Abstract: A head frame apparatus is secured to a human head during maxillofacial surgery and includes devices to easily position and secure an endotracheal (breathing) tube and an anesthesia delivery circuit for the patient that reduces the likelihood that the flow of oxygen through the tube is restricted thereby reducing the risk of severe injury or death. The head frame apparatus also includes a removable reference indicator, which may be easily attached and removed while identifying a reference point of the patient's face. Also the reference indicator includes a universal joint and pointer with an attached ruler. A transport apparatus positions multiple preset reference indicators and allows for preoperative transportation and removal, while protecting the preset reference indicators from inadvertent adjustment. A bendable reference indicator used in an articulator for preoperative modeling allows for easily identifying reference points in a cast model.

Abstract: A gearbox is described that includes a magnetic gear irrotationally mounted on one shaft and a set of gears on another shaft, wherein the one gear is in sequential magnetic interaction with the set of gears to alter to rotational speed of either the one gear or the set of gears.

Abstract: An airborne drone launch and recovery apparatus for selectively launching drones located on the underside of a carrier aircraft or recovering drones following flight of the drones, the airborne launch and recovery apparatus has an extensible stinger slidable along the length of a stinger sheath between a retracted position proximal the rear portion of the carrier aircraft and an extended position in front of the carrier aircraft, and a catcher shuttle carried on the forward part of the stinger for extending into the non-turbulent air in front of the carrier aircraft when the stinger is in the extended position. The carrier shuttle includes a launch/recovery assembly for selectively either having a locked condition for the recovery guide of a drone prior to the positioning of the catcher shuttle in a selected for the launch of the drone, and having an open condition for receiving the recovery guide of a drone at the termination of the flight of the drone to terminate the flight.

Abstract: A magnetic gear system including magnetic gearboxes where one of a driving gear and a driven gear are in sequential magnetic linkage, and one of the magnetic gears can be tilted relative to the other gear wherein the magnetic gears are prevented from overlapping each other to prevent loss of sequential magnetic interaction. A magnetic gearbox is also disclosed where a driving gear can be tilted relative to a driven gear to change the torque, the rotational speed of the driven gear, and if tilted far enough, to change the direction of rotation of the driven gear. Another magnetic gearbox includes a pair of magnetic gears that can be manipulated to result in a reversal of direction of rotation of a driven gear from a driving gear without changing the magnetic properties of either gear.

Abstract: An airborne drone launch and recovery apparatus for selectively launching drones located on the underside of a carrier aircraft or recovering drones following flight of the drones, the airborne launch and recovery apparatus has an extensible stinger slidable along the length of a stinger sheath between a retracted position proximal the rear portion of the carrier aircraft and an extended position in front of the carrier aircraft, and a catcher shuttle carried on the forward part of the stinger for extending into the non-turbulent air in front of the carrier aircraft when the stinger is in the extended position. The carrier shuttle includes a launch/recovery assembly for selectively either having a locked condition for the recovery guide of a drone prior to the positioning of the catcher shuttle in a selected for the launch of the drone, and having an open condition for receiving the recovery guide of a drone at the termination of the flight of the drone to terminate the flight.

Abstract: A head frame apparatus is secured to a human head during maxillofacial surgery and includes devices to easily position and secure an endotracheal (breathing) tube and an anesthesia delivery circuit for the patient that reduces the likelihood that the flow of oxygen through the tube is restricted thereby reducing the risk of severe injury or death. The head frame apparatus also includes a removable reference indicator, which may be easily attached and removed while identifying a reference point of the patient's face. Also the reference indicator includes a universal joint and pointer with an attached ruler. A transport apparatus positions multiple preset reference indicators and allows for preoperative transportation and removal, while protecting the preset reference indicators from inadvertent adjustment. A bendable reference indicator used in an articulator for preoperative modeling allows for easily identifying reference points in a cast model.

Abstract: A head frame apparatus is secured to a human head during maxillofacial surgery and includes devices to easily position and secure an endotracheal (breathing) tube and an anesthesia delivery circuit for the patient that reduces the likelihood that the flow of oxygen through the tube is restricted thereby reducing the risk of severe injury or death. The head frame apparatus also includes a removable reference indicator, which may be easily attached and removed while identifying a reference point of the patient's face. Also the reference indicator includes a universal joint and pointer with an attached ruler. A transport apparatus positions multiple preset reference indicators and allows for preoperative transportation and removal, while protecting the preset reference indicators from inadvertent adjustment. A bendable reference indicator used in an articulator for preoperative modeling allows for easily identifying reference points in a cast model.

Abstract: An apparatus having at least one rotatable driven object having an edge on which are disposed a series of adjacent magnets of alternating polarity and a driving object rotatable by an external motor torque and having a series of adjacent magnets of alternating polarity on a magnet supporting surface. The magnet supporting surface of the driving object is rotatable through a common region approximately centered about the point of closest approach to the magnet supporting edge of the driven object for sequentially placing magnets of the driving object in the region enveloping the effective interactive range between the two objects. The fields of magnets of opposite polarity of the driving object interact with the fields of the magnets on the driving object to effect rotation of the driven object. Disclosed are structures for torque limiting wheels, magnetic gear trains, reduction gears and ball joints, and propulsion systems for watercraft and aircraft.

Abstract: An apparatus having a driving magnetic gear and a driver magnetic gear, disposed on each of which are a series of adjacent magnets of alternating polarity. The magnetic gears are tiltable relative to each other, and the angle of the imaginary driver gear plane at the pivot point between the driving gear and the driver gear must be less than 90° to prevent loss of sequential magnetic interaction beyond which angle, reversal of rotation relative to the driver gear would occur when the sequential magnetic interaction is re-established.

Abstract: A head frame apparatus is secured to a human head during maxillofacial surgery and includes devices to easily position and secure an endotracheal (breathing) tube and an anesthesia delivery circuit for the patient that reduces the likelihood that the flow of oxygen through the tube is restricted thereby reducing the risk of severe injury or death. The head frame apparatus also includes a removable reference indicator, which may be easily attached and removed while identifying a reference point of the patient's face. Also the reference indicator includes a universal joint and pointer with an attached ruler. A transport apparatus positions multiple preset reference indicators and allows for preoperative transportation and removal, while protecting the preset reference indicators from inadvertent adjustment. A bendable reference indicator used in an articulator for preoperative modeling allows for easily identifying reference points in a cast model.

Abstract: An apparatus having at least one rotatable driven object having an edge on which are disposed a series of adjacent magnets of alternating polarity and a driving object rotatable by an external motor torque and having a series of adjacent magnets of alternating polarity on a magnet supporting surface. The magnet supporting surface of the driving object is rotatable through a common region approximately centered about the point of closest approach to the magnet supporting edge of the driven object for sequentially placing magnets of the driving object in the region enveloping the effective interactive range between the two objects. The fields of magnets of opposite polarity of the driving object interact with the fields of the magnets on the driving object to effect rotation of the driven object. Disclosed are structures for torque limiting wheels, magnetic gear trains, reduction gears and ball joints, and propulsion systems for watercraft and aircraft.

Abstract: An instrument for mobilizing the midface bones of a human skull in which at least a partial osteotomy between the midface bones and the skull has been performed. A first member includes a dentition engaging portion for engaging the dental arch of the maxilla. A second member includes a nasal engaging portion for engaging the nasal floor of the nasal cavity. An adjustable member is connected to the first member and to the second member and is adjustable to draw the first and second members toward each other so that the first member can be drawn against the dental arch and the second member can be drawn against the nasal floor. A lever is connected to at least one of the first and second members. The lever is disposed anteriorly of the forehead and extends in a superior-inferior direction relative to the skull when the first and second members are engaged with the dental arch and nasal floor, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for osteogenesis distraction of small alveolar bone is provided. The alveolar distraction osteogenesis device may be affixed to small and thin bone segments. An alveolar distraction osteogenesis device according to the first embodiment includes a submergible first and second members along with a threaded rod. An alveolar distraction osteogenesis device according to a second embodiment includes an osseointegrated cylindrical member along with an adaptable threaded rod which may be used with a stabilizing plate. The alveolar distraction osteogenesis device is activated using a hexagonal drive wrench or a slot screw driver. In order to allow for bone growth and/or distraction, a constant activation rate between bone segments is applied by a torque.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for submergible self-retaining distraction osteogenesis is provided. Distraction osteogenesis devices are submerged below a layer of tissue and/or skin layers and are activated based upon maximum pressures, rather than constant activation rates. Distraction osteogenesis devices are also self-retaining in that the force in displacing bone segments is transferred substantially through metal plates, rather than screws or fixation points. In particular, zygomatic, alveolar and mandibular distraction osteogenesis devices are provided. The zygomatic and alveolar distraction osteogenesis devices include a submergible first and second metal plate along with a threaded rod. The zygomatic and alveolar distraction osteogenesis devices are activated using a cannula, torque wrench adapter and torque wrench. The mandibular distraction osteogenesis device includes a palate expander having a plurality of rods used in coupling first and second self-retaining U-shaped plates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for submergible self-retaining distraction osteogenesis is provided. Distraction osteogenesis devices are submerged below a layer of tissue and/or skin layers and are activated based upon maximum pressures, rather than constant activation rates. Distraction osteogenesis devices are also self-retaining in that the force in displacing bone segments is transferred substantially through metal plates, rather than screws or fixation points. In particular, zygomatic, alveolar and mandibular distraction osteogenesis devices are provided. The zygomatic and alveolar distraction osteogenesis devices include a submergible first and second metal plate along with a threaded rod. The zygomatic and alveolar distraction osteogenesis devices are activated using a cannula, torque wrench adapter and torque wrench. The mandibular distraction osteogenesis device includes a palate expander having a plurality of rods used in coupling first and second self-retaining U-shaped plates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for submergible self-retaining distraction osteogenesis is provided. Distraction osteogenesis devices are submerged below a layer of tissue and/or skin layers and are activated based upon maximum pressures, rather than constant activation rates. Distraction osteogenesis devices are also self-retaining in that the force in displacing bone segments is transferred substantially through metal plates, rather than screws or fixation points. In particular, zygomatic, alveolar and mandibular distraction osteogenesis devices are provided. The zygomatic and alveolar distraction osteogenesis devices include a submergible first and second metal plate along with a threaded rod. The zygomatic and alveolar distraction osteogenesis devices are activated using a cannula, torque wrench adapter and torque wrench. The mandibular distraction osteogenesis device includes a palate expander having a plurality of rods used in coupling first and second self-retaining U-shaped plates.