105results about How to "Great flexibility" patented technology

Stimulation of one or more neurons of the sympathetic nervous system, including the splenic nerve, to attenuate an immune response, including an inflammatory immune response, is discussed. Devices and systems to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system to attenuate an immune response are also discussed. Devices discussed include pulse generators and drug pumps. Systems are described as optionally having one or more sensors and operator instructions. In specific examples, stimulation of the splenic nerve of pigs with a pulse generator is shown to be safe and effective in attenuating a lipopolysaccharide-induced immune response.

A stent comprises a segment having a plurality of interconnected closed serpentine circumferential bands. Each closed serpentine circumferential band comprises a plurality of struts. Struts which are circumferentially adjacent one another are connected one to the other by a turn. Each strut has a length. The struts generally increase in length from a minimum strut length to a maximum strut length and then generally decrease in length from the maximum length to the minimum length as the circumferential band is traversed in its entirety in a clockwise direction. The maximum length struts of adjacent closed serpentine circumferential bands may be longitudinally aligned.

An endoluminal prosthesis with a moveable fenestration including a tubular graft body having a proximal end, a distal end, a surface plane at least one fenestration having a perimeter disposed in a sidewall of the tubular body between the proximal end and the distal end, a first biocompatible graft material, and a second biocompatible graft material adjacent to and surrounding the perimeter of the at least one fenestration. The second biocompatible graft material has at least one characteristic different from the first biocompatible graft material and is more flexible than the first biocompatible graft material and is movable relative to the surface plane of the tubular graft body.

A method for actuating or installing downhole equipment in a wellbore employs non-acoustic signals (e.g., radio frequency signals) to locate, inventory, install, or actuate one downhole structure in relation to another downhole structure. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a first downhole structure that comprises a non-acoustic (e.g., radio frequency) identification transmitter unit that stores an identification code and transmits a signal corresponding to the identification code; (b) providing a second downhole structure that comprises a non-acoustic receiver unit that can receive the signal transmitted by the non-acoustic identification transmitter unit, decode the signal to determine the identification code corresponding thereto, and compare the identification code to a preset target identification code; wherein one of the first downhole structure and the second downhole structure is secured at a given location in a subterranean wellbore, and the other is moveable in the wellbore; (c) placing the second downhole structure in close enough proximity to the first downhole structure so that the non-acoustic receiver unit can receive the signal transmitted by the non-acoustic identification transmitter unit; (d) comparing the identification code determined by the non-acoustic receiver unit to the target identification code; and (e) if the determined identification code matches the target identification code, actuating or installing one of the first downhole structure or second downhole structure in physical proximity to the other.

A dual sighting optical sight is provided. The sight provides non-inverted images through a rear window and at least one side window so that a user may view a target from either a rear or a side, respectively, of the weapon to which the sight is mounted. The sight is adjustable to a plurality of different positions so that the user can use the sight and weapon from other than directly behind the sight weapon.

A semiconductor package substrate with embedded chip and a fabrication method thereof are provided. A first insulating layer is applied on a metallic board, and formed with at least one opening for exposing a portion of the metallic board. At least one semiconductor chip is mounted on the exposed portion of the metallic board. A support plate is mounted on the first insulating layer, and formed with a through cavity at a position corresponding to the opening of the first insulating layer, for receiving the chip in the through cavity. A second insulating layer is applied on the chip and the support plate. Insulating materials of the insulating layers fill a gap between the chip and the support plate. A circuit layer is formed on the second insulating layer, wherein the circuit layer is electrically connected to the chip by conductive structures formed in the second insulating layer.

Disclosed herein are various open / closed stent designs and methods for creating the same that can be individually adopted depending on particular treatment objectives. Specifically, the stents of the present invention are manufactured to include different open / closed configurations along their length by varying the number of crossovers, connectors or weld points between sections of the stent. Open portions contain less crossovers, connectors or weld points and are more flexible than closed portions which contain more crossovers, connectors or weld points.

Electronic devices (20, 20′) of superior design flexibility that avoid channel-width quantization effects common with prior art fin-type (FIN) field effect transistors (FIN-FETS) (22) are obtained by providing multiple FIN-FETs (22) and at least one planar FET (32, 32′) on a common substrate (21), wherein the multiple FIN-FETs (22) have fins (231, 232) of at least fin heights H1 and H2, with H2<H1. The multiple FIN-FETs (22) and the at least one planar FET (32, 32′) are separated vertically as well as laterally, which aids electrical isolation therebetween. Such electrical isolation can be enhanced by forming the planar FET (32) in a semiconductor region (441) insulated from the common substrate (21). In a preferred embodiment, the multiple height fins (231, 232) are obtained by first forming all fins (231, 232′) of common height H1 and then shortening some of the fins (232) to height H2<H1 by differentially etching upper portions thereof that have, preferably, been implanted with etch rate altering ions.

An apparatus and method for subsequent optimization of radiosurgery and radiotherapy is provided. The invention includes administering a metalloporphyrin to the patient, and then creating a 3-dimensional mapping of tissue through use of PET or SPECT. Malignant and pre-malignant tissue has an affinity for the metalloporphyrin. During treatment, real-time images are also provided which are compared to the previous 3-dimensional mapping. Creation of the real-time images is also achieved through PET or SPECT wherein a metalloporphyrin is administered to the patient. Total administration of radiation is calculated by summing radiation from the metalloporphyrins and from the radiosurgery / radiotherapy. The amount of radiation delivered by the metalloporphyrins and by the radiosurgery / radiotherapy are adjustable based on a patient's response to the dual delivery.

There is provided a method and system for collecting optical data for use in time resolved optical imaging wherein light is directionally propagated through free-space optics to impinge on a plurality of illumination at the surface of a biological tissue such as that comprised in small animals. Light re-emitted from the tissue is collected and directionally propagated through free space optics towards a detector to produce time resolved optical signals useful for optical image reconstructions.

A device (17) is provided for tensioning a flexible band (3) used to maintain a bone element on an implant. The device includes a rod (18) having a first end (19) provided with means (20) for bearing on the implant, a movable part (32) for hooking the flexible band onto a portion (28) of the device, and means (34) for adjustably locking the movable part in translation in relation to the portion of the device. The rod (18) includes a gripping handle (26) at the second end (27) thereof. The aforementioned portion of the device forms an angle α with the rod (18) to which it is rigidly connected at an intermediary point, the direction of the band being altered at an angle, and the aforementioned adjustable locking means (34) includes manual screwing means (35) for actuating the movable part.

Investigation of in vivo models of disease requires imaging studies involving single subjects in single imaging sessions, serial imaging of individuals or groups of subjects, and integration of data across diverse and heterogeneous experimental methodologies. Each type of experiment is preferably supported by various feature sets that can be rigorously applied to produce quantitative, reproducible results. Current imaging scanners are not equipped with standardized capability that supports an automated and scientifically rigorous workflow suited to hypothesis testing. An imaging system includes a research workstation at which a user can design, execute, study, and report imaging plans. Flexibility that comes along with a modular design of the system allows the user to customize workflow parameters for more robust hypothesis testing.

A socket is described for a lighting assembly having a socket body and an electrical connector with a seal in the socket to seal around a light source. The socket is preferably configured to be independent of the mounting arrangement for the lighting assembly. An insulator is also disclosed for a lamp such as a fluorescent lamp having a body which covers the contact on the lamp so as to form a recessed lamp conductor. The combination of a socket and lamp insulator is also disclosed for providing a socket and insulator assembly for reducing the possibility of injury or damage due to high open circuit voltage, environmental effects and the like. Additionally, a lighting assembly is disclosed incorporating the insulator, socket and mounting arrangements.< / PTEXT>

A self-actuating and self regulation heat exchange system comprising: evaporator 16, condenser 34, bladder sub-system 42, phase-change fluid 24 and connecting tubes, is a device and an apparatus useful to transport thermal energy from a relatively hot zone to a relatively cold zone, over distance, and around or through obstructions. The bladder sub system, consisting of an expandable bladder and two one-way check-valves, utilizes the pressure difference in the system created during evaporation and condensation to make the phase-change fluid circulate inside the closed loop system, transferring thermal energy from evaporator to condenser. The operation of the device is self started, self regulated and the device is almost independent of gravity, and the orientation.

A system, method and computer program product are provided for determining routing of data paths in interconnect circuitry for an integrated circuit. The interconnect circuitry on a first side provides a narrow interface for connection to a first device, and on a second side provides a wide interface for connection to a distributed plurality of further devices. Each data path is associated with one of the further devices and provides a connection through the interconnect circuitry between that associated further device and the first device. The method comprises the steps of defining a plurality of cells to be provided along the wide interface, each of the further devices being associated with at least one of the cells, and defining the interconnect circuitry as an array of blocks formed in rows and columns, with each cell abutting one of the columns. Further, the method includes the steps of providing a predetermined set of tiles, each tile providing a predetermined wiring layout, and for each block, applying predetermined rules to determine one of the tiles to be used to implement that block. The predetermined rules take into account the location of the block in the array and the association between the plurality of further devices and the plurality of cells, ensuring that each data path provided by the interconnect circuitry has the same propagation delay. By such an approach, a structured routing method is provided that uses predetermined tiles enabling a layout design for the interconnect circuitry to be readily produced whilst ensuring that the propagation delays are matched for each of the data paths within the interconnect circuitry.

A method and system of provisioning a set-top box (STB) with a STB provisioning system are provided which include storing STB profile information in a provisioning datastore, receiving a customer order at a service provisioning system, notifying a billing system of the customer order, and notifying a conditional access system of the customer order. The method and system further include storing information from the customer order in a provisioning datastore, notifying a video device manager about the STB, and delivering a cable operator configuration message from the video device manager to the STB, the configuration message being based on information from the provisioning datastore, thereby provisioning the STB without essential involvement of the conditional access system.

A safety needle assembly having a rigid housing that encloses a locking mechanism, an actuator that is operable to slide a sheath over the tip of the needle to prevent accidental sticks after the needle has been used, and an actuator that is operable in response to the final end movement of the syringe plunger to effect movement of the actuator over the needle tip. The housing is made in a standard size that is mountable on a connection port formed on a syringe barrel that can have a much greater diameter than the connection port. An adapter is provided for mounting a standard needle having a Luer lock to enable a health care professional the flexibility to use conventional needles to load medicine into the syringe barrel then replacing with a safety needle assembly for injection of the medicine.

A power supply arrangement for supplying power from a battery (2) to an electric load (3) comprises a controlled switch (4) having a first state in which a connection is provided from the battery (2) to the load (3), and a second state in which the load (3) is disconnected from the battery (2), and a control circuit (5, 8, 9) for controlling the state of the controlled switch (4). The control circuit (5, 8, 9) is arranged to be disconnected from the battery (2) when the controlled switch (4) is in its second state. By disconnecting not only the electrical load, but also the control circuit from the battery, it is ensured that this circuit cannot draw any leakage current from the battery, when the load is switched off. This means that no over-discharge protection is needed in the battery itself.

A sliding device provides a binding-free apparatus suitable for trick and other riding on snow, sand, ice and other surfaces. An elongated deck to support the rider is elevated from and attached to an elongated runner, which provides a surface that slides on the snow, sand, etc. The runner may be made more narrow than the deck to provide leverage for the rider to tilt the device onto an edge of the runner to steer the device. The device may not have any defined front or back portion and thus be adapted for riding in either direction.

Methods of providing anti-infective activity to a medical device including the steps of exposing the medical device to an anti-infective oxidant, and transferring the anti-infective oxidant into a wall of the medical device. One embodiment includes the step of exposing a medical device that is at least in part within a patient to the anti-infective oxidant. Another embodiment includes the steps of exposing a medical device to an aqueous solution which produces the anti-infective oxidant and transferring a sufficient amount of the anti-infective oxidant into the medical device wall to provide the medical device with anti-infective activity. Also provided is an oxidant releasing member that has anti-infective oxidant releasably contained therein and that is configured to be disposed adjacent to the medical device. Exemplary devices include catheters such as venous, arterial, and urinary catheters, generally containing an elongated catheter shaft having a lumen extending therein, and optionally having a balloon on the shaft in fluid communication with the catheter lumen.

A hermetically packaged G-switch includes a MEMS structure having a bottom substrate layer, a top device layer and an intermediate oxide layer. A mass disposed in the top device layer is connected to one, two or three anchor portions using spring arms. One end of a spring arm is connected to the mass and another end to an anchor portion. The connection to the anchor portion includes a T shaped arrangement, which has a torsional spring cross piece connected to the spring arm. A cap containing a conductive pad is hermetically sealed to the MEMS structure. When a predetermined acceleration is attained, the mass makes electrical contact with the conductive pad to close the G-switch.

Methods are provided for the production of dendritic cells from monocytes that have been incubated at a temperature of 1° C.-34° C. for a period of approximately 6 to 96 hours from the time they are isolated from a subject. After the incubation period, the monocytes can then be induced to differentiate into dendritic cells. Mature dendritic cells made by the methods of the invention have increased levels of one or more of CD80, CD83, CD86, MHC class I molecules, or MHC class II molecules as compared to mature dendritic cells prepared from monocytes that have not been held at 1° C.-34° C. for at least 6 hours from the time they were isolated from a subject. Dendritic cells made by the methods of the invention are useful for the preparation of vaccines and for the stimulation of T cells.

The invention relates to a method and device for sandblasting, especially removing in a precise manner and / or compacting and / or coating solid surfaces, such as removing defective spots of paint from coats of lacquer, smoothing out soldered and welded joints, removal of contaminated concrete coatings or rust coatings, hardening, planing or coating metal surfaces, wherein a sandblasting agent is added by means of gravity and / or due to the effect of an injector to a carrier air flow produced by an underpressure, conveyed in a flexible hose- line system (13) to a jet lance (14) before being guided via a processing surface subject to low pressure by a sandblasting chamber, whereupon it is returned in the air flow, purified and returned to the circuit, whereby acceleration of the sandblasting agent is produced by the low pressure and the sandblasting chamber is displaced from one processing surface to another. The aim of the invention is to increase the sandblasting speed in a significant manner while at the same time economically adjusting the amount of power furnished to the processing surface for various wide-ranging fields of application using as little power as possible yet providing high flexibility and ecologically compatible recovery and reutilization of the sandblasting means. In order to achieve this, the sandblasting agent receives at least one additional energy pulse from a gas flow which is placed at least under atmospheric pressure and suctioned by the low pressure in order to reach a final speed which is significantly greater than the speed of the carrier air flow downstream from the area where dosing occurs. The final speed makes it possible to adjust the amount of power applied to the surface to be processed according to the following parameters: type and forms of the surface to be processed and the sandblasting agent, degree in which the carrier air flow is charged with the sandblasting agent, low pressure in the carrier air flow, and time and temperature of sandblasting.