Abstract: A chamfer resection guide assembly for a distal total knee implant has an anchor member for anchoring into a resected distal surface of a femur, a block member including one or more cutting guide slots for guiding a cutting tool for making chamfer resections and a camming member. The camming member operably connects the block member and the anchor member and the position of the block member with respect to the anchor member is adjusted by operation of the camming member thus allowing adjustment of the position of the cutting guide slots with respect to the anchoring member.

Abstract: An above-water system provides automatic alerting for possible drowning victims in swimming pools or the like. One or more electro-optical sensors are placed above the pool surface. Sequences of images are digitized and analyzed electronically to determine whether there are humans within the image, and whether such humans are moving in a manner that would suggest drowning. Effects due to glint, refraction, and variations in light, are offset automatically by the system. If a potential drowning incident is detected, the system produces an alarm sound, and/or a warning display, so that an operator can determine whether action must be taken.

Abstract: NMR spectroscopy is performed on intervertebral disc tissue. Extent of degeneration is determined based on the NMR spectroscopy. Correlation between NMR spectral regions and at least one of tissue degeneration and pain are made. Accordingly, NMR spectroscopy is used to determine location and/or extent of at least one of degeneration or pain associated with a region of tissue, such as for example in particular disc degeneration, or discogenic pain. NMR spectral peak ratios, such as between N-Acetyl/cho and cho/carb, are readily acquired and analyzed to predict degree of tissue degeneration and/or pain for: tissue samples using HR-MAS spectroscopy; and larger portions of anatomy such as joint segments such as a spine, using clinical 3 T MRI systems with surface head or knee coils; and tissue regions such as discs within spines of living patients using 3 T MRI systems with a surface spine coil, thus providing a completely non-invasive diagnostic toolset and method to image and localize degeneration and/or pain.

Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine includes coupling at least one sensor within the gas turbine engine to transmit a signal indicative of a vibration level of a rotor assembly within the gas turbine engine, detecting the vibration level of the rotor assembly based on the signal transmitted from the at least one sensor, comparing the detected vibration level to a predetermined vibration threshold, and generating an output if the detected vibration amplitude exceeds the threshold amplitude for a predetermined duration to facilitate identifying a gas turbine engine impulse event.

Abstract: A bioactive/biodegradable nucleus implant for repairing degenerated intervertebral discs that is inflated inside the nucleus space after the degenerated nucleus has been removed to re-pressurize the nuclear space within the intervertebral disc. The implant is inflated with a high molecular weight fluid, gel or combination of fluid and elastomer, preferably an under-hydrated HA hydrogel/growth factor mixture with or without host cells. The implant includes an internal, integral, self-sealing valve that allows one-way filling of the implant after it is placed within the disc, and is made from a material that allows fibrous in growth thereby stabilizing the implant. A variety of substances can be incorporated into the implant to promote healing, prevent infection, or arrest pain.

Abstract: An ultrasound therapy system and method is provided that provides directional, focused ultrasound to localized regions of tissue within body joints, such as spinal joints. An ultrasound emitter or transducer is delivered to a location within the body associated with the joint and heats the target region of tissue associated with the joint from the location. Such locations for ultrasound transducer placement may include for example in or around the intervertebral discs, or the bony structures such as vertebral bodies or posterior vertebral elements such as facet joints. Various modes of operation provide for selective, controlled heating at different temperature ranges to provide different intended results in the target tissue, which ranges are significantly affected by pre-stressed tissues such as in-vivo intervertebral discs. In particular, treatments above 70 degrees C., and in particular 75 degrees C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for reclaiming and recycling developing solvents used in the production of flexographic printing plates. More specifically, the invention relates to reclaiming and/or recycling of the developing solvent through centrifugation and/or filtration. According to the invention, the solvent used in developing printing plates can be reclaimed and/or recycled by simply centrifuging the polymer-contaminated solvent. In certain embodiment, the centrifuged solvent is further filtered. The process involves transferring the contaminated solvent, from a plate processor or a dirty holding tank, to a centrifuge, and centrifuging the contaminated solvent to remove the polymer. The reclaimed solvent can be transfer directly back to the plate processor or to a clean holding tank.

Abstract: A bioactive/biodegradable nucleus implant for repairing degenerated intervertebral discs that is inflated inside the nucleus space after the degenerated nucleus has been removed to re-pressurize the nuclear space within the intervertebral disc. The implant is inflated with a high molecular weight fluid, gel or combination of fluid and elastomer, preferably an under-hydrated HA hydrogel/growth factor mixture with or without host cells. The implant includes an internal, integral, self-sealing valve that allows one-way filling of the implant after it is placed within the disc, and is made from a material that allows fibrous in growth thereby stabilizing the implant. A variety of substances can be incorporated into the implant to promote healing, prevent infection, or arrest pain.

Abstract: Flexographic printing plates are produced by exposing the photopolymer plates to a light source and washing out (developing) the masked out, non-exposed areas with a solvent. The invention provides substituted benzene solvents suitable for use in the development of photopolymer printing plates. The solvents, which include substituted benzene alone or mixed with co-solvents and/or non-solvents, are effective in developing a large number of different photopolymer printing plates and can produce images superior to those obtained with commercially available solvents currently used in such applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for reclaiming and recycling developing solvents used in the production of flexographic printing plates. More specifically, the invention relates to reclaiming and/or recycling of the developing solvent through centrifugation and/or filtration. The reclaiming process can be continuous or batch. The process involves transferring the contaminated solvent, from a plate processor or a dirty holding tank, to a centrifuge and/or filter, and centrifuging and/or filtering the contaminated solvent to remove the polymer. The reclaimed solvent can be transfer directly back to the plate processor or to a clean holding tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for information and data aggregation and analysis which provides risk managers, benefits managers, brokers, insurers and other insurance professional to have access to information resources, knowledge management tools, and powerful analytical models needed to increase their value and productivity. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the system and method provided is designed for information and data aggregation that allows for the compilation of data for mining and categorization by a knowledge management system, which stores all retrieved information in accordance with categories provided by a categorization engine referred to as a Taxonomy module. A contextualization module is configured to retrieve relevant information, based on various factors, including the user's profile, and the user's particular task. The system dynamically provides relevant information as the user interacts and conducts various tasks.

Abstract: Flexographic printing plates are produced by exposing the photopolymer plates to a light source and washing out (developing) the masked out, non-exposed areas with a solvent. The invention provides terpene ether solvents suitable for use in the development of photopolymer printing plates. The solvents, which include terpene ethers alone or mixed with co-solvents and/or non-solvents, are effective in developing a large number of different photopolymer printing plates and can produce images superior to those obtained with commercially available solvents currently used in such applications.

Abstract: An imaging tube (16) and an apparatus (60) and a method for pre-balancing the imaging tube (16) for use in an imaging system (10) are provided. The imaging tube mass and center of mass are determined. Desired values for the imaging tube mass and imaging tube center of mass are also determined. A mass correction value and a center of mass correction value are calculated in response to the imaging tube mass, the imaging tube center of mass, and the desired values. The imaging tube mass and the imaging tube center of mass are adjusted in response to the mass correction value and the center of mass correction value respectively.

Abstract: An imaging tube (16) and an apparatus (60) and a method for pre-balancing the imaging tube (16) for use in an imaging system (10) are provided. The imaging tube mass and center of mass are determined. Desired values for the imaging tube mass and imaging tube center of mass are also determined. A mass correction value and a center of mass correction value are calculated in response to the imaging tube mass, the imaging tube center of mass, and the desired values. The imaging tube mass and the imaging tube center of mass are adjusted in response to the mass correction value and the center of mass correction value respectively.

Abstract: A turning machine with a rotary work spindle and a slide having a lower carriage movable in parallelism with the axis of the spindle, an upper carriage movable on the lower carriage at right angles to the spindle axis, and a tool support on the upper carriage. The tool support is comprised of two indexable turrets, each having a plurality of tools therein, and a common indexing means so that the turrets are indexed simultaneously.