Author: claimsbot

1. A phlebotomy device comprising:
a needle defining a lumen and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion including a sharpened tip configured to pierce tissue;
a deformable valve positioned about the proximal end portion of the needle; and
a sensor formed of a shape memory alloy disposed at least partially within the lumen, the sensor having a first state and a second state;
wherein the sensor is configured to transition from the first state to the second state upon exposure to blood at physiological temperature and the deformable valve is configured to move between a first collapsed position and a second extended position upon transition of the sensor from the first state to the second state, the sensor being positioned to contact the deformable valve to move the deformable valve from the first collapsed position to the second extended position as the sensor transitions from the first state to the second state.
2. The phlebotomy device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is made of nickel-titanium alloy.
3. The phlebotomy device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a wire.
4. The phlebotomy device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sensor has a generally helical shape.
5. The phlebotomy device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor has a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being fixed within the lumen of the needle.
6. The phlebotomy device according to claim 1, further comprising a needle holder supporting the needle.
7. The phlebotomy device according to claim 6, wherein the needle holder defines a cavity, wherein the distal end portion of the needle extends outwardly from the cavity and the proximal end portion of the needle is supported within the cavity.
8. The phlebotomy device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable valve includes a tubular section, an indicator, and a weakened wall section connecting the tubular section and the indicator.
9. The phlebotomy device according to claim 8, wherein the indicator is made of an elastomeric material.
10. The phlebotomy device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor extends proximally when transitioning from the first state to the second state.
11. A phlebotomy device comprising:
a needle defining a lumen and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion including a sharpened tip configured to pierce tissue;
a sensor formed of a shape memory alloy disposed at least partially within the lumen, the sensor having a first state and a second state and being configured to transition from the first state to the second state upon exposure to blood at physiological temperature;
a needle holder supporting the needle and defining a cavity, wherein the distal end portion of the needle extends outwardly from the cavity and the proximal end portion of the needle is supported within the cavity; and
a deformable valve positioned about the proximal end portion of the needle, the deformable valve having a first configuration and a second configuration, the deformable valve contacting the sensor such that when the sensor is in the first state, the deformable valve is in the first configuration and when the sensor transitions to the second state, the deformable valve is moved to the second configuration.
12. The phlebotomy device according to claim 11, wherein the deformable valve includes a tubular section, an indicator, and a weakened wall section connecting the tubular section and the indicator.
13. The phlebotomy device, according to claim 5,
wherein the sensor has a non-linear portion that transitions to a substantially linear state when in contact with blood at physiological temperature.
14. The phlebotomy device of claim 13 wherein the non-linear portion of the sensor has a sinusoidal configuration.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A dispenser box for stackable sheet articles, said dispenser box comprising:
first and second rectangular main walls each main wall having a first and a second wall end edge,
a first dispenser end edge of said dispenser box defined by said first wall end edge of said first main wall and said first wall end edge of said second main wall,
a second dispenser end edge of said dispenser box defined by said second wall end edge of said first main wall and said second wall end edge of said second main wall,
a first wall side edge of said first main wall and a first wall side edge of said second main wall extending along a first dispenser side edge of said dispenser box and a second wall side edge of said first main wall and a second wall side edge of said second main wall extending along a second dispenser side edge of said dispenser box,
first and second end walls; and
a dispensing opening,
wherein each said end wall has a first and a second diametrically opposite right-angled corner and a first and a second diametrically opposite convexly curved corner wherein said first dispenser side edge of said dispenser box extends between said first right-angled corners of said end walls and said second dispenser side edge of said dispenser box extends between said second right-angled corners of said end walls,
wherein said first wall end edge of said first main wall and said first wall end edge of said second main wall extend between said first and second diametrically opposite right-angled corners of said first end wall, and said second wall end edge of said first main wall and said second wall end edge of said second main wall extend between said first and second diametrically opposite right-angled corners of said second end wall, and
wherein said first and second wall end edges of said first and second main walls comprise a curved portion conforming to said curvature of said curved corners of said end walls and each said main wall has a curved surface corresponding to said curved portions of said wall end edges of said main walls.
2. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of said convexly curved corners is greater than 1 mm and less than or equal to a height or a width of said dispenser box.
3. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing opening is arranged in a main wall.
4. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing opening is arranged in an end wall.
5. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein two or more dispensing openings are arranged in said dispenser box.
6. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser box walls are made from a material selected from the group consisting of: cardboard, plastic sheet materials, paper foam materials, plastic foam materials, metal foil, and laminates and combinations thereof.
7. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein each said end wall comprises at least one end panel.
8. The dispenser box according to claim 7, wherein said end walls comprise two overlapping end panels.
9. The dispenser box according to claim 8, wherein said overlapping end panels have equal shape.
10. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser box contains a rectangular stack of interfolded wipes.
11. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein said end walls are arranged flush with said wall end edges of said main walls.
12. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein said first side dispenser edge of said dispenser box is defined by a fold line between two main wall panels and said second dispenser side edge of said dispenser box is defined by a join between said main wall panels.
13. The dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein said curved portions of said first and second main walls are continuously curved without creases or folds between said first and second dispenser side edges of said dispenser box.
14. A blank for producing the dispenser box according to claim 1, wherein said blank comprises first and second rectangular main panels having first and second side edges and first and second end edges, said main panels being interconnected by a side edge fold line constituting said first side edges of said main panels and comprising at least one end panel being interconnected with each said end edge of said main panels by an end edge fold line having first and second ends, said at least one end panel having a right-angled corner and a convexly curved corner at the ends of said edge fold line.
15. The blank according to claim 14, wherein two end panels are interconnected with each said end edges of said main panels.
16. The blank according to claim 15, wherein said two end panels have identical shape.
17. The blank according to claim 16, wherein at least one stabilizing tab is interconnected with each said end edges of said main panels.
18. A process for forming a box dispenser from the blank according to claim 17, comprising the steps of:
a) folding said blank along said side edge fold line;
b) interconnecting said second side edges of said main panels to form a tubular main box dispenser body;
c) folding in the first end panel at said end edges of said main panels;
d) folding in said at least one stabilizing tab; and
e) folding in said second end panel.
19. A dispenser box for stackable sheet articles, said dispenser box comprising:
first and second rectangular main walls each main wall having a first and a second wall end edge,
a first dispenser end edge of said dispenser box defined by said first wall end edge of said first main wall and said first wall end edge of said second main wall,
a second dispenser end edge of said dispenser box defined by said second wall end edge of said first main wall and said second wall end edge of said second main wall,
a first wall side edge of said first main wall and a first wall side edge of said second main wall extending along a first dispenser side edge of said dispenser box and a second wall side edge of said first main wall and a second wall side edge of said second main wall extending along a second dispenser side edge of said dispenser box,
first and second end walls; and
a dispensing opening,
wherein each said end wall has a first and a second diametrically opposite right-angled corner and a first and a second diametrically opposite convexly curved corner wherein said first dispenser side edge of said dispenser box extends between said first right-angled corners of said end walls and said second dispenser side edge of said dispenser box extends between said second right-angled corners of said end walls,
wherein said first wall end edge of said first main wall and said first wall end edge of said second main wall extend between said first and second diametrically opposite right-angled corners of said first end wall, and said second wall end edge of said first main wall and said second wall end edge of said second main wall extend between said first and second diametrically opposite right-angled corners of said second end wall, and
wherein said first and second wall end edges of said first and second main walls comprise a curved portion conforming to said curvature of said curved corners of said end walls and each said main wall has a curved surface corresponding to said curved portions of said wall end edges of said main walls,
wherein each said end wall comprises at least one end panel, and
wherein at least one end tab extends from said first dispenser end edge of said dispenser box and is attached to an inner surface of said at least one end panel of said dispenser box thereby connecting said inner surface of said at least one end panel with said first dispenser end edge of said dispenser box.

1. An optical disc assembly, comprising:
a cover portion comprising at least one insert having a surface capable of receiving an analyte which can be detected by an optical disc reader; and
a main portion comprising
an outer assay area, and
an inner data area containing encoded instructions that directs an optical disc reader to adjust its focus to the correct data layer in order to read analyte-specific signal elements disposed on the at least one insert.
2. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical disc reader is a DVD reader.
3. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner data area further contains data used to adjust the firmware or flash components of the optical disc reader chipset so that the optical disc reader can correctly read and interpret analyte-specific signals.
4. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer assay area comprises at least one operational structure.
5. The optical disc assembly of claim 4, wherein the operational structure comprises a radial plane tracking feature to provide tracking information to the optical disc reader.
6. The optical disc assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one operational structure comprises a wobble groove.
7. The optical disc assembly of claim 6, wherein the wobble groove comprises a forward image groove.
8. The optical disc assembly of claim 6, wherein the wobble groove comprises a reverse image groove.
9. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner data area comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein programs, instructions, or data can be stored in either the first layer or the second layer.
10. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner data area comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein programs, instructions, or data are stored in both the first layer and the second layer.
11. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion comprises a translucent optical material.
12. The optical disc assembly of claim 11, wherein the optical material comprises polycarbonate, polymethyl acrylic, or glass.
13. The optical disc assembly of claim 11, wherein the optical material affects a light beam from the optical disc reader so as to optimize the detection of the analyte-specific signal elements disposed on the at least one insert.
14. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert comprises analyte-specific signal elements, and wherein the cover portion is configured such that the analyte-specific signal elements are physically segregated from operational structures in the cover portion or the main portion.
15. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion and the main portion are permanently affixed to each other.
16. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion and the main portion are affixed to each other such that they can be separated.
17. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert is inserted into the cover portion.
18. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert is attached to the cover portion.
19. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion is assembled over the outer assay area of the main portion.
20. The optical disc assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner data area and a cutout portion of the cover portion are configured so as to permit a snug coupling between the main portion and the cover portion.
21. A method of detecting an analyte held by the optical disc assembly of claim 1, comprising:
providing the optical disc assembly to the optical disc reader;
reading the optical disc assembly; and
obtaining a signal which is indicative of the presence of the analyte.
22. A kit for detecting an analyte, comprising:
an insert having a surface capable of receiving an analyte and analyte-specific signal elements which can be detected by an optical disc reader; and
a disc comprising a cover portion capable of receiving the insert, and further comprising a main portion comprising an outer assay area and an inner data area, the inner data area containing encoded instructions that directs an optical disc reader to adjust its focus to the correct data layer to enable the optical disc reader to read the analyte-specific signal elements disposed on the at least one insert.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for generating a list of candidate alternative spellings, comprising:
finding, among a plurality of pages, a first page that contains, in a body of the first page, a link whose anchor text contains a first spelling that is also contained in a query that was entered by a user, wherein said link links to a second page;
comparing the first spelling with the spelling of terms within said second page in order to identify spellings that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling, wherein the spelling of the terms is in the same language as the first spelling;
adding, to a list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling, one or more spellings within said second page that are spelled similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling;
generating a filtered list at least in part by filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings based on a comparison of (a) a first frequency of occurrences of said first spelling in said plurality of pages to (b) a second frequency of occurrences, in said plurality of pages, of a second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings;
conducting a search based on a query in which said first spelling has been replaced by a spelling from said filtered list but wherein query terms other than said first spelling remain as entered by said user; and
presenting, to said user, one or more results of said search;
wherein the steps of comparing, adding, and generating are performed by one or more computing devices.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first spelling comprises multiple words and wherein said second spelling comprises multiple words.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings further comprises:
in response to determining that said first frequency is greater than said second frequency, removing said second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling based on whether said first spelling is a plural form of said second spelling.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling based on whether said second spelling is a plural form of said first spelling.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, at a search engine, from said user, query terms that contain said first spelling.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
presenting, to said user, one or more spellings from said filtered list.
8. A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:
finding, among a plurality of pages, a first page that contains, in a body of the first page, a link whose anchor text contains a first spelling that is also contained in a query that was entered by a user, wherein said link links to a second page;
comparing the first spelling with the spelling of terms within said second page in order to identify spellings that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling, wherein the spelling of the terms is in the same language as the first spelling;
adding, to a list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling, one or more spellings within said second page that are spelled similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling; and
generating a filtered list at least in part by filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings based on a comparison of (a) a first frequency of occurrences of said first spelling in said plurality of pages to (b) a second frequency of occurrences, in said plurality of pages, of a second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings; and
conducting a search based on a query in which said first spelling has been replaced by a spelling from said filtered list but wherein query terms other than said first spelling remain as entered by said user; and
presenting, to said user, one or more results of said search.
9. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said first spelling comprises multiple words and wherein said second spelling comprises multiple words.
10. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings further comprises:
in response to determining that said first frequency is greater than said second frequency, removing said second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings.
11. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise:
filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling based on whether said first spelling is a plural form of said second spelling.
12. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise:
filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling based on whether said second spelling is a plural form of said first spelling.
13. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise:
receiving, at a search engine, from said user, query terms that contain said first spelling.
14. The volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further comprise:
presenting, to said user, one or more spellings from said filtered list.
15. A method for generating a list of candidate alternative spellings, comprising:
finding, among a plurality of pages, a first page that contains, in a body of the first page, a link whose anchor text contains a first spelling that is also contained in a query that was entered by a user, wherein said link links to a second page;
comparing the first spelling with the spelling of terms within said second page in order to identify spellings that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling, wherein the spelling of the terms is in the same language as the first spelling;
adding, to a list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling, one or more spellings within said second page that are spelled similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling;
generating a filtered list at least in part by filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings based on a comparison of (a) a first frequency of occurrences of said first spelling in said plurality of pages to (b) a second frequency of occurrences, in said plurality of pages, of a second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings;
presenting, to said user, one or more spellings from said filtered list;
wherein the steps of comparing, adding, and generating are performed by one or more computing devices.
16. A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:
finding, among a plurality of pages, a first page that contains, in a body of the first page, a link whose anchor text contains a first spelling that is also contained in a query that was entered by a user, wherein said link links to a second page;
comparing the first spelling with the spelling of terms within said second page in order to identify spellings that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling, wherein the spelling of the terms is in the same language as the first spelling;
adding, to a list of candidate alternative spellings of said first spelling, one or more spellings within said second page that are spelled similar to, but not exactly the same as, said first spelling; and
generating a filtered list at least in part by filtering said list of candidate alternative spellings based on a comparison of (a) a first frequency of occurrences of said first spelling in said plurality of pages to (b) a second frequency of occurrences, in said plurality of pages, of a second spelling from said list of candidate alternative spellings; and
presenting, to said user, one or more spellings from said filtered list.