Abstract: A bone positioning guide may be used as part of a bunion correction procedure. The bone positioning guide can include a bone engagement member configured to be positioned on a medial side of a first metatarsal of a foot and a tip separated from the bone engagement member by a distance effective to position the tip on a lateral side of a second metatarsal and in an intermetatarsal space between the second metatarsal and a third metatarsal. The bone positioning guide can also include a mechanism operable to reduce the distance between the bone engagement member and the tip, thereby causing the first metatarsal to move in at least a transverse plane to reduce an intermetatarsal angle between the first metatarsal and the second metatarsal.

Abstract: A movement assistance device for a spa cover having at least two spa cover portions each spa cover portion having opposing lateral peripheral edges, hinge and end peripheral edges and wherein the spa cover portions are movable one relative to the other from a first coplanar orientation to a second, stacked orientation, and a biasing pneumatic cylinder which cooperates with and extends between a first bracket secured to one lateral peripheral edge of one spa cover portion and a hinge bracket secured to the same lateral peripheral edge of the same spa cover portion adjacent the hinge peripheral edge and the hinge bracket is further secured to an aligned lateral peripheral edge of a second spa cover portion and adjacent to the hinge peripheral edge thereof, and wherein the pneumatic cylinder assists and controls the movement one spa cover portion relative to the other spa cover portion.

Abstract: A compressor-distractor device may be used during a surgical procedure, such as a surgical procedure to correct a bunion deformity. In some examples, the compressor-distractor includes first and second engagement arms having first and second pin-receiving holes, respectively. The first and second pin-receiving holes may be angled relative to each other. The compressor-distractor may also include an actuator operatively coupled to the first and second engagement arms. In some example uses, a clinician may pin a first surgical device to a patient's bones use a pair of parallel pins. After removing the surgical device over the parallel pins, the clinician may thread the parallel pins through the angled first and second pin-receiving holes of the compressor-distractor, causing the bones to move relative to each other. Thereafter, the clinician may actuate the actuator on the compressor-distractor to move the bones towards and/or away from each other.

Abstract: A driving pin can be used for installing a bone plate on a bone. In some examples, the driving pin has a driving pin body extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The driving pin body may define at least three regions of different cross-sectional thickness, including a bone penetrating region adjacent the distal end, a driving region adjacent the proximal end, and a bone plate orienting region between the bone penetrating region and the driving region. In general, the bone penetrating region has a smaller cross-sectional thickness than the bone plate orienting region and the bone plate orienting region has a smaller cross-sectional thickness than the driving region. The bone plate orienting region may be sized to conform to the size of a fixation hole extending through bone plate.

Abstract: An externally driven conveyor pulley with an integrated thermal control system by which the temperature of the pulley may be controlled whether the pulley is rotating or stationary. The present invention includes a rotary connection device (or plurality of such devices) designed to transfer fluid (liquid or gaseous) or electrical current into/out of a rotating object. The rotary connection device may be a slip-ring for electrical power transfer or a rotary union for liquid transfer, but any device designed to transmit fluid or electricity into a rotating object could be utilized. In one embodiment, temperature control is achieved by transmitting temperature controlled fluids through the pulley via at least one rotary connection device. In an alternative embodiment, temperature control is achieved by transmitting electricity via the rotary connection device to a temperature regulating device in the rotating object. The temperature regulating device could be any electrical heating or cooling unit.

Abstract: A circuit board that has flexibility owing to an organic insulating layer and that still has high adhesion between metal wiring and the organic insulating layer; and a method for producing the circuit board without employing photolithography. The circuit board comprising a metal wiring arrangement portion and a metal wiring non-arrangement portion, wherein: in the metal wiring arrangement portion, metal wiring, a first diffusion layer, and a first organic insulating layer are stacked; in the metal wiring non-arrangement portion, a metal oxide layer, a second diffusion layer, and a second organic insulating layer are stacked; the metal wiring is made of a first metal element; and the first diffusion layer contains the first metal element and a second metal element.

Abstract: An assembly for passing controlled impedance electrical signals between two different environments via feedthroughs in an electrically-conductive feedthrough block. The feedthrough has a signal coupling, a dielectric spacer surrounding the signal coupling, and a ground coupling surrounding the dielectric. The feedthrough is sealed to hermetically separate the two environments. One or both ends of the dielectric are recessed from the face of the block forming a gap. The gaps is filled with a potting material to form the hermetic seal.

Abstract: A clarifier can comprise a floor, inner and outer walls that each extends upwardly from the floor such that a tank is at least partially defined by the inner wall and a launder channel is at least partially defined between the inner and outer walls and is disposed along at least a majority of a periphery of the tank. A launder cover comprising one or more flexible sheets can be disposed over at least a majority of the launder channel. Each of the sheet(s) can have opposing inner and outer edges, the inner edge coupled to the inner wall and the outer edge coupled to the outer wall, and can be configured such that, when a single one of the inner and outer edges is decoupled from the inner and outer walls, the sheet is deformable to at least partially uncover the launder channel.

Abstract: Cover systems for storage tanks, such as those containing at least some petroleum. Pipe retention systems for retaining pipes to storage tanks, such as pipes that can transmit liquid containing at least some petroleum. Methods of attaching cover systems to tanks.

Abstract: A method of performing a bunion surgery may involve positioning a first portion of a bone positioning device over a first cuneiform and positioning a second portion of the bone positioning device over a first metatarsal with the bone positioning device extending across a joint separating the two bones. The second portion of the bone positioning device can be adjusted relative to the first portion about a first axis and about a second axis. The method may involve moving the second portion of the bone positioning device relative to the first portion of the bone positioning device about the first axis and the second axis, thereby moving the first metatarsal relative to the first cuneiform in a first plane and a second plane. The method may also involve fixing a position of the first metatarsal relative to the first cuneiform with a bone connector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling both echo cancellation and noise in a given space using a single adaptive filter. The proposed method utilizes just a single adaptive filter and without any control logic, the system is capable of handling both the AEC and the noise in a given space. The technology as proposed and claimed herein proposes using a single adaptive filter to cancel referenced noise AEC and unreferenced noise ANC in a given physical space using a beamformer. By adding the far end reference and a beam pointed dynamically on the noise source in the given physical space this can be achieved. This invention also reduces the processing load and memory.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided useful in various procedures, including hair harvesting and implantation, and further including computer-implemented and/or robotic hair transplantation. Methodologies are provided which enable a tool, such as a hair harvesting or a hair implantation tool, to proceed at least under a partial computer control in a selected direction of travel along a donor or recipient area of the patient, as well as changing direction of travel based on desired harvesting and/or implantation criteria.

Abstract: A method of performing bunion surgery may involve attaching a bone positioning device to a first metatarsal and to a first cuneiform across a joint separating the first metatarsal from the first cuneiform. Attaching the bone positioning device can include inserting a first fixation pin into one of the first metatarsal or the first cuneiform and inserting a second fixation pin into an other of the first metatarsal or the first cuneiform. The method can involve using the bone positioning device to adjust an alignment of the first metatarsal relative to the first cuneiform; and, after adjusting the alignment of the first metatarsal relative to the first cuneiform using the bone positioning device, fixing a position of the first metatarsal relative to the first cuneiform with a bone connector.

Abstract: To provide a wiring material which does not require a diffusion barrier layer and exhibits excellent conductivity and adhesion property between a conductor and an insulator and a semiconductor element using the same. The wiring structure of the present invention includes a conductor containing an intermetallic compound and an insulator layer. The intermetallic compound preferably contains two or more kinds of metal elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn. In addition, the intermetallic compound is preferably one or more kinds selected from an intermetallic compound containing Al and Co, an intermetallic compound containing Al and Fe, an intermetallic compound containing Al and Ni, an intermetallic compound containing Co and Fe, or an intermetallic compound containing Ni and Zn.

Abstract: A clarifier can comprise a floor, inner and outer walls that each extends upwardly from the floor such that a tank is at least partially defined by the inner wall and a launder channel is at least partially defined between the inner and outer walls and is disposed along at least a majority of a periphery of the tank. A launder cover comprising one or more flexible sheets can be disposed over at least a majority of the launder channel. Each of the sheet(s) can have opposing inner and outer edges, the inner edge coupled to the inner wall and the outer edge coupled to the outer wall, and can be configured such that, when a single one of the inner and outer edges is decoupled from the inner and outer walls, the sheet is deformable to at least partially uncover the launder channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an exterior wall panel comprising a wall framework defining inner and outer wall surfaces and having peripheral edges. The exterior wall panel further comprises a vapor barrier membrane superposed to the inner wall surface and covering at least one peripheral edge and being secured thereto, a weather barrier membrane superposed to the outer wall surface and covering at least one peripheral edge and being secured thereto. The present disclosure also concerns an external wall panel assembly comprising a plurality of such external wall panels and a method for forming such an exterior wall panel assembly.

Abstract: A technique for correcting a bone deformity, such as a bunion, may be performed using an instrument that defines a spacer body connected to a fulcrum. The spacer body portion of the instrument can be inserted into a joint space between opposed bone ends. The fulcrum body can be inserted between adjacent metatarsals. An angle set between the spacer body and fulcrum body can help properly position both features within different joint spaces for ensuring that subsequent steps of the surgical procedure are properly performed and instrumentation is appropriately aligned.

Abstract: A method for determining spin of a projectile comprising generating an electromagnetic radar signal and transmitting the electromagnetic radar signal towards a projectile. Receiving a reflected electromagnetic radar signal from the projectile. Identifying a component of the reflected electromagnetic radar signal, and performing an autocorrelation process on the reflected electromagnetic radar signal using the component to generate an estimate of a spin of the projectile as a function of the autocorrelation process.

Abstract: A bone positioning guide may be used as part of a bunion correction procedure. The bone positioning guide can include a bone engagement member configured to be positioned on a medial side of a first metatarsal of a foot and a tip separated from the bone engagement member by a distance effective to position the tip on a lateral side of a second metatarsal and in an intermetatarsal space between the second metatarsal and a third metatarsal. The bone positioning guide can also include a mechanism operable to reduce the distance between the bone engagement member and the tip, thereby causing the first metatarsal to move in at least a transverse plane to reduce an intermetatarsal angle between the first metatarsal and the second metatarsal.