Abstract: Drill bits comprising a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and a cutting head located at the distal end of the shaft, having a cutting diameter, and having at least one flute, which includes a cutting edge and an offset leading spur are disclosed. A portion of the shaft of the drill bits located adjacent and proximal to the cutting head has a reduced diameter relative to the remainder of the shaft. The drill bits have a tapered point along the longitudinal axis at the distal end of the cutting head for guiding the drill bit or are cannulated to receive a guide wire.

Abstract: A delivery device for an osteochondral graft comprising a tube, a plunger and a graft retention assembly is disclosed. The tube has a bore having an inside diameter and extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The inside diameter of the bore is sufficient to accept an osteochondral graft of a desired diameter. The tube has a set of apertures located adjacent the distal end of the tube. The plunger is slidably disposed within the bore of the tube. The graft retention assembly comprises a collar and a set of tabs. The graft retention assembly is attached to the tube such that the tabs are disposed within the apertures of the tube. The tabs are biased towards each other but are capable of being displaced away from each other to receive or release the osteochondral graft.

Abstract: Optical autodiscovery is provide between two optical modules to insure that when an optical signal is coupled between the two optical module, the optical signal from a first module does not interfere with operation of a second module. The autodiscovery is implemented by sending an optical identification signal from the first optical module via the coupling to the second optical module from which signal, the second optical module can verify and determined acceptance of the coupled first optical module. During this autodiscovery process, the optical identification signal from the first optical module may be attenuated or shifted in optical spectrum so as not to interfere with the operation of the second optical module. Autodiscovery may also be employed in cases where a first optical module is to receive an optical signal from a second module.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are described for displaying multiple attributes relative to objects in a network management program. In one embodiment, multiple attributes from a plurality of different standards are coalesced together and the coalesced attributes are displayed by a user interface. These coalesced attributes may be shown in such a manner so that inconsistencies between attributes of objects from different standards are reduced or obviated.

Abstract: An expandable rod is provided that is sized for insertion into a patient's bone. A method for using the expandable rod to prepare the patient's bone to receive an orthopedic implant is also provided. The expandable rod is adjustable between a first, contracted state and a second, expanded state, the expansion member expanding radially outwardly from the contracted state to the expanded state.

Abstract: Optical autodiscovery is provide between two optical modules to insure that when an optical signal is coupled between the two optical module, the optical signal from a first module does not interfere with operation of a second module. The autodiscovery is implemented by sending an optical identification signal from the first optical module via the coupling to the second optical module from which signal, the second optical module can verify and determined acceptance of the coupled first optical module. During this autodiscovery process, the optical identification signal from the first optical module may be attenuated or shifted in optical spectrum so as not to interfere with the operation of the second optical module. Autodiscovery may also be employed in cases where a first optical module is to receive an optical signal from a second module.

Abstract: A tool and a method are provided for driving a bone pin into a fractured bone to stabilize the fractured bone by maintaining the fractured bone in a reduced state. The tool may be a handheld device including a cartridge having at least one passageway that receives the bone pin. The tool may also include a pneumatically-powered piston having a needle that is sized for receipt within the passageway of the cartridge, the needle applying sufficient force to the bone pin to drive the bone pin out of the cartridge and into the fractured bone.

Abstract: An optical transmission network is inherently asynchronous due to the utilization of a variable overhead ratio (V-OHR). The network architecture makes extensive use of OEO regeneration, i.e., deals with any electronic reconditioning to correct for transmission impairments, such as, for example, FEC encoding, decoding and re-encoding, signal reshaping, retiming as well as signal regeneration. The optical transmission network includes a plesiochronous clocking system with intermediate nodes designed to operate asynchronously with a single local frequency clock without complicated network synchronization schemes employing high cost clocking devices such as phase locked loop (PLL) control with crystal oscillators and other expensive system components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for accurately identifying optical or digital impairments on a span using FEC errors identified at an intermediary node. This information may be provided to an end node within a network to switch to a redundant path around the impaired optical path or span therein. In one embodiment of the invention, signal degradation is identified by analyzing FEC data within a FEC decoded signal at an intermediary node. An identification of signal degradation provides an indication of a potential failing span within an optical link, which may be provided in-band or out-of-band to a terminal node so that a signal may be switched around a failing path, or span therein, prior to an actual failure event.

Abstract: An optical transmission network is inherently asynchronous due to the utilization of a variable overhead ratio (V-OHR). The network architecture makes extensive use of OEO regeneration, i.e., deals with any electronic reconditioning to correct for transmission impairments, such as, for example, FEC encoding, decoding and re-encoding, signal reshaping, retiming as well as signal regeneration. The optical transmission network includes a plesiochronous clocking system with intermediate nodes designed to operate asynchronously with a single local frequency clock without complicated network synchronization schemes employing high cost clocking devices such as phase locked loop (PLL) control with crystal oscillators and other expensive system components.

Abstract: An optical transmission network is inherently asynchronous due to the utilization of a variable overhead ratio (V-OHR). The network architecture makes extensive use of OEO regeneration, i.e., deals with any electronic reconditioning to correct for transmission impairments, such as, for example, FEC encoding, decoding and re-encoding, signal reshaping, retiming as well as signal regeneration. The optical transmission network includes a plesiochronous clocking system with intermediate nodes designed to operate asynchronously with a single local frequency clock without complicated network synchronization schemes employing high cost clocking devices such as phase locked loop (PLL) control with crystal oscillators and other expensive system components.

Abstract: A dental x-ray apparatus (10) includes a tube head (11) formed from a cast zinc material. Structural components of tube head (11) include such component (20) formed from a plastic material impregnated with a high molecular weight substance, such as barium sulfite. X-ray apparatus 10 has a control panel (15) in close proximity to the tube head (11), and is preferably DC powered.

Abstract: A dental x-ray apparatus (10) includes a tube head (11) formed from a cast zinc material. Structural components of tube head (11) include such component (20) formed from a plastic material impregnated with a high molecular weight substance, such as barium sulfite. X-ray apparatus 10 has a control panel (15) in close proximity to the tube head (11), and is preferably DC powered.

Abstract: An optical transmission network is inherently asynchronous due to the utilization of a variable overhead ratio (V-OHR). The network architecture makes extensive use of OEO regeneration, i.e., deals with any electronic reconditioning to correct for transmission impairments, such as, for example, FEC encoding, decoding and re-encoding, signal reshaping, retiming as well as signal regeneration. The optical transmission network includes a plesiochronous clocking system with intermediate nodes designed to operate asynchronously with a single local frequency clock without complicated network synchronization schemes employing high cost clocking devices such as phase locked loop (PLL) control with crystal oscillators and other expensive system components.

Abstract: A dental x-ray apparatus (10) includes a tube head (11) formed from a cast zinc material. Structural components of tube head (11) include such component (20) formed from a plastic material impregnated with a high molecular weight substance, such as barium sulfite. X-ray apparatus 10 has a control panel (15) in close proximity to the tube head (11), and is preferably DC powered.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing input-output requests. Input-output requests are intercepted before any information transfers to a data storage facility. Commands in the input-output request are scanned to determine their starting and ending addresses. The scanned addresses are then converted into an address extent that is coextensive with all the starting and ending addresses associated with commands for transferring data to the data storage facility. That address extent is transferred to the data storage facility and may incorporate fewer addresses than are present in an initial address extent.

Abstract: A method for enabling overlapped input/output requests to a logical device using assigned and parallel access unit control blocks. Each I/O request interrupts an operating system to assign a base and related unit control block to the input/output requests. In addition a parallel access control block is associated with each unit control block for a logical volume and a parallel access main control block is established with a logical volume through which each of the base and related unit control block can be identified. An input/output request to a logical device interrupts the operating system to assign one of the base and one of the assigned unit control blocks to the input/output requests after which control transfers back to the operating system. At a disk storage facility, the input/output request is located in a table with other input/output requests and corresponding parameters.

Abstract: A dental x-ray apparatus (10) includes a tube head (11) formed from a cast zinc material. Structural components of tube head (11) include such component (20) formed from a plastic material impregnated with a high molecular weight substance, such as barium sulfite. X-ray apparatus 10) has a control panel (15) in close proximity to the tube head (11), and is preferably DC powered.