最新美国发明专利第2013-02-05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
US08367393B2	Saccharomyces strain with ability to grow on pentose sugars under anaerobic cultivation conditions The invention relates to an improved Saccharomyces strain displaying improved viability and growth during anaerobic fermentation of pentose carbon sources such as xylose and producing fermentation products such as ethanol.
US08367391B2	Method for detecting or determining abnormal prion protein associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in blood-derived specimen or body fluid-derived specimen A pretreatment method of a specimen used for detecting or determining abnormal prion protein (PrPres) associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), wherein (1) a specimen which had been treated with proteinase K is heated in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to dissolve proteins and inactivate infectious activity in the specimen at the same time; (2) the specimen processed in the above (1) is cooled under a neutral condition to make abnormal prion protein (PrPres) associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) aggregated; (3) the aggregate formed in the above (2) is separated from a solution; and (4) the separated PrPres aggregate is detected by the ultrasensitive chemiluminescence method.
US08367390B2	Galactanase variants The present invention relates to variants of Glycoside Hydrolase family 53 galactanases, e.g., variants of the galactanases from strains of Yersinia, Aspergillus, Humicola, Meripilus, Myceliophthora, Thermomyces, Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, Cellvibrio, Clostridium, Pseudomonas, Thermotoga, or Xanthomonas.
US08367387B2	Fungal peroxygenases and methods of application The invention relates to polypeptides having peroxygenase activity and compositions comprising such polypeptides, their encoding polynucleotides, expression vectors and recombinant host cells comprising such polynucleotides or vectors, methods of producing the polypeptides, as well as methods of application and uses thereof, including a process for enzymatic, regioselective oxygenation of N-heterocycles of the general formula (I) to the corresponding N-oxides of the formula (II), by converting N-heterocycles of the formula (I) with a peroxidase polypeptide in the presence of at least one oxidizing agent in a one-stage reaction process.
US08367383B2	Mutant Δ-5 desaturases mutated in the heme-binding motif (HPGG) and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids The present invention relates to mutant Δ5 desaturases, which have the ability to convert dihomo-γ-linolenic acid [DGLA; 20:3 ω-6] to arachidonic acid [ARA; 20:4 ω-6] and/or eicosatetraenoic acid [ETA; 20:4 ω-3] to eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA; 20:5 ω-3] and which possess at least one mutation within the HPGG motif of the cytochome b5-like domain. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding Δ5 desaturases, along with a method of making long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”] using these mutant Δ5 desaturases in oleaginous yeast, are disclosed.
US08367377B2	Methods and devices for nucleic acid sequence determination Methods of the invention comprise methods and devices for nucleic acid sequence determination. Generally, the invention relates to preparing a substrate for sequencing a target nucleic acid.
US08367376B2	Compositions with polymerase activity The invention provides novel compositions with polymerase activity and methods of using the compositions.
US08367369B2	Method and apparatus for detecting phycocyanin-pigmented algae and bacteria from reflected light The present invention relates to a method of detecting phycocyanin algae or bacteria in water from reflected light, and also includes devices for the measurement, calculation and transmission of data relating to that method.
US08367368B2	D-serine dehydratase and use thereof A novel D-serine quantification method that can overcome various disadvantages of a conventional D-serine quantification method; a novel enzyme that can be used in the D-serine quantification method; a gene encoding the enzyme; and the like. Specifically, a novel D-serine dehydratase including (a) a protein having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or (b) a protein having an amino acid sequence homologous to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and having a D-serine dehydratase activity; and a D-serine quantification method including the steps of reacting a sample with the enzyme, quantifying ammonia or pyruvic acid produced by the reaction, and calculating the amount of D-serine in the sample based on a value produced by the quantification.
US08367364B2	Methods of screening an agent for an activity in an isolated eye of a teleost The present invention provides methods of screening an agent for an activity in an isolated organ, e.g., eye, from a teleost, e.g., zebrafish. Methods of isolating eyes from zebrafish are provided. Methods of screening an agent for an ocular activity in the isolated eye are provided. Methods of screening an agent for an ocular activity in a model of ocular disease or disorder are provided. Methods of screening an agent for an ocular activity in the isolated eye and for screening the agent for cell death and/or toxic activity in the eye or other organ or tissue are provided. The invention further provides high throughput methods of screening agents for an activity in isolated eyes of zebrafish in multi-well plates.
US08367363B2	Method of determining the probability of a therapeutic response in cancer chemotherapy with cardiac glycoside A prognostic assay and kit and method of use thereof are provided. The kit and assay are used to determine the likelihood of a diseased cell or tissue having a therapeutic response to treatment with a cardiac glycoside in a disease having an etiology associated with excessive cell proliferation. The kit and assay are used to determine the ratio of isoforms of the α subunit of Na, K-ATPase obtained from the diseased cell or tissue. The kit can be used to predict the therapeutic responsiveness of cancer or tumor in a subject to treatment with a cardiac glycoside. The kit and assay can be incorporated in a method of treating a disease or disorder having an etiology associated with excessive cell proliferation with a composition comprising a cardiac glycoside.
US08367360B2	Method of screening for inhibitors of tau protein phosphororylation by tyrosine kinase c-Abl The present invention provides methods of screening for candidate compounds useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related conditions by inhibiting specific phosphorylation of tau protein by tyrosine kinase c-Abl.
US08367359B1	Metabolic biomarkers for diabetes and insulin resistance Disclosed are small molecule metabolites useful as biomarkers for the evaluation and treatment of pre diabetes, diabetes and insulin resistance.
US08367357B2	Two secretory luciferases The present invention is one gene construct or a combination of two gene constructs or expression vectors incorporating a Cypridina luciferase gene and a copepod luciferase under the control of distinct promoters. These gene constructs and expression vectors are useful for making a mammalian cell incorporating the Cypridina luciferase gene and the copepod luciferase to be capable of stably expressed and extracellularly secreted under the control of the distinct promoters.
US08367355B2	Method of quantitative assessment on reproductive effort of black-lip pearl oysters using antibody specific thereto Disclosed are an antigen protein of black-lip pearl oyster egg extract, an antibody specific thereto, and a method of quantitative assessment of the reproductive effort of black-lip pearl oyster using the antibody. The method accomplishes quantitative assessment of reproductive effort of black-lip pearl oysters easily and accurately. In addition, the method provides important information for the study of life cycles of black-lip pearl oysters, and allows efficient management of black-lip pearl oysters.
US08367353B2	Method for improved diagnosis of dysplasias The present invention relates to a method for improved diagnosis of dysplasias based on simultaneous detection of INK4a gene products and at least one marker for cell proliferation. Particularly the present invention provides a method for discriminating dysplastic cells over-expressing INK4a gene products from cells over-expressing INK4a gene products without being dysplastic by detection of a marker suitable for characterizing the proliferation properties of the respective cell. The characterization of the proliferation properties may comprise the detection of a marker or a set of markers characteristic for active cell proliferation and/or a marker or a set of markers characteristic for retarded or ceased cell proliferation. The method presented herein thus enables for a specific diagnosis of dysplasias in histological and cytological specimens.
US08367352B2	Promoting axon regeneration in the adult CNS through control of protein translation Survival of, or axon regeneration in a lesioned mature central nervous system (CNS) neuron is promoted by (a) contacting the neuron with a therapeutically effective amount of an exogenous activator of protein translation; and (b) detecting the resultant promotion of the survival of, or axon regeneration in the neuron.
US08367349B2	Methods for identifying modulators of LRRK2 A method for assessing the effect of a test compound on LRRK2 in a cell-based system, the method comprising the steps of a) assessing the effect of exposing the cell-based system comprising LRRK2 to the test compound on the phosphorylation state of Ser910 and/or Ser935 of the LRRK2; and/or b) assessing the effect of exposing the cell-based system comprising LRRK2 to the test compound on the binding of the LRRK2 to a 14-3-3 polypeptide. The method may comprise or further comprise the step of assessing the effect of exposing the cell-based system comprising LRRK2 to the test compound on the subcellular location of LRRK2. The method is considered to be useful in assessing the effect of putative LRRK2 inhibitors in cell based systems, including in vivo systems.
US08367340B2	Prognostic tools to predict the efficacy of drug treatment targeting chromatin DNA or enzymes acting on DNA Disclosed are methods of predicting cell response to drug-based therapy using both PCR-Stop assays and real time PCR assays. Methods herein may be used for assessment of drug effect, evaluation of regimen suitability for a given patient, and/or for determination of an optimal drug dose. Also provided are isolated oligonucleotide primers such as primers capable of annealing under PCR conditions to a segment of a c-myc locus, where the primers may be used in the disclosed methods. Further disclosed are kits and systems that may be used for predicting a cell response to drug-based therapy.
US08367337B2	Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus The present invention provides improved tests for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The tests are particularly useful for eliminating false positive results due to the presence of a mixed bacterial population in patient samples.
US08367335B2	Programmable oligonucleotide synthesis The invention relates to methods and devices for preparing synthetic nucleic acids.
US08367332B2	Detection and quantification of abasic site formation in vivo A method of measuring the efficacy of an anticancer agent in generating abasic (AP) sites in DNA of cancer cells of a subject includes administering to the subject an anticancer agent that generates AP sites in at least one cancer cell and an AP endonuclease inhibitor probe. The AP endonuclease inhibitor probe includes a detection moiety for detecting the probe in the subject. The amount of probe bound to cancer cells of the subject is then measured. The amount of probe bound to cancer cells of the subject is indicative of efficacy of the anticancer agent in generating AP sites in cancer cells of the subject.
US08367325B2	Late-PCR A non-symmetric polymerise chain reaction (PCR) amplification method employing a limiting primer in low concentration whose concentration-adjusted melting point at least equals, and preferably exceeds, that of the excess primer, the latter in turn not being more than 25° C. below the melting temperature of the amplicon. Assays employing such amplification and labeled hybridization probes, including assays that include a detection step following primer extension or a low-temperature probe, or both. Kits for performing such assays and primer or primer-and-probe sets for performing the foregoing amplifications and assays.
US08367324B2	Method for judging change in probe-bearing substrate, probe-bearing substrate and detecting apparatus A probe-bearing substrate in which a probe capable of specifically binding to a target substance is immobilized on a substrate, characterized in that the probe-bearing substrate further includes a device for detecting an environmental change that may cause a change in the probe-bearing substrate such as probe deterioration or change in a substrate-protecting member.
US08367317B2	Variants of hepatitis B virus with resistance to anti-viral nucleoside agents and applications thereof The present invention relates generally to viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents and/or reduced interactivity with immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention is directed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants exhibiting complete or partial resistance to nucleoside or nucleotide analogs and/or reduced interactivity with antibodies to viral surface components including reduced sensitivity to these antibodies. The present invention further contemplates assays for detecting such viral variants, which assays are useful in monitoring anti-viral therapeutic regimens and in developing new or modified vaccines directed against viral agents and in particular HBV variants. The present invention also contemplates the use of the viral variants to screen for and/or develop or design agents capable of inhibiting infection, replication and/or release of the virus.
US08367316B2	Human gastrointestinal stem cell-derived primary intestinal epithelial cell system and methods of use thereof The present invention relates to an intestinal primary epithelial cell system for detecting gastrointestinal segment-specific activation or suppression of a Toll-like receptor (TLR) by a target agent. The cell system includes an isolated human intestinal primary epithelial cell (HIPEC) line that expresses at least one TLR, where the HIPEC line is derived from a differentiable adult human gastrointestinal stem cell (ahGISC) line. Also disclosed are various methods of using the cell system, a kit that includes the cell system, and an isolated cell culture including an isolated HIPEC line derived from a differentiable ahGISC line.
US08367313B2	Method of determining sperm capacitation This invention describes unique patterns of distribution of ganglioside GM1 in non-capacitated sperm and demonstrates that the pattern of distribution of GM1 undergoes changes that can be correlated with the process of capacitation and/or with acrosomal exocytosis. Accordingly, the present invention discloses a method for determining the ability of sperm to respond to capacitation and/or acrosomal exocytosis stimuli. The method comprises determination of distribution pattern for GM1. The method can be used for both diagnostic and predictive purposes when assessing male reproductive fitness, and can also be used to assess the effects of any agent or environment on sperm including cryoprotective agents and protocols, and contraceptive agents.
US08367308B2	Substrate processing method A substrate processing method includes a first process (step S12 to step S16) of forming a first resist pattern by exposing a substrate having thereon a first resist film to lights, developing the exposed substrate and cleaning the developed substrate; and a second process (step S17 to step S20) of forming a second resist pattern by forming a second resist film on the substrate having thereon the first resist pattern, exposing the substrate having thereon the second resist film to lights, and developing the exposed substrate. A first processing condition is determined based on first data showing a relationship between a first processing condition under which a cleaning process is performed on the substrate in the first process (step S16) and a line width of the second resist pattern, and the first process (step S16) is performed on the substrate under the determined first processing condition.
US08367304B2	Techniques for marking product housings Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. The markings provided on products can be textual and/or graphic. The techniques or processes can provide high resolution markings on surfaces that are flat or curved. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, the housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on the outer housing surface.
US08367302B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor device A method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. In particular, the application discloses a method that performs a lithography process using a material capable of increasing a depth of focus so as to prevent efficiency of the lithography process from being degraded due to high integration of a semiconductor device, and a pressure-type bake oven as an apparatus for forming a high refractive material on a semiconductor substrate, having advantages of reducing manufacturing costs of a semiconductor manufacturing process and increasing efficiency of the lithography process.
US08367298B2	Salt and photoresist composition containing the same A salt having a divalent group represented by the formula (aa): wherein Xa and Xb independently each represent —O— or —S—, Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd independently each represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group or a C1-C4 alkoxy group, and m represents 1 or 2.
US08367294B2	Toner process The present disclosure provides processes for preparing toner particles, in which fewer coarse particles are generated. The process includes introducing a buffer solution during coalescence of the toner slurry. The amount of coarse particles in the resulting toner particles may, in embodiments, be reduced to less than about 5 percent by weight of the total toner particles generated.
US08367292B2	Toner and development agent A toner including a binder resin, a coloring agent, and a releasing agent, the toner formed by dispersing a toner liquid material which is prepared by dispersing the binder resin, the prepolymer, an elongation agent and/or a cross-linking agent for the prepolymer, the coloring agent, and the releasing agent in an organic solvent, dispersing the toner liquid material in an aqueous medium to obtain a liquid dispersion in at least one of cross linking reaction and elongation reaction, and removing the organic solvent from the liquid dispersion, and the toner satisfying the following relationship: 1.35< or =M(g)/M(p)< or =1.90, where M(g) represents the content of the gel composition formed in the at least one of cross linking reaction and elongation reaction and M(P) represents the content of the prepolymer in the toner liquid material when the total of M(P) and the content of the binder resin in the toner liquid material is set to be 100 g.
US08367289B2	Toner A toner is provided which is excellent in development stability in both a low-temperature, low-humidity environment and a high-temperature, high-humidity environment over a long time period. The toner includes toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, and a fatty acid metal salt. The fatty acid metal salt has a volume-based median diameter (D50s) of 0.15 μm or more and 0.65 μm or less, and the liberation ratio of the fatty acid metal salt in the toner is 1.0% or more and 25.0% or less.
US08367287B2	Electrophotographic photoconductor, method of producing the same and image forming apparatus An electrophotographic photoconductor of the invention comprising: an conductive support; a light-sensitive layer formed on the conductive support and containing a charge generating material and a charge transport material; and a surface protective layer formed on the light-sensitive layer and made of a resin composition, wherein the resin composition constituting the surface protective layer contains an amine compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are, the same or different, each an alkyl group or an allyl group which may have a substituent or a heterocyclic residue to be formed through or not through a nitrogen atom or an oxygen atom together with the nitrogen atom to which R1 and R2 are bonded, R3 and R4 are, the same or different, each an alkyl group having a substituent and n denotes 1 or 2, provided that when n is 1, X is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group or a mercapto group which may have a substituent, or a ring optionally containing an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom between carbon atoms and when n is 2, X is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
US08367283B2	Positive photosensitive resin composition, cured film, protecting film, insulating film and semiconductor and display devices using the same The positive photosensitive resin composition of the present invention has a polyamide resin and a photosensitive agent, wherein the polyamide resin has a specific structure. The cured film of the present invention has a cured product of the positive photosensitive resin composition. The protecting film and insulating film of the present invention has the cured film each. The semiconductor device and display device of the present invention has the cured film each.
US08367264B2	Fuel cell system with co detector A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a hydrogen generator (1) having a reformer (1a) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a raw material; a fuel cell (2) configured to generate electric power using the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generator (1); a combustor (3) configured to combust an anode off gas discharged from the fuel cell (2) to heat the reformer (1a); a CO detector (7) configured to detect a carbon monoxide concentration of a flue gas discharged from the combustor (3); an electric heater (8) configured to heat the CO detector (7); and a controller (19), and the controller (19) is configured to increase an amount of energization to the electric heater (8) in accordance with an increase in an amount of electric power generated by the fuel cell (2).
US08367258B2	Electric power source arrangement and method of how to use it An electric power source arrangement is described, comprising a fuel cell means (2) having a nominal voltage and a specified voltage-current characteristic, to be connected to a load (1), and comprising a variable DC-DC voltage converter (3), a by-pass branch (11) by-passing the DC-DC voltage converter, a switch (13) alternatively connecting the fuel cell to the DC-DC voltage converter or to the by-pass branch, and a control unit (12) controlling the switch, which control unit (12) comprises a measuring device coupled to the fuel cell means (2) for detecting the operating point thereof and is configured to connect the by-pass branch (11) if the fuel cell means voltage is within a selected range of section (5) of the voltage-current characteristic of the fuel cell means and to disconnect the by-pass branch in the remaining range of sections (4, 6, 7) of said characteristic.
US08367257B2	Fuel cell system and method for adjusting moisture content in a polymer electrolyte membrane A fuel cell system (10) that includes with a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (22) having a polymer electrolyte membrane is provided with a determining portion that determines whether a moisture content in the polymer electrolyte membrane is low, and an anode gas pressure regulating portion that sets a gas pressure on an anode side of the fuel cell lower than a set value of the gas pressure on the anode side during steady operation in which the moisture content is not low, when it is determined that the moisture content is low.
US08367256B2	Water recovery assembly for use in high temperature fuel cell systems A water recovery assembly for use in a fuel cell system having an anode and a cathode, the anode being adapted to receive fuel and output anode exhaust, the water recovery assembly comprising a first cooling assembly adapted to receive and quench cool the anode exhaust and to recover a first portion of water including electrolyte from the anode exhaust, and to output quenched anode exhaust and the first portion of water, and a second cooling assembly adapted to receive the quenched anode exhaust and to recover a second portion of water from the quenched anode exhaust, the second portion of water being suitable for humidifying the fuel supplied to the anode.
US08367254B2	Electrolyte for a high voltage battery and lithium secondary battery comprising the same The present invention provides an electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries that allows the batteries to operate safely at a charging voltage up to 4.35V, wherein the electrolyte comprises a combination of a fluoroethylene carbonate compound and a linear ester compound as solvent. Also, the present invention provides a lithium secondary battery that can operate at a charging voltage up to 4.35V, which comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte comprises fluoroethylene carbonate compound and linear ester compound as solvent.
US08367253B2	Lithium-ion batteries with intrinsic pulse overcharge protection The present invention relates in general to the field of lithium rechargeable batteries, and more particularly relates to the positive electrode design of lithium-ion batteries with improved high-rate pulse overcharge protection. Thus the present invention provides electrochemical devices containing a cathode comprising at least one primary positive material and at least one secondary positive material; an anode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising a redox shuttle additive; wherein the redox potential of the redox shuttle additive is greater than the redox potential of the primary positive material; the redox potential of the redox shuttle additive is lower than the redox potential of the secondary positive material; and the redox shuttle additive is stable at least up to the redox potential of the secondary positive material.
US08367252B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte contains a non-aqueous solvent, a solute dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent, and hydrogenated terphenyl, the solute includes a boron-containing alkali salt and a boron-free alkali salt, the negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material comprising a randomly oriented carbon composite (A), and the carbon composite (A) contains a graphitic carbon substance (B) and a carbon substance (C) that is different from the graphitic carbon substance (B).
US08367251B2	Anode with lithium containing ionic polymer coat, method of manufacturing same, secondary battery, and method of manufacturing same A secondary battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics is provided. The secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The anode has an anode current collector, an anode active material layer that is provided on the anode current collector, and contains an anode active material containing at least one of a simple substance of silicon, an alloy of silicon, a compound of silicon, a simple substance of tin, an alloy of tin, and a compound of tin, and a coat that is provided on the anode active material layer, and contains an ionic polymer containing lithium.
US08367250B2	Device for storing electric power comprising a protective barrier layer for the collector The invention concerns a device for storing electric power and method for assembling the device. The device includes an electrode layer and a collector layer associated with the electrode layer, a barrier layer made of metal nitride, the barrier layer being interposed between the electrode layer and the collector layer. The barrier layer is adapted to prevent diffusion of ions contained in an electrolyte up to the collector layer.
US08367246B2	High-power battery A method of forming battery electrodes with high specific surface and thin layers of active material is disclosed. The method enables low series resistance and high battery power.
US08367242B2	Rechargeable battery A rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a separator interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode; a case, the case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate, the cap plate sealing an opening at one end of the case; and electrode terminals, the electrode terminals being electrically connected to the electrode assembly, wherein at least one of the electrode terminals is integrally formed with the cap plate.
US08367241B2	Separator for fuel cell and manufacturing method therefor Disclosed are a separator for a fuel cell realizing both the high electrical conductivity and the corrosion resistance and enabling using stably for a long period of time in the fuel cell and a manufacturing method for it. The separator for a fuel cell 1 includes a substrate 2 composed of pure aluminum or aluminum alloy and a plating layer 3 formed on the substrate 2, wherein the plating layer 3 has a copper layer 3a formed in the substrate 2 side and a tin layer 3b formed on the copper layer 3a, the tin layer 3b is formed in an uppermost layer, the thickness of the copper layer 3a is 0.10 μm or above, and the value obtained by dividing the thickness of the tin layer 3b by the thickness of the copper layer 3a is 0.1-50.
US08367240B2	Lithium secondary battery with wound electrodes A battery comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The first electrode and the second electrode are wound with the separator interposed therebetween to form an electrode assembly. The first electrode includes a current collector and an active material layer carried on one face of the current collector. The active material layer includes columnar particles having a bottom and a head, the bottom of the columnar particles being adhered to the current collector. The head of the columnar particles is positioned at an outer round side of the electrode assembly than the bottom.
US08367238B2	Mounting apparatus for battery module A mounting apparatus for a battery module includes a base, a latching member slidably attached to the base to fix the battery module, and an operating member rotatably attached to the base. When the operating member of the mounting apparatus is rotated, the latching member is driven to slide to disengage from the battery module.
US08367232B2	Venting system for an underground enclosure A pressurized underground enclosure includes a battery venting system having a battery within a battery box in a sealed enclosure. A first pipe is fluidly connected to the battery box and an ambient atmosphere and includes a vacuum generator for reducing a pressure in the battery box. A second pipe is fluidly connected to the battery box and the ambient atmosphere and includes a one-way valve permitting airflow to the battery box and precluding airflow from the battery box to the ambient atmosphere. The enclosure includes a scissors lift including scissor linkage units having arms pivotally connected at terminal ends and at central positions. The scissor linkage units are moveable from a retracted to an extended position by pneumatic cylinders. The internal pressurization of the enclosure is selectively released and locking mechanisms are retracted before a rack of the scissors lift is extended through an opening of the enclosure.
US08367228B2	Magnetic recording medium having patterned auxiliary recording layer and method for manufacturing such magnetic recording medium A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium for perpendicular magnetic recording includes the steps of forming a first magnetic layer which has magnetic crystal grains exhibiting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and nonmagnetic substances for magnetically separating the magnetic crystal grains from each other at grain boundaries of the magnetic crystal grains, forming a second magnetic layer which has magnetic grains exchange-coupled to the magnetic crystal grains, a grain boundary width of the magnetic grains being smaller than a grain boundary width of the magnetic crystal grains, and forming separation regions which magnetically separate tracks from each other in regions between the tracks of the magnetic recording medium in at least the second magnetic layer. The separation regions are disposed substantially only in the second magnetic layer of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.
US08367221B2	Organic light emitting device with cathode interface modification layer and fabrication method thereof The present invention provides an organic light emitting device and a fabrication method thereof, comprising a substrate, an anode layer formed on said substrate, an organic function layer formed on said anode layer, and a cathode layer formed on said organic function layer, characterized in that, further comprising a cathode interface modification layer between said organic function layer and said cathode layer, wherein said cathode interface modification layer contains a compound AxByCz, A is an element of Group IA or IIA, B is an element of Group IIIA or VA, C is a hydrogen element, and 1≦x≦2, yε[0,1], 1≦z≦4. In the present invention, the cathode interface modification layer is formed after forming a light emitting layer, the cathode interface modification layer contains a compound AxByCz, the electron injection ability at the cathode interface can be improved by adding the cathode interface modification layer, and hence the device performance can be significantly improved. At the same time, the process feasibility of the material is good during the fabrication, and thus the yield of the device can be further improved.
US08367217B2	Electrodeposited metallic-materials comprising cobalt on iron-alloy substrates with enhanced fatigue performance Free standing articles or articles at least partially coated with substantially porosity free, fine-grained and/or amorphous Co-bearing metallic materials optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein, are disclosed. The electrodeposited metallic layers and/or patches comprising Co provide, enhance or restore strength, wear and/or lubricity of substrates without reducing the fatigue performance compared to either uncoated or equivalent thickness chromium coated substrate. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings comprising Co are particularly suited for articles exposed to thermal cycling, fatigue and other stresses and/or in applications requiring anti-microbial properties.
US08367216B2	Laminate for laminated glass and interlayer film for laminated glass A laminate for a laminated glass which is used as a head-up displays (HUD) and is not deteriorated even if exposed to light, and with which a laminated glass having excellent impact resistance can be prepared, wherein an interlayer film for a laminated glass and a retardation element sandwiched between adhesive layers are laminated, the interlayer film for a laminated glass contains a thermoplastic resin and an ultraviolet absorber, the interlayer film for a laminated glass contains, as the ultraviolet absorber, a benzotriazole compound or a benzophenone compound, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a malonic ester compound, an oxanilide compound and a triazine compound.
US08367213B2	Biochemical instrument having surface that inhibits nonspecific adsorption An object of the present invention is to provide a biochemical instrument having a surface that can simultaneously inhibit adsorption of a biopolymer and that of a hydrophobic low-molecular-weight compound. The present invention provides a biochemical instrument comprising a region that inhibits adsorption of a hydrophobic low-molecular-weight compound and a region that inhibits adsorption of a biopolymer on the surface of a water-insoluble material.
US08367209B2	Nanoengineered composite defog coating An engineered nano-composite coating may include hydrophobic an hydrophilic domains, may be applied to transparent and non-transparent substrates using a continuous process, may be UV curable and may impart antifogging characteristics to the substrate.
US08367207B2	Method of producing a hydrogenated amorphous carbon coating The invention relates to a hydrogenated amorphous carbon coating and to a method for the production thereof. It also relates to devices having such a coating. The method of the invention consists in producing a hydrogenated amorphous carbon coating comprising at least two layers of hydrogenated amorphous carbon, each of said layers having chemical compositions and physical and mechanical properties that are identical, and with thicknesses that are identical or different. The coating of the invention finds many applications, in particular in the mechanical field for parts subject to considerable wear and rubbing problems. It may also be applicable, in particular, in the field of surgical implants and in the MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) field.
US08367206B2	Fine barium titanate powder Provided is barium titanate based powder represented by Chemical Formula 1: (BaxR1r1R2r2)(TiyR3r3R4r4)O3 [Chemical Formula 1] wherein R1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of yttrium (Y) and lanthanoids; R2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and strontium (Sr); R3 includes phosphorus (P) and niobium (Nb); R4 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al), vanadium (V), chrome (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), zirconium (Zr) and tantalum (Ta); r1 and r3 independently represent a real number greater than 0 and equal to or less than 0.05; r2 and r4 independently represent a real number greater than 0 and equal to or less than 0.1; and (x+r1+r2)/(y+r3+r4) is a real number ranging from 0.85 to 1.15.
US08367205B2	Plate-like polycrystalline particle A plate-like polycrystalline particle is produced by forming inorganic particles into a freestanding shaped body, firing the shaped body, and crushing and classifying the fired shaped body. The inorganic particles contain as the main component an oxide that has a general formula of ABO3 and that satisfies a×Pb(M′1/3,Nb2/3)O3+b×PbTiO3+c×PbZrO3+z×M″O (wherein a+b+c=1, and M′ denotes at least one element selected from Mg, Ni and Zn, and M″ denotes at least one element selected from Mg, Ni and Zn), wherein z is in the range of 0.002≦z≦0.42. The oxide contains a predetermined excessive amount of M″O such that the plate-like polycrystalline particle contains an excessive amount of M″O. The plate-like polycrystalline particle contains a plurality of crystal grains that have a wavy structure composed of wavy grain boundaries. The plate-like polycrystalline particle is easily crushed at the grain boundaries and has a high degree of orientation.
US08367200B2	Reflecting film excellent in cohesion resistance and sulfur resistance A reflecting film including: an Ag or Ag-base alloy thin film of an Ag-base alloy containing at least one element among Au, Pt, Pd, Bi, and rare-earth elements as a first layer; a film of an oxide or oxynitride of at least one element among Si, Al and Ti having a thickness between 5 and 50 nm as a second layer deposited on the first layer; and a film having a thickness between 10 and 100 nm formed by a plasma polymerization process as a third layer deposited on the second layer.
US08367199B2	Biaxially oriented film An object of the present invention is to provide a thin biaxially oriented film excellent in dimensional stability against humidity change, as well as a magnetic recording medium and a film capacitor using the same. The present invention provides a single layered or laminated biaxially oriented film comprising an aromatic polyester (a) and a polyolefin (b) having a melting point of from 230 to 280° C., wherein the ratio of the polyolefin (b) is from 5 to 30% based on the entire weight of the film, and the film thickness is from 1 to 10 μm.
US08367197B2	Composition for rigid polyurethane foam and rigid polyurethane foam produced using the same A composition for a rigid polyurethane foam with reduced cell sizes contains a polyol, water, a catalyst, a blowing agent; and an ionic liquid. The rigid polyurethane foam is produced by adding an ionic liquid as an eco-friendly additive to a polyol composition so as to improve insulation efficiency thereof.
US08367196B2	Graphite material A graphite material includes a plurality of graphite particles and a plurality of pores. The plurality of graphite particles and the plurality of pores form a microstructure. A ratio of an elastic modulus to a compression strength of the graphite material ranges from 109 to 138. Preferably, a ratio of a total area of the pores to a whole area of the graphite material in a cross-section of the graphite material ranges from 17.94% to 19.97%.
US08367195B2	Products made from recycled cardboard A method of making a structural component (and such a structural component) comprising mixing together wood pulp, water, bentonite clay, and calcium chloride and forming the mixture into the structural component.
US08367193B1	Aqueous nanocomposite dispersions containing invisible marker dye for transparent barrier coatings and preparations and use thereof The invention relates in one aspect to a post-formulation concentrated nanocomposite dispersion containing an invisible marker dye. The dispersion typically includes a silicate filler and a matrix polymer dispersed in an aqueous medium as well. The dispersions form optically transparent barrier films wherein the dye is effective to indicate film thickness on a substrate. Specific embodiments of this invention include a nanocomposite coating formulation designed to provide transparent high barrier coatings at thicknesses from 1 to 10 microns that include a near infrared (NIR) or infrared (IR) dye that enables rapid measurement of coating thickness and uniformity. The preferred dye imparts no observable color or appearance change, and thus can also function as an identifier for the coating.
US08367191B2	Optical thin-films and optical elements comprising same Optical thin-films are disclosed that are formed from optical thin films formed on a base plate arranged in a vacuum chamber. The base plates are held on a plurality of retaining frames of a base-plate retainer. The thin films are formed by heating the base plate and emitting a deposition material from a deposition source. The retaining frames are configured to make the entire base plate uniformly heated.
US08367189B2	Pattern printed transparent sheet A non-visible light reflective pattern-printed transparent sheet having a broad read angle is provided. The above transparent sheet is a pattern-printed transparent sheet in which a transparent substrate comprises a base material and a primer layer, and a non-visible light reflective transparent pattern is printed on the surface of the primer layer; an ink constituting the transparent pattern described above contains a material having a wavelength selective reflectivity to a wavelength in an infrared or ultraviolet region; the primer layer described above comprises a primer composition repelling the ink described above; when a cross section obtained by cutting the transparent pattern described above in a face orthogonal to the above transparent substrate is observed under a scanning electron microscope, the transparent pattern described above comprises a multilayer structure comprising a fixed repeating cycle and having a curved part and reflect selectively one of a left circularly polarized light component and a right circularly polarized light component in an incident light.
US08367188B2	Authenticity mark in the form of luminescent substances A printed document of value has an authenticity feature in the form of at least two luminescent substances on the basis of host lattices which are doped with one or a plurality of ions. By systematically changing the host lattices and/or ions of the (nd)3 electron configuration a specific setting of the luminescence properties of luminescent substances is possible, the combination of which permits a multiplicity of complex new authenticity features.
US08367184B2	Structured films having acoustical absorbance properties Structured films having acoustical absorbance properties are disclosed. Methods of making and using the structured films are also disclosed.
US08367183B2	Sandwich panel including honeycomb structure body and method of producing the sandwich panel The breadth and width of a sheet-like filler material before it is placed in a cell of a honeycomb material is set greater than those of the honeycomb material, and after the placement, peripheral edges of the honeycomb material are fringed with filler materials to prevent a filler material from falling out of an end section cell. A liquid adhesive agent is applied to the top of cell walls facing one surface of the honeycomb material, and a surface material is pressed to that surface of the honeycomb material to which the adhesive agent is applied. Then, before the adhesive agent hardens, water-absorbing foam materials are placed in cell spaces by pressing them into the cell spaces from the other surface of the honeycomb material until they are in contact with the adhesive agent. The foam material is quickly adhered to the honeycomb material.
US08367182B2	Wrappable textile sleeve with integral attachment and closure device A wrappable textile tubular sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members is provided. The sleeve includes an elongate wall constructed from interlaced yarns. The wall has opposite inner and outer edges extending between opposite ends of the sleeve parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The wall also has oppositely facing inner and outer faces extending between the inner and outer edges. The inner face bounds an inner cavity of the tubular sleeve upon wrapping the outer edge in outwardly overlapping relation with the inner edge about the central longitudinal axis. Further, an elongate fastener extends parallel to the central longitudinal axis adjacent the outer edge. The fastener faces outwardly from the outer face and is configured for attachment to an external support member.
US08367181B2	Apparatus and methods for making pile articles and improved pile articles made therewith Filamentary materials, such as yarn (18), is wound a frame (28), provided by pairs of movable filaments or wires (35, 38), about which the end of the spindle (22) rotates provides the turns (26) of the winding as the article having the winding is moved along a process path. Mechanically or hydraulically actuated pins (34) support the winding frame in a fixed position. The filaments of the frame may be provided by laterally spaced pairs (44, 46) of filaments of weldable material.
US08367180B2	Cold chain packaging A cold chain package including a plurality of panels surrounded by an overwrap, each of the panels including a plurality of layers of dissimilar materials, and a hinge formed between adjacent panels of the plurality of panels for facilitating folding of the panels to fit in a shipping container.
US08367174B2	Propylene-hexene random copolymer produced in the presence of a metallocene catalyst Propylene copolymer a. comprising at least 1-hexene as a comonomer, b. having a comonomer content in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 wt.-%, c. having a xylene soluble fraction equal or below 2.5 wt.-%, d. having a polydispersity index (PI) of equal or below 4.0 Pa−1, and e. being partially crystallized in the β-modification.
US08367172B2	Blow-molded composite compositions and methods A blow-molded composite and method of making the same is provided. The composite includes first and second fibrous layers and first and second film layers. The first fibrous layer includes randomly oriented fibers dispersed throughout the thickness of the layer and has first and second surfaces. The first film layer has first and second surfaces such that the second surface of this layer is bonded to the second surface of the first fibrous layer. The second film layer has first and second surfaces as well, but only a portion of the first surface is bonded to the first surface of the first film layer. At least one cavity exists between the first and second film layers. The second fibrous layer also comprises randomly oriented fibers dispersed throughout the thickness of the layer and has first and second surfaces. The first surface of the second fibrous layer is bonded to the second surface of the second film layer.
US08367171B2	Polymer having polycyclic groups and coating compositions thereof A polymer and coating composition containing the polymer are provided that are useful in coating applications such as, for example, food or beverage packaging containers. The polymer preferably includes a backbone having one or more polycyclic groups. In one embodiment, the polymer is a polyester and, more preferably, a polyester-urethane polymer. In one embodiment, the one or more polycyclic groups is a tricyclic or higher group.
US08367166B2	Synthesis of higher diamondoids In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods for synthesizing higher diamondoids, wherein said methods involve augmenting existing diamondoid molecules through the bonding of carbon atoms to such existing diamondoid species with intramolecular cross-linking so as to form larger diamondoids containing face-fused diamond-crystal (adamantane) cages with carbon frameworks superimposable on the cubic-diamond crystal lattice.
US08367165B2	Method of applying a water-base adhesive mix for producing tyres A method of applying a water-base adhesive mix for producing tires, the method including a step of applying a layer of adhesive mix to a work surface; and a step of drying the layer, and which includes microwave heating.
US08367164B2	Method of manufacturing nano-template for a high-density patterned medium and high-density magnetic storage medium using the same Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a template for a high-density patterned medium and a high-density magnetic storage medium using the same. In the method, magnetic particles are used as a mask and no lithographic process is required.
US08367163B2	Enamel flow coating process and apparatus An enamel flow coating process and apparatus is arranged as a four arm Ferris wheel like apparatus which is mounted over a bathtub like tank which holds enamel slip. Coils of steel tubing formed into heat exchangers are mounted to the arms of the wheel to rotate and to pivot. The wheel is rotated between four stations. In the first station, a coil is loaded onto the wheel. In a second station the coil is pivoted into the tank of enamel slip, where it is coated, and withdrawn by operation of a pivoting bracket. The coated coils are rotated through third and fourth stations where the coating solidifies, and the coated heat exchanger is removed, and replaced with an uncoated one in the first station. After leaving the wheel, the heat exchanger is fired and installed in a water storage tank.
US08367162B2	Pretreatment method for improving antioxidation of steel T91/P91 in high temperature water vapor Disclosed is a pretreatment method for improving antioxidation of steel T91/P91 in high temperature water vapor, which includes applying a slurry, containing rare earth oxide, on a surface of a substrate; holding the temperature in a gas mixture environment of inert gas and water vapor after drying; and cleaning away the solid powder left by the slurry on the surface, thereby obtaining the substrate with a surface rich in chromium and having a small amount of rare earth oxide. As a result of the method, the antioxidation capability of steel T91/P91 in the 500-750° C. water vapor environment can be improved, and films rich in chromium oxide can be formed on the surface of steel T91/P91.
US08367160B2	Coating method for reactive metal A coating method includes depositing a reactive material onto a turbine engine component using an ionic liquid that is a melt of a salt, and heat treating the turbine engine component to react the reactive material with at least one other element to form a protective coating on the turbine engine component.
US08367159B2	Methods for producing ZMWs with islands of functionality The application relates to methods for producing islands of functionality within nanoscale apertures. Islands of functionality can be produced by growing an aperture constriction layer from the walls, functionalizing the exposed base of the aperture, then removing the aperture constriction layer. The aperture constriction layer can be produced, for example, by anodically growing an oxide layer onto a cladding through which the aperture extends. The islands of functionality can be used to bind a single molecule of interest, such as an enzyme within the nanoscale aperture.
US08367156B2	Method of manufacturing magnetoresistive device and apparatus for manufacturing the same A magnetoresistive device has an MgO (magnesium oxide) layer provided between a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer. The device is manufactured by forming a film of the MgO layer in a film forming chamber. A substance whose getter effect with respect to an oxidizing gas is large is adhered to surfaces of components provided in the chamber for forming the MgO layer. The substance having a large getter effect is a substance whose value of oxygen gas adsorption energy is 145 kcal/mol or higher. Ta (tantalum), in particular, is preferable as a substance which constitutes the magnetoresistive device.
US08367152B2	Manufacturing method of light-emitting device For a full-color flat panel display, demands for high definition, high aperture ratio and high reliability have been increasing. Therefore, increasing in the number of pixels and narrowing a pixel pitch have been major issues. According to the present invention, a layer including an organic compound is selectively formed with a light-exposure apparatus used in a photolithography technique without a resist mask. A material layer including a photopolymerization initiator, a material polymerized with the photopolymerization initiator, and an organic compound are formed on a plate, and then are exposed to light and selectively cured. A film-formation substrate is disposed so as to face the plate. The film-formation substrate or the material layer is heated so that the organic compound included in a region exposed to light or a region not exposed to light is evaporated to be selectively deposited on the surface of the film-formation substrate.
US08367146B2	Confectionery made from herbal mixtures Confectionery made from herbal mixtures, comprising an extract from a mixture of several herbs, or a mixture of a corresponding number of extracts of at least one herb, with additionally an extract of Stevia rebaudiana. The above presents considerable advantages, in particular: a desired flavor change, sweetening with a high sweetening capacity, natural sweetening without additional calories, natural sweetening without causing caries and with a prophylactic effect on caries. The confectionery can be produced, whereby either the dry herbs are mixed, said mixture extracted and the extract optionally thickened, or a corresponding number of optionally thickened extracts of at least one of the dried herbs are combined with each other and the mixture thickened, whereupon the mixture obtained is mixed with optionally thickened extract of the dried herb Stevia rebaudiana, or the dried herbs and the dried herb from Stevia rebaudiana are mixed together, said mixture is extracted and the extract obtained is optionally thickened. The obtained mixture or the obtained optionally thickened extract is processed to give confectionery of the desired form. The confectionery can be in many forms, such as a conventional form and produced by conventional means.
US08367145B2	Acidic protein food or drink and material thereof The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a food or a drink containing an acidic protein which has a favorable flavor with relieved astringency characteristic to a protein dissolved under acidic conditions to thereby broaden the flavor variety of protein-containing foods or drinks. The above problem can be solved by adding a water soluble polysaccharide, a water soluble basic salt, an alkali metal salt of an organic acid, a basic monosaccharide, a basic oligosaccharide or the like to a food or a drink containing a protein dissolved under acidic conditions to thereby relieve the astringency originating in the protein dissolved under acidic conditions.
US08367141B2	Instant black tea containing green tea extract Provided is an instant black tea, which includes the non-polymer catechins at high concentration, is further reduced in bitterness and astringency, and is excellent in the appearance of its infusion. The instant black tea includes a beverage material containing black tea leaves and a dried green tea extract and sealed in a tea bag. A mass ratio of the non-polymer catechins/tannin in the beverage material is from 0.65 to 0.95.
US08367140B2	Concentrate composition for drink from concentrate A concentrated beverage composition for reconstitution is reduced in bitterness and astringency, adequate in both sweetness and sourness and improved in storage stability despite the inclusion of a high concentration of non-polymer catechins. The concentrated beverage composition for reconstitution contains (A) from 0.5 to 25.0 wt % of non-polymer catechins, (B) a carbohydrate, and (C) a hydroxycarboxylic acid, and meets the following conditions (D) and (E) as well as at least one condition selected from the following conditions (F1), (F2) and (F3): (D) a content of gallic acid is lower than 0.6 wt %, (E) a percentage of non-epi-forms in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 25 wt %, (F1) a Brix degree is from 20 to 70, and when diluted with deionized water to give a non-polymer catechin concentration of 0.13 wt %, a pH is from 2.5 to 6.0, (F2) a solid content is not lower than 70.0 wt %, and when diluted with deionized water to give a non-polymer catechin concentration of 0.13 wt %, a pH is from 2.5 to 6.0, and (F3) an absorbance at 400 nm is smaller than 0.5 and a pH is from 2.5 to 6.0, when diluted with deionized water to give a non-polymer catechin concentration of 0.13 wt %.
US08367137B2	High-potency sweetener composition with fatty acid and compositions sweetened therewith The present invention relates generally to functional sweetener compositions comprising non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic, high-potency sweeteners and methods for making and using them. In particular, the present invention relates to different functional sweetener compositions comprising at least one non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic, high-potency sweetener, at least one sweet taste improving composition, and at least one functional ingredient, such as fatty acids. The present invention also relates to functional sweetener compositions and methods that can improve the tastes of non-caloric or low-caloric high-potency sweeteners by imparting a more sugar-like taste or characteristic. In particular, the functional sweetener compositions and methods provide a more sugar-like temporal profile, including sweetness onset and sweetness linger, and/or a more sugar-like flavor profile.
US08367133B2	Capsule and configuration for foaming a liquid food For the production from a liquid food of an at least partially foamed food, in particular at least partially foamed milk or a milk product, the liquid food, which is contained in a container (1) or a capsule-type formation, is expelled from the container or the capsule, and at least partially foamed and subsequently expelled by generating an at least partially turbulent flow.
US08367127B2	Tea beverages containing proanthocyanidins The object is to provide beverages that allow for sustained intake and which have an effect of improving the vascular endothelial function as by promoting the secretion of NO from vascular endothelial cells so as to potentiate the NO action.The object is attained by providing proanthocyanidins containing tea beverages that contain procyanidin B1 (PB1) and procyanidin B3 (PB3) in a total amount not smaller than a certain concentration and which are free from any peculiar flavor to become easier to drink; they allow for sustained intake and have an effect of improving the vascular endothelial function.
US08367126B2	Berry preparations and extracts Compositions having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and methods for providing such compositions, are disclosed. In one aspect, the compositions are derived by exposing a berry to an acidic solvent composition, adding a cryoprotectant, and recovering a berry extract having a stabilized anthocyanin content. Compositions comprising the stabilized anthocyanin-containing berry extract, formulated for oral and/or topical administration, are provided also.
US08367125B2	Method of improving the water quality in aquatic ecosystems A method for improving water quality in aquatic ecosystems is described. An effective amount of Quercus infectoria nut gall powder is added to the ecosystem to prevent excessive proliferation of pathogenic bacterial species thereby improving the health of aquaculture species in the ecosystem.
US08367121B2	Nutraceutical agent for attenuating the neurodegenerative process associated with Parkinson's disease This invention describes a comprehensive nutraceutical designed to antagonize major mitigating factors to the degenerative process associated with Parkinson's disease. The formulation is comprised of a primary base of pyruvate, succinate, α-Ketoglutarate and/or oxaloacetate, niacin/NADH, fruit extracts, anthocyanins, further combined with specific macro/micronutrients, trace elements, amino acids, flavonoids and concentrated plant sources. The nutraceutical contains all natural substances that should mitigate many of the neurodegenerative processes known to be associated with PD. Mechanisms addressed are to prevent the loss of ATP/by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium rotenone, scavenge hydrogen peroxide/O2.−, augment antioxidant enzymes, prevent dopamine (DA) oxidation to DA-quinone via inhibition of COX, PLA2, LOX, xanthine oxidase, tyrosinase, prevent hyperhomocysteinemia, antagonize PARP-1 apoptosis, increase blood flow, glucose and oxygen delivery to the brain, potentiate mitochondrial function, antagonize glia iNOS and MAO or its products, chelate redox-active iron, inhibit heme oxygenase-1, inhibit alpha-synuclein aggregation, augment ATP storage, mediate anti-inflammatory effects via inhibition of PDE, MAPK p38/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase/PGE2, antagonize excitotoxicity and downregulate N-methyltransferase, all of which contribute toward PD pathology.
US08367113B2	Polymers for functional particles The present invention generally relates to polymers and macromolecules, in particular, to block polymers useful in particles such as nanoparticles. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method of developing nanoparticles with desired properties. In one set of embodiments, the method includes producing libraries of nanoparticles having highly controlled properties, which can be formed by mixing together two or more macromolecules in different ratios. One or more of the macromolecules may be a polymeric conjugate of a moiety to a biocompatible polymer. In some cases, the nanoparticle may contain a drug. The moiety, in some embodiments, may have a molecular weight greater than about 1000 Da; for example, the moiety may include a polypeptide or a polynucleotide, such as an aptamer. The moiety may also be a targeting moiety, an imaging moiety, a chelating moiety, a charged moiety, or a therapeutic moiety. Another aspect of the invention is directed to systems and methods of producing such polymeric conjugates. In some embodiments, a solution containing a polymer is contacted with a liquid, such as an immiscible liquid, to form nanoparticles containing the polymeric conjugate. Other aspects of the invention are directed to methods using such libraries, methods of using or administering such polymeric conjugates, methods of promoting the use of such polymeric conjugates, kits involving such polymeric conjugates, or the like.
US08367112B2	Nanoparticulate carverdilol formulations The present invention is directed to nanoparticulate carvedilol compositions having improved pharmacokinetic profiles, improved bioavailability, dissolution rates and efficacy. In one embodiment, the nanoparticulate carvedilol composition has an effective average particle size of less than about 2000 nm.
US08367111B2	Extended release dosage forms of propranolol hydrochloride A unit dosage form, such as a capsule or the like for delivering drugs into the body in a sustained release fashion similar to that produced by INDERAL® LA indicated for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, comprises two populations of propranolol-containing particles (beads, pellets, granules, etc.). Each bead population exhibits a pre-designed rapid release profile (i.e., substantially complete release within 60 minutes) or sustained release profile over a period of 24 hours. Such a cardiovascular drug delivery system is designed by combining immediate release (IR) beads and sustained release (SR) beads. SR beads may be obtained by membrane coating IR beads with a water-insoluble polymer such as ethylcellulose or a mixture of a water insoluble polymer and a water-soluble polymer such as hydroxypropylcellulose at a ratio of from about 65/35 to 95/5.
US08367108B2	Functionalized non-phenolic amino acids and absorbable polymers therefrom The present invention relates to compound of formula I, which are functionalized, non-phenolic amino acids, and polymers formed from the same. Polymers formed from the functionalized amino acids are expected to have controllable degradation profiles, enabling them to release an active component over a desired time range. The polymers are also expected to be useful in a variety of medical applications.
US08367106B2	Compressed solid dosage form manufacturing process well-suited for use with drugs of low aqueous solubility and compressed solid dosage forms made thereby A pharmaceutical formulation of compounds with low aqueous solubility and method of manufacture thereof. The formulation may include a pharmacologically active compound having low aqueous solubility and starch in the amount of greater than about 25 weight percent. A manufacturing method may include blending the active compound and starch, compressing the blend into a solid, comminuting the solid into granules, wetting the granules, drying the granules, and tabletting the dried granules to make a solid pharmaceutical formulation.
US08367103B2	Oral testosterone composition The composition for oral administration of testosterone to a man who has androgen deficiency and exhibits one or more symptoms of androgen deficiency, comprises testosterone and a mixture of soybean oil and ethanol. Preferably, a pharmaceutically acceptable preservative, such as benzyl alcohol, is included in the composition. The mixture of soybean oil and ethanol is present in the composition in an amount such that when the composition is orally ingested by the testosterone is absorbed and one or more of the symptoms of androgen deficiency is ameliorated. The composition is charged into hard or soft gelatin capsules to produce orally administrable unit dosage forms.
US08367100B2	Preparation and use of sleeve and micro-encapsulated topical analgesic patch for treating pain Novel micro-encapsulated topical analgesics are provided to treat pain and may be applied via sleeves having dosed therapeutic sections, especially to joints and extremities. Sleeves may be prepared and packaged inside-out and inverted when positioned by the wearer.
US08367097B2	Liquid formulations for treatment of diseases or conditions Diseases and conditions associated with tissues of the body, including but not limited to tissues in the eye, can be effectively treated, prevented, inhibited, onset delayed, or regression caused by administering therapeutic agents to those tissues. Described herein are liquid formulations which deliver a variety of therapeutic agents, including but not limited to rapamycin, to a subject for an extended period of time; liquid formulations which form a non-dispersed mass when placed in an aqueous medium of a subject; non-dispersed mass-forming liquid formulations which form a gel or gel-like substance in an aqueous medium; liquid formulations, comprising a therapeutic agent and a plurality of polymers; and methods for delivering therapeutic agents to a subject for an extended period of time using the liquid formulations. The liquid formulation may be placed in an aqueous medium of a subject, including but not limited to via intraocular or periocular administration, or placement proximate to a site of a disease or condition to be treated in a subject. A method may be used to administer rapamycin to treat or prevent angiogenesis, choroidal neovascularization, or age-related macular degeneration, or wet age-related macular degeneration in a subject. The liquid formulations may comprise rapamycin or other therapeutic agents.
US08367094B2	Antimicrobial material and method for making the same This invention provides a modified catheter/indwelling device biomaterial that provides both immediate, and long-term microbiocidal effects on otherwise antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms. The material, which exhibits good mechanical performance characteristics for medical devices, is composed of a hydrophobic polyurethane (PU), a hydrophilic polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) as an option, a soluble silver salt and a sparsely-soluble silver salt. The hydrophobic polyurethane provides the good physical properties, the PEVA the hydrophilicity necessary to allow some water ingress into the catheter, the soluble silver salt for an immediate burst effect, and the sparsely-soluble silver salt for sustained-release over many months postimplantation. Alternatively, the sparsely soluble silver salt can be silver iodate and is combined with silver sulfadiazine. Chlorhexidine can also be included in the material.
US08367092B2	Method for modifying the wettability and/or other biocompatibility characteristics of a surface of a biological material by the application of gas cluster ion beam technology and biological materials made thereby The invention provides methods for surgical grafting of a tissue. The method comprises the steps of explanting a graft tissue from a donor, irradiating at least a first portion of the graft tissue with an ion beam, and surgically grafting the graft tissue into a recipient.
US08367091B2	Coatings for implantable medical devices Coatings for implantable medical devices comprising non-fouling moieties or polymers chemically bonded to the surface of the device via chelating structures, and methods of fabricating the coatings are disclosed.
US08367088B2	Liquid pest control formulation The present invention relates to a liquid pest control system that includes a synthetic pyrethroid as a pest control active ingredient and an agent selected from the group consisting of purified diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, tocopherol nicotinate and tocopherol succinate, and combinations thereof, to reduce or eliminate paraesthesia of the synthetic pyrethroid. The system releases the synthetic pyrethroid efficiently and uniformly. The pest control system is less irritating to the animal's skin as compared to prior art systems, particularly to the small breeds of dogs. The system is useful for making liquid spot-on treatments, sprays and the like.
US08367087B2	Soil amendment compositions and methods for using the same Soil amendment compositions and methods for using the same are provided. The subject compositions are aqueous compositions consisting essentially of a carbon-skeleton energy component, a predisposing agent and a vitamin-cofactor component. The subject compositions find use in a variety of soil amendment applications, including: the control of soil born pests and pathogens; the improvement in soil fertility and/or characteristics, e.g. mineral release, water filtration; the neutralization and/or degradation of toxins, etc.
US08367078B2	Kinase inhibitor compounds The invention relates to kinase inhibitor compounds and methods of identifying and using them. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating disorders, especially cancer.
US08367077B2	Virosomes comprising hemagglutinin derived from an influenza virus produced in a cell line, compositions, methods of manufacturing, use thereof The present invention relates to virosomes comprising hemagglutinin (HA) with improved fusion activity. Preferably, the HA comprised in said virosomes was derived from influenza virus produced in a cell line. The present invention also relates to compositions and a kit comprising the virosomes according to the invention. Further, the present invention relates to uses and methods involving said virosomes, as well as to a method for preparing same.
US08367072B2	Composition for treating obesity and method of using the same A composition for a medicinal or health effect of a treatment of liver fat and body fat, a reduction of blood pressure, an increase of the energy expenditure rate, a reduction of inflammatory C-reactive proteins and a reduction of plasma aminotransferase enzymes, comprising an effective amount of fucoxanthin alone or in combination with pomegranate seed oil, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a prodrug thereof, or a salt of the prodrug; and a method of using the same. The fucoxanthin may be used in pure form, or as a component of a brown marine vegetable extract.
US08367070B2	Modified surface antigen Novel proteins that constitute modified forms of a Neisseria meningitidis surface antigen and encoding nucleic acids are provided. The modified surface proteins are characterized by having deletions of non-conserved amino acids, and thereby being capable of eliciting cross-protective immune responses against Neisseria meningitidis. The invention extends to the use of the modified surface antigens in diagnostics, in therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines and in the design and/or screening of medicaments. The modified surface antigens are particularly useful in vaccines which effectively immunize against a broader spectrum of N. meningitidis strains than would be expected from a corresponding wild-type surface antigen.
US08367063B2	Human anti-OPGL neutralizing antibodies as selective OPGL pathway inhibitors Monoclonal antibodies and hybridomas producing them that interact with osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL) are provided. Methods of treating osteopenic disorders by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of antibodies to OPGL are also provided. Methods of detecting the amount of OPGL in a sample using antibodies to OPGL are further provided.
US08367062B2	Glycopeptides derived from pancreatic structures, antibodies and applications thereof in diagnostics and therapeutics Glycopeptide comprising 1 to 40 repeated C-terminal polypeptides, with 11 amino acids, of BSDL or FAPP, whereby said polypeptides are glycosylated and bear glycosylated epitopes giving rise to a specific immunological reaction with induced antibodies in a patient suffering from type 1 diabetes and/or purified from biological fluids of human or animal origin or recombinant and produced by expression in a standard host cell comprising an enzymatic material necessary for priming a glycosylation, said host cell being genetically modified such as to comprise a gene coding for said polypeptides and a gene coding for one or more enzymes selected from among glycosyltransferases, anti-glycopeptide antibodies and the applications thereof in therapeutics and diagnostics.
US08367058B2	Method for bacteriophage delivery and amplification Disclosed are methods of selecting wide host range bacteriophage capable of growing in a plurality of bacteria including pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and bacteriophage selected by the methods. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject infected with a pathogenic bacterium using bacteriophage and methods of decontaminating objects using bacteriophage. Also disclosed are methods of producing vaccines. In another aspect, methods of determining bacterial viability and methods of improving the sensitivity of a biosensor using wide host range bacteriophages are disclosed.
US08367053B2	Cyclosporin analogues The present invention provides novel cyclosporin analogue compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of using these compounds for the treatment of disorders and diseases, including immune disorders, inflammatory disorders and viral infections.
US08367051B2	Preparation of functional gel particles with a dual crosslink network Functional gel particle formed from a crosslinked polymeric network including a fraction of stable crosslinks and a second fraction of cleavable crosslinks are disclosed. Functional compounds may be chemically or physically encapsulated within and/or released from the gel particle by selective cleavage of the cleavable crosslinks. The functional compounds may be delivered and released to a pre-selected target site. Peripheral or other accessible functionality on the surface of the gel particle allows attachment of a surface reactive agent, thereby modifying one or more surface properties of the gel particle. Processes of preparing the gel particles and processes of delivering the functional compounds to a target site are also disclosed.
US08367045B2	Method of preparation of radiation-curable colored artificial nail gels A method of preparing colored UV-curable artificial nail gel compositions comprising dispersing a pigment in an organic liquid to form a pigment concentrate and mixing the pigment concentrate with a polyfunctional acrylic monomer and/or a polyfunctional acrylic oligomer, and the resultant highly colored artificial nail gel are disclosed.
US08367042B2	Nanoparticles of light emissive polymers and preparation method thereof Disclosed are nanoparticles of a light emissive polymer, comprising nanoparticles of a cyano-substituted poly(arylene vinylene) polymer; and a biocompatible surfactant adsorbed to the surface of the nanoparticles of the polymer, and preparation method thereof, wherein the method comprises: (1) uniformly mixing a dialdehyde monomer represented by a general formula OHC—Ar1—CHO, a dicyanide monomer represented by a general formula NC—Ar2—CN, and a liquid surfactant; (2) adding water to the resulting mixture to prepare an aqueous micelle dispersion; and (3) adding a polymerization catalyst to the aqueous micelle dispersion, followed by carrying out colloidal polymerization of the resulting mixture at room temperature under an atmosphere. The nanoparticles of the light emissive polymer of the invention are stabilized with a biocompatible surfactant, so that it can form a stable aqueous dispersion phase, and has particle size and fluorescence efficiency suitable for a biomolecular marker or a cell or in vivo imaging; therefore, it can be used as a cell or in vivo light emission contrast agent.
US08367039B2	Compounds for the diagnosis of diseases associated with VCAM expression The present invention relates to a compound of the following general formula (I): Signal-Linker-Peptide (I) in which Signal is a signal entity; Linker, is absent or is a chemical bond, and Peptide is a peptide having a VCAM-targeting peptide and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The VCAM-targeting peptide may be X10-X11-X12-X13-X14-X15-X16-X17-X18 (SEQ ID No. 4) with X10 chosen from cysteine and methionine; X11 chosen from methionine and cysteine; X12 chosen from lysine, arginine and alanine; X13 chosen from threonine and serine; X14 chosen from aspartic acid and glutamic acid; X15 chosen from threonine and serine; X16 chosen from arginine, alanine and lysine; X17 chosen from leucine, isoleucine and valine; X18 chosen from cysteine and methionine; preferably, the peptide CMKTDTRLC (SEQ ID No. 5).
US08367035B2	Methods of making spatially aligned nanotubes and nanotube arrays The present invention provides arrays of longitudinally aligned carbon nanotubes having specified positions, nanotube densities and orientations, and corresponding methods of making nanotube arrays using guided growth and guided deposition methods. Also provided are electronic devices and device arrays comprising one or more arrays of longitudinally aligned carbon nanotubes including multilayer nanotube array structures and devices.
US08367032B2	Burners and combustion apparatus for carbon nanomaterial production The invention provides improved burners, combustion apparatus, and methods for carbon nanomaterial production. The burners of the invention provide sooting flames of fuel and oxidizing gases. The condensable products of combustion produced by the burners of this invention produce carbon nanomaterials including without limitation, soot, fullerenic soot, and fullerenes. The burners of the invention do not require premixing of the fuel and oxidizing gases and are suitable for use with low vapor pressure fuels such as those containing substantial amounts of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The burners of the invention can operate with a hot (e.g., uncooled) burner surface and require little, if any, cooling or other forms of heat sinking. The burners of the invention comprise one or more refractory elements forming the outlet of the burner at which a flame can be established. The burners of the invention provide for improved flame stability, can be employed with a wider range of fuel/oxidizer (e.g., air) ratios and a wider range of gas velocities, and are generally more efficient than burners using water-cooled metal burner plates. The burners of the invention can also be operated to reduce the formation of undesirable soot deposits on the burner and on surfaces downstream of the burner.
US08367029B2	Method for producing trichlorosilane In the apparatus for producing trichlorosilane in which metal silicon powder supplied into the reactor is reacted with hydrogen chloride gas while being fluidized by the gas, thereby taking out trichlorosilane generated by the reaction from the upper part of the reactor, and a plurality of gas flow controlling members are installed at the internal space of the reactor along the vertical direction.
US08367027B2	Regeneration of ammonia borane from polyborazylene Method of producing ammonia borane, comprising providing a reagent comprising a dehydrogenated material in a suitable solvent; and combining the reagent with a reducing agent comprising hydrazine, a hydrazine derivative, or combinations thereof, in a reaction which produces a mixture comprising ammonia borane.
US08367025B2	Carbon dioxide sequestration materials and processes The disclosure provides methods and systems for sequestering and/or reducing carbon dioxide present in an industrial effluent fluid stream containing carbon dioxide. A scrubbing material comprising a first component, a second component (distinct from the first component), and preferably water, is contacted with the effluent fluid stream. The first component comprises a source of calcium oxide and a source of alkali metal ions. The second component comprises a slag having one or more reactive silicate compounds. Methods of reducing carbon dioxide from exhaust generated by combustion sources, lime and/or cement kilns, iron and/or steel furnaces, and the like are provided. Carbon dioxide emission abatement systems are also disclosed. Methods of recycling industrial byproducts are further provided.
US08367021B2	Fluidic devices having incorporated electrodes The invention provides fluidic devices having incorporated electrodes. One device comprises a card and a caddy. The card includes a channel disposed within the card, first and second vias in fluid communication with the channel through an upper surface of the card, and first and second electrodes disposed on the upper surface of the card. The first via and first electrode are positioned adjacent to a first end of the channel, and the second via and second electrode are positioned adjacent to a second end of the channel. The caddy comprises first and second reservoirs. The caddy is attached to the card such that the first reservoir is positioned over the first via and a portion of the first electrode, and the second reservoir is positioned over the second via and a portion of the second electrode. A portion of each of the electrodes is accessible for dry electrical contact.
US08367019B2	Method for the preparation of a microfluidic channel The invention relates to a microfluidic channel (6) with shifted levels comprising a channel pillar (2a, 2b) and a channel bridge (3) which microfluidic channel (6) connects a channel (4a, 4b), situated in a first level of a base plate (1, 11) which contains a microfluidic system, with a second level of said base plate (1, 11). A longitudinal hollow with an edgeless cross-section is connected, as a channel pillar (2a, 2b), with one end, to the ending of the channel (4a, 4b) to be connected and formed in the first level of the base plate (1, 11), furthermore, the channel bridge (3) created at the second level of the base plate (1, 11) and having a cross-section fitting to the channel pillar (2a, 2b) is surrounded by a filling-up material (7) filled in subsequently, and a rounding-off is formed at the junction of the connecting end of the channel bridge (3) and the end of the channel pillar (2a, 2b) extending to the second level.
US08367017B2	Methods for uniform metal impregnation into a nanoporous material The methods, systems 400 and apparatus disclosed herein concern metal 150 impregnated porous substrates 110, 210. Certain embodiments of the invention concern methods for producing metal-coated porous silicon substrates 110, 210 that exhibit greatly improved uniformity and depth of penetration of metal 150 deposition. The increased uniformity and depth allow improved and more reproducible Raman detection of analytes. In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the methods may comprise oxidation of porous silicon 110, immersion in a metal salt solution 130, drying and thermal decomposition of the metal salt 140 to form a metal deposit 150. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the methods may comprise microfluidic impregnation of porous silicon substrates 210 with one or more metal salt solutions 130. Other embodiments of the invention concern apparatus and/or systems 400 for Raman detection of analytes, comprising metal-coated porous silicon substrates 110, 210 prepared by the disclosed methods.
US08367011B2	Blower type chemical diffusing apparatus, and chemical cartridge and chemical impregnated body used therefor A blower type chemical diffusing apparatus is small in thickness, simple in structure, and reduced in cost. The apparatus allows the chemical and a battery to be exchanged readily and facilitates electrically connecting the battery to the motor in the blower. The apparatus casing includes a first and a second side casing counterpart hinged together to allow opening and closing. The apparatus further includes a blower with a motor and fan mounted in the first casing body. A chemical cartridge is disposed between the blower and the second casing body, and contains a chemical impregnated body which includes a carrier in the form of a sheet impregnated with the chemical. The first casing body has a battery accommodating recess in which dry cells are removably accepted to drive the motor and thereby to rotate the fan. Air is thus forced to flow through the chemical cartridge.
US08367009B2	Three phase sulfur separation system with interface control A liquid separator system having a gas phase zone, an aqueous phase zone and a denser liquid zone is used to separate mixtures of fluids. The separator can be used for separating molten sulfur from liquid redox solution or reslurry water. The system includes a vessel with a top part and a bottom part. The vessel has a larger diameter at the top part than at the bottom part. The system also includes an inlet for introducing a redox solution or reslurry water and molten sulfur, which is denser than redox solution or reslurry water, into the vessel. An outlet near the bottom part of the vessel allows a flow of the molten sulfur from the vessel. An interface control structure senses an interface level between the redox solution or reslurry water and the molten sulfur, and the interface control structure controls the flow of molten sulfur from the outlet. The interface control structure is adjusted to optimally alter the vertical height of the interface level within the vessel so that the residence time of the molten sulfur in the vessel does not decrease as the sulfur production throughput decreases, and so that the interface area of the molten sulfur and the redox solution is reduced as the sulfur throughput decreases. A pressure controller monitors the pressure in the vessel and adds or removes gas from a gas phase zone in the vessel to maintain a predetermined pressure regardless of the vertical height of the interface.
US08367008B2	Method for purifying silicon for photovoltaic applications The disclosure relates to a method for purifying silicon by exposing liquid silicon to a plasma, wherein the silicon flows continuously into a channel so that the free surface thereof is exposed to the plasma. The disclosure also relates to a device for implementing the method.
US08367002B2	Fluorescent organic nanocrystals for producing biosensors The present invention relates to a (nano)material comprising at least one inorganic and/or organomineral layer, integrated into which is at least one type of organic or organometallic fluorescent nanocrystal that emerges from the surface of said layer so that at least one part of the fluorescent nanocrystals is in direct contact with the outside environment. These emerging nanocrystals constitute, due to their fluorescence, a signalling function, and they may thus be functionalised by grafting a biomolecule bearing a probe function, such as a half-strand of DNA, to thus produce a biochip, biocaptor or biosensor comprising such a (nano)material, a support for a biochip, biocaptor or biosensor, and a method for preparing such a nanomaterial.
US08366997B2	Modular laboratory automation system A modular laboratory automation system for monitoring and controlling laboratory experiments, the modular laboratory automation system including a controller, an interface board, and a portable power supply. Power levels of standard laboratory equipment can be automatically controlled, and conditions and parameters of experiments can be automatically monitored and recorded. The laboratory automation system is modular and can be configured to operate with laboratory experiments having varying setups and equipment.
US08366996B2	Refuse disinfection system A system for disinfecting regulated refuse using steam disinfection used a refuse container where the regulated refuse is deposited. Temperature sensors are positioned below and above the refuse to detect the temperature of the disinfecting process, while a recording device operationally connected to the temperature sensors creates an identifying chart, which provides for identification of the time and temperature of processing, origin of the regulated refuse, as well as date and location of the processing.
US08366993B2	System and method for degassing molten metal A system for adding gas to and transferring molten metal from a vessel and into one or more of a ladle, ingot mold, launder, feed die cast machine or other structure is disclosed. The system includes at least a vessel for containing molten metal, an overflow (or dividing) wall, a device or structure, such as a molten metal pump, for generating a stream of molten metal, and one or more gas-release devices.
US08366989B2	Method for producing porous honeycomb structure and porous honeycomb structure The method for producing a porous honeycomb structural body according to the present invention is the method, which comprises preparing a green body by kneading a forming material containing a main constituent material consisting of non-oxide ceramics and/or a metal and an organic binder, manufacturing a honeycomb shaped formed body (honeycomb formed body) by shaping and drying said green body, calcining the honeycomb formed body to obtain a calcined body, and firing finally the calcined body to obtain a porous honeycomb structural body,wherein said forming material further includes 0.01-10 parts by mass of an inorganic layer material to 100 parts by mass of said main constituent material, in addition to said main constituent material and said organic binder.
US08366988B2	Spunbond wetlaid method for producing non-woven fabrics from natural cellulose The present invention provides a “spunbond wetlaid method for producing non-woven fabrics from natural cellulose” using pulp as raw material and N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) as solvent for dissolving into dope. Then, the dope is extruded out of a spinneret to form filament bundle by spunbond method. The dope is extruded out of a spinneret bank of grouped spinnerets to form filament bundle for further stretching process under quench condition. The filament bundle is coagulated with regeneration in a coagulating solution. The coagulated filament bundle is rapidly stretched under high pressure by an air draw-off machine. The stretched filament bundle is collected and stacked on a collecting net as web nonwoven. After post treatments of water rinsing, hydro-entangled needle punching, drying, winding-up and the like have been orderly applied then final product of nonwoven fabrics with continuous filament are produced from natural cellulose.
US08366987B2	Method for forming high-impact transparent, distortion-free polymeric materials A method and apparatus are provided for forming a sheet of polymeric material, such as polycarbonate. A forming mold is provided having halves that engage for forming a heated sheet therebetween. Each of the halves defines an interior cavity having a peripheral edge. The sheet is retained between the peripheral edges of the halves and a vacuum is generated within one of the cavities for drawing the sheet therein, whereby a sensing mechanism detects a draw depth for initiating a cooling mechanism to cool the sheet to a temperature below a glass transition temperature of the material. A series of retention mechanisms are provided about the peripheral edge of one of the halves, for biasing the sheet into engagement with the peripheral edge of the opposing half. A trimming mechanism is further provided for trimming the perimeter of the sheet to a desired form.
US08366985B2	Method of manufacturing watercourse blocks continuously arranged on the spot The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing watercourse blocks continuously arranged in the construction spot, which continuously arranges the watercourse blocks according to the construction spot by preparing iron bar grates to be orthogonal to each other inside molding frames that are continuously arranged, casting concrete, preventing moisture evaporation and frost damage and employing iron bar grates so that the watercourse blocks continuously arranged according to the construction spot can be manufactured and constructed on the spot. Therefore, works for manufacturing the watercourse blocks in a plant and then assembling or fixing them in the construction spot according to the related art can be reduced as much as possible, the watercourse blocks can be simply manufactured and constructed on the spot to reduce a manufacturing cost and a construction time, which can thus significantly reduce the prime cost of the construction cost and diminish accident risk.
US08366981B2	Apparatus and methods for forming composite stiffeners and reinforcing structures A composite structure is provided. The structure includes at least one ply of preimpregnated material formed into a curved elongated member of continuous fibers onto a mandrel. The fibers have a select orientation. The curved elongated member has a length and a cross-sectional geometry that varies along the length.
US08366978B2	Method for determining sintering shrinkage of a pre-sintered body A method for determining a sintering shrinkage of a pre-sintered body. The method includes providing a green preform with at least one design feature. The green-preform is pre-sintered to form a white body. At least one change in the at least one design feature with the pre-sintering is recorded. An expected sintering shrinkage to a dense-sintered component is determined using the recorded change.
US08366972B2	Material for protective coatings on high temperature-resistant chromium oxide-forming substrates, method for the production thereof, and use thereof The invention relates to a material for the formation of protective layers resistant to high temperatures on chromium oxide forming substrates, to a manufacturing method and to a use of these materials. It is suitable for a use as a chromium evaporation layer for metallic alloys containing chromium in the high temperature range. It is the object of the invention to provide a material for applications as a protective layer for chromium oxide forming alloys of high temperature resistance which is thermally and mechanically permanently stable and ensures a high electrical conductivity at the operating temperature of the fuel cell. In accordance with the invention, the material is formed from a spinel phase and an oxidic secondary phase which is preferably formed with an oxidic compound containing manganese.
US08366969B2	Phosphate ester polyamideimide mixture containing intermediate transfer members An intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes for example, a polyamideimide, a phosphate ester and a conductive component, like carbon black.
US08366967B2	Metal chalcogenide aqueous precursors and processes to form metal chalcogenide films Metal chalcogenide precursor solutions are described that comprise an aqueous solvent, dissolved metal formate salts and a chalcogenide source composition. The chalcogenide source compositions can be organic compounds lacking a carbon-carbon bond. The precursors are designed to form a desired metal chalcogenide upon thermal processing into films with very low levels of contamination. Potentially contaminating elements in the precursors form gaseous or vapor by-products that escape from the vicinity of the product metal chalcogenide films.
US08366966B2	Methods and systems for producing energy from carbon dioxide A method and system for producing a liquid fuel comprising: (a) reacting water with a first metal in a first reaction chamber to obtain hydrogen, heat, and an oxide of the first metal; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with a second metal, which is the same or different from the first metal, in a second reaction chamber, which is the same or different from the first reaction chamber, to obtain carbon monoxide, heat, and oxide of the second metal; (c) regenerating said first and second metals from said first and second oxides.
US08366962B2	Polymerizable liquid crystal compounds having oxiranyl group, polymerizable liquid crystal compositions and polymers The main aim of the invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal compound that has a liquid crystal phase with a wide temperature range centering at room temperature, has an excellent compatibility with another polymerizable liquid crystal compound, has an excellent solubility in an organic solvent and is polymerizable even in air by heat or light. A polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1-1) or formula (1-2): wherein A1 and A2 are a divalent cyclic-structure group such as cyclohexylene and phenylene; Z1 is a bonding group such as a single bond and —O—; m is an integer from 1 to 5; Q1 and Q2 are alkylene having 1 to 20 carbons; R1 is fluorine, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, alkyl, alkoxy and so forth; and Ra and Rb is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl.
US08366953B2	Plasma cleaning method and plasma CVD method A plasma cleaning method is performed in a plasma CVD apparatus for depositing a silicon nitride film on a surface of a target substrate, and includes a stage (S1) of supplying a cleaning gas containing NF3 gas into a process container, thereby removing extraneous deposits formed on portions inside the process container; a stage (S2) of supplying a gas containing hydrogen gas into the process container and generating plasma thereof, thereby removing residual fluorine inside the process container; and a stage (S3) of supplying a gas containing a rare gas into the process container and generating plasma thereof, thereby removing residual hydrogen inside the process container.
US08366948B2	Method of manufacturing near-field light generating element and method of manufacturing heat-assisted magnetic recording head A near-field light generating element has an outer surface including first and second inclined surfaces and an edge part that connects the first and second inclined surfaces to each other. In a method of manufacturing the near-field light generating element, a polishing stopper layer is initially formed on a metal layer, and the polishing stopper layer and the metal layer are etched so that the metal layer is provided with the first inclined surface. Next, a coating layer is formed to cover the metal layer and the polishing stopper layer. The coating layer is made of a non-metallic inorganic material that has an etching rate lower than that of the metal layer in a second etching step to be performed later. Next, the coating layer is polished until the polishing stopper layer is exposed. Next, the second etching step is performed to etch the polishing stopper layer and the metal layer using the coating layer as the etching mask. This provides the metal layer with the second inclined surface and the edge part, and thereby makes the metal layer into the near-field light generating element.
US08366947B2	Method for transferring nanostructures into a substrate In a method for transferring nanostructures into a substrate, the following order of steps is used: decorating a substrate with nanomaterials (13), etching the substrate (10), applying a coating (15), removing the nanomaterials (13), and etching the substrate (10).
US08366946B2	Frame for holding laminate during processing A rigid holder is provided for supporting a flexible article. The rigid holder may include a first frame member and a second frame member which are held together through magnets.
US08366943B2	Apparatus and method for collecting material from water systems The invention relates to an apparatus and method for collecting material from a water system, especially from the surface or close to the surface of a water system. The method comprises: maneuvering an apparatus with a cargo space in a water system; conducting water, present in the surface and close to the surface of the water system, and material therein to be collected, in response to the vessel's advancing speed through a collect opening, located in a fore section of the apparatus in its traveling direction, into the cargo space; conducting water from the cargo space back into the water system through an exhaust opening in the cargo space's bottom.
US08366937B2	Immobilization of nano- and micro-sized particles for use in chemical catalysis What is presented is an innovative design of a chemical reactor for catalytic breakdown of halogenated hydrocarbons, the body of which acts as a specialized electromagnet capable of immobilizing and retaining very large quantities of non-magnetized ferro-dia- or para-magnetic material-containing nano, micro-, or milli-particles within it's reactor volume despite high-velocity flow of any liquid through said reactor. This is accomplished without any pre-treatment to the nanoparticles, without the use of adhesive of any sort, electroplating, electrolytic action, nano-structured nanocages, membrane or other impregnation, or any other mechanical or chemical means.
US08366933B2	Method for bacterial treatment of effluents containing 2-ethylhexyl nitrate The invention relates to a method for treating effluents containing 2-ethylhexyl nitrate (2-EHN), or nitric ester of 2-ethylhexane-1-ol, in order to reduce at least partly the concentration thereof, characterized in that it comprises growing, in the presence of a suitable substrate, a Corynebacterium urealyticum CIP-1-2126 bacterium and degrading the 2-EHN contained in the effluents by the biomass of said bacterium thus produced. The invention has application in the Application: depollution of waters and soils polluted by 2-EHN.
US08366930B2	Push filter with floating key lock A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. A push filter design activates a floating key lock upon insertion and extraction, where the filter key may be used simultaneously as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The filter base may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent piping, such as within a refrigerator. The filter housing assembly may be attached to, and removed from, the filter base by a push-actuated release. Upon insertion, the filter key shifts the filter lock longitudinally to receive interlocking segments. Upon extraction, the same axial push shifts the filter lock further to align the interlocking fingers within gaps that allow for easy extraction. The specific key lock design allows a user to identify and match certain filter configurations received by the mechanical support, and reject other filter configurations.
US08366923B1	Telescoping post supports and sliding lid systems for filter baskets Devices, apparatus, systems and methods of using an adjustable filter basket on telescoping post supports to raise and lower the filter basket so as to adjust the position of the inlet chute for different ground water levels in storm water treatment systems, along with horizontal slidable lids in tracks on the basket that allow access to the inside of the basket in vaults having ceilings close to the top of the baskets. A single winch point or floats can be used to raise and lower the filter basket on the telescopic post supports.
US08366915B2	Method for removing calcium from crude oil Methods for reducing calcium deposition along surfaces in contact with the water phase of a resolved water/oil emulsion are disclosed. High calcium crude oil and the like are contacted with a sequestrant to form a sequestered calcium containing complex that partitions to the water phase in the resolved emulsion. A specifically formulated polymeric deposit control agent is added to the water phase to inhibit calcium deposit formation therein and along surfaces in contact with the water phase.
US08366914B2	Multifunctional scavenger for hydrocarbon fluids Compounds having the formulae and general formulae: wherein each R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different and may be hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a halogen, a nitro group, an alkyl or aryl ester, and an alkyl or aryl ether; compounds having the general formula: wherein R is an alkyl, aryl or electron withdrawing group; mixtures thereof; can be used as additives for crude oil and hydrocarbons. These compounds may be used to scavenge mercaptans, sulfides, cyanides, and primary or secondary amines; either alone or in combination.
US08366908B2	Sour service hydroprocessing for lubricant base oil production An integrated process for producing lubricant base oils from feedstocks under sour conditions is provided. The ability to process feedstocks under higher sulfur conditions allows for reduced cost processing and increases the flexibility in selecting a suitable feedstock. The sour feed can be delivered to a catalytic dewaxing step without any separation of sulfur and nitrogen contaminants, or a high pressure separation can be used to partially eliminate contaminants.
US08366905B2	Apparatus having reduced noise and method of using the apparatus for detecting ionic materials An apparatus and method for detecting ionic materials includes a sensing electrode which contacts a liquid sample and detects a sensing voltage corresponding to a surface potential which is changed by a concentration of ionic materials in the liquid sample, a first switching transistor having a first terminal connected to the sensing electrode and a second terminal connected to a first node, a second switching transistor having a first terminal connected to a reset voltage and a second terminal connected to the first node, and a sensing transistor having a gate connected to the first node.
US08366904B2	Cathodic protection Cathodic protection of a structure including a steel member at least partly buried in a covering layer, such as steel rebar in a concrete structure, is provided by embedding sacrificial anodes into the concrete layer at spaced positions over the layer and connecting the anodes to the rebar. The anode body is formed, by pressing together finely divided powder, flakes or fibers of a sacrificial anode material such as zinc to define a porous body having pores therein. The sacrificial anode material of the anode member is directly in contact with the covering material by being buried or inserted as a tight fit into a drilled hole so that any expansion forces therefrom would be applied to the concrete with the potential of causing cracking. The pores are arranged however such that corrosion products from corrosion of the anode body are received into the pores sufficiently to prevent expansion of the anode body to an extent which would cause cracking of the covering material.
US08366901B2	Deposition of conductive polymer and metallization of non-conductive substrates A process is provided for metallizing a surface of a substrate with electrolytically plated copper metallization, the process comprising electrolytically depositing copper over the electrically conductive polymer by immersing the substrate in an electrolytic composition and applying an external source of electrons, wherein the electrolytic composition comprises a source of copper ions and has a pH between about 0.5 and about 3.5. In another aspect, a process is provided for metallizing a surface of a dielectric substrate with electrolytically plated copper metallization, the process comprising immersing the substrate into a catalyst composition comprising a precursor for forming an electrically conductive polymer on the surface of the dielectric substrate and a source of Mn(II) ions in an amount sufficient to provide an initial concentration of Mn(II) ions of at least about 0.1 g/L to form an electrically conductive polymer on the surface of the dielectric substrate, and electrolytically depositing copper over said electrically conductive polymer.
US08366896B2	Capillary electrophoresis device Provided is a capillary electrophoresis device including a holder preventing a septum from coming off when a capillary is pulled out, and also allowing containers to be taken out in any order. In the capillary electrophoresis device for separating and analyzing a sample such as a DNA and a protein by electrophoresis, the holder includes: a septum having a capillary hole through which a capillary penetrates; a container for storing a solution; and a container-accommodation unit for accommodating the container. A hole formed in the septum engages with an engagement portion formed on the container, and thereby the septum is held to cover the container.
US08366895B2	Differential pH probe A differential pH probe design uses a container having an outer surface and an inner volume, where the inner volume is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber. A first pH-sensitive area is located on the outer surface of the first chamber where the first pH-sensitive area is configured to be exposed to a sample. A second pH-sensitive area is located on the outer surface of the second chamber where the second pH-sensitive area is shielded from the sample and is exposed to a buffer solution. A first electrode is configured to detect a first voltage in the first chamber and a second electrode is configured to detect a second voltage in the second chamber. Circuitry is coupled to the first and second electrodes and configured to process the first voltage and the second voltage to determine a pH of the sample.
US08366892B2	Graphite electrode The present invention relates to an electrode composed of carbon having at least two different zones, wherein an outer zone (A) forms the base of the electrode and carries one or more inner zones, wherein the innermost zone (B) projects from the zone (A) at the top and has a lower specific thermal conductivity than zone (A).
US08366886B2	Fluorogas generator A fluorine/fluoride gas generator which has an electrolyte made of mixed molten salt containing hydrogen fluoride in an electrolytic cell including an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, and generates a gas containing fluorine by electrolyzing the electrolyte, includes a raw material supply pipe for supplying an electrolysis raw material, reaching the inside of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell, a normally-closed valve provided in the middle of the raw material supply pipe, and a bypass pipe provided with a normally-open valve, joining the raw material supply pipe on the downstream side from the normally-closed valve to a gas phase area of the electrolytic cell. Accordingly, the electrolyte is prevented from being suctioned into the raw material supply pipe in the fluorine/fluoride gas generator, and solidification of the electrolyte inside the raw material supply pipe can be prevented.
US08366884B2	Plating apparatus with direct electrolyte distribution system A plating apparatus with direct electrolyte distribution system, including one or more of the following: an electrolyte tank; an electrolyte distribution compartment within the electrolyte tank, the electrolyte distribution compartment for containing electrolyte, the electrolyte distribution compartment having a first side and a second side; a pump having a fluid connection to the electrolyte distribution compartment for applying pressure to the electrolyte; a plurality of nozzles connected to the first side of the electrolyte distribution compartment, the electrolyte being forced through the plurality of the nozzles from the electrolyte distribution compartment to a part to be plated when the pump applies pressure to the electrolyte in the electrolyte distribution compartment; an electrolyte collection compartment within the electrolyte tank, the electrolyte collection compartment being in fluid communication with the electrolyte distribution compartment; and a removable screen between the electrolyte collection compartment and the second side of the electrolyte distribution compartment.
US08366883B2	Pressurized vapor cycle liquid distillation Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.
US08366880B2	Fibrous support intended to be impregnated with liquid Fibrous support intended to be impregnated, the fibers of which are formed 100% of cellulose fibers, characterized in that it presents, before creping or embossing, a wet traction strength of over 2.4 N/15 mm in the cross-machine direction, a water absorption capacity of at least 300% and contains less than 2% dry wet strength 10 agent in comparison with the dry weight of the fibers.
US08366879B2	Soil and/or moisture resistant secure document A soil and/or moisture resistant secure document and a method for producing such a secure document, are provided. The inventive method preferably employs a size press or other similar device to force a soil and/or moisture resistant formulation into the pores of the substrate and to remove excess formulation from opposing surfaces thereof. Soil and/or moisture resistant formulations when applied this way instead of by way of standard coating techniques do not obscure optically variable effects generated by non-porous OVDs that may be employed on or within these secure documents. In addition, thin layers of fibers (e.g., papermaking fibers) overlying and thus embedding portions of security devices in windowed secure documents that have been rendered soil and/or moisture resistant in accordance with this invention demonstrate increased durability.
US08366875B2	Method and arrangement for wash after completed digestion in a continuous digester for the production of cellulose pulp Digested softened non-defibrated chips are fed out from a bottom of a digester. The chips are fed out under an influence of a bottom scraper at the bottom of the digester and through an outlet tap at the bottom of the digester and onwards to an outlet line connected to the outlet tap. This takes place before the softened chips pass through a blow-valve arranged in the outlet line, across which blow-valve a pressure drop of at least 0.5 bar and at most 3-5 bar has been established. The chips are exposed to a displacement wash after the chips have passed the outlet tap. The displacement wash has been established in the flow of chips through the outlet line before the chips are defibrated by the pressure drop across the blow-valve.
US08366872B2	Substrate treatment method, coating film removing apparatus, and substrate treatment system According to the present invention, during the photolithography processing of a substrate, exposure processing is performed immediately after removal of a coating film on the rear surface of the substrate, and a coating film is formed on the rear surface of the substrate immediately after the exposure processing. Thereafter, etching treatment and so on are performed, and a series of these treatment and processing steps are performed a predetermined number of times. The coating film has been formed on the rear surface of the substrate at the time for the etching treatment, so that even if the coating film gets minute scratches, the rear surface of the substrate itself is protected by the coating film and thus never scratched. Further, since the coating film on the rear surface of the substrate is removed immediately before the exposure processing, the rear surface of the substrate can be flat for the exposure processing.
US08366870B2	Method and apparatus for plasma processing The invention provides a plasma processing apparatus capable of minimizing the non-uniformity of potential distribution around wafer circumference, and providing a uniform process across the wafer surface. The apparatus is equipped with a focus ring formed of a dielectric, a conductor or a semiconductor and having RF applied thereto, the design of which is optimized for processing based on a design technique clarifying physical conditions for flattening a sheath-plasma interface above a wafer and the sheath-plasma interface above the focus ring. A surface voltage of the focus ring is determined to be not less than a minimum voltage for preventing reaction products caused by wafer processing from depositing thereon. The surface height, surface voltage, material and structure of the focus ring are optimized so that the height of an ion sheath formed on the focus ring surface is either equal or has a height difference within an appropriate tolerance range to the height of the ion sheath formed on the wafer surface. Optimization of the structure is realized by setting up an appropriate tolerance range taking into consideration the variation caused by consumption of the focus ring.
US08366868B2	Substrate processing apparatus A substrate processing apparatus cleaning method that includes: containing a cleaning gas in a reaction tube without generating a gas flow of the cleaning gas in the reaction tube by supplying the cleaning gas into the reaction tube and by completely stopping exhaustion of the cleaning gas from the reaction tube or by exhausting the cleaning gas at an exhausting rate which substantially does not affect uniform diffusion of the cleaning gas in the reaction tube from at a point of time of a period from a predetermined point of time before the cleaning gas is supplied into the reaction tube to a point of time when several seconds are elapsed after starting of supply of the cleaning gas into the reaction tube; and thereafter exhausting the cleaning gas from the reaction tube.
US08366867B2	Bonded structure, sealed structure, electronic component including the same, bonding method, and sealing method Provided are a bonded structure, a sealed structure, an electronic component including the same, a bonding method, and a sealing method, the bonded structure and sealed structure allow hermetic adhesion using an adhesive even when the materials of the bonding surfaces are different, or the bonding surfaces have low wettability for the adhesive. A sealed structure 21 used for an electronic component or the like includes a first bonding surface 17 on a first adherent 11 bonded to a second bonding surface 18 on a second adherent 16 via an adhesive layer 24, the first and/or second bonding surfaces 17 and 18 having films 22 and 23 of film-forming compounds, the film-forming compounds being bound to the surfaces 17 and 18 at one end of the molecule thereof, and bound to a molecule of the adhesive at the functional group at the other end of the molecule.
US08366866B2	Formaldehyde free binder compositions for fibrous materials Compositions for binding organic or inorganic fibers are described. The compositions may include an aqueous solution having a pH of about 4.5 or more. The aqueous solution may include a polycarboxy polymer that is about 10%, by wt., to 100%, by wt., of a butenedioic acid or butenedioic anhydride; and a polyol. The compositions can maintain a pH of about 5 or more after being cured into a thermoset plastic with the fibers. Processes for preparing a binder composition for organic or inorganic fibers are also described. The processes may include providing an aqueous solution of polycarboxylic acid polymers, where the polymers comprise about 10%, by wt., to 100%, by wt., of a butenedioic acid or butenedioic anhydride; adding a polyol to the aqueous solution; and maintaining the pH of the aqueous solution at about 5 or more.
US08366864B2	Component press bonding apparatus and method Link mechanisms provided corresponding to press bonding heads each include a first link member having one end pivotably connected to an upper end of the press bonding head, a second link member having one end pivotably connected to the other end of the first link member and having the other end pivotably connected to a link bracket above the press bonding head, and a connection slide part connected to a connection part between the first and second link members, collectively drive the connection slide parts of the link mechanisms by a press bonding head driving unit in horizontal directions (Y axis directions) orthogonal to a direction (X axis direction) of side-by-side arrangement of the plurality of press bonding heads, open and close the first and second link members of the link mechanisms in the vertical directions thereby collectively moving the plurality of press bonding heads downward and upward.
US08366863B2	Method for producing bonded mineral wool and binder therefor The present invention relates to a binder for the production of bonded mineral wool, wherein a phenol-formaldehyde-binder is applied onto the still hot fibers after the fiberization of a mineral wool, using a binder that comprises hydroxylamine or an amino alcohol with the following general formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different from each other, and independently are hydrogen, a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon with 1-12 carbon atoms, a saturated or unsaturated alicyclic or heterocyclic hydrocarbon with 5-8 carbon atoms, a carbocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with 5-12 ring members or a chain-like or branched alkylether with 1-50 alkoxy units or a chain-like or branched alkylamine with 1-50 alkylamine units; and R3 is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon with 1-12 carbon atoms, a saturated or unsaturated alicyclic or heterocyclic hydrocarbon with 5-8 carbon atoms, a carbocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with 5-12 ring members or a chain-like or branched alkylether with 1-50 alkoxy units or a chain-like or branched alkylamine with 1-50 alkylamine units.
US08366862B2	Method for forming structure and method for manufacturing liquid ejecting head A method for forming a structure includes: a step of forming on a substrate a resin layer composed of a resin which is cured by irradiation with active energy rays; a step of pressing a first mold on the resin layer, the first mold being composed of an active energy ray-transmitting material and having projections each having an active energy ray-shielding film at the end thereof; a first irradiation step of irradiating the resin layer; a step of pressing a second mold on the resin layer within a region where the resin layer is not exposed to the rays, the second mold being composed of an active energy ray-transmitting material and having projections each having an active energy ray-shielding film at the end thereof; and a second irradiation step of irradiating a portion of the unexposed region of the resin layer.
US08366859B2	Method and device for sealing A method for sealing a first packaging material laminate, comprised of at least one layer of magnetizable particles and a sealable layer, to a second packaging laminate involves facing the sealable layer towards the second laminate, providing an alternating magnetic field to the laminates in a sealing zone, thereby generating magnetic hysteresis losses in the laminate having the magnetizable particles, which losses create heat substantially melting the sealable layer in the sealing zone, and applying a sealing pressure to the first and second laminate to cause the first and second laminate to be pressed together in the sealing zone, thereby sealing the laminates to each other.
US08366854B2	Method for producing a laminate The invention relates to a method for producing a decorated laminate having a plate-shaped core made of wood or wood material, a decorative layer on at least one side of the core, and a cover layer made of aminoplast on the decorative layer, comprising the following steps: attaching the decorative layer, applying a layer made of an aqueous solution of an aminoplast precursor to form a cover layer on the decorative layer, at least partially drying the cover layer, curing the aminoplast under pressure and heat, wherein a part of said solution of said aminoplast precursor is initially applied and the partial layer thus generated is dried and said step is repeated at least twice, in order to form the final cover layer.
US08366853B2	Method for making carbon nanotube film A method for making a carbon nanotube film is disclosed. A carbon nanotube array formed on a continuously curving surface of a growing substrate is provided. A carbon nanotube segment is selected from the carbon nanotube array. The carbon nanotube segment is drawn away from the carbon nanotube array to achieve the carbon nanotube film.
US08366846B2	Aluminum alloy sheet with excellent post-fabrication surface qualities and method of manufacturing same Disclosed is an Al—Mg—Si aluminum alloy sheet that can prevent ridging marks during press forming and has good reproducibility even with stricter fabricating conditions. In an Al—Mg—Si aluminum alloy sheet of a specific composition, hot rolling is performed on the basis of a set relationship between the rolling start temperature Ts and the rolling finish temperature Tf° C., whereby the relationship of the cube orientation distribution profile in the horizontal direction of the sheet with the cube orientation alone or another crystal orientation distribution profile at various locations in the depth direction of the sheet is made more uniform, suppressing the appearance of ridging marks that develop during sheet press forming.
US08366839B2	Aluminum—copper—lithium products The present invention relates to extruded, rolled and/or forged products. Also provided are methods of making such products based on aluminum alloy wherein a liquid metal bath is prepared comprising 2.0 to 3.5% by weight of Cu, 1.4 to 1.8% by weight of Li, 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of Ag, 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of Mg, 0.05 to 0.18% by weight of Zr, 0.2 to 0.6% by weight of Mn and at least one element selected from Cr, Sc, Hf and Ti, the quantity of said element, if it is selected, being 0.05 to 0.3% by weight for Cr and for Sc, 0.05 to 0.5% by weight for Hf and 0.01 to 0.15% by weight for Ti, the remainder being aluminum and inevitable impurities. The products and methods of the present invention offer a particularly advantageous compromise between static mechanical strength and damage tolerance and are particularly useful in the field of aeronautical design.
US08366838B2	Moderate density, low density, and extremely low density single crystal alloys for high AN2 applications A single crystal alloy for high AN2 applications has a composition consisting essentially of from 4.0 to 10 wt % chromium, from 1.0 to 2.5 wt % molybdenum, up to 5.0 wt % tungsten, from 3.0 to 8.0 wt % tantalum, from 5.5 to 6.25 wt % aluminum, from 6.0 to 17 wt % cobalt, up to 0.2 wt % hafnium, from 4.0 to 6.0 wt % rhenium, from 1.0 to 3.0 wt % ruthenium, and the balance nickel. Further, these single crystal alloys have a total tungsten and molybdenum content in the range of from 1.0 to 7.5 wt %, preferably from 2.0 to 7.0 wt %, a total refractory element content in the range of from 9.0 to 24.5 wt %, preferably from 13 to 22 wt %, a ratio of rhenium to a total refractory element content in the range of from 0.16 to 0.67, preferably from 0.20 to 0.45, a density in the range of from 0.300 to 0.325 lb/in3, and a specific creep strength in the range from 106×103 to 124×103 inches. These alloys provide (a) increased creep strength for a given density and (b) specific creep strengths as high as or higher than all 2nd generation single crystal alloys with a significant decrease in density.
US08366837B2	Powder magnetic core and magnetic element using the same The invention can provide a dust core that can counteract a large electric current, achieve an increase in frequency and miniaturization, and achieve an improvement in voltage resistance, and a magnetic element using the same. The dust core of the invention is a dust core including metallic magnetic powder, an inorganic insulating material, and a thermosetting resin, in which the metallic magnetic powder has a Vickers hardness (Hv) in a range of 230≦Hv≦1000, the inorganic insulating material has a compressive strength of 10000 kg/cm2 or lower and is in a mechanical collapse state, and the inorganic insulating material in a mechanical collapse state and the thermosetting resin are interposed between the metallic magnetic powder particles.
US08366832B2	Driving shaft of effusion cell for deposition system and deposition system having the same Apparatus for a deposition system includes a sealing apparatus that seals the drive shaft from the deposition material to prevent the deposition material from adhering to the drive shaft, a moving apparatus to reduce the weight of a shelf on the drive shaft, and a collision-preventing apparatus that measures the distance between a shelf and an adjacent article.
US08366830B2	Susceptor apparatus for inverted type MOCVD reactor The present invention discloses a susceptor mounting assembly for holding semiconductor wafers in an MOCVD reactor during growth of epitaxial layers on the wafers, that is particularly adapted for mounting a susceptor in an inverted type reactor chamber. It includes a tower having an upper and lower end with the upper end mounted to the top inside surface of the reactor chamber and a susceptor is arranged at the tower's lower end. Semiconductor wafers are held adjacent to the susceptor such that heat from the susceptor passes into wafers. A second embodiment of a susceptor mounting assembly according to the invention also comprises a tower having an upper and lower end. The tower's upper end is mounted to the top inside surface of the reactor chamber. A susceptor is housed within a cup and the cup is mounted to the tower's lower end.
US08366826B2	Methods for preparing silicon germanium alloy nanocrystals The present invention relates to a method of preparing silicon germanium alloy nanocrystals by the simultaneous thermal disproportionation of a siliceous material and GeX2 in a conventional tube furnace. Also included is a method of preparing free standing silicon germanium nanocrystals by the acid etching product of the product of the thermal disproportionation of a siliceous material and GeX2.
US08366824B2	High SRI systems for cementitious applications High SRI cementitious systems comprising integral concrete coloring admixtures, toppings, dry-shake hardeners, and other cementitious systems are provided. The high-SRI cementitious systems comprise one or more IR reflective pigments and other components to make-up the cementitious system, depending on the application. The high-SRI cementitious systems of the invention may be in the form of mixtures which increase the total solar reflectivity (TSR or albedo) and the Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of concrete. The high-SRI cementitious systems may be toppings mixed with water for application to existing concrete surfaces, dry-shake hardeners for application to freshly-placed plastic concrete, or the IR reflective pigments may be mixed into integrally colored concrete in various forms, such as conventional cast-in-place concrete, lightweight concrete, pervious concrete and concrete building panels, pavers or masonry units. The topping and dry-shake hardener formulations of the invention may further comprise one or more of cementitious binder(s), graded aggregates, super-plasticizers, one or more pigments selected for improving infrared reflectivity and color composition, and/or optionally other additives, such as dry redispersible polymers or fillers to provide decorative and LEED compliant, highly durable (sustainable) concrete hardscapes and other decorative concrete.
US08366821B2	Additives for altering the hardening rate of chemically bonded silico-phosphate cements and method therefor A method is provided for advantageously altering the rate of hardening of a magnesium silico-phosphate cement (MSPC). Addition of on the order of 1% of an [MF6]n− salt or acid to an MSPC, obtained by adding the salt or acid either directly to the dry mix or to the water used to effect hydraulic hardening of the cement, significantly alters the hardening rate without adversely affecting the physical properties of the final set cement. In preferred embodiments, Na2TiF6 and/or K2TiF6 are used as retardants, while K3AlF6 is used as an accelerant. Other embodiments use M′n-MF6 compounds wherein M′ is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or H, and M is chosen from inter alia Ti (n=2), Zr (n=2), Si (n=2), P (n=1), Al (n=3), and Sb (n=1).
US08366815B2	Advanced portable oxygen concentrator A portable oxygen concentrator designed for medical use with a novel housing and internal component design that reduces noise and vibration while increasing durability. The improved design of the portable oxygen concentrator further facilitates easy maintenance and repair over the life of the equipment.
US08366814B2	Gas chromatography inlet liner having at least one indicator A gas chromatography inlet liner comprises a glass tube formed by a glass wall, the glass wall having pore channels formed therein, and an indicator present in the pore channels in at least part of the inlet liner. The indicator may be any element, compound, dopant, or mixture additive that modifies color or transparency of the inlet liner.
US08366800B2	Method for recovering metal from target and method for manufacturing target A target consisting essentially of a CoCrPt-based metal or a CoCrPtRu-based metal, and one or more metal oxides selected from the group consisting of SiO2, Cr2O3, CoO, TiO2 and Ta2O5, is heated in an upper crucible of a two-level crucible that includes the upper crucible with a through hole formed in a bottom surface, and a lower crucible disposed below the through hole. The target is heated at a temperature of from 1400 to 1790° C. if the target does not contain both TiO2 and Ta2O5. The target is heated at a temperature of from 1400 to 1630° C. if the target contains TiO2 but does not contain Ta2O5. The target is heated at a temperature of from 1400 to 1460° C. if the target contains Ta2O5. The metal thereby melted is caused to flow into the lower crucible, so that the metal is separated from the metal oxide.
US08366796B2	Modular and distributed methods and systems to convert biomass to syngas The present invention provides modular and distributed methods and systems to convert biomass feedstocks into synthesis gas (syngas). The syngas can then be turned into liquid chemicals and fuels such as ethanol. The modular units of the invention bring the conversion process to the biomass source, thereby minimizing feedstock transportation costs. The modules are capable of being connected to, and/or disconnected from, each other to easily adjust the overall feedstock capacity. The present invention also provides methods and systems to determine an optimal number and distribution of modular conversion units spatially located within a region of land. The disclosed methods and systems are flexible, efficient, scalable, and are capable of being cost-effective at any commercial scale of operation.
US08366795B2	Catalytic gasification particulate compositions Particulate compositions are described comprising a carbonaceous material, such as petroleum coke and/or coal, treated or otherwise associated with a gasification catalyst, where the catalyst is at least in part derived from a leachate from a biomass char, for gasification in the presence of steam to yield a plurality of gases including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other higher hydrocarbons are formed. Processes are also provided for the preparation of the particulate compositions and converting the particulate composition into a plurality of gaseous products.
US08366794B2	Apparatus and method for bio-fuel production An apparatus for the production of a bio-fuel or a bio-fuel additive from plant-derived oils, animal fats or a mixture thereof, suitable for use in a diesel engine is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a porous membrane for separating a reaction mixture from a permeate, the reaction mixture comprising an alcohol, a feedstock comprising plant-derived oils, animal fats or mixture thereof, and a catalyst for converting said feedstock to a bio-fuel or a bio-fuel additive, wherein said porous membrane is substantially impermeable to the feedstock and substantially permeable to said bio-fuel or bio-fuel additive. A method using said porous membrane in the production of a bio-fuel or a bio-fuel additive is also disclosed.
US08366788B2	Control system for a lower limb prosthesis or orthosis In a control system for a lower limb prosthesis or orthosis, a plurality of sensors generate sensor signals representing kinematic measurements (21) relating to the movement of segments of a prosthesis or orthosis (e.g. a thigh segment and a shank segment). The sensor signals are applied in a comparison stage 22 to a plurality of comparison steps (K1, K2, K3) which produce binary outputs for feeding to a combining stage (23) in which a binary word (16) is produced, identifying a phase of limb motion. During a walking cycle, for instance, the binary word (16) changes, and the sequence of words represents a movement phase description which is used as the input for a prosthetic or orthotic movement controller.
US08366782B2	Modular orthopaedic implant system with multi-use stems A knee implant system includes a femoral adapter. The femoral adapter has a threaded bore so that a stem extension can be threaded onto the proximal end of the adapter. The same stem extension can be threaded onto the distal end of the tibial tray so that the number of stem extensions required in the system is reduced. The femoral adapter has a tapered exterior surface so that a metaphyseal sleeve can be frictionally connected to the femoral adapter. The metaphyseal sleeve has a threaded bore so that the same type of stem extension can be threaded onto the metaphyseal sleeve. The system can include a group of adapters to give the surgeon the option of selecting the appropriate valgus angle and anterior-posterior position of the stem extension.
US08366781B2	Modular prosthesis and use thereof for replacing a radial head A modular prosthesis system for replacement of a head portion of a proximal radius includes a monolithic stem component, a head component, and a locking mechanism formed by the stem and head components. The stem component defines a stem anchoring portion having a longitudinal axis and configured to couple to the proximal radius, and a dovetail-shaped first mounting portion on a first end face that extends in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The head component has a dovetail-shaped second mounting portion on a second end face opposite the first end face slidably engaged with the first mounting portion along the first direction. One of the first and second mounting portions intersects the longitudinal axis. The locking mechanism is formed at an interface between the stem and head components and is engaged through relative translational movement between the stem and head components. A related method is provided.
US08366777B2	Expandable intervertebral implant An expandable intervertebral implant includes a front wall, a back wall spaced apart from the front wall, and two side walls connecting the front wall and the back wall at their respective ends. The walls define a space. The implant further includes a bottom face, a top face, at least one engagement member with an engagement surface for engagement with the end plate of a vertebral body, a first adjusting element and a second adjusting element which are supported by a first support member and a second support member, respectively, and which cooperate with the respective support member such that the engagement member is reciprocally movable between a first end position and a second end position. In the first end position, the engagement surface does not project beyond the bottom face or the top face and in the second end position, the engagement surface at least partially projects outwardly beyond the bottom face or the top face. The first and the second support members are coupled by a coupling mechanism.
US08366775B2	Intervertebral spacer device having an angled perimeter for manipulation using a surgical tool Instrumentation for implanting an artificial intervertebral disc includes static trials and a dynamic trial for determining the appropriate size of disc to be implanted, static trial holders for manipulating the static trials, inserter/impactors for inserting and removing the static trials and for inserting the artificial intervertebral discs, repositioners/extractors for repositioning and extracting the static trials or the artificial intervertebral discs, and a leveler for setting the proper position of the artificial intervertebral disc. Methods for using the same are also disclosed. Features for artificial intervertebral discs and intervertebral spacer devices useful for manipulation by the instrumentation are also disclosed.
US08366771B2	Surgical tools facilitating increased accuracy, speed and simplicity in performing joint arthroplasty Disclosed herein are tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US08366770B2	Biological artificial nerve guide and method of making A biological nerve guide for implantation into a human body is made by providing a natural animal tissue membrane, crosslinking and fixing the membrane, minimizing the antigens from the membrane, tanning the membrane, coupling an active layer to an inner surface of the membrane, cutting the membrane into a desired shape and size, positioning the cut membrane onto a rod-shaped mold so that the cut membrane assumes a cylindrical configuration, and attaching a spiral support to the outer surface of the cut membrane.
US08366765B2	Helical stent with connections A stent includes a continuous wave form wrapped around a longitudinal axis of the stent at a first pitch angle to define a first helix comprising a plurality of turns. The wave form includes a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns. Each crown connects adjacent struts within a turn to define the continuous wave form. The stent also includes a plurality of connections configured to connect selected crowns of adjacent turns so that when the stent is in an unexpanded condition, the plurality of connections are aligned at a second pitch angle to define a second helix, and when the stent is in an expanded condition, at least some of the connections align along a substantially straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent.
US08366761B2	Delivery system with medical device release by evertable sleeve A medical device delivery system has a tubular member defining a passageway and an inner member slideably disposed within the passageway. An expandable intraluminal medical device is disposed on a chamber of the inner member, and an evertable sleeve is attached to the inner member proximal to the chamber and to an inner surface of the tubular member. Relative movement between the tubular and outer members moves the evertable sleeve from a first position substantially overlying the expandable intraluminal medical device to a second position substantially proximal to the chamber.
US08366760B2	Stent delivery system A stent delivery system includes a distal-side tube having a guide wire lumen, a proximal-side tube, a fixing tube at which a proximal portion of the distal-side tube and a distal portion of the proximal-side tube are fixed and which has an opening communicating with the guide wire lumen, a stent accommodation tubular member which encloses a distal side of the distal-side tube and is slidable toward a proximal end of the distal-side tube, a stent accommodated inside the stent accommodation tubular member, and a pulling wire whose one end portion is fixed to the stent accommodation tubular member and which extends inside the proximal-side tube for moving the stent accommodation tubular member toward a proximal side by being pulled toward the proximal side.
US08366758B2	Hypothermia for improving rate of functional recovery following pelvic surgeries Hypothermia significantly improves the rate of recovery of function following abdominal surgery—particularly radical prostatectomy. Prior to commencing surgery the tissues at and surrounding the site of the surgery are cooled by means of an endorectal cooling balloon inserted into the patient's rectum. The uninflated balloon is inserted and then inflated with cooling fluid which fluid is constantly circulated in and out to lower the temperature. Improved hypothermia can be achieved by bathing internal tissue with chilled water or buffer. Limitation of surgically induced damage can be demonstrated by the more rapid regain of continence in radical prostatectomy patients treated with hypothermia during surgery.
US08366756B2	Low level laser therapy device with open bore A laser device for applying low-level laser energy around a patient's body part comprises a laser support having an open bore through which the body part to be treated is inserted and at least one laser connected to the laser support. Each laser emits laser energy in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bore, such that energy is applied to the circumference, of the body part, or a portion thereof. The laser support is attached to an adjustable stanchion that is shaped to cantilever the ring so that a chair or table may be positioned underneath the ring. In the preferred embodiment, the laser support is a C-shaped ring having a diameter large enough to accommodate at least a patient's upper arm. Lasers are slidably engaged with the C-ring and can be moved around the circumference of the ring to treat desired locations around the upper arm.
US08366755B2	Photoreceptor system for melatonin regulation and phototherapy The present invention involves a light system for stimulating or regulating neuroendocrine, circadian, and photoneural systems in mammals based upon the discovery of peak sensitivity ranging from 425-505 nm; a light meter system for quantifying light which stimulates or regulates mammalian circadian, photoneural, and neuroendocrine systems. The present invention also relates to translucent and transparent materials, and lamps or other light sources with or without filters capable of stimulating or regulating neuroendocrine, circadian, and photoneural systems in mammals. Additionally, the present invention involves treatment of mammals with a wide variety of disorders or deficits, including light responsive disorders, eating disorders, menstrual cycle disorders, non-specific alerting and performance deficits, hormone-sensitive cancers, and cardiovascular disorders.
US08366754B2	Bi-directionally expandable sternal clamp device A sizable sternal closure clamp device for securing and retaining longitudinally or transversely divided halves of a sternum, the device having four body members and four engagement members that are positioned in inter-rib spaces on both sides of the sternum. The body members are interconnected in a sliding or telescoping manner that allows the device to be expanded or contracted in two orthogonal directions.
US08366753B2	Polyaxial bone screw assembly with fixed retaining structure A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an integral upper portion receivable in a receiver and retained within the receiver by a retaining structure in the form of an open ring. The receiver has a U-shaped channel for receiving a spinal fixation rod. The shank upper portion is designed to directly frictionally engage the spinal fixation rod when a closure structure operably urges the rod toward the upper portion, fixing the bone screw shank body in a selected angular orientation with respect to the receiver.
US08366745B2	Dynamic stabilization assembly having pre-compressed spacers with differential displacements A dynamic longitudinal connecting member assembly includes an anchor member having an integral or otherwise fixed elongate core extending through at least two elastic spacers and at least one outer sleeve or trolley. The anchor member and the outer sleeve each attach to at least one bone anchor. The spacers have differing durometers and/or geometries, resulting in greater axial movement of the sleeve in one direction than in an opposite direction. The spacers are compressed prior to attachment to the bone anchors.
US08366744B2	Apparatus for tissue repair An apparatus for tissue repair includes first and second fixation members configured to secure tissue together, a flexible coupling member coupling the first and second fixation members, the flexible coupling member having two terminal ends, one of the two terminal ends terminating adjacent one of the first and second fixation members, the flexible coupling member slidably coupled to at least one of the first and second fixation members such that when the other of the two terminal ends of the flexible coupling member is pulled, a length of the flexible coupling member between the first and second fixation members is shortened, and a closed loop of flexible material, the flexible coupling member being slidably received through the closed loop of flexible material.
US08366741B2	Occlusion device with centering arm The present invention is an occlusion device having a centering arm network that self-centers across a defect and can be retrieved and redeployed in situ. A self centering system allows the center of the occlusion device to remain properly positioned within the defect, which increases the effectiveness of the occlusion device. The self centering system is comprised of a plurality of centering arms which define a flexible intermediate zone. In addition, the occlusion device of the present invention has a plurality of right arms connected to the plurality of centering arms which make it possible to retrieve and redeploy the occlusion device in situ.
US08366734B2	Ultraviolet bonded occlusion balloon An embolization device for occluding a body vessel cavity defined by a cavity wall is disclosed. The device includes an inflatable balloon made of a permeable material. The balloon is configured to have a deflated state and an inflated state and includes a proximal portion having an inflation hole formed therethrough to a cavity within the balloon. An inflation member is removably attached to the proximal portion and is configured to introduce a material in the cavity by way of the hole for inflation of the balloon. The permeable material is configured to allow inflation of the balloon and a portion of the solidifiable material to pass through the permeable material for contact with the cavity wall. The inflation member is configured to transmit, for example, ultra violet light to cure a solidifiable material, thereby maintaining the balloon in the inflated state and to adhering the balloon to the cavity wall.
US08366732B2	Consecutive acupuncture device and cartridge for consecutive acupuncture device A cartridge for a consecutive acupuncture device includes a needle storage space in which at least one needle is stored, a charge slot serving as a passage for connecting the needle storage space with a striking position in order to allow sequentially loading of the needles at the striking position, and a catch step formed on at least part of the charge slot in order to prevent the neighboring needle from being discharged together when the needle is loaded at the striking position and then is struck and administered.
US08366730B2	Cocking mechanism for lancing device A lancing device is disclosed in which cocking of the lancet holder is achieved in response to retraction of a push member. A lancing device is also disclosed in which a lancet storage compartment is provided in the housing of the lancing device and closing movement of a closure member for the storage compartment has the effect of cocking the lancet holder. Methods of cocking lancing devices are also disclosed.
US08366729B2	Lancing device and method of sample collection A lancing device and method for self-collecting a sample of body fluid by penetrating a body tissue at a sampling site. The invention includes a housing geometry configured for ease of use at different sampling sites on the body, even by persons having reduced dexterity and/or poor vision. Depth of penetration is selectively controlled by adjusting the stroke range of a spring-driven lancet carrier. A pressure applicator is included for stimulating flow of the body fluid. A transparent portion permits observation of the sampling site.
US08366728B2	Vacuum sense control for phaco pulse shaping A method and apparatus for precisely controlling particle movement relative to a phacoemulsification needle tip is provided. The design monitors actual vacuum present and calculates a pulse shape amplitude waveform proportional to the amount of measured vacuum. An increase in vacuum indicates that the handpiece/needle is becoming occluded by a large particle. The present design determines whether additional power is required to bump or move a large particle away from the needle tip. The present design may employ a control loop that senses and continuously monitors vacuum. The design may dynamically vary the amount of ultrasonic energy delivered to the surgical area in response to the observed actual vacuum, and can actively vary the amount of power delivered to the surgical area based on the size of the particle and the resultant vacuum realized.
US08366724B2	Hair removal system A device for removing hair includes a housing and a shaving head fixedly positioned in the housing. The shaving head includes generally disk-like depilator assemblies mounted on a shaft. Each of the assemblies includes a disk includes sloping regions on faces of the disk between lobes of the disk, pressure-transferring protrusions, and a rotation-transferring protrusion elements on the faces, a spacer disposed on the faces to prevent an accumulation of debris and/or to allow for periodic tilting of the disk so as to force the pressure transferring portion to press a pincer of an adjacent disc. A recess in one of the faces accommodates a one rotation-transferring protrusion of another adjacent disk to transfer a rotational force therebetween. Pincers are disposed between the lobes at the sloping portions and tilt about an axis according to contact with the pressure-transferring protrusions of the adjacent disk.
US08366719B2	Image-guided minimal-step placement of screw into bone The present disclosure describes a device and methods for safely and accurately placing screws into bones with a powered driving device. By employing multiple layers of fail-safe features and image-guidance systems, the powered driving device provides safe, accurate, and efficient screw placement. That is, the powered driving device may continuously monitor a screw advancement and placement and may automatically shutdown when improper placement is detected. Monitoring placement may be conducted by a microcurrent-monitoring system, by an image-guidance system, or by any other appropriate sensory system. Additionally, upon detecting that screw insertion is complete, the powered driving device may be automatically shutdown. As screw placement is continuously simulated by image-guidance in real time, multiple redundant verification steps are eliminated, providing highly accurate screw placement while decreasing clinician error, device contamination, and surgical time, the decreased surgical time associated with decreased patient-recovery time and associated medical costs.
US08366718B2	Preparation device for preparing an intervertebral disc compartment The invention relates to a preparation device for preparing an intervertebral disc compartment (14) which is delimited by a first and a second vertebra (16, 18). Such a preparation is carried out prior to the insertion of an intervertebral disc prosthesis (110), in order to guarantee a correct positioning of the intervertebral disc prosthesis between the vertebrae (16, 18). The preparation device (10) comprises a reference frame (22), which is capable of being fastened above an operating table (12), and a first fixing element (58) which is capable of being rigidly connected to the first vertebra (16) are capable of being fastened to the reference frame (22) in varying first positions. A second fixing element (68) is capable of being rigidly connected to the second vertebra (18) and capable of being fastened to the reference frame (22) in varying second positions. A material-abrading tool (78) is capable of being fastened to the reference frame (22), preferably in varying positions.
US08366717B1	Method of securing a cannulated surgical screw using a bone filler cement A method for utilizing an adapter attached between a syringe filled with a bone void filler and the head of an inserted cannulated surgical screw during the process of a surgical repair to a bone allows the cannulated surgical screw to be used as a port to inject bone void filler into a bone void in the bone during the surgical repair which would use a surgical screw to attach broken or separated bone fragments, the bone void filler within the bone providing a more secure bone anchor matrix within which the surgical screw is set.
US08366713B2	Arthroplasty instruments and associated method An instrument(10) for use in performing arthroplasty is provided. The instrument(10) includes a first portion(11) adapted to prepare a convex surface(64) on the head(5) of the long bone(4). The instrument (10) also includes a second portion (13) adapted to prepare an elongated cavity (62) or a third portion (14) adapted to prepare a central support surface (56) on the head (5) of the long bone (4), or both second portion (13) and the third portion (14). The third portion (14) and the second portion (13) are operably associated with the first portion(11).
US08366711B2	Systems and methods for internal bone fixation Internal bone fixation devices and methods for using the devices for repairing a weakened or fractured bone are disclosed herein. A device for use in repairing a fractured bone includes a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the delivery catheter has an inner void for passage of at least one reinforcing material and an inner lumen for passage of a light source; a conformable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, wherein the conformable member moves from a deflated state to an inflated state when the at least one reinforcing material is delivered to the conformable member; and an adapter releasably engaging the proximal end of the delivery catheter for receiving the light source and the at least one reinforcing material.
US08366709B2	Articulating bipolar electrosurgical instrument A bipolar electrosurgical instrument has a pair of pivotable juxtaposed jaw members and a locking mechanism operatively associated with a second of the jaw members. The locking mechanism has a first position engaged with the second jaw member for preventing movement of the second jaw member between an axially aligned orientation and at least one angled orientation, and a second position. The second position is disengaged from the second jaw member allowing for movement of the second jaw member between the axially aligned orientation and the at least one angled orientation. The instrument has an actuation mechanism operatively connected to a first of the jaw members with the actuation mechanism operable to move the first jaw member between an axially aligned first orientation and at least one angled orientation. An articulation knob is operatively associated with the locking mechanism and effectuates independent operation of the locking and actuation mechanisms.
US08366708B2	Medical needles and electrodes with improved bending stiffness A device for penetrating tissue includes an elongated element having a distal end, a proximal end, a body extending between the distal and the proximal ends, and a lumen located within at least a portion of the body, wherein the lumen has a cross-sectional shape that is a polygon. A device for penetrating tissue includes an elongated element having a distal end, a proximal end, and a body extending between the distal and the proximal ends, at least a portion of the body having a cross-sectional profile that is a polygon, wherein the elongated element is a cannula.
US08366707B2	Systems and methods for epicardial navigation Systems and methods for navigating a catheter along the epieardial surface of the heart are disclosed. At least some of the embodiments disclosed herein are useful for epieardial ablation, Various embodiments permit ablation of the epieardial surface of the heart using an external ablation catheter in the pericardial space and an internal guide catheter within the heart. Such a configuration allows the clinician to precisely target for ablation specific locations on the cardiac tissue.
US08366705B2	Coaxial catheter instruments for ablation with radiant energy A cardiac ablation instrument capable of removing blood from a treatment area is provided. The instrument includes a catheter configured to deliver a distal end thereof to a patient's heart. The instrument can also include an expandable element coupled to the distal end of the catheter wherein the expandable member is configured to be positioned adjacent a target area thereby defining a treatment area between the expandable member and the target area. Further, the instrument can include an irrigation mechanism configured to dispense an irrigation fluid from the catheter thereby displacing blood from the treatment area. Additionally, the instrument includes an energy emitter configured to deliver energy to tissue within the treatment area. The instrument can also include a contact sensor configured to determine the presence of such blood within the treatment area. Methods for ablating tissue are also provided.
US08366704B2	Optical devices and methods for selective and conventional photocoagulation of the retinal pigment epithelium The present invention provides devices and methods for applying radiation to the retina of a patient. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a radiation source for generating a radiation beam suitable for absorption by retinal pigment epithelial cells. One or more optical components are included to direct the beam onto the retina. A scanner is optically coupled to the radiation source to control movement of the beam in two dimensions to allow a scan over the retina. A controller applies control signals to the scanner to adjust beam movement to illuminate a plurality of retinal locations in a temporal sequence according to a predefined pattern. The device can be operated in one mode to effect selective targeting of retinal pigment epithelial cells, or in another mode to effect thermal photocoagulation of the retina.
US08366698B2	Interjugular catheter and method A catheter for insertion into a vascular system of a patient and for directing fluid flow includes a catheter body having a longitudinal axis and longitudinally spaced proximal and distal catheter ends with an intermediate catheter portion defined therebetween. An intermediate catheter outlet in the catheter body is located in the intermediate catheter portion and is spaced longitudinally from the proximal and distal catheter ends. A first lumen is defined within the catheter body and has longitudinally spaced proximal and distal first lumen ends with a reversing bend located therebetween, the first lumen providing fluid communication between the proximal catheter end and the intermediate catheter outlet. The reversing bend is located longitudinally between the intermediate catheter outlet and the distal catheter end. The reversing bend directs fluid flow to turn approximately 180° as the fluid flows through the first lumen. A method of using the catheter is also described.
US08366692B2	Sustained variable negative pressure wound treatment and method of controlling same Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing reduced or negative pressure, and more particularly cyclical reduced pressure, to treat a wound. The system can include a wound dressing, a fluid collection container, a suction source, filters, and conduits. In addition, the system can include a control device and sensors. The sensors may be configured to monitor certain physiological conditions of a patient such as temperature, pressure, blood flow, blood oxygen saturation, pulse, cardiac cycle, and the like. Application of cyclical reduced pressure between two or more values below atmospheric pressure may be synchronized with the physiological conditions monitored by the sensors. Certain embodiments of the system utilize an air reservoir and one or more valves and pressure sensors or gauges to allow for rapid cycling of the level of reduced pressure within the wound dressing between two or more reduced pressure values.
US08366682B2	Medicine injection apparatuses Medicine injection apparatuses having multiple chambers. The chambers may be in lateral relationship. A torsional part is adapted to turn and be repositioned angularly relative to a main body to allow different chambers to be used to receive an injection assembly. The medicine injector can be constructed to administer multiple doses. The apparatuses may also have a storage chamber for storing the injection assembly after use. Plural drivers may be used to administer multiple doses, such as at the different angular positions of the torsional part. The apparatuses may allow multiple automatic injections from different angular positions and storage of an injector after use. Needle fright is reduced by minimizing exposure of an injection needle prior to injection.
US08366680B2	Resettable drive mechanism for a medication delivery device and medication delivery device A resettable drive mechanism comprising a housing, a drive member rotatable in a second direction for delivering a dose of a medication, a piston rod driven by the drive member when it rotates in the second direction. A stop member prevents rotation of the drive member in a first direction opposite to the second direction, when the stop member engages the drive member. A clutch member is movable between a delivery position and a reset position. When the clutch member is in the delivery position, the stop member and the drive member are engaged and the drive member is prevented from rotating in the first direction, and when the clutch member is in the reset position, the drive member and the stop member are disengaged, the drive member is rotatable in the first direction and the piston rod is movable in the proximal direction.
US08366675B2	Catheter connector Body pressing surfaces of A and B members at which a body of the packing is to be pressed come into contact with the body of the packing, and the body starts to be pressed. Then, projections of the packing are pressed with a delay from the pressing of the body because of gaps provided between the projections of the packing and projection-pressing surfaces at which the projections of the packing are to be pressed.
US08366671B2	Powerhead of a power injection system A contrast media injection system includes detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes. Additional features include using historical data to provide optimum pressure limit values during an injection protocol, a removable memory device for storing and transferring information such as injection protocols and injector statistics, and password protection of such protocols.
US08366667B2	Flow pulsatility dampening devices A medical fluid infusion system including: a fluid pathway for transporting a pulsatile flow of fluid; a dampening element in communication with the fluid pathway, the dampening element configured to actively dampen pressure fluctuations of the pulsatile flow to smoothen the pulsatile fluid flow, the dampening element operable in any orientation; and a fluid flow sensor disposed along the fluid pathway downstream of the dampening element to measure the flow rate of the smoothened fluid flow.
US08366666B2	Reservoir pressure equalization systems and methods Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to equalizing pressure in a reservoir containing fluidic media, possibly due to imperfect installation of the reservoir or an external influence such as an altitude or a temperature change. In various embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled from the reservoir through a needle and contained in an interior volume of a pierceable member before the needle pierces the pierceable member to establish a flow path to a user. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a port of the reservoir into a chamber. In further embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a channel in a plunger head and out a passage in the reservoir when the channel and passage are aligned. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a valve, and the valve may be pierceable by a needle to establish a flow path to the user.
US08366664B2	Agent delivery catheter having articulating arms An agent delivery catheter which has a support member comprising at least one articulating arm having an end fixedly secured relative to the shaft and having an anchor end section opposite to the fixed end. The articulating arm is biased to pivot at the fixed end away from the shaft, to transform from a low profile configuration to a high profile configuration in which the arm extends laterally away from the shaft and the anchor end section contacts the patient's body lumen wall, to support the shaft in the body lumen during delivery of an agent, for example by injection from a needle extended from the catheter into the wall of the body lumen.
US08366662B2	Drug releasing coatings for medical devices The invention relates to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. In certain embodiments, the additive has a hydrophilic part and a drug affinity part, wherein the drug affinity part is at least one of a hydrophobic part, a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by hydrogen bonding, and a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by van der Waals interactions. In embodiments, the additive is water-soluble. In further embodiments, the additive is at least one of a surfactant and a chemical compound, and the chemical compound has a molecular weight of from 80 to 750 or has more than four hydroxyl groups.
US08366659B2	Reperfusion balloon inflation device An ischemic postconditioning system and related method comprising a catheter including a plurality of lumens and at least one expandable member with at least one chamber including a moveable plunger and a return mechanism operatively engaged with the plunger. The moveable plunger divides the at least one chamber into first and second volumes. A first pressure source is provided having a first fluid at a first pressure and is disposed in fluid communication with the first volume of the chamber. Further, a second pressure source is provided having a second fluid at a second pressure and is disposed in fluid communication with the second volume of the chamber. Similarly, the at least one expandable member is disposed in fluid communication with the second volume of the chamber. The first fluid supplied by the first pressure source displaces the plunger in a first direction delivering at least a portion of the second fluid into the at least one expandable member. Also, the return mechanism displaces the plunger in a second direction delivering the second fluid from the second pressure source to the second volume of the chamber.
US08366658B2	Systems and methods for providing a closed venting hazardous drug IV set A device for priming and venting a hazardous drug within an intravenous administration set. The device includes various access ports and fluid channels to permit direct injection of a hazardous drug into the fluid reservoir, while eliminating the possibility of undesirable exposure to the hazardous drug. The device further includes priming and flushing ports to enable flushing of a hazardous drug from the system following an infusion procedure.
US08366657B2	Needleless injection device components, systems, and methods A high-pressure fluid injection system, which includes a rechargeable injection chamber with a proximal end, a distal end, and an internal opening extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a plunger slideably engaged with the internal opening of the injection chamber, an injection tube extending from the distal end of the injection chamber and in fluidic communication with the internal opening of the injection chamber, and a check valve between the proximal and distal ends of the injection chamber. The internal opening includes a high-pressure zone adjacent to the check valve and having a first diameter, and a low-pressure zone proximal to the high-pressure zone and having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter.
US08366655B2	Peritoneal dialysis sensor apparatus systems, devices and methods A sensor apparatus and sensor apparatus system for use in conjunction with a cassette-based peritoneal dialysis system is described, including a disposable cassette. In some embodiments, the cassette includes a thermal well for permitting the sensing of various properties of a dialysate. The thermal well includes a hollow housing of a thermally conductive material. In other embodiments, the cassette includes sensor leads for sensing of various properties of a dialysate. The thermal well has an inner surface shaped so as to form a mating relationship with a sensing probe. The mating thermally couples the inner surface with a sensing probe. In some embodiments, the thermal well is located on a disposable portion and the sensing probe on a reusable portion.
US08366654B2	Apparatus for preventing cross contamination by sterilizing an insufflation device An insufflation device connects to a disposable tube set for providing gas to fill an abdominal cavity of a patient to enable surgical procedures. The insufflation device has an ultraviolet light source to provide ultraviolet light for sterilizing a flow control valve system therein. A filter provided with the insufflation device enables additional surgical procedures for the insufflation device without cleaning of the flow control valve systems or necessarily replacement of the filter. Tube sets connected to the insufflation device do not necessarily require a filter.
US08366651B2	Implantable flow connector An implantable flow connector for fluidically coupling a source tissue-enclosed body space with a destination element, comprising: a conduit having a lumen terminating at an orifice at a first end of the conduit implantable in the source body space through an opening formed in a tissue wall of the source body space, and a second end of the conduit implantable in the destination element through an opening in a surface of the destination element; and a circumferential flange, radially extending from the conduit proximate the conduit first end, configured to be implanted in the source body space adjacent an opening in the tissue wall of the source body space such that the conduit extends through the opening, the flange comprising one or more circumferentially adjacent sections at least one of which has a rigidity that decreases in a radially-increasing direction.
US08366650B2	Biliary/pancreatic shunt device and method for treatment of metabolic and other diseases Provided is a shunt device that promotes stimulation of secretion of intestinal L-cells and other enteroendocrine cell types. Enteroendocrine secretion is stimulated directly or indirectly by shunting bile and/or pancreatic secretion to segments of the gut more distal than would normally occur The shunt device may be a flexible catheter that is impervious to such secretions, with a proximal end draining the pancreatic/bile duct, and a distal end residing distally within the lumen of the small or large intestine. The shunt may be inserted with minimally invasive techniques, such as by endoscopy.
US08366646B2	Massaging device A massaging device in the shape of a rod with an essentially cylindrical end element with a sleeve. The device has a flexible sleeve and a drive element to produce an oscillating deformation of the sleeve.
US08366643B2	System and method for treating subcutaneous tissues An apparatus and method for treating subcutaneous tissues using acoustic waves in the range of low acoustic pressure ultrasound waves is disclosed. The method includes injections of enhancing agents, wherein disruption of subcutaneous tissues and subcutaneous cavitational bioeffects are produced by ultrasound waves having a power that will not produce tissue cavitation in the absence of the enhancing agents. The apparatus and method of use is useful for treatment of subcutaneous abnormalities including cellulite, lipomas, and tumors.
US08366642B2	Management program for the benefit of a companion animal A management program for the benefit of a companion animal can maintain, enhance or improve the health and well-being of the companion animal. The management program can include recommendations for dietary modification, supplement administration, weight loss/management plans, physical activity recommendation, veterinary intervention and combinations thereof.
US08366641B2	Posture detector calibration and use Calibrating a posture detector for a patient's body involves measuring outputs of one or more sensors disposed in relation to the patient's body while the patient assumes a plurality of positions. A transfer matrix is formed having coefficients corresponding to the measured outputs. The transfer matrix defines a relationship between a coordinate system of the one or more sensors and a coordinate system of the patient's body. The body coordinate system is used as a reference coordinate system for posture detection. Posture, including tilt and/or tilt angle, may be determined based on first and second rotational angles defined in relation to the body coordinate system.
US08366640B2	Devices and methods for cervix measurement A device for measuring a length of a cervix includes an elongate measurement member, a hollow member, a flange, a handle, and a locking mechanism. The elongate measurement member extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a measurement scale thereon. The hollow member is coaxial with and disposed over the elongate measurement member. The flange is offset from the longitudinal axis and attached to a distal end of the hollow member. The handle is attached to a proximal end of the measurement member. The locking mechanism is configured, when locked, to fix the hollow member relative to the measurement member and, when unlocked to allow the hollow member to slide along the measurement member and rotate about the longitudinal axis so as to place the flange in a desired position without moving the measurement scale.
US08366639B2	Balloon for measuring pressure related to oral cavity and method for producing the same A balloon including: a pressure-receiving portion formed of an elastic material and forming an enclosed space; and a tubular portion formed integrally therewith. The balloon is configured to detect the air pressure in the pressure-receiving portion due to communication with a pressure detector through an opening end of the tubular portion. A transverse cross-section of the pressure-receiving portion orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular portion has a flattened outer circumferential shape with an oblateness f=(A−B)/A, where A represents the length of a major axis of the outer circumferential shape and B represents the length of a minor axis thereof, being set to a range of 0.1≦f≦0.7 at a position at which the length A is at a maximum. The air pressure can be changed significantly and stably, and the precision of the pressure measurement can be increased.
US08366633B2	System for transcutaneous monitoring of intracranial pressure A system for measuring and converting to an observer intelligible form an internal physiological parameter of a patient. The invention allows transcutaneous telemetry of intracranial pressure via a system which includes a patient implanted sensor module and an external processing module, optically coupled to the sensor module via an external coupling module. A sensor within the sensor module transduces the measured pressure and a near infrared emitter transmits the telemetry when interrogated by the external coupling module. A set of tuned inductor-crystal circuits comprised in part of a cylindrical crystal oscillator whose resonant frequency is sensed by a dipper circuit arrangement is provided. Power for the sensor module is derived inductively through rectification of a transcutaneously-applied high-frequency alternating electromagnetic field generated within the external coupling module. A computer within the processing module calculates the physiological parameter from the telemetry signal and represents this data in numerical, graphical, or analog format.
US08366630B2	Carbon nanotube structures in sensor apparatuses for analyzing biomarkers in breath samples The present invention provides a system for measuring biomarker analytes indicative of various diseases comprising an array of sensors sensitive to volatile organic compounds. Particularly, the system is composed of a random network of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) coated with non-polar small organic molecules in conjunction with learning and pattern recognition algorithms. Methods of discriminating between breath samples of healthy individuals and of lung cancer patients are disclosed.
US08366627B2	Systems, devices and methods for noninvasive or minimally-invasive estimation of intracranial pressure and cerebrovascular autoregulation The systems, devices, and methods described herein provide for the estimation and monitoring of cerebrovascular system properties and intracranial pressure (ICP) from one or more measurements or measured signals. These measured signals may include central or peripheral arterial blood pressure (ABP), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) or cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV). The measured signals may be acquired noninvasively or minimally-invasively. The measured signals may be used to estimate parameters and variables of a computational model that is representative of the physiological relationships among the cerebral flows and pressures. The computational model may include at least one resistive element, at least one compliance element, and a representation of ICP.
US08366625B2	Ultrasound molecular sensors and uses thereof The present invention relates to the use of polymers as contrast agents for ultrasounds. The idea is to have a molecular imprint in the polymer that is specific for a given molecule or analyte. When that molecule binds to the polymer it induces a conformational change that results in an increase in the ultrasound signal, referred to as a target-bound state. The method can also be used for example for quantitative measurements of analytes.
US08366624B1	Methods and apparatus for ultrasound imaging Some embodiments include acquisition of color Doppler data associated with a pulse repetition frequency (fPRF) and a baseline shift, detection of a first area of the color Doppler data representing zero flow velocity, detection of a second area of the color Doppler data, detection of a first transition between one or more velocities of the second area and one or more velocities of an adjacent third area of the color Doppler data, detection of a second transition between the third area and an adjacent fourth area of the color Doppler data representing non-zero flow velocities in the first direction, subtraction of a velocity corresponding to fPRF from each of the flow velocities of the third area if the second direction is positive, and addition of the velocity corresponding to fPRF to each of the flow velocities of the third area if the second direction is negative.
US08366623B2	Ultrasonic observing apparatus, control method for ultrasonic observing apparatus, ultrasonic observing system and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus An ultrasonic observing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a machine-side connector receptacle, an electronics-side connector receptacle, a mechanical echo signal detecting unit for detecting an echo signal obtained by receiving waves in a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe connecting to the machine-side connector receptacle, an electronic echo signal detecting unit for detecting an echo signal obtained by receiving waves in an electronic scanning ultrasonic endoscope connecting to the electronics-side connector receptacle, and a signal processing unit for performing signal processing on the echo signal from the mechanical echo signal detecting unit and the echo signal from the electronic echo signal detecting unit.
US08366619B2	Nodule screening using ultrasound elastography A medical device is configured to diagnose whether a nodule of a bodily organ is malignant or benign using ultrasound elastography to determine a nodule stiffness index. Using either an external compression source or an in vivo pulsation source, the stiffness of the nodule of the bodily organ can be quantified by either its static properties or dynamic properties. The nodule can be classified as Type I, which is benign requiring further observation, or Type II, which is malignant requiring invasive procedures.
US08366615B2	Introducer sheath with electrodes An apparatus comprises a sheath for introducing a catheter into a blood vessel, at least one electrode provided on the sheath, at least one other electrode; and a measuring device to which at least one pair of electrodes are coupled. The measuring device measures the impedance or conduction velocity between the first electrode on the sheath and the second electrode.
US08366614B2	Analyte monitoring device and methods of use An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08366612B2	Laryngoscope guide and related method of use A method of using a laryngoscope guide including a guiding conduit for advancing an introducer. The method can be used to intubate a subject by positioning the laryngoscope guide in an airway; advancing the introducer in the conduit until an end of the introducer enters the glottis, while viewing images of the introducer end; removing the laryngoscope guide with the guide conduit from the introducer and from the airway; guiding a tube with the introducer until an end of the tube enters the glottis; and removing the introducer from the tube with the end of the tube remaining in the glottis, and in particular, in the trachea, to establish an airway. The guide and method can enable a healthcare professional to intubate a subject where neck mobility is an issue, where an airway is difficult, and/or where a subject is obese.
US08366605B2	Endoscopic instrument having a bendable shank An endoscopic instrument includes a shank which is bendable in at least one section and an endoscope head forming the distal end of the shank and in which the distal-side interfaces of the instrument are arranged. The endoscope head is bendable and is designed as one piece from an electroactive polymer. Electrodes are arranged in the endoscope head in the polymer, which may be subjected to electrical voltage.
US08366603B2	Endoscope including a multifunction conductor In one embodiment, an endoscope includes an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is configured to be inserted into a body lumen. An electrical component is disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member and configured to produce a signal. An elongate conductive mechanical component has a proximal end portion and a distal and portion. The distal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component is electrically coupled to the electrical component and configured to conduct the signal or electrical power from/to the electrical component to/from the proximal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component.
US08366602B2	Electrically activated valve for implantable fluid handling system A system for facilitating obesity control includes an inflatable gastric banding device, a fluid reservoir couplable to the inflatable portion, and an implantable fluid handling device including one or more piezoelectric valves.
US08366596B2	Sheet folding device and image forming apparatus A sheet folding device includes a folding unit that applies a fold to a sheet, and a fold-enhancing unit that performs fold enhancement on the sheet applied with the fold by the folding unit. The fold-enhancing unit includes at least two or more rotator pairs each provided with a sheet holding member that holds and pressurizes the sheet applied with the fold so as to enhance the hold. In the at least two or more rotator pairs, the sheet holding member is provided so that an area for holding the sheet shifts from both sides of the sheet toward a central portion of the sheet along a sheet conveying direction from an upstream to a downstream in the fold-enhancing unit.
US08366595B2	Writing implement body and method of making same Writing implements, such as ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils, and method of making such writing implements, having a body made of recycled newspaper are disclosed. The writing implement's body, often referred to as a barrel, may be decorated, shaped, scented or have other desirable features.
US08366593B2	Laser nozzle changing device A laser processing machine for processing workpieces, in particular, metal sheets, has a laser processing head having a nozzle receiving member for a laser nozzle and a workpiece support for workpieces that are intended to be processed and/or for processed workpieces. The workpiece support forms a workpiece support plane. A nozzle changing device is arranged at the lower side of the workpiece support plane remote from the laser processing head. In order to change a nozzle, a laser nozzle can be transferred between a nozzle magazine of the nozzle changing device and the nozzle receiving member of the laser processing head and can be assembled on or disassembled from the nozzle receiving member.
US08366589B2	Exercise equipment Exercise equipment is adaptable to a variety of resistance and acceleration configurations which are used improve an individual's start in the forty yard dash, and to improve an individual's performance in a variety of other exercises.
US08366587B2	Control device of vehicle drive-train system A control device of a vehicle drive-train system including an engine, an electronic throttle valve, an automatic transmission having a manual shift mode, a torque converter provided between the automatic transmission and the engine, and a lock-up clutch operable to directly connect an input member and an output member of the torque converter with each other includes a blipping control device that performs blipping control for temporarily increasing the output rotational speed of the engine by of the electronic throttle valve, when a power-off downshift is performed while the automatic transmission is in the manual shift mode; and a lock-up control device that engages or partially engages the lock-up clutch, based on a difference between a rotational speed of the output member of the torque converter and a rotational speed of the input member thereof, which the difference is reduced after the blipping control is started.
US08366586B2	Method for obtaining fuel-loaded exhaust gases and related motor vehicle A method for obtaining fuel-loaded exhaust gases by late and/or delayed injection(s) of fuel into a Diesel engine combustion chamber of a motor vehicle including an automatic gearbox robotized or with constant torque variation. The laws defining the reduction ratio of the gearbox are modified to limit dilution of the fuel in the oil present in the combustion chamber.
US08366584B2	Method for starting a thermal engine of a hybrid vehicle A method for starting an internal combustion thermal engine of a hybrid vehicle having: the thermal engine provided with a drive shaft; at least one pair of driving wheels; a transmission, which transmits the motion from the thermal engine to the driving wheels and has a clutch; and an electric machine, which is mechanically connected to the clutch downstream of the clutch, so that the clutch is interposed between the electric machine and the thermal engine; the starting method includes the steps of: opening the clutch to separate the electric machine from the thermal engine; separating the electric machine from the driving wheels; making the electric machine rotate by operating the electric machine as a motor; and closing the clutch when the electric machine reaches a launch rotation speed.
US08366582B2	Planetary gear A planetary gear including a stationary ring gear, a rotatable planet carrier having an even number of at least four mirror-symmetrically arranged planet wheels, and a sun gear and comprising two bearings disposed opposite of the sun gear and arranged between the planet wheels is provided. The bearings connect the input or output element of the planetary gear to the planet carrier in the center plane of the planet carrier, with the bearings forming an imaginary axis of symmetry, and at least two planet wheels having a lesser distance to each other than one of the planet wheels does to a further planet wheel.
US08366580B2	Transmission having at least ten speeds A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, two planetary gear sets, a planetary gear set assembly, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The planetary gear set assembly includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08366579B2	Transmission for vehicle An automatic transmission includes: a differential mechanism which includes a ring gear; a case which forms a differential chamber that houses the differential mechanism; and an oil pan which is fitted to the case, and which stores oil. The differential chamber includes a first space in which the oil supplied from the oil pan is gathered, and a second space which is formed on the opposite side of the first space with respect to the ring gear in the direction in which the rotational axis of the ring gear extends, and which is communicated with a space inside the oil pan. An oil passage, through which the oil is introduced from the first space to the second space, is formed in the case. The oil passage is formed in a bottom portion of the differential chamber.
US08366575B2	Vehicle power transmission device A power transmission device that includes an uppermost side bearing; a lower side bearing; an uppermost side lubricating medium storage portion defined between the uppermost side bearing and the case to guide a lubricating medium to the uppermost side bearing; a lower side lubricating medium storage portion defined between the lower side bearing and the case to guide a lubricating medium to the lower side bearing, and located below the uppermost side lubricating medium storage portion when installing the power transmission device for a vehicle on the vehicle; and a communicating passage formed in the case to communicate the uppermost side lubricating medium storage portion and the lower side lubricating medium storage portion with each other.
US08366574B2	Game ball lacing A game ball including a casing and a lacing. The casing has a laced region. The lacing is coupled to the laced region of the casing. The lacing has an exposed surface comprised of an outer material that is compressible, resilient, and tactile. The outer material has a modulus of elasticity of between 14 and 170 kg/cm2 and a tensile strength between 100 and 650 kg/cm2. At least a portion of the lacing can have an exposed pebbled surface.
US08366566B1	Iron-type golf club with vibration damping The present invention relates to an iron-type golf club head which comprises a body member with a central cavity therein, a damping member and a face member disposed within the central cavity. Further, the rear surface of the body member includes an opening, preferably circular in shape. The body member is composed of a first metal material and the face member is composed of a second metal material. The damping member is preferably composed of a EPDM material.
US08366564B2	Device for improving a golf swing Described is a portable and intuitive golf swing improvement device for indicating the proper shift of a golfer's body weight to the front foot during a down swing. More specifically, the swing improvement device measures the shift of the golfer's body weight during a golf swing and indicates when such shift is in accordance with a technically sound swing. Additionally, the swing improvement device is self-sufficient and portable such that the device is deployable almost anywhere. The swing improvement device also provides swing analysis in a manner that is immediately understandable to the golfer.
US08366560B2	Coupling device for coupling a rotating shaft and a rotating member, and rotating device using the same A coupling device has a flexible member that is vertically connected to a rotating shaft and of which the length can be varied in an inward and outward direction with respect to the rotating shaft, an elastic member that is connected to the flexible member and causes the flexible member to receive an elastic force in the outward direction with respect to the rotating shaft, and a cam member that is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft and delivers a rotating force of the rotating shaft to a rotating member. The cam member has a through-hole having an initial-position portion in which the flexible member is positioned at the initial stage and a displaced-position portion which has a smaller diameter than the initial-position portion and of which the diameter is constant about the rotating shaft, and an another through-hole having an initial-position portion in which the flexible member is positioned and a return-position portion of which the radius decreases from the initial-position portion.
US08366559B2	Cannulated flexible drive shaft A flexible cannulated drive shaft having a plurality of interlocking sections having multi-angled dovetails cut into the drive shaft. Each dovetail design is made up of substantially triangular-shaped pins and substantially triangular-shaped sockets that alternate around the circumference of each interlocking section. The pins of one interlocking section moveably engage the sockets of a second interlocking section and vice versa. Furthermore, the substantially triangular-shaped pins and substantially triangular-shaped sockets stay locked together whether the drive shaft is being rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. Angled surfaces add greater stability to the drive shaft and prevent the interlocking sections from coming apart.
US08366558B2	Rolling contact member, rolling bearing, and method of producing rolling contact member An outer ring, an inner ring and a ball that are a rolling contact member formed of sintered β sialon inexpensive and capable of reliably ensuring sufficient durability, is constituted of a sintered body containing β sialon as a main component and having a remainder formed of an impurity, and the outer ring, the inner ring and the ball have raceway/rolling contact surfaces, i.e., an outer ring raceway surface, an inner ring raceway surface and a ball rolling contact surface included in a portion having an outer ring high density layer, an inner ring high density layer and a ball high density layer higher in density than an inner portion.
US08366557B2	Engine drive plate connection Two embodiments of an improved connection between an engine output shaft and a transmission input shaft reduce or eliminate axial shaft loading and spin losses. In a first embodiment, the transmission input shaft includes an annular flange which is received within a slightly larger annulus or a plurality of axially extending tabs from the engine flex plate. After the transmission and engine are assembled, a plurality of fasteners are installed in radial openings in the flex plate annulus or tabs and extend into threaded openings in the annular flange. Since the output and input shafts are connected after the engine and transmission are assembled there is essentially no deflection of the flex plate, no axial loads on the shafts and no spin losses. In a second embodiment, a plurality of axially oriented threaded fasteners extend through openings in the flex plate and are received within nuts in a transmission drive plate. The nuts include eccentric flanges and are retained in the drive plate by snap rings. This eccentricity creates a reaction torque when the threaded fasteners are tightened. Because the nuts are free to travel and accommodate a small axial distance, deflection of the flex plate does not occur.
US08366556B2	Apparatus and method for limiting torque transmitted by elongate driving and driven members An apparatus and method for limiting torque transferred from an engine or motor to a drive shaft or other components. In some embodiments, the torque-limiting device has a spindle disposed within both coupling flanges to increase the resistance to radial forces and to maintain coaxial alignment of the flanges and attached drive shafts. In some embodiments, the axial spacing of bearings that enable rotation of the coupling flanges is based upon the diameter of the spindle. In another embodiment, torque-limiting devices that maintain coaxial alignment may be used to modify vehicle drive shafts to enable long distance towing for long durations at high speeds.
US08366553B2	Method and system for detecting bot scum in massive multiplayer online role playing game Provided are a method and system for detecting a bot in a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) online and in real time. By analyzing a communication pattern between a client and a server, the bot is detected based on parameters such as data length, inter-arrival time and data length auto correlation. Tests using respective parameters are combined to construct a global decision scheme, and thus more accurate detection results can be obtained. An integrated anti-bot defense system can be built by combining other tests such as a Turing test.
US08366551B2	Single player fantasy sports game A single user fantasy game, including a database of VFGMs, each having strategies and player rankings supplied by or for certain human remote GMs, together with a database of real-world athlete/participants. A draft is launched, with the user and at least selected VFGMs as participants. In that draft, the user and the VFGMs make selections of athlete/participants according to predetermined draft rules. Those selections made by the user and by the VFGMs are then saved as respective teams in a team database. Once the teams are selected, the performance of the teams is determined, using a database of real-world performances/statistics, for the athlete/participants in the database of athlete/participants, from a particular time period and according to a set of fantasy game scoring rules. A winner is determined from among the user and the VFGMs, based on the performance of the teams for the particular time period.
US08366547B2	Racing car wheel and controls for use in a multimedia interactive environment A racing car steering wheel assembly provides an input/output interface for a participant in a multimedia interactive electronic game. Two primary paddles on the underside of the wheel control throttle and braking functions, respectively. Secondary paddles or buttons may be included on either the side of the wheel for optionally controlling gear selection. Integral accelerometers are included for determining wheel rotation. Steering inputs are caused either by rotation about a fixed point to which the wheel may be affixed or by rotation in free air. A wired or wireless interface to a PC or game console provides communication with game software and optional wired or wireless communication between the user and other individuals. Switches and buttons may be included to emulate controls on real race cars and for inputting game information. A panel display and/or a decorative logo plate may be included on the wheel.
US08366546B1	Gamelets According to a method for displaying an online game in a content stream, a website logon is received from a user of a computing device and an associated profile is retrieved. The content stream associated with the profile is displayed in a GUI presented by the computing device. The content stream includes multiple views associated with different games that are multiplayer online games. The view associated with a game is updated in response to an event recognized by the game mechanics model of this game. The view associated with the game is relocated to a location of prominence in the content stream, if the user data indicates that the user is a participant of the game. The relative location of the view associated with the game is maintained within the content stream, if the user data indicates that the user is a spectator of the game.
US08366542B2	Networked gaming system with enterprise accounting methods and apparatus A computerized management system and methods including accounting, auditing, and correcting systems and processes are disclosed for use with game and/or gaming devices, systems, and methods enable users to remotely monitor, control, and modify financial data, reports, and information related to game and/or gaming machines and apparatuses of different classes, for example Class II and Class III gaming machines and table games, and different facilities, such as Class III gaming establishments, bingo establishments, and lottery establishments.
US08366540B2	Gaming machine with runs of consecutive identical symbols A gaming machine for executing a game displaying a matrix of symbol containing elements having a plurality of rows and columns; at least one column of the matrix comprising a portion of a simulated rotatable reel of a plurality of the symbol containing elements; the simulated rotatable reel comprising sections of symbol containing elements displaying a plurality of symbols; the simulated rotatable reel including at least one section in which a consecutive run of two or more of the symbol containing elements is populated by a first identical symbol so that, the first identical symbol being used for a first play of the game, a second identical symbol being randomly selected, the first identical symbol being replaced by the second identical symbol in the consecutive run of two or more of the symbol containing elements, the second identical symbol being used for a second play of the game.
US08366539B2	Method for enhancing winning outcomes in a reel spinning game Various embodiments are directed to a method for enhancing the outcome of a reel spinning game having one or more shared award-modifier reels. An embodiment of the method includes providing a game including a first set of reels, a second set of reels, and a shared base award-multiplier reel positioned adjacent to a first and second set of reels, wherein the first set of reels, second set of reels, and the shared base award-multiplier reel form a contiguous set of reels having a common axis of rotation, and the shared base award-multiplier reel enhances any winning outcomes in the first and/or second set of reels. Additionally, an embodiment of the method includes determining whether the game outcome of one set of reels is a winning outcome and enhancing the winning outcome of at least one set of reels when an award-multiplier symbol is present on the shared base award-multiplier reel.
US08366536B2	Gaming system and a method of gaming A gaming method and system, the method comprising providing one or more reels in a spinning reel game, the reels being displayed as three dimensional and displayed as provided with game symbols along and around the reels, displaying spinning of the reels and thereby sequentially displaying at least some of the game symbols displayed as provided along the reels, displaying rotating of the reels and thereby sequentially displaying at least some of the game symbols displayed as provided around the reels, stopping the spinning and the rotating of each of the reels at a respective stop position, and determining a game outcome based on at least some of the game symbols displayed when each of the reels is in its respective stop position.
US08366526B2	Power play game mechanics Method, article and apparatus for executing computer games, and in particular, computer-based racing games. In a racing game, a player may be allowed to earn one or more game play options which may be exercised during the race. The game play options, when exercised, may modify the predefined race path to create an advantage for the player or a disadvantage to the competitors.
US08366523B2	Feeding machine for manufacture of sausage-shaped products The invention relates to a feeding machine for manufacturing sausage-shaped products including storage rods for suspending sausage-shaped products, a device for mounting one end of a storage rod, and a device for feeding the sausage-shaped products, the device for feeding comprising an endless conveyor with a strand running parallel to the storage rod and having conveyor elements spaced at intervals to receive the sausage-shaped products, at least one control element arranged along the strand of the endless conveyor, the conveyor elements being movable and having hooks comprised of two identical partial hooks and being pivotable around horizontal axes from their position holding the suspension elements into their position depositing the suspension elements, the at least one control element forming a moving trigger element along the strand against its forward direction, which triggers the movement of the hooks from their holding into their depositing position.
US08366521B2	Diamond tool fabricated by combining mesh net with synthetic resin material Disclosed therein is a diamond tool fabricated by combining a mesh net with a synthetic resin material, which includes a diamond sintered body integrally coupled with the outer surface of the mesh net and a synthetic resin material impregnated into the inner surface of the mesh net, thereby maximizing a bonding strength and minimizing weight. The diamond tool includes: a diamond sintered body having a diamond tip; a mesh net integrally coupled with the sintered body in such a way that a portion of the sintered body is impregnated therewith; and a synthetic resin material for forming a body in such a way as to couple the mesh net with the circumference of the sintered body to thereby expose the sintered body to the outside.
US08366520B2	Apparatus and method for manufacturing abrasive tools A compression molding apparatus and method for the manufacture of abrasive layers for abrasive tooling which provides a compression mold space defined between an inflexible wall surface and a flexible wall surface. The apparatus and method of the present invention is particularly well suited to making annular or hollow cylindrical shaped abrasive layers of novel configurations during a single mold cycle useful for grinding wheel and the like, as well as other shapes such as laps, wherein the flexible wall expanded with fluid pressure provides a highly uniform distribution of pressure against the surface of the mold composition being formed. In an annular configuration, the flexible wall is used to radially direct pressure against a molding composition disposed in an annular configuration wherein the axial length of the annular mold shape formed may be many times greater than priorly obtained by the prior art means.
US08366517B2	Floor treatment apparatus with tensioning pulley drive A floor treatment apparatus includes a frame, a housing which is rotatable with respect to the frame according to a main axis, at least three head pulleys which are rotatable with respect to the housing according to respective head axes which are regularly spaced around, and which are parallel to, the main axis, a motor supported by the frame, a drive pulley which is drivable by the motor, a main belt tensioning pulley and a main belt which is slung around the drive pulley, the head pulleys and the main belt tensioning pulley. Further an auxiliary pulley is coaxially connected to the main belt tensioning pulley. A fixed pulley is connected to the frame. An auxiliary belt is slung around the auxiliary pulley and the fixed pulley for rotating the housing with respect to the frame.
US08366514B2	Semiconductor substrate planarization apparatus and planarization method A planarization apparatus and method that thins and planarizes a substrate by grinding and polishing the rear surface of the substrate with high throughput, and that fabricates a semiconductor substrate with reduced adhered contaminants. A planarization apparatus that houses various mechanism elements in semiconductor substrate loading/unloading stage chamber, a rear-surface polishing stage chamber, and a rear-surface grinding stage chamber. The throughput time of the rear-surface polishing stage that simultaneously polishes two substrates is typically about double the throughput time of the rear-surface grinding stage that grinds one substrate.
US08366511B2	Garment supporting apparatus Garment supporting apparatus for a breast covering garment, comprising a flexible strap and a decorative attachment member.
US08366497B2	Power terminal An electrical connector formed to have at least one or more pairs of opposing legs extending from a body portion where each leg extends to a contact point where an inner surface of each opposing leg contact. A spring clip can be positioned over one or more of the opposing legs to increase a compressive force. The spring clip may include an alignment feature to limit clip rotating and/or pitching.
US08366495B2	Appliance for connecting high-current electric apparatuses, primarily conductor bars Appliance for connecting high-current electric apparatuses, primarily conductor bars, comprising an electrically conducting body (31) and at least one connection piece (22), where the connection piece (22) has a seat arranged to encircle the body (31) in a concentric manner. A preferably frustum-shaped retention portion having monotonic decreasing cross-sectional size is disposed on the body, the retention portion being retained in the seat by frictional connection. The retention portion has increased contact surface, and in specific cases the body (31) is adapted for receiving a cable end. The invention is essentially characterised by that the increased contact surface is constituted by indentations implemented as ribs arranged perpendicular to the axis of the body (31) and/or as grooves extending in the direction of the generator of the body (31), where the indentations undergo different amounts of local deformation along the axis of the body (31) as the appliance is pressed together.
US08366493B2	Connector having a retainer with a plate shaped detection part A connector has a first housing (10), a pair of first terminal fittings (50) accommodated in parallel with each other inside the first housing (10), a short-circuiting terminal (40) mounted inside the first housing (10) and short-circuiting a pair of the first terminal fittings (50), and a sub-housing (30) having insulating properties and holding the short-circuiting terminals (40). An accommodation chamber (17) formed inside the first housing (10) is open on an outer side surface of the first housing (10) as a mounting/removing opening (18). The sub-housing (30) is inserted into the accommodation chamber (17) in almost parallel with a direction in which a pair of the first terminal fittings (50) is arranged.
US08366491B2	USB plug cable assembly A cable assembly includes a plurality of contacts, an insulation housing molded to fill and surround the contacts, a printed circuit board including a plurality of holes receiving soldering tin to electrically connect contacts to the printed circuit board, and a cover including a rectangular frame and a extending portion rearward extending from the rectangular frame to enclose a part of the printed circuit board exposed out of the insulation housing.
US08366490B2	USB plug cable assembly A cable assembly includes a plurality of contacts, an insulation housing and a metal shell assembled on the insulation housing. The insulation housing is molded outside the contacts and includes a fastening portion protruding from a rear end of an upper surface of the housing, and a pair of side arms rearward extending from the two sides of a rear surface of the fastening portion. The metal shell is assembled on the insulation housing and located behind the fastening portion. The fastening portion is substantially of U-shaped configuration with a pair of L-shaped cutout located on the two sides thereof and the two cutouts faces toward the outside. The metal shell includes a pair of clasping portions respectively frontward extending from the front surface of two side walls of the rectangular frame. The clasping portions are respectively inserted into their corresponding cutouts.
US08366489B2	Relay connector Provided is a relay connector 100 for establishing connection between motors each having a pair of motor terminals provided to a back plate, and for supplying power supplied from external terminals to the respective motor terminals. The relay connector 100 includes: a motor connecting surface 120 having a first relay terminal 140 that connects to the motor terminals of each motor; an external connector connecting surface 130 that is continuous to the motor connecting surface 120 and has in its bonding surface a second relay terminal 150 that connects to L-shaped terminals 220; and a housing 110 having the motor connecting surface 120 and the external connector connecting surface 130 in its end surfaces. The first relay terminal 140 and the second relay terminal 150 are electrically connected with each other within the housing 110.
US08366488B2	Microphone connector A three-pin microphone connector includes a connector base composed of an electrical insulator; a printed circuit board; a first pin for grounding and second and third pins for signals which penetrate through the connector base and the printed circuit board, a shield layer electrically connected to the first pin but not to the second and third pins, overlying almost the entire surface of the printed circuit board which faces the connector base; a first shield cover through which the three pins penetrate, covering the printed circuit board and the connector base from one surface, and a second shield cover through which the three pins penetrate, covering the connector base from the other surface. The first and second shield covers squeeze together at both ends to enwrap the connector base.
US08366485B2	Electrical connector having ribbed ground plate An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing, a plurality of electrical signal contacts carried by the dielectric housing, and a ground plate carried by the dielectric housing. The electrical signal contacts are arranged along a first plane, wherein the signal contacts define signal pairs such that a respective gap is disposed between adjacent signal pairs. The signal contacts further define respective mating and mounting ends. The ground plate includes a ground plate body oriented in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane and offset from the first plane. The ground plate body defines first and second opposed surfaces. The ground plate includes at least one rib that defines first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface of the rib projects from the first surface of the ground plate body in a direction toward the gap, and the second surface is recessed into the second surface of the ground plate body. The ground plate further includes a plurality of mating ends and mounting ends extending from the ground plate body and disposed in the first plane so as to be aligned with the respective mating ends and mounting ends of the electrical signal contacts.
US08366482B2	Re-enterable hardline coaxial cable connector A hardline coaxial cable connector includes a body subassembly, a back nut subassembly and a deformable ferrule disposed within the back nut subassembly. The back nut subassembly is rotatable with respect to the body subassembly and a coaxial cable inserted therein. Axial advancement of the back nut subassembly toward the body subassembly causes the ferrule to deform radially inwardly and be in electrical communication with the body subassembly.
US08366481B2	Continuity maintaining biasing member A post having a first end, a second end, and a flange proximate the second end, wherein the post is configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable, a connector body attached to the post, a coupling element attached to the post, the coupling element having a first end a second end, and a biasing member disposed within a cavity formed between the first end of the coupling element and the connector body to bias the coupling element against the post is provided. Moreover, a connector body having a biasing element, wherein the biasing element biases the coupling element against the post, is further provided. Furthermore, associated methods are also provided.
US08366478B2	Electronic device In the electronic device according to the present invention, a plurality of electronic components are connected to respective terminal blocks through respective signal cables, the signal cables each includes an end connected to a terminal of each of the electronic components, a connector attached to the other end of each of the signal cables is connected to each of the terminal blocks. the plurality of signal cables are bundled together at a deflection position distances to which from the terminals of the plurality of electronic components are different, the plurality of signal cables extend from the deflection position to corresponding terminal blocks, and the positions of the plurality of terminal blocks are shifted from each other in accordance with difference in lengths of the signal cables from the deflection position passing point to the connectors.
US08366470B2	Connector A connector has a housing with a fit-on tube that can fit in a hood of a mating connector. Terminal fittings are fixed to ends of wires and are held by the housing. A sealing ring is mounted on an annular holding groove on a peripheral surface of the fit-on tube and is disposed between the peripheral surface of the fit-on tube and an inner surface of the hood to seal a gap therebetween. Engaging grooves are formed in the peripheral surface of the fit-on tube. The engaging grooves intersect the annular holding groove and are deeper than a bottom surface of the annular holding groove. Rotation-stopping projections project from the sealing ring to extend along a direction in which the engaging grooves extend and each has an engaging claw that can fit on a bottom of one of the engaging grooves.
US08366468B2	Connector isolator system A connector isolator system, having a backstop spaced a fixed distance away from an interface surface; a printed circuit board (PCB) or other connector carrier member that is movable between the backstop and the interface surface, and further comprising one or more in-plane isolators; an electrical connector mounted on the connector carrier member in a position to pass through an aperture in the interface surface; and one or more biasing members arranged between the backstop and the connector carrier member for urging the connector carrier member toward the interface surface and the electrical connector through the aperture.
US08366458B2	Electrical power connector system An electrical power connector comprises a housing having a mounting interface and a mating interface. The mating interface defines a plurality of receptacles spaced apart in more than one direction. A plurality of electrical contacts is supported by the housing. These electrical contacts define respective mounting ends that are configured to electrically connect with an electrical component at the mounting interface, and opposed mating ends. At least one of the electrical contacts defines a common contact beam disposed within at least a select one of the receptacles. This common contact beam is configured to be electrically connected to a pair of adjacent electrical contacts of a mated electrical connector.
US08366452B2	Low profile socket connector with improved contacts A socket connector includes an insulative housing with a plurality of receiving holes, and a plurality of contacts received in the receiving holes. The contact has a soldering portion, and a retaining arm and a resilient arm respectively extending upwardly from the soldering portion. The retaining arm has a broken edge facing downward, which is formed by breaking a carrier from the contact.
US08366447B2	Reading alerts and skim-reading system A screen reader software product including a pattern store containing at least one user-definable array of keywords relating to a subject of interest and skim reading module adapted to apply the at least one array of keywords to a target document whereby only portions of the target document matching the at least one array of keywords are output by the screen reader software to an end user.
US08366442B2	Dental apparatus for radiographic and non-radiographic imaging Methods and systems for making a computer model of a patient's jaws on the basis of digital information from computed tomography and non-radiographic digital imaging of the patient's teeth or dental casts of their teeth.
US08366441B2	Air/light dental device A hand held curing light device having an integral, self-contained compressed-air system, which allows the operator to complete a procedure involving the use of light-curable compounds using a single hand-held instrument.
US08366436B2	Apparatuses and methods for manufacturing containers Apparatus, comprising a rotating carousel and a plurality of handling elements supported by said carousel and movable in relation to said carousel, said handling elements being so shaped as to remove a container from a blow-moulding mould arrangement, wherein said apparatus further comprises a plurality of further handling elements associated with said handling elements, said further handling elements being so shaped as to deliver a dose of plastics to a compression-moulding mould arrangement, each of said further handling elements being fixed to a corresponding handling element.
US08366433B2	Extrusion die and process for forming cereal flakes An extrusion die for extruding cooked dough includes at least one slot having an inlet, an outlet and a land. The land has a length and a depth, with the depth extending between the inlet and the outlet and the length extending between a first side and a second side of the land. The depth of the land varies along at least a portion of the length. A process for forming cereal flakes using the extrusion die includes the steps of extruding and cutting.
US08366432B2	Device for a layerwise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layerwise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers that correspond to the object is provided. The device comprises a machine frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and a building space (10) that is arranged in the machine frame. In the building space (10) there are arranged: an application device (27) that applies layers of the building material onto a support device (26) and a previously applied layer, respectively, by an application element (61); a dosage device (28, 29) that provides building material for the application device (27) for an application, and a heating device (31) for heating the applied layers of the building material. The application element (61) and/or the dosage device (28, 29) and/or the heating device (31) are removable from the building space (10) without a tool.
US08366428B2	Method and apparatus for making crystalline pet pellets A method and apparatus for underwater pelletizing and subsequent drying of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers and other high temperature crystallizing polymeric materials to crystallize the polymer pellets without subsequent heating. High velocity air or other inert gas is injected into the water and pellet slurry line to the dryer near the pelletizer exit. Air is injected into the slurry line at a velocity of from about 100 to about 175 m3/hour, or more. Such high-speed air movement forms a vapor mist with the water and significantly increases the speed of the pellets into and out of the dryer such that the PET polymer pellets leave the dryer at a temperature sufficient to self-initiate crystallization within the pellets. A valve mechanism in the slurry line after the gas injection further regulates the pellet residence time and a vibrating conveyor after the dryer helps the pellets to achieve the desired level of crystallinity and to avoid agglomeration.
US08366427B2	Tire mold with positive mold opening system A curing mold includes an upper mold portion having a plurality of upper and lower sections radially translatable between open and closed positions, wherein each of the lower sections are positioned adjacent one of the upper sections to form a plurality of pairs of upper and lower sections. The tire mold also includes a pin extending from a first section of each pair of sections, and an aperture extending within a second section of each pair of sections, the aperture including an opening and positioned for receiving a portion of the pin extending from the corresponding first section when the mold is in a substantially closed position. Particular embodiments of the present invention also include a first plurality of radially translatable sections arranged to form an expandable ring and one or more first synchronization members extending between adjacent sections of the first plurality of sections.
US08366424B2	Rotary fluid machine with reverse moment generating mechanism A rotary fluid machinery includes a fixed member, a drive shaft driven and rotated about a rotation axis, a movable member, a movable member support part and a reverse moment generating mechanism. The movable member is rotatably mounted at the drive shaft with its center being eccentrically disposed relative to the rotation axis, with the movable member and the fixed member forming a fluid chamber. Revolution of the movable member changes the volume of the fluid chamber. The movable member is configured to swing in association with its revolution. The reverse moment generating mechanism generates a moment in a reverse direction about the rotation axis relative to a moment about the rotation axis caused by the revolving movement of the movable member.
US08366423B2	Method and arrangement for realizing a vacuum in a vacuum chamber The invention relates to a method of realizing a vacuum in a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber is connected to a pumping system shared by a plurality of vacuum chambers. The method includes separately pumping down each vacuum chamber. The invention further relates to n arrangement of a plurality of vacuum chambers connected to a pumping system. In this arrangement, the pumping system is arranged for pumping down each vacuum chamber separately.
US08366422B2	Metering pump A metering pump for feeding out viscous materials, which pump comprises a housing having an inlet connectable to a viscous material source, an outlet; and a valve body of cylindrical basic shape, which is rotatable into at least two positions by means of a drive unit including a first position allowing a flow of the material from the inlet to the housing and a second position allowing a flow of the material from the housing to the outlet. The pump also comprises a cylinder device connected to the housing, having a controllable piston intended to achieve the flow of material, and at least one device for cleaning the metering pump. The cleaning device comprises at least one nozzle for cleaning agent, disposed in a valve-body-facing part of the piston. Also, a method for cleaning such a metering pump.
US08366420B1	Linear peristaltic pump having opposing staggered curved surfaces A pump producing peristaltic pumping action by sequentially occluding a tube between staggered curved surfaces. The pump includes a pump frame with a platen. The platen has an irregular surface forming a plurality of curved end surfaces. The irregular surfaces of the platen operatively interact with a pressure plate assembly having a plurality of pressure plates. The pressure plates are configured for translational motion. In operation the pressure plates are spaced one from another such that each one includes an end curved surface extending generally toward complementary staggered curved surfaces on the platen. Pumping is accomplished via a tube sandwiched between the platen and the pressure plate assembly. A drive operatively associated with the pump frame and pressure plate assembly drives the pressure plates in a wave sequence so as to sequentially occlude portions of the tube between staggered curved surfaces so as to promote a peristaltic pumping action within the tube.
US08366415B2	Linear compressor A linear compressor is provided that includes a shell; a fixed member installed inside the shell, and including a cylinder that provides a compression space for a refrigerant introduced into the shell; a moving member including a piston that compresses the refrigerant sucked into the compression space inside the cylinder, and that is linearly reciprocated with respect to the fixed member; and a suction muffler positioned on or in a suction passage of the refrigerant inside the shell. A suction volume with a larger sectional area in a central portion than in both ends is defined in the suction muffler.
US08366406B2	Multi-stage compressor A multi-stage compressor is provided that reliably prevents liquid compression in a higher stage compression mechanism and also prevents compression efficiency degradation resulting from overheating of injection refrigerant and from the lubricating oil being raised up together with the injection refrigerant. An injection circuit is branched into a plurality of circuits. A first circuit thereof is communicatively connected to an inside space of a closed housing that is at the same side as the higher stage compression mechanism with respect to an electric motor, and a second circuit is communicatively connected to an inside space of the closed housing that is opposite from the higher stage compression mechanism with respect to the electric motor. The first circuit and the second circuit are provided with a switching mechanism for switching the injection circuit to the first circuit or the second circuit according to the dryness of the injection refrigerant.
US08366402B2	System and method for determining onset of failure modes in a positive displacement pump A reciprocating pump system is utilized. The system facilitates the prediction of failure modes due to degradation of pump components. A sensor system is used to monitor parameters indicative of abnormal events or wear occurring in specific components, such as pump valves. The indications of wear can be used to predict valve failure or other component failure within the reciprocating pump.
US08366401B2	Positive displacement pump system and method with rotating valve Systems and methods including a valve piston in a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber may include a pump inlet and a pump outlet in fluid communication with the pumping chamber. The valve piston may be configured to rotate between a first position within the pumping chamber and a second position outside of the pumping chamber.
US08366400B2	Compressor rotor A blade as a main body of a rotor blade has a suction side made convex and a pressure side made concave so as to have an aerofoil profile. A squealer tip having a back face continuous to the suction side and a front face matching with a center plane of the blade is formed at a distal end of the blade. The front face is coated with a hard coating.
US08366397B2	Airfoil shape for a compressor An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE A. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances can be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08366394B1	Turbine blade with tip rail cooling channel A turbine rotor blade with a main spar and a thin thermal skin bonded to form an airfoil surface for the blade. The blade includes radial extending cooling channels formed on the pressure side and suction side walls between the spar and the thermal skin. The P/S radial channels connect to a P/S tip cooling channel and the S/S radial channels connect to a S/S tip cooling channel. The tip cooling channels are connected to tip floor cooling channels that discharge into a cooling air collection cavity formed within the spar. A row of exit holes in the trailing edge are connected to the cooling air collection cavity.
US08366391B2	Turbine blade structure Provided is a turbine blade structure that is capable of suppressing quality variations of cast products during the manufacturing of turbine blades. A turbine blade structure wherein the space inside an air foil is divided into a plurality of cavities, partitioned by rib members provided substantially perpendicular to the center line connecting a leading edge and a trailing edge, is provided with partition members that partition the inside of the cavities located in the central portion of the blade, excluding the blade leading-edge side and the blade trailing-edge side, into blade pressure side cavities and blade suction side cavities substantially along the center line, wherein blade leading-edge end portions and blade trailing-edge end portions of the partition members are inserted from one shroud surface side to the other shroud surface side along engagement grooves formed on the rib members.
US08366387B2	Enhanced axial air mover system with floor edge Implementations of an enhanced axial air mover system address various issues such as drying performance, transportability, storage, use, and assembly. Some implementations include ergonomic positioning of a carrying handle relative to positioning of a fan-assembly to make the system easier to carry. Enclosures with variable diameter profiles increase air flow performance. A floor edge allows for flush positioning of the air mover's outlet to improve flow of air. Various supports and engagement members allow for horizontal and/or vertical engagement of a plurality of the air movers for storage or increased air moving capacity for a given application. An alignment guide assists with positioning of the air mover with respect to a room wall to enhance air flow within the room. A cord retaining system provides an enhanced approach for securing the air mover's electrical cord. Grill guards have slotted ends to assist with assembly of the air mover.
US08366384B2	Pump assembly and method The invention refers to a pump assembly, and more specifically to a chopping pump assembly comprising a cutting wheel mounted on a drive shaft in coaxial and co-rotational relation with a pump wheel, and a cutting plate stationary mountable in a pump housing between the cutting wheel and the pump wheel, the cutting plate having perforations forming passages there through for a liquid to be transported by the pump wheel in rotation, the cutting wheel and cutting plate in co-operation providing a shearing interface effective for cutting solid matter which may be entrained in the liquid. An axial clearance between the cutting wheel and cutting plate is established at all times by eliminating an axial play in a threaded engagement between the cutting wheel and the drive shaft. The invention also refers to a method by which an operative shearing action is securable in the pump assembly.
US08366383B2	Air sealing element A turbine blade outer air seal segment assembly has a first turbine blade outer air seal segment with a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion. The first turbine blade outer air seal segment is for connection with a second turbine blade outer air seal segment to form at least a part of a shroud of a turbine rotor. A first cooling passage is disposed within the first turbine blade outer air seal segment. The cooling passage extends from the first end portion to the second end portion and a land is disposed in at least one of the first or second end portions. The land represents a portion for receiving a mold ejection pin for a core forming the cooling passage.
US08366379B2	Turbomachine with failure protection A turbomachine has a housing, a rotor shaft extending along and rotatable about an axis in the housing, and a pair of axially spaced axial-thrust bearings in the housing carrying the shaft and normally only permitting a predetermined small axial displacement of the shaft in the housing. An impeller is rotationally fixed on the shaft. An axially fixed transmission gear is rotationally coupled to the shaft and has an axially directed gear face. A collar fixed axially on the shaft has an axially directed collar face confronting the gear face and normally spaced from the gear face by a clearance equal to more than the predetermined axial displacement. Thus on failure of one of the bearings and axial overtravel of the shaft the gear face and collar face engage each other and limit axial movement of the shaft.
US08366378B2	Blade assembly Blade assemblies are provided in a number of forms. These blade assemblies may have blades secured to disks (blisk), rings (bling) and drums (blum). The blades and/or the rotor elements formed by these rings, drums or disks can fragment and it is necessary to contain such fragments within a casing. Impact energy has a significant effect upon the necessary thickness of the casing to ensure containment. By providing blades as well as rotor elements which incorporate discontinuities which provide flexing under impact, energy is absorbed prior to further fragmentation upon impact engagement with a casing surface; flexing is about the discontinuity. In such circumstances casings may be thinner and therefore significant weight savings achieved with regard to aircraft incorporating gas turbine engines having blade assemblies with discontinuities.
US08366377B2	FC fan flow measurement system using a curved inlet cone and pressure sensor An airflow volume sensing system for determining the flow rate through a fan includes a curved inlet cone with a pressure sensor at the minimum diameter of the cone, wherein the flow volume sensing system is particularly suited for FC centrifugal fans (centrifugal fans with forward curved fan blades). With an FC fan, the minimum diameter of the inlet cones interior surface is adjacent the fan wheel, and the static pressure there is at a minimum value. A predetermined relationship between the static gage pressure at that point and the volume flow rate through the fan is applied regardless of variables such as fan speed, fan housing geometry, supply air duct configurations, return air duct configurations, location of various heat exchangers or filters, etc. In some examples, a single pressure sensor senses an average of a plurality of pressure taps wherein each tap is at approximately the same minimum pressure.
US08366376B2	Multiple articulating elevator and stacker support system This is a paper-stacking support with segmented shelves that can support paper and can also fold upon being rotated around rollers by a driver belt. Once an upper shelf is fully loaded, it is moved downwardly by the drive belt and another shelf is moved into an upper loading position by the drive belt. This allows for a continuous running of the stacking operation without an interruption during the unloading of the stacked paper.
US08366375B2	Rotation introduction mechanism, substrate transfer apparatus, and vacuum processing apparatus There are provided a rotation introduction mechanism which transmits a rotating motion on the atmosphere side into vacuum, is arranged simply, has a low sliding resistance, and has a long life, a substrate transfer apparatus, a substrate transfer apparatus having a small pivot radius and generating a smaller amount of dusts, and a vacuum processing apparatus. A lubricant holding member is attached to a vacuum seal mechanism. The substrate transfer apparatus is arranged such that a first link mechanism includes a first arm and a fourth arm, a second link mechanism includes a second arm and a third arm, the first arm is fixedly attached to a first drive shaft, the first arm is fixedly attached to a second drive shaft, the third arm is rotatably attached to the first drive shaft, and the fourth arm is rotatably attached to the second drive shaft. The vacuum processing apparatus includes the substrate transfer apparatus.
US08366371B2	Industrial battery charging, storage and handling system A battery movement, storage, and charging system for large size batteries used in lift trucks includes spaced, parallel storage racks, each of which have multiple storage and charging bays. A battery transport tower is positioned in an aisle between the storage racks and is moveable horizontally between the two rows of racks. The tower includes an extendable fork lift mounted which may rotate around the axis of the tower as well as move vertically upwardly or downwardly on the tower. A battery exchanger loads a discharged battery from a lift truck, places it on a pallet and then transfers the pallet and battery to a transfer bay in a storage rack where the tower forklift moves a pallet and battery to a selected charging bay.
US08366370B2	Vacuum processing apparatus A vacuum processing apparatus includes a transfer container for transferring a wafer in the internal space thereof reduced in pressure, a vacuum vessel coupled to the side wall of the vacuum vessel and including a processing chamber having a sample stage therein on which a wafer to be processed is mounted, a lid member opened or closed by rotation above the vacuum vessel, an inner chamber member arranged in the vacuum vessel and making up the inner wall of the processing chamber, and a jig coupled to the side wall of the vacuum vessel to lift and hold the inner chamber member by being coupled thereto. The jig includes a first joint portion having vertical and horizontal shafts, an extensible arm portion rotatable around each shaft of the first joint portion, and a second joint portion with the inner chamber member adapted to rotate around the horizontal axis thereof.
US08366369B2	Sheet finisher and image forming system provided therewith In a sheet finisher including an adhesive coating section, a movement mechanism, a control section that controls actions of the adhesive coating section and of the movement mechanism, is capable of multiple coating on a spine of a sheet bundle by causing the movement mechanism to move the adhesive coating section reciprocally and relatively with respect to the spine, and is capable of conducting a preparation process to cause the rotary adhesive supplying section to rotate for a prescribed period of time in a rotation direction corresponding to a movement direction of the adhesive coating section under a condition of no coating of the adhesive on the spine of the sheet bundle, after the movement direction of the adhesive coating section and the rotation direction of the rotary adhesive supplying section are switched, following the reciprocating movement in the case of the multiple coating.
US08366361B1	Flange assembly railroad transportation system and method A system for transporting a load of plural flange assemblies using a railcar that has open top over a load-area. The system includes a structural frame configured for positioning at least partially about the load area of the railcar. The structural frame includes a first and second incline that are opposingly oriented to define a load trough, which is accessible for insertion of at least a portion of the load thereinto from above the open top of the railcar. A railcar engagement member is disposed to fixedly couple the structural frame to the railcar. Incline dunnage is positioned on the first and second incline so as to engage and support the load, and so as to prevent direct contact between the load and the railcar. A first movable stop is coupled to the structural frame, and has an adjustment for selectively positioning it to engage and maintain the load against tipping forces.
US08366359B2	Method for machining crankshafts and device for carrying out this method The invention relates to a method for machining crankshafts during which the machining of the bearing width and of the oil collar should be carried out simultaneously. To this end, a disk-shaped outer milling cutter having a number of cutting tools (10, 14) is used of which a portion serves to machine a bearing base of the crankshaft and the other portion serves to machine an oil collar adjacent to the bearing base. According to the invention, a set angle (κ) for the cutting tools for machining the oil collar is selected according to the actual dimension, during which the effective depth of cut hmax for each cutting insert is limited to a predeterminable maximum value. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method.
US08366357B2	Spade bit having reamer feature A spade bit includes a shaft defining an axis about which the spade bit is configured to be rotated. The space bit also includes a blade attached to the shaft and having a first paddle portion and a second paddle portion. In addition, the spade bit includes a tip portion attached to the blade and aligned with the axis. The first paddle portion includes (i) a first leading end portion positioned on a first side of the axis and configured to define a first cutting edge portion, and (ii) a first lateral extension portion configured to define a first sloping surface. The first paddle portion defines a first relief space positioned adjacent to both the first sloping portion and the first leading end portion. The second paddle portion includes (i) a second leading end portion positioned on an opposite second side of the axis and configured to define a second cutting edge portion, and (ii) a second lateral extension portion configured to define a second sloping surface. The second paddle portion defines a second relief space positioned adjacent to both the second sloping portion and the second leading end portion.
US08366351B2	Method of making an undersea pipe including anticorrosion linings and welds A method of making steel undersea pipes designed to convey corrosive fluids including water, the method including acting in a workshop on land to assemble together respective ends of at least two unitary pipe elements with carbon-steel first welds to form pipe strings, the first welds being protected by first linings, and acting at sea from a laying ship to assemble together respective ends of the strings by use of anti-corrosion second welds of stainless steel or of anti-corrosion alloy to form a pipe. Each of the ends of the strings are provided with an anti-corrosion cladding which extends over the inside surface made of carbon steel of each end unitary pipe element over a first length of at least 4 times the thickness of the wall of the pipe.
US08366348B2	Raised state holding mechanism of flap gate for breakwater To make it possible to hold a door body in an immobilized state without oscillating when the raising operation has been completed. A raised state holding mechanism of a flap gate for a breakwater provided with a two-folding support rod which immobilizes and supports a door body the front end side of which is supported to freely rise or lower with a rotating shaft as a supporting point, and a stay which supports this and to which is attached a guide roller the movement of which is guided by a guide rail. Between a two-rod double-acting cylinder device and an oil tank there is a raising side oil supply pathway which supplies oil to a raising side oil chamber, a raising side oil discharge pathway which discharges oil from the raising side oil chamber, and a lowering side oil pathway which supplies/discharges oil to a lowering side oil chamber. A check valve is provided to the raising side oil supply pathway, and a shut-off valve is provided to the raising side oil discharge pathway to prevent lowering of the door body during the operation of raising the door body and after raising of the door body is completed. It becomes possible to hold a door body in an immobilized state without oscillating when the raising operation has been completed.
US08366345B1	Powered screed machine A powered screed machine comprising means to drive a screed blade and means to power machine travel. The machine includes a pair of elongated modules disposed perpendicular to each other whereby a reciprocating weight within one of the modules causes forward and rearward movement of the machine and a reciprocating weight in the other module causes vibratory movement of the screed blade to groom the surface of freshly poured concrete.
US08366343B2	Apparatus for fluid storage using paver blocks Systems and methods for a porous pavement system are described. The porous pavement system includes paver blocks designed to facilitate water seepage between the paver blocks and to permit water storage within the blocks. The paver blocks may be cabled together to create paving units that facilitate installation and maintenance of the pavement system. The porous pavement system provides improved management of stormwater, reducing runoff and facilitating infiltration of stormwater into the subgrade below the paving system.
US08366342B2	System for continuous vehicular travel on crossing roadways Systems and methods for improved vehicular movement between first and second crossing roadways. The systems employ multiple turn roadways to permit a vehicle traveling on one of the crossing roadways to appropriately turn and continuously travel onto the other of the crossing roadway. The systems are adaptable to use in conjunction with either left side of the road vehicle movement or right side of the road vehicle movement. In addition, the systems and methods can be adapted for use in conjunction a roadway crossing whereat at least one of the roads is for forwarded vehicle movement in only one direction.
US08366340B2	Structural member joint structure A structural member joint structure can easily join members to each other by using a simple structure having a reduced number of parts and can provide the members with a large fastening force which makes the members less likely to be loosened from each other. The joint structure is used to join one pillar and the other pillar to each other such that the other member is vertically abutted against a side face of the one pillar. The structure has a pair of fastening members positioned in the inside of the other pillar and arranged so as to be movable in the widthwise direction of a groove formed in a side face of the one pillar, a nut mechanism located on the inward side of the other pillar and formed between the pair of fastening members, and a bolt operated from the outside through an opening in the other pillar to be fitted into the nut mechanism. Rotating the bolt causes the nut mechanism to urge and move the pair of fastening members in the direction in which the pair is separated from each other. This causes engagement projections respectively arranged on ends of the pair of fastening members to engage with engagement recesses respectively arranged at lateral opposite ends of the groove in the one pillar. Thus, the pillars are joined to each other.
US08366339B2	Two-section tool joint A two-section tool joint comprises a support member including a polygonal ball knob disposed on one end thereof; an acting head including a receiving chamber fixed on end thereof, and on a side wall of the receiving chamber being arranged a plurality of raised rims in response to the ball knob; a limiting structure defined between the support member and the acting head so that the ball knob of the support member is limited in the receiving chamber and moves between a first and a second positions; wherein the raised rims are longitudinally defined on a side wall of the receiving chamber and spaced apart equally from each other, the number of the raised rims is in response to that of the angles of the ball knob, and each raised rim is provided with a convex arc contacting surface so that the support member rotates with the acting head.
US08366337B2	Dispensing package with applicator A package for dispensing a substance is described, where the package includes a stiff sheet that has a score formed on and traversing the first surface. The package also includes a flexible sheet defining a cavity for receiving the substance between the stiff sheet and the flexible sheet. The package also includes an applicator having a porous material pad, where the applicator is attached to the stiff sheet over the score by two hinges. The stiff sheet is configured to be folded about the score to cause the substance to be expelled from the cavity through a metering hole into the porous material pad and the two hinges allow the porous material pad to remain generally flat as the stiff sheet is folded.
US08366335B2	Platen roller assemblies for printer and methods of removal therefrom A platen roller assembly for a printer includes a platen roller, a retaining clip, a plurality of bearings, and a pulley assembly. The platen roller defines a longitudinal axis. The retaining clip mounts to a support body of the printer and is positioned to retain the platen roller relative to the support body. The plurality of bearings are operably coupled to the platen roller. Each of the bearings permit rotational movement of the platen roller about the longitudinal axis thereof. The pulley assembly is mounted to the support body and is operably associated with one or more of the bearings. The pulley assembly includes a pulley and a belt. The belt is operably coupled to the pulley such that the platen roller rotates in response to rotational movement of the belt. The platen roller may be selectively coupled and uncoupled to/from the support body independent of the pulley assembly.
US08366332B2	Method of setting paper in a printer, and a printer When the paper loaded in a printer is changed to a different type of paper, the paper setting in the printer can be easily updated without a paper mismatch error occurring. When the paper is replaced or the paper setting is changed in the printer 1, the cover 3 is first opened, the roll paper 12 is removed from the roll paper compartment 11, and the cover 3 is then closed. A paper settings update command from the host device 32 is received and executed when no roll paper is loaded. After the command is executed, the cover 3 is opened, new roll paper 12 is loaded, and the cover 3 is closed. The printer 1 then indexes the newly loaded paper for printing, and executes a paper identification process to determine if the newly loaded paper matches the content of the current paper settings.
US08366331B2	Blade driving device and optical apparatus A blade driving device includes: a board including an optical path opening; first and second blades moving toward and away from the optical path opening; first and second transmitting portions driving the first and second blades; and first and second drive sources respectively driving the first and second transmitting portions, wherein the first and second transmitting portions respectively include first and second drive pins, and the first blade includes an engagement slot engaging one of the first and second drive pins and is attached to the first and the second transmitting portions to be rotatable about the other of the first and second drive pins.
US08366326B2	Optical fiber connector An optical fiber connector includes a connector hold, an optical fiber connector body, an elastic member, and a number of optical fibers. The connector hold defines a receiving recess and a position slot in communication with the receiving recess. The optical fiber connector body is engaged in the receiving recess of the connector hold. The optical fiber connector body includes a positioning post corresponding to and received in the position slot. The optical fibers pass through the connector hold and are attached to the optical fiber connector body. The connector hold includes a slide block received in the position slot, one end surface of the slide block contacts the elastic member, and the other end of the slide block is engaged with a distal end of the positioning post. The slide block is sized and shaped conforming to the position slot.
US08366325B2	Optical module and method of manufacturing thereof An optical module 10 according to the invention is comprised of: a substrate 11; a laser diode array 14 implemented on said substrate in an array; a driver IC 15 implemented on said substrate and electrically connected to each of surface emitting semiconductor laser elements of the laser diode array 14; an optical connector unit 12 for holding a plurality of optical fiber 16 in an array, wherein the optical connector unit 12 is fixed to the substrate 11 in a location where center of each single end of said plurality of optical fiber and center of each light injecting region are aligned with each other; and a cover 13. The optical connector unit 12 includes two guide-pin holes 12b on two opposite sides of a plurality of fiber holding hole 12a. Two alignment marks 50 are provided on a surface 11a of the substrate 11, which are visually recognizable through each of the guide-pin holes 12b, and function as alignment reference of said optical connector unit 12.
US08366322B2	Shaft member for fluid dynamic bearing device A shaft member for a fluid dynamic bearing device that has a recess to cause a dynamic pressure effect of a fluid in a bearing clearance, which is formed on it by rolling, and where a surface layer portion of the recess and a surface layer portion of a surrounding region of the recess has a nitride layer, and where nitrogen is diffused and penetrated in a material of the shaft member that is formed by nitriding after the rolling.
US08366319B2	Radiation detection apparatus and radiographic apparatus According to one embodiment, a radiation detection apparatus includes a radiation detection panel, a support member that is configured to support the radiation detection panel on one surface thereof and has electrical conductive property, a circuit board that is supported on the other surface of the support member, a flexible circuit board configured to electrically connect the radiation detection panel to the circuit board, a heat insulation member arranged between the radiation detection panel and the circuit board, a housing that is configured to accommodate the radiation detection panel, the circuit board, the support member, and the heat insulation member and has electrical conductive property, and a heat conduction member that is accommodated in the housing, connected to the support member and the housing, and configured to achieve electrical conduction between the support member and the housing to conduct heat of the support member to the housing.
US08366315B2	Open-loop vertical drywell gradient correction system and method A system and method are disclosed for controlling a drywell including a receiver having upper and lower ends with the lower end being more insulated than the upper and having a temperature sensor in thermal contact therewith. Upper and lower heaters are in thermal contact with the upper and lower ends respectively. A controller includes an integrated circuit having a temperature sensor. A reading from the integrated circuit is used to control power to the upper heater and reduce a temperature gradient between the upper and lower ends of the receiver.
US08366314B2	Manual device for adjusting and/or controlling a function of a timepiece Manual device for adjusting and/or controlling a function of a timepiece comprising a case 2 housing a horological movement, said manual device comprising a rod 3 and a retractable crown 4 mounted in said case, and such that the crown comprises a cylindrical body 16 having a blind cylindrical hollow 5 surrounding a tubular passage 6 designed to surround said rod 3 and connect it kinematically in rotation to the crown 4, at least one elastically deformable means 8 pushing the crown outwards relative to the case 2, the device comprising a base 10 in the shape of a cylindrical cover designed to be fixed into the watch case and traversed by said rod 3, and an indexing structure 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 attached to said base and making it possible to index an indexing ring 15 coupled translationally, but free in rotation, to the end of said tubular passage 6 of the crown, and making it possible, via successive applications of pressure to the crown, to move from a retracted or rest position to a working position.
US08366308B2	Backlight module A backlight module includes a plurality of first light sources emitting first light and a light guide plate. The first light sources are arranged in a line and spaced from each other. Two adjacent first light sources define a first space therebetween. The light guide plate includes a first light incident surface and a light output surface. The first light incident surface has a plurality of bright areas respectively corresponding to the first light sources and a plurality of dark areas respectively corresponding to the first spaces. A plurality of first reflectors is disposed on the plurality of dark areas of the first incident surface. The light output surface is adjacent and perpendicular to the light incident surface.
US08366307B2	Semiconductor light emitting device A semiconductor light emitting device of what is called a side view type can achieve directional characteristics having substantial symmetry with respect to an optical axis. The semiconductor light emitting device can emit light in a direction substantially parallel to a surface on which the semiconductor light emitting device is to be held. The semiconductor light emitting device can include a semiconductor light emitting element emitting light in a light emitting direction parallel to the surface on which the semiconductor light emitting element is to be held, a base substrate having a main surface on which the semiconductor light emitting device is held, the main surface being parallel to the surface on which the semiconductor light emitting device is to be held. The base substrate can have a cutoff portion defined forward of the semiconductor light emitting element in the light emitting direction and in a position in which light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element crosses the main surface. A light-transmitting first sealing resin can be provided on the base substrate, to bury the semiconductor light emitting element while filling the cutoff portion. The light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element can travel through the cutoff portion.
US08366304B2	Multifunctional internal lighting device for a motor vehicle The present invention relates to a multifunctional internal lighting device for a motor vehicle. A single internal lighting device comprises various LED-type light sources which are capable of performing at least one first internal lighting function and a second internal lighting function. The various LEDs are distributed into at least two separate sets, a first set being dedicated to the performance of the first internal lighting function and a second set being dedicated to the performance of a second internal lighting function. In particular, it is proposed to use axial emission LEDs or through-emission LEDs and lateral emission LEDs to perform the first function and the second function respectively.
US08366303B2	Lamp retainer for curtain side airbag deployment The present invention provides an automotive interior lamp assembly mounted to an automotive headliner further including a curtain side airbag mounted about the headliner. As the curtain side airbag quickly deploys and forces through the vehicle headliner, the lamp assembly can be forcibly detached from the headliner at a high rate of speed. The present invention provides an improved retainer to better attach the light assembly to the headliner thereby preventing detachment of the lamp assembly from the headliner. The lamp assembly includes a lamp housing having a lamp receiving configured to accept a lamp. The housing further includes a retainer receiving side configured to accept a retainer. The retainer attached to the housing by means of a plurality of attachment members provided on the retainer, and at least one snap member also provided on the retainer. The housing has a plurality of attachment member receiving cavities and at least one snap member receiving cavity. The retainer configured to slidably connect to the lamp housing. The retainer comprised of a generally U-shaped mid-section and at least one extended member sufficiently extending over the headliner as to prevent accidental dislodgment of the lamp assembly. As the curtain side airbag deploys, the extended side members of the retainer prevent dislodgment of the lamp assembly from the headliner.
US08366302B2	Internal collecting reflector optics for LEDs An optical system is disclosed that uses an LED light source. The light output is coupled to an optic element formed from a material with a high refractive index. The coupling of the light to the high index material significantly reduces the cone angle of the light. The system is very efficient in that nearly all the light generated by the LED is directed to the intended subject.
US08366297B2	Operating light with LED orientation by means of positive locking An operating light is provided with a basic body (1) with flat contact surfaces (2), which are oriented with mutually different angular orientations of the respective surface normals to the working point of the operating light. A printed circuit board (6), having an underside which is flat in a premounted position, has rigid sections (8) with flat upper side surfaces pointing towards a working point of the operating light and sections (7) flexible in a preferred direction, which extend between the rigid sections (8). Light-emitting diodes (9) are arranged on the rigid sections of the printed circuit board. A lens holder (22) is provided with optical lenses (13) for the light-emitting diodes (9). The rigid sections of the printed circuit board can be placed on the contact surfaces (2) of the basic body (1) in a positive-locking manner in a mounted position, so that the light-emitting diodes (9) have lighting directions corresponding to the angular orientations of the contact surface normals. The lens holder (22) can be fixed to the basic body (1) such that a mechanical force can be indirectly or directly transmitted by the lens holder onto the printed circuit board (6), so that at least the rigid sections (8) thereof are pressed from the premounted position into the mounted position in a positive-locking manner against the contact surfaces (2) of the basic body (1).
US08366296B2	Lighting apparatus for illuminating accessible areas Lighting apparatus includes a casing (401) moulded from an electrically insulating and thermally conductive plastics material. It also includes a plurality of light emitting diode devices (501) configured to emit light in response to receiving electrical power. A plurality of metallic assemblies (601) are provided, in which each one provides electrical power to a respective one of the light emitting diodes. In addition, these assemblies conduct heat away from their respective light emitting diode to the casing. They are directly supported by the casing and allow each light emitting diode to be individually replaced.
US08366295B2	Light emitting device Broad light emission is provided and additionally heat conductivity is increased to improve reliability. A light emitting device comprises a light emitting element, a pair of conductor members, a transparent board and a transparent member. The conductor members are spaced away from each other at an interval in a side-surface direction of the light emitting element and are electrically connected to the light emitting element. The transparent board supports the light emitting element and the pair of conductive members. The transparent member is located on the transparent board and seals the light emitting element and the pair of conductor members. The pair of conductor members are provided with a pair of metal plates that are secured thereon. The pair of metal plates project from the transparent member in directions different from each other.
US08366292B2	Plural color lighting device A plural color lighting device incorporating a plurality of LED emitters each emitting a different color of light upon being energized by a power supply. A color changer having an indexing position for each LED emitter for activating a related switch and connecting the power supply to the LED emitter while concurrently positioning a light concentrating optic about the LED emitter to concentrate the light emitted from that LED emitter. The plural color lighting device therefore permitting the user to easily select light of any one color from a plurality of colors and have that light efficiently concentrated about the axis of the light concentrating optic.
US08366290B2	Portable lighting device A flashlight having a main power circuit and a barrel is disclosed. The main power circuit includes a light source and a portable power source for supporting the light source. The barrel is not within the main power circuit. The flashlight also has a ball for holding the light source. The light source is fit and in contact with the inner surface of the ball. The outer circumference of the ball has an array of fin-like protrusions for effectively dissipating heat from the light source.
US08366289B2	Light apparatus with attachment means A personal light apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a resting base having a flat portion and a battery compartment for receiving a battery; a light having a flexible tube, the flexible tube attached to the resting base; a switch in electrical communication with the battery and the light, wherein the switch turns on and off the light; and at least one attachment means for removably attaching a time keeping apparatus to the flat portion.
US08366287B2	Optical sheet and backlight unit using the same Disclosed are an optical sheet, which includes a prism pattern having condensing axes crossing each other in diagonal directions with respect to an arrangement direction of light sources, thereby achieving an enhanced contrast ratio without a reduction in viewing angle and an increase in costs, and a backlight unit using the same. The optical sheet includes a plurality of crossed prism patterns each having a first condensing axis and a second condensing axis crossing each other in diagonal directions with respect to an arrangement direction of a light source.
US08366284B2	Vehicle mirror power fold mechanism An external rear view mirror assembly to be fitted to a motor vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises: a mirror base mountable to a vehicle; a mirror head frame rotatably mounted to the base for rotation about a mirror head axis; a detent operably interposed between the base and the frame; a spring acting between the frame and the base in a direction parallel to the axis, the spring for holding the detent engaged; and a power fold mechanism operably interposed between the base and the frame, the power fold mechanism having a drive train and a clutch mechanism, the clutch mechanism comprising a pair of axially spaced apart clutching faces, connecting the drive train to the base when the drive train is driving, the clutch mechanism arranged and constructed such that forces are not transmitted from the frame to the drive train when the drive train is not driving.
US08366279B2	Image display apparatus An image display apparatus includes plural image forming devices and an observation optical system that includes at least a first optical system configured to fold in a first section a luminous flux from a first image forming device by using a plurality of reflective surfaces and to guide the luminous flux from the first image forming device to the exit pupil, and a second optical system configured to fold in a second section a luminous flux from a second image forming device by using a plurality of reflective surfaces and to guide the luminous flux from the second image forming device to the exit pupil, wherein the first section intersects the second section on an axis that directs from one point in the exit pupil to one point in the observation field.
US08366277B2	Projectors having facetted reflectors which are movable relative to their lamps A projector having a lamp and a reflector that reflects the light beams emitted by the lamp toward a light exit opening of the projector is provided. It is possible to vary the position of the reflector and of the lamp relative to one another, and to set the distribution of the exiting light by displacing the reflector and/or the lamp. The reflector is provided with facets that form a reflective surface for reflecting the light beams emitted by the lamp. The facets being constituted by their surface shaping such that the light beams generate a light field with a desired light distribution and whose light beam width can be set in a wide range by displacing the reflector and/or the lamp.
US08366273B2	Iris image definition estimation system using the astigmatism of the corneal reflection of a non-coaxial light source An iris image definition estimation system using the astigmatism of the corneal reflection of a non-coaxial light source to assess both the resolution of the iris patterns and the direction of focus adjustment. The corneal reflection results in two virtual images on the meridional and the sagittal planes. These virtual images are formed behind the cornea and close to the iris. Yet, both are projected onto the same location and result in a composite glint area. In addition, the shape of the glint area of a non-coaxial light source varies with different camera focus settings. Furthermore, due to the high intensity of the glint area, the shape can be easily observed, and the size and the shape of the glint area can be used to determine the resolution of the iris image and the direction of focus adjustment, respectively.
US08366271B2	Systems and methods for surgical microscope and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging A surgical microscope assembly includes a microscope main objective and microscope imaging optics. The microscope main objective and microscope imaging optics define a viewing beam path that passes from a sample through the microscope main objective and the microscope imaging optics. The assembly includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) unit having an illumination beam and a collection beam and a beamsplitter between the microscope main objective and the microscope imaging optics. The beamsplitter is configured to direct a portion of light from the microscope main objective to the microscope imaging optics and to direct another portion of light from the microscope main objective to the OCT unit collection beam. The beamsplitter is further configured to direct an illumination beam from the OCT unit to the microscope main objective and to the sample. A beam forming unit is between the OCT unit and the beamsplitter. The beam forming unit is configured to form the illumination beam of the OCT unit so as to generally correspond to a size of the microscope main objective.
US08366270B2	Method and system for the objective measurement of ocular accommodation The invention relates to a method and system for the objective measurement of ocular accommodation. A double-pass ophthalmoscopic system is used which incorporates a periscope allowing the patient to binocularly see real objects in an open field and images of the retinal plane to be recorded on a CCD camera. The method includes obtaining, for different values of accommodation stimulation, a set of retinal images corresponding to different focal values in the retina, obtaining the different focal positions in the retina by moving the two lenses incorporated in the ophthalmoscopic system. The image with the best optical quality is obtained for each set of images and by associating the selected image with the known value of the accommodation stimulation it is possible to objectively measure the accommodation.
US08366267B2	Spectacle structure A spectacle structure includes an inner frame unit having two connected horizontal U-shaped frame members respectively formed from an upper, a laterally outer and a lower frame section, the upper frame sections being connected to each other, each of the outer frame sections being provided with two horizontal grooves and a post or a recess or a through hole located between the two grooves, and each of the lower frame sections having a forward and inward extended support section; a lens unit having two connected lenses, each of which being provided with two horizontal ribs and a recess or a through hole or a post corresponding to the outer frame section, allowing the inner frame unit to be firmly assembled to and conveniently disassembled from a rear side of the lens unit; and a wear unit being pivotally connected to two opposite ends of the lens unit.
US08366266B2	Safety eyewear The present invention relates generally to safety eyewear and more particularly to a safety eyewear including a wicking device attached to the safety eyewear to remove or absorb perspiration. The safety eyewear of the present invention includes the wicking device attached to a frame of the safety eyewear to remove or absorb perspiration. In one embodiment, the wicking device includes a brow-bar, sub-frame, and wicking material. The sub-frame removably or permanently attached to the frame of the safety eyewear using a variety of means for attachment to the eyewear frame. The brow bar removably or permanently attached using variety of means for attachment to the sub-frame. The wicking material removably or permanently attached using a variety of means for attachment to the brow bar.
US08366265B2	Vision assist device with an integral carabiner and optional light A vision assist device without side temples comprises a frame for holding a first vision assisting lens with a carabiner clip that extends from the frame for use as a handle. The carabiner clip has at least 3 sides, at least one of said sides including a bar with spring biasing to define a closed clip position. The carabiner clipped device can be used as reading glasses, a magnifying glass, lorgnette and/or binoculars. Optionally, the carabiner includes a switch-activated light. One preferred embodiment uses overlapping lenses to provide twice the vision correction when folded closed.
US08366261B2	Inkjet printer An inkjet printer includes an ejector, a waveguide, an electromagnetic wave supplier, a rotating reflector, and a ventilator. The ejector ejects ink onto a medium. Through the waveguide, the medium onto which the ink was ejected passes. The waveguide has a starting end part and a terminal end part. The electromagnetic wave supplier is provided at the starting end part of the waveguide to supply an electromagnetic wave to the waveguide. The rotating reflector is provided at the terminal end part of the waveguide and rotatable to reflect the electromagnetic wave supplied by the electromagnetic wave supplier. The ventilator ventilates an inside of the waveguide.
US08366255B2	Solid ink stick with retrieval feature A solid ink stick for use in an imaging device, such as a phase change inkjet printer, is provided. The solid ink stick has a retrieval feature located on a top surface thereof. When the ink stick is incorrectly loaded through the insertion opening of a feed channel of the printer, the retrieval feature has a vertical dimension such that the ink stick can be grasped, such as by two fingers of a user, to remove the ink stick through the insertion opening. The retrieval feature generally includes two lower surfaces interconnected with at least one upper surface.
US08366252B2	Ink jet printing An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a docking station where one of more disposable cartridges of ink or solvent are releasably connectable to the printer. The cartridge comprises an inner collapsible container with an outlet that is connectable to an inlet of the ink supply system and a substantially rigid outer housing. A front wall of the housing has an opening providing access to the outlet and a window that provides access to electrical contacts (92) associated with a memory device containing information relating to the contents of the cartridge. The contacts in a fixed relationship relative to the outlet so that when the cartridge is docked to establish fluid communication with the ink supply system the electrical contacts are electrically connected to respective contacts associated with the printer.
US08366250B2	Liquid container, method of filling liquid into liquid container, and remanufacturing method of liquid container According to one aspect of the invention, a remanufacturing method of a liquid container forms an inlet in a certain area, for example, a buffer chamber, other than a specific section including liquid reservoirs and flow paths adjoining to and directly communicating with a bubble trap flow path in the liquid container. In the state of closing a liquid feeder and opening an air open structure, the remanufacturing method injects a liquid through the inlet to fill a space in the upstream of the inlet with the liquid. In the state of opening the liquid feeder and closing the air open structure, the remanufacturing method injects the liquid through the inlet to fill a space in the downstream of the inlet with the liquid. The remanufacturing process seals the inlet after completion of the injection of the liquid. This arrangement enables the liquid to be refilled into the liquid container without damaging the functions of the liquid container.
US08366247B2	Liquid ejection head A print head is provided by which a temperature change depending on each region in the substrate can be suppressed. The print head has an ink chamber communicating with an ink supply port. Furthermore, the print head has: a plurality of nozzle groups each of which is formed as one unit by combining a plurality of: communication ports that are provided in the ink chamber and that communicate with the ink supply port; pressure chambers including heat generating elements, ink supply ports, and ejection ports. A plurality of nozzle groups are formed in the same substrate and form a plurality of nozzle group arrays that are formed by the nozzle groups and that extend in the same direction. The plurality of nozzle group arrays are formed to be offset from one another in the direction along which the nozzle group array extend.
US08366245B2	Fin-shaped heater stack and method for formation A fin-shaped heater stack includes first strata configured to support and form fluid heater elements responsive to repetitive electrical activation and deactivation to produce repetitive cycles of ejection of a fluid, and second strata on the first strata to protect the fluid heater elements from adverse effects of the repetitive cycles of fluid ejection and of contact with the fluid. The first strata include a substrate having a front surface, and heater substrata supported on the front surface. The heater substrata have opposite facing side surfaces which extend approximately perpendicular to the front surface and an end surface interconnecting the side surfaces which extends approximately parallel to the front surface such that the heater substrata is provided in either an upright or inverted fin-shaped configuration on the substrate with the fluid heater elements forming the opposite facing side surfaces of the heat substrata.
US08366238B2	Inkjet head maintenance device An inkjet head maintenance device includes a power gear and a sliding seat. The sliding seat includes a rack, a first one-way gear and a second one-way gear. The first one-way gear and the second one-way gear are arranged at two ends of the rack, respectively. The power gear is engaged with the rack. In addition, through the first one-way gear and the second one-way gear, the sliding seat is driven by the power gear to move between a standby position and a maintenance position in a reciprocating manner. When the sliding seat is driven by the power gear to move to the maintenance position, the power gear is engaged with the second one-way gear, so that the sliding seat is stayed in the maintenance position to the clean an inkjet head.
US08366237B2	Print head maintenance system for an ink-jet printer using phase-change ink printing on a continuous web A maintenance assembly for cleaning a plurality of printheads in a printing machine comprises two or more cleaning members, each of the cleaning members sized and positioned to clean at least one but less than all of the plurality of printheads when in a cleaning position. A drive mechanism associated with each of the two or more cleaning members is configured to selectively move an associated cleaning member to and from the cleaning position and a retracted position. The cleaning members are supported on a frame with a mechanism provided for translating the frame into position juxtaposed with the plurality of printheads and a further mechanism to swipe the cleaning members across the printheads. The maintenance assembly is operable to clean only selected printheads in a single operation.
US08366233B2	Printing material container, and board mounted on printing material container A printing material container is detachably attachable to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The printing material container comprises a first device, a second device, and a terminal group that includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device and respectively include a first contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device and includes a second contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one third terminal is for the detection of shorting between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal and includes a third contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second contact portion, the plurality of the first contact portions, and the at least one third contact portion are arranged so as to form one or multiple rows. The at least one second contact portion is arranged at an end of one row among the one or multiple rows.
US08366231B2	Inkjet printing A carrier for an array comprising a plurality of print heads, comprises an elongate bar having an ink conduit extending through the bar in a longitudinal direction. The carrier also comprises a print head receiving area adapted to receive or mount the plurality of print heads, and a heat transfer fluid conduit extending through the bar in a longitudinal direction. The carrier is arranged so that each print head received or mounted in the print head receiving area is in fluid communication with the ink conduit, wherein the heat transfer fluid conduit is disposed adjacent both the ink conduit and the print head receiving area. The carrier may comprise two ink conduits and two heat transfer fluid conduits. Heat transfer fluid may in use be conducted along the first and second heat transfer conduits in opposite directions.
US08366221B2	Door assembly and refrigerator having the same The present invention relates to a door assembly and refrigerator having the same. The door assembly according to the present invention includes a door main body, a panel disposed on a front surface of the door main body, and a side cover coupled at least one of a left side portion and a right side portion of the door main body and supporting the panel, wherein the side cover is provided with screw coupling portions concaved from an external surface and protruded from an inner surface along an insertion direction of screws and screw holes formed by penetrating the screw coupling portions, and the door main body is provided with inference-avoiding space portions for receiving the screw coupling portions therein. Accordingly, it is capable of preventing inferiority of the side cover and of reducing the amount of used materials.
US08366220B2	Refrigerator and/or freezer A household appliance has an arrangement for guiding a cable from a body of a furniture element or appliance to a closure element, which can be swivelled relative to the body by a hinge and by which the body can be closed. This arrangement includes at least one first holding member and at least one second holding member for guiding the cable. The first holding member is arranged on a first part of the hinge and the second holding member is arranged on a second part of the hinge which is movable relative to the first hinge part.
US08366218B2	Mounting device for a furniture part and item of furniture The invention relates to an item of furniture and a device for detachably mounting a furniture part on a guide unit, by means of which the furniture part is accommodated on a furniture body so as to be displaceable, and the guide unit includes a body rail that is associated with the furniture body and a movement rail that is associated with the furniture part. A mounting mechanism is present and includes an attachment part, which is mountable on the guide unit and is adjustable from a pre-assembly state mounted on the guide unit into a final assembly state, in which the furniture part is mountable on the guide unit in the intended manner by means of the mounting means.
US08366213B2	Assembly structure of a cabinet and thin display device A projection is formed on the upper edge of the side wall of a front cabinet, a depression is formed on the upper edge of the side wall of a front cover, and a protrusion is formed on the upper edge of the side wall of a rear cabinet. The front cabinet is supported between the front cover and the rear cabinet, such that the projection of the front cabinet is pressed against the depression of the front cover by the protrusion of the rear cabinet and the upper edge of the side wall thereof, and the projection of the front cabinet is locked by the depression of the front cover.
US08366208B2	Braking assembly for a land vehicle A brake unit for a hydraulic, single-circuit or multi-circuit braking system of a land vehicle, with fluid on-off valves to be operated electrically, an electronic closed-loop/open-loop control circuit to provide control signals for the fluid on-off valves by which the hydraulic pressure in the brake circuits is modulated, a unit body, which consists of at least two ceramic boards connected to each other, and which has the fluid on-off valves, hydraulic connecting lines between the fluid on-off valves being incorporated in the boards, and at least one of the boards being used as the carrier board for electrical/electronic components and electrical connecting lines of the electronic open-loop/closed-loop control circuit.
US08366206B2	Vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control unit A flange 62 having motor mounting through holes 63 is provided on a motor 6, motor mounting holes 19 are provided on a base body 1, so that motor mounting screw 61 are passed through the motor mounting through hole 63 from a back surface 1b side so as to be screwed into the motor mounting holes 19 to fix the motor 6 to the base body 1. Housing mounting holes 83 are provided on a control housing 8, housing mounting through holes 17 are formed on the base body 1 so as to be offset from portions which are in abutment with the flange 62, so that housing mounting screws 81 are passed through the housing mounting through holes 17 from the back surface 1b side so as to be screwed into the housing mounting holes 83 to fix the control housing 8 to the base body 1.
US08366201B2	Method for open pit bench mining A bench mining method, particularly useful for open pit bench mining, which employs a combination of bulldozers and transversely movable apron feeders to provide the primary mechanism for removal of overburden.
US08366196B2	Hinged fitting The invention relates to a hinged fitting for vehicle seats, having a fixed fitting part and a pivotable fitting part which are pivotably connected to each other about a swivel axis (2). The swivel movement of the pivotable component can be blocked in a stepless manner by a blocking device. A first blocking element (4) is connected in a nonrotatable manner to the fixed fitting part, and a second blocking element (5) is connected in a nonrotatable manner to the pivotable fitting part. Thereby the blocking elements which are positioned opposite each other coaxially to the swivel axis (2) can be coupled and decoupled to and from each other in a nonrotatable manner by means of an actuating unit.
US08366187B2	Sunroof apparatus The present invention provides a sunroof apparatus including: a roof panel; a driving motor; and a shade. The roof panel is disposed in a fixed roof of a vehicle, for being moved in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle via sliders to be opened and closed. The sliders are coupled to driving wires. The driving motor is for driving the driving wires. The shade is wound around a winding shaft, to be drawn from the winding shaft, passed through an inclination displacement space, and then guided in shade guide rails, for being moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and thereby opening and closing an indoor opening. The inclination displacement space is inclined relative to a horizontal plane and formed between the winding shaft and the shade guide rails. The driving motor is disposed within the inclination displacement space in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
US08366184B2	Structure for vehicle body upper portion A structure for a vehicle body upper portion, having sufficient rigidity, using a reduced number of parts, and capable of being assembled with reduced man-hours. A structure (15) for a vehicle body upper portion includes a roof rail (26) and a center pillar (27) which are connected together at respective ends thereof. The roof rail (26) is formed to have a closed cross-section by an upper member (31) and a lower member (32). An upper joint end section (45) of the upper member projects further toward the outside of the vehicle body than a lower joint end section (46) of the lower member. The center pillar (27) is formed to have a closed cross-section by an inner member (51) and an outer member (52). An outer joint end section (66) of the outer member extends up to the upper joint end section (45) while an inner joint end section (73) of the inner member extends up to the lower joint end section (46). The upper joint end section (45) is joined to the outer joint end section (66), the lower joint end section (46) is joined to the inner joint end section (73), and the closed cross-sections are connected to each other at the joint section (28) between each joint end section.
US08366183B2	Vehicle-body structure of vehicle At an upper part of a center pillar, a length L1 of a covering portion of a pillar inner panel is set to be substantially equal to a distance L2 between a pair of flange-ridgeline portions of a pillar reinforcement. Meanwhile, at a lower part of the center pillar, a length L3 of a covering portion of the pillar inner panel is set to be longer than a distance L4 between a pair of flange-ridgeline portions of the pillar reinforcement. Accordingly, a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which can secure the proper absorption function of the vehicle collision load with cooperation of the first and second members can be provided.
US08366182B2	Structure for vehicle high-strength member A high-strength element structure for a vehicle body has high strength and rigidity effectively maintained while an increase in weight is reduced. The structure includes a vehicle high-strength element body which is provided at a front in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle and extends substantially in a vehicle width direction, in which the vehicle high-strength element body has a circular pipe-like cross section, and comprises partial high rigidity portions only in an inner diameter portion thereof without any change in an outer diameter shape; and the vehicle high-strength element body is functionally divided at least into a driver's seat-side portion and a passenger's seat-side portion, and the high rigidity portion of the driver's seat-side portion and the high rigidity portion of the passenger's seat-side portion are differently configured from each other.
US08366174B2	Convertible vehicle with a displaceable roof part A convertible vehicle has a movable top with a sunroof part that is movable with respect to the surrounding top region. The sunroof part has a closed position and an open position, as well as an interference-preventing position and an intermediate position. The top is movable from the top closed position with the sunroof part in the closed position and the top is movable from the top closed position with the sunroof part in the open position.
US08366173B2	Locking device of car covers for pick-up trucks This utility model is provide a locking device of car covers for pick-up trucks composing a swing stem and a lock hook inserted and deposited on the swing stem, the end part of the swing stem is inserted into a locking swing handle, a hinge block is disposed on the car cover, which is characterized in that the top of the swing stem is positioned and hinged on the hinge block. The advantages of this utility model are summarized as: to overcome the sliding friction of existing lock devices, to enhance the force born by the main body of device and to increase the flexibility of the swing stem.
US08366171B2	Vehicle enclosure apparatus A vehicle-mountable structure is disclosed. Said structure is adapted to substantially conceal a vehicle and operator in an enclosure and provide in a visually attractive appearance. The enclosure is supported by a hierarchy of beams capable of attaching to a vehicle frame in a manner that does not interfere with vehicle operations.
US08366166B2	Duct anti-rotation attachment flange An air duct assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The air duct assembly can include a U-shaped duct having a center portion with a first air duct and a second air duct extending therefrom. In addition, the center portion of the U-shaped duct can have a flange attached to and extending outwardly therefrom, the flange having a predetermined thickness. The U-shaped duct attaches to a console within the motor vehicle, the console having a surface with a first arm and a second arm extending outwardly therefrom. The second arm can be oppositely disposed and spaced apart from the first arm a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance between the first and second arms extending from the console can be generally equal to the predetermined thickness of the flange extending from the center portion of the U-shaped duct, for the purpose of attaching the U-shaped duct to the console.
US08366164B2	Drag-it-easy An animal dragging method for the purpose of dragging or carrying game animal carcasses from one point to another. The method consists of one strap weaved through two holes on each end of a cylinder pipe. This pipe serves as a handle opposite the knotted strap convenient for holstering game animals. The pendulum-looking device allows for simple maneuvering when hooked onto the ankle(s) or neck(s) of a game animal(s). The knotted strap weaved through the cylinder pipe also allows for adjustment; depending on the size of the game animal it can hold up to several game animals.
US08366163B1	Wheelchair pulling device A device to facilitate the pulling of a wheelchair comprising a leash having a first end and a second end; a loop disposed on the first end of the leash, the loop is for a person to pull on; a first strap disposed at a 90 degrees angle at the second end of the leash, the first strap having a first distal end wherein a first hook-and-loop component is disposed at the first distal end, the first hook-and-loop can detachably secure to a first complementary hook-and-loop component to wrap around an arm of a wheelchair.
US08366162B2	Retrieval systems and methods for floating objects A system for displacing a floating object comprising a jaw assembly and at least one latch assembly. The jaw assembly supports the latch assembly such that, when the latch assembly is in a latched configuration, the latch assembly maintains the jaw assembly in an open configuration and, when the jaw assembly is in the open configuration, the at least one jaw assembly defines a jaw gap through which the floating object may pass. The latch assembly is adapted to engage the floating object when the floating object has passed through the jaw gap such that the latch assembly is placed from the latched position into the unlatched position to allow the jaw assembly to move from the open configuration into the closed configuration. The jaw assembly is adapted to engage the floating object when in the closed configuration.
US08366161B1	Multiple pot carry device The multiple pot carry device provides for carrying multiple plant pots with one hand, with substantially automatic pot lip engagement retained until released by a user. Ease of pot engagement and disengagement are key features of the device. The device is not limited to three clamps pivotally suspended from the carry bar. Clamps are substantially automatic in engagement and disengagement with pot lips.
US08366160B2	High strength electric door strike with gravity fed locking member A high strength electrically operable door strike having a simplified design and a gravity fed locking member. The strike comprises two solenoids operating in opposite directions wherein one solenoid is used when the strike is mounted for use with a left hand opening door and the other solenoid is used when the strike is mounted for use with a right hand opening door. The strike is simply turned upside down to accommodate a door having the opposite hand. The strike has a housing which is reinforced with ribs. The ribs also provide a reduced surface area sliding surface for the gravity fed locking member and thereby permit the locking member to slide up and down with less friction.
US08366158B2	Latch direction change structure of lock A latch direction change structure of lock includes a fixed member and a movable member each having front and rear vertical walls that form through holes and a horizontal connection wall connected between the front and rear vertical walls. The fixed member forms symmetrically arranged slots in a circumference of the through hole of the rear vertical wall thereof. A bar is set through the through hole of the fixed member, receives a spring to fit thereon, and further extends through the through hole of the movable member to attach to a latch. When the latch is frontward pulled with respect to a lock case, the movable member is movable along the fixed member to allow the latch to separate from the lock case for selective rotation of 180 degrees. The slots defined in the rear vertical wall of the fixed member provides a function of properly positioning the latch.
US08366155B1	Coupler A coupler for use in sealing a joint between two pipes. The coupler is comprised primarily of two center sections and two end caps. The two center sections are engagable with one another and the two end caps are engagable with the center sections. Gasket rings create seals between the two center sections as well as between the two center sections and the cap rings. The center sections are dimensioned to create a volume of space within the coupler, thus permitting the coupler to accommodate offset joints. The gasket rings between the cap rings and the center sections can be longitudinally spaced apart, minimizing the angular deflection of the coupler with respect to the pipes when the pipe joint is offset. The center sections and end caps can be lockably engaged.
US08366154B2	Water pipe connector A water pipe connector apparatus has a main body and a sleeve. A stop surface is formed at a top of the main body and a plurality of limiting blocks are formed on an inner wall of the sleeve. The sleeve has a plurality of oblique thrust pads arranged alternately with the limiting blocks on the inner wall of the sleeve. The sleeve has an abutment member positioned at a top of the inner wall thereof. The sleeve shifts longitudinally when the thrust pads are aligned with guide lugs of the main body. The sleeve is fixed when the limiting blocks are aligned with the guide lugs.
US08366152B2	Vehicle equipped with high-pressure tank and tank assembly A tank mounting structure adopts a new approach against a force of moving downward a high-pressure tank transversely mounted on a vehicle. A tank mounting assembly has a winding strap and a restraining strap located on an upper side and a lower side of a high-pressure tank to transversely fix the high-pressure tank between a frame and a frame. This structure causes the high-pressure tank to be transversely mounted on the vehicle. A winding strap is wound on the high-pressure tank. A restraining strap extended from a fixing bracket of the winding strap is laid on the winding strap to be placed directly on an upper end portion of a circumferential wall of the high-pressure tank and is fastened to the frame.
US08366151B2	Pretensioner and process for manufacturing the same A pretensioner (1) for a seat belt system (7) of an automobile includes a gas generator (2), a gas pipe (3), a piston (5) and a coupling mechanism (6). The gas generator is adapted to generate a high-pressure gas when a shock occurs in the automobile due to a collision, a sudden stop, etc. The gas pipe is formed to receive therein the gas generator. The gas pipe is adapted to guide the high-pressure gas released from the gas generator to the piston. The piston is adapted to be moved or displaced by the pressure of the high-pressure gas guided by the gas pipe. The coupling mechanism is connected to each of the piston and a buckle (8) of the seat belt system (7). The coupling mechanism is adapted to wind up or pull a seat belt (9) in accordance with the movement of the piston to increase a restraining force of the seat belt.
US08366146B2	Vehicle seat A vehicle seat includes: a seatback frame including an outer side part frame, provided at an outer side in a width direction of a vehicle body, and an inner side part frame, provided at an inner side in the width direction; an outer side load transmission block protruding from the seatback frame towards an outer side in the width direction, and transmitting to the seatback frame, an impact load inputted from a side of the vehicle body; and a protrusion part protruding from a side surface of the outer side part frame towards an outer side in the width direction, wherein the protrusion part is fitted and fixed to a fitting hole provided on the outer side load transmission block.
US08366142B2	Airbag module covered with a protective covering An airbag module has a case-like housing and an open side covered by a protective covering. The protective covering (17), having a pre-set tear line, is fastened at its one end (18) in the interior of the housing (10). With its other, free end (19), the protective covering overlaps the open side (13) of the housing (10) and is secured on a flange (14) outwardly protruding from the housing wall (12) and mounted on the housing (10). The flange (14) has at least one opening (20), immediately adjoining the transition between housing wall (12) and flange (14), for guiding a tongue (22) formed on the free end (19) of the protective covering (17). A holding nose (21) projecting from the housing wall (12) into the opening (20) can be brought into engagement into a holding recess (23) formed in the tongue (22) of the protective covering (17).
US08366141B2	Transporter A transporter for an infant comprising first and second means to receive an infant in the transporter, the means moveable between a first, closed orientation unsuitable for receiving an infant, and a second, open orientation for receiving an infant. The transporter further comprises first and second wheels disposed respectively at first and second ends of the transporter, the second wheel movable between a first operative position providing for a first wheel base and a second operative position providing for a second wheel base, wherein the first wheelbase is different from said second wheelbase, and wherein the second means is movable between the first and second orientations responsive to movement of the second wheel between the first and second operative positions.
US08366140B2	Collapsible golf trolley A collapsible golf trolley is revealed. A connection assembly that connects an upper frame, a lower frame, and mounts on two sides includes a locking body locked on a metal rod so as to improve the fastening strength. The connection assembly is further arranged with a guiding wheel corresponding to a guiding slot of a lower frame. This design makes the operation smoother while extending and folding the lower frame. Moreover, a turning member for turning and folding of a front wheel is disposed on a front end of the lower frame. According to the above structure, easy spreading and collapsing and firm connection of the golf trolley are achieved.
US08366139B2	Foldable full-featured stroller capable of minimizing the folded size of the stroller A stroller comprises a foldable stroller frame including two handle tubes, two front leg tubes connected respectively to lower ends of the handle tubes, and two rear leg tubes connected respectively and pivotally to the front leg tubes. Each of the handle tubes has upper and lower handle tube sections interconnected pivotally by a first joint. Each of the front leg tubes has upper and lower front leg tube sections interconnected pivotally by a second joint. Each of the lower handle tube sections is connected pivotally to the upper front leg tube section of the corresponding front leg tube and the corresponding rear leg tube by a third joint. Upon folding the stroller frame, an assembly of the handle tubes and the front leg tubes is folded in a Z-shaped manner.
US08366138B2	Binding for fastening a boot Binding for fastening a boot (10) into in exercise appliance, such as into a ski (1), which binding comprises at least a support part (4), a tip part (7) installed in the support part, and a heel loop (8), of which the position of at least one or other in the support part (4) can be changed for adjusting the binding to boots of different sizes, and which heel loop (8) is installed in the support part (4) in a manner that allows turning in relation to it. The invention is implemented so that the support part (4) is hinged at its front end so that the support part is hinged around a horizontal axis, such as a hinge pin (5), which is essentially at a right angle in relation to the ski (1).
US08366132B2	Middle hoop system for an articulated vehicle The invention relates to a middle hoop system for a vehicle joint. The vehicle joint is arranged between a vehicle front part and a vehicle rear part of an articulated vehicle, such as for example of an articulated bus, and forms a passage (24) between the vehicle front part and the vehicle rear part. The middle hoop system comprises a middle hoop (12) and a cable guide between the vehicle front part and the vehicle rear part. The middle hoop (12) surrounds the passage (24). The cable guide is arranged above the passage (24). According to the invention, for the cable guide, a leaf spring (14) is provided which extends from the vehicle front part to the vehicle rear part. By means of the leaf spring, cables (16) can be guided between the vehicle front part and the vehicle rear part over the entire length of the leaf spring (14). Undefined movements of the cables when the vehicle front part and the vehicle rear part move relative to one another are eliminated.
US08366128B2	Heavy vehicle tire to draw machinery A heavy vehicle comprising at least four mounted assemblies, intended to draw machinery. The properties of the vehicle satisfy the relationship: ( ρ ′ - κ · ( 1 - κ ) ) 2 + ( δ - h ′ · μ 2 ) 2 > ( h ′ · μ 2 ) 2 , where, ρ′=ρ/L, ρ being the turning radius of the vehicle and L being the wheelbase of the vehicle, K is the proportion of the total vertical stiffness under the front axle with respect to the sum of the total vertical stiffnesses under the front and rear axles of the vehicle, δ is the ratio between the forward offset of the center of gravity and the wheelbase, h′ is the ratio between the height of the draft line above the level of ground that forms a horizontal plane and the wheelbase of the vehicle, μ is the ratio between the longitudinal component of the resistive force applied by the drawn machinery to the vehicle, and the weight of the vehicle.
US08366126B2	Wire and cable dispensing container and systems A hand truck allows for the transportation of containers, where each container has a passageway therethrough. The hand truck has a flat bottom member that receives and supports a vertical stack of the containers and vertical members are affixed to the bottom member. Cross members are joined to the one or more vertical members, and each cross member has a rod-receiving hole that is formed therein such that the holes are vertically spaced apart from each other. The hand truck also has a plurality of elongate support rods. A first end of each support rod is inserted through the container passageway, is inserted into a respective cross member hole, and is fastened to the cross member to prevent its withdrawal. A second end of each support rod is enlarged so as to affix the container or containers to the respective cross member.
US08366124B1	Convertible beach cart Utility carts and hand trucks which are easily assembled, low cost, and usable as durable convertible beach carts adaptable for a wide variety of uses including as beach furniture. A preferred embodiment includes a convertible hand truck with three main components: a hand truck body with dual use as a table, a load platform with dual use as an extended surface of the table, and a rack with dual use as support legs for the table.
US08366120B2	Chuck for bit A chuck includes a body having an engaging groove for releasably receiving a bit. A sleeve is mounted around and movable relative to the body along a longitudinal axis of the body between a coupling position in which the bit is retained in the engaging groove and a releasing position allowing removal or insertion of the bit. The sleeve further includes an engaging section that slideably abuts a coupling section of the body. The engaging section is engaged with the coupling section to allow joint rotation of the body and the sleeve about the longitudinal axis. The sleeve further includes a flange with a frictional outer periphery to provide friction when the sleeve is manually rotated about the longitudinal axis by rotating the frictional outer periphery. Furthermore, the flange can be gripped by a user to move the sleeve to the releasing position.
US08366116B2	Shaft-sealing device A shaft-sealing device includes an outer ring for receiving a shaft sleeve to rotate therewith. A magnetic-field generating unit is mounted the around rotary shaft and includes inner and outer magnetic rings. The outer magnetic ring is mounted in the outer ring. A gap is defined between an inner periphery of the outer magnetic ring and an outer periphery of the inner magnetic ring and is filled with a magnetic liquid. One or both of the inner and outer magnetic rings provide magnetic force to retain the magnetic liquid in the gap. A seal ring is mounted between the outer magnetic ring and an end of the outer ring. A lip extends from an inner periphery of the seal ring toward or away from the end of the outer ring and is at a non-parallel angle to a radial direction of the seal ring to form a seal around the rotary shaft.
US08366112B1	Automated blackjack table An automated blackjack table features a rotating ring with numbered stations (up to 21) matching the numbers at which the players are positioned. By pressing a foot pedal, the dealer can rotate the ring and rapidly deal a card to each passing numbered station allowing the density of players (and, hence the revenue stream) at each table to be tripled.
US08366106B2	Sheet processing apparatus A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet-table unit, a sheet-separating unit, a convey unit, a discharge unit, a sheet processing unit, and a sensor arranged at an upstream end of the convey unit and spaced from the discharge unit with a predetermined distance. The convey unit has at least one convey roller, at least one convey pulley, and an elastic device connected with the convey pulley. The elastic device has a stepping motor, a transmission system, a shaft and at least one torsional spring mounted on the shaft. Two ends of the torsional spring is connected with the convey pulley. When the signal resulted from a rear end of the sheet apart from the sensor is sent to the system controller, the stepping motor is commanded by the system controller to rotate the shaft. The torsional spring is twisted to make the convey pulley move away from but still contact with the convey roller.
US08366103B2	Sheet post-processing apparatus A sheet post-processing apparatus includes: a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a sheet accumulating feed path that is arranged on a downstream side of the sheet conveying unit in a sheet conveying direction and being capable of accumulating therein a plurality of sheets; a stopping member that stops a leading edge of a sheet conveyed into the sheet accumulating feed path; a width aligning unit that aligns a width of the sheet stopped by the stopping member and accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path; and a control unit that performs control to cause: the sheet conveying unit to convey a sheet into the sheet accumulating feed path; the stopping member to stop the leading edge of the sheet; and the width aligning unit to align the width of a sheet every time a sheet is accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path.
US08366100B2	Discharge tray apparatus A discharge tray apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is a discharge tray apparatus wherein a plurality of sheets of recording paper that have been successively transported at a fixed speed and a fixed interval, discharged from a discharge opening, and have landed on a discharge tray, are received and placed onto the discharge tray, the discharge tray apparatus being provided with a discharge tray moving means that performs a tray shift operation that moves the discharge tray in a horizontal direction approximately perpendicular to the discharge direction, such that after a preceding paper successively transported earlier has been placed on the discharge tray, a succeeding paper succeedingly transported after the preceding paper is placed at a position different from the placement position of the preceding paper on the discharge tray. This discharge tray moving means performs the tray shift operation with a decelerating movement that reduces the movement speed of the discharge tray just before movement of the discharge tray stops.
US08366095B2	Sheet post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a discharge portion configured to discharge a sheet having a folding portion, a conveyance portion configured to abut on a lower surface of the sheet discharged by the discharge portion, to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction of the discharge portion, a pressing portion arranged at a position opposing the conveyance portion, configured to press an upper surface of the sheet discharged by the discharge portion, and a moving portion configured to move the pressing portion in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance portion, in which the moving portion moves the pressing portion upstream in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance portion, to move the pressing portion from a position where the sheet discharged by the discharge portion is not pressed to a position where the sheet discharged by the discharge portion is pressed.
US08366093B2	Method and apparatus for determining a sub-group of a group of sheets in a stream of sheets A method for determining a subgroup of a group of sheets in a sheet stream starting from a group start of the group comprises determining the subgroup end of the subgroup based on a sheet state parameter. The subgroup is determined by the group start and the subgroup end and comprises a variable number of sheets. The sheet state parameter determines which sheet in the sheet stream is a group end of the group of sheets.
US08366088B2	Brachytherapy and radiography target holding device A target holding device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of target plates, each target plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface has a plurality of holes. A shaft may be used to facilitate the alignment and joinder of the target plates such that the first surface of one target plate contacts a second surface of an adjacent target plate. The target holding device may optionally include end plates arranged to sandwich the target plates therebetween and/or separator plates alternately arranged with the target plates. The target holding device may be used to produce brachytherapy and/or radiography targets (e.g., seeds, wafers) in a reactor core such that the targets have relatively uniform activity.
US08366085B2	Pin locating assembly A locating pin assembly is provided. The assembly includes a body and a cylinder assembly for moving a ram in a reciprocally linear manner. A bearing is coupled to the ram and configured to engage a bearing wedge to reduce “play” between the ram and the assembly. Illustratively, the bearing and bearing wedge reduce or substantially eliminate this “play” to prevent axial rotation of the ram.
US08366083B1	Tensioning device for tensioning a strap of a metal wall structure A tensioning device is provided for tensioning the metal strap of a metal wall structure. The tensioning device includes an elongated bar having a handle and a pair of jaws where one jaw is secured to the elongated bar and another jaw projects from the handle. The jaws are operatively connected between the metal strap and the wall structure. In particular, one jaw is operatively connected or anchored to the wall structure and the other jaw is connected to the metal strap. The handle includes a trigger mechanism for moving the jaws with respect to each other. By actuating the trigger mechanism and closing the jaws, the metal strap is tensioned. After the metal strap is tensioned, it is securely fastened to the wall structure.
US08366082B2	Belleville spring guide system Apparatus is provided for decreasing frictional effects in stacks of Belleville springs and limiting deflection of the springs. In one embodiment, carriers for springs overlap and minimize the effects of lateral forces that are developed as springs in a stack are loaded. Carriers may be used on mandrel guides, in cylindrical guides or without a guide. In other embodiments, maximum load and defection of springs may be provided by the spring carriers.
US08366079B2	Safety rail system A dual post receptor (30) of a safety rail system (10) has horizontal cross sections of an elongated shape with a width generally equal to and for slideable receipt of vertical posts (18) of conventional railings (12) and a length larger than double the diameters of the vertical posts (18). Elongated horizontal slots (38) are located in sides (34a, 34b) of the receptor (30) for receiving locking pins (22) also inserted through holes (20) in the vertical posts (18). Mounting the receptor (30) can be accomplished in a variety of manners including secured to a planar, horizontal mounting plate (46) secured to the bottom edges of the enclosure, secured to a vertical mounting plate (50) having a horizontal securement plate (56), secured to a protrusion (64) for slideable receipt in sockets such as in a truck bed, secured to a C-shaped clamp system of a variety of constructions, or the like.
US08366078B2	Privacy fence inserts with locking member Privacy systems for a fence include a plurality of elongated privacy inserts positioned in at least one locking member having a plurality of locking tabs. The locking member is laterally inserted into the bottom of a chain link fence perpendicular to the privacy inserts. Apertures near the bottom edges of the front and rear sides of the privacy inserts engage the locking tabs thereby retaining the privacy inserts in alignment in the chain link fence. The locking tabs on front and rear support walls of the locking member are preferably laterally offset from each other.
US08366077B2	Jack structure for a clutch A jack structure for a clutch contains a main hydraulic cylinder to push a movable arm to move vertically, and a holder including a support rod actuated by an auxiliary hydraulic cylinder of the movable arm to move vertically and horizontally relative to the holder. The main hydraulic cylinder is a single acting hydraulic cylinder, and the auxiliary cylinder is a double acting hydraulic cylinder. The main hydraulic cylinder communicates with an inlet tube of the auxiliary hydraulic cylinder. A valve seat includes a pump hole to draw hydraulic oil via a valve seat cylinder, an inlet connected with the inlet tube, an outlet coupled with an outlet tube of the auxiliary hydraulic cylinder, and a bore connected with an oil tank. A control post is axially connected with the valve seat and includes plural grooves to selectively communicate with the pump hole, the inlet, the outlet, and the bore after rotation.
US08366075B1	Pry bar sliding fulcrum assembly A pry bar sliding fulcrum assembly having a fulcrum and saddle which slidably mates with a conventional prybar and which provides a greater force onto a work material than the conventional prybar alone. The pry bar sliding fulcrum assembly easily and quickly slides away from the work material when a conventional prybar function is desired and slides toward the work material when an enhanced application force or greater prybar end displacement is required. The assembly uniquely mates with or is held with the prybar end whereby the assembly retains a static position relative to the prybar during use.
US08366073B2	Resin member for valve To provide a light-weight resin member, for a valve, which has high strength and can be used in a high-temperature atmosphere, and is also excellent in chemical resistance and corrosion resistance.A resin member for a valve, which is produced by molding a molding material having a tensile strength of 80 to 400 MPa at normal temperature, and a resin member for a valve, which is produced by molding a molding material having a tensile strength of 75 to 350 MPa at 120° C. are disclosed. There is also disclosed a resin member for a valve, which is produced by molding a molding material comprising a resin composition containing an epoxy acrylate resin (A) having a hydroxyl value of 60 to 100, a polyisocyanate compound (B) having 0.1 to 1.5 isocyanate groups per one hydroxyl group of the epoxy acrylate resin (A), a curing agent (C) and an internal mold release agent (D), and 20 to 70% by weight of a fiber reinforcing material (E).
US08366071B2	Sliding member, mechanical seal ring, mechanical seal and faucet valve Provided is a sliding member which includes a plurality of open pores in a sliding surface, which each comprises one or more opening portions having a circularity of 0.24 or more and a circle equivalent diameter of 10 μm to 150 μm. A ratio of the number of open pores having the overlapping degree of 10% or more between the opening portions is 3% or less. Another sliding member includes a plurality of open pores in a sliding surface, which each comprises one or more opening portions having a circularity of 0.24 or more and a circle equivalent diameter of not less than 10 μm nor more than 78 μm. A coefficient of variation of the opening portions satisfies the following equation: 1.03≦√V/X≦1.51 where √V is a standard deviation of circle equivalent diameters, and X is an average value of the circle equivalent diameters. A mechanical seal ring, a mechanical seal and a faucet valve each using the sliding member are also provided.
US08366070B2	Fluid control valve A valve includes a body, a throttling ball, and a shoe. The body includes an upstream flow passage and a downstream flow passage in fluid communication with an interior cavity of the body. The throttling ball is rotatable within the interior cavity on an axis to adjust the valve from a closed position to an open position and includes a fluid conduit extending through the throttling ball, where the fluid conduit is alignable with the upstream flow passage and the downstream flow passage. The shoe is disposed in the cavity abutting an interior surface of the cavity and includes a fluid passage there through having an inlet being alignable with the flow conduit of the throttling ball and an outlet being alignable with the downstream flow passage of the body. The interior surface of the shoe is disposed adjacent to and tracking an external surface of the throttling ball.
US08366068B2	Bracing structure, fastener and method for bracing a support structure having props for ceiling formworks In one form, a bracing structure for bracing a support structure having props for ceiling formworks is provided and includes: two vertical sections joined to one another by at least one horizontal section, at least one seating element on each vertical section each having at least one seating recess for placement of a prop, whereby the opening direction of the seating recesses on the respective vertical sections point away from each other and the opening directions lie parallel to the plane defined by the vertical sections, wherein each vertical section has at least one fastener for attaching the bracing structure to the prop with at least one of the fasteners comprising at least one of the seating elements. In other forms, a fastener for attachment of a supporting structure to a prop is provided, and a method for bracing a support structure having props for ceiling formworks is provided.
US08366066B2	Extendable/retractable support column An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections. The linked sections include a plurality of individual sections linked end to end. As the linked sections are extended, each of the individual sections of the linked chains engage individual sections of adjacent linked chains to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual sections of the linked chains disengage from the individual section of the adjacent linked sections and the individual linked sections may be rolled up for compact storage.
US08366065B2	Laser alignment device magnetic support stand A laser stand for supporting a laser leveling device during construction involving metal studs and leg tracks provides a planar shelf including a first end and a second end, at least one first leg depending from the first end, at least one second leg depending from the second end, and a magnet enclosure mounted to the second leg and including at least one magnet for supporting the leveling device while attached to the metal stud. The shelf is configured for pivotably accommodating the leveling device and the stand is configured for supporting the leveling device when placed over the leg track on a substrate or attached to the metal stud.
US08366061B2	Paint container holder A holder for a paint container can be used on uneven surfaces. The holder comprises a support base. Pivotally coupled to the support base is at least one leg and/or a lifting member. The at least one leg is selectively positionable for fixing the angular orientation of the at least one leg relative to the paint container support base. The lifting member may be located to support a paint container across a lateral axis extending substantially above a combined center of gravity of the holder and the paint container.
US08366059B2	Position controlled cable guide clip A clip and cable assembly are configured for attachment to a panel of a vehicle. The cable assembly includes an elongated member. The elongated member includes a radially extending locating feature having a width. The clip includes a housing and a fastener. The housing includes a first section and a second section spaced a distance from the first section and a pocket is defined between the first and second sections. The first and second sections each define a channel that is sized to slidably receive the elongated member of the cable assembly. The pocket receives the locating feature when the elongated member is received in the channel such that movement of clip relative to the elongated member and the locating feature is limited to a length of movement defined as a difference of the distance between the first and second sections and the width of the locating feature.
US08366058B2	Cording restraining means attachable to a tool An apparatus is disclosed for bundling or securing cording such as common electrical lines extending from various tools such as hand tools or the like. The apparatus includes a base member with a C-shaped clip member attached thereto. A strap is secured to the base member and extends outwardly through a loop to form a cording securement zone to allow cording to extend axially therethrough. The main strap can extend again toward the base member through a cinching slot defined in the C-shaped clip member and is detachably securable with respect to the base to hold the strap in position extending through the cinching slot to bundle the cording extending through the cording securement zone.
US08366056B2	Winglet A winglet comprising a root connected to a distal end of a wing; an upwardly angled section; a tip; and a transition between the upwardly angled section and the tip at which an outboard cant angle of the winglet decreases relative to a reference plane of the wing. In one embodiment the winglet is continuously curved and includes a point of inflection at which the span-wise curvature of the winglet changes sign. In another embodiment the upwardly angled section is planar. The winglet generates a tip vortex when in flight. The tip vortex is displaced outboard from the winglet due to the decrease in outboard cant angle at the transition.
US08366055B2	Controllable miniature mono-wing aircraft Micro/nano mono-wing aircraft with the wing configured as a winged seed (Samara) is uniquely suited for autonomous or remotely controlled operation in confined environments for surrounding images acquisition. The aircraft is capable of effective autorotation and steady hovering. The wing is flexibly connected to a fuselage via a servo-mechanism which is controlled to change the wing's orientation to control the flight trajectory and characteristics. A propeller on the fuselage rotates about the axis oriented to oppose a torque created about the longitudinal axis of the fuselage and is controlled to contribute in the aircraft maneuvers. A controller, either ON-board or OFF-board, creates input command signals to control the operation of the aircraft based on a linear control model identified as a result of extensive experimentations with a number of models.
US08366054B2	Hand launchable unmanned aerial vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle including a controller operating in a search mode of operation where a receiver of an acquisition sensor searches for a target and causes flight control surfaces to guide the vehicle in a downward spiral path, a terminal mode of operation where the acquisition sensor detects a target and causes flight control surfaces to direct the vehicle toward the target, and an activation mode of operation where a trigger sensor detects a target within a predetermined distance to the vehicle and the controller activates a responder.
US08366051B2	Air barrier for use with an expandable structure An air barrier having a scuff coating is used in connection with the core of a spacecraft to form an inflatable, or expandable, human habitat module. The air barrier is comprised of a number of segments joined together to form a enclosure that has at least one opening. The joined segments are generally gas impermeable, flexible, and have a scuff coating on both sides of the segments.
US08366049B2	Hover delivery of cabin payload in tilt-rotor and tilt-wing aircraft A payload or cargo is delivered from a cargo hold of an aircraft during flight, by orienting the fuselage into a nose-up and tail-down position of at least 30 degrees off horizontal, and lowering the cargo from a cargo hold in the fuselage by means of one or more lines. Preferred vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft include tilt-rotor or tilt-wing aircraft, and especially preferred aircraft are capable of generating control moments with their rotors to assist in orientating the fuselage of the aircraft into a nose-up and tail-down position.
US08366048B2	Aerial refuelling apparatus An adaptor for mounting a refuelling hose and drogue arrangement to a refuelling boom of an aircraft is arranged to provide fluid communication between the boom and a hose of the hose and drogue arrangement. The adaptor is also arranged such that the hose is movable with respect to the boom. The adaptor includes an actuator arranged to produce a biasing force on the hose, and arranged for affecting movement to adjust the position of the hose in relation to the boom.
US08366043B2	Structure, especially a fuselage structure of an aircraft or a spacecraft The present invention provides a fuselage structure (1; 1′) of an aircraft comprising an annular skin segment (2; 2′) which has a cross-sectional opening (3; 3′), a pressure cap (4; 4′) for a pressure-tight closure of the cross-sectional opening (3; 3′), and a plurality of tension struts (7, 8, 9; 7′, 8′, 9′) which in each case connect the pressure cap (4; 4′) to the annular skin segment (2; 2′) and absorb loads acting on the pressure cap (4; 4′), as tensile loads. This advantageously means that the tension struts (7, 8, 9; 7′, 8′, 9′) do not have to absorb substantially any bending moments. Consequently, the tension struts can be produced with a relatively small cross section, which entails a reduction in weight. Furthermore, it is possible to produce and mount tension struts (7, 8, 9; 7′, 8′, 9′) of this type in a simple manner.
US08366040B2	Rear part of an aircraft comprising a structure for supporting engines, extending through the fuselage and connected thereto by at least one connecting rod A rear part of an aircraft including a support structure for supporting engines, extending through the fuselage, through a first opening and a second opening. A connection structure connects the support structure to the fuselage, including a first connection mechanism connecting the support structure to a first casing forming the first opening and a second connection mechanism connecting the support structure to a second casing forming the second opening. The connection structure also includes at least one effort recovery connecting rod, the first end of which is mounted on the support structure and the opposite end is mounted on the fuselage, at a distance from the first and second openings.
US08366039B2	Fairing for a pylon via which a turbine engine is suspended from a wing of an aircraft Disclosed is a pylon fairing for a turbine engine. The anterior portion of the pylon fair is attached to a turbine engine in a manner to absorb blows against the fan casing of the turbine engine in case of breakage of the fan blades of the turbine engine. The pylon fairing is configured with the turbine engine such that the anterior part of the pylon fairing is fastened to the engine's fan casing via a front fixing and a rear fixing. The rear fixing is affixed to the fan casing as relatively loose in order to absorb tolerances, and the front fixing is affixed to the fan casing and as flexible in at least approximately a radial direction with respect to the fan casing.
US08366037B2	Towable aerovehicle system with automated tow line release An unmanned, towable aerovehicle is described and includes a container to hold cargo, an autogyro assembly connected to the container and to provide flight characteristics, and a controller to control operation the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight. The container includes a connection to connect to a powered aircraft to provide forward motive force to power the autogyro assembly. In an example, the autogyro assembly includes a mast extending from the container, a rotatable hub on an end of the mast, and a plurality of blades connected to the hub for rotation to provide lift to the vehicle. In an example, an electrical motor rotates the blades prior to lift off to assist in take off. The electrical motor does not have enough power to sustain flight of the vehicle.
US08366036B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit that performs recording on a recording medium wound on a roll, the roll including a first flange that is attached to one end and has a shaft hole and a first receiving portion, and a second flange that is attached to the other end and has a shaft hole; a first holder movable along a rotation axis of the roll, the first holder including a first shaft insertable into the shaft hole in the first flange, and a first flange-support surface that is in contact with an outer periphery of the first flange to support the first flange when the first shaft is not fitted in the shaft hole in the first flange and that has a first engaging portion; a second holder including a second shaft insertable into the shaft hole in the second flange.
US08366034B2	Seat belt retractor A seat belt retractor may include: a motor that generates a driving force for retracting and unreeling a seat belt by rotating a shaft, a gear case has an interior portion that houses a gear that converts a rotary force of the shaft into a driving force, a harness connected to a side of the motor including the shaft that is disposed opposite the gear case, a motor case having an opening disposed in only one end thereof, and a motor cap disposed on a side of the motor including the shaft opposing the gear case. The motor cap may include a passage portion through which the harness passes to an exterior thereof. The opening in the motor case may be sealed by attaching the motor case to the motor cap and the gear case in a sandwiched manner.
US08366033B2	Cord winding device for window covering A cord winding device for a window covering includes a casing, a reel rotatably mounted on the casing, a torsion spring biased between the casing and the reel, a limit ring secured on the casing and abutting the reel to limit the reel between the casing and the limit ring, and a pull cord attached a bottom of the casing. Thus, the lift cord of the window covering is wound around and stored in the reel of the cord winding device so that the lift cord is rolled up to a higher position to prevent the children from being tangled with the lift cord so as to protect the safety of the children.
US08366028B2	Electrostatic atomizer An electrostatic atomizer equipped with an electrostatic atomization pole having superior resistance to migration. The atomizer includes an electrostatic atomization pole, a liquid supply mechanism that supplies the pole with liquid, and a power supply that supplies the pole with high voltage to electrostatically atomize the liquid held on the pole. A coating is formed on the surface of the pole, and the coating is formed of simple metal or alloy, which displays resistance to migration.
US08366027B2	Adjustable metered material dispenser A dispenser is provided for delivering a controlled quantity of a granular material. The dispenser includes a reservoir that retains granular material. The reservoir is supported in the dispenser with a passageway defined between opposing ends. A nozzle is provided for the outflow of material from the reservoir to a metering cup. A control plug is provided within the metering cup to adjust the controlled volume to be received within the cup from the reservoir. Once the metering cup is filled, the dispenser is inverted and the volume of material is directed from the cup, through the passageway and out of an opening adjacent a diffuser. The control plug is removable from the cup to vary the charge of material to be dispensed.
US08366025B2	Shower head A shower head contains a body including an inflow passage, a plurality of distributing passages, and a first groove; a rotary disk including a second disc portion, a post portion extending, an opening; a first resilient element used to provide a driving force and a restoring force onto the rotary disk; a pushing member fixed in the rotary disk and including a number of second ratchet blocks; a second resilient element used to provide the restoring force onto the pushing member after releasing the pulling force; a pulling device served to provide the pulling force on the pushing member and including an external portion extending from the body to be forced and an internal portion located at the body to be pulled, the internal portion at least containing a pull line member with a suitable length to insert through the inflow passage of the body.
US08366023B1	Handheld sprayer structure The present invention discloses an improved handheld sprayer structure comprising an electric sprayer and a liquid container. The liquid container is filled with an appropriate amount of liquid, and this device is held by a hand, and a press button is pressed to trigger a start switch, such that a drive gear installed on a motor transmission shaft drives a plurality of wheels installed on a large gear to compress a hose to produce a suction, so as to suck the liquid in the liquid container upward, and spray the appropriate amount of liquid continuously and steadily from a spray head.
US08366022B2	Apparatus and method for cleaning and de-icing A windshield heated liquid spray assembly including a liquid heating assembly and a heated liquid spray assembly operative to spray the heated liquid onto a windshield, the liquid heating assembly including a liquid heating chamber, at least one heating element disposed in the liquid heating chamber and an electrical power supply connection to the at least one heating element that includes a meltable conductor portion.
US08366021B2	Windshield cleaner The present invention discloses a windshield wiper system that affords for deicing of a windshield for a motor vehicle. The system includes a first container having a first liquid, a second container having a second liquid along with a spray nozzle or jet proximate to the windshield and in fluid communication with the first container and the second container. A pump operable to pump or force the second liquid through the spray nozzle and onto the windshield is also included. In addition, a time delay switch activates the windshield wiper only after the second liquid has been on the windshield a preset time.
US08366013B2	Temperature controlling valve A temperature controlling valve serves to adjust a mixed rate of cold and hot waters to control a temperature of the mixed cold and hot water by using a water supplying means having a first pore to flow the cold water, a second pore to flow the hot water, a first shield to close the first pore, and a second shield to close the second pore; wherein when the temperature control set is driven by a driving motor to rotate at an original position, the first and the second shields are actuated to close the first and the second pores so that the cold and the hot waters flow into a valve core to be mixed together, wherein an inverse relationship exists between the cross sectional area of the first pore to flow the hot water and the cross sectional area of the second pore to flow the cold water.
US08366011B2	Two dimensional bar code having increased accuracy A two-dimensional matrix code containing dark and light square data modules, and a finder pattern of two bars of alternating dark and light square data modules on the perimeter of the symbol for indicating both orientation and printing density of the symbol, wherein all of the data modules are the same dimension and data is encoded based on the absolute position of the dark modules within the matrix, and inner and outer bars are provided along adjacent sides of the matrix code symbol, each bar having a width equal to the square data modules. In one embodiment, the inner and outer bars are solid. In another embodiment, the inner solid is bar and the outer bar is an encoding bar.
US08366010B2	Magnetomechanical sensor element and application thereof in electronic article surveillance and detection system A magnetomechanical resonance element or marker strip with facilitated performance based on an amorphous magnetostrictive alloy ribbon having a line-like surface pattern is utilized in an electronic article surveillance marker or sensor element. A direction of magnetic anisotropy at angle between 80 and 90 degree away from ribbon's length direction and in ribbon's plane is introduced during ribbon fabrication, which increases the resonance performance with minimal loss in the magneto-mechanical circuit, and more particularly, in a marker or sensor element utilizing a plurality of resonating elements or marker strips. A marker or sensor element is fabricated utilizing the resonance element or elements and is utilized in an electronic article surveillance and identification systems.
US08366008B2	Radio frequency identification tag, and method of manufacturing the same There is provided a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag includes a base formed of an insulating material, a circuit chip adhered to one surface of the base and including a pad for an electrical connection, and an antenna formed by jetting a conductive material onto the one surface of the base and electrically connected to the pad.
US08366005B2	Hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system supporting a multi-tier modular software architecture A hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system supporting a multi-tier modular software, and plug-in extendable, architecture. The digital image capture and processing system can be realized as an image-capturing cell phone, a digital camera, a video camera, mobile computing terminal and portable data terminal (PDT), provided with suitable hardware platform, communication protocols and user interfaces. A third-party customer can write and install a software plug-in into the application layer so as to enhance or modify the behavior of the hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system without any required knowledge of the hardware platform, communication protocols and/or user interfaces.
US08366000B2	Terminal, method and computer program product for interacting with a signaling tag A terminal for interacting with a signaling tag includes a controller capable of selecting a signaling tag and thereafter receiving a tag type from the signaling tag at least partially over an air interface. The controller is also capable of determining if the terminal is actively operating an application. In this regard, the controller is capable of performing a predefined action based upon the tag type, such as based upon a tag type of “Read Only,” “Read/Write” or “Transceiver in Show Mode.” And when the controller is actively operating an application, the controller is capable of performing the predefined action further based upon the application and a state of the application.
US08365999B2	Security element particularly for banknotes, security cards and the like, having anti-counterfeiting features A security element, particularly for banknotes, security cards and the like, comprising a first substrate which is at least partially opaque when viewed in transmitted light, magnetic areas being deposited on the substrate, the magnetic areas comprising at least two types of magnetic areas which have different coercivity values and whose residual magnetism is identical or different, said different values being adapted to generate at least three mutually different codes.
US08365995B2	Multi-checkpoint type clustered fruit fly counting device A multi-checkpoint type clustered animal counting device is proposed, which is capable of providing a counting function that can be used for statistically determining the number of animals (such as fruit flies) within a region such as farmland or garden. The proposed animal counting device is characterized by the utilized to at least two object sensors, wherein the first object sensor is disposed at a first checkpoint while the second object sensor is disposed at a second checkpoint, and wherein the first object sensor is initially set to power-on state while the second object sensor is initially set to power-off state and can be switched on only when the first object sensor is triggered. When the second object sensor is triggered, the counting operation will increase the output count number by one. This feature allows a more accurate result and can help save power consumption.
US08365994B2	Baggage check-in using short term message service A check-in method for airlines allows passengers to use Short Message Service (SMS) to check-in themselves and baggage. A passenger requests to check-in via SMS from practically anywhere and not limited to the airport. After receipt of the request, a confirmation message is sent back to the passenger's registered mobile phone number by SMS. The system will ask the passenger for, and receive from the passenger, the number of bags they intend to check-in for the flight. The passengers can in some embodiments drop the baggage off without any required further action. The system issues an SMS-based cryptographically secure code, such as a bar-code boarding pass to the passenger once the baggage (if any) is successfully transferred and registered to existing baggage management systems through the process above. This code, when scanned, recognized and authenticated provides identification and security clearance for the passenger to board the aircraft.
US08365987B2	Pre-allocated negotiable instrument and presentation instrument purchasing and activation systems and methods A presentation instrument package includes a presentation instrument and a negotiable instrument. The package is configured for display at a point-of-sale, and the presentation instrument and negotiable instrument are configured for activation at the point-of-sale.
US08365984B2	Techniques for disparate barcode transaction processing Techniques for disparate barcode transaction processing are provided. A first barcode associated with a first service is presented at a self-service device, which is associated with processing a second barcode for a second service; the first barcode is disparate from the second barcode. The self-service device identifies the second barcode as a foreign barcode and consults an external service. The external service identifies a next transaction of an itinerary for a customer associated with the second barcode and communicates that to the self-service device. The self-service device completes the next transaction on behalf of the customer.
US08365981B1	Device for supporting a second pizza in a pizza box and method of use A device is disclosed for supporting a second pizza in a rectangular pizza box which contains a first pizza, the pizza box having four corner zones. The device comprises a rectangular platform which is shaped and dimensioned to be received by the pizza box. The platform has at least four tabs which are selectively positionable to a support position which is substantially perpendicular to the platform, The tabs are located on the platform so that when the tabs are placed in the support position and the platform is placed inside the pizza box, at least one tab will rest upon each corner zone. In one embodiment, the platform includes four tabs; in another embodiment the platform includes eight tabs; and, in another embodiment the tabs include side tabs which can be folded to create a U-shaped support.
US08365977B2	Ultrasonic transducers for wire bonding and methods of forming wire bonds using ultrasonic transducers A method of forming a wire bond using a bonding tool coupled to a transducer is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) applying electrical energy to a driver of the transducer at a first frequency; and (2) applying electrical energy to the driver at a second frequency concurrently with the application of the electrical energy at the first frequency, the first frequency and the second frequency being different from one another.
US08365975B1	Cam-controlled knife for surgical instrument A surgical instrument may include a knife moveable from a stowed position completely within said surgical instrument to a cutting position in which at least part of the knife is positioned outside the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may also include at least two cam slots, a cam pin extending from the knife into the cam slots, at least two guide slots that are substantially linear and are spaced apart from said cam slots, and a guide pin extending from the knife into the guide slots. In some embodiments, the cam slots are shaped to cause the knife to move from the stowed position to the cutting position as the knife is urged proximally.
US08365973B1	D-shaped surgical staples An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a surgical staple deformable from a first configuration to a second, deployed configuration, where the surgical staple includes a first leg and a second leg; where in the second, deployed configuration the surgical staple forms substantially a D-shape. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; a surgical staple deformable from a first configuration to a second, deployed configuration, where the surgical staple includes a first leg and a second leg connected to the first leg, where one end of the first leg is frangibly affixed to the feeder belt and one end of said the leg is free; where in the second, deployed configuration the surgical staple forms substantially a D-shape. An exemplary method of treating tissue may include providing a surgical staple; urging the surgical staple into tissue, while the surgical staple has a first shape; and deforming the surgical staple into substantially a D-shape.
US08365970B2	Electric stapler that detects paper An electric stapler includes: a driver for driving leg portions of a staple having a U-shaped section to penetrate the leg portions through a paper bundle; a table including a clincher for bending and forming the penetrated leg portions inwardly, the table for holding the paper bundle between the driver and the table; a motor for moving the table and the driver; a photo sensor for detecting an existence of the paper bundle inserted into a gap between the table and the driver; and a control portion for driving the motor. The photo sensor is disposed on the table in such a manner that a detection point of the photo sensor for detecting the paper bundle exists upwardly of a disposing position of the clincher by inclining an optical axis direction of a radiation light to be emitted from the photo sensor in a direction of the clincher.
US08365967B1	Pressure-activated valve A valve formed from a frustoconical piece of foldable material, having folds extending from a closable end towards the other end that connects to a container of liquid, each fold having an inner crease extending into the interior region of the nozzle. The valve has a biasing mechanism that may include a spiral spring encircling a nozzle to bias the inner creases inward to cause them to abut each other at the closable end so that the valve is maintained in a closed position. When liquid is forced into the interior region under sufficient pressure it causes the nozzle to move from the closed position to an open position so liquid flows from the interior region out the closable end of the nozzle, and when the pressure on the liquid is removed, the biasing mechanism causes the nozzle to move back to the closed position.
US08365962B2	Lever spray pump What is being proposed is a lever spray pump for dispensing a cosmetic liquid. The lever spray pump has a flexible section which can be deformed for the pumping of the liquid. The pump has a manually operable actuation element in order to deform the section for pumping. The pump has an air valve for a container associated with the pump. The air valve is embodied in a single piece with the section and is opened automatically upon deformation of the section or operation of the pump. Preferably, the section is pretensioned in the built-in state with non-actuated pump.
US08365961B2	Device for delivering a substance, the device including a pump comprising a stationary portion and a movable portion A device for delivering a substance, the device including a first stationary portion and a second movable portion that is movable relative to the first portion between a rest position and an activated position, the device further including an abutment for putting the movable portion into abutment relative to the stationary portion, which abutment needs to be forced past in order to enable the movable portion to go from its rest position to its activated position, the abutment carried by the movable portion and an abutment carried by the stationary portion, at least one of these abutments being mounted on a resilient portion of the stationary portion and/or of the movable portion, the resilient portion being deformable between an abutment configuration and a retraction configuration and having a reinforcement for reinforcing the resilient portion, namely a part that bears against a zone of the resilient portion.
US08365953B2	Caulking gun having adjustable handle and actuating and restraining mechanism A dispensing tool for dispensing material from a cartridge includes a cartridge holder defining an opening sized to receive the cartridge and including a cartridge rail. The tool further includes a plunger coupled to the cartridge holder such that it is movable axially through the cartridge holder opening, a plunger restraining member coupled to the cartridge holder, a handle coupled to the cartridge rail, and a trigger pivotably coupled to the handle. The handle may be repositionable along the cartridge rail and the plunger restraining member may disengage with the plunger to allow axial movement when the trigger is pivoted relative to the handle.
US08365950B2	Medicine dispensing device A medicine dispensing device has a device body (1), shelf members (2) arranged in the vertical directions in the device body (1), and a medicine conveyance member (3) for conveying medicines (D), received in the shelf members (2), on one by one basis from the front face side of the device body (1). A shelf member (2) has cassettes (26) in which medicines (D) are received in line, a pusher (31) for pushing the medicines in the cassettes (26) toward the front face side of the device body (10), and a constant load spring (32) for applying a constant load to the medicines (D) received in the cassettes (26) through the pusher (31). To fill the cassettes (26) with the medicines (D), the shelf member (2) can be pulled out from the front face side of the device body (1) and then positioned by pivoting the shelf member (2) so as to face obliquely downward.
US08365948B2	Detachable grip device comprising button-activated gripping jaws A detachable grip device has a body, two jaw-forming elements which are mobile in relation to each other between an open position and a closed position, a system for displacing the jaw-forming elements which are designed in such a way as to be able to alternate between a stable closing state and a stable opening state, via an intermediate state of unstable equilibrium, and a system for opening the jaw-forming elements. The opening system is adapted in such a way as to drive the displacement system initially in their closed state past the intermediate state of unstable equilibrium. The opening system comprises at least one button which is arranged on a longitudinal side of the body and is mounted in a sliding manner according to a direction of displacement having a component in the transverse direction.

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