Abstract: A method of implanting an intervertebral spacer may include positioning the intervertebral spacer within an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebral bodies. The intervertebral spacer may include a plurality of bores, and each of the plurality of bores may be configured to receive either a linear fastening element or a curvilinear fastening element. The method also may include selecting a first fastening element from a group including linear fastening elements and curvilinear fastening elements, and inserting the first fastening element into a first bore of the plurality of bores such that the first fastening element is inserted into one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to secure the intervertebral spacer within the intervertebral space.

Abstract: A method of implanting an intervertebral spacer may include positioning the intervertebral spacer within an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebral bodies. The intervertebral spacer may include a plurality of bores, and each of the plurality of bores may be configured to receive either a linear fastening element or a curvilinear fastening element. The method also may include selecting a first fastening element from a group including linear fastening elements and curvilinear fastening elements, and inserting the first fastening element into a first bore of the plurality of bores such that the first fastening element is inserted into one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to secure the intervertebral spacer within the intervertebral space.

Abstract: A method of implanting an intervertebral spacer may include positioning the intervertebral spacer within an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebral bodies. The intervertebral spacer may include a plurality of bores, and each of the plurality of bores may be configured to receive either a linear fastening element or a curvilinear fastening element. The method also may include selecting a first fastening element from a group including linear fastening elements and curvilinear fastening elements, and inserting the first fastening element into a first bore of the plurality of bores such that the first fastening element is inserted into one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to secure the intervertebral spacer within the intervertebral space.

Abstract: Stand-alone interbody fusion devices for engagement between adjacent vertebrae. The stand-alone interbody fusion devices may include a spacer or endplates and one or more inserts, members, or frames coupled to the spacer or endplates. The inserts, members, or frames may be configured and designed to provide the apertures which are designed to retain bone fasteners, such as screws or anchors, and secure the implant to the adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: Stand-alone interbody fusion devices for engagement between adjacent vertebrae. The stand-alone interbody fusion devices may include a spacer and one or more inserts or members coupled to the spacer. The inserts or members may be configured and designed to provide the apertures which are designed to retain bone fasteners, such as screws, and secure the implant to the adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: Stand-alone interbody fusion devices for engagement between adjacent vertebrae. The stand-alone interbody fusion devices may include frames and one or more endplates coupled to the frame. The frame may be configured and designed to provide the apertures which are designed to retain bone fasteners, such as screws or anchors, and secure the implant to the adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating properties, comprises receiving, using a computing device, data describing a plurality of characteristics for each of a plurality of properties, identifying, using the computing device, subject properties by applying search criteria to the data, the subject properties satisfying the search criteria, for a selected subject property, identifying, using the computing device, comparable properties by applying configuration criteria to the data, the comparable properties satisfying the configuration criteria, and determining, using the computing device, an Rvalue of the selected subject property by averaging normalized prices of a plurality of comparable properties, the Rvalue indicating an after-repair value of the selected subject property.

Abstract: An area of interest of a patient's organ may be identified based on the presence of a possible lesion during an endoscopic procedure. The location of the area of interest may then be tracked relative to the camera view being displayed to the endoscopist in real-time or near real-time during the endoscopic procedure. If the area of interest is visually marked on the display, the visual marking is moved with the area of interest as it moves within the camera view. If the area of interest moves outside the camera view, a directional indicator may be displayed to indicate the location of the area of interest relative to the camera view to assist the endoscopist in relocating the area of interest.

Abstract: A composite made of alternating layers of elastic and plastic material provides desirable mechanical properties including high toughness. Each layer has a thickness of between 10 nanometers and 500 microns. Plastic materials that may be used include thermoplastic/thermoset elastomers, aluminum, alloys of aluminum, titanium, and alloys of titanium. Elastic materials include various thermoplastic or thermoset polymers, Al2O3, SiC, TiB2 and B4C.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system for generating dynamic relational visualizations of at least one clinical condition comprising a processor programmed to detect a plurality of perturbations of biologic particle densities associated with the clinical condition and to detect features of the perturbations and to generate cells of images responsive to the features. The system generates at least one motion image comprising the cells. New cells and the cells change, for example in color or position in response to changes in a medical condition.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system is described herein. In one example, the patient monitoring system comprises at least one processor programmed to generate an image which displays a patient condition as color weather radar on a map. In some examples, at least one monitored condition is positioned on the map so that the weather image expands, develops or moves over the condition.

Abstract: A system for converting biologic particle density data into a motion image of at least one clinical condition such as sepsis, wherein the system comprises a processor programmed to detect a plurality of perturbations of the biologic particle densities associated with the clinical condition, detect or determine features of the perturbations, and detect or determine patterns of the perturbations. The processor can also be programmed to generate an image of the clinical condition comprised of time image components comprising a two dimensional user-facing map, wherein time extends along an axis away from the user facing map such that the map may be scrolled forward or backward over time to view different two dimensional images of the clinical condition.

Abstract: A method for making a smooth ceramic including loading ceramic powder to be densified into a hot press die, placing one or more spacers with a polished surface between a hot press punch and the ceramic powder, placing the die and punch into a hot press and hot pressing the ceramic powder, and removing a smooth ceramic shape that requires no subsequent polishing or processing and has a surface roughness of 5 nm RMS or better. The smooth ceramic shape may be transparent, and it may be spinel, magnesia, yttria, lutetia, scandia, YAG, any composites thereof, or any of their rare earth doped compounds. Also disclosed is the related smooth ceramic made by this process.

Abstract: A tool for navigating composite documents composed of multiple component documents. The tool allows a user to enter a composite document identification number, and thereafter have access to each component document within the composite document. The user can view, compare and display comparisons of the component documents, including versions of component documents. A graphical user interface is provided that prompts the user for required information and provides the user with many useful views for analyzing the component documents. In an embodiment, the composite document is the file history for a patent and the component documents are amendments, including application claims, and other papers found in a file history, such as the patent application, as originally filed, and the resulting patent. One feature of the tool allows the user to select a claim and have all versions of the claim displayed for easy review and analysis.

Abstract: A method of forming a ?-SiC material or coating by mixing SiO2 with carbon and heating the mixture in vacuum wherein the carbon is oxidized to CO gas and reduces the SiO2 to SiO gas and reacting a carbon material with the SiO gas at a temperature in the range of 1300 to 1600° C. resulting in a SiC material or a SiC coating on a substrate. Also disclosed is the related SiC material or coating prepared by this method.

Abstract: A system for reducing the volume of liquid water emitted from an exhaust pipe of a hydrogen-fueled engine is described. A vaporizer unit has a main body portion, a spraying assembly and a vapor port. The main body portion surrounds at least a portion of an exhaust manifold of the engine. The vapor port couples the vaporizer unit to the exhaust pipe of the engine via a vapor pipe. The spraying assembly is configured to spray liquid water over at least a portion of the exhaust manifold. The apparatus also includes a liquid-vapor separator placed inline in the exhaust pipe of the engine, and a sump coupled to the exhaust pipe. The sump collects liquid water recovered by the liquid-vapor separator. Finally, the apparatus includes a pump coupled to the sump and to the spraying assembly and configured to provide the collected liquid water to the vaporizer unit.

Abstract: A binder system for applying microcapsules to textile materials includes microcapsules in a binder composition. The binder composition includes: (i) a component selected from the group consisting of: an alkoxylated fatty acid amide, alkyl sulfonate salt, an amino-silicone softener, and mixtures thereof; an (ii) a component selected from the group consisted of: a global type wrinkle resistant resin, an imidazole type wrinkle resistant resin, a cationic polyamide, a curable silicone resin, a polyurethane resin, and mixtures thereof. Methods for making the binder system as well as methods for applying the binder system to textile materials are also provided.

Abstract: A bumper beam and a method of fabrication. In a preferred embodiment, the bumper beam has a generally trussed-shaped section. The method generally comprises stamping a blank to form a front shell portion and rear plate portion; apertures in appropriate positions in the blank to accommodate vehicle rails or components of the bumper; folding the blank along a longitudinal interface line the separates the rear plate portion from the front shell portion so that at some part of the rear plate portion contacts at least some part of the interior side of the front shell portion; and welding parts of the rear plate portion and the front shell portion that are in contact.

Abstract: A software update system is disclosed, together with a corresponding method. These comprise a server holding a database, a client software, and a communications medium to allow the client and server to communicate, the database including, for a plurality of software titles, a title identifier, a version identifier for that title, and a patch location, the client being adapted to use the title identifier to locate a software title resident on a computer system hosting the client, to use the version identifier to identify the present update level of that title, and to use the patch location to allow the download of a patch for that title. It is preferred that the title identifier includes the file name of an executable file associated with the software title, and also that the version identifier includes at least one of the version number, the byte size of an executable file associated with the software title, and the version details encoded in the file properties of the executable file.

Abstract: A unitary, stamped bumper beam and a method of fabrication. In a preferred embodiment, the stamped bumper beam has a generally trussed-shaped section. The method for fabricating a unitary, stamped bumper beam having a front shell, with an exterior and interior side, and a rear plate, for use on a vehicle having vehicle, said method generally comprises stamping a blank to form a front shell portion and rear plate portion; punching apertures in appropriate positions in the blank to accommodate vehicle rails or components of the bumper; folding the blank along a longitudinal interface line the separates the rear plate portion from the front shell portion so that at some part of the rear plate portion contacts at least some part of the interior side of the front shell portion; and welding parts of the rear plate portion and the front shell portion that are in contact.