Abstract: A retractor system and method for locating and placing a polyaxial screw while substantially simultaneously retracting tissue is shown and described. The retractor has a channel that facilitates introducing a rod into the polyaxial screw. Various embodiments are shown, including one which utilized a reducer for moving the rod in the retractor.

Abstract: The pedicle screw system may be used for fixation of spinal segments and may be advantageous when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are employed. The pedicle screw system includes a tulip assembly comprising of a tulip body, an inner member, and an expansion member. Installation of the pedicle screw system into pedicles of the spine, for example, includes inserting the pedicle screw into a portion of the spine and then coupling the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw. The tulip assembly may be locked onto the pedicle screw before a distraction rod is placed in the tulip assembly. After the rod is placed in the tulip assembly, the tulip body and the inner member can be rotated relative to one another to lock the rod into the tulip assembly. In addition, the relative rotation may also provide additional locking of the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw.

Abstract: Can shells are produced with tooling installed on a single action mechanical press, and the tooling includes an upper retainer supporting a blank and draw die enclosing an outer pressure sleeve and an inner pressure sleeve surrounding a die center punch, all having air actuated pistons. The die center piston has an air reservoir connected by air passages which form air springs for the inner pressure sleeve, and the outer pressure sleeve receives the same controllable air as the reservoir or low pressure plant air supply. The inner pressure sleeve has a projecting nose portion which initiates the drawing of a cup and has contoured surfaces which mate with corresponding surfaces on a die core ring to form and clamp the chuckwall of the shell during downstroke of the press. A lower panel punch forms the center panel, panel wall and countersink of the shell during upstroke of the press.

Abstract: An electrical supply device for a discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight that comprises: an electronic module for converting source electric current into supply electric current for the discharge lamp; a housing that encloses the electronic module and is produced from an electrically conductive material so as to form electromagnetic shielding; an electrical connection harness that is intended to electrically connect the electronic conversion module with the discharge lamp; an envelope produced from an electrically conductive material that surrounds the connection harness so as to form electromagnetic shielding; the housing and envelope being electrically connected to a common reference electrical potential (?); wherein the housing and the envelope are connected in parallel to the common reference electrical potential (?).

Abstract: A control and power device for a rotating electrical machine comprising a management circuit and a power circuit including a number of power transistors and driver circuits associated with the power transistors. The device provides connection between the management circuit and the driver circuits for switching on the driver circuits and transmitting at least one transit potential between the management circuit and the driver circuits. The invention is applicable to alternator-starter.

Abstract: A rotor of a rotary electric machine comprising a rotor shaft, a stack of laminations, which is coaxial to the rotor shaft and which comprises at least two radially-projecting poles, a field coil which is wound around each pole, such that the ends of the coil project out axially in relation to each external axial end radial face of the lamination stack and two plates for supporting the lamination stack, which are disposed axially on either side of the stack, housings being provided in the internal radial face of each plate for receiving the coil ends. At least one of the housings comprises a contact surface with the external radial face of the associated coil end.

Abstract: This invention relates to an integrally weighted baseball cover and system, method and apparatus for quickly delivering the cover and placing it onto an area of a baseball field, such as one or more of the infield areas, such as home base area, first base area, second base area, third base area, pitcher's mound area and/or bullpen areas.

Abstract: A system and method for the anticipated detection of a bend on a portion of road taken by a motor vehicle comprising the following steps: establishing, by means of a first system, called as the navigation system, a first set of information on the bend in question, the first set of information being associated with a first confidence index; establishing, by means of a second system, called as the image processing system, a second set of information on the bend in question, the second set of information being associated with a second confidence index; and establishing, from the first set of information and the second set of information and by taking into account the first confidence index and the second confidence index, a third set of information on the bend in question.

Abstract: A fastener and a bone fixation assembly for the internal fixation of vertebral bodies such as a pedicle screw is provided which allows a detachable tulip to be provisionally locked to a pedicle screw in a first position, while securely locking the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw when in a second position. According to one exemplary embodiment, the tulip assembly includes a tulip body, a coupling saddle, and an expansion ring serving as a fastener. The fastener secures the tulip body to the pedicle screw, while the coupling saddle provides a means to provisionally lock the tulip body at an angle relative to the pedicle screw via an interference fit. Incline planes on the walls of the tulip body provide means to rotationally lock a rod within the tulip assembly, and fully lock the tulip assembly to at an angle relative to the pedicle screw.

Abstract: A multistage sealed pump is provided for use in an X-ray tube cooling system which is substantially more efficient than pumps of known construction and which provides substantially higher pumping pressure at lower motor current than conventionally. Cooling liquid can be transferred from stage to stage by interconnecting tubing external of the housing or within the housing, through a hollow motor shaft, or through the motor casing. In another embodiment, the multiple impellers can be directly mounted on a shaft extending from a single end of the motor.

Abstract: A light source or signaling module for the emission of an illuminating or signaling beam along a main direction, of the type including a light source, a luminous flux recovery mirror made up of a set of reflecting tiles, each reflecting tile being formed of a conical segment with two focal points, the first of which is located on the light source and a second focal point which is located, with respect to the reflecting tile, in a direction parallel to the main direction, each reflecting tile forming an image of the light source. The parameters of the conical segments with two focal points made up of the reflecting tiles are adjusted to confer upon the second focal points pre-determined photometric characteristics, and the images from the light source are directly visible.

Abstract: The applicator comprises a core presenting at least one helical furrow extending along at least one segment of the core from a first longitudinal end of the segment to a second longitudinal end of the segment. The core has a transverse dimension, measured away from the furrow, that varies on traveling along the segment in a longitudinal direction of the core. The core presents spines formed integrally therewith and situated on the segment outside the furrow.

Abstract: The pedicle screw system may be used for fixation of spinal segments and may be advantageous when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are employed. The pedicle screw system includes a tulip assembly comprising of a tulip body, a inner member, and an expansion member. Installation of the pedicle screw system into pedicles of the spine, for example, includes inserting the pedicle screw into a portion of the spine and then coupling the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw. The tulip assembly may be locked onto the pedicle screw before a distraction rod is placed in the tulip assembly. After the rod is placed in the tulip assembly, the tulip body and the inner member can be rotated relative to one another to lock the rod into the tulip assembly. In addition, the relative rotation may also provide additional locking of the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw.

Abstract: An upper press platen supports an upper mold member slidable vertically within a surrounding upper trim frame. A lower press platen supports a lower trim frame surrounding a lower mold member slidable vertically within the lower trim frame. The lower mold member defines a cavity connected to a vacuum source, and one or two heated sheets of material are positioned between the trim frames and mold members which are then closed to clamp peripheral portions of the sheets between the trim frames. The lower heated sheet is vacuum formed into the cavity and the sheets are fused together with heat and pressure to form a part which is then cooled. The mold members shift downwardly as a unit within the trim frames to shear the peripheral portions of the sheets from the part. The trimmed part and peripheral portions are removed after the trim frames and mold members open.

Abstract: A lighting or signaling device for a motor vehicle which is capable of emitting a linear beam in the direction of an optical axis and which comprises a point light source that emits light rays radially around a source; a light ray guiding plate; wherein the light guiding plate is shaped so that the light rays generally propagate in incident propagation planes normal to the plate between the light source and the reflection edge and in reflected propagation planes normal to the plate between the reflection edge and the output edge.

Abstract: The device according to the invention comprises a light source and electronic supply and control. The light source electronic supply and control comprises at least one circuit comprising at least one stack of chips formed from at least two power components (IGBTb1, IGBTh1). According to one embodiment, the light source comprises a discharge lamp and the circuit with stacking is a DC/AC converter supplying the discharge lamp. Preferably, the discharge lamp is of xenon type and the circuit with stacking is included in an electronic ballast of the device. In another embodiment, the circuit with stacking is included in an electronic module associated with the discharge lamp and forming therewith a compact assembly.

Abstract: A spinal fixation assembly and capless multi-axial screw system and method are shown. The assembly comprises a receiver having a rotary lock which in one embodiment includes a plurality of channels which urge and lock the elongated member to the screw using a bayonet type connection.

Abstract: A communication method is implemented in an on-board network between a master station (M) and a plurality of slave stations (S1, S2, S3, S4), of the type of those compatible with the standard Local Interconnect Network (LIN) protocol in which data frames are sent by the slave stations on a serial bus in response to the sending by the master station of identifiers (4, 6) representative of the required content of the frames. All (7) or part of each of the specific data frames attached to the same predetermined identifier (4, 6) is formed sequentially by each of the slave stations. This enables an optimisation of the load on a LIN network, thus enabling use of this economical standard for all “passenger compartment functions”, and in particular for the management of AFS type advanced lighting systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bony fixation system and method for use as a prosthetic implant. The system and method includes a plate dimensioned to be situated between adjacent bony structures, such as adjacent vertebrae. Screws are provided in one embodiment and are dimensioned or configured to be inserted into a bony structure and to lock against each other to retain the screws and consequently secure the plate in place against the bony structure.