Abstract: A point to point optical link from a transmitter (1) to, a receiver (2) via an optical fiber (3), the transmitter (1) comprising light sources (4) providing signals of different wavelengths and a multiplexer (6) combining the signals onto a single channel for transmission along the optical fiber (3), and the receiver (2) comprising light sensors (8) and a demultiplexer (10) for separating the signals of different wavelengths and directing each to a respective light sensor (8). The output of the transmitter (1) is temperature dependent but arranged so that the change in wavelength with respect to temperature for each of the signals is similar, and the demultiplexer (10) being adjustable so that its response to signals with respect to their wavelength can be actively tuned so as to follow variations in the wavelength of the signals received.

Abstract: An optical waveguide, such as a rib waveguide, having a first portion (7) to which a dopant (9) and/or a metal layer (10) is applied to enable an optical property of a second portion of the waveguide to be altered, the first portion (7) having a structure, e.g. being corrugated, the geometry of which is such as to prevent an optical wave being carried in the first portion (7). The dopant (9) and/or metal layer (10) can thus be positioned close to the second portion which carries the optical wave without causing perturbation, e.g. attenuation and/or polarization, of the optical wave.

Abstract: A modular elbow prothesis includes a humeral component, an ulnar component and three bearing components. The ulnar component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of an ulna and a body including a slot. Two of the three bearing components include flanges that mate with the slot of the ulnar component. The humeral component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of the humerus and two arms extending from one end of the stem. An opening is formed in each arm and in two of the three bearing components. The modular elbow may be used in an unconstrained mode by attaching one bearing component to the ulnar component and the other to the humeral component by inserting a pin through the openings in the arms and the bearing component. The two bearing components are then placed adjacent each other such that they articulate about their bearing surfaces.

Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide with an end face, the end face being provided on an end portion with a greater width than the waveguide, e.g. in the form of a T-bar provided at the end of the waveguide, whereby the rounding effect produced by the manufacturing process, e.g. etching, used to form the end face does not affect the flatness of the portion of the end face through which light is transmitted. The T-bar is preferably inclined so the normal of the end face is inclined to the optical axis of the waveguide to reduce back reflection therefrom. A plurality of waveguides may terminate in a common T-bar.

Abstract: A wrist fusion apparatus and method for attachment to and positioning at least one carpus area bone relative to a radius bone without an attachment to a metacarpal bone. The wrist fusion apparatus includes an elongated plate with a bottom and top side and with a proximal portion for positioning an attachment to a radius bone and a distal portion for positioning over and attachment to at least one carpus area of bone without extending over or attaching to a metacarpal bone. The proximal portion has a linear longitudinal axis and the distal portion is disposed along a curved longitudinal line extending from the linear longitudinal axis of the approximal portion. The plate includes fastener holes defined therethrough for receiving bone fasteners.

Abstract: The present invention is a temperature stable integrated optical device which is substantially insensitive to temperature variations. The device, such as an interferometer, includes sub-sections of a different light transmissive material within the optical pathways. The relative lengths of the two different material waveguides can be selected so as to achieve temperature insensitivity. A suitable balance is to ensure that the ratio of the difference in sub-path lengths of the first and second materials is equal to the ratio of the refractive index gradient with temperature of the second material to the refractive index gradient with temperature of the first material. Preferable materials are silicon and silicon nitride.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coupling an optical fibre to a waveguide on an optical chip, the apparatus comprises a recess in the chip for receiving the optical fiber, the recess comprising a V-groove the side faces of which locate the position of the fiber in directions perpendicular to the optical axis of the fiber so as to position the fibre in alignment with the waveguide, and an end face adjacent the end of the waveguide, the end face of the recess being substantially flat and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the chip with its normal inclined to the optical axis of the waveguide so an optical fiber having an inclined end face can be brought into a close, abutting relationship with the end of the waveguide and brought into rotational alignment therewith about its optical axis by positioning the fiber so its inclined end face lies in planar contact with the end face of the recess.

Abstract: A presentation is given of an improved method for coating lamp tubes for gas discharge lamps and for drying the coating, as well as of a device designed for the method, in the case of which method and device, during coating and drying, the lamp tubes are arranged at an oblique angle to the horizontal.

Abstract: A bone fusion apparatus and method for positioning over and attachment to a desired bone area which can provide for radial compression of bones, with particular suitability for wrist fusion by attachment to suitable bones such as, for example, a plurality of carpus area bones, with or without attachment to the radius bone and/or to one or more metacarpal bones. The bone fusion apparatus includes an annular plate having an outer side for at least partially contacting bone and an opposite inner side. The plate has a top outer edge of greatest diameter and a smaller diameter, bottom inner edge which defines an at least substantially central opening through the plate. The plate is substantially conical in shape such that the plate tapers outwardly from the inner edge of the plate to the outer edge of the plate. The plate defines a plurality of preferably countersunk holes therethrough between the inner edge and the outer edge, wherein each of the holes is adapted for receiving a bone fastener.

Abstract: An integrated optical circuit for use in a fibre optic gyroscope which senses rotation rates by determining a phase shift due to the Sagnac Effect between light beams travelling around an optical fibre sensing loop (4) in opposite directions, the circuit being provided on a silicon-on-insulator chip comprising a layer of silicon separated from a substrate by an insulating layer, the circuit comprising: rib waveguides (11) formed in the silicon layer for receiving light from a light source (2) and transmitting light to a light detector (3), fibre optic connectors (9) in the form of grooves etched in the silicon layer for receiving the respective ends of the optical fibre sensing loop (4); rib waveguides (11) formed in the silicon layer for transmitting light to and from said fibre optic connectors (9) so as to direct light beams in opposite directions around the sensing loop (4) and receive light beams returning therefrom, phase determining means and (13,17,31) integrated in silicon layer for determining a pha

Abstract: A tapered rib waveguide tapering from a large, multi-mode optical waveguide to a smaller, single-mode optical waveguide, the tapered rib waveguide comprising two portions (4,5) formed of the same material: a lower portion (4) which tapers laterally from the large waveguide to the smaller waveguide and an upper portion (5) formed on the lower portion (4), which tapers to a point (or other form of termination), the dimensions of the two portions (4,5) being such that substantially all of a fundamental mode propagated in the large multi-mode waveguide is coupled to the smaller, single-mode waveguide.

Abstract: The device is formed on a silicon-on-insulator chip (which comprises a layer of silicon (1) separated from a substrate (3) by an insulator layer (2)) and comprises an integrated waveguide (4) formed in the silicon layer (1) and a reflective facet (6) formed in a recess in the silicon layer (1). The facet (6) is positioned to redirect light in a desired direction. The waveguide (4) and facet (6) are both formed in the silicon layer (1) so their positions can be defined by the same lithographic steps so they are automatically aligned with each other.

Abstract: A modular elbow prothesis includes a humeral component, an ulnar component and three bearing components. The ulnar component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of an ulna and a body including a slot. Two of the three bearing components include flanges that mate with the slot of the ulnar component. The humeral component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of the humerus and two arms extending from one end of the stem. An opening is formed in each arm and in two of the three bearing components. The modular elbow may be used in an unconstrained mode by attaching one bearing component to the ulnar component and the other to the humeral component by inserting a pin through the openings in the arms and the bearing component. The two bearing components are then placed adjacent each other such that they articulate about their bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A carpal tunnel release apparatus and method including a surgical knife including an elongated handle having a forward portion and a rearward portion with the forward portion of the handle terminating in a cutting head. The cutting head has top edge and a bottom edge with the cutting head terminating in a substantially linear cutting edge extending from proximate the bottom edge of the cutting head toward the top edge of the cutting head. The cutting edge intersects and forms an angle with an upper guide finger which is the only structure which projects forwardly past the plane of the cutting edge and which at least partially forms the top edge of the cutting head. The guide apparatus includes an elongated bar defining one or more elongated grooves therein.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator chip has a location recess formed therein for receiving a laser diode. The location recess includes two non-parallel location surfaces adapted to abut against two reference surfaces formed on the laser diode. The abutment of the location surfaces against the reference surfaces enables a laser emission area of the laser diode to be accurately aligned with a rib waveguide formed on the silicon-on-insulator substrate.

Abstract: The device comprises a layer of silicon separated from a substrate by a layer of insulating material. A rib having an upper surface and two side surfaces is formed in the layer of silicon to provide a waveguide for the transmission of optical signals. A lateral doped junction is formed between the side surfaces of the rib such that an electrical signal can be applied across the junction to control the density of charge carriers across a substantial part of the cross-sectional area of the rib thereby actively altering the effective refractive index of the waveguide.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator chip has a location recess formed therein for receiving a laser diode. The location recess includes two non-parallel location surfaces adapted to abut against two reference surfaces formed on the laser diode. The abutment of the location surfaces against the reference surfaces enables a laser emission area of the laser diode to be accurately aligned with a rib waveguide formed on the silicon-on-insulator substrate.

Abstract: A joint prosthesis is disclosed with stems affixed to the flexing main body at a natural, angle; with positive flexion and extension stops; and with stress-relieving radii at intersections between the stems and the main body.

Abstract: A connection between an integrated optical waveguide and an optical fibre has a layer of silicon in which a rib waveguide is formed separated from a substrate by a layer of silicon dioxide. A V-groove is formed in the substrate for receiving an optical fibre, and the V-groove is arranged to align the optical fibre at a predetermined angle with respect to the waveguide. The rib waveguide and the underlying layer of silicon dioxide are formed to overhang the end of the V-groove so that the end of the waveguide is in close proximity with the end of an optical fibre positioned in the V-groove. A method of forming a connection, in which the V-groove is etched using a material which etches the substrate material as opposed to the layer of silicon dioxide, is also disclosed. Finally, a method of connecting an integrated optical waveguide to an optical fibre using a connection as described above is disclosed.

Abstract: The device comprises a layer of silicon separated from a substrate by a layer of insulating material. A rib having an upper surface and two side surfaces is formed in the layer of silicon to provide a waveguide for the transmission of optical signals. A lateral doped junction is formed between the side surfaces of the rib such that an electrical signal can be applied across the junction to control the density of charge carriers across a substantial part of the cross-sectional area of the rib thereby actively altering the effective refractive index of the waveguide.