Abstract: There is provided a low sodium sea salt and a method for producing the same. A first amount of natural seawater containing sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, sulfate and other trace minerals is introduced into a containment structure which is periodically exposed to the sun. Preferably, the containment structure is located outdoors in an arid climate with direct exposure to sunlight. An amount of water is evaporated forming a brine. An amount of sodium chloride is crystallized and an amount of the crystallized sodium chloride is removed so that the remaining brine includes substantial amounts of potassium, magnesium and sulfate. A second amount of natural seawater is combined with the remaining brine forming a diluted brine. An amount of water is evaporated from the diluted brine. Sodium chloride, potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate is crystallized forming a low sodium sea salt whereby the sodium chloride is no more than 70 weight percent.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper for use with police and other emergency vehicles for pushing another vehicle which is fabricated of a tubular loop defining a generally oval cross-section. The oval cross-section tubular loop is oriented such that the major axis of the oval cross-section extends front to back with respect to the host vehicle while the minor axis extends up and down. The vehicle bumper further supports a plurality of resilient pads to aid in controlling the pushed vehicle and to cushion impact transfer between the bumper and the pushed vehicle. The inventive vehicle bumper is substantially stronger and substantially lighter in weight while simultaneously providing a more attractive front view cross-section when mounted on a host vehicle. A plurality of attachments are secured to the tubular loop and are used in securing the vehicle bumper to a suitable portion of a host vehicle.

Abstract: Various spinal implants and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal implant is provided having an expandable container with an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. The expandable container is coupled to a superior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with a superior surface of the expandable container, and an inferior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with an inferior surface of the expandable container. In addition, at least one inlet port is formed in the expandable container and is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container.

Abstract: Various spinal implants and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal implant is provided having an expandable container with an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. The expandable container is coupled to a superior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with a superior surface of the expandable container, and an inferior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with an inferior surface of the expandable container. In addition, at least one inlet port is formed in the expandable container and is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container.

Abstract: A spinal implant including an at least one screw disposed within a wedge body is herein provided. The implant can be configured for placement with a facet joint in an intra-facet delivery. Furthermore, the implant can include a fusion-promoting bioactive material thereby providing a single device capable of spinal stabilization and/or fusion. Furthermore, a method of placing such an implant within a facet joint in an intra-facet orientation is hereby provided.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper for use with police and other emergency vehicles for pushing another vehicle which is fabricated of a tubular loop defining a generally oval cross-section. The oval cross-section tubular loop is oriented such that the major axis of the oval cross-section extends front to back with respect to the host vehicle while the minor axis extends up and down. The vehicle bumper further supports a plurality of resilient pads to aid in controlling the pushed vehicle and to cushion impact transfer between the bumper and the pushed vehicle. The inventive vehicle bumper is substantially stronger and substantially lighter in weight while simultaneously providing a more attractive front view cross-section when mounted on a host vehicle. A plurality of attachments are secured to the tubular loop and are used in securing the vehicle bumper to a suitable portion of a host vehicle.

Abstract: A implantable interference device configured for intra-facet placement within a facet joint is provided. The device includes a shank capable of engaging opposing faces of the facet joint. The shank can further include a head extending from a proximal end of the shank wherein the head is configured to engage and/or buttress opposing faces of the joint, and also configured for preventing over-insertion of the device. Optionally, at least a portion of the shank can include or be formed of a fusion-promoting bioactive material. Further, a method for providing fixation of a facet joint by intra-facet placement of an interference device within the facet joint is provided.

Abstract: A spinal implant is provided having an elongate member with a longitudinal axis and threads extending over at least a portion of the outer surface thereof. The implant includes a stabilization feature associated with the elongate member that is selectively configurable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration in which the stabilization feature is oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member. Also, at least a portion of the implant can include a fusion-promoting bioactive material. In another aspect, the invention includes methods for providing stabilization within a facet joint by delivery of an articulating intra-facet screw.

Abstract: A traffic signal device includes a plurality of illuminatable light assemblies such as red amber and green used to control traffic flow. A transparent element configured to fit upon the outer surface of the lens of a light assembly supports one or more opaque numerals corresponding to vehicle speed limits. The transparent member baring the speed limit numerals is placed upon the outer surface of the traffic signal lens to impose the speed limit numerals upon the light emitted by the light assembly when illuminated.

Abstract: There is provided a low sodium sea salt and a method for producing the same. A first amount of natural seawater containing sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, sulfate and other trace minerals is introduced into a containment structure which is periodically exposed to the sun. Preferably, the containment structure is located outdoors in an arid climate with direct exposure to sunlight. An amount of water is evaporated forming a brine. An amount of sodium chloride is crystallized and an amount of the crystallized sodium chloride is removed so that the remaining brine includes substantial amounts of potassium, magnesium and sulfate. A second amount of natural seawater is combined with the remaining brine forming a diluted brine. An amount of water is evaporated from the diluted brine. Sodium chloride, potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate is crystallized forming a low sodium sea salt whereby the sodium chloride is no more than 70 weight percent.

Abstract: There is provided a low sodium sea salt and a method for producing the same. A first amount of natural seawater containing sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, sulfate and other trace minerals is introduced into a containment structure which is periodically exposed to the sun. Preferably, the containment structure is located outdoors in an arid climate with direct exposure to sunlight. An amount of water is evaporated forming a brine. An amount of sodium chloride is crystallized and an amount of the crystallized sodium chloride is removed so that the remaining brine includes substantial amounts of potassium, magnesium and sulfate. A second amount of natural seawater is combined with the remaining brine forming a diluted brine. An amount of water is evaporated from the diluted brine. Sodium chloride, potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate is crystallized forming a low sodium sea salt whereby the sodium chloride is no more than 70 weight percent.

Abstract: Non-load-bearing, drug-eluting components that can be added to load bearing spinal implants.

Abstract: Various spinal implants and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal implant is provided having an expandable container with an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. The expandable container is coupled to a superior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with a superior surface of the expandable container, and an inferior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with an inferior surface of the expandable container. In addition, at least one inlet port is formed in the expandable container and is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container.

Abstract: A spinal implant is provided having an elongate member with a longitudinal axis and threads extending over at least a portion of the outer surface thereof. The implant includes a stabilization feature associated with the elongate member that is selectively configurable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration in which the stabilization feature is oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member. Also, at least a portion of the implant can include a fusion-promoting bioactive material. In another aspect, the invention includes methods for providing stabilization within a facet joint by delivery of an articulating intra-facet screw.

Abstract: A spinal implant including an at least one screw disposed within a wedge body is herein provided. The implant can be configured for placement with a facet joint in an intra-facet delivery. Furthermore, the implant can include a fusion-promoting bioactive material thereby providing a single device capable of spinal stabilization and/or fusion. Furthermore, a method of placing such an implant within a facet joint in an intra-facet orientation is hereby provided.

Abstract: A spinal implant including a stabilization member coupled to an elongate member is herein provided. The implant can be configured for placement within a facet joint in an intra-facet or trans-facet configuration. Also, the implant can include a fusion-promoting bioactive material thereby providing a single device capable of spinal stabilization and/or fusion. Furthermore, a method of placing such an implant within a facet joint in an intra-facet or trans-facet orientation is hereby provided.

Abstract: A implantable interference device configured for intra-facet placement within a facet joint is provided. The device includes a shank capable of engaging opposing faces of the facet joint. The shank can further include a head extending from a proximal end of the shank wherein the head is configured to engage and/or buttress opposing faces of the joint, and also configured for preventing over-insertion of the device. Optionally, at least a portion of the shank can include or be formed of a fusion-promoting bioactive material. Further, a method for providing fixation of a facet joint by intra-facet placement of an interference device within the facet joint is provided.

Abstract: A glazing system such as a window that includes a glazing member and an LED that emits light into an edge portion of the glazing member and transmits light from one or both major surfaces of the glazing members.

Abstract: A syringe having an energy source disposed therein is disclosed. The syringe is capable of both the delivery and/or aspiration of materials as well as the delivery of an effective amount of various types of energy to a target to produce a desired result. A method utilizing the syringe to administer materials and to deliver energy to the material is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic auction system may include a bid validator connected between a network, a bid database and a merchandise catalog page. The example bid validator may receive over the network, bid information via an electronic mail message and further bid information via a web-based bid form. The example bid validator may validate the bid information and the further bid information before placing a bid and a further bid respectively into the bid database. The example bid validator may then update the web-based merchandise catalog page based on the bid and the further bid.