最新美国发明专利第2015-03-03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
US08968979B2	Positive resist composition and patterning process A positive resist composition comprises a polymer comprising repeat units having formula (1) or (2). Herein denotes an aromatic hydrocarbon group, R1 is H, methyl or trifluoromethyl, R2 is H, C1-C12 alkyl or aromatic hydrocarbon group, R3 is C1-C12 alkyl, or R2 and R3 may bond together to form a ring, and a is 1 or 2. When used in the ArF lithography, the resist composition exhibits high resolution. When used in the EB image writing for mask processing, the resist composition exhibits high resolution and sensitivity sufficient to comply with high-accelerating-voltage EB irradiation, and high etch resistance.
US08968974B2	Techniques for coating print media Techniques for coating print media are described herein. In an example, a photo imaging assembly is to receive a liquid electrophoretic coating composition assembly on a chargeable surface so as to form a coating layer thereon using electrostatic forces. The coating layer is to be transferred to a print medium.
US08968973B2	Color filter and production method thereof, and solid-state image sensor using the same A method of producing a color filter includes (a) forming a colored pattern on a substrate by exposing and developing a colored curable composition containing a dye, a polymerizable monomer and an organic solvent, (b) forming a transparent protective film on the colored pattern, and (c) irradiating at least the transparent protective film with light after forming the transparent protective film on the colored pattern.
US08968972B2	Photomask blank, process for production of photomask, and chromium-containing material film In the chromium-containing material film of the present invention, an element is added thereto and is capable of bringing a mixture of the element and the chromium into a liquid phase at a temperature of 400° C. or lower. The use of such a chromium-containing material film as an optical film (e.g., a light-shielding film, an etching mask film, or an etching stopper film) of a photo mask blank can achieve an improvement in chlorine-dry etching while retaining the same optical characteristics and the like as those of the conventional chromium-containing material film, thereby increasing the patterning precision.
US08968968B2	Substantially flat single cells for SOFC stacks A solid oxide fuel cell includes an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte layer partitioning the anode layer and the cathode layer. The anode layer and the cathode layer are of about the same thickness and have about the same coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).
US08968967B2	Fuel cell catalyst support with fluoride-doped metal oxides/phosphates and method of manufacturing same A fuel cell catalyst support includes a fluoride-doped metal oxide/phosphate support structure and a catalyst layer, supported on such fluoride-doped support structure. In one example, the support structure is a sub-stechiometric titanium oxide and/or indium-tin oxide (ITO) partially coated or mixed with a fluoride-doped metal oxide or metal phosphate. In another example, the support structure is fluoride-doped and mixed with at least one of low surface carbon, boron-doped diamond, carbides, borides, and silicides.
US08968966B2	Fuel battery Provided is a fuel battery including: a fuel battery cell assembly having at least two fuel battery cells coplanarly disposed, the fuel battery cell including a membrane electrode assembly having an anode, an electrolytic membrane, and a cathode stacked on one another in this order, and a flow channel plate provided on an anode side and having on an anode-side surface thereof an in-cell fuel flow channel through which liquid fuel flows; and a fuel distributor having an out-cell fuel flow channel connected to each of the in-cell fuel flow channels to distribute the liquid fuel to the fuel battery cells.
US08968965B2	Curable compositions and membranes A curable composition comprising: (i) 2.5 to 50 wt % crosslinker comprising at least two acrylamide groups; (ii) 12 to 65 wt % curable ionic compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a cationic group; (iii) 10 to 70 wt % solvent; and (iv) 0 to 10 wt % of free radical initiator; and (v) non-curable salt; wherein the molar ratio of (i):(ii) is >0.10. The compositions are useful for preparing ion exchange membranes.
US08968959B2	Method for fabrication of electrochemical energy converter and the electrochemical energy converter In a method for fabrication of an electrochemical energy converter, cermet composition layers (2A), (2B) are applied on both sides of a central ceramic plate (1), channels (3A), (3B) are made in the cermet composition layers (2A), (2B), then the channels (3A), (3B) on both sides of the plate are covered with cermet composition layers (4A), (4B). Afterwards, both sides of the ceramic structure are overlaid with conductive structures (5A), (5B) and then with subsequent layers of the cermet composition (6A), (6B) containing nickel, then both sides of the ceramic structure are overlaid with: layers constituting the solid electrolyte (7A), (7B), layers constituting electrodes (8A), (8B) and contact layers (9A), (9B).
US08968958B2	Voltage lead jumper connected fuel cell columns A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, and one or more devices which in operation of the system provide an azimuthal direction to one or more anode or cathode feed or exhaust fluid flows in the system.
US08968957B2	Fuel cell A fuel cell unit configuring a fuel cell is provided with a first separator, a first electrolyte film/electrode body, a second separator, a second electrolyte film/electrode body, and a third separator. Resin guide members are provided on the outer periphery of the first separator, the second separator, and the third separator. The resin guide members have outer peripheral ends which protrude outwards, and in the aforementioned resin guide members are formed concave reliefs which are spaced inwards from the aforementioned outer peripheral ends.
US08968954B2	Fuel cell system and method of controlling reaction condition of fuel in fuel cell A target value of each of factors in a fuel cell system is determined based on a correspondence relationship of a change in each of the factors determining reaction conditions of fuel in a fuel cell to a change in an external environment of the fuel cell system, and peripheral devices of the fuel cell affecting the reaction conditions of the fuel in the fuel cell are controlled according to a target value of each of the factors.
US08968951B2	Intelligent system for the dynamic modeling and operation of fuel cells A system and method for controlling an output of a dynamic fuel cell is provided. A dynamic fuel cell has a membrane wherein a dimension of the membrane is variable during operation of the dynamic fuel cell in response to a control signal from an intelligent controller. By varying the dimension of the membrane, the output voltage of the dynamic fuel cell can be altered. An intelligent controller is provided that can measure a number of outputs and input parameters of the dynamic fuel cell and approximate input parameters using the measured values to adjust the input of the dynamic fuel cell to the approximated values.
US08968950B2	Method of starting operation of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell A method of starting operation of a fuel cell stack includes the steps of performing gas replacement by supplying a fuel gas to a fuel gas flow field from a downstream side of the fuel gas flow field through a fuel gas discharge passage, and supplying an oxygen-containing gas to an oxygen-containing gas flow field from an upstream side of the oxygen-containing gas flow field through an oxygen-containing gas supply passage. After the step of performing gas replacement, normal power generation is carried out by supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas flow field from an upstream side of the fuel gas flow field through a fuel gas supply passage, and supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas flow field from the upstream side of the oxygen-containing gas flow field through the oxygen-containing gas supply passage.
US08968949B2	Method of withdrawing heat from a battery pack A method for withdrawing heat from a battery pack is provided, wherein the heat is transferred from at least one electrode of each cell comprising the battery pack, via an electrically and thermally conductive tab, through a current collector plate and through a thermal interface layer to a temperature control panel that is coupled to an external temperature control system.
US08968948B2	Energy generation system and related uses thereof A self contained energy generating system that comprises a galvanic battery and a power distribution system. The energy generating system is used to purify water by using a reverse osmosis device that draws in a source of water and transfers electrolytes to the galvanic battery. Upon contact with the electrolyte, the galvanic battery produces energy by an oxidation-reduction reaction of the cathode and anode and transfers energy to the power distribution system, which in turn provides power to the osmosis device. Additionally, the system includes a hydrogen fuel cell to increase the amount of energy generated and a power storage device for storing excess energy generated. The system also includes a controller which is configured to regulate the overall operation of the system.
US08968942B2	Metal oxygen battery containing oxygen storage materials A battery system includes a metal oxygen battery. The metal oxygen battery includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode includes a metal material (M). The metal oxygen battery is in communication with an oxygen storage material. In certain instances, the oxygen storage material is contained within an oxygen containment unit. The metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit may be in a closed-loop with respect to each other. The battery system further includes a conduit for providing fluid communication from one of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit to the other of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit.
US08968941B2	Li-air batteries having ether-based electrolytes A lithium-air battery includes a cathode including a porous active carbon material, a separator, an anode including lithium, and an electrolyte including a lithium salt and polyalkylene glycol ether, where the porous active carbon material is free of a metal-based catalyst.
US08968940B2	Redox shuttles for high voltage cathodes A compound has general Formula I, II, III, or IV: where X and Y are independently a group of Formula (A): and Z a group of Formula (B): The compounds may be used in electrolytes and electrochemical devices.
US08968937B2	Anode for secondary battery and secondary battery having the same The present invention relates to an anode for a secondary battery, comprising at least two anode wires which are parallel to each other and spirally twisted, each of the anode wires having an anode active material layer coated on the surface of a wire-type current collector; and a secondary battery comprising the anode. The anode of the present invention has an increased surface area to react with Li ions during a charging and discharging process, thereby improving the rate characteristics of a battery, and also release stress or pressure applied in the battery, e.g., the volume expansion of active material layers to prevent the deformation of the battery and ensure the stability thereof, thereby improving the life characteristic of the battery.
US08968936B2	Method for producing lithium-containing composite oxide The present invention provides a method for producing a lithium-containing composite oxide represented by general formula (1) below, the method at least including a step of preparing a solution by dissolving a lithium source, an element M source, a phosphorus source, and an element X source that serve as source materials in a solvent, the phosphorus source being added after at least the element M source is dissolved; a step of gelating the resulting solution; and a step of calcining the resulting gel: LixMyP1-zXzO4 (1) (where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Mn, Zr, Sn, Al, and Y; X represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and Al; and 0
US08968934B2	Electrode for secondary battery, fabrication method thereof, and secondary battery comprising same The present invention relates to an electrode for a secondary battery, comprising a collector and a porous electrode active material layer disposed on at least one surface of the collector by spraying metal oxide nanoparticle dispersion, wherein the porous electrode active material comprises one selected from the group consisting of aggregated metal oxide nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles and a mixture thereof, which is capable of undergoing stable high speed charging/discharging cycles under a high-energy-density and high-current condition.
US08968933B2	Process for preparation of anode active material Disclosed is a method for preparing an anode active material comprising a core composed of a crystalline carbon-based material, and a composite coating layer comprising (a) mixing a precursor for a raw material of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of low crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon with silicon oxide enabling intercalation and deintercalation of ions, followed by purification, to prepare a mixture for coating, (b) mixing the mixture for coating with a crystalline carbon-based material to prepare a core-shell precursor comprising the raw material mixture for coating applied to the core composed of the crystalline carbon-based material, and (c) baking the core-shell precursor to carbonize the raw material of the one or more materials selected from the group consisting of low crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon into the one or more materials selected from the group consisting of low crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon.
US08968929B2	Silicon clathrate anodes for lithium-ion batteries The present disclosure is directed at an electrode and methods for forming such electrode for a battery wherein the electrode comprises silicon clathrate. The silicon clathrate may include silicon clathrate Si46 containing an arrangement of 20-atom and 24-atom cages fused together through 5 atom pentagonal rings and/or silicon clathrate Si34 containing an arrangement of 20-atom and 28-atom cages fused together through 5 atom pentagonal rings. The silicon clathrate may be present as particles having a largest linear dimension in the range of 0.1 μm to 100.0 μm.
US08968925B2	Metal-doped transition metal hexacyanoferrate (TMHCF) battery electrode A method is provided for synthesizing a metal-doped transition metal hexacyanoferrate (TMHCF) battery electrode. The method prepares a first solution of AxFe(CN)6 and Fe(CN)6, where A cations may be alkali or alkaline-earth cations. The method adds the first solution to a second solution containing M-ions and M′-ions. M is a transition metal, and M′ is a metal dopant. Subsequent to stirring, the mixture is precipitated to form AxMcM′dFez(CN)n.mH2O particles. The AxMcM′dFez(CN)n.mH2O particles have a framework and interstitial spaces in the framework, where M and M′ occupy positions in the framework. Alternatively, the method prepares AaA′bMyFez(CN)n.mH2O particles. A and A′ occupy interstitial spaces in the AaA′bMyFez(CN)n.mH2O particle framework. A metal-doped TMHCF electrode is also provided.
US08968921B2	Fluoride ion electrochemical cell Electrochemical cells of the present invention are versatile and include primary and secondary cells useful for a range of important applications including use in portable electronic devices. Electrochemical cells of the present invention also exhibit enhanced safety and stability relative to conventional state of the art primary lithium batteries and lithium ion secondary batteries. For example, electrochemical cells of the present invention include secondary electrochemical cells using anion charge carriers capable of accommodation by positive and negative electrodes comprising anion host materials, which entirely eliminate the need for metallic lithium or dissolved lithium ion in these systems.
US08968920B2	Organic electrolyte solution including silane compound and lithium battery employing the same Organic electrolyte solutions and lithium batteries employing the same are provided. In one embodiment, an organic electrolyte solution includes a silane compound. The inventive organic electrolyte solutions prevent crack formation caused by volumetric changes in the anode active material during charging/discharging of the battery. This improves charge/discharge characteristics, resulting in improved battery stability, reliability, and charge/discharge efficiency, which is a dramatic improvement over conventional organic electrolyte solutions, which have higher irreversible capacities due to the decomposition of polar solvents.
US08968913B2	Rechargeable battery pack for an electrical load The invention is directed to a rechargeable battery pack for an electrical load with the load being connected to the rechargeable battery pack by a connection cable. A housing of the rechargeable battery pack has an inner space for accommodating a large number of rechargeable individual cells which are electrically connected to one another and supply the load via the connection cable. To provide the housing with a high level of stability, provision is made for the receiving space in the housing to be subdivided into individual receptacles by partition walls. A cell pack includes a predefined number of the individual cells and is arranged in a corresponding individual receptacle. Each cell pack forms an independent unit which is held in the individual receptacle. The individual cells of a cell pack are electrically and mechanically connected to one another by cell connectors.
US08968905B2	Secondary battery A secondary battery including an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator; a pouch accommodating the electrode assembly; and a dissipation member, the dissipation member contacting the electrode assembly and protruding to an exterior of the pouch from an interior of the pouch.
US08968900B2	Flexible sleeve battery holder apparatus and method A battery holder apparatus and method includes a sleeve with an inside surface and an outside surface where the sleeve is flexible. A battery receiving space is created within the sleeve where the battery receiving space expands and the sleeve flexes to accommodate a battery when inserted therein and the inside surface at least partially contacts the battery. And a connection device is provided on the outside surface of the sleeve.
US08968898B2	Cap assembly of novel structure and cylindrical battery employed with the same Disclosed herein is a cap assembly disposed at an open upper end of a cylindrical container of a battery in which an electrode assembly (jelly roll) of a cathode/separator/anode structure is mounted in the cylindrical container, wherein an electrode lead of the jelly roll is electrically connected to the lower end of a safety vent having notches, which are ruptured to discharge high pressure gas when high pressure is generated in the battery, and a safety element to interrupt current at a predetermined temperature is provided between the safety vent and the electrode lead.
US08968896B1	Mitigation of internal shorting for improved battery safety The present disclosure teaches a method, system, and apparatus for the mitigation of internal shorting for improved battery safety. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method for mitigating internal shorting in a battery involves sensing, with at least one sensor, an internal shorting condition of the battery. The method further involves producing, by at least one processor, at least one commanding signal to initiate motion of a filament breaking mesh. Also, the method involves moving, by at least one drive mechanism, the filament breaking mesh, upon receiving at least one commanding signal. Further, the method involves breaking, with the filament breaking mesh, at least one filament present within the battery.
US08968892B2	Battery pack A battery pack includes a plurality of bare cells electrically connected in series or parallel to one another, and a protection circuit module provided with a thermistor. In the battery pack, the protection circuit module is electrically connected to the bare cells, and the thermistor is provided to be parallel in the length direction of the protection circuit module between the bare cells and the protection circuit module so as to measure a variable resistance by sensing a temperature of the bare cells and to transfer the measured resistance as an electrical signal to the protection circuit module.
US08968888B2	Phenanthrene compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device A novel compound having high triplet excitation energy and a bipolar property is provided. Specifically, a phenanthrene compound represented by General Formula (G1) is provided where R11 to R19 and R21 to R27 separately represent any one of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms, Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms, and Z represents a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom. The use of the phenanthrene compound as a host material of a light-emitting layer in the presence of a phosphorescent dopant allows the formation of a light-emitting element with high current efficiency.
US08968877B2	Barrier materials for mirror assemblies Provided herein is a reflective optical construction containing a fluoropolymer barrier layer, wherein the fluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of at least one tetrafluoropropene or pentafluoropropene, preferably 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. Also disclosed is a method of forming a reflective optical construction including (a) applying a barrier layer comprising one or more fluoropolymers selected from the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of at least one tetrafluoropropene or pentafluoropropene, and (b) curing.
US08968872B2	Encapsulated agglomeration of microcapsules and method for the preparation thereof Microcapsules comprising an agglomeration of primary microcapsules, each individual primary microcapsule having a primary shell and the agglomeration being encapsulated by an outer shell, may be prepared by providing an aqueous mixture of a loading substance and a shell material, adjusting pH, temperature, concentration and/or mixing speed to form primary shells of shell material around the loading substance and cooling the aqueous mixture until the primary shells agglomerate and an outer shell of shell material forms around the agglomeration. Such microcapsules are useful for storing a substance and for delivering the substance to a desired environment.
US08968867B2	Horizontal thermoelectric tape and method for manufacturing same The present invention relates to a horizontal thermoelectric tape and a method for manufacturing same, and more particularly, to a horizontal thermoelectric tape for an effective blocking of an electromagnetic wave and an excellent heat dissipation effect. The horizontal thermoelectric tape of the present invention unifies the double layer structure of an adhesion layer and a heat dissipation layer, more effectively achieving the heat dissipation effect, and simplifying the manufacturing process thereof, and by using a non-evaporated metal foil as a conductive base material, enables a horizontal thermoelectric tape having an excellent heat conductivity, and using a conductive base material not containing impurities.
US08968861B2	Flame retardant, electrically conductive adhesive materials and related methods Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of a flame retardant, electrically conductive adhesive material. In an exemplary embodiment, a flame retardant, electrically conductive adhesive material suitable for use as tape generally includes a layer of adhesive. A layer of electrically conductive fabric is on the layer of adhesive. A flame retardant coating is on the layer of electrically conductive fabric. The flame retardant coating includes a carbon-containing resin.
US08968859B2	Heat extensible fiber A heat extensible fiber comprises a conjugate fiber including a first resin component having an orientation index of 30% to 70% and a second resin component having a lower melting point or softening point than the melting point of the first resin component and an orientation index of 40% or more, the second resin component being present on at least part of the surface of the conjugate fiber in a lengthwise continuous configuration. The conjugate fiber is a heat-treated or crimped fiber and being configured to thermally extend when heated at a temperature lower than the melting point of the first resin component. The heat extensible fiber has higher heat self-extensibility than conventional extensible fibers.
US08968857B2	High hardness imprint material There is provided an imprint material from which a film having a high hardness can be formed. An imprint material comprising a component (A), a component (B) and a component (C), the component (A) being a compound having, in the molecule thereof, five or more polymerizable groups, the component (B) being a compound having, in the molecule thereof, two polymerizable groups, and the component (C) being a photo-radical generator.
US08968853B2	Pressure-sensitive adhesives including expandable graphite A building material comprising a substrate layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, where the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer includes expandable graphite.
US08968849B2	Polyester composition for improved stress crack resistance in polyester articles Polyester compositions for use in injection stretch blow molded articles having intrinsic viscosities in the range from about 0.65 to about 0.78 dl/g, and carboxyl end group concentrations of about 47 mmole/kg or more are provided. Stretch blow molded articles formed from these polyester compositions and methods to produce these articles are also described.
US08968848B2	Induction heating system An induction heating system includes a first heating surface and an induction coil located adjacent the first heating surface. The induction heating system also includes food packaging configured to be placed on the first heating surface. The food packaging contains a current conducting material such that the food packaging is inductively heated to a temperature sufficient to heat food when the induction coil is energized.
US08968847B2	Flexible packaging materials and methods of making and using same Packaging materials are disclosed, along with packages formed therefrom and methods for forming the packages.
US08968845B2	Thermal transfer film A thermal transfer film and a method of manufacturing an OLED display, the thermal transfer film including a light to heat conversion layer, the light to heat conversion layer being formed of a composition including carbon black having an oil absorption number (OAN) of about 50 cc/100 gram to about 120 cc/100 gram and a mean particle size of about 40 nm to about 200 nm; and a binder.
US08968844B2	Recording medium and image recording process A recording medium includes a base and an ink receiving layer. The ink receiving layer contains inorganic particles. The surface of the recording medium has an arithmetic mean roughness of 0.8 μm or more in accordance with JIS B 0601:2001. The surface of the recording medium includes openings having a width of 30 μm or less and a length of 500 μm or less. The number of the openings is 5 or more and 30 or less per 1 mm2 of the surface of the recording medium.
US08968841B2	Binaphthyl compound, liquid crystal composition, liquid crystal element, and liquid crystal display device A binaphthyl compound represented by General Formula (G1) is provided. In General Formula (G1), Ar2 represents any of an arylene group, a cycloalkylene group, and a cycloalkenylene group, and m is any of 0 to 3; R3 represents any of hydrogen, an alkyl group, and an alkoxy group; and one of R and R1 represents a substituent represented by General Formula (G2) and the other thereof represents hydrogen. In General Formula (G2), Ar1 represents any of an arylene group, a cycloalkylene group, and a cycloalkenylene group, and k is any of 1 to 3; and R2 represents any of hydrogen, an alkyl group, and an alkoxy group.
US08968840B2	Liquid-crystalline medium The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈), which is distinguished by the fact that it has a value for the ratio γ1/Δn2 in the range 6-45 with a clearing point of >60° C. and a Δ∈ of ≦−2.3. Media of this type are particularly suitable for electro-optical displays having active-matrix addressing based on the ECB, PA LCD, FFS or IPS effect.
US08968837B2	Method for the plasma-enhanced treatment of internal surfaces of a hollow body, fluid separator, and use thereof The present invention relates to the treatment of internal surfaces of a hollow body, on the inner surfaces of which areas having different surface properties, for example, having hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, are produced. The invention further relates to fluid separators that are based on said hollow bodies and that have areas having different surface properties. Such fluid separators are used in medical technology and analysis, in particular biochemical analysis.
US08968828B2	Composite polyamide membrane A method for making a composite polyamide membrane comprising the steps of applying a polyfunctional amine monomer and polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of the porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method is includes at least one of the following steps: i) conducting the interfacial polymerization in the presence of a C2-C20 aliphatic monomer comprising at least one carboxylic acid functional group or salt thereof, and a single amine-reactive functional group; and ii) applying a C2-C20 aliphatic monomer comprising at least one carboxylic acid functional group or salt thereof, and a single amine-reactive functional group to the thin film polyamide layer. Many additional embodiments are described including applications for such membranes.
US08968823B2	Method of manufacturing a light emitting device Disclosed is an evaporation method to form a thin film over a substrate, which is characterized in the use of an evaporation source equipped with a plurality of evaporation cells. The evaporation source has a rectangular shape with a long side and a short side wherein the long side is longer than the short side. At least one of the evaporation source and the substrate is relatively moved during the evaporation, which allows the formation of a thin film having a highly uniform thickness in a short time.
US08968815B2	Method for producing fats and oils The present invention discloses a safer, more effective and industrially suitable method for producing fats and oils rich in a XUX triglyceride wherein the contents of a XXX triglyceride and a XX diglyceride are low which comprises, upon removing by crystallization a XXX triglyceride and a XX diglyceride each of which is contained in fats and oils comprising 50 to 90 mass % of a XUX triglyceride in total triglycerides, the step of conducting such removing by crystallization in the presence of a fatty acid lower alkyl ester. This method is a more efficient and industrially suitable method for producing fats and oils rich in a XUX triglyceride wherein the contents of a XXX triglyceride and a XX diglyceride are low.
US08968814B2	Method for preventing scorching of milk-based product The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a milk-based product from which whey proteins such as beta lactoglobulm have been substantially removed, and to the use of such a product as a milk product to be heated in cooking.
US08968812B2	Method for producing a mixed product The invention relates to a method for producing a liquid mixed product from at least one liquid base component and at least one liquid additive, which is added to the base component in a metered manner, wherein the at least one liquid additive is metered into the base component depending on the amount of the mixed product removed from the mixing chamber (2.3).
US08968807B1	Use of ethylene diamine metal complexes to deliver highly absorbable metals for animal nutrition Use of ethylene diamine metal complexes, preferably of copper, zinc, iron and manganese in highly absorbable formats for animal nutrition.
US08968804B2	Methods for managing weight loss and body mass The invention provides methods for promoting weight loss by an animal, promoting weight loss by an animal while preventing or minimizing loss of lean body mass by the animal, preventing a reduction in energy metabolism by an animal, reducing the risk of regaining weight by an animal after weight loss, and ameliorating undesirable animal behaviors associated with reduced caloric intake by intermittently feeding an animal a first diet containing calories that meet the animal's maintenance energy requirements and a second diet containing calories that do not meet the animal's maintenance energy requirements. In preferred embodiments, the described feeding pattern and diets are fed in conjunction with one or more weight loss agents.
US08968800B2	Application of american ginseng to enhance neurocognitive function Disclosed are methods of enhancing neurocognitive function by administering of American Ginseng. Preferred dosages in the range of 5 to 50 mg total genosides enhance cognitive function—including, improvement of working memory (WM) performance, attentional performance (e.g., Choice Reaction Time accuracy), and calmness.
US08968794B2	Antiseptic compositions and uses thereof Antiseptic compositions and kits containing a source of silver ions and menthol, which act in synergy such that a concentration of silver ions in the composition is substantially reduced, are disclosed. Further disclosed are uses of the antiseptic compositions as disinfectants and in the treatment of wounds.
US08968791B2	Dietary supplements for promotion of growth, repair, and maintenance of bone and joints The present invention provides a dietary supplement that promote the growth, repair, and maintenance of mammalian bone and joint connective tissue. In particular, the dietary supplement comprises a combination of at least one metal chelate and at least one chondroprotective agent.
US08968787B2	Composition comprising biodegradable polymers for use in a cosmetic composition The present invention relates to certain novel polymer powder compositions suitable for personal care and cosmetic compositions. The present invention also relates to cosmetic compositions comprising such novel polymer powders. The present invention also relates to processes for manufacturing the polymer powders, methods of making cosmetic and personal care compositions and the use of such cosmetic compositions in topical applications.
US08968784B2	Method for preparing hydro/organo gelators from disaccharide sugars by biocatalysis and their use in enzyme-triggered drug delivery A method for preparing hydro/organo gelators from disaccharide sugars by biocatalysis and their use in enzyme-triggered drug delivery. Controlled delivery of an anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive drug is achieved by an enzyme-triggered drug release mechanism via degradation of encapsulated hydrogels. The hydro- and organo-gelators are synthesized in high yields from renewable resources by using a regioselective enzyme catalysis and a known chemopreventive and anti-inflammatory drug, curcumin, is encapsulated in the gel matrix and released by enzyme triggered delivery. The release of the drug occurs at the physiological temperature and control of the drug release rate is achieved by manipulating the enzyme concentration and temperature. The by-products formed after the gel degradation clearly demonstrated the site specificity of degradation of the gelator by enzyme catalysis. The present invention has applications in developing cost effective, controlled drug delivery vehicles from renewable resources, with a potential impact on pharmaceutical research and molecular design and delivery strategies.
US08968779B2	Controlled release coat-core tablet Disclosed is a controlled release nucleated tablet which is composed of an inner nucleus and an outer layer that covers the inner nucleus and is capable of maintaining the level of 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid in the blood to a certain value or higher for a long period of time. The controlled release nucleated tablet is characterized in that the inner nucleus contains 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid and the outer layer contains 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid and a gel-forming water-soluble polymer that is in an amount of 16 (w/w) % or more relative to the weight of the outer layer.
US08968777B2	Tranexamic acid formulations with reduced adverse effects Tranexamic acid formulated in an oral dosage form with at least one agent that decreases tranexamic acid release in the stomach. Such formulations minimize nausea, vomiting, and other adverse gastric effects that may accompany tranexamic acid therapy, for example, to treat heavy menstrual bleeding. One embodiment is an extended release formulation with waxes, polymers, etc. that prevent a bolus release of tranexamic acid in the stomach. An alternative embodiment is a delayed release formulation with polymers that prevent release of tranexamic acid in the acid environment of the stomach and delay its release until the formulation reaches the less acid environment of the intestines. Such formulations enhance patient compliance with therapy because adverse effects of tranexamic acid therapy are reduced.
US08968768B2	Phytosterol nutritional supplements The invention provides a nutritional supplement which includes phytosterol to facilitate reduction of cholesterol. The nutritional supplement may be a swallowable tablet, chewable tablet, sachet, capsule or suspension. The invention further provides a method for tableting one fourth to one half of the daily effective dosage of a phytosterol containing nutritional supplement in a practical sized swallowable tablet and a method for reducing blood cholesterol in humans.
US08968767B2	Drug depots having different release profiles for reducing, preventing or treating pain and inflammation Effective treatments of pain and/or inflammation are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of at least analgesic and/or at least one anti-inflammatory agent at or near a target site, one can reduce, prevent or treat inflammation and pain.
US08968766B2	Sustained release intraocular implants containing tyrosine kinase inhibitors and related methods Biocompatible intraocular implants include a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and a biodegradable polymer that is effective to facilitate release of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor into an eye for an extended period of time. The therapeutic agents of the implants may be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, such as a matrix that is substantially free of a polyvinyl alcohol. The implants may be placed in an eye to treat or reduce the occurrence of one or more ocular conditions.
US08968763B2	Block biodegradable copolymers for medical devices Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices comprising controlled release biodegradable block copolymers or coated with controlled release block copolymers and at least one drug releasable from the block copolymer. The controlled release block copolymers comprise least two blocks selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyethers, and polyurethanes.
US08968754B2	Titanium dioxide dispersion and cosmetics containing the same The present invention provides a titanium dioxide dispersion having a good dispersibility and also provides a cosmetic containing the same. The titanium dioxide dispersion comprises (a) a hydrophobized, treated titanium dioxide powder; (b) one or more oils selected from isohexadecane, isododecane, 2-ethylhexyl 2-ethylhexanoate, isononyl isononate, 2-ethylhexyl isononanoate, isononyl 2-ethylhexanoate, and polypropylene glycol dipivalate; and (c) a siloxane compound represented by the following formula (1), preferably polyoxyalkylene/alkyl comodified organopolysiloxane. R1aR2bR3cSiO(4-a-b-c)/2 (1)
US08968753B2	Ceftolozane-tazobactam pharmaceutical compositions Pharmaceutical compositions can include ceftolozane lyophilized in the absence of tazobactam.
US08968747B2	Injection paradigm for administration of botulinum toxins Disorders such as headaches can be treated by administration of a botulinum toxin to a patient suffering therefrom, such as a migraine headache. A combined a fixed site/fixed dose and an optional follow the pain variable dosage and injection site paradigm is disclosed for optimizing clinical effectiveness of botulinum toxin administration for patients suffering headache, particularly chronic migraine.
US08968746B2	Complexation of nucleic acids with disulfide-crosslinked cationic components for transfection and immunostimulation The present invention is directed to a polymeric carrier cargo complex, comprising as a cargo at least one nucleic acid (molecule) and disulfide-crosslinked cationic components as a (preferably non-toxic and non-immunogenic) polymeric carrier. The inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex allows for both efficient transfection of nucleic acids into cells in vivo and in vitro and/or for induction of an (innate and/or adaptive) immune response, preferably dependent on the nucleic acid to be transported as a cargo. The present invention also provides, pharmaceutical compositions, particularly vaccines and adjuvants, comprising the inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex and optionally an antigen, as well as the use of such the inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex and optionally an antigen for transfecting a cell, a tissue or an organism, for (gene-)therapeutic purposes as disclosed herein, and/or as an immunostimulating agent or adjuvant, e.g. for eliciting an immune response for the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases as mentioned above. Finally, the invention relates to kits containing the inventive polymeric carrier cargo complex and/or the inventive pharmaceutical composition, adjuvant or vaccine in one or more parts of the kit.
US08968744B2	Aqueous composition comprising a biological antigen and an acrylic acid polymer The current invention pertains to an aqueous composition containing a biological antigen and an acrylic acid polymer, wherein the composition comprises an electrolyte to provide an osmolarity higher than the osmolarity of a 0.9% (w/v) sodium chloride solution in water. The invention also pertains to the acrylic acid polymer for use in a one shot vaccine against porcine circo virus 2 (PCV2) and optionally Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and in an aqueous composition for reducing fever induced by the biological antigens present in the aqueous composition when the composition is administered to a subject animal.
US08968741B2	Anti-CD22 antibodies and immunoconjugates and methods of use Anti-CD22 antibodies and immunoconjugates thereof are provided. Methods of using anti-CD22 antibodies and immunoconjugates thereof are provided.
US08968734B2	Protofibril-binding antibodies and their use in therapeutic and diagnostic methods for Parkinson's disease, dementia with lewy bodies and other α-synucleinopathies Antibodies and fragments thereof have high affinity for human α-synuclein protofibrils and low binding of α-synuclein monomers, wherein the antibodies or fragments have specified Complementarity Determining Region (CDR) sequences. Compositions comprise such an antibody or fragment and methods of detecting α-synuclein protofibrils use such an antibody or fragment. In further embodiments, methods of preventing, delaying onset of or treating a neurodegenerative disorder with α-synuclein pathology comprise administering such an antibody or fragment, and such an antibody or fragment is used in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of a neurodegenerative disorder with α-synuclein pathology. Such an antibody or fragment is used in the diagnosis or monitoring of the development of a neurodegenerative disorder with α-synuclein pathology, and in methods for reducing or inhibiting α-synuclein aggregation by administration of such an antibody or fragment.
US08968733B2	Functionalized surgical adhesives A bioadherent composition includes a first mixture containing a plurality of reactive members of a specific binding pair, said reactive members being bound to a ligand capable of binding a receptor on biological tissue, and a second mixture containing a plurality of complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair, said complementary reactive members being bound to a ligand capable of binding a receptor on biological tissue, said reactive members capable of forming covalent bonds with said complementary reactive members via a reaction selected from Huisgen cycloaddition reactions, Diels-Alder reactions, and/or thiol-alkene reactions. A method for bonding biological tissue involves utilizing the bioadherent composition.
US08968729B2	Date pit composition for the treatment of animals A method of treating or preventing bacterial infection in an animal comprises administering an effective amount of degraded date pits. Degraded date pits can be produced by the treatment of date pits with fungi.
US08968727B2	Telomerase activity inhibiting peptide and manufacturing method and application thereof The present invention provides a telomerase activity inhibiting polypeptide. The expression of the polypeptide in tumor cells can inhibit significantly tumor cell telomerase activity, tumor cell growth, and lead to the death of such cells. The present invention further provides a preparation method for the polypeptide and an application thereof in targeted treatments of tumors.
US08968725B2	Genipin cross-linked fibrin gels The invention provides a genipin cross-linked fibrin gel. The ratio of genipin to fibrin in the gel ranges from about 0.1:1 to about 10:1 (genipin:fibrin). The gel can be hydrogel. Also provided is method for repairing tissue defects by administering the gel to site of tissue defect.
US08968724B2	Compositions suitable for treatment of spinal disease, disorder or condition The invention relates to the use of viral inactivated-plasma cryoprecipitate concentrate (VIPCC) comprising a suitable fibronectin/fibrinogen ratio for treating a spine disease, disorder or condition such as intervertebral disc degeneration.
US08968722B2	Milk-based nutritional compositions containing lactoferrin and uses thereof The present disclosure relates to milk-based nutritional compositions comprising lactoferrin and/or a prebiotic component, wherein, when combined, the lactoferrin and prebiotic component may exhibit additive or synergistic beneficial effects on the health and development of a pediatric subject. The disclosure further relates to methods comprising the administration of said milk-based nutritional compositions to pediatric subjects.
US08968719B2	Live, oral vaccine for protection against Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 The invention relates to Salmonella typhi Ty21a comprising core-linked Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 O-specific polysaccharide (O-Ps) and DNA encoding O antigen biosynthesis, said DNA selected from the group consisting of: a) the DNA sequence set out in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2 and species homologs thereof; b) DNA encoding Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 polypeptides encoded by any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, and species homologs thereof; and c) DNA encoding a O antigen biosynthesis gene product that hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to the DNA of (a) or (b); and related sequences, compositions of matter, vaccines, methods of using, and methods of making.
US08968715B2	Drug delivery systems for photodynamic therapy The invention is generally related to the field of photodynamic therapy by use of photosensitizers and stabilized formulations of the photosensitizers. These formulations may be used to deliver a photosensitizer as a pharmaceutical, agricultural, or industrial agent. The photosensitizer containing formulations and compositions of the invention comprise one or more block copolymers. Furthermore, the invention relates to processes for the production of, and application of, said formulations and compositions as photosensitizer drug delivery systems.
US08968714B2	Carrier nanoparticles and related compositions, methods and systems Carrier nanoparticles comprising a polymer containing a polyol coupled to a polymer containing a boronic acid, configured to present the polymer containing a boronic acid to an environment external to the nanoparticle and related compositions, methods and systems.
US08968710B1	Topical anesthetic A topical anesthetic is provided containing about 3 wt % to 10 wt % tetracaine in a vehicle suitable for administration to the skin or mucosa. The vehicle for transporting the tetracaine includes a water soluble mucoadhesive or a combination of mucoadhesives such as a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer and a cellulose polymer. The vehicle also includes propylene glycol. The tetracaine is ground into a powder and is suspended in a plasticized hydrocarbon gel which completes the vehicle.
US08968707B2	Composition packaged in an aerosol device, comprising at least one anionic fixing polymer, at least one silicone oxyalkylenated in the alpha and omega positions of the silicone chain, and at least one propellant The present disclosure is directed to a composition packaged in an aerosol device comprising at least one anionic fixing polymer, at least one α and ω oxyalkylenated silicone and at least one propellant, and also to a cosmetic hair treatment process using such compositions and to a process of styling the hair using such a composition.
US08968701B2	Usage of low to medium-pressure liquid chromatography for the purification of radiotracers The invention relates to a process for the production of radiotracers. In particular, this invention relates the isolation of radiotracers with containers filled with a stationary phase.
US08968700B2	Imaging of protease activity in live cells using activity based probes Methods and materials for the imaging of cells containing active proteases such as cathepsin are disclosed. The present materials include activity based probes that bind to an enzyme and are subsequently cleaved. Cleavage results in a fluorescent signal due to removal of a quenching group which, when present on the probe causes altered or no fluorescence. The probes employ an acyloxymethyl ketone reactive group, one or more amino acids for determining specificity, a fluorophore and a quencher. The probes are cell permeable and may use, for example, a QSY7 (diarylyrhodamine) quencher and a BODIPY (bora-diaza-indecene) dye.
US08968699B2	Switchable nano-vehicle delivery systems, and methods for making and using them The invention provides nanodevices or products of manufacture for use as drug delivery vehicles. In one aspect, the invention provides nanodevices or products of manufacture having on-off release mechanisms, e.g., that are “switchable”, or “actuatable” (for example magnetically or ultrasonically switchable), for compounds contained within, e.g., for use as drug delivery nano-vehicles having on-off drug release mechanisms, and their therapeutic applications.
US08968692B2	Regenerable removal of sulfur from gaseous or liquid mixtures The present invention relates to a method for removing sulfur from a gaseous or liquid mixture. This method involves contacting the gaseous or liquid mixture with an iron-enriched matrix under conditions effective to remove sulfur from the mixture through adsorption of the sulfur to the matrix. The iron-enriched matrix used in this method is a lignocellulosic material that is enriched with iron. The present invention also relates to a system, composition, and plant fertilizer that contain the iron-enriched matrix. Methods of making the composition and preparing a plant fertilizer are also disclosed.
US08968689B2	Method for recovering potassium sulphate from biodiesel production A method is disclosed for treating residues from biodiesel production for the isolation of highly pure potassium sulphate from potassium sulphate-containing sludge. First, potassium sulphate-containing sludge from biodiesel production is heated in the first stage under non-oxidizing conditions to a material temperature between 400 and 700° C.; in a second stage the product from the first stage is heated under oxidizing conditions to material temperatures between 700 and 900° C.
US08968686B2	Oxidation system with sidedraw secondary reactor Disclosed are process and apparatus for vertical splitting of the oxygen supply to a post-oxidation reactor. Further disclosed are process and apparatus for supplying reaction medium to a post-oxidation reactor at a mid-level inlet. Such apparatus and process can assist in reducing oxygen pinch throughout the post-oxidation reactor.
US08968685B2	Fuel processing system and related methods A fuel processing system for converting a logistical fuel and air into a liquid product comprising methanol. One such system comprises a fuel injection system configured to combine a logistical fuel and ambient air to produce a logistical fuel and air mixture, a synthesis gas production system configured to convert the logistical fuel and air mixture to synthesis gas, and a methanol synthesis system configured to convert the synthesis gas to a crude methanol liquid. Related methods are additionally disclosed.
US08968683B2	Tissue sample handling apparatus The invention relates to a tissue sample handling apparatus, in particular for grasping histological samples after infiltration of an embedding medium such as, for example, paraffin, which is characterized in that a sample is immobilizable on the handling apparatus, in particular in a sample holding position, by means of negative pressure.
US08968679B2	Receiver plate with multiple cross-sections A multi-well assembly including a filter plate and receiver plate. Each plate includes a plurality of wells, which, when the filter plate is placed in nesting relationship with the receiver plate, each filter plate well has a corresponding receiver plate well into which it extends. The receiver plate wells are of a non-uniform cross-section in order to increase the gap between the outer walls of the filter plate wells and the inner walls of a corresponding receiver plate well when the receiver plate and filter plate are in nesting relationship. The increased gap size reduces wicking and cross-contamination. A multi-section well of maximum cross-section in an upper region and a minimized cross-section in a lower region, with a gradual transition between the regions, is thus provided. The multi-well assembly of the present invention also improves the repeatability of positioning the filter plate and receiver plate in proper nesting relationship and provides stability during handling, mixing and shaking operations.
US08968678B2	Microfluidic detection of analytes An apparatus and methods for concentrating samples for application to microfluidic devices are disclosed. The methods involve electrophoresing charged molecules from a high volume sample into a smaller volume. The analyte of interest can be a charged molecule or can be modified to be charged using, for example, one or more ionic moieties.
US08968676B2	Method of measuring an analyte concentration in a sample of a body liquid A hand-held device for measuring an analyte concentration in a sample of a body liquid includes a display means for displaying measured values; a measured-value storage for storing measured values; a measuring unit for generating measured values through measurements of the analyte concentration; a clock; a control unit for generating measured value datasets, each containing a measured value supplied by the measuring unit as well as the date and hour of the measurement by which the measured value was obtained, and for writing them into the measured-value storage; and operating elements that can be actuated by the user to set the clock, in which case the control unit will generate a time-correction dataset indicating the amount and direction of the setting effected. The control unit writes time-correction datasets into the measured-value storage so that a chronologically ordered sequence is generated containing time-correction datasets and measured value datasets.
US08968675B2	Sample processing system In accordance with an embodiment of a system for handling and processing chemical and/or biological samples, a MicroChamber comprises a substrate, a reservoir formed on the substrate for receiving a chemical and/or biological sample, and an encoder such as a barcode or other suitable device. The encoder encodes information describing at least one characteristic of the substrate and/or reservoir.
US08968674B2	Fluid sensor preventing generation of air bubbles Provided herein is a fluid sensor, which includes a closed reaction unit in which reaction of a fluid sample takes place. The reaction unit is tapered on a side through which the fluid is injected so as to prevent generation of air bubbles during the injection of the fluid. Thus, the sensor has improved sensitivity.
US08968668B2	Arrays of metal and metal oxide microplasma devices with defect free oxide A microplasma device of the invention includes a microcavity or microchannel defined at least partially within a thick metal oxide layer consisting essentially of defect free oxide. Electrodes are arranged with respect to the microcavity or microchannel to stimulate plasma generation in said microcavity or microchannel upon application of suitable voltage and at least one of the electrodes is encapsulated within the thick metal oxide layer. Large arrays can be formed and are highly robust as lack of microcracks in the oxide avoid dielectric breakdown.
US08968663B2	Monitoring membrane-bound proteins An apparatus for examining membrane-bound proteins in a cell can include a chamber with an insulating partition dividing the chamber into an upper well and a lower well, and a pore penetrating the insulating partition. The pore can have a size and shape so as to snugly hold a cell in place therein. The apparatus can further include circuitry for delivering a radio frequency signal to the cell. A belt electrode for delivering electrical signals to the cell can be located within the insulation partition and substantially encircling the pore. A measuring circuit for measuring cell membrane impedance to the radio frequency signal is also provided, and changes in the impedance can signal a change in state of a protein in the cell membrane.
US08968662B2	Time temperature indicator The present invention is generally in the field of measuring and indicating techniques and relates to a time-temperature indicator and methods of manufacturing and use thereof. More specifically, the time-temperature indicator comprises at least one metal layer or metal containing layer, and in direct contact to the metal layer or to the metal containing layer at least one pad member affixed onto a pad carrier layer,wherein the pad member comprises a pad made of an absorbent material and a dopant medium, whereby the dopant medium comprises a liquid medium or a viscous medium or a viscoelastic medium which is doped with a dopant that destroys the metal/metal containing layers such as an acid, a base or a salt or a photolatent acid or a photolatent base.
US08968660B2	Chemical analyzer A chemical analyzer analyzes a sample for a target chemical. The sample and reagent are added to a measurement cell until a detectable change is observed. A reference compound, which does not take part in the reaction between the target chemical and reagent, is added to the reagent. By measuring the concentration of the reference compound, the amount of reagent used may be determined. In one embodiment, a mechanism introduces the sample, adds reagent, mixes, cleans, and flushes the measurement cell, which incorporates a longitudinal chamber having inlets for the sample and reagent and an outlet for measured sample/reagent mixtures. A detector located in or adjacent to the chamber between the inlets and outlet and a piston movable in the chamber carries seals such that movement of a piston sequentially opens the inlets and expels the fluid. The analyzer also includes a device that delivers reagent to a measurement cell.
US08968657B2	Transport and handling retention member The transport and handling retention member comprises an adapter ring which has a central opening for receiving a tubular container for receiving samples, a gripping member for gripping the adapter ring, and a transfer head which can be moved between a rest position and an operating position, the transfer head in the operating position coming into operational contact with a tubular container which is received in the adapter ring.
US08968652B2	Oxygenator An oxygenator that inhibits or prevents bubbles in blood from exiting through a blood outlet includes an oxygenator part which performs gas exchange on blood and a heat exchanging part which performs heat exchange on the blood. The oxygenators part has a housing that is generally in a rectangular parallelepiped form, with a hollow fiber membrane bundle positioned in the housing. The hollow fiber membrane bundle is formed by a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes adapted to perform gas exchange. Blood flows along a blood passage comprised of gaps between the hollow fiber membranes and contacts the surface of the hollow fiber membranes where gas exchange occurs with gas flowing through the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes. In addition, a filter member is arranged on a downstream side of the hollow fiber membrane bundle so that bubbles present in the blood are caught by the filter member.
US08968644B2	NdNi5 alloys for hydrogen storage and Ni-MH batteries A hydrogen storage alloy having the atomic formula AB4.75-5.25. Where A may comprise at least 85 atomic percent Nd and less than 15 atomic percent other rare earth elements and Mg and B may comprise Ni, Co, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn and Al. The atomic percentages of Mn and Al may be governed by the following formulas where Mn and Al are in atomic percent: 1) Mn+1.5 Al≧6 atomic percent; and 2) Mn+Al≦12 atomic percent. The total percent of Mn and Al may provide the alloy with a 20° C. plateau pressure of between 4 and 25 psi, preferably between 6 and 20 psi. The hydrogen storage alloy allows a nickel metal hydride battery into which it is incorporated to maintain a voltage of at least 1.2 V at a depth of discharge of 90%.
US08968642B2	Cermet body and a method of making a cermet body A TiC-based cermet body includes TiC and WC so that the atomic ratio Ti/W is between 2 to 5, and cobalt as the binder phase is present in an amount of between 5 to 25 vol %. Further, the cermet body has at least one element from group V of the periodic table, Mx, so that the atomic ratio Ti/Mx is between 4 to 20 and the atomic ratio W/Mx is between 1 to 6. The cermet body also has Cr in an amount such that the atomic Cr/Co ratio is from 0.025 to 0.14. The cermet body includes both undissolved TiC cores with a rim of (Ti,W,Mx)C alloy as well as (Ti,W,Mx)C grains which have been formed during sintering. A method of making a cermet body is also disclosed.
US08968638B2	Apparatus for injecting slurry and method therefor The apparatus for injecting slurry contains the first member having the cavity therein; and the second member having a plurality of convex sections, each of the convex sections having the injection hole formed therein communicating with the cavity, wherein the protrusion length of the convex section is in a range from 3 to 5 mm, and the distance between centers of adjacent convex sections is in a range from 3 to 13 mm.
US08968635B2	Preform for large container, large container, and method for producing large container A preform 20 for a large container, used for producing a large container which is made of a polyethylene terephthalate resin and which is formed by stretch blow molding, is formed by injecting molding to have a wall thickness of 6 mm to 9 mm and have a longitudinal axis length longer than that of the large container which is a final molded product.
US08968633B2	Method for manufacturing footwear last, and footwear last manufactured by the method Provided is a footwear last, being of a structure where its interior is hollow. The method includes steps of installing a parison for manufacturing a plastic vessel between left/right molds for manufacturing the footwear last, with the left/right molds opened; injecting a last manufacturing material into a tube of the parison; blowing air while closing the left/right molds; molding the material in a temperature of about 400 C to 70° C. and under an injection pressure of about 600 kg/cm2 to 1400 kg/cm2; and completing the last whose interior is hollow.
US08968628B2	Methods for making oxidation resistant polymeric material The present invention relates to methods for making oxidation resistant medical devices that comprise polymeric materials, for example, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The invention also provides methods of making antioxidant-doped medical implants, for example, doping of medical devices containing cross-linked UHMWPE with vitamin E by diffusion and materials used therein.
US08968625B2	Process for building three-dimensional objects A process for building three-dimensional objects based on electrophotographic printing is disclosed, comprising the steps of depositing a first layer of powdered base material on a substrate, operating an imaging member, a charging device, an image generating device and an image developing device, in that order, to deliver and deposit filler material onto the layer of powdered base material in an image-wise manner to produce a layer of bonded base material that correspond to the first cross-section of the three-dimensional object being built, repeating all the above steps for as many times as required to form successive layers that constitute the three-dimensional object, said filler material further causing adjacent layers to be bonded with one another; and removing unbonded material to cause the three-dimensional object to appear.
US08968624B2	Method for producing a three dimensional green article A method for producing a three dimensional green article includes: (a) providing a slurry composition that contains an inorganic powder, a binder, and a solvent; (b) forming a slurry layer made of the slurry composition; (c) removing the solvent of the slurry layer from an upper surface of the slurry layer so as to form the slurry layer into a green layer with a plurality of pores; (d) scanning the green layer with an energy beam having a power sufficient to vaporize or burn the binder such that the vaporized binder or the burnt binder escapes from the green layer through the pores, while leaving the inorganic powder which is not bound by the binder; and (e) repeating steps (b) to (d).
US08968621B2	Method and apparatus for producing a multilayer cementitious product Gypsum plasterboard is produced by combining calcium sulphate hemihydrate (stucco) with water to form an aqueous slurry. Uncalcined gypsum having a specific surface area below 0.3 m2/g is added to the slurry and the slurry is discharged onto a support so as to form a sheet of gypsum plasterboard.
US08968620B2	Safe separation for nano imprinting Control of lateral strain and lateral strain ratio (dt/db) between template and substrate through the selection of template and/or substrate thicknesses (Tt and/or Tb), control of template and/or substrate back pressure (Pt and/or Pb), and/or selection of material stiffness are described.
US08968618B2	In-mold label forming surfaces for molded articles A method of making a molded article having a curved surface, such as plates or serving trays, and the resulting molded articles. The in-mold label (IML) is a laminated film that includes a backing layer, a printed surface incorporating one or more designs thereon, a protective film layer, and one or more notches each having adjacent edges separated by a gap of predetermined distance and configured to intersect to ensure conformance of the IML to the angled or curved peripheral portion of the article. The article has front and back sides and a central portion bounded by a peripheral portion having a perimeter that is raised on the front side of the article wherein the peripheral portion transitions from the perimeter to the central portion by an angled surface, a curved surface or combinations thereof, with the article including the IML at least peripheral portion of the molded article.
US08968617B2	Thermo-rheological fluid valve for resin infusion A resin flow-controlling apparatus for infusing composite reinforcement material with resin. The resin flow-controlling apparatus may have at least one viscosity valve to speed, slow, allow, or deny resin flow through the viscosity valve to the composite reinforcement material depending on the temperature of the viscosity valve. The viscosity valve may fluidly couple a resin reservoir with an enclosed chamber in which the composite reinforcement material resides. The viscosity valve may be thermally coupled with heating and/or cooling elements selectively variable between at least two different temperatures to affect viscosity of the resin and control resin flow from the resin reservoir into the composite reinforcement material. A vacuum port at an opposite end of the composite reinforcement material from the viscosity valve may fluidly couple with the enclosed chamber and a vacuum source may pull atmosphere and/or resin from the enclosed chamber and/or the resin reservoir.
US08968613B2	Method of making an earplug A method of making personal protective equipment, such as a push-in earplug, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of covering a substrate with an outer layer that includes an unactivated foaming agent, positioning at least a portion of the outer layer in a mold, and activating the foaming agent such that a portion of the outer layer expands.
US08968611B2	Process for solidification of phosphoric ester-based flame retardants The present invention provides a process of solidifying a phosphoric ester-based flame retardant in which high-level purification is not required and stress load is not employed.In the process of solidifying a phosphoric ester-based flame retardant, a seed crystal is added at a temperature of not higher than 55° C. and at an amount of 1 to 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of a phosphoric ester compound in a molten state, which compound is represented by the following Formula (I): (wherein, R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and n represents a number of 1 to 5). It is preferred that the amount of the phosphoric ester compound represented by the aforementioned Formula (I) wherein n is 1 be less than 90% by mass and that R1 and R2 be a hydrogen atom.
US08968610B2	Polymer composition having heat-absorbing properties and high stability to weathering The invention relates to a polymer composition which absorbs infrared radiation (IR), containing a transparent thermoplastic plastic, an inorganic infrared absorber, also referred to as IR absorber hereinbelow, at least one inorganic nano-scale pigment, and the combination of at least two organic coloring agents of a specific structure, and to the preparation and use of the polymer compositions according to the invention and to products produced therefrom.
US08968605B2	Conductive polymer composition for PTC element with decreased NTC characteristics, using carbon nanotube The present invention relates to a conductive polymer composition for a PTC element with decreased NTC characteristics, using carbon nanotubes, a PTC binder resin, and a cellulose-based or polyester-based resin for fixing the carbon nanotubes and the PTC binder, and to a PTC element, a circuit and a sheet heating element using the same.
US08968600B2	Light emitting composite with phosphor components Disclosed herein are phosphor compositions having high gadolinium concentrations. Some embodiments include a thermally stable ceramic body comprising an emissive layer, wherein said emissive layer comprises a compound represented by the formula (A1-x-zGdxDz)3B5O12, wherein: D is a first dopant selected from the group consisting of Nd, Er, Eu, Mn, Cr, Yb, Sm, Tb, Ce, Pr, Dy, Ho, Lu and combinations thereof; A is selected from the group consisting of Y, Lu, Ca, La, Tb, and combinations thereof; B is selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Si, Ga, In, and combinations thereof; x is in the range of about 0.20 to about 0.80; and z is in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.10. Also disclosed are thermally stable ceramic bodies that can include the composition of formula I. Methods of making the ceramic body and a lighting device including the ceramic body are also disclosed.
US08968599B2	Glassy cholesteric liquid crystalline metal acetylides A cholesteric liquid crystal. The liquid crystal includes a metal acetylide, of which the metal is a square, planar transition metal. The metal acetylide includes first and second acylphosphine ligands and first and second phenyl acetylene ligands. Each of the first and second phenyl acetylene ligands have a meta- or para-substituent, which are selected from the group consisting of H, F, CN, OCH3, C≡C—C6H5,(COO—C34H50O2), and COO—C5H10—C))—C34H50O2.
US08968598B2	Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of the nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics is provided; and an AM device having a short response time, a suitable pretilt, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth is provided. A solution is a liquid crystal composition containing a specific compound having a high maximum temperature and a large dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a polymerizable compound as a second component, and a liquid crystal display device including the composition.
US08968597B2	Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat or that is suitably balanced between at least two of the characteristics, is described. The liquid crystal composition includes a compound having three or more polymerizable groups as a first component and a compound having one or two polymerizable groups as a second component in a suitable ratio, and that may include a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and a low minimum temperature as a third component or a specific compound having a small viscosity or a high maximum temperature as a fourth component.
US08968596B2	Liquid crystal reactive monomer and liquid crystal panel The present invention provides a liquid crystal reactive monomer on a polyimide surface of an alignment film and a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal reactive monomer has a hard core and is contained in a liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal reactive monomer is represented by the formula (I) or the formula (II), and the molecular weight thereof is greater than or equal to 300. The solubility of the liquid crystal RMs is significantly improved in a liquid crystal matrix while the returning force of liquid crystal molecules is increased, so as to solve the image sticking issue, increase the polymerization capacity of the liquid crystal molecules, raise the curing speed of the curing reaction between the liquid crystal RMs and the polyimide surface and shorten the curing time, so that the purpose of energy saving and carbon reduction can be achieved.
US08968593B2	Product and method for enhancing the biophysical effects of water A product-by-process produces a product having a vibrational frequency to balance the chemistry of water when untreated water is exposed to the product to thereby enhance the biophysical properties of water, without adding any compound to the water. The result of the exposure is that the physical properties of specific gravity, conductivity, and resistivity of water are modified, and the biophysical properties of the treated water in organisms such as humans, including but not limited to hydration, oxygenation, and detoxification, are enhanced as verified by human clinical tests.
US08968590B2	Cobalt carbide-based nanoparticle permanent magnet materials A composition of a crystalline ferromagnetic material based upon nanoscale cobalt carbide particles and to a method of manufacturing the ferromagnetic material of the invention via a polyol reaction are disclosed. The crystalline ferromagnetic cobalt carbide nanoparticles of the invention are useful for high performance permanent magnet applications. The processes according to the invention are extendable to other carbide phases, for example to Fe-, FeCo-carbides. Fe- and FeCo-carbides are realizable by using as precursor salts Fe-, Co-, and mixtures of Fe- and Co-salts, such as acetates, nitrates, chlorides, bromides, citrates, and sulfates, among others. The materials according to the invention include mixtures and/or admixtures of cobalt carbides, as both Co2C and Co3C phases. Mixtures may take the form of a collection of independent particles of Co2C and Co3C or as a collection of particles which consist of an intimate combination of Co2C and Co3C phases within individual particles. The relative proportions of these two phases as well as the morphology of each phase contribute to their attractive permanent magnet properties, particularly at low temperatures through room temperature and up to over 400 K.
US08968589B2	Filled-skutterudite composite material and method of preparing the same A composite material comprises a filled skutterudite matrix of formula (I) IyCo4Sb12 in which (I) represents at least one of Yb, Eu, Ce, La, Nd, Ba and Sr, 0.05≦y<1; and GaSb particles within the filled skutterudite matrix, wherein the composite material comprises 0.05-5 mol % GaSb particles. Compared with conventional materials, the composite material exhibits a substantially increased Seebeck coefficient, a slightly decreased overall thermal conductivity, and a substantially increased thermoelectric performance index across the whole temperature zone from the low temperature end to the high temperature end, as well as a greatly enhanced thermoelectric efficiency.
US08968585B2	Methods of fabrication of cartridges for biological analysis Methods to fabricate reaction cartridges for biological sample preparation and analysis are disclosed. A cartridge may have a reaction chamber and openings to allow fluids to enter the chamber. The cartridge may also have handles to facilitate its use. Such cartridges may be used for polymerase chain reaction.
US08968584B2	Method for manufacturing liquid ejection head A method for manufacturing a liquid ejection head includes the steps of: disposing an etching mask layer on a substrate having a first face and a second face that is on an opposite side of the first face, the etching mask layer being disposed on the second face; forming a concave line pattern at a region of the etching mask layer other than a region where an opening for the support port is to be formed; providing an etching opening at the etching mask layer; performing anisotropic etching from a side of the second face using the etching mask layer provided with the etching opening as a mask, thus forming the supply port at the substrate; comparing the line pattern with a recess generated at the substrate, thus selecting a device chip for liquid ejection; and connecting the selected device chip to a liquid supply part.
US08968571B2	Method and device for converting horizontal tanks into gas flotation separators A gas flotation separator for use in horizontal tanks, such as those used for oil storage on board Floating Production Storage and Off-loading (FPSO) vessels, includes dividing the tank into a plurality of chambers operating in series. Prior to entering each chamber, the contaminated aqueous phase is mixed with a stream containing gas bubbles to aid in flocculation and flotation of the immiscible phase contaminant. The gas bubble recycle stream can be generated by injecting a controlled rate of a pressurized gas into a liquid stream of the clean produced water in a process external to the tank or by induction of a gas phase internal to the tank. The mixture flows into the first chamber and impinges on an angled inlet water weir. A portion of the immiscible phase and the gas phase rises to the top of the chamber while the remaining immiscible contaminants flow downward with the aqueous phase to the bottom of the chamber. The aqueous phase makes a 180° turn upward by entering a plurality of parallel flow conduits formed into the wall of the baffle that separates the each series chamber. In each parallel duct a second gas bubble stream is injected to further aid in flocculation and flotation of the immiscible contaminants. The aqueous phase remixes at the top of the second chamber where it impinges on a second angled weir. This process is repeated in each series chamber until the last chamber where the cleaned water is pumped out of the chamber via a liquid pump. Varying the rate of water removal there from controls the water level in last chamber. The flocculated and floating oil contaminant can be removed by either 1) periodic skimming into an over-flow weir by raising the water level in the chamber, or 2) a continuously rotating paddle or brush object that lifts or carries the floating oil layer away from the water surface and transfers it to a collector system.
US08968567B2	Column packing material, column using the same, and method of separation using the same Aimed at readily and exactly separate 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) contained in a sample, a column packing material used for separating 8-OHdG, which contains a packing material composed of a material having a straight-chain hydrocarbon group having 6 or more and 30 or less carbon atoms as a functional group, and having a carbon content over the surface of carrier of 18% or less by element ratio, wherein the packing material contains 1 cumulative percent or more and 20 cumulative percent or less, on the particle-count basis, of particles having a circle-equivalent diameter, measured using a flow-type particle image analyzer, of 0.5 μm or larger and 10 μm or smaller, is used.
US08968563B2	Fractionating and refining device A fractionating and refining device includes a solution sending flow path for supplying a solution, including a fractionated target component, a gas supply flow path, a collecting vessel, a warming mechanism for warming the collecting vessel, and a probe formed by integrating tip end portions of the solution sending flow path and the gas supply flow path with each other. A lid of the vessel includes a solution inlet to which the tip end portion of the solution sending flow path is connected, gas inlets to which the tip end portion of the gas supply flow path is connected, and gas discharge ports connecting an inside and an outside of a vessel main body of the vessel.
US08968562B2	Hydrophilic polymer microparticle, filler for ion exchange liquid chromatography, and method for production of filler for ion exchange liquid chromatography The present is a hydrophilic polymer microparticle, which has a DW/DA ratio of 2.0 or less, the DW representing a particle diameter of the hydrophilic polymer microparticle dispersed in water, the DA representing a particle diameter of the hydrophilic polymer microparticle dispersed in acetone, each of the particle diameters measured by a particle size distribution analyzer after the hydrophilic polymer microparticle is dispersed in water or acetone, subjected to irradiation with ultrasonic waves for 15 minutes, and allowed to stand at a temperature of 25° C. for 240 hours for equilibration; and has a contact angle with water of 70° or less, the contact angle measured using a contact angle measurement apparatus at a temperature of 25° C. by forming a droplet of pure water on a single layer of the hydrophilic polymer microparticles arranged with no space therebetween.
US08968561B2	Preparative separation/purification system A mixed liquid passage (31) is connected to a trapping passage (22) at a point upstream of a trap column (23). A mixture of a diluting liquid and an additive agent, which are respectively drawn and sent by pumps (35) and (36), is supplied into the mixed liquid passage (31). When an eluate containing a target compound is passed through the trap column (23), the eluate is diluted with the diluting liquid and hence its elution capability decreases, so that the target compound can be easily captured in the trap column (23). Meanwhile, the solubility of the mobile phase in the eluate decreases, causing not only the target component but also foreign compounds to more easily precipitate. However, their precipitation is prevented by the effect of the additive agent. Thus, clogging of the trap column (23) or pipes is prevented.
US08968560B2	Chromatography using multiple detectors Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for chromatographic analysis. The described system includes a pressurized source of a mobile phase and a flow path in fluid communication with the pressurized source such that the mobile phase flows through the flow path. The system also includes an injector in fluid communication with the flow path and downstream of the pressurized source, the injector being configured to inject a sample into the flow path. A first column located downstream of the injector, contains a stationary phase, and forms part of the flow path. A first detector is positioned to detect properties of fluid in the flow path at a location downstream of the injector and upstream from the first column. A second detector is positioned to detect properties of fluid in the flow path at a location downstream of the first column.
US08968556B2	Process for extracting bitumen and drying the tailings A process for separating bitumen from bitumen ore material includes extracting bitumen with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a bitumen-enriched solvent phase and tailings. The tailings are dried or stripped in a dryer to remove any remaining hydrocarbon solvent. The amount of solvent discharged in the tailings may be less than 4 bbl per 1000 bbl of recovered bitumen.
US08968555B2	Desulfurization of heavy hydrocarbons and conversion of resulting hydrosulfides utilizing copper sulfide The present invention is a process for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feedstreams with alkali metal compounds and regenerating the alkali metal compounds via the use of a copper sulfide reagent. The present invention employs the use of a copper sulfide reagent to convert alkali metal hydrosulfides in the generation or regeneration of the alkali hydroxide compounds which may be utilized in a desulfurization process for hydrocarbon feedstreams. Additionally, in preferred embodiments of the processes disclosed herein, carbonates which form as byproducts of the desulfurization process, and are non-regenerable with copper sulfide, are removed from the alkali hydroxide stream.
US08968548B2	Method of forming multicolor surface A method of producing a multicolor surface is described herein. The method includes the following steps: providing an aluminum-based substrate having an outer and inner surfaces; performing a mechanical process on the substrate; forming at least one fixing portion on the inner surface of the substrate; forming at least one conductive hole on the fixing portion; performing a first anodization on the substrate to form a first oxide layer that can be dyed with a first color on the outer surface of the substrate; removing at least some of the first oxide layer from the fixing portion and the outer surface of the substrate; performing a second anodization on the substrate to form a second oxide layer that can be dyed with a second color on the exposed outer surface of the substrate stripped of the first oxide layer; and removing the fixing portion.
US08968546B2	Capacitive deionization cell with radial flow A water treatment apparatus comprising a stack of circular electrodes with a central through hole, the electrodes are supplied with electricity so as to form anodes and cathodes in alternating intercalation. The anodes and cathodes so arranged to lie in such close-spaced parallel face to face relationship as to form a capacitive deionization cell. Water to be treated is passed from the outside of the stack, radially inward through between the electrodes into the central through hole and then axially out of the stack.
US08968539B2	Methods for voltage-induced protein incorporation into planar lipid bilayers Disclosed here are methods useful for incorporating protein into lipid bilayers using voltage induced insertion. The methods presented herein can decrease time and costs associated with incorporation of proteins into naturally derived or artificially created lipid bilayers. A method for incorporating a protein capable of translocating a ligand also is disclosed herein.
US08968533B2	Electroplating processor with geometric electrolyte flow path An electroplating processor includes an electrode plate having a continuous flow path formed in a channel. The flow path may optionally be a coiled flow path. One or more electrodes are positioned in the channel. A membrane plate is attached to the electrode plate with a membrane in between them. Electrolyte moves through the flow path at a high velocity, preventing bubbles from sticking to the bottom surface of membrane. Any bubbles in the flow path are entrained in the fast moving electrolyte and carried away from the membrane. The electroplating processor may alternatively have a wire electrode extending through a tubular membrane formed into a coil or other shape, optionally including shapes having straight segments.
US08968532B2	Electrochemical processor alignment system A substrate plating processor has a vessel on a support structure and a head support fixed in place relative to the support structure. A head having a rotor is attached to the head support. A lifter associated with the head support moves the head into and out of engagement with the vessel. An alignment assembly attachable to the rotor has at least one sensor adapted to detect a position of an inside surface of the vessel when the head is engaged with the vessel. The sensor may be a physical contact sensor positioned to contact the inside surface of the vessel.
US08968531B2	Electro processor with shielded contact ring In an electro processor for plating semiconductor wafers and similar substrates, a contact ring has a plurality of spaced apart contact fingers. A shield at least partially overlies the contact fingers. The shield changes the electric field around the outer edge of the workpiece and the contact fingers, which reduces or eliminates the negative aspects of using high thief electrode currents and seed layer deplating. The shield may be provided in the form of an annular ring substantially completely overlying and covering, and optionally touching the contact fingers.
US08968529B2	Production method for forming an antibacterial film on the surface of an object A production method combining cathode arc and magnetron sputtering methods to form an antibacterial film on the surface of an object. Inside the vacuum chamber, both a cathode arc target source and a magnetron sputtering target source are configured. On the cathode arc target source, at least one of a zirconium, titanium, or chromium target is installed. On the magnetron sputtering target source, a silver target is installed. Argon and nitrogen are filled into the vacuum chamber to respectively ionize the silver target and one of the zirconium target, titanium target, or chromium target. Remote control is used to adjust the ionization proportion between one of the zirconium, titanium, or chromium target and the silver target to be 90-99%:1-9%. The surface of the object is formed with one of the zirconium nitride-silver mixed antibacterial film, titanium nitride-silver mixed antibacterial film, or chromium nitride-silver mixed antibacterial film.
US08968528B2	Platinum-modified cathodic arc coating A process for coating a part comprises the steps of providing a chamber which is electrically connected as an anode, placing the part to be coated in the chamber, providing a cathode formed from a coating material to be deposited and platinum, and applying a current to the anode and the cathode to deposit the coating material and the platinum on the part.
US08968525B2	Methods of flash reduction and patterning of graphite oxide and its polymer composites A method of reducing a film of graphite oxide. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a film of graphite oxide with a thickness d0; and delivering optical energy in a single pulse to the film of graphite oxide at a distance no more than 1.0 cm away from the film of graphite oxide to reduce the film of graphite oxide to a film of graphene with a thickness d, wherein the optical energy has a radiant exposure in the range of between 0.1 and 2 J/cm2, and wherein the thickness d is greater than the thickness d0. In one embodiment, the thickness d≧10×d0.
US08968524B2	Method for fabricating divided wall columns The invention relates to a method producing a portioned column by forming a first segment and a third segment into arcuate segments, and attaching these arcuate segments to a second z-shaped segment to from two contiguous volumes with approximately semi-circular cross-sections that combine to form a partitioned, approximately cylindrical segment.
US08968523B2	Recovery of butanol isomers from a mixture of butanol isomers, water, and an organic extractant A process for recovering butanol from a mixture of a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is decanted into two liquid phases. The wet butanol phase is refined in a second distillation column; the aqueous phase is returned to the first distillation column. A portion of the wet butanol phase from the decanter is also returned to the first distillation column. The extractant may be C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.
US08968516B2	Methods of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet prepared with a perforated polymeric belt A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet that has an upper surface and a lower surface. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber orientation. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface. The web is belt creped from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30% to about 60% utilizing a generally planar polymeric creping belt having a plurality of perforations. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt is traveling at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface, and the web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web.
US08968513B2	Plasma processing apparatus An intensity distribution of an electric field of a high frequency power used for generating plasma is controlled by using an electrode made of a homogeneous material and a moving body. There is provided a plasma processing apparatus for introducing a processing gas into an evacuable processing chamber 100 and generating plasma by a high frequency power and performing a plasma process on a wafer W by the plasma. The plasma processing apparatus includes a dielectric base 105a having a multiple number of fine holes A; a varying member 200 as the moving body provided with a multiple number of rod-shaped members B capable of being inserted into and separated from the fine holes A; and a driving mechanism 215 configured to drive the varying member 200 to allow the rod-shaped members B to be inserted into and separated from the fine holes A.
US08968511B2	Medical device and technique for using the same An inflatable balloon cuff may be adapted to seal a patient's trachea when associated with an endotracheal tube. These cuffs may include indicia that facilitate attachment of the cuff relative to the tube to reduce manufacturing variability for such characteristics as rotational and length alignment. Such indicia may include protrusions that are formed in the wall of the cuff collars or may include visual indicators, e.g., colorimetric or shape-wise indicators. Cuffs with improved attachment relative to the tube may have increased sealing performance.
US08968508B2	Joining polymeric materials Systems and methods for joining polymeric materials together may use lasers or broadband infrared heat sources. The polymeric materials are arranged in an overlapping manner and then are exposed to the heat producing radiation for a sufficient time to join the polymeric materials together at the overlapped area. Such systems and methods may avoid the need to add an energy absorbing dopant to the materials being joined. Such systems and methods also may be used on transparent materials.
US08968503B2	Electrostatic chucks and methods for refurbishing same Novel methods for extending electrostatic chuck lifetimes are provided. The methods involve providing a chuck having a metal cooling plate attached to a ceramic top plate, and after a period of use, disassembling the chuck, and providing a new chuck including the used metal cooling plate. In certain embodiments, the use of a low temperature bond material uniquely allows the described disassembly and reassembly without damage to other parts of the chuck.
US08968496B2	Method of press hardening a steel sheet blank In a press-hardening plant, a contact-cooling press (12) is provided between the furnace (11) and the press-hardening press (13). Preselected parts of the blank (18) are contact-cooled such that corresponding parts of the finished product are softer and display a lower yield point.
US08968493B2	Gas generator case repair A method of reforming an annular attachment flange of an outer annular portion of a gas generator case, including inserting a first fixture element within the annular portion, the first fixture element conforming to an inner surface of the flange and forcing the flange radially outwardly passed a desired orientation, pressing the attachment flange against the first fixture element with a second annular fixture element surrounding the flange and conforming to an outer surface of the flange, heating the outer portion pressed by the fixture elements to a temperature and time period corresponding to an annealing of the material of the outer portion, forcing cooling of the outer portion, and disengaging the cooled outer portion from the fixture elements so that the released flange extends at the desired orientation. A gas generator case including a reformed outer portion and an unused inner portion is also discussed.
US08968491B2	Sputtering target and method for producing same [Problems to be Solved]To provide a sputtering target that is capable of forming a Cu—Ga film to which Na is favorably added by a sputtering method, and a method for producing the same.[Means to Solve the Problems]The sputtering target is provided wherein 20 to 40 at % of Ga, 0.05 to 2 at % of Na, and 0.025 to 1.0 at % of S are contained and a remaining portion has a component composition consisting of Cu and unavoidable impurities. Also, a method for producing the sputtering target includes the step of hot pressing a mixed powder of Na2S powder and Cu—Ga alloy powder or a mixed powder of Na2S powder, Cu—Ga alloy powder, and pure Cu powder in a vacuum atmosphere or an inert gas atmosphere or sintering a mixed powder of Na2S powder and Cu—Ga alloy powder or a mixed powder of Na2S powder, Cu—Ga alloy powder, and pure Cu powder by hot isostatic pressing.
US08968489B2	Ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon with reduced surface defects and application thereof A ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon, a method of fabricating a ribbon and a wound transformer core are provided. The ribbon includes an alloy of FeaSibBcCd where 80.5≦a≦83 at. %, 0.5≦b≦6 at. %, 12≦c≦16.5 at. %, 0.01≦d≦1 at. % with a+b+c+d=100, and is cast from a molten state of the alloy, having a-surface tension of greater than or equal to 1.1 N/mi,. A defect length along a direction of the ribbon's length is between 5 mm and 200 mm, a defect depth less than 0.4 ×t μm and a defect occurrence frequency less than 0.05 ×w times within 1.5 m of ribbon length, where t is the ribbon thickness and w is the ribbon width in mm. The ribbon has a saturation magnetic induction exceeding 1.60 T and a magnetic core loss of less than 0.14 W/kg when measured at 60 Hz and at 1.3 T induction level in an annealed straight strip form, and a core magnetic loss of less than 0.3 W/kg and an exciting power of less than 0.4 VA/kg in an annealed wound transformer core form and is suitable for use in transformer cores, rotational machines, electrical chokes, magnetic sensors and pulse power devices.
US08968486B2	Rinse aid release detection method A dishwashing machine configured to detect the presence of rinse aid in fluid in a washing chamber of the dishwashing machine. An electronic controller selects the drying stage of the dishwashing cycle based on whether rinse aid is present.
US08968483B2	Method of using liquid in a dishwasher A method of operating a dishwasher having a treating chamber for washing dishes includes dispensing a detergent, supplying liquid to mix with the detergent to form a wash liquid, storing a first portion of the wash liquid in a reuse tank and using a second portion of the wash liquid in the treating chamber, supplying the first portion of the wash liquid from the reuse tank to the treating chamber.
US08968478B2	Pretreatment method for saccharification of plant fiber material and saccharification method A pretreatment method for saccharification of plant fiber materials includes: immersing the plant fiber material in a solution that contains an organic solvent, in which a cluster acid is dissolved, prior to saccharifying cellulose contained in the plant fiber material; and distilling off the organic solvent from the immersed plant fiber material to obtain a pretreated mixture that contains the cluster acid and the pretreated plant fiber material.
US08968477B2	Deposition mask and method for manufacturing organic light emitting display using the same A deposition mask for manufacturing an organic light emitting display (OLED) using the same are provided. The deposition mask is intended for preventing an organic film from being damaged due to touching of a blocked-off portion of the mask to an emission layer (EML), or chemical transition from being generated at the organic film. For that purpose, the deposition mask stuck to a substrate of the OLED to deposit an organic EML includes an opening and an indentation. The opening is opened so as to deposit the organic EML. The indentation is indented a predetermined depth from a plane facing the substrate.
US08968476B2	Atomic layer deposition apparatus An atomic deposition apparatus is provided for simultaneously loading/unloading a plurality of substrates. The atomic deposition apparatus which may load/unload the plurality of substrates when transmitting the plurality of substrates to a process module, includes a loading/unloading module for loading/unloading a substrate, a process module including a plurality of process chambers for simultaneously receiving a plurality of substrates and performing a deposition process, each of the plurality of process chambers including a gas spraying unit having an exhaust portion by which an exhaust gas is drawn in from inside the process chamber and the drawn in gas is exhausted above the process chamber, and a transfer module including a transfer robot provided between the loading/unloading module and the process module, the transfer robot being adopted for simultaneously holding the plurality of substrates while transporting the substrate.
US08968474B2	Substrate processing apparatus and method of disassembling and assembling the same A substrate processing apparatus includes: a chamber including a body having an open portion and a door for blocking the open portion; a substrate supporter connected to the door; and a door operating means including a rotation shaft for straightly moving and rotating the door, the door and the body separated in parallel from each other by straightly moving the door.
US08968469B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof A structure including a substrate, an intermediate layer provided and formed directly onto the substrate, a transition region, and a group II-VI bulk crystal material provided and formed as an extension of the transition region. The transition region acts to change the structure from the underlying substrate to that of the bulk crystal. In a method of manufacture, a similar technique can be used for growing the transition region and the bulk crystal layer.
US08968467B2	Method and system for controlling resistivity in ingots made of compensated feedstock silicon Techniques for controlling resistivity in the formation of a silicon ingot from compensated feedstock silicon material prepares a compensated, upgraded metallurgical silicon feedstock for being melted to form a silicon melt. The compensated, upgraded metallurgical silicon feedstock provides semiconductor predominantly of a single type (p-type or n-type) for which the process assesses the concentrations of boron and phosphorus and adds a predetermined amount of boron, phosphorus, aluminum and/or gallium. The process further melts the silicon feedstock with the boron, phosphorus, aluminum and/or gallium to form a molten silicon solution from which to perform directional solidification and maintains the homogeneity of the resistivity of the silicon throughout the ingot. A balanced amount of phosphorus can be optionally added to the aluminum and/or gallium. Resistivity may also be measured repeatedly during ingot formation, and additional dopant may be added in response, either repeatedly or continuously.
US08968463B2	Hydrogen-trapping material, method of preparation and uses A material capable for trapping a flammable gas such as hydrogen comprising at least one metal oxide in a cementitious matrix is disclosed. According to some aspects, the preparation of such a material and its different uses are also disclosed.
US08968455B2	Dental investment material A new investment material for the pressing loss wax technique for dental glass ceramics. It has been found that the addition of fillers to a magnesium phosphate investment, specifically metal oxides with elevated melting points ranging from 1800 to 2800° C., provides a protection barrier against the reaction between the high alkaline content of the glass ceramic and the investment during the pressing process in the range of 800 to 950° C. Specifically, it has been found that the addition of aluminum oxide of about 2 to 5 percent of the total dry mix in combination with any of the zirconium oxide, yttrium stabilized zirconium, titanium dioxide and boron nitride in proportions of about 3.5%, enhances the barrier against a surface reaction and improves the thermal properties of the investment.
US08968454B2	Magenta quinacridone pigments The invention relates to single phase solid solutions containing 65 to 98 wt.-% unsubstituted quinacridone, 1 to 34 wt.-% 2,9-dimethylquinacridone and 1 to 10 wt.-% 2,9-dichloroquinacridone, relative to the total weight of the single phase solid solution.
US08968451B2	Apparatus for concentrating a solution An apparatus for concentrating solution includes a plurality of nozzles (1) to spray solution into minute particle mist, a gas supplier (2) to transfer gas-mist mixture containing mist by supplying carrier gas to mist sprayed from the nozzle (1), and a separator (3) to separate a component with a low boiling point from a component with a high boiling point by supplying gas-mist mixture transferred using the gas supplier (2). The gas supplier (2) defines a plurality of apertures (9) to supply carrier gas to the plurality of nozzles (1). In this apparatus for concentrating solution, the plurality of nozzles (1) are spraying mist into carrier gas supplied from the apertures (9).
US08968450B1	Wet scrubber design The present invention is a wet scrubber having a forced mixing chamber on top of an immersed packed bed, significantly increasing the scrubbing efficiency of acid gases and other pollutants by maximizing gas to liquid contact. A mixing fan located outside of the wet scrubber being connected to a mixing zone through an inlet duct to receive fluid from the mixing zone and an exhaust duct to blow fluid back into the mixing zone, thereby enhancing the mixing process inside the mixing zone.
US08968449B2	Spout, system, and method for producing a foam A spout, system, and method for producing a foam from a pressurized mixture of a liquid containing gas bubbles, e.g., air bubbles. The spout consists of a spout enclosure defining the body of the spout, and which receives the pressurized mixture and conveys the foam out of the spout enclosure. The spout enclosure houses a plurality of screens disposed in series that successively screen the pressurized mixture. Each screen is separated from a consecutive screen by a screen spacing. The screening of the pressurized mixture progressively transforms the gas bubbles in the liquid into foam bubbles of a smaller and generally uniform size. The system uses a manifold having a plurality of intakes which introduce under pressure into a chamber gas, and a solute, solvent or liquid, thereby generating the pressurized mixture containing gas bubbles. This mixture is conveyed out of the chamber via an outtake to the spout enclosure.
US08968446B1	Oil and air separation system and method An oil and air separation can includes: (i) a first screen that holds an oil filter assembly proximate a can intake for blow-by gases, and (ii) a second screen that holds a second oil filter assembly proximate a can exhaust for blow-by gases, wherein the first screen and the second screen are spaced vertically apart from one another.
US08968445B2	Regenerable pleated filter medium The present invention provides regenerable pleated media and filter elements and combinations thereof for use in a clean room environment for removal of airborne molecular contamination. Disclosed is a pleated filter media for a clean room environment wherein the pleated filter media comprises at least an adsorbent first layer of activated carbon or polymer wherein said activated carbon or polymer together with fibers and/or an adhesion agent is enclosed between two second layers of non woven with a grid positioned on at least one side of either of the second layers or incorporated in the first layer for preventing deformation of the pleated filter media when regenerated by a heated air flow above 100° C. at 1 atm.
US08968444B2	Cyclic adsorption process using pulsation controlled compressors The present invention relates generally to a cyclic adsorption process for separating components of a gas stream with at least one adsorber vessel containing at least one adsorber bed undergoing the steps of at least pressurization and depressurization such that the steps are driven by at least one compressor, the compressor undergoing the steps of acceleration and deceleration in association with the steps of pressurization and depressurization. The compressor is operated at or above predetermined speeds which do not generate undesirable frequency pulsations while meeting the requirements of the cyclic adsorption process.
US08968443B2	Delta P closed loop pressure diaphragm A closed loop pressure management system for an exhaust regeneration system is provided with a first tube capable of retaining a first fluid and extending between a proximal end and a distal end, a first fitting coupled between the distal end of the first tube and an exhaust conduit for receiving an exhaust fluid, and a pressure sensor manifold. The first fitting may include a diaphragm configured to provide a sealed interface between the first fluid of the first tube and the exhaust fluid of the exhaust conduit, and communicate the exhaust fluid pressure through the first fluid pressure. The pressure sensor manifold may include at least a first inlet coupled to the proximal end of the first tube and a pressure sensor configured to determine the exhaust fluid pressure based at least partially on the first fluid pressure at the first inlet.
US08968440B1	Fertilizer production The present invention provides a fertilizer utilizing the inexpensive waste and by-product materials of biosolids, gypsum, and/or other phosphorus binding agents, such as iron or aluminum chemicals or by-products with elevated levels of iron and aluminum. The combination of biosolids, gypsum and other phosphorus binding agents, such as iron or aluminum chemicals or by-products with elevated levels of iron and aluminum produces a fertilizer that provides for soil nitrogen needs while limiting the availability of phosphorous to minimize environmental pollution.
US08968439B2	Composite microporous filter material The composite microporour filter material comprises a base-cloth layer, an upper adhesion layer attached to a top side of the base-cloth layer, and a lower adhesion layer attached to a bottom side of the base-cloth layer. The base-cloth layer is made of either polymide yarn base-cloth, polysulfoneamide yarn base-cloth, or polytetrafluoroethylene filament base-cloth. The upper adhesion layer is made of a mixture of polysulfoneamide short-staple and polymide short-staple; the lower adhesion layer is made of a pure polysulfoneamide short-staple. The upper adhesion layer and the lower adhesion layer are attached to two sides of the base-cloth layer by entangling which is adopted by needle punching, spunlacing or a combination thereof. The present filter material is temperature-resistant and corrosion-resistant and has features of a low manufacturing cost and the high filter precision.
US08968438B2	Methods and apparatus for the in situ collection of nucleated particles A particle collection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a baghouse housing comprising an entrance port, a collection port, a baghouse configured between the entrance port and the collection port, and a vacuum port coupled to the baghouse. The apparatus also includes a collection mechanism coupled to the collection port; and, a compression mechanism coupled to the baghouse.
US08968436B2	Increase toughness of polycrystalline diamond A cutting element include a substrate and a diamond compact including at least two polycrystalline diamond portions separated by at least one metal carbide foil portion. The cutting element is made by placing diamond powder in a reaction container, placing a thin metal layer in the reaction container above or around the diamond powder and binder, placing additional diamond powder in the reaction container above or around the thin metal layer, and placing a pre-sintered substrate containing binder into the reaction container above all diamond powder and thin metal layer components. The assembled reaction container is put into a reactor and is subjected to a high-temperature high-pressure sintering process. The binder in the pre-sintered substrate sweeps through to sinter the first diamond portion, and then reacts with the thin metal layer to form a metal carbide, and then the binder continues to sweep through to sinter the second diamond portion.
US08968424B2	Rechargeable ZnMn flat plate electrode cell Provided is a flat plate electrode cell, comprises positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates. The positive electrode plates each comprise manganese and compressed metal foam. The negative electrode plates each comprise zinc and compressed metal foam. Both the positive and negative electrodes can have alignment tabs, wherein the flat plate electrode cell can further comprise electrical terminals tanned from the aligned tabs. The rechargeable flat plate electrode cell of the present disclosure, formed from compressed metal foam, provides both low resistance and high rate performance to the electrodes and the cell. Examples of improvements over round bobbin and flat plate cells are current density, memory effect, shelf life, charge retention, and voltage level of discharge curve. In particular, the rechargeable flat plate electrode cell of the present disclosure provides longer cycle life with reduced capacity fade as compared with known round bobbin and flat plate cells.
US08968422B2	Systems and methods for applying markings to an article Systems and methods for applying markings to an article are disclosed. One aspect comprises providing a dye pad shaped to correspond to a desired marking; applying an infusion dye to the dye pad; applying an activation solution to the infusion dye, thereby forming an infusion dye mixture; placing the dye pad in contact with a discrete area of an outer surface of the article; leaving the dye pad in contact with the outer surface of the article under room temperature and pressure, for a duration sufficient to allow the infusion dye mixture to open a polymeric structure of a material of the outer surface and to allow the infusion dye to penetrate the outer surface and form the desired marking within a substrate of the article; and removing the dye pad from the outer surface. An infusion dyeing kit and method for supplying a kit are also disclosed.
US08968418B2	Reinforcement device with dissolvable layer and its use A reinforcement device for reinforcing tissues having one or more structural deficiencies includes a longitudinally-extending reinforcing layer for treating the structural deficiency, a plurality of spiked naps distributed across the reinforcing layer and projecting therefrom for adhering to the tissue, and a dissolvable matrix layer covering at least a portion of the reinforcing layer and a portion of the plurality of spiked naps. The matrix layer increases the time before the spiked naps substantially adhere to the tissue, thereby allowing the practitioner additional time to position the reinforcement device.
US08968412B2	Trialing system for a knee prosthesis and method of use An orthopaedic surgical instrument system that includes an orthopaedic surgical instrument adapted to be positioned on a proximal end of a patient's tibia, and a tibial bearing trial assembly configured to be coupled to the orthopaedic surgical instrument. The tibial bearing trial assembly includes a plurality of tibial bearing surface trial components and at least one shim.
US08968411B2	Modular elbow prosthesis A modular elbow prosthesis including an ulnar component and a humeral component. The ulnar component includes an ulnar head and an ulnar stem. The humeral component includes a humeral head and a humeral stem. The humeral component also includes a locking system for securing the humeral head onto the humeral stem.
US08968407B2	Intervertebral disk implant The invention relates to an intervertebral disk implant having two implant plates contacting prepared vertebral body surfaces in the implanted state and an implant core which can be introduced between the implant plates. The invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of an intervertebral disk implant.
US08968404B2	Method and device for ameliorating joint conditions and diseases A device for ameliorating joint conditions and diseases comprising a) a first section comprising a joint-ward end, an opposing mating end, and a lateral wall, a peripheral column partially forming the lateral wall of the first section, a central column, and three or more than three struts extending between and connecting the peripheral column and the central column, and each strut thereby supporting the central column, the joint-ward end further comprising a plurality of fenestrations formed by a confluence of the peripheral column, the central column and two adjacent struts of the three or more than three struts, and first section further comprising a central aperture within and formed by the central column, and configured to mate with a driver, b) a second section comprising a mating end, an opposing leading end, and a lateral wall, the lateral wall of the second section comprising threads.
US08968402B2	ACL implants, instruments, and methods Systems for single tunnel, double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction include implant constructs and instruments. The implant constructs provide a combination of cortical fixation and bone tunnel aperture fixation. The implant constructs separate a graft into distinct bundles. The instruments are used to prepare shaped bone tunnels to receive the implant constructs and graft bundles. The instruments are also used to exercise and insert the ligament graft constructs. Methods for reconstructing the antero-medial and postero-lateral bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament may rely on a single femoral tunnel, single or double tibial tunnels, and one or more ligament grafts.
US08968401B2	Synthetic scaffolds and organ and tissue transplantation Articles, compositions, and methods for growing tissues and organs using bioreactors, including rotating bioreactors, are provided. Synthetic scaffolds for growing artificial tissue and organ transplants are also provided.
US08968400B2	Self-sealing shell for inflatable prostheses A self-sealing shell useful as a component of a soft fluid-filled prosthetic implant is provided. The shell is at least partly constructed of a wall made of a colloid of an elastomeric polymer matrix and particles of a water-soluble material distributed therein.
US08968399B2	Intraocular lens A vision correction arrangement is described in which a lens system having variable optical power varies in dependence on the orientation of the user's eye. The vision correction arrangement may be embodied as an intraocular lens implant, or an extraocular device such as spectacles. The intraocular lens implant comprises a fixed lens element (11) and a movable lens (12) element sensitive to the orientation of the eye, so that the optical power of the intraocular lens implant is increased when the user looks downward, and returns to a reduced optical power condition when the user's eye returns to a horizontal gaze. The fixed lens element may have a convex rear surface and a concave front surface, and the second lens element may be pivotally mounted in front of the first lens element, so that downward inclination of the eye causes the second lens element to swing away from the fixed lens element.
US08968398B2	Pre-loaded IOL insertion system A system for easily transferring an intraocular lens (IOL) from an inserter into a patient's eye. The system includes an inserter handpiece with a holding station for receiving or storing an IOL. The IOL may be pre-loaded within the holding station during manufacture, and the inserter handpiece coupled to a delivery tube so that the entire system is ready for use by a surgeon to implant an IOL. The IOL may have an optic and leading and trailing haptics coupled to the optic, and the holding station may be capable of manipulating the haptics as desired to facilitate transfer of the IOL through the delivery tube into the eye. For instance, the holding station may fold one or both of the haptics over the optic. Preferably, the holding station maintains the haptics in their folded positions during transfer of the IOL into the delivery tube. The holding station desirably maintains the IOL in a relaxed configuration during storage. A small opening on one side may be provided to introduce a narrow tool for folding one of the haptics over the optic.
US08968396B2	Intraocular lens delivery systems and methods of use Intraocular lens delivery devices and methods of use.
US08968395B2	Prosthetic insert for treating a mitral valve A prosthetic insert member for improving the function of a mitral valve is disclosed. The insert member is configured for insertion between leaflets of mitral valve. The insert member has an elongated cross-sectional profile for conforming to the opening in the mitral valve. The device also includes an anchoring member for attachment to heart tissue for maintaining the insert member in the mitral valve. In operation, the insert member fills the opening between the leaflets of the mitral valve and reduces regurgitation while preferably allowing the leaflets to function in a substantially normal manner. In one embodiment, the insert member is formed with a valve member disposed in a passageway for allowing blood to pass through the insert member in one direction.
US08968394B2	Mitral heart valve holder and storage system An improved holder and storage system for a tissue-type prosthetic mitral heart valve that constricts the commissure posts of the valve and prevents suture looping. A rod axially movable relative to the holder tensions lengths of attachment sutures that extend between the commissure post tips to create a tent and flex the tips inward, thus helping to prevent looping of any of an array of pre-implanted sutures around the leading tips during delivery of the valve. The holder has a safety mechanism that prevents valve delivery before the rod is deployed. One embodiment automatically deploys the rod upon opening a storage jar. One embodiment permits a delivery handle to directly deploy the rod, while another uses a separate worm screw and coupling. A holder clip that attaches to a packaging sleeve may be formed of flexible members meshed together from which the heart valve and holder are easily pulled free to eliminate a step of decoupling the clip from the sleeve.
US08968384B2	Circumferentially constraining sutures for a stent-graft A circumferentially constraining suture for an endovascular prosthesis having a tubular body and a plurality of stents coupled to the tubular body includes a first thread coupled at a first end to one of the stents and a first thread loop disposed opposite the first end. The first thread extends only partially around a circumference of the tubular body in a radially expanded configuration. A second thread having a second thread loop is interlocked with the first thread loop and extends from the first thread loop around a remainder of the circumference of the tubular body. Pulling the second thread causes the first thread to circumferentially constrain the tubular body to a reduced diameter configuration. A trigger wire inserted through the first thread loop retains the first thread such that the tubular body is in the reduced diameter configuration after removal of the second thread.
US08968383B1	Delivery of medical devices A stent delivery system can include an elongate core member sized for insertion into a blood vessel. The core member can be configured to advance a stent toward a treatment location in the blood vessel. The core member can include a longitudinally extending tube having a helical cut extending along the tube. The helical cut can have an axial length of at least 50 cm and be continuous along the axial length.
US08968377B2	Method, device and system for modulating an activity of brown adipose tissue in a vertebrate subject Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein for treatment of a disease, disorder, or condition in a vertebrate subject. A device is provided that includes one or more cooling elements configured to be applied to one or more tissues of a vertebrate subject to modulate at least one activity of brown adipose tissue of the vertebrate subject, and a programmable controller configured to provide instructions to the one or more cooling elements in response to information regarding one or more physiological conditions of the vertebrate subject.
US08968364B2	Method and apparatus for fixation of an ACL graft A system for use in graft fixation in a knee reconstruction procedure can include a first femoral fixation member adapted to be retained relative to a first end of a femoral tunnel and a first self-locking adjustable flexible member construct having a passage portion with a pair of free ends and a pair of self-locking adjustable loops. The first flexible member construct can be interconnected to the first femoral fixation member. A second femoral fixation member can be coupled to the first flexible member construct and can be adapted to be positioned in the femoral tunnel relative to a second end of the femoral tunnel adjacent a joint space between the femur and a tibia. A second self-locking adjustable flexible member construct having a passage portion with a pair of free ends and a pair of self-locking adjustable loops can be interconnected to the second femoral fixation member.
US08968361B2	Vascular hole closure device A device for closing an aperture in a vessel wall comprising a covering member having a longitudinal axis and positionable inside the vessel against the internal opening of the aperture and a first spherical retainer positionable external of the vessel. The covering member has a dimension to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture.
US08968360B2	Surgical instrument with resilient driving member and related methods of use A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.
US08968356B2	Surgical device and handle assembly for use therewith A surgical instrument is disclosed. A rotation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a handle assembly and effects rotation of an end effector. The rotation mechanism includes a first member including at least one magnet, and a second member including at least one magnet. The first member and the second member define a space therebetween. The articulation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the handle assembly and effects articulation of the end effector. The articulation mechanism includes a plurality of tendons. Each tendon extends longitudinally through the space between the first member and the second member of the rotation mechanism.
US08968353B2	Method and apparatus for impeding migration of an implanted occlusive structure A method of treating a hollow anatomical structure of a patient comprises implanting a bioabsorbable fibrous body in a hollow anatomical structure. The body is secured in the hollow anatomical structure to limit migration of the body within the hollow anatomical structure.
US08968350B2	Total occlusion guidewire device A guidewire including a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lumen, so that the chronic total occlusion can be crossed, and an interventional procedure can then be performed.
US08968349B2	Acupressure appliance An acupressure appliance to apply pressure to body parts. The acupressure appliance includes a pair of curved rod-like pressure units and a connector connecting the pair of curved rod-like pressure units in a lateral direction. Each pressure unit includes a convex-curved segment of a chevron shape curved continuously in an axial direction, and the pair of curved rod-like pressure units are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction.
US08968348B2	Balloon delivery apparatus and method for using and manufacturing the same A balloon delivery catheter apparatus including a catheter tubing defining a lumen therethrough, a balloon disposed near a distal end of the catheter tubing and moving between deflated and inflated states, and a core wire having a proximal end attached to the catheter tubing inside the lumen and extending distally away and substantially co-axially with the catheter tubing through the balloon to a distal free end. Proximal and distal balloon control bands are concentrically arranged around respective proximal and distal end portions of the balloon. A coil disposed around the core wire has a proximal end attached to at least one of the distal end portion of the balloon and the distal balloon control band.
US08968346B2	Miniature shredding tool for use in medical applications and methods for making The present invention relates generally to the field of micro-scale or millimeter scale devices and to the use of multi-layer multi-material electrochemical fabrication methods for producing such devices with particular embodiments relate to shredding devices and more particularly to shredding devices for use in medical applications. In some embodiments, tissue removal devices are used in procedures to removal spinal tissue and in other embodiments, similar devices are used to remove thrombus from blood vessel.
US08968341B2	Wound closure device A suturing device includes a housing having an elongated tubular member extending from a distal end thereof. A head assembly is disposed at a distal end of the elongated tubular member and is configured to retain a portion of a suture therein. At least one arm member is positioned adjacent the elongated tubular member. Each arm members includes a ferrule assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. Each ferrule assembly is positioned within a recess defined within the elongated tubular member and is configured to releasably retain a ferrule therein. Each ferrule is configured to retain a portion of the suture therein. Each arm member is rotatable to rotate the ferrule assembly disposed thereon between a first position, wherein the ferrule assembly is disposed within the recess, and a second position, wherein the ferrule assembly extends at least partially radially outwardly from the recess.
US08968340B2	Single actuating jaw flexible endolumenal stitching device An end effector for use in an endoscopic stitching device includes a fixed jaw, a moveable jaw, a linkage member, needle engaging blades and a rotatable member. The moveable jaw is pivotably associated with the fixed jaw about a first pivot axis. The linkage member is pivotably associated with the moveable jaw about a second pivot axis. The needle engaging blade is slidably supported in each of the fixed and moveable jaws. An axial movement of the linkage member causes the moveable jaw to pivot about the first pivot axis with respect to the fixed jaw, and rotation of the rotatable member causes opposed axial movement of the pair of needle engaging blades.
US08968337B2	Articulating clip applier A surgical apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided. The surgical apparatus includes a housing, a drive assembly, a trigger, and a shaft assembly. The trigger is operatively connected with the drive assembly. The drive assembly is at least partially positioned within the housing. The shaft assembly extends distally from the housing and has a first tubular member pivotally connected with a second tubular member located distally from the first tubular member. An articulation mechanism is operatively connected between the first and second tubular members, and includes a gear rack, at least one gear, and a gear segment, respectfully connected with each other to pivot the second tubular member about the pivot axis. The gear rack and at least one gear are located within the first tubular member. The gear segment extends proximally from the second tubular member.
US08968335B2	Hand operated device for controlled deployment of a tissue anchor and method of using the same A tissue anchoring system includes a tissue anchor member that is suitable for anchoring against tissue. The system also includes a tensioning member operatively connected to the anchor member such that the anchor member can slide relative to the tensioning member, the tensioning member capable of being pulled to cause the anchor member to move relative to the tensioning member into a position seated against the tissue. A hand operated deployment catheter is operable to extend and deploy the anchor member therefrom. The deployment catheter includes a rotatable member about which the tensioning member is routed and a clutch assembly for limiting tension within the tensioning member to prevent the deployed anchor from being pulled through the tissue.
US08968332B2	Magnetically coupleable robotic surgical devices and related methods The present invention relates to magnetically coupleable robotic surgical devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to robotic surgical devices that can be inserted into a patient's body and can be positioned within the patient's body using an external magnet.
US08968331B1	Implantable lead and surgical accessories Leads for chronic implantation in the brain or other anatomical targets utilize tubular stylet means which are external to the lead. The lead comprises a distal electrode terminal, a proximal connector terminal, and a conductor cable having a reinforced distal portion and a stepped outside diameter providing a shoulder which cooperates with the distal end of the external stylet means. The substantial stiffness of the external stylet allows implantation of the lead without a brain-entering cannula. A tubular stylet spacer is employed to minimize lead dislodgement due to disassembly and removal of the lead introduction tools. Externalized stylet allows the conductor cable to have a small outside diameter and a desirably short length. A method of terminating conductors to electrodes using inserts is suitable for very fine wires and stranded conductors. A reinforced electrode terminal construction enables robust small-dimensioned terminal and high localization accuracy when introduced with external stylet means.
US08968330B2	Methods and apparatus for treating embolism A method and apparatus for treating a clot in the blood vessel of a patient, and particularly the treatment of a pulmonary embolism is disclosed. The treatment includes restoring flow through the clot followed by clot removal, either partially or substantially completely. The clot treatment device is expandable into the blood vessel and may contain radial extensions that assist in restoring flow as well as in removing clot material.
US08968329B2	Surgical retrieval apparatus for thoracic procedures A surgical retrieval apparatus includes a handle including an elongated sleeve extending therefrom that, together cooperate to define a lumen therethrough. A shaft having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof and a plunger disposed at a proximal end thereof is selectively translatable between a first position and a second position, wherein the end effector assembly extends from the sleeve. An articulation mechanism is configured to articulate the end effector assembly relative to the shaft. A specimen retrieval bag is coupled to the end effector assembly and is deployable to an extended position upon movement of the end effector assembly to the second position.
US08968326B2	Pneumatic surgical instrument and corresponding methods for implanting orthopedic implants in bone Various embodiments of components, devices, systems and methods are provided for a pneumatic surgical instrument having a probe or an impactor disposed at a distal end thereof and configured to make contact with a selected portion of an orthopedic implant or device and drive the implant into a hole or void formed in a patient's bone. The instrument is configured to generate a shock wave, which is then transferred to the distal end of the probe or impactor, and hence into the orthopedic implant, thereby causing the implant to be driven into contact with portions of the void or hole.
US08968322B1	Method and composition for repair of articular bone fractures A method of repairing a fractured articular bone at a fracture site has the steps of mixing a bone glue, inserting an expandable balloon into the fracture site, inflating the expandable balloon at the fracture site, applying the bone glue to the fracture site while the expandable balloon is inflated, curing the bone glue at the fracture site while the expandable balloon is inflated, deflating the expandable balloon after the bone glue has cured, and removing the deflated expandable balloon from the fracture site and from the articular bone. The bone glue combines a biologically dissolvable glue with an actual or artificial particulate bone graft.
US08968318B2	Grooved crimp with a set screw A device for binding a cable about a fractured bone to stabilize a fracture comprises a slot including a distal opening sized to receive an enlarged end of a cable and a proximal opening sized to permit the cable to slide therethrough while preventing the enlarged end from passing therethough and a bore sized to slidably receive the cable, the bore extending to a proximal opening in combination with a locking element channel extending to a distal end opening into the bore and a locking element movable into a locking position in which a distal end of the locking element extends into the bore to engage a portion of the cable received therein and lock the cable in a desired position within the bore.
US08968317B2	Surgical forceps A forceps includes an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. One or both of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One or both of the jaw members includes a jaw frame including an engagement recess defined on each lateral side thereof and a replaceable component configured for slidable positioning about the jaw frame. The replaceable component includes an outer jaw housing having an engagement tang disposed on each lateral side thereof. The engagement tangs are configured to engage the engagement recesses of the jaw frame upon slidable positioning of the replaceable component about the jaw frame to secure the replaceable component to the jaw frame. The replaceable component includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing plate engaged to the outer jaw housing to define a tissue sealing surface.
US08968316B2	Apparatus with multiple channel selective cutting A forceps includes an end effector assembly and one or more cutting blades. The end effector assembly defines a longitudinal axis and has a pair of jaw members selectively positionable relative to one another about a pivot. One or more of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source. One or more of the jaw members includes two or more blade channels defined therein and extending therealong. The one or more cutting blades are selectively movable within one or more of the two or more blade channels.
US08968315B2	Vessel sealing instrument A bipolar electrosurgical instrument is provided. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument includes first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof for effecting movement of the jaw members relative to one another. A first conductive lead is adapted to connect to a first electrical potential and a second conductive lead is adapted to connect to a second electrical potential. One of the first and second conductive leads extends through the pivot to connect to a respective jaw member.
US08968313B2	Electrosurgical instrument with a knife blade stop An electrosurgical forceps is provided with a shaft that extends from a housing of the electrosurgical forceps. An end effector assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft includes a pair of first and second jaw members one of which being movable from an open configuration for positioning tissue therebetween, to a clamping configuration for grasping tissue therebetween. A knife blade assembly includes a knife blade that is translatable within the first and second jaw members when the first and second jaw members are in the clamping configuration. The knife blade assembly includes a medial portion defining an opening therethrough having proximal and distal ends. A knife blade stop in operative communication with the knife blade assembly includes a pair of leading and trailing stops thereon that are configured to contact respective distal and proximal ends of the opening to limit translation of the knife blade assembly.
US08968308B2	Multi-circuit seal plates An end effector assembly adapted to couple to an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members pivotably attached about a pivot member and moveable from a first spaced position to a second grasping position. Each jaw member includes a jaw housing and a seal plate formed on an inner surface of the jaw member including at least two seal plate segments extending along a substantial portion of the length of the jaw members. An insulating member is positioned between adjacent seal plate segments and configured to provide electrical isolation between adjacent seal plate segments. Each sealing plate segment is adapted to selectively connect to an electrosurgical energy source and form part of an electrosurgical energy delivery circuit.
US08968305B2	Surgical forceps with external cutter A forceps includes an end effector assembly defining a longitudinal axis and including a pair of jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a jaw housing and an opposed electrically conductive sealing surface. The opposed sealing surfaces define a sealing area therebetween. A cutting mechanism is disposed on the jaw housing of one of the jaw members opposite the respective sealing surface and is configured to cut tissue externally-positioned relative to the sealing area upon translation of the cutting mechanism with respect to tissue.
US08968290B2	Microwave ablation generator control system A microwave energy delivery and measurement system, including a microwave generator and a microwave energy delivery device, for performing medical procedures, and a remote power coupler system for measuring one or more parameters of the microwave energy signal including a remote RF sensor housed in the microwave energy delivery device and a power coupler processer coupled with the processing unit of the microwave energy delivery device.
US08968287B2	Methods and devices for applying energy to bodily tissues Devices and methods for treating tissue with microwave energy used in applications such as destroying a soft tissue by microwave ablation and/or creating point, line, area or volumetric lesions. Various embodiments of flexible, low-profile devices are also disclosed where such device can be inserted non-invasively or minimally invasively near or into the target tissue such as cardiac tissue. The devices disclosed herein comprise antennas wherein the field profile generated by an antenna is tailored and optimized for a particular clinical application. The antennas use unique properties of microwaves such as interaction of a microwave field with one or more conductive or non-conductive shaping elements to shape or redistribute the microwave field.
US08968284B2	Apparatus and methods for treating female urinary incontinence Apparatus and methods are provided for treating female urinary incontinence by applying a form of energy to tissue in the vicinity of the urethra and/or bladder outlet to change tissue compliance without substantially narrowing the urethral and/or bladder outlet lumen. The apparatus comprises an elongated shaft having a means for treating urethral tissue and an expandable member deployable distal of the means for treating. The expandable member is configured to be anchored against the bladder outlet to dispose the means for treating at a desired treatment site in the urethra using only tactile feedback. The means for treating may include a needleless RF electrode, an ultrasound transducer, or a cryogenic probe configured to be advanced through a hollow needle, each of which are designed to reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with urinary incontinence.
US08968280B2	Dose determination for inducing microcavitation in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) Methods and systems for controlling selective targeting of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells within a treatment region of the RPE. The methods include (a) depositing a selected amount of energy on a test region of the RPE; (b) determining an extent to which microcavitation has occurred in the test region; and (c) on the basis of the determination, either depositing the selected amount of energy on the treatment region, or depositing an increased amount of energy on the test region, and repeating steps (b) and (c).
US08968278B2	Robotic arms DLUs for performing surgical tasks Disposable loading units (DLUs) configured for mounting to a robotic arm for performing at least one surgical task are presented. Each DLU includes an attachment platform having at least one connector for engaging at least one connector on a distal end of the robotic arm for connecting the DLU to the robotic arm, a head portion connected to the attachment platform at one end and configured for housing an electromechanical actuation assembly therein, and at least one surgical tool member extending from the head portion and operatively associated with the electromechanical actuation assembly for controlling the operation and movement of the at least one surgical tool member. The at least one surgical tool member may include a cutting assembly, an aortic hole punch assembly, a lasing assembly, a coring assembly, or a vascular suturing assembly.
US08968275B2	Apparatus and method for effecting at least one anatomical structure Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for effecting at least one anatomical structure of a body can be provided. For example, at least one first arrangement can be provided which is structured to be at least partially inserted into the body and including an opening. In addition, at least one second arrangement can be provided which configured to increase and/or decrease a size of the opening by a motion thereof in a first direction. Further, at least one third arrangement can be provided which can be coupled to the second arrangement(s), and configured to move at least in a second direction which is at least approximately parallel to the second direction. In particular, when the anatomical structure(s) is/are provided or inserted in the opening and is pressed on by the second arrangement(s), a first motion of the second arrangement(s) toward the anatomical structure(s) in the first direction is reduced and/or terminated while a second motion of the third arrangement(s) in the second direction either (i) remains at least approximately the same, and/or (ii) is reduced to a lesser extent than that of the first motion.
US08968274B2	Acoustically controlled substance delivery device Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled substance delivery device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to some embodiments, a delivery device or related device may be placed in an environment in order to pump a material into the environment or into an additional fluid handling structure within the device. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. The concentration of a substance in the fluid to be delivered may be modified by a remote control signal. In selected embodiments, an acoustic control signal may be used.
US08968273B2	Catheter set The present invention relates to a catheter set with a catheter, which has a catheter shaft; a package, which encompasses at least partially the catheter and which has an slide-out removal opening for the catheter; and a gripping aid, which is arranged in the package and which is movable on the catheter shaft, whereby the gripping aid is attached to the package and spaced a distance to the slide-out removal opening in such a manner that package material that can be pushed together is arranged between the gripping aid and the slide-out removal opening.
US08968272B2	Closed system and method for atraumatic, low pressure, continuous harvesting, processing, and grafting of lipoaspirate A closed system for harvesting fat through liposuction, concentrating the aspirate so obtained, and then re-injecting the concentrated fat into a patient comprises as its main components a low pressure cannula having between about 7 to 12 side holes of about 1-2 mm by 2.0 to 4.0 mm, a spring loaded syringe holder with a constant force or coiled ribbon spring to apply a substantially constant pressure over the full excursion of the plunger, and a preferably flexible collection bag which is also preferably graduated, cylindrical over most of its body and funnel shaped at its bottom, all of which are connected through flexible tubings to a multi-port valve. The multi-port valve has two flutter/duck bill valves which restrict the fluid flow to a one way direction which effectively allows the syringe to be used to pump fat out of a patient and into a collection bag in a continuous manner. After the bags are centrifuged to concentrate the fat, the excess fluids are separated and the valve is re-connected to permit the syringe pump to reverse fluid flow to graft the concentrated fat back into the patient.
US08968268B2	Antiseptic cap The present invention provides an antiseptic cap for use with an access site having a housing with a wall defining a chamber, the wall having a set of threads on an inner surface of the wall; and an access site contacting surface associated with the housing having an antiseptic substance for contacting a surface of the access site. The present invention also provides an antiseptic cap equipped plunger assembly wherein an antiseptic cap is retained within a housing of the plunger.
US08968267B2	Methods and systems for handling or delivering materials for natural orifice surgery The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various medical systems, including systems that can be used in conjunction with medical devices used in endoscopic surgery. Certain embodiments include various material handling devices that can transport materials between the inside and the outside of an endoscopic surgery patient.
US08968266B2	Sanitary undergarment A sanitary undergarment, comprising a fabric body, a crotch portion, a waist opening, and a thigh opening, each comprising one or more layers made of a breathable leak-proof material for blocking flow of the body fluid through the fabric body. The sanitary undergarment generally comprises a boxer brief construction. The fabric body constitutes a front portion and a rear portion and blocks flow of the body fluid of the wearer outside the sanitary undergarment and prevents staining of the outer garment. The front portion covers a front part of a pelvic region of the wearer. The rear portion covers a rear part of the pelvic region of the wearer. The crotch portion covers a crotch region of the wearer and comprises one or more of a first layer and a second layer. The second layer prevents chafing at the inner thigh regions of the wearer.
US08968262B2	Irrigation shield A wound irrigation kit includes a basin for collecting irrigation fluid that is configured to closely fit the specific body part that is to be irrigated. The kit optionally includes a grommet that can be readily incorporated into the basin to allow for active draining of the basin during the irrigation procedure. The kit also optionally includes a flexible irrigation shield that can be attached to an existing irrigation device and that can be readily modified to vary its length.
US08968261B2	Medical valve with resilient biasing member A medical valve has an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. To that end, the medical valve has a housing with an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a rotating member having a protruding member, and a resilient member with a complimentary surface that mates with the protruding member. The inlet portion and outlet portion of the housing compress the protruding member into the resilient member to bias the valve to the closed mode.
US08968260B2	Gasket for syringe and syringe having gasket A gasket for use in a syringe so formed as to liquid-tightly and slidably contact an inner surface of an outer cylinder of the syringe, the gasket including a gasket body made of an elastic body and a coating layer formed on a portion thereof which contacts at least the syringe, wherein the coating layer includes a composition containing a silicone resin which comprises a condensate of a reactive silicone resin having a terminal silanol group and which has a siloxane bond derived from the silanol group, and does not contain solid fine particles.
US08968258B2	Resettable drive mechanism for a medication delivery device and medication delivery device A resettable drive mechanism for a medication delivery device comprising a housing and a drive member rotatable in a second direction for delivering a dose. A piston rod driven distally when a drive member rotates in the second direction. A stop member prevents rotation of the drive member in a first direction opposite the second direction, when the stop member engages the drive member. A clutch member is movable between a delivery and reset position. When the clutch member is in the delivery position, the stop member and the drive member engage and the drive member is prevented from rotating in the first direction. When the clutch member is in the reset position, the drive member and the stop member disengage. The drive member is rotatable in the first direction.
US08968256B2	Resettable drive mechanism for a medication delivery device and medication delivery device A resettable drive mechanism for a medication delivery device comprising a housing, a drive member rotatable with respect to the housing in a second direction for delivering a dose of a medication, and a piston rod by the drive member, when drive member rotates in the second direction, a stop member adapted to prevent rotation of drive member in a first direction, when the stop member engages the drive member, a clutch member movable between a delivery position and a reset position. When clutch member is in the delivery position, stop member and drive member are engaged and drive member is prevented from rotation in the first direction, and when the clutch member is in the reset position, the drive member and the stop member are disengaged, the drive member is rotatable in the first direction.
US08968254B2	Drug delivery device and associated packaging The present invention relates to a drug delivery device and in particular to temperature sensitive labelling of such devices. The drug delivery device is designed for dispensing of a dose of a medicinal product and comprises a housing, and a drive mechanism comprising an axially displaceable piston rod to act on a piston of a cartridge containing the medicinal product to be dispensed. The device is further provided with a protective cover arranged across a functional component of the device, and adapted to irreversibly change at least one of its visually perceptible properties in response to the ambient temperature rising above or dropping below at least one predefined threshold.
US08968248B2	PEG tube with wireless pull tip A feeding tube and method for introducing a feeding tube within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, whereby the feeding tube is introduced by using a variation of the Ponsky “pull” method of feeding tube placement. The feeding tube comprises an elongate shaft having a distal end and proximal end. The feeding tube also comprises a coupling structure for coupling the feeding tube to a pull wire, the coupling structure be proximal of the distal end of the feeding tube shaft. The feeding tube further comprises a guiding structure for aligning the pull wire with the distal end of the shaft. The feeding tube is introduced within the patient by attaching the previously placed pull wire to the coupling and guiding structures of the feeding tube, and then pulling the pull wire so as to pull the feeding tube into and through the gastrointestinal tract of the patient.
US08968241B2	Medical needle safety device A passive safety device for a medical needle has a mount for supporting the needle and a needle shielding sleeve co-axial with and arranged for sliding movement relative to the mount, from a shielding position to a non-shielding position. An abutment surface is provided on one of the sleeve and mount and is engageable by a radially deformable finger, when undeformed. A control member is also slidably arranged with respect to the mount and sleeve and has an initial set position. The control member co operates with the finger so that on sliding movement of the sleeve from its initial shielding position, the finger is moved radially outwardly, clear of the abutment surface and on to a sliding surface. Continued movement of the sleeve increases deformation of the finger and generates a restorative force between the finger and the sliding surface to move the sleeve back to a needle shielding position following the performance of a procedure and return the finger into radial alignment with the abutment surface, the control member remaining displaced from its set position.
US08968237B2	Method for injecting drug into living body by electrospraying and device thereof The present invention provides a method whereby a drug can be conveniently injected into the living body, without sticking a needle, from a device that is not in contact with the living body, and a device therefor. Specifically provided is a method for injecting a peptide drug such as insulin, and a device therefor. No special consumables are needed except the drug solution or suspension. The method and device comprise injecting a drug into the living body by electrospraying a solution or suspension of the drug from a nozzle to which high voltage is applied and which is not in contact with the living body.
US08968236B2	Injection device An injection device (110) comprises a housing (112) adapted to receive a syringe (122) having a discharge nozzle (118), an actuator (114) and a drive (120) acted upon the syringe to advance it from a retracted position in which the discharge nozzle is contained within the housing to an extended position in which the discharge nozzle is contained within the housing to an extended position in which the discharge nozzle extends from the housing. There is a locking mechanism (HS) in communication with the actuator and activatable to be moved from a locked position in which the actuator is prevented from releasing the drive to an unlocked position in which the actuator is operable to act upon drive to advance the syringe. The locking mechanism or the housing includes integrally formed biasing means (210) adapted to return the locking mechanism to a locked position when it is not activated. There is no need for separate springs to be used bias to the releasable locking mechanism out the housing.
US08968234B2	Method of using vasoconstrictive agents during energy-based tissue therapy A mammal undergoing an energy-based therapy is treated by administering at least one vasoconstrictive agent to the mammal prior to or during the procedure. The at least one vasoconstrictive agent is added in amounts sufficient to reduce or prevent vasodilation. This treatment method increases or promotes the size of the coagulation zone created after energy-based therapy.
US08968233B2	Arteriovenous shunt having a moveable valve An arteriovenous shunt assembly including a shunt having a hollow bore between open first and second ends thereof and a valve slidably disposed through the hollow bore. The valve includes means for retaining the valve in a closed position or in any of various selected open positions that provide corresponding different rates of blood flow through the shunt assembly. In some embodiments, the AV shunt assembly is self-expandable from a collapsed tow-profile configuration employed during transluminal delivery. The valve position in the hollow bore may be adjusted in vivo by inflating a catheter balloon in a blood vessel to bear against an end of the valve. Methods for using the shunt assembly are also disclosed.
US08968228B2	Ankle brace and method of using same An ankle brace and a method of bracing an ankle including a footplate with a heel portion; an attachable wedge for tilting the ankle brace to adjust a hindfoot varus or valgus position; and an arch support attachable to a top surface of the footplate.
US08968225B2	Device for foot zone therapy The invention relates to a device for foot zone therapy. The device includes a frame (1, 11), and a base (2, 12) provided with knobs (3a) for pressing the foot sole against. The knobs (3a) are laid out in an area essentially consistent with the length and shape of a foot sole. The base (2, 12) is either a rotatable roll (2) or a panel (12) divided for discrete zones (A, B, C, D), whereby rotating the roll or changing a relative height position of the zones in the flat panel enables the foot sole to be contacted alternately with various knobby zones. The device is adapted for such an operation that the effect of the knobs (3a) always proceeds from heel towards toes.
US08968224B2	CPR chest compression monitor and method of use A chest compressions monitor for measuring the depth of chest compressions achieved during CPR. A displacement detector produces a displacement indicative signal indicative of the displacement of the CPR recipient's chest toward the recipient's spine. A signaling mechanism provides chest compression indication signals directing a chest compression force being applied to the chest and a frequency of such compressions.
US08968220B2	Wearable robotic system for rehabilitation training of the upper limbs The present invention relates to a wearable robot system for rehabilitation training of the upper limbs that has an improved structure to reproduce in detail motion of a human body by selecting a wearing type structure such that robot links move correspondingly to the motion of the upper limbs while decreasing the volume of a rehabilitation and assistance device based on a robot for rehabilitation training of the upper limbs. According the present invention, it is possible to decrease the volume and increase the available space, in addition to creating smooth motion without interfering with the human body by creating a plurality of robot motion paths and selecting the best path from them, because an operation of four degrees of freedom can be achieved by an operation procedure using redundant.
US08968218B2	Gait symmetry measurement and improvement A gait-enhancing system and method of enhancing gait includes generating a reference signal having substantially equal durations between occurrences and providing the reference signal to a user. Contact between the feet of the user with a surface is received and occurrence of a trigger signal is generated in response to the contact. An occurrence of the trigger signal is compared with an occurrence of a reference signal, and a guidance signal is produced as a function of the amount of time that the trigger signal led or lagged the reference signal. The guidance signal is provided to the user in order to promote symmetry in stride between one foot and the other foot of the user, enhancing the user's gait.
US08968215B2	Guide wire A guide wire includes a first wire disposed on the distal side of the guide wire and a second wire disposed on the proximal side. The second wire has an elastic modulus larger than the first wire. The first wire is joined to the second wire at a welded portion by welding. A coil is disposed on the distal side of the first wire. A cover layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the wire member in such a manner as to cover at least the welded portion. The cover layer is made from a material capable of reducing the friction of the cover layer, for example, a fluorocarbon resin or a hydrophilic material, to thereby improve the sliding performance of the guide wire. Such a guide wire is excellent in operationality and kink resistance.
US08968212B2	Biopsy device with motorized needle cocking A biopsy system includes a biopsy device and a vacuum control module. The biopsy device includes a cannula and a cutter that translates relative to the cannula to obtain tissue samples. The vacuum control module includes a source of vacuum in communication with the cutter and a user interface. The user interface includes a first page and a second page. The first page has a first graphical representation to indicate the operational status of the biopsy device and does not accept user inputs to alter the operational status of the biopsy device. The second page has at least one icon to adjust the operational status of the biopsy device indicated on the first page and a second graphical representation to indicate the adjustment to the operational status of the biopsy device. The user interface includes a user input feature to select the first page or the second page.
US08968205B2	Sub-aperture control in high intensity focused ultrasound Sub-aperture control is provided for high intensity focused ultrasound. Test transmissions are made sequentially from different sub-apertures. The tissue response at the focal regions is determined and used to select sub-apertures. For example, one or more sub-apertures are not used where temperature does not rise above certain threshold or tissue displacement is weak, such as associated with intervening bone or attenuating tissue. Other factors may be used instead or in addition to tissue response at the focal region. Relative proximity of the sub-apertures to a lesion, angular distribution of the sub-apertures, shape or size of the sub-aperture focal regions as compared to the tissue to be treated, or combinations thereof may be used. Once selected, the relative weight for each sub-aperture may be adjusted based on measured tissue response for each sub-aperture, such as to provide more equal treatment contribution from different sub-apertures.
US08968204B2	System and method of perivascular pressure and flow measurement A system and method for measuring fluid flow and pressure in a flexible conduit is disclosed. An embodiment of the system and method uses an ultrasound sensor for determining volume of flow and a tonometric system for determining pressure along a common length of a flexible conduit.
US08968203B2	Measuring pulmonary blood pressure using transthoracic pulmonary doppler ultrasound Operation of a patient's heart or lungs may be analyzed by transmitting ultrasound energy into the patient's lung, and detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels. Movement of the border is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels. The detected Doppler shifts are used to obtain power and velocity data at each of a plurality of different air pressure levels, and the pulmonary blood pressure of the patient is then estimated based on the obtained data.
US08968202B2	System of forming ultrasound image and method of forming scan line data There are provided an ultrasound imaging system and a method of forming a plurality of scan lines and frames by using receiving signals provided by transducers in a probe. Main scan lines, which are selected among the scan lines and supplement scan lines determined with the others, are assigned to each scan line data forming unit in the ultrasound imaging system. A partial data of the main scan line and a first supplement data of the supplement scan line are formed with receive data obtained from receive signals from at least one transducer. A second supplement data provided from other scan line data forming units is applied to the partial data of the main scan line to form a scan line data of the main scan line.
US08968199B2	Spatial compound imaging in an ultrasound system Embodiments for forming an ultrasound spatial compound image by correcting refraction of ultrasound signals in an ultrasound system are disclosed herein. An ultrasound data acquisition unit forms a first set of ultrasound frame data and a second set of ultrasound frame data by using non-steered scan lines and steered scan lines, respectively. The processor, which is coupled to the ultrasound data acquisition unit, forms a plurality of sets of resampled ultrasound frame data based on the second set of ultrasound frame data, selects one particular set of ultrasound frame data from the group consisting of the second set of ultrasound frame data and the plurality of sets of resampled ultrasound frame data based on the first set of ultrasound frame data and spatially compounds the one particular set of ultrasound frame data and the first set of ultrasound frame data to form an ultrasound spatial compound image.
US08968190B2	Single incision surgical portal apparatus including inner member A surgical apparatus includes a housing member and an inner member. The housing member includes an expandable material that is adapted to transition between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. In the expanded condition, an outer surface of the housing member is adapted for a substantial sealing relationship with tissue upon insertion of the housing member within the tissue for accessing an underlying tissue site. The housing member has leading and trailing ends that define a longitudinal axis. The inner member is operably associated with the housing member and includes one or more longitudinal portals extending therethrough adapted for substantially sealed reception of a surgical object. The inner member may be less compliant than the housing member. The inner member may rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing member.
US08968189B2	Flexible access assembly with multiple ports An access assembly configured to receive one or more surgical instruments is provided. The access assembly includes a flexible housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing defining a longitudinal passageway extending from the proximal end to the distal end and a seal assembly received within the longitudinal passageway of the housing. The seal assembly defining a plurality of ports each configured to receive an instrument inserted therethrough in a sealing manner.
US08968188B2	Expandable segmented and sectioned access assembly An improved access assembly is provided. The access assembly includes a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular member including at least one section extending at least a portion of a length therein. The access assembly further includes a first ring including a plurality of first segments and secured at the proximal end of the tubular member and a second ring including a plurality of second segments and secured at the distal end of the tubular member. At least two segments of the first plurality of segments are independently expandable. At least two sections of the plurality of sections are independently expandable.
US08968180B2	Apparatus for completing implantation of gastric band An instrument comprises a handle, an articulating shaft, an end effector, and a translatable hook member. The shaft defines a side aperture, proximal to an articulating section of the shaft, through which the hook member protrudes when the hook member is translated distally. The end effector is used to form a retrogastric tunnel through blunt dissection in tissue near a patient's gastro-esophageal junction; and then to pull a gastric band through the tunnel to position the gastric band about the gastro-esophageal junction. The end effector is then used to hold a first portion of the gastric band in place while the hook member is extended distally to engage a second portion of the gastric band. The hook member may then be retracted proximally to couple the second portion of the gastric band with the first portion of the gastric band, thereby latching the gastric band in place.
US08968171B2	System for correlating energy field characteristics with target particle characteristics in the application of an energy field to a living organism for imaging and treatment of invasive agents The Energy Field and Target Correlation System automatically correlates the characteristics of target particles and a living organism to compute the characteristics of an energy field that is applied to a living organism to activate the target particles which are bound to or consumed or taken up by invasive agents in the living organism to produce detectable effects which can be used to image and treat the invasive agents. The energy field must be crafted to properly control the response and localize the extent of the illumination. The System automatically selects a set of energy field characteristics, including: field type, frequency, field strength, duration, field modulation, repetition frequency, beam size, and focal point. The determined energy field characteristics then are used to activate field generators to generate the desired energy field.
US08968166B2	Sports performance enhancement system A sport performance enhancing system includes a left glove, a right glove, a vest, a belt, a left shoe, a right shoe, and a plurality of resistance bands. The left glove and the right glove each consist at least one D-ring which provide the attachment of the left and right glove with the plurality of resistance bands. The vest also consist a plurality of vest rings that attaches with the plurality of resistance bands, attaching the left and right glove. A plurality of O-rings and a shoe D-ring in the left and right shoe are attached to the plurality of resistance band from one end, and the free end of the plurality of resistance bands attaches with a plurality of vertical rings and a plurality of horizontal rings which are positioned around the belt.
US08968164B2	Exercise apparatus and method with sliding handle assembly Exercise apparatus and method including a slidable handle assembly. In one embodiment, a support arm structure, pivotally mounted on an upright frame, enables alternatively fixed positioning of a rod at various vertical distances above a ground plane, in a generally horizontal orientation. A pair of left and right handle bracket assemblies are sildably mounted on the rod, and can be engaged by a user for moving the slidable handle bracket assembly across the rod while overcoming a resistance established by an adjustable resistance mechanism (e.g., weight stack). In one embodiment, the apparatus and method are used for developing muscles used during trunk rotation of a user in a standing position.
US08968160B2	Treadmill belt support assembly A treadmill comprising: a pair of rollers mounted on a frame; an endless running belt wound around the rollers under a selected tension; at least one of the rollers having a roller pulley for receiving a drive belt; a drive mechanism comprising a driven rotor having a drive pulley; the drive belt being wound around the roller pulley and the drive pulley at a drive tension created by the selected tension in the running belt.
US08968157B2	Hurdle with automatic displacement of counterweights A hurdle includes two base parts, each base part having a hollow space; a counterweight; a gear transmission arranged in each base part to displace the counterweight; tubular elements that include first second tubes displaceable telescopically relative to one another, each of the first tubes being fixed to one of the base parts; locking elements that lock the first and second tubes relative to one another; a bar connecting upper ends of the second tubes; a force-transmitting unit that extends from the hollow space in each base part and is connected to an associated second tube; and guides arranged in each base part, where the gear transmission engages both with the force-transmitting unit and with a driver for the counterweight, where the force-transmitting unit is received in the guides, and where the gear transmission is adapted to cooperate with openings provided in the force transmitting unit.
US08968156B2	Methods for determining workout plans and sessions We have disclosed methods of determining workout plans and sessions for an individual. The methods may include receiving input from the individual, determining a first type of workout based on the input, determining a plurality of workout sessions for the first type of workout for a workout plan, determining a second type of workout that is different than the first type of workout based on input from the individual, determining a plurality of workout sessions for the second type of workout for the workout plan, and storing data describing the workout plan, including data describing the workout sessions for the for the first and second types of workouts, in a memory accessible by a server computer system.
US08968155B2	Resistance apparatus, system, and method A resistance exercise system having, in certain embodiments, a DC power supply system, a DC motor connected to the DC power supply system, a drive section connected to a drive element, a resistance delivery element connected to the drive element, and an extractable exercise resistance delivery section, a predetermined variable resistance section intermediate the DC power supply system and DC motor, an electrical condition sensor, and a variable resistance section control in communication with the electrical condition sensor and the predetermined variable resistance section. In some embodiments, the resistance exercise system includes a computing facility providing the ability to configure the exercise system to provide predetermined static or variable exercise resistance during exercise, and for example, during a positive or negative exercise stroke. Some embodiments allow users to create and, if desired, display varying and complex resistance exercise routines with or without use of resistance weights.
US08968152B2	Transmission arrangement comprising a power mixing mechanism A transmission arrangement for transmitting power from a power source to an electrical generator. The transmission arrangement comprises a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and an alternative transmission that is more efficient at transmitting power than the CVT. The transmission arrangement further comprises a power mixing mechanism for combining power from the CVT and the alternative transmission into a combined power output to be provided to the electrical generator. The percentage of CVT power within the combined power output decreases as the power supplied by the power source increases.
US08968147B2	Switchable gear in a handheld power tool A switchable gear in a handheld power tool has at least two gear stages which are to be engaged via an adjustable switching member, the switching member being in a latched position via a retaining element fixedly held against a housing in a first gear stage. Furthermore, a spindle for receiving a tool may be driven via an axially spring-loaded gear wheel, the gear wheel being axially supported on the retaining element on the side opposite the switching member.
US08968143B2	Multi-speed transmission with an engine start/stop enabler A transmission includes an input member, an output member, a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms that are selectively engageable to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member, and one or more latches associated with one or more of the torque-transmitting mechanisms. The one or more latches engages the respective torque-transmitting mechanisms during or prior to a start event.
US08968130B2	Bicycle cogset with support element A cogset, which is adapted to connect to a rotatable hub in a bicycle, includes a first cog, a second cog connected to the first cog, and a support element installed to the second cog. A limiting side of the support element is abutted against a side of the second cog. The support element is mounted by the first cog. Each of the first and second cogs is not directly connected to the rotatable hub.
US08968129B2	Chain guide assembly with deflectable contact member A bicycle chain guide assembly that includes a chain guide member having a mounting portion adapted to be positioned adjacent a chain ring of a bicycle, and a contact member removably affixed to the mounting portion. The mounting portion extends in a chain-running direction and has a chain-ring side and an opposite side. The contact member includes a first end portion affixed to the mounting portion and a chain contact portion that extends from the first end portion in the chain-running direction and is positioned adjacent the chain-ring side of the mounting portion. A gap is defined between the chain-ring side of the mounting portion and the chain contact portion of the contact member.
US08968128B2	Tensioning device for a belt drive and electric engine with such a tensioning device A tensioning device (2) is provided for a starter generator drive belt of an internal combustion engine and a starter generator (1) equipped with such a tensioning device. It includes a tensioning housing (8, 8a, 8b) with two belt pulleys (6, 7) and a bearing support (9) fastened at the machine housing (3) of the starter generator, on which the tensioning housing is pivotally supported via a friction bearing.
US08968125B2	Tennis racket A tennis racket may include a handle with a butt end, and a head configured to support strings. The tennis racket may also include a throat connecting the handle and the head, wherein the racket may have a Power Maneuverability Ratio from about 4500 to about 7915, the Power Maneuverability Ratio governed by the equation: PMR= ( S ⁢ ⁢ W ) ⁢ ( R ⁢ ⁢ W ) ( P ⁢ ⁢ U ⁢ ⁢ W ) , where SW=the moment of inertia in kilogram-centimeters squared of the tennis racket about a swingweight axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tennis racket, parallel to a tennis ball hitting surface contained by the head, and intersecting a point on the handle that is four inches from the butt end along the longitudinal axis, R ⁢ ⁢ W = S ⁢ ⁢ W - ( W ⁢ ⁢ t 1000 ) ⁢ ( b 10 - 10.16 ) 2 , Wt=the weight of the racket in grams, b=the distance in millimeters between a center of gravity of the racket to the butt end.
US08968121B2	Cuff-based athletic training device An athletic training device for enabling and teaching proper athletic movements while executing various athletic exercises. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to an athletic training device that enhances neuromuscular control in connection with keeping an athlete's hands close to each other, and also close to his/her torso by providing a restricted range of motion while being easily wearable and removable. Generally, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to adjustable, comfortable, cuff-based training devices that securely encircle a user's wrists with cuff-based members flexibly bound together for use in connection with swing-based movements. A central connecting sub-section typically comprises attachments, which affix a resilient, flexible medium to either of the cuff-based members providing a limited-but not unduly rigid-range of motion during utilization. Moreover, the cuff-based training device provides rigidity while contorting as the wearer performs various athletic actions confirming correct and proper techniques.
US08968117B2	Dual-core comprising zero gradient center and positive gradient outer core layer A golf ball comprising: an inner core formed from a first substantially homogenous rubber composition comprising a carbon-carbon initiator, the inner core having a geometric center and a first outer surface having a hardness less than that of the geometric center by up to about 20 Shore C; an outer core layer disposed about the inner core formed from a second substantially homogenous rubber composition and comprising a second outer surface having a hardness that is up to about 43 Shore C points greater than the hardness of the geometric center; an inner cover layer disposed about the core comprising an ionomeric material and having a material hardness of about 55 Shore D or greater; an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer comprising a polyurea or polyurethane and having a material hardness of 20 Shore D to 70 Shore D.
US08968114B2	Golf club head or other ball striking device with weighted body member A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
US08968113B2	Golf putting trainer device A device for assisting and training golfers with their putts. The device includes an elongated section configured to be placed on the ground where the golfer intends to make his backswing for a selected put. A vertical section or “backstop” is configured to be placed at selected locations along the elongated section to corresponding to different putt lengths, and therefore different backswing lengths. A distance scale may be printed on the elongated section. Light projection devices may be included to project a predicted ball path. A backswing speed indicator system may also be included.
US08968110B2	Free-standing jumping device An apparatus includes a support frame, a resilient member, a seat, and a retainer. The resilient member has a first end portion configured to be coupled to the support frame and a second end portion, opposite from the first end portion. The seat is configured to be coupled to the second end portion such that the seat is suspended from the support frame by the resilient member. At least one of the first end portion and the second end portion includes multiple sleeves, each defining an opening therein. A portion of the retainer is configured to be disposed within a first one of the sleeves and coupled to at least one of the seat and the support frame such that a position of the seat relative to the support frame is adjustable by disposing the portion of the retainer within a second one of the sleeves.
US08968109B2	Aggressive linear acceleration system (A.L.A.S.) motion ride method A method utilizes reduced operational time and motion paths with consequently reduced manufacturing, operational, and maintenance costs relative to roller coasters, motion simulators, and other similar thrills rides currently in use. This method is accomplished by an Aggressive Linear Acceleration System (A.L.A.S.) maneuver, which is defined as 1) moving a passenger vehicle (107) at a constant angular speed (A) about one central axis of rotation (105), 2) moving passenger vehicle (107) at constant angular speed (A) about central axis of rotation (105), and away from central axis of rotation (105) at an increasing speed by a negative driven acceleration C, and 3) moving passenger vehicle (107) at constant angular speed (A) about central axis of rotation (105), and away from central axis of rotation (105) at a decreasing speed by a positive driven acceleration E. Consequently, the A.L.A.S. maneuver removes current limitations of amusement and thrill rides allowing for incorporations of simulation and motion technologies that presently are not viable.
US08968104B2	System and method of providing wagering opportunities based on multiplayer interactions The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. The system may trigger reveals based on multiplayer interactions, such as, for example, a player-versus-player (“PvP”) interaction, a tournament interaction, a massively multiplayer online (“MMO”) interaction, and/or other types of multiplayer interactions. Regardless of the type of multiplayer interaction, the system may manage reveals based on an individual user's unrevealed balance, which includes payouts resulting from real-world wagers (and/or other value) that have not yet been revealed to the user.
US08968102B2	Wireless communication game system A wireless communication game system includes a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, which function as a parent device or a child device and are capable of making a communication with each other, and broadcasts from the parent device a parent device packet including a parent device PID, a user name UserName, a game name GameName, an OC flag, an E slot, a U slot, and a payload. All the parent device packets are received from the parent device existing within a communicationable range of a user's own apparatus, and the user's own apparatus creates a parent device list, and displays the parent device list on an LCD. Therefore, a user or a player of his own apparatus looks at the game name of the parent device list, for example, and operates a cross key included in an operation key so as to select one desired parent device. Then, transmitting a child device number CID of the user's own apparatus at the E slot designated by the parent device packet, the user's own apparatus transmits a connection request to the parent device.
US08968100B2	Sports training apparatus and method A system (234, 220, 200) for monitoring movements of one or more users and/or one or more projectiles during sports activities performed by the one or more users is provided. The one or more projectiles (200) incorporate sensors (202, 204) for sensing movements of the one or more projectiles (200) during the sports activities. A user interface (220) is used for presenting automated sports training services. A data processing arrangement (234, 232, 220) is used for analysing one or more records of the movements of the one or more projectiles (200) against reference data, for providing the automated sports training services to the one or more users via the user interface (220).
US08968099B1	System and method for transporting virtual objects in a parallel reality game Systems and methods of transporting virtual objects through a virtual world associated with a parallel reality game are provided. The virtual world has a geography that parallels at least a portion of the geography of the real world. A method includes accessing at least one data source storing or providing data associated with the location of a real world carrier. The method further includes modifying game data associated with the parallel reality to transport at least one virtual object through the virtual world, such that the position of the virtual object in the virtual world is based, at least in part, on the data associated with the location of the real world carrier. Other implementations are directed to systems, apparatus, non-transitory computer-readable media, devices, and user interfaces for transporting virtual objects in a location-based parallel reality game.
US08968098B2	Method and apparatus for online gaming on terminals A method and apparatus for enabling a player to participate in a live online game via a landbased gaming terminal. A game manager is playing the game while being captured for example by a video camera. A player participates in the game through using the landbased gaming terminal, which presents the image stream and lets the player make selections and perform actions for participating in the game.
US08968097B2	Game server and scenario control program In a game server wherein a player can play a game online by operating a game terminal, and game program has two or more partial scenarios and the partial scenario has an event to be played by forming a party through two or more players, a unifier that unifies and controls scenario proceeding of the player as a challenger, a controller that controls to prohibit the unified player from executing another events, a processor that does a procedure corresponding to clearing on the player as the challenger to whom clearing of the event was judged, and a releaser that releases unification of the player classified into the challenger are provided.
US08968096B2	Game server and player control program A game server through which a game can be played by operating one's own operation character in a virtual space therein, has a memory that stores an attainment state of a succeeding quest every each player every partial quest, controller that controls not to execute the partial quest that has been already cleared again, judger that judges whether each game terminal is able to execute the partial quest when inputting an order entry notice showing execution of the partial quest through cooperation play, and a changer that rewrites and changes attainment state of the partial quest into “before execution of quest” for the game terminal judged to be impossible to execute such a partial quest so as to execute the partial quest.
US08968089B2	Gaming machine with player scalable video-displayed game elements In accordance with the invention a player may change the size of or “scale” first game information which is displayed by one or more video displays of a wagering gaming machine relative to other displayed game information. In a preferred embodiment, the size of primary game information such as the images of playing cards or the like may be changed relative to secondary game information such as pay table, credit, and other information. The player may change the scale of displayed game information via player input, such as to a touch screen which overlays a displayed graphical slider. The size of the game information may change proportional to the distance of player input to the touch screen.
US08968083B2	Gaming system and method for dynamically grouping gaming devices to provide progressive awards A gaming system enables players of a group of gaming devices to wager on progressive or other awards for that group and tracks an amount of player activity at the group. If player activity of the group exceeds an upper reconfiguration threshold, the gaming system disassociates one or more gaming devices from the group to reduce the amount of player activity. If the player activity of the group falls below a lower reconfiguration threshold, the gaming system associates one or more additional gaming devices with that group to increase player activity. Reallocation of gaming devices can occur following a player winning the award for the group. The system can incrementally increase an award reset amount, while reducing the odds of winning the award, to maintain a desired range of gaming experiences. The system can also enable a player to select an initial groups based on a characteristic of that player.
US08968082B2	System and method of managing user accounts to track outcomes of real world wagers revealed to users The invention relates to systems and methods of maintaining revealed and unrevealed balances that both belong to a user, but the user is aware only of the revealed balance. In this manner, the system can give the user an impression that a value (e.g., a cash amount or other value) has been gained or lost by transferring the value between the revealed and unrevealed balances of the user, even though no gain or loss actually occurred. The unrevealed balance may include a payout from a real-world wager. Thus, payout may be revealed to the user in a manner that the user believes that the payout was won by the user through a game or other interactive media, even though the payout belongs to the user based on the payout. Other changes in value to the unrevealed and revealed balances may occur as well.
US08968081B2	Methods and apparatus for providing for disposition of promotional offers in a wagering environment Disclosed are data processing apparatus, systems, and methods implemented over a gaming network for providing for disposition of promotional offers in a wager-based gaming environment. A monitoring engine receives an identification of a promotional offer as having an unredeemed status. A determining engine determines that the promotional offer having the unredeemed status satisfies one or more parameters to designate the promotional offer for an auction. Such designation is independent of real-time wager-based game play in the gaming network. An auction control engine provides the designated promotional offer as an item to be auctioned in the wager-based gaming network.
US08968074B2	Wagering game, gaming machine, gaming system and method with a player-interactive bonus feature A wagering game, gaming machine, gaming system and method are disclosed wherein a player-interactive bonus feature is triggered and displayed simultaneously with a wagering game presentation and a bonus award is paid responsive to a player selecting a displayed bonus target, such as a balloon. The bonus award is paid in addition to any award payable based on the wagering game outcome.
US08968073B2	Gaming system and method providing a server that determines reel sets for subsequent game plays System and method providing reel sets for subsequent plays. A user playing a user device wagers a wager amount on a play of a game. The user device displays a base reel set spinning. A server determines an outcome for the current play and a second reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount. The server communicates second reel set data and outcome data to the user device. The reels are stopped in accordance with the determined outcome. When the user wagers that same wager amount on another play of that game, the user device displays the second play of that game using the second reel set, the server determines a third reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount, and communicates third reel set data to the user device.
US08968070B2	Method and apparatus for conducting a game of chance The field of the invention relates generally to lotteries and gaming, and more particularly, to systems for conducting casino-based gaming. After a player subscribes to play multiple games on a video gaming machine, the player may choose to finish playing the games elsewhere. The video gaming machine may then determine the outcomes for the games yet to be played and then may issue a ticket to the player.
US08968065B2	Combine harvester grain cleaning apparatus A combine harvester comprises a separating apparatus arranged to receive a threshed crop stream and convey rearwardly. The separating apparatus comprises a grate for allowing grain and chaff to fall onto an underlying separator pan, the separator pan being driven in an oscillating manner to convey a grain/chaff stream forwardly for delivery to a cleaning unit. The separator pan comprises a first portion and a second portion disposed forwardly of the first portion. A rear edge of the second portion is releasably attached to a front edge of the first portion, the second portion being pivotable around a forward mounting around a transverse axis between an operating position in which the second portion is attached to the first portion forming a continuous pan surface, and a lowered position in which the second portion is detached from the first portion giving maintenance access to the underside of the separating apparatus.
US08968063B2	Vent installation method A method for installation of an adhesive vent over an aperture in a surface is described, the adhesive vent has at least one substantially straight serrated edge and an air permeable venting region, an adhesive region having adhesive disposed thereon surrounding the air permeable venting region. The method comprises providing an edge guide adjacent to the aperture, the edge guide adapted to inhibit motion in at least one direction on the surface, positioning the serrated edge on the surface such that the edge of the adhesive vent engages with the edge guide and pressing the adhesive vent onto the surface such that the air permeable region of the adhesive vent covers the aperture and the adhesive vent is fixed to the surface by the adhesive.
US08968059B2	Device and method for processing meat, particularly fish The invention concerns an apparatus for processing meat, in particular fish, comprising a processing tool, an actuating unit associated with the processing tool for moving the processing tool out of a starting position into a processing position and vice versa, and a control device which is operatively connected to the processing tool or actuating unit for control of the processing tool, which is distinguished in that the actuating unit comprises a cylinder unit having two pressure cylinders which are arranged one behind the other and connected to each other, wherein the processing tool is arranged on one of the two pressure cylinders of the cylinder unit and the two pressure cylinders can be controlled independently of each other. Furthermore, the invention concerns a corresponding method.
US08968050B1	Bra saver device A bra saver device made for underwire and non-underwire bras to provide protection to the wearer from sudden exposure to underwires and to provide comfort between the wearer of a bra from friction caused by movement of a bra during normal use. The present invention easily attaches to the edge of a bra by opening the clip to the present invention and placing it over the bra where ever an underwire has become exposed and then closing the clip to securely attach the present invention to a bra. The present invention can also be attached to any section of the bra at the edge along the bra at the top or the bottom, front or back where the wearer of the bra experiences discomfort.
US08968047B1	Balloon display system with inflatable balloon, balloon holder cup and flexible rod with mounting pole The balloon display system used in indoor and outdoor show rooms and the like. The system includes a heavy plastic inflatable balloon. The balloon is mounted on top of a circular balloon holder cup. The cup and the balloon are attached to an upper end of a flexible rod. A lower end of a flexible rod can be attached to a flexible or a rigid, hollow mounting pole. A lower end of the mounting pole can be attached to an upper end of a ground stake. A lower end of the ground stake is inserted into a ground surface. Also the lower end of the mounting pole can be mounted on top of a weighted base stand or other upright objects. The system is designed to display one balloon or a plurality of balloons in a balloon cluster.
US08968045B2	Cathode selection method A cathode selection method includes measuring, by using a cathode having an electron emission surface which is a flat surface and a emission area which is limited, a total emission emitted from the cathode; calculating, using a measured total emission value, work function by a Richardson Dash Man's formula; and determining whether or not the cathode has the work function equal to or under an acceptable value.
US08968042B2	Electric marine propulsion device with integral magnetic gearing A propulsion device for a marine vessel, the propulsion device comprising an electrical machine with integral magnetic gearing, which comprises three members, namely a first or inner rotor comprising a first plurality of permanent magnets, a second rotor in the form of a plurality of ferromagnetic pole pieces, and a stator which is associated with a plurality of 3-phase windings and to the periphery of which a plurality of second permanent magnets are fixed. The magnetic pole piece rotor is connected to a drive shaft provided with a propulsion means for providing propulsion to the marine vessel. The first or inner rotor is free to rotate about the drive shaft. The pole pieces of the second rotor are arranged to magnetically couple the permanent magnets of the first or inner rotor to the second permanent magnets on the stator.
US08968041B2	Device for capturing, transmitting, and displaying individual rower data A device that captures and processes individual rower data and transmits the data to a display for use by the coxswain or the coach to enable the provision of immediate feedback to one or more rowers in order to improve the overall performance of the boat.
US08968040B2	Method of operating a marine vessel propulsion system, marine vessel propulsion system, and marine vessel including the same A marine vessel includes a plurality of turning mechanisms provided respectively in correspondence to a plurality of outboard motors. Each turning mechanism includes a hydraulic pump, an electric motor to drive the hydraulic pump, a hydraulic cylinder including two cylinder chambers partitioned by a piston, and a normally-closed bypass valve to put the two cylinder chambers of the hydraulic cylinder into communication with each other. Upon judging that there is a malfunction in the turning angle control of at least one of the outboard motors, a main ECU displays on a display an operation guidance screen to urge a marine vessel operator to open the bypass valve of the turning mechanism corresponding to the malfunctioning outboard motor. Also, the main ECU keeps a power transmission between an engine and a propeller in the malfunctioning outboard motor in an interrupted state.
US08968038B2	Connector apparatus A connector apparatus includes a board mounting connector mounted on a board housed in a housing case, a mating connector fit to the board mounting connector, and a guide hood that has a connector fitting part to guide insertion of the mating connector and is fit into an opening section of the housing case. The board mounting connector has a recessed fitting part, into which a housing front-end side fitting part of the mating connector is inserted. A connector fitting part of the guide hood has a second opening whose width is wider than a width of a first opening of the recessed fitting part and is substantially equal to a width of a housing rear-end side fitting part of the mating connector. A retainer is held in a housing rear-end side fitting part of the mating connector.
US08968033B2	Electrical connector and interface thereof An assembly includes a receptacle and a plug. The plug comprises a plug insulative housing with a front mating region, a plurality of plug contacts disposed in the housing with plug contacting sections exposed upon the mating region and a plug metallic shell enclosing the front mating region to commonly define a plug mating port. The plug metallic shell defines essentially a rectangular cross-section including two opposite long sides and two opposite short sides perpendicular to each other. A pair of chamfered structures is formed on two opposite corners along one of the two long sides, and a centered recessed area is formed on the other of said two long sides. The front mating region intimately abuts against the other of the two long sides. The receptacle has a receptacle metallic shell with a similar contour of the plug metallic shell.
US08968029B2	Socket for nano SIM card The present invention relate to a socket for a nano SIM card first to third connection parts arranged in a transverse direction, and fourth to sixth connection parts arranged in parallel with the first to third connection parts. The socket comprises: first to sixth terminals each comprising a contact part configured to be brought into close contact with an associated one of the connection parts of the nano SIM card and a soldering part configured to be soldered to a print circuit board; a housing comprising through-openings for first to sixth contact parts, which are formed at positions corresponding to the positions of the respective connection parts of the nano SIM card when the nano SIM card is inserted into the socket; and a cover coupled to the housing to define a space between the housing and the cover so that the SIM card is inserted into the space.
US08968026B2	High speed network interface A network interface adapted for high speed networks. The interface includes isolation circuits with a transformer containing two primary coils and two secondary coils. A wire making up each primary coil may be twisted with a wire making up a secondary. These two coils may then be co-wound on a common core. The transformer may be connected to a common mode choke. The isolation circuit may be packaged such that the transformer and coil are in a line, with isolation circuits for a plurality of pairs arranged in parallel. The interface circuit may be packaged in a connector housing, which also may be adapted for high speed performance. The housing may receive multiple isolation circuits in parallel. The housing may also include a mating contact portion in which mating contacts for signal conductors of each pair are positioned along the same side of a cavity.
US08968024B2	Communication connector with wire containment cap for improved cable retention A wire containment cap with a flexible seat is presented. The seat sits below an opening in the rear of the wire containment cap. The seat has a base with a pair of flexible members initially extending upwards from opposite sides of the base and then curve towards each other. In one embodiment the ends of the flexible members can curve down and towards each other in order to better conform to the shape of a cable. Alternatively the seat can be replaced with a U-shaped saddle with flexible arms supported by a post.
US08968023B1	Rotatable wiring harness for cable and method The wiring harness provided herein affords adjustability of the relative orientation between the connecting cable and its interface connector in real time, during field applications. The harness rotates to accommodate varying access angles to the desired test point connector. A cable conduit of the harness can be adjusted vertically relative to the axis of its interface connector, as well. Cable wire integrity is maintained during manipulations of the cable conduit relative to the harness electrical connector and stress on the wires is minimized. The harness can be sealed from moisture and environmental factors. The harness can provide shielding from electromagnetic interference for the cabling housed therein. The present harness is well suited for service in high heat environments in, for example, testing of aircraft systems. A cylinder receives the cabling conduit and swivels within a slotted backshell. Slot configuration can limit the translation of the cable conduit.
US08968020B2	Electric connector An electric connector includes a housing having a groove configured to receive a signal-transmission medium, and a lock device including a locker configured to lock the signal-transmission medium at the groove, the locker being configured to move up beyond and down below a first inner surface of the groove extending in parallel with a direction in which the signal-transmission medium is received in the groove, the locker being energized towards a second inner surface of the groove, the second inner surface being disposed opposite to the first inner surface, and the lock device further including a compressor configured to compress the signal-transmission medium towards the second inner surface.
US08968019B2	Folding SO-DIMM socket Sockets that provide easy access for users to change cards while allowing the use of thinner device enclosures. One example provides a socket having two positions. When the socket is in an open state, the card may be oriented in a direction substantially away from the main logic board. When the socket is in a closed state, the card moves such that it is oriented at least closer to being in parallel to the main logic board.
US08968018B2	Electrical penetrator assembly An electrical penetrator assembly has a ceramic housing with a through bore, a first electrical conductor extending through at least part of the bore and terminating and having an outer end outside the bore and a second end, and a second electrical conductor having a first end in electrical communication with the second end of the first conductor and an outer end. The second end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor are in electrical communication and at least one of the conductors is movable relative to the other conductor to accommodate expansion and contraction as a result of temperature variations, and first and second seals extend between respective ends of the ceramic housing and the first and second conductor, respectively.
US08968016B1	Bus structure, terminal block, and terminal block assembly formed therefrom A bus structure includes a positioning rail, a bus body and bus bars. The bus body has a projecting portion and a depressed portion. The projecting portion has a ramp. A terminal block includes a housing and a connector, one of which includes a projecting portion and a depressed portion. The depressed portion has a ramp. Also disclosed is a terminal block assembly formed by combining the bus structure and the terminal block. The projecting portion of one of the housing and the connector engages with the depressed portion of the bus body and the projecting portion of the bus body is inlaid into the depressed portion of one of the housing and the connector, so that the ramps of the bus body and of the terminal block retain each other, thereby effectively preventing reverse combination between the bus structure and the terminal block, and preventing breakage of components thereof.
US08968015B2	Safety socket A safety socket includes a main body, a restraint mechanism and a release mechanism. The restraint mechanism includes an immovable end and a movable end. The immovable end is disposed in the main body. The movable end has a through hole. The through hole corresponds in position to one of insertion holes of the main body. The movable end has an annular protruding portion axially extending from the wall of the through hole. The annular protruding portion has a free end which is curved outward. The safety socket can prevent a plug from being disengaged from the socket by accident. The outer surface of the conductive pin of the plug won't be scraped and damaged by the wall of the through hole to enhance the service life and safety of the plug.
US08968011B2	Power track A metal power track has a U-section body having a pair of parallel side walls joined by a floor wall and delimiting a longitudinally extending retaining channel. Respective longitudinally extending and dielectric support rails are carried on the side walls, and a ground strip is provided on the floor wall. Two respective longitudinally extending, uninsulated bare main conductors are carried on each of the the dielectric support rails and are adapted to conduct power. Respective longitudinally extending uninsulated secondary conductors are carried on each of the dielectric support rails between the respective main conductors but out of electrical contact therewith. The conductors are all exposed transversely in the retaining channel. Each of the secondary conductors is adapted to carry electrical control signals or act as light-duty power feed lines.
US08968010B2	Press-fit type connector terminal The press-fit type connector terminal includes a pin section in the form of a flat plate, and a plurality of contact sections situated continuous to a front end of the pin section. Each of the contact sections includes a contact piece in the form of a barrel or a spindle surrounding an imaginary center line, the contact piece being formed with a slit extending substantially parallel to the imaginary center line, and the connector terminal is comprised of a single bent metal plate having elasticity.
US08968008B2	Universal circuit board module and electric connector using the same The present invention discloses a universal circuit board module and an electric connector using the same. The electric connector includes a housing and a universal circuit board module. The housing includes an electric connecter with a plurality of connecting ports and a recess. The recess is used for assembling the universal circuit board module. The electric connector is expanded by increasing the universal circuit board module having electric connecting head with demanded standard or particular function, such that the expansibility can be enhanced.
US08968007B2	Connector and fabrication method thereof Provided is a connector which ensures a sufficient contact pressure at a low cost and has a long connection life and also provide a fabrication method the connector. The connector 10 comprises a base member 100 and the contacts 200 projecting upwards and downwards of the base member 100. Openings 110 formed on the base member 100 extend in the direction crossing the pitch direction of the contacts 200. The contact 200 has an elastic-support member 220 and a contact film 260 pasted on the elastic-support member 220. The contact film 260 faces the opening 110 so that length of the contact film 260 can be larger than interval between the contacts 200 in the pitch direction. The contact 200 absorbs variations of a size of pads of the connection objects.
US08968006B1	Circuit board having a plated through hole passing through conductive pads on top and bottom sides of the board and the board In some embodiments, an interconnectable circuit board may include one or more of the following features: (a) a first electrically conductive pad located on a top of the circuit board, (b) a plated through hole on the conductive pad which passes through the circuit board, (c) a second electrically conductive pad coupled to the plated through hole; the second conductive pad capable of being electrically connected to a third electrically conductive pad attached to a top of a second interconnectable circuit board, (d) cut marks indicating safe locations for separating the circuit board, and (e) a second cut mark adjacent to the first cut mark where the area between the first and second cut mark can be utilized to make a safe cut through the circuit board.
US08968004B2	Integrated multimedia tool system and method to explore and study the virtual human body Several methods, processes and system for modular tool as an integrated multimedia tool system to explore and study the virtual human body is disclosed. Content and context modules allow for scientific gaming using modular multimedia objects, social media and different configurations. The disclosure allows an individual to travel through the virtual human body in a self guided and interactive tour. It specifically enables the user to learn the structure and function of different organs, different types of cells, intercellular space as well as different cellular organelles etc. Further, the system may be used by the local authority as an electronic study tool for seamless integrated mode of delivering the educational tool suited to the local curriculum. This may also serve as a tool for patients, doctors, focus groups and student to explore and learn about the pathological and physiological conditions in a human body.
US08968001B2	Forrest sponge aided sinus membrane lift technique The invention involves the use of pre-calculated and preformed, specific forms of medical grade polyurethane foam for sinus membrane surgery by a dentist, physician, or veterinarian, as a non-cutting surgical instrument. The invention uses various shapes to do the job of safely and gently releasing free, predetermined membrane thicknesses of sinus membranes from the boney sinus floor and sinus walls. Sinus surgery is made safer and simpler, even those with a challenging anatomy. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description. Furthermore, the present invention may utilize other specific sponge forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics. The forms and shapes and the various sized components are merely exemplary and can be varied to preferred surgical osteotomy and still fall within the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention will be determined only by the claims.
US08967996B2	Combustion controller The combustion controller controls the fuel and air that are supplied to the combustion furnace for burning substances, and addresses the aforementioned object by including: fuel supply unit for supplying fuel and air into the combustion furnace; air supply unit for supplying air into the combustion furnace, the air supply unit being disposed downstream of the fuel supply unit in the direction of flow of combustion air; concentration measuring unit for measuring the concentration of hydrogen sulfide of the combustion air by passing a measurement beam of light through the combustion air at a measurement position downstream of the fuel supply unit in the direction of flow of the combustion air; and control unit for controlling the amount of air supplied from the fuel supply unit based on a measurement result provided by the concentration measuring unit.
US08967990B2	Device and method for a layerwise manufacturing of a 3-dimensional object from a building material in powder form A method is provided, by which a three-dimensional object is manufactured by a subsequent solidification of layers of a building material in powder form at the positions in the respective layer that corresponds to the cross-section of the object by means of the action of a laser or another energy source, wherein as building material in powder form a material is used which contains the old powder that has remained as unsolidified powder in the manufacturing of one or more previously formed objects and a proportion of new powder that has not been used before in any manufacturing process, characterized in that the building material in powder form is mechanically consolidated when a layer is applied.
US08967986B2	Scroll fluid machine having seal member with plural linear cut arrangement To provide a higher sealing capability irrespective of the pressure difference between compression chambers, lips having leading ends extended toward the inner surface of a recessed groove are formed. At least some of the lips have a base end that is shaped to reduce rigidity against extension of the lips.
US08967985B2	Metal disk stacked stator with circular rigid support rings A stator for a helical gear device is formed from multiple rigid disks and support rings bonded to the disks. Each disk forms part of a profile consisting of radially equally spaced or opened lobes which interact with the convex portions of rotor lobes. The disks are arranged into a desired helical configuration and bonded to one another to form a disk stack defining a helically convoluted elongated chamber therein. The support rings are fixed concentrically against respective end disks of the disk stack. The rings are sized with an inside diameter substantially equal to the major diameter of the central aperture defined by the radially extending lobes of the rigid disks. As a rotor rotates and nutates inside the helically convoluted elongated chamber of the stator, it is supported at both ends of the disk stack by the support rings touching the tips of the rotor lobes. Thus the full force of the rotor's operational inertia is not borne by the disks alone, thereby increasing their life.
US08967982B2	Mechanical coolant pump A mechanical coolant pump for an internal combustion engine includes a main pump body configured to be stationary. A pump wheel is rotatably supported by the main pump body. The pump wheel comprises a central axial inlet opening. The pump wheel is configured to pump a coolant from the central axial inlet opening radially outwardly. A valve disk configured to be axially shiftable is arranged in the pump wheel. An actuator is configured to actuate the valve disk so as to close the central axial inlet opening in a closed position of the valve disk.
US08967979B2	Fan assembly A fan assembly includes a nozzle and a system for creating a primary air flow through the nozzle. The nozzle includes at least one outlet for emitting the primary air flow, and defines an opening through which a secondary air flow from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the emitted primary air flow and which combines with the primary air flow to produce a combined air flow. The nozzle includes a user operable device for allowing a user to adjust selectively at least one parameter, for example at least one of the profile, the orientation and the direction, of the combined air flow.
US08967978B2	Axial retention for fasteners in fan joint In a gas turbine engine, a fan rotor and a compressor rotor are connected to a joint which is attached to a shaft. The fan rotor is connected to the joint by a plurality of fasteners extending through mounting openings in the joint and through apertures in the fan rotor. A standard retaining ring is attached to the joint to cover a portion of an enlarged head of each of the respective fasteners in order to prevent removal of the respective fasteners from the mounting openings in the joint before the respective fasteners are connected to the fan rotor.
US08967974B2	Composite airfoil assembly A composite blade assembly for mounting on a turbine wheel includes a ceramic airfoil and an airfoil platform. The ceramic airfoil is formed with an airfoil portion, a blade shank portion and a blade dovetail tang. The metal platform includes a platform shank and a radially inner platform dovetail. The ceramic airfoil is captured within the metal platform, such that in use, the ceramic airfoil is held within the turbine wheel independent of the metal platform.
US08967972B2	Light weight shroud fin for a rotor blade A turbine blade is provided and includes a tip end carrying a shroud and at least one fin, which extends radially away from the shroud. The fin includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall, which are spaced apart, arranged parallel to each other, and are connected to the shroud, and a cutting edge, which is connected to the first and second sidewalls. The cutting edge thereby creates a hollow space between the sidewalls, the shroud, and the cutting edge, and further extends radially away from the first and second sidewalls. Also provided is a method of manufacturing the blade by casting the blade as single piece with the hollow fin or by forging the blade; and machining the fin to create the first and second sidewalls and cutting edge thereby opening the hollow space between said sidewalls and the cutting edge.
US08967970B2	Fluid pump A fluid pump 1, particularly a water pump 1, wherein an impeller 11 comprising a plain bearing bush 12 is rotatably supported on a bearing pin 13. The impeller 11 and the plain bearing bush 12 are thereby made of an identical base material in one or more pieces. A further material is mixed into the base material of the plain bearing bush 12, improving the sliding properties of the plain bearing bush 12 on the bearing pin 13.
US08967969B2	Prestressing device having radial activity A prestressing device extending about an axis between a first plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis and a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane and axially offset relative to the latter. The device includes a first annular body extending in the first plane, and a first series of at least three tabs, each of which is connected to the first body and extending in an essentially radial direction, each of the tabs of the first series including a planar surface extending in the second plane. This arrangement ensures surface contact between the parts of the elements to be subjected to prestressing. The device can be used for example for a rotor, and for example for a rotor of an unducted propeller for a turbine engine.
US08967967B2	Propfan engine The present disclosure relates to a propfan engine comprising: one or more rotor stages comprising a plurality of rotors; and an outer wall comprising an outer profile, at least a portion of the outer profile defining a substantially circular cross-section, wherein the diameter of the substantially circular cross-section increases in the direction of flow over the outer wall and downstream of a leading edge of the rotors, and the diameter increases at substantially all points defining the circumference of the substantially circular cross-section.
US08967960B2	Stack rotor with tie rod and bolted flange and method Method and rotor for a compressor. The rotor includes a solid first stub having a first end configured to engage with a corresponding bearing and a second end having a flange configured to be attached by bolts to a corresponding flange of a first impeller of the compressor; a tie rod configured to pass through the first impeller of the compressor; a nut being configured to engage a threaded region of the first end of the tie rod; and a solid second stub having a first end configured to receive the threaded portion of the second end of the tie rod and a second end configured to engage with a corresponding bearing. The tie rod does not contact the solid first stub.
US08967959B2	Turbine of a turbomachine A turbine of a turbomachine is provided and includes opposing endwalls defining a pathway into which a fluid flow is receivable to flow through the pathway; and a nozzle stage at which adjacent nozzles extend across the pathway between the opposing endwalls to aerodynamically interact with the fluid flow. The adjacent nozzles are configured to define a throat distribution exhibiting endwall throat decambering and pitchline throat overcambering.
US08967957B2	Rotating airfoil component of a turbomachine A rotating airfoil component equipped with one or more angel wings that inhibit the ingress of a hot working fluid into interior regions of a turbomachine in which the component is installed. The component includes an airfoil and a feature for mounting the component to enable rotation of the component within the turbomachine. An angel wing projects from the component to have a first surface facing the airfoil, an oppositely-disposed second surface facing the mounting feature, and at least one lateral surface therebetween. A thermal-insulating coating system is present on the first surface to inhibit heat transfer from the working fluid to the angel wing but not on the second or lateral surfaces so as not to inhibit heat transfer from the second and lateral surfaces of the angel wing.
US08967954B2	Intermediate floor for a radial turbine engine A radial turbomachine includes a radial diffuser channel with a diaphragm, a deflecting channel connecting to the radial diffuser channel downstream thereof, and a return flow channel connecting to the deflecting channel downstream thereof. The main flow direction of the radial diffuser channel runs radially from inside to outside. The main flow direction of the deflecting channel is deflected from radially outward to radially inward. The main flow direction of the return channel runs radially from outside to inside. The diaphragm comprises first, second and third outer surface sections. The first outer surface section has a convex shape for delimiting the deflecting channel. At least one consumption-gas removal channel is provided in the diaphragm so that, if the main flow in the deflecting channel comprises solid or liquid particles, a consumption gas can be discharged therefrom through the consumption-gas removal channel as low-particulate gas of a main flow.
US08967953B2	Liner coupling pin A coupling pin for use in a pump housing, the pump housing including an outer casing and an inner pump liner, the coupling pin being suitable for locating the liner and casing relative to one another, the coupling pin including a shank and a head at one end of the shank. The head includes a cammed surface thereon which is adapted to co-operate with a follower on the liner, and a locating section on a remote or terminal end of the head which is adapted to be positioned against a seat in the outer casing when fitted. The arrangement is such that rotation of the coupling pin causes the follower to track along the cammed surface so as to cause relative movement between the outer casing and the inner pump liner.
US08967952B2	Gas turbine engine duct blocker that includes a duct blocker rotor with a plurality of roller elements A rotational duct blocker for a gas turbine engine includes a duct blocker rotor and a duct blocker stator. The duct blocker rotor includes a plurality of first flow apertures extending axially therethrough, and a plurality of roller elements connected to an inner rotor platform. The first flow apertures are arranged circumferentially around the inner rotor platform. The duct blocker stator includes a plurality of second flow apertures extending axially therethrough, and a roller element track located radially within the inner rotor platform and in rolling contact with the roller elements. The second flow apertures are arranged circumferentially around an inner stator platform that is located axially adjacent to the inner rotor platform. The duct blocker rotor rotates relative to the duct blocker stator to regulate fluid flowing between the first flow apertures and the second flow apertures.
US08967947B2	Magnetically assisted kinetic turbine system A system accepts outside kinetic energy in various forms such as wind, rain or waterfall and produces electricity by use of traditional coils and magnets or other means. During lulls in obtaining outside kinetic energy, a wind wheel, water wheel or arm system will slow down and eventually stop. A system of magnets installed upon an arm system and upon a surrounding stationary housing 800 assists in rotating an arm system such that the arm system will require additional time to stop after a lull in outside kinetic energy. The artful placement and orientation of stationary housing magnets 250 in relation to moving arm magnets 200 assists in rotating an arm system powered by outside kinetic forces. The angles of the stationary housing magnets urge the arm magnets to move in the desired direction 900 of rotation. The system increases mechanical efficiency.
US08967945B2	Individual inlet guide vane control for tip turbine engine A tip turbine engine according to the present invention includes a plurality of independently variable inlet guide vanes for the fan and/or for the compressor. An actuator is operatively coupled to each of the flaps, such that each actuator can selectively vary the flap of its associated inlet guide vane. In one embodiment, the inlet guide vanes each include a pivotably mounted flap that is variable independently of the flaps of at least some of the other inlet guide vanes. In another embodiment, the inlet guide vanes each include at least one fluid outlet or nozzle directing pressurized air, as controlled by the associated actuator, to control inlet distortion.
US08967944B2	Accessory gearbox buffer cooling air pump system A buffer air pump provides pressurized cooling air for cooling components of the gas turbine engine. The buffer air pump is supported on and/or within an accessory gearbox and draws bypass air in through an inlet manifold. An impeller supported within a scroll housing pressurizes the incoming bypass air and directs the pressurized air through passages to a component requiring cooling. The buffer air pump draws in relatively cool air from the bypass flow, pressurizes the air with the impeller and sends the air through conduits and passages within the gas turbine engine to the component that requires cooling such as a bearing assembly.
US08967942B2	Container filling plant having a device for stacking product groups or sets, and a device for stacking product groups or sets in a container filling plant, and a device for stacking product groups or sets A product group stacking arrangement having a conveying arrangement that can continuously move in a substantially horizontal transport direction, and having a gripping and lifting device for gripping and lifting product groups. In operation, the gripping and lifting device grips a first product group being moved by the conveying arrangement at a stacking position, and then raises the first product group substantially solely in a vertical direction away from the conveying arrangement, and then lowers the first product group substantially solely in the vertical direction onto a subsequent, second product group being continuously moved by the conveying arrangement through the stacking position.
US08967941B2	Pressware stop ramp and method for using the same Pressware stacking systems and methods for using same. The system can include a conveyor for moving pressware in a first direction; a stop ramp at least partially disposed on the conveyor; and a lifter in communication with the stop ramp. The lifter is adapted to move at least a portion of the stop ramp to an inclined position above the conveyor.
US08967940B2	Seed carrier with pivoting conveyor A seed carrier includes a main hopper coupled with a frame via leg members. The main hopper has a discharge. A base plate is coupled with the frame. A support arm is rotatably coupled with the base plate at a first end. A belt driven conveyor having a conveyor hopper at a first end and a discharge at a second end is rotatably coupled with a second end of said support arm at an approximate center of gravity thereof. A latch mechanism is provided for detachably coupling the first end of the conveyor with the first end of the support arm such that the conveyor hopper is position below the main hopper discharge. When the conveyor is uncoupled from the first end of the support arm, the conveyor can rotate to a loading position wherein the discharge thereof can be positioned over the main hopper.
US08967937B2	Modular storage bin sweep system A modular storage bin sweep system utilizing paddles to sweep particulate matter across a floor may comprise a sweep assembly including at least two units connectable together. The assembly may comprise a plurality of interconnected paddles, a power unit configured to the paddles, a drive unit configured to move the sweep assembly with respect to a surface of the bin below the sweep assembly. In some embodiments, a traction enhancement structure may increase traction of the drive unit on the floor. In some embodiments, a pivot unit is configured to permit a degree of pivotability of the axes of the units with respect to each other, and may be combined with a drive unit. In some embodiments, the power unit includes a rotary electrical power transfer structure configured to transfer electrical power to the power unit when rotating in the bin.
US08967932B2	Fastener and fastener assembly having improved vibrational and tightening characteristics A fastener assembly is provided. The fastener assembly includes a nut having an internally threaded portion and an annulus extending from the nut and configured for receiving the shank of an elongate fastener. A compression collar is configured for deflecting the annulus into at least one of fixed engagement with the shank or to impart a spring bias of the annulus against the compression collar upon tightening of the nut about a working surface.
US08967929B2	Transportation and storage system for wind turbine blades A transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade comprises a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle and a tip end frame. The tip end receptacle comprises an upwardly open tip end-receiving space for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade and having a supporting surface for supporting the blade, a lower surface allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface, such as the ground, and releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space of the tip end receptacle. The tip end frame comprises an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space for receiving the receptacle and provided with positioning means for positioning the receptacle in the tip end frame. A base part defines a bottom surface allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on the ground.
US08967923B2	Dust suction device for drilling machine A dust suction device for detachable attachment to a hand-held drilling machine includes a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, an electric motor positioned in the housing, a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, a dust collection container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the suction fan, and a support frame. The support frame includes a first portion coupled to the housing, a second portion coupled to a neck of the drilling machine, and an auxiliary handle extending from one of the first and second portions of the support frame. The support frame supports the drilling machine in a side-by-side relationship with the dust suction device.
US08967916B2	Mine roof support apparatus and system A cable bolt includes a multi-strand cable segment constructed from steel wire strands, and a drive head. A compressible porous backer rod is placed along cable segment adjacent the drive head. A tubing portion provides a conduit for liquid grout injected under pressure into the bore hole. Tubing portion includes discharge holes that may be predrilled through the wall of the tubing portion. The holes provide a predetermined distribution path for the liquefied grout that is injected into the bore hole. Discharge holes may be evenly dispersed longitudinally along the wall, or distributed to provide a desired, unequal distribution of grout. Distribution holes may be larger at the top of the tubing, or may be distributed adjacent to the top of tubing portion to allow greater cross-sectional flow of grout from the tubing to compensate for factors that restrict grout flow nearer the top.
US08967913B2	Retractable chain connector A mooring leg connector (4) is configured for use with a mooring chain part (3) of a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to moor a floating structure (1) to the seabed. The connector has an elongate tubular element (5) extending in the mooring leg direction and a latch mechanism (6) for fixation of the mooring chain part to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement along the mooring leg in the direction of the seabed. The elongate tubular element has a passage for the mooring chain to pass through and includes at the top a double articulation axis including a roll articulation (7) and a pitch articulation (8). The roll and pitch articulations are coplanar.
US08967911B2	Boring system The invention relates to a system for the overground operation of underground sewer tools, especially of expander and pulling heads comprising a rod assembly that is rigid when pushed and a supporting device absorbing shear or tractive forces.
US08967910B2	Eccentric weight shaft for vibratory compactor A vibratory compactor includes a roller and an eccentric shaft. The roller is rotatably mounted on a main frame and may include a first vertical support and a second vertical support. The eccentric shaft is rotatably connected between the first vertical support and the second vertical support in the roller. The eccentric shaft includes a first end, a second end, a first eccentric weight, a second eccentric weight, and a center portion, casted as a single piece. The first eccentric weight is proximal to the first end and the second eccentric weight is proximal to the second end. The center portion may be disposed between the first eccentric weight and the second eccentric weight. The center portion may include at least one cavity on a surface of the center portion. The at least one cavity is elongated between the first eccentric weight and the second eccentric weight.
US08967905B2	Structural underlayment support system and panel for use with paving and flooring elements A paving system for paving or flooring includes a top layer of a plurality of paving elements, and an underlayment support layer of a polymeric material configured into panels. The panels are suitable to support the paving elements, the panels having a generally planar support surface.
US08967902B2	Fastening device for furniture fittings A fastening device for furniture fittings on furniture parts which includes at least one dowel core that can be inserted into a hole of a furniture part. The dowel core can be arranged inside a dowel sleeve, and an actuating device moves the dowel sleeve relative to the dowel core, so that the dowel sleeve spreads on the dowel core. The dowel core and the dowel sleeve have at least two, preferably more, corresponding inclined surfaces that are offset in the axial direction, so that if the dowel sleeve is moved relative to the dowel core, the dowel sleeve spreads substantially evenly at two, preferably more, axially offset locations.
US08967896B2	Cosmetic apparatus and method A cosmetic apparatus includes a double-ended cosmetic container having a liquid cosmetic reservoir chamber therein. Interchangeable end caps are removably attached to generally opposite ends of the container. An applicator wand, attached to the first end cap, is insertable through the first end and a first wiper insert, and selectively moved to the generally opposite second end so as to be insertable through the second open end and second insert, which is configured to funnel cosmetic material into the second insert and onto the applicator so as to capture the remaining cosmetic material.
US08967895B2	Application device for products The present invention relates to an application device (1) for a liquid or semi-liquid product contained in a receptacle (B), where the application device (1) comprises an adjusting screw (3), an applicator brush (2) and a sleeve (4). By means of the adjusting screw (3), the applicator brush's (2) position in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve (4) can be controlled, whereby the application device's (1) applicator element (21) is brought into contact with the liquid or semi-liquid product contained in the receptacle (B).
US08967894B2	Mascara brush A mascara brush capable of achieving the volume-up and curling of eyelashes by raising eyelashes with a mascara material applied is provided. The mascara brush is withdrawn from a mascara container, a button on the top of a grip is pressed, and then the brush is bent from a brush rod in an arc shape by a working member within a brush base, to prevent mascara materials adhered to a mascara rod from staining the periphery of eyes or nose, thereby providing a convenient use.
US08967889B2	Panning slider A rotating and sliding device is provided with a linear rail and a guide rail. A carriage with a rotating table travels along the linear rail. A second pivot point on the table is attached to an arm that travels along the guide rail. When the guide rail is askew from the linear rail, the linkage between the arm and the table causes the table to rotate as the device slides along the linear rail.
US08967887B2	Environmentally-sealable package for optical assembly Disclosed is a high speed flex circuit electronic interface in combination with a sealed optical connectorization approach for optical coupling. In a preferred embodiment, at a front end of the connector a wedge seal ring or “press ring” is pressed into the end of a slide tube, both of which are, in a preferred embodiment, made of metal such as stainless steel. The wedge end shape of the press ring in this preferred embodiment allows it to be easily pushed into the inside diameter of the slide tube, expanding the slide tube to create a radial surface seal maintained by the hoop stress developed in the slide tube initiated by the press ring, thereby creating a hermetic seal on a cylindrical portion of the flange assembly connector. A flex-circuit sealed back-end of the connector uses, in a preferred embodiment, polymer to polymer or polymer to metal bonding to create a hermetic seal on the back end.
US08967880B2	Optical collimator and optical connector using same In order to fix an optical fiber to a desired position in a holding member easily and tightly, provided is an optical collimator (10) having a plastic optical fiber (13) and a cylindrical holder (11). The holder (11) is configured to hold a collimator lens (12) at an end and has an insertion hole (11a) at an opposite end for inserting the plastic optical fiber (13). The plastic optical fiber (13) is sandwiched by an inner surface of a recess (11e) which is formed at a part of the holder (11) in proper alignment with the collimator lens (12).
US08967875B2	Bearing and method of inhibiting crack propagation in a bearing component A bearing includes a liquid lubricant and at least one ceramic component, which, during operation of the bearing, is subject to rolling contact load. A tribological surface of the at least one ceramic component is impregnated with a sealant, such that the liquid lubricant is prevented from entering discontinuities in the tribological surface.
US08967874B2	Lubricant retainer for pump shaft bearing assembly A lubricant retainer for use in a pump bearing assembly, the bearing assembly which in a first operating configuration is lubricated by a relatively highly viscous lubricant, and which in a second operating configuration is lubricated by a less-viscous lubricant, the bearing assembly comprising a bearing housing having a bore extending therethrough for receiving a pump drive shaft, spaced-apart bearing mounting zones within said bore with a chamber therebetween, each bearing mounting zone arranged for the in use receipt of a bearing therein. Each zone has associated therewith one lubricant retainer, the lubricant retainer being adapted to be mounted within the bore adjacent the bearing mounting zone with which it is associated so as to form a barrier between the bearing mounting zone and the chamber when the pump bearing assembly is in the first operating configuration, the retainer being removed when the pump bearing assembly is in the second operating configuration.
US08967870B2	Composite slide bearing A high-precision slide bearing includes a substrate of sintered metal and a synthetic resin layer. The bearing can be used for rotary shafts in compressors of room air-conditioners or in transmissions of motor vehicles and construction machines to support relatively large radial and axial loads. The resin layer is integrally superposed on the radially inner surface of the sintered metal substrate of the slide bearing, which is a cylindrical member. The resin layer is made of a resin composition of an aromatic polyetherketone resin containing a fibrous filler. The fibrous filler is made up of fibers dispersed in the resin layer and oriented such that their length directions intersect the rotational direction of the bearing at angles of 45 to 90 degrees. The resin layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm.
US08967866B2	Hydrodynamic bearing A hydrodynamic bearing is provided that includes an annular main foil having axially spaced inner and outer surfaces. Bump foils are supported circumferentially on the outer surface. Top foils are supported circumferentially on the inner surface opposite the bump foils. In one example, spacers are arranged between the top foils and the main foils. The spacers can be provided by chemically etching the main foil, in one example. The bump foils include first and second corrugated portions respectively providing first and second axially heights. The first axial height is less than the second axial height and is arranged at a leading edge of the bump foil relative to the direction of airflow across the hydrodynamic bearing.
US08967864B2	Main spindle device of machine tool A main spindle device of a machine tool includes a plurality of bearings that rotatably support a main spindle of the machine tool, and that are placed inside a housing with a pressure receiving member interposed between the bearings and the housing. The pressure receiving member is capable of moving in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the main spindle. A pressure chamber, which a pressure medium pressing the pressure receiving member toward the bearings in the perpendicular direction is supplied to, is formed in the housing. A plurality of the pressure chambers are independently formed in the housing so as to correspond to the bearings, respectively. The main spindle device further includes a plurality of adjustment units provided independently so as to correspond the pressure chambers, respectively, and each capable of independently adjusting a pressure of the pressure medium for a corresponding one of the pressure chambers.
US08967857B2	Temperature detection device that detects temperature of rotor of motor A temperature detection device that detects a temperature of a rotor of a motor. The temperature detection device has a current detection unit configured to detect a current value of a current flowing through a winding with which any one of a stator and the rotor of the motor is provided, an iron loss estimation unit configured to estimate an iron loss of the rotor using the current value, and a rotor temperature estimation unit configured to estimate the temperature of the rotor using the iron loss.
US08967854B2	Systems and methods for mixing and dispensing flowable materials Disclosed herein are systems and methods for mixing materials together and transferring the materials into other instruments, particularly for use in the medical field.
US08967853B2	Method and apparatus for mixing fluids Provided are a method and apparatus for mixing fluids, whereby small amounts of fluids are effectively mixed. An apparatus for mixing fluids includes: a chamber comprising a first region and a second region; a fluid influx channel connected to the first region through which a plurality of fluids flow into the chamber; a turbulent flow generation film interposed between the first region and the second region that includes through-holes through which the fluids are passed to generate turbulent flow in the fluids in the second region to mix the fluids; and a first fluid discharge channel connected to the second region through which the mixed fluids are discharged. Fluids are mixed without additional external devices. Thus, an apparatus for mixing fluids may be miniaturized while effectively mixing fluids.
US08967852B2	Mixers for immiscible fluids A mixer for mixing immiscible fluids includes a mixer housing defining a flow passage therethrough from a first fluid inlet to an outlet thereof. An upstream portion of the flow passage defines a main longitudinal axis. A second fluid inlet is provided downstream of the first fluid inlet in fluid communication with the upstream portion of the flow passage. The second fluid inlet is offset with respect to the main longitudinal axis of the flow passage to introduce fluid along a path that is offset with respect to the main longitudinal axis for inducing swirl on fluids introduced at the first and second fluid inlets. In certain embodiments, a mixer section is included having a flow constriction defined in a downstream portion of the flow passage with a flow area smaller than that of the upstream portion of the flow passage for enhancing turbulent mixing of fluids therein.
US08967848B2	Lighting device Provided is a lightweight flexible lighting device with excellent durability and stable performance over repeated use that combines an organic electroluminescent element, an organic photoelectric conversion element, and a secondary cell. The lighting device has a control means for controlling the electrical connections of the organic electroluminescent element, the organic photoelectric conversion element, and the secondary cell. The control means controls the electrical connections such that a reverse bias voltage is applied to the organic electroluminescent element when the organic electroluminescent element receives light, generates power, and charges the secondary cell, and such that a reverse bias voltage is applied to the organic photoelectric conversion element when the organic electroluminescent element is supplied with power from the secondary cell and emits light.
US08967847B2	Illumination assembly and display module An illumination assembly is adapted to illuminate a display module that is visible by reflecting environmental lights. The illumination assembly includes a substrate, a visual-light source, and a light guide. The substrate includes a top surface. The visual-light source is disposed on the top surface and is provided for emitting a visual light. The light guide is disposed corresponding to the top surface of the substrate. The light guide includes a light-incidence surface and a light-emergence surface. The visual light enters the light guide through the light-incidence surface and is reflected at least once. The visual light then exits the light guide through the light-emergence surface and travels along a light-emergence direction.
US08967842B2	Lamp condensation reduction system Lamp assemblies for reducing headlamp condensation are disclosed. One example lamp assembly includes a lamp housing including a front housing and a rear housing forming a lamp cavity; a light source extending from the rear housing into the lamp cavity; a reflector extending around the light source; and a duct extending between the rear housing and the reflector from the light source to a remote section of the lamp cavity spaced from the light source. The duct can include a duct cavity configured to draw air from the remote section of the lamp cavity toward the light source to reduce condensation in the lamp cavity.
US08967841B2	LED light module The invention relates to an LED light module (1) for a motor vehicle or for a head light for a motor vehicle, wherein the LED light module (1) has at least one LED light source (3) which comprises at least one light-emitting diode, and wherein the light (10, 11) which is emitted by the at least one LED light source (3) is emitted via at least one reflector (2) into a region located in front of a motor vehicle, wherein the light (10′, 11′) which is emitted via the reflector (2) forms a defined basic light distribution (30′), wherein according to the invention at least one shutter (4) is provided after the at least one LED light source (3) in the light exit direction, which at least one shutter (4) is located in the beam path of at least part of the light (20) which is emitted in the light exit direction by the at least one LED light source (3), and wherein the at least one shutter (4) is designed to reflect light at least in certain areas on its side (4′) facing the at least one LED light source (3), and wherein the at least one shutter (4) is arranged with respect to the at least one reflector (2) and the at least one LED light source (3) in such a way that light (20′, 21′) which is emitted by the at least one LED light source (3) and is reflected at the least one shutter (4) is reflected onto the at least one reflector (2) and is emitted from there into the external space, wherein the light beams (20″, 21″) which are emitted by the at least one reflector (2) form an additional light distribution (31′) which is located at least partially underneath the defined basic light distribution (30′) in the light pattern, or in one or more regions of the basic light distribution, preferably in a lower region of the defined basic light distribution (30′).
US08967839B2	Instrument cluster illuminated display element An instrument cluster includes a housing that provides a chamber. A light source is in communication with the chamber. A non-opaque display element is in communication with the chamber and has an exterior surface. An indicium is etched interiorly of the exterior surface without the indicium providing a portion of the exterior surface. The light source is configured to illuminate the indicium.
US08967838B1	Flexible LED substrate capable of being formed into a concave LED light source, concave light sources so formed and methods of so forming concave LED light sources An illumination source is made from number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which are distributed on a substrate that is formed into a generally concave reflector surface. The substrate may initially be a sheet with a hub-and-spokes form that is subsequently reshaped to define the reflector surface. In some cases a plenum defined between the substrate and a housing is used to allow a coolant to circulate past the substrate.
US08967836B2	Light having a lens and body with a threaded connection and a groove and a protrusion connection therebetween Disclosed is a lighting device including a body having an inside wall to provide a cavity, the inside wall being provided with a first screw, a light source disposed in the cavity, a power supply disposed at one side of the body to supply power to the light source, and a lens disposed on the light source, the lens being provided with a second screw coupled to the first screw. Disclosed is also a lighting device including a body having an inside wall to provide a cavity, the inside wall being provided with a first screw, a light source disposed in the cavity, a power supply disposed in the body to supply power to the light source, and a lens disposed on the light source, the lens being provided with a second screw coupled to the first screw so that the lens is spaced from the light source.
US08967834B2	Curved dead front display A curved dead front display assembly is provided which includes a first plastic layer, a transparent structural plastic layer, a mask layer with light transparent windows defining at least one graphic, a baffle layer having light transmitting hollow chambers, and a printed circuit board featuring light emitting diodes and electrical signal connections. The curved geometry achieves a sharp graphic image by electrically adjusting energy to each of the LEDs.
US08967831B2	LED bulb, lamp holder, or adaptor including a module that extends beyond a shade, cover, or other light blocking element to permit signal or light transmission to or from the module An LED bulb, lamp holder, or adaptor includes a module that extends beyond a shade, cover, or other light blocking element to permit signal or light transmission to or from the module.
US08967823B2	Combination light diffuser and acoustical treatment and listening room including such fixtures Combination light diffusion with either sound diffusion or absorption is provided in a single lighting fixture, to provide uniform luminosity and sound control. The traditional flat light diffuser is replaced with a translucent acoustical element which either diffuses sound or absorbs the sound. The sound diffuser topology includes random surfaces, geometrical shapes, number theoretic diffusers or optimized rectilinear or curvilinear surfaces. The translucent sound absorber includes microperforated or microslit panels, as well as translucent fabrics and microperforated, translucent wood veneers.
US08967818B2	Fluorescent screen and image display device provided with same A fluorescent screen includes phosphor regions 1-R, 1-G, diffusion region 1-B and reflecting means 10 formed on a region that includes phosphor regions 1-R and 1-G and diffusion region 1-B. Reflecting means 10 includes fluorescent light reflecting layer 11, phase difference layer 12, and polarizing layer 13 deposited in that order. Fluorescent light reflecting layer 11 transmits excited light 4 and reflects fluorescent light from phosphor regions 1-R and 1-G. Polarizing layer 13 both transmits excited light 4 and, of diffused light of the excited light (4) that was entered from diffusion region 1_B through Phase difference layer 12, transmits TM polarized light and reflects TE polarized light.
US08967815B2	Mirror with increased reflectance A process for manufacturing mirrors with increased reflectance includes forming a silver layer on a surface of a glass substrate, during which the surface is contacted with a silvering solution, and painting at least one paint layer to cover the silver layer. Between forming the silver layer and the painting, the process includes reheating the silver layer to a temperature of at least 200° C.
US08967814B2	Imaging lens with enhancement of blocking stray light An imaging lens includes a lens barrel having a base wall with a light incident hole around an optical axis, an imaging unit disposed in the lens barrel and including imaging components arranged along the optical axis, and a light shielding plate having an annular fixing portion for positioning the light shielding plate and a bent portion bent from an inner periphery of the fixing portion and extending slantingly toward the optical axis. The light shielding plate is disposed at one of a position between the base wall and one of the imaging components that is adjacent to the base wall, and a position between two adjacent ones of the imaging components.
US08967808B2	Ophthalmological measuring system and method for calibrating and/or adjusting the same An ophthalmological measuring system, for obtaining biometric data of an eye, provided with the necessary calibration and check devices for monitoring the functionality and the calibration status. The ophthalmological measuring system includes an illumination source for illuminating an eye with light and with a sensor for recording and analyzing back-scattered or reflected light components and a controller. At least one calibration and check system integrated in the ophthalmological measuring system for monitoring the functional and calibration status is provided. A device is also provided which houses the calibration and test structures and which reads off the individual physical data therefrom by an interface. The ophthalmological measuring system is in particular provided for determining biometrical data but can also be used for ophthalmological, dermatological or other devices which require calibration and/or functional checking at regular intervals.
US08967807B2	Ophthalmologic photographing apparatus An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus includes: an illuminating optical system for irradiating an examinee's eye with illuminating light; an imaging optical system including an imaging device for receiving a reflected light flux from the eye, the imaging optical system having an imaging optical axis inclined with respect to an optical axis of the illuminating optical system; and a first optical member for reducing an imaging incidence angle, the imaging incidence angle being defined as an angle between a normal direction of an imaging surface of the imaging device and a principal ray of the reflected light flux.
US08967805B2	Ophthalmology apparatus An ophthalmology apparatus may be provided with an input device, a processor, and an output device. The input device may be configured to input a corneal endothelial cell image to the processor. The corneal endothelial cell image can be obtained by photographing a corneal endothelial cell. The processor may be configured to extract a dark area from the corneal endothelial cell image input by the input device, and to analyze the extracted dark area. The output device may output a result of the analysis by the processor.
US08967803B2	Image capturing apparatus and auto-focusing method thereof An image capturing apparatus and an auto-focusing method thereof are provided. The method includes transmitting light beams from light sources to an eye including a cornea, a pupil, a crystalline lens, and a fundus. The light beams are transmitted to the fundus through the cornea. The light beams transmitted to the cornea form first light point images detected by an image sensor through a lens module having first and second lenses. According to the first light point images and focal adjustment data, the first lens and the light sources are moved simultaneously to focus on the cornea. The light beams are substantially intersected at the pupil and transmitted to the fundus to form second light point images detected by the image sensor through the lens module. According to the second light point images and the focal adjustment data, the first lens is moved to focus on the fundus.
US08967801B2	Self guided subjective refraction instruments and methods A refraction device determines a refraction end point to provide corrective optics for a test subject. The device includes an adjustable optical system providing corrective optics to the test subject and an adjustable viewing target disposed along an optical path such as to be viewable through the adjustable optical system by a test subject. The adjustable viewing target includes a directional indicator linked synchronously to at least two choices of corrective optics presented to the test subject.
US08967799B2	Method of preparing water extractable silicon-containing biomedical devices A method of preparing a water extractable silicon-containing biomedical device is disclosed. The method involves curing a monomer mixture comprising one or more silicon-containing biomedical device-forming monomers in the presence of a diluent to produce a silicon-containing biomedical device; wherein the diluent comprises a boric acid ester of a C1 to C8 monohydric alcohol.
US08967796B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus may include a corrugate mechanism configured to form a sheet into a corrugated shape. The inkjet recording apparatus may be configured to receive sheets of various sizes and shapes. Accordingly, in some examples, the inkjet recording apparatus may include differently configured portions to handle sheets of different sizes or shapes. According to one arrangement, the inkjet recording apparatus may be configured to receive passage of sheets of a first size through multiple ones of the differently configured portions while receiving passage of sheets of a second size though limited ones of the differently configured portions.
US08967793B2	Sheet transport device and image forming device A sheet transport device includes: a sheet transporting unit that transports a sheet; a sheet guiding member that is divided into plural member portions and guides the sheet transported from the sheet transporting unit; and a common locating member that is arranged on sides of the sheet guiding member which sandwich the member portions of the sheet guiding member, and collectively locates and holds the member portions of the sheet guiding member.
US08967792B2	Moveable platen cart for handling sheets of substrate media in a printing system Disclosed is a moveable platen cart for handling sheets of substrate media in a printing system. The platen cart includes a cart frame, a media platen, a vacuum port and a valve. The cart frame is configured to translate along a process track. The media platen is secured to the cart frame. The media platen has a foraminous upper surface for receiving a substrate media sheet thereon. The media platen has a subsurface cavity in fluid communication with the foraminous upper surface. The vacuum port is for evacuating air from the cavity. The valve is for selectively closing and opening the vacuum port.
US08967790B2	Sheet cutting device and image forming apparatus including the sheet cutting device A sheet cutting device includes a cutter including opposed blades to cut a sheet fed along a sheet feed path to the device, a cutter holder holding the cutter and reciprocally movable in a width direction of the sheet perpendicular to a sheet feed direction in which the sheet is fed, and a guide member including a first path to guide the holder in the width direction of the sheet to cut the sheet with the cutter and a second path to guide the holder in the width direction after the sheet is cut. The second path is disposed away from the first path in a thickness direction of the sheet perpendicular to both the sheet feed direction and the width direction of the sheet. When the holder moves along the second path, the holder is retracted away from the sheet feed path in the thickness direction of the sheet.
US08967786B2	Printing apparatus and methods Methods for curing ink printed on a print medium are disclosed. The methods comprise heating air to a temperature suitable for curing the ink, and blowing the air through a plurality of holes onto the print medium.
US08967785B2	Preheat at least one of media and media support member to predetermined temperature in preheat mode An image forming apparatus and printing methods include a media support member to support media and an ink applicator unit to selectively apply ink to the media disposed on the media support member in a print mode. The image forming apparatus and printing methods also include a heating unit to preheat at least one of the media support member and the media to a predetermined temperature in a preheat mode prior to the selective application of the ink to the media.
US08967780B2	Liquid cartridge Second and third outer surfaces intersect a first outer surface, and are spaced from each other. A sensor-signal output terminal is disposed on the first outer surface. A discharge port is disposed on the second outer surface. A channel member is closer to the second outer surface than a liquid storing section is. First and second directions are perpendicular to the first and second outer surfaces, respectively. A third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions. When a space is divided by an imaginary line parallel to the first direction, as viewed from the third direction, into a first region in which the channel member is disposed and a second region in which the liquid storing section is disposed, the sensor and terminal are disposed in the first region. The liquid channel extends linearly in the second direction. The sensor and terminal are aligned in the first direction.
US08967774B2	Liquid jet head, liquid jet apparatus, and method of manufacturing liquid jet head A liquid jet head includes an actuator substrate having ejection grooves and non-ejection grooves partitioned by walls each including a piezoelectric body. The non-ejection grooves have, at ends on one side thereof, respective inclined surfaces rising from bottom surfaces thereof to upper surface openings at upper portions thereof. Common electrodes are provided in a strip form along a longitudinal direction of the walls on both side surfaces of the walls facing the ejection grooves, and active electrodes are provided in a strip form along the longitudinal direction of the walls on both side surfaces of the walls facing the non-ejection grooves. The active electrodes extend from positions in the vicinity of the ends on one side of the non-ejection grooves to ends on the other side thereof.
US08967773B2	Liquid ejection head and method of manufacturing liquid ejection head A liquid ejection head includes a plurality of ejection orifices which eject a liquid, a plurality of pressure chambers which store the liquid ejected from the ejection orifices and eject the liquid from the ejection orifices in accordance with expansion and contraction of an inner wall of the pressure chambers, and a plurality of recess portions which are formed around the pressure chambers, wherein a piezoelectric member is present between at least one of the recess portions and the pressure chambers.
US08967768B2	Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method An inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method are realized which can improve a print quality while minimizing the volume of waste ink, running cost and throughput degradations. For this purpose, the scan width is set according to the size and position of the print medium and then, based on that scan width, a location where the preliminary ejections are to be executed and the number of times that the preliminary ejection is to be executed in a single preliminary ejection session are determined.
US08967767B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from nozzles; a liquid accommodation body having a liquid receiving surface configured to accommodate the liquid flushed from the nozzles; a pump that discharges the liquid; a liquid supply flow path that discharges the liquid discharged by the pump toward the liquid receiving surface in the liquid accommodation body; and a liquid discharge flow path that discharges the liquid from the liquid accommodation body.
US08967766B2	Mist collection device and liquid ejection device A liquid ejection device includes an ejection head, a suction section, a space section, a collection part, an outlet section and a suction device. The suction section has a slit shaped opening. The space section is in communication with the suction section and has an internal volume greater than an internal volume of the suction section. The collection part is configured to collect the mist generated by ejecting the liquid by separating the mist from air suctioned by the suction section. The outlet section has a first opening and a second opening, the first opening is in communication with the space section and the second opening is in communication with the collection part. The suction device is configured to generate an air flow flowing from the suction section to the collection part. Opening area of the slit shaped opening is greater than opening area of the first opening.
US08967761B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus has a liquid ejecting head capable of ejecting an ink containing thermoplastic resin particles from nozzles to a landing target and a heating unit of heating ink droplets landing on the landing target, in which the heating unit heats the ink droplets at a filming control temperature according to the minimum film forming temperature at which the filming of the surface of the ink droplets starts to thereby control the filming degree of the surface of the ink droplets.
US08967760B2	Power supply system and ink-jet image forming apparatus A power supply system includes: a switching power supply configured to rectify and smooth an alternating current voltage of an alternating current power supply and generate a direct current voltage; a small-capacity power supply having a power supply capacity smaller than a power supply capacity of the switching power supply; a sensor configured to output a detection voltage corresponding to a detection target; and a control device. The control device comprises: a reference voltage generation circuit configured to be fed with power from the small-capacity power supply and generate a reference voltage, a comparison circuit configured to compare the detection voltage output from the sensor with the reference voltage and generate a comparison voltage corresponding to the comparison result of the comparison circuit, and a monitoring unit configured to monitor the detection target based on the comparison voltage during the switching power supply is stopped.
US08967759B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, an ejection detection unit, a cleaner, and a holder member. The ejection detection unit has an electrode member disposed in an area in which the electrode member is opposable to the head. The cleaner includes a cleaning member to remove droplets adhering to the electrode member. The ejection detection unit detects ejection or non-ejection of droplets by detection of electric changes of the electrode member generated when droplets ejected from nozzles of the head land on the electrode member in a state in which a potential difference is created between a nozzle face of the head and the electrode member and the nozzle face is opposed to the electrode member. The holder member supports the electrode member, and holds the cleaning member movable in parallel to a nozzle array direction in which the nozzles is arrayed in the head.
US08967751B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method When an image is recorded using a multichip recording head including a plurality of chips each having a plurality of nozzle arrays, a change in image density can occur due to a registration error between chips in an overlapping part where two chips are connected. To suppress the change in image density, input image data is distributed to two chips such that there are dots overlapping each other between the two chips in the overlapping part.
US08967750B2	Inkjet recording apparatus and image recording method According to the inkjet recording apparatus and the image recording method of the present invention, since the droplet volume of droplets ejected from ejection abnormality nozzles is limited to not greater than a prescribed upper limit value, and the droplet volume of droplets ejected from other normally functioning nozzles is corrected on the basis of correction values used for correction of non-uniformities in the image caused by ejection abnormality nozzles, then in even in cases where the interval between droplets ejected from adjacent nozzles which are adjacent to an ejection abnormality nozzle becomes larger due to landing interference, in particular, it is possible to perform image recording by using droplets ejected from deflecting nozzles. As a result of this, the occurrence of non-uniformities (stripe non-uniformities) in the image can be suppressed.
US08967748B2	Printing device and printing method A printing device that forms a background by a first ink and images on the background by a second ink includes a head having first and second nozzle lines that eject, respectively, the first and second inks. The inks are ejected as the head moves, with respect to a medium, in a main scanning direction intersecting the first and second nozzle lines. A transport section transports the medium in a sub-scanning direction along the first and second nozzle lines. In an ejecting operation, the first and second inks are ejected in the relative movement in the main scanning direction and the relative transportation in the sub-scanning direction is performed. In the sub-scanning direction, first and second nozzle line used areas are set where the first and second inks, respectively, are ejected from the first and second nozzle lines. A nozzle unused area is defined therebetween.
US08967745B2	Mounting system for a bank of storage units and the combination of a bank of storage units connected to the mounting system A mounting system for mounting a bank of storage units in side-by-side relationship above a ground surface includes an elongate member having an elongate top wall, having side edges and at least one leg section extending downwardly from one of the side edges. Each of the at least one leg section includes an elongate flange at a distal end that is contiguous to the ground. The elongate top wall has an elongate dimension between opposed ends for receiving a bank of storage units in side-by-side relationship on an upper surface thereof. The top wall includes attachment members for cooperating with a mounting plate for attaching the bank of storage units in side-by-side relationship to the top wall. The elongate flanges include a plurality of leveling adjuster passages for receiving leveling adjusters therethrough and a plurality of anchor passages for receiving anchoring members therethrough. The plurality of adjuster passages on each flange includes leveling adjuster passages located adjacent each elongate end of the flanges for receiving leveling adjuster members therethrough to engage a ground surface and provide a leveling function. A plurality of anchor passages is adapted to receive anchoring members insertable into the ground surface for securing the elongate member to the ground surface. The invention also resides in the combination of the mounting system and a bank of lockers attached to it, as well as to storage units including a mounting plate as part of its construction.
US08967737B2	Wheel of a track assembly of a tracked vehicle A wheel for a track assembly of a tracked vehicle, such as, for example, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a snowmobile, a construction vehicle or an agricultural vehicle. The wheel in use is one of a plurality of wheels of the track assembly. The track assembly comprises an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels, comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The wheel comprises a wheel body comprising a hub portion, a rim portion, and a radially-extending portion between the hub portion and the rim portion. The wheel also comprises a covering on the body. The covering in use contacts the endless track's inner side. A material of the covering is different from a material of the wheel body. The wheel body and the covering may be mechanically interlocked. The covering may comprise a peripheral portion covering at least part of a peripheral side of the wheel body and a lateral portion covering at least part of a lateral side of the wheel body.
US08967735B2	Electrohydraulic power unit An electrohydraulic power unit for controlling, by open or closed loop, a brake pressure of a hydraulic vehicle brake system, includes a hydraulic block, on which an electric motor for driving a hydraulic pump is provided, an electronic control device, and at least one electrical contact, which electrically conductively connects the electric motor to the electronic control device. The electrical contact is accommodated in a rod-shaped isolator that together with the electrical contact is guided through a through-passage in the hydraulic block extending from the side of the hydraulic block on which the control device is provided to the side of the hydraulic block on which the electric motor is provided. The rod-shaped isolator is designed as a housing in which the electrical contact can be inserted and secured substantially with zero backlash and non-detachably.
US08967730B2	Wethead seal design for continuous mining machine A continuous mining machine may include a stationary boom member, a stationary gear and bearing housing attached to the boom member, and a cutter drum assembly rotatably mounted on the stationary gear and bearing housing. Cutting elements and spray nozzles may be mounted on the rotatable cutter drum assembly. The spray nozzles may be configured to direct liquid spray at a mine face as mine material is dislodged by rotation of the cutter drum assembly and contact of the cutting elements with the mine face. Stationary liquid passageways may be provided through the gear and bearing housing, and rotatable liquid passageways may be provided through the rotatable cutter drum assembly and configured to convey liquid to the spray nozzles. A liquid distribution cavity may be defined within the cutter drum assembly between two labyrinth-type, non-contacting seal assemblies, the liquid distribution cavity configured to convey liquid from the stationary liquid passageways to the rotatable liquid passageways and to the spray nozzles.
US08967724B2	Chair arm assembly A chair assembly includes a four-bar linkage assembly including a first linkage member and a second linkage member each having a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration that cooperate to form an interior space, a third linkage member and a fourth linkage member, wherein the linkage members are pivotably coupled to on another such that an upper end of the four-bar linkage is vertically adjustable between a raised and lowered positions, an arm rest assembly supported on the upper end of the four-bar linkage assembly, and a locking assembly including a first locking link having a first surface and a second locking link having plurality of teeth corresponding to a plurality of vertical positions of the four-bar link located between the raised and lowered positions, wherein the locking links are movable between locked and unlocked positions, and wherein the first and second locking links are located within the interior space.
US08967722B2	Self-leveling armrest assembly In one aspect, the subject embodiments are directed to a seat that includes a seat bottom and a seat back, wherein the seat back is pivotable with respect to the seat bottom about one or more pivots. A linkage assembly is employed that is coupled to each of the one or more pivots. The linkage assembly includes a linking component that has a first location mounted to the seat bottom and a second location mounted to the seat back. A cam is coupled to the seat back location, wherein a dowel is permanently affixed to the cam. An end distal from the cam, a pin extends perpendicularly from the dowel and is angled at between 20 and 70 degrees upward from a plane formed by an arm channel.
US08967719B2	Easy entry seat system with single position memory and hold open feature A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a seat cushion and a seat back for pivotal movement between an upright seating position and a forwardly dumped position. A recliner mechanism is provided for selectively actuating between a locked and unlocked condition allowing the pivotal movement of the seat back. A seat track assembly provides selective actuation between a locked and unlocked condition allowing fore and aft sliding movement of the seat assembly between a design position and a full forward position. An easy entry memory mechanism is operatively coupled to the recliner mechanism and the seat track assembly for selectively actuating the seat track assembly to the unlocked condition and provide movement of the seat assembly to the full forward position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back to the forwardly dumped position while maintaining memory of the design position.
US08967699B1	Structural tunnel component for an armored vehicle A structural blast tunnel for a military vehicle includes a frame member that includes an elongated curved portion having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The structural blast tunnel also includes a first mounting interface coupled to the first end and extending along the longitudinal axis of the frame member. The first mounting interface is configured to receive one of a front sub-frame and a standard frame of a vehicle. The structural blast tunnel finally includes a second mounting interface coupled to the second end and extending along the longitudinal axis of the frame member. The second mounting interface is configured to receive one of a rear sub-frame and a standard frame of a vehicle, and the frame member forms a structurally rigid section configured to direct blast energy outwards towards the first and second end. The structural blast tunnel may also include a secondary shield that increases the blast performance of this system.
US08967676B1	Two-piece split coupler for coupling large-diameter plastic corrugated pipe A coupler for coupling adjacent end portions of corrugated plastic pipe includes first and second arcuate members that cooperate with each other to surround and interfit with the corrugations of the plastic pipe. A stop member on one of the members enables the other member to be properly positioned over the other member when forming the coupler. Circumferentially aligned and spaced-apart attachment members resist relative movement of the two coupling members when backfilling the coupler and the pipes coupled by the coupler.
US08967674B2	Rib construction for large diameter pipe fittings A rotationally molded large-diameter pipe fitting, the wall structure of which is characterized as having a generally smooth interior surface and an exterior surface that is defined by a plurality of axially-spaced circumferentially extending ribs which are monolithically formed and homogeneous with the smooth interior surface of the fitting. The fitting is seamless and modularly designed with integral coupling elements at each terminal end, and with a ribbed wall structure profile capable of withstanding the loads typically found in buried applications with watertight performance requirements, where such ribbed wall structure meets the following dimensions and dimensional ratios: Rib Sidewall Angle (95-105 degrees); Bottom/Top Rib Thickness Ratio (1.80-2.80); Pitch/Rib Height Ratio (1.50-1.95); Rib Height/Fitting Diameter Ratio (0.04-0.09); and Avg. Rib Thickness/Rib Height Ratio (0.28-0.40).
US08967670B2	Subframe with integrated pneumatic or hydraulic liquid vessel for the vehicle chassis of motor vehicles The invention relates to a subframe for the vehicle chassis of motor vehicles, which subframe has at least one cavity usable as a pressure accumulator and has a cross member (1) which is connected, at the two end faces (27, 28) thereof, to a node element (3, 4). Bearing elements (10 to 12) and/or further frame elements are attached to the node elements (3, 4). The cross member (1) is formed as a continuous rib-reinforced component or extruded part (15) and forms for the pressure accumulator a pressure-resistant cavity which is closed off by the node elements (3, 4) at the end faces.
US08967668B2	Container for receiving and carrying elongate objects A container having substantially the shape of a cornet for receiving and carrying elongate objects, the container includes a container cladding having an inner surface and an outer surface, a first container opening on one end of the container cladding, and one or more mounting elements for mounting the container to a stroller, the mounting elements being arranged at a portion of the outer surface of the container.
US08967666B2	Positioning structure for a firearm on a vehicle Positioning structure for an armament on a vehicle equipped with an armored cockpit (A) and wherein the armament is constrained to the top of the vehicle. The positioning structure engages directly to the frame of the vehicle and in particular to the reinforcement bars (B) typically called roll-bars, which delimit the armored cockpit.
US08967664B2	Adaptive gas generator for airbag A gas generator for a protective airbag includes at least one pressurized gas chamber, a first actuator arranged so as to open the pressurized gas chamber, and a diffusion chamber including at least one diffusion hole defining a communication surface. Outside the diffusion chamber, the gas generator includes an obturator having a second actuator. The obturator is arranged in a first position in which it defines a first diffusion surface. The second actuator is arranged so as to allow it to go into a second position in which it defines a second diffusion surface.
US08967663B2	Vehicle seat Provided is a vehicle seat capable of efficiently absorbing impact energy generated upon a rear end collision in a manner such that the vehicle seat is stably deformed at a specific position with respect to a complex input load generated upon a rear end collision. A vehicle seat includes: frame side portions that are located at the right and left sides of a seat back frame and extend in the up to down direction; and frame extension portions that extend from the frame side portions toward the inside in the right and left direction. A connection portion that connects the frame side portions to the frame extension portions is provided with a deformation portion that is deformed when an impact load is applied thereto. The deformation portion is formed adjacent to other deformation portions having deformation characteristics different from that of the deformation portion.
US08967660B2	Vehicle curtain airbag device A vehicle curtain airbag device is provided including: a curtain airbag including a main chamber that inflates and deploys to a vehicle width direction inside of a driving-seat-side side window due to being supplied with gas from an inflator installed to a vehicle, a delay chamber that is provided at a vehicle front-rear direction front side of the main chamber, and that completes inflation and deployment later than the main chamber upon receipt of the gas supply, and a sub chamber that is disposed on the vehicle width direction inside of the main chamber and that inflates and deploys so as to block off a gap formed between the main chamber and a driver's seat airbag that is inflated and deployed from a steering wheel; and a controller that inflates and deploys the driver's seat airbag and actuates the inflator in the event of a small overlap collision.
US08967657B2	Child carrier folding cart A cart for use in supporting an infant carrier which includes an articulating frame having front and rear pairs of spaced apart and elongated members. Pairs of wheels are secured to lower ends of the elongated members. First and second latch sub-assemblies each include a pair of pivotally connected and conduit shaped bodies, these sliding over intermediate locations of the pairs of elongate members and such that the elongate members are permitted to pivot between expanded and collapsed positions. A perimeter defined frame is supported upon pivotally inter-connecting upper ends of the elongated members, the frame adapted to support the infant carrier thereupon during ambulatory traversing of the cart.
US08967655B2	Ski having asymmetric characteristics In order to assure smooth and essentially equidistant running of correspondingly loaded pair of skis over ground when turning left or right without any sideslip, a ski is bent at its tip at a pre-determined angle around its longitudinal axis and deflected from the ground by a radius along a that longitudinal axis. Despite a practically symmetric appearance of the circumference of such ski when observed in top view, the distance between a front inflection point and a rear inflection point on the left ski edge and the distance between the front inflection point and the rear inflection point on the right ski edge differ from each other such that the active lengths of the ski edges differ from each other. A weak area of the ski is provided adjacent at least one inflection point to provide different compression distributions between the ground and each of the ski edges.
US08967653B2	Trailer coupling For a trailer coupling, the fixing unit has a stationary first toothed segment which is fixedly connected to the pivot bearing base. A first toothed segment which in the working position is connected to the pivot element in a rotationally fixed manner and pivots together with same and is engageable by displacing the pivot element from the pivot position into the fixed position, and is disengageable by displacing the pivot element from the fixed position into the pivot position.
US08967649B2	Motorcycle rear body structure A rear fender overhanging a rear wheel of a motorcycle is disposed rearwardly of a rider's seat, and a side cover is disposed diagonally forwardly downwardly of the rear fender and beneath the rider's seat. The side cover conceals a rear frame structure from outside. The rear fender has a fender overlap portion formed in a lower portion of an outer side portion thereof, and the side cover has a cover overlap portion formed in a rear portion thereof, which cover overlap portion is overlapped on the fender overlap portion. The fender overlap portion has an undersurface provided with a projection, and the cover overlap portion is provided with an engagement hole engageable with the projection.
US08967647B1	Suspension system for child stroller Disclosed herein are aspects and embodiments of a suspension system for a stroller. In one example, a stroller includes a frame member and a suspension block coupled to the frame member. The suspension block includes a body and a suspension mechanism coupled to the body and disposed at an acute angle from a vertical axis of the body. The stroller further includes a wheel mounted on an axle coupled to the suspension block.
US08967645B2	Front leaf spring A vehicle suspension includes a pair of leaf springs arranged to extend longitudinally on opposed sides of a vehicle frame. Each leaf spring has a first end pivotally connected to the vehicle with a first bracket attached rigidly to the frame at a first position. A second end is connected to the vehicle frame with a spring shackle pivotably connected to a second bracket attached rigidly to the frame at a second position, in order to compensate for length changes of the leaf spring under load conditions. The suspension further includes an axle extending transversely of the vehicle frame which axle is mounted to each leaf spring at a position intermediate its first and second ends. At least an upper leaf of the leaf spring is a parabolic spring having a convex portion extending towards the frame, and the convex portion is located between the first end and the intermediate position.
US08967644B2	Support structure for a vehicle wheel suspension A support assembly for receiving a vehicle wheel suspension and adapted for mounting to a vehicle structure, is disclosed that includes: a transverse body (3, 203, 303) having opposite ends; a left hand anchoring strut (9, 209, 309) extending downwardly from the transverse body (3, 203, 303) to define a distal left hand lower end; a right hand anchoring strut (7, 207, 307) extending downwardly from the transverse body (3, 203, 303) to define a distal right hand lower end. Separately attached left hand and right hand external reinforcing elements (31, 33; 231, 233, 333) each extend from an adjacent one of the opposite ends of the transverse body (3, 203, 303) to a connecting area (35, 37; 235, 335, 337) adjacent the respective one of the left and right hand distal lower ends of the downwardly extending anchoring struts (7, 9; 207, 209, 307, 309).
US08967643B2	Split roll stabilizer Split roll stabilizer of a motor vehicle, between the two stabilizer parts (2a) of which an actuator (1) for a torsion of the stabilizer parts (2a) can be effectively disposed, a sensor (11) for determining the torsional moment acting in the stabilizer parts (2a) being provided.
US08967641B2	Balance bike Balance bike having a frame provided with a steering bush or holder for rotatably holding handlebars with a front wheel fork whereby one or several front wheels are connected to the front wheel fork and whereby the balance bike having two back wheels, characterised in that the frame of the balance bike having two frame parts which are directly or indirectly hinge-mounted at a distance (D) from one another to the steering bush or holder by hinges from where the frame parts extend up to a distance thereof and are each provided with a back wheel.
US08967640B2	Wheel attachment An apparatus for adding a propulsion wheel to a land based vehicle. When the apparatus is attached to a land based vehicle the apparatus is operationally configured to bias a propulsion wheel attached thereto to a position of engagement with a travel surface supporting the land based vehicle thereon.
US08967639B2	Auxiliary axle and suspension assembly A vehicle suspension assembly includes first and second mounting brackets each adapted to couple to a vehicle frame assembly, first and second trailing arms each having a first end pivotably coupled to the mounting brackets, and a second end located outboard of the first end of the associated trailing arm; an axle member having a first end and a second end; an integrated first mounting arrangement and an integrated second mounting arrangement coupled to the associated ends of the axle member, wherein the mounting arrangements pivotably couple the second end of the associated trailing arm to one of the ends of the axle member, and wherein the mounting arrangements couple one of the ends of the axle member to the spindle assembly.
US08967638B2	Lift axle suspension systems incorporating compression coil springs A lift axle suspension system is provided with a frame bracket member connectable to a vehicle frame, an upper control arm, and a lower control arm. Each control arm has a first end and a second end, with the first end of each control arm being pivotally connected to the frame bracket member. The suspension system also includes an axle connecting member connectable to an axle, with the second end of each control arm being pivotally connected to the axle connecting member. A compression coil spring having a first end connected to the lower control arm and a second end connected to the upper control arm serves as a lift mechanism for lifting and lowering the axle connected to the axle connecting member. The compression coil spring may encircle at least a portion of and be substantially coaxial with the lower control arm.
US08967637B2	Tail wheel transporter A tail wheel transporter with an off-center single-beam chassis in a tricycle carriage coupled to a towing arm. The single beam chassis pivotably supports a lifting foot member of a four bar mechanism that is side mounted on the single-beam chassis. The lifting foot supports two studs, one fixed and one adjustable, for engaging a tail wheel. The lifting arm is coupled to the four bar mechanism and is manually operated to lift the tail wheel off the ground. In the lifted position, the lifting arm is latched to the towing arm so that constant manual force to maintain lift is not required. The tail wheel is received on the studs between the front and rear axles and exerts force below the height of the rear axle, so no manual force is required to maintain balance during operation. A low-profile bifurcated front wheel allows use under low-hanging vehicle parts.
US08967636B2	Hubless wheel and related stroller A stroller includes a frame and a plurality of hubless wheels. A seat is disposed on the frame. The hubless wheels are disposed on the frame. The hubless wheel includes a rim, an internal sliding structure and at least one bridging component. A tire is disposed on the hubless wheel. The rim has an external sliding structure on an inner surface of the rim. The internal sliding structure is disposed inside the external sliding structure. The bridging component is disposed between the external sliding structure and the internal sliding structure. The bridging component revolves on its own axis.
US08967631B2	Air assist suspension Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide an air assist suspension, for use in a wide range of vehicles and implements having multiple axles (such as agricultural equipment). The air assist suspension uses one or more air bags (e.g., fluid-filled bladders, containers, pistons, and the like) to assist in adjusting the loading of the implement with respect to the multiple axles. In one embodiment, the air assist suspension also uses one or more rocker assemblies, coupled to the air bag(s) and coupled to the axles.
US08967627B2	Intershaft seal An intershaft seal for inner and outer coaxial shafts which rotate relative to each other. The seal is located in an annular space between the shafts and maintains an axial pressure differential between a fluid pressure on the first side of the seal and a fluid pressure on the other, second side of the seal. The seal comprises a sealing ring which is coaxial with the shafts and which forms a sealing contact with the outer shaft to maintain the pressure differential.
US08967626B2	Arrangement and method for sealing off a joint area between a first joint partner and a second joint partner The invention relates to an arrangement (10) for sealing off a joint area (1) between a first joint partner (20, 200) and a second joint partner (30, 300) by means of at least one elastic sealing element (18, 180) disposed between a first sealing surface (12.1) of the first joint partner (20, 200) and a second sealing surface (12.2) of the second joint partner (30, 300), and an associated method for sealing off the joint area (1) between a first joint partner (20, 200) and a second joint partner (30, 300). According to the invention, at least one reservoir (14) for an anticorrosion agent (16) is introduced in a sealing zone (11) of the first and/or second sealing surface (12.1, 12.2), wherein the sealing element encloses the reservoir (14) together with the first and/or second sealing surface (12.1, 12.2).
US08967625B2	Game machine A game machine includes a chest, a frame vertically disposed in an upper portion of the chest for containing prizes, a shoot unit disposed in the chest and corresponding to the frame, a ball recover unit disposed in a lower portion of the chest and a control unit disposed on the chest for controlling the shoot unit and the ball recover unit. The player can shoot a ball to strike a wanted prize by using the shoot unit. The player can take the prize after being stricken and falling from the frame. After shooting the ball, the control unit drives the ball recover unit to recover the shot ball and feed into the shoot unit for next operation.
US08967615B2	Reversing transporting device, image forming apparatus, and transporting device A reversing transporting device includes a transport-in path, a first transporting section provided at the transport-in path, a second transporting section provided at the transport-in path, a reversing path connected to the transport-in path, a third transporting section provided at the reversing path, a transport-out path connected to the reversing path, a fourth transporting section provided at the transport-out path, and a fifth transporting section provided at the transport-out path.
US08967614B2	Sheet feed device and image recording apparatus having such sheet feed device An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
US08967613B2	Image reading apparatus An image reading apparatus includes: a main body including a document table; a document cover that includes a rear end portion supported by the main body, and a front end portion configured to be movable with respect to the main body; a conveyer that is disposed in the document cover and is configured to feed a document; and a reader that is provided in the main body. The document cover includes a lower layer portion having a wall surrounding front, rear, left and right of the conveyer and an upper layer portion covering over the conveyer. The lower layer portion includes a bottom having a shape covering the document table. The wall extends upward from an outer periphery of the bottom. The upper layer portion includes a grip portion which protrudes frontward from the upper layer portion.
US08967605B2	Carrier assembly apparatus [Problem] A carrier assembly apparatus which is able to be streamlined in structure is provided.[Solution] The carrier assembly apparatus 1 comprises: an assembly table 31 which supports a base member 70 on which a die 90 is placed, a holding head 46 which holds a cover member 80, a pressure reduction head 44 which has a pressure reduction chamber 443 accommodating the cover member 80 and having an opening part 444 and which abuts against the assembly table 31 so as to form a sealed space, a first elevating actuator 43 which simultaneously move the holding head 46 and the pressure reduction head 44 to the assembly table 31, and a second elevating actuator 47 which moves the holding head 46 relative to the pressure reduction head 44.
US08967602B1	Hand protection device One embodiment of a hand protector device suitable for protecting the hand of the user of pneumatic or other nailing devices, by providing a shield sufficient to stop, impede, or deflect the momentum of a nail projectile from a nailing device. The device also contains gripping plates to easy the user's grip upon the materials to be fastened by the nailing device. In addition, the device is secured solely by the power of the user's grip, such that it can easily be removed simply by the user relaxing his or her grip on the device.
US08967600B2	Safety lanyard and manufacturing method thereof This lanyard, which is movable by elasticity between a rest position and a stretched position, comprises a tubular sheath made from non-stretchable material, and a set of elastic threads joined to the sheath.According to the invention, the elastic threads define at least one longitudinal weaving zone in which they are woven on one surface of the sheath only, each weaving zone being proper to form a bending zone of the lanyard, in the rest position, in which the elastic threads are folded onto themselves.
US08967599B2	Torque arm for automobile A torque arm for an automobile is configured so that the axis of a first bush and the axis of a second bush are arranged so as to intersect each other. The torque arm includes a first outer tube, a second outer tube, and an outer-tube connection section which are each divided into halves. A rubber introduction opening connecting to a second space is formed in the introduction portion of the second outer tube. A rubber material poured toward the upper flat section of an upper outer-tube connection section, which is one of the halves of the outer-tube connection section, is led to the rubber introduction opening while being guided by the upper flat section. The led rubber material is filled into the second space after passing through the rubber introduction opening, and a second rubber elastic body is formed by the rubber material filled into the second space.
US08967598B2	Bushing A bushing suitable for use as a vehicle suspension mount comprises a hydraulic component in series with an outer rubber bushing. The series combination provides good absorption of shock loads without exceeding suspension system packaging constraints.
US08967597B2	Device for mixing gas into a flowing liquid A device for the mixing of a gas into a liquid comprises a hollow frustum shape housing having a central axis, extended from a small diameter fluid outlet end, defining a fluid outlet opening, to a large diameter end; a liquid inlet port positioned adjacent the large diameter end is formed in said housing which allows delivery of pressurized liquid into said hollow housing, and a helically cut conical member is positioned and affixed within the hollow center of the housing with its axis aligned with that of the hollow frustum shape housing such that fluid delivered into the housing forms a swirling motion around the outside of the conical member as it passes from inlet port to outlet opening. The housing has a gas inlet for delivery of gas to the fluid within the frustum shaped housing at a position adjacent to the fluid outlet opening as the fluid moves from inlet to fluid outlet opening.
US08967596B2	High-concentration oxygen-dissolving apparatus using ultrasonic waves The present invention relates to a high-concentration oxygen-dissolving apparatus using ultrasonic waves. More particularly, the present invention relates to a high-concentration oxygen-dissolving apparatus using ultrasonic waves in which, when liquid is introduced via an inlet port, a sediment filter filters out foreign substances, a pre-carbon filter filters out harmful chemical substances, a UF membrane filter filters out impurities, a post-carbon filter filters out gas components and odorous components, the filtered liquid is stored in a storage tank, the liquid stored in the storage tank passes through a cooling device to be cooled to a low temperature, the liquid compressed to high pressure by means of a high pressure pump and a Venturi tube is introduced into an ultrasonic wave irradiating unit, oxygen is dissolved into the liquid by ultrasonic waves irradiated from the ultrasonic wave irradiating unit, the liquid flows to the storage tank through a flow pipe, and the liquid having an oxygen concentration higher than a predetermined level is discharged through an outlet pipe.
US08967594B2	Apparatus and method for fitting wires with seals or other elastic wire elements A fitting apparatus for fitting a wire with an elastic wire element has a needle, which has a receptacle. An external diameter at a first end of the needle is smaller than at a second end. Centering jaws are configured to fix the needle and to form in a closed state an orifice, which serves as access to the receptacle of the needle. To push the elastic wire element on, a pusher-on is used. A gripping element holds the needle in an area of the first end. Drives enable relative movements.
US08967589B2	Seal The present disclosure relates to seals and sealing arrangements, especially those used in wireline valves. The seal comprises an elastomeric seal body with a sealing surface, a plurality of generally planar inserts embedded within the elastomeric seal body adjacent the sealing surface, and having elastomeric seal material disposed between the plurality of generally planar inserts. The generally planar inserts may have a slightly wedge shape and may be embedded into the elastomeric seal body in a generally fan-shaped orientation. They may be orientated such that upon contacting a substantially tubular shaped body to be sealed around and the subsequent deformation of the seal body about said substantially tubular shaped body, the plurality of generally planar inserts become orientated such that they extend radially from the substantially tubular shaped body.
US08967583B2	Manually longitudinally adjustable motor vehicle seat A manually, longitudinally adjustable motor vehicle seat having a lower rail secured to a vehicle chassis, and an upper rail longitudinally displaceable in the lower rail and secured to a seat component. Locking mechanisms released by release mechanisms secure the rails, and assume a release position when the backrest is folded forward. A blocking lever pivotably mounted on a pivot shaft secured to the upper rail can assume two stable extreme pivot positions, namely a passive position where the blocking lever has no contact with the release mechanism, and an active position where the blocking lever blocks the release mechanism in its release position. Upon longitudinal displacement of the seat from a comfort-longitudinal adjustment arrange into an easy-entry-longitudinal adjustment range, a control device comes into contact with the blocking device pivoting against the force of a spring device, out of its passive and into its active position, and vice versa.
US08967582B2	Longitudinal adjustment device for a motor vehicle seat A longitudinal adjustment device for a motor vehicle seat, with a floor rail which can be connected to a motor vehicle floor, a seat rail which can be connected to the motor vehicle seat and is mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner on the floor rail, and a connecting element having a connecting section for connection of a functional component to the seat rail. The connecting element is connected by a first section to a side wall of the seat rail and by a second section to an upper side of the seat rail. The connecting element has an opening for receiving the functional component and/or a bearing element for the arrangement of the functional component. The opening is arranged in the region of a recess running in the region of a bending line between the side wall and the upper side.
US08967579B2	Angle inclining structure for a desk An angle inclining structure for a desk contains a body and an angle inclining structure, the body including two opposite support legs, a horizontal rod, and two support posts connected with the two support legs and a first plate, wherein the angle inclining structure is disposed between the horizontal rod and the first plate and has a holder, a covering member, and a buffer member, the holder includes a locking tab and connects with the horizontal rod, a receiving room to receive a retainer and a pushing element, and a groove to receive a positioning member; the covering member includes a slot, plural tilted recesses, and a locking hole; a free end of the buffer member axially couples with one end of the covering member and a bottom surface of the first plate so that when the first plate axially rotates upwardly, the covering member slides on the holder.
US08967576B2	Assembly for a storage unit An assembly for a storage unit includes at least one interior component made of a single, continuous piece of sheet material that has a first surface, an opposing second surface, a pair of opposing lateral side edges and a plurality of substantially 90 degree longitudinal bends that extend between the pair of lateral side edges. The at least one interior component includes an upper mounting flange for mounting to the storage unit. The assembly also includes an exterior component made of a single, continuous piece of sheet material and having a first surface and an opposing second surface. The first surface of the interior component directly attaches to the second surface of the exterior component.
US08967575B1	Adjustable bar hanger and electrical box An adjustable hanger bar assembly including an adjustable hanger bar having tubular inner and outer bar members, an electrical box having a top wall with a deep channel therein, and a mounting plate having one or more tensioner tangs. The inner bar member is adapted to slide within the outer bar member. The adjustable hanger bar assembly includes mounting fasteners and an interior channel in which the mounting plate is assembled. With the electrical box mounted to the hanger bar assembly by the mounting fasteners, the hanger bars are tightly held between the channel walls of the electrical box. The tensioner tangs create tension between the mounting bars, the mounting plate, and the electrical box, thereby forming a secure connection between the components that will withstand vibrational forces and prevent separation of the electrical box from the mounting bars.
US08967573B2	Modular, bypass track and carriage system for overhead-mounted lights and other devices A track and carriage system including a mounting plate, a first track removably secured to the mounting plate and receiving a first carriage movable therein, a second track removably secured to the mounting plate and receiving a second carriage movable therein. The first and second tracks are positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to one another such that the carriage of the first track moves independently of and in parallel with the carriage of the second track.
US08967571B2	Plate having a back side adapted to be secured to a base and a front side adapted for attaching various items A flat plastic structure is provided with several horizontal, parallel rows of openings, each comprising several single, for horizontally attaching openings, alternating with several double, for vertically attaching openings. Each of the several single, for horizontally attaching openings has an upper and a lower wall converging inwardly from horizontal edges of those several openings. A flat bar for horizontally attaching centrally connects opposite vertical walls of each single opening. A double, for vertically attaching opening incorporates a vertically extending, centrally located apex-shape structure formed by a pair of intersecting walls diverging towards the back side. A flat bar for vertically attaching is located at each side of the vertically extending centrally located apex-shape structure connects opposite vertical walls of the double, vertically attaching opening.
US08967568B2	Adjustable roller shade bracket An adjustable roller shade bracket comprising a first plate, a second plate and a bracket member. The bracket member is adapted for mounting to a surface. The second plate is rotationally secured to the bracket member. The first plate is releasably securable to an end of a roller tube of a roller shade and slidably secured to the second plate such that the first plate may be slid along the second plate in a first plane. Rotation of the second plate about the bracket member through 90 degrees permits the first plate to be slid along the second plate in a plane perpendicular to the first plane.
US08967567B2	Bracket pin assembly A bracket pin assembly includes a support plate having an end plate which has at least one opening. The pin includes a base, a support member, a first installation member, a second installation member, and a resilient member. The base has a chamber and the support member is connected to the base. The first and second installation members respectively have a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion. The support member has an engaging section. The resilient member is located in the chamber of the base to bias the first and second installation members. When the installation members of the pin extend through the first installation holes of the first post, the first and second engaging portions are engaged with the engaging section of the support members to secure the first and second installation members relative to the support members.
US08967554B2	Gutter retaining system A gutter system incorporating a gutter clip and a gutter hanger to affix a gutter to a retaining clip attached to a fascia board of a building, thereby eliminating the need to place holes in the gutter with screws or nails. The gutter hanger is constructed of a single piece which has an intermediate section which is disposed substantially within the gutter and spans the width of the gutter to maintain the shape and structural integrity of the gutter. The gutter hanger has a contiguous platform disposed along its intermediate section for slidably and detachably attaching a leaf protection support apparatus. The leaf protection support apparatus has a groove that snugly but slidably receives the platform of the gutter hanger. The leaf protection support apparatus extends toward the roof of the building, and has a vertical member terminating in an angled member extending upward to support a leaf protection device.
US08967552B2	Direct-drive control of aircraft stability augmentation According to one embodiment, a stability augmentation system includes a master linkage, a stability augmentation motor, and three linkages. A first linkage is coupled to the master linkage and operable to receive movements representative of pilot commands from a pilot command system. A second linkage is coupled between the stability augmentation motor and the master linkage and operable to receive movements representative of augmentation commands from the stability augmentation motor. A third linkage is coupled to the master linkage and operable to transmit movements representative of blade position commands to a blade control system in response to the movements representative of pilot commands and the movements representative of augmentation commands.
US08967551B2	Slat monitoring system A system and method for determining whether the relative rate of deployment of all the slats extending from a leading edge of an aircraft wing is the same as a predetermined relative rate of deployment. Each slat includes at least one slat deployment mechanism that includes a drive pinion drivingly coupled to each slat and a rotary actuator having an output shaft driven by a common input drive shaft. The system of the invention comprises a sensor associated with each rotary actuator to generate a signal indicative of the rate of rotation of the corresponding output shaft and to supply that signal to a controller. The controller is configured to analyze the signals supplied by the sensors and to generate an alarm signal if a relative rate of rotation of any of the output shafts differs from a predetermined relative rate of rotation.
US08967547B2	Spacecraft east-west radiator assembly A heat transfer assembly can include an equipment panel having an east end and a west end. East and west radiator panels are coupled to the east and west ends, respectively, of the equipment panel. The assembly also includes a plurality of flexible heat pipes each having a first rigid tube thermally coupled to the east radiator panel, a second rigid tube coupled to the equipment panel, a third rigid tube thermally coupled to the west radiator panel, a first flexible tube sealingly coupled between the first and second rigid tubes, and a second flexible tube sealingly coupled between the second and third rigid tubes. The equipment panel is configured to retain one or more equipment modules in thermal contact with the second rigid tube of at least one of the plurality of flexible heat pipes.
US08967546B2	Space probing apparatus A space probing apparatus is provided that can further enhance its thermal protective function for electronic apparatuses and batteries that are apparatuses each having a narrow range of permissible temperature.The space probing apparatus includes, as a vehicle body 1 that is an apparatus body, an inner housing 13 that accommodates an electronic apparatus 11 and a battery 12, and an outer housing 15 that accommodates the inner housing 13 supporting the inner housing 13 afloat therein. A thermal insulating layer 16 is formed between the inner housing 13 and the outer housing 15 using a space therebetween. A heat dissipating body 17 is included in an upper portion of the inner housing 13. A lid 18 is included in an upper portion of the outer housing 15. The whole outer faces of the inner and the outer housings 13 and 15 are each covered with a thermal insulating material 20. Thereby, in the nighttime, the temperature of the battery 12 is maintained using the least necessary amount of heat generated and, thereby, the electronic apparatus 11 and the battery 12 are protected from an ultralow temperature. In the daytime, the lid 18 is opened and heat is discharged using the heat dissipating body 17 and, thereby, the electronic apparatus 11 and the battery 12 are protected from a high temperature.
US08967542B2	Dynamic de-icing distance A method for at least partially de-icing an aircraft by applying a de-icing fluid through a nozzle (10) is disclosed. The method involves the steps of: measuring a distance to an outside surface of the aircraft, applying the distance in an evaluation, controlling the position and/or the orientation of the nozzle (10) according to the evaluation, and applying the de-icing fluid at least a part of the outside surface trough the nozzle. In addition, a system for performing the de-icing method is also revealed.
US08967541B2	Structural arrangement, aircraft or spacecraft and method The present invention pertains inter alia to a structural arrangement, comprising a box structure, a first fibre portion which extends in a first plane, a second fibre portion which extends in a second plane, the first and the second fibre portion being interconnected at a crossing point thereof, the first fibre portion comprising a first portion on one side of the crossing point and a second portion on the other side of the crossing point, the first portion being connected to a first portion of the box structure and the second portion being connected to a second portion of the box structure, the second fibre portion forming, on one side of the crossing point, an inner web inside the box structure and, on the other side of the crossing point, an outer web outside the box structure.
US08967539B2	Method for assembling a floor in a cockpit structure previously constructed from a section of aircraft fuselage A section of aircraft fuselage includes a body structure and a floor connected to the body structure. The body structure has an external skin and a framework including frames, positioned in fuselage cross-sections approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis in an aircraft reference frame. The floor has cross members extending along a lateral axis. The cross members and the frames are disconnected and each cross member, at opposite ends, is fixed to the body structure by an intermediate structural assembly connected on the one hand to the cross member and on the other hand to the external skin and/or to one or more frames.
US08967537B2	Oxygen breathing device with redundant signal transmission The invention relates to an arrangement of a plurality of oxygen breathing devices, in particular for providing oxygen to passenger or crew of an aircraft, each oxygen breathing device comprising an oxygen source, wherein oxygen is stored, in particular in chemically bound form or compressed form, an oxygen guiding device for guiding oxygen from the oxygen source to a person. According to the invention, an arrangement of a plurality of oxygen breathing devices is provided, wherein a first one of said plurality of oxygen breathing devices further comprises an integrated transmitter comprising a sender adapted for wireless communication with a receiver of a second one of said oxygen breathing devices and a receiver adapted for wireless communication with a sender of said second oxygen breathing device.
US08967534B2	Aircraft landing gear assembly shimmy damper An aircraft vehicular assembly is provided that includes a nonelastomeric outer tubular member having an inner axial center bore with a tubular cylindrical frictional interface contiguous smooth inner surface segment, and a nonelastomeric inner member having an outer bonding surface segment. The nonelastomeric inner member is rotationally received in the outer member inner axial center bore with the nonelastomeric inner strut member rotatable within said outer member. An elastomer encompasses the nonelastomeric inner strut member outer bonding surface segment. The elastomer has an inner bonding surface segment and an outer grooved elastomer surface, the inner bonding surface segment is bonded to the nonelastomeric inner member outer bonding surface segment.
US08967530B2	Signal strength dependent cover unlocking device for a duct housing a secondary power supply device in an aircraft fuselage A power generation system for integration into an aircraft system, including a secondary power supply device having a generator turbine arranged in a duct running between a forward opening and a rearward opening on the fuselage of the aircraft. An electromagnetic unlocking device locks and unlocks a covering device on the forward opening, depending on a signal strength supplied to the unlocking device. The system also includes an actuation device that generates an opening or closing signal for an opening and closing device, and an opening function switching device that activates the unlocking device electrically with a signal strength that locks the covering device in an initial state, and on receipt of a power requirement signal from a power generation monitoring device, activates the unlocking device with a second signal strength that unlocks the covering device.
US08967529B1	Battery-structure A battery-structure that may be located at least partially in the wings of an aircraft. The battery-structure forms a portion of the structural support of the wings and includes a plurality of battery receiving compartments; and a plurality of batteries located in the battery-structure. The batteries are configured to fit snugly within the battery receiving compartments, thereby increasing the rigidity of the battery-structure and the wings. The structural constituent of the battery-structure may be made from a carbon or graphite reinforced composite material or from a fiberglass composite material. The battery-structure may include a top panel, a bottom panel, a pair of side panels, and a plurality of web members. The panels and the web members may define the battery receiving compartments. The batteries can be received snugly between the web members to reinforce the rigidity and/or strength of the battery-structure.
US08967527B2	Modular miniature unmanned aircraft with vectored-thrust control An aircraft for unmanned aviation is described. The aircraft includes an airframe, a pair of fins attached to a rear portion of the airframe, a pair of dihedral braces attached to a bottom portion of the airframe, a first thrust-vectoring (“T/V”) module and a second T/V module, and an electronics module. The electronics module provides commands to the two T/V modules. The two T/V modules are configured to provide lateral and longitudinal control to the aircraft by directly controlling a thrust vector for each of the pitch, the roll, and the yaw of the aircraft. The use of directly articulated electrical motors as T/V modules enables the aircraft to execute tight-radius turns over a wide range of airspeeds.
US08967526B2	Multi-role aircraft with interchangeable mission modules A flight-operable, truly modular aircraft has an aircraft core to which one or more of outer wings members, fuselage, cockpit, leading and trailing edge couplings, and empennage and tail sections can be removably coupled and/or replaced during the operating life span of the aircraft. In preferred embodiments the aircraft core houses the propulsive engines, avionics, at least 80% of the fuel, and all of the landing gear. The aircraft core is preferably constructed with curved forward and aft composite spars, that couple to outer wing sections and possibly other sections using hardpoints. The aircraft core preferably has a large central cavity dimensioned to interchangeably carry an ordnance launcher, a surveillance payload, electronic countermeasures, and other types of cargo. Contemplated aircraft can be quite large, for example having a wing span of at least 80 ft.
US08967525B2	Helicopter with a transverse duct A helicopter with a longitudinal axis and with a tail portion (1) with a transverse duct (6) and a drive shaft (23) inside a drive shaft fairing (14) for an aerodynamic and acoustic optimized counter-torque device (2) supported within said transverse duct (6).
US08967521B2	Filament winding device A filament winding device that optimizes the interval between adjacent fiber bundle guides includes a plurality of helical heads on which fiber bundle guides moving in the direction that is roughly perpendicular to the rotating axis of a liner are radially disposed; and winds a fiber bundle onto the outer circumference surface of the liner by passing the helical heads while rotating the liner. An interval adjusting means adjusts the interval between a virtual plane (Pf) which intersects with the guiding opening of a fiber bundle guide disposed on one of the helical heads so as to be orthogonal to the liner rotating axis and a virtual plane (Pw) which intersects with the guiding opening of a fiber bundle guide disposed on the other helical head so as to be orthogonal to the liner rotating axis.
US08967519B2	Safety belt retractor with variable load transfer in different function settings A self-locking safety belt retractor has a blocking apparatus for a belt shaft mounted rotatably in a housing. The blocking apparatus includes a pawl inserted into a recess of the shaft front of the belt shaft which can be pivoted radially outward into engagement with the blocking apparatus. A blocking gearing (12) is oriented with respect to stop surfaces of the pawl (16) and to force transmission surfaces (25, 32) of the recess (15) such that, when the gear teeth of the pawl (16) are engaged in the blocking gearing (12) under normal load, a force acts between the blocking gearing (12) and the belt shaft (13) in a radial direction. If the load increases in a crash case, a force is transmitted in the circumferential direction due to plastic deformation of at least one housing gear tooth (28, 26) of the blocking gearing (12).
US08967518B2	Wire winder and peripheral component having the wire winder A wire winder for winding a wire includes a housing, a latching portion, a rotary assembly, a torsion spring, a cover coupled to the housing, and an operation portion. The rotary assembly can rotate to wind the wire into the housing or unwind the wire out of the housing. The torsion spring is fixed between the rotary assembly and the cover. The operation portion is capable of moving in a telescopic manner, to make the latching portion lock or unlock the rotary assembly. The wire winder further includes at least one location member and a through portion. The at least one location member and the through portion define a wire channel for the wire. The outer end of the wire passes through the at least one location member and the through portion and extends out of the housing through a wire hole defined on the housing.
US08967515B2	Tool unit and cutting or punching tool for a comminution device, and a device equipped therewith A tool unit for a comminution device with a rotor-stator system is provided, in which comminution tools are detachably fastened to tool holders on a rotor circumference and work together with comminution tools located on the stator. In order to shorten the tool replacement downtimes of a device equipped with such a tool unit and to increase its profitability, the tool holder includes a first carrier section and a second carrier section, the rear sides of which sections detachably contact one another in a common contact plane, and on each of the mutually averted front sides of which is located at least one bearing surface for accommodating a tool.
US08967511B1	Slidable cover mechanism of a paper shredder The present invention provides a slidable cover mechanism of a paper shredder, wherein an upper cover of the paper shredder is provided with a face cover sliding along an upper surface of the upper cover, two sides at a bottom of the upper cover are provided respectively with a first chute and a second chute, two sides at a bottom of the face cover are provided with guiding pillars, the guiding pillars are disposed respectively in the first chute and the second chute, a first pressing plate and a second pressing plate are connected respectively above the first chute and the second chute on the guiding pillars, an exterior side of the first chute is provided with a micro-switch at a bottom of the upper cover, and an extension arm is provided between a side of the first pressing plate and the micro-switch.
US08967510B2	Safety shredder A safety inlet apparatus for a paper feed opening of a shredder, with cutting cylinders including an upper casing having a feed end with a safety dam with upper and lower indices. An angled plate means set apart from the upper casing forms the paper feed opening. A safety plate with a distal index end is provided, which is formed to traverse the feed opening from the angled plate to the safety dam. Also included is a pivot, and a power control switch. The pivot is configured to facilitate traversal of the safety plate distal index from the angled plate to the safety dam. The power limit switch is on the upper casing, apart from the pivot member. The traversal of the safety plate distal index end to the safety dam lower index causes the power control switch to stop comminution. A buckle bit plate provides open and closed detents.
US08967509B2	Torque-customized shredder load calibration Paper shredder thickness calibration using a Hall effect torque detector coupled to a paper shredder motor, producing a signal corresponding to the paper shredder motor rotation, a controller receives the signal and determines a paper shredder motor torque from the signal corresponding to the rotation of the paper shredder motor, with the torque corresponding to shreddant thickness. Signal is compared to predetermined maximum signal beyond which overload is signaled.Also, a method of operating a paper shredder having a rotating motor to comminute shreddant, including providing a Hall effect rotor and sensor; creating a torque signal based on a full load motor torque, and comparing the current torque signal to the full load torque signal.
US08967508B2	Electric food press processor appliance The present invention may be used to process various foods by pressing them through a receiving receptacle equipped with a processing disk. A body may have a plurality of platforms, frames and support configurations conducive for efficient function. A motor may be in the uppermost section of the body. A switch of choice may activate the motor and set in motion the press process. A ball bearing assembly and press assembly may complete the food press processing function. A receiving receptacle may receive produce for processing by the press plate and push produce through a processing disk, cup or sieve. A set of micro switches may serve to control the electric and mechanical function specific to the task. A press plate with configurations compatible to the disk selected may complete the process when the processed produce is dispensed into a dish or appropriate container.
US08967507B2	Moveable shaft assembly A moveable shaft assembly including a frame, a first shaft, and a first drive assembly. The frame includes a first support wall and a second support wall opposite the first support wall. The first shaft includes a drive end and a support end and defining a first axis therebetween. The first shaft extends between the first support wall and the second support wall. The first drive assembly rotates the first shaft about the first axis, and the first drive assembly is coupled to the drive end of the first shaft. The first shaft and first drive assembly are moveable relative to the frame in response to a reaction force acting on the first shaft in a direction oblique or transverse to the first axis.
US08967504B2	Horizontal shaft impact crusher A horizontal shaft impact crusher comprises a crusher housing having an inlet for material to be crushed, an outlet for material that has been crushed, an impeller being mounted on a horizontal shaft in the crusher housing and being operative for rotating around a horizontal axis, a curtain against which material accelerated by the impeller may be crushed, and an adjustment bar for adjusting the position of said curtain relative to the impeller. The crusher is further provided with a cross beam to which said adjustment bar is connected, said crossbeam being adjustable relative to the impeller, and a curtain position indicator device indicating the position of the cross beam relative to the impeller, thereby indicating the position of the curtain relative to the impeller.
US08967495B2	Device comprising a non-return valve The invention relates to a device for dispensing a liquid, including a piston that is movable within a chamber and a nozzle connected to the piston such that the movement of the piston causes the movement of the nozzle, wherein one end of the piston engages the chamber so as to form a non-return valve.
US08967494B2	Fuel injector A method and apparatus is disclosed for ejecting material. The ejected material is ejected as liquid and liquid vapor via an explosive process which can provide a very fast ejection as well as an ejection which has a large throw. The apparatus can be used to eject fuel for a fuel injector.
US08967493B2	Atomizing device An atomizer for atomizing liquids including a liquid storage receptacle pertaining to an atomizing device having an atomizing chamber that communicates with the ambient atmosphere through a plurality of outlet orifices. A vibrator is also provided, which liquid present in the atomizing chamber is caused to vibrate for the purpose of atomization, and an intake channel is provided, via which the liquid storage receptacle is connected to the atomizing device and a pumping device is also provided in the intake channel for the purpose of conveying the liquid from the liquid storage receptacle to the atomizing chamber, An electronic control device controls the pumping device and the vibrator.
US08967492B2	Droplet generation system and method A droplet generation system includes a first nozzle configuration structured to receive a liquid and a gas under pressure in a controllable feed ratio, and to merge the liquid and gas to form an intermediate stream that is a mixture of the gas and of a dispersed phase of the liquid. A second nozzle configuration is connected to receive the intermediate stream from the first nozzle configuration and has a valve mechanism with one or more controllable operating parameters to emit a stream of droplets of the liquid. The mean size of the droplets is dependent on the controllable feed ratio of the liquid and gas and the flow rate of the stream of droplets is dependent on the controllable operating parameter(s) of the valve mechanism. A corresponding method is disclosed, as is the application of the system and method to the production of nanoparticles in a thermochemical reactor.
US08967485B2	Reconfigurable antenna system for radio frequency identification (RFId) An antenna system that allows increasing the reading reliability of RFId systems by dynamically changing the shape or the polarization of the electromagnetic field radiated by the RPId reader. The system includes at least one reconfigurable antenna, a variable DC bias unit and a methodology to efficiently use the system in RFId applications. The system allows changing the direction in which the energy is radiated or the polarization of the radiated field in order to “move” the electromagnetic field and to also read RFid tags that receive faint signals with standard RFid systems. Polarization alignment between the reader's antenna and the transponder allows for maximum power transfer, while changing the direction of radiation allows concentrating the electromagnetic field towards the transponder.
US08967481B2	Symbol-based decoding of optical codes Techniques and systems for decoding optical codes using symbol-based algorithms are described. In one example, a method includes acquiring a signal representative of light reflected from an optical code comprising one or more symbols of a finite set of symbols and applying a decoding model to the signal. The decoding model may relate measured signals to the finite set of symbols, such that each of the symbols of the finite set of symbols are associated with a respective encoded character of a finite set of encoded characters. The method may also include determining, by a processor, a sequence of one or more of the encoded characters based on the application of the decoding model to the signal. In this manner, the optical code may be decoded by directly fitting an acquired signal from the optical code to possible symbols within the optical code and the associated encoded characters.
US08967477B2	Smart card reader with a secure logging feature A secure smart card reader is disclosed that is enabled to make reader signatures on data representative of events and actions which may be security related and which may include data representative of reader commands received from a host or remote application, smart card commands exchanged with an inserted smart card, data presented to a user for approval, and/or configuration parameters applied when dealing with any of the foregoing. The smart card reader may be adapted to maintain logs of events and actions which may include exchanging reader commands, exchanging smart card commands, and/or interactions with a user. The logs may include data representative of the reader commands received, the smart card commands exchanged, data presented to the user for approval, and/or configuration parameters applied when dealing with any of the foregoing. The secure smart card reader may be adapted to generate a reader signature over the logs.
US08967476B2	Synchronization techniques in multi-technology/multi-frequency RFID reader arrays Methods and apparatus for provisioning the use of multiple readers and/or wireless communication protocols within a defined area are provided. More specifically, a coordinator or the like can be used to manage the activation and deactivation of the multiple readers and/or communication protocols within a single reader such that interference between disparate technologies is avoided.
US08967474B2	Tunnel or portal scanner and method of scanning for automated checkout Systems and methods for data reading, which in one example configuration is directed to an automated optical code data reader in the form of a tunnel or portal scanner having an open architecture configured with front and rear inverted U-shaped arches, a plurality of cameras (some or most of which have multiple fields of view) in each of the arches for reading the top live sides of an item being passed by a conveyor through a read region formed by the arches, and a bottom reader including one or more cameras under the conveyor for reading a bottom side of the item through a gap in the conveyors as the item is passed over the gap. Also disclosed are specific imaging schemes for providing effective views of the items with a minimum number of cameras.

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