Abstract: The present invention relates to an artificial disc prosthesis system which includes a scaffold assembly and a fusion or disc prosthesis removably retained by the scaffold assembly. The artificial disc prosthesis system facilitates the removal, replacement or upgrade of disc prostheses without the need to remove the entire system from the intervertebral space in which it is disposed. Also provided are disc prostheses suitable for use in the artificial disc prosthesis system.

Abstract: Fenestrated bone screws and inserts disposed therein are provided for the delivery of medicants to bone. The bone screws provide a method to strengthen or repair damaged bones, and in conjunction with the inserts, provide a method of delivering a continuous or regulated amount of medicant to a desired location within the bone such as a fracture interface. In one embodiment, the inserts are customized in size, shape, or configuration after the bone screw has been inserted into the patient.

Abstract: Fenestrated bone screws and inserts disposed therein are provided for the delivery of medicants to bone. The bone screws provide a method to strengthen or repair damaged bones, or to promote bony fusion, and in conjunction with the inserts, provide a method of delivering a continuous or regulated amount of medicant to a desired location within the bone such as a fracture interface. In one embodiment, the inserts are customized in size, shape, or configuration after the bone screw has been inserted into the patient.

Abstract: Bone screws and inserts disposed therein or thereon are provided for the delivery of medicants to bone. The bone screws provide a method to strengthen or repair damaged bones, or to promote bony fusion, and in conjunction with the inserts, provide a method of delivering a continuous or regulated amount of medicant to a desired location within the bone such as a fracture interface. In one embodiment, the inserts are customized in size, shape, or configuration after the bone screw has been inserted into the patient.

Abstract: A request is received to play an audio file. A process identifies a preferred language for displaying lyrics associated with the audio file. The process also identifies lyric data associated with the audio file and associated with the preferred language. The audio file is then played while the identified lyric data is displayed.

Abstract: A locking wedge interposed between insulating material and masonry spaced from a wall structure for biasing the insulating material against the wall structure, said locking wedge having a generally U-shaped body with a pair of spaced-apart arms joined at one end by a web, said arms defining therebetween a tapered slot increasing in width towards the distal ends of the arms, said body being uniformly tapered in thickness at the said distal ends of the arms, and a plurality of equispaced transverse notches forming a serriform pattern on one face of the body substantially along the length of the arms for receiving a longitudinal rod in said notches.

Abstract: Packaging and interconnecting means for a plurality of microcircuit chips contained in chip carriers comprises a chip carrier socket which is dimensioned to receive a plurality of chip carriers in stacked relationship, one on top of the other. Vertically extending conductors in the socket are contacted by the leads from the chip carriers. In accordance with one embodiment, the several chip carriers are electrically and physically identical and the conductors are shared by all of the chips, excepting one dedicated conductor for each chip carrier. Alternatively, the chips in the chip carriers can be electrically dissimilar in which case only limited numbers of the socket conductors are shared and connections among the several chip carriers in the stack are achieved by interrupting the conductors in the chip carrier socket.