Abstract: A connector for a spinal alignment system includes a base, a hook, a guide aperture, and a locking portion. The base includes a channel extending therethrough to receive a fixation rod. The hook extends from the base. The guide aperture is adapted to receive a bone fastener and the locking portion is adapted to engage the bone fastener. The guide aperture extends through one of the base and the hook and the locking portion is located in the other of the base and the hook. The locking portion is coaxial with the guide aperture such that the guide aperture guides a shaft of the bone fastener into alignment with the locking portion when the bone fastener is received by the guide aperture. The bone fastener cooperates with the base and hook to form a tension band construct that resists opposing forces acting on the construct. A rod locking fastener engages the channel and the fixation rod to secure the fixation rod in the channel.

Abstract: A connector for a spinal alignment system includes a base, a hook, a guide aperture, and a locking portion. The base includes a channel extending therethrough to receive a fixation rod. The hook extends from the base. The guide aperture is adapted to receive a bone fastener and the locking portion is adapted to engage the bone fastener. The guide aperture extends through one of the base and the hook and the locking portion is located in the other of the base and the hook. The locking portion is coaxial with the guide aperture such that the guide aperture guides a shaft of the bone fastener into alignment with the locking portion when the bone fastener is received by the guide aperture. The bone fastener cooperates with the base and hook to form a tension band construct that resists opposing forces acting on the construct. A rod locking fastener engages the channel and the fixation rod to secure the fixation rod in the channel.

Abstract: A connector for a spinal alignment system includes a base, a hook, a guide aperture, and a locking portion. The base includes a channel extending therethrough to receive a fixation rod. The hook extends from the base. The guide aperture is adapted to receive a bone fastener and the locking portion is adapted to engage the bone fastener. The guide aperture extends through one of the base and the hook and the locking portion is located in the other of the base and the hook. The locking portion is coaxial with the guide aperture such that the guide aperture guides a shaft of the bone fastener into alignment with the locking portion when the bone fastener is received by the guide aperture. The bone fastener cooperates with the base and hook to form a tension band construct that resists opposing forces acting on the construct. A rod locking fastener engages the channel and the fixation rod to secure the fixation rod in the channel.

Abstract: A connector for a spinal alignment system includes a base, a hook, a guide aperture, and a locking portion. The base includes a channel extending therethrough to receive a fixation rod. The hook extends from the base. The guide aperture is adapted to receive a bone fastener and the locking portion is adapted to engage the bone fastener. The guide aperture extends through one of the base and the hook and the locking portion is located in the other of the base and the hook. The locking portion is coaxial with the guide aperture such that the guide aperture guides a shaft of the bone fastener into alignment with the locking portion when the bone fastener is received by the guide aperture. The bone fastener cooperates with the base and hook to form a tension band construct that resists opposing forces acting on the construct. A rod locking fastener engages the channel and the fixation rod to secure the fixation rod in the channel.

Abstract: A connector for a spinal alignment system includes a base, a hook, a guide aperture, and a locking portion. The base includes a channel extending therethrough to receive a fixation rod. The hook extends from the base. The guide aperture is adapted to receive a bone fastener and the locking portion is adapted to engage the bone fastener. The guide aperture extends through one of the base and the hook and the locking portion is located in the other of the base and the hook. The locking portion is coaxial with the guide aperture such that the guide aperture guides a shaft of the bone fastener into alignment with the locking portion when the bone fastener is received by the guide aperture. The bone fastener cooperates with the base and hook to form a tension band construct that resists opposing forces acting on the construct. A rod locking fastener engages the channel and the fixation rod to secure the fixation rod in the channel.

Abstract: In a laser radar system, in which pulses from a laser are focused by a telescope onto a target, the back-scattered radiation being deflected by polarizing beam splitter onto a detector in conjunction with a reference beam, the reference beam being produced from pulses derived from the pulse laser by the beam splitter, the pulses making repeated journeys around a cavity and a proportion of the pulse being emitted each time so that each input pulse produces a multiplicity of output pulses to form the reference beam, thereby avoiding the need for a separate laser for the reference beam.

Abstract: A chromatography device for separating sample fluids from carrier fluids and analyzing the sample is configured so that it is a modular unit. This modularity enables repairs to be quickly effected on the unit and also greatly simplifies the task of accessing the components of the chromatography cartridge. The modular chromatography cartridge is comprised of separation columns for separating the sample fluid from the carrier fluid. The cartridge additionally includes detectors for detecting distinguishing characteristics of fluids exiting the column. Further, the cartridge preferably includes valve assemblies for directing the flow of the carrier fluid and sample fluid throughout the cartridge and restrictors for adjusting the flow rate of the fluids as they flow through the cartridge. All of the components of the cartridge are configured upon a manifold. The manifold has a means for attaching the cartridge to fluid sources and support structure. The manifold enables the system to exhibit its modularity.

Abstract: A prosthetic device adapted to be secured to a supporting bone by a thickness of acrylic bone cement. The prosthetic device has an outer surface which includes a plurality of spacers projecting therefrom. The spacers are made of an acrylic material, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and are adapted so that when the prosthetic device is positioned against the supporting bone, the spacers provide a uniform space between the bone and prosthetic device, thus uniformly controlling the thickness of cement. The acrylic spacers will repolymerize and bond with the layer of acrylic bone cement. The nature of the bond formed between the new acrylic bone cement and the acrylic spacers should eliminate the stress concentrations at the interface between the spacers and the cement layer, thereby enhancing fixation of the prosthesis.

Abstract: An instrumentation system for use in measuring and processing industrial process variables, such as flow, pressure, or temperature, includes a resonant element sensor whose resonant frequency varies in accordance with changes in the desired process variable communicating through an optical fiber link to a distant control room. The sensor is activated into resonant physical motion by light energy from a source in the control room, while the motion of the wire is sensed optically and retransmitted to the control room to produce an output signal whose frequency is equal to that of the resonating element. A feedback network maintains the sensor in resonance by synchronizing the delivery of light energy to the motion of the resonant element. The powering and sensing aspect may be performed by individual fiber optic cables or alternatively this function may be combined by utilizing a single fiber optic strand.

Abstract: A fibre optic terminal (1) for use with a bi-directional optic fibre (6) including an optical receiver (2) positioned in the path of light (8) emitted from an end (5) of the optical fibre to receive the light, and an optical emitter (4) arranged to emit light (7) from a position adjacent the optical receiver onto the end of the optical fibre, the position being in the path of light emitted from the end of the optical fibre so that substantially all of the light emitted from the optical emitter is incident on the end of the optical fibre, and the area from which the optical emitter emits light being small relative to the light receiving area of the optical receiver so that substantially all of the light emitted from the end of the optical fibre is received by the optical receiver.

Abstract: The conductivity cell consists of a first set of electrodes fixed rigidly to a second set of electrodes. Each set of electrodes has an insulating material support with an electrode well through it, and three spaced electrodes positioned sequentially within the well. In one embodiment, the support is a glass tube and the three electrodes are deposited on the inner surface of the glass tubes. In a further embodiment, the three electrodes are washer shaped conductive strips fixed within the electrode well and spaced by two washer shaped non-conductive strips also fixed within the electrode well. Each set of electrodes further includes a glass tubing fixed within the electrode well between each outer electrode and the outer end of the electrode well. In another embodiment, washer shaped electrodes are recessed in the wall of the electrode well such that the surface of the strips are flush with the electrode well surface.

Abstract: A method of terminating an optical fiber cable wherein an annular deformable member (1) is compressed inwardly onto a cable (7) threaded through it by causing an encircling cincture (3) exhibiting `memory` properties to try to return to a remembered shape and size.

Abstract: A modification of the hot crimp technique described in U.S. application Ser. No. 701,240 filed 30th June 1976. In that case a bundle of fibres was inserted into a glass sleeve and the sleeve and fibres were thrust into a hot conical bore to compress the sleeve and fibres to remove interstitial dead space.In an incidental feature of that technique, the compressed bundle is maintained concentric with the outer sleeve surface, and in fact, with the outer surface of a metal sleeve which may provide the conical bore. This feature is adapted for the present invention in which a single fibre is inserted into a close fitting glass sleeve through a tapered lead-in ferrule, the sleeve and ferrule are thrust through an outer metal sleeve having a conical end so that the glass sleeve and fibre are compressed concentrically. The assembly then provides an accurately concentric single fibre termination pin.

Abstract: A method of terminating an optical fibre cable wherein an annular deformable member is compressed inwardly onto a cable threaded through it by causing an encircing cincture exhibiting `memory` properties to try to return to a remembered shape and size. The annular member includes a plurality of portions which are held apart by spacer material to define a passageway through which the cable is threaded, the spacer material being subsequently caused to deform e.g. by heating, so that under the force exerted by the cincture said portions are urged inwardly and grip the cable.