Abstract: A device for stabilizing bone includes a tubular body having first and second end regions defining a longitudinal axis therebetween. A plurality of splines extend from the first end region, the splines including first ends coupled to the first end region, and second ends disposed away from the first end region, the second ends being directable from a generally axial collapsed state to a substantially transverse expanded state. A plurality of support arms are coupled to the splines, and an actuator is coupled to the support arms, the actuator movable axially relative to the elongate body for causing the support arms to direct the second ends of the splines from the collapsed state to the expanded state. Optionally, the device includes another set of splines extending from the second end region or located at an intermediate region of the tubular body.

Abstract: An expandable bone device including a unitary body extending along a longitudinal axis and including a deformable distal end portion having a collapsed orientation for placement adjacent a spinal structure, the deformable distal end portion including relatively wide, mutually contiguous support surfaces outlined by relatively narrow cutouts, the support surfaces being contiguous with the rest of the unitary body via relatively narrow deformable splines, the deformable distal end portion having an expanded orientation wherein the support surfaces are moved transversely outwards away from and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and an actuator coupled to the deformable distal end portion and operative to cause movement of the deformable distal end portion between the collapsed orientation and the expanded orientation.

Abstract: A bone treatment device comprises a shaft having a tubular wall, a lumen extending within the tubular wall, openings through the tubular wall, and anchoring elements adjacent the openings that can be deployed out of the openings in the presence of an actuating force within the shaft lumen. The bone treatment device may further comprise an actuator configured to be received within the shaft lumen to deploy the anchoring elements out of the openings.

Abstract: A juicer for extracting juice from a fruit comprising a juicing element having an axis and a pivot operatively associated with and radially spaced from the juicing element axis, such that the juicing element axis is rotatable about the pivot.

Abstract: A locating system for determining the location and orientation of an invasive medical instrument, for example a catheter or endoscope, relative to a reference frame, comprising: a plurality of field generators which generate known, distinguishable fields, preferably continuous AC magnetic fields, in response to drive signals; a plurality of sensors situated in the invasive medical instrument proximate distal end thereof which generate sensor signals in response to said fields; and a signal processor which has an input for a plurality of signals corresponding to said drive signals and said sensor signals and which produces the three location coordinates and three orientation coordinates of a point on the invasive medical instrument.

Abstract: The showerhead engine assemblies provide different combinations and variations of continuous, deflected, pulsating sprays, and aeration spray patterns including those that are adjustable enabling wide variations in the degree of aeration of the water passing through the showerhead, enabling wide variation of the characteristics of the water spray patterns. The spray patterns include a nondeflected, nonpulsating spray pattern; a deflected nonpulsating spray pattern; a nondeflected, pulsating spray pattern; and a deflected, pulsating spray pattern, while enabling the engine assembly to be self-cleaning. For pulsating spray modes, the showerhead engine assembly includes but five plastic parts and an O-ring seal; the parts being a stator, a spinner, an engager, a pressure plate, and a faceplate, openings beings disposed in the pressure plate and faceplate to enable fluid flow therefrom. Deflecting surfaces on the faceplate enable a variety of different flow patterns.

Abstract: A locating system for determining the location and orientation of an invasive medical instrument, for example a catheter (10) or endoscope, relative to a reference frame, comprising: a plurality of field generators (18, 20, 22) which generate known, distinguishable fields, preferably continuous AC magnetic fields, in response to drive signals; a plurality of sensors (30, 32, 34) situated in the invasive medical instrument (10) proximate the distal end thereof which generate sensor signals in response to said fields; and a signal processor (26) which has an input for a plurality of signals corresponding to said drive signals and said sensor signals and which produces the three location coordinates and three orientation coordinates of a point on the invasive medical instrument.

Abstract: An elongate probe apparatus (20) for insertion into the body of a subject, comprising: a structure (24) having a substantially rigid configuration; a plurality of physiological sensors (26, 28, 30), which generate signals responsive to a physiological activity, said sensors (24, 28, 30) having substantially fixed positions on said structure (24) in said configuration; and one or more devices that generate position signals indicative of the positions of the physiological sensors on said structure in said configuration.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing bone includes a tubular body having first and second end regions defining a longitudinal axis therebetween. A plurality of splines extend from the first end region, the splines including first ends coupled to the first end region, and second ends disposed away from the first end region, the second ends being directable from a generally axial collapsed state to a substantially transverse expanded state. A plurality of support arms are coupled to the splines, and an actuator is coupled to the support arms, the actuator movable axially relative to the elongate body for causing the support arms to direct the second ends of the splines from the collapsed state to the expanded state. Optionally, the device includes another set of splines extending from the second end region or located at an intermediate region of the tubular body.

Abstract: A catheter for measuring physiological signals in a heart comprises a structure at a distal end of the catheter wherein the structure has a plurality of arms, an electrode fixed to each arm and a device for generating position information located on each arm. The arms are located near the long axis of the catheter during insertion of the catheter within a heart and the arms are spreadable apart and away from the long axis of the catheter when the structure is within the heart.

Abstract: A locating system for determining the location and orientation of an invasive medical instrument, for example a catheter (10) or endoscope, relative to a reference frame, comprising: a plurality of field generators (18, 20, 22) which generate known, distinguishable fields, preferably continuous AC magnetic fields, in response to drive signals; a plurality of sensors (30, 32, 34) situated in the invasive medical instrument (10) proximate the distal end thereof which generate sensor signals in response to said fields; and a signal processor (26) which has an input for a plurality of signals corresponding to said drive signals and said sensor signals and which produces the three location coordinates and three orientation coordinates of a point on the invasive medical instrument.

Abstract: A locating system for determining the location and orientation of an invasive medical instrument, for example a catheter (10) or endoscope, relative to a reference frame, comprising: a plurality of field generators (18, 20, 22) which generate known, distinguishable fields, preferably continuous AC magnetic fields, in response to drive signals; a plurality of sensors (30, 32, 34) situated in the invasive medical instrument (10) proximate the distal end thereof which generate sensor signals in response to said fields; and a signal processor (26) which has an input for a plurality of signals corresponding to said drive signals and said sensor signals and which produces the three location coordinates and three orientation coordinates of a point on the invasive medical instrument.

Abstract: An elongate probe apparatus (20) for insertion into the body of a subject, comprising: a structure (24) having a substantially rigid configuration, a plurality of physiological sensors (26, 28, 30), which generate signals responsive to a physiological activity, said sensors (24, 28, 30) having substantially fixed positions on said structure (24) in said configuration; and one or more devices that generate position signals indicative of the positions of the physiological sensors on said structure in said configuration.

Abstract: A ball-type water sprinkler of the sector type includes two inlets into the ball chamber oriented to direct the water to flow in opposite directions circumferentially around the chamber, and a shutter rotatable with the rotor and movable either to a first position with respect to the rotor covering one inlet and uncovering the other inlet to cause the water to flow in a first direction, or to a second position uncovering the one inlet and covering the other inlet to cause the water to flow in the opposite direction. The shutter is actuated by a member rotatable with the rotor and cooperable with the sector stops of the sprinkler, the actuator being coupled to the shutter by an over-center spring coupling producing a snap action movement of the shutter to either its first or second positions.

Abstract: A water sprinkler, comprises a distributor head and a direction-reversing member movably mounted with respect to the distributor head. The latter member includes first and second surfaces impinged by the water jet in first and second positions of the direction-reversing member, a third surface contactable with the distributor head for rotating it in one direction when the first surface is impinged by the water jet, and a fourth surface contactable with the distributor head for rotating it in the opposite direction when the second surface is impinged by the water jet. The sprinkler further includes an abutment, and a pair of stops engageable by the abutment after the distributor head has been rotated a predetermined distance in the one or opposite direction, to switch the direction of rotation of the distributor head.

Abstract: A variable-spray shower head comprises an internal chamber formed with a circular cavity and a discharge nozzle centrally of the circular cavity. The shower head further includes a plurality of flow passageways from its inlet to the circular cavity along different paths with respect to the tangent to the circular cavity; and a manual selector for selectively directing the water to flow from the inlet to the circular cavity via a selected one of the flow passageways to produce a different spray pattern according to the passageway or passageways selected.

Abstract: A sprinkler comprises a nozzle and a distributor head mounted for both rotary and lateral movements with respect to the nozzle. The distributor head has two passageways formed such that when it receives the water jet in one or the other passageway, it directs the jet outwardly of the distributor head with the water applying a force tending to rotate the distributor head in one or the other direction. The sprinkler further includes an abutment, a first stop engageable by the abutment when the distributor head is rotated in the one direction by the flow of water through the first passageway to move the distributor head laterally of the nozzle to align its second passageway with the nozzle, and a second stop engageable by the abutment when the distributor head is rotated in the opposite direction by the flow of water through the second passageway to move the distributor head laterally of the nozzle to align its first passageway with the nozzle.

Abstract: A sprinkler comprises a nozzle head connectable to a source of pressurized water and including a nozzle bore through which the water issues in the form of a jet, and a rotary deflector having an underface formed with a radial array of grooves each having axially-extending inlet ends, radially-extending outlet ends, curved junctures joining the two ends, and curved bottom faces, which grooves are impinged by the water jet and deflect the jet laterally of the sprinkler while rotating the deflector. An adjustable mounting is provided for the rotary deflector enabling it to be mounted with its rotary axis at a plurality of different positions with respect to the axis of the nozzle bore, to vary the water distribution pattern produced by the rotary deflector laterally of the spinkler.