Abstract: A method of producing an interbody spinal implant. The method includes the steps of obtaining a blank having a top surface, bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions, and applying a subtractive process (e.g., masked acid etching) to the top surface, the bottom surface, or both surfaces of the blank to form a roughened surface topography. Subsequently, the blank is machined to form the interbody spinal implant, which includes 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 where the top surface, the bottom surface, or both surfaces of the interbody spinal implant have the roughened surface topography produced by the subtractive process. This simplified method produces more accurate and repeatable implants with fewer process steps and defects, reducing process time and costs.

Abstract: Processes for producing interbody spinal implants having a body with a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture; and optionally, one or two integration plates affixed to the body. The processes include applying an additive process, a subtractive process, or both processes to at least one surface of the interbody spinal implant to form a roughened surface topography having a regular repeating pattern. The roughened surface topography is specifically designed to provide certain frictional characteristics, load dispersion, and to influence the biological responses that occur during bone healing and fusion.

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: An interbody spinal implant including a body 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, vertical aperture, and bone contact surfaces of the implant each have a surface area that may be independently varied to enhance load support and facilitate implant integration with vertebral bone.

Abstract: An interbody spinal implant, such as a solid-body or composite implant, includes at least one graft contact surface as one or more of the internal surfaces of the implant. The graft contact surface, for example, having at least one ridge or groove is designed to contact and promote retention and stabilization of bone growth-inducing materials placed within the internal openings of the implant body. In addition, the ridges or grooves may influence the biological processes to promote bone healing and fusion. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating the graft contact surfaces and other surface topographies on the implant.

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, opposing anterior and posterior portions, and a substantially hollow center in communication with a vertical aperture, which are filled with a bone graft material. The dimensions, shape, and position of the vertical aperture facilitate contact between the bone graft material and vertebral endplate bone to support and enhance bone growth.

Abstract: A media game that employs a method for randomly shuffling through a large set of video and/or audio clips stored on readable media using a media player, such as a DVD player, is disclosed. In addition to the readable media, the game also includes a game board, moveable play pieces, trivia question cards, random name cards, a numbered die, and a challenge die. The game board can be converted from long play to short play by lifting the endmost sections of the game board and placing them next to each other on top of intermediate sections of the game board. A path circumnavigates the game board and appears to be continuous in both long and short play modes. The begin and end regions reside at least partially on the endmost sections and appear as unbroken shapes when configured for both long and short play.

Abstract: A water meter pit frame includes a stacking feature that allows multiple water meter pit frames to be stacked together in a nested relationship. In one example, the stacking feature comprises a plurality of ledges formed about the outer peripheral surface of the water meter pit frame that support a second water meter pit frame.

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 single vertical aperture, as well as an integration plate having a roughened surface topography on its top surface. The integration plate and implant body are joined together with a durable connection.

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, a single vertical aperture, and a roughened surface topography on at least the top surface. The posterior portion has a generally rounded nose profile, and has a shorter height than the anterior portion such that the spinal implant comprises a lordotic angle for aligning the spine of a patient. The junctions of the top and bottom surfaces and the anterior portion comprise a sharp edge to resist expulsion of the spinal implant upon implantation.

Abstract: A method of using an interbody spinal implant by implanting the spinal implant into a patient in need of the spinal implant. The method includes accessing the disc space of the patient and locating the center of the disc space. The disc space is incised by making a window in the annulus of the disc space for insertion of the spinal implant. The endplates are cleaned of all cartilage and the disc structure, which is encapsulated by the annulus, is removed while avoiding damage to the endplate structure of the vertebrae. Optionally a size-specific rasp is selected and the disc space is cleared of all soft tissue and cartilage. Optionally the disc space is distracted by sequentially expanding it with distractors of progressively increasing heights. A spinal implant having a pre-determined size sufficient to balance frictional fit and elongation of the annulus is selected and seated in the disc space.

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 single vertical aperture, as well as an integration plate having a roughened surface topography on its top surface. The integration plate and implant body are joined together with a durable connection.

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 single vertical aperture, as well as an integration plate having a roughened surface topography on its top surface. The integration plate and implant body are joined together durable, complementary tongue and groove connections.

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 single vertical aperture, as well as an integration plate having a roughened surface topography on its top surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for distracting a disc space having an annulus. The apparatus includes a spinal implant having a pre-determined size sufficient to balance frictional fit in the disc space and elongation of the annulus. The implant has a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions defining a substantially hollow center and a single vertical aperture. At least one of the opposing anterior and posterior portions presents a substantially flat impact face including an opening with an instrument retention feature. The apparatus also includes a rasp, a plurality of distractors, and an instrument able to engage and manipulate the spinal implant, the rasp, and the plurality of distractors. The size-specific rasp is adapted to clear the disc space of all soft tissue and cartilage. The plurality of distractors have progressively increasing heights adapted to distract the disc space before use of the spinal implant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a downhole acoustic source is disclosed. The acoustic source includes a piston configured to oscillate in an axial direction of the acoustic source and produce an acoustic signal in a medium in contact with an exterior surface of the piston, and an elastomer disposed on an interior side of the piston, an acoustic impedance of the elastomer selected to match an acoustic impedance of the piston. A permanent magnet is configured to provide a permanent magnetic field oriented in the axial direction, and a coil disposed on an interior side of the piston produces an alternating magnetic field in the region of the permanent magnetic field. The elastomer may be, for example, a silicon rubber, a silicone jelly, and a silicone oil. A plurality of acoustic sources may be arranged to produce an acoustic dipole configuration or an acoustic quadrupole configuration.

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: A snap-off surgical screw configured for threading into a bone of a patient using a driver member, comprising a shaft extension joined to a screw portion via a frangible connection. The frangible connection comprises at least one defect formed through an outer surface of the frangible connection. The defect is configured to promote selective separation of the shaft extension from the screw portion at the defect. A proximal end of the screw portion is preferably provided with a recess, and the frangible connection is preferably positioned in the recess to thereby configure the shaft extension to snap-off from the screw portion below the proximal end of the screw portion.

Abstract: An implant for the trapezium of the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint comprising an integral elastomeric member configured to include a body portion having a tapered neck, having extending from one end thereof an elongated, longitudinally extending tapered portion adapted to be embedded into a reamed out-channel in the thumb metacarpal bone. After implantation, in the preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a segment of a nearby tendon, for example, the APL or FCR tendons, may be wrapped around the tapered neck of the implant to secure it in position, thereby forming a reinforced structure to inhibit dislocation of the prosthesis. However, in other methods, various other securing elements, including, but not limited to acellular matrices, may be used to retain the implant in position.