Abstract: The present invention is directed to 2,6-disubstituted piperidine and piperazine analogs having the following general formula: which are used to treat diseases of the central nervous system, drug abuse, and withdrawal therefrom as well as treating eating disorders.

Abstract: A plasma sputtering method for metal chalcogenides, such as germanium antimony telluride (GST), useful in forming phase-change memories. The substrate is held at a selected temperature at which the material deposits in either an amorphous or crystalline form. GST has a low-temperature amorphous range and a high-temperature crystalline range separated by a transition band of 105-120° C. Bipolar pulsed sputtering with less than 50% positive pulses of less than 10:s pulse width cleans the target while maintain the sputtering plasma. The temperature of chamber shields is maintained at a temperature favoring crystalline deposition or they may be coated with arc-spray aluminum or with crystallographically aligned copper or aluminum.

Abstract: A spinal rod assembly may be formed by attaching an extension portion onto a spinal rod that extends along a longitudinal axis. The extension portion may include a rod coupler that attaches to the spinal rod with a first coupling that includes a first degree of rotational freedom and a first degree of translational freedom in positioning the rod coupler relative to the spinal rod along the longitudinal axis. The extension portion may further include an extender rod including an elongated rod body that may be secured to the rod coupler using a second coupling that includes at least a second degree of rotational freedom in positioning the extender rod relative to the rod coupler about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The extension portion may be assembled in situ to a spinal rod that has been previously secured to vertebral bodies in a patient.

Abstract: A magnetron actuator for moving a magnetron in a nearly arbitrary radial and azimuthal path in the back of a target in a plasma sputter reactor. The magnetron includes two coaxial rotary shafts extending along the chamber central axis and coupled to two independently controllable rotary actuators. An epicyclic gear mechanism or a frog-leg structure mechanically couple the shafts to the magnetron to control its radial and azimuthal position. A vertical actuator moves the shafts vertically in tandem to vary the magnetron's separation from the target's back surface and compensate for erosion of the front surface. The rotary actuators may be separately coupled to the shafts or a rotatable ring gear may be coupled to the shafts through respectively fixed and orbiting idler gears. Two radially spaced sensors detect reflectors attached to the inner and outer arms of the epicyclic gear mechanism for homing of the controller.

Abstract: The invention generally provides a ground shield for use in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber. In one embodiment, a ground shield includes a generally cylindrical body comprising an outer wall, an inner upper wall, an inner lower wall having a diameter less than a diameter of the inner upper wall and a reentrant feature coupling the upper and inner lower walls. The reentrant feature advantageously prevents arching between the shield and target, which promotes greater process uniformity and repeatability along with longer chamber component service life.

Abstract: A ring assembly is provided for a substrate support used in a substrate processing chamber, the substrate support comprising an annular ledge and an inner perimeter sidewall. In one version, the ring assembly comprises (i) an L-shaped isolator ring comprising a horizontal leg resting on the annular ledge of the support, and a vertical leg abutting the inner perimeter sidewall of the support, and (ii) a deposition ring comprising an annular band having an overlap ledge that overlaps the horizontal leg of the isolator ring. In another version, the deposition ring comprises a dielectric annular band that surrounds and overlaps the annular ledge of the support, and a bracket and fastener.

Abstract: An instrument is provided for reduction of a rod or other elongated member into an implant, such as a bone screw. In one embodiment, such an instrument includes a rod adjusting assembly pivotably attached to an implant holding assembly. The implant holding assembly can be pivotably connected to an implant, and the rod adjusting assembly is operable to move a rod toward or away from the implant holding assembly. In that embodiment, several motions are possible by the instrument so that relatively small or large movements of a rod with respect to an implant may be made.

Abstract: A surgical reducing instrument is used to position an elongated implant element in a desired position relative to one or more of the bone anchors of a spinal implant system. The reducing instrument includes a mounting member that is mounted to the anchor and extends along a first longitudinal axis and an implant reducing member pivotally linked to the mounting member that extends along a second longitudinal axis that is offset from and variably positionable relative to the first longitudinal axis about a pivot axis. The reducing member contacts the implant element and includes a manipulation portion to move the implant element along the second longitudinal axis and can maintain contact to move the implant element toward the bone anchor when the reducing member is pivoted relative to the mounting member about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A spinal rod system includes a first rod and a second rod engaged to a connector with the first and second rods extending axially therefrom in opposite directions from one another. The connector is mountable to a mounting anchor and securable thereto with an engaging member. The connector secures the first rod in the mounting anchor and the connector is clampingly engaged between the engaging member and the first rod. The second rod is engageable in a receiving portion of the connector adjacent to the mounting anchor.

Abstract: An orthopedic implant apparatus is disclosed, an embodiment of which includes an elongated member receiving portion with at least one attaching portion for attaching a reducing instrument. The attaching portion(s) may be located adjacent a channel in the receiving portion that receives the elongated member. A reducing instrument can be connected to said attaching portion(s) and rotated with respect to said receiving portion to reduce the elongated member into the receiving portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for automatically adjusting a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in a motorized vehicle. A microprocessor processor in the vehicle receives data about the operating status of the vehicle from a plurality. Examples of vehicle data include vehicle speed, motor speed, throttle position, current draw from a battery, and battery level. A servo motor is in mechanical communication with the CVT and provides an axial force to adjust the CVT. The microprocessor uses lookup tables of optimal set points for vehicle data to instruct the servo motor to adjust the transmission ratio of the CVT according to the vehicle data provided by the sensors.

Abstract: A process kit for a semiconductor processing chamber is provided. In one embodiment, a process kit includes a notched deposition ring. In another embodiment, a process kit includes a cover ring configured to engage the notched deposition ring. In another embodiment, a process kit includes an annular deposition ring body having inner, outer, upper and bottom walls. A trough is recessed into an upper surface of the body between the upper and inner walls. A recessed surface is formed on a lower surface of the body between the bottom and inner walls. A notch extends inward from the body to catch deposition material passing through a notch of the substrate being processed.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for forming a UDP-Lite, or other, data packet with multiple, dynamically-selected, checksum-protected parts. Digitized data is provided to a formatter, and the formatter forms the data packet to include header fields identifying parts of the payload portion of the data packet that are checksum-protected with different checksums. Additional indicia is contained in the header part of the data packet to identify the checksum-type and the checksum-values associated with the separate parts of the data packet. Multiple, contiguous parts of the data packet are checksum-protected with selectable checksum-types, selected by a selector that operates to control operation of the formatter.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice case particularly adapted for providing fiber optic links directly to a home, business, et al. is provided wherein at least one enclosure base has at least one cover member selectively sealingly engaged with at least one side of the at least one enclosure base. The at least one enclosure base includes at least one bulkhead having a selective plurality of optical fiber ports therethrough.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice case particularly adapted for providing fiber optic links directly to a home, business, et al. is provided wherein an enclosure base has a dividing wall defining a drop chamber on a first side of the wall and a splicing chamber on a second side of the wall. A first and a second cover member is selectively sealingly engaged with opposing sides of the enclosure base. The enclosure base includes a bulkhead member having a plurality of optical fiber ports therethrough.

Abstract: A demarcation enclosure housing (10) is provided for housing electronics (18) on a structure. The enclosure housing (10) includes an enclosure frame (14) having access to an interior side of the structure and access to an exterior side of the structure. The frame, on the exterior side, includes a door (12) connected thereto. The frame can include a vent (40, 42) adapted to allow ambient air from the interior side of the structure to flow through the housing.

Abstract: A board to board interconnection is provided for interconnection of parallel stacked printed circuit boards, with a like array of plated through holes on each of the boards. One connector assembly is insertable from the outside of one of the stacked printed circuit boards, and another electrical connector assembly is insertable from the opposite side of the stacked parallel boards. One of the connector assemblies includes a compliant portion connectible with a plated through hole and including a socket contact. The other connector includes terminals with compliant portions for interconnection with the other board, and includes a pin terminal extending from the compliant portion which is insertable through the printed circuit boards and into interconnection with the socket of the other electrical connector assembly.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for respiratory audio-visual biofeedback are disclosed. A guide patterned after a breathing cycle comfortable to the patient serves as a target. The target is displayed as a bar moving vertically upward during inhale and vertically downward during exhale, between fixed end ex-hale and end in-hale limits. The patient's current respiratory position is also displayed as a bar, oriented parallel to the target bar so that the difference between the current position and the target position is easy for the patient to see.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for forming a UDP-Lite, or other, data packet with multiple, dynamically-selected, checksum-protected parts. Digitized data is provided to a formatter, and the formatter forms the data packet to include header fields identifying parts of the payload portion of the data packet that are checksum-protected with different checksums. Additional indicia is contained in the header part of the data packet to identify the checksum-type and the checksum-values associated with the separate parts of the data packet. Multiple, contiguous parts of the data packet are checksum-protected with selectable checksum-types, selected by a selector that operates to control operation of the formatter.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for providing a radio link layer control procedure to maintain the sensitivity of UDP-Lite-formatted data at an RLP (Radio Link Protocol), or other, layer. An indicator generator generates an indication of the sensitivity-type of data that is formatted at the RLP layer. An RLP packet is generated, including the sensitivity data indicator value, and sent to a receiving station. When received thereat, the value of the sensitivity data indicator is utilized and subsequent actions, whether to permit retransmission of the data in the event of erroneous-, or non-, delivery is made.