Abstract: A drill guide assembly configured to engage a drill bit, including: a drill guide including: a drill guide tube including a ring and a flared end at a proximal end of the drill guide tube; a drill guide body with a central opening configured to receive the drill guide tube and a tube stop configured to engage the flared end; and a spring configured to engage the ring and distal end of the drill guide body; and a drill guide sleeve with a central opening configured to receive the drill guide including a ring stop configured to engage the ring and a sleeve distal end configured to engage a plate hole on a bone plate, wherein the spring is configured to bias the drill guide tube in a distal direction so that a distal end of the drill guide tube extends from the sleeve distal end.

Abstract: A slotted washer configured to secure a K-wire to a native bone, including: an upper arm with a screw hole; a lower arm with a screw hole; a connector connecting the upper arm with the lower arm; and a K-wire opening between the connector, lower arm, and upper arm configured to receive and compress the K-wire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering metals from metal-bearing material, said process comprising the step of contacting the metal-bearing material with condensed phosphoric acid at a temperature of greater than 215° C. and less than 300° C. for a period of time sufficient to at least partially dissolve the metal-bearing material; to provide a leaching solution containing metal ions. The invention is applicable to a range of metals including the rare earth elements, as well as thorium and uranium. The invention is applicable to a range of metal-bearing materials, particularly phosphate minerals such as monazite and xenotime.

Abstract: A bone fixation system includes a first anchor, a second anchor, and a third anchor. The first anchor is configured to be inserted into a first target location within a bone. The first anchor including a first head and a first shaft that extends from the first head and is configured to couple the first anchor to the first target location. The first head defines a head bore extending therethrough along a head bore axis. The first shaft defines a shaft bore extending therethrough along a shaft bore axis. The second anchor is sized to extend through the head bore and out of the head bore so as to couple to a second target location within the bone. The third anchor is sized to extend through the shaft bore and out of the shaft bore to a third target location within the bone.

Abstract: A single use disposable sterile kit, including a sterile sealed container including a first module configured to fit within the sterile sealed container including a single bone plate including a plurality of fastener apertures, and a fastener housing including a plurality of protrusions on the top of the fastener housing, a plurality of stairs extending downward from the top of the fastener housing and a plurality of concave depressions located on the top surface of the plurality of stairs for housing a plurality of fasteners, each of the plurality of fasteners including a head and a shaft.

Abstract: A torque limiting driver system, including: a torque limiting driver including: a handle with a locking cap engagement protrusion; a shaft with a cam portion including a cam mating feature; and a locking cap including: a mating recess including a plurality of scallops along the outer edge of the mating recess and wherein the plurality of scallops are configured to interface with the first mating feature; a through-hole with through-hole mating feature configured to interface with the cam mating feature, wherein the locking cap is configured to engage the torque limiting driver to lock the rotation of the shaft with respect to the handle.

Abstract: A single use disposable sterile kit, including a sterile sealed container including a first module configured to fit within the sterile sealed container including a single bone plate including a plurality of fastener apertures, and a fastener housing including a plurality of protrusions on the top of the fastener housing, a plurality of stairs extending downward from the top of the fastener housing and a plurality of concave depressions located on the top surface of the plurality of stairs for housing a plurality of fasteners, each of the plurality of fasteners including a head and a shaft.

Abstract: A single use disposable surgical kit, including a sterile sealed container including a module configured to fit within the sterile sealed container including surgical instruments housed in a bottom tray including a first fastening feature; and a lid including a second fastening feature congruently aligned with the first fastening feature, wherein the first fastening feature is one of a tab portion and a mating slot, the second fastening feature is the other of the tab portion and the mating slot, and the second fastening feature is configured to engage with the first fastening feature.

Abstract: A single use disposable surgical kit, including a sterile sealed container including a module configured to fit within the sterile sealed container including surgical instruments housed in a bottom tray including a first fastening feature; and a lid including a second fastening feature congruently aligned with the first fastening feature, wherein the first fastening feature is one of a tab portion and a mating slot, the second fastening feature is the other of the tab portion and the mating slot, and the second fastening feature is configured to engage with the first fastening feature.

Abstract: A torque limiting driver system, including: a torque limiting driver including: a handle with a locking cap engagement protrusion; a shaft with a cam portion including a cam mating feature; and a locking cap including: a mating recess including a plurality of scallops along the outer edge of the mating recess and wherein the plurality of scallops are configured to interface with the first mating feature; a through-hole with through-hole mating feature configured to interface with the cam mating feature, wherein the locking cap is configured to engage the torque limiting driver to lock the rotation of the shaft with respect to the handle.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade forming a root at an inner end, a tip at an outer end, a plurality of power sections intermediate the root and the tip, and a plurality of aerodynamic section dividers located intermediate each of the other sections. The aerodynamic section dividers are configured to aerodynamically isolate their adjoining sections to limit the lateral flow of air between them while in use on the wind turbine. The blade has a low aspect ratio and is operated at a high advance rate. The aerodynamic section dividers are close enough together to soften the stall characteristics of the blade, and thus the blade can be operated at high angles of attack.

Abstract: A bone screw driving system includes a screw having a head and a shaft extending from the head. The screw includes a stepped opening extending in the shaft that includes a first portion and a second portion having a greater cross-sectional dimension than the first portion. The bone screw driving system further includes a screw driver having a driver shaft that defines a tip configured to engage the screw head. The driver further includes a pin extending from the tip and sized to fit within the opening. The pin includes an abutment movable to a locked configuration in the second portion of the opening, wherein the abutment defines a cross-sectional dimension greater than that of the first portion of the opening.

Abstract: A screw delivery system is provided. Such a system may include a carrier including a carrier body, a driver, and a nose. The carrier may define a bore that extends at least partially through the carrier body. The driver may be configured to be at least partially disposed in the bore. The driver may include a head that is configured to mate with a head of a fastener. At least a first guide member may be carried by the carrier body. The nose may be operably aligned with the bore, and may include at least a second guide member that is configured to engage the first guide member. The system may be configured such that insertion of the driver from the bore into the nose causes the first and second guide members to engage so as to cause the nose to rotate relative to the carrier body.

Abstract: A screw delivery system is provided. Such a system may include a carrier including a carrier body, a driver, and a nose. The carrier may define a bore that extends at least partially through the carrier body. The driver may be configured to be at least partially disposed in the bore. The driver may include a head that is configured to mate with a head of a fastener. At least a first guide member may be carried by the carrier body. The nose may be operably aligned with the bore, and may include at least a second guide member that is configured to engage the first guide member. The system may be configured such that insertion of the driver from the bore into the nose causes the first and second guide members to engage so as to cause the nose to rotate relative to the carrier body.

Abstract: A screw delivery system is provided. Such a system may include a carrier including a carrier body, a driver, and a nose. The carrier may define a bore that extends at least partially through the carrier body. The driver may be configured to be at least partially disposed in the bore. The driver may include a head that is configured to mate with a head of a fastener. At least a first guide member may be carried by the carrier body. The nose may be operably aligned with the bore, and may include at least a second guide member that is configured to engage the first guide member. The system may be configured such that insertion of the driver from the bore into the nose causes the first and second guide members to engage so as to cause the nose to rotate relative to the carrier body.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade forming a root at an inner end, a tip at an outer end, a plurality of power sections intermediate the root and the tip, and a plurality of aerodynamic section dividers located intermediate each of the other sections. The aerodynamic section dividers are configured to aerodynamically isolate their adjoining sections to limit the lateral flow of air between them while in use on the wind turbine. The blade has a low aspect ratio and is operated at a high advance rate. The aerodynamic section dividers are close enough together to soften the stall characteristics of the blade, and thus the blade can be operated at high angles of attack.

Abstract: A screw delivery system is provided. Such a system may include a carrier including a carrier body, a driver, and a nose. The carrier may define a bore that extends at least partially through the carrier body. The driver may be configured to be at least partially disposed in the bore. The driver may include a head that is configured to mate with a head of a fastener. At least a first guide member may be carried by the carrier body. The nose may be operably aligned with the bore, and may include at least a second guide member that is configured to engage the first guide member. The system may be configured such that insertion of the driver from the bore into the nose causes the first and second guide members to engage so as to cause the nose to rotate relative to the carrier body.

Abstract: A bone screw driving system includes a screw having a head and a shaft extending from the head. The screw includes a stepped opening extending in the shaft that includes a first portion and a second portion having a greater cross-sectional dimension than the first portion. The bone screw driving system further includes a screw driver having a driver shaft that defines a tip configured to engage the screw head. The driver further includes a pin extending from the tip and sized to fit within the opening. The pin includes an abutment movable to a locked configuration in the second portion of the opening, wherein the abutment defines a cross-sectional dimension greater than that of the first portion of the opening.

Abstract: A method of hazard assessment for a given geographic scenario that establishes a Hazard Assessment Model (HAM) for the geographic scenario, including a plurality of geologic models that predict events for the geologic scenario. The method establishes a set of the parameters necessary for using the geologic models to predict their respective events, wherein the parameters are defined by a combination of one or more established probabilities, established initial conditions, and established parameters defining change over time. It analyzes the HAM in time intervals over a time period, wherein at each time interval at least one of the geologic models is selected to establish an event state, and wherein each of the geologic models is selected in more than one of the time intervals, thus accumulating data on the established event states and their related parameters over the time period covered in the step of analyzing the HAM.

Abstract: A cannula, handle and suction device to provide for the withdrawal of fluids from a body. A handle shaft has a receptacle connects to a cannula tapered bore leading to an end of a cannula shaft. The receptacle has a post that is conformingly received by the tapered bore such that an end of the post abuts the end of the cannula shaft. The cannula shaft has lubrication over its exterior. The handle shaft has an inner layer composed of a material that is destroyed when autoclaved, and a layer of lubricant covering an inner surface of the shaft. The handle shaft forms a chamber that may be sealed with a closure, and the chamber may opens into the channel such that the chamber acts as a Helmholtz resonator. The handle has a removable grip with a diameter of at least one inch and a circumferential flange.