Abstract: A transport container for fragile articles having a substantially rigid base member with a bottom planar surface. A plurality of flexible foamed plastic members having the same overall shape as the base member stacked and secured together forming a container body which is secured to the base member. Each of the flexible foamed plastic members defines a plurality of throughgoing substantially circular cutouts with a tooth assembly for each cutout extending inward toward the center point of each substantially circular cutout. The foamed plastic member cutouts axially aligned with cutouts of an adjacent foamed plastic member to form a stepped bore which can hold various sized articles.

Abstract: A bone screw assembly constructed of allograft bone comprising a screw shank with a uniform diameter threaded portion, an unthreaded portion with a outwardly tapered end terminating in a drive head defining a wedge shaped configuration to form an undercut for the drive head.In operation a bore is drilled in the two bone sections, with one bone section being over drilled with the top portion of the over drilled bore having a tapered geometry which widens from the diameter of the bore. The bone screw is driven into the previously cut bore in the bone sections until the tapered surface of the bore engages the tapered undercut surface of the screw.

Abstract: A combined mechanical cutter and laser function surgical instrument, constructed with; a handle housing and a disposable tip assembly removably mounted to the handle housing. The disposable tip assembly has a hollow tube with a proximal and a distal end, a stationary jaw mounted to the distal end of the hollow tube, a movable jaw which pivots relative to the stationary jaw and a actuating mechanism coupled to the movable jaw for moving the movable jaw, the actuating mechanism being driven from linkage in the handle housing mounted to the proximal end of the hollow tube. Quick disconnects are mounted on the proximate end of the hollow tube to engage the handle housing and a laser energy conductive optic fiber extends through the hollow tube and mounted to the stationary jaw. A laser energy dispensing tip member is mounted on and insulated from the stationary jaw and is connected to the optic fiber to transport laser energy from a remote laser energy generator.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a malleable bone putty and a flowable gel composition for application to a bone defect site to promote new bone growth at the site which comprises a new bone growth inducing compound of demineralized lyophilized allograft bone powder. The bone powder has a particle size ranging from about 100 to about 850 microns and is mixed in a high molecular weight hydrogel carrier, the hydrogel component of the carrier ranging from about 0.3 to 3.0% of the composition and having a molecular weight of about at least 10,000 Daltons. The composition contains about 25% to about 40% bone powder and can be additionally provided with BMP's and a sodium phosphate buffer.

Abstract: A lathe adapter/apparatus for reshaping surfaces of a brake rotor and eliminating run-out comprising an adapter plate assembly mounted on an adapter mounting member with a first fixed plate of the plate assembly defining a first planar end surface perpendicular to the axis of adapter mounting member and a second planar end surface that forms an angle with the axis. A movable plate is mounted on the adapter mounting member adjacent the fixed plate, the moveable plate defining a first planar end surface perpendicular to the axis of the adapter mounting member and a second planar end surface that forms an angle with the axis, the angled end surface of the first movable plate member engaging the angled end surface of the first fixed plate.

Abstract: A frame is provided for firmly securing a dental press holding one or more flasks during preparation of dental prostheses. The frame securely locks the press in position and facilitates tightening of the press to exert pressure on the dental flasks as well as release of the pressure once the procedure is completed. Use of the frame permits a single technician to tighten and loosen the press with a single hand and allows greater tightening of the press to exclude voids and pockets in the finished prosthesis.

Abstract: An extrudable allograft bone tissue material for filling surgical sites can be made from mineralized or demineralized cortical, cancellous, or cortical/cancellous bone powder. A method is disclosed for reconstituting the bone powder in a syringe which includes the steps of placing lyophilized bone material of predetermined mixed size in a syringe barrel having a distal circular opening that ranges in diameter from about 8 mm to about 15 mm and adding a volume of sterile fluid to wet the bone powders. The excess sterile fluid is drained through the bone allowing the fluid to remain in constant engagement with the bone for a period of time until the mass is fully reconstituted from its initial lyophilized state and attains self-adherence so that the mass conforms to the shape of the barrel of the syringe and retains the barrel shape and integrity after extrusion from the syringe into the surgical site in a semisolid mass.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an intracoronally supported pontic which is uniquely anchored between two existing teeth by means of two wings which engage within slots or indentations prepared in the two existing teeth. The engaging wings are disposed on either side of a matrix around which the pontic is formed and which supports the pontic when positioned between the existing teeth. The invention further concerns the method of forming the pontic around the supporting matrix and installing it in the patient's mouth.

Abstract: A device and method are described for measuring the weight of objects using a pneumatically sealed bellows which contains a pair of spaced apart capacitor plates. In accordance with the invention, the pneumatic pressure within the bellows is varied to maintain constant dimensions for the bellows and a constant distance between the electric capacitor plates. This pressure is therefore a function of the weight placed upon the bellows which exerts a pressure tending to force the walls of the bellows and the capacitor plates closer together thereby changing the electric capacitance between the capacitor plates. By adjusting the pneumatic pressure to maintain a constant electric capacitance and constant dimensions for the bellows, a convenient parameter is obtained from which the weight of objects placed on the bellows can be measured. The invention has particular application in the meteorological sciences.

Abstract: An improved method and device are provided for evacuating gas from a gas tight envelope such as a bag of plastic film, enclosing one or more trays containing solid or granular material. The vacuum probe used in accordance with the invention to evacuate the envelope has one or more parallel grooves or apertures extending its length. The probe is inserted vertically into the envelope along the side of the tray and provides a vacuum, across the length of the probe to prevent blocking of the probe and ceasing evacuation of the gas.

Abstract: A nail polish remover device adapted for removing fingernail polish from all the fingers and thumb on a hand comprising a cylindrical receptacle defining a chamber with a liner casing mounted within the chamber. A finger support member defining a plurality of concave recesses to receive the fingers of a user is secured to the liner casing and a plurality of bristle members extend from a side support of the liner casing toward the concave recesses. A thumb support member defining two concave recesses is secured to the liner casing and a plurality of bristle members are mounted to the liner casing and project toward the thumb recesses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an external drive with a plurality of removably mounted disposable surgical hand cutting assemblies including a housing control unit with a plurality of motors, each of the motors being capable of driving each surgical hand cutting assembly at a different range of rotational speeds.One disposable surgical hand cutting assembly is capable of debriding soft tissue at a first speed and high torque, and a second disposable hand cutting assembly is capable of debriding hard tissue at a second higher speed.A plurality of flexible shafts for transmitting the torsional force from a selected motor to a selected surgical hand cutting assembly provided with a quick connect mechanism disposed on the end of each flexible shaft to quickly connect the surgical hand cutting assembly to one of the motors.

Abstract: A tape adapter with a detachable bracket, comprising: a tape adapter formed with a base, a front face wall secured to one end of the base, a plurality of side walls secured to the base and the front face wall and a back wall secured to the base and side walls to form a chamber for receiving a tape blade of a tape measure. A detachable bracket comprising a bracket plate and a flange member with a fastener member is secured bracket plate and is removably attached to the base of the tape adapter. The measuring tape blade of a tape measure is secured inside the chamber defined by the tape adapter walls to attach the tape adapter to the tape measure blade.

Abstract: A string mounting and tuning device is disclosed for use in the body of a stringed instrument, the device having a cast zinc alloy saddle platform and integral attachment block. The saddle platform is formed with a saddle support plate with a flange at the distal end thereof, the flange being provided at a plurality of apertures holding longitudinal adjustment screws so that each longitudinal adjustment screw extends through an aperture and threadably engages a string saddle cast of the same material as the saddle platform allows the position of each saddle to be adjusted by turning the respective longitudinal adjustment screw. The saddles which are also cast of the same zinc alloy material as the saddle platform and integral attachment block are spaced from each other a predetermined distance so that they do not touch providing purer sound quality.

Abstract: A device for the transfer of body fluids which accumulate in the peritoneum cavity into the vascular system comprising a peritoneal tube connected to the inlet chamber of a hollow plastic implanted valve assembly, causing a valve to open and passing the fluid under pressure into a second chamber from where the fluid is conducted through a venous tubing which is connected to the jugular vein of the patient. The valve assembly comprises a plastic housing with an inlet and outlet, the peritoneal tube being secured to the inlet leading to an inlet reservoir located within the valve housing and the venous tube being secured to the outlet leading from the outlet reservoir located within the valve housing.

Abstract: A method of packaging generally flat material utilizing a packaging frame having a substantially planar rectangular base defined by four sides, a substantially rectangular upright side frame at each side of the base, the base being fixed relative to the side frames, the base being formed with a pair of intersecting recessed channels which extend transversely across the base between respective pairs of opposed sides and the channels being from about 10 to about 25 mm in width, and the channels having respective end openings in the base which end openings are externally accessible even when the packaging frame contains material, wherein the packaging frame is loaded with generally flat material, and then fastening straps are manually passed through the channels via end openings thereof until an end of each strap extends beyond the opposite end opening in the channel, arranging the fastening straps around the generally flat material, engaging free ends of the fastening straps and then tensioning the fastening st

Abstract: A centralizer apparatus (1) for centralizing a rod (100). The centralizer apparatus (1) has a guide roller (2) which contacts the rod (100) and a pressure adjustment member (5) to enable the contact pressure of the guide roller (1) against the rod (100) to be adjusted. Mounting plates (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) mount the centralizer apparatus (1) so that it is fixable relative to the rod (100). The centralizer apparatus (1) enables the orientation of the guide roller (2) to be adjusted relative to the rod (100) about two orthogonal axes (25,26). The guide roller (2) is also locatable relative to the circumference and length of the rod (100) at selected locations.

Abstract: A nail polish remover device adapted for removing fingernail polishes comprises a cylindrical receptacle defining a chamber, an interior annular channel on the cylinder wall and a peripheral channel on the receptacle base. The receptacle also has a central post portion and is provided with a removable, flexible liner disposed within the chamber and having bristles extending toward the central post portion and an annular rib around the exterior which mates with the interior annular channel on the cylinder wall. When the removable liner is in place in the chamber the exterior rib is positioned in the annular channel of the container and the distal end of the liner is in contact with the bottom of the peripheral channel of the container.