Abstract: A biodegradable material for use in making items usable in surgery and related fields of medicine. The material comprising a bioabsorbable thermoplastic polymer component and a bioactive filler material. In components made of the material particles of the filler material occur embedded within the surface of the components.

Abstract: A bone graft composition includes beta-tricalcium phosphate and calcium sulphate and slowly soluble sources of calcium ions and hydroxyl ions.

Abstract: A suture anchor assembly with an anchor and a driver locatable in an axial longitudinal opening in the anchor. A suture is provided extending through the opening and outside of the anchor at its distal end, and passing proximally along longitudinal grooves on the outside of the anchor. A recess is provided in the longitudinal opening of the suture body and a groove formation is provided in the drive part of the driver to locate the suture therein.

Abstract: A superhard cutter element for machining a workpiece comprising wood, metal, ceramic material or composite material, the superhard cutter comprising a superhard structure (140) having a rake side (110) and a flank side (120), the rake side (110) and the flank side (120) enclosing a wedge angle ?; and a protective layer (170) bonded to the superhard structure (140) at a rake interface (180) on the rake side (110), the protective layer (170) being softer than the material of the superhard structure (140).

Abstract: A method for preparing a de-aired hydraulic setting hardenable bone cement for filling a boney void or cavity by combining a powder bone substitute material and a aqueous liquid component, the method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying said powder bone substitute material in a first evacuable container; (b) withdrawing air from the first container to form a de-aired powder bone substitute material; and, then (c) mixing the de-aired powder bone substitute material and the aqueous liquid component together.

Abstract: A bone graft composition includes beta-tricalcium phosphate and calcium sulphate and slowly soluble sources of calcium ions and hydroxyl ions.

Abstract: A dispenser (1) for releasing a liquid treatment composition (33) into a toilet bowl and a fragrance into the surrounding room comprises a container (3) holding a non-perfumed liquid treatment composition (33) for treating flush water in the toilet bowl and a fragrance releasing gel block (39) for continuously fragrancing the surrounding air.

Abstract: A biodegradable material for use in making items usable in surgery and related fields of medicine. The material comprising a bioabsorbable thermoplastic polymer component and a bioactive filler material. In components made of the material particles of the filler material occur embedded within the surface of the components.

Abstract: A method of treating a spent potliner after use in an aluminum smelting process, the method comprising crushing and classifying the spent potliner, placing the classified and crushed spent potliner in a furnace at a temperature greater than 450° C., heating the spent potliner to a temperature greater than 450° C., mixing the heated spent potliner with water to produce reaction gases and residue, burning the reaction gases, mixing the residue with water in a well ventilated area for a period of weeks to cure the residue. The method also embraces blending the cured residue with other chemicals and minerals to provide specific mineral products.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable material suitable for implanting within a human body, the material including fibers of a composite of a synthetic bioabsorbable polymer such as poly-lactic acid, and a particulate bioactive filler such as calcium phosphate powder. The fibers are discontinuous with non-uniform cross-sections and non-uniform cross-sectional areas. The surface topography provided by the fibers provides a substrate which is more amenable to cellular colonization than prior materials.

Abstract: A suture anchor assembly with an anchor and a driver locatable in an axial longitudinal opening in the anchor, the driver having a through hole at its distal end. A suture is provided extending through the opening and outside of the anchor at its distal end, and passing proximally along longitudinal grooves on the outside of the anchor. Once the anchor has been inserted into a body, the driver can be withdrawn providing a loop of suture extending from the opening, plus the suture ends extending from the grooves.

Abstract: A virtual local area network 2 provides a multicasting facility between a first termination point 1 and a plurality of other termination points 3, 4, wherein a source identifier associated with the first termination point 1 is advertised over the network with an indication that it relates to the multicast, and the other termination points 3, 4 select transmissions associated with the said source identifiers to be advertised to the other termination points such that the other termination points 3, 4 can identify and select data transmissions relating to the multicast. The data may also be transmitted by way of another network 9 as a backup, the termination points 3, 4 preferentially selecting data transmissions from the virtual local area network 2 by identification of a weighting applied to those transmissions sent via the VLAN.

Abstract: A virtual local area network 2 provides a multicasting facility between a first termination point 1 and a plurality of other termination points 3, 4, wherein a source identifier associated with the first termination point 1 is advertised over the network with an indication that it relates to the multicast, and the other termination points 3, 4 select transmissions associated with the said source identifiers to be advertised to the other termination points such that the other termination points 3, 4 can identify and select data transmissions relating to the multicast. The data may also be transmitted by way of another network 9 as a backup, the termination points 3, 4 preferentially selecting data transmissions from the virtual local area network 2 by identification of a weighting applied to those transmissions sent via the VLAN.

Abstract: A virtual private data network is overlain on an internet connection to allow prioritisation of connection between two or more specified terminations over a switched network, thereby minimising latency in the system. Data to be transmitted between the specified terminations is identified by a weighting prefix and its routing is prioritised over other data for the same destination termination.

Abstract: A virtual private data network is overlain on an internet connection to allow prioritisation of connection between two or more specified terminations over a switched network, thereby minimising latency in the system. Data to be transmitted between the specified terminations is identified by a weighting prefix and its routing is prioritised over other data for the same destination termination.

Abstract: A method for shipping a retractable cover system include pre-assembling the cover system to include the flexible cover and enough components to support the cover on guide rails mounted to a trailer or other transport vehicle. At least two pre-assembled cover systems are compressed along their length and then loaded sequentially onto the guide rails of the same trailer. In certain embodiments, four compressed partially pre-assembled cover systems are loaded onto a single trailer. The trailer is then transported to one or more customer sites where one or more of the compressed cover systems are unloaded. The cover systems may be only partially pre-assembled, with the remaining components placed on the trailer within the compressed cover system when it is loaded on the trailer. The cover systems may be maintained in their compressed state by a tension element or tensioned apron wrapped around the compressed cover system.