最新美国发明专利第2017-01-31期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US09556175B2	8-[3-amino-piperidin-1-yl]-xanthines, the preparation thereof and thier use as pharmaceutical compositions The present invention relates to substituted xanthines of general formula wherein R1 to R3 are as defined herein, the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures, the prodrugs thereof and the salts thereof which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibiting effect on the activity of the enzyme dipeptidylpeptidase-IV (DPP-IV).
US09556174B2	(2S, 5R)-sulfuric acid mono-{[(4-aminopiperidin-4-yl) carbonyl]-7-oxo-1,6-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.1]-oct-6-yl} ester A process for preparation of (2S, 5R)-Sulfuric acid mono-{[(4-aminopiperidin-4-yl) carbonyl]-7-oxo-1,6-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.1]-oct-6-yl} ester is disclosed which comprises reacting a compound of Formula (II) with a compound of Formula (III) to obtain a compound of Formula (IV).
US09556169B2	Compounds and compositions for the treatment of parasitic diseases The present invention provides compounds of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer, or stereoisomer, thereof, wherein the variables are as defined herein. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds for treating, preventing, inhibiting, ameliorating, or eradicating the pathology and/or symptomology of a disease caused by a Plasmodium parasite, such as malaria.
US09556168B2	N-alkylated indole and indazole compounds as RORgammaT inhibitors and uses thereof The present invention relates to compounds according to Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof. Such compounds can be used in the treatment of RORgammaT-mediated diseases or conditions.
US09556166B2	Proteostasis regulators The present invention is directed to compounds having the Formulae (Ia-Ie), (II), (IIIa-IIId), (IVa-IVc), (Va-Vb), (VIa-VIe), (VII), (VIIIa-VIIIc), and (IX), pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates thereof, compositions of any of thereof and methods for the treatment of a condition associated with a dysfunction in proteostasis comprising an effective amount of these compounds.
US09556163B2	Process for the preparation of a rivaroxaban and intermediates formed in said process The invention relates to a process for the preparation of 5-chloro-N-({(5-S)-2-oxo3-[4-(3-oxo-morj)holine-4-yl)-phenyl]-1,3-oxazolidine-5-yl}-methyl) thiophen-2-carboxamide having the INN rivaroxaban. The invention also relates to intermediates formed in the above process.
US09556162B2	Compound for the treatment of hepatitis C The present invention provides (R)-5-(3-((2-(1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)propan-2-yl)carbamoyl)phenyl)-6-(sec-butyl)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-methylbenzofuran-3-carboxamide (formula I), including pharmaceutically acceptable salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compound. The compound has activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US09556161B2	Inhibitors of histone deacetylase This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein n, R1, R2, R3, R4, Q, X, Y, Z and have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US09556158B2	Fungicidal 3-[(pyridin-2-ylmethoxyimino)(phenyl)methyl]-2-substituted-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5(2H)-one derivatives The present invention relates to 3-[(pyridin-2-ylmethoxyimino)(phenyl)methyl]-2-substituted-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5(2H)-one derivatives of formula (I), their process of preparation, their use as fungicide active agents, particularly in the form of fungicide compositions, and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi, notably of plants, using these compounds or compositions.
US09556155B2	Methods of treating fatty liver disease The disclosure provides methods for treating fatty liver disease and associated conditions by inhibiting the synthesis of glucosphingolipids, as exemplified by the use of glucosylceramide synthase substrate analogs.
US09556154B2	Pyrrole-substituted indolone derivative, preparation method therefor, composition comprising same and use thereof The present invention relates to a pyrrole-substituted indolone derivative, a preparation method therefor, a composition comprising the derivative, and use thereof. The pyrrole-substituted indolone derivative has a structure shown in formula (I) below. The present invention further relates to use of the pyrrole-substituted indolone derivative for treating receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated diseases, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising compounds having such a structure for treating related diseases such as tumors.
US09556146B2	Lanthionine synthetase C-like 2-based therapeutics Provided are compounds that target the lanthionine synthetase C-like protein 2 pathway. The compounds can be used to treat a number of conditions, including infectious disease, autoimmune disease, diabetes, and a chronic inflammatory disease.
US09556145B2	2-pyridyloxy-4-ester orexin receptor antagonists The present invention is directed to 2-pyridyloxy-4-ester compounds which are antagonists of orexin receptors. The present invention is also directed to uses of the 2-pyridyloxy-4-ester compounds described herein in the potential treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which orexin receptors are involved. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The present invention is also directed to uses of these pharmaceutical compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which orexin receptors are involved.
US09556144B2	Compound as WNT signaling inhibitor, composition, and use thereof The present invention relates to a compound having the structure of Formula I as inhibitor of WNT signal transduction pathways, as well as a composition comprising the compound. Further, the present invention relates to the use of the compound and the method of inhibiting the WNT signal transduction pathways.
US09556139B2	6-substituted phenoxychroman carboxylic acid derivatives Provided herein are compounds of Formula I: in which A1, A2, W, L, G, R7a, R7b, R8, R9 and R10 have the meanings given in the specification, which are DP2 receptor modulators useful in the treatment of immunologic diseases.
US09556138B2	Method of treatment for acne and an anti-acne formulation The present disclosure relates to an anti-acne formulation comprising at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of coumarin based compounds of Formula I and Formula II; or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, polymorphs and derivatives thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present disclosure also relates to its application for preventing/curing/treating various acne conditions.
US09556137B2	Methods for preparing alkylfurans Provided herein are methods for preparing alkylfurans, such as 2,5-dialkylfurans and 2-alkylfurans. Furfural or 5-alkylfurfural can be reacted with aniline or diaminobenzene, or derivatives thereof, to form the corresponding imine, which can be reduced to form alkylfurans and to regenerate the aniline or diaminobenzene, or derivatives thereof. The alkylfuran may be, for example, 2,5-dimethylfuran or 2-methylfuran.
US09556133B2	Polycyclic LPA1 antagonist and uses thereof Described herein is the LPA1 antagonist 1-{4′-[3-methyl-4-((R)-1-phenyl-ethoxycarbonylamino)-isoxazol-5-yl]-biphenyl-4-yl}-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (Compound 1), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also described are methods of preparing the LPA1 antagonist, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as pharmaceutical compositions suitable for administration to a mammal that include the LPA1 antagonist, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and methods of using such pharmaceutical compositions for treating LPA-dependent or LPA-mediated diseases or conditions.
US09556132B2	Tetrazole derivatives and their use as potassium channel modulators A tetrazole derivative of general formula (I), a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compound and its use for treating, alleviating or preventing diseases or disorders relating to the activity of potassium channels.
US09556131B2	Compositions, methods of use, and methods of treatment Embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to a beta-lactamase inhibitor, pharmaceutical compositions including a beta-lactamase inhibitor, methods of treatment of a condition (e.g., infection) or disease, methods of treatment using compositions or pharmaceutical compositions, and the like.
US09556127B2	Diaminopyrimidines as P2X3 and P2X2/3 antagonists Compounds and methods for treating diseases mediated by a P2X3 and/or a P2X2/3 receptor antagonist, the methods comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof, wherein D, X, Y, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are as defined herein.
US09556126B2	Substituted diaminopyrimidyl compounds, compositions thereof, and methods of treatment therewith Provided herein are diaminopyrimidyl Compounds having the following structures: wherein X, L, R1, and R2 are as defined herein, compositions comprising an effective amount of a Diaminopyrimidyl Compound, and methods for treating or preventing PKC-theta-mediated disorders, or a condition treatable or preventable by inhibition of a kinase, for example, PKC-theta.
US09556122B2	Luminescent 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinone chelates of lanthanides The present invention provides luminescent complexes between a lanthanide ion and an organic ligand which contains 1,2-hydroxypyridinone units. The complexes of the invention are stable in aqueous solutions and are useful as molecular probes, for example in medical diagnostics and bioanalytical assay systems. The invention also provides methods of using the complexes of the invention.
US09556121B2	Pyridyloxyalkyl carboxamides and use thereof as endoparasiticides and nematicides The present application relates to novel pyridyloxyalkylcarboxamides of the formula (I) and to their use as endoparasiticides against endoparasites in animals or humans, and to their use as nematicides for controlling phytopathogenic nematodes, and furthermore to endoparasiticides and nematicides comprising pyridyloxyalkylcarboxamides.
US09556116B2	Krill oil refinery for purification of krill oil extract Disclosed is a chromatographic process complex for the refining of krill oil extract including desalting, removal of impurities such as trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), and the production of krill oil products including desalted krill oil extract, polar lipid products having polar lipid contents greater than 50 wt-% on a dry or solvent free basis, neutral lipid streams for biodiesel production and astaxanthin. The refinery includes a continuous desalting zone, a fixed bed polar lipid extraction zone to adsorb neutral lipids and astaxanthin to provide a polar lipid extract stream comprising solvent and polar lipids and being essentially free of neutral lipids and astaxanthin, and an astaxanthin separation zone to recover essentially pure astaxanthin and provide a neutral lipid stream. The enriched products of the krill oil refinery are essentially free of TMAO and salt and provide products which can be used as dietary supplements and as medicinal additives.
US09556106B2	Purification of cadaverine using high boiling point solvent One aspect of the invention relates to a method for the purification of cadaverine from an aqueous cadaverine composition comprising one or more involatile impurities, the method comprising obtaining cadaverine from evaporation or distillation of the aqueous cadaverine composition wherein one or more solvents are added to the evaporation/distillation system before the evaporation/distillation starts, during the evaporation/distillation and/or after the evaporation/distillation substantially stops when no more evaporation/distillation is observed; wherein the one or more solvents comprise at least one or more high boiling point (HBP) solvents. In certain embodiments, cadaverine may be evaporated/distilled at an unexpectedly lower heating temperature for an unexpectedly shorter heating time to provide a desired yield. Because cadaverine may decompose at high temperature, the unexpectedly lower heating temperature and unexpectedly shorter heating time decrease the undesired cadaverine decomposition. The methods disclosed herein provides unexpected high recovery rate (˜100%) in the evaporation/distillation of cadaverine at a larger scale at a lower heating temperature compared to conventional distillation methods. Thus, the method disclosed herein will be highly appreciated in the industrial production of cadaverine.
US09556103B2	Biphenyl esters, their production and their use in the manufacture of plasticizers A biphenyl diester useful as a plasticizer having the formula (I): wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 5 to 15 carbon atoms and R2 is a methyl group or a phenyl group.
US09556100B2	Method and catalyst composite for production of vinyl acetate monomer Provided are catalyst composites useful for the production of vinyl acetate monomer, as well as methods of making using same. The catalyst composites may comprise a support comprising silica and about 1 to about 3 wt-% alumina, wherein the support has a surface area of about 175 to about 300 m2/g; and an eggshell layer on the support comprising Pd and Au.
US09556097B2	Process for the preparation of xanthohumol The invention provides a process for the preparation of xanthohumol, wherein a xanthohumol-containing extract is mixed with water, a transition metal salt solution is added to the obtained mixture, and then the obtained xanthohumol precipitate is collected and dried to obtain xanthohumol of the purity higher than 90%.
US09556096B2	Unsymmetric bisphosphite An unsymmetric bisphosphite of the formula (1) a process for preparation thereof, a reaction thereof with metals to give mixtures containing complexes of the unsymmetric bisphosphite and the metal, and a use thereof as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions, where the hydroformylation-active composition contains, as well as the complex of metal and unsymmetric bisphosphite, unbound bisphosphite and at least one further component.
US09556090B2	Method for the preparation of trichloromethyl-group-substituted benzene The present application relates to a method for photochlorination, and specifically to photochlorination by a photochemical reaction of an aromatic compound with gaseous chlorine so as to prepare a trichloromethyl-substituted benzene, and to a method using bis-(trichloromethyl)-benzene as the trichloromethyl-substituted benzene to prepare by further reaction bis-(chloroformyl)-benzene. Through the control of temperature, illuminance and consumption of gaseous chlorine, the method of this application can greatly improve the purity of trichloromethyl-substituted benzene and further prepare polymer-grade bis-(chloroformyl)-benzene with low cost. The present application also relates to a method for purifying trichloromethyl-substituted benzene, and specifically to a method for purifying trichloromethyl-substituted benzene via molecular distillation. The present application further relates to a photochlorination reactor for use in photochlorination reactions (such as those of the present application).
US09556085B2	Graphene nanoribbons derived from poly(phenylene ethynylene) polymer, methods of making same, and uses thereof Provided are graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), methods of making GNRs, and uses of the GNRs. The methods can provide control over GNR parameters such as, for example, length, width, and edge composition (e.g., edge functional groups). The methods are based on a metal catalyzed cycloaddition reaction at the carbon-carbon triple bonds of a poly(phenylene ethynylene) polymer. The GNRs can be used in devices such a microelectronic devices.
US09556078B1	Gas generator A gas generator is provided, the gas generator having a propellant cushion that prevents movement of propellant tablets or grains by providing a bias thereagainst. Furthermore, the cushion is formed from an auto-igniting material thereby functioning not only as a cushion, but also as an enhanced auto-ignition charge.
US09556076B2	Salt resistant cement Disclosed herein are corrosion-resistant composites. In particular, the composites can include a piezoelectric material embedded within a binding medium that can impede or inhibit the corrosive effects caused by salts and acids. Also disclosed herein are methods of making the composites and methods of protecting a concrete or concrete-related substrate from corrosion.
US09556075B2	Tubular pore material Product formed from a ceramic material, at least part of the said product not being formed from amorphous silica and including pores and satisfying the following criteria (a), (b) and (c): (a) at least 70% by number of the said pores are frustoconical tubular pores extending substantially parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction; (b) in at least one cross-section plane, the mean size of the cross sections of the said pores is greater than 0.15 μm and less than 300 μm; (c) in at least one cross-section plane, at least 50% by number of the pores have a convexity index Ic of greater than 87%, the convexity index of a pore being equal to the ratio Sp/Sc of the surfaces Sp and Sc delimited by the perimeter and by the convex envelope of the said pore, respectively.
US09556071B2	Methods for forming an electrodeposited coating over a coated substrate and articles made thereby A coated article includes a non-conductive substrate, such as glass. At least one conductive coating is formed over at least a portion of the substrate, such as by chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition. The conductive coating can be a functional coating and can have a thickness in the range of greater than 0 Å to less than 25,000 Å, such as less than 10,000 Å. At least one polymeric coating is electrodeposited over at least a portion of the conductive coating.
US09556068B2	Coating stack comprising a layer of barrier coating A coating composition that contains at least one degradable coating layer and at least one layer of barrier coating is disclosed. The coating composition can be used to make a coated substrate having improved performance over conventional coated substrates after exposure to heat and certain chemicals like halides such as chlorides, sulfur, salt, chlorine, alkali, and enamels.
US09556066B2	Insulating glass units with low-E and antireflective coatings, and/or methods of making the same Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to insulating glass (IG) units including three substantially parallel spaced apart glass substrates, wherein at least two of the surfaces include low-emissivity (low-E) coatings and at least some of the non-low E coated surfaces have antireflective (AR) coatings disposed thereon. In certain example embodiments, low-E coatings are provided on the second and fifth surfaces of the IG unit, and each internal surface of the IG unit that does not support a low-E coating does support an AR coating. Additional AR coatings may be provided on one or both of the outermost surfaces in certain example embodiments. In some cases, the center substrate need not be heat treated because of the reduced absorption enabled by providing the low-E coatings on the two outermost substrates, as well as the reduced heat accumulation in the center lite itself and in the two adjacent spacers.
US09556063B2	Inorganic fiber with improved shrinkage and strength An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components which further includes an intended strontium oxide additive to improve the thermal stability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal performance at 1260° C. and greater for 24 hours or more, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and exhibits low biopersistence in physiological fluids. Also provided are thermal insulation product forms, methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers.
US09556062B2	Li2O—Al2O3—SiO2 based crystallized glass and method for producing same In a Li2O—Al2O3—SiO2 based crystallized glass using SnO2 as a substitute fining agent for As2O3 or Sb2O3, a crystallized glass having less yellow coloration is provided at low costs. The glass is a Li2O—Al2O3—SiO2 based crystallized glass comprising from 0.01 to 0.9% of SnO2 in terms of % by mass and having a content of each of As2O3 and Sb2O3 of 1,000 ppm or less as a glass composition, which has a V2O5 content of from 0.08 to 15 ppm in the glass composition.
US09556056B2	Separation apparatuses for separating sheets of brittle material and methods for separating sheets of brittle material Methods and apparatuses for separating sheets of brittle material are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a separation apparatus for separating a sheet of brittle material includes a first separation cam positioned adjacent to a sheet conveyance pathway and a second separation cam positioned opposite from and downstream of the first separation cam. The first and second separation cams may be rotated such that the contact faces of the separation cams periodically extend across a centerline of the conveyance pathway. Rotation of the first and second separation cams may be synchronized such that at least the portion of the contact face of the first separation cam and at least the portion of the contact face of the second separation cam periodically extend across the centerline of the conveyance pathway at a separation time and periodically do not extend across the centerline of the conveyance pathway at a non-separation time.
US09556054B2	Corrugated sheet, method of manufacture thereof, and mold therefor A glass or glass-ceramic sheet includes peaks and valleys, where a cross-sectional profile in one direction along the sheet contains a first plurality of peaks, and a cross-sectional profile along the sheet in a perpendicular direction to that direction contains a second plurality of peaks. The first plurality is different from the second plurality of peaks.
US09556051B2	Methods for controlling the thickness wedge in a glass ribbon A method for controlling wedge variation in a glass ribbon includes flowing molten glass over converging sides of a forming vessel, drawing a glass ribbon from a root of the forming vessel, measuring the wedge variation over at least a portion of the width of the glass ribbon, adjusting a tilt of the forming vessel and a temperature near a weir of the forming vessel based on the measured wedge variation to decrease the wedge variation over the width of the glass ribbon, and re-measuring the wedge variation over the portion of the width of the glass ribbon.
US09556047B2	Device for gassing liquids A device for gassing liquids, in particular for aerating sewage and the like, includes a lower housing element, which has a substantially round opening area and a gas inlet port, a disc-shaped upper housing element, corresponding to the opening area, for covering the opening area, the upper housing element having an upper side facing away from the lower housing element, a number of gas through-openings provided in the vicinity of a peripheral edge of the upper housing element, passing through the upper side, and a perforated gassing membrane, covering over the upper side of the upper housing element.
US09556044B2	Electrodesalination system and method Systems and methods for the desalination of seawater or brackish water for the purpose of obtaining potable water. Systems may include a combination of electrodialysis and electrodeionization modules. The system configuration and process controls may achieve low energy consumption and stable operation.
US09556043B2	Treating hard water using an acid salt-regenerated ion exchange resin Methods and systems for acid regeneration of ion exchange resins are disclosed. Acid resins designed for use in a variety of cleaning application using a water source use a treated, softened, acidic water source according to the invention. Various methods of using the softened acidic water generated by acid regenerate-able ion exchange resins are disclosed to beneficially reduce spotting, filming and scale buildup on treated surfaces, reduce and/or eliminate the need for polymers, threshold reagents and/or rinse aids, and using protons generated in the acidic water effluent for triggering events useful in various cleaning applications.
US09556042B2	Water softener having timer control valve A water pressure regenerated type water softener including: a timer control valve having a valve control unit rotated by a timer spring and into which raw water is supplied; a plurality of conduits into which the raw water selectively flows under the control of the timer control valve; a regeneration tank communicating with a regeneration tank inlet conduit of the conduits; and a resin tank unit receiving regeneration water flowing from the regeneration tank and containing an ion exchange resin therein. The water softener can be operated in one of stop mode, soft water mode, raw water mode and regeneration mode under the control of the valve control unit. When regeneration mode is selected, the valve control unit rotates to stop mode by the timer spring after a preset amount of time has elapsed.
US09556040B2	Fluid flow management through a wastewater level manipulation system and associated methods A system is provided to control fluid flow in a wastewater treatment system through wastewater level manipulation. The wastewater treatment system may include a wastewater treatment plant connected to a plurality of pump stations by a main. Each of the plurality of pump stations may include a wet well with a pump therein. The system may include a central server in communication with a sensor to sense a level of wastewater within the wet well. The pump may be automatically moved to an on position when the level of the wastewater in the wet well is at or above a first level and may be automatically moved to an off position when the level of the wastewater in the respective wet well is at or below a pump cutoff level. The central server may systematically manipulate the first level to selectively set the level of wastewater within the wet well.
US09556032B2	Single, multi-walled, functionalized and doped carbon nanotubes and composites thereof The present invention relates to single walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), functionalized CNTs and carbon nanotube composites with controlled properties, to a method for aerosol synthesis of single walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, functionalized CNTs and carbon nanotube composites with controlled properties from pre-made catalyst particles and a carbon source in the presence of reagents and additives, to functional, matrix and composite materials composed thereof and structures and devices fabricated from the same in continuous or batch CNT reactors. The present invention allows all or part of the processes of synthesis of CNTs, their purification, doping, functionalization, coating, mixing and deposition to be combined in one continuous procedure and in which the catalyst synthesis, the CNT synthesis, and their functionalization, doping, coating, mixing and deposition can be separately controlled.
US09556031B2	Method for producing solid carbon by reducing carbon oxides A method for production of various morphologies of solid carbon product by reducing carbon oxides with a reducing agent in the presence of a catalyst. The carbon oxides are typically either carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The reducing agent is typically either a hydrocarbon gas or hydrogen. The desired morphology of the solid carbon product may be controlled by the specific catalysts, reaction conditions, and optional additives used in the reduction reaction. The resulting solid carbon products have many commercial applications.
US09556030B2	Sulfur recovery unit A sulfur recovery unit for processing an acid gas feed to recover elemental sulfur, the sulfur recovery unit comprising a reaction furnace configured to burn the acid gas feed, an oxygen source, and a fuel gas to create a furnace outlet stream, the acid gas feed comprises hydrogen sulfide which is converted to elemental sulfur, a waste heat boiler configured to capture heat from the furnace outlet stream to create a cooled stream, a condenser configured to condense the cooled stream to produce a waste gas stream and a condensed stream comprising elemental sulfur, a thermal oxidizer configured to burn the waste gas stream to create a sulfur dioxide rich stream, and a sulfur dioxide scrubbing unit configured to remove the amount of sulfur dioxide from the sulfur dioxide rich stream to create an effluent stream and a recycle stream recycled to the reaction furnace.
US09556024B2	Integrated method for gasification and indirect combustion of solid hydrocarbon feedstocks in a chemical loop The invention relates to an integrated method for gasification and indirect combustion of a solid hydrocarbon feedstock in a chemical loop, comprising:contacting solid hydrocarbon feedstock (1) with water (2) in a gasification reaction zone RG in order to discharge ashes (9) and to produce a gaseous effluent (3) comprising syngas and water,supplying reduction reaction zone RR of a redox chemical loop with at least part of gaseous effluent (3) produced in the gasification reaction zone in order to produce a CO2 and H2O-concentrated gaseous effluent (4),reoxidizing the oxygen-carrying solid particles from reduction reaction zone RR of the chemical loop in oxidation reaction zone RO by means of an oxidizing gas (6) and discharging fumes (7).The invention also relates to a plant allowing said integrated method to be implemented.
US09556019B2	Cavity pressure modification using local heating with a laser A method and system for changing a pressure within at least one enclosure in a MEMS device are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises applying a laser through one of the at least two substrates onto a material which changes the pressure within at least one enclosure when exposed to the laser, wherein the at least one enclosure is formed by the at least two substrates. In a second aspect, the system comprises a MEMS device that includes a first substrate, a second substrate bonded to the first substrate, wherein at least one enclosure is located between the first and the second substrates, a metal layer within one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and a material vertically oriented over the metal layer, wherein when the material is heated the material changes a pressure within the at least one enclosure.
US09556015B1	Substrate structure, semiconductor structure and method for fabricating the same The present disclosure provides a substrate structure for a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) device. The substrate structure includes a cap and a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) substrate. The cap has a cavity, and the MEMS substrate is disposed on the cap. The MEMS substrate has a plurality of through holes exposing the cavity, and an aspect ratio of the through hole is greater than 30.
US09556010B2	Device and method for opening an ampoule A device for opening an ampoule includes an ampoule holder configured to hold a body of the ampoule along a central longitudinal axis, a head holder configured to hold a head of the ampoule, and a guide engaged with the head holder and configured to direct the head holder from a first position on the central longitudinal axis to a second position offset from the central longitudinal axis when the ampoule holder is advanced in a first direction along the central longitudinal axis from an initial position. A method for opening an ampoule includes moving the ampoule in a first direction along a central longitudinal axis, directing the head of the ampoule laterally and/or obliquely away from the central longitudinal axis to break the head of the ampoule from the body of the ampoule when the ampoule is moved in the first direction, removing material from the body of the ampoule, and removing liquid from the head of the ampoule.
US09556008B2	Winch with drum-encased brushless DC motor A winch having a brushless DC motor, the brushless DC motor having a fixed, non-rotating shaft and a rotating housing; and a rotating drum mounted to the rotating housing, wherein the rotating housing is fully encased within the rotating drum.
US09556003B2	Lift safety mechanism A safety mechanism for a lift system, the safety mechanism including a first motion retarder which operates frictionally between a load-carrying platform and a hoistway and a second motion retarder which operates by breaking a frangible element. The two motion retarders may act together so that when the frictionally engaging element is depleted, the frangible elements are then broken. In an embodiment, the frictional element is disengaged to engage the breaking of the frangible elements when the car is a predetermined distance above a floor of the hoistway, thereby ensuring that the load-carrying platform can be stopped prior to a collision with the floor or ceiling of the hoistway.
US09556000B2	Reel assembly A set of blanks for being repeatedly assembled into a reel configuration. A flange blank has pass through slots angularly spaced apart from one another and interlocking apertures angularly aligned with the pass through slots. Each pass through slot is spaced radially from an interlocking aperture. A core blank has a hub portion that is folded toward a core configuration in which it has an annular shape. Push tabs extend outwardly from the hub portion. Each of the push tabs passes through a pass through slot. Each push tab includes a spine and a pair of wings extending outwardly from the spine. The wings of each push tab bend away from a coplanar position with respect to their spine as the push tab is inserted in an interlocking aperture. The wings lockingly engage the flange blank when each push tab is lockingly received in the interlocking aperture.
US09555996B2	Device and method for trimming folded printed products A method and a device for trimming printed products on the front edges and/or on the lateral edges. The products are inserted into moved receiving compartments along a closed circuit, the compartments being open on at least one side, and include blades moved along in this region, which act together with stationary counter blades. The depth of insertion of the products is restricted by a support such that the front edges of the products are in the direct vicinity of the open side of the compartments, advantageously protruding with their front edges over the moved along blades for the frontal trimming. The edges of the products extending perpendicular to the folded edge are fixed prior to carrying out a trimming by way of a clamping and moving arrangement and only released for the passing on of the printed product.
US09555994B2	Image forming apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium The image forming apparatus controls feeding of a paper to an image forming unit and re-feeding of a paper to the image forming unit by a re-feeding unit that re-feeds the paper held by a double-sided paper feed path. The apparatus changes a print setting of a paper that is the single-sided printing into a forcible double-sided printing that uses the double-sided paper feed path, if a paper whose print setting is double-sided printing and a paper whose print setting is single-sided printing are mixed in a print job, and if there is no paper held in the double-sided paper feed path and the print setting of a paper to be fed is the forcible double-sided printing, the apparatus changes the print setting of the paper to be fed into single-sided printing.
US09555989B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a first sheet-transport-path portion that allows a sheet to be transported toward an image forming unit included in an image forming apparatus body; a second sheet-transport-path portion that allows a sheet fed from sheet trays, holding sheets and vertically stacked in multiple rows one above another, to be transported toward the image forming apparatus body; and an opening-closing member supported so as to be movable around a rotation axis between an open position, in which the opening-closing member collectively opens the first sheet-transport-path portion and the second sheet-transport-path portion to an outside, and a closed position, in which the opening-closing member collectively closes the first sheet-transport-path portion and the second sheet-transport-path portion.
US09555986B2	Image recording apparatus An image recording apparatus includes: a housing including a frame and a conveyance path; a recording device which records an image on a sheet conveyed along the conveyance path; a first roller located upstream of the recording device; a second roller opposed to the first roller; a guide member pivotable between a first position for partly defining the conveyance path and a second position where the conveyance path is open; a roller holder coupled to the guide member and supporting the second roller; an urging portion which urges the second roller toward the first roller; and an engaging portion supported by the roller holder and configured to, when the guide member is located at the first position, be engaged with the frame to position the roller holder to a third position where the second roller contacts the first roller by an urging force of the urging portion.
US09555984B2	Sheet separating device A separation member separates a sheet, conveyed by a separation roller in a conveying direction, from remaining sheets supported by a support member. At least one of a first guide and a second guide is a movable guide which moves in a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction to increase and decrease a distance therebetween. An urging member is retained, at one end thereof, by a base portion in an elastically deformed state and urges the separation member toward the separation roller. In response to the movable guide decreasing the distance between the first guide and the second guide, an engaging mechanism reduces elastic deformation of the urging member by moving the base portion in a first direction. In response to the movable guide increasing the distance, the engaging mechanism moves the base portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US09555980B2	Inlet for particulate loader A particulate loader for transferring particulates. The particulate loader comprises an air-particulates separating chamber for separating the particulates from an air stream caused by suction provided thereto. A suction mechanism is connected to the air-particulates separating chamber for providing the suction thereto. The particulate loader comprises a conveying mechanism for conveying the separated particulates from the air-particulates separating chamber to a remote location. A vacuum pickup hose is in fluid communication with the air-particulates separating chamber for transmitting the airstream with the particulates therethrough. An inlet conduit is in fluid communication with the vacuum pickup hose at a first end and with the air-particulates separating chamber at a second end for transmitting the airstream with the particulates from the vacuum pickup hose to the air-particulates separating chamber. The inlet conduit is elongated between the first end and the second end and a cross-section of the inlet conduit increases from a first cross-section at the first end to a second cross-section at the second end.
US09555975B2	Mineral material feed apparatus, a plant and a method A feed apparatus for feeding mineral material includes a first frame, a feed box fixed to the first frame and having walls for the mineral material to be loaded to the apparatus, and a feed device joined to the first frame so that the material ends up onto a transport surface of a transport member of the feed device. The transport surface and a bottom edge of the wall of the feed box form a gap therebetween. The feed apparatus includes distance adjustment members to move the transport surface and the bottom edge relative to each other. Preferably the distance adjustment members are pivoted on the first frame and the feed device. A method for adjusting the feed apparatus includes moving the transport surface of the feed device and the bottom edge of the wall of the feed box relative to each other by distance adjustment members.
US09555974B2	Surface treatment plant for motor vehicle bodies A surface treatment plant for vehicle bodies having a first treatment area which comprises a first conveyor system enabling a vehicle body to be conveyed through the first treatment area, and a second treatment area which includes a second conveyor system enabling the vehicle body to be conveyed through the second treatment area. A transfer device enables the vehicle body to be transferred from the first conveyor system to the second conveyor system. The transfer device includes supports which engage on regions of the vehicle body and at least one is arranged in particular on the highest point of the horizontal and the vehicle body is oriented roof upwards. Also a method for conveying vehicle bodies through a surface treatment plant.
US09555973B2	Conveyor and method of producing a conveyor The invention relates to a conveyor part, having a conveyor track, wherein the conveyor track comprises at least one rotary moulded conveyor track structure. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a conveyor part comprising the following steps, to be performed in any suitable order: providing a rotary mould having a cavity shaped as the outside of a conveyor portions, adding a thermoplastic or resinous material inside the mould, rotating the mould under gradually heating the mould, allowing the thermoplastic material to melt and to cover the inner walls of the mould or allowing the resinous material to cure on the inner walls of the mould, allowing the mould to cool, opening the mould to remove the conveyor part.
US09555970B2	Positive drive balanced mesh belt system A compound balanced woven-wire conveyor belt including a plurality of interwoven helically-wound spirals and connector rods, and a plurality of spiral wires forming protruding tangs on a surface of the woven-wire belt. A conveyor system further includes at least one rotatable member including an outer cylindrical surface symmetrically disposed relative to a central axis of rotation of the rotatable member and a plurality of cavities on the outer cylindrical surface for engaging the protruding tangs of the woven-wire belt, each of the protruding tangs substantially corresponding to the cavities of the rotatable member.
US09555966B2	Control apparatus, control system and control method A control apparatus controls a circulating conveyor having areas each of which stores one of articles. A storage stores inventory information indicating a state of storage of each of the articles. A computer executes a program to perform a controlling process of controlling the conveyor. The controlling process includes a receiving process of receiving an instruction of storing or carrying out an article, a computing process of computing, in response to reception of the instruction by the receiving process, an amount of travel of the conveyor based on the inventory information, the amount of travel being necessary to move one of the areas of the conveyor to a predetermined position at which one of the articles is stored in or carried out of the one of the areas, and a first controlling process of controlling an operation of the conveyor in accordance with the computed amount of travel.
US09555959B1	Modular fluid storage tank A flexible fluid storage tank and method for assembling said tank, with specific emphasis on a system that may be easily road transported and field assembled with little or no tools, while preserving the flexibility of being tailored in size, shape and configuration to the user's needs with minimal customization and disassembly capabilities.
US09555958B2	Method for preparing a beverage from a capsule, capsule and beverage preparing system The invention relates to a method for preparing a beverage through a capsule (2) inserted in a beverage machine; the capsule (2) comprising an enclosure (20) containing one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewing fluid is introduced in the enclosure (20) to brew said one or more beverage ingredients, characterized in that: a discharge wall (3, 3B, 300, 310, 320, 330) is placed in association with the enclosure (20), wherein the discharge wall (3, 300, 310, 320, 330) comprises discharge means (100, 301, 311, 321, 331) which restrain the brewed liquid from being discharged from the capsule (2) or limit the liquid flow in case the pressure inside the enclosure (20) is below a predetermined value, and the discharge means (100, 301, 311, 321, 331) enable the delivery of the brewed liquid in case the pressure exceeds said predetermined value.
US09555953B2	Spray head and container thus equipped, method and use Head for spraying a product in a spraying direction, for example a cosmetic product, in particular a deodorant, this spray head comprising: a body, comprising: a channel for conveying the product, a housing in which the conveying channel emerges, the spray head also comprising: a spray nozzle mounted on the housing, this nozzle comprising at least two, better still three, spray orifices, respective feed channels being formed between the nozzle and the body, these channels connecting the conveying channel to the said corresponding spray orifices, and being obliquely inclined relative to the spraying direction.
US09555949B1	Insulated beverage housing with temperature maintenance The insulated beverage housing provides an aperture for receiving a heat transfer body. Similarly, the heat transfer body provides an aperture for receiving a container. The heat transfer body stores a heat transfer material including but not limited to a fluid, gel, or other substance that can be heated or cooled depending upon the desired effect on the beverage. The removable heat transfer body may be easily removed and/or installed from the housing to heat or cool the heat transfer material for use in affecting the temperature of the beverage.
US09555948B2	Double-walled, vacuum-insulated container having inner coating cured at high temperature A double-walled, vacuum-insulated container is manufactured with a cured inside coating. To form the container, an inner liner is disposed in an outer body. The inner liner has an inner sidewall, an inner bottom, and an inner lip, and the outer body has an outer sidewall and an outer lip. The inner and outer lips are affixed together with an affixation or weld having a first melt point. A plenum is enclosed between the inner liner and the outer body by affixing an outer bottom to the outer body and creating a vacuum at least partially in the plenum using a seal having a second melt point. This second melt point can be about 450° C. and 500° C. The coating is painted to an inside surface of the inner liner, and the painted coating is cured with a temperature level at least below the first and second melt points.
US09555942B2	Locking medicine container One component or embodiment of a locking medical container is the quality of the material used. The sterile non-chemically reactive polypropylene container is suitable for most medical applications. The lock and all its components are made strong to secure the medications from all but the prescribed user. This is done by using a structural method that joins the parts in such a manner as to produce a solid locking unit. The snap in capability of some of the parts used remove manufacture difficulties that are found in other locking devices. This unit when completed is sealed, sterile and very strong. The user simply rotates the tumbler and removes the cavity obstruction to gain access to the contents of the container.
US09555940B2	Cap for vial There is provided a snap-on vial cap with a protective cover, which can be removed from a cap body by a constant removal force, and can hardly be attached to the cap body again, once being removed. A cap body 5 and a protective cover 6 are molded integrally by an insert molding method or a two-color-molding method, which generates moderate adhesive strength therebetween. An annular convex portion 12, 13 having a concave section 14 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof is provided on the cap body 5, and an engagement portion 18 for engaging with the concave section 14 is provided on the protective cover 6, thereby enabling the protective cover 6 to be easily removed from the cap body 5 with good operativity while preventing the protective cover 6 from accidentally detaching. Alternatively, projections 23 provided on a top plate of the cap body 5 are engaged into a plug 4 to prevent the cap 1 from rotating.
US09555932B2	Plastic liner bag with drawstring A plastic can liner and a drawstring for closing the can liner. First and second plastic panels joined along edges of the panels define a bag body. Opposed first and second panel edges that are not joined define a can liner opening. A first hem extends along the first panel edge and a second hem extends along the second panel edge. A drawstring extends through the first and second hems. The drawstring is a cross-laminated plastic film. In some embodiments, the drawstring includes first and second drawstring strips sealed together adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Each of the first and second drawstring strips can be made from a plastic film including a first layer and a second layer bonded to the first layer. Each of the first and second layers have a machine direction oriented transverse to the length of the drawstring and the machine direction of the other layer.
US09555931B2	Slider bag with handle below the zipper track A bag including opposing panels, a closed bottom and a reclosable top. The bag further includes a closure assembly along the reclosable top and a handle assembly joined to one of the panels.
US09555929B2	Hanging condiment container holder A hanging condiment container holder is provided including a clip portion for removably attaching the holder to an upper portion of a food package, a loop portion for receiving a condiment container, and an extension wall extending between the clip portion and the loop portion. The clip portion may be contoured to the shape of the upper edge or lip of a food package such as a cup. Various clip portions may be employed for removably attaching the hanging condiment container holder to a food package such as a cup.
US09555928B2	Cartridge and multicomponent cartridge A cartridge is provided having at least one reception chamber (2), which extends in the longitudinal direction, for a medium to be dispensed, having a head part (4), a base part (6) and a cartridge wall (3) which bound the reception chamber (2), with the head part (4) having an outlet (5) for the medium. The cartridge wall (3) is designed as a film (3), the head part (4) and the base part (6) in each case as fixed shape parts and the head part (4) is sealingly and non-releasably connected to the cartridge wall (3). A multicomponent cartridge is furthermore provided by the invention.
US09555927B2	Bottle A tubular bottle is formed of a synthetic resin material having a bottom part. A bottom wall part of the bottom part includes a grounding part located at an outer circumferential edge thereof, a standing peripheral wall part which is connected from a radial inner side of the bottle to the grounding part and which extends upward, a movable wall part that protrudes, from an upper end of the standing peripheral wall part, toward the radial inner side, and a depression peripheral wall part that extends upward from an inner end of the movable wall part in a radial direction of the bottle. The movable wall part is arranged so as to be movable upward centering on a portion connected to the standing peripheral wall part. An upward swelling part is formed at an outer end along the radial direction of the bottle of the movable wall part.
US09555926B2	Collapsible storage bucket A collapsible storage bucket includes a chamber portion. The chamber portion further includes an opening. Additionally, the chamber portion is collapsible. The collapsible storage bucket further includes a bucket opening surround over the opening, where the bucket opening surround is detachable from the chamber portion. The collapsible storage bucket further includes a lid over the bucket opening surround, where the lid configured to cover an entirety of the opening. Additionally, the lid is detachable from the bucket opening surround.
US09555924B2	Corrugated pallet A corrugated paperboard pallet is produced from two flat blanks which comprise a pallet top and a pallet bottom. The two blanks are each folded to produce only two parallel vertically extending double thickness ribs, three horizontal panels, two vertical side walls and two horizontal flaps. The ribs of the pallet top and pallet bottom lock each other from opening in the center of the pallet by intersecting perpendicularly with notches in the ribs. The horizontal flaps lock the ribs from opening at the edges of the pallet by intersecting perpendicularly with notches, and the vertical sidewalls include vertical flaps that open inward defining fork passages whereby the vertical flaps lock said horizontal flaps from opening.
US09555923B2	Method for preparing mattresses for shipment and stack of mattresses prepared using such method An assembly of stacked mattresses and a method for preparing such an assembly are provided. The assembly of stacked mattresses comprises a first pallet, a second pallet, a plurality of mattresses positioned between the first pallet and the second pallet and straps coupling the first pallet to the second pallet, the plurality of mattresses being in a compressed state between the first pallet and the second pallet and the straps restraining expansion of the plurality of mattresses. The second pallet is comprised of a supporting member and a plurality of elongated reinforcing members extending across the supporting member, at least some of the reinforcing members including respective strap guiding members extending longitudinally along the elongated reinforcing member. At least some of the straps engage respective ones of the strap guiding members of the plurality of elongated reinforcing member of the second pallet so that displacement of the straps is constrained by the strap guiding members. In accordance with another aspect, a pallet for using in shipping bedding products is provided.
US09555919B2	Convertible package assembly and display system A package assembly suitable for use in storing and shipping a plurality of product containers includes a shipping configuration and a display configuration. In the shipping configuration the package assembly is constructed from a single blank of packaging material and formed into a case into which a plurality of product containers are inserted. In the display configuration a top portion of the case is removed from a bottom portion of the case along one or more tear lines on the blank.
US09555918B2	Plastic corrugated container with manufacturer's joint adding zero extra thickness A reusable plastic container is provided. The container includes a plastic container body having opposing side panels and opposing end panels. The container body also includes top side panel flaps attached to a top portion of each side panel, and bottom side panel flaps attached to a bottom portion of each side panel. The container body has top end panel flaps attached to a top portion of each end panel, and bottom end panel flaps attached to a bottom portion of each end panel. The top and bottom side panel flaps are each defined with respect to the side panels by a fold line. The fold lines including at least one scored portion and at least one welded portion.
US09555912B2	Wrapping method A method for wrapping a load with a film by a wrapping machine including an unwinding apparatus provided with a reel of the film includes moving the wrapping apparatus and the load in relation to one another and unwinding from the reel an established effective length of film per revolution of the wrapping apparatus or of the load. The established effective length of film is calculated with the formula: where: Sf. initial length of film is determined on the basis of dimension and/or shape of the load; ω: rotation speed around a wrapping axis of the unwinding apparatus or of the load; Vt: movement speed of the unwinding apparatus parallel to the rotation axis; ωmax: maximum rotation speed around the wrapping axis of the unwinding apparatus or of the load; Δcorr: corrective parameter.
US09555904B2	Gossamer apparatus and systems for use with spacecraft Gossamer apparatus and systems for use with spacecraft may include a deployable gossamer apparatus. The deployable gossamer apparatus may include a plurality rib members and gossamer material extending therebetween and may be configured in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The rib members of the deployable gossamer apparatus store potential energy used for deployment of the deployable gossamer apparatus.
US09555899B2	Mobile arresting system A system for arresting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In an illustrative embodiment, a crane has an arrestment receiver that can pivot around the crane. A UAV has a hook on one of its wings that can latch onto the arrestment receiver during flight. After latching onto the arrestment receiver, the UAV pivots around the end of the crane until the UAV comes to rest. The UAV and the arrestment receiver each include optical alignment systems that facilitate the connection between the hook and the arrestment receiver.
US09555898B2	Helicopter dolly A helicopter dolly includes a platform defining a helicopter landing area, a plurality of rollers connected to the platform such that a vertical clearance is defined between the platform and the ground and a plurality of safety panels movably connected to edges of the platform so as to be movable relative thereto between raised and lowered positions. The safety panels cover the vertical clearance in the lowered position. A method of using a helicopter dolly includes arranging a helicopter dolly for a helicopter landing, moving a plurality of safety panels and a plurality of corner members to cover a vertical clearance defined between a platform and the ground and moving the plurality of safety panels and the plurality of corner members to uncover the vertical clearance after the helicopter landing.
US09555892B2	Aircraft galley exhaust system and method of assembling same An exhaust system for an aircraft galley chiller is provided. The exhaust system includes a galley having a chiller that includes an inlet, a condenser fan inlet, a condenser fan outlet proximate to chiller inlet, and a first flow of air through the condenser, an air ventilation outlet conduit that includes a second flow of air therethrough, and an ejector pump. The ejector pump includes a first airflow inlet, a second airflow inlet and an airflow outlet, wherein the first airflow inlet is coupled in flow communication with the condenser fan outlet, the second inlet is coupled in flow communication with the air ventilation outlet conduit. As the second airflow increases, the first velocity increases in a direction away from the galley chiller facilitating a decrease in temperature at the condenser fan inlet.
US09555885B2	Automotive drone deployment system This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.
US09555884B2	Method for improving ground travel capability and enhancing stealth in unmanned aerial vehicles A method for improving ground movement capability and enhancing stealth in unmanned aerial vehicles is provided. The present method comprises providing, in an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with wheels, one or more onboard drive means capable of translating torque through the vehicle wheels and controllable to move the unmanned aerial vehicle on the ground without reliance on the unmanned aerial vehicle main motive power source. The onboard drive means is controllably powered by a power source with substantially no acoustic signature to move the unmanned aerial vehicle quietly on the ground with only a minimal audible or visible footprint. This method provides a significant expansion of ground movement capability and expands the potential ground uses of unmanned aerial vehicles, particularly in military applications. The present method can also be applied to move any manned aerial vehicle or aircraft on the ground with only minimal audible or visible footprints.
US09555883B1	Unmanned aerial vehicle sensor synchronization Described are methods and apparatuses for synchronizing two or more sensors of an UAV. In the implementations described, a synchronization event is performed such that identifiable signals of the synchronization event can be collected by each sensor of the UAV. The synchronization event may be generated by a synchronization event component that generates multiple output signals (e.g., audio, visual, and physical) at approximately the same time so that different sensors can each collect and store at least one of the output signals. The collected signals are then compared and the sensors are adjusted to align the signals.
US09555882B2	Airborne system and method for removing pollutants from a volume of air An air filter bank may include a housing configured to be coupled to an exterior of an air vehicle. The housing may have an air intake at a forward end and an air exit at an aft end and defining an air path therebetween. The air filter bank may further include at least one air filter positioned within the housing along the air path. The air filter may be configured to remove pollutants entrained in a volume of air entering the air intake and impinging on the filter surfaces prior to exiting the air exit.
US09555881B2	Propeller/rotor control apparatus and method An apparatus for controlling a rotor of a rotary wing aircraft, including a stationary frame, a rotary propulsion shaft extending through the frame, the propulsion shaft having a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion coupled to the first shaft portion at a joint, the first shaft portion being configured to be coupled to a drive unit and the second shaft portion being pivotable relative to a centerline of the first shaft portion in two degrees of freedom about the joint, and at least one actuator coupled to the stationary frame at one end and connected to the second shaft portion at the other end so that the second shaft portion rotates relative to the at least one actuator, the at least one actuator being configured to pivot the second shaft portion in the two degrees of freedom.
US09555879B1	Aircraft having circular body and blades An aircraft has a main body with a circular shape and a circular outer periphery. One or more rotor blades extend substantially horizontally outward from the main body at or about the circular outer periphery. In addition, one or more counter-rotation blades extend substantially horizontally outward from said main body at or about the circular outer periphery, but vertically offset from the main rotor blades. The main rotor blades are connected to a first annular gear that rotates in a first direction and the counter-rotation blades rotate are connected to a second annular gear that rotates in a second direction that is opposite the first direction for anti-torque. Planetary gears simultaneously drive the first and second annular gear at about the same speed.
US09555878B2	Rotor blade control device The present disclosure provides a rotor blade control device for a helicopter. The rotor blade control device may include a swash plate disk with a non-rotating component coupled to the helicopter. At least three actuators may be arranged around a rotor shaft axis of the helicopter, and a coupling element may be located between each actuator and the non-rotating component. The coupling element can be adjusted to change the position of a crosspoint at the non-rotating component of the swash plate disk alongside the rotor shaft axis in order to adjust the rotor blades. The actuators may be arranged onto the non-rotating component and may be able to pivot around a respective swivel axis. A radial distance of the first crosspoint to the rotor shaft axis may change with the swivel movement of an actuator around the swivel axis.
US09555875B2	Aircraft flap system with aileron functionality The present disclosure pertains to an actuation mechanism for a flap with aileron functionality, including a crank having a crank axle, a crank arm and a crank pivot; a displacement shaft articulated to the crank pivot at an actuating end portion; and a rotatable linear-motion bearing in which the displacement shaft is slidably supported, wherein the displacement shaft is fixedly connectable to a flap body of the aircraft flap at a flap end portion of the displacement shaft opposite to the actuating end portion, and wherein the linear-motion bearing is rotatably attachable at a pivot point to an aircraft wing comprising the aircraft flap, so that the displacement shaft is able to rotate around an axis running spanwise of the aircraft wing around the pivot point. The present disclosure further pertains to an aircraft flap with such an actuation mechanism and an aircraft having an aircraft flap.
US09555874B2	Fixed wing of an aircraft A fixed wing of an aircraft, having a main wing extending over a half-span with a wing box including spars extending along the spanwise direction of the main wing, ribs arranged one in back of the other viewed in the spanwise direction, and an outer skin. The wing box includes a wing box base section (K10) and a wing box adapter section, that forms the outer end area of the wing box, as viewed from the wing root, and is designed to secure a wing tip device. In its nominal state of construction, the dihedral angle of the wing box adapter section referring to the respective local spanwise direction continuously increases by at most 60 degrees from the outer rib of the wing box base section (K10) up to the outermost rib of the wing box adapter section.
US09555872B2	Aeroplane equipped with an internal escape hatch having a double opening controller An aeroplane includes an escape opening passing through an external skin and an internal bulkhead. The escape opening is closed off by an external escape hatch having an external opening controller. The aeroplane further includes an internal escape hatch that closes off said escape opening flush with the internal bulkhead, and kept closed by at least one catch movable between a locked state and unlocked state, a first opening controller that controls the passage from the locked state to the unlocked state of the catch being accessible from inside the aeroplane, and a second opening controller that controls the passage from the locked state to the unlocked state of the catch being positioned such that the actuation of the external opening controller of the external escape hatch or the passage of the external escape hatch from the closed position to the open position causes the second opening controller to be actuated.
US09555871B2	Two-surface sandwich structure for accommodating in-plane expansion of one of the surfaces relative to the opposing surface A sandwich structure includes a first skin, a second skin, a first hinge member, and a second hinge member. The first hinge member may be movably coupled to the first skin and a first skin joint. The second hinge member may be movably coupled to the second skin and second skin joint. The first hinge member and the second member may be movably coupled to one another and a member joint located between the first and second skin joint.
US09555864B2	Damping device for a vessel The present invention relates to a vessel comprising:-a hull,-a support structure connected to said hull, the support structure configured for supporting the mass, the support structure being constructed to allow the mass to make a back and forth movement relative to said hull along a trajectory between opposite ends of said trajectory,-a damping device configured to dampen the movement of the mass relative to said hull. The present invention also relates to a method for damping the movements of a vessel or of a mass.
US09555863B2	Easy maintenance flying board A water propelled flying board has a left and a right thrust nozzle. Each thrust nozzle has a knuckle joint attachment to a pressure water manifold. The thrust nozzles can be independently swiveled forward, backward, sideways or other directions relative to the rider. A left foot and a right foot platform are independently secured to the respective nozzle inlet to allow the rider to go toe up of toe down, they can rotate 360 degrees independently with each foot. This enables trick flying maneuvers including spinning like a top. The knuckle joint can be either a hose segment or a bearing. The left and right foot platforms or center blocks can be locked together and can have a spring return to neutral assembly.
US09555862B1	Rotatable boat rail A rotatable boat rail and method of making and using same, the rail including a cylinder defining a passageway and a generally L-shaped member having a horizontal section and a vertical section coupled to the cylinder member such that a proximal end of the L-shaped member extends radially outward from a lower end of the cylinder. The horizontal section of the L-shaped member is arranged essentially perpendicular to the cylinder and the vertical section is arranged essentially parallel to the cylinder. In use, a seat on a boat seat stand is removed from the stand and the stand is inserted through the cylinder passageway so that the cylinder is rotatably supported on the stand and the vertical section of the L-shaped section extends upwardly. The seat is then re-attached to the top of the stand. In use, a person requiring support when exiting or entering the boat, can grasp the L-shaped member and apply pressure against the boat rail for steadying the person.
US09555857B2	Bicycle front derailleur A bicycle front derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member, an electric driving unit and a biasing member. The base member includes a bicycle mounting portion. The movable member is movably supported with respect to the base member between a first position and a second position that is farther than the first position from the base member. The electric driving unit is operatively coupled to the movable member to move the movable member between the first position and the second position. The biasing member is operatively disposed between the base member and the movable member to bias the movable member towards the second position.
US09555853B2	Propulsion system for human powered vehicles A propulsion system for human powered vehicles includes an outer lever having an input end and an output end. An orbiting sprocket is coupled to the output end of the outer lever. A fixed sprocket is also provided, with the orbiting sprocket orbiting around the fixed sprocket. A closed tension-bearing member engages an outer circumference of both the orbiting sprocket and the fixed sprocket. A driveshaft is co-axial with the fixed sprocket, the driveshaft being free to rotate with respect to the fixed sprocket and the crank lever being fixedly connected to the driveshaft and rotationally connected to the orbiting sprocket. A chassis is propelled by the driveshaft. Wherein application of a force on the input end of the outer lever causes the orbiting sprocket to orbit around the fixed sprocket and thereby rotate the crank lever to impart rotation to the driveshaft and propel the chassis.
US09555850B2	Saddle-type vehicle In a saddle-type vehicle, an engine is supported by a pivot shaft through insertion of the pivot shaft into a bracket part provided at a rear part of the engine. A center lower cross frame is so provided as to span a space between parts in left and right pivot plates on the lower side relative to the pivot shaft. The pivot shaft and the center lower cross frame are connected by a hanger member.
US09555847B2	Suspension assembly transport device A suspension assembly transport device is configured for transporting a suspension assembly having hubs on both sides, wherein the device includes attachments for being attached to the hubs, receiving members that support the attachments so that the attachments do not move horizontally, left and right arm members on the bottom of which the receiving members are provided, and that are configured to move the receiving members in the width direction of the vehicle, and a transport mechanism that transports the attachments, the receiving members, and the left and right arm members together.
US09555846B1	Pelvis structure for humanoid robot A robot assembly including, a back member, a pelvis base with a first side and a second side; wherein the pelvis base is rotatably connected to the back member between the first and second sides of the pelvis base, and rotatable around a back x-axis, a first hip member rotatably connected to the first side of the pelvis base and rotatable about a first hip x-axis, a first intermediate extension rotatably connected to the first hip member and rotatable about a first hip z-axis, and a first leg member rotatably connected to the first intermediate extension and rotatable about a first hip y-axis.
US09555843B2	Work vehicle Disclosed is a work vehicle having a weight that can be attached to a vehicle body frame. The weight is attached in such a manner that, over an entire length in a front/rear direction of the vehicle body and in a vertical direction of the vehicle body, an upper end portion of the weight is disposed in a same position as or upwardly of a lower end portion of the vehicle body frame, and at the same time in a same position as or downwardly of an upper end portion of the vehicle body frame.
US09555842B1	Adapter bracket assembly configured to adapt a utility vehicle for use with a different utility component An adapter bracket assembly is configured to allow a tractor to operatively connect to a different, otherwise incompatible utility component. The adapter bracket assembly includes an attachment member configured to securely connect to an attachment bracket that is compatible with the tractor, and a component-engaging member that is configured to securely connect to the different utility component in order to securely and operatively connect the different utility component to the tractor.
US09555833B2	Vehicle control apparatus and vehicle provided with the same A vehicle control apparatus includes: a straight-ahead cruising determining unit that determines whether or not a vehicle is in a straight-ahead cruising state; a detecting unit that detects a target object that meets a predetermined condition related to at least either of a current positional relationship or a future predicted positional relationship with the vehicle, among objects ahead of the vehicle, when the vehicle is determined to be in the straight-ahead cruising state; an operation control unit that makes the vehicle perform a predetermined operation related to the detected target object; and a condition setting unit that sets the condition to be applied to the left side in relation to a center line of the vehicle to differ from the condition to be applied to the right side, based on a cruising trajectory of the vehicle.
US09555832B2	Display system utilizing vehicle and trailer dynamics A display system for a vehicle and trailer is disclosed. The system comprises an interface configured to receive a directional input and a controller in communication with the interface and a screen. The controller is operable to receive a hitch angle and determine a heading direction of the trailer. The controller is further operable to determine a predicted heading of the vehicle aligned with the trailer based on the hitch angle. The predicted heading of the trailer is then displayed by the controller on the screen.
US09555828B2	Electronic control unit and electric power steering apparatus having the same In an electronic control unit, high-heat-generating devices are mounted on a first surface or a second surface of a board, a heat-dissipating member is located facing the first surface of the board, and a heat-conducting member is located between the board and the heat-dissipating member. The heat-conducting member is in contact with the high-heat-generating devices to transfer heat of the high-heat-generating devices to the heat-dissipating member. A ratio of the number of the high-heat-generating devices mounted on the board to the number of the high-heat-generating devices arranged inside a first limited region of the first surface or a second limited region of the second surface is greater than a predetermined ratio. The second limited region is located at a position corresponding to the first limited region.
US09555826B2	Safety apparatus for steer-by-wire The present invention relates to a safety apparatus for a steer-by-wire. The present invention can ensure the safety of a steer-by-wire using a simple and compact structure and achieve a manufacturing-cost reduction effect.
US09555825B2	Steering column A steering column comprises (a) an upper column assembly and (b) a bevel gear box assembly. The bevel gear box assembly is attached to the upper column assembly to form an integrated structure. The bevel gear box assembly also is operatively coupled to the upper column assembly such that rotational movement is transferred from the upper column assembly to the bevel gear box assembly.
US09555823B2	Infant seat support An infant seat support assembly is disclosed for supporting an infant seat relative to a structure, such as a shopping cart.
US09555819B2	Method and device for protection against guiding loss for a guided vehicle A guided vehicle includes a guidance unit having first and second V-mounted guide pulleys resting on first and second running surfaces of a guide rail. The running surfaces are on sides of a median longitudinal plane of the guide rail and each pulley has a flange for freely gripping the guide rail. A device and method protecting against loss of vehicle guidance include a section with longitudinal height fixed along its length to a guide rail part, between running surfaces, the section having a cross-section guiding the unit during derailment or loss of guidance thereof with the section fixed to the guide rail part. The cross-section geometry holds the first pulley flange on the side of the median plane including the first pulley running surface and the second pulley flange on the side including the second pulley running surface. A device fixes the section to the guide rail.
US09555818B1	Side bearing for railway car truck An improved leaf spring side bearing assembly for railway freight cars is provided that achieves improved tracking and curving by the limitation of rock of the railway freight car. The side bearing comprises a base with two raised end sections. A leaf spring assembly is provided on the base that extends to the underside and support channel of the freight car. A top wear plate and a bottom travel stop are also included with the leaf spring side bearing assembly.
US09555817B2	End members for rail spring assemblies and suspension systems including same End members (202, 204) dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible wall (206) of a rail spring assembly (200) can include an end member body formed from a polymeric material and can have a longitudinal axis (AX). The end member body can include an end wall (232) that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis. An outer side wall (234) can extend longitudinally from along the end wall. An outer peripheral wall (264) can extend from along the outer side wall and can be dimensioned to abuttingly engage the associated flexible wall. A plurality of support walls (272) can extend between and operatively interconnect the outer side wall and the outer peripheral wall and thereby buttress at least the outer peripheral wall against loads applied by the associated flexible wall. Gas spring assemblies including one or more of such end members and suspension systems for rail vehicles including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.
US09555812B2	Method for detecting a roadway and corresponding detection systems A method is provided for detecting a roadway of a vehicle including at least the following steps: generating a light signal and emitting the light signal onto a lit area of the roadway, receiving retroreflected radiation of the lit area and generating an image signal, evaluating the image signal. For this purpose, it is provided that the light signal having light structures is generated, the image signal is evaluated as a two-dimensional light pattern, a detection of pattern characteristics corresponding to the light structures being carried out in the light pattern during the evaluation of the image signals, a signal strength of the image pattern being evaluated in a space-resolved manner and a reflecting behavior of the lit area being inferred therefrom, and a roadway surface being inferred from the reflecting behavior.
US09555809B2	Tractor A tractor is disclosed having an engine fitted with a speed governor, drive wheels, a transmission connecting the engine to the drive wheels, a controller serving to select the effective transmission ratio, and an engine driven power take-off (PTO) shaft for driving ancillary equipment connected to the tractor. When in a part load operating mode in which the PTO shaft is connected to drive an implement and the tractor is moving, the governor is set to maintain the engine working point to follow a selected speed governor line on the speed/load map of the engine. The controller is operative to initiate a change in the transmission ratio when the engine speed cannot be maintained within the specified tolerance of the desired engine speed.
US09555806B2	System and method for controlling rollback of a work vehicle A method for controlling rollback of a work vehicle may include receiving a signal indicating that a pedal of the work vehicle has been depressed, wherein the work vehicle is initially traveling in a first direction up an inclined surface such that at least one clutch of the transmission is engaged. In addition, the method may include reducing a pressure within the at least one clutch after receiving the signal in order to decelerate the work vehicle in the first direction and engaging a parking brake of the work vehicle as the work vehicle reverses direction and travels in a second direction down the inclined surface.
US09555804B2	Method and control unit for monitoring traffic The present invention relates to a method of identifying the hand of traffic applicable to a subject vehicle (3). The subject vehicle (3) travels in a first direction and has a first side and a second side. The method comprises tracking at least a first object vehicle (V) on the first side of the subject vehicle (3), and/or detecting the presence or absence of at least a first stationary target (T) on the first side of the subject vehicle (3). A direction of travel of each first object vehicle (V) is determined in relation to the subject vehicle (3). The hand of traffic is identified based on the direction of travel of each first object vehicle (V), and/or the presence or absence of each first stationary target (T). The invention also relates to a method of implementing Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) using the hand of traffic information. The invention also relates to a control unit (1) for determining the hand of traffic.
US09555803B2	Driver assistance system for vehicle A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera disposed in a windshield electronics module attached at a windshield of the vehicle and viewing through the windshield. A control includes a processor that, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane markers on a road being traveled by the vehicle. The processor determines curvature of the road being traveled by the vehicle and detects another vehicle that is present exterior of the equipped vehicle and determines that the detected other vehicle is in the same traffic lane as the equipped vehicle or is in an adjacent traffic lane. The processor processes captured image data to determine distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle that is present exterior of the equipped vehicle and within the exterior field of view of the forward-viewing camera. The processor processes captured image data for vehicle speed control.
US09555802B2	Driving support device A driving support device includes: a preceding vehicle recognizer that recognizes a preceding vehicle; a lane mark recognizer that recognizes a lane mark; a path following controller that controls the own-vehicle; and a lane maintaining controller that controls the own-vehicle when a vehicle speed of the own-vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined speed. The driving support device further includes a prediction unit that predicts a shift of the own-vehicle to a running state with the predetermined speed or greater, and while the own-vehicle is under control of the path following controller, when the preceding vehicle ceases to be an object recognized by the preceding vehicle recognizer, the vehicle speed is less than the predetermined speed, and the prediction unit (control management unit) predicts the shift of the own-vehicle to the running state with the predetermined speed or greater, the lane maintaining controller controls the own-vehicle.
US09555797B2	Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle In a control apparatus of the present invention, when a predetermined engagement condition is satisfied while an internal combustion engine is operated, first a rotating speed control which makes a first MG output a torque so that a rotating speed of the first MG becomes zero is executed, and subsequently an engagement control which switches a state of a lock mechanism to an engagement state is executed when an engagement switching condition is satisfied during execution of the rotating speed control. When a temperature of a first inverter of the first MG becomes equal to or higher than an engagement prohibition temperature which is lower than a working upper limit temperature during the execution of the rotating speed control, the execution of the engagement control is prohibited.
US09555796B2	Hybrid vehicle having interactive manual transmission and control method therefor A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a driving motor/generator connected to an output shaft of the engine; a connection unit disposed between the engine and the driving motor/generator to separate the engine from the driving motor/generator when the engine is stopped and to connect the engine to the driving motor/generator when the engine is operated; a manual transmission connected to the driving motor/generator, for directly varying gear ratio without using an engine clutch according to a driving speed and a torque generated by the driving motor/generator and/or the engine; a position sensor for detecting a position of a manual gearshift lever; and a central control unit connected to the engine, the driving motor/generator, the connection unit, and the manual transmission. In order to perform a gearshift of the manual transmission, the central control unit separates the connection unit disposed between the engine and the driving motor/generator when the vehicle is stopped or driven at a preset speed or lower or connects the connection unit when the vehicle is driven at the preset speed or higher, and controls the driving motor/generator and/or the engine according to the detected position of the manual gearshift lever to adjust a speed of an input shaft of the manual transmission.
US09555793B2	Vehicle control apparatus A vehicle control apparatus assists a braking operation by using negative pressure in a negative pressure chamber generated by rotation of an internal combustion engine, automatically stops or restarts the engine if a first or second condition is satisfied, respectively. The apparatus determines whether a braking operation is performed, detects the rotational speed of the engine and the negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber using a negative pressure sensor. When a state has continued over a predetermined time while no braking operation has been detected, and the rotational speed has been over a threshold, the apparatus temporarily determine whether the sensor is abnormal, based on the negative pressure. When the sensor has been temporarily determined abnormal for a predetermined number of times, the abnormality is certainly determined to inhibit automatic stopping of the engine. The predetermined time may be changed depending whether the state has continued.
US09555787B2	Brake booster with tunable release A vehicle brake booster includes a brake input member configured to receive a braking input force and a booster housing divided into a first chamber adjacent the brake input member and a second chamber remote from the brake input member. A poppet valve includes a poppet valve body and a poppet seal, the poppet valve operable to maintain separation between pressure and vacuum during assisted braking and further being operable to enable evacuation of the air from the first chamber through one or more side ports of the poppet valve body upon release of the braking input force and completion of the assisted braking A restrictor element provides a predetermined release speed for the booster. The one or more side ports define a total flow resistance of the poppet valve body which is less than an effective total flow resistance of the poppet valve body set by the restrictor element.
US09555783B2	Wheel speed estimation using a drivetrain model A controller. The controller includes a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium. The processor is configured to receive the speed of a first driven wheel from a wheel speed sensor and the speed of a drive shaft from a drive shaft sensor. The non-transistory computer readable medium includes program instructions executed by the processor for determining a speed of a second driven wheel based on a plurality of detected speeds of the first driven wheel and detected speeds of the drive shaft over time.
US09555782B2	Aircraft electric braking system An electrically actuated braking system for an aircraft. The system includes: an electro-mechanical brake actuator (EMAbrake) proximate a wheel of the aircraft, the EMAbrake including a motor; an electro-mechanical actuator controller (EMAC) including a motor controller for generating a drive signal for the EMAbrake; a braking control unit (BCU) for generating a braking force command signal for the EMAC during a normal mode of operation; and an emergency braking control unit (eBCU) for generating a braking force command signal for the EMAC during an emergency operating mode. The eBCU is disposed together with the EMAC in a common line replaceable unit (LRU).
US09555781B2	Determining a triggering criterion for vehicle braking To determine a triggering criterion for outputting brake signals in a vehicle, at least one object in the vehicle surroundings is sensed, and a determination is made as to whether the vehicle is on a collision course with the object. When a collision course is determined, an avoidance criterion, which is satisfied if an avoidance maneuver is not available, is checked. When the avoidance criterion is met, a braking criterion is checked. The object is classified into at least a first or a second class as a function of its properties, and the avoidance maneuver is determined as a function of such classification such that, in the case of a first class, a first avoidance trajectory is determined, and, in the case of a second class, a second trajectory, different from the first, is determined. The triggering criterion for brake signal output is satisfied when the avoidance and braking criteria are satisfied.
US09555778B2	Patient support apparatus with braking system A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a manually operable brake operatively associated with the patient support surface, a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, and an electrically powered actuator. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the manually operable brake and to the manual brake activation handle or pedal, and actuates the manually operable brake and moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal from a first position to a second portion in response to a signal at the patient support apparatus.
US09555775B2	Connectors and connector kit for attachment of a windshield wiper blade to multiple types of windshield wiper arms A kit for connecting a wiper blade and multiple types of wiper arms, the kit including a container and a set of connectors located within an interior of the container. The set of connectors includes a first connector having a structure to receive and be connected to at least two different wiper arms that are part of a first class of wiper arms. The set of connectors includes a second connector having a structure to receive and be connected to at least two different wiper arms that are part of a second class of wiper arms. The set of connectors includes a third connector having a structure to receive and be connected to at least two different wiper arms that are part of a third class of wiper arms, wherein the first class, the second class and the third class are different from one another.
US09555769B2	Belt lock with a state sensor for detection of the locking state of a safety belt system A belt lock is provided with a state sensor for detection of the locking state of a safety belt system, for example in an motor vehicle. The belt lock includes a locking mechanism which is located in a belt lock housing, which is formed from an upper shell and a lower shell, for an inserted belt tongue which has a component which changes its location from a first end position into a second end position when the locking mechanism is actuated. Actuation of the locking mechanism can be monitored by the state sensor. The state sensor is made as an electronic sensor element which is located in the lower shell.
US09555767B2	Driving wheel for seatbelt tensioners and seatbelt tensioners for a seatbelt system A drive wheel for a belt tensioner is adapted to be coupled to a belt reel and includes an external tooth system including plural teeth distributed along the circumference. The teeth are inclined in a first circumferential direction and/or the teeth have at least one end face facing away from the central axis of the drive wheel and being inclined in a first circumferential direction and/or the clearances between neighboring teeth are not symmetrical with respect to planes defined by radial and axial directions. The teeth have no symmetry with respect to planes extending tangentially relative to the circumferential direction.
US09555766B2	Seatbelt retractor and seatbelt assembly including same A seatbelt retractor is provided that can be formed in a smaller size yet properly operated, and capable of smoothly providing seatbelt tension, and a seatbelt assembly including such a seatbelt retractor. The seatbelt retractor includes a frame, a seatbelt, a spool that takes up the seatbelt, the spool being rotatably supported by the frame, a lock mechanism that allows the spool to rotate in a non-activated state and restricts, upon being activated, the spool from rotating in the seatbelt withdrawal direction, and an energy absorption mechanism that limits the load applied to the seatbelt to thereby absorb and alleviate energy of the occupant, and the energy absorption mechanism includes a first torsion bar concentrically enclosed in the spool with one end portion retained by the spool and the other end portion disposed to be locked by the lock mechanism, and disposed to be rotated by torsional force, a second torsion bar eccentrically enclosed in the spool with one end portion 24a disposed to be locked by the lock mechanism, and disposed to be rotated by torsional force, and a moving member that rotates interlocked with the spool, and moves between the first position for retaining the other end portion of the second torsion bar and the second position spaced from the other end portion of the second torsion bar.
US09555764B2	Airbag and airbag apparatus An airbag includes an airbag body formed by joining front and rear panels, an inlet of pressurized fluid, a vent hole communicating inside and outside of the airbag body, a regulation portion regulating discharge of the pressurized fluid from the vent hole and a coupling portion temporarily joining the front and rear panels. The inlet and the vent hole are formed on the rear panel. The regulation portion includes a connecting member, a vent hole cover and a link member. The connecting member regulates a thickness of the airbag body in the inflated state. The vent hole cover covers the vent hole and has one end portion supported by the rear panel and the other end portion joined to the coupling portion. The link member has one end portion joined to the vent hole cover and the other end portion joined to the connecting member.
US09555760B2	Safety apparatus for vehicle A safety apparatus for a vehicle includes a coupling device to couple an airbag device with a cowl cross bar. The coupling device includes a plurality of mounting brackets coupled with the cowl cross bar while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, mounting b locks coupled with the mounting brackets, and fitting members protruding from an outer bottom surface of the housing and fitted on the mounting blocks.
US09555758B2	Vehicle safety system A safety arrangement for a vehicle. The safety arrangement has a control unit; one or more sensors, a road detection arrangement; and one or more vehicle safety systems. The control unit processes the signals from the sensors and determines whether the vehicle is travelling over rough terrain, entering a ditch-like feature, or is airborne. The control unit will activate one or more of the vehicle safety systems if it is determined that the vehicle is travelling over rough terrain, entering a ditch-like feature, or is airborne. Signals, or derived quantities, from the sensors are compared against a threshold to determine whether to activate a vehicle safety system. A first threshold level is used if the vehicle has not or is not likely to leave the road, and a second threshold level is used if the vehicle has or is likely to leave the road.
US09555757B2	Quick release grill guard The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to a quick release grill guard further comprising at least one latching system configured for the quick release and pivot of the grill guard away from the vehicle grill face. In certain embodiments, the quick release grill guard further comprises a grill guard coupling portion, a vehicle coupling portion, a latching portion a hinge, a quick release bar; and a clasping member. In certain embodiments, the grill guard coupling portion is capable of being freely pivoted relative to the hinge by actuation of the clasping member by way of the quick release bar. In exemplary embodiments, the quick release bar is in operable communication with multiple latching systems so as to release the grill guard in a plurality of locations simultaneously.
US09555756B2	Vehicle front structure A vehicle front structure includes: a pair of right and left front side members extending in the vehicle front-rear direction; load receiving members each projecting from a corresponding one of the front side members outward in the vehicle-width direction, having an outer side surface in the vehicle-width direction, which is tilted inward in the vehicle-width direction from the vehicle front side toward the vehicle rear side; and protruding members each disposed forward of a corresponding one of the load receiving members in the vehicle front-rear direction, each protruding forward in the vehicle front-rear direction, and each having a front end portion and a rear end portion, the rear end portion being fixed at a position at which at least a part of the protruding member overlaps with the corresponding load receiving member in a front view of the vehicle, and the front end portion being a free end.
US09555752B2	Method for rationalising a chain of electrical components of an aircraft, implementation architecture and corresponding aircraft A chain of components for transmitting electric power of an aircraft includes an auxiliary power unit (APU), main engines and end consumer systems via power networks and electronic connections controlled by a unit. The APU supplies power to a shaft by a connection to at least one energy converter unit, via a transmission unit, each converter unit comprising only one convertible electromechanical component. The transmission of power is effected by a direct connection to the transmission unit and to the end consumer system. The connection between a converter unit and the APU is provided by connecting the shaft of the APU to the shaft of the starter/generator (SG) via a directional transmission of power operating in one direction only from the shaft of the APU to the shaft of the SG.
US09555750B2	Self-identifying switch system for vehicle control A vehicle switch module includes a sub-network having switches connected thereto and a sub-network controller in operative communication with the sub-network and the switches. Each switch includes a microprocessor programmed to generate switch messages that include address and switch logic state data. The sub-network controller transmits switch queries onto the sub-network to a number of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of switches in the switch module and receives switch messages responsive to the queries from switches at addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted. The received switch messages verify the identity of a switch in the module and provide a switch state for the switch. The sub-network controller interprets the received switch messages and—based on the switch address and switch state data in the messages—controls operation of a vehicle output or load associated with each of the switches.
US09555748B2	Vehicle-use resin cover A vehicle-use resin cover including: a resin cover main body configured including an opening, and anchoring portions formed at locations running along a peripheral edge of the opening; a resin cap member, which is mounted in the opening and is configured including a cap main body that covers the opening, and anchored portions, which are provided to an outer peripheral portion of the cap main body so as to correspond to the anchoring portions and are anchored by the anchoring portions; a recessed portion, which is formed at the peripheral edge of the opening and is in communication with the opening at the cap member side of the recessed portion, and through which a leading end of a tool for removing the cap member is insertable; and a marker portion provided to the outer peripheral portion of the cap main body at a position facing the recessed portion.
US09555744B1	Bicycle rack for a vehicle A bicycle rack for a vehicle is disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the bicycle rack includes: (i) a central support assembly; (ii) a rail member coupled to the central support assembly, the rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of a first wheel of a bicycle; (iii) a support arm coupled to the central support assembly, the support arm including a cavity for receiving a portion of a second wheel of the bicycle; and (iv) at least one pedal support assembly coupled to the central support assembly, the at least one pedal support assembly configured to structurally engage a pedal of the bicycle in a supporting relationship. Also, in one or more embodiments, the bicycle rack may further include a bicycle locking assembly configured to secure the bicycle to the bicycle rack so as to inhibit a theft of the bicycle.
US09555726B2	Seatback energy management system Described are video monitor assemblies (10) including a bezel assembly (16) coupled to a passenger seatback (12), wherein the bezel assembly includes a monitor (30) and a bezel (28), the monitor coupled to the bezel via low load fasteners (44) and high load fasteners (46), wherein the low load fasteners (44) are configured to fail or shear from a force applied to the monitor (30) during a head impact, and the high load fasteners (46) are configured to withstand the force applied to the monitor during the head impact.
US09555725B2	Adjustable vehicle seat An adjustable vehicle seat (1) includes a seat part (2) and a backrest (3) which is pivotable relative to the seat part via a backrest adjustment fitting (5) and is lockable in a plurality of angular positions. A locking device (90) locks the seat part to a vehicle structure. An unlocking lever (30) transmits an unlocking movement to the locking device. A first interlock element (54), with the fitting unlocked, prevents a movement of the unlocking lever for unlocking the locking device and with the locking device unlocked, prevents an unlocking of the backrest adjustment fitting. The first interlock element, as a blocking lever, is connected to a transmission rod (60) for rotation therewith, to unlock the fitting. The unlocking lever has or interacts with a blocking element (36, 37) which, when the locking device; is unlocked, prevents a movement of the blocking lever for unlocking the backrest adjustment fitting.
US09555723B2	Vehicle seat with a turning device A vehicle seat (1) has a turning device (10), including a base part (14), a seat part support (16) rotatable relative to the base part about an axis of rotation (12) and at least one catching device (20), preventing the seat part support (16) from being ripped out of the base part (14) in the event of a crash, including an insertion element (24) and a receiving element (26) into which the insertion element (24) can be inserted. The receiving element (26) has at least one spring element (40) which undergoes a deformation by contact with the inserted insertion element (24). The spring element (40) is designed such that, when the insertion element (24) is inserted, a spring resistance is approximately the same as when the insertion element (24) is not inserted. The spring resistance of the spring element increases upon a further deformation by the insertion element (24).
US09555721B2	Slip control device for electric vehicle A slip control device for an electric automobile includes a maximum rotation frequency calculator to calculate a drive wheel maximum rotation frequency Nmax on the basis of a rotation frequency N1 of a driven wheel and an ideal slip ratio λmin according to the formula (Nmax−N1)/N1=λmin. It is determined whether a drive wheel rotation frequency N2 exceeds the frequency Nmax. If it is determined that the frequency N2 exceeds the frequency Nmax, a torque command value to a motor unit is made to be zero.
US09555720B2	Transport device with linear-motor drive The transport device for conveying products has several symmetrically configured, movable carriages having inverted U-shape, each carriage having permanent magnets, also has an endless guide rail for guiding the carriages and a linear-motor drive device to drive the carriages. Each symmetric half of each carriage has three running rollers projecting inwardly from sidepieces of the carriage. The three running rollers of the first half rest on first and second guide surfaces on a first side wall of the guide rail, and the three running rollers of the second half rest on first and second guide surfaces on the second side wall of the guide rail. Each guide surface is arranged at an acute angle to a longitudinal center plane of the transport device, and the two guide surfaces of each side wall are at an angle of 80° to 100° to each other.
US09555719B2	System and method for optimizing hybrid vehicle battery usage constraints A hybrid system including a hybrid control module for operating the hybrid system to as to have its energy storage device meet a predetermined service life metric is disclosed. The hybrid control module stores experimental information indicative of the impact of certain usage parameters on the service life of the energy storage device, monitors the actual usage parameters observed during operation of the hybrid system, and dynamically determines a maximum operating temperature for the energy storage device in order to increase or decrease its utilization by the hybrid system.
US09555718B2	Estimation and compensation of battery measurement and asynchronization biases A hybrid or electric vehicle includes a traction battery to store and provide energy for the vehicle. The traction battery includes a number of battery cells. For effective operation of the traction battery, operating parameters, such as state of charge and battery power limits, may need to be known. The operating parameters may be a function of battery cell voltage and impedance parameters. A parameter estimation scheme may use measured cell voltages and a measured traction battery current as inputs. A current measurement bias may be modeled that incorporates measurement bias caused by asynchronous current and voltage measurements. The current measurement bias may be estimated for each cell and the value may differ between cells.
US09555717B2	Storage battery transfer support device and storage battery transfer support method The present invention serves to reduce the costs associated with the overall life cycle of storage batteries by performing support so that a plurality of batteries are transferred between and used at a plurality of facilities. This storage battery transfer support device comprises: a collection unit that collects battery information representing the status of each battery used at a plurality of facilities; a battery information storage unit that stores the battery information collected by the collection unit; and a deterioration prediction unit that, on the basis of the battery information stored in the battery information storage unit, predicts deterioration of storage batteries that have been transferred between and used at a plurality of facilities.
US09555716B2	Automotive vehicle charge system A vehicle charging system includes a base plate having an inclined surface defining at least a portion of a recess, and an arm arrangement having a base end portion movably attached to the base plate, a vehicle end portion, a spring-loaded element attached to the base end portion and in contact with the base plate, and a primary charge pad attached to the vehicle end portion. The arm arrangement has a retracted position in which at least a portion of the primary charge pad is disposed within the recess and an extended position in which the primary charge pad is spaced away from the base plate. The spring-loaded element is arranged to move along the inclined surface as the arm arrangement moves between the retracted and extended positions.
US09555711B2	Power converters A power converter includes a first set of transistors electrically connected in series, a second set of transistors electrically connected in series, and an AC link. The second set of transistors is electrically connected in parallel with the first set of transistors to form an H-bridge. The AC link is electrically connected between the first and second sets of transistors. A plurality of H-bridges are connected in parallel and a three-wire DC bus is electrically connected to the H-bridges.
US09555707B2	In-vehicle input system An in-vehicle input system includes: a display device for displaying screen images having selection items; a selection operation device for moving a cursor from a first selection item to a second selection item to select and input the second selection item; a first image switching device for switching from a current level screen image to a lower level screen image when the selected second selection item is input; a second image switching device for switching from the current level screen image to an upper level screen image when the selection operation device selects and inputs a level return item of the selected second selection item disposed on a nearest screen edge side of the selected second selection item; and a level return item display device for emphasizing a display of the level return item when the second selection item is selected.
US09555704B2	System and method for inhibiting engine operation during fueling A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, inhibiting operation of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle based on a proximity of the vehicle to a fueling location.
US09555696B2	Apparatus and method for distributing a tarp over a cargo on a truck load bed A tarp distributing apparatus includes a tarp guide device held in an immobile condition adjacent to and extending upright to above a rear location on a truck load bed so as to establish the height to which a tarp can be moved to above and over the rear of a cargo on the truck load bed, a tarp draught device mounted in a mobile condition adjacent to and extending upright to above the truck load bed forwardly of the tarp guide device so as to undergo movement relative thereto and along the truck load bed for engaging and pulling the tarp relative to the tarp guide device forwardly over the cargo, and an actuation mechanism configured to manipulate and move the tarp draught device relative to the tarp guide device and the cargo so as to accomplish distributing the tarp over at least a portion of the cargo.
US09555695B2	Vehicle door structure A door structure of a vehicle comprises a door trim and a door trim frame that combines with the door trim to increase stiffness of the door trim.
US09555693B2	Air intake device of a vehicle-interior ventilation system, and vehicle-interior ventilation system The invention relates to an air intake device (16) of a vehicle-interior ventilation system (10), in particular of a vehicle air conditioner, having a filter chamber (18) which is arranged upstream of a fan blower (34), and a filter (32) which is arranged in the filter chamber (18), the filter chamber (18) having a fresh air inlet (22) upstream of the filter (32) and a filter maintenance opening (40) which makes it possible to install and dismantle the filter (32). Furthermore, the air intake device (16) comprises an air-guiding component (24) which can be dismantled and has a fresh air intake opening (28), which air-guiding component (24) forms a fresh air duct (26) which extends from the fresh air intake opening (28) to the fresh air inlet (22) of the filter chamber (18), and which air-guiding component (24) closes the filter maintenance opening (40) by way of a cover section (42).
US09555689B2	Adaptive automatic climate control for vehicles Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for providing adaptive automatic climate control functionality for a vehicle. A sensor is configured to detect when a manual override of an automatic climate control feature of a vehicle has occurred. A processor is coupled to the sensor, and is configured to initiate the automatic climate control feature for the vehicle and adjust a calibration of the automatic climate control feature when the manual override has been detected.
US09555682B2	Constructed wheel support A wheel support for arrangement on a motor vehicle axle is disclosed on a multi-link axle having a flange for receiving a wheel hub and at least two receptacles for rotatable coupling to links, the wheel support being coupled to a trailing link by means of thermal joining, which wheel support is distinguished by the fact that the wheel support is configured as a welded component and has a main body region which has at least two sheet metal components which are coupled to one another by way of thermal joining.
US09555679B2	Convertible electric bike and board apparatus A modular bicycle and board apparatus having a buoyant board, a front wheel, a rear wheel and handlebars mountable and usable in a first configuration as a bicycle in which the buoyant board is the bicycle's frame and in a second configuration as a surfboard by changing the orientation of the front wheel and handlebars with 90 degrees with respect to the buoyant board, the surfboard being steerable from the handlebars.
US09555670B2	Pneumatic tire A tire includes an annular decoration printing portion, at least a portion thereof being provided on an outer surface of a side portion further toward a tire radial direction outer side than a tire maximum width position. The decoration printing portion includes an annular design portion and an annular gradation portion provided at least on the tire radial direction outer side of the design portion. The gradation portion incrementally decreases in value outward in the tire radial direction, with a value of 100% being a pure color and a value of 0% being pure black in an HSV color space.
US09555668B2	Tire In the tire (1), a region of the tread portion (10) overlapping with a range of 80% of a length of the circumferential belt layer (40) in a tread widthwise direction around a tire equator line CL is a central region CR in the tire radial direction trd, and a remaining region of the tread portion (10) is a terminal region TR, a maximum curvature radius of the arc portion of the central circumferential groove 50a is R1, a minimum curvature radius of the arc portion of the terminal circumferential groove 50b is R2, a maximum depth in the tire radial direction trd from the tread surface (11) to a groove bottom 55a of the central circumferential groove 50a is D1, a maximum depth in the tire radial direction trd from the tread surface (11) to a groove bottom 55b of the terminal circumferential groove 50b is D2, and a relationship of R1/D1≦0.130 and a relationship of R2/D2>0.195 are satisfied.
US09555664B2	Wheel spider A wheel with a rim as well as a wheel spider, where the wheel spider has a hub and spokes. The wheel includes spokes including one or more linearly stretched textile strands as reinforcement material of a fiber composite and each linearly stretched textile strand runs at least once from the rim to the hub and back without interruption and thus forms at least one spoke. The textile strands are connected in a positive-locking manner and/or in substance with the hub and the rim. A process is provided for the manufacture of the wheel.
US09555663B2	Automotive wheel with cavity between bolt holes in hub mounting section There is provided an automotive wheel with a cavity between the bolt holes in a hub mounting section, and more particularly, to an automotive wheel with a cavity between the bolt holes in a hub mounting section, wherein a cavity between the bolt holes in a hub mounting section structured to secure an automotive wheel to a wheel hub is uniformly formed to reduce the weight and noise of the automotive wheel, and wherein a damper rubber is inserted into the cavity to reduce the vibration and noise generated during driving an automobile.
US09555661B2	Electric pencil sharpener with a replaceable cutter assembly An electric pencil sharpener has a body, a cover and a cutter assembly. The body has a transmission device and a waste case having an opening. The cover is mounted on and closes the opening of the waste case. The cutter assembly is mounted in the waste case, is detachable from the waste case via the opening and has a connection base, a cutter bracket and a cutter. The connection base has a combining hole defined through the connection base. The cutter bracket is connected rotatably with the connection base and has a connection element connected with transmission device to make the cutter bracket driven by and rotate with the transmission device. The cutter is mounted on the cutter bracket. Accordingly, the cutter assembly is easily and conveniently replaceable when the cutter of the cutter assembly is damaged or worn off.
US09555659B2	Method of, and apparatus for, producing multi-leaf, folded printed products, in particular periodicals and brochures In a material web which is printed in a digital printing station and moved in an advancement direction, a first material-web strand, which is formed by at least one printed material-web portion, is combined with a second material-web strand, which is formed by two printed material-web portions, by folding. The two material-web strands are connected to one another by an adhesive. Subproducts are then severed from the thus interconnected material-web strands by cross-cutting. These subproducts comprise a first printed sheet, severed from the first material-web strand, and a second printed sheet, connected to the first printed sheet and severed from the second material-web strand. The subproducts are then positioned one upon the other to form a stack, the subproducts being connected to one another by an adhesive in the region of the subsequent folding line. The stacked subproducts are then folded about a folding line to form an end product.
US09555655B2	Recording medium A recording medium includes a substrate and a first ink-receiving layer. The first ink-receiving layer contains an amorphous silica having an average particle size of 1.0 μm or more and an inorganic particle having an average particle size of 50 nm or less. The content of the amorphous silica in the first ink-receiving layer is 30 mass % or more and 95 mass % or less based on a total content of all inorganic particles.
US09555654B2	Tape cartridge A tape cartridge includes a tape roll around which a printing medium is wound, a platen roller that has a first fitting portion to be fitted to a drive shaft when the tape cartridge is mounted on a mounting section of a tape printer, and a second fitting portion that is disposed at a center of a tape roll in an axial direction of the tape roll and is fitted to an identification portion when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section of the tape printer. In the tape cartridge, when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section of the tape printer, the second fitting portion is disposed in a depressed portion facing the mounting section.
US09555646B1	Methods and apparatus for printing on a three dimensional object An apparatus and method are provided for printing high resolution images on a surface that exhibits varying levels of thickness and/or elevation. One application of the method and apparatus of this invention is the printing of images on footwear, such as flip-flops or sandals.
US09555644B2	Non-contact transfer printing A transfer printing process that exploits the mismatch in mechanical or thermo-mechanical response at the interface of a printable micro- or nano-device and a transfer stamp to drive the release of the device from the stamp and its non-contact transfer to a receiving substrate are provided. The resulting facile, pick-and-place process is demonstrated with the assembling of 3-D microdevices and the printing of GAN light-emitting diodes onto silicon and glass substrates. High speed photography is used to provide experimental evidence of thermo-mechanically driven release.
US09555643B2	Transfer device The present invention is to eliminate loosening of a transfer film on a rear end side of a card caused due to collision of a front end of the card against a conveying roller pair provided downstream of a transfer roller to prevent wrinkles from occurring in a transferred image. A rotation amount of a card conveying motor SMr and a wind amount of a transfer film 46 (conveying amount of the transfer film) are compared after a front end of a card K rushes into a conveying roller pair 37 during transfer processing for the card K to thereby detect a slip amount of the card K. A card conveying speed and a transfer film feed speed are controlled in accordance with the detected slip amount so as to eliminate loosening of the transfer film 46.
US09555642B2	Containers with a vent An example apparatus includes a container defining an internal volume including an aperture to provide access to the internal volume; and a vent associated with the aperture, the vent in a closed position prior to coupling the apparatus to a printer, the vent entering an open position in response to an interaction with a connector of the printer.
US09555636B2	Printers Fluid couplings examples are disclosed in examples herein. An example printer includes a housing; and a fluid reservoir permanently fixed within the housing, the fluid reservoir having a capacity sufficient to store enough ink to print a number of pages that corresponds to an expected useful life of the printer.
US09555631B2	Laminate manifolds for mesoscale fluidic systems Laminate manifolds, and their manufacture. The laminate manifolds (18) include plates (20) arranged in parallel, forming a laminate plate stack (22), with a securing agent (24) securing the plates in the plate stack. At least some of the plates incorporate apertures (26) that are oriented in their respective plates so that when the plates are arranged in the laminate plate stack (22), the apertures define a fluidic pathway (28) that emerges from the laminate plate stack between parallel plates. The laminate manifolds are particularly useful as ink manifolds (14) for inkjet printers (10).
US09555626B1	Printer provided with head units having differences in ejection performance and method of manufacturing printer An inkjet head includes a plurality of head units including a first head unit and a second head unit. Each head unit has a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of drive elements. The second head unit has an ejection performance of nozzles lower than an ejection performance of nozzles of the first head unit. The second head unit is farther from a center portion of the inkjet head than the first head unit is. A drive unit is configured to apply a drive voltage for generating energy to each of the plurality of drive elements included in each of the plurality of head units. The drive voltage applied to each of the plurality of drive elements included in the first head unit is lower than the drive voltage applied to each of the plurality of drive elements included in the second head unit.
US09555622B2	Printing apparatus and printing method A printing apparatus is configured to perform printing on a recording medium. The printing apparatus includes: droplet discharge heads having nozzles configured to discharge liquids having different colors from each other as droplets onto the recording medium, and an abnormal discharge detecting unit configured to detect an abnormal discharge of the droplets at the respective nozzles. The head unit is capable of taking a mode of performing the printing in the case where the abnormal discharge is detected by the abnormal discharge detecting unit by using, for example, remaining droplet discharge heads except the nozzle that has been detected to have the abnormal discharge and nozzles that discharge droplets having the same color as droplets discharged by the nozzle that has been detected to have the abnormal discharge.
US09555621B2	Continuous printhead drop deflector system A continuous printhead drop deflector system includes a gas flow duct including a wall, the wall including a porous member having pores through which liquid can flow and a liquid flow channel, the flow channel being separated from the air flow duct by the porous member, the flow channel includes; a first port for extracting liquid from a first portion of the liquid flow channel; a second port for supplying liquid to a second portion of the liquid flow channel; one or more paths in the liquid channel permitting fluid to flow from the second portion to the first portion; wherein liquid, supplied through the second port to the second portion of the liquid channel and through the one or more paths to the first portion of the liquid channel, contacts and wicks into the porous member before being extracted through the first port.
US09555620B2	Printing apparatus and method for adjusting printing position An adjustment value obtaining unit obtains an adjustment value for a first scanning speed before a pattern forming unit forms adjustment patterns for a second scanning speed, the pattern forming unit forms adjustment patterns by scanning with a print head at the second scanning speed with a shift amount based on an adjustment value obtained for the first scanning speed, and the adjustment value obtaining unit obtains an adjustment value for the second scanning speed based on the adjustment patterns formed by scanning with the print head at the second scanning speed.
US09555619B2	Anilox roller, particularly for flexographic printing machines An anilox roller for flexographic printing machines, which comprises a sleeve cylinder rotatably supported about its own axis by the fixed structure of a flexographic printing machine, and an anilox sleeve, which has a tubular body provided, on its outer side wall, with an anilox surface which can be axially fitted on and removed from the sleeve cylinder. Forced circulation of a temperature control fluid within the tubular body is further provided.
US09555616B2	Variable printing process using soft secondary plates and specialty inks The present invention relates to using soft secondary plates and specialty inks in a printing process. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and methods of using soft secondary plates made of a rubber comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene or a photopolymer material to decorate an exterior surface of cylindrical metallic containers with high definition graphics and other indicia.
US09555614B2	Method for quantifying blanket performance and printing press A method for determining blanket performance in a printing press is provided. The printing press includes a plate cylinder having a printing plate transferring an image to a blanket on a blanket cylinder for printing on a substrate. The method includes determining an acceptable range of nip force (Fp) between a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder in a printing unit, calculating the nip force (Fp) between the plate cylinder and blanket cylinder and determining blanket performance based on the nip force with respect to the acceptable range of nip force. A printing press is also provided.
US09555605B2	Device for laminating plate-shaped articles A device for laminating plate-shaped articles, in particular glass panes, has two laminating rolls (2, 9), of which at least one laminating roll (2) is driven and between which the plate-shaped articles for laminating are guided through. One laminating roll (2) is preferably mounted fixedly in a machine frame (1) and the other laminating roll (9) is mounted adjustably in the machine frame (1). The roll (9) which is mounted adjustably in the machine frame (1) is mounted in the region of the ends of the roll (9) in bearings (11) which are connected to parallel links (25, 26). The parallel links (25, 26) are mounted in the machine frame (1) and are connected to one another via a coupling rod (32). One of the two parallel links (25) is connected to a drive (37).
US09555604B2	Resin composition and bonded composite A resin composition, preferably an adhesive composition, comprising a polyether polyamide elastomer capable of being strongly bended with a polyimide resin, preferably strongly bended through an easy process to form an interface between the polyimide resin and the composition, and a bonded composite having the resin composition and a polyimide resin which together form an interface to be bonded with each other. A resin composition for forming an interface together with a polyimide resin for bonding, wherein the resin composition comprises a polyether polyamide elastomer (component R) obtained by subjecting a specific aminocarboxylic acid compound A1 and/or lactam compound A2, polyether compound B, and dicarboxylic acid compound C to polymerization, wherein the content of the component R in the resin composition is 80 to 100% by weight.
US09555601B2	Aluminium barrier laminate The present subject matter relates to a laminate comprising: an outer layer of 50% to 70% of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and 50% to 30% of Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE); an aluminum core layer disposed between Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA) layers; and an inner layer of about 50% to 70% of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and 50% to 30% of Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE). The outer polyethylene layer or inner polyethylene layer is a multilayer film, preferably three layer film.The present subject matter also relates to a process for the preparation of the laminate.
US09555598B2	Foam cushion for headphones A composite foam cushion for a sound control device. The cushion includes a core formed of a polymeric foam material and a polymeric coating overlying at least a portion of the core of polymeric foam material. The polymeric coating includes an outer coating layer and an inner polymeric coating layer bonded to the core of polymeric foam material. The inner coating layer may provide the cushion with strength, while providing a high degree of flexibility and suppleness to closely conform around contours and obstructions. The outer coating layer may provide the cushion with enhanced abrasion resistance and/or chemical resistance while having an aesthetically pleasing feel and appearance.
US09555592B2	Method for manufacturing a turbine engine blade root of a composite material and blade root obtained by such a method A method of fabricating a turbine engine blade root out of composite material including fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix, the method including making a central fiber strip and two outer fiber strips from three sets of yarn layers interlinked by three-dimensional weaving, passing the two outer strips through the central strip with the two outer strips crossing each other inside the central strip, eliminating the portions of the two outer strips lying outside the central strip by cutting them off, shaping the fiber blank in order to obtain a preform having a main portion forming a blade-root preform integral with two secondary portions forming bearing-plate preforms, and densifying the preform densified by the matrix.
US09555590B2	Pneumatic tire for heavy load, and method for producing the same In the method according to the invention for producing a pneumatic tire for heavy load, it is important that the following vulcanizing conditions are satisfied, the temperature for vulcanizing the tread region is 140° C. or lower, a vulcanization calorie given to the bead regions is a calorie corresponding to a time of 25 to 40 minutes in terms of the vulcanization calorie at a vulcanizing temperature of 140° C., and the ratio of a vulcanization calorie given to the front surface of the tread region to the vulcanization calorie given to the bead regions is 0.6 or more and less than 1.0, these vulcanization calories being each in terms of the vulcanization calorie at the vulcanizing temperature of 140° C.
US09555589B1	Method of making optical films and stacks Methods of making optical films and optical stacks are described. A method of making an optical stack includes providing a thermoform tool centered on a tool axis and having an external surface rotationally asymmetric about the tool axis; heating an optical film resulting in a softened optical film; conforming the softened optical film to the external surface while stretching the softened film along at least orthogonal first and second directions away from the tool axis resulting in a conformed optical film rotationally asymmetric about an optical axis of the conformed film where the optical axis coincident with the tool axis; cooling the conformed optical film resulting in a symmetric optical film rotationally symmetric about the optical axis; and molding an optical lens on the symmetric optical film resulting in the optical stack.
US09555588B2	Insert for forming an end connection in a uni-axial composite material An insert for forming an end connection in a uni-axial composite material, and an end connection comprising at least one insert, is disclosed. The insert comprises a sleeve which comprises a plurality of fibers having a multi-axial arrangement. At least a portion of the interior surface of the sleeve comprises a thread formation. A method of forming an end connection in a uni-axial composite material is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a sleeve comprising a plurality of fibers having a multi-axial arrangement and providing a thread formation on at least a portion of the interior surface of the sleeve. The sleeve is positioned and secured within the uni-axial composite material.
US09555583B1	Fabrication of neural interfaces using 3D projection micro-stereolithography The present invention is related to methods of fabricating neural interfaces using 3D projection micro-stereolithography.
US09555579B2	Tension member and polymer jacket assembly including a geometry stabilizer in the jacket An exemplary assembly includes at least one elongated tension member. A jacket covers at least some of the tension member. The polymer jacket comprises a polymer material including a melamine based geometry stabilizer that facilitates maintaining the jacket material near the tension member if the assembly is subjected to a high temperature condition.
US09555578B2	Transfer system and method for applying a film material to an elongate member A transfer system including a frame having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a transfer fixture connected to the upper end portion, the transfer fixture defining a channel and including an elongate transfer member positioned in the channel, the elongate transfer member including a web and a base flange connected to the web.
US09555574B2	Blow molding device and a method for manufacturing a blow molded container To effectively prevent a mouth portion of a preform from being deformed and enlarged in diameter during blow molding, provided is a blow molding device that includes: a blow mold inside which a cavity is provided for accommodating therein a preform, except for a mouth portion which is an orifice end of the preform, the preform being preformed in a bottomed tubular shape; a blow nozzle provided to supply a pressurized fluid into the preform through the mouth portion of the preform; a partition wall member that tightly surrounds an outer wall surface of the mouth portion of the preform; with space being formed between the partition wall member and the outer wall surface; and a pressurized fluid supply unit that supplies a pressurized fluid into the space during blow molding.
US09555572B2	Integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container comprising an inner layer and an outer layer comprising energyabsorbing additives, preform for making it and process for producing it The present invention relates to an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container (2) and preform(1, 1′) for blow-moulding the bag-in-container. An inner layer (11) and an outer layer (12) are used, wherein the preform forms a two-layer container upon blow-moulding, and wherein the obtained inner layer of said container releases from the thus obtained outer layer upon introduction of a gas at a point of interface (14) between the two layers. At least one of the inner and outer layers includes at least one additive allowing both inner and outer layers to reach their respective blow-moulding temperatures substantially simultaneously.
US09555571B1	Method for operating a molding machine with a predicted in-mold PVT waveform of a molding resin A method for operating a molding machine includes steps of specifying a simulating domain corresponding to a genuine domain in a mold disposed on the molding machine; performing a virtual molding by using an initial packing pressure profile to generate an initial state waveform expressing a relationship between an in-mold pressure and an in-mold temperature of the molding resin; obtaining an updated packing pressure profile for applying a molding pressure to at least a portion of the genuine domain while taking into consideration the initial state waveform; repeating the virtual molding while taking into consideration the updated packing pressure profile to generate an updated state waveform of the molding resin; and setting the molding machine taking into consideration the updated packing pressure profile to perform an actual molding by applying an actual molding pressure to the at least a portion of the genuine domain to prepare the molding product.
US09555566B2	Composite material part having thermal protection based on resin, and its method of fabrication A method of making a structural part having a thermal protection barrier is provided. The method includes: making a fiber structure; introducing the fiber structure into an injection mold having first and second chambers, the fiber structure being placed in the second chamber; placing a movable separator partition between the first and second chambers; injecting a first resin into the first chamber; solidifying the resin injected into the first chamber; withdrawing the movable separator partition; injecting a second resin into the second chamber containing the fiber texture; and hardening the resins present in the first and second chambers of the injection mold in such a manner as to obtain a part having a structural core made of composite material constituted by fiber reinforcement densified by an organic matrix, and a thermal barrier constituted by a layer of hardened resin.
US09555565B2	Apparatus for and method of producing two-color molded article An apparatus for producing a two-color molded article, including a pair of primary forming molds, which constitute a primary molding unit for molding a primary molded body by a primary injection molding operation using a first injection unit, are opened while retaining the primary molded body by one of the pair of primary forming molds, and a second injection unit, which constitutes a secondary molding unit for molding a secondary molded body by secondary injection molding operation, is assembled in one of a pair of secondary forming molds with at least part of the second injection unit being accommodated in the one of the pair of secondary forming molds. A secondary molding cavity is formed between the pair of secondary forming molds so as to accommodate at least a part of the primary molded body retained by the above-described one of the pair of primary forming molds.
US09555561B2	Method of manufacturing a polyimide substrate and method of manufacturing a display device using the same Provided is a method of manufacturing a polyimide substrate. An acid solution is provided to a glass substrate to remove a first cation included in the glass substrate, and a source solution including polyamic acid is provided to the glass substrate. Then, the polyamic acid is cured to form a polyimide substrate on the glass substrate, and the polyimide substrate is separated from the glass substrate.
US09555560B2	Temperature control sequence determination device, molding device, recording medium, and temperature control sequence determination method A molding device (1) includes a temperature control section (4) and a temperature control sequence determining section (3) that corrects a temperature control sequence for instructing the temperature control section (4) to operate, the temperature control sequence determining section (3) including predicting means (31) for predicting a temporal shift of a thermosetting material (H) and correcting means (32) for correcting a temperature control sequence on the basis of the temporal shift. This arrangement prevents thermal runaway during a process of molding a thermosetting material.
US09555559B2	Cavity insert film flow cooling A cavity insert for a mold stack is disclosed, the cavity insert being dimensioned to define a continuous annular cavity insert cooling chamber. The cavity insert also provides a first and second decompression chamber in fluid communication with each end of the cavity insert cooling chamber. Also disclosed is a chamber extension feature in fluid communication with the cavity insert cooling chamber to promote cooling in the downstream region of the cavity insert.
US09555558B2	Process for producing a product A method for production of a molded article from a base substance in a device for mixing of the base substance with a solvent is provided. The method includes mixing a base substance to produce a molding solution with the solvent and at least partially removing the solvent from the mixture; and feeding the molding solution to a device for further processing of a product and diluting the molding solution before further processing. In embodiments, the diluent is introduced to the device before a discharge device and/or in the discharge device.
US09555554B2	Oscillating multi-tool system A power tool having a housing, a motor, a tool holder driven about an output axis by the motor, and an output element for performing an operation on a workpiece. The tool holder has a locating feature including a tapered portion becoming narrower in a direction away from the surface of the tool holder. The output element has an aperture for receiving the locating feature and a face facing the surface of the tool holder when the locating feature is received. The power tool also includes a flange for transferring a clamping force for urging the output element towards the tool holder and a tab projecting from the flange for finger tightening the flange. A biasing member provides the clamping force toollessly. A gap is defined between the surface of the tool holder and the face when the tapered portion of the locating feature is fully received in the aperture.
US09555549B2	Control device, robot, robot system, and control method A control device includes a reception unit that receives first operation information and second operation information different from the first operation information; and a process unit that instructs a robot to execute operations based on the first operation information and the second operation information using a plurality of captured images of an imaged target object, the images being captured multiple times while the robot moves from a first posture to a second posture different from the first posture.
US09555542B2	High efficiency structural building system for robotics A robotic building system includes a first through third sets of extruded elements integrally joined at lengthwise edges and corners to rails. The second set of extruded elements has at least three adjoining sides surrounding a hollow opening, where each side is integrally joined to a rail. A third set of extruded elements has an asymmetrical inside angle shaped element formed by a first web and a second web oriented generally perpendicular to the first web, where each web is integrally affixed between a pair of opposing rails and each web shares a common rail. The rails may be tapped or drilled to accept a fastener, and each extruded element of the first set, second set and third set of extruded elements are adapted to be flush mounted to any of the other extruded elements or to the same shape extruded elements.
US09555541B2	Handheld collector device for gathering small objects A handheld collector device adapted to retrieve small objects, the device having an elongated handle, a head mounted to the handle, a plurality of tine sets retained by the head and an ejection mechanism to eject the objects. Each tine set has a plurality of individual tines projecting outwardly in spaced relation. The tines are relatively rigid members possessing a degree of flexibility such that when the ends of the tines are pressed onto objects to be collected, the tines flex sufficiently to pass over and capture the objects. The device is modular in construction such that the tine sets can be removed and replaced in order to adapt the device to provide optimum results for varying sizes and types of objects.
US09555536B2	Two-stage locking electric screwdriver A two-stage locking electric screwdriver, with its main improved features as follow: the electric screwdriver has pre-locking and locking functions; the torque settings of the electric screwdriver can be easily modulated, and meanwhile the torque accuracy and energy efficiency can be improved; the torque modulation type is external modulation, so that the torque modulation can be carried out externally and even the torsion spring can be replaced. Meanwhile, the component structures inside the electric screwdriver is improved through a design that the motor directly drives the clutch and then drive the screwdriver head unit, and that an internal gear clutch is used to replaced the gear unit and clutch unit, so that the number of parts is dramatically reduced to save production cost. During general rotation, the electric screwdriver will not drive the clutch unit, and when the torque jumps to the set value, the internal gear clutch rotates and generates a torque.
US09555527B2	Method for controlling torque output of DC electric tool A method for controlling a torque output of a DC electric tool, includes presetting torque levels and voltage ranges corresponding to the torque levels, detecting the current output voltage of a battery and determining the voltage range in which the current output voltage is located, determining whether or not the current voltage range matches the preset torque level or not, and if the current voltage range does not match the preset torque level providing a warning that the torque output cannot reach the preset torque level and calculating and displaying a maximum torque level corresponding to the actual torque output value and, if the current voltage range does match the preset torque level, calculating the current actual torque output value and keeping a PWM modulation value constant if the torque output value conforms to the preset torque level or increasing the PWM modulation value for compensation if the torque output value does not conform to the preset torque level.
US09555525B2	Rotation speed control method for impact type fastening tools A rotation speed control method for impact type fastening tools has a presetting step and a dynamic control step. The presetting step includes setting a plurality of working positions, and setting a PWM signal with a larger duty cycle as a driving signal in a period after energization so that a motor can rotate at a higher speed and improve work efficiency. When a main controller judges, according to feedback, that the operation enters an impact phase and torsion control is needed to reduce rotation speed, the main controller makes adjustment by driving the motor with a PWM signal with a lower duty cycle corresponding to a working position currently set by the user. The control method improves work efficiency, and meet the user's need of driving a fastener with a higher rotation speed at an early stage of operation. In the torsion control phase, the method according to the present invention can automatically use a suitable torsion to drive the fastener to better meet the user's needs in operation and enable the user to obtain an excellent experience of use.
US09555520B2	Method for producing a coated grinding means A method for producing a coated abrasive includes producing or providing an intermediate abrasive product that comprises a substrate, a plurality of abrasive grains that are bonded to the substrate, and at least one layer of an uncured size coat that at least partially covers the abrasive grains with the uppermost size coat being uncured. The method further includes applying at least one grinding additive to the uppermost, uncured size coat with the grinding additive applied to the size coat in dry form. The method also includes curing the uppermost size coat. A coated abrasive is produced by the method and the coated abrasive is used to process a surface.
US09555519B2	Incorporation of bulk metal foils to increase toughness of polycrystalline diamond A cutting element include a substrate and a diamond compact including at least two polycrystalline diamond portions separated by at least one metal carbide foil portion. The cutting element is made by placing diamond powder in a reaction container, placing a thin metal layer in the reaction container above or around the diamond powder and binder, placing additional diamond powder in the reaction container above or around the thin metal layer, and placing a pre-sintered substrate containing binder into the reaction container above all diamond powder and thin metal layer components. The assembled reaction container is put into a reactor and is subjected to a high-temperature high-pressure sintering process. The binder in the pre-sintered substrate sweeps through to sinter the first diamond portion, and then reacts with the thin metal layer to form a metal carbide, and then the binder continues to sweep through to sinter the second diamond portion.
US09555516B2	Method for processing an edge of a glass plate A method for beveling a thin glass plate by simultaneously grinding an edge of the glass using multiple abrasive cup wheels, wherein the edge of the glass plate is extended from the fixturing device. The extension of the glass plate allows the glass plate to bend in response to forces applied by the abrasive cup wheels, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the grinding process to variations in position of the abrasive wheels. The axes of rotation of the abrasive wheels are separated by a distance selected to prevent deflection in the glass plate caused by a first abrasive wheel to influence the deflection in the glass plate caused by a second (adjacent) abrasive wheel.
US09555515B2	Machine tool spindle device In a machine tool spindle device, a draw bar is arranged inside a center hole of a spindle, and a disc spring is arranged inside a spring member arrangement space between the draw bar and the center hole. A draw bar inner pipe is inserted inside a through hole of the draw bar, and the interior of the draw bar inner pipe is used as a coolant passage. A gap between the draw bar inner pipe and the through hole is used as an air passage for supplying the purge air, and the interior of the spring member arrangement space is used as a coolant supply passage for supplying coolant to cooling jackets of the spindle.
US09555501B2	Process for obtaining a mechanical component A process for obtaining a mechanical component by joining a first metallic material and a second metallic material. The process comprises: (A) putting the first material and the second material in contact with each other, (B) fixating a sheet metal element onto the first material to at least partly enclosing the second material and so that the sheet metal element is at least partly in contact with the second material. The sheet metal element comprises carbon, joining the first material and the second material by diffusion welding. The carbon activity of the second material Ca2 and the carbon activity of the sheet metal element Cam at the temperature of joining fulfills a relation Ca2≦Cam.
US09555499B2	Method of cutting super-hard materials using an electron beam and a range of beam scanning velocities A method of cutting a super-hard material (8) using an electron beam (6), wherein the electron beam (6) is directed onto a surface of the super-hard material (8) and moved relative to the surface such that the electron beam (6) moves across the surface of the super-hard material (8) at an electron beam scanning velocity in a range 100 to 5000 mms−1 to cut the super-hard material (8).
US09555496B2	Process for producing welded joint using GMA welding and CO2 as a shielding gas A process for producing a welded joint, which includes a weld metal having high strength and high toughness, and containing fewer blowholes, includes the steps of: preparing a base material containing, by mass %, not less than 10.5% of Cr; and subjecting the base material to GMA welding using a shielding gas containing 1 to 2 volume % or 35 to 50 volume % of CO2 gas, and the balance being inert gas, thereby forming a weld metal includes, by mass %, C: not more than 0.080%, Si: 0.20 to 1.00%, Mn: not more than 8.00%, P: not more than 0.040%, S: not more than 0.0100%, Cu: not more than 2.0%, Cr: 20.0 to 30.0%, Ni: 7.00 to 12.00%, N: 0.100 to 0.350%, O: 0.02 to 0.11%, sol. Al: not more than 0.040%, at least one of Mo: 1.00 to 4.00% and W: 1.00 to 4.00%, and the balance being Fe and impurities.
US09555494B2	System and method for auxiliary power generator with selectable frequency The invention described herein generally pertains to a system and method for a welder system that includes a weld power generator and an auxiliary power generator in which the auxiliary power generator is adjustable between a first frequency and a second frequency for a power output to at least one outlet. The first frequency can correspond with a first national standard for a first country and the second frequency can correspond with a second national standard for a second country.
US09555492B2	Boring tool, particularly a reamer A boring tool includes a clamping shaft and a boring body. Between the end face of the boring body and the clamping shaft, at least one main blade extends along a longitudinal axis of the boring body and includes a blade web with a rake face facing a groove-shaped chip space, and a free surface on the outer circumferential side, these converging at a cutting edge which runs along the boring body longitudinal axis and which removes material on an inner wall of a pre-bored workpiece core bore hole as a result of said boring tool being rotated. The main blade extending along the longitudinal axis of the boring body transitions at the end face, of the boring body into a groove blade that is aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the boring body. This groove blade allows the boring tool to be displaced, prior to removing the material by rotation, into the core bore hole in an axial lifting motion such that a groove is formed which extends along the longitudinal axis of the core bore hole, the main blade of the boring tool engaging in this groove.
US09555488B2	Milling insert A milling insert, including an upperside, an underside, and a reference plane parallel thereto. A plurality of indexable cutting edges are formed along a peripheral borderline in transitions between at least the upperside and a number of clearance surfaces. Each cutting edge includes a chip-removing main edge and a surface-wiping secondary edge. The main edge, from a first end of the main edge adjacent to the secondary edge, declines toward the underside of the milling insert and then, from a lowest part, rises toward an opposite second end of the main edge. The secondary edge is inclined at an angle (ε) in relation to the reference plane as viewed perpendicularly to the clearance surface of the secondary edge, such that a first end of the secondary edge connected to the main edge is situated on a lower level than the opposite, second end of the secondary edge.
US09555484B2	Drill and method of producing machined product using the same A drill may have a cutting tip and a holder located on a rear end portion side of the cutting tip. The cutting tip has two cutting edges located away from each other at a front end portion, two flutes respectively extending from the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge toward the rear end portion, two side surfaces respectively extending from the first flute and the second flute toward a front side in a rotation direction, and two constraining surfaces respectively extending from the first side surface and the second side surface in a tilt direction with respect to the rotation direction. The first side surface and the second side surface are asymmetric with respect to a central axis, and the first constraining surface and the second constraining surface are point symmetric with respect to the central axis in a front end view.
US09555482B2	Air control device and air control method An air control device includes an air suction port, air discharge ports, and an air control system. The air suction port takes in air. The air discharge ports discharge the taken-in air. The air control system discharges the air through the air discharge ports alternately for respective preset times. An air control method includes: taking in air; and discharging the air alternately through air discharge ports for respective preset times.
US09555481B2	Portable drill press A drill press comprises a hollow pillar with a base, a holder for a drill slidably mounted on the pillar and a clamp integral to the pillar for clamping the base to a work piece so that the drill is guided to the work piece. The clamp is a G clamp with a jaw held by an arm which engages a screw thread shaft housed in the pillar so that rotating the shaft raises and lowers the arm and the jaw.
US09555478B2	Chuck for a tool A chuck for a tool comprises a device for supplying a cooling and/or lubricating medium to a medium channel in a tool held in the chuck, an adjusting screw, and securing means. The adjusting screw serves as a stop for the tool held in the chuck, is arranged in the chuck, is adjustable in relation to the chuck in the axial direction of the chuck, and interacts with a pipe element. The pipe element is held rotatably in the chuck and the securing means limit an axial displacement of the pipe element at least in the direction of the adjusting screw. The pipe element and the adjusting screw are connected in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner with respect to each other.
US09555477B2	Holder and cutting tool A holder for grooving work includes a shank portion, and a head portion located on an end portion thereof. The head portion includes an insert attaching space, an upper and lower respectively located above and below the insert attaching space, a slit extending backward from the insert attaching space, an upper and a lower jaw connecting portions divided by the slit, an upper clamp surface on the upper jaw and a lower clamp surface on the lower jaw opposed to the insert attaching space. A column-shaped groove is connected to the deepest end of the slit. The column-shaped groove is formed to reduce the thickness of the upper jaw connecting portion, and extends from the lateral face on the side of the insert attaching space halfway along the deepest end of the slit toward the opposite lateral face. Upon attaching the insert to the holder the cutting tool is obtained.
US09555469B2	Aluminum alloy casting and method for producing the same, and apparatus for producing slide member An aluminum alloy casting free from crack-causing needle-shaped crystallized substances, and an apparatus and a method for producing a slide member excellent in mechanical properties such as abrasion resistance are provided. A melt of an iron-containing aluminum alloy poured into a vessel in the completely liquid state is vibrated by a vibrating needle of a vibration applying unit, and then a core is inserted into the melt to cool the melt, whereby the aluminum alloy casting is produced as a sleeve of a slide member. The vibrating step is carried out at a frequency of 20 to 1000 Hz, and is continued until just before the melt is cooled to the solid-liquid coexisting temperature region.
US09555466B2	Substrate joining method using rivet, and joining structure A joining method includes punching respective laminated plate materials by a rivet shaft portion of a SPR, forming a crimp portion at the front end of the rivet shaft portion, and fastening and joining the laminated plate materials between the rivet head portion and the crimp portion. Washers are laid on and brought into contact with respective opposite surfaces relative to joining surfaces of the laminated plate materials, the washers each having an inner hole through which the rivet shaft portion is allowed to pass, the washers are used as jigs at the time of the punching, the punching by means of the rivet shaft portion is performed along the inner holes of the washers, and the joining is performed so that the washers left between the rivet head and the crimp portion and the opposite surfaces.
US09555464B2	Tension expansion clamping tool block An apparatus for expanding and belling a tube is provided including a receiver for supporting a first end of the tube. A stripper block assembly orients a second end of the tube along an axis. The stripper block assembly includes a first grip and a second grip movable in and out of engagement with a surface of the tube. The apparatus also includes a movable belling tool axially aligned with the tube. The belling tool bells a desired length of the tube and supports the second end of the tube. An expander tool is arranged to pass through the axially aligned tube to expand the tube. The expander tool includes an expander rod and an expander bullet. A portion of the expander bullet has a diameter larger than the diameter of the tube.
US09555459B2	Can manufacture A method and apparatus are disclosed which are suitable for use in the manufacture of two-piece metal containers. In particular, a way of making cups from metal sheet is disclosed using a combination of stretching and drawing operations. The resulting cups have the advantage of having a base thickness that is thinner relative to the ingoing gauge of the metal sheet.
US09555455B2	Guide with adjustable nose cone A guide is adapted to be positioned for encirclement by a helical formation of rod rings free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor. The guide comprises a vertically projecting mandrel terminating at its upper end in a nose cone. The nose cone has a horizontal profile defined in part by at least one element having an outer edge separated by a variable radial distance from a central axis of the mandrel.
US09555452B2	Substrate treatment method and substrate treatment apparatus A substrate treatment method is provided, which includes a liquid film retaining step of retaining a liquid film of a treatment liquid on a major surface of a substrate, and a heater heating step of locating a heater in opposed relation to the major surface of the substrate to heat the treatment liquid film by the heater in the liquid film retaining step, wherein an output of the heater is changed from a previous output level in the heater heating step.
US09555450B2	Vacuum cleaning apparatus and vacuum cleaning method Vacuum cleaning apparatus (1, 51) includes a vapor generating member (8, 8a, 53, 53a) for generating vapor of a petroleum-based solvent, a cleaning chamber (2) allowing a workpiece to be cleaned under reduced pressure by the vapor fed from the vapor generating member, a condensing chamber (21) that is connected to the cleaning chamber and is maintained in a depressurized state, a temperature maintaining member (22) that maintains the condensing chamber at a lower temperature than the cleaning chamber, and an opening/closing member (20) that provides or cuts off communication between the condensing chamber and the cleaning chamber.
US09555448B2	Robotised device of cleaning of external steel structures Robotized cleaning device used on ferromagnetic structures that includes two symmetrical cleaning arms and a caterpillar type tractor device that moves using magnetic soles over the bands of the caterpillar robot; and where the arms are jointly attached to the tractor device via a structural profile and include a cleaning roller, each of them operated by a reduction motor connected to the roller and nozzles.
US09555443B2	Methods for manufacturing ultrasound transducers and other components The disclosed technology features methods for the manufacture of electrical components such as ultrasound transducers. In particular, the disclosed technology provides methods of creating an ultrasonic transducer by connecting one or more multi-layer printed circuits to an array of ultrasound transducer elements. In one embodiment, the printed circuits have traces in a single layer that are spaced by a distance that is greater than a pitch of the transducer elements to which the multi-layer printed circuit is to be connected. However the traces from all the layers in the multi-layer printed circuit are interleaved to have a pitch that is equal to the pitch of the transducer elements. The disclosed technology also features ultrasound transducers produced by the methods described herein.
US09555439B2	High speed granule delivery system and method A high speed granule delivery system and method is disclosed for dispensing granules in intermittent patterns onto a moving asphalt coated strip in the manufacture of roofing shingles. The system includes a granule hopper and a rotationally indexable pocket wheel having an alternating series of pockets and lands formed into the circumference thereof, and which is positioned adjacent a nozzle in the bottom of the hopper. Upper and lower side portions of the pocket wheel define and are exposed to upper and lower extents of a store of granules. A seal on the bottom of the lower extent of the store of granules seals against the raised lands as the wheel is indexed. In use, the pockets of the pocket wheel drive through and are filled with granules in the store of granules. As each pocket is indexed beyond the seal, it is exposed to the moving asphalt coated strip below and its granules fall onto the strip to be embedded in the hot tacky asphalt.
US09555438B2	Pneumatic solids transfer pump A transfer pump for moving pellets of adhesive includes a pump housing with an adhesive inlet coupled to a supply hopper, an adhesive outlet coupled to an outlet hose, and an adhesive passage extending between the adhesive inlet and the adhesive outlet. A first air nozzle communicates with the adhesive passage adjacent the adhesive inlet and expels a first air jet that pushes pellets of adhesive through the adhesive passage. A second air nozzle communicates with the adhesive passage between the adhesive inlet and the adhesive outlet and expels a plurality of second air jets that draw pellets of adhesive through the adhesive passage by a vacuum force. The first and second air nozzles prevent clogging of pellets in the adhesive passage and enable movement of larger pellets than either air nozzle individually.
US09555431B2	Discharge system and method of discharge by a discharge system A discharge system includes: a head unit including discharge heads that discharge a liquid material from nozzle openings that are communication with cavities onto a target by changing the internal pressure of the cavities using piezo elements; a viscosity estimating unit that estimates the viscosity of the liquid material by sucking the liquid material from first vessels that hold the liquid material into the cavities; and a waveform control unit that controls the voltage applied to the piezo elements according to the estimated viscosity of the liquid material.
US09555427B2	Trigger dispenser for liquids with a stop for the dispensing valve A trigger dispenser (1) for liquids comprises a suction valve (30) and a delivery valve (60), separate from the suction valve (30). The dispenser (1) has a detachable stop (100), comprising a bottom (104) positioned rearwards of the delivery valve (60) to form an end stop abutment with this during the dispensing step.
US09555426B2	Measured dose dispensers and methods of using the same A dispensing closure for dispensing a flowable product from a squeeze-type product container includes a closure body having an upper deck, an exit orifice, a flow conduit providing a flow path to the exit orifice, and a skirt configured to attach to a product container. A measuring reservoir is received in engagement with a lower surface of the upper deck. The measuring reservoir is filled with a measured dose of flowable product through flow ports when the container is inverted. A piston valve is slidably movable within the measuring reservoir between an open position and a closed position. The piston valve is movable from the open position to the closed position to dispense the measured dose of product responsive to pressure within the container induced by squeezing normally biases the piston valve to the open position.
US09555417B1	Sink disposal and metal sensor An apparatus includes: a disposal unit; a control unit configured to stop operation of the disposal unit; and a metal detector coil and associated circuitry, the metal detector coil located such that waste passing into the disposal unit for shredding passes through the metal detector coil. The control unit is triggered to stop operation of the disposal unit upon the detection of metal passing through the metal detector coil.
US09555415B2	Apparatus and method for transforming solid waste into useful products A system and method for processing solid waste disposal includes a hydrolyzer (80) and an injection assembly (30) for transferring waste to the hydrolyzer (80). The injection assembly (30) includes a sleeve (40), in which waste is compressed with a ram (37), and a movable gate (52), which opens to allow the compressed waste (68) to exit the sleeve (40) and enter the hydrolyzer (80). The hydrolyzer (80) includes a pressure vessel (84), a rotating shaft (108) contained within the vessel (84), and agitates attached to the shaft for moving and processing the material through the hydrolyzer (80).
US09555414B2	Vial rack for liquid chromatography having draining means The present invention provides a rack for holding sample vials comprising: (i) a solid base; (ii) an upwardly extending wall around the perimeter of said base; (iii) a plurality of means for supporting a plurality of vials, each means for supporting one vial; and (iv) a means for draining liquid from said rack.
US09555412B2	Nanofluidic devices for single-molecule analysis of protein-DNA complex A device for optical mapping of protein binding sites, in particular, transcription factor binding sites, on single DNA molecules, includes an insulating substrate having two parallel channels and at least one slit connecting the two channels, a coverslip on the substrate, at least two reservoirs on the substrate connecting the channels of the insulating substrate, and at least two electrodes in the reservoirs. When the reservoirs are filled with a buffer solution, the electrodes are in electrical contact in the buffer solution.
US09555411B2	Microfluidic cartridge devices and methods of use and assembly Methods and systems for controlling fluid flow through a cartridge for use in an assay of a fluid sample for detection of a target analyte. In one aspect, the cartridge includes a microfluidic device having a network of microfluidic channels, one or more reservoirs and one or more actuatable valves for controlling fluid flow from the reservoirs through the microfluidic channels. In some embodiments, the valve includes a deformable membrane movable between a closed configuration in which the membrane seals against the microfluidic device inhibiting fluid flow and an open configuration moved away from the microfluidic device to allow fluid flow through the microfluidic channels. Other valve embodiments utilize frangible membranes or user-removable membrane.
US09555410B2	Valve plug An active fluid component (40) for connection with a substrate (10) has an interface which can be connected with the substrate (10) in a fluid-tight manner, and a magnet (42) arranged in the region of the interface.
US09555409B2	Rotatable sample disk and method of loading a sample disk A rotatable sample disk configured for samples of biological material. The sample disk may include a fill chamber for storing a first biological material, a plurality of first sample chambers positioned in the sample disk farther from the rotational axis of the sample disk than the fill chamber, a plurality of second sample chambers, and a plurality of circumferential fill channels. Each of the second sample chambers may be configured to permit fluid communication with a respective first sample chamber. The plurality of circumferential fill conduits may be configured to permit transfer of the first biological material from the fill chamber to the plurality of first sample chambers upon a first rotation of the sample disk about the rotational axis. Methods of loading a plurality of sample chambers in a sample disk are also provided.
US09555408B2	Fluid mixing and delivery in microfluidic systems The specification generally discloses systems and methods for mixing and delivering fluids in microfluidic systems. The fluids can contain, in some embodiments reagents that can participate in one or more chemical or biological reactions. Some embodiments relate to systems and methods employing one or more vent valves to controllably flow and/or mix portions of fluid within the microfluidic system. Advantageously, fluid control such as a sequence of fluid flow and/or a change in flow rate, can be achieved by opening and closing one or more vent valves and by applying a single source of fluid flow (e.g., a vacuum) operated at a substantially constant pressure. This can simplify the operation and use of the device by an intended user.
US09555405B2	Nanoparticle catalyst capable of forming aromatic hydrocarbons from CO2 and H2 Nanocatalysts and methods of using the same to obtain aromatic hydrocarbon compounds from a source of carbon atoms and a source of hydrogen atoms in a single reaction step is provided. The catalyst comprises an Fe/Fe3O4 nanocatalyst that may be supported on a non-reactive support material such as a zeolite or alumina CO2 and H2 are preferred sources of carbon and hydrogen atoms for the reaction. The aromatic hydrocarbon compounds produced are suitable for direct usage as fuel without need for further refining.
US09555401B2	Molecular sieve adsorbent blends and uses thereof A molecular sieve blend with improved performance characteristics produced by preparing or obtaining a hydrophilic zeolite, particularly a hydrophilic zeolite A with a low SiO2:Al2O3 ratio, preparing or obtaining a hydrophobic silicon based binder, particularly a hydrophobic colloidal silica or a hydrophobic siloxane based material, mixing the zeolite with the silicon based binder and, in one embodiment, a seed containing small quantities of a clay binding agent and the zeolite, to form a mixture, and forming the mixture into the molecular sieve blend.
US09555397B2	Pre-gold-plating Pd-Au-coated shell catalysts The present invention relates to a method for producing a shell catalyst that is suitable for producing vinyl acetate monomer (VAM). The present invention also relates to a shell catalyst that can be obtained by the method according to the invention as well as the use of the shell catalyst according to the invention for producing VAM.
US09555386B2	Systems and methods for closed-loop recycling of a liquid component of a leaching mixture when recycling lead from spent lead-acid batteries The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for recycling lead-acid batteries, and more specifically, relates to purifying and recycling the lead content from lead-acid batteries. A system includes a reactor that receives and mixes a lead-bearing material waste, a carboxylate source, and a recycled liquid component to form a leaching mixture yielding a lead salt precipitate. The system also includes a phase separation device coupled to the reactor, wherein the phase separation device isolates the lead salt precipitate from a liquid component of the leaching mixture. The system further includes a closed-loop liquid recycling system coupled to the phase separation device and to the reactor, wherein the closed-loop liquid recycling system receives the liquid component isolated by the phase separation device and recycles a substantial portion of the received liquid component back to the reactor as the recycled liquid component.
US09555383B2	Mixing chamber, cartridge, and method for mixing a first and a second component A mixing chamber includes a container for receiving a first and a second component; an obstacle structure, which is designed such that, under the effect of a centrifugal force or magnetic force acting on the mixing chamber, it moves through the first and second components in the container and mixes them with each other; and a connection piece, which is connected at one end to the container and at the other end to the obstacle structure.
US09555380B2	Emulsification device for continuously producing emulsions and/or dispersions The invention relates to an emulsification device for continuously producing emulsions, nano-emulsions, and/or dispersions having a liquid crystalline structure, comprising a) at least one mixing system, b) at least one drive for the stirring element, and c) at least one delivery unit for each component or each component mixture.
US09555377B2	Ceramic separation membrane and dehydration method There is disclosed a ceramic separation membrane. This ceramic separation membrane includes a porous substrate, and a separation layer formed on the substrate. The separation layer is a laminate having an outermost layer positioned on the most surface side, and a base layer positioned in a lower layer than the outermost layer and made of zeolite. The outermost layer is a layer made of a siliceous material containing 90 mol % or more of silica, an organic material-containing amorphous silica material having a Si—Cn—Si (wherein n is 1 or 2) bond and a Si/C ratio of 0.5 to 2, or a carbonaceous material containing 90 mass % or more of carbon. The outermost layer is different from the base layer.
US09555375B2	Method of potting hollow fiber membranes and apparatus for filtering liquid with hollow fiber membranes A method for potting hollow fiber membranes comprises the steps of forming a bundle of membranes with a layer of adhesive; covering one end of the bundle with a permeate pan, the ends of the membranes protruding upwards into the permeate pan; and flowing a liquid potting material into the permeate pan. The bundle may be tilted to more quickly distribute the liquid potting material. An apparatus for filtering liquid with hollow fiber membranes comprises a bundle of membranes, a layer of adhesive spaced from the end of the bundle, a permeate pan covering the end of the bundle, and a header formed with the membranes, the adhesive and the pan.
US09555366B2	Device for sampling and enriching impurities in hydrogen comprising hydrogen-permeable membrane Provided herein are methods and devices to enrich trace quantities of impurities in gaseous mixtures, such as hydrogen fuel. The methods and devices rely on concentration of impurities so as to allow the detection of the impurities using commonly-available detection methods.
US09555364B2	Acid gas scrubbing composition This invention provides novel compositions comprising substituted polyamines as acid gas scrubbing solutions and methods of using the compositions in an industrial system. The invention relates to the use of such polyamine compounds in industrial processes to remove acidic contaminants from natural and industrial fluid streams, such as natural gas, combustion gas, natural gas, synthesis gas, biogas, and other industrial fluid streams. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful for removal, absorption, or sequestration of acidic contaminants and sulfide contaminants including CO2, H2S, RSH, CS2, COS, and SO2.
US09555361B2	Method and compositions for capturing carbon dioxide A method of capturing carbon dioxide, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a cellulosic material which carries an amino compound; and (b) contacting the cellulosic material with a composition comprising carbon dioxide; wherein a portion of the heat energy produced in step (b) is captured.
US09555359B2	Plugged honeycomb structure There is disclosed a plugged honeycomb structure. A plugged honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure body of a segment structure and plugging portions disposed in open ends of cells formed in the honeycomb structure body, the honeycomb structure body has outer segments and inner segments disposed on an inner side than the outer segments in a cross section of the honeycomb structure body, and a material constituting the outer segments has a smaller heat capacity per unit volume than a material constituting the inner segments.
US09555358B2	Industrial coating application filter with pleated support A filter for industrial coating filtration systems. The filter has a housing made up of a peripheral wall extending around the periphery. The housing is preferably made of a suitably rigid material. A preferably rigid support backing is mounted within the housing. The support backing has a planar configuration with openings formed through it so that air can flow through without substantial resistance. The preferably planar sheet of which the support backing is made is pleated. The pleated support backing defines a series of panels, each of which is angled to a next adjacent panel. Filtration media is mounted to the support backing, end caps are attached to the ends of the support backing to maintain the pleated configuration, and the assembly is inserted into the housing, which can have end flaps to seal using tape or adhesive.
US09555357B2	Filter chambers and self-cleaning apparatus for vacuum systems Industrial vacuum systems are disclosed, as are filter chambers for industrial vacuum systems and other filtration applications. The filter chambers in these systems use two distinct types of filtering elements within a single chamber, arranging the filter elements such that air cannot pass through a secondary filter element until the air has first passed through and been filtered by a number of primary filter elements. The airflow within the filter chamber may be essentially vertical, and the secondary filter element may be positioned above the primary filter elements. The filter chamber may also include an agitation system for cleaning the filtering elements. The agitation system may be constructed such that it can operate while the system is in use.
US09555355B2	Manufacturing method for honeycomb structure and honeycomb structure Provided is a technique to manufacture a honeycomb structure reducing a width of dimensional difference generated during firing between an end part and a central part and having excellent thermal shock resistance, and the method includes: a honeycomb formed body preparing step of extruding a kneaded material including a cordierite forming raw material A, to prepare a formed body; a plugged honeycomb formed body preparing step of filling cell openings thereof with a plugging material which includes a forming raw material containing a cordierite forming raw material B and resin balloon of 1.0 to 15 mass % and has a difference in firing shrinkage rate of −1.0 to +2.0% from the formed body, to prepare a plugged formed body; and a honeycomb structure preparing step of firing the prepared plugged formed body, to prepare a honeycomb structure provided with porous plugged portions.
US09555354B2	Multiple arm apparatus and methods for separation of particles The invention provides apparatus for separation of particles and methods for using the apparatus. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes three arms extending radially from a central reservoir, each arm being associated with a separation electrode. At least one on the arms includes a separation medium. Using a sequence of driving and mobility-changing voltages, target particles can be separated from closely related particles within a sample. For example, single point mutations can be resolved from a sample containing predominantly wild type nucleic acids.
US09555350B2	Bypass valve, device comprising bypass valve, and filter insert of the device A bypass valve having an adjustable flow resistance for a device through which a fluid medium flows. The valve includes a seat and a body which is biased closed, and which is movable in the opening direction by a fluid medium pressure difference between the inflow and the outflow side of the valve when the pressure difference exceeds a threshold. A bypass flow path connects the inflow side to the outflow side through the seat. The bypass valve includes a screen disposed in the bypass flow path. The valve body has two different open positions that depend on the fluid medium pressure difference. The entire cross-section of the bypass flow path is covered by the screen in a first valve body open position with a lower pressure difference, and a screen-free bypass flow path cross-section is exposed in a second valve body open position with a greater pressure difference.
US09555349B2	Rotary disc filter device A rotary disc filter device includes a rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation. The rotor includes a plurality of disc-shaped filter members, each disc-shaped filter member having a frame. The frame is made of sheet metal elements which are connected with each other by rivets.
US09555347B2	Spin-on filter with external threads and methods A filter arrangement for threadably securing to a filter head includes a housing having a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, an open mouth providing access to the interior volume and an end opposite of the open mouth. The surrounding wall has an exterior and an interior. A filter media construction is operably held within the interior volume. A sleeve, distinct from the housing, is secured to the exterior of the surrounding wall adjacent to the housing mouth and extending partially along the surrounding wall. The sleeve has an exterior and an interior. The exterior of the sleeve defines mounting threads constructed and arranged to removably mount with the filter head, when the filter arrangement is secured to the filter head. The interior of the sleeve is against the exterior of the surrounding wall. A first seal member is oriented against the sleeve to create a seal with a filter head, when the filter arrangement is secured to the filter head. A filter assembly includes a filter arrangement and a filter head. The filter arrangement is removably secured to the filter head by a threaded connection between the sleeve and the filter head. A system includes an engine utilizing a liquid and a filter assembly in fluid communication with the engine to filter the liquid. Methods of making filter arrangements include utilizing structures characterized above.
US09555340B2	Manually posable figure animation system and method An animation system with adjustable support of posable figures. A rotatable platform retains the posable figures along a circumference of a circle through adjustable supports. An animation mechanism, such as a slotted drum or a faceted, mirrored hub, is supported by the platform. The adjustable supports can comprise plastically deformable elongate posts to permit pivoting and longitudinal turning of the figures, adjustment in supported height of the figures, and lateral movement of the figures along the circumference of the circle and radially inward and outward. The elongate posts and the figures can have plastically deformable cores, such as bendable wires, at least partially encased in flexible bodies of material. Each figure can have a torso and a repositionable head and appendages. The elongate posts can have distal ends received by apertures in the platform along the circumference of the circle, proximal ends fixed to the figures, and bendable body portions.
US09555339B2	Building block system and building block units thereof A building block, comprises a plurality of basic units and a plurality of connectors. Each connector is used to connect each two basic units. The basic unit is a hexahedron. Each face is set with a plurality of connecting holes and a slot. The connector inserts into one connecting hole on one face of the basic unit, and comes out from another connecting hole on the opposing face through the slot to connect with another basic unit. The connecting design not only increases the ways of connecting each two basic units, but also ensures that one basic unit has at least one connecting hole for connecting with another basic unit. The present invention is help to cultivate children's ability of multiple perspectives thinking and ability of 3D space thinking.
US09555336B2	Method and apparatus for inflating a balloon A balloon inflating device includes a gas mixing device fluidly connecting a supply of pressurized lighter-than-air (LTA) gas and a supply of a second gas to a balloon interface nozzle via a gas shut-off valve. The gas mixing device includes an outer pipe including a closed first end, an inner chamber, an inner pipe that projects through the closed first end of the outer pipe into the inner chamber, a first fluidic inlet and an outlet port. The inner pipe includes a second fluidic inlet into the inner chamber. The second fluidic inlet fluidly connects to the supply of LTA gas. The first fluidic inlet is proximal to the closed first end and fluidly connects to the supply of the second gas. A second end of the outer pipe fluidly connects to the outlet port. The outlet port fluidly connects via the gas shut-off valve to the balloon interface nozzle.
US09555333B2	Video games including real-life attributes and/or fantasy settings A video gaming system and related network interfaces with an online fantasy sports game. The video game play is enhanced using various features of a fantasy sports game. Similarly, the fantasy sports game can be enhanced using various features of the video game play. In one aspect of the invention the video game system acquires a team roster of the fantasy sport game and the team roster is used to define the sports video game team. The sports video game also acquires sports video game parameters that are associated with real-life attributes of video game team members that are associated with the real-life team members. The video game play changes frequently over a sports season due to the changing video game parameters and fantasy sports settings being used to define video game play.
US09555331B2	Moving control device, moving control method, and information recording medium An obtaining unit of a moving control device obtains a first contact position and a second contact position on a touch panel. A determination unit determines information about a trajectory of a moving object in a virtual space based on the first contact position and second contact position. A moving control unit moves the moving object in the virtual space based on the information.
US09555328B2	Modeling complex environments using an interconnected system of simulation layers A method is provided for creating or evolving a virtual environment with a computer system. Steps of the method include: forming a plurality of layers of data, including a first layer and a second layer, each layer including a plurality of cells containing data corresponding to a variable; operating on the data from the cells in the first layer with a function to yield target data; distributing the target data to corresponding cells in the second layer; and altering the data in at least one of the plurality of cells in each layer according to a rule.
US09555326B2	Gaming system for modular toys An interactive computer game is described which works in conjunction with a number of physical modules that a user can connect together in different ways to form a coherent physical whole object. The game receives data from the object via a wireless link, the data identifying at least which modules form part of the object and updates game play based on the data received. At some point within the game play, the game presents an objective or goal to the user which the user can only achieve by interacting with the physical object formed from the modules. In an embodiment, this interaction comprises re-arranging the modules or swapping modules to form an object with a different visual appearance, moving all or part of the object and/or interacting with a sensor on a module in the object. The game may receive further data from the object during the user interaction.
US09555323B2	Information-processing device, information-processing system, information-processing method, and computer-readable storage medium An exemplary information-processing device includes: a first receiving unit configured to receive plural categories for each of which a search condition is set, from a configuration device via a network; a first display control unit configured to control a display unit to display the received plural categories; a selecting unit configured to select one category from among the received plural categories; a transmitting unit configured to transmit to a search device a search condition that is set for the selected category; a second receiving unit configured to receive from the search device via the network a search result obtained using the transmitted search condition; and a second display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a content corresponding to the selected category, based on the received search result.
US09555320B2	System and method to identify and track objects on a surface A system is provided by which objects with RFID tags can communicate with a surface containing exciting and sensing antennas so as to actuate optical emission from those objects. That light emission can then be used for fine position and orientation sensing by an array of cameras placed around the surface.
US09555319B2	Table game system An improved game surface for a table game system includes a random number generator for identifying one or more numbers relevant to determining an outcome of a game of chance. The table game surface includes a game layout, including a plurality of player positions and a plurality of wagering areas corresponding to different possible outcomes. Each wagering area includes at least one illumination source associated therewith that can be switched between an on condition and an off condition. Each at least one illumination source may be configured to switch to the on condition when the wagering area with which it is associated is a winning outcome.
US09555318B2	Packing box for shuffled playing cards A packing box of shuffled playing cards has, in an assembled state, a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with six faces, namely, a front face, a rear face, a left side face, a right side face, a top face and a bottom face so as to encase the shuffled playing cards. The packing box includes zippers provided in locations at a predetermined interval, each of which includes zipper-shaped cut lines arranged in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a central band in the central portion defined by the zippers provided in the two locations. A configuration is achieved in which by removing the two zippers along the cut lines formed by zipper lines or a straight slit, the left and right side faces of the packing box are removed such that the side faces of the shuffled playing cards 1 would be exposed.
US09555309B1	Adjustable jerk block Disclosed is a portable lifting jerk block for use in holding barbells used in weightlifting. The jerk block allows an individual to position a barbell at most any height by use of hydraulic lift member providing safety and convenience to the operator. A laser leveling light coordinates two adjoining jerk blocks providing a visual signal by highlight indicia on the adjoining lifting jerk block, or producing an audible tone when a laser light on an adjoining jerk block illuminates a photo cell detector to assure a level support for the barbell when positioned between the lifting jerk blocks.
US09555305B1	Golf training aid A golf swing training aid comprising a base member, a primary support member emanating upward from the base member, a primary guide rail secured to the primary support member, a backswing guide rail secured to the primary guide rail in the form of an elongate, curved rail which guides a golf club shaft during a golfer's backswing, a swing transition aid secured to a downswing guide rail which operates to guide the club from the top of a golfer's backswing to the beginning of a downswing, the downswing guide rail secured to the primary guide rail in the form of an elongate, curved rail which guides a golf club to a golfer's ball-striking position and a follow-through guide means secured to the primary guide rail in the form of an elongate, curved rail which facilitates the guiding of a golf club shaft to the completion of the golf swing.
US09555303B1	Golf swing lag training system This application provides for a new, synergistic combination of components for training an element of the golf swing normally referred to as lag. This new combination consists of a basic lag swing trainer which enables the golfer to attach additional multiple training tools or regulation golf clubs that can be interchangeably used at the same time. The additional combinations of tools that can be attached are unlimited, thereby letting golfers work on more than one of the various aspects of the swing all at the same time, for example, training the golfer in the proper sensations of the backswing technique, the swing plane, and the release of the golf club thru the hitting area. The Golf Swing Lag Training System provides any golfer with all of the kinesthetic and visual feedback that is essential to learning how to lag the golf club like a tour pro.
US09555299B2	Iron-type golf club head An iron-type golf club head comprises an upper heel-side region having a specific gravity ρ1, a lower heel-side region having a specific gravity ρ2, an upper middle region having a specific gravity ρ3, a lower middle region having a specific gravity ρ4, an upper toe-side region having a specific gravity ρ5 and a lower toe-side region having a specific gravity ρ6 which satisfy the following conditions: ρ1<ρ2, ρ3<ρ4, ρ5<ρ6, ρ4<ρ2, ρ4<ρ6, ρ3<ρ1, and ρ3<ρ5. These six regions are sectioned by a horizontal plane, a toe-side vertical plane and a heel-side vertical plane.
US09555297B2	Club heads with varying groove parameters and related methods Some embodiments include a first golf club head and a second golf club head. The first golf club head includes a body having a face portion, and the second golf club head includes a body having a face portion. Meanwhile, the first club face portion comprises a face surface and at least one first club groove, and the second club face portion comprises a face surface and at least one second club groove. An edge radius of the first club head groove(s) can be less than an edge radius of the second club head groove(s), a base width of the first club head groove(s) can be less than a base width of the second club head groove(s), and/or a sidewall angle of the first club head groove(s) can be greater than a sidewall angle of the second club head groove(s). Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.
US09555293B2	Golf club having a hollow pressurized metal head A method for manufacturing a golf club having a hollow golf club head which is filled with a gas under pressure. The interior surface of the golf club head is coated with a solidified layer of a sealant material. The pressurized gas permits the use of thinner face plates by compensating for forces generated when the face plate strikes a golf ball. The sealant is preferably applied by rotating the golf club head to coat the interior surface of the golf club head.
US09555290B2	Golf ball covers made from plasticized thermoplastic materials Multi-layered golf balls containing a two or three-layered cover assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the cover assembly includes a relatively hard inner cover and relatively soft outer cover. Alternatively, the cover assembly may include a relatively soft inner cover with a relatively hard outer cover. Three-layered covers comprising an inner cover, intermediate cover, and outer cover layer also may be prepared. Preferably, at least one of the layers is formed from a thermoplastic composition that preferably comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The cover assembly has good impact durability and helps provide the ball with relatively high resiliency at given compressions.
US09555289B2	Golf ball A golf ball has a large number of dimples on a surface thereof. The golf ball meets the following mathematical formula (I): 1.320≦L1≦1.420 (I), where L1 represents a ratio of a lift coefficient CL1 which is measured under conditions of a Reynolds number of 1.290×105 and a spin rate of 2820 rpm, relative to a lift coefficient CL2 which is measured under conditions of a Reynolds number of 1.290×105 and a spin rate of 1740 rpm.
US09555283B2	Exercise ring for improving strength and flexibility of a body part An apparatus and method for exercising muscles of a body part, especially the neck, waist, torso, legs, and glutes from any angle with variable resistance while taking up minimal floor space. The apparatus improves the ability of athletes, including football players and wrestlers, to better prepare for contact from any angle while engaged in their sport. The apparatus includes a ring having a guide track therein. Another inner ring may also be provided in different sizes and shapes to accommodate a variety of users. A car connected to a source of resistance rides freely along the guide track. The source of resistance may be other gym equipment including a bungee cord, a cable cross over machine, springs, and the like. As the user freely exercises by moving the body part the car adapts to the user's position to facilitate a full range of motion.
US09555279B2	Adjustable resistance exercise apparatus The adjustable variant resistance exercise apparatus has installed several different resistant elastic springs and can provide variety of resistance for exercise. Man, woman, boy and girl can share the same one of adjustable variant resistance exercise apparatus for exercise. User can upgrade or downgrade exercise resistant power by adding more or remove some elastic rubber bands for exercise.
US09555277B2	Exercise equipment An exercise equipment includes a base, an operating device and a magnetic resistance device. The operating device is movably disposed on the base. The magnetic resistance device is connected to the operating device and the base, wherein the magnetic resistance device is for providing a magnetic resistances in accordance with an operation of the operating device.
US09555269B2	Carrageenan products and method for their production and use The present invention is directed to a carrageenan product comprising a semi-refined, alkali treated iota carrageenan wherein the semi-refined, alkali treated iota carrageenan has: (i) a viscosity of 18 cP to 83 cP, (ii) a particle size of at least 90% passing through a #100 US sieve mesh and at least 20% passing through a #230 US sieve mesh, and (iii) a fraction of sodium cations of at least 35%, wherein the fraction of sodium cations is determined by the weight of sodium cations divided by the sum of the weight of sodium cations and potassium cations. This invention is also directed to toothpaste compositions comprising the carrageenan product of the invention.
US09555265B2	Intensity-modulated ion therapy The therapeutic treatment of a patient using intensity-modulated proton therapy is described. In one example, a method of creating a proton treatment plan is presented that divides volumes of interest into sub-volumes, applies dose constraints to the sub-volumes, finds one or more feasible configurations of a proton therapy system, and selects a proton beam configuration that improves or optimizes one or more aspects of proton therapy. In some implementations, the method of dividing volumes into sub-volumes includes creating fractional sub-volumes based at least in part on proximity to a target volume boundary. In some implementations, the method of finding an improved or optimal proton beam configuration from a set of feasible configurations includes finding a minimum of a cost function that utilizes weighting factors associated with treatment sites.
US09555263B2	Apparatus, system and method for supporting a brachytherapy An apparatus for supporting a brachytherapy includes at least one radiation device, at least one dose measuring device, and a processing unit. The at least one dose measuring device is configured to be introduced into a target area of an object under treatment which includes at least one target object and that is designed to measure radioactive radiation originating from the at least one radiation device, which is introduced into the target area of the object under treatment, and to provide the measured values by way of a device for transmission to the processing unit.
US09555256B2	Method of making a connector head of a multipolar lead of an active implantable medical device Forming a connector head for a generator of an active implantable medical device by providing a pin (20) having alternating smooth sections (21) for receiving an electrical contact (210) and a profiled section (22); disposing the electrical contacts on the smooth sections; injecting into a first mold a flexibly resilient material around the profiled sections of the pin to produce isolation elements between the electrical contacts; injecting in a second mold a rigid material around the pin to form the connector head with the electrical contacts and isolation elements embedded therein; and withdrawing the pin from the cavity of the connector head thus formed. The material provides precise axial and radial positioning of the different elements, and good electrical insulation.
US09555246B2	Electromyographic lead positioning and stimulation titration in a nerve stimulation system for treatment of overactive bladder The present invention provides improved methods for positioning of an implantable lead in a patient with an integrated EMG and stimulation clinician programmer. The integrated clinician programmer is coupled to the implantable lead, wherein the implantable lead comprises at least four electrodes, and to at least one EMG sensing electrode minimally invasively positioned on a skin surface or within the patient. The method comprises delivering a test stimulation at a stimulation amplitude level from the integrated clinician programmer to a nerve tissue of the patient with a principal electrode of the implantable lead. Test stimulations are delivered at a same stimulation amplitude level for a same period of time sequentially to each of the four electrodes of the implantable lead. A stimulation-induced EMG motor response is recorded with the integrated clinician programmer for each test stimulation on each electrode of the implantable lead via the at least one pair of EMG sensing electrodes so as to facilitate initial positioning of the implantable lead at a target stimulation region.
US09555244B2	Retinal prosthesis and method of manufacturing a retinal prosthesis The present invention is an improved package and configuration for an implantable retinal prosthesis. The retinal prosthesis of the present invention includes an electrode array suitable to be mounted in close proximity to a retina, an electronics package and inductive receiving coil mounted next to each other on a strap surrounding the sclera so that the height above the sclera of the prosthesis is minimized.
US09555241B2	Method of obtaining male contraception There is provided a method for controlling a flow of fluid in the vas deferens in order to obtain a controlled male contraception. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the tissue wall) at least one portion of the tissue wall to influence the flow vas deferens, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow in the vas deferens. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the flow in the vas deferens, or for actively moving the fluid in the vas deferens, with a low risk of injuring the organ.
US09555240B2	System and method for skeletal muscle stimulation A system and method for skeletal muscle stimulation is provided for increasing muscle mass by stimulating a muscle in an optimal condition through a stimulus signal from an electrical stimulation device disposed at a stimulation position.
US09555238B2	Safe device for iontophoretic delivery of drugs Provided is a device for iontophoretic delivery of a drug to or into a tissue, including an arrangement that prevents operation of the device at a current density that is higher than a predetermined value, the arrangement including first means responsive to a first data item, indicative of the surface area through which the current is to pass, as to set the maximal current allowed at the surface area indicated by the data item. Also provided is a method for iontophorectivally administering drug to or into a tissue, including determining a maximal allowed level of current density and preventing application of current density above the maximal allowed level.
US09555236B2	Implantable capsule for leadless cardiac pacing The invention relates to an implantable capsule, particularly an autonomous capsule of cardiac stimulation, including a tubular body provided at the distal end of an anchoring element with a helical screw adapted to penetrate tissue a wall of an organ of a patient, the body housing a set of functional elements of the capsule. It includes, in an annular area surrounding the base of the screw recessed arrangements defining a set of flush tips oriented in a circumferential direction opposite to that of the screwing, to avoid the unscrewing of the capsule.
US09555235B2	Multi-layered micro-channel electrode array with regenerative selectivity A scaffold defines a plurality of channels, into which axons of a severed nerve may regenerate, such as after limb amputation. Each channel includes a corresponding electrode. Regenerating axons may make electrical contact with the electrodes. Each channel is at least partially filled with a growth factor selected to selectively stimulate axon regeneration. Adjacent channels may include different growth factors, so as to attract different types of axons, for example efferent axons and afferent axons, to each of the adjacent channels. The growth factors may be distributed in the channels so as to present a gradient across a geometry of each channel. This gradient provides enhanced differentiated geometric guidance to the axons, thereby yielding better specificity, in terms of which axons regenerate into which channels. Topography, such as geometric patterns in walls, ceilings and floors of the channels, may also be used to selectively encourage axon regeneration into the channels.
US09555231B2	Providing positive displacement upon disconnection using a connector with a dual diaphragm valve Positive displacement using a connector with dual diaphragms is provided. For example, the connector includes a single fluid flow path, an air chamber and a valve. The single fluid flow path is configured for delivering fluid to a person and configured for receiving fluid from a person. The air chamber configured for expelling air from the air chamber when an actuator is inserted into the connector and for receiving air into the chamber when the actuator is removed from the connector. The valve plug comprises two diaphragms that separate the air chamber from the single fluid flow path. The valve plug is configured for creating positive displacement by returning the valve plug to its uncompressed state when the actuator is removed from the connector.
US09555225B2	Sustained release capsules The invention relates to an intraruminal sustained release capsule which is capable of delivering a sustained release dose of a first medicament to an animal, as well as either or both of a dump dose of a second medicament or mineral, and an exit dose of a third medicament or mineral. The capsule can have a dissolvable overcap molded from plasticized starch enabling a dump dose of medicament to be held between the overcap and one end of the capsule. A piston within the body of the capsule can be modified to enable it to accommodate an exit dose of medicament within its hollow interior which is aligned with an aperture at the end of the capsule which enables release of the medicaments to the rumen. After insertion of the capsule in the animal the overcap (if present) dissolves and separates from the capsule to release the dump dose of medicament. The sustained release medicament is then dispensed via the apertured end, followed by the release of the exit dose of medicament (if present).
US09555221B2	Constant force hold tip protector for a safety catheter A tip protector for a safety catheter includes an outer member releasably engaged with the interior cavity of the catheter hub. The outer member includes a generally fixed radially outwardly projecting portion to provide a holding force, and an inner member axially shiftably received within the outer member. A needle cannula received in the inner and outer members is operable to axially shift the inner member between a distal position wherein the distal tip extends distally of the tip protector, and a proximal position wherein the distal tip is within the outer member. The holding force of the outer member to the interior wall of the catheter hub remains substantially constant irrespective of the position of the inner member between the distal and proximal positions.
US09555219B2	Direct connect flush system A medical device may include a handle housing having a side wall defining an interior space and proximal and distal apertures extending through the side wall, an elongated outer sheath, an elongated inner member, a proximal flush port disposed within the interior space and in fluid communication with the elongated inner member, and a distal flush port disposed within the interior space and in fluid communication with the elongated outer sheath. A control knob may be rotated to move the distal flush port within the interior space.
US09555216B2	Distal perfusion sheath A distal perfusion sheath (DPS) is provided for cases where blood perfusion is needed for downstream arteries (distal) to the insertion point of the DPS within the target artery. The ability to provide distal perfusion with the DPS allows the DPS to be positioned in the target artery for long periods without causing lack of blood flow (ischemia) to an extremity that the target artery supplies. In embodiments, the DPS can still be used for surgical arterial access while allowing blood flow downstream.
US09555215B2	Treatment fluid delivery method, and turbulator for promoting uptake of a treatment agent A turbulator for promoting mixing of fluids passing through a body lumen includes an elongate flow perturbing component and an elongate shape controlling component freely slidable within the flow perturbing component. The turbulator is adjustable from a low profile, lumen access configuration to a deployed configuration via sliding the shape controlling component within the flow perturbing component. Adjusting the turbulator within a body lumen of a patient induces turbulence within a flow of fluid passing through the body lumen to increase mixing of a treatment fluid with the body fluid by way of the induced turbulence.
US09555208B2	Apparatus for fluid tube A fluid tube is disclosed herein. The breathing circuit tube has a wall which comprises a hollow geometry. The wall defines a passageway with a central longitudinal axis therethrough. The wall is expandable and contractible to adjust a diameter and a length of the passageway. The wall includes one or more corrugations that expand and contract to adjust the diameter and length of the passageway. The corrugations extend between terminal end portions of the wall.
US09555207B2	Gel filling for patient interface and method for producing patient interface with a gel filling The invention concerns a gel covering of a patient interface. This gel covering has a mask connection area by which its side that faces away from the patient is joined with a mask body. The patient interface can be designed, for example, as a respiratory mask. On its side that faces the patient's face, the respiratory mask has thin, inwardly formed, peripheral contact lips. The respiratory mask has accessories that allow it to be fastened on the patient's head as well as a hose connection for supplying air. At least one region formed from a filler is placed in or on the walls of the gel covering. The method is used to produce the gel covering of the invention.
US09555205B2	Endotracheal tube and intubation system including same An endotracheal tube for mechanically ventilating patients is disclosed. The endotracheal tube comprises a distal end for insertion into the patient's airway, past the vocal chords, through the subglottal region, and into the patient's lung; and a proximal end for connection to a mechanical ventilator. The endotracheal tube further comprises a cuff at the distal end of the endotracheal tube to be located in the subglottal region of the patient below the vocal chords, an inflating lumen for inflating the cuff, and a suction lumen having a suction inlet port leading from the outer surface of the endotracheal tube, and to be located in the subglottal region, for evacuating secretions and/or rinsing fluid from the subglottal region during the mechanical ventilation of the patient. The distal end of the endotracheal tube is formed with an outer surface configuration effective to prevent blockage of the suction inlet port by the cuff or by tracheal mucosal tissue of the patient during a negative pressure condition in the suction lumen.
US09555204B2	Method for controlling the end-expiratory pressure in a respiratory system A method for controlling the end-expiratory pressure at a patient (30) in a respiratory system (50) of an anesthesia apparatus or respirator (30) includes regulating a pressure curve (401a, 401b, 501a, 501b) during the expiration phase (650) of the patient such that the pressure curve is described by an at least partially dropping curve (105a, 105b, 106a, 106b, 601, 602, 603, 604) from a first upper pressure value (613a, 613b, 613c, 613d) to a first lower pressure value (614a, 614b, 614c, 614d) from the end of the inspiration phase (660) until the beginning of the next, following inspiration phase (670). An anesthesia apparatus or respirator is provided that includes an operating and actuating unit that regulates a controllable expiratory valve and a respiration drive such that the pressure curve is described by an at least partially dropping curve.
US09555203B2	Personal vaporizing inhaler assembly A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit that may simulate a cigarette has a cavity that receives a cartridge in the distal end of the inhaler unit. The cartridge brings a substance to be vaporized in contact with a wick. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the substance to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through the wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the atomized substance. The vapors then continue to be pulled by the user through a mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover where they may be inhaled.
US09555196B2	Needle sheathing device with flexible end-piece for syringe The invention relates to a safe support device for a syringe, said support comprising a support sheath for the body of a syringe, and safety means which comprise an inner sheath suitable for sliding relative to said support sheath between a waiting retracted position, in which said inner sheath is substantially retracted inside said support sheath, and an active protection position, in which said inner sheath projects from said support sheath. The inner sheath has a free end portion formed by a flexible end-piece. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a safe support device and a syringe having a body, a piston and a needle disposed at one end of said body.
US09555193B2	Syringe A syringe includes a holding portion that accommodates an injection objective substance, a driving portion that applies injection energy, and a nozzle portion that includes a passage for injection, with these portions being loaded into a housing independently, whereby a state where the injection objective substance can be injected is established. The syringe includes a regulating means for regulating a loading position of the holding portion and the driving portion within the housing so that a loading state, where the holding portion and the driving portion are always loaded in the same order into the housing, is established for injection of the injection objective substance. Due to this, it is possible to facilitate injection of injection liquid ideal for various purposes and to improve user's convenience.
US09555192B2	Drug delivery device, assembly for a drug delivery device and method for setting up a drug delivery device The instant application is directed to an assembly for a drug delivery device which is arranged to operate in two distinct modes, a priming mode starting from a pre-priming state and a dispense mode operating in a post-priming state, and a drug delivery device comprising this assembly. The assembly comprises a dose member, an actuating member and a piston rod which is configured to act on a bung of an assembled cartridge containing the drug. In the pre-priming state the actuating member is configured to be moved by a user such that the movement of the actuating member causes a movement of the dose member and such that the movement of the dose member causes a movement of the piston rod. In the post-priming state the dose member is configured to be moved by a user without causing a movement of the actuating member in order to perform a set and dispense action of the drug delivery device.
US09555183B2	Systems and methods for limb treatment A method of delivering a medicament to a limb of a patient body includes isolating a circulatory system of the limb from a circulatory system of the patient body, wherein the limb circulatory system is substantially all limb arteries and substantially all limb veins located between an isolation region and an end of the limb. A perfusion catheter is inserted into a limb artery in an antegrade position, while a collection catheter is inserted into a limb vein in a retrograde position. The blood flow of the limb circulatory system is then circulated by collecting the blood flow with the collection catheter and delivering the blood flow with the perfusion catheter. A medicament is perfused into the limb circulatory system with the perfusion catheter.
US09555174B2	Blood pump systems and methods The present disclosure relates to a rotary blood pump with a double pivot contact bearing system with an operating range between about 50 mL/min and about 1500 mL/min, wherein the force on the upper bearing is less than 3N during operating speeds up to 6000 rpm. The disclosure also relates to a method of using a blood pump system for persistently increasing the overall diameter and lumen diameter of peripheral veins and arteries by persistently increasing the speed of blood and the wall shear stress in a peripheral vein or artery for period of time sufficient to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vessel.
US09555172B2	Method for determining strategic expression regime for using a breastpump The present invention is directed to a method of determining a strategic expression regime for a pump-dependent mother that optimizes the mother's milk production while minimizing the demands on the mother. The regime takes into account the impact of the interval between breast expressions on milk yield for individual breasts within the mother.
US09555170B2	Wound treatment device A method of wound treatment can comprise providing a wound treatment device with a wound surface cover and a wound insert. The method can also include positioning the wound insert in contact with the wound, covering the wound insert and wound with the wound surface cover, affixing the wound surface cover to the skin surrounding the wound and compressing the wound insert by applying pressure to the wound surface cover.
US09555166B2	Medical device with coating that promotes endothelial cell adherence The invention relates to a method for healing blood vessels by stimulating the formation of a confluent endothelial autologous cell layer in vivo on an implantable metallic stent having a lumen and a luminal surface, and an exterior surface. More specifically, the method includes implanting the stent with a coating in a patient in need of thereof; wherein the coating includes one or more layers of a matrix covalently adherent on said luminal and exterior surface of said stent containing one or more pharmaceutical substances on said exterior surface and a therapeutically effective amount of a single type of antibody, antibody fragments or combinations thereof being compatible to binding selectively to a specific cell surface antigen of circulating autologous endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood. In addition, genetically engineered endothelial progenitor cells can be captured on said luminal surface of stent in vivo, to proliferate to form rapidly a confluent endothelium in situ.
US09555165B2	Medical tubing for catheters Tubing made of two or more polymers circumferentially arranged around the perimeter of the tubing in a single layer may be useful as medical tubing. Specifically, such tubing may be useful in catheters, sheaths, sheath introducers, implant delivery systems, and other medical devices having elongated tubular components. Selection of the two or more polymers based on the durometer and melting temperature permits optimization of axial strength and flexibility for particular applications. Such tubing may be extruded as a single layer tubing or a multi-layer tubing where the additional layers may be single material layers or more multi-polymer layers.
US09555163B2	Crosslinked peptide hydrogels The present invention relates to hydrogels comprising a plurality of amphiphilic peptides and/or peptoids capable of self-assembling into three-dimensional macromolecular nanofibrous networks, which entrap water and form said hydrogels, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of amphiphilic peptides and/or peptoids is chemically cross-linked. The present invention further relates to methods for preparing such hydrogels and to various uses of such hydrogels, e.g. as cell culture substrates, for drug and gene delivery, as wound dressing, as an implant, as an injectable agent that gels in situ, in pharmaceutical or cosmetic compositions, in regenerative medicine, in tissue engineering and tissue regeneration, or in electronic devices. It also relates to a method of tissue regeneration or tissue replacement using a hydrogel in accordance with the present invention.
US09555157B2	Method of inducing hemostasis in a wound A method of inducing hemostasis in a wound. A hemostatic product is applied to a wound. The hemostatic product includes at least one hemostasis component. The hemostatic product is retained with respect to the wound by positioning a hydrogel material at least partially over the hemostatic product. At least a portion of the hemostatic product is dissolved. Hemostasis is induced in the wound with the at least one hemostasis component. The hydrogel material is separated from the wound. Substantially all of the hemostatic product remains on the wound.
US09555155B2	Methods of orienting multifilament yarn and monofilaments of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and copolymers thereof Resorbable multifilament yarns and monofilament fibers including poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and copolymers thereof with high tenacity or high tensile strength have been developed. The yarns and fibers are produced by cold drawing the multifilament yarns and monofilament fibers before hot drawing the yarns and fibers under tension at temperatures above the melt temperature of the polymer or copolymer. These yarns and fibers have prolonged strength retention in vivo making them suitable for soft tissue repairs where high strength and strength retention is required. The multifilament yarns have tenacities higher than 8.1 grams per denier, and in vivo, retain at least 65% of their initial strength at 2 weeks. The monofilament fibers retain at least 50% of their initial strength at 4 weeks in vivo. The monofilament fibers have tensile strengths higher than 500 MPa. These yarns and fibers may be used to make various medical devices for various applications.
US09555154B2	Medical devices having activated surfaces Implantable biocompatible polymeric medical devices include a substrate with a plasma-modified surface which is subsequently modified to include click reactive members.
US09555151B2	Systems and methods for incontinence control A system for managing female incontinence includes a body of biocompatible material configured to fit between the labia minora and the vestibule floor, the body having a surface configured to occlude the urethral meatus, an adhesive carried on at least a first portion of the surface and configured to provide a sealing engagement between the body and the urethral meatus, and wherein at least the adhesive includes a water gradient silicone hydrogel.
US09555143B2	Instrument disinfection quality methods and devices Devices and methods for defining a data set, referred to herein as a signature, for a particular device having interior channels. A baseline signature is established for the particular device while the particular device is known to be in a decontaminated condition. After use of the device and subsequent decontamination of the device, a signature for the particular device is determined and compared with the baseline signature to verify that the latter signature is within an acceptable range.
US09555138B2	Compositions, methods, and systems for the synthesis and use of imaging agents The present invention provides compounds with imaging moieties for imaging a subject. The present invention also relates to systems, compositions, and methods for the synthesis and use of imaging agents, or precursors thereof. An imaging agent precursor may be converted to an imaging agent using the methods described herein. In some cases, a composition or plurality of imaging agents is enriched in 18 F. In some cases, an imaging agent may be used to image an area of interest in a subject, including, but not limited to, the heart, cardiovascular system, cardiac vessels, brain, and other organs.
US09555120B2	Chitosan composition This invention provides a composition comprising: (i) a chitosan hydrogel comprising cross-linked chitosan and water; and (ii) a liquid dispersed in the hydrogel.
US09555119B2	Composition and method for delivery of hydrophobic active agents Disclosed herein is a delivery composition for administering a hydrophobic active agent. In one embodiment, a delivery composition for local administration of a hydrophobic active agent to a tissue or organ of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the delivery composition includes a cationic delivery agent, a therapeutically effective amount of a hydrophobic active agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier. In one embodiment, the cationic delivery agent includes polyethyleneimine (PEI). In a more specific embodiment, the cationic delivery agent includes branched PEI. Methods of making the delivery composition, as well as kits and methods of use are also disclosed.
US09555118B2	Robust controlled-release peptide formulations The present invention relates to compositions forming a low viscosity mixture of: a. 25-55 wt. % of at least one diacyl glycerol and/or at least one tocopherol; b. 25-55 wt. % of at least one phospholipid component comprising phospholipids having i. polar head groups comprising more than 50% phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and ii. two acyl chains each independently having 16 to 20 carbons wherein at least one acyl chain has at least one unsaturation in the carbon chain, and there are no more than four unsaturations over two carbon chains; c. 5-25 wt. % of at least one biocompatible, oxygen containing, low viscosity organic solvent; wherein 0.1-10 wt. % of at least one peptide active agent comprising at least one somatostatin receptor agonist is dissolved or dispersed in the low viscosity mixture; and wherein the pre-formulation forms, or is capable of forming, at least one non-lamellar liquid crystalline phase structure upon contact with an aqueous fluid. The invention further relates to methods of treatment comprising administration of such compositions, and to pre-filled administration devices and kits containing the formulations.
US09555110B2	Anti-alpha-V integrin antibody for the treatment of prostate cancer The invention is directed to the treatment of prostate cancer by means of antibodies. Above all, the invention relates to the administration of an anti-alpha-v integrin (receptor) antibody to patients suffering from prostate cancer, especially castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), optionally accompanied by lymph node and bone tissue metastases (mCRPC). In particular, the invention relates to the therapy of said patients by means of the anti-angiogenic antibody DI17E6 and structural mutants thereof.
US09555092B2	Prevention and treatment of sub-clinical PCVD The present invention relates to the use of an immunogenic composition comprising a porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antigen for the prevention and treatment of sub-clinical PCV2 infection in animals, preferably in pigs.
US09555090B2	Equine encephalitis virus vaccines and methods of using thereof Disclosed herein are nucleotide sequences which encode a plurality of structural proteins, except the capsid, of an equine encephalitis virus, wherein the nucleotide sequence is codon-optimized for mammalian expression. The nucleotide sequences are codon-optimized for expression in humans. As disclosed herein, the nucleotide sequences confer protection against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), and/or eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV).
US09555089B2	Modification of recombinant adenovirus with immunogenic plasmodium circumsporozoite protein epitopes The present disclosure relates to adenovirus protein modifications to augment immune response to a transgene of a recombinant adenovirus and to circumvent pre-existing anti-adenovirus immunity. Some embodiments are directed to a recombinant adenovirus derived from a recombinant adenovirus plasmid vector, wherein the recombinant adenovirus plasmid vector comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein, or antigenic portion thereof, operably linked to a heterologous promoter and a modified capsid or core protein, wherein an immunogenic epitope of Plasmodium circumsporozoite is inserted into or replaces at least part of a capsid or core protein. Other embodiments are directed to a pharmaceutical composition or a malaria vaccine composition comprising a recombinant adenovirus according to the above embodiments. Further embodiments include a method of treating, preventing, or diagnosing malaria, comprising administering a therapeutic amount of the pharmaceutical composition or malaria vaccine composition in accordance with the above embodiment.
US09555086B2	Compositions and methods for inducing an immune response The present invention provides compositions and methods for inducing an immune response in a subject. In particular, the present invention provides compositions comprising immunostimulatory ligands (ISL) and methods of inducing an immune response in a subject therewith. Compositions and methods of the present invention find use in, among other things, clinical (e.g. therapeutic and preventative medicine (e.g., vaccination)) and research applications.
US09555080B2	Medicament for therapeutic treatment and/or improvement of sepsis A medicament for therapeutic treatment and/or improvement of sepsis in a patient with severe sepsis accompanied with one or more organ dysfunctions, wherein a value of International Normalized Ratio (INR) of a plasma specimen obtained from said patient is more than 1.4, which comprises thrombomodulin as an active ingredient.
US09555077B2	Methods of lowering body temperature by administration of desacyl ghrelin or its derivative An object of the present invention is to provide a hypothermic agent for an animal, a therapeutic agent for hyperthermia in an animal, etc. The present invention provides a hypothermic agent for an animal, a therapeutic agent for hyperthermia in an animal, etc., the agents etc. comprising desacyl ghrelin or its derivative, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.
US09555076B2	Neuregulin based methods and compositions for treating cardiovascular diseases The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preventing, treating or delaying various cardiovascular diseases or disorders in mammals, particularly in humans. More particularly, the present invention provides for compositions and methods for preventing, treating or delaying various cardiovascular diseases or disorders using, inter alia, a neuregulin protein, or a functional fragment thereof, or a nucleic acid encoding a neuregulin protein, or a functional fragment thereof, or an agent that enhances production and/or function of said neuregulin.
US09555073B2	Use of vitelline protein B as a microencapsulating additive The present invention includes compositions and methods for the use of an encapsulation additive having between about 0.1 to about 30 percent isolated and purified vitelline protein B to provide for mixed and extended release formulations.
US09555066B2	Prevotella histicola preparations and the treatment of autoimmune conditions This document provides methods and materials related to Prevotella histicola preparations. For example, Prevotella histicola preparations in the form of an oral medicament or dietary supplement (e.g., a pill, tablet, capsule) are provided. In addition, methods and materials for using a Prevotella histicola preparation provided herein as an anti-inflammatory agent are provided.
US09555063B2	Pluripotent therapeutic compositions and uses thereof Synthetic Stem Cell-like Tissue Healing and Regeneration Medication with Anti-inflammatory, Protein Synthesis, Enzyme Deficiency Activation and Genetic Therapy, and Anti-cancer Agent derived from a series of inventions that include these products of Biomolecular Engineering, Drug Discovery from a Biologic Periodic Table of Applied Biochemistry and Biophysics. Tissue has a self healing effect promoting tissue healing and tissue regeneration. Not only does it maintain good health but also it has been observed that the patient's blood is withdrawn from the patient and applied to the ulcer has healing qualities. Cartilage placed in a wound promotes and accelerates wound healing. The anabolic biochemical and biophysical equivalent of tissue has been found in these embodiments to have the same pharmacologic qualities, when devoid of genetic DNA mismatch and other catabolic factors including the catabolic effects of microorganism overgrowth that lacks pro-biotic qualities. The healing efficacy of these tissue components gives us further appreciation of the protective action of human tissue over and above and other than the immune protective system or perhaps an integral component part of the immune system.
US09555062B2	Dehydration device and methods for drying biological materials This invention relates generally to a dehydration device and methods for drying biological materials to produce dried biological materials having enhanced structural properties. More specifically, the invention relates to a dehydration device and related methods for drying biological tissue to produce enhanced tissue grafts.
US09555061B2	Synthesis and analysis of compounds capable of inducing differentiation of human mesenchymal stems cells into hepatocytes The invention relates to low-molecular-weight compounds which are capable of inducing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell into hepatocytes.
US09555055B2	Use of albiflorin and metabolites thereof Disclosed is a use of albiflorin or a metabolite thereof in preparation of antianxiety and sleep disorder improving drugs or health-care food. Tests prove that albiflorin has significant antianxiety effects and sleep disorder improving effects achieved by prolonging SWS and low the toxic side effects, thus being a safety monomer compound capable of effectively treating anxiety and sleep disorder.
US09555054B2	Compositions and methods for reducing oxidative damage Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water; adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.
US09555053B2	Use of oligosaccharide compounds for the prevention and treatment of pathological scars The present invention relates to a compound selected among the synthetic polysulphated oligosaccharides having 1 to 4 ose units and the salts and complexes thereof to be used for the treatment of wounds resulting in pathological scars selected among hypertrophic, retractile or atrophic scars. Said use is preferred in particular in patients that have a predisposition to developing hypertrophic, retractile or atrophic scars. According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to said compound for the use thereof in order to inhibit the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts during the cicatrisation of wounds resulting in pathological scars selected among hypertrophic, retractile or atrophic scars.
US09555052B2	Intrauterine fetal growth restriction—the biochemical rationale of treatment modalities including extraperitoneal transamniotic fetal supplements Intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) is an affliction of a disparaging spectrum, placental insufficiency being the major inciting pathology. The resultant fetal hypoglycemia is alleviated by intravenous hypertonic D-glucose 25-50% maternal supplements, by improving the Vmax of placental substrate transfer, as per Michaelis-Menten model. Fetal normoglycemia so restored in turn surprisingly improves fetal hypoxia, hypercapnia if any, lactic acidemia, acidosis, oliguria with/without oligohydromnios, hypertriglyceridemia, and the fetal nutrient, mineral and vitamin acquisition. The list being phenomenal can only convince an inquiring reader by a biochemical sojourn into the aquatic world of the fetus, herein described. Maternal carbohydrate predominant, essential amino acids/fatty acids rich IUGR-diet incorporating maximal amounts of vitamin and minerals are highly beneficial for attainable placental Vmax. Transamniotic isotonic D-glucose supplement via minimally invasive ‘Suprapubic extraperitonial pelvic approach’ for amniotomy (Sumathi Paturu's technique) with a Subcutaneously Implanted Pregnancy Port (SIPP) catheter is the additional therapy advocated.
US09555048B2	Corticosteroids for the treatment of joint pain Corticosteroid microparticle formulations are provided for use for treating pain, including pain caused by inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, and for slowing, arresting or reversing structural damage to tissues caused by an inflammatory disease, for example damage to articular and/or peri-articular tissues caused by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Corticosteroid microparticle formulations are administered locally as a sustained release dosage form (with or without an immediate release component) that results in efficacy accompanied by clinically insignificant or no measurable effect on endogenous cortisol production.
US09555042B2	Treatment for pancreatic cancer The invention is related to a method of treating a subject with pancreatic cancer with administration of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09555040B2	Methods of treating proliferative diseases Provided herein are methods of administering N-(5-tert-butyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-N′-{4-[7-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazol-2-yl]phenyl}urea, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, to human patients, including a specific patient population. Specifically, dosing, dosing schedules or dosing regimens are provided herein. Methods of treating proliferative diseases or FLT-3 mediated diseases in humans are also provided.
US09555039B2	Piperidine derivatives and compositions for the inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) The present invention relates to compounds and compositions for the inhibition of NAMPT, their synthesis, applications and antidotes. An illustrative compound of the invention is shown below: Formula (I)
US09555034B2	Compositions and methods for treating skin cancer associated diseases The invention provides compositions and methods for treating skin cancer associated diseases. Specifically, the invention relates to topically administering a signaling pathway inhibitor or a related compound to treat pre-cancerous skin lesions, skin tumors, and their associated diseases or disorders.
US09555028B2	Drug for preventing/treating ocular disease The present invention relates to a medicament for preventing or treating an ocular disease comprising cyclo-trans-4-L-hydroxyprolyl-L-serine as an active ingredient, a medicament for preventing or treating dry eye comprising the compound as an active ingredient, and, in particular, a medicament for preventing or treating dry eye having an action of enhancing mucin secretion and an action of enhancing repair of ocular tissue damage caused by dry eye.
US09555026B2	Solid dispersion comprising amorphous cilostazol The present invention relates to a solid dispersion comprising cilostazol, and methacrylic acid copolymer S and/or methacrylic acid copolymer L, which is characterized in that cilostazol is retained in an amorphous state in a gastrointestinal tract for a certain period after oral administration.
US09555023B2	Pharmaceutical salts and polymorphs of a factor Xa inhibitor The present invention provides for salts comprising a compound of Formula I and an acid that has activity against mammalian factor Xa. The present invention is also directed to methods of making the compound of Formula I.
US09555022B2	Substituted triazolopyridines The present invention relates to substituted triazolopyridine compounds of general formula (I): in which R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are as given in the description and in the claims, to methods of preparing said compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions and combinations comprising said compounds, to the use of said compounds for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease of uncontrolled cell growth, proliferation and/or survival as well as to the use of intermediate compounds for the preparation of said compounds.
US09555020B2	Treatments for diabetes mellitus and obesity Methods of treatment in subjects suffering from diabetes mellitus or obesity are provided. The methods comprise the step of administering an active agent directly to the small intestine in the subject. In particular, the active agent may be administered directly to the duodenum in the subject. The active agents useful in the treatments described herein include analgesic agents and, in particular, antinociceptive agents such as capsaicin, resiniferatoxin, and their analogs.
US09555015B2	Antimicrobial compositions and methods for their use Topical and wash compositions comprising a polymeric biguanide or a bis(biguanide) compound, a chelating agent and a buffering agent and methods for using these compositions for the prevention or treatment of skin or ear tissue infections is provided.
US09555014B2	Therapeutic regimens This invention relates to clinically useful therapeutic regimens comprising the administration of (R)-6-(2-(ethyl(4-(2-(ethylamino)ethyl)benzyl)amino)-4-methoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-ol.
US09555012B2	Methods for maintaining or improving health, well-being and/or a physiological function in a subject The invention relates to a method of treating or preventing a condition in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an acceptable composition comprising meglumine or a salt thereof. The invention further relates to a method of improving a physiological function in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an acceptable composition comprising meglumine or a salt thereof.
US09555011B2	Formulation of active agent loaded activated PLGA nanoparticles for targeted cancer nano-therapeutics The present invention includes compositions and methods of making an activated polymeric nanoparticle for targeted drug delivery that includes a biocompatible polymer and an amphiphilic stabilizing agent non-covalently associated with a spacer compound that includes at least one electrophile that selectively reacts with any nucleophilic on a targeting agent and places the targeting agent on the exterior surface of a biodegradable nanoshell, wherein an active agent is loaded with the nanoshell.
US09555006B2	PH-dependent controlled release pharmaceutical composition for non-opioids with resistance against the influence of ethanol The invention relates to a pH-dependent controlled release pharmaceutical composition, comprising at least one pharmaceutical active ingredient, with the exception of opioids, wherein the core is coated at least by one coating layer, controlling the release of the pharmaceutical composition, wherein the coating layer comprises a polymer mixture of i) 40-95% by weight, based on dry weight of the polymer mixture, of at least one water insoluble essentially neutral vinyl polymer or copolymer, and ii) 5-60% by weight, based on dry weight of the polymer mixture, of at least one anionic polymer or copolymer, which is insoluble in a buffered medium below pH 4.0 and soluble at least in the range from pH 7.0 to pH 8.0. characterized in that the coating layer further contains 110 to 250% by weight, calculated on dry weight of the polymer mixture, of a non-porous inert lubricant and the is present in an amount of at least 60% by weight calculated on the weight of core.
US09555004B2	Sustained-release formulations of topiramate Pharmaceutical compositions of topiramate for once-a-day oral administration are provided. The formulations comprise a sustained-release component and an optional immediate-release component, the compositions of which can be selectively adjusted, respectively, to release the active ingredient along a pre-determined release profile. Method of treating or preventing pathological disorders in mammalian subjects comprising the administration of the novel formulations disclosed herein is also provided.
US09555003B2	Oral solid formulation of compound anti-tubercular drug and preparation method thereof Provided is an oral solid preparation of a compound anti-tubercular drug, wherein the active ingredients are rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol hydrochloride. The compound oral solid preparation is a coated tablet with coated core or a coated three-layer tablet, wherein the two active ingredients rifampicin and isoniazid do not come to contact with each other directly. The compound oral solid preparation not only improves the stability of the compound preparation, but also improves the bioavailability of rifampicin.
US09555002B2	Solid pharmaceutical preparations containing copolymers based on polyethers combined with poorly water-soluble polymers The invention relates to dosage forms which contain preparations of poorly water-soluble substances in a polymer matrix of polyether copolymers, said polyether copolymers being obtained by the radically initiated polymerization of a mixture from 30 to 80% by weight of N-vinyl lactam, 10 to 50% by weight of vinyl acetate and 10 to 50% by weight of a polyether, and at least one poorly water-soluble polymer, the poorly water-soluble substance being present in the polymer matrix as an amorphous substance.
US09555001B2	Pharmaceutical composition and uses thereof The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising fixed dose combinations of a DPP-4 inhibitor drug and/or a SGLT-2 inhibitor drug, and metformin XR, processes for the preparation thereof, and their use to treat certain diseases.
US09555000B2	Pharmaceutical preparation containing oxycodone and naloxone The invention concerns a storage stable pharmaceutical preparation comprising oxycodone and naloxone for use in pain therapy, with the active compounds being released from the preparation in a sustained, invariant and independent manner.
US09554998B1	Composition of analgesic bioadhesive healing microspheres A new composition of analgesic bioadhesive healing microspheres in which each microsphere comprises at least:a.—a layer of a polyanion, where the polyanion may be an alginate.b.—a core coated with a polyanion consisting of a triblock copolymer non-ionic surfactant; poloxamer 188 or a mixture of them; and a volatile halogenated by-product anesthetic ether agent of methyl-isopropyl-ether in contact with the internal part of the polyanion layer, which may be sevoflurane. c.—a coating of a polycation in contact with the external part of the polyanion layer, which may be chitosan.
US09554996B2	Compositions and methods for delivery of poorly soluble drugs Described herein are compositions comprising particles of poorly soluble drugs encapsulated by stabilizers. Further described are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such encapsulated compositions. Also described are methods of making such encapsulated particle compositions, and methods of making the corresponding pharmaceutical compositions. The encapsulated particle compositions described herein allow poorly soluble drugs to be administered with good bioavailability by routes that are non-invasive to patients, such as by oral administration.
US09554991B2	Carbidopa/levodopa gastroretentive drug delivery A gastroretentive drug formulation for the sustained release of an active agent in the gastrointestinal tract comprises an internal layer or compartment comprising an active agent and one or more pharmaceutical excipients, of which at least one is a polymer and two membranes forming together an envelope around the inner membrane, each membrane comprising at least one polymeric combination of an enteric polymer which is not soluble in gastric juice, and an hydrophilic swelling polymer, and at least one plasticizer.
US09554988B2	Method for preventing or treating skin tumor Methods, compositions and products for preventing skin tumor formation or inhibiting the development of an existing skin tumor in a subject are described. The methods involve administering to the subject a composition containing an α adrenergic receptor agonist, such as brimonidine.
US09554987B2	Methods and formulations for treating sialic acid deficiencies The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating sialic acid deficiencies comprising extended release formulations.
US09554986B2	Oral care composition The present invention relates an oral care composition, comprising one or more functional agents selected from a group consisting of a whitening agent, a re-mineralizing agent, an anti-plaque agent, an anti-gingivitis agent, a detoxifying agent and its combinations. The composition further comprises a probiotic blend consisting of beneficial oral bacterial population and at least one essential oil comprising antimicrobial activity.
US09554984B2	Oral care compositions for topical application The invention provides a biological dressing for treatment of a condition of the skin, mucosa, teeth or other tissue within or proximate to the oral cavity of a subject, the biological dressing comprised of a gum resin, a topically acceptable volatile solvent, and an oral care agent. The gum resin is present in a suitable amount that the composition, when the solvent evaporates, will dry to form a solid coating that sticks to the tissue to which the composition is applied and maintain the oral care agent over a sustained period of time in contact with sites on the tissue exhibiting symptoms of the condition. Methods are provided for treating symptoms of oral condition with such a oral care composition.
US09554983B2	Hydrophilic silicon particles with improved heat-resistance and touch feeling and methods for preparaing the same The present invention is related to hydrophilic silicone powders and the methods to prepare the same that contain 1-30 mol % of units selected from a group consisting of (a) partially hydrolyzed silsesquioxane containing one hydroxyl group (T2) and silica (Q3), (b) partially hydrolyzed silsesquioxane containing two hydroxyl groups (T1) and silica (Q3), (c) silica containing three hydroxyl groups (Q1), hydrolyzed silicone containing siloxane (D1), and mixtures thereof, and hydrophilic silicone powders consisting of core described above and shells composed of silica, and/or titanium dioxide. The particles are useful as ingredients for cosmetics and emulsions because they have good heat resistance, good touching feeling, and readily disperse in water due to their hydrophilic nature and high water absorbency.
US09554980B2	Composition and process for permanent shaping of human hair Compositions and processes permanent shape human hair for the permanent waving of human hair with an excellent waving effect as well as for the straightening of curled hair. A composition for permanently shaping hair has at least one reducing agent or at least one oxidizing agent and a cross linked copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone, vinylimidazol, 3-methyl-1-vinylimidazolium chloride and methacrylic acid. A process for permanent shaping hair wherein a composition comprising at least one reducing agent is applied and rinsed off from hair after a processing time of 1 to 30 min and at a temperature of 20 to 45° C. and a composition comprising at least one oxidizing agent is applied and processed for 1 to 20 min at a temperature range of 20 to 45° C. and rinsed off from hair wherein at least one of the compositions has a cross linked copolymer.
US09554979B2	Hair care compositions and methods of use Hair care compositions including from about 0.005% to about 5% apigenin; from about 0.15% to about 12% of a solubilizing agent, wherein the solubilizing agent comprises an amine functional group; and at least about 20 weight percent of an aqueous carrier, where the composition has a pH ranging from about 3 to about 10, and methods of making the same are provided. These hair care compositions can be applied to any area of the scalp or hair where healthier hair appearance is desired.
US09554978B2	Personal care articles A compliant personal care article, can include: a personal care composition, including i) a surfactant; and ii) from about 3% to about 40%, by weight of the composition, of a water insoluble hygroscopic fiber, fine, or filament; and a first contact substrate adjacent to the composition, wherein the contact substrate is a multiplanar film, includes a surface aberration, and has a surface aberration area of about 45% to about 98%.
US09554976B2	Tooth whitening product A tooth whitening product is provided. The tooth whitening product has a backing layer and a tooth whitening composition. The tooth whitening composition includes first and second water soluble polymers, water, and a tooth whitening agent, wherein the first water soluble polymer is polyethelene oxide and the second water soluble polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.
US09554970B2	Photoluminescent coupling A coupling includes a first input port and a photoluminescent portion associated with the first input port. The first input port may be one or more of a gastric port, a jejunal port, or a balloon port. The first port may have a first glow-in-the dark feature and a second port may have a second glow-in-the-dark feature, which may be different from one another. The coupling may include means for orientation that assists a user in properly orienting a connector to be mounted in the first port in proper orientation and a first connector for coupling to the first port.
US09554964B1	Suspension and body attachment system and differential pressure suit for body weight support devices The present invention provides a differential pressure body suit with external support against body suit migration. In its preferred embodiment, such body suit may comprise a close-fitting, multi-layered suit sealed against a mammal's skin to contain the differential pressure, or a looser-fitting suit that bends at the mammal's joints with minimal force. External support means include either fixed or movable mechanical supports attached to the body suit, extraordinary air pressure levels for making the body suit rigid, or exoskeletons attached to the body suit, or a counter-force suspension cable adjustment system. A cyclic control system can turn the differential pressure condition within the body suit on and off on a selective basis to accommodate the movement of the legs of the mammal. This differential pressure body suit provides a portable and convenient system for, e.g., rehabilitating a skeletal joint injury or training the mammal for injury prevention or athletic performance or fat burning. The pressurization reduces the weight of the body to greater or lesser extents, and offloads the weight to the ground through the external support means.
US09554961B1	Folding walker A folding walker is provided, including methods of using the folding walker. The folding walker includes two side members. Each of the side members includes a leg assembly; a handle assembly; and two first joints coupled between the leg assembly and the handle assembly. The folding walker also includes a front member. The front member includes a horizontal member having a first portion and a second portion; and a second joint coupled between a first end of the first portion and a first end the second portion, wherein a second end of the first portion is rotatably coupled to one side member and a second end of the second portion is rotatably coupled to the other side member.
US09554945B2	Combination SIS and vacuum bandage and method A wound care bandage for treating a wound is provided. The bandage includes an SIS layer to be placed on the wound surface and a cover to placed over the wound. The bandage further includes a structure to provide a vacuum space. A method for promoting wound healing is further provided. The method includes applying the above-mentioned wound care bandage to the wound and creating a vacuum in the vacuum space to draw blood controllably from the wound into the SIS layer.
US09554942B1	Steerable laser probe A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation lever, an optic fiber, and a housing tube. The housing tube may have a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. An actuation of the actuation lever about a pivot pin of the handle may gradually curve the optic fiber. An actuation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin of the handle may gradually straighten the optic fiber.
US09554938B2	Anti-snoring device An anti-snoring device for positioning within the mouth cavity of a person is disclosed. The invention is characterized in that a displacement member (9) is provided with a shape and size suitable for placement within the mouth cavity between the bottom of the tongue and the musculature at the bottom of the mouth, the member lifting the tongue in toward the mouth cavity, wherein the displacement member is connected to a mouthpiece-shaped element (8) placed between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw, and provides a passage opening (15) for ventilation of the mouth cavity with air that is breathed.
US09554936B2	Singer-Domanski resin MMF/reimplantation device A resin MMF/reimplantation kit is provided with a dental arch bar that includes an elongated pliable splint and a plurality of attachment members. The pliable splint includes an interiorly facing side surface and an exteriorly facing side surface. The pliable splint includes a curable component that cures from a moldable state to a rigid state in less than one minute upon being activated. The attachment members can be ether partially embedded in the pliable splint or can be separate from the pliable splint until after the pliable splint is attached to the patient's teeth.
US09554935B2	Orthopedic device for treating complications of the hip An orthopedic device comprises a hip plate, a first strut defining an anatomical curvature between first and second ends, and a second strut having a first end slidably received by the hip plate. A hinge couples the first and second struts to one another at the first end of the first strut and the second end of the second strut, and is arranged to provide adjustable abduction ranging from a plurality of angles. A thigh cuff connects to the second end of the first strut.
US09554932B2	System and method for gastric restriction and malabsorption The present disclosure relates generally to prosthetic devices for use in restricting food and caloric intake into the stomach and of absorption of the food components in the stomach and small intestine. The system includes an elongated bariatric sleeve having a normally superior or upper proximal end and a normally inferior or lower distal end. An elongated lumen support member is positioned within the first lumen in contacting relation with the first membrane for maintaining the first lumen in an open position. A proximal anchor ring with a central aperture and a catheter channel is connected to the proximal end of the sleeve to the collar member. The anchor is inflatable or expandable memory material for anchoring the sleeve in superior relation to a pyloric valve of the patient's stomach. An anchor weight is connected to the distal end of the first flexible tube. The device further includes a tether or a delivery catheter connected to a gastric port to aide in minimizing movement of the device and the device for delivery of nutritional and pharmaceutical compositions through the gastric opening and into the second lumen where they may be absorbed by the proximal duodenum and jejunum of the small intestine. The system can also include an intragastric displacement balloon.
US09554931B2	Preformed gastric band and method of use One aspect of the present invention includes a preformed gastric band comprising a flexible substrate and a plurality of band members. The flexible substrate comprises oppositely disposed first and second major surfaces defined by first and second minor side portions and first and second major side portions. The first major surface includes a lower collar section and an upper band section. The plurality of flexible band members is securely connected to the upper band section and extends between the first and second minor side portions of the substrate. Each of the band members includes first and second ends that comprise an attachment mechanism for connecting the first and second ends. Each of the band members is separated from one another by a spacing region.
US09554926B2	Stents with adhesion promoting layer Stents are disclosed with an adhesion promoting layer that improves adhesion of polymer coatings over polymer surfaces of a stent substrate.
US09554924B2	Stent A stent (10) for transluminal implantation comprises a first, second and third stent section (11, 12, 13) for splinting and/or keeping open a hollow organ which are connected to each other via elastic tubular sections (14, 15). The stent (10) combines at least three different stent designs in one stent and can therefore be adjusted to the motion behavior of a hollow organ in an improved fashion (FIG. 1).
US09554921B2	Movement support apparatus There is provided a movement support apparatus including a lower limb coupling portion configured to be coupled to a lower limb, an elastic member, a ground contact unit configured to include a ground contact plate coming into contact with a surface and a transmission portion transmitting force generated by the elastic member, and an ankle portion configured to be installed between the lower limb coupling portion and the ground contact unit. The ground contact unit is installed to be displaceable between a position at which the transmission portion comes into contact with the ankle portion and a position at which the transmission portion is uncoupled from the ankle portion.
US09554918B2	Articulating expandable intervertebral implant A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer includes a frame having a longitudinal axis, and ramped surfaces. An endplate configured to engage a bone of the joint has ramped surfaces mateable with the ramped surfaces of the frame. When the endplate is moved relative to the frame in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the frame, the endplate is moved in a direction away from the frame to increase the height of the spacer. A second endplate configured to engage a second bone of the joint can be similarly configured.
US09554917B2	Customized intervertebral prosthetic disc with shock absorption A prosthesis system comprises plates that can be positioned against vertebrae and a selected resilient core that can be positioned between the plates to allow the plates to articulate. The selected resilient core can be chosen from a plurality of cores in response to patient characteristics, such as age and/or intervertebral mobility, such that the prosthesis implanted in the patient is tailored to the needs of the patient. The plurality of cores may comprise cores with different resiliencies, and one of the cores can be selected such that the upper and lower plates articulate with the desired shock absorbing resiliency and/or maximum angle of inclination when the one selected core is positioned between the plates.
US09554915B2	Device and method for fixation for bone or soft tissue deformity of digits A fixation device comprises a first clamping member having an adjustable clamping collar and a first curved support portion attached to the adjustable clamping collar. The first clamping member is adapted to receive a digit. The first curved support portion is adapted to support an inferior surface of a proximal phalanx of the digit. A distal member is adjustably attachable to the first clamping member. The distal member has a second curved support surface adapted to support an inferior surface of a distal phalanx of the digit and a curved distal end adapted to apply a compressive force in a proximal direction to a distal end of the distal phalanx.
US09554912B2	Tibial prosthetic component for a partial or unicondylar bearing knee replacement, method of selecting such a tibial prosthetic component, method of implanting such a tibial prosthetic component and a kit for a surgeon The invention concerns a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) for forming a tibial plateau of a tibia (16), wherein a peripheral region of the plate (100) has a thickness of less than 3 mm. The invention also concerns a tibial prosthetic component having a keel of depth less than 9 mm. The invention also concerns a method of selecting a tibial prosthetic component comprising receiving measurements of at least one physical attribute of an individual into whom the tibial prosthetic component is to be implanted, selecting a thickness of a plate (100) and depth of keel of the tibial prosthetic component based on the measurements and providing a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) having the selected thickness and a keel having the selected depth. The invention may also comprise implanting a tibial prosthetic component selected in accordance with this method into an individual and a kit comprising a plurality of prosthetic components comprising plates having different thicknesses with keels of different depths.
US09554911B2	Artificial knee joint An artificial knee joint includes a femoral component (1) and a tibial component (2). The femoral component (1) includes an intercondylar box (11). A cam (12) is provided on posterior of the intercondylar box (11). The tibial component (2) includes a medial condyle bearing surface (21) and a lateral condyle bearing surface (22) arranged on right and left side respectively. A post (23) is provided between the medial condyle bearing surface (21) and the lateral condyle bearing surface (22). The post (23) is adapted to the intercondylar box (11). The post (23) has a first arc surface (231) on the lateral side of posterior surface. The post (23) has a second arc surface (232) on the posterior surface and on the medial side of the first arc surface (231). A third arc surface (121) and a forth surface (122), cooperating with the first arc surface (231) and the second arc surface (232), are provided on the cam (12) accordingly. The first arc surface (231) can cooperate with the third arc surface (121) so as to guide the femur to rotate laterally with respect to the tibia. The second arc surface (232) can cooperate with the forth surface (122) so as to resist the femur to rotate laterally with respect to the tibia. The artificial knee joint can simulate accurately the flexion-extension action of the knee joint, and is safe and reliable.
US09554909B2	Orthopedic anchoring system and methods Systems and methods for performing orthopedic surgical procedures to treat a patient are presented herein. The orthopedic anchoring system may include an implant assembly and a delivery tool to perform the orthopedic surgical procedure. The implant assembly may include an implant outer layer, an implant body situated within the implant outer layer, and a fastener attached to a locking element of the implant body. The delivery tool may include a targeting arm, a fastener guide removably attached at a first end of the targeting arm and an implant guide removably attached to a second end of the targeting arm. The delivery tool may maintain a fixed spatial relationship between a longitudinal axis of the fastener and a longitudinal axis of the implant outer layer and implant body. The orthopedic anchoring system may be used to perform orthopedic surgical procedures related to joint reinforcement or immobilization.
US09554902B2	Leaflet in configuration for function in various shapes and sizes A prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end, a distal end, an annulus section adjacent the proximal end and an aortic section adjacent the distal end. The heart valve further includes a plurality of commissure features disposed on the stent, and a collapsible and expandable valve assembly, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets connected to the plurality of commissure features, each of the plurality of leaflets having a free edge and being configured to have a tension line aligned near the free edge to prevent backflow.
US09554897B2	Methods and apparatus for engaging a valve prosthesis with tissue A prosthetic valve comprises a self-expanding frame which includes a self-expanding atrial skirt that forms a flanged region, a self-expanding ventricular skirt, and a first self-expanding tab coupled with the ventricular skirt. A receptacle for receiving a valve leaflet is formed by the area bounded by an outer surface of the atrial skirt, an outer surface of the ventricular skirt, and an inner surface of the first tab. The receptacle has a window for receiving the valve leaflet that is defined by a gap between an edge of the flange and a tip of the first tab. The gap is maximized when the tip of the first tab is unconstrained and a base of the first tab is at least partially constrained. The gap is minimized when the tip of the first tab and its base are unconstrained.
US09554894B2	Intraocular lens insertion device and cartridge An intraocular lens insertion device and a cartridge which enable the intraocular lens to be inserted into an eye more stably and easily than ever before. A supporting portion 102 of an intraocular lens 100 arranged on a lens-advancing side in a lens-advancing direction x is pressed against a protrusion 21 so as to be bent backward. Thus, releasing the intraocular lens 100 from a nozzle portion 13 is allowed to begin with the releasing of a curved portion of the supporting portion 102 that has become U-shaped and hard to move freely. As a result, there can be provided an intraocular lens insertion device and a cartridge which enable the intraocular lens 100 to be inserted into an eye more steadily and easily than ever before.
US09554890B2	Medicament delivery devices A prosthetic capsular device configured to be inserted in an eye includes a housing structure and a ring structure. The housing structure includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, a fourth side opposite the third side, a posterior side including a refractive surface, an anterior side opposite the posterior side, and a longitudinal axis. The first side, the second side, the third side, the fourth side, the posterior side, and the anterior side at least partially define a cavity configured to contain an intraocular device (e.g., an IOL). The anterior side includes an opening. The ring structure includes a ring structure portion extending radially outward from proximate one of an end of the first side and an end of the second side.
US09554886B2	Medical assembly with tactile feedback The present invention discloses a medical assembly including an implant, a first sleeve, a second sleeve and an elongate member. The implant has a first portion, a second portion and a mid portion. The first portion of the implant is configured to be enclosed by the first sleeve and the second portion of the implant is configured to be enclosed by the second sleeve. The elongate member is configured to couple the implant with the first sleeve and the second sleeve and is configured to respectively extend from the first portion to the mid portion of the implant and past the mid portion such that the elongate member exits the implant through the mid portion and forms a loop near the mid portion.
US09554885B2	Implants and procedures for treatment of pelvic floor disorders Implants for the treatment of pelvic support conditions and methods of implementing the same. The implants comprise relatively soft, flexible bodies and relatively strong arms extending in predetermined orientation therefrom. Methods and devices for placing the implants minimize trauma to the pelvic floor and provide well-anchored support to pelvic organs without interfering with sexual or other bodily functions.
US09554883B2	Method and apparatus to reduce the number of sperm used in artificial insemination of cattle The present artificial insemination instrument may include a single use, hollow, elongate, metal pipette and a single disposable syringe that is not toxic to bovine sperm. The apparatus is used with any type of diluent that is not toxic to bovine sperm. In various embodiments, a technician may use non-sorted reduced sperm count semen straws from a bull stud, cut an unsorted semen straw into several pieces to use one piece at a time per cow, thaw one straw and mix the non-sorted semen with diluent, or use reduced sperm count semen straws filled with sex sorted semen by the manufacturer. A procedure is disclosed to use the artificial insemination instrument, reduced sperm count semen from any of the aforementioned sources, a non-toxic syringe, and a diluent to achieve conception rates at least as good as conventional prior art device and procedure conception rates.
US09554881B2	Coloring solution for dental zirconia ceramics and method for using the same A coloring solution for dental zirconia ceramics and a method for using the same are provided. The coloring solution consists of coloring agents, a solvent, and an additive. The coloring agents are a combination of two or more rare earth metal compounds, wherein the rare earth metal compounds having rare earth metal ions selected from the group consisting of praseodymium (Pr) ions, erbium (Er) ions, cerium (Ce) ions, and neodymium (Nd) ions. The concentration of the rare earth metal ions in the solution is 0.05˜3 mol/liter solvent. The molar ratio of Pr ions:Er ions:Ce ions:Nd ions in the solution is 1:(10˜50):(0˜20):(0˜30).
US09554880B2	Reference member for determining a position of an implant analog A reference member for determining a position of an implant analog can comprise a trapezoidal body including a first side and a substantially parallel second side. The first side can define a first dimension and the second side can define a second dimension that is greater than the first dimension.
US09554879B2	Method of installing a final dental prosthesis A cradle, assembly, system and method for installing a prosthesis at a surgical site. The cradle temporarily engages the prosthesis and holds it in the correct orientation and position adjacent the surgical site. An aperture is defined in the cradle and a portion of the prosthesis is received therein. In one embodiment, the cradle, assembly and system are used to install a final dental prosthesis in a patient's mouth in a single visit to the dentist's office. A securement member pins the surgical template and subsequently the cradle to the jaw. A reinforced sub-structure on the final dental prosthesis is received in the aperture in the cradle. Cylinders attached to implants anchored in the jaw extend through holes in the sub-structure and are bonded to the prosthesis. The cradle is detached from the jaw and from the prosthesis prior to screws being re-inserted through the cylinders and into the implants.
US09554875B2	Method for producing a customized orthodontic appliance The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to a self ligating orthodontic bracket system that includes a rotatable member for securing an archwire within a slot of a bracket. Embodiments of the orthodontic bracket system disclosed herein include a bracket body containing the archwire slot as well as tie wings for attaching various orthodontic devices (e.g., elastomeric bands) to the bracket. The rotatable member is rotatable in a first direction (e.g., counter clockwise) relative to a body of the bracket for securing or locking the archwire within the slot, and for rotating in an opposite direction (e.g., a clockwise direction) relative to the bracket body for unsecuring or unlocking the archwire so that it is substantially unrestrained from exiting the slot. Other embodiments include an orthodontic appliance and method of producing and using the same, and preferably employed in a lingual orthodontic system, that includes friction reducing features between an interior of an archwire slot portion of the appliance and an archwire placed within the archwire slot.
US09554874B2	Dental devices and methods for treating one or more teeth A dental device (such as a temporary dental crown or dental space maintainer), which may be fabricated in an intra-office process while the patient is located onsite, for use in securing to one or more teeth during a dental restoration procedure or another dental procedure.
US09554873B2	Maxillo-mandibular fixation apparatus and method The present disclosure provides for an apparatus and method for supporting a maxillo-mandibular fixation by securing the maxillary teeth and mandibular teeth together in a faster and less harmful manner, includes a floss-wire component for circumdental wiring a tooth initially by flossing the interproximal space of a tooth therewith and thereafter causing circumdental wiring of a tooth when the floss-wire component is pulled, the floss-wire component having a distal portion composed of a floss-like material and a proximal portion composed of a wire-like material, a clip having an anchoring point and grasping point, the clip interacts with the floss-wire component, thereby causing the clip and the floss-wire to secure tightly to a tooth, and a bar positioned between the buccal surface of one or more teeth and one or more clips, the bar having a plurality of indices to increase the stabilization of one or more clips.
US09554872B2	Intraoral device for automated preparation of the teeth with a view to performing partial or peripheral restorations The invention relates to an intraoral device for automated preparation of the teeth with a view to performing partial or peripheral dental restoration, which includes: a splint (1) suitable for being positioned in the mouth of a patient, said splint including a means (13) for maintaining the position thereof inside said mouth; at least one mobile cutting tool (2) combined with said splint; and an electronic management unit which makes it possible to control said cutting tool, characterized in that: said cutting tool (2) is configured so as to cut at least the labial surface of the tooth (D1) to be prepared, said tool being mounted on a mobile carriage (23) moving along a rail (24) attached to the splint (1), opposite the labial surface of the tooth (D1) to be prepared, said rail having a curvature that matches the dentition (D) of the patient; said splint (1) includes at least one 3D digitization tool (4) arranged such as to digitize at least the labial surface of said tooth to be prepared, said digitization tool being connected to the management unit (6) so that the digitized data can be transferred to said management unit; and said management unit is configured so as to control the movement of said cutting tool (2) in accordance with the digitized data.
US09554859B2	Software center and highly configurable robotic systems for surgery and other uses Telerobotic, telesurgical, and/or surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods employ surgical robotic linkages that may have more degrees of freedom than an associated surgical end effector n space. A processor can calculate a tool motion that includes pivoting of the tool about an aperture site. Linkages movable along a range of configurations for a given end effector position may be driven toward configurations which inhibit collisions. Refined robotic linkages and method for their use are also provided.
US09554849B2	Transvascular method of treating hypertension An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel. A method of treating hypertension involves injecting an ablative fluid such as ethanol deep into zones in the wall of the renal artery such that the zones of fluid merge to form a circumferential ablation ring at a depth which ablates sympathetic nerves while minimizing injury to interior layers of the vessel wall.
US09554845B2	Surgical forceps for treating and cutting tissue An end effector assembly includes a first jaw member defining a wedge configuration having first and second planar surfaces angled inwardly to an apex, and a second jaw member defining a nest configuration having a cut-out defined by third and fourth planar surfaces angled inwardly to a trough. The jaw members are movable between spaced-apart position and approximated positions. In the approximated position, the first and third and second and fourth planar surfaces are disposed in parallel orientation relative to one another imparting a first grasping pressure to tissue disposed therebetween, while the apex is received within the trough imparting a second grasping pressure to tissue disposed therebetween. The jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of energy for conducting energy between the parallel planar surfaces to create a pair of tissue seals, and between the apex and trough to cut tissue between the tissue seals.
US09554844B2	Open vessel sealing instrument and method of manufacturing the same An open electrosurgical forceps is provided and includes a pair of first and second shaft members each having a jaw member at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to a subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. A cutting mechanism is adapted to selectively and removably couple to one of the first and second shaft members. The cutting mechanism includes a cutting trigger for selectively advancing a knife blade extending therefrom through a knife channel defined along one or both of the jaw members. The first shaft member includes a stop feature formed thereon and the second shaft feature includes a stop member formed thereon. The stop feature and stop member configured to selectively engage one another to limit rotation of the first and second shaft members with respect to one another.
US09554843B2	Adapter and method for converting gas-enhanced electrosurgical coagulation instrument for cutting An adapter includes a coupling mechanism that mates with a protruding nozzle of a gas-enhanced electrosurgical coagulation handpiece to convert the coagulation handpiece into a gas-enhanced electrosurgical cutting instrument. An adapter electrode and flow passageways of the adapter conduct electrical energy and gas from the nozzle of the coagulation handpiece to a protruding cutting end portion of an adapter electrode.
US09554839B2	Injection device and heating unit thereof An injection device includes a housing, a plunger, and a heating unit. The plunger is slidably arranged within the housing thereby performing a plunging movement therein. The heating unit is disposed within the housing for generating a heat energy inside the housing such that a filling material inside the housing can be soften and be transformed into a movable filling material with viscosity by absorbing the heat energy from the heating unit.
US09554834B2	Push-off driver and method for inserting bone screws A method and device for inserting screws into a patient, such that when the device is removed the device does not stick to the screw. The device, being a push-off driver, may have a handle, an inner driver, and a threaded driver sleeve having a button mechanism and a plurality of spheres, and an inner sleeve. The method includes the steps of assembling a push-off driver attaching a bone screw to the push-off driver inserting the bone screw and detaching the bone screw from the driver by unthreading the threaded driver sleeve from the polyaxial screw which causes the spheres in the recess of the inner driver to back up against the start of the recess and causing the threaded driver sleeve to “push-off” the polyaxial screw from the inner driver.
US09554832B2	Apparatus and method for direct vertebral rotation An instrument for spinal rotation that aligns and holds direct vertebral rotation (DVR) lever arms relative to each other to achieve an initial axial alignment of a segment of vertebrae and allows the final DVR rotation by rotating the instrument and lever arms together. A method of direct vertebral rotation that allows rotating the vertebrae to be aligned relative to each other, and collectively rotating the vertebrae to be aligned relative to adjacent spinal segments by rotating the direct vertebral rotation instrument. A system for direct vertebral rotation having at least two pedicle screws. The system also includes at least two levers attachable to the pedicle screws and a clamping instrument configured to clamp the levers.
US09554831B2	Intervertebral spinal implant and method A spinal implant is provided. The spinal implant includes a body extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end defines a notch configured for disposal of a first vertebra. The distal end includes a protrusion configured for disposal in a second vertebra. The proximal and distal ends are movable relative to one another between an unexpanded position in which the spinal implant is inserted between lamina and an expanded position in which the spinal implant is disposed between the lamina.
US09554827B2	Medical robot system for supporting an organ in a position suitable for a medical treatment Provided is a medical robot system which includes a medical manipulator capable of handling organs such as a uterine of different shapes and sizes. The medical robot system includes a robot arm, a medical manipulator which is detachably provided in the robot arm and supports an organ to a predetermined position, and a controller unit operable by an operator to control the robot arm and the medical manipulator. The medical manipulator also includes a first arm portion in a base side thereof, a second arm portion in a front side thereof for supporting the organ, and a connection portion connecting the first arm portion with the second arm portion. The control unit adjusts a relative direction of the second arm portion and the first arm portion and a length of the second arm portion in a telescopic manner thereby being suitable for organs of various shapes and sizes.
US09554826B2	Contrast agent injection system for sonographic imaging The present invention comprises methods and devices for generating and providing contrast medium for sonography of structures such as ducts and cavities. The invention provides for creation of a contrast medium comprising detectable acoustic variations between two phases, for example, a gas and a liquid. Sonography is the primary imaging technique but other conventional detection techniques may also be employed with the present invention.
US09554825B2	Access assembly An access assembly is provided. The access assembly includes an access member defining a central longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening therethrough for reception and passage of surgical instrument, the access member dimensioned for positioning within tissue to provide access to underlying tissue, and first and second seal members mounted to the access member in juxtaposed relation, the first seal member defining an opening therethrough, the second seal member defining an elongated arcuate passage, wherein the first and second seal members are adapted for rotational movement about the central longitudinal axis whereby the opening of the first seal member is axially alignable with the elongated arcuate passage of the second seal member to permit reception and passage of the surgical instrument in substantial sealed relation therewith, the first and second seal members further adapted for relative rotational movement whereby the first seal member is capable of rotating relative to the second seal member during manipulation and traversal of the surgical instrument through the elongated arcuate passage of the second seal member to maintain the substantial sealed relation about the instrument.
US09554823B2	Vibration and inertia enhanced atherectomy An atherectomy device is disclosed herein. The atherectomy device includes a first drive shaft, a second drive shaft, a handle assembly, and a cutting member. The first drive shaft extends distally from the handle assembly and includes the cutting member mounted on a distal end region of the first drive shaft. The second drive shaft extends distally from the handle assembly to a distal end of the second drive shaft such that both the first and the second drive shafts are rotatable relative to the handle assembly, and the first drive shaft is rotatable independent of the second drive shaft.
US09554822B2	Thrombectomy catheter with aspiration and guidewire lumens defining an asymmetrical taper and cutting edge with offset tip The subject matter relates a catheter having a helical or spiral tip defining an aspiration port for removing obstructions from blood vessels.
US09554820B2	Ultrasonic surgical instrument An ultrasonic surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing. A shaft is supported on the housing and defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The shaft supports a jaw member at a distal end thereof. The jaw member is movable between open and clamping configurations. A probe includes proximal and distal ends. The distal end has an active blade thereon configured to effect tissue when the jaw member is in the clamping configuration. The proximal end has at least one mating feature thereon. A rotating assembly operably supported on the housing is configured to rotate the shaft. The rotating assembly includes a torque adapter that is engageable with the at least one mating feature to selectively and releasably couple the probe to the housing.
US09554815B2	Shockwave valvuloplasty with multiple balloons Described herein are shock wave devices and methods for the treatment of calcified heart valves. One variation of a shock wave device includes three balloons that are each sized and shaped to fit within a concave portion of a valve cusp when inflated with a liquid and a shock wave source within each of the three balloons. Each balloon is separately and/or independently inflatable, and each shock wave source is separately and/or independently controllable. Methods of treating calcified heart valves using a shock wave device can include advancing a shock wave device having one or more balloons and a shock wave source in each of the balloons to contact a heart valve, inflating the one or more balloons with a liquid such that the balloon is seated within a concave portion of a valve cusp, and activating the shock wave source.
US09554809B2	Ultrasonic blade with static casing An ultrasonic surgical device capable of cutting biological tissues such as bone and cartilage. The ultrasonic surgical device includes a static casing, which sheaths an ultrasonic horn, and a lubrication film, which separates the ultrasonic horn and the static casing. The static casing, which also incorporates a plurality of fluid channels to allow passage of fluids along its length and eventual distribution of such fluids at the cutting end and biological tissue interface, inhibits the transfer of heat generated along the ultrasonic horn. The cutting end and the static casing are separated by a flexible joint, which serves to inhibit the transfer of vibrational energy, and consequently heat, from the cutting end to the static casing. As such, the static casing remains stable and can be used both to manipulate the surgical device with greater haptic control and facilitate effective penetration of larger cross-sections of biological tissue.
US09554807B2	Surgical saw with sensing technology for determining cut through of bone and depth of the saw blade during surgery Sensing technology methods related thereto for determining cut through of bone and a depth of penetration of a working portion of a surgical instrument (e.g., an oscillating saw blade in a cut). A first sensor outputs a first signal representative of a displacement of the cutting edge of the saw blade in the cut. A second sensor outputs a second signal representative of a force applied to the cutting edge of the saw blade. As such, monitoring the first and/or second sensor may allow for the saw to be stopped upon completion of a cut (e.g., when the saw passes completely through a medium to be cut or upon reaching a predetermined depth for the cut).
US09554801B2	Extravascular implant for facilitating sutured side-to-side arteriovenous fistula creation and maintaining patency An extravascular anastomosis device for facilitating side-to-side arteriovenous fistula creation and maintenance of patency thereof is presented. The device comprises two device halves each containing an anastomosis window which is in fluid connection with an interior space of the device. Further, the device comprises a pair of vessel capture spaces in which portions of the vessels to be joined are captured. The invention also has an embodiment wherein a method of joining a vein and an artery in order to create a fistula is presented.
US09554798B2	System and method for forming a T-shaped surgical clip A surgical clip forming apparatus includes an unformed surgical clip having a head section including an upper portion and a lower portion separated from each other to define a first space therebetween in a first configuration, a left leg section including a proximal end and a distal end and a right leg section including a proximal end and a distal end. The surgical clip forming apparatus includes an anvil configured to engage the head section of the surgical clip and a pair of forming pins positioned adjacent the proximal ends of the left and right legs for securing the head section of the unformed surgical clip against the anvil. When a force is applied to the anvil, the upper portion compresses toward the lower portion. The unformed surgical clip transforms into a “T-shaped” clip or a formed clip in a second configuration, after the force has been applied to the anvil.
US09554797B2	Tissue-acquisition device and method Described herein is an improved device and method for acquiring, and optionally, fastening a tissue fold. The device has an improved configuration for forming a single, two-layer tissue fold.
US09554796B2	Multi-fire surgical stapling apparatus including safety lockout and visual indicator A surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, a firing assembly, and a lockout assembly. The cartridge assembly is configured to house a plurality of sets of surgical fasteners. The firing assembly is configured for repeated actuation wherein, upon each actuation, the firing assembly is moved from a first position to a second position to at least partially eject a set of surgical fasteners. The firing assembly further configured to translate from the second position back to the first position to reset the firing assembly for subsequent actuation. The lockout assembly is configured to permit a predetermined number of actuations and is configured to transition from a first condition, wherein subsequent actuation is permitted, to a second condition, wherein subsequent actuation is inhibited, when a number of previous actuations of the firing assembly is equal to the predetermined number of actuations.
US09554792B1	Variable spread suturing device A suturing device, and methods for suturing various sizes of apertures in tissues, are presented. The suturing device has a body with at least one or more adjustable arms that are coupled with catch targets. The arms are coupled with needle guides such that movements of the arms orient the needle guides to direct the needles towards the catch targets. The catch targets are coupled with sutures, such that when the needles reach the targets, they capture and pull the sutures back to the body. By changing the angles at which the arms extend from the body, the catch targets are moved closer to, or farther from, the body, and the suture device is readily configured to suture various sizes of apertures.
US09554788B1	Methods and apparatus for performing arthroscopic surgery A method and apparatus are disclosed for securing an arthroscopic cannula in place during arthroscopic surgery. The method and apparatus seal the arthroscopic incision to mitigate leakage of fluid from the joint and seepage of the fluid into surrounding tissue. Reducing leakage of fluid during surgery reduces consumption of saline to insufflate the joint, and improves safety in the operating room by reducing accumulation of fluid on the operating room floor. Reducing leakage and tamping the incision also reduces the likelihood of expulsion of the cannula under pressure from the joint. Reducing seepage of fluid into surrounding tissue also reduces stiffening of the joint during surgery which can interfere with manipulation of the joint and instruments to desired positions during surgery. Reducing seepage of fluid into surrounding tissue also reduces the likelihood of complications or extenuating circumstances during surgery due to migration of fluid through expulsion of the cannula by reducing expansion of surrounding soft tissue during manipulation of instruments and the cannula during surgery, and improves patient recovery.
US09554787B2	Devices and methods for percutaneous access, hemostasis, and closure The present invention provides methods and devices for obtaining percutaneous access, maintaining hemostasis, and providing closure of openings in tissues of the body. In particular, the present invention provides methods and devices for maintaining hemostasis and providing closure surgical incisions of the left ventricular apex of the heart.
US09554784B2	Bioresorbable tip with low force release and methods A vascular closure system includes an expandable anchor, a sealing material, a sealing tip, and a sealing tip release member. The expandable anchor is temporarily positioned through a vessel puncture within a vessel. The sealing material is positioned outside of the vessel and configured to seal the vessel puncture. The sealing tip is positioned distal of the anchor and releasable within the sealing material upon removal of the anchor and sealing tip through the sealing material. The sealing tip release member is operable to release the sealing tip without application of a tactile force.
US09554781B2	Minimally invasive surgical suturing device and method A minimally invasive surgical suturing device has a shaft; a needle slideably coupled to the shaft and having a ferrule engaging end; and a guide tip having a ferrule receiving aperture and moveably coupled to the shaft for selectable movement between a retracted position and an enabled position. In a related method, a distal shaft end, having a guide tip in a retracted position, is passed through a minimally invasive entry point and into a body cavity. The guide tip having a ferrule receiving aperture is actuated into an enabled position such that an insertion profile of the guide tip and shaft in the enabled position is larger than an access dimension of the minimally invasive entry point. A needle, slideably coupled to the shaft and having a ferrule engaging end, is advanced on a path substantially parallel to the shaft, toward and in alignment with the ferrule receiving aperture.
US09554780B2	Portable device for the storage, transport and recuperation of biological material The present invention refers to a portable device for the collection of biological samples. The device comprises a receptacle (8) with a cover (2), which comprises a pierceable area (3) and may include a collection instrument (1), comprising a rod (4), and a collection arrangement at the end, which may include a solid matrix, for instance a sponge or a tampon (5). The receptacle (8) has a rounded or conical shaped bottom (10), at the center of which there is a conical or rounded-shaped projection (11), with one or more holes (12). The bottom of the receptacle (8) is in contact with a collector recipient through a system of close-aperture, which may comprise screw or a fitting system with protrusions (13). In this way, the device referred in the present invention allows for the collection, storage, transportation and separation of biological material without significant manipulation and without risk of cross-contamination.
US09554778B2	Responsive power saving in ultrasound Responsive power saving is provided for ultrasound imaging, such as in portable ultrasound systems. By reducing scan line density in response to removal of a transducer from a patient, power usage may be reduced while still monitoring for return of the transducer to the patient. By disabling the display, power usage may be reduced while still monitoring for return of the transducer to the patient. All or most electronics not associated with monitoring for the return of the transducer to the patient may be disabled or not used to conserve power.
US09554774B2	System and catheter for image guidance and methods thereof A catheter-based imaging system includes a catheter having a telescoping proximal end, a distal end having a distal sheath and a distal lumen, a working lumen, and an ultrasonic imaging core. The ultrasonic imaging core is arranged for rotation and linear translation. The system further includes a patient interface module including a catheter interface, a rotational motion control system that imparts controlled rotation to the ultrasonic imaging core, a linear translation control system that imparts controlled linear translation to the ultrasonic imaging core, and an ultrasonic energy generator and receiver coupled to the ultrasonic imaging core. The system further includes an image generator coupled to the ultrasonic energy receiver that generates an image.
US09554773B2	Processing device, ultrasonic device, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic diagnostic device A processing device that performs a process of transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave includes an ultrasonic device, a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter is configured to output a driving signal to the ultrasonic device. The ultrasonic device includes a high-frequency ultrasonic element line and a low-frequency ultrasonic element line. The high-frequency ultrasonic element line is configured to arrange a plurality of ultrasonic elements having a resonance characteristic of a first frequency. The low-frequency ultrasonic element line is configured to arrange a plurality of ultrasonic elements having a resonance characteristic of a second frequency. The transmitter is configured to output the driving signal of a sine wave to the high-frequency ultrasonic element line in a first mode. The transmitter is configured to output the driving signal of a square wave to the low-frequency ultrasonic element line in a second mode.
US09554772B2	Non-invasive imager for medical applications A method and process is described for providing Non-Invasive three dimensional (3-D) image of a patient such that during surgical or other procedures, the person performing the procedure can visually identify the organs and the location of the instruments in real time inside the body. Such a non-invasive imaging and reconstruction using spatially coordinated imaging in three dimensions is a very valuable tool especially to the surgical community. The high powered computing capabilities, advances in the imaging techniques, individually or in combination when combined with noise filtering and error correction capabilities, have made accurate 3-D imaging in real time from scans a reality. These 3-D images are also used as a diagnostic tool, a practice tool and a teaching tool by the medical community. There may be other applications in these and related areas which may emerge as technology develops and they become apparent to individuals practicing the art.
US09554769B2	Apparatus for assessing risk of cerebrovascular diseases The apparatus for assessing the risk of cerebrovascular diseases comprises a sensor part 1, a circuit part 2, a computation part 3 and an output part 4, where the circuit part 2 is a functional part for driving the sensor part 1 and transmitting a signal detected at the sensor part 1 to the computation part 3 and comprises a transmission circuit 21, a first receiving circuit 22, a second receiving circuit 23 and the like. The transmission circuit 21 is in connection with a transmission device 111 and a transmission device 121, for driving these devices to generate a continuous wave. A rate wave form computation part 31 is in connection with the first receiving circuit 22 and the second receiving circuit 23 to obtain the frequency of the reflected continuous wave as detected with the receiving units 112 and 122. Comparing the frequency with the frequency from the transmission circuit 21, the variation of the frequency is detected. Based on these values, blood flow rate “v” can be determined. In such manner, an apparatus for assessing the risk of cerebrovascular diseases with fewer burdens to persons to be examined and with simple measurement units can be provided.
US09554761B2	C-arm mounting apparatus and X-ray imaging device with cage guide A C-arm mounting apparatus for an x-ray imaging device includes a C-arm, a C-arm holding unit, and at least one cage guide unit. The at least one cage guide unit is moveably arranged between the C-arm and the C-arm holding unit. The C-arm is moveably mounted on the C-arm holding unit. The at least one cage guide unit includes a plurality of rolling bodies and at least one rolling body cage. The small overlap between the C-arm and the C-arm holding unit may facilitate greater rotations about an isocenter. An x-ray imaging device includes a C-arm mounting apparatus.
US09554759B2	Digital radiography detector image readout process A radiographic detector acquires a first partial exposed image signal during an image readout of each of the rows of photosensors, one row at a time. A first scan of each row includes measuring the charge delivered to each cell of the rows, including some rows having partial charge and other rows having full charge, and obtaining a first null image signal during the scan. A second scan includes measuring remaining charge delivered to those rows having partial charge. The null image signal data is subtracted from a sum of the first two scans.
US09554758B2	Sensor integrated protection pad for shielding radiation A sensor integrated protection device is disclosed. This device includes a sensor for detecting radiations; and a radiation shielding pad to which the sensor is coupled. A data communicating device is placed within radiation shielding pad and electrically coupled to the sensor. This device is suitable for easy wear with the pad shape and can be used for protecting different parts of the body with the various type of the pad holders. In the sensor integrated protection device, the data communicating unit is not built in the sensor but is configured to the sensor outside of the sensor to reduce the size of the sensor and to improve the convenience of using and keeping the sensor.
US09554754B2	System, method and computer program for weight, lifestyle and/or disease management integrating nutrition, exercise and behaviour management A system, method and computer program for integrated, personalized disease management is provided. The method involves capturing individual attributes, analyzing the individual attributes to establish an individual classification for an individual, and based on the individual classification for the individual assigning automatically a program template for disease management of the individual. The system provides a coaching platform for managing interactions between a coach and a system client based on the program template.
US09554752B2	Skeletal measuring means An integrated imaging system is invented for creating an optimal imaging session by importing information in real time from several sources and using that information to automatically and continuously adjust the parameters of the imaging session so as to create the optimal session for the prescribed testing session
US09554748B2	System for monitoring heart failure patients featuring necklace-shaped sensor and display based on a conventional television or mobile device The invention provides a system for monitoring a patient that includes a sensor configured to drape around the patient's neck. The sensor features an impedance sensor for measuring fluids, an ECG sensor for measuring cardiac activity, and a first wireless transceiver for transmitting this information. Integrated with the sensor is a computer, featuring a second wireless transceiver, video output system, and a computer processing unit (CPU). The CPU is configured to receive control signals from the first wireless transceiver that control a software program and the information related to fluids and cardiac activity. The software program renders a graphical user interface that displays the information through the video output system. The system also includes a conventional television set or mobile device that interfaces to the computer through the video output system and renders the graphical user interface.
US09554747B2	Power efficient system and method for measuring physical activity in resource constrained devices The systems and methods described herein relate to the power efficient measurement of physical activity with a wearable sensor. More particularly, the systems and methods described herein enable the continuous activity tracking without compromising battery life. In some implementations, the wearable sensor detects movement and enters predefined power states responsive to the type of movement detected.
US09554746B1	System for evaluating skin treatment A system allows determining treatment parameters or sets of parameters applicable to electromagnetic radiation (EMR)-based device skin treatments that allow for upregulation of the sirtuin family of genes post treatment, while avoiding increasing collagen production. The system can be applied to other skin procedures, including chemical treatments, microdermabrasion treatments and others. The system includes classifying patient data into classifications of skin treatment and treatment parameters based on patient baseline levels. The system can determine effective treatment parameters for patients on an individual basis, to yield a healthy wound dealing response. In a specific implementation, the system determines the parameters of EMR and chemical based treatments that increase sirtuin gene expression post treatment, but do not induce collagen production.
US09554740B2	Apparatus for measuring and predicting patients' respiratory stability An apparatus (10) for predicting patient respiratory stability includes a patient data memory (24) which stores patient data for a patient (12) and an analyzer (34) in communication with the memory computes a measure of patient respiratory stability. The analyzer applies one or more rules to the patient data that are based on a plurality of parameters which in combination, have been identified as being predictive of patient respiratory instability, such as mean airway pressure (MAWP), plateau pressure (PP), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2 or SpO2), and heart rate (HR). Based on the application of the rules, the analyzer determines the measure of patient respiratory stability.
US09554733B2	Hearing protection device with integrated audiometric testing A hearing protection device is disclosed which incorporates integrated audiometric testing, thereby allowing for testing without removal of safety hearing protection. The hearing protection is typically intended to be worn for the duration of a work shift, and allows for self-testing during the shift. Embodiments of the device may utilize a series of partial test sessions, so that each test session is kept brief so as to not interfere unduly with the work schedule. This may encourage frequent testing, hopefully aiding in early detection of potential hearing loss. Additionally, methods of use are disclosed.
US09554728B2	Visualization for navigation guidance The present invention relates to visualizing information of an object. In order to provide spatial information and in addition situation specific data to the user while ensuring an effective perceptibility, a method (110) is provided comprising the steps of: a) providing (112) pre-navigation data (114) of a region of interest of an object (22); wherein the pre-navigation data comprises spatial geometrical data (116) and a functional parameter surface (118) in correspondence to the spatial geometrical data; b) acquiring (120) live image data (122) of the region of interest; c) detecting (124) an element (126) in the live image data; d) determining (128) spatial relation (130) of the pre-navigation data and the live image data; e) determining (132)the position (134) of the detected element in the spatial geometrical data, which determining is based on the spatial relation, and computing (136) a predetermined related point of location (138) on the functional parameter surface; f) generating (140) a combination (142) of a simplified surface representation (144) of the region of interest, which simplified surface representation is based on a visualization of the functional parameter surface, and a marker (146) indicating the computed predetermined related point of location; and g) displaying (148) the combination as navigation guidance (150).
US09554727B2	Atherosclerosis characterization using a multi-contrast MRI sequence The present invention relates to imaging and characterizing atherosclerotic lesions. The invention utilizes a low-flip-angle gradient echo-based MRI acquisition technique combined with specialized magnetization preparative schemes (i.e. non-selective inversion and FSD), and multiple co-registered 3D image sets with different contrast weightings are collected in an interleaved fashion. Using the inventive method, a single scan allows for comprehensive assessment of atherosclerotic plaque within just a few minutes.
US09554726B2	Hyperpolarization apparatus and method for administration of a hyperpolarized liquid contrast agent A hyperpolarized liquid contrast agent is for use in a MRT device. The liquid contrast agent passes through a conduit of a MW resonator in the magnetic field of the MRT device. A microwave with a frequency of at least 40 GHz couples into the MW resonator for polarizing the liquid contrast agent upon passage through the conduit in the MW resonator using DNP. The contrast agent is polarized in a continuous passage in the MW resonator and administered immediately. A MW mode is formed in the MW resonator which has an antinode in the magnetic field strength and a node in the electric field strength. The power of the introduced microwave and coupling of the microwave into the resonator are adjusted such that in the area of the line, an amplitude of the MW magnetic field strength B 1 ≥ 1.5 · 10 - 2 ⁢ Ts ⁢ 1 T 1 , e results, wherein T1,e is the relaxation time of the DNP-active electrons.
US09554721B1	Seizure detector, brain dysfunction monitor and method The present invention relates to a brain dysfunction and seizure detector monitor and system, and a method of detecting brain dysfunction and/or seizure of a subject. The various embodiments of the system of the present invention were developed for the brain activity and preferably EEG monitoring of a single patient or multiple patients. Preferably, the system or monitor of the present invention also includes one or more seizure detection algorithms. The analysis method is specifically optimized to amplify abnormal brain activity and minimize normal background activity. This analysis yields a seizure index whose value is directly related to the current presence of ictal activity in the signal. In addition, a seizure probability index based on historical values of the aforementioned seizure index, is derived for diagnostic purposes. The seizure probability index quantifies the probability that the patient has exhibited abnormal brain activity since the beginning of the recording. The real-time seizure index, and the historical seizure probability index, can be used in the context of an emergency and/or clinical situation to assess the status and well being of a patient's brain, or can be used to automatically administer treatment to stop the seizure before clinical signs appear.
US09554718B2	Double bipolar configuration for atrial fibrillation annotation Catheterization of the heart is carried out by inserting a probe having electrodes into a heart of a living subject, recording a bipolar electrogram and a unipolar electrogram from one of the electrodes at a location in the heart, and defining a window of interest wherein a rate of change in a potential of the bipolar electrogram exceeds a predetermined value. An annotation is established in the unipolar electrogram, wherein the annotation denotes a maximum rate of change in a potential of the unipolar electrogram within the window of interest. A quality value is assigned to the annotation, and a 3-dimensional map is generated of a portion of the heart that includes the annotation and the quality value thereof.
US09554713B2	Probe stimulator A muscle stimulator that may be used during ARM surgeries is disclosed that may be constructed from (1) a widely available low cost (e.g., $200 per unit) peripheral nerve stimulators or similar stimulator and (2) a relatively simple, handheld surgical probe to provide a low cost muscle stimulator that is adequate for ARM surgeries. These two components could provide a low cost solution to allow doctors in developing countries feasibly perform ARM surgeries with relatively minimal manufacturing and inexpensive maintenance.
US09554707B2	Concurrent acquisition of PET fields during acquisition of a MRI field of view Exemplary embodiments are directed to acquiring multiple sets of positron emission tomography (PET) data for different areas of a subject concurrently with acquiring portions of a single magnetic resonance field of view. Positron emission tomography (PET) images and magnetic resonance (MR) images can be acquired using a combined PET-MRI scanner, wherein, for example, a first portion of MR data from a MR field of view can be acquired concurrently with a first acquisition of PET data, a position of the MR field of view can be adjusted in response to a change in a location of a bed in the combined PET-MRI scanner, and a second portion of MR data from the MR field of view can be acquired concurrently with a second acquisition of PET data.
US09554702B2	Microscope-less wide field-of-view surgical OCT visualization system A surgical imaging system can comprise a light source, configured to generate an imaging light beam; a beam guidance system, configured to guide the imaging light beam from the light source; a beam scanner, configured to receive the imaging light from the beam guidance system, and to generate a scanned imaging light beam; a beam coupler, configured to redirect the scanned imaging light beam; and a wide field of view (WFOV) lens, configured to guide the redirected scanned imaging light beam into a target region of a procedure eye.
US09554701B2	Article for use in an OCT-method and intraocular lens An article for use in an OCT method, the article comprising a solid substrate and nanoparticles dispersed in or on the substrate in at least one light transmissive portion of the article such that the nanoparticles result in an increased extinction of the light transmissive portion along a transmission direction of the light transmissive portion compared to the substrate being free of nanoparticles. The extinction of the light transmissive portion along the transmission direction is less than 6, wherein the extinction is defined as a negative decadic logarithm of a ratio of an intensity of light which is transmitted through the light transmissive portion to an intensity of light which is incident on the light transmissive portion, wherein the light is in at least one of a visible and a near infrared wavelength range.
US09554698B2	Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices and systems for imaging, processing, and/or displaying an ocular tear film Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). In certain disclosed embodiments, a multi-wavelength light source can be controlled to illuminate the ocular tear film. Light emitted from the multi-wavelength light source undergoes optical wave interference interactions in the tear film. An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image. The second image can be subtracted from the first image to reduce and/or eliminate the background signal(s) in the first image to produce a resulting image. The resulting image can be processed and analyzed to measure a tear film layer thickness (TFLT), including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT).
US09554697B2	Determination of the effective lens position of an intraocular lens using aphakic refractive power An ophthalmic method for determining a relationship between aphakic ocular power and estimated effective lens position (ELP) of an intraocular lens (IOL) to be implanted in a patient's eye. The method can be used to determine an estimate of the ELP of an IOL given the aphakic ocular power of the patient's eye, for example, without measurement of the corneal curvature or axial length of the patient's eye. The estimate of ELP can then be used to determine a suitable value of optical power for the IOL to be implanted in the patient's eye.
US09554696B2	System and method for measuring dysphotopsia Systems and methods for measuring dysphotopsia are provided. These systems and methods can be used to objectively quantify positive and negative dysphotopsia. One embodiment provides a system and method for determining dysphotopsia that uses a first light source configured to provide light energy to illuminate a model eye, a refractor for refracting the light energy from the first light source and directing it into the model eye, a first electronic light sensor for measuring an amount of light in the model eye; a second light source configured to provide light energy to illuminate the model eye, wherein the light energy from the second light source is introduced at an angle from the first light source; and a second electronic light sensor for measuring the amount of light in the model eye, wherein the second electronic light sensor is capable of taking measurements from various points around the model eye. Data from these measurements can then analyzed to provide an objective measurement of dysphotopsia.
US09554695B2	Ophthalmologic information process system and ophthalmologic application Selection items which can be executed by an ophthalmologic application are displayed on a display portion on an ophthalmologic apparatus, and can be selected and executed by an operation portion on the ophthalmologic apparatus, thereby providing an ophthalmologic information process system and program which can reduce load on the operator and increase the overall throughput of examination. An ophthalmologic application transmits executable selection item information to the ophthalmologic apparatus and causes the ophthalmologic apparatus to display the information. Selection of one of the displayed selection items is executed by operation on the ophthalmologic apparatus. The behavior of the application is then controlled in accordance with the selection item.
US09554694B2	Integrated delivery and visualization tool for a neuromodulation system Methods and apparatus for delivering a neurostimulator to a target tissue are provided which may include any number of features. One feature is a delivery tool comprising a handle portion, an elongate shaft comprising a contoured distal portion, a visualization system embedded in the elongate shaft, and an insertion groove on the elongate shaft configured to deploy the neurostimulator. The contoured distal portion can be shaped and configured to maintain contact with a posterior maxilla and elevate a periosteum off of the posterior maxilla to avoid soft tissue dissection. In some embodiments, the neurostimulator is implanted in close proximity to or touching the sphenopalatine ganglion.
US09554686B2	Flexible scrubbing head for a floor mop A mop having a handle and a base plate. The base plate has a lower surface configured to lie on a surface to be cleaned, and extends in a plane defined by a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the lateral direction. The base plate is elongated in the lateral direction and includes a rigid central region that is connected to the handle, a flexing region, and a stepping region. The flexing region is made with an elastomeric material, and is connected at an inboard edge to a lateral end of the central region and extends to an outboard edge. The stepping region is connected to the outboard edge of the flexing region, and includes a generally flat upper surface configured to be stepped on by a user's foot.
US09554682B2	Vacuum cleaner A vacuum cleaner (1) comprises an inlet (13), an outlet, a fan (14) for creating a flow of air through the vacuum cleaner (1) by drawing air to be cleaned through the inlet (13) into the vacuum cleaner (1) and by exhausting air through the outlet outwardly of the vacuum cleaner (1) and a separator (15, 41). The separator (15, 41) is rotatably arranged around an rotation axis (21), for creating, during use, a column of rotating air to separate at least a portion of the airborne particles (10) from the flow of air. The separator (15, 41) includes a number of vanes (25, 44) for the creation of the column of rotating air, wherein each vane (25, 44) is provided with a leading face (26) and a trailing face (27). The leading faces (26) of the vanes (25, 44) are inclined with respect to the rotation axis (21) for conveying the airborne particles (10) at least in an axial direction.
US09554679B2	Quick assembly and disassembly mechanism with button lock for a toilet cover A quick assembly and disassembly mechanism with a button lock for a toilet cover has a straight tube pivot joint, two stands and two pivot shafts. Each pivot shaft is disposed with pin holes in the radial direction. A lock bar disposed between the pivot shafts can slide side to side. The straight tube is disposed with an operation mechanism to drive the lock bar to slide. A spring is disposed inside the straight tube to reposition the lock bar. The lock bar is disposed with a lock catch and a lock piece with lock hole. The lock catch has an elastic body and a lock piece to limit the sliding of the lock bar and a pivot shaft, which is plugged to the end of the lock bar in sliding way. The lock piece in the end of the lock bar is disposed with a lock hole.
US09554675B2	Foam producing apparatus and method A foam dispenser includes a dispensing outlet, a pre-mixing chamber receiving liquid from a liquid source and air from an air source, a mixing chamber downstream of the pre-mixing chamber and proximate the dispenser outlet, and a first conduit coupling the pre-mixing chamber to the mixing chamber.
US09554670B2	Waffle-iron type cooking apparatus for cooking and forming rounded bun shaped waffles An apparatus for making waffles with customized shapes having a top plate with a top lid having a plurality of variable length protrusions in a shape that fits a round recess on the bottom plate. The apparatus can be used to make the top of a sandwich bun and/or the bottom of a sandwich bun in the same or different waffle irons. Variable shaped protrusions allow for even distribution of heat to a mixture for making shaped edible items.
US09554669B1	Adjustable grilling platform An apparatus is adapted to be placed over an open flame source and employed as a grilling surface for cooking. The apparatus further has a flat grilling platform, a support frame, and a hoist assembly. The grilling platform is operatively suspended from the support frame by the hoist assembly such that the hoist assembly can raise and lower the grilling platform as desired. An embodiment of the apparatus provides for a fire box to facilitate construction and containment of a fire for use with the apparatus.
US09554668B2	Beverage carafe lid open/closed detection and system control A beverage forming method and system in which a carafe is positionable at a carafe receiving area of a beverage forming machine with a lid of the carafe in an open position or a closed position. The carafe may be positioned at the carafe receiving area in any one of multiple rotational positions within a range of 45 to 180 degrees, and the machine may detect whether the lid is open or not for any of the rotational positions. Beverage forming is prevented if the lid is detected to be closed, allowing the carafe to be safely stored on the machine regardless of lid position.
US09554666B2	Brewing mechanism of coffee machine The present invention relates to a brewing mechanism for coffee machine, comprising an upper cover assembly (2) and a lower main body (16). The upper cover assembly (2) comprises an inlet piercing needle (9) fixed in the upper cover assembly and a bottom piercing needle (14) fixed in the lower main body, with the inlet piercing needle connected with an inlet of a coffee machine. The upper cover assembly (2) also comprises a left sliding block (3) and a right sliding block (3.1) arranged within sliding slots respectively provided at a left side and a right side of the upper cover assembly, with the left sliding block and the right sliding block capable of sliding along the sliding slots. A left reset spring (4) and a right reset spring (4.1) are respectively provided within the left sliding block and the right sliding block. A left fixing sheet (5) and a right fixing sheet (5.1) which are fixed on the upper cover assembly are respectively provided at an outer side of the left sliding block and an outer side of the right sliding block. A left hook (3.2) and a right hook (3.3) are respectively provided at an inner side of the left sliding block and an inner side of the right sliding block. The left hook and the right hook are capable of hooking two sides of the capsule, and automatically hooking out the capsule from the brewing chamber when the upper cover assembly rotates, making the capsule fall into the capsule receiving plate. The present invention has simple structure, convenient operation, high safety and reliable performance.
US09554663B2	Eating utensil assembly and related methods An eating utensil assembly may include a first eating utensil that may include a first handle having an opening therein and an eating utensil head coupled to an end of the first handle and having a curved shape. The eating utensil assembly may also include a second eating utensil removably carried by the first eating utensil within the opening in the first handle. The second eating utensil may include a second handle and a cutting blade coupled to an end of the second handle.
US09554661B2	Modular frame system A modular framing assembly is provided. Each individual module comprises one or more retractable slats that may be extendable to connect with another individual module. The individual modules may be arranged in a plurality of angles and configurations to create frames of varying sizes, shapes and that are capable of bending around corners, where two wall meet.
US09554659B2	Infant sleep pod An infant sleep pod providing passive and/or active safety features. The infant sleep pod provides a safe sleeping environment for infants sharing sleep areas with adults. The infant sleep pod provides a firm, flat, separate, portable, and dedicated sleep space for an infant. The infant sleep pod includes a base with a bed and sidewall, and a bridge extending across the bed. The bridge covers a head portion of the bed, while a foot portion of the bed is left open for inserting and removing the infant. The bridge prevents pillows and blankets from covering the bed and infant. The infant sleep pod also includes electronics for monitoring the sleep pod. The electronics include a sensor unit in the bridge and a control unit in communication with the sensor unit. The control unit and sensor unit are operable to detect unsafe conditions and, in response, generate alerts.
US09554658B2	Infant high chair and method of operating the same An infant high chair includes a standing frame, a seat assembly and a side segment. The seat assembly includes a seat support frame movably connected with the standing frame, and a rear and a front seat portion respectively connected with the seat support frame, the front seat portion being respectively connected with the seat support frame and the side segment at two vertically spaced-apart locations. The side segment is pivotally connected with the seat support frame about a pivot axis, and is rotatable between a folded state and a deployed state. A rotation of the side segment in a folding direction drives a rearward sliding displacement of the front seat portion relative to the rear seat portion. Moreover, a downward displacement of the seat assembly to a predetermined lower position while the side segment remains in the folded state can trigger unlocking of the standing frame.
US09554657B2	Child seat convertible to multiple configurations of use A child seat includes a seat body, and a first and a second support respectively assembled with the seat body via a first and a second connection. The seat body has a seating surface and a bottom surface below the seating surface, and the first and second support are extendable below the bottom surface. The child seat has a first configuration in which the child seat is attached to a support frame at an elevated position above a ground surface, and a second configuration in which the child seat is converted to a booster seat standing independent of the support frame, the first and second support respectively extending forward from the first and second connection in the first configuration, and the first and second support respectively extending rearward from the first and second connection so that the child seat stands on the first and second supports in the second configuration.
US09554652B2	Link chair action A (recliner) chair action of relatively movable seat frame (11), (back) drive frame (12) and yoke frame (13), with intervening links (16, 17, 18, 19), independently grouped respectively between seat frame and drive frame and between drive frame and yoke frame; for seat translation and elevation upon back recline operable under a potential energy function in an inter-relationship between back recline and seat movement, for a common or harmonious experience between different occupancy weights.
US09554651B2	Support members and storage assemblies incorporating the support members A storage assembly can include a first storage unit and at least one support member. The at least one support member can include a support member first end and a support member second end. The at least one support member also can include a support member first portion that extends between the support member first end and the support member second end and is releasably attached to the first storage unit. The at least one support member can further include a support member second portion that extends between the support member first end and the support member second end and is joined to the support member first portion beneath the support member first portion. The storage assembly also can include a second storage unit that is secured to the support member second portion. The support member can be employed with storage units having a variety of constructs.
US09554650B1	Weight distributing chair stabilizing device A weight distributing chair stabilizing device for use in stabilizing a chair having at least a pair of spaced apart support members includes a plurality of stabilizing members, each having a planar bottom side configured to engage a ground surface and an opposed top side configured to receive a respective support member of the chair. The top side of each stabilizing member defines a linear channel extending between opposed peripheral edges of the top side, the channel being configured to selectively receive a respective chair support member therein. The stabilizing members may be a set of four circular discs although stabilizing members having other shape configurations would also work. When equally spaced apart on a ground surface, the support members of the chair may be positioned thereon and, as a result, the weight of the chair is equally distributed so as to stabilize the chair even on soft ground.
US09554646B1	System and methods of preserving integrity and securely transporting biological specimens to a depository and devices for securely storing biological specimens A system and methods of securely storing biological samples prior to the secure transportation of the biological and/or biohazardous specimens to a depository where the system can determine the locations and pickup times of the couriers transporting the enclosures from the storage unit to the depository.
US09554642B2	Power brush A power-brush apparatus has a housing and a brush rotatable on the housing about a brush axis and having bristles extending generally radially of the axis and having tips defining on rotation of the brush a circular orbit centered on the axis. The tips are engageable at a location with a workpiece surface. In accordance with the invention a blocking element is positioned radially inside the orbit immediately upstream from the location in a normal rotation direction of the brush. A drive rotates the brush in a working direction about the axis relative to the housing at a predetermined angular speed in the direction and thereby orbits the tips of the bristles about the axis such that the bristles engage the blocking element, are slowed thereby, and when released thereby snap back to accelerate forward and strike the workpiece at an augmented speed.
US09554637B2	Load bearing suspension system A load bearing and/or suspension system, having a harness element; harness straps extending from the harness element; a pair of suspension members, wherein each suspension member extends from a pair of harness straps; a ladder lock buckle attached or coupled to each suspension member; a pair of webbing segments, wherein a free end of each webbing segment interacts with one of the ladder lock buckles such that when the free end of the webbing segment is urged away from the ladder lock buckle, a second end of the webbing segment is drawn toward the ladder lock buckle; and a belt attachment element attached or coupled to the second end of the webbing segment.
US09554635B1	Eyeliner pencil having two application heads An eyeliner pencil includes two case sections each including a hollow insert in a cap, and an annular flange on the insert; a main case; a first guide member including surface protrusions; a first piercing member at an end of the first guide member; a first sponge put on the first guide member; a first core partially disposed in the first guide member; a first application head at an end of the first core and inserted through a sleeve member into the main case; a second guide member including tabs and a second core partially disposed in the second guide member; a second piercing member at an end of the second guide member; a second application head at an end of the second core; a second sponge put on the second guide member; a sleeve element put on the second guide member; and an applicator sleeve.
US09554633B1	Hair braiding apparatus A hair braiding apparatus includes a main housing having a lower portion defining a lower interior area. A rotor assembly is mounted to the lower portion of the main housing and includes a rotor motor having a plurality of rotors operatively coupled to the rotor motor. The rotor assembly includes at least a pair of orbital tracks configured to receive the plurality of rotors for movement therealong. A plurality of hair retention members are coupled to respective rotors for positioning hair to be styled. A processor is positioned in the lower portion and electrically connected to the rotors for actuating the rotors to move along the orbital tracks. A memory stores programming instructions to selectively control movement of the rotors and the platform.
US09554632B2	Portable device case and accessories Cases for portable electronic devices are described including multiple alignment elements (e.g. slugs, magnets or physical securing means) embedded in a panel, such as the back panel of the case. Various accessories, such as stands, cord spools, mounts, communication devices, speakers, displays, etc., may also have multiple corresponding alignment elements (e.g. magnets, slugs or cooperative physical securing means) in them that allow the accessories to be semi-securely attached to the case in a plurality of specific positions and/or orientations.
US09554630B1	Beach umbrella system An umbrella has a lower pole and an upper pole and a fabric. The lower pole includes screw threads. A spring clip in an inverted V-shaped configuration has outwardly extending projections removably coupling together the upper pole and the lower pole. A handle is removably coupled to the lower pole to twist the lower pole. Each rib of a plurality of ribs has an interior end and an exterior end. The interior ends of the ribs are coupled to the upper pole. The fabric overlies the ribs. Each tip of a plurality of tips has an upper part and a lower part. Each upper part has a tubular recess receiving the exterior end of an associated rib. The periphery of the fabric is secured between the upper part and the lower part.
US09554629B1	Bracelet alert device Bracelet alert device used as a visual alert device that acts as a child safety/awareness imperative, worn as a bracelet. The device functions to prevent the tragedy of a baby being left in a hot car. The device has three signature, giant beads, a color matching functional carabiner for attachment with the male end of the auto seatbelt buckle, a color matching functional male end seatbelt adapter piece to fastened with the female end of the child safety seat belt buckle, and a matching “official child safety apparatus” tag, includes a card stock bookmark or a magnet, displaying a symbol and meaning of the various charms on one side and the instructions for properly using the said bracelet alert device the other side.
US09554627B2	Slider for slide fastener and method of insertion thereof A slider for a slide fastener that is easily adjustable to a variety of sizes and types of slide fasteners, since it can be pivotally opened and closed horizontally and can be locked in the appropriate size according to the size of the slide fastener in which it has been previously inserted; the horizontal opening of the slider allows it to be inserted in both rows of teeth of a new or repaired slide fastener without unsewn parts of the garment or article of interest; additionally a method for the insertion of the slider in a garment or article of interest to be manufactured and/or repaired is disclosed.
US09554625B2	Apparatus for ratcheting multiple restraint webs via a single actuator An apparatus for ratcheting multiple restraint webs includes first and second locking web retractors each coupled to one end of a different restraint web. When locked, the web retractors each prevent web movement in a web pay-out direction relative thereto. The apparatus further includes first and second ratcheting devices each coupled to a corresponding one of the web retractors, and each is movable in a direction that moves the corresponding web in a web take-up direction relative to its web retractor when the web retractors are locked. The apparatus further includes an actuator movable between two positions and coupled to each of the ratcheting devices. The ratcheting devices are each responsive to a moving force applied thereto by the actuator as the actuator moves between its two positions to move in the direction that moves its corresponding web in the web take-up direction.
US09554622B2	Multi-component sole structure having an auxetic configuration An article of footwear includes a sole structure with a midsole component and an inner sole component. The midsole component includes holes arranged in an auxetic configuration. The midsole component and the inner sole component may have a different density. The midsole component and the inner sole component may have a different compressibility.
US09554620B2	Auxetic soles with corresponding inner or outer liners A material that includes at least one layer made of an auxetic structure and articles of footwear having soles comprising the materials. When the material is under tension, it expands in both the direction under tension and in the directional orthogonal to the direction under tension. The articles of footwear have soles that have at least one layer made of a material that has a pattern of sole elements with apertures. The sole elements have may rotate with respect to each other when the sole is under lateral or longitudinal tension, thus increasing the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the sole. One or more auxetic or flat liners may be used to prevent entry of debris into the apertures.

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