CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160136407 | MICRONEEDLE ARRAYS FOR CANCER THERAPY APPLICATIONS - A method of forming a microneedle array can include forming a microneedle array having one or more chemotherapeutic agents. The microneedle array can include a base portion and plurality of microneedles extending from the base portion, and the one or more chemotherapeutic agents can be present in a higher concentration in the plurality of microneedles than in the base portion. | 05-19-2016 |
20160083434 | DIVALENT NUCLEOBASE COMPOUNDS AND USES THEREFOR - Described herein are novel divalent nucleobases that each bind two nucleic acid strands, matched or mismatched when incorporated into a nucleic acid or nucleic acid analog backbone (a genetic recognition reagent, or genetic recognition reagent). In one embodiment, the genetic recognition reagent is a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) or gamma PNA (?PNA) oligomer. Uses of the divalent nucleobases and monomers and genetic recognition reagents containing the divalent nucleobases also are provided. | 03-24-2016 |
20160083433 | TEMPLATE-DIRECTED GAMMAPNA SYNTHESIS PROCESS AND GAMMAPNA TARGETING COMPOUNDS - Described herein are recognition modules that bind specifically to a template nucleic acid and which ligate together in a reducing environment to produce a gamma peptide nucleic acid (γPNA) oligomer. Also provided are methods of synthesizing a γPNA oligomer on a template using the recognition modules. | 03-24-2016 |
20160030240 | MICROMANIPULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A micromanipulation system includes a micromanipulator that includes a handpiece, and a micromanipulation tool that includes a tool shaft and is operatively connected to the handpiece. The micromanipulator further includes an actuator assembly connected to the micromanipulation tool to provide manual control of the micromanipulation tool, and a force sensing system comprising a force sensor attached to the tool shaft. The force sensing system is configured to provide an output signal that indicates a force imposed on the tool shaft. The micromanipulation system also includes a processor that is in communication with the force sensing system, and is configured to receive the output signal and compensate for forces due to actuation of the micromanipulation tool to determine a force due to interaction of the micromanipulation tool with a region of interest. The processor outputs an indication of at least one of a magnitude and a direction of the determined force. | 02-04-2016 |
20160016312 | A Supervised Autonomous Robotic System for Complex Surface Inspection and Processing - The invention disclosed herein describes a supervised autonomy system designed to precisely model, inspect and process the surfaces of complex three-dimensional objects. The current application context for this system is laser coating removal of aircraft, but this invention is suitable for use in a wide variety of applications that require close, precise positioning and maneuvering of an inspection or processing tool over the entire surface of a physical object. For example, this system, in addition to laser coating removal, could also apply new coatings, perform fine-grained or gross inspection tasks, deliver and/or use manufacturing process tools or instruments, and/or verify the results of other manufacturing processes such as but not limited to welding, riveting, or the placement of various surface markings or fixtures. | 01-21-2016 |
20150365733 | Dynamic Real-Time TV White Space Awareness - This invention describes a cloud-based architecture that orchestrates the detection and dissemination of highly-dynamic, real-time, and fine-grained TV white space information to improve spectrum information used for White Space Devices (WSDs). Wasted spectrum opportunities were first identified, both temporal and spatial, due to the current approach of white spaces detection. This invention introduces a next generation of geo-location databases capable of tracking the state of the relatively static TV transmitters and the highly dynamic TV receivers. A quantitative evaluation of the potential gain in white space availability for large scale deployments of this novel architecture demonstrated significant improvement in the availability of white spaces. | 12-17-2015 |
20150353082 | UNIFIED MOTION PLANNING ALGORITHM FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING VEHICLE IN OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE MANEUVER - A method for automated lane centering and/or lane changing purposes for a vehicle traveling on a roadway that employs roadway points from a map database to determine a reference vehicle path and sensors on the vehicle for detecting static and moving objects to adjust the reference path. The method includes reducing the curvature of the reference path to generate a reduced curvature reference path that reduces the turning requirements of the vehicle and setting the speed of the vehicle from posted roadway speeds from the map database. The method also includes providing multiple candidate vehicle paths and vehicle speeds to avoid the static and moving objects in front of the vehicle. | 12-10-2015 |
20150335664 | METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR REDUCING ORGAN TRANSPLANT REJECTION OR ISCHEMIC/REPERFUSION INJURY IN A SUBJECT - Methods and materials for reducing organ transplant rejection or minimizing ischemia or ischemia/reperfusion injury in a subject are described. The methods include administering a fat emulsion before or after the organ transplant or before, at the onset of, or after the ischemic event. | 11-26-2015 |
20150318472 | DETERMINISTIC SEEDING OF SWITCHING FILAMENT IN OXIDE-BASED MEMRISTIVE DEVICES - A method for manufacturing an RRAM cell includes providing a metal-insulator-metal stack and exposing a subsection of a MIM stack to particle bombardment and/or radiation. Exposing a subsection of the MIM stack to particle bombardment and/or radiation forms localized defects in the functional layer of the MIM stack, thereby reducing the required forming voltage of the RRAM cell and further providing precise control over the location of a conductive filament created in the MIM stack during forming of the device. | 11-05-2015 |
20150305609 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIDING IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF OTITIS MEDIA BY CLASSIFYING TYMPANIC MEMBRANE IMAGES - A method of aiding the diagnosis of otitis media in a patient includes obtaining image data in a processor apparatus of a computing device, the image data being associated with at least one electronic image of a tympanic membrane of the patient, calculating a plurality of image features, each image feature being calculated based on at least a portion of the image data, classifying the at least one electronic image as a particular type of otitis media using the plurality of image features, and outputting an indication of the particular type of otitis media. Also, a system for implementing such a method that includes an output device and a computing device. | 10-29-2015 |
20150275206 | POLYMER CONJUGATES FOR DELIVERY OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE AGENTS - A delivery system for delivering oligonucleotides includes a conjugate includes a complexing agent including an oligonucleotide, a peptide nucleic acid or chimera thereof and a polymer covalently attached to the complexing agent. The complexing agent of the conjugate is adapted to complex a biologically active agent thereto after formation of the conjugate. | 10-01-2015 |
20150255588 | HOT-ELECTRON TRANSISTOR HAVING METAL TERMINALS - In one aspect, a transistor comprises a metal emitter, a first semiconductor barrier, a metal base, a second semiconductor barrier, and a metal collector. The first semiconductor barrier separates the metal emitter and the metal base and has an average thickness based on a first mean free path of a charge carrier in the first semiconductor barrier emitted from the metal emitter. The second semiconductor barrier separates the metal base from the metal collector and has an average thickness based on a second mean free path of the charge carrier in the second semiconductor barrier injected from the metal base. The metal base comprises two or more metal layers and has an average thickness based on a multi-layer mean free path of the charge carrier. | 09-10-2015 |
20150254594 | System for Interactively Visualizing and Evaluating User Behavior and Output - The present invention discloses CrowdScape, a system that supports the human evaluation of complex crowd work through interactive visualization and mixed initiative machine learning. The system combines information about worker behavior with worker outputs and aggregate worker behavioral traces to allow the isolation of target worker clusters. This approach allows users to develop and test their mental models of tasks and worker behaviors, and then ground those models in worker outputs and majority or gold standard verifications. | 09-10-2015 |
20150213392 | System and Method of Using Task Fingerprinting to Predict Task Performance - A novel method of using task fingerprinting to predict outcome measures such quality, errors, and the likelihood of cheating, particularly as applied to crowd sourced tasks. The technique focuses on the way workers work rather than the products they produce. The technique captures behavioral traces from online crowd workers and uses them to build predictive models of task performance. The effectiveness of the approach is evaluated across three contexts including classification, generation, and comprehension tasks. | 07-30-2015 |
20150199266 | 3DIC MEMORY CHIPS INCLUDING COMPUTATIONAL LOGIC-IN-MEMORY FOR PERFORMING ACCELERATED DATA PROCESSING - This disclosure relates to a three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (3DIC) memory chip including computational logic-in-memory (LiM) for performing accelerated data processing. Related memory systems and methods are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the 3DIC memory chip includes at least one memory layer that provides a primary memory configured to store data. The 3DIC memory chip also includes a computational LiM layer. The computational LiM layer is a type of memory layer having application-specific computational logic integrated into local memory while externally appearing as regular memory. The computational LiM layer and the primary memory are interconnected through through-silica vias (TSVs). In this manner, the computational LiM layer may load data from the primary memory with the 3DIC memory chip without having to access an external bus coupling the 3DIC memory chip to a central processing unit (CPU) or other processors to computationally process the data and generate a computational result. | 07-16-2015 |
20150174759 | METHODS AND COMPUTER-PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR EVALUATING GRASP PATTERNS, AND ROBOTS INCORPORATING THE SAME - Methods and computer-program products for evaluating grasp patterns for use by a robot are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of evaluating grasp patterns includes selecting an individual grasp pattern from a grasp pattern set, establishing a thumb-up vector, and simulating the motion of the manipulator and the end effector according to the selected individual grasp pattern, wherein each individual grasp pattern of the grasp pattern set corresponds to motion for manipulating a target object. The method further includes evaluating a direction of the thumb-up vector during at least a portion of the simulated motion of the manipulator and the end effector, and excluding the selected individual grasp pattern from use by the robot if the direction of the thumb-up vector during the simulated motion is outside of one or more predetermined thresholds. Robots utilizing the methods and computer-program products for evaluating grasp patterns are also disclosed. | 06-25-2015 |
20150158206 | DRY ADHESIVES AND METHODS FOR MAKING DRY ADHESIVES - Dry adhesives and methods for forming dry adhesives. A method of forming a dry adhesive structure on a backing material, comprises: forming a template backing layer of energy sensitive material on the backing material; forming a template layer of energy sensitive material on the template backing layer; exposing the template layer to a predetermined pattern of energy; removing a portion of the template layer related to the predetermined pattern of energy, and leaving a template structure formed from energy sensitive material and connected to the substrate via the template backing layer. | 06-11-2015 |
20150118526 | A WATER-ACTIVATED, INGESTIBLE BATTERY - In one aspect, a water-activated, ingestible battery, comprises a cathode comprising a metal oxide with a decreased amount of toxicity, relative to an amount of toxicity of other metal oxides; an anode comprising a biocompatible, water stable compound, the anode infused with benign cations; a separator between the cathode and the anode; a cathodic lead comprising a first conducting material, the cathodic lead in contact with the cathode; an anodic lead comprising a second conducting material, the anodic lead in contact with the anode; and a cell casing comprising a water-permeable biocompatible polymer, the cathodic lead, and the anodic lead, with the cell casing enclosing the cathode, the anode, and the separator. | 04-30-2015 |
20150088222 | INGESTIBLE, ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR STIMULATING TISSUES IN A GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF AN ORGANISM - In one aspect, an ingestible, electrical device, comprises one or more electrodes comprising a biocompatible conducting material and a biocompatible insulating material; a generator connected to the one or more electrodes; and an outer casing enclosing the one or more electrodes and the generator, the outer casing configured to dissolve in an aqueous environment of the organism; wherein the one or more electrodes have a first form factor when enclosed in the outer casing and a second form factor following a dissolution of the outer casing, the first form factor is a form factor that is collapsed an increased amount relative to an amount that the second form factor is collapsed, and the second form factor is a form factor that is collapsed a decreased amount relative to an amount that the first form factor is collapsed. | 03-26-2015 |
20140365180 | OPTIMAL SELECTION OF BUILDING COMPONENTS USING SEQUENTIAL DESIGN VIA STATISTICAL BASED SURROGATE MODELS - A surrogate model to a building simulation model is built and used for finding a combination of building components that optimize energy use in a building. The surrogate model may be built iteratively using design points comprising a different combination of building product properties that maximize a predefined expected improvement function. | 12-11-2014 |
20140350472 | DISSOLVABLE MICRONEEDLE ARRAYS FOR TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY TO HUMAN SKIN - A method of forming a microneedle array can include forming a sheet of material having a plurality of layers and micromilling the sheet of material to form a microneedle array. At least one of the plurality of layers can include a bioactive component, and the microneedle array can include a base portion and plurality of microneedles extending from the base portion. | 11-27-2014 |
20140310631 | Virtual Tools for Use with Touch-Sensitive Surfaces - An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive surface, for example a touch pad or touch screen. The user interacts with the touch-sensitive surface, producing touch interactions. Some of these touch interactions may be detected as indicative of a grasp for manipulating a physical tool (e.g., the grasp for holding a pen). When these touch interactions are encountered, a corresponding virtual tool is instantiated. The virtual tool controls an action on the electronic device that is similar to an action that can be performed by the physical tool. For example, the virtual pen can be used to draw on the display, whereas the physical pen draws on paper. A representation of the virtual tool is also displayed on a display for the electronic device, possibly providing additional affordances, at a location that corresponds to a location of the detected touch interaction. | 10-16-2014 |
20140295605 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A CAPACITIVE ENVIRONMENT SENSOR - A method for fabrication of capacitive environment sensors is provided in which the sensor elements are integrated in a CMOS structure with electronics through the use of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication methods. Also provided are environment sensors fabricated, for example, by the method, and a measurement system using the environment sensors fabricated by the method. The described method includes etching away one of the metal layers in a CMOS chip to create a cavity. This cavity is then filled with an environment-sensitive dielectric material to form a sensing capacitor between plates formed by the metal adhesion layers or an array of contacts from other metal layers of the CMOS structure. This approach provides improved sensing capabilities in a system that is easily manufactured. | 10-02-2014 |
20140288642 | ARTIFICIAL VALVED CONDUITS FOR CARDIAC RECONSTRUCTIVE PROCEDURES AND METHODS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION - Artificial heart valve structures and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. The heart valve structures may be fabricated from a biocompatible polymer and include one or more heart valve leaflet structures incorporated within a conduit. The valve structures may incorporate one or more conduit sinuses, as well as a gap between the lower margin of the valve leaflets and the interior of the conduit. In addition, the valve structures may include one or more valve sinuses created in a space between the valve leaflets and the conduit inner surface. Computational fluid dynamics and mechanical modeling may be used to design the valve leaflets with optimal characteristics. A heart valve structure may also incorporate a biodegradable component to which cells may adhere The incorporated cells may arise from patient cells migrating to the biodegradable component, or the component may be pre-seeded with cells prior to implantation in a patient. | 09-25-2014 |
20140275420 | ATOM TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION UNDER BIOLOGICALLY COMPATIBLE CONDITIONS - Methods for conducting controlled grafting-from radical polymerizations from biomolecules under conditions that are biologically compatible are described. The methods provide biomolecule-polymer conjugates with highly controlled structures and narrow polydispersities under aqueous reaction conditions and biological temperatures. Biomolecules, such as proteins and nucleotides can be conjugated to polymers with high levels of control. | 09-18-2014 |
20140249773 | PROCESS MAPPING OF MELT POOL GEOMETRY - Conducting a plurality of tests of a manufacturing process, with each test conducted at a different combination of a first process variable and a second process variable. Each test includes locally heating a region of a part, wherein the local heating results in the formation of a thermal field in the part, and assessing a dimension of the thermal field. In some cases, based on the results of the plurality of tests, a process map of the dimension of the thermal field is generated as a function of the first process variable and the second process variable. | 09-04-2014 |
20140241444 | TENTPOLES SCHEME TO ACHIEVE RELIABLE V2V COMMUNICATIONS - A communications system including a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter transmits a signal with normal data symbols and at least one dual-use data symbol, where the dual-use data symbol has user data and more data protection than the normal data symbols. The receiver receives the transmitted signal and decodes the dual-use data symbol and uses information from decoding of the dual-use data symbol to improve a channel estimate for the normal data symbols. | 08-28-2014 |
20140210788 | Method and Apparatus for Classifying Touch Events on a Touch Sensitive Surface - An apparatus classifies touch events. The apparatus includes a touch sensitive surface configured to generate a touch event when an object touches the touch sensitive surface. The touch event entails a mechanical vibration upon contact with the surface. The apparatus includes a touch event detector configured to detect the onset of a touch, and a touch event classifier configured to classify the touch event to identify the object used for the touch event. The mechanical vibration is created via any one of finger parts including a tip, a pad, a fingernail, and a knuckle, each of which has a unique feature different from each other. | 07-31-2014 |
20140205143 | EYES-OFF-THE-ROAD CLASSIFICATION WITH GLASSES CLASSIFIER - A method for determining an Eyes-Off-The-Road (EOTR) condition exists includes capturing image data corresponding to a driver from a monocular camera device. A detection of whether the driver is wearing eye glasses based on the image data using an eye glasses classifier. When it is detected that the driver is wearing eye glasses, a driver face location is detected from the captured image data and it is determined whether the EOTR condition exists based on the driver face location using an EOTR classifier. | 07-24-2014 |
20140204193 | DRIVER GAZE DETECTION SYSTEM - A method for detecting an eyes-off-the-road condition based on an estimated gaze direction of a driver of a vehicle includes monitoring facial feature points of the driver within image input data captured by an in-vehicle camera device. A location for each of a plurality of eye features for an eyeball of the driver is detected based on the monitored facial features. A head pose of the driver is estimated based on the monitored facial feature points. The gaze direction of the driver is estimated based on the detected location for each of the plurality of eye features and the estimated head pose. | 07-24-2014 |
20140195093 | Autonomous Driving Merge Management System - An autonomous driving merge management system includes an autonomous driving control device and an intention decision management system. The management system includes a candidate strategy subsystem generating a plurality of candidate driving strategies, a merging vehicle behavior recognition subsystem predicting a merging intention of a merging vehicle; an intention-based interactive prediction subsystem predicting future merging scenarios between the host vehicle and merging vehicle as a function of inputs by the merging vehicle behavior recognition subsystem and inputs by the candidate strategy subsystem, and a cost function-based evaluation subsystem determining a cost for each future merging scenario generated by the intention-based interactive prediction subsystem. A processor selects a merge strategy of the host vehicle based on intention-based prediction results and cost function-based evaluation results. The autonomous driving control device applies the merge strategy to the host vehicle for allowing the merging vehicle to cooperatively merge with the host vehicle. | 07-10-2014 |
20140181960 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND FOR ANNOTATING MEDIA FILES - Methods and apparatuses for controlling access to computer systems and for annotating media files. One embodiment includes a method including generating a challenge to a user, wherein the challenge includes a verify part and a read part. The methods also includes prompting the user to solve both the verify part of the challenge and the read part of the challenge; receiving input from the user; determining if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge; and identifying the input from the user relative to the read part of the challenge as an answer to the read part of the challenge, if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge. | 06-26-2014 |
20140172388 | GENERATING A MESH OF GEOMETRIC ELEMENTS - A method performed by one or more processors, comprising: receiving information indicative of a geometric domain; generating, based on the information indicative of the geometric domain, a mesh of geometric elements; transforming a plurality of the geometric elements from a first type of geometric element to a second type of geometric element; and subdividing the plurality of the geometric elements transformed from the second type of geometric element into a third type of geometric element. | 06-19-2014 |
20140170626 | ANALYTICAL TOOLS FOR EVALUATING STUDENT LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE - In various embodiments, tools, strategies, and techniques are provided for analyzing student performance and learning activity to facilitate enhancing the student experience in different learning environments. A learning analysis system can be provided that uses a statistical analysis framework for making inferences about the level of learning of both individual students and classes of multiple students in association with different knowledge components included in a learning domain. | 06-19-2014 |
20140161344 | IMAGE RECOGNITION METHOD - In a preparation process, one workpiece W is photographed from a plurality of angles, the photographed image is segmented into patches to obtain a plurality of sample patch images, the sample patch images are classified, and each sample patch image is stored while being corresponded with a position information to a reference position of the workpiece W. Image recognition process obtains a reference position of the workpiece W in a patch image, by photographing piled-up workpieces W, segment the photographed image into patches to obtain a plurality of patch images, classify the patch images in same classification method of the sample patch images, accumulating a position information to the reference position of the workpiece W, which is stored while corresponded to the sample patch image of the same classification as the patch image for each patch image, and on the basis of the accumulated result. | 06-12-2014 |
20140161322 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVITY RECOGNITION - A method for automatic recognition of human activity is provided and includes the steps of decomposing human activity into a plurality of fundamental component attributes needed to perform an activity and defining ontologies of fundamental component attributes from the plurality of the fundamental component attributes identified during the decomposing step for each of a plurality of different targeted activities. The method also includes the steps of converting a data stream captured during a performance of an activity performed by a human into a sequence of fundamental component attributes and classifying the performed activity as one of the plurality of different targeted activities based on a closest match of the sequence of fundamental component attributes obtained during the converting step to at least a part of one of the ontologies of fundamental component attributes defined during the defining step. A system for performing the method is also disclosed. | 06-12-2014 |
20140160132 | VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF STRUCTURED ASSOCIATION MAPPINGS - A method performed by one or more processors, comprising: receiving genomic data and trait data representative of a plurality of traits of one or more individuals; determining a structure of one or more of the genomic data and the trait data; selecting, in response to the determined structure, a structured association algorithm for execution with the genomic data and the trait data; generating, based on execution of the selected, structured association algorithm against the genomic data and the trait data, structured association data indicative of associations among the genomic data and the trait data, wherein the associations are at least partly identified based on the structure; and generating data for a graphical user interface, that when rendered on a display device, comprises: a visual representation of at least a portion of the structured association data. | 06-12-2014 |
20140127490 | CARBON NANOTUBE AEROGELS, COMPOSITES INCLUDING THE SAME, AND DEVICES FORMED THEREFROM - An aerogel fabricated by forming an aqueous suspension including carbon nanotubes and a surfactant, agitating the aqueous suspension, and centrifuging the agitated suspension to form a supernatant including the carbon nanotubes. The supernatant is concentrated to form a concentrated suspension including the carbon nanotubes, and a hydrogel is formed from the concentrated suspension. The hydrogen is contacted with a strong acid to form an acidic hydrogel and to remove surfactant from the hydrogel, and then neutralized. An aerogel is formed from the hydrogel. The aerogel may consist essentially of carbon nanotubes. A composite may be formed from the hydrogel or the aerogel by infiltrating the hydrogel or the aerogel with a polymeric material and curing or pyrolyzing the polymeric material. The composite may be electrically conductive, transparent, flexible, superelastic, or any combination thereof. A device, such as a flexible conductor, sensor, or electrode may include the aerogel or the composite. | 05-08-2014 |
20140127324 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR REDUCING SHIGA TOXIN INDUCED TOXICITY IN MAMMALS - Manganese compositions effective in reducing Shiga toxin-induced toxicity in mammals infected with Shiga toxin-producing bacteria such as | 05-08-2014 |
20140120633 | Devices and Methods for Detection and Quantification of Immunological Proteins, Pathogenic and Microbial Agents and Cells - The present invention provides a method and microfluidic immunoassay pScreen™ device for detecting and quantifying the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample by using antigen-specific antibody-coated magnetic-responsive micro-beads. The methods and devices of the present invention have broad applications for point-of-care diagnostics by allowing quantification of a large variety of analytes, such as proteins, protein fragments, antigens, antibodies, antibody fragments, peptides, RNA, RNA fragments, functionalized magnetic micro-beads specific to CD | 05-01-2014 |
20140114581 | USING GAME THEORY IN IDENTIFYING COMPOUNDS THAT BIND TO TARGETS - A method performed by one or more processing devices includes retrieving information indicative of compounds and mutations of a target; generating one or more predictions of binding affinities of the compounds to the mutations; generating a simulation for introducing at least one of the compounds in response to at least one of the mutations; identifying, based on an application of a game theory algorithm to the simulation and to the one or more predictions, an equilibrium of the simulation; and identifying, from the equilibrium, a subset of the compounds with an increased binding affinity to the mutations relative to other binding affinities of other of the compounds. | 04-24-2014 |
20140099054 | Coupled Plasmonic Waveguides and Associated Apparatuses and Methods - An apparatus and corresponding method in which the apparatus includes a dielectric waveguide and a metallic waveguide. The dielectric waveguide has an effective mode index and a longitudinal dimension. The metallic waveguide has a longitudinal dimension and supports a surface plasmonic mode of propagation for a wavelength lambda. The metallic waveguide and the dielectric waveguide are adjacent to each other and overlap each other by a length along the longitudinal dimensions of both the dielectric waveguide and the metallic waveguide, wherein the length is greater than the wavelength lambda in the metallic waveguide. The metallic waveguide is coupled to the dielectric waveguide where the metallic waveguide and the dielectric waveguide overlap each other. | 04-10-2014 |
20140089209 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR LINKING BUILDING INFORMATION MODELS WITH BUILDING MAINTENANCE INFORMATION - A computer-implemented method includes, in one aspect, receiving a request for a spatial analysis of building behavior of an entity within a building facility; retrieving building maintenance information about the entity within the building facility; accessing a building information model for the building facility; identifying a portion of the building information model that pertains to the entity; and based on the retrieved building maintenance information and the identified portion of the building information model, generating the spatial analysis of the building behavior for the entity within the building facility. | 03-27-2014 |
20140058872 | AUTOMATED BUNDLING AND PRICING BASED ON PURCHASE DATA - A computer-implemented method includes, in one aspect, accessing historical purchase data that is indicative of items that have been purchased and prices at which each of the items are purchased; for each of the items specified in the historical purchase data, fitting a customer valuation model to a portion of the historical purchase data that pertains to the item, with the customer valuation model specifying purchase preferences, and with a purchase preference specifying a probability a customer will purchase a specific item at a specific price; based on fitted customer valuation models for the items in the historical purchase data, identifying a priceable bundle, with the priceable bundle including at least two of the items specified in the historical purchase data; and applying updated prices to one or more of (i) the priceable bundle, and (ii) the items included in the priceable bundle. | 02-27-2014 |
20140052428 | LEARNING TO PREDICT EFFECTS OF COMPOUNDS ON TARGETS - A method performed by one or more processing devices includes obtaining information indicative of experiments associated with combinations of targets and compounds; initializing the information with a result of at least one of the experiments; generating, based on initializing, a model to predict effects of the compounds on the targets; generating, based on the model and the experiments obtained, predictions for experiments to be executed; selecting, based on the predictions, one or more experiments from the experiments to be executed; executing the one or more experiments; and updating the model with one or more results of execution of the one or more experiments. | 02-20-2014 |
20140050486 | Dielectric Resonator Driven Near Field Transducer - An optical device includes a near field transducer; and a dielectric resonant structure coupled to the near field transducer; wherein the dielectric resonant structure comprises a dielectric material that decreases a dissipation of energy in the dielectric resonant structure, relative to other dissipations of energy associated with other materials; and wherein the decrease in the dissipation of energy increases an efficiency of energy transfer from the near field transducer to a target structure, relative to other efficiencies of energy transfer from the near field transducer to the target structure. | 02-20-2014 |
20140050385 | IDENTIFYING LOCATION BIOMARKERS - A method performed by one or more processing devices includes retrieving data for a protein in a tissue type in a first state and for the protein in the tissue type in a second state; determining, based on the retrieved data, first features of the protein in the tissue type in the first state; determining, based on the retrieved, second features of the protein in the tissue type in the second state; and identifying, based on the first features and the second features, that a location of the protein in the tissue type in the first state differs from a location of the protein in the tissue type in the second state. | 02-20-2014 |
20140040904 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING PROCESSING PERFORMANCE OF A MULTI-CORE PROCESSOR - A method for managing task execution in a multi-core processor includes employing a spinlock to effect a dynamically enforceable mutual exclusion constraint and employing a multi-processor priority ceiling protocol to effect the dynamically enforceable mutual exclusion constraint to synchronize a plurality of tasks executing in the first and second processing cores of the multi-core processor. | 02-06-2014 |
20140035566 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POSITION TRACKING USING MAGNETOQUASISTATIC FIELDS - Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods, apparatuses and program products that provide position tracking using a simple, low frequency oscillator that is attached to an object to be tracked, and one or more receiving stations that are placed around the area in which the object moves. Embodiments of the invention enable position tracking of the object using light weight equipment which minimally impacts the object's natural state. | 02-06-2014 |
20130344129 | INFLAMMATION-REGULATING COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS - The various embodiments provide a composition that provides local control over inflammation. The composition localizes the activities of the cytokine-neutralizing antibodies to the site of inflammation through covalent attachment to hydrophilic matrices. The various embodiments including a hydrophilic polymer, a ligand binding moiety covalently attached to the polymer, and optionally, a cellular adhesion peptide covalently attached to the polymer. The hydrophilic polymer may be a glycosaminoglycan such as hyaluronan. The cellular adhesion peptide may be linear RGD peptide sequence covalently attached to the polymer. The ligand binding moiety may be a monoclonal antibody covalently attached to the polymer. The antibody may be selected from the group consisting of an anti-IL-1β, an anti-IL-6, an anti-TNF-α, and combinations thereof. The polymer functions as a substrate or matrix for cell migration and tissue regeneration. The RGD peptide functions to promote cellular proliferation, migration and attachment to the polymer. The monoclonal antibody functions to inhibit the inflammatory response. | 12-26-2013 |
20130327636 | Pattern Transfer With Self-assembled Nanoparticle Assemblies - In one aspect, a method comprises: providing a substrate having at least one layer in which the patterned dot array is to be fabricated; depositing a nanoparticle layer, wherein the nanoparticle layer comprises one or more surfactants and nanoparticles coated with the one or more surfactants; treating the one or more surfactants that coat the nanoparticles and the portions of the one or more surfactants that fill the spaces among the nanoparticles; removing the portions of the one or more surfactants that fill the spaces among the nanoparticles to expose portions of the at least one layer in which the patterned dot array is to be fabricated; etching the exposed portions of the at least one layer in which the patterned dot array is to be fabricated; and removing at least a portion of the nanoparticles. | 12-12-2013 |
20130319159 | SYSTEM FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING A DISPOSABLE DEVICE TO A DURABLE DEVICE - A system for releasably attaching a steerable disposable multi-linked device to a durable device may include a disposable portion and a durable portion. The disposable portion may include a connecting member connected to the disposable portion and the durable portion and a steerable multi-linked device. The steerable multi-linked device may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links, and a cable which passes through the first link and intermediate links and extends beyond a first end of the first link. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link. The durable portion may include an axial member which defines an opening therethrough and a feeder mechanism. | 12-05-2013 |
20130316696 | Energy Efficient and Accuracy Aware Mobile Services - Systems and methods that can reduce energy resources required by sensors in mobile devices and thereby mitigate premature battery depletion are disclosed. Mobile devices can be assigned groups by a sensor usage management (SUM) server based on the proximity of the mobile devices to one another. Once groups have been established, one or more of the mobile devices within each group can share sensor readings with other mobile devices in its group via the SUM server, such that each mobile device in each group can reduce the overall number of sensor readings that particular device must take. This co-locational “sharing” of representative sensor data among members with groups of co-located mobile devices can reduce overall energy consumption and/or, for a given amount of energy consumption, increase accuracy compared to a situation in which each mobile device in each group exclusively relies on its own sensor data. | 11-28-2013 |
20130312103 | DETECTING EXPLOITABLE BUGS IN BINARY CODE - Systems and methods for performing hybrid symbolic execution to detect exploitable bugs in binary code are described. In some example embodiments, the systems and methods determine that resources associated with an execution client performing symbolic execution of a target program are below, at, or above a threshold performance level, generate checkpoints for active executing paths of the online symbolic execution, and cause the execution client to perform symbolic execution in response to the determination that the resources are at or above the threshold performance level. | 11-21-2013 |
20130306479 | Methods, Apparatus and Systems for Concentration, Separation and Removal of Particles at/from the Surface of Drops - Methods are provided for concentrating particles on the surface of a drop or bubble in a continuous phase, for separating different types of particles, and for removing particles from the surface of the drop or bubble. The methods also facilitate separation of two types of particles on a drop or bubble, optionally followed by solidification of the drop and/or the continuous phase, for example to produce a particle for which the surface properties vary, such as a Janus particle. The methods can be also used to destabilize emulsions and foams by re-distributing or removing particles on the surface of the drop or bubble, facilitating coalescence of the particle-free drops or bubbles. | 11-21-2013 |
20130304279 | EFFICIENT INTERSECTION AUTONOMOUS DRIVING PROTOCOL - A system and method for efficiently and continuously allowing vehicles to travel through an intersection. The method includes broadcasting a synchronization signal to all vehicles that will be entering the intersection and broadcasting an intersection flow time to all of the vehicles that will be entering the intersection that identifies which travel lanes travel in what direction. The method also includes identifying an arrival synchronization pattern for all of the vehicles that will be entering the intersection and controlling a speed of the vehicles traveling through the intersection and a time for the vehicles entering the intersection so that vehicles traveling in perpendicular or cross directions to the intersection will simultaneously travel through the intersection without colliding with each other. | 11-14-2013 |
20130288378 | Two-Dimensional Electron Gas (2DEG)-Based Chemical Sensors - Sensors for sensing/measuring one or more analytes in a chemical environment. Each sensor is based on a semiconductor structure having an interfacial region containing a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). A catalyst reactive to the analyte(s) is in contact with the semiconductor structure. Particles stripped from the analyte(s) by the catalyst passivate the surface of the semiconductor structure at the interface between the catalyst and the structure, thereby causing the charge density in the 2DEG proximate the catalyst to change. When this basic structure is incorporated into an electronic device, such as a high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) or a Schottky diode, the change in charge density manifests into a change in an electrical response of the device. For example, in an HEMT, the change in charge density manifests as a change in current through the transistor, and, in a Schottky diode, the change in charge density manifests as a change in capacitance. | 10-31-2013 |
20130244891 | TARGETED PROBES OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY - Biosensor comprising an activatable acceptor fluorogen linked via a linker to a donor which transfers energy to the fluorogen on detecting an analyte wherein the fluorogen component reacts and a 100 fold increase in intensity results when the fluorogen interacts non-covalently with an activator e.g. fluorogen activator peptide. | 09-19-2013 |
20130228663 | APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A DEVICE - An apparatus for positioning a device. The apparatus includes a coupling member, a first arm, a second arm, and a sloped support member. The coupling member defines a first opening and a second opening. The first arm passes through the first opening, and the coupling member is movably connected to the first arm. The second arm passes through the second opening. The sloped support member is releasably connected to the second arm. The apparatus has at least five degrees of freedom. | 09-05-2013 |
20130228253 | HIGH TOUGHNESS SECONDARY HARDENING STEEL - A secondary hardening steel alloy substantially lacking Cobalt is disclosed. In spite of the substantial lack of Cobalt, a steel alloy of the present disclosure has a low Stage II crack growth, and a high fracture toughness. Applications of a steel alloy of the present disclosure include structural applications, including aircraft landing gear. | 09-05-2013 |
20130224848 | Device and Method for Detection and Quantification of Immunological Proteins, Pathogenic and Microbial Agents and Cells - The present invention provides a method and device for detecting and quantifying the concentration of magnetic-responsive micro-beads dispersed in a liquid sample. Also provided is a method and microfluidic immunoassay pScreen™ device for detecting and quantifying the concentration of an analyte in a sample medium by using antigen-specific antibody-coated magnetic-responsive micro-beads. The methods and devices of the present invention have broad applications for point-of-care diagnostics by allowing quantification of a large variety of analytes, such as proteins, protein fragments, antigens, antibodies, antibody fragments, peptides, RNA, RNA fragments, functionalized magnetic micro-beads specific to CD | 08-29-2013 |
20130197468 | Device for Intramyocardial Delivery - Methods and apparatuses for delivery of biologically active material and/or sensors to a target organ or system. The apparatuses allow for specific, controlled delivery of the biologically active material and targeted placement of sensors. The apparatuses may be fabricated from cellular and/or acellular biological active components to promote integration of sensors into tissue and achieve appropriate release of biologically active molecules. The apparatuses may be fabricated from plasma-containing materials or other biopolymers such that the apparatus will resorbed into the tissue following insertion. The biologically active cellular or acellular component may be incorporated into that material may then serve as the source of the therapeutic biologically active component. The apparatus may take the form of a screw, though numerous shapes arc contemplated. The delivery methods and apparatuses of the present invention may be employed in a wide variety of physiological and medical situations, with cardiac implementations being particularly appropriate. | 08-01-2013 |
20130189370 | Methods and Apparatus for Manufacturing Plasma Based Plastics and Bioplastics Produced Therefrom - Blood-derived plastic articles prepared from compositions including blood and, in some embodiments, at least one crosslinking agent and/or at least one biological response modifier, that can be useful for biological applications such as wound repair and tissue grafts; methods of making and using the same; methods for assessing the concentration of a biological response modifier in an article; and systems for preparing blood-derived plastic articles are provided. | 07-25-2013 |
20130185657 | Media Annotation Visualization Tools and Techniques, and an Aggregate-Behavior Visualization System Utilizing Such Tools and Techniques - Methods of facilitating the discovery of relationships between/among participants within systems for annotating visual media objects to create new associations, communities, and other relationships. These methods include processing annotations, metadata, and/or other information using one or more aggregate-behavior-visualization algorithms and displaying aggregate-behavior visualizations to users. These visualizations allow users to seek out and discover relationships and provide unique knowledge assets useful for a variety of purposes, including creating smart documents and fostering learning. | 07-18-2013 |
20130177924 | LINKED PEPTIDE FLUOROGENIC BIOSENSORS - Biosensors, compositions comprising biosensors, methods of producing biosensors, and methods of using biosensors are disclosed. The biosensors comprise a fluorogen-activating peptide and a blocking peptide. The fluorogen-activating peptide and blocking peptide are covalently linked through a peptide linker. The blocking peptide associates with the fluorogen-activating peptide thereby blocking an active domain of the fluorogen-activating peptide when the linker is in an unmodified state. The peptide linker may contain an amino acid sequence that is specifically recognized as a modification substrate by a cognate enzyme. The fluorogen-activating peptide and the blocking peptide at least partially disassociate when the linker is modified by an enzyme, thereby allowing the fluorogen-activating peptide to bind a cognate fluorogen and modulate a fluorescence signal. | 07-11-2013 |
20130158203 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHOD OF INHIBITING POLYMERIZATION OF VINYL-ARYL MONOMERS - The invention generally relates to a method of inhibiting polymerization of vinyl | 06-20-2013 |
20130154010 | Integrated Circuit Device, System, and Method of Fabrication - A semiconductor device, comprising a first semiconductor portion having a first end, a second end, and a slit portion, wherein the width of the slit portion is less than the width of at least one of the first end and the second end; a second portion that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, a third portion that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, wherein the second and third portions are on opposite sides of the slit portion, and at least three terminals selected from a group consisting of a first terminal connected to the first end, a second terminal connected to the second end, a third terminal connected to the second portion, and a fourth terminal connected to the third portion. | 06-20-2013 |
20130126443 | CARBON SUPPORTED TETRAAMIDO MACROCYCLIC LIGAND CATALYTIC ACTIVATORS AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME - Embodiments of the invention provide a tetraamido macrocyclic ligand catalytic activator bound to a carbon containing support. When combined with an oxidant, such as a peroxy compound, the carbon supported catalytic activator is a long-lived, robust oxidizing agent useful for oxidizing oxidizable compounds, such as aromatic groups, conjugated pi systems, natural and synthetic hormones, pesticides, pathogens, and dyes. | 05-23-2013 |
20130124561 | Planning-Based Automated Fusing of Data From Multiple Heterogeneous Sources - Methods and software for automatedly answering dynamic queries requiring fusing of data from various ones of multiple available heterogeneous data sources. The data sources are characterized and interrelated using a suitable ontology. In one implementation, each dynamic query is analyzed to determine the data items required to answer that query, along with their levels of detail. The data items and levels of detail are used to determine which ones of the multiple data sources are needed to answer the query. The data items, levels of detail, and the ontology of the data sources are then used to automatedly develop a data-fusing plan for fusing data from the needed data sources in a manner that answers the query. The data-fusing plan is executed, and the query is answered. | 05-16-2013 |
20130124164 | STOCHASTIC COMPUTATIONAL MODEL PARAMETER SYNTHESIS SYSTEM - A stochastic computational model parameter synthesis system comprising at least one processor capable of executing processor executable code, and a non-transitory computer memory operably coupled with the at least one processor and storing processor executable code, which when executed by processor, causes processor to synthesize at least one parameter of a stochastic computational model to satisfy one or more behavioral specifications of properties observed in a modeled system. The processor generates and searches randomized projections of a first parameter space having n dimensions into one or more second abstract parameter space having d dimensions, where d is less than n, and outputs a signal indicative of a synthesized parameter value to the user. | 05-16-2013 |
20130116915 | Methods and Systems For Coordinating Vehicular Traffic Using In-Vehicle Virtual Traffic Control Signals Enabled By Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communications - Systems, methods, software, and apparatuses for coordinating traffic proximate to a potential conflict zone, such as a roadway intersection, where travel conflicts, such as crossing traffic, can arise. Coordination involves forming an ad-hoc network in a region containing the conflict zone using, for example, vehicle-to-vehicle communications and developing a dynamic traffic control plan based on information about vehicles approaching the conflict zone. Instructions based on the dynamic traffic control plan are communicated to devices aboard vehicles in the ad-hoc network, which display one or more virtual traffic signals to the operators of the vehicles and/or control the vehicles in accordance with the dynamic traffic control plan. | 05-09-2013 |
20130090516 | Local Anesthesia By Magnet-Directed Concentration of Nanoparticle Conjugated Anesthetic - Methods and formulations for induction of local anesthetic effects employing magnetic nanoparticles conjugated to anesthetic molecules. Magnetic nanoparticle-local anesthetic conjugates may be safely injected intravenously into human and animal subjects without encountering the deleterious effects observed with traditional injections of local anesthetics. The magnetic nanoparticle-local anesthetic conjugate may be concentrated at a site of action through the application of an external magnetic field to the patient at a site where local anesthesia is desired. | 04-11-2013 |
20130089260 | Systems, Methods, and Software Implementing Affine-Invariant Feature Detection Implementing Iterative Searching of an Affine Space - Feature-matching methods for attempting to match visual features in one image with visual features in another image. Feature-matching methods disclosed progressively sample the affine spaces of the images for visual features, starting with a course sampling and iteratively increasing the density of sampling. Once a predetermined threshold number of unambiguous matches has been satisfied, the iterative sampling and matching can be stopped. The iterative sampling and matching methodology is especially, but not exclusively, suited for use in fully affine invariant feature matching applicants and can be particularly computationally efficient for comparing images that have large differences in observational parameters, such as scale, tilt, object-plane rotation, and image-plane rotation. The feature-matching methods disclosed can be useful in object/scene recognition applications. The disclosed methods can be implemented in software and various object/scene recognition systems. | 04-11-2013 |
20130071091 | Hardware-Based, Client-Side, Video Compositing System - A system for video compositing is comprised of a storage device for storing a composite timeline file. A timeline manager reads rendering instructions and compositing instructions from the stored file. A plurality of filter graphs, each receiving one of a plurality of video streams, renders frames therefrom in response to the rendering instructions. 3D hardware is responsive to the rendered frames and the compositing instructions for creating a composite image. A frame scheduler is responsive to the plurality of filter graphs for controlling the frequency at which the 3D hardware creates a new composite image. An output is provided for displaying the composite image. Methods of generating a composite work and methods of generating the timeline file are also disclosed. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this Abstract should not be used to construe the claims. | 03-21-2013 |
20130042457 | Method and System Using Microscopic Building Blocks For Driving 3D Self-Assembly - A method and system for constructing structures by self-assembly of objects. The method and system include providing a first object having a first selected shape and providing a second object having a second selected shape, the shape of the first and second objects interacting to form an alignment which has only a simple stable state arising from minimization of interaction energy for the single stable state. | 02-21-2013 |
20130041941 | Crowd-Sourcing of Information for Shared Transportation Vehicles - Systems, apparatuses, methods, and software for collecting and disseminating crowd-sourced information relating to one or more shared vehicles, such as buses, passenger trains, subway vehicles, streetcars, etc. The crowd-sourced information is collected via mobile client devices carried by users, such a riders of the shared vehicle at issue. Information collected includes tracing data for tracing the route and timing of each shared vehicles. The tracing data is used to update a computer model that helps predict arrival/departure times. The predicted arrival times can be conveyed to users and to allow people to arrange rendezvous events. Other information collected includes user-report information on items such as condition of the shared vehicle, fullness of the vehicle, and the user's experience with the vehicle and/or corresponding infrastructure. Collected user-report information can be shared with other users and/or a customer service system affiliated with the shared vehicle. | 02-14-2013 |
20130028487 | COMPUTER VISION AND MACHINE LEARNING SOFTWARE FOR GRADING AND SORTING PLANTS - The present invention encompasses software that brings together computer vision and machine learning algorithms that can evaluate and sort plants into desired categories. While one embodiment of the present invention is directed toward strawberry plants, the software engine described is not specifically designed for strawberry plants but can be used for many different types of plants that require sophisticated quality sorting. The present invention is a sequence of software operations that can be applied to various crops (or other objects besides plants) in a re-usable fashion. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028305 | CROSS TECHNOLOGY INTERFERENCE CANCELLATION - In one aspect, a method for mitigating an effect of an interfering radio signal at a multiple antenna receiver includes forming an estimate of a relationship of the interfering signal among signals received from the multiple antennas. In general, the interfering signal does not share the same communication technology as a desired signal. The signals received from the multiple antennas filtered and combined according to the estimate of the relationship of the interfering channels to reduce an effect of the interfering signal. Desired data present in the desired signal represented in the filtered and combined signals is decoded and the estimate of the relationship of the interfering signals is updated according to the decoding of the desired signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130024168 | GENERAL METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED LINE FLOW COMPUTING WITH LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS IN MESHED ELECTRIC NETWORKS - The present disclosure relates to distributed line flow processing for a network having nodes with branches coupling adjacent ones of the nodes and components coupled to the nodes. In one embodiment, the disclosed process includes receiving an objective function having component variables, nodal output variables and branch flow variables for the network. Next, the component variables, nodal output variables and branch flow variables are initialized with initial values, and then values for the branch flow variables are calculated using a distributed Newton method. Finally, values for the component variables and the nodal output variables are calculated using values calculated for the branch flow variables until the values of the component variables, the nodal output variables, and the branch flow variables converge within a predetermined threshold range. | 01-24-2013 |
20130022990 | CELLULAR LABELING FOR NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE TECHNIQUES - This disclosure provides, in part, fluorocarbon imaging reagents and formulations for the ex vivo labeling of cells. Labeled cells may be detected in vivo or ex vivo by a nuclear magnetic resonance technique, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The disclosure additionally provides methods for using the imaging reagents in a variety of clinical procedures. | 01-24-2013 |
20130014828 | 3D Chemical Pattern Control in 2D Fluidics Devices - Methods of controllably creating three-dimensional (3D) combined-flow-interface patterns in multi-lane fluidic devices, and systems, apparatuses and software therefor. In one example, the 3D-pattern is created and varied as a function of one or more of the geometry of the inlets to a main fluidic channel in which the 3D-pattern is formed, the Reynolds number of the flows, the dimensions of the main fluidic channel and the inlets, and the spacing of adjacent inlets. In one embodiment particularly disclosed, differing 3D combined-flow-interface patterns are created using a three-lane fluidic device having a fixed inlet geometry. In another embodiment particularly disclosed, differing 3D combined-flow-interface patterns are created using a five-lane fluidic device having a fixed inlet geometry that can be used to effectively mimic variable inlet geometries. | 01-17-2013 |
20130014288 | NOVEL REPORTER-TAGGED RECOMBINANT MEMBRANE PROTEINS WITH TRANSMEMBRANE LINKERS - Recombinant protein constructs are described that comprises a membrane protein whose N- or C-terminus in the native state is recombinantly linked through a membrane-spanning linker polypeptide to a reporter polypeptide. The reporter polypeptide may be a fluorogen activating protein capable of binding a fluorogen to detect the location and relative abundance of the membrane protein, and more specifically to detect protein trafficking to the cell surface using a cell impermeant fluorogen probe. | 01-10-2013 |
20130011441 | TARGETED DELIVERY OF siRNA - The present invention relates to nanostructured bioconjugates and nano-structured network hydrogels used to deliver nucleic acids to targeted biological locations. The present invention further relates to methods of treating clinical conditions using the nanostructured bioconjugates and nano-structured network hydrogels. | 01-10-2013 |
20120323118 | PHYSICS BASED IMAGE PROCESSING AND EVALUATION PROCESS OF PERFUSION IMAGES FROM RADIOLOGY IMAGING - A process and a system for assisting a clinician in identification and evaluation of perfusion characteristics of an organ are disclosed. The process and system may be used to extend clinical diagnosis capabilities by augmenting the ability to analyze perfusion images acquired from a radiology imaging modality through the use of the quantification technology as described. Classification of perfusion characteristics of a region of interest is facilitated through the use of a quantitative spatial perfusion characteristics map. The map is generated by a computing device which applies at least one physics-based image processing technique. This map is displayed on a clinician device for review by the clinician to assist in the spatial identification of perfusion abnormalities. | 12-20-2012 |
20120317647 | Automated Exploit Generation - A system and method for automatically generating exploits, such as exploits for target code, is described. In some implementations, the system received binary code and/or source code of a software applications, finds one or more exploitable bugs within the software application, and automatically generates exploits for the exploitable bugs. | 12-13-2012 |
20120301370 | Apparatus and Process for Producing Patterned, Micron and Nanometer Size Reaction and Mixing Zones for Fluids Deposited on Smooth, Rough and Porous Surfaces and Applications of that Process - Process for producing patterned, micron and nanometer scale features by reacting or mixing in the small volumes at the intersections of coalescing drops, at the fronts of colliding thin films in front of spreading drops, or in the pore space of a porous medium under the drop. The process can be implemented on smooth, rough or porous surfaces and embodiments include multiplexed, single drop chemical or biochemical sensors and encryption of information of a printed page. | 11-29-2012 |
20120290230 | Methods and Apparatuses for Monitoring Energy Consumption and Related Operations - Apparatus and method including acquiring a signal indicative of power consumption; detecting a transient in the signal; extracting a feature indicative of the transient, wherein extracting the feature includes: fitting a plurality of models to the transient, selecting one of the plurality of models as a model for the transient, and defining the feature indicative of the transient based on at least one parameter of the model for the transient; and classifying the transient based on the feature. | 11-15-2012 |
20120288140 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTING A VIDEO ANALYSIS METHOD BASED ON AVAILABLE VIDEO REPRESENTATION FEATURES - A method is performed for selecting a video analysis method based on available video representation features. The method includes: determining a plurality of available video representation features for a first video output from a first video source and for a second video output from a second video source; and analyzing the plurality of video representation features as compared to at least one threshold to select one of a plurality of video analysis methods to track an object between the first and the second videos. | 11-15-2012 |
20120282211 | ANTIBODIES AND CONJUGATES FOR MODULATORS OF ANGIOGENESIS - We provide methods and compositions for the treatment of dysregulation of blood vessel growth by regulation of neovascularization. Embodiments accomplish this by restricting the diffusion and transport of therapeutic agents through conjugating them to polymers or polymer constructs while retaining the binding affinities and functions of the therapeutic agents. | 11-08-2012 |
20120281512 | BINARY ANISOTROPY MEDIA - A method of writing binary data comprising (i) heating a magnetic microstructure from an initial temperature to an above-ambient temperature that is not less than a transition temperature for the magnetic microstructure, which causes a phase transition interlayer of the magnetic microstructure to transition from an antiferromagnetic phase to a ferromagnetic phase; and (ii) reversing an orientation of magnetization of a magnetic storage layer of the magnetic microstructure with a magnetic field while the phase transition interlayer is in the ferromagnetic phase. | 11-08-2012 |
20120254444 | DYNAMIC CAPACITY MANAGEMENT OF MULTIPLE PARALLEL-CONNECTED COMPUTING RESOURCES - A dynamic capacity management policy for multi-paralleled computing resources (e.g., application servers, virtual application servers, etc.) that includes one or more of a state-change component, a load-balancing component, and a robustness-control component. The state-change component delays the release (e.g., powering down of a physical server, removal from a virtual-server lease, etc.) of each computing resource for a set amount of time. The load-balancing component can work in conjunction with the state-change component to reduce the number of idle computing resources by distributing incoming requests in a manner that keeps the already-processing computing resources as full of requests as possible. The robustness-control component scales capacity as a function of the current number of requests within the system of computing resources to account for variations other than request rate, such as request size, reduced processor frequency, network slowdowns, etc., that affect processing capacity. | 10-04-2012 |
20120213986 | PROCEDURES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC CAPACITANCE IN CARBON STRUCTURES - The present disclosure describes a carbon electrode having a high specific capacitance and method for forming an electrode. The electrode includes a graphitic carbon material having porous nanographene structures with edge-on topology to a plurality of formed pores, dispersed in an amorphous carbon matrix. The graphitic carbon material is formed by pyrolysis of phase separated block copolymers. | 08-23-2012 |
20120198514 | Methods and Apparatuses for User-Verifiable Trusted Path in the Presence of Malware - An apparatus and method for establishing a trusted path between a user interface and a trusted executable, wherein the trusted path includes a hypervisor and a driver shim. The method includes measuring an identity of the hypervisor; comparing the measurement of the identity of the hypervisor with a policy for the hypervisor; measuring an identity of the driver shim; comparing the measurement of the identity of the driver shim with a policy for the driver shim; measuring an identity of the user interface; comparing the measurement of the identity of the user interface with a policy for the user interface; and providing a human-perceptible indication of whether the identity of the hypervisor, the identity of the driver shim, and the identity of the user interface correspond with the policy for the hypervisor, the policy for the driver shim, and the policy for the user interface, respectively. | 08-02-2012 |
20120183238 | Rapid 3D Face Reconstruction From a 2D Image and Methods Using Such Rapid 3D Face Reconstruction - Creating a 3D face reconstruction model using a single 2D image and a generic facial depth map that provides depth information. In one example, the generic facial depth map is selected based on gender and ethnicity/race. In one embodiment, a set of facial features of the 2D image is mapped to create a facial-feature map, and a 2D mesh is created using the map. The same set of facial features is also mapped onto a generic facial depth map, and a 3D mesh is created therefrom. The 2D image is then warped by transposing depth information from the 3D mesh of the generic facial depth map onto the 2D mesh of the 2D image so as to create a reconstructed 3D model of the face. The reconstructed 3D model can be used, for example, to create one or more synthetic off-angle-pose images of the subject of the original 2D image. | 07-19-2012 |
20120180591 | STEERABLE MULTI-LINKED DEVICE HAVING A MODULAR LINK ASSEMBLY - A steerable multi-linked device. The device includes a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first and second multi-linked mechanisms is steerable and includes a modular link assembly at an end thereof. The modular link assembly includes a base, and a tip removably connected to the base. | 07-19-2012 |
20120173473 | Validating Legitimacy of a Social Security Number or Other Identifier - Methods and systems for predicting statistically probable systematically assigned identifiers are disclosed, as are methods and systems for determining the likelihood that a systematically assigned identifier provided by a purported assignee of the identifier is legitimate. In one example, determining the likelihood of legitimacy includes determining the likelihood that the provided identifier is a valid identifier and determining the likelihood that the provided identifier was assigned to the purported assignee. To accomplish this validation, the present disclosure employs patterns of assignment discernable for systematically assigned identifiers in combination with statistical methods. | 07-05-2012 |
20120170830 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SYSTEMATIC DEFECT IDENTIFICATION - A method and apparatus for identifying suspect layout features from a plurality of layout features of an integrated circuit (IC) layout. A plurality of snippet images is generated, each of which depicts at least a portion of a suspect layout feature which is different from suspect layout features depicted in others of the plurality of snippet images. The suspect layout features are determined based on the diagnosis of a plurality of defective ICs manufactured in accordance with the IC layout. A plurality of clusters is generated, and each of the clusters contains a group of the plurality of snippet images based on similarities between the snippet images. | 07-05-2012 |
20120141959 | CROWD-SOURCING THE PERFORMANCE OF TASKS THROUGH ONLINE EDUCATION - A method and system of crowd-sourcing the performance of tasks through online education. In some embodiments, a method accesses content in a first language and identifies multiple segments within the content. Each of the multiple segments are provided to multiple users, who are requested to translate the segment from the first language to a second language. Multiple translations are received for each of the multiple segments. A correct translation is determined for each segment based on the multiple translations associated with the segment. | 06-07-2012 |
20120130255 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR DIAGNOSING PRESSURE ULCERS - Medical device or instrument for diagnosing pressure ulcers using optical reflectance spectroscopy. The device may comprise a tip and a controller. The tip is pressed against the skin of the patient and collects the optical reflectance data. The controller processes the data to determine whether there exists a pressure ulcer and, if there is one, its depth. The tip may also include a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure at which the tip is applied to the patient's skin. | 05-24-2012 |
20120118096 | MULTI-LINKED DEVICE HAVING A REINFORCING MEMBER - A steerable multi-linked device may include a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first multi-linked mechanism and the second multi-linked mechanism may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links and a reinforcing member. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link, and the reinforcing member may extend from a first end of a third one of the intermediate links toward a second end of the third one of the intermediate links. | 05-17-2012 |
20120112325 | Integrated Circuit Device, System, and Method of Fabrication - A semiconductor device ( | 05-10-2012 |
20120084580 | Power Budget Allocation in Multi-Processor Systems - Systems, apparatuses, methods, and software that implement power budget allocation optimization algorithms in multi-processor systems, such as server farms. The algorithms are derived from a queuing theoretic model that minimizes the mean response time of the system to the jobs in the workload while accounting for a variety of factors. These factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, the type of power (frequency) scaling mechanism(s) available within the processors in the system, the power-to-frequency relationship(s) of the processors for the scaling mechanism(s) available, whether or not the system is an open or closed loop system, the arrival rate of jobs incoming into the system, the number of jobs within the system, and the type of workload being processed. | 04-05-2012 |
20120077899 | PREPARATION OF FUNCTIONAL STAR MACROMOLECULES - A process for constructing multi-arm star macromolecules with uniform properties, high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution using free radical polymerization is described. | 03-29-2012 |
20120067725 | Apparatuses and Methods for Control and Self-Assembly of Particles into Adaptable Monolayers - Apparatuses and methods for the control and self-assembly of particles into adaptable monolayers and changing the relative position of a plurality of particles at an interface between two fluids, including applying an electric field perpendicular to the interface; moving the particles vertically in the interface in response to applying the electric field; moving the particles laterally within the interface in response to the electric field and capillary forces; maintaining the particles at the interface when moving the particles vertically; and maintaining the particles at the interface when moving the particles laterally. | 03-22-2012 |
20120058494 | Quenched Dendrimeric Dyes for Florescence Detection - The present invention presents designs for high extinction quenched “dyedrons” that can be activated by conversion of a single acceptor/quencher in the molecular assembly to a fluorescent state. The quencher is activated by noncovalent binding to a unique complementary expressible fluorogen activating peptide (FAP). In this way, the quencher serves as the homogeneous switch, receiving energy efficiently from each of the donor molecules of the dendronic antenna, and releasing it as fluorescence only when activated by binding. The sum of the extinction of the multiple dyes on the antenna will provide dramatic enhancements in the effective brightness of the probe in standard imaging systems. This approach provides a set of probes with exceptional brightness, specifically targeted to an expressed tag that activates the fluorescence of the dyedron. | 03-08-2012 |
20120023393 | INTENT-BASED INFORMATION PROCESSING AND UPDATES - In various embodiments, a method for processing a user request is provided. The method may include receiving input data from a user including at least natural language associated with a user request; analyzing the user input data with an intermediary agent; selecting at least one form based on analyzing the user input data; and, executing at least one update based on at least one form. | 01-26-2012 |
20120021450 | METHODS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - In certain aspects the present invention provides methods and compositions related to contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. In certain variations, contrast agents provided herein are generated in situ via genetic instructions and become potent upon sequestering available metal atoms. Exemplary contrast agents include metal-binding proteins. | 01-26-2012 |
20120016216 | REAL-TIME MICRODIALYSIS SYSTEM - Microdialysis systems and methods that enable self-diagnostic functions for microdialysis, including continuous monitoring of diffusion, convection, and osmosis, as well as providing intelligent flow rate control, to mitigate variability in analyte recovery. The microdialysis system measures real-time tracer concentration levels in the dialysate and/or real | 01-19-2012 |
20120003193 | Methods and Apparatus for Manufacturing Plasma Based Plastics and Bioplastics Produced Therefrom - Blood-derived plastic articles prepared from compositions including blood and, in some embodiments, at least one crosslinking agent and/or at least one biological response modifier, that can be useful for biological applications such as wound repair and tissue grafts; methods of making and using the same; methods for assessing the concentration of a biological response modifier in an article; and systems for preparing blood-derived plastic articles are provided. | 01-05-2012 |
20120000579 | Method of Making Ultra-High Strength Stainless Steels - An ultra-high strength stainless steel alloy with enhanced toughness includes in % by weight: 0 to 0.06% carbon (C); 12.0 to 18% chromium (Cr); 16.5 to 31.0% cobalt (Co); 0 to 8% molybdenum (Mo); 0.5 to 5.0% nickel (Ni); 0 to 0.5% titanium (Ti); 0 to 1.0% niobium (Nb); 0 to 0.5% vanadium (V); 0 to 16% tungsten (W); balance iron (Fe) and incidental deoxidizers and impurities. The heat treating method includes the steps of austenitizing at least once followed by quenching, tempering and sub-zero cooling to obtain no more than about 6-8% retained austenite in the finished alloy. | 01-05-2012 |
20110316054 | Method, Apparatus, and System for Micromechanical Gas Chemical Sensing Capacitor - A method for fabrication of capacitive environment sensors is provided in which the sensor elements are integrated in a CMOS structure with electronics through the use of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication methods. Also provided are environment sensors fabricated, for example, by the method, and a measurement system using the environment sensors fabricated by the method. The described method includes etching away one of the metal layers in a CMOS chip to create a cavity. This cavity is then filled with an environment-sensitive dielectric material to form a sensing capacitor between plates formed by the metal adhesion layers or an array of contacts from other metal layers of the CMOS structure. This approach provides improved sensing capabilities in a system that is easily manufactured. | 12-29-2011 |
20110313243 | MULTI-LINKED ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE WITH SPHERICAL DISTAL ASSEMBLY - A device for performing a procedure may include an elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end and an adapted link having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end may include a first mating surface, where the proximal end may be configured to attach to the distal end of the elongate tube. The device may also include a rotating link having a second mating surface configured to rotatably interface with the adapted link first mating surface. | 12-22-2011 |
20110311846 | Sodium Ion Based Aqueous Electrolyte Electrochemical Secondary Energy Storage Device - A secondary hybrid aqueous energy storage device includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode which is capable of reversibly intercalating sodium cations, a separator, and a sodium cation containing aqueous electrolyte, wherein an initial active cathode electrode material comprises an alkali metal containing active cathode electrode material which deintercalates alkali metal ions during initial charging of the device. | 12-22-2011 |
20110307688 | SYNTHESIS SYSTEM FOR PIPELINED DIGITAL CIRCUITS - Computer-implemented methods and systems for synthesizing a hardware description for a pipelined datapath for a digital circuit. A transactional datapath specification framework and a transactional design automation system automatically synthesize pipeline implementations. The transactional datapath specification framework captures an abstract datapath, whose execution semantics is interpreted as a sequence of “transactions” where each transaction reads the state values left by the preceding transaction and computes a new set of state values to be seen by the next transaction. The transactional datapath specification framework exposes sufficient information about state accesses that can occur in a datapath, which is necessary for performing precise data hazards analysis, and eventually pipeline synthesis. | 12-15-2011 |
20110280784 | Methods for Casting By a Float Process and Associated Apparatuses - A method for producing a solid layer material ( | 11-17-2011 |
20110280515 | COUPLED PLASMONIC WAVEGUIDES AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUSES AND METHODS - An apparatus and corresponding method in which the apparatus includes a dielectric waveguide and a metallic waveguide. The dielectric waveguide has an effective mode index and a longitudinal dimension. The metallic waveguide has a longitudinal dimension and supports a surface plasmonic mode of propagation for a wavelength lambda. The metallic waveguide and the dielectric waveguide are adjacent to each other and overlap each other by a length along the longitudinal dimensions of both the dielectric waveguide and the metallic waveguide, wherein the length is greater than the wavelength lambda in the metallic waveguide. The metallic waveguide is coupled to the dielectric waveguide where the metallic waveguide and the dielectric waveguide overlap each other. | 11-17-2011 |
20110280325 | SPECTRAL-TEMPORAL AVERAGING FOR IEEE 802.11p DYNAMIC CHANNEL EQUALIZATION - A system and method for providing dynamic channel equalization in V2V and V2I communications systems. The method includes separating the channel bandwidth of a message into a plurality of subcarriers having different subcarrier frequencies, where the subcarriers include data subcarriers and pilot subcarriers. The method demodulates the message in the receiver to extract symbols from the message and determines channel estimation frequency responses using a least-squares estimation process and the extracted symbols for the pilot subcarriers. The channel estimation frequency responses of either the pilot subcarriers, the pilot subcarriers and some data subcarriers, or the pilot subcarriers and all data subcarriers are used to generate updated channel estimation frequency responses, and a new channel estimation frequency response is generated for each extracted signal using a previous channel estimation frequency response and the updated channel estimation frequency response. The extracted symbols are equalized using the new channel estimation frequency response. | 11-17-2011 |
20110257525 | SENSOR GUIDED CATHETER NAVIGATION SYSTEM - A method and a system for producing images of a subject, such as the heart of a human being. The method may comprise acquiring ultrasound images of the subject with a catheter comprising a position sensor. The method may also comprise capturing a plurality of 4D surface registration points in the acquired ultrasound images corresponding to points on the subject. The method may also comprise registering, in space and time, a high-resolution 4D model of the subject with the plurality of 4D surface registration points. The method may also comprise displaying high resolution, real-time images of the subject during a medical procedure based on the registration of the high resolution 4D model to the 4D surface registration points. Embodiments of the present invention are especially useful in left atrium ablation procedures. | 10-20-2011 |
20110253865 | APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A DEVICE - An apparatus for positioning a device. The apparatus includes a coupling member, a first arm, a second arm, and a sloped support member. The coupling member defines a first opening and a second opening. The first arm passes through the first opening, and the coupling member is movably connected to the first arm. The second arm passes through the second opening. The sloped support member is releasably connected to the second arm. The apparatus has at least five degrees of freedom. | 10-20-2011 |
20110218306 | ATOM TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION PROCESS - Embodiments of the polymerization process of the present invention are directed to polymerizing free radically polymerizable monomers in the presence of a polymerization medium initially comprising at least one transition metal catalyst and an atom transfer radical polymerization initiator. The polymerization medium may additionally comprise a reducing agent. The reducing agent may be added initially or during the polymerization process in a continuous or intermittent manner. The polymerization process may further comprises reacting the reducing agent with at least one of the transition metal catalyst in an oxidized state and a compound comprising a radically transferable atom or group to form a compound that does not participate significantly in control of the polymerization process. Embodiments of the present invention comprise reacting a reducing agent with at least one of catalyst in an oxidized state and a compound comprising a radically transferable atom or group to initiate and/or maintain catalytic activity throughout the polymerization process. | 09-08-2011 |
20110159519 | OPTICAL BIOSENSORS - Provided are biosensors, compositions comprising biosensors, and methods of using biosensors in living cells and organisms. The biosensors are able to be selectively targeted to certain regions or structures within a cell. The biosensors may provide a signal when the biosensor is targeted and/or in response to a property of the cell or organism such as membrane potential, ion concentration or enzyme activity. | 06-30-2011 |
20110152613 | ARTICULATED DEVICE WITH VISUALIZATION SYSTEM - An articulated device may include a first steerable multi-linked mechanism and a second steerable multi-linked mechanism. The second steerable multi-linked mechanism may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links and a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link The articulated device may include a camera located within at least a portion of the second link and a protective shield connected to a distal end of the second link The protective shield may surround at least a portion of the camera. | 06-23-2011 |
20110066262 | Apparatuses, Systems, and Methods for Apparatus Operation and Remote Sensing - A method and system for controlling an apparatus including receiving data indicative of an actual state of the apparatus, defining a first viewpoint relative to at least one of the environment and the apparatus, determining a first predicted state of the apparatus at time T, determining a first predicted state of the environment at time T, producing a first virtualized view from the first viewpoint, sending a first control signal to the apparatus after producing the first virtualized view, defining a second viewpoint relative to at least one of the apparatus and the environment, determining a second predicted state of the apparatus at time T+delta T, determining a second predicted state of the environment at time T+delta T, producing the second virtualized view from the second viewpoint, sending a second control signal to the apparatus after producing the second virtualized view, and changing the actual state of the apparatus based on the first control signal. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064674 | LUMINESCENT MULTIMODAL NANOPARTICLE PROBE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF - A method of manufacture of a luminescent nanoparticle probe system includes forming a bismuth sulfide core; and coating the bismuth sulfide core with a shell. | 03-17-2011 |
20110060107 | PREPARATION OF FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS - The process of the present invention is directed toward conducting highly selective, high yield post polymerization reactions on polymers to prepare functionalized polymers. An embodiment of the present invention comprises conducting click chemistry reactions on polymers. Preferably, the polymers were prepared by controlled polymerization processes. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention comprise processes for the preparation of polymers comprising conducting a click chemistry reaction on a functional group attached to a polymer, wherein the polymer has a molecular weight distribution of less than 2.0. The functional polymers may be prepared by converting an attached functional unit on the polymer thereby providing site specific functional materials, site specific functional materials comprising additional functionality, or chain extended functional materials. | 03-10-2011 |
20110056320 | STEERABLE MULTI-LINKED DEVICE HAVING A MODULAR LINK ASSEMBLY - A steerable multi-linked device. The device includes a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first and second multi-linked mechanisms is steerable and includes a modular link assembly at an end thereof. The modular link assembly includes a base, and a tip removably connected to the base. | 03-10-2011 |
20110052945 | Sodium Based Aqueous Electrolyte Electrochemical Secondary Energy Storage Device - A secondary hybrid aqueous energy storage device includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode which is capable of reversibly intercalating sodium cations, a separator, and a sodium cation containing aqueous electrolyte, wherein an initial active cathode electrode material comprises an alkali metal containing active cathode electrode material which deintercalates alkali metal ions during initial charging of the device. | 03-03-2011 |
20110029287 | Self-Diagnosing Transducers and Systems and Methods Therefor - A transducer system that includes a piezoelectric transducer and a self-diagnosis system electrically connected to the transducer. In one embodiment, the self-diagnosis system is configured to detect when a debonding defect has occurred in the bond between the transducer and a host structure and to detect when a crack has occurred in the transducer itself. The self-diagnosis system implements debonding-detection and crack-detection schemes that can distinguish between debonding and cracking, as well as distinguish these problems from changes arising from temperature variation. | 02-03-2011 |
20110022868 | Systems and Methods for Managing Power Consumption and Performance of a Processor - Processor-management techniques that purposely alternate a processor between an operating state and a non-operating state while the processor is executing the workload. The techniques leverage the “ultra-low-power” non-operating states of many processors to provide predictable power and/or frequency control of the processor. These techniques can provide better performance than known clock-throttling and dynamic voltage and frequency scaling schemes for controlling processors. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022552 | Systems and Methods for Implementing a Machine-Learning Agent to Retrieve Information in Response to a Message - Mixed-initiative message-augmenting agent systems and methods that provide users with tools that allow them to respond to messages, such as email messages, containing requests for information or otherwise requiring responses that require information that needs to be retrieved from one or more data sources. The systems and methods allow users to train machine-learning agents how to retrieve and present information in responses to like messages so that the machine-learning agents can eventually automatedly generate responses with minimal involvement by the users. Embodiments of the systems and methods allow users to build message-augmenting forms containing the desired information for responding to messages and to demonstrate to the machine-learning agents where to retrieve pertinent information for populating the forms. Embodiments of the systems and methods allow users to modify and repair automatically generated forms to continually improve the knowledge of the machine-learning agents. | 01-27-2011 |
20110017312 | Fluid-Pressure Regulator and Related Methods and Systems - A fluid-pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of a fluid. The regulator includes a variable-resistance fluid element and a variable-volume fluid element located downstream of the variable-resistance element. Pressure in the fluid at the outlet of the regulator is controlled by substantially simultaneously changing the resistance of the variable-resistance element and the volume of the variable-volume element. In one example, a decrease in pressure is effected at the outlet by simultaneously increasing the resistance of the variable-resistance element and increasing the volume of the variable-volume element. Some embodiments of the regulator are particularly useful to effect long-term and high-speed pressure changes in high-resistance fluidic channel networks. | 01-27-2011 |
20110011733 | BUFFER LAYERS FOR L10 THIN FILM PERPENDICULAR MEDIA - A process of fabricating a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. In one embodiment, the process may comprise forming a metallic buffer layer with a (002) texture on an underlayer using a deposition process performed at a temperature below 30° C. The underlayer may have a crystalline (001) texture. The process may further comprise forming a perpendicular magnetic recording layer on top of the metallic buffer layer using a deposition process performed at a temperature above 350° C. The magnetic recording layer may comprise a magnetic material with a L1 | 01-20-2011 |
20100309115 | DRAWING ASSIST DEVICE, DRAWING ASSIST PROGRAM, AND DRAWING ASSIST METHOD - Provided is a drawing assist device and the like which assists a drawing operation while improving efficiency thereof. According to the drawing assist device of the present invention, whether or not a first factor of an element defined according to a positional trajectory of a pointer moved by an agent is adequate in design for a subject represented by the element is determined. The agent is notified if the determination result thereof is negative. According thereto, the agent can progress the drawing operation while confirming whether or not the subject drawn personally is adequate in design. | 12-09-2010 |
20100299101 | Method, Apparatus, And System For Computer-Aided Tracking, Navigation And Motion Teaching - Methods, apparatuses, and systems for computer-aided tracking, navigation, and motion tracking. In one embodiment, a system for determining a spatial position, including a tracking device and a processor. The tracking devices has a working end, a reference end, a plurality of links connecting the working end to the reference end, wherein each link has at least one degree of freedom relative to an adjacent link, and a plurality of sensors measuring the orientation of the links in a plurality of degrees of freedom, wherein X is a minimum number of degrees of freedom about which information is required to define the spatial position. The processor receives information from the sensors and determine the spatial position of the working end of the tracking device relative to the reference end of the tracking device based on information from the sensors measuring Y degrees of freedom, wherein Y is greater than X. | 11-25-2010 |
20100294071 | STEERABLE MULTI-LINKED DEVICE HAVING A MODULAR LINK ASSEMBLY - A steerable multi-linked device. The device includes a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first and second multi-linked mechanisms is steerable and includes a modular link assembly at an end thereof. The modular link assembly includes a base, and a tip removably connected to the base. | 11-25-2010 |
20100267008 | CHIRAL INDOLE INTERMEDIATES AND THEIR FLUORESCENT CYANINE DYES CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL GROUPS - This invention relates to the functionalized cyanine dyes and more particularly, to the synthesis of chiral 3-substituted 2,3′-dimethyl-3H-indole and its derivatives as intermediates for preparation of cyanine dyes, to methods of preparing these dyes and the dyes so prepared. | 10-21-2010 |
20100249271 | HYBRID PARTICE COMPOSITE STRUCTURES WITH REDUCED SCATTERING - A core-shell composite particle for incorporation into a composite wherein the composite has improved transparency is disclosed. The core-shell composite particle includes a core material having a first refractive index and a shell material having a second refractive index where the core-shell particle has an effective refractive index determined by the first refractive index and the second refractive index. The effective refractive index is substantially equal to the refractive index of the envisioned embedding medium. Methods of forming the core-shell particles are also disclosed. | 09-30-2010 |
20100213059 | TRANSIENTLY BONDING DRAG-TAGS FOR SEPARATION MODALITIES - The invention relates transiently attaching drag-tags to molecules during electrophoresis. The invention includes running buffers having drag-tags that transiently attach to lipophilic moieties attached to the molecules. The lipophilic moieties can be covalently or ionically bonded to the molecules. One particular aspect of the invention is a nucleoside analog or a nucleic acid analog comprising a lipophilic moiety. The invention is also directed to methods of separating molecules that comprise a lipophilic moiety. The methods generally comprise transiently attaching a drag-tag to the lipophilic moiety during a separation modality. These methods can be used to separate the molecules by size or weight, to measure a hydrodynamic radius of a drag-tag, or to separate a plurality of drag-tag by their hydrodynamic radius. | 08-26-2010 |
20100143286 | Preparation of functional gel particles with a dual crosslink network - Functional gel particle formed from a crosslinked polymeric network including a fraction of stable crosslinks and a second fraction of cleavable crosslinks are disclosed. Functional compounds may be chemically or physically encapsulated within and/or released from the gel particle by selective cleavage of the cleavable crosslinks. The functional compounds may be delivered and released to a pre-selected target site. Peripheral or other accessible functionality on the surface of the gel particle allows attachment of a surface reactive agent, thereby modifying one or more surface properties of the gel particle. Processes of preparing the gel particles and processes of delivering the functional compounds to a target site are also disclosed. | 06-10-2010 |
20100136281 | DRY ADHESIVES AND METHODS FOR MAKING DRY ADHESIVES - A dry adhesive and a method of forming a dry adhesive. The method includes forming an opening through an etch layer and to a barrier layer, expanding the opening in the etch layer at the barrier layer, filling the opening with a material, removing the barrier layer from the material in the opening, and removing the etch layer from the material in the opening. | 06-03-2010 |
20100121577 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL LIDAR-BASED CLEAR PATH DETECTION - A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle includes generating a datastream corresponding to a three-dimensional scan of a target area surrounding the vehicle from a vehicle LIDAR system, estimating a ground plane for a present vehicle location using the datastream corresponding to the three-dimensional scan of the target area surrounding the vehicle, and comparing the datastream corresponding to the three-dimensional scan of the target area surrounding the vehicle with the estimated ground plane to detect a clear path of vehicle travel. | 05-13-2010 |
20100116963 | DRAWING SUPPORT DEVICE, DRAWING SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND DRAWING SUPPORT METHOD - The present invention provides a device capable of supporting drawing work while improving the continuity of the drawing work. According to a drawing support device | 05-13-2010 |
20100106603 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PREDICTING NAVIGATIONAL DECISION-MAKING BEHAVIOR - A system method and device for predicting navigational decision-making behavior is provided. The location of a device is used to generate the current location of the device, and a history of past locations of the device. A behavior predicting application predicts the route a drive is going to travel based on driver preferences, such as left-hand turns, avoidance of bridges, etc., as well as the preferred destinations and/or routes traveled in the past. The preferences of a particular driver can be learned by the system to be implemented in the behavior predicting application, or manually input by the driver. The system can employ GPS or other positioning technology to determine the location of the device. The device can be a standard GPS-enabled in-car device, or other portable device such as a cell phone or PDA. | 04-29-2010 |
20100104137 | CLEAR PATH DETECTION USING PATCH APPROACH - A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing an image generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the image, and generating a plurality of patches onto the image, wherein the patches are collectively arranged to substantially include the clear path of travel. Feature extraction is utilized to analyze the patches and includes convolving each of the patches with a feature detection filter generating a feature-based filter response, extracting features based upon the feature-based filter response, and determining each of the patches to represent the clear path of travel or to not represent the clear path of travel based upon the extracted features. The clear path of travel is determined based upon the plurality of patches, and is utilized to navigate the vehicle. | 04-29-2010 |
20100097458 | CLEAR PATH DETECTION USING AN EXAMPLE-BASED APPROACH - A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle using a current image generated by a camera includes defining an exemplary clear path for each of a plurality of sample images, identifying features within each of the plurality of sample images, monitoring the current image generated by the camera, identifying features within the current image, matching the current image to at least one of the sample images based upon the identified features within the current image and the identified features within the plurality of sample images, determining a clear path of travel based upon the matching and the exemplary clear path for each of the matched sample images, and utilizing the clear path of travel to navigate the vehicle. | 04-22-2010 |
20100097455 | CLEAR PATH DETECTION USING A VANISHING POINT - A method for estimating a vanishing point in a roadway using a current image generated by a camera on a vehicle includes defining an exemplary vanishing point for each of a plurality of sample images, identifying features within each of the plurality of sample images, monitoring the current image generated by the camera, identifying features within the current image, matching the current image to at least one of the sample images based upon the identified features within the current image and the identified features within the plurality of sample images, determining a vanishing point based upon the matching and the exemplary vanishing points for each of the matched sample images, and utilizing the vanishing point to navigate the vehicle. | 04-22-2010 |
20100037127 | APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS TO AUTOMATE A PROCEDURAL TASK - Methods, apparatuses, and systems to automate a procedural task. In one embodiment, computer-readable memory including computer readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising: identifying a set of data, wherein the data includes a plurality of items; prompting the user to process at least one item of the data in a predetermined manner, wherein the user interacts with a predetermined form system to process the data; monitoring input of the user, wherein the input of the user causes the at least one item of the data to be processed in the predetermined manner; producing computer-generated, computer-readable instructions in response to monitoring the input of the user, wherein the computer-generated, computer-readable instructions cause the processor to process data in the predetermined manner; and executing the computer-generated, computer-readable instructions, wherein the computer-generated, computer-readable instructions operate on at least one item of the data. | 02-11-2010 |
20100031330 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND FOR ANNOTATING MEDIA FILES - Methods and apparatuses for controlling access to computer systems and for annotating media files. One embodiment includes a method including generating a challenge to a user, wherein the challenge includes a verify part and a read part. The methods also includes prompting the user to solve both the verify part of the challenge and the read part of the challenge; receiving input from the user; determining if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge; and identifying the input from the user relative to the read part of the challenge as an answer to the read part of the challenge, if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge. | 02-04-2010 |
20100021647 | DRY ADHESIVES AND METHODS FOR MAKING DRY ADHESIVES - Dry adhesives and methods for forming dry adhesives. A method of forming a dry adhesive structure on a substrate, comprises: forming a template backing layer of energy sensitive material on the substrate; forming a template layer of energy sensitive material on the template backing layer; exposing the template layer to a predetermined pattern of energy; removing a portion of the template layer related to the predetermined pattern of energy, and leaving a template structure formed from energy sensitive material and connected to the substrate via the template backing layer. | 01-28-2010 |
20100021052 | System and method for generating a terrain model for autonomous navigation in vegetation - The disclosed terrain model is a generative, probabilistic approach to modeling terrain that exploits the 3D spatial structure inherent in outdoor domains and an array of noisy but abundant sensor data to simultaneously estimate ground height, vegetation height and classify obstacles and other areas of interest, even in dense non-penetrable vegetation. Joint inference of ground height, class height and class identity over the whole model results in more accurate estimation of each quantity. Vertical spatial constraints are imposed on voxels within a column via a hidden semi-Markov model. Horizontal spatial constraints are enforced on neighboring columns of voxels via two interacting Markov random fields and a latent variable. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims. | 01-28-2010 |
20100014713 | Road-lane marker detection - A method is provided for detecting road lane markers using a light-based sensing device. Reflectivity data is captured using the light-based sensing device. A light intensity signal is generated based on the captured reflectivity data. The light intensity signal is convolved with a differential filter for generating a filter response that identifies a candidate lane marker region and ground segment regions juxtaposed on each side of the candidate lane marker region. A weighted standard deviation of the data points within the identified candidate lane marker region and weighted standard deviation of the data points within the ground segment regions are calculated. An objective value is determined as a function of the respective weighted standard deviations. The objective value is compared to a respective threshold for determining whether the identified candidate lane marker region is a lane marker. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013615 | Obstacle detection having enhanced classification - A method and system for sensing an obstacle comprises transmitting an electromagnetic signal from a mobile machine to an object. A reflected electromagnetic signal is received from the object to determine a distance between the object and the mobile machine. An image patch is extracted from a region associated with the object. Each image patch comprises coordinates (e.g., three dimensional coordinates) associated with corresponding image data (e.g., pixels). If an object is present, image data may include at least one of object density data and object color data. Object density data is determined based on a statistical measure of variation associated with the image patch. Object color data based on the color of the object detected with brightness normalization. An object is classified or identified based on the determined object density and determined object color data. | 01-21-2010 |
20090321830 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF FABRICATION - A semiconductor device, comprising a first semiconductor portion having a first end, a second end, and a slit portion, wherein the width of the slit portion is less than the width of at least one of the first end and the second end; a second portion that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, a third portions that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, wherein the second and third portions are on opposite sides of the slit portion, and at least three terminals selected from a group consisting of a first terminal connected to the first end, a second terminal connected to the second end, a third terminal connected to the second portion, and a fourth terminal connected to the third portion. | 12-31-2009 |
20090301198 | Methods, Apparatuses, and Systems for Damage Detection - Methods, apparatuses, and systems for damage detection and for other detection of the state of a structure or material. Such damage detection and detection of the state of a structure may be performed and operated without the use of baseline data. The present invention may operate using time reversal acoustics or polarization characteristics of piezoelectric devices. The present invention may include a piezoelectric device including two or more piezoelectric transducers. | 12-10-2009 |
20090287352 | ROBOTIC SYSTEM INCLUDING FOLDABLE ROBOTIC ARM - A system includes an end effector, a robotic wrist for orienting the end effector; and a robotic arm for positioning the end effector. The robotic arm is foldable into a stack. The robotic wrist is mounted to a last link of the robotic arm. | 11-19-2009 |
20090283949 | FINE POSITIONER MODULE - A fine positioner module is used to perform fine positioning of a device that is pressing against a work surface. In some embodiments, the fine positioner module includes a contact member for making contact with a work surface, a position adjustor for using the contact member to move the device along the work surface, and an actuator for relieving pressure of the device against the work surface while the contact member is used to move the device along the work surface. | 11-19-2009 |
20090281279 | Rigidized trimethine cyanine dyes - Disclosed are analogues of trimethine cyanine dyes, which are useful for importing fluorescent properties to target materials by covalent and non-covalent association. | 11-12-2009 |
20090248387 | Method and apparatus for sampling and predicting rare events in complex electronic devices, circuits and systems - The invention provides methods for enhancing circuit reliability under statistical process variation. For highly replicated circuits such as SRAMs and flip flops, a rare statistical event for one circuit may induce a not-so-rare system failure. To combat this, the invention discloses the method called “Statistical Blockade,” a Monte Carlo-type technique that allows the efficient filtering—blocking—of unwanted samples insufficiently rare in the tail distributions of interest, with speedups of 10-100×. Additionally, the core Statistical Blockade technique is further extended in a “recursive” or “bootstrap” formulation to create even greater efficiencies under a much wider variety of circuit performance metrics, in particular two-sided metrics such a Data Retention Voltage (DRV) which prior Monte Carlo techniques could not handle. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248370 | Method and Apparatus for Applying "Quasi-Monte Carlo" Methods to Complex Electronic Devices Circuits and Systems - The invention discloses a “Quasi-Monte Carlo” method originally intended for computational finance applications and applies said method to statistical circuit analysis. In doing so, it provides a means to efficiently and effectively detect and/or predict relatively rare failures or events to a wide range of industrial circuits and systems. The approach to the invention involves the representation of circuit metrics as a large multi-dimensional integral. This invention estimates such statistical circuit metric integrals by sampling the statistical variable space using a so-called “low-discrepancy sequence.” This is similar to the Monte Carlo method, the main difference being the method of sampling the variable space. Compared with standard Monte Carlo simulation, this technique, “Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods,” gives similarly reliable estimates of the result, but requiring many fewer samples of the circuit or system being evaluated. In practice, speedups of 2× to 50× across a range of practical examples are observed. | 10-01-2009 |
20090237987 | Crossbar diode-switched magnetoresistive random access memory system - A magnetic memory or MRAM memory system comprising an M×N crossbar array of MRAM cells. Each memory cell stores binary data bits with switchable magnetoresistive tunnel junctions (MJT) where the electrical conductance changes as the magnetic moment of one electrode (the storage layer) in the MJT switches direction. The switching of the magnetic moment is assisted by a phase transition interlayer that transitions from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic at a well defined, above ambient temperature. | 09-24-2009 |
20090214092 | METHOD OF ASSESSING A BODY PART - A method of assessing a body part includes obtaining two or more types of data through a combination of two or more of the following four imaging modalities: (1) obtaining surface topography data of the body part, (2) obtaining thermographic data of the body part, (3) obtaining range of motion data for the body part, and (4) obtaining spectral data of light reflected from the body part. The two or more types of data are integrated to allow them to be interacted with simultaneously, and the body part is assessed based on the integrated data. | 08-27-2009 |
20090174614 | ANTENNA WITH MULTIPLE CO-LOCATED ELEMENTS WITH LOW MUTUAL COUPLING FOR MULTI-CHANNEL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - An antenna that has a number of co-located elements, with no (or very small) coupling between the various elements. The antenna may comprise one or more electric dipole elements, such as an electric tripole, co-located with one or more magnetic dipole elements, such as a magnetic tripole. The antenna has the property that although all of the electric and magnetic dipole elements are co-located, there is substantially no coupling between the elements. Some of the antenna elements may operate as transmitters and the others may act as receivers. The antenna elements may be tuned to different frequencies. The antenna may comprise less than six antenna elements. Also disclosed are example devices and systems that may utilize the antenna structure, such as a handheld wireless communication device and an access point of a HVAC wireless communication system. | 07-09-2009 |
20090171024 | PREPARATION OF BLOCK COPOLYMERS - The present invention is directed towards a polymerization process for the preparation of block copolymers. In an embodiment, the polymerization process may comprise low levels of catalyst in an oxidized state that react with a reducing agent to form an active catalyst. Embodiments of the process surprisingly use low levels of catalysts and allow formation of the all blocks with the same catalyst. The catalyst may be deactivated and reactivated to form each block. In one embodiment of the invention, the catalyst is oxidized to the deactivator state when the desired degree of polymerization of a polymer segment or block is reached. The first monomer may be removed prior to addition of the second monomer. The catalyst may then be reactivated for preparation of a second block. A further embodiment may include addition of second radically polymerizable monomer to provide efficient initiation of the macroinitiator to transition from polymerization of the first block or segment to polymerization of a second block or blocks. | 07-02-2009 |
20090140881 | Vehicle-use visual field assistance system in which information dispatch apparatus transmits images of blind spots to vehicles - A camera of a ground-based information dispatch apparatus captures a blind-spot image, showing a region that is a blind spot with respect to a vehicle driver. A vehicle-mounted camera captures a forward-view image corresponding to the viewpoint of the driver, and the forward-view image is transmitted to the information dispatch apparatus together with vehicle position and direction information and camera parameters. Based on the received information, the blind-spot image is converted to a corresponding image having the viewpoint of the vehicle driver, and the forward-view image and viewpoint-converted blind-spot image are combined to form a synthesized image, which is transmitted to the vehicle. | 06-04-2009 |
20090132064 | Apparatuses, Systems, and Methods Utilizing Adaptive Control - A method for controlling a process, wherein the process has an input and an output, and including controlling the input to the process; predicting the output of the process based on a first set of operating parameters; predicting the output of the process based on a second set of operating parameters; updating the first set of operating parameters when a result from predicting the output from the first set of parameters differs from the output of the process by more than a predetermined amount, wherein the predetermined amount is a function the output predicted by the second set of parameters. The invention also includes apparatuses and systems. | 05-21-2009 |
20090094578 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DESIGNING ARCHITECTURE FOR SPECIFIED PERMUTATION AND DATAPATH CIRCUITS FOR PERMUTATION - Computer-implemented systems and methods that provide an efficient technique for performing a large class of permutations on data vectors of length 2 | 04-09-2009 |
20090081068 | Ultra-High Strength Stainless Steels - An ultra-high strength stainless steel alloy with enhanced toughness includes in % by weight: 0 to 0.06% carbon (C); 12.0 to 18% chromium (Cr); 16.5 to 31.0% cobalt (Co); 0 to 8% molybdenum (Mo); 0.5 to 5.0% nickel (Ni); 0 to 0.5% titanium (Ti); 0 to 1.0% niobium (Nb); 0 to 0.5% vanadium (V); 0 to 16% tungsten (W); balance iron (Fe) and incidental deoxidizers and impurities. The heat treating method includes the steps of austenitizing at least once followed by quenching, tempering and sub-zero cooling to obtain no more than about 6-8% retained austenite in the finished alloy. | 03-26-2009 |
20090074673 | Compositions and methods for producing cellular labels for nuclear magnetic resonance techniques - The disclosure provides, in part, compositions and methods for producing cellular labels for tracking cells by MRI. The disclosure provides, in part, methods for labeling, detecting and quantifying cell numbers in vivo. | 03-19-2009 |
20080292554 | Cellular Labeling for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Techniques - The disclosure provides, in part, fluorocarbon imaging reagents and formulations for the ex vivo labeling of cells. Labeled cells may be detected in vivo or ex vivo by a nuclear magnetic resonance technique, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The disclosure additionally provides methods for using the imaging reagents in a variety of clinical procedures. | 11-27-2008 |
20080286329 | Methods and Apparatus for Manufacturing Plasma Based Plastics and Bioplastics Produced Therefrom - Blood-derived plastic articles prepared from compositions including blood and, in some embodiments, at least one crosslinking agent and/or at least one biological response modifier, that can be useful for biological applications such as wound repair and tissue grafts; methods of making and using the same; methods for assessing the concentration of a biological response modifier in an article; and systems for preparing blood-derived plastic articles are provided. | 11-20-2008 |
20080245173 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF A MULTI-LINKED DEVICE - A system for controlling the movement of a steerable multi-linked device may include a steerable multi-linked device a feeder mechanism releaseably connected to the steerable multi-linked device and a controller device. The steerable multi-linked device may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, and a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link. The controller device may be configured to control movement of the multi-linked device via the feeder mechanism. | 10-09-2008 |
20080217498 | MULTI-LINKED DEVICE HAVING A REINFORCING MEMBER - A steerable multi-linked device may include a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first multi-linked mechanism and the second multi-linked mechanism may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links and a reinforcing member. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link, and the reinforcing member may extend from a first end of a third one of the intermediate links toward a second end of the third one of the intermediate links. | 09-11-2008 |
20080205980 | SYSTEM FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING A DISPOSABLE DEVICE TO A DURABLE DEVICE - A system for releasably attaching a steerable disposable multi-linked device to a durable device may include a disposable portion and a durable portion. The disposable portion may include a connecting member connected to the disposable portion and the durable portion and a steerable multi-linked device. The steerable multi-linked device may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links, and a cable which passes through the first link and intermediate links and extends beyond a first end of the first link. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link. The durable portion may include an axial member which defines an opening therethrough and a feeder mechanism. | 08-28-2008 |