163results about How to "Maintain separation" patented technology

An adjustable spinal fusion intervertebral implant is provided that can comprise upper and lower body portions that can each have proximal and distal wedge surfaces disposed at proximal and distal ends thereof. An actuator shaft disposed intermediate the upper and lower body portions can be actuated to cause proximal and distal protrusions to converge towards each other and contact the respective ones of the proximal and distal wedge surfaces. Such contact can thereby transfer the longitudinal movement of the proximal and distal protrusions against the proximal and distal wedge surfaces to cause the separation of the upper and lower body portions, thereby expanding the intervertebral implant.

An adjustable spinal fusion intervertebral implant is provided that can comprise upper and lower body portions that can each have proximal and distal wedge surfaces disposed at proximal and distal ends thereof. An actuator shaft disposed intermediate the upper and lower body portions can be actuated to cause proximal and distal protrusions to converge towards each other and contact the respective ones of the proximal and distal wedge surfaces. Such contact can thereby transfer the longitudinal movement of the proximal and distal protrusions against the proximal and distal wedge surfaces to cause the separation of the upper and lower body portions, thereby expanding the intervertebral implant. The upper and lower body portions can have side portions that help facilitate linear translational movement of the upper body portion relative to the lower body portion.

The present invention encompasses tools and a tool-holding retractor assembly. The retractor assembly spreads an incision and holds the incision open. At least one extension device, having a tool holder on one end, attaches to the assembly. The holder includes a selectively locking multi-axis adjustable mounting element adapted to grip a tool shaft. The mounting element acts as a universal mounting providing rotational and sliding movement of the tool shaft. The extension device adjusts to position the tool holder peripherally of the surgical field. Once the retractor is placed, the extension device provides full access to regions below the incision. The extension device allows the surgeon to chose the insertion point and insertion angle of the tool shaft.

The present invention provides biocompatible intervertebral disc prostheses that are resilient to compressive forces, that may be adapted to an intervertebral space. When implanted in the spinal column of a patient, the intervertebral disc prostheses according to the present invention is intended to maintain the separation between adjacent vertebrae and provide shock absorbent protection. Flexibility of the spinal column may also be maintained. The present invention further provides methods for the implantation of the intervertebral disc prosthesis of the present invention and an optional intervertebral spacer into the spinal column of a human or animal patient.

A method and apparatus for generating plasma in a fluid. The fluid (3) is placed in a bath (2) having a pair of spaced electrodes (4, 6) forming a cathode and an anode. A stream of bubbles is introduced or generated within the fluid adjacent to the cathode. A potential difference is applied across the cathode and anode such that a glow discharge is formed in the bubble region and a plasma of ionized gas molecules is formed within the bubbles. The plasma may then be used in electrolysis, gas production, effluent treatment or sterilization, mineral extraction, production of nanoparticles or material enhancement. The method can be carried out at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The electrodes may carry means to trap the bubbles in close proximity. Partitions may be present between the electrodes.

A joint spacer therapeutically maintains separation of bones of a joint. A carriage is slideably retained within the frame and has at least one ramped surface. An actuator screw is threadably engaged with the frame, and rotatably connected to the carriage, to cause the carriage to slideably move within the frame when the actuator screw is rotated. First and second endplates engage the bones of the joint, and each has at least one ramped surface that is mateable with the ramped surface of the carriage, whereby when the carriage is slideably moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates ramped surface slides against the carriage ramped surface to cause the endplates to move along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame, to increase the height of the spacer. Piercing elements are connected to the carriage to pierce bone of the joint when the carriage is moved.

An upper tray adapted to receive a wearer's maxillary teeth. A lower tray adapted to receive the wearer's mandibular teeth. A first upper ridge is carried on a maxillary occlusal surface of the upper tray. A second upper ridge is carried on the maxillary occlusal surface of the upper tray posterior to and spaced from the first upper ridge. A lower ridge is carried on a mandibular occlusal surface of the lower tray received between the first upper ridge and the second upper ridge. The lower tray is movable to a forward position where the lower ridge abuts the first upper ridge to limit forward movement of the lower tray in relation to the upper tray, and the lower tray is movable to a rearward position where the lower ridge abuts the second upper ridge to limit rearward movement of the lower tray in relation to the upper tray.

An adjustable spinal fusion intervertebral implant is provided that can comprise upper and lower body portions that can each have proximal and distal wedge surfaces disposed at proximal and distal ends thereof. An actuator shaft disposed intermediate the upper and lower body portions can be actuated to cause proximal and distal protrusions to converge towards each other and contact the respective ones of the proximal and distal wedge surfaces. Such contact can thereby transfer the longitudinal movement of the proximal and distal protrusions against the proximal and distal wedge surfaces to cause the separation of the upper and lower body portions, thereby expanding the intervertebral implant.

The present invention relates to a collision prevention device and method for a vehicle in motion on the ground.The collision prevention device 1 notably comprises:means for localizing obstacles 100, 101, 102, 103, 5, 6, 7; means for acquiring obstacle localization data 2, 4; means for localizing 10 the equipped vehicle;a collision prevention computer 3: combining the obstacle localization data coming from the acquisition means 2, 4; taking into account a description of a configuration of the equipped vehicle and also the localization of the equipped vehicle;detecting proximity conflicts between the equipped vehicle and the localized obstacles;generating alerts in the case of proximity of the equipped vehicle and a localized obstacle;generating at least one solution for resolving each conflict detected;presentation means 12, presenting warnings to a driver of the equipped vehicle.This device can notably be installed on board an aircraft in order to warn of potential collisions between the aircraft and an object or another vehicle when the aircraft is on the ground.

A stable shock absorbing prosthetic foot that transfers energy between heel strike and toe-off. A toe plate is separated from one or more other plates by a bumper assembly located at each of the toe end and heel end of the foot. Certain embodiments of the shock absorbing foot of the present invention are designed for use with a prosthetic ankle. A torsion adapter may also be used to attach a prosthetic foot of the present invention to the remainder of a prosthesis.

A hydro-pneumatic tensioner includes a barrel having an inner bore and a pressurized fluid contained within to form at least part of a primary accumulator having a preset volume of gas at a preselected pressure. A piston having a piston rod extending from an aperture in the barrel is slidably carried in the bore of the barrel and is in communication with the pressurized fluid and positioned to increase the fluid pressure when the piston strokes in the direction of the pressurized fluid. A secondary accumulator also has a preset volume of gas at a preselected pressure. A fluid separator maintains functional separation of the fluid volumes of the primary and secondary accumulators when the primary accumulator pressure is less than a preselected secondary accumulator pressure. The fluid separator allows functional combining of the fluid volumes of the primary and secondary accumulators when the primary accumulator pressure equals or is greater than the preselected secondary accumulator pressure.

A method, system, and apparatus for informing a plurality of operating systems, each assigned to a separate partition within a logically partitioned data processing system, of which functions, provided by a hypervisor for creating and enforcing separation of the logical partitions, are available for use by the operating systems is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the hypervisor includes a plurality of function sets. Each function set includes a list of functions that may be called by any one of the operating systems to perform tasks for the operating systems while maintaining separation between each of the logical partitions. The hypervisor informs each of the plurality of operating systems of an enabled function set. Functions identified within the enabled function set are enabled for use by each of the plurality of operating systems and functions not identified within the enabled function set are disabled for use by each of the plurality of operating systems.

A vacuum-assist artificial limb assembly (10) is provided having a socket (22) for receiving a residual limb (20). The assembly (10) includes an on-board vacuum pump and control assembly (18) with a selectively operable vacuum pump (72) controlled by a microprocessor (44). The microprocessor (44) is also connected with an on-off switch (48), pressure adjust buttons (68), a pressure read-out (66), and an alarm (70). In use, a pressure transducer (74) in communication with the interior of socket (22) and coupled with microprocessor (44) monitors negative pressure conditions within the socket, and the microprocessor (44) operates pump (72) in response to transducer pressure signals. In this manner, the vacuum-assist operation of assembly (10) is essentially automatic.

An electrolysis conversion system for converting water into hydrogen and oxygen, includes a housing in which are housed electrodes. The electrodes are immersed in an electrolyte and are connected to a positive and negative sides of an energy source. The housing is a non conductive material that has chambers to separate the hydrogen and the oxygen. The present invention further discloses a method of utilizing the electrolyzer in conjunction with the fuel system of an internal combustion engine to improve the efficiency of said internal combustion engines.

A transmission line circuit is described which includes a conductive plane, a plurality of signal traces, and an intermediate layer between the conductive plane and the signal traces. The intermediate layer maintains a substantially constant separation between the conductive plane and the signal traces. At least a portion of the intermediate layer comprises air. The signal traces and the conductive plane form transmission lines.

Conformal filter cartridges, filtering apparatus using the conformal filter cartridges, and methods of manufacturing the conformal filter cartridges are disclosed. The conformal filter cartridges may include a bed of filter material between a pair of support plates, wherein the major surfaces of the support plates facing the bed of filter material are each curved about at least one axis. The curvature imparted by the support plates provides the conformal configuration to the filter cartridge. The bed of filter material may be loose particulate filter material that may be retained under residual compression between the support plates within the filter cartridge.

An adjunct processor controls an inter-fabric service link (IFSL) coupled to at least two independent SAN switching networks. The inter-fabric service link is coupled between multiple switching fabrics to allow the attached switching fabrics to be logically managed as a single entity while still being physically independent of each other. The IFSL does not transmit nor receive data being transmitted from a storage device to a host; rather, only management data is transmitted along the IFSL. The IFSL includes an inter-fabric adjunct processor, and a plurality of connections to the attached switching fabrics on which the IFSL communicates with IFSL agents operating on various switching elements within the attached switching fabrics. IFSL agents generate management data corresponding to the particular switching element on which the agent operates. This management data is intermittently transmitted to the IFSL for processing. Upon receipt of this management data, the IFSL updates a fabric map containing the corresponding switching element according to the received management data. As a result, the IFSL has a current snapshot of the status and functionability of each of the switching elements within the attached switching fabrics. Additionally, the IFSL may respond to the received management data by transmitting operation requests to a switching element.

A solid-state lithium battery including a lithium-containing anode and a phosphorus-containing cathode is disclosed. The cathode may include any of a number of electronically conductive allotropes of phosphorus, referred to as a group as black phosphorus. A solid discharge product of the cell acts as an electrolyte for the cell. The cathode may include an auxiliary electronic conductor phase to improve the conductivity of the cathode, improve the cathode utilization during discharge and reduce the overall cell impedance.

A visual architecture software language is described comprising reusable components and programmable channels. The reusable components define discrete software modules in any language. The programmable channels define data flow and control flow between components. A visual representation of functional computer software is generated in a visual environment by integrating the components and channels. A compiling means converts the visual representation into executable code in the form of executable instructions and data tables. The visual architecture software language may also include an integration server that executes the executable code. A system incorporating the language and a method of programming with the language is also disclosed.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners, generally including a canister body, a filtering medium assembly and a cyclone block. The canister body includes an inner chamber within inner walls of the canister body. The filtering medium assembly can be disposed within the inner chamber of the canister body. The cyclone block can be disposed within the inner chamber of the canister body and can be at least partially surrounded by the filtering medium assembly. The cyclone block includes a plurality of individual cyclone containers. A first cyclonic flow can be generated between the inner walls of the canister body and the filtering medium assembly. A second cyclonic flow can be generated within each of the plurality of cyclone containers.

A system and method for a welding power supply housing is disclosed. The power supply housing includes a U-shaped panel positioned between two louvered end panels and a base. The combination of the U-shaped panel and the base forms a wind tunnel. The U-shaped panel includes a slot configured to receive a heat sink. The heat sink is in thermal connection with heat generating electrical components of the power supply and is exposed to the cooling flow within the wind tunnel thereby cooling the electrical components of the power supply.

A system for cooling a fiber amplifier includes a fiber amplifier assembly, which, in turn, includes a longitudinally-extending fiber amplifier, a jacket and a retaining structure. The jacket surrounds the fiber amplifier and extends at least partially longitudinally therealong. In this regard, the jacket surrounds the fiber amplifier such that the fiber amplifier assembly defines a passage between the jacket and the fiber amplifier for the circulation of coolant therethrough. To facilitate the circulation of coolant, the retaining structure is disposed within the passage defined by the fiber amplifier assembly for at least partially maintaining a spacing between the fiber amplifier and jacket. The retaining structure and coolant can both comprise an emulsion of phase change material.

The purpose of the device is to minimize drag and turbulence otherwise occurring at the rear of a semi trailer, in order to reduced the consumption of fuel by a semi tractor. This is accomplished using directionally flexible sheets of composite material, which create contours that taper towards a terminating edge to form a teardrop shape, as established by panels attached to the top and bottom of either door. Along the trailing edge of the main body, another vertical panel known as a wake separator maintains separation between confliction columns of air. An additional wake separator attached to the bottom of the device performs a similar function, and will facilitate collapse in the event of a collision.

An electrochemical device includes a first electrode in electrical communication with a first current collector, a second electrode in electrical communication with a second current collector and a crosslinked solid polymer in contact with the first and second electrodes. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a network of electrically connected particles comprising an electroactive material, and the particles of one electrode exert a repelling force on the other electrode when the first and second electrodes are combined with an uncrosslinked precursor to the solid polymer.

Main rotor blades of the dual, counter-rotating, rigid coaxial rotor system exhibit a unique unconventional combination of positive and negative twist gradients in which the rotor system rotor Figure of Merit (hover efficiency) is improved by providing a dissimilar twist distribution between the lower rotor blade and the upper rotor blades. This improvement is specifically a result of reduced profile drag of the lower rotor system, achieved by driving the effective operating condition of the lower rotor blades to be similar to the upper rotor blade such that the tip drag losses of the lower main rotor have been reduced considerably using a mathematically vigorous approach. While minimal induced power consumption resulted due to the dissimilar lower main rotor twist, a significant profile power benefit is realized, resulting in the improved hover efficiency with essentially no reduction in rotor forward flight performance.

An interspinous process spacer and method of implanting same is provided for maintaining separation between adjacent spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae. The spacer has two lateral portions and a medial portion therebetween, the medial portion adapted to reside between the adjacent superior and inferior spinous processes in the deployed configuration to maintain separation therebetween. The lateral portions each comprise a superior lateral portion and an inferior lateral portion adapted to reside on the lateral side of the respective superior and inferior spinous process in the deployed configuration to maintain positioning of the interspinous process spacer between the two adjacent vertebrae. The lateral portions each comprise an expandable lateral member that is expandable from an insertion configuration to the deployed configuration, and at least one of the lateral portions includes within it a lateral support member configured to be deformable for the insertion configuration and expanded in the deployed configuration. The method includes introducing the spacer through a tubular delivery device to the region between the spinous processes and positioning therein, followed by retraction of the delivery device and expansion of the expandable lateral members and lateral support members.

Vacuum-assist artificial limb assemblies (10, 94) are provided having a socket (22, 104) for receiving a residual limb (20). The assemblies (10, 94) include a vacuum pump and control assembly (18, 100, 102) with a selectively operable vacuum pump (72, 116) controlled by a microprocessor (44, 102). The microprocessor (44, 102) is also connected with an on-off switch (48, 146), pressure adjust buttons (68, 148), a pressure read-out (66, 150), and an optional alarm (70). In use, a pressure transducer (74) in communication with the interior of socket (22, 104) and coupled with microprocessor (44, 102) monitors negative pressure conditions within the socket (22, 104), and the microprocessor (44, 102) operates pump (72, 116) in response to transducer pressure signals. In this manner, the vacuum-assist operation of assemblies (10, 104) is essentially automatic. In one embodiment, a vacuumization assembly (100) including an air induction component (114) and a mated vacuum pump component (116) are located within a housing (108) forming a part of socket (104), and a separate controller (102) is coupled with vacuum component (116) for control thereof.

An applicator brush for applying a material to a surface is provided having a brush head of a width X arranged along a central axis. The brush head includes a first set of bristles having proximal base ends attached to a ferrule and distal ends defining a first edge situated in a substantially straight first plane perpendicular to the central axis. The first set of bristles have a first width Y, wherein Y<X. A second set of bristles is provided having proximal ends attached to the ferrule and distal ends defining a second edge situated in a second plane having a second width (X-Y). A length of each bristle in the first and second sets is defined as a distance between its proximal attachment point and its distal end.