Abstract: An orthopedic component comprising a first element and a second element, with the first element and the second element being secured to one another with a modular connection, wherein the modular connection comprises a taper junction and an engaged-fit junction.

Abstract: An oil tank sight glass monitor comprising a housing having an opening therein sized to receive the sight glass of an oil tank; an emitter for emitting a beam of light, the emitter being mounted to the housing on one side of the opening so that the beam of light is directed across the opening; a detector for detecting the beam of light generated by the emitter, the detector being mounted to the housing on the other side of the opening, in optical alignment with the emitter, so as to detect the beam of light emitted by the emitter; and an alarm for producing an audible sound when the detector fails to detect the beam of light generated by the emitter.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a compacting machine, in which the compacting elements can be removed from the compactor housing transversely to the direction of the drive shafts.

Abstract: A Raman spectroscopy system includes a laser source for providing a laser beam, and an optical probe assembly including a photonic crystal fiber light guide for receiving the laser beam from the laser source and for directing the laser beam toward a specimen of selected material, a lens for receiving the laser beam in the light guide and directing the beam onto the specimen and for receiving reflected light from the specimen and directing the reflected light back through the fiber light guide, and a dichroic beam splitter for directing a portion of the reflected beam out of the optical probe assembly. The system further includes an optical spectrum analyzer for receiving the portion of the reflected beam and for exhibiting a Raman signature of the specimen.

Abstract: A suture passer comprises a longitudinally extending hollow cannula having a central passage slidingly receivable of a surgical suture; a manually graspable handle connected to the hollow cannula for manipulation thereof, the handle having an upper surface; first guide means, connected to the upper surface of the handle, proximate a distal end of the handle for releasably, guidingly, holding the surgical suture; second guide means, connected to the upper surface of the handle, proximate to the first guide means, for releasably, guidingly, holding the surgical suture. The suture passer can be provided in a kit, for use in the suturing of internal tissue, along with a cannula bender, various hollow surgical needles and surgical suture material. The suture passer finds particular use in the suturing of internal tissues which are at least partially accessible through a body cavity, e.g. arthroscopic surgery.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for implants with composite coatings to promote tissue in-growth and/or on-growth. An implant includes: a substrate; a structured surface formed on at least a portion of the substrate; and a biocompatible coating deposited on at least a fraction of the structured surface. The systems and methods provide advantages in that the implant has good biocompatibility while the biocompatible coating has good strength.

Abstract: A software-based computer method for limiting the lifetime of an electronic credit card transaction that makes the transmitted credit card information useless when a configurable time limit expires. The method is designed to provide protection for electronic transactions that require use of an identifying key such as a credit card number, with or without an additional unique identifier comprising a sequence of alphanumeric values, such as a PIN, for the purpose of initiating a transaction. The method provides protection by the addition of a transaction-initiated date/time stamp which is included as part of the transmitted transaction information and provides the basis for limiting the amount of time the transaction is valid.

Abstract: An brain scanning apparatus having a scanner device and a host computer. The scanner radiation detectors detect radiation emitted from a desired portion, or slice, of a brain source. The scanner device contains microprocessors and code which control the movement of the radiation detectors and performs the data acquisition over a number of slices and transmits this data to the host computer. The host computer initiates a scan by sending desired setup parameters to the scanner device and instructing the scanner to begin collecting data. During the scan, acquired data is sent to the host computer and spooled to a hard disk. The computer can be instructed to perform a slice by slice reconstruction of the source brain while the scan is taking place in order to produce a 2-dimensional reconstruction of the mapped brain. A complete 3-dimensional reconstruction of all the compiled slices is performed and visually displayed after acquisition of all the required slices.

Abstract: A surgical fastening system for attaching one piece of tissue to another piece of tissue. The system comprises a surgical fastener, an installation tool for deploying the surgical fastener in tissue, and a method for using the same.

Abstract: A prosthetic femoral stem component comprising a body element, a neck element and a stem element, with the body element, neck element and stem element being secured to one another with a modular connection, wherein the modular connection comprises a taper junction and an engaged-fit junction.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat welding together thermoplastic membranes mounted on a surface includes a frame, a support member connected to the frame, a nozzle mounted on the support member to receive heated air, weld wheels mounted on the support member adjacent to, and immediately following, the nozzle for pushing a heated portion of an upper membrane toward a lower membrane to effect a weld, wherein the support member is adapted to be fixed to the frame member in a first position proximate a first side of the frame for welding the two membranes together, is releasable from the first position, is movable to a second position nearer a second side of the frame, and adapted to be releasably fixed to the frame at the second position for welding a membrane to an underlying edge piece mounted on a free edge of the surface.

Abstract: A treatment for eliminating unwanted organisms in agriculture, the treatment comprising a first component comprising allyl isothiocyanate emulsified in water, and a second component comprising a solution of phosphorus and water.

Abstract: A fixation screw, graft ligament anchor assembly, and method for fastening a graft ligament in a bone tunnel. The screw comprises an elongated shank having a distal end and a proximal end, and a central axis extending from the distal end to the proximal end. Screw threads are disposed on the shank and extend from the distal end to the proximal end. The proximal end defines an end plane disposed transversely to the axis and at an angle thereto other than a normal angle.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rack-and-pinion steering housing for transmission of steering force including the steps of pressing steering rod guide elements axially into open end regions of a tubular steering housing, and axially pressing the elements into the tubular housing to radially expand the housing end regions.

Abstract: An eye fluid applicator is adapted for connection to the mouth of a bottle containing an ophthalmic liquid and comprises means for dispensing ophthalmic liquid from the bottle in metered amounts and in a manner which avoids contacting the eye with the applicator. The applicator includes a metering member that has a metering cavity for holding a small amount of liquid and which is movable between a first position in which the metering cavity is disposed to receive liquid from the container and a second position in which it allows the liquid to spill out of the cavity into a holding chamber, and manually operable pneumatic means for removing liquid from the holding chamber and expelling it through a discharge orifice in the form of a narrow spray.

Abstract: A soft box assembly for disposition around a light source for illuminating a subject to be photographed, including a ring, a mounting member for disposition on the ring and pivotally connected to the ring, and movable between a first position in the plane of the ring and a second position angled from the plane, a flexible panel for disposition around the ring, poles for extending from the panel into the ring and the mounting member, and a lock for locking the mounting member and poles therein to the ring in the first position, whereby the poles extending from the panel are in part inserted into the ring and in part into the mounting member in the second position, and the mounting member is pivotally moved to the first position and locked, such that all the poles are held in axial compression between the mounting member and the panel.

Abstract: A valve shield comprising a shaped sheet of material adapted to be affixed to the annulus of a valve and adapted to extend over at least a portion of at least one leaflet of the valve so as to assist or replace the closing function of that valve leaflet.

Abstract: An optical bandwidth source for generating amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) across a selected wavelength range, the optical bandwidth source including a waveguide having a first end and a second end, and comprising a plurality of separate wavelength gain subsections arranged in a serial configuration between the first end and the second end so as to collectively form an active waveguide between the first end and the second end; wherein each of the wavelength gain subsections is configured to produce ASE across a wavelength range which is less than, but contained within, the selected wavelength range, whereby the plurality of separate wavelength gain subsections collectively produce ASE across the selected wavelength range.