Abstract: Self-ligating orthodontic brackets, each of which is formed of materials exhibiting shape memory and includes a base from which extend at least one tie wing. The tie wing includes a pair or tie wing posts which are normally spaced to retain an archwire within the guide slot. At least one of each pair of opposing tie wings is flexible and/or yieldable relative to the other to permit insertion and/or removal of the archwire relative to the guide slot. Portions of the brackets may be coated to reduce friction between the archwire slot and the archwire and to promote aesthetics and overall bracket appearance.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for externally invalidating an uncertain cache line. In one embodiment, a monitor module monitors a processor module bus. A detection module detects a processor module evicting a cache line from a cache module. The cache line may be in an uncertain state. An invalidation module invalidates the cache line with an invalidation command directed to the processor module. In one embodiment, an update module updates a cache directory external to the processor module. The apparatus, system, and method increase memory and processor bandwidth by eliminating the need to snoop the processor module bus for evicted cache lines.

Abstract: A rivet-like bone anchor has a floating washer at its head that can adapt to an angled bone surface and, thereby, better secure a tissue thereto. The anchor includes a rivet, an expandable sleeve, and a washer. The rivet includes a head and an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, the head being mounted on the proximal end of the elongate body. The expandable sleeve has an inner bore adapted to receive the rivet body. The washer “floats” at a proximal end of the sleeve. As the rivet is inserted into sleeve, the sleeve expands into an interference fit with the bone. The head of the rivet, moreover, forces the floating washer into contact with the tissue at an angle that conforms to that of the underlying bone surface. A deployment tool permits the anchor to be deployed without application of unnecessary counterforce. The tool includes an outer tube, the distal end of which can hold the anchor housing, e.g., via a screw fit.

Abstract: Self-ligating orthodontic brackets which are at least partially formed of materials exhibiting shape memory each of which includes a base from which extends two spaced and opposing pairs of tie wings each pair of which define an archwire guide slot therebetween. Each of the opposing tie wings include portions which are normally spaced to retain an archwire within the archwire guide slot but at least a portion of one of each pair of opposing tie wings is yieldable relative to the other to permit insertion and/or removal of the archwire relative to the archwire guide slot. Portions of the brackets may be coated to reduce friction between the archwire guide slot and the archwire and to promote aesthetics and overall bracket appearance.

Abstract: Self-ligating orthodontic brackets with archwire retainers formed of materials exhibiting shape memory. Each bracket which includes a base from which extends two spaced and opposing pairs of tie wings each pair of which define an archwire guide slot therebetween. The retainers include at least one flange to retain an archwire within the archwire guide slot but which is yieldable to permit insertion and/or removal of the archwire relative to the archwire guide slots. Portions of the brackets and/or retainer may be coated to reduce friction between the archwire and the bracket and to promote aesthetics and overall bracket appearance.

Abstract: An antenna system is disclosed, to be used with a radio component particularly a wireless access point or bridge. The present system includes an antenna element for transmitting and receiving signals at radio frequencies. An antenna connector is provided for establishing a signal connection between the antenna element and a radio component. An electronic serialization component is provided for indicating one or more predetermined antenna characteristics. This component is adapted to read out the predetermined antenna characteristics through the antenna connector to the radio component.

Abstract: A system for treating a vascular condition, including a hollow guidewire, a core wire inserted through the hollow guidewire, and an embolic containment device. The core wire includes a tapered undulating section carried within the hollow guidewire. The embolic containment device is coupled between a distal end of the hollow guidewire and a distal end of the core wire. The tapered undulating section of the core wire provides frictional control of the embolic containment device based on a direction of core wire translation within the hollow guidewire. A method of treating a vascular condition and a guidewire-based embolic filter system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved method for attaching soft tissue to bone by passing a suture through an opening in the bone, e.g., a transosseous tunnel, and affixing the soft tissue with the suture. The improvement, for preventing the suture from migrating through the bone at the end of the opening, includes placing a eyelet into an end of the bone opening and passing the suture through the eyelet, as well as through the opening in the bone, in order to affix the soft tissue to the bone with the suture.

Abstract: An improved method for attaching soft tissue to bone by passing a suture through an opening in the bone, e.g., a transosseous tunnel, and affixing the soft tissue with the suture. The improvement, for preventing the suture from migrating through the bone at the end of the opening, includes placing a eyelet into an end of the bone opening and passing the suture through the eyelet, as well as through the opening in the bone, in order to affix the soft tissue to the bone with the suture.

Abstract: A system and method for multiplexing synchronous parallel digital data streams with different clock frequencies into a single data stream while preserving each data stream's timing integrity. A plurality of digital data inputs and corresponding clock inputs are coupled to corresponding FIFOs (First In First Out buffers), which are coupled to a data multiplexer (MUX). Each clock input is coupled to a clock MUX which couples to each FIFO and the data MUX. Finally, a transition state machine is coupled to the clock MUX, the data MUX, and the FIFOs. Each digital data input receives a data stream from a source, such as a digital video camera, while the corresponding clock input concurrently receives a corresponding clock signal. The transition state machine controls the selection of a data stream from the MUXed data streams and the selection of the corresponding clock signal from the MUXed clock signals.

Abstract: A vehicle sunroof is provided with side shields formed of a mesh material. The side shields prevent inadvertent pinching of an occupant's hand by the mechanism for driving the sunroof panel to move, when the panel is in its vent position. The mesh material allows flow of air into the cab of the vehicle when the panel is in the vent position. The side shield is also formed to have a shape such that the rear end of the side shield extends for a greater length then does the forward end. In this way, the shape of the side shield better matches the pivoting movement of the panel, and there is less unnecessary material which must be accommodated when the sunroof is in its closed position. Also, the side shield has a better visual appearance then does the prior art side shield.

Abstract: Polyester containers having a reduced coefficient of friction (“COF”) are produced by increasing the surface roughness of the polyester using either thermal crystallization or solvent crystallization. Because the low COF reduces or eliminates friction between polyester containers, the containers do not become entangled and disrupt the manufacturing process. As a result, the containers move easily through typical conveying and filling lines in manufacturing processes that use the containers.

Abstract: A passive fiber local access architecture and signaling plan is disclosed which enables the local exchange network to meet the need, as defined by the International Telecommunications Union(ITU) in References 7 and 8, for an economic means of providing a multitude of services to subscribers over a single medium. Integrating disparate signals compatibly and symmetrically over one medium dictates that all digital transmission and signaling at speeds in excess of 100 Mbps be used on the link. The additional bandwidth needed to support this expanded capacity demand points to glass fiber as the most suitable candidate for this role. A failure tolerant, diversely routed redundant ring cabling architecture provides a dedicated fiber or fiber pair to each premises from the local exchange carrier POP, eliminating the need for intermediate nodes. line power, signal splitters, amplifiers or metallic loops in the last mile.

Abstract: An improved method for attaching soft tissue to bone by passing a suture through an opening in the bone, e.g., a transosseous tunnel, and affixing the soft tissue with the suture. The improvement, for preventing the suture from migrating through the bone at the end of the opening, includes placing a eyelet into an end of the bone opening and passing the suture through the eyelet, as well as through the opening in the bone, in order to affix the soft tissue to the bone with the suture.

Abstract: A watertight door apparatus includes a door, a door frame, a number of dogging elements, and an actuator mechanism for toggling the dogging elements between a latched condition and an unlatched condition. The dogging elements include roller elements for reducing friction between mating parts. A detent mechanism is provided to prevent inadvertent operation of the actuator mechanism. The dogging elements can be configured to rotate into and out of the latched condition, or they can be configured to slide into and out of the latched condition.

Abstract: A system and method for multiplexing synchronous parallel digital data streams with different clock frequencies into a single data stream while preserving each data stream's timing integrity. A plurality of digital data inputs and corresponding clock inputs are coupled to corresponding FIFOs (First In First Out buffers), which are coupled to a data multiplexer (MUX). Each clock input is coupled to a clock MUX which couples to each FIFO and the data MUX. Finally, a transition state machine is coupled to the clock MUX, the data MUX, and the FIFOs. Each digital data input receives a data stream from a source, such as a digital video camera, while the corresponding clock input concurrently receives a corresponding clock signal. The transition state machine controls the selection of a data stream from the MUXed data streams and the selection of the corresponding clock signal from the MUXed clock signals.

Abstract: An improved method for attaching soft tissue to bone by passing a suture through an opening in the bone, e.g., a transosseous tunnel, and affixing the soft tissue with the suture. The improvement, for preventing the suture from migrating through the bone at the end of the opening, includes placing a eyelet into an end of the bone opening and passing the suture through the eyelet, as well as through the opening in the bone, in order to affix the soft tissue to the bone with the suture.

Abstract: An improved method for attaching soft tissue to bone by passing a suture through an opening in the bone, e.g., a transosseous tunnel, and affixing the soft tissue with the suture. The improvement, for preventing the suture from migrating through the bone at the end of the opening, includes placing a eyelet into an end of the bone opening and passing the suture through the eyelet, as well as through the opening in the bone, in order to affix the soft tissue to the bone with the suture.

Abstract: An expert system for determining the likelihood of failure of a unit in a computer system. The operating system of the computer system maintains a log of the errors occurring for each unit in the computer system. If a predetermine number of errors have been entered in the log for a specific unit, the expert system retrieves the error entries relating to that unit and processes them to determine whether a failure is likely to occur. In this, the processing performed by the expert system is arranged so that tests relating to components of increasing particularity, and decreasing generality, are performed after the tests relating to more general components.

Abstract: Polyester containers having a reduced coefficient of friction (“COF”) are produced by increasing the surface roughness of the polyester using either thermal crystallization or solvent crystallization. Because the low COF reduces or eliminates friction between polyester containers, the containers do not become entangled and disrupt the manufacturing process. As a result, the containers move easily through typical conveying and filling lines in manufacturing processes that use the containers.