Abstract: In order, in the case of an implant for vertebral body fusion having a support body, which comprises two opposite-lying support surfaces for application against the opposing end faces of the vertebral bodies to be fused and is insertable into the gap between the two adjacent vertebral bodies, to achieve an optimum fixing of the supporting body in the intervertebral space, it is proposed that the supporting body has at least one location channel, which extends between the support surfaces and is open at its top and bottom side, and that there is insertable into the location channel a fixing element provided with an external projection and guided in the location channel so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, which fixing element once inserted into the location channel projects out of the open location channel in that it protrudes at the top and bottom side of the supporting body beyond the support surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a precompression pump which includes a feature for opening the outlet valve at the bottom of the pump stroke, to thereby evacuate air and liquid from the pump chamber. The pump includes a gravity-biased inlet valve and a spring-biased outlet valve. Elevated pressure in the pump chamber causes the outlet valve to open against the bias of the outlet valve spring. At least one of the outlet valve or the inlet valve has an engagement end which engages the other valve at the bottom of the pump stroke, to thereby open the outlet valve against the bias of the outlet valve spring and exhaust air and liquid from the pump chamber to the spray nozzle. In this way, the pump chamber is evacuated so that liquid can be drawn into the pump chamber from the bottle or container. The present invention uses a simple design which is easy to mold, does not require close tolerancing, and which operates effectively without the need for difficult-to-mold friction fits.

Abstract: A method for inhalation of a dry powder drug includes the steps of providing a dry powder drug composition having a drug particle size of from about 1-7 microns and a mass median aerodynamic diameter of the delivered aerosol of from about 3.5 to 5.5 microns. This composition is loaded into an inhaler which is generally flow rate independent, and with the inhaler having an inspiration flow resistance of about 0.12 to 0.21 (cmH.sub.2 O).sup.1/2 over the range of about 15-60 L/min. The patient inhales the drug composition from the inhaler with an inspiration flow rate of about 15-60 L/min, resulting in a delivery efficiency measured by respirable fraction greater than 20%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a precompression pump with a feature to evacuate air trapped in the pump chamber to thereby assist in priming the pump. In particular, the present invention relates to a precompression pump which uses mechanisms to create gaps of very small size to bridge two seals on a pump piston, in a way that the small size of the gaps allows the passage of trapped air, but because of the viscosity of any liquid in the pump chamber does not allow the passage of liquid past the seals on the pump piston. Flats which define a chord of the inner circumference of the cylinder wall can be used to create the appropriate gaps. In addition, the core creating the inner circumference can be photochemically etched to provide a roughened surface with asperities which create the appropriate gaps. The priming mechanisms preferably create air gaps around both seals of the pump piston.

Abstract: A means for winding orthogonal coil systems that almost completely encompass and closely conform to magnetic media having a circular cylindrical form and orientation, including such media further encased in square or rectangular cassettes, cartridges or disk drives, while providing necessary access to that volume without the use of drawers and separable connectors or flexible lead wires for connection of the coils to energy stored in capacitors. The invention further employs hard wired circuitry for controlling the phase of currents in the coils and maintaining the desired rotation of the magnetic field. While this invention can be realized to degauss media inserted and extracted through the same side of the winding system, it is equally configurable to conveyance of media in one end of an orthogonal coil system and out of the opposing end.

Abstract: A bulk degaussing system automatically adjusts the operating voltage of the system to achieve a predetermined level of magnetic filed strength. A microprocessor is used to monitor the transient response of the system to maintain operation at a predetermined level of stored energy or to detect impending failure.

Abstract: A bulk degaussing system for bulk erasure of various magnetic media includes a source of magnetic flux for generating a magnetic field with a predetermined field strength within a predetermined volume defining a predetermined degaussing window, a transport system for transporting the magnetic media relative to the degaussing window such that every point on the magnetic media is exposed to the magnetic field. A control circuit is included which modulates the magnetic field to reduce power consumption. In addition to reducing power consumption, the modulated magnetic field minimizes system performance degradation due to stalls of the magnetic media transport system due to interactions between the magnetic field and ferromagnetic components associated with certain magnetic media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a precompression pump with a feature to evacuate air trapped in the pump chamber to thereby assist in priming the pump. In particular, the present invention relates to a precompression pump which uses mechanisms to create gaps of very small size to bridge two seals on a pump piston, in a way that the small size of the gaps allows the passage of trapped air, but because of the viscosity of any liquid in the pump chamber does not allow the passage of liquid past the seals on the pump piston. Flats which define a chord of the inner circumference of the cylinder wall can be used to create the appropriate gaps. In addition, the core creating the inner circumference can be photochemically etched to provide a roughened surface with asperities which create the appropriate gaps. The priming mechanisms preferably create air gaps around both seals of the pump piston.

Abstract: A precompression pump is disclosed with a sliding inlet valve seal. In a first embodiment, the valve seal has sealing and retention surfaces which interact with sealing and retention surfaces on a bead on the inner wall of the pump chamber, to seal the pump inlet and retain the inlet seal respectively. In a second embodiment, the seal has friction tabs which engage the outer wall of the pump chamber. On the upstroke of the piston, these tabs engage a bead on the inner wall of the pump chamber, causing the tabs to rotate about a hinge, increasing the outer diameter of the seal. The result is improved frictional engagement of the seal with the inner wall, resulting in improved retention of the seal.

Abstract: A bulk degausser for erasing a reel of high energy magnetic tape. The degausser includes a circuit for generating magnetic fields including a coil defining a window for passage of the reel of tape. The coil includes a first winding having relatively few turns and a second winding, inductively coupled to the first winding, having relatively many turns. The circuit also includes an ac power supply connected to the first winding and a dc power supply connected to the second winding. A resonance capacitor is interconnected with the second winding for substantially balancing the inductive reactance of the second winding at the frequency of the ac power supply. The circuit also includes an isolation relay, interconnecting the capacitor and the second winding with the dc power supply, for isolating the dc power supply when the first winding is energized by the ac power supply.

Abstract: An upper cylinder area lubrication system is disclosed that dispenses a small amount of lubricant to the upper cylinder area of an internal combustion engine at regular intervals for a metered period of time. Typically, the lubricant is dispensed for one second every thirty minutes. An electric pump is used to draw the lubricant from the reservoir and apply it, preferably through a mixing chamber in the gasoline line located just before the gasoline is applied to the firing chambers. The control of the pump is via a solid-state timing device that separately sets the alternate on periods and the off periods.