最新美国发明专利第2017-06-13期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09676016B2	Systems and methods for drawing materials Systems, devices, and methods are described for drawing materials. In certain embodiments, the material is metal tubing that is hollow along its length. The drawing system may include a first drawing machine that is fixed or stationary and a second drawing machine that moves relative to the first drawing machine. In certain embodiments, the position of the second drawing machine is determined with respect to a desired position, wherein the second drawing machine is downstream from the first drawing machine, and wherein the material is successively drawn by the first and second drawing machines. The drawing speed of the first drawing machine may be adjusted from a first speed to a second speed based on the determined position of the second drawing machine. A programmable logic controller may be provided to control, at least in part, operations of the drawing system.
US09676014B2	Process for treating polluted soils by means of a sulfoaluminate clinker based hydraulic binder and use thereof for stabilizing polluted soils A process for treating polluted soils, in particular soils with a leachable fraction greater than 0.4%, wherein the leachable fraction contains predominantly anions, in particular sulfate ions, and/or heavy metals, includes mixing the soil with a sulfoaluminate-clinker-based hydraulic binder, in soil/binder weight proportions of between 1 and 40 parts of binder per 100 parts of soil, the sulfoaluminate clinker containing more than 50% by weight of ye'elimite C4A3S phase, less than 15% by weight of belite C2S phase, and from 1% to 5% by weight of free lime CaO. The process is used for stabilizing soils in situ or before dumping, soils polluted in particular with sulfate anions and/or heavy metal cations.
US09676012B2	Devices for treating medical waste and methods of their use Disclosed and claimed herein are devices for the treatment of medical waste using high temperature and pressure steam. The devices combine both the sterilization chamber and the steam generating component. The devices may be self-contained and may be movable by one person of average strength and ability. The devices which are self-contained require no special installation, connections, plumbing or permanent or semi-permanent electrical connections. Disclosed and claimed herein are methods using the disclosed and claimed devices.
US09676009B2	Supercritical fluid cleaning of banknotes and secure documents A method and apparatus for cleaning a stack of secure instruments such as banknotes is disclosed. Each secure instrument or banknote includes a substrate, visual data and a security feature. The apparatus includes a chamber configured to contain a supercritical fluid at a temperature and a pressure and for a duration sufficient to disinfect or decontaminate the banknotes and not compromise the security feature and the visual data of the banknotes, a structure for holding the stack of banknotes in the chamber so that the supercritical fluid circulates through and around the banknotes to remove one or more substances into the supercritical fluid, and a strapping machine configured to secure a securing mechanism to the stack of banknotes.
US09676008B1	Multifunctional jewelry cleaner A multiple jewelry cleaner having a heat insulation gasket; a front end of an upper surface of the heat insulation gasket is removably configured with a cup; a top part of the cup is removably mounted with a filter net; a front mounting panel is installed on the upper surface of the heat insulation gasket at one side of the cup; an end of the front mounting panel distant from the cup is fixedly installed with a front shell; a nozzle is fixedly installed on and passes through the front mounting panel and the front shell, with a nozzle head positioned external to the front mounting panel and the front shell; two sides of the front shell are fixedly installed with a right cover and a left cover respectively; bottom ends of both the right cover and the left cover rest on the upper surface of the heat insulation gasket.
US09676006B2	Method for the sorting of contaminated matter in continuous flow and corresponding device A method for sorting, in a continuous flow, contaminated materials, which includes: conveying materials from a point (A) to a point (B) by means of a conveyor; measuring the radioactive activity by means of a first sensor between the points (A) and (B) on the top surface (FSUP) of the first conveyor; and sorting the materials by means of a sorting device. The method may include measuring the radioactive activity of the contaminated material by means of a second sensor, either on the top surface (FSUP) of the conveyor and upstream from the point (A), or below the bottom surface (FINF) of said conveyor; calculating a differential measurement between a measurement from the second sensor and from the first sensor; and restricting the sorting to the comparison between a threshold value and the measurement from the first sensor or the differential measurement.
US09676005B2	Optical type granule sorting machine An optical type granule sorting machine has a determination unit that includes a three-dimensional color distribution data creation section that creates data on wavelength components of R light, G light, and B light from granules in a three-dimensional color space, a Mahalanobis distance interface creation section that partitions the data into a conforming granule cluster area and a nonconforming granule cluster area, a Euclidean distance interface creation section that determines a position of center of gravity of the conforming granule cluster area and a position of center of gravity of the nonconforming granule cluster area to set an interface that allows the positions of center of gravity to lie at a longest distance from each other, a two-dimensional data conversion section that converts into two-dimensional color distribution data by using a line of intersection between the interfaces, and a threshold setting section.
US09676004B2	Sorting system A system for sorting products using an imaging device and an image processor.
US09676003B2	Postal sorting machine with robotized handling arms A postal sorting machine includes a sorting conveyor having sorting outlets, a first feed branch adapted for automatically injecting heterogeneous postal articles of the small parcel type into the sorting conveyor, and a second feed branch adapted for injecting homogeneous flat mailpieces of the letter type, or the magazine type, or of some analogous type into the sorting conveyor. The first feed branch has an inlet adapted for receiving the heterogeneous postal articles loose, and it is provided with at least one robotized handling arm of the “pick and place” type.
US09676001B2	Driver device and driving method for driving a load, in particular an ultrasound transducer The present invention relates to a driver device (40) for driving a load (52) having a plurality of separate capacitive load elements (52), in particular an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements (52), comprising: input terminals (44, 46) for connecting the driver device (40) to power supply (48); a plurality of output terminals (50) each for connecting the driver device (40) to one of load elements (52), a first controllable switch (54) connected to a first of the input terminals (44), and a plurality of driving elements (42) each having a second controllable switch (60) and a resistor (58) connected in series to each other, wherein each of the driving elements (42) is connected in series with the first controllable switch (54) and to a second of the input terminals (46), and wherein each of the output terminals (50) is connected to one of the driving elements (42) for powering the load elements (52).
US09675997B2	Device for, or in, the surface treatment of objects A device for surface treatment of an object on a workstation surface has a support frame movable in relation to the object and a number of irradiation elements and a control unit for controlling the irradiation. The support frame is movable in at least one direction along the object, surrounds the object on at least two sides, and includes two substantially parallel side sections and an upper section connected with at least one of the side sections. The object is disposed between the side sections and under the upper section. Each side section includes at least one movable, adjustable panel. On the upper section, a movable panel having irradiation elements is arranged. Some of the panels have infrared and ultraviolet sources. Sensor elements sense the position of the object, and are connected with the control unit, which can control position and/or angular setting of the panels and/or irradiation elements.
US09675996B2	Embossed heat transfer labels An embossed heat transfer label includes a carrier, embossing layer, release coating, design layer, and adhesive layer, in which the embossing layer is formed to include an embossing pattern, and the design layer is configured to take up the embossing pattern from the embossing layer. The embossed heat transfer label is configured such that the design layer and the adhesive layer transfer to a target object upon application of heat and pressure, while the embossing layer and the release coating is removed and disposed with the carrier. The exposed design layer provides an embossed surface on the target object. The label can include a flat profile layer on which the design layer is printed.
US09675993B2	Coating applicator and coating application system A coating applicator that applies a coating or liquid to a variety of different substrates having different contoured surfaces is disclosed. A coating applicator of the present disclosure is able to reach, contact, and cover the entirety of a contoured substrate. In this manner, the coating applicator is able to transfer a coating to the entirety of the contoured substrate.
US09675992B2	Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method, and computer-readable storage medium storing substrate processing program A substrate processing apparatus includes one or more substrate processing units 11 to 18 each processing a substrate 3 with a processing fluid; processing fluid supply units 19 and 20 supplying the heated processing fluid to the substrate processing units 11 to 18; and a controller 21 controlling the processing fluid supply units 19 and 20. The processing fluid supply units 19 and 20 include a storage tank 35 storing the processing fluid; a heating heat exchanger 51 heating the processing fluid; and a supply path 52 supplying the processing fluid to the substrate processing units 11 to 18. The supply path 52 includes a bypass path 71 bypassing the heating heat exchanger 51 at an upstream of the substrate processing units 11 to 18. The processing fluid heated by the heating heat exchanger 51 and the processing fluid supplied from the bypass path 71 are mixed to be supplied.
US09675986B2	Contents dispensing pump A contents dispensing pump is coupled to a container for accommodating the contents therein and dispenses a fixed quantity of the contents through a pumping operation. A push button that is depressed deforms a deformed pressing member, reducing the volume of a temporary reservoir and increasing pressure therein. A valve plate closes a contents outlet and a valve protrusion wheel is widened by the increased pressure such that the contents contained in the temporary reservoir are dispensed through an outlet.
US09675985B2	Trigger dispenser device A trigger dispenser device (1) for a liquid includes a dispenser head (20) provided with a pressure chamber (24) and a piston (26) sliding in the pressure chamber (24). A valve dispenser is provided to permit the passage of the liquid towards a dispenser duct (30) upon reaching a threshold pressure, and a trigger suitable for mechanically operating on dispenser valve to force the valve towards the open configuration.
US09675984B1	Rapid cleaner and disinfecting system The rapid cleaner and disinfecting system is a wheeled cart that houses two containers having a first and a second cleaning fluid that can be sprayed through one of multiple self-coiling hoses with cleaning wands attached to each hose. The distal ends of the cleaning wands are coupleable to one cleaning tool of a set of cleaning tools that are usable with one of the cleaning fluids at a time pressure sprayed through the cleaning tools. The user grips the pistol grip handle of one of the cleaning wands having a cleaning tool attached and scoures the appurtenance with the tool while being assisted with the pressure spray.
US09675983B2	Fluid through needle for applying multiple component material Embodiments of a spray gun incorporating a needle for applying multiple component materials are provided. In accordance with certain embodiments, the spray gun includes a fluid delivery tip assembly comprising an inner passage, a hollow needle disposed within the inner passage of the fluid delivery tip assembly, wherein the hollow needle comprises at least two indentions along an outer circumferential surface of the hollow needle near an end of the hollow needle, a first passage configured to deliver a first spray fluid to a fluid tip exit of the fluid delivery tip assembly, wherein the first passage is defined by a volume between the fluid delivery tip assembly and the hollow needle, and a second passage through the hollow needle, wherein the second passage is configured to deliver a second spray fluid to the fluid tip exit of the fluid delivery tip assembly.
US09675981B2	Resiliently flexible nozzle head for inflator A flexible nozzle head for an inflator includes a head-end housing, having an accommodating space for accommodating a nozzle head component; a pump-end housing, being fixedly connected to one end of a pump body of the inflator; and a hose, having one end airtightly overmolded with the head-end housing as an integer and having an opposite end airtightly connected to the pump-end housing. The head-end housing has a through hole communicated with the accommodating space and an axial channel of the hose. The pump-end housing has an interior thereof communicated with the axial channel of the hose.
US09675978B2	Attrition mill An attrition mill that includes a grinding chamber having a plurality of grinding elements and an internal classification and separation stage. The mill also includes at least one grinding element providing a larger flow path therethrough, when compared to other of the grinding elements. In other embodiments, mill includes at least one grinding element having an open area in the grinding element created to allow a larger flow path as a proportion of the grinding element surface area without such allowance and in the range of from 15% to equal to or less than 100%.
US09675976B2	Hammer support for rotary tool A hammer support system for a rotary tool has a hammer receiver including a first alignment opening having a first curved alignment surface. A first wedge part has a curved surface, and a second wedge part is configured to interact with the first wedge part. A fastener is provided for drawing down the first wedge part against the second wedge part such that the curved surface of the first wedge part engages the first curved alignment surface to self-align the first and second wedge parts as the first wedge part is drawn down by the fastener.
US09675975B2	Gas-based microfluidic devices and operating methods thereof Gas-based microfluidic devices and operating methods of gas-based microfluidic devices are provided. The gas-based microfluidic devices comprise a drive module and a microfluidic platform, in which the microfluidic platform further comprises a microfluidic element having an injection chamber, a process chamber, an air chamber, an overflow channel, a barrier, and at least one detection chamber. Gases in the air chamber enable solutions to move toward the direction opposite to the centrifugal force applied by the drive module. Accordingly, the operating methods utilize the gases compressed in the air chamber to move solutions to difference components in the microfluidic element.
US09675974B2	Cap for monitoring objects in suspension A vessel is for storing and monitoring a suspension of microscopic objects, which comprises a cap suitable for closing off the vessel. The cap includes a fluidics system, which includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet are arranged to be in an interior volume of the vessel when the cap is closing off the vessel. The cap also includes a measurement region for optical microscopy, which includes a sample region suitable for the suspension. The sample region is in fluid connection with the fluidics system. The cap also includes a pump suitable for inducing a flow in the fluidics system. A particular monitoring system and setup is for monitoring cells in a cell culture liquid.
US09675973B2	Specimen delivery apparatus A specimen delivery apparatus includes a housing having a backplane. The backplane includes at least one fluid communication port. The housing has an open state and a closed state. A midplane has a cavity for holding a sample. The midplane is sealed within the housing when the housing is in the closed state. A first actuator is disposed to move fluid within the housing when the housing is in a closed state and the first bulb is actuated. Various embodiments provide for caching of the fluid as well as staging to permit further preparation of the specimen prior to delivery. Various features roil the fluid to assist in extraction, mixing, and transport of the sample with the fluid. A destructible seal prevents fluid communication through the fluid communication port while the seal is intact. Communication of fluid through the fluid communication port is enabled only when the destructible seal is not intact.
US09675972B2	Method of concentrating beads in a droplet Methods of concentrating beads in a droplet and/or loading beads on a fluidic device are provided, including among other things, a method of concentrating beads in a droplet, the method comprising: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) an interior droplet operations volume; and (ii) a reservoir exterior to the interior volume; (iii) a droplet established in a liquid path extending from the reservoir into the interior volume; (b) providing magnetically responsive beads in the portion of the droplet which is in the reservoir; (c) magnetically attracting the magnetically responsive beads through the liquid path into the portion of the droplet which is in the interior volume; and (d) forming a droplet comprising one or more of the magnetically responsive beads in the interior volume.
US09675971B2	Honeycomb monolith structure loaded with nanozeolites for enhanced propylene selectivity in methanol conversion A catalyst system and a process for methanol to light olefin conversion with enhanced selectivity towards propylene. The catalyst system comprises a honeycomb monolith catalyst support coated with aluminosilicate nanozeolite catalysts on the edges and inside the channels of the support structure. The aluminosilicate nanozeolite catalysts have not been pre-modified with a promoter metal. The catalyst system gives higher hydrothermal stability to the catalyst compared to randomly packed pellet catalysts and allows methanol to be converted to predominantly propylene at a low temperature, with decreased selectivity towards C2, higher olefins and paraffinic hydrocarbons.
US09675960B2	Immobilization of chelating groups for immobilized metal ion chromatography (IMAC) The present invention refers to a method for binding a polycarboxylic acid to a solid phase. Further, the invention refers to a solid phase having a polycarboxylic acid immobilized thereto and methods of using the solid phase, e.g. for purifying His-tagged recombinant polypeptides.
US09675959B2	Porous silicon oxynitride materials for chromatographic separation and method of their preparation Novel material for chromatographic separations, processes for its preparation, and separation devices containing the chromatographic material. In particular, the novel materials are porous silicon oxynitride materials, which desirably can be surface modified and have enhanced stability at high pH. The novel porous silicon oxynitride material may offer efficient chromatographic separations, and hold great promise as packing material for chromatographic separations.
US09675958B2	Metal-organic framework composite with nano metal-organic frameworks embedded in host metal-organic framework, method for producing the metal-organic framework composite and gas storage including the metal-organic framework composite Disclosed is a metal-organic framework composite including a host metal-organic framework, and nano metal-organic frameworks embedded in the host metal-organic framework. The host metal-organic framework and the nana metal-organic frameworks include different metals and organic ligands. The metal-organic framework composite has a structure in which the nano metal-organic frameworks are embedded in the host metal-organic framework. Due to this structure, defects are formed at the interfaces between the host metal-organic framework and the nano metal-organic frameworks, enabling the application of the metal-organic framework composite to gas storages with greatly improved gas storage efficiency. The metal-organic framework composite can be used as a gas adsorbent with very high efficiency due to its very large specific surface area. Also disclosed are a method for producing the metal-organic framework composite and a gas storage using the metal-organic framework composite.
US09675954B2	Device and method for real-time detection of molecular accumulations and/or monitoring the production process of a molecular microarray The invention relates to a method for producing a microarray, wherein the production of this array is detected in real time from the accumulation of the product molecules being produced. The invention further relates to a microarray produced by this method, and to a device for the real-time detection of molecular accumulations on an array surface during the production of microarrays.
US09675953B2	Encapsulated particles The disclosed technology relates generally to material systems which include a plurality of particles and methods of making the same. The particles have a core and a shell which encapsulates the core and has at least one atomic element not included in the core. The cores of the particles have a median maximum dimension that is less than 10 microns and a median of at least one axial dimension that is between 10 nm and 500 nm. The shells of the particles have a median thickness that is less than 100 nm, a silicon concentration that is between 10% and 50% on the basis of the weight of the shells, and an aluminum concentration that is between 0.01% and 5% on the basis of the weight of the shells.
US09675952B2	Quad-centric nozzle and system for hydrocapsule encapsulation A quad-centric nozzle and system for hydrocapsule encapsulation is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a quad-centric nozzle is disclosed for encapsulating discrete droplets of liquid by generating a continuous coating or layer of a polymerizable liquid which is substantially immiscible with the core liquid. In at least one embodiment, the quad-centric nozzle includes: a material feed port assembly, a polymer feed port assembly, a first water feed port assembly, a second water feed port assembly and an encapsulated material exit port assembly. In at least one embodiment, the quad-centric nozzle is configured for use in a system for hydrocapsule encapsulation having a pressure control system, a water control system and sparging column, and an ultraviolet exposure chamber system.
US09675951B2	Method for treating slurry and treatment apparatus used for the same A slurry treatment material containing solid particles mixed in liquid is finely pulverized, without using dispersion media, by flowing the treatment material into a vessel and through an annular fine gap formed between an inner wall of the vessel and an outer periphery face of a rotatable body mounted within the vessel. Rotation of the rotatable body subjects the treatment material to compression, expansion and shearing treatments. After passing through the annular fine gap, the treatment material flows into an ultrasonic chamber where it is irradiated with ultrasonic waves that break up and disintegrate agglomerated clumps of solid particles that may be present in the treatment material.
US09675945B2	Device for the continuous treatment of at least one raw material, treatment installation and use of such a device The continuous treatment device (10) includes a tank (11) of elongated shape and that determines a mixing chamber (15) which includes, at a first end, at least one inlet orifice (12) for the raw material and, at a second end, at least one outlet orifice (13) for the treated material, and also, between these orifices, at least one agitator shaft (16) equipped with blades (17) suitable for continuously mixing and advancing the material in the mixing chamber (15) from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice. The device also includes a mixing screw (25) in the bottom of the tank, which is positioned in the mixing chamber (15), below and parallel to the at least one shaft (16), and which is suitable for being rotated, about at least one direction of rotation, the opposite way from the advance of the material from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice.
US09675944B2	Reciprocating fluid agitator A fluid mixing assembly comprising a fluid agitating element adapted to reciprocate within a fluid between a first position and a second position. The fluid agitating element having an internally disposed magnetic member adapted to couple with an external drive device.
US09675943B2	Two part molded part useful as a mixer for viscous curable materials The present invention relates to articles comprising a plurality of molded hollow parts (11) having different central axis (14, 15) through the hollow elements, further having passages in walls of the hollow parts transverse to the central axis of the hollow parts. The present invention also relates to methods applying two part curable materials to substrates using the molded parts of the invention as mixing elements.
US09675942B1	Universal bridge and wall mounted aeration apparatus A universal wall and bridge mounted aeration apparatus has a track extending between two distinct elevations that is coupled to a wall and bridge mount. An aeration unit is pivotally coupled to the track and has an aerator adapted to operatively at least partially submerge within and aerate a liquid. A selective mover or drive is adapted to operatively move the aeration unit along the track and thereby vary an elevation of the aeration unit. The universal wall and bridge mount supports the track and aeration unit. The universal wall and bridge mount has a first configuration for mounting to a structure such as a stationary bridge, and a second configuration for mounting to a wall. The universal wall and bridge mounted aeration apparatus may be adjusted to position the propeller after installation under the surface of the liquid through three axes of motion freedom.
US09675939B2	Composites and composite membranes The invention relates to a composite or a composite membrane consisting of an ionomer and of an inorganic optionally functionalized phyllosilicate. The isomer can be: (a) a cation exchange polymer; (b) an anion exchange polymer; (c) a polymer containing both anion exchanger groupings as well as cation exchanger groupings on the polymer chain; or (d) a blend consisting of (a) and (b), whereby the mixture ratio can range from 100% (a) to 100% (b). The blend can be ionically and even covalently cross-linked. The inorganic constituents can be selected from the group consisting of phyllosilicates or tectosilicates.
US09675938B2	Chemical clean for membrane filter A method of cleaning a porous polymeric membrane having a feed side and a permeate side including the steps of introducing a fluid containing a cleaning agent to the permeate side of a membrane allowing the cleaning agent to contact the permeate side of the membrane for a predetermined time, and contact the pores of the membrane, or introducing a fluid containing a cleaning agent to the feed side of a membrane; applying a transmembrane pressure to force the fluid containing the cleaning agent from the feed side to the permeate side of the membrane; allowing the cleaning agent to contact the permeate side of the membrane for a predetermined time, and contact the pores of the membrane. Preferably a concentration gradient between the feed side fluid and the lumen side fluid containing the cleaning agent causes cleaning agent to diffuse into the feed side fluid. Pressure may be applied to the fluid containing a cleaning agent to dislodge, where present, dissolved and undissolved solid from the membrane pores. The pressure may be applied in a pulsed fashion, and can be by way of compressed air at a pressure not more than the membrane's bubble point. The methods of the present invention may be preceded by, or followed with a backwash.
US09675935B2	Metallosilicates, processes for producing the same, nitrogen oxide removal catalyst, process for producing the same, and method for removing nitrogen oxide with the same The invention relates to: a β-type iron silicate which has a fluorine content not more than 400 ppm by weight on a dry basis and in which the crystal grains have a truncated square bipyramidal morphology in an examination with a scanning electron microscope and the whole or part of the iron is contained in the β-type framework structure, and a process for producing the iron silicate; anther β-type iron silicate, and a process for producing the iron silicate; and a nitrogen oxide removal catalyst containing the other β-type iron silicate, a process for producing the catalyst, and a method for nitrogen oxide removal with the catalyst.
US09675932B2	Impurities removal system Provided are drain tank storing predetermined amount of drain from cooler; alkaline aqueous solution supply unit with aqueous solution adjustment tank receiving and storing part of drain in drain tank in predetermined amount, solid alkaline agent supplier supplying solid alkaline agent to produce alkaline aqueous solution, alkaline concentration controller controlling solid alkaline agent supplier to regulate alkaline concentration of alkaline aqueous solution, and pump supplying alkaline aqueous solution to exhaust gas entry side of cooler; and alkaline supply control unit with impurity sensor downstream of succeeding cooler, drain pH sensor obtaining detected pH of drain in drain tank, and supply controller controlling alkaline supply amount supplied to exhaust gas entry side of cooler based on detected impurity value to make detected pH to set value.
US09675930B2	Control method of plasma by magnetic field in an exhaust gas treating apparatus and an exhaust gas treating apparatus using the same A plasma control method for an exhaust gas treating apparatus includes providing an exhaust gas treating apparatus having a plasma discharge space, a coil disposed on an outer circumference of the plasma discharge space, an upper electrode, and a lower electrode; generating plasma in the plasma discharge space; controlling the state of the plasma generated in the plasma discharge space by generating a magnetic field in the plasma discharge space between the upper electrode and the lower electrode; and cooling the reaction tube using a water cooled jacket disposed around the reaction tube. The magnetic field is generated by applying a current to the coil.
US09675929B2	Air separation module with increased permeate area An air separation module includes a plurality of fibers located within a casing. A fiber membrane defines an exterior of each of the plurality of fibers. The fiber membrane also forms an interior passage along a length of each of the plurality of fibers. The fiber membrane is configured to permeate a gas through the fiber membrane. At least one perforated canister is placed between the plurality of fibers. The at least one perforated canister is configured to collect a permeated gas from the plurality of fibers.
US09675926B2	Oxygen concentrating method and apparatus having condensate water removing function An oxygen concentrating apparatus includes: at least one adsorption bed which is filled with absorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen relative to oxygen; an air supplier which supplies pressurized air to the adsorption bed; a flow channel regulating valve unit which regulates flow channels by allowing the pressurized air to be supplied to the adsorption bed from the air supplier and by allowing the air to be discharged from the adsorption bed to be depressurized such that a nitrogen adsorption process and a nitrogen desorption process are alternately performed; and a water removing unit which separates water from the pressurized air supplied from the air supplier and removes the separated water. The flow channel regulating unit and the water removing unit are at least partially housed within a single housing.
US09675919B2	Method to enhance the ash storage capacity of a particulate filter A method of treating a particulate filter includes introducing a work fluid, such as water, into one or more channels of the filter and then removing the work fluid in a vaporized state. The channels contain an amount of ash and the density of the ash is greater subsequent to the removal of the work fluid than prior to the introduction of the work fluid.
US09675912B2	Heat-pressed activated carbon polypropylene composite filter device A heat-pressed activated carbon polypropylene composite filter device has a central filtering core, a composite filtering core, and two covers. The composite filtering core is mounted around the central filtering core and has a carbon-polypropylene filter layer and a polypropylene layer. The carbon-polypropylene filter layer is made of nonwoven polypropylene on which multiple activated carbon granules are heat-pressed. The polypropylene layer is made of polypropylene and is covered on the carbon-polypropylene filter layer by a meltblown process. The covers are mounted on the ends of the composite filtering core respectively.
US09675910B1	Apparatus and method for cleaning of swimming pool and spa cartridge filters A cartridge filter cleaning device sprays water onto the outside of a cartridge filter as a nozzle array is moved with respect to the longitudinal axis of the filter as the filter is rotated. In an electric version, a DC motor drives a threaded rod to provide nozzle array movement, and a drive belt to rotate the cartridge filter. In a fluid-driven version, a pump provides fluid pressure for the cartridge filter rotation and nozzle array movement. Multiple cartridge filter embodiments use a single motor or pump to rotate the cartridge filters and move the nozzle array. The nozzle array provides a single nozzle or a plurality of spaced-apart nozzles for each filter. Filter orientation may be vertical, horizontal, or angled.
US09675902B2	Separation of multi-component fluid through ultrasonic acoustophoresis An acoustic standing wave is utilized to separate components from a multi-component fluid, such as oil from an oil-water mixture, in a fluid flow scheme with an acoustophoresis device. For example, the flow scheme and device allows for trapping of the oil as the oil coalesces, agglomerates, and becomes more buoyant than the water.
US09675899B2	Form changing toy A form changing toy including the following is shown. A rotating axis is provided in a cover member. A plurality of figures are provided on the rotating axis and form a predetermined form different from each other with the cover member. A handle is provided on the cover member. A power transmission mechanism transmits to the rotating axis operation power of the handle in one direction to rotate the rotating axis in one direction. Each one of the plurality of figures takes a first state covered by the cover member and then takes a second state jumping out from the cover member and then takes the first state from the second state in order according to operation of the handle in one direction.
US09675897B2	Wall racer toy vehicles A motorized toy vehicle or Wall Racer that is capable of operating on vertical and inverted horizontal surfaces such as walls and ceilings, while being manufacturable at reasonable cost and operable on batteries having sufficient lifetime as to be enjoyable. One or more battery-powered fans draw air from around all or defined portions of the periphery of the chassis of the Wall Racer through a carefully-shaped duct, so that the air in the portion of the duct immediately adjacent the surface flows at high velocity and low pressure; the relatively greater pressure of the surrounding air urges the vehicle against the surface, allowing it to operate on vertical surfaces, such as walls, or inverted on horizontal surfaces, such as ceilings.
US09675896B2	Walking toy and walking toy set A walking toy includes a body on which gravity center position adjusting members and paired legs are supported to be able to swing in a forward/backward direction, and a gearbox which has a crank mechanism for forcibly swinging the paired legs alternately forward and backward in a forcible swinging direction and which is mounted in the body. Each of the paired legs has a bottom which is configured to be in contact with a floor surface and which is formed into a curved face curved in the forcible swinging direction. The gearbox is driven by a torsion coil spring and has a lever which rotates a drive gear of a gear train for transmitting rotation of the torsion coil spring to an output shaft for rotating the crank mechanism.
US09675895B2	Three way multidirectional interactive toy Systems and methods for interaction between a user and a plurality of toys is disclosed where an interactive physical toy character senses inputs from a player and from a virtual toy character in a virtual environment. The virtual toy character likewise senses inputs from a player and a physical toy character so that bidirectional, multi-way gameplay involving a player, a physical toy and a virtual toy in a virtual environment is achieved.
US09675890B2	Adaptive application selection in cloud gaming Methods and systems for remotely provisioning immediately executable games with license control in secure environments. Immediately initially executable portions of games are pushed onto user desktops, and when games are selected for play, additional components of selected games are streamed to said desktops.
US09675885B2	Game system, a controlling method of the game system thereof, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium thereof A game system, a controlling method thereof, and a non-transitory readable storage medium thereof to diversify the game by diversifying the way a player character join are provided. The game system has a communication module (42) sending and receiving data so as to synchronize with a first computer operated by a first user and a second computer operated by a second user joining the game during a predetermined period before both the first user and the second user operating different characters start a first stage.
US09675884B2	Virtualization system and method for hosting applications A computer-implemented system for providing a virtualized application hosting environment comprising: a plurality of application/game servers each having a memory for storing application program code and data and a processor for executing the application program code and processing the data on behalf of a client; a virtualization service executed on each of the application/game servers, the virtualization service comprising a file redirection module for redirecting file system operations generated by the application program code to one or more virtualized file locations; and a registry redirection module for intercepting registry operations generated by the application program code and executing the registry operations on behalf of the application program code at one or more virtualized registry locations.
US09675879B2	System, method and handheld controller for multi-player gaming Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.
US09675877B2	System for remote game access A system for allowing a user to remotely access a game includes: a game console; a remote console client configured to receive a game control signal; and a remote console server. The remote console server includes an audio and video encoder configured to receive an audio output and a video output from the game console and to convert the audio output and the video output to a network packet. The remote console server also includes: a game controller emulation unit and a network interface configured to send and receive the network packet. The game controller emulation unit is configured to receive a game controller signal from the game console and to send the game controller signal to the remote console client and to receive a game controller input from the remote console client and send the game controller input to the game console.
US09675876B2	Touch screen inputs for a video game system Example systems and methods involve detecting an input to a touchscreen display of a video game apparatus; determining a video game action based on a shape of the input; and determining a timing of the video game action based on a color associated with the input.
US09675874B1	Multi-player gaming system The disclosure includes a system and method for providing a multi-player gaming service to users. The system includes a processor; and a memory storing instructions when executed cause the system to: receive game inputs from two or more devices; simulate the game session from a starting state to an ending state by sequentially applying received game inputs at each frame; and store the ending state of the game session.
US09675871B1	PC transceiver and method of using the same Methods and systems for providing multiple audio streams, such as a game audio stream and network chat audio stream, to a headset of a user of a gaming device are described. An exemplary system may include a gaming device having a port and that is adapted to transmit game audio and network chat to a transceiver inserted into the port thereof. The transceiver may be configured to receive local user chat. The system may also include a transceiver inserted into the port of the gaming device, the transceiver adapted to receive the game audio and the network chat transmitted from the gaming device, transmit the received game audio and network chat to a wireless headset, receive local user chat from the wireless headset, and transmit the received local user chat to the gaming device. In certain embodiments, the system may include at least one wireless headset wirelessly connected to the transceiver, the headset including a microphone and being adapted to receive the game audio and network chat from the transceiver, receive local user chat from the microphone, and transmit the local user chat wirelessly to the transceiver.
US09675867B2	Ski binding equipment The present disclosure relates to a binding equipment for binding a hard-shell boot comprising a profiled bottom surface to a ski, the ski comprising a bottom surface to be directed towards a gliding element and a top surface to be directed towards the boot, wherein the binding equipment is configured to adapt the top surface of the ski to the profiled bottom surface of the boot.
US09675865B1	Method and system for determining ball positions and first downs in a football game A method and system for use in the game of football to determine ball placement and position, as well as first down demarcations, is described, with various embodiments configured to track the location of a football to determine its position on the field and to determine and display the first down demarcation on the field. Certain embodiments employ software to assist in performing placement determinations, distance determinations, track movement of the ball, first down markers, as well as light emitting modules along a track that extends parallel to the field.
US09675864B1	Vertical impact alignment aid for golf club heads A golf club head, and particularly a putter head, comprising at least one visual reference point that shows a golfer the ideal vertical impact height at address and at impact is disclosed herein. The visual reference preferably is an alignment aid, such as an alignment pin or bar, which delineates the vertical center of the face between the top and bottom portions of the golf club head along the vertical z axis.
US09675860B2	Multi-purpose sports apparatus The subject of the utility model is a multi-purpose sports apparatus particularly for improving footballers' technical skills, comprising a foundation body (10) containing a playing surface (11) and an obstacle element (20). The distinctive feature of the method is that the playing surface (11) of the foundation body (10) looking from the interior of the foundation body (10) has an at least partially convex top surface (15) and the foundation body (10) has a support structure (30) which separates the playing surface (11) from the base (2).
US09675857B2	Apparatus for testing a golf club An apparatus for testing a golf club. The apparatus holds a golf club, and moves that club through a downswing that extends from an initial position that is at the top of the downswing to at least an impact position in which the golf club head would impact a golf ball. The apparatus includes a support frame, motors, an elongate member, a gripping device for holding a golf club, and a controller. The elongate member has an inner section connected to an outer section by a swivel joint. The gripping device is connected to the outer section by a revolute joint. The controller generates motor drive signals to cause the motors to rotate to effect the downswing such that, during the downswing, the outer section rotates relative to the inner section and the golf club face is in an aligned position when the club head is at the impact position.
US09675855B2	Double action golf putter head The present invention is directed to a Double Action Golf Putter Head that when the putter strikes the golf ball the force causes a spring loaded weight to compress the forward spring in a secondary striking action to accelerate the forces against the golf ball along with an optional set of balance adjustment weights on the extensions on either side of the club head.
US09675852B2	Iron-type golf club head A golf club head having a thin topline and improved sound is disclosed herein. The golf club head, which preferably is a three-piece iron-type head, comprises a body with truss supports linking a lower body portion of the iron with a top portion. This configuration creates an iron with the sound and feel of a closed cavity back iron and the performance and mass properties of an open cavity back iron. The golf club head also includes a partial face cup comprising a striking face and a lower flange and a dampening element filling at least a portion of a cavity between the body and the face cup. The dampening element comprises a portion that is compressed within the cavity and another portion that is adhered to the rear surface of the striking face.
US09675851B2	Golf club heads with optimized characteristics and related methods Embodiments of golf club heads with optimized characteristics including optimizing the center of gravity location as it relates to the head volume, and the hosel moment of inertia relative to the horizontal and vertical moments of inertia, are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US09675850B2	Golf club head with flexure A golf club head including a crown, a sole, a hosel, a face and a flexure. The flexure provides compliance during an impact between the golf club head and a golf ball, and is tuned to vibrate, immediately after impact, at a predetermined frequency. A slot is included in a portion of the golf club head and works with the flexure to further tune performance.
US09675848B2	Lacrosse ball resurfacing device A device for restoring the surface of used lacrosse balls. Lacrosse balls are placed inside a chamber that is lined with an abrasive surface. The device can be placed within a typical clothes dryer machine and during the course of a normal drying cycle the surface of the lacrosse balls are restored to a desired characteristic tactile grip. The exterior of the device is cushioned to dampen impact with the inner surface of the clothes dryer and minimize the generation of noise during use.
US09675844B2	Diving fin apparatus, systems and methods of use A diving fin system is provided. The fin system includes without limitation a collapsible, leg mounted diving fin. The fin system includes a first section mounted to lower leg and a second section and a third section that can collapse up to and around the lower leg. When collapsed, it can have a very low profile such that it looks like a slightly wider version of the calf area of the leg. It can be also be a three-piece deploying fin, wherein the first section is maintained coupled to the lower leg, the second section slides and rotates to couple to the top of a foot and the third section rotates away from the second section to form the fin blade for use in diving, such as scuba diving.
US09675840B2	System for horizontally suspending a running/walking surface over air Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for rotatably and horizontally suspending a running/walking surface over air without being supported by a deck and a treadmill including the same. The system may include a belt rotationally suspended between a pair of rails, the belt configured to support a user; a plurality of pairs of grommets spaced along a length of the belt proximate to an edge of the belt; a bracket attached to a corresponding pair of grommets by a cable, wherein the bracket and the pair of grommets are positioned in a triangular relationship; a transporter bolt extending from the bracket; and a roller rotatably attached to the transporter bolt, wherein the roller is configured to engage with the rail.
US09675838B2	Exercise apparatus The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus. The exercise apparatus includes a platform with an endless belt. The endless belt defines an exercising space above it. A restricting device has a retaining portion, a left restricting portion and a right restricting portion. The two restricting portions are elongated and flexible, such as straps. The left restricting portion is connected to a left end of the retaining portion from a left rear of the exercising space. The right restricting portion is connected to a right end of the retaining portion from a right rear of the exercising space. The restricting device maintains the retaining portion at an appropriate position to make the retaining portion naturally abut against a waist of the user for resisting forward movement of the user toward a front side of the exercising space and allowing the user to sprint or quick run on the platform.
US09675836B2	Exercise apparatus and kit An exercise apparatus may include: a housing including a height configured to be mounted to a surface, a first longitudinal axis extending through the height; a biasing member, the biasing member including a substantially rigid upper section, a substantially rigid lower section, and a flexible joint therebetween, the flexible joint providing a flexural resistance, wherein the lower section is coupled to the housing and a second longitudinal axis extends through the upper section; and a handle coupled to the upper section, wherein the biasing member is transitionable between a first position in which the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are generally parallel or collinear, and a second position in which the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are orthogonal with respect to one another, the biasing member being biased to toward the first position. A kit including the same is also disclosed.
US09675834B1	Dynamic motion exercise machine A series of improved exercise machines with a movable user engagement member operatively linked to a sliding while rotating user support such that when the user engagement member is engaged and activated by the user the user engagement member concurrently causes movement of the operative linkage system, which concurrently causes the user support to slide while rotating. This creates dynamic motion of the user support relative to the user engagement member.
US09675833B2	Exercise table An improved exercise table or reformer having increased adjustability and storage features. The starting point of the carriage or platform is adjustable to accommodate different sized users. An anchor bar mechanism is adjusted to correspond to carriage starting point, and limits rotation of the anchor bar with respect to the reformer and may be non-removable from the reformer frame. A foot bar assembly may be adjusted and placed in a storage position, allowing the foot bar to serve as a lift handle. The reformer's adjustability provides greater ease of storage.
US09675832B2	Interchangeable resistance tube assembly A handle assembly base has a central tube opening for receiving an elastic resistance tube with an expanded end diameter. A first block and a second block are pivotably mounted to the base on opposite sides of the central tube opening. When pivoted towards each other, the blocks define a reduced area opening through which the expanded end diameter of the resistance tube cannot pass, thereby retaining the resistance tube to the base. The base has two opposed ears which extend upwardly of the central tube opening. A flexible strap is secured to the ears, and extends through a cylindrical tube to which a flexible handle cushion is mounted to provide a grip for the user to engage the handle.
US09675823B2	Two component compositions containing zinc amino acid halide complexes and cysteine Provided are compositions, e.g., oral and personal care products, comprising (i) a zinc (amino acid or trialkyl glycine) halide complex, and (ii) cysteine in free or in orally or cosmetically acceptable salt form, together with methods of making and using the same.
US09675821B2	Device for thermal treatment of tissue and for temperature measurement of tissue providing feedback A device for heating tissue, comprises a housing sized for insertion through a naturally occurring body orifice to a target location within a lumen and a heat generating element within the housing focusing thermal energy on a target area separated from an outside of the housing so that, when the housing is in the target location, the target area is within tissue surrounding the lumen at a predetermined depth from a lumenal wall in combination with a temperature sensing element sensing data corresponding to a temperature of tissue in the target area and a processor controlling the heat generating element in response to the data sensed by the sensing element.
US09675818B2	Apparatus, method and system for medical image-based radiotherapy planning A medical image processing apparatus includes: a receiver which receives target image data that is including a first perspective image and a second perspective image, photographing an object from different directions; a first acquirer which acquires positional information of a specified point on the first perspective image; a second acquirer which acquires positional information of a candidate point on the second perspective image, the candidate point corresponding to the specified point; and a generator which generates a first enlarged image obtained by enlarging a part of the first perspective image neighboring the specified point and a second enlarged image obtained by enlarging a part of the second perspective image neighboring the candidate point.
US09675817B2	Heating device using exothermic chemical reaction The current invention discloses a treatment device having a heat source, a power source, a heat applicator and a lighting mechanism. The power source includes at least one nanotech battery, ensuring superior properties such as prolonged electricity production and prompt recharging. The heat applicator includes a heat conductive layer made from nanofibers, providing highly efficient heat distribution to the targeted regions. The lighting mechanism employs light emitting nano fibers to treat targeted regions. The power source provides energy to the light source, which generates light so that the applicator may distribute to an injury site or wound bed of a user. The heat source may be an exothermic chemical reaction designed to last for several hours supplying heat to the treatment device or a electronically produced heat. In addition to the medical utilizations, the current device may also play a central role in other apparatus that require thermal control or lighting capabilities.
US09675815B1	Transcranial magnetic stimulation device for the treatment of migraine headaches A transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) device for the treatment of migraine headaches which includes at least one capacitor as well as a charging circuit for charging the capacitor contained in the TMS device. A magnetic coil delivers a magnetic pulse upon discharge of the capacitor. Inner and outer end wire segments of the magnetic coil are oriented parallel to a direction of magnetic field lines of the magnetic pulse.
US09675814B2	Apparatus and method for obtaining a substantially constant current across a treatment region An apparatus and method for heating a treatment region of a subject by providing a substantially constant current across the treatment region is disclosed. The method includes positioning the treatment region between first and second electrodes connected to a generator operable to apply an alternating electric field between the electrodes. The method also includes displacing any air located between the treatment region and the first and second electrodes with one or more flowable materials that allow a substantially constant current to pass between the first and second electrodes and through the treatment region. The method further includes activating the generator to apply the alternating electric field between the first and second electrodes and across the treatment region to thereby heat the treatment region.
US09675809B2	Circuit, system and method for far-field radiative powering of an implantable medical device An isolated circuit including a RF input configured to receive a far field radiative powering signal and a rectified voltage output configured to provide a rectified voltage based on the received far field radiative powering signal. The isolated circuit also includes a first power assembly comprising a first impedance coupled to the RF input where the first impedance is provided, at least in part, by activating a first switch in response to the rectified voltage satisfying a first voltage threshold. The isolated circuit also includes a second power assembly comprising a second impedance coupled to the RF input where the second impedance is provided, at least in part, by activating the first switch and a second switch in response to the rectified voltage satisfying the first voltage threshold and a second voltage threshold, respectively.
US09675808B2	Battery and capacitor arrangement for an implantable medical device An implantable medical device includes a housing forming an internal cavity, the housing defining a profile with a height and a width and further defining a thickness perpendicular to its profile. The thickness of the housing is shorter than both the height and the width of the profile of the housing. The implantable medical device further includes at least one battery within the internal cavity, at least one capacitor adjacent the battery within the internal cavity, the capacitor and the battery being located along a common plane within the internal cavity, and circuitry within the internal cavity. The circuitry extends over both the battery and the capacitor within the internal cavity such that the circuitry is in a stacked arrangement relative to the battery and the capacitor.
US09675805B2	Method and system for localizing left ventricular conduction non-uniformity Methods, devices and systems are provided for selecting one or more left ventricular multi-electrode pacing site(s). The methods, devices and systems measure arrival times of LV activation events for corresponding LV sensing sites, where the arrival times each correspond to a conduction time from an intrinsic ventricular event or delivery of a pacing pulse until sensing of the corresponding LV activation event. Site-to-site (STS) relative delays are calculated as differences between the arrival times associated with adjacent LV sensing sites. The STS relative delays represent STS arrival delays for corresponding combinations of the adjacent LV sensing sites. An LV electrode combination is identified that is associated with at least one of the STS relative delays that satisfy selection criteria, where the LV electrode combination corresponds to a target tissue region exhibiting a select degree of non-uniformity. The LV electrode combination is designated as a first LVEC pacing site from which to deliver LV pacing pulses.
US09675800B2	Snore stopping device The embodiments of the invention provide a snore stopping device. The snore stopping device comprises a sleep information acquisition module used for acquiring actual sleep information of a user; a processing module used for comparing the actual sleep information acquired by the sleep information acquisition module with a normal sleep information range, and capable of generating a trigger signal when the actual sleep information goes beyond the normal sleep information range; and an electric stimulation module used for contacting the skin of the user and generating an electric stimulation signal according to the trigger signal. The snore stopping device can effectively cause the snoring user to change his/her sleeping posture, so as to achieve the snore stopping effect.
US09675795B2	Systems and methods for radial steering of electrode arrays A device for brain stimulation includes a lead having a longitudinal surface, a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of electrodes are disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead. At least one marker is disposed on the longitudinal surface of the lead. The at least one marker is configured and arranged to identify a relative position of the plurality of electrodes.
US09675794B2	Cutaneous electrode A windowed electrode assembly includes a foam layer having windows. Each window receives a corresponding gel pad that is sized such that it is contained by the window's sidewalls. The windowed electrode assembly includes a foam backing layer that forms a back wall for the windows such that each gel pad is encased by the window's sidewalls and back wall.
US09675791B1	Spring tensioner for tattoo machine needle An improvement to a tattoo machine of the type having an oscillating needle bar, a needle tube, a grip, and a needle tube support is either added to an existing tattoo machine or incorporated into the tattoo machine during manufacture. A tensioner base selectively fixable with the needle tube support comprises a support attachment and a spring support. A resilient tensioner spring is fixed with the spring support at a proximate end thereof. The tensioner spring terminates with a wheel support fixed to a distal end of the tensioner spring. The tensioner spring includes at least one curved portion between the ends, and at least two adjustment screw apertures therethrough. An adjustment screw is fixed with the tensioner spring to the spring support through the at least two adjustment screw apertures of the tensioner spring. A tensioner wheel is rotationally fixed with the wheel support of the tensioner spring.
US09675787B2	Antiseptic applicator An applicator assembly includes a head portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior portion defining a fluid chamber, a container slidably coupled to the head portion, a plug sealing an end of the container, an application member attached to the distal end, and one or more orifices formed through a surface of the plug, wherein the plug is mounted in the interior portion of the head portion and an interior of the container is placed in fluid communication with the application member by way of a fluid conduit that is formed through the plug from the container to the fluid chamber when the container is axially translated toward the head portion to bring the one or more orifices into fluid communication with the container.
US09675783B2	Intracranial fixation device A fixation device including a base structure such as a faceplate having an inferior surface capable of contacting a surface of a skull of a patient, having a superior surface, and defining at least two securement features. Each securement feature can be engaged by a cranial fastener to attach the faceplate to the skull. The device further includes a fixation structure such as an alignment plate or a flexible fixation member carried by the base structure and positionable at least one of (i) over an opening in the skull and (ii) within an opening in the skull. At least one surface of the fixation structure defines at least one channel in which an intracranial device is capable of being placed, and further defines at least one fixation feature to enable the intracranial device to be secured to the fixation device.
US09675779B2	Hemodialysis wand holder and associated use therefore A hemodialysis wand holder includes a container having a plurality of side walls configured to form an open top end and a cavity extending downwardly from the open top end. A lid is removably coupled to the open top end wherein the lid has at least one aperture formed therein. At least one hemodialysis wand is removably inserted through the at least one aperture such that the at least one hemodialysis wand is suspended above a bottom one of the side walls. A collection tray is adjustably situated along the bottom side wall. Such a collection tray is removably reciprocated along a linear travel path registered transverse to a front one of the side walls. A fluid-absorbent liner is removably positioned within the collection tray for receiving fluids dripping down from the at least one hemodialysis wand suspended partially within the cavity.
US09675777B2	Method and apparatus for sensory substitution An apparatus and method for use in treating tinnitus, employs a sound processing unit, a tactile unit, and an interface therebetween. The tactile unit comprises an array of stimulators each of which can be independently actuated to apply a tactile stimulus to a subject, and an input for receiving a plurality of actuation signals from the interface and directing individual actuation signals to individual stimulators. The sound processing unit receives an audio signal at an input, analyses the signal with a digital signal processor to generate the actuation signals which are representative of the audio signal, and provides the plurality of actuation signals to the interface. In a preferred embodiment the digital signal processor divides the audio signal into a series of frames in the time domain, performs a transform on each frame to generate a set of coefficients representing said frame, and maps the set of coefficients to a set of actuation signals to be applied to the array.
US09675776B2	Multi-sensory therapeutic system A system for providing multi-sensory therapy including a computer having an audio output and a screen, wherein the computer is configured to provide audio stimulus and visual stimulus, a motion chair, and an actuator coupled to the motion chair, wherein the actuator is configured to cause movement of the motion chair, wherein the motion of the motion chair is configured to provide tactile stimulus, vestibular stimulus and proprioceptive stimulus to a patient seated in the motion chair, wherein the stimuli provided by the computer is provided concurrently with the stimuli provided by the motion chair.
US09675763B2	Injection assembly The injection assembly (2) includes a prefilled injection device (3), such as a syringe, provided with a coupling tip (16), for example of the Luer-Lock type, and a protection device (4) comprising a protective portion (23) removably mounted on the coupling tip (16), a supporting portion (30) connected to the protective portion (23), and an injecting element (34) removably mounted on the supporting portion (30) in a storage position. The injecting element (34) comprising an injection needle (35) and a connecting tip (36) fluidly connected to the injection needle (35), the connecting tip (36) being adapted to be mounted on the coupling tip (16) of the injection device (3) in a position of use of the injecting element (34). The injecting element (34) and the supporting portion (30) are arranged in such a way that, in the position of storage of the injecting element (34), the connecting tip (36) is accessible to cooperate with the coupling tip (16).
US09675762B2	Self-injection device with multi-position cap A self-injection device (100, 200), including a pen body (108, 208) connectable to a pen needle (10), and a cap (104, 204) selectively connectable to the pen body (108, 208) in a first orientation with respect to the pen body (108, 208) to minimize the length or volume of the self injection device (100, 200), and in a second orientation to provide sufficient length or volume in an interior of the cap (104, 204) to house a pen needle (10) connected to the pen body (108, 208).
US09675760B2	Drive mechanism for a drug delivery device and drug delivery device The drive mechanism for a drug delivery device comprises a piston rod, which is displaced in a distal direction for a delivery of a dose and in a proximal direction for a reset, and a rotatable drive member, which is threadedly engaged with the piston rod and rotates during the delivery of the dose. A biasing member is provided, which is loaded by the rotation of the drive member during the delivery of the dose and tends to rotate the piston rod with respect to the drive member in such a way that the piston rod is screwed into the drive member and is thereby advanced in the proximal direction. The drug delivery device is provided with such a drive mechanism.
US09675758B2	Injection device The present invention concerns an injection device with a housing adapted to receive a syringe having a discharge nozzle, the housing having an indicator opening. There is a trigger and a forward drive arranged to act upon the syringe on actuation of the trigger to advance the syringe from a retracted position to an extended position thereby discharging the contents of the syringe through the discharge nozzle. A support member is in contacting juxtaposition with the housing and a return drive is supported by the support member and arranged to act upon the syringe after the contents of the syringe has been discharged so that the syringe can be withdrawn from the extended position to the retracted position. Advantageously, the support member is arranged in the housing so that the second drive does not obscure an inspection of the contents of the syringe through the indicator opening. Hence, it can be clearly determined whether the contents of the syringe have been expelled from the syringe.
US09675757B2	Injection device An injection device (210) is described. A housing (212) receives a syringe and includes a return spring (226) for biasing the syringe from an extended position in which its needle (218) extends from the housing (212) to a retracted position in which the it does not. A drive spring (230) acts on a first drive element (232) and a second drive element (234) acts upon the syringe to advance it from its retracted position to its extended position and discharge its contents through the needle. The first drive element (232) is capable of movement relative to the second (234) once a nominal decoupling position has been reached. A release mechanism is activated when the first drive element (234) is further advanced to a nominal release position, to release the syringe (214) from the action of the drive spring (230), whereupon the return spring (226) restores the syringe (214) to its retracted position. Decoupling of the drive elements is achieved with a particular form of releasable drive coupling using two pairs of overlying flexible arms (235, 247). A particular form of release mechanism that also uses flexible arms (233) is also envisaged.
US09675755B2	Syringe filter A syringe filter for containing a filter membrane is disclosed and includes first and second fluid distribution surfaces configured to be positioned on opposing sides of a membrane. An inlet port is in fluid communication with the first fluid distribution surface and a first plurality of distribution pathways formed on the first fluid distribution surface. An outlet port is in fluid communication with the second fluid distribution surface and a second plurality of distribution pathways formed on the second fluid distribution surface. The first plurality of distribution pathways is configured to distribute fluid flow from the inlet port to one side of the membrane while the second plurality of distribution pathways is configured to direct fluid flow from another side of the membrane to the outlet port.
US09675749B2	Medical fluid injector device A medical fluid injector device injecting a patient with a mixed medical fluid and capable of simply setting injection conditions for the mixed medical fluid. A medical fluid injector includes an injector head injecting a diluted contrast medium into a patient and a controller unit. The controller unit receives an input relating to an injection rate of the diluted medical fluid receives an input relating to a mixture ratio by an operator, calculates an injection rate of a contrast medium based on the mixture ratio, and calculates an injection rate of physiological saline based on the mixture ratio. The injector head injects the contrast medium and the physiological saline at the calculated injection rate of the contrast medium and the calculated injection rate of the physiological saline, respectively.
US09675748B2	Device for prevention of shunt stenosis A method and a kit for the prevention of venous stenosis associated with the use of hemodialysis AV shunts. The kit may use a bifurcated needle for providing access to the shunt or blood vessel. One of the arms is used for returning the blood to the subject after dialysis treatment, while the other arm is used for inserting a device for cleaning the vein, the device being either an autonomous crawling device, or a passive tethered device moved down the vein by the blood flow. The autonomous crawling device may be a series of sequentially inflatable chambers, the stenosis being cleared by pressure from the outer walls of the chambers when inflated and moved. The passive device may be an element having a flexible disc-like structure, whose flexible peripheral edge slides along the inner walls of the blood vessel, compressing or clearing the material attached thereto.
US09675741B2	Implantable blood pump A method for assisting blood circulation in a patient includes drawing a flow of blood from a patient's heart into a blood flow channel formed by a housing. The flow of blood is passed through a motor stator to a rotor disposed within the blood flow channel. The motor stator is arranged circumferentially around the blood flow channel. The rotor has permanent magnetic poles for magnetic levitation and rotation of the rotor. The motor stator is controlled to act as a radial bearing for magnetic levitation of the rotor and to rotate the rotor within the blood flow channel. The rotor is levitated within the blood flow channel in the direction of the rotor axis of rotation via passive magnetic interaction between the rotor and the motor stator. The flow of blood is output from the blood flow channel to the patient.
US09675739B2	Motor assembly with heat exchanger for catheter pump A catheter pump is disclosed. The catheter pump can include an impeller and a catheter body having a lumen therethrough. The catheter pump can also include a drive shaft disposed inside the catheter body. A motor assembly can include a chamber. The motor assembly can include a rotor disposed in the at least a portion of the chamber, the rotor mechanically coupled with a proximal portion of the drive shaft such that rotation of the rotor causes the drive shaft to rotate. The motor assembly can also comprise a stator assembly disposed about the rotor. The motor assembly can also include a heat exchanger disposed about the stator assembly, the heat exchanger may be configured to direct heat radially outward away from the stator assembly, the rotor, and the chamber.
US09675735B2	Catheters having an antimicrobial treatment A vascular access product is provided having a component with a plurality of external surfaces. At least one of the surfaces is coated with an antimicrobial treatment, wherein the antimicrobial material comprises a silane quaternary ammonium salt. The silane quaternary ammonium salt may comprise 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride. The vascular access product may be IV administration tubing, a catheter and the associated caps, luers, Y sites, connectors, drip chambers, PICC lines, stopcocks and similar IV components such as needleless IV connectors having valve mechanisms.
US09675727B2	Method and device for treating bursitis The invention relates to a method for treating a subject for a bursitis. The method comprises applying to the skin surface covering a body part or region affected by the bursitis a composition capable of transdermally attracting fluids from the body part or region or its proximity, wherein the composition includes at least one adsorptive or absorptive agent, and leaving the composition in contact with the skin for sufficient time to allow the composition to transdermally absorb or adsorb at least a portion of the body fluids from the body part or region.
US09675724B1	Scent dispenser system and method of dispensing scent from a liquid A scent dispenser system used for dispensing scent from a liquid. The system includes a dispenser having an open volume. The system includes absorbent beads in the open volume of the dispenser, where the absorbent beads having the capability to absorb a liquid. The system includes aeration windows in the dispenser to receive a liquid and to allow air to pass through the dispenser and about the absorbent beads.
US09675718B2	Device and method for irradiating objects with electron beam The present invention relates to an irradiation device for irradiating objects with electron beams. The irradiation device comprises at least one electron beam emitter having an electron exit window and at least one sensor device for detecting a first dose control parameter of the electron beam. The electron beam emitter is adapted to move past the sensor device such that the electron beam emitted from the electron exit window passes within a sensing area of the sensor device. The sensor device comprises more than one conductor each having a conductor surface in the sensing area of the sensor device, and the conductor surface is adapted to be exposed to electrons of the electron beam. The invention also relates to a method.
US09675717B2	Electromagnetic polymer composite material for anti-fouling effect The antifouling coating is a composite material consisting of fluorinated electroactive bipolymers and magnetic particles. This composite material is coated on a solid surface to make a smooth durable grassy coating. The coating generates electrical current when an electrolytic liquid flows over it, which prevents bacterial cells from attaching to the surface. It prevents virus and protein attachment. It also prevents chemical corrosion of a surface. The composite material itself, and the antifouling method that uses fluoride compounds and electrical current that is generated by the fluid flow are disclosed for a patent. The composite material can be applied to medical devices, biomedical devices, industrial equipment, ship's hulls, food processing equipment, food processors, drinking water distribution systems, and home electrical appliances.
US09675707B2	Anti-TAT226 antibodies and immunoconjugates Anti-TAT226 antibodies and immunoconjugates thereof are provided. Methods of using anti-TAT226 antibodies and immunoconjugates thereof are provided.
US09675699B2	Cooling enhancing compositions The following invention relates to a taste enhancer and a method of enhancing taste. The invention relates the use of a cooling enhancing composition which provides cooling enhancement when combined with other cooling compounds.
US09675697B2	BET bromodomain inhibitors and therapeutic methods using the same Inhibitors of BET bromodomains and compositions containing the same are disclosed. Methods of using the BET bromodomain inhibitors in the treatment of diseases and conditions wherein inhibition of BET bromodomain provides a benefit, like cancers, also are disclosed.
US09675693B2	Methods and drugs targeting Eva1 or Ceacam1 gene expression for treatment and diagnosing of glioma An object is to provide glioma treatment and testing methods, and a method for delivering a desired substance to a glioma, all of which target a molecule specifically expressed in a glioma, as well as drugs and so forth used in these methods. It has been found out that targeting Eva1 or Ceacam1 enables glioma treatment and testing, and delivering of a desired substance to a glioma.
US09675692B2	Stabilized formulations containing anti-DLL4 antibodies The present invention provides pharmaceutical formulations comprising an antibody that specifically binds to human delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4). The formulations may contain, in addition to an anti-Dll4 antibody, a phosphate buffer, an organic cosolvent, a disaccharide, and a salt. The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention exhibit a substantial degree of antibody stability after storage for several months and after being subjected to thermal and other physical stress.
US09675690B2	Nucleic acid molecule encoding hepatitis B virus core protein and surface antigen protein and vaccine comprising the same Provided herein are nucleic acid sequences encoding hepatitis B virus (HBV) core proteins, surface antigen proteins, fragments and combinations thereof as well as genetic constructs/vectors and vaccines that express said protein sequences. These vaccines are able to induce an immune response peripherally and in the liver by recruiting both cellular and humoral agents. Also provided are methods for prophylactically and/or therapeutically immunizing individuals against HBV. The combination vaccine can also be used for particular design vaccines for particular levels of immune responses to HBV challenge.
US09675688B2	Rapid, efficient purification of HSV-specific T-lymphocytes and HSV antigens identified via same A method of identifying an immunologically active antigen of a virus that attacks skin, as well as a method of enriching a population of lymphocytes for T lymphocytes that are specific to a virus that attacks skin. Also provided are HSV antigens and epitopes that are useful for the prevention and treatment of HSV infection that have been identified via the methods of the invention. T-cells having specificity for antigens of the invention have demonstrated cytotoxic activity against cells loaded with virally-encoded peptide epitopes, and in many cases, against cells infected with HSV. The identification of immunogenic antigens responsible for T-cell specificity provides improved anti-viral therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. Compositions containing antigens or polynucleotides encoding antigens of the invention provide effectively targeted vaccines for prevention and treatment of HSV infection.
US09675685B2	Modified RSV F proteins and methods of their use The present invention is generally related to modified or mutated respiratory syncytial virus fusion (F) proteins and methods for making and using them, including immunogenic compositions such as vaccines for the treatment and/or prevention of RSV infection.
US09675683B2	Chlamydia antigens The invention provides Chlamydia antigens for use in the treatment, prevention and/or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection. In particular, the invention provides antigens CT733, CT153, CT601, CT279, CT443, CT372, CT456, CT381, CT255, CT341, CT716, CT745, CT387, CT812, CT869, CT166, CT175, CT163, CT214, CT721, CT127, CT043, CT823 and/or CT600 from C. trachomatis for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection.
US09675681B2	Shortened purification process for the production of capsular Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharides A shortened process for producing a solution containing substantially purified capsular polysaccharides from a cellular Streptococcus pneumoniae lysate broth is described. Ultrafiltering and diafiltering a clarified S. pneumoniae lysate followed by pH adjustment to less than 4.5, preferably about 3.5, precipitated at least 98% of the protein in the solution without seriously affecting polysaccharide yield. Furthermore, following ultrafiltration and diafiltration and acidification to a pH of less than 4.5, filtration using activated carbon precipitated at least 90% of remaining protein without seriously affecting polysaccharide yield. Exemplary, non-limiting S. pneumoniae serotypes that can be purified using the shortened process of the invention are 1, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F. In one embodiment, the Streptococcus pneumoniae cells are lysed using deoxycholate sodium (DOC), while in another embodiment the lytic agent is a non-animal derived lytic agent such as N-lauryl sarcosine sodium (NLS).
US09675671B2	Fusion proteins containing insulin-like growth factor-1 and epidermal growth factor and variants thereof and uses thereof Fusion proteins comprising cytokines, particularly insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and variants thereof, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and other ligands to the EGF receptor, are provided. The fusion proteins further comprise SEQ ID NO:1 or other segments having lysine, glutamic acid, or aspartic acid residues. Uses for the fusion proteins are also provided.
US09675668B2	Modified polynucleotides encoding hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 2 The invention relates to compositions and methods for the preparation, manufacture and therapeutic use of polynucleotides, primary transcripts and mmRNA molecules.
US09675667B2	Isolated mucins and different microorganisms, and methods of use A method of altering intercellular interactions between a combination of microorganisms includes contacting a combination of different species of microorganisms with at least one mucin. Isolated compositions include a combination of microorganisms and at least one mucin. One microorganism of the combination inhibits cell growth or promotes cell death of at least one other microorganism of a different species in the combination. The combination of microorganisms with the mucin results an increase in cell growth or a reduction in cell death, respectively, of the at least one other microorganism.
US09675659B2	Methods of treating lung infection with caspofungin Methods for the treatment and/or prevention of a fungal infection in the pulmonary system of a subject in need thereof with caspofungin or a derivative thereof are disclosed herein.
US09675653B2	Composition containing an essential oil product and method for using such to maintain normal levels of testosterone A composition useful for maintaining healthy levels of testosterone in men and women. The composition includes essential oils from a tree of the genus Picea or a product of this oil. The essential oil product can specifically come from essential oil from the plant Picea pungens, commonly referred to as Blue Spruce. Also disclosed is a method for maintaining healthy levels of testosterone in men and women utilizing the composition. In some implementations, the composition is a pharmaceutical composition that further includes a penetration enhancer. A method for utilizing the pharmaceutical composition for treating hypogonadism is also disclosed.
US09675652B2	Compositions and methods to relieve chronic diseases symptoms Compounds having unique properties are prepared from the herbal compositions described herein and comprise extracts derived from plants and fungi of the genera Panax, Ganoderma, and Saussurea. The compositions are useful in preventing, treating, relieving, and improving the quality-of-life of patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as liver diseases, cancer, cachexia, and immune system disorders.
US09675651B2	Method for increasing performance of offspring Methods and compositions for increasing intestinal transport of nutrients or growth performance in the offspring of an animal are described. More specifically, a feed composition comprising an omega-3 fatty acid-containing composition for increasing intestinal transport of nutrients or growth performance in the offspring of the animal, and methods therefor, are described.
US09675650B2	Composition for removing keratinous skin material comprising green tea Lactobacillus The present invention relates to a composition for removing keratinous skin material, the composition comprising a Lactobacillus strain or a culture thereof. Also, the present invention relates to a composition for removing keratinous skin material, the composition comprising green tea Lactobacillus as Lactobacillus. In contrast to when skin is improved through the supply of a moisture fraction by a commonly used skin-moisturizing component, the Lactobacillus according to the present invention removes keratinous skin material, thereby producing the advantageous effect that skin can be cared for and improved as the waste materials which accumulates on the skin is fundamentally removed. Therefore, the composition according to the present invention can effectively prevent or alleviate skin problems such as spots. Also, the invention regulates the skin and so improves skin tone by removing surplus keratinous material which is not needed by the skin.
US09675649B2	Disialyllacto-N-tetraose (DSLNT) or variants, isomers, analogs and derivatives thereof to prevent or inhibit bowel disease The invention provides formulations comprising isolated Disialyllacto-N-tetraose (DSLNT) or variants, isomers, analogs and derivatives thereof.
US09675648B2	Microbiota restoration therapy (MRT), compositions and methods of manufacture Microbiota restoration therapy compositions and methods for manufacturing, processing, and/or delivering microbiota restoration therapy compositions are disclosed. An example method for manufacturing a microbiota restoration therapy composition may include collecting a human fecal sample and adding a diluent to the human fecal sample to form a diluted sample. The diluent may include a cryoprotectant. The method may also include mixing the diluted sample with a mixing apparatus and filtering the diluted sample. Filtering may form a filtrate. The method may also include transferring the filtrate to a sample bag and sealing the sample bag.
US09675647B2	Prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for functional gastrointestinal disorders The present inventors conducted dedicated studies, and as a result discovered that propionic acid bacteria fermentation products have a preventive/therapeutic effect on functional gastrointestinal disorders in in vitro tests and tests using patients with irritable bowel syndrome, and completed the present invention. Specifically, the present inventors discovered, in in vitro tests, that the products have an effect of increasing the intestinal contraction frequency without changing the intestinal contractile force in a distal colon-specific manner. Moreover, effects of improving the defecation condition, general abdominal condition, and health-related QOL in patients with irritable bowel syndrome were also found. Furthermore, propionic acid bacteria fermentation products can be taken in large amounts. Therefore, the propionic acid bacteria fermentation products can be expected to have an effect of preventing/treating functional gastrointestinal disorders safely.
US09675645B2	Method of preparing bone material having enhanced osteoinductivity Methods for increasing osteoinductivity and/or surface area of bone material are provided. The methods include providing bone material and dehydrating the bone material with a solvent at its critical point. A useful solvent for critical point dehydrating is carbon dioxide. Critical point dehydration resulting in increased osteoinductivity and/or surface area can be applied to many types of bone material including bone particles, bone chips, bone fibers, bone matrices, both demineralized and non-demineralized. An implantable composition having an enhanced osteoinductivity and/or osteoconductivity is also provided. The implantable composition contains demineralized bone matrix dried at critical point of carbon dioxide. Critical point dried fibers of a demineralized bone matrix have a BET value from about 40 m2/gm to about 100 m2/gm, a value that is 100 times higher than corresponding vacuum dried or lyophilized DBM fibers.
US09675644B2	Biologic composition and method of manufacture A biological composition has a mixture of mechanically selected allogeneic biologic material derived from bone marrow. The mixture has non-whole cellular components including vesicular components and active and inactive components of biological activity, cell fragments, cellular excretions, cellular derivatives, and extracellular components. The mixture is compatible with biologic function.
US09675641B2	Materials and methods to enhance hematopoietic stem cells engraftment procedures This disclosure is directed to the methods of enhancing hematopoietic stem cells (HSPC) and progenitor cell (HSPC) engraftment procedure. Treatment in vivo of a HSPC donor with compounds that reduce PGE2 biosynthesis or PGE2 receptor antagonists alone, or in combination with other hematopoietic mobilization agents such as AMD3100 and G-CSF, increases the circulation of available HSPCs. Compounds that reduce the cellular synthesis of PGE2 include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds such as indomethacin. Treatment ex vivo of HSPC with an effective amount of PGE2 or at least one of its derivatives such as 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2), promotes HSPC engraftment. Similar methods may also be used to increase viral-mediated gene transduction efficacy into HSPC.
US09675639B2	Peroxide formulations and methods and applicators for using the same Embodiments are directed to a stable composition comprising stabilized hydrogen peroxide and 2-propanol and applicators configured to store, dispense, and apply such stable compositions. Such compositions may be used to treat skin conditions such as warts, condyloma accuminatum, molluscum contagiosum, acrochordons, seborrheic keratosis, or a combination thereof. Some embodiments also describe take home compositions, in office compositions, over-the-counter compositions, and kits for the use of such compositions.
US09675637B2	Use of nitrite salts for the treatment of cardiovascular conditions It has been surprisingly discovered that administration of nitrite to subjects causes a reduction in blood pressure and an increase in blood flow to tissues. The effect is particularly beneficial, for example, to tissues in regions of low oxygen tension. This discovery provides useful treatments to regulate a subject's blood pressure and blood flow, for example, by the administration of nitrite salts. Provided herein are methods of administering a pharmaceutically-acceptable nitrite salt to a subject, for treating, preventing or ameliorating a condition selected from: (a) ischemia-reperfusion injury (e.g., hepatic or cardiac or brain ischemia-reperfusion injury); (b) pulmonary hypertension (e.g., neonatal pulmonary hypertension); or (c) cerebral artery vasospasm.
US09675636B2	Micelle sequestering polymers A polymer composition for sequestering lipid-bile acid micelles in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is provided. The polymer composition comprises a copolymer of a pH-sensitive monomer and one or more of positively-charged monomers. The polymer composition is able to bind micelles under various physiological conditions in the GI tract and possesses the ability to flocculate the bound micelle upon exposure to a particular pH. The flocculation of the polymer:micelle complex prevents absorption of the micelle thereby causing the polymer:micelle complex to be eliminated with the fecal matter. Thus, the polymer composition described herein may be effective in reducing cholesterol, bile acid, and/or triglyceride levels and promote weight loss.
US09675635B2	Composition and method to alleviate joint pain using low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and joint care components, including type II collagen A dietary supplement composition is formulated in a therapeutic amount to treat and alleviate symptoms of joint pain. The composition includes pro-inflammatory low molecular weight microbial fermented sodium hyaluronate fragments and glucosamine in an oral dosage form.
US09675629B2	PH-responsive nanoparticle using mussel adhesive protein for drug delivery and method for preparing the same The present invention relates to a pH-responsive metal-catechol derivative nanoparticle for drug delivery based on a mussel adhesive protein, particularly Fe(III)-DOPA nanoparticle, and a method for preparing the same. A nanoparticle for drug delivery according to the present invention is prepared using a pH responsive substance, catechol derivative-metal complex, particularly Fe(III)-DOPA complex, based on a mussel adhesive protein. Thereby, the present invention has excellent biocompatibility, is capable of easily and quickly penetrating into a target cell, and releases a loaded drug under acidic conditions, which enables to selectively deliver a drug to a specific disease having an acidic environment.
US09675625B2	Medicament comprising recombinant antibody against chemokine receptor CCR4 A medicament having a higher therapeutic effect than that provided by administration of a recombinant antibody against human CC chemokine receptor 4 or an antibody fragment thereof or an agent alone is provided.
US09675623B2	Non-surgical method of treatment for cataract The invention provides inhibitors of α-crystallin aggregation and methods of using α-crystallin aggregation inhibitors to, e.g., treat or prevent cataracts in a subject having or at risk of developing cataracts. The invention further provides high throughput methods of screening compounds for modulation of protein thermal stability, the method comprising contacting a protein with each of a plurality of test compounds; and (b) measuring the melting transition (Tm) of the protein in the presence of each of the plurality of test compounds, wherein a compound that decreases or increases the apparent Tm by at least 2 standard deviations is identified as a pharmacological protein chaperone.
US09675621B2	Methods of synthesis and/or purification of diaminophenothiazinium compounds Disclosed are methods of synthesis and/or purification of certain 3,7-diamino-phenothiazin-5-ium compounds (“diaminophenothiazinium compounds”) including Methylthioninium Chloride (MTC) (Methylene Blue), and the resulting high purity characterized by a purity greater than 98%, and very low levels of heavy metals and organic impurities Azure A, B, C and MVB. Also disclosed are methods of treatment of a tauopathy or methemoglobinemia in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the high-purity diaminophenothiazinium compound.
US09675612B2	Substituted thiazolopyrimidines The present invention relates to substituted thiazolopyrimidine compounds of general formula I as described and defined herein, to methods of preparing said compounds, to intermediate compounds useful for preparing said compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions and combinations comprising said compounds and to the use of said compounds for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease, in particular of a hyperproliferative and/or angiogenesis disorder, as a sole agent or in combination with other active ingredients.
US09675610B2	Abuse-proofed dosage form A solid administration form, protected from parenteral abuse and containing at least one viscosity-increasing agent in addition to one or more active substances that have parenteral abuse potential. The agent forms, when a necessary minimum amount of an aqueous liquid is added, on the basis of an extract obtained from the administration form, a preferably injectable gel that remains visually distinct when introduced into another quantity of an aqueous liquid.
US09675609B2	Nano- and micro-sized particles of 20-camptothecin or derivative thereof and pharmaceutical compositions containing same, and treatment of cancers therewith A pharmaceutical composition is provided having particles of a physical mixture that contain at least one 20-camptothecin or a derivative thereof, at least one surfactant, at least one stabilizer, and at least one diluent. The particles have a mean particle size of less than about 2500 nm. The pharmaceutical composition can be nano- or micro-sized particles containing the 20-camptothecin esters or derivatives thereof as part of a physical mixture, which can provide the active compound in a water-soluble/dispersible, bioavailable form. The particles can be used as an oral pharmaceutical composition which comprises the nano- or micro-sized form of 20-camptothecin esters or derivatives, such as in an oral suspension (e.g., an aqueous suspension), or capsules, or caplets. The pharmaceutical composition can be used in the treatment of a cancer or malignant tumor in a patient by oral administration thereof in a therapeutically effective amount.
US09675607B2	Epimorphic regeneration and related hydrogel delivery systems Methods and compositions are described for enhancing tissue regeneration or wound repair in a mammalian subject comprising a composition comprising (a) a proline hydroxylase inhibitor component or molecule that increases or upregulates HIF1a and (b) a carrier component comprising a hydrogel.
US09675604B2	Sorbic and benzoic acid and derivatives thereof enhance the activity of a neuropharmaceutical Methods and compositions are provided for treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit disorder, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and bipolar disorder. The methods entail administering to a patient diagnosed as having a neuropsychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit disorder, mild cognitive impairment, dementia bipolar disorder, etc.) or as at risk for a neuropsychiatric disorder a benzoic acid, benzoic acid salt, and/or benzoic acid derivative, and/or a sorbic acid, sorbic acid salt, and/or sorbic acid derivative, in combination with a neuropharmacological agent (e.g., an antipsychotic, an antidepressant, medications for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, cognitive impairment, or dementia, etc.) where the benzoic acid, benzoic acid salt, or benzoic acid derivative, and/or a sorbic acid, sorbic acid salt, and/or sorbic acid derivative, is in an amount sufficient to increase the efficacy of the neuropharmacological agent.
US09675601B2	Use of quaternary pyridinium salts as vasoprotective agents The invention relates to the use of quaternary pyridinium salts of formula (I), wherein R is NH2, CH3, or N(H)CH2OH group, and X is pharmaceutically acceptable counterion, for the preparation of vasoprotective agent for the treatment or prevention of conditions or diseases associated with dysfunction of vascular endothelium, oxidative stress, and/or insufficient production of endothelial prostacyclin PGI2, in particular but not exclusively if the above coincides with hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia or low HDL level.
US09675599B2	4-[2-(2-fluorophenoxymethyl)phenyl]piperidine compounds The invention relates to compounds of formula I: where a, R1, and R3-6 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of formula I are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US09675598B2	Compositions of tolperisone The present disclosure relates to tolperisone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof, with 10 ppm 2-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-propenone (4-MMPPO) or less, methods of producing the same, as well as compositions related thereto. The disclosure further relates to methods of treating a subject with tolperisone under conditions that limit exposure of the subject to tolerable levels of 4-MMPPO.
US09675595B2	Synergistic combinations of PI3K- and MEK-inhibitors A pharmaceutical combination comprising (a) the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor compound (S)-pyrrolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 2-amide 1-({4-methyl-5-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1,1-dimethyl-ethyl)-pyridin-4-yl]thiazol-2-yl}-amide) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and (b) at least one mitogen activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, and optionally at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for simultaneous, separate or sequential administration; the uses of such combination in the treatment of proliferative diseases; and methods of treating a subject suffering from a proliferative disease comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of such combination.
US09675588B2	Ondansetron extended release solid dosage forms for treating either nausea, vomiting or diarrhea symptoms A method of treating a patient comprises orally administering a solid oral dosage form comprising a core comprising a non-ionic polymer matrix, a first amount of ondansetron dispersed within the matrix, and a salt dispersed within the matrix, wherein the first amount of ondansetron ranges from about 9 mg to about 28 mg; a first seal coat surrounding the core, wherein the first seal coat is comprised of a non-ionic polymer matrix; and an immediate release drug layer surrounding the first seal coat and comprising a non-ionic polymer and a second amount of ondansetron dispersed therein, wherein the second amount of ondansetron ranges from about 3 mg to about 8 mg, wherein release of ondansetron from the solid oral dosage form provides exposure to ondansetron for a minimum period of 16 hours so as to result in a reduction in frequency of vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, or a combination thereof.
US09675587B2	Opioid receptor modulator dosage formulations Abuse deterrent solid dosage formulations containing 5-({[2-Amino-3-(4-carbamoyl-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-propionyl]-[1-(4-phenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-ethyl]-amino}-methyl)-2-methoxy-benzoic acid, and processes for the preparation and administration of these formulations.
US09675585B1	Extended release pharmaceutical formulations The present invention relates to coated extended release pharmaceutical formulations of valsartan comprising a core comprising valsartan and at least one coating layer over the core. The present invention further relates to extended release pharmaceutical formulations comprising (a) a core comprising valsartan and at least one hydrophilic swelling polymer and (b) at least one coating layer over the core wherein the coating layer in contact with the core is applied from an organic solvent based system.
US09675581B2	Methods for purifying trans-(−)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and trans- (+)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol Methods for making trans-(−)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and trans-(+)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a trans-(−)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol composition is prepared by allowing a composition comprising (±)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol to separate on a chiral stationary phase to provide a trans-(−)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol composition comprising at least about 99% by weight of trans-(−)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol based on the total amount of trans-(−)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and trans-(+)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The invention also relates to methods for treating or preventing a condition such as pain comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a trans-(−)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol having a purity of at least about 98% based on the total weight of cannabinoids.
US09675577B2	Compositions and methods for producing elevated and sustained ketosis Beta-hydroxybutyrate mineral salts in combination with medium chain fatty acids or an ester thereof such as medium chain triglycerides were used to induce ketosis, achieving blood ketone levels of (2-7 mmol/L), with or without dietary restriction. The combination results in substantial improvements in metabolic biomarkers related to insulin resistance, diabetes, weight loss, and physical performance in a short period of time. Further, use of these supplements to achieve ketosis yields a significant elevation of blood ketones and reduction of blood glucose levels. Use of these substances does not adversely affect lipid profiles. By initiating rapid ketosis and accelerating the rate of ketoadaptation, this invention is useful for the avoidance of glucose withdrawal symptoms commonly experienced by individuals initiating a ketogenic diet, and minimizes the loss of lean body mass during dietary restriction.
US09675572B2	Intravenous omega-3 fatty acid compositions and method of use The invention encompasses intravenous pharmaceutical compositions containing omega-3 fatty acids and methods of treating traumatic brain injury, traumatic spinal cord injury and/or stroke using these pharmaceutical compositions.
US09675570B2	Solid compositions comprising a salt of aminocarboxylic acid The present disclosure provides solid compositions comprising a stabilized salt of aminocarboxylic acid. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising [(1R,5S,6S)-6-(aminomethyl)-3-ethylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-en-6-yl]acetic acid monobenzenesulfonate in combination with appropriate additives are also provided.
US09675569B2	Method for treating a pulmonary disease state in mammals by up regulating indigenous in vivo levels of inflammatory agents in mammalian cells The present invention provides novel methods for treating a pulmonary disease state in mammals by up-regulating indigenous in vivo levels of an inflammatory agent in mammalian cells comprising contacting the mammalian cells with a therapeutically effective amount of an inflammatory regulator and a pharmaceutical agent. The inflammatory agent is selected from the group consisting of cytokines, transforming growth factor-β, elastase, and white blood cells, and wherein the inflammatory regulator is selected from the group consisting of pyruvates and pyruvate precursors. The pharmaceutical agent is selected from the group comprising anti-bacterial agents, anti-virals, anti-fungals, anti-tumors, antihistamines, proteins, enzymes, hormones such as insulin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, cytokines, steroids, and nicotine.
US09675565B2	D3 dopamine receptor agonists to treat dyskinesia in parkinson's disease The present invention provides a method of inhibiting, suppressing or preventing levodopa-induced dyskinesia in a patient suffering from Parkinson's Disease, comprising the step of administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the invention. The present invention further provides a method of inhibiting, suppressing or preventing Parkinson's Disease in a patient, comprising the step of administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the invention.
US09675563B2	Method for adjunctive treatment of cancer metastasis by using lycogen The present invention relates to a method for adjunctive treatment of cancer by using a Lycogen composition to inhibit metastasis, comprising administering a Lycogen composition to the subject, wherein the Lycogen composition comprises an effective amount of a Lycogen extract, wherein the Lycogen extract comprises active ingredients selected from ζ-carotene, neurosporene, spheroidenone, methoxyneurosporene or a combination thereof.
US09675561B2	Injectable cryogel vaccine devices and methods of use thereof The invention provides polymer compositions for cell and drug delivery.
US09675560B2	Nanoparticles for controlled lysis of blood clots Fibrinolytic nanoparticles including a polymeric core having a surface that is functionalized with a cationic amphiphilic compound, and a fibrinolytic agent dispersed within the core, are described herein. The fibrinolytic nanoparticles can be used in method of dissolving a blood clot in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of fibrinolytic nanoparticles.
US09675552B2	Use of stabilized granules containing glyceryl trinitrate for arteriogenesis The present invention inter alia relates to a method of treating or preventing an arterial insufficiency, where an NO donor is administered in an intermitting manner to a subject in an amount of effective for the induction of arteriogenesis, and wherein the NO donor is a solid pharmaceutical preparation with the active substance glyceryl trinitrate for oromucosal or oral administration characterized in that it contains between 0.05 and 2 weight % glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), at least one diluent, one carrier material, and at least one substance that reduces the volatility of GTN, whereby this substance is a non-volatile ester stabilizer whose melting point is not higher than 60° C.
US09675550B2	Methods for inducing an immune response via buccal and/or sublingual administration of a vaccine Vaccine compositions that may be administered to a subject via the buccal and/or sublingual mucosa are provided. Methods for administration and preparation of such vaccine compositions are also provided.
US09675549B2	Tablet containing composite with cyclodextrin Provided herein is a tablet comprising, as a drug, 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 thereof, which is a medicament for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the tablet characterized by comprising a composite of 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 thereof and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in a ratio ranging from 1:8 to 1:20.
US09675545B2	Acicular body An acicular body includes a support base, and a needle formed on the support base and containing a chitosan derivative.
US09675544B2	Volatile anesthetic compositions comprising extractive solvents for regional anesthesia and/or pain relief The present invention provides methods for reducing pain in a subject in need of such pain reduction by delivering, e.g., intrathecally or epidurally, a volatile anesthetic dissolved in a solution comprising an extractive solvent, e.g., DMSO or NMP, in an amount effective to reduce pain. Chronic or acute pain may be treated, or the anesthetic may be delivered as a regional anesthesia to a subject to anesthetize a portion the subject prior to a surgery, hi certain embodiments, isoflurane, halothane, enflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, methoxyflurane, or mixtures thereof may be used. Dosing regimens including a one-time administration, continuous and/or periodic administration are contemplated.
US09675541B2	Water-based pigmented preparation A water-based pigmented preparation, its production and use and its application in a capillary storage system.
US09675540B2	Oral compositions and method for producing thereof Methods of preparing a dentifrice comprising polymer matrix film with menthol therein are disclosed. The methods comprise combining a polymer matrix film that comprises hydrophobic additives and is free of a low solubility flavorant such as menthol with a dentifrice base comprising a low solubility flavorant such as menthol and maintaining the combined polymer matrix film with the dentifrice base comprising low solubility flavorant for an amount of time sufficient for an amount of a low solubility flavorant to transfer from the dentifrice base comprising low solubility flavorant to the polymer matrix film and establish an equilibrium of menthol concentration between the polymer matrix film and the dentifrice base. Products comprising low solubility flavorant-free polymer matrix film in a dentifrice base comprising low solubility flavorant are also disclosed.
US09675538B2	Anti-aging agent containing arctigenin derivative An arctigenin derivative used for anti-aging treatment, including protection of the skin from the sun and recovery of skin elasticity. A variety of fatty acid ester derivatives, alcohol ether derivatives and alkylated derivatives are used as the arctigenin derivatives. Agents for controlling ET-1 production, elastase inhibitors, and anti-inflammatory agents are prepared. Such arctigenin derivatives are particularly useful as an external agent for the skin, such as an anti-inflammatory external agent, a sunscreen external agent, or an external agent for recovering elasticity.
US09675537B2	Hair growth composition and method The present invention relates to compositions for and methods of retarding hair loss or facilitating hair growth comprising a hair growth active and a C8-C24 alcohol ester of a carboxylic acid.
US09675536B2	Gel-like composition for cosmetic preparations The present invention relates to a gel-like composition for a cosmetic preparation including 0.05 part by mass to 3 parts by mass of a compound represented by the following general formula (1) with respect to 100 parts by mass of water, which is not destroyed by a change in pH or by the addition of a salt into the gel, and gives a feeling of use equivalent to that of a gel produced using an alkali thickening type gelling agent. where, R1 and R2 each represent an alkyl group having 28 to 36 carbon atoms, R3 and R4 each represent a hydrocarbon group having 4 to 13 carbon atoms, m and n each represent a number from 10 to 500, x represents a number from 1 to 1,000, and y represents a number from 0 to 10.
US09675534B2	Preparations with improved physical properties The present disclosure relates to a surfactant-containing preparation comprising one or more alcohols and one or more anionic surfactants, wherein the preparation is an O/W emulsion, the particle size distribution for which the following applies: D(v, 0.9)=40 μm or less, and wherein the total quantity of the one or more alcohols in the preparation is selected in such a way that the preparation, compared to a comparison preparation which having an otherwise identical composition does not comprise any alcohol of the formula (I), has an increased viscosity at 22.7 ° C. Also disclosed are methods for producing the preparation and methods for increasing stability and/or viscosity of an emulsion.
US09675533B2	Colour changing composition in gel form A changing color composition in the form of a gel for caring for and/or making up keratin materials is disclosed. The composition comprises in a physiologically acceptable medium, a) from 0.1 to 10% by weight preferably from 0.5 to 10% more preferably from 1 to 5% by weight relative to the weight of the composition of microcapsules containing releasable colorant(s), said microcapsules comprising: —a core comprising one organic material, —at least one layered coating surrounding said core, the layered coating comprising at least one polymer at least one colorant, and advantageously at least one lipid-based material, b) at least 3% by weight, preferably at least 5% by weight, more preferably at least 8% by weight and advantageously at least 10% by weight relative to the weight of the composition of an aqueous phase comprising water and at least one compound chosen from polyols, glycols and C2-C8 monoalcohols, and mixtures thereof, and c) at least one hydrophilic gelifying agent.
US09675531B2	Personal care compositions comprising shaped abrasive particles A personal care composition is disclosed comprising abrasive particles. The personal care composition may take a variety of forms such as a leave-on composition or an emulsion and/or may comprise one or more actives or agents.
US09675530B2	Striped liquid personal cleansing compositions containing a cleansing phase and a seperate benefit phase Personal cleansing compositions comprise (A) a cleansing phase containing a surfactant and water; and (B) a separate benefit phase containing a hydrophobic material; wherein the cleansing and benefit phases are packaged together and are in physical contact. The two phases are packaged in physical contact and remain separate and stable at ambient conditions for at least 180 days. These compositions and corresponding methods provide improved cosmetics, skin feel, and/or skin benefit efficacy.
US09675529B2	Dental composition containing high refractive index monomers Provided are novel high refractive index monomers, and dental resins containing the same.
US09675526B2	Device for external percutaneous connections The present invention provides devices for creating an external percutaneous fluidic connections. In one embodiment, a needle is configured for extending through an endoscope. The needle includes a distal sharp tip and a lumen extending therethrough. The needle extends out of the endoscope within a body cavity to create an incision through a patient's skin. A safety cap is attached over the distal sharp tip without occluding the needle lumen. A wire is inserted through the needle lumen such that it extends from outside the body at the incision, through the body, and outside the body at the patient's mouth. After removing the needle and the endoscope from the body, a PEG device is coupled to the wire at the patient's mouth, and the PEG device is delivered through the upper GI tract and out through the incision.
US09675516B2	Massage apparatus and method of use The present invention relates to a device for therapeutic and/or prophylactic massage, in particular massage of mammalian eyelids, having a body housing a heater in thermal communication with a massaging bobbin, the bobbin having a plurality of massaging elements extending therefrom. In use, the bobbin heats the eyelid and rotates such that a massaging force is exerted on the eyelid perpendicular to the last line. This force can be used to express material from blocked sebaceous glands of the mammalian eyelid. The present invention is directed toward a method for treating disorders of the mammalian eyelid, such as inflammation, using the device of the invention.
US09675514B2	Transmission assembly for use in an exoskeleton apparatus An exoskeleton for a limb of a user wherein the limb has an upper portion connected to the body of a user and a lower limb portion is provided. The exoskeleton comprises a drive force transmission mechanism drivingly connecting a drive motor having an output axle aligned with the upper limb portion to one of the body portion and the lower limb portion. The drive force transmission mechanism comprises a first gear provided on an upper end of the lower limb portion or on the body portion and a first transfer member extending transverse to the motor axis.
US09675511B1	Burial vault assembly A burial vault assembly includes a box that may contain a corpse. The box may be buried underground having the corpse being vertically oriented. Thus, the box occupies less space in a graveyard than a casket. A lid is selectively positioned on the box and the lid closes the box. A seal is coupled to the lid and the seal is comprised of a resiliently compressible material. Thus, the seal forms a fluid impermeable seal with the box when the lid is positioned on the box to inhibit decomposition gases from escaping the box.
US09675504B2	Disposable water resistant protective cover cast and wound sites A protective cover for use as a liquid barrier includes an enclosure having a supported front sheet and a back sheet. The enclosure is made of a flexible, liquid impervious material, the back face having a periphery in the interior of the back face that defines an opening; and an adhesive layer extending along the periphery of the back face for securing the periphery onto a body part, wherein the periphery is positioned and sized to define an opening that can accommodate a body part to be shielded from liquid.
US09675502B2	Absorbent article The present invention addresses the problem of providing an absorbent article in which a bonding part for bonding a liquid-permeable layer to an absorbent core has been formed in a low-basis-weight region of the absorbent core and which has all of sufficient flexural rigidity of the bonding part, sufficient bonding strength of the bonding part, and sufficient liquid-absorbing properties. This problem is solved with an absorbent core which comprises a first region that has a given absorbent-material basis weight and second regions (regions 411a, 411b) that have a lower absorbent-material basis weight than the first region, wherein the ratio of the basis weight of a highly absorbing polymer to the basis weight of the absorbent material in the second regions is regulated to 10/100 to 47/100, and compressed parts are formed inside the second regions.
US09675494B2	Elastic tongue-dorsum retraction device, clamping pliers, installation pliers, line guide and implantation method The present invention relates to an elastic tongue-dorsum refraction device for treating obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), clamping pliers, installation pliers, a line guide, and an implantation method. The elastic tongue-dorsum refraction device of the present invention includes a tongue dorsum connection mechanism, an elastic retractor and a tooth-side fastener. The tongue dorsum connection mechanism is disposed at the tongue dorsum portion, the tooth-side fastener is fixed to teeth or the alveolar bone or outside the maxilla and mandible lips, one end of the elastic retractor is connected to the tooth-side fastener, and the other end of the elastic retractor is connected to the tongue dorsum connection mechanism. In this way, an elastic retraction device using the tooth-side fastener as a fulcrum is formed. By pulling up the sagging tongue root forward, stenosis and obstruction of the airway at the glossopharyngeal portion are prevented, thereby providing a function of treating snoring and OSAHS. Since the elastic refractor exerts an elastic retraction force on the tongue dorsum portion, the movement of the tongue tip is not affected when the tongue root is properly pulled up, so that a clear language function and an adequate swallowing function can be maintained, and not only the airway at the glossopharyngeal portion is enlarged, but also good comfort is provided. In addition, the present invention further discloses clamping pliers, installation pliers and a line guide for use together with the elastic tongue-dorsum retraction device, and an implantation method of the elastic tongue-dorsum retraction device.
US09675490B2	Ankle supports An ankle support having a leg portion connected sidewardly and rearwardly to a foot portion by at least one elongate resilient C-shaped member extending vertically on at least one medial or lateral side of an Achilles tendon of a wearer, wherein the at least one C-shaped member opens forwardly around at least one medial or lateral malleoli of the wearer, and wherein the at least one C-shaped member is constructed and arranged to allow natural functional ankle movement in both dorsiflexion and plantar flexion with minimal impedance while controllably inhibiting rolling ankle movement in inversion or eversion.
US09675489B2	Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass are described. A gastrointestinal bypass device includes a gastrointestinal cuff and a gastrointestinal sleeve. The cuff may be configured to be attached in the esophagus, and may be sufficiently flexible to expand and collapse to conform with the inside of the esophagus to allow the esophagus to function substantially normally. The sleeve is configured to be coupled to the cuff, and may be made of a material that is floppy or flaccid but does not substantially expand radially.
US09675487B2	Prosthesis deployment system for vascular repair A deployment system for vascular repair of a transected body vessel is provided. The system can include a prosthesis, an inner sheath, and an outer sheath. The inner sheath can be configured to selectively retain a first portion of the prosthesis in the compressed configuration, leaving a remaining portion of the prosthesis uncovered by the inner sheath. The outer sheath can be configured to retain the remaining portion of prosthesis in the compressed configuration and the first portion of the prosthesis within the inner sheath. The outer sheath is removable from the prosthesis to allow an expansion of the remaining portion of the prosthesis to the expanded configuration at a first opening in the transected vessel. The inner sheath is removable from the prosthesis first portion to allow an independent expansion of the first portion to the expanded configuration at a second opening in the transected vessel.
US09675483B2	Protective sheath assembly for a polymer scaffold A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. A sheath is placed over the crimped scaffold after crimping to reduce recoil of the crimped polymer scaffold and maintain scaffold-balloon engagement relied on to hold the scaffold to the balloon when the scaffold is being delivered to a target in a body. The sheath is removed by a health professional either by removing the sheath directly or using a tube containing the catheter.
US09675482B2	Braid implant delivery systems Embolic implants delivery systems and methods of manufacture and delivery are disclosed. The devices can be used for aneurysm and/or fistula treatment. The designs offer low profile compressibility for delivery to neurovasculature, while maintaining advantageous delivery and implant detachment control features.
US09675474B2	Vascular device with valve for approximating vessel wall A vascular device comprising a plurality of vessel engaging members and a valve. The device is movable from a collapsed insertion position having a first diameter to a second expanded position having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The plurality of vessel engaging members extend outwardly from the device for securely engaging the internal wall of a vessel upon expansion of the device to the second expanded position, wherein the vessel engaging members pull the internal wall of the vessel radially inwardly upon movement of the device from the second expanded position toward a first expanded position having a third diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter. In the first expanded position the valve is movable between an open position to allow blood flow therethrough to a closed position to prevent blood flow.
US09675464B2	Tibial tray system and method of implantation A tibial tray system includes a tibial tray configured for attachment to a surgically-prepared surface of the proximal end of the tibia. The tibial tray includes a track disposed in a generally A-P direction. The tibial tray system also includes a spline configured to engage the track and to be positionable in at least one location along the track. The spline includes a bearing surface that is configured to contact a femoral component of the knee prosthesis to guide movement of the femoral component during extension and flexion of the knee.
US09675462B2	Intermediate body for a bone implant, and implant arrangement An intermediate body is for a bone implant for replacement of an osseous area. The intermediate body has a base body and a seat which extends axially in the base body and is surrounded by a wall of the base body. The intermediate body is designed to receive and surround an end portion of an intramedullary implant part. A clamp device is assigned to the seat. A clamp component is arranged on the wall of the base body surrounding the seat. In order to clamp, the end portion is inserted beforehand into the seat relative to the wall of the base body. The wall then surrounds the seat and the inserted end portion is movable towards the seat and in the process clamps the end portion in the seat. An implant arrangement is provided with the intermediate body.
US09675458B2	Methods and devices for controlling blood perfusion pressure along with regional mild hypothermia Methods and devices for controlling blood perfusion pressure along with regional mild hypothermia. In at least one embodiment of a device for controlling blood perfusion pressure within a vessel of the present disclosure, the device comprises an elongated body having a lumen, a proximal end configured for placement in a first area having a first blood pressure, and a distal end configured for placement in a second area having a second blood pressure, a partial occluder positioned within the lumen of the elongated body between the proximal end and the distal end, the partial occluder configured so not to fully occlude a blood vessel and to equalize the first blood pressure at the first area with the second blood pressure at the second area, and a regional hypothermia system operably coupled thereto, the regional hypothermia system operable to reduce and/or regulate a temperature of a bodily fluid flowing therethrough.
US09675454B2	Delivery systems and methods for transcatheter prosthetic valves This invention relates to a delivery apparatus and method for deployment of a mitral valve replacement.
US09675453B2	Methods of identifying and replacing implanted heart valves A prosthetic heart valve configured to replace a native heart valve and for post-implant expansion and having a valve-type indicator thereon visible from outside the body post-implant. The indicator communicates information about the valve, such as the size or orifice diameter of the valve, and/or that the valve has the capacity for post-implant expansion. The indicator can be an alphanumeric symbol or other symbol or combination of symbols that represent information about the characteristics of the valve such as the valve size. The capacity for post-implant expansion facilitates a valve-in-valve procedure, where the valve-type indicator conveys information to the surgeon about whether the implanted valve is suitable for the procedure and informs the choice of the secondary valve.
US09675452B2	Artificial heart valve with scalloped frame design Implantable prosthetic valves are disclosed, methods of their use, and related fabrication techniques are disclosed. In some cases, the prosthetic valves disclosed herein can include frame, skirt, and valve components. The frame component can have an overall, generally scalloped shape comprising fewer struts and fabricated from less raw material than known frames. In some cases, the prosthetic valves disclosed herein can be crimped to a smaller diameter than can other known valves.
US09675448B2	Speech valve, a tool for facilitating insertion of a speech valve and a tool for holding a speech valve A tool for facilitating insertion of a speech valve with a flexible retention flange into a fistula between the trachea and the esophagus of a human patient. The tool has a wall curved to define a passage having opposed open first and second passage ends and an axis extending therebetween. The wall has an external surface insertable into a fistula between the trachea and esophagus and defining a slot which extends from the passage to the external surface of the wall. The slot has an opening at the first passage end extending from the first passage end to at least a part of the way to the second passage end and at least a portion of the slot progresses angularly around the axis.
US09675444B2	Hermetically sealed implantable ophthalmic devices and methods of making same Many modern implantable ophthalmic devices include electronic components, such as electro-active cells, that can leak harmful substances into the eye and/or surrounding tissue. In the implantable ophthalmic devices disclosed herein, electronic components are hermetically sealed within cavities formed by bonding together two or more glass wafers. Bonding the glass wafers together with laser fusion bonding, pressure bonding, or anodic bonding creates a seal that leaks at a rate of less than about 5×10−12 Pa m3s−1 when subjected to a helium leak test. Hermetically sealed feedthroughs formed of conductive material running through channels in the wafers provide electrical connections to components inside the sealed cavities. In some cases, the conductive material has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is roughly equal to (e.g., within 10% of) the CTE of the glass wafers to minimize leakage due to thermally induced expansion and contraction of the conductive material and the glass wafer.
US09675442B2	Optimized injector of breast implant injector An optimized breast implant injector includes a hollow tube body and a plunger. The hollow tube body has a short tube reducer at one end and a circular disk at the other end. The plunger includes a push block, a driving device, and two fixed covers. The outer surface of the push block appears to be a circular arc shape. The driving device includes a rotating part, and a driving gear, a driven gear and a rack that mesh together. A user uses the rotating part to easily start the driving gear, the driven gear, and the rack, in order to let the rack drive the push block to move the breast implant in the hollow tube body. Through operating a short tube reducer of the hollow tube body and the push block, the breast implant can be pushed through from the short tube reducer easily.
US09675437B2	Management of urinary incontinence in females An apparatus for treating urinary incontinence, comprising: (a) a support section adapted for providing urethral support; (b) an anchoring section adapted for resisting movement of the apparatus; (c) a normally open expansion mechanism adapted to urge the support radially outwards; and (d) a conversion mechanism adapted to sharply and selectively reduce an outward urging of said support.
US09675433B2	Adapter for dental milling blank Adapters and dental mill blanks are provided which permit use of dental mill blanks of various shapes in dental mills designed for use with only a single shape. In particular, a mill blank assembly may include an adapter which allows for the use of rectangular, framed dental blanks in milling machines designed for use with puck-like milling blanks.
US09675428B2	Video-based auto-capture for dental surface imaging apparatus In an exemplary method for obtaining a contour image of a tooth, which can be executed at least in part by a computer, movement of an intra-oral camera can be detected by acquiring a first video image frame that includes the tooth and processing the first video image frame to detect one or more edges of the tooth in the first video image frame and acquiring a second video image frame that includes the tooth and processing the second video image frame to detect the one or more edges of the tooth in the second video image frame. The method can compare corresponding edge locations between the first and second processed video image frames and projects a fringe pattern illumination onto the tooth from the camera, capturing and storing one or more still images of the fringe pattern according to the detected camera movement.
US09675427B2	Adjusting a tooth position The present disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for adjusting a tooth position. A system for adjusting a tooth position can include an attachment configured to be attached to a tooth to be moved, a dental appliance including a guide slot configured to receive the attachment and to define an adjustment trajectory of the tooth, and an adjustment band to generate force on the tooth to move the tooth along the adjustment trajectory.
US09675426B2	Apparatus, methods, and compositions for endodontic treatments Examples of apparatus, methods, and compositions for endodontic treatments are described. The apparatus can include a fluid platform configured to substantially retain fluid in a tooth chamber during treatment. The fluid platform can help maintain fluid circulation in the tooth chamber as fluid flows into and out of the tooth chamber. The apparatus can also include a pressure wave generator configured to generate acoustic waves that can be used for cleaning root canals and tooth surfaces in the tooth chamber. Examples of pressure wave generators include a liquid jet, an electromagnetic energy delivery device, and an ultrasonic device. The fluid can include antiseptic or antibacterial solutions to assist in tooth cleaning. The fluid may be degassed to have a reduced dissolved gas content (compared to non-degassed fluids used in endodontic treatments), which may improve the effectiveness of the pressure wave generation or the cleaning.
US09675423B2	Ultrasound energy barrier for avoiding energy accumulation in bone region during tumor treatment An ultrasound energy barrier for avoiding energy accumulation in a to-be-protected region during tumor treatment has a barrier element and a positioning element. The barrier element is attached to a body surface of an animal outside a to-be-protected region and a to-be-treated tumor in turn, the barrier element has an outline matched with the to-be-protected region to thus shield the to-be-protected region, so as to avoid energy accumulation in the to-be-protected region during an ultrasound focusing treatment of the to-be-treated tumor. The positioning element positioning the barrier element on the body surface during the ultrasound focusing treatment.
US09675422B2	Systems and methods for avoiding collisions between manipulator arms using a null-space Devices, systems, and methods for avoiding collisions between manipulator arms using a null-space are provided. In one aspect, the system calculates an avoidance movement using a relationship between reference geometries of the multiple manipulators to maintain separation between reference geometries. In certain embodiments, the system determines a relative state between adjacent reference geometries, determines an avoidance vector between reference geometries, and calculates an avoidance movement of one or more manipulators within a null-space of the Jacobian based on the relative state and avoidance vector. The joints may be driven according to the calculated avoidance movement while maintaining a desired state of the end effector or a remote center location about which an instrument shaft pivots and may be concurrently driven according to an end effector displacing movement within a null-perpendicular-space of the Jacobian so as to effect a desired movement of the end effector or remote center.
US09675420B2	Methods and apparatus for 3D route planning through hollow organs Methods and apparatus assist in planning routes through hollow, branching organs in patients to optimize subsequent endoscopic procedures. Information is provided about the organ and a follow-on endoscopic procedure associated with the organ. The most appropriate navigable route or routes to a target region of interest (ROI) within the organ are then identified given anatomical, endoscopic-device, or procedure-specific constraints derived from the information provided. The method may include the step of modifying the viewing direction at each site along a route to give physically meaningful navigation directions or to reflect the requirements of a follow-on live endoscopic procedure. An existing route may further be extended, if necessary, to an ROI beyond the organ. The information provided may include anatomical constraints that define locations or organs to avoid; anatomical constraints that confine the route within specific geometric locations; or a metric for selecting the most appropriate route. For example, the metric may define the closest route to the ROI such that the route satisfies all applicable anatomical, device, and procedural constraints.
US09675409B2	Surgical apparatus with expandable structure and electrode for treating body tissue Systems and methods are provided for positioning and stabilizing an external instrument during insertion of the instrument through the oral cavity (e.g., insertion of a catheter through the oral cavity and into the esophagus or cardia for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)). The systems and methods provide a gripping tool for association with a bite block, capable of selectively moving between an open position in which the instrument may be inserted or removed, and a closed position in which the external instrument is held in a fixed position.
US09675406B2	Ablation device with guide sleeves An energy delivery device for treating a patient includes a probe body; a plurality of guide sleeves positioned inside the probe body and adapted to be deployed radially away from the probe body and into tissue of the patient; and a plurality of elongate electrode elements each adapted to receive electrical treatment energy from an energy source and adapted to be deployed into the tissue through a corresponding deployed guide sleeve. The guide sleeves provide a structural pathway for guiding the electrodes along their intended trajectory and for determining the angle of deployment of the electrodes relative to the longitudinal axis of the probe body.
US09675404B2	Systems and methods for treating tissue with radiofrequency energy A system for controlling operation of a radiofrequency treatment device to apply radiofrequency energy to tissue to treat tissue to create lesions without ablating the tissue. The system includes a device having flexible outer tube, an expandable basket having a plurality of arms movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, a plurality of electrodes movable from a retracted position to an extended position to extend through the openings in the arms, and an advancer slidably disposed within the outer tube to move the electrodes. An elongated spacer is positioned within the outer tube, the spacer having a central lumen to receive the advancer and to maintain a central position of the advancer.
US09675403B2	Graphical user interface for monitoring and controlling use of medical devices A device for treating a tissue region is supplied with a separate usage key card. The usage key card comprises a storage medium, which is formatted to contain an identification code unique to the usage key card. The usage key card is adapted to be read by a remote reader, to download the identification code for processing by a controller for the device. Processing of the identification code by the controller either enables or disables operation of the device according to prescribed criteria. A viewable image is generated on a display screen that changes in response to processing of the identification code.
US09675399B2	Patient specific implants and instrumentation for patellar prostheses Patient specific implants and instrumentation for replacing a portion of a patella. Methods for producing patient specific implants and instrumentation include conducting imaging studies of the patient's native patella, deriving measurements of the patella and surrounding soft tissues from the imaging studies, manufacturing customized implants and instrumentation specific to the derived measurements, and implanting a customized implant using the customized instrumentation. Patient specific instrumentation includes: a patellar clamp ring, an anterior clamp, a restraining arm, a posterior clamping surface, a dual bore reaming collet, a reamer, a reaming depth gauge, and a resection cutting guide. Patient specific portions of a patellar implant include: topography of the posterior articular surface, facet angle, shape and dimensions of the anterior attachment surface, implant length, implant width, implant thickness and the outer perimeter shape of the implant.
US09675398B2	Implant, method and tool for kyphoplasty An implant contains two end pieces disposed coaxially and at an axial distance, a cage, which connects the end pieces, and webs connecting the two end pieces. The two ends of each web are offset from each other by an equal initial angle in an initial state of the implant. The implant can be expanded by rotation of the end pieces in opposite directions about the center longitudinal axis. A tool for the implant has a handle and a main element with a receptacle for the implant and with two rotating devices, which act with a force fit on engaging elements of the implant and can be rotated oppositely in relation to each other.
US09675394B2	Systems and methods for the fixation or fusion of bone at or near a sacroiliac joint At least one bone fixation device comprising a stem having a maximum outer diameter is inserted into the sacroiliac joint through a minimally invasive incision path sized approximately at or about the maximum outer diameter of the stem in soft tissue, into the iliac bone, across the sacroiliac joint and into the sacrum. The stem is inserted through the incision path to a position within the sacroiliac joint between the iliac bone and the sacrum, to fuse the sacroiliac joint, without invasive joint preparation, removal of cartilage, or scraping at or near the sacroiliac joint. Desirably, at least a portion of the stem includes a surface permitting bony in-growth.
US09675392B2	Two-wire technique for installing hammertoe implant A method includes inserting a first surgical device into an exposed first end of a first bone until a trailing end of the first surgical device is disposed adjacent to the first end of the first bone. A second surgical device is inserted into an exposed first end of a second bone while the first surgical device remains disposed within the first bone. A first portion of an implant is advanced into the second bone while being engaged with a passageway defined by the implant such that the implant is guided by the second surgical device. The second surgical device is removed from the second bone and from its engagement with the implant. The first bone is repositioned such that the first surgical device is aligned with the passageway defined by the implant, and the first bone is forced into engagement with a second portion of the implant.
US09675391B2	Hammertoe implant with enhanced gripping surfaces An intramedullary fixation device used in bone fixation and stabilization on a patient includes a longitudinally extending rigid body, a distal head disposed at a distal end of the body and sized for insertion into an intramedullary canal of a phalanx of the patient, the distal head having a central core portion and a plurality of extending distal wings radially projecting from the central core portion. A proximal head at a proximal end of the body is sized for insertion into an intramedullary canal of a phalanx of the patient. It has a central core portion and a plurality of proximal wings extending radially outwardly from the central core portion.
US09675390B2	Composition, method and device for stabilizing implanted hydraulic devices Implanted hydraulic devices can be repaired and/or stabilized using a method wherein a fluid comprising a curable or solidifying component is introduced into said device and cured or solidified in said device. Embodiments of this method, as well as compositions and kits are disclosed.
US09675388B2	Spinous process fusion devices The present disclosure generally relates to a device for positioning and immobilizing at least two adjacent vertebrae. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the present disclosure relates to spinous process fusion devices that distract and immobilize the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae.
US09675386B2	Flexible fastening system A flexible implant system includes a flexible implant, an implant housing, and an implant set screw. The flexible implant is configured to loop around a portion of a bony element. The implant housing includes a housing body defining a rod passage configured to receive an rod. The housing body also defines an implant passage that receives a portion of the flexible implant. The implant set screw engages the flexible implant within the implant passage to fix the flexible implant to the implant housing.
US09675385B2	Spinous process staple with interdigitating-interlocking hemi-spacers for adjacent spinous process separation and distraction A Spinous Process (SP) staple including a top claw, a bottom claw, a staple pin pivotally connecting the top claw and the bottom claw, a ratchet mechanism that limits an opening force of the top claw with respect to the bottom claw, a first hemi-spacer positioned on the top claw and a second hemi-spacer positioned on the bottom claw. Upon the stapling of two adjacent spinous processes, the SP staple claws approximate, and the first and second hemi-spacers interdigitate, interlock, and unite to become a single interspinous process spacer which can be wedged between two adjacent spinous processes. Adjacent spinous process separation and/or distraction leading to spinal canal decompression and alleviation of the symptoms of spinal stenosis are accomplished.
US09675383B2	Articulation apparatus for external fixation device An articulation element consisting of a plurality of adjustable jaw pairs for the purposes of fixating the relative position of coupled bars and/or bone pins of an external bone fixator. Each of the adjustable jaws consists of a pair of hemispherical jaw elements contained within a spherical housing. A passage is eccentrically arranged through the jaw elements to accept the pin or bar. The jaw elements have interposed between them a spring element that serves to bias the jaw elements in the closed position. Pins serve to provisionally lock the jaw elements in the closed position. Spring loaded buttons act to release the pins thereby allowing the jaw elements to open accepting the pin or bar. The jaws are attached in a back to back fashion through the use of a threaded collar which acts as a turnbuckle pulling the jaws together when tightened.
US09675379B2	Arthroscopic flexible portal cannula device and delivery system A flexible cannula device and delivery system for use in arthroscopic surgery. The delivery system engages the flexible cannula from the inside near the distal tip and pushes it into the surgical portal, essentially pulling the proximal portion of the cannula from the distal tip while being pushed from the proximal end with the specialized driver. The delivery system provides for single point engagement at the distal tip as well as a multiplicity of engagement points along the length of the system.
US09675372B2	Motor-driven surgical cutting instrument with electric actuator directional control assembly A motor-driven surgical instrument that may comprise (i) a moveable drive member that is driven in a first direction when the electric motor operates in a first direction and that is driven in a second direction when the electric motor operates in a second direction. Movement of the drive member causes movement of the moveable component of the end effector, and (ii) a motor control circuit connected to the motor for controlling the motor. The motor control circuit may comprise a switching circuit that, upon actuation, reverses the direction of the motor from the first direction to the second direction. The switching circuit may be actuatable separately through each of: (i) actuation of a moveable actuator of the switching circuit through movement of the drive member at least in the first direction; and (ii) manual actuation by a user of the surgical instrument.
US09675369B2	Multi-functional medical device An embodiment of a medical device includes a proximal handle, a distal end effector, an elongate member connecting the end effector to the handle, and a sheath enclosing at least a portion of the elongate member. The handle may include a first mechanism coupled to one of the sheath and the elongate member to move the sheath relative to the elongate member, a second mechanism coupled to the elongate member to rotate the elongate member relative to the handle, and a locking mechanism coupled to the first mechanism to hold the first mechanism in a default position. Embodiments also include methods of positioning the medical device to perform a medical procedure.
US09675366B2	Multiple portal guide The present disclosure relates to a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes a guide having a body having a first set of marks and a joint including at least one through hole, the joint configured for sliding along the length of the body; and a first surgical device having a second set of marks, wherein the guide is coupled to the first surgical device and a longitudinal axis of the through hole is co-radial with a mark of the second set of marks when the joint is located at a mark of the first set of marks. Other guides are also disclosed.
US09675365B2	System and method for anterior approach for installing tibial stem A method includes inserting a guide mount into a space between a talus and a tibia until a mating portion having a conformal bone engaging surface is disposed against the tibia. An instrument guide is into a cavity defined by the guide mount such that an opening defined by a superior wall of the instrument guide aligns with an opening defined by a superior wall of the guide mount. A reamer head disposed within the opening defined by the instrument guide is connected to a flexible reamer shaft that is received within a passageway defined by the instrument guide. The talus is reamed with the reamer head driven by the flexible reamer shaft.
US09675362B2	Device for haemostatic control of a blood flow Device for haemostatic control of a blood flow, comprising a suction cup which provides leaktight coverage and is able to surround and be applied tightly to a tissue area (2) that is to be treated, said tissue area (2) being the site of a haemorrhage or of a blood flow that is to be controlled, this suction cup (3) coming into contact with the periphery of the tissue area and delimiting an internal volume (8) which is connected in a leaktight manner, by a catheter or a similar connecting tube (7), to an external aspiration element that establishes a vacuum, so as to create an underpressure of defined value within this volume between the suction cup and the tissue area, the suction cup (3) having the general shape of a dome (4), of which the base (5) supports an inner bearing element (11) that can be arranged opposite the tissue area (2) under the suction cup (3). The invention lies in the inner bearing element being formed by a solid obturator (11) or an open grill (13).
US09675356B2	Pin locking mechanism for a surgical instrument A surgical instrument comprising a handle portion, an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from the handle portion, and first and second jaw members dimensioned to clamp tissue therebetween. The first jaw member has at least one row of fasteners arranged in a row substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. A pin is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first jaw member and is movable between a first position where the engagement section is spaced from the second jaw member and a second position where the engagement section engages the second jaw member. The pin has a non-circular cross-section.
US09675351B2	Buttress release from surgical stapler by knife pushing A surgical stapling apparatus including a releasable buttress material includes a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, a knife, and a buttress material. The cartridge assembly includes a plurality of staples and a tissue contacting surface defining staple retaining slots. The anvil assembly includes a tissue contacting surface defining staple pockets for forming staples expelled from the staple retaining slots of the cartridge assembly. The knife is disposed within a knife slot formed in the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge assembly. The buttress material includes at least one weld joining the buttress material to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge assembly. The at least one weld is positioned across the knife slot.
US09675350B2	Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staples sizes A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
US09675346B2	Methods and apparatus for fixing sheet-like materials to a target tissue A staple for attaching a sheet-like implant to tissue or bone may include first and second arms, and first and second flukes. In some embodiments, the first arm has a proximal end and a distal end, and the second arm has a proximal end and a distal end. A bridge extends from the proximal end of the first arm to the proximal end of the second arm. The first fluke has a proximal end abutting the distal end of the first arm, and the first fluke extends distally from the first arm. The first fluke has a lateral extent larger than a lateral extent of the first arm and is mounted eccentrically thereto. The first fluke includes a proximal surface projecting at an outward angle in a proximal direction away from the distal end of the first arm to engage the tissue or bone when inserted therein. The second fluke has similar features. This arrangement causes the first and second flukes to rotate in response to a pullout force on the bridge. Methods for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue are also disclosed.
US09675342B2	Devices, systems, and methods for wound closure A wound closure device includes a shaft, a sleeve, a suture, and a cartridge. The sleeve is disposed about the shaft and defines first and second sleeve arms movable between a retracted position, wherein the sleeve arms extend along the shaft, and a deployed position, wherein the sleeve arms extend outwardly from the shaft. The cartridge includes a base and first and second cartridge arms. The base is configured for releasable coupling with the shaft and defining a pocket configured to retain an intermediate portion of the suture. The first and second cartridge arms are configured for positioning adjacent the respective first and second sleeve arms and are configured to move in conjunction with the respective first and second sleeve arms between the retracted and deployed positions. The first and second cartridge arms are configured to retain first and second ends of the suture, respectively.
US09675334B2	Surgical dilator, retractor and mounting pad A retractor having an elongate body that provides access to a surgical location within a patient. The elongate body includes a plurality of segments that are connected to one another through a plurality of ratcheting mechanisms. The ratcheting mechanisms permit relative movement of the segments with respect to one another when expander dilators are inserted within the retractor. The segments are surrounded and retained by a resilient elastomeric sleeve or bands. The distal end surfaces of the segments include thin edges that are configured to mobilize, dissect, split and retract the terminal tissues in the surgical area. The retractor is used in conjunction with a resilient elastomeric pad that is affixed to the patient and firmly engages the outer surface of the elongate body to thereby anchor the retractor to the patient. A separate anchoring device can be used to connect the retractor to the pad.
US09675333B2	Cannula with flexible holder and methods of use A surgical instrument includes a first member defining a passageway defining a first axis. A second member is positioned in the passageway and includes a lip extending at an angle relative to a second axis defined by the second member that engages a flange of the first member. A third member engages an outer surface of the first member. The third member includes an end surface. A fourth member defines a pathway having the first and second members disposed therein. The fourth member includes a first locking element. A fifth member includes a body including an inner surface that engages the third member. The fifth member includes a plurality of straps extending outwardly from the body. At least one of the straps includes a second locking element that engages the first locking element to fix the fourth member relative to the fifth member. Systems and methods are disclosed.
US09675329B2	Endoscopic surgical instrument An articulating surgical instrument includes a case having a trigger handle, a sheath coupled to the case, a flexible bending section coupled to the sheath, an end effector removably attachable to the bending section, a set of cables that control position of the bending section, at least two motors coupled to the cables, and a user control module configured to control position of the bending section and the end effector. The instrument further includes a pushrod disposed within the sheath and within the bending section that is configured for axial motion relative to the sheath and the bending section and rotational motion within the sheath and the bending section. The pushrod is coupled to the trigger handle and removably coupled to the end effector, so that rotational motion of the pushrod effectuates rotation of the end effector and axial motion of the pushrod is controllable by the trigger handle.
US09675325B2	IVUS system with rotary capacitive coupling An imaging system comprises a catheter having a lumen, a rotatable imaging probe within the catheter lumen including a distal transducer and first and second conductors coupled to the transducer, and a coupler that couples the rotatable first and second conductors to non-rotatable third and fourth conductors, respectively. The coupler includes a rotary capacitive coupler.
US09675321B2	Ultrasonographic systems and methods for examining and treating spinal conditions Methods for assessing spinal health and treatment effectiveness for spinal conditions in a patient via use of an ultrasonagraphic system are shown and described. The ultrasonagraphic system includes optical targets, a transducer probe, an optical tracker unit, an image processing system, a 3D ultrasound processor, and a display. The methods include attaching optical targets to the patient's body; detecting locations of the optical targets on the patient; detecting a location of the transducer probe; moving the transducer probe over at least a portion of the patient's body to collect spinal image data; generating 3D image data; sending 3D image data to the image processing system; processing 3D image data; displaying a real-time 3D image of the one or more vertebrae on the display to allow a healthcare provider to assess spinal health and treatment effectiveness based on the displayed real-time 3D image.
US09675318B2	Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, method of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic wave, and program for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic wave An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes plural ultrasound transducers which perform transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves toward a target site of a subject containing a puncture needle. A method of transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave uses the ultrasound transducers. The apparatus and the method form an ultrasonic beam to be transmitted from a transmit aperture set on the ultrasound transducers, acquire information relating to a specular-reflective component of the ultrasonic beam in the puncture needle, set a first receive aperture different from the transmit aperture set on the ultrasound transducers on the basis of the information relating to the specular-reflective component of the ultrasonic beam, and process an ultrasonic echo signal received by the ultrasound transducers using the first receive aperture.
US09675314B2	Method of testing waterproof performance of radiological imaging apparatus, and radiological imaging apparatus A method of testing waterproof performance of a radiological imaging apparatus including: a sensor panel including a plurality of radiation detecting elements two-dimensionally arranged; a housing containing the sensor panel; and an air pressure measuring unit configured to measure an air pressure in the housing having a vent hole allowing the air to flow into and out of the housing, includes: a load application step of continuing to apply a load to the housing; an air pressure measurement step of measuring the air pressure in the housing with the air pressure measuring unit, the air pressure changing while the load is being applied to the housing; and a waterproof performance determination step of determining whether the waterproof performance of the radiological imaging apparatus is normal based on a pattern of change in the measured air pressure in the housing.
US09675313B2	Method for densitometric analysis of computed tomography image A method for densitometric analysis of a computed tomography image is provided. The method includes converting CT numbers of each pixel of a cross-sectional computed tomography image of the brain into Hounsfield unit (HU) values; eliminating an artifact from the computed tomography image of which the CT numbers of each pixel have been converted into the HU values, and extracting the brain tissues; and extracting a density distribution of the HU values from the computed tomography image, in which the artifact has been removed and the brain tissues have been extracted.
US09675312B2	Apparatus for carrying out an examination and biopsy on the breast of a patient An apparatus for carrying out an examination on the breast of a patient, includes an analysis head including at least one radiation detection device, configured to receive and detect radiation on a detection plane and at least one X-ray source to emit a corresponding beam of X-rays towards the detection plane. A first frame is provided with a floor support; a second frame supports the analysis head; and a third frame is connected to the first frame so that it can be moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and which supports the second frame. A movement mechanism moves the third frame from the horizontal position to the vertical position.
US09675311B2	Follow up image acquisition planning and/or post processing A method includes planning a follow up three dimensional image acquisition of tissue of interest of a patient based on first and second two dimensional surview projection images, wherein the first two dimensional surview projection image was used to plan a previously performed baseline three dimensional image acquisition of the tissue of interest of the patient, wherein the first two dimensional surview projection image includes information corresponding to at least one region of interest identified in the first two dimensional surview projection image for the previously performed baseline three dimensional image acquisition, wherein the first two dimensional surview projection image includes information corresponding to a z-axis scanning extent identified in the first two dimensional surview projection image for the previously performed baseline three dimensional baseline image acquisition, and wherein the second two dimensional surview projection image was acquired for planning the follow up three dimensional image acquisition.
US09675310B2	Regression for periodic phase-dependent modeling in angiography A periodic time-varying model of a guide wire, other device, or vessel is created from higher contrast CINE acquisition. A multivariate curve regression is used for periodic, phase dependent motion modeling. This model is then used to locate or track the guide wire, other device or vessel in lower contrast fluoroscopy images during intervention.
US09675308B2	Radiography system and moving method thereof A radiography system is provided. The radiography system includes a radiographic device arranged in a movable manner, a measuring device to measure at least one of external force and torque applied to the radiographic device, and a drive device to move the radiographic device based on a direction and magnitude of the at least one of the force and torque measured by the measuring device.
US09675303B2	Visualization systems, instruments and methods of using the same in spinal decompression procedures A method for positioning a treatment instrument in a subject involves positioning a tissue protector of a visualization instrument in an epidural space of the subject. The tissue protector is viewed and positioned in the epidural space using fluoroscopy. A treatment instrument between a first vertebra and a second vertebra and while viewing the tissue protector positioned in the epidural space. A decompression procedure is performed using the treatment instrument.
US09675302B2	Prolapse detection and tool dislodgement detection A tool dislodgement detection apparatus includes an MPS outputting position and orientation (P&O) readings for determining tool motion. A control generates an alarm based on the tool motion and dislodgement criteria. The criteria includes whether the tool motion meets a condition based on the type of medical procedure or tool, the tool parking position, a patient characteristic (e.g., age, weight, gender) or a physician preference. The criteria includes when the correlation between the tool motion and the cardiac, respiration and patient motion changes abruptly. In a prolapse detection apparatus, guidewire tip P&O readings determine a tip motion vector. The control generates an alarm using the motion vector and predetermined criteria. The criteria include a substantial change in the tip orientation not accompanied by a corresponding position change and a change in the motion vector by about 180° accompanied by a corresponding position change no greater than a threshold.
US09675301B2	Systems and methods for numerically evaluating vasculature Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a cardiovascular score for a patient. A method includes receiving, using at least one computer system, patient-specific data regarding a geometry of multiple coronary arteries of the patient; and creating, using at least one computer system, a three-dimensional model representing at least portions of the multiple coronary arteries based on the patient-specific data. The method also includes evaluating, using at least one computer system, multiple characteristics of at least some of the coronary arteries represented by the model; and generating, using at least one computer system, the cardiovascular score based on the evaluation of the multiple characteristics. Another method includes generating the cardiovascular score based on evaluated multiple characteristics for portions of the coronary arteries having fractional flow reserve values of at least a predetermined threshold value.
US09675296B1	Pulsatile venous blood stoppage for analyte detection A wearable device includes a mount configured to mount the wearable device to an external body surface proximate to a vessel, a downstream clamp configured to apply a force to the vessel sufficient to inhibit a flow of fluid through the vessel beyond the downstream clamp, and an upstream clamp, positioned upstream of the downstream clamp, configured to apply a force to the vessel sufficient to accelerate a volume of fluid in a downstream direction with respect to a direction of fluid flow through the vessel. A detector may also be provided for detecting a response signal transmitted from a probe region of the vessel positioned upstream of the first clamp. The response signal is related to the presence or absence of one or more target analytes in the vessel.
US09675293B2	Image analyzing device, image analyzing method, and computer program product According to an embodiment, an image analyzing device includes a first acquirer, a constructor, a first calculator, a second calculator, and a third calculator. The first acquirer is configured to acquire image information on a joint of a subject and bones connected to the joint. The constructor is configured to construct a three-dimensional shape of the bones and the joint, and relation characteristics between a load and deformation in the bones and the joint from the image information. The first calculator is configured to calculate a positional relation between the bones connected to the joint. The second calculator is configured to calculate acting force of a muscle acting on the bones connected to the joint based on the positional relation. The third calculator is configured to calculate first stress acting on the joint based on the three-dimensional shape, the relation characteristics, and the acting force.
US09675291B2	Modifying a psychophysiological state of a subject An apparatus and method for modifying a psychophysiological state of a subject include detecting a psychophysiological measure of the subject; processing the detected physiological measure so as to provide a signal indicative of a psychophysiological state of the subject; and outputting at least one of an audio stimulus, visual stimulus, haptic stimulus, temperature stimulus and scent stimulus to the subject. The output stimulus may be derived from an audio-visual data signal provided to the apparatus. Further, the output stimulus is adjusting in real time based on the signal indicative of a psychophysiological state of the subject.
US09675278B2	Body rehabilitation sensing method based on a mobile communication device and a system thereof The present disclosure provides a body rehabilitation sensing method based on a mobile communication device. The method comprises placing the mobile communication device at a specific portion of the limb of a user; a sensing module of the mobile communication device sensing the acceleration of the mobile communication device for generating an acceleration information; the mobile communication device transmitting the acceleration information to a remote server through a wireless network module; a computing module of the remote server analyzing the acceleration information and comparing the similarity of the acceleration information and a standard movement information; and the remote server transmitting the compare result of the similarity of the acceleration information and the standard movement information to the mobile communication device through the wireless network module. Accordingly, the user of the mobile communication device can acquire correctness of rehabilitation movements.
US09675274B2	Systems and methods for determining respiration information from a photoplethysmograph A patient monitoring system may receive a photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal including samples of a pulse waveform. The PPG signal may demonstrate morphology changes based on respiration. The system may calculate morphology metrics from the PPG signal, the first derivative of the PPG signal, the second derivative of the PPG signal, or any combination thereof. The morphology metrics may demonstrate amplitude modulation, baseline modulation, and frequency modulation of the PPG signal that is related to respiration. Morphology metric signals generated from the morphology metrics may be used to determine respiration information such as respiration rate.
US09675266B2	System and method for diagnosing arrhythmias and directing catheter therapies An efficient system for diagnosing arrhythmias and directing catheter therapies may allow for measuring, classifying, analyzing, and mapping spatial electrophysiological (EP) patterns within a body. The efficient system may further guide arrhythmia therapy and update maps as treatment is delivered. The efficient system may use a medical device having a high density of sensors with a known spatial configuration for collecting EP data and positioning data. Further, the efficient system may also use an electronic control system (ECU) for computing and providing the user with a variety of metrics, derivative metrics, high definition (HD) maps, HD composite maps, and general visual aids for association with a geometrical anatomical model shown on a display device.
US09675248B2	Method and apparatus for fixation measurement and refraction error measurement using wave-front error A method and apparatus for fixation measurement includes projecting, by an image projector, a stimulus onto one or more eyes of a patient via a beam splitter, and capturing, by one or more image sensing devices disposed conjugate to the one or more eyes, a reflected image including light reflected from the one or more eyes in response to the stimulus, the reflected image including information indicating the fixation of the one or more eyes.
US09675245B2	Method and device for determining the eye torsion The invention relates to a device for determining eye torsion, comprising a camera and an image processing unit, which is designed to carry out a method for determining eye torsion. In the method, at least two images of an eye are recorded and image data are produced from said images, and at least one characteristic feature of the eye is identified from the image data, for example a blood vessel. Direction histograms of the feature in both images are produced and compared with each other. The angle of the torsion of the eye is determined from the shift of the directions in the direction histograms.
US09675244B1	Location indicator for optical coherence tomography in ophthalmic visualization An ophthalmic visualization system can include a computing device in communication with an OCT system configured to scan a surgical field to generate an OCT image. The computing device can be configured to determine locations within the surgical field corresponding to locations within the OCT image. The ophthalmic visualization system can also include an indicator mechanism in communication with the computing device and a surgical microscope configured to image the surgical field. The indicator mechanism can be configured to cause a location indicator to be positioned within a field of view of the surgical microscope. The location indicator can graphically represent the locations within the surgical field corresponding to the locations within the OCT image.
US09675241B2	Ophthalmic examination apparatus and ophthalmic examination system According to one embodiment, an ophthalmic examination apparatus includes an examination unit and an analyzer. The examination unit is used to optically examine a subject's eye. The analyzer is configured to analyze examination data obtained by the examination unit, and thereby generate risk information indicating the risk of a specific disease.
US09675239B2	Endoscope system An endoscope system includes: an insertion portion insertable into a body cavity of a subject; an illumination fiber guiding light caused to be incident on a proximal-end-side end face, to a distal-end-side end face; a light-receiving fiber group guiding light from the subject and emitting the light; a light source portion generating illuminating light; a light detecting portion; a first optical unit capable of changing an optical path of the illuminating light caused to be incident on the proximal-end-side end face of the illumination fiber; a second optical unit capable of changing the optical path for the illuminating light changed by the first optical unit and causing the illuminating light to be incident on the light-receiving fiber group; and a control portion performing control of whether or not to change the optical path in the first optical unit and the second optical unit.
US09675237B2	Illuminating balloon catheter and method for using the catheter To perform pelvic surgery, a directionally illuminating balloon catheter enters a bladder. The catheter has a multi-lumen shaft. The balloon defines an interior fluidically connected to a balloon inflation lumen and is inflated therethrough. The balloon comprises a light source, a light-radiating surface adjacent the shaft-balloon junction, and a substantially opaque surface disposed at a portion of the balloon other than the light-radiating surface such that the integrated light source illuminates a distal half of the environment outside the balloon. The balloon is inflated while in the bladder. Light from the light source is directed out through the light-radiating surface to illuminate at least a portion of a procedure area opposite the bladder-prostate junction. With the light illuminating the portion of the procedure area, at least a portion of a pelvic surgery is performed at the portion of the procedure area.
US09675234B2	Medical apparatus A sealability acquiring mechanism disposed in a medical apparatus has a raising base unit constituted of a raising base operating mechanism, a raising tube path portion, a guide tube and a raising base. In the raising tube path portion, there is disposed a sealing member that is water-tightly or air-tightly fixed to a wire fixing portion to be connected to a raising wire inserted into an outer peripheral member and the outer peripheral member, a fluid supplied from an opening of the outer peripheral member flows between an inner peripheral surface of a raising tube path and an outer peripheral surface of the sealing member, and the raising base operating mechanism is water-tightly or air-tightly separated from the raising tube path.
US09675231B2	Door assembly for a dishwasher A dishwasher includes a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to a cycle of operation and a door assembly selectively moveable to close an access opening to the treating chamber, the door assembly comprising a window assembly comprising first and second spaced window panes defining an intervening vacuum sealed chamber, a window assembly support frame provided on the door panel, and a seal provided between the window assembly support frame and the first and second panes and encapsulated by the window assembly support frame.
US09675229B2	Robot cleaner and method for controlling the same A robot cleaner includes a traveling unit to move a main body, an obstacle sensing unit to sense an obstacle, a light reception unit to receive modulated light according to a control command of a user, and a controller to control the traveling unit so that the main body traces a light spot formed by the light. If an obstacle is detected, the controller controls the traveling unit such that the main body traces an outline of the obstacle according to the light spot position and the obstacle position.
US09675228B2	Floor cleaning apparatus A floor cleaning apparatus is provided, including a dirt collection device for picking up dirty liquid from a floor surface to be cleaned as well as a dirty liquid tank, into which the dirty liquid can be transferred. In order to provide a floor cleaning apparatus of this type, which can be handled in a more user-friendly manner, it is proposed that the floor cleaning apparatus has a tank rinsing mechanism with at least one rinsing line, which includes at least one inlet opening for rinsing liquid, which can be provided for the tank rinsing mechanism, as well as at least one outlet opening for delivering rinsing liquid into an interior of the dirty liquid tank.
US09675218B2	Supporter and vacuum cleaner having the same A supporter and a vacuum cleaner having the same are provided. The supporter includes: a suction channel portion that includes one end removably connected with a vacuum cleaning unit and the other end connected with a suction nozzle, thereby guiding dirt drawn in through the suction nozzle to the vacuum cleaning unit; an accessory that is received in a receiving recess formed on one side of the suction channel portion; a hinge portion that is disposed in the suction channel portion and supports the accessory to pivot by a predetermined angle; and an unlocking portion that is disposed in the suction channel portion to lock and unlock the accessory with respect to the receiving recess.
US09675210B2	Flatbread toaster A flatbread toaster is an apparatus that is utilized to toast flatbread. Flatbreads of various sizes are toasted within a plurality of toasting slot assemblies. The flatbread toaster features an expandable slot assembly that is capable of accommodating and cooking additional types and sizes of food as well. The expandable slot assembly includes a translating wall that may be moved in order to adjust the size of the expandable slot assembly. The flatbread toaster is regulated through a plurality of physical inputs located on a control panel that allows the user to provide commands. User commands provided through the plurality of physical inputs are processed by a computing unit. Heat is provided to cook food via a plurality of heating elements within each of the plurality of toasting slot assemblies and a first heating element and a second heating element within the expandable slot assembly.
US09675209B2	Grill oiling apparatus A grill oiling apparatus includes a handle having a first end and a second end distal from the first end, a head disposed at the second end of the handle, a container, a fluid applicator coupled to the head, and a fluid release mechanism. The head has a receptacle defined therein. The container is disposed within the receptacle, and has a fluid reservoir defined therein. A valve is configured to control fluid flow out of the fluid reservoir. The fluid applicator includes a plurality of apertures defined therein. The fluid release mechanism is operably coupled to the valve and is configured to actuate the valve between a closed position and an open position to provide fluid communication between the fluid reservoir and the apertures.
US09675208B2	Universal crossover channel for gas grills A universal crossover channel that is adapted for use in a wide array of grills. The universal crossover includes a telescopic slide feature that allows it to be extended or shortened and brackets that can be moved both vertically and horizontally to adjust the positioning of the universal crossover channel within the grill's firebox.
US09675207B2	Automatic doner kebab slicing machine A doner kebab rotisserie enables the meat of chicken or doner kebab to be formed, cooked and sliced, and where the formed meats are positioned, a circular knife located in the cutting unit and enabling the doner kebab to be sliced by rotating, and a doner kebab burner including a burner wing used while cooking the kebab and providing heat for the desired area of doner kebab. Specifically, an automatic doner kebab slicing machine disclosed includes a doner kebab follow-up apparatus, the position of the upper section of which does not change when it performs rotating motion in accordance with the circular knife and which enables slicing of the doner kebab at fixed thickness and enables the angular change to be construed by an electronic system by transferring angular change to the bearing during the doner kebab surface follow-up via doner kebab follow-up apparatus bearing where it is positioned.
US09675204B2	Beverage machine for different spatial environments A beverage preparation machine (1) comprising: a body (2) having one or more outer faces (21,22) and a beverage outlet for delivering a beverage on a beverage dispensing area (27); and a module (3) operatively connected to the body adjacent to one of said one or more outer faces. The module is movable into a plurality of different operative connection positions along said one or more outer faces of the body.
US09675202B2	Pivotally closing beverage ingredient holder with piercer A receptacle holding unit (1) for a device for preparing a beverage from an ingredient contained in a receptacle (2) comprises: —a first part (10) with a first engagement arrangement (11); —a second part (20) that has a second engagement arrangement (21) pivotally movable relative to the first engagement arrangement (11) about a longitudinal axis (1′) between a closed position for holding the receptacle in such unit and an open position for inserting the receptacle into such unit and/or for removal therefrom; and —a piercing device (20C) having at least one piercing element (29) for piercing the receptacle (2), this device being assembled to and held by the second part. At least one piercing element (29) is off this axis (1′) and is angularly fixed relative to the first part (10) about this axis (1′) when the second engagement arrangement (21) is pivotally moved relative to the first engagement arrangement (11) about this axis (1′) between the closed and open positions.
US09675201B2	System and method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage A system for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage comprises an exchangeable capsule and a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of fluid to the exchangeable capsule, a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and an outlet arrangement for supplying the beverage to a container, such as a cup. The capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom, a lid, an entrance area and a closed exit area. The circumferential wall, the bottom and the lid enclose an inner space that comprises an extractable product. The fluid dispensing device supplies fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage. In use, the outlet arrangement is in fluid communication with the exit area for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule. The capsule further comprises an opening element through the closed exit area for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule.
US09675198B1	Outdoor seafood boiling apparatus An outdoor food frying apparatus includes a frame having a pot support, a burner element supported upon the frame, and a pot that removably fits the frame. The pot has end walls, a rear wall, a front edge portion, and a bottom wall that gradually increases in curvature from said rear wall to said front edge portion. A basket is pivotally attached to the pot rear wall with one or more hinges. The basket is correspondingly sized and shaped to fit the pot interior. The basket is movable about the hinge between cooking and food discharge positions. The lid is pivotally attached to the pot. The lid is movable between a cooking position wherein the lid covers the pot upper opening and food discharge position wherein the lid rotates at least 180 degrees from said cooking position, forming a tray for receiving food discharged from the basket.
US09675197B2	Steam cooker A steam cooker having a lower part, which has raised side walls, wherein the sides walls include two long and two short sides, and which has handles attached to the opposite long side walls so as to be diametrically offset relative to each other, and including a lid, which has a frame, a lid body, a lid handle, and a plurality of openings for pressure equalization, and at least one steam cooking insert to be inserted into the lower part, wherein the steam cooking insert is provided with through-holes for steam to flow through and with handles arranged at an offset.
US09675195B1	Mailbox insert A mailbox insert to prevent mail from contacting pooling water in a mailbox, includes: a front section, including a slanted portion, a front support which is connected to the slanted portion, a middle support, and a front lateral adjustment component; and a rear section, including a rear support which is connected to a rear end of the rear section, at least one side hook, and a rear lateral adjustment component; wherein the front section is configured to be insertable into the at least one side hook such that the front section is slidably coupled to the rear section, whereby the mailbox insert is configured to allow a user to change a length of the mailbox insert; and wherein the front lateral adjustment component and the rear lateral adjustment component are configured to expand and contract laterally, whereby the mailbox insert is configured to allow a user to change a width of the mailbox insert.
US09675193B1	Compression sock-donning aid The compression sock-donning aid includes an annular member from which a fixed handle extends radially. An actuator handle extends radially from the annular member. Moreover, the actuator handle is able to rotate with respect to the annular member and the fixed handle. The actuator handle is in mechanical connection with a plurality of fingers provided within a central hole of the annular member. Each of the plurality of fingers is able to extend inwardly or retract outwardly with respect to a central point. Rotation of the actuator handle extends or retracts the plurality of fingers. The plurality of fingers is adapted to engage a compression sock so as to aid in opening up said compression sock during the donning process whereby a user inserts a limb into said compression sock.
US09675191B2	Stopper for beverage container A stopper for a beverage container is described. The stopper includes a stopper main body that is attached to an upper opening of a beverage container main body and includes a liquid through hole on the inside thereof; and a lid that is axially supported by a hinge shaft that is provided at an end of the stopper main body, and which opens and closes the liquid through hole in a rotational manner; the hinge shaft connects a hinge portion of the stopper main body, and right and left hinge portions of the lid; a storage portion is provided on at least one of the right and left hinge portions of the lid, and the hinge portion of the stopper main body; at least one end of the storage portion in the axis direction of the hinge shaft forms an opening; and a torsion spring is stored in the storage portion, and a cover member covers the opening of the storage portion.
US09675187B2	Shoe display/storage device A rotatable device for displaying and storing shoes or other items of interest is provided. The device includes a base, a vertical column, and a housing that is attached to the column, with openings for suspension of shoes or other items on the outside of the housing. Alternatively, the display device may be in the form of a display board that is attached to a frame.
US09675182B2	Bi-axially collapsible frame for a bassinet A foldable frame comprises opposing pairs of side and end frame members joined at respective ends to define a generally rectangular and planar frame perimeter. The end members and the side members are generally movable between folded and unfolded positions. The end members are spaced-apart along a longitudinal axis of the frame. The side frame members extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis to define a frame length. Pivoting connections enable the end members and the side frame members to pivot, each member having a pivot connection at each end thereof. Pivoting of a respective end or side member is permitted when the frame is configured to align the respective end pivots, but is inhibited when the frame is configured to move the respective end pivots out of alignment. The respective pivot axes of the end and side members are generally perpendicular oriented and define a folding and unfolding sequence.
US09675180B2	Portable solar powered heated seat cushion A portable solar powered heated seat cushion wherein the solar cell supplies energy to a heating element inserted into a portable seat cushion to create a heated seat cushion that can be used in the outdoors, especially for use in hunting, fishing and camping and that can be fitted onto existing seats or surfaces.
US09675175B1	Slide rail assembly A slide rail assembly includes a front bracket with an opening, a first rail movably connected to the front bracket and having a stop, a buffer member fixed on the first rail and located in the opening, a second rail displaceable with respect to the first rail, and an engaging member provided on the second rail and corresponding to the stop. When the second rail is displaced from a first to a second extended position with respect to the first rail, the engaging member is pushed against the stop, generating an impact force and displacing the first rail from a first to a second position with respect to the front bracket. The buffer member absorbs the impact force by hitting a wall of the opening.
US09675172B2	Medicine cabinet A medicine cabinet is disclosed that has electrical power. An internal raceway is provided to hide the electrical wiring for the cabinet, accommodate power cords of appliances powered by the cabinet, and to support shelving. A vertically movable front mirrored door can be raised to access the power supply and/or cabinet storage space.
US09675170B2	Telescopic column, preferably for furniture A telescopic lifting column (1) preferably for furniture, such as height adjustable tables and beds, and comprising at least two mutually telescopic members (2, 3, 4) and an electric drive unit (5, 10; 41, 42) for adjusting the telescopic members. The lifting column comprises a telescopic cable guiding device (22; 45, 58, 80, 103) for guiding at least one electric cable (29), where the telescopic cable guiding device extends between or in all essentials between the lower and upper end of the lifting column and is connected thereto so that the telescopic cable guiding device collaborates in the telescopic adjustment of the lifting column. Thus the cables may be guided in a protected manner.
US09675167B2	Multidimensional applicator An applicator, such as a brush or other device, for applying products to a surface, such as the skin of a person. The applicator includes a handle and a bristle tuft connected to the handle. The bristle tuft may include a plurality of contoured bristles that define multiple surfaces for applying products. For example, the bristle tuft may include a first angled surface extending upwards from a first side of the bristle tuft, a second angled surface extending upwards from a second side of the bristle tuft, and a ridge defined at an intersection of the first angled surface and the second angled surface.
US09675166B2	Ergonomic tablet computer holder An ergonomic tablet computer holder is removably attached to only one side of a tablet computer. The ergonomic tablet holder has a contoured profile to allow a user to comfortably hold the tablet computer with one hand. The ergonomic tablet holder has a base and a clip and is removably attached to the tablet computer by friction.
US09675165B2	Backpack frame device The backpack frame device includes back frames mutually spaced apart and connected, shoulder frames which include one ends coupled with the back frames and the other ends extending over shoulders of a user toward a rear of the waist of the user, supporting pads which are hinge-coupled with bottom ends of the back frames and include top ends opposite to the bottom ends and which are configured to support parts of the shoulder frames, shoulder mounted pads which are coupled with the shoulder frames and elastically pressurize both shoulders of the user, and a lumbar support which is coupled with the bottom ends of the shoulder frames and supports the rear of the waist of the user.
US09675161B2	Cosmetic product device comprising a transparent bottle and product The device comprises a container that is transparent, at least in part, and that contains a transparent cosmetic composition; a cap that is suitable for closing the container, preventing any of the composition from leaving the container; and an applicator that is fastened to the cap, and that includes at least one transparent portion that extends into the composition when the container is closed by the cap. The transparent portion of the applicator and the composition have respective refractive indices that present a difference that is less than or equal to 0.075, preferably less than or equal to 0.05, or even less than or equal to 0.03.
US09675160B2	Fixed quantity discharge device for liquid container The present disclosure relates to a fixed quantity discharge device for a liquid container, more specifically a fixed quantity discharge device for a liquid container which includes a contents suction tube extended into the inside of the container body for enabling a pipette tube to be inserted and drawn so as to make the lower end of the pipette tube be exposed to the contents, thus preventing contamination of the pipette tube, and a piston provided in the container body so as to rise as the contents are consumed, thus minimizing the residual contents in the container body.
US09675159B2	Drawing apparatus and control method of drawing apparatus According to one implementation, there is provided a drawing apparatus including a carriage, a cap member, and a holding/separating mechanism. The carriage holds a drawing tool including a tip. The cap member includes a tip receiving unit which covers and seals the tip. The holding/separating mechanism holds the tip of the drawing tool in a sealing state with the tip receiving unit when the drawing tool is placed in a standby position, and separates the tip of the drawing tool and the cap member from each other before starting the drawing. The holding/separating mechanism includes a move prevention member which is fixed to a certain position. The move prevention member comes into contact with the drawing tool so that the move prevention member prevents the drawing tool from moving in a direction that separates the tip from the cap member in the sealing state.
US09675157B2	Hand held appliance A hand held appliance, such as a hairdryer, includes a body, a fluid flow path extending through the body in an axial direction from a first fluid inlet through which a first fluid flow enters the appliance to a first fluid outlet for emitting the first fluid flow from the appliance, a primary fluid flow path extending from a second fluid inlet through which a primary fluid flow enters the appliance to a second fluid outlet, a section of the primary fluid flow path extending through the body in the axial direction and surrounding the fluid flow path, and a heater located within the section of the primary fluid flow path for heating fluid passing through the primary fluid flow path, and wherein the heater has a length extending in the axial direction.
US09675156B2	Hair dye mixing assembly A hair dye mixing assembly comprises a bowl comprising at least one arm and an opening and at least one support member arranged about said bowl, and attached to the bowl through the bowl arm. The support members can be immovably fixed to the bowl, movably connected to the bowl to move or rotate in different directions, or a combination thereof.
US09675150B2	Portable electronic device case having card storage compartment A case for a portable electronic device includes a card storage compartment for storing one or more cards, a cover for covering the card storage compartment, and a first card retaining means. The card storage compartment has a bottom surface and a side wall of first, second and third walls and the first card retaining means is formed on the first wall for retaining the one or more cards in the card storage compartment by exerting pressure on the one or more cards. There may be second and third card retaining means, and the third card retaining means helps retaining the one or more cards by exerting pressure on the card(s) against the cover.
US09675147B1	Case for electronic tablet A cover for a tablet computer incorporates a built-in stand, allowing viewing angles in portrait and landscape orientations. The cover includes a front cover that is connected to a back cover. In an implementation, the front cover has at least five fold lines formed in the cover. These fold lines meet at an intersection point. These fold lines are not parallel to any edges of the front cover. And these fold lines divide the front cover to have least three triangular sections.
US09675146B1	Free-standing support system The present disclosure relates generally to a free-standing support system and, more particularly, to a portable and adjustable free-standing support system for supporting an umbrella or the like. The stand includes at least one pole, a holding clamp connected to the at least one pole, and a base connected to the at least one pole. The base includes a hub, a plurality of legs pivotally connected to the hub, adjustment handle mechanisms connected to each of the respective legs structured to selectively lock each of the plurality of legs at a fixed position with respect to the hub, and a plurality of adjustable feet. Each the adjustable feet are connected to a respective one of the plurality of legs and include a first end including a head and a second end including a spike, wherein each of the adjustable feet rotate between a first position which has the spike in a stowed position within each of the plurality of legs and a second position, wherein the spike extending from each of the plurality of legs.
US09675144B2	Self-sealing fastener and garment This invention relates to a fastener assembly and garment comprising same having a first fastener tape and a second fastener tape, and a first edge and a second edge, the first edge having a row of cooperating fastener elements mounted thereon; wherein the second edge of each of the first and second fastener tapes is folded parallel to its row of cooperating fastener elements such that when the fastener is closed, and a meshed area of fastener elements from the first and second fastener tapes is formed, i) the second edges of each of the first and second fastener tapes overlap, ii) the second edge of the first fastener tape fully covers the meshed area of fastening elements, and iii) the overlap of the second edge of the first fastener tape by the second edge of the second fastener tape extends past the meshed area of fastening elements.
US09675141B2	Safety buckle device A safety buckle device includes a first buckle part having a partially closed space with an opening, and a second buckle part having a body, a guiding tongue, and a control key. When locking the safety buckle device, a springing detent is adapted to lock against a locking element. The control key has two recesses having different depths and arranged adjacent each other in the longitudinal direction of the control key. The detent achieves a first locking when the control key is actuated, and the detent achieves a second locking when the control key no longer is actuated, or the detent achieves a locking when the control key is not actuated. The detent is adapted to be released when the control key is actuated again, or when the control key is actuated.
US09675130B2	Shoe and method for manufacturing thereof A shoe including: a sock-shaped base member forming at least a portion of an upper; a reinforcement member made of a thermoplastic resin welded to side surfaces of the base member on a medial side and a lateral side of a foot; and a mid sole made of a thermoplastic resin welded to a bottom surface of the base member.
US09675122B2	Apparel incorporating a protective element Protective components may include a plate element and a cushioning element that are secured together with a hook-and-loop fastening system. The cushioning element may include a pair of material layers and a pad or a plurality of pad components located between the material layers. The plate element may include a polymer material and the pad may include a polymer foam material.
US09675119B2	Hosiery with foot cushions A hosiery product, such as a sock, footie, trouser sock or panty hose, includes and inner layer of hosiery material, such as nylon or spandex covering the bottom and top surfaces of the wearer's foot, and outer layer of similar hosiery material, and at least one cushion section disposed between the inner and outer layers. The cushion sections include an elevated cushioning material that conforms to the contours of the wearers foot, such as macro-gel activated support discs or memory foam. The ball of foot cushion sections are elevated attached circles, arch and heel cushions. All layers are attached.
US09675118B2	Electronic cigarette and atomizer assembly mounting base thereof The present invention provides an electronic cigarette and an atomizer assembly mounting base thereof. The atomizer assembly mounting base used for an electronic cigarette, includes an elastic body engaging with an inner sidewall of a housing of the electronic cigarette, and a rigid support for supporting an atomizer assembly of the electronic cigarette. The elastic body defines a first central hole, and the rigid support is inserted into the first central hole. By virtue of the combination of the elastic body and the rigid support, on one hand, two spaces divided by the atomizer assembly mounting base in the housing of the electronic cigarette are not isolated completely, on the other hand, the rigid support provides better support for the atomizer of the electronic cigarette.
US09675116B2	Electronic cigarette This present application discloses an electronic cigarette, comprising an atomizer and a battery rod, a connecting structure, and an elastic structure; the connecting structure includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member; the first connecting member is provided with at least one engaging portion, the second connecting member defines a butt-jointed groove, a wall of the butt-jointed groove extends away from a rabbet of the butt-jointed groove to form at least one channel structure, the channel includes an inserting guide channel, a taking-out guide channel, and a bending channel, and the bending channel forms a buckled portion; the elastic structure is configured for supplying elasticity towards the rabbet of the butt-jointed groove to the first connecting member, so that the engaging portion is engaged with the buckled portion. The non-threaded connecting structure is simple and is convenient to operate, which improves users' experience.
US09675112B2	Soft electronic cigarette This present invention relates to a soft electronic cigarette comprising an atomization component, a power component, and an outer sleeve configured for accommodating at least one of the atomization component and the power component; an outer side of one end of the outer sleeve is coaxially mounted with a filter tip structure, and the filter tip structure includes a cylindrical flexible body and a first sticker coated on an outer surface of the flexible body. The soft electronic cigarette in a mouth has the same feeling as a filter tip of a cigarette. The soft electronic cigarette can completely meet psychological and physiological needs of smokers, enhance user experience, and be beneficial for improving the effects of quitting smoking. In production, it is convenient for assembly and disassembly, an operation of the production is made to be simple, and the production efficiency is improved.
US09675107B2	Battery connector for electronic cigarette with side air intake A novel electronic cigarette battery male connector that can be retrofitted to existing female cartomizer connectors is described. An air intake path starts at the outer circumference of the connector between the battery and the cartomizer of the electronic cigarette, running inside a notch on the connector. The air is brought into the battery through grooves formed on the distal end of the connector. Once inside the battery, the air path loops around and exits the battery housing towards the cartomizer, via a hole along the central axis of connector. In accordance with the desired air-intake path, the notch is cut out on the side of connector at strategic location and with strategic geometry.
US09675106B2	Apparatuses for smoking from a glove A smoking glove includes a glove having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening located at a finger portion of the glove. The second opening is distal from the first opening at a distance of at least half a length of the finger portion of the glove. The smoking glove includes tubing, the tubing stretching from the first opening of the glove to the second opening of the glove. The tubing is located within the glove. The smoking glove includes a bowl located at a first end of the tubing.
US09675097B2	Shelf-stable, clear liquid nutritional compositions comprising epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and methods for preparing the same Disclosed herein are shelf-stable, clear liquid nutritional compositions having a pH ranging from 2.5 to 4.6 and comprising water; at least one source of EGCg in an amount sufficient to provide 200-1700 mg/L of EGCg; and at least one source of protein in an amount sufficient to provide 25-45 g/L of total protein. The shelf-stable, clear liquid nutritional compositions lose no more than 20% by weight solids of the EGCg content present in the initial formulation of the compositions to epimerization, degradation, or both epimerization and degradation during heat sterilization. In certain embodiments, the loss of EGCg is exhibited by the amount of epimerization product GCg present in the shelf-stable, clear liquid nutritional composition following heat sterilization. Methods for preparing the shelf-stable, clear liquid nutritional compositions are also disclosed herein.
US09675095B2	Process for seasoning reduced fat snacks A method for preparing a low-fat snack food fries the snack food, removes some of the oil accumulated by the frying, re-applies oil onto the surface of the snack food and then applying a seasoning or flavoring that adheres to the snack food via the surface coating of oil.
US09675090B2	Method and system for portioning workpieces to user-entered shape and other specifications A method and system are provided for automatically portioning workpieces, such as food products, into both shape and other user-defined specification(s). Workpieces are portioned both to shape and weight, such as to a weight-specific uniform shape, by adjusting (e.g., scaling up and down or slightly modifying) a desired template shape until the desired weight is achieved depending on the varying thickness of each workpiece. For example, from a thicker workpiece, a smaller-sized piece having a predefined shape and weight is portioned, while from a thinner workpiece, a larger-sized piece having the same predefined shape and weight is portioned. The system permits a user to scan in and edit a desired (reference) shape to be used as a template in the portioning process.
US09675089B2	Method and apparatus to mechanically reduce food products into irregular shapes and sizes Methods and apparatus are disclosed for producing irregular slices of meat from meat products. The meat products can be rotated using an impeller having a plurality of paddles for urging the meat products against a slicing blade during rotation of the impeller in order to create a slice from the meat product. The meat products can impact the slicing blade in different orientations in order to create differently shaped, irregular slices of meat. A cutting blade downstream of the slicing blade can be used to reduce the width of the slices of meat.
US09675088B2	Food casing having a transferable, edible inner coating The invention relates to a foodstuff casing having a textile supporting layer. The textile supporting layer has, on the side facing the foodstuff, an edible, however, essentially water-insoluble coating. The coating contains solid and/or liquid aromatic substances, dyestuffs and/or food flavorings and can be transferred onto foodstuff located inside the casing. An additional layer, largely or completely formed from water soluble material may be advantageously located between the transferable layer and the textile supporting material.
US09675083B2	Method and device for creating blanks from pieces of dough from one or more webs of dough The invention relates to a device for creating blanks from pieces of dough, in particular triangular pieces of dough, from at least one web of dough, comprising a plurality of cutting tools which cut an edge of the pieces of dough as a result of a movement oriented against the at least one web of dough and comprising a conveyor belt device on which the at least one web of dough is conveyed. The cutting tools are arranged on a drum, which is driven in a rotating manner, via tool holders, said drum being superimposed with a vertical movement such that one or more cutting tools 1 which can be found circulating about the drum are moved parallel to the conveyor belt device as a result of the superimposed sequence of movements of the drum rotation and the vertical movement of the drum.
US09675077B2	Composition comprising antimicrobial metal ions and a quaternary cationic surfactant The present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition suitable for use on skin and wounds comprising a source of an antimicrobial metal ion and a quaternary cationic surfactant.
US09675076B2	Peroxycarboxylic acid compositions suitable for inline optical or conductivity monitoring Peracid stable fluorescent active compounds in highly acidic, equilibrium peroxycarboxylic acid sanitizing compositions are disclosed as having improved fluorescent stability allowing for monitoring of peroxycarboxylic acid concentration by conductivity and/or optical sensors. Beneficially, the compositions are also low odor and low/no VOC dual functioning acid wash and sanitizing compositions.
US09675073B2	Insecticidal compounds based on N-arylsulfanylmethylcarboxamidearylthiosulfonamides derivatives The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, n, A1, A2, A3, A4, Y1, Y2 and Y3 are as defined in the claims. The invention also relates to processes and intermediates for preparing these compounds, to insecticidal, acaricidal, nematicidal and molluscicidal compositions comprising these compounds and to methods of using these compounds to control insect, acarine, nematode and mollusc pests.
US09675072B2	Tetrazolinone compound and application of same A tetrazolinone compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1 represents a C1-C3 alkyl group optionally having a fluorine atom, etc.; R2 and R4 represents a hydrogen atom, etc.; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, etc.; Z1 represents a C1-C3 alkyl group optionally having a halogen atom, etc.; Z2 represents a C1-C3 alkoxy group optionally having a halogen atom, a C3-C4 alkynyloxy group, etc.; Z3 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C3 alkyl group optionally having a halogen atom, etc.; and X represents an oxygen atom, etc., has excellent control activity against pests.
US09675070B2	Halogen-substituted compounds The invention relates inter alia to halogen-substituted compounds of the general formula (I) in which the radicals A1-A4, T, n, W, Q, R1 and Z1-Z3 have the meanings given in the description. Also described are processes for preparing the compounds of the formula (I). The compounds according to the invention are particularly suitable for controlling insects, arachnids and nematodes in agriculture and ectoparasites in veterinary medicine.
US09675062B1	Drip bag systems, methods and applications Systems, devices, and methods for a one-time disposable device arrangement for dispersing liquids of varying viscosities, or their constituents, in a metered manner over a definable period of time. The invention employs a flexible reservoir, of varying size, shape, and configuration, along with a calculated, finite length of looped flexible tubing, one of varying size, shape and configuration. The device arrangement can be hung over an area where it is desired to attract animals such as deer by dispensing liquids, such as but not limited to animal attractants, such as deer urine and buck jam, and the like.
US09675060B2	Heated game call A heated game call used to attract wild game for hunting or observation, generally including a cylindrical barrel, a reed member, and a heating element integral to the barrel and positioned near the reed element. Electrical current is provided to the heating element via wires resulting in the heating of the barrel of the call and, the electrical current is provided by batteries that are contained within a compartment of the call. The barrel includes an exterior layer and an interior layer. The heating element preferably is sandwiched between the layers and positioned near the reed member.
US09675058B2	Fish recompression tool A fish recompression tool comprises an elongate body having and internal airtight chamber, an attachment member, a locking member, a piston, and a spring within the airtight chamber that engages the piston. The attachment member may switch between open and closed configurations, such that a fish is attached to the device in the closed configuration. The attachment member configuration is controlled by the locking member, such that a locked configuration corresponds to a closed configuration. The attachment member switches to the open configuration when the piston moves in response to reaching a water depth that results in the external pressure surrounding the airtight chamber being sufficiently greater than the internal pressure within the airtight chamber and the spring force on the piston. In preferred embodiments, a plug attaches to an open ended elongate body and may be moved to set different unlocking requirements (i.e. different release depths).
US09675056B2	Illuminated polymer lenticular fishing lures Spoon, swimbait, jig and hard bodied fishing lures fishing equipped with one or more light sources interacting and/or interfacing with one or more polymer light transmission mediums are described herein. The light source optically coupled to the polymer light transmission medium acts to illuminate one or more areas of the fishing lure to provide and maintain its color, color pattern, iridescence, and flash. The combination of the lenticular lens placed with the flat back translucent surface to the polymer light transmission medium on or adjacent to the polymer light transmission medium to mimic the exact appearance of the bait fish while giving the lure a motion effect and a two or three dimensional appearance not attainable by any other lure technology known today.
US09675055B2	Fishing tackle devices and methods of manufacturing same Tackle or artificial fly devices for improved fishing experience. The tackle device includes head and tail portions formed of a single, continuous material and allows one to tie flies thereon without fixing a certain hook type and/or size directly to the device. A lumen extends the device length and enables the tackle device to slide freely along a fishing line and more easily release from junction tubing and/or a fishing hook when a fish strikes. The tackle device can consist of a plastic, polycarbonate or other rigid polymer formed via injection molding. Device head portions can include cylindrical, dome as well as segmented shapes; various sizes; and one or more bills, cavities and/or carve-outs to create desired motion of the device while fishing. Incorporating draft into the tail portion further facilitates separation from junction tubing when hooking a fish, thereby prolonging the useful life of the tackle device.
US09675052B2	Poultry migration fence system The poultry migration fence system includes at least one fence panel attached to at least one side of a U-shaped open archway. At least one selectively pivotal support rail is mounted to the bottom of the fence panel. The archway allows the fence system to be easily installed by sliding the open end of the archway over a suspended feed/water pipe. The pivotal support rail can be pivoted to a support position where the support rail extends orthogonal to the fence panel in order to provide a stable base for maintaining the upright position of the fence panel and pivoted to a storage position parallel to the extension of the fence panel. A swiveling gate is pivotally attached to one of the legs of the archway so that the gap at the open end can be selectively closed, thereby preventing poultry from crossing towards the other side of the fence panel. Both solid and wire fence panels are provided.
US09675050B2	Pet toys usable with annular foodstuffs A plurality of pet toys are usable with annular-shaped foodstuffs. Each pet toy includes a support upon which the animal foodstuffs can be situated and one or more retainers connected with the support that retain the animal foodstuffs on the support. At least one retainer on each toy includes one or more elastically deformable structures that are movable between a free state and an elastically deformed state. In the elastically deformed state, an animal foodstuff can be received across the retainer and onto the support. In the free state, the retainer is structured to resist removal of the animal foodstuff from the support and across the retainer.
US09675048B2	Fly catching animal mask device A fly catching animal mask device prevents flies and other insects from bothering an animal's eyes. The device includes a mask having at least one eye hole configured to fit on a head of an animal such that the eye hole is positioned around an eye of the animal. A strip of material is coupled to the mask. The strip of material has an exposed outer face extending around the eye hole. An adhesive is coupled to and extends over the exposed outer face of the strip of material wherein the outer face is configured for catching and holding flies contacting the adhesive.
US09675042B2	System and method for milking stall assignment using real-time location A system comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores information about a milking stall where a dairy livestock is located at a first time, and a coordinate location of the dairy livestock at a second time. The processor is communicatively coupled to the memory and determines if the coordinate location of the dairy livestock at the second time is different than the milking stall where the dairy livestock is located at the first time. If the coordinate location where the dairy livestock is located at the second time is not the milking stall, the processor generates an error flag associated with the dairy livestock.
US09675041B2	Leg spreading device to be mounted in a milking stall A leg spreading device for an animal in a milking stall includes a first and second elongated elements forming a first raised surface provided with a left side edge and a second raised surface provided with a right side edge. The elongated elements are oriented in a manner such that a transverse distance (w) between the left side edge of the first raised surface and the right side edge of the second raised surface increases continuously in a longitudinal direction of the elongated elements from a first transverse distance in the first longitudinal position to a second transverse distance in a second longitudinal position.
US09675037B1	Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH361217 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH361217. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH361217, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH361217 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH361217.
US09675036B1	Plants and seeds of corn variety CV180173 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV180173. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV180173, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV180173 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV180173 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV180173.
US09675035B2	Sunflower mutant allele NSMA The present invention relates to a novel mutant allele of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) designated NSMA, which confers white seed color to sunflower plants. The present invention also relates to plants and seeds of the family or line carrying the NSMA allele. In addition, the present invention is also directed to transferring the NSMA allele to plants in the same species lacking the allele, and is useful for producing novel types and varieties of white-seeded sunflowers.
US09675027B2	Plants and seeds of corn variety CV031874 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV031874. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV031874, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV031874 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV031874 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV031874.
US09675025B1	Hybrid corn variety 2847130 The invention provides seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated 2847130. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety 2847130, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety 2847130 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety 2847130.
US09675023B2	Tomato hybrid SV4725TD and parents thereof The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid SV4725TD and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid SV4725TD and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US09675022B2	Tomato line PSQ 23-2284 The invention provides seed and plants of tomato line PSQ 23-2284. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato line PSQ 23-2284, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US09675018B2	Cucumber hybrid SV7135CN and parents thereof The invention provides seed and plants of cucumber hybrid SV7135CN and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid SV7135CN and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a cucumber plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another cucumber plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US09675017B2	Squash hybrid SV0474YG and parents thereof The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid SV0474YG and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid SV0474YG and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US09675016B2	Downy Mildew resistant cucumber plants The present invention relates to cucumber lines having increased resistance to Downy Mildew. The present invention also relates to parts of cucumber plants from lines having increased Downy Mildew resistance, including seeds capable of growing cucumber plants with increased Downy Mildew resistance. Further provided are methods of producing such plants by genetic marker assisted selection.
US09675015B2	Stevia cultivar ‘807086’ A stevia cultivar, designated ‘807086’, is disclosed. The invention relates to the plant parts of stevia cultivar ‘807086’, to the plants of stevia ‘807086’ and to methods for producing a stevia plant produced by crossing the cultivar ‘807086’ with itself or another stevia variety, including methods using marker assisted breeding. The invention further relates to hybrid stevia seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar ‘807086’ with another stevia cultivar.
US09675011B2	Shearing tool A method for operating a shearing tool that includes: operating a first switch to control a drive unit to drive a blade of a blade set; and operating a second switch to cause the drive unit to operate in an anti-binding mode in which a direction of an input to the drive unit is alternated at least twice. A shearing tool is also provided.
US09675010B2	Crop processing and/or conveying element for a forage chopper A crop processing and/or conveying element for a forage chopper has a body that can be mounted on a carrier that can be set in rotation and is furnished with a hard material layer that comes into contact with crop during operation. The hard material layer is connected in a form-fitting manner to the body.
US09675008B1	Unloading arrangement for agricultural harvesting vehicles An unloading arrangement includes and agricultural harvester and a transport vehicle arrangement. The agricultural harvester includes an unloading conveyance and a wireless transmitter for transmitting information relating at least to a speed and direction of the harvester. The transport vehicle arrangement includes a transport vehicle; a transport implement coupled with the transport vehicle; a sensor arrangement for establishing an angular orientation of the transport implement relative to the transport vehicle; a wireless receiver for receiving the transmitted information from the harvester; and an electrical processing circuit coupled with the sensor arrangement and the wireless receiver. The electrical processing circuit is configured for steering the transport vehicle arrangement in a reverse direction such that the transport implement is positioned at a desired position relative to the unloading conveyance, based upon the sensed angular orientation of the transport implement and the transmitted information received from the harvester.
US09675006B2	Row divider for a corn head assembly having a hood with a structured surface A corn head assembly for a combine harvester capable of reducing grain loss. The corn head assembly includes a frame, a plurality of row units and a hood. The frame is mounted to a forward end of the combine harvester. The plurality of row units extends forward from the frame. The hood extends between an adjacent pair of row units. The hood includes a first end proximal to the frame, a second end distal to the frame and opposite the first end, and an outer surface extending between the first and second ends. The outer surface has a plurality of structures configured to inhibit a flow of grain in a forward direction along the outer surface.
US09675004B2	Soil moisture-based planter downforce control A seeding machine includes a main frame, and a row unit coupled to the main frame. The row unit has a row unit frame, a gauge wheel coupled to the row unit frame, and a furrow opener coupled to the row unit frame, the furrow opener having a stationary or rotating surface that contacts and moves soil. The row unit also includes a furrow closer, the furrow closer having a stationary or rotating surface that contacts and presses soil. The seeding machine also includes a downforce adjustment system for adjusting an amount of downforce applied to the row unit, the downforce adjustment system including a moisture sensor, a controller configured to receive a signal from the moisture sensor, and an actuator configured to change the amount of downforce applied to the row unit based on the signal received by the controller.
US09675000B2	Optical flow sensing application in agricultural vehicles System and techniques for optical flow sensing applications in agricultural vehicles are described herein. A plurality of digital images of an agricultural environment can be obtained from a sensor affixed to agricultural equipment. The plurality of digital images can include a first image and a second image, the second image being captured subsequent to the first image. A transformation of a landmark between the first image and the second image can be identified. A degree of motion for the agricultural equipment relative to an environmental target can be calculated based on the transformation of the landmark.
US09674999B2	Remote adjustment of a row unit of an agricultural device Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.
US09674998B2	Vertically offset gauge wheels and associated control rocker A depth adjustment for an agricultural seed planting implement has a depth control assembly of side by side gauge wheels pivotally mounted to a frame with leading equal length arms in a staggered relation. A settable lever acts on the arms through a control rocker having arms with the same staggered relation to control soil flow.
US09681592B2	Structural concrete mix for construction for electromagnetic wave/pulse shielding Conductive concrete mixtures are described that are configured to provide EMP shielding and reflect and/or absorb, for instance, EM waves propagating through the conductive concrete mixture. The conductive concrete mixtures include cement, water, conductive carbon material, magnetic material, and metallic conductive material. The conductive carbon material may include conductive carbon particles, conductive carbon powder, and/or coke breeze. The metallic conductive material may include steel fibers, and the magnetic material may include taconite. The conductive concrete mixture may also include supplementary cementitious materials (SCM). A method of making a concrete structure includes pouring a concrete mixture to form conductive concrete, and positioning a first conductive screen within the conductive concrete proximate to an exterior surface of the conductive concrete. The method also includes positioning a second conductive screen within the conductive concrete in electrical contact with the first conductive screen.
US09681579B2	Cooling system for electronic devices employing adjacent fan cages with interflow passages Cooling systems employing adjacent fan cages having cage walls with interflow passages are disclosed. A cooling system includes cooling fans disposed in adjacent fan cages. Cage walls of the fan cages direct flows from the fans to the outlet ports of the fan cages which are in fluid communication with electrical components within an electronics-containing enclosure. By forming an interflow passage between the adjacent fan cages, upon occurrence of an inoperable fan, a portion of the flow from an adjacent operable fan can pass to the outlet port of the fan cage of the inoperable fan via the passage and provide better cooling of the components impacted by the inoperable fan. In this manner, thermal damage is avoided while minimizing fan noise associated with higher fan speeds.
US09681578B2	Heat dissipation system and communications device A heat dissipation system used for a communications device is disclosed, where the communications device includes a chassis, a network board, a service board, a backplane, and a high-rate cable; the chassis is configured to house the network board, the service board, the backplane, and the high-rate cable; the backplane is vertically inserted in a middle part or a middle rear part of the chassis, and parallel to a front side of the chassis; the service board and the network board are parallel and are connected to a front side of the backplane; the high-rate cable is connected between the network board and the service board on a rear side of the backplane; and the heat dissipation system further includes multiple fans that are installed in an array form on a rear side of the chassis, and an air vent that penetrates through the backplane.
US09681577B2	System and method for improving fan life in an information handling system An information handling system includes a first fan in a first location for cooling a first component of the information handling system, a second fan in a second location for cooling a second component of the information handling system, and a management controller. The management controller determines that the first fan has experienced greater stress than the second fan, and recommends that the first fan be placed in the second location and that the second fan be placed in the first location.
US09681576B2	Shock dampening drawer slide A drawer slide system for a chassis is provided. The drawer slide system includes a first slide affixed to a drawer. The drawer slide system allows the drawer to extend from the chassis. The drawer slide system also includes a slide assembly slidingly coupled to the first slide. The slide assembly includes a second slide and a first damped stop assembly, which includes a first stop tray and a first elastomer, arranged within the first stop tray. The first elastomer reduces shock to the chassis when the drawer is fully seated within the chassis.
US09681575B2	Enhanced rack design to improve component and cable access A method and apparatus for implementing enhanced rack design to improve component and cable access in a computer system. A server rack includes a side rack cable access area. An elongated bracket member includes multiple openings for receiving cable ties. The cables ties are used to secure predefined cables. The elongated bracket member is unlatched from an inside wall of the rack. The elongated bracket member together with the secured system cables is pivoted away from customer cables routing area.
US09681569B2	Electrical connection box Provided is an electrical connection box that achieves downsizing by means of efficient arrangement of electronic components and terminals on a board. An electrical connection box (1) includes a board (21), a terminal holder (22), flat-plate terminals (23), and electronic components (24). The terminal holder (22) is mounted to the board (21). The flat-plate terminal (23) includes a first portion (41), a second portion (42), and a third portion (43). The first portion (41) is connected to the board (21), and extends substantially perpendicularly from the board (21). The second portion (42) is connected to the first portion (41), and extends substantially in parallel with the board (21). The third portion (43) is connected to the second portion (42), is connectable to a connector, and extends substantially perpendicularly to the board (21). The electronic component (24) is arranged between the second portion (42) of the flat-plate terminal (23) and the board (21).
US09681568B1	Compact stacked power modules for minimizing commutating inductance and methods for making the same A compact stacked power module including a positive direct-current-bus-voltage plate having a positive-plate surface and a negative direct-current-bus-voltage plate having a negative-plate surface. The compact stacked power module also includes an alternating-current output plate having opposing first and second output-plate surfaces, a first semiconductor switch contacting the negative-plate surface and the first output-plate surface, and a second semiconductor switch contacting the positive-plate surface and the second output-plate surface. The compact stacked power module further includes a capacitor contacting the negative-plate surface and the positive-plate surface, wherein the capacitor is electrically in parallel with the first and second semiconductor switches.
US09681566B2	Electronic arrangement and method for producing an electronic arrangement An electronic arrangement (1) comprising a carrier (2), on which at least one connecting area (6) is arranged. At least one electronic component (3a, 3b, 3c) is fixed on the connecting area (6) by means of a contact material (4). A covering area (5) surrounds the connecting area (6) on the carrier (2). At least one covered region (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) is covered by a covering material (10). The covering material (10) is designed in such a way that an optical contrast between the covering area (5) and the covered region (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) is minimized.
US09681561B2	Electric circuit guised as a practical carryall The word “carryall” generally refers to a bag having a storage compartment with a base, where the base is a housing for an electric circuit that distributes power to various AC receptacles and USB ports. The storage compartment may be constructed, without limitation, as soft sided luggage, a duffle bag, a carpet bag, a weekender, a tote, a small polyester active bag, or the like and may be made from canvas, polyester fabric, natural leather, or similar materials.
US09681558B2	Module with integrated power electronic circuitry and logic circuitry A integrated power module with integrated power electronic circuitry and logic circuitry includes an embedded power semiconductor module including one or more power semiconductor dies embedded in a dielectric material, a multi-layer logic printed circuit board with one or more logic dies mounted to a surface of the logic printed circuit board, and a flexible connection integrally formed between the embedded power semiconductor module and the logic printed circuit board. The flexible connection mechanically connects the embedded power semiconductor module to the logic printed circuit board and provides an electrical pathway between the embedded power semiconductor module and the logic printed circuit board. A method of manufacturing the integrated power module is also provided.
US09681555B2	Package of environmentally sensitive electronic device and fabricating method thereof A package of an environmentally sensitive electronic device and a fabricating method thereof are provided, wherein the package may include a first substrate, a second substrate, the environmentally sensitive electronic device, a packaging body, and a filler. In one or more embodiments, the environmentally sensitive electronic device may be disposed on the first substrate and located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The filler is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and covers the environmentally sensitive electronic device. The packaging body is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate and encloses the environmentally sensitive electronic device and the filler. A material for the packaging body may include a bonding of transition metal and metalloid.
US09681552B2	Fluid oscillations on structured surfaces A device comprising a substrate having a surface that comprises a conductive base layer. The device also comprises fluid-support-structures on the conductive base layer. Each of the fluid-support-structures has at least one dimension of about 1 millimeter or less. Each of the fluid-support-structures is coated with an electrical insulator. The device is configured to oscillate a fluid locatable between tops of the fluid-support-structures and the conductive base layer when a voltage is applied between the conductive base layer and the fluid.
US09681548B2	Electrical connecting device An electrical connecting device includes: a first connection element; a second connection element; and a body element. The first connection element is connected with a support element and the second connection element. The body element has a main extension plane, the main extension plane of the body element being positioned between the first connection element and the second connection element. The first connection element and/or the second connection element extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main extension plane of the body element. The body element includes a first mechanical fastening element and a second mechanical fastening element.
US09681547B2	Electronic device An electronic device includes: a housing including an opening; a connector configured to be exposed from the opening and to allow a connection member to be coupled thereto; and a cable configured to cover at least a portion of a gap between the connector and the opening and to be electrically coupled to the connector.
US09681543B2	Method for making electronic device with cover layer with openings and related devices A method of making an electronic device includes forming an electrically conductive pattern on a substrate, forming a cover layer on the substrate and the electrically conductive pattern, and forming openings in the cover layer and being aligned with the electrically conductive pattern. The method also includes positioning an IC on the cover layer so that bond pads of the IC are aligned with the openings, and heating under pressure the cover layer to both mechanically secure and electrically interconnect the IC.
US09681542B2	Flexible circuit with partial ground path A head assembly for a magnetic tape storage device includes a head and a flexible circuit connected to the head. The flexible circuit includes a gripping portion, an end including electrical contacts for the head, conductors extending from the electrical contacts, and ink patterned onto the electrical contacts and gripping portion to form electrical paths therebetween. The ink conducts electrostatic charge from the electrical contacts and conductors to a grounded user in response to skin of the user contacting the ink.
US09681541B2	Resin composition, prepreg, metal foil with resin, metal-clad laminated plate, and printed wiring board Resin composition of the present disclosure includes: an epoxy resin; and a hardener, in which the hardener contains a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) and an anhydride having only one anhydride group in a molecule. An acid value of the SMA is in a range from 300 to 550, inclusive. A ratio of an anhydride equivalent number of the anhydride with respect to an epoxy group equivalent number of the epoxy resin is in a range from 0.05 to 0.5, inclusive. A ratio of the total number of the equivalent numbers of the anhydride groups of the anhydride and the SMA with respect to the epoxy group equivalent number is a range from 0.5 to 1.2, inclusive.
US09681538B2	Flexible display A flexible display is disclosed. In one aspect, the flexible display includes a flexible display panel including: a first flat portion, a bending portion connected to the first flat portion, and a second flat portion connected to the bending portion and opposing the first flat portion. The flexible display also includes a guide member fixed to the flexible display panel and arranged between the first and second flat portions and a housing supporting the flexible display panel and the guide member and arranged between the first and second flat portions. The flexible display further comprises a sliding member connected to the housing and the guide member and configured to move the second flat portion by substantially the same distance as and in an opposite direction to the first flat portion when the first flat portion is moved.
US09681534B2	Ceramic multilayer substrate In a ceramic multilayer substrate including a ceramic laminate including ceramic layers, a surface electrode located on a surface of the ceramic laminate, and a cover ceramic layer that covers a peripheral portion of the surface electrode, a recess portion is provided in a peripheral portion of a surface electrode to extend along the periphery thereof, and the peripheral portion of the surface electrode includes a peripheral end portion thereof and a region in which the recess portion is covered with a cover ceramic layer. A height of a central portion of the surface electrode which is not covered with the cover ceramic layer is lower than a height of a primary surface of the ceramic laminate on which the surface electrode is located.
US09681533B2	Apparatus and method for providing a temperature-differential circuit card environment An apparatus for, and method of, providing a desired temperature-differential circuit card environment includes a plurality of card units. Each card unit comprises a first thermal plate having front and back first plate sides oriented in a lateral-longitudinal plane, the first thermal plate operating at a first plate temperature. A second thermal plate has front and back second plate sides oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane, the second thermal plate operating at a second plate temperature. A coupler is oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane and is connected to front and/or back first plate sides and to the front and/or back second plate sides to form a card unit. The card units are arranged in a transversely oriented stack with the front first and second plate sides of a second card unit being directly transversely adjacent the back first and second plate sides of the first card unit.
US09681531B2	Control system for a particle accelerator An example particle therapy system includes a particle accelerator to output a particle beam, where the particle accelerator includes: a particle source to provide pulses of ionized plasma to a cavity, where each pulse of the particle source has a pulse width corresponding to a duration of operation of the particle source to produce the corresponding pulse, and where the particle beam is based on the pulses of ionized plasma; and a modulator wheel having different thicknesses, where each thickness extends across a different circumferential length of the modulator wheel, and where the modulator wheel is arranged to receive a precursor to the particle beam and is configured to create a spread-out Bragg peak for the particle beam.
US09681530B2	Particle beam therapy device A device controller controls an acceleration-related devices and an extraction-related devices of an accelerator for accelerating and extracting a particle beam, in such a way that the controller checks, at a time point when receiving a master clock pulse, that preparation for operating the acceleration-related devices is completed and then commands the acceleration-related devices to operate in accordance with an operation pattern corresponding to a prescribed energy of the particle beam, and commands the acceleration-related devices to operate in accordance with an extracting operation pattern when an extraction enable signal indicating that the particle beam reaches the prescribed energy is turned ON and an extraction-related device setting-status signal indicating that completion of setting the extraction-related devices for the prescribed energy is ON.
US09681529B1	Microwave adapting plasma torch module A plasma torch module combining arc and microwave discharges is disclosed. One embodiment serves to enhance the size and enthalpy of the plasma torch and has a very large operational range of the airflow rate, from subsonic to supersonic flow speed. Increase of airflow in the torch operation can increase not only the size of the torch plasma and the cycle energy of the arc discharge but also the lifetime of the torch module and the torch can operate stably with very low airflow.
US09681528B2	Rotatable plasma cutting torch assembly with short connections A plasma torch assembly is provided with a torch body having a primary portion and a dielectric portion. The use of the dielectric portion allows for the length of the leads in the torch body to be shorter than known torches, especially in higher current applications. This provides for added stability and longevity of the torch and its components.
US09681525B2	Systems and methods for controlling lighting based on a display The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with controlling lighting based on a presentation display, such as a television, mobile device, white board, etc. The disclosed embodiments can involve a lighting system, a presentation display, a monitoring system, and a controller. The lighting system provides light to an area and may include a light source and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the light source. The lighting system can include natural light sources and/or artificial light sources. The adjustment mechanism may adjust, for example, one or more of an intensity, orientation, polarization, color, flicker rate, polarization, and other characteristics of the light source. The presentation display can be monitored by a monitoring system to monitor a status of the presentation display. The controller processes the status of the presentation display and signal the adjustment mechanism to adjust the light source, based on the status of the presentation display.
US09681523B2	Multifunction light controller equipped with localized control An apparatus and method allow end users to interactively create complex lighting patterns by remote control. Applications include decorative lighting, landscape lighting, signage, or advertising platforms. A lighting control system can be equipped with sensors that can receive remote control signals from a variety of different sources, and route the control signals to modulate receptacles coupled to different lighting circuits, thereby independently controlling multiple light arrays to achieve separate light patterns, or to coordinate different lighting effects. The control signals can independently energize localized groups of lamps to provide enhanced lighting effects, while using significantly less wire material. Interactive remote control can be provided via a mobile computing device such as a smart phone running a customized program. In one embodiment, the remote control device communicates selections to a Bluetooth®-equipped speaker to produce sound-controlled lighting effects.
US09681518B2	LED lighting device An LED lighting device for connection to an AC voltage source is provided. The lighting device includes at least a first and a second set of LEDs, at least two LEDs assigned to the first set of LEDs and electrically arranged in series, and at least two LEDs assigned to the second set of LEDs and electrically arranged in series, a connector configured to connect the LED lighting device to the AC voltage source, and a set activator. The set activator having a voltmeter for measuring a currently applied voltage amplitude of the AC voltage source, a signal generator for generating a switching signal in response to the currently applied voltage amplitude, and a current controller for controlling the current flowing through the at least first and second sets of LEDs.
US09681512B1	Combined wireless voltage controlled dimming interface for an LED driver A control system for a light emitting diode (LED) driver is provided. The control system includes a control module, a command interface, and a combined signal interface. The control module includes a microcontroller configured to receive at least one signal and to determine an LED driver command signal and a command module connected to the microcontroller and capable of communicating with both the lighting dimmer and the wireless control module. The control system includes a command interface which communicatively couples the control module to the LED driver. A combined signal interface communicatively couples the command module and at least one of the lighting dimmer and the wireless control module. The combined signal interface conveys one or more signals between the control module and at least one of the lighting dimmer and the wireless control module. Associated methods and modules are also provided.
US09681508B2	Light modulation control unit, illumination system, and facility apparatus A light source circuit includes light-emitting diodes and a constant current circuit that controls current flowing through light-emitting diodes to a fixed level. A DC power supply circuit outputs a DC voltage having a voltage value capable of causing light-emitting diodes to emit light. A light modulation control unit includes: a MOSFET electrically connected between DC power supply circuit and light source circuit; and a control circuit configured to control MOSFET. Control circuit is configured to turn MOSFET on and off with a duty ratio corresponding to a light modulation level such that DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit is converted to a square wave voltage, and the square wave voltage is outputted to light source circuit. The square wave voltage has an amplitude equal to the voltage value of the DC voltage that is outputted from DC power supply circuit.
US09681506B2	Switch circuit for LED lighting assembly adaptive to multilevel light switches One aspect of the present disclosure directs to a switch circuit including an isolator circuit to allow detection of switch states of a multilevel light switch. Another aspect of the present disclosure directs to a lighting assembly containing light emitting diodes (LEDs) of different colors, where the lighting assembly produces light of different color depending on the switch state of a multilevel light switch.
US09681504B1	Driver circuits with multiple rectifiers In some implementations, a device includes a first full bridge rectifier configured to receive power from an alternating current (AC) power source, the first full bridge rectifier having direct current (DC) output nodes, a second full bridge rectifier configured to receive power from the AC power source, the second full bridge rectifier having DC output nodes, wherein the second full bridge rectifier is coupled to receive AC power in series with the first full bridge rectifier, a first set of light emitting diodes coupled to the DC output nodes of the first full bridge rectifier, and a second set of light emitting diodes coupled to the DC output nodes of the second full bridge rectifier.
US09681503B2	Transformer for a lamp, LED converter, and transformer operation method A galvanically isolated transformer (59) for energizing a lamp (5) comprises a primary circuit (60) including a half-bridge circuit that has two reciprocally clocked switches (21, 22), and including an LLC resonant circuit (25-27). The transformer (59) further comprises a secondary circuit (30) including an output (35) for supplying energy to the lamp (5). A control device (14) is designed to control the half-bridge circuit in accordance with a control variable (ipeak) detected in the primary circuit (60) in order to adjust a current intensity supplied to the lamp (5) by the secondary circuit (30) to a desired value.
US09681501B2	Multi layer for encapsulation comprising a planarizing organic thin layer and a conformal organic thin layer A multi layer encapsulating film includes at least one planarizing organic thin film, at least one conformal organic thin film, and at least one inorganic thin film. The thin films are laminated in order of (a) a planarizing organic thin film, an inorganic thin film, a conformal organic thin film, and an inorganic thin film, (b) a conformal organic thin film, an inorganic thin film, a planarizing organic thin film, and an inorganic thin film, (c) a planarizing organic thin film, a conformal organic thin film, and an inorganic thin film, or (d) a conformal organic thin film, a planarizing organic thin film, and an inorganic thin film. The multi layer encapsulating film according to the invention can improve the surface roughness by using the planarizing organic thin film, and can enable particles to uniformly cover the device by using the conformal organic thin film.
US09681497B2	Multi zone heating and cooling ESC for plasma process chamber An electrostatic chuck assembly including a dielectric layer with a top surface to support a workpiece. A cooling channel base disposed below the dielectric layer includes a plurality of fluid conduits disposed beneath the top surface. A chuck assembly further includes a plurality of resistive heater rods spatially distribute across the chuck assembly. In embodiments, 169 heater rods and three heat transfer fluid flow controls are independently controlled during execution of a plasma etch process.
US09681496B2	High temperature furnace having reconfigurable heater circuits The core of a high temperature furnace has an elongated central test cavity for testing/calibration of a temperature-sensitive component, such as the probe of a thermocouple. At least three electrical heating elements as positioned adjacent to the test cavity, including two elements adjacent to the opposite end portions of the test cavity, respectively, and a center element between the end elements. A uniform temperature profile is maintained in the cavity by control circuitry that manages the supply of electrical power to the heating elements, by periodically configuring interconnections of the elements during multiple phases of a duty cycle. The duty cycle includes a first phase in which current is passed through the center element, a second phase in which current is passed through the end elements in series, and a third phase in which current is passed through one of the end elements and also through the center element without passing current through the other end element.
US09681494B2	Split-type mobile terminal and interaction processing method for communications event The present invention provides a split-type mobile terminal which includes a host and at least one sub-device connected to the host. Wherein, the host includes: a state obtaining unit (102A) configured to obtain a real-time state of the host when a communications event occurs in the host; a state determining unit (102B) configured to determine whether or not the real-time state is a preset interactive state; a data interacting unit (102C) configured to send a response command to at least one of the at least one sub-device if the determining result is yes; and a host processing unit (102D) configured to directly respond to the communications event if the determining result is no. Each sub-device includes a sub-device processing unit (1040) configured to respond to the communications event according to the received respond command. The present invention further provides an interaction processing method for a communications event.
US09681493B2	Control system The present invention relates to a system for controlling a group of devices, comprising: —a network of nodes interconnected in a topology to form a meshed network, and —a coordinator making it possible to communicate with the nodes in the network, in which each device is connected to a node in the network, in which each node comprises: —a receiver making it possible to receive an instruction, —an instructor making it possible to transfer an instruction to the device connected to the node, and —a transmitter making it possible to transmit the instruction to a neighboring node.
US09681492B2	Improvements wireless sensor networks A method of allocating resources in a wireless sensor network, the network having functions including medical monitoring of a patient using multiple network devices having sensors, the method including steps of: sensing, by a network device in the network, a life parameter of the patient; recognizing the existence of an emergency condition with respect to the parameter; the network device sending a request for streaming towards a coordinator of the network; the coordinator receiving (S12) the request along with any other requests from other devices in the network; and the coordinator granting (S14, S16) each the request by scheduling one of: a streaming allocation with highest priority for a network device which is in an emergency condition; a streaming allocation of medium priority for a network device sensing a life parameter which is not in an emergency condition; and a streaming allocation of lowest priority for a network device which is not sensing any life parameter of the patient and which is not in an emergency condition. The emergency condition may be defined with respect to one or more medical parameters of the patient. The method may be applied, for example, to monitoring of patients in a hospital using MBANs operating in accordance with IEEE 802.15.6.
US09681486B2	Methods and devices for managing a cellular radio network In a radio system a network node is provided to be operatively connected to a set of radio base stations of the radio network and to retrieving a neighbor list from each radio base station in said set of radio base stations. Based on said list of neighbors it is determined if a pair of radio base stations lack a connection between them, and upon determining that a connection between two radio base stations is lacking a connection between said pair of radio base stations is set up.
US09681484B2	Networking method for mobile terminals and mobile terminal A networking method for mobile terminals is provided, including: dividing a frequency spectrum resource suitable for operation in a mobile communication network into three kinds of frequency bands which are a CB, a LB, and a UB; and establishing, by a calling mobile terminal, a radio communication connection with a called mobile terminal on the CB or the LB or the UB; wherein the calling mobile terminal and the called mobile terminal are implemented by an SDR way. The present disclosure also discloses a mobile terminal. Accordingly, not only a utilization rate of a frequency spectrum resource and a resource usage rate of a base station are improved, a coverage range of the mobile communication network is expanded, but also mobile terminal user experience is improved.
US09681478B2	Short range communication in a wireless communications system There are provided mechanisms for wireless devices to initiate direct-mode or device-to-device communications by exploiting the availability of the existing network coverage. Short range communications in a wireless communications system between a first wireless device and a second wireless device involves exchanging messages between the first wireless device and the second wireless device, first on a first communications link via a network node and then on a second communications link. A corresponding method is provided.
US09681473B2	MTC service management using NFV A method and system for machine type communication (MTC) service management using network function virtualization (NFV) is disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for a machine type communication (MTC) service management using a virtual network function (VNF) includes receiving, by a virtual serving gateway (v-s-SGW), a request for an MTC service from a MTC device through a radio node associated with the MTC device; sending, by the v-s-SGW, an authentication request to an MTC server to authenticate the MTC device; receiving, by the v-s-SGW, an authentication response from the MTC server; and establishing, by the v-s-SGW, an MTC bearer between the v-s-SGW and the radio node if the authentication is successful; wherein the v-s-SGW comprises a virtual connection management (v-CM) and a serving gateway (s-SGW).
US09681471B1	Pairing of devices for activation/deactivation of a paired device A device/object is paired to one or more communication devices for the purpose of activating and/or deactivating the device/object. Such activation of the device/object requires that the paired devices be in concurrent possession of the user (i.e., within a specified range of the user) and that, while in concurrent possession of the user, communicate information from the device/object to the communication device. Thus, the invention provides for additional security, in that two or more devices must in the possession of the user (or within the specified range of the user), and communicating with one another, in order for one of the paired devices to be in activated state.
US09681466B2	Scheduling transmissions on channels in a wireless network Allocation of resources in a wireless network are described where resources are allocated for data of each channel having a second parameter above zero prior to another channel's data for transmission having a third parameter less than or equal to zero. The second parameter may be derived from a first channel's first parameter and the third parameter is derived from a second channel's first parameter.
US09681465B2	Methods and apparatus for power efficient operation of LTE based machine type communications Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications and, more particularly, to techniques for power efficient operation of LTE MTC. A method is provided wireless communications by a user equipment (UE). The method generally includes signaling information regarding traffic requirements for the UE to a base station (BS) for use in persistent scheduling (PS), receiving signaling from the BS indicating PS opportunities of traffic for the UE, powering on the radio components for the PS opportunities, and powering down radio components between PS opportunities when traffic is not expected.
US09681464B2	Cooperative transmission within heterogeneous stations A method for transmitting data in a wireless network comprises categorizing the data into at least two categories, each category being associated with a respective priority, directing the categorized data to a first base station and a second base station according to the respective priorities and respective access characteristics of each base station and transmitting the categorized data from the first base station and the second base station to a mobile station via associated bands.
US09681462B2	Multi-user parallel channel access in WLAN systems Method and apparatuses may provide multi-user parallel channel access (MU-PCA). For example, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is provided that belongs to a MU-PCA group of a plurality of WTRUs that are configured to simultaneously communicate via a plurality of channels managed by an access point (AP). The WTRU may include a receiver configured to receive a data message, from the AP, over a channel associated with the WTRU of the plurality of channels, wherein the data message is one of a group of multiple data messages transmitted simultaneously by the AP over the plurality of channels; and a transmitter configured to transmit a message to the AP over the channel associated with the WTRU, wherein the message includes an indication bit for notifying the AP whether the WTRU has uplink (UL) data to transmit to the AP.
US09681456B2	Method for reducing interference of user equipment in wireless access system, and the user equipment for the same A method for reducing interference of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless access system, and the user equipment (UE) for the same are disclosed. The method for reducing interference of a UE includes receiving a signal from a first base station (BS) and a second BS; and detecting a signal of the second BS from the reception signal, wherein allocation resources of the detection signal of the second BS is OFDM-symbol-level-shifted according to a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) of the first BS in such a manner that a control region does not overlap with another part.
US09681454B2	Uplink scheduler algorithm for orthogonal division multiple access systems The present invention provides a method of scheduling uplink transmissions from at least one access terminal to an access network. The method includes estimating, at the access network, at least one signal-to-noise ratio associated with each access terminal and determining, at the access network, a format for the packet based upon the estimated signal-to-noise ratio. The method also includes ranking access terminals and allocating, at the access network, resources to access terminals for transmission based on each access terminal's priority and the determined format of the packet and transmitting, from the access network, information indicative of the resources allocated to each access terminal.
US09681452B2	Carrier network access for multi-SIM devices Apparatuses, systems, and methods for multi-SIM user equipment (UE) devices to perform data operations with a packet data network of a carrier associated with a first SIM of the UE. An indication of a requested data operation with the packet data network of the carrier associated with the first SIM of the UE may be received. The UE may be operating in a dual SIM mode in which the packet data network of the carrier associated with the first SIM of the UE is unavailable. It may be determined if one or more conditions for performing the requested data operation are present and if a data path to perform the requested data operation is available. The requested data operation may be performed if the one or more conditions for performing the requested data operation are present and if a data path to perform the requested data operation is available.
US09681447B2	Dynamic local oscillator (LO) scheme and switchable receive (RX) chain for carrier aggregation Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency, a local oscillator (LO) divider ratio, and/or a receive path when adding or discontinuing reception of a component carrier (CC) in a carrier aggregation (CA) scheme. This dynamic adjustment is utilized to avoid (or at least reduce) VCO, LO, and transmit signal coupling issues with multiple component carriers, with minimal (or at least reduced) current consumption by the VCO and the LO divider.
US09681438B2	Method and device for information transmission in wireless communication system The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and more specifically relates to a method and device for transmitting information. A wireless communication system can support carrier aggregation (CA). In one aspect of the present invention, a method, in which a terminal receives information from a base station in a wireless communication, comprises the steps of: receiving, from the base station, first information on the transmission method of a first channel; receiving the receiving the first channel, from the base station, via at least one serving cell formed in the terminal; and carrying out decoding on the first channel in accordance with the first information. Therein, the first channel is an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH), and the terminal is capable of not carrying out decoding on the first channel in a frequency region in a present subframe.
US09681432B2	Method and apparatus for deactivating secondary carriers in mobile communication system using carrier aggregation A method and an apparatus in a mobile communication system are provided. The method by a terminal in the mobile communication system includes receiving, by the terminal, first information for activating a secondary cell (SCell) from a base station, activating, by the terminal, the SCell based on the first information, starting, by the terminal, a timer associated with the SCell, restarting, by the terminal, if second information for the activated SCell is received from the base station, the timer associated with the SCell, and if the timer expires, applying by the terminal, one or more corresponding actions for deactivating the SCell no later than in a predefined subframe. The one or more corresponding actions include at least one of preventing, by the terminal, from monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the SCell and preventing, by the terminal, from monitoring a PDCCH for the SCell.
US09681429B2	Method and device for allocating search space of control channel in subframe Disclosed are a method and a device for allocating a search space of a control channel in a subframe. A method for monitoring downlink control information comprises the steps of: acquiring first control information on a first enhanced-physical downlink control channel (e-PDCCH) by monitoring a common search space in a first slot of a subframe; and acquiring second control information on a second e-PDCCH by monitoring a user equipment (UE)-specific search space in a second slot of the subframe. Thus, a terminal can obtain cell-specific information through an e-PDCCH even without a legacy physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).
US09681428B2	Down-sampling of cell-specific reference signals (CRS) for a new carrier type (NCT) Technology for selecting physical resource blocks (PRB) for cell-specific reference signal (CRS) transmission for a new carrier type (NCT) is disclosed. In an example, device operable in an evolved Node B (eNB) to select physical resource blocks (PRB) for cell-specific reference signal (CRS) transmission for a new carrier type (NCT) can include computer circuitry configured to: Determine a frequency bandwidth for the NCT; and select a CRS pattern of PRBs for a transmission of the CRS in the frequency bandwidth, wherein the frequency bandwidth includes PRBs with CRS and PRBs without CRS.
US09681425B2	Rank-specific feedback for improved MIMO support A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which downlink transmission modes in a wireless network are semi-statically configured for a mobile terminal in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) operation. The apparatus provides multiple precoding matrix indicators (PMIs) for a plurality of ranks. The provision of multiple PMIs by the apparatus enables balanced performance among different ranks and avoids less than optimal performance observed when the apparatus provides only a single rank and PMI that are generally not optimal for all transmissions. Feedback configuration information received by an apparatus defines a plurality of channel state information feedback instances conditioned on an admissible rank value. Rank indicators (RIs) and PMIs corresponding to the feedback instances are determined and feedback is provided for the channel state information feedback instances.
US09681420B2	Beacon sharing platform Data is received that specifies at least one beacon associated with a first account and a first validity window specifying a time period during which the at least one beacon is to be associated with an additional account. Thereafter, a first entitlement is generated which, when registered by a second account, causes the at least one beacon to be associated with the second account until expiration of the first validity window. Prior to registration of the first entitlement and additionally outside the first validity window the at least one beacon is associated solely with the first account. After the registration of the first entitlement, the at least one beacon is caused to be associated with the second account during the first validity window. Other types of sharing parameters are also available such as sequencing, subsets of beacons, and the like.
US09681419B2	Seamless and resource efficient roaming for group call services on broadcast/multicast networks Various aspects and embodiments may provide seamless and resource efficient roaming for group call services on broadcast/multicast networks. In particular, upon a user equipment (UE) roaming or detecting an imminent move from a current Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) to a Visited PLMN (VPLMN), an application server in a Home PLMN associated with the UE may determine whether to establish a multicast bearer in the VPLMN if the UE has pre-registered for group call services in the VPLMN and provide the UE with information about bearers that will support the group call services in the VPLMN. For example, the multicast bearer may be established in the VPLMN if a number of users actively participating in the VPLMN exceeds a threshold, or the group call services may alternatively be supported over unicast service only if the number of actively participating users in the VPLMN is below the threshold.
US09681417B2	Paging method, apparatus, and system Embodiments of the present invention provide a paging method, apparatus, and system, so as to implement paging of UE in an area with relatively poor signal coverage. UE includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive a broadcast message sent by a base station; and a determining unit, configured to determine whether the UE is first UE where the determining unit is further configured to: in a case in which it is determined that the UE is the first UE, determine a start PF and a start PO according to the first radio frame parameter; the determining unit is further configured to determine a first subframe set according to the start PF and the start PO; and the receiving unit is further configured to receive, according to the start PF, the start PO, and the first subframe set, a paging message sent by the base station.
US09681415B2	Gateway device, mobile communication system, and paging method A gateway device (10) according to the present invention includes a memory (11) that stores information regarding an environment around a radio base station; a controller (12) that generates a message for paging a mobile station which camps on the radio base station to execute processing for determining information of a radio base station to which the message is transmitted based on the stored information; and a transmission unit (13) that transmits the message. Paging optimization is thus achieved by reducing the number of paging messages.
US09681413B1	Method of using aircraft for providing mobile network connection and locating subscribers in specified areas A system for tracking mobile subscribers, the system includes an aircraft having an on-board virtual BTS that substitutes for a stationary BTS. The virtual BTS emulates a behavior of the stationary BTS so as to be indistinguishable from the stationary BTS to the mobile device, including emulation of communication protocols and billing operations The virtual BTS communicate with the mobile devices. The virtual BTS includes a processor running Software Defined Radio (SDR) and a signal amplifier, the SDR receiving identifiers of the mobile devices. The aircraft includes a high-gain antenna for determining directions of signals from the mobile devices. A camera on board the aircraft takes images or video of an area on the ground. The processor collects and processes the images or video, the directions of the signals and the identifiers of the mobile devices to locate a specific subscriber. The processor transmits the processed information to a server.
US09681410B2	Communication apparatus and communication method, communication system, and computer program A communication system includes a plurality of communication stations arranged to respectively transmit a beacon on which beacon time information related to a beacon received from a peripheral communication station is placed at a predetermined transmission interval and control a beacon transmission timing of its own station while a collision with the beacon transmitted from the peripheral communication station is avoided on the basis of beacon information placed on the received beacon, in which at least a part of the communication stations includes means configured to decide a priority with respect to beacons received from at least one peripheral communication station and means configured to place beacon time information of a beacon having a high priority among the received beacons on a beacon of its own station, and transmits the beacon at a predetermined transmission interval.
US09681408B2	Determining clock-drift using signals of opportunity A method and apparatus for determining a drift between a local clock of a movable device and a reference clock that is used by one or more reference devices. The local clock may be calibrated at a calibration location and then the movable device may be moved to an operating location that is different from the calibration location. The drift is determined by observing one or more signals transmitted by the respective one or more reference devices, when the device is at the calibration location and when it is at the operating location. These observations are used together with a model of the signals to determine the drift.
US09681401B2	Enhanced power headroom reporting in wireless communication networks A method in a wireless communication device includes determining a first configured maximum transmit power (PCMAX) value corresponding to a first set of resource blocks (RBs) in a carrier for a subframe, wherein the first set of RBs includes less than a complete set of RBs constituting the carrier, determining a second PCMAX value corresponding to a second set of RBs in the carrier for the subframe, wherein the first and second sets of RBs are of a common type and the second set of RBs is different from the first set of RBs and the second set of RBs includes less than the complete set of RBs constituting the carrier. A composite report for the subframe including the first and second PCMAX values is then sent to a base station.
US09681398B2	Radio communication apparatus, communication control apparatus, radio communication method and communication control method [Object] To realize a mechanism for protecting a terminal connected to a small cell against harmful interference when idea of full-duplex radio communication is applied to a radio backhaul link and an access link of the small cell.[Solution] Provided is a communication control apparatus including: a control unit configured to, when transmission from a base station to a master terminal on a radio backhaul link and transmission from the master terminal to a radio communication apparatus on an access link are executed on the same channel at the same time, control transmission power of the base station and transmission power of the master terminal so that the radio communication apparatus is able to cancel a second received signal due to transmission on the radio backhaul link, the second received signal interfering with a first received signal on the access link, using an interference cancellation technique based on a received power difference.
US09681396B2	Power allocation in distributed antenna systems based on key performance indicators Certain aspects involve distributing power in a distributed antenna system. A subsystem of the distributed antenna system can receive key performance indicators for remote units and system factors that affect the key performance indicators. The subsystem can determine a radio frequency power to achieve key performance indicators based on the one or more system factors and configure the remote units to operate at the radio frequency power.
US09681395B2	Radio link monitoring for link-budget-limited devices A link-budget-limited wireless communication device (UE) may implement improved radio link monitoring procedures for enhancing the link-budget of the UE. The UE may monitor the radio link and may determine whether the radio link can support a lowest acceptable link quality according to a hysteresis-based comparison that uses threshold values to determine error rates associated with a physical control channel. The UE may also identify itself to the network as a link-budget-limited device, and the network may enable special link-budget enhancing features for the UE, including boosting the power of the resource elements (REs) carrying physical channel signaling/data to the UE. The UE may detect the presence of power boost and may estimate/determine the power boost level. The UE may modify the threshold values based on the power boost detection and/or results of the power boost level estimation/determination, and may use the modified threshold values for determining radio link quality during radio link monitoring.
US09681389B2	Integrated ultra wideband transceiver An integrated ultra wideband transceiver. The transceiver comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and at least one on-chip monopole antenna electrically connected to at least one of the transmitter or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving electrical signals. The transceiver further comprises a clock generator comprising a temperature-compensated relaxation oscillator, a baseband controller electrically connected to, and configured to exert a measure of control over, at least one the transmitter, receiver, or clock generator, and a micro-battery operative to provide operating power to each of the transmitter, receiver, clock generator, and baseband controller.
US09681381B2	Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device and method for adjusting operation mode of application processor based on information communicated within BLE packet A method of broadcasting a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) packet, the method is provided. The method includes generating a random address that includes service identification information of a device, writing the generated random address to a header of the BLE packet, and broadcasting the BLE packet including the header where the generated random address is written, wherein the service identification information of the device includes information to switch an Application Processor (AP) in an external device that receives the BLE packet from a sleep mode to an awake mode.
US09681380B2	Radio data communication method, base station, and user equipment Embodiments of the present invention provide a method includes: receiving, by a base station, a long DRX parameter sent by an RNC, where the long DRX parameter includes at least two of a cycle length of a long DRX cycle, a long DRX on length and a long DRX off length; determining, when the UE enters the CELL-FACH state, by the base station, and according to a first timer and a first preset duration corresponding to the first timer, that the UE enters the long DRX cycle; and determining, when the UE enters the long DRX cycle, by the base station, and according to the H-RNTI of the UE, the cycle length of the long DRX cycle and the long DRX on length, a radio subframe on which long DRX on of the UE is in the long DRX cycle.
US09681377B2	Method and apparatus for transmission management in a wireless communication system A method and apparatus may be used in wireless communications. The apparatus may be an access point (AP), and may transmit a power save frame. The power save frame may include one or more Uplink (UL) Transmission Times (ULT)s. The apparatus may determine that a station (STA) did not transmit during its respective ULT. The AP may transmit another power save frame. The other power save frame may include a modified ULT. The modified ULT may be for a STA that did not transmit during its respective ULT. The other power save frame may include an unmodified ULT. The unmodified ULT may be for a STA that did not transmit.
US09681375B2	Scheduling schemes for user equipment power saving in a communication network In a method of allocating wireless medium resources in a communication system, the communication system including a base station and a plurality of client stations sharing a channel bandwidth, a frequency sub-band of the channel bandwidth is selected for allocating wireless medium resources to a client station. Wireless medium resources are allocated at the base station to the client station. The base station is constrained to allocate wireless medium resources to the client station within the selected frequency sub-band. A subframe is generated for transmission to the client station. The subframe includes at least a data region that contains data for the client station. The data for the client station is confined to be within the selected frequency sub-band.
US09681374B2	Apparatus and method for controlling a change of operation state of a cell The present application discloses an apparatus and a method for controlling a change of operation state of a cell and a base station including the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a state change determining unit, configured to determine the change of operation state to be performed by the cell to be controlled, the change of operation state comprising change from active state to sleep state; and a sleep mode determining unit, configured to determine a sleep mode for the cell to be controlled so that the cell to be controlled has a different sleep mode from its adjacent cells, when the state change determining unit determines to perform the change of operation state of the cell to be controlled.
US09681373B2	Beacon jitter prediction for wireless local area network (LAN) devices A method for activating a wireless communication device, the method may include receiving, by the wireless communication device, a sequence of periodic transmissions; estimating, for each periodic transmission of the sequence of periodic transmissions and before a reception of the periodic transmission, an expected time of arrival of the periodic transmission; calculating, for each periodic transmission, a timing difference attribute that is responsive to at least a difference between a timing of arrival of the periodic transmission and an expected time of arrival of the periodic transmission; selecting a selected periodic transmission out of the sequence of periodic transmissions, wherein the selected periodic transmission is associated with a smallest timing difference attribute out of the timing difference attributes associated with the periodic transmissions of the sequence of periodic transmissions; estimating, before a reception of a future periodic transmission that does not belong to the sequence of periodic transmissions, an estimated time of arrival of the future periodic transmission in response to the selecting of the selected periodic transmission and a periodic transmission period; determining a wakening time for wakening the wireless communication device in response to the estimated time of arrival of the future periodic transmission; and wakening the wireless communication device at the wakening time and searching for the future periodic transmission.
US09681372B2	Terminal device and information processing apparatus [Object] To simplify the operation of a terminal device for performing D2D communication in which the same communication scheme as the communication scheme of cellular communication is adopted.[Solution] Provided is a terminal device including: a detection unit configured to detect a synchronization signal for wireless communication with a base station; and a control unit configured to control transmission of a synchronization signal for inter-device communication. A radio frame used in the wireless communication with the base station and a radio frame used in the inter-device communication have a same frame structure. A timing of the synchronization signal for the inter-device communication in the same frame structure is same as a timing of the synchronization signal for the wireless communication with the base station in the same frame structure.
US09681364B2	Wireless communication system, management device, wireless device, and wireless communication method A wireless communication system includes a wireless device configured to make a request to join a wireless network in a case that a first estimated joining time is reached, the first estimated joining time being a time to join the wireless network. In addition, the wireless communication system includes a management device configured to cause the wireless device that made a joining request to join the wireless network, and cause the wireless device to leave the wireless network, the leave of the wireless device being caused in a case that a wireless communication by the wireless device via the wireless network is completed.
US09681360B1	Managed access system that provides selective communications and registration of mobile wireless devices A managed access system for mobile wireless devices (MWDs) in a facility that is geographically within a wireless communications network includes a plurality of antennas at the facility. Radio equipment is coupled to the antennas. A management access controller cooperates with the radio equipment to communicate with a given MWD within the facility, block outside communications via the wireless communications network when the given MWD is an unauthorized MWD, and provide outside communications when the given MWD is an authorized MWD. The management access controller registers a candidate MWD as an authorized MWD and provides selective communications with both authorized and unauthorized MWD's within the facility.
US09681353B2	Communication apparatus and communication method An electronic device including processing circuitry configured to establish a first wireless communication channel with a user equipment (UE). The device also determines whether a second communication channel of at least a predetermined quality exists between the UE and a non co-baseband basestation (BS) while the first communication channel between the UE and the electronics device is maintained. The first communication channel and the second communication channel use different carrier resources.
US09681351B2	Apparatus, system, and method for predicting roaming patterns of mobile devices within wireless networks The disclosed apparatus may include (1) a storage device that maintains information about mobile devices roaming within a wireless network, (2) an AP-prediction unit that (A) determines, based at least in part on the information maintained in the storage device, a number of times that a mobile device has visited a specific AP within the wireless network, (C) generates, based at least in part on the number of times, a score that represents a probability that the specific AP is the next AP visited by the mobile device, and then (D) determines that the score is above a certain threshold, and (3) a profile-distribution unit that provides, in response to the determination that the score is above the certain threshold, the specific AP with a roaming-session profile that facilitates transferring a roaming session of the mobile device to the specific AP. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
US09681350B1	Differential routing of voice handover traffic and non-voice handover traffic in response to congestion on an inter-base-station interface Disclosed are methods and systems to facilitate differential routing of voice handover traffic and non-voice handover traffic. In particular, a wireless communication system may include a controller, a backhaul interface that passes through the controller, an inter-base-station interface that does not pass through the controller, as well as first and second base stations that are communicatively linked via (i) the backhaul interface and (ii) the inter-base-station interface. With this arrangement, the system may encounter a trigger to configure transmission of handover signaling between the first and second base stations, and may responsively configure itself to transmit (i) via the inter-base-station interface handover signaling that facilitates handover between the first and second base stations of ongoing voice communications and (ii) via the backhaul interface handover signaling that facilitates handover between the first and second base stations of communications other than ongoing voice communications.
US09681345B2	Data transmission method for mobile receiver in publish/subscribe system A method is disclosed providing data transmission for a mobile receiver in a publish/subscribe system. The method comprises: 1) handover trigger: detecting a new access router AR2 by a mobile receiver in the publish/subscribe system; and sending a handover trigger message comprising AR2 identification information from the mobile receiver to a router AR1 currently connected to the mobile receiver; 2) handover preparation: receiving the handover trigger message by the AR1; selecting a branch node of the most recent position before handover as a proxy for the mobile receiver; and forwarding data packets to paths of the mobile receiver before and after handover; and 3) handover execution: handover access router of the mobile receiver to AR2 by the proxy; after the step of handover access router, triggering AR2 and AR1 to update data transfer for the mobile receiver; sending the data packets through the AR2 to the mobile receiver. The present invention has high handover performance, and can reduce handover time delay and data packet loss.
US09681341B2	Channel enhancement in millimeter wavelength wireless access networks A base station (anchor node) determines that a channel quality for a UE is less than a threshold quality, and commands one or more base stations to adjust a periodicity of performing a beam sweep with the UE based on whether said channel quality is determined to be less than the threshold quality. A base station (mmW base station) adjusts a periodicity for performing a beam sweep with a UE based on a channel quality associated with the UE, and performs the beam sweep at the adjusted periodicity. The beam sweep is a plurality of transmissions of a beam in a plurality of different transmit spatial directions by one of the base station or the UE and a plurality of scans of the beam in a plurality of different scan spatial directions by an other of the one of the base station or the UE.
US09681340B2	Signaling framework for assistance information The present invention provides methods, apparatuses and a program relating to a signaling framework for assistance information. The present invention includes composing, at a source base station, to which a user equipment is connected, a first signaling message including information whether a target base station, to which handover of the user equipment is to be performed, supports assistance information, and transmitting the first signaling message to the user equipment.
US09681333B2	Enhancing packet aggregation performance in coexisting wireless networks A wireless combination device is coupled to an antenna for communicating via a first wireless network. A second wireless transceiver configured for communication via said second wireless network. A packet aggregator is coupled to the first wireless transceiver configures a frame aggregated packet for at least a portion of activities on the first wireless network. The frame aggregated packet includes a plurality of data packets and a dummy packet or spoofing so that said frame aggregated packet is extended in time or indicates an extension sufficient to overlap a Tx time interval or Rx time interval for communications occurring over a second wireless network. The first wireless network and said second wireless network are overlapping networks.
US09681328B2	Multiple modem device including notification modem A method, in a multiple modem device that includes a notification modem and a Wi-Fi modem, includes identifying data to be collected and rules for selecting an optimal modem for data transmission from the multiple modem device. The method also includes collecting the data, and determining whether the data is to be sent via the notification modem based on a payload size associated with the data and the rules. The method includes sending the data via a control channel of a cellular network associated with the notification modem in response to a determination that the data to be sent via the notification modem. A determination whether a Wi-Fi network is available is made in response to a determination that the data is not to be sent via the notification modem. The data is sent via the Wi-Fi modem over the Wi-Fi network.
US09681327B2	Wireless sensor network system A wireless sensor network system includes: sensor terminals and a management terminal. A sensor terminal sends a join request at a first transmission power; and the management terminal calculates the traffic load of nodes on the reception path of the join request. If the number of hops and the traffic load are both within respective permissible ranges, the management terminal sets the reception path as the communication route of the sensor terminal. If the number of hops and/or the load is not within the permissible rage, the management terminal reconstructs the communication path by outputting an instruction to the sensor terminal to make direct connection to the management terminal or a specified node with a low traffic load, at a second transmission power greater than the first transmission power. When receiving the instruction, the sensor terminal transmits to the management terminal or the specified node at the second transmission power.
US09681326B2	Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) mapping for carrier aggregation (CA) Technology for conditional hybrid automatic retransmission re-quest (HARQ) mapping for carrier aggregation (CA) is disclosed. One method can include a user equipment (UE) determining when a subframe for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission is configured for downlink semi-persistent scheduling (SPS). The subframe configured for downlink SPS can generate a first condition. The UE can generate HARQ-ACK states for the first condition for a HARQ bundling window with discontinuous transmission (DTX) padding for a secondary HARQ bundling window size for a secondary cell (SCell) and a primary HARQ bundling window size for a primary cell (PCell). The UE can generate HARQ-ACK states for a second condition for the HARQ bundling window with DTX padding including a DTX padding exception. The second condition can include conditions not covered by the first condition. The DTC padding exception can generate a set of HARQ-ACK states to uniquely define each padded HARQ-ACK state.
US09681325B2	Channel and interference measurement in LTE/LTE-A networks including unlicensed spectrum Channel and interference measurement in long term evolution (LTE)/LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) networks including unlicensed spectrum is discussed in which a user equipment (UE) detects a reference signal from a serving base station over a carrier of a shared spectrum for measurement. The reference signal may be a channel usage beacon signal (CUBS) transmitted by the serving base station prior to transmission or may be a specific channel state information (CSI) reference signal transmitted in the first subframe of a transmission frame. The UE generates a fast CSI feedback report based on the measured reference signal and transmits it to the serving base station. The fast CSI feedback report is received quickly enough by the serving base station such that the base station may apply the CSI feedback to additional transmissions in subsequent subframes within the same transmission frame.
US09681323B2	Connected mode network selection in WLAN-cellular interworked networks A method for network selection in a cellular and WLAN interworked network may include determining, by a UE, an association state between the UE and a WLAN access point. The UE may select a metric of the access point, based at least in part on the determined association state. The UE may determine a value of the metric. The UE may determine whether to report the value of the metric to a base station of the cellular wireless network, based on various factors. These factors may include the association state, the value of the at least one metric relative to a threshold value, a change in the association state, or receiving a reporting instruction from the base station. The UE may report the value of the metric to a base station, based on its determination. A base station may perform operations complementary to the UE, for network selection.
US09681320B2	System, apparatus, and method for the measurement, collection, and analysis of radio signals utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles A system, apparatus, and method for the measurement, collection, and analysis of radio signals are provided. A transport host device, including an unmanned aerial vehicle, can transport a scanning device into desired locations for autonomously collecting radio data for a wireless network, thereby enabling the rapid interrogation and optimization the wireless network, including in locations and spatial areas where previously known systems and methods have been impractical or impossible.
US09681318B1	System for application test Mobile devices executing applications utilize data services worldwide. Many failures or adverse user experiences of these applications have been determined to be the result of network issues. Testing of the applications for networking issues is facilitated by utilizing a test network having proxy devices placed at different physical locations. A tester may use the test network to direct traffic to and from an application under test to one of the proxy devices. Using the proxy device, the traffic is then exchanged with a real-world network, such as a cellular data network, at the different location. The tester may thus test operation of the application under test in real-world conditions at a variety of different physical locations. The results may be used to mitigate or eliminate the failures or adverse user experiences. Additional testing may also be performed on the application after deployment to end users.
US09681315B2	Method and apparatus for efficiently reporting a CQI/CSI measurement report To solve the above-mentioned problem, a method in which a terminal reports channel state information comprises the following steps: receiving, plurality from a base station, information on a plurality of patterns to be used in a channel state measurement; receiving, from the base station, selection information for selecting a pattern from among the plurality of patterns that is to be used in the channel state information to be reported to the base station; measuring a channel state using the information on the plurality of patterns; and selecting a portion of the measured channel state based on the selection information, and reporting the selected portion to the base station. The above-described solution enables the efficient reporting of channel state information including CQIICSI, thus improving communication efficiency.
US09681314B2	Self organizing radio access network in a software defined networking environment A self organizing network within a software defined networking environment is provided to allow for fast updating of radio access network parameters which enables optimization algorithms to converge on optimized configurations very quickly. The self organizing network is enabled by providing a self organizing network manager plug-in within a software defined networking environment that interfaces with a radio access network plug-in via a service abstraction layer to quickly obtain base station device parameters, iteratively adjust the base station device parameters to obtain optimized radio access network configurations to mitigate outages, reduce power consumption, manage load, or provide other benefits.
US09681313B2	Optimizing remote antenna unit performance using an alternative data channel A method and system for monitoring and optimizing a network may include configuring a remote antenna unit with a first transceiver for uplinking and downlinking a signal of a cellular service and with a second transceiver for uplinking and downlinking of the signal of at least one of a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi or Zigbee service. Performance data is collected from at least one user equipment configured for connecting to the remote antenna unit. The collected performance data is routed to a performance data collector configured to aggregate the performance data. The aggregated performance data is correlated. The network is optimized based on the correlated performance data.
US09681308B2	Multi-antenna distribution of wireless broadband in a building The disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for distributing a broadband wireless signal in a building. The disclosed methods and systems feature a wireless broadband transmitter associated with multiple base antennas, where the base antennas are inserted into one or more ducts of the ventilation system of the building. Communication between the transmitter and receivers within the building may be optimized by selecting, modifying or controlling a configuration parameter of at least one of the multiple base antennas to enhance distribution of the wireless broadband signal within the ducts of the ventilation system and between the transmitter and device receivers.
US09681305B2	System and method for multi-factor mobile user authentication A system and method are disclosed herein leveraging financial networks standards with mobile device data and SIM card chip knowledge to authenticate a device. For instance, a party to a transaction may utilize these elements of information, not traditionally associated with wireless transactions, to achieve a lower probability of fraud and/or a higher confidence associated with the transaction.
US09681304B2	Network and data security testing with mobile devices The present invention provides a network and data security testing app for mobile devices such as an Apple iPad, which is connected to the Internet via a wireless network. The app downloads and stores one or more network security or data loss test cases from a centralized server, which are then executed on the mobile device. For example, a test case attempts to access predetermined web pages through the wireless network and then determines whether access was granted. In another example, a test case attempts to transmit sensitive data through the network. Results of the test case are displayed on the mobile device and uploaded to the centralized server. The network and data security testing app also identifies whether access was granted to web pages hosting botnets, malicious web exploits, malicious web obfuscation, malicious iframe redirection, and malware files.
US09681301B2	Enabling emergency access to secure wireless communications networks Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for improving public safety communications and real-time information sharing to enable a public safety user to access available, secure private wireless communications (PWC) networks within a vicinity of an emergency for communications and data-sharing purposes. In an embodiment, a universal encryption key (UEK) is stored on a public safety access device. The public safety access device is providing access to a secure PWC network. The UEK is a key established by a certificate authority that enables public safety personnel to access the secure PWC network. Then, a public safety encryption key (PSKey) is received by the public safety access device from a user communication device. The public safety access device enables access for the user communication to access the secure PWC network upon a determination that the received PSKey is associated with the UEK.
US09681299B2	Deauthenticating and disassociating unauthorized access points with spoofed management frames A spoofed management frame is sent to an unauthorized access point (AP) on behalf of a station from an authorized AP, using a media access control (MAC) address of the station. The spoofed frame triggers a security association (SA) query from an unauthorized AP to reestablish valid communications. An acknowledgment (ACK) frame sent from the client to the unauthorized AP responsive to the SA query request is detected by the AP. A probe response is sent to the client. The probe response includes a channel switching element. The channel switching prevents the client from completing the SA process before a time out.
US09681293B2	System for transmitting a data signal in a network, method, mobile transmitting device and network device A system for transmitting a data signal is provided, comprising a plurality of network devices; a network connecting the plurality of network devices based on at least a first communication carrier, wherein the first communication carrier is a wired communication carrier; a network key generator configured to generate a network key; a mobile transmitting device configured to transmit the network key to at least one of the plurality of network devices on a second communication carrier, wherein the second communication carrier is a wireless carrier, and wherein the network devices are configured to communicate with the other network devices based on a link encryption key based on the network key. A corresponding method, a mobile transmitting device and a network device are provided as well.
US09681288B2	Methods and apparatuses for determining cell access during a cell search In an embodiment, a method for determining the type of a mobile radio base station is provided. The method may include receiving a synchronization message comprising a mobile radio base station identifier, and determining the type of a mobile radio base station using a previously signaled and stored piece of mobile radio base station type determining information indicating a rule as to how the type of a mobile radio base station out of a plurality of types of a mobile radio base station can be derived from a mobile radio base station identifier and the received mobile radio base station identifier.
US09681285B2	Device discovery method, user equipment, server, and system The present invention discloses a device discovery method which relates to the field of communications technologies, and can reduce signaling interaction in a process of discovering a nearby device and lower power consumption of the UE. The method in the present invention mainly includes: receiving, by a server, a discovery request, where the discovery request is used to request to discover another UE near a user equipment UE, and the discovery request includes a discovery category indication; generating discovery configuration information according to the discovery category indication, and sending the discovery configuration information to a base station or the UE, where the discovery configuration information is used to configure a parameter that is used when the base station or the UE detects another nearby UE; and receiving a discovery result sent by the base station or the UE.
US09681283B2	Packet-based usage tracking for a wireless device A method for tracking usage of a wireless device includes monitoring, at a tracking device connected to and different from a wireless network, information regarding a first data packet sent from a wireless device to the wireless network, wherein the information regarding the first data packet includes an identifier of the wireless device, an identifier of a first type of wireless service, and an amount of data included in the first data packet.
US09681282B2	Techniques for supporting telematics-enhanced emergency calls from mobile phones Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable mediums are described for techniques for supporting telematics-enhanced emergency calls from mobile phones. In some aspects, a method for wireless communication may include establishing, by a user equipment (UE), a personal telematics-enhanced emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP), wherein the UE is capable of transmitting telematics data. The method may also include transmitting information that distinguishes the personal telematics-enhanced emergency call from other types of emergency calls.
US09681277B2	Method of transmitting message and electronic device thereof Disclosed are an electronic device and a method for transmitting a message. A method of operating an electronic device may include: determining by a processor whether a call with a counterpart electronic device is possible; and transmitting a call wish message through a communication network to the counterpart electronic device when the call is not possible based on a result of the determination.
US09681275B2	Method and system for providing media stored in a PoC box in a PoC system A method is provided for managing media in a Push-To-Talk (PTT) over Cellular (PoC) box in an aggregation proxy server for sending media to a PoC User Equipment (UE) in a PoC system. The aggregation proxy server receives a PoC session control data request message which is associated with media information stored in the PoC box from the PoC UE. The PoC session control data request message for requesting the media information stored in the PoC box, is sent to the PoC box. The media information is received from the PoC box in response to the PoC session control data request message, and the media information received from the PoC box is sent to the PoC UE. The media information includes a parameter related to media stored in the PoC box.
US09681274B2	Communication device, non-transitory storage medium, and call control method A communication device has a function to make a group call to a plurality of other communication devices in a half-duplex communication system. The communication device includes: a receiving module configured to, after the communication device makes a call to start the group call and the other communication device at the called side make an automatic reply to the incoming call, receive first notification information transmitted from the other communication device according to a first notification operation performed by a user of the other communication device, the first notification information including first identification information configured to identify the other communication device; and a notification execution module configured to make a notification that a user of the other communication device identified based on the first identification information participates in the group call.
US09681271B2	Apparatus and method for providing location-based service using indoor positioning An apparatus for providing a location-based service includes: a rules registry unit to register an event rule information based on an inheritance module for setting rules; a positioning information acquisition unit to obtain a positioning-related information of a user terminal device from a positioning apparatus; an event determining unit to determine whetheran event with respect to the event rule information occurs or not by using the positioning-related information to generate a determination result information; an event processing unit to generate a process information based on the determination result information; and a service providing unit configured to transmit the process information to the user terminal device.
US09681270B2	Device localization based on a learning model Methods and systems of localizing a device are presented. In an example method, a communication signal from a device is received by a wireless reference point during a period of time. A sequence of values is generated from the communication signal, as received by the wireless reference point, during the period of time. The sequence of values is supplied to a learning model configured to generate an output based on past values of the sequence of values and at least one predicted future value of the sequence of values. The current location of the device is estimated during the period of time based on the output of the learning model.
US09681267B2	Positioning techniques for narrowband wireless signals under dense multipath conditions Techniques and systems for position determination using narrowband signals are disclosed. A disclosed technique includes receiving, at a wireless device, signals that are transmitted at different times, each of the signals having a different carrier frequency and representing a different subchannel of a wireless channel; determining estimated magnitudes of the subchannels based respectively on the signals; determining estimated group delays of the subchannels based respectively on the signals; determining an estimated channel frequency response of the wireless channel based on the estimated magnitudes and the estimated group delays; determining a propagation delay of the signals based on the estimated channel frequency response; and generating position information based on the propagation delay.
US09681261B2	Method and apparatus of providing integrity protection for proximity-based service discovery with extended discovery range The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, specifically, the method is directed to perform a ProSe discovery procedure by a first ProSe-enabled UE in a cellular communication system, the method comprising: encrypting a payload of a discovery signal by using a private key of the first ProSe-enabled UE; adding a public key of the first ProSe-enabled UE to the payload of the discovery signal; and transmitting the discovery signal including the payload and the public key of the first ProSe-enabled UE to one or more second ProSe-enabled UEs, wherein the public key of the first ProSe-enabled UE is used for the one or more second ProSe-enabled UEs to decrypt the payload of the discovery signal.
US09681260B2	Device selection for user interface A system including a processor to create a history database in a storage medium for storing signal strength history records, each history record including an indication of one or more signals and a signal strength for each of the one or more signals detected by a mobile device, each of the history records being mapped to a rendering device, receive a first signal strength record, compare the first signal strength record to at least some of the history records to find one of the at least some history records which is a sufficiently close match to the first signal strength record, wherein the sufficiently close matching history record is mapped to a first rendering device, select the first rendering device for the user interface software to send control commands to, and store the first signal strength record in the history database mapped to the selected rendering device.
US09681257B2	Data downlink transmission method and device The present invention discloses a data downlink transmission method and a device, and belongs to the field of communications technologies. The method includes: receiving, by an MTC-IWF device, a first message sent by a server, where the first message includes downlink data that needs to be sent to a user equipment; and acquiring, by the MTC-IWF device, locally stored serving node information of the user equipment, and sending a second message to a serving node of the UE according to the serving node information of the UE, where the second message includes the downlink data that needs to be sent to the user equipment, so that the serving node sends the downlink data to the user equipment.
US09681253B2	Systems and method for configuring mobile device applications based on location Methods and systems for automatically configuring mobile device applications based on location are described. In an example, methods and systems for enabling contextual in-store experience modification on a mobile device can include capabilities for altering the functionality of a mobile application based at least in part on the location of the mobile device. For example, a mobile shopping application can be configured to perform different functions depending upon the type of retail location the mobile device is currently in. Additionally, the mobile application can be configured to enable different functions between a retail location and a user's residence, among other locations.
US09681250B2	Statistical modelling, interpolation, measurement and anthropometry based prediction of head-related transfer functions A system for generating and outputting three-dimensional audio data using head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) includes a processor configured to perform operations comprising: using a collection of previously measured HRTFs for audio signals corresponding to multiple directions for at least one subject; performing non-parametric Gaussian process hyper-parameter training on the collection of previously measured HRTFs to generate one or more predicted HRTFs that are different from the previously measured HRTFs; and generating and outputting three-dimensional audio data based on at least the one or more predicted HRTFs.
US09681248B2	Systems, methods, and apparatus for playback of three-dimensional audio Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems, methods, and apparatus for playback of three-dimensional audio sound. In one embodiment, a system can include at least one input module operable to receive a mono audio signal. The system can also include at least one processing module operable to convert the mono audio signal to a six channel signal, wherein the six channel signal is played back over a 3D-EA array of speakers, wherein the 3D-EA array of speakers facilitates a dome-shaped listening environment around a listener. In at least one embodiment, the at least one processing module is further operable to receive sonic spatial data, and based at least in part on the sonic spatial data, modify volume and/or delay associated with the six channel signal.
US09681245B1	Moving binaural sound of a voice of a person during a telephone call A method executed by one or more electronic devices in an electronic system moves binaural sound of a voice of a person during a telephone call. During the telephone call, the voice of the person is convolved with head related transfer functions (HRTFs) to externally localize the voice as binaural sound. A command moves the voice from externally localizing as binaural sound to internally localizing as one of mono sound or stereo sound.
US09681243B2	In-plane overtravel stops for MEMS microphone A MEMS microphone including a plurality of overtravel stops (OTS) connected to a perimeter of a membrane of the MEMS microphone. The OTS are released from a backplate layer during manufacturing and are configured to contact the backplate to restrict movement of the OTS and thus restrict movement of the membrane of the MEMS microphone. Embodiments of the invention provide, in particular, an overtravel stop that limits movement of the membrane in a radial direction.
US09681239B2	Audio output apparatus and method for audio correction An audio output apparatus and a method for audio correction is provided. An audio correction method of an audio output apparatus may include receiving a test signal from a terminal device, generating correction filter information of the terminal device based on the received test signal and a standard signal of the terminal device, and in response to an audio signal being received from the terminal device, correcting the received audio signal based on the correction filter information.
US09681233B2	Loudspeaker diaphragm Embodiments are provided for configurations of a loudspeaker. The loudspeaker may include a frame, a magnetic structure having a magnetic gap, a voice coil suspended within the magnetic gap, a first suspension element, a diaphragm, and a second suspension element. The first suspension element may have an inner rim and an outer rim attached to the frame. The diaphragm may have an outer portion and a continuous central portion attached to the voice coil via a first coupler. The outer portion of the diaphragm may be attached to the inner rim of the first suspension element. The second suspension element may have an inner rim and an outer rim attached to the frame. The inner rim of the second suspension element may be attached to the diaphragm via a second coupler along a circumferential middle section of the diaphragm between the continuous central portion and outer portion of the diaphragm.
US09681227B2	Audio output device and method for determining a speaker cone excursion An audio output device is described comprising a speaker; an audio output circuit configured to receive a first audio signal and configured to supply the first audio signal and a second audio signal to the speaker, wherein the second audio signal comprises a higher frequency than the first audio signal; a microphone configured to receive an acoustic signal from the speaker in response to the first audio signal and the second audio signal and to convert the acoustic signal into a received audio signal and a determiner configured to determine a phase of a frequency component of the received audio signal corresponding to the second audio signal and to determine an excursion of the speaker by the first audio signal based on the phase.
US09681226B2	Optical fiber decoding-based wireless gaming headset An optical fiber decoding-based wireless gaming headset includes: an audio digital signal interface (1), a transmitter (2), and a wireless headset body (3). The audio digital signal interface (1) is electrically connected with the transmitter (2). The transmitter (2) is in wireless communication connection with the wireless headset body (3). The audio digital signal interface (1) includes an optical fiber receiving head (11) for receiving a sound optical fiber signal generated by a game console and a USB interface (12). The transmitter (2) includes a photoelectric conversion circuit (21), a USB interface signal receiving circuit (22) and a first wireless transmitting module (23). The wireless headset body (3) includes left and right horns (31), a microphone (32), a second wireless transmitting module (33) and a DA/AD conversion circuit (34).
US09681224B2	Broadcast receiving apparatus and audio output method thereof Provided are a broadcast receiving apparatus and an audio output method thereof, and more particularly, a broadcast receiving apparatus and an audio output method thereof in which an audio included in a broadcast signal that is received through a selected broadcast channel and then decoded is output to a built-in speaker. Some embodiments provide a broadcast receiving apparatus and an audio output method thereof in which, among audio, video, and/or additional information included in a broadcast signal received through a selected broadcast channel corresponding to a control signal received from a remote controller, the audio is selectively output in response to status information of a connected display apparatus.
US09681223B2	Smart line-in processing in a group Technology for smart line-in processing in an audio environment is disclosed. An example playback device includes a line-in connector for receiving a first audio signal, a network interface, and a processor. A computer readable storage medium has stored instructions executable by the processor to determine that the first audio signal is present at the line-in connector, and, in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the line-in connector, (i) cease playback of a second audio signal being played by the playback device, wherein the second audio signal is not present at the line-in connector, (ii) cause the playback device to play at least a first portion of the first audio signal, and (iii) cause the playback device to transmit, via the network interface, at least a second portion of the first audio signal to another playback device.
US09681216B2	Electronic device including acoustically isolated passive radiator within a baffle space and related methods An electronic device may include a housing having an audio output port therein, a display carried by the housing, and an internal partition carried within the housing and defining a baffle space behind at least a portion of the display. The electronic device may also include an audio output transducer carried by the internal partition and acoustically coupled to the audio output port, and a passive radiator within the baffle space, acoustically coupled between the audio output transducer and the display, and acoustically isolated from the audio output port.
US09681215B2	Speaker module A speaker module includes a casing and a speaker unit housed and fixed in the casing, a rear acoustic cavity being formed between the casing and the speaker unit, wherein at least one baffle wall is provided on the casing in the rear acoustic cavity and divides the rear acoustic cavity into at least two cavities, and wherein at least one slit is formed between the baffle walls or on the baffle wall, so that sound generated by the speaker unit can spread to an adjacent cavity inside the rear acoustic cavity through the slit.
US09681214B2	Integrated earbud antenna for receiving television broadcasts A method and apparatus for adapting an electronic device to receive digital television broadcast signals is disclosed. The device comprises a switch commandable to interpose one or more matching networks as in the RF signal path according to a channel command to match an integrated headset antenna to the tuner receiving the RF signals.
US09681213B2	Headphone device, audio device, and method for operating a headphone device A headphone device includes an electric input terminal for receiving an electric audio signal, an electric energy storage device, and a charging device coupled to the electric input terminal and the electric energy storage device. The charging device is configured to charge the electric energy storage device with electric energy from the electric audio signal. An audio device includes an electric output terminal for outputting an electric audio signal from an audio source of the audio device, and an audio energy supply device configured to generate an additional electric audio signal with a frequency above a first frequency value and/or a frequency below a second frequency value, and to output the additional electric audio signal via the electric output terminal.
US09681211B2	System and method for a microphone amplifier In accordance with an embodiment, a two-wire microphone includes an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes an amplifier having a power supply connection coupled to a first pin of the integrated circuit and a reference connection coupled to a second pin of the integrated circuit, and an impedance element having a first end coupled to an output of the amplifier and a second end coupled to a first node within the integrated circuit.
US09681208B2	Data processing method, communications board and device Embodiments of the present invention provide a data processing method, a communications board and a device. The method includes: acquiring, by a first communications board, an optical channel data unit ODU data flow; performing, by the first communications board, slicing processing on the ODU data flow according to a fixed frame frequency, so as to obtain various slices, where each slice includes a section of continuous ODU data in the ODU data flow; separately encapsulating, by the first communications board, each slice into an Ethernet frame; and sending, by the first communications board, each Ethernet frame to a time division multiplexing TDM service switching module in an Ethernet switching chip, so that the TDM service switching module sends each Ethernet frame to a second communications board to which a destination MAC address carried in the Ethernet frame directs.
US09681207B2	Local buffers in a liquid crystal on silicon chip An example embodiment includes a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) system. The LCOS system includes multiple pixels, a pixel voltage supply source (voltage source), an external buffer, and a local buffer. The voltage source is configured to supply an analog ramp to the pixels. The external buffer is configured to buffer the voltage source from the pixels. The local buffer is configured to buffer the external buffer from a subset of pixels of the plurality of pixels.
US09681200B2	Data processing method and device A data processing device includes a processor that executes a procedure. The procedure includes, in cases in which display of a player name is included in one or more frames among a group of frames related to a given plate appearance extracted from captured baseball game footage that includes plural frames, identifying the displayed player name as the name of the batter of the given plate appearance; and storing the identified name in a storage device as a batter name corresponding to the group of frames related to the given plate appearance.
US09681198B2	Dynamic generation of trick mode data System and method for generating trick mode data from streaming media content, are described. A media device receives streaming media content. During the streaming, the media device identifies a plurality of key frames from the media content, and also generates trick mode data from the plurality of key frames. The trick mode data generated during the streaming of the media content is used to perform a trick mode operation on the media content.
US09681197B2	Methods of implementing multi mode trickplay A method of operating a server and an IP client device for presentation of video content to a viewer that includes a trickplay function. The server partitions media chunks into several sub chunks and includes information about the sub chunks in a manifest. The client plays the needed sub chunks to implement a desired play rate. As an alternative to providing sub chunk information in the manifest, the server sends key frame information in the manifest. The client plays needed frames of the key frames to implement a desired play rate. The sub chunk information as well as key frame information is encoded into the manifest as a standard comment or chunk filename. In another alternative, the IP client sends a trickplay request and based on that, the server signals either the sub chunks to be played or the key frames to be played to affect the desired speed. In yet another variation, the server can also remove the unwanted sub chunks or key frames to affect the desired play rate at the IP client.
US09681194B2	Presentation of an avatar in association with a merchant system A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to retrieve a user profile, cause a presentation device to present a user an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, detect one or more responses of the user, identify from the one or more responses a need to communicate with a merchant system, establish a communication session with the merchant system, receive a notification from the merchant system of a merchant avatar engine, establish communication with the merchant avatar engine, adapt the characteristics of the avatar at least in part according to instructions supplied by the merchant avatar engine, and cause the presentation device to present the user the adapted avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09681193B2	Locally controllable interactive game system and methods of creating the same Various embodiments facilitate multi-user gaming. In one embodiment, a locally controllable interactive game system is provided to support a plurality of users within a single household. The locally controllable interactive game system includes a host and a plurality of thin clients. The host and the plurality of thin clients allow respective users to play video games independently or together for multi-player video games. The host is coupled to a plurality of video game content providers by a world wide web. In one embodiment, the host consolidates video game content from the plurality of video game content providers. The plurality of thin clients is coupled to the host by a local area network. In one embodiment, each thin client obtains user video game content from the host and utilizes the user video game content to provide a video game to a respective user.
US09681190B2	Method and apparatus for presenting media programs Systems and processes that incorporate teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying temporal actions initiated by equipment of users during presentation of a media program to the equipment of users. A timeline is modified that corresponds to a linear progression of the media program, wherein the modified timeline includes symbols indicative of the temporal actions. The modified timeline is provided to the equipment of the users. The modified timeline is presented at displays of the equipment of the plurality of users, together with the media program. The symbols are situated in relation to the presentation of the media program, wherein the symbols can be selected by input cursors at the displays of the equipment of the users. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09681188B2	Display device and operating method thereof A method for operating a display device according to an embodiment includes acquiring an image of a plurality of users, recognizing a plurality of faces respectively corresponding to the plurality of users from the acquired image, checking a viewing state of media content for each user, when the plurality of users respectively corresponding to the plurality of recognized faces are registered users, acquiring viewing information corresponding to at least one of the plurality of registered users of which the viewing state has been changed from a viewing maintaining state in which the media content is viewed to a not-viewing state in which the media content is not viewed, and performing a re-viewing function on the basis of the acquired viewing information when a face of the user of which the viewing state has been changed is re-recognized.
US09681186B2	Method, apparatus and computer program product for gathering and presenting emotional response to an event Provided herein is a method, apparatus and computer program product for gathering and presenting emotional response to an event in the form of an emotional response timeline. In particular, the method may include generating a timeline of a collected emotional response of a user relative to an event, selecting, by a processor, a portion of the timeline of the emotional response that meets at least one predefined criterion, and generating an edited event based on the portion of the timeline of the emotional response that meets the at least one predetermined criterion. The emotional response may include one or more of a heart rate, a facial expression, a vocalization, or a facial flush. The at least one predetermined criterion may include an emotional response above a predefined threshold.
US09681180B2	Apparatus and method for communicating media between communication devices A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a display device having a controller to wirelessly receive media; wirelessly receive control signals for presentation of the media from a mobile communication device; and selectively disable control by the display device over presentation of the media on the display device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09681177B2	Method for processing additional information related to an announced service or content in an NRT service and a broadcast receiver A method of processing additional information related to an announced service or content in a Non-Real Time (NRT) service and the broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of providing a Non-Real Time (NRT) service in a broadcasting receiver includes receiving a service map table (SMT) and a first descriptor through a service signaling channel, identifying an image identifier and an image type of an image for an NRT service based upon the first descriptor, receiving the image via a flute session and displaying the image when corresponding service is played, wherein the image is logo or icon data for the NRT service. The method may further include connecting a service signaling channel, parsing the received SMT and the first descriptor, determining whether a service is the NRT service based upon the parsed SMT and storing the received image.
US09681171B2	Providing second screen content based on a frequency code A device configured to receive a request, from a server, to provide frequency code information identifying a frequency code. The frequency code includes frequencies to be emitted by a broadcasting device that presents a first content. The device may generate a code based on the request. The device may receive a second content from the server. The device may store the second content and the code so that the second content is associated with the code. The device may generate the frequency code information based on the code. The device may provide the frequency code information for the frequency code to be emitted by the broadcasting device. The device may receive the code from a listening device that detected the frequency code emitted by the broadcasting device. The device may provide the second content associated with the code to the listening device.
US09681170B2	Information processing system, portable information terminal apparatus, information processing method, program information providing apparatus, program information providing method, recording/reproducing apparatus, recording/reroducing method, computer-program storage medium, and computer-program An object of the present invention is to provide a system that allows a user to preset a desired TV program for unattended recording by use of a PDA. A PDA acquires from a TV program information service provider TV program information by which to preset a desired TV program to be recorded unattended. When the user selects relevant TV information about the desired program, the PDA sends to a personal computer the information for presetting the TV program of interest for subsequent unattended recording. Based on the preset information sent from the PDA, the personal computer presets the specified TV program to be recorded unattended.
US09681168B2	Recommending a composite channel Recommending channels is disclosed. A method for recommending a channel includes identifying multiple component channels of a content platform. The method further includes generating a user interest score for the user for each of the component channels. The method further includes defining a composite channel that includes a subset of the component channels. The method further includes providing a recommendation to the user to subscribe to the composite channel.
US09681167B2	Technique for providing program guide data through a communications network delivering programming content In order to efficiently utilize the limited transmission bandwidth of a communications network, e.g., a cable network, guide data for constructing an interactive program guide (IPG) is delivered to a set-top terminal using different methodologies. For example, the guide data associated with those programs which are likely of interest to a user is automatically provided piecemeal in a broadcast stream. The set-top terminal, along with other terminals, may retrieve from such a broadcast stream some or all of the guide data therein over time, which is cached in the terminal in anticipation of a user's invocation of an IPG. On the other hand, the guide data associated with those programs which are less likely of interest to a user is furnished upon request by the set-top terminal needing such guide data to realize an IPG desired by the user. In addition, guide data for each program may be divided into detail guide data providing details of the program (e.g., a synopsis of the program content), and grid guide data providing basic information about the program (e.g., title, channel and broadcast time). A first time window and a second time window may be defined such that the grid guide data associated with those programs broadcast within the first time window and the detail guide data associated with those programs broadcast within the second time window are automatically provided in the broadcast stream. The rest of the detail and grid guide data may be furnished upon request when needed.
US09681164B2	System and method for managing program assets A method of operating a communications system storing assets for later transmission, is disclosed. The assets have respective expiration dates beyond which a right to transmit expires. The method comprises checking an expiration date of an asset and deleting the asset from storage based, at least in part, on the expiration date, a predetermined period of time added to or subtracted from the expiration date and/or whether the asset has been selected for later viewing. The predetermined period of time may provide a grace period for completing viewing of a selected asset by a user, either after or before the expiration date, depending on the rights to the asset granted by the source of the asset. The period of time may depend on a playtime of the asset and may be added to the expiration date only if the asset has been selected for viewing. Systems are also disclosed.
US09681162B1	Systems and methods for determining quality levels for videos to be uploaded Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can define a set of video quality levels. One or more social engagement signals associated with videos uploaded at each video quality level out of the set of video quality levels can be acquired. Information associated with each user out of a set of users can be acquired. A respective video quality level for each user can be determined based on at least one of the information associated with each user or the one or more social engagement signals.
US09681158B1	Predicting engagement in video content User engagement in unwatched videos is predicted by collecting and aggregating data describing user engagement with watched videos. The data are normalized to reduce the influence of factors other than the content of the videos on user engagement. Engagement metrics are calculated for segments of watched videos that indicate user engagement with each segment relative to overall user engagement with the watched videos. Features of the watched videos within time windows are characterized, and a function is learned that relates the features of the videos within the time windows to the engagement metrics for the time windows. The features of a time window of an unwatched video are characterized, and the learned function is applied to the features to predict user engagement to the time window of the unwatched video. The unwatched video can be enhanced based on the predicted user engagement.
US09681154B2	System and method for depth-guided filtering in a video conference environment A method is provided in one example embodiment that includes generating a depth map that corresponds to a video image and filtering the depth map with the video image to create a filtered depth map. The video image can be filtered with the filtered depth map to create an image. In one example implementation, the video image is filtered using extended depth-guided filtering that is incorporated into a video encoding-decoding loop.
US09681153B2	Motion video predict coding method, motion video predict coding device, motion video predict coding program, motion video predict decoding method, motion predict decoding device, and motion video predict decoding program A video predictive coding system includes a video predictive encoding device having: an input circuit to receive pictures constituting a video sequence; an encoding circuit which conducts predictive coding of a target picture using, as reference pictures, pictures encoded and reconstructed in the past, to generate compressed picture data; a reconstruction circuit to decode the compressed picture data to reconstruct a reproduced picture; picture storage to store the reproduced picture as a reference picture for encoding of a subsequent picture; and a buffer management circuit which controls the picture storage, (prior to predictive encoding of the target picture), on the basis of buffer description information BD[k] related to reference pictures used in predictive encoding of the target picture, encodes the buffer description information BD[k] with reference to buffer description information BD[m] for a picture different from the target picture, and adds encoded data thereof to the compressed picture data.
US09681151B2	Parallel motion estimation in video coding Methods for improved parallel motion estimation are provided that decouple the merging candidate list derivation and motion estimation for merge mode and skip mode and the advanced motion vector predictor (AMVP) candidate list construction from regular motion estimation to increase the coding quality in parallel motion estimation while meeting throughput requirements. This decoupling may be accomplished by modifying the availability rules for spatial motion data (SMD) positions for construction of the candidate lists. As part of the decoupling, largest coding units (LCUs) of a picture may be divided into non-overlapping parallel motion estimation regions (PMER) of equal size. Within a PMER, motion estimation for merge mode, skip mode, and normal inter-prediction mode may be performed in parallel for all the prediction units (PUs) in the PMER.
US09681150B2	Optical flow determination using pyramidal block matching An image processing system includes a processor and optical flow determination logic. The optical flow determination logic is to quantify relative motion of a feature present in a first frame of video and a second frame of video with respect to the two frames of video. The optical flow determination logic configures the processor to convert each of the frames of video into a hierarchical image pyramid. The image pyramid comprises a plurality of image levels. Image resolution is reduced at each higher one of the image levels. For each image level and for each pixel in the first frame, the processor is configured to establish an initial estimate of a location of the pixel in the second frame and to apply a plurality of sequential searches, starting from the initial estimate, that establish refined estimates of the location of the pixel in the second frame.
US09681147B2	Compression of image ensembles using tensor decomposition A computer-implemented method is provided for compressing a collection of images. The method includes: receiving image data for an image ensemble composed of a plurality of images; dividing the image data into a plurality of data blocks; decomposing each data block from the plurality of data blocks into a set of rank-one tensors by estimating each rank-one tensor individually, where each rank-one tensor is represented by three one-dimensional vectors; arranging the rank-one tensors for each of the plurality of data blocks into a two-dimensional matrix, where the decomposer is implemented by computer processor; compressing the two-dimensional matrix using a compression operation; and storing the compressed two-dimensional matrix in a non-transitory data store.
US09681135B2	Method for palette table initialization and management A method and apparatus for palette coding of a block of video data using a shared palette/palette prediction buffer are disclosed. The system receives a bitstream including compressed data associated with a current palette coded block and determines a palette predictor for the current palette coded block stored in a shared palette/palette predictor buffer. Reuse flags for entries of the current palette are used to update the current palette stored in the shared palette/palette predictor buffer. Any new signaled entry will be inserted to the shared palette/palette predictor buffer. An updated palette predictor for a next palette coded block is generated accordingly. A method of palette management and initialization for first palette-coded block in a high-level video structure is also disclosed. The high-level video structure may correspond to a slice, wavefront, sequence or picture.
US09681132B2	Methods and apparatus for adaptive loop filtering in video encoders and decoders Various implementations provide filtering for pictures. Several such implementations attempt to reduce artifacts caused by over-filtering in a decoding loop. Certain of these implementations provide multiple loop filters, and select a loop filter based on the result of a deblocking 5 filter. One particular implementation applies a first filter to a picture to produce a filtered picture. A second filter is selected based on a difference between a value of a particular pixel in the filtered picture and a value of a corresponding pixel in the picture. The second filter is applied to the particular pixel in the filtered picture. In another implementation, a signal or signal structure includes 10 an indication of the second filter, an encoding of at least a portion of a picture, and an encoding of at least a portion of a subsequent picture that has been encoded based on the output of the second filter above.

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