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U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in Illinois (Aug. 29)(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Targeted News Service Targeted News Service ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- The following federal patents were awarded to inventors in Illinois. *** Southern Imperial Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 28 -- Southern Imperial, Rockford, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,441) developed by Patrick J. Barkdoll, Pecatonica, Ill., Thomas E. Valiulis, Rockford, Ill., and Robert Louis Northrup Jr., Machesney Park, Ill., for an "adjustable arm gondola lighting system." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An adjustable arm gondola lighting system is provided. The adjustable arm gondola lighting system allows a user to illuminate retail merchandise located on a vertical wall by angularly and linearly adjusting the positioning of a light element of the adjustable arm gondola lighting system. The adjustable arm gondola lighting system may integrate a light shade which may include advertising by having printed graphics thereon. The light shade can be positioned around or within a light element to adjust the lighting characteristics of the adjustable arm gondola lighting system." The patent application was filed on Oct. 8, 2008 (12/247,322). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=80,02,441.PN.&OS=PN/80,02,441&RS=PN/80,02,441 Written by Ruby Maibam; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Hon Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 28 -- Hon Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, Hong Kong, has been assigned a patent (8,002,409) developed by six co-inventors for a "vision treatment procedures and devices." The co-inventors are Geng Li, Heng Fa Chuen, Hong Kong, Zhong-Lin Lu, Irvine, Calif., Xiangrui Li, Alhambra, Calif., Chang-Bing Huang, Alhambra, Calif., Jia-Hong Gao, Chicago, and Yeung-Ming Chow, Tai Po, Hong Kong. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A vision treatment system comprises a computer and a user input output module associated with the computer, the user input output module including a display screen and means for receiving user input, wherein the computer includes a testing and training module for one or more vision disorders, the training and testing module in communication with the user input output module and testing a user's cutoff spatial frequency of a contrast sensitivity and applying a training regimen based upon Perceptual Template Model (PTM) analysis of interactions with the user." The patent application was filed on July 14, 2009 (12/502,517). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=80,02,409.PN.&OS=PN/80,02,409&RS=PN/80,02,409 Written by Ruby Maibam; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Hewlett-Packard Development Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Hewlett-Packard Development, Houston, has been assigned a patent (8,003,291) developed by Yaacov Almog, Nes Ziona, Ill., Avi Koller, Toronto, and Ilya Taraniuk, Rehovot, Ill., for a "method of charging toner particles." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of charging toner particles in a liquid toner comprising: mixing the toner with an acid; and mixing the toner with a base that reacts with the acid to charge the toner particles." The patent application was filed on March 20, 2007 (11/688,709). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8003291.PN.&OS=PN/8003291&RS=PN/8003291 Written by Ankresh Ranjan; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Andrew Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Andrew, Hickory, N.C., has been assigned a patent (8,002,580) developed by four co-inventors for a "coaxial cable crimp connector." The co-inventors are Luo Huixiong, Suzhou, China, Li Zuhui, Suzhou, China, Zheng Jien, Suzhou, China, and Graham Hale, Manhattan, Ill. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A connector for semi-rigid outer conductor coaxial cable having a body provided with a connection interface at a connector end, a body bore and a crimp area around an outer surface of the body. The body bore dimensioned to receive the outer conductor together with a cylindrical sleeve dimensioned to receive the outer conductor therethrough when the outer conductor is folded back over the sleeve, to a position along the body bore corresponding to the crimp area." The patent application was filed on May 30, 2008 (12/130,369). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,580.PN.&OS=PN/8,002,580&RS=PN/8,002,580 Written by Anjali Jha; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Praxair Technology Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Praxair Technology, Danbury, Conn., has been assigned a patent (8,002,514) developed by Bradley Hagstrom, Glen Ellyn, Ill., Paul W. Garvey, Georgetown, Canada, and William J. Bryce, Willowbrook, Ill., for a "method and system for supplying portable gas cylinders." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of supplying a portable medical gas system is provided. The disclosed method includes preparing a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a cylinder adapted to be filled with medical gas and a gas dispensing valve. The portable medical gas system is place in a specialized container having a configuration adapted to hold the portable medical gas system only when the cylinder of portable medical gas system is unused state or empty state. The portable medical gas system is delivered to the customer, and returned as an empty cylinder via commercial carrier. Upon receipt of the empty or spent portable medical gas system, another portable medical gas system filled with medical gas is sent to the customer. In one embodiment, the portable medical gas system includes a single-use flow control valve which ensures the cylinder is empty after its initial use." The patent application was filed on Oct. 23, 2007 (11/876,983). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,514.PN.&OS=PN/8,002,514&RS=PN/8,002,514 Written by Anjali Jha; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Panduit Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Panduit, Tinley Park, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,590) developed by Andrew Ciezak, Mokena, Ill., David A. Dylkiewicz, Lockport, Ill., and Michael V. Doorhy, Mokena, Ill., for an "electric connector and method of performing electronic connection." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A modular jack assembly having a housing and a plug interface contact (PIC) sled subassembly insertable into the housing. The PIC sled subassembly provides an electrical and mechanical interface between PICs and a male-type plug receivable in an opening in the housing. The PIC sled subassembly is defined in part by multiple slots formed in the PIC sled subassembly that receive the PICs. The design of the PICs compensates for independent near-end cross-talk vectors and far-end cross-talk vectors to obtain a desired level of electrical characteristics." The patent application was filed on March 9, 2009 (12/400,456). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,590.PN.&OS=PN/8,002,590&RS=PN/8,002,590 Written by Anjali Jha; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Ingersoll Machine Tools Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Ingersoll Machine Tools, Rockford, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,003,034) developed by Tino Oldani, Rockford, Ill., Daniel Jarvi, Rockford, Ill., for a "forming a composite structure by filament placement on a tool surface of a tablet." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method and apparatus are provided for forming a composite structure with an automatic placement head, through the use of a non-rotating tooling tablet having first and second substantially oppositely facing surfaces thereof, joined around the peripheries thereof by a side surface of the tablet, with at least one of the first or second surfaces forming a tool surface of the tablet. Layers of pre-impregnated fiber or tape are applied to the tool surface of the tablet by the automated fiber placement head." The patent application was filed on April 21, 2005 (11/111,499). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,003,034&OS=8,003,034&RS=8,003,034 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Honeywell International Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Honeywell International, Morristown, N.J., has been assigned a patent (8,003,056) developed by four co-inventors for a "gas analyzer apparatus and method of analyzing gases." The co-inventors are Ulrich Bonne, Hopkins, Minn., Patrick G. Hogan, Vernon Hills, Ill., Richard A. Gorny, Des Plaines, Ill., and Leslie T. Ivie, Hawthorn Woods, Ill. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A gas analyzer apparatus includes a device or platform for supporting a predetermined quantity of a reagent capable of reacting with a predetermined gas to cause a detectable change in a characteristic of the reagent, a reservoir adapted to retain the reagent, a dispenser for dispensing a controlled quantity of the reagent from the reservoir to a predetermined position on the device for supporting the predetermined quantity of the reagent, and a detector that detects the presence of the predetermined gas upon the predetermined gas and the controlled quantity of reagent reacting to cause a detectable change in a characteristic of the reagent detectable by the detector, the detector adapted to detect a change in the controlled quantity of the reagent by detecting the change in the characteristic through the predetermined quantity of the reagent." The patent application was filed on June 14, 2007 (11/762,891). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,003,056&OS=8,003,056&RS=8,003,056 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** WMS Gaming Assigned Patent for Wagering Game with Enhancement Feature for Bonus-triggering ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- WMS Gaming, Waukegan, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,626) developed by Allon G. Englman, Chicago, for a "wagering game with enhancement feature for bonus-triggering event." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A gaming terminal (10) is utilized for playing a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game. The gaming (10) terminal has a wager-input device (16a, 16b). A display (26) displays a plurality of moveable reels having symbols located thereon during the basic game. The symbols indicate a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. The basic game implements a special mode in response to an enablement by a player. In response to the special mode being enabled and the movable reels displaying less than a full bonus triggering combination, the movable reels not displaying a portion of the full bonus triggering combination are re-spun." The patent application was filed on Jan. 17, 2006 (11/795,167). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=80,02,626.PN.&OS=PN/80,02,626&RS=PN/80,02,626 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** UOP Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- UOP, Des Plaines, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,952) developed by Paul A. Sechrist, South Barrington, Ill., for a heat pump distillation. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A distillation column is disclosed with a folded design. The column includes a plurality of rectification zones and corresponding stripping zones Each rectification zone is linked to a heat pump or a stage of a heat pump. Overhead vapor from the top rectification zone is compressed and used to heat bottoms liquid from the bottom stripping zone. Similarly, overhead vapor from the middle rectification zone is compressed and used to heat liquid from a middle stripping zone and overhead from a lower rectification zone is compressed and used to heat liquid taken from the uppermost or top stripping zone. A single multiple stage heat pump compressor may be utilized as opposed to a plurality of heat pumps Because the heat exchanger from each rectification-stripping zone pair has a lower duty, economical stab-in heat exchangers may be utilized." The patent application was filed on Nov. 2, 2007 (11/934,321). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,952.PN.&OS=PN/8,002,952&RS=PN/8,002,952 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Smiths Medical ASD Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Smiths Medical ASD, Rockland, Mass., has been assigned a patent (8,002,940) developed by Joseph Pierre, Libertyville, Ill., and Rachel Starr, Randolph, Mass., for a "hose retainer for thermal blanket." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An inflatable convective thermal blanket is designed to have at least one section on its top surface that has securely mounted thereon at least one fluid absorbent mechanism for absorbing fluids from a subject that is placed onto the blanket, or from fluids fallen onto the blanket from other sources. The one section is configured onto the blanket in such a way that it forms a well for collecting the fluids. The fluid absorbent mechanism, which may be in the form of a pad, would absorb the collected fluid to thereby minimize evaporative and cooling effects on the subject. Instead of mounting it on top of the blanket, the fluid absorbent pad may be mounted to the underside of the blanket, with appropriate holes and/or openings provided at the fluid collecting section, so that the collected fluids are drained onto the fluid absorbent pad. To enhance the input flow of air to the blanket, as well as to enable the blanket to be flatly folded for storage or shipping, a collapsible retainer mechanism is provided at the input port(s) of the blanket. The retainer mechanism opens up to a shape that facilitates the mating of an air hose to the input port. When folded to its collapsed position, the retainer mechanism, and the input port, would lie substantially coplanarly with the blanket. When configured to the position for accepting the air hose, the retainer mechanism is positioned substantially orthogonal to the blanket." The patent application was filed on Jan. 8, 2010 (12/654,905). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,940&OS=8,002,940&RS=8,002,940 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** U.S. Army Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Army has been assigned a patent (8,002,917) developed by Veera M. Boddu, Champaign, Ill., Reddy Damavarapu, Hackettstown, N.J., and Krishnaiah Abburi, Tirupati, India., for an "adjusting yield of a manufacturing process for energetic compounds through solubility modification." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of adjusting the yield of a manufactured compound comprising primarily two energetic materials to yield a product comprising primarily one of the two energetic materials. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a method of purifying a compound primarily comprising RDX and HMX to achieve a desired purity of RDX with an acceptable yield percentage. By adding sufficient acetonitrile (ACN) to the manufactured compound to dissolve it and form a solution; adding a pre-specified volume of water to the resultant solution and stirring sufficiently to precipitate at least the RDX; separating and drying the precipitate, a pre-specified purity and yield percentage of RDX may be obtained by varying the volume of water added. The process uses relatively environmentally benign recyclable solvents at ambient temperature and pressure reducing both environmental impact and energy costs." The patent application was filed on Feb. 9, 2009 (12/367,562). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,917&OS=8,002,917&RS=8,002,917 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** All Service Contracting Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- All Service Contracting, Decatur, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,982) developed by Brian K. Burcham, Decatur, Ill., Timothy D. Wallis, Warrensburg, Ill., and Donald L. Tate, Decatur, Ill., for a "deflector for a water/wastewater filtration tank." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A water/wastewater filtration tank includes a fluid deflector coupled to the inner surface of the water/wastewater filtration tank to divert fluid traveling along the inner surface of the tank into filter media within the tank. The fluid deflector includes a back plate coupled to a tank wall and a flange extending outwardly from the back plate." The patent application was filed on Dec. 18, 2006 (11/611,977). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,982&OS=8,002,982&RS=8,002,982 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Tamarack Products Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Tamarack Products, Wauconda, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,924) developed by David E. Machamer, Wauconda, Ill., for an "apparatus for splicing webs." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A continuous splicer includes first and second closely spaced rotating cylinders each having a respective cutting element and tape retaining arrangement disposed on its outer periphery. With a depleting web fed by the first cylinder and a replenishing web fed by the second cylinder, an end of the replenishing web is adhesively joined to the depleting web while in motion and the depleting web is severed by the first cylinder's cutting element in forming a splice of the two webs. As the replenishing web depletes, a third web may be inserted on the first cylinder and automatically or manually spliced to the original replenishing web without stopping or re-configuring the splicer. The splicer is capable of delivering the webs at a constant rate or a rapidly changing and/or dynamic cycling rate, and applies relatively low web tension for operation with delicate, narrow and extensible webs." The patent application was filed on Jan. 26, 2010 (12/694,077). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,924&OS=8,002,924&RS=8,002,924 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Panduit Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Panduit, Tinley Park, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,476) developed by five co-inventors for a "reversible fiber optic stub clamping mechanism." The co-inventors are Jack E. Caveney, North Palm Beach, Fla., Shaun P. Brouwer, St. John, Ind., Vincent M. Barone, Tinley Park, Ill., Scott R. Hartman, Oak Forest, Ill., and Andrew J. Stroede, Frankfort, Ill. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A fiber optic stub fiber connector for reversibly and nondestructively terminating an inserted field fiber having a buffer over at least a portion thereof. The connector includes a housing and a ferrule including a stub fiber disposed within and extending from a bore through the ferrule. The ferrule is generally at least partially disposed within and supported by the housing. The connector further includes a reversible actuator for reversibly and nondestructively terminating the inserted field fiber to the stub fiber. The reversible actuator includes a buffer clamp for engaging with the buffer to simultaneously provide reversible and nondestructive strain relief to the terminated field fiber." The patent application was filed on May 24, 2010 (12/785,911). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,002,476.PN.&OS=PN/8,002,476&RS=PN/8,002,476 Written by Shabnam Sheikh; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Com-Pac International Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Com-Pac International, Carbondale, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,467) developed by Donald K. Wright, Murphysboro, Ill., Christopher L. Pemberton, Marion, Ill., and James K. Hankins, Harrisburg, Ill., for a "reclosable fastener profile seal and method of forming a fastener profile assembly." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A fastener profile assembly and method of forming a fastener profile assembly is provided. The assembly includes a continuous supply of two interlocking profiles which are sealed at either end with a compression molded segment seal. The compression molded segment seal is formed through the application of heat and pressure to the interlocking profiles, thereby fusing the area and forming one end of the profile. Advancement of the profiles and application of heat and pressure to a second area forms the second end of the profile assembly. Manufacture of a fastener in such a manner allows for highly automated profile production with precise, accurate registration of the fastener profile." The patent application was filed on April 26, 2004 (10/831,989). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,002,467.PN.&OS=PN/8,002,467&RS=PN/8,002,467 Written by Shabnam Sheikh; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Zydron Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Garry Zydron, Romeoville, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,538) developed by Garry Zydron, for a "collapsible core assembly for a molding apparatus." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A collapsible core device for molding articles around the core device in a mold cavity includes an expansion member, a discontinuous first sleeve and a discontinuous second sleeve. When the expansion member is fitted within the first and second sleeves, the expansion member and the first and second sleeves form a substantially continuous, flush top molding surface with the first and second sleeves." The patent application was filed on Nov. 13, 2007 (11/985,039). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,538.PN.&OS=PN/8,002,538&RS=PN/8,002,538 Written by Anjali Jha; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Ascentia Health Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 29 -- Ascentia Health, Rockford, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,002,829) developed by Lawrence G. Clayton, Rockford, Ill., for "ear insert for relief of TMJ discomfort." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A prosthesis for insertion in an ear to reduce pain resulting from TMJ disorders. The ear insert has a predefined shape conforming to the shape of the ear canal when the jaw is in an open position. The ear insert supports the TMJ and associated secondary musculature to reduce strain in the TMJ area, including the muscles, ligaments, nerves, and the temporo-mandibular joint itself. The insert is hollow in the inside to permit hearing and is made of a rigid material which retains the shape of the ear canal. A scalloped indenture extends across a surface of the ear insert positioned behind the tragus." The patent application was filed on March 7, 2008 (12/075,046). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,002,829.PN.&OS=PN/8,002,829&RS=PN/8,002,829 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. 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