Abstract: A method for inserting an artificial implant between two adjacent vertebrae along a coronal plane.

Abstract: A point of sale tax reporting and automatic collection system including a smart tax register located at a retailer location. The retailer smart register processes consumer transactions and calculates the amount of sales tax due the retailer by the consumer for each transaction. Following the transaction, the consumer requests and is give a tax paid receipt. After the sales tax is paid to the retailer by the consumer, the register either immediately or periodically forwards the amount of the transaction and the amount of sales tax collected by the retailer to a computer and memory located at a remote location (e.g. state government taxing authority). The computer and memory receive and store the retailer's transaction and sales tax information, and report same to the Internal Revenue Service at least once a year.

Abstract: A method for Internet Protocol (IP) charging and rating gateway within a system having: (i) a proxy server for connection to an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server; (ii) an access gateway, (iii) an IP classification engine for connection between a data network and the access gateway; and (iv) a gateway controller connected to the proxy server and the IP classification engine, including the steps of: (a) receiving IP packets at the IP classification engine, the IP packets originating from the data network and destined for a subscriber device via the access gateway; (b) classifying the IP packets according to the protocol of each of the packets at the IP classification engine; and (c) selectively instructing the IP classification engine to permit or deny the flow of IP packets between the data network and the access gateway at the gateway controller. Preferably, the proxy server is configured to emulate the access gateway and the AAA server.

Abstract: A collapsible softbox for use with a photographic flash. The softbox includes a collapsible body made of connected, moveable first and second side panels. The body includes a distal opening and a proximal opening. The softbox also includes a front panel which is detachably engageable to the distal end of the body.

Abstract: An improved rongeur for cutting bone or cartilage comprising two shaft members capable of reciprocating motion relative to each other wherein one shaft member terminates in a foot plate and the other shaft member comprises a combined cutting element and storage member is disclosed. The combined cutting element and storage member has a cutting edge at its distal end and a storage chamber proximate the cutting edge for collecting and storing cut pieces of bone or cartilage in an amount greater than the maximum bone or cartilage capable of being cut in a single full cut. The combined cutting element and storage member is truly disposable, rather than merely replaceable and requires the use of no tools or special assembly. The rongeur may be manually activated or activated by a solenoid and powered by a battery.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a variety of interbody spinal fusion implants having at least a partially frusto-conical configuration. An external thread is employed to increase implant stability and implant surface area, and for the purpose of advancing the spinal fusion implant into the fusion site. The spinal fusion implants of the present invention may be relatively solid or hollow and may have surface roughenings to promote bone ingrowth and stability. The spinal fusion implants of the present invention may have wells extending into the material of the implant from the surface for the purpose of holding fusion promoting materials and to provide for areas of bone ingrowth fixation.

Abstract: A component for supporting a wearer's foot includes a central plate joined at its periphery to one or more tubular portions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for intelligently switching between communication modes. An optimum communication mode is selected based upon determining the mobility of the subscriber station, the location of the subscriber station, and orthogonality of signals received from the subscriber station with respect to a signal of another subscriber station. Each determination may be continually or incrementally performed according to the passage of a time interval or upon observation of changes in relevant conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for transporting data across an air interface using a blending of protocol layers to achieve reduced bandwidth. Advantage is taken of the fact that the extra overhead from, for example, the Ethernet protocol is addressing information pertaining to the destination of the packet. This destination information (for example, the Ethernet address) can be stripped from the transmission prior to the air interface and recreated after the air interface. In one embodiment, the concepts of a proper Layer 2 CS are merged on top of the 802.16 protocol and still retain the benefits of a Layer 2 transparent bridged service layer to the network layer. In one embodiment, the MAC address of the destination is used for the air interface and the Ethernet address is recreated and added on the far side of the air interface.

Abstract: An electrical bone growth promotion apparatus for the delivery of electrical current to an implant surgically implanted between adjacent bone masses to promote bone growth to areas adjacent to the implant is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a self contained implant having a surgically implantable, renewable power supply and related control circuitry for delivering electrical current directly to the implant and thus directly to the area in which the promotion of bone growth is desired. The desired areas of bone growth promotion may be controlled by conducting negative charge only to the desired location of bone growth promotion.

Abstract: Disclosed are Multipurpose Media Players that enable users to create transcriptions, closed captions, and/or logs of digitized recordings, that enable the presentation of transcripts, closed captions, logs, and digitized recordings in a correlated manner to users, that enable users to compose one or more scenes of a production, and that enable users to compose storyboards for a production. The multipurpose media players can be embodied within Internet browser environments, thereby providing high availability of the multipurpose players across software platforms, networks, and physical locations.

Abstract: A bone fracture fixation system configured towards the treatment of a variety of different human bone fractures. The fracture fixation system including a plate portion configured to abut bone structure and having a plurality of threaded apertures designed to matingly receive a plurality of screws therein. The bone fracture fixation system will also include at least one scaffold building screw configured to extend through the plate portion and into the bone structure. The scaffold building screw will be configured to include any of a number of different configurations of bracing pegs and/or bracing screws therein to provide substantial structural integrity to the system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument set for use in spinal surgery for forming a substantially quadrilateral space in the spine for implanting a spinal implant at least in part into and at least in part across a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies and methods of use are disclosed. The instrument set includes an extended guard for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent surfaces of the adjacent vertebral bodies, a guide insertable into the guard, and a bone removal device insertable into said guide.

Abstract: A spinal fusion implant for insertion between adjacent vertebral bodies has opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space, a leading end for insertion between the adjacent vertebral bodies, and a trailing end opposite the leading end. The trailing end has an exterior surface and an outer perimeter with an upper edge and a lower edge adapted to be oriented toward the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, and a plurality of bone screw receiving holes. At least one of the bone screw receiving holes is adapted to only partially circumferentially surround a trailing end of a bone screw received therein. At least one of the bone screw receiving holes passes through the exterior surface and one of the edges so as to permit the trailing end of the bone screw to protrude beyond one of the edges.

Abstract: A communications base station is installed at a selected new location and the base station, prior to going “online” monitors the wireless traffic from other base stations within interference range of the new base station's coverage area. The new base station also monitors the wireless traffic between mobile devices within its coverage area and these other base stations. Based upon these monitored conditions, as well as other known conditions, the new base station then determines the transmitting parameter configuration it should imply in order to achieve a desired optimization between capacity and coverage area. After the new base station is online, a central control can monitor the entire network to determine if any additional changes are necessary and if so the new transceiver, or any other transceiver, can be instructed to monitor itself with respect to interference and to take corrective action to improve overall network coverage and capacity.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant comprising cortical bone having a width less than one-half the width of the disc space into which it is adapted to be inserted. The implant has a leading end that is asymmetrical from side to side and/or includes a straight portion adapted to be used in side-by-side pairs.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling access, by an authentication server, to protected computer resources provided via an Internet Protocol network that includes storing (i) a digital identification associated with at least one client computer device, and (ii) data associated with the protected computer resources in at least one database associated with the authentication server; authenticating, by the authentication server, the digital identification forwarded by at least one access server; authorizing, by the authentication server, the at least one client computer device to receive at least a portion of the protected computer resources requested by the at least one client computer device, based on the stored data associated with the requested protected computer resources; and permitting access, by the authentication server, to the at least the portion of the protected computer resources upon successfully authenticating the digital identification and upon successfully authorizing the at least once client comp

Abstract: The present invention is directed to (1) a plating system having multiple and single locking mechanisms for general skeletal use other than in the anterior cervical spine; (2) an orthopedic plating system that permits a pair of bone screws to be inserted into a bone in a crossed over orientation and locked to the plate; (3) a segmentable plating system which can be made to a selected length by the surgeon; and (4) a combination screw-lock-plating system for allowing and/or causing intersegmental compression of bone portions.

Abstract: A pallet for holding at least one window frame includes a base and movable sides pivotally attached to the base. The movable sides are positionable to be substantially perpendicular to the base and are configured to hold the window frame. Connectors attached to the base and the movable sides, respectively, prevent the first and second movable sides from moving away from each other. A method for using the pallet is also disclosed.

Abstract: A Behind The Ear, In The Ear, All in The Ear, In The Canal, or Completely In The Canal hearing aid which is made resistant to electromagnetic interference produced by cellular telephones in the 800 MHz to 100 GHz frequency range. The resultant hearing aid will allow hearing impaired people to take advantage of cellular telephones and other recently-developed personal communication devices while also using their hearing aids.