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.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for neural stimulation with improved power consumption and/or effectiveness. The stimulus generator is arranged, for example via a look up table, to recognise proposed stimuli which will be masked by earlier or simultaneous stimuli. Such masked stimuli are either deleted, or replaced by another stimulus.

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, and at least one turbocharger driven by exhaust from the first exhaust manifold. The exhaust system may also have a second exhaust manifold configured to receive exhaust from the engine in parallel with the first exhaust manifold, and at least two turbochargers driven by exhaust from the second exhaust manifold. The exhaust manifold may further have an exhaust gas recirculation circuit in fluid communication with only the first exhaust manifold. A number of turbochargers that receives exhaust from the first exhaust manifold may be less than a number of turbochargers that receives exhaust from the second exhaust manifold.

Abstract: N-hydroxy-3-[4-[[[2-(2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]amino]methyl]phenyl]-2E-2-propenamide and starting materials therefore are prepared by new synthetic methods.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for mounting a pair of spaced parallel actuators (3) between a wing and a control surface of an aircraft so that the actuators control deployment of said control surface from the wing in tandem is disclosed. The bearing assembly comprises a fixed member (18) for attachment to the aircraft and a movable member (8) attachable to the actuators. The fixed and movable members are coupled via a part-spherical bearing (14) and are configured such that the part-spherical bearing is located in the space between the actuators (3).

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: A device for locating a first aerospace component relative to a second aerospace component, comprising a bladder with a flexible membrane which defines a fluid receiving space such that, when a hardenable hydraulic fluid is injected into the bladder, said membrane is urged to deform into abutment with said first and second aerospace components to locate said components relative to each other when the hydraulic fluid hardens.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixedly locating a first aerospace component relative to a second aerospace component comprising a housing mountable on a first component with a cylinder formed in said housing, and a piston slidably received in said cylinder, wherein a first end of the piston is extendible from the housing such that, when a hardenable hydraulic fluid is injected into the cylinder to act on a second end of said piston, said first end of the piston is urged to slide away from the housing and into abutment with a second component to locate said second component, and said second component is fixedly located in a desired position relative to said first component when the hydraulic fluid hardens.

Abstract: A structural assembly for an aircraft comprising a cover with outer and inner faces, an inner support element and urging means on the inner support element, wherein opposing edges of the cover are fixedly mounted relative to the inner support element, and the urging means acts on the inner face of the cover to urge the cover to distend outwardly and locate in a predetermined position. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of forming a structural assembly for an aircraft comprising an cover with outer and inner faces, an inner support element and urging means on the inner support element, the method comprising the steps of fixedly mounting opposing edges of the cover relative to the inner support element and operating the urging means to act on the inner face of the cover so that the cover is urged to distend outwardly into a predetermined position.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated, particulate polyoxometalate complex comprising a water-soluble cationic polymer and a polyoxometalate compound ionically bound to the cationic polymer. The polyoxometalate compound can be an isopolyoxometalate compound, such as an isopolytungstate, or a heteropolyoxometalate compound. The invention further provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising a preformed polyoxometalate abrasive, as well as a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate therewith.

Abstract: Neural stimulation device with improved power consumption and/or effectiveness. The device is configured to recognize proposed stimuli which will be masked by earlier or simultaneous stimuli. Such masked stimuli are either deleted, or replaced by another stimuli.

Abstract: An implantable electrode array (30) that can adopt a first configuration selected to allow the array (30) to be inserted into a cochlea (12) of an implantee and at least a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation. The array (30) comprises an elongate carrier (31) having a proximal end (37), a distal end (34), and an inner surface (35) conformable with the inner wall of the implantee's cochlea (12). A plurality of electrodes (36) are supported within the carrier (31) at respective spaced locations thereon in a region between the proximal end (37) and the distal end (34) with at least one of the electrodes having a surface that is at least adjacent the inner surface (35) of the carrier (31). The carrier (31) is formed in the second configuration from a first layer (32) and at least a second layer (32) of resiliently flexible material. A method of forming an array (30) is also described.

Abstract: A support assembly for deployment and retraction of an aero surface from an aircraft is disclosed. The assembly comprises a guide track, a primary support arm having one end coupled to a carriage mounted on the track such that the primary support arm is rotatable relative to the carriage about multiple axes, and a control arm having one end coupled to the primary support arm and a second end pivotably attachable to a fixed support forming part of the structure of the aircraft. The assembly being configured such that, when the carriage is driven along the guide track, the control arm causes the primary support arm to pivot about said multiple axes to deploy and/or retract an aero surface pivotally attached to an opposite end of the primary support member along an arcuate path.

Abstract: Methods and processes for conducting genetic analysis through protein polymorphisms, including identification of individuals, establishment of paternity and measurement of genetic diversity and distance. Some illustrative embodiments of methods of the present invention include the identification of peptide biomarkers using proteomic techniques, including liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry from biological samples, using hair, dentin, or bone as a source of the protein to be analyzed. Other illustrative embodiments include the determination of allelic frequency and feasibility of protein polymorphism peptide biomarkers, and the application of these frequencies to allow statistical analysis and population genetics to be applied to collected biological samples.

Abstract: A passive battery charging control system for charging a battery is devoid of active electrical components. The passive battery charging control system includes one or more passive electrical control elements configured to limit the charging state of the battery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) composition for polishing a ruthenium-containing substrate in the presence of an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide without forming a toxic level of ruthenium tetroxide during the polishing process. The composition comprises a particulate abrasive (e.g., silica, alumina, and/or titania) suspended in an aqueous carrier containing a ruthenium-coordinating oxidized nitrogen ligand (N—O ligand), such as a nitroxide (e.g., 4-hydroxy-TEMPO). In the presence of the oxidizing agent, the N—O ligand prevents the deposition of ruthenium species having an oxidation state of IV or higher on the surface of the substrate, and concomitantly forms a soluble Ru(II) N—O coordination complex with oxidized ruthenium formed during CMP of the substrate. CMP methods for polishing ruthenium-containing surfaces with the CMP composition are also provided.

Abstract: A pre-sealed anode tube assembly for a sodium-metal-halide energy storage device includes an anode tube and a feed-through current collector assembly at least partially sealed within the anode tube. The pre-sealed anode tube assembly can be independently transported prior to being integrated with a desired sodium-metal-halide energy storage device.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anodic chambers are thus provided, at least one of which is evacuated below atmospheric pressure. A majority of anodic chambers can be spaced from one another in a manner that provides a substantially uniform reaction rate throughout the cathodic chamber.

Abstract: A method (10) of forming an electrically conducting feedthrough. The method (10) comprises a first step (11) of forming an electrically conductive structure (21) comprising a sacrificial component and a non-sacrificial component. At least a portion of the non-sacrificial component can then be coated with a relatively electrically insulating material (35) prior to removal of at least a portion of the sacrificial component from the electrically conductive structure. The structure of the feedthrough provides electrical connection through the wall of a housing of an implantable component while preventing unwanted transfer of materials between the interior of the component and the surrounding environment.