Abstract:
A method and apparatus for stabilizing glow plasma discharges by suppressing the transition from glow-to-arc includes a perforated or apertured dielectric plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and one or more holes extending therethrough. The perforated dielectric plate (130) is positioned over the cathode (120). Each of the holes acts as a separate active current limiting microchannel that prevents the overall current density from increasing above the threshold for the glow-to-arc transition. This allows for a stable glow discharge to be maintained for a wide range of operating pressures and in a wide range of electric fields include DC and RF fields of varying strength. In another embodiment, the device comprises an AC glow plasma discharge device wherein an apertured dielectric is placed over an electrode. The apertured dielectric may have one or more apertures or capillaries extending therethrough.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for the transparent, non-disruptable transfer of data, particularly multimedia data, through any packet-based network, such as an ATM network is provided. The method of the present invention includes the step of setting a primary path and a secondary path between nodes of a network, or of a network domain. Accordingly, when a switch or node establishes a Virtual Path (VP) to another switch with specified effective bandwith, it also has an alternate VP that is available, although no bandwidth is actually used. The method of the present invention further includes the step of optimizing the available capacity of the system through management actions. For handling congestion and resource failures, the total effective bandwidth on each physical link is categorized in terms of idle capacity (unused or available), used capacity (for existing VPs), and spare capacity. When a resource failure occurs, the idle capacity is used for real-time switching of the VP and service is not disrupted. This is accomplished by an alarm indication management cell which is delivered when a resource problem is encountered. This management cell sets forth the secondary path and the bandwidth associated therewith. On the other hand, if idle capacity does not exist, the spare capacity is used, while the bandwidth for all other VPs is reconfigured using virtual bandwidth optimization. Therefore, service disruption does not occur. In a wireless, mobile network, the present invention monitors node movement and takes management actions on the basis of such node movement to prevent service disruption.
Abstract:
A method of treating a patient having edematous lungs includes: administering a first surface tension-lowering component to the patient via the airways and administering a second surface tension-lowering component to the patient via the vasculature. The combined and complementary treatments may lower or normalize alveolar surface tension with improved efficiency and on a faster timescale, thereby reducing patient injury and mortality.
Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of conductive scaffolds of micro and/or nanofibers with the help of different printing techniques (e.g., near-field electrostatic printing, inkjet printing), such scaffolds enabling the formation of two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) neural networks to mimic the native counterparts. Applications of such patterned conductive scaffolds include, but are not limited to, an engineered conduit for guiding the differentiation and outgrowth of neural cells in peripheral nerve damage or in large-volume spinal cord injury under the electrical stimulation. Meanwhile, the scaffolds could also locally deliver various biomolecules in conjunction with electrical stimulation for facilitated nervous system regeneration.
Abstract:
An optical computation system includes a light source configured to produce a pump beam, an optical modulator configured to modulate the pump beam based on the modulation mask to generate a modulated beam, a non-linear medium configured to convert a portion of the modulated beam to a second harmonic (SH) beam and to produce an output including the SH beam and an unconverted portion of the pump beam, and a dichroic mirror configured to receive the output of the non-linear medium and to decouple the SH beam and the unconverted portion of the pump beam, a detector configured to detect a first optical power of the unconverted portion of the pump beam and to detect a second optical power of the SH beam, and a controller configured to generate an updated modulation mask based on the first and second optical powers for transmission to the optical modulator.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a neural scaffold (10) for use as an artificial nerve graft to bridge nerve injury gaps and promote peripheral nerve regeneration and a method to make same. The scaffold has microchannels (16) as a micro-feature and nanofibers (18) as a nano-feature. The nanofibers (18) function to aid Schwann cell migration, while the microchannels (16) promote neurite extension and are conducive to formation of myelinated axons. The microchannels (16) extend in a direction generally along a longitudinal axis of the scaffold (10) in the desired direction for cell growth.
Abstract:
The described invention provides a ureteral stent device comprising a tubular structure comprising a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end comprises a magnet, a magnetic tip, a magnetic coating, a magnetic metal, or a magnetic alloy. The distal end comprises a tapered tip and can form any one of a J-curl, a j- shape, or a pigtail loop for securing the distal end in a kidney. The proximal end is not secured in the bladder and terminates in the ureter.
Abstract:
Approaches, apparatuses and methods for LIDAR applications based on mode-selective frequency conversion are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pulse generation unit includes a mode- locked fiber laser and optical fiber bandpass filters. In the second embodiment, a LIDAR transceiver unit based on a simple, bidirectional monostatic coaxial arrangement using off-the- shelf telecom-grade optical components includes optical fiber, fiber collimator, optical fiber circulator, optical fiber isolator and wavelength combiner. A frequency conversion detection system with single photon sensitivity includes a nonlinear optical material for frequency conversion, coupled with optimized pump pulses for efficient conversion and noise rejection, optical band pass filters for noise rejection and a single photon detection system for detecting the converted signal.
Abstract:
Smart membranes (14) are integrated into a small, unmanned surface vessel (20) to enable the efficient, automated cleanup of oil spills. Such a vessel (20) has the potential to provide a low-cost, modular solution for day-to-day oil-spill cleanup operations, especially in confined aquatic areas, such as under piers and in the small spaces between marine vessels and piers. The smart membranes (14) are provided on the surface of a conveyor belt (34) that circulates the membranes (14) through the surrounding body of water (10) for oil collection, as well as through an internal reduction chamber (22) of the vessel (20) for oil release. The smart membranes (14) are adapted to attract and repel oil (12) in response to low-voltage commands applied across the conveyor belt (34), using a process that is repeatable for a number of cycles, offering high efficiency and long durability.