Abstract: A composite interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions; a first integration plate affixed to the top surface of the body; and an optional second integration plate affixed to the bottom surface of the body. At least a portion of the first integration plate, optional second integration plate, or both has a roughened surface topography including macro features, micro features, and nano features, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures, adapted to grip bone through friction, inhibit migration of the implant, and promote bone growth. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating a roughened surface topography, which may include separate and sequential macro processing, micro processing, and nano processing steps.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture. The single vertical aperture extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, has a size and shape predetermined to maximize the surface area of the top surface and the bottom surface available proximate the anterior and posterior portions while maximizing both radiographic visualization and access to the substantially hollow center, and defines a transverse rim.

Abstract: A bone fixation system includes a compression bone screw and a washer for use with the bone screw in the reduction and fixation of bone fragments. The washer includes a frusto-conical body having a leading end, a trailing end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a central bore defined by the interior surface for receiving the bone screw. The interior surface is tapered resulting in the central bore's diameter being larger at the trailing end than at the leading end and the exterior surface has a greater taper angle than the taper angle of the interior surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to apparatuses and methods measuring and processing a characteristic of subsurface earth formations penetrated by a borehole. More specifically this present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for measuring and processing an acoustic characteristic such as formation shear wave velocity of subsurface sonic waves after these waves traverse earth formations adjoining a borehole or passing through a portion of the subsurface. The apparatus may include: a bottomhole assembly, a drill bit configured to generate an acoustic signal, at least two acoustic detectors, and a processor. The acoustic signal may include a specific multipole signal that may propagate through an earth formation along the borehole. The method may include use of the apparatus, including steps for estimating a shear velocity of the acoustic signal using signals from the at least two acoustic detectors.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body and an integration plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, and a substantially hollow center in communication with a vertical aperture. The body is recessed in a way that portions of the integration plate protrude above the top and/or bottom surface of the body to enhance the resistance of the implant to expulsion from the intervertebral space.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions. At least a portion of the top surface, the bottom surface, or both surfaces has a roughened surface topography including both micro features and nano features, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures, adapted to grip bone through friction generated when the implant is placed between two vertebrae and to inhibit migration of the implant. The roughened surface topography typically further includes macro features and the macro features, micro features, and nano features overlap. Also disclosed are methods of using such implants and processes of fabricating a roughened surface topography on a surface of an implant. The process includes separate and sequential macro processing, micro processing, and nano processing steps.

Abstract: A method of estimating fractures in an earth formation includes: disposing an acoustic tool in a cased borehole in an earth formation, the acoustic tool including a multipole acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver; transmitting an acoustic signal into the borehole; measuring deep shear wave (DSW) signals generated from shear body waves reflected in the formation in a far-field region of the formation around the borehole; and estimating at least a location and an orientation of a fracture in the formation based on the DSW signals.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant having at least three distinct surfaces including (1) at least one integration surface having a roughened surface topography including macro features, micro features, and nano features, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures; (2) at least one graft contact surface having a coarse surface topography including micro features and nano features; and (3) at least one soft tissue surface having a substantially smooth surface including nano features. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating the different surface topographies, which may include separate macro processing, micro processing, and nano processing steps.

Abstract: Measurements made by a transducer assembly for downhole imaging are affected by reverberations between the transducer and the window on the outside of the assembly. The reverberations result in a stationary noise on the image. Hardware solutions to improve signal-to-noise ratio includes using a composite transducer, adjusting the distance between the transducer and the window. SNR can also be improved by processing techniques that include stacking, fitting a sinusoid to the reverberation, by envelope peak detection, and by applying a notch filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method implemented by a processor for imaging a formation penetrated by a borehole. The method includes: obtaining acoustic data in a depth-time domain using an acoustic downhole tool disposed at a depth in the borehole, the acoustic downhole tool having an acoustic source and an acoustic receiver; transforming the acoustic data in the depth-time domain into a Radon domain using a Radon transform; filtering the acoustic data in the Radon domain to increase a signal of interest in the acoustic data in the Radon domain; determining a location of a point in the formation that reflected acoustic energy emitted from the acoustic source to the acoustic receiver, the location of the point being represented in the Radon domain; and inverting the location of the point represented in the Radon domain into a radius-depth domain to image the formation.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant and a process of producing the implant. The implant includes an integration surface having a roughened surface topography as at least part of the top surface, bottom surface, or both surfaces. The integration surface comprises at least one or more of (a) a plurality of grains; (b) intergranular boundaries between the plurality of grains; and (c) unsatisfied chemical bonds. The integration surface may be produced by texturing a surface by chemical processes, mechanical processes, or both to provide the plurality of grains and intergranular boundaries and chemically etching the surface to provide unsatisfied chemical bonds. In addition, the plurality of grains and the intergranular boundaries may etch at different or non-uniform etch rates.

Abstract: A composite interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions; a first integration plate affixed to the top surface of the body; and an optional second integration plate affixed to the bottom surface of the body. At least a portion of the first integration plate, optional second integration plate, or both has a roughened surface topography including macro features, micro features, and nano features, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures, adapted to grip bone through friction, inhibit migration of the implant, and promote bone growth. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating a roughened surface topography, which may include separate and sequential macro processing, micro processing, and nano processing steps.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant, such as a solid-body or composite implant. The implant has at least one integration surface with a roughened surface topography including a repeating pattern, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures, adapted to grip bone through friction generated when the implant is placed between two vertebral endplates and to inhibit migration of the implant. The repeating pattern is formed of at least three at least partially overlapping repeating patterns. The repeating patterns may radiate at a fixed distance from at least one point and may include recesses having a slope of thirty degrees or less relative to the integration surface. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating the integration surfaces.

Abstract: A fused filament fabrication printer has a fixed extrusion module having multiple printheads having print tips. The fixed arrangement of the printing heads allows the close spacing of multiple print tips in a printhead unit, and the simple routing of multiple plastic or metal filaments to the individual printing heads. The closely spaced print tips in the printhead unit share common components. An exemplary printhead unit has four printing heads which share a common heating block and heating block temperature sensor. The heating block incorporates a group of four print tips evenly spaced along a line. Each printing head has a separate filament which is controlled and driven by its own stepper motor through the heating block to one of the print tips. Printing of a part is by control of individual stepper motors which drive filaments through the heating block and through one of the printing tips.

Abstract: A bone fixation system includes a compression bone screw and a washer for use with the bone screw in the reduction and fixation of bone fragments. The washer includes a frusto-conical body having a leading end, a trailing end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a central bore defined by the interior surface for receiving the bone screw. The interior surface is tapered resulting in the central bore's diameter being larger at the trailing end than at the leading end and the exterior surface has a greater taper angle than the taper angle of the interior surface.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant having at least three distinct surfaces including (1) at least one integration surface having a roughened surface topography including macro features, micro features, and nano features, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures; (2) at least one graft contact surface having a coarse surface topography including micro features and nano features; and (3) at least one soft tissue surface having a substantially smooth surface including nano features. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating the different surface topographies, which may include separate macro processing, micro processing, and nano processing steps.

Abstract: A stepped reflector on the outside of a bottomhole assembly produces two reflections in response to excitation of a transducer. The velocity of the fluid in the borehole is estimated using the two reflections. Alternatively, a change in the gas content of the borehole fluid is estimated from changes in the electrical impedance of a transducer in contact with the borehole fluid.

Abstract: A shock mount support assembly for a shock absorber of a suspension assembly of an axle/suspension system includes a shock support bracket formed with an opening. A fastener is disposed through the opening in the shock support bracket and an eyelet of the lower end of the shock absorber to loose-fit the shock support bracket to the shock absorber, and to the suspension assembly beam in a transverse direction. The shock support bracket includes at least one transversely elongated or oversized opening that aligns with an opening formed in the beam. A fastener is disposed through the pair of aligned openings in order to loose-fit attach the shock support bracket to the beam. During assembly, the eyelet fastener is tightened first drawing the shock support bracket transversely outboardly. The fastener disposed through the shock support bracket-to-beam attachment is tightened, rigidly attaching the shock support bracket to the suspension assembly.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant, such as a solid-body or composite implant. The implant has at least one integration surface with a roughened surface topography including a repeating pattern, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures, adapted to grip bone through friction generated when the implant is placed between two vertebral endplates and to inhibit migration of the implant. The repeating pattern is formed of at least three at least partially overlapping repeating patterns. The repeating patterns may radiate at a fixed distance from at least one point and may include recesses having a slope of thirty degrees or less relative to the integration surface. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating the integration surfaces.

Abstract: A composite interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions; a first integration plate affixed to the top surface of the body; and an optional second integration plate affixed to the bottom surface of the body. At least a portion of the first integration plate, optional second integration plate, or both has a roughened surface topography including macro features, micro features, and nano features, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures, adapted to grip bone through friction, inhibit migration of the implant, and promote bone growth. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating a roughened surface topography, which may include separate and sequential macro processing, micro processing, and nano processing steps.