Abstract: A system is provided to align a surgical guide instrument over a burr hole in a patient's body. Adjustments of a surgical instrument can be made in x, y, z, and angular directions using the system. An instrument guide unit can include an instrument guide for guiding a surgical instrument into the body of a patient and a base unit operative to be secured to the body near an area in which surgery is to occur. The base unit is coupled to the instrument guide. An adjustment mechanism, coupled to the base unit and the instrument guide, is operative to adjust the instrument guide in lateral directions with respect the surface of the area.

Abstract: A method for accessing the spine includes making an incision in the skin of a patient. The skin and tissue can be dilated, and a cannula inserted through the dilated skin and tissue. The cannula includes a distal end positioned adjacent a first working space that includes paraspinous tissue. The cannula can be repositioned through the incision to a second working space adjacent the distal end of the cannula.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform a procedure that can include a processor assisted surgical procedure. During the procedure patient space and image space can be registered to allow for tracking of various tracking sensors. A dynamic reference frame can be used to maintain localization of the patient space with the image space. The dynamic reference frame can be fixedly interconnected with a bone portion of the anatomy.

Abstract: A trailer (10) for the recovery of vehicles has a drawbar (12) having first and second sections (14,16) hinged together at adjacent ends, about a horizontal transverse axis; the first section (14) of the drawbar (12) has a ball cup (24) by which it may be secured to a towing hitch (100) of a recovery vehicle, the second section (16) of the drawbar (12) has a pair of arms (30) pivotally mounted adjacent the end thereof remote from the end hinged to the first section (14), the arms (30) are pivotal between a stowed position in which they are disposed parallel to the drawbar (12) and a deployed position in which they are disposed coaxially of one another on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drawbar (12); a pair of wheel pans (50) are mounted and able to slide, one on each of the arms (30), the wheel pans (50) are interconnected to the second section (16) of the drawbar (12) by a linkage mechanism (60, 62), so that when the arms (30) are in the stowed position, the wheel pans (50) are slid inward

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline developer for use with an imaged lithographic printing precursor comprises an aqueous alkaline medium, sodium metasilicate, a steric or electrosteric stabilizer, and a rinse aid or a phase stabilizer. It is suited for developing a lithographic printing precursor comprising, on a substrate, a coated and dried layer of a radiation-sensitive composition comprising one or more acetal resins. The developer may further contain a moderator, a dispersing agent capable of solvating a hydrophobic image colorant, and a wetting agent. The acetal resin of the precursor may be derived from polyvinyl alcohol by condensation with aldehydes. The imageable element is imageable by radiation, preferably infrared radiation, and provides good sensitivity for use in lithographic applications, such as conventional imaging systems, computer-to-plate systems or other direct imaging elements and applications when treated with the developer.

Abstract: A surgical navigation system for navigating a region of a patient that may include a non-invasive dynamic reference frame and/or fiducial marker, sensor tipped instruments, and isolator circuits. The dynamic reference frame may be placed on the patient in a precise location for guiding the instruments. The dynamic reference frames may be fixedly placed on the patient. Also the dynamic reference frames may be placed to allow generally natural movements of soft tissue relative to the dynamic reference frames. Also methods are provided to determine positions of the dynamic reference frames. Anatomical landmarks may be determined intra-operatively and without access to the anatomical structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and procedures for percutaneous placement of surgical implants and instruments such as, for example, screws, rods, wires and plates into various body parts using image guided surgery. An apparatus for use with a surgical navigation system, an attaching device rigidly connected to a body part, such as the spinous process of a vertebrae, with an identification superstructure rigidly but removably connected to the attaching device. This identification superstructure, for example, is a reference arc and fiducial array which accomplishes the function of identifying the location of the superstructure, and, therefore, the body part to which it is fixed, during imaging by CAT scan or MRI, and later during medical procedures.

Abstract: An apparatus and procedures for percutaneous placement of surgical implants and instruments such as, for example, screws, rods, wires and plates into various body parts using image guided surgery. An apparatus for use with a surgical navigation system, an attaching device rigidly connected to a body part, such as the spinous process of a vertebrae, with an identification superstructure rigidly but removably connected to the attaching device. This identification superstructure, for example, is a reference arc and fiducial array which accomplishes the function of identifying the location of the superstructure, and, therefore, the body part to which it is fixed, during imaging by CAT scan or MRI, and later during medical procedures.

Abstract: A method and system to assist in a planning and navigation of procedure. Generally, the system allows for image acquisition of a selected area of the anatomy. The images may then be used to mark various points to determine true anatomical definitions and planes. The definitions may assist in positioning a prosthesis.

Abstract: A trailer (10) for the recovery of vehicles has a drawbar (12) having first and second sections (14,16) hinged together at adjacent ends, about a horizontal transverse axis; the first section (14) of the drawbar (12) has a ball cup (24) by which it may be secured to a towing hitch (100) of a recovery vehicle, the second section (16) of the drawbar (12) has a pair of arms (30) pivotally mounted adjacent the end thereof remote from the end hinged to the first section (14), the arms (30) are pivotal between a stowed position in which they are disposed parallel to the drawbar (12) and a deployed position in which they are disposed coaxially of one another on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drawbar (12); a pair of wheel pans (50) are mounted and able to slide, one on each of the arms (30), the wheel pans (50) are interconnected to the second section (16) of the drawbar (12) by a linkage mechanism (60, 62), so that when the arms (30) are in the stowed position, the wheel pans (50) are slid inward

Abstract: A method and apparatus for percutaneous and/or minimally invasive implantation of a construct. The construct may be implanted using a navigation system for planning and execution of a procedure. A plurality of portions of the construct may be interconnected using locations and paths determined and navigated with the navigation system.

Abstract: An electronic controller apparatus (30) having an input device (36) coupled to a display (34) can include a motion detector (40) and a means (42, 44, 46, 48, and 50) for maintaining the display in a predetermined orientation relative to a user of the electronic device and regardless of the movement of the input device. The movement of the input device causes a signal to vary in the electronic controller apparatus. The electronic controller can be a hand held device such as a game controller, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a remote control device, or a gaming adaptor for a personal digital assistant or for a cellular phone. The means for maintaining the display in the predetermined orientation can use gravity to maintain the predetermined orientation or alternatively use electronic sensors (104 and 105) and motors (108 and 110) to maintain the predetermined orientation of the display.

Abstract: A computer-implemented knowledge management method enables a user to send a query on one or more specified topics to a selected group of persons. A form is displayed to each recipient, allowing them to respond that they are unable to help or to recommend themselves or one or more other persons as being an expert on one or more of the specified topics. A recipient may also forward the query to another group of people, who can themselves respond. The responses are used to update a searchable database of persons and their areas of expertise. The system thus automatically over time builds up a database defining a tacit knowledge network, based on users' recommendations.

Abstract: A slider for use during production of a rigid memory disk comprises a rigid body fabricated from a single phase material having a fracture toughness greater than 4 MPam0.5. A head gimbal assembly and a test device are also provided. The head gimbal assembly comprises a flexure and a slider secured to the flexure's distal end portion. The test device comprises a support structure, a rotary drive operative to rotate a disk thereon relative to the support structure, a head gimbal assembly, a piezoelectric transducer supported on the slider of the head gimbal assembly for producing an electronic signal in response to asperity detection, signal processing electronics for processing the electronic signal, and electrical Interconnects for establishing communication between the transducer and the signal processing electronics.

Abstract: Wipers for sliding electrical contact have a form with gradual and progressive reduction in width and therfore decreasing stiffness and mass as they proceed towards the tip. This form results in higher resonant vibrational frequencies, enabling a wiper to follow the contact surface in high speed motion with less contact force. The lower contact force in turn produces less wiper distortion and consequently less hysteresis and wear.