Abstract: A longitudinally curved adjustable bone plate comprising name to play how will the first plate having an end defined by at least two spaced prongs, and an end having means to fasten the plate to a body structure, e.g., the bone; and a second plate having an end defined by at least two straight bores for receiving the prongs, and an end having means to fasten the plate to a body structure, e.g., a bone; and a locking assembly for locking the prongs in the bores and fixing the overall length of the plate.

Abstract: A two piece, adjustable angle handle for a surgical instrument, capable of easy adjustment to a number of angles, permitting the handle of the instrument to be grasped with one hand, and the other hand to guide the operating end of the instrument, said handle permanently affixed to an instrument, or capable if attachment to a number of different instruments by means of a firm but releasable fastening to the shaft of the instrument, as with a Hudson fitting; the adjustable angle fastening comprising a radial array of teeth as in a ratchet wheel and a reverse scissor pawl.

Abstract: An adjustable angle handle for a surgical instrument, capable of easy adjustment to a number of angles, permitting the handle of the instrument to be grasped with one hand, and the other hand to guide the operating end of the instrument, said handle permanently affixed to an instrument, or capable if attachment to a number of instruments by means of a firm but releasable fastening to the shaft of the instrument, as with a Hudson fitting; the adjustable angle handle comprising a hand gripping portion with a distally mounted transverse pin with a key, for a keyhole in the proximal end of the instrument, or the instrument retainer shaft.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device includes first and second plate members, each having plate surfaces thereof, the plate members being disposed in a spaced apart relationship such that inner ones of the plate surfaces oppose one another, and external ones of the plate surfaces face in opposite directions. The device includes at least one slotted domed arch strip spring disposed between the inner surfaces of the first and second plate members for counteracting compressive load applied to the external surfaces of the plate members, one of the plate members having a ball-shaped head attached thereto and spaced from the inner surface thereof, and the at least one slotted domed arch strip spring having a central opening including a curvate volume for receiving and holding therein the ball-shaped head.

Abstract: Bioabsorbable drug delivery devices including modular drug delivery devices having shapes and sizes adapted to be inserted within a recess on the surface of an implantable prosthesis are disclosed. The devices may be attached to one another to create custom drug delivery devices having controllable drug release characteristics that depend on the composition of individual modules comprising the device. The modules may be cylinders, disks, tiles or tubes comprised of a bioabsorbable polymer and a therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent(s) may be homogeneously distributed throughout the polymeric body of the device or contained within a cavity within a module comprising the device, or both. The device(s) may be threaded or attached to a prosthesis by a biodegradable adhesive. The modular devices may also be formed into tapered plugs for insertion into a mating receptacle.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device includes first and second plates disposed in a spaced apart relationship, each plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces of the opposing plates facing one another. The device also includes at least one restoring force providing element disposed between the inner surfaces of the plates, wherein a compressive load applied to the outer surfaces of the first and second plates is counteracted by the at least one restoring force providing element. The at least one restoring force providing element includes at least one slotted belleville washer having a convex shape when unloaded and a flatter shape when loaded, whereby one or more slots of the belleville washer widen when compressively loaded, and whereby the at least one slotted belleville washer is unloaded when no load is applied to the outer surfaces of the first and second plates, and is loaded when the compressive load is applied to the outer surfaces of the first and second plates.

Abstract: A porous intervertebral spacer having a flexible wire mesh as a vertebral body contact surface, the flexible wire mesh preferably being a convex titanium mesh laser-welded at its perimeter to the spacer. The mesh is domed in its initial undeflected conformation, but deflects as necessary during insertion of the spacer between vertebral bodies, and, once the spacer is seated between the vertebral bodies, deforms as necessary under anatomical loads to reshape itself to the concave surface of the vertebral endplate, providing gripping and holding strength upon initial implantation, and an osteoinductive surface through which the bone may ultimately grow, making the fixation of the spacer between the vertebral bodies secure.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device includes first and second plates having plate surfaces, the first and second plates being spaced from one another with inner ones of the plate surfaces opposing one another and external ones of the plate surfaces facing in opposite directions. The spacer device includes at least one domed arch strip spring disposed between the inner surfaces of the first and second plate members for counteracting compressive loads applied to the external surfaces of the first and second plates. The at least one domed arch strip spring has lateral ends that are coupled with the first plate and a curvate central portion that is maintained adjacent the inner surface of the second plate.

Abstract: Bioabsorbable modular drug delivery devices having shapes and sizes adapted to be inserted within a mating receptacle on the surface of an implantable prosthesis are disclosed. The devices may be attached to one another to create custom drug delivery devices having controllable drug release characteristics that depend on the composition of individual modules comprising the device. The modules may be cylinders, disks, tiles or tubes comprised of a bioabsorbable polymer and a therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent(s) may be homogeneously distributed throughout the polymeric body of the device or contained within a cavity within a module comprising the device, or both. The device(s) may be threaded or attached to a prosthesis by a biodegradable adhesive. The modular devices may also be formed into tapered plugs for insertion into a mating receptacle.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device includes a first plate having a bone engaging face and an inner face, and a second plate having a second bone engaging face and a second inner face, the first and second plates being juxtaposed with one another so that the first inner face of the first plate opposes the second inner face of the second plate. The spacer device also includes a belleville washer disposed between the first inner face of the first plate and the second inner face of the second plate for counteracting compressive loads applied to the first and second plates. The belleville washer has at least one concentric groove and at least one spiral slot, whereby the at least one concentric groove has a depth and a width, with at least one of the widths and the depths varying along the length of the at least one concentric groove.

Abstract: A screw and coupling element assembly for use with an orthopedic rod implantation apparatus includes a screw with a head and a shaft extending from the head, a coupling element with a seat within which the head is seatable such that the shaft protrudes from the coupling element, and a locking element mateable with the coupling element and when mated is selectively movable through a plurality of positions including unlocked and locked positions. When in the unlocked position, the locking element presents a rod-receiving channel and the head is movable in the seat such that the shaft is directable in a plurality of angles relative to the coupling element. When in the locked position, a rod disposed within the rod-receiving channel is fixed relative to the coupling element and the head is immovable in the seat such that the shaft is fixed at an angle relative to the coupling element.

Abstract: An A and/or A? site deficient perovskite of general formula of (A1-xA?x)1-yFeO3-? or of general formula A1-xA?xFeO3-67, wherein A is La alone or with one or more of the rare earth metals or a rare earth metal other than Ce alone or a combination of rare earth metals and X is in the range of from 0 to about 1; A? is Sr or Ca or mixtures thereof and Y is in the range of from about 0.01 to about 0.3; ? represents the amount of compensating oxygen loss. If either A or A? is zero the remaining A or A? is deficient. A fuel cell incorporating the inventive perovskite as a cathode is disclosed as well as an oxygen separation membrane. The inventive perovskite is preferably single phase.

Abstract: A trial spacer kit has a plurality of trial spacers of varying heights. Each spacer includes a disc having a top surface and a bottom surface defining a height of said spacer, an annular groove formed in said disc that defines a central trunk of said spacer, the central trunk extending between the top and bottom surfaces of said spacer, a first radial flange provided at an upper end of the central trunk and a second radial flange provided at a lower end of the central trunk. The annular grooves of the spacers have a common dimension. The radial flanges of a first one of the spacers is thicker than the radial flanges of a second one of the spacers so that the first one of the spacers has a greater height than the second one of the spacers.

Abstract: A sobriety interlock system having an alcohol detection device electrically connected to a computing device is provided. An electronic circuit is electrically connected between the computing device and an OBD-II port on a machine for receiving data related to operation of the machine. A breath sample is provided by an operator of the machine and the alcohol detection device determines the alcohol concentration of the breath sample. The computing device determines a blood alcohol concentration for the operator based on the breath alcohol concentration, and the computing device prevents or allows operation of the machine based on the level of the blood alcohol concentration. A memory device stores machine operation data received through the OBD-II port.

Abstract: A distraction method including inserting a spacer element into a space between bones to be distracted, removing the spacer element from the space, inserting a wider spacer element into the space, and removing the wider spacer element from the space.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus and method wherein a blade holder includes two blades which are each designed for cutting web material (e.g., dry film photoresist) in a reverse manner prior to application of the material to a substrate (e.g., dielectric-conductor structure) designed for eventual usage as a printed circuit board or as part thereof (e.g., if laminated up with other, similarly formed substrate members).

Abstract: A sobriety interlock system having an alcohol detection device electrically connected to a computing device is provided. An electronic circuit is electrically connected between the computing device and an OBD-II port on a machine for receiving data related to operation of the machine. A breath sample is provided by an operator of the machine and the alcohol detection device determines the alcohol concentration of the breath sample. The computing device determines a blood alcohol concentration for the operator based on the breath alcohol concentration, and the computing device prevents or allows operation of the machine based on the level of the blood alcohol concentration. A memory device stores machine operation data received through the OBD-II port.

Abstract: Bioabsorbable modular drug delivery devices having shapes and sizes adapted to be inserted within a mating receptacle on the surface of an implantable prosthesis are disclosed. The devices may be attached to one another to create custom drug delivery devices having controllable drug release characteristics that depend on the composition of individual modules comprising the device. The modules may be cylinders, disks, tiles or tubes comprised of a bioabsorbable polymer and a therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent(s) may be homogeneously distributed throughout the polymeric body of the device or contained within a cavity within a module comprising the device, or both. The device(s) may be threaded or attached to a prosthesis by a biodegradable adhesive. The modular devices may also be formed into tapered plugs for insertion into a mating receptacle.

Abstract: A vehicle tire support has a body formed with a front ramp surface adapted to permit the tire to roll up onto the body, and a top surface for supporting the tire having an arcuate configuration adapted for supporting the tire. The top surface includes a pair of spaced apart peaks and a trough position between the peaks for supporting the vehicle tire. Additionally, support blocks may be provided beneath the body for raising the body to ensure that the vehicle, when supported, remains level. Still further, the body provides grooves extending through the top surface to permit drainage and air flow around the vehicle tire.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for formation of optical quality plastic sheet in a continuous fashion, wherein the plastic sheet produced is capable of use in a variety of optical and electronic display applications.