Abstract: A surgical guide system includes a shell trial having a convex side configured to engage an acetabulum, a concave side forming a cavity therein, and windows extending through the convex and concave sides for viewing bone. The system further includes a liner trial having a convex side configured to be received within the cavity of the concave side of the shell trial, and a concave side with recessed hole guides there, wherein more than one of the hole guides align with the windows of the shell trial when the liner trial is received therein. The system further includes an acetabular cup implant having a convex side configured to engage an acetabulum, a concave side, and a thickness extending between the concave and convex sides, the concave side defining a cavity configured to receive the liner trial.

Abstract: Disclosed is a salinity detection device. The salinity detection device has a collection plate, a mounting frame, and a sensor portion including a predominantly non-metallic sensor. The device may be mounted in a wheel well of a vehicle via the mounting frame and the collection plate may be attached to the mounting frame and positioned behind a wheel such that water on a road surface may be splashed thereon. The collection plate is fluidically connected to the sensor portion so that water may flow through the sensor portion proximate the sensor to measure a current flowing through the water and determine a salinity thereof.

Abstract: Hot surface igniter assemblies used in cooktops are shown and described. The hot surface igniters include a silicon nitride ceramic body with an embedded, resistive, heat-generating circuit. When energized, the circuit generates temperatures in excess of 2000° F. in under 4 seconds to ignite cooking gas such as natural gas. To prevent damage to the igniter during use or cleaning, an insulator assembly is provided which protects the distal end of the igniter ceramic body from damage while still exposing it to the cooking gas flow from the burner. In addition, a number of different terminal connection schemes for connecting the igniters to a power source are shown and described.

Abstract: Hot surface igniter assemblies used in cooktops are shown and described. The hot surface igniters include a silicon nitride ceramic body with an embedded, resistive, heat-generating circuit. When energized, the circuit generates temperatures in excess of 2000° F. in under 4 seconds to ignite cooking gas such as natural gas. To prevent damage to the igniter during use or cleaning, an insulator assembly is provided which protects the distal end of the igniter ceramic body from damage while still exposing it to the cooking gas flow from the burner. In addition, a number of different terminal connection schemes for connecting the igniters to a power source are shown and described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are patellar implants and methods to prepare bone for receiving the same. The patellar implant may include an articulating surface with an elliptically shaped median ridge. The anterior surface of the patellar implant may have a non-planar surface to engage with a resected natural patella. The non-planar surface may allow for varying thickness of the patellar implant. The patellar implant may include dual attachment features to secure patellar implant to a resected patella by onlay and inlay techniques. A method for attaching a patellar implant to a patella may include onlay and inlay techniques and may further include bone preparation at the implant-bone interface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are patellar implants and methods to prepare bone for receiving the same. The patellar implant may include an articulating surface with an elliptically shaped median ridge. The anterior surface of the patellar implant may have a non-planar surface to engage with a resected natural patella. The non-planar surface may allow for varying thickness of the patellar implant. The patellar implant may include dual attachment features to secure patellar implant to a resected patella by onlay and inlay techniques. A method for attaching a patellar implant to a patella may include onlay and inlay techniques and may further include bone preparation at the implant-bone interface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a salinity detection device. The salinity detection device has a collection plate, a mounting frame, and a sensor portion including a predominantly non-metallic sensor. The device may be mounted in a wheel well of a vehicle via the mounting frame and the collection plate may be attached to the mounting frame and positioned behind a wheel such that water on a road surface may be splashed thereon. The collection plate is fluidically connected to the sensor portion so that water may flow through the sensor portion proximate the sensor to measure a current flowing through the water and determine a salinity thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of designing and fabricating prosthetic implants having a sagittal wall in which at least a portion thereof traverses a non-linear path. A method of fabricating such a prosthetic implant may include generating a virtual bone model based on image information obtained from at least one bone, determining a proposed height of the prosthetic implant at a first location on the virtual bone model, determining a proposed resection depth into the at least one bone at the first location based at least in part on the proposed height of the prosthetic implant, and determining a curved resection path across a portion of the virtual bone model. The curved resection path may intersect the first location and the prosthetic implant may have a curved sagittal wall corresponding to the curved resection path.

Abstract: Hot surface igniter assemblies used in cooktops are shown and described. The hot surface igniters include a silicon nitride ceramic body with an embedded, resistive, heat-generating circuit. When energized, the circuit generates temperatures in excess of 2000° F. in under 4 seconds to ignite cooking gas such as natural gas. To prevent damage to the igniter during use or cleaning, an insulator assembly is provided which protects the distal end of the igniter ceramic body from damage while still exposing it to the cooking gas flow from the burner. In addition, a number of different terminal connection schemes for connecting the igniters to a power source are shown and described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are patellar implants and methods to prepare bone for receiving the same. The patellar implant may include an articulating surface with an elliptically shaped median ridge. The anterior surface of the patellar implant may have a non-planar surface to engage with a resected natural patella. The non-planar surface may allow for varying thickness of the patellar implant. The patellar implant may include dual attachment features to secure patellar implant to a resected patella by onlay and inlay techniques. A method for attaching a patellar implant to a patella may include onlay and inlay techniques and may further include bone preparation at the implant-bone interface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are orthopedic implants having a medial portion and a lateral portion, each of the medial and lateral portions having a proximal surface and a distal surface opposite the proximal surface. An intermediate portion joins the medial and lateral portions, wherein the intermediate portion has a proximal surface angled to the proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions about a longitudinal axis of the orthopedic implant. The proximal surface of the medial portion is stepped from the proximal surface of the lateral portion about the longitudinal axis. The proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions are configured to receive corresponding medial and lateral inserts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of designing and fabricating prosthetic implants having a sagittal wall in which at least a portion thereof traverses a non-linear path. A method of fabricating such a prosthetic implant may include generating a virtual bone model based on image information obtained from at least one bone, determining a proposed height of the prosthetic implant at a first location on the virtual bone model, determining a proposed resection depth into the at least one bone at the first location based at least in part on the proposed height of the prosthetic implant, and determining a curved resection path across a portion of the virtual bone model. The curved resection path may intersect the first location and the prosthetic implant may have a curved sagittal wall corresponding to the curved resection path.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of designing and fabricating prosthetic implants having a sagittal wall in which at least a portion thereof traverses a non-linear path. A method of fabricating such a prosthetic implant may include generating a virtual bone model based on image information obtained from at least one bone, determining a proposed height of the prosthetic implant at a first location on the virtual bone model, determining a proposed resection depth into the at least one bone at the first location based at least in part on the proposed height of the prosthetic implant, and determining a curved resection path across a portion of the virtual bone model. The curved resection path may intersect the first location and the prosthetic implant may have a curved sagittal wall corresponding to the curved resection path.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are orthopaedic implants having a medial portion and a lateral portion, each of the medial and lateral portions having a proximal surface and a distal surface opposite the proximal surface. An intermediate portion joins the medial and lateral portions, wherein the intermediate portion has a proximal surface angled to the proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions about a longitudinal axis of the orthopaedic implant. The proximal surface of the medial portion is stepped from the proximal surface of the lateral portion about the longitudinal axis. The proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions are configured to receive corresponding medial and lateral inserts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tibial baseplates having a medial portion and a lateral portion, each of the medial and lateral portions having a proximal surface and a distal surface opposite the proximal surface. An intermediate portion joins the medial and lateral portions, wherein the intermediate portion has a proximal surface angled to the proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions about a longitudinal axis of the tibial baseplate. The proximal surface of the medial portion is stepped from the proximal surface of the lateral portion about the longitudinal axis. The proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions are configured to receive corresponding medial and lateral inserts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of designing and fabricating prosthetic implants having a sagittal wall in which at least a portion thereof traverses a non-linear path. A method of fabricating such a prosthetic implant may include generating a virtual bone model based on image information obtained from at least one bone, determining a proposed height of the prosthetic implant at a first location on the virtual bone model, determining a proposed resection depth into the at least one bone at the first location based at least in part on the proposed height of the prosthetic implant, and determining a curved resection path across a portion of the virtual bone model. The curved resection path may intersect the first location and the prosthetic implant may have a curved sagittal wall corresponding to the curved resection path.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tibial baseplates having a medial portion and a lateral portion, each of the medial and lateral portions having a proximal surface and a distal surface opposite the proximal surface. An intermediate portion joins the medial and lateral portions, wherein the intermediate portion has a proximal surface angled to the proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions about a longitudinal axis of the tibial baseplate. The proximal surface of the medial portion is stepped from the proximal surface of the lateral portion about the longitudinal axis. The proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions are configured to receive corresponding medial and lateral inserts.

Abstract: An implant, and a method of designing the implant, takes into account heterogeneous bone properties. The method may be directed to designing a fixation feature of the implant using a virtual bone model. Bone property information derived from image data may be mapped to the virtual bone. A virtual model of the implant may be created, including a virtual fixation feature characterized by an input parameter. One or more simulations may be performed, the simulations being of an implantation of the virtual implant on the virtual bone. Values for at least one input parameter may be used for each simulation, each simulation resulting in a value for an output parameter. The input and output values may be analyzed to derive a relationship between the values, the relationship being used to design the fixation feature of the implant.

Abstract: An instructional baseball used for the art of teaching the proper techniques of throwing a curveball is shown having a spherical body with an integrally formed fin extending from the body in a figure-8 path which extends around the outer surface of the body in a figure-8 path similar to the stitching of a conventional baseball. In other preferred embodiments an elongated V-shaped groove is formed in the outer surface of the body with a fin disposed within the groove also following the same figure-8 path as the V-groove. The fin acts as an air shield creating greater drag forces on the baseball as it is thrown through the air with a spinning motion. The greater drag forces increase the Magnus force on the ball, allowing it to curve move dramatically then that of a conventional baseball. Increasing the curve rate of the baseball will serve to help pitchers more easily see the results of their throwing techniques and ultimately improve their curveball throwing skills.

Abstract: An instructional baseball used for the art of teaching the proper techniques of throwing a curveball is shown having a spherical body with a recessed elongated V-shaped groove which extends around the outer surface of the body in a figure-8 path similar to the stitching of a conventional baseball. Centered within the V-shaped groove opening is a fin member which also follows the same figure-8 path as the V-groove. The fin member acts as an air shield creating greater drag forces on the baseball as it is thrown through the air with a spinning motion. The greater drag forces increase the Magnus force on the ball, allowing it to curve move dramatically then that of a conventional baseball. Increasing the curve rate of the baseball will serve to help pitchers more easily see the results of their throwing techniques and ultimately improve their curveball throwing skills.