Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: A vertebroplastic cementitious composition includes a solid phase including Portland cement and a biocompatible additive which is a plasticizer and a hardening accelerant, wherein the amount of additive is between about 1% and about 15% by weight relative to the Portland cement; and an aqueous liquid phase, wherein the ratio of the solid phase to the liquid phase is between about 3 g/ml and about 6 g/ml. Methods of forming such compositions, treatment methods using such compositions and cementitious implants including such compositions are also described.

Abstract: Improved color image display accuracy can be achieved across a computer network by obtaining information characterizing the color response of display devices associated with a client residing on the computer network, and using the information to modify style sheets delivered to the client for displaying web pages. Display accuracy can be achieved in a network having both multiple clients that submit images and multiple clients that receive images, such as in the case of an online auction or photo web site. The information can be obtained, for example, by guiding clients that download images or other visual content through a color profiling process that profiles the color response of the display device. For example, such guidance may take the form of a series of instructional web pages that are delivered to the client. The web pages can be made interactive to enable collection of color characterization data from the client.

Abstract: Improved color image display accuracy can be achieved across a computer network by obtaining information characterizing the color response of display devices associated with a client residing on the computer network, and using the information to modify text files defining color values for presentation of objects in web pages. Display accuracy can be achieved in a network having multiple clients that receive images. The information can be obtained, for example, by guiding clients that download images or other visual content through a color profiling process that profiles the color response of the display device. For example, such guidance may take the form of a series of instructional web pages that are delivered to the client. The web pages can be made interactive to enable collection of color characterization data from the client.

Abstract: A system and method for interprocess communication between concurrently executing, cooperating sequential processes in a digital computer system uses a shared memory queue as a mechanism for message passing and process synchronization. Data to be transferred from a sending process to a receiving process is stored in a queue entry which is visible in the virtual address space of the first process. The queue entry is added to a queue by the sending process directing the processor to execute an enqueue instruction. The receiving process removes the queue entry from the queue by directing the processor to execute a dequeue instruction. The receiving process then has direct access and visibility to the contents of the queue entry without having to copy the data into its virtual address space. Instead of sending data in a queue entry, a sending process may send an event indicator and no data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for printing graphic forms simultaneously with information data. A graphic forms master is mounted on a relatively small forms drum which is coupled to rotate simultaneously with a photo-sensitive print drum. Light is reflected from the graphic forms master to a light sensitive transducer from where electrical signals, representing the graphics form, are transmitted to a signals merging circuit. Information data signals are also transmitted to the signals merging circuit. The signals merging circuit is connected to a single light source-optical system to selectively pass light to the photo-sensitive print drum in response to the electrical signals to provide an image thereon representing both the graphic form and the information data. Automatic lateral alignment of the graphic forms data and information data is accomplished through cooperation of an alignment mark on the graphic forms master with a portion of the signals merging circuit.

Abstract: A beam feedback synchronization system for optical sweeping apparatuses is disclosed. The system includes a multi-faceted rotating reflection mirror which acts on a collimated light beam such as a laser beam to cause it to sweep periodically in parallel straight lines across a rotating photoconducting drum. A portion of the light beam is split off and caused to sweep across an equispaced linear array of fiber optic apertures held in place by a fiber optic assembly. The light entering the fiber optic apertures is carried along fiber optic elements to one or more photodetectors which generate periodic electrical signals in response thereto. The frequency of occurrence of the electrical signals from the photodetector is a measure of the velocity of the sweeping light beam across the fiber optic array.

Abstract: A data entry system having a plurality of data entry key stations each having its own inexpensive, random access magnetic storage device with removable media and visual display connected to a common shared processor. Data characters of data records which are entered at the key stations are transferred to the shared processor and then transferred to a data buffer memory and to the visual display character by character. Data records assembled in the data buffer memory are transferred to the magnetic storage devices to provide a semi-permanent record file which is transferrable to a host processing unit.

Abstract: A data entry system having a plurality of data entry key stations each having its own inexpensive, random access magnetic storage device with removable media and visual display connected to a common shared processor. Data characters of data records which are entered at the key stations are transferred to the shared processor and then transferred to a data buffer memory and to the visual display character by character. Data records assembled in the data buffer memory are transferred to the magnetic storage devices to provide a semi-permanent record file which is transferrable to a host processing unit.