Abstract: A measurement and control system for controlling system functions as a function of rotational parameters of a rotating device includes a plurality of interval markers distributed around the periphery of the rotating device and fixed relative to the device support. The measurement and control system also includes a plurality of sensors attached to the periphery of the rotating device, fixed relative to the rotating device so as to be in close proximity to the interval markers. Measurements from sensors attached to different locations on the rotating device are combined so as to mitigate variations in angular speed of the device. Measured rotational parameters are used to predict, via linear interpolation, angular positions of the device between those positions measured by the sensors.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a double spacer and a method of manufacturing the device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first spacer formed on the sidewall of a gate electrode and a second spacer formed on the slanted sidewall of the first spacer. A first impurity region is formed doped with a first conductivity type impurity at a first concentration and formed at a small junction depth in the substrate to self-align at the edge of the gate electrode. A second impurity region doped with a second conductivity type impurity at a second concentration is formed at a large junction depth in the substrate to self-align at the edge of the first spacer. A third impurity region doped with the first conductivity type impurity at a third concentration is formed at a medium junction depth in the second impurity region to self-align at the edge of the second spacer.

Abstract: In a spring-loaded curtain mount, the mount includes a pole interface at a proximal end, a compressive mechanism, and a head at a distal end. The pole interface is adapted to receive the end of a standard length adjustable pole or a painter's pole. The compression mechanism is disposed between the proximal end of the mount and the head. The mount includes a coupling device adapted to receive a portion of a curtain. During installation, the curtain mount is coupled to the end of an extension pole and the length of the pole is adjusted such that the combined length of the pole and mount is slightly longer than the distance between the floor and ceiling. At ground level, a portion of the curtain is attached to the head of the curtain mount. The curtain and mount are raised to the ceiling and the mount and pole are compressed between the floor and the ceiling. This compressive force operates to urge the head toward the ceiling, securing the mount in place.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic articular cartilage heterograft for implantation into humans. The invention further provides a method for preparing an articular cartilage heterograft by removing at least a portion of an articular cartilage from a non-human animal to provide a heterograft; washing the heterograft in saline and alcohol; subjecting the heterograft to at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, immersion in alcohol, ozonation, freeze/thaw cycling, and optionally to chemical crosslinking. In accordance with the invention the heterograft has substantially the same mechanical properties as the native xenogeneic articular cartilage.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a method and instrument set for repairing focal arthritic defects in a mammalian joint, especially in a human knee. The articular cartilage transplantation instrument set includes a coring device and first and second obturators. The coring device includes a cylindrical tube extending a distance along a coring axis between distal and proximal ends. A set of cutting elements or teeth are disposed at the distal end, and a gripper is at the proximal end. The outer diameters of the obturators are slightly less than the inner diameter of the tube of the coring device so that each of the obturators may be slidingly within the tube of the device with each of the respective obturator axes being substantially coaxial with the axis of the of the coring device tube. The length of the first obturator is selected so that when its rod is positioned all the way into the tube of the device, the distal end of the obturator is displaced by a distance X1 from the distal end of the device.

Abstract: A dynamically variable digital delay line includes a storage element, write control circuitry, read control circuitry and output rate control circuitry. Generally, the invention applies a predetermined throughput delay to a series of digital data elements by entering each digital data element into a storage element for an amount of time equal to the desired throughput delay, then extracting each digital data element and returning it to the original data path. While operating with a constant predetermined delay, the invention extracts digital data elements from the storage element at the same rate as digital data elements are entered into the storage element. When a change to the throughput delay is required, the invention changes the digital data element extraction rate with respect to the digital data element entry rate until the desired throughput delay is achieved.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for liquid chromatography at improved analytical and preparative speeds and quantities involves flow of fluids through the column at flow rates sufficient to induce turbulent flow in those fluids. In one embodiment, the apparatus and method includes a substantially uniform chromatography column created by packing together a multiplicity of rigid, solid, porous particles having diameters of not less than about 30 .mu.m, surfaces of the particles being chromatographically active. A fluid mixture containing at least one solute that is reactive with the particle surfaces is injected into the column and subsequently eluted therefrom by a eluant fluid flow, both the injection and elution being effected at a velocity sufficient to induce flow within at least a substantial portion of the interstitial volume between the particles at a reduced velocity greater than about 5,000.

Abstract: A receiver system on a mobile host vehicle platform includes an inertial sensor embedded in an antenna groundplane that supports an array of antenna elements. The beamformer within the receiver system determines the beamforming weights by incorporating inertially-generated signals representative of the attitude of the receiver system and location data identifying the location of GPS satellites. As the host vehicle moves, the beamformer generates the appropriate gain pattern based on the inertial data of the current attitude and the GPS location data. The beamformer, in particular, performs a spatial filtering function that is characterized by high-gain profiles in the direction of transmission of selected ones of the GPS terminals, thereby effectively suppressing signals originating from jammers and other sources of RFI.

Abstract: A graft fixation device for positioning and anchoring a bone graft within a bony channel. The fixation device generally comprises a rigid cylindrical member extending about a central axis, the member including an eccentric bore extending about an axis which is substantially parallel to, and radially offset from, the central axis. The fixation device is adapted to receive a rotational force applied to it. Rotation of the fixation device causes a bone plug installed and secured therein to move laterally within a bony channel, thus bringing the bone plug in contact with a portion of the channel wall. Preferably, the cancellous bone regions of the bone plugs and the bony channel are brought into abutting contact for optimum bone ingrowth opportunity and maximum graft fixation strength.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially native xenogeneic knee meniscal cartilage heterografts for implantation into humans. The invention further provides a method for preparing a substantially native xenogeneic knee meniscal heterograft by removing at least a portion of a meniscus from a non-human animal to provide a heterograft; and washing the heterograft in saline and alcohol. In accordance with the invention the heterograft has substantially the same mechanical properties as the native xenogeneic meniscus.

Abstract: An x-ray scanning system including an x-ray source defining a focal spot from which radiation is emitted, an x-ray detector assembly including a plurality of x-ray detectors cooperative with the x-ray source to define a radiation beam extending from the focal spot to all of the detectors, a support for supporting at least one of the x-ray source and the detector assembly for rotation about an isocenter, and means for configuring the detectors so that the increment in radial distance from the isocenter to the centers of any two adjacent sub-beams is a substantially constant value.

Abstract: A nutating slice CT image reconstruction apparatus and method generates a set of projection data using helical cone-beam scanning. The three-dimensional projection data is used to reconstruct a series of planar image slices. The slices are selected such that they define a tilt angle and a rotation angle with respect to the longitudinal axes of the object being scanned. Successive slices have equal tilt angles but changing rotation angles such that normal axes of successive slices define a nutation and precession about the longitudinal axis of the object. Projection data for the tilted slices are formed of selected one-dimensional fan-beam data. As such, the projection data can be applied to conventional two-dimensional reconstruction approaches to generate an image. The projection data can also be used to generate two-dimensional projection images at one or more stationary projection angles through an object being scanned.

Abstract: A surgical fastening device, such as a suture, staple, clip, pin or the like, is rendered therapeutically radioactive in order to inhibit cellular proliferation at a wound or surgical repair site, by implantation of a radioisotope into the material of the device. The device can be made of any material, including metals, nonmetals, plastics and ceramics.

Abstract: The disclosed audio signal processing system produces an acoustic signal in a listening space and includes devices for generating a desired volume signal, a noise signal representative of ambient noise conditions in the listening space, and an audio signal. The system further includes a variable gain amplifier for amplifying the audio signal in response to a gain control signal and a device for generating the gain control signal in response to a volume control signal. The volume control signal is generated in response to the noise and desired volume signals so that the volume control signal increases in response to increases in the noise signal. The volume control signal increases at a rate of increase and the rate of increase decreases as the volume control signal increases.

Abstract: In an improved method and apparatus for cone-beam reconstruction, a technique for mitigating reconstruction error, referred to herein as successive approximation, incrementally improves the quality of the resultant image, with an exponential decrease in error at each succession. Projection data are collected and reconstructed to form a first reconstructed image containing error due to imprecision in reconstruction. The first reconstructed image is forward projected to generate intermediate projection data which are in turn compared to the collected projection data to generate error projection data. The error projection data are reconstructed to form an error image which is, in turn, used to correct the first reconstructed image . The result is a second image which is improved in image quality. The invention is applicable to a range of computed tomography applications, including medical scanning, baggage scanning, and industrial product scanning applications.

Abstract: An array transducer ultrasound beamformer includes a plurality of processing channels, one for each active element of the transducer array. Each channel includes a digitizing unit for converting the received signal to digital samples and a time multiplexed delay unit for producing a primary stream of delayed TDM samples corresponding to one or more beams. Within each channel, the primary stream of delayed TDM samples is demultiplexed in order to separate the stream in a plurality of secondary streams of delayed TDM samples, wherein each of the secondary streams corresponds to a portion of a beam or a single beam.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the measurement of total organic carbon, total inorganic carbon and total carbon of water are described. The ample is acidified and split into an inorganic carbon stream and a total carbon stream. The inorganic carbon in the inorganic stream is oxidized and both the organic and inorganic carbon in the total carbon stream is oxidized. The resulting carbon dioxide is measured in each stream using carbon dioxide sensors employing a gas permeable membrane dividing deionized water from the oxidized sample water and a pair of micro-conductivity and temperature sensors.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic ligament or tendon heterografts for implantation into humans. The invention further provides a method for preparing an ligament heterograft by removing at least a portion of an ligament from a non-human animal to provide a heterograft; washing the heterograft in saline and alcohol; subjecting the heterograft to at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, immersion in alcohol, ozonation, freeze/thaw cycling, and optionally to chemical crosslinking. In accordance with the invention the heterograft has substantially the same mechanical properties as the native xenogeneic ligament.

Abstract: Heat transfer catheter apparatus and methods of making and using same are disclosed wherein a fluid connection is provided between the distal portions of two adjacent, thin-walled, high strength fluid lumens to define a closed loop fluid circulation system capable of controlled delivery of thermal energy to or withdrawal of thermal energy from remote internal body locations.

Abstract: In a planar gyrator, parallel transmission lines are positioned proximal to a magnetized gyrotropic substrate. Input and output transducers couple the ends of the transmission lines to corresponding input and output ports. The input and output transducers are configured to excite first and second partial wave fields on the transmission lines of similar or different phases respectively. The wave fields, in turn, interact gyromagnetically with the substrate, such that the resultant difference in phase change for a first wave propagating from the first to the second port and a second wave propagating from the second to the first port is an odd-integer multiple of 180 degrees. Alternatively, if the magnetization of the substrate is reversed, the phase of a wave propagating from the first to the second port is changed by 180 degrees.