Abstract: A positioning device is disclosed which can include a base and a positioning element, which is configured to be adjusted with respect to six degrees of freedom relative to the base, wherein the positioning element is coupled to the base via at least three pairs of length-variable and electrically driven leg elements, and each leg element is connected, at its respective ends, to the base and the positioning element via an articulation element. A respective pair of legs projects through another pair of legs and each pair of legs is arranged perpendicular to the respective other pairs of legs.

Abstract: A method for instant lumbar spine fusion between two vertebrae in a patient includes establishing under X-ray fluoroscopy the location of the transpedicular notch of the next lower vertebra in caudal direction, making a percutaneous incision to the transpedicular notch, inserting a cannulated guide, drilling a transpedicular approach from the pedicle of the lower vertebra to the anterior part of the vertebral body of the vertebrae above the disc to be treated, inserting a working cannula through the previously drilled approach reaching the intervertebral disk, cleaning and scrapping the intervertebral disk space, inserting transpedicularly at least one intervertebral stabilizing screw, and acting on both intervertebral screws with screwdrivers in order to distract or contract both screws allowing to adjust or correct the intervertebral distance of the disk. The method can be performed on an outpatient basis.

Abstract: An intervertebral stabilization screw includes a main body with a distal bone-fixation thread. The distal thread is located at a distal end of the main body. A receiving area for a percutaneous drive tool is at a proximal end. The screw also has externally and separated from the distal thread a proximal bone fixation thread located at its proximal end.

Abstract: Indications of a plurality of events whose occurrence is detected in a particular execution of a program are obtained. One or more partitions of a trace object corresponding to the execution are constructed, including a first partition corresponding to a first subset of the events. The first partition comprises a header portion which includes a compressed representation of one or more event chains, and a data portion comprising a compressed events record indicating an occurrence, during the execution, of a particular sequence of events indicated by an event chain. The trace object is stored.

Abstract: Indications of a plurality of events whose occurrence is detected in a particular execution of a program are obtained. One or more partitions of a trace object corresponding to the execution are constructed, including a first partition corresponding to a first subset of the events. The first partition comprises a header portion which includes a compressed representation of one or more event chains, and a data portion comprising a compressed events record indicating an occurrence, during the execution, of a particular sequence of events indicated by an event chain. The trace object is stored.

Abstract: The invention encompasses improved catheters comprised of multiple tubular bodies and methods of using them in artificial insemination.

Abstract: The invention relates an apparatus for analysing movement of an arrangement made of a plurality of bodies assigned to a platform, of which at least one is provided with a drive, in particular of the hexapod type or of the articulated arm type, having means for vibration analysis and/or force analysis. According to the invention, the apparatus has in a modular construction a vibration analysis module for analytically determining natural vibration modes of the bodies and/or of the platform in respect of at least one of the following variables: frequency, centre of rotation of the torsional component of the vibrations, axis of rotation of torsional vibration, displacement vector of a Cartesian vibration, amplitude ratio of the vibrations in relation to one another, and/or a force analysis module for analytically determining the acceleration forces and/or weights and/or torques, occurring on a predetermined trajectory, in respect of the bodies and/or the platform.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intervertebral fusion device comprising an intervertebral stabilizing screw and a composition for bone remodeling. The intervertebral stabilizing screw comprises: a main body with an axial through-hole and a distal thread that is secured to the bone, located at a distal end of the main body; a hollow proximal secondary body that can slide along the length of the main body; and a travel stop for the proximal secondary body, located on an outer surface of the main body. According to the invention, the proximal secondary body also includes an external thread for securing to the bone, and the main body comprises at least one fill hole, located between the distal thread and the travel stop, for connecting an intervertebral space to the aforementioned axial hole.

Abstract: Indications of a plurality of events whose occurrence is detected in a particular execution of a program are obtained. One or more partitions of a trace object corresponding to the execution are constructed, including a first partition corresponding to a first subset of the events. The first partition comprises a header portion which includes a compressed representation of one or more event chains, and a data portion comprising a compressed events record indicating an occurrence, during the execution, of a particular sequence of events indicated by an event chain. The trace object is stored.

Abstract: A high-resolution positioning device has a stator and a rotor, a coil array, arranged on the stator, and having at least three groups of flat coils, wherein each group has at least two single coils and the coil array encloses a free space on the stator, also having permanent magnetically-excited circuits that are situated on, against or in the rotor and form a magnet array which likewise encloses a free space, wherein the free spaces accommodate a position measuring system which has a measuring head having sensors, and an area scale. The device is in the form of a freely suspended, magnetically controlled six-dimensional drive, wherein the measuring head is situated in the coil array free space and the area scale is situated in the magnet array free space, and the rotor is free of drive-related electrical or electronic and, in this regard, live parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-resolution positioning device having a stator and a rotor, a coil array, arranged on the stator, having at least three groups of flat coils, wherein each group has at least two single coils and the coil array encloses a free space on the stator, also having permanent magnetically-excited circuits that are situated on, against or in the rotor and form a magnet array which likewise encloses a free space, wherein the free spaces accommodate a position measuring system which has a measuring head having sensors, and an area scale. According to the invention, the device is in the form of a freely suspended, magnetically controlled six-dimensional drive, wherein the measuring head is situated in the coil array free space and the area scale is situated in the magnet array free space, and the rotor is free of drive-related electrical or electronic and, in this regard, live parts.

Abstract: A device for operating functions of a motor vehicle, with an operation control, which is designed for outputting control commands to further motor vehicle devices is provided. The control commands can be generated as a function of two or a plurality of simultaneous operation inputs, and a first touch-sensitive operating surface connected to the operation control in a signal-conducting manner, by means of which operating inputs can be transmitted to the operation control. At least one second touch-sensitive operating surface connected to the operation control in a signal-conducting manner is also provided.

Abstract: A warning system of a vehicle is provided. The warning system includes a haptic warning signaler, a control module, and a haptic sensor. The haptic warning signaler is associated with the haptic sensor for recording a haptic receptiveness. For a traffic or operating situation of the vehicle ranked as critical, the control module activates the haptic warning signaler if the haptic sensor signals a haptic receptiveness to the control module. A method for warning occupants of a vehicle also is provided.

Abstract: A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle encompasses at least one foot sensor for monitoring the foot of a driver, a control unit for deciding on a safety measure based on a detection result of the foot sensor, and an environmental sensor to detect an approach toward an outside obstacle, and is set up to only implement the safety measure if a detection result of the environmental sensor indicates a danger that contact will be made with the obstacle.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided having a camera, in particular a reversing camera, and a cleaning device, which is used for cleaning an optical surface that interacts with the camera. The cleaning device has a cleaning element, which has a cleaning action on the optical surface due to a relative motion between the cleaning element and optical surface. Additionally or alternatively, the cleaning device has a moistening unit, by which a liquid media stream can be applied against the optical surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting and/or determining bacteria associated with periodontitis from a biological sample with at least one of the oligonucleotides SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 5 as well as a microfluidic device for detecting and/or determining at least one germ associated with periodontitis from a biological sample comprising a carrier consisting of at least one base part with a surface and at least one oligonucleotide bound to the carrier surface or nucleic acid molecule, in which the oligonucleotide represents at least one sequence of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 5.

Abstract: A fan cooling unit (10) for cooling electronic components, such as for an air-cooled telecommunications base station, comprises a protective covering for at least the air inlet opening (11) of a casing (8) in which the electronic components are housed. The protective covering (1) has a frame (2) into which a composite filter media (3) is mounted so as to create an air-tight fit. The composite filter media (3) comprises a membrane filtration layer (20) with a porous polymeric membrane, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and at least one depth filtration layer (18) disposed on an upstream side of the membrane filtration layer (20). The depth filtration media layer comprises fibers having an electrostatic charge. The ePTFE membrane is preferably made from a blend of a PTFE homopolymer and a modified PTFE polymer.

Abstract: A sensor front end is disclosed that is able to discriminate objects based on their range from the sensor and to derive bearing information therefrom. The sensor system includes a signal source for transmitting at least a first and a second sensor signal toward the object and receiving a first and a second reflected signal pulse therefrom, and for generating a first and second information signal based on the first and the second reflected signals, respectively; and an information processor programmed to receive the first and second information signal from the signal source and to determine bearing information for the object based on a phase difference between the first and second information signal. The information processor is preferably capable of generating sample points from the first and second information signal and calculating the bearing information using these sample points.

Abstract: A membrane of microporous, for example stretched, PTFE is filled with particles having a size in the nanometer range. By filling with, for example, TiO2, the abrasion resistance of the membrane can be increased. Low particle size means that the original structure of the PTFE membrane with its knots and fibrils is retained, as is, consequently, the original desired properties of this material. In addition to these properties, filling of the material achieves additional properties, for example increased abrasion resistance.

Abstract: Microporous membranes are described and characterized as having a morphological microstructure of very highly elongated nodes interconnected by fibrils which form a structural network of voids or pores through the spaces between the nodes and fibrils, which voids or pores extend from one side of the membrane to the other. The membranes are highly uniform in terms of mass per volume, have very high strength and a very open microstructure.