Abstract: A tailsitter aircraft includes an airframe, a thrust array attached to the airframe and a flight control system. The thrust array includes propulsion assemblies configured to transition the airframe from a forward flight orientation to a VTOL orientation at a conversion rate for an approach to a target ground location in a forward flight-to-VTOL transition phase. The flight control system implements an adaptive transition system including a transition parameter monitoring module configured to monitor parameters including a ground speed and a distance to the target ground location. The adaptive transition system includes a transition adjustment determination module configured to adjust the conversion rate of the airframe from the forward flight orientation to the VTOL orientation based on the ground speed and the distance to the target ground location such that the airframe is vertically aligned with the target ground location in the VTOL orientation of the forward flight-to-VTOL transition phase.

Abstract: The suture device of the present disclosure disposes rigid components on suture, enabling the device to resist tensile and compressive loads and to protect soft tissue from suture pull-through. The suture device generally comprises of at least one rigid segment as well as a standard high tensile strength suture to create a segmentally rigid suture device. The at least one rigid segment may be comprised of any of a number of materials that are appropriate for use in the human body and provide the desired strength and stiffness for a particular application. Although the segmentally rigid suture device could be used with any prior art suture configuration, a grip stitch, a knot tying grip stitch, a straight-line grip stitch, and a reverse straight-line grip stitch suture configuration are described.

Abstract: The suture device of the present disclosure disposes rigid components on suture, enabling the device to resist tensile and compressive loads and to protect soft tissue from suture pull-through. The suture device generally comprises of at least one rigid segment as well as a standard high tensile strength suture to create a segmentally rigid suture device. The at least one rigid segment may be comprised of any of a number of materials that are appropriate for use in the human body and provide the desired strength and stiffness for a particular application. Although the segmentally rigid suture device could be used with any prior art suture configuration, a grip stitch, a knot tying grip stitch, a straight-line grip stitch, and a reverse straight-line grip stitch suture configuration are described.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for augmenting the surgical repair of soft tissue injuries, in which a first end of a bridge member attaches to a first portion of healthy tissue, and a second end of the bridge member attaches to a second portion of healthy tissue. The bridge member (or bridge members) used to augment the soft tissue repair may be interconnected or function independently. Flexibility and elasticity of the bridge member are determined by the situation and may be altered to improve healing. The device may be used in arthroscopic procedures, and may be manufactured in a variety of lengths, or may be manufactured one length and be cut to the desired length, or otherwise altered to provide an optimal length of the bridge member.

Abstract: Various suture cleats are disclosed for repairing soft tissue injuries. The cleats have a body and one or more spikes extending from one side and embedding into the soft tissue. A suture has a distal end attached to one of the suture cleats and passes through passages in one or more other suture cleats in repairing the soft tissue injury. The spikes are designed to embed only partially into the soft tissue. For example, two cleats can position on the top and bottom sides of the soft tissue on one side of the injury with a portion of suture interconnecting the two cleats though the tissue. In another example, one of the cleats can include a post that is positioned through the soft tissue and to which the suture connects. The distal end of the suture can fix to another suture cleat, a suture anchor, a bone tunnel, or a screw.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for augmenting the surgical repair of soft tissue injuries, in which a first end of a bridge member attaches to a first portion of healthy tissue, and a second end of the bridge member attaches to a second portion of healthy tissue. The bridge member (or bridge members) used to augment the soft tissue repair may be interconnected or function independently. Flexibility and elasticity of the bridge member are determined by the situation and may be altered to improve healing. The device may be used in arthroscopic procedures, and may be manufactured in a variety of lengths, or may be manufactured one length and be cut to the desired length, or otherwise altered to provide an optimal length of the bridge member.

Abstract: A method and soft tissue cleat device for improving the repair of soft tissue damage. A disc having projections pierces soft tissue and securely joins with a second disc to coapt the interposed soft tissue. This provides an increased pull-out strength of the suture and resistance to shear stresses, improving the quality of the repair. The present invention may be used with any bone fixation devices to reattach soft tissue to bone, and may also be used to rejoin soft tissues after a tear in the tissue.

Abstract: An interlocking intramedullary nail assembly including an intramedullary nail, a first lag screw, a second lag screw and a locking screw. The first and the second lag screws are arranged to mate with one another and are received by the intramedullary nail at opposite ends of a transverse through bore passing through a distal portion of the nail. The interlocking screw is used to operatively couple the first lag screw and second lag so as to fix the first and the second lag screws to the nail.

Abstract: An interlocking intramedullary nail assembly including an intramedullary nail, a first lag screw, a second lag screw and a locking screw. The first and the second lag screws are arranged to mate with one another and are received by the intramedullary nail at opposite ends of a transverse through bore passing through a distal portion of the nail. The interlocking screw is used to operatively couple the first lag screw and second lag so as to fix the first and the second lag screws to the nail.

Abstract: A wall frame assembly table for rapid assembly of wall frames at a central location for shipment to a construction site. The wall frame assembly table can be configured for construction of wall frames of different shapes and sizes. The table is constructed to inhibit the accumulation of debris on the table for consistently accurate placement of the wall frame elements. Locating pins along the sides of the table engaging the wall frame elements can be selectively removed as needed for driving nails through the elements. An adjustable support is provided for the top plate of the wall frame which can be extended to different distances from an edge of the table for walls of different height. In addition, the adjustable support can be angled in correspondence with a wall frame which has a top plate extending at an angle relative to the bottom plate. A laser projection system may be used to locate the elements of the wall frame.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of utilizing the piezoelectric effect to transport a target substance within an earth formation. An earth formation is identified which bears a target substance. The piezoelectric properties of the earth formation are examined in order to determine the extent of the piezoelectric effect and to determine any optimum frequency of excitation. A voltage is applied to a particular portion of an earth formation in order to develop mechanical stress in the earth formation utilizing the piezoelectric property. The mechanical stress effects the local temperature and permeability of the target substance within the earth formation. A combination of excitation due to the electric field, mechanical stress, the temperature increase, serves to alter the permeability in a desired manner in order to liberate greater amounts of target substance from the earth formation, and to facilitate removal of the target substance utilizing conventional technologies such as pumps.