Abstract: A patellar implant includes a posterior portion and an anterior portion. The posterior portion may define an articulating surface and a first retaining feature. The anterior portion may define a tissue engaging portion and a second retaining feature adapted to advance into a mechanical interlock with the first retaining feature in an assembled position. The mechanical interlock between the first and second retaining features may cooperate to resist separation of the posterior and anterior portions in the assembled position.

Abstract: A prosthetic device for replacement of a hip bone that includes an acetabular component configured to connect to a femoral implant and a pubis member. The pubis member connects to the acetabular component and includes a clamping portion that is configured to attach to an opposed healthy pubis bone. The pubis member further includes a worm or other clamping method drive that is configured to tighten the clamping portion against the opposed healthy pubis bone thereby providing stability to the prosthetic hip bone and avoiding the use of bone screws in the opposed healthy pubis bone.

Abstract: An orthopedic prosthesis for implantation into a bone of a patient includes a porous metal shell adapted to be affixed within the bone. The porous metal shell includes an outer surface adapted to receive bone ingrowth and an inner surface adapted to engage a liner. The porous metal shell is porous from the outer surface to the inner surface. A non-porous member may be affixed to the porous metal shell. The non-porous member may include a piercing member extending from the outer surface, the piercing member adapted to penetrate the bone in an implanted position. The non-porous member may include spikes or fins. In one example, the piercing member may define a reduced material cross section at an interface with the outer surface of the porous metal shell. The piercing member may be adapted to be broken at the reduced material cross section and removed from the porous metal shell.

Abstract: An orthopedic prosthesis for implantation into a bone of a patient includes a porous metal shell adapted to be affixed within the bone. The porous metal shell includes an outer surface adapted to receive bone ingrowth and an inner surface adapted to engage a liner. The porous metal shell is porous from the outer surface to the inner surface. A non-porous member may be affixed to the porous metal shell. The non-porous member may include a piercing member extending from the outer surface, the piercing member adapted to penetrate the bone in an implanted position. The non-porous member may include spikes or fins. In one example, the piercing member may define a reduced material cross section at an interface with the outer surface of the porous metal shell. The piercing member may be adapted to be broken at the reduced material cross section and removed from the porous metal shell.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving a solid state memory device that includes a status register configured to be read with a combined parallel and serial read scheme. One such solid state memory includes a status register configured to store a plurality of bits indicative of status information of the memory. One such method of providing status information in the memory device includes providing the status information of a memory device in a parallel form. The method also includes providing the status information in a serial form after providing the status information in a parallel form in response to receiving at least one read command.

Abstract: A movable apparatus includes a housing with a handle and plurality of wheels rotatably mounted thereto. An engine is disposed within the housing and configured to provide torque to the plurality of wheels to selectively rotate the wheels in a first direction and an opposite second direction. A central bar is rotatably disposed on the housing and includes a plurality of spikes radially extending therefrom that are configured to produce a plurality of holes in the ground when rotated. The central bar is configured to rotate in the first direction when the plurality of wheels are rotated in the first direction and the central bar is configured to be rotated in the opposite second direction when the wheels are rotated in the opposite second direction.

Abstract: A pelvic implant assembly and associated methods. The implant assembly includes an acetabular component, and a compliant fixator coupling the acetabular component to the pelvis.

Abstract: A digital hearing aid is provided that includes front and rear microphones, a sound processor, and a speaker. Embodiments of the digital hearing aid include an occlusion subsystem, and a directional processor and headroom expander. The front microphone receives a front microphone acoustical signal and generates a front microphone analog signal. The rear microphone receives a rear microphone acoustical signal and generates a rear microphone analog signal. The front and rear microphone analog signals are converted into the digital domain, and at least the front microphone signal is coupled to the sound processor. The sound processor selectively modifies the signal characteristics and generates a processed signal. The processed signal is coupled to the speaker which converts the signal to an acoustical hearing aid output signal that is directed into the ear canal of the digital hearing aid user.

Abstract: Nonwoven abrasive articles, particularly lofty nonwoven abrasive articles, with a textured, non-planar surface and an abrasive coating thereon. The coating may cover the entire surface or only portions of the surface. The textured surface, composed of peaks or high regions and valleys or recessed regions, provides improved cut performance over nonwoven abrasive articles having a generally planar abrading surface.

Abstract: A multi-bank memory device includes rows and columns of memory cores. Each row includes memory cores from one bank interleaved with memory cores from another bank. Banks in different rows can be simultaneously accessed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for reducing the pin driver count required for testing computer memory devices, specifically Rambus DRAM, while a die is on a semiconductor wafer. By reducing the pin count, more DRAMs can be tested at the same time, thereby reducing test cost and time. One preferred embodiment utilizes a trailing edge of a precharge clock to select a new active bank address, so that the address line required to select a new active address does not have to be accessed at the same time as the row lines.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and devices that include a power source having a first voltage having a first frequency, a power-consuming load(s), and a first transformer set comprising a delta-delta transformer and a first voltage controller coupled in series thereto, an input coupled to the power source, producing as output a second voltage having a second frequency and coupled to the power-consuming load(s). Also, a second transformer set has a wye-delta transformer, and a second voltage controller coupled in series thereto, an input is coupled to the power source, producing a phase-shifted third voltage output at a third frequency that is coupled to the power-consuming load(s). The first and second transformer sets are coupled in a parallel configuration such that the second and third voltage signals combine to produce a fourth voltage signal having a fourth frequency.

Abstract: A multi-bank memory device includes rows and columns of memory cores. Each row includes memory cores from one bank interleaved with memory cores from another bank. Banks in different rows can be simultaneously accessed.

Abstract: A knee joint prosthesis used for replacing the articulating knee portion of a femur and a tibia. The knee joint prosthesis includes a femoral component, a tibial component, a bearing member, and a soft tissue fixation mechanism. The tibial component includes a tibial bearing surface and an attachment mechanism which facilitates the coupling of the soft tissue attachment mechanism to the tibial component. The soft tissue attachment mechanism has an attachment mechanism which is operable to prevent movement of the soft tissue attachment mechanism with respect to the body. Further, the soft tissue attachment mechanism defines structures which facilitate the coupling of soft tissue to the knee joint prosthesis.

Abstract: A MEMS based thermoacoustic cryo-cooler for thermal management of cryogenic electronic devices. The cryogenic cooling system can be integrated directly into a cryogenic electronic device. A vertical comb-drive provides an acoustic source through a driving plate to a resonant tube. By exciting a standing wave within the resonant tube, a temperature difference develops across a stack in the tube, thereby enabling heat exchange between heat exchangers. A tapered resonant tube improves the efficiency of the cooling system, compared with a simple cylinder configuration, leading to reduced harmonics and strong standing waves.

Abstract: An optical device is formed of an array of micro-wedges where each micro-wedge is different in size and shape from adjacent micro-wedges. Each micro-wedge of the array directs light in a predetermined direction toward a particular sub-region of an angular pattern. The positions of the micro-wedges in the device may be essentially random with respect to the corresponding positions of the sub-regions. The device causes the output light to fill a large angular spread with homogenized light with clear boundaries and edges. The device employs refraction or reflection, and the device operates efficiently over a broad wavelength band.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for reducing the pin driver count required for testing computer memory devices, specifically Rambus DRAM, while a die is on a semiconductor wafer. By reducing the pin count, more DRAMs can be tested at the same time, thereby reducing test cost and time. One preferred embodiment utilizes a trailing edge of a precharge clock to select a new active bank address, so that the address line required to select a new active address does not have to be accessed at the same time as the row lines.

Abstract: An occupant position and weight estimation apparatus includes an elastomeric seat bladder having physically isolated central and peripheral fluid-filled chambers corresponding to central and peripheral areas of the seat. The fluid pressure in the peripheral chamber is primarily activated by a child or infant seat, whereas the fluid pressure in the central chamber is primarily activated by a normally seated occupant. The chambers have extensions or fingers that are interdigitated so that shifting of a normally seated occupant from the central area of the seat to a peripheral region of the seat is easily detected based on changes in the relative fluid pressures in the central and peripheral chambers. An extension of the peripheral chamber at the middle forward portion of the seat that is not engaged by a normally seated occupant can also be used to detect an out-of-position occupant in close proximity to a frontal air bag.

Abstract: A digital hearing aid is provided that includes front and rear microphones, a sound processor, and a speaker. Embodiments of the digital hearing aid include an occlusion subsystem, and a directional processor and headroom expander. The front microphone receives a front microphone acoustical signal and generates a front microphone analog signal. The rear microphone receives a rear microphone acoustical signal and generates a rear microphone analog signal. The front and rear microphone analog signals are converted into the digital domain, and at least the front microphone signal is coupled to the sound processor. The sound processor selectively modifies the signal characteristics and generates a processed signal. The processed signal is coupled to the speaker which converts the signal to an acoustical hearing aid output signal that is directed into the ear canal of the digital hearing aid user.