Abstract: An actuator for surgical applications includes an inflation fluid conduit extending from a proximal end which, when the actuator is in an operative configuration, remains outside a patient's body, to a distal end and an inflatable member coupled to the distal end of the inflation fluid conduit so that, when inflation fluid is supplied to the inflatable member via the inflation fluid conduit, the inflatable member is expanded from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein, when in the collapsed configuration, the inflatable member includes a fold extending substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof so that, when inflation fluid is supplied thereto, the inflatable member expands substantially along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a resectioning device, comprises a first actuator coupled to a flexible drive shaft for actuating a first mechanism when operated in a first direction and for actuating, when operated in a second direction, a second mechanism and a first lockout mechanism coupled to the first actuator for preventing actuation of the first actuator in the second direction before a predetermined amount of actuation in the first direction has been completed. Furthermore, mechanisms are provided to control the release during operation in a second direction of torsional energy stored in a flexible drive shaft during operation in a first direction.

Abstract: A method for placing a fixation member around a bone for internal fixation of the bone includes (a) inserting a first member of a cerclage tool through an incision and into a vicinity of the bone, the first member extending from a first proximal end comprising a first handle portion and along a first central portion to a first distal end comprising a first bent tube portion; (b) inserting a second member of the cerclage tool through the incision and into the vicinity of the bone, the second member extending from a second proximal end comprising a second handle portion and along a second central portion to a second distal end comprising a second bent tube portion; (c) joining the first and second members together to form a continuous tube with the first bent tube portion and the second bent tube portion that encircles the bone, wherein the first bent tube portion and the second bent tube portion cross over one another to form a non-zero angle at a location that is proximal of the bone when viewed from a direct

Abstract: An air conducting device includes a rigid support, an outlet, a flexible element that is fixedly connected to the outlet and a deflecting means which allows the outlet to be tilted about at least one axis of rotation at least into a first and a second position. The flexible element is fixedly connected to the support at a distance from the outlet such that at least one of the axes of rotation is defined as a substantially stationary axis of rotation in the area of the outlet, at the level of the connection to the flexible element. The air conducting device includes a small size of the components and a small number of required individual parts.

Abstract: A bone screw is provided having first and second threaded portions of different diameter separated by a middle portion that is unthreaded so that the bone screw may be inserted into a pair of adjacent bone fragments and used to compress the fragments together by driving the screw into a hole drilled in the fragments. An installation tool is also disclosed for threadably engaging one end of the bone screw and is used to initially drive the screw into the bone hole. Thereafter, a screwdriver may be inserted through the tool and into engagement with a recess in the bone screw and may be used to drive the screw fully into the bone and to separate the bone screw from the installation tool. A method of installation is further provided.

Abstract: A high-frequency module is for fill level measuring and for use at frequencies of more than 75 GHz. The high-frequency module comprises a microwave semiconductor, a printed circuit board and a housing bonded to the printed circuit board. In order to reduce the power required, operation of the microwave semiconductor takes place in a pulsed manner.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminated mould part, preferably of a mould part for the inner trim of a vehicle, consisting of a shape-stable carrier part and a visible-side lamination connected to this, of film, fabrics or similar decorative lamination materials, with which a heated blank of a mat-like or plate-like semifinished product of fibre materials containing binding agent, is moulded into a mould part in a moulding tool, and thereby simultaneously is connected to the lamination (one-shot method). The lamination is regionally connected with the help of “rams” before the moulding procedure or lamination procedure with the semifinished product, in order to achieve an exact positioning of a seam or likewise.

Abstract: A device for clamping a fixation element which may allow for repositioning of the fixation element. The device may include a body comprising a front end, a rear end, an outer surface, a through bore extending between the front end and the rear end, a structure enabling deformation of at least a portion of the body, and a thread along at least a portion of the outer surface. The body may be tapered and the through bore may be sized and configured to receive a fixation element. The clamping device may also comprise a receiving member having a tapered bore with an inner thread sized and configured to receive the thread of the body. Insertion of the body into the tapered bore of the receiving member may result in at least a portion of the body being deformed. As the body is inserted into the tapered bore, the dimension of the through bore may decrease so that the body firmly engages the fixation element.

Abstract: A blood counting device comprises a capillary conduit for drawing from a subject in which a radiotracer has previously been injected a quantity of blood in the micro-liter range to produce in the capillary conduit a flow of blood from which beta radiation is emitted. At least one direct beta radiation detector is placed closely adjacent to the capillary conduit. The direct beta radiation detector consists of a semiconductor photodiode which detects the beta radiation from the flow of blood when directly hit by this beta radiation.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail, particular for use with a tibia, may have a proximal end part, a distal end part adapted to be introduced into a medullary space, and a central section. The central section includes a first curved section having a first length with a first radius of curvature, and a second curved section having a second length shorter than the first length and a second radius of curvature smaller than the first radius of curvature. The second radius of curvature may be less than the first radius of curvature. The intramedullary nail also includes a central axis. Tangents at two end points of the central section, including the first and second curved sections, enclose an angle gamma between about 9° and about 12°. The intramedullary nail may have a total length ranging from 200 to 500 mm.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for optimizing a code layout for execution on a processor including internal and/or external cache memory. The method and system includes executing a program having a first layout, generating at least one memory access parameter for the program, the memory access parameter being based on a cache memory of a computing system on which the program is designed to run and constructing a second layout for the program as a function of the at least one memory access parameter.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for receiving an electronic mail including an attachment file and separating the attachment file from the electronic mail. The attachment is then sent to a remote source and the attachment file is replaced with a substitute file including identifying data for retrieving the attachment file from the remote source. The electronic mail with the substitute file is then forwarded to a receiver.

Abstract: A device for controlled operation of a surgical or dental drive unit driven by a compressed fluid source p available in the operating room and comprising A) a control valve attachable to the drive unit for controlling a flow rate of a compressed fluid flowing from a compressed fluid source p to a drive unit; B) a first control means by means of which the control valve is operable; and C) a second control means by means of which a flow rate of compressed fluid may be controlled. The device further comprises D) a control switch which is attached to the control valve and allowing to select between at least three positions (A;B;C): in position A the control valve is locked and closed; in position B the control valve is unlocked and a flow rate of the compressed fluid is controllable by means of the first control means; and in position C the control valve is unlocked and open permitting the control of a flow rate by means of the second control means.

Abstract: Described is a reference pin for use during a bone fracture treatment. The pin may include a longitudinal shaft and a spreading member. The longitudinal shaft with a longitudinal axis, a front end, a rear end and a through hole penetrating the shaft from the front end to the rear end. The shaft includes a rear portion adjoining the rear end and an expandable front portion adjoining the front end. The expandable front portion is insertable in a distal locking hole of an intramedullary nail and reversibly expandable transversely to the longitudinal axis. The spreading member is moveably located in the through hole and apt for reversibly expanding the expandable front end portion. The expandable front portion is reversibly expandable within a range between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus comprises a receiving device, a processing device and a sending device. The receiving device is adapted to receive at least one telegram fragment, and the receiving device is adapted to determine a destination of the at least one telegram fragment, and depending on the destination of the at least one telegram fragment to set an operating state of the processing device. The receiving device is furthermore adapted, from the at least one telegram fragment, to prepare a telegram block, wherein the processing device is adapted, in a first operating state, to determine a telegram boundary of the telegram block, and to determine a type of the telegram block. The processing device is equipped, in a second operating state, to determine a telegram boundary of the telegram block, and to control the sending device such that the sending device sends a telegram subsequent to the telegram boundary.

Abstract: A method and device for concealing frame erasures caused by frames of an encoded sound signal erased during transmission from an encoder to a decoder and for recovery of the decoder after frame erasures comprise, in the encoder, determining concealment/recovery parameters including at least phase information related to frames of the encoded sound signal. The concealment/recovery parameters determined in the encoder are transmitted to the decoder and, in the decoder, frame erasure concealment is conducted in response to the received concealment/recovery parameters. The frame erasure concealment comprises resynchronizing, in response to the received phase information, the erasure-concealed frames with corresponding frames of the sound signal encoded at the encoder. When no concealment/recovery parameters are transmitted to the decoder, a phase information of each frame of the encoded sound signal that has been erased during transmission from the encoder to the decoder is estimated in the decoder.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument comprises a first flexible insertion member sized for insertion through a body lumen to a target site and a needle coupled to the insertion member for penetration of tissue, the needle including a plurality of flexibility enhancing grooves formed therein along at least a first portion of the length of the needle.

Abstract: A bone plate (1) having an upper side (2), a bone-sided lower side (3), a first end (11), a second end (12) and several plate holes (4) arranged between the two ends (11, 12) and connecting the upper side (2) to the lower side (3), the plate holes being provided for receiving bone screws. Two of the plate holes (4) are formed by a combination of two partially overlapping boreholes (5, 6) of different type. The first (5) of the two boreholes is a circular cylindrical bore, having an internal thread (7) and a cylinder axis (9). The second borehole (6) has a cone axis (10) and tapers from the upper side (2) to the lower side (3) in the form of a frustum of a cone. The second borehole (6) is provided with an internal thread (8). The cylinder axis (9) is situated at a distance A from the cone axis (10), where A is different than zero.

Abstract: A method and a device are for an automated comparison of at least two sets of measuring values. The measuring values of the two sets are assigned respectively to one class from a finite number of classes defined by indices so that a frequency distribution is defined respectively for each of the two sets, which frequency distribution indicates for each class a frequency of the measuring values assigned to this class. A distance measure reflecting a similarity or dissimilarity between the two sets of measuring values between these frequency distributions is calculated as a function of a final value of a first auxiliary value termed here match by way of example. The first auxiliary value match is calculated by an algorithm using two sets of variables in that, with a given maximum distance dmax?1 for all integral distances d with 0?d?dmax, beginning with d=0 and continuing to larger distances d, respectively for all indices i and j at a distance from each other by the distance d.

Abstract: Introducer Device comprises (a) Housing including (1) Housing Lumen sized and shaped to slidably receive a visualization device therein and (2) Slot sized to receive therein a projection extending from visualization device received in Lumen radially away from Lumen; (b) Sheath extending distally from handle and being sized and shaped for insertion through a natural body opening into a hollow body organ, Sheath including a fluid delivery lumen delivering heated fluid to the organ and a fluid return lumen withdrawing the fluid after it has been circulated through the organ; (c) Connector including Connector Lumen aligned with Lumen and sized and shaped to slidably receive therein visualization device; (d) Locking arrangement movably coupled to Housing, movement relative to the housing opening and closing Slot; and (e) Adjustment mechanism moving Connector relative to Housing to adjust distance between a proximal end of Connector Lumen and a distal end of Sheath.