Abstract: A dorsal fracture is treated from the volar side by using a T-shaped plate opposite the fracture. The plate is positioned against the volar side of the radial bone, a plurality of bone screws secure the plate along a non-fractured portion of the radial bone, and a plurality of bone pegs extend from the plate and into the bone fragments of the fracture. A support portion of the plate is provided distal of the bone pegs and supports comminuted bone fragments. One or more channels are optionally provided in the plate to receive wires which are adapted to anchor distal bone fragments to the plate. The plate is adapted in strength and materials to withstand the large bending forces thereon.
Abstract: A laser eye surgery system includes a laser for producing a laser beam capable of making refractive corrections, an optical system for shaping and conditioning the laser beam, a digital micromirror device (DMD) for reflecting the shaped and conditioned beam toward the eye, a computer system for controlling the mirrors of the DMD, and an eye tracking system which tracks the position of the eye and provides feedback to the computer system. The computer system includes software which permits the DMD to emulate the patterns and laser beam control provided in all prior art broadbeam systems and scanning spot systems. All that is required is a selection in the software to operate thereunder. Moreover, the laser surgery system can be coupled to or adapted to receive data from corneal topographers or wavefront sensor systems and utilize such data to increase the quality of correction above and beyond prior approaches. Furthermore, the laser surgery system can provide much greater resolution than prior art systems.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 9, 2000
Date of Patent:
January 21, 2003
Assignee:
Memphis Eye & Cataract Associates Ambulatory Surgery
Center
Inventors:
Roy E. Williams, Jerre M. Freeman, James F. Freeman
Abstract: A method for performing through-port off-pump beating heart coronary artery bypass surgery is provided. A port device is positioned in the chest wall and directed as necessary. A heart stabilizer is coupled to the port, and operated to apply a compressive force against the heart wall surrounding a location the required bypass such that the location is substantially immobilized. An instrument stabilizer includes a cannula which is inserted through a hole in the chest cavity, and the distal tip of the cannula is located adjacent the surgical site. The instrument stabilizer dampens movement of a surgical instrument, e.g., a scalpel or needle holder, extended therethrough. Once the bypass procedure is complete, the instruments, heart stabilizer, instrument stabilizers, and port are removed from the body of the patient.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 8, 2000
Date of Patent:
January 7, 2003
Assignee:
Medcanica, Inc.
Inventors:
Matthew A. Palmer, Javier E. CastaƱeda, Jose Luis Francese, Ralph de la Torre
Abstract: An instrument stabilizer minimizes unwanted motion at the distal end of a surgical instrument by applying a damping force to the instrument. According to one embodiment, the instrument stabilizer preferably includes a cannula through which an instrument can extend, and a distal bushing adapted to contact the instrument. The instrument stabilizer also includes a proximal housing which includes a mechanism which applies a stabilizing or damping force to the proximal portion of the cannula. The mechanism which applies the force may be, by way of example, one or more of elastic bands, springs, struts, etc. When a surgical instrument is extended through the cannula and contacts the bushing, movement of the cannula and consequently the surgical instrument is damped by the stabilization force on the proximal portion of the cannula. In addition, a swivel device for angularly orienting the instrument stabilizer relative to a body of patient is also provided.
Abstract: A laser eye surgery system includes a laser for producing a laser beam capable of making refractive corrections, an optical system for shaping and conditioning the laser beam, a digital micromirror device (DMD) for reflecting the shaped and conditioned beam toward the eye, and a computer system for controlling the mirrors of the DMD. The computer system utilizes at least one polynomial equation to generate a smooth refraction correction profile.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 9, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 31, 2002
Assignee:
Memphis Eye & Cataract Associates Ambulatory Surgery
Center
Abstract: A system and method for depositing a CVD diamond coating on a non-planar surface of an object is provided. The system includes a deflector having a deflecting surface which resists diamond coating by the diamond forming reagents produced by the system and which is adapted to withstand the relatively high deposition temperatures is provided. The deflector is positioned substantially axially with an axis of the distribution head of the CVD engine. The deflector is preferably generally wedge-shaped or conical and coupled to a motor which is adapted to rotate the deflector at a relatively high speed. A mandrel may be positioned about or to one side of the deflector. The deflector is oriented with respect to the distribution head and the mandrel such that a jet exiting the distribution head is deflected by the deflector onto a surface of an object positioned on the mandrel. The object surface may be non-planar.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 10, 1999
Date of Patent:
December 31, 2002
Assignee:
Saint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics, Inc.
Inventors:
Henry Windischmann, Cecil B. Shepard, Jr., Donald O. Patten, Jr.
Abstract: The optical density of an oil sample at a plurality of wavelengths over a plurality of different (typically decreasing) pressures is monitored and used to find the size of agglomerated asphaltene particles which are precipitating from the oil sample. The optical density information used in finding the particle size is preferably optical density information relating to the scattering of light due to the asphaltene particles only. Thus, baseline optical density information of the oil sample at a high pressure is subtracted from optical density information obtained at test pressures at each wavelength of interest. Asphaltene particles of a radius of one micron and smaller were found to be powdery, while asphaltene particles of a radius of three microns and larger were found to include paving resins. The precipitation of asphaltenes is reversible by increasing the pressure under certain circumstances.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 29, 2001
Date of Patent:
December 31, 2002
Assignee:
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Oliver C. Mullins, Abul Jamaluddin, Nikhil B. Joshi
Abstract: A discrete object counting and dispensing system includes an object counter, a funnel couplable relative to the object counting system such that when discrete objects are provided in the funnel, the discrete objects are counted by the object counting system. The system also includes a vibration system which vibrates in a substantially horizontally circular plane in a rotational direction, a mounting assembly rigidly coupled to the vibration system, and a discrete object container couplable to the mounting assembly. The container has a reservoir and an exit, and is adapted to feed discrete objects from the reservoir to the exit when the container is vibrated by the vibration system. When the discrete objects are exited from the exit, the discrete objects are counted by the object counting system and then dispensed.
Abstract: A method for analyzing a dielectric medium comprises the step of measuring, at one or more frequencies, the capacitance between a pair of electrodes immersed in the dielectric medium. The proportion of the or each capacitance measurement due to electrode polarization capacitance and/or to the residual capacitance of the dielectric medium is then determined using capacitance measurements made between the electrodes at a first frequency and at a second frequency, the ratio of the respective polarization capacitances at these two frequencies being predetermined. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 21, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 17, 2002
Assignee:
University of Wales Aberystwyth
Inventors:
Christopher Lyndon Davey, Douglas Bruce Kell
Abstract: A shingling nip roll is added between an infeed conveyor and a reciprocating table. The nip roll slows the speed of the sheets thereby reducing bruising and buckling as sheets are ejected to the table. Further, the trailing end of a dropped sheet is overlapped by a leading end of the next upstream sheet which assists in maintaining control of the dropped sheet as it drops onto the reciprocating table.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 6, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 10, 2002
Assignee:
Longford Equipment International Limited
Abstract: A digital video signal monitoring apparatus comprises means (2,4,6) for receiving a digital video signal and extracting therefrom a plurality of digital signals, each of which comprises a plurality of successive digital sample values. The apparatus further comprises means (10) for interpolating additional digital values intermediate the successive samples of the or each extracted digital signal and means for displaying the waveform of the or each extracted digital signal as a series of discrete points corresponding to its respective digital sample values and interpolated digital values. Thus, none of the original signal information is lost in displaying a signal waveform having a substantially continuous appearance.
Abstract: A light analysis system for analyzing light transmitted through an ampoule includes a housing having at least one. receptacle for the ampoule, a cover for substantially preventing ambient light from affecting the receptacle and having an interior reflective surface, and a master control system. Each receptacle includes at least one light source and a photodetector positioned such that the light from the light source passes through the receptacle (and thereby the ampoule and its contents) prior to entering the photodetector. According to one preferred aspect of the invention, the receptacles are provided preferably at a 30° to 45° angle relative to vertical. According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the light source is at least one LED which is directed to transmit light upward into the reflective surface of the cover such that the light is reflected by the cover downward into the receptacle toward the photodetector.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 24, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 10, 2002
Assignee:
Microcensus, LLC
Inventors:
John Edward Pfeifer, William Frederick, Alvaro Dedios, Stephen C. Fog
Abstract: A data processing method for an environmental certification program is provided which defines a plurality of predefined criteria which must be met by a participant in the program in order to be provided with a privilege of providing a certification mark for use on goods and in advertising materials of the participant. The data processing method tracks the compliance by the participant with the environmental certification program, and further evaluates the continued certification of a participant in the program. Preferably, continued certification requires achieving additional predefined criteria while maintaining the predefined criteria which led to initial certification. Moreover, compliance with the predefined criteria is preferably ensured with periodic on-site verification.
Abstract: A roller coaster ride includes a pair of spaced apart parallel tracks and a car assembly. The car assembly includes a superstructure with wheels which engage the track and a passenger compartment which is coupled to the superstructure but force-isolated from it by force controlling devices. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the force controlling devices include springs and pneumatic cylinders. The pneumatic cylinders are preferably controlled by an electrically operated pump/valve in response to signals from the roller coaster operator and/or a computer. The passenger compartment is preferably provided with a plurality of sensors for sensing velocity and acceleration as well as the condition of doors and restraints. According to one embodiment of the invention, the outputs from sensors are transmitted to the roller coaster operator and the operator manually activates pumps/valves to alter the forces acting on the passenger compartment.