1969 results about "Fixed angle" patented technology

The disclosed invention consists of several improvements to well known Quad Tilt-Rotor (QTR) aircraft. The first is that during a wing-borne flight, one pair of tilt-rotors, which can be substantially larger than the other pair, is feathered and stopped. This can promote vehicle aerodynamic efficiency and can be utilized to increase vehicle speed. Second is that the wings are not attached to the fuselage at a fixed angle of incidence like on conventional QTR aircraft, but can also be tilted in respect to the fuselage independently of the tilt-rotors. Furthermore, each rotor and each wing can be tilted with respect to fuselage to any tilt-angle without limit, which gives the vehicle unprecedented ability to position the fuselage in any attitude in respect to the vehicle direction of flight.

In one embodiment of the invention, an anterior fixation system includes a plate defining a plurality of screw holes, a number of screws and a number of locking assemblies for fixing the screws to the plate. The system includes two bone screws a fixed angle screw and a variable angle screw, that are configured to extend through the same screw openings in the fixation plate. The surgeon can select either the fixed or variable angled screws to be implanted with a single plate and can place either type of screw into any of the screw holes along the plate. The fixation plate according to the invention can include several screw holes in various patterns that provide the surgeon with great flexibility in the placement of bone screws depending upon the spinal anatomy and pathology. The invention further contemplates a locking assembly to lock one or more bone screws within a respective screw hole. In one embodiment, the locking assembly includes a washer that is held to the plate by a staked locking screw. The washer includes an outer surface that overlaps one or more screw holes. The washer is initially loosely held to the plate by the locking screw so that various tools and bone screws can be passed through the screw holes. In one embodiment of the washer, the washer includes cut-outs corresponding to the screw holes, along with a notch and key configuration for setting the locking washer in its locked configuration.

A poly-axial bone fastener assembly having a collar and a bone fastener can be coaxially locked to prevent poly-axial movements of the collar relative to the bone fastener while permitting the collar to rotate about an axis of the bone fastener, thereby combining the functions and advantages of a poly-axial bone screw and a fixed angle bone screw. Some embodiments of a coaxial locking mechanism may include a c-clip with a locking pin, a c-clip with hooks, a split ring with square corners, a pin that spins inside the collar, pins that travel about a neck of the bone fastener, a coaxially locking top that screws into the collar over a head of the bone fastener, and a top nut that threads onto the head of the bone fastener inside the collar to trap a flange of the collar between a shoulder of the bone fastener and the top nut.

An adjustable strain relief boot includes a stationary portion and a moving portion slidably connected to the stationary portion. The adjustable strain relief boot is used to guide an optical fiber away from a connector of the optical fiber. In application, the stationary portion of the adjustable strain relief boot is press fitted onto to the connector. The adjustable strain relief boot provides for a predetermined, fixed angle of departure of the optical fiber away from the connector. The fixed angle of departure can be adjusted by the operator from a first position to a second position. The fixed angle of departure is adjustable between forty five and ninety degrees. In a locked position, the moving portion can not move relative to the stationary portion since actuator engagement teeth of an actuator arm of the stationary portion engage teeth of the moving portion. In an unlocked position, a force is applied to a release tab of the actuator arm of the stationary portion so as to disengage the actuator engagement teeth of the stationary from the teeth of the moving portion so as to allow the moving portion to move relative to the stationary portion. Due to the resiliency of the actuator arm of the stationary portion, when the force applied to the release tab is removed, the actuator arm tends to move towards its undeflected position thus engaging the actuator engagement teeth with the teeth of the moving portion.

An elongate object optically determines at least one of its orientation parameters relative to a plane surface. A probe radiation beam is directed from the object at various angles σ to various locations on the plane, where the angle σ is a periodic function of time. Two angularly-selective radiation detectors oriented at fixed angles τ1 and τ2 sense scattered portions of the beam from two locations at two corresponding times. The orientation parameter is computed from a time difference Δt=t2−t1 between the two times.

An orthopedic plate system comprises a plurality of fasteners such as pegs or screws and a plate having two sets of holes for the fasteners. The first set of at least one hole includes internal threads that receive a fastener having a head which includes external threads that mate with the internal threads of the hole to lock the fastener at a fixed angle relative to the plate. The second set of at least one hole is devoid of internal threads and has a concavely rounded internal surface and which receives a convexly rounded external surface of a locking insert, which receives a variable axis fastener. The variable axis fastener causes the locking insert to expand to lock the variable axis fastener at a selected angle relative to the plate.

The invention provides a full space-time three-dimensional visualization method. The method includes the following steps: real-time video data collected by a camera are packaged and converted in terms of a format; real-time fixed angle video data are spliced and fused in 3D GIS spatial data, so as to form a panoramic three-dimensional video; an event target of the panoramic three-dimensional video serves as a driving force to realize a camera cooperative pursuit; according to a result by the packet and format conversion, the real-time video data are stored in a storage device to form history video data; and the fixed angle video data are spliced and fused in the 3D GIS spatial data, so as to realize the full space-time three-dimensional visualization display of the history video. In addition, in order to realize video intelligent analysis and realize multidimensional data fusion and three-dimensional visualization display in a full scene, the invention also provides a full scene video intelligent analysis method and a multi-type data full space-time three-dimensional visualization method. The full space-time three-dimensional visualization method provides an effective means for the macro command monitoring, overall correlation, and comprehensive scheduling, and is high in applicability.

A method for 3D reconstruction of the positions of a catheter as it is moved within a region of the human body, comprising: (a) ascertaining the 3D position of a point on a catheter for insertion in the body region; (b) acquiring a fixed angle, single-plane fluoroscopic image of the body region and of the catheter; (c) transferring the image data and catheter-point position to a computer; (d) determining the 2D image coordinates of the point on the catheter; (e) changing the length of catheter insertion by a measured amount; (f) thereafter acquiring a further single-plane fluoroscopic image of the body region and the catheter from the same angle, transferring the length change and additional image data to the computer, and determining the 2D image coordinates of the point on the catheter; (g) computing the 3D position of the catheter point; and (h) repeating steps e-g plural times. A 3D model is constructed by assembling the plural 3D positions of the point within the body region into a 3D model of the region.

A camera mount is configured to attach a camera to a sports board. A camera is secured to the mount, which is secured to a sports board. The mount can secure to the sports board via an attachment device such as an embedded plug. The mount can be placed at the front or rear of the sports board. Furthermore, the mount can be configured to face either forwards or backwards to capture images and / or video from different viewpoints while participating in the board activity. Moreover, the mount includes a pivoting joint to allow a user to rotate the camera either upward or downward and then secure the camera at a fixed angle to capture images and / or video from different angles.

A vehicle detection and classification sensor provides accurate 3D profiling and classification of highway vehicles for speeds up to 100 mph. A scanning time-of-flight laser rangefinder is used to measure the distance to the highway from a fixed point above the road surface and then measure the distance to the surfaces of any vehicle that is viewed by the sensor. A rotating polygon scans a beam laser into two beams projected across the road surface at a fixed angle between them. The beam is pulsed at a high repetition rate for determining vehicle speeds with a high accuracy and uses the calculated speed and consecutive range measurements as the vehicle moves past the sensor to develop a three-dimensional profile of the vehicle. An algorithm is applied to the three-dimensional profile for providing a vehicle-classification.

A system and method for generating a visualized data representation preserving independent variable geometric relationships is described. A pair of convex clusters are selected. Each convex cluster is rendered on a display. Each convex cluster has a center of mass located at an original fixed distance from a common origin, and is oriented along a vector formed at a fixed angle from a common polar axis. A span is measured between the centers of mass of each convex cluster. For each convex cluster, a segment is measured from the center of mass of each convex shape to a point closest to the other convex shape along the span. A new fixed distance from the common origin for the center of mass for one of the convex clusters located along the vector for that convex cluster is evaluated if the span is less than the sum of the segments of the convex clusters. The pair of convex clusters are displayed rendered using at least the new fixed distance for the center of mass of the one convex cluster.

An intradermal needle assembly that is attachable to a prefillable container intended for intradermally injecting substances into an animal includes a needle cannula supported by a hub portion. The hub portion is adapted to receive the prefillable container just prior to administering the intradermal injection. A limiter portion surrounds the needle cannula and extends away from the hub portion toward a forward tip of the needle cannula, and includes a skin engaging surface with the needle cannula having a fixed angle of orientation, preferably generally perpendicular, relative to the plane of the skin engaging surface. The skin engaging surface is received against the skin of an animal to administer an intradermal injection. The forward tip extends beyond the skin engaging surface a distance enabling penetration of the needle cannula into the dermis layer of the skin of the animal enabling injection of the substance into the dermis layer.

Apparatus for the fixed-angle fixation and compression of a fracture site or osteotomy of a bone includes a bone plate having a plurality of holes and bone screws with a threaded head. The bone screws accommodated in the holes are screwed into the bone. At least one of the holes is a combination of two circular holes of different diameter. As screwing of the bone screw into the bone proceeds through a final stage, engagement of the threads on the head with threads in the combination hole effects relative longitudinal displacement between the plate and the bone whereby it is possible to simplify simultaneous fixed angle fixation and compression of the fracture or osteotomy with use of a single screw. Threads on the head of the bone screw engage threads in the hole which is a combination of the two hole to effect relative motions.

A fixation system, including an intramedullary fixation assembly and an instrument for coupling the intramedullary fixation assembly to bones. The intramedullary fixation assembly includes a proximal screw member positioned at a proximal end of the intramedullary fixation assembly, a distal member positioned at a distal end of the intramedullary fixation assembly, where the proximal screw member is slideably coupled to the distal member and makes a fixed angle with the distal member.

An optical transceiver 10 includes an optical device 16 which is provided upon a substrate 11, an optical connector 14 which is connected to an optical fiber 15a, and a connector holder 13 for optically connecting together the optical device and the optical connector 14. The connector holder 13 includes an engagement means 13c which holds the optical connector 14. The engagement means 13c holds the optical connector 14 when the optical connector 14 is pressed in towards the substrate. The optical connector 14 supports the optical fiber 15a so that the optical axis of the optical fiber 15a subtends a fixed angle with respect to the optical axis of the optical device 16. And the optical connector 14 includes a mirror 14g for optically connecting between the optical device 16 and the optical fiber 15a.

A fixation system, including an intramedullary fixation assembly and an instrument for coupling the intramedullary fixation assembly to bones. The intramedullary fixation assembly includes a proximal screw member positioned at a proximal end of the intramedullary fixation assembly, a distal member positioned at a distal end of the intramedullary fixation assembly, where the proximal screw member is slideably coupled to the distal member and makes a fixed angle with the distal member.

A medical implant plate including at least two sets of apertures through an elongated shaft body to individually accommodate and orient set screws or pegs at various angles that may be selected depending on application, i.e., the apertures don't have fixed angled, but allow for a range of angles. Once the screw has been locked, the device becomes a fixed angled device. The screws or pegs laterally spaced relative to each other to resist torsion and to secure the plate against dislodgement. The body also includes a flared-end portion that accommodates and extends partially onto a metaphysis of a tubular bone of the hand while maintaining a low-profile to avoid soft-tissue irritation. The flared-end portion that extends on to the metaphysis does NOT have holes for screws but serves as a buttress. Screws that extend into the metaphysis come from the three holes located along the slightly angled portion of the plate.

A short nail for treatment of an epiphyseal fracture close to a joint in a long bone includes a two part nail supporting body comprising a main body having a transverse through-bore and releasably attached to a stub body. The stub body has an end that has a diaphyseal slant. The stub body and the lateral slant form part of a diaphyseal anchor which is attachable to the main body via the stub body and which has a flat connecting web that has an oblique orientation and ending laterally in a plane with the diaphyseal slant. A connecting device rigidly and releasably connects the main body and the stub body together. An anchoring device fixes the flat web in flat abutment against the diaphysis. A fixation pin is insertable into the transverse through-bore in a crossed arrangement with, and at a fixed angle to, the supporting body in the state of treatment of the fracture. The fixation pin includes a mechanism to protect against axial movement of the pin.

An orthopedic screw system includes a screw with a locking head that can both lockingly engage in a fixed angle threaded screw hole to secure a plate to a bone without compression, and non-lockingly engage at a compression screw hole to provide compression between the plate and the bone. The structure of the system is particularly well adapted to plates and screw of small dimensions, such as screws smaller than 3.5 mm and is capable of providing high compressive force, on the order of 120 lbs of axial load, without significant plastic deformation between the screw and plate.

A manually-operable shovel for efficiently moving material, including a shovel blade, a shovel handle, a joint for attaching the shovel blade to the shovel handle, and an articulation device cooperating with the joint for permitting the operator to position the blade to a predetermined fixed angle in relation to the direction of blade movement for moving the material in a predetermined desired relation to the direction of blade movement. The articulation device is moveable between an unlocked position wherein the angle of the blade in relation to the direction of blade movement is variable and a locked position wherein the angle of the blade is locked into a fixed angle in relation to the direction of blade movement. The articulation device automatically assumes the locked position during a forward, material engaging movement of the shovel and automatically assumes the unlocked position during a rearward material disengaging, movement of the shovel.

An attachment mechanism for attaching a component to a cylindrical instrument having a centerline. The attachment mechanism includes legs having respective first and second ends. The legs are pivotally connected relative to each other at the first ends such that the second ends of the legs can be pivoted away from each other and toward each other. The legs are configured to be connected to the component. Each leg has an engagement piece at its second end. The engagement piece is configured to engage around the cylindrical instrument. Each engagement piece is oriented toward its corresponding leg at a fixed angle. The orientation of each of the engagement pieces to its corresponding leg positions the engagement pieces to contact the instrument at contact points in order that the component is located at a known and constant distance from the centerline regardless of the diameter of the instrument.

A hydrostatic agricultural tractor has front ground wheels mounted on the frame at fixed angles parallel to each other and parallel to a center line of the frame and rear ground wheels mounted on a respective castor, with each of the front ground wheels being driven by a respective drive motor which allows variable speed in both the first and second directions such that steering of the tractor is effected by a differential in speed between the front wheels with the rear wheels following the steering in a castoring action. A pair of damper cylinders is provided each connected between a bracket on a rear axle of the frame and a lever in the castor plane of the castor so as to provide a damping force tending to restrict rotation of the respective second wheel about the respective vertical pivot axis with the damping force at a maximum value when the rear wheels are parallel to the center line in either the forward or reverse directions.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an anchor assembly that can be used for the fixation or fastening of orthopedic devices or instruments to bone tissue. In particular, the present invention preferably provides a variable angle or fixed angle anchor assembly that is able to securely connect the orthopedic device to bone tissue even when there is a variance in the angle and position of the assembly with respect to the device. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an anchor assembly having a locking mechanism that will quickly and easily lock the anchor assembly with respect to the orthopedic device.

An orthopedic plate and fastener system is provided for fixation of bones which has an implant that can selectably be used to achieve fixed angle and variable locking of the fasteners, as well as non-locking of the fasteners. The system includes a variable locking assembly that includes a locking insert, having threads which mates with internal threads of a through opening in the implant. The system also provides for locking fixed angle fixation, and non-locking variable angle fixation, all of which can be used with the threaded holes of the plates. The locking insert is provided on a ring driver, which is similar to or acts as the drill guide used with the locking fasteners of the present. Thus, the invention also relates to a method of enabling surgery where the surgeon can select the mode of fixation of fasteners between variable axis locking, variable axis non-locking, and fixed angle locking fixation, all utilizing the same fastener opening within the implant.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for a leg prosthesis (10) provided with a foot (12), which is connected to the leg prosthesis via an articulated axle (11), whereby first means (13, 14, 16–18, 30–33, 38) are arranged to provide a limited rotation of the foot relative the leg prosthesis from an initial position, in which position the leg prosthesis and the foot have a fixed angle relative each other, and second means (16–26) are arranged to provide a step-less adjustment of the fixed angle between the leg prosthesis and the foot in the initial position. According to the invention the first means (13, 14, 16–18, 30–33, 38) comprise a resilient element (14), which first end thereof is connected to the foot (12) via an elongated element (13) and which second end is connected to the leg prosthesis so that the leg prosthesis can be rotated relative the foot against the effect of the spring force of the resilient element.

A twin-rotor side-by-side compound rotorcraft has a fuselage and variable incident wing assembly that pivots relative to fuselage. The aircraft also has landing gear assembly and a tail fin assembly. The variable incident wing assembly is pivotally attached to the fuselage, and includes wing members, engines fixedly mounted to the wing members or another area of the rotorcraft, and a mast attached at a fixed angle relative to the wing members. Then engines may also be located near the fuselage or another area of the rotorcraft. The variable incident wing assembly is capable of pivoting about a pivot axis, thereby allowing mast orientation in at least a hover mast position and a forward flight mast position. The rotors provide additional forward thrust and the wings provide additional lift, when the mast is in the forward flight mast position.

The invention discloses a double-arm loading and transferring robot and belongs to the field of robot structure design. Fast package loading during air transportation is achieved through the double-arm loading and transferring robot. The robot comprises a clamping module composed of mechanical arms, a disc mechanism and a guide rail mechanism, a conveying belt module used for transferring, a chassis module capable of making the robot move freely, and a sorting module located at the transferring terminal point. During transferring, a double-arm rotary structure is adopted by the robot, the two mechanical arms are fixed to a rotatable disc, the included angle between the two mechanical arms is 180 degrees, after a package is clamped by one mechanical arm, 180-degree fixed-angle rotation of the rotatable disc is achieved through the cooperation of a clutch and an incomplete gear mechanism in the disc, the package is placed onto a small conveying belt, the other mechanical arm starts clamping simultaneously, and in this way, the double mechanical arms can conduct clamping and placing alternately so that the packages can be clamped continuously. Meanwhile, the clamped packages are transferred through the conveying belt, and the efficiency is improved. After the packages reach a transfer location, the conveying belt can be in lap joint with an airport large conveying belt by adjusting the angle and heights, and the packages are separated from a sorting device and moved to a cabin.