Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include devices and methods for performing a corpectomy or spinal disc replacement. Devices may include an inferior bearing that is implantable in an inferior vertebral body and a superior bearing that is implantable in a superior vertebral body. The bearings of some embodiments have a support member rotatably coupled between the bearings, and a fixation device may attach the vertebral bodies to the support member with a fastener.

Abstract: A method of finishing a barrier fabric includes applying a non-aqueous solution of low surface tension solvent and fluorochemical repellent to a barrier fabric, subjecting the barrier fabric to conditions sufficient to remove the solvent from the barrier fabric, and applying an aqueous-based antistat to a surface of the barrier fabric. The low surface tension solvent substantially covers all fibers in the barrier fabric with the fluorochemical repellent. The antistat is prevented by the fluorochemical from migrating from the surface to which it is applied.

Abstract: Described is a process for making a liposomal, ion-exchange whey protein and products thereof, which result in the sustained release of amino acids into the body's circulation to generally promote skeletal muscle protein synthesis, decrease body fat in association with diet modification and improve exercise performance. The whey protein is preferably encapsulated in a liposome using a cold, or non-heated, process. After the liposomal, ion-exchange whey protein has been prepared, it is then preferably lyophilized to deliver macronutrients for use as a sports nutrition supplement and for use in medical or clinical catabolic applications.

Abstract: A spinal fixation system comprises an elongated fixation plate (13) having an elongated slot (21) with a number of concave depressions (28,25) formed at the top and bottom surfaces (19,17) of the plate. The system further includes a pedicle screw (40) and a nut (32) for load transmission between a vertebra and the plate. The pedicle screw includes a threaded nut engaging portion (42), a threaded bone engaging portion (44) and an intermediate portion (46) therebetween which has rigid upper and lower arcuate surfaces (47) that are complementary to the concave depressions in the plate. The nut also includes a rigid lower arcuate surface (36) which is complementary to the upper concave depressions of the plate. In one assembled configuration the plate is clamped between the upper arcuate surface of the pedicle screw and the nut. In an alternative embodiment of the pedicle screw (70), the intermediate portion has an upper and lower arcuate surface (79,77) of different spherical radii of curvature.

Abstract: A a spinal fixation system comprises an elongated fixation plate having a bottom side for facing the vertebrae, an opposite top side extending generally parallel to the bottom side, and an elongated slot defined therethrough which extends substantially along the length of the plate. The slot has a lower edge at the intersection of the slot and the bottom surface and an upper edge at the intersection of the slot and the top surface with a number of concave depressions formed at each edge. In one embodiment, the concave depressions at the lower and upper edges of the slot form comparable scalloped surfaces. In another embodiment, the lower edge of the slot forms a single concave surface extending around the entire perimeter of the lower edge of the slot. The system further includes a pedicle screw and a nut for load transmission between the vertebrae and the fixation plate. The pedicle screw includes a threaded nut engaging portion, a threaded bone engaging portion and an intermediate portion therebetween.

Abstract: Connectors for attachment to cables including a large number of very small flexible conductors (26) or coaxial conductor pairs (74). In a first embodiment very small contacts (36) are arrayed on a flat mating surface (28) of the connector body (22). Contacts (36) are raised slightly above the mating surface by plating conductive metal to form raised bumps (42) on one of a pair of connectors (14, 16). Insulated individual conductors (26) are placed through apertures (48) defined in a substrate acting as a template, and are fastened in place by potting material (50) before shaping the mating surface (28) of the connector body (22) or (24) is shaped. Pin and socket combinations (30, 32) are used to align mating connectors with each other.

Abstract: A double-apertured L-shaped crimp is crimped to one end of a cable. The other end of the cable is passed around the bone or bones and, if the situation requires, any orthopedic appliance or device to be attached to the bones, and it is then passed through the other aperture in the crimp. The cable is then tensioned by application thereto of a tensioning tool with the tool applied to the cable and to an abutment face of the crimp, whereupon the cable is tensioned. Then the cable portion in the aperture adjacent the tensioning tool is crimped onto the cable to complete the attachment. Then the tensioning tool is removed, and the free end of the cable is cut off at the abutment surface.

Abstract: A double-apertured L-shaped crimp is crimped to one end of a cable. The other end of the cable is passed around the bone and an orthopedic device to be attached to the bone, and it is then passed through the other aperture in the crimp. A releasable, lever-operated cable clamp is installed on the cable, followed by a tensioning tool. The tensioning tool applies a pre-positioning tension on the cable. The cable clamp is clamped to the cable to hold the tension. The tool is removed for use on another cable. When ready for final tensioning, the tensioning tool is re-installed, adjusted to the desired final tension, the crimp swaged onto the cable to hold the final tension, the cable clamp unclamped, the tensioning tool released and removed with the cable clamp, and the cable is cut off at the crimp.

Abstract: A a spinal fixation system comprises an elongated fixation plate having a bottom side for facing the vertebrae, an opposite top side extending generally parallel to the bottom side, and an elongated slot defined therethrough which extends substantially along the length of the plate. The slot has a lower edge at the intersection of the slot and the bottom surface and an upper edge at the intersection of the slot and the top surface with a number of concave depressions formed at each edge. In one embodiment, the concave depressions at the lower and upper edges of the slot form comparable scalloped surfaces. In another embodiment, the lower edge of the slot forms a single concave surface extending around the entire perimeter of the lower edge of the slot. The system further includes a pedicle screw and a nut for load transmission between the vertebrae and the fixation plate. The pedicle screw includes a threaded nut engaging portion, a threaded bone engaging portion and an intermediate portion therebetween.

Abstract: A curved needle with a flexible leader wire and a multi-stranded cable fastened to the leader wire is passed through one half of a vertically split sternum from in front of the one half of the sternum to the back of the one half and then across behind the sternum to the back of the other half of the sternum and then forward to a location in front of the other half of the sternum. A crimp on the trailing end of the cable abuts one side of a stop bar in front of the sternum. The needle and other end of the cable are passed from the other side of the bar through an aperture in the bar. The needle is then separated from the leader. This procedure is repeated at the desired number of vertically spaced sites on the sternum. Then the sternum halves are brought together. Each of the cables is tensioned to hold the sternum together, and a crimp is swaged onto the cable at the other side of the bar whereby the crimp holds the cable in tension. Then the extra cable is cut off.

Abstract: This is an instrument for applying tension to a metal surgical cable used in certain surgical procedures. The cable tensioner has a ratchet feature which has the ability to steadily increase the tension in the cable. Also included is a scale incorporated into the cable tensioner so that the tension in the cable is directly measured and indicated at all times. Finally, the cable tensioner is ergonomically designed into an elongated cylindrical shape to easily fit in the cupped hand of a surgeon.

Abstract: Connectors for attachment to cables including a large number of very small flexible conductors or conductor pairs, in which very small contacts are provided as an array exposed on a flat mating surface. Contacts may be raised slightly above the flat surface by plating conductive metal to form raised bumps on one of a pair of connectors. Individual conductors are placed through apertures defined in a substrate acting as a template, and are potted in place before shaping the mating surface of the connector. Contact bases to be plated may be defined precisely by photoresist lithography on a cover layer attached to the template substrate, and an elastomeric layer may be provided between the cover layer and the template substrate. Pin and socket combinations are used to align mating connectors with each other.

Abstract: A connector system for interconnecting single or multiple pairs of flex circuits. A single pair of clamping bodies interconnects the respective ones of multiple pairs of electrical conductors in the form of conductor traces carried on respective pairs of flexible substrates, by pressing the flex circuits together between slender fluid-filled flexible bladders held in channels defined in the confronting sides of the clamping bodies. Alignment pins keep the flex circuits and clamping bodies aligned properly with each other, and alignment portions of the flex circuits correspond in thickness to that of the electrically interconnecting portions, to keep the flex circuits and clamping bodies parallel with each other. The clamping bodies are urged toward one another by clamping screws.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful method for the treatment of fungal infections comprising applying to the infected area a composition containing from 0.5 to 100% of an ethylene oxide polymer.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful game apparatus for combining chance play with mathematical operation. The apparatus comprises a game board having a playing surface laid out with a sequence of numbered playing spaces, a set of markers for use in marking positions within the sequence of playing spaces, and at least two dice each marked on the sides thereof with a series of numbers. The numbers in the group of series on the dice form a number set. Each series in the number set is chosen such that the first number in the first series is zero or one. If the first number in the first series is zero, then one number in each other series may be zero and otherwise no two numbers are the same within the set and each number in each series subsequent to the first series is larger than any number in any preceding series.