Abstract: A suture anchor loading system for loading a suture anchor on a suture. The suture anchor loading system includes a first portion and a second portion defining a suture anchor receptacle therebetween. A superstructure is configured to retain the first and the second portions together. The suture anchor can be loaded onto the suture when the suture anchor is seated within the suture anchor receptacle.

Abstract: A polyaxial pivot housing for an external fixation system, comprising a collet body having a threaded portion; a spherical member configured to be partially received by a cavity that is formed in the collet body, the spherical member having a threaded post that is configured to attach to a support member of an external fixation frame; and a threaded locking collar that is configured to orientationally lock the threaded post with respect to the external fixation frame by compressing the spherical member into the cavity as the threaded locking collar is mated with the threaded portion of the collet body.

Abstract: A flexible suture for coupling tissue includes a first suture portion extending to a first end and a second suture portion extending to a second end. A plurality of braided strands form the first and second suture portions. An identifier characteristic is formed into the plurality of braided strands. The identifier characteristic extends from the first end of the first suture portion to the second end of the second suture portion, and the identifier characteristic distinguishes the first suture portion from the second suture portion.

Abstract: Capacitor packaging according to the disclosure provides advantages particularly in connection to compact and/or complex-shaped medical devices (e.g., having limited interior volume defined by domed and/or irregular exterior surfaces). In addition, capacitors of the type shown and described herein can be utilized in relatively compact external defibrillators, such as automatic external defibrillators or clinician-grade, automated or manually-operated external defibrillators. In one form a plurality of capacitors having substantially flat exterior surfaces are placed in an abutting relationship between at least a pair of major surfaces and the major surfaces are spaced from an opposing or adjacent surface in a non-parallel configuration. In other forms, one or more exterior surface portions have a common and/or complex radius dimension (i.e., the surfaces are curved).

Abstract: A method for securing an anchor to tissue includes positioning the anchor in an area of the tissue. The anchor can include a flexible first tubular member, a flexible second tubular member, and a first suture member. The first tubular member can include a first wall defining a first passage between first and second ends. The second tubular member can include a second wall defining a second passage between first and second ends. The first suture member can couple the first tubular member and the second tubular member. The first suture member can pass through the first wall and the first passage and the second wall and the second passage. The first tubular member and the second tubular member can engage each other and deform to form an anchoring mass upon tensioning the first suture member.

Abstract: A drill guide including an inner surface, a tip, and a deflecting device. The inner surface defines a bore extending through the drill guide. The bore is configured to individually receive therein a flexible drill bit and an insertion tool with a suture anchor mounted thereto. The tip is at a distal end of the bore and defines a tip aperture of the bore. The deflecting device is proximal to the tip and includes at least one bearing surface configured to deflect the drill bit within the bore.

Abstract: An anchor for securing tissue to bone can include a flexible first tubular member, a flexible second tubular member, and a first suture member. The first tubular member can include a first wall defining a first passage between first and second ends. The second tubular member can include a second wall defining a second passage between first and second ends. The first suture member can couple the first tubular member and the second tubular member. The first suture member can pass through the first wall and the first passage and the second wall and the second passage. The first tubular member and the second tubular member can engage each other and deform to form an anchoring mass upon tensioning the first suture member. A method of preparing an anchor for securing tissue to bone and a method of securing a tissue to a bone are also provided.

Abstract: A suture anchor reload assembly for loading a suture anchor on an inserter. The assembly includes a first surface of the assembly, a second surface of the assembly, and a suture anchor holder. The first surface and the second surface define an inserter receptacle therebetween that is configured to accommodate the inserter. The suture anchor holder is arranged to hold a suture anchor across the inserter receptacle to be loaded onto the inserter as the inserter is driven through the inserter receptacle.

Abstract: A tool is provided for moving a first clamping or gripping member toward or away from a second facing clamping or gripping member, the tool having a double threaded drive shaft coupled to opposed threaded linkage driving members for causing the threaded linkage driving members to be driven toward or away from each other. As the threaded linkage driving members move closer, the resulting angle of the links becomes steeper, thus increasing the mechanical advantage of the clamping tool, enhancing clamping forces. A beneficial result is a clamping apparatus that requires less manual energy than a traditional clamp. Another beneficial result is provided if the same amount of energy is applied to the driveshaft as in a traditional clamp, the resulting clamping force is significantly higher. If the second clamping member is adjustable, it accommodates wide variations in thickness of an object positioned between the first and second clamping members.

Abstract: A ceramic implant having a rough surface texture and a method for forming the same. The method includes forming a green body of a first ceramic composition. The green body is reduced to smaller pieces thereby forming ceramic fragments. A mold is filled with a second ceramic composition to form a ceramic base. Ceramic fragments are added to the mold and an outer layer is formed over at least a portion of the ceramic base. Pressure is applied to the mold to compress the outer layer onto the ceramic base and to form a green assembly. The green assembly is sintered to form a ceramic implant having a rough surface texture.

Abstract: A tensor/ligament balancer for use in measuring a gap existing between an anatomy is provided. The tensor/ligament balancer can include a first paddle. The tensor/ligament balancer can also include a second paddle movable relative to the first paddle. The tensor/ligament balancer can further include a biasing member operable to apply a substantially constant force on the second paddle to move the second paddle relative to the first paddle. At a first position, the second paddle can be substantially adjacent to the first paddle. The second paddle can be automatically movable away from the first paddle to a second position by applying the substantially constant force to the second paddle.

Abstract: A method can include forming a bore in a bone of a patient and positioning a first anchor in the bore. The first anchor can have a self-locking adjustable suture construct extending therefrom that can include first and second adjustable loops. The first adjustable loop can be positioned about a first portion of the soft tissue and the second adjustable loop can be positioned about a second portion of the soft tissue different than the first portion. A coupling element carried by the second adjustable loop can be coupled to the first adjustable loop. An end of the adjustable suture construct can be tensioned to reduce a size of the first and second adjustable loops to couple the soft tissue to the bone.

Abstract: A heat sink is used to absorb heat produced by a vehicle. The heat sink uses an endothermic catalytic alcohol dehydrogenation reaction to assist with the absorption of excess heat produced in the electronics of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the alcohol can be pre-heated by absorbing heat from various components of the vehicle. Excess heat from the various components or from the vehicle engine can be used to vaporize the reaction fluids in order to further absorb additional heat. Reaction fluids can also be sent to the vehicle's engine/burner for use as a supplemental fuel.

Abstract: An anchor for securing tissue to bone can include a flexible first tubular member, a flexible second tubular member, and a first suture member. The first tubular member can include a first wall defining a first passage between first and second ends. The second tubular member can include a second wall defining a second passage between first and second ends. The first suture member can couple the first tubular member and the second tubular member. The first suture member can pass through the first wall and the first passage and the second wall and the second passage. The first tubular member and the second tubular member can engage each other and deform to form an anchoring mass upon tensioning the first suture member. A method of preparing an anchor for securing tissue to bone and a method of securing a tissue to a bone are also provided.

Abstract: A ceramic implant having a rough surface texture and a method for forming the same. The method includes forming a green body of a first ceramic composition. The green body is reduced to smaller pieces thereby forming ceramic fragments. A mold is filled with a second ceramic composition to form a ceramic base. Ceramic fragments are added to the mold and an outer layer is formed over at least a portion of the ceramic base. Pressure is applied to the mold to compress the outer layer onto the ceramic base and to form a green assembly. The green assembly is sintered to form a ceramic implant having a rough surface texture.

Abstract: A docking mechanism comprises first and second units, operative to firmly attach and release a watercraft such as a ferry boat to a dock. This action can be produced by actuators that may be hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, or by other means such as manually actuated levers, electric motors or solenoids. A moveable locking piston acts to push locking cylinders or other locking members such as movable links against watercraft lock channels mounted upon the watercrafts. The apparatus results in very firm coupling of a watercraft to the dock, beneficially permitting ferry boats to load and unload cargo without keeping their engines running which wastes fuel and pollutes the environment. The lock channels on the watercraft are however configured to permit relative vertical motion between the watercraft and the latching assembly to account for water level changes and yet maintain very firm coupling of the watercraft to the dock.

Abstract: Capacitor packaging according to the disclosure provides advantages particularly in connection to compact and/or complex-shaped medical devices (e.g., having limited interior volume defined by domed and/or irregular exterior surfaces). In addition, capacitors of the type shown and described herein can be utilized in relatively compact external defibrillators, such as automatic external defibrillators or clinician-grade, automated or manually-operated external defibrillators. In one form a plurality of capacitors having substantially flat exterior surfaces are placed in an abutting relationship between at least a pair of major surfaces and the major surfaces are spaced from an opposing or adjacent surface in a non-parallel configuration. In other forms, one or more exterior surface portions have a common and/or complex radius dimension (i.e., the surfaces are curved).

Abstract: A tensor/ligament balancer for use in measuring a gap existing between an anatomy is provided. The tensor/ligament balancer can include a first paddle. The tensor/ligament balancer can also include a second paddle movable relative to the first paddle. The tensor/ligament balancer can further include a biasing member operable to apply a substantially constant force on the second paddle to move the second paddle relative to the first paddle. At a first position, the second paddle can be substantially adjacent to the first paddle. The second paddle can be automatically movable away from the first paddle to a second position by applying the substantially constant force to the second paddle.

Abstract: An emission reduction apparatus is provided that includes a fuel conversion unit configured to convert a first portion of fuel from a fuel tank into a set of reducing agents that includes hydrogen, an exhaust path configured to convey an exhaust stream containing nitrogen oxides away from an engine, a transport system configured to transport each of a second portion of fuel from the fuel tank, the set of reducing agents, and the hydrogen into the exhaust path such that a mixture is formed, and the catalytic material configured to aid in a conversion of at least a portion of the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust stream of the mixture into nitrogen.

Abstract: A method for controlling data packet flow through an infrared adapter is provided and includes receiving a data stream from an infrared device. The data stream has a first data transmission rate. Further, the rate of transmission of the data stream is modified within the infrared adapter to produce an output data stream having a second data transmission rate. Also, the output data stream is transmitted from the infrared adapter. In a particular embodiment, the first data transmission rate is different from the second data transmission rate. Particularly, the second data transmission rate is less than the first data transmission rate.