Abstract: A surgical planning method is provided. A representation of a bone of a joint is created. The joint is moved to a first position. A first point corresponding to a first location in the joint is identified when the joint is in the first position. The joint is moved to a second position. A second point corresponding to a second location in the joint is identified, when the joint is in the second position. Bone preparation for implanting an implant on the bone is planned based at least in part on the first and second points.

Abstract: A surgical tool (10) includes a cutting element (20), a first portion (30, 60; 40, 70) configured to supply a fluid to a surgical site, and a second portion (40, 70; 30, 60) configured to apply a pressure to the surgical site. The first portion, the cutting element, and the second portion are integrated as a single component.

Abstract: Cutting elements offering increased toughness and thermal fatigue resistance can be formed of a wear resistant material having coarse grains disposed in a binder matrix with a binder content of at least about 18% by weight. The coarse grains include grains of at least one selected from the group of a transition metal carbide, a transition metal boride, and transition metal nitride. The binder content and coarse grain size may be selected to provide a Rockwell A hardness of at least about 75 Ra or a wear number of at least about 1.5.

Abstract: A method for designing a roller cone drill bit having a plurality of cutting elements in a row. The method includes defining a pitch pattern for the plurality of cutting elements such that a first group of adjacent cutting elements are arranged in a first pitch and a second group of adjacent cutting elements are arranged in a second pitch in the row, wherein the first group of adjacent cutting elements have a different extension length than the second group of adjacent cutting elements, evaluating the pitch pattern of the plurality of cutting elements in the row, and modifying at least one of the plurality of cutting elements based on the evaluating of the pitch pattern of the plurality of cutting elements.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit for drilling earth formation may include rows arranged on each of the cones such that when viewed in routed profile, cutting element profiles partially overlap with other cutting element profiles and at least the first three interior rows adjacent a gage row each have a cutting element count selected from the group of 16, 18, 21 and 26 cutting elements.

Abstract: A rolling cone drill bit includes a cutter element having a cutting portion with a chisel crest and a pilot portion extending beyond the chisel crest. The pilot portion includes a cutting surface that may be generally conical, or form a second chisel crest. The cutting tip of the pilot portion is supported by buttress portions which emerge from and extend beyond the flanks of the chisel crest to provide additional strength and support for the material of the pilot portion that extends beyond the height of the chisel crest.

Abstract: A rolling cone drill bit includes at least one cutter element comprising a base portion and a cutting portion extending from the base portion. The cutting portion includes a cutting surface with an apex defining an extension height and at least one rib extending from the apex toward the base portion. In addition, the at least one rib has a convex outer surface in profile view.

Abstract: A drill bit for cutting a borehole comprises a bit body including a bit axis. In addition, the drill bit comprises a rolling cone cutter mounted on the bit body. Further, the drill bit comprises a cutter element having a base portion with a diameter and a cutting portion extending therefrom. The cutting portion comprising a first pair of flanking surfaces that taper towards one another to form a first elongate chisel crest, and a second pair of flanking surfaces that taper towards one another to form a second elongate chisel crest that intersects the first elongate chisel crest in top view. The first crest tangent angle at 10% of the diameter measured radially from the central axis on the first elongate chisel crest in profile view is greater than 75° and less than or equal to 90°.

Abstract: A method for designing a roller cone drill bit having a plurality of cutting elements in a row. The method includes defining a pitch pattern for the plurality of cutting elements such that a first group of adjacent cutting elements are arranged in a first pitch and a second group of adjacent cutting elements are arranged in a second pitch in the row; evaluating the pitch pattern of the plurality of cutting elements in the row; and modifying at least one of the plurality of cutting elements, based on the evaluating the pitch pattern of the plurality of cutting elements.

Abstract: A rolling cone drill bit including multiple cones with regions of intermeshing and non-intermeshing cutter elements. In the non-intermeshed regions, an array of cutter elements is disposed about the cone surface in a non-circumferential arrangement with the cutter elements being mounted at differing radial distances from the bit axis. This non-circumferential arrangement, which may be a spiral, multiple spirals, other patterns of offset cutter elements, or a random arrangement, provides a composite cutting profile having substantial width and bottomhole coverage and is free of ridge-producing voids. In certain embodiments, the composite cutting profiles of the arrays at least partially overlap, and may be arranged to cover a portion of or the entire non-intermeshed region on the cones.

Abstract: A method for designing a drill bit that involves simulating a drill bit having cutting elements disposed thereon is provided.

Abstract: A rolling cone rock bit includes a plurality of PDC or other cutters mounted to the leg of the drill bit and positioned to cut the corner of the bottomhole. The plurality of cutters may be the primary cutting component at gage diameter, or may be redundant to gage teeth on a rolling cutter that cut to gage diameter. Consequently, the occurrence of undergage drilling from the wear and failure of the gage row on a rolling cutter is lessened. Also included is a mud ramp that creates a large junk slot from the borehole bottom up the drill bit. The resulting pumping action of the drill bit ramp speeds up the removal of chips or drilling cuttings from the bottom of the borehole, reduces the level of hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the borehole and minimizes the wearing effect of cone inserts regrinding damaging drill cuttings.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit and a method for designing thereof. The roller cone drill bit includes a bit body configured to be coupled to a drill string and a journal depending from the bit body. A split roller cone is rotatably attached to the journal. The split roller cone includes an upper section and a lower section. The upper section has a plurality of cutting elements disposed at selected positions thereon. The lower section has a plurality of cutting elements disposed at selected positions thereon. The lower section is able to rotate independently of the upper section.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole includes a cutter element comprising a base portion. In addition, the cutter element comprises a cutting portion extending from the base portion and terminating in an elongate crest extending between a first crest end and a second crest end, and having an intermediate portion therebetween. The first crest end has a width W1 and the second end has a width W2 that is greater than the width W1. Still further, the intermediate portion of the crest has a width W3 that is less than the width W2 and less than or equal to the width W1.

Abstract: A method for designing a drill bit that involves simulating a drill bit having cutting elements disposed thereon is provided. In particular, the method involves determining the axial forces acting on at least one of the cutting elements at a first orientation.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a cutting arrangement for a drill bit includes selecting a cutting element arrangement for the drill bit and calculating a score for the cutting arrangement. This method may be used to evaluate the cutting efficiency of various drill bit designs. In one example, this method is used to calculate a score for an arrangement based on a comparison of an expected bottom hole pattern for the arrangement with a preferred bottom hole pattern. The use of this method has lead to roller cone drill bit designs that exhibit reduce tracking over prior art bits.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed by which users looking for financial information about publicly traded or private companies may richly and interactively navigate both pricing and material news information about those companies. The techniques facilitate and encourage the user's use and understanding of financial information presented. Related company information can also be provided to the user, where related companies are organized by hierarchal categories for a meaningful display.

Abstract: A method for designing a roller cone drill bit having a plurality of cutting elements in a row. The method includes defining a pitch pattern for the plurality of cutting elements such that a first group of adjacent cutting elements are arranged in a first pitch and a second group of adjacent cutting elements are arranged in a second pitch in the row; evaluating the pitch pattern of the plurality of cutting elements in the row; and modifying at least one of the plurality of cutting elements, based on the evaluating the pitch pattern of the plurality of cutting elements.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a cutting arrangement for a drill bit includes selecting a cutting element arrangement for the drill bit and calculating a score for the cutting arrangement. This method may be used to evaluate the cutting efficiency of various drill bit designs. In one example, this method is used to calculate a score for an arrangement based on a comparison of an expected bottomhole pattern for the arrangement with a preferred bottomhole pattern. The use of this method has lead to roller cone drill bit designs that exhibit reduce tracking over prior art bits.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling through earthen formations. In an embodiment, the drill bit comprises a bit body having a bit axis. In addition, the drill bit comprises a first rolling cone cutter mounted on the bit body at a first journal angle and adapted for rotation about a first cone axis. Further, the drill bit comprises a second rolling cone cutter mounted on the bit body at a second journal angle and adapted for rotation about a second cone axis, wherein the second journal angle differs from the first journal angle.