79results about How to "Less precision" patented technology

A laparoscopic surgical instrument configured to be ergonomic and anthropometrically correct, the laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising: (a) an ergonomic handle configured to orient a hand of a surgeon in a functional position, the handle comprising a handle grip; (b) an actuating mechanism actuatable by a finger and supported by the handle, the actuating mechanism comprising an actuator shaft and a gearing assembly operable to displace the actuator shaft with a mechanical advantage upon actuation of a trigger by the surgeon; (c) a locking mechanism configured to lock the actuating mechanism in one of a plurality of positions, the locking mechanism comprising a release located in an anthropometrically correct position; and (d) a working shaft having a proximal end coupled to and operable with the actuator shaft, the working shaft having an elongate configuration and a distal working end configured to couple a surgical tool to be manipulated by the surgeon via the handle and the actuating mechanism to perform a surgical function.

The disclosed System enables word-level text entry on a small displayed keyboard by tracing an input path that begins on or near the key of the first letter, passes through or near the key of each letter in sequence, and terminates in the vicinity of the key of the last letter. The input path is processed by scoring it against words in a database that includes an indication of relative frequency. A correctly spelled word is output even when the input path corresponds to an incorrect spelling of a word. Words are ranked according to a score calculated from the weighted distances from each associated key to determined input path points, further weighted by the frequency of use and by other characteristics of the input path. Alternate word choices are presented to the user in a manner to minimize distraction. Efficient editing mechanisms and other enhancements are included.

System and method for making incisions in eye tissue at different depths. The system and method focuses light, possibly in a pattern, at various focal points which are at various depths within the eye tissue. A segmented lens can be used to create multiple focal points simultaneously. Optimal incisions can be achieved by sequentially or simultaneously focusing lights at different depths, creating an expanded column of plasma, and creating a beam with an elongated waist.

A laparoscopic surgical instrument configured to be ergonomic and anthropometrically correct, the laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising: (a) an ergonomic handle configured to orient a hand of a surgeon in a functional position, the handle comprising a handle grip; (b) an actuating mechanism actuatable by a finger and supported by the handle, the actuating mechanism comprising an actuator shaft and a gearing assembly operable to displace the actuator shaft with a mechanical advantage upon actuation of a trigger by the surgeon; (c) a locking mechanism configured to lock the actuating mechanism in one of a plurality of positions, the locking mechanism comprising a release located in an anthropometrically correct position; and (d) a working shaft having a proximal end coupled to and operable with the actuator shaft, the working shaft having an elongate configuration and a distal working end configured to couple a surgical tool to be manipulated by the surgeon via the handle and the actuating mechanism to perform a surgical function.

The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described.

An improved catheter system having an ultrasonic imaging transducer coupled to a drive cable disposed within a lumen of a flexible tubular catheter body. An improvement including a reconfiguration of the ferrites in the hub assembly, such that the need for the gap between the ferrites is removed. A strain relief member is provide to increase the strength of the electrical transmission lines to enable them to withstand the tensile forces caused by either flushing and / or pull-back operations. A device which allows the electrical transmission lines to extend their length when placed in tension may also be employed to provide strain relief to the electrical transmission lines. Another improvement includes a counter-wound coil structure, which may either expand or contract as the drive cable is being rotated to strengthen the drive cable. The distal tip of the catheter body may be redesigned to provide a lumen which allows for the release of flushing fluids through a distal port in the guidewire lumen.

A treatment planning method and system for optimizing a treatment plan used to irradiate a treatment volume including a target volume, such as a tumor, is disclosed. According to the method, two dose calculation algorithms are used to develop the optimized treatment plan. A first dose calculation algorithm is used to obtain substantially complete dose calculations and a second, incremental, dose calculation algorithm is used to make more limited calculations. The incremental calculations may be performed, for example, with less precision, less accuracy or less scope (e.g., focused on a specific subvolume within the treatment volume) in order to reduce the time required to achieve an optimized plan. Each of the dose calculation algorithms may be iterated a plurality of times, and different cutoff criteria can be used to limit the number of iterations in a given pass. A treatment planning system of the invention uses software for implementing the complete and incremental dose calculation algorithms. The method and system are especially useful for IMRT and arc therapy where treatment plan optimization is particularly challenging.

An improved catheter system having an ultrasonic imaging transducer coupled to a drive cable disposed within a lumen of a flexible tubular catheter body. An improvement including a reconfiguration of the ferrites in the hub assembly, such that the need for the gap between the ferrites is removed. A strain relief member is provide to increase the strength of the electrical transmission lines to enable them to withstand the tensile forces caused by either flushing and / or pull-back operations. A device which allows the electrical transmission lines to extend their length when placed in tension may also be employed to provide strain relief to the electrical transmission lines. Another improvement includes a counter-wound coil structure, which may either expand or contract as the drive cable is being rotated to strengthen the drive cable. The distal tip of the catheter body may be redesigned to provide a lumen which allows for the release of flushing fluids through a distal port in the guidewire lumen.

An apparatus, program product and method that emphasize a least one drop destination for a selected entity based upon monitored drop destinations. Drop destinations may be emphasized by generating a plurality of path vectors between the selected entity and at least a portion of the plurality of drop destinations. Generally, by emphasizing drop destinations, the potential drop destinations for the selected entity may be anticipated and emphasized to the user, which may increase the likelihood that the user will drop onto the desired drop destination. Moreover, a user may choose one of the drop destinations by dropping the selected entity along the path vector associated with the desired drop destination. As such, drag and drop operations may be successfully completed with fewer mouse movements and / or less precision, often resulting in fewer accidental drops.

Disclosed is a system and method for intra-operatively spatially calibrating an ultrasound probe. The method includes determining the relative changes in ultrasound images of a phantom, or high-contrast feature points within a target volume, for three different ultrasound positions. Spatially calibrating the ultrasound probe includes measuring the change in position and orientation of the probe and computing a calibration matrix based on the measured changes in probe position and orientation and the estimated changes in position and orientation of the phantom.

System and method for making incisions in eye tissue at different depths. The system and method focuses light, possibly in a pattern, at various focal points which are at various depths within the eye tissue. A segmented lens can be used to create multiple focal points simultaneously. Optimal incisions can be achieved by sequentially or simultaneously focusing lights at different depths, creating an expanded column of plasma, and creating a beam with an elongated waist.

In an operating method for a display device in a vehicle, the display device includes a touch-sensitive surface. A first output is displayed in an area of the display device. A first movement and a second movement by an operator relative to the touch-sensitive surface are detected simultaneously. The area is divided automatically along a first direction into a first subarea and a second subarea, if the first movement and the second movement proceed substantially in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and away from each other. The first output is displayed in the first subarea and a second output is displayed in the second subarea.

A rifle scope has a body with a number of optical elements. An adjustment knob is rotated we connected to the body and interacts with at least one of the optical elements to provide an image shift in response to rotation of the knob. A detent mechanism interacts with the knob, and has a number of detent positions. Many of the detent positions have a first detent force, and a selected subset the detent positions have a greater second force. The selected subset of detent positions may correspond to selected major distance intervals.

The evaluation and assessment of geologic formations comprising undersaturated coalbed methane reservoirs. In some embodiments, the present invention provides for inductively quantifying critical desorption pressure of the solid in an undersaturated coalbed methane reservoir from an unrelated substance, the formation water. By using these techniques, the characterization of undersaturated coalbed methane reservoirs may be more quickly and economically made based upon a methane content characteristic such as critical desorption pressure, gas content, and in some embodiments gas content as calculated from isotherm evaluation, estimates of dewatering for production, and ratios of critical desorption pressure to initial reservoir pressure, among other possible characteristics. The features of the invention may further have applicability in combination with conventional reservoir analysis, such as coring, logging, reservoir isotherm evaluation, or other techniques.

The invention relates to a method of connecting micro-chip modules to antennas arranged on a first carrier tape for the manufacture of transponders. The method is characterised in that the micro-chips are packaged in a preceding bonding process to form a chip module with electrical terminals and are applied to a second carrier tape. The two carrier tapes are wound off a reel and brought one above the other, whereby the chip modules are removed from the second carrier tape and placed at a predetermined point on the first carrier tape. This method facilitates a continuous manufacturing process which is particularly economical and particularly fast.

A method that emphasizes at least one drop destination for a selected entity based upon monitored drop destinations. Drop destinations may be emphasized by generating a plurality of path vectors between the selected entity and at least a portion of the plurality of drop destinations. Generally, by emphasizing drop destinations, the potential drop destinations for the selected entity may be anticipated and emphasized to the user, which may increase the likelihood that the user will drop onto the desired drop destination. Moreover, a user may choose one of the drop destinations by dropping the selected entity along the path vector associated with the desired drop destination. As such, drag and drop operations may be successfully completed with fewer mouse movements and / or less precision, often resulting in fewer accidental drops.

The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described.

The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described.

The invention relates to a method for the optical three-dimensional measurement of a dental object, wherein a first region of the dental object is measured using a first optical three-dimensional measurement method, wherein the first optical three-dimensional measurement method is based on a triangulation method and on a fringe projection method. According to the invention, a powdering occurs at least on the first region, wherein first image data are generated. Using a less precise, second optical three-dimensional measurement method, a second region of the dental object is subsequently measured without previous powdering, wherein second image data are generated. Afterwards, the first image data are combined with the second image data to form an overlapping three-dimensional exposure.

Kinematic control of an electronic positioner and its associated actuator is effected through a control algorithm that delivers energy to the actuator based on observed motion produced by a previous delivery of energy. The algorithm achieves control based on a desired or user-specified resolution. Electronic braking between energy delivery intervals improves the speed at which the desired position is achieved. Temperature of the force producing mechanism is determined, as by monitoring energy consumed, and used to control how power is delivered to the actuator.

The present invention is in the technical field of analyzing and processing digitized color images. More specifically it relates to a method of determining the chromaticity of an illuminant (white reference) of a color image representing a natural scene of objects or entities. The present invention uses the principle of the constancy of dichromatic color, but it also uses spatial color segmentation of the image and relevant filtering to select the regions of the image to be analyzed, that is to extract the analyzed regions non-compliant with the chromatic model. The invention is applicable for improving the performance of the means of analysis and recognition of the shapes of objects in an image.

A system and method for displaying nowcasts along a route on a map. The system receives a map request including a departure location and a destination location from a user, and obtains map data including a route between the destination location and the departure location. A nowcaster is used for outputting nowcasts for a number of key points along the route. The system modifies the map data to include a visual indicator for each nowcast for each key point such that when the modified map data is executed on a display the nowcasts are displayed along the route between the departure location and the destination location.

The invention relates to a wind turbine tower comprising a tower foundation, and at least two tower sections connected by numerous sets of connecting means positioned in close proximity of each other. The connecting means comprising at least one nut with at least one assembly opening for interacting with an assembly tool.The invention also relates to a method for assembling a wind turbine tower and a method for manufacturing a nut of connection means for fixating a wind turbine tower including at least two tower sections.

A system and method of controlling the treatment of water systems comprises multiple feeders for separately feeding treatment products, in the form of concentrated, non-hazardous, liquids with a single active ingredient, to a water system to treat various issues, such as corrosion and biofilms. A sensor verifies delivery of the treatment product to the water system. A controller controls activation of each feeder to control a feed rate according to programmed functions. The controller receives signals from sensors, which can be used as inputs in calculating feed rates or feeder activation times according to the programed functions and can alter treatment product feed rates based on real time data regarding water system chemistry or flow rates. The controller can send and receive data, signals, alerts, alarms or changes in programming to or from remote users, remote computers, or a water system controller.

A vehicle shaft has a rigid intermediate portion with a shaft journal welded to each of the two ends of the shaft portion. The shaft journal and / or the intermediate portion are / is provided with a material thickness reduction within a distance a from the contact surfaces which is less than substantially half the material thickness at the contact surfaces, in order to guide the force flow thorough the weld seam. During manufacture of such vehicle shafts, the mutually abutting contact surfaces are laser-welded to form a weld seam which can fully penetrate the material of the shaft journals and the intermediate portion respectively, whereby the concentricity and parallelism of the two journals will be within predetermined dimensional tolerances after the welding and cooling of the material. The arrangement has an induction heater which surrounds the shaft journal and is movable axially so that, after completion of heating, it moves to free the shaft journals welded to the shaft portion.

Methods exploiting a Self Aligned Cell (SAC) architecture for doping purposes, use the architecture to direct the deposition and application of either a dopant or a diffusion retarder. Doping is provided in regions that will become metallization for conducting fingers. Dopant may be treated directly into metallization grooves. Or, diffusion retarder may be provided in non-groove locations, and dopant may be provided over some or all of the entire wafer surface. Dopant and metal automatically go where desired, and in register with each other. The SAC architecture also includes concave surfaces for light absorbing regions of a cell, to reduce reflection of light energy, which regions may also be treated with dopant in the concavities, to result in semiconductor emitter lines. Alternatively, diffusion retarder may be treated into the concavities, leaving upper tips of ridges between the concavities exposed, thereby subject to deeper doping.

Disclosed is a system and method for intra-operatively spatially calibrating an ultrasound probe. The method includes determining the relative changes in ultrasound images of a phantom, or high-contrast feature points within a target volume, for three different ultrasound positions. Spatially calibrating the ultrasound probe includes measuring the change in position and orientation of the probe and computing a calibration matrix based on the measured changes in probe position and orientation and the estimated changes in position and orientation of the phantom.

An improved catheter system having an ultrasonic imaging transducer coupled to a drive cable disposed within a lumen of a flexible tubular catheter body. An improvement including a reconfiguration of the ferrites in the hub assembly, such that the need for the gap between the ferrites is removed. A strain relief member is provided to increase the strength of the electrical transmission lines to enable them to withstand the tensile forces caused by either flushing and / or pull-back operations. A device which allows the electrical transmission lines to extend their length when placed in tension may also be employed to provide strain relief to the electrical transmission lines. Another improvement includes a counter-wound coil structure, which may either expand or contract as the drive cable is being rotated to strengthen the drive cable. The distal tip of the catheter body may be redesigned to provide a lumen which allows for the release of flushing fluids through a distal port in the guidewire lumen.

Coupling device for a fluid circuit in a motor vehicle, the device including: a functional member of a plastic material that is provided with two or more types of connection, at least one of which includes a manually-accessible member projecting from the outside surface of the functional member; and a protective metal housing formed by two shells joined by a seam around the functional member, the housing being provided with a window giving access to the manually-accessible member.

The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described.