Abstract: A water lock system is described which is configured to convey participants from a first body of water to a second body of water. The water lock system preferably includes a chamber disposed between the first and second bodies of water. A first movable member is preferably formed proximate the first body of water. A second movable member is preferably formed proximate the second body of water. Participants may enter the chamber from the first body of water via the first movable member. The water level in the chamber may be altered transferring the participants from the first body of water to the second body of water. The second movable member is preferably opened and the participants may be transferred to the second body of water.

Abstract: A lens forming apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a first lens curing unit, a second lens curing unit and a conveyor system for moving mold assemblies between the two units. The apparatus may also include an anneal unit configured to apply heat to a substantially polymerized lens. The apparatus may be used to form an eyeglass lens from a lens forming composition that may include an aromatic containing polyether polyethylenic functional monomer, a photoinitiator, and a coinitiator. The lens forming composition may be cured by the application of activating light or activating light and heat.

Abstract: A process control method to monitor ion implantation process conditions by measuring the optical properties of a masking material is provided. A patterned masking material may protect underlying regions of a semiconductor substrate from undergoing a chemical or physical change during an ion implantation process. The patterned masking material, however, may also undergo a chemical or physical change during processing. The chemical or physical changes to the masking material during such processing may also cause the optical properties of the material to change. The optical properties of the masking material may be used to determine the concentration of ions implanted into the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A spinal plate system and method for fixation of the human spine is provided. In an embodiment, the system includes a bone plate, a bone screw and a ring. The bone screw preferably connects the bone plate to a bone, and the ring preferably fixes the bone screw into a borehole of the bone plate such that the bone screw extends from the bone plate at a selected angle. The ring is preferably capable of swiveling within the borehole to allow the bone screw to be angulated at a plurality of angles oblique to the plate. The bone screw may have a head having a tapered, threaded surface for engaging the ring. The ring preferably has threading on its inner surface for mating with the threading on the head. The inner surface of the ring may be tapered. Movement of the head through the ring preferably expands the ring against the bone plate to fix the bone screw at a selected angle relative to the bone plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. The lens forming unit may include an LCD filter disposed between activating light sources and a mold assembly. The mold assembly preferably includes two mold members held together by a gasket. The gasket preferably includes four protrusions spaced at 90 degree intervals about the gasket. A lens forming composition may include a first photochromic compound, a second photochromic compound and a light effector. The light effector may alter the color of a lens when exposed to photochromic activating light, when compared to a lens formed from a lens forming composition which does not include a light effector.

Abstract: A holder is provided which couples to the spine. In an embodiment, the holder has two conduits into which sleeves may be inserted during a spinal fusion procedure. The holder may have a distractor extending from the bottom of the holder. The distractor secures the holder to the spine and maintains a proper separation distance between adjacent vertebrae. The sides of the distractor may be serrated to better secure the holder to the spine. The sleeves and conduits serve as alignment guides for instruments and implants used during the procedure. In an embodiment, the holder may include holes for fasteners that fixably secure the holder to vertebrae adjacent to a disk space. A flange may be placed around the holder to shield surrounding tissue and to provide a placement location for adjacent blood vessels during the spinal fusion procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a bone dowel includes a machine base with tracks on a surface thereof. Modules configured to slide in the tracks may include a module for a high speed rotary tool, a collet module, a vise module and a threading module.

Abstract: An improved method and system for logging transaction records in a computer system. The method may include writing a confirmation log record to the log file for a transaction that completes normally, and not writing a confirmation log record for transactions that are aborted. The log file may be unloaded periodically by an unload program. The unload program may write transaction log records accompanied by a confirmation log record to a good output file and transaction log records not accompanied by a confirmation log record to a suspended output file. On a subsequent execution, the unload program may combine the log records in the log file and the suspended file. The unload program may write transaction log records accompanied by a confirmation log record to a good output file. The unload program may write transaction log records not accompanied by a confirmation log record and which have not exceeded a transaction time limit to a suspended output file.

Abstract: An antenna feed system capable of simultaneously transmitting and receiving in multiple frequency bands. In one embodiment, the feed system comprises a non-collimating lens attached to the emitting end of a broad-band antenna feed. The lens is positioned to receive and focus the broad-band wireless signals from any reflector configuration to any antenna feed. It is also positioned to transmit and focus the broad-band wireless signals from any antenna feed to any reflector configuration. A method for illuminating a reflector configuration through an antenna feed with the lens is disclosed. A wireless sensor system is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the non-collimating lens may be used as part of a wireless signal sensor unit used to increase or decrease the angular aperture of the sensor unit.

Abstract: Improved methods for the controlled generation of ammonia from an ammoniated metal salt at substantially ambient temperature by applying microwave energy to the salt. The ammoniated salts have the formula MAn·(NH3), wherein M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, scandium, ytterbium, the lanthanides, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium, rhenium, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, mercury, tin, and aluminum; A is at least one ion selected from the group consisting Cl−, Br−, F−, I−, ClO3−, ClO4−, BF4−, AlCl4−, PF6−, SbCl6−, and SbF6−; and SbF6− n is from 1 to 6; and X is from 1 to 8.

Abstract: The process consists in depositing, by chemical vapour deposition using a mixture of silicon and germanium precursor gases, a single-crystal layer of silicon or germanium on a germanium or silicon substrate by decreasing or increasing the temperature in the range 800-450° C. and at the same time by increasing the Si/Ge or Ge/Si weight ratio from 0 to 100% in the precursor gas mixture, respectively.

Abstract: A method is provided to remove contaminants from near-surface contaminated soil, the method including the steps of: placing a plurality of metal sheets on the surface above the contaminated soil to form a contiguous cover over at least a portion of the contaminated soil; seal welding adjacent metal sheets together; cutting a plurality of holes in the metal sheet; providing a plurality of heater wells and a plurality of vapor extraction wells into the contaminated soil through the holes cut in the metal sheets; providing vapor extraction wellheads over the vapor extraction wells, the vapor extraction wellheads sealed to the metal sheets; and removing contaminants from the near-surface soil by heating from the heater wells and extracting vapor through the vapor extraction wells. The wells are preferably both heater wells and vapor extraction wells, and the wellheads are preferably bolted to a flange which is welded to the metal sheets to ensure a positive seal at the surface.

Abstract: Handgun safety devices may prevent the loading of ammunition into a handgun. The safety devices may be inserted into a barrel of a handgun. The safety devices may extend into a firing chamber of the handgun to prevent a bullet from entering the chamber, or to prevent cylinder from rotating in a revolver. An end of the safety device may be configured to resemble the end of the barrel of the handgun. The safety devices may prevent a child, or someone unfamiliar with a handgun, from accidentally loading and discharging a gun. The safety devices may also allow a user of the gun who is familiar with the safety devices the ability to quickly remove the safety device and use the gun.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. A lens forming composition may include an aromatic containing polyether polyethylenic functional monomer, a photoinitiator, and a coinitiator. The lens forming composition may be cured by the application of activating light or activating light and heat.

Abstract: A spinal fixation implant system for correction and fixation of the human spine to facilitate an anatomically correct fusion. The spinal fixation system may include a connector, a spinal rod, a spinal fixation component, and a fastener. The spinal fixation component preferably includes a fixation device such as a hook or screw for securing the spinal rod to vertebrae of the thoracic or lumbar spine. The connector preferably includes a threaded end adapted to receive the fastener and a receiving end adapted to receive the spinal rod. The fixation component may include a body having a tapered cavity for engaging the receiving end of the connector. Tightening of the fastener preferably draws the connector through the tapered cavity which compresses the receiving end about the spinal rod to fixably connect the spinal rod and the spinal fixation component.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sorber which is suitable for use in an electromagnetic wave activated sorption system and which is easily adaptable to packaging constraints. One embodiment of the sorber comprises a flexible enclosure having an outer conductor, and inner conductor, a port through which a sorbate can be communicated into and out of said enclosure, and a sorbent in the enclosure which can adsorb the sorbate to form a sorbate/sorbent compound. The enclosure is configured to be coupled to an electromagnetic wave generator so that waves generated by the electromagnetic wave generator propagate through the sorbate/sorbent compound within the enclosure. Another embodiment of the sorber comprises an enclosure which is configured to serve as a structural component.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. The lens forming unit may include an LCD filter disposed between activating light sources and a mold assembly. The mold assembly preferably includes two mold members held together by a gasket. The gasket preferably includes four protrusions spaced at 90 degree intervals about the gasket. A lens forming composition may include a first photochromic compound, a second photochromic compound and a light effector. The light effector may alter the color of a lens when exposed to photochromic activating light, when compared to a lens formed from a lens forming composition which does not include a light effector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sorber cooling device suitable for use in an electromagnetic wave activated sorption system. One embodiment of the sorber cooling device has a metallic tubular enclosure extending coaxially into the sorber, a plurality of fins connected to a portion of the tubular enclosure extending outside of the sorber, a reservoir in fluid communication with the tubular enclosure, and a wick located within the portion of the tubular enclosure extending into the sorber. A refrigerant which is placed in the cooling device is drawn by the wick into the portion of the tubular enclosure extending into the sorber. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the sorber and evaporates. The evaporated refrigerant is condensed in the portion of the tubular enclosure extending outside of the sorber and the heat of condensation is dissipated by the fins. The condensed refrigerant is collected in the reservoir. This cycle repeats automatically.

Abstract: The process comprises: etching, in a semiconductor substrate (2), at least one trench (3) with predetermined width and depth; depositing, on the substrate and in the trench, a stack of successive and alternate layers of Si1−xGex (0<x≦1) and Si (5-8), the number and the thickness of which depend on the final use intended for the heterostructure; and chemical-mechanical polishing in order to obtain a final heterostructure having a plane upper main surface, level with which the stack layers deposited in the trench are flush.