Abstract: A surgical retractor assembly is provided that can assume both open and closed positions, and is easily convertible from one position to the other. The retractor assembly involves an arcuate frame member that can be engaged to an arcuate connector, which together form a generally circular or elliptical retractor frame assembly. The frame member has a groove for the insertion of one or more mobile carriages that hold retractor blade posts and allow the posts to move in multiple directions. The carriages may be locked to prevent movement in one or more directions, as well.

Abstract: Characteristics associated with a device are received from the device. Firmware for the device is generated based on the received characteristics.

Abstract: A surgical retractor assembly is provided having a frame that releasably couples two retractor blades. The retractor blades are coupled to the frame via a pair of mobile carriages that engage a track on the frame. A third retractor blade is configured to be independent of the frame with the first two retractor blades. The independent blade may be fixably positionable in the patient by a direct coupling to a rigid table mount. The retractor assembly may be utilized for creating anterior access to spinal target site while the patient is oriented in the lateral decubitus position.

Abstract: A storage array controller may receive a write request comprising data to be stored at one or more solid-state storage devices. A write granularity associated with the write request may be generated that is less than a logical block size associated with the storage array controller. The data associated with the write request may be segmented based on the generated write granularity. The write request may be executed to store the segmented data at the one or more solid-state storage devices.

Abstract: A surgical retractor assembly is provided that can assume both open and closed positions, and is easily convertible from one position to the other. The retractor assembly involves an arcuate frame member that can be engaged to an arcuate connector, which together form a generally circular or elliptical retractor frame assembly. The frame member has a groove for the insertion of one or more mobile carriages that hold retractor blade posts and allow the posts to move in multiple directions. The carriages may be locked to prevent movement in one or more directions, as well.

Abstract: An indication is received from a storage device that an attempt to read a portion of data from a block of the storage device has failed. A command is transmitted to the storage device to perform a scan on data stored at the block comprising the portion of data to acquire failure information associated with a plurality of subsets of the data stored at the block. The failure information associated with the plurality of subsets of the data stored at the block is received from the storage device.

Abstract: This application describes surgical instruments and implants for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column. More specifically, the application describes instruments and methods for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column in a minimally invasive fashion.

Abstract: Fabric modules in a storage system offer differing device IDs from a deterministic sequence to a storage device being added to the storage system. The storage device that is being added accepts a device ID that is higher in the deterministic sequence. The fabric module that offered the device ID same as was accepted by the storage device determines to proceed with initializing the storage device.

Abstract: Failure information associated with a plurality of blocks of a solid-state storage device of a plurality of solid-state storage devices is received. One or more blocks of the plurality of blocks storing uncorrectable data are identified based on the received failure information. A partial deallocation of the one or more blocks of the plurality of blocks is issued, the partial deallocation indicating that the one or more blocks store uncorrectable data. A remedial action associated with the one or more blocks of the plurality of blocks is performed.

Abstract: A surgical retractor assembly is provided that can assume both open and closed positions, and is easily convertible from one position to the other. The retractor assembly involves an arcuate frame member that can be engaged to an arcuate connector, which together form a generally circular or elliptical retractor frame assembly. The frame member has a groove for the insertion of one or more mobile carriages that hold retractor blade posts and allow the posts to move in multiple directions. The carriages may be locked to prevent movement in one or more directions, as well.

Abstract: A method includes, responsive to receiving a modified first reservation command from a storage controller, identifying, by a storage drive, a first range of storage based on a first range identifier of the modified reservation command. The method also includes granting, by the storage drive, a reservation for access to the storage drive on behalf of a first host controller by associating the reservation for the first range with a second range of storage.

Abstract: An indication is received from a storage device that an attempt to read a portion of data from a block of the storage device has failed. A command is transmitted to the storage device to perform a scan on data stored at the block comprising the portion of data to acquire failure information associated with a plurality of subsets of the data stored at the block. The failure information associated with the plurality of subsets of the data stored at the block is received from the storage device.

Abstract: This application describes surgical instruments and implants for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column. More specifically, the application describes instruments and methods for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column in a minimally invasive fashion.

Abstract: A command to relocate data is transmitted by a storage controller. The command includes first address information associated with a first set of blocks storing the data at one or more storage devices using a first programming mode and second address information associated with a second set of blocks at the one or more storage devices to store the relocated data using a second programming mode. The command causes the relocation of the data from the first set of blocks to the second set of blocks while bypassing sending the data to the storage controller. An acknowledgement is received that the relocated data has been stored at the second number of blocks.

Abstract: An on-person portable device and/or app that allows for constant location monitoring of dementia patients is disclosed. Such a device and/or app also includes automated communication of facial recognition of persons proximally near such a patient as well as possible generation of certain music in response to patient status and/or location. The patient is provided the device and/or app for handling or wearing, such as a phone or pair of glasses, in order to follow location through GPS monitoring, and a reactive program therein that automatically views another person and provides an identification thereof coupled with a voice modulator within an earpiece or like device for memory stimulation pertaining to loved ones or friends, and the like. The same program may also provide the music response to comments, movement, or any other external stimuli to the subject patient, again, to evoke a memory stimulus, as well.

Abstract: One or more performance parameters associated with data stored at a storage device of a plurality of storage devices are received by a storage controller. A first number of blocks of the storage device to a high resiliency portion and a second number of blocks of the storage device to a low resiliency portion of the storage device are allocated based on the one or more performance parameters.

Abstract: A foldable stringed instrument, for example in the form of a travel guitar that folds mid-neck to assume a reduced profile is described. The mid-neck folding is accomplished in a symmetrical manner about a three-part hinge located in the neck to configure the travel guitar into a reduced profile. The bridge assembly can be translated longitudinally relative to the head of the guitar to allow sufficient detensioning of the guitar strings to enable an upper portion of the neck to be folded away from a lower portion of the neck and/or body to assume a reduced profile. To deploy the travel guitar for playing, the upper portion of the neck is unfolded into alignment with the lower portion of the neck and/or body, and the bridge assembly translated longitudinally relative to the head and locked in position to allow the guitar to be tuned for playing.

Abstract: A method includes, responsive to receiving a modified first reservation command from a storage controller, identifying, by a storage drive, a first range of storage based on a first range identifier of the modified reservation command. The method also includes granting, by the storage drive, a reservation for access to the storage drive on behalf of a first host controller by associating the reservation for the first range with a second range of storage.

Abstract: A command is transmitted to a storage device to relocate first data that partially fills a first erase block of the storage device and second data that partially fills a second erase block of the storage device to a third erase block of the storage device, wherein the command causes the relocation of the first data and the second data while bypassing sending the data to the storage controller. An acknowledgement that the first data and the second data have been stored at the third erase block is received from the storage device.

Abstract: A block of a storage device of a plurality of storage devices is allocated for storage of data, wherein the allocation comprises identifying a nonce associated with the block of the storage device. An erase command for the block is transmitted to the storage device, the erase command comprising the nonce, wherein the storage device is to erase the block upon determining that the nonce matches a corresponding nonce stored locally at the storage device.