Abstract: An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the two tissue surfaces to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the tissue surfaces so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing soft tissue to a prosthesis includes a retaining member secured to the prosthesis. The apparatus also includes a first band constructed of a resorbable material. The first band has a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion. The apparatus also includes a second band constructed of a biologically inert material. The second band has a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion. The middle portion of the first band is positioned around a retaining portion of the retaining member such that both the first end portion and the second end portion of the first band extend outwardly from the retaining member. The middle portion of the second band is positioned around the retaining portion of the retaining member such that both the first end portion and the second end portion of the second band extend outwardly from the retaining member.

Abstract: A method derives a frequency of a pulse signal from a line frequency. The method includes measuring a period of a line frequency pulse signal having the line frequency using a measured frequency derived from an oscillator frequency. The method further includes determining if the period of the line frequency pulse signal is within a predetermined tolerance limit. The line frequency is used to derive the frequency of the pulse signal when the period is determined to be within the predetermined tolerance limit, and the oscillator frequency is used to derive the frequency of the pulse signal when the period is determined to be outside the predetermined tolerance limit.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first set of image information representative of a first portion of the multiple page image, the first set of image data corresponding to a first page of the multiple page image. The method also includes generating alignment indicia image information relating to the first portion of the multiple page image. The method further includes generating combined image information comprising the first set of image information and the alignment indicia image information.

Abstract: A checkout system and method is convertible between an assisted configuration or mode of operation and a non-assisted (self-assisted) configuration or mode of operation. The checkout system includes a checkout station having a movable scanner and a movable display each of which are selectively positionable to accommodate the assisted and non-assisted configurations. The checkout station also includes a customer bag well particularly for use by the customer when the checkout station is in a non-assisted mode of operation, a cashier bag well particularly for use by the cashier when the checkout station is in an assisted mode of operation, a merchandise placement or upload area, a payment module, and a walk through basket table, shelf or the like. A plurality of checkout stations is positioned or angled into a modified serial (staggered skew) configuration and are scalable.

Abstract: An endless cable tarp extension/retraction system spooled around front and rear pulleys includes drive components that are self-contained and encapsulated within an elongated housing that can be removably mounted to the container body using multiple clamp assemblies or mounting bolts disposed within a T-slot in the housing. A front idler pulley is provided that is sized and oriented relative to the drive pulley to maintain the upper and lower runs of the cable to travel essentially parallel along the length of the container. A self-tensioning rear idler pulley is provided that utilizes a spring to exert an adjustable force against the rear idler pulley. In another aspect of the invention, an anti-sail bracket extends downward from the bow ends of the tarp system and includes an inwardly projecting pin that is restrained from upward movement by a rail mounted to the side of the container.

Abstract: A surface layer for forming a cylinder barrel wall of a combustion engine block is proposed. The surface layer has separate phases of components that are separated from the phase of the remaining materials. The surface layer is produced by plasma spraying an iron containing spraying powder, incorporating all components of the layer to be produced. Such a surface layer may be applied easily and shows a significantly improved behavior regarding the machining thereof, without negatively influencing other important characteristics of the layer material, like wear resistance and coefficient of friction vis-à-vis the material of the piston rings. Preferred components of the spraying powder are, besides Fe, Cr, MN, S and C. Moreover, the spraying powder can contain As, Te, Se, Sb and/or Bi.

Abstract: A deployment mechanism for a stowable tarping system includes a hydraulic rotary actuator that is connected to the ends of the bail member of the tarping system. The rotary actuator is generally centrally mounted on the underside of the vehicle body with a pair of half shafts projecting outward toward the sides of the vehicle body. The half shafts are rotationally connected to the bail member so that torque and rotational force generated by the actuator is translated to a pivoting movement of the bail member. The actuator can be integrated into the vehicle hydraulics and can include a control valve system capable of controlling speed and direction of actuation.

Abstract: A cover system for an open-topped container, such as a dump truck body, includes a flexible tarpaulin sized to extend across the length of the container. A weighted element is carried by the tarp adjacent to but offset from the front end of the tarp. The weighted element is “gravity-biased” so that it pulls the tarp down and holds it down against the load within the container when the tarp is in its deployed position. In a preferred embodiment, the weighted element includes one or more metal bars that are contained within pockets spanning the width of the tarp.

Abstract: An open-topped vehicle body, such as a dump body, includes a tarping system that is deployed over the body by a pivoting bail member. An actuation mechanism applies a torque to the bail member to automatically pivot the member and deploy the tarp cover. The actuation mechanism includes a number of double coil spiral torsion springs anchored on a shaft attached to the dump body. The springs each include a right and a left coil portion concentrically wound about an integral center anchor portion. The shaft includes an elongated slot to receive and support the center anchor portion of each spring within the mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes a housing attached to the bail member. The housing contains the double coil springs and supports a pair of reaction posts extending therethrough. The coil portions of each spring include a left and right reaction end configured to contact and provide a torsional force against a corresponding reaction post within the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for protecting the walls of a row of cylinders of an engine block from contamination when the walls of the other row of cylinders of the engine block are thermally coated. For this purpose, the apparatus comprises a plurality of inflatable hollow body members that can be moved into the interior of the cylinders whose walls are to be protected and inflated once they are in position in the interior of the particular cylinders. The hollow body members comprise a dimensionally stable inner sleeve member that is enclosed by an inflatable elastic envelope member. The inflatable hollow body members are arranged in two groups located opposite to each other.

Abstract: A gas dryer includes a housing, and a drying drum in the housing which is permeable to allow a flow of gas through the drum between its opposite first and second ends. A first flow guide is located at the first end of the drum and a second flow guide is located at the second end of the drum. The first and second flow guides define between them a primary region of the drum for a primary gas flow to flow through the drum, and a secondary region of the drum for a secondary gas flow to flow through the drum, and are mounted for rotation about the drum axis so that boundaries between the primary and secondary regions rotate around the drum. The permeable structure of the drying drum and the flow guides allow the primary and secondary gas flows to flow through their respective regions of the drum without significant mixing.

Abstract: A pressure sprayer is pressurized automatically with movement of the sprayer and maintains adequate pressure during non-movement to allow the ejection of an amount of liquid before needing re-pressurization. The pressure sprayer includes wheels that allow the pressure sprayer to be mobile. A cam is attached to the axle of the wheels which rotates with the rotation of the axle/wheels. A pressure pump is associated with the cam such that movement of the cam causes the pressure pump to pump liquid from a holding tank to an accumulator or directly to a spray wand in communication with the pump. The liquid may be sprayed (ejected) from the accumulator during both movement (pumping) and non-movement (no pumping) of the sprayer, while the liquid may be directly sprayed from the holding tank only during movement (pumping) thereof. Thus, as the wheels rotate due to moving the pressure sprayer, the cam causes movement of the pressure pump to fill the accumulator with the liquid under pressure.

Abstract: A system and method of generating a tender code for a purchase transaction and associating the generated tender code with both a payment and a produced digital receipt for the purchase transaction is described. The tender code may be assigned at several points in the purchase transaction. The digital receipt with the tender code is stored, preferably in a data warehouse. The data warehouse allows easy indexing of the digital receipt data including the tender code. The payment, such as a check, is encoded or affixed with the tender code such that the payment is correlated or linked to the digital receipt and thus the particular purchase transaction to which the payment applied. The tender code may be encrypted and/or contain auxiliary data. The auxiliary data may be device readable to allow a holder to access various information and/or data via an access device such as a document processing device.

Abstract: A diverter is integrated into a printer apparatus having a feed mechanism for feeding the sheet from a supply location through a printer mechanism to a collection location, and a presenter mechanism for drawing the sheet from the collection location to a discharge location. The diverter is pivotably mounted between the printer mechanism and the collection location so that the diverter is movable by contact of the sheet with a first surface of the diverter. The diverter is gravity-biased to a neutral position in which a second surface is aligned to receive the sheet from the collection location and direct the sheet to the presenter mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the diverter includes a generally triangular-shaped body, with a pivot axis and a center of gravity offset from the pivot axis.

Abstract: A system and method provide reliable and effective notification to customers that film rolls they have deposited with a vendor for processing have been returned and are available for retrieval. The method includes storing customer identification data in a data repository that accompanies a film roll container, reading customer identification data from the data repository after development of the film roll in the film container, and generating a notification message for delivery to the customer corresponding to the customer identification data. The notification message informs the customer that the developed film is available for retrieval from the deposit site. Entry of the data for storage in the data repository may be performed by a customer or deposit site employee through a keypad or through a scanning device that reads a customer token.

Abstract: A method of planarizing a wafer surface of a semiconductor wafer having an elevated portion extending therefrom is described. The method includes the step of positioning a fluid flow surface relative to the wafer surface so that (i) a space is defined between the wafer surface and the fluid flow surface, and (ii) the elevated portion of the semiconductor wafer is positioned in the space. The method also includes the step of advancing a fluid within the space so that the fluid contacts and erodes the elevated portion of the semiconductor wafer. An associated apparatus for planarizing a wafer surface of a semiconductor wafer having an elevated portion extending therefrom is also described.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing patients suspected of having a neurological disorder is disclosed and includes monitoring movement of a patient in order to obtain movement data that is representative of the movement of the patient. Another step of the method includes processing the movement data in order to obtain an input pattern that is representative of the movement data. The method also includes the step of processing the input pattern with a computational intelligence system that has been trained to classify movement based upon a predetermined group of neurological disorder classifications. Furthermore, the method includes generating with the computational intelligence system an output that is indicative of an appropriate neurological disorder classification for the patient. An analysis system for diagnosing patients suspected of having a neurological disorder is also disclosed.

Abstract: A shoulder prosthesis including a fracture stem has body having an exterior surface, a shank attached to the body and a head. The body includes a medial fin, an anterior fin and a posterior fin. The medial fin includes a suture hole. The anterior and posterior fins each include a plurality of suture holes. The prosthesis further includes a lateral suture hole intersecting the exterior surface of the body. The lateral suture hole may be formed in a projection on the lateral side of the prosthesis. In an alternative embodiment, a trail prosthesis includes indicia for noting the proper placement of the stem. The prosthesis includes corresponding indicia for replicating the placement of the trial stem.

Abstract: In order to obtain a simple construction of an electricity meter (1), the invention provides that the meter comprises a highly integrated input module (3a, 3b, 3c) in which an analog-digital converter (5a, 5b) and an output module (7a) are integrated. A multiplying means (21) can optionally be integrated. Such an input module (3a, 3b, 3c), in combination with conventional components, especially microprocessors, makes it possible to produce an electricity meter which comprises a simple construction and which is of a single-phase and multi-phase type (also for a plurality of consumers).