Abstract: A pivoting rod connector for spinal stabilization members comprises first and second connector blocks, each comprising a rod slot for receiving a stabilization member and a closure bore for receiving a closure device, a pivot mechanism connecting the first connector block and the second connector block to allow for angulation between the rod slots, and a locking mechanism to inhibit angulation of the pivot mechanism. Methods of connecting stabilization members in a spinal procedure can comprise adjusting of the angular positioning of the first connector block relative to the second connector block via the pivot mechanism, and locking a position of the first connector body relative to the second connector block following adjustment. The positioning of the connector blocks relative to the spine of the patient are adjustable when the stabilization members are coupled to the spine and inserted into the connector blocks.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an intervertebral implant comprise a body extending longitudinally along a primary axis, a baseplate, a plurality of elongated arms having a vertebral supp01i surface, the arms being articulated such that the implant has a folded-back position in which the arms are close to each other, and a deployed position in which the arms are moved away from each other, and expansion means between the folded-back and deployed positions, comprising at least two branches pivotably mounted relative to each other and attached to the elongated arms by guide means such that translation of the expansion means parallel to the primary axis causes pivoting of the branches and moves the arms away from each other.

Abstract: An electro-optical conversion system including an opto-mechanical conversion device which includes a ring cavity formed by an optical waveguide which extends along an annular closed curve, a micromechanical resonator that comprises at least one microbeam, and a zipper type element integrated into the ring cavity, the zipper type element including a first arm made on a portion of the ring waveguide and a second arm made on the microbeam. The conversion system also includes a capacitor with first and second electrodes separated by a gap which varies when the microbeam oscillates.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an intervertebral implant comprise a body extending longitudinally along a primary axis, a baseplate, a plurality of elongated arms having a vertebral support surface, the arms being articulated such that the implant has a folded-back position in which the arms are close to each other, and a deployed position in which the arms are moved away from each other, and expansion means between the folded-back and deployed positions, comprising at least two branches pivotably mounted relative to each other and attached to the elongated arms by guide means such that translation of the expansion means parallel to the primary axis causes pivoting of the branches and moves the arms away from each other.

Abstract: An electromechanical conversion device includes a resonant electrical circuit comprising an inductance and a capacitor, the capacitor including at least a first electrode and a second electrode; and a mechanical oscillator including at least one microbeam formed in a membrane, the first and second electrodes being located side by side and the first electrode of the capacitor being located on a face of the microbeam so that the electrical capacitance of the capacitor varies when the mechanical oscillator oscillates; device wherein the inductance includes an electric track of very low thickness made on the membrane and made of a superconductive material chosen so as to obtain an electric track with a high kinetic inductance.

Abstract: A traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifier is provided. The traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifier includes a chain of superconducting elements having a nonlinear kinetic inductance connected in series, said superconducting elements being deposited on a substrate. The traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifier also includes a dielectric layer of sub-micrometer thickness deposited on the substrate and covering said superconducting elements, and a conductive layer forming a ground plane deposited on top of the dielectric layer, the superconducting elements and the ground plane forming a microstrip-type transmission line. A method for producing such a traveling wave parametric amplifier is also provided.

Abstract: An end effector for a surgical arm can include a housing, a stem secured to the housing configured to releasably couple the end effector to the surgical arm, a pair of opposing jaws pivotably coupled to the housing, a driving body translatable within the housing operable to open the opposing jaws and to close the opposing jaws, a drive spring, and a lock body movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking body configured to engage the housing and the driving body in the locked position to limit distal translation of the driving body with respect to the housing.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant comprises an expandable cage comprising a central frame, a superior endplate, an inferior endplate, an anterior adjustment mechanism and a posterior adjustment mechanism. The central frame including an anterior (distal) threaded bore and a posterior (proximal) bore. The superior (upper) end plate movably coupled along a posterior portion of the central frame. The inferior (lower) end plate movably coupled along the posterior portion of the central frame opposite the superior end plate. The anterior adjustment mechanism including an anterior wedge coupled to an anterior screw movable within the anterior threaded bore. The posterior adjustment mechanism including a posterior wedge coupled to a posterior screw movable within the posterior bore.

Abstract: A device or system to adapt navigation trackers from various manufacturers to a variety of instruments to be navigated during a surgical procedure is disclosed. An adapter for coupling a navigation tracking array to an instrument including a drive shaft and a tracking device holder. The drive shaft can include a handle interface, an instrument connection, and an intermediate section including a circular locking groove extends proximally from a positioning flange. The tracking device holder can be configured to secure a navigation tracking array to the drive shaft and include an elongated body and a locking button. The elongated body can include an inner bore extending along a longitudinal length of the elongated body and adapted to receive the intermediate section of the drive shaft. The locking button can retain the tracking device holder along the drive shaft while allowing for rotation about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A pivoting rod connector for spinal stabilization members comprises first and second connector blocks, each comprising a rod slot for receiving a stabilization member and a closure bore for receiving a closure device, a pivot mechanism connecting the first connector block and the second connector block to allow for angulation between the rod slots, and a locking mechanism to inhibit angulation of the pivot mechanism. Methods of connecting stabilization members in a spinal procedure can comprise adjusting of the angular positioning of the first connector block relative to the second connector block via the pivot mechanism, and locking a position of the first connector body relative to the second connector block following adjustment. The positioning of the connector blocks relative to the spine of the patient are adjustable when the stabilization members are coupled to the spine and inserted into the connector blocks.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an intervertebral implant comprise a body extending longitudinally along a primary axis, a baseplate, a plurality of elongated arms having a vertebral support surface, the arms being articulated such that the implant has a folded-back position in which the arms are close to each other, and a deployed position in which the arms are moved away from each other, and expansion means between the folded-back and deployed positions, comprising at least two branches pivotably mounted relative to each other and attached to the elongated arms by guide means such that translation of the expansion means parallel to the primary axis causes pivoting of the branches and moves the arms away from each other.

Abstract: An electromechanical conversion device includes a resonant electrical circuit comprising an inductance and a capacitor, the capacitor including at least a first electrode and a second electrode; and a mechanical oscillator including at least one microbeam formed in a membrane, the first and second electrodes being located side by side and the first electrode of the capacitor being located on a face of the microbeam so that the electrical capacitance of the capacitor varies when the mechanical oscillator oscillates; device wherein the inductance includes an electric track of very low thickness made on the membrane and made of a superconductive material chosen so as to obtain an electric track with a high kinetic inductance.

Abstract: An electro-optical conversion system including an opto-mechanical conversion device which includes a ring cavity formed by an optical waveguide which extends along an annular closed curve, a micromechanical resonator that comprises at least one microbeam, and a zipper type element integrated into the ring cavity, the zipper type element including a first arm made on a portion of the ring waveguide and a second arm made on the microbeam. The conversion system also includes a capacitor with first and second electrodes separated by a gap which varies when the microbeam oscillates.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an intervertebral implant comprise a body extending longitudinally along a primary axis, a baseplate, a plurality of elongated arms having a vertebral support surface, the arms being articulated such that the implant has a folded-back position in which the arms are close to each other, and a deployed position in which the arms are moved away from each other, and expansion means between the folded-back and deployed positions, comprising at least two branches pivotably mounted relative to each other and attached to the elongated arms by guide means such that translation of the expansion means parallel to the primary axis causes pivoting of the branches and moves the arms away from each other.

Abstract: A two-stage intervertebral implant comprises an expandable cage comprising a pivot connecting upper and lower bodies, a first expansion mechanism, such as a wedge, configured to pivot the upper body and the lower body at the pivot point in a first stage, and a second expansion mechanism, such as a toggle joint, configured to pivot the upper body and the lower body at the pivot point in a second stage beyond the first stage. A method of implanting an implant comprises inserting the implant into anatomy, the implant comprising a first component rotatably coupled to a second component at a pivot point, operating a first expansion mechanism to rotate the implant at the pivot point to expand the implant to a first level, and operating a second expansion mechanism to rotate the implant at the pivot point from the first level to a second level.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant comprises an expandable cage comprising a central frame, a superior endplate, an inferior endplate, an anterior adjustment mechanism and a posterior adjustment mechanism. The central frame including an anterior (distal) threaded bore and a posterior (proximal) bore. The superior (upper) end plate movably coupled along a posterior portion of the central frame. The inferior (lower) end plate movably coupled along the posterior portion of the central frame opposite the superior end plate. The anterior adjustment mechanism including an anterior wedge coupled to an anterior screw movable within the anterior threaded bore. The posterior adjustment mechanism including a posterior wedge coupled to a posterior screw movable within the posterior bore.

Abstract: A traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifier is provided. The traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifier includes a chain of superconducting elements having a nonlinear kinetic inductance connected in series, said superconducting elements being deposited on a substrate. The traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifier also includes a dielectric layer of sub-micrometer thickness deposited on the substrate and covering said superconducting elements, and a conductive layer forming a ground plane deposited on top of the dielectric layer, the superconducting elements and the ground plane forming a microstrip-type transmission line. A method for producing such a traveling wave parametric amplifier is also provided.

Abstract: An end effector for a surgical arm can include a housing, a stem secured to the housing configured to releasably couple the end effector to the surgical arm, a pair of opposing jaws pivotably coupled to the housing, a driving body translatable within the housing operable to open the opposing jaws and to close the opposing jaws, a drive spring, and a lock body movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking body configured to engage the housing and the driving body in the locked position to limit distal translation of the driving body with respect to the housing.

Abstract: An expansible intervertebral implant is disclosed, various embodiments of which comprise an elongated body along a longitudinal axis comprised between a proximal end and a distal end, a flexible arm mounted in the vicinity of the distal end of the longitudinal body and movable between: a folded-back position with the arm substantially parallel to the axis, and a deployed position with the arm not parallel to the axis and away from the body to expand said implant along an axis, by assuming the general shape of a circular arc, a means for deployment of said flexible arm for deploying the latter from the folded-back position to the deployed position, by the sliding of a proximal portion of said flexible arm with respect to the body inducing an increase in the space occupied by the implant, greater than the space of the implant in the folded-back position.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an intervertebral implant comprise a body extending longitudinally along a primary axis, a baseplate, a plurality of elongated arms having a vertebral support surface, the arms being articulated such that the implant has a folded-back position in which the arms are close to each other, and a deployed position in which the arms are moved away from each other, and expansion means between the folded-back and deployed positions, comprising at least two branches pivotably mounted relative to each other and attached to the elongated arms by guide means such that translation of the expansion means parallel to the primary axis causes pivoting of the branches and moves the arms away from each other.