Abstract: A method of stabilizing a facet joint by providing a fixation member with a substantially stadium-shaped cross-section, forming a void having a substantially stadium-shaped cross-section within the facet joint and inserting the fixation member into the void. The void is formed by engaging a first drill guide with the facet joint having two drill guide paths and drilling two spaced-apart or slightly overlapping passageways within the face joint, followed by engaging a second drill guide with the facet joint and drilling a third passageway between the two other passageways. The fixation member includes a tapered, anti-migration section configured for engaging the opposing articular surfaces of the joint.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a facet joint by providing a fixation member with a substantially stadium-shaped cross-section, forming a void having a substantially stadium-shaped cross-section within the facet joint and inserting the fixation member into the void. The void is formed by engaging a first drill guide with the facet joint having two drill guide paths and drilling two spaced-apart or slightly overlapping passageways within the face joint, followed by engaging a second drill guide with the facet joint and drilling a third passageway between the two other passageways. The fixation member includes a tapered, anti-migration section configured for engaging the opposing articular surfaces of the joint.

Abstract: A system and method that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery. The system includes screw preparation instruments that include a targeted guide with a laser attached to a fluoroscope, at least one polyaxial screw and rod guidance instruments that selectively insert the at least one polyaxial screw within the spine. The screw preparation instruments include an awl, a hand-held drill or tap, a ball-tipped probe, a cannulated depth gauge ruler, and a hexagonal screwdriver. Each screw preparation instrument have respective handles marked with a targeting guide oriented along respective central axes of the instruments. The rod guidance instruments include a rod with a tapered tip, a T-handle rod holder, a T-handle alignment guide, an alignment marker sleeve, a flexible alignment marker with a polyaxial head, and a template rod.

Abstract: A system and method that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery. The system includes screw preparation instruments that include a targeted guide with a laser attached to a fluoroscope, at least one polyaxial screw and rod guidance instruments that selectively insert the at least one polyaxial screw within the spine. The screw preparation instruments include an awl, a hand-held drill or tap, a ball-tipped probe, a cannulated depth gauge ruler, and a hexagonal screwdriver. Each screw preparation instrument have respective handles marked with a targeting guide oriented along respective central axes of the instruments. The rod guidance instruments include a rod with a tapered tip, a T-handle rod holder, a T-handle alignment guide, an alignment marker sleeve, a flexible alignment marker with a polyaxial head, and a template rod.

Abstract: A system and method that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery. The system includes screw preparation instruments that include a targeted guide with a laser attached to a fluoroscope, at least one polyaxial screw and rod guidance instruments that selectively insert the at least one polyaxial screw within the spine. The screw preparation instruments include an awl, a hand-held drill or tap, a ball-tipped probe, a cannulated depth gauge ruler, and a hexagonal screwdriver. Each screw preparation instrument have respective handles marked with a targeting guide oriented along respective central axes of the instruments. The rod guidance instruments include a rod with a tapered tip, a T-handle rod holder, a T-handle alignment guide, an alignment marker sleeve, a flexible alignment marker with a polyaxial head, and a template rod.

Abstract: Dual-wavelength operation is easily achieved by biasing the gain section. Multiple gratings spaced apart from each other are separated from an output aperture by a gain section. A relatively low coupling coefficient, ?, in the front grating reduces the added cavity loss for the back grating mode. Therefore, the back grating mode reaches threshold easily. The space section lowers the current induced thermal interaction between the two uniform grating sections, significantly reducing the inadvertent wavelength drift. As a result, a tunable mode pair separations (??) as small as 0.3 nm and as large as 6.9 nm can be achieved.

Abstract: A new and innovative technique of producing Lilium elegans Asiatic hybrid lily is disclosed. Very small bulbils from leaf axils of L. elegans receives sequential low-high-low temperature treatment before planting in the soil medium. After planting, scale leaves emerge and bulb weight increases. After about 13 scale leaves have emerged from the bulbs, the temperature is lowered to favor shoot emergence, preferably under long day photoperiod to accelerate shoot emergence and to induce flower bud formation. A desirable plant producing up to three flowers on a long stem is produced in about 270-300 days after harvesting bulbils, thus bypassing the field production phase of the bulb that lasts more than a year in the field.