50th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 60 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090306727 | IMPLANTING A TISSUE PROSTHESIS | 2009-12-10 |
20090306728 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR STIMULATING AND/OR SENSING NEURONS IN A PATIENT - Instruments and method of using instruments for implanting electrodes into a patient. The instrument can include a body configured to be implanted into a patient, an electrode contact carried by the body, and a marker carried by the body. The electrode contact has an electrically conductive surface exposed at a location along the body to sense electrical activity and/or deliver electrical stimulation to the target neural structure. The marker can include a transponder configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted excitation energy and to wirelessly transmit a location signal in response to the excitation energy. The instrument is tracked as it is implanted into the patient by time multiplexing the wirelessly transmitted excitation energy and the location signal such that the absolute location of the marker can be determined in real time. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306729 | ELECTROTHERAPY DEVICE FOR TREATING TACHYCARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS OF A HEART - An electrotherapy system, particularly an implantable heart stimulator, is configured as an electronic implant for electrical anti-tachycardia therapy of the heart, and includes at least one programmable therapy sequence (i.e. a sequence of several therapies that are delivered, one after the other, to treat a VT/VF episode). The implant has a therapy success memory for storing therapy success statistics for each therapy, as well as a therapy control unit that is configured to automatically undertake adaptation of the order of the therapies within a therapy sequence as a function of currently stored therapy success statistics. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306730 | DEFIBRILLATOR WITH HOUSING ARRANGEMENT AND SUPPORT DEVICE - A defibrillator for permanent external application to a patient, with a protective shell arrangement receiving a base unit with defibrillator components, an electrode arrangement connected or connectable to the shell arrangement, and a support device. An ergonomic adaptation to the person wearing the defibrillator is achieved by the defibrillator components being spatially combined into subsidiary modules, and the shell arrangement has several subsidiary shells to which the subsidiary modules are distributed and which are movable relative to one another and connected to one another mechanically and electrically. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306731 | ANTITACHYCARDIAC HEART STIMULATOR - An implantable cardiac stimulator includes a cardioversion/defibrillation unit connected to at least one electrode pair for generation and delivery of cardioversion or defibrillation shocks; an atrial sensing unit detecting atrial contraction, and outputting an atrial sensing signal indicating a atrial event when an atrial contraction is detected; a ventricular sensing unit detecting ventricular contraction, and outputting a ventricular sensing signal when a ventricular contraction is detected; a tachycardia detection unit connected to the atrial and ventricular sensing units and detecting a tachycardia, and classifying it as a ventricular tachycardia (VT) or as a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT); and a treatment control unit designed to trigger at least one atrial cardioversion shock when a ventricular rhythm detected by the ventricular sensing unit is faster than a programmed frequency limit, and the tachycardia detection unit classifies an SVT as an atrial fibrillation (AFib). | 2009-12-10 |
20090306732 | CARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY OPTIMIZATION USING ELECTROMECHANICAL DELAY FROM REALTIME ELECTRODE MOTION TRACKING - An exemplary method includes providing a mechanical activation time (MA time) for a myocardial location, the location defined at least in part by an electrode and the mechanical activation time determined at least in part by movement of the electrode; providing an electrical activation time (EA time) for the myocardial location; and determining an electromechanical delay (EMD) for the myocardial location based on the difference between the mechanical activation time (MA time) and the electrical activation time (EA time). | 2009-12-10 |
20090306733 | HEART STIMULATING DEVICE - An implantable heart stimulating device for indicating congestive heart failure (CHF) has a processor, an activity sensor that generates an activity signal indicative of a patient's activity, and a blood temperature sensor that measures blood temperature inside the heart of the patient and generates a temperature signal indicative of the measured temperature. From the activity signal and the temperature signal, the processor identifies a characteristic dip in the temperature signal related to a predetermined increase in the activity signal. The processor determines a CHF indicator value indicating the degree of CHF based on the magnitude of the temperature sensor dip for at least two increased activity levels. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306734 | COMBINED NEURAL STIMULATION AND CARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY - Methods and devices for delivering cardiac therapy to a patient are provided. Various implantable device embodiments comprise a plurality of leads and a controller. The leads include at least one lead to be positioned within a lead path to deliver ventricular pacing pulses and to deliver neural stimulation at a site proximate to the heart to inhibit sympathetic nerve activity. The controller controls delivery of the ventricular pacing pulses in accordance with a programmed pacing mode and controls delivery of the neural stimulation. The controller is programmed to deliver remodeling control therapy (RCT) by delivering ventricular pacing to pre-excite a ventricular myocardium region to mechanically unload that region during systole, and further is programmed to deliver anti-remodeling therapy (ART) by delivering neural stimulation to inhibit sympathetic nerve activity in conjunction with RCT. Other embodiments are provided herein. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306735 | IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC STIMULATOR, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE STATUS OF A CARDIAC LEAD - A cardiac stimulator has an implantable cardiac lead that carries a temperature sensitive element with a surface thereof in contact with biological matter. The temperature sensitive element emits a temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of biological matter, such as blood, in contact with the surface of the temperature sensitive element. Processing circuitry receives the temperature signal and determines a variability thereof within a selected time interval. A status signal is emitted dependent on this variability. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306736 | ACCELEROMETER-BASED MONITORING OF THE FREQUENCY DYNAMICS OF THE ISOVOLUMIC CONTRACTION PHASE AND PATHOLOGIC CARDIAC VIBRATIONS - Methods and systems are disclosed that characterize cardiac function using an acceleration sensor to acquire and analyze the frequency dynamics associated with the isovolumic contraction phase (“ICP”). This information can be used to characterize heart function; optimize therapy for cardiomyopathy, including CRT therapy (including pacing intervals and required pharmacologic therapy); and to optimize CCM therapy. In addition, this information can be used to identify target pacing regions for CRT lead placement. Further, analyzing the frequency dynamics can be used to characterize pathologic heart vibrational motion, such as mitral regurgitation and the third or fourth heart sound, and the response of this motion to therapy for cardiomyopathy. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306737 | Atrial Capture Verification - Methods and systems for classifying cardiac responses to pacing stimulation and/or preventing retrograde cardiac conduction are described. Following delivery of a pacing pulse to an atrium of the patient's heart during a cardiac cycle, the system senses in the atrium for a retrograde P-wave. The system classifies the atrial response to the pacing pulse based on detection of the retrograde P-wave. The system may also sense for an atrial evoked response and utilize the atrial evoked response in classifying the cardiac pacing response. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306738 | ELONGATED IMPLANT HAVING AN EXTERNAL ENERGY COUPLING - Electrotherapeutic implant for stimulation of body tissue, comprising at least two electrode poles ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306739 | Methods and apparatus for neuromodulation and physiologic modulation for the treatment of obesity and metabolic and neuropsychiatric disease - The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for physiological modulation, including neural and gastrointestinal modulation, for the purposes of treating several disorders, including obesity, depression, epilepsy, and diabetes. This includes chronically implanted neural and neuromuscular modulators, used to modulate the afferent neurons of the sympathetic nervous system to induce satiety as well as to modulate the efferent neurons of the sympathetic nervous system to modulate metabolism, including metabolic rate. Furthermore, this includes neuromuscular stimulation of the stomach to effect baseline and intermittent smooth muscle contraction to increase gastric intraluminal pressure, which induces satiety, and stimulate sympathetic afferent fibers, including those in the sympathetic trunk, splanchnic nerves, and greater curvature of the stomach, to augment the perception of satiety. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306740 | CONTROLLING THERAPY BASED ON SLEEP QUALITY - A medical device, such as an implantable medical device (IMD), determines values for one or more metrics that indicate the quality of a patient's sleep, and controls delivery of a therapy based on the sleep quality metric values. For example, the medical device may compare a sleep quality metric value with one or more threshold values, and adjust the therapy based on the comparison. In some embodiments, the medical device adjusts the intensity of therapy based on the comparison, e.g., increases the therapy intensity when the comparison indicates that the patient's sleep quality is poor. In some embodiments, the medical device automatically selects one of a plurality of therapy parameter set available for use in delivering therapy based on a comparison sleep quality metric values associated with respective therapy parameter sets within the plurality of available therapy parameter sets. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306741 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALTERING BRAIN AND BODY FUNCTIONS AND FOR TREATING CONDITIONS AND DISEASES OF THE SAME - The present invention relates to systems and methods for management of brain and body functions and sensory perception. For example, the present invention provides systems and methods of sensory substitution and sensory enhancement (augmentation) as well as motor control enhancement. The present invention also provides systems and methods of treating diseases and conditions, as well as providing enhanced physical and mental health and performance through sensory substitution, sensory enhancement, and related effects. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306742 | RECOGNITION OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Controlling the interaction between an external device and an implanted device, including a method of controlling interaction between an external device and an implanted device, the method including at least the steps of: establishing communications between the implanted device and the external device; the external device determining an identification of the implant and comparing the identification with identifications in a stored list; if the device matches one of said identifications, then using a corresponding set of operating parameters to interact with said implant; and otherwise, not interacting with said device. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306743 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATED OBSERVATION FITTING - Fitting an auditory prosthesis to a recipient by automatically determining operational thresholds of the prosthesis based on changes in the activity of the recipient that occur in response to applied stimulation signals. Such changes in recipient activity are detected by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) permanently or temporarily secured to or implanted in the recipient as an integral part of the prosthesis or a separate device operationally coupled to the prosthesis. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306744 | IMPLANTABLE COCHLEAR ACCESS DEVICE - An elongate hollow device for providing direct access to the cochlea of a recipient. The device has a symmetrical shape about a longitudinal axis through the center of the device, and comprises a first end having an aperture with its geometric center positioned at the longitudinal axis, and a distal end having an aperture with its geometric center positioned at the longitudinal axis, wherein the access device is configured to be at least partially positioned in the mastoid bone of the recipient such that the first end is positioned adjacent the surface of the mastoid bone, and the distal end is inserted into the cochlea. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306745 | ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR DELIVERING LONGITUDINAL AND RADIAL STIMULATION - An elongate electrode assembly for a cochlear implant comprising a plurality of sections arranged longitudinally along a length of the elongate electrode assembly. The sections each comprise one or more electrodes. At least one of the plurality of sections comprise two or more radially-spaced electrodes. The electrodes of adjacent sections are electrically discontinuous and the elongate electrode assembly is capable of delivering electrical stimulation in any one or a combination of radial mode, longitudinal mode, and radial-longitudinal mode. The electrodes in adjacent sections may be longitudinally spaced apart to provide electrical discontinuity. Alternatively, the plurality of sections may be arranged in offset layers and the electrodes in adjacent sections may be transversely spaced apart. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306746 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING AN IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATOR - According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented system is provided for programming an implantable neurostimulator. A memory module stores relative positioning data representing determined relative positioning in at least two dimensions of an electrode in a first implanted neurostimulation lead relative to an electrode in a second implanted neurostimulation lead or to neural structures. A processing module coupled to the memory module accesses the relative positioning data stored in the memory module, determines one or more stimulation characteristics according to the accessed relative positioning data, and communicates the one or more stimulation characteristics determined according to the accessed relative positioning data to an implantable neurostimulator, electrically coupled to the implanted stimulation lead(s), to control operation of the implantable neurostimulator. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306747 | INTERACTIVE ELECTRICAL STIMULATOR DEVICE AND SERVER-BASED SUPPORT SYSTEM - A portable electro-therapy device includes a microprocessor configured to generate and control electrical stimulation output signals, an electrode jack, a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to the electrode jack and configured to transmit the electrical stimulation output signals to a patient, a modem communication port, and a modem configured to provide communication between the portable electro-therapy device and a server-based support system. A server-based support system includes an application server configured to provide an interface to the server-based support system to authorized users, a resources server configured to securely store patient data, and a modem bank configured to provide communication between the portable electro-therapy device and the server-based support system. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306748 | BODY THERMAL REGULATION/MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a body thermal regulation system. The system includes a fluid-circulating garment having a plurality of fluid-impervious compartments where each compartment is in contact with a different part of a body. The system also includes an expandable bladder to accommodate changes in pressure in the fluid circulation system. At least one heating/cooling unit is positioned to heat and/or cool fluid circulating to the fluid-impervious compartments in the garment. The system also includes a fluid circulation system positioned to circulate fluid between the heating/cooling unit and the plurality of fluid-impervious compartments in the garment. The present invention also relates to a method for measuring heat fluxes in different parts of a body. The method involves providing to a subject the body thermal regulation system according to the present invention. Then, the temperatures and flow rates of fluid entering and exiting each of the plurality of fluid-impervious compartments in the garment are measured, allowing heat fluxes in different parts of the body to be determined. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306749 | Therapeutic hot and cold water belt - The therapeutic hot and cold water belt ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306750 | Lead Fixation Assembly and Methods of Using Same - A lead fixation assembly and method of using the same are disclosed. The lead fixation assembly includes a cover and a cap. The cover includes an aperture extending through a cover body and is adapted to fit within an opening formed or occurring in a patient's body. One or more leads may be oriented through the aperture before or after fitting the cover in such an opening. The cover body includes a top surface having a plurality of elements. Each lead oriented through the aperture is arranged on or in and among the elements and may be secured thereby. The cap is adapted to be removably secured to the cover, minimize exposure to the patient via the opening, and, optionally, secure the leads. The leads are passed through an opening in the cap to enable the leads to extend away from the body. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306751 | IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATOR ADAPTERS - An adapter for coupling a plug of an implantable neurostimulator lead extension to a connector port of a neurostimulator device includes an elongate body, a connector including a plurality of contacts coupled to a first end of the elongate body, and a housing including at least two ports coupled to a second end of the elongate body. The adapter connector contacts provide for electrical coupling within the device port, and the adapter housing ports are arranged to receive side-by-side connector terminals of the lead extension plug. Housing contacts within each port provide for electrical coupling with corresponding contacts of the connector terminals of the lead extension plug and are coupled to corresponding contacts of the adapter connector via conductors extending within the elongate body between the housing and the connector. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306752 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE ELECTRICAL LEAD CONDUCTOR INSULATION AND PROCESS FOR FORMING - An implantable medical device that includes a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a plurality of conductors extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the lead body, and an insulative layer formed of a hydrolytically stable polyimide material surrounding the plurality of conductors. In one embodiment, the hydrolytically stable polyimide material is an Si polyimide material. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306753 | LEAD ASSEMBLY AND RELATED METHODS - Defibrillator lead designs and methods for manufacturing a lead having a fibrosis-limiting material covering, a shocking coil electrode, and an implantable lead body are disclosed herein. The shocking coil electrode includes at least one laser welded portion. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306754 | TELESCOPIC ELECTRODE ARRAY - A telescoping electrode assembly and method of implantation of a telescoping electrode assembly are provided herein. The electrode assembly may comprise a plurality of telescoping sections that may, for example, be in a retracted configuration during insertion into the patient and then after insertion expanded to their final expanded configuration. These sections may have electrodes disposed therein for use in applying electrical stimulation to the patient in which the electrode is implanted. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306755 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING FLUID FLOW THROUGH BODY PASSAGES | 2009-12-10 |
20090306756 | Hybrid Biodegradable/Non-Biodegradable Stent, Delivery System and Method of Treating a Vascular Condition - An intraluminal stent, an intraluminal stent delivery system, and a method of treating a vascular condition. The stent includes a framework composed of a biodegradable material. At least one strut is composed of a non-biodegradable material. The framework is operably attached to the at least one strut. The delivery system includes a catheter and a stent disposed on a portion of the catheter. The stent includes a framework composed of a biodegradable material. The stent further includes at least one strut composed of a non-biodegradable material. The framework is operably attached to the at least one strut. The method includes positioning an intraluminal stent via a catheter within a vessel. The stent includes at least one strut that is composed of a non-biodegradable material and is operably attached to a framework. The framework expands during deployment of the intraluminal stent. The framework is allowed to biodegrade within the vessel. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306757 | Side Branch Wiring Assist Sheath and Methods - A vessel bifurcation wire assist device and related methods of advancing guidewires into main and branch vessels of a vessel bifurcation. The wire assist device includes a first guidewire housing member defining a first guidewire lumen sized to advance over a first guidewire, and a second guidewire housing member defining a second guidewire lumen sized to advance over a second guidewire. The second guidewire housing member has a first directional arrangement and a second directional arrangement. The first directional arrangement provides a parallel arrangement of the second guidewire relative to the first guidewire housing member, and the second directional arrangement provides an angled arrangement of the second guidewire relative to the first guidewire housing member. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306758 | Bifurcation Catheter Assembly With Dynamic Side Branch Lumen - A catheter assembly and related methods having a main balloon, a branch balloon arrangement and a stent. The catheter assembly includes a main catheter branch, a side catheter branch arrangement, and a stent. The main catheter branch includes at least a main balloon and a side balloon. The side catheter branch arrangement includes a branch guidewire housing and a sleeve member. At least a portion of the side catheter branch arrangement extends through a proximal open end of the stent and out through a side branch aperture of the stent. The branch guidewire housing defines a side branch lumen configured to advance over a branch vessel guidewire. The sleeve member is sized to receive the branch guidewire housing, wherein the branch guidewire housing is axially movable within the sleeve member. The sleeve member is typically fixed axially relative to the main catheter branch. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306759 | COVERING FOR AN ENDOPROSTHETIC DEVICE AND METHODS OF USING FOR ANEURYSM TREATMENT - The present invention relates to covered endoprosthetic devices. Covered endoprosthetic devices comprise an endoprosthesis and a sheath. The sheath comprises a central portion and outer portions, wherein the central portion preferentially restricts or causes a restriction of blood flow. Blood flow can be reduced by the central portion of the sheath by varying the permeability of the sheath or by having projections on the sheath that slow blood flow. Permeability may be provided by perforations or holes in the material of the sheath or by varying the polymer structure that makes up the sheath itself. The outer portions of the sheath do not substantially reduce blood flow. Methods of using sheath-covered endoprosthetic devices of the invention to treat aneurysms, especially aneurysms in proximity to small perforator vessels or arteries, are also encompassed. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306760 | PROSTHESIS AND DELIVERY SYSTEM - A prosthesis delivery system including a prosthesis mounted on an elongate member. The prosthesis has longitudinally offset first and second locking members positioned on the prosthesis. The first and second locking members are configured to engage opposing proximal and distal sides of a radially extending member on the elongate member to lock or limit the longitudinal position of the prosthesis on the elongate member during delivery of the prosthesis to a treatment site. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306761 | PROSTHESIS AND DELIVERY SYSTEM - A prosthesis delivery system including a prosthesis mounted on an elongate member. The prosthesis has a locking member positioned on the prosthesis. The locking member includes a reduced diameter portion with two opposing surfaces that are configured to engage opposing proximal and distal sides of a radially extending member on the elongate member to lock or limit the longitudinal position of the prosthesis on the elongate member during delivery of the prosthesis to a treatment site. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306762 | Braided stent and method for its manufacture - A stent includes regions of differing numbers of braided filaments to provide different dimensions and/or properties in different regions along the stent length. The stent may include a first and second plurality of braided filaments each braided together. The second plurality of braided filaments is braided into the first plurality of braided filaments to form a region of different properties than the first. A method of constructing a braided stent includes the steps of braiding a first plurality of filaments to form the flexible portion, combining a second plurality of filaments to the first plurality of filaments, and then braiding the second plurality of filaments with the first plurality of filaments to form the more rigid region from the combination of the first and second plurality of filaments, where the second plurality of filaments is braided only in the rigid region. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306763 | LOW PROFILE NON-SYMMETRICAL BARE ALIGNMENT STENTS WITH GRAFT - A stent graft for use in a medical procedure to treat a dissection of a patient's ascending thoracic aorta. The stent graft includes bare alignment stents at least at a proximal end, and often with a stent at both ends, each stent having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one broader set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other narrower set of apices. The proximal stent is flared in a manner such that its broad apices occupy a larger circumference around the stent than do its narrower apices, where this flared feature provides for anchoring engagement near the aortic root in a manner not interfering with the coronary arteries or the aortic valve. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306764 | Compliant Blood Vessel Graft - A graft includes a flexible, resilient, generally tubular external support and a blood vessel segment, carried within and having an ablumenal surface in contact with and supported by the tubular support, the graft being capable of resilient radial expansion in a manner mimicking the radial compliance properties of an artery. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306765 | Bioerodible Endoprosthesis - An endoprosthesis can include a body including an underlying portion and a surface portion overlying the underlying portion. The underlying portion can include a bioerodible metal in the form of a matrix and corrosion enhancing deposits within the matrix. The surface portion including the bioerodible metal of the matrix. The surface portion having a first erosion rate when exposed to a physiological environment and the underlying portion having a second erosion rate when exposed to a physiological environment that is greater than the first erosion rate. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306766 | STENT WITH A BIO-RESORBABLE CONNECTOR AND METHODS - A helical stent having bioresorbable connecting members connecting sections of the stent. The connecting members provide various spring rates or spring constants to the stent, and permit a change in the flexibility of the stent subsequent to implantation while maintaining the unitary design of the stent. A method of making the helical stent includes forming a tube with a section made of a bioresorbable material prior to forming the stent. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306767 | SHAPE MEMORY DEVICES - The present invention concerns shape memory devices, methods of producing same and the use of these materials. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306768 | PERCUTANEOUS VALVE PROSTHESIS AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTING SAME - A heart valve prosthesis includes a cylindrical valve cage stent constructed to be implanted percutaneously in the planar axis of a native valve annulus, an elastic and compressible, multi-leaflet valve insertable percutaneously into the body, and an attachment mechanism for attaching the valve to the superior rim of the valve cage stent. The valve can be of a bi-leaflet or a tri-leaflet type and includes a valve frame made from a memory metal and a tissue cover attached to the valve frame. The valve cage stent is self-expanding or balloon expandable, made respectively from memory metal or stainless steel but otherwise structurally the same. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306769 | MEDICAL BALLOON MADE WITH HYBRID POLYMER-CERAMIC MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - A medical device such as a catheter, stent or balloon, or a component thereof is formed by depositing an inorganic-organic hybrid composite material on an eliminatable shape form and removing the shape form, leaving the medical device or component thereof formed of the inorganic-organic hybrid composite material. Multiple layers of the inorganic-organic hybrid composite material can be used in the formation. A particular structure is an expandable balloon member for a catheter assembly. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306770 | Tissue engineering of blood vessels - Method and apparatus for mapping the shape and dimensions of a 3-dimensional body, by applying to the 3-dimensional body a stretchable covering configured and dimensioned such that in its stretched condition it tightly engages and conforms to the shape and dimensions of the 3-dimensional body to be mapped. The stretchable covering carries a plurality of reference devices, such as bands and/or markers which are at known or determinable reference locations in an initial condition of the covering, and which change their locations in the stretched condition of the stretchable covering according to the shape and dimensions of the 3-dimensional body covered thereby. The locations of the markers on the stretchable covering are determined after the stretchable covering has been applied to the 3-dimensional body, and are utilized to produce a map of the shape and dimensions of the 3-dimensional body. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306771 | Artificial heart pump - In order to optimize the clearances between both end surfaces of a sleeve | 2009-12-10 |
20090306772 | Ocular Scaffolds and Methods for Subretinal Repair of Bruch's Membrane - The present invention provides ocular scaffolds composed of poly (e-caprolactone) configured to be inserted into the sub-retinal space of a subject, as well as methods for treating eye disease (e.g., age-related macular degeneration) with such scaffolds. The present invention also provides methods of making such scaffolds. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306773 | OPAQUE CORNEAL INSERT FOR REFRACTIVE CORRECTION - Implants configured for corneal implantation are disclosed that have a light transmitting portion and a light-blocking portion disposed about the periphery of the implant. The implant can be an elongate member, such as a split or continuous ring, that can be implanted in the cornea to alter the refractive properties of the cornea by altering the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea, thereby providing corrective refraction. The light-blocking portion can reduce edge effects, which may be visible or distracting to the patient. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306774 | Intraocular Lens Supporter - Disclosed is an intraocular lens supporter having a control ability. One embodiment of the present invention provides an intraocular lens supporter that is inserted into a capsular sac, including a first face coming in contact with an inner surface of the capsular sac in at least one point as a structural body that is extended along an equatorial region of the capsular sac; and a second face arranged opposite to the first face, wherein, in a section where the structural body is cut along a virtual plane in a visual axis direction (Y direction) of an eye lens, the first face is provided at a length as much as ¾ to 3 times of a length (d | 2009-12-10 |
20090306775 | ARTIFICIAL LIGAMENTS AND TENDONS COMPRISING MULTIFILAMENTS AND NANOFIBERS AND METHODS FOR MAKING - Prosthetic ligaments and tendons comprising ligament- or tendon-mimicking nanofibers and methods of making such nanofibers and prosthetic ligaments and tendons. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306776 | METHODS AND PROCEDURES FOR LIGAMENT REPAIR - Methods and devices for the repair of a ruptured ligament using a scaffold device are provided. Aspects of the invention, may include a scaffold attached by a suture to an anchor. In aspects of the invention, the anchor may be secured to a bone near or at the repair site. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306777 | APPARATUS FOR FIXING A LIGAMENT - The invention relates to an apparatus for fixing a ligament, which comprises a bone-anchoring element having a proximal end and a distal end which has a bore running in the longitudinal direction, and which comprises a clamping sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, which clamping sleeve can be accommodated in the bore. The clamping sleeve is radially expandable, with the result that the ligament can be fixed between the clamping sleeve and the bore of the bone-anchoring element. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306778 | BUFFER FOR A HUMAN JOINT AND METHOD OF ARTHROSCOPICALLY INSERTING | 2009-12-10 |
20090306779 | Modular anterior locking interbody cage - Apparatus and method if using a modular spinal implant system for use between adjacent vertebrae near vascular anatomy. The system includes an implant configured the fit between adjacent vertebrae, the implant having annular side walls with upper and lower surfaces configured to enclose a hollow interior, and an attachment plate rotatably coupled to the implant and configured to rotate to variable orientations relative to the implant to avoid the vascular anatomy, the attachment plate having a superior portion that is narrower than an inferior portion, the attachment plate having at least one vertebra attachment hole configured for attaching to at least one adjacent vertebrae using one or more bone screws. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306780 | INTERVERTEBRAL IMPLANT INTENDED FOR OSSEOUS FUSION - This implant ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306781 | High Wear-Resistant Bearing Material and Artificial Joint Replacement Using the Same - The present invention provides a bearing material that is excellent in durability and is capable of maintaining wear resistance over a long period of time. The bearing material of the present invention is a high wear-resistance bearing material | 2009-12-10 |
20090306782 | Reverse endoprosthesis for a shoulder joint - A reverse shoulder joint prosthesis has at least one stemless joint cup or shell ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306783 | Total Knee Prosthesis and Method for Total Knee Arthroplasty - A prosthetic knee implant for implantation into a mammal, which accommodates an anterior cruciate ligament substitute to provide stability to the knee implant. The prosthetic knee implant includes a femoral component having a pair of condylar surfaces and a tibial component having a surface portion adapted to slidably engage the femoral component upon rotation of the same. The femoral component further includes a recess between the condyles defining an aperture through the femoral component. The tibial component further includes a center portion defining an aperture through the tibial component substantially at its center. The femoral aperture and the tibial aperture are adapted to receive an anterior cruciate ligament substitute for biasing the mammalian femur and tibia together. Also disclosed is a method used to replace the total knee joint in a mammal with the improved prosthetic knee implant of the present invention. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306784 | Total Knee Prosthesis and Method for Total Knee Arthroplasty - A prosthetic knee implant for implantation into a mammal, which accommodates an anterior cruciate ligament substitute to provide stability to the knee implant. The prosthetic knee implant includes a femoral component having a pair of condylar surfaces and a tibial component having a surface portion adapted to slidably engage the femoral component upon rotation of the same. The femoral component further includes a central femoral recess between the condyles providing access to the femur for drilling a channel through which a cruciate ligament substitute may be integrated into the femur. The tibial component further includes a center portion defining an aperture through which the ligament substitute maybe threaded through the tibia and integrated therein, or anchored upon its surface. Also disclosed is a method used to replace the total knee joint in a mammal with the improved prosthetic knee implant of the present invention. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306785 | Knee joint prosthesis - A knee joint prosthesis which comprises a tibial component ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306786 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING DEEPER KNEE FLEXION CAPABILITIES FOR KNEE PROSTHESIS PATIENTS - Systems and methods for providing deeper knee flexion capabilities, more physiologic load bearing and improved patellar tracking for knee prosthesis patients. Such systems and methods include (i) adding more articular surface to the antero-proximal posterior condyles of a femoral component, including methods to achieve that result, (ii) modifications to the internal geometry of the femoral component and the associated femoral bone cuts with methods of implantation, (iii) asymmetrical tibial components that have an unique articular surface that allows for deeper knee flexion than has previously been available, (iv) asymmetrical femoral condyles that result in more physiologic loading of the joint and improved patellar tracking and (v) modifying an articulation surface of the tibial component to include an articulation feature whereby the articulation pathway of the femoral component is directed or guided by articulation feature. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306787 | TRIAL COUPLER SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Embodiments of the present invention provide a trial coupler system for use in preparing a patient for an implant. Certain embodiments provide a system including a coupling device ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306788 | IMPLANT FOR RESURFACING A FEMORAL HEAD - A resurfacing implant composed of a femoral cap ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306789 | BIOMEDICAL FILLER - A bone replacement filler comprising a biomedical ceramic particulate, wherein the filler is able to flow without the application of an external shear stress or compressive force or under a relatively low shear stress or compressive force, but resists flow or does not flow when subjected to a higher shear stress or compressive force, and wherein at least some of the particles in the ceramic particulate have a micro-porous surface structure and/or a micro-porous sub-surface structure. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306790 | Elastase Treatment of Tissue Matrices - A method of producing a modified acellular tissue matrix (mATM) from an acellular tissue matrix (ATM), where the mATM has a reduced stretchiness relative to the ATM, without substantially compromising its associated structural or functional integrity. The method includes providing an acellular tissue matrix (ATM) and exposing the ATM to elastase for a period of time. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306791 | ELEVATED VACUUM LOCKING SYSTEM - An elevated vacuum locking system for prosthetic limb. An exemplary embodiment may include a plunger pin mounted to a flexible liner and including a through passage between a location proximate the exterior of the liner and a distal end of the plunger pin; a locking mechanism mounted within the distal end of a socket; a manifold mounted to the exterior of the distal end of the socket and including a cavity adapted to receive the distal end of the plunger pin when the patient's residual limb and the liner are installed into the socket, the manifold including a through passage connecting an interior of the cavity to an exterior fitting; and a vacuum pump operative to withdraw air from the interior of the socket via the through passage of the plunger pin, the cavity, and the through passage of the manifold. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306792 | FOOT PROSTHESIS WITH RESILIENT MULTI-AXIAL ANKLE - The present foot prosthesis includes various structural features that provide the foot with advantageous rollover properties. In certain embodiments, the foot guides rollover toward the medial side. For example, an asymmetrical upper element and a correspondingly shaped resilient ankle member support more of the wearer's weight on the lateral side as the foot rolls over. In another embodiment, stiffeners added to the resilient ankle member increase the stiffness on the lateral side relative to the medial side. In certain other embodiments, the foot provides progressively increasing support from mid stance through toe off. For example, a gap between the resilient ankle member and the lower element closes during the later portion of the wearer's gait. The closing gap increases a contact area between the resilient ankle member and the lower element, providing progressively increasing support. In another embodiment, the foot includes a gap between a lower front edge of an attachment adapter and the upper element. The gap may be filled with a resilient material. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306793 | Communication apparatus and communication apparatus control method - A communication system is installed in information home appliances controlled by an operation system connected to an IP network. The communication system includes a first communication apparatus connected to the IP network; and a second communication apparatus connected to the first communication apparatus. The first communication apparatus includes a determining unit for determining, based on an attribute included in a search signal transmitted from the second communication apparatus in order to search for the first communication apparatus, whether the first communication apparatus can control the second communication apparatus; a search-signal response signal generating unit for generating and transmitting, to the second communication apparatus, a response signal in response to the search signal in the case the determination of the determining unit is affirmative; and a registering unit for registering the second communication apparatus as a control target based on a connection request made by the second communication apparatus. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306794 | Methods and Apparatus for Implementing Manual and Hybrid Control Modes in Automated Graphical Indicators and Controls - The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for enabling manual control over selection of a value for at least one operating parameter of a computer system resource. Manual control is enabled by de-coupling a pointer of a graphical indicator and control from an automated system advisor. During automated operation, the automated system advisor selects the value for the parameter of the computer system resource as indicated on a scale of the graphical indicator and control by the pointer. When the pointer of the graphical indicator is under manual control, a user can select the value of the at least one operating parameter of the computer system resource using the pointer of the graphical indicator and control. The present invention also concerns methods and apparatus for disabling manual control over selection of a value for at least one operating parameter of a computer system resource by re-coupling the pointer to an automated system advisor. The present invention further concerns hybrid control modes that permit users to exercise a degree of control over operations of an automated selection process in a graphical indicator and control. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306795 | Control Mechanism Having An Image Display Area - A control mechanism includes a housing that is moveable from a first position to a second position. The housing includes a display area. The movement of the housing from the first position to the second position is detected. A first image is displayed on a display screen responsive to detection of the movement of the housing from the first position to the second position. At least a portion of the first image is optically transmitted from the display screen to the display area via an optical coupling system for display in the display area of the housing. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306796 | Apparatus for Operating a Process Installation - A set-up for operating a process installation. The set-up includes a control station and at least one field device which determines or monitors at least one process variable. Each field device has a program memory in which a boot-loader software is persistently implemented. The boot-loader software enables communication of the field device with the control station. A transmission link is provided, via which the control station and the field device, or field devices communicate with one another during operation. Each field device transmits to the control station upon booting of the field device via the transmission link device-specific information. The control station transmits to the field device after receipt of the device-specific information, application- and/or device-specific, measurement/control/evaluation software, which is matched to a particular application of the field device and which the field device stores in a data memory associated with it. The field device based on application- and/or device-specific, measurement/control/evaluation software available to it during operation, makes available information concerning the process variable. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306797 | MUSIC ANALYSIS - There is disclosed an analyser ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306798 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING/CONTROLLING A SOUND MASKING SYSTEM FROM AN ELECTRONIC FLOORPLAN - A system and mechanism for monitoring and/or controlling a sound masking system from a computer aided design drawing. According to an embodiment, the system is configured to allow an operator to “click” sound masking components on the design drawing and view operating/configuration settings, and/or edit, change or modify the operating/configuration settings, which are then applied via an interface to the associated physical sound masking component in the sound masking system. According to another embodiment, the system is configured to allow an operator to design or configure sound masking components on a design drawing. The sound masking components correspond to physical sound masking components in a sound masking system and comprise one or more active sound masking elements, which are configured to be responsive to an input and allow an operator to monitor, change and/or modify operating/configuration settings for physical sound masking component via the sound masking element in the design drawing. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306799 | Mechatronic system and method for positioning bolts in order to provide a frame with a reconfigurable surface using memory effect actuators - The invention relates to a reconfigurable computer-controlled system based on the positioning of bolts. A greater density of bolts per unit area increases the variety of figures or shapes that can be defined by a frame or tool used in the industry, such that it is no longer necessary to construct rigid surfaces with each change made to the shape of the product to be produced or surface to be formed. The use of the memory effect material as an actuator in the reconfigurability mechanism is the key to the success of the reconfigurable system and the control system owing to the permissibility of small bolts which can be adapted to standard sizes and shapes. The invention also relates to the application of the mechatronic system which uses the positioning of bolts for the reconfigurability of surfaces in order to manufacture and shape materials. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306800 | ELECTRONIC STREAM PROCESSING CIRCUIT WITH LOCALLY CONTROLLED PARAMETER UPDATES, AND METHOD OF DESIGNING SUCH A CIRCUIT - A receiver circuit has a chain of stream processing circuits ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306801 | PATIENT SPECIFIC ANKLE-FOOT ORTHOTIC DEVICE - The unique advantages of computer-controlled fabrication of a patient-specific orthotic device using an automated fabrication machine capable of following computer instructions to create 3D surface contours and new developments in non-invasive three-dimensional (3D) scanning have made it possible to acquire digital models of freeform surfaces such as the surface anatomy of the human body and to then fabricate such a patient-specific device with high precision. Such a patient-specific device brings significant improvement in patient-specific fit, comfort, and function of medical devices (and, in particular, to orthoses that require a close fit to the wearer's body to act effectively). The combination of these two technologies is ideally suited for the development of patient-specific orthotic devices. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306802 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING THE VIBRATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A STRUCTURE - A structural optimization engine generates a response profile based on a vibrational analysis of a three-dimensional (3D) structure. The structural optimization engine determines whether the 3D structure complies with one or more design goals set for the 3D structure based on the response profile. When the 3D structure does not comply with the design goals, the structural optimization engine retrieves dependency data from a structure database. The dependency data indicates various dependencies between response characteristics included in the response profile and specific regions of the 3D model. Based on the dependency data, the structural optimization engine determines structural modifications that can be made to the 3D structure to bring the 3D structure into compliance with the design goals. A multi-axis computer-aided manufacturing unit then makes the structural modifications to the 3D structure. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306803 | METHOD FOR USING REAL-TIME APC INFORMATION FOR AN ENHANCED LOT SAMPLING ENGINE - A method includes passing a lot through a production process and evaluating a statistical quality of the production process. Additionally, the method includes calculating an advanced process control (APC) recipe parameter adjustment (RPA) distribution value and determining if sampling is indicated. Furthermore, the method includes, if sampling is indicated, performing a measurement process of the lot. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306804 | METHOD FOR PROGNOSTIC MAINTENANCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENTS - A method for prognostic maintenance in semiconductor manufacturing equipments is disclosed. The said method comprising: collecting a plurality of raw data from the default detection and classification system for equipments, preprocessing the raw data, using the neural network model (NN model) to find a plurality of health indices, generating health information by using the principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the health indices, and using the partial least square discriminated analysis (PLS-DA) to find a health report. The health report provides the engineers with current risk levels of equipments. By the health report, the engineers can initiate prognostic maintenance and repair the equipments early. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306805 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE PRODUCTION CONTROL METHOD - A semiconductor device production control method includes monitoring, after a production process of a semiconductor device, a process result at a predetermined position of a pattern to which the process is applied, to obtain a deviation with respect to a predetermined target result, quantitatively obtaining a degree of influence on an operation of a semiconductor device from the deviation of the process result, and comparing the degree of influence that is quantitatively obtained with a predetermined allowable margin for operation specifications of the semiconductor device. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306806 | SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING GLASSES-USE AUXILIARY OPTICAL MEMBER, MEMBER, METHOD FOR PRODUCING GLASSES-USE AUXILIARY OPTICAL MEMBER, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A system for producing various optical members to be used by being attached to eyeglasses for assisting a function the eyeglasses, includes: a terminal device that transmits an ordering data for ordering an optical member based on eyeglasses information relating to the eyeglasses; a processing data calculating device that calculates a processing data for three-dimensionally processing the optical member based on the ordering data transmitted by the terminal device; and a work instructing device that performs a work instruction relating to three-dimensional processing of the optical member based on the processing data calculated by the processing data calculating device. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306807 | MULTIDIMENSIONAL PROCESS WINDOW OPTIMIZATION IN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING - A method for optimizing multiple process windows in a semiconductor manufacturing process is disclosed. The message comprises performing dependent variable composition on a plurality of dependent variables. Metrology data is joined with the dependent variables, and then a partial least squares regression is performed on the joined data set to obtain a prediction equation, and a variable importance prediction for each process window in a process window set. A set of product limited yield are derived, and the process window set is adjusted, and the yields recalculated, until an optimal process window set is derived. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306808 | AUTOMATICALLY REPLACEABLE APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING BYPRODUCTS AND THE CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF IN EQUIPMENT PRODUCING SEMICONDUCTOR - Disclosed herein are an automatically replaceable apparatus for collecting byproducts in semiconductor producing equipment and a control method thereof. The apparatus includes several trap units mounted to a vertical shaft at regular angular intervals and rotating in response to a driving direction of a servo motor. Upper and lower plates support the vertical shaft, and connect byproduct inlet and outlet ports, cleaning-water supply and discharge ports, and dry-gas supply and exhaust ports to the respective trap units. Trap and plate coupling means are extended at normal times to air-tightly seal gaps between the upper and lower plates and the trap units, and contracted when the trap units are rotated in a predetermined direction for the replacement. The servo motor is mounted to a lower surface of the lower plate and rotates the trap units within a predetermined angular range. A control unit controls the operation of the components. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306809 | SYSTEM FOR CALCULATING SPINE JACKET WIDTH - A control apparatus obtains information identifying sheets stored in an MFP to be caused to perform printing for printing a printed object to be subjected to jacketed book binding, wherein this information is stored in the MFP. The control apparatus stores thicknesses of respective paper sheets as information about paper sheets. From this information and from the information obtained from the MFP, the control apparatus creates a table indicative of the correspondence between the respective paper sheets stored in the MFP and their thicknesses. Further, on receiving a selection of paper sheets to be used for printing for the printed object and a number of these paper sheets, the control apparatus determines a thickness of each paper sheet by making a reference to the table and calculates the spine jacket width by multiplying the thickness by the number of paper sheets. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306810 | Rolling Method for a Rolled Product for Introducing a Step into the Rolled Product - The invention relates to rolled material comprising a front and an end. The rolled material is rolled in a roll gap of a roll stand to a first desired measurement, beginning at the front of the rolled material. When the rolled material is being rolled in the roll stand, it is continuously determined by a control computer, which locates the position of the rolled material which is currently in the roll gap. When the position of the rolled material, which is directly in the roll gap, corresponds to a predetermined first modification position of the rolled material, which is arranged between the front of the rolled material and the end of the rolled material, the roller of the rolled material ends at a first desired measurement such that a first step is introduced into the rolled material on the first modification point. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306811 | BALL GRID ARRAY CLEANING SYSTEM - In certain embodiments, a system for cleaning ball grid arrays is provided. The system may include a platform upon which an integrated circuit is mounted. The integrated circuit may have a plurality of terminals arranged in a ball grid array pattern on a surface of the integrated circuit. The system also includes a machining bit and a computer system. The computer system may store the ball grid array pattern and a topographic map of the surface of the integrated circuit and control the machining bit such that the machining bit removes excess material from the plurality of terminals based at least in part upon the ball grid array pattern and the topographical map. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306812 | Method and Device for Automatically Stacking Tires on a Support - The present invention relates to a method and a device for automatically stacking tires ( | 2009-12-10 |
20090306813 | Shipping Equipment - Disclosed is an apparatus for transferring products packaged and stacked in a factory or manufacturing spots, the apparatus including a packaged product for stacking frame stacking packaged products in a multiple stage, a packaged product extracting device for extracting the packaged products stacked in the packaged product stacking frame, a conveyor device for transferring the packaged product extracted by the packaged product extracting device to a certain position and a control device for actuating the packaged product extracting device, wherein the packaged products transfer apparatus first pushes a lowest-stage placed product among packaged products stacked in a certain height to a conveyor device, thereby firstly transferring and shipping a packaged product stacked in the lower stage of the product stacking rack that are manufactured formerly. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306814 | PRODUCE HANDLING EQUIPMENT WITH AIR EJECTION - Produce sorting equipment comprising: a conveyor driving a plurality of carriers spaced along the conveyor to support a single produce between adjacent carriers; at least one exit conveyor positioned above the carriers; an air distribution sprocket positioned below at least two adjacent carriers, the sprocket being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor; the sprocket having a plurality of radial arms that terminate below the carriers; each arm including an air conduit; and means to control air flow along each air conduit; whereby as the sprocket rotates each arm passes underneath the carriers and an air blast via the conduit propels the produce supported by adjacent carriers up and off the carriers to fall onto the exit conveyor. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306815 | Enhanced Speed Sorting of Microprocessors at Wafer Test - A method and apparatus are provided for implementing optimized speed sorting of microprocessors at wafer test. A combination of speed-predicting metrics are measured early in the manufacturing process and are applied to a unique algorithm to properly sort parts into appropriate speed bins. The method significantly improves the accuracy of predicting the chip speed over conventional speed-predicting methods. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306816 | Sequential Selective Sorting Method and Installation for Implementing it - The present invention relates in general to a method for selectively sorting miscellaneous items, particularly waste, which allows various types of items to be sorted sequentially, and to a selective sorting installation suited to such a method. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306817 | Virtual Vending Machine - A vending machine system for dispensing goods or services. The vending machine system may include a vending machine with a vending mechanism, a number of virtual equipment modules remote from the vending machine, and a vending bridge. The vending bridge is in communication with the virtual equipment modules and the vending mechanism of the vending machine so as to instruct the vending mechanism to dispense the goods or the services. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306818 | Method for Retrofitting a Vending Machine - A method of retrofitting a vending machine for dispensing products or services. The method includes the steps of removing a vending machine controller from the vending machine, placing the vending machine in communication with a vending bridge, placing the vending bridge in communication with a remote data processing device having one or more virtual equipment modules, and communicating instructions from the virtual equipment modules to the vending machine via the vending bridge to dispense the products or services. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306819 | Virtual Vending Machine in Communication with a Remote Data Processing Device - A vending machine system for dispensing goods or services. The vending machine system may include a vending machine with a vending mechanism, a data processing device remote from the vending machine, and a vending bridge. The vending bridge is in communication with the data processing device and the vending mechanism of the vending machine so as to instruct the vending mechanism to dispense the goods or the services. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306820 | Virtual Vendor Shelf Inventory Mangement - A cooler system for providing goods. The cooler system may include a cooler with a refrigeration system and a shelf monitor, a data processing device remote from the cooler, and a vending bridge. The data processing device is in communication with the refrigeration system and the shelf monitor of the cooler. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306821 | Robot and method of controlling walking thereof - Disclosed are a robot, which generates a stable walking pattern similar to that of a human, and a method of controlling walking thereof. The method includes generating a walking pattern of a leg connected to a torso of the robot; detecting whether or not a singularity pose of the leg walking according to the walking pattern is generated; and changing the walking pattern by adjusting a yaw direction angle of the torso when the singularity pose is generated. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306822 | MULTI-FUNCTION ROBOTIC DEVICE - A multi-function robotic device may have utility in various applications. In accordance with one aspect, a multi-function robotic device may be selectively configurable to perform a desired function in accordance with the capabilities of a selectively removable functional cartridge operably coupled with a robot body. Localization and mapping techniques may employ partial maps associated with portions of an operating environment, data compression, or both. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306823 | Method and System for Robot Generation - A method is provided for the automatic generation of a robotic devices, where the method comprises the steps of receiving user input to determine a task specification for one or more tasks for the robotic device, determining a task list comprising one or more tasks based on the provided task specification, determining based on the task list provided, one or more mechanical components, one or more processing components, and logic components required to execute one or more tasks; and generating the logic components required to execute one or more tasks, and embedding the logic components onto a recordable medium associated with the robotic device. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306824 | ROBOT CONTROL APPARATUS - A robot control method controls walking of a robot. The method generates control information based on postures at a plurality of differing points. The differing points include a reference posture in which the robot is standing independently without falling over. The method controls the robot to carry out a walking operation and detect an obstacle in a place in which a robot leg lands. The method also instructs the robot to carry out rolling onto a supporting leg and returning a swing leg to a position before swinging, to invert a compliance control gain and to bend the supporting leg by an amount while extending the swing leg by the amount. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306825 | MANIPULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method, computer program product, and system for robotic manipulation is provided. The method may include receiving, at a computing device, an input indicating an existence of an object having at least one characteristic and identifying the at least one characteristic via the computing device. The method may further include determining a robotic manipulating algorithm for the object based upon, at least in part, the at least one characteristic, the robotic manipulating algorithm defining instructions for enabling a robot to manipulate the object. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure. | 2009-12-10 |
20090306826 | Vibrating Plate System - A vibrating plate system comprises at least two vibrating plates are mechanically coupled to one another via a coupling device and a controlling transmitter for outputting control data to the vibrating plates. Each of the vibrating plates comprises a receiving device for receiving the control data, a drive mechanism for propelling the vibration plate forwardly and rearwardly, and a position determining device for determining the position of the relevant vibrating plate within the group. A rule memory is also provided in which control rules are stored. One control rule defines a correlation between a control measure for controlling the traveling mechanism according to the position of the vibrating plate and an item of control information given by the control data. In each vibrating plate, a single control device selects a suitable control rule according to the position of the vibrating plate and to the control measure. | 2009-12-10 |