Abstract: An implant system includes an implant having a body having a proximal end, a distal end, a central cavity disposed between the proximal and distal end, and a proximal end opening disposed proximal to the central cavity. A toggle is at least partially housed within the central cavity and connected to the body by a toggle hinge connection, the toggle having a toggle lumen extending therethrough. An inserter includes an inserter lumen, and an actuator having a distal actuator tip configured to advance into the proximal end opening. An implant system, kit, method for placing an implant device, devices and systems using a pivot suture, suture loading device and related surgical procedures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A marinating machine rotates a drum containing the food to be marinated. The drum is positioned on a pair of rotatable shafts only one of which is drivingly engaged to a motor rotating the drum. The drum is rotated by a drive wheel that is mounted on the rotating shaft. The drive wheel is locked for rotation with the shaft by a set screw in a threaded bore extending into the wheel at an angle with the axis of rotation of the wheel, and with the nearest portion of the bore spaced from the axis of rotation to allow the threads of the set screw to cut into the surface of the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A system manages the operations of an integrated communications provider. One aspect of the system is a work flow engine. The work flow engine decomposes the service model into sub-model components based upon whether crossing of plural networks is appropriate to provide requested telecommunication services and which service providers are available to provide service consistent with the location of the customer. The work flow engine also creates a telecommunications design from the sub-model components based on order rules of the service providers. The system automatically retrieves customer service records and preparing sales proposals based on those records. The system includes a gateway to incumbent local exchange carriers and trading partner service providers.

Abstract: A marinating machine rotates a drum containing the food to be marinated. The drum is positioned on a pair of rotatable shafts only one of which is drivingly engaged to a motor rotating the drum. The pair of shafts is spaced far enough apart from each other such that the vector of force applied by the wall of the drum against the drive wheel is sufficient to ensure that the drum will rotate with the drive wheel. Within the drum is a pair of spaced apart paddles to agitate the food product being marinated. The two paddles are joined to each other by a compressible member, and the compressible member is compressed to allow insertion of the paddles into the drum. The compressible member applies sufficient force against the inner surface of the drum to cause the paddle assembly to rotate with the drum.

Abstract: A system for management of an integrated communications provider comprising a means of automatically retrieving customer service records and preparing sales proposals therefrom. The invention further comprises components for pre-ordering management functions, circuit management, design management, service management, and gateway to incumbent local exchange carriers and trading partners. The system incorporates features that automate comparisons between existing services and proposal services, alarming of failures of confirmations, optimizing on-net and off-net services, creation of cutover reports and issuance of service requests to local exchange carriers and trading partners.

Abstract: A system manages the operations of an integrated communications provider. One aspect of the system is a work flow engine. The work flow engine decomposes the service model into sub-model components based upon whether crossing of plural networks is appropriate to provide requested telecommunication services and which service providers are available to provide service consistent with the location of the customer. The work flow engine also creates a telecommunications design from the sub-model components based on order rules of the service providers. The system automatically retrieves customer service records and preparing sales proposals based on those records. The system includes a gateway to incumbent local exchange carriers and trading partner service providers.

Abstract: A system for management of an integrated communications provider comprising a means of automatically retrieving customer service records and preparing sales proposals therefrom. The invention further comprises components for pre-ordering management functions, circuit management, design management, service management, and gateway to incumbent local exchange carriers and trading partners. The system incorporates features that automate comparisons between existing services and proposal services, alarming of failures of confirmations, optimizing on-net and off-net services, creation of cutover reports and issuance of service requests to local exchange carriers and trading partners.

Abstract: An arrangement (apparatus and method) for monitoring jitter caused during transport of digitally-coded information in a packet switched network, and for managing network operations in accordance with the detected jitter. The detected jitter is used to determine whether corrective action is necessary, such as rerouting network traffic, or performing network maintenance. The disclosed arrangement detects program clock reference (PCR) values from an MPEG-encoded transport stream, whereby each pair of PCR values represents an expected arrival time of a corresponding stream segment. An actual arrival time for the corresponding stream segment is determined in response to detection of the corresponding PCR values and an independent clock signal. The expected arrival time of the stream segment and the actual arrival time are correlated with an accumulation of expected and actual arrivaimes of previously-received data packet stream segments in order to determine the jitter in the digital data stream.

Abstract: An arrangement (apparatus and method) for dynamically provisioning infrastructure components in a digital communication network using an object-oriented relational paradigm. A network configuration system, also referred to as a video support system, stores all related information on each of the infrastructure components (IFCs) as objects in an object oriented relational database, including the functions, capabilities, locations, when and how the IFCs are assigned, and the capacities, working and spare, existing in and between various locations. The objects are arranged into clusters based on common characteristics, and the object clusters (modules), selectively access other modules to provide functional and logical connections independent from nonrelevant objects, such as physical location. Entity relationships establish the relevancy of different objects and object clusters.

Abstract: A portion control apparatus is provided for receiving a food product and discharging the product in portions of predetermined size. This apparatus has a housing with an inlet, an outlet, a first and second chamber and a passageway connecting the inlet, outlet and chambers. The apparatus also includes a valve disposed in the passageway and movable between a first and second position. In the first position, the valve allows communication between the inlet and the first chamber and between the outlet and the second chamber. In the second position, the valve allows communication between the inlet and the second chamber and between the outlet and the first chamber. Two positions mounted in the housing for reciprocating movement and connected by a rod limit the amount of food product which each chamber receives and move the product out of each chamber and out of the apparatus through the outlet in an orderly sequence.

Abstract: An elongated cylinder having a piston therein which is operable by water under pressure with means to control the water input and valving means in a header to control the sausage meat entering the stuffing tube.

Abstract: A horizontally positioned sausage stuffer having an elongated, cylindrical hopper, a removable outlet opening having an elongated, rigid, plastic tube extending therefrom, including a piston in the hopper actuated by water pressure from a city or town water faucet, and means to control the water.