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

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US08969301B2	Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of aspartyl-tRNA synthetases Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
US08969298B2	Liquid preparation of physiologically active peptide An effective liquid preparation achieves high bioavailability (BA) of physiologically active peptides or proteins, including ghrelins, that are administered as drugs. Also provided is a method for improving the BA of physiologically active peptides or proteins, including ghrelins, that are subcutaneously injected in aqueous solutions. The liquid preparation contains: a physiologically active peptide or protein, such as ghrelins, as an active ingredient; an acid solution including one or a combination of two or more selected form the group consisting of acetic acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, glycine, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof; an alcohol; and a polar organic liquid including one or a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide and methylparaben.
US08969293B2	Therapeutic agent preparations comprising exenatide for delivery into a lumen of the intestinal tract using a swallowable drug delivery device Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.
US08969292B2	High affinity leptins and leptin antagonists Leptin muteins, in particular leptin antagonists, with increased binding affinity to leptin receptor are provided. These compounds as well as pharmaceutical composition comprising them are useful for the treatment of any disorder in which a non-desirable or deleterious activity of endogenous leptin or an altered innate immune response is implicated.
US08969290B2	Matrix scaffold with antimicrobial activity The invention provides a scaffold of extracellular matrix polymers with recombinant chimeric peptides tethered thereto. The invention also provides recombinant chimeric peptides of antimicrobial peptides and extracellular matrix binding domains. The invention also provides methods for treating chronic wounds using the scaffold and/or recombinant chimeric peptides.
US08969288B2	Amide based glucagon and superfamily peptide prodrugs Prodrug formulations of glucagon superfamily peptides are provided wherein the glucagon superfamily peptide has been modified by the linkage of a dipeptide to the glucagon superfamily through an amide bond linkage. The prodrugs disclosed herein have extended half lives and are converted to the active form at physiological conditions through a non-enzymatic reaction driven by chemical instability.
US08969287B2	Method for automated, large-scale measurement of the molecular flux rates of the proteome or the organeome using mass spectrometry Disclosed here is a method for measuring the kinetics (i.e., the molecular flux rates-synthesis and breakdown or removal rates) of a plurality of proteins or organic metabolites in living systems. The methods may be accomplished in a high-throughput, large-scale automated manner, by using existing mass spectrometric profiling techniques and art well known in the fields of static proteomics and static organeomics, without the need for additional biochemical preparative steps or analytic/instrumental devices.
US08969285B2	Phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucosides used for enhanced food soil removal A method of removing food soil using a cleaning composition including a C12 phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucoside, a water conditioning agent and water. In one embodiment, the cleaning composition is substantially free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates. The cleaning composition is capable of removing soils including up to 20% proteins.
US08969284B2	Laundry detergents and cleaning compositions comprising carboxyl group-containing polymers The present invention relates to a laundry detergent or a cleaning composition, preferably a granular detergent product, comprising a carboxyl-group containing polymer, which is useful in improving whiteness and/or anti-soil redeposition. Processes for making and methods of using the laundry detergent or cleaning composition are also encompassed by the present invention.
US08969281B2	Liquid treatment composition According to the present invention there is provided a pearlescent liquid treatment composition suitable for use as a laundry or hard surface cleaning composition comprising a rheology modifier providing a pouring viscosity at 20 sec−1 of from 50 to 700 cps, a viscosity at constant low stress of 0.1 Pa which is at least 300 cps, preferably 500 cps and a pearlescent agent, said pearlescent agent having D0.99 volume particle size of less than 60 μm.
US08969279B2	Solvent systems having no flash point and methods using such solvent systems for dissolving rigid polyurethane foams This invention relates to solvent systems useful for foam nozzle cleaning, which solvent systems are formed by combining at least a brominated compound, an alcohol and a stabilizer in amounts such that the solvent system has no flash point.
US08969277B2	Manufacturing method of a glass substrate for a magnetic disk An object of the invention is to remove effectively metallic contaminants adhering to the glass substrate surfaces without increasing roughness of the glass substrate surfaces in the glass substrate for a magnetic disk. In a manufacturing method of a glass substrate for a magnetic disk having a cleaning step of the glass substrate, the cleaning step comprising a cleaning treatment of contacting the glass substrate with an alkaline aqueous solution having a gluconate in concentration of not less than 0.05 wt % and not more than 2 wt % added thereto and a pH of not less than 9 and not more than 11 is appended.
US08969276B2	Aqueous acidic etching solution and method for texturing the surface of single crystal and polycrystal silicon substrates An aqueous acidic etching solution suitable for texturing the surface of single crystal and polycrystal silicon substrates and containing, based on the complete weight of the solution, 3 to 10% by weight of hydrofluoric acid; 10 to 35% by weight of nitric acid; 5 to 40% by weight of sulfuric acid; and 55 to 82% by weight of water; a method for texturing the surface of single crystal and polycrystal silicon substrates comprising the step of (1) contacting at least one major surface of a substrate with the said aqueous acidic etching solution; (2) etching the at least one major surface of the substrate for a time and at a temperature sufficient to obtain a surface texture consisting of recesses and protrusions; and (3) removing the at least one major surface of the substrate from the contact with the aqueous acidic etching solution; and a method for manufacturing photovoltaic cells and solar cells using the said solution and the said texturing method.
US08969273B2	Lubricating oil compositions A method for preventing or inhibiting exhaust valve seat recession in a natural gas fueled engine, the method comprising lubricating the engine with a natural gas engine lubricating oil composition comprising (a) a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity; and (b) an alkali metal-containing detergent, wherein the natural gas engine lubricating oil composition is substantially free of each of any alkaline earth metal-containing detergents and lithium-containing detergents is disclosed.
US08969272B2	Hydroxyaromatic functionalized polyalpha-olefins This invention relates to a hydroxyaromatic functionalized polyalpha-olefin comprising the product of the combination of: a) a polyalpha-olefin comprising one or more C3 to C20 linear alpha-olefins and having at least 10% vinylidene unsaturation, a viscosity index of 80 to 400, an Mn of 300 to about 20,000, and a pour point of 0° C. or less; and b) a hydroxyaromatic moiety; wherein the analine point of the functionalized polyalpha-olefin is at least 10° C. lower than the analine point of the polyalpha-olefin.
US08969268B2	Process for the preparation of multifunctional additive for aqueous lubricants The present invention deals with a process for the preparation of multifunctional additive for aqueous lubricants. These I multifunctional additive for aqueous lubricant comprises of co-polymer having vinyl group containing polyhydric alcohol along with monomer selected from aqueous soluble acrylate co-monomer in different mole fraction for addition polymerization to facilitate the sequencing of monomer in polymer chain. Thus the polymeric molecule has been designed for improving tribological properties i.e. low wear, low friction and EP property of aqueous lubricants.
US08969267B2	Lubricant compositions Suggested is a method for enhancing energy efficiency of engines by applying to said engines a lubricant composition containing (A) carboxylic esters derived from the reaction of mono-, di- and/or poly alcohols with mono- and/or dicarboxylic acids, together with an additive blend (B) comprising at least two different additives (a) and (b) together, whereby compound (a) is selected from dithiophosphates, and compound (b) is selected from alkylated phosphorothionates, on condition that the total amount of the additive blend (B) is below 0.1 wt %, calculated on the weight of the whole composition.
US08969263B2	Treatment fluid containing a corrosion inhibitor of a polymer including a silicone and amine group A treatment fluid comprises: water; a carboxylate; and a corrosion inhibitor, wherein the corrosion inhibitor is a polymer, wherein the polymer comprises silicone, an ether monomer residue, and an amine functional group; wherein a test fluid consisting essentially of the water, the carboxylate, and the corrosion inhibitor, and in the same proportions as in the treatment fluid, is capable of providing a corrosion weight loss to a metal plate of less than 0.05 pounds per square feet (lb/ft2) under testing conditions of 200° F. (93.3° C.), a pressure of 500 psi (3.4 MPa), and a time of 24 hours whereas a substantially identical test fluid without the corrosion inhibitor provides a corrosion weight loss of greater than 0.05 lb/ft2 under the testing conditions. A method of treating a portion of a well comprises: forming the treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into the well.
US08969261B2	Rheology modifier compositions and methods of use A composition for enhancing fluid viscosity including a mixture of at least one cationic or cationizable polymer and at least one anionic or anionizable (hydrolysable) polymer. The composition has a zeta potential at 25° C. in the range of 0.5 to 100 mV or −0.5 to −100 mV, typically 1 to 60 mV or −1 to −60 mV, or is a precursor convertible at a temperature of 100 to 250° C. to the composition having a zeta potential at 25° C. of 0.5 to 100 mV or −0.5 to −100 mV, typically 1 to 60 mV or −1 to −60 mV. Typically the compositions exhibit salt tolerance and interaction of both polymers at very high temperatures (>300° F.) such that the system exhibits an increase of viscosity at extreme temperatures. The compositions are useful for hydraulic fracturing, enhanced oil recovery, subterranean acidization, personal care as well as home and industrial cleaners.
US08969254B2	Oligonucleotide array for tissue typing Oligonucleotide-based microarrays for tissue typing (e.g., HLA tissue typing) are provided. More particularly, the microarrays are high resolution arrays useful for diagnostic evaluations and determining donor/recipient transplant compatibility.
US08969253B2	Method for screening phage display libraries against each other The present invention relates to a method for screening phage display libraries against each other. In particular, the invention relates to a method for screening at least two phage display libraries against each other to identify and/or select one or more interacting binding partners or binding molecules making up such interacting binding partners. Kits providing two bispecific phage display libraries are also provided.
US08969252B2	Peptide mediated synthesis of metallic and magnetic materials The present invention includes methods for producing magnetic nanocrystals by using a biological molecule that has been modified to possess an amino acid oligomer that is capable of specific binding to a magnetic material.
US08969250B2	Dispersible adhesive granules A process for treating foliage by retaining an active agent in contact with the foliage is provided that includes the application of a biologically active ingredient carrier granule. The granule includes a mineral component, a cellulosic component, and a binder flowing upon wetting intermixed with the mineral component and the cellulosic components. A biologically active ingredient is added to the granule to treat the foliage. The foliage in either a dry or pre-wetted state. The contact of the granule with water causes the granule to flow to form a coherent film bound by the binder on the foliage with the active agent retained in the film in contact with the foliage.
US08969249B2	Synthesis and biological activity of bicyclic ABA analogs Bicyclic abscisic acid (ABA) analogs of Formula (I) and (II) and the process for their production are disclosed. The bicyclic ABA analogs include the structural elements and functional groups of the parent molecule that are required for activity, and have an aromatic ring fused to the ring replacing the vinyl methyl group of absicisie acid. Methods for using the bicyclic ABA analogs to inhibit cell growth and seed germination are also disclosed.
US08969241B2	Organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous silica material modified by sulfonic acid group for selective adsorption of metal ions and method of manufacturing the same A silica precursor having a selective adsorptivity with respect to cobalt ions is disclosed. The silica precursor includes a cross-linked 2,6-diamino pyridine group obtained by using 2,6-diamino pyridine, phosgene and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane.
US08969239B2	Process and catalyst for the hydroconversion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock A method of hydroprocessing a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock using a hydroprocessing catalyst having specific properties making it effective in the hydroconversion of at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to lighter hydrocarbons. The hydroprocessing catalyst comprises a Group VIB metal component (e.g., Cr, Mo, and W), a Group VIII metal component (e.g., Ni and Co) and, optionally, a potassium metal component that are supported on a support material comprising alumina. The alumina has novel physical properties that, in combination with the catalytic components, provide for the hydroprocessing catalyst. The hydroprocessing catalyst is particularly effective in the conversion of the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock. The alumina is characterized as having a high pore volume and a high surface area with a large proportion of the pore volume being present in the pores within a narrow pore diameter distribution about a narrowly defined range of median pore diameters. The support material preferably does not contain more than a small concentration of silica. The alumina component is preferably made by a specific method that provides for an alumina having the specific physical properties required for the hydroprocessing catalyst.
US08969238B2	Nanoparticular metal oxide/anatase catalysts The present invention concerns a method of preparation of nanoparticular metal oxide catalysts having a narrow particle size distribution. In particular, the invention concerns preparation of nanoparticular metal oxide catalyst precursors comprising combustible crystallization seeds upon which the catalyst metal oxide is co-precipitated with the carrier metal oxide, which crystallization seeds are removed by combustion in a final calcining step. The present invention also concerns processes wherein the nanoparticular metal oxide catalysts of the invention are used, such as SCR (deNOx) reactions of nitrogen oxides with ammonia or urea as reductant, oxidations of alcohols or aldehydes with dioxygen or air to provide aldehydes, ketones or carboxylic acids, and photocatalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
US08969237B2	Coated substrates for use in catalysis and catalytic converters and methods of coating substrates with washcoat compositions Disclosed are, inter alia, methods of forming coated substrates for use in catalytic converters, as well as washcoat compositions and methods suitable for using in preparation of the coated substrates, and the coated substrates formed thereby. The catalytic material is prepared by a plasma-based method, yielding catalytic material with a lower tendency to migrate on support at high temperatures, and thus less prone to catalyst aging after prolonged use. Also disclosed are catalytic converters using the coated substrates, which have favorable properties as compared to catalytic converters using catalysts deposited on substrates using solution chemistry. Also disclosed are exhaust treatment systems, and vehicles, such as diesel vehicles, particularly light-duty diesel vehicles, using catalytic converters and exhaust treatment systems using the coated substrates.
US08969236B2	Process and catalyst for production of mixed alcohols from synthesis gas A preferred embodiment of the process involves a generate a catalyst that comprises molybdenum carbide nickel material. Steps may involve heating a surface that comprises molybdenum oxide and a nickel salt while passing thereover a gaseous mixture that comprises a reductant and a carburizer. In certain embodiments, the reductant and the carburizer may both be carbon monoxide, or both be a saturated hydrocarbon. In others, the reductant may be carbon monoxide and the carburizer may be a saturated hydrocarbon.
US08969233B2	Hydrocracking process using a zeolite modified by basic treatment The present invention describes a hydrocracking and/or hydrotreatment process using a catalyst comprising an active phase containing at least one hydrogenating/dehydrogenating component selected from the group VIB elements and the non-precious elements of group VIII of the periodic table, used alone or in a mixture, and a support comprising at least one dealuminated zeolite Y having an overall initial atomic ratio of silicon to aluminum between 2.5 and 20, an initial weight fraction of extra-lattice aluminum atoms greater than 10%, relative to the total weight of aluminum present in the zeolite, an initial mesopore volume measured by nitrogen porosimetry greater than 0.07 ml·g−1 and an initial crystal lattice parameter a0 between 24.38 Å and 24.30 Å, said zeolite being modified by a) a stage of basic treatment comprising mixing said dealuminated zeolite Y with a basic aqueous solution, and at least one stage c) of thermal treatment.
US08969228B2	Process for elimination of hexavalent chromium compounds on metallic substrates within zero-PGM catalyst systems Systems and Methods for manufacturing ZPGM catalysts systems that may allow the prevention of formation or the conversion of corrosion causing compounds, such as hexavalent chromium compounds, within ZPGM catalyst systems are disclosed. ZPGM catalysts systems, may include metallic substrate, which may include alloys of iron and chromium, a washcoat and an overcoat. Disclosed manufacturing processes may include a thermal decomposition of hexavalent chromium compounds which may allow the decomposition of such compounds into trivalent chromium compounds, and may also produce metallic catalyst, such as silver.
US08969227B2	Zirconia-based material doped with yttrium and lanthanum Sintered bodies containing zirconia-based ceramic materials and partially sintered bodies that are intermediates in the preparation of the sintered bodies are described. The zirconia-based ceramic material is doped with lanthanum and yttrium. The grain size of the zirconia-based ceramic material can be controlled by the addition of lanthanum. The crystalline phase of the zirconia-based ceramic material can be influenced by the addition of yttrium.
US08969226B2	Glasses having improved toughness and scratch resistance A silicate glass that is tough and scratch resistant. The toughness is increased by minimizing the number of non-bridging oxygen atoms in the glass. In one embodiment, the silicate glass is an aluminoborosilicate glass in which −15 mol %≦(R2O+R′O—Al2O3—ZrO2)—B2O3≦4 mol %, where R is one of Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs, and R′ is one of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba.
US08969222B2	Modified perfluoropolymer sheet material and methods for making same A coated fabric includes a reinforcement, a first coating disposed on the reinforcement, and a second coating disposed on the first coating. The first coating includes perfluoropolymer. The second coating includes perfluoropolymer and a silicone polymer in an amount in a range of 2 wt % to 30 wt %.
US08969214B2	Methods of forming a pattern on a substrate A method of forming a pattern on a substrate includes forming spaced first features derived from a first lithographic patterning step. Sidewall spacers are formed on opposing sides of the first features. After forming the sidewall spacers, spaced second features derived from a second lithographic patterning step are formed. At least some of individual of the second features are laterally between and laterally spaced from immediately adjacent of the first features in at least one straight-line vertical cross-section that passes through the first and second features. After the second lithographic patterning step, all of only some of the sidewall spacers in said at least one cross-section is removed.
US08969213B2	Non-lithographic line pattern formation A metal layer is deposited over an underlying material layer. The metal layer includes an elemental metal that can be converted into a dielectric metal-containing compound by plasma oxidation and/or nitridation. A hard mask portion is formed over the metal layer. Plasma oxidation or nitridation is performed to convert physically exposed surfaces of the metal layer into the dielectric metal-containing compound. The sequence of a surface pull back of the hard mask portion, trench etching, another surface pull back, and conversion of top surfaces into the dielectric metal-containing compound are repeated to form a line pattern having a spacing that is not limited by lithographic minimum dimensions.
US08969212B2	Dry-etch selectivity A method of etching exposed patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a remote plasma etch formed from a reactive precursor. The plasma power is pulsed rather than left on continuously. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents selectively remove one material faster than another. The etch selectivity results from the pulsing of the plasma power to the remote plasma region, which has been found to suppress the number of ionically-charged species that reach the substrate. The etch selectivity may also result from the presence of an ion suppression element positioned between a portion of the remote plasma and the substrate processing region.
US08969205B2	Double patterning via triangular shaped sidewall spacers An intermediate semiconductor structure in fabrication includes a silicon semiconductor substrate, a hard mask of silicon nitride (SiN) over the substrate and a sacrificial layer of polysilicon or amorphous silicon over the hard mask. The sacrificial layer is patterned into sidewall spacers for mandrels of a filler material substantially different in composition from the sidewall spacers, such as a flowable oxide. The mandrels are removed such that the sidewall spacers have vertically tapered inner and outer sidewalls providing a rough triangular shape. The rough triangular sidewall spacers are used as a hard mask to pattern the SiN hard mask below.
US08969202B2	Method of manufacturing metal silicide and semiconductor structure using the same A method of manufacturing a metal silicide is disclosed below. A substrate having a first region and a second region is provided. A silicon layer is formed on the substrate. A planarization process is performed to make the silicon layer having a planar surface. A part of the silicon layer is removed to form a plurality of first gates on the first region and to form a plurality of second gates on the second region. The height of the first gates is greater than the height of the second gates, and top surfaces of the first gates and the second gates have the same height level. A dielectric layer covering the first gates and the second gates is formed and exposes the top surfaces of the first gates and the second gates. A metal silicide is formed on the top surfaces of the first gates and the second gates.
US08969199B1	Methods of forming a circuit that includes a cross-coupling gate contact structure wherein the circuit is to be manufactured using a triple patterning process One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, patterning a hard mask layer using three patterned photoresist etch masks, wherein a first feature corresponding to a portion, but not all, of a cross-coupling gate contact structure is present in a first of the three patterned photoresist etch masks and a second feature corresponding to a portion, but not all, of the cross-coupling gate contact structure is present in a second or a third of the three patterned photoresist etch masks, patterning a layer of insulating material using the patterned hard mask layer as an etch mask, and forming a cross-coupling gate contact structure in a trench in the layer of insulating material.
US08969197B2	Copper interconnect structure and its formation A structure with improved electromigration resistance and methods for making the same. A structure having improved electromigration resistance includes a bulk interconnect having a dual layer cap and a dielectric capping layer. The dual layer cap includes a bottom metallic portion and a top metal oxide portion. Preferably the metal oxide portion is MnO or MnSiO and the metallic portion is Mn or CuMn. The structure is created by doping the interconnect with an impurity (Mn in the preferred embodiment), and then creating lattice defects at a top portion of the interconnect. The defects drive increased impurity migration to the top surface of the interconnect. When the dielectric capping layer is formed, a portion reacts with the segregated impurities, thus forming the dual layer cap on the interconnect. Lattice defects at the Cu surface can be created by plasma treatment, ion implantation, a compressive film, or other means.
US08969191B2	Mechanisms for forming package structure Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a package structure are provided. A method for forming a package structure includes providing a semiconductor die and forming a first bump structure and a second bump structure over the semiconductor die. The second bump structure is thinner and wider than the first bump structure. The method also includes providing a substrate having a first contact pad and a second contact pad formed on the substrate. The method further includes forming a first solder paste structure and a second solder paste structure over the first contact pad and the second contact pad, respectively. The second solder paste structure is thicker than the first solder paste structure. In addition, the method includes reflowing the first bump structure and the second bump structure with the first solder paste structure and the second solder paste structure, respectively, to bond the semiconductor die to the substrate.
US08969183B2	Method for producing thin layers of crystalline or polycrystalline materials Method for making thin crystalline or polycrystalline layers. The method includes electrochemically etching a crystalline silicon template to form a porous double layer thereon, the double layer including a highly porous deeper layer and a less porous shallower layer. The shallower layer is irradiated with a short laser pulse selected to recrystallize the shallower layer resulting in a crystalline layer. Silicon is deposited on the recrystallized shallower layer and the silicon is irradiated with a short laser pulse selected to crystalize the silicon leaving a layer of crystallized silicon on the template. Thereafter, the layer of crystallized silicon is separated from the template. The process of the invention can be used to make optoelectronic devices.
US08969174B2	Fixed curvature force loading of mechanically spalled films A spalling method is provided that includes depositing a stressor layer on surface of a base substrate, and contacting the stressor layer with a planar transfer. The planar transfer surface is then traversed along a plane that is parallel to and having a vertical offset from the upper surface of the base substrate. The planar transfer surface is traversed in a direction from a first edge of the base substrate to an opposing second edge of the base substrate to cleave the base substrate and transfer a spalled portion of the base substrate to the planar transfer surface. The vertical offset between the plane along which the planar transfer surface is traversed and the upper surface of the base substrate is a fixed distance. The fixed distance of the vertical offset provides a uniform spalling force. A spalling method is also provided that includes a transfer roller.
US08969169B1	DRAM MIM capacitor using non-noble electrodes A method for forming a capacitor stack includes forming a first bottom electrode layer including a conductive metal nitride material. A second bottom electrode layer is formed above the first bottom electrode layer. The second bottom electrode layer includes a conductive metal oxide material, wherein the crystal structure of the conductive metal oxide material promotes a desired high-k crystal phase of a subsequently deposited dielectric layer. A dielectric layer is formed above the second bottom electrode layer. Optionally, an oxygen-rich metal oxide layer is formed above the dielectric layer. Optionally, a third top electrode layer is formed above the oxygen-rich metal oxide layer. The third top electrode layer includes a conductive metal oxide material. A fourth top electrode layer is formed above the third top electrode layer. The fourth top electrode layer includes a conductive metal nitride material.
US08969168B2	Method for manufacturing variable resistance element Provided is a method for manufacturing a variable resistance element, the method including: forming a first electrode material layer above a substrate; forming a first tantalum oxide material layer; forming a second tantalum oxide material layer; forming a second electrode material layer; and annealing at least the first tantalum oxide material layer after forming the first tantalum oxide material layer and before forming the second electrode material layer, wherein an oxygen content percentage of one of the first tantalum oxide material layer and the second tantalum oxide material layer is higher than an oxygen content percentage of the other.
US08969166B2	Method and apparatus for selectively improving integrated device performance An apparatus for selectively improving integrated circuit performance is provided. In an example, an integrated circuit is fabricated according to an integrated circuit layout. A critical portion of the integrated circuit layout determines a speed of the integrated circuit, where at least a part of the critical portion includes at least one of a halo implant region, lightly doped drain (LDD) implant region, and source drain extension (SDE) implant region. A marker layer comprises the part of the critical portion that includes the at least one of the halo implant region, the lightly doped drain (LDD) implant region, and the source drain extension (SDE) implant region, and includes at least one transistor formed therefrom.
US08969163B2	Forming facet-less epitaxy with self-aligned isolation A method of forming a semiconductor structure may include preparing a continuous active layer in a region of the substrate and forming a plurality of adjacent gates on the continuous active layer. A first raised epitaxial layer may be deposited on a recessed region of the continuous active layer between a first and a second one of the plurality of gates, whereby the first and second gates are adjacent. A second raised epitaxial layer may be deposited on another recessed region of the continuous active layer between the second and a third one of the plurality of gates, whereby the second and third gates are adjacent. Using a cut mask, a trench structure is etched into the second gate structure and a region underneath the second gate in the continuous active layer. The trench is filled with isolation material for electrically isolating the first and second raised epitaxial layers.
US08969160B2	Asymmetric source-drain field-effect transistor having a mixed schottky/P-N junction and method of making The present invention is related to microelectronic device technologies. A method for making an asymmetric source-drain field-effect transistor is disclosed. A unique asymmetric source-drain field-effect transistor structure is formed by changing ion implantation tilt angles to control the locations of doped regions formed by two ion implantation processes. The asymmetric source-drain field-effect transistor has structurally asymmetric source/drain regions, one of which is formed of a P-N junction while the other one being formed of a mixed junction, the mixed junction being a mixture of a Schottky junction and a P-N junction.
US08969157B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device having field plate electrode According to one embodiment, in a method of a semiconductor device, a trench is formed in the direction of a lower surface from an upper surface of a semiconductor layer. A first insulating film is formed to cover an inner surface of the trench. An electrode material is formed to fill the trench and cover the upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The electrode material is selectively removed except a portion of the electrode material to fill the trench and a portion of the electrode material to cover an opening of the trench. The first insulating film to cover an upper portion of the trench is removed. The portions of the electrode material to fill the trench and cover the opening of the trench are etched back to form a first electrode at a lower portion of the trench.
US08969152B2	Field-effect transistor (FET) with source-drain contact over gate spacer A field-effect transistor (FET) and methods for fabricating such. The FET includes a substrate having a crystalline orientation, a source region in the substrate, and a drain region in the substrate. Gate spacers are positioned over the source region and the drain region. The gate spacers include a gate spacer height. A source contact physically and electrically contacts the source region and extends beyond the gate spacer height. A drain contact physically and electrically contacts the drain region and extends beyond the gate spacer height. The source and drain contacts have the same crystalline orientation as the substrate.
US08969151B2	Integrated circuit system employing resistance altering techniques An integrated circuit system that includes: providing a substrate including a first region and a second region; forming a first device over the first region and a resistance device over the second region; forming a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the substrate; removing a portion of the second dielectric layer; and annealing the integrated circuit system to remove dopant from the resistance device.
US08969140B2	Embedded semiconductive chips in reconstituted wafers, and systems containing same A reconstituted wafer includes a rigid mass with a flat surface and a base surface disposed parallel planar to the flat surface. A plurality of dice are embedded in the rigid mass. The plurality of dice include terminals that are exposed through coplanar with the flat surface. A process of forming the reconstituted wafer includes removing some of the rigid mass to expose the terminals, while retaining the plurality of dice in the rigid mass. A process of forming an apparatus includes separating one apparatus from the reconstituted wafer.
US08969138B2	Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same and a mounting structure of a semiconductor device The semiconductor device includes a tab including a chip supporting surface, and a back surface opposite to the chip supporting surface; a plurality of suspension leads supporting the tab; a plurality of leads arranged between the suspension leads; a semiconductor chip mounted on the chip supporting surface of the tab, the semiconductor chip including a main surface, a plurality of pads formed on the main surface, and a rear surface opposite to the main surface; a seal portion sealing the semiconductor chip such that a part of each of the leads is exposed from the seal portion; and a Pb-free solder formed on the part of each of the leads. A part of the rear surface of the semiconductor chip is contacted with the seal portion.
US08969136B2	Integrated circuit packaging system for electromagnetic interference shielding and method of manufacture thereof A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a lead frame having a die attach paddle pad and a peripheral lead pad with an inner lead pad between the die attach paddle pad and the peripheral lead pad; forming a component side of the lead frame for exposing an upper portion of a peripheral lead under the peripheral lead pad; forming an encapsulation on the lead frame and the upper portion of the peripheral lead; exposing the peripheral lead pad; depositing a conductive shielding layer on the encapsulation connected to the peripheral lead pad; and forming a mounting side of the lead frame for forming a lower portion of the peripheral lead over a peripheral lead contact pad.
US08969135B2	Semiconductor device and method of assembling same A semiconductor device includes a lead frame having a down bond area, a die attach area and a dam formed between the down bond area and the die attach area. A bottom of the dam is attached on a surface of the lead frame. The dam prevents contamination of the down bond area from die attach material, which may occur during a die attach process.
US08969133B2	Package-on-package assembly with wire bonds to encapsulation surface A method of making a microelectronic package includes forming a dielectric encapsulation layer on an in-process unit having a substrate having a first surface and a second surface remote therefrom. A microelectronic element is mounted to the first surface of the substrate, and a plurality of conductive elements exposed at the first surface, at least some of which are electrically connected to the microelectronic element. Wire bonds have bases joined to the conductive elements and end surfaces remote from the bases and define an edge surface extending away between the base and the end surface. The encapsulation layer is formed to at least partially cover the first surface and portions of the wire bonds with unencapsulated portions of the wire bonds being defined by at least one of the end surface or a portion of the edge surface that is uncovered thereby.
US08969132B2	Device package and methods for the fabrication thereof Disclosed and claimed herein is a microwave assembly having a substrate comprising a microwave device; said device having a die, a first layer having a dielectric constant between about 1.00 and about 1.45 and a thickness between about 0.05 and about 2 mm along with one or more layers chosen from an absorbing layer, an EMI blocking layer, a layer comprising conductive material or a metal cover.
US08969131B2	Thin film transistor panel and fabricating method thereof A thin film transistor panel includes a substrate, a light blocking layer on the substrate, a first protective film on the light blocking layer, a first electrode and a second electrode on the first protective film, an oxide semiconductor layer on a portion of the first protective film exposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an insulating layer, a third electrode overlapping with the oxide semiconductor layer and on the insulating layer, and a fourth electrode on the insulating layer. The light blocking layer includes first sidewalls, and the first protective film includes second sidewalls. The first and the second sidewalls are disposed along substantially the same line.
US08969130B2	Insulating film, formation method thereof, semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof An amorphous region with low density is formed in an oxide insulating film containing zirconium. The amount of oxygen released from such an oxide insulating film containing zirconium by heating is large and a temperature at which oxygen is released is higher in the oxide insulating film than in a conventional oxide film (e.g., a silicon oxide film). When the insulating film is formed using a sputtering target containing zirconium in an oxygen atmosphere, the temperature of a surface on which the insulating film is formed may be controlled to be lower than a temperature at which a film to be formed starts to crystallize.
US08969128B2	Method of fabricating thin film transistor substrate and organic light emitting display device using the same A method of fabricating a thin film transistor substrate includes: forming a polymer layer on a glass substrate; forming a passivation layer on the polymer layer; forming a thin film transistor array on the passivation layer; and separating the glass substrate from the polymer layer by irradiating a laser from a rear surface of the glass substrate.
US08969127B2	Apparatus for and method of fabricating an electronic device by transfer of material onto a substrate A method of fabricating an electronic device comprises providing a layer structure (48) supported on a first substrate (34), providing a second, patterned substrate (28) and transferring selected areas (58) of the first layer structure onto the second substrate.
US08969126B2	Fabrication method for organic light emitting device and organic light emitting device fabricated by the same method Disclosed is a method of fabricating an organic light emitting device and an organic light emitting device fabricated using the same. The method comprises the steps of sequentially forming a cathode made of metal, at least one organic material layer including a light emitting layer and an anode on a substrate, and additionally comprises the step of forming a thin metal film on a native oxide layer that is spontaneously formed on the cathode before forming of the organic material layer.
US08969124B2	Method for fabricating Cu—In—Ga—Se film solar cell A method for fabricating a Cu—In—Ga—Se film solar cell is provided. The method comprises: a) fabricating a molybdenum back electrode on a substrate; b) fabricating a Cu—In—Ga—Se absorbing layer on the molybdenum back electrode; c) performing an annealing; d) fabricating an In2Se3 or ZnS buffer layer on the Cu—In—Ga—Se absorbing layer; e) fabricating an intrinsic zinc oxide high impedance layer; f) fabricating an indium tin oxide film low impedance layer on the intrinsic zinc oxide high impedance layer; g) fabricating an aluminum electrode on the indium tin oxide film low impedance layer.
US08969123B2	Apparatus for manufacturing dye-sensitized solar cell, and method of manufacturing dye-sensitized solar cell In an apparatus for manufacturing a dye-sensitized solar cell, a photosensitization dye solution makes contact with an electrode material layer that functions as a working electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell so that the photosensitizing dye is adsorbed on the layer. Such an apparatus for manufacturing a dye-sensitized solar cell has a substrate housing section to house a substrate with the electrode material layer formed on its surface, and a circulation mechanism to circulate the photosensitization dye solution in such a way that the solution passes a surface of the substrate housed in the substrate housing section. In such an apparatus, a cross-sectional area of a flow path for the photosensitization dye solution in a portion facing the substrate in the substrate housing section is set smaller than a cross-sectional area of a flow path for the photosensitization dye solution in other portions.
US08969122B2	Processes for uniform metal semiconductor alloy formation for front side contact metallization and photovoltaic device formed therefrom Processes for fabricating photovoltaic devices in which the front side contact metal semiconductor alloy metallization patterns have a uniform thickness at edge portions as well as a central portion of each metallization pattern are provided. In one embodiment, a method of forming a photovoltaic device is provided that includes a p-n junction with a p-type semiconductor portion and an n-type semiconductor portion one on top of the other, wherein an upper exposed surface of one of the semiconductor portions represents a front side surface of the semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of patterned antireflective coating layers on the front side surface of the semiconductor surface to provide a grid pattern including a busbar region and finger regions; forming a mask atop the plurality of patterned antireflective coating layers, the mask having a shape that mimics each patterned antireflective coating; electrodepositing a metal layer on the busbar region and the finger regions; removing the mask; and performing an anneal, wherein during the anneal metal atoms from the metal layer react with semiconductor atoms from the busbar region and the finger regions forming a metal semiconductor alloy.
US08969109B1	Tunable light-emitting diode A method of forming a light-emitting diode including determining a first level of tensile stress to be applied to a base substrate including a plurality of quantum well layers to adjust a band-gap of the base substrate to a predetermined band-gap. The first level of tensile stress is generated in the base substrate by forming a tensile-stressing layer on the base substrate.
US08969106B2	Laser irradiation apparatus and method of manufacturing organic light-emitting display apparatus using the same A laser irradiation apparatus including a chamber configured to receive a panel including an organic layer on a substrate, a laser oscillator outside the chamber, and configured to irradiate a laser beam onto the panel in the chamber, and a transparent window at a side of the chamber, and configured to allow the laser beam to pass therethrough, wherein the laser beam is configured to remove at least a portion of the organic layer on the substrate.
US08969104B2	Circuit technique to electrically characterize block mask shifts A physical test integrated circuit has a plurality of repeating circuit portions corresponding to an integrated circuit design. A first of the portions is fabricated with a nominal block mask location, and additional ones of the portions are deliberately fabricated with predetermined progressive increased offset of the block mask location from the nominal block mask location. For each of the portions, the difference in threshold voltage between a first field effect transistor and a second field effect transistor is determined. The predetermined progressive increased offset of the block mask location is in a direction from the first field effect transistor to the second field effect transistor. The block mask overlay tolerance is determined at a value of the progressive increased offset corresponding to an inflection of the difference in threshold voltage from a zero difference. A method for on-chip monitoring, and corresponding circuits, are also disclosed.
US08969096B2	Automotive fogging analyses by xenon UV exposure Processes and apparatuses are provided for the liberation of one or more volatile organic compounds from a test sample. The processes include exposing a sample to light of a wavelength less than 400 nm, subjecting the sample to heat, and collecting one or more volatile organic compounds produced from the sample. The volatile organic compounds are detected by any of various methods, and are optionally identified by methods such as FTIR. The processes and apparatus provide for improved detection of relevant volatile organic compounds that are otherwise undetectable by traditional processes.
US08969094B2	Method for qualifying a non-particulate ion-exchanger adsorber The present invention relates to a method for the validation of a non-particulate ion exchange adsorber and a kit for the validation of a non-particulate ion exchange adsorber.
US08969078B2	Neural precursor cells produced from bone marrow stromal cells containing an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a notch intracellular domain (NICD) There is provided a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells by introduction of a Notch gene. Specifically, the invention provides a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells in vitro, which method comprises introducing a Notch gene and/or a Notch signaling related gene into the cells, wherein the finally obtained differentiated cells are the result of cell division of the bone marrow stromal cells into which the Notch gene and/or Notch signaling related gene have been introduced. The invention also provides a method of inducing further differentiation of the differentiation-induced neural cells to dopaminergic neurons or acetylcholinergic neurons. The invention yet further provides a treatment method for neurodegenerative and skeletal muscle degenerative diseases which employs neural precursor cells, neural cells or skeletal muscle cells produced by the method of the invention.
US08969076B2	Method for expression of small RNA molecules within a cell The invention provides methods and compositions for the expression of small RNA molecules within a cell using a lentiviral vector. The methods can be used to express doubles stranded RNA complexes. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) can be expressed using the methods of the invention within a cell, which are capable of down regulating the expression of a target gene through RNA interference. A variety of cells can be treated according to the methods of the invention including embryos, embryogenic stem cells, allowing for the generation of transgenic animals or animals constituted partly by the transduced cells that have a specific gene or a group of genes down regulated.
US08969073B2	Device and method for isolating cells, bioparticles and/or molecules from liquids The invention describes an appliance and a method, with the help of which specific bio-particles, but also dissolved bio-molecules can be recognized in and separated from fluids making use of suitable carriers and known immobilization methods. The appliance can be used both discontinuously and also for direct and continuous treatment of fluids. Fields of application of the invention are animals, bio-technology (including biological research) and medicinal diagnostics. Areas of application of the invention comprise, among others, therapy of humans, in particular direct treatment of blood.
US08969071B2	Passive chip-based droplet sorting An apparatus for passive sorting of microdroplets including a main flow channel, a flow stream of microdroplets in the main flow channel wherein the microdroplets have substantially the same diameter and wherein the flow stream of microdroplets includes first microdroplets having a first degree of stiffness and second microdroplets having a second degree of stiffness wherein the second degree of stiffness is different than the first degree of stiffness. A second flow channel is connected to the main flow channel for the second microdroplets having a second degree of stiffness. A separator separates the second microdroplets having a second degree of stiffness from the first microdroplets and directs the second microdroplets having a second degree of stiffness into the second flow channel.
US08969068B2	Processes for the preparation of highly pure plasmid compositions by enzymatic digestion of colanic acid A process for the purification of plasmid DNA, the process comprising treating an aqueous composition containing plasmid DNA with a polypeptide obtained from an NST1 phage to digest colanic acid and separating the plasmid DNA from the treated aqueous composition.
US08969066B2	Induction of flocculation in photosynthetic organisms The present invention provides compositions and methods for producing flocculation moieties in photosynthetic organisms. The photosynthetic organisms are genetically modified to effect production, secretion, or both, of the flocculation moieties. Also provided are methods of flocculating organisms.
US08969065B2	Enhanced pyruvate to acetolactate conversion in yeast A high flux in conversion of pyruvate to acetolactate was achieved in yeast through expression of acetolactate synthase in the cytosol in conjunction with reduction in pyruvate decarboxylase activity. Additional manipulations to improve flux to acetolactate are reduced pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and reduced glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Production of compounds having acetolactate as an upstream intermediate benefit from the increased conversion of pruvate to acetolactate in the described strains.
US08969064B2	Gene expression technique The present invention provides a method for producing a desired protein (such as a desired heterologous protein) comprising: (a) providing a host cell comprising a first recombinant gene encoding a protein comprising the sequence of a first chaperone protein, a second recombinant gene encoding a protein comprising the sequence of a second chaperone protein and a third gene, such as a third recombinant gene, encoding a desired protein (such as a desired heterologous protein), wherein the first and second chaperones are different; and (b) culturing the host cell in a culture medium to obtain expression of the first, second and third genes.
US08969062B2	Mutant proteinase with reduced self-cleavage activity and method of purification The present invention provides a mutant 27 kDa NIa proteinase having reduced self-cleavage activity relative to the self-cleavage activity of its wild-type proteinase. The mutant has the same substrate cleavage activity as the wild-type proteinase but is more stable than the wild-type proteinase. The present invention also provides a method of obtaining large quantities of active 27 kDa NIa proteinase for use as a tool for purification of other proteins.
US08969060B2	Modified glucose dehydrogenase The purpose of the present invention is to provide an FAD-conjugated glucose dehydrogenase that is hard to be inhibited by the inhibitors such as 1,10-phenanthroline.The present invention relates to a modified glucose dehydrogenase (GLD), comprising an amino acid sequence of a wild-type FAD-conjugated glucose dehydrogenase (GLD) represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 having a substitution of at least one amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues at positions 298, 338, 340, 341, 343, 352, 354, 424, 426, 431 and 432, wherein the modified GLD has a reduced susceptibility to an inhibitor, as compared with the wild-type GLD, especially to said modified GLD, which has 40% or more of a relative activity when determined in a system wherein the inhibitor coexists at a final concentration of 1 mM based on an enzymatic activity when determined in a system wherein the inhibitor does not coexist.
US08969056B2	Process for integrated production of ethanol and seaweed sap from Kappaphycus alverezii The present invention relates to a process for integrated production of ethanol and seaweed biofertilizer from fresh red seaweed, Kappaphycus alvarezii. Specifically, the present invention describes a process for the production of ethanol, as a byproduct, from Kappaphycus alvarezii. The process includes crushing the fresh weeds to release the sap, a proved biofertilizer, and recovering the residual carrageenan rich biomass, hydrolyzing the biomass using dilute acid at elevated temperature, neutralizing the hydrolysate by using inexpensive calcium hydroxide and removing the insoluble salts through filtration or centrifugation, desalting soluble salts from the hydrolysate by electrodialysis, enriching with nitrogen source, inoculating with yeast and fermenting it to form a fermented broth containing ethanol and separating ethanol from the fermented broth by distillation and using residual hydrolysate, generated CaSO4 and reject obtained from electrodialysis as manure.
US08969055B2	Method for producing butanol using extractive fermentation with electrolyte addition A method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed during the fermentation by extraction into a water-immiscible organic extractant in the presence of at least one electrolyte at a concentration at least sufficient to increase the butanol partition coefficient relative to that in the presence of the salt concentration of the basal fermentation medium, is provided. The electrolyte may comprise a salt which dissociates in the fermentation medium, or in the aqueous phase of a biphasic fermentation medium, to form free ions. Also provided is a method and composition for recovering butanol from a fermentation medium.
US08969050B2	Purification methods and systems related to renewable materials and biofuels production Methods of producing renewable materials may include consuming a fermentation feedstock with a fermentation organism to produce a renewable material in fermentation broth; water may then be separated from the feedstock or broth using one or more phase separations, or the renewable material may be concentrated from the feedstock or broth using one or more phase separations. Methods of producing biofuel components may include consuming a lignocellulosic or sugar fermentation feedstock with a fermentation organism to produce either ethanol or butanol in fermentation broth; cooling the feedstock or broth to solidify at least some water therein; and separating the solidified water from the feedstock or broth using a solid-liquid phase separation.
US08969048B2	Use of phosphoketolase for producing useful metabolites The present invention provides a bacterium which has an ability to produce a useful metabolite derived from acetyl-coenzyme A, such as L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, L-proline, L-arginine, L-leucine, L-cysteine, succinate, and polyhydroxybutyrate, wherein said bacterium is modified so that activities of D-xylulose-5-phosphate phosphoketolase and/or fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase are enhanced. The present invention also provides a method for producing the useful metabolite using the bacterium.
US08969047B2	Solid support assay systems and methods utilizing non-standard bases Solid support assays using non-standard bases are described. A capture oligonucleotide comprising a molecular recognition sequence is attached to a solid support and hybridized with a target. In some instances, the molecular recognition sequence includes one or more non-standard bases and hybridizes to a complementary tagging sequence of the target oligonucleotide. In other instances, incorporation of a non-standard base (e.g., via PCR or ligation) is used in the assay.
US08969045B2	Method for detecting pyrophosphate by means of bioluminescence detection The invention relates to methods for detecting pyrophosphate by means of bioluminescence detection. In addition, methods for measuring chemical, especially enzyme-catalyzed, reactions in which pyrophosphate is formed or consumed are described. Such reactions are catalyzed for example by guanylyl cyclases, adenylyl cyclases, DNA polymerases or RNA polymerases.The novel methods are distinguished by high sensitivity and low susceptibility to interference, can easily be automated and miniaturized and are additionally suitable for carrying out continuous measurements. The methods can be employed particularly advantageously in the area of medical diagnosis and biomedical research, including pharmaceutical active ingredient research.
US08969044B2	Method for recovering sperm nucleic acid from a forensic sample A method for selectively recovering nucleic acid from a sperm cell in a sample containing cells of at least a sperm cell and an epithelial cell, and a cell suspension medium comprising extracellular impurities, is provided. The method entails introducing a sample into a vessel, sequestering the cells from the remaining sample components, washing the cells with a washing solution either before or after sequestration, removing the impurities-containing cell suspension medium from the vessel while retaining the cells; lysing selectively cells of the first cell type; and isolating the nucleic acid from the lysed cells. Methods for recovering nucleic acid from the second cell type are also provided.
US08969036B2	Process for obtaining antibodies The present invention relates to the manufacture of recombinant antibodies of therapeutic quality. In particular, the invention relates to methods for increasing the yield of functional antibody from large scale fermentations whereby a cultured host cell sample is subjected to a non-lysing treatment.
US08969034B2	Endoglycosidases that cleave O-linked glycans Methods and compositions have been described that relate to a newly identified polypeptide family wherein each member has O-glycosidase activity and specified sequence characteristics. This family of enzymes can be used for example for cleaving O-linked glycans and for synthesis of neoglycopeptides or neoglycoproteins.
US08969031B2	Automated cell density adjustment method for producing an analysis plate This method includes the following steps of: taking a sample of a cell solution from a sample flask, placing the sampled solution in a decantation chamber (2) arranged above the analysis plate (4), allowing the solution to decant in order to obtain a thin layer of cells on the analysis plate (4). It includes a step of measuring the cell density of the sampled solution, the measurement being carried out in the decantation chamber (2). A device for producing a cell analysis plate allowing such a method to be carried out is also described.
US08969024B2	Compositions and methods comprising binding proteins for adalimumab Compositions and methods comprising proteins that bind specifically to adalimumab are disclosed herein. Adalimumab is a monoclonal antibody specific for the cytokine TNF-α and was developed to treat TNF-α mediated inflammatory diseases. In one aspect of the instant invention, the binding proteins are antibodies directed toward adalimumab. These antibodies, including binding fragments thereof, can be used in a clinical setting as well as for research and development. For example, these anti-adalimumab antibodies can be employed to neutralize adalimumab.
US08969020B2	Peptide sequence that promotes tumor invasion An isolated sequence SGSSEEKQNAVSSEET (OPNcPEP) SEQ ID NO: 8, and uses thereof. The peptide enhanced soft agar clone formation but did not support the growth of cells in plastic dishes, consistent with supporting anchorage-independence rather than growth. This sequence represented and is unique for a domain around the splice junction of OPN variant -c (OPN-c). OPN-c was expressed in a variety of tumor cell lines, but not in normal tissues (e.g., non-cancerous tissue) or in benign tumors. OPN-c antibody may be administered to a patient with a cancer associated with OPN-c expression to prevent the formation and growth of metastases. OPN-c may be used as a diagnostic to determine whether a patient has a malignant, rather than a benign, growth. OPN-c may be used to detect or identify agents that inhibit or mimic OPN-c expression or activity.
US08969018B2	Methods and compositions for monitoring and risk prediction in cardiorenal syndrome The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects. In particular, the invention relates to methods and compositions selected to monitor cardiorenal syndrome using assays that detect NGAL, preferably together with assays that detect natriuretic peptides such as BNP. Such methods and compositions can provide early indications of a deterioration in cardiorenal syndrome status, including prognosis regarding mortality and worsening renal function.
US08969017B2	Metabolite biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of pediatric septic shock The present invention provides methods for differentiating a pediatric subject with pediatric septic shock from a healthy pediatric subject or one having sudden inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Also provided is a method of predicting pediatric septic shock mortality in a pediatric septic shock patient.
US08969012B2	Immunogens for treatment of neoplastic and infectious disease The present invention relates to prophylactic and therapeutic methods of immunization against neoplastic and infectious diseases. The invention provides a method for identification of novel immunogens and compositions of such immunogens that are useful for eliciting immune responses against antigens associated with neoplastic or infectious diseases.
US08969009B2	Identification of discriminant proteins through antibody profiling, methods and apparatus for identifying an individual A method for determining a plurality of proteins for discriminating and positively identifying an individual based from a biological sample. The method may include profiling a biological sample from a plurality of individuals against a protein array including a plurality of proteins. The protein array may include proteins attached to a support in a preselected pattern such that locations of the proteins are known. The biological sample may be contacted with the protein array such that a portion of antibodies in the biological sample reacts with and binds to the proteins forming immune complexes. A statistical analysis method, such as discriminant analysis, may be performed to determine discriminating proteins for distinguishing individuals. Proteins of interest may be used to form a protein array. Such a protein array may be used, for example, to compare a forensic sample from an unknown source with a sample from a known source.
US08969007B2	Microchamber electrochemical cell having a nanoslot A microchamber electrochemical cell and method of using the cell for performing quantitative analysis of various charged macromolecules is presented. The microchamber electrochemical cell includes a substrate, opposing electrodes and at least one nanoslot. The substrate is configured to define a pair of opposing fluid reservoirs. The pair of opposing electrodes are respectively positioned within the opposing fluid reservoirs. Each nanoslot is configured to fluidly connect the opposing fluid reservoirs together. The opposing fluid reservoirs of the microchamber electrochemical cell are fluidly connected to each other only through each nanoslot. Each nanoslot is physically restricted to less than 500 nanometers. One method includes the steps of coupling, filling, measuring, obtaining, performing and preparing.
US08969003B2	Functionalized 3-alkynyl pyrazolopyrimidine analogues as universal bases and methods of use 3-alkynyl inosine analogs and their uses as universal bases are provided. The inosine analogs can be incorporated into nucleic acid primers and probes. They do not significantly destabilize nucleic acid duplexes. As a result, the novel nucleic acid primers and probes incorporating the inosine analogs can be used in a variety of methods. The analogs function unexpectedly well as universal bases. Not only do they stabilize duplexes substantially more than hypoxanthine opposite A, C, T, and G but they are also recognized in primers by polymerases, allowing efficient amplification.
US08969001B2	Materials and methods for predicting recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer Disclosed herein is a DNA methylation-based test for determining the recurrence or non-recurrence of a lung cancer such as NSCLC after treatment. The assays involve the detection of methylation of the BAX gene promoter alone or in combination with other genes. The test is suitable for monitoring treatment of subjects with lung cancer for which methylation differs by stage of the disease and by treatment regimen.
US08969000B2	Prognostic gene expression signature for non small cell lung cancer patients The invention relates to a method of typing non-small cell lung cancer by determining RNA levels for a set of genes. The typing can be used for determining a metastasizing potential of the cancer cells. The invention further relates to a set of probes and a set of primers for typing non-small cell cancer cells.
US08968999B2	Methods for in vitro joining and combinatorial assembly of nucleic acid molecules The present invention relates to methods of joining two or more double-stranded (ds) or single-stranded (ss) DNA molecules of interest in vitro, wherein the distal region of the first DNA molecule and the proximal region of the second DNA molecule of each pair share a region of sequence identity. The method allows the joining of a large number of DNA fragments, in a predetermined order and orientation, without the use of restriction enzymes. It can be used, e.g., to join synthetically produced sub-fragments of a gene or genome of interest. Kits for performing the method are also disclosed. The methods of joining DNA molecules may be used to generate combinatorial libraries useful to generate, for example, optimal protein expression through codon optimization, gene optimization, and pathway optimization.
US08968995B2	Detection, screening, and diagnosis of HPV-associated cancers Embodiments of the invention provide methods, polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, assays, and kits for detecting HPV infection, including infection by various HPV genotypes, early and/or late HPV-associated or HPV-specific proteins or antibodies. Mononoclonal antibodies are used to detect oncogenic high risk and low risk HPV types in a single assay, which is not limited to assay type or format. Useful tools for specific detection of various HPV associated cancers are provided. HPV associated cancer biomarkers are identified and can be used in a screening method for early stage precancerous lesions as well as late stage cancer progression.
US08968993B2	Method of blood pooling and storage The disclosure provides methods of making a cell-containing product having a uniform amount of cells therein. The method comprises pooling red blood cells from a plurality of blood units, and inactivating any pathogen contained therein. A storage solution added to the cellular component results in a cell-containing product that is essentially pathogen and white blood cell free and has an extended shelf life of about 42 to about 100 days. The cell-containing product is further divided into units which comprise a uniform dose of RBCs per unit.
US08968992B2	Red blood cell storage medium for extended storage Synthetic aqueous storage solutions are disclosed for use in the processing and the storing of red blood cells prepared from whole blood including cells derived from whole blood held for an extended period at room temperature.
US08968989B2	Assist layers for EUV lithography The present invention provides novel methods of fabricating microelectronics structures, and the resulting structures formed thereby, using EUV lithographic processes. The method involves utilizing an assist layer immediately below the photoresist layer. The assist layer can either be directly applied to the substrate, or it can be applied to any intermediate layer(s) that may be applied to the substrate. The preferred assist layers are formed from spin-coatable, polymeric compositions. The inventive method allows reduced critical dimensions to be achieved with improved dose-to-size ratios, while improving adhesion and reducing or eliminating pattern collapse issues.
US08968987B2	Implementing enhanced optical mirror coupling and alignment utilizing two-photon resist A method, system and computer program product for implementing an enhanced optical mirror coupling and alignment mechanism utilizing two-photon resist. An initial placement is provided for one or more vias on a printed circuit board. A via is filled with a resist. A series of tightly focused light beams suitably exposes the resist at varying depths in the via, the varying depths defining a sloped polymer in the via after removing resist that had not been at the focus of the light beam. The sloped polymer is coated with reflective material to reflect light into or out of the via.
US08968985B2	Method and system for patterning a mask layer The presently described embodiments use a printing process, e.g. a wax printing technique, to pattern a mask layer (such as a soldermask layer) of, for example, a printed circuit. Substantially all other conventional processes in developing soldermask and exposure processes can be maintained. According to the presently described embodiments, each printed circuit will have a unique pattern that matches uniform and non-uniform runout. In one form, the pattern is comprised of wax single drops having a specified gap to make the process transparent to the current industry practice. Furthermore, the single drops can be used for both large and small areas without any development time differences. In at least one form, the wax pattern and the soldermask in the gap are removed during development.
US08968983B2	Photoresist composition, method of forming a pattern using the same, and method of manufacturing a display substrate A photoresist composition, a method of forming a pattern using the photoresist composition, and a method of manufacturing a display substrate are disclosed. A photoresist composition includes an alkali-soluble resin, a quinone diazide-based compound, a multivalent phenol-based compound, and a solvent. Therefore, photosensitivity for light having a wavelength in a range of about 392 nm to about 417 nm may be improved, and reliability of forming a photo pattern and a thin film pattern using the photoresist composition may be improved.
US08968982B2	Chemically amplified positive resist composition and patterning process In a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising a base resin and an acid generator in a solvent, the base resin contains both an alkali-insoluble or substantially alkali-insoluble polymer having an acid labile group-protected acidic functional group having a Mw of 1,000-500,000 and an alkyl vinyl ether polymer having a Mw of 10,000-500,000. The composition forms on a substrate a resist film of 5-100 μm thick which can be briefly developed to form a pattern at a high sensitivity and a high degree of removal or dissolution to bottom.
US08968978B2	Phase inversion emulsification reclamation process A method for reclaiming an out-of-spec emulsion material includes recovering the out-of-spec emulsion material from a scrap manufacturing batch; distilling the out-of-spec emulsion material to raise a solids content of the out-of-spec emulsion material to about 45 wt % or more based on a total weight of the emulsion material; dissolving the distilled emulsion material in a solvent to form a first mixture; adding a base to the first mixture to neutralize acid groups present in the distilled emulsion material, forming a second mixture; emulsifying the second mixture by adding water to the second mixture; and forming particles having an average particle diameter (D50v) within a target range, wherein the out-of-spec emulsion material has an average particle diameter falling outside of the target range.
US08968977B2	Continuous production of toner Continuous and semi-continuous emulsion aggregation processes for the production of toner particles are presented.
US08968975B2	Toner for developing electrostatic image Provided is a toner for developing an electrostatic image. The toner has excellent heat-resistant storage properties and crush resistance while having sufficient low temperature fixability. The toner for developing an electrostatic image includes toner particles that contain at least a binder resin. The binder resin contains a polymer prepared by polymerizing a polymerizable monomer represented by a following general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 60 carbon atoms, an aliphatic group wherein some of carbon atoms of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group are substituted with an oxygen atom, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having the aliphatic hydrocarbon group or the aliphatic group as a substituent; and R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group.
US08968970B2	Phase shift masks and methods of forming phase shift masks A phase shift mask having a first region and a second region in a transverse direction includes a transparent layer, a phase shift pattern disposed in the first region, a transmittance control layer pattern disposed in the second region, and a shading layer pattern disposed on the transmittance control layer pattern. The phase shift pattern has a first pattern including a transparent material and a second pattern including metal. The phase shift mask may prevent haze effects through a cleaning process using an alkaline cleaning solution.
US08968962B2	Solid oxide fuel cell, and assembling method of the same A reduction process is performed to each fuel electrode layer by supplying a reduction gas into each fuel channel 22 in the state in which a perimetric portion of a sheet body 11 is held to be sealed by perimetric portions of an upper support member 122 and a lower support member 121. In the case of a small-sized fuel cell in which the thickness of the sheet body 11 is 20˜500 μm, the fuel electrode layer is greater in thickness than the solid electrolyte layer and the air electrode layer, and the area of the orthogonal projection of the plane portion 12a of each support member 12 is 1˜100 cm2, a ratio of a warpage of not more than 0.05 cm−1 on the sheet body with respect to the area of the orthogonal projection can be achieved at room temperature after the reduction process.
US08968961B2	Method of manufacturing proton-conducting membranes A process for producing proton-conducting membrane, the process comprising: mixing (i) 5% to 60% by volume of an electrically nonconductive inorganic powder having a good acid absorption capacity, the powder comprising essentially nanosize particles; (ii) 5% to 50% by volume of a polymeric binder that is chemically compatible with acid, oxygen and the fuel; and (iii) 10 to 90% by volume of an acid or aqueous acid solution, wherein the mixing is conducted at various rate steps, thereby producing a proton-conducting mixture; continuously casting the proton-conducting mixture on rolled paper, non-woven matrix or the like at ambient temperature; drying the casted proton-conducting mixture at a temperature of greater than 100° C. for approximately 5 to 30 minutes, thereby forming a dry film; and laminating a plurality of the dry films together under pressure, and thereafter extracting pore-former out of pores of the dry films, thereby forming the proton-conducting membrane having an average pore size of less than 30 nanometers.
US08968956B2	Fuel cell repeat unit and fuel cell stack A repeat unit for a fuel cell stack, the repeat unit having: a conductive interconnect plate; an electrolyte-supported fuel cell, wherein a dense sealing perimeter extends around the entire perimeter of the fuel cell; a cathode gasket adjacent the cathode side of the fuel cell; and an anode gasket adjacent the anode side of the fuel cell. First and second air manifolding ports, and first and second fuel manifolding ports are provided in each of the interconnect plate, dense sealing perimeter of the fuel cell, cathode gasket and anode gasket. An SOFC stack having an aligned stack of a plurality of repeat units is also provided, as well as an SOFC stack configured for cascade fuel flow.
US08968953B2	Solid oxide fuel cell A solid oxide fuel cell capable of maintaining performance over a long time period by appropriately changing fuel cell module operating conditions. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell (1), having a fuel cell module (2), a fuel supply device (38), an oxidant gas supply device (45), and a controller (110) for controlling the amount of fuel supplied from the fuel supply device; the controller is furnished with a degradation determining circuit (110a) for determining degradation in the fuel cell module and a degradation response circuit (110b) for changing fuel cell module operating conditions based on the degradation determination by the degradation determining circuit; the degradation determination stores fuel cell module operating results arising from the operating conditions changed by the degradation response circuit, and executes further degradation determination based on the stored operating results.
US08968947B2	Operating method for a fuel cell system The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises at least one reformer for generating a reformate gas and at least one fuel cell for generating an electric current. An increased lifespan for the anode is achieved when with said anode an anode state value is continuously determined which correlates to a current degree of loading with carbon of the anode of the at least one fuel cell and when depending on the anode state value an oxygen-carbon ratio is varied in the reformate gas which is fed to the anode of the respective fuel cell.
US08968945B2	Humidifier for a fuel cell A humidifier for a fuel cell has a stacked unit of several water-permeable membranes which are parallel to each other and are arranged spaced apart form each other. On the edges of the membranes, a sealant is applied which closes a flow space between neighboring membranes fluid-tightly and serves as a spacer.
US08968935B2	Anode for lithium ion secondary battery, lithium ion secondary battery, electric tool, battery car, and electric power storage system A lithium ion secondary battery having more superior cycle characteristics is provided. The lithium ion secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte. The anode has an anode active material layer in which a first layer containing silicon as an anode active material, and a second layer containing silicon and a metal element as an anode active material are alternately layered on an anode current collector. At least one of a lamellar oxide-containing region and a lamellar nitrogen-containing region is inserted in at least one of the first layer and the second layer.
US08968932B2	Cobalt cerium compound, alkaline secondary battery, and method for producing cobalt cerium compound A compound having a high reduction resistance and being capable of sufficiently performing a function as an electronic conductive additive when added to a positive electrode active material as an electronic conductive additive is provided. In a method for producing a cobalt cerium compound including a step of depositing a hydroxide containing cobalt and cerium in an aqueous solution containing cobalt ions and cerium ions by changing the pH of the aqueous solution and thereafter performing a treatment of oxidizing the hydroxide, the ratio of the cerium ions contained in the aqueous solution containing the cobalt ions and the cerium ions is set to be more than 5% by atom and 70% by atom or less with respect to the sum of the cobalt ions and the cerium ions before the hydroxide is deposited.
US08968931B2	Crystalline mesoporous titanium dioxide and the use thereof in electrochemical devices The present invention relates to the preparation of a mesoporous substantially pure anatase titanium oxide (meso-TiO2) and its use in electrochemical devices, in particular lithium-ion batteries.
US08968930B2	Electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and method of manufacture of electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery An electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a current collector and an electrode material disposed on the current collector. the electrode material has a thickness of 50 μm or larger. The electrode material contains at least active material particles, an electro-conductive material, and a crack preventive material. An average particle diameter of the crack preventive material is two times or larger than an average particle diameter of the active material particles.
US08968926B2	Degradable implantable galvanic power source A biodegradable battery is provided. The battery includes an anode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein electrochemical oxidation of the anode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic and a cathode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the cathode being in direct physical contact with the inner surface of the anode, wherein electrochemical reduction of the cathode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic, and wherein the cathode material presents a larger standard reduction potential than the anode material.
US08968919B2	Electrical energy storage system with bondinging element and positioning gasket sealing lid to envelope The invention relates to an electrical energy storage system (100) comprising at least one coiled electrical energy storage element placed inside an envelope (200), said envelope (200) containing the coiled electrical energy storage element in a main body (210) of the envelope (200) and including at least one lid (230, 240), characterized in that said lid (230, 240), placed at one end of the main body of the envelope (200) and electrically connected by electrical connection means (280) to the coiled electrical energy storage element, is fastened to the main body (210) of the envelope (200) by a bonding means (600). The invention is particularly applicable in the production of electrical energy storage assemblies such as supercapacitors, batteries or generators.
US08968918B2	Battery pack A battery pack includes a region spaced a certain distance apart from a hole of a battery case. The region is different in surface roughness from the other regions of the battery case, and thus, a forming error of the hole may be visually detected, so as to decrease a condition setting time for controlling the forming error.
US08968916B2	Non-uniform battery cell An apparatus is provided that includes a two or more cell elements stacked internally to create a single cell with a non-uniform height. A first bus bar may electrically couple to a first side or first end of the cell elements in order to connect the terminals of the battery elements. A second bus bar may electrically couple to a second side or second end of the cell elements in order to connect the terminals of the battery elements.
US08968914B2	Prismatic sealed secondary battery The positive electrode substrate exposed portions or the negative electrode substrate exposed portions, or both, of an electrode assembly is split into two groups, and therebetween is disposed an intermediate member made of a resin material and holding one or more connecting conductive members. Collector members for the substrate exposed portions split into two groups is electrically joined by a resistance welding method to the substrate exposed portions split into two groups, together with the connecting conductive member(s) of the intermediate member. The resin material portion of the intermediate member protrudes, in the extension direction of the substrate exposed portions split into two groups, beyond the ends of the substrate exposed portions split into two groups and the ends of the collector member to a prismatic outer can. This structure enables enhanced resistance between the substrate exposed portions and the collector member and curbs variation in the welding strength.
US08968911B2	Battery assembling device A battery assembling device has two brackets and an assembling unit. The brackets abut each other and can be securely mounted around two battery units. The assembling unit has a quick-release housing and two clamps. The quick-release housing has two electrode holes. The clamps are respectively mounted in the electrode holes and each clamp has two opposite threaded inner surfaces. The battery units can be bundled by the brackets in advance to form regular battery modules. Because the assembling unit is easily and quickly connected with the battery modules, the assembling of a cell of an electrical vehicle is greatly convenient and fast.
US08968910B2	Lithium secondary battery having multi-directional lead-tab structure A lithium rechargeable battery, and more particularly, a lithium rechargeable battery having a multidirectional lead-tab structure is provided. The lithium rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly in which a separator and an electrode plate having a current collector, an active material, and a tab are alternately stacked; a lead electrically connected to the tab; and a battery case, wherein the lead is divided into a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead, and at least one positive electrode lead and at least one negative electrode lead are provided. The lithium rechargeable battery is appropriate for using a high current even while using a conventional lead-tab size.
US08968909B2	Fibrous separation membrane for secondary battery and manufacturing method thereof Disclosed herein is a fibrous separation membrane for secondary batteries, comprising: a polymer layer which partially melts and blocks pores thereof thus cutting off electric current when a temperature of a secondary battery is increased; and heat-resistant resin layers applied on both sides of the polymer layer.
US08968907B2	Battery pack A battery pack comprises a battery cell; a protective circuit module, wherein the protective circuit module comprises an insertion hole; a terminal tab for coupling the battery cell with the protective circuit module, wherein a portion of the terminal tab is configured to be inserted into the insertion hole of the protective circuit module; and an insulating layer formed on a surface of the terminal tab such that a portion of the insulating layer is inserted into the insertion hole.
US08968902B2	Low temperature molten sodium secondary cell with sodium ion conductive electrolyte membrane The present invention provides a molten sodium secondary cell. In some cases, the secondary cell includes a sodium metal negative electrode, a positive electrode compartment that includes a positive electrode disposed in a liquid positive electrode solution, and a sodium ion conductive electrolyte membrane that separates the negative electrode from the positive electrode solution. In such cases, the electrolyte membrane can comprise any suitable material, including, without limitation, a NaSICON membrane. Furthermore, in such cases, the liquid positive electrode solution can comprise any suitable positive electrode solution, including, but not limited to, an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Generally, when the cell functions, the sodium negative electrode is molten and in contact with the electrolyte membrane. Additionally, the cell is functional at an operating temperature between about 100° C. and about 170° C. Indeed, in some instances, the molten sodium secondary cell is functional between about 110° C. and about 130° C.
US08968899B2	Secondary battery of improved sealability Disclosed herein is a secondary battery having an electrode assembly placed in a prismatic container, wherein an upper part of the inside of an electrolyte injection hole formed in a base plate mounted to an open upper end of the prismatic container is configured to have a chamfered structure in which the diameter of the electrolyte injection hole is gradually decreased downward, a lower part of the inside of the electrolyte injection hole is configured to have a non-chamfered structure, the chamfered structure is formed in an irregular shape to increase the length of an electrolyte leakage route along which an electrolyte leaks out of the secondary battery, and, when a sealing member is pressed into the electrolyte injection hole, the sealing member is deformed so as to correspond to an internal structure of the electrolyte injection hole such that the electrolyte injection hole is sealed by the sealing member.
US08968895B2	Lithium cells and batteries with improved stability and safety, method for the production thereof, and application in mobile and stationary electrical energy accumulators The invention relates to a battery comprising an electrode separator arrangement filled with an electrolyte, characterized in that the electrode separator arrangement is at least partially covered with a casting compound (FIG. 6a). The invention also relates to a method for producing such a battery.
US08968894B2	Power supply device A power supply device includes: a power storage element having an electrode terminal; and a fixing portion fixed to the power storage element on a second surface of the power storage element which is different from a first surface on which the electrode terminal is arranged. The fixing portion has a connection terminal for electrically connecting the electrode terminal and an external load.
US08968891B2	Metallic glass, magnetic recording medium using the same, and method of manufacturing the magnetic recording medium A magnetic recording medium 1 includes a substrate 11; and a metallic glassy layer 12 that is arranged on the substrate 11 and has a plurality of convex portions 12A and concave portions 12B. The metallic glassy layer 12 has a chemical composition represented by any one of the formulae (1) to (3): FemPtnSixByPz (wherein, 20
US08968890B2	Organic compound and organic light-emitting device having the same Provided are a novel organic compound suitable for emitting green light and an organic light-emitting device including the compound. The organic compound is that shown in claim 1. The organic compound shown in claim 1 has substituents that are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, optionally substituted alkyl groups, optionally substituted alkoxy groups, substituted amino groups, optionally substituted aryl groups, and optionally substituted heterocyclic groups.
US08968887B2	Triphenylene-benzofuran/benzothiophene/benzoselenophene compounds with substituents joining to form fused rings Compounds comprising a triphenylene moiety and a benzo- or dibenzo-moiety are provided. In particular, the benzo- or dibenzo-moiety has a fused substituent. These compounds may be used in organic light emitting devices, particularly in combination with yellow, orange and red emitters, to provide devices with improved properties.
US08968886B2	Doubly reduced perylene-diimides and supramolecular polymers derived from perylene-diimides This invention is directed to perylene-diimide aromatic dianion compounds, process of preparation and uses thereof. The perylene-diimide aromatic dianion compounds of this invention are stable in aqueous solution and can be used for photofunctional and electron transfer systems in aqueous phase. This invention is also directed to supramolecular polymers derived from perylene-diimide compounds and to uses thereof. (1) wherein said compound is a dianion; wherein, X is —NR1; Y is —NR2;
US08968885B2	Organic electronic devices and polymers, including photovoltaic cells and diketone-based polymers Polymers which can be used in p-type materials for organic electronic devices and photovoltaic cells. Compounds, monomers, dimers, trimers, and polymers comprising: Good photovoltaic efficiency and lifetime can be achieved. The R group can provide solubility, environmental stability, and fine tuning of spectroscopic and/or electronic properties. Different polymer microstructures can be prepared which encourage multiple band gaps and broad and strong absorptions. The carbonyl can interact with adjacent thiophene rings to provide backbone with rigidity, induce planarity, and reduce and/or eliminate intramolecular chain twisting defects. Polymers comprising benzodithiophene and/or benzothiadiazole structures can show particularly high performance.
US08968883B2	Chrysene derivative materials There is provided an electroluminescent composition. The composition includes a material having Formula I In Formula I: R1 is the same or different at each occurrence and is selected from D, alkyl, alkoxy, silyl, and siloxane, or adjacent R1 groups may be joined together to form a 5- or 6-membered aliphatic ring; Ar1 and Ar2 are the same or different and are aryl groups; a is an integer from 0 to 6; b is an integer from 0 to 2; and c is an integer from 0 to 3.
US08968880B2	Method of bonding panels of dissimilar material and bonded structure A method of bonding a first panel made of a first material to a second panel made of a second material is provided. The method includes creating a second panel hole in the second panel at a weld location. An insert composed of the first material is inserted into the second panel hole in the second panel. At least a portion of the insert is fittable in the second panel hole and sized to correspond to the second panel hole. The first panel and the insert are welded together at the weld location, thereby bonding the first and second panels. In one embodiment, the first and second panels are placed between the first and second electrodes of a welding gun. A force is applied to clamp the insert and the first panel between the first and second electrodes and a welding current is delivered. A bonded structure is provided.
US08968879B2	Packaging material for blood bag and blood bag packaging A packaging material for blood bags includes two laminate films (I), wherein each laminate film (I) includes a base layer (Y), an inorganic deposited layer (X) formed on top of the base layer, a layer (Z1) containing a polymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid compound polyvalent metal salt formed on top of the inorganic deposited layer (X), and a layer (Z2) containing a polymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid compound polyvalent metal salt and a vinyl alcohol based polymer formed on top of the layer (Z1), laminating the two laminate films (I) with the layers (Z2) being laminated to form a laminate film (II), and laminating a heat seal layer on top of at least either one of the base layers (Y) of the laminate film (II). The packaging material can exhibit relatively high water vapor permeation resistance and excellent transparency and stability.
US08968878B2	Functional layers comprising Ni-inclusive ternary alloys and methods of making the same Certain example embodiments relate to Ni-inclusive ternary alloy being provided as a barrier layer for protecting an IR reflecting layer comprising silver or the like. The provision of a barrier layer comprising nickel, chromium, and/or molybdenum and/or oxides thereof may improve corrosion resistance, as well as chemical and mechanical durability. In certain examples, more than one barrier layer may be used on at least one side of the layer comprising silver. In still further examples, a NixCryMoz-based layer may be used as the functional layer, rather than or in addition to as a barrier layer, in a coating.
US08968876B2	Anti-graffiti coatings A coating composition including a functionalized resin selected from at least one of polyurethanes, epoxies, polyamides, chlorinated polyolefins, acrylics, polyesters, or mixtures or copolymers thereof, wherein the resins comprises at least one of (meth)acryl or acetoacetyl functionality; a (meth)acryl functional compound; and a functionalized silicone compound.
US08968874B2	Magnetic microspheres for use in fluorescence-based applications Microspheres, populations of microspheres, and methods for forming microspheres are provided. One microsphere configured to exhibit fluorescent and magnetic properties includes a core microsphere and a magnetic material coupled to a surface of the core microsphere. About 50% or less of the surface of the core microsphere is covered by the magnetic material. The microsphere also includes a polymer layer surrounding the magnetic material and the core microsphere. One population of microspheres configured to exhibit fluorescent and magnetic properties includes two or more subsets of microspheres. The two or more subsets of microspheres are configured to exhibit different fluorescent and/or magnetic properties. Individual microspheres in the two or more subsets are configured as described above.
US08968871B2	Composite reinforcement Composite reinforcer (R-2) self-adhesive, by curing, to a diene rubber matrix, which can be used as reinforcing element for a tire, comprising: one or more reinforcing thread(s) (20), for example a carbon steel cord; a first layer (21) of a thermoplastic polymer, the glass transition temperature of which is positive, for example, a polyamide 6,6, covering individually said thread or each thread or collectively several threads; a second layer (22) comprising a functionalized diene elastomer bearing functional groups selected from epoxide, carboxyl, acid anhydride and acid ester groups, for example, an epoxidized natural rubber, covering the first layer (21). Process for manufacturing such a composite reinforcer and rubber article or semi-finished product, especially a tire, incorporating such a composite reinforcer.
US08968869B2	Curable-on-demand polysiloxane coating composition A curable composition comprises (a) at least one polydiorganosiloxane, fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydroxysilyl moieties; (b) at least one polydiorganosiloxane, fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydrosilyl moieties; and (c) at least one photoactivatable composition that, upon exposure to radiation, generates at least one base selected from amidines, guanidines, phosphazenes, proazaphosphatranes, and combinations thereof; wherein at least one of the components (a) and (b) has an average reactive silane functionality of at least three.
US08968866B2	Surface-coated cutting tool A surface-coated cutting tool excellent in wear resistance is provided. The surface-coated cutting tool of the present invention includes a base material and a coating formed on the base material. The coating includes an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer is a single layer or a multilayer stack constituted of two or more layers made of at least one element selected from the group consisting of group IVa elements, group Va elements, group VIa elements in the periodic table, Al, and Si, or a compound of at least one element selected from this group and at least one element selected from the group consisting of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and boron. The outer layer includes α-aluminum oxide as a main component and exhibits an equivalent peak intensity PR(024) of a (024) plane of x-ray diffraction of larger than 1.3.
US08968860B2	Apparatus and process for producing laminated sheet There is provided a laminated sheet producing apparatus that adds an edge material to at least one of the end portions in the width direction of a laminate in which a plurality of kinds of sheet materials are laminated as an edge portion at a confluence portion, wherein when an area of each region resulting from division of a cross-sectional configuration of the edge material perpendicular to the flow channel direction of each flow channel at the confluence portion by lines for dividing the configuration into 10 equal portions in the lamination direction is defined as Sn (n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5) in the direction from a central portion in the lamination direction toward an end portion in the lamination direction, the relationships of Formulae (1) S1≦S2≦S3≦S4≦S5 and (2) S1
US08968858B2	Printable molded articles made from a polyoxymethylene polymer composition Polymer compositions containing a polyoxymethylene polymer are disclosed that are receptive to paints and ink coatings. The polymer composition contains a polyoxymethylene polymer having a relatively high terminal hydroxyl group content in combination with a thermoplastic elastomer. In one embodiment, a coupling agent may be added for coupling the thermoplastic elastomer to the polyoxymethylene polymer. The polymer composition can be molded into various articles and then painted or printed with an ink composition. The polymer composition has been found to dramatically improve adhesion between the molded article and the ink or paint coating.
US08968856B2	Security element and method for its production The present invention relates to a security element (20) for security papers, value documents and the like having a diffraction pattern that exhibits an embossed relief pattern (24, 26) and a coating layer (28, 32) that increases the visibility of the diffraction effect of the embossed relief pattern (24, 26). According to the present invention, the relief pattern (24, 26) is formed on the basis of a cholesteric liquid crystalline material (24) and the coating layer (28, 32) includes a reflective (28) and/or a high-index layer (32).
US08968855B2	Method of forming a component having an insert A component includes a cast portion and an insert. The cast portion includes a sacrificial suspension device. The insert is configured to provide damping to the component. The sacrificial suspension device is dissolved during a casting process, into a molten material, forming the cast portion such that the insert is fully encapsulated by the cast portion, including the dissolved suspension device.
US08968851B2	Peroxide crosslinked ethylene polymer pressure pipe and a method for the preparation thereof A peroxide crosslinked ethylene polymer pressure pipe and a method for the preparation thereof are described. The pipe is characterized in that it comprises an ethylene polymer with a density of less than 950 kg/m3 obtained by polymerization with a single-site catalyst and having a shear thinning index, SHI5/300 of less than 20 and a MWD of <10. The method is characterized in that it comprises polymerizing ethylene, optionally together with at least one comonomer, with a single-site catalyst to provide the above defined ethylene polymer, forming the ethylene polymer into a pipe by extrusion and crosslinking it.
US08968850B2	Draw-ironed steel can and method of producing the same A seamless can including a resin-coated steel plate. The can is a draw-ironed steel can having a resin coating formed on at least the inner surface of the can, wherein the resin coating on the inner surface of the can has a tensile strength of 160 to 360 MPa. Also disclosed is a method of producing the draw-ironed steel can.
US08968843B1	Decoration holder A decoration holder is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the decoration holder can hold a card, such as a Christmas card, on a tree, such as a Christmas tree. The holder can therefore provide way to decorate a Christmas tree with Christmas cards, thereby enhancing the festive appearance of the tree. The holder can also provide a way to decorate other portions of a user's home with various festive objects.
US08968839B2	Method for producing surface-treated metallic material There is provided a method for producing a surface-treated metallic material, by use of which a metallic material having a stable and excellent sliding characteristic can be produced with a low environmental load without covering the metallic material surface with an oxide film. The method for producing a surface-treated metallic material includes immersing an anode and a cathode in an electrolyte solution, placing a metallic material used as a material to be treated above the surface of the electrolyte solution, and applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode to treat the metallic material surface, the voltage being equal to or higher than a voltage for causing a complete plasma state.
US08968838B2	Plasma processing in a capacitively-coupled reactor with trapezoidal-waveform excitation A method is provided for exciting at least one electrode of a capacitively coupled reactive plasma reactor containing a substrate. The electrode is excited by applying a RF voltage with a trapezoidal waveform comprising a ramp-up, a high plateau, a ramp-down and a low plateau. The plasma density can be controlled by adjusting the duration of the ramp-up, the duration of the ramp-down, the amplitude and the repetition rate of the trapezoidal waveform. The ion energy distribution function at the substrate can be controlled by adjusting the amplitude and the relative duration between the high plateau and the low plateau of the trapezoidal waveform.
US08968833B2	Antiballistic article with resin An antiballistic article and method of making the antiballistic article. The antiballistic article is made by applying a resin on the surface of at least one fabric layer such that the resin forms a network with a degree of cross-linking of at least 80% within no more than 350 seconds at a temperature of 130° C. at most.
US08968832B2	Ink-jet print head having improved adhesion with time, its process of manufacturing and its use in combination with a water-based ink containing acidic species The present invention relates to an ink-jet print head for an ink-jet printer comprising at least a substrate and a photopolymer barrier applied onto said substrate, said photopolymer barrier comprising an adhesive first layer and a second layer made of a photopolymerizable material and applied above said first layer, characterized in that said adhesive first layer is made of a cationically polymerizable material partially polymerized that, when contacted ny a water-based ink containing acidic species, is able to further polymerize, thus improving the photopolymer barrier adhesion on said surface of said substrate with time, the present invention also relates to a process of manufacturing said ink-jet print head and to its use in combination with a water-based ink containing acidic species.
US08968831B2	Coated articles including anti-fingerprint and/or smudge-reducing coatings, and/or methods of making the same Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to coated articles including anti-fingerprint and/or smudge-reducing coatings, and/or methods of making the same. Oil from fingerprints and the like may easily transfer to the surface of an article. However, it has been found that in certain example embodiments, a reduced-smudge and reduced-glare effect on a glass substrate may be achieved by micro-engineering a glass surface's properties, such as surface morphology and/or roughness. In certain example embodiments, a thin film coating may be introduced to the glass surface in order to alter the contact angle of the article, or for other optical, electrical, mechanical, chemical and/or environmental purposes and/or durability. It has further advantageously been found that by altering the contact angle of the surface, the anti-smudge and anti-glare effects of the substrate may be further improved.
US08968829B2	Thin film deposition apparatus and method of manufacturing organic light-emitting display device by using the same A thin film deposition apparatus that can be applied to manufacture large-sized display devices on a mass scale and that improves manufacturing yield, and a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device by using the thin film deposition apparatus.
US08968825B1	Disposable palladium nanoparticle-modified graphite pencil electrode The disposable palladium nanoparticle-modified graphite pencil electrode (PdNP-GPE) is a graphite pencil electrode having palladium nanoparticles disposed on the surface of the electrode. The electrode is prepared by adding ascorbic acid to an aqueous solution of ammonium tetrachloropalladate(II) [(NH4)2PdCl4] at room temperature to form the palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs), immersing a GPE in the aqueous solution of PdNPs, and heating the solution to about 75° C. to deposit the PdNPs on the GPE. The palladium nanoparticle modified graphite pencil electrode may be used in an electrochemical cell for quantitative analysis of hydrogen peroxide content in an unknown solution.
US08968824B2	Method for producing silver conductive film A silver conductive film is formed on a substrate in a continuous roll-to-roll system by applying a fine silver particle dispersing solution, which contains 30 to 70 wt % of fine silver particles dispersed in a water based dispersing medium, to a halide, such as a chlorine compound, which is applied to the substrate, by flexographic printing, and thereafter, heating the substrate at 60 to 200° C. for 0.1 to 5 seconds in an infrared (IR) heating open, which is installed on the printing path, to carry out calcination.
US08968822B2	Light emitting apparatus and method of fabricating the same Although an ink jet method known as a method of selectively forming a film of a high molecular species organic compound, can coat to divide an organic compound for emitting three kinds (R, G, B) of light in one step, film forming accuracy is poor, it is difficult to control the method and therefore, uniformity is not achieved and the constitution is liable to disperse. In contrast thereto, according to the invention, a film comprising a high molecular species material is formed over an entire face of a lower electrode connected to a thin film transistor by a coating method and thereafter, the film comprising the high molecular species material is etched by etching by plasma to thereby enable to selectively form a high molecular species material layer. Further, the organic compound layer is constituted by a material for carrying out luminescence of white color or luminescence of single color and combined with a color changing layer or a coloring layer to thereby realize full color formation.
US08968821B2	Apparatus and method for applying alignment liquid and spacers An apparatus for spraying spacers with an alignment liquid, including a container for transporting the alignment liquid mixed with the spacers therein and a plurality of nozzles provided on a bottom of the container. The alignment liquid with spacers mixed therein is sprayed through the plurality of nozzles under a same inner pressure, thereby forming an alignment layer on the substrate supported.
US08968818B2	Medical devices having activated surfaces Implantable biocompatible polymeric medical devices include a substrate with an acid or base-modified surface which is subsequently modified to include click reactive members.
US08968813B2	Instant noodles and method for producing the same Instant noodles are produced, which have an excellent reconstitution property, can be reconstituted by pouring of boiling water even if the noodles are thicker than before, and have excellent taste and texture. The instant noodles are produced by: making raw noodle strings each having a multilayer structure including three or more layers; spraying superheated steam to the raw noodle strings; gelatinizing the noodle strings to which the superheated steam has been sprayed; and drying the noodle strings which have been gelatinized. It is preferable to gelatinize the noodle strings by spraying the superheated steam to the noodle strings, supplying moisture in liquid form to the noodle strings, and further heating the noodle strings by using the superheated steam and/or saturated steam.
US08968810B2	Mould and method for preparing a decorative cake coating In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for preparing a decorative cake coating, the method comprising the steps of: providing a contour of a figure, the contour being made of a first edible solid substance, such as chocolate; filling the spaces between the lines of the contour with a second edible substance, such as colored candies; pouring dough made of a third edible substance (e.g., hot chocolate) onto the figure; and turning the coating upside down, thereby enabling placing the coating on the cake with the decorative figure on top.
US08968809B2	Foaming coffee composition The present invention provides a foaming instant coffee composition comprising particles having a bulk density of from 0.16 to 0.45 g/cm3, said particles comprising a continuous phase comprising an instant coffee matrix and a non-continuous phase comprising particles of a foamable component containing a gas.
US08968808B1	Pork belly processing for pre-cooked bacon A method of processing a belly for pre-cooked bacon includes injecting a belly with 1 to 3% by green weight of the belly of a solution comprising water, sodium nitrite, and sodium erythorbate to create an injected belly. The injected belly is tumbled under vacuum with dry ingredients comprising salt, sugar, and dextrose to create a tumbled belly. The tumbled belly is molded in a mold and then frozen in the mold to create a hardened belly. The hardened belly is removed from the mold to create a molded belly. The molded belly is sliced to create belly slices, and the belly slices are cooked.
US08968805B2	Method for brewing beer A device for brewing beer, particularly a wort pan (1), with a container body (2) to receive a wort reservoir (3) is described. The device contains an internal boiler (4) arranged in the container body (2), which is provided with a heat exchanger (5) and a guiding screen (8). Furthermore a wort forced flow (10) provided with a pump is also provided, which runs through the boiler (4). In order to increase the efficiency of the device, the wort forced flow (10) has a thin-layer distributor (17) for the wort, which contains a pipe subsection (11b) connected with the pump, which subsection leads above the guiding screen (8) via an outlet opening (13) with reduced outlet cross-section into the container body (2). Furthermore, above the outlet opening (13), a flow-guiding baffle surface (15) is provided, at which the flow arrives from below, to deflect the liquid towards the wort reservoir (3).
US08968803B1	Powdered teat dip A powdered teat dip for use on an organic dairy is disclosed. The powdered teat dip may include Chlorhexidine or Chlorhexidine Acetate at about 0.005 to about 2 percent by weight, Comfrey leaf powder at about 0.005 to about 2 percent by weight, and corn starch at about 40 to about 65 percent by weight.
US08968798B2	Compositions of volatile organic compounds and methods of use thereof The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating, inhibiting or preventing the developing of a plant pathogenic disease. The compositions comprise volatile organic compounds effective to inhibit the growth of, or kill pathogenic microbes, including Ganoderma boninense. Invention compositions are especially useful in preventing and treating basal stem rot in the oil palm, and can be applied in the vicinity of the plant or used to sterilize the plant growth medium prior to or concurrent with plant growth therein.
US08968797B2	Bioactive load-bearing composites Methods of preparing bioactive composites are described. Also described are methods of molding such composites. Shaped bodies comprising bioactive composites are further described.
US08968795B2	Calcium carbonate granulation Highly compactable granulations and methods for preparing highly compactable granulations are disclosed. More particularly, highly compactable calcium carbonate granulations are disclosed. The granulations comprise powdered materials such as calcium carbonate that have small median particle sizes. The disclosed granulations are useful in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical tableting and provide smaller tablet sizes upon compression than previously available.
US08968793B2	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.
US08968780B2	Stabilized pharmaceutical composition The invention relates to stabilized pharmaceutical composition comprising pregabalin and a disaccharide or higher polyol as stabilizer and optionally a conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The stabilized pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is useful in the treatment of a number of diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.
US08968774B2	Preparation and composition of meloxicam transdermal drug delivery system A composition for transdermal permeation and a preparation method are disclosed. The composition including meloxicam as an active ingredient and further including at least one permeation enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of a sorbitan fatty acid derivative, a polyglyceryl fatty acid derivative, a polyethylene glycol vegetable oil ester, a polyethylene glycol corn oil glyceride, and a polyethylene glycol almond oil glyceride and at least one acrylic polymer adhesive having a hydroxyl group or no functional group.
US08968773B2	Silicone film former for delivery of actives The invention provides: a cross-linkable therapeutic composition comprising a) a saccharide-siloxane copolymer; b) a crosslinking agent; c) one or more active/inactive ingredients; and d) optionally, a solvent, or solvent mixture, wherein the saccharide-siloxane copolymer has the following formula: R2aR1(3-a)SiO—[(SiR2R1O)m-(SiR12O)n]y-SiR1(3-a)R2a that is further formulaically defined and wherein the saccharide-siloxane copolymer is a reaction product of a functionalized organosiloxane polymer and at least one hydroxy-functional saccharide such that the organosiloxane component is covalently linked via a linking group to the saccharide component; films; and methods related thereto. The composition has therapeutic properties. The invention also provides articles of manufacture including topical and transdermal agent delivery patches comprising the novel film-forming composition and/or films.
US08968770B2	Multi-part kit comprising a chewing gum and further a flavor containing formulation A multi-part kit for administering at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient including at least one piece of chewing gum including the active pharmaceutical ingredient, the piece of chewing gum comprising gum base; and at least one further flavor-containing formulation; wherein the gum base content of the at least one further flavor-containing formulation is less than 70% by weight of the gum base content of said piece of chewing gum.
US08968765B2	Brush polymer and medical use thereof The present disclosure provides a brush polymer, including: a linear polymer main chain; and brush structural side chains, including: a hydrophobic molecular branch, and a hydrophilic molecular branch and/or an anti-biofilm/or an anti-microbial molecular branch, wherein the linear polymer main chain is conjugated to the side chains by covalent bonds formed between a hydroxyl group and a reactive functional group, wherein the reactive functional group includes: isocyanate, carboxyl, or epoxy. The present disclosure also provides a medical application of the brush polymer.
US08968762B2	Implant for tissue repair including chitosan The present disclosure provides mono- and multi-layered implants which include at least one porous layer made from a freeze-dried aqueous solution containing chitosan, the solution having a pH of less than about 5.
US08968760B2	Attachment of a biomaterial to tissue A method for attaching an implant to tissue is disclosed. In embodiments, a method includes applying a sprayable material to tissue, the sprayable material possessing functional groups capable of binding to tissue. The sprayable material also possesses functional groups capable of binding to an implant. In embodiments, the functional groups capable of binding to an implant include nucleotides. In such a case, the implant possesses complementary nucleotides capable of binding to the nucleotides on the sprayable material, thereby permitting hydrogen binding between the two. The implant may thus be affixed to tissue, and repositioned as necessary, prior to more permanent attachment utilizing means such as sutures, tacks, etc.
US08968759B2	Method of administering an injectable antibiotic to an animal A method of administering an antibiotic to an animal in need thereof, including the step of injecting the antibiotic subcutaneously at the junction of a pinna with the cranium of the animal, is disclosed.
US08968757B2	Highly wettable, water dispersible, granules including two pesticides The present disclosure relates to water dispersible granular pesticide compositions, and methods of making and using the compositions. The pesticide compositions include an inner layer including a first pesticide coated on to a substrate, and an outer layer comprising a second pesticide coated on the inner layer. The outer layer increases the water dispersibility of the granular composition, and protects the first pesticide against hydrolysis and photolysis.
US08968756B2	Fabrication of biscrolled fiber using carbon nanotube sheet Fabrication of yarns or other shaped articles from materials in powder form (or nanoparticles or nanofibers) using carbon nanotube/nanofiber sheet as a platform (template). This includes methods for fabricating biscrolled yarns using carbon nanotube/nanofiber sheets and biscrolled fibers fabricated thereby.
US08968755B2	Topical base and active agent-containing compositions, and methods for improving and treating skin The invention provides skin-protecting and penetrating, easy-to-administer base and active agent-containing compositions, such as those including hydrocortisone, for treating the skin of mammals for different dermatologic disorders. This is effected by topically administering effective amounts of the compositions thereto in forms that address the skin and mucosa of the mouth and lips, and the rest of the body. Additionally, an optional flavoring addition to these products affords significantly better tasting, and less bitter, compositions, allowing a more pleasant experience and better compliance by patients. The compositions include a unique formulation of FANCOL VB, Natunola Castor 1023, Finsolv TN, bees wax and, optionally, one or a plurality of plant or plant seed oils, fatty alcohols, fats and flavorings, in desirable weight percents thereof, in various forms, and preferably in a form of a solid roll-on stick in a variety of sizes and of a jar or pot.
US08968748B2	GNA1870-based vesicle vaccines for broad spectrum protection against diseases caused by Neisseria meningitidis The present invention generally provides methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response against Neisseria spp. bacteria in a subject, particularly against a Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strain.check for moving around
US08968742B2	Antibody drug conjugates (ADC) that bind to 158P1D7 proteins Antibody drug conjugates (ADC's) that bind to 158P1D7 protein and variants thereof are described herein. 158P1D7 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in glioblastoma, lung cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer. Consequently, the ADC's of the invention provide a therapeutic composition for the treatment of cancer.
US08968740B2	Compositions, kits, and methods for the diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, treatment and modulation of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders and hypoxia associated angiogenesis disorders using galectin-1 The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery that galectin-1 (Gal1) plays a role in viral-associated PTLD, e.g., EBV-associated PTLD and hypoxia associated angiogenesis disorders. Accordingly, the invention relates to compositions, kits, and methods for diagnosing, prognosing, monitoring, treating and modulating viral-associated PTLD, e.g., EBV-associated PTLD and hypoxia associated angiogenesis disorders.
US08968736B2	Human antibodies to GFRα3 and methods of use thereof The present invention provides antibodies that bind to human GFRα3 and methods of using same. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the antibodies are fully human antibodies that bind to human GFRα3. The antibodies of the invention are useful for the treatment of diseases and disorders associated with one or more GFRα3 biological activities, including the treatment of acute or chronic pain conditions, or inflammatory conditions.
US08968732B2	Methods of treating pain using an IL-31 monoclonal antibody Use of antagonists to IL-31 are used to treat inflammation and pain by inhibiting, preventing, reducing, minimizing, limiting or minimizing stimulation in neuronal tissues. Such antagonists include antibodies and fragments, derivative, or variants thereof. Symptoms such as pain, tingle, sensitization, tickle associated with neuropathies are ameliorated.
US08968726B2	Lactoferrin and angiogenin compositions and uses thereof Compositions are described which contain lactoferrin and angiogenin. The described compositions are useful in treatment of a variety of conditions, particularly in promoting bone health and relief of menopausal symptoms.
US08968720B2	Heat shock protein GP96 vaccination and methods of using same The invention provides a tumor cell genetically modified to express a nucleic acid encoding a secreted form of a heat shock protein (hsp) gp96 polypeptide. The invention also provides a method of stimulating an immune response to a tumor by administering a tumor cell genetically modified to express a nucleic acid encoding a secreted form of a gp96 polypeptide.
US08968713B2	Antibacterial hair removal composition An antibacterial, non-aqueous liquid hair removing composition. The composition includes a solubilizing oil effective for solubilizing the ingredients, e.g., mineral oil, and an effective antibacterial amount of an antibacterial agent, e.g., triclosan and/or benzethonium chloride. The composition further includes botanical oils and rosins, e.g., soybean oil, gum rosin, rosin esters and titanium dioxide. The composition may also include fragrances and additional bacteriocides, e.g., phenoxyethanol. The hair removal composition is applied to a person's skin, and after a sufficient amount time, removed from the person's skin with the hair entrapped therein.
US08968709B2	Therapeutic dental composition and related methods Dental compositions are provided comprising a compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein n is an integer from about 2 to about 5.
US08968708B2	Compounds comprising linked heteroaryl moieties and their use as novel umami flavor modifiers, tastants and taste enhancers for comestible compositions The inventions disclosed herein relate to the discovery of the use of compounds having the formula shown below and certain subgenera or species thereof, as flavor or taste modifiers, particularly, savory (“umami”) taste modifiers, savory flavoring agents and savory flavor enhancers in foods, beverages, and other comestible compositions.
US08968703B2	13C-MR detection using hyperpolarised 13C-fructose The invention relates to a method of 13C-MR detection using an imaging medium comprising hyperpolarised 13C-fructose and to an imaging medium containing hyperpolarised 13C-fructose for use in said method.
US08968702B2	Inhibition of HIF-1 activation for anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory responses The presently disclosed subject matter generally relates to methods and compositions for inhibiting the expression and/or activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) genes in a hypoxic cell. More particularly, the methods disclosed herein relate to inhibition of HIF-1 activation in a cell, increasing sensitivity of a tumor cell to radiation and/or chemotherapy, delaying tumor growth, inhibiting tumor blood vessel growth, inhibiting inflammatory responses in a cell through the use of compositions that prevent the nitrosylation of HIF-1, and methods for screening for new inhibitors of HIF-1 activiation. Additionally, the compositions disclosed herein relate to compositions that can be employed in, and are identified by, the disclosed methods.
US08968698B2	Processes for recovering metals from aqueous solutions Provided herein are processes for recovering molybdenum and/or other value metals (e.g., uranium) present in aqueous solutions from a large range of concentrations: from ppm to grams per liter via a solvent extraction process by extracting the molybdenum and/or other value metal from the aqueous solution by contacting it with an organic phase solution containing a phosphinic acid, stripping the molybdenum and/or other value metal from the organic phase solution by contacting it with an aqueous phase strip solution containing an inorganic compound and having a ≦1.0 M concentration of free ammonia, and recovering the molybdenum and/or other value metal by separating it from the aqueous phase strip solution. When the molybdenum and/or other value metal are present only in low concentration, the processes can include an organic phase recycle step and/or an aqueous phase strip recycle step in order to concentrate the metal prior to recover.
US08968695B2	Method of producing nano-size graphene-based material and an equipment for producing the same The present invention is directed to a method of producing nano-size graphene-based material and an equipment for producing the same. The present invention provides a method of producing graphitic oxide by forcing graphite sulfuric slurry and KMnO4 sulfuric solution into a lengthy micro-channel and by sustaining the mixture of the said graphite sulfuric slurry and the said KMnO4 sulfuric solution in the said micro-channel at predetermined temperatures, by putting the said aqua solution of hydrogen peroxide to the reaction mixture to terminate oxidation, and by washing and drying the reaction mixture. The present invention provides a method of producing nano-size graphene-based material by exfoliating graphitic oxide by thermal shock in a vertical fluidized furnace. According to the present invention, graphitic oxide can be produced massively without risks of explosion by forcing all reagents as liquid phase continuously into a lengthy micro-channel surrounded and thermally controlled strictly by heat exchangers. Nano-size graphene-based material derived by exfoliating thus produced graphitic oxide can be imported into compositions and composites for various uses since it has physical characteristics comparable to carbon nanotube and dispersibility superior to carbon nanotube via residual functional groups.
US08968694B2	Method for preparing high purity ammonia A method for preparing high purity ammonia is provided, which comprises the following three steps of: (1) obtaining the required feed gases (i.e., hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture) by catalytic cracking ammonia; (2) purifying the hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture; and (3) synthesizing high purity ammonia by using the hydrogen- nitrogen gas mixture with high purity. In the provided method, the obtained ammonia with undesired purity is fed back to an ammonia catalytic cracking unit. The whole production system is a closed system without any discharging of ammonia and thus is environment friendly. Each step of the method can reduce cost.
US08968691B2	Treatment method and treatment facilities of exhaust gas An object of the present invention is to provide a treatment method and a plant of an exhaust gas in which corrosion resistance of the exhaust gas treatment plant to a sulfuric acid mist after wet type desulfurization is increased. The treatment method of an exhaust gas in the present invention, wherein sulfur oxide is removed by wet type desulfurization of the exhaust gas and a sulfuric acid mist is removed by feeding ammonia into the exhaust gas, is characterized in that an ammonia gas is mixed into the exhaust gas by feeding inorganic ammonium salt to an alkali desulfurizing agent when the desulfurizing agent is sprayed into the exhaust gas to absorb and remove the sulfur oxide in the exhaust gas.
US08968690B2	Three-way catalyst having an upstream single-layer catalyst Disclosed herein is a layered three-way catalytic system being separated in a front and a rear portion having the capability of simultaneously catalyzing the oxidation of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide and the reduction of nitrogen oxides. Provided is a catalyst composite comprising a single front catalytic layer and two rear catalytic layers in conjunction with a substrate, where the single font layer and the rear bottom layer comprise a Pd component, the rear top layer comprises a Rh component, and the rear bottom layer is substantially free of an oxygen storage component (OSC).
US08968688B2	Recovery of rare earth elements and compounds from coal ash Rare earth elements are recovered from coal ash. The coal ash with rare earth elements can be treated with a mineral acid to form an aqueous mineral acid solution. The aqueous mineral acid solution can be extracted to form an organic solution that includes the rare earth salts. The organic solution can be mixed with water to form an aqueous solution that includes the rare earth salts. The rare earth elements are separated from the aqueous solution.
US08968682B2	Aspiration-free well plate apparatus and methods A well plate includes a including a top portion, a bottom portion and a membrane disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion. The top portion defines a sample well in fluid communication with an opening defined by the membrane and in fluid communication with a reservoir defined by the bottom portion. The well plate is configured to be used in a centrifugation process of a test sample including a sample material and a wash liquid. The test sample configured to be received within the sample well and the reservoir. The membrane configured to filter the wash liquid from the test sample during the centrifugation process such that the wash liquid can pass from the reservoir, through the membrane and can be captured within a collection chamber while the sample material remains within the reservoir.
US08968681B2	Filtered assay device and method A method and device is provided for collecting filterable material to perform assays on a filtration apparatus by applying negative-pressure to the inlet chamber of the filtration apparatus which is independent of negative or positive pressure applied to its fluid path. The negative-pressure applied to the inlet chamber serves to actively aspirate fluid and promote flow into the inlet chamber via the fluid pathway. The negative-pressure applied to the inlet chamber facilitates the use of either negative or positive-pressure based fluid-filtration approaches. Use of the invention improves the functionality and scope of applications that can be performed with enclosed filtration apparatuses.
US08968680B2	Cleaning device and automatic analyzer A cleaning device that cleans a liquid storage part of a vessel for storing liquid. The cleaning device includes: a cleaning liquid discharge nozzle that discharges cleaning liquid to the liquid storage part; a first overflow suction nozzle of which tip is positioned above the tip of the cleaning liquid discharge nozzle, that sucks the liquid containing the cleaning liquid from the liquid storage part; a second overflow suction nozzle of which tip is positioned above the tip of the first overflow suction nozzle, that sucks the liquid containing the cleaning liquid from the liquid storage part; and a clog detecting unit that detects clog in one of the first and second overflow suction nozzles.
US08968677B2	Frazil ice conjugate assay device and method An improved apparatus and method for dispersion of a labeling conjugate in a diagnostic assay, the result being a one-step assay. By eliminating a conjugate pad as in conventional lateral diagnostic devices, and forming a frazil ice pellicle (FIP), rehydration and flow are improved resulting in better reproducibility, improved sensitivity, and reduced costs of individual assay devices. The formation of a frazil ice film formed on a super cooled surface of a sample receiving means simplifies assay assembly. Lyophilization of the FIP improves the release of a sample/analyte/label matrix into a macro channel as in a direct flow assay, while at the same time allowing reagents to mix and flow, thereby optimizing the assay performance. The reagents of the conjugate and the formation of the FIP stabilize the conjugate proteins and provide extended shelf life to the diagnostic assay device.
US08968673B2	Method for functionalising fluid lines contained in a micromechanical device, micromechanical device including functionalised lines, and method for manufacturing same The present invention relates to a method for functionalizing fluid lines (1b) in a micromechanical device, the walls of which include an opaque layer. For this purpose, the invention provides a method for functionalizing a micromechanical device provided with a fluid line including a peripheral wall (5) having a surface (2) outside the line and an inner surface (3) defining a space (1b) in which a fluid can circulate, the peripheral wall at least partially including a silicon layer (5a). The method includes the following steps: a) providing a device, the peripheral wall (5) of which at least partially includes a silicon layer (5a) having, at least locally, a thickness (e) of more than 100 nm and less than 200 nm, advantageously of 160 to 180 nm; c) silanizing at least the inner surface of the fluid line; d) the localized, selective photo-deprotection on at least the inner surface of the silanized device by exposing the peripheral wall (5) at the point at which said wall has a thickness (e) of more than 100 nm and less than 200 nm, advantageously of 160 to 180 nm.
US08968671B2	Mixing in oxidation to phthalic anhydride A system for mixing ortho-xylene with an oxygen-containing gas such as air comprises an evaporator vessel fed with the gas and having a lance projecting into the gas. The lance is provided with a metal spray nozzle for injecting droplets of hot liquid ortho-xylene into the gas stream, concurrently with the direction of flow of the gas. The metal at the surface of the spray nozzle, that in use is in contact with the liquid ortho-xylene, has a high surface hardness to resist erosion, particularly by cavitation. The system is useful in the production of phthalic anhydride by the oxidation of ortho-xylene with air, whereby the risk for deflagrations is reduced. A soft metal seal is the preferred gasket between the spray nozzle and the lance.
US08968669B2	Multi-stage system for producing a material of a battery cell A system and method thereof are provided for multi-stage processing of one or more precursor compounds into a battery material. The system includes a mist generator, a drying chamber, one or more gas-solid separators, and one or more in-line reaction modules comprised of one or more gas-solid feeders, one or more gas-solid separators, and one or more reactors. Various gas-solid mixtures are formed within the internal plenums of the drying chamber, the gas-solid feeders, and the reactors. In addition, heated air or gas is served as the energy source within the processing system and as the gas source for forming the gas-solid mixtures to facilitate reaction rate and uniformity of the reactions therein. Precursor compounds are continuously delivered into the processing system and processed in-line through the internal plenums of the drying chamber and the reaction modules into final reaction particles useful as a battery material.
US08968665B2	Candles capable of diffusing a plurality of active volatile substances simultaneously The present invention relates to candles capable of diffusing a plurality of volatile active substances simultaneously, a base portion, at least one wick and a plurality of cartridges carrying the volatile active substances to be diffused, the base portion being provided with a plurality of holes adapted to receive the cartridges. The invention further relates to a method for diffusing a plurality of active substances simultaneously comprising manufacturing and burning such candle.
US08968661B2	Sample analyzer and computer program product A sample analyzer prepares a measurement sample from a blood sample or a body fluid sample which differs from the blood sample; measures the prepared measurement sample; obtains characteristic information representing characteristics of the components in the measurement sample; sets either a blood measurement mode for measuring the blood sample, or a body fluid measurement mode for measuring the body fluid sample as an operating mode; and measures the measurement sample prepared from the blood sample by executing operations in the blood measurement mode when the blood measurement mode has been set, and measuring the measurement sample prepared from the body fluid sample by executing operations in the body fluid measurement mode that differs from the operations in the blood measurement mode when the body fluid measurement mode has been set, is disclosed. A computer program product is also disclosed.
US08968658B2	Luminescence measurement utilizing cartridge with integrated detector A cartridge and cartridge system for use in an apparatus for analyzing a sample are provided. The system has a plurality of cartridges for different applications for a multimode instrument. The cartridges are removably engaged with a cartridge support of the apparatus in a “plug-in” format such that one cartridge may be removed from the apparatus and another cartridge may be easily installed. The cartridge support includes a plurality of cartridge positions that receive cartridges concurrently. One of the cartridges may be a luminescence cartridge that includes an integrated detector that is movable toward and away from a sample carrier of the apparatus, and thus toward and away from a sample located at the sample carrier.
US08968654B2	Fluid delivery system and lift for use in conjunction therewith A fluid delivery system includes a laboratory instrument that operates using fluid retained in one or more containers. The containers are supported on a motor-driven lift that is configured to transport the containers between a lowered position suitable for handling and an elevated position suitable for the delivery of fluid to the instrument by gravity. The lift includes a bench-mountable base, a tubular column extending upward from the base, an elongated lead screw extending longitudinally through the column, a drive mechanism for rotatably driving the lead screw, a carriage slidably mounted over the tubular column and mechanically coupled to the lead screw, a platform removably coupled to the carriage for supporting the containers, and a control system for regulating operation of the drive mechanism. During operation, a slot provided in the column restricts travel of the platform along a predefined path that is linear in part and helical in part.
US08968653B2	Sample analyzer A sample analyzer comprising: a sample preparing section for preparing first and second measurement sample including reagent and sample; a first detector for detecting a predetermined component in the first measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; a second detector for detecting the predetermined component in the second measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; and a controller configured for performing operations, comprising: (a) controlling the first detector to detect the predetermined component in the first measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; (b) determining the reliability of the result detected by the first detector; (c) controlling the sample preparing section to prepare the second measurement sample from the same sample when the result has been determined to be unreliable; and (d) controlling the second detector to detect the predetermined component in the second measurement sample, is disclosed.
US08968651B2	Sterilization method By focusing on the fact that nitrogen dioxide exhibits an increased sterilizing effect among other sterilant gases including nitrogen oxide, the present invention is made to provide a sterilization method which may be suitably used for sterilizing items to be sterilized such as medical instruments which require increased reliability by using a high concentration NO2 gas of 5,000 ppm or above, for example. An inside of a sterilizing chamber containing an item to be sterilized is humidified, and a concentration of NO2 in the sterilizing chamber is made to be from 9 to 100 mg/L by filling a high concentration NO2 gas.
US08968648B2	Method for radiation sterilization of hydrophilic polymer-coated medical device A radiation sterilization method of a disposable medical device and a manufacturing method are provided, which method comprising the steps of packaging a disposable medical device, which has applied thereto with hydrophilic polymer coating, with a gas permeable packaging material, controlling a product moisture content of the thus packaged medical device by maintaining the device in a given humidity atmosphere for not less than a time at which an equilibrated moisture content is reached, and subjecting, to radiation sterilization, the medical device whose product moisture content has been controlled, so that an eluted matter is reduced in amount and a sliding performance is ensured according to the radiation sterilization method of the hydrophilic polymer-coated, disposable medical device and the manufacturing method.
US08968647B2	Fragrance delivery system A multi-layer article is provided containing a sorbent layer having a first side and a second side; a vapor permeable or microporous layer adjacent to at least a portion of at least one of the first side and second side of the sorbent layer; optionally, a second vapor permeable or microporous layer on a side of the vapor permeable or microporous layer not adjacent to the sorbent layer; optionally, a vapor impermeable layer adjacent to a portion of the sorbent layer not adjacent to the vapor permeable or microporous layer; and an active composition having at least one volatile component; wherein the sorbent layer contains the active composition, and each layer is capable of being formed into a required shape or structure; and a method for its use in treating the atmosphere of an environment such as a compartment or localized space.
US08968646B2	Synergistic methods for odor control An odor control composition may be dosed to a wastewater treatment system to control hydrogen sulfide levels. The composition may include a sulfide-reducing agent and an oxidizer. Synergy between the compounds of the odor control composition may facilitate efficient reduction of hydrogen sulfide levels. The sulfide-reducing agent and the oxidizer may be present in a single odor control composition or may be dosed to the system separately.
US08968641B2	Porous metallic materials and method of production thereof The present invention relates to a process for producing porous metallic materials comprising the steps of: (a) miming metallic particles with a carbonate additive and a binder, wherein the quantity of carbonate additive in the mixture is in the range of 40 to 90 vol % and compressing the mixture beyond the yield strength of the metallic particles; (b) heating the mixture to a first temperature sufficient to evaporate the binder; (c) heating and maintaining the temperature of the mixture to a second temperature sufficient to sinter the metallic particles but insufficient to decompose or melt the carbonate additive; (d) removing the carbonate additive from the sintered porous metallic material; and optionally (e) heating and maintaining the temperature of the porous metallic material to a third temperature greater than the second temperature so as to enhance the sintering. The present invention also relates to metallic materials produced by such a process.
US08968639B2	Composition for extrusion-molded bodies A composition for extrusion-molded bodies which comprises a) an inorganic material that sets as a result of baking or sintering, and b) a methylhydroxypropyl cellulose having a DS(methyl) of from 0.8 to 2.5 and an MS(hydroxypropyl) of from 0.50 to 1.20 is useful for producing extrusion-molded bodies for use as a carrier for a catalyst, a catalyst, a heat exchanger, or a filter.
US08968637B2	Method and system for fabricating dome shaped LTCC substrates A system for the fabrication of dome shaped low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) substrates comprises a plurality of prefired substrates, a first mandrel, and a second mandrel. The prefired substrates may form a stack and each may include a circular central portion and a plurality of segments uniformly distributed along the circumference of the central portion. Each segment may include a first edge, an opposing second edge, and an end edge. The first and second edges each may have an inner end and an opposing outer end. The end edge may be coupled to the outer end of the first and second edges. The first mandrel may have a first circumference and may be configured to receive the prefired substrates while the stack is formed. The second mandrel may have a second circumference smaller than the first circumference and may be configured to retain the stack during a firing process.
US08968632B2	Label film for blow-moulding method The invention relates to a biaxial oriented film with a microporous layer, comprising a propylene polymer and at least one β-nucleating agent the microporosity of which is generated by conversion of β-crystalline polypropylene on drawing the film and the use thereof for the labelling of containers in blow molding. The Gurley value for the film is 10,000 to 300,000 Gurley.
US08968631B2	Process for making an embossed web A process for making an embossed web. A precursor web is provided between a forming structure and a static pressure plenum. The forming structure has a plurality of discrete apertures or depressions. Pressure is provided by the static pressure plenum against the precursor web and the forming structure to force the precursor web into the apertures or depressions of forming structure to form the embossed web. The resulting embossed web has a plurality of discrete extended elements.
US08968629B2	Apparatus and method for producing two-sided patterned web in registration An apparatus for casting a patterned surface on both sides of an opaque web. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll, a second pattered roll, and a means for rotating the first and second patterned rolls such that their patterns are transferred to opposite sides of the opaque web while it is in continuous motion. During this process, their patterns are maintained in continuous registration to within at least 100 micrometers.
US08968626B2	Electrospinning process for manufacture of multi-layered structures Devices and methods for high-throughput manufacture of concentrically layered nanoscale and microscale fibers by electrospinning are disclosed. The devices include a hollow tube having a lengthwise slit through which a core material can flow, and can be configured to permit introduction of sheath material at multiple sites of Taylor cone formation.
US08968623B2	Process and apparatus for demolding and palletizing cast concrete blocks A method for demolding concrete blocks which are cast in a resilient mold supported in a rigid frame, the mold having a top surface and at least one cavity with an opening on the top surface, which cavity holds a cured cast concrete block. The mold has two opposing edges. The demolded blocks are stacked on a collection surface. A support is positioned over the cavity and the mold, the support and the frame are inverted and positioned in demolding apparatus. After two opposing edges of the mold are engaged by the demolding apparatus, the support is withdrawn to allow the mold to sag. The blocks may release from the mold and fall onto the collection surface. If any blocks remain in the mold, a plunger mechanism is pushed against the sagging mold to release the blocks. Guide members may facilitate positioning the blocks on the collection surface.
US08968622B2	Device and method for ejecting at least one capsule A device and a method for ejecting at least one capsule are proposed, comprising at least two ejecting mechanisms for ejecting at least one capsule from a holder receiving the capsules. A drive control mechanism is provided in order to move the ejecting mechanisms independently of one another in the ejecting direction, depending on whether the capsule assigned to the ejecting mechanism is detected as defective.
US08968614B2	Method of making high-elongation apertured nonwoven web An extensible apertured nonwoven web, and a method for making such an apertured nonwoven web. In one embodiment the method comprises the steps of providing an apertured nonwoven web, incrementally stretching it in a direction substantially parallel to the cross machine direction, and applying tension in the machine direction such that the web width after applying tension is less than the web width after incremental stretching. In another embodiment the method comprises the steps of providing a nonwoven web; weakening the nonwoven web at a plurality of locations to create a plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations; applying a first tensioning force to the nonwoven web to cause the nonwoven web to rupture at the plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations creating a plurality of apertures in the nonwoven web coincident with the weakened, melt-stabilized locations, incrementally stretching the nonwoven web in a direction substantially parallel to the cross machine direction, and applying tension in the machine direction such that the web width after applying machine direction tension is less than the web width after incremental stretching. An apparatus for producing a web of the present invention by this method is also disclosed. The extensible apertured nonwoven web produced has a plurality of apertures each having a hole size greater than 2 mm2, and a hole aspect ratio less than 6, the nonwoven web having an open area greater than 15% and being capable of at least 70% extension in the cross machine direction at a loading of 10 g/cm.
US08968612B2	Manufacturing device and manufacturing method for absorbent An absorbent manufacturing device forms an absorbent by depositing a liquid absorbent fiber and a super absorbent polymer in a deposition part. The absorbent manufacturing device includes: a plurality of suction holes that are provided in the deposition part, wherein the liquid absorbent fiber and the super absorbent polymer flowing inside a scattering duct are deposited in the deposition part by suction; a suction duct that is provided in communication with the suction holes and draws air so that the suction holes perform suction; and a separator that separates a super absorbent polymer of size equal to or larger than a certain size from a flow of air flowing in the suction duct and returns the separated super absorbent polymer to the scattering duct.
US08968609B2	Dielectric materials for power transfer system A contactless power transfer system is proposed. The power transfer system comprises a field-focusing element comprising a dielectric material. The dielectric material comprises a composition that is selected from the family of (Ba,Sr)TiO3 or CaCu3Ti4O12. The compositions of the (Ba,Sr)TiO3 include the materials such as Ca1-x-yBaxSryTi1-zCrzO3-δNp, wherein 0
US08968608B2	Method for producing conductive material, conductive material obtained by the method, electronic device containing the conductive material, light-emitting device, and method for producing light-emitting device An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a conductive material that allows a low electric resistance to be generated, and that is obtained by using an inexpensive and stable conductive material composition containing no adhesive. The conductive material can be provided by a producing method that includes the step of sintering a first conductive material composition that contains silver particles having an average particle diameter (median diameter) of 0.1 μm to 15 μm, and a metal oxide, so as to obtain a conductive material. The conductive material can be provided also by a method that includes the step of sintering a second conductive material composition that contains silver particles having an average particle diameter (median diameter) of 0.1 μm to 15 μm in an atmosphere of oxygen or ozone, or ambient atmosphere, at a temperature in a range of 150° C. to 320° C., so as to obtain a conductive material.
US08968606B2	Components having voltage switchable dielectric materials Various aspects provide for structures and devices to protect against spurious electrical events (e.g., electrostatic discharge). Some embodiments incorporate a voltage switchable dielectric material (VSDM) bridging a gap between two conductive pads. Normally insulating, the VSDM may conduct current from one pad to the other during a spurious electrical event (e.g., shunting current to ground). Some aspects include gaps having a gap width that is greater than 50% of a spacing between electrical leads connected to the pads. Some devices include single layers of VSDM. Some devices include multiple layers of VSDM. Various devices may be designed to increase a ratio of active volume (of VSDM) to inactive volume.
US08968604B2	Single-walled carbon nanotube dispersion liquid and method for producing single-walled carbon nanotube dispersion liquid Disclosed is a single-walled carbon nanotube dispersion liquid containing a single-walled carbon nanotube, a fullerene and a solvent.
US08968603B2	Dielectric materials A dielectric material is provided. The material includes Ca1-x-yBaxSryTi1 -zCrzO3-δAp, wherein A is nitrogen, fluorine, or combinations thereof; x and y can vary between the value of zero and one such that 0
US08968588B2	Low electron temperature microwave surface-wave plasma (SWP) processing method and apparatus A surface wave plasma (SWP) source couples pulsed microwave (MW) energy into a processing chamber through, for example, a radial line slot antenna, to result in a low mean electron energy (Te). To prevent impingement of the microwave energy onto the surface of a substrate when plasma density is low between pulses, an ICP source, such as a helical inductive source, a planar RF coil, or other inductively coupled source, is provided between the SWP source and the substrate to produce plasma that is opaque to microwave energy. The ICP source can also be pulsed in synchronism with the pulsing of the MW plasma in phase with the ramping up of the MW pulses. The ICP also adds an edge dense distribution of plasma to a generally chamber centric MW plasma to improve plasma uniformity.
US08968582B2	Device for electrical characterization of molecules using CNT-nanoparticle-molecule-nanoparticle-CNT structure A method of forming an electrode is disclosed. A carbon nanotube is deposited on a substrate. A section of the carbon nanotube is removed to form at least one exposed end defining a first gap. A metal is deposited at the at least one exposed end to form the electrode that defines a second gap.
US08968581B2	Square ink filter vessel for a printing press A square ink filter vessel for a printing press, like a rotogravure printing press, a flexographic printing press, or other like printing presses, includes a container having a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section with an open top, an outlet port on one side approximate the bottom of the container, a sloped bottom, where the sloped bottom being toward the outlet port, an inlet port on one side approximate the top of the container, and an internal ledge. A lid is adapted to close the open top of the container. A hinge couples the lid to the container, where the lid is hinged to the container on one side. A lid compression device is adapted to compress the lid to the container. A containment basket is adapted to fit inside the container, and has a plurality of holes on all sides and a lip adapted to rest on the internal ledge of the container.
US08968580B2	Apparatus and method for regulating flow through a pumpbox A pumpbox apparatus includes a reservoir volume having a first inlet for receiving a feedstock stream and a second inlet for receiving a water stream, the reservoir volume being in communication with a discharge outlet disposed to discharge accumulated liquid from the reservoir volume. The reservoir volume is operable to accumulate the feedstock stream and the water stream in the reservoir volume while withdrawing a discharge stream through the discharge outlet to cause a flow of liquid through the pumpbox. The first inlet defines a first flow velocity region between the first inlet and the second inlet and a second flow velocity region between the second inlet and the discharge outlet. The first flow velocity is lower than the second flow velocity to facilitate flotation of a low specific gravity portion of the feedstock through the first region toward an upper surface of the liquid accumulated in the reservoir volume.
US08968578B1	Water treatment system and method A method of treating water may comprise receiving water through an intake of a water treatment system, treating the water to neutralize contaminants, structuring the water by passing the water flow through a water structuring assembly and a plurality of structuring objects, injecting at least one biological component into the water passing through the water treatment system, and passing the water through an outlet of the water treatment system. A water treatment system may comprise a pump configured to move water between an intake and an outlet, a water pretreatment assembly configured to remove particles from the water, a water treatment assembly configured to neutralize contaminants in the water, a water structuring assembly having an entry and an exit and configured to passing the water flow about a plurality of structuring objects, and an injection apparatus configured to inject at least one biological component into the water.
US08968576B2	Nebulizing treatment method A method of treating contaminated air, gas and surfaces is accomplished through the nebulization of gas and/or liquid oxidants through a field of electromagnetic radiation or sonic waves. The contaminated gas and/or liquid streams are blended with gaseous and/or liquid oxidants by the nebulizer and directly injected in the energy field. Free radicals produced from oxidants in the presence of the energy field instantaneously oxidize a large effective surface area of the contaminated media. Surfaces are treated more efficiently with the energy field situated directly above and parallel to but not on the surface; a high-frequency energy field may be used to create a large concentration of free radicals without damaging the surface in a collimated beam of the field situated parallel to the surface. A catalyst may be employed at the tip (i.e. discharge orifices of gas and/or liquid) of the nebulizer or blended into the nebulized cloud to increase the formation of free radicals. The method may also be used to carry out a reduction instead of an oxidation reaction.
US08968574B2	Method and device for the wet oxidation treatment of liquid waste laden with mineral matter A method and device for the wet oxidation treatment of liquid waste laden with mineral matter in suspension. The device comprises a reactor including a treatment column, first and second heat exchangers placed upstream and downstream, respectively, of the reactor. The solution to be treated, laden with mineral matter to which an oxidizing gas has been added, is injected into the reactor for treatment after being preheated in the first heat exchanger. When the solution exits the reactor, the hot treated mixture is divided into two hot stream fragments. The first hot treated mixture stream fragment, the flow rate of which is kept constant by a diaphragm column, is used for controlling the temperature of the first heat exchanger and then discharged after being used in the first heat exchanger. The second hot treated mixture stream fragment is directly cooled and discharged when the second hot treated mixture stream fragment leaves the reactor.
US08968572B2	Method and apparatus for the purification of water contaminated with sulfate ions and with heavy metal ions In a device and a process for purifying water which is contaminated with sulphate ions and heavy metal ions, the water is collected in a water reservoir and a substance having basic activity in water is fed to the water reservoir in such a manner that a precipitant having heavy metal ions is precipitated from the water, wherein at least a subquantity of water is taken off from the water reservoir and is separated into pure water which is substantially freed from sulphate ions and heavy metal ions and dirty water which is enriched with sulphate ions and heavy metal ions. The dirty water is at least in part recirculated to the water reservoir, as a result of which a concentration of sulphate ions in the water reservoir is achieved such that a precipitant having sulphate ions is precipitated from the water.
US08968568B2	Water filtration system A water or liquid substance filtration device is disclosed which removes microorganisms and organic contamination and sterilizes the containers and water lines after the unit. The unit is portable, or can be mounted stationary. The unit has a five-stage filtration and sterilization system controlled by an independent onboard computer system that can link to a central computer system to keep track of all independent units. The unit will physically filter out of the water contaminants that can be reused, destroyed, or flushed down a safe drain. It can also be modified to filter for a certain size of particulate, making recovery of certain substances possible. The unit has a self-diagnostic system that can determine if the unit is operating properly and can shut down a part thereof if one of the capillary units fails. The unit uses ozone to disinfect containers and water lines.
US08968566B2	Separator assembly A novel separator assembly for a spiral flow reverse osmosis apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the separator assembly comprises a central core element comprising at least two permeate exhaust conduits and not comprising a concentrate exhaust conduit. Each permeate exhaust conduit defines an exhaust channel and one or more openings allowing fluid communication between an exterior surface of the permeate exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, said permeate exhaust conduits independently defining a cavity between said conduits. The cavity is configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least two permeate carrier layers, and at least two membrane layers. A first portion of the membrane stack assembly is disposed within the cavity, and a second portion of the membrane stack assembly is wound around the central core element and forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element.
US08968565B2	No filter no run fluid filtration system Improvements to “no filter, no run” fluid filtration systems are described. In one example, a filter includes a movable pin cage that has a first pre-installation position adjacent the bottom end plate and is temporarily connected thereto by a snap connection system, and a second position adjacent the upper end plate where it performs a valve interaction function. In another example, a filter includes non-centered valve pins that are rotatable relative to an upper end plate of the filter.
US08968550B2	Apparatus and method for cleaning chlorobenzenes-contaminated soil and groundwater Apparatus and method for cleaning chlorobenzenes-contaminated soil and groundwater are provided related to environment protection. The apparatus includes a direct current power supply, permeable reactive barrier (PRB) reaction walls and electrodes, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a polluted area according the concentric circles, and are installed into electrode chambers; the PRB reaction walls are installed at ½ between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode and at ¼ from the anode electrode. Chlorobenzenes in the soil and groundwater can be gathered in the PRB reaction walls through the arrangement of the electrode area; and then the chlorobenzenes can be further removed by oxidation-reduction reactions in the PRB reaction walls.
US08968549B2	Two stage cathodic protection system using impressed current and galvanic action Cathodic protection of steel in concrete is provided by locating an anode assembly including both a sacrificial anode and an impressed current anode in contact with the concrete and providing an impressed current from a power supply to the anode. The impressed current anode forms a perforated sleeve surrounding a rod of the sacrificial anode material with an activated ionically-conductive filler material between. The system can be used without the power supply in sacrificial mode or when the power supply is connected, the impressed current anode can be powered to provide an impressed current system and/or to recharge the sacrificial anode from sacrificial anode corrosion products.
US08968547B2	Method for corium and used nuclear fuel stabilization processing A method for stabilizing a nuclear material may include electrolytically reducing the nuclear material in a first molten salt electrolyte of an electroreducer to produce a reduced material. A reducer waste may accumulate in the first molten salt electrolyte as a byproduct of the electroreduction. After the electroreduction, the reduced material may be electrolytically dissolved in a second molten salt electrolyte of an electrorefiner to produce a purified metal product on a refiner cathode assembly of the electrorefiner. As a result of the electrorefining, a first refiner waste may accumulate in the second molten salt electrolyte and a second refiner waste may accumulate in a refiner anode assembly of the electrorefiner. The reducer waste from the electroreducer and the first refiner waste from the electrorefiner may be converted into a ceramic waste form, while the second refiner waste from the electrorefiner may be converted into a metallic waste form.
US08968545B2	Apparatus and method for molecular separation, purification, and sensing Described are devices and methods for forming one or more nanomembranes including electroactive nanomembranes within a nanowell or nanotube, or combinations thereof, in a support material. Nanopores/nanochannels can be formed by the electroactive nanomembrane within corresponding nanowells. The electroactive nanomembrane is capable of controllably altering a dimension, a composition, and/or a variety of properties in response to electrical stimuli. Various embodiments also include devices/systems and methods for using the nanomembrane-containing devices for molecular separation, purification, sensing, etc.
US08968544B2	Apparatus and method for removal of ions An apparatus to remove ions, the apparatus having a housing including an inlet to let water in an interior of the housing, an outlet to let water out of the interior of the housing, a first electrode having a current collector, a second electrode, and a spacer to separate the first and second electrodes and to allow water to flow between the first and second electrodes. The apparatus also has a connector to connect the first electrode, or the second electrode, or both first and second electrodes, with an electrical source. The connector may have two connector parts to clamp the current collector in between the connector parts, the connector constructed and arranged to avoid water-metal contact.
US08968541B2	Rapid electrophoresis binding method and related kits and compositions An improved staining method is described for staining a biopolymer such as a peptide, a protein, an RNA, a DNA, an oligosaccharide or a complex containing a peptide, a protein, an RNA, a DNA, or an oligosaccharide in a matrix. The method includes the step of moving a staining reagent into the matrix using an electric force. The staining time can be dramatically reduced relative to conventional technologies. The improved staining method can particularly be used, for example, to stain proteins after gel separation. Other related methods and related kits are also described.
US08968540B2	Trans-base tunnel reader for sequencing A device for reading the sequence of a polymer, consisting of a first electrode and a second electrode, each electrode being functionalized with a reader molecule strongly bonded to the electrodes, but forming weak bonds with a molecule to be sequenced. In particular, the reader molecule is designed to form bonds with at least two points on the target molecule such that the target molecule is trapped between a first reader molecule on one electrode and a second reader molecule on the second electrode, with the overall size of the molecular complex being small enough to permit significant electric current to flow.
US08968538B2	Sputtering device and sputtering method A magnetic film having excellent uniformity in in-plane distribution of film thickness or sheet resistance is formed when the film is formed by forming a magnetic field on a processing surface of a substrate (21) and performing oblique incidence sputtering by using high discharge power.A sputtering apparatus (1) is provided with a substrate holder (22) for holding rotatably the substrate (21) in the surface direction of the processing surface of the substrate; a substrate magnetic field forming device (30) which is disposed to surround the substrate (21) and forms a magnetic field on the processing surface of the substrate (21); cathodes (41) which are arranged diagonally above the substrate (21) and are supplied with electric discharge power; a position detecting device (23) for detecting a rotation position of the substrate (21); and a control device (50) which adjusts the rotation speed of the substrate (21) in accordance with the rotation position detected by the position detecting device (23).
US08968535B2	Ion beam source This invention relates an ion beam source (10) for use with a non-electrical conducting target (14) including a grid (13) for extracting ions and a power supply for supplying pass power to the grid (13) to extract the ions.
US08968530B2	Electrolytic treatment method and electrolytic treatment device An electrolytic treatment method and electrolytic treatment device are provided for electrolytic treatment of an aluminum web W by applying an alternating current to an upstream electrode and a downstream electrode disposed along a conveying direction a. At least one of a conveying velocity v of the aluminum web W, a frequency f of alternating current applied at the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode, and/or a web conveying direction separation distance d2 between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode are set such that the alternating current and voltage waveform applied to the aluminum web W at the far end of the upstream electrode and the alternating current and voltage waveform applied to the aluminum web W at the near end of the downstream electrode do not reinforce each other.
US08968527B2	Micro-fluid ejection devices, methods for making micro-fluid ejection heads, and micro-fluid ejection head having high resistance thin film heaters Micro-fluid ejection devices, methods for making micro-fluid ejection heads, and micro-fluid ejection heads, including a micro-fluid ejection head. One such micro-fluid ejection head has relatively high resistance thin film heaters adjacent to a substrate. The thin film material comprises silicon, metal, and carbon (SiMC wherein M is a metal). Each thin film heater has a sheet resistance ranging from about 100 to about 600 ohms per square and a thickness ranging from about 100 to about 800 Angstroms.
US08968522B2	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 noncondensable 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 returned to the first distillation column as reflux. A bottom stream from the first distillation column is refined in a second distillation column to obtain a second overhead stream and a second bottoms stream. 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.
US08968521B2	Trihalosilane refining method A trihalosilane refining device and a trihalosilane refining method are provided. The trihalosilane refining device can be useful in obtaining high-purity trihalosilane from a feed containing a trihalosilane while consuming a small amount of energy.
US08968517B2	Soft through air dried tissue A multi-layer through air dried tissue including an interior layer having an ionic surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant, introduced as wet end additives.
US08968512B2	Temperature adjusting mechanism and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus using temperature adjusting mechanism Provided is a temperature adjusting mechanism, which can keep deviation of a temperature of a portion in contact with the temperature adjusting mechanism to be small by controlling the temperature accurately at a high speed. A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus using such temperature adjusting mechanism is also provided. A cooling jacket (6) is provided with a cooling channel (61), and a heat lane (62). The heat lane (62) is provided with a heat receiving section (63), and a heat dissipating section (64), and seals a two-phase condensable working fluid (hereinafter referred to as the working liquid) in an annular narrow tube alternately folds back and forth therebetween. The heat dissipating section (64) is a portion to be cooled by the cooling channel (61), and the heat receiving section (63) is a portion having a temperature higher than that of the heat dissipating section (64). In the heat receiving section (63), heat is received, the working liquid is self-excited by nucleate boiling, and the working liquid transfers sensible heat while being circulated. Furthermore, in the heat receiving section (63), a liquid phase absorbs heat and the phase is transformed into a vapor phase, and in the heat dissipating section (64), a vapor phase dissipates heat and is cooled and condensed, the phase is transformed into a liquid phase, and latent heat is transferred by vapor-liquid phase transformation. Heat is transferred between the heat receiving section (63) and the heat dissipating section (64), and the temperature is uniformized in a short time.
US08968510B2	Method of producing a transponder and a transponder In a method of producing a transponder, a substrate is provided. The substrate comprises a first area, a second area adjacent to the first area, and a first electric contact adjacent to the second area. An electric device is placed in or on the first area, preferably without touching the first electric contact. Subsequently, a conductive glue is applied on the second area and on the first electric contact so that the conductive glue electrically couples the first electric contact with the electric device.
US08968509B2	Methods and devices for printing seals for fuel cell stacks Various embodiments include a fuel cell stack seal application method including the step of applying a seal paste to a fuel cell, placing the fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, and thermally treating the fuel cell stack to set the seal paste into a seal. Further embodiments include applying the seal paste to an interconnect using stencil printing.
US08968506B2	Method for making touch panel This disclosure is related to a method for making a touch panel. The method includes following steps. A substrate having a surface is provided, wherein the surface defining a touch-view area and a trace area. A first mask layer is supplied to cover the trace area. An adhesive layer is applied on the touch-view area. A carbon nanotube film is placed on the adhesive layer and the first mask layer. The adhesive layer is solidified. The first mask layer and part of the carbon nanotube film on the trace area are removed to expose the trace area. An electrode and a conductive trace are formed on the trace area.
US08968505B2	Letterpress application of elastomeric compositions A process of manufacturing a stretch composite is disclosed. The process comprises providing a polyolefin based substrate, providing a letterpress adhesive application system comprising a pattern roll and an applicator roll, and depositing a molten, non-adhesive, elastomeric composition onto the applicator roll. The process further comprises transferring only a portion of the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, from the applicator roll to the pattern roll, by contacting the pattern roll with the elastomeric composition that is on the applicator roll, and transferring substantially all of the elastomeric composition from the pattern roll to the substrate, by contacting the substrate with the elastomeric composition that is on the pattern roll, without damaging the substrate.
US08968504B2	Method for manufacturing laminated film and laminated film A method for manufacturing a laminated film according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing a laminated film constituted by laminating a first film and a second film. The method includes a lamination step of pasting together the first film and the second film in a state where the first film is stretched to be longer than a natural length thereof in a predetermined direction.
US08968499B2	Optical sheet laminating method, optical sheet laminating device and program used therewith, and display device To provide a laminating method which achieve high accuracy and high quality in a laminating step of an optical sheet and a display panel. Contact areas between the optical sheet and the sheet holding head are read. At this time, an optical element face of the optical sheet is brought into contact with the sheet holding head, light is irradiated to the contact areas therebetween from a no-optical-element face, and positional information of the optical sheet is read based on the distribution of the reflected light thereof.
US08968498B2	Crystal-oscillator fabricating apparatus and method A method of fabricating a crystal oscillator includes applying an adhesive to an electrode pad; determining whether the applied adhesive is in an area outside of the electrode pad; removing at least part of the adhesive in the area outside of the electrode pad using a laser beam when a portion of the applied adhesive is determined to be in the area outside of the electrode pad; and disposing an electrode of a crystal resonator on the adhesive applied to the electrode pad.
US08968495B2	Methods of thermo-mechanically processing tool steel and tools made from thermo-mechanically processed tool steels A method of thermo-mechanically processing a preform composed of tool steel and a tool to modify a workpiece. The preform has a region containing austenite. The method comprises establishing the region at a process temperature between a martensitic start temperature and a stable austenitic temperature. While at the process temperature, the region is deformed to change an outer dimension and to modify the microstructure to a depth of 1 millimeter or more. The tool comprises a member composed of tool steel. The member includes a first region that extends from the outer surface to a depth of greater than 1 millimeter and a second region. The first region includes a plurality of grains having an average misorientation angle greater than about 34°, an average grain size that is at least 10% smaller than the second region, and has a different grain orientation than the second region.
US08968492B2	Lead-free free-machining brass having improved castability There is provided a brass free from lead (Pb) and possessing excellent machinability, castability, mechanical properties and other properties. A brass consisting of not less than 55% by weight and not more than 75% by weight of copper (Cu), not less than 0.3% by weight and not more than 4.0% by weight of bismuth (Bi), and y % by weight of boron (B) and x % by weight of silicon (Si), y and x satisfying the following requirements: 0≦x≦2.0, 0≦y≦0.3, and y>−0.15x+0.015ab, wherein a is 0.2 when Bi is 0.3% by weight ≦Bi<0.75% by weight; 0.85 when Bi is 0.75% by weight ≦Bi<1.5% by weight; and 1 when Bi is 1.5% by weight ≦Bi≦4.0% by weight, b is 1 when the apparent content of zinc (Zn) is not less than 37% and less than 41%; and 0.75 when the apparent content of Zn is not less than 41% and not more than 45%, the balance consisting of Zn and unavoidable impurities, is excellent in castability, as well as, for example, in machinability and mechanical properties.
US08968490B2	Ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon with reduced surface protrusions, method of casting and application thereof A ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon includes an alloy having a composition represented by 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 incidental impurities, the ribbon being cast from a molten state of the alloy with a molten alloy surface tension of greater than or equal to 1.1 N/m on a chill body surface; the ribbon having a ribbon length, a ribbon thickness, and a ribbon surface facing the chill body surface; the ribbon having ribbon surface protrusions being formed on the ribbon surface facing the chill body surface; the ribbon surface protrusions being measured in terms of a protrusion height and a number of protrusions; the protrusion height exceeding 3 μm and less than four times the ribbon thickness, and the number of protrusions being less than 10 within 1.5 m of the cast ribbon length; and the alloy ribbon in its annealed straight strip form having a saturation magnetic induction exceeding 1.60 T and exhibiting a magnetic core loss of less than 0.14 W/kg when measured at 60 Hz and at 1.3 T induction level in its annealed straight strip form. The ribbon is suitable for transformer cores, rotational machines, electrical chokes, magnetic sensors, and pulse power devices.
US08968485B2	Apparatus and methods for processing a substrate An apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising: a process chamber having a track; a carrier connected to the track; upper and lower proximity heads in the chamber and positioned along the path, the proximity heads having opposing faces that define a gap in which a meniscus of fluid is formed, the path being defined along the gap between the opposing faces; a first pre-wet dispenser and a second pre-wet dispenser disposed along side of the upper proximity head and directed toward the path; a drive for moving each of the pre-wet dispensers between a center position along the length of the upper proximity head and opposite outer positions near outer ends of the upper proximity head; and a pre-wet controller for causing the drive to move each of the first and second pre-wet dispensers based on a position of the carrier when moved under the first and second pre-wet dispensers.
US08968482B2	Method for hand washing dishes having long lasting suds The need for a method for hand washing dishes by direct application of an easily pourable liquid detergent composition, that delivers great grease cleaning with an excellent sudsing profile, is met by a liquid hand dishwashing detergent composition comprising small amounts of a branched alkoxylated nonionic surfactant.
US08968481B2	Pig receiver An apparatus for receiving a pig (12) comprising: a receiver housing (2) arranged to enable connection to a pipeline; a pig retention mechanism (4) mounted within said receiver housing (2), said pig retention mechanism (4) arranged such that it is operable to retain the pig (12) within the housing (2); a first sealing member (6) operable to seal the portion of the receiver housing (2) through which the pig (12) can be removed from the apparatus; a second sealing member (5) operable to seal the portion of the housing (2) that connects said receiver (1) to the pipeline; a fluid inlet (7); and a fluidization and transportation device (8) arranged to receive the fluidized debris, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that, in use, pressurized fluid is introduced into the enclosed interior of the housing (2) via the fluid inlet in order to fluidize debris which is then removed from the receiver housing (2) via the fluidization and transportation device (8).
US08968471B2	Apparatus for manufacturing silicon substrate for solar cell using continuous casting and having contacting solidification and stress relieving regions The present disclosure provides an apparatus for manufacturing a silicon substrate for solar cells using continuous casting, which can improve quality, productivity and energy conversion efficiency of the silicon substrate. The apparatus includes a crucible unit configured to receive raw silicon and having a discharge port, a heating unit provided to an outer wall and an external bottom surface of the crucible unit and heating the crucible unit to form molten silicon, a casting unit casting the molten silicon into a silicon substrate, a cooling unit rapidly cooling the silicon substrate, and a transfer unit disposed at one end of the cooling unit and transferring the silicon substrate. The casting unit includes a casting unit body having a casting space defined therein to be horizontally connected to the discharge port, and an assistant heating mechanism that preheats the casting unit body to control a solidification temperature of the silicon substrate.
US08968470B2	Graphite crucible for silicon electromagnetic induction heating and apparatus for silicon melting and refining using the graphite crucible Disclosed herein are a graphite crucible for electromagnetic induction-based silicon melting and an apparatus for silicon melting/refining using the same, which performs a melting operation by a combination of indirect melting and direct melting. The crucible is formed of a graphite material and includes a cylindrical body having an open upper part through which a silicon raw material is charged into the crucible, and an outer wall surrounded by an induction coil, wherein a plurality of slits are vertically formed through the outer wall and an inner wall of the crucible such that an electromagnetic force created by an electric current flowing in the induction coil acts toward an inner center of the crucible to prevent a silicon melt from contacting the inner wall of the crucible.
US08968468B2	Method of controlling single crystal diameter When pulling and growing a single crystal from a raw material melt by the Czochralski method, a boundary between the single crystal and the raw material melt is imaged by an optical sensor, and also the weight of the single crystal is measured by a weight sensor, a diameter value of the single crystal is calculated on the basis of first measured values of the diameter of the single crystal derived from image data captured by the optical sensor and second measured values of the diameter of the single crystal derived from weight data captured by the weight sensor, and a pulling rate of the single crystal and the temperature of the raw material melt are adjusted on the basis of the calculated diameter value to thereby control the diameter of the single crystal, and thus it is possible to accurately measure the diameter of a growing single crystal.
US08968466B2	Sizing and rheology agents for gypsum stucco systems for water resistant panel production Emulsions, and processes for making the emulsions, useful for imparting water resistance to gypsum products are disclosed. Process for making the emulsion and gypsum products made from the emulsion are also disclosed. The emulsions of the invention include at least one paraffin wax and a hydrophilic metallic salt. The emulsions of the invention may further include a saponifiable wax substitute for montan wax. The emulsions of the invention may further include a biocide.
US08968465B2	Bone graft substitute composition A composition includes calcium sulfate hemihydrate, stearic acid, an accelerant, and a mixing solution. The composition can be injected, e.g., through a needle, and is capable of setting, e.g., in vivo, in a relatively short period of time to a relatively high hardness.
US08968464B2	Plastic refractory material and refractory mortar A plastic refractory material or a refractory mortar which harden when dried and which contain at least one light-weight filler, a binder, fibers and/or wollastonite as well as water is characterized in that blown closed-cell volcanic ash is used as the light-weight filler, the ash being provided with a superficial water-protection layer, in that an inorganic-organic hybrid binder is used as the binder, the binder containing silicic acid and an organic polymer, and in that the material or the mortar contains kaolin or kaolinite and silicon dioxide.It is suggested to publish the abstract without a drawing.
US08968462B2	Inorganic pigment dispersions containing fatty acid ethanol amide ethoxylates and amines The subject matter of the invention relates to aqueous pigment preparations containing (A) 30 to 75% by weight of at least one inorganic white or colored pigment or a mixture of different inorganic white or colored pigments, (B) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one fatty acid ethanol amide ethoxylate of the formula (I), in which R1 is a linear or branched alkyl radical or alkenyl radical with 7 to 21 carbon atoms, and n is a whole number from 2 to 40, (C) 0.01 to 5% by weight of at least one amine of the formula (II), in which R2 is a linear or branched alkyl radical or alkenyl radical with 8 to 22 carbon atoms, identical to or different from R1, A represents an iminopropyl group —NH—CH2—CH2—CH2—, an oxyethyl group —O—CH2—CH2— or an oxypropyl group —O—CH2—CH(CH3)—CH2—, and a is a whole number from 0 to 5, wherein the compound of the formula (II); can be present in the form of an ammonium salt, and (E) water.
US08968461B1	Concrete mix for electromagnetic wave/pulse shielding Conductive concrete mixtures are described that are configured to provide EMP shielding and reflect and/or absorb, for instance, EM waves propagating through the conductive concrete mixture. The conductive concrete mixtures include cement, aggregate, water, metallic conductive material, and conductive carbon particles and/or magnetic material. The conductive material may include steel fibers, and the magnetic material may include taconite aggregate. The conductive concrete mixture may also include graphite powder, silica fume, and/or other supplementary cementitious materials (SCM). The conductive carbon particles may comprise from about zero to twenty-five percent (0-25%) of the conductive concrete mixture by weight and/or the magnetic material may comprise from about zero to fifty percent (0-50%) of the conductive concrete mixture by weight.
US08968460B2	Composite oxide black pigment and method for producing same To provide a Cu—Mn—Fe-based complex inorganic oxide black pigment having a more vivid bluish hue than a Cu—Mn—Fe-based complex inorganic oxide black pigment obtained by a conventional wet method. A Cu—Mn—Fe-based complex inorganic oxide black pigment having a more vivid bluish hue is disclosed. The complex inorganic oxide black pigment has a spinel structure composed of oxides of copper, manganese and iron as main constituent metals, the molar ratio of copper/manganese/iron is in a range of 3 to 8/5 to 10/1, at least one divalent metal element other than the main constituent metals has been introduced, and the molar ratio of (copper+the divalent metal element)/(manganese+iron) is in a range of 1 to 1.6/2. A production process of the black pigment is also disclosed.
US08968459B1	Self-healing superhydrophobic coating composition and method of preparation A durable superhydrophobic coating, which coating has the ability to self-heal, similar to the regeneration function observed in biological systems. The coating composition comprises the reaction products of at least one fluorine-containing silane compound (A), at least one hydrolysable compound (B), at least one polysiloxane compound (C), at least one relatively large-sized ceramic particle (I), at least one nano-sized ceramic particle (II) and at least one solvent.
US08968457B2	Cationic minimal tracking asphalt emulsion The cationic asphalt material of the present invention has minimal tracking, fast drying bonding to material and allows for quick turn around in road construction. It has been designed as a joint sealer that can be used successfully as a tack coat or fog seal. The fast drying bonding material allows plant mix asphalt to be put clown in minutes from initial application.
US08968453B2	Anthrapyridone sulfonic acid compounds and their preparation methods and applications The present invention relates to a class of compounds of general formula (I) or their salts of general formula (II): In formula (I)-(II), the substituents (A)p and (SO3H)n on the benzene ring are at the ortho, meta or para position, n is 0-2, and p is 0-3; M is selected from Li+, Na+, K+, NH4+ or organic ammonium salt N+R1R2R3R4, where R1, R2, R3, R4 are the same or different H, C1-18 alkyl groups, cyclohexyl groups, CH2CH2OH, CH(CH3)CH2OH or benzyl groups; where p>0, A stands for the same or different groups selected from: H, CN, NO2, NH2, F, Cl, Br, C1-18 alkyl group, cyclohexyl group, phenyl group, benzyl group, phenoxy group, C1-18 alkoxy group, C1-18 alkylthio group, SO2CH═CH2, SO2CH2CH2A1, NR6COR5 or NR6SO2R5.
US08968452B2	Phase change inks containing crystalline trans-cinnamic diesters and amorphous isosorbide oligomers Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising: (a) a crystalline trans-cinnamic diester; and (b) an amorphous oligomer of isosorbide and a diacid.
US08968447B2	Separation membrane, method of manufacture thereof, and apparatus including the separation membrane A separation membrane including an alloy including a Group 5 element and Ir, wherein the alloy includes a body centered cubic crystal structure.
US08968441B2	Method and system for producing pig iron or fluid steel pre-products A method and a plant for the production of pig iron or liquid steel semi-finished products are shown, metal oxide-containing batch materials and, if appropriate, aggregates being at least partially reduced in a reduction zone by a reduction gas, subsequently being introduced into a smelting zone and being smelted along with the supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas and along with the formation of the reduction gas. The reduction gas formed in the smelting zone is supplied to the reduction zone, reacted there and drawn off as export gas, CO2 is separated from the export gas, and a product gas is formed which is utilized for the introduction of pulverulent carbon carriers into the smelting zone.
US08968437B2	Jet engine with deflector An air inlet deflector for a structure having an air inlet. The deflector may be retractable within the structure, may be integrally formed with the structure, and may prevent the structure from ingesting foreign matter, such as birds. The deflector may include a series of ribs, spokes, or vanes that may vary in width and/or thickness from fore to aft, and/or may be curvilinear in one or more planes of view, and/or may serve double duty as inlet vanes for redirecting inlet air.
US08968435B2	Abrasive products and methods for fine polishing of ophthalmic lenses A coated abrasive product including green, unfired abrasive aggregates having a generally spheroidal or toroidal shape, the aggregates formed from a composition comprising abrasive grit particles and a nanoparticle binder, wherein the abrasive aggregates are dispersed within a polymer resin coating, and wherein the coated abrasive product is capable of polishing an optical component, including ophthalmic lenses without the need to apply an abrasive slurry.
US08968433B2	Gasifier having integrated fuel cell power generation system A direct carbonaceous material to power generation system integrates one or more solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) into a fluidized bed gasifier. The fuel cell anode is in direct contact with bed material so that the H2 and CO generated in the bed are oxidized to H2O and CO2 to create a push-pull or source-sink reaction environment. The SOFC is exothermic and supplies heat within a reaction chamber of the gasifier where the fluidized bed conducts an endothermic reaction. The products from the anode are the reactants for the reformer and vice versa. A lower bed in the reaction chamber may comprise engineered multi-function material which may incorporate one or more catalysts and reactant adsorbent sites to facilitate excellent heat and mass transfer and fluidization dynamics in fluidized beds. The catalyst is capable of cracking tars and reforming hydrocarbons.
US08968432B2	Rapid start fuel reforming systems and techniques An on-board fuel processor includes a microchannel steam reforming reactor (30) and a water vaporizer (40) heated in series with a combustion gas. The reformer (30) and the vaporizer (40) are both of a cross-flow panel configuration that allows for low combustion side pressure drop. Fuel is directly injected into the steam, and during a rapid cold start, both the combustion gas flow rate and the steam to carbon ratio are substantially increased relative to their steady state operating values. A rapid cold start can be achieved in under 30 seconds with a manageable amount of electric power consumption, removing impediments to use in automotive fuel cell applications.
US08968427B2	Blending fuels An additive composition for blending with fuel, the additive composition at least 3% w/w of a viscosity index (VI) improving polymer; and a solvent mixture including in the range of from 10 to 85% v/v of a middle distillate gas oil and at least 15% v/v of one or more components selected from aromatic hydrocarbons and oxygenates.
US08968410B2	Glenoid support for shoulder prosthesis A glenoid support for shoulder prostheses, able to be applied to the glenoid cavity of a shoulder blade. The glenoid support includes at least an attachment plate, an anchoring pin, and a glenoid articulation element. The attachment plate and the anchoring pin are made in distinct parts and able to be selectively separated from each other.
US08968408B2	Devices for treating the spine Method and apparatus are disclosed for distracting tissue and particularly spinal tissue. The device and method may include insertion of at least one elongated member and an augmenting member to form a structure between the tissues to be distraction, such that a dimensional aspect of the structure is augmented upon movement of the augmenting structure.
US08968406B2	Spinal implant having a post-operative adjustable dimension A spinal implant (40) including first spinal attachment member (44) for attaching to a first spinal portion (41), second spinal attachment member (46) for attaching to a second spinal portion (42), and a post-implantation variable dimension device disposed between the first and second spinal attachment members, which is operable after completing surgery in which said spinal implant was installed into a patient, to cause relative movement between the first and second spinal attachment members.
US08968405B2	Interbody fusion device and method of operation An interbody fusion device is provided that includes an interbody cage, a fixation system and an actuation mechanism to deploy one or more blades. The cage acts as an intervertebral spacer and provides resistance to the compressive loads in the spinal column. The fixation system includes an anchor and a ramp. These components could be manufactured from various medical grade materials.
US08968380B2	Deployment handle for an introducer A handle for an implant deployment device converts rotational movement into longitudinal movement in order to provide controlled release of one or more trigger wires. The handle also allows the trigger wire to be withdrawn into the device so that it does not need to be separately removed. A preferred handle includes a rotatable portion (120) and a slidable portion (122). Releasable locks (88, 188) ensure that the handle is used to carry out implant deployment steps in a specific order.
US08968375B2	Method for patterned plasma-mediated modification of the crystalline lens A method of treating a lens of a patient's eye includes generating a light beam, deflecting the light beam using a scanner to form a treatment pattern of the light beam, delivering the treatment pattern to the lens of a patient's eye to create a plurality of cuts in the lens in the form of the treatment pattern to break the lens up into a plurality of pieces, and removing the lens pieces from the patient's eye. The lens pieces can then be mechanically removed. The light beam can be used to create larger segmenting cuts into the lens, as well as smaller softening cuts that soften the lens for easier removal.
US08968372B2	Bone screw A bone screw is created, with a thread section (1) with a tip (6) at a first end and a head (8) for engaging with a screwdriver at the opposite second end, which serves as traction element to connect shattered or split off parts of bones to one another. So that fusion of the screw with the bones can take place, the thread section (1) is constructed as tubular and its wall has a plurality of recesses.
US08968371B2	Proximal humerus fracture repair plate and system Devices and systems for repairing bone fractures and more specifically a fracture repair plate that provides for fixation of a metaphysis to the diaphysis of a long bone, for instance a fracture between the proximal humerus and the diaphysis of the humerus. The fracture repair system includes an implantable repair fracture repair plate and a bone anchor for fixing the fracture repair plate to a bone. In one embodiment, the fracture repair plate may also be adapted to serve as an anchor for a suture. The fracture repair system may also include a fracture reduction mechanism attachable to the fracture repair plate for imparting a controlled translational movement between two bone segments along a plane that lies substantially parallel to the surface of the bone to which the fracture repair plate is attached and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bone shaft.
US08968368B2	Plate and screws for treatment of bone fractures A plate for treatment of bone fractures with reduced potential contact to bone through a combination of annular recesses surrounding the screw holes at the lower, bone facing surface of the plate and transverse grooves between the holes, allows for use of locking as well as conventional bone screws. With the transverse grooves cut into the plate from the lower side, as well as from the sides, the strength of the plate at the span between the holes is lower than at the screw holes. The plate can be bent in both planes without undue deformation of the screw holes. Protection of the holes during bending is afforded by hole plugs, which may be provided pre-installed in order to reduce surgery time. Screw hole plugs may then be left in place in the holes not used for bone screws.
US08968367B2	Compression-distraction spinal fixation system and kit Compression-distraction spinal fixation systems, and methods of performing compression-distraction spinal fixation, are provided that include screw-rod constructs having a ratcheting mechanism. Bone screws of the screw-rod constructs can have a pawl that engages ratchet teeth on the rod of the screw-rod construct. The bone screw can be unidirectionally ratcheted along the length of the rod to apply compressive or distractive forces. Tools for manipulation of the screw-rod constructs are also provided, which tools include distal tips configured to engage the bone screws.
US08968366B2	Method and apparatus for flexible fixation of a spine A flexible connection unit for spinal stabilization, including: a first end portion having a first longitudinal channel and configured to be coupled to a first securing member secured to a patient's spine; a second end portion having a second longitudinal channel and configured to be coupled to a second securing member secured to the patient's spine; and a flexible wire extending through at least a portion of the first and second longitudinal channels and flexibly linking the first and second end portions.
US08968363B2	Tissue retractor and methods of use Methods and devices for retracting tissue in a surgical procedure to allow access to the surgical site. Retractor systems and methods that comprise a retractor frame comprising rotatable arms and a linearly translatable arm, the rotatable arms and the linearly translatable arm each coupled to blades that can angulate. Systems for securing a retractor system to a patient's spine, the systems comprising a retractor blade and a shim device.
US08968359B2	Surgical forceps A forceps includes a housing, a shaft, and an end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members. At least one of the jaw members is moveable with respect to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. A cutting member having a plurality of cutting edges symmetrically-disposed about a longitudinal axis thereof is disposed within the shaft and is longitudinally translatable between a retracted position and an extended position. The cutting member extends between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween when in the extended position. The cutting member is fixedly-oriented with respect to the shaft and is configured for translation between the jaw members to cut tissue therebetween when the jaw members are rotated with respect to the shaft between about zero degrees and about 180 degrees in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
US08968358B2	Blunt tissue dissection surgical instrument jaw designs A forceps for use in surgery for dissecting tissue includes a pair of jaw members movable from an open position in spaced relation relative to one another to a closed position. The jaw members each have an outer housing extending along the length thereof to a distal end of the jaw members. The outer housing of one of the jaw members includes a textured surface at a distal end configured to interface with and dissect tissue during the movement of the jaw members from the closed to open positions. A dissecting tip may be selectively extendable from a channel defined in one of the jaw members to engage and separate tissue when in the extended position.
US08968352B2	Expandable body cavity liner device The present invention is a method for treating aneurysms of various shapes and sizes.
US08968347B2	Dual-mode illumination for surgical instrument An illuminated surgical instrument is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention comprises an illuminated vitrectomy probe. The vitrectomy probe has a cutting port disposed at a distal end of a cannula. An array of optical fibers terminates near the cutting port. The array of optical fibers is located adjacent to the cannula and encircling the cannula. The array of optical fibers can comprise two sets of fibers, one for providing illumination in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the vitrectomy probe and another for providing illumination in a direction at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the vitrectomy probe. The light source providing light to each set of fibers can be independently controlled so as to provide illumination cooperatively or singly.
US08968343B2	Puncturing needle assisting tool A puncturing needle assisting tool. A first rotating portion 122 rotates from an open to a closed position, around a first hinge connecting portion 126 as the rotating center, to the surface side of an assisting tool main unit 112 to close the surface opening of a first guide groove 116a. A second rotating portion 124 rotates from an open position to a closed position, around a second hinge connecting portion 128 as the rotating center, to the surface side of an assisting tool main unit 112 to close the surface openings of second guide grooves 116b through 116d. The puncturing needles move along the guide grooves to puncture into the body in a proper state, without shifting. Locking protrusions 134, 130 maintain the closed positions of the first and second rotating portions 122, 124 respectively.
US08968339B2	Suturing device with deployable needle A surgical apparatus for use in endoscopic and/or laparoscopic procedures is provided. The surgical apparatus has an elongated body portion, a first jaw member extending from the body portion, and a second jaw member extending from the body portion and opposing the first jaw member. The second jaw member has a split nest slide coupled thereto that is configured to position a surgical incision member in a folded or unfolded position.
US08968334B2	Apparatus for delivering and anchoring implantable medical devices An apparatus includes an elongate member having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The elongate member defines a longitudinal axis. The distal end portion of the elongate member defines a notch having a face defining an axis. The axis of the face and the longitudinal axis define an acute angle with respect to a first direction along the longitudinal axis. The notch is configured to retain a loop of a suture when the elongate member is moved through a tissue of a patient in the first direction along the longitudinal axis. The notch is configured to release the loop of the suture when the elongate member is moved through the tissue of the patient in a second direction different than the first direction. The suture has at least one tissue anchor configured to be disposed within the tissue of the patient.
US08968333B2	Support assembly for robotic catheter system A support assembly for supporting a remotely-controlled instrument driver, including a first member, a second member for supporting the instrument driver, and an interface assembly for allowing the second member to rotate relative to the first member about a first axis, and for allowing the second member to rotate relative to the first member about a second axis that forms an angle relative to the first axis, wherein the interface assembly comprises a ball that is rotatable relative to the first member, and a shaft extending through the ball, the shaft configured for coupling to the second member.
US08968328B2	Instrument for inserting intraocular lens An intraocular lens insertion instrument capable of smoothly pushing out a preset lens is provided. An intraocular lens insertion instrument (1) comprises: a main body (3) including a lens setting section (8) on which a lens (2) is set, a transition section (22) that deforms the lens (2), and a nozzle piece (21) that releases the lens (2); and a lens push-out mechanism (4) that pushes out the lens (2) set on the lens setting section (8). The instrument (1) further includes a releasing means (11) for releasing the lens (2) pushed by the lens push-out mechanism (4) from the lens setting section (8). The releasing means (11) has a posture holding mount (12) that holds the lens (2) with a forward tilt relative to an axial line (A) of lens movement. The posture holding mount (12) has a passage (15) through which the lens push-out mechanism (4) passes.
US08968325B2	Anterior spinal interbody fusion delivery system A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a base having a tray, a first member and a second member. A first and second top arm are coupled near the proximal end of the base. At least one bottom finger is coupled to the distal end of the first member and at least one top finger is coupled to the distal end of the first top arm. At least a first lifting arm is located between the first member and the first top arm, said lifting arm comprising a cam for engaging the first top arm. Rotation of an adjustment member positioned near the proximal end of the first member engages at least one lifting arm. As the lifting arm moves towards the distal end of the first member, the cam engages and lifts the first top arm, displacing the first top finger to a separation distance from the bottom finger.
US08968324B2	Adjustable jig and method for targeting interlocking holes of an intramedullary nail A targeting jig apparatus for targeting interlocking holes of an intramedullary nail. The targeting jig includes a support-arm extending substantially parallel to the intramedullary nail. A targeting mechanism including a pair of targeting mechanism drill-guide orifices is adjustably disposed on the support arm for aligning the targeting mechanism drill-guide orifice with the interlocking holes of the intramedullary nail. The targeting mechanism includes a saddle having a U-shape including a base and parallel legs that are slidable along the support-arm. A connection mechanism includes a horizontal slot on the support-arm aligned with a vertical slot on the targeting mechanism and a pivot screw extending through the slots for facilitating adjustment of the targeting mechanism relative to the support arm.
US08968323B2	Bone graft injection syringe A syringe that has a barrel with curvature is provided. The curvature enables a greater volume of bone graft materials to be housed than in a straight syringe without increasing the absolute distance from the handle of the plunger to dispensing end of the syringe. Additionally by maintaining a constant diameter, the barrel permits bone graft material to be dispersed with reduced likelihood of clogging.
US08968320B2	System and method for manufacturing arthroplasty jigs Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines.
US08968312B2	Surgical device with powered articulation wrist rotation A surgical instrument for treating tissue, the instrument including a housing and a shaft with an articulating portion and an end effector. The surgical instrument including a first casing connected to and rotatable with the proximal end of said shaft with an internal frame housed within the first casing and a plurality of posts supported by the internal frame and connected on their distal ends to at least one drive wire, and connected on their proximal ends to a threaded shaft; and a second casing connected to the first casing and rotatable therewith, said second casing housing the threaded shafts. The surgical instrument includes a first electric motor driving a first gear interfacing with the threaded shafts such that a first pair of the plurality of threaded shafts rotate in the same direction and cause the articulating portion to articulate in a first plane.
US08968311B2	Surgical instrument with stamped double-flag jaws and actuation mechanism A surgical instrument includes a housing that supports an elongated shaft. A selectively movable drive rod extends through the elongated shaft and carries a cam pin in a longitudinal direction. An end effector for surgically treating tissue is supported by the elongated shaft and includes upper and lower jaw members pivotally coupled to one another about a pivot axis. The upper jaw member includes a first pair of laterally spaced flanges, and the lower jaw member includes a second pair of laterally spaced flanges defining a camming slot for engaging the cam pin. The flanges are arranged in an offset configuration where one flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally exterior side of a corresponding flange of the lower jaw member, and the other flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally interior side of the other flange of the lower jaw member.
US08968310B2	Electrosurgical instrument with a knife blade lockout mechanism An electrosurgical forceps is provided with a shaft that extends from a housing of the electrosurgical forceps. An end effector assembly operably coupled to the shaft includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable from an open configuration, to a clamping configuration. A knife blade assembly includes a knife blade translatable within the first and second jaw members. A knife blade lockout mechanism is in operative communication with the knife blade assembly and includes an elongated cam slot with a cam pin translatable therein from a distal end of the elongated cam slot corresponding to the knife blade lockout mechanism engaged with the knife blade assembly, to a proximal position corresponding to the knife blade lockout mechanism disengaged from the knife blade assembly.
US08968309B2	Surgical forceps An end effector of a forceps includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions for grasping tissue. Each jaw member includes a tissue sealing plate that is selectively energizable. The tissue sealing plates are configured to conduct energy therebetween and though tissue to seal tissue. A knife includes a distal surface and an upper surface. The knife is selectively translatable between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the knife extends between the jaw members. The distal surface is configured for dynamic tissue cutting upon translation of the knife from the retracted to the extended position. The upper surface is configured for static tissue cutting with the knife in the extended position. The knife is selectively energizable and is configured to conduct energy between the knife and one or both of the tissue sealing plates and through tissue to electrically cut tissue.
US08968306B2	Surgical forceps A forceps includes a disposable shaft and a reusable shaft. The shafts each including a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. The shafts are releasably coupled to one another about a pivot and are moveable relative to one another for moving the jaw members between an open position and a closed position. The disposable shaft includes a first tissue sealing plate disposed thereon and an electrical, connector coupled thereto that includes a plurality of wires extending therethrough and into the disposable shaft member. One or more wires is coupled to the first tissue sealing plate and one or more wires is coupled to a second tissue sealing plate that is configured for releasable engagement with the jaw member of the reusable shaft member. The tissue sealing plates are adapted to conduct energy through tissue for sealing tissue grasped between the jaw members.
US08968302B2	Methods, apparatus, and systems for tissue dissection and modification Methods, apparatus and systems for tissue dissection and modification are disclosed herein. A method for tissue dissection and modification may comprise inserting a tissue dissecting and modifying wand (TDM) through an incision in a patient's body. The TDM may comprise a tip having a plurality of protrusions with lysing segments positioned between the protrusions to dissect and/or modify tissue. The TDM may also comprise an energy window positioned on top of the TDM that is configured to deliver energy to modify tissues. After separating tissue using the lysing segment(s) to define a target region, the energy window may be activated and moved around within the target region to modify tissues. In some implementations, the energy window may be activated prior to and/or during dissection of the tissue such that the tissue is separated while tissue is modified within the target region.
US08968297B2	Microwave and RF ablation system and related method for dynamic impedance matching An electrosurgical system and method for performing electrosurgery is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument, such as an electrosurgical antenna, knife, forceps, suction coagulator, or vessel sealer. The disclosed system includes an impedance sensor, a controller, dynamic impedance matching network, and an electrosurgical energy generator. The dynamic impedance matching network includes a PIN diode switching array configured to selectively activate a plurality of reactive elements. The disclosed arrangement of reactive elements provides real-time impedance correction over a wide range of impedance mismatch conditions.
US08968296B2	Energy-harvesting system, apparatus and methods An electrosurgical energy delivery apparatus includes an energy delivery circuit, a control circuit and an energy-harvesting system with a plurality of energy-harvesting circuits and a voltage regulator that provides a regulated DC voltage to the energy delivery circuit and/or the control circuit. The energy delivery circuit receives an electrosurgical energy signal having a primary frequency and selectively provides the electrosurgical energy signal to an energy delivery element. The control circuit connects to the energy delivery circuit and selectively enables the flow of electrosurgical energy to the energy delivery element. The plurality of energy-harvesting circuits each include an energy-harvesting antenna tuned to a particular frequency, a matched circuit configured to receive an RF signal from the energy-harvesting antenna, rectify the RF signal and generate a DC signal, and an energy storage device that connects to the voltage regulator to receive and store the DC signal.
US08968294B2	Single or limited use device designs The present disclosure is directed to an electrosurgical system. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator configured to output electrosurgical energy and including a receptacle having at least one mechanical interface. The system also includes an electrosurgical instrument adapted to connect to the electrosurgical generator and configured to deliver energy to tissue. Further, a plug is provided to engage the receptacle to electrically couple the electrosurgical instrument to the electrosurgical generator. The plug includes a terminal electrically coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and a prong electrically coupled to the terminal that includes a recess defined therein and is configured to receive the at least one mechanical interface. When the plug is disengaged from the receptacle, the at least one mechanical interface cooperates with the recess to uncouple the prong from the terminal.
US08968292B2	Leaky-wave antennas for medical applications A device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue includes an inner conductor having a length and an outer conductor coaxially surrounding the inner conductor along the length. The outer conductor has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion of the outer conductor is provided with a number of apertures N defined therein for radiating energy, where N is an integer greater than 1, each aperture having a size and extending at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor. At least one of the size and the angle of each aperture is varied in relation to the other apertures N−1 such that the energy radiated along the distal portion is substantially uniform.
US08968291B2	Dynamically matched microwave antenna for tissue ablation A microwave ablation probe for providing microwave energy to tissue is disclosed. The probe includes a feedline having an inner conductor, a secondary inner conductor, an insulating spacer, and an outer conductor. The inner conductor is slidably disposed within the secondary inner conductor. The feedline also includes a radiating portion having an extruded portion of the inner conductor centrally disposed therein, wherein longitudinal movement of the inner conductor relative to the feedline tunes the radiating portion.
US08968289B2	Microwave spacers and methods of use Disclosed is a spacer, configured to position microwave energy delivery devices, including a housing, with a housing body and a compression body, and at least one compression mechanism. The housing body forms a housing body cavity and a plurality of housing device apertures. The compression body forms a plurality of compression body apertures that each correspond to a housing device aperture. The compression body slideably engages the housing body cavity and at least a portion of the compression body is positioned within the compression body cavity. A compression mechanism is positioned between the housing body and the compression body and configured to provide a biasing force between the housing body and the compression body. In a first position the housing device apertures are misaligned with the compression body apertures and in the second position the housing apertures are aligned with the compression body apertures forming a plurality of aligned apertures.
US08968288B2	Ablation devices with dual operating frequencies, systems including same, and methods of adjusting ablation volume using same An ablation device includes a feedline including an inner conductor having a distal end, an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the inner conductor, and a dielectric material disposed therebetween, an elongated electrically-conductive member longitudinally disposed at the distal end of the inner conductor and having a proximal end, a first balun structure disposed over a first portion of the outer conductor and positioned so that a distal end of the first balun structure is located at a first distance from the proximal end of the electrically-conductive member and a second balun structure disposed over a second portion of the outer conductor and positioned so that a distal end of the second balun structure is located at a second distance from the proximal end of the electrically-conductive member.
US08968286B2	Nano discharges in liquids The present invention is direct to a nano-probe corona tool and uses thereof. A nano-probe corona tool is disclosed having a tip with a diameter in the nano-scale, typically around 100 nm. The nano-probe corona tool is constructed of electrically conductive material. On the other end of the tool, a pulsed voltage source outputs a pulsed voltage to generated a pulsed electrical potential at the tip. The pulsed electrical potential at the tip causes a plasma discharge corona to occur. Uses of the corona discharge include, but are not limited to, optical emission spectroscopy, in the enhancement of deposition of coatings and nanoscale welding, e.g., nanotube or nanowires to a contact pad and welding two nanowires together, and in nanoscale surgery. For example, a nano-probe comprising CNTs may be inserted into cell membranes. The resulting corona discharge may be used to destroy tumors within the cell.
US08968283B2	Ultrasound device for precise tissue sealing and blade-less cutting An electrosurgical instrument for sealing and cutting tissue is provided. The instrument includes a housing having a plurality of transducers included therein and a waveguide coupled to and extending from the housing. An end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the waveguide includes a pair of opposing jaw members, where at least one of the jaw members includes a transducer. The transducer is configured to receive an acoustic signal from the plurality of transducers in the housing.
US08968282B2	Plaque stabilisation using cryoenergy There is provided a method of supplying cryoenergy to a plaque within a blood vessel. The method comprises expanding an expandable membrane of a catheter apparatus with a pressure of less than 5 ATM (507 kPa), the catheter apparatus having been placed in thermal contact with the plaque within the blood vessel. The method also comprises establishing a temperature of between +15° C. (288K) and −35° C. (238K) at an interface of the expandable membrane and the blood vessel. A system and catheter apparatus are also provided.
US08968281B2	Handholdable laser device featuring sensor for eye safe activation A laser device for treating skin is provided which includes a handholdable housing; a laser member arranged within the housing emitting an output beam; a capacitance sensor arranged at the first end of the housing which includes a plate surrounding and defining a window through which the output beam exits, the plate having at least three segments with each flexibly movable in and out of a common plane, each of the segments being connected to an electrode, the electrodes operating to determine dielectric constants of a skin surface; a signal and control storage device communicating with the sensor comparing input signals of measured dielectric constant values to a stored standard dielectric constant value, and wherein emission of the output beam is activated to fire only when all of the at least three segments align in a plane and sense the stored standard dielectric constant value.
US08968276B2	Hand held surgical handle assembly, surgical adapters for use between surgical handle assembly and surgical end effectors, and methods of use Adapter assemblies are provided for selectively interconnecting a surgical end effector that is configured to perform at least a pair of functions and a surgical device that is configured to actuate the end effector, wherein the end effector includes a first axially translatable drive member and a second axially translatable drive member, and wherein the surgical device includes a first rotatable drive shaft and a second rotatable drive shaft.
US08968271B2	Connector for medical lines A connector for medical infusion lines, transfusion lines, and the like, includes a tubular body having at one end a male connector including an inner tubular element and an outer hollow element, which is internally threaded and can be coupled by screwing to a complementary female connector. The line connector further includes an outer maneuvering sleeve coupled in unidirectional rotation to the body in the direction corresponding to screwing of the male connector with respect to the complementary female connector and free to turn in the opposite direction, formed by two parts coupled together on the body of the connector.
US08968269B2	Multi-conduit balloon catheter A suctioning and irrigating sinus balloon catheter is provided for treating a patient's paranasal sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities and choana. The catheter has a number of fluid carrying conduits to provide irrigation, suction and inflation/deflation to the distally mounted balloon. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, choana or sinus to be excised. Some catheters can be hand bendable by the surgeon. Some catheters provide the capability of threading an endoscope through one of the conduits. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, choana, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them.
US08968264B2	Comfort diaper assembly A diaper assembly 2 includes a diaper garment 10 and a fluid absorbent pad 60. The diaper garment 10 has an outer shell 12 from which a sling 20 is suspended. The sling 20 is fluid resistant and has front and rear pockets 34, 36 into which opposite ends of the fluid absorbent pad 60 can be inserted. The front pocket 34 is formed by fluid resistant shield 50 that is surrounded on three sides by gussets 40, 42 that are more skin friendly than the shield 50. Multilayer pads 60 can be carried by the sling 20.
US08968263B2	Absorbent article An absorbent article according to the present invention includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorber. The absorber has a body unit having a foreside constricted portion and a backside constricted portion, and a pair of extension units extending outside in the widthwise direction of the absorber from the body unit. An outer region is folded toward an inner region at the side of the topsheet, and the maximum length of the inner region along the longitudinal direction of the absorber is shorter than the maximum length of the outer region.
US08968253B2	Catheter securement device A catheter securement device includes a flexible base member having an adhesive side and an opposite non-adhesive side. A elastomeric anchoring member is mounted on the nonadhesive side of the base member. The anchoring member integrally includes a body attached to the base member, a pair of opposing pull tabs freely extending outwardly from the body, a keeper disposed in each of the pull tabs, and a T-shaped strap freely extending from the body.] The T-shaped strap terminates in a pair of opposing heads that are disposed generally parallel to the pull tabs. Pulling the opposing pull tabs opens the keepers for receiving the heads of the T-shaped strap, and the heads of the T-strap are selectively insertable into the keepers for securing a catheter between the anchoring member body and the strap.
US08968251B2	Access assembly An access assembly is provided. The access assembly includes an access member defining a central longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening therethrough for reception and passage of surgical instrument, the access member dimensioned for positioning within tissue to provide access to underlying tissue, and first and second seal members mounted to the access member in juxtaposed relation, the first seal member defining an opening therethrough, the second seal member defining an elongated arcuate passage, wherein the first and second seal members are adapted for rotational movement about the central longitudinal axis whereby the opening of the first seal member is axially alignable with the elongated arcuate passage of the second seal member to permit reception and passage of the surgical instrument in substantial sealed relation therewith, the first and second seal members further adapted for relative rotational movement whereby the first seal member is capable of rotating relative to the second seal member during manipulation and traversal of the surgical instrument through the elongated arcuate passage of the second seal member to maintain the substantial sealed relation about the instrument.
US08968250B2	Surgical access port A surgical access port or trocar is provided. The trocar has a trocar seal housing and a trocar cannula with an optical obturator insertable through the trocar seal housing and the trocar cannula. The trocar is configured to access a body cavity, to maintain positive pressure and to prevent loss of surgical insufflation gas used in laparoscopic procedures. The trocar seal housing can be releasably attached to the trocar cannula. The trocar seal housing may also have a shield and/or alignment channel that provide protection or assist in operation of instrument and zero seals housed in the trocar seal housing.
US08968249B2	Introducer seal assembly A seal assembly for use with an access device includes a seal housing defining a central longitudinal axis, an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall defines a longitudinal opening to permit passage of instrumentation through the seal housing. A gimbal mount is at least partially accommodated within a space defined between the inner wall and the outer wall of the seal housing. The gimbal mount includes a seal member defining an aperture for substantial sealed reception of a surgical instrument. The gimbal mount is adapted for angular movement relative to the central longitudinal axis upon angulation of the surgical instrument while substantially maintaining the sealed reception of the surgical instrument.
US08968246B2	Syringe adapter Syringe adapter 300 has base member 310 and flange lock member 320. Flange lock member 320 is formed in generally arc shape as a whole so as to receive a cylinder flange inside. Flange lock member 320 has look hook 323 and engagement hook 324 formed thereon. Look hook 323 locks the cylinder flange by rotation of a syringe received in flange lock member 320 about its axis. Engagement hook 324 locks syringe adapter 300 to the apparatus so as not to release lock to the apparatus in the state in which the cylinder flange of the syringe is received in flange lock member 320.
US08968245B2	Sensor assembly and medical device incorporating same Apparatus are provided for sensor assemblies and related medical devices. An embodiment of a sensor assembly includes a rigid structure and a beam structure having an outer portion in contact with the rigid structure and an inner portion. The beam structure includes one or more beams extending between the outer portion and the inner portion of the beam structure and a cantilevered portion extending from the inner portion to inhibit displacement of the inner portion toward the rigid structure. Each beam has a sensing element disposed thereon.
US08968244B2	System and method for drug preparation and delivery A disposable cassette for mixing a drug in a vial includes a liquid inlet for connection to a liquid supply, a first vial spike, a second vial spike, a chamber and a valve mechanism. The chamber, the first and second vial spikes, and the liquid inlet are in fluid communication with each other. The valve mechanism may be actuated to control flow between the chamber, the vial receptacles and the liquid inlet.
US08968243B2	Device and method for delivering medicine into the tympanic cavity,with sliding assist A device for substance delivery to and/or extraction from the tympanic cavity, comprising: a stationary body having a distal surface, a proximal surface; a movable body having a distal surface and a proximal surface, disposed within the stationary body and free to move relative to the stationary body; at least one piercing element having a distal end and a proximal end, disposed in the movable body; and a means for moving the movable body relative to the stationary body.
US08968242B2	Inflatable elastomeric pump for an infusion assembly An improved elastomeric pump for an infusion assembly. The pump includes a generally cylindrical mandrel body with first end, an opposed second end, a length, an outer diameter corresponding to a first radius (Rmandrel), a central bore extending through the length, a first port extending from the outer diameter to the bore to provide a fluid passageway, a fill port and an exit port in fluid communication with the bore. The pump includes an inflatable elastomeric tube disposed concentrically about the mandrel, the tube being sealingly secured on the mandrel near the respective ends of the tube and having an original inner diameter that corresponds to a second radius (r) so that it approximately matches the outer diameter of the mandrel (Rmandrel), a length (L) less than the length of the mandrel, a wall thickness (t) such that: (0.4225×r)
US08968240B2	Method of making a needle shielding device Methods of manufacturing a catheter introducer or needle assembly and needle shield are disclosed. A needle shield has a blocking object (preferably a ball) which moves from an non-shielding position to a shielding position. The catheter introducer is made by placing the blocking object into the shield and inserting the proximal end of the needle into the shield while the blocking object is in the shielding position. The catheter introducer is made using extruded polymeric tubes which may have coextruded reinforcing.
US08968239B2	Catheter device for the dynamic regulation of the venous return to the heart for the treatment of patients with heart failure This invention relates to a method that comprises the introduction of a catheter via left subclavian vein, advancing into the right atrium and then positioning it in the inferior vena cava, just at the cava-diaphragm junction, where it is anchored at its extreme; and thereafter an external inflation of a balloon positioned in said catheter takes place through a physiological solution to reach a diameter corresponding to half the diameter of the inferior vena cava, resulting in hemi-occlusion in the expiration phase (breath-out) and total occlusion for a short period during the inspiration phase (breath-in), regulating (normalizing) the venous return and decreasing the cardiac volume overload, as a treatment for heart failure. The invention also comprises hydromechanics devices to normalize the venous return in the circulatory system. Said venous return is increased in 90% of patients with heart failure. In particular, it refers to a combined catheter with an inflatable balloon, producing said balloon a cyclical occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC). The said balloon is adaptable to the area of its location in the inferior vena cava, proximal to the right atrium (RA), which comprises of means for its fixation within said vein, as well as the capacity of modifying the volume in response to the requirements of the patient. This device is implanted for an extended period of more than three months. The final objective is to treat and stop the progression of heart failure.
US08968232B2	Heat exchange systems, devices and methods Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to heat-exchanger systems that can be used to heat or cool a fluid such as blood. Pod pumps that provide low shear and low turbulence may be used in such systems, particularly for systems that pump blood. A certain heat-exchanger system used to heat blood or other fluids may be used to provide whole-body hyperthermic treatments or regional hyperthermic chemotherapy treatments. A disposable unit may be used to separate the fluid path from the fluid control systems. The disposable unit typically includes a heat-exchanger component that is received by a corresponding heat exchanger in a base unit. Fluid pumped through the heat-exchanger component is heated by the heat exchanger.
US08968229B2	Disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system and method A method for treating plantar fasciitis and foot pain utilizes a pre-cut sole support strap and an arch support strap formed of flexible woven material having an adhesive layer on an underside surface that are adhered to a foot individually or in combination. The sole strap is adhered to the skin surface along the sole from the ball of the foot to the heel and the back and lateral sides of the heel, and provides stability and support to the foot and, when subjected to forces induced during walking, absorbs tensile loads and stresses to prevent damage to the plantar fascia by reducing tensile stress carried by the plantar fascia. The arch support strap is adhered transversely over the sole support strap and arch of the foot to maintain the sole support strap in engagement with the sole of the foot and provide additional support and stability.
US08968223B2	Motion assist device Second joints are provided in positions where a seating unit is restrained from swinging relative to leg links due to a force acting on the seating unit from upper limb links through the intermediary of the second joints. A motion not intended by a user can be restrained from being generated due to a force acting from the upper limb links provided in the upper limbs.
US08968222B2	Wearable material handling system An exoskeleton configured to be coupled to a person includes an exoskeleton trunk and leg supports adapted to contact the ground. Hip torque generators extend between the exoskeleton trunk and respective leg supports. A load holding mechanism is rotatably coupled to the exoskeleton trunk, preferably via over-shoulder members configured to support a load in front of the person. In use, hip torque generators create torque between the exoskeleton trunk and respective leg supports in the stance phase, wherein at least one torque generator is configured to create a first torque between the exoskeleton trunk and one of the first and second leg supports in the stance phase opposing a second torque generated on the exoskeleton by a weight of the load. Load bearing sensors may be utilized to determine the torque generated by the load and communicate with a controller to control power to the torque generators.
US08968219B2	Muscle tonus measuring apparatus A detection unit (10) detects a joint angle and a joint torque for causing the joint of a subject (1) to undergo passive flexion and extension movement, and an arithmetic unit (50) performs arithmetic processing on an output signal from the detection unit. The arithmetic unit divides the relationship between the joint torque and the joint angle in at least one of the extension phase and the flexion phase into two or more portions including a proximal-side portion and a distal-side portion according to a joint angle, and obtains the elastic coefficient of the joint from the relationship between the joint torque and the joint angle in at least one of the distal-side portion and the proximal-side portion. This enables distinguishing between a healthy subject and a Parkinson's disease patient with a simple configuration, without the measurement of surface myoelectric potential.
US08968217B2	Method and system to determine an optimal tissue compression time to implant a surgical element An apparatus for determining an optimal amount of tissue compression for applying a surgical element to tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for compressing tissue which supports a measuring device adapted to detect a tissue parameter upon the compression of tissue. The measuring device communicates with an indicator. Upon compressing tissue, when the measuring device determines that the compressed tissue parameter reaches a predetermined threshold, the measuring device sends a signal to the indicator such that the indicator provides an indication to a surgeon that the threshold has been reached. The measuring device may include a load cell and the tissue parameter may be a viscoelastic reactive force of the tissue per unit time.
US08968216B2	Medical guide wire An outer coil and an inner coil are joined in parallel with a distal end portion of a core of a guide wire. A winding direction of a strand of the outer coil is the same as that of a strand of the inner coil. Diameters of the outer and inner coils increase or decrease when rotation of the core is transmitted and thereby rotation transmission capability is improved. An outer space wound portion and an inner space wound portion are formed in corresponding positions in the outer coil and the inner coil, respectively, in a core direction. Even if the guide wire has a double-coil structure, the outer and inner space wound portions improve flexibility of the guide wire. A coil pitch of the outer space wound portion differs from a coil pitch of the inner space wound portion. Thereby, engagement of the strands is prevented.
US08968214B2	Protector A protector which is used to cover a distal portion of a guide wire protruding from a distal opening of a tube body includes a first half body and a second half body which are movable between an open state and a closed state. Each of the first half body and the second half body includes a guide wire sandwiching and holding portion which mutually sandwich and hold the distal portion of the guide wire cooperatively in the closed state of the protector. Each of the first half body and the second half body also includes a tube body sandwiching and holding portion which mutually sandwich and hold the tube body cooperatively in the closed state of the protector.
US08968211B2	Adjustable sample size tissue sampling device Among other things, there is disclosed a biopsy needle capable of taking samples of varying size. In particular embodiments, a user selects one of a plurality of sample-size settings, which sets the needle to a particular cannula throw-length by moving an internal wall against which a spring engages. For a shorter throw, the wall is in a forward position and the cannula is retracted the smaller amount to compress the spring. For a longer throw, the wall is in a rearward position and the cannula is retracted a larger amount to compress the spring.
US08968207B2	Methods and apparatus for visually representing a cardiac status of a patient Method and apparatus are provided for computing signals related to cardiac output from physiologic input signals related to circulatory pressures or flows. Method and apparatus are provided for constructing a transforming filter and applying said filter to the physiologic input signals in order to obtain a signal proportional to phasic cardiac output or time-averaged cardiac output. This invention provides a means for real-time monitoring of cardiac output and stroke volume which is of great clinical importance but not otherwise feasible by present techniques.
US08968201B2	Lesion assessment using six degree of freedom ultrasound thermography A diagnostic device and method for assessing lesion formation by measuring temperature changes during endocardial ablation. Intracardiac echo catheter data is accurately mapped into a model maintained by a visualization, navigation, or mapping system using the position and orientation of the intracardiac echo catheter transducer within the model. For each point in the model, either a frequency shift or echo time shift is calculated from the intracardiac echo data to determine local temperature changes, and the local temperature changes are displayed within a rendering of the model for the user.
US08968197B2	Directing a user to a medical resource A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product directs a user using a physiological sensor to a needed medical resource. A real-time state of a medical condition of a user is determined based on readings from a physiological sensor on a user. A processing system correlates the real-time state of the medical condition of the user to a medical resource, which has been predetermined to have a capability of ameliorating the real-time state of the medical condition of the user. Directions are then sent, to the user, for a temporally nearest medical resource that has been predetermined to have the capability of ameliorating the real-time state of the medical condition of the user.
US08968193B2	System and method for enabling a research mode on physiological monitors The present disclosure may provide a system and method for analyzing data acquired using a physiological monitor. In one embodiment, the analysis is performed on the physiological monitor and results in the analysis of data collected by the physiological monitor over an interval of time. The analysis may include comparing the data to sample data representative of known disease states and/or may include performing statistical analyses or recalculations of the data based on adjusted monitor settings. In one embodiment, the settings of the physiological monitor may be adjusted based on the results of the analyses.
US08968191B2	Expandable access assembly including an internal thread mechanism An access assembly is provided. The access assembly includes a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular member including a threading extending at least a portion of an internal length of the tubular member. The access assembly further includes a first ring secured at the proximal end of the tubular member and a second ring secured at the distal end of the tubular member. The first ring and the second ring are expandable rings.
US08968187B2	Articulating laparoscopic surgical access instrument A surgical instrument includes proximal and distal shaft components, an articulation assembly, and an outer sleeve. The shaft components are pivotably coupled to one another. The distal shaft component is articulatable relative to the proximal shaft component between a substantially aligned configuration and an articulated configuration. The articulation assembly includes a rack and a pinion gear engaged with one another. The rack and the pinion gear cooperate to permit incremental articulation of the distal shaft component relative to the proximal shaft component between the substantially aligned and articulated configurations. The outer sleeve is disposed about the proximal shaft component and is manipulatable relative to the proximal shaft component between a first position and a second position for articulating the distal shaft component between the substantially aligned configuration and the articulated configuration.
US08968186B2	Handle for fiber optic device A laryngoscope handle for use with a fiber optic laryngoscope blade having fiber optics includes a laryngoscope handle body configured to be gripped by a handle of a user; one or more power sources carried by the handle body; a light source assembly carried by the handle body and powered by the one or more power sources; a connection section for mechanically connecting the fiber optic laryngoscope blade to the laryngoscope handle and optically coupling the light source assembly in the laryngoscope handle to the fiber optics of the fiber optic laryngoscope blade, wherein the light source assembly includes at least two different types of light sources and a light mixing chamber where light emitted from the two different types of light sources mix to create a combined, mixed light that is transmitted to the fiber optics of the fiber optic laryngoscope blade for emission there from.
US08968183B2	Support apparatus A support apparatus, for use in supporting a device such as a sex toy, the inflatable apparatus comprising an attachment portion and a holding portion which is attached to the attachment portion, and which defines an aperture therethrough, the holding portion having an inflatable element which is operable to adjust the size of said aperture.
US08968182B2	Implantable mesh combining biodegradable and non-biodegradable fibers Disclosed are mesh materials adapted for use in an implantable sling. The mesh materials include biodegradable and non-degradable components that may be adapted to facilitate scar-tissue ingrowth as the biodegradable components degrade.
US08968178B2	Transobturator surgical articles and methods Described are surgical articles, implants, and components suitable for surgical implant procedures including transobturator surgical procedures.
US08968176B2	Guide glasses A sound and light machine (SLM) produces sound and light pulses at brain wave frequencies so as to induce a particular state of consciousness in a user, while simultaneously providing music. The SLM includes light emitting diodes (LEDs) and headphone speakers. A microcontroller runs firmware to control the LEDs and headphone speakers so as to produce a plurality of dominant brainwave frequencies. Binaural voices produce a melody of music without interfering with the brainwave frequencies. Each note of the melody is sounded at a specific pitch based on information in a Tone Object, which includes a state variable index holding the note's current position within a waveform array and a state variable step, which is an amount by which to increment the state variable index at each iteration. The index is set to 0 at startup and the step is calculated from the initial note desired.
US08968175B2	Treating dysfunctional cardiac tissue Medical devices, systems, and methods reduce the distance between two points in tissue, often for treatment of congestive heart failure and often in a minimally invasive manner. An anchor is inserted along an insertion path through a first wall of the heart. An arm of the anchor is deployed and rotationally positioned according to a desired alignment. Application of tension to the anchor may draw the first and second walls of the heart into contact along a desired contour so as to effect a desired change in the geometry of the heart. Additional anchors may be inserted and aligned with the first anchor to close off a portion of a ventricle such that the ventricle is geometrically remodeled and disease progression is reversed, halted, and/or slowed.
US08968172B2	Handheld cell excitation terminal capable of dynamic optimization of therapeutic effect and remote therapeutic system A cell excitation terminal and a therapeutic system using customized electromagnetic (EM) waves varying dynamically with time for excitation include one or more EM wave generators, each of the EM wave generators is connected to a central processing unit (CPU), and the CPU controls, according to a signal detected by a human body status detection device, the EM wave generator to send EM waves corresponding to a detected subject. The therapeutic system can perform remote management. A remote server optimizes and updates therapeutic waveforms of a patient constantly according to a therapeutic effect of the patient, thereby improving the therapeutic effect constantly.
US08968168B2	Electrically conductive roller and image-forming device This invention provides an electrically conductive roller capable of forming an image without fogging even in a low humidity environment and an image-forming device. Specifically, the invention relates to an electrically conductive roller has an elastic layer formed on an outer circumferential surface of a shaft and a urethane coat layer formed on an outer circumferential surface of the elastic layer, wherein the urethane coat layer includes a urethane resin, and at least one ionic liquid selected from the group consisting of pyridinium ionic liquids and amine ionic liquids, in an amount from 1 to 20 parts by mass to 100 parts by mass of the urethane resin; and an image-forming device equipped with the electrically conductive roller.
US08968167B1	Resistance system for an exercise device A resistance system for an exercise device includes a plurality of cord plates which may be selectively engaged by one or more pins which may include an engagement lock. One or more of the cord plates may be received by a pin with each cord plate that is received by a pin being secured relative to a frame. A cord plate that has received a pin is engaged and a cord plate that is not received by a pin is disengaged. A carriage may be provided which receives a plurality of elastic cords which may be attached to the cord plates. The carriage may be displaced relative to a base frame, to provide elongation of the elastic cords coupled to engaged cord plates and no elongation of the cords coupled to the disengaged cord plates which provide a selective resistance for a user.
US08968165B2	Structure for securing weight plates The means for securing weight plates (16) on weight rods (10′, 12) or holder bars provides at least one groove (14) formed in an end region (10′) of a weight rod (10′, 12) or in the holder bar. The weight plates (16) are formed with a radial protrusion (17) in their central bore, preferably extending over only a portion of the circumference. The diameter of the bore at the protrusion (17) is greater than the diameter of the end region (10′) of the weight rod (10′, 12) or holder bar axially next to the groove (14). The protrusion (17) falls into the groove (14) and prevents the weight plate (16) from slipping off the weight rod (10′, 12) or holder bar.
US08968163B1	Unweighted therapy and training device An unweighted therapy, exercise and training device includes a device frame including a device frame base having a treadmill space sized and configured to accommodate a treadmill platform of a treadmill, an upper frame portion carried by the device frame base and having a frame interior and a pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly having a saddle carried by the device frame and disposed in the frame interior.
US08968151B2	Method and system for controlling driveline lash in a hybrid vehicle A vehicle has an engine, an upstream clutch, an electric machine, a downstream clutch, a transmission gearbox, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) control engagement of the downstream clutch, (ii) monitor a vehicle torque, and (iii) control electric machine torque to a designated rate when the vehicle torque changes direction and the electric machine is operating. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes engaging a clutch downstream of the electric machine, monitoring a vehicle torque, and controlling electric machine torque to a designated rate when vehicle torque changes direction and the electric machine is operating. A hybrid vehicle system has an electric machine and a controller configured to (i) control electric machine torque to a designated rate within a time zone, and (ii) control at least one of the electric machine torque and an engine torque to meet driver demand outside of the zone.
US08968149B2	Wind turbine gear mechanism A wind turbine gear mechanism with a planetary gear stage arranged on the drive input side and with first and second spur gear stages arranged, in a gear mechanism housing, downstream of the planetary gear stage. The first spur gear stage rotationally and functionally connects a sun gear shaft of the planetary gear stage to an intermediate shaft, the second spur gear stage rotationally and functionally connects the intermediate shaft to a drive output shaft, and only one intermediate shaft is provided. In this case, the gear mechanism housing has a separation joint along which the gear mechanism housing can be divided into a main housing portion and a housing cover in such manner that a separation joint plane passes through the central axis of the intermediate shaft and the separation joint plane extends a distance away from the central axis of the sun gear shaft.
US08968144B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission gearing arrangement includes four simple planetary gear sets arranged in two planes to reduce axial length. Six shift elements, including two input clutches, two output clutches, and two brakes, are engaged in combinations of three to establish nine forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The two output clutches may be assembled into a module suitable for testing before installation.
US08968141B2	Uninterruptible oil supply in planetary system A planetary carrier includes a journal bearing for supporting a planetary gear. The journal bearing receives lubricant to produce a lubricant film to support gear loads. A torque frame is attached to the carrier housing to transmit torque and to prevent twisting of the carrier housing. The torque frame includes several lubricant communication passages to provide lubricant to each of the separate journal bearings. Each of the lubricant communication passages includes an accumulator for storing lubricant during normal operation. The accumulator stores a desired amount of lubricant to provide lubricant to the adjacent journal bearing for the interim period between primary system stoppage and reestablishment of lubricant flow by a secondary system.
US08968140B1	Electronically actuated clutch for a planetary winch An electronically operated clutch for planetary winch where the clutch is disengaged by a first current level and maintained in the disengaged position by a second current level. The second current level being less than the first current level.
US08968137B2	Motor vehicle drive train Drive train for a motor vehicle, having an electric machine for providing motive power, and a transmission arrangement. The transmission arrangement has a transmission input shaft and a first and a second gear stage. The transmission input shaft is connected to the electric machine. The drive train has a differential, which is connected to an output of the transmission and is set up to distribute motive power to two drive shafts. The differential is connected to a helically toothed driving gear, which is in engagement with a helically toothed pinion of the transmission output. A pressure pad arrangement absorbs axial forces arising from the helical toothing.
US08968136B2	Dual clutch transmission having simplified controls A dual clutch transmission (500) having a plurality of forward gears and at least one reverse gear (582) where the first gear is operatively engaged by a one-way clutch (594). A pair of actuator control valves (270, 272) is employed to move actuators to engage selective ones of the forward gear sets. A multiplex valve (284) is disposed in fluid communication between the pair of actuator control valves (270, 272) and the actuators associated with the forward gears of the transmission and is adapted to selectively provide fluid communication to the actuators to thereby select the forward gear ratios. A manual valve (185) is operatively connected to the gear shift selector (187) to control the actuator associated with reverse gear (582).
US08968135B2	Hydrostatic regenerative braking transmission for motor vehicles A transmission for a vehicle including a hydrostatic regenerative braking system includes a first rotatable shaft having a first end adapted to be driven by a first prime mover and a second end adapted to be coupled to a vehicle driveline. A second shaft selectively drives the first shaft and is adapted to drive a hydraulic pump of a second prime mover. A planetary gearset includes a first member restricted from rotation, a second member and a third member. A transfer mechanism includes a first sprocket fixed for rotation with the second member, a second sprocket fixed for rotation with the input shaft and a flexible member interconnecting the first and second sprockets. A clutch transfers torque between the third member and the first shaft.
US08968134B2	Power transmission apparatus using a planetary gear A power transmission apparatus which includes a planetary gear set with a planetary carrier of which one side extending to form gear teeth, wherein rotating speed input from a driving power source is reduced and then input to one actuating means, rotating speed of a gear-shifting power source is input to another actuating means to achieve a plurality of gear shifts, generating power is obtained from an output shaft to store electricity to a storage battery, the stored electric energy is utilized as controlling energy for gear-shifting power so that a transmission input shaft can be easily controlled.
US08968132B2	Chain In a transmission chain including alternately interleaved and articulably connected sets of link plates, the link plates of least one of the sets have back surfaces arranged for sliding contact with a chain guide. These back surfaces have a convex, substantially arc-shaped, curvature in the longitudinal direction of the chain, and a convex, substantially arc-shaped, curvature in the widthwise direction. The radius of curvature of the widthwise curve of the back surface of each of the link plates of the at least one set is at least as great as the radius of curvature of the curve of the same link plate in the longitudinal direction.
US08968127B2	Tensioner A tensioner having a simplified structure, using engaging teeth having increased strength and reduced backlash, constructed from a reduced number of parts, reduced in cost, and having increased design freedom. A tensioner comprises: a tubular member (1) having engaging teeth (1b) formed thereon; one or more engaging elements (2) having formed thereon engaging teeth (2a) engaging with the engaging teeth (1b); and a shaft member (3) provided inside the tubular member (1) and having an engaging-element receiving section (3c) or an engaging-element supporting section which receives the engaging elements (2) of the tubular member (1). Either the tubular member (1) or the shaft member (3) functions as an advancing member which is moved by urging force in an advancing and retracting manner. The tensioner is provided with a ratchet mechanism which, when the engaging elements (2) move in a diameter reducing direction and move over the engaging teeth of the tubular member (1), allows the advancing member to advance forward, and when the engaging elements (2) move in a diameter expanding direction and engage with the engaging teeth of the tubular member (1), prevents the advancing member to retract.
US08968120B2	Baseball and softball fielding aid A fielding aid for a baseball or softball glove having an insert composed of a vibration dampening material for slowing or impeding the movement of a ball; the insert having an interior portion and exterior portion. In certain aspects, the interior portion has a convex shape that aids in fielding balls.
US08968116B1	Golf club head with adjustable characteristics A golf club head with means for adjusting a center of gravity along more than one axis and means adjusting at least one of a characteristic selected from the group consisting of face angle, loft angle, and lie angle is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises one or more adjustable features such as weight bars, weight screws, weight cartridges, and adjustable sole members, and preferably includes structural features such as pegs, teeth, and polymeric dampeners that serve to preload the one or more adjustable features on the golf club head and prevent or reduce unwanted vibrations when the golf club head is in use.
US08968112B1	Golf hole cup setter A golf hole cup setter for inserting a cylindrical golf hole cup into a golf hole so that its longitudinal axis is in vertical alignment. The cup setter has a base plate having an upper surface and a lower surface. A cup insertion member extends downwardly from the lower surface of the base plate, and is configured to contact the upper rim of the cup. A level is attached to the base plate and is positioned to allow a user to step on the base plate without interference during cup insertion, and to determine whether the longitudinal axis of the golf hole cup inserted into the golf hole by the cup setter is in vertical alignment.
US08968108B2	Axially restraining torsional spring utilizing a tapered shaft A rotational and axial control spring includes a tubular casing, a shaft, and a plurality of elongated elastomeric members. The casing comprises a tubular cross sectional equilateral convex polygon shape, the tubular shape extending uniformly between a first and second casing end. The shaft is fabricated having a cross sectional shape mimicking the equilateral convex polygon casing shape, a series of exterior surfaces extending longitudinally between a first smaller end and second larger end, wherein the exterior surfaces form a square frustum shape. The elastomeric members are formed as cylindrical frustums. The shaft is inserted within the casing interior. Each elastomeric member is positioned contacting a respective shaft exterior surface and a pair of adjacent casing interior surfaces. The elastomeric members provide rotational spring with adjustable resistant force and dampening functions. The tapered features provide an axial retention function.
US08968107B2	Flex shaft-drive motor connection for power operated rotary knife A flexible shaft drive transmission for transmitting rotational power between a drive motor and a gear train of a power operated tool. The flexible shaft drive transmission includes an elongated drive shaft assembly including a rotatable drive transmitting shaft assembly extending through an outer casing. The shaft drive transmission includes a motor end coupling affixed to one end the outer casing and adapted to be releasably connected to a mating coupling of the drive motor. The motor end coupling includes a coupling body having an outer surface tapered region tapering from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter at a distal end of the tapered region to facilitate insertion and proper alignment with the drive motor coupling. The drive transmitting shaft assembly includes a driven fitting having a plurality of drive faces surrounding an axially extending locating member for engagement with a mating drive fitting of the drive motor.
US08968103B2	Systems and methods for digital multimedia capture using haptic control, cloud voice changer, and protecting digital multimedia privacy Provided are computer implemented methods and systems for multimedia capture and encrypting. According to the method, a first user input is received. Based on the first user input, one or more sensors are initiated to capture multimedia to obtain captured multimedia. The method further comprises receiving a second user input. Upon receiving the second user input, data associated with the first user input and the second user input are analyzed. Based on the analysis, one or more multimedia types are selected for recording from the captured multimedia based on predetermined rules. The selected one or more multimedia types are recorded to a memory. The recorded multimedia types are modified by a cloud-based voice changing unit. Furthermore, the recorded multimedia types and the modified multimedia types are encrypted to prepare the one or more multimedia types for sending to an intended recipient.
US08968101B2	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.
US08968092B2	Integrating wagering games and environmental conditions A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include detecting characteristics of at least one environmental condition in an external environment that is external to a wagering game machine in a casino (e.g., detect activity that occurs in the casino, detect appearance of people and objects in the casino, detect light and sound events, etc.). The operations can further include generating an animated wagering game effect in a wagering game animation, using the detected characteristics of the environmental condition. The animated wagering game effect can affect one or more wagering game objects within the wagering game animation in a way that emulates the environmental condition.
US08968088B2	Controlling priority of wagering game lighting content A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include receiving emotive light presentation data from a variety of emotive light control sources and determining presentation priorities for the emotive light presentation data. The operations can further include controlling the emotive light presentation data, from the variety of emotive light control sources, based on prioritization of the presentation priorities. In some embodiments, the operations can include controlling priorities based on locations of emotive lighting devices on a wagering game machine. In other embodiments, the operations can include assigning priorities based on wagering game types and other classifications. In yet other embodiments, the operations can utilize priority values to determine lighting prominence, which in conjunction with transparency values, can generate blended, or composite lighting effects.
US08968085B2	Networked gaming system and method A method and apparatus for allowing remote players to participate in live games offered by a central gaming server. In one embodiment, a method comprising receiving authentication information from a person wishing to participate in the live games offered by the central gaming server, storing the authentication information in a memory, receiving an authentication request from an individual over a network interface, the authentication request comprising authentication information sent by the individual wishing to participate in the live games, comparing the authentication information in the authentication request to the authentication information in the memory by a processor, receiving a scaled commission determined by the authorized authentication center, the scaled commission comprising a portion of a fee received from game players during game play, and granting access the individual access to the central gaming server if the authentication information in the authentication request matches the authentication information in the memory.
US08968084B2	Processing metadata in wagering game systems This description describes wagering game systems that process metadata. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a wagering game presentation unit configured to present wagering games and create extended metadata and wager gaming content. The apparatus can also include operating system modules configured to store the wager gaming content as a file in a file system and to store the extended metadata at locations associated with the file.
US08968076B2	Gaming device with wild activation symbols and wild termination symbols A gaming device having a wild activation symbol is displayed on a set of reels or set of cards within a display device. The processor causes other symbols or cards to become wild within the display device when the wild termination symbol is displayed. When the wild activation symbol is displayed, the present invention may also provide a wild termination symbol on the set of reels or the set of cards within a display device. The processor may then stop symbols or cards from becoming wild based on the position of the wild termination symbol.
US08968072B2	Gaming machine and control method thereof A gaming machine and a controlling method thereof are provided. The gaming machine includes a mechanical symbol display unit which includes: a rotatable reel having a peripheral face with a plurality of symbols thereon; an illuminating device that is provided within a space on an inner periphery side of the rotatable reel and is controlled to emit light of at least two different colors; and an illumination controller. The symbols include a special symbol having at least two translucent portions each having a unique color that is the same as one of the at least two different colors. The at least two colors are selected in a way that, the special symbol is observable as a symbol in one single color or a symbol with a pattern of at least two colors according to the color of the emitted light.
US08968071B2	Method and system for weighting odds to specific gaming entities in a shared bonus event Methods of weighting odds in shared bonus events and gaming systems and devices configured for weighting odds in shared bonus events. A number of participations or entries by the same gaming machine or player entity may be obtained for a shared bonus event in association with play of a base or primary game, allowing the odds of winning the shared bonus event to be weighted.
US08968067B1	Providing personalized leaderboards to users of a game An approach to facilitate providing personalized leaderboards based upon user parameters, game parameters or a combination thereof. The personalized leaderboard determined by identifying a group of users (i) to which the first user belongs, and (ii) among which performance in the online game by the first user as characterized by the first set of game parameter values is relatively high. Providing leaderboards where the user features relatively high incentivizes the user to continue playing the game to continue progressing toward the top of the leaderboard, improving player retention.
US08968066B2	Method and apparatus for modifying gaming machines to provide supplemental or modified functionality A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for transferring credits from one gaming device to another via the use of coded scrip is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a cash-out command in the gaming device, scanning a magnetically manifested code uniquely identifying a scrip stored in the gaming device, transmitting a cash-out message comprising the code to a remote processor having access to a database configured to store and retrieve codes from a plurality of gaming devices, receiving a scrip dispense message from the remote processor, and dispensing the scrip. The apparatus comprises a scrip storage unit, a scrip dispensing unit having a scrip transducer for reading and recording a magnetically manifested code on a scrip retrieved from the scrip storage unit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the scrip transducer and a remote computer having access to a database for storing and retrieving code information from the plurality of gaming devices.
US08968064B2	Agricultural combine harvester with harvesting and winnowing optimization control system An agricultural combine has a threshing assembly for threshing a crop to produce chaff and grain, a cleaning assembly for removing the chaff from the grain, and a control system. The threshing assembly and the cleaning assembly operate at threshing and cleaning settings, respectively, for tending to produce a balance between a threshing load applied across the threshing assembly and a cleaning load applied across the cleaning assembly that tends to have a favorable influence on grain loss. The control system is for sensing an imbalance between the threshing load and the cleaning load tending to have an unfavorable influence on grain loss, and for concurrently adjusting the threshing and cleaning settings of the threshing and cleaning assemblies, respectively, for tending to convert the imbalance between the threshing and cleaning loads to a balance between the threshing and cleaning loads tending to have a favorable influence on grain loss.
US08968061B2	Containment hood A containment hood may include a first shell portion, a second shell portion and a lid portion. The first shell portion may include a first interior-facing surface. The second shell portion may be spaced apart from the first shell portion and may include a second interior-facing surface. The first and second interior-facing surfaces may oppose each other. The lid portion may extend between and engage the first and second shell portions. The lid portion may cooperate with the first and second shell portions to form at least a partial enclosure defining an interior volume. The first and second shell portions and the lid portion may cooperate to define a first opening through which a user is able to access the interior volume.
US08968060B2	Automated poultry hanging system and method This invention relates to automated systems and methods for hanging live poultry for further processing. The system has an alignment conveyor, an alignment stunner, a hanging box, and a shackle. The alignment conveyor conveys poultry from an input point to the alignment stunner. The alignment stunner urges the poultry to move to a desired position on the alignment conveyor and stuns the poultry. The hanging box grasps the stunned poultry and places the poultry into the shackle for further processing. A computer and at least one sensor control operation of the system so that human intervention is minimized.
US08968058B2	Polishing pad with alignment feature Polishing pads with alignment marks are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with alignment marks are also described.
US08968056B2	System for machining the running surface on skis and snowboards The system for machining the bottom of skis comprises a machine frame, in which a ski is stationary supported by roller carriers. The machining is performed by machining tools on a carriage, which extends throughout under the ski. During the machining, the carrier rollers that are alternately arranged behind each other, take over the support of the ski. There are always so many carrier rollers directly under the ski that its bottom remains in a stationary position.
US08968055B2	Methods and apparatus for pre-chemical mechanical planarization buffing module The present invention provides methods and apparatus for a pre-CMP semiconductor substrate buffing module. The invention includes a polishing pad assembly adapted to be rotated against a major surface of a substrate; a chuck adapted to hold the substrate and to rotate the substrate against the polishing pad assembly as the polishing pad assembly is rotated; and a lateral motion motor adapted to oscillate the polishing pad assembly laterally across the major surface of the substrate while the polishing pad assembly is rotated against the rotating substrate. Numerous additional features are disclosed.
US08968053B2	Method for the treatment of steel surfaces, particularly of cheesemaking machines In order to avoid using anti-stick paints, based on polytetrafluoroethylene or the like, on parts of cheesemaking machines which are to be in contact with hot curds (pastafilata), their surfaces are sandblasted with preferably virgin white corundum powder having a granulometry of about 180 mesh. Surprisingly, surfaces so treated are non-stick for the purposes mentioned above.
US08968048B2	Activity mat An infant activity device comprising two or more arches configured for creating an activity space therebelow defined by a location of articulation of the arches, and further comprising an arch configuration member configured for displacement between different articulation configurations of the arches by sliding with respect to at least one arch and further configured for retaining the arches at any desired articulation configuration to thereby alter the activity space.
US08968046B2	Toy couplers including a plurality of block retaining channels Building sets including a plurality of blocks and a plurality of clips configured to engage a thickness of one or more of the blocks. Each clip includes a base and first and second substantially parallel extensions extending from the base and defining a channel therebetween into which a thickness of a block is receivable. The width of the channel is substantially equal to and slightly less than the thickness of the block receivable within the channel so that the thickness is frictionally retained therein. The clip may include a magnet enclosed within the base so that the base of a first clip may be magnetically coupled to the base of another clip, and each clip may in turn be frictionally coupled to a block received between the extensions of the respective clip. In one embodiment, the clip includes a plurality of channels.
US08968043B1	Method and apparatus for total control handle By using the intelligent ski handle capable of communicating with a tow boat, a towed user can control functions such as raising a warning flag, changing the speed and direction of the boat, sounding a horn, etc. thus promoting safety of the rider. When the towed user is separated by a prespecified distance from the ski handle, the handle can sense a fallen rider and wirelessly transmit a control signal to a receiver on the towing boat.
US08968039B1	Interface assembly having electrically connected stab coupling and secondary coupling assemblies An interface assembly for a panel board is provided. The interface assembly includes an interface assembly body and a number of conductor assemblies. The interface assembly body includes a front side and a back side, said body further defining a number of conductor passages. Each conductor passage extends from said interface assembly body front side to said body back side. The conductor assemblies each includes a stab coupling assembly and a secondary coupling assembly. Each stab coupling assembly and each said secondary coupling assembly are coupled and are in electrical communication. Each stab coupling assembly is disposed in a conductor passage. When the interface assembly body is mounted in a panel board, each stab coupling assembly is coupled to, and in electric communication with a stab. Each secondary coupling assembly can be coupled to another panel board device.
US08968037B2	Subsea container electrical through connector A subsea container electrical through connector for providing an electrical connection from an interior of a subsea container to an exterior of the subsea container is disclosed, wherein the connector extends partially into or fully through a hole in a subsea container. The connector comprises a conductive bolt having a conical bolt portion with an outer diameter increasing in a longitudinal direction. Further, the connector comprises an electrical insulator having a conical insulator portion with an inner surface, facing the conical bolt portion of the bolt, and an outer surface having an outer diameter which increases in the longitudinal direction.
US08968035B2	Communications plugs and patch cords with mode conversion control circuitry Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs. A TIA 568B type plug may be attached to the cable. This plug includes a housing that receives the cable and first through eighth plug contacts that include plug contact regions that are substantially aligned in a row in numerical order. The plug further includes a printed circuit board that has first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts. A first portion of the first conductive path and a first portion of the second conductive path are routed as a transmission line, and a first portion of the sixth conductive path is routed therebetween.
US08968032B2	Structure including an interface section having displaceable contact portions with reinforced portions An interface section 200 of a structure 100 includes a plurality of contacts 120, each of the contacts having a contact portion 122 and a spring portion 126 which supports the contact portion 122 so that the contact portion 122 is displaceable in an up-down direction. The contact portions 122 of the contacts 120 are arranged in a pitch direction (X direction), and reinforcement portions 166 are positioned between the contact portions 122, respectively. The structure reinforces a side portion of the contact portion 122. Therefore, even if the contact portion 122 receives a force along the pitch direction (X direction), damage of the contact 120 can be prevented.
US08968025B2	Coupling continuity connector A coaxial cable connector including a continuity element extending between a nut shroud and a body base.
US08968017B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first semiconductor layer is a first conductivity type. The second semiconductor layer is provided in a surface region of the first semiconductor layer and is the first conductivity type. The first electrode is provided inside a first trench extending in the first direction and opened to a surface of the second semiconductor layer. The second electrode is provided in a second trench extending in a second direction crossing the first direction and opened to the surface of the second semiconductor layer. A dimension from the surface of the second semiconductor layer to a lower end of the second electrode is shorter than a dimension from the surface of the second semiconductor layer to a lower end of the first electrode.
US08968013B2	Modular jack A modular jack is composed of: a base connector installed on a printed circuit board, and a socket connector with a parallel crank mechanism at an extremity thereof, the parallel crank mechanism being slidably connected to the base connector and switching an upper housing between a raised state and a lowered state. When the upper housing is laid toward the front side of the socket connector, the socket connector can be housed inside the casing and both faces of the upper housing, the socket housing, and the base housing are made in a flat plate-like shape. This contributes to height reduction in the modular jack. The socket connector is configured such that, when the upper housing is pulled out from a side face of the casing and raised outside the casing, a plug can be electrically connected to the socket connector.
US08968009B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector is provided in the present invention, including an insulating housing, multiple power terminals and multiple signal terminals. The insulating housing has at least one upright power receptacle body and at least one upright signal plug body parallel to the power receptacle body. Wherein the power receptacle body forms an upright power port on a front surface thereof, and the signal plug body forms at least one signal port on a front surface thereof. Each power terminal has a plate-shaped base plate, at least one spring connection end and multiple tails. The power receptacle body and the signal plug body of the present invention are designed to be upright for saving the edge space of a circuit board. Moreover, the electrical connector of the present invention also has a character of zero insertion force by controlling the length of the signal terminal and the power terminal.
US08968005B2	Circuit-terminal connecting device A circuit-terminal connecting device comprising a first connector having a first housing fixed to a main circuit board and first contacts supported by the first housing to be connected with first circuit-terminals provided on the main circuit board and a second connector having a second housing attached to a flat circuit member and second contacts supported by the second housing to be connected with second circuit-terminals provided on the flat circuit member. The first housing of the first connector fits into a hole formed in the second housing of the second connector so as to create an electrical piling connection between the main circuit board and the flat circuit member wherein the flat circuit member is laid on top of the main circuit board and the first circuit-terminals are electrically connected with the second circuit-terminals through the first and second connectors.
US08968000B2	Mixing and application capsule for producing a dental preparation A mixing and application capsule for producing and discharging a dental preparation is disclosed. In order to prevent a liquid loss, a mixing and application capsule for producing a dental preparation is proposed according to the invention, which has: a capsule body (31) with a mixing chamber (32) for receiving a mixing component (41) and for mixing the dental preparation (43) from the mixing component (41) and a fluid (42) and with an outlet opening (33) for discharging the dental preparation (43), a first plunger body (11) which can be displaced in the capsule body (31), delimits the mixing chamber (32) in the capsule body (31) and has a channel (19) to guide the fluid (42) from a cavity (22) into the mixing chamber (32) and a projection (12), and a second plunger body (21) which can be displaced in the capsule body (31) relative to the first plunger body (11) and has the cavity (22) to receive the fluid (42), the cavity (22) being configured to receive the projection (12) of the first plunger body (11).
US08967998B2	Rotary kiln lining and method Provided is a rotary kiln having a cylindrical shell having an inner cylindrical surface and a longitudinal axis and a kiln lining disposed on the inner cylindrical surface of the shell. The kiln lining includes one or more radial portions of a first size of shaped refractory material disposed on the inner cylindrical surface of the shell along the longitudinal axis for at least a portion of the shell and one or more lifter sections comprising a second size of shaped refractory material that extend along the longitudinal axis for at least a portion of the shell and are between radial portions of the first size of shaped refractory material, wherein the second size of shaped refractory material is greater than the first size of shaped refractory material, such that the second size of shaped refractory material extends orthogonally from the inner cylindrical surface for a greater portion of the diameter of the shell than the first size of shaped refractory material, the second size of shaped refractory materials thereby forming a series of blunt faces. Also included are methods of processing materials using the inventive kiln lining, and methods of assembling the inventive kiln lining.
US08967992B2	Optically absorptive material for alignment marks Imprint lithography templates having alignment marks with highly absorptive material. The alignment marks are insensitive to the effects of liquid spreading and can provide stability and increase contrast to alignment system during liquid imprint filling of template features.
US08967988B2	Apex and face seals with rotary internal combustion engine In one aspect, described is a rotor for a rotary internal combustion engine where a first face seal biased axially outwardly away from the first end face has opposed curled ends abutting a first seal element of a respective one of the adjacent apex seal assemblies, and a second face seal biased axially outwardly away from the second end face has opposed curled ends abutting a second seal element of a respective one of the adjacent apex seal assemblies.
US08967987B2	Scroll compressor having at least one bypass hole A scroll compressor is provided, in which at least one bypass hole that bypass a portion of a refrigerant before the refrigerant is discharged through a discharge hole is formed at a position where a bypass section that bypasses the refrigerant through the at least one bypass hole overlaps a discharge section that discharges the refrigerant through the discharge hole. The at least one bypass hole is formed at a position where a wrap volume ratio (Vs/Vd), which is a ratio of a suction volume (Vs) with respect to a discharge volume (Vd) in a compression chamber, is within the range of about 1.8˜2.2. With this configuration, over-compression of refrigerant may be prevented in a low speed driving mode, and efficiency of the compressor may be enhanced in the low speed driving mode and under a low load condition.
US08967984B2	Rotary compressor A twin rotary compressor is provided. In the twin rotary compressor, a refrigerant suction pipe may be connected to a middle plate positioned between a first cylinder and a second cylinder to reduce a height of the first cylinder, so that heights of a first rolling piston and a first vane may also be lowered. This may allow a contact area between the first rolling piston and the first vane to be decreased so as to reduce refrigerant leakage from a first compression space of the first cylinder, resulting in improvement of compression efficiency of the compressor.
US08967980B2	Fan assembly A fan assembly includes a nozzle and a system for creating a primary air flow through the nozzle. The nozzle includes an 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 primary air flow emitted from the outlet. To allow a parameter of an air flow, formed from the combination of the primary and secondary air flows, to be adjusted by a user, the nozzle has an adjustable configuration.
US08967977B2	Locked spacer for a gas turbine engine shaft A shaft assembly that includes a locked spacer mounted to a shaft shoulder.
US08967976B2	Wind turbine with multi-panel blade A wind turbine blade transversely divided in an inboard module (13) and an outboard module (33) provided on their end sections with connecting means, comprising, respectively, an inboard spar (15), an inboard upper shell (17) and an inboard lower shell (19); an outboard spar (35), an outboard upper shell (37) and an outboard lower shell (39); and arranged so that the aerodynamic profile of said inboard and outboard modules (13, 33) is defined by said upper and lower shells (17, 19; 37, 39), in which the inboard spar (15) is composed of two cap prefabricated panels (21, 23) and two web prefabricated panels (25, 27), and the outboard spar (35) is composed of first and second prefabricated panels (41, 43) integrating its caps (45, 47) and webs (49, 51). The invention also refers to a method of fabricating said wind turbine blade.
US08967971B2	Fluid pump An apparatus for pumping or compressing a fluid, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a front wall, a rear wall and one or more side walls interconnecting the front and rear walls to define a fluid rotation chamber; at least one inlet located substantially centrally in the front wall; an impeller located at least partially within the at least one inlet such that at least a portion of the impeller extends outwardly beyond at least a portion of the front wall; and at least one outlet, wherein rotation of the impeller causes fluid entering the apparatus through the at least one inlet to rotate within the fluid rotation chamber prior to exiting the apparatus through the at least one outlet.
US08967968B2	Turbine rotor blade A concave (a relief portion) is formed along a circumferential direction of a rotor in a trailing-edge end surface of a platform. In the trailing-edge end surface disposed outside of the relief portion in the radial direction of the rotor an opening of a cooling channel is provided. The end surface is formed thicker in the radial direction of the rotor at the opening of the cooling channel than at a position corresponding to a trailing-edge end of a hub of an airfoil portion connected to the platform.
US08967966B2	Hub for a propeller having variable pitch blades A hub for a propeller having variable pitch blades for a turbine engine, for example for a propfan turbine engine. The propeller hub includes: a polygonal ring having substantially radial cylindrical housings distributed about a central axis of the ring for receiving the blades; a rotor element for the turbine of the turbine engine; a supporting flange attached to the ring so as to connect the ring to the rotor element; and a plurality of backup retaining members linked to the rotor element, and each of which includes at least one bearing surface opposite an outer surface of the ring with a radial spacing.
US08967964B2	Boundary layer energiser A boundary layer energizer (20) for energizing a boundary layer flow over a surface (22), the boundary layer energizer (20) comprising a plurality of passages (24), each passage terminating in a respective hole (26) provided on the surface (22), the holes being arranged in a cluster (23) on the surface, wherein the plurality of passages are angled with respect to one another at the surface such that, when in use, a vortex (24) is formed by a fluid flowing through the plurality of passages.
US08967962B2	Centrifugal fan A centrifugal fan includes a housing and an impeller. The housing includes a first surface and a flow channel wall. The first surface has a surrounding section and an air inlet section. The surrounding section encircles the air inlet section. The flow channel wall defines a flow chamber and an air outlet, and at least a sidewall of the flow channel wall has a tongue portion close to the air outlet. The impeller is rotatably connected within the flow chamber. The surrounding section plus the air inlet section is an area on the first surface, on which the impeller is projected, and the surrounding section has a convex structure.
US08967956B2	Turbocharger variable-nozzle assembly with vane sealing arrangement A variable-nozzle assembly for a turbocharger includes a generally annular nozzle ring and an array of vanes rotatably mounted to the nozzle ring such that the vanes can be pivoted about their axes for regulating exhaust gas flow to the turbine wheel. A unison ring engages vane arms that are affixed to axles of the vanes, such that rotation of the unison ring causes the vanes to pivot between a closed position and an open position. The vanes have proximal ends that are adjacent a face of the nozzle ring. A vane sealing member is supported on the nozzle ring and has a portion disposed between the proximal ends of the vanes and the face of the nozzle ring. The unison ring includes cams that engage cam followers. Rotational movement of the unison ring causes the cam followers to be moved axially and thereby urge the vane sealing member against the proximal ends of the vanes.
US08967951B2	Turbine assembly and method for supporting turbine components According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes a first static structure and a second static structure radially outward of the first static structure. The assembly also includes a support member placed in a recess of the second static structure, wherein the support member includes first and second curved surfaces to contact the first and second static structures, respectively, and wherein the support member includes a biasing structure to retain the support member in the recess.
US08967949B2	Sound-proofed helicocentrifugal fan A sound-proofed helicocentrifugal fan includes a helicocentrifugal propeller associated with a motor, housed in a casing formed by a central piece and respective end pieces, which pieces are perforated with holes distributed over the entire surface except for the area around the propeller. A sound-absorbing blanket surrounds the casing, and an outer casing is disposed around the entire assembly.
US08967939B2	Aircraft transporter dolly with hinged gate for moving aircraft An apparatus for moving parked aircraft with a tractor via an aircraft lift dolly which includes a hinged gate to entrap the aircraft nose gear. The aircraft lift dolly may be removably detachably coupled to the tractor through two attachment points to an intermediate connecting towbar. The aircraft lift dolly includes a lift mechanism having a lift carriage which is selectively elevated. The lift carriage includes a fixed forward chock and a rear chock that it repositioned longitudinally with respect to the forward chock and is hingedly coupled. The chocks are positioned about the aircraft nose gear without movement of the aircraft. Elevating the lift cradle elevates the chocks and the nose gear cradled therebetween.
US08967938B2	Transport tray A transport tray for use in an installation for manufacturing food products, the installation having actuators. The transport tray has a chassis and a bottom having two panels mounted on the chassis, each having a first parallel edge and being able to move in rotation about a rotation axis parallel to the first edges between a transport position in which the distance between the first edges is less than the diameter of the fruit products and an unloading position in which at least one of the first edges is lowered so that the distance between the first edges is greater than the diameter of the food products. Each panel cooperates with an actuator for passing it from the transport position to the unloading position. Apparatus is provided to prevent lifting of the first edge of each panel beyond the transport position.
US08967936B2	Sump clearing device A sump clearing device having a elongated tube attached to a backboard of a sweep auger. A second tube is attached to and extends through a sidewall of a grain bin. The second tube is aligned with the elongated tube. An elongated member having a clearing device is inserted through the second and elongated tube such that the clearing device is positioned above a center sump of the bin.
US08967935B2	Substrate loader and unloader A substrate loader adapted to load and unload a substrate to and from a moveable holder having a seal. The substrate loader has a base and a holder support frame coupled to the base, the holder support frame adapted to repeatably position the moveable holder relative to a predetermined datum. The substrate transport is coupled to the base and having a substrate chuck and adapted to move and transport the substrate relative to the holder. The substrate transport is deterministically positioned relative to the predetermined datum and is adapted to move the substrate from a first position, with the substrate captured by the moveable holder, to a second position with the substrate disengaged from the holder and the seal, the substrate transport movement of the substrate from the first to the second position effecting disengagement from the holder and the seal substantially without contacting the substrate.
US08967931B1	Apparatus for securing cargo An apparatus for securing a cargo item within a cargo area that is defined by a pickup truck bed and a bed liner that is disposed within the pickup truck bed, the bed liner defining a plurality of elongate grooves. The apparatus includes a rod that extends along an axis in an axial direction of the rod. An engaging structure is receivable within at least one groove from the plurality of elongate grooves of the bed liner for engagement with the bed liner. An adjustable connecting structure connects the engaging structure to the rod and allows adjustment of an axial position of the engaging structure along the rod in the axial direction of the rod. A body is connected to the rod for engaging the cargo item.
US08967930B2	Transport system for large items A transport system for transporting large items wherein the large items comprise at least three through going holes and said system comprises a frame to support the items. Said frame has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises two parallel longitudinal beams connected by two parallel transverse beams and further comprises at least two transverse support bars to support the items, which transverse support bars are located between the two parallel transverse beams. The transport system further comprises a first and a second rod to be mounted in two through going holes in the items where each end of the first and second rod can be connected to the longitudinal beams to secure the items to the frame in such a way that no part of the large items extends over the rectangle defined by the two parallel longitudinal beams and the two parallel transverse beams.
US08967925B2	Machine tool A machine tool re-machines a workpiece after positioning drive motors, a hob and the workpiece by stopping the drive motors with the rotational positions of the drive motors, the hob and the workpiece corresponding to their respective zero positions. For this purpose, a drive control section recognizes, based on the rotational-speed ratio of the drive motor corresponding to the hob and the hob and/or the rotational-speed ratio of the drive motor corresponding to the workpiece to the workpiece, and detection signals from detection sensors detecting that the rotational positions of the drive motors are at their respective zero positions, detections signals when the rotational positions of the drive motors and the rotational positions of the hob and the workpiece correspond to their respective zero positions, and stops the drive motors with the rotational positions of the drive motors, the hob and the workpiece corresponding to their respective zero positions.
US08967924B2	Core drilling machine having an interchangeable drill bit A core drilling machine having an axial extending hollow drill shaft supported rotatably in a housing and rotated by means of a drive unit; a coaxial tool holder receiving an axially displaceable drill bit, the tool holder having a locking mechanism securing the drill bit in a rotationally fixed manner to the hollow drill shaft; wherein the hollow drill shaft is suitable for receiving a shaft of an interchangeable centre drill, the center drill axially supported against a first spring element; and an axial stop element preventing in a first position a complete displacement of the center drill into the interior of the hollow drill shaft and allows in a second position a complete displacement of the center drill into the interior of the hollow drill shaft; and an activation device for activating the first or second positions of the stop element.
US08967921B2	Cutting insert and cutting tool A cutting insert is capable of boring or drilling without the formation of a prepared hole in a workpiece. A cutting edge includes a cutting edge portion extending from the outer peripheral side to the tool center axis side of a cutting tool body when the cutting insert is attached to a mounting seat, reaching a first plane including the tool center axis, and traversing from one side to the other side of a second plane which is perpendicular to the first plane and which includes the tool center axis.
US08967920B2	Cutting insert and chip-control arrangement therefor A cutting insert has at least first and second side surfaces, with a chip-control arrangement. The chip-control arrangement includes at least one projection disposed at an intersection of a corner of the cutting insert. When the chip-control arrangement includes two projections they can be disposed symmetrically on both sides of the intersection. Each of the at least one projections is elongated and extends longitudinally along an associated side surface.
US08967919B2	System and process for injecting catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit A preferred embodiment of a system for loading catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit includes a bin for storing at least one of the catalyst and/or additives, and a loading unit in fluid communication with the storage bin and the fluidized catalytic cracking unit on a selective basis. The loading unit is capable of being evacuated so that a resulting vacuum within the loading unit draws the catalyst and/or additive from the bin. The loading unit is also capable of being pressurized so that the catalyst and/or additive is transferred from the loading unit to the fluidized catalytic cracking unit.
US08967918B2	Anchor arrangement for use with open mat system; open mat system; and methods for reinforcing earth An open mat system to reinforce turf includes an anchor arrangement to help secure the mat to the turf. The anchor arrangement includes an anchor head embedded in the earth, a cable connected to the anchor head, a cable connector device, and a brace. The cable is inserted into the connector device, which holds the cable against withdrawal from the connector device. The brace includes a receiver, in which the cable connector device is removably oriented in the receiver.
US08967917B1	Retaining wall system A retaining wall system has a plurality of pilasters, a plurality of spiralnails, a wire truss system, and a plurality of face panels. The plurality of pilasters are horizontally spaced along the earthen embankment, and each have an elongate pilaster body that is vertically mounted on the earthen embankment. The plurality of spiralnails that have each been driven into the earthen embankment are attached to one of the plurality of pilasters to anchor the pilasters in the earthen embankment. The wire truss system is operably mounted on the plurality of pilasters, and includes a pilaster attachment portion, a wire lattice body with a V-shaped portion, and an interlocking portion that interlocks with at least one adjacent truss element. The plurality of face panels are operably attached to the wire truss system to cover the V-shaped portions of the truss elements.
US08967914B2	Riser protection structures The present invention provides a riser protection structure being suitable to be employed in a Jackup rig. The riser protection structure comprises a plurality of piles, an upper module, wherein the upper module comprises a main protection tubing for receiving a riser, a plurality of sleeves to be installed over the plurality of piles, and a connecting network; wherein the plurality of sleeves are disposed around the main protection tubing; and wherein the main protection tubing and the plurality of sleeves are connected together by the connecting network, and a lower module, wherein the lower module comprises a plurality of tubular guides for guiding and later fixing the piles and a connecting structure, wherein the plurality of piles are securely disposed into the seabed for providing the requisite support for the upper and lower modules when they are assembled.
US08967907B2	Artificial flagstone for providing a surface with a natural random look An artificial flagstone for use in combination with other similar flagstones for covering a surface with a natural random look, the flagstone having a generally hexagonal body comprising a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth consecutive vertices; a first pair of first and second sides extending radially from the first vertex; a second pair of third and fourth sides extending radially from the third vertex; a third pair of fifth and sixth sides extending radially from the fifth vertex; wherein the sides of at least one of the first, second and third pair of sides have at least one split deviation along their length and are respectively rotational images of each other, and the artificial flagstone has no rotational symmetry when rotated about a central axis.
US08967904B1	Tactile plate assembly A tactile plate assembly used as a tactile warning device on walkways comprises a plurality of tactile plates with texture for providing tactile awareness. A connecting bracket attaches first and second tactile plates to each other to form a pair of tactile plates. Interlocking brackets, having first and second ends, attach two pairs of tactile plates together, forming a tactile plate subassembly. The interlocking brackets each includes a first end with a tab extending at an angle and a second end with a hole. The interlocking brackets can mate with one another to allow connection of multiple tactile plate subassemblies together. The interlocking brackets include multiple holes of sufficient size to allow a substrate such as concrete or asphalt to flow therethrough to anchor the tactile plate assembly in place. The connecting brackets may also include similar holes of sufficient size to allow a substrate to flow therethrough.
US08967900B2	Hygienic writing instrument and method of using A hygienic modular writing utensil and method of using for eliminating or minimizing the spread of germs, bacteria and the like between a first and a second user. The utensil has an External Protective Shield with a first holding area for use by the first user and a removable Internal Writing Utensil with a second holding area for use by the second user. The External Protective Shield has an internal cleaning element and the Internal Writing Utensil has a removable cap on its outer end, whereby when the first user pulls the Internal Writing Utensil out from the External Protective Shield or reinserts the Internal Writing Utensil back into the External Protective Shield by grasping the exterior surface of the removable cap, an outer surface of the Internal Writing Utensil, including the second holding area is cleaned.
US08967898B1	Multi-function back and body scrubber A multi-function back and body scrubber to enable a user to wash, scrub, massage and exfoliate his back and other areas of his body while taking a bath or a shower. The multi-function scrubber includes a shaft that is filled with fluid (e.g., body wash), a flexible thumb pump detachably connected to one end of the shaft, and a double-sided scrubbing head connected to the opposite end. The scrubbing head has first and second cleaning surfaces (e.g., a loofah sponge and a plurality of raised bumps) that are detachable and interchangeable with one another. When the thumb pump is squeezed, fluid is forced from the shaft to one of the cleaning surfaces of the double-sided scrubbing head. The scrubbing head is detachable from the shaft to be held in a hand of the user so that fluid can be dispensed from the shaft thereto.
US08967897B2	Cosmetic dispensers with a translucent wall and an opaque housing A cosmetic dispenser includes a translucent reservoir sandwiched in-between a shelled wall and a solid wall of an opaque housing. The shelled wall provides exposure to a portion of the translucent reservoir, the exposed portion of the translucent reservoir defines a flexible wall. The translucent reservoir being formed of a substantially more supple material than the opaque housing, thereby providing the flexible wall to displace a portion of product stored in the translucent reservoir.
US08967893B2	Printer with cutter protection mechanism A printer includes a main body case in which a sheet roll is installed, a sheet discharge port from which a printed sheet of paper is discharged, an opening/closing cover that opens and closes with respect to the main body case, a cutter that is attached to the opening/closing cover and configured to cut the printed sheet of paper from the sheet roll, and a cutter protection mechanism configured to move in correspondence with an opening movement or a closing movement of the opening/closing cover. The cutter protection mechanism is configured to expose the cutter at the sheet discharge port when the opening/closing cover is in an open state and conceal the cutter when the opening/closing cover is in a closed state.
US08967888B2	Dry silicone gels and their methods of making using thiol-ene chemistry Methods and systems are provided for a dry silicone gel. The dry silicone gel comprises a base polymer having a vinyl-silicone group and a crosslinker having thiol groups. The dry silicone gel may be made without the use of a catalyst by reacting the base polymer and crosslinker in the presence of a photo or thermal initiator. In some embodiments, the gel also comprises a chain extender having thiol groups. In certain embodiments, the dry silicone gel may comprise: (1) a hardness between 100 g and 300 g, (2) a stress relaxation between 30% and 60% when subjected to a deformation of 50% of the original size of the gel, (3) a compression set between 4% and 20% after 50% strain has been applied to the gel for 1000 hours at 70° C., and/or (4) less than 10% oil bleed out under compression of 1.2 atm after 60 days at 60° C.
US08967886B2	Optical connector with printed circuit board and lens element bonded to each other An optical connector includes a substrate and a lens element. The lens element includes a first bottom surface contacting with the substrate, and the lens element defines a groove in the bottom surface.
US08967883B2	Modular surgical laser systems Laser emission systems for surgical and other therapeutic uses are herein disclosed. In the preferred embodiments, different laser control systems are disclosed each capable of multiple, simultaneous emission of lasers of different wavelengths in a single beam. The embodiments feature a handheld wireless laser module or a portable console with a laser tip extending therefrom. The laser module is controlled by wireless footswitch. Fiber extension modules may be used with the later embodiment.
US08967882B2	Optical fiber connector An optical fiber connector for positioning a number of optical fibers is provided. The optical fiber connector includes an assembling portion and a number of guiding blocks protruding from the assembling portion. The assembling portion defines a number of positioning holes corresponding to the optical fibers in position. The guiding blocks and the positioning holes are alternatively arranged on the assembling portion. Each guiding block includes a wedge portion at an end away from the assembling portion for guiding a corresponding one of the optical fibers into a corresponding one of the positioning holes.
US08967879B2	Cage for rolling bodies of a bearing A cage for rolling elements of a bearing, which has a plastic base body and a metal coating fixed to the base body and at least partially covering the the base body. The cage provides mechanical stability, wear-resistance and corrosion resistance. This is achieved by the metal, at least sections, having a nanocrystalline granular structure.
US08967878B2	In-transit mixing machine drive An in-transit mixing machine drive (2) having an output bearing (8) for supporting an output shaft for rotation relative to a drive housing, in which the output shaft is arranged inclined relative to a horizontal plane (5) at an angle (α) and the output bearing (8) is formed by a pendulum roller bearing (9) whose rolling bodies (13, 14) roll in two bearing rows (10, 11) at pressure angles (β, γ) about a bearing axis (12). The pressure angles (β, γ) of the two bearing rows (10, 11) differ from each other or the rolling bodies (13, 14) of the two bearing rows (10, 11) differ from each other.
US08967873B2	Flexible bearing cage A rolling element guide for a bearing assembly formed with cantilevered arms, the arms flexibly adjusting to contact with a guide surface of an inner or outer ring of a bearing. Lubrication channels in a surface of the cage are also disclosed.
US08967872B2	Bearing assemblies, and related methods Bearing components, bearing assemblies and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a bearing element includes a base layer and a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) layer comprising a plurality of PCD elements coupled with the base layer wherein each PCD element comprising a substrate and a diamond table. The plurality of PCD elements may be fit together to form a substantially continuous bearing surface. For example, the diamond tables may exhibit substantially square or rectangular geometries that are fit together to define the bearing surface. In other embodiments, the bearing elements may be spaced apart from one another. In other embodiments, the bearing element may include a single PCD element formed from a prefabricated PCD compact or cutting tool blank. Various bearing assemblies may incorporate such a bearing element including, for example, thrust bearings, journal bearings, and tilting pad bearing assemblies.
US08967869B2	Component with a sliding surface for bearing another component, and method for producing a sliding layer Particles, embedded into a sliding layer, have a coating, within which a lubricant, e.g., a liquid, is contained. A component with the sliding layer provides a sliding surface that can be used as a backup bearing to ensure emergency operating properties, for example, of a shaft that is mounted in a main bearing. When the shaft strikes the bearing surface, the coating of the particles that are exposed on the bearing surface are destroyed and the lubricant can exit. Advantageously, the sliding properties of the sliding surface are thereby improved.
US08967865B2	Bearing apparatus, spindle motor, and disk drive apparatus A bearing apparatus includes a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a first circular plate portion and a first cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the first circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the first cylindrical portion. The stationary portion includes a second cup portion including a second circular plate portion arranged to extend radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of a stationary shaft below the first cup portion and a second cylindrical portion arranged to project upward from an outer edge portion of the second circular plate portion. One of the first and second cup portions is integral with the stationary shaft defining a single monolithic member, and the other is fixed to the stationary shaft.
US08967863B1	Bearings, bearing apparatus, and systems including the same A bearing ring for use in bearing apparatuses is disclosed. Such a bearing ring may comprise a body having a first array and a second array of bearing elements mounted to the body. The body may have an annular shape and the first array and the second array may be a concentric elliptical shapes, including circles. The body may comprise a plurality of bearing element pockets into which the bearing elements are disposed. In one aspect of the instant disclosure, the material of the bearing elements comprises polycrystalline diamond. A bearing apparatus comprising a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring is also disclosed. A drilling system for use in drilling subterranean formations employing the bearing apparatus is also disclosed.
US08967861B2	Radiographic image detection apparatus A radiographic image detection apparatus includes a detection panel and a housing for containing the detection panel. The housing consists of a front surface member, a back surface member, and a carbon plate attached so as to cover an opening formed in the front surface member. The carbon plate is faced to the detection panel. To the carbon plate is adhered a transparent sheet having transmissivity to radiation and visible light. A first index and a second index are printed on an inner surface of the transparent sheet. The first index is a square-frame shaped index showing a radiation detection range of the detection panel. The second index is a cross-shaped index showing a center position of the radiation detection range. The first and second indices are formed of nonmetallic UV curable ink having no radiation shielding properties.
US08967860B2	Low temperature measurement and control using low temperature pyrometry Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for measuring, calibrating, and controlling substrate temperature during low temperature and high temperature processing. In one embodiment, the method includes epitaxially forming a layer stack on a substrate placed on a support plate, measuring a temperature of the substrate with a first pyrometer disposed over the substrate, measuring a temperature of the support plate with a second pyrometer disposed below the support plate, calibrating the first pyrometer at multiple temperature points based on actual temperature readings of the substrate to generate a first set of calibrated temperature readings associated with the substrate, calibrating the second pyrometer using the set of calibrated temperature readings as a reference to generate a second set of calibrated temperature readings associated with the support plate, and controlling a power supplied to a heat source configured to heat the substrate based on the second set of calibrated temperature readings.
US08967856B2	Semiconductor temperature sensors A temperature sensing device for an integrated circuit comprises an oscillator (2) having a characteristic frequency dependent on the temperature and a digital counter (16) arranged to count a number of pulses generated by the oscillator (2) in a given time interval, or the time taken for the oscillator to generate a given number of pulses. Either of these gives a measured value. The device is configured to use a difference between the measured value and a stored reference value in a linearisation algorithm to estimate a temperature.
US08967851B1	Spectral monitoring of ingredient blending Spectral and hyperspectral imaging systems allow monitoring of pharmaceutical or other industrial blending processes to establish the characteristics of the blend. To illustrate, a batch type blender may be equipped with a computer controlled drive mechanism that is slowed down at a predetermined point during rotation to assess the progress of the blending through an imaging window mounted on the blender. A fast hyperspectral imaging device can be provided directly on the blender to view the blend through the imaging window, or can be placed in a fixed position relative to the rotating blender. The image of the blend is preferably captured line-by-line at a location at or near the bottom of the blender synchronously with the blender's rotation. The spectral information acquired from the blend at each rotation can be used to assess whether the nominal blend composition is achieved, or to reveal uniformity of the blend.
US08967846B2	Solid state continuous white light source A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in life sciences including, microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. The white light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and is suitable for imaging all the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins. In embodiments, an LED light pipe engine is used to generate a portion of the spectral content of the white light output. In alternative embodiments the solid state illumination system produces light output of a selectable color.
US08967844B2	Low profile light and accessory kit for the same A luminaire includes a heat spreader, a heat sink, a light source and an outer optic. The heat sink is substantially ring-shaped and is disposed around and in thermal communication with an outer periphery of the heat spreader. The light source is disposed in thermal communication with the heat spreader, the light source having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are disposed in thermal communication with the heat spreader. The outer optic is disposed in optical communication with the plurality of LEDs. The heat spreader, the heat sink and the outer optic, in combination, have an overall height H and an overall outside dimension D such that the ratio of H/D is so dimensioned as to: cover an opening defined by a nominally sized four-inch can light fixture; and, cover an opening defined by a nominally sized four-inch electrical junction box.
US08967843B2	LED vehicle headlamp A vehicle headlight includes at least one stationary reflector and at least one reflector adjustable with respect to the at least one stationary reflector. The headlight includes at least two light sources including at least one LED, wherein each of the reflectors is assigned at least one of the light sources, and an assembly body for fastening the at least one stationary reflector and the at least two light sources. The assembly body includes a main body, on which the at least one stationary reflector is assembled. and an exchange body, on which the at least two light sources are fastened. The main body has a through-opening for insertion of a light source support element from the side facing away from the reflectors. Referencing or positioning means are provided on the exchange body in order to fasten the two bodies to one another in a positionally accurate manner.
US08967837B2	Solid state light with features for controlling light distribution and air cooling channels A solid state light having a shell forming an interior volume and with surface texture for redirecting light. A light section is coupled to the shell, and a light source board in the light section includes at least one solid state light source such as an LED. The shell, light section, and light source board have apertures for providing an air cooling channel through the light. The solid state light source transmits light into the interior volume, and the light exits from the shell and is redirected by the surface texture, providing for various light distribution curves of the light.
US08967835B2	Lens having positioning structure for accurately mounting the lens over a light source module An exemplary lens for regulating light of an LED includes a light guiding portion and a latching portion extending downwardly from the light guiding portion. The light guiding portion includes a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface. A center of the bottom surface is depressed toward the top surface to form an optical concave. The latching portion is formed at the bottom surface and located around the optical concave surface. The latching portion defines an engaging hole to fittingly receive the LED therein. A light source module having the lens is also provided.
US08967833B2	LED lens and light source device using the same The present invention discloses an LED lens and a light source device using the same. The light source device includes the LED lens and a LED. The LED lens comprises a light incident surface, a light emitting surface, and a bottom surface. The light emitting surface includes a recession portion disposed at the central thereof and a convex portion connected to the recession portion. The light incident surface is a concave surface and comprises a first optically active area and a second optically active area. The first optically active area is disposed at the central of the light incident surface; the second optically active area is connected to the first optically active area and the bottom surface. At the junction between the first optically active area and the second optically active area, it is an optical path inversion point that is disposed satisfying specific condition.
US08967829B2	Illumination device employing LEDS that has equivalent light distribution characteristics of incandescent lamps An LED bulb (100) including a light source device (105) provided on a mounting plate (102) and covered by a globe (104) in a shape of a spherical shell is configured such that the light source device (105) includes: a reflecting member (108) in a truncated cone shape; and a plurality of LED chips (15) provided on a top surface of the substrate (11), at least a side face of the reflecting member (108) has a light reflecting function, and the light source device (105) is provided on the mounting plate (102) in such a way that a bottom surface of the substrate (11) faces the mounting plate (102).
US08967822B2	Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display module using the same A backlight assembly includes at least one backlight sub-unit, the backlight sub-unit including a light emitting diode (LED) unit that includes at least one LED that emit a predetermined color arranged in a predetermined pattern and a sidewall surrounding the LED unit.
US08967821B2	Lighting device with low glare and high light level uniformity A lighting device, comprising at least a first light control element, at least a first light source positioned so that at least a portion of light emitted by the first light source passes through at least a portion of the first light control element and at least a first luminescent material, at least a portion of the first luminescent material being spaced from the first light source, the first luminescent material being positioned so that at least a portion of light emitted by the first light source excites at least a portion of the first luminescent material.
US08967819B2	Light curing device A light curing device (10) for dental purposes which is provided with a housing (12), at least one control element for controlling the operation of the light curing device and an actuating member (26) which is mounted moveably relative to the housing for the actuation of the control element. The light curing device is provided with at least two control elements (44, 46) spaced apart from each other which are electrically connected in parallel. Furthermore, at least one of the control elements (44, 46) can be actuated by actuation of the actuating member (26).
US08967817B2	Imaging optical system with at most 11.6% of the illuminated surfaces of the pupil plane being obscured The disclosure generally relates to imaging optical systems that include a plurality of mirrors, which image an object field lying in an object plane in an image field lying in an image plane, where at least one of the mirrors has a through-hole for imaging light to pass through. The disclosure also generally relates to projection exposure installations that include such imaging optical systems, methods of using such projection exposure installations, and components made by such methods.
US08967813B2	Lens frame, lens holding device, and projector A lens frame configured to hold a lens of an optical system of a projector comprising: a holder being formed along the periphery of the lens, holds the lens which is inserted by an elastic force of the frame main body, the holder includes a first holding portion configured to hold a peripheral end surface of the lens, and a second holding portion configured to hold a luminous flux incidence surface and luminous flux exit surface of the lens.
US08967811B2	Solid state continuous white light source A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in life sciences including, microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. The white light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and is suitable for imaging all the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins. In embodiments, an LED light pipe engine is used to generate a portion of the spectral content of the white light output. In alternative embodiments the solid state illumination system produces light output of a selectable color.
US08967809B2	Methods and systems for intelligent visual function assessments A system and method of testing vision performance includes displaying a visual recognition test to a subject and receiving from the subject a response to the visual recognition test. After receiving the response to the visual recognition test, a subsequent visual recognition test is selected based on the response received from the subject, the subsequent visual recognition test is displayed, and a response is received from the subject. The subsequent visual recognition tests are repeated until a predetermined criterion is reached. A vision performance score is determined based on the visual recognition tests displayed and the set of responses received from the subject and output from the system.
US08967806B2	Fundus camera with strip-shaped pupil division, and method for recording artifact-free, high-resolution fundus images A fundus camera for the recording of high-resolution color images of the fundus of non-dark-adapted eyes, and without the use of a mydriatic. The fundus camera has a strip-shaped pupil division, and includes a coherent or incoherent illumination source with illumination optics, a deflection mirror and an ophthalmoscope lens for illuminating the eye, detection optics and a detector for detecting the light reflected by the eye, and a control and evaluation unit. The deflection mirror has a strip shape, and the spatially resolving detector can be activated and read out in sectors. The control and evaluation unit connects the data read out in sectors in the form of a bright image from the detector and produce a resulting fundus image. The fundus camera records images of the fundus when the eyes are not dark-adapted for this purpose and no mydriatic has been used.
US08967802B2	Ophthalmic apparatus An ophthalmic apparatus which is configured to inspect a plurality of eye characteristics of an eye to be examined which is fixed by a face support unit, the apparatus comprises: an optometric unit configured to include a first optometric portion including a first optical system for inspecting a first eye characteristic of the eye, and a second optometric portion including a second optical system for inspecting a second eye characteristic different from the first eye characteristic; and a changing unit configured to change a direction of the optometric unit relative to the eye to switch to inspection by one of the first optometric portion and the second optometric portion.
US08967800B2	Method of making eyewear having flexible frame with rigid lens retainer A lens is permanently engaged with a substantially rigid lens retaining apparatus to form a lens unit during a formation molding process of the lens retaining apparatus. The rigid lens retaining apparatus is permanently engaged with a substantially flexible eyewear frame during a formation molding process of the frame. Therefore, a secure attachment of lenses to the substantially flexible eyewear frame through rigid lens retaining apparatus is provided.
US08967797B2	Adjustable focus spectacles Adjustable focus eyeglasses where the range of adjustment can be moved. That is, if a pair of adjustable focus eyeglasses have a range of 0 diopters to 2.75 diopters (to provide a 2.75 D ADD for reading for an emmetrope), this invention could, for example, permit the user to move the range from 0 D to 2.75 D to 2.00 D to 4.75 D so as to accommodate a short term change in the user's distance vision requirement. Each eye can be adjusted independently.
US08967791B2	Method of printing blinds with a fixed bed inkjet printer A method of producing a set of blinds with a custom printed graphic image disclosed. The set of blinds have slats which are not connected and thus the set of blinds can be assembled easily after having been printed on.

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