Abstract: A number of orthopaedic surgical instruments are also disclosed. A method, apparatus, and system for fabricating such instruments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bed has a head section and a foot section. The bed can assume a horizontal position and at least one position in which the foot section is at an angle relative to horizontal. For instance, the bed may assume a chair position, in which the head section is pivoted upwardly and the foot section is pivoted downwardly, to a substantially vertical position. Casters allow the bed to move relative to the floor. The casters can retract toward the head section of the bed as the foot section pivots downwardly toward the floor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the probability of a collision between a first object, whose trajectory is substantially controlled by an operator input command, and a second object.

Abstract: A multi-band antenna is provided. The antenna includes a radiating element resonant for at least two resonant frequencies, and at least two matching elements that are electrically connectable to the radiating element to substantially match an input impedance of the antenna to a reference impedance for each one of the at least two resonant frequencies. A method for transmitting and receiving on one or more frequency bands is also provided that includes selecting at least one resonant frequency, selectively electrically connecting a matching element corresponding to the at least one selected resonant frequency to a radiating element resonant at the one or more frequency bands, and receiving or transmitting a wireless signal at the at least one selected resonant frequency with the radiating element.

Abstract: A continuous self-cleaning centrifuge assembly having a feed inlet for unclarified liquid and first and second outlets for clarified liquid. Solids are discharged out of a solids holding space in the centrifuge in response to comparison of a measured turbidity to a predetermined turbidity parameter of clarified liquid bled in a detection line in communication with the centrifuge at the second outlet. The turbidity is affected by the degree of build up of solids in the centrifuge. A method of optimizing the clarified liquid outflowing from the centrifuge includes the steps of controlling the flow rate of unclarified liquid into the centrifuge in response to the turbidity of the clarified liquid flowing out of the centrifuge and discharging solids out of a solids holding space in the centrifuge in response to the turbidity measurement.

Abstract: Modified glucagon peptides are disclosed having improved solubility and stability, wherein the native glucagon peptide has been modified by pegylation, or the addition of a carboxy terminal peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, or both.

Abstract: A system (10) for cooling freight goods on board an aircraft comprises a refrigerating apparatus and a cooling station (14) to which cooling energy generated by said refrigerating apparatus is fed by means of a refrigerating medium and which is connected to an air infeed line (29) of an air-conditioning installation of the aircraft, wherein an air outlet aperture (16) of the cooling station (14) is connectable to a freight compartment (24) of the aircraft in order to discharge into said freight compartment (24) air which has been cooled down to a desired temperature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug, the method including the step of: securing an electrode tip to at least one of a side ground electrode or a center electrode of the spark plug, the electrode tip comprising a platinum-based alloy comprising 20 to 35% by weight of palladium, from greater than 0 to 15% by weight iridium, and the balance of the alloy being platinum, all % by weight being based on the total weight of the alloy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for pseudo-differential transmission through interconnections used for sending a plurality of electrical signals. An interconnection comprises 4 transmission conductors and 5 elementary return conductors which are distinct from the reference conductor. One end of the interconnection is connected to a termination circuit. A transmitting circuit receives at its input the signals from the 4 channels of a source, and is connected to the conductors of the interconnection. Each output signal of a receiving circuit is mainly determined by one or more of the voltages between one of its signal terminals connected to the transmission conductors and its common terminal connected to the elementary return conductors. The signals of the 4 channels of the source are sent to the four channels of the destinations without noticeable external crosstalk.

Abstract: A spark plug casing includes a single-piece shell having a nut portion, first and second tubular portions and a converging shell portion, which are configured to be removed from a cylinder head as an integral device. The first tubular portion extends from the nut portion and has a first cross-sectional size. The second tubular portion has a second cross-sectional size less than the first cross-sectional size. The converging shell portion is coupled between the first and second tubular portions. The casing further includes a ground strap having a third cross-sectional size less than the second cross-sectional size. The ground strap is received within an end portion of the second tubular portion opposite the converging shell portion, such that the ground strap and the cylinder head are in a spaced relationship with respect to each other for preventing carbon buildup from binding the ground strap to the cylinder head.

Abstract: A patient care equipment support system includes an arm having a first arm portion and a second arm portion that telescopically extends and retracts relative to the first arm portion along a substantially horizontal axis. The first arm portion includes a first end of the arm that is supported for pivoting movement about a substantially vertical first axis. The second arm portion includes a second end of the arm. A column is situated beneath the second end of the arm. The column includes a first column portion and a second column portion that telescopically extends and retracts relative to the first column portion along a substantially vertical second axis.

Abstract: This invention relates to the synthesis of new tooth or bone from an encapsulated biological agent such as a growth factor or stem cells contained within a hollow and porous biocompatible vehicle such as a titanium implant placed (implanted) within the body of a host animal such as a human.

Abstract: A patient support may, among other things, support a person in a laying-down or a seated position. A mobile lift may assist a person with the process of moving from a seated or laying-down position to a standing position, or moving from one type of patient support to another (e.g. from a bed to a wheelchair or vice versa). A docking apparatus may secure the position of the mobile lift relative to the patient support. The docking apparatus may include an electrical connection between the mobile lift and the patient support. The docking apparatus may permit control of the mobile lift by the patient support, and/or permit control of the patient support by the mobile lift.

Abstract: A bed system includes a user interface module that is not mounted to a patient's bed. The user interface module may provide bed controls that allow a staff person to initiate an electronically controlled function of the bed from the user interface module. The user interface module may also be in data communication with a health information system used by a healthcare facility. The bed may include a built-in weigh scale, and the user interface module may initiate zeroing of the weigh scale. The user interface module may allow a staff person to activate bed controls that are not available at the bed.

Abstract: A hospital bed includes a frame having at least one movable frame portion and circuitry coupled to the frame. The hospital bed also has a touch screen coupled to the frame and coupled to the circuitry. The touch screen is operable to display a plurality of screens for controlling bed functions, including displaying a frame control screen having at least one icon which is touched by a user to command the circuitry to actuate movement of the movable frame portion of the frame.

Abstract: Methods and compositions reduce copy number of transgenes and minimizing vector backbone sequences in plant transformation. Agrobacterium strains with T-DNA integrated into the chromosomal DNA of the Agrobacterium reduce the copy number and vector backbone sequences. Chromosomal integration vectors to integrate T-DNA into a specific locus of Agrobacterium chromosome are disclosed.