Abstract: Bone anchor assemblies are disclosed herein that can provide for improved fixation as compared with traditional bone anchor assemblies. An exemplary assembly can include a bracket or wing that extends down from the receiver member. The distal portion of the wing can define a bone anchor opening through which one or more auxiliary bone anchors can be disposed to augment the fixation of the assembly's primary bone anchor. A distal surface of the distal portion of the wing can be obliquely angled relative to a proximal-distal axis of the spanning portion to face one of a caudal direction or a cephalad direction. A distal surface of the distal portion of the wing can be obliquely angled relative to the proximal-distal axis of the spanning portion to face one of a medial direction or a lateral direction. Surgical methods using the bone anchor assemblies described herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a number of rotary blade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is described. The apparatus includes a first physical connector, a first electrical connector, a second physical connector, a second electrical connector, a storage area, and a UAV control unit. The first physical connector attaches the apparatus to a first UAV. The first electrical connector connects electricity between the apparatus and the first UAV. The second physical connector attaches the apparatus to a second UAV. The second electrical connector connects electricity between the apparatus and the second UAV. The storage area stores an energy source for the apparatus. The UAV control unit includes a processor and storage medium. The processor and storage medium are in communication with a cloud based network and receive instructions for the operation of the UAV, including steering instructions, through the cloud based network from a remote control device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that can allow for wirelessly powering and/or communicating with a sterile-packed electronic device without removing the electronic device from its sterile packaging and while maintaining the sterility of the electronic device. In some embodiments, a base station with a power transmitter wirelessly transfers power to a power receiver of the electronic device, for example using inductive, capacitive, or ultrasonic coupling. The base station or another external device can also be used to wirelessly program or interrogate the electronic device. Battery charging circuits and switching circuits for use with said systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of generating decision options. Sensor data is received from a plurality of sensors and presented visually to two or more users. Those users can then analyze the images and enter tag data which is received and stored along with the sensor data. The sensor and tag data are then input to a computer implemented decision support algorithm along with a stored operational plan. The algorithm then outputs one or more decision options which can assist a human decision maker in making a decision. The invention enables such a decision maker to make a decision quickly which complies with a previously stored operational plan and is likely to be correct since it is based on inputs from multiple human users. The invention is capable of being easily scaled to deal with a high volume of sensor data and a large number of users.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an anatomical implant template has a template body having opposed first and second terminal ends. The template body bends so as to change the body from a first configuration, whereby the body extends from the first terminal end to the second terminal end along a first path, to a second configuration, whereby the body extends from the first terminal end to the second terminal end along a second path, different from the first path, the second path conforming more closely to the curvature of the at least one anatomical body. The body supports at least one device that outputs at least one signal from which a shape of the body in the second configuration can be ascertained. The anatomical implant template can further communicate the at least one signal to a computing device that generates signals for bending an anatomical implant.

Abstract: A system for extending the range of a wireless signal is disclosed. A typical or near typical IP packet may be used to establish a connection between a server and a sending device. A server receives the payload of a packet for which delivery information has been removed. The server may package the data into a full IP packet and then communicate with a smart device, such as a door lock.

Abstract: A method for controlling communication between a remote device and a control server includes sending, over a long range radio communication link, to a number of remote devices, a number of reduced packets, each of the number of reduced packets causing each of the number of remote devices to generate a reduced response packet, the reduced response packet indicating a status of each of the number of remote devices, receiving, from a number of responding remote devices, a number of actual reduced response packets to identify when a remote device is in a report state, examining status data related to each of the number of remote devices, the status data comprising a number of attributes include a remote device reduced packet, a remote device reduced response packet, and a number of remote device attributes, when a fault is detected, generating a remote devices fault report, and transmitting, to a control server, a remote device fault report.

Abstract: Electronic devices that detect their position and/or orientation with respect to earth's frame of reference are described. A coupler can removeably maintain the electronic devices in physical proximity of one another. Each electronic device can have a housing and the coupler can be included on the housing and arranged to physically connect the housing of the electronic device to the housing of at least one other electronic device. Alternatively, the coupler can be a packaging that maintains the electronic devices in physical proximity of one another. Each electronic device can be calibrated using the orientation or position information obtained by other electronic devices maintained by the coupler. Further, each electronic device can include a power source that remains inactive until the device is ready for use.

Abstract: A load indicator for use with a fall protection apparatus having a line and a connector for connecting to a user includes a housing having a pass-through opening and a covered indicator region. At least a portion of the housing is configured for connecting to the line. The load indicator also includes a shear pin supported by the housing and extending across the pass-through opening, and a saddle extending across at least a portion of the pass-through opening and supported by at least a portion of the shear pin. The saddle is configured for connecting to at least a portion of the connector. The saddle is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position when a force exceeding a predetermined threshold value is applied on the saddle causing the shear pin to shear or break. At least a portion of the indicator region is uncovered in the second position of the saddle when the shear pin shears or breaks.

Abstract: Various embodiments of unilateral implant holders and related methods are disclosed herein. An exemplary unilateral implant holder can include a surgical instrument that includes a unilateral locking mechanism arranged at a distal end of the instrument for rigidly holding onto a unilateral portion of the implant. The locking mechanism can be configured to lock onto a unilateral portion of the implant such that access to the implant is not blocked. By engaging the instrument's locking mechanism with a counterpart locking interface defined in an implant, sufficient clamping force can be applied by the locking mechanism to resist multi-directional forces exerted on the implant during a surgical procedure. The surgical instrument can be a stand-alone unilateral implant holder. The surgical instrument can be configured to perform a surgical task while concurrently holding the implant in place using the unilateral locking mechanism.

Abstract: Various rod-to-rod connectors having robust rod closure mechanisms and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for enhancing the locking or clamping force on a rod. An exemplary connector can provide a robust closure mechanism for rod-to-rod connections in which the run-on length of a rod slot is minimal. The connector can include a moveable jaw that is partially disposed within a connector body and configured to pivot or translate relative to the connector body to form a fully or substantially closed rod slot around a first rod. The closed rod slot can be formed between a first rod-receiving recess defined in the connector body and a counterpart first rod-receiving recess defined in the moveable jaw. The locking or clamping force of the moveable jaw can be amplified by a mechanical advantage caused by the force exerted to lock a second rod in a second rod-receiving slot of the connector body.

Abstract: A portable asset dispensing device includes a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations, an interior and an end. A door is positioned at the end of the container and includes a locking mechanism. A security access device is disposed at the end and configured to accept access information, and a controller controls access into the container and tracks a plurality of items within the interior of the container. The device includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers disposed within the interior of the container, the plurality of RFID readers being configured to detect RFID tags located on the plurality of items within the interior of the container and communicate the items to the controller.

Abstract: A cloud-networked stand-alone local area network (LAN) is disclosed. A stand-alone LAN is networked to a server outside the stand-alone LAN, and the server is part of a cloud of servers. The server includes hardware processors that process system operation information updates from a user for the stand-alone LAN, hardware memory that stores the system operation information updates; and a transceiver for communicating the system operation information updates to the stand-alone LAN. The stand-alone LAN includes a primary network hub (PNH) having a microcontroller that stores the system operation information, a cloud-side transceiver networked to the cloud of servers for receiving the system operation information updates from the server, and a PNH LAN long range transceiver that communicates via a long range spread spectrum or a narrowband frequency shift keying signal. The stand-alone LAN also includes a peripheral device having a microcontroller and an actuation mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are low data rate electronic devices capable of wireless communication at ranges of thousands of meters. These devices may be such things as keypads, door latches, occupancy monitors, sprinkler controllers and other devices controlled or monitored in a campus or a collection of buildings. These devices operate at intermediate ranges in RF congested areas and failure-intolerant situations through the use of discrete programmable channels. Devices may measure the quality of a communications link on a channel, and apply varying levels of redundancy based upon a recent history of success and failure of packet transmission to other distant devices, which measurement may be a value of badness increased as errors are encountered and decreased as packet communication is successful.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are low data rate electronic devices capable of wireless communication at ranges of thousands of meters. These devices may be such things as keypads, door latches, occupancy monitors, sprinkler controllers and others in a campus or a collection of buildings. Devices may measure the quality of a communications link on a channel, and apply varying levels of redundancy based upon a recent history of success and failure of packet transmission to other distant devices, which measurement may be a value of badness increased as errors are encountered and decreased as packet communication is successful. Devices may include an exterior indicator as to the present latency in communication, permitting an expectation of how patient a user should be before finding an error has occurred. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering goods to recipients is disclosed. The method and system include a remote input receptor which includes a user interface for receiving one or more user inputs from a user. A cloud-based network stores one or more acceptable inputs and comprising a network device for obtaining said one or more user inputs from the remote input receptor. The network device obtains the one or more user inputs from the remote input receptor while the user is using the user interface. Also, the cloud-based network compares the one or more user inputs to the one or more acceptable inputs, with the acceptable inputs at least partially derived from dynamically changing environmental parameters. A remote device is controlled based on the comparison of the one or more user inputs to the one or more acceptable inputs and generating an access code to enable access to an enclosure, with the user inputs comprising the access code.