Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting a bone anchor to a fixation element includes an anchor receiving member, a housing, an intermediate member, a first closure member, and a second closure member. The anchor receiving member has a first portion having an opening for receiving a bone anchor. The housing has a first passage for receiving a fixation element, a second passage for receiving the second portion of the anchor receiving member, and a third passage intersecting the first passage and the second passage. The intermediate member is positionable within the third passage and has a seat for receiving the fixation element and a distal end configured to engage the second portion of the anchor receiving member. The first closure member is positionable within the third passage to engage the intermediate member and the second closure member is positionable within the third passage to engage the fixation element.

Abstract: The present invention provides various methods and devices for mating spinal fixation elements, such as fixation rods, to various spinal anchoring devices, such as plates, hooks, bolts, wires, and screws. In an exemplary embodiment, an implantable spinal connector is provided having a clamp member with top and bottom portions that are connected to one another at a terminal end thereof, and that are adapted to seat a spinal fixation element there between. The top and bottom portions are preferably movable between an open position in which the top and bottom portions are spaced a distance apart from one another, and a closed position in which the portions are adapted to engage a spinal fixation element positioned there between. The connector can also include a bore extending through the top and bottom portions for receiving a locking mechanism that is effective to lock the top and bottom portions in the closed position to retain a spinal fixation element there between.

Abstract: An implantable spinal cross-connector is provided for connecting one or more spinal fixation devices, and more preferably for connecting two spinal fixation rods that are implanted within a patient's spinal system. In general, the cross-connector includes a central portion having at least one connector member formed on a terminal end thereof and having first and second opposed jaws, at least one of which is selectively movable between a first, open position wherein the first and second jaws are positioned a distance apart from one another, and a second, closed position, wherein the first and second jaws are adapted to engage a spinal fixation element therebetween. The cross-connector also includes a locking mechanism having a shank that is receivable within a non-expandable bore formed in the connector member. The locking mechanism is adapted to come into contact with each of the first and second jaws to selectively lock the first and second jaws in a fixed position with respect to one another.

Abstract: A spinal fixation device is provided having first and second elongate members that are angularly adjustable relative to one another. Each elongate member can include a connecting feature formed on a terminal end thereof, and each connecting feature can be coupled to one another to allow angular movement of the first and second elongate members. The device can also include a locking mechanism that is adapted to couple to the connecting feature on each of the first and second elongate members to lock the elongate members in a fixed position relative to one another.

Abstract: A spinal fixation system comprising at least two bone anchors, a rod connecting the bone anchors and a connecting plate extending from a proximal surface of at least one of the bone anchors. A method of fixing vertebrae relative to each other comprising the steps of: implanting bone anchors in two adjacent vertebrae, each bone anchor having a rod receiving portion; placing a rod in the rod receiving portions, thereby connecting the bone anchors; threadably engaging set screws in the rod receiving portions of at least a portion of the bone anchors, thereby fixing the rod to the bone anchors; mating one end of a connecting plate to a proximal bearing surface of at least a portion of the bone anchors; and engaging a cap with at least a portion of the set screws, thereby fixing the connecting plate to the bone anchors.

Abstract: A material-handling apparatus includes a frame, first arms pivoted to the frame for rotation, and second arms pivoted to the first arms for rotation. A picking device is pivoted to the second arms. A rotational control device including a cam is operably connected to the first and second arms for oscillating the first and second arms at different oscillating distances and times as the first arm is rotated to cause the picking device to move linearly vertically from a supply conveyor, then to move laterally transversely, and then to move linearly vertically to deposit carried items in layers in a deep container on a second conveyor. A leveling mechanism is provided on the apparatus for maintaining the picking device in a level orientation despite oscillation of the first and second arms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemically modified mutant protein including a cysteine residue substituted for a residue other than cysteine in a precursor protein, the substituted cysteine residue being subsequently modified by reacting the cysteine residue with a glycosylated thiosulfonate. Also, a method of producing the chemically modified mutant protein is provided. The present invention also relates to a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of modifying the functional characteristics of a protein including providing a protein and reacting the protein with a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate reagent under conditions effective to produce a glycoprotein with altered functional characteristics as compared to the protein. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of determining the structure-function relationships of chemically modified mutant proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening chemically modified mutant enzymes for amidase and/or esterase activity. This method includes providing a chemically modified mutant enzyme with one or more amino acid residues from an enzyme being replaced by cysteine residues, where at least some of the cysteine residues are modified by replacing thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residues with a thiol side chain, contacting the chemically modified mutant enzyme with a substrate for an amidase and/or a substrate for an esterase, and determining whether the chemically modified mutant enzyme exhibits amidase and/or esterase activity. The present invention also relates to chemically modified mutant enzymes and a method of producing them where one or more amino acid residues from an enzyme are replaced by cysteine residues, and the cysteine residues are modified by replacing at least some of the thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residue with a thiol side chain to form the chemically modified mutant enzyme.

Abstract: This invention provides chimeric molecules that are catalytic antagonists of a target molecule. The catalytic antagonists of this invention preferably comprise a targeting moiety attached to an enzyme that degrades the molecule specifically bound by the targeting moiety. The catalytic antagonists of this invention thus bind to a target recognized by the targeting moiety (e.g., a receptor) the enzyme component of the chimera then degrades all or part of the target. This typically results in a reduction or loss of activity of the target and release of the chimeric molecule. The chimeric molecule is then free to attack and degrade another target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to glyodendrimeric proteases, composition with glycodendrimeric proteases and methods for inhibiting adhesion binding in microorganisms by contacting microorganisms with a glycodendrimeric protease or a composition with a glycodendrimeric protease. The invention may be used to treat patients in need of treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemically modified mutant protein including a cysteine residue substituted for a residue other than cysteine n a precursor protein, the substituted cysteine residue being subsequently modified by reacting the cysteine residue with a glycosylated thiosulfonate. Also a method of producing the chemically modified mutant protein is provided. The present invention also relates to a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of modifying the functional characteristics of a protein including providing a protein and reacting the protein with a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate reagent under conditions effective to produce a glycoprotein with altered functional characteristics as compared to the protein. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of determining the structure-function relationships of chemically modified mutant proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified enzymes with one or more amino acid residues from an enzyme being replaced by cysteine residues, where at least some of the cysteine residues are modified by replacing thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residue with a thiol side chain to form a modified enzyme, wherein the modified enzyme has high esterase and low amidase activity. Also, a method of producing the modified enzymes is provided. The present invention also relates to a method for using the modified enzymes in peptide synthesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemically modified mutant protein including a cysteine residue substituted for a residue other than cysteine in a precursor protein, the substituted cysteine residue being subsequently modified by reacting the cysteine residue with a glycosylated thiosulfonate. Also, a method of producing the chemically modified mutant protein is provided. The present invention also relates to a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of modifying the functional characteristics of a protein including providing a protein and reacting the protein with a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate reagent under conditions effective to produce a glycoprotein with altered functional characteristics as compared to the protein. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of determining the structure-function relationships of chemically modified mutant proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemically modified mutant protein including a cysteine residue substituted for a residue other than cysteine in a precursor protein, the substituted cysteine residue being subsequently modified by reacting the cysteine residue with a glycosylated thiosulfonate. Also, a method of producing the chemically modified mutant protein is provided. The present invention also relates to a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of modifying the functional characteristics of a protein including providing a protein and reacting the protein with a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate reagent under conditions effective to produce a glycoprotein with altered functional characteristics as compared to the protein. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of determining the structure-function relationships of chemically modified mutant proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified enzymes with one or more amino acid residues from an enzyme being replaced by cysteine residues, where at least some of the cysteine residues are modified by replacing thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residue with a thiol side chain to form a modified enzyme, wherein the modified enzyme has high esterase and low amidase activity. Also, a method of producing the modified enzymes is provided. The present invention also relates to a method for using the modified enzymes in peptide synthesis.

Abstract: This invention provides modified enzymes comprising one or more amino acid residues replaced by cysteine residues, where the cysteine residues are modified by replacing the thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residues with a substituent group providing a thiol side chain comprising a multiply charged moiety. The enzymes show improved interaction and/or specificity and/or activity with charged substrates.

Abstract: A system for running in, in which multiple PCI bus connections are each bridged to multiple boards-under-test. The presence or absence of power in each of these bus connections is monitored, and the boards-under-test are correspondingly powered up (or not). Multiple test-bed subboards are preferably used, each with multiple sockets for receiving boards-under-test with high-insertion-force connectors, and the independent power control permits the boards-under-test on one subboard to be powered off and swapped while the boards-under-test on the other subboard are still being exercised. Preferable a single movable extractor mechanism is mounted on each subboard, and can be positioned (with respect to any one of the high-insertion-force connectors) for linear extraction of the board-under-test without any torque.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified enzymes with one or more amino acid residues from an enzyme being replaced by cysteine residues, where at least some of the cysteine residues are modified by replacing thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residue with a thiol side chain to form a modified enzyme, wherein the modified enzyme has high esterase and low amidase activity. Also, a method of producing the modified enzymes is provided. The present invention also relates to a method for using the modified enzymes in peptide synthesis.

Abstract: This invention provides modified enzymes comprising one or more amino acid residues replaced by cysteine residues, where the cysteine residues are modified by replacing the thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residues with a substituent group providing a thiol side chain comprising a multiply charged moiety. The enzymes show improved interaction and/or specificity and/or activity with charged substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemically modified mutant protein including a cysteine residue substituted for a residue other than cysteine n a precursor protein, the substituted cysteine residue being subsequently modified by reacting the cysteine residue with a glycosylated thiosulfonate. Also a method of producing the chemically modified mutant protein is provided. The present invention also relates to a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of modifying the functional characteristics of a protein including providing a protein and reacting the protein with a glycosylated methanethiosulfonate reagent under conditions effective to produce a glycoprotein with altered functional characteristics as compared to the protein. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of determining the structure-function relationships of chemically modified mutant proteins.