US09012024B2
The invention relates to a glazing comprising a transparent glass substrate containing ions of at least one alkali metal and a transparent layer made of silicon oxycarbide (SiOxCy) having a total thickness E with (a) a carbon-rich deep zone, extending from a depth P3 to a depth P4, where the C/Si atomic ratio is greater than or equal to 0.5, and (b) a carbon-poor surface zone, extending from a depth P1 to a depth P2, where the C/Si atomic ratio is less than or equal to 0.4, with P1
US09012018B2
A security film including a support (1) and a laser markable layer (3), wherein the laser markable layer includes i) a laser additive; ii) a polymer selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polycarbonate and styrene acrylonitrile; iii) an initiator; and iv) at least 15 wt % of radiation curable compound based on the total dry weight of the laser markable layer, wherein the radiation curable compound has a viscosity of less than 100 mPa·s at 25° C. and at a shear rate of 100 s−1. A security document and a method for preparing the security film are also disclosed.
US09012012B2
An apparatus for forming a bend in a composite panel is provided. An angle and a radius bend are identified for a bend. A location of the bend in the composite panel is identified. A slot is cut having a curved flange in the composite panel at the identified location in a single pass through the composite panel with a tool, wherein the curved flange has a shape with a bend allowance width and a bend slot width. The bend allowance width is BA=2π*A/360, wherein BA is the bend allowance width, R is a corner radius, and A is a bend angle. The bend slot width is BS=BA−2K(R−T), wherein K is Tan(A/2) and T is a thickness of the composite panel.
US09011998B2
Phase separated blends of polyaryl ether ketones, polyaryl ketones, polyether ketones, polyether ether ketones and mixtures thereof with at least one polysulfone etherimide, wherein the polysulfone etherimide has greater than or equal to 50 mole % of the polymer linkages contain at least one aryl sulfone group are described. Such blends have improved load bearing capability at high temperature. In another aspect a high crystallization temperature, especially at fast cooling rates, is achieved.
US09011991B2
A lengthy stretched film made of a thermoplastic resin, having, over the width direction of at least 1300 mm, a value of an orientation angle θ to a take-up direction in a range of 40° to 50° and fluctuation thereof of 1.0° or less, and a value of an average Nz coefficient in a range of 1.3 to 2.0 and fluctuation thereof of 0.10 or less. A lengthy circularly polarizing plate constituted by laminating the lengthy stretched film with a lengthy polarizer. A reflective display type liquid crystal display device provided with the circularly polarizing plate constituted by trimming the lengthy circularly polarizing plate to a desired size.
US09011990B2
The invention relates to a liquid crystal display utilizing a vertically aligned state of liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied and to a method of manufacturing the same.The liquid crystal display includes a monofunctional monomer having a structure expressed by X-R (where X represents an acrylate group or a methacrylate group, and R represents an organic group having a steroid skeleton). A liquid crystal material is sandwiched between substrates which is then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the monofunctional monomer, thereby forming a polymer film at an interface of a substrate. The monofunctional monomer has a hydrophobic skeleton such as an alkyl chain and a photoreactive group on one side of the skeleton.
US09011983B2
A process for producing polymeric films by applying a liquid composition onto a surface of a substrate under vacuum conditions in a vacuum chamber. The composition has a first component which is polymerizable or crosslinkable in the presence of a sufficient amount of an acid; and a cationic photoinitiator which generates an acid upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, electron beam radiation or both to cause polymerizing or crosslinking of the first component. A gas which emits ultraviolet radiation upon exposure to electron beam radiation is introduced into the vacuum chamber. The composition and the gas are exposed to electron beam radiation to cause the cationic photoinitiator to generate an amount of an acid to cause polymerizing or crosslinking of the first component. The composition is exposed to both electron beam radiation and gas-generated ultraviolet radiation and cured.
US09011981B2
A textile coating is made from a web of fibers including a first area and a second area. The first area is a cohesion area where the fibers of the web are integrated into a tight entanglement holding the fibers and located on only a portion of the thickness of the web. A method for making the textile coating includes: applying an alternating electric field to the web having at least one face bearing a heat-meltable powdery binder, thereby introducing said powdery binder into the web, so as to concentrate the binder at the first area, then melting the binder by supplying heat, and leaving the binder to cure or causing it to cure.
US09011976B2
The present invention provides a titanium sheet covered with a protective film superior in high temperature oxidation resistance and high temperature salt damage resistance and a method of production of the same and an automobile exhaust system using the same. The titanium sheet covered with a protective film is formed on its surface with a protective film of a thickness of 1 to 100 μm where flake-shaped metal Al with an average thickness of 0.1 to 5 μm and average width or average length of 1 to 50 μm or grain-shaped metal Al with an average size of 0.1 to 30 μm is dispersed in 20 to 60 mass % silicone resin or silicone grease and comprised of Si: 15 to 55 mass % and C: 10 to 45 mass % and having a balance of unavoidable impurities. Preferably the titanium sheet of the substrate contains one or both of 0.5 to 2.1 mass % of Cu and 0.4 to 2.5 mass % of Al. The method of production is to brush or spray the above composition of a silicone resin on a titanium sheet to form a protective film and heat it at 150 to 300° C. for 5 to 60 minutes.
US09011967B2
There is provided a process of forming a regular array of rows of subpixels on a workpiece. The subpixels having 3 different colors, and a subpixel pitch s. Of the three colors, q colors are formed by printing and r colors are formed by a non-printing method. The process includes the steps: (1) providing a printing head having z nozzles arranged in a row with a spacing between the nozzles of p, where z=3n1 and p=2s, the printhead being at a first position relative to the workpiece; (2) providing q different printing inks, one for each of the q printed colors; (3) supplying each of the printing inks to the nozzles in a regular alternating pattern; (4) printing a first set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (5) moving and printing in a first pattern with the steps: (a) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d1, where d1=3n2; and (b) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (6) moving and printing in a second pattern with the steps: (c) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d2, where d2=3n3, such that d1+d2=pz; and (d) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (7) repeating steps (5) and (6) multiple times in the same order; and (8) applying r colors by a non-printing method.Variables include: n1, an integer greater than 0; n2 and n3, odd integers, such that n2+n3=2n1; q, an integer from 1-3; and r, an integer, such that q+r=3.
US09011944B2
A polyphenol composition derived from Camellia sinensis and contains flavonol aglycones and flavonol glycosides, in a weight ratio [(B)/(A)] of the following total contents (B) to (A) is from 0.01 to 18, wherein (A) total content of the flavonol aglycones contained in solids of the polyphenol composition after hydrolysis as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and (B) total content of the polyphenols contained in solids of the polyphenol composition as measured by the ferrous tartrate method.
US09011941B2
Compositions and methods for alleviating an allergy condition while also reducing a drying effect of an allergy treatment composition or another anti-mucosal composition. In some embodiments and implementations, a composition may be provided comprising an allergy treatment composition comprising an antihistamine in a therapeutically effective amount for treating the allergy condition in the human having the allergy condition. The composition may further comprise an anti-drying composition comprising at least one of xylitol, erythiritol, mannitol, maltitol, tibitol, arabitol, ribose, and xylose in one or more therapeutically effective amounts for reducing nasal dryness caused by the allergy treatment composition. The composition may be delivered into at least one of the human's nose, eyes, mouth, and throat.
US09011922B2
Provided are electrokinetically-altered fluids (gas-enriched electrokinetic fluids) comprising an ionic aqueous solution of charge-stabilized oxygen-containing nanostructures in an amount sufficient to provide modulation of at least one of cellular membrane potential and cellular membrane conductivity, and therapeutic compositions and methods for use in treating diabetes and diabetes-associated conditions or disorders (e.g., insulin resistance), or symptoms thereof. Provided are electrokinetically-altered ionic aqueous fluids optionally in combination with other therapeutic agents. Particular aspects provide for regulating or modulating intracellular signal transduction associated with said responses by modulation of at least one of cellular membranes, membrane potential, membrane proteins such as membrane receptors, including but not limited to G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR), and intercellular junctions (e.g., tight junctions, gap junctions, zona adherins and desmasomes). Other embodiments include particular routes of administration or formulations for the electrokinetically-altered fluids (e.g., electrokinetically-altered gas-enriched fluids and solutions) and therapeutic compositions.
US09011913B2
The present invention provides methods of detecting a cancer cell in an individual, methods of grading a cancer, and methods of treating a cancer. The methods involve use of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles that comprise a moiety that provides for selective association with, and/or metabolic uptake into, a cancer cell.
US09011912B2
Oral dosage forms for poorly soluble amine drugs are provided. Such dosage forms include an ionizable compound such as an organic acid, an amphiphilic polymer and a release rate-controlling membrane. Such dosage forms allow for the consistent release of the active agent in both gastric pH conditions and in the intestine. Methods of making such dosage forms are also provided.
US09011911B2
The present invention pertains to a high drug load tablet comprising an active ingredient Compound I of formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount from about 30% to 80% in weight of the active moiety based on the total weight of the tablet.
US09011908B2
Fill materials for hydrophobic drugs, such as progesterone, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The fill material contains the hydrophobic drug dissolved in one or more fatty acids. The concentration of the hydrophobic drug is typically from about 7% to about 50% by weight of the fill material. The concentration of the one or more fatty acids is from about 60% to about 95% by weight of the carrier. The formulation also contains an organic acid and one or both of one or more pharmaceutically acceptable alcohols and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable mono-, di-, or triesters of medium or long chain fatty acids. The fill material can be encapsulated in a hard or soft capsule. The formulations described herein have a higher dissolution rate and faster onset of dissolution compared to micronized progesterone suspended in an oil and thus should have increased bioavailability in vivo.
US09011904B2
Self-breaking core tablets and functionally coated tablets and capsule formulations are provided. Methods for production of these tablet and capsule formulations and their administration are also provided.
US09011899B2
Devices and methods for transplanting cells in a host body are described. The cell comprises a porous scaffold that allows ingrowth of vascular and connective tissues, a plug or plug system configured for placement within the porous scaffold, and a seal configured to enclose a proximal opening in the porous scaffold. The device may further comprise a cell delivery device for delivering cells into the porous scaffold. The method of cell transplantation comprises a two step process. The device is incubated in the host body to form a vascularized collagen matrix around a plug positioned within the porous scaffold. The plug is then retracted from the porous scaffold, and cells are delivered into the vascularized space created within the porous scaffold.
US09011896B2
The present invention is related to scoring or cutting balloon catheters carrying at least on a portion of their surface at least one oxidation-insensitive drug or oxidation-insensitive polymer-free drug preparation and at least one lipophilic antioxidant at a ratio of 3-100% by weight of the at least one lipophilic antioxidant in relation to 100% by weight of the drug, wherein the at least one oxidation-insensitive drug is selected of taxanes, thalidomide, statins, corticoids and lipophilic derivatives of corticoids, and the at least one lipophilic antioxidant is selected of nordihydroguaiaretic acid, resveratrol and propyl gallate.
US09011891B2
A formulation containing conidia of non-toxigenic strains of fungi is a useful biocontrol agent for preventing toxin contamination in agricultural commodities, especially those for human and animal consumption such as peanuts, corn, cotton and tree nuts. The formulation of the invention is a water dispersible granule formulation suitable for spraying and includes non-toxigenic and/or non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strains capable of inhibiting growth of fungi which produce aflatoxin and further capable of suppressing production of aflatoxin by the toxigenic fungi. A method of preparing the formulation is shown.
US09011886B2
A leave-on type hair cosmetic composition having the following two layers A and B: Layer A of an oil layer containing the following component (a) in an amount of 0.5-40% by mass in the hair cosmetic composition, (a) a highly polymerized silicone selected from dimethicone and dimethiconol and having a number average degree of polymerization of 1,000-20,000; and Layer B of a water layer containing the following components (b) and (c), (b) a water-soluble polymeric thickening agent, and (c) water.
US09011884B2
Described herein are apparatus, compositions, systems and methods for occluding vascular structures and vascular malformations with radiopaque hydrogel filaments. The filaments can contain no support members and can be CT and MR compatible. Methods of forming such filaments are also disclosed.
US09011879B2
Sympathetic nerves run through the adventitia surrounding renal arteries and are critical in the modulation of systemic hypertension. Hyperactivity of these nerves can cause renal hypertension, a disease prevalent in 30-40% of the adult population. Hypertension can be treated with neuromodulating agents (such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II inhibitors, or aldosterone receptor blockers), but requires adherence to strict medication regimens and often does not reach target blood pressure threshold to reduce risk of major cardiovascular events. A minimally invasive solution is presented here to reduce the activity of the sympathetic nerves surrounding the renal artery by locally delivering neurotoxic or nerve-blocking agents into the adventitia. Extended elution of these agents may also be accomplished in order to tailor the therapy to the patient.
US09011868B2
The present invention relates to the use of an immunogenic composition that comprises a porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antigen for treatment of several clinical manifestations (diseases). Preferably, the clinical manifestations are associated with a PCV2 infection. Preferably, they include lymphadenopathy, lymphoid depletion and/or multinucleated/giant histiocytes. Moreover, the clinical symptoms include lymphadenopathy in combination with one or a multiple of the following symptoms in pigs: (1) interstitial pneumonia with interlobular edema, (2) cutaneous pallor or icterus, (3) mottled atrophic livers, (4) gastric ulcers, (5) nephritis and (6) reproductive disorders, e.g. abortion, stillbirths, mummies, etc. Furthermore the clinical symptoms include Pia like lesions, normally known to be associated with Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
US09011863B2
The present invention provides methods of treating cancer by administering a compound of formula I, optionally as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate and/or hydrate thereof, in combination with an inhibitor that targets HER2 and/or HER3.
US09011855B2
The present weed reducing material reduces the necessary weed control work by making joint filling sand a hostile substrate for plant and fungus growth by using an environmentally acceptable slow release mineral additive. The additive, having similar grain size distribution, mechanical and rheological properties, forms an integral part of the joint filling sand. The specific gravity of the additive is lower than quartz sand imparting a tendency for the additive to migrate towards the top part of the joint. The additive leads to pore waters rich in sodium and at high pH, both qualities being maintained over long periods. The mixture of additive and sand is handled and applied using conventional laying techniques and equipment, observing usual precautions for mortar or cement mixes with sand. In the environment, reaction with CO2 in the air or in the soil porosity inactivates the causticity, yielding harmless carbonate salts.
US09011854B2
Novel modulators, including antibodies and derivatives thereof, and methods of using such modulators to treat proliferative disorders are provided.
US09011850B2
The present invention provides a method of suppressing the formation of a soluble association of an antibody in a solution; a method of suppressing the formation of a chemically degraded product of an antibody in a solution; and a method of stabilizing an antibody in a solution. The present invention also provides a solution-type antibody preparation in which the formation of a soluble association is suppressed; a solution-type antibody preparation in which the formation of a chemically degraded product is suppressed; a solution-type antibody preparation in which the formation of a soluble association, the formation of a chemically degraded product and the formation of an insoluble aggregate are suppressed; an agent for suppressing the formation of a soluble association of an antibody; an agent for suppressing the formation of a chemically degraded product of an antibody; and a stabilizing agent for an antibody.
US09011845B2
Methods and therapeutic treatments of diseases such as viral infections are provided including applying peg-Arginase I. Methods are provided that treat inflammation mediated diseases with peg-Arginase I.
US09011843B2
Disclosed are alginate formulations that help protect digestive enzymes in the formulations from denaturation during passage through the acidic stomach environment, and from other sources, following ingestion. The formulation changes consistency to permit release of the enzymes in the less-acidic gut. They contain monovalent alginate salts (sodium, potassium and ammonium alginate) but are designed to not include significant quantities of compounds which would generate divalent ions and thereby convert the monovalent alginate to a divalent alginate when exposed to aqueous solution. A buffering agent that does not react with the digestive enzymes or the monovalent alginate, and which does not generate divalent ions on exposure to aqueous solution, can be included. A chelating agent which binds divalent ions may be administered with the formulation. Additionally, the formulation may be admixed with inert excipients suitable for oral delivery. It is preferable that the ingredients are dried before formulation.
US09011838B2
Methods and compositions are hereby disclosed for reducing the numbers of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella or other pathogens in an animal. The methods include administering to the animal a lactic acid producing bacterium at a relatively low dosage in combination with a lactate utilizing bacterium, followed by administration of the lactic acid producing bacterium at a relatively high dosage. The disclosed methods help achieve pre-harvest food safety and enhance feed performance while keeping the total cost relatively low. The preferred lactic acid producing bacterium is Lactobacillus acidophilus/animalis and the preferred lactate utilizing bacterium is Propionibacterium freudenreichii.
US09011834B1
Disclosed herein are therapeutic compositions containing non-pathogenic, germination-competent bacterial spores, for the prevention, control, and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, disorders and conditions and for general nutritional health.
US09011821B2
In some aspects, the invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting viral infection. In some aspects, the invention provides compositions and methods useful for identifying antiviral compounds.
US09011818B2
Water soluble InAs(ZnCdS) semiconductor nanocrystals with bright and stable emission in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength range have been prepared. The NIR semiconductor nanocrystals can be functionalized to enable imaging of specific cellular proteins. In addition, the utility of the NIR region for in vivo biological imaging is clearly demonstrated by the superior ability of InAs(ZnCdS) semiconductor nanocrystals to image tumor vasculature.
US09011799B2
The invention relates to a laboratory sample instrument with a cable holding space in which a printed circuit board cable device is arranged. The printed circuit board cable device has at least one printed circuit board with first and second sides and, arranged in succession, at least one first circuit board section, at least one second circuit board section and at least one third circuit board section, and with a number of conductor tracks arranged in parallel with respect to one another and extending from a first track section arranged in the first circuit board section, via the second circuit board section to the third circuit board section, in which a second track section is arranged, wherein, in the second circuit board section, at least one conductor track is arranged on the first side of the board and at least one track is arranged on the second side.
US09011793B2
The present invention relates to a blood glucose monitoring system, a strip accommodation device, a strip storage device, and an automated blood collection device, wherein the blood glucose monitoring system has the strip accommodation device formed integrally therewith, the strip accommodation device being configured to convert a rotary motion of a cover of an operating member into an upward linear motion and to eject one of a plurality of strips through an ejection hole, thereby easily storing the strips therein, preventing the contamination of the strips from the foreign matters like outside moisture, and accurately and easily measuring the concentration of the glucose in the blood.
US09011792B2
An isolator includes a work chamber, a sterilizing substance supply unit, a gas flow channel pressure adjustment unit, a work chamber barometer, and a controller. The controller is configured to control execution of a gas flow channel leak test for checking a gas leak in a gas flow channel based on a detection result by the work chamber barometer after making the gas flow channel pressure adjustment unit increase or decrease the pressure in the gas flow channel, and is configured to control supply of the sterilizing substance by the sterilizing substance supply unit. The controller performs heating of a heater, which accompanies the supply of the sterilizing substance, in parallel with the gas flow channel leak test.
US09011788B2
A Fischer Tropsch (“FT”) unit that includes an FT tube that is packed with a catalyst. The catalyst is designed to catalyze an FT reaction to produce a hydrocarbon. An insert that is positioned within the FT tube. The insert comprises at least one cross-piece that contacts an inner surface of the FT tube and at least one cross-fin extending from the cross-piece. There may be a corresponding second cross-fin adjacent each cross-fin. Both the cross-fins and the second cross-fins may be disposed radially outwardly such that the edge of the cross-fins are closer to the inner surface of the FT tube than is the base of the cross-fins.
US09011787B2
A sterilization, sanitization and/or decontamination device 1 comprising at least a humidifier unit, an ozone generator unit 60, at least one discharge outlet 16 and a controller for controlling the humidifier and ozone generator units, the at least one discharge outlet 16 comprising at least two at least partially converging plates 72, 74 between which substances are discharged.
US09011779B1
Described is a personal device and methods for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a sample of gas. The device and method may utilize a chemically selective sensor element with low power consumption integrated with circuitry that enables wireless communication between the sensor and any suitable electronic readout such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. In preferred form, the sensor circuitry relies upon the quantum capacitance effect of graphene as a transduction mechanism. Also in preferred form, the device and method employ the functionalization of the graphene-based sensor to determine the concentration of ethanol in exhaled breath.
US09011778B2
A hydrogen sensitive composite sensing material based on cerium oxide with or without additives to enhance sensitivity to hydrogen, reduce cross-sensitivities to interfering gases, or lower the operating temperature of the sensor, and a device incorporating these hydrogen sensitive composite materials including a support, electrodes applied to the support, and a coating of hydrogen sensitive composite material applied over the electroded surface. The sensor may have in integral heater. The sensor may have a tubular geometry with the heater being inserted within the tube. A gas sensor device may include a support, electrodes applied to the support, and a dual sensor element to cancel unwanted effects on baseline resistance such as those resulting from atmospheric temperature changes. The hydrogen sensitive composite material or other gas sensitive materials may be used in the dual element gas sensor device.
US09011773B2
An automated smear making apparatus used to prepare and smear samples on glass slides. In one embodiment, there is provided a smearing subsystem that generally includes a smear cartridge having: an input reel; at least one roll bar; a take-up reel; and a smearing tape. The smearing tape is initially wound within the input reel and coupled to the take-up reel such that the smearing tape can be drawn from the input reel and into the take-up reel. The smearing tape may include a plurality of perforations formed therein. The smearing tape may then be wrapped around the roll bar such that each of the plurality of perforations forms a blade that extends from the smearing tape to expose a smear surface as the smearing tape is drawn into the take-up reel. Alternatively, the smearing tape may be bent such that an edge of the smearing tape forms a smear surface between two roll bars. A slide transport surface is also provided to move a slide across the smear surface.
US09011770B2
The present invention provides a device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a liquid sample. The device has an opening for introducing the liquid sample into a first chamber for collecting the liquid sample, and a second chamber connected to the first chamber by a passageway and containing a test element. The device also has a third chamber connected to the second chamber by a channel and containing a movable member having first and second positions. The third chamber is divided by the movable member into first and second zones, and the first zone has a vent hole. The movable member is in contact with at least one wall of the third chamber to prevent gas communication between the first and second zones.
US09011769B2
A blood reservoir may be used in combination with other elements such as a heart lung machine (HLM), oxygenator, heat exchanger, arterial filter and the like to form an extracorporeal blood circuit that may be employed in a procedure such as a bypass procedure. The blood reservoir may be configured to receive, filter and store blood from a number of sources including vent blood (from within the heart), venous blood (from a major vein), purge blood (from a sampling line) and cardiotomy or suction blood (from the surgical field).
US09011767B2
The disclosed invention relates to a portable, vacuum assisted decontamination unit. The invention also relates to a vacuum assisted decontamination process. The decontamination unit may be ruggedized for use in hostile environments such as those that may be anticipated for military applications.
US09011762B2
The invention relates to a sintering method for manufacturing structures by sintering. In addition, the invention relates to a sintered product, an electronic module, and new uses. In the method, a particle material containing conductive or semiconductive encapsulated nanoparticles is sintered, in order to increase its electrical conductivity, by applying a voltage over the particle material. In the method, a substrate is typically used, one surface of which is at least partly equipped with a layer containing nanoparticles. The method is based on thermal feedback between the voltage feed and the nanoparticles. The invention permits the manufacture of conductive and semiconductive structures and pieces by sintering at room temperature and at normal pressure.
US09011754B2
The present invention refers to an apparatus and a method for the manufacture of a three-dimensional scaffold at low temperatures and the respective use of this method and apparatus.
US09011750B2
The injection molding device of the present invention is provided with a supply pipe which supplies a heat medium to a mold, a discharge pipe which discharges the heat medium from the mold, a mold temperature adjustor to which the supply pipe and the discharge pipe are connected to adjust the temperature of the mold, and a discharge rate adjusting unit which is provided with a variable flow control valve installed on the discharge pipe to adjust a flow rate of the heat medium, a discharge pipe variable flow control valve bypass pipe for bypassing the variable flow control valve and a discharge pipe bypass on-off valve installed on the bypass pipe to change a flow rate of the heat medium and which is installed at a position upstream from the mold temperature adjustor on the discharge pipe.
US09011746B2
The invention is a method for preparing a finished part in a mold wherein the finished part includes n mold inputs, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a mold having n mold stations, (b) simultaneously adding a mold input at each mold station to create a finished part and n−1 part portions, (c) removing the finished part and each part portion from each mold station, (d) transferring the finished part to a finished part holding area and transferring each part portion to a different mold station, and (e) repeating steps (b) through (d).
US09011738B2
Monomer beads which can be obtained according to a process in which i. one or more aromatic tetraamino compounds are mixed with one or more aromatic carboxylic acids comprising at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer in an extruder and melted at 190° C.-270° C.; ii. the melt is dropletized at 190° C.-270° C. by means of a die located at the extruder outlet; iii. the liquid droplets are collected, cooled and allowed to solidify. The monomer beads are particularly suited to the production of a proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles.
US09011733B2
Green compositions and technologies are provided. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of providing dielectric fluids, heat transfer fluids or cooling fluids. The dielectric fluid, heat transfer fluid, or cooling fluid can comprise one or more by-product or co-product containing glyceride and fatty acid mixtures extracted from an ethanol process. In an embodiment, the present invention provides compositions of dielectric fluids, heat transfer fluids or cooling fluids. The dielectric fluid, heat transfer fluid, or cooling fluid can comprise one or more glyceride and fatty acid mixtures extracted from an ethanol process.
US09011730B2
There is described a coating composition useful for forming a transfer member suitable for use with an image forming system. The composition includes coating an ultraviolet (UV) curable mixture comprising a chlorinated polyester resin, a reactive diluent, conductive species and a photoinitiator on a substrate. The UV curable mixture is cured with ultraviolet energy. The cured mixture is then removed from the substrate.
US09011727B2
Blending an electrically active, anodically coloring, electrochromic polymer with a non-electrochromic, non-electrically conductive binder polymer greatly enhances the performance of the anodically coloring, electrochromic polymer in an electrochromic device over time. In addition to improved physical characteristics of the blend, e.g., film build, durability etc, the coloristic properties, including color space and color strength, of the device comprising the blend are more durable than when using the neat polymer, and in certain instances, the color space and color intensity provided by the blend is superior to that available from the neat polymer.
US09011723B2
In a method for treating alternative, carbon-containing, low-caloric waste materials for use in furnace systems, in particular rotary tubular kilns for the production of clinker, the carbon-containing, alternative fuels are subjected to high-temperature gasification under anoxic conditions at temperatures above 1000° C., wherein water, water vapor or CO2 is injected to ensure a reaction forming CO and H2. The waste heat from a clinker cooler is used for the high-temperature gasification.
US09011719B2
A white-light LED red phosphor and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The luminescent materials are represented by the general formula: Ca1-y-m-e-rYyMmXx-pPpZzNn:Eue, Rf, wherein M is at least one selected from Sr, Ba, Sc, Li, Na and K; X is at least one selected from B, Al and Ga, and Al must be contained; Z is at least one selected from Si, V and Nb, and Si must be contained; R is at least one selected from Dy, Er, Tm and Lu, and Dy must be contained; 0.001≦y≦0.2, 0.001≦m≦0.2, 0.5≦x≦1.5, 0.5≦z≦1.5, 0.001≦p≦0.1, 2≦n≦4, 0.001≦e≦0.2 and 0.001≦r≦0.1. The phosphor according to the present invention has features such as good chemical stability, high luminous efficiency, and good anti-luminous attenuation performance, etc.
US09011712B2
Disclosed is a microetching solution, a replenishment solution added to said microetching solution and a method for production of a wiring board using said microetching solution. The microetching solution for copper consists of an aqueous solution containing a cupric ion, an organic acid, a halide ion, a polymer and a nonionic surfactant. The polymer is a water-soluble polymer including a polyamine chain and/or a cationic group and having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 or more. In the microetching solution of the present invention, a value of A/B is 2000 to 9000 and a value of A/D is 500 to 9000, where a concentration of the halide ion is A % by weight, a concentration of the polymer is B % by weight and a concentration of the nonionic surfactant is D % by weight. Using this microetching solution, adhesion to a resin or the like can be uniformly maintained even with a low etching amount.
US09011711B2
The invention relates to a heat transfer method using a ternary composition containing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1-difluoroethane and difluoromethane, as a heat transfer fluid in refrigeration systems, to replace the R-410A mixture.
US09011702B2
One of objects is to reduce the effect caused by the volume expansion of an active material. An embodiment is a method for manufacturing an electrode for a power storage device which includes an active material over one of surfaces of a current collector. The active material is formed by forming a conductive body functioning as the current collector; forming a mixed layer including an amorphous region and a microcrystalline region over one of surfaces of the conductive body; and etching the mixed layer selectively, so that a part of or the whole of the amorphous region is removed and the microcrystalline region is exposed. Thus, the effect caused by the volume expansion of the active material is reduced.
US09011698B2
A method and devices comprise a low frequency high energy ultrasound system having at least one sonotrode projecting into a reactor vessel through which the liquid passes via at least one inlet orifice and at least one outlet orifice. To avoid cavitation at the sonotrode, in a close region of the oscillation-transducing sonotrode surface a pressure/amplitude combination close to or above the pressure-amplitude characteristic line is generated at which considerably reduced or no cavitation occurs and in the adjacent region in the vessel at least in a region and at least at times a pressure/amplitude combination is maintained below the pressure-amplitude characteristic line at which cavitation is generated. A device has an inlet orifice arranged such that the liquid impacts directly onto the oscillation-transducing sonotrode surface, and is shaped that in the close region of the oscillation-transducing sonotrode surface a pressure close to or above the pressure-amplitude characteristic line prevails.
US09011697B2
A method for the treatment of fluid including the step of exposing the fluid to a pulsed plasma discharge. The pulsed plasma discharge will be generated using a suitable electrode configuration to generate the plasma discharge in the fluid. Apparatus useful in the method may include a vessel, at least two electrodes for generating a plasma discharge in water, and a flow inlet and a flow outlet to allow water to be passed through the vessel. Also described is an in-line water treatment, where a pulsed plasma discharge is used in a pipe carrying moving water. Plasma based fluid treatment system may have many advantages in comparison to other treatment methods, such as very minimal maintenance, low operating power, and minimal pressure loss through the device.
US09011693B2
The invention provides a process for separating a solution from magnetic resin portions, particles and/or fines by passing a solution containing the resin portions, particles and/or fines through a bed of particulate magnetic material.
US09011691B2
Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the diphosphite-containing compounds.
US09011681B2
A self-contained water polishing system includes at least a first containment basin that has an inlet for inflow of water from a collection source and contains calcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through the system; at least a first polishing basin in communication with the containment basin and that contains at least a first pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowing through the system; and a vacuum pumping system in fluid communication with the containment and polishing basins that draws water through the polishing system.
US09011680B2
Oil boom (1) having an elongated buoyancy body (8) carrying a skirt (9) that is hanging down in the sea as a barrier against water surface pollution. The boom (1) is arranged for being towed by its ends, in a U shape, for collecting pollution, in particular mechanically dispersed oil. The boom is designed in such a way that conditions for concentrating the pollution arise in the inner area of the boom, and in that at least parts of said inner area are provided with a means (6, 10) for coalescence of pollution drops.
US09011667B2
One embodiment of the invention includes an assembly of metal oxide comprising valve metal oxide nanotubes.
US09011663B2
The present teachings relate to microfluidic valves and pumping systems, which may be suitable for controlling and facilitating liquid flow. Electrodes are disposed proximately to volumes containing a liquid. The liquid flow can be facilitated by electrowetting forces. Processes for controlling the flow of liquids, as well as for pumping liquids, are also disclosed.
US09011662B2
The invention provides droplet actuator assemblies and systems and methods of manufacturing the droplet actuator assemblies. In certain embodiments, two-piece enclosures are used to form a droplet actuator assembly that houses a droplet operations substrate. In certain other embodiments, one-piece enclosures are used to form a droplet actuator assembly that houses a droplet operations substrate. In the plastic injection molding process for forming substrates of the droplet actuator assemblies of the present invention may utilize insert molding (or overmolding) processes for forming a gasket in at least one substrate, thereby avoiding the need for providing and installing a separate gasket component. Further, the droplet actuator assemblies may include features that allow ultrasonic welding processes to be used for bonding substrates together. The manufacturing systems of the present invention for fabricating the droplet actuator assemblies may utilize continuous flow reel-to-reel manufacturing processes.
US09011659B2
A sensor apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode at a predefined distance from one another. The sensor apparatus includes a substrate arranged in a predefined first region of the sensor carrier such that the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially electrically decoupled from one another if the outer side of the sensor carrier is substantially free of particles. A third electrode is coupled to a solid electrolyte that is additionally coupled to the second electrode. A diffusion barrier is coupled to the third electrode in a predefined third region and the exhaust gas is applied to the third electrode only in the third region via the diffusion barrier.
US09011658B2
The present invention relates to a sampling plate. In particular the invention relates to a sampling plate for measuring certain selected properties of a liquid sample, such as the glucose levels in a blood sample. Sampling plates of the present invention have a sample zone (20) for receiving a liquid sample and an overflow reservoir (26) linked to the sample zone (20) via an overflow channel (26a), so that excess blood sample can be redirected away from the sample zone (20) and contained.
US09011641B2
Fibrous structures that exhibit a Free Fiber End Count greater than the Free Fiber End Count of known fibrous structures in the range of free fiber end lengths of from about 0.10 mm to about 0.75 mm as determined by the Free Fiber End Test Method, and sanitary tissue products comprising same and methods for making same are provided.
US09011630B2
The present invention relates to curable compositions comprising at least one specific blocked amine, at least one surface-deactivated polyisocyanate that is solid at ambient temperature and optionally water or a water-producing substance. Compositions of this type are characterized by an extremely high storage stability as long as they are not heated. Hot curing compositions that cure with the action of heat can thus be produced. Heat-activated compositions can also be produced. When heat is applied the latter compositions are not cured but are activated so that they are able to cure under the influence of moisture. The curable compositions are particularly suitable for use as adhesives.
US09011606B2
Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, especially in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being are covered in this disclosure. An elongated clearing member includes either a fixed or an adjustable element that selectively defines the portion of the elongated clearing member that is insertable within the artificial tube. The proximal end of the clearing member is releasably secured to the driving mechanism and the driving mechanisms may comprise a wide variety of repetitive motion drivers such as voice coil motors, piezoelectric actuators, pneumatic actuators, DC motors, etc. These devices/methods may comprise a free-standing console for hands-free operation or may comprise hand-held versions. The distal working end of the clearing member may comprise tips of differing functions, including an irrigation/aspiration feature.
US09011601B2
A substrate processing apparatus capable of forming an oxide film on a substrate by forming a layer on the substrate by supplying a source gas into a process vessel accommodating the substrate via the first nozzle, and simultaneously supplying an oxygen-containing gas through a second nozzle and a hydrogen-containing gas through a first nozzle into the process vessel having an inside pressure thereof lower than atmospheric pressure; mixing and reacting the oxygen-containing gas with the hydrogen-containing gas in a non-plasma atmosphere within the process vessel to generate atomic oxygen; and oxidizing the layer with the atomic oxygen to change the layer into an oxide layer is disclosed.
US09011600B2
A chemical vapour deposition system, including: a process tube for receiving at least one sample, the process tube being constructed of silicon carbide, impregnated with silicon, and coated with silicon carbide; a pumping system to evacuate the process tube to high vacuum; one or more gas inlets for introducing one or more process gases into the evacuated process tube; and a heater to heat the process tube and thereby heat the one or more process gases and the at least one sample within the process tube to cause a material to be deposited onto the at least one sample within the process tube by chemical vapour deposition.
US09011597B2
A method for preparing a composite material from a waste appearing as sludge is provided. The method comprises a step consisting in putting said waste appearing as sludge in contact with a dry cement mixture. Also provided are the thereby obtained composite material and the use of such a method for treating and/or inertizing wastes and notably industrial and/or radioactive wastes.
US09011585B2
A treatment solution for an insulation coating of grain-oriented electrical steel sheets includes at least one selected from phosphates of Mg, Ca, Ba, Sr, Zn, Al and Mn; colloidal silica in a proportion of 0.5 to 10 mol in terms of SiO2; and a water-soluble vanadium compound in a proportion of 0.1 to 2.0 mol in terms of V, relative to PO4:1 mol in the phosphates.
US09011569B2
A wall flow type particulate filter (24) adapted to be arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in which combustion is performed in an excess of oxygen carries a solid acid. The solid acid has an acid strength which is higher than the acid strength of sulfurous acid and lower than the acid strength of sulfuric acid.
US09011551B2
A left atrial appendage occlusion device is provided that acts in conjunction with a wireless transponder unit. The occlusion device provides a seal of the left atrial appendage opening, while the transponder is inserted into the left atrial appendage to sense one or more physiological conditions and relay the sensed information over wireless communication. Further, all or part of the left atrial appendage may be filled using a biocompatible inert filling material injected into the left atrial appendage as part of deployment of the transponder unit.
US09011547B2
A knee prosthesis system for total knee replacement procedures includes a plurality of distinctly-sized femoral components, a plurality of distinctly-sized fixed tibial components, a plurality of distinctly-sized mobile tibial components, a plurality of fixed inserts, and a plurality of mobile inserts. Each of the mobile inserts is sized and shaped such that each may be optimally matched to one of the femoral components and may be used with any one of the mobile tibial components. Each of the fixed inserts is sized and shaped such that each may be optimally matched to one of the femoral components and may be used with any one of the fixed tibial components.
US09011540B1
A spinal implant and an overlay for interlocking with the face of the implant. Grooves and/or channels of the overlay interlock with the face of the implant. The overlay assists in securing the implant within the surgically created cavity.
US09011534B2
Methods for fixation of a soft tissue graft in a bone including: forming in the bone a tunnel defining an entrance opening and an exit opening at opposite ends of the tunnel, the tunnel including an anterior wall surface and a posterior wall surface opposite to the anterior wall surface; positioning the soft tissue graft within the tunnel such that the soft tissue graft extends through both the entrance opening and the exit opening of the tunnel; inserting a graft fixation apparatus into the tunnel and driving spikes of the graft fixation apparatus into the posterior wall surface to mount the graft fixation apparatus to the posterior wall surface of the tunnel such that the graft fixation apparatus is anterior to the posterior wall surface and is not recessed beneath the posterior wall surface; and securing the soft tissue graft inside the tunnel with the graft fixation apparatus.
US09011533B2
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction methods and devices are designed to achieve an anatomically accurate double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by using a single femoral and tibial tunnel. The method and devices reconstruct the two bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament in a single femoral and tibial tunnel using a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. The methods and devices enable an accurate anatomical reconstruction of the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles by creating a single femoral and tibial tunnel as opposed to creating two tunnels in the tibia and femur.
US09011527B2
A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The stent includes a plurality of cells, each cell being formed by a plurality of struts, and a plurality of commissure features. The heart valve further includes a valve assembly secured to the stent and including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet being attached to adjacent commissure features and to the stent struts and/or the cuff.
US09011523B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing or replacing a defective cardiac valve including a prosthetic leaflet assembly having an expandable frame with one or more anchors configured to engage a predetermined region of the defective cardiac valve in an expanded deployed state, and at least one prosthetic leaflet coupled to the expandable frame. The prosthetic leaflet assembly is configured such that the prosthetic leaflet is suspended within a flow path of the defective cardiac valve and coapts with, and improves functioning of, one or more native leaflets of the defective cardiac valve.
US09011522B2
In a surgical method for improving cardiac function, an implantable scaffold or valve support device is inserted inside a patient's heart and attached to the heart in a region adjacent to a natural mitral or other heart valve. The scaffold or valve support device defines an orifice and, after the attaching of the scaffold or valve support device to the heart, or temporary support while native valve leaflets and/or subvalvular structures are captured, a prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve seated in the orifice, and the native valve may be retracted into the scaffold/replacement assembly to create a gasket for sealing the complex.
US09011521B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an anchor having an expandable braid. In some embodiments, the expandable braid is fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the expandable braid comprises at least one turn feature. The anchor and the valve preferably are configured for endovascular delivery and deployment.
US09011513B2
Catheter for delivery of a medical device such as a stent or filter includes an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member movable relative to the inner tubular member. The outer tubular member is disposed at the distal end of the inner tubular member. The inner tubular member includes a fluid lumen defined therein, the fluid lumen having a fluid flow port directed to the exterior surface of the inner tubular member. A pressure chamber is defined by the inner tubular member, the outer tubular member, a proximal seal and a distal seal, and is in fluid communication with the fluid flow port, wherein fluid introduced through the fluid flow port and into the pressure chamber applies a force on the proximal seal to move the outer tubular member in a proximal direction allowing the medical device constrained by the outer tubular member to be released.
US09011509B2
Method and apparatus for optically stimulating neurons of a plurality of auditory nerve pathways of a person to provide auditory sensations for the person including generating a plurality of pulsed light signals having one or more successive pulses; delivering the plurality of pulsed light signals to one or more auditory nerve pathways of the cochlea of the person; selectively controlling the plurality of light signals to optically stimulate and trigger nerve action potentials (NAPs) in the one or more auditory nerve pathways, wherein the selectively controlling includes empirically testing the delivering of the plurality of light signals and determining which optical-stimulation parameters used during the testing are most effective for optically stimulating the auditory nerve pathways of the person, and using results of the testing such that the delivering includes delivering the plurality of light signals with the optical-stimulation parameters that were determined to be most effective for optically stimulating.
US09011504B2
The apparatus and method is directed to a pair of self-tapping, interconnecting, externally and internally threaded devices that, when installed between two separate pieces of material, will draw and hold the material together as a single threaded unit. While the pair of threaded devices are being fastened into the host material, due to the unique design of their threads, no radial outward forces are produced that could cause cracking or splitting of the sections of the material into which they are installed. The external threads are helically defined into the exterior of each half of the device with a right hand thread defined into one half and a left hand thread into the other half. When the two halves are being fastened together, the increased thread pitch on one of the halves continuously draws the halves into each other even when the internal threads have already been maximally tightened.
US09011503B2
An implantable fixation system for fusing a joint between a first bone and a second bone. The system may include an anchor, standoff, bolt, and cortical washer. The system may be implanted across the joint along a single trajectory, the length of the system adjustable to provide compressive force between the anchor and the cortical washer. The system may be implanted across a tibiotalar joint with the anchor positioned in the sinus tarsi. A spacing member may be inserted between the two bones and the fixation system implanted to extend through an opening in the spacing member. The spacing member may be anatomically shaped and/or provide deformity correction. An ankle arthroplasty system may include a tibial plate, a talar plate, and a bearing insert. The plates may be anchored to the tibia and talus along a single trajectory. The ankle arthroplasty system may be revisable to a fusion system.
US09011500B2
The present disclosure generally relates to a fixation device for positioning and immobilizing at least two adjacent vertebrae. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an anterior clivus plate that immobilizes at least two adjacent vertebrae.
US09011499B1
Correction of a scoliotic curve in a spine comprises the steps of implanting an expanding rod isolated completely under the skin and attached to selected portions of the scoliotic curve of the spine at opposing ends of the rod; and producing a controlled force by means of expansion of the rod over at an extended time period under external control until a desire spinal curve is obtained. An incremental force is generated to stretch the scoliotic curve of the spine between the selected portions where attachment of the rod is defined. The controlled force is provided steadily for at least one month or alternatively 1-3 months. Multiple rods may be employed each associated with a different scoliotic curve of the spine or a different portion of the scoliotic curve.
US09011498B2
The present application discloses methods for treating a spinal deformity. In one embodiment, an elongated member is attached to vertebral members with fasteners. A separate fastener may attach the elongated member to each of the vertebral members. The elongated member may apply a force to limit growth on one side of the vertebral members, such as a convex side of a scoliotic spine. Each fastener may be constructed to limit a direction of growth of the vertebral member thereby applying a specific, corrective force to the vertebral member. The fasteners may allow relative motion between adjacent vertebral members without losing the attachment between the vertebral members and the fasteners. The net result may be controlled modulation of growth to reduce and/or eliminate the spinal deformity through redirection of growth potential.
US09011485B2
An implantable biodegradable device consisting of an inner button attached to a cylindrical segment, and an outer button attached to a retainment feature. The cylindrical segment is threaded on one end, with a surface groove. The retainment feature consists of radial strips with bent ends. The diameter of the radial strips is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylinder. The bent ends fit into the groove. An insertion tool can attach to the threads in the cylinder and push the inner button through a wound, then, holding the inner button in place, push the outer button toward the inner button until the bent ends engage with the groove. The top of the threaded end of the cylindrical segment is adjacent to the back surface of the outer button when the bent ends of the retainment feature are engaged with the groove.
US09011484B2
A medical instrument having a force-limiting apparatus that, upon reaching the borderline force, ensures maintenance of the applied resistance force. It is proposed that the force-limiting apparatus should include a housing in which two components that can move in opposite directions to one another in the longitudinal direction of the housing are disposed in such a way that both components are disposed so that they can slide axially in the housing against the force of at least one spring element disposed in the housing, such that the two components are coupled with one another by at least one force transmission element that is acting on both components.
US09011479B2
An intravascular filter configured for bidirectional retrieval and a method for retrieving the filter from a patient's vena cava through the patient's femoral vein.
US09011473B2
A dermatological skin treatment device is provided. The device comprises a handpiece and a cutting tool, wherein the tool is inserted through the conduit and percutaneously inserted into a tissue disposed within a recessed area of the handpiece. The device and method cut the fibrous structures under the skin that cause cellulite at an angle substantially parallel to the surface of the skin and replace these structures with a non-cellulite forming structure by deploying a highly fibrous mesh through a single needle hole to create a highly fibrous layer directly or through wound healing processes.
US09011472B2
Systems and methods are provided for passively dissipating a rotational speed of a fluid-driven rotatable shaft. In particular, a dissipation member is provided for dissipating the rotational speed of a shaft having an end effector formed thereon. As the rotational speed of the shaft increases, the dissipation member will apply a counter-torque to the shaft, thereby limiting the rotational speed of the shaft. In an exemplary embodiment, the counter-torque has a non-linear dependence on the rotational speed of the shaft, such that the counter-torque increases at a rate greater than a rate of increase in the rotational speed.
US09011458B2
An orthopaedic surgical instrument includes an anchor configured to be coupled to a prosthetic tibial component, a shaft coupled to the anchor, and a separator coupled to the shaft. The separator is configured to move along the shaft between a first position in which the separator is spaced apart from the prosthetic tibial component and a second position in which the separator is positioned between the tibial tray and the sleeve of the prosthetic tibial component.
US09011457B2
An aiming guide aligns a surgical tool with a hole in a bone plate. The aiming guide includes an arm portion having a longitudinal axis, top and bottom surfaces, and first and second ends. The aiming guide further includes a handle portion having upper and lower ends. The handle portion is, at its lower end, connected to the bone plate. The handle portion is, at its upper end, connected to the arm portion. Bores extend from the top surface to the lower surface of the arm portion. Each bore is configured and dimensioned to receive a tool guide in at least two different preset positions which locates the channel in at least two different hole positions. The bore includes two diametrically opposed slots extending along at least a portion of a length of the bore, the slots configured and dimensioned to mate with diametrically opposed knobs extending radially outward from a tool guide. The tool guide has a head and a sleeve portion, which has a centered channel. The sleeve portion and channel are eccentric with respect to the head portion. The tool guide is inserted in a first preset position in order to align a surgical tool with one portion of a two-portion bone plate hole, or in a second preset position rotated 180 ° from the first preset position, in order to align a surgical tool with the second portion of a two-portion bone plate hole.
US09011444B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for shaping bone voids during revision procedures of total knee replacements. The systems disclosed herein generally include a cannulated reamer assembly, a reaming guide assembly, a guide tube assembly, a trial stem assembly, and an optional insertion/removal tool. Metaphyseal reconstruction devices can be used to fill the bone voids in conjunction with the systems and methods disclosed herein.
US09011442B2
A disposable reamer designed to improve bone and tissue removal efficiency is described. The reamer device comprises a reamer body shell, a series of reamer blades and a reamer shaft interface. The reamer body shell has a hemispherical structure having a concave interior surface and a convex outer surface. The series of reamer blades have a cutting portion comprised of a series of discrete cutting edges that is bent at an angle from the planar portion of the blade. The reamer blades are positioned along the curved concave interior surface of the hemispherical shell or along the curved convex outer surface of the shell. The reamer blades are positioned along the hemispherical shell such that their leading edges lie parallel to and tangent a bisecting plane.
US09011432B2
An irrigation catheter device, in particular an ablation catheter, including a catheter body in which a central lumen extends from a proximal region into a distal region, wherein a large number of irrigation channels extend away from the lumen, the outlet openings of which out of the catheter body are distributed across the distal end region thereof, wherein sensors are assigned to the central lumen and/or the individual irrigation channels for pressure measurement and/or to measure the flow velocity, to which evaluation means are connected, which are designed to determine the open or closed state of a portion of the irrigation channels on the basis of measured values registered by the sensors.
US09011430B2
A device and method suitable for remodelling the internal surface of a hollow vessel at least partially occluded by a mass is provided. The device comprises an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end comprising a tip portion located at the distal terminus of the body, and at least one heating element located proximally to the tip portion within the distal end. The at least one heating element is configured to be greater in dimension proximally than distally and thereby tapers towards the distal end. Furthermore, the at least one heating element is arranged so that it can be deployed outwardly from the body of the device and in so doing exert an expansion force on the hollow vessel. The at least one heating element is capable of delivering sufficient energy to remodel the internal surface, and if necessary caused localized ablation, of the hollow vessel without inducing closure of the hollow vessel.
US09011429B2
An instrument includes a handle portion, an actuator, a shaft, a rigid member, and an angular control mechanism. The shaft has a proximal end and a distal end with an electrode region, and a flexible region in between. Moving the actuator causes portions of the flexible region distal of a pivot region to bend such that an angular orientation and a radial offset of the electrode region reach a maximum angular orientation and a maximum radial offset, respectively, when the actuator reaches the end position. A distal portion of the rigid member defines the pivot region. Moving the rigid member along the shaft causes the pivot region to translate. The maximum radial offset varies depending on the position of the pivot region. The angular control mechanism is configured to control the angular orientation such that the maximum angular orientation is same regardless of the position of the rigid member.
US09011425B2
An ablation device comprising a positioning catheter adapted to be positionable in a heart and comprising a fixation mechanism for fixing the positioning catheter in the heart, and an ablation catheter adapted to ablate material of the heart using the ablation catheter, wherein the ablation catheter is designed to ablate tissue along an isthmus of the heart, wherein the positioning catheter and the ablation catheter are provided to be movable relative to one another.
US09011416B2
A system for dental tissue treatment includes a system for directing a laser beam to an area of dental tissue to be treated, and a fluid-delivery system for directing and controlling a flow of a fluid. The fluid is directed to at least a portion of the area to be treated and the fluid flow is controlled to substantially prevent both a change in laser energy absorption by the dental tissue and attenuation of treatment efficiency due to fluid interference with the laser beam. The fluid present in at least a portion of the area to be treated may prevent or reduce the likelihood of melting of enamel in that area.
US09011413B2
A Foley catheter assembly is disclosed. The Foley catheter assembly includes a Foley catheter, which includes an insertion tip inserted into the bladder and a drainage tube extending from the insertion tip and draining urine from the bladder, and a catheter support cover, which covers the outer surface of the Foley catheter before insertion of the Foley catheter into the bladder to prevent contamination and allows smooth insertion of the insertion tip into the bladder at a constant speed. The catheter support cover includes a pair of support main bodies that are detachably coupled to each other and accommodate the drainage tube and a pair of transport rollers disposed at both sides of the insertion tip at upper portions of the support main bodies to be rotatable for inserting the insertion tip into the bladder.
US09011409B2
A non-coring needle that includes a sharpened and hardened tip having a tapered back region against which a length of tubing is pressed and welded, brazed or soldered. A Luer Lock hub may be attached to the other end of the tubing.
US09011408B2
Delivering a blood processing solution to blood in a blood bag includes coupling a first tube to a vented spike at one end and to a Y-shaped tube connector at a second end. An in-line microbiotic barrier filter is coupled to the first tube between its ends. A second tube is coupled to a transfer bag at one end and to the Y-shaped tube connector at its other end. A third tube is coupled to the output of the Y-shaped tube connector and sealed at its distal end. The blood bag includes a fourth tube that is sealed at a distal end. The third tube is welded to the fourth tube using a sterile tubing welder, wherein a functionally-closed, sterile flow path through which the blood processing solution can flow into the blood bag is maintained.
US09011400B2
An individually packaged absorbent article assembly including a tri-folded absorbent article having two end portions and an intermediate portion, and a pouch containing the tri-folded absorbent article, the pouch being structured and arranged to enable a user to selectively open the pouch to thereby expose a garment-facing surface of the intermediate portion of the absorbent article prior to exposing a garment-facing surface of either of the end portions of the absorbent article.
US09011397B2
An absorbent article is configured for controlled deformation when insulted by a user and includes an absorbent body having a body-facing surface, a garment-facing surface, and a first graphic visible at the body-facing surface; and a deformable top component positioned adjacent to the body-facing surface, the top component having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a longitudinally-extending centerline, a transverse-extending centerline, and a peripheral edge, wherein the top component includes an attached region and a cantilevered region, and wherein the cantilevered region includes a translucent portion through which the first graphic is at least partially visible. The article also includes a fluid shrinkable string attached to the deformable top component in a pattern capable of providing forces to the top component when insulted by a user.
US09011396B2
A disposable wearing article has a skin-contactable sheet moveable relative to a chassis. The chassis includes an inner sheet, an outer sheet and a liquid-absorbent panel interposed between these inner and outer sheets. The absorbent panel lies at least in the crotch region and extends into the front and rear waist regions in the longitudinal direction. In the rear waist region, a skin-contactable sheet adapted to come in contact with the wearer's skin is attached to the inner surface of the inner sheet. The skin-contactable sheet has front and rear ends extending in the transverse direction and lateral portions extending in the longitudinal direction and only the lateral portions are bonded to the inner sheet.
US09011395B2
A drainable ostomy pouch includes a closure system, which includes four closure members and a two-part fastening system. The closure system is arranged on a neck portion of the drainable pouch, and configured such that the pouch can be securely sealed after the neck portion is folded up three times and closed using the two-part fastening system.
US09011392B2
The invention provides for microneedle devices for delivering agents across biological barriers. The microneedles include agent reservoirs integrated into the bodies of the microneedles, themselves.
US09011386B2
The present invention relates to a device for the delivery of predetermined doses of liquid medicament to a patient, which medicament is intended to be inhaled by the patient or intended to be injected into the body of the patient. The device is adapted to be in a medicament delivery state and in a medicament non-delivery state. When the device is in a medicament delivery state, said device is adapted to drive a piston into a cartridge containing the liquid medicament to be delivered, with a force that is above or equal to a predetermined minimum force value and below a predetermined maximum force value. The minimum force value is the lowest force value needed to deliver the predetermined dose and the maximum force value is the first force value at which it exists a risk of damaging the cartridge or the components of the device.
US09011380B2
A positionable, direct-injection catheter that can access a specific region of the heart or other organ. The catheter is provided with one or two needle shafts, which may be located within respective sheaths that extend axially along the interior of the lumen of a main catheter shaft. Each needle shaft carries, at a distal end thereof a penetrable element or “needle” that is normally retracted within the distal tip of the main shaft during travel to the target organ, but is subsequently deployed by action of a handle-mounted trigger mechanism to extend the needles into the organ's wall. Each extended needle is curved to relative to the shaft's axis to enter the organ wall in a flattened trajectory that both reduces the chance of puncture through the wall and anchors the needles into the wall during injection (for reduced chance of pullout under pressure). A plurality of apertures which provide for more complete agent delivery rapidly, while maintaining a low delivery velocity to effect treatment delivery in as short a period of time as possible without the problems caused by high velocity delivery. The needles are typically arranged to exit the tip at contralateral orientations relative to each other.
US09011376B2
The present invention provides a drug delivery device comprising a drug reservoir chamber (15) containing a substance (16) to be delivered in fluid connection with a drug administration means (17) and (18), and a hydraulic control chamber (9) containing an electrically controlled, non-gassing, volume changing means (13), a coupling means (14) coupling said hydraulic control chamber (9) to said drug chamber (15), the arrangement being such that a change in the electrical control means (11) causes a change in the volume of the volume changing means (13), the volume change being conveyed by the coupling means (14) to the drug chamber (15) such that the substance (16) is expelled from the drug chamber (15) towards the drug administration means (17) and (18).
US09011372B2
A manual breast pump comprising a pump housing defining an inlet orifice, an outlet orifice, and a pump orifice all in fluid communication with one another, the pump housing including a pump chamber, a repositionable actuator disposed within the pump chamber and repositionable within the pump chamber between a retracted position and an extended position, and a resilient band concurrently mounted to the pump housing and operatively mounted to the repositionable actuator.
US09011356B2
A foot massaging device having a plurality of parallel cylindrical rollers mounted within a frame. The frame includes adjustment slots allowing the rollers to be relocated within the frame to present various massaging configurations. The foot massaging device is adjustable by seating the rearwardly disposed rollers between a raised and lowered position to configure the rollers to contact different portions of a user's foot.
US09011354B2
A lower limb orthotic device includes a thigh link connected to a hip link through a hip joint, a hip torque generator including a hip actuator and a first mechanical transmission mechanism interposed between the thigh link and the hip link, a shank link connected to the thigh link through a knee joint, a knee torque generator including a knee actuator and a second mechanical transmission mechanism interposed between the thigh link and the shank link, and a controller, such as for a common motor and pump connected to the hip and knee torque generators, for regulating relative positions of the various components in order to power a user through a natural walking motion, with the first and second mechanical transmission mechanisms aiding in evening out torque over the ranges of motion, while also increasing the range of motion where the torque generators can produce a non-zero torque.
US09011347B2
One or more respiratory characteristics of a patient are measured by coupling patient monitor apparatus (e.g., a photoplethysmograph (“PPG”)) to the patient in order to produce a patient monitor signal that includes signal indicia indicative of effort the patient is exerting to breathe. A breathing or respiratory effort signal for the patient is extracted from the patient monitor signal. A respiratory characteristic signal is extracted (at least in part) from the effort signal. This may be done, for example, on the basis of an amplitude feature of the effort signal and a relative time of occurrence of that amplitude feature. Alternatively, the respiratory characteristic signal may be based on a relationship between two amplitude features of the effort signal, with or without regard for specifics of the times of occurrence of those amplitude features. A breath air flow meter may also be coupled to the patient, if desired, in order to produce a flow signal. One or more of the respiratory characteristic measures may also be partly based on the flow signal.
US09011345B2
A microradio is provided with a hysteretic switch to permit an optimum range increasing charging cycle, with the charging cycle being long relative to the transmit cycle. Secondly, an ensemble of microradios permits an n2 power enhancement to increase range with coherent operation. Various multi-frequency techniques are used both for parasitic powering and to isolate powering and transmit cycles. Applications for microradios and specifically for ensembles of microradios include authentication, tracking, fluid flow sensing, identification, terrain surveillance including crop health sensing and detection of improvised explosive devices, biohazard and containment breach detection, and biomedical applications including the use of microradios attached to molecular tags to destroy tagged cells when the microradios are activated. Microradio deployment includes the use of paints or other coatings containing microradios, greases and aerosols. Moreover, specialized antennas, including microcoils, mini dipoles, and staircase coiled structures are disclosed, with the use of nano-devices further reducing the size of the microradios.
US09011344B1
A monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of an infant is disclosed herein. The monitoring device is preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to create a filtered vital sign signal used to generate a real-time vital sign for the infant which is preferably sent to a mobile communication device.
US09011339B2
When a tomographic image is displayed, the operator of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is allowed to know the timing to optimize the image quality and decide by him- or herself whether optimization needs to be done now or not.The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe for sending out an ultrasonic wave toward a vital tissue and receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave reflected from the tissue; an image constructing section for constructing an image frame representing a tomographic image of the tissue by calculating the magnitudes of displacements at multiple measuring sites on the tissue based on the reflected wave; a display section for displaying the image frame thereon; and a processing section for analyzing an image feature quantity of the image frame and comparing the image feature quantity to a predetermined reference feature quantity. Based on a result of the comparison, the apparatus gives a notification that it is time to decide whether its operator wants the image quality of the image frame to be optimized now or not.
US09011333B2
Wireless molecular sensor methods and systems integrate radio frequency (RF) technology to interrogate, power, operate and/or readout signals corresponding to levels of molecules of interest from microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) implanted within the body. Various alternative embodiments are disclosed.
US09011326B2
A surgical shield protects collateral soft tissue from damage during a trans-orbital surgical procedure in the head of a patient. The shield may be provided as an elongated flexible sheath having one or more thin flexible sidewalls that can conform to the tissue around or bearing on the shield. Other areas or sidewalls of the shield may be thicker to better resist perforation by surgical instruments, and/or to better maintain the access lumen of pathway to the surgical site.
US09011318B2
A highly articulated robotic probe (HARP) is comprised of a first mechanism and a second mechanism, one or both of which can be steered in desired directions. Each mechanism can alternate between being rigid and limp. In limp mode the mechanism is highly flexible. When one mechanism is limp, the other is rigid. The limp mechanism is then pushed or pulled along the rigid mechanism. The limp mechanism is made rigid, thereby assuming the shape of the rigid mechanism. The rigid mechanism is made limp and the process repeats. These innovations allow the device to drive anywhere in three dimensions. The device can “remember” its previous configurations, and can go anywhere in a body or other structure (e.g. jet engine). When used in medical applications, once the device arrives at a desired location, the inner core mechanism can be removed and another functional device such as a scalpel, clamp or other tool slid through the rigid sleeve to perform. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US09011317B2
The teachings provided herein are directed to a methods and devices for treating a hemorrhoid in a subject in a manner that produces substantially less post-procedural pain in the subject, the method minimizing or avoiding a removing or a necrosis of a rectal tissue fold.
US09011316B2
Systems and methods for interactive treatments of female sexual disorders are presented. A programmable sexual stimulation device is provided, which transmits and receives data relating to the use and function of the device. The sexual stimulation device may be programmed to implement a particular combination of mechanical actions which have been customized by a user or a health care professional involved in the treatment or preference of the user. The device may also collect data on the type of mechanical actions input by the user and transmit the data to a remote location for viewing by the user or the healthcare professional. The device may also communicate with external devices which aid in the treatment programs, such as audio or image display devices which can coordinate the function of the sexual stimulation device with the presentation of audio or visual information to provide additional sources of sexual arousal to the user.
US09011314B2
A system for implanting a catheter in a urethra. The system includes a catheter having a valve disposed at a distal portion of the catheter. The valve may be operable in response to an external magnetic field. The system also includes a tool having a tip member extending into an opening at the distal portion of the catheter to couple the tool to the catheter. the system also includes an element extending from the tool. The catheter has an internal path that provides a conduit for the element to be extended through the valve to engage a proximal portion of the catheter. The tool is adapted use the element to stress the catheter and stiffen the catheter along the length of the catheter. Stiffening the catheter facilitates implantation of the catheter in the urethra by enabling pull forces, push forces, and torque forces to be transmitted from the tool through the catheter to the proximal portion of the catheter without undue stress on the urethra. The element is extendible and retractable to position the catheter between stressed and relaxed states while maintaining engagement to the catheter proximal portion. The tool, element and tip member are removable from the catheter after implantation of the catheter in the urethra.
US09011309B2
An electromagnetic radiation activated device comprises a property changing material and at least one functionalized fullerene that upon irradiation of the functionalized fullerenes with electromagnetic radiation of one or more frequencies a thermally activated chemical or physical transformation occurs in the property changing material. The thermal activated transformation of the property changing material is triggered by the heating or combustion of the functionalized fullerenes upon their irradiation. The device can include a chemical agent that is embedded in the property changing material and is released when the material is heated by the functionalized fullerenes upon irradiation.
US09011305B2
Embodiments of the current invention are directed towards solving the need for weightlifting wraps which prevent slippage, increase rebound potential, allow simpler application, and provide greater stability. An embodiment of the invention comprises: gripper wraps made of stretchable material; the gripper wraps having exposed rubber strands on one outer surface of the gripper wraps; the exposed rubber strands arranged in an offset lattice configuration, wherein the exposed rubber strands have a coefficient of friction sufficient to grip the previous layer of wrap.
US09011303B2
A wheeled exercise device includes a first wheel part and a second wheel part coupled to the first wheel part, with the first and second wheel parts coupled together on a central axle therethrough so as to form a central main wheel with a generally flat center circumference and angled outer circumferential sides. The device includes a pair of handles, each handle extending outward and downward at an angle from the central axle from a corresponding wheel part.
US09011298B2
Exercise apparatus having a slidable weight bar assembly with hand brake assemblies is provided for engaging and disengaging the weight bar assembly with a support frame. The exercise apparatus can be configured as a squat machine or a bench press. The exercise apparatus can include an adjustable back support that facilitates proper positioning and support of the operator's upper and lower back while performing squat exercises. The exercise apparatus can further include spring assemblies that increase the kinetic load during downward movements of the slidable weight bar assembly. Alternatively, the spring assemblies can be incorporated into exercise apparatus having a slidable weight bar assembly without the hand brake system.
US09011291B2
An apparatus and method concurrently present one or more visible tracings on a display, each of the one or more visible tracings being based upon one of a plurality of available paths actually taken by a member of an exercise device.
US09011288B2
A multi-stage transmission with eight forward and one reverse gear, including input and output shafts, planetary gear sets, gear stages shift elements and shafts. The input shaft couples the carrier of gearset (P1) and, via clutch (15), can couple shaft (5), which couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and which, via clutch (58), can couple shaft (8), which couples the sun gear of gearset (P3). The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (6) and the sun gear of gearset (P2). Shaft (3) couples the sun and ring gears of respective gearsets (P1, P3) and can couple, via brake (03), the housing (G). The carrier of gearset (P2) couples shaft (4), which can couple the output shaft via the gear stage (S1) and clutch (24). The carrier of gearset (P3) couples shaft (7), which couples gear stage (S2) and the output shaft. Clutch (46) can block gearset (P2).
US09011284B2
A transmission comprises a transmission input shaft, a transmission output shaft, and three power paths situated between the transmission input shaft and a main gear set. The main gear set comprises two single planetary gear sets a first, a second, a third and a fourth shafts. An electric motor is connected with at least one of the four shafts. The first shaft can be connected with the first power path via a first switching element and with the third power path via a second switching element. The second shaft can be connected with the first power path via a third switching element and with the third power path via a fourth switching element. The third shaft is constantly connected with the transmission output shaft. The fourth shaft can be connected with the second power path via a fifth switching element and can be fixed by a sixth switching element.
US09011281B2
A device and method introduces the use of conventional ammunitions to the archery/bow hunting industry. The device achieves stealthy delivery of firearm munitions and increases the firepower of standard arrows resulting in deeper penetration into a target. The device consists generally of a cylindrical housing threaded internally on one end for attachment to a firing pin. A cartridge is loaded into the housing until the flange on the cartridge casing abuts an interior shoulder. In an alternate embodiment, the interior of the housing further includes an annular retaining tab. The retaining tab separates the cartridge from the firing pin to prevent inadvertent discharge. A cap or nosecone may be included to further protect the device from accidental discharge of the cartridge and to provide aerodynamic advantages. The housing may further include a set of stabilizing vanes.
US09011279B2
A throwing dart having a handle that provides a user with tactile biofeedback. The handle includes a handle body having an exterior body surface defined by a first octant, a second octant, a third octant, a fourth octant, a fifth octant, a sixth octant, a seventh octant, and an eighth octant. The handle includes at least a first tactile reference indentation, or projection, that extends longitudinally along the exterior body surface and is confined to a first tactile octant. The first tactile reference indentation, or projection, is formed with dimensions specifically tailored to harness the user's natural attributes of sensibility, proprioception, and neuromuscular memory to improve a user's accuracy.
US09011278B2
The present invention provides for the first time a barrier support structure comprising at least one removable closed-loop resilient coilable frame having a perimeter. The removable closed-loop coilable frame comprises at least one connection member. A support base comprises at least one attachment member. The attachment member removably attaches to the connection member of the removable coilable frame. The attachment member maintains a predetermined angle between the removable coilable frame and the support base.
US09011274B1
The Fox Sharpshooter putter grip is a putter grip that has two unique features. First it contains a chart to help the golfer to determine the how hard to strike the golf ball when putting. Second it features a cap containing a bubble level to help the golfer to hold the putter shaft vertically, which will give the golfer a consistent vertical line with which to compare to the slope of the green. This will help the golfer to determine which direction the ball will roll (the break.) When the chart and the bubble level are used together, they help the golfer to “read” a putt with great accuracy. The Fox Sharpshooter putter grip conforms to USGA rules when the cap with the bubble level is removed.
US09011262B2
Disclosed is a billiard table ball pick-up box, comprising a bottom bracket and a side cover located above the bottom bracket, wherein the side cover comprises a cover plate, a left side plate and a right side plate located on both sides of the cover plate, and a scoreboard located on the top of the cover plate. The left side plate, the right side plate and the scoreboard are all hinged with the cover plate, or one side of the left side plate and the right side plate is spliced with both sides of the cover plate respectively. The side cover of the present utility model can be unfolded to be flat or disassembled during transport, so that the same container can accommodate more side covers, thus reducing the transportation cost.
US09011258B2
A balloon firecracker device includes a bottom plate mounted on a platform, a support post mounted on the bottom plate, a top plate slidable on the support post and provided with a spike board, a top rack mounted on the support post, a covering net mounted between the top rack and the bottom plate, a plurality of balloons received in the covering net and located between the spike board and the bottom plate, a fixing seat secured on the top plate, at least one pulley mounted on the top rack, and a pull cord extended through the pulley and connected with the fixing seat. Thus, when the top plate falls down, the spike board is moved downward to pierce and break the balloons so as to simulate the audio effect of firecrackers.
US09011254B2
A method includes discovering, via a device, a peer-to-peer gaming service of a peer-to-peer network offered by a peer device, wherein the peer-to-peer gaming service facilitates a user of the device to select, access, and play a plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, wherein the specific networked games are not already installed on the device, selecting, via the device, a networked game from the plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, and downloading a program by the device, wherein the program is configured to execute the selected networked game on a processor of the device, wherein downloading the program comprises downloading the program from a third party computing arrangement and receiving from the peer device, authentication for access to the third party computing arrangement, wherein the authentication limits the downloaded program for play of the networked game with only the peer device.
US09011239B2
One object is to provide a video game system that can technically restrain real money trade. In accordance with one aspect, a server device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a determination unit 58 configured to determine whether an exchange of exhibited game contents and bid game contents is concluded based on a game content parameter value characterizing the exhibited game contents and the game content parameter value characterizing the bid game contents; and an updating unit 61 configured to update an owned game content storage unit 52 such that, only when the determination unit 58 determines that the exchange is concluded, the exhibited game contents are stored in association with player identification information of a bidder player and the bid game contents are stored in association with player identification information of an exhibitor player.
US09011236B2
A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled mobile devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can be configured to convert a presentation of an outcome of a wager-based game played on an electronic gaming machine (EGM) into a social media presentation that can be uploaded to a social media site. In one embodiment, a copy of an image showing the outcome of the wager-based that is output on an EGM can be incorporated into the social media presentation. Then, the social media presentation can be uploaded from the EGM to a player's mobile device or directly to a social media site.
US09011234B2
Embodiments described herein allow the users to influence various aspects of a game by selecting digital objects associated with a user's digital object collection to be integrated into customized digital object holders to provide a slot machine like functionality. Each of the digital object holders can have a number of positions, and each position can have a digital object associated with it. The user can choose which digital objects are associated with each digital object holder, in accordance with a rule set which can control which digital object can be associated with the digital object holder.
US09011232B2
A gaming machine executes a normal mode game to rearrange symbols on the first display, based on at least one first table for determining symbols to be rearranged in the normal mode game, and triggers a chance mode game including a plurality of chance rounds when the rearranged symbols satisfies a first condition. The gaming machine closes the door when the chance mode game is triggered, and determining a chance type of the chance mode game. The gaming machine executes each chance round of the chance mode game to rearrange the symbols based on a second table for the determined chance type among a plurality of second tables, by controlling opening or closing of the door and displaying an object image on the display panel according to the determined chance type.
US09011226B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a multiplayer card game with multiple fold options and interrelated bonuses. In one embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to input either a first fold input or a second different fold input should the player desire to fold the player's hand during a play of the card game. If the gaming system receives the first fold input from the player, the gaming system: (a) folds the player's hand, (b) automatically removes the player from the virtual table, and (c) automatically assigns the player to a second different virtual table for at least one subsequent play of the card game. If, on the other hand, the gaming system receives the second fold input from the player, the gaming system folds the player's hand and does not remove the player from the virtual table.
US09011225B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.
US09011220B2
A tractor cab HVAC system has a blower (22) which draws air into the system via air intake means (13) in the roof (14) of the cab (10). Ducting (15) in the roof of the cab directs air drawn in via the intake means down the center of one or more hollow adjacent pillars (16) of the cab to an air filter (18) contained in a housing (20) located between the adjacent pillars. Further ducting (19) extends from the air filter housing to an HVAC unit (11), the HVAC unit processing the air drawn into the system prior to discharging the processed air into the cab. The filter housing (20) is of generally rectangular form and is connected at opposite ends to the two hollow adjacent pillars (16) of the cab via inlet openings (20a) in the housing to allow the passage of intake air from the pillars to the filter (18).
US09011214B2
The present disclosure relates to a coin sorter wherein a flexible rim (606) is used for engaging a coin (706) to be sorted and bring the coin in abutment with a circular border (620) of the coin sorter in a path across a plurality of circularly arranged coin openings.
US09011197B2
An apparatus for suspending and positioning marionettes. The apparatus includes a thin, planar support membrane such as a plastic sheet. A tender vehicle is positioned on the upper side of the support membrane. A motor or other drive mechanism selectively positions the tender vehicle relative to the support membrane. The apparatus includes a puppeteer vehicle from which a marionette is suspended. The puppeteer vehicle is positioned proximate to the lower side of the support membrane opposite the tender vehicle. To support the puppeteer vehicle, one or both of the vehicles includes one or more rotatable magnetic elements such that the attractive forces support the weight of the puppeteer vehicle and the marionette. Typically, the puppeteer vehicle is a passive follower, and the drive mechanism of the tender vehicle includes motors to move the magnetic elements and position the tender and following puppeteer vehicle with its marionette to provide a show.
US09011189B2
A chain terminal is configured that a plurality of terminals are arranged in a chain shape by being connected to a side edge portion of a strip plate-shaped carrier through bridging sections respectively, and the terminals are configured to be cut and separated from the carrier when the bridging sections are cut out along a preset cutting line. Both side edges of each of the bridging sections are formed as slanted edges that are slanted with respect to lines respectively being perpendicular to the cutting line so that the width of each of the bridging sections at a terminal side is large and the width of each of the bridging sections at a carrier side is small.
US09011185B2
An electrical plug-in contact, having a first region for electrical contact with an electrical connection and a second region for electrical contact with an electrical conductor, wherein the two regions are connected to each therein an electrically conductive manner. To provide a plug-in contact that has a simpler design and is more reliable in use, the second region is designed as a plug-in sleeve, in particular a cylindrical plug-in sleeve, which, in the contact region thereof with the electrical conductor, has an elongated hole parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in sleeve, and a longitudinal slot located diametrically opposite of the elongated hole. Furthermore, a system is provided, consisting of an electrical plug-in contact and an electrical conductor, in particular a current bar, wherein an angular, in particular quadrangular, hole for receiving the, in particular cylindrical, plug-in sleeve in the inserted position thereof is formed in the electrical conductor.
US09011183B2
An electronic device having a housing and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes an opening at an exterior surface of the housing. A plurality of contacts are arranged in a two dimensional array positioned within the opening of the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector is configured to concurrently mate with multiple plug connectors where each mated plug connector electrically connects to different and mutually exclusive subsets of contacts in the plurality of contacts. Switching circuitry is coupled to the plurality of contacts and configured to detect when one or more plug connectors are mated with the receptacle connector and electrically connect circuitry within the electronic device to contacts in the one or more plug connectors via subsets of contacts from the plurality of contacts.
US09011182B2
Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs and a plug attached thereto. The plug includes a housing that receives the cable, first through eighth plug contacts, and a printed circuit board that includes first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts. The plug further includes a first crosstalk injection circuit between the second conductive path and the sixth conductive path and a second crosstalk injection circuit between the first conductive path and the sixth conductive path.
US09011175B2
A connector socket has an insulation body having thereon multiple terminals, a metal body having a receiving hole defined to receive therein the insulation body, spring clips formed on side faces thereof and having protrusions formed on the spring clips for extension and accommodation in the windows of the connector plug so as to enhance engagement with the connector plug and a protection casing for receiving therein the metal body and the insulation body to block electromagnetic interference to/from the terminals.
US09011173B2
A multi-connected connector 1 includes a plurality of first connectors 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d and a second connector 20 having a plurality of connector fitting chambers 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d arranged in a row in a transverse direction to fit the first connectors. The first connectors include a connector whose length is different from the other connector of the first connectors in a fitting direction of the first connectors. Butting walls 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d as positioning parts that determine fitting completed positions of the first connectors respectively in the connector fitting chambers 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d are arranged in accordance with lengths in the fitting direction of the first connectors to be connected so that rear end surfaces of the plurality of first connectors which are normally completely fitted are aligned so as to be flush.
US09011167B2
A busbar of the present invention increases yield per metal material in comparison to plate-shaped bus bars, enables provision of protrusions on a member located inside relative to a conductor, and enables formation of the busbar in a bent shape. The busbar of the present invention is provided with a busbar insulator (22), a busbar conductor (23), a busbar insulator (24), a busbar conductor (25), and a busbar insulator (26) formed outside of a busbar center conductor (21). These conductors and insulators are arranged alternately from the inner side towards the outer side in a radial direction (R) that intersects at right angles with the axial direction (A) of the bus bar. The busbar conductors (23, 25) are provided with openings (23o, 25o) along the whole length in the axial direction (A) thereof.
US09011162B2
A rotary connector device that can certainly cut a flat cable is disclosed. The rotary connector device comprises a rotor, a stator forming an annular space between the rotor and the stator, and a flat cable provided in the annular space for establishing a connection between the side of the rotor and the side of the stator. The stator includes an annular wall surrounding the annular space, the flat cable has one end which is pulled outside of the annular space through an opening provided in the annular wall, and a first projection portion and a second projection portion are provided in a side edge portion of an opening in the annular wall to project toward the side of the side edge portion positioned at the opposite side centered on the opening.
US09011148B2
A surgical guide system for dental implantology has a plate (10) provided with a guide sleeve (2) delimiting a through hole with an axis oriented to a predetermined direction. A drill (4) for osteotomy has a spindle connected to a handpiece with drilling portion (41), the drill (4) being for association with the guide sleeve (2) during osteotomy. The diameter (d41) of the drilling head portion (41) is larger than the inner diameter (d2) of the guide sleeve (2) and the spindle is of smaller diameter, such that the association of the drill (4) to any of the guide sleeves (2) can be performed only by inserting the spindle through a gingival side of the sleeves. Upon association of the drill with the sleeve, the drilling head (41) protrudes from the gingival side (2G) thereof. The surgical guide has a void (100) accommodating the drilling head (41) of the drill.
US09011144B2
A palatal t-bar for preventing movement of selected teeth during corrective movement of other teeth through the use of an orthodontic appliance such as orthodontic braces. The t-bar comprises an elongate stem having an anchorage end arranged for affixation to the palatal bone of a patient by means of a temporary bone anchorage device, e.g., a miniscrew implant, and a free end extending in an anterior direction from the anchorage end. The stem is shaped to conform to the palatal surface of the patient. A cross-bar extends laterally from the free end of the stem and is arranged to engage one or more selected maxillary anterior teeth to retain the teeth non-mobile and non-rotational during corrective movement of other teeth utilizing an orthodontic appliance such as orthodontic braces.
US09011143B2
The method according to the invention for operating a PFR lime kiln having at least two shafts, which each have a preheating zone, a combustion zone and a cooling zone, and an overflow channel which connects the two shafts, substantially comprises the following method steps: the two shafts are operated alternately as a combustion shaft and exhaust gas shaft, combustion air and fuel are supplied to the combustion shaft, a corresponding flame length being formed, and the hot gases which are produced in the combustion shaft reach the exhaust gas shaft via the overflow channel, at least one parameter of the hot gases which is characteristic of the formation of the flame length being established by means of direct or indirect measurement in the region of the overflow channel and the ratio of fuel to combustion air being adjusted in accordance with this parameter in order to adjust a predetermined flame length.
US09011135B2
A film patterning system includes: a first rotary member having a first shaft that defines a first axis, and a cylindrical first screen mold that is rotatable about the first axis; a second rotary member spaced apart from the first rotary member, having a second shaft that defines a second axis parallel to the first axis, and rotatable about the second axis; a second screen mold trained on the first and second rotary members and circumferentially stacked on the first screen mold; and a suctioning box mounted in the first rotary member for suctioning the film that is guided onto the second screen mold.
US09011129B2
In a liquid resin molding apparatus including a mold, an injection machine, a metering/supplying mechanism for metering a liquid resin material and supplying a metered amount of liquid resin material to the injection machine, and a pump for pressure-feeding the liquid resin material to the metering/supplying mechanism, the pump is a piston pump having a piston and an actuator for reciprocating the piston, and a discharge pressure of the piston pump is set to be at least 1.5 times a supply pressure with which the liquid resin material is supplied to the metering/supplying mechanism. A pressure reducing valve is disposed in a supply path extending from the piston pump to the metering/supplying mechanism, so as to reduce a pressure of the liquid resin material from the discharge pressure to the supply pressure.
US09011113B2
A magnetic-force interactive fan includes a base, a plurality of clamp portions, an actuating portion, a main blade, and at least one interactive blade. The actuating portion has a fixed terminal and a moveable terminal; the fixed terminal is connected to one of the clamp portions. The main blade has a free terminal and a connection terminal; the connection terminal is connected to the moveable terminal of the actuating portion and a main magnet is disposed on the free terminal. The interactive blade has a top terminal and a bottom terminal; the bottom terminal is connected to another clamp portion and an interactive magnet is disposed on the top terminal. The main magnet is disposed corresponding to the interactive magnet and the main blade is driven by the actuating portion to swing, thus producing wind by synchronously swinging the main blade and the interactive blade.
US09011108B2
The invention relates to an intelligent online closed-loop balance adjusting system for a pumping unit. The system comprises a connecting rod, balance weights, a transmission device, a balance weight displacement adjusting motor and a control device used for driving the motor to adjust and control the weight displacement. The transmission device and the balance weight displacement adjusting motor are arranged above a walking beam. The balance weight displacement adjusting motor is connected with one end of the connecting rod through the transmission device, and the other end of the connecting rod is connected with balance weights. One end of the walking beam away from the horse-head is connected with the middle part of the connecting rod. The invention can realize automatic weight adjustment without shutting the machine down, and the balance weights can be adjusted with the precision of ±10%.
US09011104B2
An article, such as a bucket, a blade, a nozzle, a vane, a strut, a fuel nozzle, a combustion casing, and a transition piece, the article having a damping coating comprising approximately 8 wt % to approximately 15 wt % Y2O3 and approximately 19 wt % to approximately 28 wt % Ta2O5 with the balanced weight of ZrO2 is presented.
US09011103B2
The invention relates to a rotor blade (10) of a wind power plant and a method for fabricating a rotor blade (10) of a wind power plant and a manufacturing mold (54, 50) for a belt (28-31). The invention is characterized by a belt pair (28, 29, 30, 31) in which two belts (28, 29, 30, 31) are connected together in a form-fit and/or force-fit and material fit connection, where the belts (28-31) have a complementary shape in a joining area (50).
US09011101B2
A turbine bucket is provided including a bucket airfoil having an airfoil shape, the bucket airfoil having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches, and wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z, the airfoil profile sections at Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US09011089B2
A turbine assembly can include a turbine wheel, a shroud component, a turbine housing, and an expansion seal that includes a lower lip, an upper lip, and a wall that extends between the lower lip and the upper lip and that is disposed between an outer seal surface of the shroud component and an inner seal surface of the turbine housing. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09011085B2
A Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes at least one CMC ply which defines a suction side, an outer platform, a pressure side and an inner platform with a continuous “I”-shaped fiber geometry.
US09011076B2
A gas turbine engine includes a shaft defining an axis of rotation. An inner rotor directly drives the shaft and includes an inner set of blades. An outer rotor has an outer set of blades interspersed with the inner set of blades. The outer rotor is configured to rotate in an opposite direction about the axis of rotation from the inner rotor. A gear system couples the outer rotor to the shaft and is configured to rotate the inner set of blades at a lower speed than the outer set of blades.
US09011074B2
A device and a method for turning stacks of sheet-shaped material include a device for transporting the stacks into a pivot fork. The pivot fork is part of a turning unit and includes upper grippers, lower grippers and a stack stop. The pivot fork is open on one side to receive the stacks. The pivot fork is supported at its other end to pivot on a horizontal pivot shaft that extends in a direction transverse to a direction of introduction of the stacks and is disposed off-center relative to the pivot fork.
US09011070B2
The present invention relates to a loading station for a storage frame. In the loading station, the storage frame serves for temporarily holding and transporting rod-like elements, in particular smoking rods, on which sausage-shaped products, like sausages, are stored, and comprises two side parts, wherein each side part has two supports being substantially parallel to each other and wherein the side parts are connected with each other by at least one cross beam, and horizontally arranged trays for accommodating rod-like elements. The loading station comprises at least one position defining device for defining a predetermined position of the storage frame. Moreover, at least one locking device is provided for releasably locking of the storage frame in its predetermined position.
US09011064B2
A device and method for holding a substrate, e.g., a semiconductor wafer, during a process, e.g., a liquid meniscus process, the substrate having a first side and a second side. The device includes one or more holding components, e.g., fingers, configured to contact a second side of the substrate without significantly contacting the first side of the substrate. At least one of the holding components may be configured to be moved during the process so as to prevent the at least one holding components from effecting the process, e.g., contacting the liquid meniscus. Such an arrangement may be employed when the substrate includes a top side having at least one structure or feature thereon, it being desirable that the holding components avoid contact with the structures or features during the process.