Abstract: An instrument assembly for use in knee joint replacement surgery is provided including a base instrument having a tibial plate, a femoral plate, a tibial arm having a plate end and a control end, a femoral arm having a plate end and a control end, wherein the femoral plate is rotatably fastened to the plate end of the femoral arm. The assembly also includes a distractor mechanism configured to act between the tibial arm and the femoral arm at a point between their respective plate ends and control ends by which the distance between the plate ends of the arms can be adjusted and an ancillary instrument mountable on the base instrument and configured such that the position of the ancillary instrument relative to the tibial plate is fixed during subsequent steps in the knee replacement procedure, while the knee joint is distracted as a result of forces applied across the joint between the tibial plate and the femoral plate.

Abstract: An adjustable spacer instrument and method of use in a knee arthroplasty procedure are described. The instrument comprises a first member having a substantially planar upper surface and a second member having a substantially planar lower surface. An angular adjustment mechanism is interposed between the first and second members and is operable to adjust the degree of tilt between the upper surface and the lower surface and includes a releasable lock which can maintain the degree of tilt.

Abstract: A femoral sizing guide for locating an alignment axis on a resected femoral surface at a distal end of a femur, the femoral sizing guide including a body, a superstructure and a stylus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single- or multi-pole switching device, in particular for DC applications, having at least one rotating switching element (2) which is connected to a drive, and also comprising switching contacts (4, 5), connection pieces (7) and connection poles or connection terminals (8) and a housing arrangement which accommodates the abovementioned parts. According to the invention, a movably guided rotary cylinder (2) is formed in the housing arrangement, said rotary cylinder being located in a body which is designed as a rotary cylinder holder (1). The rotary cylinder (2) has at least one contact pin (3) which passes radially or tangentially or eccentrically through the rotary cylinder and has, at its end, a contact piece (4) in each case. Mating contact pieces (5) are arranged in the rotary cylinder holder (1), said mating contact pieces being electrically connected to the connection pieces (7) or connection poles or connection terminals (8).

Abstract: A precision coaxial water jet disruption explosive device system that holds a blasting cap precisely to the surface of a cylindrically cut positioned plastic explosive that couples a detonation shock wave into water surrounding a hollow forming cavity. A pressure relief vent enables the water filled system to be assembled without deforming the thin walled hollow jet forming cavity, enabling forming repeatable supersonic jets on centerline axis. This system is positioned with two triangular pivot legs and aligned with two fan light beams or a line sight to define a projected jet route to deliver a water jet that can cut through over 1 inch of steel and disrupt target objects more than 9 feet away. This system is used to disable improvised explosive devices, and other dangerous objects, without detonating the targeted explosives and electronic devices such that the contents are destroyed without explosion sequences occurring.

Abstract: A surgical cutting guide is described which can guide a cutting implement to cut in a pair of planes at a defined relative orientation. The cutting guide comprises a first plate defining a first cutting plane, a second plate defining a second cutting plane at an angle to the first cutting plane; and a base member to which both the first plate and the second plate are attached. The first and second cutting planes intersect each other at a line of intersection and both the first plate and the second plate extend beyond the line of intersection.

Abstract: A burr guide assembly is described for guiding a burr tool during a procedure wherein the burr tool is used to cut a bone. The guide assembly includes a housing which is configured to be attached to the bone, a guide sleeve attached to the housing such that the guide sleeve can freely pivot about a pivot axis within a defined range, and a burr tool. The guide sleeve has a bore that extends along its length, which is located eccentrically within the guide sleeve. The burr tool has a cutting portion that is configured to be at least partially disposed within the bore. The guide sleeve is mounted within the housing such that the cutting portion is substantially restricted to movement in a plane that is perpendicular to the pivot axis.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of (un)substituted phenylsulfanylphenyl-piperidines comprising the use of benzyl as N-piperidine protecting group is disclosed.

Abstract: A hydration and nutrition system for monitoring consumption of fluid by a user includes: a reservoir adapted to hold a quantity of fluid; a tube adapted to convey the fluid from the reservoir to the user for consumption; a flow meter adapted to measure and collect data regarding the flow of fluid from the reservoir through the tube and communicate the data regarding the flow of fluid to a computerized nutritional calculator, wherein the computerized nutritional calculator is adapted to calculate a deficit or surplus of fluid consumed as compared to a consumption plan.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of (un)substituted phenylsulfanylphenyl-piperidines comprising the use of benzyl as N-piperidine protecting group is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for selecting objects displayed on an operator system is described, the operator system being provided to operate and monitor a process flow in a plant and the objects representing plant components. Further, elements for selecting components of interest in a plant displayed on a display unit are provided.

Abstract: A distractor instrument for use in knee joint surgery is provided that includes a tibial plate, a femoral plate, a tibial arm having a plate end and a control end, wherein the tibial plate is fastened to the plate end of the tibial arm at its anterior edge, and wherein, when the tibial plate is engaged with the tibia, the tibial arm is configured to extend from the tibial plate generally medially or laterally of the knee joint. The distractor instrument also includes a femoral arm having a plate end and a control end, wherein the femoral plate is fastened to the plate end of the femoral arm, and wherein, when the femoral plate is engaged with the femur, the femoral arm extends from the femoral plate generally aligned with the tibial arm.

Abstract: A collapsable reamer assembly and method of reaming a cavity into a bone are described. The reamer assembly comprises a base having a housing and an underside presented toward a surface of the bone in use. A collapsable reamer is rotatably mounted in the housing for rotation about a reaming axis directed away from the underside of the base. The collapsable reamer comprises at least one reaming component, supported for movement along the reaming axis from a collapsed state of the reamer to an extended state of the reamer to ream at least partially along the axis into the bone.

Abstract: An instrument assembly for use in knee joint replacement surgery is provided including a base instrument having a tibial plate, a femoral plate, a tibial arm having a plate end and a control end, a femoral arm having a plate end and a control end, wherein the femoral plate is rotatably fastened to the plate end of the femoral arm. The assembly also includes a distractor mechanism configured to act between the tibial arm and the femoral arm at a point between their respective plate ends and control ends by which the distance between the plate ends of the arms can be adjusted and an ancillary instrument mountable on the base instrument and configured such that the position of the ancillary instrument relative to the tibial plate is fixed during subsequent steps in the knee replacement procedure, while the knee joint is distracted as a result of forces applied across the joint between the tibial plate and the femoral plate.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed herein are devices and method for the recovery of one or more anesthetic agents after they have been exhaled from a patient undergoing surgery and before they have been vented to the atmosphere. Typical anesthetic agents include, but are not limited to, isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane, and the like. Recovery of the anesthetic agents should result in numerous benefits including, but not limited to, reduction of their production costs, protection of the environment, and the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for guiding a cutting tool in a surgical procedure on a bone. The apparatus includes a fixation block which can be fitted on to a bone, a guide block which can be fitted on to the fixation block, and a worm drive assembly for adjusting the orientation of the guide block rotationally relative to the fixation block about the said pivot axis. The guide block defines a path for a cutting tool, in which (i) the guide block can be translated relative to the fixation block along a translation axis so as to vary the distance between the guide block and the fixation block, and (ii) the orientation of the guide block relative to the fixation block can be adjusted lo rotationally about a pivot axis which is approximately perpendicular to the translation axis.

Abstract: A burr guide assembly for guiding a burr tool during a procedure in which the burr tool is used to cut a bone. The burr guide assembly comprises a housing which can be fastened to the bone and a guide sleeve which is pivotally mounted in the housing. The guide sleeve has a bore extending along its length in which a burr tool can be received such that the cutting portion of the burr tool extends from the sleeve towards the bone which is to be cut. The bore is located eccentrically within the guide sleeve. Further, the sleeve is mounted in the housing for pivotal movement around an axis so that the cutting portion of the burr tool is restricted to movement in a plane which is perpendicular to that axis. The assembly also includes a burr tool which is a sliding fit in the guide sleeve.

Abstract: A guide assembly for guiding a bone preparation tool in relation to a patient's bone in an orthopaedic surgical procedure, includes a guide member which has a first face which can be positioned against a surface of the bone which is to be prepared using a bone preparation tool, and an opening extending through the guide member through which the bone preparation tool can be positioned against the bone surface, and which has one of a spigot and a socket formed on it.

Abstract: Described are crystalline forms of the pharmaceutical compound “[9S-(9?,10?,12?)]-5,16-Bis[(ethylthio)methyl]-2,3,9,10,11,12-hexahydro-10-hydroxy-9-methyl-1-oxo-9, 12-epoxy-1H-diindolo[1,2,3-fg:3?,2?,1?-kl]pyrrolo[3,4-i][1,6]benzodiazocine-10-carboxylic acid methyl ester”, as well as methods for their use and preparation.

Abstract: An embedded antenna for facilitating wireless transmission of utility meter data is disclosed, where in one embodiment an RF antenna is a part of the faceplate of the utility meter. In another embodiment the utility meter faceplate is a single-layer or a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) with the RF antenna printed on any desired layer. Such faceplates may be labeled to be viewable from outside of the meter housing and/or have openings to accommodate visual access to an output display of the meter consumption information.