Abstract: A localizing wire comprising an anchor portion that can change shape from a collapsed shape to an expanded shape and thereby anchor within a tissue mass. A localizing wire having an exterior portion that can lie flat against the tissue mass. A localizing wire that can be repositioned or withdrawn without the need for the reinsertion of an introducer.

Abstract: A self-contained, self-piercing, and side-expelling marking apparatus for percutaneously placing a imaging marker in a tissue mass.

Abstract: A core biopsy device comprises an outer cutting cannula in telescoping register with an inner spoon cannula. The outer cutting cannula is provided at a distal end with an arcuate excising blade that is biased radially inwardly to extend beyond the longitudinal axis of the cannula. The inner spoon cannula terminates at a distal end in an arcuate wall to form a biopsy sample spoon for supporting a biopsy sample thereon. The outer cutting cannula can be rotated relative to the inner spoon cannula so that the excising blade can excise the biopsy sample from the surrounding tissue. After removal of the core biopsy device from the tissue, the outer cutting cannula can be retracted away from the inner spoon cannula to reveal the biopsy sample and enable the sample to be removed from the biopsy device in a relatively undisturbed condition.

Abstract: A biopsy marking apparatus for placing a radiopaque marker at the location of a percutaneous biopsy. The biopsy marking apparatus comprises an introducer in combination with a radiopaque marker. The introducer ejects the radiopaque marker at the location of the biopsy. The introducer is configured to completely eject the radiopaque marker and prevent it from being subsequently drawn into the introducer as the introducer is removed from the biopsied tissue mass. The radiopaque marker has enhanced radiopaque characteristics and enhanced non-migration characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for percutaneously implanting an imaging marker for identifying a location within a tissue mass. The subcutaneous imaging marker comprises at least a first element and a second element, each of which have a primary imaging mode. The primary imaging mode of the first element is different from that of the second element.

Abstract: A data processing system with configurable processor chip buses. The processor chip is designed with a plurality of extended buses of which a number are configurable buses (i.e., capable of being allocated to one of several external components, particularly memory and other SMPs). The processor chip allows for the static allocation of these configurable buses to these external components, based primarily on vendor system design preferences.

Abstract: A data processing system with configurable processor chip buses. The processor chip is designed with a bus allocation unit and has a plurality of extended buses of which a number are configurable buses (i.e. may be dynamically allocated to any one of several external components, particularly memory and other SMPs). A priority determination of bandwidth requirements of the external components is made during system processing. Then the configurable buses are dynamically allocated to the external components based on their bandwidth requirement and/or the configuration which provides the best overall system efficiency.

Abstract: A method of maintaining cache coherency when a value is shared in one or more caches and an invalidation request for the corresponding memory block is issued, by sending a combined response to a requesting device indicating that it may proceed with a requested transaction, and reissuing the invalidation request in a background manner to any cache which responded with a shared/busy response. The invalidation request may be placed in a background kill queue, and later bus transactions compared with entries of the background kill queue to maintain the integrity of the target memory block. The requesting device's processor may continue to perform subsequent loads and stores to the line while other devices must wait for the background kill to complete before receiving control of the line.

Abstract: A heat sink adapted to thermally couple to a surface mounted heat generating electronic device package in a manner which provides an increased thermal path between the heat sink and the electronic device package. The heat sink is typically mounted piggyback on a heat generating electronic device package which is surface mounted to a printed circuit board or other substrate. The heat sink comprises thermal legs which extend from the heat sink body and are thermally coupled to thermal leads of the heat generating electronic device package.

Abstract: A valve assembly is operative for automatically shutting off both a water supply line and gas supply line to a gas-fired hot water vessel upon detection of water discharge, leak or overflow, from the water vessel. The valve assembly is connected in the water supply line and generally includes a valve body, a sliding valve member which is spring biased to a normally closed position, and a water softenable latch which maintains the valve member in an open position against the bias of the spring. The valve assembly is preferably positioned in a drip pan located under the water vessel such that water leaking from the water vessel will accumulate in the drip pan and submerge the valve assembly. Upon exposure to water accumulated in the drip pan, the water softenable latch at least partially softens and releases the valve member to move from its open position to its closed position to cut off water supply through the valve body.