863results about How to "Prevent buildup" patented technology

The invention relates to a multi-layer film comprising a barrier layer, a poorly extensible plastic layer, and an antistatic plastic layer arranged on the side of the barrier layer, opposing the poorly extensible plastic layer. According to the invention, either a layer of material that is generally recognised as safe in terms of food is arranged next to the antistatic plastic layer, opposing the barrier layer, said layer of material being between 5 and 20 μm thick, and the antistatic layer being approximately between 10 and 150 μm thick, or the antistatic plastic layer is embodied as a layer of material that is generally recognised as safe in terms of food, the antistatic plastic layer containing a plastic material that is generally recognised as safe in terms of food and an antistatic agent that is generally recognised as safe in terms of food.

A novel method for production of and an apparatus for an encapsulated solid-state electrochemical device is disclosed. The present invention provides for electrical devices, such as, for example, thin-film batteries with sensitive chemistries that can survive environmental exposure while providing external electrical contact to the internal cell chemistry. The method of packaging of the present invention may include bonding one or more protective multi-layer laminates to the environmentally sensitive surfaces of an electronic device. The present invention may provide the advantage of avoiding entrapped air beneath the laminates.

A blood pump is temporarily operated at a low rotational speed lying below a design rotational speed. This involves a risk of thrombogenesis since flow detachments may occur at blades of an impeller of the rotary blood pump. For eliminating deposits at said impeller, the rotational speed of said pump is temporarily increased to the design rotational speed. Alternatively, said pump alternately operates at said design rotational speed and a low rotational speed, and this pulsed operation is synchronized with the heart rate.

A flushable catheter assembly having features to enable selective activation of fluid flow through the catheter assembly is disclosed herein. A septum is placed within the catheter adapter of the catheter assembly and includes a pathway that is closed prior to being biased open via a septum activator also positioned within the catheter adapter. A plurality of air vent channels is interposed between the septum and the inner surface of the catheter adapter to permit “flashback” of blood during insertion of the catheter into a patient. The septum activator is advanced through the pathway of the septum as a coupler is attached to a proximal opening of the catheter adapter.

A cable modem communicates the timing of the arrival of certain packets (such as TCP ACK packets) to a cable modem termination system. This timing feature is useful in methods for increasing the throughput in the downstream direction by eliminating TCP ACKs backing up at a cable modem. In particular, a cable modem termination system implementing an unsolicited bandwidth grant service in which unsolicited grants of bandwidth are sent by the cable modem termination system to the cable modem. The grants of bandwidth are timed to arrive at the cable modem simultaneous with or shortly after the arrival of the TCP ACK from an end station connected to the cable modem. Several methods of calculating or predicting when the unsolicited grants should be sent to the cable modem are described. The method is also applicable to other types of packets, such as voice packets from a end station implementing a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application.

Provided is a method of makinga stretched, multilayer breathable film having the combination of properties of: (i) providing a barrier to microorganisms; and (ii) providing a barrier to blood and bodily fluids; said method comprising the steps of: (a) simultaneously extruding at least a five-layer film from a die, said five-layer film having as a minimum the following structure: C:A:B:A:C; where B comprises a microporous core layer containing at least one thremoplastic polymer and at least one particulate filler; C comprises an outer monolithic layer containing a hydrophilic polymeric resin capable of absorbing and desorbing moisture and providing a barrier to aqueous fluids and microorganisms, said C layer being substantially free of particulate filler; and A comprises a microporous adhesive layer for bonding said C layers to said core layer B, wherein said C layer sustantially prevents the buildup of particulate filler material on said die during said extrusion step; (b) stretching said extruded five-layer film to thereby form micropores in said microporous core layer and said microporous adhesive layer, wherein said stretching step is conducted and said microporous core layer and said microporous adhesive layers have been formulated so as to provide micropores which allow the passage of gaseous water but substantially prevent the passage of liquid water. The invention also relates to a multilayer film.

A novel method for production of and an apparatus for an encapsulated solid-state electrochemical device is disclosed. The present invention provides for electrical devices, such as, for example, thin-film batteries with sensitive chemistries that can survive environmental exposure while providing external electrical contact to the internal cell chemistry. The method of packaging of the present invention may include bonding one or more protective multi-layer laminates to the environmentally sensitive surfaces of an electronic device. The present invention may provide the advantage of avoiding entrapped air beneath the laminates.

A diesel fuel, diesel fuel additive concentrate and method for improving the performance of fuel injectors for a diesel engine are provided. The diesel fuel includes a major amount of middle distillate fuel; and a reaction product of a hydrocarbyl substituted dicarboxylic acid or anhydride and an amine compound or salt. The amine compound has the formulawherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen and a hydrocarbyl group containing from about 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, and R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbyl group containing from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms. The reaction product contains at least one amino triazole group and is present in the fuel in an amount sufficient to improve the performance of diesel fuel injectors.

A hybrid energy market and currency systems is provided to manage energy consumption in an energy market comprising a community of users. Energy currency units may be issued to users and an exchange rate between the energy currency units and a monetary currency unit may be set, providing a variable price for energy. Energy currency units may have a defined validity period, at the end of which the energy currency unit is automatically converted to monetary currency units. Users consume energy currency units through use of energy consumptive services, such as domestic consumption of electricity and hot water, and through use of transportation. Prices for energy may be set by comparing the cumulative actual and desired demand. By providing a continuous feedback mechanism, some embodiments of methods disclosed herein may raise an energy conscience—an awareness of when the community needs the help of its citizens to meet its ambitious sustainability goals.

A system and method for providing operational control and / or remote monitoring of a manufacturing device as in a foam dispenser device such as a foam-in-bag dispensing device. In architecture, the remote monitoring system includes a server device containing a remote monitoring system. The remote monitoring system further includes a transceiver to receive an indication of a help condition, connect to the manufacturing device; and receive data from the manufacturing device. The present invention can also be viewed as a method for providing remote monitoring of a manufacturing device. The method operates by (1) receiving an indication of a help condition; (2) connecting to the manufacturing device; and (3) receiving data from the manufacturing device. The operational control system is designed to control operation of one or more sub-systems of the manufacturing device as in a foam dispenser's chemical supply (proper temperature and pressure) and solvent supply as well as performance of a reciprocating valve device. With a foam-in-bag system, the control system provides for additional control over, for example, film feed and tensioning, bag edge and end seals as well as dispenser output into the bag. In a preferred embodiment, the operational control system and remote monitoring control interface with each other.

An embedment device for use in a structural panel production line wherein a slurry is transported on a moving carrier relative to a support frame, and chopped fibers are deposited upon the slurry, includes a first elongate shaft secured to the support frame and having a first plurality of axially spaced disks, a second elongate shaft secured to the support frame and having a second plurality of axially spaced disks, the first shaft being disposed relative to the second shaft so that the disks intermesh with each other. The intermeshing relationship enhances embedment of the fibers into the slurry and also prevents clogging of the device by prematurely set slurry particles.

Footgear with an inner sole (66) having a grid of removable resilient elements to permit removal of selected elements (68) to provide relief to ulcerated or injured areas of the foot. An air bladder (64) may underlie sole (66), preferably with additional cushioning material (40) within the air bladder. A walker (12) with a soft support (20) may be provided with the inner sole within the support. Some of the removal resilient elements may have a higher density or height than others. The footgear may include an adhesively-backed resilient pad (212) to provide additional support to a region. The footgear may include means for reducing shear stress on a bottom surface of the foot. An edema patch (240) may be provided for covering an open space (248) left after a user has removed a removable section from the grid. The edema patch applies pressure to the afflicted zone of the foot (250) preventing fluids from building up.

A pressure-equalizing vial access device and method providing closed and sealed reconstitution of vial contents. A rigid container with a fixed internal volume is connected with a vent lumen extending into the vial. As pressure in the vial increases, the pressure is equalized with atmospheric pressure by varying the volume of a compartment within the rigid container. The compartment is formed with a volume control device that automatically varies the volume of the compartment in the rigid container to accommodate and equalize the pressure in the vial by increasing or decreasing the volume of the compartment. In one case the volume control device comprises a sliding disk and in another, a bladder that compresses with an increase in volume in the container and expands with a decrease.

Nanowire dispersion compositions (and uses thereof) are disclosed comprising a plurality of inorganic nanowires suspended in an aqueous or non-aqueous solution comprising at least one low molecular weight and / or low HLB (Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance) value dispersant. Methods of further improving the dispersability of a plurality of inorganic nanowires in an aqueous or non-aqueous solution comprise, for example, oxidizing the surface of the nanowires prior to dispersing the nanowires in the aqueous or non-aqueous solution.

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for the cleaning of an endotracheal tube while a patient is being supported by a ventilator connected to the endotracheal tube. According to some embodiments, a mechanically-actuated non-inflatable cleaning device for scraping debris (e.g., biofilm) from an interior wall of an endotracheal tube is provided. In one embodiment, the cleaning device comprises an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end and a mechanically-expandable scaffold positioned along the distal end of the elongated member. In one embodiment, the mechanically-expandable scaffold comprises one or more removal members configured to engage an interior surface of an endotracheal tube when the scaffold is in a radially-expanded position and to remove debris from the interior surface of the endotracheal tube when the device is withdrawn from the endotracheal tube.

Disclosed herein is a hearing improvement device using a multi-coil coupling system and methods for operating such a device. In an embodiment according to the present invention an array microphone may be used to provide highly directional reception. The received audio signal may be filtered, amplified, and converted into a magnetic field for coupling to a telecoil in a conventional hearing aid. Multiple transmit inductors may be used to effectively couple to both in-the-ear and behind-the-ear type hearing aids, and an additional embodiment is disclosed which may be used with an earphone, for users not requiring a hearing aid.

A fuel composition for a direct fuel injected diesel engine, a method for improving performance of fuel injectors and a method for cleaning fuel injectors for a diesel engine. The fuel composition includes a major amount of fuel and a minor, effective amount of a quaternary ammonium salt having a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) weight loss of greater than 50 wt. % at 350° C. The amount of quaternary ammonium salt present in the fuel is sufficient to improve performance of the direct fuel injected diesel engine having combusted the composition compared to the performance of such engine having combusted a fuel composition that does not contain the quaternary ammonium salt.

Methods and structures are described to reduce metallic redeposition material in the memory cells, such as MTJ cells, during pillar etching. One embodiment forms metal studs on top of the landing pads in a dielectric layer that otherwise covers the exposed metal surfaces on the wafer. Another embodiment patterns the MTJ and bottom electrode separately. The bottom electrode mask then covers metal under the bottom electrode. Another embodiment divides the pillar etching process into two phases. The first phase etches down to the lower magnetic layer, then the sidewalls of the barrier layer are covered with a dielectric material which is then vertically etched. The second phase of the etching then patterns the remaining layers. Another embodiment uses a hard mask above the top electrode to etch the MTJ pillar until near the end point of the bottom electrode, deposits a dielectric, then vertically etches the remaining bottom electrode.

Apparatus and method for amplifying laser signals using segments of fibers of differing core diameters and / or differing cladding diameters to suppress amplified spontaneous emission and non-linear effects such as four-wave mixing (FWM), self-phase modulation, and stimulated Brillouin and / or Raman scattering (SBS / SRS). In some embodiments, different core sizes have different sideband spacings (spacing between the desired signal and wavelength-shifted lobes). Changing core sizes and providing phase mismatches prevent buildup of non-linear effects. Some embodiments further include a bandpass filter to remove signal other than the desired signal wavelength and / or a time gate to remove signal at times other than during the desired signal pulse. Some embodiments include photonic-crystal structures to define the core for the signal and / or the inner cladding for the pump. Some embodiments include an inner glass cladding to confine the signal in the core and an outer glass cladding to confine pump light in the inner cladding.

A door threshold water return system, comprising: a lower sill; an upper sill; a rear wall; and a front wall forming a chamber, wherein at least one baffle is provided projecting into the chamber from the rear wall, a first gap is provided in proximity to the rear wall and between the upper sill and the rear wall, and a second gap is provided in proximity to the lower sill and between the lower sill and the front wall, whereby water introduced into the system through the first gap exits the system through the second gap.

A building protection system for a building having an inlet air duct with an inlet damper operable to regulate inlet air entering the building and passing through the inlet air duct, a return air duct with a return damper operable to regulate return air, and a fan system operable to circulate a mixture of the inlet air and the return air in the building, the building protection system including: (a) a chemical sensor system operable to detect one or more chemicals in the inlet air; (b) a chemical sensor system operable to detect the one or more chemicals in the return air; (c) a radiological sensor system operable to detect one or more radioactive material in the inlet air; (d) a radiological sensor system operable to detect the one or more radioactive materials in the return air; and (e) a control system in communication with the sensor systems, and a building control system, the control system being operable to signal the building control system to close the dampers and to turn off the fan system whenever output from any of the chemical sensor systems indicates more than a predetermined level of one or more of the one or more chemicals or whenever output from any of the radiological sensor systems indicates more than a predetermined level of one or more of the one or more radioactive materials.

A zinc-air cell, a battery which is a low weight, low volume, or high energy system, or a combination thereof, and an apparatus for recharging the same are disclosed.

The present invention provides a performance assay that measures the total antioxidant activity of a composition using oxygen uptake in contrast to prior art methods that measure antioxidant capacity by indirectly measuring degradation of a fluorescent compound by following the disappearance of fluorescence. Using the performance antioxidant assay of the present invention, an antioxidant composition having synergistic activity is provided by the present inventors that includes flavonoids such as the flavonol quercetin, mixed tocopherols or tocotrienols, grape skin extract, green tea extract and bush plum. The antioxidant activity of the present composition exceeds 6,000 micromoles Trolox equivalent units per gram using the present invention.

A fluid dispense tip includes a bevel at an opening to reduce the amount of surface tension, or “land”, at the opening. The bevel is formed by grinding in a longitudinal direction such that any tooling scars resulting from the grinding operation are likewise longitudinally oriented, further reducing the amount of surface tension in the tip, thereby leading to heightened dispensing accuracy. The tip may be machined from stock as a unitary piece, to increase its lifetime, and may be formed with a bore of a relatively large diameter that is tapered down to a smaller diameter near the tip opening, to allow for delivery of fluid through the tip body at a decreased pressure. The tip may optionally be formed with a Luer™-style fitting on the body, such that the tip is compatible with pumps that utilize such a fitting.

The current invention relates to infusion devices, specifically to peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters. In particular, the invention relates to peripheral IV catheter assemblies having features to enable selective and reversible activation of fluid flow through the catheter assembly. Some implementations of the present invention include various configurations of septum valves having a barrier surface that is stressed to bias the barrier surface and provide a pathway through the septum valve.

An endoscope assembly includes an insertion tube including a channel and a vibratory device inserted into the channel of the insertion tube.

An assembly for covering a building opening that provides a shaft positioned at one end of the building opening, a curtain carried by the shaft, and a locking mechanism at the opposed end of the building opening from the shaft that selectively holds the curtain in a locked position to cover the building opening. The assembly also includes an input for selectively rotating the shaft, and a linking assembly adapted to transfer the input to the shaft to selectively rotate the shaft, wherein the linking assembly includes a failsafe portion designed to fail upon a predetermined impact force on the curtain. An operator is also provided to allow controllable movement of the curtain between the various positions.