Vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening device

A vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening device that restores the loss of disc height as a result of disc degeneration and other factors. The vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening device includes pedicle screws having heads with cup-shaped cavities. The pedicle screws are threaded into the vertebral bodies of adjacent vertebrae through the pedicles so that open parts of the heads of the pedicle screws face each other. A spring is inserted into the cup-shaped cavities in compression so that the spring bias forces the pedicle screws apart, thus increasing the height of the disc space.

Method and system for power management of electronic article surveillance systems

A method, system and apparatus for managing power use in security systems, which include establishing a detection region, triggering a person detection event, the person detection event based on the detection of a person in the detection region, starting a timer upon triggering the person detection event, and transmitting a tag interrogation signal until the expiration of the timer. The method, system and apparatus can further include determining a relative direction of movement of the person.

Product handling system

Bone densitometry using x-ray imaging systems

A method of measuring bone mineral density (BMD) of a selected region of bone in the small body portion (such as a limb or extremity), using a mini C-arm (20) X-ray fluoroscopic imaging system to acquire the data from which the BMD is calculated. Apparatus for performing the method includes a tray (42) for positioning the small body portion (34) in the X-ray beam (26) path of the imaging system and a sample of bone (36) of predetermined density supported by the tray in side-by-side relation to the selected region of bone.

Films

Container with lock and release mechanism

A container (100) includes an improved lock and release mechanism for securing a top structure (S1) to a base structure (S2). The base structure (S2) and top structure (S1) are releasably secured together as a protrusion (156), which extends from a front wall (130), and a groove (164), which is disposed in a flexible portion (158) of a front wall (140), engage one another. The container (100) further includes protrusions (152) and recesses (150) that align the top and base structures (S1 , S2) and constrain the movement of the top and base structures (S1 , S2) relative to one another in a sliding plane such that the lock and release mechanism is not inadvertently released. The flexible portion (158) of the front wall (140) can be displaced to disengage the locking elements (156, 164).

Y-grade natural gas liquid stimulation fluids, systems and method

Y-Grade NGL fracturing systems and methods of using Y-Grade NGL stimulation fluids.

Container with lock and release mechanism

A container (100) includes an improved lock and release mechanism for securing a top structure (S1) to a base structure (S2). The base structure (S2) and top structure (S1) are releasably secured together as a protrusion (156), which extends from a front wall (130), and a groove (164), which is disposed in a flexible portion (158) of a front wall (140), engage one another. The container (100) further includes protrusions (152) and recesses (150) that align the top and base structures (S1 , S2) and constrain the movement of the top and base structures (S1 , S2) relative to one another in a sliding plane such that the lock and release mechanism is not inadvertently released. The flexible portion (158) of the front wall (140) can be displaced to disengage the locking elements (156, 164).

Laminate

Apparatus for cooling extruded material

An apparatus is located downstream of an extruder for cooling extruded material exiting the extruder. The apparatus includes a housing having a material passage. The material passage is dimensioned so as to have a larger cross section than a cross section of the extruded material. The apparatus further includes a system for controlling the temperature of at least a portion of the housing. The apparatus further includes a plurality of fluid passages in the housing and connectable to a source of pressurized fluid for providing fluid communication between the source of pressurized fluid and the material passage in the housing. The fluid passing through the fluid passages changes to a temperature having a value functionally related to the temperature of the temperature-controlled portion of the housing. The pressurized fluid passing through the fluid passages supports and cools the extruded material as the extruded material passes through the material passage.

Internal components of optical device comprising hardcoat

Methods of protecting internal components of an optical device are described by providing a hardcoat surface layer on an internal component of an optical device. Also described are certain internal components having hardcoat surface layers, as well as methods of assembling internal components of an optical device.

Method and system for reduction of electronic article surveillance system false alarms

A method and system for generating alarms in a security system that include establishing a detection region, detecting a first event where the first event is one of (a) detecting a tag in the detection region and (b) detecting a person in the detection region, starting a timer upon detecting the first event, detecting a second event where the second event is the other one of (a) detecting a tag in the detection region and (b) detecting a person in the detection region and enabling an alarm output when the second event is detected prior to expiration of the timer. The method and system for generating alarms in a security system can further include setting a first event flag upon detecting the first event where the first event flag corresponds to the first event and setting a second event flag upon detecting the second event where the second event flag corresponds to the second event.

Modular fiber optic sensor

A modular fiber optic sensor that uses a light source to transmits light through at least one optical fiber to a sensor support. The sensor support is releasably attached to the optical fiber(s) allowing the use of both a single and multiple fibers. Diaphragms are exchangably attached to the sensor support allowing numerous diaphragm configurations to be attached to the sensor support. The different diaphragm configurations allow the sensor to detect a wide range of physical phenomena. A detection system is coupled to the optical fiber(s) that determines the change in light intensity which is reflected from the diaphragm's reflector.

White light backlights and the like with efficient utilization of colored led sources

A backlight includes n1, n2, and n3 colored LED light sources of a first, second, and third (non-white) color respectively, and a drive circuit connected to these sources. The drive circuit is configured to drive each of the first, second, and third light sources within a specified percentage, such as 10%, of their respective maximum drive characteristics, and the numbers n1, n2, and n3 are selected so that light from the energized first, second, and third LED light sources, when combined, is substantially white. In some cases, the backlight also includes a number n4 of white LED sources, and the colored LED sources may or may not be driven within 10% of their maximum ratings. The number n4 of white sources is selected to increase the brightness of the backlight while maintaining the color gamut of the backlight output within a specified percentage, such as 10%, of a desired specification.

Improvements in and relating to food portion forming

Respirator

Grade lgn stimulation fluids and

Sistemas de fracturación de LGN de grado Y y métodos para usar fluidos de estimulación de LGN de grado Y. Grade Y LGN Fracturing Systems and Methods for Using Grade Y LGN Stimulation Fluids.

Improvements in and relating to food portion forming

Ultrasound imaging beam-former apparatus and method

In some illustrative embodiments, an incoming signal from a transducer (110) in an ultrasound imaging beam-former apparatus (100) is applied to an in-phase sample-and-hold (120) and a quadrature sample-and-hold (130). The quadrature sample-and-hold (130) may be clocked a quarter period behind the in-phase sample-and-hold (120). The output of the sample-and-holds are applied to in-phase and quadrature analog-to-digital converters (126). A magnitude calculator (138) receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a magnitude. A phase calculator (142) receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a phase. An apodizer (146) applies a difference between an amplitude of the outgoing signal and the magnitude and applies a first illumination (150-1) to a image point (154) in substantial proportion to the difference, and a phase rotator (152) applies a second illumination (150-2) to the image point (154) in substantial proportion to the phase.

Railcar mounted container hoist - contains two sliding beams with lift units for use with standard containers

Intravascular guidewire and microcatheter system

Removal of carbon tetrachloride from amylose

Gelatinized starch products

Building-block and wall.

Method and apparatus for energy conversion and water purification

Schlitzverschluß für photographische Kameras

Starch fractionation

Decke für buchähnliche, stapelförmige anordnung

Presse

Method and apparatus for energy conversion and water purification

Cardsafe

Syphon inducing device

Self storing knee rest for medical examination table and the like

Improvements in and relating to food portion forming