Abstract: A ratchet assembly for multi-dimensional movement and placement of a retractor blade includes a retractor blade holder, a housing member, a rotating indexer and a self-retaining locking mechanism. The retractor blade holder is shaped and dimensioned to receive a stem of a retractor blade and includes a locking mechanism that enables selective lateral adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the retractor blade holder. The retractor blade holder is mated to the housing member and is vertically pivotable with respect to the housing member to enable selective vertical pivoting adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the housing member. The rotating indexer is mated to the housing member, and the housing member is rotatable with respect to the rotating indexer so that the retractor blade holder, the housing member and the retractor blade are able to selectively rotate about the longitudinal axis of the rotating indexer.

Abstract: One possible embodiment of the invention could be a hitch-mounted telescopic rack and its operation, the rack could be comprised of a vertical telescopic tube assembly having an inner tube movably received within a hollow outer tube, the hollow outer tube having a hitch attachment end while the inner tube has an attachment end that connects to a top tube assembly that movably supports one or more rollers perpendicularly to the vertical telescopic tube assembly; wherein the hitch attachment end is reversibly received by a trailer hitch of an automotive vehicle to vertically orient the vertical telescopic tube assembly and place the rollers in a horizontal position distal from the trailer hitch, the one or more rollers moving an object relative to a rear edge of a top of the automotive vehicle as well as supporting the rear overhanging portion of the object that is placed on the top.

Abstract: One possible embodiment of the invention could be a hitch-mounted telescopic rack and its operation, the rack could be comprised of a vertical telescopic tube assembly having an inner tube movably received within a hollow outer tube, the hollow outer tube having a hitch attachment end while the inner tube has an attachment end that connects to a top tube assembly that movably supports one or more rollers perpendicularly to the vertical telescopic tube assembly; wherein the hitch attachment end is reversibly received by a trailer hitch of an automotive vehicle to vertically orient the vertical telescopic tube assembly and place the rollers in a horizontal position distal from the trailer hitch, the one or more rollers moving an object relative to a rear edge of a top of the automotive vehicle as well as supporting the rear overhanging portion of the object that is placed on the top.

Abstract: One possible embodiment of the invention could be a hitch-mounted telescopic rack and its operation, the rack could be comprised of a vertical telescopic tube assembly having an inner tube movably received within a hollow outer tube, the hollow outer tube having a hitch attachment end while the inner tube has an attachment end that connects to a top tube assembly that movably supports one or more rollers perpendicularly to the vertical telescopic tube assembly; wherein the hitch attachment end is reversibly received by a trailer hitch of an automotive vehicle to vertically orient the vertical telescopic tube assembly and place the rollers in a horizontal position distal from the trailer hitch, the one or more rollers moving an object relative to a rear edge of a top of the automotive vehicle as well as supporting the rear overhanging portion of the object that is placed on the top.

Abstract: A ratchet assembly for multi-dimensional movement and placement of a retractor blade includes a retractor blade holder, a housing member, a rotating indexer and a self-retaining locking mechanism. The retractor blade holder is shaped and dimensioned to receive a stem of a retractor blade and includes a locking mechanism that enables selective lateral adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the retractor blade holder. The retractor blade holder is mated to the housing member and is vertically pivotable with respect to the housing member to enable selective vertical pivoting adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the housing member. The rotating indexer is mated to the housing member, and the housing member is rotatable with respect to the rotating indexer so that the retractor blade holder, the housing member and the retractor blade are able to selectively rotate about the longitudinal axis of the rotating indexer.

Abstract: One possible embodiment of the invention could be a hitch-mounted telescopic rack and its operation, the rack could be comprised of a vertical telescopic tube assembly having an inner tube movably received within a hollow outer tube, the hollow outer tube having a hitch attachment end while the inner tube has an attachment end that connects to a top tube assembly that movably supports one or more rollers perpendicularly to the vertical telescopic tube assembly; wherein the hitch attachment end is reversibly received by a trailer hitch of an automotive vehicle to vertically orient the vertical telescopic tube assembly and place the rollers in a horizontal position distal from the trailer hitch, the one or more rollers moving an object relative to a rear edge of a top of the automotive vehicle as well as supporting the rear overhanging portion of the object that is placed on the top.

Abstract: A dynamic hybrid stabilization system having a plurality of affixation elements coupled to a spinal segment having at least two intervertebral spaces, each affixation element having a medially extending connector element. A plurality of dynamic stabilization devices having an adjustable range of motion and being spaced medially from the affixation elements is included, each dynamic stabilization device being coupled to at least one of the connector elements and including an attachment element spanning at least one intervertebral space, such that each dynamic stabilization device and the connector element when coupled together span at least two intervertebral spaces.

Abstract: A system for extending the frequency range of an RF amplifier by improving the VSWR, and power handling capability of the amplifier, comprising a broadband reversing transformer, a first and a second amplifier coupled by means of a first and a second through-line quadrature coupler with the first quadrature coupler being connected to the inputs of the two amplifiers and the second quadrature coupler being connected to the outputs of the two amplifiers. The broadband reversing transformer is inserted in series with one of the two amplifiers enabling a signal at frequencies out of the passband of the quadrature couplers to pass through the through-lines port of the quadrature couplers, and thereby greatly extending the frequency range over which quadrature couplers may be used while, at the same time, retaining the usual combining and VSWR advantages of the couplers within their passbands.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a system intended to locate the direction of a source of electromagnetic radiation and is particularly applicable to radar detection receivers such as those employed in aircraft. This system is capable of performing the direction finding function independent of pulse to pulse variation while using a minimum number of receiving channels, one such channel being used for sequential lobing and the other functioning to normalize the detected sequential lobing signals.