Abstract: A device having movable slats for visual display of a plurality of indicia, such as numbers, letters and/or symbols. The internal slat supporting structure is secured to prevent movement of portions thereof when struck or jostled. In some embodiments, the indicia are associated with the downs in a football game.

Abstract: A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper portion, a receiver, a compression insert and an articulation structure made from at least two discrete pieces. The shank upper portion cooperates with the compression insert to place the retainer in frictional engagement with the receiver. The geometry of the retainer structure pieces corresponds and cooperates with the external geometry of the shank upper portion to frictionally envelope the retainer structure between the capture structure and an internal surface defining a cavity of the receiver.

Abstract: A hinged bone screw and tool set is used for implanting such bone screws in a human spine, followed by the implantation of a longitudinal connecting member into the bone screws. The hinged bone screw includes a shank with an upper portion and a receiver with integral arms forming a U-shaped channel. A lower curved seat partially defining the U-shaped channel cooperates with an upper portion of the bone screw shank for hinged movement of the shank with respect to the receiver. The tool set includes an insertion tool, a bone screw driver, a reduction tool and a closure starter. The insertion tool includes a bone screw attachment structure and a laterally opening channel. The insertion tool further includes a threaded portion for cooperation with the reduction tool to provide synchronized placement of a closure structure in the bone screw receiver while reducing and capturing a longitudinal connecting member within the receiver.

Abstract: A closure for an open headed medical implant, such as a bone screw. The closure having a cylindrical body having an axis of rotation and also having a threaded radially outer surface. The body having a plurality of bores that open onto a top surface of the body and that are parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation. In one embodiment the closure also has a break-off head centrally attached by a neck to the top surface of the body. Preferably, the body also includes an axial threaded bore that extends from a bottom to the top of the surface body, but that is only exposed when the break-off head breaks away. In another embodiment a tool is used to insert the closure in the implant without a break-off head and a central threaded bore of the closure receives a set screw.

Abstract: A thread is located on a cylindrical closure for an open headed medical implant. The thread has a leading surface and a trailing surface that both slope rearwardly from an interior edge to an exterior edge thereof.

Abstract: A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper capture structure, a head and a closed retainer ring. The external capture structure surface and retainer ring internal bore surface are both threaded for rotatable attachment within a cavity of the head. The head has a U-shaped cradle defining a channel for receiving a spinal fixation rod. The head channel communicates with the cavity and further with a restrictive opening that allows for loading the capture structure into the head but prevents passage of the closed retainer ring out of the head. The retainer ring has an external substantially spherical surface that mates with an internal surface of the head, providing a ball joint, enabling the head to be disposed at an angle relative to the shank body. The threaded capture structure or the closed retainer structure includes a tool engagement formation and gripping surfaces for non-slip engagement by a tool for driving the shank body into bone.

Abstract: A new use of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid (HMTB) as an inducer, within the plant, of ethylene and polyamine synthesis, mainly putrescine, capable of regulating fruit maturation processes, both in relation to fruit abscission and in relation to color and sugar content, containing mineral elements such as phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen.

Abstract: A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper portion, a retaining and articulating structure, a compression structure and a receiver for holding the capture structure, retaining and articulating structure, compression structure and a rod.

Abstract: An ambidextrous robotic master controller includes a mounting base secured to a support, a shoulder member pivotally connected to the mounting base and, connected in series to the shoulder, an upper arm member, a forearm member, an inner wrist member, and an outer wrist member. An ambidextrous grip link is pivotally connected to the outer wrist member and is movable to a right hand position or a left hand position. An ambidextrous hand grip member is pivotally connected to the grip link member. The controller includes suitable encoders engaged between connected elements thereof to sense and signal relative movement therebetween. The controller is usable by either a right or left handed person to control a manipulator device having links and joints analogous to the links and joints of the controller.

Abstract: A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper portion, a receiver member or head, a retaining and articulating structure, and a pressure insert disposed between the shank upper portion and a rod. The receiver has a U-shaped cradle defining a channel for receiving a spinal fixation rod and a receiver cavity. The retaining and articulating structure attaches to the shank and rotates with the shank in the cavity during positioning. The pressure insert presses upon the shank upper portion and not the retaining and articulating structure.

Abstract: Light transmission in a vehicle may be controlled using a system that includes a linear polarizing means and an ellipticity increaser associated with a display in the vehicle. The ellipticity increaser is configured and oriented with respect to the linear polarizing means for increasing the ellipticity of light passing from the linear polarizing means through the ellipticity increaser. The system also includes an ellipticity adjuster and a linear polarizer associated with a window of the vehicle. The ellipticity adjuster is oriented with respect to the linear polarizer for increasing the ellipticity of light passing from the linear polarizer through the ellipticity adjuster. The ellipticity increaser and adjuster are disposed between the linear polarizing means and the linear polarizer, and are configured and oriented with respect to each other for reducing ellipticity of light passing from the linear polarizing means through the ellipticity increaser and adjuster to the linear polarizer.

Abstract: A dynamic fixation medical implant includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having an elongate coil-like outer member and an inner cylindrical core attached to the outer member at only one end thereof. Some assemblies include a second longitudinal connecting member in the form of a rod that is fixed to the inner core and extends outwardly from the assembly. Certain assemblies include a threaded core or threaded inserts that cooperate with a helical slit of the coil-like outer member. Two or more cooperating bone screw assemblies attach to the connecting member assembly. The bone screw assemblies may include upper and lower compression members for affixing to and cradling the coil-like outer member only, allowing relative movement between the outer member and the inner cylindrical core. Press fit or snap-on features attach one end of the coil-like outer member to one end of the inner cylindrical core.

Abstract: A masking tape, tape roll and method of masking for surface treatment, such as painting, along a curved juncture includes a flat adhesive strip with opposed curved edges running along an entire length of the strip. The flat strip is wound about a central axis in a helically wound tape roll with the strip adhesive surface being disposed substantially perpendicular to the central axis. A curved length of tape, and circular pieces of tape are readily separable from the roll by pulling a desired curved length of the tape away from the roll substantially parallel to the central axis and then separating the tape segment from the roll.

Abstract: An electroluminescent apparatus utilizes a replaceable electroluminescent element which is compressed between two electrodes that are positioned within a resealable housing which may be opened and closed so that a used electroluminescent element may be removed from between the electrodes and replaced at the end of its usable lifetime. The housing has front and rear panels associated with the respective electrodes, at least one of the panels being transparent. The apparatus may include an inflatable compressing structure, an alignment structure within the housing for alignment of the electroluminescent sheet, or transparent electrodes, and various drivers may be used allowing for monochrome or color displays. The housing may have an envelope configuration, or the electroluminescent element can have a configuration of a roll of sequential electroluminescent sheets or a tiled structure allowing for larger electroluminescent displays, within the scope of the present invention.

Abstract: A gutter cover system including a gutter cover and a bracket member having a shaft with a wall end having a curved member with a raised profile, and a swivel end; a tab member extending upwardly from the raised profile and forming an outwardly directed slot; and a lip member affixed to the swivel end configured to be mating received within the lip of a gutter. The gutter cover including a planar panel for positioning on the roof, an arcuate nose, and a lower member with a foot configured for matingly inwardly insertion into the slot; the raised profile structured to facilitate installation of the bracket member and installation of the gutter cover on the bracket member.

Abstract: A dental training aid and method which assists a student in learning how to determine the position of a root canal apex, repair of dental decay, and how to perform crown and bridge procedures. In certain embodiments, modular inserts are utilized that include structure thereon for performing root canal procedures, repair of dental decay procedures, crown and bridge procedures or other procedures. The inserts can be assembled and configured to all provide practice on the same procedure or on different procedures and can be exchanged for other inserts once they are no longer reusable or because the user wants to train on a different procedure.

Abstract: Methods of producing plant polyols from plant oils include reacting a plant oil with a designed reactant having one or more nucleophilic functional groups and one or more active hydrogen functional groups in the presence of an addition reaction catalyst in a single reaction step. The resultant polyols may be directly reacted with polyisocyanates to produce polyurethanes.

Abstract: A low profile trailer hitch includes a frame for attachment to a vehicle and a draw bar pivotally attached to the frame that includes upper and lower substantially similar curved plates, a stationary stop plate and a plurality of apertures for extending stop pins through both the upper and lower plates. The draw bar has a first towing position wherein the draw bar abuts against the stationary stop plate of the frame with a trailer coupling end of the draw bar extending outwardly away from a bumper of a vehicle upon which the hitch is mounted. The draw bar may be pivoted to a storage position with the coupling end disposed at a location substantially adjacent or within a periphery of the bumper and captured in the storage position by stop pins extending through the upper and lower plates.

Abstract: A polyaxial bone screw having a bone implantable shank, a head and a retaining ring. The retaining ring includes an outer partial hemispherical surface and an inner bore with radially extending channels and partial capture recesses. The shank includes a bone implantable body with an external helical wound thread and an upwardly extending capture structure. The capture structure includes at least one spline which extends radially outward and has a wedged surface that faces radially outward therefrom. The capture structure operably passes through a central bore of the retaining ring while the spline passes through a suitably shaped channel so that the spline becomes positioned above the head at which time the shank is rotated appropriately and the shank is drawn back downwardly so that the spline engages and seats in the capture recess.