The invention relates to a method for needle punching a fibrous structure whereby the fibrous structure to be needle punched is driven forward in relation to a needle-punching head bearing numerous reciprocating needles which penetrate and subsequently exit the fibrous structure. The instantaneo us feed speed of the fibrous structure decreases in response to the feed resistance exerted by the need...

The present invention, in one form, is a system (10) for performing image reconstruction from projection data acquired in a helical scan. More specifically, the system (10) implements an incremental reconstruction algorithm for helical scan projection data which does not require filtering, weighting and backprojecting such projection data for generating each image. Particularly, a segmentation alg...

The present invention, in one form, is an imaging system (10) which synchronizes the emission of x-rays (16) and the collection of data to a heart cycle to provide improved image quality. In one embodiment, the imaging system (10) utilizes a synchronization unit (100) to determine a selected heart period and to control generation of x-ray beams (16) during the selected period. As the x-ray beams (...

An electrochemical assay includes a method for determining with great accuracy the time at which an applied sample bridges a gap between the electrodes of an electrochemical cell. The method involves applying a constant small current across the gap, while monitoring the potential difference between the electrodes. The time at which the sample bridges the gap is marked by a sharp drop in the potent...

A self-destructing document or e-mail messaging system is provided that automatically destroys documents or e-mail messages at a predetermined time by attaching a macro or virus to the document or e-mail message. A macro is created (220) and is attached (230) to file such as an e-mail message (280) or document (270) when it is created. The macro contains a portion of executable code or an executab...

Apparatus for automatically controlling the spreading of a textile sheet made up of a plurality of tows coming from a tow feed module and serving to feed a drive module, the apparatus comprises means for measuring the positions of the longitudinal edges of each tow, means for individually adjusting the width of each tow, means for individually adjusting the position of each tow in a direction perp...

The invention concerns a needle-punching machine for a textile structure consisting of a plurality of superposed layers (12) comprising a vertically mobile needle-punching table (10), a needle-punching head including s specific number of barbed needles (18) and arranged in line with said needle-punching table, and means for driving the needle-punching head to impart thereto a reciprocating vertica...

A modified alkali silicate composition for forming an inorganic network. The modified alkali silicate matrix is made by reacting an alkali silicate (or its precursors such as an alkali hydroxide, a SiO₂ source and water), an acidic oxoanionic compound such as phosphoric acid, water and optionally one or more multivalent cation(s) selected from Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, ...

A system for communicating label specific information which comprises a communication network (20) in communication with a computer database (18), at least one transceiver (10), and a plurality of labels (12). Each label (12) is disposed on an object in the environment with which a unique identification code is associated and is configured and is configured to transmit a lightwave signal (A) indic...

The present invention is a system and method for creating and implementing transactional speech applications (SAs) using Web technologies, without reliance on server-side standard or custom services. A transactional speech application may be any application that requires interpretation of speech in conjunction with a speech recognition (SR) system, such as, for example, consumer survey systems. A ...

An apparatus is provided for joining together substrates, which have an inner hole, to form a substrate disk. An expandable element is introducible into the inner hole of at least two superimposed substrates. The element is expandable to such an extent that it can come into contact with the inner holes of both of the substrates to close off an intermediate space formed between the substrates relat...

An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the two tissue surfaces to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the tissue surfaces so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.

A water vapor generating device is designed to be introduced in a container for heating or cooking food products with microwaves. The device includes a package or a bag made of a material that is at least partly porous or permeable to water vapor. The package contains a gel capable of rapidly absorbing the microwaves. The gel includes one part by weight of hydrocolloid corresponding to its dry for...

The present invention relates to preventing harmful ion release from implants in the human body and, in particular, preventing harmful ion release from surgically inserted metal implants in the human body, such as bone connection implants, screws, stents, blood vessels nets, pacemakers, which usually contain varying degrees of iron, nickel and chromium. The present invention is for a device for pr...

An automatic documentation generation and management system and method, for documenting configurable systems such as complex software applications and hardware systems is disclosed. The method retrieves configuration parameters from the configurable system and utilizes them to automatically generate an explanatory document specific to the configured system. The invention also discloses a documenta...

The method for applying a zinc-based anticorrosion layer for reinforced concrete is characterized in that a layer consists of at least two layers, of which the first layer, directly sprayed on the concrete, is made of pure zinc and the second layer sprayed thereon is made of a zinc/alumimum alloy.

Coatings to enhance the echogenicity of materials are especially useful for medical devices wherein the practitioner desires to locate or visualize a device by ultrasonic imaging when the device is inserted into a body cavity. These coatings can be applied to any device of virtually any composition. To accomplish this, a polymer matrix is formed containing an entrapped gas in enclosed bubbles or o...

The device automatically actuates the vehicle emergency lights when the brake pedal and one of the turn signals are simultaneously used. To do so it uses an integrated circuit that actuates a periodic pulsating signal in its outputs when a continuous signal is received in its inputs that comes from the brake pedal switch, and, at the same time, a pulsating signal from one of the turn signals. The ...

The present invention relates to new, advantageous DTP-based combination vaccine formulations, and concomitantly administered combination vaccine kits. Methods of administration of these vaccines and kits are also provided.

Honeycomb structure (1) has core (3) formed by adjacent cells delimited laterally by walls (7). Core (3) is linked by skin (2), so that other side forms fabrication stage on free surface (4) where lips (6) of cells are formed. Light source (15) illuminates zone (17) on free surface (4) of structure (1); and emerging light (21) from cells (5) is detected in observed zone (22) in free surface (4). T...