Abstract: A surgical fastener with a safety position includes a lower base having piercing posts each having fixed and coupling ends, first and second base portions respectively attached to the posts, a hinge coupling the base portions, and a bias device imparting force on at least one base portion toward the other and at an angle to the hinge axis. Also provided is an upper fastening portion receiving and selectively coupling the posts. The lower base has a piercing position for coupling with the upper fastener portion where the posts are substantially parallel and a folded position where a distance between a coupling end of the first piercing post and the coupling end of the second piercing post is less than a distance between the fixed end of the first piercing post and the fixed end of the second piercing post.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus for guiding a watercraft, including: at least two center members of relatively hard material; each of the at least two center members having a tube of relatively soft material forced thereover; the tube of relative soft material contacting a rubrail of the watercraft; and no other part of the apparatus contacts any portion of the watercraft.

Abstract: A method for screening applicants includes remotely accessing a screening entity's web page by a potential candidate. The candidate is asked, via the pre-screening web page, to input responses to a set of queries tailored to the screening entity and the candidate's responses to the queries are stored. A phone call is automatically initiated to the candidate in response to at least one of the candidate's responses. An interactive information gathering process is started with the candidate using both the telephone and the computer. In the process, audio prompts to the candidate are generated via the telephone and the candidate's verbal responses are recorded via the telephone. A profile of the candidate is stored in a database including the verbal responses from the candidate for later access and analysis by the screening entity. The recorded responses are analyzed by the screening entity to make quality judgments about the candidate.

Abstract: An electrically operated surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector having an actuation assembly effecting a surgical procedure when actuated and a handle connected to the end effector for actuating the assembly. A part of the assembly moves between start and fully actuated positions. The handle has a self-contained power supply and a drive assembly disposed entirely within the handle. The drive assembly has an electrically powered motor and a controller electrically connected to the power supply and to the motor. The controller selectively operates the motor. A transmission mechanically connects the motor to the moving part and selectively displaces the moving part anywhere between the start and fully extended positions when the motor is operated. A manual release is mechanically coupled to the transmission to selectively interrupt the transmission and, during interruption, displaces the moving part towards the start position independent of motor operation.

Abstract: A dual plane armrest includes upper and lower forearm supports that overlap to permit respective use by neighbors. The upper support may be cut-away at the rear to accommodate the elbow of the user of the lower support. The upper forearm support is disposed above the lower forearm support partially or completely. The dual plane armrest provides increased lateral space for neighbors without increasing lateral seat pitch.

Abstract: An automatically releasing instrument holder includes a grip to be held by an operator for guiding an instrument, an actuator to be activated by the operator and a biasing device exerting a force. A clamp is moved by the actuator toward the instrument against the force of the biasing device and is moved by the biasing device away from the instrument upon releasing the actuator. A method for operating the instrument holder is also provided.

Abstract: A net/fence includes retro-reflective elements such as tapes that extend in horizontal and/or vertical directions with respect to the fence. The tapes are attached to the netting by thread or glue. One method for weaving the net/fence includes dragging the tape extending in a machine direction along the netting during weaving and threading the tape thereto. Another method for weaving the net/fence includes dragging the tape extending in a transverse direction and attaching the tape thereto with glue. A net-weaving machine can produce such a net in a machine direction and use a comb having threading needles to selectively attach the tape to the net with the thread. If attached in the transverse direction, a trolley borne on a beam lying in the transverse direction introduces the tape onto the net and a connection device, such as a glue jet, connects the tape to the net.

Abstract: A camera-movement compensation device includes a first liquid-crystal cell with a pair of parallel transparent plates and a first voltage source coupled to the first liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a first voltage gradient across the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell. The device also includes a second liquid-crystal cell having a pair of parallel transparent plates and disposed so that each of the plates of the second liquid-crystal cell is parallel to the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell and in light communication with at least one wave of light passing through the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell, a second voltage source coupled to the second liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a second voltage gradient across the surfaces of the second liquid-crystal cell, and a movement detector coupled to the voltage sources to alter the slope of the voltage gradients in proportion to a movement.

Abstract: In relation with a laser-induced transport process of an object from a carrier to a collecting device, the invention provides a collecting medium in the collecting device in a liquid state. Prior to the laser-induced transport process, the object is separated from a mass on the carrier by laser irradiation. After the laser-induced transport process, the object, thus selected and separated, is transferred together with the collecting medium to a destination, for example, a container, for further treatment. To this end, a manipulation system for liquids is provided, the system permitting manipulation of the collecting medium with the object contained therein with a high degree of reliability and a high throughput.

Abstract: A method for detecting biometric parameters includes the steps of performing a bone graft procedure on a vertebra of a spine, providing a biometric sensor at the vertebra, and measuring a biometric parameter at the vertebra with the sensor. The sensor is capable of measuring parameters in an adjacent surrounding including pressure, tension, shear, relative position, and vascular flow. Data relating to the biometric parameter is transmitted to an external source and the data are analyzed to evaluate a biometric condition of the vertebra. A set of the sensors can be placed on transverse processes of the vertebra.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus, including: a plurality of members disposed inside generally vertical balusters; each of the members having formed therethrough a hole; a plurality of wires, cables, rods, pipes, tubes (round, oval, or multi-sided) or the like, each one disposed through one of the holes; and the members being rotatable to position the wires, cables, rods, pipes, tubes (round, oval, or multi-sided), or the like at a selected angle from horizontal.

Abstract: A torque-transmitting, variably-flexible, corrugated insertion device includes a hollow body having a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument and a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument. A vacuum-activated device transitions the hollow body between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition. A corrugated tube transmits torque from the proximal end toward the distal end. A method for transmitting torque and variably flexing an insertion device for receiving an instrument includes providing a hollow body, transmitting torque along the hollow body with a corrugated tube, applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body for placing the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition, and relieving the vacuum for placing the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a ground plane and an element coupled to the ground plane. The element has a center point, a first element portion extending away from the center point on a first side of the center point for a first distance in a first direction, bending at a first approximately 180 degree bend, extending towards the center point for a second distance in a second direction, bending at a second approximately 180 degree bend, and extending away from the center point for a third distance in the first direction. The element also has a second element portion provided on a second side of the center point opposite the first element portion on the first side of the center point, the second element portion being substantially a mirror image of the first element portion.

Abstract: An avian hut includes a plurality of walls, each wall having an upper edge and a lower edge and coupled to at least one other of the plurality of walls, the plurality of walls together defining an avian hut interior and an avian hut exterior, the lower edges together defining an opening open to the environment, and at least one of the plurality of walls defining a notch shaped to accept a perch secured to an interior of a bird enclosure thereby allowing the perch to extend from the exterior of the avian hut into the interior of the avian hut. A securing device is operable to removably secure the plurality of walls within a bird cage and the notch above the perch.

Abstract: A small arms training target system including a portable, battery powered, rail guided, motor driven carriage, with stationary and moving targets connected thereto. A target-rotate control device operatively connects an electric motor and rotational arm assembly to rotate and position the target into and out of a field of view. The position is selectable by a remote control, pre-selected program, or when a sensor attached to the target is struck by a sensor. Additionally an obscuring medium is attached to the rotational arm, with a target, having on it an image of a weapon mounted behind the obscuring medium. The position of the obscuring medium is selectable to be in front of the image of a weapon, making the target a no-threat, or not in front of the target, making it a threat.