142results about How to "The surface is more" patented technology

A knee prosthesis, methods of implanting the prosthesis, method of treating arthritis of the knee, and a kit therefore are provided. The prosthesis answers many of the limitations of current knee prosthetic devices by providing a two-component (or alternatively, an optional three-component) device, as either a single structure, or as separate pieces. One of the components is constructed of low friction material, while the second is composed of a weight-dissipating cushioning material; the optional third component is constructed of low friction material. The prosthesis is initially attached to surrounding soft tissue in the knee by biodegradable sutures; it is held permanently in place by fibrous ingrowth into a porous collagen rim in the cushioning component. Major improvements provided by the present invention over currently available prostheses include minimal incisions, minimal or no bone cuts, minimal overall dissection (these improvements lead to shorter hospital stays and rapid rehabilitation and fewer potential for side effects), less prosthetic wear, greater longevity, fewer activity restrictions, able to be used on young, large, active patients, ease of revision, ease of conversion into a total knee arthroplasty if needed.

An accommodating intraocular lens is provided in which a deflectable lens element is anchored to a substrate along its optical axis to define a fluid filled space. Fluid-filled haptics disposed in fluid communication with the space vary the fluid volume in the space responsive to forces applied by the ciliary muscles, thereby causing the periphery of the lens element to deflect relative to the substrate and changing the optical power of the intraocular lens.

We have developed an improved vapor-phase deposition method and apparatus for the application of layers and coatings on various substrates. The method and apparatus are useful in the fabrication of biofunctional devices, Bio-MEMS devices, and in the fabrication of microfluidic devices for biological applications. In one important embodiment, a siloxane substrate surface is treated using a combination of ozone and UV radiation to render the siloxane surface more hydrophilic, and subsequently a functional coating is applied in-situ over the treated surface of the siloxane substrate.

Light emitters are made of one or more cladded flat optical fibers having opposite flat sides and disruptions along at least a portion of the length of the fibers to cause light entering at least one end to be emitted from at least one side. The ends of the flat optical fibers may have substantially the same thickness as a light source and a width substantially equal to or substantially greater than the width of the light source for ease of optically coupling one or more such light sources to the flat optical fiber ends.

An obstacle recognition apparatus is provided which can recognize an obstacle by accurately extracting a floor surface. It includes a distance image generator (222) to produce a distance image using a disparity image and homogeneous transform matrix, a plane detector (223) to detect plane parameters on the basis of the distance image from the distance image generator (222), a coordinate transformer (224) to transform the homogeneous transform matrix into a coordinate of a ground-contact plane of a robot apparatus (1), and a floor surface detector (225) to detect a floor surface using the plane parameters from the plane detector (223) and result of coordinate transformation from the coordinate transformer (224) and supply the plane parameters to an obstacle recognition block (226). The obstacle recognition block (226) selects one of points on the floor surface using the plane parameters of the floor surface detected by the floor surface detector (225) and recognizes an obstacle on the basis of the selected point.

An accommodating intraocular lens is provided in which a deflectable lens element is anchored to a substrate along its optical axis to define a fluid filled space. Fluid-filled haptics disposed in fluid communication with the space vary the fluid volume in the space responsive to forces applied by the ciliary muscles, thereby causing the periphery of the lens element to deflect relative to the substrate and changing the optical power of the intraocular lens.

A building roof tie for attaching roof trusses and rafters to wood top plates in building structures, such roof tie having a sheet metal body with risers and a bridge for overlapping a rafter and flaps for wrapping on the sides of the top plate. A generally triangular shaped reinforcing wing provides strength and stability, and can also provide additional hold-down strength, allowing the roof tie to be manufactured from different weights of steel. Turnbuckles attached to the bridge provide additional hold-down strength against increased uplift forces. The roof ties are pitched to conform to a variety of framing applications. A plurality of apertures is formed in the roof tie to provide openings for fasteners for connecting the tie to the wood top plate and rafter.

Apparatus and methods for determining, in-vivo, characteristics of sub-surface tissues or fluids in the human or animal body are disclosed. Incident radiation is supplied at one or more entry regions on a surface, and light is collected from one or more collection regions spaced from the entry regions. Raman features are detected in the collected light and depth related information derived therefrom.

We have developed an improved vapor-phase deposition method and apparatus for the application of layers and coatings on various substrates. The method and apparatus are useful in the fabrication of biofunctional devices, Bio-MEMS devices, and in the fabrication of microfluidic devices for biological applications. In one important embodiment, oxide / polyethylene glycol coatings provide increased hydrophilicity and improved biocompatibility for medical devices and implants.

This disclosure describes a system for recycling and reusing water from sprinkler systems to water or irrigate a yard or an area of land. The system includes a water reclamation tank that stores water captured from beneath the area of land. When it is time to water the area of land, the sprinkler system draws water from the water reclamation tank. A portion of this water is then recaptured and supplied back to the water reclamation tank for further storage until the next time the sprinkler system is activated. This cyclical process occurs repeatedly and enables a significant reduction in the amount of freshly supplied water used to maintain the area of land.

A handheld wand comprises a probe at a distal end of the elongate handheld wand. The probe includes a light projector and a light field camera. The light projector includes a light source and a pattern generator configured to generate a light pattern. The light field camera includes a light field camera sensor, the light field camera sensor comprising an image sensor comprising an array of sensor pixels, and an array of micro-lenses disposed in front of the image sensor such that each micro-lens is disposed over a sub-array of the array of sensor pixels.

The keyboard cleaner 10 is provided including a plate 22, a plurality of projections 24 that protrude from the plate, and a cleaning pad 30 overlaying the projections. The cleaner is maneuvered manually by a handle 12 fixedly attached to the back side 20 of the plate 22. In operation, the cleaning pad 30 engages the surface of the keyboard 14 keys to remove moisture, dirt and debris. The cleaning pad 30 may be removed to permit the cleaning or replacement of the cleaning pad 30. Additionally, the projections 24 may be impermanently attached to the front side 26 of the plate 22 so that the keyboard cleaner 10 may be modified to match the configuration of virtually any keyboard's surface 14.

The present invention provides a method for preparing mesoporous TiO2 thin films with high antibacterial and photocatalytic activities. The method involves coating onto a substrate a TiO2 sol-gel prepared from hydrolysis and condensation of titanium alkoxide in the presence of a stabilizer and thermally treating the substrate at a temperature ranging from 400° C. to 900° C. The TiO2 thin films fabricated according to the method of the present invention show two times higher antibacterial and photocatalytic activities than the conventional TiO2 thin films.

An exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine having a housing, a cylindrical body disposed within the housing, an annular exhaust gas passageway, and a central exhaust gas passageway. The EGHR heat exchanger also includes a bypass valve disposed within the central passageway and adapted to selectively by-pass a portion of the exhaust gas from the central exhaust gas passageway to the annular passageway, and at least one twisted tube having at least one edge coiled within the annular exhaust gas passageway.

A multi-charged beam lens formed by stacking three or more electrode substrates via insulators comprises a voltage application portion arranged on at least one of said at least three substrates and an insulating portion which insulates said voltage application portion from said insulators.

A touchpanel device includes an approach determining unit configured to determine whether an object has approached to a touchscreen; an area presuming unit, if it is determined that the object has approached to the touchscreen, configured to presume an area of contact on the touchscreen; and a display controller, based on a presumed area of contact, configured to control a size of a part of graphical user interface, the part being displayed on the touchscreen.

A lens system for a miniature camera includes an imager and four cylindrical lenses disposed concentrically on an optical axis of the lens system. The lenses include, in order from a front end of the lens system to a back end thereof, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens and a fourth lens. The first lens has a positive power and aspheric front and back surfaces, the second lens has a negative power and aspheric front and back surfaces, the third lens is made of glass, has a positive power, a plano front surface and a spherical convex back surface, and the fourth lens has a negative power and aspheric front and back surfaces.

Apparatus and methods for detecting Raman spectral features non destructively from sub-surface regions of a diffusely scattering sample are disclosed. Incident radiation is supplied at one or more sample surface entry regions, and light is collected from one or more collection regions spaced from the entry regions. Raman features are detected in the collected light, and depth information is derived according to the entry-collection spacings.

A seating structure includes a plurality of boss structures arranged in a pattern and a plurality of web structures joining adjacent boss structures within the pattern. At least some of the web structures are non-planar and at least some adjacent web structures are spaced apart such that they define openings therebetween. In another aspect, the seating structure includes a plurality of boss structures arranged in a pattern and defining a support surface and a plurality of web structures joining adjacent boss structures within the pattern. At least some adjacent web structures are spaced apart and shaped such that they define substantially non-circular openings therebetween when viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the support surface. A reinforced frame is also provided.

A hair care appliance including, a body, a heater, a PCB and a primary fluid flow path extending from a primary fluid inlet into the appliance to a primary fluid outlet out of the body wherein the PCB and heater are in fluid communication with the primary fluid flow path and the PCB is upstream of the heater. A fan unit may be provided and the fan unit is upstream of the heater and may be upstream or downstream of the PCB. A thermal barrier may be provided between the PCB and the heater. The thermal barrier may be in thermal communication with the PCB and functions as a heat sink for the PCB.

A formulation is disclosed useful for semi-permanent, thermal conditioning and styling of the hair comprising a mercaptosilicone polymer derived from greater than 25 mole percent mercaptosilicone monomer. A method of straightening the hair is also disclosed which comprises the steps of applying the mercaptosilicone polymer formula to the hair and then styling the hair at an elevated temperature with a flat iron to achieve a lasting straight style that remains after more than one shampoo cycle.