Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, arthroplasty of a knee joint comprising obtaining a desired spacing of the femur from the tibia by inserting a spacer into the knee joint between the femur and the tibia. The spacer is used as a reference for securing a guide jig in position about the knee joint for guiding resection of one or both of the femur and tibia for fitting of tibial and/or femoral prostheses. A method of resecting the femur while moving the tibia through an arc of motion to remove bone to the desired depth, a method of determining the position of the guide jig, the guide jog, an alignment device and the spacer are also described.

Abstract: An aircraft wing assembly, comprising: a fixed wing portion; a first and second flight control surfaces; a first and second actuators operatively coupled to the first and second flight control surfaces for moving respective first and second flight control surfaces with respect to the fixed wing portion; a control system operatively coupled to the first and second actuators for controlling movement of the first and second flight control surfaces; and a third actuator selectively engaged with the second flight control surface for engaging and moving the second flight control surface out of a path of movement of the first flight control surface only in the event of a failure in the second actuator or its control, so as to avoid direct contact between the first and second flight control surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for at least partially fitting a cochlear implant system to a patient is described, comprising: executing a genetic algorithm to select values for a subset of one or more parameters selected from a plurality of parameters for which values are to be selected to fit the implant, wherein said genetic algorithm is operable to generate one or more successive generations of values for said parameter subset; and determining, based on patient feedback, said values of said values for said parameter subset in each of said one or more successive generations.

Abstract: A characterization procedure for the a detector in a toner patch sensor of an electrophotographic image forming device is performed with the toner patch sensor operatively connected to the image forming device's power supply. During the characterization procedure, a gain setting is determined that produces a predetermined target output from the toner patch sensor based on electromagnetic radiation reflected from a reference reflectivity sample. Subsequently, a toner patch is generated by the image forming device and a reflectance of the toner patch is measured based on the gain setting, with the toner patch sensor operatively connected to the power supply. The measurement(s) may then be used to adjust at least one electrophotographic image forming parameter. More than one reference reflectivity sample may be used, with corresponding gain settings stored in the image forming device.

Abstract: An AC-DC power converter has a phase-shifting autotransformer based rectifiers and DC capacitors. Soft start of the AC-DC power converter is achieved by designing the autotransformer to operate at a low peak flux density at a point of AC voltage step application (initial turn on). The addition of a controlled impedance segregates capacitor charging from the initial magnetizing process of the autotransformer.

Abstract: A slat support assembly is disclosed. It comprises a slat support arm having a toothed rack (10), the slat support arm being movable to deploy a slat attached to one end of said slat support arm from a leading edge of an aircraft wing and, a pinion (11) having teeth that cooperate with the rack so that the slat moves in response to actuation of a rotary actuator coupled to the pinion. The cooperating teeth (13,14) are helical in shape.

Abstract: There is provided an aerofoil comprising an inboard section, a tip section moveable between a flying configuration and a parked configuration, a hinge shaft mounted at a compound angle in the inboard section, a fixed gear mounted concentrically on the hinge shaft and a drive gear coupled to the tip section and configured to mesh with the fixed gear, wherein a rotation of the drive gear against the fixed gear causes the tip section to rotate about the hinge shaft between the flying configuration and the parked configuration.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising an elongate electrode carrier member, a stiffening element, and a stiffening sheath that at least partially envelops the elongate member. The member is made of a resiliently flexible first material and has a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon. The member has a first configuration that allows it to be inserted into an implantee's cochlea. The member also has a second configuration wherein the member is curved to match an inside surface of the cochlea, and at least one intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations. Both the stiffening element and sheath are made of a material that is relatively stiffer than the member. The stiffening element and the stiffening sheath in combination bias the elongate member into the first configuration. If either the stiffening element or the stiffening sheath is removed or deactivated, the elongate member adopts an intermediate configuration.

Abstract: A fixation system for a bone conduction device is disclosed. An abutment is coupled to a bone anchor such that vibrations applied to the abutment pass into the bone anchor. The abutment defines a conduction path to the bone anchor such that vibrations applied to the abutment are transferred to the bone anchor. The abutment comprises a plurality of shearing elements disposed adjacent the bone anchor, wherein the shearing elements form part of the conduction path. The fixation system also comprises a vibratory coupler extending from the bone conduction device, comprising a second conduction surface and a magnet, wherein the magnet attracts to the abutment so as to couple the second conduction surface to the abutment, thereby enabling vibrations to pass through the conduction path. The shearing elements are configured to slide laterally in response to tangential forces incident upon the abutment.

Abstract: The invention is a distributed implantable neuro-stimulation system, comprising an implant controller including control logic to transmit two time-varying power signals, varying between two levels and out of phase with the other, and a command signal modulated onto at least one of the power signals. One or more electrode cells, each having control logic to extract charge from the power signals and recover commands from the command signal. A two-wire bus interconnecting the implant controller and all the electrode cells, to carry one of the time varying signals in each of the two wires, and to carry the command signal.

Abstract: Devices for the delivery of a bioactive substance to a cochlea and methods of delivery thereof. The devices include means to allow the release of the bioactive substance within a cochlea.

Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel (5) supported in a housing for rotation about a turbine axis with an annular inlet passageway (9) defined between a radial face of a nozzle ring (11) and a facing wall of the housing (10). The nozzle ring is movable along the turbine axis to vary the width of the inlet passageway and has a circumferential array of vanes (20) that are received in corresponding slots (24) in the facing wall. A wastegate valve (15) is provided in a chamber behind the facing wall and gas bypasses the turbine through the chamber to the wastegate port (14) at high flow rates.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a use with a combustion engine is provided. The exhaust system may have a first exhaust manifold, a second exhaust manifold, and an exhaust gas recirculation circuit. The exhaust system may also have a fixed geometry turbocharger with a first volute configured to receive exhaust from the first exhaust manifold, and a second volute configured to receive exhaust from the second exhaust manifold. The exhaust system may also have a recirculation control valve in fluid communication with the first exhaust manifold, the second exhaust manifold and the exhaust gas recirculation circuit. The recirculation control valve may have a valve element movable to selectively adjust a flow of exhaust in the exhaust gas recirculation circuit, the first volute, and the second volute.

Abstract: An implantable tissue-stimulating device for an implantee comprising: an elongate member, and at least one electrode disposed on the elongate member, wherein at least a portion of the device is coated, prior to implantation in the implantee, with a coating configured to at least partially inhibit adhesion of body tissue to the device following implantation, and wherein the coating is removable, after implantation, by an electrochemical cleaning process during which potential of one or more of the at least one electrode is increased and then decreased.

Abstract: A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing the electrical signal for deliver to the recipient's skull; and dual percutaneous anchors coupled to the transducer and configured to receive and transmit the mechanical forces.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a use with a combustion engine is provided. The exhaust system may have a first exhaust manifold configured to receive exhaust from the engine, a second exhaust manifold configured to receive exhaust from the engine in parallel with the first exhaust manifold, and an exhaust gas recirculation circuit in fluid communication with only the first exhaust manifold. The exhaust system may also have a first turbocharger having dual volutes configured to simultaneously receive exhaust from the first exhaust manifold and the second exhaust manifold, and a second turbocharger configured to receive exhaust from the first turbocharger and compress air directed into the engine.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer having a component therein for amplifying the deformation of the piezoelectric element so as to increase the available transducer stroke. This amplification of the piezoelectric element may be provided by a mechanical amplifier coupled to the piezoelectric element. The mechanical amplifier is configured to exert a preloading force on the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal and an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal. The device further comprises a piezoelectric transducer comprising at least one piezoelectric element configured to deform along at least one axis in response to an application of the electrical signal thereto, the transducer configured to generate an transducer stroke based on the deformation, the stroke having a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the deformation, wherein the transducer stroke is utilized to generate a mechanical force for delivery to the recipient's skull.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, arthroplasty of a knee joint comprising obtaining a desired spacing of the femur from the tibia by inserting a spacer into the knee joint between the femur and the tibia. The spacer is used as a reference for securing a guide jig in position about the knee joint for guiding resection of one or both of the femur and tibia for fitting of tibial and/or femoral prostheses. A method of resecting the femur while moving the tibia through an arc of motion to remove bone to the desired depth, a method of determining the position of the guide jig, the guide jog, an alignment device and the spacer are also described.

Abstract: Charging a battery of an implanted device involves positioning an external charging coil proximal to a charging locale. An implant recipient and the implanted device are expected to occupy the charging locale from time to time. The charging coil has a coil area which is significantly larger than a coil area of an implanted coil, and is configured to produce an electromagnetic field throughout the charging locale. When an implant recipient is within the charging locale, the external charging coil is driven with a signal which transmits electromagnetic power from the charging coil to the implanted coil.