Abstract: A spinal implant for stabilizing two adjacent vertebrae having a damaged disc therebetween is assembled in situ. An elongated tool is used to insert a flat U-shaped distractor in the disc space through a low profile incision with both legs of the U-shaped distractor contacting both end plates of the adjacent vertebrae. The tool is rotated 90 degrees rotating the distractor 90 degrees so that each leg of the distractor contacts one end plate of the adjacent vertebrae, respectively, to restore intervertebral space. An elliptical bone tray is slid along the tool to seat within the U-shaped distractor. The tool is removed and a retainer replaces it to lock the bone tray and the distractor together. A screw is used to lock the bone tray to the distraction device, the screw slides down the cannula which is the tool inserted over the rod that the distraction implant is attached to.

Abstract: A spinal implant for insertion between adjacent vertebrae for promoting fusion of the vertebrae is a wedge shaped body with upper and lower plates separated by pyramidal sides with one large end and one small end enclosing the body. The upper and lower plates have elongated openings oriented perpendicularly to each other to form an internal labyrinth. The upper and lower openings are to be filled with thin layers of bone graft material to promote rapid ingrowth of living tissue.

Abstract: A spinal implant for insertion in the intervertebral space is formed as a hollow cage, wedge shaped in profile, with a lesser height leading end for a low profile entry. The cage has two open sides with a plurality of angled teeth along opposite longitudinal edges for engaging the end plates of adjacent vertebrae when the cage is rotated into position. One portion of the angled teeth are angled toward an end of the cage and another portion of the angled teeth are angled away from that end to provide a lock preventing the cage from migrating ventrally or dorsally from the spine. Upon rotation, the leading end has a greater height than the trailing end.

Abstract: A bone plate for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae or ends of a bone has a span for extending across the discontinuity. The span has brackets for attaching to the bone. The brackets have countersunk bores terminating in apertures through which bone screws are placed in the bone. A lock screw aperture is located adjacent the countersunk bores with a portion of the sidewall forming a thin flexible tab in each bore. To prevent back-out of the bone screws, a lock screw is threaded into the lock screw aperture distorting the bore of the bone screw aperture.

Abstract: A spinal fusion device for implantation between adjacent vertebrae is formed in the approximate shape of a hollow cube. The device has an upper section and a lower section relatively movable with regard to each other. The sidewalls of the upper section and the lower section terminate in complementary inclined planes so that as the sections move away from each other the height of the device lessens and as the sections move toward each other the height of the device increases. A distractor is placed within the hollow body and contacts the upper and lower sections by a link which is used to adjust the height of the device.

Abstract: A polyaxial screw is used to secure orthopedic appliances to bone, particularly the spine. The polyaxial screw has a shaft including a helical screw thread for securing the screw to bone. One end of the shaft has a reverse tapered head tapering toward and away from the shaft from an enlarged median. A spherical shaped swivel, having an opening smaller than the median, is snapped over the head to rotatably engage the shaft. A connector with a dome shaped cavity on one end and bifurcated tabs on the other is connected with the swivel and tightened in place with a set screw and guide ring. An appliance is held between the bifurcated tabs. The tabs are frangible to reduce the profile above the appliance.

Abstract: A cross link system provides stability to spinal rods by maintaining a set distance between the rods. The cross link has a bar with connectors on each end formed with grooves that engage each of the spinal rods. Each of the connectors has a cam that can be manipulated to obstruct the groove and provide a friction fit between the spinal rod and the cross link. The cams have locking nuts that prevent disengagement of the cam and rod. The bar has two shafts interconnected by a bifurcated pin with upstanding ends, a piston is located between the upstanding ends and diverts shear forces along the longitudinal axis of the bar.

Abstract: A life counter that calculates and records the life utilized of the flywheel in a flywheel energy storage system and indicates when it should be removed from service, based on operational history instead of monitoring for symptoms of failure. The life counter can effectively monitor and measure any or all of the flywheel energy storage system parameters, such as the flywheel structural life, vacuum system life, bearing system life and electronics life. The life counter ensures safe operation of highly stressed flywheels by indicating when the safety margin for the flywheel is reached so that the flywheel energy storage system can be removal from service prior to encountering a risk of catastrophic failure. In some cases, failures may not be preceded by measurable warning symptoms, so removal from service at a calculated end of life would be desirable.

Abstract: The invention, intended primarily for use in a steel flywheel power source (30), provides a vacuum system and a method of maintaining a vacuum inside a flywheel chamber (32) for the life of the power source (30). The vacuum system combines the use of cleaning and de-gassing treatments in the chamber (32) and vacuum tempering of the steel flywheel (31) with the use of a chemical type metal alloy nonevaporable getter, such as zirconium-vanadium-iron, that cooperatively matches the outgassing of the flywheel (31) and chamber (32) by sorbing those gases that are released. The getter may be reactivated throughout the life of the flywheel system by reheating it with an integral heater that is triggered by a timer instead of a vacuum gauge to increase the system reliability, using power taken directly from the energy stored in the flywheel.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage system has a tubular cylindrical steel flywheel rim that spins, with a peripheral speed greater than 200 meters per second in normal, fully charged operation, about a vertical axis inside an evacuated chamber for energy storage and retrieval. The steel rim is heat treated to a tensile yield strength greater than 100 ksi and plane strain fracture toughness in the hoop direction greater than 70 ksi(in)1/2. A motor generator is coupled to the flywheel for accelerating the angular velocity of the flywheel for storage of energy, and for converting angular inertial of the flywheel back into electrical energy. The motor/generator may include an assembly of permanent magnet pieces substantially filling the circumference of the inner diameter of the flywheel rim.

Abstract: A flywheel uninterruptible power supply includes a solid steel cylindrical flywheel levitated for rotation about a vertical axis at tip speeds greater than 250 m/s on magnetic bearings in a low pressure housing. The cylindrical flywheel has a length L and a diameter D, wherein L/D≧1.0. A motor/generator attached to said flywheel accelerates the flywheel and maintains it at operating speed for storage of energy; and decelerates the flywheel for retrieval of the stored energy. The flywheel inertia section operates with a maximum stress of greater than 60% and less than 80% of the material yield stress when spinning at fully charged operating speed. The flywheel is constructed from steel with an ultimate strength greater 150 ksi and a toughness greater than 100 ksi (in)^1/2. The flywheel is a solid steel cylinder that is hardened to centerline structure throughout the axial thickness of the large diameter portion that is greater than 40% martensite.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage system includes a housing adapted to be evacuated and maintained at a low pressure atmosphere, a cylindrical steel flywheel supported for low-loss rotation in the low pressure atmosphere within the housing on a bearing system, a nonevaporable getter for maintaining the low pressure atmosphere in the housing, and a motor/generator for accelerating and decelerating the flywheel for storing and retrieving energy. The motor/generator includes a rotor that is coupled to and rotates with the flywheel, and a stationary stator that cooperates with the rotor for converting between electrical and mechanical energy in the flywheel system and contains electromagnetic coils. The stator has a thin barrier coating for minimizing degradation of the low pressure atmosphere by minimizing outgassing from the stator into the housing.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage system includes an energy storage flywheel supported for rotation about a substantially vertical axis on a combination bearing system comprised of a mechanical and a magnetic bearing. A motor and generator accelerates and decelerates the flywheel for storing and retrieving energy. The mechanical bearing is located at one axial end of the flywheel and provides axial downward force to the flywheel and is connected to the mechanical rolling element bearing using a low radial stiffness connecting element. The magnetic bearing is located at the axial end of the flywheel opposite the end with the mechanical bearing and provides axial upward force to support the weight of the flywheel, and also provides passive magnetic radial centering force to the flywheel.

Abstract: The invention, intended primarily for use in a steel flywheel power source (30), provides a vacuum system and a method of maintaining a vacuum inside a flywheel chamber (32) for the life of the power source (30). The vacuum system combines the use of cleaning and de-gassing treatments in the chamber (32) and vacuum tempering of the steel flywheel (31) with the use of a chemical type metal alloy nonevaporable getter, such as zirconium-vanadium-iron, that cooperatively matches the outgassing of the flywheel (31) and chamber (32) by sorbing those gases that are released. The getter may be reactivated throughout the life of the flywheel system by reheating it with an integral heater that is triggered by a timer instead of a vacuum gauge to increase the system reliability, using power taken directly from the energy stored in the flywheel.

Abstract: A microelectronic semiconductor interconnect structure barrier and method of deposition provide improved conductive barrier material properties for high-performance device interconnects. The barrier includes a refractory metal such as cobalt, cobalt-based alloys, ruthenium or ruthenium-based alloys for promoting adhesion of copper. The barrier materials can be deposited by chemical-vapor deposition to achieve good step coverage and a relatively conformal thin film with a good nucleation surface for subsequent metallization such as copper metallization. In one embodiment, the barrier suppresses diffusion of copper into other layers of the device, including the inter-metal dielectric, pre-metal dielectric, and transistor structures.

Abstract: A microelectronic semiconductor interconnect structure barrier and method of deposition provide improved conductive barrier material properties for high-performance device interconnects. The barrier includes a refractory metal such as cobalt, cobalt-based alloys, ruthenium or ruthenium-based alloys for promoting adhesion of copper. The barrier materials can be deposited by chemical-vapor deposition to achieve good step coverage and a relatively conformal thin film with a good nucleation surface for subsequent metallization such as copper metallization. In one embodiment, the barrier suppresses diffusion of copper into other layers of the device, including the inter-metal dielectric, pre-metal dielectric, and transistor structures.

Abstract: A flywheel power source having a flywheel supported by a bearing system for rotation inside an evacuated container. A brushless motor and generator is coupled to the flywheel for accelerating and decelerating the flywheel for storing and retrieving energy. The generator has a rotor coupled to the flywheel, and a stationary stator wound using multiple-strand individually insulated conductor wire coils. A heat energy transfer system passively cools the stator by heat transfer from the stator to an unpumped liquid coolant surrounding the coils and in intimate contact with the conductors in the coils. The stator is mounted in a stator coolant vessel that is partially filled with the coolant. The liquid coolant limits the maximum temperature of the coils during discharging of the flywheel power source.

Abstract: A flywheel uninterruptible power supply includes a solid steel cylindrical flywheel levitated for rotation about a vertical axis at tip speeds greater than 250 m/s on magnetic bearings in a low pressure housing. The cylindrical flywheel has a length L and a diameter D, wherein L/D≧1.0. A motor/generator attached to said flywheel accelerates the flywheel and maintains it at operating speed for storage of energy, and decelerates the flywheel for retrieval of the stored energy. The flywheel inertia section operates with a maximum stress of greater than 60% and less than 80% of the material yield stress when spinning at fully charged operating speed. The flywheel is constructed from steel with an ultimate strength greater 150 ksi and a toughness greater than 100 ksi (in){circumflex over ( )}1/2. The flywheel is a solid steel cylinder that is hardened to centerline structure throughout the axial thickness of the large diameter portion that is greater than 40% martensite.

Abstract: A vacuum management and regeneration apparatus and method for operating an energy storage flywheel system having a flywheel supported by a bearing system inside an evacuated chamber enclosed within a container. A motor/generator stores and retrieves energy by accelerating and decelerating the flywheel. A vacuum is maintained in the container with a vacuum level sufficient to reduce the aerodynamic drag on the flywheel, typically between 10−1 Torr to 10−3 Torr depending on the flywheel construction and its operating tip speed. The vacuum management system, including a vacuum pump and a timer, maintains the vacuum level in the container. The timer periodically enables operation of the vacuum pump, such as a mechanical vacuum pump or a getter pump, to reduce the pressure in the container.

Abstract: Adhesion of a copper film, such as a copper interconnect, to a substrate underlayer, such as a substrate diffusion barrier, is enhanced with adhesion promotion techniques. The adhesion promotion techniques can repair the interface of the copper film and the substrate to enhance adhesion of the copper film for high-yield formation of inlaid copper metal lines and plugs. For instance, thermal annealing of a seed layer, including a copper seed layer, an alloy seed layer or a reactant seed layer, can repair contamination at the interface of the seed layer and the substrate. Alternatively, the adhesion promotion techniques can avoid contamination of the interface by depositing an inert seed layer, such as a noble (e.g., platinum) or passivated metal seed layer, or by depositing the seed layer under predetermined conditions that minimize contamination of the interface, and then depositing a bulk copper layer under predetermined conditions that maximize throughput.