US08785298B2
A method of singulating a semiconductor wafer having two surfaces separated by a thickness T<200 μm includes partitioning it along a network of scribelines on one side. The other side is secured to an elastic foil, which is clamped to a wafer table. A radiative scribing tool is used to produce at least one laser beam having a pulse duration P≦75 ps, and causing the laser beam to scan along each of the scribelines so as to create a scribe with a depth D
US08785296B2
A packaging method with backside wafer dicing includes the steps of forming a support structure at the front surface of the wafer then depositing a metal layer on a center area of the backside of the wafer after grinding the wafer backside to reduce the wafer thickness; detecting from the backside of the wafer sections of scribe lines formed in the front surface in the region between the edge of the metal layer and the edge of the wafer and cutting the wafer and the metal layer from the wafer backside along a straight line formed by extending a scribe line section detected from the wafer backside.
US08785291B2
Doped wells, gate stacks, and embedded source and drain regions are formed on, or in, a semiconductor substrate, followed by formation of shallow trenches in the semiconductor substrate. The shallow trenches can be formed by forming a planarized material layer over the doped wells, the gate stacks, and the embedded source and drain regions; patterning the planarized material layer; and transferring the pattern in the planarized material layer into the gate stacks, embedded source and drain regions, and the doped wells. The shallow trenches are filled with a dielectric material to form shallow trench isolation structures. Alternately, the shallow trenches can be formed by applying a photoresist over the doped wells, the gate stacks, and the embedded source and drain regions, and subsequently etching exposed portions of the underlying structures. After removal of the photoresist, shallow trench isolation structures can be formed by filling the shallow trenches.
US08785285B2
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a channel region in a workpiece, and forming a source or drain region proximate the channel region. The source or drain region includes a contact resistance-lowering material layer comprising SiP, SiAs, or a silicide. The source or drain region also includes a channel-stressing material layer comprising SiCP or SiCAs.
US08785284B1
FinFETs and fin isolation structures and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method includes patterning a bulk substrate to form a plurality of fin structures of a first dimension and of a second dimension. The method includes forming oxide material in spaces between the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension and the second dimension. The method includes forming a capping material over sidewalls of selected ones of the fin structures of the first dimension and the second dimension. The method includes recessing the oxide material to expose the bulk substrate on sidewalls below the capping material. The method includes performing an oxidation process to form silicon on insulation fin structures and bulk fin structures with gating. The method further includes forming a gate structure over the SOI fin structures and the bulk fin structures.
US08785282B2
A method of making a transistor includes etching a first side of a gate, the gate including an oxide layer formed over a substrate and a conductive material formed over the oxide layer, the etching removing a first portion of the conductive material, implanting an impurity region into the substrate such that the impurity region is self-aligned, and etching a second side of the gate to remove a second portion of the conductive material.
US08785275B2
Methods for fabricating an electronic device and electronic devices therefrom are provided. A method includes forming one or more masking layers on a semiconducting surface of a substrate and forming a plurality of dielectric isolation features and a plurality of fin-type projections using the masking layer. The method also includes processing the masking layers and the plurality of fin-type projections to provide an inverted T-shaped cross-section for the plurality of fin-type projections that includes a distal extension portion and a proximal base portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of bottom gate layers on the distal extension portion and forming a plurality of control gate layers on the plurality of dielectric isolation features and the plurality of bottom gate layers.
US08785271B2
A capacitor is formed in nano channels in a conductive body. Embodiments include forming a source contact through a first inter layer dielectric (ILD), forming a conductive body on the first ILD, forming a second ILD on the conductive body, forming drain and gate contacts through the second ILD, conductive body, and first ILD, forming nano channels in the conductive body, forming an insulating layer in the channels, and metalizing the channels. An embodiment includes forming the nano channels by forming a mask on the second ILD, the mask having features with a pitch of 50 nanometers (nm) to 100 nm, etching the second ILD through the mask, etching the conductive body through the mask to a depth of 80% to 90% of the thickness of the conductive body, and removing the mask.
US08785270B2
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of trenches including active gate trenches in an active area and gate runner/termination trenches and shield electrode pickup trenches in a termination area outside the active area. The gate runner/termination trenches include one or more trenches that define a mesa located outside an active area. A first conductive region is formed in the plurality of trenches. An intermediate dielectric region and termination protection region are formed in the trenches that define the mesa. A second conductive region is formed in the portion of the trenches that define the mesa. The second conductive region is electrically isolated from the first conductive region by the intermediate dielectric region. A first electrical contact is made to the second conductive regions and a second electrical contact to the first conductive region in the shield electrode pickup trenches. One or more Schottky diodes are formed within the mesa.
US08785263B2
A thin-film transistor substrate includes a gate line, and a gate electrode connected to the gate line, on a base substrate; an insulating layer on the gate electrode, the insulating layer including a first part and a second part, the first part having a hydrophobic property and the second part having a hydrophilic property; a data line extended in a different direction from the gate line, and a source electrode connected to the data line and on the second part of the insulating layer; a drain electrode on the second part of the insulating layer, the drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode; a semi-conductor pattern overlapping the source electrode, the drain electrode and a gap between the spaced apart source and drain electrodes, where the semi-conductor pattern exposes the first part of the insulating layer; and a pixel electrode in contact with the drain electrode.
US08785261B2
The present disclosure relates to the field of microelectronic transistor fabrication and, more particularly, to forming a graphene layer as a channel layer for a microelectronic transistor.
US08785248B2
Wafer level packaging using a lead-frame. When used to package two or more chips, a final product having QFN package-like finish. The final product will also have a performance rivaling or exceeding that of a corresponding monolithic chip because of the very close connection of the two or more chips and the ability to tailor the fabrication processing of each chip to only that required for the devices on that chip. The wafer level packaging can also be used to package monolithic chips, as well as chips having active devices on one chip and passive devices on a second chip. Various exemplary embodiments are disclosed.
US08785243B2
A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor array panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes, forming a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, and an oxide semiconductor layer on a substrate, first heat treating the substrate comprising the oxide semiconductor layer, forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on the oxide semiconductor layer, the source and drain electrodes facing each other, and forming a passivation layer on the source electrode and the drain electrode. The first heat treating is performed at more than 1 atmosphere and at most 50 or less atmospheres.
US08785233B2
Methods of fabricating solar cell emitter regions using silicon nano-particles and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a method of fabricating an emitter region of a solar cell includes forming a region of doped silicon nano-particles above a dielectric layer disposed above a surface of a substrate of the solar cell. A layer of silicon is formed on the region of doped silicon nano-particles. At least a portion of the layer of silicon is mixed with at least a portion of the region of doped silicon nano-particles to form a doped polycrystalline silicon layer disposed on the dielectric layer.
US08785225B2
A thin-film transistor (TFT) pixel structure and manufacturing method thereof are described. The TFT pixel structure includes a substrate, first conducting layer, gate insulation layer, channel layer, second conducting layer, contact holes, passivation layer and transparent conducting layer. The method includes: forming gate insulation layer on substrate and covering scan lines, gate electrode layer and shielding layer; forming the second conducting layer on substrate; and patterning the second conducting layer for generating data lines, drain layer, and source layer on channel layer to construct thin-film transistors, channel layer being disposed between the shielding layer and source layer, wherein when light beam illuminates on substrate, the shielding layer is correspondingly disposed to channel layer along an emitting direction of the light beam for shielding channel layer from light beam by the shielding layer to solve the problems of abnormal display quality and image sticking and maintain aperture rate.
US08785224B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same to improve an image quality of the organic light emitting display apparatus. The organic light emitting display apparatus includes: a first electrode formed on a substrate; an intermediate layer disposed on the first electrode, the intermediate layer having an organic emission layer; and a second electrode formed on the intermediate layer, wherein the first electrode includes an etching unit facing the intermediate layer.
US08785218B2
A solar cell system making method includes steps of making a round P-N junction preform by (a) stacking a P-type silicon layer and a N-type silicon layer on top of each other, and (b) forming a P-N junction near an interface between the P-type silicon layer and the N-type silicon layer; stacking the plurality of P-N junction preforms along a first direction and forming an electrode layer between each adjacent two of the plurality of P-N junction preforms; and forming a first collection electrode on a first of the plurality of P-N junction preforms and forming a second collection electrode on a last of the plurality of P-N junction preforms to form a cylindrical solar cell system. Further, a step of cutting the cylindrical solar cell system can be performed.
US08785203B2
The invention provides reagents, methods and kits for detection of proteins and quantitative determination of protein concentration. The reagents comprise a protein-complexing dye, such as a Coomassie dye and one or more dextrins, for the elimination of interference caused by detergents.
US08785199B2
Disclosed are a culture medium, an additive, and a method for efficiently inducing the differentiation of mammalian somatic stem cells into cells having the characteristics of adipocytes under conditions of serum-free or low-serum culture medium. The culture medium for inducing the differentiation of mammalian somatic stem cells into adipocytes comprises a basal medium for culturing mammalian cells, an agent for inducing the differentiation of mammalian somatic stem cells into adipocytes, biotin, a ligand for endothelial cell differentiation gene (Edg) family receptors, vitamin C, and HEPES, which culture medium is serum-free or contains a low concentration of serum.
US08785192B2
The invention generally regards methods for providing endothelial cells and precursors of endothelial cells from a variety of cell sources, such as pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are therapeutic compositions including the provided endothelial cells, and methods of using them for the treatment of subjects.
US08785190B2
Disclosed herein are cell preparations useful for modulating various peripheral immune functions, methods for making said cell preparations, and methods for their use.
US08785188B2
A method for formulating T-cells for use as a medicant comprises activating the T-cells by incubating the T-cells in a nutrient culture media with an activating agent. The T-cells together with the activating agent are suspended in a media suitable for infusion. The activated T-cells are packaged together with the activating agent in a container suitable for administration to a patient.
US08785168B2
The present invention provides improved formulations for lysosomal enzymes useful for enzyme replacement therapy. Among other things, the present invention provides formulations that preserve or enhance the stability and/or efficacy of a lysosomal enzyme such as acid alpha-glucosidase.
US08785167B2
A biocompatible article including (a) a biocompatible hydrogel; (b) an adhesive coating on at least a portion of the hydrogel; and (c) one or more organisms adhered to at least a portion of the adhesive coating is disclosed.
US08785161B2
There is disclosed a method for producing L-amino acid, for example L-threonine, L-lysine, L-histidine, L-phenylalanine, L-arginine or L-glutamic acid, using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein the bacterium has been modified to enhance an activity of D-xylose permease.
US08785156B2
Methods of using TLE3 as a marker for predicting the likelihood that a patient's cancer will respond to chemotherapy. Methods of using TLE3 as a marker for selecting a chemotherapy for a cancer.
US08785155B2
A method is presented for the production of cellulosic ethanol, acetic acid and derivatives from the extract containing fibers and hemicelluloses after steam cooking of biomass in a host plant. The process is integrated with the host plant process to minimize the effect of loss of heat value from the extracted hemicelluloses and eliminate the need for the waste water treatment plant.
US08785149B2
The present invention provides neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity screening methods employing primary cultured neurons from Drosophila.
US08785147B2
A method for analyzing L-threonine contained in an specimen, which includes the steps of mixing a sample containing the specimen with an L-threonine dehydrogenase derived from Cupriavidus necator and a coenzyme NAD+ and analyzing the amount of NADH or 2-amino-3-oxobutyric acid after a predetermined period; an L-threonine dehydrogenase derived from Cupriavidus necator, which is a novel L-threonine dehydrogenase (TDH; EC 1.1.1.103) and can be utilized in the above-mentioned analysis method; a method for preparing a gene or the like to be used in the preparation of the enzyme, or a method for preparing the enzyme; an L-threonine analysis kit which includes (A) the L-threonine dehydrogenase and (B) a coenzyme NAD+; an enzyme preparation for use in the analysis of L-threonine, which includes the L-threonine dehydrogenase contained in a buffer solution; and an enzyme sensor utilizing the L-threonine dehydrogenase.
US08785139B2
Disclosed herein are methods, systems and kits to measure the presence and/or activity of recombinant polypeptides comprising a modification.
US08785133B2
A process of detection of pandemic swine flu virus H1N1 type in a sample is provided herein. Also provided are highly specific oligonucleotides useful for rapid detection of swine flu virus in a sample, as well as swine flu virus specific isothermal gene amplification assay for early clinical diagnosis of H1N1 human patients.
US08785132B2
The present invention provides methods for identifying the plurality of aptamers that bind to different sites of a target molecule and methods for using the same, for example, in sandwich assays. In particular, the plurality of aptamers binding to different sites of the target molecules is identified from a library of aptamers identified from the same SELEX process.
US08785127B2
The invention relates to methods and devices for analyzing single molecules, i.e., nucleic acids. Such single molecules may be derived from natural samples, such as cells, tissues, soil, air, and water without separating or enriching individual components. In certain aspects of the invention, the methods and devices are useful in performing nucleic acid sequence analysis by probe hybridization.
US08785121B2
Provided is a novel nucleic acid molecule that is a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule including an expression inhibitory sequence that inhibits expression of a target gene. The single-stranded nucleic acid molecule includes, in sequence from the 5′ side to the 3′ side: a 5′ side region (Xc); an inner region (Z); and a 3′ side region (Yc). The inner region (Z) is composed of an inner 5′ side region (X) and an inner 3′ side region (Y) that are linked to each other. The 5′ side region (Xc) is complementary to the inner 5′ side region (X). The 3′ side region (Yc) is complementary to the inner 3′ side region (Y). At least one of the inner region (Z), the 5′ side region (Xc), and the 3′ side region (Yc) includes the expression inhibitory sequence.
US08785117B2
A bioartificial liver system is described that incorporates a cell reservoir and hepatocyte spheroids to both increase the number of and longevity of cells in the system. Additional methods are also described for forming spheroid aggregates from isolated hepatocytes.
US08785116B2
Methods of determining the health of an organ, such as a transplant organ, by measuring the ex-situ oxygen consumption rate of the organ. Systems for preserving and transporting organs while monitoring viability by measuring oxygen consumption rates.
US08785115B2
A photoresist removal method is described. A substrate having thereon a positive photoresist layer to be removed is provided. The positive photoresist layer is UV-exposed without using a photomask. A development liquid is used to remove the UV-exposed positive photoresist layer. The substrate as provided may further have thereon a sacrificial masking layer under the positive photoresist layer. The sacrificial masking layer is removed after the UV-exposed positive photoresist layer is removed.
US08785106B2
A resist composition including: a base component (A) that exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution by the action of acid; a photoreactive quencher (C); and an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, wherein the photoreactive quencher (C) contains a compound (C) represented by general formula (c1) shown below. In the formula, X represents a cyclic group of 3 to 30 carbon atoms which may have a substituent; R1 represents a divalent linking group; R2 represents an arylene group which may have a substituent, and each of R3 and R4 independently represents an aryl group which may have a substituent; R3 and R4 may be mutually bonded with the sulfur atom to form a ring; R5 represents a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group or a fluorinated alkyl group; p represents an integer of 0 to 2; and q represents an integer of 0 to 3.
US08785103B2
Disclosed is a photosensitive novolac resin including a structural unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 and structural unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 2, wherein R11, R12, R13, and R14 in Chemical Formulae 1 and 2 are the same as defined in the detailed description, a positive photosensitive resin composition including the same, a photosensitive resin film fabricated using the same, and a semiconductor device including the photosensitive resin composition.
US08785095B2
Disclosed is a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image, including a toner particle coated with a combination of sol-gel silica particles, hydrophobically surface-treated fumed silica particles, and hydrophobically surface-treated titanium dioxide particles.
US08785093B2
An image forming toner, including a mother particle including a paraffin wax having a melting point of from 60 to 90° C. and a binder resin, wherein the mother particle has an endothermic peak of the paraffin wax of from 2.0 J/g to 5.5 J/g when measured by a DSC and an aspect ratio of from 0.8 to 0.90.
US08785088B2
Provided is a colored composition including at least one selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (I) and a tautomer thereof: wherein in formula (I), R2 to R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent; R7 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; Ma represents a metal or a metal compound; X3 and X4 each independently represent NR, a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom, wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an acyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, or an arylsulfonyl group; X5 represents a group required to neutralize the charge of Ma; a represents 1 or 2; and R8 to R17 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, provided that at least one of R8 to R17 represents a particular polymerizable substituent.
US08785065B2
The present invention provides a catalyst for generating hydrogen, containing a composite metal of iron and nickel, the catalyst used in a decomposition reaction of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and hydrates thereof; and a method for generating hydrogen, including contacting the catalyst for generating hydrogen with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and hydrates thereof. According to the invention, hydrogen can be efficiently generated with improved selectivity in the method for generating hydrogen that utilizes the decomposition reaction of hydrogen.
US08785061B2
To provide a CO conversion catalyst for use in a fuel cell in a DSS operation, which includes a Cu—Al-Ox catalyst, in which the Cu—Al-Ox catalyst has a boehmite phase formed in at least a part of the Cu—Al-Ox catalyst. The CO conversion catalyst has an improved degree of dispersion of Cu metal by the boehmite phase formed therein, and hence can be prevented from sintering of copper caused due to steam, thereby achieving improved durability with respect to the function as the CO conversion catalyst.
US08785055B2
Novel electric battery systems are disclosed utilizing selected ionic liquids as electrolytes and selected metals and metal oxides as electrodes. The ionic liquids utilize a substituted imidazolium cation, which does not have the corrosive safety and environmental concerns associated with corrosive acid and alkali electrolytes.
US08785054B2
In a lithium ion battery, one or more chelating agents may be attached to a microporous polymer separator for placement between a negative electrode and a positive electrode or to a polymer binder material used to construct the negative electrode, the positive electrode, or both. The chelating agents may comprise, for example, at least one of a crown ether, a podand, a lariat ether, a calixarene, a calixcrown, or mixtures thereof. The chelating agents can help improve the useful life of the lithium ion battery by complexing with unwanted metal cations that may become present in the battery's electrolyte solution while, at the same time, not significantly interfering with the movement of lithium ions between the negative and positive electrodes.
US08785049B2
A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a core including crystalline carbon, a metal nano particle and a MOx nano particle (where x is from 0.5 to 1.5, and M is Si, Sn, In, Al, or a combination thereof) disposed on the core surface, and a coating layer including an amorphous carbon surrounding the core surface, the metal nano particle and the MOx nano particle. A lithium rechargeable battery includes the negative active material.
US08785048B2
A carbonaceous material used as a polarizable active material in an electric double layer capacitor is characterized in that, when measured by an electron spin resonance method without adding any additives, the obtained peak line width is 2 mT or less, and the peak intensity, which is converted into a number of unpaired electrons per 1 g, is 1×1019 or more. A method for producing the carbonaceous material includes removing residual functional groups from the carbonaceous material so that reactions between the residual functional groups and the electrolytic liquid are suppressed when forming a capacitor.
US08785040B2
A positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery including a net-type current collector and a positive active material layer formed on both sides of the current collector and also including a positive active material and a binder and having a thickness of about 150 μm or more, a method of manufacturing the same, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.
US08785018B2
Disclosed herein is a battery pack case. An upper cover, a lower support base and each side cover form at least one seating depression extending in a sideways direction. Each of the front and rear covers has band locking depressions at positions corresponding to the seating depressions. Each band locking depression has a shape corresponding to a related one of fixing bands. Each fixing band includes a band body which is made of rubber, fabric or plastic and extends a predetermined length in one direction, and a locking protrusion provided on each of opposite ends of the band body. The locking protrusion has a structure corresponding to a related one of the band locking depressions. The locking protrusions of the fixing bands are inserted into the corresponding band locking depressions, thus fastening the elements including the front cover and the rear cover together.
US08785017B2
Disclosed is a secondary battery that comprises an electrode assembly, a can accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly coupled to an upper portion of the can and including an upper cap that transfers a current of the electrode assembly to an exterior of the can. The upper cap includes a terminal part including a first flat portion disposed at a center of the upper cap and a second flat portion extending from a periphery of the first flat portion, a peripheral part disposed at a periphery of the terminal part and stepped from the terminal part, and a connection part connecting the terminal part to the peripheral part.
US08785013B2
Compositions containing modified fullerenes and their use, for example, as films for membranes in electrode assemblies for electrochemical cells and fuel cells such as fuel cells are described.
US08785006B2
An anthracene derivative having a specific asymmetric structure is provided. The asymmetric anthracenes are useful in an organic electroluminescence device and exhibit efficient light emission and a long performance lifetime.
US08785003B2
An organic EL device material includes at least a unit including 3,5-biscarbazolylphenyl group, a unit including 4-carbazolylphenyl group, and a compound including a unit including a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring bonding the unit including 3,5-biscarbazolylphenyl group and the unit including 4-carbazolylphenyl group.
US08785000B2
Steel strip provided with a hot dip galvanized zinc alloy coating layer, in which the coating of the steel strip is carried out in a bath of molten zinc alloy, the zinc alloy in the coating consisting of: 0.3-2.3 weight % magnesium; 0.6-2.3 weight % aluminum; optional <0.2 weight % of one or more additional elements; unavoidable impurities; the remainder being zinc in which the zinc alloy coating layer has a thickness of 3-12 μm.
US08784999B2
The invention relates to an extruded or rolled clad metal article having a core metal layer and a cladding metal layer on at least one surface of the core layer, wherein the metals of the core metal layer and the cladding metal layer are each aluminum alloys, preferably an aluminum-magnesium alloy, having at least Sc in a range of 0.05% to 1%, and wherein the Sc-content in the core metal layer is lower than in the cladding metal layer. This further relates to a welded structure incorporating such a metal article.
US08784994B2
A process for treating the surface of magnesium alloy comprises providing a substrate made of magnesium alloy. The substrate is then treated with a chemical conversion treatment solution containing cerium nitrate and potassium permanganate as main film forming agents, to form a cerium conversion film on the substrate. A ceramic coating comprising refractory metal compound is next formed on the cerium conversion film by physical vapor deposition.
US08784989B2
A sealant composition having from about 0.1 to about 90 weight % of a polymer selected from the group consisting of butyls, acrylics, urethanes, polysulfides, and silicone modified polymers, and at least one C4 to C8 alkyl terephthalate.
US08784987B2
A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer for optical films. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can prevent light leakage caused by stress associated with dimensional change of a component such as an optical film, that has reworkability, and that has satisfactory processability. A pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film produced using the layer is also provided. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is prepared with the use of a composition which includes a (meth)acrylic polymer including (a) 34 to 94% by weight of an alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer unit, (b) 5 to 50% by weight of an aromatic ring-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit, and (c) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of an amino group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer unit; 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a peroxide as a crosslinking agent; and 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent based on 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic polymer.
US08784984B2
A microcapsule comprising A) a core containing a hydrophobic liquid or wax, B) a polymeric shell comprising a) a polymer formed from a monomer mixture containing: i) 1 to 95% by weight of a hydrophobic mono functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, ii) 5 to 99% by weight of a polyfunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and iii) 0 to 60% by weight of other mono functional monomer, and b) a further hydrophobic polymer which is insoluble in the hydrophobic liquid or wax. The invention includes a process for the manufacture of particles and the use of particles in articles, such as fabrics, and coating compositions, especially for textiles.
US08784981B2
A stainless steel-and-resin composite includes a stainless steel part and a resin part bonded to the stainless steel part. The stainless steel part has a porous film resulted from anodizing formed thereon. The porous film defines pores with an average diameter of about 100 nm-500 nm. The resin part is integrally bonded to the surface of the stainless steel part having the porous film, with portions of the resin part penetrating in the pores. The resin part mainly comprises crystalline thermoplastic synthetic resin.
US08784975B2
A wafer article includes a substrate, two or more hydrophilic areas disposed on the substrate, hydrophobic areas surrounding the hydrophilic areas, and a eutectic bonding material disposed on the substrate. A wafer apparatus including two wafers having complimentary hydrophilic regions and eutectic bonding material is disclosed and a method of forming a bonded wafer articles is disclosed.
US08784970B2
A fluorite having all the more excellent laser durability compared to a conventional fluorite is provided. A fluorite is proposed, in which the standard deviation of the surface areas of the Voronoi regions in a diagram from a Voronoi segmentation of the distribution of etch-pits in the (111) plane is 6,000 μm2 or less, or, in which the standard deviation of the distances of the Delaunay edges in a diagram from a Delaunay segmentation of the distribution of etch-pits of the (111) plane is 80 μm or less.
US08784968B2
A waterproof breathable material has a higher strength-to-weight ratio and higher tear resistance-to-weight ratio than traditional materials, and may be applied in a wide field of potential uses. A non-woven composite material comprises at least one waterproof breathable (W/B) membrane, a first unidirectional non-woven composite layer having multiple fibers enclosed by adhesive in parallel to each other, a second unidirectional non-woven composite layer having multiple fibers enclosed in adhesive in parallel to each other. The first unidirectional non-woven composite layer is positioned such that the fibers are oriented 90° relative to the fibers of the second unidirectional non-woven composite layer, and a space is formed between the first and second multiple fibers. No adhesive is present in the space.
US08784958B2
In a multilayer film including a first layer (1), a second layer (2), a third layer (3), a fourth layer (4) and a fifth layer (5) stacked in this order, the first layer (1) is composed of a propylene-ethylene random copolymer and/or a polypropylene homopolymer, and the second layer (2) and the fourth layer (4) are each composed of a mixture of a propylene-ethylene random copolymer and an α-olefin elastomer. The third layer (3) is composed of a mixture of a polycycloolefin and polyethylene, and the fifth layer (5) is composed of a mixture containing a polypropylene homopolymer and a propylene-ethylene random copolymer in a weight ratio of 90:10 to 10:90. A container is formed of the multilayer film with an outer layer and an inner layer thereof being defined by the first layer (1) and the fifth layer (5), respectively.
US08784951B2
A method of forming an insulation film on a semiconductor substrate by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD), includes: (i) adsorbing a non-excited non-halide precursor having four or more silicon atoms in its molecule onto a substrate placed in a reaction space; (ii) supplying an oxygen-free reactant to the reaction space without applying RF power so as to expose the precursor-adsorbed substrate to the reactant; and (iii) after step (ii), applying RF power to the reaction space while the oxygen-free reactant is supplied in the reaction space; and (iv) repeating steps (i) to (iii) as a cycle, thereby depositing an insulation film on the substrate.
US08784949B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for the remote plasma surface treatment of substrate particles at atmospheric pressure. The invention is motivated by the urge to overcome major drawbacks of particle treatment in low pressure plasmas and in-situ particle treatment at atmospheric pressure. The former requires complex and mostly expensive vacuum installations and vacuum locks usually prohibiting continuous processing. Independent of the system pressure, in-situ plasma treatment causes particle charging and therefore undesirable interaction with the electric field of the discharge, which is seen to contribute to the process of reactor clogging. Additionally, the filamentary discharges modes of atmospheric pressure plasmas are inflicted with inhomogeneous surface treatment. Furthermore, short radical lifetimes at elevated pressures complicate a remote plasma treatment approach as widely used in low pressure applications. The key-element of the invention is that by reducing the dimension of the atmospheric discharge arrangement to the micrometer range, transonic flow conditions can be achieved in the discharge zone while maintaining moderate flow rates. The resulting superimposition of high drift velocity in the gas flow and the inherent diffusion movement is to prolong the displacement distance of activated species, thus making a remote plasma treatment of substrate particles feasible and economically interesting. The circumferential arrangement of e.g. micro discharge channels around the treatment zone of variable length allows a remote plasma treatment independently of the discharge mode and benefits additionally from the aerodynamic focusing of a particle-gas stream to the center, reducing reactor clogging. Furthermore, taking advantage of non-thermal discharges, there is no restriction of the concept of the outlined invention in the material properties of the particulate solids especially not with regard to the treatment of temperature sensitive materials as often encountered in polymer or pharmaceutical industries. In conclusion, atmospheric pressure plasma treatment close to ambient gas temperature as well as continuous processing is a specialty of the invention disclosed here.
US08784944B2
A ceramic thermal barrier coating having improved erosion resistance includes a metallic layer and a ceramic layer positioned on the metallic layer. The ceramic layer includes a first powder, a second powder, and a third powder. The first powder and the second powder are alloyed together prior to being mixed with the third powder.
US08784929B2
A method for producing a bilayer of amphipathic molecules comprising providing a hydrated support and providing a hydrophilic body, and bringing the hydrated support and hydrophilic body into contact to form a bilayer of amphipathic molecules. A bilayer produced by the method of the invention, and uses of the bilayer.
US08784921B2
As a method for an efficient concentration of lipid components from food materials, a method for concentrating lipids contained in a crustacean, which comprises heating squeezed liquid prepared by squeezing the whole crustacean or a part thereof and separating the heated squeezed liquid into solids containing lipid components and liquid containing water-soluble components. Those are useful as the method by which lipids abundantly containing the phospholipid are prepared easily and at a low cost. Furthermore, the solids containing the lipids prepared by said method or a dried product thereof, lipids extracted therefrom and a composition abundantly containing the useful lipids derived from crustaceans are useful as materials for pharmaceuticals, ingredients for foods or feed, etc.
US08784919B2
The present invention is a method of preparing a tuber for consumption, with the tuber having added food ingredients in the tuber. The tuber is thoroughly cooked. The tuber is frozen to provide rigidity about the skin of the tuber, while leaving a portion of the flesh unfrozen. A portion of the flesh of the tuber is removed either prior to or after cooking. The desired added food material is inserted through a hole in the skin and into the void where flesh of the tuber was removed. The tuber may then be completely frozen for later preparation and consumption.
US08784916B2
A packaging for foodstuffs and/or semi-luxury products produced in the form of bars, such as chocolate bars, containing two or more bars lying on top of each other, wherein each bar is wrapped in a sheet on all sides and the bars thus wrapped are enveloped by a wrapper sheet, characterized in that all bars lie flatly on top of each other in the form of a stack of bars and all bars lying on top of each other are embraced by a single continuous wrapper sheet, namely on at least three adjacent sides of each individual bar, with all fold lines of the wrapper sheet running parallel to each other.
US08784913B2
Use of dried rehydratable food, such as in a dried soup, a dried beverage, a breakfast cereal, a yoghurt and a dried sauce, is widespread. However it has been observed that when the dried components are fruit and/or vegetable, the components, on rehydration, do not resemble the fruit and/or vegetable before desiccation. That is to say they no longer have a fresh appearance but are discoloured and lack firmness. This transformation is due to cellular damage which occurs during desiccation. In particular, it is thought that phospholipid membranes are destabilised by insertion of cellular amphiphiles, phase transition into the gel phase and membrane fusion. This invention seeks to solve the above-mentioned technical problem by providing, amongst other things, a dried rehydratable food which is a fruit, vegetable or part thereof which, on rehydration, has improved appearance, texture and rehydration properties. In particular, a dried rehydratable food is provided, the food comprising less than 10% w/w water and at least 0.02% w/w of a dehydrin protein and derivatives thereof, the dehydrin protein and derivatives thereof comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of K,I,K,E,K,L,P,G; K,I,K,E/D,K,L/I,P,G; and K,I,K,E/D,K,L/I/TA/,P/H/S,G, and wherein the dried rehydratable food is unbroken tissue of a vegetable or part thereof and/or a fruit or part thereof, and not a seed, wherein the unbroken tissue has a shortest linear dimension of at least 0.5 millimeters, preferably a shortest linear dimension of 0.5 to 25, more preferably 0.5 to 10 millimeters. A food product comprising the dried rehydratable food and methods for manufacturing the dried rehydratable food are also provided.
US08784908B1
A composition of a bone repair mixture has a quantity of allograft particulate bone having a bone particle distribution of particle sizes less than 700 micron and a quantity of biologic carrier material intermixed with the particulate bone. The biologic carrier material is one of collagen, porous collagen or a collagen mixture. Preferably, the carrier material is exclusively collagen.
US08784906B2
A vaginal lubricant of primarily organic materials has excellent properties for relieving vaginal dryness.
US08784896B2
Methods are provided for isolating and using a whole-saliva leech extract. The methods can include feeding a phagostimulatory agent to a leech; inducing a regurgitation in the leech, the inducing including placing the leech in an environment having a temperature of less than about 0° C.; and, collecting an unrefined, whole saliva in the regurgitation of the cooled leech. The methods can include revitalizing the leech by warming it at a temperature ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. Stable, lyophilized, whole-saliva extracts of a leech are also provided, the extract having a stable activity when stored for use at a temperature below about −20° C., the extract maintaining at least 70% of the activity for at least 6 months. The extracts can be used to treat solid tumors, treat liquid tumors, treat diabetes, treat a viral disease, treat a parasitic disease, treat an antibacterial disease, or serve as an anti-oxidant.
US08784895B2
The present invention provides nanoparticles including a metallic core having a length along each axis of from 1 to 100 nanometers and a coating disposed on at least part of the surface of the metallic core, wherein the coating comprises polydopamine, along with methods for making and using such nanoparticles. The metallic core may be gold, silver or iron oxide and the polydopamine coating may have other substances bound to it, such as silver, targeting ligands or antibodies, or other therapeutic or imaging contrast agents. The disclosed nanoparticles can be targeted to cells for treating cancer or bacterial infections, and for use in diagnostic imaging.
US08784893B2
Disclosed in the present application are compositions comprising a bioresorbable polymer matrix and a bio active agent, wherein the bioactive agent is dispersed within polymer matrix as a solid. Also provided herein are methods for preparing a bioactive agent formulation, wherein the agent is present in a solid form and, wherein the agent is occluded into a polymeric matrix by polymerization of polymer matrix precursors or by self assembly of the polymer.
US08784884B2
Compositions of the present invention, comprising the combination of enterically coated and uncoated pancreatic enzyme-containing beads are useful for treating or preventing pancreatitis pain, and optionally disorders associated with digestive enzyme deficiencies.
US08784881B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of a human patient. The methods and compositions of the present invention include composition for the efficient loading of curcumin, comprising: an amount of a curcuminoid:liposome complex effective to load curcumin into the liposome, wherein the curcuminoids has between 2 to 9 weight percent of the total composition and the curcuminoids are natural or synthetic.
US08784876B2
A device for promoting the clotting of blood comprises a clay material in particle form and a receptacle for containing the clay material. At least a portion of the receptacle is defined by a mesh. Another device comprises a gauze substrate and a clay material disposed on the gauze substrate. Another device is a bandage comprising a substrate, a mesh mounted on the substrate, and particles of a clay material retained in the mesh. A hemostatic sponge comprises a substrate, a hemostatic material disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and a release agent disposed on a second surface of the substrate. The release agent is disposed on the wound-contacting surface of the substrate. When treating a bleeding wound, application of the hemostatic sponge causes at least a portion of the hemostatic material to come into contact with blood through the release agent and through the substrate.
US08784875B2
The invention relates to collagen for use in the treatment of inflammatory and degenerative skin diseases and damage to the skin connected therewith, such as in particular in the treatment of psoriasis, dermatitis, neurodermitis, rosacea, urticaria (hives), pruritus (itching), skin eczema and actinic keratosis. In particular, the invention relates to freeze-dried collagen in the form of layered dressings, sheets, pads or masks for the aforementioned use.
US08784872B2
Formulations have been developed which assist individuals having an addiction such as smoking to reduce or quit engaging in the addictive behavior. Representative behaviors include smoking, excessive alcohol or food ingestion, drug addiction, and ingestion of caffeine or junk food providing quick “highs”. The formulations assist the smoker to become dissatisfied with smoking, until he or she willingly gives up the habit or at least cuts down on the number of cigarettes smoked per day as an initial step towards quitting in the future. The formulations can also be used in conjunction with other known formulations, such as nicotine gum or patch. The formulations contain hydrophilic polymers, for example, polyethylene glycol (PEG) alone or in combination or polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) (also known as povidone or polyvidone alone or in combination.), sweeteners and/or flavorings, viscosity modifiers/binders, and pH or buffering agents.
US08784855B2
Pesticides based on vicinal diols, are available to control arthropod ectoparasites such as Pediculus Humanus, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Musca domestica, the Blattidae, Blatella Germanica, and Periplaneta Americana, by introducing to the locus of an infestation of the pest, a composition containing as active ingredient a vicinal diol.
US08784850B2
The present disclosure relates to a chitosan solution neutralized with amino-sugar carbonate buffering solution or amino-sugar phosphate buffering solution or phosphorylated aminosugar buffering solution. The resulting thermogelling chitosan composition is highly biocompatible, isotonic and has the ability to rapidly turn into gel upon heating to the body temperature. It provides a novel chitosan-based composition to suitable for drug delivery, cell delivery and repair or regeneration of tissues and organs as well as other clinical treatment.
US08784847B2
Process for manufacturing 1-amino-1,3,3,5,5-pentamethylcyclohexane mesylate comprising step (i): (i) reacting 1-amino-1,3,3,5,5-pentamethylcyclohexane with methane sulfonic acid in a solvent or a mixture of two or more solvents selected from anisole, cumene, pentane, hexane, heptane, isooctane, methyl acetate, propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isopropylketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, dimethyl sulphoxide, tetrahydrofuran, methyltetrahydrofuran, 1,1-diethoxypropane, 1,1-dimethoxymethane, and 2,2-dimethoxypropane.
US08784839B2
Disclosed is an attenuated flavivirus live vaccine comprising a flavivirus mutant, characterized in that the flavivirus mutant has a deletion in the capsid protein of at least more than 4 successive amino acids, wherein the carboxy-terminal hydrophobic region is not affected by the deletion.
US08784838B2
The invention provides an isolated H3 equine influenza A virus, as well as methods of preparing and using the virus, and genes or proteins thereof.
US08784834B2
A recombinant fusion interferon for animals. The recombinant fusion interferon comprises an animal interferon and a Fc region of an animal immunoglobulin G (IgG). The animal interferon and the Fc region of the animal immunoglobulin G can be further joined by a linker. A polynucleotide that encodes the recombinant fusion interferon for animals, a method for producing the recombinant fusion interferon, and the use of the recombinant fusion interferon.
US08784827B2
The field of the invention refers to chimeric Virus Like Particles (VLP) derived from Birnavirus chimeric VP2 protein. In particular, the invention refers to chimeric VP2 fusion proteins which incorporate insertions and/or substitutions with one or more amino acids or particular peptide of interest while maintaining the capacity to assemble in the form of VLP. The invention identifies particular insertion and/or substitutions sites within VP2 P loop regions and outside said P loop regions. The invention also incorporates methods for the identification of preferred insertion and substitution sites within VP2 for the incorporation of particular amino acids and peptides of interest. The resulting chimeric VLP are of interest in the design of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines as well as in the design of drug delivery systems, carriers for DNA and RNA in gene therapy, as targeted agents, in the development of antitoxins, and as diagnostic reagents.
US08784818B2
The present invention provides anti-VEGFR-3 monoclonal antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions containing said antibodies and uses of said antibodies in the treatment of disease.
US08784814B2
The invention provides an isolated protein which is a member of the TNF ligand superfamily and comprises: i) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of figure (1); or ii) a variant of the polypeptide of i).
US08784806B2
This invention relates to a novel screening method that identifies simple molecular markers that are predictive of whether a particular disease condition is responsive to a specific treatment. Also, a method of diagnosing the susceptibility of an individual suffering from a disease to treatment with an HDAC inhibitor is provided. Also provided is a method of treating a proliferative disease or a condition which involves a change in cell differentiation or growth rate in a patient.
US08784802B2
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for treatment of ischemic diseases and conditions, particularly myocardial, CNS/brain and limb ischemia. More particularly, the present invention provides methods of treating disorders by administering monocytes obtained from blood, including umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood, or bone marrow to an individual in need of treatment, wherein the drug is administered to the individual at a time point specifically determined to provide therapeutic efficacy. In one embodiment, the cells are for injection into ischemic myocardium for the treatment of angina.
US08784795B2
The present disclosure provides methods for selecting a treatment composition, or therapy, for the treatment of a cancer, such as prostate or breast cancer, in a patient wherein the treatment composition includes administering a combination of at least two components selected from two different classes of compounds. Methods for treating a patient using the selected treatment composition are also provided, together with methods for monitoring the efficacy of the treatment composition during a treatment period.
US08784786B2
A polymer includes (a) one or more first monomeric units, each independently comprising at least one bicycloheptyl-polyether, bicycloheptenyl-polyether or branched (C5-C50)alkyl-polyether group per monomeric unit, wherein the bicycloheptyl-polyether or bicycloheptenyl-polyether group may optionally be substituted on one or more ring carbon atoms by one or two (C1-C6)alkyl groups per carbon atom, and (b) one or more second monomeric units, each independently comprising at least one pendant linear or branched (C5-C50)alkyl-polyether group per monomeric unit, provided that the first and second monomeric units cannot both comprise a branched (C5-C50)alkyl-polyether group and is useful as a component in liquid compositions, such as aqueous latex coating compositions, personal care compositions, home care compositions, and institutional or industrial care compositions.
US08784785B2
The invention relates to cosmetic preparations for treating the hair containing exclusively ingredients which are stable up to at least 200 DEG C against thermal decomposition and the use of such preparations for shaping the hair and a method for temporary hair-shaping.
US08784778B2
The present invention relates to a method for the in vivo, ex vivo, or in vitro determination of physical or chemical parameters of diagnostic interest by use of a slow tumbling paramagnetic agent that is responsive to changes of said physical or chemical parameter through changes in the R2p/R1p ratio allowing the determination of the said parameter in a manner that is independent on the actual agent concentration.
US08784777B2
A solid phase peptide synthesis method for synthesizing a peptidyl contrast agent is disclosed. In one example, the method includes synthesizing an amino-chelator loaded resin, coupling of the amino-chelator loaded resin to the C-terminus and/or backbone of a peptide, cleaving the amino-chelator-peptide from a resin, and chelating a lanthanide metal to the amino-chelator-peptide.
US08784773B2
The various embodiments herein provide hydrogel nanocomposite wound dressing comprising a polymeric basal matrix, a reinforcing agent, a biological sensor and an antibiotic for a slow release in a wound when applied. The polymeric basal matrix is made up of polyvinyl alcohol polymer with an amount of 1-15% by weight. The reinforcing agent comprises clay nanoparticles to inhibit a sudden drug release. The clay nanoparticles comprise montmorillonite nano particles with an amount of 0-2% by weight. The biological sensor is a peptide chain. The peptide chain is thrombin sensitive with an amount from 50 to 200 mg. The antibiotic is gentamycine with an amount of 1-3% by weight. The embodiments herein also provide a method of synthesizing the hydrogel nanocomposite wound dressing.
US08784769B2
Disclosed herein is a catalyst, including, in one example: a carrier, a polymer electrolyte multilayer film formed on the carrier, and metal particles dispersed in the polymer electrolyte multilayer film. The catalyst can be easily prepared, and can be used to produce hydrogen peroxide in high yield in the presence of a reaction solvent including no acid promoter.
US08784768B2
Hierarchically porous graphitic carbon particles are prepared by an aerosol process using a aqueous solution of a carbon precursor compound in which different sized particles or clusters of silicon oxide species are dispersed. The aerosol is heated to evaporate the solvent. The solid residue is carbonized and non-carbon species removed to obtain small porous particles of graphitic carbon. The interconnected, different size pores in the small carbon particles make them very useful as electrode materials in electrochemical devices, such as supercapacitors, in which efficient ion transport through the pores or the particles is required.
US08784767B2
Polycrystalline diamond includes cubic diamond and hexagonal diamond, and a ratio of X-ray diffraction peak intensity of a (100) plane of the hexagonal diamond to X-ray diffraction peak intensity for a (111) plane of cubic diamond is not lower than 0.01%. In addition, a present method of manufacturing polycrystalline diamond includes the steps of preparing a non-diamond carbon material having a degree of graphitization not higher than 0.58 and directly converting the non-diamond carbon material to cubic diamond and hexagonal diamond and sintering the non-diamond carbon material, without adding any of a sintering agent and a binder, under pressure and temperature conditions at which diamond is thermodynamically stable.
US08784761B2
A system for removing carbon dioxide from a flue gas stream is provided, the system comprising an absorber vessel configured to receive a flue gas stream, the absorber vessel comprising a first absorption stage configured to receive the flue gas stream and contact it with a first ionic solution, a second absorption stage configured to receive flue gas which has passed the first absorption stage and contact it with a second ionic solution, a first sump vessel, and a second sump vessel. Furthermore, a method for removing CO2 from a flue gas stream containing CO2 is provided, the method comprising the steps of a) contacting a flow of a first ionic solution comprising NH3 with a flue gas stream to remove a first portion of CO2 from the flue gas stream, b) collecting the used ionic solution from step a) in a first sump vessel, c) recycling ionic solution from the first sump vessel to step a), d) contacting a flow of a second ionic solution comprising NH3 with the flue gas stream to remove a second portion of CO2 from the flue gas stream, e) collecting the used ionic solution from step d) in a second sump vessel, and f) recycling ionic solution from the second sump vessel to step d).
US08784760B2
The invention describes an integrated process for capturing CO2 emitted by at least a portion of the flue gas coming from the regeneration zone of a catalytic cracking unit using a unit for amine treatment of said flue gas, in which the catalytic cracking unit is equipped with an external exchanger using as the hot fluid a portion of the catalyst removed from the regeneration zone, the heat necessary for the amine treatment unit being supplied integrally by the catalytic cracking unit using the steam generated by said external exchanger.
US08784756B2
A process for the joint production of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate out of trona, comprising: introducing and dissolving crushed trona ore in a leaching tank containing a solution comprising sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, saturated in sodium bicarbonate, in order to produce solid particles suspended in a production solution comprising sodium carbonate, the solid particles containing insoluble impurities and at least 65% in weight of sodium bicarbonate; separating the solid particles from the production solution containing sodium carbonate; drying and valorizing the separated solid particles; taking at least part of the production solution containing sodium carbonate out of the leaching tank in order to constitute a produced solution which is valorized; and introducing water in the leaching tank.
US08784754B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing high-purity aluminum, the method comprising: a mother liquor preparing step for preparing a mother liquor by dissolving and aging ordinary aluminum hydroxide; a refining step for adding pulp to absorb impurities from the prepared mother liquor after the mother liquor preparing step; and an obtaining step for obtaining high-purity alumina by adding a seed into the mother liquor and precipitating a precipitate, and filtering, washing, and recrystallizing the precipitate, and calcining the precipitate. Thus, the present invention enables an environmentally-friendly and low-cost preparation of high-purity alumina.
US08784752B2
Methods and devices for adding liquids to and washing a microfluidic element array are disclosed. The method and devices feature a microfluidic plate holder with a sloped wall for improved draining of liquid, a machine readable/writable identifier, plate leveling systems, liquid filling systems, a hydrophilic-liquid coating, and an automated washing station.
US08784736B2
An isothermal reaction and analysis system may include a receiver to receive sample holders, a thermal control subsystem to control a temperature of the receiver, an excitation subsystem, a detection subsystem and an analysis subsystem. Excitation sources and/or detectors are positioned to enhance data collection. Sample holders may include filters, selectively blocking and passing wavelengths or bands of electromagnetic radiation.
US08784730B2
Nickel-based alloy consisting of (in % by mass) Si 0.8-2.0%, Al 0.001-0.1%, Fe 0.01-0.2%, C 0.001-0.10%, N 0.0005-0.10%, Mg 0.0001-0.08%, O 0.0001-0.010%, Mn max. 0.10%, Cr max. 0.10%, Cu max. 0.50%, S max. 0.008%, balance Ni and the usual production-related impurities.
US08784727B2
An improved molten metal furnace including an enlarged buffer plate of nickel-based superalloy material which seals and separates the furnace burners from the product to be heated. The seal from the buffer plate provides for the creation of a generally inert atmosphere for the bath of molten metal. Additionally, angling the interconnecting passageways between the furnace regions improve the thermal efficiency of the circulating molten metal.
US08784726B2
Illustrative embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatuses, and applications related to annealing nuclear fission reactor materials.
US08784725B2
The present invention relates to a wide casting belt, and more particularly, to a wide casting belt used for manufacturing a film in a gel state by casting dope used during the manufacture of a polarizing plate for a liquid crystal display, and an optical compensation film, etc. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a wide film using the wide casting belt, and to a wide film manufactured with said wide casting belt.
US08784716B2
Method and apparatus for longitudinal orientation of thermoplastic film material (4) comprises a width-reduction zone upstream of the longitudinal stretching zone, through which the width of the film is gradually reduced so as to allow longitudinal stretching without necking. The width-reduction zone comprises at least one, preferably several, pairs of pleating rollers (16, 17) comprising intermeshing grooves or discs for pleating the material, the length of said width reduction zone preferably being less than 3 times the original width of the film. The width-reducing zone has upstream (14) and downstream (15) rollers or roller assemblies, with curved axes and optionally also conveyor belts for providing smooth width reduction. Longitudinal stretching is preferably between at least two, and preferably more than two, pairs of stretching rollers (9, 10, 11, 12) which are relatively close together. The pleats may be provided in several stages with increasing pleats per stage, while guiding means preferably lay all the pleats to one side. The method allows achievement of high tensile strength, yield point, resistance to tear propagation and puncture resistance, especially for polyethylene and polypropylene films.
US08784711B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing a reinforced and reactive thermoplastic composition having a continuous phase which is based on at least one thermoplastic polymer and dispersed in which is a discontinuous phase based on at least one reactive reinforcing agent that may be immiscible with said at least one thermoplastic polymer, and also to a composition obtained by this process.A process according to the invention for preparing this thermoplastic composition in which said at least one reinforcing agent is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, polyorganosiloxanes having SiH functional group(s), diisocyanates or polyisocyanates and mixtures thereof, comprises a grafting, a branching and/or a crosslinking, that are carried out in situ, by reactive compounding of these phases with a shear rate greater than 102 s−1, of said at least one reinforcing agent onto the chain of said at least one thermoplastic polymer, so that said discontinuous phase is dispersed homogeneously in said continuous phase in the form of nodules having a number-average size of less than 5 μm.
US08784693B2
A method for making a phosphorated composite is provided. First, a mixture is obtained by mixing a source material with red phosphorus. The weight ratio of the source material to the red phosphorus ranges from about 1:10 to about 5:1. Second, the mixture is dried in an inert atmosphere or vacuum. Third, the mixture is heated in a reacting room filled with an inert atmosphere so that the red phosphorus sublimes. Finally, the reacting room is cooled down.
US08784687B2
A methane steam reforming process for converting a syngas in the presence of permeable composite fibrous catalytic sheets comprised of at least three distinct solid phases. A first solid phase is a 3-dimensional porous network of a non-conductive porous ceramic material. A second solid phase is an electrically conductive phase comprised of randomly oriented electrically conductive fibers. A third phase is comprised of methane steam reforming catalytic particles dispersed on said 3-dimensional porous network, said conductive fibers, or both. A fourth phase can be present, which fourth phase is comprised one or more conductive species or one or more non-conductive species embedded in said first solid phase.
US08784686B2
The present invention relates to ionic liquid comprising an anion and a cation wherein the cation is a primary, secondary or tertiary ammonium ion containing a protonated nitrogen atom.
US08784683B2
A liquid crystalline polyester composition contains at least 100 parts by weight of liquid crystalline polyester having different structural units and 10 to 100 parts by weight of glass fiber, wherein the glass fiber has a weight-average fiber length (Mw) of 200 to 500 μm, and content of specific glass fiber having fiber length of not less than 1500 μm is 0.1 to 5.0 percent by weight to a total amount of the glass fiber.
US08784681B2
Disclosed are soil additives comprised of self-situating, stimuli-responsive polymer compositions and methods of their use. In one embodiment, the polymer composition or polymer network comprises permanent cross-links and non-permanent cross-links, wherein the non-permanent cross-links are capable of being removed upon application or exposure to a stimulus, typically located within the soil. In another embodiment, the method of increasing water retention in soils includes applying a soil additive, comprising polymer networks of the present invention admixed with an aqueous solution to form a colloidal dispersion solution or suspension, to a soil surface. The suspension or colloidal dispersion solution facilitates penetration of the polymer composition through the soil surface and into the soil, migrating typically to lower water potential areas and, more typically, along drainage channels located within the soil. After penetration of the soil surface, the polymer network is then exposed to a stimulus, typically present in the soil, whereby the non-permanent cross-links are removed and the polymer composition undergoes a volumetric change. This results in the prevention, arrest or decelerated loss of water from the targeted area, for example the plant root zone, which allows for improved water usage efficiency by plants, grasses, vegetation, etc.
US08784680B2
A bioresin composition is used to form a rigid polyurethane article that includes a first and a second biopolyol and is substantially free of aprotic solvents that chemically decompose in the presence of water. The first biopolyol includes a natural oil component. The second biopolyol includes the reaction product of a natural carbohydrate and an alkylene oxide. The rigid polyurethane foam article includes the reaction product of the bioresin composition and an isocyanate which are reacted in the presence of a chemical blowing agent.
US08784679B2
Embodiments of a method of producing an aqueous powder composition for treating water comprise mixing sodium metabisulfite powder with amines, wherein the amines comprises liquid cyclohexylamine, and adding water to the mixture of sodium metabisulfite powder and liquid cyclohexylamine to catalyze the production of the aqueous powder composition.
US08784678B2
The present invention relates to a process for concentration of silicate-containing minerals and ores by froth flotation, in particular to a reverse flotation process, in the presence of a finely dispersed collecting agent characterized by a specific droplet size distribution.
US08784672B2
In a method of manufacturing a photomask pattern, a light-shielding layer pattern and an anti-reflective layer pattern are formed sequentially on a transparent substrate. Oxidation and nitridation processes are performed on a sidewall of the light-shielding layer pattern to form a protection layer pattern on a lateral portion of the light-shielding layer pattern.
US08784666B2
A system and method are provided for the extraction of gold and other precious metals and elements from ore, as well as purification of water. Heavy elements are separated from lighter elements during the rotation of any conductive liquid in a chamber. To provide proper conductivity seawater can be used as the main conductive liquid. An electric field and hence a current is generated in a radial direction in a magnetic field generated in an axial direction, perpendicular to the radial direction, with respect to a chamber. The conductive liquid is provided to the chamber and is subjected to the current, and the conductive liquid is caused to rotate in the chamber by the current interacting with the magnetic field. Due to the Lorentz force, proper rotation is achieved without any mechanical motion. Rotation of the liquid in the chamber causes separation of heavy elements from light element caused by centrifugal forces. This system and method is also effective to clean up pollution of past and existing mines by decomposing hazardous leaching solutions such as cyanides into non-harmful elements, for example hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen.
US08784664B2
The present invention relates to a composite hollow fiber capillary membrane in particular for exploiting the value of dialysate and a method for the production thereof as well as its use in particular in haemo and peritoneal dialysis.
US08784661B2
Techniques, systems, apparatus, and materials are disclosed for generating multi-purpose liquid fuel for isolating contaminants and storing energy. In one aspect, a method of producing a liquid fuel includes forming a gaseous fuel (e.g., by dissociating biomass waste using waste heat recovered from an external heat source). Carbon dioxide emitted from an industrial process can be harvested and reacted with the gaseous fuel to generate the liquid fuel. A hazardous contaminant can be dissolved in the liquid fuel, with the liquid fuel operating as a solvent or continuous phase for a solution or colloid that isolates the hazardous contaminant from the environment. The hazardous contaminant can include at least one of a carbon donor and a hydrogen donor.
US08784656B2
A preliminary filter for a fuel delivery unit of a motor vehicle, with a filter fabric which is tensioned by a supporting edge. The supporting edge is manufactured integrally with a connecting piece for connection to the fuel delivery unit and with transverse webs and supporting ribs. The preliminary filter has few components to be assembled and can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively.
US08784654B2
Filtration devices for collection and filtration of biological samples are disclosed. Devices having a filtration element oriented in a generally vertical orientation are provided, as well as filtration devices that incorporate a cooling mechanism to reduce the temperature of collected solids. Tissue collection devices, such as aspiration assemblies, tissue sampling devices, and the like incorporating filtration devices are disclosed. Methods of collecting biological samples and separating biological solids from a liquid/solids mixture are also disclosed, together with analytical techniques and protocols for analyzing biological samples.
US08784641B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for detecting the concentration of a lipophilic analyte of interest in a complex sample matrix. The method comprises extracting the analyte of interest from said sample into an organic solvent comprising a dissolved electrolyte; providing a free radical species, preferably a free oxygen radical species, in said organic solvent; reacting the analyte of interest with said free radical species; and performing a measurement to detect the concentration of the free radical-reacted analyte reaction product.
US08784637B2
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing anode foil for aluminum electrolytic capacitors with high capacitance and decreased leakage current. The method has the following steps: dipping etched aluminum foil into pure water having a temperature of 90° C. or higher so as to form a hydrated film on the foil; attaching organic acid to the surface of the hydrated film; performing main chemical conversion on the aluminum foil with application of formation voltage after the attaching step; performing depolarization on the aluminum foil after the main chemical conversion step; and performing follow-up chemical conversion on the aluminum foil after the main chemical conversion step. The main chemical conversion treatment has two-or-more stages. In the first stage of the treatment, the foil is dipped into a phosphate aqueous solution, and in the last stage, it is dipped into an aqueous solution different from the phosphate aqueous solution.
US08784614B2
A sheet-forming unit of a papermaking machine includes a headbox which outputs a suspension jet and an inner fabric and an outer fabric, which in each case form a loop. A forming element is arranged within the loop of the inner fabric and guide rolls and a white-water box are arranged within the loop of the outer fabric. The inner fabric and the outer fabric form a gap for receiving the suspension jet and jointly wrap around the forming element at least partially in a wraparound region. A machine-wide guide element is arranged in the wraparound region within the loop of the outer fabric and/or, in the region of at least one of the guide rolls of the outer fabric, a machine-wide guide apparatus is provided outside the chamber which is formed by the loop of the outer fabric.
US08784608B2
The first invention aims to provide a method for preparing stiffer bulky pulp at a freeness level comparable to that obtained by mechanical treatments to improve the bulkiness of product paper by searching for a method capable of adjusting freeness while suppressing damage to pulp fibers and internal fibrillation in a process for producing pulp. The second invention aims to strip contaminants deposited on pulp fibers and/or inorganic particles to reduce adhesion of the contaminants and decrease microorganisms in a treatment of process water containing long pulp fiber fractions used in a process for producing pulp and paper, thereby clarifying process water and thus preparing high-quality pulp and paper.According to the first invention, cavitation is generated in a pulp suspension preferably by a liquid jet and the resulting fine bubbles are introduced into the pulp suspension to adjust the pulp suspension to a desired freeness by means of the impact force induced by collapse of the fine bubbles in a process for producing pulp. According to the second invention, process water containing 50% by weight or less, based on total solids, of long pulp fiber fractions used in a process for producing pulp and/or paper is treated by cavitation generated by a liquid jet and then returned to the process for producing pulp and/or paper and reused.
US08784603B2
A method for making an actuator capable of dry actuation is provided. The method includes providing a first nanoscale fiber film, providing a second nanoscale fiber film, positioning a solid polymer electrolyte at least partially between and adjacent to the first nanoscale fiber film and the second nanoscale fiber film, and then affixing the solid polymer electrolyte to the first nanoscale fiber film and the second nanoscale fiber film. The nanoscale fiber films may be buckypapers, made of carbon nanotubes. The actuator is capable of dry actuation.
US08784597B2
The present invention provides a method for reinforcing a glass of a touch panel and a reinforcement structure thereof. The method provides at least one protective film and at least one glass substrate. One side of the glass substrate is adhered to one side of the protective film. The glass substrate adhered with the protective film is dipped in an adhesive reservoir. The glass substrate adhered with the protective film is taken out of the adhesive reservoir. After the adhesive is hardened, a reinforcement layer is formed on the other side and the periphery of the glass substrate. The present invention makes the surface of the glass to be more flat with an increased strength.
US08784594B2
The present invention is method for forming a sandwich structure having a pattern of particulate material enveloped between a carrier material and a cover material. The method allows accurate forming of pre-determined pattern at high production speed. Such a method is particularly useful in the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles, such as baby diapers.
US08784593B2
A method for manufacturing an absorbent article includes joining, one longitudinal end portion of a main absorbent body base material to a back-side band base material and another longitudinal end portion of the absorbent body base material to the abdominal-side band base material, folding the main absorbent body base material and overlapping the back-side band base material with the abdominal-side band base material, temporarily joining the overlapped back-side band base material and abdominal-side band base material cutting the temporarily joined back-side band base material and abdominal-side band base material and forming a back-side band base material piece and an abdominal-side band base material piece, and transporting the back-side band base material piece, the abdominal-side band base material piece and the main absorbent body base material in a transport direction with the back-side band base material piece and the abdominal-side band base material piece in a temporarily joined state.
US08784580B2
Disclosed is a Cu—Ni—Si copper alloy sheet that excels in strength and formability and is used in electrical and electronic components. The copper alloy sheet contains, by mass, 1.5% to 4.5% Ni and 0.3% to 1.0% of Si and optionally contains at least one member selected from 0.01% to 1.3% of Sn, 0.005% to 0.2% of Mg, 0.01% to 5% of Zn, 0.01% to 0.5% of Mn, and 0.001% to 0.3% of Cr, with the remainder being copper and inevitable impurities. The average size of crystal grains is 10 μm or less, the standard deviation σ of crystal grain size satisfies the condition: 2σ<10 μm, and the number of dispersed precipitates lying on grain boundaries and having a grain size of from 30 to 300 nm is 500 or more per millimeter.
US08784572B2
A method for cleaning platinum residues from a surface of a substrate is provided. The method initiates with exposing the surface to a first solution containing a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. Then, the surface is exposed to a second solution containing hydrochloric acid.
US08784571B2
A method of cleaning dishware with a liquid detergent composition having an amphiphilic graft polymer, to provide improved grease cleaning and sudsing.
US08784569B2
A cleaning apparatus for microsurgical instruments has a flush chamber closed off at one end by a first plug adapted to liquid-tightly grip one end of the instrument, allowing a portion of the instrument to extend past the first plug and out of the flush chamber. The other end of the flush chamber is closed off by a second plug having an inlet port. Liquid injected through the inlet port on the second plug passes through an internal passageway formed in the instrument and exits the instrument through the portion that extends past the first plug. In another embodiment the instrument has an internal passageway and an end cap through which flushing ports are formed which communicate with the passageway. A first plug having an inlet port is liquid-tightly attached to the end cap and liquid injected into the first plug passes through the plug, through the flushing ports and through the passageway to clean detritus from the instrument.
US08784568B2
In one embodiment, a method of cleaning a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes supplying a cleaning gas for removing a deposition film deposited on an inside wall of a treatment chamber through a supply pipe of the treatment chamber so that a supply amount of the cleaning gas from the supply pipe per unit time is greater than an exhaust amount of the cleaning gas from an exhaust pipe of the treatment chamber per unit time. The method further includes supplying an inert gas to fill the supply pipe with the inert gas.
US08784565B2
The present invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus for deposition of a material on a carrier body and an electrode for use with the manufacturing apparatus. Typically, the carrier body has a first end and a second end spaced from each other. A socket is disposed at each of the end of the carrier body. The manufacturing apparatus includes a housing that defines a chamber. At least one electrode is disposed through the housing with the electrode at least partially disposed within the chamber for coupling to the socket. The electrode has an exterior surface having a contact region that is adapted to contact the socket. A contact region coating is disposed on the contact region of the exterior surface of the electrode. The contact region coating has an electrical conductivity of at least 9×106 Siemens/meter and a corrosion resistance that is higher than silver in a galvanic series that is based upon room temperature sea water as an electrolyte.
US08784563B2
A system and method for mixing a plurality of gases for an atomic layer deposition (ALD) reactor. The mixer is configured to mix the plurality of gases while minimizing the potential for re-circulation within the mixer. The mixer is further configured to maintain the flow velocity of the plurality of gases as the gases pass through the mixer.
US08784547B2
A solid ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline material, and optionally, a colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In embodiments, the solid ink formulation comprises a blend of an amorphous and crystalline components which provides a dye-based solid ink with excellent robustness when forming images or printing on coated paper substrates as well as excellent lightfastness.
US08784546B2
A W/O-type emulsion ink composition for a writing tool having an aqueous component dispersed in an oil component, the oil component including a fluorescent coloring agent, and the aqueous component including a fluorescent whitening agent and water.
US08784543B2
A non-seizing taper used for purged capillary tubing connections in gas chromatography that stops capillary tubing at a predictable position within the taper during installation and maintains space for gas to flow past the capillary tubing. The disclosed taper is an improved component of commonly used purged devices such as inlet liners and purged unions. The arresting aspect of the taper simplifies the process of capillary tubing installation while ensuring that the tubing will reproducibly be positioned in the taper. One or more features of the taper prevent tubing from seizing within the taper so that the devices can be reused and ensure that there is open space for a portion of gas to flow around and past the tubing. The angle of the taper, the dimensions of the taper, and the nature of the features within the taper can be adjusted to meet specific performance, usability and/or manufacturability requirements.
US08784540B2
There is provided an exemplary dust trap and a system and method for filtering air. An exemplary dust trap comprises a housing with an air intake. The exemplary dust trap also comprises a plurality of screens disposed within the housing downstream of the air intake and configured to pass air and capture airborne contaminants, wherein the screens are configured to provide an unscreened air passage between the screens.
US08784534B2
A pressure-temperature swing adsorption process for the removal of a target species, such as an acid gas, from a gas mixture, such as a natural gas stream. Herein, a novel multi-step temperature swing/pressure swing adsorption is utilized to operate while maintaining very high purity levels of contaminant removal from a product stream. The present process is particularly effective and beneficial in removing contaminants such as CO2 and/or H2S from a natural gas at high adsorption pressures (e.g., at least 500 psig) to create product streams of very high purity (i.e., very low contaminant levels).
US08784530B2
The invention relates to organic fertilizers that satisfy the standards in both the United States and the European Union to be labeled as organic. The organic fertilizer comprises oilseed extract and/or corn steep liquor in combination with whey and/or other protein supplements, which provide a natural, nitrate free, nitrogen to the fertilizer.
US08784526B2
The present invention relates to the use of a multi-layered structure for the manufacture of gas conducts, namely for methane. The multi-layered structure comprises, from the inside to the outside, the following successive layers: a layer containing at least one polyamide, wherein the polyamide is chosen from PA11, PA12 and an aliphatic polyamide obtained from condensation reaction of an aliphatic diamine having 6 to 18 carbon atoms and an aliphatic diacid having 9 to 18 carbon atoms; optionally, a binding 2 layer; and a layer 3 chosen from an EVOH layer, a layer formed of a mixture of polyamide and a polyolefin with a polyamide matrix, a layer of PA6, Pa6-6, MXD.6 or MXD.10 and a layer of semi-aromatic copolyamide, the layer 3 being intended to be in contact with the transported gas.
US08784525B2
The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner filter bag having a composite material comprising a first layer consisting of a netting or a perforated sheet with an air permeability of at least 10,000 l/(m2 s), and a first fiber layer consisting of man-made fibers and/or vegetable fibers and connected to one side of the first layer.
US08784517B1
Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) including a pre-sintered polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table that may exhibit a non-cylindrical-shaped geometry and/or may have been partially graphitized prior to bonding to a substrate in a high-pressure/high-temperature process (“HPHT”). The disclosed PDCs may be used in a variety of applications, such as rotary drill bits, mining tools, drill bits, bearing apparatuses, wire-drawing dies, machining equipment, and other articles and apparatuses.
US08784515B2
A process of catalytic partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon fuel with an oxidant to produce partially-oxidized reaction products including hydrogen, with simultaneous in-situ coke removal. The process involves feeding a hydrocarbon fuel and an oxidant to a reactor in a fuel-rich feed ratio; reacting the fuel and oxidant for a fuel-rich cycle-time so as to produce a partially-oxidized reaction product; varying the fuel feed, or the oxidant feed, or both feeds to produce a fuel-lean feed to the reactor; maintaining the fuel-lean feed for a fuel-lean cycle-time sufficient to reduce coke deposits while maintaining a substantially constant yield of partially-oxidized reaction product; and alternating between the fuel-rich and fuel-lean operating cycles.
US08784513B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for converting organic material into a burnable substance, typically a hydrocarbon fuel, such as ethanol.
US08784511B2
A method for forming a lithium-ion type battery including the steps of forming, over an at least locally conductive substrate, an insulating layer having a through opening; successively and conformally depositing a stack comprising a cathode collector layer, a cathode layer, an electrolyte layer, and an anode layer, this stack having a thickness smaller than the thickness of the insulating layer; forming, over the structure, an anode collector layer filling the space remaining in the opening; and planarizing the structure to expose the upper surface of the insulating layer.
US08784507B2
A method for oxidative lightening and/or coloring of keratinic fibers include: a) a coloring and/or lightening agent applied onto the keratinic fibers, which agent is obtained by mixing a composition (A) that contains at least one alkalizing agent with a composition (B) that contains, in a cosmetic carrier, at least one oxidizing agent, b) subsequently, within a time span from about one second to about 24 hours after step a), a post-treatment agent that contains at least one 4-morpholinomethyl-substituted silicone of formula (V), applied onto the keratinic fibers, in particular onto the hair.
US08784506B2
The present invention relates to a composition for dyeing human keratin fibers such as the hair, comprising: (a) one or more amphoteric surfactants at a concentration of at least 0.5% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition; (b) one or more organic alkaline agents; (c) one or more oxidizing agents; (d) one or more oxidation dye precursors; (e) an amount of ammonia of less than 1.5% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition; (f) one or more cationic polymers. The invention also relates to a process for treating human keratin fibers using this composition, and aerosol or nonaerosol devices that make it possible to apply this composition in foam form.
US08784504B2
A method of cleaning a carpet surface comprises the steps of simultaneously dispensing a cleaning composition and an oxidizing composition that enhances the cleanability of the cleaning composition from separate first and second chambers onto the carpet surface and recovering a soiled cleaning solution from the carpet.
US08784498B2
Apparatus for fusing a first bone of a joint with a second bone of a joint, the apparatus comprising: a fusion block comprising a hollow tubular structure characterized by a first end, a second end and a lumen extending from said first end to said second end, the first end being configured to engage the first bone of the joint and the second end being configured to engage the second bone of the joint, the lumen being configured to span the distance from the first bone of the joint to the second bone of the joint and to receive and retain bone graft material therein, whereby to facilitate bone fusion across the fusion block; and at least one fusion plate for connecting the fusion block to the first bone of the joint and the second bone of the joint.
US08784495B2
A method for unicompartmental knee replacement. Replacement of a medial or lateral compartment may be through a limited incision and patellofemoral replacement may be through the same incision or another incision. An embodiment may include a trochlear implant and medial implant. Implants may be dimensioned and configured so that bone is located between the implants. Implants may be modular, being assembled inside the body or outside the body prior to implantation.
US08784483B2
An apparatus is provided for treating regurgitation of blood flow through a diseased heart valve. The diseased heart valve includes an annulus, anterior and posterior valve leaflets, and a subvalvular apparatus. The apparatus includes a substantially annular support member and at least one infra-annular support member securely connected thereto. The substantially annular support member has at least a first intermediate portion, a second intermediate portion, and a posterior end portion extending between the first and second intermediate portions. The posterior end portion is dimensioned for attachment to a posterior portion of the annulus of the diseased heart valve. The at least one infra-annular support member is securely connected to the substantially annular support member at a first location. The at least one infra-annular support member is dimensioned to extend below at least one of the posterior and anterior valve leaflets and across or behind at least one subvalvular structure.
US08784475B2
Several different smart stent structures are described for placement in vessel of a mammal. The stents can be advantageously used to perform measurements of the conditions in the vessel and transmit the measurements wireless out from the patient. In some embodiments, the stent performs therapy within the vessel and may be controlled with a microprocessor, which may or may not communicate wirelessly. Some implantable devices comprise a drug delivery system based, for example, on either a microelectromechanical structure or a cover that opens upon application of an electrical current. Smart devices can be used, for example, the detect deposits in a vessel, aneurysms in the vessel or other modifications of flow in the vessel.
US08784469B2
Devices, systems, and methods for inverting and closing the left atrial appendage. In at least one embodiment of a method for closing a left atrial appendage of the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps of inverting a distal portion of a left atrial appendage, and constraining the inverted distal portion of the left atrial appendage using a device configured to fit within an interior of the left atrial appendage.
US08784461B2
A hand-held self-contained nerve-stimulation device and method using light to provide a source of precise stimulation on one or more nerve fibers. In some embodiments, this simulation is provided through a device and method wherein a laser- or LED-light source is mounted to the handpiece. Light is passed from the light source through optical tip to simulate nerves. In some embodiments, the device is constructed from non-magnetic material such as glass, plastic or ceramics. In some embodiments, the light emanating from the optical tip can be controlled manually or automatically. In some embodiments, the handpiece contains a self-contained power source, such as batteries. In some embodiments, the handpiece is at least in part, activated by remote control in order to prevent moving the handpiece during activation. Some embodiments include a unit operable to sense a response of nerve stimulation and to suppress a laser-ablation surgery operation.
US08784460B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus that includes a microcurrent delivery device portion and at least one independent sensory cue delivery means. The independent sensory cue delivery means can provide an independent sensory cue selected from the group consisting of vibration, heat, cool, skin irritation, tingling, fragrance or auditory.
US08784459B2
An embodiment of the invention provides for a system, such as a cervical plate fusion system, that has mechanisms for preventing bone screws from backing out of the plate. The system prevents both counter-rotation of the screw and axial backing out of the screw. Other embodiments are described herein.
US08784457B2
Deformities present on the end of a bone, for example the end of the metatarsal bone making up part of the metatarsocuneiform joint, can lead to deformities such as bunions. These deformities are treatable with an implant that comprises a plate with a wedge extending perpendicular from the plate. Following removal of cartilage from the joint, deformed portions at the end of the bone are removed and the wedge is inserted in the joint and held in place when the plate is attached to the bones flanking the joint. This effectively fuses the two bones together. The wedge can be shaped in various ways depending on the particular deformity present.
US08784456B2
The invention relates to a customized assembly (1) of at least two osteosynthesis plates (2), for example I-shaped and/or L-shaped and/or cross-shaped and/or crow's-foot-shaped ones which are themselves customized according to the operation to be carried out and the future anatomy of the patient, characterized in that the osteosynthesis plates (2) are connected together by a rod (3), said rod further comprising two protrusions (4) protruding from said rod (3) towards the nasal orifice (8) of the patient into positions that correspond to the two ends (5, 6) of the base (7) of the nasal orifice (8) of the patient. The invention can be used during dental occlusion operations, for example.
US08784454B2
The longitudinal implant is fastened to bones on either side of a damaged area through a connecting device. Said implant is comprised of a filament or fiber composite material and said connecting device is made of a material harder than said longitudinal implant. The longitudinal implant is preferably made of a carbon filament composite material, wherein the filament are encapsulated in a polymer matrix.
US08784451B2
A support insert located between succeeding vertebrae and which includes a body having a specified shape and size and which is located in a space existing between succeeding process portions associated with the vertebrae. The body includes a generally boomerang shape in cross section with inner and outer ramped and displaceable pieces in order to seat against a surface of each vertebrae process. A collection of clips, anchors and/or frictional surface teeth are provided to assisting in locating and gripping opposing vertebral locations between which the body is applied.
US08784444B2
A lancet-release mechanism is adapted to be incorporated into a lancing device. The lancing device is adapted to receive a lancet assembly therein. The lancing device is adapted to move the lancet assembly between a resting position, a cocking position, and a puncture position. The lancet-release mechanism comprises a lancet holder and a cantilever beam. The lancet holder forms a central aperture. The central aperture is adapted to receive the lancet assembly therein. The lancet holder further forms a plurality of protuberances thereon. The cantilever beam has a projection extending therefrom. The projection is adapted to engage the plurality of protuberances located on the lancet holder. The projection is adapted to separate the plurality of protuberances from each other so as to enlarge the central aperture.
US08784443B2
Described herein are apparatus and methods for the generation of at least one user adjustable, accurate, real-time, virtual surgical reference indicium including data for making at least one limbal and/or corneal relaxing incision for use in astigmatism correcting procedures. The apparatus includes one or more real-time, multidimensional visualization modules, one or more data processors to produce real-time, virtual surgical reference indicia, and at least one user control input for adjusting the at least one real-time virtual surgical reference indicium including data for making at least one limbal and/or corneal relaxing incision. A method includes providing one or more real-time multidimensional visualizations of a target surgical field, identifying at least one visual feature in a pre-operative dataset, aligning the visual features with the multidimensional visualization, and incorporating one or more real-time, virtual surgical reference indicium including data for making at least one limbal and/or corneal relaxing incision into the real-time visualization.
US08784442B2
Devices, systems and methods are provided for performing intra-lumenal medical procedures in a desired area of the body. Thrombectomy systems and methods of performing medical procedures to re-establish the intravascular flow of blood are provided for the treatment of ischemic disease states.
US08784437B2
The present invention relates to a tissue securement system, device and method for endoscopy or endosonography-guided transluminal interventions whereby a ligation or anchor is placed and secured into soft tissue. An objective of this invention is to provide a method to reduce gastroesophageal reflux by endosonography-guided intervention. Specifically, endosonography is used to insert a ligation element through the esophageal wall, through the diaphragmatic crus and into the fundus of the stomach. This ligation element placed from the esophagus and around the Angle of His to create a barrier to gastroesophageal reflux.
US08784410B2
The present disclosure relates to an electrosurgical generator for supplying electrosurgical energy to tissue and methods thereof. The electrosurgical generator includes sensor circuitry, a processing device, and a controller. The type of return electrode pad may be determined automatically. The sensor circuitry is configured to determine one or more characteristics of a patient and/or measure tissue temperature at a return electrode pad site. The processing device is configured to determine a maximum temperature of tissue and calculate real-time predicted temperature at the return electrode pad site. The controller is configured to regulate output of the electrosurgical generator based on one or more characteristics of a patient and the determined maximum temperature.
US08784393B2
A dressing (30), a grommet (10) and a combination thereof are described for making a dressing for use in locating and retaining conduits and/or tubes used in therapy of a wound is described, the dressing (30) comprising a backing layer (32) having an adhesive coating (34) thereon for adhering the dressing (30) to a patient; the backing layer (32) having a cut-out (48) therein for receiving a grommet member (10); said grommet member (10) having at least one aperture (14) therethrough for receiving a conduit; and, said grommet member (10) further comprising a flange portion (16) in some embodiments for attaching the grommet member (10) to said adhesive coated backing layer (32).
US08784385B2
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US08784383B2
An infusion set has a partially integrated ballistic inserter that can insert a needle at a controlled rate of speed to a depth to deliver content to the upper 3 mm of skin surface, and a skin-securing adhesive layer to secure the skin surface at the insertion site such that the inserter that can insert a needle with a reduced risk of tenting of the skin surface. A removable turnkey or pushable handle can be provided to release a driving spring of the ballistic inserter to insert a needle at a controlled rate of speed, of 3.3 ft/sec. (1.0 m/sec.) up to and including those greater than 10 ft/sec. (3.0 m/sec.), then release from the set for disposal. The infusion set can further include an extendable interface ring that retracts when the inserter is removed from the infusion set.
US08784382B2
A needle assembly 10 compromising an infusion needle 11 that includes a needle cannula 13 made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol. The needle cannula is cold-worked or heat annealed to produce a preformed bend 16 that can be straightened within passageway 21 of a coaxial outer cannula 12 for introduction into the body of a patient. Upon deployment from the outer cannula, the needle cannula substantially returns to the preformed configuration for the introduction or extraction of materials at areas lateral to the entry path of the needle assembly. The needle assembly can compromise a plurality of needle cannulae than can be variably arranged or configured for attaining a desired infusion pattern.
US08784381B2
A drug injection device includes a main body case having an injection needle let-in/let-out opening, a drug syringe mounting component that is provided inside the main body case and in which a drug syringe is mounted, a piston that is movable with respect to the drug syringe mounting component, a drive mechanism that drives the piston, a controller that is electrically connected to the drive mechanism, and an acceleration sensor that is electrically connected to the controller. This drug injection device allows the injection of a drug to be carried out safely and properly.
US08784379B2
A catheter set includes a catheter and a fixing device. The fixing device includes a tubular member which is formed in such a way as to increase or decrease in diameter under axial extension or compression. A first projection and a second projection are provided at both ends of the tubular member. A movable tubular body is disposed around the tubular member between the first projection and the second projection. A distal part is coupled to the tubular member by a support member. The distal part is disposed distally of the tubular member and is configured to at least contact a proximal portion of a tubular device for medical use through which the catheter runs.
US08784378B2
A visual identification coding for a cartridge or cartridge holder for use with a drug delivery device is described. The visual identification coding includes a cartridge containing a drug and a light source located on the cartridge to visually indicate that the correct cartridge has been inserted into the drug delivery device. The light source may be a light emitting diode (LED), a surface mount diode (SMD), or an organic light emitting diode (OLED). A cartridge holder may also be included to receive the cartridge. In another embodiment, the light source may be located on the cartridge holder or a dose setting member.
US08784371B2
Needleless injection device (1) comprising a gas generator (2), a reservoir (5) in the form of a glass tube (6) closed by an upstream stopper (7) and a downstream stopper (8) between which a liquid active principle (9) is accommodated, and an injection nozzle (15) equipped with a receptacle (19) and with at least one peripheral injection conduit (20), said tube (6) having, at one of its ends, a flange (4) via which it is in contact with said nozzle (15). The main feature of this needleless injection device (1) is that the tube (6) has a cylindrical inner channel with an upstream part (21) which is continued by a downstream part (22) of smaller diameter, said downstream part (22) being surrounded by said flange (4) and opening into the receptacle (19).
US08784368B2
A device, a system, or a method is described for treating a disease or a condition of one or more joints of articulating bone in a mammalian subject. The device provides one or more medicaments to one or more joints of the mammalian subject. A device is described that includes one or more sheaths configured to contact one or more body contours in proximity to one or more joints of articulating bone of a mammalian subject; one or more sensors configured to detect one or more physiological conditions of the one or more joints; and one or more applicators supported by the one or more sheaths and configured to respond to the one or more sensors by injecting one or more medicaments to the one or more joint tissues of the mammalian subject.
US08784361B2
In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an assembly having an irrigation hand piece that includes an irrigation needle extending from a distal end. The irrigation needle is also configured to release a first fluid. The assembly further has an aspiration hand piece that includes an aspiration needle extending from a distal end. The aspiration needle has an axis and is configured to aspirate a second fluid into the assembly. The assembly has a first configuration in which the irrigation hand piece and aspiration hand piece are coupled together in a manner that causes the released first fluid from the assembly to flow coaxially about the axis of the aspiration needle and a second configuration in which the irrigation hand piece and aspiration hand piece are uncoupled which causes the released first fluid to flow substantially non-coaxial with respect to the axis of the aspiration needle.
US08784360B2
Infusion catheter systems and methods are described herein that incorporate flow restrictors to balance flow to multiple target sites serviced by delivery catheters. Fluids may be delivered to the target sites using multiple separate delivery catheters or through multiple separate lumens located in the same delivery catheter. Flow balancing may be performed between multiple catheters that are fed from a single fluid source, between multiple separate lumens in a single delivery catheter that are also fed from a single fluid source. Multiple catheters may be fluidly connected to one or more flow restrictors housed within an anchor or in another embodiment, a catheter may be fluidly connected to a restrictor housed in one anchor and another catheter fluidly connected to a second anchor wherein each of the restrictors is also fluidly connected to a single fluid source. Two or more anchors may be fed from a single source, with each anchor containing one or more flow restrictors that feed one, two or more delivery catheters that are attached to each of the anchors (i.e., each anchor may be attached to one, two, three, or more delivery catheters).
US08784357B2
An ophthalmic surgical hand piece has a horn and two transducers. The horn has a central axis. A flange having a generally flat surface is coupled to the horn. The flange extends radially from the horn and generally perpendicular to the central axis. A first ear having a generally flat surface is coupled to the horn. The first ear extends from the horn such that the generally flat surface of the first ear is generally perpendicular to the generally flat surface of the flange. A first transducer is held against the flange, and a second transducer held against the ear.
US08784350B2
The current invention is an accommodating apparel or brace. It is intended to be convenient and comfortable. When the brace wearer is at rest, the brace exerts only modest forces against the body. When the brace wearer is active, the brace tightens and diverts load to protect the body part. The brace accommodation may include application of stronger fixation when activity begins and which persists as long as the activity does. It may also include application of forces around the body part to shift load away from the target part. The accommodation also includes relaxation of forces applied to the wearer when the wearer relaxes.
US08784346B2
An automatic portable ambulant miniaturized system for applying pneumatic pressure to a body limb including a portable ambulant hand-held fluid source unit, a conduit for delivering fluid generated by the unit, and a sleeve coupled to the conduit and adapted to envelop a body limb. The sleeve contains one or more individually inflatable cells, each cell being subdivided into two or more longitudinally extending confluent compartments along the axis of the body limb. The compartments are inflated and deflated essentially simultaneously by the portable fluid source unit.
US08784334B2
A method may include collecting at least one analyte from within a body, ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body. A system may include a means for collecting at least one analyte from within a body, a means for ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and a means for receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body.
US08784332B2
A system for measuring and converting to an observer intelligible form an internal physiological parameter of a patient. The invention allows transcutaneous telemetry of intracranial pressure via a system which includes a patient implanted sensor module and an external processing module, optically coupled to the sensor module via an external coupling module. A sensor within the sensor module transduces the measured pressure and a near infrared emitter transmits the telemetry when interrogated by the external coupling module. A set of tuned inductor-crystal circuits comprised in part of a cylindrical crystal oscillator whose resonant frequency is sensed by a dipper circuit arrangement is provided. Power for the sensor module is derived inductively through rectification of a transcutaneously-applied high-frequency alternating electromagnetic field generated within the external coupling module. A computer within the processing module calculates the physiological parameter from the telemetry signal and represents this data in numerical, graphical, or analog format.
US08784330B1
A pedicle access system including a cannula, a stylet, and a removable T-handle. The pedicle access system may be used to percutaneously approach the pedicle, initiate pilot hole formation, and conduct a stimulation signal to the target site for the purposes of performing a pedicle integrity assessment during the pilot hole formation. To do this, the cannula and stylet are locked in combination and inserted through an operating corridor to the pedicle target site, using the T-handle to facilitate easy movement and positioning of the cannula/stylet combination. A stimulation signal may be applied during pilot hole formation to conduct the pedicle integrity assessment. In a significant aspect, the T-handle may be detached from the cannula/stylet combination to facilitate the use of various surgical tools as necessary.
US08784329B2
A system includes a sensor device having a body configured to be inserted into an airway of a patient and one or more sensors mounted in or on the body. The one or more sensors are configured to collect sensor data associated with the airway of the patient. The system also includes a signal analyzer configured to analyze the sensor data. The one or more sensors could include one or more microphones. The signal analyzer could identify volume and/or pitch characteristics of the sensor data, perform pattern recognition to identify one or more patterns using the volume and/or pitch characteristics, and use the one or more patterns to identify a type, a location, and/or a degree of airway obstruction. This could be done, for instance, to determine if the patient suffers from obstructive sleep apnea or other condition that affects his or her airway.
US08784324B2
A sleep monitoring system includes an ECG device (2) and a respiration inductance plethysmogram (3) which monitor cardiac activity and physical (ribcage) respiration respectively and feed representative signals to a digital data processor. Operations (5-9) process the beat interval data, while in a second thread, operations (20-24) independently process the amplitude modulation of the ECG data caused by the respiratory motion of the subject. The inductance plethysmogram device (3) provides an input to the processor which represents respiration as directly monitored independently of the ECG. Operations (30-34) process this direct respiration data independently and in parallel, in a third thread. All extracted features are fed to a classifier which in step (10) combines selected combinations of features to make decisions in real time.
US08784320B2
Disclosed is an ultrasound assembly. The ultrasound assembly includes a garment configured to be affixed to a portion of a living body, and at least one ultrasound transducer having a fixed position on the garment and configured to provide at least one of: produce and receive, ultrasound signals that pass through the living body. The ultrasound assembly further includes an ultrasound processing unit operatively associated with the at least one ultrasound transducer and configured to process the ultrasound signals following passage through the living body, and an ultrasound-interface unit operatively associated with the ultrasound processing unit and configured to provide information with respect to the ultrasound signals following passage through the living body.
US08784319B2
An ultrasonic probe includes at least one transmission element layer for transmitting ultrasonic waves, at least one reception element layer for receiving ultrasonic waves and which is provided with an electrode on each of both surfaces opposed in a direction of a thickness thereof, and at least one matching layer for matching acoustic impedance. These layers are arranged in this order in a direction of transmitting the ultrasonic waves. The reception element layer is provided with a projecting portion projecting in a direction of elevation from upper and lower layers which sandwich the two electrodes respectively formed on both surfaces of the reception element layer, and at least one of the electrodes is formed by extending to the projecting portion.
US08784305B2
A method of retracting and/or manipulating tissue is provided. The method includes providing access to a body cavity, providing a retractor including a elongated body portion, a needle formed on a proximal end of the elongated body portion and an anchor means formed on a distal end of the elongated body portion, directing the needle of the retractor through a section of tissue to be retracted, drawing the retractor though the tissue until the anchor means engages the tissue, and pulling the body portion of the retractor to manipulate the tissue.
US08784297B2
This invention relates to devices targeted to resolving various conditions of a female patient in need thereof, the conditions being female sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence. The present disclosure provides for a device which incorporates a variety of elements in an effort to treat certain conditions of a female individual in need thereof. Optionally, the device of the present invention may be used as prophylactic measure to prevent a condition selected from the group consisting of female sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
US08784294B2
An implant includes a support member having a first portion and a second portion. The support member is configured to be in contact with a wall of a vagina of a patient. The first portion defines apertures having a first size. The second portion defines at least one aperture having a second size. The second size is larger than the first size. The aperture having the second size is configured to be substantially aligned with a scar or an incision in the wall of the vagina. The second portion is configured to better prevent erosion of the wall of the vagina near the scar or incision than the first portion.
US08784289B2
The embodiments include a wide mouth gusseted package wherein four machine direction edge seals are formed on the film, and the zipper is applied in the transverse direction on the opposite side of the film from where the machine direction edge seals are formed. In the resulting package, the edge seals are at the exterior of the four corners of the package, and the resulting gussets can be folded inwardly or outwardly. The package may further include a sealing strip with a peel seal layer and a sealant layer whereby a hermetic package may be produced at higher production rates and lower productions costs.
US08784278B2
Disclosed are an underwater treadmill system and a method of exercising involving the underwater treadmill system. The underwater treadmill system includes a fluid-driven treadmill belt and a housing including a jet. The method includes selectively driving a fluid-driven treadmill belt by selectively providing a fluid to a treadmill drive unit and selectively expelling water through a jet positioned within a housing of the underwater treadmill system.
US08784276B2
Trampolines are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a trampoline includes a first support member having a plurality of portions and a second support member having a plurality of portions. A first support member first portion is aligned with a second support member second portion wherein the area between the first support member first portion and the second member first portion is a first plane. A first support member second portion is aligned with a second support member second portion wherein the area between the first support member second portion and the second support member second portion is a second plane. A single piece of first material substantially covers the first plane and the second plane. The first plane intersects the second plane at an angle less than one hundred eighty degrees.
US08784271B2
A biometric monitoring device with a display is provided. The display may, in response to receiving page advance requests from a user, advance through a plurality of different data display pages, at least some of which show aspects of biometric data recorded by the device. The biometric monitoring device may also, based on the biometric data, modify the sequential display order of the data display pages. In some implementations, a biometric monitoring device integrated into a wristband may be configured to turn a display of the biometric monitoring device on and display the time in response to biometric sensors of the biometric monitoring device detecting motion of the wearer's forearm consistent with moving the forearm into a watch-viewing position.
US08784269B2
The system provides an exercise device where resistance is provided by one or more of gyroscopic forces, centrifugal forces, magnetic forces, torus forces symmetric field physics, electro-mechanical forces, mass shaping, frequency dynamics, etc. In one embodiment, a handheld device with an internal flywheel is provided. The flywheel is spun up to a desired speed and provides a gyroscopic resistance to movement in a particular direction relative to the orientation of the device. By holding the device in a particular orientation and attempting to move the device against the gyroscopic effect, resistance is provided for exercising. The device itself is relatively light so that the resistance exists principally when the device is being moved. In one embodiment, the rate of rotation of the flywheel can be controlled via an on-board control so that the resistance can be increased or decreased during exercise movement.
US08784263B2
A hybrid driving apparatus includes a diesel engine outfitted with an exhaust brake, and a clutch between the diesel engine and a hybrid motor. The exhaust brake is shiftable between an operational state and a non-operational state, and a switch is operable to change the exhaust brake from the non-operational state to the operational state. The switch is configured to automatically change the exhaust brake which is in the operational state while the vehicle is turned on to the non-operational state when the vehicle is turned off. The clutch is automatically changed from an engaged condition, in which the diesel engine and the hybrid motor are connected, to the disengaged condition, in which the diesel engine and the hybrid motor are disconnected, when the vehicle decelerates while the exhaust brake is in the non-operational state.
US08784255B2
A mechanical speed variator is provided with eccentric masses having a balanced structure. The variator includes a drive shaft, provided with a cam composed of a circular disk eccentrically mounted on the drive shaft, which drives the driven shaft in rotation with interposition of a series of eccentric masses, each of them being composed of a circular disk with eccentric circular hole in which another mass of lower dimensions is ratably housed. The larger mass is housed and rotates inside the eccentric hole of a ring coupled with bolts to a flange and counter flange, respectively mounted on the driven shaft and the drive shaft.
US08784249B2
An automatic transmission for a hybrid vehicle comprising a first hydraulic pressure supply source driven with an internal combustion engine; a second hydraulic pressure supply source driven independently of the first supply source; and a regulator valve regulating hydraulic pressure produced by the supply sources. A first oil passage supplying line pressure regulated by the regulator valve to a hydraulic servo operating a friction engagement element; a second oil passage supplying hydraulic pressure discharged from the regulator valve to a lubricated portion via an oil cooler; and a thud oil passage merged with the second oil passage at a point downstream of the oil cooler supplying the hydraulic pressure of the second supply source to the lubricated portion. A first reverse flow prevention mechanism is disposed between the oil cooler and the merging point to prevent reverse flow of hydraulic pressure.
US08784248B2
In an engine start control device of a hybrid vehicle including a power dividing mechanism which has a sun roller, a carrier, and a first disc with which a rotating shaft of a first motor/generator, an output shaft of an engine, and an output shaft of a second motor/generator are coupled, respectively and by which differential rotating operations between the sun roller, the carrier, and the first disc are controlled using an alignment chart on which rotation speeds of the sun roller, the carrier, and the first disc are disposed in the sequence of the sun roller, the carrier, the first disc and shown by straight lines.
US08784240B1
The present invention is a device to be used to practice hitting a ball. The device according to the invention suspends a ball at a variety of positions movable along three axes. The ball is removably connected to a flexible line having a first side magnet thereon. The user can select if the first-end magnet will rise or fall when the removable ball is struck and the first-end magnet is hit and/or swings a predetermined amount by using either a counterweight or a connector-magnet attached to an adjustment peg fixedly attached to a vertical support. When using the connector-magnet, the user can also select the amount of force required to dislodge the connector-magnet from a metallic component on the vertical support. The present invention is also the ball having metallic components inside which can be safely used with or without the device. The device is safer than existing devices and it produces better results due to its configuration.
US08784233B2
A golf club head with improved striking face performance is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head having a thickened central region surrounded by an internal and an external transition region; wherein the thickened central region has an inner perimeter that takes on a shape that substantially resembles the shape of an outer perimeter of the striking face of the golf club head.
US08784227B2
Systems and related methods are delineated for moving a provided container suspended above ground from a support structure. One delineated system for moving a provided container suspended above ground from a support structure, the system comprises: a force generator coupled to the container; an elastic supporter having a first end and a second end; wherein: the first end of the elastic supporter is coupled to the support structure; the second end of the elastic supporter is coupled to force generator; and the force generator is configured to apply a periodic force to the container to cause oscillatory motion. The elastic supporter is configured in at least one of a “U” shape, a semicircle shape, and a “V” shape. Audio/Video monitoring and transmission may be provided.