Abstract: In an embodiment, a receiver includes an antenna configured to receive a communication frame. The communication frame may include an acquisition code symbol sequence, which in turn may include a plurality of acquisition code symbols. In an embodiment, an acquisition code symbol includes a subcode sequence having a plurality of subcodes. A receiver also may include a correlation calculator coupled to the antenna. The correlation calculator may be configured to determine a correlation between the subcodes of the received communication frame and a stored version of the subcodes. The correlation may be used in determining a timing offset for further processing of the communication frame.

Abstract: An instrument set is provided that has a tapered configuration that facilitates the insertion of the instrument set into a patient.

Abstract: In one preferred aspect, a method is provided for inserting an instrument set having a tapered configuration into a patient. In another preferred aspect, a method is provided for inserting a cannula having an external threaded portion into bone. In yet another preferred aspect, a method is provided for forming and enlarging an opening in bone.

Abstract: In one preferred aspect, a method is provided for inserting an instrument set having a tapered configuration into a patient. In another preferred aspect, a method is provided for inserting a cannula having an external threaded portion into bone. In yet another preferred aspect, a method is provided for forming and enlarging an opening in bone.

Abstract: An instrument set is provided that has a tapered configuration that facilitates the insertion of the instrument set into a patient.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a bone regeneration device including fascia and demineralized bone matrix mixed at a temperature not exceeding about 40° C. and lyophilized into the bone regeneration device, methods of preparing such a bone regeneration device and methods of treating bone defects using such a bone regeneration device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a receiver includes an antenna configured to receive a communication frame. The communication frame may include an acquisition code symbol sequence, which in turn may include a plurality of acquisition code symbols. In an embodiment, an acquisition code symbol includes a subcode sequence having a plurality of subcodes. A receiver also may include a correlation calculator coupled to the antenna. The correlation calculator may be configured to determine a correlation between the subcodes of the received communication frame and a stored version of the subcodes. The correlation may be used in determining a timing offset for further processing of the communication frame.

Abstract: A surgical procedure for preparing a graft for insertion in an opening in a human body, according to which a mold is formed in the opening and transferred from the opening to a position adjacent a stylus. A contour of the mold is traced with the stylus; and the tracing movement of the stylus is transferred to corresponding movement of a cutting member so that the cutting member cuts the same contour in the graft.

Abstract: Narrow-line holographic filters that can include a plurality of lines and that can be structured to provide a large aperture device. Materials that can be used to construct filters include glasses, photorefractive crystals such as lithium niobate and photorefractive thick polymers. The filters are fabricated by assembling a plurality of elements having the same one or more narrow line holographic filter patterns written thereon, in mutual orientation such that each element has a surface defined by a length and a width adjacent a corresponding surface of a neighboring element, and has a surface defined by a thickness and one of a length and a width accessible to impinging illumination. Filters exhibiting a plurality of characteristic narrow lines, and having arbitrarily large apertures can be fabricated. Methods of fabricating and using the filters are described.

Abstract: Narrow-line holographic filters that can include a plurality of lines and that can be structured to provide a large aperture device. Materials that can be used to construct filters include glasses, photorefractive crystals such as lithium niobate and photorefractive thick polymers. The filters are fabricated by assembling a plurality of elements having the same one or more narrow line holographic filter patterns written thereon, in mutual orientation such that each element has a surface defined by a length and a width adjacent a corresponding surface of a neighboring element, and has a surface defined by a thickness and one of a length and a width accessible to impinging illumination. Filters exhibiting a plurality of characteristic narrow lines, and having arbitrarily large apertures can be fabricated. Methods of fabricating and using the filters are described.

Abstract: A variable bandwidth signal multiplexer and demultiplexer. Aspects of the multiplexer may include a uniform bandwidth multiplexer with a composite signal output and a plurality of first bandwidth communication signal inputs. The first bandwidth signal inputs may be individually coupled to filters spanning a preselected bandwidth. A first external signal connection may couple to a first one of the first bandwidth communication signal inputs, while a first power divider may couple to a second external signal connection. The first power divider may include a first split output coupled to a second one of the first bandwidth communication signal inputs. The first power divider may also include a second split output coupled to a third one of the first bandwidth communication signal inputs. Aspects of the present invention also provide a demultiplexer that may generally correspond to various aspects of the multiplexer.

Abstract: A flow of data (26) is regulated in a communication system (20). A data rate is established in each of a data source (24) and a data sink (28). The data (26) is transmitted by the data source (24) and written into a buffer (32) at the source data rate, then read from the buffer (32) and received by the data sink (28) at the sink data rate. The level (62) of data (26) in the buffer (32) is monitored, and a rate-control signal (74) is dispatched to either the data source (24) or sink (28) when it is determined the buffer data level (62) is decreasing or increasing while at a lower or upper data-level threshold (66, 68), respectively. One of the data rates is adjusted in response to a rate-control signal (74).