Abstract: A shaver bur for resecting bone inside the joint in arthroscopic procedures. The shaver bur includes an inner assembly having an inner hub with an inner tube extending distally therefrom. The inner tube terminates in a distal bur tip. The shaver bur also includes an outer assembly having an outer hub with an outer tube extending distally therefrom. The inner tube is moveable within the outer tube between a retracted position and an extended position. The shaver bur additionally includes a deployment mechanism connected to the outer hub. The deployment mechanism is movable in a first direction and a second direction. Moving the deployment mechanism in the first direction moves the inner tube to the extended position and moving the deployment mechanism in the second direction moves the inner tube to the retracted position.

Abstract: A convolutional despreading method takes advantage of the algebraic structure of the spreading code and applies convolutional type decoding to received signal chip symbols to rapidly estimate code phase, preferably used for rapid acquisition of direct sequence spread spectrum signals. Modeled reduced-state structures having branchword transitions are used to reduce metric computations. The reduced state structures and algebraic structures provide additive constraints for modifying convolutional sequential metric searching for improved speed of code phase determination. The convolution despreading method preferably uses a modified convolutional sequential search algorithm, such as, a modified Fano Tree convolutional sequential search, or, a modified Viterbi trellis convolutional sequential search. The method can also directly determine a modulated data stream, when present, to provide demodulated data without necessarily performing conventional cross correlation despreading.

Abstract: Glass compositions for use in the preparation of glass microspheres and having reduced 2 Pas (20 poise) temperatures comprise 38 to 44% SiO.sub.2, 14 to 22% B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 9 to 16% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 22 to 26% CaO and optionally MgO, 0 to 8% Na.sub.2 O, 0 to 2% Li.sub.2 O, 0 to 2% K.sub.2 O and 0 to 1% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, the sum of B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Na.sub.2 O being at least 19%, said percentage by weight.

Abstract: An oxygen supply apparatus, particularly for use by a coal miner, has a plurality of housings mounted on a belt, which is worn by the miner, with each housing having a cartridge of oxygen generating material therein and removable from the bottom thereof for replacement. Each housing has a cover with a resiliently biased shaft supported thereby for relative movement to activate the oxygen generating material in the cartridge. The shaft functions as a timer activator so that the timer is set when the shaft is activated. The timer produces an alarm signal just prior to the expiration of time for depletion of oxygen from the cartridge within the housing. Each of the covers has a chamber receiving the oxygen from the cartridge and supplying it through tubing to oxygen receiving means worn by the miner such as a mask, for example.