Abstract: A surgical instrument support system has a support frame supported by three arms. Each arm has a plurality of ball and socket members strung in series along a cable. The arms are also connected to bases mountable to the patient's limb on the proximal and distal sides of the joint. Actuators are provided for each arm to change the tension in the cables to change the stiffness of each arm. The support system can be part of a surgical instrument system that includes a plurality of resection guides mountable to the support frame.

Abstract: A surgical instrument support system has a support frame supported by three arms. Each arm has a plurality of ball and socket members strung in series along a cable. The arms are also connected to bases mountable to the patient's limb on the proximal and distal sides of the joint. Actuators are provided for each arm to change the tension in the cables to change the stiffness of each arm. The support system can be part of a surgical instrument system that includes a plurality of resection guides mountable to the support frame.

Abstract: A retractor systems includes a retractor blade with a blade portion and a handle portion that fit together in a modular way to allow different blades to be removably and interchangeably affixed to the handle assembly. A dovetail mounts the blade in a plane substantially transverse or perpendicular to the shaft. Preferably, the handle assembly translates within a multi-position locking mechanism to allow adjustment of the handle extension along one or more axes, while the in-plane swing of the blade about the shaft conveniently positions the tip of the blade under tissue to be retracted when bone or hard tissue may impede access along a retraction direction parallel to the axis of the shaft. The interchangeable blades may have different sizes between approximately 5 and 15 centimeters length, and are manually affixed to the handle to set the reach and scope of the retractor for a particular operation.

Abstract: A retractor systems includes a retractor blade with a blade portion and a handle portion that fit together in a modular way to allow different blades to be removably and interchangeably affixed to the handle assembly. A dovetail mounts the blade in a plane substantially transverse or perpendicular to the shaft. Preferably, the handle assembly translates within a multi-position locking mechanism to allow adjustment of the handle extension along one or more axes, while the in-plane swing of the blade about the shaft conveniently positions the tip of the blade under tissue to be retracted when bone or hard tissue may impede access along a retraction direction parallel to the axis of the shaft. The interchangeable blades may have different sizes between approximately 5 and 15 centimeters length, and are manually affixed to the handle to set the reach and scope of the retractor for a particular operation.

Abstract: A retractor blade mounts on a shaft having a controlled degree of rotation and swings down to grip and retract tissue from bone or a hard tissue structure. The retractor blade includes a blade portion and a handle portion which may be integrally joined or may fit together in a modular way to allow different blades to be removably and interchangeably affixed to the handle assembly. A dovetail may mount the blade in a plane substantially transverse or perpendicular to the shaft. The shaft translates within a multi-position locking mechanism to allow adjustment of the handle extension along one or more axes, while the in-plane swing of the blade about the shaft conveniently positions the tip of the blade under tissue to be retracted when bone or hard tissue impedes access along the retraction direction parallel to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An improved method of producing a controlled fragmentation warhead case by mbedding an expanded metal liner on the interior surface of a casing for a warhead or other ordnance device. The process of embedding an expanded metal liner into the casing during the forming of the casing produces a controlled fragmentation grid on the interior surface of the casing. The improved method of producing a controlled fragmentation warhead case is particularly suitable for weapon systems employing large, unitary warheads.

Abstract: An improved method of producing a controlled fragmentation warhead case by mbedding an expanded metal liner on the interior surface of a casing for a warhead or other ordnance device. The process of embedding an expanded metal liner into the casing during the forming of the casing produces a controlled fragmentation grid on the interior surface of the casing. The improved method of producing a controlled fragmentation warhead case is particularly suitable for weapon systems employing large, unitary warheads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel assay for determining levels of toxicants in aqueous environments, preferably in water supplies. The present invention also relates to a method for utilizing the assay to test the level of toxicants in an aquatic source. Further embodiments of the present invention relate to a test kit embodying the assay of the present invention. More specifically the assay involves the use of enzyme substrates having an umbelliferyl group and multi-cellular organisms having bodies which fluoresce.