Author: claimsbot

1. An instrument for controlling the distribution of bone cement on a surface of a prepared bone, the bone having a bore and cement disposed on at least a portion of the bone, the instrument comprising:
a shaft having a shaft axis, the shaft configured to be at least partially disposed within the bore of the bone; and
at least one arm rotatably coupled to the shaft such that the at least one arm rotates about the shaft axis, the at least one arm comprises a support portion and at least one wiper portion mounted on the support portion, the wiper portion comprises a material that is more flexible than a material of the support portion, and wherein the wiper portion is shaped to contact the cement on the bone when the at least one arm is rotated about the shaft axis.
2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the material of the wiper portion has a Shore hardness of at least about 10 and not more than about 100.
3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the material of the wiper portion has a Shore hardness of at least about 15 and not more than about 70.
4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm comprises an internal surface that contacts the cement on the bone, and wherein an angle between at least a part of the internal surface of the at least one arm and a radius extending from the shaft axis is at least about 10 degrees.
5. The instrument of claim 4, wherein the angle is at least about 45 degrees.
6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a distal end and is releasably secured to the bone such that the shaft extends from the head of the bone when the distal end is disposed within the bore.
7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm is releasably coupled to the shaft.
8. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a first portion that is releasably secured to the bone, and a second portion that is coupled to the at least one arm, and wherein the second portion is rotatable relative to the first portion.
9. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm comprises a plurality of arm portions.
10. The instrument of claim 1, comprising a depth stop disposed on the shaft having a dimension larger than the bore of the bone.
11. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm is axially movable relative to the shaft.
12. The instrument of claim 11, comprising a spring disposed on the shaft.
13. An instrument for controlling the distribution of bone cement on a surface of a prepared bone, the bone having a bore and cement disposed on at least a portion of the bone, the instrument comprising:
a shaft having a shaft axis, the shaft configured to be at least partially disposed within the bore of the bone;
at least one arm rotatably coupled to the shaft such that the at least one arm rotates about the shaft axis, the at least one arm shaped so as to contact the cement on the bone when the at least one arm is rotated about the shaft axis, the at least one arm being axially movable relative to the shaft;
a depth stop integral with the shaft, the depth stop having a dimension larger than the bore of the bone; and
a spring disposed on the shaft, wherein the spring is located between the depth stop and the at least one arm.
14. A kit of parts to be assembled to form an instrument for controlling the distribution of bone cement on a surface of a prepared bone, the bone having a bore and cement disposed on at least a portion of the bone, the instrument comprising:
a shaft having a shaft axis, the shaft configured to be at least partially disposed within the bone;
a first arm rotatably coupled to the shaft such that the first arm rotates about the shaft axis, wherein the first arm comprises a first support portion and at least one wiper portion mounted on the first support portion, and wherein the at least one wiper portion contacts the cement on the bone when the first arm is rotated about the shaft axis, and wherein the at least one wiper portion comprises a material that is more flexible than a material of the support portion;
a second arm rotatably coupled to the shaft such that the second arm rotates about the shaft axis, the second arm shaped so as to contact the cement on the bone when the second arm is rotated about the bone, wherein the second arm comprises a second support portion and at least one wiper portion mounted on the second support portion, and wherein the at least one wiper portion contacts the cement on the bone when the second arm is rotated about the shaft axis, and wherein the at least one wiper portion comprises a material that is more flexible than a material of the support portion; and
wherein the first arm has a different cross-sectional shape than the second arm.
15. A method of controlling the distribution of bone cement on a surface of a prepared bone, the bone having a bore and cement disposed on at least a portion of the bone, comprising the steps of:
disposing a shaft having a shaft axis within the bore of the bone, the shaft having at least one arm rotatably coupled thereto such that the at least one arm rotates about the shaft axis, the at least one arm comprises a support portion and at least one wiper portion mounted on the support portion, the wiper portion comprises a material that is more flexible than a material of the support portion; and
rotating the at least one arm about the shaft axis thereby causing the wiper portion to contact the cement on the bone.

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 analyzing accelerometer data on a user device, the method comprising:
receiving first accelerometer data in real-time from a first data source over a network, wherein the first data source is associated with a first external device in a first location;
receiving second accelerometer data in real-time from a second data source over the network, wherein the second data source is associated with a second external device in a second location; and
executing instructions stored in memory, wherein the execution of the instructions by a processor:
analyzes the received first accelerometer data over time to identify one or more first potential emergency events from a plurality of potential emergency events stored in memory, wherein each of the first potential emergency events is associated with a respective first event time window,
analyzes the received second accelerometer data over time to identify one or more second potential emergency events from the plurality of potential emergency events stored in memory, wherein each of the second potential emergency events is associated with a respective second event time window,
compares the first potential emergency events and the second potential emergency events to identify one or more verified emergency events, wherein a verified emergency event is identified when a first event time window associated with a first potential emergency event and a second event time window associated with a second potential emergency event overlap in time, and
generates an emergency notification based on the identified one or more verified emergency events.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user input via a user interface of the user device, wherein the received user input includes accelerometer settings.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the execution of instructions by the processor further activates an accelerometer feature on the user device based on the user input.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein activating an accelerometer feature on the user device includes executing a motion application on the user device.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the accelerometer settings are displayed in an interface of a motion application.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second accelerometer data are received from specified first and second data sources, the first and second data sources specified based on the accelerometer settings.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first data source is a first remote device, and wherein the received first accelerometer data is transmitted over the network by the remote device.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first data source is a smart watch, and wherein the first accelerometer data is detected by accelerometer sensors of the smart watch.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first data source is a health monitoring device, and wherein the first accelerometer data is detected by accelerometer sensors of the health monitoring device.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein the accelerometer settings include allowed remote notification devices.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending the emergency notification over the network to one or more of the allowed remote notification devices.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the allowed remote notification devices include one or more user devices associated with respective one or more emergency contacts, the emergency contacts specified in the accelerometer settings.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the allowed remote notification devices include an emergency assistance system.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending verified emergency event data to a third party server over the network, and wherein the third party server processes the verified emergency event data with emergency event data received from a plurality of other user devices to identify emergency events associated with a plurality of users.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the received first accelerometer data includes one or more accelerometer measurements, and wherein the first event time window is defined by a span of time during which values of the one or more accelerometer measurements exceed one or more threshold values.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the received second accelerometer data includes one or more accelerometer measurements, and wherein the second event time window is defined by a span of time during which values of the one or more accelerometer measurements exceed one or more threshold values.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first accelerometer data is linked with global positioning system data.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first accelerometer data is linked with audio input received at a microphone of the user device.
19. An apparatus for analyzing accelerometer data on a user device, the apparatus comprising:
an interface that receives over a network:
first accelerometer data in real-time from a first data source, wherein the first data source is associated with a first external device in a first location, and
second accelerometer data in real-time from a second data source, wherein the second data source is associated with a second external device in a second location; and

a processor that executes the instructions stored in memory to:
analyze the received first accelerometer data over time to identify one or more first potential emergency events from a plurality of potential emergency events stored in memory, wherein each of the first potential emergency events is associated with a respective first event time window,
analyze the received second accelerometer data over time to identify one or more second potential emergency events from the plurality of potential emergency events stored in memory, wherein each of the second potential emergency events is associated with a respective second event time window,
compare the first potential emergency events and the second potential emergency events to identify one or more verified emergency events, wherein a verified emergency event is identified when a first event time window associated with a first potential emergency event and a second event time window associated with a second potential emergency event overlap in time, and
generate an emergency notification based on the identified one or more verified emergency events.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor for analyzing accelerometer data on a user device, the method comprising:
receiving first accelerometer data in real-time from a first data source over a network, wherein the first data source is associated with a first external device in a first location;
receiving second accelerometer data in real-time from a second data source over the network, wherein the second data source is associated with a second external device in a second location;
analyzing the received first accelerometer data over time to identify one or more first potential emergency events from a plurality of potential emergency events stored in memory, wherein each of the first potential emergency events is associated with a respective first event time window;
analyzing the received second accelerometer data over time to identify one or more second potential emergency events from the plurality of potential emergency events stored in memory, wherein each of the second potential emergency events is associated with a respective second event time window;
comparing the first potential emergency events and the second potential emergency events to identify one or more verified emergency events, wherein a verified emergency event is identified when a first event time window associated with a first potential emergency event and a second event time window associated with a second potential emergency event overlap in time; and
generating an emergency notification based on the identified one or more verified emergency events.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified one or more verified emergency events include the user being part of a car accident, the user experiencing an earthquake, or the user falling.

1. A two-dimensional colorimeter comprising:
an image sensing section, including an image sensor constituted of a number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, for sensing an object image to be measured to acquire a two-dimensional image;
a discriminator for discriminating whether a targeted color with respect to the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
a calculator for performing a calculation to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result by the discriminator; and
a storage for storing discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values, wherein the discrimination chromaticity values are information relating to chromaticity ranges each having a predetermined range concerning the chromaticity value,
the discriminator compares measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the discrimination chromaticity values stored in the storage, and
the calculator selects the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the calibration coefficients stored in the storage in accordance with a comparison result by the discriminator to multiply the selected calibration coefficient by the measurement chromaticity value.
2. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 1, further comprising a calibrator for calculating the respective calibration coefficients based on a ratio of the measurement chromaticity value corresponding to the color to be corrected versus a true value obtained by a measurement with respect to the color to be corrected by a measuring device other than the two-dimensional colorimeter.
3. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 1, wherein
the storage stores therein a lookup table recorded with chromaticity range information and the correction information which are correlated to each other with respect to each of the colors to be corrected.
4. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 3, wherein
the lookup table is created by a calibrator, and
the calibrator creates the lookup table based on information relating to the color to be corrected at a site arbitrarily designated by a user on the two-dimensional image acquired by sensing the object image to be measured, and based on the measurement chromaticity value and a true value at the site designated on the two-dimensional image.
5. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 1, wherein
a white color calibration is performed as a process prior to the calculation of applying the predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels.
6. A two-dimensional colorimeter comprising:
an image sensing section, including an image sensor constituted of a number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, for sensing an object image to be measured to acquire a two-dimensional image;
a discriminator for discriminating whether a targeted color with respect to the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
a calculator for performing a calculation to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result by the discriminator;
a storage for storing discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values, wherein
the discriminator compares measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the discrimination chromaticity values stored in the storage, and
the calculator selects the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the calibration coefficients stored in the storage in accordance with a comparison result by the discriminator to multiply the selected calibration coefficient by the measurement chromaticity value; and

a calibrator for calculating the respective calibration coefficients based on a ratio of the measurement chromaticity value corresponding to the color to be corrected versus a true value obtained by a measurement with respect to the color to be corrected by a measuring device other than the two-dimensional colorimeter.
7. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 6, wherein
the discrimination chromaticity values are information relating to chromaticity ranges each having a predetermined range concerning the chromaticity value.
8. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 6, wherein
the storage stores therein a lookup table recorded with chromaticity range information and the correction information which are correlated to each other with respect to each of the colors to be corrected.
9. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 8, wherein
the lookup table is created by a calibrator, and
the calibrator creates the lookup table based on information relating to the color to be corrected at a site arbitrarily designated by a user on the two-dimensional image acquired by sensing the object image to be measured, and based on the measurement chromaticity value and a true value at the site designated on the two-dimensional image.
10. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 6, wherein
a white color calibration is performed as a process prior to the calculation of applying the predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels.
11. A two-dimensional colorimeter comprising:
an image sensing section, including an image sensor constituted of a number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, for sensing an object image to be measured to acquire a two-dimensional image;
a discriminator for discriminating whether a targeted color with respect to the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
a calculator for performing a calculation to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result by the discriminator; and
a storage for storing discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values,
wherein the storage stores therein a lookup table created by the calibrator and recorded with chromaticity range information and the correction information which are correlated to each other with respect to each of the colors to be corrected,
the calibrator creates the lookup table based on information relating to the color to be corrected at a site arbitrarily designated by a user on the two-dimensional image acquired by sensing the object image to be measured, and based on the measurement chromaticity value and a true value at the site designated on the two-dimensional image,
the discriminator compares measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the discrimination chromaticity values stored in the storage, and
the calculator selects the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the calibration coefficients stored in the storage in accordance with a comparison result by the discriminator to multiply the selected calibration coefficient by the measurement chromaticity value.
12. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 11, wherein
the discrimination chromaticity values are information relating to chromaticity ranges each having a predetermined range concerning the chromaticity value.
13. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 11, further comprising a calibrator for calculating the respective calibration coefficients based on a ratio of the measurement chromaticity value corresponding to the color to be corrected versus a true value obtained by a measurement with respect to the color to be corrected by a measuring device other than the two-dimensional colorimeter.
14. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 11, wherein
a white color calibration is performed as a process prior to the calculation of applying the predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels.
15. A two-dimensional colorimeter comprising:
an image sensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional configuration and which is adapted to sense an object image and acquire a two-dimensional image of the object;
a comparator which is configured to discriminate whether a targeted color with respect to the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensor is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
a multiplier configured to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result by the comparator;
a memory which is configured to store discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values, the discrimination chromaticity values being information relating to chromaticity ranges each having a predetermined range concerning the chromaticity value,
wherein the comparator is configured to compare measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the discrimination chromaticity values stored in the memory, and
the multiplier is configured to select the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the calibration coefficients stored in the memory in accordance with a comparison result by the comparator to multiply the selected calibration coefficient by the measurement chromaticity value.
16. A method of operating a two-dimensional colorimeter having an image sensing section, including an image sensor constituted of a number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, for sensing an object image to be measured to acquire a two-dimensional image, said method comprising the steps of:
discriminating whether a targeted color with respect to a two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
performing a calculation to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result;
storing discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values, the step of discriminating including comparing measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the stored discrimination chromaticity values, and
calculating the respective calibration coefficients based on a ratio of the measurement chromaticity value corresponding to the color to be corrected versus a true value obtained by a measurement with respect to the color to be corrected by a measuring device other than the two-dimensional colorimeter, the step of calculating including selecting the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the stored calibration coefficients in accordance with a comparison result from the step of discriminating to correct the measurement chromaticity value using the selected calibration coefficient.

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 process for producing an instantized amino acid product comprising:
obtaining a particulate amino acid;
coating the amino acid particles with an aqueous solution of a food grade gum;
adhering at least one gum-coated amino acid particle to at least one other gum-coated amino acid particle, thereby forming an agglomerate of amino acid particles;
drying the agglomerate;
coating the agglomerate with an aqueous solution of a food grade surfactant; and
drying the surfactant-coated agglomerate.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino acid particles have a particle size diameter of from about 63 microns to about 400 microns.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino acid particles have a particle size diameter of from about 100 microns to about 200 microns.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the food grade gum comprises guar gum.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant comprises soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino acid is a branched chain amino acid.
7. The process of claim 1 wherein the agglomerate is dried at a temperature of from about 110\xb0 F. to about 212\xb0 F.
8. The process of claim 7, wherein the drying occurs in a fluid bed apparatus,
9. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution of the food grade gum comprises a gum concentration of from about 2%, by weight, to about 15%, by weight.
10. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution of the food grade surfactant comprises a surfactant concentration of from about 1%, by weight to about 5%, by weight.
11. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino acid particles are hammer milled or jet milled.
12. A process for producing an instantized amino acid product comprising:
obtaining a particulate amino acid;
coating the outer surface of the amino acid particles with an aqueous solution of a food grade surfactant; and
drying the surfactant-coated amino acid particles.
13. The process of claim 12 wherein the amino acid particles have an average particle size diameter of from about 150 microns to about 400 microns.
14. The process of claim 12 wherein the amino acid particles have an average particle size diameter of from about 200 microns to about 300 microns.
15. The process of claim 12 wherein the amino acid comprises a branched chain amino acid.
16. The process of claim 12 wherein the surfactant-coated amino acid particles are dried in a fluid bed apparatus at a temperature of from about 140\xb0 F. to about 212\xb0 F.
17. An agglomerate comprising:
an inner core comprising:
at least two amino acid particles adhered to another with a food grade gum; and
open porous channels between the amino acid particles; and

an outer layer comprising a food grade surfactant.
18. An amino acid-enriched beverage comprising a liquid and the instantized amino acid agglomerates of claim 17.
19. The amino acid-enriched beverage of claim 18 wherein the amino acid agglomerates are prepared by a process comprising:
obtaining a particulate amino acid;
coating the amino acid articles with an aqueous solution of a food grade gum;
adhering at least one gum-coated amino acid particle to at least one other gum-coated amino acid particle, thereby forming an agglomerate of amino acid particles;
drying the agglomerate;
coating the agglomerate with an aqueous solution of a food grade surfactant; and
drying the surfactant-coated agglomerate.
20. The amino acid-enriched beverage of claim 18 wherein the beverage comprises from about 1 gram to about 10 grams of the instantized amino acid agglomerates per 200 milliliters of liquid.
21. The amino acid-enriched beverage of claim 18 wherein the liquid comprises a milk product.
22. An amino acid-enriched beverage comprising a liquid and instantized surfactant-coated amino acid particles prepared by a process comprising:
obtaining a particulate amino acid;
coating the outer surface of the amino acid particles with an aqueous solution of a food grade surfactant; and
driving the surfactant-coated amino articles.