Abstract: A patient-specific assessment of fracture probability for the femur proximal end is provided. 3D locations of the femur head center, a point on the femoral shaft center, and the femoral intercondylar notch are determined from a clinical image. A frontal plane, a perpendicular thereunto and a bone shaft axis are determined from the 3D locations. An FEA coordinate system is defined from the frontal plane, the perpendicular and the axis. Two FEA analyses are performed, one for neck fracture and one for pertrochanteric fracture, with the same displacement constraints and the same load magnitude but different load angles. The femur proximal end is divided into four anatomically-based regions. For each region and each load, maximum tensile and compressive principal strains are determined and, based on the body weight and the principal strains, a likelihood of fracture is obtained. The minimum of these 8 likelihoods gives the probability of fracture.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing FEA analysis of at least a portion of at least one bone in a patient, the method comprising steps of: providing at least one image of at least a portion of a bone; selecting at least a portion of the bone; automatically performing an FE analysis of the selected portion of the bone; and displaying at least one result of the FE analysis. Bone selection and display of the bone, the selected portion thereof, and the results of the FE analysis occur via a hand-held device, with processing and data storage performed remotely.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing FEA analysis of at least a portion of at least one bone in a patient, the method comprising steps of: providing at least one image of at least a portion of a bone; selecting at least a portion of the bone; automatically performing an FE analysis of the selected portion of the bone; and displaying at least one result of the FE analysis. Bone selection and display of the bone, the selected portion thereof, and the results of the FE analysis occur via a hand-held device, with processing and data storage performed remotely.

Abstract: A method of propelling a magnetic manipulator above a circuit substrate includes arranging a magnetic manipulator on a diamagnetic layer on a surface of the circuit substrate, generating drive signals using a controller, and applying the drive signals to at least two conductive traces arranged in the circuit substrate below the diamagnetic layer. A circuit substrate to control movement of a magnetic manipulator has a diamagnetic layer on a surface of the substrate, and conductive traces arranged under the diamagnetic layer, the conductive traces arranged in a parallel line pattern in at least two separate layers.

Abstract: Chainsaws are provided, each having a brake band disposed about a drum that rotates during advancement of the saw chain about the saw bar. An end of the brake band is biased to a position that draws the brake band tight about the drum to prevent advancement of the saw chain, and the throttle trigger of the chainsaw is associated with this biased end to push the band against the bias and release the drum when the throttle trigger is squeezed to drive the elements of the chainsaw that serve to advance the saw chain. Also provided are new concepts for associating gasing and braking elements with the throttle trigger.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method for producing lipopolysaccharide (LPS), comprising: (a) growing a culture of deep rough mutant bacterial strain in a medium; (b) maintaining the culture in stationary phase for at least about 5 hr; (c) harvesting cells from the culture; and (d) extracting LPS from the cells. The method allows for the production of an LPS which can be used to produce a 3-O-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A (3D-MLA) having at least about 20 mol % of the hexaacyl congener group.

Abstract: A chainsaw is provided having a brake band disposed about a drum that rotates during advancement of the saw chain about the saw bar. An end of the brake band is biased to a position that draws the brake band tight about the drum to prevent advancement of the saw chain, and the throttle trigger of the chainsaw is associated with this biased end to push the band against the bias and release the drum when the throttle trigger is squeezed to drive the elements of the chainsaw that serve to advance the saw chain. Also provided are new concepts for associating throttling and braking elements with the throttle trigger.

Abstract: A chainsaw is provided having a brake band disposed about a drum that rotates during advancement of the saw chain about the saw bar. An end of the brake band is biased to a position that draws the brake band tight about the drum to prevent advancement of the saw chain, and the throttle trigger of the chainsaw is associated with this biased end to push the band against the bias and release the drum when the throttle trigger is squeezed to drive the elements of the chainsaw that serve to advance the saw chain. Also provided are new concepts for associating gasing and braking elements with the throttle trigger.

Abstract: A pipe cutter comprises a rotary head having an axis of rotation, and a housing gear is coaxial with the rotary head such that the housing gear and rotary head have a common axis of rotation. A pipe slot extends into the rotary head and the housing gear, and a pipe cradle is provided in the pipe slot, and serves to receive a pipe. A cutting wheel is associated with the rotary head and a wheel biasing member urges the cutting wheel to extend into the pipe slot. A primary drive source is operatively connected to the housing gear by a gear system that rotates the housing gear and the rotary head about the common axis of rotation. Because the cutting wheel is biased to extend into the pipe slot and contacts a pipe placed therein, the cutting wheel revolves around the pipe and cuts into the pipe during rotation of the rotary head. The primary drive source may be manual or automated.