Abstract: An alignment guide is provided having a shaft having a longitudinal axis. The guide includes a housing configured to be attached to the shaft and rotatable about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The housing includes a base and a plate. The base is attached to the shaft, and the plate is rotatable about the first axis relative to the base. The guide also includes a guide arm having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being attached to the housing and extending from the housing along a second axis, the second portion extending from the first portion at a first predetermined angle.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing CAx data may include (1) storing a model of an engineering object as a group of nodes including one or more feature nodes, (2) associating a corresponding transaction history with each feature node, the transaction history indicating one or more states for a feature over time, and (3) determining a state of a selected feature node at a selected point in time by accessing the corresponding transaction history of the selected feature node. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An alignment guide is provided having a shaft with a longitudinal axis and a guide arm having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is attached to the shaft and configured to be rotatable about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The second portion extends from the first portion at a first predetermined angle along a second axis. The third portion extends from the second portion at a second predetermined angle.

Abstract: A method, executed by at least one processor, may include storing, within a set of memory locations within a storage medium, data for a feature of an engineering object in a first client format and a collaborative server format that is different than the first client format, the first client format corresponding to a first CAx application operable by a first user, the collaborative server format corresponding to a collaborative server. The method may also include updating the data for the feature in both the first client format and the collaborative server format in response to receiving an update to the feature from, or detecting an update to the feature by, the first CAx application or the collaborative server. A corresponding system and computer readable medium are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A surgical instrument alignment guide comprising a mount (2) arranged to be coupled to a bone of a patient, an alignment rod (4), a guide rod (24) and an indicator (26). The alignment rod (4) has a first end pivotally coupled to the mount (2) such that the inclination of the alignment rod (4) relative to the mount (2) is adjustable. The guide rod (24) is couplable to a second end of the alignment rod (4) at an adjustable angle and orientation such that the guide rod (24) can extend transverse to the alignment rod (4). The indicator (26) is coupled to the guide rod (24) to indicate when the guide rod (24) lies at a desired angle relative to a horizontal axis. Also disclosed is a method of aligning a surgical instrument using the surgical instrument alignment guide.

Abstract: A surgical instrument alignment guide comprising a mount (2) arranged to be coupled to a bone of a patient, an alignment rod (4), a guide rod (24) and an indicator (26). The alignment rod (4) has a first end pivotally coupled to the mount (2) such that the inclination of the alignment rod (4) relative to the mount (2) is adjustable. The guide rod (24) is couplable to a second end of the alignment rod (4) at an adjustable angle and orientation such that the guide rod (24) can extend transverse to the alignment rod (4). The indicator (26) is coupled to the guide rod (24) to indicate when the guide rod (24) lies at a desired angle relative to a horizontal axis. Also disclosed is a method of aligning a surgical instrument using the surgical instrument alignment guide.

Abstract: A method of aligning an alignment guide relative to a reamed acetabulum of a patient is provided. The method includes the step of manipulating an alignment guide comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a guide arm having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion attached to the shaft and configured to be rotatable about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second portion extending from the first portion at a first predetermined angle along a second axis, and the third portion extending from the second portion at a second predetermined angle. The guide arm is rotated about the first axis relative to the shaft. A cup or trial is attached to the distal end of the shaft and positioned to contact the reamed acetabulum. The third portion of the guide arm is then oriented with respect to the long axis of the patient and the surface of the table on which the patient is positioned.

Abstract: An orientation guide comprising a housing arranged to couple to a surgical instrument. In one embodiment the orientation guide further comprises first and second indicators (22, 26). The first indicator (22) is pivotally coupled to the housing (20) such that the first indicator (22) can rotate relative to the housing (20) about a first axis (24) to maintain its angular position about the first axis (24) relative to a vertical axis irrespective of movement of the housing (20). The second indicator (26) surrounds the first indicator (22) and is pivotally coupled to the housing (20) such that the second indicator (26) can rotate relative to the housing (20) about a second axis (32) orthogonal to the first axis (24) to maintain its angular position about the second axis (32) relative to the vertical axis irrespective of movement of the housing (20).

Abstract: An aeration diffuser (12) for a pressurized liquid treatment module includes a base having a gas passageway (32) and a liquid passageway (50) fluidically separated from the gas passageway. Liquid is injectable into the liquid passageway of the base of the diffuser. Liquid flows through the base of the diffuser and into the module to be filtered by filtration membrane(s) within the module. Gas is injectable into the gas passageway of the base of the diffuser. Gas flowes through the base of the diffuser separately from the liquid to aerate the filtration membrane(s) within the module. Further a mdule including one or more diffusers and a method of filtration is disclosed.

Abstract: An alignment guide is described that includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a housing attachable to the shaft and rotatable about a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A guide arm the extends from the housing at a predetermined angle along a second axis. A spirit level is connected to the housing on a plane aligned with the predetermined angle.

Abstract: An episiotomy scissors (2) for use in conducting an episiotomy on a subject is provided, the scissors comprising a pair of pivotably connected scissor members; (4a, 4b) each scissor member comprising a handle (6a, 6b) extending in a proximal direction from the pivot connection and a blade (8a, 8b) extending in a distal direction from the pivot connection; and a guide member (20) mounted to a scissor member and having a guide surface (22a, 22b) extending in a distal direction from the scissor member at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the blade of the scissor member.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating an aqueous medium containing microorganisms comprises an intake for receiving the aqueous medium containing microorganisms. A pressure differential inducer is associated to the intake so as to receive the aqueous medium containing microorganisms with a desired level of gas saturation. The pressure differential inducer is actuatable to expose the aqueous medium containing microorganisms with a desired level of gas saturation to accelerations so as to cause cell wall rupture of the microorganisms. An outlet is associated with the pressure differential inducer for outletting the treated aqueous medium containing ruptured microorganism cells and contents. The treated aqueous medium containing ruptured cell wall of the microorganisms is disposed of and/or recycled.

Abstract: An alignment guide is described that includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a housing attachable to the shaft and rotatable about a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A guide arm the extends from the housing at a predetermined angle along a second axis. A spirit level is connected to the housing on a plane aligned with the predetermined angle.

Abstract: A fault seal analysis system with a data input which receives data pertaining to one or more physical parameters of a rock stratigraphy at or near a fault and means for analysing the data by applying one or more algorithm to create a model of the geometry and physical properties of the rock at or near the fault, the analysis means further comprising a user input which allows a user to vary input parameters of the one or more algorithms and creating one or more data volumes or models of the geometric and physical parameters. The analysed data is represented on a fault plane property viewer having at least one fault property diagram of a fault and a software module adapted to interrogate the data volume to map data from the data volume onto the diagram to show the sealing properties of the fault.

Abstract: A surgical instrument alignment guide comprising a mount (2) arranged to be coupled to a bone of a patient, an alignment rod (4), a guide rod (24) and an indicator (26). The alignment rod (4) has a first end pivotally coupled to the mount (2) such that the inclination of the alignment rod (4) relative to the mount (2) is adjustable. The guide rod (24) is couplable to a second end of the alignment rod (4) at an adjustable angle and orientation such that the guide rod (24) can extend transverse to the alignment rod (4). The indicator (26) is coupled to the guide rod (24) to indicate when the guide rod (24) lies at a desired angle relative to a horizontal axis. Also disclosed is a method of aligning a surgical instrument using the surgical instrument alignment guide.

Abstract: An orientation guide comprising a housing arranged to couple to a surgical instrument. In one embodiment the orientation guide further comprises first and second indicators (22, 26). The first indicator (22) is pivotally coupled to the housing (20) such that the first indicator (22) can rotate relative to the housing (20) about a first axis (24) to maintain its angular position about the first axis (24) relative to a vertical axis irrespective of movement of the housing (20). The second indicator (26) surrounds the first indicator (22) and is pivotally coupled to the housing (20) such that the second indicator (26) can rotate relative to the housing (20) about a second axis (32) orthogonal to the first axis (24) to maintain its angular position about the second axis (32) relative to the vertical axis irrespective of movement of the housing (20).

Abstract: An alignment guide is provided having a shaft with a longitudinal axis and a guide arm having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is attached to the shaft and configured to be rotatable about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The second portion extends from the first portion at a first predetermined angle along a second axis. The third portion extends from the second portion at a second predetermined angle.

Abstract: A method of aligning an alignment guide relative to a reamed acetabulum of a patient is provided. The method includes the step of manipulating an alignment guide comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a guide arm having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion attached to the shaft and configured to be rotatable about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second portion extending from the first portion at a first predetermined angle along a second axis, and the third portion extending from the second portion at a second predetermined angle. The guide arm is rotated about the first axis relative to the shaft. A cup or trial is attached to the distal end of the shaft and positioned to contact the reamed acetabulum. The third portion of the guide arm is then oriented with respect to the long axis of the patient and the surface of the table on which the patient is positioned.

Abstract: A power actuator is provided for a door latch. A transfer lever within the housing is selectively coupled to a motor-driven worm gear via a lost motion connector. Engaging the motor moves the transfer lever between a locked and an unlocked position, actuating an output lever mounted to a spline on the transfer lever. The worm gear returns to a neutral position when the motor is disengaged, leaving the transfer lever in either the locked or unlocked positions. Manually moving the output lever causes the transfer lever to move between its locked and unlocked positions without back-driving the worm gear. A toggle mechanism prevents the transfer lever from accidentally moving or only moving partially between the locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: A spark plug assembly (22) includes a center electrode (34) having a high performance metal sleeve (50) attached at its sparking end. The sleeve (50) is fitted to a tenon on the end of the center electrode (34) and fixed in place by a weld line (58) produced by laser beam pulses (56). The weld line (58) is applied by overlapping a plurality of spaced-apart beads in a single, continuous circumscribing line. The sleeve (50) is permitted to expand and contract under the influence of thermal cycling without constraint except for the fixation weld line (58). Therefore, the sleeve (50) does not experience stress build-ups resulting from differing rates of thermal expansion relative to the center electrode (34), which is preferably made from a nickel or other composition dissimilar to that of the high performance metal sleeve (50). Various ground electrode (30, 60) configurations are possible.