Abstract: Anterior cervical plating systems including an elongated anterior cervical plate with bone screw bores disposed near two opposite ends. The anterior cervical plate incorporates a curved plane transverse to the longitudinal axis to conform to the anterior surface of a vertebra and is also curved along the longitudinal axis to conform to the lordotic curvature between the vertebrae and may feature at least one through window in a middle bridge portion to provide an interface for a drill and tap guide assembly. Paired locking mechanisms provided on the anterior cervical plate provide rigid fixation of the bone screws to the anterior cervical plate with the heads of the bone screws flush or recessed below the upper curved surface of the anterior cervical plate.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for mobile spinal fixation rod systems. A central housing may be formed in part from the enlarged end of a connection rod and may house a flexible insert in a cavity thereof. The enlarged head of a flexion rod may be disposed in the flexible insert and retained in the cavity by a coupler completing the central housing. A rod system of the present invention is capable of deflection, distraction and compression to preserve motion while providing fixation to the attached vertebrae.

Abstract: Dynamic, flexible wrought Nickel/Titanium alloy spinal rods for spinal fusion or dynamic stabilization vertebral implants and methods and processes related to their manufacture. The dynamic and flexibility properties of the wrought Nickel/Titanium alloy spinal rod may be varied by altering processing parameters during manufacture that develop the shape memory characteristics, mechanical properties, and product workability characteristics to achieve custom manufacture of spinal rods having desired flexion in desired lengths. Such a custom manufactured spinal rod may be affixed to an inferior vertebral body at a standard lamina or pedicle location and to one superior vertebral body at a standard lamina or pedicle location using pedicle screws, lamina hooks, or pedicle hooks to provide dynamic stabilization between superior and inferior vertebrae in connection with a spinal fusion procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for decompression and dynamic stabilization of the vertebrae. A flexion construct is formed from a medial loop of a cylindrical member in a first plane that is generally parallel to the long axis of the member, and two outlying loops, generally residing in a common second plane that is generally parallel to the long axis of the member and generally perpendicular to the first plane formed by the medial loop. The medial loop and outlying loops of the flexion construct may aid in controlling distraction, compression and flexion of the assembly. Multiple level constructs may include multiple sets of loops, one set for each spinal level. The member may also include two legs that terminate in hooks or include a straight portion for attachment by another attachment means. A protective sleeve may be used between the member and any attachment means.

Abstract: A dynamic spinal rod system for semi-restrained holding of the vertebrae with respect to each other in a corrected position while providing varying degrees of vertebral body freedom of movement. A first or “male” component has an enlarged proximal end with a bio-compatible elastic polymer insert through which an anchoring component, such as a pedicle screw, may be placed for attachment, and a cylindrical distal end. A second or “female” component includes a similar enlarged proximal end with a bio-compatible elastic polymer insert through which an anchoring component may be placed for attachment, but has a distal end with a colleted portion into which the distal end of the first component may be inserted and retained to form a joined system. A third “interconnector” component may be used to attach to the proximal end of either of the first two components.

Abstract: A transverse connector system for coupling elongate elements to each other in a spinal fixation system. An upper arm member and a lower arm member are connected by a washer and locking bolt to form a transverse plate. The distal ends of the upper arm member and the lower arm member each include a swivel rod connector and may be attached to a locking rod connector using a locking bolt to secure an elongate fixation element therein. The upper arm member and lower arm member are laterally adjustable and pivotably adjustable with respect to one another due to the washer and slot connection, and thus accommodate divergences and convergences in the attached rods.

Abstract: A transverse connector system for coupling elongate elements to each other in a spinal fixation system. A trans-connector plate with at least one slot-like passage may have top and bottom elongated concave surface configurations. A cylindrical component of a coupling member may be configured to couple with an elongate fixation element by way of a helical slot. A male component on the coupling member may be inserted through the slot like passage and a locking member may be secured thereon to position and orient the coupling member. A second coupling member and locking member may be utilized through a passage in the trans-connector plate, which may be a second slot-like passage. Each locking member cooperates with its respective coupling member to prevent uncoupling, and each may be positioned at a desired lateral position along a slot-like passage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic range including a cavity, in which cooking of food is to be conducted, a heater chamber arranged over the cavity, an axial-flow fan arranged in the heater chamber and adapted to generate a downward flow of air, and a heater arranged outside the axial-flow fan and adapted to generate heat of a high temperature. A convection plate is arranged between the axial-flow fan and the heater. The convection plate serves to control a flow of air circulating in the interior of the electronic range to effectively convect the heat generated from the heater into the cavity during an operation of the axial-flow fan causing a repeated procedure of downwardly introducing the downward flow of air into the cavity, and then upwardly moving the flow of air along a side wall of the cavity. In this electronic range, food disposed in the cavity is heated, using reflection heat generated by the convection plates and convection air generated by the axial-flow fan.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a convection fan control method of a microwave oven which is capable of changing discharge direction of the air heated by a heater to a heating object by controlling rotation direction of a convection fan in accordance with types of a dish comprising a cooking time setting process for selecting a dish type of a heating object and setting cooking time, a rotation direction setting process for setting rotating direction of a fan motor which is capable of rotating and reverse-rotating, a fan motor operating process for operating the fan motor in accordance with the set rotating direction, a fan operating process for rotating a fan by the operating of the fan motor, and a cooking process for cooking the heating object for the select cooking time by operating of a heater.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for transmitting a dimming control signal in an up/down encoding manner. A dimming control value and a number of a desired electronic ballast group are set by the user and then encoded into binary data in the up/down manner. The encoded binary data is set as transmission data. A receiving stage receives the transmission data and performs a dimming control operation on the basis of dimming up/down information and electronic ballast group number up/down information of the received data.

Abstract: The present invention is a nitrogen pressure swing adsorption process for separating gas mixtures containing nitrogen and oxygen, such as air, using a unique gas transfer process step, continuous feed gas introduction and an appropriate isolation step with continued product purge/repressurization to achieve high purity nitrogen product of 99.9% or greater by volume nitrogen, preferably 99.99% or greater by volume of nitrogen.

Abstract: The present invention is a pressure swing adsorption process for separating a more strongly adsorbed gas component from a less strongly adsorbed gas component in a feed gas mixture at higher recoveries and productivity and less capital cost by the use of void space gas recycle, membrane based nitrogen enrichment of feed gas and the elimination of pressure equalization steps. The process is particularly amenable to air separation wherein nitrogen product is recovered and an oxygen byproduct is removed.