Abstract: A fluid cement for medical use for bone reconstruction, in particular for filling the vertebral body, and a binary composition which is intended for the preparation of such a cement. A device for conditioning the binary composition, and a method of preparing a bone cement from a binary composition. The fluid cement according to the invention comprises: a) approximately 70% to 85% by weight of a polymer comprising a polymethylmethacrylate and a methylmethacrylate monomer, and b) approximately from 15 to 30% by weight of a radio-opaque composition. Preferably, the radio-opaque composition comprises a radio-opacifier, such as a barium sulphate and zirconium dioxide, in a mixture with a calcium phosphate, for example hydroxyapatite.

Abstract: A polycrystalline tungsten carbide ceramic cutting insert with chip control is disclosed for high speed machining.

Abstract: A method of performing a supervisory function for a self-checkout system including sending a request for supervisory assistance from a self-checkout system to a portable, handheld wireless terminal, receiving the request by the wireless terminal, presenting the request via a display provided with the wireless terminal to a supervisory individual, determining whether the assistance request can be remotely performed through input by the supervisory individual, responding to the request through input by the supervisory individual. The input results in a response being sent from the wireless terminal to the self-checkout system. The response results in the supervisory assistance being performed when the assistance request is remotely performable, and the response results in a notification that supervisory personnel are being dispatched to a location of the self-checkout system when the assistance request can not be remotely performed.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved rotating seal apparatus including a plurality of concentrically spaced annular rotating seals. The invention also provides a rotating seal apparatus including a pressurized annular chamber surrounding an annular rotating seal.

Abstract: A device is provided for distributing a fluids from different sources to different destinations. The device receives fluids from a plurality of different sources and distributes the fluids out of a port to a destination. The device also receives fluid from the destination and transfers the fluid to another port out to another destination.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a assays includes an axially rotatable substrate including a plurality of layers of a semiconductor material and numerous radially-arrayed reaction sites. The apparatus further includes a rotary stepper motor which rotates the substrate at an adjustable and substantially continuous speed and controls the rotation of the substrate by adjusting the speed and a direction of rotation. In addition, the apparatus includes a dual function head which has a fluid dispenser that has a fluid dispenser outlet and delivers a fluid to a reaction site and also has a readout device that has a sensor which receives an identifying signal from the reaction site on the substrate or scans the substrate to read identifying marks at the reaction site. Moreover, the apparatus may be aligned by a computer having a memory for storing a start location for the dispenser outlet on the substrate and additional electronics.