ap Enhanced therapeutic stimulus for non-nutritive suck entrainment system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a system and method for using the system. In particular, the present invention relates to an application, executable by a processing device to assess the organization of a non-nutritive suck (NNS) pattern of a patient and to entrain an organized NNS pattern in the patient. The software system receives data from an orofacial stimulation appliance to assess the patient's natural NNS pattern and generates a precise therapeutic pulse profile that is actuated as a tactile stimulus via the orofacial stimulation appliance to entrain an organized NNS pattern. Full Article
ap Skull-focused RF-based stimulation apparatus, system and method for treating patients with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The portable, wearable, proximal Alzheimer's disease treatment invention is based upon creating an RF field of particular frequencies and intensities that are applied to the patient's head. To accomplish the aforementioned disease treatment functionality, a system was invented comprising a network of antennas connected to an RF generator via a feedline connector. The invention also provides methods for using measurements to monitor and manage the effectiveness of an ongoing disease treatment regimen, and databases which contain information about measurements, variables, and their relationships to clinical outcome. Full Article
ap Applicator head and method for treatment of pain by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus and method for treatment of pain by a device that provides transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The device includes an applicator equipped with an electric pulse provider that sends an electric pulse to a set of electrodes disposed in an applicator head. The device is placed onto the skin of a patient's body at the point where the patient experiences pain and such that the electrodes of the device contact the skin of the patient while an insulating land area between the electrodes compresses the nerve during transmittal of the electric pulse through the electrodes and into the patient's body. Full Article
ap Electronic stimulation textile for traditional Chinese medicine therapy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A textile for providing traditional Chinese medicine therapy to a wearer using electronic stimulation includes at least two conductive paths that are made from conductive textile material, the conductive paths are separated by nonconductive textile material, at least one pair of electrodes attach to the conductive paths corresponding to specific part of body or acupoints according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, and an electronic stimulation signal controller configured to conduct electronic stimulation signals to the electrodes via the conductive paths. Full Article
ap Thermal therapy device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A thermal therapy device comprising a flexible, water-impermeable container containing a plurality of discrete, non-water-soluble hydrophillic absorbers, a hydrating liquid mixture comprising water, means for physically separating at least two adjacent absorbers thereby providing a means for preventing clumping, and a plurality of insulating members. The means for preventing clumping maintaining the pliability of the device in a frozen state after prolonged and extend cycles of freezing/thawing. A rigid storage container is also provided. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for quantitative nerve localization By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for localizing a needle to a nerve, the method comprising: using the needle to electrically stimulate the nerve, with a known current intensity, so as to evoke a nerve response;detecting the nerve response;analyzing the detected nerve response so as to identify at least one attribute of the same; andconfirming that the needle is in the immediate proximity of the nerve based upon known current intensity and at least one identified attribute of the detected nerve response. Full Article
ap Disposable electrode and automatic information recognition apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:00:00 EST A disposable electrode includes: an electrode pad; and a connector, connecting the electrode pad to a defibrillator, and including an information holder that can be provided with a transmissive opening or a light reflective member, the information holder holding information about at least an expiration date, depending on presence or absence of the transmissive opening or the light reflective member, the information holder allowing the information to be notified from the defibrillator when the connector is connected to the defibrillator. Full Article
ap Feminine hydro-therapeutic massage device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A portable hydro massage device for submersion in a body of water containing a female user, i.e. a bathtub, provides a local massage to the labium region and a focused stimulant to the female user's clitoris thereby resulting in a superior sensation to the entire body promoting an overall euphoric state and calming effect. The apparatus employs a saddle shaped housing, where the buttocks are placed, and a saddle horn for controlling the stimulus. Disposed within the midsection of the saddle horn is a hydro jet with a driven flow from a circulating water pump that draws suction from the main body of water. The hydro jet is adjustable in pressure and a method is provided for aeration of the water discharged to allow for a rhythmic pulsation effect. The saddle horn may be held and the lower body positioned as needed to focus the discharged stream from the hydro jet to the desired point of the pelvic region. Full Article
ap Esthetic apparatus useful for increasing skin rejuvenation and methods thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a system for increasing skin rejuvenation of a region of a patient's skin comprising a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) frequency generator for constantly providing electromagnetic pulses to the region of a patient's skin and a deep tissue diathermy device for constantly applying heat to the region of a patient's skin up to temperature T. The system is adapted for simultaneously applying heat and PEMF to the region of a patient's skin; wherein application of the system increases skin rejuvenation such that the skin rejuvenation increase (SRI) is greater than the sum of the SRI provided by electromagnetic pulses increase and the SRI provided by the deep tissue diathermy device increase. Full Article
ap Wearable type movement assisting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wearable type movement assisting apparatus includes a movement assisting glove including a finger insertion part into which a finger of a wearer is inserted, a driving part arranged on a backhand side of the movement assisting glove and configured to drive the finger insertion part, a linear member arranged along the finger insertion part and configured to transmit a driving force of the driving part to the finger insertion part, a biosignal detection part configured to detect a biosignal that causes the finger of the wearer to move, and a control part configured to output a drive control signal to the driving part based on the biosignal detected by the biosignal detection part. The driving part is configured to move the linear member in an extending direction or a bending direction of the finger insertion part based on the drive control signal from the control part. Full Article
ap Body therapy device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The body therapy device includes a thoracic pad having a top edge and a rear surface with a base having a bottom edge, a front angled surfaced and a rear surface. A spherical member is attached to the angled front surface of the base and includes a hard inner core therein. A pump, with active and passive elements, is provided to enable the user to adjust the hardness of ball portion of the device for customized therapy to a head and neck region. As a result, the device of the present invention is effective for physical therapy and treatment of a wide range of ailments and conditions. Full Article
ap Muscle and/or joint exercise apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus of muscle and/or joint exercise adapted to reeducation and/or physical conditioning of a body part of a user, including a hollow body; a mobile member translatable inside the body; a motor-driven means arranged on the bottom of the body and adapted for driving and decelerating in displacement the mobile member in both translatory directions; a cooperating means between the body and a frame, this cooperating means being arranged on the bottom of the body and including: at least one hinge of the body on the frame, the hinge providing at least at least one degree of rotational freedom for the body around an axis of rotation; and a removable means for installing and removing the body, the removable means being designed for removably installing the body on a base slidingly mounted in the frame. Full Article
ap Method and system for combined energy therapy profile By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and system for treating tissue with a combined therapy profile is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, ultrasound energy is used to treat numerous depths of tissue within a region of interest and the spatial and temporal properties of the ultrasound energy are varied for more effective treatment. The method and system of the present invention are configured to treat all of the tissue from the surface on down and not spare intervening tissue. Full Article
ap System for arm therapy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for arm therapy comprises a first drive (M2) that can be fixedly connected to an element (10) determining the position of a user (19) and rotationally driving, about a first axis (A2), a part (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, M1, 26) of the arm therapy system which can be connected to an upper arm module (26, M3, M4). The driven part of the arm therapy system comprises a second drive (M1) adapted to rotationally drive said upper arm module (26, M3, M4) about a second axis (A1), wherein said second axis (A1) is oriented orthogonal to the first axis (A2). The system can provide a statically determined exoskeleton with correct anatomical axes and misaligned technical axes. Full Article
ap Medical device with speaker having exterior diaphragm By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present concept are directed to medical devices having features that prevent contaminants from infiltrating the housing of the device while providing a mechanism to provide clear auditory sounds to aid a rescuer in providing care to a patient. In one example, a medical device includes a housing having a transmission area associated with an enclosed voice coil. An exterior diaphragm formed integrally with the housing surrounds the transmission area and provides a watertight seal of the transmission area. In addition, the diaphragm is structured to generate a sound that can be heard by the rescuer from the voice coil. Full Article
ap Foot rest, method for the manufacture thereof, device including the foot rest, and therapeutic method using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A foot rest including: a foot receptacle, the foot receptacle including a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion intersects the second portion; a cross-member disposed on a first side of the first portion; and a bucket connector disposed on the first side of the first portion of the foot receptacle, wherein the cross-member is proximate an end of the first portion and the bucket connector is distal to the end of the first portion. Full Article
ap Ultrasound operation apparatus, cavitation control method, and ultrasound transducer control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ultrasound operation apparatus comprises: an ultrasound transducer; a driving section that drives the ultrasound transducer by a drive signal; a probe having a proximal end section provided with the ultrasound transducer and a distal end section to which ultrasound oscillation is transmitted, the probe performing a treatment on a living tissue using ultrasound oscillation at the distal end section; a detecting section that detects, from a drive signal, a physical quantity which varies due to cavitation generated by ultrasound oscillation of the distal end section; and an output control section that controls an output of the driving section in accordance with the detected physical quantity. Full Article
ap Skin graft applicator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A skin graft applicator with a handle member and a roller member is described for use in applying a skin graft to a patient. The skin graft applicator has a manipulator pad for positioning the skin graft, and a roller member for forcing air and fluid from underneath the skin graft ensuring the proper bond between graft and tissue. Full Article
ap Methods and systems for generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and system uniquely capable of generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy. Several embodiments of the method and system contemplates the use of unfocused, focused, or defocused acoustic energy at variable spatial and/or temporal energy settings, in the range of about 1 kHz-100 MHz, and at variable tissue depths. The unique ability to customize acoustic energy output and target a particular region of interest makes possible highly accurate and precise thermal bubble formation. In an embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy. In other embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other energy forms, such radio frequency electric currents (including monopolar and bipolar radio-frequency current). In an embodiment, the energy is various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling. Full Article
ap Massage apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A massage device is disclosed and may include a substantially solid body with an array of at least twenty, and in some cases thirty or thirty-two or more, massage fingers each with an outward tip, an inward base and a center axis, the center axis extending to a center of the body. The massage fingers are spaced about the body at substantially equal distances from each of at least three, and in some cases up to five or six, massage fingers nearest to each massage finger such that the center axis of each massage finger is spaced and positioned to correspond to a location of one of at least twenty vertices of a polyhedron, in some cases a pentakis dodecahedron, and aligns with a vertex axis extending from a polyhedron center point through one of the vertices of the polyhedron. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for forming unit portions of frozen food materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for forming pressed food products can utilize up to 98% chicken breast meat in high profit margin products. Breast meat is marinated and then extruded into a slab which is then frozen and shaped into a plank. The plank is sliced into unit portions which are then pressed into shaped portions with a preferred, or other, press. One preferred press linearly reciprocates unit portions into the press. This or another preferred press imparts three dimension exterior shape to the pressed food products. Full Article
ap Injection molding apparatus having an inner mold with a plurality of inner parts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is an injection molding apparatus. That apparatus includes an axially extending bar shaped support bar and an inner mold that has a plurality of internal parts surrounding the support bar and is axially divided into a plurality of parts in which one or more corresponding parts in the inner parts have an inner circumferential surface width the same or larger than an outer circumferential surface width. The apparatus further includes an outer mold that has a plurality of axially divided external parts surrounding the inner mold and has a space between the inner circumferential surface of the outer mold and the outer circumferential surface of the inner mold. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for making an apertured web By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers. Full Article
ap Floating core for glass insert molding method and apparatuses therefrom By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tool (1000) includes a mold defining a cavity (1002). The cavity can be for receiving a glass layer (402). A floating core insert (1001) can be placed in the cavity to apply a preloading force against a first major face of the glass layer, preclude an overmolding operation on the first major face, and allow overmolding only on minor faces of the glass layer when polymeric material (1100) is injected into runners (1018,1019,1020) of the tool. Full Article
ap Amelioration of the appearance of bruises By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention is directed to compositions and processes for their use that ameliorate the appearance of bruises, making them less cosmetically unappealing. The composition functions by acting both as a humectant and occlusive agent attracting water, returning the skin surface to a smooth state and holding water in place. The re-establishment of a homeostatic state in the skin results in a rapid dissipation of the negative cosmetic effects of the bruise on the skin. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for moving a tube extrusion line along By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for moving along a tube extrusion line. An extruded tube is pushed through the extrusion line, by means of pressure generated by an extruder, to a withdrawal unit that takes over further driving of the tube. In a first-moving along phase, in which the tube has not yet passed a sealing of a calibration cooling unit relative to the atmosphere, the latter is under atmospheric pressure. In a second phase, in which the tube has passed the sealing, the calibration and cooling unit is placed under underpressure. In the first phase, the tube is supported either by internal overpressure or by a mechanical inner guide. A support cylinder extends axially from a casing head of the extruder and extends coaxially into a calibration sleeve in a first section of the calibration and cooling unit. A support plate is disposed between the casing head and an inlet of the calibration sleeve and provides external support for a tube exiting the casing head. Full Article
ap Molding apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A molding apparatus for making a continuous molded article or continuous series of molded articles generally includes a pair of spaced-apart molding assemblies, which cooperatively generate a movable mold having a dynamic mold-cavity therein, each of the molding assemblies including a series of movable mold segments, which are adapted to fit together to form a portion of the dynamic mold-cavity, a drive mechanism for conveying the mold segments along a path, and a dispenser for dispensing a moldable, expandable material into the dynamic mold-cavity. Full Article
ap Template and method of making high aspect ratio template for lithography and use of the template for perforating a substrate at nanoscale By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Template and method of making high aspect ratio template, stamp, and imprinting at nanoscale using nanostructures for the purpose of lithography, and to the use of the template to create perforations on materials and products. Full Article
ap Apparatuses and methods for fabricating semiconductor packages By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor package may include a mold and a molding plate. The mold may define a mold cavity with the mold being configured to receive a circuit board in the mold cavity, and the circuit board may include a semiconductor chip mounted thereon. A molding plate may be moveable in the mold cavity with the molding plate being configured to adjust a volume of the mold cavity. Related methods are also discussed. Full Article
ap Manufacturing apparatus for activated carbon filters By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A manufacturing apparatus for activated carbon filters has a non-woven cloth machine, a rolling module, a sprayer and a hot-pressing cylinder. The non-woven cloth machine is used to manufacture a body of non-woven cloth and has a processing segment. The rolling module is mounted at the processing segment to heat and melt the body of non-woven cloth. The sprayer is mounted above the rolling module to spray activated carbon powder on the body of non-woven cloth. The hot-pressing cylinder is mounted at the processing segment to heat and press the activated carbon powder with the body of non-woven cloth. The activated carbon powder can be securely attached to the body of non-woven cloth by the manufacturing apparatus to provide a preferred quality of the activated carbon filters and to reduce the cost of manufacturing the activated carbon filters. Full Article
ap Molding apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A molding apparatus for making a continuous molded article generally includes a pair of spaced-apart molding assemblies, which cooperatively generate a movable mold having a dynamic mold-cavity therein, each of the molding assemblies including a series of movable mold segments, which are adapted to fit together to form a portion of the dynamic mold-cavity, a drive mechanism for conveying the mold segments along a path, and a dispenser for dispensing a moldable, expandable material into the dynamic mold-cavity. Full Article
ap Apparatus and method of shaping plastics material pre-forms into plastics material containers with air extraction guided through a surge chamber By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms into plastics material containers with at least one blow moulding station which is arranged on a conveying device rotatable about a pre-set axis of rotation (D). The blow moulding station has a blow mould and this blow mould forms a cavity in the interior of which the plastics material pre-forms are capable of being expanded by being acted upon with a gaseous medium to form the plastics material containers, with a stressing device, which acts upon the plastics material pre-forms with the gaseous medium in order to expand them, and with a clean room, which surrounds the blow moulding station at least in part. The clean room is bounded off from an environment by at least two walls which are movable relative to one another. Full Article
ap Apparatus for extruding a polymeric material and extrusion head therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for extruding a polymeric material, having an extrusion head which includes a male die, a female die coaxially arranged with respect to the male die, a conveying channel, and at least one portion of which is defined between the male die and the female die. The apparatus further includes a device for adjusting a cross-sectional area of the at least one portion of the conveying channel by reciprocally displacing the female die with respect to the male die in response to an extrusion speed variation of the polymeric material. Full Article
ap Apparatus for combusting a fuel at high pressure and high temperature, and associated system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A combustor apparatus is provided, comprising a mixing arrangement for mixing a carbonaceous fuel with enriched oxygen and a working fluid to form a fuel mixture. A combustion chamber is at least partially defined by a porous perimetric transpiration member, at least partially surrounded by a pressure containment member. The combustion chamber has longitudinally spaced apart inlet and outlet portions. The fuel mixture is received by the inlet portion for combustion within the combustion chamber at a combustion temperature to form a combustion product. The combustion chamber directs the combustion product longitudinally toward the outlet portion. The transpiration member is configured to substantially uniformly direct a transpiration substance therethrough toward the combustion chamber, such that the transpiration substance is directed to flow helically about the perimeter and longitudinally between the inlet and outlet portions, for buffering interaction between the combustion product and the transpiration member. Associated systems are also provided. Full Article
ap Hot surface igniter adaptive control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An adaptive gaseous fuel ignition control method for use in consumer and commercial appliances that reduces stress on and increases the life of a hot surface igniter without resulting in a failure to ignite condition is provided. The method provides a preheating period, a full temperature period, and a trial for ignition period. The preheating period gradually increases the power applied to reduce the stress resulting therefrom. Once a gas valve has been commanded open, the controller monitors the time for ignition of the gaseous fuel. If the time is longer than a threshold, either the applied power or the period of time during which the power is applied is increased to shorten the time. If, however, the ignition period is shorter than the threshold, either the power applied or the period of time during which the power is applied before commanding the gas valve open is lowered or shortened. Full Article
ap Gas cooking appliance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a gas burner for a gas cooking appliance with at least one gas hob and/or one gas oven, wherein the gas burner (10) comprises a heat source (18) and an electric ignition system (24), and wherein an electric or electronic control circuit (38) is provided for controlling the electric ignition system (24). According to the invention the gas burner (10) includes a photovoltaic generator (20) for generating the electric power for the electric ignition system (24). Full Article
ap Apparatus and method for solid fuel chemical looping combustion By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The disclosure provides an apparatus and method utilizing fuel reactor comprised of a fuel section, an oxygen carrier section, and a porous divider separating the fuel section and the oxygen carrier section. The porous divider allows fluid communication between the fuel section and the oxygen carrier section while preventing the migration of solids of a particular size. Maintaining particle segregation between the oxygen carrier section and the fuel section during solid fuel gasification and combustion processes allows gases generated in either section to participate in necessary reactions while greatly mitigating issues associated with mixture of the oxygen carrier with char or ash products. The apparatus and method may be utilized with an oxygen uncoupling oxygen carrier such as CuO, Mn3O4, or Co3O4, or utilized with a CO/H2 reducing oxygen carrier such as Fe2O3. Full Article
ap Reverse flow regenerative apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An exemplary embodiment provides a regenerative burner apparatus. The apparatus includes a burner housing having a gas channel and a single-stage heat regenerator equipped with a housing enclosing a fluid-porous heat regenerative media bed. A first gas passageway in the housing directly interconnects the gas channel and the lower surface of the media bed. A second gas passageway in the housing interconnects an opening in the housing communicating with the exterior and the upper surface of the media bed. This arrangement allows hot waste combustion gases to pass upwardly through the media bed so that any condensable contaminant in the gases condenses to a liquid and flows out of the bed under gravity before becoming solid and clogging the bed. The liquid contaminant may then be removed from the regenerator from a position below the media bed. Full Article
ap Service method of gas appliances By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A service method of gas appliances includes: Detecting the gas appliances at the client ends to generate detecting signals. Transmitting the detecting signals to a service end. Identifying which client end the detecting signals come from. Examining the detecting signals to find whether the gas appliance has an abnormal condition; and informing the client end when the abnormal condition is found. After all, the service end may monitor the gas appliances at the client end, and inform the client for repair when the gas appliance has detected an abnormal signal or has damaged parts. Full Article
ap ***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Method of producing gallium phthalocyanine crystal and method of producing electrophotographic photosensitive member using the method of producing gallium phthalocyanine crystal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a method of producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member having improved sensitivity and capable of outputting an image having less image defects due to a ghost phenomenon not only under a normal-temperature, normal-humidity environment but also under a low-temperature, low-humidity environment as a particularly severe condition. The method of producing a gallium phthalocyanine crystal includes subjecting a gallium phthalocyanine and a specific amine compound, which are added to a solvent, to a milling treatment to perform crystal transformation of the gallium phthalocyanine. In addition, the gallium phthalocyanine crystal is used in the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Full Article
ap Liquid deposition photolithography By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for liquid deposition photolithography are described. In particular, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for using photolithography to control the 2D structure of a thin layer of material (e.g., photopolymer) using various masks, projection optics and materials. In one or more embodiments, this thin layer can be manipulated by micro-fluidic techniques such that it can be formed, patterned and post-processed in a liquid environment, vastly simplifying the creation of multi-layer structures. Multiple layers are rapidly built up to create thick structures of possibly multiple materials that are currently challenging to fabricate by existing methods. Full Article
ap Extreme ultraviolet lithography process and mask By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) process is performed on a target, such as a semiconductor wafer, having a photosensitive layer. The method includes providing a one-dimensional patterned mask along a first direction. The patterned mask includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a multilayer mirror above the first and second regions, an absorption layer above the multilayer mirror in the second region, and a defect in the first region. The method further includes exposing the patterned mask by an illuminator and setting the patterned mask and the target in relative motion along the first direction while exposing the patterned mask. As a result, an accumulated exposure dose received by the target is an optimized exposure dose. Full Article
ap Foil transferring apparatus and image forming system using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a first thermal transfer portion of upstream side, a negative toner image forming portion forms on a photosensitive drum a desired negative toner image which reverses a desired positive toner image selected from all the toner images. The negative toner image forming portion then forms the desired negative toner image on a belt member. The first thermal transfer portion transfers a desired negative foil image from a foil sheet to the belt member so that a desired positive foil image remains on the foil sheet. A second transfer portion transfers the desired positive foil image thus remained on the desired positive toner image formed on the sheet of paper. A cleaning portion removes the desired negative toner image and the desired negative foil image from the belt member. Full Article
ap Endpoint detection for photolithography mask repair By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method includes scanning a lithography mask with a repair process, and measuring back-scattered electron signals of back-scattered electrons generated from the scanning. An endpoint is determined from the back-scattered electron signals. A stop point is calculated from the endpoint. The step of scanning is stopped when the calculated stop point is reached. Full Article
ap Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus, and method of manufacturing electrophotographic photosensitive member By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided are an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which leakage doesn't easily occur, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each including the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a method of manufacturing the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a conductive layer including titanium oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with a hetero element. When an absolute value of a maximum current amount flowing through the conductive layer in a case of performing a test of applying −1.0 kV including DC voltage to the conductive layer is defined as Ia, and an absolute value of a current amount flowing through the conductive layer in a case where a decrease ratio of a current amount per minute reaches 1% or less for the first time is defined as Ib, the relations of Ia≦6000 and 10≦Ib are satisfied. A volume resistivity of the conductive layer before the test is 1.0×108 Ω·cm to 5.0×1012 Ω·cm. Full Article
ap Amine compound, electrophotographic photoconductor, image forming method, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT To provide an amine compound, represented by General Formula (I) below: [In General Formula (I), R1 and R2 represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, which may be identical or different; m and n are an integer of 1 or 0; Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; Ar2 and Ar3 represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; and Ar1 and Ar2 or Ar2 and Ar3 may bind to each other to form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group including a nitrogen atom.] Full Article
ap Carrier, two-component developer using the same, and image-forming apparatus using said developer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a carrier for a two-component electrophotographic developer, comprising a core particle and a thermoset silicone resin layer coated thereon, wherein said layer comprises a charge control agent and is formed by heat-treatment at a temperature below the melting point of said charge control agent. Full Article
ap Solution of gallium phthalocyanine method for preparing the same method for producing gallium phthalocyanine crystal method for purifying composition containing gallium phthalocyanine and method for producing electrophotographic photosensitive member By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A solution of a gallium phthalocyanine contains a compound of formula (1) and a gallium phthalocyanine of formula (2), H2N—CH2—R1—CH2—NH2 (1) wherein R1 represents a single bond, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 1 to 10 main-chain carbon atoms, a substituent of the substituted alkylene group is an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and being substituted with an amino group, or a hydroxy group, one of the carbon atoms in the main chain of the alkylene group may be replaced with an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a bivalent group represented by the formula —NR2—, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and being substituted with an amino group, and wherein X1 represents a chlorine atom or hydroxy group. Full Article
ap Method of improving print performance in flexographic printing plates By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of tailoring the shape of a plurality of relief printing dots created in a photosensitive printing blank during a platemaking process including the steps of: (a) selectively exposing at least one photocurable layer to a source of actinic radiation to selectively crosslink and cure the at least one photocurable layer; and (b) developing the exposed at least one photocurable layer to reveal the relief image therein, said relief image comprising the plurality of relief printing dots. The source of actinic radiation comprises a source of UV light in the UV-A range and a source of light in the UV-C range. The at least one photocurable layer is simultaneously exposed to the source of UV light in the UV-A range and the source of UV light in the UV-C range to produce printing dots having at least one desired geometric characteristic. Full Article
ap Exposure apparatus and exposure method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides an exposure apparatus and an exposure method. The method comprises: utilizing an exposure light source to provide light rays to the photo-resist layer, wherein the light rays pass through the mask and the transparent substrate to reach the photo-resist layer; and utilizing a reflective plate to reflect the light rays passing through the transparent substrate and the photo-resist layer back to the photo-resist layer. The present invention can reduce a line space of a pattern of the photo-resist layer. Full Article