Abstract: A system for preventing the formation of ice about a port to a contained cooling area. The system includes a support tube that is adapted to pass through the port in a wall that forms part of the cooling area. The support tube is further adapted to provide a passage into the cooling area for a conduit. The support tube is still further adapted to contain dry nitrogen to prevent the formation of ice around the port.

Abstract: A location and ranging system for divers is disclosed, which indicates to a diver the position of, and range to, a boat (or other platform) with respect to the diver's current location. For example, a location and ranging system for divers is disclosed, which includes a transmitter, a receiver module, a display module, and a depth sensor integrated with the receiver module or display module. A diver can attach the display module to a convenient part of the body (e.g., the wrist), or a clipboard or buoyancy compensator. The transmitter is located at the diver's boat, and emits an encoded signal at a frequency suitable for transmission through water. The receiver module is carried by the diver (e.g., attached to the diver's SCUBA gear) and includes three receivers that independently receive the encoded signal from the transmitter. Logic circuitry in the receiver module triangulates the three received signals and derives the transmitter's direction.

Abstract: A benchtop securing device for securing objects to a table is provided. The benchtop securing device comprises a mounting plate having a table engaging surface adapted to abut a surface of a table, the mounting plate further having an object attaching surface adapted to mount an object thereon, and a sloped member having a sloping surface, the sloped member further being coupled to the mounting plate such that the table can be received between the mounting plate and the sloping surface of the sloped member. The benchtop securing device further comprises a sliding block having a sliding surface that has a slope that substantially matches the slope of the sloping surface of the sloped member, wherein when the sliding surface of the sliding block engages the sloping surface of the sloped member the benchtop securing device becomes securely attached to the table.

Abstract: A surgical guiding instrument for use with a chisel and an implant body for insertion into an intervertebral space, included is a shaft with a stop device for delimiting a depth of insertion of the implant body into the intervertebral space. The shaft has a distal end and a proximal end, the implant body being arranged at the distal end of the shaft and defining two bearing surfaces positionable against the adjacent vertebral bodies, the stop device having at least one stop movably mounted at the distal end of the shaft or on the implant body, the stop having a stop surface pointing in distal direction transversely or substantially transversely to at least one of the bearing surfaces, so that an insertion depth for a surgical machining tool can be set in a simple way.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant for contact with adjacent vertebral bodies is provided. The implant includes a first carrier plate including a front edge, a middle, a rear edge, and a concave, crowned joint surface comprising a lowest point. The implant further includes a second carrier plate including a front edge, a middle, a rear edge, a center line extending between said front edge and said rear edge, and a convex, crowned joint surface comprising a highest point. The joint surfaces are positioned flatly in contact with one another and are configured to support the carrier plates pivotably with respect to one another. The highest and lowest points of the joint surfaces are positioned between the rear edges and the middles of the carrier plates. The convex joint surface projects farther away from the second carrier plate at its end facing the rear edge than at its end facing the front edge.

Abstract: A bulk degaussing system for the erasure of magnetic storage media by means of permanent magnets. The bulk degaussing system includes a rotatably mounted carousel and an angular displacement means that angularly displaces the carousel through a predetermined angle after passage of the carousel through a degaussing gap.

Abstract: In an implant in the form of a plug for closing an opening in the annulus fibrosus, in order to ensure as reliable a fixing of the plug as possible and a secure closure, it is proposed that the plug have rigid anchoring elements for the end plates of adjacent vertebrae on its upper face and on its lower face, and a deformable structure in the area between upper face and lower face.

Abstract: A method of preparing a faying surface of a component for fusion welding includes plastically deforming a surface layer adjacent a faying surface of said component. If necessary, the faying surface is machined smooth after the surface layer is plastically deformed.

Abstract: Side-chain crystallizable (SCC) polymers are useful in various medical applications. In certain applications, heavy atom containing side-chain crystallizable polymers (HACSCCP's) are particularly useful. An example of a HACSCCP is a polymer that comprises a main chain, a plurality of crystallizable side chains, and a plurality of heavy atoms attached to the polymer. In certain configurations, the heavy atoms are present in an amount that is effective to render the polymer radiopaque. A polymeric material that includes an HACSCCP may be fabricated into a medical device useful for at least partially occluding a body cavity. For example, such a medical device may be an embolotherapy product. A polymeric material that includes a SCC polymer may also be fabricated into other medical devices, such as stents.

Abstract: A degaussing system for magnetic media is provided, the system comprising an erasing head connected to an LC circuit and the erasing head including an elongated form around which a coil is wound. The coil has two segments which are spaced apart a distance to provide adjustment of the electrical and/or magnetic properties of the coil.

Abstract: This invention describes a method of producing a flat aluminum sheet product by providing an aluminum alloy stock, hot working the aluminum alloy stock through preheating and hot rolling, side sawing the aluminum alloy stock, subjecting the aluminum alloy stock to solution heat treatment, cold rolling the aluminum alloy stock to reduce its thickness by about 0.25% to about 5%, and finally stretching the aluminum alloy stock.

Abstract: A campfire grill designed for providing durability for all weather conditions, strength with added features of said support pipe and said grill assembly unit, adjustability of the said grill hoop with said through holes and said height adjustment pin, and ability to swivel said grill assembly unit on and off said campfire. Thus a user can safely prepare the families favorite campfire recipes on said grill with said features of The Campfire Cook.

Abstract: With the subject invention, a pump is formed that generally includes a reservoir formed to accommodate at least one fluid dose, and a fluid-collecting chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir. The fluid-collecting chamber includes a dose-control portion which encompasses a volume defined by two dimensions. A first piston is disposed to urge fluid from the reservoir and at least into the dose-control portion. A second piston is disposed to reversibly slide within at least the dose-control portion of the fluid-collecting chamber. A nozzle is also provided which is located such that fluid displaced by the second piston from the dose-control portion is generally urged towards the nozzle. A check valve may be placed in the fluid path between the dose-control portion and the nozzle.

Abstract: In an intervertebral implant with a top contacting element, a bottom contacting element and arranged between these a core which with an upper, spherical bearing surface engages a spherical bearing socket, having the same radius, of the top contacting element and with a lower, spherical bearing surface engages a spherical bearing socket, having the same radius, of the bottom contacting element, in order to improve the kinematics and the endurance, it is proposed that the radius of the bearing surface and of the bearing socket receiving it differ on opposing sides of the core at least by the factor 5.

Abstract: One or more pairs of magnet assemblages (14 and 16) are provided with magnetized segments (21-30) arranged in a Halbach-like array. The magnet assemblages (14 and 16) define a gap (18) through which magnetic data storage media (12) pass in a direction (20) across the segments (21-30). The magnetized sides (36) of the magnet assemblages (14 and 16) face each other thereby creating strong magnetic fields which degauss the magnetic data storage media (12) passing through the gap (18).

Abstract: An intervertebral implant is provided, including an upper support body including a dorsal edge, a lower support body including a dorsal edge, and a saddle joint. The saddle joint includes two pivot axes and two saddle-shaped joint surfaces in contact with one another rotated by 90° in relation to one another. The upper and lower support bodies are supported pivotably in relation to one another via the saddle joint.

Abstract: A system for strengthening containers in a high-speed filling operation is disclosed. The system includes a solenoid-driven injector apparatus positioned at an angle to the containers being filled. The injector apparatus includes a chamber connected via an intake line to a supply tank. A solenoid is adapted to open an injector valve, allowing liquefied gas within a chamber to forcibly flow through an outflow line into the container. The solenoid is also adapted to close the injector valve, thereby blocking the liquefied gas within the chamber from entering the outflow line. The injector apparatus also includes a heater positioned adjacent to the outflow line and an adjustment device for the injector valve.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant is provided for insertion between first and second vertebral bodies defining an intervertebral space. The intervertebral implant includes a first anchoring part for anchoring the intervertebral implant at the first vertebral body, a second anchoring part for anchoring the intervertebral implant at the second vertebral body, and a joint connecting the first and second anchoring parts. Joint elements of a first joint part are configured to mesh with respective ones of intermediate spaces of a second joint part and joint elements of the second joint part are configured to mesh with respective ones of intermediate spaces of the first joint part upon insertion of the intervertebral implant into the intervertebral space, thereby facilitating the tilting of the first and second anchoring parts in relation to one another.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant is provided for insertion between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body defining an intervertebral space. The implant includes a first anchoring part for anchoring at the first vertebral body, a second anchoring part for anchoring at the second vertebral body, and a joint configured to connect the first and second anchoring parts together. The joint includes a first joint part carried by the first anchoring part, and a second joint part carried by the second anchoring part. The implant further includes at least one restoring device adapted to exert a restoring force on the first or second joint part. The restoring force of the at least one restoring device transfers the first or second joint part from a deflected position back to a normal position and/or limits movement of the first or second joint part away from the normal position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that serves to alert an individual to a change in the individual's posture. A responder that provides an alerting signal to the wearer of the apparatus is mounted on an elastic band that is worn by the individual. When the individual's posture is correct, there is no alerting signal. When the individual's posture changes, and in particular by slouching, the elastic band stretches, a switch is then closed in the responder thereby completing an electrical circuit which generates an alerting signal such as a small buzz or tone to the wearer. In response to this signal, the wearer can correct posture and thus turn off the alerting signal.