106results about How to "Valuable information" patented technology

Disclosed are systems and methods which provide management of historical information associated with a medical device, such as an implantable neurostimulation pulse generator, drug pump, cardiac device, hearing enhancement device, or vision enhancement device. Such management of historical information includes storage of historical information within an associated medical device. Historical information stored within a medical device may provide a complete summary of the use, configuration, and operation of the medical device, e.g., information spanning the entire in-service life of the medical device. Historical information for which management is provided may include both static data and dynamic data. The historical information may be used in configuring the medical device, analyzing the operation of the medical device, autonomously altering operation of the medical device, etcetera.

A method and system of electronic messaging is disclosed in which the electronic messaging system is configured such that the message content contains information which will drive the routing decision process. The message itself can be prioritized and routed to a pre-defined communications device or application, even before the recipient of the message has read the message. The sender focuses on the content and MessageML provides the constructs to tag the content and properly transform it into a viewable format for delivery to the target communications device. A method is disclosed for providing content driven electronic messaging that enables individuals to receive XML electronic messages using an electronic messaging system. Once an Informant Stylesheet and SmartMessage Stylesheet are created, a SmartMessage can be sent to a MessageML Service Provider, who will receive the SmartMessage, process it, and deliver the SmartMessage to a user's defined endpoint.

In one aspect, the invention divides an audio signal into auditory events, each of which tends to be perceived as separate and distinct, by calculating the spectral content of successive time blocks of the audio signal (5-1), calculating the difference in spectral content between successive time blocks of the audio signal (5-2), and identifying an auditory event boundary as the boundary between successive time blocks when the difference in the spectral content between such successive time blocks exceeds a threshold (5-3). In another aspect, the invention generates a reduced-information representation of an audio signal by dividing an audio signal into auditory events, each of which tends to be perceived as separate and distinct, and formatting and storing information relating to the auditory events (5-4). Optionally, the invention may also assign a characteristic to one or more of the auditory events (5-5).

An apparatus and system for communicating an emergency and an associated method are provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is a mobile terminal including an input mechanism that is capable of receiving user input indicative of an emergency, and a wireless transmitter capable of transmitting an emergency message. The mobile terminal further includes a recording device capable of recording at least one of audio and imagery information indicative of the emergency, and a memory capable of storing the audio and imagery information. The audio and imagery information are also capable of being transmitted by the wireless transmitter.

Methods and devices for isolating and diagnosing disease with a cell adhesion matrix system, mimicking a metastatic, cardiovascular or placental environment, are disclosed. The cell adhesion matrix facilitates the enrichment of target cells such as metastatic tumor cells, fetal cells and endothelial progenitor cells from a fluid sample such as blood for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in treating patients afflicted with disease, such as cancerous, cardiovascular and fetal diseases, as well as for research applications in molecular analysis of metastatic, and cardiovascular and fetal diseases. Blood test prototypes and methods for the cell enrichment and detection of circulating tumor and endothelial cells using multiplex molecular analysis are described herein. In addition, methods and compositions for determining host immunity to tumor in subjects with risk of cancer progression and methods for isolating an enriched fraction of fetal cells from pregnant females for prenatal diagnosis are also described herein.

The parallel detecting spectroscopic ellipsometer / polarimeter sensor has no moving parts and operates in real-time for in-situ monitoring of the thin film surface properties of a sample within a processing chamber. It includes a multi-spectral source of radiation for producing a collimated beam of radiation directed towards the surface of the sample through a polarizer. The thus polarized collimated beam of radiation impacts and is reflected from the surface of the sample, thereby changing its polarization state due to the intrinsic material properties of the sample. The light reflected from the sample is separated into four separate polarized filtered beams, each having individual spectral intensities. Data about said four individual spectral intensities is collected within the processing chamber, and is transmitted into one or more spectrometers. The data of all four individual spectral intensities is then analyzed using transformation algorithms, in real-time.

A communication and security device for a portable computer is disclosed including a housing, a connector provided on the housing for physical connection to the portable computer, a computer interface coupled to the connector for communicating data with the portable computer, a wireless modem coupled to the computer interface for communicating data between the portable computer and a remote device via a wireless network, a regulator operable to regulate power in the communication and storage device, and a processor coupled to control the regulator, the processor coupled to the wireless modem and arranged to process at least one security command received by the wireless modem to control the regulator in response to the received command.

The present invention is a method for transferring electronic vouchers over a network system for defining and rewarding an after-sales service and customer care activity. In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes a step of transferring an incentive electronic voucher for payment of an assessment of customer satisfaction.

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing health care information to health care providers and for obtaining information pertaining to the practice of a health care provider by providing incentives for provision of such information.

Apparatus for determining the status of hair bulk in an area of a scalp is operative to provide a metric over a sufficiently large area to permit revisiting with only negligible misalignment error. Accurate re-measurement of hair status in accurately identified areas produces a reliable metric for determining degree of hair loss and or the effectiveness of treatment.

An image focus assessment method is provided that works reliably for images of a variety of relatively dissimilar workpieces or workpiece features. The focus assessment method is based on analysis of a single image (without the benefit of comparison to other images). The robustness of the focus assessment method is enhanced by the use of at least one classifier based on a plurality of focus classification features. In one application, a primary advantage of assessing focus from a single image is that an overall workpiece inspection time may be reduced by avoiding running an autofocus routine if an image is already in focus. In various embodiments, the focus assessment method may include an ensemble of classifiers. The ensemble of classifiers can be trained on different training data (sub)sets or different parameter (sub)sets, and their classification outcomes combined by a voting operation or the like, in order to enhance the overall accuracy and robustness of the focus assessment method.

A sensor is provided for the detection of a marker in a sample in which the sensor includes a high frequency 500 kHz-1 GHz piezoelectric ceramic resonator, with the system measuring resonant frequency change. In one embodiment, the piezoelectric sensor operates in the thickness extensional (TE) mode, with the high frequency and TE mode permitting fabrication of an exceptionally small size sensor capable of being arrayed in a handheld unit.

Real time biofilm monitoring systems are provided. Said systems comprise single or multiple fiber-optic probes detecting wavelength-specific fluorescence from biomarkers of fouling organisms; a compact optoelectronic interface and data acquisition system interfaced with said probes, wherein said probe or probes are bifurcated and contain at least one excitation and at least one emission filter permitting the simultaneous resolution of multiple biomarkers.

An implantable cardiac stimulation system capable of automatic capture verification is provided with an associated method for performing automatic testing functions using programmable, or automatically determined, AV delays. Automatic threshold testing and evoked response sensitivity testing performed at a user-specified AV delay setting, rather than a preset setting, allows assessment of automatic capture verification based on an AV delay relevant to daily system function. Further features of the present invention are an adjustable frequency with which automatic threshold tests are performed and an adjustable frequency with which threshold test results are stored in memory in a threshold record for better monitoring of lead stability or impending clinical problems. The frequency of performing threshold tests and the frequency of storing threshold test results may be varied according to the threshold stability. Stored threshold test results are advantageously displayed with respect to a fixed or variable time scale.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for sensing characteristics of an object. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises an array, wherein the array comprises a plurality of nanoscale hybrid semiconductor / metal devices which are in proximity to an object, each hybrid semiconductor / metal device being configured to produce a voltage in response to a perturbation, wherein the produced voltage is indicative of a characteristic of the object. Any of a variety of nanoscale EXX sensors can be selected as the hybrid semiconductor / metal devices in the array. With such an array, ultra high resolution images of nanoscopic resolution can be generated of objects such as living cells, wherein the images are indicative of a variety of cell biologic processes.

The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis or the prognosis of metastasis in lung cancer which comprises determining if the c-MAF gene is amplified in a primary tumor sample. Likewise, the invention also relates to a method for the diagnosis or the prognosis of metastasis in lung cancer, as well as to a method for determining the tendency to develop bone metastasis with respect to metastasis in other organs, which comprise determining the c-MAF gene expression level. Finally, the invention relates to the use of a c-MAF inhibitor as therapeutic target for treating the lung cancer.

The present invention disclosed a method constructing an intelligent system processing uncertain causal relationship information. It can express, monitor and analyze the causal logic relationship among the different variables in complex systems directly, implicitly or in both way of them under the circumstance of unsure, dynamic, having a logic loop, lacking of statistical data, unclear evidence, mixture of discrete and continuous variables, incomplete knowledge, multi-resource of knowledge. It gave effective bases to solve the problems in the domain of production, monitoring, detection, diagnosis, prediction, et al.

Disclosed are a system, device and process for monitoring physical and physiological features of livestock through a unique monitoring system method and device. Basic and Smart tags are placed on livestock to monitor, among other things, temperature, movement, location, posture, pulse rate, and other physical and physiological features. Information is relayed from Basic tags, in one embodiment, to Smart tags that requests the information and receives the information from the basic tags. Smart tags send information to a mobile unit controller and / or home base so that requested information is sent to an end user that monitors the livestock for signs of illness. Potentially ill animals are segregated from the herd for further evaluation and minimization of exposure risk to the rest of the herd. This early detection system saves livestock and ensures a healthier herd for livestock farmers.

Systems and methods for delineating anatomical boundaries from two- and three-dimensional image data are described. A template shape is used to examine new image element (e.g. pixel and / or voxel) locations and determine boundary intersection based on characteristics determined from the plurality of image elements contained within this template. The result is a polyline / surface delineation of the desired anatomy, which can be used for morphometric / shape analysis, patient specific output, and knowledge-based queries.

A system and method for intelligent electronic message routing. An Informant server transmits an electronic message to be routed to a destination and stores a plurality of stylesheets containing routing information for the electronic message. The electronic message includes a reference to the plurality of stylesheets, and a service provider server receives the electronic message from the Informant server, processes the reference to the plurality of stylesheets included in the electronic message, and routes the electronic message to the destination based on the routing information contained in the plurality of stylesheets. A communications device, which defines the destination of the electronic message, receives the routed electronic message from the service provider server.

Disclosed herein are compounds and compositions including a polyglycerol nanocarrier, a therapeutic agent or imaging agent, and optionally a targeting agent. In certain aspects the disclosed compounds include biocompatible hyperbranched polymer nanocarriers. Such compounds and compositions are useful for the targeted delivery of antitumor agents and imaging agents to tumors in vivo. Methods are also disclosed for detecting and treating such tumors.

The present invention concerns generally with client lifecycle exchange management, and, more particularly, with a method, a computer system, and a computer-implemented algorithm for managing and coordinating events in the asset management industry that relate to the acquisition and retention of clients and their portfolios, as well as the management of those events that relate to changes in on-going client contracts, including terminations of said contracts at the appropriate time, real-time collaborations between various functional areas of the organization.

The present invention disclosed a method constructing an intelligent system processing uncertain causal relationship information. It can express, monitor and analyze the causal logic relationship among the different variables in complex systems directly, implicitly or in both way of them under the circumstance of unsure, dynamic, having a logic loop, lacking of statistical data, unclear evidence, mixture of discrete and continuous variables, incomplete knowledge, multi-resource of knowledge. It gave effective bases to solve the problems in the domain of production, monitoring, detection, diagnosis, prediction, et al.

The present invention relates to a method for providing interactive audience participation at live spectator events. The method includes providing spectators with an interactive device that presents a promotional message and includes a user interface, broadcasting audio programming to the spectator through the interactive device, querying the spectators, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by spectators via the user interface of the interactive device, transmitting the answers to a central processor, storing the answers as spectator data, processing the spectator data into results, storing the results of the processing of the spectator data and broadcasting the results of the processing of the spectator data.

Real time biofilm monitoring systems are provided. Said systems comprise single or multiple fiber-optic probes detecting wavelength-specific fluorescence from biomarkers of fouling organisms; a compact optoelectronic interface and data acquisition system interfaced with said probes, wherein said probe or probes are bifurcated and contain at least one excitation and at least one emission filter permitting the simultaneous resolution of multiple biomarkers.

A method for generating synthetic electron density information based on an acquired magnetic resonance, MR, image stack is disclosed. The method comprises: analyzing the acquired MR image stack to automatically segment the acquired MR image stack; generating warp information for a template dataset comprising at least one template electron density information map and at least one template structure information, said generating comprising utilizing structure information of the acquired MR image stack and said template structure information in order to determine transformations bringing the template structures in spatial correspondence with the structures in the acquired MR image stack, wherein said generated warp information describes at least one transformation bringing the at least one template electron density information map in spatial correspondence with the acquired MR image stack; and forming synthetic electron density information corresponding to the acquired MR image stack based on at least part of a warped template electron density information map.

A stereotactic gamma-guided localization system for imaging a suspected cancer and guiding a physician in the removal of tissue samples for biopsy. The gamma-guided localization system includes a three step procedure including localization, correlation, and verification. The localization system includes a gamma camera with a set of slant-hole collimators for producing stereo images of a region of interest. A positioning system including a fiducial marker is placed adjacent to the object to be imaged and held rigidly in place to provide correlation of the location of the region of interest relative to the fiducial marker. A gamma emitting marker is then positioned at the calculated location of the region of interest and imaged to verify that that the calculated position corresponds to the actual location. The positioning system can then be used to accurately position and support any other hardware that needs to be positioned at the region of interest.

A communications platform (Centerpost) is disclosed containing a message processing platform along with an XML message format (SmartMessage) which provides for the reception, organization, summarization, filing, storage, synthesis, routing, formatting, and intelligent processing of XML-based electronic messages and SMTP electronic mail from corporations and other senders to fully integrate individuals' existing e-mail boxes, cellular telephones, paging equipment, facsimile machines, wireless and wired telephones, and other devices. The Centerpost platform utilizes a nickname-based routing to enable device specific sending without knowledge of the specific device address. The Centerpost platform provides sender-defined information folios, which enable synthesized filing, viewing and storage of all received SmartMessages, and the platform allows semi-private access control for the user, which allows access by others. The platform also utilizes a web-based user interface, which greatly simplifies the user's viewing, control and configuration of the individual user's particular platform. The Centerpost SmartDelivery platform also allows for corporations to utilize the Centerpost functions for its customers without requiring those customers to have a Centerpost account. The platform also provides for Amateur Informants, which facilitate the use of the Centerpost system for individuals and small businesses. The platform also provides for 2-way XML messages, a Centerpost subscriber web page, an endpoint wallet, which allows subscribers to easily transfer their endpoint information, a message based-endpoint configuration, which automatically sets up a new messaging device as an endpoint.