of rare earth magnets and an electromagnetic field provided by a solenoid to reciprocally drive a solenoid assembly. A converting mechanism, such as a connecting rod and crankshaft, converts the reciprocating motion of the solenoid assembly to power a work object. The solenoid assembly comprises a solenoid having a nonferromagnetic spool with a tubular center section and a coil of wire wrapped around the center section. A magnetic actuator has a permanent magnet at each end of an elongated shaft that is received through the center section of the spool. A switching mechanism switches magnetic polarity at the ends of the solenoid so the solenoid assembly is alternatively repelled and attracted by the permanent magnets. A controlling mechanism interconnecting an output shaft and the switching mechanism provides the timing to switch the polarity of the solenoid and reciprocate the solenoid assembly.
US08344558B2	Production system power supply control method, and production system A power supply control method of a production system including a first unit and a second unit includes: starting power supply for operation of the second unit in accordance with a signal acquired according to an operation status of the first unit (S41); starting the operation by the second unit after the start of the power supply (S44); acquiring stop time information indicating time from when the operation ends to when a next operation of the second unit starts (S22); determining, based on the acquired stop time information, whether or not to stop the power supply after the started operation ends (S24); and stopping the power supply when it is determined to stop the power supply (S48).
US08344557B2	Magnetic flux measuring device and magnetic flux measuring method for stationary induction electrical apparatus, and synchronous switching control gear for circuit breaker The present invention provides a magnetic flux measuring device and magnetic flux measuring method for stationary induction electrical apparatus which can accurately measure the magnetic flux without being influenced by the DC offset component which superimposes on the measurement system, and can constantly and continuously measure the magnetic flux without setting a limit in the magnetic flux measurement period. The magnetic flux measuring method which measures a magnetic flux of a stationary induction electrical apparatus 2 using a voltage waveform of the stationary induction electrical apparatus 2, wherein the magnetic flux 151 of the stationary induction electrical apparatus 2 is determined by the steps of: inputting a voltage waveform 121 of the stationary induction electrical apparatus 2 into a negative-feedback amplification means 14 of which feedback circuit is constructed by a low pass filter; and integrating output of the negative-feedback amplification means 14 by integration means 15.
US08344554B2	Switching spark gap The present invention relates to a controlled truncating radio connection for a high-voltage impulse test system, preferably for quality assurance of power transformers. According to the invention, the truncating radio connection is expanded by an additional damping unit, made of a serial damping resistance and a damping inductance having a radio connection connected in parallel thereto, and thereby combines the functionalities of a truncating radio connection and an overshoot compensation in only one auxiliary component.
US08344552B2	Antennas and their coupling characteristics for wireless power transfer via magnetic coupling Optimizing a wireless power system by separately optimizing received power and efficiency. Either one or both of received power and/or efficiency can be optimized in a way that maintains the values to maximize transferred power.
US08344551B2	3-phase high-power UPS A 3-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) including first, second, and third AC/DC converters, a DC/DC converter, and at least one DC/AC converter coupled to multiple electrical buses. The first, second, and third AC/DC converters each being configured to receive AC power and to provide multiple DC signals to the multiple electrical buses. The DC/DC converter being configured to convert DC voltages present on the multiple electrical buses to a DC voltage that can be used to charge a battery. The DC/AC converter being configured to receive DC power from the multiple electrical buses and to provide an AC output. The 3-phase UPS being configured such that when suitable AC power is provided to the AC/DC converters, the DC/DC converter is configured to charge a battery, and when suitable AC power is not provided to the AC/DC converters, the DC/DC converter is configured to provide DC power to the multiple electrical buses using power provided by the battery.
US08344550B2	Power conversion control with energy storage A power generation system includes a renewable power source for producing source power; a source side converter for converting the source power to converted DC power; a source side controller for driving the converted DC power towards a maximum power point; a DC link for receiving the converted DC power; a grid side converter coupled to the DC link for converting DC link power from the DC link to AC output power for a grid; a grid side controller for controlling the AC output power of the grid side converter to achieve grid interconnection requirements; an electrical energy storage device; an energy storage converter coupling the energy storage device to the DC link; an energy storage controller for controlling the energy storage converter to achieve a desired power balance on the DC link.
US08344548B2	Photovoltaic power plant with minimized power collection losses A photovoltaic power plant design is disclosed where a two-tier DC power collection method is used in concert with specific array field geometries and equipment locations to minimize system wiring costs and/or resistive wiring losses.
US08344546B2	Power supply unit directly connected to backup direct current power source A power supply unit that obviates the need for an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) for a server in a data center by receiving a DC power from a temporary backup power source. The power supply unit converts AC power received from a power utility service into a DC power for operating one or more motherboards of the server. An AC to DC converter in the power supply unit senses an input AC voltage and activates a DC to DC converter coupled to the temporary backup power source. The DC to DC converter powers the one or more motherboards until a generator serving as an auxiliary AC power source becomes operational. The power supply unit resumes connection to the AC to DC converter after the generator becomes operational.
US08344544B2	Bus-tie SSPCS for DC power distribution system A direct current (DC) power distribution system includes a first electrical distribution and power management (EDPM) unit including a first DC power source connected to a first high voltage DC bus connected to a first DC load, and a first bus-tie solid state power controller (SSPC) connected to the first HVDC bus; a second EDPM unit including a second DC power source connected to a second high voltage DC bus connected to a second DC load, and a second bus-tie SSPC being connected to the second HVDC bus; and a bus-tie connected between the first bus-tie SSPC and the second bus-tie SSPC, wherein in the event a power source failure occurs in the first EDPM unit, power flows from the second DC power source to the first HVDC bus via the second bus-tie SSPC, the bus-tie, and the first bus-tie SSPC.
US08344541B1	Reverse current protection methods and systems for trailer tow A reverse current protection system for a vehicle electrical system that communicates with a trailer electrical system generally includes a mode determination module that receives a reverse current flow detection signal and that selectively determines a field effect transistor (FET) operating mode to be a reverse on mode based on the reverse current flow detection signal. A current flow control module generates a current flow control signal to a field effect transistor to control the field effect transistor based on the determined FET operating mode.
US08344539B1	Power generating system A drive shaft is supported at first and second ends with bearings for rotational reciprocation. A sail has a fixed portion and a reciprocable portion. An inextensible cord couples the reciprocable portion of the sail to the drive shaft adjacent to the first end whereby wind contacting the sail will reciprocate the reciprocable portion of the sail to pull the inextensible cord and rotate the drive shaft. A generator is rotatably coupled to the drive shaft adjacent to the second end for creating electrical energy in response to the reciprocation of the sail from the action of the wind.
US08344537B2	Generating station which transforms the force of gravity into electricity An electricity generating station using a method which enables the force of gravity to be transformed into electricity and which comprises two 6-meter diameter semi-solid combined structure axle-borne wheels which serve to increase the axle revolutions, two electricity generators, six direction reversers fitted to the axle, six plastic containers for transporting water, six chains enabling the reverser to raise and lower the six containers, two revolution step-up gears for increasing the revolutions, an electric pump for raising the water, a water valve which opens and closes for filling the containers, a back sluice for container draining, a pair of tanks and a network of PVC conduits.
US08344528B2	Waste oil electrical generation systems An on-site electrical power generation system utilizing environmentally hazardous waste oils as a combustible fuel. The disclosed invention utilizes the combustion of environmentally hazardous waste oils to drive a heat engine and electrical generator. In addition, the system is adapted to provide local space heating and hot water as a byproduct of the combustion process.
US08344526B2	Energy generating supports Energy harvesting systems are described in which electroactive materials, such as dielectric elastomers, may be utilized to absorb the shocks, bumps, and vibrations from the road or path to generate energy which is captured and stored for use in the vehicle to provide additional power for any number of uses. Other devices and systems, such as household appliances which dissipate vibrational energy, may also incorporate any number of the dielectric elastomer generators.
US08344521B2	Semiconductor device, semiconductor package and wiring structure A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor package, a circuit board, an interconnection electrically connecting the semiconductor package and the circuit board, and a wiring structure. The wiring structure includes a through hole, a contact disposed at the through hole and a lead pattern extending from the contact. The wiring structure is disposed between the semiconductor package and the circuit board. The interconnection passes through the through hole and connects with the contact.
US08344520B2	Stacked structure of chips A stacked structure of chips including a first chip and a second chip is provided. The first chip includes a first and a second circuit blocks, a signal path, a first and a second hardwired switches. The second chip stacks with the first chip stack and includes a third circuit block, a third and a fourth hardwired switches. If the first circuit block is defective and the second and the third circuit blocks are functional, the first hardwired switch and the third hardwired switch are set correspondingly such that a power-supply bonding pad is connected to the third power terminal and disconnected to the first power terminal, and the second hardwired switch and the fourth hardwired switch are set correspondingly such that the third signal terminal is electrically connected to the signal path to make the third circuit block replace the first circuit block and provide the first function.
US08344517B2	Integrated circuit devices including air spacers separating conductive structures and contact plugs and methods of fabricating the same An integrated circuit device includes first and second conductive structures spaced apart from one another on a substrate along a first direction. The first and second conductive structures extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A contact plug is interposed between the first and second conductive structures and is separated therefrom along the first direction by respective air gaps on opposite sides of the contact plug. The air gaps define first and second air spacers that electrically insulate the contact plug from the first and second conductive structures, respectively. An upper insulation layer covers the first and second air spacers and the first and second conductive structures. The air spacers may sufficiently reduce the loading capacitance between the conductive structures. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.
US08344514B2	Semiconductor device structures and electronic devices including same hybrid conductive vias A conductive via of a semiconductor device includes a relatively small diameter portion extending into an active surface of a fabrication substrate and a corresponding, relatively large diameter portion that extends into a back side of the fabrication substrate. This type of conductive via may be fabricated by forming the relatively small diameter portion before or during BEOL processing, while the large diameter portion of each conductive via may be fabricated after BEOL processing is complete. Electronic devices that include one or more semiconductor devices with such conductive vias are also disclosed.
US08344512B2	Three-dimensional silicon interposer for low voltage low power systems Scalable silicon (Si) interposer configurations that support low voltage, low power operations are provided. In one aspect, a Si interposer is provided which includes a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs) within a first plane thereof adapted to serve as power, ground and signal interconnections throughout the first plane such that the TSVs that serve as the power and ground interconnections are greater in number and/or size than the TSVs that serve as the signal interconnections; and a plurality of lines within a second plane of the interposer in contact with one or more of the TSVs in the first plane, the second plane being adjacent to the first plane, adapted to serve as power, ground and signal interconnections throughout the second plane such that the lines that serve as the power and the ground interconnections are greater in number and/or size than the lines that serve as the signal interconnections.
US08344510B2	Semiconductor device with void detection monitor Methods for detecting a void in an element portion of a semiconductor device having an element portion and a void detection structure are disclosed. As a part of the method, an insulating film is formed on a substrate, a plurality of holes is formed in the insulating film, and a metal portion is formed on the insulating film to fill the plurality of holes. The metal portion is polished until the insulating film is exposed and a recessed portion is formed in the void detection structure. It is determined if a void exists in the element portion of the semiconductor device by determining whether or not a void is exposed at a surface of the recessed portion of the void detection structure.
US08344509B2	Method for fabricating semiconductor device and semiconductor device A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, includes forming a dielectric film above a substrate; forming an opening in the dielectric film; forming a first film containing a metal whose energy for forming silicide thereof is lower than that of Cu silicide inside the opening; forming a second film that is conductive and contains copper (Cu) in the opening in which the first film containing the metal is formed; and forming a compound film containing Cu and silicon (Si) selectively on the second film in an atmosphere in which a temperature of the substrate is below 300° C.
US08344498B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor element; a support substrate arranged on a surface of the semiconductor element opposite to a surface thereof provided with a pad, the support substrate being wider in area than the semiconductor element; a burying insulating layer on the support substrate for burying the semiconductor element therein; a fan-out interconnection led out from the pad to an area on the burying insulating layer lying more peripherally outwardly than the semiconductor element; and a reinforcement portion arranged in a preset area on top of outer periphery of the semiconductor element for augmenting the mechanical strength of the burying insulating layer and the fan-out interconnection.
US08344495B2	Integrated circuit packaging system with interconnect and method of manufacture thereof A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a substrate external layer having an opening; forming a convex interconnect within the opening with the convex interconnect having a protrusion and a horizontal flange substantially horizontally coplanar with the substrate external layer; forming an insulation layer over the substrate external layer and the convex interconnect; forming a horizontal conductive pathway on the insulation layer; forming a single interlayer conductive connector from the horizontal conductive pathway to the convex interconnect; and connecting an integrated circuit and the horizontal conductive pathway.
US08344494B2	Layered chip package and method of manufacturing same A layered chip package includes a main body and wiring. The main body includes a main part including a plurality of stacked layer portions, and a plurality of terminals disposed on the top and bottom surfaces of the main part. The wiring includes a plurality of lines electrically connected to the plurality of terminals. The plurality of lines include a plurality of common lines and a plurality of layer-dependent lines. Each of the plurality of layer portions includes: a plurality of common electrodes electrically connected to the plurality of common lines; a plurality of non-contact electrodes that are electrically connected to the layer-dependent lines and are not in contact with the semiconductor chip in the layer portion; and a selective connection electrode selectively electrically connected to only the layer-dependent line that the layer portion uses among the plurality of layer-dependent lines. The layer-dependent lines are greater than the common lines in maximum width.
US08344492B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus A first multilayer wiring structure has a first surface and a second surface positioned on an opposite side to the first surface, a first wiring pattern formed on the second surface side and a housing portion penetrating through the first multilayer wiring structure from the first surface to the second surface. An electronic component has an electrode pad. The electronic component is accommodated in the housing portion in a state that an electrode pad formation surface at the side where the electrode pad is formed is positioned on the second surface side of the first multilayer wiring structure. A second multilayer wiring structure has an insulating layer and a second wiring pattern which are stacked on the second surface of the first multilayer wiring structure and the electrode pad formation surface of the electronic component. The second wiring pattern is electrically connected to the first wiring pattern and the electrode pad.
US08344489B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device of the invention includes: a substrate having a hollowed hollow section on a top surface; a semiconductor chip mounted in the hollow section of the substrate; and a lid having a substantially plate-shaped top plate section that opposes the substrate and covers the hollow section, and having at least one pair of side wall sections that project from a circumference of the top plate section towards the substrate and that engage with a side surface of the substrate. The substrate and the lid can be accurately positioned.
US08344487B2	Stress mitigation in packaged microchips A packaged microchip has a lead frame with a die directly contacting at least a single, contiguous portion of the lead frame. The portion of the lead frame has a top surface forming a concavity and contacting the die. The packaged microchip also has mold material substantially encapsulating part of the top surface of the portion of the lead frame.
US08344481B2	Bipolar transistors with hump regions By providing a novel bipolar device design implementation, a standard CMOS process can be used unchanged to fabricate useful bipolar transistors and other bipolar devices having adjustable properties by partially blocking the P or N well doping used for the transistor base. This provides a hump-shaped base region with an adjustable base width, thereby achieving, for example, higher gain than can be obtained with the unmodified CMOS process alone. By further partially blocking the source/drain doping step used to form the emitter of the bipolar transistor, the emitter shape and effective base width can be further varied to provide additional control over the bipolar device properties. The embodiments thus include prescribed modifications to the masks associated with the bipolar device that are configured to obtain desired device properties. The CMOS process steps and flow are otherwise unaltered and no additional process steps are required.
US08344479B2	Integrated circuit inductor with integrated vias Integrated circuit inductors (5) are formed by interconnecting various metal layers (10) in an integrated circuit with continuous vias (200). Using continuous vias (200) improves the Q factor over existing methods for high frequency applications. The contiguous length of the continuous vias should be greater than three percent of the length of the inductor (5).
US08344476B2	Fuse structure for high integrated semiconductor device The present invention provides a technology capable of improving an operation reliability of a semiconductor device. Particularly, a fuse material which constitutes the copper can be prevented from migrating being locked in the recesses or the grooves after a blowing process. A semiconductor device includes an insulating layer including a concave-convex-shaped upper part; and a fuse formed on the insulating layer.
US08344474B2	Microstructure device including a metallization structure with self-aligned air gaps and refilled air gap exclusion zones In a sophisticated metallization system, self-aligned air gaps may be provided in a locally selective manner by using a radiation sensitive material for filling recesses or for forming therein the metal regions. Consequently, upon selectively exposing the radiation sensitive material, a selective removal of exposed or non-exposed portions may be accomplished, thereby resulting in a highly efficient overall manufacturing flow.
US08344472B2	Semiconductor device and method Transistors (21, 41) employing floating buried layers may be susceptible to noise coupling into the floating buried layers. In IGFETS this is reduced or eliminated by providing a normally-ON switch (80, 80′) coupling the buried layer (102, 142, 172, 202) and the IGFET source (22, 42) or drain (24, 44). When the transistor (71, 91) is OFF, this clamps the buried layer voltage and substantially prevents noise coupling thereto. When the drain-source voltage VDS exceeds the switch's (80, 80′) threshold voltage Vt, it turns OFF, allowing the buried layer (102, 142, 172, 202) to float, and thereby resume normal transistor action without degrading the breakdown voltage or ON-resistance. In a preferred embodiment, a normally-ON lateral JFET (801, 801′, 801-1, 801-2, 801-3) conveniently provides this switching function. The lateral JFET (801-3) can be included in the device (70, 70′, 90, 90′) by mask changes without adding or customizing any process steps, thereby providing the improved noise resistance without significant increase in manufacturing cost. The improvement applies to both P (90-1) and N channel (70-1, 70-2, 70-3) transistors and is particularly useful for LDMOS devices.
US08344471B2	CMOS image sensor big via bonding pad application for AICu process An integrated circuit includes a substrate having a bonding pad region and a non-bonding pad region. A relatively large via, called a “big via,” is formed on the substrate in the bonding region. The big via has a first dimension in a top view toward the substrate. The integrated circuit also includes a plurality of vias formed on the substrate in the non-bonding region. The plurality of vias each have a second dimension in the top view, the second dimension being substantially less than the first dimension.
US08344468B2	Photovoltaic device with lateral P-I-N light-sensitive diodes A photovoltaic device includes lateral P-I-N light-sensitive diodes respectively formed in portions of a planar semiconductor material (e.g., polycrystalline or crystalline silicon) layer that is entirely disposed on an insulating material (e.g., SiO2) layer utilizing, e.g., STI or SOI techniques. Each light-sensitive diode includes parallel elongated doped regions respectively formed by P+ and N+ dopant extending entirely through the semiconductor layer material and separated by an intervening elongated intrinsic (native) region. The light-sensitive diodes are connected in series by patterned conductive (e.g., metal film) structures. Optional bypass diodes are formed next to each lateral P-I-N light-sensitive diodes. Optional trenches are defined between adjacent light-sensitive diodes. The photovoltaic devices are either utilized to form low-cost embedded low power photovoltaic arrays on CMOS IC devices, or produced on low-cost SOI substrates to provide, for example, low-cost, high voltage solar arrays for solar energy concentrators.
US08344466B2	Process for manufacturing MEMS devices having buried cavities and MEMS device obtained thereby A process for manufacturing a MEMS device, wherein a bottom silicon region is formed on a substrate and on an insulating layer; a sacrificial region of dielectric is formed on the bottom region; a membrane region, of semiconductor material, is epitaxially grown on the sacrificial region; the membrane region is dug down to the sacrificial region so as to form through apertures; the side wall and the bottom of the apertures are completely coated in a conformal way with a porous material layer; at least one portion of the sacrificial region is selectively removed through the porous material layer and forms a cavity; and the apertures are filled with filling material so as to form a monolithic membrane suspended above the cavity. Other embodiments are directed to MEMS devices and pressure sensors.
US08344460B2	Method for forming a nickelsilicide FUSI gate Ni3Si2 FUSI gates can be formed inter alia by further reaction of NiSi/Ni2Si gate stacks. Ni3Si2 behaves similarly to NiSi in terms of work function values, and of modulation with dopants on SiO2, in contrast to Ni-rich silicides which have significantly higher work function values on HfSixOy and negligible work function shifts with dopants on SiO2. Formation of Ni3Si2 can applied for applications targeting NiSi FUSI gates, thereby expanding the process window without changing the electrical properties of the FUSI gate.
US08344459B2	Semiconductor device The present invention enhances voltage conversion efficiency of a semiconductor device. In a non-isolated DC-DC converter that includes a high-side switch power MOSFET and a low-side switch power MOSFET, which are series-connected, the high-side switch power MOSFET and driver circuits for driving the high-side and low-side switch power MOSFETs are formed within one semiconductor chip, whereas the low-side switch power MOSFET is formed in another semiconductor chip. The two semiconductor chips are sealed in a single package.
US08344452B2	Metal gate transistors with raised source and drain regions formed on heavily doped substrate An MOS transistor formed on a heavily doped substrate is described. Metal gates are used in low temperature processing to prevent doping from the substrate from diffusing into the channel region of the transistor.
US08344450B2	Semiconductor device with buried bit lines and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate configured to include a plurality of trenches therein; a plurality of buried bit lines each configured to fill a portion of each trench; a plurality of active pillars each formed in an upper portion of each buried bit line; a plurality of vertical gates each configured to surround each active pillar; and a plurality of word lines configured to couple neighboring vertical gates with each other.
US08344447B2	Silicon layer for stopping dislocation propagation A composite semiconductor structure and method of forming the same are provided. The composite semiconductor structure includes a first silicon-containing compound layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting essentially of germanium and carbon; a silicon layer on the first silicon-containing compound layer, wherein the silicon layer comprises substantially pure silicon; and a second silicon-containing compound layer comprising the element on the silicon layer. The first and the second silicon-containing compound layers have substantially lower silicon concentrations than the silicon layer. The composite semiconductor structure may be formed as source/drain regions of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices.
US08344446B2	Nonvolatile storage device and method for manufacturing the same in which insulating film is located between first and second impurity diffusion regions but absent on first impurity diffusion region Provided is an excellent nonvolatile storage device having advantageous in miniaturization and less variation in initial threshold value, and exhibiting a high writing efficiency, without an erasing failure and a retention failure. The nonvolatile storage device is characterized by including a film stack extending from between a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode onto at least a surface of the gate electrode lying on a first impurity diffusion region side, the film stack including a charge accumulating layer and a tunnel insulating film sequentially from a gate electrode side.
US08344444B2	Semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory cell with a cap insulating film formed over a selection gate electrode To provide a technique capable of improving reliability of a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory cell by suppressing the reduction of the drive force.A memory cell is configured by a selection pMIS having a selection gate electrode including a conductive film exhibiting a p-type conductivity and a memory pMIS having a memory gate electrode including a conductive film exhibiting a p-type conductivity, and at the time of write, hot electrons are injected into a charge storage layer from the side of a semiconductor substrate 1 and at the time of erase, hot holes are injected into the charge storage layer from the memory gate electrode.
US08344443B2	Single poly NVM devices and arrays A single-poly non-volatile memory includes a PMOS select transistor (210) formed with a select gate (212), and P+ source and drain regions (211, 213) formed in a shared n-well region (240), a serially connected PMOS floating gate transistor (220) formed with part of a p-type floating gate layer (222) and P+ source and drain regions (221, 223) formed in the shared n-well region (240), and a coupling capacitor (230) formed over a p-well region (250) and connected to the PMOS floating gate transistor (220), where the coupling capacitor (230) includes a first capacitor plate formed with a second part of the p-type floating gate layer (222) and an underlying portion of the p-well region (250).
US08344441B2	Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; an element isolation insulator formed in an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate and dividing the upper portion into first and second active areas extending in a first direction; a first contact connected to the first active area; and a second contact connected to the second active area. Each of the first and second active area includes: a first portion connected to one of the first contact and the second contact; and a second portion having an upper surface being placed lower than an upper surface of the first portion. The first contact and the second contact are mutually shifted in the first direction. The first portion of the first active area is disposed adjacent to the second portion of the second active area.
US08344438B2	Electrode of an integrated circuit The present invention refers to an electrode comprising a first metallic layer and a compound comprising at least one of a nitride, oxide, and oxynitride of a second metallic material.
US08344437B2	Semiconductor device with vertical channel transistor A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor pillar extending from the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor pillar comprising a first region, a second region, and a third region, the second region positioned between the first region and the third region, the third region positioned between the second region and the semiconductor substrate, immediately adjacent regions having different conductivity types, a first gate pattern disposed on the second region with a first insulating layer therebetween, and a second gate pattern disposed on the third region, wherein the second region is ohmically connected to the substrate by the second gate pattern.
US08344436B2	Semiconductor constructions and electronic systems Some embodiments include DRAM having transistor gates extending partially over SOI, and methods of forming such DRAM. Unit cells of the DRAM may be within active region pedestals, and in some embodiments the unit cells may comprise capacitors having storage nodes in direct contact with sidewalls of the active region pedestals. Some embodiments include 0C1T memory having transistor gates entirely over SOI, and methods of forming such 0C1T memory.
US08344435B2	Semiconductor memory device To realize a semiconductor memory device whose capacitance value per unit area in a memory cell is increased without increase in the area of the memory cell. The memory cell includes a transistor, a memory element, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor. The first capacitor includes a semiconductor film, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode which are included in the transistor and is formed at the same time as the transistor. The second capacitor includes an electrode which is included in the memory element and an insulating film and an electrode which are formed over the electrode. Further, the second capacitor is formed over the first capacitor. In this manner, the first capacitor and the second capacitor which are connected in parallel with the memory element are formed.
US08344431B2	Image sensor having reduced dark current An image sensor includes a light receiving device, a field effect transistor, a stress layer pattern, and a surface passivation material. The light receiving device is formed in a first region of a substrate. The field effect transistor is formed in a second region of the substrate. The stress layer pattern is formed over the field effect transistor for creating stress therein to improve transistor performance. The surface passivation material is formed on the first region of the substrate for passivating dangling bonds at the surface of the light receiving device.
US08344427B2	Standard cell, semiconductor device having standard cells, and method for laying out and wiring the standard cell The chip area of a semiconductor device having a plurality of standard cells is to be made smaller. A semiconductor device includes first and second standard cells. The first standard cell includes a diffusion region, a functional device region opposed to the diffusion region, and a metal layer. The second standard cell includes another diffusion region continuous with the diffusion region, another functional device region opposed to the other diffusion region, and further another diffusion region formed between the other diffusion region and the other functional device region. The metal layer and the other functional device region are coupled together electrically through the diffusion regions.
US08344425B2	Multi-gate III-V quantum well structures Methods of forming microelectronic structures are described. Embodiments of those methods include forming a III-V tri-gate fin on a substrate, forming a cladding material around the III-V tri-gate fin, and forming a hi k gate dielectric around the cladding material.
US08344424B2	Enhancement mode gallium nitride power devices Enhancement mode III-nitride devices are described. The 2DEG is depleted in the gate region so that the device is unable to conduct current when no bias is applied at the gate. Both gallium face and nitride face devices formed as enhancement mode devices.
US08344419B2	Compound semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same An AlN layer (2), a GaN buffer layer (3), a non-doped AlGaN layer (4a), an n-type AlGaN layer (4b), an n-type GaN layer (5), a non-doped AlN layer (6) and an SiN layer (7) are sequentially formed on an SiC substrate (1). At least three openings are formed in the non-doped AlN layer (6) and the SiN layer (7), and a source electrode (8a), a drain electrode (8b) and a gate electrode (19) are evaporated in these openings.
US08344416B2	Integrated circuits using guard rings for ESD, systems, and methods for forming the integrated circuits An integrated circuit includes at least one transistor over a substrate. A first guard ring is disposed around the at least one transistor. The first guard ring has a first type dopant. A second guard ring is disposed around the first guard ring. The second guard ring has a second type dopant. A first doped region is disposed adjacent to the first guard ring. The first doped region has the second type dopant. A second doped region is disposed adjacent to the second guard ring. The second doped region has the first type dopant. The first guard ring, the second guard ring, the first doped region, and the second doped region are capable of being operable as a first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) to substantially release an electrostatic discharge (ESD).
US08344415B2	Semiconductor component A semiconductor component is disclosed. One embodiment provides a semiconductor body having a cell region with at least one zone of a first conduction type and at least one zone of a second conduction type in a rear side. A drift zone of the first conduction type in the cell region is provided. The drift zone contains at least one region through which charge carriers flow in an operating mode of the semiconductor component in one polarity and charge carriers do not flow in an operating mode of the semiconductor component in an opposite polarity.
US08344414B2	Semiconductor light emitting device A semiconductor light emitting device with which a driving voltage is able to be kept low is provided. The semiconductor light emitting device includes: an n-type cladding layer; an active layer; a p-type cladding layer containing AlGaInP; an intermediate layer; and a contact layer containing GaP in this order, wherein the intermediate layer contains Ga1-aInaP (0.357≦a≦0.408), and has a thickness of from 10 nm to 20 nm both inclusive.
US08344400B2	Light emitting device package Embodiments relate to a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package comprises: a body comprising a multilayer cavity; a light emitting device in the cavity; a first phosphor layer sealing the light emitting device and comprising a first phosphor; and a second phosphor layer comprising a second phosphor on the first phosphor layer, the second phosphor and the first phosphor having a difference in the specific gravity.
US08344392B2	Light-emitting element and the manufacturing method thereof A light-emitting element includes a light-emitting stack includes: a first semiconductor layer; an active layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; and a second semiconductor layer formed on the active layer; a recess structure formed through the second semiconductor layer, the active layer, and extended in the first semiconductor layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer includes a contact region defined by the recess structure; a first electrode structure including a first contact portion on the contact region of the first semiconductor layer, and a second contact portion laterally extended from the first contact portion into the first semiconductor layer; and a dielectric layer formed on side surfaces of the second semiconductor layer and the active layer to insulate the second semiconductor layer and the active layer from the first contact portion.
US08344390B2	Thin film active element group, thin film active element array, organic light emitting device, display apparatus, and thin film active element manufacturing method The objective is to achieve an organic thin film transistor group that can be manufactured more easily and at a lower cost. Provided is a thin film active element group comprising a drive active element having a semiconductor channel layer formed in a channel region between a source electrode and a drain electrode; and a switch active element having a semiconductor channel layer formed in a channel region between a source electrode and a drain electrode, the switch active element switching the drive active element. The drive active element and the switch active element are formed to be separated from each other in a direction of a channel width such that a straight line associated with the channel region of the drive active element and a straight line associated with the channel region of the switch active element are parallel to each other. The channel region of the drive active element and the channel region of the switch active element may be aligned linearly with each other in the direction of the channel width.
US08344387B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same An object is, in a thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used as an active layer, to prevent change in composition, film quality, an interface, or the like of an oxide semiconductor region serving as an active layer, and to stabilize electrical characteristics of the thin film transistor. In a thin film transistor in which a first oxide semiconductor region is used as an active layer, a second oxide semiconductor region having lower electrical conductivity than the first oxide semiconductor region is formed between the first oxide semiconductor region and a protective insulating layer for the thin film transistor, whereby the second oxide semiconductor region serves as a protective layer for the first oxide semiconductor region; thus, change in composition or deterioration in film quality of the first oxide semiconductor region can be prevented, and electrical characteristics of the thin film transistor can be stabilized.
US08344386B2	Laminated thin-film device, manufacturing method thereof, and circuit The present invention provides a novel capacitor element, laminated thin-film device, and circuit wherein the capacitance dependency on voltage can be appropriately adjusted, and a technology for manufacturing such a capacitor element and laminated thin-film device. In the capacitor element that comprises a pair of electrode layers and a dielectric layer disposed between the electrode layers, a well region where an ion is implanted is disposed in the dielectric layer, and the C-V curve between the electrode layers is shifted or shifted and expanded in at least one direction of the plus direction and minus direction with respect to the voltage axis.
US08344368B2	Fused cyclic compound and organic electronic device The present invention relates to a new fused cyclic compound, and an organic electronic device using the same.Since the compound according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be used as a material of an organic material layer of the organic electronic device and in particular may effectively inject, transport or extract a hole, it is possible to provide an organic electronic device having excellent efficiency and performance.
US08344366B2	Organic thin film transistor and method of forming the same Provided are an organic thin film transistor and a method of forming the same. The method comprises forming a gate electrode on a substrate, forming a gate dielectric, which covers the gate electrode and includes a recess region at an upper portion, on the substrate, forming a source electrode and a drain electrode in the recess region, and forming an organic semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode in the recess region.
US08344362B2	Organic electroluminescent device, method for producing organic electroluminescent device, and electronic apparatus An organic EL device includes a base layer including a substrate, a partitioning portion disposed on the base layer and defining first and second film-formation regions adjacent to each other, a first organic EL element disposed on the base layer at a position overlapping the first film-formation region in plan view, a second organic EL element disposed on the base layer at a position overlapping the second film-formation region in plan view, a first drive circuit section disposed in the base layer to control driving of the first organic EL element, and a second drive circuit section disposed in the base layer to control driving of the second organic EL element. At least part of the first drive circuit section and at least part of the second drive circuit section overlap the first film-formation region in plan view.
US08344359B2	Transistor having thermo electron cooling A semiconductor structure having a transistor and a thermo electronic structure. The transistor has a control electrode for controlling a flow of carriers through a semiconductor layer between a pair of electrodes. The thermo electronic structure has a first portion disposed on at least one of the pair of electrodes and a second portion disposed over a region of the semiconductor layer proximate the control electrode between the control electrode and said at least one of the pair of electrode. The thermo electronic structure extends from the first portion to the second portion for removing heat generated heat from said region in the semiconductor layer.
US08344358B2	Graphene transistor with a self-aligned gate A graphene-based field effect transistor includes source and drain electrodes that are self-aligned to a gate electrode. A stack of a seed layer and a dielectric metal oxide layer is deposited over a patterned graphene layer. A conductive material stack of a first metal portion and a second metal portion is formed above the dielectric metal oxide layer. The first metal portion is laterally etched employing the second metal portion, and exposed portions of the dielectric metal oxide layer are removed to form a gate structure in which the second metal portion overhangs the first metal portion. The seed layer is removed and the overhang is employed to shadow proximal regions around the gate structure during a directional deposition process to form source and drain electrodes that are self-aligned and minimally laterally spaced from edges of the gate electrode.
US08344350B2	Phase change device with offset contact A programmable resistance memory combines multiple cells into a block that includes one or more shared electrodes. The shared electrode configuration provides additional thermal isolation for the active region of each memory cell, thereby reducing the current required to program each memory cell.
US08344348B2	Memory device An electrical device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. A first active material is between the first electrode and second electrode. A second active material is between the first electrode and second electrode. A nonlinear electrode material is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The nonlinear electrode material is electrically in series with the first electrode, the first active material, the second active material, and the second electrode. The first electrode and the first active material undergo no chemical or electrochemical reaction when current passes between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08344346B2	Semiconductor device having resistive device A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of word lines vertically formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, where each pair of the plurality of word lines form a set of word lines, a bit line formed parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and disposed in plurality stacked between the word lines of each pair constituting the one set of word lines, and unit memory cells disposed between respective ones of the bit lines and an adjacent one of the pair of word lines of said one of the word line sets.
US08344341B2	Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method A map of the surface of a substrate is generated at a measurement station. The substrate is then moved to where a space between a projection lens and the substrate is filled with a liquid. The substrate is then aligned using, for example, a transmission image sensor and, using the previous mapping, the substrate can be accurately exposed. Thus the mapping does not take place in a liquid environment.
US08344338B2	Systems and methods for enhancing electrical discharge Systems and methods presented herein are generally directed to enhancing electrical discharge. A hollow conical electrode may be provided to discharge electrical energy in a directed manner. The conical electrode has two openings: a larger entrance opening; and a smaller exit opening. These openings are configured to allow radiated energy to pass therethrough and form a preferential path of electrical conduction. The larger entrance opening has a surface with a radius of curvature that is larger than that of the second smaller exit opening. The smaller exit opening directs electrical energy to the path because of stronger electric fields. In one embodiment, a protruding electrode element is configured with the smaller exit opening to further enhance electrical discharge by focusing electric fields in the vicinity of the protruding electrode.
US08344334B2	Apparatus and method for detection and measurement of target compounds such as a food toxin A method for the detection or determination of a target comprising a plurality of target compounds, or derivatised target compounds, said method comprising: immobilizing said target on a carrier, directing radiation at said target, said radiation being selected to cause said target to emit a relevant radiation, detecting said relevant radiation emitted by said target, and analyzing said detected radiation to identify and/or quantify the plurality of target compounds in said target.
US08344323B1	Apparatus and method for detecting and quantifying analytes in solution A method for identifying and quantifying one or more analytes included in a sample comprising a background solvent is disclosed. The present invention enables in-situ calibration and removal of the spectral signature of the background solvent from a composite spectrum so that the spectral features associated with the analyte(s) can be more easily and precisely identified. Further, the method enables estimation of the concentration of the analyte(s) by normalizing the spectrum based on the path length of the infrared radiation through the sample.
US08344322B2	Radiant energy imager using null switching In some aspects, the present invention embodies both the method and apparatus for converting a pattern of irradiation to a visible image. An embodiment of the present invention provides an array of micro-electro-mechanical sensors with each sensor includes a deflectable micro-cantilever, responsive to absorbed incident radiation and to an applied repulsive electrostatic field. In an aspect, the sensor device also includes a null-sensing circuit coupled to a switch contact on or near the substrate, which senses when the micro-cantilever reaches its null location, by electrical connection with an upper switch contact on the micro-cantilever. Other embodiments are also described.
US08344321B2	Infrared imaging device An infrared imaging device according to an embodiment includes: an imaging area formed on a semiconductor substrate, the imaging area having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, the plurality of pixels including a plurality of reference pixels arranged in at least one row and a plurality of infrared detection pixels arranged in remaining rows to detect incident infrared rays, each of the reference pixels having a first thermoelectric conversion element, each of the infrared detection pixel having a thermoelectric conversion unit, the thermoelectric conversion unit having an infrared absorption film to absorb the incident infrared rays and convert the incident infrared rays to heat and a second thermoelectric conversion element to convert the heat obtained by the conversion conducted by the infrared absorption film to an electric signal.
US08344317B2	Molecular ion accelerator A novel system and methods for accelerating analytes including, without limitation, molecular ions, biomolecules, polymers, nano- and microparticles, is provided. The invention can be useful for increasing detection sensitivity in applications such as mass spectrometry, performing collision-induced dissociation molecular structure analysis, and probing surfaces and samples using accelerated analyte.
US08344312B2	Color filter array having plural filter layers, image sensor including the same, and electronic device including the color filter array A color filter array is provided. The color filter array includes a plurality of basic filter blocks arranged in all directions. Each of the basic filter blocks include one or more color filters. The color filters include a first type color filter that passes through all light without filtering it or has a higher light transmittance than a second type color filter, a third type color filter, and a fourth type color filter. The second through fourth color filters being a red, green or blue filter. Accordingly, the color filter array increases sensitivity to incident light or increases brightness of outgoing light.
US08344309B2	Method and circuit for calibrating phase, and signal processing apparatus having the same A method for calibrating a phase include comparing a phase of an in-phase output signal and a phase of a quadrature-phase output signal and generating a digital code corresponding to a comparison result, and controlling the phase of the in-phase output signal in response to quadrature-phase differential input signals and the digital code, and controlling the phase of the quadrature-phase output signal in response to in-phase differential input signals and the digital code, to make a phase difference between the in-phase output signal and the quadrature-phase output signal 90°.
US08344306B2	Imaging method and apparatus Disclosed are an imaging method and apparatus. The apparatus may include an image sensor that may include a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one pixel of the plurality of pixels includes a light-detector element and a filter that band-passes a select visible light component to the light-detector element and band-passes a select non-visible light component to the light-detector element. A color value and depth value may be obtained using the same pixel through the image sensor.
US08344305B2	System and method for aligning heliostats of a solar power tower Disclosed is a solar power tower heliostat alignment system and method that includes a solar power tower with a focal area, a plurality of heliostats that each reflect sunlight towards the focal area of the solar power tower, an off-focal area location substantially close to the focal area of the solar power tower, a communication link between the off-focal area location and a misaligned heliostat, and a processor that interprets the communication between the off-focal area location and the misaligned heliostat to identify the misaligned heliostat from the plurality of heliostats and that determines a correction for the identified misaligned heliostat to realign the misaligned heliostat to reflect sunlight towards the focal area of the solar power tower.
US08344304B2	Methods and apparatus for missile air inlet Methods and apparatus for delivering a missile may operate in conjunction with a missile comprising an outer skin. The missile may be configured in a closed position and an open position. In the open position, an aperture is opened in the outer skin, for example to supply air to an air-breathing engine. In the closed position, the aperture is closed.
US08344300B2	Device to reduce shadowing during radiative heating of a substrate A substrate heating apparatus configured to be coupled to a processing system and radiatively heat a substrate is described. The substrate heating apparatus includes a radiative heat source coupled to a processing system and configured to produce electromagnetic (EM) radiation, a translucent object positioned between the radiative heat source and the substrate along a the EM radiation path, and an opaque object also positioned between the radiative heat source and the substrate along the EM radiation path. The translucent object includes at least one textured surface to cause random refraction of the EM radiation passing through the translucent object, or an optical waveguide configured to encapsulate the opaque object and direct the EM radiation around the opaque object, or both, to prevent creation of a shadow of the opaque object on the substrate.
US08344295B2	Nanosoldering heating element Techniques for providing heat to a small area and apparatus capable of providing heat to a small area are provided.
US08344292B2	Rotary switch with improved simmer performance A cooking appliance has a cooktop including a plurality of separately controlled cooking areas. A first heating element and a second heating element are positioned below one of the separately controlled cooking areas. A control switch is electrically coupled to the first heating element and the second heating element and is operable to selectively energize the first heating element with single-phase AC power and selectively energize the second heating element with two-phase AC power.
US08344277B1	Waterproof operating device with one or more capacitive switches A waterproof housing to contain and operate an electronic device with capacitive touch screen and electrically conductive outer case includes interfitting pieces configured to removably receive and immobilize the electronic device. One or more buttons through the housing are aligned opposite control regions of the screen and exposed for user depression. Different conductive polymer members connect at least distal tips of the buttons with the outer case to provide electrical connection between the case and a control region of the touch screen with depression of the button overlying the region. Some members further provide sealing and spring functions.
US08344276B2	Contact arrangement for weak current applications An electrical contact arrangement for weak current applications includes at least one fixed contact including a first contact material, a moving contact configured to be brought into a closing and an opening position with the at least one fixed contact, and a contact bridge which carries the moving contact and includes at least one contact piece including a second contact material. The contact bridge is configured to be actuated in a longitudinally movable manner toward the fixed contact. The first contact material is a metallic conducting material and the second contact material includes at least 70% carbon material.
US08344274B2	Three position lock device for drawout circuit breaker A position locking device is disclosed for a draw-out circuit breaker. In at least one embodiment, the position locking device includes a screw rod, a catching plate, a positioning plate, a locking plate, and a push rod. The screw rod has key ways. The catching plate has a catching plate hole and a protrusion that can be inserted into the key ways. Positioning notches for limiting OFF, TEST, and ON positions of the circuit breaker are formed on the top surface of the positioning plate, and corresponding protruding platforms are disposed on the bottom surface. One end of the locking plate bears against the bottom surface of the positioning plate, and the other end is locked to or unlocked from an outward protruding platform of the catching plate. One end of the push rod passes through the catching plate hole, and has an inclined surface. When the push rod is pushed, the inclined surface makes the catching plate leave the key ways. The position locking device is structurally simple and reasonable, secure, reliable, and convenient to operate. The cost for manufacturing, installing or maintaining the device is lowered.
US08344273B2	Keyboard structure and electronic device using the same A keyboard structure includes a housing having at least one post, a key assembly, and at least one connecting part. The key assembly includes a number of keypads and a keymat, the keymat defining a first through hole, a second through hole and a groove. The connecting part includes a ring, a protruding post and a connecting portion connecting the protruding post to the ring, the connecting part received in the first through hole, the second through hole and the groove, and then fixed on the keymat. The post passes through the key assembly and the ring coils around the post to connect the key assembly to the housing.
US08344269B2	Semiconductor device capable of switching operation modes A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first pad, a second pad, and a third pad that are placed along one side of a perimeter of the substrate, a circuit that is formed above the substrate, and that is coupled to the first pad, a first external terminal that is coupled to the second pad, and a second external terminal that is coupled to the third pad, wherein the circuit generates a signal indicative of a connection configuration between the first pad and the first external terminal, wherein the third pad is placed adjacent to one of the first pad and the second pad, wherein, in a direction parallel to the one side of the perimeter of the substrate, the first pad, the second pad and the third pad have a first width, a second width and a third width, respectively, and wherein each of the first width of the first pad and the second width of the second pad is smaller than the third width of the third pad.
US08344267B2	LED luminous module with crossover connecting element Connecting element for mounting on a printed circuit board, which connecting element has at least two connecting lines which cross one another and are not electrically connected between respectively associated contacts.
US08344260B2	Multilayer wiring board Saddle warpage of a wiring board at the time of reflow soldering is reduced by canceling out a difference in thermal expansion amount between wiring layers with anisotropy due to variations between the wiring layers in the proportion of copper remaining in the wiring layers C and non-uniformity of wiring elements by a difference in thermal expansion amount with anisotropy between resin base material layers produced according to the material of fiber bundles forming a warp or a weft in at least one resin base layer B, different from the material of other fiber bundles.
US08344258B2	Electric device An electric device, in particular a mechatronic gear, motor, or brake control device in a motor vehicle, includes an electronic component having at least one electric contact surface for electrically contacting the component. A flexible circuit board with a conduction path structure includes at least one contact pad and conduction lines between two flexible, non-conducting films. A respective contact pad of the flexible circuit board is electrically connected, in particular by welding, to a respective contact surface of the component for creating at least one contact point. A sealing element is disposed on a side of the flexible circuit board opposite the component and an internal space is bounded by a wall. The sealing element is pressed against the flexible circuit board at an edge of the wall so that the edge surrounds at least one of the contact points.
US08344257B2	Flexible printed circuit and fabrication method thereof A flexible printed circuit and fabrication method thereof is provided. At least one signal wire is disposed on a plastic substrate. Two ground lines are disposed at both sides of the signal wire in parallel. A shielding layer is provided, contacting the plastic substrate to form a chamber, wherein the signal wire and ground lines are wrapped therein. A flexible dielectric layer is implemented between the signal wire and the shielding layer to provide electricity isolation.
US08344255B2	Cable with jacket including a spacer A multi-pair cable having a jacket, including a spacer integrally formed in the jacket. The spacer extends helically about the central axis of the cable. The spacer includes an inner projection that projects radially inward and an outer projection that projects radially outward from the main wall of the jacket. The jacket with the spacer reduces the occurrence of alien crosstalk between adjacent cables.
US08344254B2	Electrical cable with foraminous label An electrical cable of the type that is of the type to have a connector member coupled thereto. The electrical cable includes a conductive outer sheath and a label disposed on the conductive outer sheath The label includes information about the cable and has at least one conductive region to facilitate electrical conductivity between the conductive outer sheath and the connector member.
US08344252B2	Cable splice connection assembly A cable splice connection assembly for coupling a first cable to a second cable generally includes a main body having first and second ends and defining an inner cavity, the first end configured to receive at least a portion of a first cable therein, and the second end configured to receive at least a portion of a second cable therein, and a first engagement mechanism configured to couple the main body to a first cable wherein the first engagement mechanism includes a cable seal, wherein the cable seal includes an adhesive seal.
US08344249B1	Provisions for securement of an electrical box An electrical box including at least four sides extending from a bottom to an open top and a front surface, a first outer tab extending from one of the at least four sides and proximate the front surface, a second outer tab extending from one of the at least four sides opposite the first outer tab and proximate the front surface, a first aperture adjacent the first outer tab, a second aperture adjacent the second outer tab, a first locking tab mounted within the first aperture, a second locking tab mounted within the second aperture, and wherein the first and second locking tabs slide towards the front surface for securing a mounting wall between the first outer tab and the first locking tab and between the second outer tab and the second locking tab.
US08344244B2	Solar cell using carbon nanotubes and process for producing the same A solar cell includes a p-type semiconductor substance, and an n-type semiconductor substance. The p-type semiconductor substance and the n-type semiconductor substance form a pn junction or a pin junction, and the p-type semiconductor substance or the n-type semiconductor substance includes a structure film having a plurality of carbon nanotubes electrically connected to each other.
US08344243B2	Method and structure for thin film photovoltaic cell using similar material junction A method for forming a thin film photovoltaic device. The method provides a transparent substrate including a surface region. A first electrode layer overlies the surface region. A copper layer is formed overlying the first electrode layer and an indium layer is formed overlying the copper layer to form a multi-layered structure. At least the multi-layered structure is subjected to a thermal treatment process in an environment containing a sulfur bearing species to forming a bulk copper indium disulfide. The bulk copper indium disulfide material has a surface region characterized by a copper poor surface region having a copper to indium atomic ratio of less than about 0.95:1 and n-type impurity characteristics. The bulk copper indium disulfide material excluding the copper poor surface region forms an absorber region and the copper poor surface region forms at least a portion of a window region for the thin film photovoltaic device. The method optionally forms a high resistivity transparent material having an intrinsic semiconductor characteristic overlying the copper poor surface region. A second electrode layer overlies the high resistivity transparent layer.
US08344241B1	Nanostructure and photovoltaic cell implementing same Nanostructures and photovoltaic structures are disclosed. A nanostructure according to one embodiment includes an array of nanocables extending from a substrate, the nanocables in the array being characterized as having a spacing and surface texture defined by inner surfaces of voids of a template; an electrically insulating layer extending along the substrate; and at least one layer overlaying the nanocables. A nanostructure according to another embodiment includes a substrate; a portion of a template extending along the substrate, the template being electrically insulative; an array of nanocables extending from the template, portions of the nanocables protruding from the template being characterized as having a spacing, shape and surface texture defined by previously-present inner surfaces of voids of the template; and at least one layer overlaying the nanocables.
US08344238B2	Self-cleaning protective coatings for use with photovoltaic cells Systems and materials to improve photovoltaic cell efficiency by implementing a self-cleaning function on photovoltaic cells and on albedo surfaces associated with photovoltaic cell assemblies are provided. Materials for protecting albedo surfaces that surround photovoltaic cell assemblies, thereby maximizing energy input into the photovoltaic cell assemblies, are provided. Materials for self-cleaning photovoltaic cell panels, thereby maintaining their efficiency, are provided. Portable albedo collecting devices associated with photovoltaic cell assemblies are provided.
US08344232B2	Multiple string tuning peg assembly A multiple string tuning peg for a stringed musical instrument capable of independently tuning at least two strings. It minimizes the amount of clutter at the top end of a stringed instrument and maximizes the use of the mechanical gearing assemblies by sharing mechanical components. A single thumb twist can be physically manipulated to operated the multiple string winding mechanisms.
US08344231B2	Guitar pitch stability system with saddle clamps This invention improves guitar pitch stability and requires no modifications to a guitar or any of its parts. It is a low profile design which pertains in particular to Fender Stratocasters or any electric guitars with a similar bridge plate and tone block design. This invention does basically two things. First, the guitar strings are rerouted giving a much softer string bend past the string saddles (similar to Gibson guitars) which significantly reduces string drag (friction) at the saddles. After “dive-bombing” downward or going upward in pitch via the tremolo arm (as with a Stratocaster), the guitar returns to its original pitch when the tremolo arm is released. Second, readjustable saddle clamps are used which hold and lock all six string saddles together in position and to the bridge plate after string height and intonation adjustments have been made.
US08344229B2	Argyranthemum intergeneric hybrid plants and methods of production New plants were created from a new and efficient method of intergeneric hybridization between the genus Argyranthemum as a female parent and a plant from I. versicolor and Glebionis sp. as a male parent. The plants were created by rescuing an embryo from the cross-pollination of a tetraploid or aneu-tetraploid Argyranthemum female parent with a plant from the group I. versicolor and Glebionis sp. as a male parent. The new plants often exhibited the perennial and multi-branched habit of the female Argyranthemum parent, with large capitula size and different ray floret colors, many not previously seen in Argyranthemum. When compared to Argyranthemum, the new plants possessed improved tolerance to high growing temperatures. In addition to providing the intergeneric hybrid plants and parts thereof, the invention provides methods for making such plants and methods for creating intergeneric hybrid plants.
US08344227B2	Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH590373 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH590373. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH590373, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH590373 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH590373.
US08344221B2	Plants and seeds of corn variety CV786079 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV786079. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV786079, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV786079 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV786079 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV786079.
US08344220B2	Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH115012 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH115012. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH115012, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH115012 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH115012.
US08344214B1	Soybean variety XB08U10 A novel soybean variety, designated XB08U10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB08U10, cells from soybean variety XB08U10, plants of soybean XB08U10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB08U10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB08U10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB08U10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB08U10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB08U10 are further provided.
US08344213B2	Soybean variety XB14Y10 A novel soybean variety, designated XB14Y10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB14Y10, cells from soybean variety XB14Y10, plants of soybean XB14Y10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB14Y10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB14Y10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB14Y10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB14Y10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB14Y10 are further provided.
US08344210B2	Increasing low light tolerance in plants Methods and materials for modulating (e.g., increasing or decreasing) low light tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding polypeptides that confer plants with tolerance to low light are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low light tolerance and plant products produced from plants having increased low light tolerance.
US08344208B2	Highly efficient suppressor-dependent protein expression in plants with a viral vector A series of viral vectors derived from foxtail mosaic virus, sunn hemp mosaic virus and white clover mosaic virus sequences, and which are capable of expressing heterologous proteins in plants, including the tobacco, Nicotiana benthamiana, and cowpea, bean, and other legumes with the properties of unusually limited expression in the absence of gene silencing suppressors and high level expression in their presence. In a preferred embodiment, these viral vectors may be introduced via agroinoculation, and expression of the heterologous gene may be inducible with little or no leakiness in the absence of induction.
US08344205B2	Plants with increased yield This invention relates generally to plant cells and/or plants with increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell by increasing or generating one or more activities of polypeptides associated with the intermediate phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRPP) in plants. In particular, this invention relates to plant cells and/or plants with increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell by increasing or generating one or more activities of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthases (PRPP synthetase, PRS) The invention also deals with methods of producing and screening for and breeding such plant cells and/or plants.
US08344201B2	Dressing product A dressing product includes a thin film dressing sheet, one first surface of which is coated with an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive hydrocolloid adhesive, which is applicable to an anatomical surface of a human. A carrier system, which provides a support for the dressing sheet, defines a gripping section for handling of the carrier system. The carrier system may include one or more foil members and supporting sheets for facilitating application and for providing a non-touch application system, i.e., a system which may be handled by an operator without the operator touching the dressing sheet or at least the adhesive surface. A protective sheet having an opening for application of a pharmaceutical product to the adhesive prior to application of the dressing sheet is disclosed.
US08344194B2	Process for the conversion of solid particulated biomass materials A process for producing bio-fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes processing the mean particle diameter of the biomass by mechanical processing to a size ranging from 1 μm to 1000 μm to form particulated biomass. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a suspension, wherein the suspension includes between 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is heated to a temperature between 50° C. and 550° C. The heated suspension is fed into a unit selected from the group consisting of a pyrolysis reactor, a fluid catalytic cracking unit, a delayed coker, a fluid coker, a hydroprocessing unit, and a hydrocracking unit; and then at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the heated suspension is converted into fuel.
US08344192B2	Process for the recovery of fluoromonomers The invention provides a technique enabling the separation and recovery of an unreacted fluoromonomer from an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion obtained by emulsion polymerization, without using any extraction solvent, and enabling the prevention of a hydrolysis of —SO2F and a like sulfonic acid precursor functional group convertible to sulfonic acid group. Thus, the invention provides a recovering method fluoromonomer having a sulfonic acid precursor functional group convertible to a sulfonic acid group and remaining unreacted from an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion obtained by emulsion polymerization of the fluoromonomer, wherein the unreacted fluoromonomer is recovered from the aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion by evaporation, wherein the aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion has an acidic pH.
US08344180B2	Hydrazine amide derivative Disclosed are compound having NPY Y5 receptor antagonistic activity of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 is optionally substituted lower alkyl, R2 and R8 are each independently hydrogen or lower alkyl, X is optionally substituted cycloalkylene, or —NR2—X— may be a group of the formula: wherein a group of the formula: is piperidinediyl, piperazinediyl, pyridindiyl, pyrazinediyl, pyrrolidinediyl or pyrrolediyl, U is a bond, lower alkylene or lower alkenylene, Y is —OCONR7—, —CONR7— or —CSNR7—, R7 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, Z is optionally substituted carbocyclyl, or optionally substituted heterocyclyl, W is —S(═O)n-, n is 2, provided that Z is not carbocyclyl substituted with non-halogeno lower alkoxy, and provided that 5-Methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thiazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid [2-[(5-chloro-1H-indole-2-carbonyl)-amino]-5 -(N′,N′-dimethyl-hydrazinocarbonyl)-cyclohexyl]-amide and 5-Methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thiazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid [2-[(5-chloro-4-fluoro-1H-indole-2-carbonyl)-amino]-5-(N′,N′-dimethyl-hydrazinocarbonyl) -cyclohexyl]-amide are excluded.
US08344176B2	Synthesis of substituted hydroxymethyl phenols The present disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of 2-(3 -diisopropylamino-1-phenylpropyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)phenol or its phenolic monoesters or salts thereof, characterized by the steps of a) reacting a compound of formula (II) with a mixture of a Grignard initiator and Mg in a solvent; b) optionally reducing the temperature of the Grignard reagent to a lower temperature than in step a), and reacting the resulting Grignard reagent with an excess of a carbonate in a solvent, to obtain a compound of formula (III) wherein A is a C1-C6 alkyl, and the further reacting the compound of formula (III) in a known manner to obtain the desired end product.
US08344175B2	Liquid crystal compositions, polymer networks derived therefrom and process for making the same The invention relates to compounds of Formula (I): The invention further relates to liquid crystal compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I); compositions further comprising one or more chiral compounds; and polymer networks derived from the polymerization of the liquid crystal compositions. Another embodiment relates to processes for providing compounds of Formula (I).
US08344172B2	Preparation of antiplasticizers for thermoplastic polyesters A process for making bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalates useful as antiplasticizers for thermoplastic polyesters is disclosed. Dimethyl terephthalate is reacted with an excess of an aryloxyalkanol in the presence of a condensation catalyst to produce an intermediate mixture comprising a bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate, a mono(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate, and unreacted aryloxyalkanol. This mixture continues to react at reduced pressure while unreacted aryloxyalkanol is removed and the mono-ester content is reduced to less than 1 mole % based on the combined amounts of mono- and bis-esters. Both steps are performed substantially in the absence of oxygen. Additional unreacted aryloxyalkanol is then removed to provide a purified bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate having an overall purity of at least 98 mole % and a yellowness index less than 10. Careful control over catalysis, exposure to air, and other process conditions enables the preparation of high yields of bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalates that have low color and other valuable attributes. A method of producing bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate articles having improved compressive strength is also disclosed.
US08344167B2	Method for producing propylene oxide A method is for producing propylene oxide, the method including the steps of: reacting hydrogen peroxide with propylene either in an acetonitrile solvent or in a mixture of solvents which include acetonitrile and water, in presence of a titanosilicate catalyst, whereby a reaction mixture containing propylene oxide is obtained; separating the reaction mixture obtained in the reacting into a gas and a reaction liquid; and distilling the reaction liquid obtained in the separating, whereby the reaction liquid is separated into a column top liquid containing propylene oxide, and a column bottom liquid including acetonitrile or a combination of acetonitrile and water, in combination with other steps. This enables industrially efficient production of propylene oxide with use of acetonitrile.
US08344162B2	Synthetic processes for the preparation of aminocyclohexyl ether compounds This invention is directed to stereoselective synthesis of compounds of formula (I) or formula (II): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, complex, chelate, clathrate, solvate, polymorph, stereoisomer, metabolite or prodrug thereof; wherein R3, R4 and R5 are defined herein. Compounds of formula (I) and formula (II) are known to be useful in treating arrhythmias.
US08344160B2	Pyrrolone melanin concentrating hormone receptor-1 antagonists The present application provides compounds, including all stereoisomers, solvates, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof according to Formula I wherein R1, R4, R5, R3, R3a, W, D, R2a, R2b and R2c are defined herein. Additionally, the present application provides pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one compound according to Formula I and optionally at least one additional therapeutic agent. Finally, the present application provides methods for treating a patient suffering from an MCHR-1 modulated disease or disorder such as, for example, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety or intestinal inflammation, by administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a compound according to Formula I.
US08344158B2	Fluorescent polymethine cyanine dyes The invention encompasses fluorescent cyanine dyes and methods of using such dyes. In particular, the invention encompasses near infrared polymethine cyanine dyes.
US08344152B2	Process for producing pyridylethylthio compound, modified ion exchanger and process for producing the same, and process for producing bisphenol compound The present invention relates to a process for producing a pyridylethylthio compound which is improved in yield of the pyridylethylthio compound. In a process for producing a pyridylethylthio compound by reacting vinyl pyridine with a sulfur-containing compound, vinyl pyridine used contains a compound represented by the general formula (1): (wherein R1 and R2 are any of combination of isopropenyl group and a hydrogen atom, combination of 1-propenyl group and a hydrogen atom, combination of 2-propenyl group and a hydrogen atom, and combination of methyl group and vinyl group), in an amount of not more than 4% by weight.
US08344151B2	Process for the preparation of 4-aminobut-2-enolides starting from 4-alkoxyfuran-2(5H)-one or 4-arylalkoxyfuran-2(5H)-one Process for the preparation of 4-aminobut-2-enolide compounds of the formula (I): comprising reaction of a 4-alkoxyfuran-2(5H)-one compound or 4-arylalkoxyfuran-2(5H)-one compound of the formula (II) with an amine of the formula (III) in which R1, R2 and A have the definitions given in the description, in the presence of a Brønstedt acid.
US08344150B2	Pyrrole end-capped bipyridine assay powder for selective detection of zinc ions and a process for the preparation thereof The present invention provides pyrrole end-capped bipyridine derivative having a general formula (1) useful for the detection of zinc ions in solution. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of pyrrole end-capped bipyridine derivative having a general formula (1). The present invention further provides a dipstick device by coating the assay powder of formula (1) in alumina over a thermoplastic or a glass solid support. The detection event can be monitored by noting the color change and the intense fluorescence change on the surface of the dipstick. For zinc ions, in addition to the color change an intense fluorescence change from greenish-yellow to red is observed. Detection event by means of fluorescence change is selective for Zn2+ ions when compared with all other biologically important metal ions like Na+, K+, Ca2+; Mg2+, Cu2+. The present dipstick is reusable, and can conduct the analysis of different samples using same stick.
US08344147B2	Process for preparing modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator The present invention relates to processes for preparing solid state forms of N-(4-(7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-yl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-oxo-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1, 4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide, including Compound 1 Form A, Compound 1 Form A-HCl, Compound 1 Form B, and Compound 1 Form B-HCl, any combination of these forms, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of treatment therewith.
US08344144B2	Inhibitors of Janus kinases The instant invention provides for compounds that inhibit the four known mammalian JAK kinases (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2) and PDK1. The invention also provides for compositions comprising such inhibitory compounds and methods of inhibiting the activity of JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, TYK2 and PDK1 by administering the compound to a patient in need of treatment for myeloproliferative disorders or cancer.
US08344142B2	Perylene charge-transport materials, methods of fabrication thereof, and methods of use thereof Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include perylenetetracarboxylic diimide charge-transport materials, methods of forming perylenetetracarboxylic diimide charge-transport materials, and methods of using the perylenetetracarboxylic diimide charge-transport materials.
US08344141B2	Pentasil-structure zeolithic material the production and use thereof Zeolite material of the pentasil type has an alkali metal and alkaline earth metal content of not more than 100 ppm and a molar ratio of Si to Al of from 250 to 1500, at least 90% of the primary particles of the zeolite material being spherical and 95% by weight of the spherical primary particles having a diameter of less than or equal to 1 μm.
US08344139B2	Process for preparing crystalline polymorphic forms of (6R)-L-erythro-tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride Crystal forms of (6R)-L-erythro-tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride, hydrates and solvates and processes for their preparation are provided. These crystal forms are either intermediates for the preparation of stable polymorphic form B or are suitable for solid formulations.
US08344133B2	Neoglycorandomization and digitoxin analogs The present invention provides methods of producing compounds with enhanced desirable properties and diminished side effects as well as the compounds produced by the methods. In preferred embodiments, methods of the present invention use a universal chemical glycosylation method that employs reducing sugars and requires no protection or activation. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides neoglycoside digitoxin analogs that include compounds with significantly enhanced cytotoxic potency toward human cancer cells and tumor-specificity, but are less potent Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitors in a human cell line than digitoxin.
US08344130B2	Organic compositions to treat Beta-ENaC-related diseases The present disclosure relates to RNAi agents useful in methods of treating Beta-ENaC-related diseases such as cystic fibrosis, pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1), Liddle's syndrome, hypertension, alkalosis, hypokalemia, and obesity-associated hypertension, using a therapeutically effective amount of a RNAi agent to Beta-ENaC.
US08344128B2	Short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) for oral administration Short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) for oral administration, said siRNA comprising two separate RNA strands that are complementary to each other over at least 15 nucleotides, wherein each strand is 49 nucleotides or less, and wherein at least one of which strands contains at least one chemical modification.
US08344127B2	Organic compositions to treat beta-ENaC-related diseases The present disclosure relates to RNAi agents useful in methods of treating Beta-ENaC-related diseases such as cystic fibrosis, pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1), Liddle's syndrome, hypertension, alkalosis, hypokalemia, and obesity-associated hypertension, using a therapeutically effective amount of a RNAi agent to Beta-ENaC.
US08344124B2	Probe, probe set, probe carrier, and testing method A probe, a set of probes, and a probe carrier on which the probe or the set of probes is immobilized, are provided for classification of fungus species. The probe or the set of probes is capable of collectively detecting fungus of the same species and distinguishingly detecting those fungus from fungus of other species. The probe is an oligonucleotide probe for detecting a pathogenic fungus DNA and includes at least one of base sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 1 to 2 and mutated sequences thereof.
US08344123B2	System and method for detection of HIV tropism variants An embodiment of a method for detecting low frequency occurrence of one or more HIV sequence variants associated with drug resistance is described that comprises the steps of: generating cDNA species from each RNA molecule in an HIV sample population; amplifying at least one first amplicon from the cDNA species, wherein each first amplicon comprises a plurality of amplified copies and is amplified with a pair of nucleic acid primers that define a locus of the first amplicon; clonally amplifying the amplified copies of the first amplicons to produce a plurality of second amplicons wherein a plurality of the second amplicons comprise an immobilized population of substantially identical copies from one of the amplified copies of first amplicons; determining a nucleic acid sequence composition of the substantially identical copies from at least 100 of the immobilized populations in parallel on a single substrate; and detecting one or more sequence variants that occur at a frequency of 5% or less in the nucleic acid sequence composition of the at least 100 immobilized populations; and correlating the detected sequence variants with variation associated with HIV tropism.
US08344117B2	Method for detecting and quantifying endogenous wheat DNA sequence A circular DNA is provided comprising endogenous DNA common to both genetically modified wheat and non-genetically modified wheat along with one or more pieces of DNA each having a sequence present specifically in a strain of genetically modified wheat. Also provided is a method for determining a mix rate of genetically modified wheat in a test sample.
US08344109B2	Anti-ricin antibody The subject of the present invention is an anti-ricin antibody and the use thereof for the treatment of an individual suffering from ricin poisoning.
US08344107B2	Method and system for corn fractionation Methods and apparatus for processing corn into one or more corn products. Oil is extracted from corn or corn products or by-products with a solvent. The corn-solvent mixture is separated into streams, one of which preferably includes an extract containing at least oil and solvent, and another containing de-oiled corn solids and adsorbed solvent. Zein is separated from the de-oiled corn solids. Solvent is then separated, and the de-oiled, de-zeined, desolventized corn solids are processed to provide one or more corn products.
US08344104B2	Screening systems utilizing RTP801 RTP801 represents a unique gene target for hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). Down-regulation of the mTOR pathway activity by hypoxia requires de novo mRNA synthesis and correlates with increased expression of RTP801.The present invention relates to screening systems utilizing RTP801 and/or RTP801 interactors and/or RTP801 biological activity, to drug candidates identified by such screening systems, and to the use of such drug candidates in the treatment of various disorders.
US08344098B2	Processes for producing polytrimethylene ether glycol and copolymers thereof Processes for producing polytrimethylene ether glycol and copolymers thereof are provided wherein, by condensing and recycling at least a portion of the vapor phase produced as the reaction progresses, the yield loss and polymer color are reduced.
US08344093B2	Production method of aliphatic polyester An object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficient continuous production of aliphatic polyester having good quality. The invention relates to a continuous production method of aliphatic polyester, wherein the polyester is obtained through a preparation step of slurry containing aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and aliphatic diol, an esterification reaction step and a polycondensation reaction step, wherein temperature range of the slurry during the preparation step thereof is from the coagulation point of the aliphatic diol to 80° C., and moisture content in the slurry is from 0.01 to 10% by weight.
US08344090B2	PDMS-PVP block copolymers Methods for preparing functionalized polyvinylpyrrolidones with polymerizable functions. Also, amphipathic polydimethylsiloxane-PVP block copolymers, such as and (meth)acrylated and (meth)acrylamide-functionalized polyvinylpyrrolidone compounds, such as The block copolymers are useful as biomaterial components in biomedical devices. They provide improved wettability, lubricity, and material compatibility to the biomedical device, e.g., ophthalmic lenses.
US08344087B2	Hydrosilylation cured organosiloxanes having diluent therein A method of preparing a diluted chain extended organopolysiloxane containing polymer comprising the steps of reacting a pre-formed polymer with a suitable chain extender reactable with terminal groups of the polymer in the presence of a diluent material, a suitable catalyst and optionally an end-blocking agent; and Where required quenching the polymerization process wherein the diluent material is substantially retained within the resulting diluted organopolysiloxane containing polymer. The case additionally relates to products of the process and subsequent applications for the polymer such as for example sealants and rubbers.
US08344085B2	Polymer and cement admixture using the same The present invention provides a novel polymer, and a mixture and a cement admixture thereof. The cement admixture has higher dispersibility compared to the previous ones. The novel polymer of the present invention has a different structure from the conventional copolymers used for cement admixtures, using an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and an unsaturated polyalkylene glycol monomer as the monomer components.The novel polymer of the present invention basically contains a polyalkylene glycol chain and a polymer segment bonded to the chain. Another type of the novel polymer of the present invention contains two polyalkylene glycol chains and a polymer segment connecting the chains. In these polymers, at least one of unsaturated monomers constituting the polymer segment is an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer or an unsaturated polyalkylene glycol monomer. The cement admixture of the present invention comprises a polymer, made from these monomers, or a mixture thereof.
US08344081B2	Transition metal complexes, catalysts composition containing the same, and process for preparing ethylene homopolymers or copolymers of ethylene and alpha-olefins using the same The present invention relates to a transition metal complex useful as a transition metal catalyst in the preparation of an ethylene homopolymer or a copolymer of ethylene and an α-olefin, a catalyst composition comprising the same and a process of preparing an ethylene homopolymer or a copolymer of ethylene and an α-olefin using the same. More particularly, it relates to a transition metal complex having a cyclopentadiene derivative and at least one phenyl oxide ligand substituted at the 2-position of phenyl with, for example, a silyl group having a C1-C30 hydrocarbon group or a C1-C20 hydrocarbon group, around a group IV transition metal, with no crosslinkage between the ligands, a catalyst composition comprising the transition metal complex and a cocatalyst selected from the group consisting of an aluminoxane and a boron compound, and a process for preparing an ethylene homopolymer or a copolymer of ethylene and an α-olefin using the same.
US08344079B2	Molar ratio modifications to larger polyolefin catalysts Disclosed are catalyst systems and methods of making the catalyst systems/supports for the polymerization of an olefin containing a solid titanium catalyst component having a substantially spherical shape and containing an internal electron donor, a support made by contacting substantially equal molar amounts of a magnesium compound and an epoxy compound in the presence of an aprotic solvent and subsequent treatment with a halogenating agent to provide a magnesium based catalyst support. The catalyst system can further contain an organoaluminum compound and an organosilicon compound. Also disclosed are methods of polymerizing or copolymerizing an alpha-olefin. The methods involve contacting an olefin with a catalyst system containing the solid titanium catalyst component.
US08344076B2	Hydrolytically resistant thermoset monomers The present invention provides hydrolytically resistant monomers prepared by the reaction of an epoxy compound and a reactive ester and methods for producing the monomers. Also provided are adhesive compositions containing the hydrolytically resistant monomers and methods for use thereof.
US08344073B2	Functionalization of polyolefins with phenoxy derivatives Provided herein are telechelic polymers and methods for producing the same. In some embodiments, provided herein are compounds having the formula and methods for producing the same.
US08344066B2	Polymers functionalized with nitrile compounds containing a protected amino group A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing monomer with a coordination catalyst to form a reactive polymer; and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a nitrile compound containing a protected amino group.
US08344065B2	Nanoimprint resist, nanoimprint mold and nanoimprint lithography A nanoimprint resist includes a hyperbranched polyurethane oligomer (HP), a perfluoropolyether (PFPE), a methylmethacrylate (MMA), and a diluent solvent. A method of a nanoimprint lithography is also provided.
US08344062B2	Dispersions of intrinsically conductive polymers A dispersion which contains particles of at least one intrinsically conductive polymer, wherein the particle size is on average (weight) less than 1 μm, and which is characterized in that the dispersant is a liquid at room temperature, and a layer, film or sheet formed from this dispersion has a conductivity of >100 S/cm after removal of the dispersant.
US08344061B2	Process for producing polyol dispersions The present invention relates to polyol dispersions comprising at least one polyol and at least one polymer particle mixture comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer (P) and at least one block copolymer (B), wherein the block copolymer (B) has at least one block which is compatible with the thermoplastic polymer (P) and at least one block which is compatible with the polyol, a process for producing such polyol dispersions, their use for producing polyurethanes and a process for producing polyurethanes.
US08344058B2	Reactive block copolymers as additives for the preparation of silicate-polymer composites A process for making a block copolymer compatibilizer comprises reacting an acrylic and/or vinyl monomer that has functional groups with one or more vinyl monomers in the presence of a free radical initiator and a stable free radical to form a reaction product that includes residual unreacted acrylic and/or vinyl monomer, and reacting one or more vinyl monomers with the reaction product to form a second block that incorporates the residual unreacted acrylic monomer. The block copolymer is used to compatibilize a clay nanocomposite material with a thermoplastic or thermoset resin. The block copolymer can be used with existing, commercially-available clays, or the block copolymer can be formed with a polar block that is miscible in a polar dispersion medium for use as a intercalate in producing a clay nanocomposite material.
US08344057B1	Protective coatings for organic substrates and associated methods A composition for protecting a surface of an organic substrate, such as VCT, wood, or a synthetic laminate material, includes a silicate (i.e., an alkali metal polysilicate or colloidal silica), a siliconate (e.g., a metal siliconate, such as an alkali metal methyl siliconate, etc.), acrylic latex, a silane coupling agent, and a solvent, such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. Such a composition may also include a leveling agent, such as a surfactant. Organic substrates, such as VCT, wood, and synthetic laminate materials, with such a composition on their surfaces are also disclosed, as are methods for polishing and protecting organic substrates.
US08344055B1	Ammonium phosphate fire retardant with water resistance An ammonium phosphate containing fire retardant is combined with a fluoropolymer and/or a penetrating barrier, borate-containing formulation having resistance to water damage with protective properties coming from materials such as used in food packaging and cosmetics and/or a medium-to-long chain polar carboxyl substance, and/or a medium-to-long chain polar carboxyl substance without borate, so as to make a composition. The composition can be aqueous. It can be a liquid of light to moderate viscosity, or may be a concentrated or dried version, which may contain a neutral ammonium phosphate and perhaps other ingredient(s) such as a mold inhibitor, an insecticide, a stain protector, and so forth and the like. The mold inhibitor can have especial activity against toxic black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum). The insecticide may be a termiticide. Such a composition can be made by contacting the fire retardant and other necessary ingredient(s) under conditions sufficient to form the composition; it can be used by contacting it with a substrate, which beneficially is otherwise flammable. A process for incorporation of an ammonium phosphate containing fire retardant into wood includes contacting the wood with a liquid at an effective pH above the pH of the wood, where the liquid embraces a combination in proximity or time of an amine oxide and a buffering agent, as well as the ammonium phosphate containing fire retardant, under conditions such that the ammonium phosphate containing fire retardant is incorporated into the wood. Another aspect is the composition or its residue in combination with the substrate.
US08344054B2	Polymer nanocomposites including dispersed nanoparticles and inorganic nanoplatelets Nanocomposites and method of making same are provided using nanoplatelets. A nanocomposite is provided, and the nanocomposite includes nanoparticles, inorganic platelets, and a polymer material. A method is provided for dispersing nanoparticles into a polymeric material by using inorganic nanoplatelets.
US08344045B2	Ink composition, inkjet recording method, printed material, and process for producing molded printed material An ink composition is provided that includes (A) a polymerizable silicone compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group and a silicone chain, (B) tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, and (C) a radical polymerization initiator. There are also provided an inkjet recording method that includes (a1) a step of discharging onto a recording medium the ink composition and (b1) a step of curing the ink composition by irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation, a printed material obtained by the inkjet recording method, and a process for producing a formed printed material that includes (a2) a step of forming an image on a support by discharging the ink composition by an inkjet method, (b2) a step of obtaining a printed material having a cured image on the support by irradiating the obtained image with actinic radiation so as to cure the ink composition, and (c2) a step of molding the printed material.
US08344043B2	Thermoplastic resin composition having good scratch resistance and molded article made therefrom The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition that can have improved scratch resistance comprising: (A) about 10 to about 20% by weight of a rubber modified aromatic vinyl graft copolymer resin; (B) about 30 to about 50% by weight of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) resin; and (C) about 40 to about 60% by weight of an aromatic vinyl copolymer resin including about 5 to about 50% by weight of a (meth)acrylate alkyl ester. The thermoplastic resin composition of the present invention can have a good balance of various properties such as scratch resistance, impact strength, colorability, gloss, and injection molding properties.
US08344027B2	4-dimethylaminobutyric acid derivatives This invention relates to novel 4-dimethylaminobutyric acid derivatives of the formula wherein A1, A2, R1, m and n are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds inhibit carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) activity, in particular CPT2 activity, and can be used as medicaments in methods for the treatment of diseases modulated by CPT2 inhibitors.
US08344019B2	Methods for the production of biliverdin The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the production of biliverdin and methods of treatment and prevention. In particular, the invention concerns methods for producing biliverdin in yeast, especially Candida albicans, and other microorganisms.
US08344013B2	Dual-acting imidazole antihypertensive agents The invention is directed to compounds having the formula: wherein: Ar, r, R2-3, X, and R5-7 are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US08344012B2	Compounds, compositions and methods of using same for modulating uric acid levels Described herein are compounds useful in the modulation of blood uric acid levels, formulations containing them and methods of making and using them. In some embodiments, the compounds described herein are used in the treatment or prevention of disorders related to aberrant levels of uric acid.
US08344006B2	Liquid formulations of bendamustine Stable liquid formulations of bendamustine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and polar aprotic solvents, are described.
US08344001B2	Heterocyclic H3 antagonists Compound of formula (I) wherein W, X, Y, Z is —C(R1)═ or N; R1 is hydrogen or alkyl, V is N or C (i.e. carbon), A is a bond or an alkylene linker with 1 to 3 carbon atoms, with the proviso that when A is a bond, V must be CH, R is ethyl, propyl, a branched C3-6 alkyl or a cyclic C3-8 alkyl, m and n is 1-3, D is heteroaryl optionally substituted with halogen, hydroxy, cyano, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, —(CH2)0—(C═O)p—NR2R3, or D is aryl optionally substituted with one or more of the groups independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, cyano, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heterocyclyl-alkoxy, heterocyclylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarboxy, cyanoalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylcarbonylamino, alkylcarbonylaminoalkyl, arylcarbonylamino, aryl-carbonylaminoalkyl, heteroarylcarbonylamino or heteroarylcarbonylaminoalkyl, —(CH2)0—(C═O)p—NR2R3, wherein o is 0-3, p is 0 or 1, and R2 and R3 independently are hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl; or R2 and R3, can together with the attached nitrogen form a heterocyclyl group, and salts and solvates thereof have binding affinity for the histamine H3 receptor.
US08343999B2	Thiazolyl compounds useful as kinase inhibitors The invention provides compounds of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The formula I thiazolyl compounds inhibit tyrosine kinase activity thereby making them useful as anticancer agents and for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
US08343996B2	Azaquinolinone derivatives and uses thereof The present invention provides compounds and methods for treating or preventing the development of a disease, disorder, or condition in a subject or patient.
US08343994B2	Fluorene compound and pharmaceutical use thereof The present invention provides an agent for the prophylactic or treatment of diabetes, diabetic complications, insulin resistance syndrome, metabolic syndrome, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, cardiac failure, cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia, brain ischemia, cerebral apoplexy, pulmonary hypertension, hyperlactacidemia, mitochondrial disease, mitochondrial encephalomyopathy or cancer, namely, a PDHK inhibitor and the like. A compound represented by the following formula [I] or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof: wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification.
US08343990B2	Substituted cyclopropyl compounds, compositions containing such compounds and methods of treatment Substituted cyclopropyl compounds of formula (I) are disclosed as useful for treating or preventing type 2 diabetes and similar conditions. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates are included as well. The compounds are useful as agonists of the g-protein coupled receptor GPR-119.
US08343989B2	Benzoimidazol-2-yl pyrimidines and pyrazines as modulators of the histamine H4 receptor Benzoimidazol-2-yl pyrimidines and pyrazines, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for H4 receptor activity modulation and for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by H4 receptor activity, including allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and pruritis.
US08343985B2	Methods for modulating Lyn kinase activity and treating related disorders The present invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and formulations comprising the compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are useful in modulating lyn kinase activity. In particular, the compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful for treating or preventing a disease or disorder including cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, a disorder of glucose metabolism, metabolic syndrome (i.e., Syndrome X), a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, septicemia, a thrombotic disorder, type II diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, hypertension, renal disease, inflammation, or impotence.
US08343979B2	Use of alkanoyl L-carnitine for the treatment of erectile dysfunction Erectile dysfunction is treated with a combination of propionyl L-carnitine in combination with sildenafil, apomorphine prostaglandin El, pentolamine and papaverine.
US08343976B2	Compounds, compositions and methods comprising pyrazole derivatives The present invention relates to compounds, compositions and methods for treating a disease in an animal, which disease is responsive to inhibiting of functional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) polypeptide by administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound defined herein (including those compounds set forth in Tables 1-2 or encompassed by formulas Ia, Ib, IIa, and IIb) or compositions comprising these compounds, thereby treating the disease. The present invention particularly, relates to a method of treating diarrhea and polycystic kidney disease.
US08343975B2	4-amino-3-(imidazolyl)-pyrazolo[3,4-D]pyrimidines Compounds are provided that act as potent antagonists of the CCR1 receptor, and have in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds are 4-amino-3-imidazoyl-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives and are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of CCR1-mediated disease, and as controls in assays for the identification of competitive CCR1 antagonists.
US08343966B2	Organic compounds Compounds of formula I in free or salt or solvate form, where T1, T2, X, Ra, Rb, R8 and R9 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating inflammatory or obstructive airways, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, liver fibrosis, muscle diseases and systemic skeletal disorders. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and processes for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08343961B2	Substituted heterocyclic compounds The present invention relates to substituted heterocyclic compounds and substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds and methods of synthesizing these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing substituted benzodiazepine compounds and substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds and methods of treating cell proliferative disorders, such as cancer, by administering these compounds or pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US08343960B2	1,4-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl pyrimidine derivatives and their medical use This invention relates to novel 1,4-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl pyrimidine derivatives and their use in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions. The compounds of the invention are found to be cholinergic ligands at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and modulators of the monoamine receptors and transporters.Due to their pharmacological profile the compounds of the invention may be useful for the treatment of diseases or disorders as diverse as those related to the cholinergic system of the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), diseases or disorders related to smooth muscle contraction, endocrine diseases or disorders, diseases or disorders related to neuro-degeneration, diseases or disorders related to inflammation, pain, and withdrawal symptoms caused by the termination of abuse of chemical substances.
US08343957B2	Therapeutic pyrazoloquinoline urea derivatives The invention provides a novel chemical series of formula I, as well as methods of use thereof for binding to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor and modulating GABAA, and use of the compound of formula I for the treatment of GABAA receptor associated disorders. The general structure of formula I is shown below: The invention further provides a method of modulation of one or more GABAA subtypes in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound of formula (I).
US08343949B2	Stabilized compositions comprising a therapeutically active agent, and an oxidizing preservative Citric acid and conjugate bases thereof are useful for stabilizing stabilized chlorine dioxide in the presence of therapeutically active agents and excipients in a composition. Ophthalmic compositions and methods related thereto are also disclosed herein.
US08343948B2	Medicament for preventing and/or treating mammary carcinoma, containing a steroidal aromatase inhibitor A method of prophylaxis and/or treatment of mastocarcinoma (i.e., mammary carcinoma) involves the topical application of a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a steroidal aromatase inhibitor locally, and not systemically, to an area of a patient in need of treatment. This local application avoids the side effects associated with systemic use of steroidal aromatase inhibitors.
US08343947B2	Therapeutic treatment The invention describes the use of betaine for treating and preventing arterites. The invention also describes an orally administered composition for treating arterites and, in particular, intermittent claudication, said composition containing, as an active ingredient, an active therapeutic quantity of betaine glycine by single dose. The invention particularly describes a medicament provided for treating a patient suffering from an intermittent claudication caused by peripheral circulatory disorders such as arteriosclerosis obliterans or by thromboangiitis obliterans.
US08343943B2	Cancer sensitizer comprising glucosamine, glucosamine derivatives or salts thereof Disclosed herein is a cancer sensitizer comprising glucosamine, a glucosamine derivative, or a salt thereof. When administered to patients with cancer, the cancer sensitizer functions to sensitize cancer cells to anticancer agents without producing side effects, thereby increasing the therapeutic efficiency of chemotherapy.
US08343940B2	Method for enhancing chemical sensitivity or radiosensitivity of cancer cells by inhibiting expression of TSPYL5 Disclosed herein is a method for enhancing sensitivity of cancer cells to compounds or radiation by inhibiting the expression of testis-specific protein, Y-encoded like 5 (TSPYL5). More specifically, because methylation of TSPYL5 protein expressed in lung cancer cell line was inhibited to increase the expression level of the gene, resistance to stress such as radiation or anticancer agents was increased. Because the sensitivity of cancer cells to stress such as radiation or anticancer agents was increased by inhibiting the expression of the TSPYL5 gene to promote the apoptosis of the cells, an anticancer supplement agent containing an inhibitor of the expression or activity of the TSPYL5 gene of the present invention inhibits the growth of cancer cells and enhances the sensitivity to various stresses to maximize the apoptosis. Thus, when used in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, the anticancer supplement agent may be used very usefully for anticancer treatment.
US08343939B2	Methods of modulating angiogenesis The present inventors discovered that PKCε is necessary for VEGF signaling through PI3K/Akt-dependent pathways and is involved in MAPK-dependent pathways, thus regulating eNOS activity and DNA synthesis, respectively. Thus differential manipulation of PKCε activity can be used to modify VEGF effects in conditions in which modulation of angiogenesis is desirable (e.g., for treatment of diabetic proliferative retinopathy or to enhance angiogenesis for treatment of peripheral and myocardial ischemia).
US08343937B2	Methods and compositions for treating flaviviruses and pestiviruses A method and composition for treating a host infected with flavivirus or pestivirus comprising administering an effective flavivirus or pestivirus treatment amount of a described 1′, 2′ or 3′-modified nucleoside or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, is provided.
US08343936B2	Antibacterial agents Described herein are novel macrolides, the preparation of novel macrolides, the use of novel macrolides for preventing, treating, or ameliorating various conditions, and the use of novel macrolides as antibacterial agents.
US08343933B2	Variants derived from ActRIIB and uses therefor In certain aspects, the present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating (promoting or inhibiting) growth of a tissue, such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and/or neuronal tissue. The present invention also provides methods of screening compounds that modulate activity of an ActRIIB protein and/or an ActRIIB ligand. The compositions and methods provided herein are useful in treating diseases associated with abnormal activity of an ActRIIB protein and/or an ActRIIB ligand.
US08343931B2	Methods of inhibiting photoreceptor apoptosis The present invention provides methods to prevent photoreceptor death. In particular, the present invention provides peptides which prevent FAS-mediated photoreceptor apoptosis.
US08343928B2	Monomethylvaline compounds having phenylalanine side-chain replacements at the C-terminus Auristatin peptide analogs of MeVal-Val-Dil-Dap-Phe (MMAF) are provided having C-terminal phenylalanine residue side chain replacements or modifications which are provided alone or attached to ligands through various linkers. The related conjugates can target specific cell types to provide therapeutic benefit.
US08343927B2	Pharmaceutical compositions for prevention of overdose or abuse The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprised of a chemical moiety attached to an active agent in a manner that substantially decreases the potential of the active agent to cause overdose or to be abused. When delivered at the proper dosage the pharmaceutical composition provides therapeutic activity similar to that of the parent active agent.
US08343925B2	Composition for improving brain function and method for improving brain function The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, the composition comprising, as an active ingredient, Xaa-Pro-Pro (wherein Xaa represents Ile, Leu or Ser).
US08343923B2	Use of notch signaling regulators for modulating osteogenesis The present invention provides methods of treating osteoporosis and other bone disorders by inhibiting Notch signaling.
US08343922B2	Compositions and methods for the stimulation or enhancement of bone formation and the self-renewal of cells Compositions and methods for the treatment of bone diseases, bone fractures, bone injuries and other bone abnormalities involving the use of Dkk protein, a Wnt antagonist, a Wnt inhibitor, or any other related protein for the stimulation or enhancement of mineralization and for stimulating the renewal of cells. One Dkk protein, Dickkopf-2 (Dkk-2), acts to stimulate bone formation independently of Wnt proteins which may be inhibited and/or antagonized by Dkk-2. Dkk-2 displayed enhanced specific targeting ability and enhanced biological activity in stimulating or enhancing mineralization. Dkk-2 also played a role in the differentiation and self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, particularly in osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis.
US08343919B2	Cancer treatment using natriuretic peptides The present invention includes a method of utilizing four peptide hormones to inhibit the growth of cancer(s). A dramatic decrease in the number of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells (i.e., the type of cancer with the highest mortality, with patients only surviving four months) was observed responsive to treatment. The application of the invention would be to utilize one or more of these peptide hormones alone and/or in combination to treat cancer. The ability of these peptide hormones to decrease the number of adenocarcinoma cells has implications for adenocarcinomas at other sites in the body with the majority of cancers of the breast, colon and prostate also being adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas also occur in the lung and other tissues. Treatment of a wide variety of cancers in addition to adenocarcinomas is anticipated by the present invention.
US08343916B2	Use of heat-shock protein 27 for cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment A method of reducing cholesterol in a subject is provided. The method may be used to decrease serum cholesterol and/or arterial wall cholesterol. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), or a co-factor, variant or analogue thereof. The method may be used to treat, prevent or reverse cardiovascular disease (including atherosclerosis); to decrease atherosclerotic lesion formation or rupture; to decrease apoptosis within a plaque; to decrease macrophage accumulation; and/or to reverse the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque mass in a subject. Kits and pharmaceutical compositions comprising HSP27 for preventing or treating of cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis, are also provided.
US08343915B2	Use of heat-shock protein 27 for cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment A method of preventing or treating cardiovascular disease is provided. The method comprises administering heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), a co-factor, variant or analogue thereof. The cardiovascular disease can include atherosclerosis. A pharmaceutical composition comprising HSP27 for use in the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular disease is also provided.
US08343913B1	Hsp90, buffering and drug resistance A method of reducing antifungal drug resistance in which Hsp inhibitors, such as Hsp90 inhibitors, are used.
US08343910B2	Reversible pegylated drugs Reversible pegylated drugs are provided by derivatization of free functional groups of the drug selected from amino, hydroxyl, mercapto, phosphate and/or carboxyl with groups sensitive to mild basic conditions such as 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) or 2-sulfo-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (FMS), to which group a PEG moiety is attached. In these pegylated drugs, the PEG moiety and the drug residue are not linked directly to each other, but rather both residues are linked to different positions of the scaffold Fmoc or FMS structure that is highly sensitive to bases and is removable under physiological conditions. The drugs are preferably drugs containing an amino group, most preferably peptides and proteins of low or medium molecular weight. Similar molecules are provided wherein a protein carrier or another polymer carrier replaces the PEG moiety.
US08343908B2	Foaming hand sponge with color change indicator A cleansing product suitable for making the cleaning of both inanimate and animate surfaces more fun and effective for children is disclosed. Specifically, the cleansing product is capable of expanding in volume under certain temperature conditions, and in some embodiments, can additionally include a coloring agent, providing a color change to indicate when sufficient cleansing has been performed.
US08343907B2	Particulate bleaching composition comprising enzymes Particulate bleach additive composition containing enzymes, which can be used to bleach fabrics in conjunction with a conventional granular or liquid laundry detergent.
US08343905B2	Detergent composition The present invention relates to an aqueous detergent composition comprising the following elements in the indicated amounts expressed as percentage by weight: a) 0.1-15% of at least one alkyl ether carboxylate of formula (I): R—O—(CH2CH2O)m—CH2—COOX wherein, —R represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 3 and 10 carbon atoms, —m represents a number comprised between 0.5 and 20, and —X represents hydrogen or a suitable cation, selected from an alkaline metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylamino, alkanolamino or glucammonium, b) 0.1-15% of at least one amine oxide, c) 0.1-40% of at least one alkyl ether sulfate type anionic surfactant with a hydrocarbon chain containing between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, d) water up to 100%; said detergent composition is particularly suitable for manual dishwashing, for washing kitchen utensils, as well as in certain domestic cleaning applications of general use, such as the cleaning of hard surfaces.
US08343904B2	Phosphate and phosphonate-free automatic gel dishwashing detergent providing improved spotting and filming performance A phosphate and phosphonate-free gel automatic dishwashing detergent provides improved spotting and filming performance by including a spot reduction system that contains a combination of a polyacrylate and a carboxymethyl inulin. The gel detergent may also be free of a bleach ingredient (i.e., it does not contain either chlorine bleach or an oxygen bleach).
US08343903B2	Biostatic medical cleaning products There is disclosed a cleaning composition comprising (i) 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of the cleaning composition of a biofilm removing detergent solution comprising a combination of an alkyl (C8-18) polysaccharide, a non-ionic surfactant and a nitrogen containing surfactant-biocide (ii) 2 to 80 percent by weight of the cleaning composition of one or more polar solvent (iii) 0.5 to 15 percent by weight of the cleaning composition of one or more primary amine (iv) two or more chelating agents (v) 0.1 to 5.0 percent by weight of the cleaning composition of an alkaline buffer system providing a pH of about 11.5 to 13.3 in aqueous solution (vi) 0.005 to 5.0 percent by weight of the cleaning composition of an alkoxyaminosilane. Also disclosed is a process of cleaning, decontaminating and/or passivating metallic surgical instruments and/or equipment using the composition of the invention.
US08343898B2	Method of lubricating conveyors using oil in water emulsions The present disclosure generally relates to a method for lubricating conveyors using lubricant compositions with oil in water emulsions. The emulsion can be a lipophilic compound and an emulsifier. In an embodiment, the method includes applying a lubricant composition to the articulating chain and pin joint of the chain of a conveyor wherein the conveyor transports objects weighing more than about 15 kilograms, and the lubricant composition comprises an oil in water emulsion where at least one oil is not a silicone compound.
US08343895B2	Additive to reduce fluid loss for drilling fluids Additives for reducing the loss of drilling fluid into the formation surrounding a wellbore during the drilling process as well as drilling fluids comprising the additives and methods of using such additives. The additive includes elastomeric, polymeric, and acrylate, non-agglomerated microspheres.
US08343893B2	Substituted enaminocarbonyl compounds The present application relates to substituted enaminocarbonyl compounds of the formula (I) in which A, B, D, R1 to R3 are each as defined in the description, to processes for preparation thereof and to the use thereof for controlling animal pests.
US08343891B2	Method of improving the properties of urea granules A method of improving the properties of urea granulates, more especially the caking tendency, the dust formation and the foaming tendency in aqueous media, by the addition of an additive to the urea, wherein the additive comprises a carboxylic acid compound with the general formula XY—(Z)—COOH, in which Z is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon with 1-25 carbon atoms and X and Y are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom or a polar organic functional group, and in that the additive is added as a solution in a polar solvent to the urea granulates, which are subsequently dried.
US08343883B2	Dielectric ceramic composition and electronic component using the same A dielectric porcelain composition contains a major component represented by a composition formula (BaO.xTiO2). The dielectric porcelain composition contains also contains a first minor component represented by a composition formula raB2O3 and a second minor component represented by a composition formula rbCuO. In the formulae, x is a molar ratio of TiO2 to BaO and is within a range of 4.6 to 8, ra is a weight ratio of B2O3 with respect to the major component and is within a range of 0.5 to 5% by mass, and rb is a weight ratio of CuO with respect to the major component and is within a range of 0.1 to 3% by mass.
US08343877B2	Angle ion implant to re-shape sidewall image transfer patterns A method for fabrication of features of an integrated circuit and device thereof include patterning a first structure on a surface of a semiconductor device and forming spacers about a periphery of the first structure. An angled ion implantation is applied to the device such that the spacers have protected portions and unprotected portions from the angled ion implantation wherein the unprotected portions have an etch rate greater than an etch rate of the protected portions. The unprotected portions and the first structure are selectively removed with respect to the protected portions. A layer below the protected portions of the spacer is patterned to form integrated circuit features.
US08343875B2	Methods of forming an integrated circuit with self-aligned trench formation Methods for forming a semiconductor device include forming self-aligned trenches, in which a first set of trenches is used to align a second set of trenches. Methods taught herein can be used as a pitch doubling technique, and may therefore enhance device integration. Further, employing a very thin CMP stop layer, and recessing surrounding materials by about an equal amount to the thickness of the CMP stop layer, provides improved planarity at the surface of the device.
US08343874B2	Semiconductor device manufacturing method In a semiconductor device manufacturing method, on a film to be processed, a mask material film is formed which has pattern openings for a plurality of contact patterns and connection openings for connecting adjacent pattern openings in such a manner that the connection between them is constricted in the middle. Then, a sidewall film is formed on the sidewalls of the individual openings in the mask material film, thereby not only making the diameter of the pattern openings smaller but also separating adjacent pattern openings. Then, the film to be processed is selectively etched with the mask material film and sidewall film as a mask, thereby making contact holes.
US08343867B2	Method for main spacer trim-back The embodiments of methods described in this disclosure for trimming back nitride spacers for replacement gates allows the hard mask layers (or hard mask) to protect the polysilicon above the high-K dielectric during trim back process. The process sequence also allows determining the trim-back amount based on the process uniformity (or control) of nitride deposition and nitride etchback (or trimming) processes. Nitride spacer trim-back process integration is critical to avoid creating undesirable consequences, such as silicided polyisicon on top of high-K dielectric described above. The integrated process also allows widening the space between the gate structures to allow formation of silicide with good quality and allow contact plugs to have sufficient contact with the silicide regions. The silicide with good quality and good contact between the contact plugs and the silicide regions increase the yield of contact and allows the contact resistance to be in acceptable and workable ranges.
US08343865B2	Semiconductor device having dual work function metal A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a dummy metal gate layer including work function metals directly on a base insulator, diffusing the work function metals into the base insulator by annealing, removing the dummy metal gate layer by a wet etching, forming a metal gate on the base insulator, and forming a high-k insulator on the metal gate.
US08343862B2	Semiconductor device with a field stop zone and process of producing the same Embodiments discussed herein relate to processes of producing a field stop zone within a semiconductor substrate by implanting dopant atoms into the substrate to form a field stop zone between a channel region and a surface of the substrate, at least some of the dopant atoms having energy levels of at least 0.15 eV below the energy level of the conduction band edge of semiconductor substrate; and laser annealing the field stop zone.
US08343861B2	Ion implantation method, method of producing solid-state imaging device, solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus An ion implantation method includes performing ion implantation a plurality of times using a plurality of ion implantation masks each including main mask portions, bridge portions connecting between the main mask portions, and openings corresponding to parts of annular regions where ions are to be implanted, whereby a plurality of annular ion-implanted regions are formed by combining the plurality of ion implantation masks.
US08343855B2	Nanostructured device The invention concerns a nanostructured device (100) comprising a substrate (101), an intermediate layer (102), a zone (103) consisting of multiple three-dimensional structured sites (104) made of semiconductor material, having chemical species (106) fixed to the surface of said three-dimensional nanostructured sites (104). The inventive device is useful for making a biochip and an electronic memory. The invention also concerns a method for forming an electronic memory.
US08343853B2	Semiconductor wafer, semiconductor device using the same, and method and apparatus for producing the same A method of processing a semiconductor wafer includes preheating the wafer to a preheating temperature that is less than a peak temperature, heating the wafer from the preheating temperature to the peak temperature at a first ramp rate that averages about 100° C. per second or more, and, immediately after heating the wafer from the preheating temperature to the peak temperature, cooling the wafer at a second ramp rate that averages about −70° C. per second or more from the peak temperature to the preheating temperature, wherein the peak temperature is about 1,100° C. or more.
US08343850B2	Process for fabricating a substrate comprising a deposited buried oxide layer A process for fabricating a substrate that includes a buried oxide layer for the production of electronic components or the like. The process includes depositing an oxide layer or a nitride layer on either of a donor or receiver substrate, and bringing the donor and receiver substrates into contact; conducting at least a first heat treatment of the oxide or nitride layer before bonding the substrates, and conducting a second heat treatment of the fabricated substrate of the receiver substrate, the oxide layer and all or part of the donor substrate at a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature applied in the first heat treatment. Substrates that have an oxide or nitride layer deposited thereon wherein the oxide or nitride layer is degassed and has a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of an oxide or nitride layer of the same composition formed by thermal growth.
US08343849B2	Method for manufacturing SOI substrate To provide a technical means which is capable of increasing crystallinity and planarity of a single crystal semiconductor layer, crystal defects are reduced in such a manner that a single crystal semiconductor substrate, in which an insulating film is formed on its surface and an embrittlement region is formed in a region at a predetermined depth from the surface, and a supporting substrate are attached to each other with the insulating film interposed therebetween; the single crystal semiconductor substrate is separated in the embrittlement region by a heat treatment; a single crystal semiconductor layer is irradiated with laser light over the supporting substrate with the insulating film interposed therebetween; a surface of the single crystal semiconductor layer is etched; and a plasma treatment is performed on the surface of the single crystal semiconductor layer.
US08343839B2	Scaled equivalent oxide thickness for field effect transistor devices A method for forming a field effect transistor device includes forming an oxide layer on a substrate, forming a dielectric layer on the oxide layer, forming a first TiN layer on the dielectric layer, forming a metallic layer on the first layer, forming a second TiN layer on the metallic layer, removing a portion of the first TiN layer, the metallic layer, and the second TiN layer to expose a portion of the dielectric layer, forming a layer of stoichiometric TiN on the exposed portion of the dielectric layer and the second TiN layer, heating the device, and forming a polysilicon layer on the device.
US08343837B2	Work function adjustment in a high-k gate electrode structure after transistor fabrication by using lanthanum The work function of a high-k gate electrode structure may be adjusted in a late manufacturing stage on the basis of a lanthanum species in an N-channel transistor, thereby obtaining the desired high work function in combination with a typical conductive barrier material, such as titanium nitride. For this purpose, in some illustrative embodiments, the lanthanum species may be formed directly on the previously provided metal-containing electrode material, while an efficient barrier material may be provided in the P-channel transistor, thereby avoiding undue interaction of the lanthanum species in the P-channel transistor.
US08343828B2	Methods of forming diodes Some embodiments include methods of forming diodes. A stack may be formed over a first conductive material. The stack may include, in ascending order, a sacrificial material, at least one dielectric material, and a second conductive material. Spacers may be formed along opposing sidewalls of the stack, and then an entirety of the sacrificial material may be removed to leave a gap between the first conductive material and the at least one dielectric material. In some embodiments of forming diodes, a layer may be formed over a first conductive material, with the layer containing supports interspersed in sacrificial material. At least one dielectric material may be formed over the layer, and a second conductive material may be formed over the at least one dielectric material. An entirety of the sacrificial material may then be removed.
US08343827B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same In a CMIS device, to improve the operating characteristics of an n-channel electric field transistor that is formed by using a strained silicon technique, without degrading the operating characteristics of a p-channel field effect transistor. After forming a source/drain (an n-type extension region and an n-type diffusion region) of an nMIS and a source/drain (a p-type extension region and a p-type diffusion region) of a pMIS, the each source/drain having a desired concentration profile and resistance, a Si:C layer having a desired amount of strain is formed in the n-type diffusion region, and thus the optimum parasitic resistance and the optimum amount of strain in the Si:C layer are obtained in the source/drain of the nMIS. Moreover, by performing a heat treatment in forming the Si:C layer in a short time equal to or shorter than 1 millisecond, a change in the concentration profile of the respective p-type impurities of the already-formed p-type extension region and p-type diffusion region is suppressed.
US08343824B2	Gallium nitride material processing and related device structures Gallium nitride material devices and related processes are described. In some embodiments, an N-face of the gallium nitride material region is exposed by removing an underlying region.
US08343822B2	Flexible semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same A method for manufacturing a flexible semiconductor device includes (i) forming an insulating film on the upper surface of metal foil, (ii) forming an extraction electrode pattern on the upper surface of the metal foil, (iii) forming a semiconductor layer on the insulating film such that the semiconductor layer is in contact with the extraction electrode pattern, (iv) forming a sealing resin layer on the upper surface of the metal foil such that the sealing resin layer covers the semiconductor layer and the extraction electrode pattern, and (v) forming electrodes by etching the metal foil, the metal foil being used as a support for the insulating film, the extraction electrode pattern, the semiconductor layer, and the sealing resin layer formed in (i) to (iv) and used as a constituent material for the electrodes in (v). The metal foil need not be stripped, and a high-temperature process can be used.
US08343819B2	Extremely thin semiconductor-on-insulator (ETSOI) integrated circuit with on-chip resistors and method of forming the same An electrical device is provided that in one embodiment includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having a semiconductor layer with a thickness of less than 10 nm. A semiconductor device having a raised source region and a raised drain region of a single crystal semiconductor material of a first conductivity is present on a first surface of the semiconductor layer. A resistor composed of the single crystal semiconductor material of the first conductivity is present on a second surface of the semiconductor layer. A method of forming the aforementioned electrical device is also provided.
US08343816B2	Organic transistor, manufacturing method of semiconductor device and organic transistor It is an object to form a high quality gate insulating film which is dense and has a strong insulation resistance property, and to propose a high reliable organic transistor in which a tunnel leakage current is little. One mode of the organic transistor of the present invention has a step of forming the gate insulating film by forming the conductive layer which becomes the gate electrode activating oxygen (or gas including oxygen) or nitrogen (or gas including nitrogen) or the like using dense plasma in which density of electron is 1011 cm−3 or more, and electron temperature is a range of 0.2 eV to 2.0 eV with plasma activation, and reacting directly with a portion of the conductive layer which becomes the gate electrode to be insulated.
US08343814B2	Compact multi-port cam cell implemented in 3D vertical integration A multi-ported CAM cell in which the negative effects of increased travel distance have been substantially reduced is provided. The multi-ported CAM cell is achieved in the present invention by utilizing three-dimensional integration in which multiple active circuit layers are vertically stack and vertically aligned interconnects are employed to connect a device from one of the stacked layers to another device in another stack layer. By vertically stacking multiple active circuit layers with vertically aligned interconnects, each compare port of the multi-port CAM can be implemented on a separate layer above or below the primary data storage cell. This allows the multi-port CAM structure to be implemented within the same area footprint as a standard Random Access Memory (RAM) cell, minimizing data access and match compare delays. Each compare match line and data bit line has the length associated with a simple two-dimensional Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell array.
US08343813B2	Resistive-switching memory elements having improved switching characteristics Resistive-switching memory elements having improved switching characteristics are described, including a memory element having a first electrode and a second electrode, a switching layer between the first electrode and the second electrode comprising hafnium oxide and having a first thickness, and a coupling layer between the switching layer and the second electrode, the coupling layer comprising a material including metal titanium and having a second thickness that is less than 25 percent of the first thickness.
US08343812B2	Contact structures in substrate having bonded interface, semiconductor device including the same, methods of fabricating the same On embodiment of a contact structure may include a lower insulation layer on a lower substrate, an upper substrate on the lower insulation layer, a groove penetrating the upper substrate to extend into the lower insulation layer, the groove below an interface between the upper substrate and the lower insulation layer, an upper insulation layer in the groove, and a contact plug penetrating the upper insulation layer in the groove to extend into the lower insulation layer.
US08343802B2	Encapsulation for electronic and/or optoelectronic device A method of processing a flexible encapsulation scheme to encapsulate a flexible device, such as a display device in order to provide structural support for the display module. An upper transparent encapsulation layer covers and protects the media and active area of the device. A lower encapsulation layer is deposited over the under side of the display to complete the encapsulation and the two protective encapsulation layers are sealed. A driver housing may be positioned at the opposite end of the device to the overlap region of the encapsulation layers in order to protect the driver electronics.
US08343801B2	Method of forming a programmable metallization memory cell Programmable metallization memory cells include an electrochemically active electrode and an inert electrode and an ion conductor solid electrolyte material between the electrochemically active electrode and the inert electrode. An electrically insulating oxide layer separates the ion conductor solid electrolyte material from the electrochemically active electrode.
US08343799B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device An object is to manufacture a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor at low cost with high productivity in such a manner that a photolithography process is simplified by reducing the number of light-exposure masks. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a channel-etched inverted-stagger thin film transistor, an oxide semiconductor film and a conductive film are etched using a mask layer formed with the use of a multi-tone mask which is a light-exposure mask through which light is transmitted so as to have a plurality of intensities. The etching step is performed by wet etching in which an etching solution is used.
US08343797B2	Process for preparing a solar cell A process for preparing a solar cell comprising a support, a layer of cadmium sulfide (CdS), a layer of cadmium telluride (CdTe), a layer of a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), a conductive metallic layer and optionally a layer of buffer material, the CdS layer and the CdTe layer being deposited by means of a pulsed plasma deposition (PPD) method, a solar cell obtainable by means of the described process being also provided.
US08343795B2	Method to break and assemble solar cells The present disclosure relates generally to a method to break and assemble solar cells to make solar panel. The present disclosure provides a method to produce solar pieces from solar cell, as well as assemble them together. The present disclosure device is unique when compared with other known devices and solutions because the present disclosure provides a high speed method to break scribed cells into pieces. A method of forming a string of solar cells includes providing a scribe line on a solar cell and placing a first ribbon on the solar cell. The method then includes placing the solar cell on a supporter and then breaking the solar cell into a plurality of solar cell pieces. The method then has the step of placing a second ribbon on the solar cell pieces and soldering the first and second ribbons and the solar cell pieces and then assembling the solar cell pieces into a string of solar cells.
US08343791B2	Plating process and apparatus for through wafer features A method for forming through features in a substrate uses a seed layer deposited over a first substrate, and a second substrate bonded to the seed layer. The features may be formed in the first substrate, by plating a conductive filler material onto the seed layer. The first substrate and the second substrate may then be bonded to a third substrate, and the second substrate is removed, leaving through features and first substrate adhered to the third substrate. The through features may provide at least one of electrical access and motion to a plurality of devices formed on the third substrate, or may impart movement to a moveable feature on the first substrate, wherein the third substrate supports the first substrate after removal of the second substrate.
US08343789B2	Microstructure device with an improved anchor The present disclosure provides a system of fabricating a microstructure device with an improved anchor. A method of fabricating a microstructure device with an improved anchor includes providing a substrate and forming an oxide layer on the substrate. Then, a cavity is etched in the oxide layer, such that the cavity includes a sidewall in the oxide layer. A microstructure device layer is then bonded to the oxide layer over the cavity. Forming a microstructure device, a trench is etched in the device layer to define an outer boundary of the microstructure device. In an embodiment, the outer boundary is substantially outside of the sidewall of the cavity. Then, the sidewall of the cavity is etched away through the trench in the device layer, to thereby suspend the microstructure device over the cavity.
US08343788B2	Light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof A method of fabricating a light emitting device comprising: providing a substrate; forming an epitaxial stack on the substrate wherein the epitaxial stack comprising a first conductivity semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductivity semiconductor layer; forming a mesa on the epitaxial stack to expose partial of the first conductivity semiconductor layer; and etching the surface of the first conductivity semiconductor layer and forming a least one rough structure on the surface of the first conductivity semiconductor layer wherein the first conductivity semiconductor layer is sandwiched by the substrate and the active layer.
US08343785B2	Nitridosilicate phosphor tunable light-emitting diodes by using UV and blue chips The present disclosure provides a radiation device. The radiation device includes a first light emitting diode (LED) operable to emit light having a first central wavelength; a second LED configured adjacent the first LED and operable to emit light having a second central wavelength substantially less than the first central wavelength; and a luminescent material disposed on the first LED and the second LED. The luminescent material includes a strontium silicon nitride (SrSi6N8) doped by one of cerium (Ce3+) and cerium, lithium (Ce3+, Li+).
US08343780B2	Method of stressing a thin pattern The invention relates to a method for straining or deforming a pattern or a thin layer (24), starting from an initial component comprising the said thin layer and a prestressed layer (20), this method comprising: an etching step of the prestressed layer, perpendicular to its surface.
US08343778B2	Microfluidic microarray assemblies and methods of manufacturing and using The invention encompasses microfluidic microarray assemblies (MMA) and subassemblies and methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, first and second channel plates are provided and are sealingly connected to a test chip in consecutive steps. Each plate includes microfluidic channels configured in a predetermined reagent distribution pattern. The test chip comprises a plurality of discrete test positions, each test position being located at the intersection between a first predetermined reagent pattern and a second predetermined reagent pattern, wherein at least one of said patterns is non-linear. The first channel plate allows the distribution of a first reagent on said test chip, wherein said first reagent is immobilized at said test positions. The second channel plate allows the distribution of a second reagent on said test chip, wherein said second reagent comprises a plurality of different test samples.
US08343777B2	Low temperature method to enhance detection of magnetic beads Detection of magnetic beads at temperature below room temperature can increase the signal level significantly as compared to the same detection when performed at room temperature. Additional improvement is obtained if the beads are below 30 nm in size and if deviations of bead size from the median are small. A preferred format for the beads is a suspension of super-paramagnetic particles in a non-magnetic medium.
US08343774B2	Chromatography-based monitoring and control of multiple process streams An analytical apparatus includes a sample-injection valve, a sample pump, at least two sources of standards, and a selection valve. The sample-injection valve has an output port in fluid communication with a LC column, and an input port in fluid communication with a mobile-phase supply line. The at least two sources of standards are associated with at least two pharmaceutical compounds. The selection valve fluidically and selectably connects the sample pump to the at least two sources of standards, to the sample-injection valve, and to at least two pharmaceutical-manufacturing process lines associated with the at least two pharmaceutical compounds. A method for controlling a pharmaceutical manufacturing process includes switching the selection valve to alternately and repeatedly sample the at least two sources of standards and material flowing through the at least two pharmaceutical-manufacturing process lines.
US08343769B2	Immersion solution for microscope An immersion solution for a microscope, the immersion solution including a metal-halogeno complex anion containing bromine or iodine and one or more types of metal elements M selected from Sn, In, Bi, Sb, Zn and Al, and an imidazolium cation, a pyridinium cation, a pyrrolidinium cation or an ammonium cation. The immersion solution includes an ionic liquid that transmits light having a predetermined wavelength, has a refractive index of no less than 1.60 and is used for a fluorescence microscope.
US08343766B2	Method and apparatus for sustaining viability of biological cells on a substrate A method for the transient transformation of a living biological cell having an intact cell membrane defining an intracellular domain, and an apparatus for the transient transformation of biological cells. The method and apparatus include introducing a compartmentalized extracellular component fixedly attached to a cellular penetrant structure to the intracellular domain of the cell, wherein the cell is fixed in a predetermined location and wherein the component is expressed within in the cell while being retained within the compartment and wherein the compartment restricts the mobility and interactions of the component within the cell and prevents transference of the component to the cell.
US08343765B2	Gene injection apparatus and gene injection method A gene injection apparatus for injecting a gene into a cell held on a substrate, includes a needle unit. The needle unit includes a fine needle to be inserted into the cell immersed in a culture medium in which the gene is dispersed, and a flexible support part configured to hold the fine needle, the flexible support part being flexing when the fine needle is pressed onto the substrate. The gene injection apparatus further includes a drive unit configured to push down the flexible support part toward the substrate, further from a position where a tip of the fine needle contacts the substrate.
US08343763B2	Heterocyclic derivatives as modulators of ion channels The present invention relates to heterocyclic derivatives useful as inhibitors of ion channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US08343762B2	Human embryonic stem cell-derived connective tissue progenitors for tissue engineering Methods of generating and expanding proliferative, multipotent connective tissue progenitor cells from embryonic stem cells and embryoid bodies are provided. Also provided are methods of generating functional tendon grafts in vitro and bone, cartilage and connective tissues in vivo using the isolated cell preparation of connective tissue progenitor cells.
US08343758B2	Bio-artificial materials with tuneable properties This invention relates to methods for preparing biomaterials by applying multiple cycles of tensile loading to compacted collagen gels in order to fuse the collagen fibrils together within the compacted gels. This produces a biomaterial with improved material properties. Biomaterials produced by such methods may be useful, for example, as tissue equivalent implants, in the repair and/or replacement of damaged tissue in an individual.
US08343757B2	Polynucleotides allowing the expression and secretion of recombinant pseudo-virus containing foreign epitopes, their production, and use This invention provides a new approach to the design of a virus with a defective replication cycle, which can be rescued by wild type virus co-infection, and which expresses foreign antigenic epitopes that contribute to the elimination of virus infected cells and then to viral clearance. The vector of the invention, by expression of epitopes derived from common pathogens, by-passes existing tolerance of virus specific T cell responses. The vector will only replicate in virus infected cells.
US08343756B2	Devices and methods for cell manipulation Devices for fluid control and biological particle manipulation (e.g., cell enrichment and blood sampling) are disclosed. The devices a based on the ability to control the flow of fluids through the use of microfluidic valves. The valves are characterized, for example, by microstructures disposed on a mobile diaphragm.
US08343754B2	Annealing curve analysis in PCR The present invention is directed to devices for performing PCR and monitoring the reaction of a sample comprising a nucleic acid and a fluorescent dye. Illustrative devices comprise a heat exchange component for heating and cooling the sample, a control device for repeatedly operating the heat exchange component to subject the sample to thermal cycling, an excitation source for optically exciting the sample to cause the sample to fluoresce, a photodetector for detecting temperature-dependent fluorescence levels from the sample, and a processor configured to record and process emissions from the fluorescent dye.
US08343749B2	Method and apparatus for membrane-based, two-stage gas production from solid biomaterials Embodiments of the present invention preferably relate to a method and apparatus for a two-stage membrane-based production of gas, preferably hydrogen gas or the like, from solid biological materials, preferably organic waste materials or the like, comprising anaerobic hydrolysis and fermentation and photofermentation using microorganisms.
US08343748B2	Preparative purification process for human furin Recombinant truncated human furin was expressed in CHO cells and concentrated approximately 50-fold by ultrafiltration and diafiltration. The concentrate was purified by column chromatography on CAPTO MMC™ (mixed cation exchange/hydrophobic interaction gel) resulting in a 30-50 fold purification factor and a yield of at least 60%. The at least 20% pure preparation obtained after CAPTO MMC™ (mixed cation exchange/hydrophobic interaction gel) chromatography had already a purification degree allowing on-column maturation of pro-VWF. Then an additional Arginine Sepharose chromatography purification was carried out. This two column process for purification of truncated human furin resulted in an almost pure furin preparation with a specific activity of approximately 290,000 U furin/mg protein and a yield of about 50%.
US08343744B2	Regio- and enantioselective alkane hydroxylation with modified cytochrome P450 Cytochrome P450 BM-3 from Bacillus megaterium was engineered using a combination of directed evolution and site-directed mutagenesis to hydroxylate linear alkanes regio- and enantioselectively using atmospheric dioxygen as an oxidant. Mutant 9-10A-A328V hydroxylates octane primarily at the 2-position to form S-2-octanol (40% ee). Another mutant, 1-12G, hydroxylates alkanes larger than hexane primarily at the 2-position, but forms R-2-alcohols (40-55% ee). These biocatalysts are highly active for alkane substrates and support thousands of product turnovers. These regio- and enantio-selectivities are retained in whole-cell biotransformations with E. coli, where the engineered P450s can be expressed at high levels and the expensive cofactor is supplied endogenously.
US08343741B2	Pelletization process to control filamentous fungi morphology for enhanced reactor rheology bioproduct formation Filamentous fungi are grown in pellet form by culturing the filamentous fungi in liquid culture under one or more of the following conditions: 1) with addition of particulate substrates: 2) using spores which have been stored for a period of time prior to inoculation; and 3) using high spore inoculum concentrations.
US08343737B2	Cell culture compositions capable of producing a VEGF-binding fusion polypeptide The present invention provides cell culture compositions capable of producing fusion polypeptides that bind vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The cell culture compositions of the invention comprise cells which contain an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide that binds VEGF. The fusion polypeptides may comprise a VEGF receptor component having an immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domain 2 of a first VEGF receptor, an Ig domain 3 of a second VEGF receptor, and a multimerizing component.
US08343736B2	Xylitol producing microorganism introduced with arabinose metabolic pathway and production method of xylitol using the same The present invention relates to an efficient production method of xylitol by using the xylitol producing microorganism introduced with arabinose metabolic pathway to inhibit the production of arabitol, the byproduct, and instead to use arabinose only for cell metabolism in xylose/arabinose mixed medium. More precisely, to express efficiently L-arabinose isomerase (araA), L-ribulokinase (araB) and L-ribulose-5-phosphate 4-epimerase (araD) in Candida tropicalis, codon optimization was performed. Then, each gene was inserted in the gene expression cassette containing the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter and the selection marker URA3, which was introduced into Candida sp. microorganism. As a result, arabitol, the byproduct interrupting the purification and crystallization of xylitol could be inhibited, making the production method of xylitol of the present invention more efficient. The xylitol producing microorganism introduced with arabinose metabolic pathway of the present invention can be effectively used for the production of xylitol with high productivity by inhibiting the generation of arabitol.
US08343735B2	Modified secretion system to increase expression of polypeptides in bacteria The present invention provides methods of altering the production of desired polypeptides in a host cell. In particular, the present invention provides polynucleotides encoding truncated SecG proteins capable of facilitating the secretion of desired proteases by a bacterial host cell, such as Bacillus species, as well as expression vectors and a host cell containing the polynucleotides.
US08343732B2	Method for determining types of cells The present invention relates to a method for detecting ATP in a sample by using luminescence, wherein a luminescence reagent is added to the sample that has not undergone any pre-treatment with an extractant in order to effect the formation of an ATP complex, wherein the luminescence of the ATP com lex thus formed is measured.
US08343731B2	Method for diagnosing acute cardiac ischemia Chemiluminescent detection of metabolic by-products of inosine and hypoxanthine is used to diagnose ischemic events such as early acute cardiac ischemia.
US08343728B2	Highly sensitive system and method for analysis of troponin The invention provides methods, compositions, kits, and systems for the sensitive detection of cardiac troponin. Such methods, compositions, kits, and systems are useful in diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of methods of treatment in conditions that involve release of cardiac troponin.
US08343722B2	Method for the identification of colorectal tumors Disclosed is a method for the early diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma and determination of pre-cancerous lesions of the colon and rectum based on quantitation of DNA extracted from stool and amplified by PCR techniques.
US08343721B2	Methods and kits for nucleic acid amplification Compositions and methods are provided for amplifying nucleic acid molecules. The nucleic acid molecules can be used in various research and diagnostic applications, such as gene expression studies involving nucleic acid microarrays.
US08343720B2	Methods and probes for identifying a nucleotide sequence The present invention provides a method for identifying a set of target nucleotide sequences capable of identifying a member of a group of related nucleotide sequences, the method comprising the step of dividing the nucleotide sequence of each member of the group into a plurality of subsequences, wherein at least two of the subsequences overlap. The method is useful in generating probe sets capable of assigning alleles at HLA or KIR loci.
US08343717B2	Passive methods for anti-microbial biological meshes Tissue matrices having anti-microbial properties are provided. In certain embodiments, the tissue matrices include cationic anti-microbial agents that form a stable bond with the tissue matrices without adversely affecting the biologic properties of the tissue matrices.
US08343716B2	Method of forming variable patterns using a reticle A method of forming a variable pattern across a wafer using a reticle forms a plurality of first patterns on the wafer. The first pattern is repeated across the wafer and each first pattern has a first readable element. The method also forms a plurality of second patterns on the wafer. The second patterns is repeated across the wafer and each second pattern has a second readable element. The second patterns are positioned relative to the first patterns by aligning a first second pattern relative to one portion of a corresponding first pattern and then incrementally misaligning each successive second pattern in a row or a column relative to its corresponding first pattern. Thus, each corresponding first readable element and second readable element form a corresponding variable pattern.
US08343715B2	Photochromic polyesters and methods of producing photochromic polyesters A method for producing a photochromic polyester, the method including: a) providing a reaction solution having at least one ester monomer, a photochromic compound having or functionalized to have at least one hydroxyl group, and a metal-free catalyst; b) reacting the at least one ester monomer and the photochromic compound using the metal-free catalyst to produce a polymeric product, where the polymeric product has a photochromic polyester; and c) separating the polymeric product from the reaction solution. A photochromic polyester includes a photochromic compound covalently linked to a polyester and the polyester is obtained by polymerizing a lactone.
US08343713B2	Method for patterning material layer The invention is directed to a method for patterning a material layer. The method comprises steps of providing a material layer. The material layer has a first hard mask layer and a second hard mask layer successively formed thereon. Then, the second hard mask layer is patterned to form a plurality of openings therein. A patterned photoresist layer is formed to cover the second hard mask layer and the patterned photoresist layer exposes a portion of the openings. The first hard mask layer with the patterned photoresist layer and the patterned second hard mask layer together as a mask. Then, the patterned photoresist layer and the patterned second hard mask layer are removed. The material layer is patterned with the patterned first hard mask layer as a mask.
US08343712B2	Method for manufacturing inkjet recording head A method for manufacturing an inkjet recording includes forming a photo-cationic polymerizable resin layer containing a photo-cationic polymerizable resin material on a substrate; performing pattern exposure of the photo-cationic polymerizable resin layer to form a latent image of a fine pattern including an ejection port; forming a water repellent layer containing a water repellent material capable of forming a bond in reaction with the photo-cationic polymerizable resin material on the photo-cationic polymerizable resin layer; developing the photo-cationic polymerizable resin layer to thereby remove a non-exposed portion of the photo-cationic polymerizable resin layer and remove a water repellent layer portion corresponding to the non-exposed portion to thereby form the fine pattern; and curing the photo-cationic polymerizable resin layer by heat treatment to form a member provided with the fine pattern and promote a reaction of the photo-cationic polymerizable resin material and the water repellent material.
US08343710B1	Photodegradable groups for tunable polymeric materials Provided is a method that provides both spatial and temporal control of a polymer degradation process using mono- and multifunctional macromolecular monomers (“macromers”) that degrade via single- and multi-photon photolysis mechanisms over a broad range of wavelengths. The macromers can form or be incorporated into networks via covalent, non-covalent and/or ionic interactions. The spatial and temporal degradation of these networks can be controlled. More specifically, provided is a photodegradable macromer, comprising: (a) a photodegradable group; (b) a backbone structure comprising one or more repeating units that may be the same or different, which backbone structure is attached to the photodegradable group directly or through a linker; (c) one or more reactive end groups at one or more ends of the macromer; and optionally, (d) one or more therapeutic agents; and optionally (e) one or more caged groups. Also provided are polymers and networks incorporating macromers of the invention and optionally other substituents such as other polymeric structures. Also provided is a method of controlled degradation of a polymer comprising: providing a photodegradable polymer as described herein and exposing the photodegradable polymer to photoradiation of the appropriate wavelength and energy to cause one or more of the photodegradable groups to photodegrade.
US08343708B2	Positive resist composition and pattern forming method A positive photosensitive composition includes: (A) a resin that has an acid decomposable repeating unit of formula (I) and increases its solubility in an alkali developer by action of an acid; (B) a compound that generates an acid upon irradiation; (C) a resin that has: a fluorine atom and/or a silicon atom; and a group selected from groups (x) to (z); and (D) a solvent: (x) an alkali soluble group, (y) a group which decomposes by action of an alkali developer and increases a solubility of the resin (C) in an alkali developer, and (z) a group which decomposes by action of an acid, wherein, Xa1 represents hydrogen, alkyl, cyano or halogen, Ry1 to Ry3 each independently represents alkyl or cycloalkyl, and at least two of Ry1 to Ry3 may be coupled to form a ring, and Z represents a divalent linking group.
US08343706B2	Fluorine-free fused ring heteroaromatic photoacid generators and resist compositions containing the same The present invention relates to a fluorine-free photoacid generator (PAG) and a photoresist composition containing the same. The PAG is characterized by the presence of an onium cationic component and a fluorine-free fused ring heteroaromatic sulfonate anionic component containing one or more electron withdrawing substituents. The onium cationic component of the PAG is preferably a sulfonium or an iodonium cation. The photoresist composition further contains an acid sensitive imaging polymer. The photoresist composition is especially useful for forming material patterns on a semiconductor substrate using 193 nm (ArF) lithography.
US08343703B2	Electrostatic image developing toner, method for manufacturing electrostatic image developing toner, electrostatic image developer, toner cartridge, process cartridge, image-forming method and image-forming apparatus An electrostatic image developing toner, includes: a block copolymer that contains: a block A that has a glass transition temperature of about 60° C. or more; and a crystalline block B that has a melting point of about 25° C. or more derived from an ethylenically unsaturated compound, wherein the block copolymer satisfies the following equations (1) to (3): 30° C.≦[T(0.5 MPa)−T(30 MPa)]≦80° C. (1) 60° C.≦T(0.5 MPa) (2) T(30 MPa)≦80° C. (3) wherein T(0.5 MPa) represents a temperature at which a viscosity of the block copolymer is 104 Pa·s when a pressure applied by a flow tester is 0.5 MPa; and T(30 MPa) represents a temperature at which a viscosity of the block copolymer is 104 Pa·s when a pressure applied by a flow tester is 30 MPa.
US08343702B2	Electrophotographic toner and method of preparing electrophotographic toner The disclosure provides an electrophotographic toner and methods for preparing the same, including a first binder resin, a second binder resin, a colorant, a releasing agent, a charge control agent, and an ionomer, wherein the second binder resin is a resin derived biomass.
US08343690B2	Fabrication of mesoporous metal electrodes in non-liquid-crystalline phase and its application A method for the fabrication of a mesoporous metal electrode in a non-liquid crystalline phase was tested. Specifically, there was tested the efficacy of the method for the fabrication of a mesoporous metal electrode which comprises forming the mesoporous metal electrode on a substrate by chemical or electrochemical reduction of a mixture comprising a solvent, a structure-directing agent, and a source of a metal, characterized in that the mixture is maintained in a non-liquid crystal phase. Furthermore, the usefulness of the mesoporous metal electrode thus prepared from the non-liquid crystalline phase was also tested. The mesoporous metal electrode prepared from the non-liquid crystalline phase had a large surface area, and a roughness factor thereof was controlled by charges passed during electroplating. The method made it possible to fabricate the mesoporous metal electrode in the non-liquid crystalline phase, even more flexible than a liquid crystalline phase. The mesoporous metal electrode prepared by the method had randomly distributed mesopores on the surface thereof and retained a large roughness factor. The method was found to be a good alternative to the conventional fabrication of porous platinum films in the liquid crystalline phase. Furthermore, the method was found to be suitably applicable to automatic processes, because the mesoporous metal electrode was prepared in the highly flexible non-liquid crystalline phase. Recovery and recycling of raw materials were also improved. The mesoporous metal electrode prepared by the method can be suitably used for the detection of glucose and proton, and as a cathode or an anode of fuel cells.
US08343686B2	Joined concentric tubes Tubular objects having two or more concentric layers that have different properties are joined to one another during their manufacture primarily by compressive and friction forces generated by shrinkage during sintering and possibly mechanical interlocking. It is not necessary for the concentric tubes to display adhesive-, chemical- or sinter-bonding to each other in order to achieve a strong bond. This facilitates joining of dissimilar materials, such as ceramics and metals.
US08343683B2	Fuel cell stack A fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells each formed by stacking separators and an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly. The electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane provided with a pair of electrodes on the opposite sides thereof. A stacked body formed by stacking the fuel cells is provided with a pair of end plates at the opposite ends thereof in a stacking direction. The end plates are integrally fixed by fastening members with the distance between the end plates maintained. A load measurement mechanism including a plurality of load sensors integrally connected to a connector member is provided between one of the end plates and the stacked body. The one of the end plates is provided with a pressure mechanism. The pressure mechanism presses the load measurement mechanism toward the stacked body to thereby apply a tightening load to the stacked body via the load sensors.
US08343681B2	Bipolar plate and fuel cell stack including the same Bipolar plates and a fuel cell stack having the bipolar plates. The fuel cell stack includes membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), and first and second bipolar plates sequentially stacked between the MEAs. The bipolar plates include: flow channels formed on opposing surfaces thereof; four manifolds connected to the flow channels; and through holes to connect to the manifolds of the bipolar plates adjacent thereto.
US08343680B2	Fuel cell system A shutoff value provided on the entrance side and exit side of a fuel cell system has a diaphragm. A valve closing-side pressure chamber is provided on the upper face side of the diaphragm, and a valve opening-side pressure chamber is provided on the lower face side of the diaphragm. With the valve closing-side pressure chamber of the shutoff valve pressurized, the pressure in the chamber is maintained by ViS, Vic, and ViO in an electrically non-conducted state. Also, the pressure in the valve opening-side pressure chamber of the shutoff valve is maintained released. By this, force acting in the direction of closing a valving element acts on it through the diaphragm, maintaining the shutoff valve closed.
US08343676B2	Fuel cell vehicle, and method of supplying electric power A fuel cell vehicle has a fuel cell for generating electric power by being supplied with a reactive gas, an electric storage device, a first power supply line connected to the fuel cell, a second power supply line connected to the electric storage device, and a main DC-to-DC converter for performing bidirectional voltage conversion between the first power supply line and the second power supply line, an electric motor to propel the vehicle and a first electric accessory connected to the first power supply line, a second electric accessory having at least a portion connected to the second power supply line.
US08343671B2	Fuel cell system having recycle fuel conduit in fluid communication with fuel cell assembly and carbon dioxide removal unit A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell assembly, a carbon-dioxide-removal unit, an anode exhaust conduit connecting the fuel cell assembly and the carbon-dioxide-removal unit, a fuel source, an oxygen source, a fuel conduit connecting, at least in part, the fuel source with the fuel cell assembly, and a recycle conduit connecting the carbon-dioxide-removal unit with at least one of the fuel cell assembly, the fuel conduit and the fuel source. The fuel cell assembly includes at least one fuel cell, each fuel cell including an anode and a cathode. The carbon-dioxide-removal unit removes carbon dioxide that is in a gas phase. The carbon-dioxide-removal unit includes a carbon-dioxide-removing material. The fuel source and the oxygen source are each independently in fluid communication with the fuel cell assembly. The fuel conduit and the recycle conduit are optionally merged into a single recycle-fuel conduit that extends to the fuel cell assembly. The recycle conduit and/or the recycle-fuel conduit directs essentially all gaseous fluid from the carbon-dioxide-removal unit to the fuel cell assembly.
US08343669B2	Electrochemical device An electrochemical device comprises an electrode matrix including a multilayer structure composed of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a first separator, and first and second dummy electrodes electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The first and second dummy electrodes have respective opposing parts opposing each other through a second separator at an outer peripheral part of the electrode matrix. One or each of the first and second dummy electrodes has a resistance control layer at least on a side where the opposing parts oppose each other. The resistance control layer has such a resistance value that an estimated internal short circuit current between the first and second dummy electrodes is equivalent to 0.09 C to 1.00 C. The first and second dummy electrodes are adapted to short-circuit each other at a lower temperature than the positive and negative electrodes do.
US08343667B2	Nonaqueous electrolyte battery, battery pack and vehicle A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode contains a lithium compound and a negative electrode current collector supporting the lithium compound. A log differential intrusion curve obtained when a pore size diameter of the negative electrode is measured by mercury porosimetry has a peak in a pore size diameter range of 0.03 to 0.2 μm and attenuates with a decrease in pore size diameter from an apex of the peak. A specific surface area (excluding a weight of the negative electrode current collector) of pores of the negative electrode found by mercury porosimetry is 6 to 100 m2/g. A ratio of a volume of pores having a pore size diameter of 0.05 μm or less to a total pore volume is 20% or more.
US08343666B2	Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a positive electrode including an active material of complex oxides capable of storing and emitting lithium ions, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolytic solution made of a nonaqueous solvent. A discharge curve of this battery when being discharged with a constant power has two or more points of step-like flections near the end of electrical discharge in a range of 5% to 20% of a discharge capacity thereof as determined from an initial discharge voltage in a state of full charge to a discharge-end voltage.
US08343664B2	Positive-electrode material for lithium secondary battery, secondary battery employing the same, and process for producing positive-electrode material for lithium secondary battery A subject for the invention is to provide a positive-electrode material, which has high capacity and high output and is inhibited from suffering a decrease in output with repetitions of charge and use. The invention provides a positive-electrode material for lithium secondary battery, which comprises a secondary particle of a lithium/transition metal composite oxide containing boron and/or bismuth, and wherein the atomic ratio of the sum of boron and bismuth to the sum of the metallic elements other than lithium, boron, and bismuth in a surface part of the secondary particle is from 5 times to 70 times the atomic ratio in the whole secondary particle.
US08343663B2	Method of preparing positive active material with low carbon content for rechargeable lithium battery The present invention relates to a method of preparing a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery. The positive active material includes a lithium/nickel-based compound wherein primary particles having an average particle diameter ranging from 1 μm to 4 μm are agglomerated to form secondary particles. The positive active material of the present invention has excellent electrochemical performance and outstanding inhibition to swelling at high temperatures.
US08343652B2	Battery cell and case with corresponding small grooves Disclosed herein is a battery cell including an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure mounted in a receiving part of a battery case (cell case). The cell case is provided, at a predetermined region of the cell case corresponding to the upper end interface of the electrode assembly while the electrode assembly is mounted in the receiving part, with a small groove for pressing against the upper end of the electrode assembly to prevent the upward movement of the electrode assembly. The small groove is continuously formed in parallel with the upper end of the electrode assembly.
US08343649B2	Electricity storage device with enhanced heat dissipation An electricity storage device has: an enclosed container; an electricity storage unit contained in the enclosed container; a coolant, contained in the enclosed container, for cooling the electricity storage unit; and protrusions that extend into the coolant and conduct the heat of the coolant to a top lid of the enclosed container. The protrusions are formed on the top lid.
US08343639B2	Organic semiconductor material and light-emitting element, light-emitting device, lighting system, and electronic device using the same Disclosed is a novel organic semiconductor material which has a twisted quaterphenylene skeleton as a central unit and simultaneously possesses a skeleton having an electron-transporting property and a skeleton having a hole-transporting property at the terminals of the quaterphenylene skeleton. Specifically, the organic semiconductor material has a [1,1′:2′,1″:2″,1′″]quaterphenyl-4-4′″-diyl group, and one of the terminals of the [1,1′:2′,1″:2″,1′″]quaterphenyl-4-4′″-diyl group is bonded to a skeleton having an electron-transporting property such as a benzoxazole group or an oxadiazole group. A skeleton having a hole-transporting property such as diarylamino group is introduced at the other terminal. This structure allows the formation of a compound having a bipolar property, a high molecular weight, an excellent thermal stability, a large band gap, and high triplet excitation energy.
US08343634B2	Triglyceride compositions useful for preparing composite panels and applications thereof Composite panels may be prepared using a moisture resistance additive having a formulation that includes a triglyceride having a saponification value of at least 150 and an iodine value of at least 35. The additive may be used in the form of a water emulsion. The water emulsion may be prepared by dispersing the components of the additive formulation under conditions sufficient to at least partially saponify the triglyceride. The moisture resistance additive can impart resistance to moisture absorption and thickness swelling to composite panels prepared therewith.
US08343631B2	Low-gloss, two-component clear coats, articles of manufacture having low-gloss, two-component clear coats, and methods for applying the same Low-gloss, two-component clear coats include a base resin including a urethane resin, an isocyanate resin that combines with the base resin immediately prior to application of the low -gloss, two-component clear coat to form a two-component base resin mixture, wherein the two-component base resin mixture comprises from about 20 weight percent to about 40 weight percent urethane resin and from about 20 weight percent to about 40 weight percent isocyanate resin, and a silica-based flattener, wherein the silica-based flattener comprises from about 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the two-component base resin mixture to about 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the two-component base resin mixture, wherein the low-gloss, two-component clear coat has a 60° gloss finish from 22 gloss units to 34 gloss units when cured.
US08343630B2	Transparent composite conductors having high work function There is provided a transparent composite conductor. The composite conductor has a first layer that includes a transparent conductive material and a second layer that includes a fluorinated acid polymer.
US08343627B2	Core-shell nanoparticles with multiple cores and a method for fabricating them The present invention is directed toward core-shell nanoparticles, each comprising a ligand-capped metal shell surrounding a plurality of discrete, nonconcentric, metal-containing cores. Methods of making and using these nanoparticles are also disclosed.
US08343626B2	Dry-coated oxygen-scavenging particles and methods of making them A method of dry coating oxidizable particles with activating particles. The method includes accreting at least portions of the activating particles onto surfaces of the oxidizable particles by mechanically induced juxtapositions to form composite particles; and abrading the composite particles to more evenly distribute the activating component over surfaces of the activating particles.
US08343625B2	Structures comprising an association agent and processes for making same Polysaccharides and/or hydroxyl polymers, more particularly, structures, especially fibers, comprising a polysaccharide and/or hydroxyl polymer and an association agent, fibrous structures comprising such structures and processes for making such structures and/or fibrous structures are provided.
US08343624B2	Durable antireflective film Antireflective films are described having a surface layer comprising a the reaction product of a polymerizable low refractive index composition comprising at least one free-radically polymerizable fluoropolymer and surface modified inorganic nanoparticles. A high refractive index layer is coupled to the low refractive index layer. In one embodiment, the high refractive index layer comprises surface modified inorganic nanoparticles dispersed in a crosslinked organic material. The antireflective film is preferably durable, exhibiting a haze of less than 1.0% after 25 wipes with steel wool using a 3.2 cm mandrel and a mass of 1000 grams.
US08343623B2	Gas barrier film laminate Disclosed is a gas-barrier film laminate having at least two gas-barrier film layers laminated via an adhesive layer, wherein the gas-barrier film layer has a substrate film, and at least one constitutive unit layer comprising an anchor coat layer and an inorganic thin film layer formed on at least one surface of the substrate film in that order, and wherein the number of the bubbles having a diameter of at least 0.5 mm and the impurities having a diameter of at least 0.5 mm existing between the gas-barrier film layers is at most 3 in total per 100 cm2.
US08343622B2	Flexible high refractive index hardcoat Antireflective films comprising a flexible high refractive index layer that comprises at least 60 wt-% of inorganic nanoparticles, the nanoparticles having a refractive index of at least 1.60, dispersed in a crosslinked organic material. Also described are surface treated nanoparticles.
US08343616B2	Coating agent, substrate for mounting optical semiconductor element using same, and optical semiconductor device The coating agent of the invention is a coating agent to be used between conductor members, comprising a thermosetting resin, a white pigment, a curing agent and a curing catalyst, the coating agent to be used between conductor members having a white pigment content of 10-85 vol % based on the total solid volume of the coating agent, and a whiteness of at least 75 when the cured product of the coating agent has been allowed to stand at 200° C. for 24 hours.
US08343615B2	Dynamic appearance-changing optical devices (DACOD) printed in a shaped magnetic field including printable fresnel structures A printed image is disclosed wherein the image may be in the form of an array of magnetically aligned platelets or flakes that may by uniform in shape and size and wherein the flakes are arranged in a particularly manner to form optically illusive images useful as security devices, or useful in beam steering applications. In one embodiment of this invention printed array is disclosed a plurality of concentric rings of magnetically aligned platelets disposed upon a substrate in the form of a Fresnel structure, preferably a Fresnel reflector. Advantageously, since the magnetic field can be controlled with respect to strength and direction, one can easily design a field that will correct for spherical aberration that would otherwise be present in a typical Fresnel reflector. In other embodiments of the invention optically illusive images of funnels, domes and cones are printed.
US08343614B2	Metallized polymeric film reflective insulation material A method of thermally insulating an object that requires a Class A standard insulation material, said method comprising suitably locating a metallized polymeric reflective insulation material adjacent said object, wherein said polymeric material is selected from a closed cell foam, polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam, expanded polystyrene foam, multi-film layers assembly and a bubble-pack assembly. The object is preferably packaging, a vehicle or a residential, commercial or industrial building or establishment. The polymeric material may contain a fire-retardant and the bright surface of the metallized layer has a clear lacquer coating to provide anti-corrosion properties, and which maintains satisfactory reflectance commercial criteria.
US08343613B2	Anti-skid sheet for thermoformed articles Disclosed in one aspect is an anti-skid sheet comprising at least one contact layer selected from the group consisting of dynamically vulcanized alloys, propylene-α-olefin copolymers, and blends thereof; and at least one substrate layer comprising polyethylene having a density of from greater than 0.935 g/cm3. In one embodiment, the dynamically vulcanized alloy comprises a blend of one or more polyolefins and an at least partially vulcanized rubber. Disclosed in another aspect is a method of forming the anti-skid sheet comprising providing a melt-blending extruder for each of the sheet layers, at least one substrate layer as disclosed herein and at least one contact layer as disclosed herein, and co-extruding a melt of each component to form a co-extruded sheet. In a particular embodiment, the anti-skid sheet is thermoformed to form an article.
US08343612B2	Absorbent fiber web An absorbent fiber web has a base layer of cellulose fibers and an external layer that is connected at least across areas thereof with the base layer. The external layer is a nonwoven of nano fibers. The base layer and the nonwoven are connected to one another across areas thereof without a binder.
US08343611B2	One way vision film for ink jet printing, printing film, and method for producing them A one-way vision film includes a white film base material; a shrinkable color tone layer on one side of the base material; and a self-adsorptive foamed layer on the base material opposite to the shrinkable color tone layer. The one-way vision film is perforated with through-holes. The self-adsorptive foamed layer has an adhesive function attachable to a surface onto which the film is attached and is printable. Since the printing ink is deposited to the bottoms of the open pores while not closing the openings of the open pores, open pores exposed to the surface of the foamed layer function like suction cups adhering onto a smooth surface. Accordingly, there is no need for forming ink-receptive and pressure-sensitive layers, unlike a conventional film, so the film can have a low cost, three-layer structure. The one-way vision and printed film is easily attachable onto a smooth and transparent substrate like glass.
US08343610B2	Laminated plate and manufacturing method thereof A vehicle deck board 1 is molded in such a manner that a lower die 21 and an upper die 22 are clamped together in a state where foamed resins 13 and reinforcements 20 are interposed between a back surface side sheet material 16 and a front surface side sheet material 15, whereby the back surface side sheet material 16 and the front surface side sheet material 15 are welded to each other to thereby form a laminated member 26 with height-increasing bridge members included therein, compressed air is injected into an inside of the laminated member 26 with the height-increasing bridge members included therein, which is formed by welding the back surface side sheet material 16 and the front surface side sheet 15, while individually vacuum-sucking the back surface side sheet material 16 and the front surface side sheet material 15 to the lower die 21 and the upper die 22, and the laminated member 26 concerned is subjected to blow molding.
US08343605B2	Adhesive tape and its use An adhesive tape for flying splice, having a left and right boundary edge, at least one main carrier and a first layer of self-adhesive on the obverse of the main carrier, the reverse of the main carrier bearing a parting system which is suitable for effecting an adhesive bond to a substrate that can be parted again in such a way that sticky residues are left neither on the reverse of the main carrier nor on the substrate in the region of the parted bond, the parting system being constructed in a particular form as described herein.
US08343603B2	Insulator material and method for manufacturing thereof Vacuum filled hollow alveoles embedded in an insulation material in order to arrive at a light weight insulation material using the high breakdown voltage of evacuated cavities, i.e. alveoles at a vacuum lower than the minimum of the Paschen law. Pressurized hollow alveoles embedded in an insulation material in order to arrive at a light weight insulation material using the high breakdown voltage of pressurized cavities, i.e. alveoles at a pressure higher than the minimum of the Paschen law.
US08343600B2	Case module for portable terminal using thermal adhesive tape Disclosed is a case module for a portable terminal using a thermal adhesive tape. The portable terminal using a thermal adhesive tape includes: a case and a LCD cover of a portable terminal disposed so as to face with each other; a heated sheet made of a conductor and disposed between the case and the LCD cover; a first melting sheet adhered to a face of the heated sheet facing to the case; and a second melting sheet adhered to the other face of the heated sheet facing to the LCD cover, wherein the first sheet is melted to couple the heated sheet and the case to each other and the second sheet is melted to couple the heated sheet and the LCD cover to each other when the heated sheet is heated by a high frequency induction.
US08343595B2	Chlorofluorobenzene compound, optically isotropic liquid crystal medium, and optical device A liquid crystal compound and a liquid crystal medium are described. The liquid crystal compound is stable to heat and light and has a large dielectric anisotropy and a large optical anisotropy. The liquid crystal medium has a wide temperature range of liquid crystal phase, a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy, and exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal compound has 4 or 5 benzene rings, one of which is a chlorofluorobenzene ring. The liquid crystal medium is characterized in containing the liquid crystal compound and a chiral dopant and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.
US08343591B2	Method for use with a coating process A method for use with a coating process includes depositing a ceramic coating on a substrate within a coating chamber. Prior to depositing the ceramic coating, an electron beam source is used to heat a ceramic material. The ceramic material radiates heat to heat a substrate to an oxidation temperature to form an oxide layer on the substrate. A desired evaporation rate of the ceramic material is established during the heating to thereby provide an improved ceramic coating.
US08343587B2	Process of forming durable reactive thermal barrier coatings A method for providing a component with protection against sand related distress comprises the steps of: providing a substrate; and forming a thermal barrier coating system by depositing at least one layer of a first material selected from the group consisting of a zirconate, a hafnate, a titanate, and mixtures thereof, which first material has been mixed with at least one oxide so that each layer contains from about 25 to 99 wt% of at least one oxide.
US08343583B2	Method for vaporizing non-gaseous precursor in a fluidized bed Methods and systems for depositing a film on a substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes converting a non-gaseous precursor into vapor phase. Converting the precursor includes: forming a fluidized bed by flowing gas at a sufficiently high flow rate to suspend and stir a plurality of solid particles, and converting the phase of the non-gaseous precursor into vapor phase in the fluidized bed. The method also includes transferring the precursor in vapor phase through a passage; and performing deposition on one or more substrates with the transferred precursor in vapor phase.
US08343582B2	Process for deposition of non-oxide ceramic coatings A method for depositing a non-oxide ceramic-type coating based on chrome carbides, nitrides or carbonitrides, by DLI-CVD at low temperature and atmospheric pressure on a metallic substrate, includes: a) a solution is prepared, containing a molecular compound which is a precursor of the metal to be deposited, belongs to the bis(arene) family, and has a decomposition temperature of 300° C.-550° C., the compound being dissolved in an oxygen atom depleted solvent; b) the solution is introduced as aerosol into a heated evaporator at a temperature between the solvent boiling temperature and the precursor decomposition temperature; and c) the precursor and the vaporized solvent are driven from the evaporator towards a CVD reactor having cold walls, with a susceptor carrying the substrate to be covered and heated to a temperature higher than the decomposition temperature of the precursor, to a maximum of 550° C., the evaporator and the CVD reactor being at atmospheric pressure.
US08343581B2	Synthesis of pure nanotubes from nanotubes An improved method of synthesizing nanotubes that avoids the slow process and the impurities or defects that are usually encountered with regard to as-grown carbon nanotubes. In a preferred embodiment, nanotubes are synthesized from nanotubes providing a novel catalyst-free growth method for direct growth of single- or multi-walled, metallic or semiconducting nanotubes.
US08343579B2	Methods and systems for coating and sealing inside of piping systems Methods, processes and systems for cleaning, coating and sealing leaks in existing pipes, in a single operation. A process can include isolating, draining, drying, cleaning and sealing a piping system. Air can be forced and pulled throughout the piping system by a generator and a vacuum. Pipes can be protected from water corrosion, erosion and electrolysis, extending the life of pipes such as copper, steel, lead, brass, cast iron piping and composite materials. Coatings can be applied to pipes having diameters up to approximately 6″. Leak sealants of at least approximately 4 mils thick can cover insides of pipes, and can include novel mixtures of fillers and epoxy materials, and viscosity levels. A positive pressure can be maintained within the pipes during applications. Piping systems can be returned to service within approximately 96 hours.
US08343577B2	Core-shell type nanoparticles comprising crystalline metal-oxide shell and method for preparing the same Disclosed herein are core-shell type nanoparticles comprising nanoparticle cores made of a metal or semiconductor, and shells made of crystalline metal oxide formed on the surfaces of the nanoparticle cores, as well as a preparation method thereof. According to the disclosed invention, the core-shell nanoparticles, consisting of metallic or semiconductor cores and crystalline metal oxide shells, can be prepared by epitaxially growing metal oxide on the surfaces of the metallic or semiconductor nanoparticle cores. By virtue of the crystalline metal oxide shells, the core nanoparticle made of metal or semiconductor can ensure excellent chemical and mechanical stability, and the core-shell nanoparticles can show new properties resulting from the interaction between the metal cores and the metal oxide crystal shells.
US08343573B2	Method for repairing a component by coating A method for repairing a component such as a turbine blade is provided. At the end of its operating time, the component has, for example, a depletion of aluminium in a region near the surface. The application of a repair layer is provided including particles with an increased proportion of aluminium. A subsequent heat treatment may achieve the effect of equalizing the concentration of aluminium between the repair layer and the region near the surface, and so the aluminium content required for new components is achieved again.
US08343571B2	Composite glass element, preferably composite safety glass element with an integrated electroluminescent (EL) illumination structure A laminated glass element is described, preferably a laminated safety glass element with integrated electroluminescence (EL) light structure, a method for producing a laminated glass element according to the invention, an insulating glass element containing at least one laminated glass element according to the invention and the use of a laminated glass element according to the invention as a decorative element and/or light element in interior spaces or for external use, preferably on external claddings of buildings, in or on items of equipment, in or on land or water vehicles or aircraft or in the advertising sector.
US08343566B2	Preparation of canola protein isolate without heat treatment (“C200Ca”) The supernatant from the deposition of canola protein micellar mass is processed to provide a canola protein isolate which is soluble in an aqueous acidic environment.
US08343558B2	Microorganism and method of processing green coffee beans using the same There is provided a novel microorganism capable of fermentation without placing particular limitations on fermentation conditions, as well as a method of processing green coffee beans using the novel microorganism, the method adding new, high-quality flavor and aroma to a coffee beverage by a simple operation, without instigating a particular increase in raw material costs and without requiring a new processing step.The method for processing green coffee beans includes a fermentation step of bringing nutritive substances and microorganisms into contact with one another and causing fermentation in the presence of green coffee beans, wherein the microorganism used in the fermentation step is a microorganism belonging to the genus Geotrichum.
US08343556B2	Composition for treating and/or preventing periodontal disease A method for treating periodontal disease, which comprises administering an effective amount of a composition to one in need of treatment of periodontal disease, the composition comprising a Sasa extract and an organic acid.
US08343555B2	Composition and method for treating or preventing white spot syndrome virus The present invention relates to a composition and method for treating or preventing white spot syndrome virus of arthropod. The present invention is based on using Artemisia japonica extract, and preferably, a mixture of Artemisia japonica extract and Saururus chinensis extract as effective agent. More preferably, the present invention provides a composition for treating or preventing white spot syndrome virus, comprising Artemisia japonica extract and Saururus chinensis extract which are coated by a polymer. The present invention also provides a method for treating or preventing white spot syndrome virus of arthropod, using Artemisia japonica extract and Saururus chinensis extract which are coated by a polymer.
US08343553B2	Essential element extractor A Mobile Extractor for extracting essential elements from plant material and for transporting low concentrations of essential elements in a solution of solvent includes a clean tank, a hopper, one or more pumps, a plurality of valves, and a dirty tank. Plant material may be soaked or rinsed with a solvent that extracts essential elements from the plant material where the solvent washes the essential elements from the plant material into a dirty tank. When the operation is complete the dirty tank will contain a solution of solvent infused with essential elements from the plant material. The best mode of the invention extracts cannabinoid or cannabis related essential elements from raw cannabis plant material and stores it in a solvent bath. The best mode pump or pumps used is one or more vacuum pumps.
US08343552B2	Therapeutic composition produced using punica granatum and hydrogen peroxide Methods of and compositions for producing and using plant-based materials are provided. The methods include using biopolymers or their synthetic equivalents combined with a stable source of reactive oxygen species that when applied to or combined with a separate source of oxido-reducing enzyme or catalyst will cause the formation of an activated biopolymer with increased protein binding affinity and microbial control activities.
US08343547B2	Solid dosage form comprising solid dispersion Provided are a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion that allows a drug in the preparation to be rapidly dissolved without compromising the solubility of the solid dispersion, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided is a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion, the dispersion comprising: a poorly soluble drug, a water-soluble polymer and a disintegrant, wherein the disintegrant is low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 μm and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g. Moreover, provided is a method for producing a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion, the method comprising steps of: spraying a water-soluble polymer solution in which a poorly soluble drug has been dispersed or dissolved, on a powder of low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 μm and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g and serving as a disintegrant and granulating the resultant; and drying.
US08343546B2	Ion exchange resin treated to control swelling The present invention provides a method and composition are provided that includes an ion exchange resin treated with from between about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight of one or more sugar alcohols in contact with one or more ionic pharmaceutically active drug.
US08343545B2	Method of producing microparticles A method of producing microparticles having a median diameter up to 100 μm and the microparticles so produced are described. The method includes the steps of providing a solvent having a bioactive dispersed or dissolved therein and a vehicle dissolved therein, carrying out an emulsification in a non-solvent phase to produce an emulsion containing the bioactive and the vehicle in a solvent phase, and evaporating the solvent to leave the microparticles, wherein a mixture of at least two surfactants is employed to stabilize the emulsion and wherein the mixture has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of up to 8.
US08343539B2	Compounds that bind α5β1 integrin and methods of use The present invention provides biologically active compounds that bind an α5β1 integrin. Also included in the present invention are methods for using such biologically active compounds.
US08343538B2	Compositions and methods for controlling the flux of a drug from a transdermal drug delivery systems A blend of at least two polymers in combination with a drug provides a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for a transdermal drug delivery system in which the drug is delivered from the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition and through dermis when the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition is in contact with human skin.
US08343537B2	Clay-based hemostatic agents and devices for the delivery thereof A hemostatic device for promoting the dotting of blood includes a gauze substrate, a clay material disposed on the gauze substrate, and also a polyol such as glycerol or the like disposed on the gauze substrate to bind the clay material. When the device is used to treat a bleeding wound, at least a portion of the clay material comes into contact with blood emanating from the wound to cause the clotting. A bandage that can be applied to a bleeding wound to promote the clotting of blood includes a flexible substrate and a gauze substrate mounted thereon. The gauze substrate includes a clay material and a polyol. A hemostatic sponge also includes a gauze substrate and a dispersion of hemostatic material and a polyol on a first surface of the substrate.
US08343535B2	Wound healing dressing and methods of manufacturing the same Disclosed are a hydrogel dressing for covering or treating a wound and a method for preparing the same. The hydrogel dressing includes a matrix structure of a cross-linked mixture, and an elastic sheet coated with an elementary metal or ionic metal embodied in the matrix structure. The mixture comprises a hydrophilic polymer, about 0.5 to about 5 wt % of a photocatalyst agent and at least 80 wt % of water based on the total weight of the mixture.
US08343534B2	Tissue including a volatile rhinological composition Tissues useful in providing fibrous tissue products for skin contact, such as facial tissue, bathroom tissue, disposable handkerchiefs which comprise a volatile rhinological effective composition for delivery to human skin.
US08343531B2	Composition containing peptide as active ingredient The invention provides a composition used for promoting glucose uptake, which comprises a peptide having an effect of promoting glucose uptake as the active ingredient, as well as a composition comprising a dipeptide containing leucine and/or isoleucine as the active ingredient. The composition is effective in preventing or treating diabetes mellitus or an elevation of blood glucose level, in promoting glycogen storage, or in enhancing physical strength, enhancing athletic ability, improving endurance performance or relieving fatigue.
US08343529B2	Implantable drug delivery devices having alternating hydrophilic and amphiphillic polymer layers An implantable drug delivery medical device with alternating hydrophilic and amphiphilic polymer layers and methods of using for the treatment of vascular disease are disclosed.
US08343525B2	Chlorhexidine acetate antiseptic cleaning agent An antiseptic cleaning agent, generally, comprising chlorhexidine acetate and a solvent, such as an alcohol and/or water. The chlorhexidine acetate acts as a highly effective biocide. Additionally, the chlorhexidine acetate allows the cleaning agent to dry without leaving a tacky residue. Where the cleaning agent comprises one or more alcohols, the alcohols may comprise any suitable alcohols, including lower alcohols having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as ethanol and isopropanol. Where the ratio of ethanol to isopropanol may be from between about 1:1000 to about 1000:1. In addition to chlorhexidine acetate, the cleaning agent optionally comprises another non-alcohol biocide, such as triclosan. The cleaning agent can be used in any suitable manner. For instance, the cleaning agent may be impregnated in an absorbent material, such as a towelette, swabstick, or gauze. Additionally, the absorbent material may comprise a positively charged or a non-ionic substance, such as polypropylene or polyester.
US08343519B2	Chemical enhancer and method The present invention relates to compositions containing at least one salicylic acid derivative and at least one cosmetic, dermatologic, pharmaceutical, etc. active agent, where the salicylic acid derivative increases, enhances, etc., the efficacy of the active agent, as well as to methods of making and using such compositions. The invention further relates to a method for enhancing the efficacy of active agents with these salicylic acid derivatives.
US08343515B2	Perfluorocarbon gel formulations A perfluorocarbon gel composition is disclosed with numerous uses including topical medical and cosmetic uses.
US08343514B2	Sol-gel nanostructured titania reservoirs for use in the controlled release of drugs in the central nervous system and method of synthesis The invention is related to a sol-gel nanostructured titania reservoir and its synthesis which is biocompatible with brain tissue. The pore size distribution, crystallite size and the extent of the crystalline phase distribution of anatase, brookite and rutile can be fully controlled. This device may be used to contain neurological drugs. It may be inserted directly into brain tissue for the purpose of the controlled time release of drugs over a period of from 6 months to three years.
US08343513B2	Prevention of molecular weight reduction of the polymer, impurity formation and gelling in polymer compositions Polymer and drug containing compositions and method of preparing such compositions are disclosed. The dispersed phase formulation has a polymer, a pharmaceutically or biologically active agent and a small fraction of low pKa acid additive. Stable, filter sterilizable, non-gelling solutions containing GnRH analogues at least at levels typically used in sustained release formulations and a method of increasing solubility of a high level of a GnRH analogue or a freeze-dried antagonist of GnRH in a polymer containing solution are also disclosed. The amount of the acid additive in the polymer solution is such that it is sufficient to increase the solubility of the high level of the GnRH analogue in the polymer solution without affecting the release characteristics of the microspheres prepared therefrom.
US08343507B2	Protein from Photobacterium damselae and use thereof A derivative of a 55 kDa extracellular protein from Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida is the basis for a vaccine against Photobacterium infection, and thereby protects fish from pasteurellosis.
US08343506B2	Chimeric chikungunya virus and uses thereof The present invention discloses a chimeric Chikungunya virus comprising a heterologous alphavirus cDNA fragment and a Chikungunya virus cDNA fragment. The heterologous alphavirus may include but is not limited to Sindbis virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus or Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. The present invention also discloses the use of this chimeric Chikungunya virus as vaccines and in serological and diagnostic assays.
US08343504B2	Methods of administering IGBPMA to treat type 1 hypersensitivity The present invention relates generally to methods and materials for treating conditions associated with IgE activation in humans and animals, and to agents capable of modulating the activation. The agents of the invention comprise or are related to IGBPMA polypeptides from ticks.
US08343500B2	Peptide composition There is provided a method for selecting a tolerogenic peptide by selecting a peptide which is capable of binding to an MHC class I or II molecule without further processing. There is also provided a peptide selected by such a method and its use in a pharmaceutical composition and a method to treat and/or prevent a disease. The present invention also relates to a composition which comprises the following myelin basic protein (MBP) peptides: MBP 30-44; MBP 83-99; MBP 131-145; and MBP 140-154. The composition may be used to treat a disease, in particular multiple sclerosis and/or optical neuritis and the invention also relates to such uses and methods.
US08343496B2	Anti-CD74 immunoconjugates and methods Disclosed are compositions that include anti-CD74 immunoconjugates and a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the immunoconjugates and using the immunoconjugates in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The compositions may be part of a kit for administering the anti-CD74 immunoconjugate compositions in therapeutic and/or diagnostic methods.
US08343494B2	Antibodies against LLG polypeptides of the triacylglycerol lipase family Lipoprotein Lipase like polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides, antisense sequences, and antibodies to said polypeptides are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for the preparation of said polypeptides in a recombinant system and for the use of said polypeptides to screen for agonists and or antagonists of said polypeptides. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for the treatment of disorders of lipid metabolism.
US08343487B2	Large-scale production of soluble hyaluronidase Provided are methods for preparing culture medium that contains soluble hyaluronidases. The methods employ cells that contain a plurality of active copies of nucleic acid encoding the soluble hyaluronidase and a plurality of feedings and temperature changes, whereby the encoded soluble hyaluronidase is secreted into the cell culture medium.
US08343480B2	Administration of stem or progenitor cells to a joint to enhance recovery from joint surgery Disclosed are methods of enhancing recovery from joint surgery, comprising administering to the joint during surgery a composition comprising stem or progenitor cells in an amount effective to enhance recovery, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08343479B2	Methods and compositions for the repair and/or regeneration of damaged myocardium Methods, compositions, and kits for repairing damaged myocardium and/or myocardial cells including the administration of stem cells, such as adult stem cells, optionally with cytokines are disclosed and claimed.
US08343476B2	Method of using IL-29 cystehne mutant to treat hepatitis C and hepatitis B Homogeneous preparations of IL-28A, IL-28B, and IL-29 have been produced by mutating one or more of the cysteine residues in the polynucleotide sequences encoding the mature proteins. The cysteine mutant proteins can be shown to either bind to their cognate receptor or exhibit biological activity. One type of biological activity that is shown is an antiviral activity.
US08343472B2	Biodegradable polyurethane/urea compositions The present invention relates to biocompatible, biodegradable polyurethane/urea polymeric compositions that are capable of in-vivo curing with low heat generation to form materials suitable for use in scaffolds in tissue engineering applications such as bone and cartilage repair. The polymers are desirably flowable and injectable and can support living biological components to aid in the healing process. They may be cured ex-vivo for invasive surgical repair methods, or alternatively utilized for relatively non-invasive surgical repair methods such as by arthroscope. The invention also relates to prepolymers useful in the preparation of the polymeric compositions, and to methods of treatment of damaged tissue using the polymers of the invention.
US08343469B2	Cationic synthetic polymers with improved solubility and performance in surfactant-based systems and use in personal care and household applications The present invention is related to surfactant-based formulations comprising the polyelectrolytes and blends of such polyelectrolytes with non-cellulosic cationic polysaccharide polymers. The surfactant-based formulations exhibit improved clarity of the resulting formulations, their improved conditioning of keratin substrates, textile substrates, and hard-surface substrates, their improved deposition of dispersed phase materials onto keratin substrates, textile substrates, and hard-surface substrates, their improved lather performance, and their improved rheology in applications such as personal care and household care products and textile applications.
US08343468B2	Human sebum mimetics derived from botanical sources and methods for making the same Human sebum mimetics and methods for producing human sebum mimetics are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a human sebum mimetic comprises a wax ester derived from interesterification of refined botanical oil comprising palmitoleic acid and refined jojoba oil, a phytosterol, and phytosqualene. A method for producing a human sebum mimetic comprises mixing refined macadamia oil and refined jojoba oil, interesterifying the refined macadamia oil and the refined jojoba oil, adding a phytosterol after the interesterifying, and adding phytosqualene after the interesterifying.
US08343464B2	Composition and method for treating eustachian tube dysfunction A method of treating Eustachian tube dysfunction in a person includes placing the person's body in a position substantially lying on one of the person's left or right sides. The side on which the person is lying is the side affected by Eustachian tube dysfunction. A composition of simethicone in a concentration of about 0.05% to 0.65% wt/vol diluted in an aqueous carrier is introduced through the nasal cavity of the same side on which the person is lying. The simethicone composition is then allowed to coat the person's pharynx on the side of which the person is lying.
US08343461B2	Molecular signature of cancer The present invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for detecting, diagnosing and treating cancers such as glioblastoma multiforme.
US08343460B2	Methods and compositions for F-18 labeling of proteins, peptides and molecules The present application discloses compositions and methods of synthesis and use of F-18 labeled molecules of use in PET imaging. In particular embodiments, the labeled molecules may be peptides or proteins, although other types of molecules may be labeled and utilized. Preferably, the F-18 is attached to a targeting molecule by formation of a metal complex and binding of the F-18-metal complex to a chelating moiety. In other embodiments, the metal may first be attached to the chelating group and subsequently the F-18 bound to the metal. More preferably, the F-18 label moiety may be attached to a targetable conjugate that is used for pretargeting in combination with a bispecific or multispecific antibody. The F-18-metal labeled molecules are stable in human serum at 37° C.
US08343458B2	Probes for in vivo targeting of active cysteine proteases Activity-based probes, which are specific for certain active cysteine proteases (caspase, cathepsin and legumain) and carry radioactive labels, are disclosed. The present probes comprise an acyloxymethyketone (AOMK) “warhead” that binds only to active enzyme. The probes further comprise peptide-like structure that targets the probe to a specific cysteine protease or protease family, and a radiolabel on the probe, which is bound to the targeted enzyme. It has been found that the present probes are stable in vivo and give specific target images distinguishable over background. The preferred probes are labeled with a positron-emitting agent such as 64Cu, 125I (SPECT) and 99mTc (PET). The probes show in vivo half-life and stability well suited for imaging.
US08343457B2	Amyloid imaging as a surrogate marker for efficacy of anti-amyloid therapies The present method for determining the efficacy of therapy in the treatment of amyloidosis involves administering to a patient in need thereof a compound of formula (I) or formula (II) or structures 1-45 and imaging the patient. After said imaging, at least one anti-amyloid agent is administered to said patient. Then, an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or formula (II) or structures 1-45 is administered to the patient and the patient is imaged again. Finally, baseline levels of amyloid deposition in the patient before treatment with the anti-amyloid agent are compared with levels of amyloid deposition in the patient following treatment with the anti-amyloid agent.
US08343453B2	Carrier core material for electrophotographic developer and method for producing the same, carrier for electrophotographic developer, and electrophotographic developer To provide a carrier for two-component electrophotographic developer not only having excellent fluidity but also having proper surface irregularities necessary for imparting electric charge, without generating cracks/chipping of particles even under an influence of stirring stress over a long period of time. A particle surface has raised parts of striped pattern extending almost continuously in a plurality of directions while being superposed on one another, with a surface formed with raised parts of striped pattern occupying 80% or more of the whole surface of a particle. Depths of grooves between the adjacent raised parts are 0.05 μm or more and 0.2 μm or less, average surface roughness Ra is 0.1 μm or more and 0.3 μm or less, roundness is 0.90 or more, and average particle size is 15 μm or more and 100 μm or less, and a carrier core material thus constituted is coated with resin. Thus, the carrier for two-component electrophotographic developer is prepared.
US08343442B2	Microfluidic device and methods of using same A variety of elastomeric-based microfluidic devices and methods for using and manufacturing such devices are provided. Certain of the devices have arrays of reaction sites to facilitate high throughput analyses. Some devices also include reaction sites located at the end of blind channels at which reagents have been previously deposited during manufacture. The reagents become suspended once sample is introduced into the reaction site. The devices can be utilized with a variety of heating devices and thus can be used in a variety of analyses requiring temperature control, including thermocycling applications such as nucleic acid amplification reactions, genotyping and gene expression analyses.
US08343441B2	Method for manufacturing and testing micro fluidic chips Aspects of the invention include methods and devices for manufacturing and testing microfluidic chips having at least one capillary for through-flow of a fluid.
US08343432B2	Waste decomposition apparatus A waste decomposition apparatus has a container-shaped body, a waste inlet for introducing wastes into the body, an outlet for discharging residual ash out of the body after the wastes introduced into the body are decomposed, and magnetic functioning means for inducing magnetic fields in the wastes introduced into the body. The waste decomposition apparatus includes pressing means for pressing the wastes introduced into the body.
US08343430B2	Compact two-stage granular moving-bed apparatus A compact two-stage granular moving-bed apparatus comprises a vessel, a flow-corrective element, and a filter material supplying part. The vessel comprises a hollow interior, a gas outlet, a first media outlet and a second media outlet. The flow-corrective element divides the hollow interior into a first channel and a second channel. The filter material supplying part has a first provider for providing a first granular material flowing through the first channel and a second provider for providing a second granular material flowing through the second channel, wherein a vertical level of each first and second provider is adjustable so that a first flow path that an exhaust gas flows through the first granular material and a second flow path that the exhaust gas flow through the second granular material is respectively capable of being controlled.
US08343429B2	Target supply unit of extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus and method of manufacturing the same In a target supply unit of an extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus for generating extreme ultraviolet light by applying a laser beam to a target material to turn the target material into plasma, clogging of a target nozzle for supplying the target material to a laser beam application point is suppressed. The target supply unit includes: a target container for accommodating the target material; a target nozzle for injecting the target material supplied from the target container; and a reducing gas supply unit for supplying a reducing gas into the target container. Instead of using the reducing gas, a carbon-based material having a reduction action may be provided within the target container for causing reduction reaction.
US08343422B2	Water vapor plasma generating apparatus, sterilization and disinfection method, and method for antioxidative treatment using water vapor plasma A water vapor plasma generating apparatus which is able to generate water vapor plasma stably is provided. By applying the water vapor plasma generated by the apparatus to an object to be treated, a sterilization and disinfection treatment can be performed. In addition, by applying the water vapor plasma generated by the apparatus to a substance containing an oily ingredient, an antioxidative treatment can be performed.
US08343421B2	Method and system for enhanced high intensity acoustic waves application According to the invention a method (and corresponding system) of enhancing application of high intensity acoustic waves is provided, wherein acoustic waves, e.g. ultrasound, and a gaseous medium, e.g. steam, coincide at a treatment zone. This is achieved by a combination of one or more high intensity acoustic generators and/or reflectors. In this way, enhanced efficiency in an area of the gaseous medium (or where the gaseous medium is to affect something) is obtained since a second generator or a reflector is located so that the acoustic waves directly influence the gaseous medium.
US08343419B2	Ni base alloy solid wire for welding An object of the present invention is to provide a Ni base alloy solid wire for welding, which has excellent cracking resistance to ductility dip cracking in weld metal, can increase the tensile strength of the weld metal to not less than the tensile strength of the base material, and has excellent weldability. The present invention provides a solid wire which has a composition containing Cr: 27.0 to 31.5 mass %, Ti: 0.50 to 0.90 mass %, Nb: 0.40 to 0.70 mass %, Ta: 0.10 to 0.30 mass %, C: 0.010 to 0.030 mass %, and Fe: 5.0 to 11.0 mass %, and is regulated to Al: 0.10 mass % or less, N: 0.020 mass % or less, Zr 0.005 mass % or less, P:0.010 mass % or less, S: 0.0050 mass % or less, Si: 0.50 mass % or less, and Mn: 1.00 mass % or less, with the balance including Ni and inevitable impurities.
US08343413B2	Method for manufacturing molded foam An object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a molded foam which is lightweight and excellent in strength. According to the invention, a method for manufacturing a molded foam from a foamed parison includes: an extruding step of extruding a resin blend containing a foaming agent and a thermoplastic resin to form a foamed parison; an attaching step of closely attaching facing portions of an inner wall surface of the foamed parison to each other to form a foamed parison laminated body; a mold clamping step of sealing and mold clamping the foamed parison laminated body by clamping the foamed parison laminated body by split mold blocks; and a sucking step of sucking air between the split mold blocks to reduce a pressure between the split mold blocks, after the attaching step and the mold clamping step.
US08343412B2	Sealing of inscriptions on plastics The present invention relates to the sealing of inscriptions on plastics which have been produced by means of lasers on the plastic surface.
US08343411B2	Method of producing a web substrate having activated color regions in deformed regions The present invention relates to a method of producing activated color regions in a web substrate where activated color regions are formed coinciding with deformed regions. The method includes providing a web substrate having an activatable colorant and producing a first activated color region therein. The web substrate is mechanically deformed to produce at least one deformed region in the first activated color region such that a second activated color region is produced coinciding with the at least one deformed region.
US08343408B2	Method of molding an endotracheal tube for tracheal intubation A mold (form) in which an endotracheal tube, having a stylette therein, is received so as to form the overall configuration of the endotracheal tube is disclosed. The mold has a recess in the surface thereof to receive the endotracheal tube with a stylette therein. The recess has a curve therein adjacent one end of the mold to receive the distal end of the endotracheal tube. The recess in the opposite end of the mold has a bend therein to receive the proximal end of the endotracheal tube. The recess in the intermediate portion of the mold is substantially straight and interconnects the curved end and the oppositely disposed bent end of the recess. The stylette is fabricated from a thin metallic malleable rod which is bendable, and thus configurable, to retain the overall configuration of the endotracheal tube after being formed and removed from the mold. The stylette is withdrawn from the endotracheal tube after the distal end thereof has been inserted through the vocal cords and just into the trachea of the patient being intubated. Due to the configuration of the endotracheal tube, withdrawal of the stylette causes the distal end of the tube to advance further into the trachea of the patient being intubated.
US08343402B1	Consolidation of composite material In one embodiment method to form a composite part from a metallic composite powder, comprises positioning a metallic composite powder preform in a mold cavity formed by a first susceptor and a second susceptor, heating the mold cavity to a first processing temperature, applying a pressure to the mold cavity, and applying a thermal oscillation cycle to the mold cavity, wherein the thermal oscillation cycle oscillates the temperature of the mold cavity between a first temperature in which the metallic composite powder is in a first phase and a second temperature in which the metallic composite powder is in a second phase, different from the first phase.
US08343394B2	Pyrospherelator Crystalline alumina particles are intimately mixed with a gaseous fuel, air and oxygen. The mixture is then ignited in a torch. Such blending of the powder with the combustible gas allows the alumina particles to be immediately heated to above their melting temperature and allows the particles to form into spheres. The spheres are then rapidly cooled to ambient temperature, providing high purity micron-sized polymorphic alumina spheres without the use of additives or special treatment.
US08343391B2	Compositions for the preparation of composite photochromic polycarbonate lenses Photochromic matrix compositions and tie layer compositions useful for the preparation of photochromic polycarbonate lenses are disclosed. The tie layer compositions facilitate adhesion of the photochromic matrix composition to the polycarbonate lens. The photochromic matrix compositions can contain a flexible hydrophilic dimethacrylate monomer, one or more hydrophobic monomers, a flexible hydrophobic multi(meth)acrylate monomer, one or more urethane methacrylate oligomers, and one or more photochromic dyes. The tie layer compositions can contain one or more methacrylate monomers, a (meth)acrylated oligomer with a polycarbonate backbone, one or more urethane methacrylate oligomers, and a solvent or solvent mixture. Methods of preparing photochromic polycarbonate lenses are also disclosed, involving the serial application of the tie layer composition, then the photochromic matrix composition to the lens.
US08343390B2	Highly Crystalline lithium transition metal oxides A powderous lithium transition metal oxide having a layered crystal structure Li1+aM1−aO2±bM′kSm with −0.03
US08343388B2	Electrode having porous active coating layer, manufacturing method thereof and electrochemical device containing the same Disclosed are an electrode having a porous active coating layer, a manufacturing method thereof and an electrochemical device containing the same. The electrode having a porous active coating layer according to the present invention may be useful to enhance peeling and scratch resistances of the porous active layer and improve a lamination characteristic toward the porous active layer by introducing a porous active layer onto a porous substrate having pores, the porous active layer having heterogeneity of morphology toward a thickness direction in which a content ratio of the binder polymer/inorganic particles present in a surface layer is higher than that of the binder polymer/inorganic particles present inside the surface layer. Accordingly, the stability and performances of the battery can be improved at the same time since the detachment of the inorganic particles from the porous active layer may be reduced during the assembly process of the electrochemical device.
US08343386B2	Electrostatic dissipative adhesive An electrostatically dissipative adhesive in one embodiment includes a mixture comprising: an adhesive material; and electrically conductive particles intermixed with the adhesive material, the electrically conductive particles being present in an amount between 0 and about 10% by weight of a total weight of the mixture. An electrostatically dissipative adhesive in another embodiment includes a mixture comprising: an adhesive material; and electrically conductive particles intermixed with the adhesive material, the electrically conductive particles being present in an amount between 0 and about 10% by weight of a total weight of the mixture, wherein the mixture has at least 50% of a lap shear strength as measured in accordance with ISO 4587 after curing for 72 hours at 22° C. as the raw adhesive material has as measured in accordance with ISO 4587 after curing for 72 hours at 22° C.
US08343385B2	Conductive paste composition and method for producing multilayer ceramic capacitor using the same Disclosed herein is a conductive paste composition. The conductive paste composition according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a conductive powder including nickel or a nickel alloy; a spherical particulate inhibitor including BaTiO3 powders; and a glass composition having Chemical Formula of aLi2O-bK2O-cCaO-dBaO-eB2O3-fSiO2, wherein a, b, c, d, e, and f satisfy a+b+c+d+e+f=100, 2≦a≦10, 2≦b≦10, 0≦c≦25, 0≦d≦25, 5≦e≦20, and 50≦f≦80.
US08343382B2	Band gap control in conjugated oligomers and polymers via Lewis acids A method for altering the electronic and optical properties of a chemical compound having a band gap and a framework that includes π-delocalized electrons. The method includes complexing a Lewis acid to a basic site within the framework to form a Lewis acid adduct having a band gap that differs from the band gap of the chemical compound. The λmax of the Lewis acid adduct can be shifted to a longer wavelength in comparison to the λmax of the chemical compound. In various versions, the chemical compound can be a conjugated oligomer, a conjugated polymer, or a small molecule comprising a conjugated π-electron system. Electronic devices that include Lewis acid adducts are also provided.
US08343381B1	Hole transport composition There is provided a hole transport composition having (i) a first hole transport polymer having crosslinkable groups, and (ii) a second hole transport polymer having substantially no crosslinkable groups. There is also provided a crosslinked hole transport layer and an electronic device containing the crosslinked hole transport layer.
US08343380B2	Corrosion inhibition of hypochlorite solutions using sugar acids and Ca Corrosion inhibitor compositions and methods of use are disclosed. Sugar acids and calcium corrosion inhibitors combined with hypochlorite sources provide use solutions for effective corrosion inhibition for metal surfaces.
US08343379B2	Warm white light-emitting diode and thin film and its red phosphor powder The invention discloses a red phosphor powder which is based on strontium (Sr) aluminate and using europium (Eu) as exciting agent, and is characterized by that its chemical equivalence formula is (SrO)4(ΣMe+2O)1Al2O3: Eu, wherein Me+2=Mg and/or Ca and/or Ba. The present invention also discloses a manufacturing process for the red phosphor powder and a warm white light-emitting diode employing the phosphor powder. Moreover, the present invention also discloses a multi-layer polyethylene thin film using the red phosphor powder.
US08343373B2	Method of aligning nanotubes and wires with an etched feature A method of forming an aligned connection between a nanotube layer and an etched feature is disclosed. An etched feature is formed having a top and a side and optionally a notched feature at the top. A patterned nanotube layer is formed such that the nanotube layer contacts portions of the side and overlaps a portion of the top of the etched feature. The nanotube layer is then covered with an insulating layer. Then a top portion of the insulating layer is removed to expose a top portion of the etched feature.
US08343370B2	Method of fabricating a PTFE seal element and a shaft seal assembly therewith A method of fabricating a PTFE seal element and rotary shaft seal assembly therewith. The method includes providing a PTFE seal element and a vacuum chamber having electrodes therein. Next, placing the PTFE seal element on one electrode and drawing a vacuum pressure in the chamber and introducing a first process gas into the chamber. Further, applying a high frequency signal to the electrodes and producing a discharge plasma and etching and chemically modifying a surface of the PTFE seal element with the discharge plasma. Then, purging the vacuum chamber with a second process gas and restoring the vacuum chamber to an atmospheric pressure. Thereafter, rinsing the seal element and applying an adhesion promoter to the etched and chemically modified surface. Lastly, attaching the etched and chemically modified surface of the PTFE seal element to the carrier by molding an elastomeric material between the seal element and the carrier.
US08343369B2	Method of producing a MEMS device A method of producing a MEMS device removes the bottom side of a device wafer after its movable structure is formed. To that end, the method provides the device wafer, which has an initial bottom side. Next, the method forms the movable structure on the device wafer, and then removes substantially the entire initial bottom side of the device wafer. Removal of the entire initial bottom side effectively forms a final bottom side.
US08343368B2	Method of fabricating a structure by anisotropic etching, and silicon substrate with an etching mask In a fabrication method of fabricating a structure, a basic etching mask corresponding a target shape with a convex corner, and a correction etching mask with a first portion, a second portion and an opening portion are formed on a single-crystal silicon substrate, and the silicon substrate with the basic etching mask and the correction etching mask formed thereon is subjected to an anisotropic etching to form the silicon substrate having the target shape. The first portion extends in a <110> direction, respective ends of the first portion are connected to the basic etching mask. The second portion is connected to a side of the first portion extending in the <110> direction.
US08343356B2	Installation for treating a biological liquid Installation for treating a biological liquid, including a circulation pump (5), a filter element (9), a container for collecting treated liquid, a first circuit section connecting a source of said biological liquid to an inlet orifice of said filter element (9), including a circuit element adapted to cooperate with said circulation pump (5); a second circuit section, connecting an outlet orifice of said filter element (9) to said treated liquid collecting container; characterized in that said treated liquid collecting container, said first circuit section and said second circuit section are disposable and said installation further includes a first cart (1) carrying said pump (5) and a second cart (2) including a housing (14) for said collecting container, separable from the first cart (1) and adapted to be at least partly nested in said first cart (1).
US08343354B2	Sulphur removal A process for desulfurizing a process fluid includes contacting a sulphur compound containing feed stream with an absorbent including an iron, copper or nickel compound capable of forming a metal sulphide, a support material, a first binder and a second binder where the first binder is a cement binder and the second binder is a high aspect ratio aluminosilicate clay binder having an aspect ratio >2 and a ratio of the first binder to the second binder is in the range 2:1 to 3:1.
US08343352B2	Method for collecting or containing an oil spill Oil in an oil spill is collected by laying an elongate generally flat mat onto and around the spill where the mat is formed from strips of material arranged side by side and connected at spaced positions longitudinally to define a honeycomb structure with top and bottom surfaces of the mat defined by edges of the strips. The mat is unrolled from a supply and laid onto the surface of a body of water in which the spill has occurred so that open empty tubular cells stand upwardly from the surface allowing the oil to be absorbed into the cells. The oil can be squeezed out by pressing the strips together to close the cells.
US08343346B2	Dialysis systems and related components A cassette is described for holding circuit components used with a hemodialysis machine.
US08343340B2	Flowing water splitting apparatus, flowing water splitting method and sewage system To provide a flowing water splitting apparatus, a flowing water splitting method, and a sewage system each capable of enhancing the flow quantity splitting function for flowing water by a simple structure to reduce the flow quantity of the flowing water flowing to a dirty water pipe. A flowing water splitting apparatus 10 includes a first flowing water channel 20 including a weir 28 defining a water quantity of the flowing water flowing in from a confluent pipe 14 and leading the flowing water flowing in from the confluent pipe 14 to a dirty water pipe 16; a second flowing water channel 32 leading flowing water flowing over the weir 28 to a rainwater pipe 18; a partition wall portion 26 provided to block the flowing water flowing through the first flowing water channel 20 to form a plurality of water diversion chambers 28 partitioned in the first flowing water channel 20; and a flow throttle portion 30 formed in the partition wall portion 26 to throttle a flow quantity of the flowing water flowing from one water diversion chamber into another water diversion chamber 28.
US08343338B2	Reverse osmosis water filtering system A valve assembly having a first valve defining an inlet connected to the inlet supply and an outlet connected to the concentrate chamber, a second valve defining an inlet connected to the permeate chamber and an outlet connected to the faucet, and a third valve defining an outlet connected to drain, a port connected to the concentrate chamber, and an inlet connected to the inlet supply. The port is selectively in fluid communication with the third valve outlet and inlet. When the faucet opens, the first valve opens, the second valve has permeate flowing, and the third valve opens a flowpath between the third valve port and the inlet due to pressure dropping in the second valve. When the faucet closes, the first valve closes and the third valve opens another flowpath between the third valve port and outlet due to pressure created in the second valve.
US08343331B2	Method for correcting erroneous results of measurement in biosensors and apparatus using the same Disclosed herein is a method of correcting erroneous measurement results in a biosensor. The method includes the steps of: (a) applying a first voltage from a voltage generator 12 to a test strip 10 when a blood sample is applied on the test strip 10, and measuring an electric current generated from the test strip within one second of applying the first voltage by a microcontroller unit (MCU), and then calculating a hematocrit value of the blood sample using the measured electric current value! (b) applying a second voltage from the voltage generator to the test strip after calculating the hematocrit value of the blood sample, and measuring an electric current generated from the test strip within a predetermined time of applying the second voltage, and then calculating a glucose level using the measured electric current value; and (c) correcting the glucose level in (b) by using the calculated hematocrit value in (a).
US08343326B2	Acid mist mitigation agents for electrolyte solutions Sulfonate-, sulfate-, or carboxylate-capped, alkoxylated anti-misting agents having the structure: R((AO)nX)m((AO)nH)p, and methods of suppressing mist from electrolyte solutions by adding a mist-suppressing amount of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds of the Formulas R((AO)nX)m((AO)nH)p and R3N+(CH3)2R4, and mixtures thereof, to electrolyte solutions.
US08343325B2	Electrodialysis apparatus and electrodialysis method using the same An electrodialysis apparatus includes a sample chamber including first and second dialysis membranes and filled with a sample between the first dialysis membrane and the second dialysis membrane, an anode chamber including an anode and filled with a first chamber solution between the anode and the first dialysis membrane, and a cathode chamber including a cathode and filled with a second chamber solution between the cathode and the second dialysis membrane. In particular, when a voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode, ionic materials of the sample move to the anode and cathode chambers.
US08343323B2	Determination of particle properties The present invention relates to a method and system for determining particle properties. Such properties may for example be charge, size, drift, etc. The method comprises determining (110) an electric mobility distribution based on detection of individual particles. The latter may be performed for a single particle over time, for a plurality of particles at the same time or in a combination thereof. The method also comprises deriving a particle property based on a periodicity in the electric mobility distribution.
US08343321B2	Membrane electrode unit for the electrolysis of water The invention relates to membrane-electrode assemblies for the electrolysis of water (electrolysis MEAs), which contain an ion-conducting membrane having a front and rear side; a first catalyst layer on the front side; a first gas diffusion layer on the front side; a second catalyst layer on the rear side, and a second gas diffusion layer on the rear side.The first gas diffusion layer has smaller planar dimensions than the ion-conducting membrane, whereas the second gas diffusion layer has essentially the same planar dimensions as the ion-conducting membrane (“semi-coextensive design”). The MEAs also comprise an unsupported free membrane surface that yields improved adhesion properties of the sealing material. The invention also relates to a method for producing the MEA products.Pressure-resistant, gastight and cost-effective membrane-electrode assemblies are obtained, that are used in PEM water electrolyzers, regenerative fuel cells or in other electrochemical devices.
US08343319B1	Method and system for providing an improved hard bias structure A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer is described. The method and system define a magnetoresistive sensor in a track width direction, provide hard bias material(s) adjacent to the sensor in the track width direction, and provide sacrificial capping layer(s) on a portion of the hard bias material(s). The sacrificial capping layer(s) have a first height in a stripe height direction. The method and system also provide a mask for defining a stripe height of the sensor. The mask covers at least part of the sensor and has a second height in the stripe height direction. The second height is less than the first height. The method and system define the stripe height of the sensor while the mask covers the sensor. The sacrificial capping layer(s) are configured to prevent removal of the portion of the hard bias material(s) while the stripe height is defined.
US08343318B2	Magnetic lensing to improve deposition uniformity in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process A physical vapor deposition (PVD) system includes a chamber and a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged around the chamber. First and second annular bands of permanent magnets are arranged around the chamber with poles oriented perpendicular to a magnetic field imposed by the electromagnetic coils. Each of the permanent magnets in the first annular band is arranged with poles having a first polarity closest to a central axis of the chamber. Each of the permanent magnets in the second annular band is arranged anti-parallel with respect to the permanent magnets in the first annular band.
US08343315B2	Integrated solar thermal and nuclear enabled water purification and hydrocarbon refining processes Saline waters are made suitable for use in large quantities in petroleum refining operations by evaporative desalination of a water source having a dissolved salt content of at least 30,000 ppmw with the heat liberated during the steam condensation used as low quality heat for petroleum refining operations. Sea water is most suitable for evaporative purification processes.
US08343310B2	Wastewater treatment system and method A vessel-based system and method for disposing of wastewater including bilge water from a bilge of the vessel. The system including a treatment unit for receiving and treating the wastewater to produce a substantially oil-free treated water and, an evaporator for receiving the treated water from the treatment unit. In an embodiment, the evaporator having an evaporation element for transferring heat to the treated water to evaporate the treated water.
US08343305B2	Method and apparatus for diagnosing status of parts in real time in plasma processing equipment Apparatus and methods for diagnosing status of a consumable part of a plasma reaction chamber, the consumable part including at least one conductive element embedded therein. The method includes the steps of: coupling the conductive element to a power supply so that a bias potential relative to the ground is applied to the conductive element; exposing the consumable part to plasma erosion until the conductive element draws a current from the plasma upon exposure of the conductive element to the plasma; measuring the current; and evaluating a degree of erosion of the consumable part due to the plasma based on the measured current.
US08343299B2	Infrared plastic welding with recirculation of unabsorbed infrared laser light to increase absorption of infrared laser light Unabsorbed infrared laser light that has passed though plastic parts to be welded with a low absorption TTIr process is recirculated in an infinite loop back to the low absorption weld interface for reabsorption in the process. On each pass in the infinite loop, more infrared laser light is absorbed at the weld interface.
US08343298B2	Aircraft structures bonded with adhesive including magnetostrictive material First and second aircraft structures are bonded together with an adhesive including strain-sensitive magnetostrictive material.
US08343295B2	Apparatus and method for insulating conductor bars for rotating electrical machines An apparatus is provided for wrapping a conductor bar with an insulation. The apparatus has at least one supply roll for feeding an insulating tape to the conductor bar. The insulating tape can be wound around the conductor bar by the supply roll rotating relative to the conductor bar. At least one pressure roll is provided, and the insulating tape can be pressed against the conductor bar by means of the pressure roll. A method is also provided for wrapping a conductor bar with insulation, with an insulating tape being pressed against the conductor bar by means of a pressure roll.
US08343294B2	Method for enhancing the fatigue life of a structure An apparatus and method adapted to enhance the structural performance of a desired connection and provide a readily perceivable indication of predetermined limitations having being reached prior to actual failure of a connection. A method for enhancing structural performance of a desired structure by preventing fracture propagation.
US08343292B1	Adhesive tape The pressure sensitive adhesive tape of this invention comprises a first layer of polymeric material, particularly a polyvinyl chloride, having a Shore A Hardness of between 92 and 100 and a second layer of adhesive material attached to a surface of the layer of polymeric material.
US08343286B2	Ware washing system containing cationic starch The present invention discloses a method of washing ware, in particular in an automatic domestic or institutional ware washing machine, using a detergent composition containing a cationic starch. This eliminates the need for a surfactant in the rinse step. The cationic starch provides a layer of cationic starch on the ware so as to afford a sheeting action in an aqueous rinse step without any added rinse agent.
US08343284B2	Film removing device and film removing method A film removing device includes an approach stage having a flat approach part having a surface substantially flush with the surface of a substrate supported on a support member. The flat approach part faces a first side surface of the substrate at a corner of the substrate where the first side surface and a second side surface of the substrate join. A film removing nozzle spouts a solvent toward a peripheral part of the substrate and sucks a solution while being moved along the second side surface and the approach stage. A gas is spouted into a gap between the flat approach part and the corner of the substrate so that the gas flows through the gap toward the second side surface.
US08343283B2	Cleaning with controlled release of acid The present invention discloses a method for cleaning a substrate comprising contacting the substrate in a cleaning cycle with an aqueous cleaning solution comprising an aqueous diluent and a detergent composition, the detergent composition comprising a glycolic and/or lactic acid oligomer with an average degree of polymerization between 1.8 and 6. Preferably, the substrate is contacted in a rinse cycle with an aqueous rinse which is substantially free of an intentionally added rinse agent or fabric softener.
US08343279B2	Apparatuses for atomic layer deposition Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods for depositing materials on substrates during vapor deposition processes, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). In one embodiment, a chamber contains a substrate support with a receiving surface and a chamber lid containing an expanding channel formed within a thermally insulating material. The chamber further includes at least one conduit coupled to a gas inlet within the expanding channel and positioned to provide a gas flow through the expanding channel in a circular direction, such as a vortex, a helix, a spiral or derivatives thereof. The expanding channel may be formed directly within the chamber lid or formed within a funnel liner attached thereon. The chamber may contain a retaining ring, an upper process liner, a lower process liner or a slip valve liner. Liners usually have a polished surface finish and contain a thermally insulating material such as fused quartz or ceramic. In an alternative embodiment, a deposition system contains a catalytic water vapor generator connected to an ALD chamber.
US08343268B2	Inks with improved performance Inkjet ink formulations and methods using the same, with improved performance, wherein the inks are formulated to work as an ink set with darker inks having a higher dynamic surface tension.
US08343267B2	Gallium formulated ink and methods of making and using same A gallium formulated ink is provided. Also provided are methods of preparing the gallium formulated ink and for using the gallium formulated ink to deposit a Group 1b/gallium/(optional indium)/Group 6a material on a substrate for use in the manufacture of a variety of chalcogenide containing semiconductor materials, such as, thin film transistors (TFTs), light emitting diodes (LEDs); and photoresponsive devices (e.g., electrophotography (e.g., laser printers and copiers), rectifiers, photographic exposure meters and photovoltaic cells) and chalcogenide containing phase change memory materials.
US08343265B2	Air cleaner apparatus An air cleaner apparatus includes a lid that covers an opening formed in an air cleaner box is provided with an intake port communicating with the opening. In addition, a regulator is attached to an upper wall portion of the air cleaner box, the intake port is extended to the upper wall portion of the air cleaner box so as to cover the regulator, and the regulator is placed facing inside an intake passage connecting between the intake port and the opening. The air cleaner apparatus so configured provides a sufficient cooling effect, and is excellent in ease of maintenance.
US08343256B2	Integrated contaminant separator and water-control loop for a fuel reactant stream An integrated contaminant separator and water-control loop (10) decontaminates a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (12). Water passes over surfaces of an ammonia dissolving means (61) within a separator scrubber (58) while the fuel reactant stream simultaneously passes over the surfaces to dissolve contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into the water. An accumulator (68) collects the separated contaminant stream, and ion exchange material (69) integrated within the accumulator removes contaminants from the stream. A water-control pump (84) directs flow of a de-contaminated water stream from the accumulator (68) through a water-control loop (78) having a heat exchanger (86) and back onto the scrubber (58) to flow over the packed bed (62). Separating contaminants from the fuel reactant stream and then isolating and concentrating the separated contaminants within the ion exchange material (69) minimizes cost and maintenance requirements.
US08343255B2	Forged product and crankshaft manufactured from it When the density (DO) of the inclusions whose major axis exceeds 5 μm observed in the axis position of a section perpendicular to the axial direction of a forged product is made 70 nos/cm2 or below and the radius of the forged product is made R, the ratio of the density (DR) of the inclusions whose major axis exceeds 5 μm observed in the R/3 position from the axis position toward the radial direction and the density DO satisfies an inequality (1) below. 0.5≦DR/DO≦1.50 (1)
US08343253B2	Method for producing conductor fine particles A method for producing conductor fine particles in which the advantages of conventional vapor phase method and liquid phase method are utilized while eliminating the drawbacks of both methods remarkably. Furthermore, definite guidelines and measure for improvement are given to the greatest problems common to the vapor phase method and liquid phase method, i.e., enhancement in quality of the unit fine particle and a fine particle production method controllably temporarily and regionally. The method for producing conductor fine particles comprises a step for applying a voltage to a pair of electrode consisting of a positive electrode and a negative electrode arranged in conductive liquid and generating plasma in the vicinity of the negative electrode, and a step for producing conductor fine particles by melting the metal material of the negative electrode and then re-solidifying.
US08343251B2	Composite filter media A composite filter media having excellent dust-releasing properties provided with a layer of netting formed of a low surface free energy material that is hot calendered to the upstream surface of a supporting layer formed of non-woven synthetic fibers. A filtering layer formed of non-woven synthetic fibers is laminated to the downstream surface of the supporting layer. The filtering layer may include an electrostatic charge to increase filter efficiency at a reduced pressure drop across the composite media.
US08343248B2	Filter unit panel The present invention provides a filter unit panel in which the generation of an organic gas derived from an adhesive can be suppressed although a plurality of filter units each having a frame body made of a resin member and an outer frame that surrounds these units are used together. This filter unit panel includes a plurality of filter units (100) and an outer frame (10) that surrounds these units. Each of the plurality of filter units includes a pleated filter medium and a frame body that supports the filter medium. Both of the outer frame (10) and the frame body are resin members. The filter units (100) are integrated into a single unit by welding their frame bodies adjacent to each other, and the outer frame and the frame bodies are integrated with each other by welding.
US08343247B2	Filter module The invention relates to a filter module for removing air-polluting materials from machine exhaust, comprising a filter housing with an intake opening and an outlet opening for channeling machine exhaust through, at least one mounting element for mounting the filter module on a machine, and a filter assembly, arranged in the filter housing and comprised of at least two filter groups, arranged in tandem in the direction of flow and comprised of rod-shaped filter elements with a filter medium, said elements being arranged parallel to one another at a constant center-to-center distance and with their longitudinal axis largely crosswise to the direction of flow, wherein the filter elements of two adjacent filter groups are parallel to one another, and are arranged offset in relation to one another, crosswise to their longitudinal axes and to the direction of flow. The filter elements are connected with at least one filter bracket to form at least one filter insert, and the filter insert is detachably connected to the filter housing.
US08343245B2	Filter arrangements; housings; assemblies; and, methods Air cleaner and preferred components for an air cleaner are provided. In certain arrangements, a band is permanently mounted to the media pack, surrounding the media. Also, the cartridge is non-circular and includes a radial seal thereon.
US08343241B2	Process for the conversion of organic material to methane rich fuel gas The present disclosure relates to a process for the conversion of organic material to methane rich gas. In particular, the process comprises heating vaporized organic material in the presence of an excess amount of hydrogen gas and superheated steam to produce a methane rich fuel gas at pressures greater than 0 atmospheres gauge up to about 2 atmosphere gauge.
US08343238B1	Process for altering the appearance of hair using a composition containing dyes and non-hydroxide bases A process for altering the appearance of hair, the process comprising the steps of (a) providing a composition for dyeing and reducing curl and/or frizziness of hair, said composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable carrier: (i) at least one non-hydroxide base; (ii) at least one protein denaturant different from (a)(i); (iii) at least one dye chosen from oxidative dye precursors; (iv) at least one thickening agent; (v) optionally, at least one alkoxysilane comprising at least one solubilizing functional group; and (vi) optionally, at least one fatty substance; (b) contacting the hair with the composition in (a) to form treated hair; (c) smoothing the treated hair using a combination of heat and means for physically smoothing hair to form smoothed hair; (d) optionally, shampooing the smoothed hair; and (e) rinsing the smoothed hair.
US08343230B2	Orthopaedic bearing material Disclosed is a polymeric orthopaedic bearing material for use as an implant material or part thereof comprising one or more crosslinked regions and one or more non-crosslinked or substantially non-crosslinked regions at the surface. The bearing material can be prepared from a crosslinkable polymer, e.g., ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. The orthopaedic bearing material has an advantageous combination of at least one wear property and at least one mechanical property. Also disclosed are processes for producing orthopaedic bearing materials, for example, by irradiating a raw material in consolidated form through a radiation mask having a perforated pattern for crosslinking selected regions of the raw material, and optionally shaping the raw material into a bearing material. Alternatively, a pulsed radiation beam can be used for crosslinking.
US08343228B2	Arthroplastic implant with anchor peg for basilar joint and related methods An arthroplastic implant is for a basilar joint of a hand of a patient. The arthroplastic implant may include a body having a distal surface and a proximal surface opposite therefrom with the distal surface to be positioned adjacent a first metacarpal bone at the basilar joint of the hand of the patient. The arthroplastic implant may also include an anchor peg extending outwardly from the body to anchor the body within the basilar joint of the hand of the patient.
US08343222B2	Spinal disc prosthesis and instruments Described is an articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis including a first member having a vertebra engaging portion and a bearing surface; a second member having a vertebra engaging portion and a bearing surface, which in use abuts the first member bearing surface to form a first bearing joint, —and motion restraint means adapted to provide ax-ticulation restraint of the bearing joints at predetermined limits of articulation similar to the natural motion restraint of a facet joint; wherein the prosthesis is longitudinally—split into two bodies so that the two bodies can be laterally separated, each body having an articulating bearing joint. Preferably, the second member bearing surface is shaped to include at least a portion of a first substantially circular curve when viewed in a first section, and at least a portion of a second substantially circular curve when viewed in a second section, said first and second curves being of respectively different sizes of circle. Further described is a chisel and a chisel guide for preparing the disc space for implantation.
US08343219B2	Intersomatic cage, intervertebral prosthesis, anchoring device and implantation instruments An intersomatic cage, an intervertebral prosthesis, an anchoring device and an instrument for implantation of the cage or the prosthesis and the anchoring device are provided. An intersomatic cage or an intervertebral prosthesis fit closely to the anchoring device, which includes a body of elongated shape on a longitudinal axis, of curved shape describing, along the longitudinal axis, an arc whose dimensions and radius of curvature are designed in such a manner that the anchoring device may be implanted in the vertebral plate of a vertebra by presenting its longitudinal axis substantially along the plane of the intervertebral space, where the anchoring device is inserted, by use of the instrument, through a slot located in at least one peripheral wall of the cage or on at least one plate of the intervertebral disc prosthesis to penetrate into at least one vertebral plate.
US08343217B2	Intraocular lens and methods for providing accommodative vision An accommodating intraocular lens for providing a range of accommodative vision contains an optic and a haptic. The optic is disposed about an optical axis and includes an anterior surface and a posterior surface defining a clear aperture of the optic. The haptic is at least partially disposed inside the optic and includes an inner structure, an outer structure, and a plurality of arms disposed between and connecting the inner structure and the outer structure. The inner structure is circumferentially disposed about the optical axis, while the outer structure is circumferentially disposed about the inner structure and has an outer face. Each arm has proximal portion adjacent the inner structure and a distal portion adjacent the outer structure that is bifurcated in a radial direction from the proximal portion. The intraocular lens also has an outer surface defined by outer surfaces of the plurality of arms and an outer surface of the outer structure. The inner structure and at least a portion of the arms are disposed inside the clear aperture. The distal portion of each arm has a larger axial extent than an axial extent of the inner portion. The distal portion of each arm has a larger axial extent along the outer surface than an axial extent of the outer structure along the outer surface.
US08343216B2	Accommodating intraocular lens with outer support structure An intraocular lens for insertion into the capsular bag of an eye contains an optic, an outer periphery, and an outer support structure. The optic has a periphery and centered about an optical axis. The outer periphery is disposed about the optic and configured to engage an equatorial region of the capsular bag of an eye. The outer support structure is disposed along the periphery and spaced from the optic with voids outer support structure and the optic. The intraocular lens further comprises a first intermediate member and a weakened region disposed along the outer periphery between the outer support structure and the first intermediate member. The first intermediate member operably couples the optic and the outer support structure. The weakened region is attached to, and configured to provide relative motion between, the outer support structure and the first intermediate member in response to the ciliary muscle of the eye.
US08343211B2	Connectors for bifurcated stent A stent assembly comprises a second stent body and a substantially tubular first stent body defining a first lumen and containing a side branch opening. In an undeployed state, the second stent body is at least partially comprised of rings having peaks and valleys at least some of the valleys of adjacent rings being interconnected by bridges. In an expanded state, the rings of the second stent body define a second lumen opening in fluid communication with the first lumen. The second lumen has superior body vessel coverage and is flexible enough to form an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first stent body.
US08343201B2	Pedicle screw assembly having a retractable screw tip for facilitating the securement of the pedicle screw assembly to a spinal vertebra A pedicle screw assembly has a retractable screw tip that facilitates the securement of the pedicle screw assembly to a spinal vertebra in a minimally invasive fashion during an orthopedic surgical procedure. The pedicle screw assembly includes a body portion including a head and a shank. The shank includes an outer surface with a thread provided thereon, an end having a cutting tip provided thereon, and a bore extending inwardly from the end and having an internally threaded region provided therein. The pedicle screw assembly also includes a tip portion including a body having a cutting edge and a shank extending from the body. The shank has an externally threaded region provided thereon that cooperates with the internally threaded region of the bore to permit movement of the tip portion relative to the body portion between extended and retracted positions.
US08343198B2	Hybrid plate system and method A bone plate system is disclosed which includes a bone plate having at least one plate hole, at least one pin adapted to be disposed in the at least one plate hole, and a polymer component disposed between the at least one pin and the bone plate. The polymer component includes a polymer that may be melted through the application of ultrasonic energy. The at least one pin is constructed of a material that will not melt under such application of ultrasonic energy. The re-solidified polymer component creates a bond between the at least one pin and the bone plate to provide a more rigid and secure mating therebetween, and to at least substantially prevent backout of the at least one pin with respect to the bone plate. A method of implanting the bone plate system is also disclosed.
US08343196B2	Bone plate A bone plate has an underside on the side of the bone, an upper side and a plurality of holes in the plate connecting the underside with the upper side, with a central hole axis. At least one of these holes in the plate has an internal jacket surface that tapers towards the underside, while the internal jacket surface has N≧3 recesses which extend radially away from the axis of the hole.
US08343195B2	Drill-tap-screw drill guide A surgical drill guide for use with a bone plate having fastener holes oriented at predetermined angles with respect to the plate, the surgical drill guide having at least one alignment drill guiding barrel that is aligned with the respective fastener holes in the bone plate for drilling the holes at the desired range of angles permitted by the plate hole.
US08343193B2	Method of supporting and distracting opposing vertebral bodies An apparatus and method is provided for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting opposing vertebral bodies. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the vertebral bodies to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the vertebral bodies so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.
US08343192B2	Expandable rod system to treat scoliosis and method of using the same Correction of a scoliotic curve in a spine comprises the steps of implanting an expanding rod isolated completely under the skin and attached to selected portions of the scoliotic curve of the spine at opposing ends of the rod; and producing a controlled force by means of expansion of the rod over at an extended time period under external control until a desire spinal curve is obtained. An incremental force is generated to stretch the scoliotic curve of the spine between the selected portions where attachment of the rod is defined. The controlled force is provided steadily for at least one month or alternatively 1-3 months. Multiple rods may be employed each associated with a different scoliotic curve of the spine or a different portion of the scoliotic curve.
US08343190B1	Systems and methods for spinous process fixation A spinal fixation device including two plates and a coupling element for coupling the plates in a fixed manner about adjacent spinous processes of the spine. Each plate is preferably equipped with integral spikes on the inwardly facing surfaces for pressing into the spinal processes and thereby augmenting the purchase between the plates and the spinous processes. Each plate contains a central aperture through which the coupling element passes in order to couple the plates together.
US08343189B2	Method and apparatus for facet joint stabilization A device for treating a facet joint of a patient, the facet joint including opposing, superior and inferior faces. The device includes a superior component and an inferior component each defining an anchoring surface configured to engage bone at a face of the facet joint and an articulating surface. The device is configured for percutaneous insertion into the facet joint, with the articulating surfaces abutting one another in a sliding interface. One or more instruments are included with the device as part of a percutaneous implantation kit, such as a dilator, a guide wire, and a sheath.
US08343185B2	Surgical stapling device A surgical stapling device an elongated body portion having proximal and distal portions, and a head portion positioned adjacent the distal portion of the elongated body portion. The head portion includes a shell assembly and an anvil assembly movable relative to the shell assembly between un-approximated and approximated positions. The anvil assembly includes a center rod and an anvil head connected to the center rod. The center rod includes at least one aperture extending transversely therethrough and configured and dimensioned to receive a flexible member such that the flexible member extends transversely through the center rod.
US08343183B2	Self-contained medical applicators for surgical sealants, and methods of use thereof Aspects of the invention relate to an applicator, and methods of use thereof, which can house multiple component formulations in separate material receptacles, which components can then be easily combined at the time of use without assembly by the user. In certain embodiments, a device of the invention can be used for, but is not limited to, applying hydrogel formulations to dura mater, abdominal tissue in hernia repair, tissues near the spine, lung tissue, intestinal tissue, or any of the internal tissues. In certain embodiments, a device of the invention can be configured to apply a spray or a stream of a liquid formulation to a surface. In certain embodiments, a device of the invention can be configured to deliver the formulation through an endoscope or laparoscope.
US08343180B2	Safety lancet for preventing reuse A safety lancet for preventing reuse is provided, including an upper and lower case, moving block, guide, pressing plate, seating recess, and resilient spring. The upper case and a lower cases are coupled together with a space therein and a through-hole at the front to expose a lancet needle. The moving block is movable within the cases. with the lancet needle at the front. The guide is positioned behind the moving block within the cases and includes an anti-reverse ledge to selectively restrict reverse movement for reloading of the moving block. The pressing plate is pivotably mounted to the upper case and includes a stopper on which the moving block is caught, and a pressing projection for pressing the guide. The seating recess is defined in a bottom of the lower case, in which the guide descends and is seated. The resilient spring supports the rear of the moving block.
US08343175B2	Apparatus and methods for forming and securing gastrointestinal tissue folds Apparatus and methods are provided for forming a gastrointestinal tissue fold by engaging tissue at a first tissue contact point and moving the first tissue contact point from a position initially distal to, or in line with, a second tissue contact point to a position proximal of the second contact point, thereby forming the tissue fold, and extending an anchor assembly through the tissue fold from a vicinity of the second tissue contact point. Adjustable anchor assemblies; as well as anchor delivery systems, shape-lockable guides and methods for endoluminally performing medical procedures, such as gastric reduction, treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, resection of lesions, and treatment of bleeding sites; are also provided.
US08343174B2	Locking mechanisms for fixation devices and methods of engaging tissue Devices and methods are provided for tissue approximation and repair. Fixation devices comprise a pair of elements each having a first end, a free end opposite the first end, and an engagement surface therebetween for engaging the tissue, the first ends being moveable between an open position wherein the free ends are spaced apart and a closed position wherein the free ends are closer together with the engagement surfaces generally facing each other. The fixation devices include a locking mechanism coupled to the elements for locking the elements in place. The devices and methods find use in a variety of therapeutic procedures, including endovascular, minimally-invasive, and open surgical procedures, and can be used in various anatomical regions. The invention is particularly useful in 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.
US08343163B1	Spinal implant installation device An implant installation device is provided for delivering an implant to a target implantation site including a handle with a first and second arms extending distally therefrom. A translation member extends through the handle such that a distal portion lies between the first arm and second arm while a proximal portion extends beyond the proximal end of the handle. An inserter is coupled at the distal end of the translation member and also lies between the first arm and second arm. With an implant positioned proximate the distal end of the inserter, the distal ends of the arms may be inserted between the pair of vertebrae. The translation member may be operated to drive the inserter distally, which in turn pushes the implant toward the implantation site.
US08343161B2	Femoral guide for ACL repair having multiple lumen A guide for positioning a femoral tunnel during an ACL repair. The device may include a shaft having two or more lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The device may also include a distal offset projection, at least a portion of the distal offset projection extending distally from the elongated shaft.
US08343154B2	Modular bone plate system A modular bone plating system in one embodiment is a bone plate kit including a plurality of bone plates, each of the plurality of bone plates including a male coupling portion, a female coupling portion and a shaft extending between the male coupling portion and the female coupling portion, wherein each of the male coupling portions of each of the plurality of bone plates is configured to couple with each of the female coupling portions of each of the other of the plurality of bone plates.
US08343151B2	Vessel sealer and divider with captured cutting element A forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom. The shaft has an end effector assembly that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation and moveable from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue therebetween and a knife. One or more jaw members include knife blade channels defined therein. Each knife blade channel includes a polygonal longitudinal cross-section defined therein. The knife includes a knife edge and a knife base. The knife base includes a corresponding polygonal longitudinal cross-section. The knife is configured to translate through the knife blade channels and the knife base is configured to slidingly engage the knife base channel having the polygonal cross section upon translation of the knife. In embodiments, the knife blade channel and the knife base have a T-shaped longitudinal cross-section.
US08343150B2	Mechanical cycling of seal pressure coupled with energy for tissue fusion An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue includes one or more elongated shafts having an end effector assembly attached at a distal end thereof that includes a pair of opposing jaw members movable by an actuator from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue. One or both jaw members are adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that electrosurgical energy can be supplied to tissue disposed therebetween. A controller is coupled to the actuator for regulating a closing pressure between the jaw members and a sensor is configured to provide feedback to the controller regarding a seal pressure of tissue disposed between the jaw members.
US08343145B2	Microwave surface ablation using conical probe An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a conical hood reflector and method of manufacture thereof is disclosed. The disclosed probe includes a shaft assembly that has a coaxial feedline core having an inner conductor and an outer conductor separated by an insulating layer. A tubular catheter is disposed coaxially around the feedline and is configured to deliver coolant, such as saline or deionized water, to a coolant chamber at a distal end formed within the conical reflector. A radiating section disposed within the conical reflector may have a conical, cylindrical, or other suitable shape. A membrane disposed across a distal opening of the conical reflector seals coolant within the coolant chamber, and may conform to tissue contours during use. A resilient aperture may be included at the periphery of the conical hood. The shaft assembly may include an angled section, an adjustable section, and, additionally or alternatively, a malleable section.
US08343142B2	Assembly and method for performing surgical laser treatments of the eye An arrangement for carrying out surgical laser treatments of the eye is adapted to emit pulsed treatment radiation with a wavelength of between about 190 nm and about 380 nm and a pulse duration in the femtosecond range. Such treatment radiation allows nonaggressive corneal or intraocular laser treatment of the eye, for example in order to make corneal cuts or deliberately ablate corneal tissue.
US08343132B2	Apparatus and methods for injecting high viscosity dermal fillers A method includes inserting a distal end portion of a needle of a medical injector into a skin of a body. An energy source operatively coupled to the medical injector is actuated such that a dermal filler is conveyed from the medical injector into the skin through the distal end portion of the needle. The distal end portion of the needle is moved within the skin during the actuating.
US08343131B2	Catheter for modified perfusion A catheter adapted for use in passing fluids and medicines therethrough for use in the perfusion or reperfusion of blood or blood-fluid mixtures into the arteries, veins, tissues, conduits, or organs of a patient by selectively adjusting the flow rate of fluid supplied to a drug delivery lumen of the catheter based at least in part on the sensed systemic fluid pressure and the sensed fluid pressure at a distal end of the catheter is disclosed.
US08343128B2	Multiple-chamber medical container and bag for enclosing same A multiple-chamber medical container 1 comprises a container body 5 having two chambers 9, 11 for containing medicaments therein and a partitioning weak seal portion 13 for separating the chambers 9, 11 from each other, a medicinal outlet portion 7 attached to the container body 5 for discharging the medicaments from the chambers therethrough, and an openable small container 15 disposed in the first chamber 9 and having a medicament enclosed therein, the partitioning seal portion 15 being openable so as to cause the chambers 9, 11 to communicate with each other for use. The small container 15 can be opened by opening the partitioning weak seal portion 13.
US08343124B2	Absorbent article An absorbent article including an absorbent article main body which is extended in a longitude direction and having a front end portion and a rear end portion, and which includes an absorber of liquid-retaining, a topsheet of liquid-permeable covering a surface of the absorber, and a backsheet of liquid-nonpermeable supporting the absorber from a back surface of the absorber, the absorbent article includes: a belt-shaped member extended in the longitude direction of the absorbent article main body, including a base end portion fixed to any one of the absorber and the backsheet and a tip portion not fixed, and being stretchable in the longitude direction; and an attaching sheet provided on a back surface of the belt-shaped member and configured to be attached to clothing, wherein the attaching sheet is extended in a width direction of the belt-shaped member and both end portions of the attaching sheet are fixed to the belt-shaped member.
US08343123B2	Absorbent article An absorbent article comprising an absorbent body, wherein the absorbent body has multiple linear or curved fold regions with a flexural rigidity lower than average flexural rigidity and with a flexural rigidity lower than that in adjacent regions. Accordingly, there is provided an absorbent article that can change its morphology along the configuration of wear object. Absorbent article has multiple linear or curved first fold regions with a flexural rigidity lower than the average flexural rigidity of the absorbent article and with a flexural rigidity lower than that in adjacent regions, which multiple first fold regions are provided in approximately symmetric relationship with respect to the center line in the direction of width.
US08343122B2	Device for monitoring a patient for a urinary tract infection The invention provides for a urinary monitoring device to monitor for the presence or absence of markers indicative of a urinary tract infection (UTI). The invention also provides for methods of using such a device.
US08343115B2	Low profile pivoting joint infusion assembly System for the subcutaneous delivery into the body of a patient of a fluid from a remote vessel. The system includes a main assembly and placement member with a needle. A delivery tube for carrying the fluid is attached at a near end to the remote reservoir or vessel. At removed end, the delivery tube has a needle for engagement with the main assembly. The main assembly includes a rotating member that when the rotating is perpendicular to the main assembly, it will accept the handle and needle for emplacement of the body onto a patient. After the handle and needle are removed, the delivery tube can be attached to the rotating member which can then be rotated down to a position along to and adjacent the skin of the patient. This provides for a flush mounted infusion device.
US08343112B2	Disinfecting caps having an extendable feature and related systems and methods Some assemblies can include a male cap and a female cap, each of which can be used to cover separated medical connectors. In certain arrangements, a male cap can include a movable carriage that transitions from a retracted position when an assembly with which the male cap is associated is in a closed state to an extended position when the assembly is in an open state.
US08343110B2	Injection device A syringe is received within a housing, the syringe having a bore terminating at a forward end in a hypodermic needle and at a rearward end in a flared opening in which a bung having a bore surrounded by a skirt is insertod. A drive element has a forward end consisting of a substantially flat annular region that bears upon the skirt of the bung and surrounds a conical middle region that is received in the bore of the bung. An actuator advances the drive element so as to advance the bung and discharge the contents through the needle. The opening in the rear of the synnge is flared by being provided with a radius. The combination of the radius at the opening and the projecting conical middle region of the drive element allows misalignments of the two to be managed during automated assembly.
US08343109B2	Multi-spring support for needle syringes When a trigger of an injection device is released, a main spring (4) expands, driving a member (7) forwards. This compresses a weak spring (11), but a spring (5) is stiff enough to remain expanded. A syringe (2) is thus thrust forwards via a collar (9), so that a needle (3) projects from a barrel (1). The spring (4) continues to expand after the syringe has reached its forward position, with the spring (11) fully compressed, so that the stem (8) of the member (7) acts on a piston (14) within the syringe (2), to expel the dose while the spring (5) is caused to be compressed. The spring (5) ensures that the syringe is retained in its forward position during this phase.
US08343108B2	Systems and methods for anchoring medical devices Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that secures a medical instrument (such as a catheter or the like) in place relative to a skin penetration point using subcutaneous anchors. In some implementations, the anchor device can be installed using a technique in which the subcutaneous anchors undergo relatively little or no flexing when being inserted through the skin into the subcutaneous region between the skin and underlying muscle tissue which may be occupied by fatty tissue.
US08343103B2	Injection device with tensioning spring and tensioning element An injection device including a receiving device movable in an insertion movement relative to the injection device, a tensioning element, e.g. a spring, which bears on a part of the injection device, and a coupling element for coupling the receiving device to the spring such that, during an insertion movement of the receiving device the spring is tensioned. In some embodiments, the invention encompasses a method for preparing an injection device for dispensing a substance from an ampoule, wherein a discharging spring of the injection device is tensioned by introduction of the ampoule into the injection device.
US08343102B2	Fluid driven medical injectors Some injectors of the invention may include a fluid drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid (e.g., liquid, pneumatic, or both) to impart a sequence of forces to drive a delivery device (e.g., a syringe) to deliver a medical fluid (e.g., a contrast agent, a radiopharmaceutical, a drug, or a combination thereof). Some injectors may include a multimedia tube configured to pass a working fluid (e.g., air) and a light signal (e.g., infrared). Some injectors may include a peristaltic drive responsive to pressure of a working fluid.
US08343092B2	Method and system for providing integrated medication infusion and analyte monitoring system Method and system for integrating infusion device and analyte monitoring system including medication infusion device such as an insulin pump and an analyte monitoring system such as a glucose monitoring system are provided.
US08343089B2	Method and apparatus for treating a carotid artery One disclosed embodiment comprises a method for treating lesions in the carotid artery of a mammalian body. The method comprises transcervical access and blocking of blood flow through the common carotid artery (with or without blocking of blood flow through the external carotid artery), shunting blood from the internal carotid artery and treating the lesion in the carotid artery.
US08343086B2	Systems, devices, and methods including infection-fighting and monitoring shunts Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable shunt configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent an infection.
US08343083B1	Auto-flex knee brace An auto-flex knee brace that employs an extension spring defined as a flexible hinge, which determines different modes of configuration to alleviate medial and lateral compartmental osteoarthritis of a knee of a patient is disclosed. The auto-flex knee brace comprises an upper thigh cuff, a lower thigh cuff, a flexible strap arrangement and at least one spring column assembly. The upper thigh cuff is positioned substantially above knee for encircling an upper part of leg of a user and the lower thigh cuff is positioned substantially below the knee for encircling a lower part of the leg of the user. The flexible strap arrangement includes a first strap means and a second strap means that securely tied around the upper thigh cuff and the lower thigh cuff. The at least one spring column assembly is adaptable for releasably coupling the upper thigh cuff and the lower thigh cuff.
US08343078B2	Methods for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate. If the flow rate drops to zero or close to zero, this indicates that the uterine cavity is intact and not perforated. If the flow rate does not drop to zero or close to zero, this indicates that a fluid flow is leaking through a perforation in the uterine cavity into the uterine cavity or escaping around an occlusion balloon that occludes the cervical canal.
US08343076B2	Sensor mounted flexible guidewire A flexible guidewire comprising a hollow tube, having a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section having a distal tip, the outer diameter of the distal section gradually decreasing toward the distal tip, the outer diameter of the distal tip being larger than the smallest outer diameter of the distal section, the flexible guidewire further comprising a plug coupled with the distal tip of the hollow tube for creating a non-traumatic tip, and the flexible guidewire further comprising a tubular spring, being place around the distal section of the hollow tube for maintaining the outer diameter of the hollow tube over the length thereof and for supporting compressive loads.
US08343074B2	Fluid handling devices Devices for determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid are provided. Also provided are systems and kits for use in practicing the subject methods.
US08343072B2	Coaxial needle assembly An adjustable coaxial needle assembly for placement into a tissue mass prior to a biopsy procedure comprises a guide cannula assembly, a stylet, and a throw calibrator. The stylet is selectively coaxially received by the guide cannula, which is in turn coaxially received by the throw calibrator. The effective length of the guide cannula can be selectively adjusted by moving the throw calibrator relative to the guide cannula to adjust the distance between an open distal end of the guide cannula and a the throw calibrator.
US08343068B2	Sensor unit and procedure for monitoring intracranial physiological properties An anchor for an implantable sensing device, a sensor unit formed by the anchor and sensing device, and a surgical procedure for implanting the sensor unit for monitoring a physiological parameter within a cavity of a living body, such as an intracranial physiological property. The anchor includes a shank portion and a head portion. The shank portion defines a distal end of the anchor and has a bore defining an opening at the distal end. The head portion defines a proximal end of the anchor and has a larger cross-sectional dimension than the shank portion. The sensor unit comprises the anchor and the sensing device placed and secured within the bore of the anchor so that a sensing element of the sensing device is exposed for sensing the physiological parameter within the cavity.
US08343067B2	System and method for quantifying and mapping visual salience A system for quantifying and mapping visual salience to a visual stimulus, including a processor, software for receiving data indicative of a group of individual's ocular responses to a visual stimulus, software for determining a distribution of visual resources at each of at least two times for each of at least a portion of the individuals. The system further including software for determining and quantifying a group distribution of visual resources at each of the at least two times and software for generating a display of the group's distribution of visual resources to the visual stimulus.
US08343064B2	System and method for diagnosing and monitoring congestive heart failure A system and method for providing diagnosis and monitoring of congestive heart failure for use in automated patient care is described. At least one recorded physiological measure is compared to at least one other recorded physiological measure on a substantially regular basis to quantify a change in patient pathophysiological status for equivalent patient information. An absence, an onset, a progression, a regression, and a status quo of congestive heart failure is evaluated dependent upon the change in patient pathophysiological status.
US08343063B2	Optical vital sign detection method and measurement device A vital sign measurement device includes a sensor fixation device, an optical sensing system, and an output unit. The sensor fixation device is adapted to be placed against an anatomical location of a subject, within which is an artery. The optical sensing system includes an optical source device and an optical detector, both of which are held by the sensor fixation device and move with movement of the sensor fixation device. The optical source device is configured to produce a speckle pattern output. The optical detector is positioned to detect at least a portion of the speckle pattern output and generate therefrom the detected portion of the speckle pattern output. The optical sensing system can sense an arterial pulse from the movement, bending, or compression of at least one portion of the optical sensing system relative to other portions of the optical sensing system resulting in a change in the optical signal received within the detected portion of the speckle pattern output. The output unit generates a measure of the vital sign using a signal indicative of the optical signal received within the detected portion of the speckle pattern output.
US08343061B2	Method and apparatus for determining central aortic pressure waveform A method is provided for determining a central aortic pressure waveform. The method includes: measuring two or more peripheral artery pressure waveforms; analyzing the signals so as to extract common features in the measured waveforms; and determining an absolute central aortic pressure waveform based on the common features.
US08343056B2	Ultrasound systems and methods for orthopedic applications Medical diagnostic instruments and systems are provided that include (i) a proximal handle configured and dimensioned to permit an operator to manually grasp the instrument; (ii) an ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the ultrasound transducer including an array of ultrasonic energy generation elements; and (iii) a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe, the tactile feeler probe including a longitudinal shaft mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe and extending distally beyond the distal end thereof, and a feeler probe tip (e.g., a ball tip) defined at a distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe. Advantageous methods for use of the disclosed instruments and systems are also provided, e.g., for detecting breaches in cortical bones in connection with pedicle screw placement.
US08343051B2	Apparatus and methods for the destruction of adipose tissue Methods and apparatus are described for modifying unwanted tissue for cosmetic reasons. The methods provide a non-invasive manner to perform body contouring by destroying adipose tissue while simultaneously causing collagen contraction in a single procedure so that as destroyed tissue is removed from a treatment volume, the volume shrinks gradually to maintain the skin tone of the treatment area. The procedure may involve multiple treatments to the same treatment area or location.
US08343048B2	Retractor system The present invention provides a surgical retractor system in which first and second retractor blades are maintained in spaced relationship by a third retractor blade engaged with the first and second retractor blades. The first and second retractor blades are moveable between a first position in which they are nearer one another and a second position in which they are further from one another. The third retractor blade is engageable with the first and second retractor blades in the second position to maintain the first and second retractor blades in the second position. The first, second, and third retractor blades define an open space between them in which a minimally invasive surgical procedure may be carried out.
US08343046B2	Surgical access system and related methods A method for accessing a spinal disc of a lumbar spine of a patient using a surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly. The method can include maintaining an operative corridor along a lateral, trans-psoas path using the retraction assembly.
US08343036B1	Flaccid tubular membrane and insertion appliance for surgical intubation A thin sheath of flexible, flaccid material is introduced through openings in the body of an animal or human patient to permit surgical tools or fluids to be inserted and removed, or debris removed, during surgeries anywhere in the body to protect the tissue of the body from the instruments used. The sheath is inserted by an obturator which holds the sheath thereon by suction through an aperture in the obturator at its distal end. Once the sheath is inserted, suction is removed to release the sheath. Then a balloon on the distal end of the sheath is expanded to hold the sheath in place in the body while the obturator is removed. The sheath then remains in place with the balloon holding the distal end in the open position to enable fluids to flow through the sheath. After a procedure, the balloon is deflated and the sheath removed.
US08343032B2	Controllable gastric band The invention relates to an adjustable stomach band with a rigid back and a chamber, arranged on the stoma side of the back, for control of stoma constriction by means of introduction or removal of fluid from the chamber. According to the invention, such a stomach band with a preferably automatic setting of the stoma constriction, depending on the food intake, is possible, whereby a second chamber is provided to the stoma side of the back, directly connected to, or cooperating with the first chamber, such that the control of the stoma constriction is achieved by means of displacing the fluid between the chambers or between a reservoir and the stoma-constricting chamber. An auto-regulation can be achieved, whereby a second chamber is embodied as sensor for recording a pressure rise in the stomach and the control of the stoma constriction is achieved depending on the recorded pressure by means of displacement of the fluid from the chamber, or from the reservoir into the stoma-constricting chamber.
US08343029B2	Transseptal cannula, tip, delivery system, and method A transseptal cannula assembly for directing blood from the heart of a patient and a minimally invasive method of implanting the same. The transseptal cannula assembly includes a flexible cannula body having proximal and distal portions with a lumen therebetween, a tip coupled to the distal portion of the flexible cannula body, and first and second anchors coupled to the tip. The anchors can be configured to be deployed from a contracted state to an expanded state and are configured to engage opposite sides of the heart tissue when in the expanded state. The anchors resist movement of the cannula assembly along a lengthwise central axis of the flexible cannula body.
US08343028B2	Ventricular pump coupling A device and method for creating a connection with the left ventricle of a heart are provided. A seal member capable of moving between a folded position and an open position is attached to the end of a conduit. An introducer capable of moving between a first and second position allows for the expansion of the seal member into an open position. A clamp component is positioned outside of the heart to provide an axial clamping force with the wall of the heart so that a seal is created between the seal member and the wall of the heart.
US08343026B2	Therapeutic methods using electromagnetic radiation This invention provides methods for treating cold extremities using localized electromagnetic radiation directed at excitable tissues, including nerves, muscles and blood vessels. By controlling the wavelength, the wavelength bandpass, pulse duration, intensity, pulse frequency, and/or variations of those characteristics over time, and by selecting sites of exposure to electromagnetic radiation, improvements in the function of different tissues and organs can be provided. Responses can be monitored by measuring physiological variables including temperature and blood flow.
US08343025B2	Centrifugal concentrator with suspended rotor bowl A centrifugal concentrator in which there is a common shaft for the drive motor and concentrator bowl. The cost of bearing assemblies is thereby minimized. The bowl is driven and suspended from above to keep the motor out of the slurry area and maximize the simplicity of the design. A fluidizing fluid is delivered through the common shaft.
US08343024B1	Apparatus and methods relating to corrugated materials, containers, and packaging A machine for transitioning a box cutout from a flat configuration to a collapsed box configuration includes a first drive wheel configured to drive a box cutout towards a plunging area; a plunger configured to apply force to a central portion of a bottom panel of the box cutout so as to fold the box about a lateral bisecting axis and propel at least a portion of the box cutout downward; and opposed second and third drive wheels configured to grab a box cutout propelled downward by the plunger and further draw the box cutout downward into a collapsed box configuration within a collection area. A box cutout transitioned to a collapsed box configuration in this manner may include a bottom panel having plurality of unbroken minor score lines and broken major score lines.
US08343022B1	Cheerleader training device A training apparatus for use by flyers in a cheerleading squad includes a stable base assembly, a balancing assembly, and a fixed or adjustable column located between the stable base assembly and the balancing assembly. The balancing assembly includes a deflectably resilient member and a standing surface that promotes proper alignment and mimics the feel that a flyer experiences when being supported by a base cheerleader. The deflectably resilient member provides two degrees of freedom of movement to the standing surface when the standing surface is under an external load. The standing surface preferably provides about the same standing area as that typically provided by a base cheerleader. The column may be a fluid-activated cylinder that moves between a first and second vertical position and simulates a flyer being raised by the base.
US08343020B2	Method and apparatus for physical therapy exercise A method for exercise, physical therapy and rehabilitation includes providing an elastic member having a tension indicator, securing one end of the elastic member, and stretching the elastic member using a part of the body until the tension indicator indicates that a predetermined tension level has been attained. Upon reaching the predetermined tension level, the elastic member is returned to its relaxed state. The tension indicator on the elastic member may be a printed image of recognizable image that distorts to another recognizable image at the predetermined tension level, a printed non-recognizable image that distorts to a recognizable pattern or image at the predetermined tension level, or an electronic indicator that provides audio and/or visual cues at the predetermined tension level.
US08343016B1	Leg-powered treadmill A motor-less leg-powered curved treadmill produced that allows people to walk, jog, run, and sprint without making any adjustments to the treadmill other than shifting the user's center of gravity forward and backwards. A closed loop treadmill belt is formed with a low friction running surface of transverse wooden, plastic or rubber slats attached to each other in a resilient fashion. Since an essential feature of treadmill is the concave shape of the running surface of belt in its respective upper portion, curved and linear arrays of bearings are used to insure that this shape is maintained during actual use. These bearings prevent the lower portion of the treadmill belt from drooping down (i.e.—it must be held taut), to prevent the top portion to be pulled taut into a flat shape between the front and rear pulley rollers.
US08343006B2	Transmission A transmission includes an input shaft (IP), an output shaft (OP), a single planetary gearset (SP), a compound planetary gearset (CP), shifting elements. The single planetary gearset is arranged before the compound planetary gearset, and the shifting elements comprise at least two brakes (B1,B2), the first clutch (C1), the second clutch (C2), the third clutch (C3), and all the shifting elements are positioned between the single planetary gearset and the compound planetary gearset, which has compact arrangements, and can reduce the power transmission length. The transmission also includes an one-way clutch (OWC) acted on the compound planetary gearset. When the transmission shifts to the first speed stage, the first clutch (C1) and the one-way clutch are operated, and the power is transferred from the input shaft to the output shaft via the single planetary gearset and the compound planetary gearset, and when the first speed stage is shifted to the second speed stage, only the first brake (B1) should be operated to engage, thereby it can reduce the frequency of operating the shifting elements and the shifting time in low speed stage.
US08343001B2	Electric drive An electric drive comprises an electric motor (2) which drives a differential transmission (14) via a spur gear stage (4) and a parking lock gear (5) is arranged on the driveshaft (1) of the electric motor (2).

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