最新美国发明专利第2014-06-03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
US08741768B2	Method for reducing dielectric overetch when making contact to conductive features A method is provided that includes forming conductive or semiconductive features above a first dielectric material, depositing a second dielectric material above the conductive or semiconductive features, etching a void in the second dielectric material, wherein the etch stops on the first dielectric material, and exposing a portion of the conductive or semiconductive features. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08741766B2	Semiconductor device and method of confining conductive bump material during reflow with solder mask patch A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with die bump pads and substrate with trace lines having integrated bump pads. A solder mask patch is formed interstitially between the die bump pads or integrated bump pads. The solder mask patch contains non-wettable material. Conductive bump material is deposited over the integrated bump pads or die bump pads. The semiconductor die is mounted over the substrate so that the conductive bump material is disposed between the die bump pads and integrated bump pads. The bump material is reflowed without a solder mask around the integrated bump pads to form an interconnect between the semiconductor die and substrate. The solder mask patch confines the conductive bump material within a footprint of the die bump pads or integrated bump pads during reflow. The interconnect can have a non-fusible base and fusible cap.
US08741763B2	Layout designs with via routing structures An approach for providing layout designs with via routing structures is disclosed. Embodiments include: providing a gate structure and a diffusion contact on a substrate; providing a gate contact on the gate structure; providing a metal routing structure that does not overlie a portion of the gate contact, the diffusion contact, or a combination thereof; and providing a via routing structure over the portion and under a part of the metal routing structure to couple the gate contact, the diffusion contact, or a combination thereof to the metal routing structure.
US08741760B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device including first conductive pattern and second conductive pattern having top surface which decreases in height A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of first conductive patterns, a second conductive pattern having a top surface of which stepwisely or gradually decreases in height in a direction from a side facing the first conductive pattern toward an opposite side, a first insulation film formed over the plurality of first conductive patterns and the second conductive pattern, and a third conductive pattern formed over the first insulation film.
US08741759B2	Method for fabricating a semiconductor device A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate, forming spacers adjoining opposite sidewalls of the gate stack, forming a sacrificial layer adjoining the spacers, removing a portion of the sacrificial layer, removing a portion of the spacers to form a recess cavity below the left spacers. Then, a strain feature is formed in the recess cavity. The disclosed method provides an improved method by providing a space between the spacer and the substrate for forming the strained feature, therefor, to enhance carrier mobility and upgrade the device performance.
US08741757B2	Replacement gate electrode with multi-thickness conductive metallic nitride layers Gate electrodes having different work functions can be provided by providing conductive metallic nitride layers having different thicknesses in a replacement gate scheme. Upon removal of disposable gate structures and formation of a gate dielectric layer, at least one incremental thickness conductive metallic nitride layer is added within some gate cavities, while not being added in some other gate cavities. A minimum thickness conductive metallic nitride layer is subsequently added as a contiguous layer. Conductive metallic nitride layers thus formed have different thicknesses across different gate cavities. A gate fill conductive material layer is deposited, and planarization is performed to provide multiple gate electrode having different conductive metallic nitride layer thicknesses. The different thicknesses of the conductive metallic nitride layers can provide different work functions having a range of about 400 mV.
US08741756B2	Contacts-first self-aligned carbon nanotube transistor with gate-all-around A method of fabricating a semiconducting device is disclosed. A carbon nanotube is deposited on a substrate of the semiconducting device. A first contact on the substrate over the carbon nanotube. A second contact on the substrate over the carbon nanotube, wherein the second contact is separated from the first contact by a gap. A portion of the substrate in the gap between the first contact and the second contact is removed.
US08741755B2	Semiconductor device having gate trench and manufacturing method thereof Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that includes a trench formed across active regions and the element isolation regions. A conductive film is formed at a lower portion of the trench, and a cap insulating film is formed at an upper portion of the trench. The cap insulating film has substantially the same planer shape as that of the conductive film.
US08741751B2	Double contacts for carbon nanotubes thin film devices A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A first contact layer of the semiconductor device is fabricated. An electrical connection is formed between a carbon nanotube and the first contact layer by electrically coupling of the carbon nanotube and a second contact layer. The first contact layer and second contact layer may be electrically coupled.
US08741750B2	Method for fabricating a semiconductor having a graded pn junction A method for fabricating a semiconductor body is presented. The semiconductor body includes a p-conducting zone, an n-conducting zone and a pn junction in a depth T1 in the semiconductor body between the p-conducting zone and the n-conducting zone. The method includes providing the semiconductor body, producing the p-doped zone by the diffusion of an impurity that forms an acceptor in a first direction into the semiconductor body, and producing the n-conducting zone by the implantation of protons in the first direction into the semiconductor body into a depth T2>T1 and the subsequent heat treatment of the semiconductor body in order to form hydrogen-induced donors.
US08741742B2	Method of fabricating an integrated circuit without ground contact pad The disclosure relates to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit of CMOS technology in a semiconductor wafer comprising scribe lines. According to the disclosure, a ground contact pad of the integrated circuit is made in a scribe line of the wafer and is destroyed during a step of individualizing the integrated circuit by singulation of the wafer. A ground contact of the integrated circuit is made on the back side of the integrated circuit when it is assembled in an interconnection package.
US08741741B2	Method for designing SOI wafer and method for manufacturing SOI wafer A method for manufacturing an SOI wafer that has an SOI layer formed on a buried insulator layer and is suitable for photolithography with an exposure light having a wavelength λ comprises: designing a thickness of the buried insulator layer of the SOI wafer on the basis of the wavelength λ of the exposure light utilized for the photolithography that is to be performed on the SOI wafer after manufacturing; and fabricating the SOI wafer that has the SOI layer formed on the buried insulator layer having the designed thickness. As a result, there is provided a method for designing an SOI wafer and a method for manufacturing an SOI wafer that enable the variation in the reflection rate of the exposure light due to the variation in the SOI layer thickness and hence variation in the exposure state of a resist to be inhibited in a photolithography operation.
US08741737B2	Three-dimensional wafer stacking with vertical interconnects Described are three-dimensional stacked semiconductor structures having one or more vertical interconnects. Vertical stacking relies on vertical interconnects and wafer bonding using a patternable polymer. The polymer is preferably lithographically patternable and photosensitive. Curing of the polymer is preselected from about 35% to up to about 100%, depending on a desired outcome. When fabricated, such vertically stacked structures include electrical interconnects provided by solder reflow. Solder reflow temperature is bounded by a curing and glass transition temperatures of a polymer used for bonding.
US08741735B1	Method of forming a semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate defining active regions partitioned by an isolation region, conductive lines spaced apart from each other and crossing the active regions over the semiconductor substrate, a thin film pattern formed on a top portion of the conductive lines having opening portions exposing part of the conductive lines in a width wider than a width of the conductive lines, an insulating layer filling the opening portions and formed over the thin film pattern, and an air gap formed between the conductive lines below the insulating layer and the thin film pattern.
US08741733B2	Stress in trigate devices using complimentary gate fill materials Embodiments relate to an improved tri-gate device having gate metal fills, providing compressive or tensile stress upon at least a portion of the tri-gate transistor, thereby increasing the carrier mobility and operating frequency. Embodiments also contemplate method for use of the improved tri-gate device.
US08741732B2	Forming metal-insulator-metal capacitors over a top metal layer A plurality of metal layers includes a top metal layer. An Ultra-Thick Metal (UTM) layer is disposed over the top metal layer, wherein no additional metal layer is located between the UTM layer and the top metal layer. A Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor is disposed under the UTM layer and over the top metal layer.
US08741727B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device capable of reducing a size of the semiconductor device A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a flash memory cell in a first region, forming a first electrode of a capacitor in a second region, forming a first silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, and a second silicon oxide film in this order as a second insulating film, removing the silicon nitride film and the second silicon oxide film in a partial region of the first electrode, wet-etching a first insulating film and the second insulating film in the third region, forming a second electrode of the capacitor, and etching and removing the first silicon oxide film in the partial region.
US08741725B2	Butted SOI junction isolation structures and devices and method of fabrication A structure, a FET, a method of making the structure and of making the FET. The structure including: a silicon layer on a buried oxide (BOX) layer of a silicon-on-insulator substrate; a trench in the silicon layer extending from a top surface of the silicon layer into the silicon layer, the trench not extending to the BOX layer, a doped region in the silicon layer between and abutting the BOX layer and a bottom of the trench, the first doped region doped to a first dopant concentration; a first epitaxial layer, doped to a second dopant concentration, in a bottom of the trench; a second epitaxial layer, doped to a third dopant concentration, on the first epitaxial layer in the trench; and wherein the third dopant concentration is greater than the first and second dopant concentrations and the first dopant concentration is greater than the second dopant concentration.
US08741721B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof capable of improving an operating speed of a MOSFET using an inexpensive structure. The method comprises the steps of forming a stress film to cover a source, drain, sidewall insulating layer and gate of the MOSFET and forming in the stress film a slit extending from the stress film surface toward the sidewall insulating layer. As a result, an effect of allowing local stress components in the stress films on the source and the drain to be relaxed by local stress components in the stress film on the gate is suppressed by the slit.
US08741720B2	Penetrating implant for forming a semiconductor device A semiconductor device and method to form a semiconductor device is described. The semiconductor includes a gate stack disposed on a substrate. Tip regions are disposed in the substrate on either side of the gate stack. Halo regions are disposed in the substrate adjacent the tip regions. A threshold voltage implant region is disposed in the substrate directly below the gate stack. The concentration of dopant impurity atoms of a particular conductivity type is approximately the same in both the threshold voltage implant region as in the halo regions. The method includes a dopant impurity implant technique having sufficient strength to penetrate a gate stack.
US08741718B2	Local interconnects compatible with replacement gate structures After forming replacement gate structures that are embedded in a planarized dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, a contact-level dielectric layer is deposited over a planar surface of the planarized dielectric layer and the replacement gate structures. Substrate contact via holes are formed through the contact-level dielectric layer and the planarized dielectric layer, and metal semiconductor alloy portions are formed on exposed semiconductor materials. Gate contact via holes are subsequently formed through the contact-level dielectric layer. The substrate contact via holes and the gate contact via holes are simultaneously filled with a conductive material to form substrate contact structures and gate contact structures. The substrate contact structures and gate contact structures can be employed to provide local interconnect structures that provide electrical connections between two components that are laterally spaced on the semiconductor substrate.
US08741717B2	Methods for fabricating integrated circuits having improved metal gate structures Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. One method includes forming first and second FET trenches in an interlayer dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate. The first FET trench is partially filled with a first work function metal to define an inner cavity in the first FET trench. The first work function metal is a N-type work function metal or a P-type work function metal. The N-type work function metal is selected from the group consisting of titanium, tantalum, hafnium, ytterbium silicide, erbium silicide, and titanium silicide. The P-type work function metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, and tungsten silicide. The inner cavity and the second FET trench are filled with a second work function metal to form corresponding metal gate structures. The second work function metal is the other of the N-type work function metal or the P-type work function metal.
US08741711B2	Manufacturing method of a MOS transistor using a sidewall spacer A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes forming first and second gate patterns, forming first and second sidewall spacers on sidewalls of the first and second gate patterns respectively, implanting a first impurity into the semiconductor substrate, forming a third sidewall spacer on the first sidewall spacer and a fourth sidewall spacer on the second sidewall spacer in such a manner that the third sidewall spacer is in contact with the fourth sidewall spacer between the first and second gate patterns, implanting a second impurity into the semiconductor substrate, and removing the third and the fourth sidewall spacers.
US08741707B2	Method and system for fabricating edge termination structures in GaN materials A method for fabricating an edge termination, which can be used in conjunction with GaN-based materials, includes providing a substrate of a first conductivity type. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The method also includes forming a first GaN epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type coupled to the first surface of the substrate and forming a second GaN epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The second GaN epitaxial layer is coupled to the first GaN epitaxial layer. The substrate, the first GaN epitaxial layer and the second GaN epitaxial layer can be referred to as an epitaxial structure.
US08741706B2	High electron mobility transistor and method of manufacturing the same A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a substrate, an HEMT stack spaced apart from the substrate, and a pseudo-insulation layer (PIL) disposed between the substrate and the HEMT stack. The PIL layer includes at least two materials having different phases. The PIL layer defines an empty space that is wider at an intermediate portion than at an entrance of the empty space.
US08741704B2	Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device with locally thickened gate oxide A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including providing a gate structure on a channel portion of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the gate structure includes at least one gate dielectric on the channel portion of the semiconductor substrate and at least one gate conductor on the at least one gate dielectric. An edge portion of the at least one gate dielectric is removed on each side of the gate structure, wherein the removing of the edge portion of the gate dielectric provides an exposed base edge of the at least one gate conductor and an exposed channel surface of the semiconductor substrate underlying the gate structure. The sidewall of the gate structure is oxidized, which also oxidizes at least one of the exposed base edge of the at least one gate conductor and the exposed channel surface of the semiconductor substrate that is underlying the gate structure.
US08741701B2	Fin structure formation including partial spacer removal A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a mandrel on top of a substrate; forming a first spacer adjacent to the mandrel on top of the substrate; forming a cut mask over the first spacer and the mandrel, such that the first spacer is partially exposed by the cut mask; partially removing the partially exposed first spacer; and etching the substrate to form a fin structure corresponding to the partially removed first spacer in the substrate.
US08741697B2	Electronic device including a nonvolatile memory structure having an antifuse component and a process of forming the same An electronic device can include a nonvolatile memory cell, wherein the nonvolatile memory cell can include a substrate, an access transistor, a read transistor, and an antifuse component. Each of the access and read transistors can include source/drain regions at least partly within the substrate, a gate dielectric layer overlying the substrate, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric layer. An antifuse component can include a first electrode lying at least partly within the substrate, an antifuse dielectric layer overlying the substrate, and a second electrode overlying the antifuse dielectric layer. The second electrode of the antifuse component can be coupled to one of the source/drain regions of the access transistor and to the gate electrode of the read transistor. In an embodiment, the antifuse component can be in the form of a transistor structure. The electronic device can be formed using a single polysilicon process.
US08741695B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes a metal substrate including a metal base plate, an insulating sheet located on the metal base plate, and a wiring pattern located on the insulating sheet, and a semiconductor element located on the metal substrate. The semiconductor element is sealed with a molding resin. The molding resin extends to side surfaces of the metal substrate. On the side surfaces of the metal substrate, the insulating sheet and the wiring pattern are not exposed from the molding resin, whereas the metal base plate includes a projecting portion exposed from the molding resin.
US08741687B2	Photovoltaic device with crystalline layer A method for manufacturing a multilayered structure may include forming a transparent conductive oxide layer including cadmium stannate adjacent to a substrate and annealing the structure in an annealing environment including a reducing agent at a temperature greater than 500 degrees C. to crystallize the cadmium stannate.
US08741686B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device has an active layer, a first semiconductor layer of first conductive type, an overflow prevention layer disposed between the active layer and the first semiconductor layer, which is doped with impurities of first conductive type and which prevents overflow of electrons or holes, a second semiconductor layer of first conductive type disposed at least one of between the active layer and the overflow prevention layer and between the overflow prevention layer and the first semiconductor layer, and an impurity diffusion prevention layer disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the active layer, which has a band gap smaller than those of the overflow prevention layer, the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer and which prevents diffusion of impurities of first conductive type.
US08741683B2	Chip package and fabrication method thereof An embodiment of the invention provides a chip package, which includes: a semiconductor substrate having a device region; a package layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate; a spacing layer disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the package layer and surrounding the device region; and an auxiliary pattern having a hollow pattern formed in the spacing layer, a material pattern located between the spacing layer and the device region, or combinations thereof.
US08741682B2	Microstructure, micromachine, and manufacturing method of microstructure and micromachine Without sacrificial layer etching, a microstructure and a micromachine are manufactured. A separation layer 102 is formed over a substrate 101, and a layer 103 to be a movable electrode is formed over the separation layer 102. At an interface of the separation layer 102, the layer 103 to be a movable electrode is separated from the substrate. A layer 106 to be a fixed electrode is formed over another substrate 105. The layer 103 to be a movable electrode is fixed to the substrate 105 with the spacer layer 103 which is partially provided interposed therebetween, so that the layer 103 to be a movable electrode and a layer 106 to be a fixed electrode face each other.
US08741681B2	Solid-state image pickup device and method for producing the same A solid-state image pickup device includes an element isolation insulating film electrically isolating pixels on the surface of a well region; a first isolation diffusion layer electrically isolating the pixels under the element isolation insulating film; and a second isolation diffusion layer electrically isolating the pixels under the first isolation diffusion layer, wherein a charge accumulation region is disposed in the well region surrounded by the first and second isolation diffusion layers, the inner peripheral part of the first isolation diffusion layer forms a projecting region, an impurity having a conductivity type of the first isolation diffusion layer and an impurity having a conductivity type of the charge accumulation region are mixed in the projecting region, and a part of the charge accumulation region between the charge accumulation region and the second isolation diffusion layer is abutted or close to the second isolation diffusion layer under the projecting region.
US08741669B2	Method for the production of an organic light emitting illuminant In a method for producing an organic light emitting illuminant, a base electrode layer is formed over a substrate, an organic light emitting layer is formed over at least one portion of the base electrode layer, and a top electrode layer is formed over at least one portion of the organic light emitting layer, the layers being formed in the shape of strips. The strip-shaped formation of the layers is carried out in a coating process in an in-line vacuum coating system having stationary shadowing masks on the advancing substrate such that at least one area of the base electrode layer remains uncoated once the layers have been formed.
US08741661B2	Methods and devices for sampling flowable materials A method including: a) providing a first well with a first layer of a first flowable material and a second layer of a second flowable material, and a second well with a first layer of a first flowable material different from the first flowable material of the first well, b) locating the flowable material inlet within the first layer, c) sampling a first volume of the first flowable material, d) displacing the flowable material inlet relative to the first well to locate the flowable material inlet within the second layer, e) sampling a second volume of the second flowable material, f) displacing the flowable material inlet relative to the first and second wells to locate the flowable material inlet within the first layer of the second well, and g) sampling or dispensing into the second well a third volume of the first flowable material of the second well.
US08741659B2	Composition for measuring the binding affinity between nucleic acid and test substance, and use thereof In one embodiment of the present invention, a composition is disclosed for measuring a binding affinity between a nucleic acid and a test substance, which contains an organic fluorescent substance capable of binding to an RNA and which emits fluorescence having an intensity greater while the organic fluorescent substance is liberated from an RNA than while the organic fluorescent substance is bound to an RNA. This enables a highly accurate and easy measurement of a binding affinity between a test substance and a nucleic acid, and allows various substances to be examined as a test substance.
US08741654B2	Compositions and methods for improved protein production The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid sequences, designated herein as 7p, 8k, 7E, 9G, 8Q and 203, in a host cell which effect protein production. The present invention also provides host cells having a mutation or deletion of part or all of the gene encoding 7p, 8k, 7E, 9G, 8Q and 203, which are presented in FIG. 1, and are SEQ ID NOS.: 1-6, respectively. The present invention also provides host cells further comprising a nucleic acid encoding a desired heterologous protein such as an enzyme.
US08741653B2	Single recombination system and methods of use The present invention is directed to a modified poxvirus vector that allows for the generation of recombinant poxviruses by a single recombination event. A modified poxvirus vector comprising at least one reporter gene located between two flanking sequences for homologous recombination is disclosed. Furthermore, a host cell comprising said vector and a method for the generation of recombinant poxviruses using said vector are provided.
US08741651B2	Chimeric isoprenoid synthases and uses thereof Provided is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including a first domain from a first isoprenoid synthase joined to a second domain from a second, heterologous, isoprenoid synthase, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced in the absence of the second domain of the second, heterologous, isoprenoid synthase. Also provided is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including an asymmetrically positioned heterologous domain, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced when the domain is positioned at its naturally-occurring site in the isoprenoid synthase polypeptide.
US08741650B2	Methods for producing minus-strand RNA viral vectors using hybrid promoter comprising cytomegalovirus enhancer and chicken β-actin promoter The present invention provides methods for producing a minus-strand RNA viral vector, which comprise using a promoter comprising a cytomegalovirus enhancer and a chicken β-actin promoter, to induce the transcription of the genome RNA of a minus-strand RNA viral vector and the expression of minus-strand RNA viral proteins that form a ribonucleoprotein with the genome RNA. The methods of the present invention enable high efficiency production of highly safe minus-strand RNA viral vectors. The methods of the present invention are particularly useful for producing minus-strand RNA viral vectors that are deficient in envelope-constituting protein genes.
US08741643B2	Differentiation of pluripotent stem cells to definitive endoderm lineage The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides an improved method for the formation of pancreatic endoderm, pancreatic hormone expressing cells and pancreatic hormone secreting cells. The present invention also provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells without the use of a feeder cell layer.
US08741642B2	Methods for producing autologous immune cells resistant to myeloid-derived suppressor cells effects Methods for the ex vivo generation of cells of the innate (NKT cells and NK cells) and adaptive (T cells) immune systems for use in adoptive cell transfer (ACT) are provided. The NKT cells render T cells resistant to immune suppression (e.g. they are resistant to the effects of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)). The method involves culturing disease-primed immune cells (obtained from a cancer patient or from a patient with an infectious disease) with i) bryostatin and ionomycin (B/I) to activate and differentiate the cells; followed by sequentially culturing the cells with a) a combination of IL-7 and IL-15 and then b) IL-2, to further differentiate the cells and to render them immune resistant. The resistant immune cells are used to treat and prevent cancer and infectious diseases.
US08741640B2	Expanding hematopoietic stem cells A method of expanding hematopoietic stem cells. Also disclosed is a method of diagnosing primary or secondary bone marrow failure syndrome. The invention further includes a method of treating primary or secondary bone marrow failure syndrome.
US08741637B2	Method for isolating a chemotherapeutic agent resistant cancer cell with stem cell properties The invention relates to the use of encapsulates of cancer cells, in agarose coated, agarose containing beads, for isolating chemotherapeutic resistant cells which have at least one stem cell property, such as expression of OCT4. The cells thus isolated are also a feature of the invention, as is a method for screening for potential therapeutic agents.
US08741634B2	Soybean transcription terminators and use in expression of transgenic genes in plants Five novel plant transcription terminators MYB2, KTI1, PIP1, EF1A2, and MTH1 are isolated from soybean and their functions in the regulation of RNA transcription and processing in plants are described.
US08741631B2	Submerged perfusion bioreactor A device for biological purposes such as cell culturing, enzymatic reactions or filtering of fluid has a body with first and second surfaces. The body is delimited by a rim and an aperture in the center of the body. The aperture is covered at the first and second surface by first and second plates. The first and/or second plate has an inlet orifice allowing liquid medium into the aperture. Rotating means are arranged in the aperture between the first and second plate. At least one recessed portion is a cavity in the rim of the body having a first outlet orifice allowing the liquid medium to flow out of the body. At least one outlet channel connects the circular aperture with the recessed portion. Liquid is pumped into the aperture of the device and pumped through at least one outlet channel.
US08741628B2	Integrated process for the production of oil bearing Chlorella variabilis for lipid extraction utilizing by-products of Jatropha methyl ester (JME) production An energy efficient process for the preparation of marine microalgae Chlorella fatty acid methyl ester (CME) from hydrolysate of deoiled cake of Jatropha (JOCH) and crude glycerol co-product stream (GL7 and GL8) along with seawater diluted with tap water (1:2). A small part of the crude glycerol layer in case of JME is processed to recover glycerol for glycerol washing and the otherwise problematic still bottom is utilized for microbial synthesis of PHAs and the rest is utilized for Microalgal conversion of JME byproducts into CME. The remaining part of the methanol-depleted glycerol layer is utilized, along with hydrolysate of the Jatropha deoiled cake (JOCH), for single-stage Microalgal production of lipids by a marine Microalgal isolate (Chlorella sp.) without the need for any other nutrients. Waste streams from the microalgal processes can be discharged directly into agricultural fields as biofertilizer or recycled back in the mass cultivation.
US08741627B2	Alcoholic xylose fermentation at high temperatures by the thermotolerant yeast Hansenula polymorpha Methods and compositions for the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic starting materials are provided herein. Embodiments provide yeast cells of the genus H. polymorpha with one or more modifications, including, for example, an inactive acid trehalase gene, overexpression of xylulokinase, and/or overexpression of heat-shock protein 104.
US08741626B2	Mutant strain of Aspergillus setae with enhanced protease activity and preparation method of natural taste enhancer using the same The present invention relates to a mutant strain of Aspergillus sojae with an enhanced protease activity and a preparation method of a natural taste enhancer using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to the mutant strain of Aspergillus sojae with an enhanced protease activity is obtained by selecting a strain with high protease activity and treating it with N-methyl-N′-Nitroso-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) and inducing a mutation through irradiating, and a preparation method of a natural taste enhancer using protein hydrolysate obtained by hydrolyzing the protein sources with their cultures.
US08741624B2	Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from polyols Recombinant processes are provided whereby additional genes are introduced into E. coli which have been genetically engineered to produce PHA so that the improved strains produce PHA homopolymers and copolymers directly from diols. In preferred embodiments, PHAs containing 4-hydroxybutyrate monomers are produced directly from 1,4-butanediol; PHAs containing 5-hydroxyvalerate are produced from 1,5-pentanediol; PHAs containing 6-hydroxyhexanoate (6HH) are produced from 1,6-hexanediol; PHAs containing 3-hydroxypropionate are produced from 1,3-propanediol; PHAs containing 2-hydroxypropionate (lactate) are produced from 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol); PHAs containing 2-hydroxyethanoate (glycolate) are produced from 1,2-ethanediol (ethylene glycol). Genes encoding these same enzyme activities can be introduced or their expression amplified in wild type PHA producers to improve the production of PHA homopolymers and copolymers directly from diol and other alcohol feedstocks. The PHA polymers are readily recovered and industrially useful as polymers or as starting materials for a range of chemical intermediates.
US08741621B2	Enhanced production and purification of a natural high intensity sweetener Recombinant P. pastoris producing natural sweet proteins and methods for engineering these recombinant yeast are described. Methods for enhancing foreign protein production in yeast fermentation and improved methods for purification of foreign proteins produced in yeast fermentation are presented.
US08741619B1	Method for purifying protein aqueous A method for purifying protein aqueous is provided. A protein aqueous is first provided. An absorption material is mixed into the protein aqueous to form a first mixture. The first mixture is separated into a solid-liquid two phases solution by a first separation process. A buffer solution is added into the solid phase from the solid-liquid two phases solution which has a target protein therein to form a second mixture. Then, a second separation process is performed to separate the second mixture to obtain a purified protein aqueous.
US08741618B2	Labeled enzyme compositions, methods and systems Disclosed herein are conjugates comprising a biomolecule linked to a label that have biological activity and are useful in a wide variety of biological applications. For example, provided herein are labeled polymerase conjugates including a polymerase linked to one or more labels, wherein the conjugate has polymerase activity. Such conjugates can exhibit enhanced biological activity and/or superior detectability as compared to conventional labeled polymerases. Also disclosed herein are improved methods for preparing such conjugates, and methods and systems for using such conjugates in biological applications such as nucleotide incorporation, primer extension and single molecule sequencing.
US08741615B2	Magnetic nanoparticle with biocompatibility A magnetic nanoparticle is provided in the disclosure. The magnetic nanoparticle includes a magnetic nanoparticle; a biocompatible polymer of the following formula (II) covalently coupled to the magnetic nanoparticle, wherein R1 is alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, or amino; n is an integer from 5 to 1000; and m is an integer from 1 to 10.
US08741608B2	Process for the fermentative preparation of L-ornithine A process for the fermentative preparation of L-ornithine using microorganisms characterized by an increased export of the amino acid.
US08741606B2	Method of tagging using a split DBR Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
US08741605B2	Gene expression markers for breast cancer prognosis The present invention provides gene sets the expression of which is important in the diagnosis and/or prognosis of breast cancer.
US08741603B2	Enhancing spinosyn production with oxygen binding proteins The invention describes the integration of polynucleotides into chromosomal DNA of S. spinosa species, which are useful for the production of insecticides, integrants thereof, and also to the use of the integrants. The invention includes the stable integration and expression of an oxygen-binding protein, VHb, which results in increased spinosyn production.
US08741600B2	Method for separation of immunoglobulin monomers A method of accurately separating immunoglobulin monomers by subjecting an immunoglobulin solution containing at least immunoglobulin monomers and immunoglobulin aggregates to cross-flow filtration using an ultrafiltration membrane, an ultrafiltration membrane module, and a cross-flow filtration apparatus. The method can separate immunoglobulin monomers by subjecting an immunoglobulin solution containing at least immunoglobulin monomers and immunoglobulin aggregates and having an immunoglobulin concentration of 1 to 150 g/L to cross-flow filtration using an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 100,000 or more and less than 500,000 so that immunoglobulin monomers passes through the ultrafiltration membrane with a permeability of 80% or more while achieving a fractionation performance in which the permeability ratio of immunoglobulin dimers to immunoglobulin monomers that pass through the ultrafiltration membrane is 0.20 or less.
US08741599B2	Fermentative production of organic compounds A process for the fermentative production of at least one organic compound having at least 3 C atoms or having at least 2 C atoms and at least one 1 N atom, comprising the following steps: a1) milling a starch feedstock, thus obtaining a millbase which comprises at least part of the nonstarchy solid constituents of the starch feedstock; a2) suspending the millbase in an aqueous liquid and hydrolysis of the starch portion in the millbase by enzymatic liquefaction and, if appropriate, subsequent saccharification, whereby a first liquid (1) which comprises mono- or oligosaccharides is obtained; and b) addition of the liquid (1) which comprises mono- or oligosaccharides together with metabolizable mono-, di- or oligosaccharides or together with a composition which comprises metabolizable mono-, di- or oligosaccharide in a concentration of at least 50% by weight and which is essentially free from solids which are insoluble in water to a fermentation medium comprising a microorganism which is capable of overproducing the organic compound under fermentation conditions.
US08741598B2	Photocatalytic hydrogen production in cyanobacteria A cyanobacterial cell comprising a PSI complex which accepts electrons from at least one respiratory cytochrome is disclosed. Methods of generating same and use of same for the production of hydrogen gas are also disclosed.
US08741595B2	Coliform detection process and kit for use therein A process comprises (a) providing (1) at least one sample suspected of comprising at least one coliform strain, (2) at least one culture device comprising at least one culture medium that is hydrated or hydratable, and (3) at least one particulate concentration agent that is substantially optically transparent when in contact with the culture medium in the culture device when the culture medium is hydrated; (b) placing the particulate concentration agent in contact with the sample such that at least a portion of the coliform strain is bound to the particulate concentration agent to form coliform-bound particulate concentration agent; (c) placing the coliform-bound particulate concentration agent in contact with the culture medium; (d) incubating the culture device comprising the coliform-bound particulate concentration agent in contact with the culture medium, the culture medium being hydrated; and (e) optically detecting the presence of the coliform strain without separating the coliform strain from the particulate concentration agent.
US08741592B2	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.
US08741591B2	pH-insensitive glucose indicator protein The present invention encompasses a glucose indicator protein, a biosensor comprising one or more glucose indicator proteins, and methods of use thereof.
US08741588B2	Monoclonal antibodies against PBP2A derived from MRSA and methods of use Mouse monoclonal antibodies specifically recognizing the Penicillin Binding Protein 2a (PBP2a) derived from a strain of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were produced and characterized. The immunogen used to generate an immune response in a mouse was a PBP2a recombinant protein derived from a strain of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The data showed that both monoclonal antibodies of the disclosure were able to distinguish MRSA from MSSA bacteria. The monoclonal antibodies have distinct recognition patterns for the regions of the PBP2a protein sequence. Epitope mapping has localized regions of the PBP2a protein specifically recognized by one or both of the monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies of the present disclosure having the ability to distinguish between MRSA and MSSA strains can be useful as the basis for a diagnostic assay useful in the clinical setting for determining whether and which antibiotics to administer to a patient.
US08741580B2	Markers of renal transplant rejection and renal damage The present invention relates to methods of detecting renal transplant rejection and other forms of renal damage. Protein markers or renal damage are provided, along with assays for detecting said markers. Also provided are methods for identifying markers of renal damage.
US08741579B2	Compounds and methods for the modulation of beta-1 integrin function to mediate tissue repair The present invention provides methods and compositions which modulate beta 1 integrin activity by functioning as allosteric antagonists. In particular, the present invention provides methods for mediating tissue repair where insult or injury has occurred by antagonising the allosteric function of beta 1 integrin.
US08741576B2	Heteroclitic analogs and related methods Heteroclitic analogs of Class I epitopes are prepared by providing conservative or semi-conservative amino acid substitutions at positions 3 and/or 5 and/or 7 of these epitopes. The analogs are useful in eliciting immune responses with respect to the corresponding wildtype epitopes.
US08741574B2	Gene expression signature of genomic instability in breast cancer Methods of assessing genomic instability in breast cancer tissue by measuring the expression level of genes CDKN2A, SCYA18, STK15, NXF1, cDNA Dkfzp762M127, p28 KIAA0882, MYB, Human clone 23948, RERG, HNF3A, and ACADSB or a nucleic acid sequence comprising about 90% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 21 in breast cancer tissue, an array suitable for use in such methods, and related methods and compositions.
US08741569B2	Methods for normalizing and for identifying small nucleic acids The present teachings are generally directed to methods for normalizing at least one species of small nucleic acid that is present in a population of small nucleic acid species, wherein the relative concentration of at least one small nucleic acid species is substantially greater than the relative concentration of at least one other small nucleic acid species in the population. At least one small nucleic acid species is normalized using a multiplicity of primers comprising degenerate sequences. In some embodiments, a small nucleic acid species is identified by inserting at least part of an extension product from a normalized population into a vector and subsequently sequencing the insert. In some embodiments, a small nucleic acid species is identified by determining the sequence of at least part of an extension product.
US08741567B2	Composition and methods related to modification of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology. More particularly, it concerns methods and compositions for detecting, evaluating, and/or mapping 5-hydroxymethyl-modified cytosine bases within a nucleic acid molecule.
US08741560B2	Stable compositions for nucleic acid amplification and sequencing The present invention is directed to compositions comprising mixtures of reagents, including thermostable enzymes (e.g., thermostable DNA polymerases), buffers, cofactors and other components, suitable for immediate use in nucleic acid amplification or sequencing techniques without dilution or addition of further components. The compositions contain no stabilizing agents (e.g., glycerol or serum albumin) and unexpectedly maintain activity for extended periods of time upon storage at temperatures above freezing. These compositions are useful, alone or in the form of kits, for nucleic acid amplification (e.g., by the Polymerase Chain Reaction) and sequencing (e.g., by dideoxy or “Sanger” sequencing), or for any procedure utilizing thermostable DNA polymerases in a variety of medical, forensic and agricultural applications. In particular, the compositions and methods are useful for amplifying and sequencing nucleic acid molecules that are larger than about 7 kilobases in size.
US08741559B2	Cellular assay employing detectable protein Provided herein are assays useful, for example, for determining the activity of a protein involved in a cellular process. In some embodiments, the activity of the protein is assessed using a nucleic acid tag, and in particular, by detecting the presence of a nucleic acid tag. Such assays can be used, for example, to study the effects of test compounds as modulators, e.g., inhibitors, agonists and antagonists, of protein activity.
US08741557B2	Predicting graft rejection Prognostic methods useful in assessing patients who have received a transplant and reagents that can be used to carry out those methods are provided. The inventions are based, in part, on our analysis of gene expression in renal allografts and clinical parameters, i.e., variables associated with the donor, the recipient and/or the graft. The genes that can be assessed include those encoding agents that mediate inflammation, immune activation, and cell death (we may refer to these genes as “inflammatory”, “immune” or “cytoprotective”). Surprisingly, the levels of gene expression could predict the occurrence of DGF, AR, and the quality of later graft function even when analyzed shortly after (e.g., after vascular anastomosis and tissue reperfusion). We also found that clinical parameters available at the time of transplantation correlate with decreased graft health and can be considered in combination with gene expression to evaluate a patient's risk for an adverse outcome.
US08741556B2	Method for quantifying biomolecules The present invention relates to a method that allows comprehensive quantitation of one or a plurality biomolecules, including the entire complement of biomolecules in a sample by comparing their quantity to the quantity of reference biomolecules in a standard mixture obtained via extraction from at least two different cell populations. The invention further relates to said standard mixture itself, its preparation and use.
US08741553B2	Aromatic hydrocarbon resin, underlayer film forming composition for lithography, and method for forming multilayer resist pattern Provided is an aromatic hydrocarbon resin with a high carbon concentration and a low oxygen concentration that can be used as a coating agent or a resist resin for semiconductors, as well as a composition for forming an underlayer film for photolithography with excellent etching resistance as an underlayer film for a multilayer resist process, an underlayer film formed from the composition, and a method for forming a pattern using the underlayer film. An aromatic hydrocarbon, an aromatic aldehyde, and a phenol derivative are reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to yield an aromatic hydrocarbon resin with a high carbon concentration of 90 to 99.9 mass % and a solubility in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate of 10 mass % or more.
US08741550B2	Building up diffractive optics by structured glass coating The invention relates to optical parts, and in particular to a process for applying an optically active structuring to a substrate, and also to a component produced using a process of this type. The process for applying an optically active structuring to a substrate comprises in particular photolithographic techniques and the deposition of material via physical vapor deposition processes.
US08741549B2	Method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head and liquid ejection head Provided is a method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head, including: forming a covering resin layer including a photocationic polymerization initiator and a cationically polymerizable resin on a substrate having provided thereon an energy generating element for generating energy for ejecting liquid and a solid layer which is formed of a positive resist and serves as a pattern for a liquid flow path which communicates with a liquid ejection orifice for ejecting the liquid; exposing the covering resin layer to development to form the liquid ejection orifice; and removing the solid layer to form the liquid flow path, in which the covering resin layer includes, as a cationic polymerization inhibitor, an amine compound having a perfluoroalkyl group. Also provided is a liquid ejection head obtained by the method.
US08741542B2	Actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, film formed using the composition and pattern forming method using the same Provided is an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition comprising (A) a specific compound represented by a general formula, (B) a resin which is alkali-insoluble or sparingly alkali-soluble and becomes easily alkali-soluble in the presence of an acid, and (C) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation; a film formed using the composition; and a pattern forming method using the same.
US08741538B2	Polymer compound, photoresist composition containing such polymer compound, and method for forming resist pattern A polymer compound that, within a chemically amplified positive resist system, exhibits a significant change in alkali solubility from a state prior to exposure to that following exposure, as well as a photoresist composition that includes such a polymer compound and a method for forming a resist pattern, which are capable of forming fine patterns with a high level of resolution. The polymer compound includes, as an alkali-soluble group (i), a substituent group in which a group selected from amongst alcoholic hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, and phenolic hydroxyl groups is protected with an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group (ii) represented by a general formula (1) shown below: [Formula 1] —CH2—O-AO—CH2—]n (1) (wherein, A represents an organic group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms with a valency of at least n+1, and n represents an integer from 1 to 4).
US08741534B2	Efficient solvent-based phase inversion emulsification process with defoamer A process and system for making a resin emulsion suitable for use in forming toner particles including a silicone free anti-foam agent to control foam during formation of a polyester dispersion.
US08741529B2	Image forming method, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge An image forming method including forming an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member; developing the electrostatic latent image using a color toner and a transparent toner to form a color toner image and a transparent toner image thereon; transferring the color toner image and the transparent toner image to a recording material; and fixing the color toner image and the transparent toner image on the recording material. The color toner includes a polyester resin and a colorant, and the loss tangent of the color toner has a maximum peak at a temperature of from 80° C. to 160° C., and is not greater than 3 at the maximum peak. The transparent toner includes a crystalline polyester resin, and the loss tangent of the transparent toner has a maximum peak at a temperature of from 80° C. to 160° C., and is not less than 3 at the maximum peak.
US08741527B2	Liquid developer, developer cartridge, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and image forming method A liquid developer includes: a carrier liquid; and toner particles that are dispersed in the carrier liquid and that includes a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, a styrene-based thermoplastic resin, and a quaternary ammonium base-containing polymer having a constituent unit expressed by Chemical Formula I: wherein R1 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group with a carbon number equal to or less than 3, R2 represents an alkylene group with a carbon number equal to or less than 18, R3 to R5 represent an alkyl group or an aralkyl group with a carbon number equal to or less than 18, X represents —COO— or —CONH—, and Y− represents a halogen ion or an anion having a —COO— group or a —SO3— group in the structure thereof.
US08741526B2	Developer There is provided a developer that has excellent positive charging characteristics and charging stability, and which is compatible with high-speed developing. The developer of the invention contains toner particles and an insulating liquid, wherein a fatty acid ester is contained as the insulating liquid, a substance A expressed by the following formula (1) and/or a substance B expressed by the following formula (2) is further contained, and the total percentage in which substance A and substance B are contained is at least 0.1 wt % and no more than 3.0 wt %.
US08741524B2	Toner, developer, and image forming method A toner containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the toner has a core-shell structure composed of a core, and a shell having a thickness of 0.01 μm to 2 μm on a surface of the core, and wherein the toner satisfies the following relation: 1.1≦ST/CT≦2.0 where ST is a softening temperature of the shell, and CT is a softening temperature of the core, both measured by a SPM probe with an integrated heater.
US08741522B2	Electrostatic charge image developing toner, electrostatic charge image developer, toner cartridge, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and image forming method An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes: a polyester resin that has a glass transition temperature of about 45° C. or higher and in which a proportion of repeating units derived from fumaric acid in repeating units derived from acid components is 10 mol % or greater and a proportion of repeating units derived from alkenylsuccinic acid in the repeating units derived from acid components is 10 mol % or greater; and a photopolymerization initiator, wherein a content of the photopolymerization initiator is from about 0.5% by weight to about 10% by weight.
US08741521B2	Toner, developer, image forming method and image forming apparatus A toner containing toner particles, each toner particle containing: a releasing agent; a colorant; and a binder resin containing at least a crystalline polyester resin and a non-crystalline polyester resin, wherein in the case where a volume average particle diameter of the toner is defined as Dv, the toner contains a group of the toner particles having 4/5 Dv, and a group of the toner particles having 6/5 Dv, and wherein an endothermic value A of the crystalline polyester resin at a first temperature increase in DSC of the toner, an endothermic value B of the crystalline polyester resin at a first temperature increase in DSC of the group of the toner particle having 4/5 Dv, and an endothermic value C of the crystalline polyester resin at a first temperature increase in DSC of the group of the toner particles having 6/5 Dv satisfy the relation represented by the following formulas: 50<(B/A)×100<90, and 110<(C/A)×100<150.
US08741520B2	Image forming toner, image forming apparatus, image forming method, and process cartridge The present invention provides an image forming toner including at least a linear polyester resin (b1) as a binder resin, wherein the linear polyester resin (b1) is obtained by reacting a polyester diol (b11) having a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid skeleton, with a polyester diol (b12) other than the polyester diol (b11) in the presence of a chain extending agent.
US08741519B2	Toner Provided is a toner having an excellent low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance, a broad fixing temperature latitude in low-temperature areas to high-temperature areas, and a high heat-resistant storage stability. The toner includes toner particles having a core-shell structure in which a shell phase containing a resin A is formed on a core containing a binder resin, a colorant and a wax. In measurement of resin A by a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the peak temperature TpA (° C.) of a maximum endothermic peak in the first temperature rise is at least 55° C. but not more than 80° C. In measurement of a viscoelasticity of resin A, the loss elastic modulus at TpA−10 (° C.) is at least 1×107 Pa but not more than 1×108 Pa. In measurement of the viscoelasticity of resin A, the loss elastic moduli at TpA (° C.), TpA+10 (° C.) and TpA+25 (° C.) satisfy specific conditions.
US08741517B2	Toner for developing electrostatic latent image and method of preparing the same A toner includes a binder including two different weight molecular weight resins, a colorant, and a releasing agent, wherein a gel permeation chromatogram (GPC) molecular weight distribution curve of the toner has a major peak (Mp) present in a range of about 1.0×104 to about 3.0×104 g/mol and a shoulder curve starting at 1.0×105 g/mol or more, and a storage modulus (G′) curve of the toner with respect to temperature has Ts, which is a temperature at which a storage modulus value begins to decrease, in a temperature range of about 50 to about 67° C.
US08741510B2	Method of calculating amount of fluctuation of imaging characteristic of projection optical system, exposure apparatus, and method of fabricating device In a case where a substrate is exposed to exposure light of a first wavelength band, an exposure coefficient, which is defined as an amount of fluctuation of an imaging characteristic of a projection optical system per unit of exposure energy, for the first wavelength band is calculated using data of the amount of fluctuation of the optical characteristic of the projection optical system. An exposure coefficient for a second wavelength band that is different from the first wavelength band is calculated using the exposure coefficient for the first wavelength band. In a case where the substrate is exposed to exposure light of the second wavelength band, the amount of fluctuation of the imaging characteristic of the projection optical system is calculated using the exposure coefficient for the second wavelength band.
US08741509B2	Colored curable composition, color filter, and method for producing color filter A colored curable composition for a solid-state image sensor comprises a polyhalogenated zinc phthalocyanine pigment, and a compound having at least a structure represented by the following Formula (A). In Formula (A), X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, and X6 each independently represent a substituent selected from —OH, —OR, or —NHCOCH═CH2, R represents a monovalent organic group. When the compound is an oligomer, the oligomer has a configuration in which at least one of X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, and X6 in a structure represented by Formula (A) is eliminated to form a single bond, which is then linked, via —O—, to another structure represented by Formula (A).
US08741508B2	Colored curable composition, color resist, ink-jet ink, color filter and method for producing the same, solid-state image pickup device, image display device, liquid crystal display, organic el display, and colorant compound and tautomer thereof A colored curable composition including: at least one selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following Formula (1a) and a tautomer thereof; and at least one polymerizable compound, wherein R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, and R16 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent; and R11 and R12, and R15 and R16 independently may bond to each other in each pair to form a ring.
US08741507B1	Method for separating photomask pattern A method for separating photomask pattern, including the following steps: first, a layout pattern is provided, wherein the layout pattern is defined to have at least one critical pattern and at least one non-critical pattern. Then, a first split process is performed to separate the critical pattern into a plurality of first patterns and a plurality of second patterns. A second split process is performed to separate the non-critical pattern into a plurality of third patterns and a plurality of fourth patterns. Finally, the first patterns and the third patterns are output to a first photomask, and the second patterns and the fourth patterns are output to a second photomask.
US08741504B2	Solid catalysts and fuel cell employing the solid catalysts A solid catalyst having a close-packed structure has basic structural units present in the surface of the solid catalyst, the basic structural units including (i) a triangular lattice constituted of atoms of platinum, ruthenium, and at least one additional element which are disposed at the vertexes in the triangular lattice so that each atom of one of the elements adjoins atoms of the other elements or (ii) a rhombic lattice constituted of atoms of platinum, ruthenium, and at least one additional element which are disposed at the vertexes in the rhombic lattice in an atomic ratio of 1:2:1 so that each ruthenium atom directly adjoins a platinum atom and an atom of the additional element; and a fuel cell includes either of the solid catalyst as an anode-side electrode catalyst.
US08741501B2	Nanoengineered membrane-electrode assembly for high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells A membrane electrode assembly for a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cell includes a nano-engineered polymeric membrane between an anode and a cathode. The membrane is an electrical insulator, but permits that passage of protons through the membrane. The membrane has a plurality of blind pores therein, each blind pore having an electrically-conductive coating along its inner wall that is in electrical contact with the adjacent one of the anode or cathode. The electrically-conductive coating includes a catalyst, such as platinum, for promoting the liberation of a proton and an electron from a chemical molecule, such as hydrogen, and/or for promoting the combination of a proton, an electron and another molecule, such as oxygen, to form yet another molecule, such as water.
US08741498B2	Fuel cell In a fuel cell, one of separators that are opposed to each other and an intermediate body interposed between the separators are sandwiched by a cell monitor. An end portion of the intermediate body extends to an edge portion of a cell monitor mounting portion of the above-indicated one separator. The intermediate body includes at least one of a member that functions to hold an electrolyte body, a spacer (as in the case where the intermediate body is a resin frame), and a seal member or members. A major surface of the separator in the cell monitor mounting portion on which the cell monitor is mounted is in surface contact with a terminal of the cell monitor for conduction therebetween.
US08741494B2	Fuel cell power plant used as reformate generator A method for operating a fuel cell power plant to provide end-use electricity, end-use heat and end-use reformate includes the steps of providing a fuel cell power plant that consumes reformate to provide electricity and heat, said fuel cell power plant having a nominal reformate flow rate and including a fuel processor system for generating reformate from a hydrocarbon fuel; operating the fuel processor system so as to provide a reformate flow at a rate greater than the nominal reformate flow rate; operating the fuel cell power plant using a first portion of the reformate flow to generate the electricity and the heat, the first portion being less than or equal to the nominal reformate flow rate; and providing a second portion of the reformate flow as the end-use reformate.
US08741491B2	Ionic liquid containing sulfonate ions Embodiments are related to ionic liquids and more specifically to ionic liquids used in electrochemical metal-air cells in which the ionic liquid includes sulfonate ions as the anion.
US08741489B2	Separator for lithium ion secondary battery, method for manufacture thereof, and lithium ion secondary battery Disclosed are a separator for lithium ion secondary batteries, having an inorganic layer formed from inorganic particles, characterized in that the inorganic particles have a particle diameter distribution in which the 50% cumulative particle diameter D50 is in the range of 100 nm to 500 nm, the 10% cumulative particle diameter D10 is 0.5D50 or more, and the 90% cumulative particle diameter D90 is 2D50 or less; a method for manufacturing the separator; and a lithium ion secondary battery using the separator. When the separator is used, there can be produced a lithium ion secondary battery in which a short circuit caused by contraction or melting can be definitely prevented, as well as the current density applied to the electrodes during charging and discharging is uniform so that charging and discharging can be efficiently achieved.
US08741487B1	Electrode current collector with stress-relieving mesh structure A current collector comprising a frame conductor formed as a closed undulating perimeter, and a conductive mesh formed within the frame conductor is described. The conductive mesh is comprised of a plurality of radial struts, each radial strut having a central end and an outer end. The radial struts emanate from a junction within the undulating perimeter with their outer ends connected to the undulating perimeter of the frame. The conductive mesh may include branch struts having proximal ends and distal ends, with the proximal ends connected to the radial struts. The distal ends of the branch struts may be connected to the undulating perimeter, or to adjacent radial struts. The current collector is used in an electrochemical cell, wherein a first electrode active material is contacted to at least one of first and second major sides of the current collector to provide a first electrode.
US08741485B2	Layer-layer lithium rich complex metal oxides with high specific capacity and excellent cycling Lithium rich and manganese rich lithium metal oxides are described that provide for excellent performance in lithium-based batteries. The specific compositions can be engineered within a specified range of compositions to provide desired performance characteristics. Selected compositions can provide high values of specific capacity with a reasonably high average voltage. Compositions of particular interest can be represented by the formula, x Li2MnO3.(1−x) Li Niu+ΔMnu−ΔCowAyO2. The compositions undergo significant first cycle irreversible changes, but the compositions cycle stably after the first cycle.
US08741482B2	Mixed cathode active material having improved power characteristics and lithium secondary battery including the same Provided are a mixed cathode active material including layered structure lithium manganese oxide expressed as Chemical Formula 1 and a second cathode active material having a plateau voltage profile in a range of 2.5 V to 3.3 V, and a lithium secondary battery including the mixed cathode active material. The mixed cathode active material and the lithium secondary battery including the same may have improved safety and simultaneously, may be used in an operating device requiring the foregoing battery by widening a state of charge (SOC) range able to maintain power more than a required value by allowing the second cathode active material to complement low power in a low SOC range.
US08741480B2	Non-aqueous secondary battery comprising a polyvalent organic lithium salt The non-aqueous secondary battery of the present invention comprises a positive electrode containing a lithium-containing composite oxide as an active material, a negative electrode, a separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains polyvalent organic lithium salt, and the content of the polyvalent organic lithium salt is 0.001 parts by mass or more and 1 part by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of all of the components of the non-aqueous electrolyte other than the polyvalent organic lithium salt.
US08741478B2	Pouch-type rechargeable battery and its method of manufacture A pouch-type rechargeable battery and its method of manufacture includes: an electrode assembly having a resin layer attached to the outer surface of an electrode tap, and a pouch having a sealing part formed on the ends of the top and bottom thereof, housing the electrode assembly. The resin layer is positioned inside the sealing part and sealed by heat and pressure for preventing it from being exposed outside the sealing part. Thus, the pouch-type rechargeable battery is adapted to seal the resin layer in the sealing part, instead of exposing it outside the sealing part so as to reduce the longitudinal length of the battery, thereby improving the capacity of the battery.
US08741471B2	Battery pack A battery pack including a core pack including a plurality of unit cells, the plurality of unit cells including a first unit cell including a first electrode tab extending in a first direction, and a second unit cell including a second electrode tab coupled to the first electrode tab at a first coupling region at which the second electrode tab overlaps the first electrode tab; and a lead member coupled to the first electrode tab at a second coupling region at which the lead member overlaps the first electrode tab, the second coupling region being different from the first coupling region.
US08741470B2	Electrochemical device having different kinds of separators An electrochemical device includes a plurality of unit cells, each having a first separator and a cathode and an anode positioned at both sides of the first separator, and a continuous single second separator interposed between adjacent unit cells in correspondence with each other in a laminated pattern and arranged to surround each unit cell. The first separator includes a heat-resisting porous substrate having a melt point of 200° C. or above and a first porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the heat-resisting porous substrate and made of a mixture of a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer. The second separator includes a polyolefin porous substrate and a second porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the polyolefin porous substrate and made of a mixture of a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer.
US08741469B2	Electrode assembly with multiple separators wound about a winding center An electrode assembly for a secondary battery, a method of manufacturing the electrode assembly and a secondary battery having the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a plurality of electrode members arranged in a stacked shape along a baseline extending in one direction and a separation unit separating two adjacent electrode members. The separation unit includes three or more separators having a same winding center.
US08741466B2	Conduction and convection cooled energy storage system An energy storage system comprising at least one energy storage module adapted to supply electrical energy to a hybrid vehicle. The energy storage module comprises an enclosure having at least one battery array located within the enclosure. The energy storage module includes a thermal pad disposed between the battery array and an interior surface of the primary enclosure. A heat sink is disposed on an exterior surface of the primary enclosure. The heat sink comprises a plurality of fins which may be disposed angularly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the primary enclosure. The height or length of the fins may be varied relative to a fan location to provide uniform cooling across the battery cells in the battery array. An enclosing plate is mounted exterior to the heat sink and defining an airflow cavity, wherein the enclosing plate directs air from the fan across the heat sink.
US08741464B2	Inertia enhanced latching system An electronic device and battery are presented. The electronic device includes the battery, which has a first latch. The first latch has an arm and a hook. The arm is connected with the battery at a connected end and the hook at a free end opposed to the connected end. The hook forms a peak and a base connected with the free end. The base forms an inwardly projecting groove. The electronic device also includes a device housing forming a main cavity bound by first and second side surfaces, a rear surface and a bottom surface. The first side surface includes a ledge for receiving the groove and defines a latch cavity for receiving the first latch. In an engaged position, the peak extends into the latch cavity and the groove engages the ledge.
US08741463B2	Fuel cell A fuel cell assembly that includes at least one cell cartridge with two or more cell modules, a pair of electrodes and current collectors, each cell cartridge further having a fixing portion and module connecting portions; and an outer case for storing one or more cell cartridges, the outer case having a plurality of planar cartridge connecting portions.
US08741462B1	Kit for remote location of smoke detector battery A kit is provided that provides for remotely locating a smoke detector battery from a surface mounted smoke detector of the type that comprises an internal two wire battery connector. The kit comprises a first connector arranged to mate with the internal two-wire battery connector. The kit also includes a length of surface mountable tape wire comprising at least two, flat, thin, flexible, elongate conductors carried by an insulating tape. A second connector is configured to connect the first pair of electrical wire conductors to the two elongate conductors. A container is provided for containing a smoke detector battery. The container comprises a pair of contacts for electrically connecting to a smoked detector battery. A third connector is provided to connect the container contacts to the elongate conductors. The container is mountable at a location on a wall surface to provide convenient access to the battery.
US08741456B2	Battery temperature control apparatus and battery temperature control method A battery temperature control apparatus capable of controlling the temperature of a battery to reach a suitable condition is provided. Thermal capacity determining unit 61, based on the temperature of battery 1 detected by battery temperature detector 2 and a target temperature stored in storage unit 5, determines the thermal capacity necessary for setting the temperature of battery 1 to the target temperature. Temperature regulating ability determining unit 62, based on the temperature of battery 1 detected by battery temperature detector 2 and the temperature of the temperature regulating medium detected by medium temperature detector 4, determines the temperature regulating ability of fan 3. Flow rate controller 63, based on the thermal capacity determined by thermal capacity determining unit 61 and the temperature regulating ability determined by temperature regulating ability determining unit 62, controls the flow rate of the temperature regulating medium sent by the fan. The temperature of battery 1 becomes close to the target temperature due to the temperature regulating medium sent from fan 3.
US08741454B2	Proton exchange membrane for fuel cell A proton exchange membrane (PEM) with an ion exchange capacity of not less than 1 molar equivalent per kilogram and less than 20% water swelling is provided. The PEM includes a polymer having a polyphosphazene backbone with a polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene as a polyaromatic side chain, a non-polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene as a non-polyaromatic side chain, and an acidic functional group linked to the non-polyaromatic side chain. The polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene provides for increased thermal and chemical stability, excellent ionic conductivities and low water swelling. The mole fraction of polyaromatic functional groups linked to the polyphosphazene backbone is between 0.05 and 0.60.
US08741453B2	Current interrupting device and secondary battery including current interrupting device Disclosed are a current interrupting device and a secondary battery including the same. According to an embodiment, a current interrupting device comprises a first terminal; a second terminal; a fuse coupled to the first and second terminals; and a fuse body surrounding an exterior of the fuse to seal the fuse, wherein the first and second terminals include thin portions connected to the fuse, and the thin portions have a thickness less than a thickness of other portions of the first and second terminals.
US08741448B2	Fullerene derivatives and optoelectronic devices utilizing the same Disclosed is a fullerene derivative having a formula of F-Cy, wherein F is an open-cage fullerene, and Cy is a chalcogenyl group. The fullerene derivative can be applied to hydrogen storage material and an optoelectronic device such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a solar cell, or an organic thin film transistor (TFT).
US08741446B2	Organic compound and organic electroluminescent device employing the same Organic compounds and organic electroluminescent devices employing the same are provided. The organic compound has a chemical structure represented below: wherein, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independent and can be H, C1-8 alkyl, C1-8 alkoxy, C1-8 halo-alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, hetero-cycloalkyl, or cycloaliphatic group, and A is S, or
US08741445B2	Aluminum or aluminum alloy material having surface treatment coating film, and method for treating a surface thereof Provided is an aluminum or aluminum alloy material having a surface treatment coating film on a surface of a substrate formed by an aluminum or aluminum alloy. The aluminum or aluminum alloy material has: a substrate formed by an aluminum or aluminum alloy; and a first protective layer and a second protective layer in the order on a surface of the substrate, wherein the first protective layer is a conversion coating film including vanadium and at least one or more types of metals selected from titanium, zirconium, and hafnium, the second protective layer is an organic coating film having a composition that includes (1) a chitosan derivative and a solubilizing agent, (2) a modified polyvinyl alcohol formed by graft polymerization of a hydrophilic polymer to a side chain of polyvinyl alcohol, and (3) a water-soluble crosslinking agent.
US08741442B2	Modified electrodes using functional organic materials and electronic devices therefrom A surface modified electrode, included in an electronic device comprises an electrode layer, and a functional organic material. The functional organic material comprises an amine-substituted polymeric material which is on the surface of and in contact with the electrode layer. Such surface modified electrodes are useful for producing electronic devices.
US08741441B2	Insulated wire An insulated wire includes a conductor, and an insulating covering layer formed on a periphery of the conductor and including two or more insulating coatings. The insulating coatings include a polyamide-imide resin insulating material represented by chemical formula 1: where R indicates a divalent aromatic diamine including three or more aromatic rings. The insulating coatings are formed by applying and baking the polyamide-imide resin insulating material, and the polyamide-imide resin insulating material is obtained by reacting an imide group containing dicarboxylic acid with a diisocyanate, the imide group containing dicarboxylic acid being obtained by dehydration reaction of a diamine comprising a divalent aromatic diamine including three or more aromatic rings with an acid using an azeotropic solvent.
US08741437B2	Substrate with antimicrobial properties Substrate with Antimicrobial Properties An antimicrobial substrate (glass, ceramic or metallic) coated on at least one of its surface with at least one mixed layer deposited by a sputtering under vacuum magnetically enhanced process is described. The layer comprising at least one antimicrobial agent mixed to binder material chosen amongst the metal oxides, oxynitrides, oxycarbides or nitrides. This substrate present antimicrobial properties, in particular bactericidal activity even when no thermal treatment has been applied. If a tempered and antimicrobial glass is required, the same co-sputtering process can be used, optionally an underlayer can be added. Antimicrobial properties are maintained even after a tempering process.
US08741436B2	Window glass with conductive ceramic fired body A window glass with a conductive ceramic fired body includes at least one glass plate having main surfaces, and the conductive ceramic fired body including a feeding point and a linear portion which is disposed on either one of the main surfaces of the glass plate, at least a part of the linear portion being placed in a visible region of the window glass and formed by successively laminating a first colored layer, a conductor layer and a second colored layer on the main surface, wherein the first colored layer and the second colored layer each include a pigment and a glass component, and the conductor layer includes silver and the glass component.
US08741435B2	Method and apparatus for coating substrates According to various embodiments, a coating mixture is capable of being applied on a substrate. The coating mixture includes acidified graphite particles, a suspension of polytetrafluoroethylene resin in water, and silver ion doped microporous particles. When the coating mixture is applied to a surface of the substrate, the coating resists growth of microorganisms.
US08741434B2	Transparent conductive films containing carbon nanotubes and touch panel Disclosed herein is a transparent conductive polycarbonate film coated with carbon nanotubes, including a transparent conductive layer formed by applying a mixed solution of carbon nanotubes and a binder on one side or both sides of a transparent polycarbonate film, and a touch panel using the transparent conductive polycarbonate film as a lower transparent electrode. The present invention provides a transparent conductive polycarbonate film coated with a mixed solution of carbon nanotubes and a binder, by which a touch panel having high transmissivity can be manufactured by directly forming a transparent conductive layer on a polycarbonate film used as a protective film of a liquid crystal display using carbon nanotubes, without using a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate used for a transparent electrode of a conventional touch panel, by which the production cost of the touch panel can be decreased, and by which a thin touch panel can be manufactured.
US08741433B2	Packaging films comprising nylon blend compositions Compositions and packaging films are provided having a blend of an amorphous nylon copolymer, a low temperature polyamide, and a high temperature polyamide. The compositions can be used in making heat shrinkable films and food packages having desirable levels of free shrink.
US08741430B2	Storage stable amino-formaldehyde resins and applications thereof Amino-formaldehyde resins may be prepared using formulations including formaldehyde, glycerin and at least one amino compound selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, and mixtures thereof; under reaction conditions sufficient to prepare a resin, wherein; the amino-formaldehyde resin is prepared in a substantial absence of a sulfonating agent, ethylene glycol, and polyalkylene glycols. If the amino compound is urea, then the urea is present in a molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea ranging from 0.70 to 1.30; if the amino compound is melamine, then the melamine is present in a molar ratio of formaldehyde to melamine ranging from 1.3 to 2.2; and if the amino compound is a mixture of urea and melamine, then the mixture of urea and melamine is present in a molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea and melamine ranging from 0.35 to 1.3.
US08741424B2	Transparent conductive element, input device, electronic device, and master for fabrication of transparent conductive element A transparent conductive element includes a base having a first surface and a second surface, and a transparent electrode pattern part and a transparent insulating pattern part formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The transparent electrode pattern part and the transparent insulating pattern part are laid alternately on a base surface. Plural pore portions are randomly formed apart in the transparent electrode pattern part and. Plural island portions are randomly formed apart in the transparent insulating pattern part.
US08741421B2	Process for the manufacturing of surface elements with a structured top surface A process for the manufacturing of a decorative surface element, which element comprises a base layer and a decorative upper surface. A radiation curing lacquer is printed in a predetermined pattern as an uppermost layer on the decorative upper surface. The radiation curing lacquer covers only parts of the decorative upper surface whereby the lacquer is exposed to radiation whereby it cures. A surface structure is hereby achieved.
US08741418B2	Method for manufacturing of cellular board, cellular board, method for producing cellular board element of steel plate strip, and production line The object of the invention is a method for manufacturing cellular board (1), a cellular board, a method for producing cellular board element of steel plate strip, and a production line. A cellular board (1) according to the invention comprises a number of originally separate profiles (4, 6) of plate-like material, which have been fastened to each other. A single profile is intended to form in a finished cellular board a substantially planar first surface projection (6, 6′), a substantially planar second surface projection (6″, 6′″), a core (4, 4′), which is arranged to interconnect the first and second surface projections. In the cellular board (1) the profiles are fastened to each other so that in the adjacent lamellae the first surface projections (6, 6′) are located side by side and form thus a first surface plate (2) of the cellular board, the second surface projections (6″, 6′″) are located side by side and form thus a second surface plate (3) of the cellular board, the profile cores (4, 4′) form the core structure of the cellular board.
US08741416B2	Sandwich panel with integrated reinforcing structure and method for the production thereof A Sandwich panel with a core structure, in particular with a honeycomb-shaped core structure, and plane-parallel cover layers applied to both sides of this core structure, to form a floor surface in a fuselage airframe of an aircraft, the core structure having at least one recess into which at least one reinforcing structure is integrated, wherein the at least one reinforcing structure is formed with at least one core, said core having at least one recess into which a stopper is introduced, into which at least one attachment element can be introduced to attach at least one further component to the sandwich panel, and a plurality of prepreg strips which each have a uniform fiber running direction being wound around the core. In addition, the invention relates to a method for the production of a sandwich panel according to the invention.
US08741413B2	Large diameter, high quality SiC single crystals, method and apparatus A method and system of forming large-diameter SiC single crystals suitable for fabricating high crystal quality SiC substrates of 100, 125, 150 and 200 mm in diameter are described. The SiC single crystals are grown by a seeded sublimation technique in the presence of a shallow radial temperature gradient. During SiC sublimation growth, a flux of SiC bearing vapors filtered from carbon particulates is substantially restricted to a central area of the surface of the seed crystal by a separation plate disposed between the seed crystal and a source of the SiC bearing vapors. The separation plate includes a first, substantially vapor-permeable part surrounded by a second, substantially non vapor-permeable part. The grown crystals have a flat or slightly convex growth interface. Large-diameter SiC wafers fabricated from the grown crystals exhibit low lattice curvature and low densities of crystal defects, such as stacking faults, inclusions, micropipes and dislocations.
US08741412B2	Seam and seam tape A seam comprising a first piece of laminated fabric, a second piece of laminated fabric, a layer of adhesive hydrostatic polymer, and a seam tape wherein the first and second pieces of laminated fabrics are coupled together at a common border with the layer of adhesive hydrostatic polymer to form a seam, and wherein the seam tape is at least partially coupled along the seam. A method of forming a seam comprising stacking, in order, a first piece of laminated fabric, at least one strip of adhesive hydrostatic polymer, and a second piece of laminated fabric, ultrasonically coupling the first piece of laminated fabric, strips of adhesive hydrostatic polymer, and second piece of laminated fabric together, wherein at least a portion of adhesive hydrostatic polymer from the strips of adhesive hydrostatic polymer is extruded through the seam, and applying a seam tape along at least a portion of the seam.
US08741410B2	Manufacturing method and system and associated rolls of sheets with alternating cuts and pre-cuts A roll includes a succession of sheets of single-use absorbent paper, the succession of sheets includes a first sheet partially defined by a first line of perforations and a first cut arrangement partially defined by a first cut, a second cut, and a connecting region arranged between the first cut and the second cut and a second sheet partially defined by the first cut arrangement, and a second line of perforations.
US08741407B2	Tube system The present invention relates to a hose system, in particular for vehicle tires, having a hose (12) formed into a ring, comprising polyurethane and having an at least substantially constant wall thickness along the extent thereof, wherein the substantially constant value of the wall thickness is in the range between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm.
US08741405B2	Package A package is formed a closed bag made of a multilayer film and contents enclosed in the bag. The film is folded to form the bag and has flat film sides and outer edges that are reinforced by weld seams. The film of the bag has a density of 0.5 g/cm3 to 0.9 g/cm3, a printable outer layer forming an outside surface of the package, an inner seal layer made of a sealable polymer forming an inside surface of the package, and a foamed polymer core layer between the outer layer and the inner layer. The contents are a lumpy or granular bulk material.
US08741404B2	Packaging for lipophilic materials The present invention relates to a packaging comprising a container surrounding a container interior, wherein at least the inner surface of the container in contact with the container interior is produced from a composition which comprises a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer composition comprising—a polymeric plasticizer and a polyol ester, and wherein the container is at least partly filled with a lipophilic packed product.
US08741402B2	Webs with synergists that promote or preserve the desirable color of meat Food packaging articles, food packaging webs, and food packaging methods comprising a myoglobin blooming agent and synergist that promote or preserve the desirable appearance of food products are provided. The food contact layer of the packaging webs may comprise a myoglobin blooming agent and a synergist.
US08741400B2	Latent image pattern formed body This invention provides a latent image pattern formed body that allows to observe a latent image having excellent visibility and authenticity discrimination and design properties than those of related arts when observed from the oblique direction. The latent image pattern formed body includes, in at least part of one surface of a substrate, a latent image region, an outline region arranged on an outline of at least part of the latent image region, and a background region arranged on a background of the latent image region and the outline region. In the latent image region, a plurality of first elements having a concave or convex shape are arranged at a first pitch in a first direction. In the background region, the plurality of first elements are arranged at the first pitch in the first direction in a phase different from that of the first elements in the latent image region. In the outline region, the plurality of first elements are arranged at the first pitch in the first direction in a phase different from that of the first elements in the latent image region or background region adjacent to the outline region. In the latent image region, the background region, and the outline region, a plurality of second elements having a color different from that of the substrate are arranged at a second pitch in a second direction.
US08741398B2	Liquid crystal panel and alignment film thereof The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel and an alignment film thereof, and the alignment film is made of a modified polyimide which has conjugated double bond at side chain. Resistance value of the alignment film is less than the resistance value of a liquid crystal material of the liquid crystal panel by properties of the conjugated double bond that can reduce the resistance value of a prior art polyimide. In addition, improving the imidization ratio of a modified polyimide alignment film is important. The present invention is conducted the charged ion from liquid crystal layer to the alignment film by the conjugated double bond of the modified polyimide at the side chain to prevent the increase in the ion density of the liquid crystal in part of this area, and improve the problem of image sticking.
US08741390B2	Metallic surface enhancement A method and composition for enhancing corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and contact resistance of a device comprising a copper or copper alloy substrate and at least one metal-based layer on a surface of the substrate. The composition comprises a phosphorus oxide compound selected from the group consisting of a phosphonic acid, a phosphonate salt, a phosphonate ester, a phosphoric acid, a phosphate salt, a phosphate ester, and mixtures thereof; an organic compound comprising a nitrogen-containing functional group; and a solvent having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes/cm as measured at 25° C.
US08741387B2	Process and system for distributing particles for incorporation within a composite structure A system and process is disclosed for binding particles to a carrier material in an isolated relationship for use in composite fabrication. A slurry comprising particles dispersed in fluid is created in particle suspension tanks, deposited as a uniform layer and filtered using reduced pressure applied to a filter belt to leave behind isolated particles, the reduced pressure further acting to overcome electrostatic and other forces of attraction between the particles until they can be permanently bound to the carrier with a binder or adhesive and collected on a take-up roll.
US08741386B2	Atomic layer deposition of quaternary chalcogenides Methods and systems are provided for synthesis and deposition of chalcogenides (including Cu2ZnSnS4). Binary compounds, such as metal sulfides, can be deposited by alternating exposures of the substrate to a metal cation precursor and a chalcogen anion precursor with purge steps between.
US08741385B2	Thermalization of gaseous precursors in CVD reactors The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor processing and provides methods that improve chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of semiconductor materials by promoting more efficient thermalization of precursor gases prior to their reaction. In preferred embodiments, the method provides heat transfer structures and their arrangement within a CVD reactor so as to promote heat transfer to flowing process gases. In certain preferred embodiments applicable to CVD reactors transparent to radiation from heat lamps, the invention provides radiation-absorbent surfaces placed to intercept radiation from the heat lamps and to transfer it to flowing process gases.
US08741377B2	Method of contact coating a microneedle array A method of coating a microneedle array by applying a coating fluid using a flexible film in a brush-like manner. A method of coating a microneedle array comprising: providing a microneedle array having a substrate and a plurality of microneedles; providing a flexible film; providing a coating solution comprising a carrier fluid and a coating material; applying the coating solution onto a first major surface of the flexible film; performing a transfer step of bringing the first major surface of the flexible film into contact with the microneedles and removing the flexible film from contact with the microneedles; and allowing the carrier fluid to evaporate.
US08741376B2	Nutriment containing arabinoxylan and oligosaccharides The present invention provides nutritional compositions, more particularly food supplements and processed food products, enriched with arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides and further comprising either or both water-unextractable arabinoxylans or water-soluble arabinoxylans. Preferably said nutritional compositions comprises both arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides and water-unextractable arabinoxylans.
US08741371B2	Tea leaves for extraction of green tea beverage Provided are tea leaves for green tea beverage extraction. A green tea beverage that can be stored without sediments precipitating and without turning brown, and also tastes good chilled, can be extracted from said leaves. Said leaves are characterized in that the relationship between X and Y fulfills condition (1), where X is the weight fraction of theanine content with respect to the total weight of dried tea leaves, and Y is the weight fraction of monosaccharide content with respect to caffeine content. −0.136X+0.35≦Y≦−0.136X+0.46. (1)
US08741370B2	Expanded products with high protein content High protein expanded products are produced by extrusion with unique blends of ingredients, such as wheat protein isolates, modified wheat starch, salts, gums and moisture. The mixture is extruded in a twin-screw extruder with the temperatures in the range of 50 to 140° C., screw speeds of 250 to 450 rpm and with a back pressure of 350 to 1200 psi for different recipes. A range of expanded wheat crisps and other expanded products with wheat protein contents ranging from 30 to 90% are obtained from this process. The expanded products have good cell structure with varying cell sizes when viewed under a microscope. This process can be used to develop a varied range of products such as, wheat crisps, wheat curls, wheat loops etc. The products may be used in nutritional or health bars and other comestible having a high protein and low carbohydrate content.
US08741366B2	Treated paper product, combination food and treated paper product, and methods for manufacturing and using treated paper product A treated paper product is provided according to the invention. The treated paper product comprises a result of applying a water based emulsion to a paper base sheet to provide an impregnated paper product, and drying the impregnated paper product to a water content of less than about 8 wt. % to provide the treated paper product. The water based emulsion includes a barrier and/or release forming component comprising at least one of stearylated melamine, polyethylene wax, paraffin wax, isoparaffin wax, microcrystalline wax, fluoropolymer wax, silicone wax, alkyl ketene materials, octyl succinic anhydride, Werner chrome complex, natural wax, and mixtures thereof. The water based emulsion can have a solids content of between about 2 wt. % and about 50 wt. % when it is applied to the paper base sheet. Methods for manufacturing and using the treated paper product, and a combination food and treated paper product are provided.
US08741362B2	Phytocomplex from bergamot fruit, process of manufacture and use as dietary supplement and in the pharmaceutical field The invention relates a phytocomplex obtained from the bergamot fruit albedo (Citrus Bergamia Risso & Poiteau), the production thereof and the use thereof, in particular under the form of dry extract, to be used as normalizer of the metabolic unbalances of lypemic and glycemic type, in the treatment of the cutaneous diseases with inflammatory or degenerative character, as painkilling/anti-inflammatory agent, as antineoplastic agent and dietary supplement.
US08741361B2	NGNA compositions and methods of use The present invention relates to the field of viral disorders, and in particular to viral obesity. Compositions comprising nutraceutical agents are provided for treating viral obesity. Additionally, compositions comprising nutraceutical agents targeting adenoviruses are provided.
US08741357B2	Cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical composition comprising an euglena extract The invention provides a cosmetic or dermopharmaceutic composition containing an Euglena extract, its use to activate the cellular metabolism and in particular to protect and/or improve the state of the skin and to reduce the signs of ageing in particular and/or cutaneous fatigue.
US08741356B2	Production of oil seed protein isolate Oil seed protein isolates, particularly canola protein isolate, are produced at a high purity level of at least about 100 wt % (N×6.25) by a process wherein oil seed protein is extracted from oil seed meal, the resulting aqueous protein solution is concentrated to a protein content of at least about 200 g/L and the concentrated protein solution is added to chilled water having a temperature below about 15° C. to form protein micelles, which are settled to provide a protein micellar mass (PMM). The protein micellar mass is separated from supernatant and may be dried. The supernatant may be processed to recover additional oil seed protein isolate by concentrating the supernatant and then drying the concentrated supernatant, to produce a protein isolate having a protein content of at least about 90 wt %. The concentrated supernatant may be mixed in varying proportions with at least part of the PMM and the mixture dried to produce a protein isolate having a protein content of at least about 90 wt %.
US08741354B2	Composite extracellular matrix materials and medical products formed therefrom Described in certain aspects are composite extracellular matrix material products including expanded collagenous materials in combination with non-expanded collagenous materials. Methods for their preparation and use are also disclosed. Certain expanded collagenous materials can be prepared by treating a first collagenous material with an alkaline substance under conditions effective to expand the first collagenous material, and recovering the expanded material. Expanded materials can exhibit beneficial persistence and tissue generation characteristics when implanted, and can be used in the formation of highly porous medical implant bodies which can be compressed to fractions of their original volume and will thereafter substantially recover their original volume.
US08741353B1	Ointment for healing burns and wounds The ointment for healing burns and wounds includes a composition for treating skin burns, wounds, and other infection-prone skin complications. The composition includes honeycomb, sesame seed oil, myrrh, curcumin, mukul, and potassium alum. The ointment includes only natural ingredients that are unadulterated or minimally processed. Topical use of the ointment does not result in harmful side effects.
US08741351B2	Microspheres for active embolization The present invention relates to injectable compositions comprising biocompatible, swellable, substantially hydrophilic, non-toxic and substantially spherical polymeric material carriers which are capable of efficiently delivering bioactive therapeutic factor(s) for use in embolization drug therapy. The present invention further relates to methods of embolization gene therapy, particularly for the treatment of angiogenic and non-angiogenic-dependent diseases, using the injectable compositions.
US08741349B2	Antiviral material , antiviral film, antiviral fiber, and antiviral product In one embodiment, an antiviral material includes at least one microparticles selected from tungsten oxide microparticles and tungsten oxide composite microparticles. The microparticles have an inactivation effect R of 1 or more expressed by [R=log C−log A], when there is evaluated a virus titer by inoculating on a specimen to which the microparticles are adhered, at least one virus selected from a low pathogenic avian influenza virus (H9N2), a high pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) and a swine influenza virus, and irradiating the specimen with visible light having a wavelength of 380 nm or more and illuminance of 6000 1× for 24 hours.
US08741346B2	Method for the preparation of molecular complexes The invention relates to a method for the preparation of soluble molecular complexes, comprising one or more active substances which are poorly-soluble in an aqueous medium, included within one or more host molecules, characterized in comprising the following steps: (a) bringing one or more active substances into contact with one or more host molecules, (b) carrying out a molecular diffusion step by bringing a dense fluid into contact, under pressure, with the mixture obtained in (a), in static mode, in the presence of one or more diffusion agents and (c) recovery of the molecular complex thus formed.
US08741343B2	Method of administering amantadine prior to a sleep period Methods of nighttime administration of amantadine to reduce sleep disturbances in patient undergoing treatment with amantadine are described, as well as compositions of extended release amantadine that are suitable for nighttime administration.
US08741342B2	Pharmaceutical compositions comprising entacapone, levodopa, and carbidopa The present invention relates to stable pharmaceutical compositions comprising entacapone, levodopa and carbidopa, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or hydrates thereof. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of such compositions.
US08741340B2	Cell lines and their use in encapsulated cell biodelivery The present invention relates to generation of cell lines expressing recombinant proteins for use in naked and encapsulated cell biodelivery of secreted therapeutic molecules. In one embodiment the cell line is human. In another aspect of the invention the transposon system is used for generating a cell line for secretion of a biologically active polypeptide.
US08741337B2	Encapsulation of oxidatively unstable compounds An encapsulated material containing an oxidation-sensitive core is covered by at least a dried phospholipid layer, and contains at least one phytosterol in the core, the phospholipid layer or in a further layer or layers. By using microencapsulation, oxidatively unstable materials may be provided with a synthetic protective barrier and rendered less susceptible to oxidative degradation.
US08741334B2	External plaster containing flurbiprofen In a plaster for external use for transdermal absorption in which an adhesive layer is laminated on a plastic backing, the adhesive layer contains a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer (SIS), a tackifying resin and a softener which are essential ingredients, and further contains flurbiprofen blended as an active ingredient. The present plaster for external use is a flurbiprofen containing plaster for external use enabling long-term stable release of contained flurbiprofen, and having excellent stability and very high drug releasing property.
US08741329B2	Drug delivery system The subject invention provides a drug delivery system comprising at least one compartment comprising (i) a drug-loaded thermoplastic polymer core layer, (ii) a drug-loaded thermoplastic polymer intermediate layer and (iii) a non-medicated thermoplastic polymer skin covering the intermediate layer, wherein said core layer is loaded with crystals of a first (pharmaceutically) active compound and said intermediate layer is loaded with, crystals of the second (pharmaceutically) active compound.
US08741327B2	Method of maintaining therapeutic risperidone levels in a PLA:PLGA implant The present invention provides implants comprising a therapeutic drug and a polymer containing polylactic acid (PLA) and optionally polyglycolic acid (PGA). The present invention also provides methods of maintaining a therapeutic level of a drug in a subject, releasing a therapeutic drug at a substantially linear rate, and treating schizophrenia and other diseases and disorders, utilizing implants of the present invention.
US08741325B2	Material for forming a multi-level antimicrobial surface coating and its preparation The present invention provides a material for forming an antimicrobial surface coating with multi-level antimicrobial properties, which comprises one or more volatile or gaseous biocides, one or more nonvolatile biocides, and one or more polymers, wherein the volatile or gaseous biocides are encapsulated in the polymers to provide a sustained release of the volatile or gaseous biocides. The present invention further provides a method for preparing the material.
US08741323B2	External skin agent comprising modified clay for preventing inflammation To provide An external skin agent that prevents onset of atopic skin inflammations and is low irritant to skin, which is characterized by including: 1) clay modified by a compound having a quaternary amino group; and 2) a polymer or copolymer that has a side chain including a structure similar to a biological component.
US08741319B2	Methods and compositions for treating anxiety disorders or symptoms thereof The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing distress dysfunction, including emotional and physical distress. The invention entails co-administration of at least one Receptor Switcher and at least one Endorphin Enhancer. Additionally, at least one Synergistic Enhance and/or at least one Exogenous Opioid are also administered to enhance or prolong the therapeutic effects.
US08741317B2	Slow-degrading polymers comprising salicylic acid for undelayed and sustained drug delivery The invention provides polymers and methods for their use. Specifically, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a polymer that comprises a plurality of salicylic acid-adipic (SA-Adipic) units of the following formula and a plurality of salicylic acid-diethylmalonic (SA-DEM) units of the following formula Certain embodiments of the invention also provide slow degrading microspheres comprising polymers described herein for undelayed and sustained drug delivery. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods for treating a chronic eye disease or arthritis in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer or microsphere as described herein.
US08741313B2	Polypeptide vaccine and vaccination strategy against mycobacterium A vaccine is provided wherein a polypeptide or combination of peptides from M. tuberculosis is administered to a subject to elicit an immune response. The polypeptide vaccine is administered as part of a prime-boost strategy with BCG vaccine to increase the immunoprotection in a subject such that prevention or elimination of disease is achieved. Finally, a pharmaceutical package is provided that encompasses a polypeptide vaccine for M. tuberculosis that when administered to a subject elicits immunoprotection.
US08741309B2	Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome vaccine based on isolate JA-142 Substantially avirulent forms of atypical porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus and corresponding vaccines are provided which result from cell culture passaging of virulent forms of PRRS. The resultant avirulent atypical PRRS virus is useful as a vaccine in that PRRS specific antibody response is elicited by inoculation of host animals, thereby conferring effective immunity against both previously known strains of PRRS virus and newly isolated atypical PRRS virus strains. The preferred passaging technique ensures that the virus remains in a logarithmic growth phase substantially throughout the process, which minimizes the time required to achieve attenuation. The present invention also provides diagnostic testing methods which can differentiate between animals infected with field strains and attenuated strains of PRRSV.
US08741306B2	Kidney specific tumor vaccine directed against kidney tumor antigen G-250 This invention provides an anti-cancer immunogenic agent(s) (e.g. vaccines) that elicit an immune response specifically directed against renal cell cancers expressing a G250 antigenic marker. Preferred immunogenic agents comprise a chimeric molecule comprising a kidney cancer specific antigen (G250) attached to a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The agents are useful in a wide variety of treatment modalities including, but not limited to protein vaccination, DNA vaccination, and adoptive immunotherapy.
US08741303B2	Immunogenic LHRH compositions and methods relating thereto The present invention relates generally to an immunogenic LHRH composition and more particularly to an immunogenic LHRH composition comprising a LHRH C-terminal fragment of at least five amino acids. The present invention is useful, inter alia, as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for the modification of fertility and behavior patterns of animals, the achievement of livestock production gains such as increasing growth, decreasing feed conversion ratios or the control of unwanted organoleptic characteristics or the treatment of disorders of the reproductive organs.
US08741300B2	Immunoconjugates with an intracellularly-cleavable linkage The present invention relates to therapeutic conjugates with improved ability to target various diseased cells containing a targeting moiety (such as an antibody or antibody fragment), a linker and a therapeutic moiety, and further relates to processes for making and using the conjugates.
US08741299B2	Method for treating pathologies associated with hypoxia using MIF inhibitors Methods are provided for treating pathologies associated with hypoxia with an MIF inhibitor. Methods are also provided for treating a subject having, or at risk for pulmonary hypertension, with an MIF inhibitor. Methods are also provided for treating a subject having, or at risk from, a CNS disorder associated with hypoxia, with an MIF inhibitor. Methods are also provided of treating severe chronic lung disease, hypoxia-induced right ventricular hypertrophy or hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling with an MIF inhibitor. Methods of diagnosing a subject with pulmonary hypertension are also provided.
US08741288B2	Protein markers for detecting liver cancer and method for identifying the markers thereof The present invention relates to the diagnosis of liver cancer. It discloses the use of protein ERBB3 and protein IGFBP2 in the diagnosis of liver cancer. It relates to a method for diagnosis of liver cancer from a liquid sample, derived from an individual by measuring ERBB3 protein and IGFBP2 protein in the sample. Measurement of ERBB3 protein and IGFBP2 protein can, e.g., be used in the early detection or diagnosis of liver cancer.
US08741282B2	Method for treatment of tendinosis with platelet rich plasma Methods are disclosed to promote vascularization of tissue in mammals using an autologous platelet-rich plasma composition. In particular, a method of treating a cardiac tissue lesion is disclosed.
US08741281B2	Compositions and soft tissue replacement methods The specification discloses compositions and methods for treating a soft tissue defect of an individual.
US08741277B2	Soft tissue and bone augmentation and bulking utilizing muscle-derived progenitor cells, compositions and treatments thereof The present invention provides muscle-derived progenitor cells that show long-term survival following transplantation into body tissues and which can augment soft tissue following introduction (e.g. via injection, transplantation, or implantation) into a site of soft tissue. Also provided are methods of isolating muscle-derived progenitor cells, and methods of genetically modifying the cells for gene transfer therapy. The invention further provides methods of using compositions comprising muscle-derived progenitor cells for the augmentation and bulking of mammalian, including human, soft tissues in the treatment of various cosmetic or functional conditions, including malformation, injury, weakness, disease, or dysfunction. In particular, the present invention provides treatments and amelioration for dermatological conditions, gastroesophageal reflux, vesico-ureteral reflux, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.
US08741276B2	Comfortable, long wearing colored cosmetic compositions The present invention is directed to a composition containing: (a) at least one tackifier component having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of greater than about 20° C.; (b) at least one film former chosen from a propylphenylsilsesquioxane resin having a molecular weight of from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising at least about 70 mole % propyl siloxy units and at most about 30 mole % phenyl siloxy units, and a propylsilsesquioxane wax substituted with alkyl units having at least 30 carbons; (c) a liquid fatty phase comprising at least one volatile hydrocarbon compound; (d) at least one colorant; (e) optionally, water; and (f) optionally, at least one emulsifier. Also disclosed is a method of making up keratinous substrates involving applying the above composition onto the keratinous substrates.
US08741274B2	Acrylic polymer The present invention relates to acrylic polymer beads having very low residual monomer content as well as to their use in hair care preparations in particular as styling agent.
US08741273B2	Agents for fibers containing keratin, containing at least one special cross-linked amphiphilic, anionic polymer and at least one further special non-cross-linked amphiphilic anionic polymer Agents for treating fibers containing keratin containing in a cosmetically acceptable carrier (a) at least one cross-linked, amphiphilic, anionic polymer, comprising at least one structural unit of formula (I) and at least one structural unit of formula (II); and (b) at least one non-cross-linked, amphiphilic, anionic polymer, comprising at least one structural unit of the formula (III) and at least one structural unit of the formula (IV), said agents being suitable for temporarily deforming hair and for conditioning hair, in particular in the form of a hair cream or a hair gel.
US08741272B2	Use of novel amino acid derivatives as agents for treating human perspiration, and compositions containing them The invention relates to the use, as an agent for treating human perspiration, in a cosmetic composition, of amino acid derivatives of formula (I) below: The invention also relates to a cosmetic process for treating perspiration and possibly the body odour associated with human perspiration, especially underarm odour. The invention also relates to novel amino acid derivatives of formula (II) that will be defined in detail hereinbelow, and to cosmetic or dermatological compositions containing them.
US08741269B2	Non-aqueous dentifrice composition with bioacceptable and bioactive glass and methods of use and manufacture thereof The invention encompasses non-aqueous dentifrice compositions containing a bioacceptable and bioactive glass with improved mouth-feel, foam, and product stability. More particularly, the invention encompasses non-aqueous compositions including combinations including carrageenan and/or carboxymethylcellulose gums, glycerin, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, and a bioactive glass and methods of use the compositions in an oral care product, for example, a whitening tooth-paste, for hypersensitive teeth.
US08741268B2	Dental prophylactic paste A dental prophylactic paste having excellent flowability during the manufacturing process, minimal to no splattering during use, and remineralization characteristics is provided. The prophylactic paste includes at least one water soluble calcium salt; a water soluble phosphate salt, a water soluble silicate; and a moisture retention agent. The paste has a splatter rating of less than 3. The splatter rating of the paste refers to the tendency of the paste to splatter during a dental cleaning procedure. The lower the splatter rating, the less the paste has a tendency to splatter. A paste having a splatter rating of less than 3 is considered to have good handability.
US08741259B2	Low molecular weight thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) agonists Disclosed are oxo-hydroquinazolines that are useful as selective TSHR agonists. The compounds may be used for detecting or treating thyroid cancer, or treating a bone degenerative disorder.
US08741253B2	Process for preparing higher hydridosilanes Process for preparing higher hydridosilanes of the general formula H—(SiH2)n—H where n≧2, in which—one or more lower hydridosilanes—hydrogen, and—one or more transition metal compounds comprising elements of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table and the lanthanides are reacted at a pressure of more than 5 bar absolute, subsequently depressurized and the higher hydridosilanes are separated off from the reaction mixture obtained.
US08741252B2	Process for producing porous object and apparatus therefor Disclosed is a process for producing porous materials by replacing a first solvent in a wet material containing the first solvent with a second solvent in a high pressure condition and drying the resulting wet material which process comprises a mixed solvent feeding step for feeding a mixed solvent composed of a solvent identical to or of the same kind as the first solvent and the second solvent to the wet material.
US08741249B2	Utilisation of desalination waste A process for producing soda ash from brine waste, the process including reacting brine waste with carbon dioxide and ammonia to produce soda ash, where in at least a portion of the ammonia is regenerated from the ammonium chloride produced during the reaction, the regeneration ideally be achieved by the use of a weak base anion exchange resin.
US08741244B2	Removing carbon dioxide from waste streams through co-generation of carbonate and/or bicarbonate minerals Methods for removing carbon dioxide and other pollutants from a gas stream are provided. The methods include obtaining hydroxide in an aqueous mixture, mixing the hydroxide with the gas stream to produce bicarbonate products or a combination of carbonate and bicarbonate products in an admixture, separating the products from the admixture, and using the products to perform ion-exchanges with one or more group-1 or group-2 salts to precipitate carbonates, wherein obtaining the hydroxide comprises obtaining a group-1 or group-2 salt; mixing the salt with acid and water, acid and steam, or acid, water, and steam to produce a protonated brine solution; and electrolyzing the protonated brine solution to produce a hydroxide; and wherein mixing the hydroxide with the gas stream comprises altering the product equilibrium to favor the production of bicarbonate products.
US08741240B2	Selective reduction catalyst, and exhaust gas purification device and exhaust gas purification method using same The selective reduction-type catalyst effectively purifies nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gas from a lean-burn engine such as a boiler, a gas turbine or a lean-burn engine, a diesel engine, even under high SV, as well as having small pressure loss, by supplying by spraying urea water or ammonia water, as a reducing component, to the selective reduction-type catalyst; and an exhaust gas purification apparatus along with an exhaust gas purification method using the same. The selective reduction-type catalyst for selectively reducing a nitrogen oxide by adding urea or ammonia as a reducing agent of the nitrogen oxide to exhaust gas discharged from a lean-burn engine, characterized by coating a catalyst layer including zeolite containing at least an iron element, and a composite oxide of silica, tungsten oxide, ceria and zirconia, as denitration components, at the surface of a monolithic structure-type substrate.
US08741233B2	Disposable cartridge for fluid analysis A disposable blood analysis cartridge for analyzing a blood sample including an optical light scattering measurement channel is described. In use, processed sample may be introduced into a sheath fluid channel at an angle, α, of approximately 90 degrees, relative to the direction of flow of the sheath fluid. In addition, delivering the sample from the side into the sheath fluid may facilitate better positioning of the core within the hydrodynamic focusing channel for measurement.
US08741231B2	Flow passage control mechanism for microchip A channel control mechanism for a microchip has a laminated structure formed of members including elastic members, and includes: a sample reservoir for packing a sample therein; a reaction reservoir in which mixture and reaction of the sample are performed; and a channel formed in a middle layer of the laminated structure, for bringing the sample reservoir and the reaction reservoir into communication with each other. The channel control mechanism performs the reaction and analysis in such a manner that the sample is delivered into the reaction reservoir through the channel. A shutter channel (pressurizing channel) is provided in a layer different from a layer in which the channel is formed so that the pressurizing channel partially overlaps the channel. The channel is closed through applying a pressurized medium to the shutter channel (pressurizing channel), and the channel is opened through releasing a pressure of the pressurized medium.
US08741227B2	Isolator An isolator includes a workroom having a first sterilizing material supply port, a first sterilizing material discharge port, a first gas supply port and a first gas discharge port, a sterilization chamber having a second sterilizing material supply port, a second sterilizing material discharge port, a second gas supply port and a second gas discharge port, a sterilizing material supply unit, a first sterilizing material supply path connecting the sterilizing material supply unit to the first sterilizing material supply port, a second sterilizing material supply path connecting the sterilizing material supply unit to the second sterilizing material supply port, a first circulating path connecting the first sterilizing material discharge port to the sterilizing material supply unit, a second circulating path connecting the second sterilizing material discharge port to the sterilizing material supply unit, a first gas supply path, a second gas supply path, a first gas discharge path, a second gas discharge path, and a control unit.
US08741225B2	Carbon capture cooling system and method A system and method is provided for capturing a carbonous gas and using the captured carbonous gas for cooling purposes. For example, a system may include a carbon capture system configured to collect a carbonous gas from a syngas, and a cooling system having a gas expander and a coolant circuit that receive the carbonous gas. The gas expander is configured to expand the carbonous gas to reduce a temperature of the carbonous gas to produce a reduced temperature carbonous gas, and the coolant circuit is configured to utilize the reduced temperature carbonous gas to cool at least one solvent of at least one gas purifier.
US08741224B2	Electrically heated catalyst Electricity is suppressed from flowing through a case of an electrically heated catalyst. For this purpose, the case for accommodating a heat generating element includes a tubular portion which is formed in parallel to a central axis, an inlet portion which is provided on the upstream side from the tubular portion and which has an inner diameter smaller than that of the tubular portion , an inclined portion which connects the tubular portion and the inlet portion, and an introducing portion which extends from a connected portion between the inlet portion and the inclined portion toward inside of the case and which is curved so that a center of curvature is positioned at the outside; and an inner tube interposed by a mat for supporting the heat generating element includes a tubular portion which is formed in parallel to a central axis, and an inclined portion which is provided on the upstream side from the tubular portion, which has inner diameters that are decreased on the more upstream side, and which is curved.
US08741221B2	Chemical oxygen generator with chemical cores arranged in parallel A chemical oxygen generator includes multiple parallel sequentially connected chemical core sections that extend the duration of operation of the chemical oxygen generator. An end of a first core section is contiguous with a chemical core high reactivity section, and a thermal insulation layer is disposed between an end of a second core section and the chemical core ignition plate, as well as between the bodies of the first and second core sections. A chemical core transition section is disposed between the other end of the first core section and the second core section, to insure that the reaction front propagates properly.
US08741219B2	Sample processing system, base for sample processing system, and sample processing apparatus A sample processing system comprising: a transporting apparatus for transporting a sample; a plurality of sample processing apparatuses, arranged along a direction in which the sample is transported by the transporting apparatus, for processing the sample transported by the transporting apparatus; a base on which at least one of the sample processing apparatuses is placed; and a movement restricting section for restricting, on the base, a movement area within which the sample processing apparatus moves, wherein the movement restricting section allows the sample processing apparatus to move on the base so as to change orientation of the sample processing apparatus, is disclosed. A base for a sample processing system and a sample processing apparatus are also disclosed.
US08741214B2	Sintering method, particularly for forming low ESR capacitor anodes A method of making a sintered article in which a solid object is embedded includes forming a green body of compressed particles with the solid body is partially embedded. The green body includes an opening across which the solid body extends. The green body is sintered to form a sintered body and the opening permits deformation of the solid body in response to stress applied during the sintering process. A sintered article in which a solid body is at least partially embedded includes an opening. The solid body extends across the opening so that the solid body can deform within the opening. The opening in the solid body prevents distortion of the sintered body from a planar configuration during sintering, even when the green body is relatively thin.
US08741205B2	Apparatus and plant for the stretch blow moulding of plastics material pre-forms and use of a ceramic component The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for the stretch blow molding of plastics material pre-forms to form plastics material containers with a carrying device (2) for carrying a blow mold (3) comprising at least two shell parts (4, 5) and a base part (6) and with a base part clamping device (10) comprising a base part receiving means (11; 111) and holding devices (12, 13 and 14, 15; 114, 115 respectively) for holding the base part receiving means (11; 111), in which the base part receiving means (11; 111) is capable of being clamped to the holding devices (12, 13 and 14, 15; 114, 115 respectively) by way of a fastening with positive locking (18; 118), in which the fastening with positive locking (18; 118) has positive locking areas (22) produced from ceramic material.
US08741203B2	Device and method for processing light-polymerizable material for building up an object in layers A method and a device for processing a light-polymerizable material (5, 55) for building up an object (27) in layers, using a lithography based generative manufacture having a construction platform (12) for building up the object (27), a projecting exposure unit (10, 60) that can be controlled for locally selected exposing of a surface on the construction platform (12, 62) to an intensity pattern having a prescribed shape, and a control unit (11, 61) prepared for polymerizing overlapping layers (28) on the construction platform (12, 62) in successive exposure steps, each having a prescribed geometry, by controlling the projecting exposure unit (10, 60), in order to thus successively build up the object (27) in the desired shape, said shape resulting from the sequence of layer geometries. The invention is characterized in that a further exposure unit (16, 66) for exposing the surface of the construction platform (12, 62) is provided on the side opposite the projecting exposure unit (10, 60), and that the construction platform (12, 62) is designed to be at least partially transparent to light, and that the control unit (11, 61) is designed for controlling the further exposure unit (16, 66) at least while building up the first layer (28), said layer adhering to the construction platform (12, 62), for exposing in the prescribed geometry.
US08741195B2	Method for manufacturing fiber absorber A method for manufacturing a fiber absorber includes individuating preformed fibers, compressing the preformed fibers, housing the compressed fibers in a needle-punch processing case in which needle insertion holes are formed, and performing needle punching by inserting needles through the needle insertion holes from at least three directions having perpendicular relation to one another in the needle-punch processing case.
US08741193B2	Injection molding method, molded-article producing method, and injection molding apparatus The injection molding method for injecting a resin into a cavity formed within a mold is provided with a heating step in which the temperature of a cavity surface forming the cavity of the mold is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a heat distortion temperature of the resin and an injection step in which after the heating step, during a decrease in temperature of the cavity surface of the mold, the resin is injected into the cavity.
US08741192B2	Method and device for producing micro-droplets A method and an apparatus for producing various types of microdroplets. The apparatus has a cross intersection portion at which a first continuous phase, a first dispersion phase, and a second dispersion phase intersect with each other. A first liquid feed device controls the first dispersion phase and a second liquid feed device controls the second dispersion phase. A control device is connected to the first liquid feed device and the second liquid feed device. The first liquid feed device and the second liquid feed device are controlled by a signal from the control device so that microdroplets formed of the first dispersion phase and microdroplets formed of the second dispersion phase are sequentially produced.
US08741190B2	Process for producing water-resistant polarizing film To obtain a water-resistant polarizing film free from deterioration in dichroic ratio caused by water-resistant treatment, it is critical that adjacent sulfonic acid groups or sulfonate groups in the organic dyes to be used for the polarizing film are spaced at moderate intervals. In a process for producing a water-resistant polarizing film of the present invention, the polarizing film before water-resistant treatment includes an organic dye which comprises an azo compound 20 represented by the following general formula (2)
US08741187B2	Vegetable oil of high dielectric purity, method for obtaining same and use in an electrical device A dielectric high purity vegetable oil—free from antioxidants and/or external additives to be used in electric equipment such as transformers, as isolating element and as cooling means and a method for obtaining the same in which the dielectric high purity vegetable oil—is obtained by means of the optimization of the bleaching steps—and deodorizing—from the Refining process—known as Modified Caustic Refining Long-Mix (RBD).
US08741185B2	Composite materials for wettable cathodes and use thereof for aluminum production The invention relates to a composite material of formula: (C—N—B-MR)x(Al-MR)y(R)z in which C—N—B-MR is one or more carbides, nitrides or borides of one or more refractory metals of group IV, V or VI of the Periodic Table and/or one or more aluminium carbides, nitrides or borides chosen from Al4C3, AlN, AlB2 and Al1-67B22; Al-MR is one or more aluminides of one or more of the above refractory metals, it being understood that: if MR=Nb, Ta, Hf, Zr, Ti or V, then Al-MR=Al3MR; if MR=W or Cr, then Al-MR=Al4MR; if MR=Mo, then Al-MR=Al8Mo3 or Al17Mo4 (≅Al4Mo), and R is a residual component other than carbon, comprising one or more phases chosen from Al4C3, AlN, AlB2, Al1-67B22 and MRtAlu(C—N—B)v in which t, u and v are numbers greater than or equal to zero, and x, y and z are the volume fractions of the respective components with x>y; x+y>0.5; x+y+z+1 and 0.01
US08741182B2	Methods and materials for AIGS silver-containing photovoltaics This invention relates to methods for materials using compounds, polymeric compounds, and compositions used to prepare semiconductor and optoelectronic materials and devices including thin film and band gap materials. This invention provides a range of compounds, polymeric compounds, compositions, materials and methods directed ultimately toward photovoltaic applications, transparent conductive materials, as well as devices and systems for energy conversion, including solar cells. This invention further relates to thin film AIGS, AIS, and AGS materials made by a process of providing one or more polymeric precursor compounds or inks thereof, providing a substrate, depositing the compounds or inks onto the substrate; and heating the substrate at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 650° C.
US08741180B2	Process and burner for producing synthesis gas This invention relates to the production of synthesis gas by partial oxidation of liquid or gaseous, carbonaceous fuel in the presence of an oxygen-containing oxidant, wherein the fuel, the oxidant and a moderator are separately supplied to a burner and wherein the fuel and the moderator are mixed in a mixing chamber of the burner, before they are brought in contact with the oxidant. To reduce the load of the burner in particular during operation with transient conditions, the oxidant is centrally introduced through an outlet opening of the burner into a combustion chamber and the mixture of fuel and moderator is introduced through the outlet opening into the combustion chamber concentrically around the oxidant.
US08741177B2	Method for producing aqueous compatible nanoparticles A method for producing aqueous compatible semiconductor nanoparticles includes binding pre-modified ligands to nanoparticles without the need for further post-binding modification to render the nanoparticles aqueous compatible. Nanoparticles modified in this way may exhibit enhanced fluorescence and stability compared to aqueous compatible nanoparticles produced by methods requiring post-binding modification processes.
US08741174B1	Reduced weight decontamination formulation for neutralization of chemical and biological warfare agents A reduced weight DF-200 decontamination formulation that is stable under high temperature storage conditions. The formulation can be pre-packed as an all-dry (i.e., no water) or nearly-dry (i.e., minimal water) three-part kit, with make-up water (the fourth part) being added later in the field at the point of use.
US08741172B2	Lithium-titanium complex oxide and manufacturing method thereof, and battery electrode using same A lithium-titanium complex oxide whose total water generation amount and total carbon dioxide generation amount measured by thermal decomposition GC-MS are preferably 1500 wt ppm or less and 2000 wt ppm or less, respectively, is obtained by subjecting a mixture of titanium compound and lithium compound to a heat treatment at 600° C. or above, cooling the obtained reaction product to 50° C. or below, and then subjecting the cooled reaction product to a reheat treatment involving heating to the maximum temperature of 300 to 700° C. and then cooling, wherein the dew point of the ambience of the reheat treatment is controlled at −30° C. or below at a temperature of 200° C. or above.
US08741164B2	Methods for optimizing a plasma process Methods for optimizing a plasma process are provided. The method may include obtaining a measurement spectrum from a plasma reaction in a chamber, calculating a normalized measurement standard and a normalized measurement spectrum of the measurement spectrum, comparing the normalized measurement spectrum with a normalized reference spectrum, and comparing the normalized measurement standard with a normalized reference standard to determine whether to change a process parameter of the plasma process or clean the chamber when the normalized measurement spectrum and the normalized reference spectrum are mismatched.
US08741162B2	Method of manufacturing nanoimprint stamp Methods of manufacturing a nanoimprint stamp are provided. The method may include forming a pattern on a surface of a master substrate, depositing an etch barrier layer on a surface of a stamp substrate, coating a photoresist on one of the surfaces of the master substrate and the stamp substrate on which an etch barrier layer is formed, forming a photoresist pattern by pressing the master substrate against the stamp substrate, forming a hard mask by etching the etch barrier layer using the photoresist pattern, and etching the stamp substrate using the hard mask as an etch mask.
US08741154B2	Water denitrification The described implementations relate to water denitrification. One method obtains nitrate levels in influent and effluent of a moving bed media filter and determines carbon levels in the effluent. The method also doses carbon feedstock into the influent based on both the nitrate levels and the carbon levels.
US08741151B2	Analysis of polymeric scale inhibitors The scale inhibitors in a variety of aqueous systems, or a part or sample thereof, also including one or more dissolved interfering ions, are separated therefrom and analyzed, such scale inhibitors comprising a polymer containing at least one anionic functional group, e.g., a strong acid functional group or a phosphonate or phosphate ester, and such analysis including treating these aqueous systems with a cationic substrate or a free cation.
US08741150B2	Lithium recovery device using separator reservoir, lithium recovery method and lithium adsorption/desorption system using the same The present invention relates to a lithium recovery device comprising a separator reservoir and manganese oxide, a lithium recovery method using the same, and a lithium adsorption/desorption system. The separator reservoir includes a vacant space therein and an outer wall made of a polymer or a membrane of other useful materials. The manganese oxide is contained, as an adsorbent, in the vacant space inside the separator reservoir. The lithium adsorption/desorption system enables lithium recovery through adsorption and desorption of lithium dissolved in seawater using a lithium adsorbent prepared with the manganese oxide in one system, wherein the manganese oxide can be used as a lithium adsorbent with high lithium selectivity. The invention uses a separator reservoir including an outer wall made of a porous polymer or a membrane of other useful materials. As a result, the invention can be directly applied to seawater by enabling free movement of the solution, especially seawater, without additional pressure from the outside. The invention ensures strong stability in seawater and the acidic solution using a polymer with high chemical resistance and mechanical strength, or other useful materials. Therefore, the invention can be widely used in technical fields requiring lithium recovery.
US08741147B2	Control apparatus and control method for a blood treatment equipment A controller for blood treatment equipment comprising a treatment unit including a semipermeable membrane separating the treatment unit into a first compartment for the circulation of blood and a second compartment for the circulation of a treatment liquid is enclosed. The controller is adapted to receive one or more entries of information measured during the course of a treatment procedure, to calculate from said measured information a value of a significant parameter indicative of the progress of an extracorporeal blood treatment carried out by the equipment. The controller is also adapted to compare the calculated significant parameter to a prescribed reference value for the same parameter and to generate at least one output control signal responsive to said comparison for automatically controlling one or more operations performed by the equipment. Equipment comprising the controller and a control method the controller can be programmed to carry out are also disclosed.
US08741141B2	Membrane separator and membrane cassette The wall member of a water collecting case forms a projecting portion projecting to the outer side and recessed portions recessed to the inner side.
US08741140B2	Surface modified filtration media A filter media that inhibits the formation of static charge in a liquid flowing through the filter media comprises a filtration layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and comprising a non-conductive fibrous material having a plurality of fibers, the fibrous material comprising a metal layer deposited on at least a portion of the fibers through at least a portion of the thickness of the filtration layer. The filter media or a filter apparatus incorporating the filter media does not require means for dissipating static charge from the fluid and, therefore, does not require grounding.
US08741139B2	Cylindrical cartridge filter with detachable core The present device is a detachable core for use with a cylindrical filter cartridge. The core includes a wire frame including at least two vertical struts oriented along a longitudinal direction. The wire frame includes an upper ring and a lower ring mounted to the distal ends of the vertical struts and further includes an upper flange and a lower flange mounted to the upper and lower rings respectively, wherein the lower flange is detachably mounted to the lower ring. Preferably the lower ring includes a gap in the lower ring to enable resilient compression of the ring by squeezing the lower ring in a radial inward direction prior to engagement with the lower flange. Preferably the cartridge filter includes elastomeric end caps and the cooperating rings and flanges are non-circular such that the elastomeric end caps conforms to the non-circular shape of the upper and lower flanges.
US08741132B2	Device for catching rainwater Device (V) for catching rainwater from a downpipe (F) comprising an opening (11), a branch pipe (5) with a sickle-shaped water-catching blade (12) comprising two halves at the end, a support member (1) traversed by the branch pipe (5) and a retainer. The branch pipe (5) engaging into the opening (11) with the water-catching blade (12) placed in the downpipe, and wherein the downpipe (F) can be fixed in the area of the support member (1) covering the opening (11) by means of the retainer (H). The retainer (H) comprises at least one undercut engagement hook (17) that can be passed through the opening (11), and an engagement hook tensioning system (S) interconnected between the support member (1) and the engagement hook (17).
US08741128B2	Integrated desulfurization and denitrification process including mild hydrotreating of aromatic-lean fraction and oxidation of aromatic-rich fraction Deep desulfurization of hydrocarbon feeds containing undesired organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds to produce a hydrocarbon product having low levels of sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing compounds, is achieved by first subjecting the entire feed to an extraction zone to separate an aromatic-rich fraction containing a substantial amount of the refractory organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds and an aromatic-lean fraction containing a substantial amount of the labile organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds. The aromatic-lean fraction is contacted with a hydrotreating catalyst in a hydrotreating reaction zone operating under mild conditions to convert the labile organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds. The aromatic-rich fraction is oxidized to convert the refractory organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds to oxidized organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds. These oxidized organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds are subsequently removed, producing a stream containing reduced levels of organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds.
US08741120B2	Humidity control apparatus for electrochemical sensors Devices and methods are disclosed that can adjust a hydration level in an electrochemical sensor or an instrument which includes such a sensor. The device can include a chamber which can, at least in part, surround an inflow port of the sensor. An adjacent reservoir of water can provide a source of water vapor which can be infused into the sensor.
US08741117B2	Device and method for detecting redox reactions in solution Described herein is a device comprising a plurality of first reaction electrodes arranged in an array, the plurality of first reaction electrodes configured to be exposed to a solution and having a capacitance; first circuitry configured to controllably connect the plurality of first reaction electrodes to a bias source and controllably disconnect the plurality of first reaction electrodes from the bias source; and second circuitry configured to measure a rate of charging or discharging of the capacitance. Also described herein is a method of using this device to sequence DNA.
US08741114B2	Hard film, plastic working die, plastic working method, and target for hard film There is provided a hard film excellent in wear resistance. The hard film in accordance with the present invention includes (TiaCrbAlcLd) (BxCyNz) in terms of composition, in which the L is at least one of Si and Y, and the a, b, c, d, x, y, and z each denote the atomic ratio, and satisfy: 0.1≦a<0.3; 0.3
US08741113B2	Method and electrode for defining and replicating structures in conducting materials The present invention concerns an electrochemical pattern replication method, ECPR, and a construction of a conductive electrode for production of applications involving micro and nano structures. An etching or plating pattern, which is defined by a conductive electrode, a master electrode, is replicated on an electrically conductive material, a substrate. The master electrode is put in close contact with the substrate and the etching/plating pattern is directly transferred onto the substrate by using a contact etching/plating process. The contact etching/plating process is performed in local etching/plating cells, that are formed in closed or open cavities between the master electrode and the substrate.
US08741109B2	Method for purifying acetone A method for purifying a crude acetone raw material containing low molecular weight impurities using two columns is disclosed. Crude acetone raw material is fed into a first column; adding an alkaline reagent and an oxidative agent into the first column to form high molecular weight impurities; removing a top fraction from the first column by distillation to form bottom fraction containing an acetone mixture containing high molecular weight impurities; feeding the bottom fraction containing the acetone mixture obtained to a second rectification column at a charge point on the column; adding an alkaline reagent to the second column above the charge point of the bottom fraction fed; and separating a purified acetone from the high molecular weight impurities and removing the purified acetone as a top fraction by distillation in the second column, wherein the second rectification column is operated at atmospheric pressure.
US08741103B2	Biomass-derived polyester staple fibers and wet-laid nonwoven fabric formed from the same The present invention has an object to provide staple fibers suitable for manufacturing a wet-laid nonwoven fabric having excellent adhesive strength and heat resistance at a reduced environmental burden, a manufacturing method of the same, and a nonwoven fabric using the staple fibers. The object can be achieved by polyalkylene terephthalate or polyalkylene naphthalate staple fiber wet nonwoven fabric having excellent adhesive strength and heat resistance that are provided by blending and thermal-compression bonding of low oriented yarn and fully oriented yarn, wherein a specific ratio of biomass-derived carbon, fineness, fiber length, and a weight ratio between fully oriented staple fibers and low oriented staple fibers in the wet-laid nonwoven fabric are used to obtain a fine low oriented yarn having excellent binder performance and a fine fully oriented yarn having an unprecedented level of fineness.
US08741101B2	Liquid concentrator A liquid concentrator having an evaporator assembly and a cyclonic separator includes features designed to improve the performance of the liquid concentrator. A settling chamber is separated from a sump of the cyclonic separator. A liquid inlet opening into a mixing chamber of the evaporator injects wastewater at low pressures. Features to aid in the cleaning of the liquid concentrator include easy open doors and clean water injection ports for cleaning interior portions of the liquid concentrator. In one feature a settling tank is disposed below the cyclonic separator and has a width that is larger than the width of the cyclonic separator. In another variation, the cyclonic separator has a tubular body with an interior that is substantially unobstructed between an inlet from the evaporator assembly and an exhaust outlet. In yet another variation, the cyclonic separator has an upper chamber that is separated from a lower chamber.
US08741100B2	Liquid concentrator A liquid concentrator having an evaporator assembly and a cyclonic separator includes features designed to improve the performance of the liquid concentrator. A settling chamber is separated from a sump of the cyclonic separator. A liquid inlet opening into a mixing chamber of the evaporator injects wastewater at low pressures. Features to aid in the cleaning of the liquid concentrator include easy open doors and clean water injection ports for cleaning interior portions of the liquid concentrator.
US08741099B2	Liquid processing apparatus Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus that includes: a rotational unit configured to rotate a substrate to be processed while the substrate is being held horizontally; and a processing liquid supplying unit configured to supply a processing liquid to the bottom surface of the substrate to be processed which is rotating. The rotational unit includes an enclosing member surrounding the periphery of the substrate to be processed, the enclosing member includes a plurality of guide grooves formed on the bottom surface of the enclosing member and configured to guide the processing liquid, and each of the plurality of guide grooves elongates outwardly from the inner periphery and is arranged in the circumferential direction of the enclosing member.
US08741097B2	Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber including a dielectric window; a coil-shaped RF antenna, provided outside the dielectric window; a substrate supporting unit provided in the processing chamber; a processing gas supply unit; an RF power supply unit for supplying an RF power to the RF antenna to generate a plasma of the processing gas by an inductive coupling in the processing chamber, the RF power having an appropriate frequency for RF discharge of the processing gas; a correction coil, provided at a position outside the processing chamber where the correction coil is to be coupled with the RF antenna by an electromagnetic induction, for controlling a plasma density distribution on the substrate in the processing chamber; a switching device provided in a loop of the correction coil; and a switching control unit for on-off controlling the switching device at a desired duty ratio by pulse width modulation.
US08741092B2	Production, forming, bonding, joining and repair systems for composite and metal components Method and apparatus for the production, forming bonding, joining and repair systems composite and metal components utilizing at least one pressure chamber having a displaceable abutment face, wherein fluid is circulated at an elevated temperature and pressure through the pressure chamber.
US08741091B2	Method for thermoplastic welding and welded composite structures A composite structure fabricated by thermoplastic welding, and a method for producing such structures. First and second composite parts are provided, having first and second surfaces, respectively, that define an interface where the parts are to be joined. The parts include a thermoplastic matrix. An insert is provided, which includes a film portion, which may include the same thermoplastic matrix. The insert is provided with an electric resistance heating element. The first and second parts are urged together using low fusion pressure while the insert is heated using the electric resistance heating element. After a selected period of time, the electrical supply to the resistance heating element is turned off. A high fusion pressure is then applied to urge the parts together. The weldment joint is allowed to cool. After cooling, excess material may be removed, to form a composite structure.
US08741088B2	Reinforced magnet A magnet that includes a composite body and at least one reinforcing element. The reinforcing element is embedded within the body and increases the radial strength of the body. As a result, the magnet is able to rotate at higher speeds without fracturing. Additionally, methods of manufacturing the magnet are described.
US08741085B2	Method of making a resilient floor tile A resilient floor tile includes a base layer, a film layer, a decorative film layer, and a topcoat. The resilient floor tile has a shaped edge formed on an upper surface thereof that extends about at least a portion of a perimeter of the resilient floor tile. In order to make the resilient floor tile, a continuous sheet of a base layer is conveyed into a press die. The press die is actuated from an open position to a closed position. The continuous sheet is cut with a blade of a cutting tool of the press die to form side surfaces of the resilient floor tile when the press die is in the closed position. A shaped edge is formed on at least a portion of a perimeter of an upper surface of the resilient floor tile with a forming tool of the press die when the press die is in the closed position.
US08741083B2	Elastic laminate and a method for producing an elastic laminate A method for producing an elastically stretchable laminate having at least three layers, the method including the steps of: a) producing a first laminate having a first non-elastic fibrous nonwoven web and an elastic film; b) activating the first laminate by incremental stretching in at least one activation direction to render the first laminate elastically stretchable; c) stretching the activated first laminate to 10-200% in the activation direction; and d) laminating the stretched first laminate to a second non-elastic nonwoven web. An elastically stretchable laminate produced in accordance with the method is also disclosed.
US08741082B2	Method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display device The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display device, the method including the steps of forming a plurality of partition walls defining unipixel regions on a first substrate; filling an electrophoretic medium in the unipixel regions; forming an adhesive layer on a second substrate to bond the first substrate to the second substrate; forming (i) a plurality of adhesive portions for contact with the partition walls and (ii) a plurality of hardening portions for sealing the unipixel region filled with the electrophoretic medium by hardening a part of the adhesive layer; and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate to each other.
US08741078B2	Method for manufacturing an ultrahigh strength hot dip galvanized steel sheet having martensitic structure as matrix The present invention relates to a hot dip galvanized steel sheet and a manufacturing method thereof. The hot dip galvanize steel sheet includes a steel sheet including a martensitic structure as a matrix, and a hot dip galvanized layer formed on the steel sheet. The steel sheet includes C of 0.05 wt % to 0.30 wt %, Mn of 0.5 wt % to 3.5 wt %, Si of 0.1 wt % to 0.8 wt %, Al of 0.01 wt % to 1.5 wt %, Cr of 0.01 wt % to 1.5 wt %, Mo of 0.01 wt % to 1.5 wt %, Ti of 0.001 wt % to 0.10 wt %, N of 5 ppm to 120 ppm, B of 3 ppm to 80 ppm, an impurity, and the remainder of Fe.
US08741077B2	Homogeneous titanium tungsten alloys produced by powder metal technology Titanium-tungsten alloys are described comprising tungsten ranging from about 9% to about 20% by weight, and titanium ranging from about 91% to about 80% by weight, exhibiting a yield strength of at least 120,000 psi, and a ductility of at least 20% elongation. Methods of making the alloy, and products made with the alloys are also disclosed herein.
US08741074B1	Chemical conversion coatings for corrosion protection of copper and other alloys in contaminated water A non-chromate conversion coating for copper or other alloys. The conversion coating is composed of hydrotalcite-like compound (HTlcs). The conversion coating adheres well with the alloys, and provides excellent corrosion protection. In addition, corrosion inhibitive species were incorporated into the coating. The coating with inhibitors incorporated showed damage-responsive properties. The corrosion protection property of the conversion coating was further enhanced through applying a surface sealer. The coating has applicability in industrial heat exchangers that use reclaimed water.
US08741073B2	Implant and method for producing the same A method for producing an implant, particularly an intraluminal endoprosthesis, having a body, wherein the body comprises magnesium or a magnesium alloy. In order to control the degradation in a desired time window, such as between four weeks and six months, the following production method is carried out: a) preparing the implant body, b) applying a metallic coating onto at least a portion of the body surface, the primary constituent of the coating being at least one element of the group containing titanium and aluminum, c) plasmachemical treatment of the portion of the body surface provided with the coating in an aqueous solution in order to produce a layer created by plasmachemical treatment by applying a mixed voltage generating the plasma to the body of the implant, wherein the mixed voltage has sufficient energy to temporarily ionize both the metallic coating and a subjacent region of the implant body. The invention further relates to an implant that can be obtained by such a method.
US08741071B2	Semiconductor processing method A process for treating the surface of a substrate in the manufacture of a semiconductor device. The process comprises providing a concentrated acid or base, a peroxide and water, and delivering the acid or base, the peroxide and the water to the surface of the substrate. The acid or base and the water are delivered separately to the surface of the substrate and allowed to mix on the surface, and the water is delivered in pulses. The present invention also provides an apparatus adapted to carry out this process.
US08741070B2	Liquid processing method, liquid processing apparatus and recording medium Disclosed are a liquid processing method, a liquid processing apparatus, and a recording medium that can prevent convex portions of a target substrate from collapsing when a rinsing liquid is dried. A base surface of a target substrate is hydrophilized and the surfaces of convex portions become water-repellent by surface-processing the target substrate which includes a main body, a plurality of convex portions protruding from the main body, and a base surface formed between the convex portions on the substrate main body. Next, a rinsing liquid is supplied to the target substrate which has been subjected to the surface processing. Thereafter, the rinsing liquid is removed from the target substrate.
US08741063B2	Substrate processing apparatus and method of manufacturing semiconductor device Substrate processing uniformity is improved in the surfaces of wafers and between the wafers. A substrate processing apparatus including: a substrate holder including a substrate stacking part configured to hold a plurality of vertically stacked substrates and a cylinder part disposed under the substrate stacking part to enclose a lower portion of the substrate holder; an inner tube configured to accommodate the substrate holder wherein a space between the cylinder part and a lower portion of the inner tube is smaller than a space between the substrate stacking part and an upper portion of the inner tube; an outer tube configured to enclose the inner tube with a gap therebetween; a gas nozzle installed in the inner tube; a gas injection hole disposed in the gas nozzle; a source gas supply unit configured to supply a source gas to an inside of the inner tube through the gas nozzle; a gas exhaust outlet disposed in a sidewall of the inner tube such that the inside of the inner tube communicates with the gap through the plurality of gas exhaust outlets; an exhaust unit configured to exhaust the gap so as to create a gas stream inside the inner tube in a direction from the gas injection hole to the plurality of gas exhaust outlets.
US08741061B2	Vacuum carburization method and vacuum carburization apparatus A method between a diffusion and a quenching process including normalizing by step cooling including alternating temperature lowering and temperature keeping treatment for a temperature history that satisfies a predetermined condition; after normalizing, maintaining the temperature of the whole workpiece so that the whole workpiece becomes the predetermined temperature, thereby producing fine crystal grains in the workpiece; then reheating the workpiece to raise its temperature to the second temperature. There is uniformity in temperature between the surface and the inside of a workpiece, and crystal grains are prevented from being coarse.
US08741057B1	Settable compositions comprising wollastonite and pumice and methods of use Methods and compositions are provided that relate to cementing operations, including a method of cementing that may comprise providing a settable composition that may comprise wollastonite, pumice, a calcium-ion source, and water, wherein the wollastonite may be present in an amount in a range of from about 25% to about 75% by combined weight of the wollastonite and pumice, and wherein the pumice may present in an amount in a range of from about 25% to about 75% by combined weight of the wollastonite and pumice. Embodiments of the method further may comprise allowing the settable composition to set.
US08741054B2	Production of cement additives from combustion products of hydrocarbon fuels and strength enhancing metal oxides The present invention provides combustion products of hydrocarbon fuels and controlled amounts of metal oxide strength enhancing materials. The combustion products are useful as additives to cementitious materials. A hydrocarbon fuel such as coal is introduced into a combustion chamber and selected amounts of materials comprising CaO, SiO2 and Al2O3 are also introduced into and/or downstream from the chamber. The hydrocarbon fuel undergoes combustion while the metal oxide strength enhancing materials react with each other and/or the ash or other reaction products of the hydrocarbon fuel. The combustion products have been found to significantly increase compressive strengths of cements such as Portland cement. A reduction in SO2 emission levels also results from the introduction of the metal oxide strength enhancing materials into the combustion process.
US08741053B2	Calcium phosphate cement composition and its kit for bone prosthesis A calcium phosphate cement composition kit comprising (A) a powdery agent comprising 100 parts by mass of calcium phosphate powder, and 5-50 parts by mass of a powdery apatite/collagen composite, and (B) an aqueous blending liquid; a paste-like mixture being obtained by blending the powdery agent with the aqueous blending liquid, in such a proportion that the aqueous blending liquid is 15-50 parts by mass per the total amount (100 parts by mass) of the calcium phosphate powder and the powdery apatite/collagen composite, and filled in a predetermined prosthetic site in a human body to form a hardened calcium phosphate/collagen composite.
US08741051B2	Coating composition comprising polydextrose, process for preparing same and use of coating ingestible solid forms Composition (C) for coating ingestible solid forms, comprising, per 100% of its mass—from 10% to 90% of a graft copolymer of polyvinyl alcohol and of polyethers (Pi), and—from 10% to 90% by mass of an auxiliary coating agent, characterized in that a non-zero mass proportion of said auxiliary agent is polydextrose. Processes for the preparation and use thereof.
US08741050B2	Dental articles using nanocrystalline materials Dental articles are produced using relatively low sintering temperatures to achieve high density dental articles exhibiting strengths equal to and greater than about 700 MPa. Ceramic powders comprised of nanoparticulate crystallites are used to manufacture dental articles. The ceramic powders may include sintering agents, binders and other similar additives to aid in the processing of the ceramic powder into a dental article. The ceramic powders may be processed into dental articles using various methods including, but not limited to, injection molding, gel-casting, slip casting, or electroforming, hand, cad/camming and other various rapid prototyping methods. The ceramic powder may be formed into a suspension, pellet, feedstock material or a pre-sintered blank prior to forming into the dental article.
US08741045B2	Ink composition, inkjet recording method, and colored material An aqueous black ink composition which enables the formation of an excellent black recorded image having extremely high ozone gas resistance and a neutral and achromatic color. The ink composition comprises: a dye which includes at least one compound represented by specific formula (1) or at least one tautomer or salt of the compound; a dye which includes at least one compound represented by specific formula (3) or at least one tautomer or salt of the compound; and a dye which includes at least one compound represented by specific formula (4) or at least one tautomer or salt of the compound.
US08741042B2	Phase change inks comprising linear primary alcohols A phase change ink comprising an amorphous compound; a crystalline compound; an optional dispersant; an optional synergist; an optional colorant; and an alcohol having a long alkyl chain containing from about 10 to about 80 carbon atoms.
US08741039B2	Permanent ink compositions and writing instruments containing same The ink compositions comprise at least one solvent, at least one colorant, and at east one oil, and may be delivered from any of a variety of writing instruments including but not limited to ball pens, fountain pens, felt tip pens, and markers.
US08741031B2	Hollow ceramic fibers, precursors for manufacture thereof utilizing pore formers, methods of making the same, and methods of using the same A composite hollow ceramic fiber includes a porous hollow core supporting a thin, dense sheath. The non-gas-tight core comprises a first ceramic material and an interconnecting network of pores. The gas-tight sheath comprises a second ceramic material. The fiber is made by extruding core and sheath suspensions from a spinnerette. The core suspension includes particles of the first ceramic material, a polymeric binder, a solvent, and a pore former material insoluble in the solvent. The sheath suspension includes particles of the second ceramic material, a polymeric binder and a solvent. The nascent hollow fiber is coagulated in a coagulant bath to effect phase inversion of the polymeric binders. The resultant green fiber is sintered in a two step process. First, the binders and pore former material are burned off. Second, the sheath is densified and the second ceramic material is sintered without fully sintering the core.
US08741027B2	Material supply apparatus and process A material supply apparatus and process for co-injecting heated solid metalliferous material and solid carbonaceous material via a solids injection lance into a direct smelting vessel are disclosed.
US08741022B2	Controlled release fertilizer composition A controlled release fertilizer composition and methods to produce the controlled release fertilizer composition are described. The controlled release fertilizer composition comprises a water soluble fertilizer core that is coated with a polymeric layer, intermediate layer, and a sulfur layer. If desired, the sulfur layer can be coated with an outer water-insoluble layer.
US08741017B2	Air cleaner assembly; components therefor; and, methods Air filter cartridges for use in air cleaner assemblies are described. The air filter cartridges typically comprise a stack of strips of fluted media, having an inlet flow face and an outlet flow face. A projection is provided extending outwardly from adjacent the outlet flow face of the media pack, as a projection supporting a seal arrangement. The seal arrangement is typically rectangular, with four straight and four rounded corners. The projection can be configured with open corners, and in some instances comprises tabs, to facilitate flexing of the projection to accommodate variations in a housing seal surface, with which the cartridge is installed. Air cleaner assemblies and components therefor, using cartridges in accord with the descriptions herein, are described.
US08741014B2	Multi-stage steam-water separation device and steam-water separator In a multi-stage steam-water separation device and a steam-water separator, a first swirl vane (6) which causes a gas-liquid two-phase flow to rise while swirling is provided in a first riser (5) of a first steam-water separator (2), and a second swirl vane (12) which causes the gas-liquid two-phase flow which has passed through the first swirl vane (6) to rise while swirling at a speed higher than that provided by the first swirl vane (6), is provided in a second riser (11).
US08741012B2	Avionic bay comprising a device for filtering cooling air for electrical equipment installed in such a bay and aircraft equipped with such a bay An avionic bay with a device for filtering cooling air for aircraft electrical equipment. The device includes at least two filtration grilles provided with apertures and which are disposed successively one behind the other in order to filter the air drawn from a cooling air vein before distributing it to an aircraft electrical equipment item. The apertures of the second grille are offset transversely in relation to the apertures of the first grille.
US08741011B2	Coated cutting tool for metal cutting applications generating high temperatures The present invention relates to a cutting tool insert comprising a body of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, high speed steel (HSS), polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), a hard and wear resistant coating is applied, grown by physical vapour deposition (PVD) such as cathodic arc evaporation or magnetron sputtering. Said coating comprises at least one layer of (ZrxAl1-x)N with of 0.45
US08741010B2	Method for making low stress PDC A method for making PDC with excellent abrasion resistance at high pressure in a single HPHT step without introducing high residual internal stress. In one aspect of the method, the diamond mass is subjected to an initial high pressure to compact the mass. The initial pressure is then lowered to a second pressure prior to the application of heat to the reaction cell. In another aspect, the diamond mass is subjected to an initial pressure to compact the mass, followed by raising the temperature to melt the sintering aid. The initial pressure is then lowered to a second pressure prior to lowering the temperature below the melting point of the sintering aid.
US08741005B1	Superabrasive articles and methods for removing interstitial materials from superabrasive materials A method of processing a polycrystalline diamond material is disclosed. According to the method, a metal-solvent catalyst is leached from a polycrystalline diamond material by exposing at least a portion of the polycrystalline diamond material to a leaching composition. The leaching composition includes water, a complexing agent, and hydrofluoric acid.
US08741003B2	Apparatus and method for presenting stereoscopic video Provided is a stereoscopic video presenting apparatus including: an eye movement measurement unit configured to measure an eye movement of each of users viewing the stereoscopic video; a user count determination unit configured to determine the number of users viewing a same stereoscopic video; and a failure state determination unit configured to compare, when the user count determination unit determines that the number of users viewing the same stereoscopic video is plurality, eye movements of a plurality of users to determine a user whose eye movement is in a failure state among the plurality of users.
US08740996B2	Method for coloring an optical lens comprising a printing primer, and optical colored lens comprising such a printing primer The invention concerns a method for coloring an optical lens comprising a transparent printing primer, capable of being colored by inkjet printing. Said coloring method uses a technique of inkjet printing of said printing primer to obtain a colored optical lens, independently of the chemical nature of the compounds constituting the substrate of said lens. The invention also concerns the resulting colored lens.
US08740995B1	Oxidative hair treatment with silicone and bleach The subject matter of the present invention is a method for oxidative lightening and/or coloring of keratinic fibers, in particular of hair, wherein a) a pretreatment agent that contains at least one 4-morpholinomethyl-substituted silicone of formulas (V) is applied onto the keratinic fibers, in particular onto the hair, b) subsequently, within a time span from one second to 24 hours after step a), a coloring and/or lightening agent is applied onto the keratinic fibers, which agent is obtained by mixing a composition (A) that contains at least one alkalizing agent with a composition (B) that contains, in a cosmetic carrier, at least one oxidizing agent, where the composition (B) contains at least one acylpyridinium derivative of formula (Acylpyr-I), (Acylpyr-I).
US08740992B2	Afterclearing agents A composition comprising (a) a homo- or copolymer obtainable by polymerisation of at least one ethylenically un-saturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound and (b) a polyethyleneimine, is suitable for afterclearing a printed or dyed textile material, in particular cotton fibres dyed or printed with reactive dyes.
US08740988B1	Bariatric balloon apparatus A bariatric balloon having a gas-filled antral chamber of a flexible sheet material, the antral chamber having an elastic superior wall joined peripherally with a less-elastic annular wall, the annular wall further joined peripherally with a non-elastic inferior wall, the inferior wall of a more rigid character than the superior wall and the annular wall. The superior wall has a convex shape, the annular wall has a cylindrical shape, and the inferior wall has a planar shape. Secured below the antral chamber, a gas filled pyloric chamber joined to, and contiguous with, the antral chamber, a pyloric wall encompasses the cyloric chamber. The gas-filled antral and pyloric chambers define a volume less than the volume of a human stomach. Safety arms are mounted on a gas inlet/outlet valve and extend radially from the valve in order to prevent the deflated balloon from passing through the pyloric sphincter.
US08740986B2	Finger joint prosthesis A finger joint prosthesis includes a joint body 14 having first and second joint elements pivotably connected about an axis of rotation and anchoring bars 30, 32 extend from the joint body for securing to a proximal and a distal phalanx. The anchoring bars 30, 32 include one or more securing eyes 40, 42, 44 with openings for receiving fixing screws therein. To provide improved primary and secondary fixing, an end securing element is provided distally from the axis of rotation on the anchoring bar 30, 32 of at least one joint element.
US08740985B1	Knee prosthesis Tibial inserts and tibial femoral systems are provided for improved knee reconstruction systems. External rotation of a knee joint implant is enhanced by modifications to the post, providing a recess that allows clearance of the post against the corners of a box wall within the femoral component. The rotation provides for a more natural knee joint motion of the implant. The depth, size, and location of the post relief may be modified for certain applications to provide both improved rotational motion and constraint against undesirable motion of the knee.
US08740983B1	Spinal fusion implants and related methods The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for use in spinal surgery. In particular, the disclosed system relates to an intervertebral spinal implant assembly sized and dimensioned for the lumbar spine implantable via an anterior or anterolateral approach. The device includes an implant, bone screws, and instruments for delivering the implant and bone screws.
US08740981B2	Nuclear implant The nuclear implant according to this invention constitutes, between two overlying and underlying vertebrae Va, Vb of a spine segment Sr, an intervertebral support device that damps shock and ensures the mobility of the functional unit that is formed by the vertebrae of a vertebral column, whereby the nuclear implant includes a filling element (2) that includes at least one continuous wire (50, 51) that is arranged—inside a nuclear space Es that is obtained after nucleotomy of the intervertebral disk Di—along a profile in the shape of a ring whose stack of coils (55) makes it possible to delimit a central internal space (52).
US08740980B2	Expandable medical implant An implant with an adjustable height for spacing apart skeletal structures. The implant includes a base with a hollow interior. Collars include threaded inner surfaces and are positioned within the hollow interior of the base and are rotatable relative to the base. Threaded posts extend outward from the base and are threaded into the collars. Rotation of the collars adjusts an amount that the threaded posts extend outward from the base. An overall height of the implant can be adjusted to accommodate the size of the space and for the posts to contact against and space apart the skeletal structures.
US08740979B2	System and method for restoration of nutrient flow to nucleus pulposa Disclosed are methods and devices for restoring or establishing nutrient flow to the nucleus pulposa. An implant comprises a nutrient flow path for extending between a source of nutrients and the nucleus pulposa. The implant is positioned within the patient such that a first end is in nutrient flow communication with a subject nucleus pulposa, and the source end is positioned in nutrient flow communication with a source of nutrients.
US08740978B2	Intraocular lens having extended depth of focus An ophthalmic lens for providing enhanced or extended depth of focus includes an optic having an aperture disposed about an optical axis. The optic includes a first surface having a first shape and an opposing second surface having a second shape, the first and second surfaces providing, a base power and, in some embodiments an add power. The optic further includes an extended focus mask disposed upon at least one of the first shape and the second shape that is configured to provide the enhanced or extended depth of focus for one or more foci of the optic, as compared to a similar optic not having the extended focus mask.
US08740977B2	Intraocular lens insertion tool An intraocular lens insertion tool is presented. An introductory part in an insertion cylinder is provided, at a widthwise central portion of a bottom surface, with a central protrusion which extends in an axial direction of a tool body and protrudes toward an upper surface to get in contact with a center portion of a rear surface of an optical zone of an intraocular lens. The upper surface is provided, at its both widthwise ends, with a pair of lateral protrusions, which extend in the axial direction of the tool body and protrude toward the bottom surface to get in contact with both ends of a front surface of the optical zone of the intraocular lens. A lens pressing face of a plunging member is formed with a dimension spanning from the bottom surface to the upper surface at a tip end section of the insertion cylinder.
US08740969B2	Apparatus for and method of fitting a stent-graft or similar device A fitting device (104) for fitting a stent-graft (100) into a lumen of a patient includes a catheter (110), a cannula (112) reciprocably carried in the catheter (110) and a pair of gripper claws (106) in the cannula (112). The gripper claws (106) grip onto a stent (102) at the proximal end (128) of the stent-graft (100) which a suture loop (108) is tied to a stent (102) at an intermediate position along the stent graft (100). The stent-graft (100) can be curved by pulling the end-most stent (102) backwards, that is by retracting the cannula (112) into the catheter (110) while the gripper claws (106) grip onto the stent (102). The proximal end of the stent-graft (100) can also be adjusted position-wise by moving the cannula (112) into and out of the catheter (110). Thus, precise positioning and curving of the stent-graft (100) can be achieved.
US08740965B2	Stent delivery system A stent delivery system includes a self-expanding stent, an inner tube body which has a guide wire lumen, and a sheath which has the stent contained within the tip section thereof. The stent can be discharged by moving the sheath to the base end side relative to the inner tube body. The inner tube body is provided at a position within the base end section of the stent and is provided with an elastic member for pressing the stent in the direction to the sheath. The stent is gripped by the elastic member and the sheath and is adapted to be slidable relative to the sheath.
US08740964B2	Endoluminal delivery device A highly flexible delivery device (2) for a stent graft (6) particularly for deployment into the thoracic arch of a patient. The delivery device has a distal handle (7), a pusher catheter (4) extending proximally from the handle to a proximal nose cone dilator (11), a guide wire catheter (3) extending from the proximal nose cone dilator to the pusher catheter. To give flexibility the guide wire catheter comprises a nitinol tube, the nose cone dilator has a high flexibility and the pusher catheter has a graded flexibility being more flexible at its proximal end than at its distal end. The graded flexibility can be provided by joined segments (4a, 4b and 4c) of different flexibility or by a inner metal tube (72) to give rigidity over some of the length. Alternatively the graded flexibility can be provided by tapering the wall thickness (80, 80a) of the pusher catheter.
US08740960B2	Device and method for the reduction of pain associated with needle sticks A device that is used to reduce the pain of a needle stick to a person, the device having a casing containing a vibratory device and a temperature reducing device, and a method for using the device to reduce the pain of a needle stick by applying both thermal and vibration analgesia to a subject during a needle stick.
US08740958B2	Apparatus and method for laser treatment with spectroscopic feedback A platform Smart Scalpel system using rapid real-time feedback for effecting laser treatment. The platform system includes an imaging system for rapid real-time detection of tissue characteristics, a processing system for processing the detected characteristics, and a treatment system for effecting treatment in accordance with results of the processing. The platform system provides for preprogramming and real-time inputting conditions and parameters for diagnosis using the imaging system and/or treatment using the treatment system.
US08740953B2	Adjustable occipital plate An occipital plate may include a central section, a pair of angled sections, and attachment assemblies comprising slide members configured to move along slots in the angled sections, and posts coupled to the slide members. Each post has a first and second cross dimensions. The first cross dimension of each post is less than a first cross dimension of a slide member. The second cross dimension of each post is approximately equal to a second cross dimension of a slide member. Rods may be coupled to the occipital plate at a variety of angles with respect to a midline of the plate. The angular adjustability may accommodate any misalignments in the rods. Further, the position of the attachment assemblies relative to the midline is adjustable to thereby provide for medial-lateral adjustability when attaching the rods to the occipital plate as part of an occipito-cervico-thoracic construct.
US08740949B2	Methods and apparatus for stabilizing bone In some embodiments, a method comprises disposing a portion of a flexible fastening band into contact with a first bone portion and into contact with a second bone portion. The portion of the flexible fastening band having a substantially uniform shape configured to substantially compliment a shape of the first bone portion and a shape of the second bone portion. The method further includes inserting the portion of the flexible fastening band into a fastener and advancing the portion of the flexible fastening band through the fastener until the first bone portion and the and the second bone portion are stabilized.
US08740948B2	Spinal spacer for cervical and other vertebra, and associated systems and methods Spinal spacers for cervical and other vertebra, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a hook member having a hook positioned to extend in a first direction, a post carried by the hook member and extending axially in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and a cam surface carried by the hook member. An actuator device is movably engaged with the post, and a spinal spacer is pivotably coupled to one of the actuator device and the post. The spinal spacer is axially movable relative to the hook member and has a spacing element in contact with the cam surface to pivot outwardly away from the post as the actuator device moves.
US08740944B2	Vertebral stabilizer A bio-compatible stabilization system includes one or more inserters and a connector for traversing a space between one or more bony structures. The stabilization system is designed to reduce or eliminate stress shielding effects while functioning as a tension band. The connector includes an extendable member and an over-extension limiter that limits extension of the extendable member.
US08740942B2	Vertebral facet joint prosthesis and method of fixation Devices and methods for altering the spacing and motion at the facet joints of the vertebral column are provided. One embodiment of the invention comprises a prosthesis with surfaces configured to articulate with the facets of the facet joint. A retaining member for anchoring the prosthesis within the facet joint is optionally included. Methods for surgically and less invasively implanting the prosthesis and securing the prosthesis to the articular processes or surrounding soft tissue are also provided.
US08740941B2	Pedicle based spinal stabilization with adjacent vertebral body support A fasterner and rod fusion device with extensions to support an adjacent vertebral body is provided. The extensions are connected to the fasterner and rod fusion device. The extensions include flexibly connected rods, bands, spacers, or the like to resist extension and/or flexion of the vertebral body(ies) adjacent a fusion site. Alternatively, the extensions may be coupled to a cross link between multiple rods.
US08740940B2	Compressible tissue anchor assemblies Apparatus and methods optimize anchoring force in securing tissue folds. Over-compression of the tissue directly underlying the anchors is avoided by utilizing tissue anchors having expandable designs configured to minimize contact area between the anchor and tissue. When the anchor is in its expanded configuration, a load is applied to the anchor until it is optimally configured to accommodate a range of deflections while the anchor itself exerts a substantially constant force against the tissue.
US08740939B2	Method and apparatus for soft tissue fixation A positioning member may be released to move an anchor member to a holding position. The positioning member being operable to be held in a selected orientation until the anchor member is in a selected position.
US08740938B2	System, method, and device for closing an opening Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for closing an opening. The methods, systems, and devices include a looped body. The looped body includes a first looped portion having a first apex and a second apex separated by a first distance while the looped body is in a pre-deployed state. The first looped portion is configured to resiliently move to a deployed state in which the first apex and the second apex are separated by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance.
US08740936B2	Pinch vascular closure apparatus and method A device for pinching an opening in a vessel wall, comprising an introducer sheath, a lumen having a distal opening and a bleed hole; an anchoring having a cylindrical shape in a first constrained state and a flared shape in a second unconstrained state; a pincher member slidably disposed between the anchoring member and the introducer sheath comprising at its distal end a plurality of elongate pincher arms, each of the plurality of elongate pincher arms having a free distal end such that when the pincher member distal end is unconstrained, the free distal ends of the elongate pincher arms are biased to expand radially; and an interior support member slidably disposed in the anchoring member comprising a plurality of elongate support legs, each having a free distal end such that when the distal end of the interior support member is unconstrained, the free distal ends curve outwardly.
US08740932B2	Surgical device A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. The second jaw is mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end. A cutting element is disposed within the second jaw, and a first driver is configured to move the cutting element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws. The device may also include a stapling element disposed within the second jaw. The cutting element and the stapling element may be contiguous so as to define a cutting and stapling element, such as a wedge having a blade disposed thereon.
US08740930B2	Embolic filter device independent of treatment device A self-expanding filter for collecting emboli or thrombi in a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The filter has a tubular filter body that coils or spirals around an outer surface of an adjacently located, independent treatment device in a corkscrew fashion when deployed from a sheath delivery catheter. When fully deployed, an outer surface of the coiled tubular body conforms to the inner wall of the vessel and an inner surface of the coiled tubular body conforms to an outer surface of the treatment device. The treatment device is disposed within a longitudinal opening extending through the expanded, coiled tubular body of the filter during an interventional procedure.
US08740929B2	Spacing device for releasing active substances in the paranasal sinus A spacing device for use in fenestrations of the paranasal sinus, the device including a sheath which forms a hollow body defining at least two apertures. The sheath includes at least one layer loaded with an active substance. The ratio q of the external diameter ra of the hollow body to the internal diameter ri of the hollow body is about 1.2 to 3.0.
US08740925B2	Trocar assembly A surgical system comprising a cannula assembly and an obturator assembly for penetrating tissue is disclosed. A cover of the cannula assembly is mounted to a cannula housing and has a cover aperture therethrough. The cover has a trailing end face defining a predetermined geometrical configuration, at least a portion of the trailing end face is obliquely arranged relative to a longitudinal axis and terminates in, and leads toward the cover aperture to facilitate guiding of the surgical object through the cover aperture. The obturator assembly includes an obturator housing and an obturator member. The obturator housing has a housing base defining a leading end face, which defines a predetermined geometrical configuration corresponding to the predetermined geometrical configuration of the trailing end face of the cover to mate therewith upon assembly of the obturator assembly with the cannula assembly.
US08740919B2	Devices for dispensing surgical fasteners into tissue while simultaneously generating external marks that mirror the number and location of the dispensed surgical fasteners A device dispenses surgical fasteners inside a body and generates marks outside the body indicating where the surgical fasteners have been dispensed inside the body. The device includes a first member having a surgical fastener dispenser opening, and a second member coupled with the first member, the second member having a distal end that opposes the surgical fastener dispenser opening. The device includes a marking assembly secured to the distal end of the second member. The marking assembly is moveable away from and toward the surgical fastener dispenser opening. The marking assembly is adapted for generating marks on an external surface that mirror the location of each surgical fastener dispensed from the surgical fastener dispenser opening. The device may include a clamp for compressing tissue between the marking assembly and the surgical fastener dispenser.
US08740918B2	Surgical device for connecting soft tissue Provided is a surgical instrument including an external tube (2) and two elongated members (4) positioned in the tube (2), each of which includes a distal end (10a) for capturing one of the two tissue zones (M1, M2) to be attached. The instrument (1) may further include a catching member (22, 25) for each tissue (M1, M2) to be attached; a rod (15, 16) linked to each catching member (22, 25) enabling tension to move axially, the rod (15, 16) being separable from said catching member (22, 25) when a tension is exerted on it beyond a certain threshold; and a member (17a) forming a stop for locking axially each catching member (22, 25) during the tensioning.
US08740916B2	Uterine manipulator assemblies and related components and methods A uterine manipulator includes an elongate shaft and a tip hub. The elongate shaft has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is configured to be inserted into a vagina. The tip hub is disposed at the distal end and is configured to releasably receive and support a tip mount for engaging a uterus. The elongate shaft includes one or more channels extending between the distal and proximal ends. The channels are configured to releasably receive catheter tubing.
US08740915B2	Bone fixation systems and methods of use A bone fixation system that may be configured to move at least one of a first bone segment and a second bone segment relative to the other, is disclosed. The system may include a first lever and a second lever pivotally coupled to the first lever. The first lever may include a first handle, a first jaw extending from the first handle, and an aperture extending through the first jaw. The aperture may be configured to receive a fixation element to thereby fixedly couple the first lever to a bone plate. The second lever may include a second handle, a second jaw extending from the second handle, and an aperture extending through the second jaw. The aperture may be configured to receive a temporary fixation element to operatively couple the second lever to the second bone segment.
US08740908B2	Bone collection system A bone collection system includes a plunger, a tube, and a manifold. The plunger has a bore therethrough, an insertion portion, and an inlet that accepts material being harvested from a patient. The insertion portion includes a filter to prevent passage of bone fragments. The tube accepts the insertion portion, defining a first and a second chamber of the tube. The filter separates the first and second chambers of the tube. The manifold is accepted by the tube, and has an outlet accepted by a suction source. The inlet of the plunger is in fluid communication with the first chamber, the first and second chambers are in fluid communication through the filter, and the second chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet. Material being harvested is drawn through the bone collection system, and bone fragments of the desired size collected in the first chamber.
US08740906B2	Method and apparatus for wireplasty bone resection A cutting tool to be utilized in the resection or removal of bone tissue from patients includes a handle that tensions a wire or cable-like cutting member with a small diameter between at least two features on the handle to present a thin cutting profile. The design of the cutting tool includes features that protect against soft tissue damage and minimize the incision size necessary to utilize the tool. Some embodiments feature details of the cutting tool that interface with a surgical cutting guide system. Other embodiments describe a cutting tool with a selectively changeable length of the cutting profile of the wire cutting member. In one embodiment, the wire cutting member of the cutting tool is energized by mechanical energy in the form of a unidirectional rotation of the cutting member, a mechanical vibration of the cutting member, or an oscillating movement of the wire cutting member.
US08740900B2	Mapping and ablation irrigated hybrid catheter An embodiment of an open-irrigated catheter system comprises a tip section, a distal insert, and mapping electrodes. The tip section has an exterior wall that defines an open interior region within the tip section. The exterior wall includes mapping electrode openings and irrigation ports. The exterior wall is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy for an RF ablation procedure. The irrigation ports are in fluid communication with the open interior region to allow fluid to flow from the open interior region through the irrigation ports. The distal insert is positioned within the tip section to separate the open region into a distal fluid reservoir and a proximal fluid reservoir. The mapping electrodes are positioned in the mapping electrode openings in the tip section.
US08740898B2	Surgical forceps A forceps includes an end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members. At least one of the jaws is moveable with respect to the other between a spaced-apart position and at least one approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. At least one of the jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of energy for sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members. A chamber is defined within and extends longitudinally along at least one of the jaw members. The chamber is configured to retain a fluid therein and includes a series of apertures disposed on a tissue-facing surface thereof such that, upon application of energy to the jaw member(s), fluid within the chamber is heated to thermally expand within the chamber and forcefully exit the apertures to divide tissue disposed between the jaw members.
US08740897B2	Electrosurgical tissue treatment method and device A device for treating spinal tissue of a patient's body may include an energy source and first and second probe assemblies. Each of the probe assemblies may have an electrically conductive energy delivery device electrically coupled to the energy source, and may also have an electrothermal device for cooling the probe assembly. The device is configured so that the energy source delivers energy to the spinal tissue through the energy delivery devices in a bipolar mode that concentrates delivered energy between the energy delivery devices to create a lesion within the spinal tissue while the electrothermal devices cool the probe assemblies. Related methods of use include cooling, at times via an electrothermal device.
US08740889B2	Ophthalmological laser system and operating method An ophthalmological laser system and operating method wherein laser-supported operative interventions can be achieved with higher accuracy. The cornea is irradiated with an ophthalmological laser and a detection light confocally recorded, the cornea being scanned in three-dimensions by irradiation with an illuminating laser power using a scanner unit along several directions at several points. Using the simultaneously recorded detection light the position and/or shape of a posterior boundary surface of the cornea is determined. A lamella parallel to the posterior boundary surface can then be cut.
US08740881B2	Sterile barrier for a surgical robot with torque sensors The invention relates to a sterile barrier (S) for a surgical robot (1) comprising at least one joint (12 . . . 15) with two opposing joint members (40, 42) that rotate relative to one another about a common joint axis (16 . . . 19) and a torque sensor (29) comprising: at least two sterile barrier sections (24 . . . 28) each with an end section (38, 39) for sealed attachment to a respective joint end section (41, 43) of the joint member (40, 42); and a sealing arrangement (30) for producing a sterile and sealed rotating connection of the end sections (38, 39) of the at least two sterile barrier sections (24 . . . 28); and a surgical robot (1).
US08740879B2	Instrumented orthopedic and other medical implants Medical implants can comprise various instrumentation to impart desirable functionality to the implant. In some embodiments, the implants comprise functional structures, such as sensors, energy propagating transducers, drug delivery systems and the like. Additional instrumentation to facilitate the functionality of these devices can include, for example, microprocessors, communication systems, power sources or the like. Drug delivery systems can comprise, for example, an isolated reservoir with a control system to control the delivery of a biological agent from the reservoir. The implants can be orthopedic implants that are designed to interface with a patient's skeletal system wherein the orthopedic implant may itself embody sensors, processors, power supplies, memory and/or communication capability.
US08740877B2	Fluid connection assembly with locking mechanism In general, this disclosure relates to techniques for implementation and use of a fluid connection assembly, having a locking mechanism, which may be connected to a medical fluid injection device. An example fluid connection assembly includes at least one fluid connector, a mating mechanism coupled to the at least one fluid connector and configured to connect the at least one fluid connector to a medical fluid injection device, and a locking mechanism coupled to the mating mechanism and movable into a locked position or an unlocked position. In this example, the fluid connection assembly becomes affirmatively coupled with the medical fluid injection device when the locking mechanism is in the locked position, and the fluid connection assembly becomes removably decoupled from the medical fluid injection device when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position.
US08740876B2	Device for external percutaneous connections The present invention provides devices for creating an external percutaneous fluidic connections. In one embodiment, the device includes a first tube defining a longitudinal axis, and a first bolster supporting the first tube, a second tube, and a second bolster supporting the second tube. The first and second bolsters are magnetically attractable, and promote airflow to the skin.
US08740873B2	Soft body catheter with low friction lumen The disclosure is directed to radiation catheter devices, methods for controlled application of irradiation to tissue at a body site, such as a cavity formed after removal of tissue, e.g. cancer, using such radiation catheter devices, solutions for forming a more lubricious luminal surface and method for lining lumens of such devices to improve the frictional characteristics thereof. The catheter device includes a flexible elongated shaft which is formed of low durometer polymeric material, which can be readily folded or coiled for securing the shaft to or under the skin of the patient and a radiation lumen lined with high durometer polymeric material to improve the frictional characteristics. The elongated shaft has at least one inner lumen for receiving a radiation source which has a layer of high durometer polymeric material that provides lower surface friction to facilitate advancement of a radiation source therein.
US08740862B2	Infusion flow regulator, infusion flow regulating set, and infusion flow regulating method Disclosed is an infusion flow regulator, in which a reference point is set within a manipulating range of a manipulation unit for regulating a flow rate in the infusion flow regulator, so that a manipulating point of the manipulation unit can be tuned with reference to the ratio of a flow rate measured at the reference point in relation to a prescribed injection flow rate, whereby the flow rate can be quickly and accurately tuned to the prescribed flow rate. The disclosure also includes an infusion flow regulating set including the infusion flow regulator, and an infusion flow regulating method using the same.
US08740861B2	Valves, valved fluid transfer devices and ambulatory infusion devices including the same Valves, valved fluid transfer devices and ambulatory infusion devices including the same. The valves may include a valve seat and a valve element, and be configured such that one of the valve seat and the valve element includes a main portion and a seal portion that is less tacky than the main portion and is in contact with the other of the valve seat and the valve element when the valve element is in a closed position.
US08740848B2	Large-volume bolus patient controlled drug administration device A device for dispensing fluid to a patient enabling either or both of a continuous flow, as well as successive, large-volume boluses. A first reservoir provides a source of fluid under pressure. A bolus flow path provides for the delivery of a bolus dose of fluid and an optional continuous flow path provides a continuous flow rate of fluid. Both flow paths are in fluid communication with the source of fluid. A bolus delivery system in fluid communication with the bolus flow path receives fluid from the first reservoir, expands to pressurize fluid, stores the pressurized fluid, and dispenses the pressurized fluid while avoiding bolus refill until enabled to expand in a subsequent delivery cycle. An actuator releases fluid from the bolus delivery system such that when actuated by the patient, fluid is permitted to flow out of the bolus reservoir to the patient without further action by the patient.
US08740846B2	Treatment of tissue in sphincters, sinuses, and orifices The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treatment of a body part. More particularly, a method and apparatus for heat treatment of tissue using a catheter inserted into a body part is described along with means for positioning the catheter and means for positioning a set of electrodes relative to a tissue sample for treatment. Still more particularly, radio frequency energy at about 400 to 500 kilohertz is used to provide heat for the tissue treatment.
US08740845B2	Multi-layer film welded articulated balloon A method of fabrication of a medical balloon, and a balloon device useful for various medical balloon procedures, such as gastrointestinal, vascular, reproductive system, urinary system and pulmonary applications. At least two layers of a thermoplastic film are sealed at their peripheral edges and heat sealed at one or more locations inside an area enclosed by the sealed edges at predetermined locations, in one implementation of the balloon device. Such configuration enables the balloon to articulate to a desired shape upon inflation, with the desired shape being selected to accommodate a specific medical application.
US08740844B2	Medical device with drug delivery member The present invention generally relates to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to an internal portion of a patient's body. The medical device includes a shaft and a self-expanding delivery member in operative communication with the shaft. The delivery member is shaped from a porous material that is capable of releasing a therapeutic agent to an internal portion of a patient's body. The medical device further includes a therapeutic agent delivery lumen in fluid communication with the delivery member to fluidly connect the delivery member with a therapeutic agent source. A retention member may also be provided to selectively collapse the delivery member.
US08740842B2	Kerstpiek tip for medical devices An apparatus may include a medical device including an elongate shaft disposed about a guidewire, and a distal tip including a plurality of rounded protrusions, wherein adjacent protrusions are fixed directly to each other by a discrete, relatively flexible connector. The plurality of protrusions may each decrease in size from a proximalmost protrusion distally to distalmost protrusion.
US08740841B2	Extension tubes for balloon catheters A balloon catheter may include a multi-lumen tube having an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen. The multi-lumen tube may include a proximal end and a distal end and may terminate at a distal tip. The catheter may include an extension tube extending distally from the distal tip of the multi-lumen tube and a dilatation balloon disposed about the multi-lumen tube and the extension tube. The distal tip of the multi-lumen tube may be under the balloon.
US08740836B2	Pumping systems for cassette-based dialysis A dialysis machine includes: a hardware unit including at least one pump actuator, at least one valve actuator and a cassette interface, the cassette interface including: (i) a plate that abuts the cassette; (ii) at least one pump aperture defined by the plate; (iii) at least one pump head moveable out of and retractable into the at least one pump aperture to operate a pumping portion of the cassette; (iv) at least one valve aperture defined by the plate; (v) at least one valve apparatus moveable out of and retractable into the at least one valve aperture to operate a valve portion of the cassette; (vi) at least one sensor aperture defined by the plate; and (vii) at least one sensor located in the least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor operable with a sensor portion of the cassette.
US08740834B2	Methods and systems for establishing retrograde carotid arterial blood flow Interventional procedures on the carotid arteries are performed through a transcervical access while retrograde blood flow is established from the internal carotid artery to a venous or external location. A system for use in accessing and treating a carotid artery includes an arterial access device, a shunt fluidly connected to the arterial access device, and a flow control assembly coupled to the shunt and adapted to regulate blood flow through the shunt between at least a first blood flow state and at least a second blood flow state. The flow control assembly includes one or more components that interact with the blood flow through the shunt.
US08740829B2	Configurable subshell components in orthopedic devices A coupling device for an orthopedic brace includes an anchoring member for securing to a frame and protruding therefrom, and a subshell arranged to connect to the frame by the anchoring member. The subshell has a locking element for selectively positioning the subshell on the frame at a plurality of locations. The subshell may include an end portion or contoured edge extending beyond a portion of the frame so as to flex relative to the frame.
US08740815B2	Guidewire A guidewire has a coil with a side of the coil winds having solid physical connections between the coil winds to prevent the connected coil wind side from expanding resulting from the application of force by an actuating member. The application of longitudinal force to the coil causes the unconnected coil wind side to expand while the connected side does not expand, resulting in the guidewire assuming a different configuration.
US08740814B2	Guidewire A guidewire includes a core shaft, a coil body that covers the core shaft, and a joining portion formed of metal solder that couples the core shaft and the coil body. The coil body includes a tungsten wire and a noble metal plating layer that covers at least a portion of a surface of the tungsten wire. A surface of the noble metal plating layer has a first uneven shape, including at least one recess and at least one protrusion.
US08740813B2	Methods and apparatus for expressing body fluid from an incision A sample of a body fluid such as blood or interstitial fluid is obtained from a body by lancing a portion of a user's skin, preferably in an area other than a finger tip, to form an incision. After the needle has been removed from the incision, a force is applied to depress the skin in a manner forming a ring of depressed body tissue in surrounding relationship to the incision, causing the incision to bulge and the sides of the incision to open, whereby body fluid is forced out through the opening of the incision. A stimulator member is mounted to an end of a lancet-carrying housing for applying the force. The stimulator member can be movable relative to the housing, and can be either heated or vibrated to promote movement of the body fluid.
US08740810B2	Biopsy needle, sample extracting unit, biopsy apparatus, and method of controlling biopsy needle The present invention relates to a biopsy needle, a sample extracting unit, a biopsy apparatus, and a biopsy needle control method. The biopsy needle includes an outer tube and an inner tube movably disposed within the outer tube. The inner tube has a plurality of inner openings defined in a side wall thereof. The outer tube has at least one outer opening defined in a side wall thereof. In response to movement of the inner tube, the outer opening selectively overlaps one of the inner openings thereby to define a communication port which communicates with an interior of the inner tube. The biopsy needle is incorporated in the sample extracting unit and the biopsy apparatus, and is controlled by the biopsy control method.
US08740809B2	Tissue excision device with a retractable backhook A biopsy device includes a coring cannula, a retract stylet, and a localization needle. The coring cannula has a longitudinal axis and a shaft centered on the axis. The stylet has a tip containing at least one blade and a central passage. The localization needle has a channel and is slidably disposed within the central passage. A drive mechanism rotates the cannula and moves the cannula in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A guide element has a first end and a second end and is slidably disposed within the channel of the localization needle. The guide element is movable from a first position to a second position within the localization needle.
US08740806B2	Methods for detection of respiratory effort and sleep apnea monitoring devices A sleep apnea diagnostic system includes a housing that is configured to be attached to near the nose of a patient's face to sense physiological information of a patient. The housing includes sensors to sense the physiological information. The physiological information may be, for example, air flow through the nose or the mouth or both. The physiological information further may be, for example, blood volume. The sleep apnea diagnostic system includes at least one processor in the housing or external to the housing or both to analyze the physiological information to determine whether the patient has experienced irregular or abnormal respiratory activity and to detect respiratory effort. The analysis may be real time or delayed.
US08740800B2	Ultrasonic transducer, method for manufacturing ultrasonic transducer, and ultrasonic endoscope An ultrasonic transducer according to the invention includes a flexible sheet, a rigid body portion including a lower electrode made of at least a thin-film conductive material on a surface of the flexible sheet, a dividing portion which divides the rigid body portion into segments, and a plurality of transducer elements including the divided rigid body portion, has at least one transducer cell composed of one of the segments, an insulating partition portion bonded to the segment, an air gap portion surrounded by the partition portion, an upper electrode opposed to the lower electrode extending to the partition portion to sandwich the air gap portion therebetween, and an upper insulating layer formed on the upper electrode, and includes an upper protection film which continuously covers a surface portion of the transducer elements and the dividing portion.
US08740797B2	Ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus An ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus according to the present invention being provided with: an ultrasonic probe (102) provided with a group of ultrasonic transducers for diagnosis use and a group of ultrasonic transducers for therapeutic use of which at least apart of ultrasonic beam irradiation surfaces are arranged so as to overlap each other, a tomographic image producing means (8) that produces a tomographic image containing a diseased portion of a subject from reflection echoes received by the group of ultrasonic transducers for diagnosis use, a display means (10) that displays the tomographic image containing the diseased portion of the subject produced by the tomographic image producing means (8), a setting means (103) that sets an irradiation path of the therapeutic ultrasonic waves on the tomographic image containing the diseased portion of the subject displayed by the display means (10) and a control means (104) that produces irradiation path information corresponding to the irradiation path of the therapeutic ultrasonic waves set by the setting means (103) and causes to display the produced irradiation path information on the display means (10) while correlating with the tomographic image containing the diseased portion of the subject.
US08740795B2	Reflective non-contact ocular pulse analyzer for clinical diagnosis of eye and cerebrovascular disease An instrument has been designed to study the pulsatile motion of the eye by analysis of a beam of light reflected from the corneal surface. A laser light beam probe of small spot size and low divergence strikes the cornea apex and the reflected movement is recorded by a sensor. Analysis of the beam movement reveals the energy in the eye pulse without the necessity of physically touching the eye. The value of the intraocular pressure is determined from the calculated power spectrum. The sensitivity, accuracy and efficiency of the light beam makes possible studying both eyes concurrently and comparison of the pulse parameters of onset, amplitude and duration reveals any delay in circulation to an eye.
US08740791B2	Biological information detector and biological information measurement device A biological information detector includes a first sensor unit for detecting composite information including biological information of a test subject and first noise information originating in external light, having a first light-emitting part for emitting toward there, a first light-receiving part for receiving it including the biological information, reflected there, and the light including the first noise information obtained from the external light, transmitted through there, and a first reflecting and leading part for reflecting the light including the biological and the first noise information, leading it to the first light-receiving part, and a second sensor unit for detecting second noise information originating in the external light, having a second light-receiving part for receiving the light including the second noise information, obtained from the external light and transmitted through there, and a second reflecting, leading part for reflecting the external light and leading it to the second light-receiving part.
US08740790B2	Disease management system and method One aspect of the invention is directed to a system and method for allowing a patient to access an automated process for managing a specified health problem called a disease. The system performs disease management in a fully automated manner, using periodic interactive dialogs with the patient to obtain health state measurements from the patient, to evaluate and assess the progress of the patient's disease, to review and adjust therapy to optimal levels, and to give the patient medical advice for administering treatment and handling symptom flare-ups and acute episodes of the disease. The medical records are updated, the progression of the disease is stored and tracked, and the patient's preferences for treatment are stored and then used to offer medical advice based on the current state of the disease. Subjective and objective health measurements are used to determine a metric, which can be used to adjust patient therapy.
US08740786B2	Method of using a surgical tissue retractor A method of performing an operation, e.g. a spinal operation, on a patient using a retractor comprising a pair of blade assemblies which are adapted to open about a set of axes that are not parallel to a third spatial axis, and further comprising a pair of arms, which are adapted to move the pair of blade assemblies apart from one another in the third spatial axis. In the method, the blade assemblies are closed to assume a low profile, inserted into a relatively small incision, and stretched apart from each other, thereby stretching the skin about the incision to form an aperture longer than the incision. The blade assemblies are then opened by rotating the blades about the set of axes, stretching the skin around the incision in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction (i.e. the direction of the incision).
US08740782B2	Laryngoscope The invention relates to a laryngoscope (1) that has been adapted to improve comfort during use. The important adaptations are that the laryngoscope handle (4) is offset and in one embodiment the handle (4) is pivotably connected to a receiving portion (5).
US08740773B2	Atraumatic arthroscopic instrument sheath An arthroscopic inflow and outflow sheath providing an improved inflow and outflow system reducing the diameter of a continuous flow system while providing fluid management during arthroscopy. The improved arthroscopic inflow and outflow sheath comprises an elongated atraumatic tube having an inner surface, outer surface, proximal end, and distal end. The atraumatic sheath further comprises a plurality of ribs extending from the inner surface of the tube and designed to contact an outer surface of the arthroscope thereby creating outer lumens facilitating the inflow and outflow of fluid to a surgical site. The distal tip of the tube is made of an elastic material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the modulus of elasticity in the material of the proximal end of the tube.
US08740772B2	Position information estimation system A position information estimation system includes: a body-insertable apparatus that is inserted into a subject and moves through an inside of the subject; a receiving unit that receives information from the body-insertable apparatus; and an information processor that performs processes on the information acquired from the receiving unit. The receiving unit includes an acquisition antenna that includes a plurality of receiving antennas and acquires information from the body-insertable apparatus. The information processor includes: a calculation unit that calculates difference values between signal levels acquired from the plurality of receiving antennas and corresponding signal levels acquired from the plurality of receiving antennas; a determination unit that compares each of the difference values with a threshold and determining whether to estimate position information; and a position information estimation unit that estimates position information of the body-insertable apparatus when the determination unit has determined that it is necessary to estimate the position information.
US08740769B2	Implantable medical device having a palpatable activation surface An implantable medical device includes an inflatable member, a reservoir, a pump attachable between the inflatable member and the reservoir and operable to move fluid from the reservoir to inflate the inflatable member, and a deflation assembly attachable between the pump and the reservoir. The deflation assembly includes a valve that selectively restricts movement of the fluid from the inflatable member to the reservoir, a base and an activation surface opposite the base. The activation surface has an outer peripheral rim surrounding a pad that is movable to displace the valve to allow the fluid to flow from the inflatable member to the reservoir. The pad is recessed relative to the outer peripheral rim such that the outer peripheral rim defines a maxima of the activation surface.
US08740768B2	Apparatus and methods for corrective guidance of eating behavior after weight loss surgery Apparatuses and methods for corrective guidance of eating behavior of a patient equipped with a gastric restriction device. The apparatus provides continuous monitoring or one or more parameters related to food passing through the gastric restriction device. Each monitored parameter is processed to provide a visual indication of the current eating behavior. The visual indication is used as input to the patient or a caregiver to modify the eating behavior. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an emergency relief mechanism that automatically relieves excess pressure developing in the gastric restriction device. In some embodiments, the apparatus is enabled to deliver an appetite suppressant to modify the eating behavior.
US08740767B2	Intra-vaginal devices and methods for treating fecal incontinence Devices and methods for intra-vaginal bowel control.
US08740764B1	Exercise apparatus employing magnets for therapeutic and exercise benefit An exercise device having therapeutic properties is provided. The device includes a first element and a second element relatively movable with respect to the first element. A resistance-generating mechanism links the first and second elements to impede the relative motion of the first and second elements so that the user must exercise or expend energy to overcome the resistance of the first and second elements. A first magnet is disposed in at least one of the first or second elements in a location where a user's body part contacts the first or second element during use. The magnetic field of the first magnet is directed into the user's body part for therapeutic effect, preferably from the north pole of the magnet. A second magnet or set of magnets may be employed for therapeutic effect and/or to increase the resistance of the device by using magnetic interaction (either attraction or repulsion) to further impede the relative motion of the first and second elements.
US08740763B2	Multilumen brachytherapy balloon catheter The disclosure describes a device for asymmetrical irradiation of a body cavity or site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. biopsy or lumpectomy. The device includes an elongated tubular shaft having an inner lumen and a tubular wall with a plurality of lumens extending within the wall which are configured for receiving a radiation source. The distal portion of the tubular shaft is cut into a plurality of longitudinally separated wall segments with a lumen extending within at least one of the wall segments. A support member is positioned within the separated wall segments to support and position the wall segments in a desired configuration for brachytherapy. An expandable member such as an inflatable balloon is mounted on the distal shaft portion about the separated wall segments wall which when inflated secures the distal shaft portion within a desired intracorporeal site for brachytherapy treatment.
US08740760B2	Pivoting twin arm support for free weights An apparatus for supporting a weight lifting dumbbell includes a riser and a cradle support arm pivotally attached to the riser at a first pivot connection. The cradle support arm may be selectively rotated around the first pivot connection between a raised position and a lowered position. The apparatus may also include a cradle for supporting a free weight. The cradle is pivotally connected to the cradle support arm at a second pivot connection. Moving the cradle support arm between the raised and lowered positions causes the second pivot connection to rotate around the first pivot connection in response to the cradle support arm being rotated around the first pivot connection. The apparatus may further include a cradle actuating link pivotally connected to the riser and the cradle. The cradle actuating link operates to cause the cradle to rotate counter to the rotation of the cradle support arm.
US08740758B2	Rehabilitation device for legs A rehabilitation device for legs has a foot piece mounted on a set of track rails, the foot piece is movable through knee extension and flexion, as well as through an elastic band looped around the back. By moving the foot piece, users are able to redevelop and strengthen muscles in the lower leg. Accompanying the foot piece on the track is a slider. The slider measures the distance the user is able to move the foot piece through a plurality of numbered holes in line with the track.
US08740754B2	Adaptive exercise device An adaptive exercise device provides for a foot motion in which the vertical component of the path of foot travel is mechanically decoupled from the fore-aft component of the path of foot travel so that a user may selectably control the ratio of these two components during the use of the device. The adaptive exercise device includes foot links which are supported on a track for motion therealong. The links are mechanically interconnected so that when a first link moves in a first direction along the track, the second link moves in an equal and opposite direction. The apparatus further includes a vertical motion control system which raises and lowers portions of each of the foot links along a vertical path of travel independent of their position along the track.
US08740752B2	Performance monitoring systems and methods We have disclosed systems and methods for monitoring an individual's performance during a physical activity. The methods may include using a first component and second component each configured to be worn or carried by the individual during a physical activity. The methods may include the first component communicating wirelessly with the second component over a personal area network during the physical activity, the first component determining that the second component has ceased communication with the first component during the physical activity, and the first component adapting a function in response to determining that the second component has ceased communication with the first component.
US08740748B2	Control system and method for a dual clutch transmission A hydraulic control system and method for controlling a dual clutch transmission includes a plurality of pressure and flow control devices and logic valve assemblies in fluid communication with a plurality of clutch actuators and with a plurality of synchronizer actuators. The clutch actuators are operable to actuate a plurality of torque transmitting devices and the synchronizer actuators are operable to actuate a plurality of synchronizer assemblies. Selective activation of combinations of the pressure control solenoids and the flow control solenoids allows for a pressurized fluid to activate at least one of the clutch actuators and synchronizer actuators in order to shift the transmission into a desired gear ratio.
US08740746B2	Method for controlling the power transmission in a drive train and drive train The invention relates to a method for controlling the power transmission in a drive train, in particular of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive train comprises: an internal combustion engine which drives an output shaft at an engine speed and generates an exhaust gas stream; an exhaust gas turbine which is arranged in the exhaust gas stream and is engaged in or can be switched to a drive connection with the output shaft in order to transmit the drive power of the exhaust gas turbine to the output shaft; a compressor which is arranged in a fresh air stream supplied to the internal combustion engine and which is engaged in and driven by a drive connection with the exhaust gas turbine in order to charge the internal combustion engine at a predefined charging pressure; a power-controlled hydrodynamic clutch, which is arranged in the drive connection between the exhaust gas turbine and the output shaft and by means of which drive power of the exhaust gas turbine is transmitted to the output shaft depending on the power controller, and which has a primary wheel that is driven by the exhaust gas turbine and a secondary wheel that is driven hydrodynamically by the primary wheel and in turn drives the output shaft. The method according to the invention for controlling the power transmission in a drive train, in particular of a motor vehicle, controls the power transmission of the hydrodynamic clutch depending on certain input variables.
US08740745B2	Vehicle drive device In a vehicle drive device including a transmission mechanism 54, a range changing mechanism 55, a motor generator MG1 or MG2, and a control device 200, 300, when a clutch sleeve 553 becomes unable to slide during a range changing process, the clutch sleeve 553 is restored as quickly as possible so that the clutch sleeve 553 can slide, whereby changing of ranges can be completed. The control device 200, 300 causes a connection target gear piece 551 or 552 to rotate in the same direction as the direction of input rotation to the transmission mechanism 54 in response to a range change request, and causes the clutch sleeve 553 to slide. When determining that the clutch sleeve 553 has become unable to slide during the range change process, the control device 200, 300 causes the motor generator MG1 or MG2 to rotate the connection target gear piece 551 or 552 in a direction opposite to the direction of input rotation to the transmission mechanism 54.
US08740742B2	Running device for dump truck A dump truck has a flange on an inner peripheral wall of a spindle. The flange arranges a support bearing for supporting a shaft. The spindle is formed of a chassis-side member and a reduction gear unit-side member joined together by welding. The chassis-side member is fixed on a chassis of the dump truck, and the reduction gear unit-side member is located closer to a side of the reduction gear unit than the chassis-side member. The reduction gear unit-side member is located on a side of an outer periphery of the shaft portion, where a distance to a coupling between the motor and shaft and a distance to a first sun gear between the reduction gear unit and shaft are equal to each other. On an inner peripheral wall of the reduction gear unit-side member, the flange is cast together with the reduction gear unit-side member.
US08740741B2	Effective cooling system for limited slip differential assembly A differential axle assembly for a work machine having a differential lock capability. The differential axle has a differential gear housing, which utilizes a sealed housing on the outside thereof and a bleed flow path for pressurized liquid lubricant actuating a differential lock feature to provide adequate cooling flow for the differential gear set and differential lock mechanism under heavy duty circumstances.
US08740738B2	High load transmission V-belt In a high load transmission V-belt, a plurality of blocks 20 are attached and fixed to a tension band 10 extending in a belt length direction in a state in which each of the blocks 20 are arranged so as to sandwich an engagement section 18 of the tension band 10 in an inter-beam clearance portion 26 formed between upper and lower beam portions 23, 24. An increased amount of change ΔT in dimension T of the engagement section 18 of the tension band 10 in a belt thickness direction due to thermal expansion is equal to or less than an amount of change ΔG in dimension G of the inter-beam clearance portion 26 of the block 20 in the belt thickness direction while running the belt (ΔT≦ΔG).
US08740732B2	Discus training device A training device for use with a regulation discus includes a glove body sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of a hand of a discus thrower therein and an attachment for securing the regulation discus to the glove body at a front of the glove body such that the discus thrower can grasp the regulation discus and practice throwing the discus without releasing the regulation discus from the glove body. The glove body has a wrist opening, at least one thumb opening, and at least one finger opening. Thus, even if the discus thrower inadvertently lets go of the regulation discus, the regulation discus is not thrown because it is secured to the glove body worn by the discus thrower. The attachment can be straps that are secured about the regulation discus.
US08740731B2	Training device and method of using the same A training device includes a plate assembly pivotally connected to a support member. The plate assembly includes an angled top plate that is removably mounted onto a flat balance plate. The support member includes a rectangular mounting bracket that is transversely disposed across an enlarged base, the balance plate directly teetering on the mounting bracket. In use, the training device can be used to train a hitter to maximize lower body power using sensory and auditory feedback. Specifically, the hitter centers his rear foot on the angled top plate which promotes weight loading on the inner portion of the rear leg. The hitter then initiates the hitting process by driving the lower body forward until the balance plate pivots forward and strikes the base, thereby providing the user with audible and tactile response. This lower body drive creates significant momentum that powers rotation of the bat through the hitting zone.
US08740727B2	Colored golf ball In a colored golf ball having a core, a cover of at least one layer encasing the core, and a layer of paint applied to a surface of an outermost layer of the cover, the outermost cover layer and/or the paint layer is colored with a fluorescent dye and titanium oxide, and the golf ball itself has a color tone which satisfies specific ranges in the Lab color system. The ball is endowed with an excellent spin performance and durability, an appearance characterized by outstanding visibility, stylishness and elegance, and an excellent weather resistance.
US08740723B2	Golf club head A golf club head includes a striking face having a face center, a bottom portion, a top portion including an exterior surface, a hosel including an imaginary vertical hosel plane, a forwardmost point, and a rearwardmost point. In an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the hosel plane and passing through the face center, the exterior surface includes a path having a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. A maximum distance between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion is no greater than 0.70 mm and a distance between the first point and the second point is no less than 22 mm.
US08740717B2	Varied profile alignment aide golf club head A golf club head in which a top surface of the body includes an actual top surface visible profile region and a varied top surface visible profile region is provided. The varied top surface visible profile region may provide a visual impression of a varied profile of the body distinct from an actual profile of the body. The visual impression is oriented in a manner that allows the golfer to address the ball at the heel region of the golf club. The perimeter of the top surface visible profile region may be complementary in shape to the perimeter of the top surface of the body and the varied top surface visible profile region and the actual top surface visible profile region may be distinct in shape, size, color, and/or finish etc. An associated golf club and a method for fitting a golf club are also provided.
US08740715B2	Connection and illumination apparatus for a levitating system A system and method of performing a mystical card flying illusion or ‘trick’ is provided. In accordance with the innovation, an invisible (or near invisible) levitation means (e.g., string, thread, etc.) can be used to create the illusion of a levitating and/or spinning playing card. The levitation means can be pre-attached or fixedly attached to an ear piece that is configured to fit over and behind a user's ear. Further, an illumination system can be provided in connection with the levitation illusion system. Moreover, spinning aides can be provided to assist a user in rotating or spinning a levitation item (e.g., card).
US08740714B2	Apparatus and method of making a heel-less nail A full-round head nail having an offset head is configured with a gusset formed integrally between an undersurface of the offset head and a superior portion of a shank. The head of the nail is relatively thin, and the shank is positioned radially off center of the round head such that no heel is formed at a point tangential to both the head and the shank. The gusset has a lofted surface tapering radially from a roundness at the zero heel to a taper at the toe. The gusset reinforces the junction of the shank with the head, supports the toe of the head, and distributes the force of a load on the head through a longitudinal axis of the shank, preventing the toe from bending or yielding and prevents the shank from yielding to the stresses of the load applied.
US08740711B2	Extended plunge constant velocity joint An outer race assembly for a constant velocity joint may include an outer race defining a plurality of tracks and a piston selectively moveable along the tracks of the outer race. The outer race assembly may further include a seal disposed about the piston and abutting the outer race about substantially an entire perimeter of the piston. The seal thereby generally seals an interface between the piston and the outer race.
US08740704B2	Game device, control method for a game device, and a non-transitory information storage medium Provided is a game device which executes a game configured such that a position of a body part of a player is detected, including: a first determination unit for determining whether or not a reference position and a player position information acquired at a first determination time point, which is earlier than a reference time point, satisfy a first criterion; a second determination unit for determining whether or not the reference position and the player position information acquired at a second determination time point, which is later than the first determination time point, satisfy a second criterion; a first processing execution unit for performing processing relating to effects on the game based on a determination result from the first determination unit; and a second processing execution unit for performing processing relating to evaluation of the player based on a determination result from the second determination unit.
US08740700B2	Game system, game processing method, game apparatus, handheld gaming device, and storage medium An object control section individually moves, in a virtual space, a plurality of first objects each associated to a direction input section among a plurality of direction input sections disposed on a first operating device, in accordance with directions inputted through the associated direction input sections. A virtual camera control section controls a first virtual camera in the virtual space. A game image generation section generates a first game image based on the first virtual camera. The virtual camera control section rotates the first virtual camera in accordance with the positions of the plurality of the first objects in the virtual space, such that a certain one of the first objects first game image is displayed on a predetermined side with regard to a displayed position of another one of the first objects.
US08740699B1	Slot machine with sliding symbols A slot machine that has a bonus feature related to the “15 puzzle.” An empty space symbol can appear, thereby allowing other symbols to slide around the matrix, creating different payout combinations. The symbols can slide around to create an optimal arrangement of the symbols, and then the player can be paid on paylines.
US08740697B2	Interface for a gaming machine A gaming machine adapted to print validated tickets for a game player includes a microprocessor for controlling game operation (e.g., slot machine operation) and including a cashout signal input, a network interface coupled to the microprocessor for communicating with a central authority, and a memory in the network interface that stores a pre-loaded ticket validation number received from the central authority. In addition, a ticket printer is coupled to the microprocessor for printing a ticket that includes pending credit indicia and pre-loaded ticket validation indicia in response to a cashout signal on the cashout signal input. After the ticket is printed, the gaming machine obtains a new pre-loaded validation number in preparation for the next ticket printing event.
US08740683B2	System and method for using draft position information to aid player selection in a fantasy league draft In a fantasy league draft, prior to a user-participant making a player selection at a given draft position, a programmatic determination is made as to a likelihood that a particular player will be available for selection in one or more subsequent draft positions. The draft positions may be ones assigned to a particular user-participant, or any draft position a user-participant wants to consider. In one embodiment, the determination is then communicated to the user-participant prior to the user-participant making the payer selection in the given draft position.
US08740679B2	Combine harvester unloading system A combine harvester unloading system is provided in which an unloading auger (20) is swingable between a stowed position and an unloading position around an upright pivot axis disposed at one end of the auger. A pivotally mounted auger support cradle (26) is moveable between a reception position to engage the underside of the auger when transitioning into the stowed position and a supporting position under the auger when in the stowed position.
US08740674B2	Guard for a hand-held power tool and hand-held power tool with a guard The invention relates to a protective hood for a hand tool, in particular for an electrical hand tool which has a support area for the attachment of a flange of the hand tool, and with a clamping device for fastening the protective hood to the flange as well as an anti-twist device to secure the angle position of the protective hood relative to the hand tool. It is provided that the support area (9) has at least one anti-twist device element (18) working in conjunction with at least one anti-twist device mating element (47) of the flange (34).
US08740673B2	CMP retaining ring with soft retaining ring insert A wafer carrier adapted to further reduce the edge effect and allow a wafer to be uniformly polished across its entire surface, with a retaining ring made from very hard materials such as PEEK, PET or polycarbonate with a hardness in the range of 80 to 85 Shore D, while the inner surface or insert is made of polyurethane or other material with a hardness in the range of 85 to 95 Shore A.
US08740672B2	Power tool The present invention provides a power tool in which the permanent set of an elastic member is suppressed and the vibration reduction effect is maintained over a long period of time. A rubber ring is disposed as the elastic member between a wheel washer mounted on a spindle and a substrate of a diamond wheel, and these are secured by a locknut screwed to a tip of the spindle. This rubber ring absorbs the vibrations applied to the diamond wheel at grinding work. A mounting hole of the substrate is mounted on a boss portion of the wheel washer with a clearance fit, and spring pins whose both ends are supported by the wheel washer and a portion of a holding plate in the locknut are inserted into insertion holes of the substrate and insertion holes of the rubber ring with a clearance fit.
US08740670B2	Sapphire substrates and methods of making same A sapphire substrate includes a generally planar surface having a crystallographic orientation selected from the group consisting of a-plane, r-plane, m-plane, and c-plane orientations, and having a nTTV of not greater than about 0.037 μm/cm2, wherein nTTV is total thickness variation normalized for surface area of the generally planar surface, the substrate having a diameter not less than about 9.0 cm.
US08740665B1	Portable cockpit yoke assembly for mounting on a radio controlled transmitter used with a model airplane A cockpit yoke assembly adapted for mounting on top of a RC transmitter for controlling the operation of a model airplane. The yoke assembly includes a first control arm with a throttle knob. The first control arm is attached to a first ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment a first joystick on the transmitter. A rudder control lever is attached to the first control arm. The yoke assembly includes a second control arm with an elevator knob. The second control arm is attached to a second ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment to a second joystick on the transmitter. An aileron control lever is attached to the second control arm. The first and second ball and socket linkage are used for moving the first and second joysticks fore or aft and left or right during the operation of the model airplane.
US08740664B2	Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same The present invention provides an organic light-emitting element where a lower electrode, an organic compound layer and an upper electrode are laminated on a substrate, wherein the upper electrode of the organic EL element is formed by a laminate of at least a conductive first inorganic film, a conductive organic film and a conductive second inorganic film, in order to suppress the occurrence of dark spot, so that the occurrence of pinholes in the upper electrode leading to dark spots is suppressed. Here, pinholes refer to holes in the upper electrode that penetrate upper electrode from the organic compound layer underneath to the atmosphere above.
US08740663B2	Light emitting devices and systems having tunable chromaticity and methods of tuning the chromaticity of light emitting devices and systems A light emitting device package assembly includes a light emitting device package body, and first, second and third white light emitting devices on the package body, each of the first, second and third white light emitting devices emits light when energized having a chromaticity that falls within a respective one of first, second and third non-overlapping chromaticity regions in a two dimensional chromaticity space. The first, second and third chromaticity regions are spaced apart in the two dimensional chromaticity space by respective regions having at least the size of a seven step MacAdam ellipse. Related solid state luminaires and methods are also disclosed.
US08740661B2	Marine propulsion device A marine propulsion device includes an engine, a propeller, a drive shaft, an exhaust path, a water intrusion detecting portion and a recording portion. The drive shaft is configured to transmit driving force from the engine to the propeller. The exhaust path allows exhaust air from the engine to pass therethrough. The water intrusion detecting portion is configured to detect a water intrusion potential indicating a possibility of water intrusion into the engine through the exhaust path. The recording portion is configured to record a detection result of the water intrusion detecting portion.
US08740659B2	Outboard motor control apparatus In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor that has an internal combustion engine equipped with a plurality of cylinders and is configured to switch a shift position between an in-gear position that enables engine's driving force to be transmitted to a propeller and a neutral position that cuts off transmission of the driving force, it is configured such that a neutral operation detector detects a neutral operation in which the shift position is switched from the in-gear position to the neutral position; a driving force controller conducts driving force decreasing control to decrease the driving force when the neutral operation is detected; and a cylinder number changer detects an engine speed variation range during the driving force decreasing control and, of the plurality of the cylinders, determines and changes the number of the cylinders with which the control is to be conducted based on the variation range.
US08740658B2	Outboard motor control apparatus In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine and transmission, it is configured to control operation of the transmission to change the gear position to the first or second speed in response to a speed change command outputted upon an operator's manipulation, determine whether a throttle valve of the engine is at a fully-opened position or thereabout when the speed change command to the first speed is outputted, and determine whether the engine is under a predetermined operating condition when the throttle valve is determined to be at the fully-opened position or thereabout, wherein the transmission controller changes the gear position from the first speed to the second speed when the engine is determined to be under the predetermined operating condition. With this, it becomes possible to mitigate load on a transmission gear to improve durability of the transmission.
US08740655B2	Low height connector and method of producing the same A method of producing a low height connector, includes: removing an insulating covering from a first part of an electric wire; forming the electric wire into a predetermined shape in which the first part of the electric wire is bent; joining a terminal to a second part of the electric wire; and molding the electric wire to surround at least the first part and the second part of the electric wire with a housing to obtain the low height connector.
US08740654B2	Flexible organizational connect A flexible organizational connect is shown and described. In one embodiment, the device comprises a flexible receiver assembly for receiving an interchangeable test adapter for a mass interconnect device. Typically, the flexible receiver assembly includes an integral structural unit and an interchangeable connection assembly. In other embodiments, a mass interconnect device includes an interchangeable test adapter and a flexible receiver assembly.
US08740652B2	Receptacle connector and assembling method thereof A receptacle connector including a ladder-like insulative body, a plurality of first conductive contacts and a plurality of second conductive contacts. The first conductive contacts and the second conductive contacts are exposed toward the same side over one end of the insulative body. The first conductive contacts and the second conductive contacts can be soldered to a transmission wire for data transmission. The instant disclosure further comprises an assembling method of a receptacle connector.
US08740649B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector adapted for being soldered to a circuit board includes an insulating housing, a shielding shell enclosing the insulating housing, a first terminal pack and a second terminal pack. The first terminal pack includes a first main body, and a plurality of first terminals molded to the first main body. The second terminal pack includes a second main body, and a plurality of second terminals molded to the second main body. The first terminal pack is engaged with the second terminal pack with first soldering portions of the first terminals and second soldering portions of the second terminals being alternately aligned in line to make all of the soldering portions show a single-row arrangement for being soldered with the circuit board. The first and second terminal packs are assembled to the insulating housing together with the shielding shell.
US08740644B2	Dual stacked connector A connector has a housing and two edge card-receiving slots disposed in a stacked arrangement on a first face of the housing. The housing supports a plurality of wafers, each wafer supporting a plurality of terminals and including two grooves, the grooves aligned with the terminals supported by the wafer. The housing may be positioned in a cage that includes receptacles on a front face of the cage. A light pipe may extend toward the front face of the cage.
US08740643B2	Electrical receptacle connector compatible with existing electrical plug and complementary plug A low profile connector having a first mating slot and a second mating slot vertically stacked above and backwardly offseted from the first mating slot, and a complementary electrical plug. The electrical plug has a first mating card and a second mating card horizontally stacked above the first mating card forwardly offseted from the first mating card. The electrical connector is matable with an existing SFP or QSFP plug, and the first mating slot are used to receive a front card edge of the existing SFP or QSFP plug.
US08740639B2	Structure for removable processor socket A socket has top side pins that may form electrical connections to a central processing unit chip, and a bottom side ball grid array of discrete, electrically-conductive metal surfaces. Differently-keyed setoff apertures are formed through the socket that when disposed about corresponding standoffs projecting upward from a planar circuit board align the socket ball grid array surfaces with grid array pad connections on the circuit board. Retaining screws passing through the socket setoff apertures, when tightened into the planar board standoffs, bring a heatsink downward with compressive force against the socket top side. The socket responsively brings the ball grid array into compressive electrical contact connections with the grid array pad connections on the circuit board, and also compresses against the planar board. The resilient ring may thereby form a seal about the compressively-connected ball grid array and circuit board pads.
US08740636B2	Connectors for electrically active grid The invention includes an electrified framework system having a plurality of grid members which form a grid framework. A conductive material is disposed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of grid members as shown throughout the drawings. The system includes connectors which provide low voltage power connections. For example, the connectors bring power from a power supply to the conductive material disposed on the grid framework and/or the connectors provide electrical connections between the conductive material on the grid framework and various devices.
US08740632B2	Vehicle-side connector A vehicle-side connector (10) to be connected to a charging connector in charging a battery of a vehicle includes a receptacle (33) which is made of synthetic resin and to be connected to the charging connector, a mounting piece (31) which is made of synthetic resin and integrally provided to the outer peripheral surface of the receptacle (33), collars (34) each including a flange (34A) engageable with the mounting piece (31) in a connecting direction, and reinforcing portions (41) integrally connected to the mounting piece (31) and the receptacle (33).
US08740631B2	Electrical connector assembly An electrical connector assembly is provided with an insulating housing, a PCB, and an FFC. The insulating housing includes a plurality of terminals. The FFC and the terminals are electrically connected together by the PCB. The PCB is vertically secured to a rear end of the insulating housing. A plurality of contacts of the PCB are provided on a rear surface of the PCB.
US08740629B1	Header assembly A header assembly includes a conductive outer housing holding a center contact and a dielectric body. The outer housing has a rear shell and an outer contact extending forward from the rear shell. The outer contact has a catch extending therefrom positioned forward of the rear shell. The header assembly includes a nose cone coupled to the outer contact. The nose cone is manufactured from a plastic material. The nose cone surrounds the outer contact. The nose cone has keying ribs along an exterior thereof. The nose cone has a latch engaging the catch to secure the nose cone to the outer housing.
US08740628B2	Lamp plugs providing enhanced functionality Lamp plugs are disclosed, in which single intensity marker lamps that are desired to be flashed can be connected to a lamp driver employing an exclusive OR (XOR) logic circuit. In one embodiment, the lamp plug is an overmolded subsystem that is installed between the lamp and the lamp driver and allows the installer to use existing wire harnesses. In some embodiments, the overmolded subsystem is installed under a standard lamp where a plug is typically plugged in; therefore staying on the vehicle and not needing to be replaced with the lamp. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08740626B2	Rotational connector device including a spacer disposed in an annular space formed between a rotor and a stator A spacer arranged in an annular space between a rotor and a stator for supporting a roller reversing a winding direction of a flat cable is made of plastic having high lubricating properties. First guide portions on an annular plate portion are spaced by equal intervals from each other. The first guide portion includes an inner guide rib having a semicircle cross section projecting inward, an outer guide rib having a semicircle cross section projecting outward, and a tension wall connecting the inner guide rib and the outer guide rib. A second guide portion is provided between the first guide portions, and includes three parallel plate ribs extending from an inner peripheral side to an outer peripheral side of the annular plate portion, and circumferential connecting walls connecting the three parallel plate ribs.
US08740625B2	Systems and methods for stochastic regression testing of page description language processors Systems and methods consistent with embodiments presented pertain to the stochastic regression testing of software PDL processors. Test input for PDL processors, which include language processors and raster image processors, may be generated by randomly altering the values of one or more of text, graphical object parameters, image object parameters, graphical combination parameters in an existing PDL input file. In another embodiment, test input for PDL processors may be generated by randomly selecting a first token from a lexical token dictionary and combining the first token with at least one of a plurality of second tokens randomly selected from the lexical token dictionary, so that the combination of the first token and the plurality of second lexical tokens satisfies the syntactical rules for the PDL. In a further embodiment, existing tests in a test pool may split and recombined in a syntactically correct manner to generate new tests.
US08740623B2	Method and apparatus for developing a person's behavior An embodiment of an apparatus, or corresponding method, for developing a person's behavior according to the principles of the present invention comprises at least one visual behavior indicator that represents a behavior desired of a person viewing the at least one visual behavior indicator. The apparatus, or corresponding method, further includes at least two visual choice indicators viewable with the at least one visual behavior indicator that represent choices available to the person, the choices assisting in developing the behavior in the person by assisting the person in choosing an appropriately adaptive response supporting the desired behavior or as an alternative to behavior contrary to the desired behavior.
US08740617B1	Methods, systems, kits and computer usable media for simulating financial transactions A method of teaching personal financial skills to a student includes providing a balance of simulated funds within a simulated bank account. Simulated bills are transmitted to a student on a periodic basis via at least one of a courier and an electronic transmission, wherein at least some of the simulated bills are transmitted on different dates and impose different due dates. Simulated payments are received from a student corresponding to the simulated bills via at least one of a courier and an electronic transmission. The simulated payments are processed upon receipt and the balance of the simulated funds is reconciled within the simulated bank account to reflect the simulated payments. A computer usable media having encoded thereon a computer implemented method for simulating financial transactions is also provided. System and kits are also provided.
US08740614B2	Treatment of teeth by aligners A method for treating a subject's teeth. A target configuration for the subject's teeth is determined. Receiving features are produced on a dental base in response to the target configuration, the receiving features being configured to receive physical tooth models. The physical tooth models are assembled on the dental base to form a physical arch model. A dental aligner is produced using the physical arch model to move the subject's teeth to the target configuration.
US08740613B1	Purge air control for a regenerative thermal oxidizer A purge air control for a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) having a plurality of exhaust towers containing a heat-exchange media includes a controller to determine an amount of clean air needed to purge the media. The controller opens a balancing damper to draw the determined amount of air into the RTO to purge the solvent-laden air from the heat-exchange media. As such, by determining the precise amount of air needed to purge the heat-exchange media, energy consumption associated with the purge process is reduced.
US08740604B2	Imprint apparatus and article manufacturing method An imprint apparatus for coating a substrate with a resin by a coating mechanism, and curing the resin while pressing at least one of the substrate and a mold against the other, includes a measurement device configured to detect a position of the coating mechanism, a substrate stage configured to hold a substrate, a positioning system configured to position the substrate stage, and a controller configured to control positioning of the substrate stage by the positioning system, based on the measurement result.
US08740595B2	Gear pump A gear pump includes: a first pump constructed from a first drive gear rotated by driving of a drive shaft and a first driven gear rotatably arranged coaxially with a rotary shaft; and a second pump constructed from a second drive gear rotatably provided coaxially with the rotary shaft and a second driven gear. The rotary shaft allows the first driven gear and the second drive gear to engage with and disengage from each other in a rotation direction by movement to an axial direction. When the discharge pressure is higher than predetermined pressure, rotation of the first driven gear is not transmitted to the second drive gear and only the first pump operates. When the discharge pressure becomes the predetermined pressure or less, the rotation of the first driven gear is transmitted to the second drive gear and the first and the second pumps operate.
US08740591B2	Food storage bag vacuum pump A vacuum pump comprises a casing having a bottom forming an aperture therein and a chamber slidably coupled within the casing. The chamber has a bottom forming an aperture therein. The vacuum pump further comprises a piston slidably coupled within the chamber. The piston includes an upper portion generally parallel to the chamber bottom. The piston further includes a hollow shaft extending from a bottom surface of the upper portion. The shaft has a first end adjacent to the upper portion and a second opposing end. The shaft is configured to fit within the chamber aperture and the casing aperture. The shaft includes at least one aperture positioned at the first end. The second end of the shaft is coupled to the casing at the casing aperture. The vacuum pump is configured to evacuate air from a flexible storage container by pushing the chamber in a downward direction.
US08740584B2	Induction motor and hermetic compressor An induction motor includes a stator having a winding to be inserted to a plurality of stator slots formed along an inner circumferential edge of a stator iron core; and a rotor placed inside of the stator via a gap, the rotor includes a plurality of double squirrel-cage rotor slots formed along an outer circumferential edge of the rotor iron core and filled with conductive material and at least three air hole parts provided around a rotating shaft hole of the rotor iron core to which the rotating shaft is fitted and having an opening which is open to the rotating shaft hole; and an inner diameter part of the end ring which short circuits both edges of the conductive material filled to the double squirrel-cage rotor slot is placed to be adjacent to the air hole part in at least the end ring of one side.
US08740580B2	Refrigerant compressor A hermetically encapsulated refrigerant compressor has a hermetically sealed compressor housing, in the interior of which operates a refrigerant-compressing piston-cylinder unit, a suction duct, via which refrigerant is conveyed into the compressor housing, and a pressure duct, via which refrigerant is conveyed out of the compressor housing by the piston-cylinder unit. In order to prevent contact of oil flowing down the compressor housing wall with the suction duct or the pressure duct, a deflection element is on the compressor housing, and in the operating position of the compressor housing the deflection element is above the passage of the suction duct or pressure duct through the compressor housing wall. The heating of the refrigerant is thus prevented and the efficiency of the refrigerant compressor is increased.
US08740576B2	Pumping system for pumping liquid from a lower level to an operatively higher level A pumping system and a method for pumping liquid from a lower level to an operatively higher level are disclosed. The pumping system includes a pumping device, a bent delivery conduit, a single control port opening and control elements. The conduit has an operatively inclined ascending conduit section; an operatively inclined descending conduit section and an operatively horizontal peak section between the inclined sections; one end of the ascending conduit fitted to the outlet of the pumping device and one end of the descending conduit being below liquid level of the higher level. The single port opening is provided at the junction between the horizontal peak section and the descending conduit section, and spaced apart from the ascending conduit junction. The control elements introduce pressurized air into and evacuate air from the delivery conduit through the single port opening.
US08740575B2	Liquid ring pump with liner A liquid ring pump is provided that includes an annular housing having an inner surface forming a housing cavity. The annular housing is filled with an operating fluid during operation of the pump. The operating fluid forms an eccentric liquid ring in the annular housing during operation of the pump. A rotor is disposed in the housing cavity and includes a plurality of rotor blades. A shaft extends into the annular housing into the housing cavity. The plurality of rotor blades extend radially outward from the shaft toward the inner surface of the annular housing. A liner formed from a corrosion resistant material is disposed substantially flush with at least a portion of the annular housing inner surface opposite a plurality of rotor blade ends.
US08740574B2	Method and apparatus for adjusting a pump drive so that a pump flow corresponds with an incoming flow A method in connection with a pump drive connected to a container or the like, wherein a frequency converter is arranged to supply power to a pump in such a manner that a pump flow (Qp) is responsive to an estimated mean incoming flow (Qest) to the container. The method includes draining the container, allowing the container to fill during a predefined filling time (tfill) while the pump is inactive, draining the container again at a known pump flow (Qp,nom), defining the drainage time (tdrain), defining an estimated mean incoming flow (Qest) on the basis of the filling time (tfill), drainage time (tdrain) and known pump flow (Qp,nom), and setting the power supplied by the frequency converter to the pump to be such that the pump flow (Qp) corresponds to the produced estimated mean incoming flow (Qest).
US08740556B2	Structural and aerodynamic module for a turbomachine casing and casing structure comprising a plurality of such a module A structural and aerodynamic module including two blades each extending along a longitudinal axis, in which each blade includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a radially inner edge, and a radially outer edge, is provided. The module also includes a radially inner platform mechanically connecting the radially inner edges of the two blades, and a radially outer platform mechanically connecting the radially outer edges of the two blades such that the two blades and the radially outer and inner platforms delimit a flow stream. The two blades and the platforms are made from a composite material and the two blades are fixed on the radially outer and inner platforms using screw-nut assemblies.
US08740551B2	Blade outer air seal cooling A blade outer air seal (BOAS) segment has a plurality of cooling passages axially extending through a platform of the BOAS segment. The passages each have an inlet defined in a radially outer surface and an exit defined on a leading edge of the platform. At least one of the passages positioned close to respective circumferential sides of the platform extends linearly from one of the inlets and is skewed away from the axial direction to cool a corner area of the platform.
US08740546B2	Guide vane for a condensation steam turbine and associated condensation steam turbine A guide vane of a condensation turbine steam turbine is provided, wherein the guide vane includes a heating resistor. The guide vane includes fiber composite material at least in some regions. The heating resistor may be embodied as a heating wire or as a heating film. A condensation steam turbine having a guide vane as described above is also provided.
US08740545B2	Maintenance system of helical turbine Disclosed is an assembled helical turbine system, which can strengthen weakenings of a housing assembly, and simultaneously can be easily assembled/disassembled. The assembled helical turbine system comprises the housing assembly including a plurality of bearing spiders for rotatably supporting a rotating shaft of a helical turbine, and a plurality of side posts for connecting and fixing the respective bearing spiders to each other, the side posts being fixed in such a manner as to radially protrude by a predetermined length from peripheral surfaces of the bearing spiders; filling members for filling and reinforcing spaces between the peripheral surfaces of the bearing spiders and outlines of protruding portions of the side posts; and a housing supporter for supporting the housing assembly in such a manner that the housing assembly can be inserted into and withdrawn from the housing supporter, the housing supporter having catch grooves that are recessed in a shape corresponding to stoppers.
US08740543B2	Offshore wind turbines and deployment methods therefor A method of deploying offshore wind turbine assemblies includes mounting a wind turbine assembly horizontally on a vessel and transporting the wind turbine assembly to an offshore site. The wind turbine assembly is raised to a vertical condition at the site and attached to anchor weights. Blades are attached to the turbine head after the wind turbine assembly is in the vertical condition. In one embodiment, the wind turbine assembly can include a tower including tapered lower and upper sections joined together at their respective wide ends, a turbine head connected to the upper section, and a platform connected to the lower section. The platform includes a buoy tank partially filled with ballast to provide mass and buoyancy. A wave piercing cowling is rotatively attached to the lower section. The turbine head can include an adjustable journal bearing, scabbard blade mounts, and a gearless induction generator with flux adjusting capabilities.
US08740542B2	Method for introducing loading auxiliary means of transport device In a method for introducing loading auxiliary structures with a transport device into a shelf compartment with storage spaces arranged one behind the other, a loading auxiliary structure is conveyed by the transport device into the shelf compartment to the front storage space in the direction of introduction, after which a further loading structure is moved by the transport device into the shelf compartment to the front storage space and in this way the preceding loading auxiliary structure is moved to the storage space that is behind and the additional loading auxiliary structure is moved into the front storage space. The transport device includes a removing unit with a stop device adjustable at its front end in the introduction direction into the movement path of the loading auxiliary structure and a drive member on a side facing the loading auxiliary structure.
US08740541B2	Method and apparatus for a card dispenser A card dispensing system for dispensing cards along a conveying surface which conveys sliced products downstream of a slicer for packaging the sliced products. A hopper contains a stack of cards which are withdrawn from the hopper by a suction force provided via at least one suction cup. The suction cup is moveable vertically to retrieve and remove the card from the hopper. The suction cup is moveable laterally to move the card into a receiving position where a card clamp on a damp carriage arrives to receive the card. Suction force on the card is released when the card damp damps down on the card. The clamp carriage moves the card from the receiving position to the staging position where a nip engages with the card to feed the card through a junction in the conveyor line just as a food product passes over the junction.
US08740540B2	Fork apparatus for handling cotton bales A fork apparatus includes a body adapted to be operatively connected to an associated loader machine. First and second forks include respective first and second fork mounting portions connected to the body and respective first and second fork working portions that project outwardly away from the body. A first powered roller device is connected to the first fork and includes a first roller that rotates about a first working portion axis. A first roller actuator selectively rotates the first roller about the first working portion axis. A second powered roller device is connected to the second fork and includes a second roller that rotates about the second working portion axis that is parallel to the first working portion axis. A second roller actuator selectively rotates the second roller about the second working portion axis.
US08740536B2	Method and device for introducing and removing substrates The invention describes a method and a device for introducing and removing substrates. Substrates (5) are transported into a lock (2) by a transport element (4). A collection container (3) is located in the lock below the substrates (5) for collecting possible substrate fragments (19). The substrates (5) are removed together with the collection container (3) and the lock cover (18) once the lock (2) has been flooded. The lock cover (18) and the collection container (3) form an almost closed box around the substrates (5). After the substrates (5) have been replaced and the collection container (3) has been emptied, the new substrates (5) are introduced together with the collection container. All the steps are carried out in the machine cycle to ensure an effective production process.
US08740535B2	Delivery position aligning method for use in vacuum processing apparatus, vacuum processing apparatus and computer storage medium In a vacuum transfer chamber, a position detecting mechanism for detecting the positions of semiconductor wafers is arranged. The semiconductor wafers disposed at predetermined positions in a load lock chamber and vacuum processing chambers are transferred to the position detecting mechanism by a vacuum transfer mechanism and the positions of the wafers are detected. Then, based on the detection results, aligning between the load lock chamber and the vacuum processing chambers is performed.
US08740532B2	Stud fasteners for fastening a cylinder head to an engine block and kit containing said stud fasteners The present invention relates generally to fastening systems, and more specifically, to high tensile or high strength studs. The studs are adapted to be utilized in original manufacture or in the repair or retrofit of internal combustion engines. The improved stud technology can be utilized in the fabrication of new engine builds to improve reliability, extend product life, and the like. Likewise, the stud technology can be used to repair and/or upgrade a failed, compromised, or questionable cylinder head to engine block fastening system. Additionally, a repair or retrofit a kit can be assembled with the improved studs at its foundation. Optionally, any combination of additional items or components useful in the cylinder head to engine block fastener modification can be added to such a kit.
US08740531B2	Screw A screw includes a positioning member defined on inclined cutting planes of a drilling portion of the screw for stably allowing a cutting edge constructed at a convergence of the cutting planes to cut efficiently. A threaded section formed on a shank of the screw is extended toward the cutting edge and connected with one end of the cutting edge. The positioning member helps the screw fixedly stand on an object. The cutting edge and the cutting planes allow cutting debris to be swiftly and smoothly extruded therefrom into the threaded section for avoiding the piling of the considerable cutting debris. Thereby, the screwing torque is reduced and the drilling speed is promoted. Preferably, the fastened screw is sunken in the object, and the fastening operation is completed successfully.
US08740530B2	Captive panel fastener assembly A fastener assembly for installation within a work piece, the fastener assembly including a bolt, a retainer ring, and a housing that houses the retainer ring. The housing is positioned at and engages one side of the work piece, while the bolt is inserted into a hole of the work piece on an opposite side thereof. The retainer ring engages the bolt such that a plurality of pressure pads extending from a plurality of corresponding spring beam elements of the retainer ring reside in an annular groove of the bolt. The housing captivates the bolt onto the work piece, while providing a positive hold out of the bolt.
US08740528B2	Precision positioning and fastening system A locator/fastener has a first outer member with a precision-machined external body portion, a retention head protruding from a first end, and a multi-diameter throughbore. A fastener, which may take the form of a cap screw, floats in the throughbore of the locator with the threaded portion protruding from a second end of the locator. A receiver has an internal precision-machined surface which contacts the precision-machined body portion of the locator and a threaded bore which receives the protruding fastener. By separating the locating and fastening functions, a quick connect disconnect device is created which does not bind or gall. A hangar system allows a sub-base plate to be attached to a base using the locator-fastener disclosed herein.
US08740525B2	Cargo restraint system A cargo restraint system for securing cargo within a truck bed having fixed anchors includes a plurality of adjustable-length straps attachable to the truck bed, and a cargo net attached to the straps and slidable along at least a portion thereof. Hooks are fixed to the straps for attaching the straps to the truck bed anchors, and each strap includes a cam buckle for selectively adjusting the length of the strap.
US08740520B2	Multi-purpose beveller There is provided a beveller for processing an edge of a member to be processed into a slanted surface (a bevel), and, more particularly, to a multi-purpose beveller which improves a level of completion of bevel process through thoroughly processes an edge positioned at a corner by using a beveling tool for a corner mounted onto the beveller and which expands the application fields of the beveller through processing a curved section by simply replacing a rotary cutter for a corner coupled to an adapter with a cutter for a curved section. The present invention is realized by providing the technique of thoroughly processing an edge deeply positioned at a corner by selectively mounting a beveling tool for a right angled corner or a beveling tool for an acute angled corner onto the beveller, the technique of smoothly processing an edge in a corner section by sequentially separating the beveling tool for a corner and a rotary cutter for a corner coupled to an adapter and thereafter coupling a new rotary cutter for a curved section to the adapter, and the technique of applying the beveling tool for a right angled corner and the beveling tool for an acute angled corner to processing an edge in a straight-line section.
US08740517B2	Only partly ground tool rod made of sintered material A tool bit (1) ready for use consists of a sintered material. It has a longitudinal axis (3). At least one swarf chamber (4) spaced from the longitudinal axis (3) land extending along the longitudinal axis (3) is formed in the tool bit (1). The tool bit (1) has at least one cutting edge (8, 10), which is formed in the tool bit (1) by grinding the already sintered tool bit (1), adjoining the swarf chamber (4). According to the invention the swarf chamber (4) is ground only partly and is otherwise unground.
US08740514B2	Method of drilling holes in a glass plate and apparatus thereof An apparatus for drilling holes in a glass plate has a supporting member for sucking and supporting a glass plate which is used for an automobile window or the like, as described later, and the supporting member is comprised of a suction pad for sucking the glass plate and a pair of supports for supporting the glass plate on an outer side of the suction pad. The supports are detachably mounted on the outer side of the suction pad, and the supporting member is adapted to rotate about the suction pad in an R direction. The apparatus for drilling holes in a glass plate further includes a hole forming means for forming in the glass plate holes shown in FIG. 7; a supporting means having the supporting member and for supporting the glass plate in which the holes are to be formed by the hole forming means; and a transporting means for transporting onto the supporting means the glass plate in which the holes are to be formed.
US08740512B2	‘O’ flute multipurpose bit A tool bit providing a combined drill bit and milling bit is disclosed herein. The tool bit in one embodiment includes a working section having a longitudinally extending central axis, an O-flute extending along the working section, and a tooth formed at a tip portion of the working section, the tooth offset from the central axis.
US08740508B2	Milling tool with clamping screw having male grip at end thereof A milling tool includes a toolholder having an insert-receiving pocket, a cutting insert having a hole provided therein, the cutting insert being disposed in the pocket and a clamping screw having a male key grip at a first end and zero or more key grips at a second end. The clamping screw extends through the hole in the cutting insert into a threaded hole in the toolholder so that threads on the clamping screw mate with threads in the threaded hole. The male key grip is remote from the cutting insert. The second end of the clamping screw includes an enlarged head including a clamping surface that abuts a clamping surface in the hole of the cutting insert. A clamping screw suitable for a milling tool is also provided.
US08740507B2	Milling tool, particularly face-milling cutter The invention relates to a milling tool, particularly a face-milling cutter, with a rotationally symmetrical tool base body which can be driven in rotation and in which at least one pocket-like recess is made on the periphery, with a cutting body which is inserted in the recess, which projects radially and/or axially on the tool base body and which is held by at least one clamping element, on the outer periphery of the milling tool at least one chip guide chamber being made with chip deflecting surfaces for controlled chip removal away from the workpiece surface to be machined. According to the invention, the chip guide chamber is assigned at least one chip guide web which separates the chip guide chamber from the surface of the workpiece.
US08740506B2	Positioning apparatus A positioning apparatus includes a stage on which a piezoelectric element is set, a stop unit having a stop face to which the piezoelectric element set on the stage is pushed so that the piezoelectric element is positioned at a target position corresponding to an attaching part of, for example, a head suspension to which the piezoelectric element is attached, and a pushing unit to push the piezoelectric element toward the stop face, the pushing unit blowing a gas to push the piezoelectric element. The positioning apparatus is capable of correctly positioning the piezoelectric element to the target position without damaging the piezoelectric element.
US08740499B2	Passive ocean current deflector A passive ocean current deflector has an elongated conduit positionable in an ocean with its lower inlet end below the euphotic zone and anchored in place and its upper outlet end positioned in the euphotic zone and retained in place. Ocean currents direct cooler, nutrient rich ocean water into the inlet end and upwardly through the conduit to exit out the outlet end to intermix with water in the euphotic zone.
US08740496B2	Conduit for pervious pavement A conduit for the formation of pervious pavement includes a first connector and a second connector joinable to the first connector. The first connector includes a pair of first receiving notches. The second connector includes a pair of second receiving notches oriented perpendicular to the first receiving notches. When the first and second connector are joined to one another, the pair of first receiving notches cooperates with the second connector to define a pair of first attachment openings for receiving a first structural member of a reinforcing mesh, and the pair of second receiving notches cooperates with the first connector to define a pair of second attachment openings for receiving a second structural member of the reinforcing mesh. First and second tubes are inserted into the first and second connectors to complete the conduit assembly.
US08740489B2	Liquid applicator There is provided a liquid applicator allowing a liquid to be easily replenished and replaced, as well as capable of containing a large amount of liquid. The liquid applicator includes a main body provided with a tank inside thereof, a tip shaft that is coupled to the tip end side of the main body, and a brush that is fixed in the tip shaft and projecting from the tip end of the tip shaft. A liquid may be sucked into a tank by releasing the coupling of the main body and the tip shaft, sinking a tip end opening of the main body in the liquid, and sliding a sliding cylinder attached to the rear portion of the main body.
US08740486B2	Recording apparatus having an advanced feed more A recording apparatus includes a feed unit that transports a recording medium from a setting position, a record head that performs recording on the recording medium, a first detection unit that detects passage of a rear end of the recording medium at a predetermined position on the downstream side of the feed unit, and a control unit that controls the feed unit such that the recording medium of a next page reaches a predetermined position until a predetermined timing after detection of the rear end of a preceding page by using the first detection unit for performing an advance feed mode in which the recording medium of the next page is transported from a setting position to the predetermined position without waiting for completion of recording on the preceding page, when the rear end of the preceding page is detected by the first detection unit.
US08740479B2	Optical connector and method for assembling same An optical connector to which an optical fiber cord including an optical fiber ribbon and a sheath is to be attached includes: a ferrule member a fusion splice protection sleeve, housing and a fixing member. The ferrule member holds a plurality of embedded fibers which are to be fusion-spliced respectively to a plurality of optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon. The fusion splice protection sleeve protects a fusion-spliced portion. The housing houses the ferrule member and the fusion splice protection sleeve. The housing has, at the rear end, a recess for receiving a bifurcated portion of the sheath. The fixing member fixes the sheath to the housings and by holding it.
US08740478B2	Optical module with bare fiber clamp An optical module includes a housing, an actuator and a fiber clamp having at least one spring member. The actuator and housing are moveable in a sliding manner relative to one another such that the actuator can assume a first actuator position or a second actuator position relative to the housing. The spring member has a first portion in sliding contact with a ramped surface of the actuator and a second portion movable between a first clamp position and a second clamp position in response to sliding movement of the actuator between the first actuator position and second actuator position, respectively. Movement of the second portion of the spring member to the second clamp position reduces a dimension of a fiber passage in the module to frictionally engage an optical fiber in the fiber passage.
US08740474B2	Methods for processing a multi-fiber ferrule A method for processing ferrules for fiber optic connectors is disclosed herein. The method involves ablating a distal end face of the ferrule with the plurality of laser beam pulses to remove a distal layer of the ferrule without removing an optical fiber secured within the ferrule. By removing the distal layer from the ferrule, the optical fiber is caused to protrude distally outwardly from the distal end of the ferrule by a desired amount.
US08740473B2	Optical connector and connector connection system An optical connector includes: an engaging member having a pair of elastic pieces that can be engaged with locking portions on both sides of a receiving-side optical connector; and a movable tubular housing externally fitted to the engaging member, wherein the pair of elastic pieces approaches each other by an engagement with the locking portions on both sides of the receiving-side optical connector, and thereby, the housing becomes movable forward with respect to the portion of the engaging member that engages with the locking portions, and wherein an engagement state between the elastic pieces and the locking portions on both sides of the receiving-side optical connector is maintained as the pair of elastic pieces abuts an inside of the housing thereby regulating a movement in a direction of being separated from each other when the housing has moved forward with respect to the engaging member.
US08740470B2	Retainer for radial roller bearing A pair of rim portions (4a) and (4b) is formed in the shape of a discontinuous segmental circular ring, which includes cutout portions (8a) and (8b), respectively, at one position. The cutout portions of the respective rim portions are concentrically disposed so as to face each other with a predetermined interval therebetween in an axial direction while having the same phase in a circumferential direction. A plurality of pillar portions (6) form pockets (10) where rollers (14) are retained. An expandable elastic connecting portion (12), which connects one end portion (84a) of one rim portion in the circumferential direction to the other end portion (82b) of the other rim portion in the circumferential direction, is provided at the pair of rim portions.
US08740467B2	Wheel bearing retainer A knuckle-hub assembly including a knuckle and wheel bearing, and a retainer that is preferably arranged within a radial recess of the knuckle and a radial recess of the wheel bearing. The knuckle includes an inner radial surface defining a passage, the inner radial surface having a first radial recess. The first radial recess is preferably located in an intermediate region along a longitudinal axis of the passage. The wheel bearing includes an outer radial surface defining a second radial recess that is located in an intermediate region along the length of the bearing. The radial recesses of the knuckle and wheel bearing are generally axially-aligned upon installing the bearing in the knuckle's passage. The retainer has a generally constant cross-sectional profile about its circumference and includes an inner wall surface having a second portion and the first portion that is disposed at an angle relative to a first portion.
US08740466B2	Rolling bearing for a shaft A roller bearing for a shaft that has a cylindrical peripheral surface, the bearing including a race (12) to be fitted onto the shaft, and roller bodies (16) arranged to roll on the race (12), the race (12) having a polygonal internal cross-section, so that it engages the peripheral surface of the shaft only in the vicinity of the center of each side (28) of the polygon.
US08740463B2	Integral spherical bearing and lug for aerospace applications A bearing assembly and a method of forming a bearing assembly is provided including a housing having a bore. The bore has a generally concave inner surface. The bearing assembly also includes a bearing having an inner member. The inner member is movable about a central axis and is dimensioned to fit within the bore. The inner member has a generally convex outer surface complementary to the concave inner surface of the bore. The housing functions as an outer member of the bearing.
US08740462B2	Seal assembly A seal assembly is disclosed for use between a housing and a rotatable shaft protruding exteriorly from the housing, with the shat being journalled for rotation in an eccentric cartridge which in turn is rotatably adjustable. The seal assembly comprises a circular flinger mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. The flinger has radially outwardly projecting flanges defining an axial space therebetween. A seal carrier surrounds the flinger and has axially spaced first and second inner rims projecting radially inwardly into the space between the flanges of the flinger. Ring seals are carried by the seal carriers. The inner rims are resiliently urged to maintain the ring seals in contact with the flinger flanges.
US08740457B2	Paint tray bag with extended drop sheet A paint tray bag is provided. The paint tray bag comprises a bag comprising dimensions for containing a paint tray, and optionally painting tools, therein. The paint tray bag further comprises a sealing apparatus for releasably sealing the bag, the sealing apparatus around at least portion of a perimeter of the bag such that the bag comprises a closed position for containing the paint tray therein when the sealing apparatus is closed and an open position when the sealing apparatus is open, the bag enabled to lay flat in the open position to act as a drop sheet for the paint tray. The paint tray bag further comprises an extended drop sheet which unfolds from the bag to provide an extended area for the drop sheet.
US08740455B2	System and method for distributed environmental parameter measurement An apparatus for measuring environmental parameters includes: an optical fiber sensor configured to be disposed along a path in an environment to be measured, the path of the optical fiber sensor defining a longitudinal axis; and at least one section of the optical fiber sensor configured so that an entire length of the at least one section is exposed to an at least substantially homogeneous environmental parameter, at least part of the at least one section extending in a direction having a radial component relative to the longitudinal axis.
US08740453B2	Microcalorimeter systems In one embodiment, a microcalorimeter system includes a first microfluidic channel coupling a calorimeter with a sample chamber. A second microfluidic channel couples the calorimeter with a waste chamber. An inertial pump includes a fluid actuator integrated asymmetrically within the first microfluidic channel, and the fluid actuator is capable of selective activation to pump fluid from the sample chamber to the calorimeter and from the calorimeter to the waste chamber through the first and second microfluidic channels, respectively.
US08740451B2	Watch case including an orientation memory crown A watch case comprising: a middle (3), a first tube (1) provided with first indexing elements (1a), a control crown (C) including: a cap (4) having a distinctive sign (S) on a front face (4′), and a bushing (5) intended to be connected to the movement of the watch, a second tube (2) adapted to be fastened to the middle (3) and to receive the bushing (5), the control crown (C) and the first tube (1) including respective screwing elements (1b,4b) for screwing them together. Second indexing elements (3a,3a′,3a″) fastened to the middle (3) are provided to cooperate with the first indexing elements (1a) of the first tube (1). The first tube (1) and the second tube (2) are conformed so that fastening the second tube (2) to the middle (3) ensures axial immobilization of the first tube (1) relative to the middle (3).
US08740450B2	Static fluid mixer capable of ultrafinely mixing fluids A static fluid mixer which can perform processing such as generation of ultrafine uniform bubbles and has small pressure loss. A static fluid mixer has mixing units having outflow openings for allowing fluid having passed through mixing flow paths to flow through the outflow openings. The mixing units are arranged in a tubular casing body at intervals in the axis direction of the casing body. Adjacent mixing units and the casing body form a flow path forming space. Each mixing unit has an annular outflow path communicating with the end of each mixing flow path. The annular outflow path is open in a ring-like form having a substantially constant width along the entire circumference. The opening at the end of the annular outflow path functions as an outflow opening connecting to the flow path forming space. In the outflow path forming space is formed a collection flow path into which liquid having passed through the mixing flow path collects after flowing from the entire circumference of the outflow opening which is open in the ring-like form and moving toward the axis of the casing body.
US08740440B2	Planar lighting device A light guide plate has a light guide plate body and at one side thereof a curvedly descending portion formed by curving front and rear surfaces of the light guide plate, with the surface to surface distance kept uniform, to a coaxial arcuate configuration so as to extend towards a direction of a rear surface of the light guide plate body. Spot light sources disposed in face to face relation with a free end face of the curvedly descending portion are arranged to be displaced towards the front surface of the light guide plate from a mid-center plane between the front and rear surfaces of the curvedly descending portion.
US08740439B2	Thin illumination system The present invention introduces a new class of thin doubly collimating light distributing engines for use in a variety of general lighting applications. Output illumination from these slim-profile illumination systems whether square, rectangular or circular in physical aperture shape is directional, square, rectangular or circular in beam cross-section, and spatially uniform and sharply cutoff outside the system's adjustable far-field angular cone. Some embodiments provided include thin light distributing engines which provide input light collimated in one meridian and a light distributing element that maintains input collimation while collimating output light in the un-collimated orthogonal meridian, in such a manner that the system's far-field output light is collimated in both its orthogonal output meridians. The present invention can also include optical films that process the engine's doubly collimated output illumination so as to increase its angular extent one or both output meridians without changing beam shape or uniformity.
US08740437B2	Lighting module and lighting apparatus including the same A lighting module includes a case having a main base, a first and a second extension parts extending from both sides of the main base in perpendicular direction to the surface of the main base, and a first and a second auxiliary bases extending from the first and the second extension parts respectively toward the center of the main base, a substrate seated in a cavity formed by structurally connecting the main base, the first and the second extension parts and the first and the second auxiliary bases, a plurality of light emitting devices disposed on one side of the substrate in the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a driving driver disposed on the other side of the substrate. At least one of the first and the second extension parts has an opening such that the driving driver is inserted into the first and the second extension parts.
US08740436B2	Display assembly and methods A display assembly is disclosed providing a panel display, a light guiding element having a first surface and a second surface and a light source operable to illuminate the light guiding element. The display further includes a layer of reflective material in contact with the first surface of the light guiding element, wherein the first surface receives light from the light source and transmits the light towards the panel display and the second surface of the light guide.
US08740432B2	Transmission of laser pulses with high output beam quality using step-index fibers having large cladding An apparatus and method for transmission of laser pulses with high output beam quality using large core step-index silica optical fibers having thick cladding, are described. The thick cladding suppresses diffusion of modal power to higher order modes at the core-cladding interface, thereby enabling higher beam quality, M2, than are observed for large core, thin cladding optical fibers. For a given NA and core size, the thicker the cladding, the better the output beam quality. Mode coupling coefficients, D, has been found to scale approximately as the inverse square of the cladding dimension and the inverse square root of the wavelength. Output from a 2 m long silica optical fiber having a 100 μm core and a 660 μm cladding was found to be close to single mode, with an M2=1.6. Another thick cladding fiber (400 μm core and 720 μm clad) was used to transmit 1064 nm pulses of nanosecond duration with high beam quality to form gas sparks at the focused output (focused intensity of >100 GW/cm2), wherein the energy in the core was <6 mJ, and the duration of the laser pulses was about 6 ns. Extending the pulse duration provided the ability to increase the delivered pulse energy (>20 mJ delivered for 50 ns pulses) without damaging the silica fiber.
US08740425B2	Low glare lighting for a transit vehicle A low glare overhead lighting fixture for a transit vehicle comprises a lighting fixture base assembly for mounting one or more light sources (e.g., LEDs or fluorescent tubes), and a light permeable cover adapted to reduce glare. The light permeable cover may include a light guide embodied as a grid-like structure with holes or perforations for directing the light from the light source in a manner reducing light spread. The light guide may be disposed between a front and rear lens covers. The lighting fixture may also utilize a light permeable cover having an anti-glare surface element, such as a privacy filter screen or mesh which may be formed using microlouver technology. The lighting fixture base assembly may have separate compartments, each lined with a highly reflective coating, housing one or more deeply set LEDs.
US08740424B2	Light for an aircraft A light for an aircraft comprises a holder for carrying a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged along a curvilinear line and a first optical unit comprising an elliptic reflective partial surface defining a plurality of focal points forming a first curvilinear focal line extending along the light emitting sites of the light emitting diodes, and a plurality of second focal points. The light further includes a second optical unit comprising a single further focal point or a plurality of further focal points forming a further curvilinear focal line. The plurality of the second focal points of the first optical unit coincide and are identical to the single further focal point of the second optical unit or are located along the further curvilinear focal line of the second optical unit.
US08740422B2	Bulb and luminaire In a bulb and a luminaire according to one embodiment, plural fins for thermal radiation are provided on the outer circumferential surface of a main body in which a lighting circuit is attached, a light-emitting module is attached to a module attaching section integrated with the front of the main body, and a cylindrical section that surrounds the light-emitting module is protrudingly provided on a light extracting side.
US08740417B2	Secondary light distribution lens for multi-chip semiconductor (LED) lighting A lens comprising: a lens body; a total reflection surface provided on an outer side of the lens body, the reflection surface being in the form of a scalelike polyhedron; a recess formed on a bottom side of the lens body at a central region thereof for accommodating a LED, the recess having a side surface and a central surface; a micro lens array formed at the central surface of the recess; and a light-emitting surface provided at a top side of the lens body; wherein a substantially uniform circular light spot is formed by the lens.
US08740414B2	Lamp A lamp includes a dichroic filter, a light emitting diode, and a lampshade. The light emitting diode emits light towards the dichroic filter. One portion of the light within a predetermined frequency range passes through the dichroic filter. The other portion of the light is refracted by the dichroic filter. The lampshade is used for shading the light. Therefore, the lampshade shows two colors of light.
US08740413B1	System and method for providing color light sources in proximity to predetermined wavelength conversion structures An optical device includes a light source with at least two radiation sources, and at least two layers of wavelength-modifying materials excited by the radiation sources that emit radiation in at least two predetermined wavelengths. Embodiments include a first plurality of n radiation sources configured to emit radiation at a first wavelength. The first plurality of radiation sources are in proximity to a second plurality of m of radiation sources configured to emit radiation at a second wavelength, the second wavelength being shorter than the first wavelength. The ratio between m and n is predetermined. The disclosed optical device also comprises at least two wavelength converting layers such that a first wavelength converting layer is configured to absorb a portion of radiation emitted by the second radiation sources, and a second wavelength converting layer configured to absorb a portion of radiation emitted by the second radiation sources.
US08740412B2	Composite lighting systems and methods of making same A method for retrofitting a lighting system includes providing a lighting assembly with a screw-terminal-base connector disposed in a lamp housing. A power-supply conductive wire includes a second length coupling the screw-terminal-base connector to a transformer and a first length coupled to the transformer and coupleable to a power supply. The first and second lengths of the power-supply conductive wire are severed and the transformer is removed. The severed first and second lengths are spliced together. An Edison-base receptacle is mounted to the lamp housing. The second length of the power-supply conductive wire is electrically coupled to the Edison-base receptacle.
US08740411B2	Plastic leaded chip carrier with diagonally oriented light sources for fine-pitched display A Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC) package is disclosed. The PLCC package is configured to support a plurality of light sources. The light sources may be mounted on a mounting section of the PLCC package's lead frame and the mounting section of the lead frame may extend diagonally with respect to the housing of the lead frame.
US08740408B2	Light emitting diode (LED) module A light emitting diode (LED) module is provided. The LED module includes a substrate on which an LED is mounted; a heat radiation unit configured to include an insertion hole for passage of a power supply cable that supplies power to the substrate; a lens plate configured to include a lens corresponding to the LED and to cover the substrate; a rubber seal configured to be disposed between the heat radiation unit and the lens plate; and a waterproof structure configured to be inserted in the insertion hole and to include a through hole to receive the power supply cable, wherein the substrate is received in an inner space constructed as the lens plate, the rubber seal, and the heat radiation unit are connected, and the inner space has a waterproof structure.
US08740407B2	Method and apparatus for lighting involving reflectors A variety of lighting apparatuses are described that utilize reflection as a basis for lighting a desired area.
US08740406B2	Method and apparatus for solid state illumination A light source includes two excitation light sources generating two respective excitation lights, a filter, and a wavelength conversion material. The second excitation light has a peak wavelength shorter than that of the first excitation light. The transmittance curves of the filter are dependent on the input angle. The first and second excitation lights are inputted to the filter at angles smaller than a first threshold angle, and angles between the first and a third threshold angle, respectively. Both excitation lights pass through the filter to excite the wavelength conversion material, which generates a converted light but reflects some of the excitation lights. Part of the reflected first excitation light reaches the filter at input angles greater than a second threshold angle and is reflected by the filter back to the wavelength conversion material for recycling. The third and second threshold angles are greater than the first threshold angle.
US08740401B2	Housing and electronic device using the same A housing for an electronic device includes a ceramic patterned light transmitting portion and a ceramic light resistant portion surrounding the light transmitting portion. A thickness of the light transmitting portion is in a range from 0.2 mm to 1 mm. A thickness of the light resistant portion is at least 0.3 mm thicker than that of the light transmitting portion.
US08740395B2	Projection unit and method of controlling a first light source and a second light source A projection unit comprises a first light source outputting light that is used to project an image during normal projection unit use, and a second light source outputting light of a different intensity that is used to project an image outside of normal projection unit use.
US08740393B2	Guiding device and projector comprising the same A guiding device and a projector comprising the same are provided. The projector comprises a blower and a bulb. The blower is used for cooling the bulb. The guiding device is disposed between the blower and the bulb, and comprises a body and a flapper. The body of the guiding device is formed with a first outlet and a second outlet. The first outlet and the second outlet are adapted to guide the blower to form a first airflow and a second airflow, respectively. The flapper is disposed in the second outlet and moves along a direction of gravity to partially cover the second outlet to force the second airflow to flow towards a portion of the bulb away from the direction of gravity.
US08740379B2	Eyeglasses retention system An eyeglass retention system for coupling eyewear and headwear through the use of magnets attached to the temples or arms of glasses and magnetic or metallic elements attached to headwear. Vertical supports and other attachment structures prevent inserts from falling out while multi-point magnetic coupling and safety features enhance performance.
US08740375B2	Printing apparatus and printing method A printing apparatus including a head section which discharges a color ink which is cured due to irradiation of light and a clear ink which is cured due to the irradiation of light, an irradiation section which irradiates the light, and a storage section which stores a relationship between a total amount of color duty which is an amount of the color ink which is discharged per unit region and clear duty which is an amount of the clear ink which is discharged per unit region, and glossiness of an image which is printed using the color ink and the clear ink which have been discharged, wherein, according to the color duty in a certain region in the image, the clear duty in the region is determined based on the relationship so that the glossiness of the image is a predetermined value.
US08740374B2	Ink jet recording method, ink jet recording apparatus, and ink jet recorded matter An ink jet recording method including: applying at least two energy beam curable liquids different from each other in surface tension on a recording medium to form an energy beam curable liquid layer having a distribution pattern of different surface tensions; ejecting an energy beam curable ink on the energy beam curable liquid layer formed on the recording medium; and irradiating the energy beam curable liquid layer and the energy beam curable ink with energy beams to cure the energy beam curable liquid layer and the energy beam curable ink to form an image.
US08740370B2	Liquid composition, set, liquid cartridge, inkjet recording method, and inkjet recording apparatus A liquid composition used in combination with an ink containing a coloring material is ejected by the action of thermal energy from a recording head including a heating resistor having a protecting layer that is to come into contact with the liquid composition and that contains at least one of a metal and a metal oxide. The liquid composition contains at least either an organic compound having a carboxy group and an amino group or an amine oxide compound, an organic acid having a carboxy group, and water.
US08740366B1	Printhead including coanda catcher with grooved radius A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a nozzle array extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module forms drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path to a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept liquid drops travelling along one of the paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface including an array of grooves. The liquid removal conduit includes a surface that is positioned opposite and spaced apart from the radial surface such that the opposite surface of the liquid removal conduit does not contact the radial surface that includes the array of grooves.
US08740361B2	Liquid container, liquid supplying system and circuit board for liquid container A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes an apparatus antenna and photoreceptor means, the liquid container includes a container antenna communicatable with the apparatus antenna without physical contact therebetween; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; and a controller for controlling light emission of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative individual information supplied through the container antenna and the information stored in the information storing portion.
US08740356B2	Ink-jet recording head, recording element substrate, method for manufacturing ink-jet recording head, and method for manufacturing recording element substrate An ink-jet recording head includes a plurality of recording element substrates each having an ejection pressure generating element configured to generate pressure for ejecting ink from an ink discharge port. The plurality of recording element substrates each include a first surface on which the corresponding ejection pressure generating element is disposed and a second surface, serving as an end surface intersecting with the first surface, being at least partially formed by etching.
US08740350B2	Inkjet recording head substrate and drive control method, inkjet recording head, inkjet recording head cartridge and inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording head substrate having an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy used to discharge ink and a drive element for driving the electrothermal transducer mounted thereon includes a first circuit portion for outputting selection signals for selecting the electrothermal transducer to be driven at a amplitude level of a second voltage higher than a first voltage based on an input signal of the amplitude level of the first voltage, a second circuit portion for inputting the selection signals from the first circuit portion and controlling the drive element corresponding to the electrothermal transducer to be driven based on the selection signals subject to the second voltage, and a plurality of signal lines for transmitting the selection signals between the first and second circuit portions.
US08740348B2	Liquid collection receptacle and liquid ejecting apparatus A waste ink tank capable of collecting discharged ink includes: an ink absorption member having a receiving area that receives the discharged ink and causes the ink to be absorbed; a recess that causes a suction force to act within the ink absorption member; and a recess, disposed in a position that is closer to the receiving area than the aforementioned recess, that causes a pressurizing force to act within the ink absorption member.
US08740347B2	Liquid discharge apparatus There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including a head including a nozzle surface having a plurality of liquid discharge holes formed thereon, the nozzle surface being directed downward, a liquid receiving part including a liquid receiving surface directed downward to oppose the nozzle surface and configured to receive liquid discharged from the liquid discharge holes, a base, a first blade attached to the base with a tip end thereof being directed upward to wipe the nozzle surface, a second blade attached to the base with a tip end thereof being directed downward to wipe the liquid receiving surface, and a moving mechanism configured to move the base in a predetermined advancing direction between the head and the liquid receiving part. The base is provided with a prevention structure configured to prevent the liquid wiped off by the first blade flowing to the second blade.
US08740344B2	Ink-jet recording apparatus In an ink-jet recording apparatus, when a controller receives an image recording command for a sheet placed on a manual feed tray in a state in which a cap is in a first posture in which the cap covers a nozzle face, the controller is configured to rotate the motor in a first direction by a first rotation amount smaller than a complete switch rotation amount required for the image recording. And, the controller is configured to rotate the motor in a second direction by a second rotation amount equal to or less than the first rotation amount. Then, the controller is configured to rotate the motor in the first direction by a difference rotation amount between the complete switch rotation amount and the first rotation amount.
US08740339B2	Defective recording element detecting apparatus, defective recording element detecting method, and image forming apparatus A defective recording element detecting apparatus includes: an image signal acquiring device which acquires read image signals obtained by reading, a linear test pattern recorded by an image recording apparatus having: a recording head and a medium conveying device which causes relative movement between a recording medium and the recording head in a signal decomposing device which sequentially assigns reading pixel numbers 0 to n to the acquired read image signals, divides the reading pixel numbers by an analysis pitch unit PS to obtain remainders, and decomposes the read image signals into an image signal of each of the obtained remainders; a fluctuation signal calculating device which calculates a fluctuation signal of each of the remainders; and an identifying device which identifies a defective recording element among the plurality of recording elements based on the fluctuation signal of each of the remainders.
US08740337B2	Wrinkle elimination for solid inkjet web printer A solid inkjet web printer for reducing wrinkles on a web including a solid ink jet engine for jetting a patterned layer of solid jettable ink and a system having a processor, and a spreader, the spreader having a pressure roller and a spreader roller forming a nip and means for adjusting the force applied at the nip. The processor controls the adjustment of the force applied by the pressure and spreader rollers to the printed portion on the web causing the spreader to reduce the force when the non-image portion is in the nip. A sensor for providing a signal to the processor indicates the location of the image and non-image portions of the web.
US08740336B2	Ink jet printing apparatus and ink jet printing method An ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method, whereby high-permeation ink and low-permeation ink are employed to prevent a reduction in optical density is provided. The ink jet printing apparatus controls ejection of ink from print heads, so that only low-permeation ink is ejected onto the edge area of a print medium that is adjacent to a non-printing area, and this time, high-permeation ink is not employed. Further, the ink jet printing apparatus controls ejection of ink from the print heads, so that both low-permeation ink and high-permeation ink are employed for the non-edge area that is adjacent to the edge area, and to perform printing, the low-permeation ink is ejected onto the non-edge area prior to the high-permeation ink.
US08740332B2	Inkjet head drive method and inkjet head drive device An inkjet head driving method is a method for driving an inkjet head having a property in which heat is generated when a drive waveform is applied to a piezoelectric element section connected to a plurality of discharge nozzles. Based on drawing data, a discharge waveform, which is a drive waveform that causes discharging of ink, is applied to a driven nozzle for discharging the ink in a predetermined drive cycle, and a non-discharge waveform, which is a drive waveform that does not cause discharging of the ink, is applied to a non-driven nozzle other than the driven nozzle in the predetermined drive cycle.
US08740331B2	Inkjet printhead and method of printing with multiple drop volumes A printhead and a method of ejecting liquid droplets are provided. The method includes providing a printhead operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of drop volumes Vi, for i equal to 1 through n, where n≧2, with Vj>Vi when j>i. One of the plurality of drop volumes is a minimum drop volume Vmin, and a difference in drop volumes between successively larger drops equals (Vk+1−Vk) which is less than Vmin, for k equal to 1 through n−1. The method also includes ejecting liquid drops through the printhead.
US08740330B2	Liquid ejecting method, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus Provided is a liquid ejecting method, including: ejecting a liquid from a liquid ejecting head, wherein the viscosity of the liquid is in a range from 6 mPa·s to 20 mPa·s, wherein the liquid ejecting head includes: nozzles which eject the liquid; a pressure chamber which applies a pressure variation to the liquid in order to eject the liquid from the nozzles; and a supply unit which communicates with the pressure chamber and supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber, and wherein the opening area of the nozzles on the side in which the liquid is ejected is 1/10 or less of the opening area of the opening of the supply unit on the pressure chamber side.
US08740329B2	Inkjet printing apparatus and method for controlling drive of nozzles in inkjet printing apparatus An inkjet printing apparatus that prints each raster in a multi-pass printing mode by causing a printhead having a plurality of nozzles forming a nozzle array to scan in a direction intersecting with the nozzle array is provided, in which the nozzles are divided into groups, each including adjacent nozzles, one nozzle selected from each group is united into one block, drive of nozzles is controlled such that drive timings of nozzles differ among a plurality of blocks in each group, and a sequence in which nozzles are driven is determined for each scan in the multi-pass printing mode such that printed dots are most equally printed in the raster.
US08740326B2	Recording medium lift detection apparatus and inkjet recording apparatus A recording medium lift detection apparatus for detecting a lift of a recording medium that is conveyed on a predetermined conveyance surface along a predetermined conveyance path, includes: a light projection/receiving, a light projection parallel flat plate, a light projection turning device, a control device and a recording medium lift detection control device.
US08740325B2	Method for printing in a printer having an inoperable ink reservoir A method for operating a printer includes supplying liquid ink from two ink reservoirs to a printhead to enable the printhead to eject ink drops onto an image receiving substrate. A substrate transport moves the substrate past the printhead at a first speed. In response to detecting an interruption in the supply of liquid ink from one of the two ink reservoirs, the substrate transport moves the image receiving substrate at a slower second speed past the printhead.
US08740324B2	Image forming device and image forming method In a stand-by state, when an instruction unit issues the printing instruction, a control unit is switched in a maintenance state, in the maintenance state, the control unit closes an air valve and operates a first pump, and when a sensor detects that the ink of a second tank is reduced by discharging the ink from a nozzle by the pressure of a second tank, the control unit opens the air valve to be switched in a printing state, and when a predetermined time elapses after an operation of the first pump before the sensor detects the reduction of the ink of the second tank, the control unit excludes the solidified ink from the nozzle, and in the printing state, the control unit is switched in the stand-by state when the ink is discharged from the nozzle of the head based on a printing instruction.
US08740320B2	Dishwasher with ergonomic closure device A dishwasher comprises a compartment to hold items to be washed and/or dried, the compartment including a front opening; a closure device to sealingly close the opening, the closure device being movable between open and closed positions; and an insert having a front side with a portion that is flush or substantially flush with a front surface of the closure device. The insert includes a recessed handle that is inwardly recessed into the front face of the closure device. The handle is elongated in a horizontal sense and to such an extent that the handle is accessible by a user when standing at a position laterally adjacent the dishwasher, (e.g., in front of a sink) to better avoid the need for the user to lean over to access the center of the dishwasher.
US08740319B1	Recessed ganging lock and storage cabinet therewith A lockable cabinet comprising a case, a drawer, a ganging lock mechanism, and a lock box recessed into the case. The lock box contains an external lock for securing the cabinet through a hasp style locking structure. The ganging lock mechanism prevents drawers from slidably moving from the cabinet when in the locked position and allows the drawers to be slidably moved to an open position when in the unlocked position.
US08740318B2	Portable bar with interchangeable canopy tops A folding portable bar with interchangeable canopies is provided, the bar comprises: at least one umbrella comprising at least one post and a plurality of canopies, each of the canopies comprises a design and at least a portion of each of the canopies is constructed of a material that allows light to pass through the canopy and project image of the design.
US08740313B2	Cutting tool holding device A cutting tool holding device includes a base, a cutting tool holder and a fastening member. The base includes an abutting portion and a transverse dovetail groove, wherein the abutting portion is defined between a first wall with a mounting surface and a second wall, and the transverse dovetail groove is formed on the mounting surface. The cutting tool holder has a transverse dovetail portion, wherein the cutting tool holder is abutted against the abutting portion, and the transverse dovetail portion is detachably engaged into the transverse dovetail groove on the mounting surface of the second wall. The fastening member is for fastening the cutting tool holder to the base.
US08740312B1	Mining sled with movable bed A mining sled with a movable bed. The movable bed nests within the sled and is slidable with respect to the sled. Stops are located on the sled to limit the distance the movable bed can travel with respect to the sled. The movable bed includes brackets at a first end for attachment to the pull-out rope of a pull-out winch. The second end of the movable bed includes a mount for attachment of a pulley. The pulley on the movable bed facilitates attachment to a pull-in rope that is connected to a pull-in winch for transporting the sled toward the continuous miner.
US08740311B2	Cutting apparatus for concrete or the like A cutting apparatus has a main body including a body frame, wheels, a motor and a blade; a blade cover; and a slide guide. A cutting depth of the blade is adjustable. A blade cover casing entirely covers the blade. A slider having left and right linear portions is attached to a rear surface of the casing. The slide guide has circular-arc portions and flaps for sandwiching the linear portions of the slider. A gap is formed between the flaps and a side surface of the body frame. By sandwiching the linear portions of the slider between a flap and the body frame, and sandwiching the circular-arc portions between the left and right linear portions, the blade cover can slide in the up-down direction with respect to the slide guide and the body frame and can rotate about the circular-arc portions.
US08740309B2	Seat gap hiding structure There is provided a seat gap hiding structure in a vehicle seat where a cutout portion is formed on a seat cushion to arrange a seat belt therein, and a strip-shaped member is provided on a seat cover to correspond to the cutout portion at a part of the cutout portion, which is other than an arrangement position of the seat belt to cover a gap around the seat belt. One end portion of the strip-shaped member is fixed to the seat cover and the other end portion thereof is movably fixed to the seat cover using an elastic member. When the strip-shaped member is moved from an original position where the strip-shaped member covers the gap of the cutout portion, the elastic member generates an elastic force to return the strip-shaped member to the original position.
US08740305B2	Soldier platform system A soldier platform system and method includes a soldier platform system in a vehicle. In an embodiment, the soldier platform system includes a soldier platform system in a vehicle. The soldier platform system includes a seat assembly comprising a seat and straps. The straps are attachable to the vehicle. In addition, the soldier platform system includes a restraint harness belt. The restraint harness belt is attached to the seat assembly. The soldier platform system also includes a ratchet platform. The ratchet platform includes a platform upper assembly and a platform lower assembly. The platform lower assembly comprises a platform upper assembly actuator. The platform upper assembly actuator comprises a pedal sub assembly.
US08740304B2	Assistant standing seat The invention discloses an assistant standing seat comprising a base having a positioning nest and a locating recess, a driving module installed in the positioning nest of the base, a shearing device mounted in the locating recess of the base and a seat mounted on the shearing device, wherein the shearing device has a top plate, a bottom plate pivotally mounted to a front part of the top plate, a U-shape bracket pivotally mounted to a middle part of the bottom plate and a translational device moving between the U-shape bracket and the bottom plate. With the above seat, a user's weight can be distributed to the top plate and the U-shape bracket to decrease a resistance force of the translational device when the translational device moves, and further avoid a difficult elevation of the assistant standing seat.
US08740300B2	Toolbox seat for pickup truck bed A combination toolbox and seating assembly is provided. The toolbox seating assembly is installed in the bed of a pickup truck, wherein the toolbox includes a hinged lid, and wherein a bench style seat may be stored the toolbox when not in use, and may be positioned within the upper portion of the toolbox when in use to provide comfortable rearward seating within the bed of the truck.
US08740296B2	Sunroff apparatus To provide a sunroof apparatus including a front panel and a rear panel closing a roof opening formed in a roof of a vehicle, capable of keeping a large distance in a back-and-forth direction between the supporting portions supporting the front and rear portions of the rear panel in a fully closed state of closing the roof opening by the front panel and the rear panel.In a fully closed state of panels, a rear forward supporting portion supporting the front portion of the rear panel is provided in a rear portion of a front slider and a rear backward supporting portion supporting the rear portion of the rear panel is provided in a rear slider.
US08740295B2	Apparatus for adjusting paring line of panoramic sunroof An apparatus adjusts a parting line of a panoramic sunroof comprising a moving glass and a rail. The apparatus includes a fixing bracket, a moving bracket, and a slide structure. The fixing bracket is disposed on a side surface of a rear end of the moving glass to be tiltable and movable in a straight line. The moving bracket is disposed on a curved path of the rail to be movable along a curved trajectory. The slide structure is connected between the fixing bracket and the moving bracket to enable curved movement by allowing the moving bracket to spread from the fixing bracket when the fixing bracket moves in a straight line.
US08740294B2	Roller blind arrangement for a motor vehicle The invention proposes a roller blind arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising a roller blind web by means of which a transparent portion of the motor vehicle can be at least partially shaded, and comprising at least one winding device for winding up the roller blind web. The roller blind web is formed from a knitted spacer fabric which comprises a support layer formed from a knitted fabric and a decorative layer formed from a knitted fabric and connected to the support layer via connecting threads which maintain a spacing.
US08740293B1	Clamshell acoustic insulator assembly for a passenger compartment of a vehicle An acoustic insulator assembly for disposition adjacent a rear wall of a vehicle body, between the rear wall and a trim panel includes a substrate formed as a single unit from an acoustic fiber. The substrate includes a first portion, a second portion and a living hinge interconnecting the first portion and the second portion. The second portion is rotated about the living hinge into interlocking engagement with the first portion to define at least one air pocket with at least one baffle. The air pocket and the baffle limiting sound intrusion between a pressure relief valve in the wall of the body and a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
US08740292B2	Vehicle body superstructure A vehicle body superstructure includes a first side rail member, a second side rail member, a roof member, and a gusset. The gusset includes a rail side surface, a roof side surface, a first claw, a second claw, and a bead. The rail side surface extends along a vertical direction of a vehicle body and is connected to the first and second side rail members. The roof side surface extends along a breadthways direction of the vehicle body and is connected to the roof member. The first claw is provided at a first longitudinal end of the gusset and locked in a first locking portion provided in the first side rail member. The second claw is provided at a second longitudinal end of the gusset and is locked in a second locking portion provided in the second side rail member.
US08740288B2	Cab A cab includes a driver's seat for an operator to sit and an air conditioner in its internal space. A floor plate forming the floor includes a tapered portion on a front side with respect to an operator sitting on the driver's seat and a rectangular portion on a rear side with respect to the operator as seen in a plan view, and the tapered portion is in a tapered trapezoidal shape having two parallel sides and a dimension in a width direction decreasing frontward. A through hole is formed in the floor plate of a region of the tapered portion and connects the internal space of the cab and an external space of the cab to each other. Accordingly, the pressure in the cab can effectively be reduced.
US08740285B2	Vehicle airfoils for safety, efficiency, and performance One or more airfoils, mounted above the upper surface of an automobile or other vehicle, optionally with variable angle of attack and/or camber, under the continuous automatic control of the vehicle's computer (electronic control module), for the purpose of providing well-distributed vertical thrust with minimum drag, or strong downward thrust with drag, depending on driving circumstances, thereby increasing the safety of the vehicle as well as improving its efficiency and performance.
US08740284B2	Motor vehicle comprising an actuator for opening the side door A motor vehicle has a side door opening that can be closed off by way of a front side door. For opening the front side door from the vehicle interior, the front side door has an actuator on the side facing the vehicle interior for the opening of the front side door. In addition, a second actuator is arranged in the vehicle interior rearwardly of the first actuator, by which second actuator the closed front side door can also be opened. This provides a motor vehicle that permits comfortable entering and exiting of all vehicle occupants.

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