Abstract: The invention involves a cannula suitable for the implantation of intervertebral implants into the spine area of an animal, particularly humans. The first end of the dynamically expanding cannula includes a rectangular or oval shaped cannula portion formed from a sandwich style assembly. The second end of the dynamically expanding cannula includes a connection assembly for securing the sandwich construction together. Once inserted, a backing assembly can be removed and a flexible expansion member can be displaced by an implant while a slide guides the implant to create a dynamic opening through which the implant travels to the disc space. A lever is supplied as a portion of the expansion assembly for removing the expansion member after insertion of an intervertebral implant.

Abstract: A photoplethysmograph device includes a light source for illuminating a target object. A modulator drives the light source such that the output intensity varies as a function of a modulation signal at a modulation frequency. A detector receives light from the target object and generates an electrical output as a function of the intensity of received light. A demodulator with a local oscillator receives the detector output and produces a demodulated output, insensitive to any phase difference between the modulation signal and the oscillator, indicative of blood volume as a function of time and/or blood composition. A number of demodulators may be provided to derive signals from multiple light sources of different wavelengths, or from an array of detectors. The plethysmograph may operate in a transmission mode or a reflectance mode. When in a reflectance mode, the device may use the green part of the optical spectrum and may use polarising filters.

Abstract: The invention involves a cannula suitable for the implantation of intervertebral implants into the spine area of an animal, particularly humans. The first end of the dynamically expanding cannula includes a rectangular or oval shaped cannula portion formed from a sandwich style assembly. The second end of the dynamically expanding cannula includes a connection assembly for securing the sandwich construction together. Once inserted, a backing assembly can be removed and a flexible expansion member can be displaced by an implant while a slide guides the implant to create a dynamic opening through which the implant travels to the disc space. A lever is supplied as a portion of the expansion assembly for removing the expansion member after insertion of an intervertebral implant.

Abstract: A photoplethysmograph device includes a light source for illuminating a target object. A modulator drives the light source such that the output intensity varies as a function of a modulation signal at a modulation frequency. A detector receives light from the target object and generates an electrical output as a function of the intensity of received light. A demodulator with a local oscillator receives the detector output and produces a demodulated output, insensitive to any phase difference between the modulation signal and the oscillator, indicative of blood volume as a function of time and/or blood composition. A number of demodulators may be provided to derive signals from multiple light sources of different wavelengths, or from an array of detectors. The plethysmograph may operate in a transmission mode or a reflectance mode. When in a reflectance mode, the device may use the green part of the optical spectrum and may use polarising filters.

Abstract: A photoplethysmograph device includes a light source for illuminating a target object. A modulator drives the light source such that the output intensity varies as a function of a modulation signal at a modulation frequency. A detector receives light from the target object and generates an electrical output as a function of the intensity of received light. A demodulator with a local oscillator receives the detector output and produces a demodulated output, insensitive to any phase difference between the modulation signal and the oscillator, indicative of blood volume as a function of time and/or blood composition. A number of demodulators may be provided to derive signals from multiple light sources of different wavelengths, or from an array of detectors. The plethysmograph may operate in a transmission mode or a reflectance mode. When in a reflectance mode, the device may use the green part of the optical spectrum and may use polarizing filters.

Abstract: A management module registers a request to convert code from a first code set to a second code set, identifies a code set converter (CSC), determines whether a most recently used CSC is the identified CSC and, in response to determining that the most recently used CSC is not the identified CSC, locates a user-preferred CSC pool comprising a subset of locally stored CSCs each corresponding to a preference index. The management module, in response to determining that the identified CSC is located within the user-preferred CSC pool, searches the user-preferred CSC pool for the identified CSC, loads the identified CSC, initiates the identified CSC that converts the code from the first code set to the second code set, modifies usage data for the identified CSC, and orders the user-preferred CSC pool based on a preference index for each CSC stored in the CSC pool.

Abstract: A management module registers a request to convert code from a first code set to a second code set, identifies a code set converter (CSC), determines whether a most recently used CSC is the identified CSC and, in response to determining that the most recently used CSC is not the identified CSC, locates a user-preferred CSC pool comprising a subset of locally stored CSCs each corresponding to a preference index. The management module, in response to determining that the identified CSC is located within the user-preferred CSC pool, searches the user-preferred CSC pool for the identified CSC, loads the identified CSC, initiates the identified CSC that converts the code from the first code set to the second code set, modifies usage data for the identified CSC, and orders the user-preferred CSC pool based on a preference index for each CSC stored in the CSC pool.

Abstract: A photoplethysmograph device includes a light source for illuminating a target object. A modulator drives the light source such that the output intensity varies as a function of a modulation signal at a modulation frequency. A detector receives light from the target object and generates an electrical output as a function of the intensity of received light. A demodulator with a local oscillator receives the detector output and produces a demodulated output,insensitive to any phase difference between the modulation signal and the oscillator, indicative of blood volume as a function of time and/or blood composition. A number of demodulators may be provided to derive signals from multiple light sources of different wavelengths, or from an array of detectors. The plethysmograph may operate in a transmission mode or a reflectance mode. When in a reflectance mode, the device may use the green part of the optical spectrum and may use polarising filters.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for adjusting the size of a file system and an inline file system log housed in a static logical volume. A computer system includes a logical volume allocated between an file system and its inline file system log. A request is received to adjust the inline log from a current size to a new size while maintaining the size of the logical volume. Storage space is then allocated from within the logical volume to the inline log according to the storage requirement for the new size. Allocating storage space may require decreasing or increasing the amount of storage formerly allocated to the inline log. Then, the inline log is reformatted to the allocated storage space, such that the storage allocated to the inline log for a file system is adjusted while the size of the logical volume housing the inline log and file system remains static.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for mapping between a file system and a log. Opaque data is generated that identifies a location of the file system and a location of the log. The file system and the log are accessed using this opaque data. An opaque identifier is associated with the opaque data, which is then sent to the file system and the log. When a log access request, which includes the opaque identifier, is received from the file system, the location of the log is identified using the opaque identifier and the file system is directed to the location of the log. When a logredo request, which includes the opaque identifier, is received from the log, the file system location is identified using the opaque identifier and the log is directed to the location of the file system.

Abstract: An operating system creates a current sparse object in a diagnostic file system. Then the operating system processes a change to data contained in a block. The operating system determines if the change is to a metadata block. The operating system encodes the change in a journal log, in response to a determination that the change is to a metadata block. In addition, the operating system writes the block to the current sparse object, in response to a determination that the change is to a metadata block.

Abstract: Computer implemented method, system and computer program product for shrinking a file system in a data processing system. A computer implemented method for shrinking a file system in a data processing system includes designating an amount by which a file system comprised of a plurality of contiguous blocks is to be shrunk, and removing at least one contiguous intermediate block of the plurality of contiguous blocks from the file system to shrink the file system by the designated amount.

Abstract: A processor selects file system metadata. A processor identifies each unit of data in a file system. The processor determines if the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor writes a unit of data of metadata to a diagnostic file system, provided it was determined that the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor then determines if the unit of data contains user data. If the unit of data contains user data, the processor writes a sparse object to the diagnostic file.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for adjusting the size of a file system and an inline file system log housed in a static logical volume. A computer system includes a logical volume allocated between an file system and its inline file system log. A request is received to adjust the inline log from a current size to a new size while maintaining the size of the logical volume. Storage space is then allocated from within the logical volume to the inline log according to the storage requirement for the new size. Allocating storage space may require decreasing or increasing the amount of storage formerly allocated to the inline log. Then, the inline log is reformatted to the allocated storage space, such that the storage allocated to the inline log for a file system is adjusted while the size of the logical volume housing the inline log and file system remains static.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring valid journaled file system metadata during a backup operation are provided. With the method and apparatus, mechanisms are provided for suspending write I/O operations to storage devices during a point-in-time backup operation. Once the point-in-time backup operation is completed, the suspended write I/O operations are released and may then be processed by the storage system. In one exemplary embodiment, when a point-in-time operation is initiated, a point-in-time backup flag is set in a logical volume manager. In response to receiving a write I/O operation, the logical volume manager checks the status of the point-in-time backup flag to determine if a point-in-time backup operation is currently being performed. If the flag is not set, then the write I/O operation is logged and performed in a normal manner. If the flag is set, then the write I/O operation is stored in a hold queue of the logical volume manager.

Abstract: A method for generating sparse logical volume mirrors within data storage systems is disclosed. After one of the mirrored physical volumes within a mirrored physical volume configuration has been damaged, the damaged physical volume is replaced by a replacement physical volume. Then, each partition within a sparse logical volume associated with the mirrored physical volumes is interrogated. In response to a partition within the sparse logical volume being allocated, the partition is copied to the replacement physical volume. In response to a partition within the sparse logical volume not being allocated, the partition is not copied to the replacement physical volume.

Abstract: A performance-enhancing system and method of accessing file system objects are provided. The system and method entail determining a plurality of file system objects that are frequently being accessed. Each one of these file system objects has a pathname and an inode number. The inode number is used to locate the file system object on a storage system. The pathname of each file system object and its inode number are cross-referenced and cached. Having a whole pathname of a file cross-referenced with its inode number and entered into a memory allows the inode number to be obtained with one memory access instead of the many memory accesses that are usually required.

Abstract: An otoscopic accessory for use in performing procedures in the external auditory canal and middle ear space, having a speculum, a probe and an actuator. The speculum has a generally tapered sidewall. The proximal end of the sidewall is configured to engage the head of an otoscope, and the distal end of the sidewall is configured to be inserted into a patient's outer ear canal. The probe has a shaft that is positioned against an exterior surface of the sidewall of the speculum. The actuator is coupled at its distal portion to the speculum. The distal portion of the actuator is closely conformed to the proximal end of the sidewall of the speculum to form a guide between the exterior surface of the speculum and the distal portion of the actuator. The probe is positioned within the guide, and the guide directs the distal end of the probe to a location within or on the distal end of the sidewall of the speculum. The probe is fixed to and moves with the proximal portion of the actuator.