| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080200986 | Method and a Kit for Inserting Prosthetic Intervertebral Discs into a Spine - Prosthetic intervertebral discs and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs include upper and lower endplates separated by a compressible core member. The prosthetic discs described herein include one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece structures. The subject prosthetic discs exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the saggital plane, and bending stiffness in the front plane, where the degree of these features can be controlled independently by adjusting the components of the discs. The interface mechanism between the endplates and the core members of several embodiments of the described prosthetic discs enables a very easy surgical operation for implantation. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20090018401 | SURGICAL RETRACTOR POSITIONING DEVICE - A surgical retractor positioning device is provided to create a surgical working field in a minimally invasive and flexible manner. In one embodiment, the device can include a frame and an arm connected to the frame. The arm can include a proximal end, a distal end having a distal end axis, and a major axis, wherein the distal end axis is movable relative to the proximal end, whereby the distal end axis can intersect the major axis at an angle. The device can include at least one blade connected to the distal end of the arm, wherein the blade is fixably rotatable about the major axis. The device can include at least two arms. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090018661 | Prosthetic Intervertebral Discs - Prosthetic intervertebral discs and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs include upper and lower endplates separated by a compressible core member. The prosthetic discs described herein include one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece structures. The subject prosthetic discs exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the saggital plane, and bending stiffness in the front plane, where the degree of these features can be controlled independently by adjusting the components of the discs. The interface mechanism between the endplates and the core members of several embodiments of the described prosthetic discs enables a very easy surgical operation for implantation. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20110040386 | Prosthetic intervertebral discs having substantially rigid end plates, fibers between those end plates, and core members with comparatively thin edges - Prosthetic intervertebral discs and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs include upper and lower endplates separated by a compressible core member. The prosthetic discs described herein include one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece structures. The subject prosthetic discs exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the saggital plane, and bending stiffness in the front plane, where the degree of these features can be controlled independently by adjusting the components of the discs. The interface mechanism between the endplates and the core members of several embodiments of the described prosthetic discs enables a very easy surgical operation for implantation. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110054619 | Prosthetic Intervertebral Discs Having Rigid End Plates With Depressions In Their Inner Surfaces And Fibers Between Those End Plates - Prosthetic intervertebral discs and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs include upper and lower endplates separated by a compressible core member. The prosthetic discs described herein include one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece structures. The subject prosthetic discs exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the saggital plane, and bending stiffness in the front plane, where the degree of these features can be controlled independently by adjusting the components of the discs. The interface mechanism between the endplates and the core members of several embodiments of the described prosthetic discs enables a very easy surgical operation for implantation. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110106262 | Prosthetic intervertebral discs having substantially rigid end plates and fibers between those end plates - Prosthetic intervertebral discs and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs include upper and lower endplates separated by a compressible core member. The prosthetic discs described herein include one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece structures. The subject prosthetic discs exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the saggital plane, and bending stiffness in the front plane, where the degree of these features can be controlled independently by adjusting the components of the discs. The interface mechanism between the endplates and the core members of several embodiments of the described prosthetic discs enables a very easy surgical operation for implantation. | 05-05-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20100152559 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NON-INVASIVE AND MINIMALLY-INVASIVE SENSING OF PARAMETERS RELATING TO BLOOD - Medical diagnostic system, apparatus and methods are disclosed. Optical transmitters generate radiation-containing photons having a specific interaction with at least one target chromophore in a target structure, preferably a blood vessel such as the interior jugular vein. The optical transmitters transmit the radiation into at least a first area including a substantial portion of the target structure and into a second area not including a substantial portion of the target structure. Optical receivers detect a portion radiation scattered from at least the first area and the second area. A processor estimates oxygenation, pH or cardiac output based on the scattered radiation detected from the first area, and the scattered radiation from the second area. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100152591 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NON-INVASIVE AND MINIMALLY-INVASIVE SENSING OF PARAMETERS RELATING TO BLOOD - A system and method for monitoring one or more parameters relating to blood, such as cardiac output, of a patient is provided. The system preferably includes an acoustic energy transducer unit configured and positioned to transmit acoustic energy into a target structure, preferably a blood vessel, within the patient so as to induce a measurable change, preferably a change in blood volume, within the target structure. The transducer unit can be an ultrasonic array, annular array, or groups thereof, or a single element transducer. The unit can also be a vibrator or acoustic loudspeaker. An optical transmitter transmits light into the target structure, and an optical receiver senses light scattered from within the target structure. The blood parameter can then be estimated from the sensed scattered radiation. Relative blood oxygen saturation in the blood vessel can be estimated by transmitting two wavelengths to measure oxy-hemoglobin and deoxy-hemoglobin. | 06-17-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090143051 | SOCIAL NEWS RANKING USING GOSSIP DISTANCE - Devices, systems, and methods are directed towards ranking of messages based on a hop distance a forwarded message travels through a social network. As a message is forwarded by a member of the social network the hop distance increases. As the message is forwarded, recipients and/or senders may view the hop distance in real-time. The hop distance may reflect a number of times the message is forwarded to reach a recipient, or the maximum number of times the message is forwarded. The message may be displayed to a member in a rank ordering based on the hop distance, and messages with hop distances below a defined value may be deleted from a displayed list after a period of time. In one embodiment, a message may be forwarded anonymously to, for example, encourage members to forward the message. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090144377 | SOCIAL NEWS FORWARDING TO GENERATE INTEREST CLUSTERS - Embodiments are directed towards managing messages based on generated interest clusters. A message may be analyzed to determine one or more interest clusters associated with the message. The message may be automatically sent to members within the determined interest cluster(s), or if no members are in the interest cluster(s), to those identified in the sender's contact list. As recipients of the message respond to the message, the membership to the interest clusters may be revised. Responses used to revise the membership may include forwarding, reading, ignoring, or deleting the message. Subsequent revisions to the membership may be made based on responses to subsequent messages sent to the members of the interest cluster. Display of the message may be in a rank order based on a determined hop distance for the message. Third parties may use the interest cluster and/or sneezers to direct advertisements, or the like. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090157845 | SHARING OF MULTIMEDIA AND RELEVANCE MEASURE BASED ON HOP DISTANCE IN A SOCIAL NETWORK - A method, system, and apparatus are directed to sharing information over a network. A request to share a multimedia object may be received. A relevance measure may be retrieved based on an identity of the multimedia object. Sharing the network of the multimedia object between an originating sharing member and a plurality of members of a social network may be enabled. A combination of the relevance measure and a hop distance for the shared multimedia object may be provided. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090158176 | SHARING OF CONTENT AND HOP DISTANCE OVER A SOCIAL NETWORK - A method, system, and apparatus are directed to sharing information over a network. A drag-and-drop of a selection of a portion of content may be received at a sharing area. A sharing message may be generated based on a type of the portion. If the type of the portion indicates storage, the sharing message may comprise a hyperlink to a storage. The sharing message may be useable for providing the portion on at least one client device associated with at least one of a plurality of members of a social network. Sharing over the network of the portion between an originating sharing member and the plurality of members of the social network may be enabled. The portion may be shared for a customizable project. A hop distance may be provided for the shared portion. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20110066725 | SOCIAL NEWS RANKING USING GOSSIP DISTANCE - Devices, systems, and methods are directed towards ranking of messages based on a hop distance a forwarded message travels through a social network. As a message is forwarded by a member of the social network the hop distance increases. As the message is forwarded, recipients and/or senders may view the hop distance in real-time. The hop distance may reflect a number of times the message is forwarded to reach a recipient, or the maximum number of times the message is forwarded. The message may be displayed to a member in a rank ordering based on the hop distance, and messages with hop distances below a defined value may be deleted from a displayed list after a period of time. In one embodiment, a message may be forwarded anonymously to, for example, encourage members to forward the message. | 03-17-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20100017186 | Noise Model Method of Predicting Mismatch Effects on Transient Circuit Behaviors - A method of simulating device mismatch effects on transient circuit behaviors utilizes a circuit model corresponding to an electronic circuit. The circuit model includes a plurality of circuit elements and one or more noise sources. The noise sources have noise characteristics that correspond to device mismatch effects associated with the circuit elements. A noise analysis is performed on the circuit model to generate a noisy steady-state waveform of a selected output of the electronic circuit. Then, the noisy steady-state waveform is translated into a prediction of the variation of a respective circuit parameter associated with the electronic circuit. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100019834 | Optimized Power Supply for an Electronic System - A method of adjusting a voltage supply to an electronic device coupled to a wired communication link in accordance with a performance metric associated with the wired communication link. A voltage adjust signal is generated based on the performance metric. The voltage adjustment signal is then used for updating the voltage supply to the electronic device. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100086094 | Delay-Locked loop With Dynamically Biased Charge Pump - A delay-locked loop, including a phase detector configured to receive two signals, one of the signals being delayed relative to the other of the signals, the phase detector having an UP output and a DOWN output. The delay-locked loop also includes a charge pump system operatively coupled with the phase detector, the charge pump system including (1) a charge pump configured to be responsive to assertion of actuating signals from the UP output and the DOWN output so as to control pumping of charge from the charge pump system, such pumped charge being usable to control a delay line carrying one of the two signals, so as to control relative delay occurring between the two signals; and (2) a feedback control loop configured to dynamically adjust at least one bias signal at the charge pump so as to minimize net charge pumped from the charge pump system during simultaneous assertion of actuating signals from the UP output and the DOWN output. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100097071 | Integrated Circuit Having Receiver Jitter Tolerance ("JTOL") Measurement - An integrated circuit capable of on-chip jitter tolerance measurement includes a jitter generator circuit to produce a controlled amount of jitter that is injected into at least one clock signal, and a receive circuit to sample an input signal according to the at least one clock signal. The sampled data values output from the receiver are used to evaluate the integrated circuit's jitter tolerance. | 04-22-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20110297214 | MULTI-JUNCTION SOLAR CELL HAVING SIDEWALL BI-LAYER ELECTRICAL INTERCONNECT - Nanostructure array optoelectronic devices are disclosed. The optoelectronic device may be a multi junction solar cell. The optoelectronic device may have a bi-layer electrical interconnect that is physically and electrically connected to sidewalls of the array of nanostructures. The optoelectronic device may be operated as a multi junction solar cell, wherein each junction is associated with one portion of the device. The bi-layer electrical interconnect allows current to pass from one portion to the next. Thus, the bi-layer electrical interconnect may serve as a replacement for a tunnel junction, which is used in some conventional multi junction solar cells. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110297913 | NANOSTRUCTURE OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING SIDEWALL ELECTRICAL CONTACT - Nanostructure array optoelectronic devices are disclosed. The optoelectronic device may have a top electrical contact that is physically and electrically connected to sidewalls of the array of nanostructures (e.g., nanocolumns). The top electrical contact may be located such that light can enter or leave the nanostructures without passing through the top electrical contact. Therefore, the top electrical contact can be opaque to light having wavelengths that are absorbed or generated by active regions in the nanostructures. The top electrical contact can be made from a material that is highly conductive, as no tradeoff needs to be made between optical transparency and electrical conductivity. The device could be a solar cell, LED, photo-detector, etc. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110299074 | NANOSTRUCTURE OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLABLE JUNCTIONS - Nanostructure array optoelectronic devices are disclosed. The optoelectronic device may have one or more intermediate electrical contacts that are physically and electrically connected to sidewalls of the array of nanostructures. The contacts may allow different photo-active regions of the optoelectronic device to be independently controlled. For example, one color light may be emitted or detected independently of another using the same group of one or more nanostructures. The optoelectronic device may be a pixilated device that may serve as an LED display or imaging sensor. The pixilated device may have an array of nanostructures with alternating rows and columns of sidewall electrical contacts at different layers. A pixel may be formed at the intersection of a row contact and a column contact. As one example, a single group of one or more nanostructures has a blue sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and a red sub-pixel. | 12-08-2011 |