最新美国发明专利第2015-11-10期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09181660B2	Self-propelled civil engineering machine and method of controlling a civil engineering machine A civil engineering machine and a method of controlling the machine are based on the position of at least one reference point which is relevant to the control of the civil engineering machine being changed, as the civil engineering machine moves, as a function of a relative position of the at least one reference point relative to a desired path of travel.
US09181657B2	Method of increasing paper strength by using natural gums and dry strength agent in the wet end The invention provides a method of improving dewatering efficiency, increasing sheet wet web strength, increasing sheet wet strength and enhancing filler retention in a papermaking process. The method improves the efficiency of drainage aids or wet web strength aids or wet strength aid by coating at least some of the filler particles with a natural gum and with a material that prevents the filler materials form adhering to those additives. The drainage additive or wet web strength additive or wet strength aid holds the cellulose fibers together tightly and is not wasted on the filler particles.
US09181651B2	Hand-held clothing iron A hand-held clothing iron that solves the problems of the prior art by providing a clamping iron that is used on an article of clothing while it remains hanging, including the ability to apply disparate levels of heat to different sections of the clothing to provide the ideal temperature for each section.
US09181647B2	Water-conducting domestic appliance comprising a treatment region which can be ventilated A water-conducting domestic appliance includes a housing having an interior, and a door which is connected to the housing to provide access to a treatment region in the interior of the housing. A ventilation valve controls ventilation of the treatment region of the housing. A door closure is provided to close the door and has an actuator which is connected to the ventilation valve. The door closure is actively connected to the ventilation valve in such a manner that the actuator opens the ventilation valve when the door is released and closes the ventilation valve when the door is closed, so that the ventilation valve is closed when the door is closed during operation.
US09181646B2	Method of manufacturing velvet plush and article thereof A method of manufacturing a velvet plush article includes the steps of: weaving a greige cloth by interweaving face yarns and backing yarns, wherein the face yarns are selected from single-ply bright trilobal yarns and two-ply yarns and the backing yarns are selected from FDY or DTY yarn; pre-processing the greige cloth by brushing, first setting, singeing and second setting the greige cloth sequentially; dyeing and/or printing the greige cloth; and finishing the greige cloth by softening, drying, brushing, stentering, heat-setting, singeing, shearing and final heat-setting the greige cloth. Accordingly, a velvet plush article having superior smoothness and softness for providing a superior touch and feel comfort is achieved. The velvet plush article may be a velvet plush throw or blanket, or a velvet plush cloth for further processing.
US09181640B2	Carbon-fiber chopped strand and manufacturing method of the same Disclosed is a carbon-fiber chopped strand, and a manufacturing method of the same. The carbon-fiber chopped strand is composed of single filaments composed of 30,000-120,000 carbon fibers, and a sizing agent content 1-10% by weight that bundles the single filaments; the ratio of maximum diameter (Dmax) in the cross section and minimum diameter (Dmin) is 1.0-1.8, a length along a fiber direction is 3-10 mm, and a repose angle of 10-30°.
US09181636B2	Electrospun ceramic-polymer composite as a scaffold for tissue repair The present invention relates to compositions and methods of preparing a three-dimensional matrix of micron sized electrospun fibers, wherein the electrospun fibers are formed from a electrospun composite comprising a bioactive ceramic component and a polymer component. The matrix provides an osteoconductive and osteoinductive scaffold supporting osteogenesis and thereby facilitates bone repair.
US09181631B2	Silicon crystalline material and method for manufacturing the same Provided is a silicon crystalline material, which is manufactured by a CZ method to be used as a material bar for manufacturing a silicon single crystal by an FZ method and has a grasping section for being loaded in a crystal growing furnace employing the FZ method without requiring mechanical processing. A method for manufacturing such silicon crystalline material is also provided. The silicon crystalline material is manufactured by the silicon crystal manufacturing method employing the CZ method and is provided with the grasping section, which is manufactured in a similar way as a shoulder portion, a straight body portion and a tail portion in a silicon crystal growing step employing the CZ method, and is loaded in a single crystal manufacturing apparatus employing the FZ method to grow single crystals. A seed-crystal used in the silicon crystal manufacture employing the CZ method is used as the grasping section. The grasping section is manufactured by temporarily changing crystal growing conditions to form a protruding section or a recessed section on the outer circumference surface of the straight body section or by forming a dent on the shoulder portion of the straight body portion, at the time of manufacturing the silicon crystal by the CZ method.
US09181625B2	Devices and processes for carbon dioxide conversion into useful fuels and chemicals Electrochemical devices for converting carbon dioxide to useful reaction products include a solid or a liquid with a specific pH and/or water content. Chemical processes using the devices are also disclosed, including processes to produce CO, HCO−, H2CO, (HCO2)−, H2CO2, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO−, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, (COO−)2, acrylic acid, diphenyl carbonate, other carbonates, other organic acids and synthetic fuels. The electrochemical device can be a CO2 sensor.
US09181621B2	Coatings for cutting tools In one aspect, cutting tools are described having coatings adhered thereto which, in some embodiments, can demonstrate desirable wear resistance and increased cutting lifetimes. A coated cutting tool, in some embodiments, comprises a substrate and a coating adhered to the substrate, the coating comprising a polycrystalline layer of TiZrAl2O3.
US09181616B2	Chromium-based reflective coating A chromium-based reflective coating for a polymeric substrate, wherein the coating has a thickness of 200 nm or less and is an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.
US09181614B2	Method for manufacturing a coated metal strip with an enhanced appearance One subject of the invention is a process for manufacturing a metal strip having a metal coating for corrosion protection, comprising the steps consisting in: making the metal strip pass through a bath of molten metal, comprising 0.2 to 8% by weight of aluminum and magnesium in the following proportions: 0.1 to 8% by weight of magnesium for an aluminum content equal to or greater than 0.2% but less than 4% by weight or a content greater than 5% but less than or equal to 8% by weight of magnesium for an aluminum content equal to or greater than 4% but less than or equal to 8% by weight, and comprising up to 0.3% by weight of addition elements, the balance being zinc and inevitable impurities; then wiping the coated metal strip by means of nozzles that spray a gas on each side of the strip, said gas having an oxidizing power lower than that of an atmosphere consisting of 4% oxygen by volume and 96% nitrogen by volume; and then making the strip pass through a confinement zone bounded: at the bottom, by the wiping line and the upper external faces of said wiping nozzles, at the top, by the upper part of two confinement boxes placed on each side of the strip, just above said nozzles, and having a height of at least 10 cm in relation to the wiping line and on the sides, by the lateral parts of said confinement boxes, the atmosphere in said confinement zone having an oxidizing power lower than that of an atmosphere consisting of 4% oxygen by volume and 96% nitrogen by volume and higher than that of an atmosphere consisting of 0.15% oxygen by volume and 99.85% nitrogen by volume. Other subjects of the invention are a metal strip that can be obtained by this process and a metal part obtained by deforming this strip.
US09181612B2	Manufacturing equipment for galvannealed steel sheet, and manufacturing method of galvannealed steel sheet A manufacturing equipment for galvannealed steel sheet includes coating tub to coat steel sheet dipped in coating bath wherein the bath including molten zinc and is stored at bath temperature T1, separating tub to separate by flotation top-dross by precipitating the top-dross in the bath wherein the bath transferred from the coating tub is stored at bath temperature T2 lower than T1, Fe of the bath is supersaturated, and Al concentration A2 of the bath is controlled to high concentration by supplying first metal, adjusting tub to adjust Al concentration A3 of the bath by supplying second metal wherein the bath transferred from the separating tub is stored at bath temperature T3 higher than T2, Fe of the bath is unsaturated, and dross is dissolved, and circulator to circulate the bath in order of the coating tub, the separating tub, and the adjusting tub.
US09181609B2	Welded steel pipe for linepipe having high compressive strength and excellent sour gas resistance and manufacturing method thereof Provided is a steel pipe for a linepipe having high compressive strength, a heavy wall thickness and sour gas resistance. The steel pipe has the composition which contains by mass % 0.02 to 0.06% C, 0.01 to 0.5% Si, 0.8 to 1.6% Mn, 0.012% or less P, 0.0015% or less S, 0.01 to 0.08% Al, 0.005 to 0.050% Nb, 0.005 to 0.025% Ti, 0.0005 to 0.0035% Ca, 0.0020 to 0.0060% N, and Fe and unavoidable impurities as a balance. The steel pipe has metal microstructure where a fraction of bainite is 80% or more, a fraction of M-A constituent is 2% or less and an average grain size of bainite is 5 μm or less.
US09181607B2	Apparatus and method for producing Mg(2)Si(1-x)Sn(x) polycrystal Provided are an apparatus and a method for producing an inexpensive Mg2Si1-xSnx polycrystal that can be effectively used as thermoelectric conversion materials that can be expected to have a high performance index by doping if necessary.A problem can be solved by a production apparatus 1 for producing an Mg2Si1-xSnx polycrystal including at least a reaction vessel for synthesis of Mg2Si1-xSnx represented by the following formula (1) by filling a mixture of Mg particles and Si particles or Mg particles and Sn particles, or Mg—Si alloy particles or Mg—Sn alloy particles as a main starting material 2 to cause a reaction; an inorganic fiber layer 6 which is fixedly provided above the starting material 2 filled into the reaction vessel 3 and has air permeability, which can be caused to disappear by a product 7 generated by chemical reaction of vaporized Mg with oxygen during the synthesis of the polycrystal 12; heating means 8 for heating the reaction vessel 3; and control means 9 for controlling the heating temperature and heating time of the reaction vessel 3, wherein Mg2Si1-xSnx (1) (in the formula (1), x is 0 to 1).
US09181604B2	Treatment of titanium ores A method of producing titanium, comprising providing an oxide of titanium having a level of impurities of at least 1.0 wt %, reacting the oxide of titanium to form a titanium oxycarbide; and electrolyzing the titanium oxycarbide in an electrolyte, with the titanium oxycarbide configured as an anode; and recovering a refined titanium metal from a cathode in the electrolyte.
US09181601B2	Process to produce manganese pellets from non-calcinated manganese ore and agglomerate obtained by this process It is described a manganese pellet production from non-calcinated manganese ore, comprising the following phases: (a) ore size preparation through ore classification by function of particle size, smaller or equal to 1 mm particles being maintained from the ore particle fraction process so as to have a smaller or equal to 1 mm size, as well as the comminution of these particles; (b) flux addition; (c) agglomerant addition; (d) pelletizing resulting in crude pellets; and (e) thermal processing through crude pellet drying, pre-heating and heating.
US09181600B2	Heat treatment apparatus and heat treatment method The present invention relates to a heat treatment apparatus and a heat treatment method that control temperature distribution during cooling. There is provided a cooling step in which a heated treatment object is cooled using a cooling liquid in mist form, and heat treatment is performed by alternatingly repeating a first step (K1) in which the treatment object is cooled at a first mist density, and a second step (K2) in which the treatment object is cooled at a second mist density that is less dense than the first mist density.
US09181596B2	Method and device for treating a material exposed to a magnetic field The disclosure concerns a method for treating a material in a static magnetic field having an intensity of more than 1 Tesla, including the following steps: a first step to heat the material, a second step to apply to the material a thermal shock and/or thermomechanical treatment and/or chemical treatment, wherein during at least the second treatment step, the material is subjected to the magnetic field while being held in position within the magnetic field. The disclosure also concerns a device for implementing the method, the device including: a support to hold the material during the steps of the cycle, a device to apply the static magnetic field capable of generating a magnetic field of intensity higher than 1 Tesla, a first system allowing heating of the material, a second system for implementing the subsequent step of the cycle.
US09181591B2	Quantification of adaptive immune cell genomes in a complex mixture of cells Compositions and methods are described for highly sensitive quantification of the relative representation of DNA from adaptive immune cells (e.g., T and/or B lymphocytes) in DNA extracted from complex mixtures of cells that include cells which are not adaptive immune cells. Included are methods for determining the relative presence in a tumor of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), the relative presence of lymphocytes infiltrating a somatic tissue that is the target of an autoimmune disease, and the relative presence of lymphocytes infiltrating a transplanted organ.
US09181589B2	Molecular-based method of cancer diagnosis and prognosis A gene profiling signature for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the gene signature includes 32 or 79 cancer survival factor-associated genes. Thus, provided herein is a method of determining the prognosis of a subject with a tumor by detecting expression of five of more cancer survival factor-associated genes in a tumor sample and comparing expression of the five or more cancer survival factor-associated genes in the tumor sample to a control. In some examples, an increase in expression of ABCF1, CORO1C, DPP3, PREB, UBE3A, and PTDSS1 in a tumor sample compared to a control sample indicates poor prognosis. Further provided are arrays including probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of cancer survival factor-associated genes or proteins.
US09181586B2	Detecting fetal chromosomal abnormalities using tandem single nucleotide polymorphisms The invention provides tandem single nucleotide polymorphisms and methods for their use, for example, in diagnosing Down Syndrome.
US09181585B2	Methods of genotyping livestock The present invention relates to methods of genotyping for selecting an animal with a desired trait such as the level of monounsaturated fats in muscle tissue, the types and/or ratio of different monounsaturated fats in muscle tissue, marbling, carcass weight, meat quality, speed of finishing, feedlot efficiency and/or consumer preference. In particular the invention relates to methods of selecting an animal with a desired trait by analyzing the M-RIP, NT5M and/or TCAP genes for one or more polymorphisms.
US09181583B2	HLA typing using selective amplification and sequencing Presented herein are methods and compositions for determining haplotypes in a sample. The methods are useful for obtaining sequence information regarding, for example, HLA type and haplotype. Also presented herein are methods of determining haplotypes in a sample based on a plurality sequence reads.
US09181579B2	Soluble analyte detection and amplification The present invention relates to a method of detection of a compound of interest that is present at low levels in a sample. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of detection of a compound of interest in solution by a nucleic acid-labelled binding construct, separation of the unbound nucleic acid-labelled binding construct, and the detection of the bound nucleic acid-labelled binding construct in the solution phase. The present invention is particularly adaptable to be used in conjunction with a nucleic acid amplification reaction for detecting the presence or absence of the nucleic acid portion of binding construct in a sample indicating the presence or absence of the compound of interest.
US09181578B2	Polynucleotide mapping and sequencing The present invention provides methods of obtaining structural information about a biopolymer sample. The methods include labeling portions of a biopolymer, such as DNA or RNA, linearizing the biopolymer in some cases, and determining the distance between the labels. The user can then compare different samples' between-label distances to qualitatively compare different samples and to assay a given sample for additions or deletions of nucleotides in the regions flanked by the labels. The methods also permit sequencing of biopolymers.
US09181574B2	L-amino acid oxidase, method for measuring L-lysine, kit and enzyme sensor Methods are provided measuring L-lysine using a variant enzyme, an L-lysine measurement kit, and an enzyme sensor. Variant L-amino acid oxidase having a predetermined amino acid mutation, and having oxidase activity that is highly substrate-specific for L-lysine; a method for measuring L-lysine using this variant enzyme; an L-lysine measurement kit; and an enzyme sensor are also provided.
US09181570B2	Variant LovD polypeptides and their uses The present disclosure provides acyltransferases useful for synthesizing therapeutically important statin compound.
US09181569B2	Method for producing acrylamide The present invention relates to a method for producing acrylamide comprising: supplying a raw material water to a reactor, supplying acrylonitrile to the reactor, and hydrating acrylonitrile using a biocatalyst, wherein a temperature of the raw material water in the supplying step of the raw material water to the reactor is equal to or more than freezing point of the raw material water and lower than the reaction temperature by 5° C. or more. The present invention can be provided to the method of producing acrylamide which can be removed the reaction heat produced at the hydration reaction of acrylonitrile effectively with a low cost.
US09181561B2	Adiponectin-containing eating behavior control agent for oral administration Disclosed is a technique that facilitates the oral ingestion of adiponectin in a large quantity and enables the expansion of the range of use applications of adiponectin. Specifically disclosed is an appetite control agent for oral administration, which comprises adiponectin as an active ingredient. Particularly, the appetite control agent comprises a transformant capable of expressing adiponectin. Also specifically disclosed is a food composition for controlling appetite, which comprises the appetite control agent.
US09181557B2	Uracil-requiring moorella bacteria and transforming-gene-introduced moorella bacteria The present invention provides uracil-requiring Moorella bacteria obtained by destroying a gene coding for orotidine-5-phosphate decarboxylase; and transforming-gene-introduced Moorella bacteria obtained by introducing a gene coding for orotidine-5-phosphate decarboxylase and a transforming-gene to a chromosome of the uracil-requiring Moorella bacteria. The present invention was accomplished by uracil-requiring Moorella bacteria, comprising an MTA-D-pF strain that is obtained by destroying a gene coding for orotidine-5-phosphate decarboxylase on a chromosome of Moorella bacteria.
US09181551B2	RNA interference mediated inhibition of gene expression using chemically modified short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to synthetic chemically modified small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against target nucleic acid sequences. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of any disease or condition that responds to modulation of gene expression or activity in a cell, tissue, or organism.
US09181549B2	Conjugated antisense compounds and their use Provided herein are oligomeric compounds with conjugate groups. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compounds are conjugated to N-Acetylgalactosamine.
US09181548B2	Targeting micrornas for the treatment of fibrosis Provided herein are compositions and methods for the modulation of miR-214 for the treatment and/or prevention of fibrosis and fibroproliferative conditions.
US09181547B2	MicroRNA compounds and methods for modulating MIR-21 activity Described herein are compositions and methods for the inhibition of miR-21 activity. The compositions have certain nucleoside modification patterns that yield potent inhibitors of miR-21 activity. The compositions may be used to inhibit miR-21, and also to treat diseases associated with abnormal expression of miR-21, such as fibrosis and cancer.
US09181543B2	OB fold domains Provided herein are modified OB-fold domains having desired properties; methods of producing libraries of modified OB-fold domains; the libraries of modified OB-fold domains produced by such methods; methods for screening such libraries of modified OB-fold domains for desired biological activities; and the modified OB-fold domains identified from such libraries. Provided herein are modified OB-fold domains obtainable from Pyrobaculum aerophilum that exhibit modified binding interactions.
US09181542B2	Method for controlling the chaperone activity of peroxiredoxins using irradiation The present invention relates to a method for increasing chaperone activity by irradiating peroxiredoxin (Prx) proteins. More particularly, the present invention may be useful for preparing recombinant proteins imparting resistance against various environmental stresses by increasing the chaperone activity of peroxiredoxin, since it has been observed that irradiated peroxiredoxin has enhanced chaperone activity characteristics, wherein an α-helix structure decreases while a β-sheet structure increases, from analysis results of a protein structure change and chaperone activity after irradiating two types of peroxiredoxins (2-Cys, 3-Cys) which are two active cysteine motifs of peroxiredoxin.
US09181541B2	Microbial fermentation methods and compositions The present invention provides methods for the cultivation of the Methylobacterium genus of bacteria. In particular the method provides methods for the efficient and inexpensive cultivation of these bacteria. Additionally, the invention provides methods for the utilization of these bacterial cultures to improve plant agriculture.
US09181539B2	Strains for the production of flavonoids from glucose The invention relates to the production of flavonoids and flavonoid precursors in cells through recombinant expression of tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL), 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS), and chalcone isomerase (CHI).
US09181538B1	Kexin-based vaccines to prevent or treat fungal infections A vaccine is disclosed that promotes CD4+ T cell-independent host defense mechanisms to defend against infection by fungi such as Pneumocystis subspecies (spp.). The vaccine may be used to prevent or to treat fungal infections. The novel vaccine can provide protective immunity, even for immunocompromised individuals such as HIV patients having reduced levels of CD4+ T cells.
US09181535B2	Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) This application provides transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), polynucleotide sequences encoding the TALENs, expression cassettes for producing TALENs to target cleavage of nucleic acids, and methods of producing and using the TALENs.
US09181527B2	T cell receptor-deficient T cell compositions The invention is directed to modified T cells, methods of making and using isolated, modified T cells, and methods of using these isolated, modified T cells to address diseases and disorders. In one embodiment, this invention broadly relates to TCR-deficient T cells, isolated populations thereof, and compositions comprising the same. In another embodiment of the invention, these TCR-deficient T cells are designed to express a functional non-TCR receptor. The invention also pertains to methods of making said TCR-deficient T cells, and methods of reducing or ameliorating, or preventing or treating, diseases and disorders using said TCR-deficient T cells, populations thereof, or compositions comprising the same.
US09181525B2	Method for enhancing a function of a T cell Disclosed is a method for enhancing the function of a T cell, which is characterized by inhibiting the expression of programmed death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and/or programmed death-1 ligand 2 (PD-L2) in the T cell. Also disclosed is a function-enhanced T cell which is produced by the function enhancement method. Further disclosed is a therapeutic agent comprising the function-enhanced T cell. The T cell can enhance an immune response to cancer, and is useful in an immunotherapy effective for cancer and the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.
US09181519B2	Bioreactor The invention relates to a bioreactor which comprises a closed housing with a housing wall and at least one chamber which is connected to the housing wall. The at least one chamber comprises a chamber inlet and outlet for respectively supplying and discharging material to and from the at least one chamber. The housing comprises a housing inlet for supplying material to the chamber inlet and a housing outlet for discharging treated material from the chamber outlet to the outside of the bioreactor. The bioreactor forms a closed volume in which a reactor pressure prevails in the bioreactor which is higher than the external pressure outside the bioreactor, in such a way that the bioreactor is self-supporting.
US09181517B1	Composition for treating contact lenses with an aqueous solution resulting in visible protein removal A composition for cleaning contact lenses and producing a removable visible discharge comprising: polyvinyl-alcohol; povidone; and an isotonic contact solution.
US09181512B2	Bioderived biodegradable lubricant A multi-purpose lubricant is described. In accordance with one implementation, a lubricant comprises food grade based oils substantially complying with USDA H-1 specifications for incidental contact with food, wherein at least one oil is selected from the group consisting of food grade plant oil, food grade poly-alpha-olefin, polyalkylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. In accordance with another implementation, a lubricant comprises canola oil, castor oil and a poly-alpha-olefin. In accordance with yet another implementation, a lubricant comprises canola oil, castor oil and a polyalkylene glycol. In accordance with yet another implementation, a lubricant comprises an oil substantially complying with USDA H-2 specification wherein the oil is at least one item selected from the group consisting of plant oil, poly-alpha-olefin, polyalkylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. In some implementations, the multi-purpose lubricant may be applied to areas of a bicycle chain.
US09181509B2	Efficient low rank coal gasification, combustion, and processing systems and methods Efficient coal pre-processing systems (69) integrated with gasification, oxy-combustion, and power plant systems include a drying chamber (28), a volatile metal removal chamber (30), recirculated gases, including recycled carbon dioxide (21), nitrogen (6), and gaseous exhaust (60) for increasing the efficiencies and lowering emissions in various coal processing systems.
US09181506B2	Synthesis of diesel fuel blendstock from carbohydrates Carbohydrates as derived from plant biomass can be converted into mono-alcohols, diols, and/or bi-functional alcohols or into carboxylic acid derivatives. By catalytic transesterification of such carbohydrate derivatives, ester-type diesel-fuel blendstock components may be produced. More specifically, alkyl levulinates are catalytically trans-esterified with hydroxyl-functionalized compounds where both the alcohols and the alkyl levulinates are derived from biomass carbohydrates. Esters produced in this way show physicochemical characteristics that make them suitable for use as diesel fuel blendstock.
US09181503B2	Method for the heat treatment of material in a reactor having a wall acting as self-crucible A method of thermal treatment of material in a reactor with a high-temperature chamber and with a self-crucible wall, including at least determining liquidus temperature Tliq of ashes derived from the treated material, wherein the operating temperature of the reactor Tfonc in its steady state is then chosen such that Tfonc>Tliq.
US09181501B2	Method and apparatus for removing H2S and moisture from fractionator overhead naphtha Methods and apparatus for making naphtha substantially free of H2S are described. The method includes stripping an incoming stream containing naphtha and H2S in a fractionator into at least an overhead stream containing the naphtha and H2S and a bottoms stream, and introducing the overhead stream from the fractionator into a separator to form a naphtha stream substantially free of H2S and an overhead stream containing H2S.
US09181499B2	Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling desalting in a crude distillation unit Disclosed herein are systems and methods for automated real-time monitoring and controlling desalting in a crude distillation unit. Crude oil and wash water are mixed by a pressure drop across a mix valve, thereby forming a crude oil/water phase stream. The crude oil/water phase stream is supplied into a desalter vessel, whereupon an emulsion forms at an interface between the crude oil and the water phase. The crude oil/water phase stream is contacted with a dosage of an emulsion breaker in an applied electric field. At least one property associated with the emulsion is measured using an emulsion level indicator. A total chlorine and a water percentage of the crude oil are measured. At least one of the pressure drop and the dosage of the emulsion breaker is adjusted substantially in real time in response to at least one of the measured properties, total chlorine, and water percentage.
US09181493B2	Catalytic conversion of alcohols having at least three carbon atoms to hydrocarbon blendstock A method for producing a hydrocarbon blendstock, the method comprising contacting at least one saturated acyclic alcohol having at least three and up to ten carbon atoms with a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst at a temperature of at least 100° C. and up to 550° C., wherein the metal is a positively-charged metal ion, and the metal-loaded zeolite catalyst is catalytically active for converting the alcohol to the hydrocarbon blendstock, wherein the method directly produces a hydrocarbon blendstock having less than 1 vol % ethylene and at least 35 vol % of hydrocarbon compounds containing at least eight carbon atoms.
US09181489B2	Method and apparatus for torrefaction of biomass materials Exemplary techniques disclosed provide a heat transfer element adapted for use in a rotary furnace for torrefaction and particle size reduction of biomass material. The heat transfer element is made up of a rounded object having a specific gravity substantially higher than a specific gravity of the biomass material to be torrefied, a heat capacity sufficient for the heat transfer elements in the rotary furnace to heat the biomass material to be torrefied, and a hardness sufficient for the heat transfer element to serve as grinding media to reduce the particle size of the biomass material to be torrefied. The heat transfer element has one or more surface features pre-formed in a surface of the rounded object. The surface features are configured to increase traction between the heat transfer elements and the biomass material to be torrefied. A system for torrefaction and particle size reduction of biomass material, including a rotary furnace charged with heat transfer elements as described above, and a method for using such a system for torrefaction and particle size reduction of biomass material are also discussed.
US09181486B2	Aerogel compositions with enhanced performance Aerogel materials, aerogel composites and the like may be improved by enhancing their smoke suppression, combustion reduction properties. It is additionally useful to provide aerogel based composites compatible with environments conducive to combustion. Such aerogel materials and methods of manufacturing the same are described.
US09181481B2	Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal composition including an alkenyl liquid crystal and an antioxidant component including at least one selected from an antioxidant and a derivative thereof. In an embodiment, the antioxidant component is present in an amount of greater than 0 ppm and equal to or less than about 10,000 ppm relative to the total weight of the liquid crystal composition.
US09181478B2	Fluorobiphenyl-containing composition A composition contains three or more compounds represented by general formula (i) below. (In the formula, Ri1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and one or nonadjacent two or more —CH2— in the alkyl group may be each independently substituted by —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —O—, —CO—, —COO—, or —OCO—; mi1 represents 1 or 2; Ai1 represents a 1,4-cyclohexylene group or a 1,4-phenylene group which may have a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom substituted for a hydrogen atom, when mi1 represents 1, Ai1 represents a 1,4-phenylene group which may have a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom substituted for a hydrogen atom, and when mi1 represents 2 and a plurality of Ai1 are present, Ai1 may be the same or different, and Xi1 represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a chlorine atom.)
US09181475B2	Photoluminescent compounds Materials comprising an A/M/X compound are provided. An A/M/X compound is a compound comprising one or more A moieties, one or more M atoms and one or more X atoms, where the A moieties are selected from organic cations and elements from Group 1 of the periodic table, the M atoms are selected from elements from Group 14 of the periodic table, and the X atoms are selected from elements from Group 17 of the periodic table. The materials include two-phase materials in which the A/M/X compound provides a first phase and a metal oxide or metal halide compound provides a second phase.
US09181473B2	Manganese-containing lithium triborate thermoluminescent phosphor, and method for producing same The present invention provides a thermoluminescent phosphor for obtaining a two-dimensional or three-dimensional dosimeter for measuring dose absorbed by biological tissues, which phosphor has superior handleability, superior biological tissue equivalence, and superior precision.It is produced by a method comprising (A1) mixing Li2B4O7, B2O3 and MnO2, (A2) firing the mixture at 770 to 840° C., and (A3) obtaining the thermoluminescent phosphor comprising lithium triborate as a base material and manganese as a luminescent center present in the base material by further adding and mixing Li2B4O7 into the fired product and then firing the mixture at 770 to 840° C., wherein the molar ratio of Li2B4O7:B2O3 in A1 is 1:X (1
US09181464B2	Adhesive resin compositions, and laminates and flexible printed wiring boards using same Provided are an adhesive resin composition that is halogen-free, has good adhesiveness, solder heat resistance, and flame retardancy, and has good flow characteristics, and a laminate and a flexible printed wiring board using the same. The adhesive resin composition contains a phosphorus-containing epoxy resin and/or a phosphorus-containing phenoxy resin, a phosphorus-containing polyester resin having a weight-average molecular weight of more than 20,000 and 150,000 or less, another thermoplastic resin, and a curing agent. The adhesive resin composition preferably further contains a benzoxazine compound. Preferably, substantially no inorganic filler is mixed in the adhesive resin composition.
US09181462B2	Activatable adhesive, labels, and related methods An activatable adhesive that is formulated to readily absorb energy from a given radiation source, an activatable adhesive label that incorporates such an activatable adhesive, a system for activating such labels, and related methods and uses are described. The activatable adhesive includes a plasticizer, a tackifier, and an adhesive base polymer that includes butyl acrylate, styrene, methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, and acrylic acid.
US09181461B2	Hot melt sealant and foam-in-place gasketing material A hot melt sealant and foam-in-place gasket composition based on a rubber such as ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) and/or ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) and at least one semicrystalline olefinic polymer. The hot melt composition includes the rubber or a blend of rubbers in an amount of 5% to 50% by weight, at least one semicrystalline olefinic polymer in an amount of 5% to 40% by weight, at least one amorphous poly-α-olefin (APAO) polymer in an amount of 0% to 70% by weight, a compatible tackifier in an amount of 0% to 50% by weight, and a plasticizer in an amount of at least 30% by weight. The composition is particularly useful for foamed gasket applications as a replacement for pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) coated foam tape.
US09181458B2	Method for manufacturing optical film-forming pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, optical film-forming pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, pressure-sensitive adhesive-type optical film, and image display device An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an optical film-forming pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, which can reduce the problem with visibility without a reduction in productivity, such as a reduction in coating speed. A method for manufacturing an optical film-forming pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, comprising the steps of: (1) applying, to a release film, an aqueous dispersion-type pressure-sensitive adhesive including an aqueous dispersion containing a (meth)acryl-based polymer in the form of an aqueous dispersion; and (2) drying the applied aqueous dispersion-type pressure-sensitive adhesive, wherein the aqueous dispersion-type pressure-sensitive adhesive has a viscosity of 0.01 Pa·s to 0.1 Pa·s at a shear rate of 4,000 (l/s), the optical film-forming pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on the release film has a surface roughness (Ra) of 10 nm to 40 nm, and the optical film-forming pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has a haze of 1% or less.
US09181457B2	Dry-to-the-touch anaerobically curable compositions and products made therefrom Dry-to-the-touch compositions containing a polymeric matrix and a anaerobically curable component present within the polymeric matrix are disclosed. In a particularly desirable form, the compositions are moisture curable. The compositions are non-flowable, at high temperatures, and have an improved solvent resistance once cured.
US09181452B2	Crosslinkable composition crosslinkable with a latent base catalyst The present invention relates to a crosslinkable composition comprising at least one crosslinkable component and a latent base crosslinking catalyst, which crosslinkable composition has a solids content of typically at least 55 wt (dry weight after crosslinking relative to the total weight of the crosslinking composition) wherein the latent base catalyst is a substituted carbonate salt according to formula 1 wherein X+represents a non acidic cation, preferably a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium, and wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group.
US09181445B2	Non-aqueous inkjet ink A non-aqueous inkjet ink containing at least two kinds of color pigments, a pigment dispersing agent and an organic solvent, wherein the two kinds of color pigments are a watching red pigment and a benzimidazolone pigment.
US09181440B2	Low alpha particle emission electrically-conductive coating An electrically conductive paste providing low alpha particle emission is provided. A resin and conductive particles are mixed, and a curing agent is added. A solvent is subsequently added. The electrically conductive paste including a resin compound is formed by mixing the mixture in a high shear mixer. The electrically conductive paste can be applied to a surface of an article to form a coating, or can be molded into an article. The solvent is evaporated, and the electrically conductive paste is cured to provide a graphite-containing resin compound. The graphite-containing resin compound is electrically conductive, and provides low alpha particle emission at a level suitable for a low alpha particle emissivity coating.
US09181437B2	Bath deposition solution for the wet-chemical deposition of a metal sulfide layer and related production method A bath deposition solution for the chemical bath deposition of a metal sulfide layer, a process for the production of such a bath deposition solution, and a process for producing a metal sulfide layer on a substrate using such a bath deposition solution are provided. The bath deposition solution contains a metal salt, an organosulfide, a chelating agent which with metal ions of the metal salt forms a chelate complex and ammonium hydroxide.
US09181432B2	Branched additives for polymer toughening Toughened polymeric materials and methods of forming toughened polymeric materials are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of forming toughened polymeric materials may include preparing a branched polymeric additive; mixing the branched polymeric additive with a polymer to form a polymeric mixture, wherein the branched polymeric molecule either mixes and/or bonds with the polymer to reduce mobility in the polymer; and curing the polymeric mixture. In some embodiments, a toughened polymeric material comprises a polymer network; and a branched polymeric molecule bonded to the polymer network.
US09181429B2	Anti-yellowing polyamide composition The invention relates to a polyamide composition with an improved resistance against yellowing. The invention also relates to a shaped article made from the composition and to a method of forming such a shaped article. The polyamide composition comprises: a. 90 to 40 wt % of one or more semi-aromatic polyamides and b.10 to 60 wt % of one or more of aliphatic polyamides and c.1 at least one white pigment as secondary component and c.2 optionally one or more other secondary components, wherein the sum of the amount of semi-aromatic and aliphatic polyamide is 100 wt % and wherein: i. the semi-aromatic polyamide is derived from one or more aliphatic diamine monomers containing 4 to 12 carbon atoms and one or more benzene dicarboxylic acid monomers and ii. the aliphatic polyamide is derived from one or more aliphatic diamine monomers containing 4 to 10 carbon atoms and one or more aliphatic dicarboxylic acids with 6 to 12 carbon atoms with the proviso that no additional thermally conductive material is present in the composition.
US09181428B2	Compression set property in silylated polymers Moisture curable compositions including silylated polymers and methods for producing the same are provided. A two component moisture curable system for producing a cured or cross-linked silylated polymer having improved compression set properties is provided. The two component system comprises a first formulation and a second formulation. The first formulation comprises a silylated polymer, water, and filler and the second formulation comprises the silylated polymer, a curing catalyst comprising at least one Brønsted acid, and a moisture scavenger. The final cured formulation may have a compression set, determined by ASTM D395 or ISO 815-1, of less than 100%, and in some examples less than 50% and in some examples less than 15%. This demonstrated improvement in compression set not only allows the silylated polymers to be used in applications where cyclic loads are applied but also enhances product durability.
US09181427B2	Absorbable bimodal polymeric blend compositions, processing methods, and medical devices Novel absorbable polymeric blends having bimodal molecular weight distribution are disclosed. The bimodal blends have a first component that is a polylactide polymer or a copolymer of lactide and glycolide having a bimodal molecular weight distribution, and a second component that is a poly(p-dioxanone) polymer of unimodal or bimodal molecular weight distribution. Alternately, the bimodal blends have a first component that is a polylactide polymer or a copolymer of lactide and glycolide having a unimodal molecular weight distribution, and a second component that is a poly(p-dioxanone) polymer of bimodal molecular weight distribution. The novel polymeric bimodal molecular weight blends provide medical devices having improved dimensional stability. Also disclosed are novel absorbable medical devices made from these novel bimodal polymer blends, as well as novel methods of manufacture.
US09181424B2	Propylene polymer compositions Propylene polymer compositions comprising: A) from 70 wt % to 95 wt %, of a random copolymer of propylene with ethylene, containing from 1.5 wt % to 4.5 wt %, of ethylene derived units, having a content of fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. of not less than 93%; B) from 5 wt % to 35 wt %, of a copolymer of propylene with ethylene, containing from 7.0 wt % to 17.0 wt % of ethylene derived units; the sum A+B being 100; wherein the melt flow rate, MFR. (Melt Flow Rate according to ASTM 1238, condition L, i.e. 230° C. and 2.16 kg load) ranges from 40 g/10 min and 130 g/10 min; and wherein the relation (I) is fulfilled: 10
US09181413B2	Rubber composition and pneumatic tire The invention provides a rubber composition that can enhance fuel economy, wet-grip performance, abrasion resistance, and handling stability in a balanced manner, and a pneumatic tire using this composition. The invention relates to a rubber composition containing a rubber component, silica (1) having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of not more than 100 m2/g, and silica (2) having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of at least 180 m2/g, wherein the rubber component contains, based on 100% by mass of the rubber component, at least 5% by mass of a conjugated diene polymer containing a constituent unit based on a conjugated diene and a constituent unit represented by formula (I) below, at least one terminal of the polymer being modified with a specific compound; and a total amount of silica (1) and silica (2) is 30-150 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component,
US09181409B2	Sequentially cross-linked polyethylene A method of producing an improved polyethylene, especially an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene utilizes a sequential irradiation and annealing process to form a highly cross-linked polyethylene material. The use of sequential irradiation followed by sequential annealing after each irradiation allows each dose of irradiation in the series of doses to be relatively low while achieving a total dose which is sufficiently high to cross-link the material. The process may either be applied to a preformed material such as a rod or bar or sheet made from polyethylene resin or may be applied to a finished polyethylene part.
US09181406B2	Process of incorporating additives into vinylidene chloride polymers without the use of a blender Solid additive particles are added to solid vinylidene chloride (VDC) polymer particles by a process comprising the steps of: A. Polymerizing VDC monomer, optionally with one or more mono-ethylenically unsaturated comonomers, in a polymerization zone under polymerization conditions to form solid VDC polymer particles; B. Stopping the polymerization of the VDC monomers after formation of the solid VDC polymer particles; and C. Contacting the solid VDC polymer particles with the solid additive particles (i) before the solid VDC polymer particles are de-watered, and (ii) at a temperature sufficient to melt or soften the solid additives particles but insufficient to melt or soften the solid VDC polymer particles such that the melted or softened solid additive particles adhere to the solid VDC polymer particles upon contact.
US09181405B2	Formaldehyde-free lignin-amine coagulants A method for making lignin-amines is provided. The method comprises providing a lignin; then modifying the lignin with modifier to create a modified lignin; and then reacting the modified lignin with an amine to form a lignin-amine. Suitable modifiers comprise acrylates. A method for coagulating suspended materials in a water stream is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a water stream and contacting the suspended materials in the water stream with at least one lignin-amine.
US09181403B2	Quasi-block copolymer melts, processes for their preparation and uses thereof The present invention provides block copolymers comprising at least one covalent polymer block and at least one supramolecular polymer block, processes for their preparations and uses thereof.
US09181399B2	Method for producing polysiloxane The present invention is a method for producing a polysiloxane represented by formula (1), which includes a condensation step wherein a hydrolysis/polycondenzation of a starting material monomer that forms a constituent unit is carried out in a reaction solvent that contains at least one alcohol that is selected from among secondary alcohols having 4-6 carbon atoms and tertiary alcohols having 4-6 carbon atoms. The method for producing a polysiloxane of the present invention suppresses problems such as gelation that occurs during the production, and increase in the molecular weight or gelation that occurs during storage after the production or the like.
US09181398B2	Organopolysilicone polyether drainage aid The present invention relates to a drainage aid composition and its use in pulp washing process. More particulary, this invention relates to drainage aid composition of silicone polyethers prepared via zinc catalized dehydrogenative coupling of alcohol terminated polyethers with silicone oligomers and polymers comprising of at least one silicon bonded hydrogen. The compostion of this invention exhibit excellent drainage properties.
US09181395B2	Optimized emulsion drying process for making micronized polyetherimide polymers A process for making ultra-fine particles of a high performance polymer in a yield greater than 90%, which includes dissolving the high performance polymer in an organic solvent capable of dissolving the polymer to form a solution; emulsifying the solution by combining the solution with water and a surfactant to form an emulsion; transferring the emulsion into a receiving water containing a surfactant to remove the organic solvent and form a slurry; and recovering particles of less than 75 microns in diameter in a yield greater than 90%.
US09181392B2	Yield optimization of polycarbonate polyols Embodiments of the invention provide for methods of producing a polycarbonate polyol. The method includes charging a vessel with butanediol, charging the vessel with a polymerization catalyst, and adding to the vessel dimethyl carbonate at a rate of at least 2.0 g of DMC per minute per kg of BDO to produce polycarbonate polyol at a polycarbonate polyol yield of at least 80% of a theoretical yield.
US09181378B2	Modified natural rubber and method of manufacturing the same, rubber composition and tire The present invention provides a modified natural rubber that offers higher efficiency of graft polymerization or attachment of a polar group-containing compounds, and that possesses excellent low loss factor, wear resistance and fracture resistance when used as a rubber composition, a rubber composition using the modified natural rubber and a tire using the rubber composition. In the present invention, a polar group-containing compound is graft polymerized or attached under mechanical shear force to a natural rubber raw material having a nitrogen content of 0.4 mass % or less.
US09181377B2	Biodegradable absorbent material and method of manufacture Biodegradable graft copolymers derived from a carbohydrate and at least one α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative having superabsorbent properties are disclosed in addition to the substantially adiabatic polymerization process by which the graft copolymers are made. The methods disclosed can be carried out in a variety of currently available continuous commercial reactors. Polymerizations carried out with starch have surprisingly produced substantially quantitative yields of graft copolymer free of residual monomer produced as a moist copolymer. Product work-up typically involves an optional neutralization and drying.
US09181374B2	Process for preparing branched polymer A polymer synthesis process wherein a vinyl monomer, such as styrene, toluene (benzene, xylene) as a solvent, is subjected to a self-initiated free radical polymerization at 60˜100° C. with a compound (methyl(meth)acrylate peroxide) as the initiator and the branched monomer containing both polymerizable double bond and peroxide bond. The degree of branching of the polymer can be adjusted by adjusting the molar ratio of the compound to polymerizable monomer. The process for preparing a branched polymer is carried out under the conditions of conventional free radical polymerization without the addition of the branched monomer and other assist initiators.
US09181372B2	Catalyst system with three metallocenes for producing broad molecular weight distribution polymers Disclosed herein are polymerization processes for the production of olefin polymers. These polymerization processes use a catalyst system containing three metallocene components, often resulting in polymers having a reverse comonomer distribution and a broad and non-bimodal molecular weight distribution.
US09181369B2	Polymer films having improved heat sealing properties A polymer composition comprising an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer, wherein the polymer composition is characterized as having (a) a density in the range of from greater than about 0.910 g/cc to about 0.930 g/cc, as determined according to ASTM D1505; (b) a melt index in the range of from greater than about 0.5 g/10 min to about 3 g/10 min, as determined by ASTM D1238, Condition 190° C./2.16 kg; (c) a molecular weight distribution of from about 3.4 to about 12, as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC); (d) a weight average molecular weight of from greater than about 85 kg/mol to about 160 kg/mol, as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC); and (e) a z-average molecular weight of from greater than about 210 kg/mol to about 500 kg/mol, as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC).
US09181367B2	Polymer degassing process control Process for operating a vertical fixed bed degasser which is continuously fed with an active polymer powder produced by a catalytic olefin polymerization process in a polymerization reactor. The polymerization conditions in the degasser are such that there is produced an additional amount of polymer corresponding to between 0.001 and 0.015 times the amount which entered the degasser. The degassing process includes introducing into the degasser a stripping gas containing principal monomer, with the temperature inside the degasser being the polymerization reactor temperature plus or minus 20° C.
US09181366B2	Polyethylene prepared with supported late transition metal catalyst systems The present invention relates to the field of ethylene polymerisation with a supported late transition metal catalyst system.
US09181364B2	Crosslinked polyvinylamine, polyallylamine, and polyethyleneimine for use as bile acid sequestrants The present invention provides a crosslinked amine and amide polymers effective for binding and removing bile salts from the gastrointestinal tract. These bile acid binding polymers or pharmaceutical compositions thereof can be administered to subjects to treat various conditions, including hypercholesteremia, diabetes, pruritis, irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea (IBS-D), bile acid malabsorption, and the like.
US09181362B2	Polyethylene compositions, method of producing the same, articles made therefrom, and method of making the same The instant invention is a polyethylene composition, method of producing the same, articles made therefrom, and method of making the same. The polyethylene composition according to the instant invention comprises (1) less than or equal to 100 percent by weight of the units derived from ethylene; and (2) less than 15 percent by weight of units derived from one or more α-olefin comonomers. The polyethylene composition according the instant invention has a density in the range of 0.907 to 0.975 g/cm3, a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) in the range of 1.70 to 3.62, a melt index (I2) in the range of 2 to 1000 g/10 minutes, a molecular weight distribution (Mz/Mw) in the range of less than 2.5, and a vinyl unsaturation of less than 0.06 vinyls per one thousand carbon atoms present in the backbone of the composition.
US09181358B2	Polymer nanoparticles A process for the preparation of a polymer nanoparticle by a photoinduced emulsion polymerization includes preparing an emulsion comprising at least one surfactant, a dispersed phase and a continuous phase. The dispersed phase comprises at least one polymerizable monomer and the continuous phase comprises water and at least one photoinitiator. The at least one polymerizable monomer is polymerized by exposing the emulsion to an electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength so as to induce a generation of radicals from the at least one photoinitiator. The at least one photoinitiator is selected from at least one compound of formula (I)
US09181356B2	Hydrogenation catalyst composition and hydrogenation method thereof A hydrogenation catalyst composition for hydrogenating a polymer of conjugated diene is provided. The polymer of conjugated diene is a homopolymer of conjugated diene or a copolymer of conjugated diene and vinyl aromatics. The hydrogenation catalyst composition includes: (a) a titanium compound, (b) a compound of formula (II), where R5 is C1˜C12 alkyl, alkenyl, amine, ether, ketone or ester groups, R3 and R6 are C1˜C12 alkyl or alkenyl groups, R4 and R7 are C1˜C12 alkyl, alkenyl, amine, ether, ketone or ester groups, n and m are integrals, 1≦n≦3, 1≦m≦3, and (c) alkyl aluminum.
US09181355B2	Modified natural rubber, method for producing same, rubber composition, and pneumatic tire The present invention provides a modified natural rubber having a reduced tan δ, a method for producing the modified natural rubber, a rubber composition produced using the modified natural rubber, and a pneumatic tire produced using the rubber composition. The present invention also provides a modified natural rubber having a reduced tan δ, a method for producing the modified natural rubber, a rubber composition produced using the modified natural rubber and achieving good fuel economy and abrasion resistance at the same time, and a pneumatic tire produced using the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a modified natural rubber having a phosphorus content of 200 ppm or less and a total content of sodium and potassium of 350 ppm or less. The invention also relates to a modified natural rubber having a phosphorus content of 200 ppm or less and a nitrogen content of 0.2% by mass or less.
US09181354B2	Modified pectins, compositions and methods related thereto The present invention provides compositions of modified pectin and methods for preparing and using them.
US09181353B2	Method for manufacturing hydroxyethyl starch derivatives A method for manufacturing a modified hydroxyethyl starch carrying a heptonic acid residue on at least one of its termini is disclosed. Within this method, the following steps are carried out: a) dissolving hydroxyethyl starch in water, b) adjusting the pH value to a value of 8.0 to 10.0, c) adding a cyanide compound to the hydroxyethyl starch solution, heating the solution to a temperature of 80 to 99° C. and keeping it at this temperature for a first time period, and d) adjusting the pH value to a value of 2.0 to 4.0, bringing the solution to a temperature of 50 to 90° C. and keeping it at this temperature for a second time period.
US09181351B2	Cellulose resin and process for producing the same A cellulose resin produced by binding cellulose or a derivative thereof and cardanol or a derivative thereof by using a hydroxy group of the cellulose or a derivative thereof and a hydroxy group of the cardanol or a derivative thereof, in which carbon atoms to which the hydroxy groups are bound are mutually linked via a carbonate bond or urethane bond formed by using the hydroxy groups.
US09181350B2	Nucleic acids encoding IL-6R-binding polypeptides The present invention relates to amino acid sequences that are directed against/and or that can specifically bind Interleukin-6 Receptor (IL-6R) with improved affinity and/or avidity, and/or that have an improved efficacy and/or potency, and which are capable of (partially, or preferably totally) blocking the IL-6/IL-6R interaction and/or inhibit signalization through IL-6, IL-6R and/or the IL-6/IL-6R complex. The invention further relates to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins and polypeptides, that comprise or essentially consist of one or more such amino acid sequences.The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding such amino acid sequences and polypeptides, to methods for preparing such amino acid sequences and polypeptides, to host cells expressing or capable of expressing such amino acid sequences or polypeptides, to compositions, and in particular to pharmaceutical compositions, that comprise such amino acid sequences, polypeptides, nucleic acids and/or host cells, and to uses of such amino acid sequences or polypeptides, nucleic acids, host cells and/or compositions, in particular for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.
US09181339B2	Antibodies specific to cadherin-17 The present disclosure provides antibodies, including isolated monoclonal antibodies, which specifically bind to Cadherin-17 with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding Cadherin-17 antibodies, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the Cadherin-17 antibodies are also provided. Bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the Cadherin-17 antibodies are also provided. Methods for detecting Cadherin-17, as well as methods for treating various cancers, including colorectal cancer, are disclosed.
US09181337B2	Modulated lysine variant species compositions and methods for producing and using the same The instant invention relates to modulated lysine variant species compositions comprising a protein, e.g., an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, and methods, e.g., cell culture and/or protein purification methods, for producing such modulated lysine variant species compositions. Methods for using such compositions to treat a disorder, e.g., a disorder in which TNFα is detrimental, are also provided.
US09181334B2	Pharmaceutical composition for treatment and/or prophylaxis of cancer This invention provides an antibody targeting a cancer antigenic protein specifically expressed on the surface of cancer cells and use thereof as a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for cancer. More specifically, the present invention provides an antibody, or a fragment thereof which has immunological reactivity with a CAPRIN-1 protein, the antibody comprising a heavy chain variable region comprising complementarity determining regions of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 6, and 7 and a light chain variable region comprising complementarity determining regions of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 10, and 11, and a pharmaceutical composition for treatment and/or prevention of cancer, comprising the same as an active ingredient.
US09181333B2	RSPO3 binding agents and uses thereof The present invention relates to RSPO-binding agents, particularly RSPO3-binding agents and methods of using the agents for treating diseases such as cancer. The present invention provides antibodies that specifically bind human RSPO3 proteins and modulate β-catenin activity. The present invention further provides methods of using agents that modulate the activity of RSPO3 proteins and inhibit tumor growth. Also described are methods of treating cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effect amount of an agent or antibody of the present invention to a patient having a tumor or cancer.
US09181331B2	Pharmaceutical compositions for binding sphingosine-1-phosphate The present invention relates to compositions that comprise an anti-S1P monoclonal antibody, antibody fragment, or derivative in a carrier, particularly a buffered, hypertonic aqueous solution, as well as to kits containing such compositions, and methods for using such compositions for treatment of diseases and conditions associated with S1P.
US09181330B2	Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that neutralize botulinum neurotoxins This invention provides antibodies that specifically bind to and typically neutralize botulinum neurotoxins (e.g., BoNT/A, BoNT/B, BoNT/E, etc.) and the epitopes bound by those antibodies. The antibodies and derivatives thereof and/or other antibodies that specifically bind to the neutralizing epitopes provided herein can be used to neutralize botulinum neurotoxin and are therefore also useful in the treatment of botulism.
US09181329B2	Methods and compositions related to immunizing against Staphylococcal lung diseases and conditions Embodiments of the invention include methods and compositions useful in a vaccination strategy capable of neutralizing HIa to provide immunoprotection against S. aureus pneumonia. In certain aspects the invention includes a HIa with reduced toxicity, represented by a recombinant mutant form of HIa (HlaH35L) in which histidine 35 is convened to leucine, which can be used to abrogate the productive assembly of the toxin and protect a subject from staphylococcal pneumonia.
US09181325B2	Method for isolating osteopontin using concentrated feeds The present invention pertains to a method for isolating osteopontin from milk-derived feeds having a high concentration of protein. Particularly, the present method involves the use of a narrow window of pH and specific conductance of the milk-derived feed, which surprisingly has proven to provide a very efficient isolation of osteopontin from chemically complex feeds.
US09181321B2	CFTR mRNA compositions and related methods and uses Materials, formulations, production methods, and methods for delivery of CFTR mRNA for induction of CFTR expression, including in the mammalian lung are provided. The present invention is particularly useful for treating cystic fibrosis.
US09181316B2	Method for isolating osteopontin using feeds containing CMP or casein species The present invention pertains to a method for isolating osteopontin from a milk-derived feed containing caseino macropeptide and/or free beta casein, such as e.g. a feed based on milk serum or sweet whey. Particularly, the present method involves the use of a narrow window of pH and specific conductance of the milk-derived feed, which surprisingly has proven to provide a very efficient isolation of osteopontin from chemically complex feeds.
US09181308B2	Methods and compositions employing immunogenic fusion proteins Compositions and methods are provided for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections, including pneumococal infections. Compositions provided herein comprise a variety of immunogenic fusion proteins, wherein at least one polypeptide component of a given fusion protein comprises a CbpA polypeptide and/or a cytolysoid polypeptide, or an active variant or fragment thereof. Methods are provided for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections, including pneumococcal infections by employing the various immunogenic fusion proteins having at least one polypeptide component comprising a CbpA polypeptide and/or a cytolysoid polypeptide, or an active variant or fragment thereof.
US09181307B2	Influenza A 2009 pandemic H1N1 polypeptide fragments comprising endonuclease activity and their use The present invention relates to polypeptide fragments comprising an amino-terminal fragment of the PA subunit of a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase possessing endonuclease activity, wherein said PA subunit is from Influenza A 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus or is a variant thereof. This invention also relates to (i) crystals of the polypeptide fragments which are suitable for structure determination of said polypeptide fragments using X-ray crystallography and (ii) computational methods using the structural coordinates of said polypeptide to screen for and design compounds that modulate, preferably inhibit the endonucleolytically active site within the polypeptide fragment. In addition, this invention relates to methods identifying compounds that bind to the PA polypeptide fragments possessing endonuclease activity and preferably inhibit said endonucleolytic activity, preferably in a high throughput setting. This invention also relates to compounds which are able to modulate, preferably to inhibit, the endonuclease activity of the PA subunit polypeptide fragment or variant thereof of the present invention and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds for the treatment of disease conditions caused by viral infections with viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family, Bunyaviridae family and/or Arenviridae family, preferably caused by viral infections with Influenza A 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus. Preferably, said compounds are identifiable by the methods disclosed herein or said pharmaceutical compositions are producible by the methods disclosed herein.
US09181305B2	Exendin-4 peptide analogues The present invention relates to exendin-4 peptide analogs and their medical use, for example in the treatment of disorders of the metabolic syndrome, including diabetes and obesity, as well as reduction of excess food intake.
US09181303B2	Treatment of bacterial infections with cyclic antimicrobial peptides The present invention relates to cyclic cationic peptides and their use in the treatment of microbial infections.
US09181302B2	WT1 antigen peptide conjugate vaccine A compound represented by the formula (1): wherein Xa and Ya are each a single bond and the like, cancer antigen peptide A is an MHC class I-restricted WT1 peptide consisting of 7-30 amino acid residues, R1 is a hydrogen atom, a group represented by the formula (2): wherein Xb and Yb are each a single bond and the like, cancer antigen peptide B has a sequence different from that of the cancer antigen peptide A, and is an MHC class I-restricted WT1 peptide consisting of 7-30 amino acid residues, or cancer antigen peptide C, and cancer antigen peptide C has a sequence different from that of the cancer antigen peptide A, and is an MHC class I-restricted WT1 peptide or an MHC class II-restricted WT1 peptide, consisting of 7-30 amino acid residues containing one cysteine residue, or a salt thereof, and the like.
US09181301B2	TDF-related compounds and analogs thereof The present invention relates generally to tissue differentiation factor (TDF) analogs. More specifically, the invention relates to structure-based methods and compositions useful in designing, identifying, and producing molecules which act as functional modulators of TDF-like receptors. The invention further relates to methods of detecting, preventing, and treating TDF-associated disorders.
US09181292B2	Methods for preparation of glycosphingolipids and uses thereof Methods for synthesis and preparation of alpha-glycosphingolipids are provided. Methods for synthesis of α-galactosyl ceramide, and pharmaceutically active analogs and variants thereof are provided. Novel alpha-glycosphingolipids are provided, wherein the compounds are immunogenic compounds which serve as ligands for NKT (natural killer T) cells.
US09181290B2	Inhibition of biofilm formation by 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-D-glucopyranose Disclosed herein are an anti-biofilm composition and a method to inhibit or prevent cell adhesion and/or biofilm formation by a microorganism, in which use of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-D-glucopyranose (PGG) is involved therein.
US09181288B2	Azepane derivatives and methods of treating hepatitis B infections Provided herein are compounds useful for the treatment of HBV infection in a subject in need thereof, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of inhibiting, suppressing, or preventing HBV infection in the subject. In an embodiment of the compounds provided herein, the compounds are of Formula Va:
US09181281B2	Prodrugs of neuraminidase inhibitors A new class of neuramidase inhibitor prodrugs is provided characterized by a prodrug moiety of a carboxyl group modified to form a carbonyl ethoxy amino acid, a carbonyl ethoxy dipeptide or a carbonyl ethoxy tripeptide, a guanidine group modified to form a carbonyl ethoxy amino acid, a carbonyl ethoxy dipeptide, a carbonyl ethoxy tripeptide; a primary alcohol modified to form an esterified single amino acid, dipeptide or tripeptide of zanavimir of the unaltered therapeutic agent. Exemplary therapeutic agents so modified to form prodrugs include zanavimir, oseltamivir and peramivir. The prodrug has increased oral bioavailability relative to the unaltered neuraminidase inhibitor and is effective in the inhibition of viral infections involving neuraminidase in the viral reproductive cycle.
US09181279B2	Cyclic amine derivatives as EP4 receptor antagonists There is described a novel group of cyclic amine derivative compounds, having an EP4 receptor antagonistic activity and specifically pharmaceutical compounds which are useful for the treatment or alleviation of Prostaglandin E mediated diseases.The present invention therefore relates to novel compounds which are selective antagonists of the EP4 subtype of PGE2 receptors with analgesic and antinflammatory activity, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as medicaments, inter alia for the treatment or alleviation of Prostaglandin E mediated diseases such as acute and chronic pain, osteoarthritis, inflammation-associated disorder as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, migraine and endometriosis.
US09181277B2	Aminoquinazoline derivatives and their salts and methods of use The present invention relates to the field of medicine. Provided herein are aminoquinazoline derivatives, their salts and pharmaceutical formulations useful in modulating the protein tyrosine kinase activity, and in modulating inter- and/or intra-cellular signaling. Also provided herein are pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the aminoquinazoline compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of hyperproliferative disorders in mammals, especially humans.
US09181273B2	Morpholine-spirocyclic piperidine amides as modulators of ion channels The invention relates to morpholine spirocyclic piperidine amide compounds useful as inhibitors of ion channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US09181271B2	Tricyclic fused thiophene derivatives as JAK inhibitors The present invention provides tricyclic fused thiophene derivatives, as well as their compositions and methods of use, that modulate the activity of Janus kinase (JAK) and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to the activity of JAK including, for example, inflammatory disorders, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and other diseases.
US09181265B2	Substituted 2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-c]phenazines as anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer agents Novel phenazine derivatives of formula (I) are disclosed. In particular, substituted 2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-c]phenazines are disclosed. The compounds can be used as anti-angiogenic and/or anti-tumor agents.
US09181256B2	Salts of sitagliptin, process for the preparation and pharmaceutical composition therefore The present invention relates to pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of sitagliptin, in particular anti-oxidant acid addition salts of sitagliptin and a process for its preparation. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition using the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of sitagliptin.
US09181253B2	Adenosine receptor agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists Disclosed are A3 adenosine receptor antagonists and/or partial agonists and A1 adenosine receptor agonists and/or partial agonists of formula (I): wherein R1 to R5 are as described herein, as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of use thereof. The A3 AR antagonists or partial agonists find use in treating a number of diseases such as cancer, glaucoma, and inflammatory diseases, as well as in preventing cardiac ischemia. Also disclosed are radiolabeled compounds of formula (I) and the use thereof in diagnostic imaging of tissues and organs. The A1 AR agonists and partial agonists find use in treating diseases such as seizures, convulsion, stroke, diabetes, pain, arrhythmias, depression, and anxiety and in cardioprotection or neuroprotection.
US09181250B2	Beta-lactamase inhibitor and process for preparing the same A diazabicyclooctane compound, which is a beta-lactame inhibitor, represented by the following formula (I): wherein A represents Ra(Rb)N— or RcO—; B represents NH or NC1-6 alkyl; C represents benzyl, H or SO3M, wherein M represents H, an inorganic or an organic cation; Ra and Rb represent H, C1-6 alkyl or acyl; Rc represents C1-6 alkyl or a heterocyclyl; A is unsubstituted or substituted with 0 to 4 substituents Fn1, wherein Fn1 represents C1-6 alkyl, O═, or Rg-(CH2)0-3—, wherein Rg represents a heterocyclyl, phenyl, heteroaryl, acyl, RdO2S—, Re(Rf)N—, Re(Rf)NCO—, ReO—, ReOCO— or a protective group, wherein Rd represents C1-6 alkyl or MO—; Re and Rf represent H or C1-6 alkyl, and a heterocycle having at least one nitrogen atom may be formed between Ra and Rb, between Rc and B, or between Re and Rf.
US09181249B2	Substituted pyrido[3,4-b]pyrazines as GPR6 modulators The present invention provides compounds of formula I: which are useful as modulators of GPR6, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for treatment of conditions associated with GPR6, processes for making the compounds and intermediates thereof.
US09181247B2	Substituted pyrrolo[2,3-B]pyridines as MLK inhibitors Provided are compounds having an inhibitory effect on Mixed Lineage Kinases. The compounds include substituted pyrrolo [2,3b]pyridines having Formula IX Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, methods of preparing the compounds, synthetic intermediates, and methods of using the compounds, independently or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for treating diseases and conditions which are affected by Mixed Lineage Kinase inhibition. Also provided are methods of treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders which comprise the inhibition of Mixed Lineage Kinases.
US09181245B2	Substituted pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazines and substituted pyrido[1,2-a][1,4]diazepines for the treatment of (inter alia) Alzheimer's disease The present invention is concerned with novel substituted 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrido[1,2- a]pyrazine-1,6-dione derivatives of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, Z and X have the meaning defined in the claims. The compounds according to the present invention are useful as gamma secretase modulators. The invention further relates to processes for preparing such novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds as an active ingredient as well as the use of said compounds as a medicament.
US09181242B2	Kinase inhibitors This invention relates to compounds and compositions that are p38 MAPK inhibitors, useful as anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of, inter alia, diseases of the respiratory tract.
US09181241B2	Antagonists of chemokine receptors Compounds are provided that act as potent antagonists of the CCR1 receptor, and have in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds are generally aryl piperazine derivatives and are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of CCR1-mediated diseases, and as controls in assays for the identification of competitive CCR1 antagonists.
US09181240B2	Tetracyclic compounds This disclosure relates to new tetracyclic compounds that may be used to modulate a histamine receptor in an individual. The compounds in one embodiment are tetracyclic[4,3-b]indoles. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds are also provided, as are methods of using the compounds in a variety of therapeutic applications, including the treatment of a cognitive disorder, psychotic disorder, neurotransmitter-mediated disorder and/or a neuronal disorder.
US09181238B2	N-(pyridin-2-yl)sulfonamides and compositions thereof as protein kinase inhibitors The invention provides a novel class of compounds of Formula (I) (wherein A, Y, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined in the summary of the invention), pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with abnormal or deregulated kinase activity, particularly diseases or disorders that involve abnormal activation of B-Raf.
US09181237B2	Substituted berbines and their synthesis The present invention provides substituted berbines, processes for the synthesis of substituted berbine compounds, as well as intermediates used in the synthesis of substituted berbine compounds. Also provided are methods for using the substituted berbines to inhibit cancer cell growth.
US09181236B2	2-spiro-substituted iminothiazines and their mono-and dioxides as bace inhibitors, compositions and their use In its many embodiments, the present invention provides certain iminothiazine dioxide compounds, including compounds Formula (I): and tautomers and stereoisomers thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of said compounds, said tautomeros and said stereoisomers, wherein each of the variables shown in the formula are as defined herein. The novel compounds of the invention are useful as BACE inhibitors and/or for the treatment and prevention of various pathologies related thereto. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more such compounds (alone and in combination with one or more other active agents), and methods for their preparation and use, including Alzheimer's disease, are also disclosed.
US09181232B2	Difluoro-hexahydro-cyclopentaoxazinyls and difluoro-hexahydro-benzooxazinyls as BACE1 inhibitors Provided herein is a compound of formula I: as wells as a pharmaceutical composition, a process of making and a method of using a compound of formula I. The compounds of formula I are BACE1 inhibitors useful for the treatment of, for example, Alzheimer's Disease.
US09181231B2	Pyruvate kinase activators for use for increasing lifetime of the red blood cells and treating anemia Described herein are methods for using compounds that activate pyruvate kinase.
US09181229B2	Azole derivative Provided are novel compounds that bind to FKBP12 or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as new therapeutics useful in the prevention or treatment of alopecia which comprise those compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Specifically, compounds represented by formula (1) [where R1 represents either the following formula (2) or (3)] or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided.
US09181218B2	Compounds for improved stem cell differentiation into hepatocytes The invention relates to the compounds of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof, wherein R1-R11 are as defined in the description and claims. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of manufacturing and using the compounds of formula I as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. The compounds of formula I are useful in differentiating stem cells into more mature or adult-like hepatocytes for use as drug screening platforms and in disease modeling applications.
US09181217B2	Method for producing optically active naphthalene compound The present invention provides an industrially advantageous method for producing an optically active naphthalene compound useful as a therapeutic agent for dermatitis or the like. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for producing an optically active naphthalene compound [I], which comprises: a step of reacting a compound [a-1] and a compound [b-1] with each other in the presence of a base and a catalyst that is composed of a Pd compound and a tertiary phosphine ligand (step a); a step of asymmetrically hydrogenating a compound [c-1] in the presence of a hydrogen donor and a complex that is prepared from a ruthenium compound and a chiral ligand, or alternatively in the presence of an optically active oxazaborolidine compound (a CBS catalyst) and a boron hydride compound (step b); and a step of treating a compound [d-1] with a reducing agent (step c). (In the above formulae, Ra and Rb represent the same or different lower alkyl groups; and X1 represents a halogen atom.).
US09181216B2	4′-O-substituted isoindoline derivatives and compositions comprising and methods of using the same Provided are 4′-O substituted isoindoline compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, clathrates, stereoisomers, and prodrugs thereof. Methods of use, and pharmaceutical compositions of these compounds are disclosed.
US09181211B2	Process for the production of furfural Furfural is produced by mixing an aqueous feedstock solution containing C5 sugar and/or C6 sugar with a heated high boiling, water-miscible solvent, such as sulfolane, and a solid acid catalyst. Furfural product and water can be distilled off, leaving non-volatile solvent behind. Furfural yields of over 70% at as high as 99% conversion have been obtained with this process with sulfolane as the reaction solvent and zeolite beta as the solid acid catalyst. Also, certain by-products (e.g., humins) solubilized in the reaction solvent can be precipitated by addition of water or aqueous feedstock solution and then removed by filtration, thereby providing a convenient and effective way of removing these undesirable byproducts from the reaction mixture.
US09181205B2	Method for producing oxazole compound An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for producing an oxazole compound. The invention relates to a method for producing a compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1 is lower alkyl group or halogen substituted lower alkyl group, R2 is lower alkyl group, R5 is lower alkyl group, R11 is lower alkyl group, halogen substituted lower alkyl group or a group represented by formula: —CY2COOR12, wherein Y is a halogen atom, R12 is an alkali metal atom or lower alkyl group, Ar1 is phenyl group substituted with lower alkyl group, etc., or pyridyl group substituted with lower alkyl group, etc., X2, X3 and X9 are the same or different and are halogen atoms, X4 is a leaving group, and M is an alkali metal atom.
US09181202B2	Crystals of salts of phenylalanine derivatives Provided is a crystal of a salt of the compound represented by formula (I), which is excellent in its solubility in water. In particular, also provided is a crystal of hydrochloride, hydrobromate, sulfate, nitrate, p-toluenesulfonate or methanesulfonate of the compound represented by formula (I).
US09181201B2	Method of treatment of anxiety disorder comorbid with depression disorder The present invention relates to a method for treating comorbid anxiety disorders and depression disorders, as well as for preventing depression disorders in individuals affected by anxiety disorders, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of general formula (I): wherein R1 is —OCH3 or —CN or suitable pharmaceutical salts, hydrates or anhydrates thereof.
US09181199B2	Uracil derivatives and use thereof Disclosed are uracil derivatives of the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, and X are as defined herein, and use thereof as therapeutic agents. The uracil derivatives are used in particular together with a cytostatic agent for suppressing or reducing resistance building up on cytostatic treatment.
US09181197B2	Etomidate analogues with improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties The invention is directed to compounds according to formula (I): where R1 is L1C(O)OT or L1C(O)OL2C(O)OT; R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, or C2-C10 alkynyl, or R1; n is an integer from 0 to 5; each R3 is independently halogen or R2; L1 and L2 are each independently a bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkylene, C2-C10 alkenylene, or C2-C10 alkynylene; and T is H, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, or C2-C10 alkynyl, nitrophenol, or cyclopropyl. The invention is also directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and to methods for providing anesthesia in mammals by administering such a pharmaceutical composition.
US09181194B2	Production of caprolactam from carbohydrate-containing materials The present invention generally relates to processes for the conversion of glucose to caprolactam employing chemocatalytic oxidation and reduction reactions. The present invention also includes processes for the conversion of glucose to caprolactam via amido polyhydroxy acid products and amidocaproic acid or derivatives thereof. The present invention also includes processes that catalytically oxidize an amidopolyol to amidopolyhydroxy acid or derivatives thereof, and processes that catalytically hydrodeoxygenate amino or amido polyhydroxy acid or derivatives thereof to an amino or amidocaproic acid product. The amino or amidocaproic acid product may then be converted to caprolactam. The present invention also includes products produced by such processes and products producable from such products.
US09181189B2	Lipogenesis inhibitor compounds The present invention relates to Formula (I), wherein—if X=NH, each of R1, R2, R3, R4 represents a hydrogen atom; if X=N, the core is aromatic, and R2, R3 and R4 represent hydrogen atoms, and R1=H, halogen, aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl or acetylenyl; or R1, R2, R3, R4 are defined such that R1 or R2 or R3 or R4 represents a methyl group, and the three other radicals represent a hydrogen atom.
US09181184B2	Method for the treatment of pompe disease using 1-deoxynojirimycin and derivatives The present invention provides a method for increasing the activity of a mutant or wild-type α-glucosidase enzyme in vitro and in vivo by contacting the enzyme with a specific pharmacological chaperone which is a derivative of 1-deoxynojirimycin. The invention also provides a method for the treatment of Pompe disease by administration of chaperone small molecule compound which is a derivative of 1-deoxynojirimycin. The 1-deoxynojirimycin derivative is substituted at the N or C1 position. Combination therapy with replacement α-glucosidase gene or enzyme is also provided.
US09181178B2	Method for producing acrylonitrile The invention relates to a method for producing acrylonitrile which includes a vapor phase catalytic ammoxidation process of performing vapor phase catalytic ammoxidation by bringing a source gas containing propylene, molecular oxygen, and ammonia into contact with a fluidized bed catalyst to obtain acrylonitrile. The method is characterized in that the fluidized bed catalyst is a catalyst containing iron, antimony, and tellurium, and the vapor phase catalytic ammoxidation process is performed while maintaining an adsorbed amount of ammonia per specific surface area (m2/g) of the fluidized bed catalyst in the range of 0.01 to 0.22 μmol/m2. According to the method for producing acrylonitrile of the invention, it is possible to stably maintain a high acrylonitrile yield over a long period of time.
US09181177B2	Method of producing cycloalkanone oxime A method produces a cycloalkanone oxime by photonitrosation using light emitting diodes as the light source for the next generation that replaces an electric discharge lamp with, for example, mercury or sodium sealed therein. The method produces the cycloalkanone oxime by a photochemical reaction of a cycloalkane with a photo nitrosating agent in a liquid by light irradiation. The method uses a light source satisfying conditions that, in an emission energy distribution with respect to wavelength of the light source, a wavelength at which emission energy has a maximum value is in a range of 550 nm to 700 nm and a wavelength range outputting energy of or over 5% strength of the peak strength is equal to or less than 150 nm. An irradiation distance in the liquid is equal to or greater than 200 mm, and concentration of the photo nitrosating agent in the liquid is 0.1 mol % to 0.5 mol %.
US09181176B2	7-[3,5-dihydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-pent-1-enyl)-cyclopentyl]-N-ethyl-hept-5-enamide (bimatoprost) in crystalline form II, methods for preparation, and methods for use thereof The present invention provides a new crystalline form of bimatoprost, designated as crystalline form II. This new crystalline form is the most stable form known to date of bimatoprost. Moreover, it has been found that bimatoprost crystalline form II is readily prepared from crystalline form I.
US09181174B2	Method for isolating tertiary amino alcohol A method for isolating an amino alcohol simply from an amino alcohol aqueous solution containing a heterocyclic amine compound is provided. The method is a method for isolating a tertiary amino alcohol from a tertiary amino alcohol aqueous solution containing a heterocyclic amine compound, and for generating an enamine by adding a ketone to the tertiary amino alcohol aqueous solution, isolating the enamine from the tertiary amino alcohol aqueous solution, and isolating the tertiary amino alcohol from a residual liquid obtained by isolating the enamine.
US09181173B2	Synthesis of tetrabutylammonium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide and related salts The present invention is directed to methods comprising adding ammonia, either as an ammonium salt or as a gas at pressures below 0.01 MPa, to a sulfuryl fluoride solution to form the anion of bis(fluorosulfonyl)amine under conditions well suited for large-scale production. The bis(fluorosulfonyl)amine so produced can be isolated by methods described in the prior art, or isolated as an organic ion pair, such as an alkylammonium solid salt, or as an ionic liquid.
US09181169B2	Process for heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase partial oxidation of (meth)acrolein to (meth)acrylic acid A process for preparing (meth)acrylic acid by heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase partial oxidation of (meth)acrolein over a multimetal oxide composition which comprises the elements Mo, V and W and is obtained by a hydrothermal preparation route, and the multimetal oxide composition obtainable by this preparation route.
US09181166B1	Catalytic method for quantitative hydrolytic depolymerization of lignocelluloses in one-pot Lignocelluloses are selectively hydrolyzed into only two kinds of products in an one-pot, quantitative reaction. Lignin is reduced into small molecular aromatics without using reductants. Simultaneously, cellulose and hemicellulose are oxidized into small organic acids without using oxidants. A catalytic method is invented for oxygen-transfer from lignin to cellulose or hemicellulose. There is neither gasification nor black tar formation observed during the hydrolytic depolymerization.
US09181163B2	Hydrogenation of ketones having at least a carbon-carbon double bond in the γ,δ-position The present invention relates in a first aspect to a process for hydrogenation of ketones having at least a carbon-carbon double bond in the y,8-position to the keto group by hydrogen in the presence of at least one chiral iridium complex of formula (I), where R1 represents a group of formula (II) or (III) or (IV). It has been shown that this process leads to a strong increase in preferential formation of a single isomer. The process is particularly suitable for the hydrogenation of y,8-unsaturated ketones which can be used as flavors and fragrances or for the preparation of vitamin E and its derivatives or of flavors and fragrances.
US09181160B2	Method of producing 1-(2-t-butylcyclohexyloxy)-2-butanol The present invention relates to [1] a method of producing 1-(2-t-butylcyclohexyloxy)-2-butanol including a step of hydrogenating 1-(2-t-butylphenyloxy)-2-butanol under a condition at a hydrogen pressure of from 1 to 5 MPa in the presence of a palladium catalyst (A) supported on peat-derived active carbon and a metal catalyst (B) containing one or more kinds of members selected from ruthenium, rhodium, platinum, and nickel; and [2] a perfume composition containing 1-(2-t-butylcyclohexyloxy)-2-butanol obtained by the foregoing method. According to the present invention, 1-(2-t-butylcyclohexyloxy)-2-butanol having a woody or amber-like fragrance as a perfume material and excellent fragrance notes can be obtained in a high purity because of a small remaining amount of a reaction intermediate and in a high yield.
US09181157B2	Production of alpha, omega-diols Disclosed herein are processes for preparing an α,ω-Cn-diol, wherein n is 5 or greater, from a feedstock comprising a Cn oxygenate. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising Pt, Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, or Fe on a WO3 or WOx support. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal M1 and a metal M2 or an oxide of M2, and optionally a support. In one embodiment, M1 is Pd, Pt, or Ir; and M2 is Mo, W, V, Mn, Re, Zr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ge, Sn, Ti, Au, or Co. The Cn oxygenate may be obtained from a biorenewable resource.
US09181152B2	Process for preparation of (3R)-2,4-di-leaving group-3-methylbut-1-ene The specification relates to compounds and process for the preparation of a compound of formula 7, where LG is a leaving group and hal is a halide and is Cl, Br or I. The compound of formula 7 can be useful in the preparation of natural products, such as halichondrin and its derivatives.
US09181151B2	Process to manufacture 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb) The invention provides an improved process to manufacture 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb) by reacting 2-chloro-3,3,3,-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233xf) with hydrogen fluoride, in a liquid phase reaction in the presence of hydrogen chloride and a liquid phase fluorination catalyst. The hydrogen chloride is added into the reaction from an external source at a pressure of about 100 psig or more. The HCFC-244bb is an intermediate in the production of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene-1 (HFO-1234yf).
US09181150B1	Catalytic disproportionation of pentane using ionic liquids Processes for the disproportionation and isomerization of a C5 hydrocarbon feed using a liquid catalyst comprising an ionic liquid and a carbocation promoter are described. The ionic liquid is unsupported, and the reactions occur at temperatures below about 200° C.
US09181147B2	Process for the production of xylenes and light olefins In a hydrocarbon upgrading process, a hydrocarbon feed is treated in at least one of a steam cracker, catalytic cracker, coker, hydrocracker, and reformer under suitable conditions to produce a first stream comprising olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons. A second stream composed mainly of C4+ olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons is recovered from the first stream and is fed together with a methylating agent to a reaction zone containing a catalyst under reaction conditions including a temperature of about 450° C. to about 700° C., such that aromatics components in the second stream undergo dealkylation, transalkylation and/or methylation and aliphatic components undergo cracking and aromatization to produce a third stream having an increased xylene content compared with said second stream and a C3− olefin by-product. The C3− olefin by-product is recovered and para-xylene is removed from at least part of said third stream.
US09181146B2	Process for the production of xylenes and light olefins In a hydrocarbon upgrading process, a hydrocarbon feed is treated in at least one of a steam cracker, catalytic cracker, coker, hydrocracker, and reformer under suitable conditions to produce a first stream comprising olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons. A second stream composed mainly of C4 to C12 olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons is recovered from the first stream and at least part of the second stream is contacted with a catalyst in the absence of added hydrogen under reaction conditions including a temperature of about 450° C. to about 70° C. effective to dealkylate, transalkylate, crack and aromatize components of the second stream to produce a third stream having an increased benzene and/or toluene content compared with the second stream and a C3− olefin by-product. The C3− olefin by-product and a fourth stream comprising toluene are then recovered from the third stream.
US09181145B2	Process for the alkylation of organic compounds The present invention relates to a process for the alkylation of an organic compound comprising: (a) providing a catalyst comprising one or more zeolitic materials having a BEA framework structure, wherein the BEA framework structure comprises YO2 and optionally comprises X2O3, wherein Y is a tetravalent element, and X is a trivalent element, (b) contacting the catalyst with one or more alkylatable organic compounds in the presence of one or more alkylating agents in one or more reactors for obtaining one or more alkylated organic compounds, wherein the one or more zeolitic materials is obtainable from a synthetic process which does not employ an organotemplate as structure directing agent.
US09181140B1	Solid propellant bonding agents and methods for their use Bonding agents for use in formulating solid propellants are described. The bonding agents have a Schiff base, or Schiff base and hydroxyl or amine functionality. These materials are synthesized by reacting a primary amine with an aldehyde to form a Schiff base. By definition, a Schiff base comprises the reaction product of a primary amine and an aldehyde. In one embodiment of the invention, such a product is produced by the reaction of a polyoxyalkyleneamine (JEFFAMINE®) with p-nitrobenzaldehyde and glycidol. The result is a polyether having both hydroxyl and Schiff base functionality. The bonding agents provide superior performance, while avoiding problems, such as ammonia production during processing, encountered when using existing bonding agents. Propellants formulated using these bonding agents have mechanical properties within acceptable ranges.
US09181139B2	Treated biodiesel glycerin Disclosed are compositions that include treated biodiesel glycerin. The disclosed compositions may be utilized as soil-amendments for controlling pests, weeds and for enhancing growth of plants. The biodiesel glycerin utilized in the disclosed compositions may be treated by one or more steps including neutralization, heating, refluxing, condensing, and distilling.
US09181136B2	Method for producing hollow bodies having enclosed freely displaceable particles The invention relates to a method for producing hollow bodies having freely displaceable particles enclosed in the hollow body, wherein a) a gel-forming liquid in which the particles are suspended is brought into a cross-linking bath, b) the gel cores that form are isolated, c) the cores are coated with a composition comprising sinterable material and a binder, and d) the coated cores are subjected to a heat treatment wherein the gel and the binder are expunged and the sinterable material is sintered into a closed shell. The gel forming material is, for example, sodium alginate, and the cross-linking bath comprises calcium ions. The particles are selected, for example, from ZrO2, Al2O3, TiO2, and SiO2 or mixtures thereof. The sinterable material is, for example, a metal powder such as carbonyl iron powder.
US09181131B2	Redispersible powder composition for dry mortar formulations The present invention relates to a redispersible powder composition for use in the preparation of dry mortar formulations, especially of cementitious bound tile adhesives (CBTA). The invention further relates to a dry mortar formulation comprising said redispersible powder composition. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a method of increasing the open time of a dry mortar formulation without deteriorating the mechanical strength of the cured dry mortar formulation.
US09181127B2	Agents for inerting clays in hydraulic compositions A method for inerting clays in a hydraulic composition includes one step of putting a hydraulic composition or a constituent of a hydraulic composition in contact with a compound of the formula (I) R—COO31, (Mn+)1/n, wherein a method for making hydraulic composition, a pretreated granulate which may be obtained by mixing a granulate with the compound of formula (I), and an additive for inerting clays including a superplasticizer and the compound of formula (I) are described.
US09181126B2	Glass fusion method A glass layer fixing method for manufacturing a glass layer fixing member by fixing a glass layer to a first glass member, includes the steps of disposing the glass layer on the first glass member along a region to be fused, the glass layer containing a glass powder and a laser-absorbing material and irradiating the region to be fused therealong with a first laser beam, so as to melt the glass layer, fix the glass layer to the first glass member, and increase a laser absorptance of the glass layer.
US09181123B2	Thermal imaging to optimize flame polishing A process for optimizing flame polishing of a glass product includes subjecting a glass product to heating parameters related to the glass product, first sensing a first thermal image of the glass product, polishing the glass product with a flame, second sensing a second thermal image of the glass product after the polishing of the glass product, and adjusting parameters of the flame polishing as necessary based upon the second sensing of the second thermal image of the glass product.
US09181122B2	Method for producing glass plate In an annealing zone (3) of a glass sheet producing method, a curved portion (5) is formed by curving a glass ribbon (G) in a width direction, and a concavo-convex direction in a front and back direction of the curved portion (5) is reversed at least between an upper side and a lower side of a part of a region in the width direction of the glass ribbon (G). Therefore, a bending resistance in an upper and lower direction of the glass ribbon (G) and a bending resistance in the width direction of the glass ribbon (G) are increased.
US09181121B2	Method for manufacturing vitreous silica crucible Accurate temperature measurement during manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible is enabled. The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible including: a mold for forming a silica powder layer by supplying silica powder therein; an are discharge unit having carbon electrodes and a power supply unit and for heating and fusing the silica powder layer by arc discharge; and a temperature measurement unit for measuring temperature of a fused portion in the mold, wherein the temperature measurement unit is an radiation thermometer for measuring temperature by detecting radiation energy of a wavelength of 4.8 to 5.2 μm.
US09181117B2	System for biological treatment of water and wastewater A system and method for treatment of ammonia-containing raw water from low-temperature sources is designed to provide optimum treatment conditions, particularly temperature of the raw water in the bioreactor(s) containing nitrifying bacteria. The raw water supply is split into two streams, of which one stream is heated before remixing with the other stream. The split-stream heating is optionally supported by the provision of a retention tank on the heated-water stream. A three-way valve is provided to control compressed air supply to be mixed with the raw water in dependence on water level in the bioreactor.
US09181115B2	Method for water treatment regeneration stage Embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for providing a regeneration stage in a water treatment system. The method can include entering a first air bleed state to allow pressurized, deoxygenated air to exit the water treatment system, entering a second air bleed state to equalize a first air pressure of remaining deoxygenated air inside the water treatment system with a second air pressure outside the water treatment system, entering a backwash state to expel remaining deoxygenated air and particulates from inside the water treatment system, and entering an air draw state to allow oxygenated air to enter the water treatment system.
US09181111B2	Method and apparatus for processing fluids The present invention relates generally to the processing of fluids and/or their carriers. Carriers may comprise pipes, tubes and the like or reservoirs for the distribution and/or storage of fluids. In one form, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus that is suitable for use in the treatment of various fluids, such as water, by introducing at least one chemically active metal into the water and its carriers for disinfection of the water in a controlled manner. The invention also relates to a biasing means for displacement of an electrode arrangement to allow for the introduction of ions into a fluid at a controlled or easily monitored rate that is commensurate with the amount of fluid flow.
US09181110B2	Water softener using nanofiltration to reclaim a portion of the regenerating solution A water softening system includes apparatus that recycles a substantial percentage of the solution used for regenerating the system. This system conventionally includes a brine tank and a softening tank through which hard water from a source passes during normal operation. During a regeneration mode, the solution of sodium or potassium ions in the brine tank passes through the softening tank acquiring hardness ions, and then through a nanofilter that passes a much higher proportion of the sodium or potassium ions than the hardness ions from a high pressure side to a low pressure side. The hardness ions flow from the upstream end of the nanofilter through an outlet and into a drain. The liquid passing through the nanofilter contains salt that returns to the brine tank for reuse. Concentration of sodium or potassium ions may be tested during a fast rinse portion of the regeneration cycle.
US09181109B2	Ballast water treatment system The present invention provides a ballast water treatment system, comprising a centrifugal separator, an ultrasonic sterilizer, and an ultraviolet sterilizer, wherein, the centrifugal separator is designed to separate large-particle of foreign matters from the ballast water by centrifugal separation by means of density difference; the ultrasonic sterilizer is arranged at the back of the centrifugal separator, and is designed to accomplish ultrasonic sterilization for the ballast water passing through the centrifugal separator; the ultrasonic sterilizer comprises a pipe that is used for sterilization of the ballast water and ultrasonic irradiation unit that perform ultrasonic irradiation for the ballast water passing through the pipe; the ultraviolet sterilizer accomplishes sterilization by means of ultraviolet irradiation for the ballast water passing through the ultrasonic sterilizer. The ballast water treatment system provided in the present invention can effectively accomplish sterilization for the ballast water that flows into the ballast tank of ship, and thereby prevent all kinds of pollution to seawater related with ballast water discharge, and greatly improve reliability of application.
US09181105B2	Floating treatment streambed A floating streambed comprising a circulation pump having an inlet hose or pipe, an inlet hose or pipe depth adjuster, and one or more treatment channels comprised of permeable matrix. The floating streambed floats on a water body. Water enters the inlet hose or pipe from the water body and is pumped by the circulation pump into the treatment channels. The treatment channels are comprised of permeable matrix, and water entering the treatment channels flows both horizontally through the treatment channel and into the water body and also vertically downward through the permeable matrix of the treatment channels.
US09181101B2	Recycle of titanium diboride materials A method to recycle TiB2 articles, and in particular, a method to recycle a TiB2 feedstock including TiB2 articles and Ti-ore and/or Ti-slag by chlorination.
US09181095B2	Claus plant preprocessing systems and methods for removal of ammonia from claus plant feed gases Systems and methods for pre-treatment of acid gas are presented in which ammonium is removed from the acid gas in an absorber that is operated at significantly elevated temperature using dilute phosphoric acid. While seemingly incompatible, absorbing ammonia at high heat in the absorber will allow for production of a diammonium phosphate product that is ultra-low in residual sulfurous compounds and prevent crystallization of phosphate salts due to the increased solubility of the salts in the hot diluted solvent.
US09181089B2	Carbon nanotube crossbar based nano-architecture Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanotube field effect transistors (CNFETs) have demonstrated extraordinary properties and are widely accepted as the building blocks of next generation VLSI circuits. A CNT crossbar based nano-architecture, includes layers of orthogonal carbon nanotubes with electrically bistable and charge holding molecules at each crossing, forming a dense array of reconfigurable double gate carbon nanotube field effect transistors (RDG-CNFETs) and programmable interconnects, which is addressed via a voltage controlled nanotube addressing circuits on the boundaries.
US09181087B2	Flat back plate The present invention refers to a flat back plate, e.g. for MEMS capacitors e.g. for MEMS microphones. For that the back plate comprises a tensile element that exerts a horizontal tensile stress on its environment.
US09181084B2	Electronic device package and fabrication method thereof The invention provides an electronic device package and fabrication method thereof. The electronic device package includes a sensor chip. An upper surface of the sensor chip comprises a sensing film. A covering plate having an opening structure covers the upper surface of the sensor chip. A cavity is between the covering plate and the sensor chip, corresponding to a position of the sensing film, where the cavity communicates with the opening structure. A spacer is between the covering plate and the sensor chip, surrounding the cavity. A pressure releasing region is between the spacer and the sensing film.
US09181074B2	Container filling plant for filling containers, such as demijohns and kegs, which filling plant has filler elements for filling of large volume containers with a liquid product, and method therefor A container filling arrangement having a liquid duct to dispense a stream of liquid into a container, as well as a flushing tube disposed outside of the liquid duct. The flushing tube can be extended into the container to deliver flushing gas to flush out gas present in the container, and can then be retracted prior to filling of the container.
US09181068B2	System for determination of a container's position in a vehicle and/or its trailer to be loaded with containers A system for determining a position of a vehicle and/or in a trailer. The at least one container is loaded and unloaded into the vehicle and/or trailer by a crane. The crane includes a container spreader for gripping the containers and a positioning system for the crane and container spreader. The vehicle and trailer have locking pins that lock into pin holes in the corners of the container. A laser scanner determines the position of the locking pins in the vehicle and/or the trailer and the position of the container depending on the position of the locking pins. The laser scanner is arranged to determine positions in relation to the ground of the locking pins. The position information is relayed to the crane. Based on the position information, the positioning system calculates the position of the locking pins in relation to the crane.
US09181064B2	Method and device for feeding a yarn or thread to a processing machine with constant tension and velocity A method for feeding a yarn or thread to a processing machine, such as a textile machine, the method includes unwinding the yarn from a bobbin, bringing it into cooperation with a rotary member and then directing it to a sensor member arranged to verify its feed tension to the processing machine, with monitoring of the yarn feed velocity. The measured tension and measured velocity data being fed to a control unit which controls the yarn feed to the machine. The tension is continuously controlled by the unit to maintain it constant then, if this tension condition is verified, the velocity is controlled to render it constant, while at the same time the tension value is continuously monitored to verify whether it remains constant. This constant tension and constant velocity control of the yarn feed to the processing machine being implemented without synchronization with the machine.
US09181061B2	Pusher assembly with dynamic width adjustment for stacker A pusher assembly for a stacker includes first and second opposing moving sidewalls, each sidewall defining a lateral side of a chute region, the chute region defining a centerline therethrough. A first pusher is located on the first sidewall and is movable therewith and a second pusher is located on the second sidewall and is movable therewith. The first and second pushers, when in a home position, are staggered from one another relative to the centerline. The first pusher engages a leading edge of a stack of material in the stacker and the second pusher engages a trailing edge of the stack. In a conveying position, the first sidewall moves to engage the first pusher with the trailing edge of the stack of material, and the first and second sidewalls both move in a forward direction to discharge the stack of material.
US09181059B2	Conveyance apparatus and conveyance system A conveyance apparatus includes: a first conveying unit that includes a first conveyance passage along a first direction forming an angle with respect to a horizontal direction, and conveys a medium in the first direction; a returning conveyance unit that conveys the medium towards a second direction having a component of an opposite direction to the first direction; a second conveying unit that includes a second conveyance passage along the second direction, and conveys the medium in the second direction; a first processing unit that is disposed on the first conveyance path, and performs processing on a first surface of the conveying medium; and a second processing unit that is disposed at a position closer to the returning conveyance unit than the first processing unit, and performs processing on a second surface of the conveying medium.
US09181058B2	Core tube holding device and recording apparatus A core tube holding device includes: a holding portion which holds a cylindrical core tube extending in an axial direction; a support portion which supports the holding portion; a shaft portion which rotates the support portion and the holding portion; and a bearing portion which is connected to the support portion and into which the shaft portion is inserted. The holding portion and the bearing portion are formed to be harder than the support portion.
US09181055B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body, a paper feed cassette, a feed section, an operation control section, a paper passage detection sensor, a cassette attachment-detachment detection sensor, a paper presence-absence detection sensor, a sensor failure determination section, and an alarm control section. The paper passage detection sensor detects whether or not paper has passed through a position. The cassette attachment-detachment detection sensor detects attachment or detachment of the paper feed cassette. The paper presence-absence detection sensor detects paper absence when the paper feed cassette is withdrawn from the apparatus body. The sensor failure determination section determines that the paper presence-absence detection sensor is in failure. The alarm control section, when passage of the paper is not detected before passage of a predefined time period, alarms that the feeding of the paper has failed.
US09181050B2	Sheet feeding apparatus, control method thereof, and document reading apparatus A sheet feeding apparatus comprises a conveying path formed between an upper and a lower units facing each other; a feed roller which feeds a sheet by a portion partially exposed from an upper surface of the lower unit to the conveying path; a separation member disposed to oppose the feed roller; a stopper which stops entrance of the sheet into the conveying path by abutting against a sheet end in a closed state in which the stopper is moved in a direction to intersect with an exposed surface of the feed roller; a driving unit which drives at least the feed roller and the stopper; and a control unit which controls the driving unit to rotate the feed roller through a predetermined angle in a sheet feeding direction and to then open the stopper when feeding of the sheet is started from the closed state of the stopper.
US09181046B2	System and method to supply a solid feedstock to a solids feeder In a first embodiment, a system includes a first solids feeder having a first inlet and a first outlet, a second solids feeder having a second inlet and a second outlet, and an adjustable volume coupled to the first outlet and the second inlet. The first solids feeder is configured to supply a feedstock at a first feed rate and the second solids feeder is configured to supply the feedstock at a second feed rate. The adjustable volume is configured to adjust based at least in part on first feed rate and the second feed rate.
US09181043B1	Elevation change system for a rotary device An elevation change mechanism is disclosed for adjusting the elevation of a rotatable element of a rotary device in a direction parallel to the axis about which the rotatable element rotates. The rotary device can be: a filler, capper, labeler, a star wheel conveyor, or other rotary device. In some cases, the same motor that rotates the rotary device about the axis is used to move the elevation change mechanism in a direction parallel to the axis.
US09181042B2	Device for transferring bottles held in the neck area by means of grippers or the like An apparatus for transferring a container disposed in a transfer area of a container-processing machine from a first component to a second component includes a first gripper for holding the container in a neck area thereof, the first gripper being associated with the first component; a second gripper for receiving the container from the first gripper by holding the container in a neck area thereof, the second gripper being associated with the second component; and a diverting element for sliding or transferring the container from the first gripper to the second gripper when the first and second grippers are in the transfer area. When disposed in the transfer area, the first and second grippers are coplanar with each other and positioned facing each other.
US09181039B2	Food product positioning system and method A food handling system having a positioning system and method. The positioning system includes a main conveying surface, an electronic sensor, a controller and a robot. The main conveying surface is configured to move food products. The electronic sensor is configured to capture position data about one or more food products on the main conveying surface within a sensor range of the sensor. The controller is signal-connected to the electronic sensor and the robot. The controller is configured to receive data captured by the sensor and is configured to instruct the robot to move a food product to a destination position. The robot is configured to reposition one or more food products on the conveying surface according to instructions sent by the controller. The robot has a longitudinal and a lateral working range. The food product may include formed meat patties or sliced meat or cheese products.
US09181033B2	Tubular conveyor with cleated belt A conveyor comprising a support frame, an inclined tube mounted to the support frame, a hopper at a lower end of the tube for receiving material, a spout at an upper end of the tube for discharging the material, a running plate extending inside the tube, and a cleated belt, supported by the running plate, that conveys the material from the hopper to the spout through the tube. The cleated belt comprises a plurality of spaced-apart cleats and wherein each cleat has a base extending transversely to a direction of travel of the belt and curved sides that curve upwardly and outwardly from the base.
US09181032B2	Roller conveyor comprising a bearing element with shoulder A conveyor-section bearing element (50) for fitting to a conveyor frame (10) of a roller conveyor (1), wherein the conveyor-section bearing element (50) has at least one bearing site (54) for bearing a conveyor roller (20) on the conveyor frame, wherein the conveyor-section bearing element (50) further has at least one roller axle for bearing a carrier or support roller (32; 33), as well as a retrofit kit and a roller conveyor (1) comprising such a conveyor-section bearing element (50).
US09181029B2	Buffer means for containers and method for buffering containers A buffer means and a method for buffering containers, in particular in a container handling apparatus, like for example bottles in a bottle filling apparatus, is described. The buffer means comprises at least a first conveyor track. Furthermore at least a second conveyor track is provided, which is drivable along a second transport direction. The first conveyor track and the second conveyor track are parallel to each other and form a buffer module. A transfer device transfers the containers from an infeed conveyor track onto an outlet conveyor track of the buffer module. By means of a sliding device the required buffer capacity of the buffer means can be set. Between the infeed conveyor track and the outlet conveyor track of a buffer module at least two further drivable transfer conveyors are provided. Thus a closed surface of the buffer module is created.
US09181025B2	Collapsible container and blanks for constructing the same A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat configuration and a deployed configuration is provided. The container includes a plurality of side walls formed from a first blank and a bottom wall formed from a second blank. Each side wall has an end flap extending from a bottom edge of the first blank. The bottom wall is coupled to a first end flap extending from a first side wall of the first blank, and is foldable along a fold line for selectively moving the container from a deployed configuration into a substantially flat configuration. A second end flap extends from a second side wall adjacent the first side wall, and a third end flap extends from a third side wall adjacent the second side wall. The second and third end flaps support the second blank in uncoupled communication when the container is in the deployed configuration.
US09181018B2	Actuator cap for a fluid dispenser An actuator cap (1) for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a rotatable outer body (2), a non-rotatable chassis (4), an actuator button (3) and a spray channel assembly (6), the latter comprising an outlet nozzle (63); the outer body (2) being rotatable relative to the chassis (4) between a first position in which the actuator button (3) is incapable of depression and a second position in which the actuator button (3) is capable of depression, said depression causing release of fluid product from an associated container through the spray channel assembly (6), the actuator cap (1) also comprises rotational tensioning means (34 and/or 12, 24) between the outer body (2) and the chassis (4), said rotational tensioning means (34 and/or 12, 24) serving to ease rotation of the outer body (2) towards its second position when close thereto.
US09181016B2	Injection apparatus An injection apparatus includes an actuating cylinder, an accommodating chamber, and a volume changing part capable of changing the volume of the accommodating chamber. The actuating cylinder has an operation chamber and a piston accommodated in the operation chamber, and supplies an incompressible fluid to the injection cylinder by forcing out the incompressible fluid inside the operation chamber with the piston. The accommodating chamber is connected to the operation chamber, and holds at least some of the incompressible fluid that flows out from the operation chamber due to the piston being pushed out. The volume changing part expands the volume of the accommodating chamber, at the latest simultaneously with the start of acceleration of the actuating cylinder, and stops the expansion of the volume when the operating speed of the piston of the actuating cylinder has reached a desired speed.
US09181013B2	Liquefied gas tank A liquefied gas tank includes an inner tank (2) that stores liquefied gas and is disposed so as to be capable of self-standing on a floor surface (F), and an outer tank (3) that is covered over the inner tank (2) and is supported by an upper face portion (2a) of the inner tank (2). The outer tank (3) is configured to be capable of sliding on the upper face portion (2a) of the inner tank (2) in response to expansion and contraction in the horizontal direction of the inner tank (2), and to be capable of moving in response to expansion and contraction in the vertical direction of the inner tank (2). A ceiling portion (3a) of the outer tank (3) that is placed on the upper face portion (2a) of the inner tank (2) is not fixed to the upper face portion (2a) of the inner tank (2), and the inner tank (2) and the outer tank (3) are configured to be capable of sliding in the horizontal direction relative to each other. The outer tank (3) includes an expansion and contraction mechanism portion (33) that is disposed along the lower outer circumference thereof.
US09181007B2	Beverage can end with vent port A can end for a beverage container has a center panel with a stay-on tab opening system. A tear panel is defined by a first frangible score and a non-frangible hinge segment. A tab is attached to the center panel by a rivet. The tab has a void region partially surrounding a rivet island. A first circle has a first center point located at a center of the rivet and a first radius equal to a distance from the center of the rivet to a radially outermost point of the void region on a first axis running through the nose and lift ends of the tab and a center of the rivet. A second circle has a coincident center and a second radius less than 2.5 times first radius. A second frangible score is spaced completely radially outwardly from the rivet island and between the first and second circles.
US09181005B2	Container caps and systems Caps and container systems suited to dispensing products like cosmetics. Some of the caps include three portions that can be coupled together and that include a dispensing system that has an open position and a closed position.
US09180997B2	Multi-tiered container The present invention is directed to a container, forming a multi-tiered container when folded from a flat planar blank. The container includes a top having a planar top surface, a top front side, a top left side, a top right side, and a top back side. The container also includes a bottom having a planar bottom surface, a bottom front side, a bottom left side, a bottom right side, and a bottom back side. A horizontal opening edge extends parallel to the planar top surface and the planar bottom surface. The horizontal opening edge divides and separates the top from the bottom, more specifically, the top front side from the bottom front side, the top left side from the bottom left side, and the top right side from the bottom right side.
US09180996B2	Corrugated cardboard box with open-work flaps and set of blanks for obtaining same The invention concerns a generally parallelepiped corrugated box for packaging and transporting objects, the box comprising a lid formed by a lateral can-band carton including a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls and a top, and a tray forming a base including a central panel comprising four main sides each respectively provided with a first flap. The front and rear flaps are U-shaped and define each with the top a central recess enabling an object in the box to be gripped manually by a user from the side and/or from above. One or several partly precut portions and/or one or several bonding points enable the walls of the lid to be detached from the first flaps of the tray by manual separation resulting from a force applied perpendicularly to the walls.
US09180995B2	Retort cup A retort cup includes a tubular barrel portion formed of a barrel portion forming blank having a paper layer and thermoplastic resin layers; and a bottom portion which seals one of the openings of the barrel portion. The bottom portion has a downwardly bent peripheral edge portion. The barrel portion has an attached barrel overlap portion where both end edges of the blank are overlapped with each other and sealed, a lower fold-back portion which is formed at a lower end of the barrel portion by folding back the blank inwardly, and an upper fold-back portion which is formed by folding back the ends of the fold-back blank inwardly. The lower end of the barrel portion, the upper fold-back portion, and the peripheral edge portion of the bottom portion are sealed together. The peripheral edge portion is inserted into the lower fold-back portion.
US09180994B2	Method of conforming a label to the contour of a container A method of conforming upper and lower detached edge portions of a label to upper and lower contoured sections of a container, includes moving the container along a travel path, and heating at least the upper and lower detached edge portions of the label to a sufficient temperature to achieve a sufficient degree of plasticity as the container moves along the travel path. The method also includes moving the container between a compression plate and a vertically oriented belt disposed about at least two rotatable drums, thereby applying pressure to at least a portion of the label. The method further includes applying pressure to the upper detached edge portion of the label with a first linear brush held in a rigid supporting structure, and applying pressure to the lower detached edge portion of the label with a second linear brush held in a rigid supporting structure.
US09180993B2	Feeding device A feeding device includes a material pipe, a first container, a second container and a constant-length linkage mechanism. The material pipe is configured for feeding a first material. The first container is configured for receiving the first material and supplying a timed amount of the first material to a first material feed port. The second container is configured for storing a second material and supplying the second material to a second material feed port. The constant-length linkage mechanism is connected to the first container and the second container. When the first container is actually supplying the first material to the first material feed port, the constant-length linkage mechanism allows the second container to supply the second material to the second material feed port simultaneously.
US09180991B2	Apparatus and method for packaging a liquid product The invention relates to a method for packaging a liquid product (1), such as a food product, and, in particular, a product sensitive to oxygen, in a container (2) with a low oxygen content, said container including an opening (3). The method of the invention comprises the following steps: the air is removed from the container by filling same to capacity with the liquid product in a non-controlled atmosphere; the full container is placed in a non-oxidizing atmosphere formed by at least one non-oxidizing gas; the liquid product is partially emptied from the container in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, such that the at least one non-oxidizing gas replaces the product discharged from the container; and the above-mentioned container opening is closed in a gas-tight manner while the container is partially full of the liquid product in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
US09180990B2	Method for allocating product carriers and a food processing device The disclosure relates to a method for allocating product carriers, in particular L-boards, to certain types of product portions of a food product, in particular stacks of slices of a food product. During processing of the product portions, at least two different product carriers are available, of which a specific product carrier is respectively combined with the product portion in dependency of a property of a product portion. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a food processing device.
US09180988B2	Method and apparatus for use in the formation of a tobacco pouch An apparatus for use in the formation and filling of a pouched product. The apparatus includes an elongated outer tubular member, the elongated outer tubular member having a first end, a second end and an outer surface; an elongated inner tubular member, the elongated inner tubular member coaxially aligned within the elongated outer tubular member so as to form an annular delivery chamber and having a first end and a second end, the first end for receiving the product to be pouched, the second end having a plurality of circumferentially spaced exit orifices in fluid communication with the annular delivery chamber and directed radially inwardly, the second end for placing the product within the pouch being formed; and an inlet hub adjacent the first end of the elongated outer tubular member and the first end of the elongated inner tubular member, the inlet hub having a first inlet in communication with the first end of the elongated inner tubular member and a second inlet in fluid communication with the annular delivery chamber; wherein the outer surface of the elongated outer tubular member provides a surface for forming the pouched product thereabout.
US09180987B2	Thermoform packaging machine and method for stretching a film web The disclosure relates to a thermoform packaging machine for stretching a film web as well as to a method of operating a thermoform packaging machine, in the case of which a stretching station with a heating unit is provided, and the film web is actively cooled by means of a film cooling device after stretching of the film web.
US09180986B2	Packaging machine A packaging machine includes a shaping device including a conveyor drive mechanism and a bottom tapping mechanism and shaping a packaging bag filled with article so that the bag has a predetermined thickness. The conveyor drive mechanism includes a pair of side conveyors movable forward and backward. The conveyors are capable of pressing the bag filled with the article when moved forward. The conveyors are configured to be run in parallel to the moving direction of the bag substantially in synchronization with movement of the bag. The tapping mechanism includes a receiving plate disposed over the filling step and one or more steps following the filling step. The receiving plate is moved up and down so that the bag bottom is tapped, when the bag filled with the article is stopped between the filling step and one or more steps following the filling step.
US09180983B2	Actuator with transfer of angular momentum for the attitude control of a spacecraft An attitude control actuator of a spacecraft includes a first momentum wheel driven in rotation by a motor and a second momentum wheel. Both momentum wheels are movable in rotation about an axis and are mechanically coupled by coupling means imposing between a rotation speed ω1 of the first momentum wheel and a rotation speed ω2 of the second momentum wheel a ratio R=ω2/ω1, negative on the one hand and continuously modifiable by the coupling means in response to a command on the other hand so as to modify the total angular momentum of the actuator while the total kinetic energy of the wheels are kept constant. In one embodiment, both momentum wheels have the same inertia and are coupled through a toroidal variable rotation speed drive, where ratio R varies between −3 and −⅓. The motor drives the momentum wheels and operates as a generator for braking the momentum wheels.
US09180981B2	Pod for space or near-space flights A pod for flights to and/or from space or near-space, including a pressurized body for hosting passengers, the pressurized body having a substantially ring-like shape provided around a central axis and having a central opening, wherein the pressurized body includes one or more windows.
US09180979B2	Smooth surface forming tool and manufacture thereof An aircraft article composite forming tool and a method for producing the tool. The aircraft article to be formed includes a composite material including an outer surface. The aircraft article composite forming tool includes a matrix laminate made of at least an upper ply including a forming surface for forming the aircraft article and outer surface. The upper ply includes a nano filament structure embedded therein.
US09180977B2	Supplementary power supply apparatus for a vehicle, in particular a flying machine A supplementary power supply apparatus for electric onboard consumers of a vehicle, in particular flying machines. The apparatus includes openly disposed visible solar surfaces of several solar cells that are arranged in areas on the surface of an outer skin of the vehicle or integrated in the latter in the manner of a layer. Each of the solar cells includes at least two electric terminals by means of which the solar cells may be interconnected to form a solar generator, and several ones of the electric terminals are configured as generator terminals of the solar generator for one or several predetermined voltages between two respective ones of these generator terminals.
US09180976B2	Electric propulsion system control apparatus The present invention provides an electric propulsion system control apparatus that uses electric means alone so that effects pertaining to weight and cost are suppressed, is capable of accurate detection even when an airspeed has a binary relationship with a torque and a rotation speed of a propeller, and thereby exhibits improved detection precision and responsiveness. The electric propulsion system control apparatus drives a propulsion propeller to rotate, and is configured to estimate the airspeed from a data set stored in advance in relation to the airspeed and a propeller characteristic, and a plurality of torque and rotation speed estimation values detected under different driving conditions.
US09180975B2	Flexible linking device for an aircraft propulsion system A linking device including two hinge pins and having flexibility allowing vibrations between these two shafts to be filtered. The device includes a stack of plates connected to one another by layers of elastomer material. Plates of a first type are coupled to one of the shafts in relation to the movements parallel to the plates, while the plates of a second type are coupled to the other shaft in relation to the movements parallel to the plates, so as to allow relative movement of the shafts parallel to the plates. This linking device may be used in particular as a connecting rod, spreader beam or three-point shackle used in connecting a turbine engine to a pylon in a propulsion system of an aircraft such as an airplane.
US09180972B2	Supercooled large drop icing condition detection system A method and apparatus for an ice detection system. The ice detection system includes a first sensor located on a leading edge of a vertical stabilizer on an aircraft, a second sensor located on a first side of the vertical stabilizer, and a third sensor located on a second side of the vertical stabilizer. The first sensor is configured to detect a first type of icing condition for the aircraft. The second sensor is configured to detect a second type of icing condition for the aircraft. The third sensor is configured to detect the second type of icing condition for the aircraft.
US09180970B2	Double cabin attendant seat A cabin attendant seat for an aircraft, an aircraft monument comprising such a cabin attendant seat and an aircraft comprising such an aircraft monument. The cabin attendant seat is movable from a starting position into at least one end position. The cabin attendant seat includes at least one backrest element and two seat elements. Each of the two seat elements is movable relative to the at least one backrest element between a folded position and an unfolded position.
US09180967B2	Configurable pod structure and store stowage and deployment system and method In one embodiment there is provided a radar signature and induced aerodynamic drag minimizing, externally mountable, internally configurable pod structure optimized for internal placement of one or more deployable stores through configuration and optimal kinematic operation of a pod door assembly. The pod structure has an externally mountable pod housing, a predetermined pod housing cross-sectional configuration optimized to provide a configurable interior volume accommodating multiple different store configurations, and a predetermined pod housing configuration having a cross-sectional configuration optimized to minimize a radar signature and an induced aerodynamic drag. The pod structure further has a pod door assembly integral with the pod housing and having a plurality of pod doors and one or more seal door mechanism assemblies. The pod structure is optimized in kinematic operational combination of the pod doors and seal door mechanism assemblies controlling ejection launch envelopes.
US09180965B2	Actuation system for an active element in a rotor blade In accordance with one embodiment of the present application, an actuation system is configured for actuation of an airfoil member with a flap mechanism. The actuation system can include an upper drive tape and a lower drive tape, each partially wrapped around a first bearing and second bearing. An inboard frame can be actuated by at least one linear actuator. Similarly, an outboard frame can be actuated by at least one linear actuator. The inboard frame is coupled to the upper drive tape, while the outboard frame is coupled to the lower drive tape. An actuation of the inboard frame and outboard frame in a reciprocal manner acts move a flap input lever reciprocally upward and downward. A flap mechanism is configured to convert the movement of the flap input lever into rotational movements of the airfoil member.
US09180959B2	Rapid decompression detection system and method A system for monitoring pressure change within at least one compartment of an aircraft is provided. The system includes a primary pressure sensor for providing a signal corresponding to a pressure within a primary compartment of the aircraft, a primary monitoring channel coupled to the primary pressure sensor, and an output driver coupled to the primary monitoring channel. The primary monitoring channel includes a band pass filter for receiving and filtering the primary pressure signal, a pressure change circuit for determining a change in the filtered pressure signal and for providing a pressure change output signal corresponding to the change in pressure, and a threshold logic circuit for determining whether the pressure change output signal meets a predetermined threshold and for providing a threshold output signal indicating that a decompression event has occurred if the pressure change output signal meets the predetermined threshold. The output driver receives the primary threshold output signal and outputs a notification signal.
US09180958B2	Aircraft, airframes and associated methods Aircraft and airframes include a skin operatively coupled to a structural reinforcement member. The structural reinforcement member and the skin collectively define a run-out region that encompasses a terminal edge of the structural reinforcement member. Within the run-out region, the skin is more flexible than in adjacent portions of the skin. Methods include defining a region of increased flexibility of a skin relative to adjacent portions of the skin, and operatively coupling the skin to a structural reinforcement member.
US09180957B2	Method for installing a dome-shaped pressure bulkhead in a rear section of an aircraft, and device for carrying out the method A method and an apparatus for carrying out the method for installing an especially dome-shaped pressure bulkhead on a one-piece, substantially conical rear section for an aircraft, wherein said rear section includes a connection area and an end area. The method involves the steps of horizontally accommodating a prefabricated rear section in a horizontal support; inserting the rear section into a pivoting frame; pivoting the rear section into a vertical position using the pivoting frame, wherein the connection area of the rear section points upward; horizontally placing and centering the pressure bulkhead on the connection area, and joining the pressure bulkhead with the rear section in the area of the connection area.
US09180945B1	Salvage rail flotation device and method The invention provides a salvage rail which connects to an object such as a sunken ship, a sinking ship, a seaworthy ship that wants to have protection so that it will not sink, or countless other objects that are in water. Rolled-up bags, or bladders, which can be inflated, are configured on the rail. The rail is easy to handle, even with rolled bags included.
US09180934B2	Hull cleaning robot A hull cleaning robot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, includes a robot body and a drive module within the robot body for maneuvering the robot about a hull. The drive module includes a drive element for holding the robot on the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull. The drive element includes a cleaning function for cleaning the hull of a vessel.
US09180929B2	Sprocket assembly The invention relates to a sprocket assembly for mounting on a driver of a rear wheel hub of a bicycle. By means of a threaded element, a sprocket cluster and a separately embodied ring element are axially clamped together, and a rotation-coupling device is provided between the sprocket cluster and the ring element. Knurled teeth features on the threaded element and ring element prevent the loosening of the threaded element. Through the separate embodiment of the ring element and sprocket cluster, the respective most suitable manufacturing methods can be used for the two parts and, in the event that the sprocket cluster is manufactured by means of machining methods, the knurled features on the ring element can also be produced in a cost-effective and precise manner through shaping methods.
US09180928B2	Brake system with linking effect A brake system with linking effect includes rear-wheel and front-wheel brake devices. The rear-wheel brake device includes a first rotating member, a first shifting member allocated in the first rotating member, and a first drawing member encircling the first rotating member at a first connecting radius. The rear-wheel brake device is drawn by the first drawing member and rotated from a first initial position. The front-wheel brake device includes a second rotating member, a second shifting member allocated in the second rotating member, and a second drawing member encircling the second rotating member at a second connecting radius. The front-wheel brake device is drawn by the first drawing member to rotate from a second initial position to perform a braking operation. The first and second shifting members are configured, to allow the first shifting member to draw the rear-wheel brake device to synchronously brake the front and rear wheels.
US09180927B2	Powered personal mobility vehicle with rotating wheels An electric powered personal mobility vehicle that includes at least one front wheel and an electric motor that provides rotational force to a wheel of the vehicle. The electric motor is supported by the vehicle and is powered by a rechargeable battery that is also supported by the vehicle. The vehicle can also include swivel caster wheels each configured to rotate about a wheel axis.
US09180922B2	Motorcycle stand Apparatus, systems, and methods involve a motorcycle stand for adjustably securing a motorcycle, such as for storing or transporting a motorcycle in an immobilized, upright position. A motorcycle stand in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention may include a stand base connected to an axle support post. At a top end of the axle support post, the axle support post includes an axle bar slot having a self-engaging latch. An axle bar may be inserted into the axle bar slot and engage the self-engaging latch. The self-engaging latch may include a release mechanism to disengage the latch, to release the axle bar from the axle bar slot, and to reset the self-engaging latch. A stand may include two axle support posts for engagement on either side of a wheel axle. A motorcycle stand system may include one or more stands and an axle bar.
US09180917B1	Supplemental support flange for a vehicle frame pillar and expanded daylight opening of panoramic sunroof A vehicle panoramic sunroof assembly includes a vehicle frame including a medial pillar that extends vertically from a lower frame portion to a longitudinal member of a roof frame portion. A top portion of the medial pillar includes a supplemental support flange. A panoramic sunroof frame is set within and connected to the longitudinal member of the roof frame portion and connected to the supplemental support flange. The supplemental support flange is mechanically connected to the panoramic sunroof frame.
US09180915B2	Double support structure of a front body structure of a vehicle A support structure of a front body structure may include a first supporting member having both ends in a length direction thereof, the both ends being fixedly coupled respectively to a rear face of the front body structure in the length direction of the vehicle and any one of both side surfaces of the front side member in the width direction of the vehicle, and configured to support the small overlap crash energy firstly, and a second supporting member having both end portions, one end portion being rotatably coupled to the first supporting member and the other end portion being detachably coupled to the first supporting member such that in case the fixedly coupled portions of the first supporting member are deformed or damaged, the second supporting member is configured to rotate on the one end portion.
US09180913B2	Vehicle front end structure A vehicle front end structure includes an engine cradle including an engine mounting structure and a force receiving member. The force receiving member is fixedly attached to the engine cradle. The force receiving member includes a force receiving surface extending rearward from a front corner of the engine cradle in a laterally outbound direction at an inclined angle with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction. The force receiving member is arranged with respect to the engine cradle to receive a longitudinally directed rearward force on the force receiving surface. The force receiving member is configured with respect to the engine cradle to redirect at least a portion of the longitudinally directed rearward force laterally to the engine cradle at the engine mounting structure which is located rearward of the front corner.
US09180906B2	Driving apparatus It is an object to provide a driving apparatus, which can be easily mounted to vehicles of different models. A circuit unit for controlling an operation of an electric motor is fixed to an axial end of a motor casing. A connector holding unit, which is integrally formed with a heat sink of the circuit unit, is composed of a first and a second arm portions and a connecting portion to form a connector accommodating space in such a radial outside position of the motor casing. The connector accommodating space extends in an axial direction of the motor casing. An inside connector unit is inserted into the connector accommodating space. The inside connector unit has a connector-insert hole into which an outside connector (a vehicle-side connector) is inserted for electrical connection.
US09180901B2	Steering wheel position adjusting apparatus When an adjustment lever 32 is rotated in order to adjust the position of a steering wheel 1, the adjustment lever 32 is prevented from vigorously rotating, which prevents making the driver who operates the adjustment lever 32 feel discomfort. An expandable damper 35 that provides resistance to the rotation of the adjustment lever 32 is provided between a protrusion 34 that rotates together with the adjustment lever 32 centered around an adjustment rod and an extending portion 37 that is provided on a support-plate portion 15c. The expandable damper 35 has a cylinder portion 38 and a damper rod 39 that are combined so as to be able to displace relative to each other in the axial direction by way of grease 40.
US09180898B2	Cart for portable ultrasonic diagnostic device and ultrasonic diagnostic unit A cart is provided for mounting a portable ultrasonic diagnostic device, the cart being small in size and having high operability, and the portable ultrasonic diagnostic device is opened and used in the state of being kept mounted on the cart. The cart has a top board 1 for placing the portable ultrasonic diagnostic device thereon, a support column 2 for supporting the top board in such a manner as movable up and down, multiple legs 3 for supporting the support column, wheels 4 respectively attached to the legs, and a unit 5 having a predetermined function. The unit 5 is placed below the top board 1 in the rear of the support column 2, and the center of gravity of the cart is positioned in the rear of the center of the support column 2. This cart has a simple configuration enabling downsizing, and it is high in operability. It is possible to open and use the portable ultrasonic diagnostic device in the state that the portable ultrasonic diagnostic device is kept mounted on the cart.
US09180895B2	Bearing arrangement for a torsion bar spring of the roll stabilization system of a rail vehicle A bearing for bearing a torsion bar spring of a roll stabilization system of a track vehicle comprises a split bearing bush for the torsion bar spring and a split bearing shell which comprises said bearing bush and which can be connected to the body/bogie. A pair of seals is mounted at one end of the bearing and consists of an inner, flexible inner seal sitting on the torsion bar spring and an outer, flexible outer seal sitting in the bearing shell. Every seal of the pair of seals comprises at least one peripheral sealing lip and the seals interact with each other via the sealing lips in a sealing manner.
US09180892B2	System and method for automated establishment of a vehicle consist A method for controllably linking propulsion units in a vehicle consist includes transmitting a linking signal having an identity of a lead propulsion unit. A remote propulsion unit is remotely controlled by the lead unit when the identity matches a designated identity stored onboard the remote unit. A de-linking signal is transmitted from the lead unit when the lead unit is to be decoupled from the vehicle consist. The de-linking signal includes a replacement identity of a replacement propulsion unit. A replacement linking signal is transmitted from a second lead unit. The remote propulsion unit allows the second lead propulsion unit to remotely control the operations of the remote propulsion unit when replacement identity stored onboard the remote propulsion unit matches an identity that is communicated in the replacement linking signal.
US09180885B2	Drive assist apparatus, and information processing apparatus for vehicles A drive assist apparatus which performs driving assistance in a predetermined interval having a gradient, includes average gradient information acquisition means for acquiring average gradient information of the predetermined interval; driving status information acquisition means for acquiring driving status information of a host vehicle; and gradient estimation means for estimating a gradient of a certain point within the predetermined interval or an average gradient of a certain interval within the predetermined interval, based on the average gradient information acquired by the average gradient information acquisition means and the driving status information of the host vehicle that is acquired by the driving status information acquisition means, and performs driving assistance in the predetermined interval, using the gradient that is estimated by the gradient estimation means.
US09180878B2	Control device for hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle control device basically includes an engine, a motor/generator, a first clutch, a second clutch and an engine start control section. The first clutch is disposed between the engine and the motor/generator. The second clutch is disposed between the motor/generator and a drive wheel. The engine start control section has a second clutch slip transition control section that is configured to control a transition of the second clutch to slip engagement when an engine start control is begun based on a mode transition request resulting from an accelerator depression operation, by increasing the torque transmission capacity of the second clutch according to a prescribed slope after dropping the torque transmission capacity of the second clutch to a value smaller than a target drive force.
US09180874B2	Method and strategy to detect the lock-up of planetary gear in power split hybrid vehicles A system and method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine, a generator, and a motor connected via a planetary gear set to detect lockup in the planetary gear set and control the powertrain in response. When torque is distributed in an electric mode of operation with the engine disabled, the generator is disabled based at least upon a difference between actual generator speed and an expected generator speed exceeding a threshold, indicating a lockup in the planetary gear set. When the engine is activated and distributes torque through the powertrain, the engine and the generator are disabled based at least upon a difference between engine acceleration and an expected engine acceleration exceeding a first threshold, and a difference between engine speed and ring gear speed being less than a second threshold.
US09180871B2	Hybrid vehicle and control method for hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle including an engine having a catalyst in an exhaust passage, first and second motor generators, a battery and a power transmission mechanism coupling a drive shaft, the engine and the motor generators by a gear mechanism such that torque is transmittable, and its control method, are provided. When a coolant temperature is a threshold or below, catalyst warm-up operation for starting the engine and retarding an ignition timing by a retardation amount is executed. When a battery level is a threshold or below, forced charging operation for starting the engine and charging the battery by driving the first motor generator is executed. During the forced charging operation, an engine load is changed on the basis of the battery level. When the catalyst warm-up operation is executed during the forced charging operation, the retardation amount for facilitating warm-up of the catalyst is reduced as the engine load increases.
US09180863B2	Oil pump system of hybrid vehicle and method for controlling the same An oil pump system and method of a hybrid vehicle stably supplies an operating hydraulic pressure to an automatic transmission using only an electric oil pump. The oil pump system of the hybrid vehicle, which supplies an operating hydraulic pressure to an automatic transmission of the hybrid vehicle, includes: an automatic transmission control unit controlling operation of the automatic transmission; an electric oil pump pumping oil to generate an operating hydraulic pressure which is to be supplied to the automatic transmission; and an oil pump control unit receiving information on a state of the automatic transmission from the automatic transmission control unit and controlling operation of the electric oil pump. The operating hydraulic pressure supplied to the automatic transmission may be generated solely through the electric oil pump which is electrically operated.
US09180862B2	Vehicle dynamic control apparatus and vehicle dynamic control system using the same A vehicle dynamic control apparatus is designed to control a plurality of controlled objects based on a first parameter associated with a motion of a vehicle in a same direction to fulfill a request value of a second parameter associated with the motion of the vehicle in the same direction and outputted from a control requester. The vehicle dynamic control apparatus includes an availability obtainer configured to obtain an availability of the first parameter of each of the controlled objects, and to output the availability of the first parameter of each of the controlled objects to the control requester.
US09180860B2	Utilization of vehicle presence systems for powertrain response readiness and conserving energy A method and system relates to improving powertrain responsiveness in a vehicle while maintaining fuel economy by inhibiting entry into, or exiting, energy-saving modes when oncoming traffic is detected. In one example, the energy-saving mode is inhibited in response to an indication of an oncoming vehicle of concern. In a second example, the energy-saving mode is selectively maintained in response to an indication of an absence of oncoming traffic.
US09180854B2	Dual purpose dryers for high flow A system and method of controlling an air dryer system having first and second air dryers configured to receive compressed air from a compressor, such as a compressor of a vehicle, including operating the first and second air dryers in a first mode corresponding to a high flow mode wherein the first and second air dryers are connected in parallel with the air compressor, monitoring a condition related to a low compressor output state, and operating the first and second air dryers in a second mode corresponding to a continuous flow mode when the low compressor output state is detected.
US09180850B2	Working vehicle An operating system is formed in which an engagement shaft supported on an end portion of a brake piston is inserted through an engagement hole portion of a balance member; an operation wire is connected to the balance member via a coupling pin; and brake operating arms of rear wheel brake mechanisms are operated by a pair of arm portions of the balance member. A broad area is formed in the engagement hole portion in a manner allowing the balance member to swing about the coupling pin when the operation wire is pulled.
US09180849B2	Pressure control valve arrangement having a pressure medium channel of oval cross-section A pressure control valve arrangement is described for controlling a fluid pressure in an ABS brake system of a vehicle such that, in the event of a tendency of individual wheels of the vehicle to lock, the brake pressure in at least one associated brake cylinder can be adaptively adjusted, including: a housing in which is formed at least one pressure-medium-conducting pressure medium duct and in which is provided a diversion of the flow of the pressure medium within the pressure medium duct from a portion of the pressure medium duct leading in one direction into a portion of the pressure medium duct leading in another direction, in which the pressure medium duct is produced together with the housing by primary forming, and in which the cross section of the pressure medium duct is oval and the major dimension of the oval cross section and the central axis of the pressure medium duct are arranged in a common plane, and the minor dimension of the oval cross section is perpendicular to the plane.
US09180848B2	Vehicle brake force generation device A vehicle brake force generation device is provided with an electric motor for applying drive force and regenerative brake force to the wheels of an electric vehicle, a brake hydraulic pressure generation device for generating the brake hydraulic pressure to be applied to the calipers of the electric vehicle, a slip information computation unit for computing the slip information of the wheels, a VSA device for controlling the friction braking of at least the brake hydraulic pressure generation device such that the slipping of the wheels is inhibited, a first diagnosis unit for diagnosing the VSA device, and a brake control unit for controlling the cooperative braking which includes controlling the regenerative braking of the electric motor and/or controlling the friction braking of the brake hydraulic pressure generation device.
US09180843B2	Dual rate dual direction spring system Various embodiments may provide a convenient mechanism and system for users of vehicles that include handbrakes to operate reverse lockout deactivation mechanisms in connection with the handbrake. For example, saddle-type vehicles such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), snowmobile, motorcycle, or the like may benefit from certain embodiments. For example, the system that combines brake, reverse lockout deactivation, and parking brake mechanisms may benefit from a dual rate, dual direction spring system. An apparatus can include a first lever configured to pivot about a first axis. The apparatus can also include a second lever mounted with the first lever and configured further to pivot about a second axis offset from the first axis. The second lever can be configured to be biased to a first position by a first spring and a second spring.
US09180840B2	Camera washing device for camera lens A camera washing device has an air pump, a wash water tank storing wash water, an injection nozzle with an injection part, a junction joint having a high-pressure air passage and a wash water passage, and an electromagnetic valve. The air pump generates and supplies high-pressure air to the high-pressure air passage. When the control part instructs the electromagnetic valve to be switched to an open state, the wash water and the high-pressure air are mixed in the junction joint to generate water particles. The generated water particles are supplied to the injection nozzle. When the electromagnetic valve is switched to the open state after injecting the high-pressure air only to a lens of a rear camera, the injection part injects the water particles to the lens of the camera.
US09180838B2	Motor control device A motor control device is provided which controls a motor by performing switching between forward rotation and reverse rotation so as to cause an object to be controlled to reciprocate, the motor control device including a lead angle map storage unit configured to store a lead angle map in which a motor rotation speed and a lead angle to be set are associated for each of the forward rotation and the reverse rotation, a target rotation speed-setting unit configured to set a target rotation speed of the motor based on an input signal from outside, a lead angle-setting unit configured to obtain the lead angle associated with the set target rotation speed by referring to the lead angle map and set the lead angle as a lead angle of the motor, and a driving control unit configured to control rotation of the motor so as to achieve the set target rotation speed and the set lead angle.
US09180837B2	Side airbag device for vehicle A side airbag device for vehicle includes: a gas generator that is disposed in a seat cushion side part in a vehicular seat and generates a gas for inflation and deployment by actuation; and a side airbag in which the inside thereof is partitioned into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a up-down dividing tether having a connecting hole and the gas from the gas generator is supplied to the lower chamber.
US09180826B2	In-vehicle power supply apparatus An in-vehicle power supply apparatus that provides power supply from a secondary battery installed in a vehicle to at least one in-vehicle device, includes a voltage compensating unit that suppresses and compensates for a decrease in a power supply voltage supplied to the at least one in-vehicle device in a case where a voltage supplied to the at least one in-vehicle devices has become less than or equal to a first predetermined value, and an uninterruptible power supply unit that supplies electric power of another secondary battery different from the secondary battery to at least a part of the at least one in-vehicle device in a case where a voltage supplied to the at least one in-vehicle device has become less than or equal to a second predetermined value that is smaller than the first predetermined value.
US09180823B2	Adaptive decorative trim assemblies for vehicle cabin interiors Adaptive, self-adjusting decorative trim assemblies are especially adapted for use in aircraft cabin interiors where the fuselage undergoes deformation and/or distortion due to pressurization during flight. The self-adjusting features of the decorative trim assemblies according to the embodiments described herein thus allow for relative movement between mutually intersecting interior cabin panels without jeopardizing the cabin interior aesthetics (e.g., since the relative positioning of the panels is not disrupted by virtue of such fuselage deformations).
US09180822B2	Vehicle with sound wave reflector Embodiments disclose a vehicle which has a vehicle ceiling having a first sound wave reflection portion having a first sound wave reflection characteristic and a second portion having a second sound wave reflection characteristic, wherein the first sound wave reflection portion is more sound wave reflecting than the second sound wave reflection portion and at least one speaker arranged in the vehicle, so that a main sound emission direction is directed to the first sound wave reflection portion, so that a sound wave emitted by the speaker and reflected by the first sound wave reflection portion is perceptible as a diffuse sound by a person in the vehicle.
US09180814B2	Vehicle rear left and right side warning apparatus, vehicle rear left and right side warning method, and three-dimensional object detecting device A 3D object detecting device includes a driving-lane detecting unit that detects a driving lane of a vehicle; a 3D-object detecting unit that detects, by using pattern recognition technology, a type of 3D object with respect to images captured by side cameras; and a recognition-priority setting unit that varies and sets a recognition priority for the detected type of 3D object, based on the detected driving lane. In accordance with the driving lane of the vehicle, the recognition-priority setting unit sets the priority for pattern recognition lower for a type of 3D object that is less likely to exist in rear left and right sides of the vehicle, to thereby reduce the possibility that a 3D object that should not be regarded as a warning target is erroneously detected from the images as a warning subject.
US09180808B2	System for controlling exterior lighting of a motor vehicle A system for controlling the exterior lighting of a motor vehicle has a switch unit having a rotary switch which can be rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise to sequentially activate a plurality of operating modes of the vehicle lights. The rotary switch is a continuously adjustable rotary encoder, and a plurality of indicator lights are arranged around the rotary encoder, each of the operating modes is respectively assigned a mode indicator light. The operating mode selected by the rotary encoder is displayed by the corresponding indicator light. The rotary encoder has a plurality of latched positions that correspond to the plurality of indicator lights.
US09180807B2	Cargo decking beam system The present invention provides an adjustable decking system for use within a cargo container. The system comprises vertical mounting posts that include a plurality of spaced openings and a slider track with obliquely angled guide channels. Decking beams are selectively adjustable in height along the posts by engaging the openings with end assemblies slidably disposed within the ends of the beams. The posts can accommodate alternative beam end configurations. One configuration includes a foot with angled guide edges slidably captured within the guide channels. An alternate configuration comprises coupled plates that fit directly into the openings and a swivel latched to provide a retaining force. This alternate configuration has an identical latch mechanism at both ends and is reversibly mountable within the decking beam.
US09180799B2	Locking system A locking system for a vehicle seat, for locking to a vehicle structure of a vehicle, has a backrest able to be folded from a normal position into a folded position, a locking device located on the backrest, and a catch that can be pivoted between a locking position and an unlocking position and can be pivotally driven by both a manually-pivotable unlocking element and an actuation device arranged on the vehicle structure. When the backrest is in the normal position, a counter element is locked to the locking device by the catch. The actuation device has a control lever that can be moved between a locking position and an unlocking position.
US09180798B2	Vehicle lock The present invention provides a lock device for locking by inserting a striker into a base member. The lock device includes a latch, which is disposed on the base member and constrains and releases the striker, and a pawl, which holds the latch. Backlash of the latch is limited by a simple structure. A cam member is rotationally connected to the base member by a rotation shaft different from that of the pawl. An engaging protrusion and recess are formed on the pawl and cam member, respectively. When the pawl is at an allowable position, the protrusion and recess are engaged with each other to hold the cam member. The engagement is released when the pawl rotates to a holding position, engaging the cam member with the latch, which is at a locked position, thereby rotating the latch such that the striker contacts the bottom surface of a base groove.
US09180774B2	Work vehicle In a work vehicle, a second processing device, disposed over a hydraulic pump, is configured to process the hydraulic gas from an engine. A first processing device is disposed closer to the engine than the second processing device is. Further, the first processing device is positioned higher the second processing device. The first processing device is partially overlapped with the second processing device in a top plan view.
US09180771B2	In-wheel motor drive device An in wheel motor driving device which has a deceased axial dimension and includes aluminum alloy housings having a minimum wall thickness for reduced weight while retaining good assemblability. An in-wheel motor driving device includes: a motor section which has an output shaft; a wheel hub bearing section C; and a speed reducer section which connects the output shaft of the motor section and the wheel hub bearing section coaxially with each other. A housing outer circumferential portion of the motor section and a housing outer circumferential portion of the speed reducer section are integral with each other, being provided by one, outer circumferential member. An outboard-side end member is fixed to an outboard-side end of the outer circumferential member by means of bolts, and the wheel hub bearing section has its fixing ring fixed to the outboard-side end member.
US09180767B2	Hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an exhaust passageway, and a driving system having a first and a second motors and a housing which houses the first and the second motors. The driving system is disposed further rearwards than the internal combustion engine in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. The exhaust passageway extends from the internal combustion engine towards a rear side of the vehicle and is disposed so as to surround: a first plane passing through a front end of the housing and perpendicular to the front-rear direction; a second plane passing through a rear end of the housing and perpendicular to the front-rear direction; a third plane passing through a left end of the housing and perpendicular to a left-right direction; and a fourth plane passing through a right end of the housing and perpendicular to the left-right direction.
US09180764B2	Hydrostatic hybrid drive system A hydrostatic hybrid drive system for road vehicles includes a pump/motor unit (1) connected to the powertrain of the vehicle, controlled by a control unit (5) in a pump or motor operation, and connected to a high-pressure hydraulic accumulator via a first working line (7). The first working line can be closed by a control valve (45) and connected to a low-pressure hydraulic accumulator via a second working line (9). The high-pressure hydraulic accumulator and low-pressure hydraulic accumulator are formed by a double-piston accumulator (11), in which a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side having respective accumulator pistons (15, 17) are formed in an accumulator housing (13). The fluid chambers (23, 25) of the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side are separated by a central housing part (21) through which the common piston rod for both accumulator pistons (15, 17) extends. The control unit (5) of the pump/motor unit (1) having a control area can be supplied from the first working line (7) via a line connection (59) provided on the first working line (7) between the pump/motor unit (1) and the control valve (45).
US09180763B2	Cover for a vehicle A cover for covering at least partially a vehicle comprises a cover body and at least two clips connected the cover body. Each of the at least two clips includes a first portion connected at least partially to the cover body. The first portion is adapted to bias the cover body toward the vehicle when the cover covers the vehicle. A second portion has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the first portion. The second portion is adapted to selectively connect to a first vehicle portion. A third portion has a first end and a second end. The third portion is adapted to selectively abut against a second vehicle portion. The first end of the third portion is connected to the second end of the second portion. The third portion is at an angle with respect to the first portion.
US09180762B2	Constant seal gaps for removable vehicle panels A vehicle roof water runoff management system is provided with an improved seal that has a constant seal gap between removable vehicle roof top panels and an adjoining fixed roof. The constant seal gap is maintained in the B-pillar interface area with the vehicle's roofing components. The vehicle roof water runoff management system offers improved manufacture and long term performance reliability over previous designs.
US09180759B2	Impact beam An impact beam for a motor vehicle body, and more particularly to a side impact beam for a side door of a motor vehicle body is provided. The impact beam has a first profiled section with a three-dimensional structure and a second component which spatially closes the first profiled section. The two components have overlapping surfaces used for welding, and the welding is carried out by way of impulse capacitor discharge welding.
US09180756B2	Apparatus and method for detecting driver's dazzling and system and method for blocking dazzling using the same A technique for detecting whether dazzling is affecting the drivers driving ability when the eye area is included in the area to which the direct sunlight is incident is provided. More particularly of the technique detects a facial area and an eye area of a driver's image, and an area to which direct sunlight is incident in the facial area, and then determines whether dazzling is effecting the drivers driving ability when the eye area is included in the area to which the direct sunlight is incident to detect a direction of incidence of the direct sunlight and then, automatically blocks the direct sunlight in the direction to which light is incident via a blocking apparatus.
US09180749B2	Twist beam axle A twist beam axle for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle. The twist beam axle has two trailing arms and a torsional profile having prismatic-shaped end sections with a noncircular cross-section. One trailing arm is connected to one torsional profile end section in each case. The trailing arms have a receiving recess having a shape corresponding to that of the outer surface of the torsional profile end section. An inwardly pressed plug is disposed in the interior of each torsional profile end section. The twist beam axle ensures permanent transfers high bending moments and torques between the trailing arms and the torsional profile without a welded joint. Different classes of materials can be used for the torsional profile and trailing arms, or can be connected to one another. The twist beam axle generally makes it possible to use large-volume, thin-walled and, therefore, weight-saving torsional profiles.
US09180746B2	Vehicle height adjusting device and vehicle height adjusting method A vehicle height adjusting device includes: a changing unit that changes relative positions of a vehicle main body and wheels of a vehicle; and a control unit that adjusts a vehicle height that is a height of the vehicle main body by controlling the changing unit to change the relative positions, in which the changing unit includes an electromagnetic valve that is provided on a circulation path of a fluid and that is adjusted to have an opening amount in accordance with supplied power and changes the relative positions as pressure of the fluid varies in accordance with the opening amount of the electromagnetic valve, and the control unit performs Pulse-Width-Modulation control on voltage applied to the electromagnetic valve so that the opening amount of the electromagnetic valve equals a desired opening amount.
US09180740B2	Sound supressing device for a tire tread Tire having a tread comprising at least two grooves of generally circumferential orientation, a plurality of transverse grooves (6), each transverse groove culminating in openings into two circumferential grooves, the circumferential and transverse grooves having appropriate cross sections for allowing, when running, a flow of liquid present on the road surface, a plurality of closing devices located in these grooves, each closing device closing at least partly the cross section of a groove, each closing device delimiting, with one end of a transverse groove, a length of groove LR of between half and three-quarters of the length of circumferential groove in contact, the length measured under nominal conditions of load and pressure, this tire being characterized in that each closing device is designed to flex and open the section of groove in which it is placed, under the action of a flow of liquid so as to allow the said liquid to flow when running on a water-covered road surface.
US09180734B2	Machining tool for vehicle hub unit and vehicle hub unit In a machining tool, multiple tooth forming portions for plastically forming spline teeth on an axial end face of a vehicle hub unit, the axial end face facing inward in the vehicle lateral direction, are formed in a circular pattern about the central axis of the machining tool. In the machining tool, a rounded-portion forming portion is formed to form a rounded portion between a tooth flank and a top land of each spline tooth, and the radius of the rounded-portion forming portion gradually changes in the radial direction about the central axis.
US09180729B2	Heat applied appliqué or transfer with enhanced elastomeric functionality A stretchable knit appliqué is described. The appliqué is configured by a woven textile material adhered to an elastomeric film by a first adhesive continuously distributed over elastomeric film. Moreover, the appliqué is configured to stretch with the elastomeric film. The appliqué can have a first and second woven materials, with a printed design in registration with the first and second textile materials. The printed design can be a sublimation printed design.
US09180724B2	Dry-erase drawing sheet and apparatus Dry-erase drawing sheets, a drawing apparatus, and a dry-erase drawing kit are described. The drawing sheets have a non-lenticular or a lenticular lens arrangement on a top surface, material layers comprising a body of the sheet, and images printed on surfaces of one or more of the material layers. The images are configured to sufficiently interact with the lens arrangement to exhibit a three-dimensional visual and/or animated effect when viewed through the top surface. The drawing sheets also include a dry-erase compatible layer overlying the top surface. The drawing apparatus includes a frame that has a central opening and a backing member that releasably couples to the frame. Together the frame and backing member retain the drawing sheets within the central opening of the frame during use. The drawing sheets, drawing apparatus, and one or more dry-erase crayons or markers are provided in the kit.
US09180713B2	Printing apparatus with controller for preventing warping of intermediate transfer film and printing method for the same When an image formed on an intermediate transfer film is heat-transferred to a recording medium, the film surface is prevented from being deteriorated or distorted due to heat so as to enable high-quality printing. The printing apparatus of the present invention comprises a recording medium supply unit, an image formation unit which forms the image on the transfer film, a transfer unit which transfers the image on the transfer film to the recording medium, a film supply unit which supplies the transfer film, a film winding unit which winds the film, a media transport path which transports the recording medium sent from a medium supply unit to the transfer unit through an information recording unit, a film transport path which transports the transfer film sent from the film supply unit to the transfer unit through the image formation unit, a film delay unit which temporarily delays the transfer film disposed at the film transport path, a driving means which is connected to at least one of the film supply unit and the film winding unit, and a control means which controls the driving means.
US09180708B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects ink onto paper, a first removal portion that removes adhering objects that have adhered to the paper by making contact with a first surface of the paper during transport of the paper, and a second removal portion that removes adhering objects that have adhered to the paper by making contact with a second surface of the paper during transport of the paper. The first removal portion and the second removal portion are disposed so as to partially overlap in the transport direction of the paper and so that ends of the first removal portion and the second removal portion on an upstream side in the transport direction are distanced from each other in the transport direction.
US09180707B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes a supporting stage that supports a recording medium; a recording processing unit, which includes a recording unit that opposes the recording medium that is supported by the supporting stage, and bridges an X axis direction so as to cross the supporting stage; and a Y axis movement unit causes the recording processing unit to move in relation to the supporting stage in a Y axis direction that is perpendicular to the X axis direction and is parallel to a supporting surface of the supporting stage, in which the Y axis movement unit includes a drive mechanism, which causes the recording processing unit to move in the Y axis direction in relation to the supporting stage, and a linear guide mechanism, which is disposed on a rear surface side of the supporting stage, and supports the recording processing unit to be free sliding in the Y axis direction in relation to the supporting stage.
US09180705B1	Reducing print artifacts using isolated tension zones A method and system for reducing registration errors in a printing system are disclosed. A plurality of tension zones is defined in the printing system. Tension on the web in one tension zone is controlled independently of the tension on the web in the other tension zones. The printing system also includes at least one roller for each tension zone. The rollers receive tension control commands and control the amount of tension on the web in their respective tension zones. The printing system is used to print a first copy of the print job on the web and a plurality of registration errors is determined. Tension control adjustments are computed for each tension zone based on the registration errors. The tension control adjustments are used to adjust the tension control commands to the rollers to print a second copy of the print job, thereby reducing registration errors.
US09180702B2	Cylindrical shaft, transport roller, transport unit and printing apparatus A cylindrical shaft which is formed in a cylindrical shape by pressing process in a state in which a pair of ends are opposite to each other is disclosed. A joint is formed between the pair of ends, and includes a plurality of intersection portions extending in a direction intersecting with an axial direction of the cylindrical shaft, a first straight portion connecting the ends of one side each of the pair of adjacent intersection portions, and a second straight portion connecting the ends of the other sides of the pair of adjacent intersection portions and being shorter than the first straight portion. A distance between the pair of ends at the first straight portion is shorter than a distance between the pair of ends at the second straight portion.
US09180699B2	Image recording apparatus An image recording device, including: a first sheet conveying path; a recording portion to record an image on a sheet; a first roller pair to convey the sheet in a first direction; a second sheet conveying path; a path changing portion; a second roller pair to convey the sheet in a second direction; a third roller pair to convey, to the first path, the sheet that has been conveyed to the second conveying path; and a control portion to control a sheet conveyance rate by the second roller pair to be higher than that by the third roller pair, whereby a part of the sheet between the second and third roller pairs is slacked for separating, from the second roller pair, a trailing end of the sheet before a leading end thereof reaches a position where the leading end is opposed to the recording portion in the first conveying path.
US09180698B2	Printer system, inkjet printer, and computer-readable recording medium containing program therefor A printer system has an information processing device and an inkjet printer. The image processing device has a first controller which generates margin information, and transmits the image data and the margin information to the inkjet printer. The inkjet printer has a second controller which obtains the image data and the margin information from the information processing device, causes the conveyor to convey the sheet until the sheet reaches a position where an area on which an image is to be printed firstly faces the printing head, causes the printing head to eject ink drops, and in response to the margin width being less than a threshold width, detect an actual position of the sheet after the cueing process is finished. The second controller causes the printing head to eject ink drops based on the actual position after the detecting process is executed.
US09180695B2	System and method for dynamic measurement of dimension change for a sheet A method including: displacing a plurality of sheets through a defined portion of a process path; generating, using an encoder, a first number of encoder pulses associated with displacing a first sheet from the plurality of sheets along the defined portion; applying first indicia to a first side of the first sheet; displacing the first sheet through the defined portion; generating, using the encoder, a second number of encoder pulses associated with displacing the first sheet along the defined portion; calculating, using a processor, a ratio including the first and second numbers; applying second indicia to the respective second side of the first sheet or third indicia to the respective first side of a second sheet from the plurality of sheets, or fourth indicia to the respective second side of the second sheet; and adjusting, using the processor, application of the second, third, or fourth indicia according to the ratio.
US09180694B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium, a medium support member that is disposed at a position where the medium support member can face the recording head and supports the recording medium, and a reinforcing member that is attached below the medium support member and has a greater rigidity than the medium support member. The medium support member includes a rigidity reduction unit that reduces the rigidity of the medium support member in a direction intersecting a transport direction of the recording medium.
US09180691B2	Platen device and printer with the platen device A platen device can easily change where suction is applied widthwise to a recording medium. A printer has the platen device. A platen device 50 opposite a printhead 41 applies suction to conveyed roll paper P, and has a platen 34 divided perpendicularly to the conveyance direction of the roll paper P into a plurality of individual suction zones 75 with round suction holes 83 in the surface on the side that contacts the roll paper P; and a plurality of shutters 85 disposed to the platen 34 and respectively opening or closing the round suction holes 83 in the plural individual suction zones 75 according to the width of the conveyed recording medium.
US09180690B2	System and method for decurling media in a printing system Embodiments described herein include an upstream measurement module, a curler downstream of the upstream measurement module, and a print station downstream of the curler. The upstream measurement module includes a transport on which media is tacked to flatten the media and a curl sensor to generate a curl signal corresponding to a media curl of the media on the transport. The curler curls the media in response to the curl signal to reduce a magnitude of the media curl. The print station includes a marking unit to dispose a marking material on the media and a transport to transport the media past the marking unit, wherein the first and second transports apply a substantially equivalent hold down force to the media.
US09180684B2	Autofocus LED print head mechanism A method is provided for automatically positioning a print head (12) relative to a photoreceptor (14) in a xerographic print engine (10). The method includes: operating the print head (12) to produce an indicia in a latent image formed on the photoreceptor (14); measuring a dimension of the indicia; and automatically positioning the print head (12) relative to the photoreceptor (14) in response to a result of the measuring.
US09180682B2	Printing apparatus, printing system, and printing method A printing apparatus includes a printing head that includes a nozzle array, and a discharging control unit. The nozzle array is divided into a plurality of nozzle groups that is configured by a predetermined number of nozzles. The discharge control unit, when an abnormal nozzle having abnormal function of discharging the ink is included in any of the plurality of nozzle groups in a case of discharging the ink to a band area from the nozzle of each of the plurality of nozzle groups by assigning halftone data to the nozzle of each of the plurality of nozzle groups, assigns the halftone data assigned to the abnormal nozzle to the nozzle that is included in other pluralities of nozzle groups which are not the nozzle group including the abnormal nozzle according to a ratio that is a preset assignment ratio for each of the other pluralities of nozzle groups.
US09180678B2	Recording head A recording head includes an ejection portion configured to eject ink, a first flow path forming member and a second flow path forming member joined to each other between which a flow path for supplying ink to the ejection portion, a buffer chamber for keeping gas, and a communication passage between the flow path and the buffer chamber are formed, a through-hole formed on the second flow path forming member configured to penetrate the second flow path forming member to open onto a surface on an opposite side of a joint surface facing the first flow path forming member, and a communication port formed at a position facing an interior of the buffer chamber, configured to communicate with the through-hole, wherein the communication port is arranged at a position higher than a wall of a top surface that constitutes a communication passage in a usage state of the recording head.
US09180677B2	Hard imaging devices and hard imaging device operational methods Hard imaging devices and hard imaging device operational methods are described. According to one arrangement, a hard imaging device includes a pen adjacent to a first location of a media path and configured to eject a plurality of droplets of a liquid marking agent in a direction towards the media moving along the media path to form hard images using the media, the ejection of the droplets of the liquid marking agent from the pen creating aerosol droplets of the liquid marking agent, and a gas injection system adjacent to a second location of the media path which is downstream from the first location with respect to a direction of movement of the media along the media path, and wherein the gas injection system is configured to inject a gas towards the media.
US09180676B2	Compact pinch valve An improved pinch valve includes a camshaft and associated cam(s) controlling the position of a pivotally-mounted first pinch arm and an opposed, pivotally-mounted second pinch arm. The respective pinch arms are provided symmetrically about a central plane which contains an axis of the camshaft. A spring extends across the central plane and interconnects the respective pinch arms so as to urge both pinch arms towards the central plane. A mechanical advantage lever is provided such that the pinching force is greater than the spring force.
US09180674B2	System and method for supplying ink to an inkjet cartridge In a system and method for operating an ink supply to an inkjet cartridge, wherein the ink supply includes an ink reservoir and an ink tube, ink in the ink reservoir is coupled to ink in the ink tube. Ullage above the ink in the ink reservoir is coupled with ullage above the ink in the ink tube. Ink from the ink tube is supplied to the inkjet cartridge.
US09180661B2	Apparatus, system, and method for compensating light emitting diodes A semi-conductor chip for a print head, including: a plurality of LEDs; a drive circuit for supplying electrical power to the plurality of LEDs; and a control system calibrated to supply, using the drive circuit, the electrical power at a first magnitude to every LED in the plurality of LEDs and configured to: receive a first external clock pulse less than a second external clock pulse used to calibrate the plurality of LEDs; change the first magnitude to at least one second magnitude proportional to the first external clock pulse; receive a third external clock pulse different from the first and second external clock pulses; and energize, using the drive circuit and in response to the third external clock pulse, the plurality of LEDs for a first internal strobe time at the at least one second magnitude calculated by the control system.
US09180658B2	Image recording method An image recording method includes an intermediate image-forming step of forming an intermediate image by applying an ink to an intermediate transfer body, a temperature adjusting step, and a transfer step of transferring the intermediate image onto a recording medium, in this order. The ink includes polymer particles and a surfactant which is at least one selected from a compound represented by general formula (1) and a compound represented by general formula (2). In the temperature adjusting step, a temperature of the intermediate image is adjusted to a temperature higher than or equal to a cloud point of the surfactant.
US09180656B2	Apparatus for applying indicia on web substrates A gravure printing system is disclosed. A gravure cylinder having a first and a second plurality of discrete cells disposed upon an outer surface. A cell of the first plurality of discrete cells receives a first portion of a fluid from a first reservoir and a cell of the second plurality of discrete cells receives a second portion of the fluid from a second reservoir. The first and second portions of the fluid is fluidically displaceable into the respective first and second reservoirs through a discrete channel having a single entry point at a position external to the gravure cylinder, a first exit point into the first reservoir, and a second exit point into the second reservoir. The discrete channel provides fluid communication of the first and second portions of the fluid from the position external to the gravure cylinder to each of the respective first and second reservoirs.
US09180655B2	Convertible buffers for web presses In one example, a web press includes a web press station and a convertible buffer near the web press station, the convertible buffer being configured to convert to a platform for accessing the web press station. A method for performing web press maintenance is also disclosed.
US09180654B2	Reactive fluoropolymer and laser-engraveable compositions and preparatory methods A composition comprises a fluoropolymer such as an elastomeric fluoropolymer and at least 1 weight % of a fluoro-functionalized near-infrared radiation absorber. This composition can be formed into laser-engraveable layers for various elements that can be laser-engraved to provide relief images. The resulting laser-engraved elements can take various forms including flexographic printing members, and can be used to apply various inks to receiver materials in an imagewise fashion.
US09180653B2	Prepreg production method Provided is a method of producing prepreg including: inspecting, with an optical device, in a resin sheet made of a release paper and a resin film which is formed by coating the release paper with a resin to be impregnated into a carbon fiber bundle, the surface of the resin film, detecting a defect in the surface of the resin film which would be the cause of a defect in the prepreg to be produced, and judging the type of the detected defect; or inspecting, with an optical device, the surface of the prepreg after the release paper is separated from the prepreg sheet which is formed by impregnating a resin forming the resin film into the carbon fiber bundle, detecting defects in the surface of the prepreg, and judging the type of the detected defect.
US09180650B2	Cutting tool including an internal coolant system and fastener for a cutting tool including an internal coolant system A cutting insert fastener adapted to secure a cutting insert to a cutting tool holder. The fastener comprises a fastener head portion comprising at least one feature adapted to direct a coolant fluid to an insert cutting edge of a cutting insert when the cutting insert is secured to a cutting tool holder by the cutting insert fastener. Cutting tools comprising internal coolant systems and fastened with a cutting insert fastener comprising a fastener head portion with at least one feature adapted to direct a coolant fluid to an insert cutting edge are also disclosed.
US09180649B2	Fuel cells, carbon composite structures and methods for manufacturing the same Disclosed is a method to manufacture a carbon composite structure. First, a polymer nano fiber net is provided. The polymer nano fiber net is thermal oxidized to form an oxidized nano fiber net. The oxidized nano fiber net and an oxidized micro fiber net are stacked and impregnated in a resin. The resin is oxidized. Finally, the oxidized nano fiber net, the oxidized micro fiber net, and the oxidized resin are carbonized at a high temperature to form the carbon composite structure.
US09180646B2	Touch screen panel A touch screen panel in an embodiment of the present invention includes: a substrate, sensing electrodes disposed on an active area of the substrate and formed by patterning a metal into thin wires, and an anti-reflecting layer formed on the sensing electrode and having a lower light reflecting rate than the sensing electrodes.
US09180645B2	Self-stick insulation and methods According to one embodiment, a self-adhesive insulation product is provided. The self-adhesive insulation product includes an elongated fibrous insulation blanket having a length, a width, a thickness, and a first major surface and a second major surface which each extend for the length and width of the fibrous insulation blanket. The self-adhesive insulation product also includes a coating of an adhesive applied to the first major surface of the fibrous insulation blanket. The adhesive includes an emulsion of a polymer material and water with the water evaporated so that the adhesive forms a dry layer atop the first major surface. The adhesive is nonbondable or nonadherable to other objects when in the dry state and is bondable or adherable to other objects upon the subsequent application of water.
US09180643B2	Device for the treatment of packaging foils The invention relates to a device for the treatment of packaging foils, comprising a first embossing unit having at least one embossing roll provided with embossing structures (7) that are arranged in a basic grid for satinizing and/or with embossing structures which deviate from the basic grid for the application of logos and/or of authentication features, the work cadence (A1) of the first embossing unit being synchronizable to a process cadence (P) of the packaging process, as well as a first regulating unit of the first embossing unit that is synchronizable to the process cadence (P) of the packaging installation, and a second regulating unit of the second embossing unit, the second regulating unit serving for the synchronization of the work cadence (A2) of the second embossing unit to the work cadence (A1) of the first embossing unit. To ensure a superior foldability of the packaging foil at a high process velocity during the subsequent packaging process, a subsequent second embossing unit is suggested which comprises at least one folding roll for applying folding breaks to the packaging foil.
US09180640B2	Method of making a floor tile with overmolded pads A plastic floor tile is formed by molding a body of a first polymer compound and overmolding features onto the body from a second polymer compound. The compounds may be different from each other in hardness and/or color. The overmolded features may include raised pads on the upper surface of the tile. The pads on the upper surface may be injection-molded from the lower surface through through-holes, which are smaller in area than the area of the pads.
US09180637B2	Reinforced flexible tubing and method of making same A method for making helically corrugated rubber tubing with a helical reinforcing element embedded therein and with a relatively smooth interior surface. The tubing is formed with separate inner and outer tubular wall portions with fabric material in between. The inner and outer wall portions may be formed of different elastomeric compositions. Also the method provides for annular cuffs at the opposite ends of the tubing.
US09180635B2	Optical element, method of manufacturing optical element, illumination device, window member, and fitting An optical element includes a first surface, a second surface positioned to face the first surface, and a plurality of reflecting surfaces arrayed in a first region defined by the first surface and the second surface, wherein the reflecting surfaces have a first length in a first direction vertical to the first surface and are arrayed at a pitch in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, light incident on one of the first surface and the second surface is reflected by the reflecting surfaces toward the other surface, and predetermined parameters satisfy predetermined relational formulae representing conditions for ensuring total reflection at the reflecting surfaces and for avoiding total reflection at a light emergent surface.
US09180631B2	Molded-in insert and method for fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite structure In an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a molded-in insert for high strength retention in a fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite structure. The insert has a cylindrical body and at least one circumferential groove formed in the cylindrical body, the groove having a substantially concave configuration, having a groove radius of 0.025 inch or greater, and having the groove radius greater than or equal to a groove depth.
US09180630B2	Manufacture of a root section A method of manufacturing a root section of a rotor blade of a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes assembling a plurality of supporting rods with an interface section to a hub interface of the wind turbine in an essentially circular shape such that there are gaps between the supporting rods; arranging first fibers in the gaps which first fibers are physically and/or chemically compatible with an injection material; placing a first molding tool along an outer surface of the circular shape and a second molding tool along an inner surface of the circular shape, treating the injection material so that it bonds with the first fibers. The invention also concerns a supporting rod holding arrangement for such purpose and a root section of a rotor blade manufactured by such method.
US09180619B2	Method for producing duct-integrated floor-raising material A method for producing a duct-integrated floor-raising material includes the steps of: forming a first enclosed space, a second enclosed space, and a third enclosed space, having a molten tubular parison pressed flat and extruded from pinch-off portions by a pair of split molds, wherein portions of the parison corresponding to the pinch-off portions are welded to each other; molding the first hollow portion, the second hollow portion, the duct portion, and the waste bag in which a blow pin is pierced to outer surfaces of the tubular parison corresponding to the spaces, a pressurized fluid is blown to expand the parison, and the tubular parison is pressed against the surfaces of the split molds for shaping the parison; and cutting the waste bag to form an air intake port or an air outlet port on the duct portion.
US09180618B2	Twin screw extruder An extruder is disclosed, and more particularly, a twin screw extruder for mixing, compounding, kneading and/or extruding of materials. The twin screw extruder includes a barrel assembly having a housing. The twin screw extruder further includes a first screw provided within the housing and comprising threads. The twin screw extruder further includes a second screw provided within the housing and comprising a threaded portion and a shaft portion devoid of threads. A drive system which drives the first screw and the second screw.
US09180608B2	Stamp, method of manufacturing the same, and imprinting method using the stamp A stamp includes at least one protrusion on a protrusion pattern, and an end portion of the at least one protrusion may have a non-planarized surface. The end portion of the protrusion may have a concave structure, that is, the end portion includes a center region and an edge region, and the edge region is higher than the center region.
US09180603B2	Machine for the preparation of pieces of an oval or spherical fruit, such as a melon or watermelon Machine for the preparation of pieces of an oval or spherical fruit, such as a melon or watermelon, comprising: a first cutting station (10), predisposed to cut a fruit (100) into round portions (101) along parallel planes; a second cutting station (20), with two or more shaped blades (21a,b,c) predisposed to cut the round portions (101) into prismatic fragments; a sorting device (40), predisposed to detect a diameter of the round portions (101) and to assign each round portion (101) to a shaped blade (21a,b,c), selected on the basis of the diameter of the round portion.
US09180602B2	Method of and apparatus for making mesh-like metal mats The method serves for producing network-like metal mats from metallic strip material, for which purpose the strip material is first provided with notches (2), running parallel to one another, for the forming of metal wires (1), by means of notching rollers. The notches (2) are thereby formed to such depths, depending on the material, that as far as possible no sliding fractures are formed. The notches (2) are interrupted by unnotched regions—the mutual spacing of which in the respective notch (2) determines the later possible mesh width—at least in such a way that they later form network nodes (4). The network nodes (4) are offset by approximately half a network node spacing in the respectively adjacent notches (2). Then, the strip, formed in this manner, is subjected to a flexing process, in which the webs (3) adjoining the base of the notch and still connecting the metal wires (1) to one another undergo multiple bending deformation about the longitudinal axis thereof in such a way that incipient cracks occur as a result of fatigue fracture. This leads to the complete separation of the metal wires (1) in the region of the webs (3), while no incipient cracks form at the network nodes (4). Finally, the strip material is subjected to transverse tensile forces acting on both its peripheral metal wires (1), whereby a widening deformation of the wire strip (5) into a network-like structure takes place.
US09180600B2	Cutting tool A cutting tool for cutting sheets of building materials, such as, for example, laminate baseboards, chair rails and crown molding, at an angle. The cutting tool includes a base connected to a cutting platform with a hinge connection. The cutting platform further includes a blade that can be moved downward on the cutting platform to cut the building material. The hinge connection allows the cutting platform to be angled relative to the base to cut the building material at a range of angles from 0°, vertical, to 60° or more.
US09180598B2	Shaver with hinge between housing and shaver head The invention relates to a shaver including a housing and a shaver head. This head includes a bracket, holding a plurality of rotary cutter units, each rotatable around a respective rotation axis. The shaver head also includes a hinge, which is positioned such that during use the bracket can pivot freely with regard to the housing, around a pivot axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the axes of the cutter units.
US09180595B2	Multiple-joint industrial robot A wrist portion of a robot includes: a first movable portion configured to rotate relative to an arm portion around a first wrist axis; a second movable portion configured to rotate relative to the first movable portion around a second wrist axis; a third movable portion configured to rotate relative to the second movable portion around a third wrist axis; and a cable insertion portion through which an effector cable is inserted, the effector cable being used to supply electric power to an end effector attached to the third movable portion. The cable insertion portion is provided at the first movable portion so as to be located on the first wrist axis. Two motors among a plurality of motors configured to drive the wrist portion are attached to the first movable portion so as to sandwich the cable insertion portion in a direction perpendicular to the first wrist axis.
US09180593B2	Analyser for optical analysis of a biological specimen An analyzer is disclosed for optical analysis of a biological specimen. In at least one embodiment, the analyzer includes optics which includes a camera, intermediate optics and front optics. The intermediate optics is movably arranged and the front optics is fixedly arranged. An analyzer for optical analysis of a biological specimen, in at least one embodiment includes a robot for transporting a slide to be analyzed. The robot is controlled by at least three motors to allow movement of the robot in three dimensions. The robot includes a handling device configured to grip the slide.
US09180585B2	Actuation apparatus for power tool When the mode change knob of a multi-mode hammer drill is moved to the hammer only position, an electronic sensor sends a signal to a control logic circuit. When the user then depresses the trigger mechanically closing the ON/OFF switch, the control logic circuit applies a voltage either to a holding relay or to the gate of a triac which enables the relay or triac to conduct, thus providing a parallel circuit by-passing the ON/OFF switch. Consequently, when the user releases the trigger and opens the ON/OFF switch, the parallel relay or triac maintains current flow to the motor. It can be seen that in hammer only mode the user can activate the hammer drill by simply tapping the trigger to depress it and does not need to hold down trigger during use of the hammer in operation.
US09180584B1	Duct assembly tool A combination tool for installing and crimping a cleat for fastening sections of ductwork, and for adjusting the threaded on support rods of strut channel for leveling the ductwork. The tool has an installing plate for holding a cleat and a removable handle that threads to the back of the installing plate. The handle has a hollow tubular body with a nut driver formed in the other end, for engaging and driving a threaded nut. The nut driver end is made by milling a rectangular slot transverse the axis of the hollow tubular body to form a pair of nut-engaging. A shank can be provided for attachment to the chuck of a power drill for rapid driving of the nuts. The tool also has a hinged crimping plate with threaded set screws for crimping the cleat securely to the flanges of the ductwork.
US09180583B2	Hand-held pressing apparatus A hydraulic pressing unit includes a hydraulic pump, supply and hydraulic chambers, moving and stationary parts, a restoring spring, and a return valve provided within or attached to a housing. The moving part is displaced from a starting position into a pressing position as a result of filling the hydraulic chamber with a hydraulic medium from the supply chamber by using the hydraulic pump. The return valve is automatically displaced into an open position as a result of a hydraulic pressure corresponding to the pressing position, and the restoring spring moves the moving part. A piston acts on the flow of the hydraulic medium and lowers the pressure such that the return valve is displaced into the closed position.
US09180581B2	Auxiliary device for maintaining a screw upright An auxiliary device includes a base, two rotatable arms, and an elastic member. The two arms are rotatably connected to the base and each includes a mating surface that defines a recess. The recesses of the two arms cooperatively form a through hole when the mating surface is in contact with each other. The through hole includes, from top to bottom, a first tapered hole portion, an annular groove, a second tapered hole portion, and a round hole portion. The annular groove is used to receive a head of a screw, and the round hole portion has a lateral surface is used to contact a shank of the screw to keep the screw upright. The elastic member is arranged between the two rotatable arms and applies a pushing force to the two rotatable arms.
US09180577B2	Spindle removal tool The spindle removal tool is a device for removing, supporting, and moving an entire spindle assembly from semi trucks. It is easier to perform maintenance on the spindle assembly after removing it from the truck. The apparatus is primarily a flat semicircular plate with openings that match the bolt pattern of a semi truck's hub. The plate is bolted to the rim and the entire spindle assembly is disconnected from the truck's axle. The semicircular plate is attached to a support bar that is raised or lowered with a floor jack. The mechanic can roll the entire spindle assembly from underneath the truck and perform maintenance on the shop floor.
US09180575B1	Systems and methods for constructing mosaic wood flooring panels and/or more complex mosaic wood structures The invention generally relates to systems and methods for constructing flooring constructed from a plurality of pieces such that the flooring can include a mosaic pattern. Further, the systems and methods also can be used to produce more complex mosaic structures constructed from at least one mosaic flooring panel. The mosaic flooring panels can be constructed of solid wood and/or other materials.
US09180569B2	Double side polisher with platen parallelism control A platen for polishing a surface of a wafer has a reaction plate, a polishing plate, and a bladder. The reaction plate has a top and bottom surface, and defines a longitudinal axis. The polishing plate is positioned coaxially with the reaction plate. The polishing plate has a second top surface and a second bottom surface. The second top surface is adjacent to the bottom surface of the reaction plate. The bladder is coaxially located along a radially outer portion of either the top or bottom surface of the reaction plate. The bladder is connected with the polishing plate and able to expand to deform the polishing plate with respect to the bottom surface of the reaction plate.
US09180568B2	Method for inspecting and refurbishing engineering components Refurbishing used or damaged engineering components is performed using a subtractive surface engineering process to remove material from worn or damaged critical surfaces. The method involves initially performing the process on the component to remove a first quantity of material from the surfaces, inspecting the surface of the component to determine the extent of damage and subsequently further performing the process to remove a further quantity of material if necessary.
US09180567B2	Y-axis machining apparatus An apparatus for machining a workpiece with a tool has a columnar housing having an upright front face and a pair of upright and parallel side walls extending horizontally rearward from the front face, a carriage movable at least vertically on the front face carries a first holder for the workpiece or the tool. A U-shaped frame juxtaposed with the housing front face has two rigid arms each extending rearward adjacent the housing side walls with interfitting guides between each of the arms and the respective side wall enabling horizontal movement of the frame toward and away from the front face. A second holder on the frame and in front of the front wall holds the tool or the workpiece and is engageable with the workpiece or the tool, respectively, in the first holder.
US09180566B2	Flexible assembly process An assembly line system comprises a plurality of cassette-type tooling elements and a plurality of moveable base modules. The tooling elements and the base modules have complementary mounting structures for supporting detachable mounting of the tooling elements onto the base modules. A driving system drives each base module to a respective first position within a product assembly area for the assembling a first product, and drives each base module to a respective second position within the product assembly area for assembling a second product. When the first product is dimensionally different than the second product, the respective first position is different than the respective second position for at least one of the plurality of base modules.
US09180562B2	Wheelset press In a wheelset press for pressing or pulling wheels, brake disks or the like on/off axles of rail vehicles, two piston/cylinder units are directed toward one another and stationarily arranged on a common straight line, wherein said piston/cylinder units serve for exerting the required pressing power and, if applicable, for displacing the axle in its longitudinal direction to bring about the pressing-on or pulling-off process. Pressure pistons are provided on the piston/cylinder units to transmit the pressing power onto the facing end of the axle. At least one press abutment for supporting a wheel, a brake disk or the like during the pressing process is designed in such a way that it can be transferred into its support position by means of a relative movement of the axle transverse to its longitudinal direction and otherwise situated outside the press area. The at least one press abutment can be fixed in different positions along the axle. Connecting columns that are rigidly arranged between press beams feature abutments that are axially spaced apart from one another for this purpose. To achieve, among other things, a compact structural shape, the abutments on the connecting columns are realized in the form of slideways for directly accommodating the at least one press abutment, wherein said slideways make it possible to transfer the press abutment from a position outside the press area into a non-tilting support position for the pressing-on or pulling-off process.
US09180561B2	Mobile reservoir system and method for reusing unused clean water The present invention supports a reservoir system and method that allows a household or user to collect, retain and reuse unused clean water (i.e. clean water left in buckets, glasses, cups, etc.) instead of dumping it down a drain. Rain water may also be collected, retained and used. The reservoir system includes a reservoir tank for storing the water, dump bucket to receive the water, a piping and water releasing mechanism to release the water being stored and a mobility mechanism to allow for transportability of the system. The reservoir system is designed to help combat the current green initiative to save water for more practical uses.
US09180560B2	Method for selecting a geometry of a blade A method selects from a plurality of predetermined blade geometries, a blade geometry for a blade wheel for a turbomachine, with for the predetermined blade geometries at least one characteristic value identifying an aerodynamic property of the blade geometry and at least one characteristic value identifying a structural mechanism of the blade geometry being filed in a memory. An evaluation unit ascertains for each blade geometry a total value, which is calculated from the assigned characteristic values. The evaluation unit selects at least that blade geometry whose total value has an extreme value of all computed total values of the blade geometries. At least one characteristic value identifying producibility of the respective blade geometry is filed in the memory additionally to the blade geometries. The evaluation unit also incorporates while ascertaining the total value of the respective blade geometry the characteristic value identifying producibility.
US09180558B2	Hydraulic door snubber A dipper assembly for a mining shovel, includes a dipper having a dipper back and an open dipper bottom, and a dipper door pivotally mounted to the dipper, configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position with a swing speed, and to cover the open dipper bottom. The dipper assembly also includes one or more hydraulic door snubbers. The hydraulic door snubbers include a base having one or more connecting plates, one or more mounting plates coupled to the base and configured to receive a link extending from the dipper door, one or more friction plates, and a hydraulic cylinder configured to clamp the mounting plates, the connecting plates, the friction plates and the link together.
US09180557B1	Two-piece replacement nozzle This invention provides an improved replacement nozzle configuration. The nozzle is provided in two pieces. A first nozzle piece is a relatively thin-walled cylinder that is inserted into the counterbored opening of a pressure vessel after the protruding portion of the original nozzle has been removed. A weld pad is attached to the pressure vessel, to which the first replacement nozzle piece is welded. Due to the reduced dimensions of the thin-walled first nozzle portion, a much smaller weld pad and pad-to-nozzle weld can be used. A second nozzle piece is positioned within the first nozzle piece and welded thereto. The existing instrumentation piping is connected to the free end of the second nozzle piece. This two-piece replacement nozzle can be implemented in approximately half the time required for the one-piece design.
US09180549B2	Wavelength conversion member, light emitting device, and method of manufacturing light emitting device Provided is a wavelength conversion member, a light emitting device, and a method of manufacturing the light emitting device, with which leakage of unconverted light and contamination of an upper surface of an electrode are prevented, and restriction on a position at which the electrode is to be provided on the light-emitting element is eliminated. The wavelength conversion member provided on a light extracting side of a light-emitting element having an electrode on the light extracting side and configured to convert a wavelength of outgoing light from the light-emitting element includes: a wavelength converting plate having a phosphor excited by the outgoing light, and a through-hole penetrating between a front surface and a back surface so as to correspond to the electrode; and a via electrode made of a conductive material filled in the through-hole, and having an upper surface exposed at the front surface of the wavelength converting plate.
US09180544B2	Method and apparatus for wireless remote control communication of a welder A method and apparatus of communicating control signals to a welding power source from a remote location includes a welding system operated by control signals transmitted by a wireless remote control that can be remotely located from the welding power source. A plurality of welding parameters in the welding system are set and adjusted in response to wireless command signals transmitted to a receiver that is connected to the welding power source via a connection port and is further connected to a controller in the welding power source. In this regard, an operator is able to quickly and efficiently control a welding system from a remote location, with no more cables than are necessary to perform the intended task.
US09180537B2	Extruded 3XXX-series aluminium alloy tube product An aluminum alloy extruded tube product for a heat exchanger assembly and made from a 3xxx-series aluminum alloys and including furthermore a purposive addition of one or more wetting elements selected from the group of: Bi 0.03% to 0.5%, Pb 0.03% to 0.5%, Sb 0.03% to 0.5%, Li 0.03% to 0.5%, Se 0.03% to 0.5%, Y 0.03% to 0.05%, Th 0.03% to 0.05%, and the sum of these elements being 0.5% or less.
US09180532B2	Multi-piece twist drill head and twist drill including the same One non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a multi-piece twist drill head. The multi-piece twist drill head includes a core piece formed from a first hard material, and a peripheral piece formed from a second hard material. The core piece and peripheral piece each comprise a cutting edge and are adapted to mate to provide a central region and a peripheral region, respectively, of the multi-piece twist drill head. A twist drill including the multi-piece twist drill head is also disclosed.
US09180531B2	Drill and drilling method for workpiece A drill includes a cutting edge. The cutting edge has a point angle which is continuously decreased from a center-position point angle A (herein, 0°
US09180527B2	Quick change system A clamping device (1a) for clamping a work piece of a rotating spindle of a machine tool, in particular a balancer, wherein the clamping device comprises a base body (2), which is configured to be fixated at the spindle and which comprises at least one change body (1) which can be coupled to and decoupled from the base body (2), wherein the change body (1) and the base body (2) are supported coaxial to one another and clamped relative to one another in radial direction by roller elements (11), wherein each of the roller elements (11) is disposed in a gap between the base body (2) and the change body (1), which is configured as a wedge shaped gap and adapted to the respective roller element (11), so that the respective roller element can be moved along the wedge shaped gap, deeper into the wedge shaped gap, when the base body (2) and the change body (1) are connected to one another, so that the desired radial clamping is provided.
US09180525B2	Tool holder using shape memory alloy and tool holding method A tool holder holding a tool according to the present invention includes: a tool mounting unit forming and penetrating a tool fixing hole having an interior diameter that is relatively smaller than an exterior diameter of a shank unit of the tool; and at least one shape memory alloy ring inserted and arranged to a ring fixing hole formed at the tool mounting unit to have an interior diameter that is relatively larger than the tool fixing hole, wherein an interior diameter size of the tool fixing hole is forcibly changed by deformation of a shape memory alloy ring by a heating source and a cooling source provided to the shape memory alloy ring for clamping or unclamping the tool.
US09180520B2	Method of processing a composite body A method of processing a composite body comprising a super-hard structure and refractory metal material exposed proximate a boundary of the composite body, the refractory metal material comprising refractory metal. The method includes providing a basic corrosive agent, heating the corrosive agent to at least its melting point, contacting the composite body with the corrosive agent in the molten state and treating the composite body with the corrosive agent for a period of time to remove refractory metal material from the composite body.
US09180519B2	Three-dimensional nanostructures and method for fabricating the same A three-dimensional nanostructures and a method for fabricating the same, and more particularly to three-dimensional structures of various shapes having high aspect ratio and uniformity in large area and a method of fabricating the same by attaching a target material to the outer surface of patterned polymer structures using an ion bombardment phenomenon occurring during a physical ion etching process to form target material-polymer composite structures, and then removing the polymer from the target material-polymer structures. A three-dimensional nanostructures with high aspect ratio and uniformity can be fabricated by a simple process at low cost by using the ion bombardment phenomenon occurring during physical ion etching. Also, nanostructures of various shapes can be easily fabricated by controlling the pattern and shape of polymer structures. In addition, uniform fine nanostructures having a thickness of 10 nm or less can be formed in a large area.
US09180513B2	Process for producing a cast wheel and casting mould Process and casting mold for producing a cast wheel. A core, which remains in the cast wheel and has a circumferential rim, is inserted into a casting mold having at least one lower mold part and an upper mold part moved relative to one another to close casting mold. Core is positioned by at least one positioning element in a predetermined position in casting mold, so that an end region of positioning element is fixed with a force fit or frictional fit in circumferential rim of the core. A free end region of positioning element, which protrudes from circumferential rim of the core, is placed on a contact surface, which is preferably arranged substantially horizontally during operation, of lower mold part during positioning of core in casting mold. Core is positioned in the predetermined position under the action of the force of gravity.
US09180508B2	Press brake A press brake tool assembly mounting device (42) having a body (66) which mounts a lower press brake tool (46), with a recess in the body (66) receiving in a moving fit a location member (52) mounted to a lower beam (44). A locking arrangement (80) is provided for locking the body (66) relative to the location member (52) in a friction fit, to retain the lower press brake tool (46) in a required position.
US09180507B2	Turk's head stand In a Turk's head stand, double inner frames are disposed inside an outer frame. A first inner frame is disposed so as to be adjusted in the vertical direction, and a second inner frame is disposed so as to be adjusted in the horizontal direction. Four-way straightening rolls and position adjusting devices are incorporated inside the second inner frame. Mechanical structures for convexo-concave engagement are disposed on faces of the respective roll chocks and yokes and the inner frames opposed to each other, thereby to guide the respective roll chocks and yokes, by utilizing descending motions of the inner frames, after connection with a pressing device has been released, to form the stack body in series, and to enable the stack body to be withdrawn from the roll stand.
US09180504B2	Device for influencing the temperature distribution over a width The invention pertains to a device for influencing the temperature distribution over the width of a slab or a strip, particularly in hot strip rolling mill, wherein at least one cooling device is provided that features nozzles for applying a cooling medium, wherein the nozzles are arranged and/or actuated in such a way that the cooling medium is applied, in particular, at positions at which an elevated temperature is determined. The invention furthermore pertains to a device for influencing the state of the surface evenness of the strip by means of strip cooling, wherein the cooling device is controlled in dependence on the state of surface evenness of the strip in such a way that the surface unevenness is reduced or eliminated. In addition, this invention makes it possible to purposefully influence the strip contour, wherein the strip or the slab is cooled widthwise in such a way that the strip contour approximates a desired target contour more closely.
US09180499B2	Method for washing incineration ash and dust contained in extracted cement kiln combustion gas To minimize harmful effects on operation due to scale adhesion while accommodating increase in the amount of generated chlorine bypass dust and suppress facility cost and running cost including medical agent cost low when incineration ash and dust contained in extracted cement kiln combustion gas are subject to water treatment.[Means for Solving Problems] A water treatment system 1 comprising: a dissolution tank 32 for dissolving a fly ash A in a water W; a dissolution tank 22 for dissolving a dust D contained in combustion gas extracted from a kiln exhaust gas passage running from an inlet end of a cement kiln to a bottom cyclone in a water W; and a vertical filter press 11 for separately filtering a slurry S2 fed from the dissolution tank 32 and a slurry S1 fed from the dissolution tank 22 from each other. It is possible to install water treatment facilities 33-35 for a filtrate L3 of the slurry containing fly ash discharged from the vertical filter press, and water treatment facilities 23-27 for a filtrate L1 of the slurry containing ash discharged from the filtering device.
US09180494B2	Sorting machine for sorting flat articles on edge, with article bunching being detected A sorting machine (1) for sorting flat articles (2) on edge, which machine includes an upstream conveyor (10), and a downstream conveyor (30) that conveys the flat articles (2) by nipping them, the upstream conveyor (10) and the downstream conveyor (30) being separated by detector means (100) including an intermediate conveyor (20) provided with intermediate belts (22) that convey said flat articles (2) by nipping them, and that are associated individually with suction means (24, 25) pressing any flat article (2) against one or the other of said intermediate belts (22), image capture means (26) for capturing images of the bottoms of said flat articles (2) passing between the intermediate belts (22), and analysis and processing means (4) for analyzing and processing said images to detect any bunching of said flat articles (2).
US09180493B2	Shaker screen filter for a drilling fluid shaker An improved shaker screen filter for a well fluid shale shaker includes a main frame arranged for being arranged in the well fluid shale shaker for screening, preferably under vibration, of drilling mud, wherein the mainframe is subdivided into a plurality of smaller cell frames, one or more cell plug filters with one or more layers of screen cloths on top of at least one support cloth or support layer, wherein each of the cell plug filter includes a cell plug filter frame arranged to be held in each of the cell corresponding frames of the main frame, wherein at least one of the cell plug filter frame includes a locking mechanism arranged for locking the cell plug filter frame, upon desire, in a preferred position in the cell frame, correspondingly releasing the cell plug filter frame from the cell frame.
US09180491B2	Ultrasound transducer, ultrasound probe and manufacturing method of ultrasound transducer The purpose is to provide an ultrasound transducer and ultrasound probe without the complexity of the manufacturing process of the non-conductive acoustic matching layer while ensuring the electric conductive path. Pluralities of two-dimensionally arranged piezoelectrics are comprised in the ultrasound transducer. Electrodes are provided for each piezoelectric. Furthermore, the non-conductive acoustic matching layer with the first surface on the electrode side and the second surface on the opposite side of the first surface is comprised in the ultrasound transducer, and moreover, the electric conductive acoustic matching layer arranged on the second surface side of the non-conductive acoustic matching layer is comprised in the ultrasound transducer. Moreover, the substrate arranged on the opposite side of the non-conductive acoustic matching layer is arranged with respect to the electric conductive acoustic matching layer. The plurality of grooves penetrating the non-conductive acoustic matching layer, leading up to mid-way of the piezoelectrics of the first surface side or mid-way of the electric conductive acoustic matching layer of the second surface side is formed between the first surface and the second surface of the non-conductive acoustic matching layer. Moreover, the electrode and the substrate are electrically conducted via the groove.
US09180489B2	Electromechanical transducer When the initial displacement greatly varies among cells in an element, there is a need to reduce a bias voltage to be applied between electrodes. This decreases the sensitivity. An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes an element having a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided with a cavity being disposed therebetween. A groove is provided at a position at a predetermined distance from the cavity of the cell on the outermost periphery of the element.
US09180483B2	Integrated coating system Provided is an integrated coating system. An integrated coating system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a unwinding means provided with a roll to supply a web; a worktable roll configured to support the web supplied from the unwinding means; a plurality of printing means configured to perform printing or coating on the web supplied from the unwinding means; a plurality of curing means each of which is modulated to cure a printing material on the web passing through at least one printing means; and a winding means around which the web, of which printing or coating work is completed by passing through the curing means, is wound in a roll shape.
US09180482B1	Fluid dispense tips A fluid dispense tip includes a bevel at an opening to reduce the amount of surface tension, or “land”, at the opening. The bevel is formed by grinding in a longitudinal direction such that any tooling scars resulting from the grinding operation are likewise longitudinally oriented, further reducing the amount of surface tension in the tip, thereby leading to heightened dispensing accuracy. The tip may be machined from stock as a unitary piece, to increase its lifetime, and may be formed with a bore of a relatively large diameter that is tapered down to a smaller diameter near the tip opening, to allow for delivery of fluid through the tip body at a decreased pressure. A cleaning tool may be provided for removing residual material from the inner surfaces of the tip. A removable liner sleeve may be provided within the bore to reduce the effective inner diameter of the dispense tip.
US09180476B2	Mixing and dispensing device A device for dispensing a mixture of at least two fluids is disclosed. The device has a plurality of cartridges that each contain a fluid. A flow channel communicates with each cartridge. A valve adjusts a mass flow rate of the fluid drawn from the corresponding cartridge. A manifold has a mixing chamber and a plurality of inlets that each communicate with one of the flow channels. The manifold has a spring and a seal that covers the inlets. A piston is between the seal and the spring. The spring is moveable between an extended position that positions the seal to substantially and simultaneously close the inlets from the flow channels and a compressed position that positions the seal to substantially and simultaneously open the inlets to the flow channels. A dispensing pump communicates with the manifold and draws fluid from each of the cartridges. A nozzle dispenses the mixture.
US09180471B2	Two-substance nozzle and method for spraying a liquid-gas mixture A two-substance nozzle for spraying a liquid-gas mixture, including a nozzle housing including at least one liquid inlet leading into a mixing chamber and at least one gas inlet leading into the mixing chamber, a swirl insert, an outlet chamber between the swirl insert and an outlet opening on the downstream end of the outlet chamber, wherein a restrictor is provided on the downstream end of the mixing chamber and an intermediate chamber is provided between the restrictor and the swirl insert.
US09180462B2	Method of preparing a liquid extract of cereal grain and apparatus suitable for use in such method The present invention provides a continuous method of preparing a liquid extract of cereal grain by comminuting cereal grain at a rate of at least 100 kg of dry cereal grain per hour and extracting the comminuted cereal grain with a liquid, said method comprising: continuously combining cereal grain with a liquid; continuously disintegrating the grain particles contained within the liquid by colliding freely suspended grain particles with one or more rotating blades, thereby producing a milled suspension; continuously transferring at least a part of the milled suspension, optionally after further treatment, to a separation device for separation into spent grain and liquid extract; wherein the one or more rotating blades are rotating at a tip speed of at least 10 m/s; the total mechanical energy transferred into the milled suspension by the one or more rotating blades is in the range of 5-1000 kJ per kg of dry cereal grain; and the distance between a tip of said one or more rotating blades and the axis of rotation is in the range of 2-25 cm. The invention also provides a system for comprising a milling apparatus and a separation device suitable for use in the aforementioned method.The present method and system offer several advantages, including savings on capital expenditure and maintenance, short milling times and hygienic design.
US09180457B2	Radial sliding seal with subassembly for metering devices, and metering device with such a radial sliding seal subassembly A metering device for use in syringes and pipetting piston-cylinder arrangements, including a sealing component working together with at least one pretensioning component. The sealing component comprises a sealing segment extending in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction. The sealing segment has a sealing surface facing in a first radial direction for sealing and sliding contact in at least the axial direction, is formed on a working surface formed on the outer surface of the piston rod facing toward the inner wall of the cylinder. The sealing segment also has a pretensioning surface extending in a second radial direction opposite to the first for engaging with the pretensioning component for transferring the radial pretensioning force, where the pretensioning component includes a spring carrier and a plurality of separately formed radial spring segments compliantly supported at least in the radial direction on the spring carrier.
US09180454B2	Electrowetting and electrofluidic devices with laplace barriers and related methods Electrowetting and electrofluidic devices and methods. The device includes a hydrophobic channel formed between first and second substrates and a polar fluid and a non-polar fluid contained in the channel. An electrode with a dielectric layer is electrically connected to a voltage source. A Laplace barrier within the hydrophobic channel defines a fluid pathway that is open to the movement of the polar fluid within the channel. The polar fluid moves to a first position when the voltage source is biased at a first voltage that is less than or equal to a threshold voltage. The polar fluid moves to a second position when the voltage source is biased with a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage.
US09180449B2	Mobile water analysis An embodiment provides a cuvette apparatus including: a lid and a body, the body including a fluid channel disposed therein; and the lid including at least one opening aligned with a portion of the fluid channel, thereby providing access to the fluid channel in the body. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09180447B2	Pipetting device having a linear motor The invention relates to a pipetting device, comprising at least two pipetting channels (50, 50′), which extend along a channel axis (K) and which each can be adjusted along the channel axis (K), wherein the pipetting device (10) has a displacement drive, by means of which each pipetting channel (50, 50′) can be displaced independently of the other pipetting channel (50, 50′) along a displacement axis (V) orthogonal to the channel axis (K) regardless of an adjustment along the channel axis (K), wherein the displacement drive comprises a linear motor, the stator of which has at least two magnet arrangements (32, 42), which comprise a row of magnets (36) on a magnet carrier (34, 44), said magnets being consecutive along the displacement axis (V) and being arranged differently with regard to the polarity (P1, P2) thereof, and the armature of which (at 38, at 38′); has at least one conductor loop arrangement (38), which comprises at least one set of three conductor loops (72, 74, 76) that are consecutive along the displacement axis (V), each of which conductor loops is or can be associated with a different phase of a three-phase supply, wherein each pipetting channel (50, 50′) has at least one conductor loop arrangement (38, 38′), wherein the armatures (at 38, at 38′) of two pipetting channels (50, 50′) directly adjacent along the displacement axis (V) are associated with different magnet arrangements (32, 42) and interact therewith.
US09180442B2	Porous graphene oxide materials A method of preparing a porous graphene oxide material. The method includes the steps of: (1) preparing graphene oxide sheets from graphite at 40 to 170° C.; (2) providing a graphene oxide suspension containing the graphene oxide sheets; (3) heating the graphene oxide suspension with a base at 25 to 300° C. for 0.1 to 48 hours to obtain base-treated graphene oxide sheets; and (4) heating a mixture of the base-treated graphene oxide sheets and an acid at 25 to 300° C. for 0.1 to 48 hours to yield the porous graphene oxide material. Also disclosed are novel porous graphene oxide materials and methods of using these materials as catalysts.
US09180440B2	Catalyst A catalyst for exhaust gas purification having superior exhaust gas purification performance is provided. Disclosed is a catalyst containing, as a catalyst support, a composite phosphate containing yttrium and phosphorus and having a composition ratio of yttrium to phosphorus (Y/P) of greater than 1 as a molar ratio.
US09180439B2	Process for obtaining modified molecular sieves The invention covers a process for obtaining an alkaline earth or rare earth metal-P-modified molecular sieve (M-P-modified molecular sieve) comprising the following steps: a). selecting at least one molecular sieve selected from one of: a P-modified molecular sieve which contains at least 0.3 wt % of P obtained by dealuminating a molecular sieve in a steaming step, followed by a leaching step using an acid solution containing a source of P a molecular sieve which is modified with P during step b) by dealuminating the molecular sieve in a steaming step, followed by a leaching step using an acid solution containing a source of P thereby introducing at least 0.3 wt % of P b). contacting said molecular sieve with an alkaline earth or rare earth metal-containing compound (M-containing compound) to introduce at least 0.05 wt % of the alkaline earth or rare earth metal to the molecular sieve. The invention also covers a catalyst composite comprising: a). at least 10 wt % of a M-P-modified molecular sieve comprising at least 0.05% by weight of an alkaline earth or rare earth metal (M) and at least 0.3 wt % of P, b). optionally metal phosphate, c). optionally matrix material, and d). optionally binder. The catalyst of the invention can also be used in a process for making an olefin product from an oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock wherein said oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock is contacted in the XTO reactor with the catalyst composite according to the invention under conditions effective to convert the oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock to olefin products (the XTO reactor effluent). The catalyst composite of the invention can also be used in addition or alternatively in an OCP process.
US09180438B2	Wire catalyst for hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reaction and manufacturing method therefor A wire catalyst for hydrogenation reaction and/or dehydrogenation reaction comprises a metallic core and an oxide surface layer covering at least part of the surface thereof. The metallic core is electrically conductive so that the metallic core itself can generate heat by directly passing an electric current therethrough or electromagnetic induction. The oxide surface layer is made of an oxide of a metallic element constituting the metallic core. The oxide surface layer is provided with a porous structure having pores opening at the surface of the oxide surface layer. The catalytic material is supported in the pores of the oxide surface layer. When a shaped wire catalyst is manufactured, the shaping into a specific shape is made before the oxide surface layer having the porous structure is formed and the catalytic material is supported thereon.
US09180436B1	Optimized fischer-tropsch catalyst A cobalt containing catalyst supported on a metal oxide suitable for performing a Fischer-Tropsch reaction. A pore volume of a metal oxide support, before loading of cobalt thereon, is within the range of 0.35 to 0.6 cc/g. The support has an average pore diameter before the cobalt loading and reduction such that the effective average pore diameter after cobalt loading and reduction is 14 nanometers or higher. A cobalt loading of 11 weight % or higher is also provided. An alpha value higher than 0.89 in a diesel to wax weight ratio below 1.07 is provided.
US09180434B2	Catalytic system The present invention relates to a structured catalyst based on sintered metal fibers (SMF) coated by a non-acidic metal oxide layer impregnated with Pd and Agnanopartides, characterized in that the ratio of the Pd:Ag is 1:1 to 10:1, as well as the use of such a catalyst in selective catalytic hydrogenations of organic compounds.
US09180432B2	NOx storage and reduction catalyst, preparation method, and NOx removing system A catalyst for NOx storage and reduction may include a carrier that contains alkali metal and Al, or alkali earth metal and Al, a NOx storage element of alkali metal, alkali earth metal or rare earth element, and one or more noble metals that are selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ru, Ag, Au and Rh. The catalyst for NOx storage and reduction shows excellent NOx storage and reduction capability, maintains excellent storage and reduction capability especially before and after deterioration and sulfation, and shows excellent catalytic activity under low temperature environment, while maintaining unusually high hydrophobicity.
US09180427B2	Calcination apparatus, process for producing oxide catalyst, and process for producing unsaturated acid or unsaturated nitrile Disclosed is a calcination apparatus, including: a calcination tube having open ends at both terminals; a pair of hoods, each hood covering each open end of the calcination tube; and a pair of rings, each ring sealing a gap between the calcination tube and the hood, wherein the rings are directly or indirectly fixed on an outer surface of the calcination tube; a groove is provided along a circumferential direction of the ring at a contact surface side between the ring and the hood; a sealed chamber surrounded by the hood and the groove is formed; and both the calcination tube and the rings rotate in a circumferential direction of the calcination tube while keeping the hood in contact with both sides of the groove.
US09180425B2	Reactor comprising a rotor The present invention relates to a reactor for the separation of material included in composite raw material, which reactor comprises at least one reaction chamber and at least one rotor, said reaction chamber comprising at least one housing that is sealed in relation to the surroundings and has at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening, and said rotor comprising at least one shaft. At least a first part of said rotor is situated in said housing, and said shaft extends in only one direction from said first part through and out of said housing.
US09180415B2	Mixer nozzle assembly A mixer nozzle assembly for mixing fluid introduced into a tank having a tank volume therein. The mixer nozzle assembly includes a stationary body and a rotatable body mounted on the stationary body for rotation about an axis in a predetermined direction. The fluid flows through the stationary body to the rotatable body and exits into the tank volume via one or more outlet apertures, thereby causing the rotatable body to rotate in the predetermined direction about the axis. The mixer nozzle assembly also includes a governor subassembly for controlling a speed of rotation of the rotatable body in the predetermined direction about the axis and a hydraulic circuit for governing a flow rate of hydraulic fluid directed to the governor subassembly, to adjust the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid for adjusting the speed of rotation of the rotatable body to the preselected speed.
US09180412B2	Metal oxide ultrafine fiber-based composite separator with heat resistance and secondary battery using same An ultrafine fiber-based composite separator comprising a fibrous porous body which comprises ultrafine metal oxide/polymer composite fibers, or ultrafine metal oxide fibers and a polymer resin coating layer formed on the surface thereof, the ultrafine fibers being continuously randomly arranged and layered, and obtained by electrospinning a metal oxide precursor sol-gel solution or a mixture of a metal oxide precursor sol-gel solution and a polymer resin solution, wherein the surface of the metal oxide/polymer composite fibers has a uniform mixing composition of the metal oxide and the polymer resin, in which the separator has a heat shrinkage rate at 150˜250° C. of 10% or less and does not break down due to melting at a temperature of 200° C. or lower, has low heat shrinkage rate, and superior heat resistance and ionic conductivity, being capable of providing improved cycle and power properties when used in manufacturing a battery.
US09180407B2	Flow device for an exhaust system A flow device for an exhaust system includes a body that defines an interior cavity. An exhaust inlet passage is disposed in the interior cavity. An exhaust outlet passage is disposed in the interior cavity so that at least a portion of the exhaust inlet passage circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the exhaust outlet passage. A doser is adapted to inject reductants into the interior cavity of the body such that the reductants are injected in the same general direction as the direction of flow of the exhaust gases.
US09180406B2	Exhaust gas processing device An exhaust gas processing device includes a cylindrical metallic member and an insulating layer. The insulating layer has a thickness of about 20 μm to about 400 μm and is densely formed such that no through pores exist in a thickness direction of the insulating layer. The insulating layer is provided on an inner surface of the cylindrical metallic member.
US09180405B2	Ethylene recovery by absorption A process for recovery of ethylene from a polymerization product stream of a polyethylene production system, comprising separating a light gas stream from the polymerization product stream, wherein the light gas stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene, contacting the light gas stream with an absorption solvent system, wherein the contacting the light gas stream with the absorption solvent system occurs at a temperature in a range of from about 40° F. to about 110° F., wherein at least a portion of the unreacted ethylene from the light gas stream is absorbed by the absorption solvent system, and recovering unreacted ethylene from the absorption solvent system to yield recovered ethylene.
US09180402B2	System and method for treating natural gas that contains methane The invention relates to a system for treating natural gas that contains methane, comprising: a) at least one degassing module (1) and/or at least one percolator, and b) at least one gas exchanging module (2). The invention is characterized in that the degassing module (1) and/or the percolator and the gas exchanging module (2) are connected in a water circuit and arranged successively in the flow direction of the water. The water is degassed in the degassing module (1) and/or percolator, and the degassed water absorbs undesired gases from fed natural gas in the gas exchanging module (2). The fed natural gas is fed to the at least one gas exchanging module (2) in countercurrent to the degassed water. The invention further relates to a method for treating natural gas that contains methane, said method being carried out in the system according to the invention.
US09180400B2	Electrified desorption device for dehumidification An electrified desorption device, including a conductive water-absorbing material containing titanosilicates, wherein a ratio of silicon atoms to titanium atoms in the titanosilicates of the conductive water-absorbing material is 1 ≤ Si Ti ≤ 10 ; a conductive layer selected from the group consisting of a metal component, an alloy material, a conductive oxide component, and a mixture including either (a) more than one of the foregoing components or (b) the metal component, the alloy material, and graphite, attached to end surfaces at two sides of the water-absorbing material; a pair of electrode structures, coupled to two sides of the water-absorbing material respectively, and each having multiple sub-electrodes insulated from each other; and a voltage source, coupled to the pair of electrode structures.
US09180395B2	Porous thin films Compositions of porous thin films and methods of making are provided. The methods involve self-assembly of a cyclic peptide in the presence of a block copolymer.
US09180390B2	Filter cartridge for liquid filtration; assembly; and, methods A liquid filter cartridge is provided. Preferred seal arrangements are provided, to provide for preferred axial load conditions, with respect to one or more of the end caps of the cartridge. Some cartridge configurations provided include no core structure or outer liner structure therein, to support axial load. Assemblies using the cartridge, and methods of assembly and use, are provided. The liquid filter cartridge can be a serviceable cartridge, or it can be retained permanently in a housing.
US09180388B2	Filter device for fluids A filter device for fluids, in particular for low viscosity fluids such as water, includes a filter housing (1) in which element holders (31) are provided for a plurality of filter elements (21). Filter medium (35) of each filter element in the filter housing (1) separates an unfiltered side (5) from a clean side (7). The filter housing (1) can be opened for inserting and removing the filter elements (21). A carrier in the form of a basket (19) is provided for the filter elements (21). The basket can be inserted into and removed from the filter housing (1). The filter elements (21) can be releasably secured at the basket.
US09180387B2	Method and device for separating fractions of a mixture The invention concerns a method for separating fractions of a mixture to be separated, in a device (1) comprising: several chromatography columns (21, 22, 23,) mounted in series; an open separation loop comprising in input a point for injecting (6) eluent in one of the columns and in output a point for drawing (8) a fraction of the mixture. The method includes the following steps: batch injection of the mixture to be separated in the open separation loop (4); collecting at least two fractions; offsetting at least one column of the eluent injecting and fraction drawing points (6, 8) of the separation loop (4). The invention also concerns a device for separating fractions of a mixture to be separated.
US09180386B2	Additive for the crystallization of proteins, use and process The present invention relates to the use and to a process involving at least one calix[n]arene derivative substituted by at least one acid functional group on the upper face and at least one aliphatic chain of variable length on the other face, as an additive for crystallization of a polar and/or positively charged molecule. The use and the process of the present invention have the advantage of enabling, facilitating and/or accelerating the crystallization of polar and/or positively charged molecules, especially of membrane proteins that are in solution or soluble, which had previously proved to be very difficult.
US09180380B2	Toy figurine with internal lighting effect A toy figurine includes an internal lighting effect. The internal lighting is visible through the outer surface of the figurine and may be manipulated to produce various lighting effects. The internal lighting includes a lighting layer, a visual effects display layer and a diffusion layer. The light diffusion layer may include an external surface of the toy figurine.
US09180377B2	System, program, and method for generating image of virtual space A computer program according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a grouping module configured to group the plurality of objects into a plurality of groups; a reference point determination module configured to determine a reference point and a group fixation point in the virtual space for each of the plurality of groups; a viewpoint control module configured to control positions of the viewpoint and the fixation point in the virtual space; and a display control module configured to display, on the display device, the view of the virtual space as viewed from the viewpoint toward the fixation point. While events are generated in the particular group among the plurality of groups, the viewpoint control module according to an embodiment of the present invention fixes the viewpoint at the reference point of the particular group and the fixation point at a group fixation point of the particular group.
US09180374B1	Method and apparatus for playing computer-based video games on television Techniques for providing a hybrid platform for video games are disclosed. To enjoy the video and audio quality a TV could provide, all game actions with a video game are provided via a TV. However, the video game itself is running on a generic personal computer (PC). In one embodiment, a device is provided to receive various game actions by a game player with the video game. The game hub provides an (wired or wireless) interface for transferring signals representing the game actions to the PC, in return the PC provides digital streams to the TV for display.
US09180369B2	Method and system supporting audited reporting of advertising impressions from video games A variety of processes for certifying the reporting of advertising impressions provided via video games are described. These certification processes optionally take advantage of automated techniques for verifying that when advertising data is provided a corresponding advertisement is provided within the video game. In addition, as software patches are often provided for video games, a recommended process for certifying patched software is also described. Reporting data associated with advertising impressions provided from uncertified video games is considered suspect and optionally discarded.
US09180367B2	Operating device for game machine An operating device used in a game machine for playing a television game includes a main body and first and second finger-manipulatable operating units positioned symmetrically on the main body. The operating device may include first and second grips projecting at spaced positions from the main body, with the first and second operating units being positioned adjacent the first and second grips. The operating device may further include vibration-imparting units for imparting vibrations to the user's hands.
US09180366B2	Game system, game processing method, game apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium having stored therein game program In a game system, a first game screen obtained by a first virtual camera taking an operation target object in a first direction is displayed on a first display section, and a second game screen obtained by a second virtual camera taking the operation target object in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction is displayed on a second display section different from the first display section. The operation target object is controlled to move in a predetermined direction in a virtual space in accordance with an input direction detected based on input to an operation section. At a predetermined timing based on game processing, a direction in which the first virtual camera is set as seen from the operation target object and a direction in which the second virtual camera is set as seen from the operation target object are switched therebetween.
US09180362B2	System and method for collecting and using player information A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may be taken by the distributed system with regard to the player. For instance, the player may be provided a complimentary offer, provided an award, and invitation to come to a gambling location, presented an advertisement, or other action may be performed involving the player. Further, the distributed computer system may permit a player to manage their frequent player accounts and receive complimentary offers based on a set of criteria specified by the player.
US09180350B2	Pace of play monitoring system The monitoring system employs a sensor to detect the replacement or removal and replacement of the flagstick in a golf hole liner. The sensor may be incorporated into the flagstick, the hole liner or any combination of the two. A central receiver remote from the sensors receives the two signals from respective sensor and has a timing device for recording the time of arrival of each signal from each sensor.
US09180346B2	Golf balls having foam center containing clay particulate Multi-piece golf balls having a solid core made of a foamed composition and a cover are provided. Preferably, the core is dual-layered having has a foam inner core (center) and surrounding thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer. Preferably, a polyurethane foam composition containing mineral filler particulate, for example, nanoclay particles, is used to form the foam center. The surrounding outer core layer may be made from non-foamed or foamed compositions. For example, polybutadiene rubber or highly neutralized olefin acid copolymers may be used in the outer core layer. The core layers have different hardness gradients and specific gravity values.
US09180345B2	Golf ball A golf ball 2 includes a spherical core 4, an adhesive layer 6 covering the core 4, and a cover 8 covering the adhesive layer 6. The core 4 includes a spherical center 10 and a mid layer 12 covering the center 10. The adhesive layer 6 is formed from an adhesive. The base polymer of the adhesive is a two-component curing type epoxy resin obtained by curing a bisphenol A type epoxy resin with a curing agent including a polyamine compound. The gel fraction of the adhesive is equal to or greater than 40% but equal to or less than 80%. The ratio of the epoxy equivalent to the amine active hydrogen equivalent in the adhesive is equal to or greater than 2.0/1.0 but equal to or less than 13.0/1.0. The amine active hydrogen equivalent of the curing agent is equal to or greater than 100 g/eq but equal to or less than 800 g/eq. In the adhesive, the proportion of water to the entire volatile component is equal to or greater than 90% by weight.
US09180344B2	Multi-arm dimple and dimple patterns including same A golf ball dimple having a plurality of arms wherein each arm includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, side walls, and a sloped floor. The dimples of the invention may be included in a dimple pattern that may also include other types of dimples.
US09180342B2	Swimming goggles Swimming goggles include left and right frame bodies installed with lenses, a connecting element, and protective pads and head strap bases. The left and right frame bodies each has inner and outer peripheral faces. The protective pads each has a connecting portion having a connecting face and an abutting face. Lip portions are respectively formed along the inner peripheral faces of the left and right frame bodies. The connecting faces integrally encompass the lip portions. The abutting faces are inclined with respect to face portions corresponding to an area above the eye socket and adjacent to an eyebrow, a side portion of a nose bridge adjacent to lacrimal gland at an inner side portion of the eye socket, an area adjacent to an under-eye bag below the eye socket, and an outer eye corner with respect to an outer side portion of the eye socket adjacent to a temple.
US09180338B2	Exercise device for push ups An apparatus for push-ups is provided that includes a base comprised of one or more sockets, a pin, friction material supporting at least one rotatable handle with a hand support and friction cap having one or more resistance bands with eye hooks capable of being connected to a harness eye hook mounted on the front of a harness worn by an athlete to perform resistance push-ups without the need of a spotter.
US09180337B2	Support frame for exercise apparatus A support frame for an exercise apparatus includes a base providing a fulcrum, and a moving arm member having a rotating portion located at one end thereof, and a swinging portion located at an opposite end thereof and equipped with a seat unit. The rotating portion is equipped with a wheel pedal unit and is rotatably supported on the fulcrum of the base. The swinging portion is swingable on the center of the rotating portion between a high position located far apart from the base, and a low position located in closer proximity to the base. The support frame is configurable to change the elevation difference between the seat unit and the wheel pedal unit in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. Thus, the elevation difference is relatively changed by means of moving the moving arm member relative to the base. This causes the relative position between the wheel pedal unit and the seat unit to change for allowing the user to exercise in a normal upright, or elevated, sitting exercise mode or a recumbent sitting exercise mode.
US09180334B2	Exercise device and method An exercise device of the present invention includes a beam; rods affixed and extending from ends of the beam; wheels rotatably mounted on the rods; handles positioned on outer ends of the rods; and a body-part engagement device for engaging a user's hands, feet, or knees with the device. Multiple exercises that exercise various muscle groups of the human body may be performed with the exercise device.
US09180332B1	Compressive exercise device A compressive exercise device facilitates exercises utilizing compressive force to develop multiple parts of the body. The device includes an elongated tube. A top section of the tube is slidably inserted into a bottom section wherein the tube is telescopic. A longitudinal slot extends through the bottom section of the tube. A resilient loop has a first end coupled to the bottom section of the tube proximate a bottom end of the bottom section. Each of a pair of rollers is coupled to an associated side of the bottom section between the top end of the slot and a top end of the bottom section. The loop extends over each roller. A pin coupled to the top section extends through the slot and slides in the slot when the tube is compressed. The loop is coupled to the pin such that the loop resists compression of the tube.
US09180331B1	Leg rehabilitation apparatus A leg rehabilitation apparatus is provided. The leg rehabilitation apparatus includes a base, a seat, an oscillating set, a linking-up set, a resisting device and a buffer. The seat is disposed on the base. The oscillating set is pivotally connected to the base. The linking-up set is connected with the oscillating set and coupled with the oscillating set. The resisting device is connected to the oscillating set and provides a resisting force to the oscillating set during the leg rehabilitation. The buffer is disposed on the base and connected to the linking-up set. The buffer provides a buffering force during the leg rehabilitation.
US09180330B2	Muscular integral development system for resistance (MIDSYR) A muscular integral development system for resistance (MIDSYR) to develop or exercise muscles of a body of an user. The system is directed to develop an area of the body or specific muscle group, such as for example the abdominals, pectorals, biceps, buttocks or leg muscles. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an equipment to achieve weight loss, cardiovascular exercise or rehabilitation.
US09180327B2	Compositions and methods for remediation of chlorinated polyaromatic compounds The present invention relates to compositions and methods that are effective in the remediation of contaminants found in natural sources such as groundwater, surface water, soil and manufactured products. The disclosed compositions and methods provide a method for remediating chlorinated polyaromatic compounds by treating them under pressure and heat with concentrated acids and chloride salts. After decomposition has occurred, the resulting acid that is produced is made dermal and non-corrosive. The compositions and methods claimed herein make the product safe to be in contact with humans and animal tissue without causing injury.
US09180326B2	Method and apparatus for thermally activated sprinklers A sprinkler head including a sprinkler body with a passage for fluid and a seal mechanism sealing the passage, and a cage member. A frangible bulb extends between the cage member and the seal. A shape memory alloy element is associated with the frangible bulb and has a first configuration that fits within, about, or abutting the bulb and a second configuration at a predetermined temperature which breaks the frangible bulb releasing the fluid through the passage.
US09180319B2	Laser assisted periodontium and osseus regeneration protocol A method of treating gum disease using a soft tissue diode laser which generates a beam of light having a wavelength in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (400 nm-700 nm) at a laser power of 0.5 to 1.2 watts, used with intermittent stops to control tissue temperature, to decontaminate the gum tissue and biostimulate the periodontium nonsurgically when used with a substrate, thus preventing the long junctional epithelium from migrating into the sulcus, preserving tissue height, and regenerating periodontium, the method comprising: placing the tip of the laser inside the sulcus; penetrating the entire sulcus by moving the laser light with intermittent stops to control tissue temperature vertically and horizontally throughout the sulcus; and placing a substrate in the sulcus prior to a blood clot forming, thus regenerating periodontium in the sulcus.
US09180318B2	Stable oral care compositions A single-phase oral care composition is described. The composition comprises both calcium and phosphate sources and is substantially free of water and is substantially free of generated calcium phosphate comprising compounds. The single-phase oral care composition is stable, maintains good viscosity characteristics and avoids the need for compartmentalized packaging.
US09180301B2	Estimating electromechanical delay to optimize pacing parameters in RBBB patients Stimulation energy can be provided to stimulate synchronous ventricular contractions. Interval information obtained from a cardiac electrical heart signal and a cardiac mechanical heart signal can be used to determine a right ventricular activation time. The interval information can provide a cardiac stimulation indication.
US09180294B2	Electrical stimulation device having multiple stimulation channels An implantable electrical stimulation device configured to treat multiple pelvic conditions of a patient includes a pulse generator, memory, first and second electrode leads comprising one or more electrodes, a switch and a controller. The switch has a first state, in which the first electrode lead is electrically coupled to the pulse generator, and a second state, in which the second electrode lead is electrically coupled to the pulse generator. The controller includes at least one processor that is configured to execute at least one stimulation program stored in the memory. The controller is also configured to selectively set the switch in the first or second state. Electrical stimulation pulses generated by the pulse generator responsive to the execution of the stimulation program are delivered to the first or second electrode lead depending on the state of the switch.
US09180291B2	Side load lead anchor and methods and systems using the lead anchor A lead anchor includes an anchor body defining an open lead channel; and a rotatable locking element shaped as a portion of a ring and defining a central cavity, an entrance slit, and a protruding nodule extending into the central cavity. The anchor body further defines a locking element channel arranged perpendicular to the lead channel to receive the rotatable locking element. In an open position, the entrance slit of the locking element is aligned with the lead channel of the anchor body so that a lead can be loaded into the lead channel and, in a closed position, the entrance slit is not aligned with the lead channel to prevent a lead disposed in the lead channel from disengaging from the lead anchor. In the closed position, the nodule on the locking element engages the lead and resists rotation of the locking element to the open position.
US09180288B2	Medical equipment electrodes An electrode assembly includes an electrode configured for externally defibrillating a subject. The electrode assembly also includes a camera configured to capture an image of at least a portion of the subject's body. The image has sufficient information to enable the position of the electrode assembly relative to the subject's chest to be determined.
US09180278B2	Medical instrument A medical instrument to be inserted into a living body before being used. The medical instrument is provided with a medical instrument main body including a long linear body having flexibility on which a coating layer covering at least the outer periphery on the distal side thereof is formed. The coating layer composes of a first layer which includes a material containing a low-friction resin material capable of lowering friction and a binder resin material serving as a binder; a second layer which is formed on the first layer and includes a material containing a low-friction resin material and a pigment and in which the content of a binder resin material is lower than the binder resin material content of the first layer or nil; and a third layer which is formed on the second layer and includes a material containing a low-friction resin material.
US09180277B2	Release mechanism for use with needle shielding devices A needle-based medical device and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A needle device includes a hub having a longitudinal axis; a needle having a sharp distal tip; and a needle shield assembly associated with the needle and moveable from a non-shielding position to a shielding position. In the shielding position, the sharp distal tip is covered by at least part of the needle shield assembly. A latch is further provided for engaging with the hub when the needle shield assembly is in the non-shielding position; as well as a locking member operably connected to the needle shield assembly, and located at least partially within the hub when the needle shield assembly is in the non-shielding position. The latch and locking member lock the latch to the hub, such that when the needle shield assembly moves into the shielding position, the locking member moves generally proximally, unlocking the latch.
US09180270B2	Methods, systems and devices for non-invasive open ventilation with gas delivery nozzles within an outer tube A non-invasive ventilation system may include at least one outer tube with a proximal lateral end of the outer tube adapted to extend to a side of a nose. The at least one outer tube may also include a throat section. At least one coupler may be located at a distal section of the outer tube for impinging at least one nostril and positioning the at least one outer tube relative to the at least one nostril. At least one jet nozzle may be positioned within the outer tube at the proximal lateral end and in fluid communication with a pressurized gas supply. At least one opening in the distal section may be adapted to be in fluid communication with the nostril. At least one aperture in the at least one outer tube may be in fluid communication with ambient air. The at least one aperture may be in proximity to the at least one jet nozzle.
US09180266B1	Automatic patient ventilator system and method Ventilator enables operator to enter into the microprocessor estimate of a patient's individual characteristic, such as weight, which the microprocessor uses to control delivered tidal volume and other parameters to match the patient. The operator can select one of several ventilator operational modes (intube, mask, CPR). Sensors input data to the microprocessor to maintain parameter optimizations and accuracy. Visual/audible alarms and tools activate when one or more parameters exceed or fail to exceed predetermined values for patient's weight. Manual over-ride is available. The ventilator has a quick start capability in which the operator turns on power, selects the automatic operating mode, enters patient's characteristic, selects control option starting automatic ventilation of proper volumes inhalation/exhalation periods, pressure, and oxy-air mixture.
US09180265B2	Compact device for controlling and modifying the pressure of a gas or a mixture of gases A device for controlling the pressure of a gas in a circuit via the generation of bubbles through a liquid, which is used to produce a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), is provided. The device includes a container containing a liquid and a bubble tube with one end located outside the liquid connected to a device connected to a patient's respiratory tract and the other end located within the liquid. The device also includes at least one hose for adjusting the level of liquid in the container.
US09180260B2	Systems and methods for monitoring an injection procedure An indicator dilution system includes a catheter configured to deliver an indicator to a patient, an injection device configured to deliver the indicator to the catheter, and a connector coupling the injection device to the catheter. The system also includes one or more sensors configured to acquire measurements from components of the system, which may be used to determine the start and end time of the injection of the indicator to the patient. For example, the one or more sensors may be configured to acquire signals relating to a state of the connector, which may be used to determine whether the connector is in an open state to enable flow of the indicator or in a closed state to reduce flow of the indicator.
US09180249B2	Method and device The invention relates to a method and device for treating or preventing or suppressing a disease or condition in a non-human animal. The method comprises the steps of providing a single delivery device containing two components for sequential delivery from the delivery device. A first component is delivered from the single delivery device into a teat canal of a non-human animal and subsequently the second component is delivered from the single delivery device into the teat canal. The components are delivered without substantial mixing of the components.
US09180247B2	Infusion apparatus with flow indicator A device for dispensing fluid to a patient and indicating a fluid flow condition. The device includes a reservoir configured to provide a source of fluid under pressure. A continuous flow path in fluid communication with the source of fluid provides a continuous and substantially constant flow rate of fluid from the source to a patient. The device further includes at least one pre-biased indicator in fluid communication with the continuous flow path. The pre-biased indicator is configured to provide a discrete visual signal that the pressure of the fluid in the continuous flow path is different from a predetermined level of pressure, thereby indicating a fluid flow condition.
US09180244B2	Wearable automatic injection device for controlled delivery of therapeutic agents Exemplary embodiments provide wearable automatic injection devices for subcutaneously injecting a therapeutic agent into a patient's body at controlled rates, for example, in a single bolus. Exemplary embodiments provide methods for assembling wearable automatic injection devices for subcutaneously injecting a therapeutic agent into a patient's body at controlled rates. Exemplary embodiments provide methods for using wearable automatic injection devices for subcutaneously injecting a therapeutic agent into a patient's body at controlled rates.
US09180243B2	Detection of infusion pump conditions An ambulatory infusion system and a method of operating including a disposable infusion cartridge having a collapsible reservoir and a substantially rigid shell disposed over the collapsible reservoir having an interior volume, a pump device, a pressure sensor in communication with the interior volume and a processor. The method includes actuating the pressure sensor to take pressure measurements at regular time intervals; periodically assessing a preselected number of the pressure measurements with statistical analysis to identify statistical measures associated with the pressure measurements; and using the statistical measures to assess the status of the flexible reservoir and the pump device.
US09180236B2	Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation with concurrent hypothermia Devices, systems and methods for treating disorders characterized by low cardiac output. The devices, systems and methods use intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in combination with hypothermia of all or a portion of a human or veterinary patient's body to improve coronary perfusion and cardiac output. To effect the hypothermia, a heat exchange catheter may be positioned in the a patient's vasculature separately from the intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation catheter. Alternatively, a combination Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation/heat exchange catheter may be utilized. Such combination catheter comprises a) a catheter sized for insertion into the aorta, b) a counterpulsation balloon and c) a heat exchanger. A drive/control system receives temperature and electrocardiograph signals and drives the inflation/deflation of the counterpulsation balloon as well as the heating/cooling of the heat exchanger.
US09180235B2	Heart help pump, system and method The present invention relates to a heart pump apparatus comprising a turbine pump for assisting the heart of a human patient. The invention is based on the realization that a turbine without a center axis would improve the capacity of the heart help pump apparatus. The present invention also relates to a turbine pump system for assisting the heart of a human patient. The present invention also relates to operation methods and methods for surgically placing a rotating body of a turbine pump and a stator of a turbine pump in a patient.
US09180223B2	Biphasic osteochondral scaffold for reconstruction of articular cartilage An osteochondral scaffold has a chondrogenic spiral scaffold in one end of an outer shell made of sintered microspheres, and an osteogenic spiral scaffold in the other end of the outer shell. Each spiral scaffold has nanofibers of a composition selected to promote attachment and proliferation of the desired types of cells. The nanofibers for the chondrogenic spiral scaffold have a different composition than the nanofibers for the osteogenic spiral scaffold. The nanofibers of each spiral scaffold are aligned to orient the attached cells so as to recreate the structure of the native tissue.
US09180221B2	Functionalized adhesive for medical devices A method for adhering a medical device to biological tissue includes adhering an adhesive composition having a plurality of reactive members of a specific binding pair to tissue which has a plurality of complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair via click chemistry.
US09180218B2	Self decontaminating system and fabric A self-decontaminating system for decontaminating a surface on demand is disclosed herein. The system contains an electrochemical cell and at least one portion of the surface forms a functional component of the cell. The system may include an electrocatalytic fabric which is flexible and resistant to tears and breaks, such that the fabric can be rolled up or pleated in order to provide a high surface area structure that can serve as an active filter. The fabric can function as a stand-alone system or a protective coating. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating, decontaminating, and regenerating the self-decontaminating fabric.
US09180217B2	Sterilization system and device A system, device and method for sterilizing or decontaminating an object that by exposing the object to a sterilant gas comprised of one or more oxides of nitrogen, such as NO, NO2, NO3, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5, N2O and mixtures thereof. The source of the sterilant gas can be generated from a sterilant gas-generating composition or provided by a source of the sterilant gas.
US09180213B2	Radiotracer compositions The present invention relates to improved radiotracer imaging agent compositions, which comprises 18F-labelled biological targeting moieties, wherein impurities which affect imaging in vivo are identified and suppressed. Also provided are radiopharmaceuticals comprising said improved compositions, together with radiofluorinated aldehyde compositions useful in preparing said radiotracer compositions. The invention also includes methods of imaging and/or diagnosis using the radiopharmaceutical compositions described.
US09180211B2	Use of non-labeled sugars and detection by MRI for assessing tissue perfusion and metabolism A method for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy on a MR scanner to detect tissue physiological parameters in one or more tissue areas in a human or non-human subject includes administering to the subject a contrast enhancing physiologically tolerable amount of a sugar that is non-labeled, subjecting the subject to an MR procedure capable of generating MR signals encoding at least one tissue area in the subject in which the sugar either passes or is taken up, detecting a temporal variation in the MR signals in the at least one tissue area after the administering the sugar, determining at least one tissue-related parameter from the temporal variation, and ascertaining whether the at least one tissue-related parameter is abnormal.
US09180210B2	Nanocrystal nano-emulsion A nanocrystal formulation in the form of a nano-emulsion includes a continuous aqueous phase and at least one dispersed oily phase, in which the oily phase has at least one amphiphilic lipid and at least one solubilising lipid, and in which the aqueous phase has a cosurfactant. The invention also relates to a method for the production of the formulation as well as uses within the fields of medical imaging, thermotherapy or phototherapy.
US09180209B2	Non-peptidic quenched fluorescent imaging probes Methods and materials for the imaging of cells and tissues containing active proteases such as cathepsin are disclosed. The present materials include activity based probes that bind to an enzyme and are subsequently cleaved. Cleavage results in covalent attachment of a fluorescent signal to a target protease due to removal of a quenching group which, when present on the probe causes altered or no fluorescence. The probes are non-peptidic, small molecule scaffolds linked to a reactive acyloxymethyl ketone group, a fluorophore and a quencher. The probes are cell permeable and may use, for example, a QSY21 (CAS 304014-13-9) quencher and a cyanine dye. The probes form covalent bonds with the active site of cysteine cathepsins, proteases that are upregulated at the tumor boundaries with normal tissue and at sites of inflammation.
US09180208B2	Composition and methods for enhancing surface reflectance Microspheres, typically sterile, inert, silica glass microspheres, are dispersed in a carrier suitable for use relative to the object to be imaged and analyzed. In the case of ophthalmic imaging, an ophthalmically-acceptable gel is used and the resulting composition is dispensed into a mammalian eye. The gel and microspheres dispersed therein coat and conform to the surface of the eye. The microspheres enhance reflectance from the eye which improves signal-to-noise ratio and improves imaging quality.
US09180205B2	Stable compositions of high-concentration allotype-selected antibodies for small-volume administration Disclosed are methods, compositions and uses of high concentration antibody or immunoglobulin formulations for subcutaneous, intramuscular, transdermal or other local (regional) administration, in a volume of than 3, less than 2 or less than 1 ml. Preferably, the formulation contains a high concentration formulation (HCF) buffer comprising phosphate, citrate, polysorbate 80 and mannitol at a pH of about 5.2. The formulation more preferably comprises at least 100, 150, 200, 250 mg/ml or 300 mg/ml of antibody. The methods for preparing the high concentration formulation include ultrafiltration and diafiltration to concentrate the antibody and exchange the medium for HCF buffer. Other embodiments concern use of non-G1m1 (nG1m1) allotype antibodies, such as G1m3 and/or a nG1m1,2 antibodies. The nG1m1 antibodies show decreased immunogenicity compared to G1m1 antibodies.
US09180204B2	Liquid vaccines for multiple meningococcal serogroups Conjugated capsular saccharides from meningococcal serogroups C, W135 and Y are safe and immunogenic in humans when combined in a single dose. This effect is retained when a conjugated capsular saccharide from serogroup A is added. These conjugated antigens can be stably combined in a single aqueous dose without the need for lyophilization. Broad protection against serogroup B infection can be achieved by using a small number of defined polypeptide antigens. These polypeptide antigens can be combined with the saccharide antigens without loss of protective efficacy for any of the five serogroups. Efficacy if retained even if a Hib conjugate is added. The efficacy of a serogroup W135 conjugate is enhanced by addition of protein antigens derived from a serogroup B strain. Addition of a Hib conjugate to meningococcal conjugates enhances the overall activity against meningococcus serogroup W135.
US09180201B2	Method for preparing lipopeptide compound There is provided a practical method for preparing lipopeptide compounds, which method is capable of inexpensive mass production without requiring complicated operations. The lipopeptide compound of formula (3): is produced by reacting an ester compound of formula (1): with an α-amino acid compound of formula (2): in the presence of a base and within a solvent containing a nonpolar organic solvent.
US09180196B2	Photodegradable groups for tunable polymeric materials Here, we present a photodegradable microparticle system that can be employed to entrap and deliver bioactive proteins to cells during culture. By using a photosensitive delivery system, experimenters can achieve a wide variety of spatiotemporally regulated release profiles with a single microparticle formulation, thereby enabling one to probe many questions as to how protein presentation can be manipulated to regulate cell function. Photodegradable microparticles were synthesized via inverse suspension polymerization with a mean diameter of 22 μm, and degradation was demonstrated upon exposure to several irradiation conditions. The protein-loaded depots were incorporated into cell cultures and release of bioactive protein was quantified during the photodegradation process. This phototriggered release allowed for the delivery of TGF-β1 to stimulate PE25 cells and for the delivery of fluorescently labeled Annexin V to assay apoptotic 3T3 fibroblasts during culture. By incorporating these photoresponsive protein delivery depots into cell culture, new types of experiments are now possible to test hypotheses about how individual or multiple soluble factors might affect cell function when presented in a uniform, temporally varying, or gradient manner.
US09180191B2	Treatment of suicidal ideation or behavior using inhibitors of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors The invention concerns methods of treating suicidal ideation or behavior in a subject in need thereof, comprising decreasing endogenous nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activity in the subject; therapeutic packages for treating suicidal ideation or behavior; and methods for determining the efficacy of a treatment for suicidal ideation or behavior. In some embodiments, the treatment methods comprise administering to the subject an effective amount of an inhibitor of a nAChR, such as a lithium compound, mecamylamine, clozapine, or asenapine.
US09180188B2	Pharmaceutical composition for treatment and/or prophylaxis of cancer It is intended to identify a cancer antigenic protein specifically expressed on the surface of cancer cells and to provide an antibody targeting the antigenic protein and use of the antibody as a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for cancer. The present invention provides an antibody or a fragment thereof which has immunological reactivity with a CAPRIN-1 protein, the antibody comprising a heavy chain variable region comprising amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 6, and 7 and a light chain variable region comprising amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 10, and 11, and a pharmaceutical composition for treatment and/or prevention of cancer, comprising this antibody or fragment as an active ingredient.
US09180186B2	Biomarkers of immunomodulatory effects in humans treated with anti-CD200 antibodies The present disclosure relates to anti-CD200 antibodies (e.g., variant anti-CD200 antibodies having decreased or no effector function) and to biomarkers for use in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic methods, e.g., determining whether a human has been administered one or more of the antibodies at a dose sufficient to induce a desired immunomodulatory effect in the human and/or selecting an appropriate dosing schedule for a patient.
US09180181B2	H3 influenza A virus The invention provides an isolated H3 equine influenza A virus, as well as methods of preparing and using the virus, and genes or proteins thereof.
US09180172B2	Treatment of Peyronies disease The invention relates to systems and therapeutic methods to reduce plaque causing Peyronie's disease. One approach uses high pressure injection of collagenase-containing composition into a penile plaque. Plaque disruption is enhanced by the mechanical force of the high pressure, followed by the enzymatic action of collagenase. Another approach uses collagenase as a pretreatment, followed by addition of adipose-derived stem cells ADSCs. The initial collagenase injection breaks down collagen (often more type III than type I in Peyronie's) to provide short term benefit. The longer-term benefit is provided by introduction of ADSCs to the plaque, which can produce cytokines and other signals for revascularization and restoration of normal penile tissue. The resulting combination advantageously reduces the bulk of the plaque early on with ongoing reduction through the revascularization of the tissue. In addition, the treatment provides an advantageous shift of elastin and collagen ratios.
US09180170B2	Brucella abortus proteins and methods of use thereof Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and prevention of B. abortus infection are provided.
US09180167B2	Activators of CXCR3 for the treatment of angiopathies of the eye The present disclosure describes methods of treating angiogenic disorders of the eye, such as macular degeneration, restenosis following glaucoma treatment or diabetic retinopathy, by administering an activator of C-X-C chemokine receptor 3(CXCR3). In some embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is interferon-γ-inducible 10 kDa protein (IP-10), or a fragment or variant thereof, such as a fragment comprising or consisting of the C-terminal α-helix of IP-10. In other embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is platelet factor 4 (PF4) or a fragment or variant thereof.
US09180166B2	Cartilage repair systems and applications utilizing a glycosaminoglycan mimic The present invention relates to hydrogel or scaffold compositions and methods of use for cell growth and/or regenerative medicine. The hydrogel comprises a water soluble cellulose compound and, in certain aspects, a fibrous or filamentous matrix. The hydrogels as described provide a support or scaffold that promotes, facilitates, and/or enhances progenitor or stem cell growth and/or differentiation. In addition, the hydrogel is useful for tissue, e.g., cartilage, regeneration and repair.
US09180163B2	Parstatin peptides The present invention relates to parstatin peptides, compositions comprising parstatin peptides and their use in the treatment of various disorders, including angiogenesis-related diseases, ocular neovascularization and related disease states, ischemia-reperfusion injury and myocardial-related disease states, and renal disorders.
US09180161B2	CAR peptide for homing, diagnosis and targeted therapy for pulmonary and fibrotic disorders Disclosed are compositions and methods useful for delivering targeted therapies for pulmonary diseases, fibrotic disorders and cancer. The compositions and methods are based on peptide sequences that selectively bind to and home to diseased tissue and enable targeted therapies to effect a beneficial therapeutic result. The disclosed targeting is useful for delivering therapeutic and detectable agents to diseased tissue in an animal.
US09180157B2	Methods for treating scars and aging skin Beneficial topical compositions for treating scar or aging skin are provided. In one embodiment, the compositions include Bulbine frutescens, Centella asiatica and a phenol derived from olives, such as oleuropein. The composition may be used in the treatment of scars formed during surgery. The composition may also be used cosmeceutically in the treatment of aged skin, and may include phosphatidylserine, vitamins, and other beneficial anti-aging ingredients.
US09180155B2	Compositions from Nigella sativa Described are four, novel supercritical fluid extracts of Nigella sativa seeds containing about 0.01 to about 40% (w/w) thymoquinone that can be produced using commercial-scale quantities of N. sativa seeds. These formulations provide antioxidant, thermogenic, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities qualitatively and quantitatively distinct from thymoquinone alone and are useful as dietary supplements or therapeutics for inflammation-related disorders.
US09180151B2	Oncolytic vaccinia virus combination cancer therapy Embodiments of the invention are directed methods that include a thymidine kinase deficient vaccinia virus. The methods include evaluating a tumor for reperfusion after treatment with vaccinia virus and administering an anti-angiogenic agent if reperfusion is detected.
US09180148B2	Metallo-lactoferrin-coenzyme compositions and methods for weight management Formulations are provided for the management of weight. The formulations generally include a trigger complex, an elemental complex and a coenzyme-vitamin B complex. The trigger complex is high in fiber such as glucomannan and includes Metallo-Lactoferrin protein in an alkaline buffer system. The elemental complex includes one or more trace element as a suitable salt. The coenzyme-vitamin B complex includes one or more coenzyme, coenzyme precursor and/or B-vitamin. The compositions may optionally include additional components such as dihydroxy acetone (DHA), inositol, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP), choline, milk protein hydrolysate, and pyruvate. The compositions can be administered orally in a variety of forms and may substitute for one or more meals per day to manage weight.
US09180142B2	Wound dressings, methods and apparatus for making same and storage and use thereof Provided is a wound dressing prepared from whole blood that is clotted ex vivo to form a sheet of clotted blood that is applied onto the skin over a sight of skin injury.
US09180136B2	Identification and treatment of cancer subsets The present invention relates to methods of selectively treating a patient with skin squamous cell carcinoma are disclosed. Specifically, the methods comprise assessing whether or not the tumor will be responsive to IP6 treatment by using reduced INPP5A expression level as an indicator. The present invention further provides methods of assessing the progression of the disease, and kits that facilitate these methods as disclosed.
US09180134B2	Mitochondrial ribosomal proteins as aging regulators The present invention relates to methods of increasing lifespan, delaying aging, and/or preventing or treating an age-related disease or a mitochondrial disease in a subject, comprising inducing a nuclear-mitochondrial OXPHOS protein dyssynchrony, including inhibiting the mitochondrial translation machinery function, as well as methods for screening agents that are able to increase lifespan, inhibit or delay aging, and/or prevent or treat an age-related disease or disorder, or a mitochondrial disease or disorder, in a subject.
US09180125B2	Peripheral opioid receptor antagonists and uses thereof The present invention provides a compound of formula I: wherein X−, R1, and R2 are as defined herein, and compositions thereof.
US09180117B2	Composition comprising a diindolylmethane and a retinoid to treat a skin condition Provided is a composition for use in treating a skin condition, the composition comprising: (a) a first component comprising a substituted or unsubstituted diindolylmethane compound; and (b) a second component comprising a substituted or unsubstituted retinoid compound.
US09180115B2	Cyclohexylamines The present application provides novel compounds and methods for preparing and using these compounds. These compounds are useful in treating pain, itch, overactive bladder and/or interstitial cystitis in patients by administering one or more of the compounds to a patient. The methods include administering a compound of formula (I) and a TRPV1 receptor activator. In one embodiment, the TRPV1 receptor activator is lidocaine.
US09180111B2	Reduction in complement activation and inflammation during tissue injury by carotenoids, carotenoid analogs, or derivatives thereof Administering water-soluble or dispersible synthetic analogs or derivatives of astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, or lycophyll and/or other carotenoids to a subject may reduce some of the adverse effects of inflammation in a body organ or tissue. The analogs or derivatives may be incorporated into pharmaceutical, over-the-counter, or nutraceutical preparations. Administration of the analogs or derivatives described herein may reduce deposition of inflammatory mediators such as C-reactive protein, complement system proteins or the membrane attack complex (MAC) in tissues. Reduced deposition of these molecules in tissues may reduce cell damage and/or lysis in the tissues.
US09180110B2	Pharmaceutical compositions of fenofibrate The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising unmicronized fenofibrate in admixture with a wetting agent and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, wherein the admixture is not comicronized before processing. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of such compositions.
US09180106B2	Sigma receptors ligands with anti-apoptotic and/or pro-apoptotic properties, over cellular mechanisms, exhibiting prototypical cytoprotective and also anti-cancer activity The present invention involves new and original sigma receptors ligands: (Mono- or dialkylaminoalkyl)-γ-butyrolactones, their analogues aminotetrahydroturanes, the (1-adamantyl)benzene alkylamines, the N,N Dialkyl α-[(adamantyl-1)benzyloxy-2]alkylamines and the 3-cyclopentyl adamantyl-amines or alkylamines or -alkyl phenylamines, their enantiomers or diastereoisomers, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and Quinacrine Me-thylene blue, Asteinizole and their relative analogues with pro-apoptotic and/or anti-apoptotic properties over cellular biochemical mechanisms, with prototypical anti-cancer, antimetastatic and antiviral activities associated with antagonism of the neuropatic pain and, at very low doses, with cytoprotective and cytoregenerative activity against the cytodegenerative diseases.
US09180105B2	CDC7 kinase inhibitors and uses thereof The invention provides compounds, methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for the treatment of proliferative disorders such as cancer. In one aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit the activity of protein kinases, such as cell division cycle (Cdc) kinase. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit Cdc7 and/or Dbf4 activity. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that exhibit anti-proliferative properties useful in treating diseases such as cancer. Compounds useful for any of the methods include compounds of the Formula (A) or (B) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Exemplary compounds of Formula (A) or (B) include granaticin A, granaticin B, dihydrogranaticin A, dihydrogranaticin B, medermycin, and actinorhodin.
US09180103B2	Plaster having adjustable occlusion Transdermal or topical plasters containing active ingredient are provided that include a non-occlusive back layer, a matrix formed from of one or more polymer layers having at least one pharmaceutical active ingredient in one or more of the layers, in which the structure-forming base polymers of the layer(s) are non-occlusive or only slightly occlusive and a second polymer that has a low water-vapor permeability and that is immiscible or only very slightly miscible with the base polymer is dispersed in at least one of the polymer layers.
US09180102B2	Methods for fabricating nano and microparticles for drug delivery The present invention generally relates to stimuli-responsive drug carriers and methods for making. More specifically, the present invention relates to stimuli-responsive lidded particles that respond to a physiological stimulus and dissolve at a target site inside the body thereby releasing therapeutic agents. The present invention further relates to solid, drug-loaded particles that are made from biodegradable polymers. The present invention further relates to methods for fabricating lidded particles and particles for drug delivery.
US09180099B2	Pyrroloquinolinyl-pyrrolidine-2,5-dione formulations and methods for preparing and using same The present invention provides pyrroloquinolinyl-pyrrole-2,5-dione formulations and methods of treating a cell proliferative disorder, such as a cancer, by administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the formulations containing pyrroloquinolinyl-pyrrole-2,5-dione compounds.
US09180098B2	Compositions with reduced dimer formation The present invention relates to the use of a non-reducing carbohydrate or carbohydrate derivative and at least one agent which inhibits dimer formation in a freeze-dried composition comprising at least one peptide that contains a free cysteine residue, to provide a freeze-dried composition with improved long-term storage stability.
US09180094B2	High porosity materials, scaffolds, and method of making Materials and methods for preparing three dimensional scaffolds are described. The materials, as improved high internal phase emulsions (HIPES), and the polymerization thereof may be suitable for injection prior to curing and when in an injectable form may be for site-directed in vivo use, curing after injection. In addition, said materials before curing may be engineered as a tissue substitution or enhancement and/or to include cell encapsulation. Said materials described herein form a monolith after curing and are biodegradable and porous after curing. Said materials are made from starting molecules using a process that does not rely on toxic solvents or monomers. Making of said materials to form the emulsion take advantage of one or more surfactants for HIPE stability. In addition, said materials cure at temperatures appropriate for use in an in vivo or in situ environment.
US09180091B2	Soluble estradiol capsule for vaginal insertion According to various embodiments of this disclosure, pharmaceutical formulations comprising solubilized estradiol are provided. In various embodiments, such formulations are encapsulated in soft capsules which may be vaginally inserted for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy.
US09180089B2	Compositions and methods for inducing or enhancing connective tissue repair A composition capable of attenuating platelet hyperactivation and associated methods for administering the same to a subject, the composition comprising an aqueous solution containing from about 0.1% to about 7.0% by weight of a glycosaminoglycan and from about 1.0% to about 32% by weight of a neutral polysaccharide.
US09180083B2	Personal care compositions containing volumizing, fixative, and conditioning particles for fine hair The present invention is directed to a personal care composition comprising: a personal care composition comprising a particle complex consisting of a hydrolyzed corn starch, a starch/cellulose polymer, a hydrogenated phospholipid, and gum arabic; and an aqueous carrier. The personal care composition is suitable for delivery as a sprayable composition which provides volumizing, hair fixing, and conditioning as a leave-on treatment. The present invention is also directed to a method for forming a particle complex wherein the complex provides volumizing, hair fixing, and conditioning benefits when applied to hair.
US09180082B2	Biotin-conjugated hexapeptide-2 derivative and use thereof The present invention relates to a biotin-conjugated hexapeptide-2 derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and use thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a biotin-conjugated hexapeptide-2 derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a preparation method thereof, a composition including the same as an active ingredient, and a method for improving wrinkles and inhibiting skin aging using the same.
US09180080B2	Chiral compounds, compositions, products and methods employing same Compounds that function, alone or in combination, as inhibitors of pigmentation for the improvement of mammalian skin are described herein. Specifically, the compounds of the present disclosure, namely chiral, non-racemic compounds, function as pigment formation inhibitors thereof to beautify skin and discourage the production of melanins. One or more products, consumer and otherwise, comprising the chiral, non-racemic compounds are disclosed herein. Methods of employing both the compounds of the present disclosure and the products incorporating the present compounds are also disclosed herein.
US09180079B2	Skin external preparation and method of producing same A skin external preparation containing an ascorbic acid-2-phosphate derivative is characterized in that only a sodium ascorbic acid-2-phosphate-6-palmitate is formulated as the ascorbic acid-2-phosphate derivative, and the skin preparation further includes at least one betaine-type amphoteric surfactant selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following general formula (1) or (2) (wherein R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and R2 represents a linear or branched alkyl group of 8 to 30 carbon atoms). R1—N+(CH3)2—CH2COO− (1) R2—CONH—CH2—CH2—CH2—N+(CH3)2—CH2COO− (2)
US09180076B2	Hair colouring composition A hair coloring composition comprises an N-PEG amide of a fatty acid and an N-ethoxylated alkyl amine. Also provided are a kit comprising the hair coloring composition and an activator, and an activated hair coloring composition obtainable by mixing the hair coloring composition in a 1:1 ratio by weight with an activator comprising from 2% to 15% by weight hydrogen peroxide.
US09180072B2	Sealbio: a novel non-obturation regenerative technique of endodontic treatment This invention relates to a novel non-obturation, regenerative technique “SealBio” of endodontic treatment involving regenerative potential of stem cells and signaling molecules, locally available in the peri-radicular region of teeth, wherein they are stimulated to induce healing and deposition of a natural barrier (seal) at the root apex.
US09180070B2	Adaptor for coupling to a medical container An adaptor for coupling with a medical container having a collar closed by a septum including: a tubular body closed at a distal end with a transversal wall from which extends a hollow spike, and at a proximal end by a pierceable elastomeric piece including a cavity having a plurality of circumferentially distributed chambers, each chamber being connected to the hollow spike by a radial channel, the tubular body further receiving an intermediate piece including a plurality of through holes aligned on the chambers, a selecting member having a closure wall provided with one opening, capable of rotating so that the opening is successively aligned with each of the through holes, and a gripping member for securing the adaptor to the medical container. Also, an assembly including the adaptor and a medical container.
US09180069B2	Systems and methods for delivery of peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions The invention provides container systems, kits and methods for peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions. Such a system, for example, includes a first compartment that contains a PD osmotic agent and a second compartment that contains a PD buffer agent. The compartments maintain their respective contents separately from one another for purposes of transport, storage and/or sterilization. However, the compartments are fluidly couplable, so that their respective contents can be combined with one another, e.g., following sterilization of the agents and prior to their introduction into the patient's abdomen. The invention provides, in other aspects, such systems, kits and methods that provide protective structure which inhibits breaking of a seal prior between the second compartment and an outlet of the system, prior to breaking of a seal between the first and second compartments.
US09180066B2	Supporting walking aid A walking aid supporting the weight of the body of an aided person. The walking aid being programmable and specialized according to each of the left and right bearings. The walking aid comprises a support structure mounted on wheels and includes a bottom element and a top element for supporting the person. The top element being rendered mobile relative to the bottom element along a vertical axis by a sliding system actuated by an actuator system. The aid comprises a system of gravitational-force sensors, which performs the weighing of the top element, and a system for measuring the position of the lower limbs of the person. The actuator system is controlled by the system of gravitational-force sensors, and is further controlled by a system for programming and managing support based on the measurement of the position of the lower limbs of the person.
US09180063B2	Systems and methods for assisted ambulation Cognitive orthotics. More specifically, assistive ambulation systems and methods, including systems that can detect a person who uses an assistive ambulation device (such as a walker) and produce a signal in response to the detection, which signal is designed to encourage or motivate the person to use the device. They system may also stop the signal when the person engages the device and/or produce an additional signal or a different signal when the person engages the device.
US09180061B2	Wheelchair legrest assembly A powered wheelchair includes a seat assembly configured to support an individual, a legrest assembly pivotally connected to the seat assembly, and an adjustment assembly including an actuator operatively connected to the central column through a piston slidably secured within a sleeve. The adjustment assembly is secured underneath the seat assembly. The powered wheelchair may also include an extension bracket that allows legrests and a central column of the legrest assembly to be separately and independently adjusted with respect to one another.
US09180060B2	Electric vehicle and method for controlling electric vehicle An omni-directional electric vehicle includes: a body having a chair portion; an operation detection unit which detects an operation direction and an operation amount of an operation input; a travel control information generation unit which generates, based on the operation direction and the operation amount, travel control information including (i) a target straight-movement speed for moving the body in a forward/backward direction and (ii) a target rotation speed for rotating the body about a rotation center; and a control unit which drives a movement mechanism of the body according to the travel control information. The travel control information generation unit-changes, based on the target straight-movement speed, the rotation center for the target rotation speed from a reference position which is set virtually and fixedly to the body in the forward/backward direction.
US09180059B2	Insert with advantageous fastener configurations and end stiffness characteristics for two-piece wearable absorbent article A two-piece wearable absorbent article (such as a diaper) including an outer cover, and particularly, an absorbent insert for use therewith, are disclosed. The insert has a fastener component disposed at either or both a forward region and a rearward region thereof, for fastening the insert within the outer cover. The end of the insert associated with the region bearing the fastener component may have a specified stiffness, to help the insert to retain structural integrity while fastened within an outer cover and while being worn. The insert may include an end support stiffener that helps impart stiffness.
US09180053B2	Central vision impairment compensation A method, system, and processor-readable medium for non-invasive visual compensation for a person suffering from central vision impairment. Digital images of a target field of view can he obtained and processed to generate processed images thereof, wherein central regions of the digital images that normally would reach an impaired portion of a retina of the person are moved to other regions of the target field of view. The processed images can be presented to the person such that the central regions are now directed at an unimpaired peripheral portion of the retina of the person.
US09180043B2	Apparatus for treatment of reperfusion injury An apparatus to minimize and/or eliminate the effects associated with reperfusion injury consisting of an external pump, heat exchanger and control unit creating a flow loop whereby blood is moved from the body via a pump, cooled by an external heat exchanger and reintroduced into a specific location, thereby locally cooling the surrounding tissue and inducing localized hypothermia to minimize tissue injury resulting from ischemia and the effects associated with reperfusion injury as an obstruction is removed and normal blood flow is restored and including the ability to locally measure pressure and temperature in the body.
US09180040B2	Intrauterine device with retrieval thread An intrauterine contraceptive system may include a contraceptive intrauterine device, a retrieval thread permanently attached to the intrauterine device and an insertion device for inserting the intrauterine device into a uterus. The system may also include a release thread releasably coupled with the intrauterine device. The intrauterine device may be deployable out of a distal end of the insertion device and may be configured to change from a delivery configuration when housed in the insertion device to a deployed configuration when deployed in a uterus. The retrieval thread and the optional release thread may be at least partially housed within the insertion device during insertion of the intrauterine device into the uterus. The release thread may extend from the intrauterine device through the insertion device to an attachment point at or near a proximal end of the insertion device.
US09180037B1	Leg brace A leg brace includes a frame and a stirrup coupled to a lower end of the frame for engaging a ground surface during use. The leg brace further includes a first attachment assembly coupled to an upper end of the frame that is configured to removably secure the frame to a first portion of a user's leg and a second attachment assembly coupled to a lower end of the frame that is configured to removably secure the frame to a second portion of a user's leg.
US09180033B2	Intravascular shunt for traumatized arteries The present invention relates to a catheter assembly including a catheter body, a first and a second set of a plurality of fenestrations, a first and a second inflatable device, a first and a second pleat, at least one obstructing stop near each end portion of the catheter body, and a first and a second flexible tube connected to the first and the second inflatable device. The catheter assembly further includes a pumping device in communication with the first and the second inflatable device via the first and the second flexible tube. The catheter assembly is used to restore blood flow to a traumatized blood vessel.
US09180032B2	Tubular cutting process and system A system and method for processing a tubular member comprises a hollow tubular member, a laser and a media flow. The laser is constructed and arranged to transmit laser energy to the tubular member. The laser energy is transmitted to the tubular member through a fluid column according to a predetermined pattern. The media flow is injected into the lumen of the hollow tubular member.
US09180027B2	Orthopedic interface The invention relates to an orthopedic interface (1) comprising a planar 3D textile (2) having a top (22) and a bottom (21), which are held at a distance from each other by supporting threads (24) and are connected to each other, wherein the bottom (21) of the spaced knitted fabric (2) is configured for resting on the skin of an interface user. The side of the bottom (21) facing the skin is provided with an adhesive coating (23) at least in some regions.
US09180024B2	Systems and methods for spinal surgery Disclosed herein are methods and devices for distracting adjacent vertebrae during surgical procedures for implanting spinal prostheses. In an exemplary embodiment, a distractor is disclosed that maintains the empty space between adjacent vertebrae following a discectomy, and that can removably mate with other surgical instruments, such as, for example, a filler bar, an implanting tool, or a funnel. In other embodiments of the present invention a distractor is disclosed having various features to assist in implanting a spinal prosthesis, such as, for example, an angled distal end and/or an expandable paddle. In another embodiment of the present invention, an articulating inserter is disclosed. Moreover, various implants and funnels are also disclosed herein.
US09180022B2	Spinal alignment clip An instrument system for performing spinal surgery that helps provide optimal plate selection as well as an improved temporary alignment and retention means, without the need to penetrate the vertebral bodies with temporary fixation pins. The instrument system of the present invention has a clip that possesses features that temporarily center, align and position the plate to the interbody cage. This clip mates with the cage by hugging the outside parameters of the cage, as well as within the window (central through-hole) of the cervical plate.
US09180019B2	Interbody device and plate for spinal stabilization and instruments for positioning same Systems, methods and devices for providing stabilization between first and second vertebrae are provided. More particularly, in one form a system includes an implant configured to be positioned in a disc space between the first and second vertebrae and a freestanding plate for engagement with extradiscal surfaces of the first and second vertebrae. The system also includes an insertion instrument with an engaging portion configured to releasably engage with the implant and the plate such that the implant and plate can be positioned together relative to the first and second vertebrae. In one aspect, an angular orientation of the implant relative to the plate is adjustable when the implant and the plate are engaged by the instrument. In this or another aspect, the implant and plate are held in a contiguous relationship when engaged by the instrument. However, different forms and applications are also envisioned.
US09180018B2	Expandable vertebral prosthesis The present invention relates to an expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae generally comprising an inner member, outer member, gear member and a locking assembly positioned coaxial with respect to each other such that the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along an axis. The gear member is axially fixed to the outer member and freely rotatable with respect to the outer member and the gear member threadedly engages a threaded portion of the inner member to translate inner member along the axis. The implant is configured to engage the vertebrae in a predetermined alignment and the gear member includes gear teeth exposed to the exterior and configured to be accessible by a tool member at a plurality of angular positions around the perimeter of the implant device.
US09180017B2	Lumbar implant The present disclosure relates to an intervertebral disc prostheses or implant, and more particularly to an intervertebral disc prosthesis that can be surgically introduced between adjacent vertebral bodies and adjusted or expanded in situ to occupy an optimal or desired space between the vertebral bodies. The implant is preferably inserted into the evacuated disc space obliquely and then oriented so as to extend laterally across the anterior adjacent vertebrae bodies occupying the disc space with the outer ends of the implant being supported by the cortical rims on the opposite sides of the vertebrae bodies. The outer convex surfaces of the two body members conform anatomically to the shape of the disc space contacting the endplates. The implant has two body members that are movable relative to one another so as to vary the space between the members. With the implant so positioned and oriented, the disc space and the implant may be then distracted and a spacer of a desired, predetermined thickness may be inserted within the space between the body members so as to maintain a desired amount of distraction. A method of using an implant is also disclosed.
US09180016B2	Concave resurfacing prosthesis kit A kit for use in shoulder arthroplasty includes a tamp configured to form a generally oval cavity in grafting material in a glenoid vault, the tamp including a body and a forming portion shaped complementary to the oval cavity, and a glenoid component including a body having a stem portion with an oval cross section for inserting at least partially into the generally oval cavity, the stem portion configured to substantially fill the glenoid vault.
US09180014B2	Hip joint device and method A medical device for treating hip joint osteoarthritis in a human patient by providing at least one artificial hip joint surface is provided. The hip joint having a ball shaped caput femur as the proximal part of the femoral bone with a convex hip joint surface towards the center of the hip joint and a bowl shaped etabulum as part of the pelvic bone with a concave hip joint surface towards the center of the hip joint. The medical device comprises the artificial hip joint surface comprising at least one of; an artificial caput femur or an artificial caput femur surface comprising, a convex form towards the center of the hip joint, and an artificial acetabulum or an artificial acetabulum surface comprising, a concave form towards the center of the hip joint. The artificial convex caput femur or the artificial convex caput femur surface is adapted to be fixated to the pelvic bone of the human patient and the artificial concave acetabulum or artificial concave acetabulum surface is adapted to be fixated to the femoral bone of the human patient.
US09180010B2	Surface modified unit cell lattice structures for optimized secure freeform fabrication Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to preparing models of three-dimensional structures. In particular, a model of a three-dimensional structure constructed of porous geometries is prepared. A component file including a porous CAD volume having a boundary is prepared. A space including the porous CAD volume is populated with unit cells. The unit cells are populated with porous geometries having a plurality of struts having nodes on each end. The space is populated with at least one elongated fixation element extending beyond the boundary to produce an interlocking feature enabling assembly or engagement with a mating structure.
US09180007B2	Apparatus and method for guide-wire based advancement of an adjustable implant Apparatus is provided, comprising (1) a guide member, (2) a tissue-adjustment mechanism having (a) an upper surface and a lower surface, (b) at least one first opening at the upper surface, (c) at least one second opening at the lower surface, and (4) a channel extending between the first and second openings, the channel facilitating advancement of the tissue-adjustment mechanism along the guide member; and (3) at least one repair chord coupled at a first portion thereof to the tissue-adjustment mechanism and having at least a first end that is configured to be coupled to a portion of tissue of a patient, the repair chord being configured to adjust a distance between the portion of tissue and the tissue-adjustment mechanism, in response to adjustment of the repair chord by the tissue-adjustment mechanism. Other embodiments are also described.
US09180003B2	Intravascular cuff An intravascular cuff acts as a lining between a native vessel and an intravascular prosthetic device. During deployment, the ends of the cuff curl back upon themselves and are capable of trapping native tissue, such as valve leaflet tissue, between the ends. The cuff creates a seal between the vessel and the prosthetic, thereby preventing leakage around the prosthetic. The cuff also traps any embolic material dislodged from the vessel during expansion of the prosthetic.
US09180001B2	Methods of breast surgery Surgical procedures of the breast where an adhesive is applied to fixate a reshaped and/or relocated portion of breast tissue.
US09180000B2	Device for tissue repair A based device for use as tissue repair includes a median part between two end parts. The median and end parts have a different tensile stiffness.
US09179997B2	Thermochromic polyvinyl alcohol based hydrogel artery A method of creating a thermochromic artificial blood vessel includes physically cross-linking a polyvinyl alcohol solution in a mold shaped to mimic a blood vessel to create an artificial blood vessel. The artificial tissue is then chemically cross-linked with a solution including a chemical cross-linking reagent. A coagulation solution is then applied to the artificial blood vessel to both inhibit the chemical cross-linking and promote physical cross-linking of the artificial blood vessel. The artificial blood vessel can be used to test an ablation catheter. The vessel, when heated by the ablation catheter, changes color and/or transparency at locations where the temperature of artificial blood vessel increases.

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