Abstract: Among other things, there are disclosed embodiments of an intramedullary nail system for use in pediatric cases, including an intramedullary nail and a targeting assembly. Embodiments of the nail may be one-piece and include a proximal portion, a medial portion and a distal portion. The junction of the medial portion and distal portion is a bend that provides a small angle between the medial portion and the distal portion as viewed when the nail is substantially in a medial-lateral plane. The targeting assembly attaches to the proximal portion of the nail securely and enables easy insertion of fixing screws.

Abstract: A medical device includes a spinal rod receiving channel disposed within the medical device and a rod retaining set screw, wherein the spinal rod receiving channel includes an upper arc having a first end and second end, a first middle arc connected to the first end of the upper arc, a second middle arc connected to the second end of the upper arc and disposed opposite the first middle arc, connecting slants connected to first and second middle arcs, and a lower arc connected to the connecting slants, and the rod retaining set screw configured to secure a spinal rod disposed in the spinal rod receiving channel into the medical device.

Abstract: Pulling eyes are provided with integrated wiring systems suitable for installing conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may include body portions that define interior cavities that are sized to snugly engage outside portions of the conductors or cables. The body portions are sized to be deformably crimped onto the outside portions of the conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may also include head portions joined to the body portions, with the head portions defining apertures for receiving a strength member for installing the conductors or cables. These apertures place the interior cavities in communication with the exteriors of the pulling eyes.

Abstract: A scanning system to analyze wood and determine defects includes at least two ultrasonic transducers configured to scan the wood from edge to edge by triangulating the wood. The at least two ultrasonic transducers are configured to find splits and shakes.

Abstract: Data in a portable electronic device is protected by using external and internal status detection means to determine if the device is misplaced, lost, or stolen. The device then takes, singly or in combination, one of several actions to protect the data on the device, including declaring its location to an owner or service provider, locking the device or specific functions of the device to disable all data retrieval functionality, erasing or overwriting all the stored data in the device or, where the data has been stored in the device in an encrypted format, destroying an internally-stored encryption key, thereby preventing unauthorized access to the encrypted data in the device.

Abstract: The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel.

Abstract: A method for scanning an individual with a security device includes providing a scanner, engaging the scanner in a first scanning mode to produce an initial scan of the individual with a controller, producing an initial representation based on the initial scan, determining a property of a second scanning mode based on information from the initial representation, and engaging the scanner in the second scanning mode to produce a second scan of the individual.

Abstract: Pulling eyes are provided with integrated wiring systems suitable for installing conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may include body portions that define interior cavities that are sized to snugly engage outside portions of the conductors or cables. The body portions are sized to be deformably crimped onto the outside portions of the conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may also include head portions joined to the body portions, with the head portions defining apertures for receiving a strength member for installing the conductors or cables. These apertures place the interior cavities in communication with the exteriors of the pulling eyes.

Abstract: A traceable cement mixture includes a volume of cementitious material, a plurality of taggants disposed within the volume of cementitious material according to a taggant mix ratio that is specified based on a quality of the cementitious material, and a volume of an additional material mixed with the volume of cementitious material according an additional material mix ratio.

Abstract: A vehicle tire pressure control system includes a road sensor configured to acquire road data regarding a road at an advanced location ahead of a current location of a vehicle; a pressure regulator configured to control the air pressure within a tire of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle; and a controller configured to control operation of the pressure regulator and vary the air pressure within the tire based on the road data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a system of apparatuses to correct spinal deformities along with associated surgical techniques. The apparatuses comprise passages or channels in which spinal rods of differing diameters may be secured to allow a surgeon to vary the diameter of rods used along the length of the spine. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention are directed toward instrumentation for reduction of spinal rods into spinal pedicle screws.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and a method. The system includes a sensor device configured to measure a combustion product in an exhaust stream from a fossil-fueled combustion apparatus. The system includes a compliance circuit configured to generate an air quality management signal responsive to (i) the measured combustion product and (ii) an emission target for the measured combustion product. The system includes a combustion controller circuit configured to regulate an aspect of the combustion of the fossil fuel in response to the air quality management signal. In an embodiment, the system includes a receiver circuit configured to receive a current or forecasted air quality status or condition. In an embodiment, the system includes a combustion analysis circuit configured to generate air pollution information responsive to the measured combustion product. In an embodiment, the system includes a user interface configured to display the air pollution information.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and a method. The system includes a sensor device configured to measure a combustion product in an exhaust stream generated by a fossil-fueled combustion apparatus. The system includes a combustion analysis circuit configured to generate air pollution information responsive to (i) the measured combustion product and (ii) an emission target for the measured combustion product. The system includes a user interface configured to display the air pollution information in a human perceivable format. In an embodiment, the system includes a combustion controller configured to regulate an aspect of the combustion of the fossil fuel in response to the air quality management selection entered by the human user.

Abstract: The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel.

Abstract: A pedicle screw includes a tulip head, a rod seat, a screw shank, and a retainer collar. The tulip head has an upper opening disposed in a top end of the tulip head and a lower opening disposed in a bottom end of the tulip head opposite the upper opening. The upper and lower openings form a single cavity extending through the tulip head from a top end to the bottom end. The rod seat is disposed within the cavity of the tulip head and engages a stop extending inwardly from an interior wall of the cavity. The screw shank has a thread disposed along a length of the screw shank and a connector positioned at an upper end. The retainer collar has a pass through aperture, an expansion slit, and is disposed about the connector of the screw shank. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. The system includes a sensor device configured to measure an unburned fuel component in an exhaust stream from a gas-fueled combustion device. The system includes a feedback controller configured to generate a combustion management signal responsive to the measured unburned fuel component and to a target value for the measured unburned fuel component. The system includes a combustion controller configured to regulate an aspect of a combustion component delivered to a burner of the gas-fueled combustion device in response to the combustion management signal. In an embodiment, the system includes a user interface configured to display a quality of combustion information responsive to the measured unburned fuel component in a human perceivable format.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. The system includes a sensor device configured to measure an unburned fuel component in an exhaust stream generated by a gas-fueled combustion device. The system includes a combustion analysis circuit configured to generate a quality of combustion information responsive to the measured unburned fuel component. The system includes a user interface configured to display the quality of combustion information in a human perceivable format. In an embodiment, the system includes a combustion component controller configured to regulate an aspect of a combustion component delivered to the gas-fueled combustion device in response to the combustion management selection entered by a human user.

Abstract: A system for selectively enabling a microprocessor-based system is disclosed. State information that describes the operating conditions or circumstances under which a user intends to operate the system is obtained. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a valid hash value is determined, preferably based on the state information and preferably by locating the valid hash value within a table of valid hash values indexed by the state information. Candidate authorization information is obtained from the user, and a candidate hash value is generated by applying a hashing algorithm to the candidate authorization information, the state information, or a combination of the candidate authorization information and state information. The candidate hash value and the valid hash value are then compared, and the microprocessor-based system is enabled if the candidate hash value matches the valid hash value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating wire and cable installations are provided. According to embodiments, a system comprises a reel and a first parallel including a first conductor loaded onto the reel in a first layer. The system may further comprise a second parallel including a second conductor loaded onto the reel in a second layer. At least a portion of the second layer of the second parallel may be loaded on top of at least a portion of the first layer of the first parallel.

Abstract: Lumen-traveling biological interface devices and associated methods and systems are described. Lumen-traveling biological interface devices capable of traveling within a body lumen may include a propelling mechanism to produce movement of the lumen-traveling device within the lumen, electrodes or other electromagnetic transducers for detecting biological signals and electrodes, coils or other electromagnetic transducers for delivering electromagnetic stimuli to stimulus responsive tissues. Lumen-traveling biological interface devices may also include additional components such as sensors, an active portion, and/or control circuitry.