Abstract: An interbody spinal fusion implant for implantation at least in part within and across the generally restored height of a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine having an external housing and a substantially hollow internal rotatable member having bone engaging projections that are deployable through the housing to penetrably engage the adjacent vertebral bodies.

Abstract: Novel bone support assembly, and methods of use, wherein a locking member such as a resiliently flexible band, mounted to a bone support plate, automatically and as a consequence of driving a bone fastener through the bone support assembly and into bone structure of a recipient of such bone support assembly, activates a locking feature of the bone support assembly to thereby prevent the bone fastener from withdrawing out of the bone support assembly and past the locking member.

Abstract: A method for performing percutaneous interbody fusion is disclosed. The method includes the steps of inserting a guide needle posteriorly to the disc space, inserting a dilator having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the guide needle over the guide needle to the disc space to enlarge the disc space, and successively passing a series of dilators, each having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the previous dilator, over the previous dilator to the disc space the gradually and incrementally increase the height of the disc space. Once the desired disc height is achieved, the guide needle and all the dilators, with the exception of the outermost dilator, are removed. An expandible intervertebral disc spacer is then passed through the remaining dilator and positioned in the disc space. Th disc spacer is expanded to the required disc height, and then a bone matrix is passed through the dilator to fill the disc space. The dilator is then removed.

Abstract: A method for performing percutaneous interbody fusion is disclosed. The method includes the steps of inserting a guide needle posteriorly to the disc space, inserting a dilator having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the guide needle over the guide needle to the disc space to enlarge the disc space, and successively passing a series of dilators, each having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the previous dilator, over the previous dilator to the disc space the gradually and incrementally increase the height of the disc space. Once the desired disc height is achieved, the guide needle and all the dilators, with the exception of the outermost dilator, are removed. An expandible intervertebral disc spacer is then passed through the remaining dilator and positioned in the disc space. Th disc spacer is expanded to the required disc height, and then a bone matrix is passed through the dilator to fill the disc space. The dilator is then removed.

Abstract: A microactuator device includes a base with at least one electrode pad and a permeation membrane. Permeation membrane is typically a water-permeable membrane that is able to deform by applying an electric charge to the electrode pad. The actuator device can be incorporated into valve assembly to open and close the valve. The valve assembly can have a reciprocating valve member operated by the deforming of the water-permeable member. Alternatively, the valve assembly can have an opening positioned to cooperate with the water-permeable membrane so that the deformation of the membrane closes the opening.

Abstract: An electrostrictive micro-valve is provided for modulating a fluid flow through a cannula or other narrow liquid conduit. The micro-valve includes a valve body having a passageway for conducting a flow of fluid, a valve element formed from a piece of viscoelastic material and disposed in the passageway, and a control assembly coupled to the viscoelastic material for electrostatically controlling the shape of the material to open or close the passageway. The valve element has a flat lower side connected to an inner wall of the passage of the valve body, and an upper side which faces an opposing wall within the passageway. The control assembly includes a pair of electrodes disposed over the upper and lower sides of the valve element. The electrode facing the lower side of the element is patterned so that localized electrostatic forces are generated across the viscoelastic material when a voltage is applied across both electrodes.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for use in mixing and applying a flowable substance that consists of a powdered first component and a liquid second component. The mixing of the two components form a flowable substance, especially a bone cement. The apparatus uses an injection syringe. The first component is placed into the injection syringe after removing the syringe plunger and placing a closing device or cap onto the dispensing end of the syringe. The liquid component is added to the syringe, preferably from a second syringe filled with the liquid component via a hollow needle of the second syringe. The first syringe is closed at the filling with the syringe plunger under the load of sufficient air in the syringe cylinder. The components are mixed by shaking the first syringe. The lid of the first syringe is removed and a hollow needle is placed onto the first syringe and the flowable substance is delivered at a desired site.

Abstract: A manifold for distributing a fluid. The manifold can be used to distribute a fluid to and from a microvalve. The manifold includes a first plate having a groove formed in one face thereof. A second plate is fixed to the first plate so as to cover the groove to form a fluid passage through the groove. First and second bores are formed through at least one of the first plate and the second plate to form an inlet and an outlet, respectively, of the fluid passage. According to a method of manufacturing, etching the first plate forms the groove. Preferably, an etching process also forms the first and second bores. Also, preferably, the first plate is one of a plurality of plates formed from a single sheet of material. Preferably the sheet of material is a standard sized sheet with locating indicia enabling assembly of the manifold with standard pick and place equipment.

Abstract: A switch device for faucet includes a casing having a connection port on a top surface thereof so as to be externally connected to an outlet of the faucet and an outlet member is located on an underside of the casing. A solenoid valve is received in the casing and connected with the output member. A battery set is received in a first side of the casing and an infrared rays sensing device is received in a second side of the casing. A button is connected to the top surface of the casing and electrically connected to the solenoid valve so that the water flows continuously by pressing the button.

Abstract: A proportional flow valve wherein a solenoid assembly moves an armature assembly towards a valve seat in proportion to the flow of current through the solenoid assembly. The armature assembly abuttingly engages a seal to hold the seal away from the valve seat at a distance correspondingly proportionally related to the applied current. In this manner, the seal is movable towards and away from the valve seat among a fully open position, a closed position, and partially open positions therebetween. A spring assembly biases the seal towards the valve seat and, when the solenoid assembly is energized, the armature assembly allows the spring assembly to seat the seal against the valve seat to place it in the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a water gate has a door of the water gate provided in a water channel, and has a mechanism for vertically operating the door. A pressure receiving plate is fixed to the door via an operating rod, and upper and lower air bags are provided on the upper and lower sides of the pressure receiving plate. An air compressor sends air into each of the upper and lower air bags, and a change-over valve and a flow rate regulating valve between the upper and lower air bags and the air compressor are adapted to switch and regulate the air sent into the upper and lower air bags. With this arrangement, compressed air is sent into the air bags to move the pressure receiving plate, vertically move the door and open and close the door. This apparatus is, moreover, adapted to drive the operating rod using the pressure of the air sent into the air bags, so that it has become possible to simplify the structure greatly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bellows to seal a valve rod passage in a lifting valve, specifically formed as an expansion bellows or corrugated tube, which ensures a reliable, hygienically proper and durable static sealing of the connecting flange of a closing-member unit in the box of the lifting valve under the occurring forces at an adequately long service life.

Abstract: A gate valve comprises a valve rod for making displacement in accordance with a driving action of a cylinder mechanism; a guide shaft for guiding the valve rod; a valve disk for opening/closing a passage in accordance with a displacement action of the valve rod; a rack connected to the valve rod, for making displacement integrally with the valve rod; a pinion rotatably supported by a casing, for meshing with the rack; and a pillow member connected to the valve disk and formed with a male thread for making engagement with a female thread formed on an inner circumferential surface of the pinion.

Abstract: A valve includes a valve ball and a convex metal valve seat ring that abut along a circle in a metal-to-metal seal. At very high contact forces, the valve ball and/or the valve seat elastically deform to increase the contact area between them and thereby lower the contact pressures applied to the valve ball and valve seat. The valve ball and valve seat are made of materials that do not pressure weld under a wide range of contact pressures. In one embodiment, the valve ball is a stainless steel alloy having a hardness of at least Rockwell 44C and the valve seat is Stellite having a hardness of at least Rockwell 50C. In another embodiment, the valve ball and seat ring are steel alloys having hardnesses above Rockwell 50C.

Abstract: The invention concerns a valve or tap for fluids, with a stopper that rotates controlled by a control rod equipped with a throttle or grip lever fixed to said rod by means of a fastening screw. The throttle or grip lever has at least one blocking notch (19, 20), designed to fit tightly with a catch (18), which is part of the valve body in order to prevent the stopper from turning. The fastening screw (15) has a special head that allows it to be screwed/unscrewed only with a specific wench or tool, thereby preventing tampering.

Abstract: The magnetic valve (16,17) is arrangeable in a multipart housing (12) and includes a coil-part group (64,128) and a valve subassembly (138). The valve subassembly (138) is arrangeable in a valve seat (94,95) provided in a housing (12). The valve subassembly (138) includes a punched seat disk (170) and a punched and deep-drawn valve cap (152), which extend into the valve seat (94,95). A pin insert (214,224) is provided between the valve cap (152) and the seat disk (170). The pin insert (214,224) is connected with one end of a longitudinally slidable pin (202) attached to an armature (194). The magnetic valve can be operated to alternately connect a consumer connection (A) with an inlet connection (P) or a return connection (T). A module (10) including a pair or pairs of these magnetic valves (16,17) is also disclosed. Each pair of valves can includes one valve that is open and another valve that is closed when current flows through their coils.

Abstract: When a drive signal is not applied to a piezoelectric element 42, a diaphragm 38 is contacted with a valve seat 52 to disconnect diaphragm chambers 24a, 24b from a passage 54. In this case, even if the pressure of a fluid introduced into the diaphragm chambers 24a, 24b is varied, the diaphragm 38 is positively supported by a valve seat 52 with no deformation, resulting in the passage 54 being positively closed up. Therefore, the possibility of the fluid leaking is eliminated. On the other hand, when a drive signal is applied to the piezoelectric element 42, the diaphragm 38 is bent, and thus the diaphragm chambers 24a, 24b are connected with the passage 54, resulting in the fluid being allowed to flow into the passage 54. If the piezoelectric element 42 comes to bend excessively, the piezoelectric element 42 is brought into contact with a cushioning member 56 to prevent the piezoelectric element 42 from being excessively deformed.

Abstract: A multistage switching valve includes a valve stem which is adapted to open or close a fluid passage, a biasing biasing means for biasing the valve stem in a direction to close the fluid passage, a plurality of pistons which are relatively slidably fitted onto the valve stem at different axial positions to provide different flow rates, a plurality of stops which are provided on the valve stem to move the valve stem in a valve opening direction opposite to the direction of the movement of the valve stem caused by the biasing biasing means, together with the pistons when the pistons are moved in the valve opening direction, a valve opening means for exerting a pilot pressure in the valve opening direction on each piston, and a flow rate controller for individually restricting the axial displacements of the pistons in the valve opening direction. A two-stage switching valve and a toggle type two-stage switching valve are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plate valve (1) as used for the actuator of a control valve. It comprises an inlet (2) with a sealing seat (3) around which the openings of the outlet (7) are arranged, and it has two plates (4), (5), between which there is an interspace (13). Both plates (4), (5) are attached to the housing (11) by springs (6) in a spring space (12). The spring space (12) is operatively connected to a proportional valve by an opening (14) and a line (9). If the pressure in the spring space (12) is lowered by the proportional valve, the additional plate (5) first of all drops as a result and thereby exposes the outflow openings (10) in the large plate (4). There is a slight flow of the oil from the inlet (2) through the orifice plates (8) situated in the plate (4) and through the outflow openings (10) to the openings of the outlet (7). In a second stage, the plate (4) then drops and thereby exposes the openings of the outlet (7).

Abstract: A valve including: a bonnet; a body secured to the bonnet and including at least two ports and at least one weir positioned between the ports; a valve stem being movably coupled with the bonnet, the valve stem including first and second longitudinal ends, and a recess in the first longitudinal end; a diaphragm positioned substantially adjacent to the second end of the valve stem so as to be deflectable towards the weir by the valve stem to restrict a flow between the ports; a handwheel rotatably secured to the valve stem so as to enable a torque to be applied to the valve stem, the handwheel including a longitudinal aperture; and, a screw directed through and engaged with the handwheel aperture and being selectively engagable within the recess of the valve stem, such that the valve stem and handwheel remain in a constant relative longitudinal position with respect to one another, and when the diaphragm sets against the weir the handwheel abuts the bonnet to serve as a closing lift valve stop.