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USB Drives
Flash Cards
System-Specific Memory
From the world's independent memory leader. Each module is designed, manufactured, tested and tailored to maximize the performance of a specific brand name computer system.
ValueRAM Memory
Kingston's competitively priced, industry standard memory delivers award-winning performance and legendary Kingston® reliability. When you know what you want, you want ValueRAM.
HyperX Memory
Engineered and tested to deliver extreme performance, HyperX easily endures the most rigorous demands of any creative professional, gamer or PC enthusiast.
Revive your computer with improved speed, performance and reliability over traditional hard drives.
Extend the lifecycle and dramatically improve the performance of PCs for a lower TCO with SSDNow drives designed for business.
These enterprise SSDs offer increased endurance and power-failure features to keep mission-critical environments up and running 24/7.
System Builders
Hard drive replacements ideal for non-PC applications
Personal Drives
Personal DataTraveler Flash drives offer capacities up to 1TB and a wide variety of features. Store and transfer photos, music, videos and files with legendary Kingston reliability.
Encrypted Drives
Designed to protect data that requires airtight security, these drives help you meet specific agency directives like TAA and FIPS compliance and are ideal for Government or Corporate use.
Windows To Go Drives
Kingston offers Flash drives designed for and certified by Microsoft® for use with Windows® To Go.
A feature of Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows to Go lets IT administrators provide mobile and contingency workers with secure access to the corporate environment.
Photo/Video (SD Cards)
From everyday use to professional photo or video, these cards deliver exceptional speeds, huge capacities and legendary Kingston reliability.
Mobile Devices (microSD)
Reliable photo and video storage for phones, tablets, PDAs and more. Available in a full range of sizes and speeds with accessories to suit your needs.
High-End Photo (CompactFlash)
Designed and custom-tailored for photo and video professionals with the highest demands for speed, capacity, performance and reliability.
Card Readers
Kingston Card Readers quickly transfer all your data – photos, videos, music etc.– so you can wait less and do more. They support a wide variety of formats, including microSD, microSDHC, SD, SDHC, SDXC and CompactFlash.
Wireless Readers
Access all your data, wherever you go with MobileLite Wireless. It's a portable media reader for tablets and smartphones that lets you share data with multiple users simultaneously. Plus it's an emergency battery charger for your smartphone.
Customer Service
We're available to help, whether you're deciding what to buy or want to ensure you're purchasing genuine Kingston products.
Technical Support
Easily access all the information you need on any Kingston product or contact our knowledgeable technical support team.
Warranty / Returns
Rely on Kingston to stand behind its products and provide solutions that give you peace of mind.
Report Counterfeit Product
Email Customer Service
Chat with Customer Service
Customer Support Phone Numbers
Tech Support FAQs
Installation & Instruction
Drivers / Downloads
Contact Tech Support
Warranty Information
Return Policy
SSDNow S100 Firmware FAQs — SS100S2FW
Quick Links
Warranty Information
Downloads & Drivers
There are no downloads or drivers available for this product
Frequently Asked Questions
Featured Questions
Yes, complete instructions can be found at http://media.kingston.com/support/downloads/SV100S2_120229_FwUpdateProcedure.pdf
Kingston strongly recommends that a data backup be performed before applying
the available firmware revision.
If you have questions, please contact tech support for
additional assistance.
Our internal tests show that applying the firmware should not cause loss of data;
however, we strongly recommend you perform a data backup before applying the
Kingston strongly recommends that customers apply the firmware update.
Even though the issue has affected a small percentage of drives in the market, it can result in drive failure and possible data loss in those cases.
If your CD/DVD drive is external, the firmware update will not work with some external CD/DVD drives.
The solution is to use either a different external CD/DVD drive or update the SSD in a computer with an internal CD/DVD drive.
If you are using an internal CD/DVD drive and get this error, try changing all the SATA ports in the BIOS to IDE compatibility mode, not just the port to which the SSD is connected.
This may be because you are using a combo drive that includes Blu-Ray.
Try using an older drive that is CD-ROM/DVD only.
Make sure you are using the correct firmware update file. You will need to use a different file depending on what firmware version you already have. The firmware version is printed on the label on the drive. But if you performed a previous update, the label may not be correct. If you use the wrong firmware, the updating utility will display your current firmware version when you run it.
This firmware update runs using FreeDOS 1.0, which is located on the bootable disk created by the user.
It is independent of OS or platform.
The SATA ports in the BIOS must be in IDE mode for the firmware to be applied otherwise the drive will not be detected by the updater.
No. The drive must be connected directly to the system's SATA port for the updater to work.
Email Technical Support
Call Technical Support: +1 (800) 435-0640
©2015 Kingston Technology Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


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Updated: 05/10/2013 11:04 AM KSTP.com By: Todd Wilson
The gay, lesbian and transgender community celebrated a triumph from the floor to the balcony within the walls of the State Capitol.
Thursday's vote is one more step closer to validating their love.
"We're going to have so many more rights than we have now," supporter Nina Cocchiarella said.
Thursday's vote is a move that is leading towards same-sex marriage in the state of Minnesota. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak showed up and joined the celebrations. He's a big supporter and was seen posing for pictures.
"All we're asking is that everybody in Minnesota be treated equally, and I believe in Minnesota and I think this proved it today," Mayor Rybak said.
Not everyone at the capitol shared his optimism. Some opponents of the vote sang a somber song on the steps of the Capitol. One woman sat silently in a state of shock.
"It's going to happen," an opponent of the bill said, while nearby a mother and son continued to oppose the decision.
"If they pass the legislation it's not fair because this is our kids future and it's our rights," Fadumo Yusaf said.
Whether it is fair or not the House has spoken with its votes. We now turn our attention to the Senate.
It appears the gay marriage bill will pass at least on party lines. Come Monday we'll see if anyone steps away from their party. The governor says he'll sign it.

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm a little ashamed to admit that I completely mindlessly accepted that, on Bravo's Make Me A Supermodel, the modeling industry would require size 2 female model Salome to lose some weight in the hips, but got all outraged when they told male model and former ballet dancer Sandhurst that his thighs were too big for him to model jeans. And that it seemed plausible to me that female model Fo on America's Next Top Model was probably too short at 5'8" to make it in the industry, but that it was completely ludicrous that Make Me A Supermodel's Colin is too tall at 6'3". I feel bad now about my double standards!
Click read for the rest of the post. Picture of Sandhurst struggling to get denim over his self-described "thunder thighs." I'm not seeing it.
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Have an idea for the blog? Click here to contact us!


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Business intelligence suites make their way to the cloud
Big Data continues to influence how enterprise decision-makers tackle various IT projects because most companies want to capitalize on the new information they've collected. As executives become comfortable using various cloud computing technologies, for example, they are leaning toward adopting cloud-based business intelligence suites that can give provide the insight needed to improve their internal and external operations.
Analysts at research firm Ovum stated that business intelligence (BI) solutions hosted in the cloud are gaining momentum due to the inherent scalable nature of the cloud. Companies now have the opportunity to develop a BI strategy with only a single user and quickly expand to hundreds or thousands of users as projects develop over time.
Although this opportunity can be highly advantageous for all organizations, it is particularly alluring to small and medium-sized businesses that may otherwise struggle to financially or physically support initiatives that allow them to compete with larger enterprises, Ovum noted.
"It is clear that the cloud is becoming a more cost-effective delivery model for BI vendors to offer their software," said Fredrik Tunvall, an analyst at Ovum. "Many BI vendors are increasingly betting on the 'land and expand' model as the way to push their products: a single user or department will adopt the product, champion it and spread it via word of mouth within the organization."
With sophisticated business intelligence technologies in place, organizations can take advantage of the evolving Big Data landscape without encountering significant performance obstacles.
Big data of the future
Because business intelligence tools require companies to customize resources so they can aggregate data from multiple sources, decision-makers need to plan ahead. This is especially important when leveraging cloud-based BI solutions that may require significant time to set up before experiencing the full benefits of the technology, Tunvall asserted.
A separate Dresner Advisory Services survey of more than 850 decision-makers found that more than 30 percent of respondents believe cloud-based business intelligence is either "critical" or "important" to their long-term success. Although there are several models to choose from, most executives opt for private cloud-based BI suites instead of so-called hybrid or public services.
As the cloud and Big Data landscapes evolve side by side, organizations will likely deploy cloud-based business intelligence strategies to ensure they have the scalability and sophisticated analytics needed to keep up with the continuous accumulation of information.
Related Articles
- Welcome to GoGrid!
- I'm a Cloud Infrastructure and Big Data Solutions expert.
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Dec 17th, 2011
5:09 pm
December 17th, 2011 | Magazine
I never called white kids lazy
According to the Internet, I, Tao Tao Holmes, consider white kids lazy and spoiled. You caught me red-handed. I hereby admit to being a rampant, egocentric racist. Woe is me, and woe is the nine pages of Google hits that offer up links to the AP article "Some Asians' college strategy: Don't check 'Asian'" when […]


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Quantity Available:
Since 1938, Cleveland-based Kichler Lighting has created exceptional lighting in a variety of styles, finishes, colors and designs. With a diverse collection of indoor and outdoor lighting in classic and contemporary styles, Kichler Lighting always focuses on making home lighting that is both beautiful and functional.
The Alameda Outdoor Wall Sconce No. 9649 is available with the following:
- Honey Opalescent glass panels
- Solid brass construction
- Canyon View finish
- Round wall plate
- UL Listed for wet locations
- Fluorescent option is Title 24 compliant and includes a photocell
Shade Color: Honey Opalescent
Finish: Canyon View
Light Option: Incandescent, Fluorescent
- Fluorescent option utilizes one 13 Watt 120 Volt Type GU24 Fluorescent lamp (included) and Photocell (included).
- Incandescent option utilizes one 75 Watt 120 Volt Type A19 Medium Base Incandescent lamp (not included).
- Fixture: Height 7", Width 5", Depth 5.5"
- Plate: Diameter 4.38"
Manufacturer IDs: view
Need help with some of our terminology? Check out Lumens' Lighting & Design Glossary.
Related Items
13W 120V T2 GU24 Mini Spiral CFL BulbBy Satco Lighting$7.99{boxId:"compareuu205925", id:"uu205925"} See Comparison
72W 120V A19 E26 White Halogen Bulb (2PK)By Satco Lighting$4.99{boxId:"compareuu518425", id:"uu518425"} See Comparison


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ULTA Beauty is a specialty store that carries a variety of cosmetic and skincare products as well as fragrances and specialty haircare products. ULTA Beauty has a high customer rating due to their affordable prices and easy online shopping.
8 months ago · 4 pages
View the ULTA Beauty Black Friday 2014 Ad with ULTA Beauty deals and sales.View Ad All Deals


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Food Media and News
Meat and Potatoes is a shameless rip-off of Man vs. Food!
Come on Food Network! Are times this hard that you are constantly stealing other shows concepts to rework as your own?
The host is lacking in personality and this is clearly nothing we haven't seen before!
I would like to know how the rest of you feel!
Talk is closed, but that doesn't mean the conversations have to stop!
Check out this post for a more thorough explanation, and jump onto our Facebook page or our Twitter feed to keep the conversations going!


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I'm president of Mindware (formely MNM Software )living at Tokyo born in 1971. I started work game developer when I was junior high school student. My mainly atest work are "MaBoShi: The Three Shape Arcade "(Published by Nintendo ) and Flametail / Trailblaze:(Published by Nintendo ). My mainly older works are Streets of Rage 2 ( Published by SEGA ),Star Wars: Attack on the Death Star .
No members were found matching the criteria specified. We suggest you try the memberlist with no filter applied, to browse all member profiles.
Also why don't you join the community, its fast, easy and free and opens up plenty of great features for you to enjoy.


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Jeff Bezos
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has always kept his eye on the long-term picture, even at the expensive of short-term profits.
Over the last 18 years Amazon's Jeff Bezos has built an empire that redefined commerce in the digital age, and in 2012 his mastery of e-commerce continued. The company is expected to generate $62 billion in revenue this year, up from $48 billion in 2011. Fortune crowned Bezos the 2012 businessperson of the year, characterizing him as the "ultimate disruptor."
His disruptiveness first destroyed the traditional retail book industry, and now he is competing with Apple, Netflix, Google, and others to dominate digital music, movie, TV show, and app sales. In 2012, Bezos got more serious about competing with Apple, Google, Samsung, and others with the introduction of new Kindle Fires, with the added incentive of selling the capable tablets at cost to lure more people into Amazon's online stores. In 2013, a Kindle smartphone is expected to launch, making it even easier for shoppers to send their business to Amazon.
Bezos' quest for a Kindle in every pocket and selling everything imaginable is based on a very long-term view and obsessive focus on customers. "We innovate by starting with the customer and working backwards," Bezos says. So far Wall Street is betting that Bezos, despite Amazon's paltry 2 percent margin, can continue to disrupt.
For more on this story, see Amazon's Bezos is Fortune's businessperson of the year .


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Home > Men's Basketball > 2012 Tournament > Item# 822620
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"Replay Photos offers high quality prints for the sports collector or fan with unmatched customer service. The breadth of products and services will match up to any budget or desire, from just smaller prints to full professionally framed poster sized memorabilia."
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Faculty Resources
The Academy of Fellows for Teaching & Learning (AFTL)
AFTL provides leadership to improve the quality and depth of learning experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning (CET&L)
CET&L provides support for excellent teaching and learning, assessment, and career development for faculty and University initiatives that result in more effective teaching & research, stronger student learning, and higher satisfaction among all faculty.
Emeriti Association
The Emeriti Association celebrates the role of retired faculty and their many years of service to higher education, to their students, and to the University of Cincinnati.
Faculty Awards
UC honors one of its greatest assets – its distinguished faculty – at its annual Faculty Awards Celebration.


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Dear Spencer,
Cindy and I want to pass along all the compliments we received for the performance of the Downtown Band at Stephanie and Joe's wedding reception. We were all very impressed by the quality and range of the music we heard and danced to all night. One of my dear friends thanked us for "bringing her youth back". In addition, all the events (speeches, first dances etc.) were managed and controlled so they all happened without a hitch or any confusion. It was professional and lots of fun at the same time. No one, especially us, wanted the evening to end.
Thank you, so much, for your suggestion of the Downtown Band as well as everything you did to make this happen.
Best regards,
Bill & Cindy


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The Center for Jewish History will host a panel discussion on brisket's history and emergence as a cult food Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. The talk will be moderated by James Beard Foundation vice president Mitchell Davis and will include New York Times reporter Julia Moskin, Mile End deli owner Noah Bernamoff and Stephanie Pierson, author of "The Brisket Book: A Love Story with Recipes." Tickets cost $15, and $10 for Center members, and can be reserved online or by calling (212) 868-4444.
'Let's Brisket' Discussion on Jewish Culinary Mythology
Recent Headlines


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Texas attorney general opts not investigate Stephens County incident
The Texas attorney general's office has declined to investigate a November incident in which a man who was then the sheriff-elect of Stephens County allegedly caused an early morning disturbance at a Breckenridge golf course, according to county authorities.
Billy Wade, now Stephens County sheriff, reportedly was "ranting and raving and cursing" during the alleged disturbance at about 12:30 a.m. Nov. 20 at the Breckenridge Country Club.
Breckenridge police and a Stephens County sheriff's deputy responded to the scene, and Wade — at the time a Breckenridge police detective as well as county sheriff-elect — eventually was taken home by a friend.
The case was referred to Dee Peavy, district attorney for Stephens and Young counties, and the Texas Rangers.
No charges have been filed against Wade. Wade, however, subsequently quit his job at the Breckenridge Police Department after being placed on administrative leave.
The event later was referred to by the city as "The Wade Incident."
Peavy referred the case to the attorney general's office Dec. 13. On Jan. 14, she received a response saying, "We have reviewed the request, and the law enforcement division, as well the criminal prosecution division, do not believe that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a criminal investigation."
After contacting the Texas Rangers in November, Peavy said, the agency had determined there "needed to be further investigation."
"They had thought the attorney general's office would be better suited for the investigation," she said.
Wade was sworn in to the sheriff's office Dec. 31.
Peavy said the city of Breckenridge will conduct an internal investigation into the matter, but as far as her office is concerned, the case is closed.
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text:
Below is the poem entitled The Final letter which was written by poet
Yvette Lisa
Ndlovu. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
Read Poems by
Yvette Lisa
Yvette Lisa Ndlovu
Dear Lover...
I struggle to gulp
the scorn you poured.
My mouth parched,
desperate for a sip of your love.
A taste of your lips.
Your engagement- an abomination.
Our relationship still floods
the plains of my memory.
Surges storming in my inner soul.
Questions bamboozle my mind.
So, your affection was a mere hoax.
I, the halloween freak?
Your tender touch, in fact a thump?
Our turgid, rose in bloom.
A flaccid, comatose weed?
I cherish our unending summertime.
I crowned, knighted& sainted
your passion.
And you scorn me?
My Love, make no attempt to flee.
I will find you, her and your fragrant bliss.
A reeking carcass I will leave.
The pathetic yearning for the
warmth of your suave flame,
Is dead.
And the need to draw blood,
...with love,
Your Real Bride.
For Dictionary fun...#1...Delilah`s words contest.


text:
A semaphore manages a counter representing the number of release() calls minus the number of acquire() calls, plus an initial value. The acquire() method blocks if necessary until it can return without making the counter negative.
If not given, value defaults to 1.
This Semaphore's __exit__ method does not call the trace function.
Register a callback to call when a counter is more than zero.
callback will be called in the Hub, so it must not use blocking gevent API. callback will be passed one argument: this instance.
A Semaphore initialized with "infinite" initial value. None of its methods ever block.
A bounded semaphore checks to make sure its current value doesn't exceed its initial value. If it does, ValueError is raised. In most situations semaphores are used to guard resources with limited capacity. If the semaphore is released too many times it's a sign of a bug.
If not given, value defaults to 1.


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Unlocking the Key to Deep Sleep
By Sarah Fenske
Making the Ferguson Commission Matter
By Danny Wicentowski
My Fake Boyfriend Became a Real-Life Crush
By Lindsay Toler
Rep. Jeffrey Pogue Bill Would Ban Unisex Bathrooms
By Danny Wicentowski
Darren Wilson Gives Speech to Nonprofit
By Danny Wicentowski
Angel Stewart and Other Victims of Violence Ask for Mercy
By Jessica Lussenhop
Obama Praises St. Louis' LaunchCode
By Lindsay Toler
By Lindsay Toler
Sometimes projects that do transpire don't work out as planned. Following last year's annual Art in the Park festival in Jefferson City, commissioned graffiti works from St. Louisans and nationally recognized street artists including Michael De Feo and Mark Jenkins were soda-blasted off the walls of the abandoned Missouri State Penitentiary where they'd been created.
"It's like nothing even happened. You can't even see the remnants of color," says Walsh. "The walls of the courtyard we painted border the gas chamber. That place was nothing but nasty. Why preserve that? And to spend taxpayer money to remove the art? That seems like a practice in futility."
Larry Schepker, commissioner of the Missouri Office of Administration, which manages the state's publicly owned buildings and grounds, says that had been his intention all along. "We wanted to maintain the safety and security of the space," Schepker explains, adding that the property is slated for residential redevelopment. "The idea is that it will turn into a real asset for the citizens of Missouri."
Peat Wollaeger says he'd eventually like to buy a building down the street from his Cherokee Street studio and open a gallery devoted to street art.
Others say they're attracted not only by the cheap rents for studio spaces but also by the potential of the city's arts scene, and the fact that local galleries here are successful in selling urban contemporary art.
"It's accessible to everyone, it's not as mysterious [as more traditional types of art.] A lot of people like to have a certain amount of mystique and inaccessibility around their art, you have to follow their rules," says Michael Hoffman, co-owner of Hoffman LaChance Contemporary in Maplewood. "Street art doesn't have rules; it is what it is. It's honest: It's there for you to like it if you like it and to not if you don't."
Laumeier Sculpture Park's Kim Humphries isn't quite as bullish. "[Street art] has already been tested at higher heights," Humphries says. "Maybe people who employ a portion of that style may function at the top galleries and museums in the art world, but as far as a neo-graffiti movement goes, I don't think we'll see it go anywhere."
Counters Tolentino: "Look at the artwork in St. Louis in the major art galleries. It's super-safe — minimalist stuff with large spans of color. Aside from [printmaker] Tom Huck, everyone is doing something safe. We're here to bring something new to the table, something that's not safe. Something with a visceral feel to it."
The street artists credit the Internet for expanding their audience. Online photo-sharing sites like Flickr, which hosts thousands of pictures of St. Louis street art and graffiti, preserve and disseminate pieces that would otherwise go unnoticed before being painted over.
"Each person has their own opinion of what value street art has for society," says BJ Kraiberg, creator of the "St. Louis Street Art" Flickr pool. "I want to make it more available so they can better form their opinions. As more and more people see it, maybe they'll open up more."
Wooster Collective co-founder Marc Schiller notes that the graffiti renaissance coincides "with the rise of blogs and photo-sharing sites. That's accelerated the scene in many ways."
Seconds Wollaeger: "When I travel, people always ask me, 'How do you do what you do from St. Louis?' That's easy: the Internet."
And then there's the fact that for urban artists, St. Louis' vast stretches of abandoned buildings and sprawling concrete equate to an endless blank canvas.
Observes Hoax: "It's like a utopia for clean walls."
Sponsor Content


text: MERIBEL is a great townhome community located near the intersections of Barrington and Schaumburg Roads just north of the Home Depot Center. There are great ammenities in either direction with a play park at one end and a socceer field on the other. Shopping is within walking distance for 2 grocery stores, 3 banks and Bally's Workout Center. And for when you have that 'home improvement urge' come over you there is always Home Depot and Lowes. Meribel is comprised entirely of 2-story styled townhomes each with a private entryway and one car garage. Features and upgrades could include: 9 foot volume ceilings on 1st floor, hardwood floors, lofts, upgraded cabinetry, skylites, 6 panel doors, vaulted Master Bedroom. ALL HOMES IN MERIBEL HAVE 2.5 BATHS. There have only been 2 homes sold and closed for 2009 as of this writing and Meribel has only 2 models for sale: Savoy Models are 2BR 2.5 Baths - Sales were $175,500 and $205,250. Normandy Models are the largest, always end units and are 2BR, Loft, 2.5 Baths - No Sales. Lyn Sims (847)230-7324 at RE/MAX Suburban I proudly serve and sell real estate in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home in the communities of Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Roselle, Palatine, Medinah, Itasca, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles and more importantly, want to work with a local area expert, contact me immediately. All data and information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. Lyn Sims makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from it's display or use. Meribel Townhomes ©2009 Lyn Sims - RealEstateConsumerInfo.com and RealEstateBuyMe.com LynSims.net ● Schaumburg Homes 'Like' Schaumburg IL Real Estate on Facebook LinkedIn ● Pinterest ● Google+ ● Email Lyn Lyn Sims ● Schaumburg IL Area ● Northwest Chicago Suburbs ● (847)230-7324


text:
This item has been discontinued and is no longer available
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With a soft, comfortable yoga mat footbed and a thick, supportive strap, the Sanuk® Men's Beer Cozy Jute Sandals will keep you relaxed and happy in any situation.
Get an alert when we add new styles of Sanuk! Simply sign up and we'll notify you.
Sanuk™ is Thai for the "pursuit of happiness" which represents the company's business and approach to life. Slip on a pair of the Sanuk sandals and you're bound to radiate the same happiness either from sandal comfort or sandal style.
Since its eight year existence, founder Jeff Kelly started making sandals out of inner tubes; he eventually constructed some sandals out of indoor/outdoor carpet and yoga mats. Providing the ultimate combination of softness, durability and unconventional designs, Sanuk sandals are affordable and unique to the individual. That is why Sanuk has been recognized as the SIMA Image Awards' 2007 and 2010 Footwear Product of the Year. The Sanuk sandal construction that allows you to bend your feet is patented and revolutionary.
Surfers Shane Dorian, Donavan Frankenreiter and Dave Rastovich prefer the simplicity and unusual sense of style and color of Sanuk sandals. Now, Sanuk is distributed in almost 70 countries, so the Sanuk message is spreading. Whatever your style may be, if you're looking for sandals that are off the beaten path, choose Sanuk sandals to keep you and your feet happy.


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- building materials
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- Uncategorized
Yekra Player
Yekra is a revolutionary new distribution network for feature films.
Unacceptable Levels examines the results of the chemical revolution of the 1940s through the eyes of affable filmmaker Ed Brown, a father seeking to understand the world in which he and his wife are raising their children. To create this debut documentary, one man and his camera traveled extensively to find and interview top minds in the fields of science, advocacy, and law. Weaving their testimonies into a compelling narrative, Brown presents us with the story of how the chemical revolution brought us to where we are, and of where, if we're not vigilant, it may take us.
Tag Archives: Heartland Institute kids
Tweet Share At ClimateMama we have the good fortune of meeting so many wonderful and committed people, who from so many different perspectives, work together to help us understand and communicate the reality and urgency of the climate crisis. Someone … Continue reading
Tweet Share Join Maggie Fox, President and CEO of The Climate Reality Project as she shares with us a recently uncovered plan by the Heartland Institute to try to get "climate change denial" taught in our schools! Watch this great … Continue reading


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Open Monday through Friday – 10:00AM to 5:00PM
The box office is located in the 2nd floor administrative offices. For more information or questions please call (616) 364-9000
Event Line (616) 559-8000
Along with the ability to purchase tickets at the DeltaPlex Box Office, tickets are available through Etix. You may call Etix at 800-514-3849 or you may also purchase tickets online at Etix.com.
Method of Payment
ETix ticketed events accept Cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Card. All other events are cash only.
The DeltaPlex Arena and Etix DO NOT issue refunds or exchanges. Dates and times are subject to change. Etix Tickets cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or destroyed and are valid only for the event and seat for which they are printed.
Group Discounts: Please firstname.lastname@example.com for more information on group discounts and availability.
General Admission
Ticketed patrons are welcome to wander anywhere within the building areas open to the public. Seating available for general admission is first come-first serve.
Separated General Admission
Patrons must buy tickets specifically for Floor Access (GA FLR) or Arena Access (GA Arena) and must remain in those specific areas during the show. However, they can wander within those areas. Note: Floor Access will usually be standing room only in this situation.
Patrons purchase tickets for a specific assigned seat.
Continental Rows are usually associated with Reserved seating events, and are the first few rows directly in front of the stage; these rows do not have any center-aisle breaks in them.
*Show set-ups are ALWAYS subject to change and many variables.
Accessible Seating
For General Admission events no special ticket needs to be arranged. If the General Admission event has spectator seating there are designated handicap accessible section(s) available. A DeltaPlex employee would be happy to assist you in locating these designated areas at the event. For a Reserved Seating event, please contact the box office at (616) 364-9000 with accessible seating requests and ticketing. In order to provide accessible seating for all guests who require it, one escort ticket is allowed per accessible seating guest.


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Gallery: Blindspot Cycles: Salvaged Motorcycles Reborn All-Electric
Blindspot Cycles hits two high points of green design with their line of reconditioned electric motorcycles. These discarded beauties are first found at junk yards and then converted with a rack of batteries, electric motors and controls. Think of it as Mad Max meets Tesla. I spent an afternoon at their shop talking with the owner Chris Ravana about not just bikes but how we can rethink sustainability from the ground up – read on for an exclusive report!
2 Comments
Josh Hadar's Electric E... October 19, 2010 at 5:57 pm
[…] This E-Trike, which is a prototype, is charged from a 750-watt array of six solar panels that are on the roof of Hadar's studio. The chopper is 8.4 feet long and has a large 20-inch front wheel and 26-inch wheels at the back. Flat out, Hadar says that the bike is capable of 45mph. With even Orange County Choppers rolling out an electric motorcycle, we're excited to see trends shifting towards classic electric cycles. […]
xsimpletunx March 29, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I love this way of thinking. Starting from a clean slate isnt always the best option.
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Jill FehrenbacherAvocados are one of the wonderful fruits of summer. High in nutrition and flavor, nothing signals the start of summer like a zesty lime guacamole dip with tortilla chips. The next time you're making guacamole or slicing an avocado for a salad, try savingREAD MORE >
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text:
|Chapter 9: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's Travels to the Holy Places
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 9.96
pulakāśru, kampa, sveda, — yāvat paṭhana
dekhi' ānandita haila mahāprabhura mana
pulaka — standing of the hairs of the body; aśru — tears; kampa — trembling; sveda — perspiration; yāvat — during; paṭhana — the reading of the book; dekhi' — seeing this; ānandita — very happy; haila — became; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mana — the mind.
While reading the book, the brāhmaṇa experienced transcendental bodily transformations. The hairs on his body stood on end, tears welled up in his eyes, and his body trembled and perspired as he read. Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy.
Although the brāhmaṇa could not pronounce the words very well due to illiteracy, he still experienced ecstatic symptoms while reading the Bhagavad-gītā. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to observe these symptoms, and this indicates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased by devotion, not by erudite scholarship. Even though the words were imperfectly pronounced, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, did not think this very serious. Rather, the Lord was pleased by the bhāva (devotion). In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.11) this is confirmed:
tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo
yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api
nāmāny anantasya yaśo-'ńkitāni yat
śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ
"On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest."
The purport to this verse may be considered for further information on this subject.
<<< >>>
Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness


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The new Bennett Collision Center is set to debut behind the Bennett Toyota on Lehigh Street in Allentown.
After expanding from 8,000 square feet to 14,500 square feet, the collision center addition will nearly double the size of the Hanover Avenue building. It will also double the capacity of work the shop will be able to handle.
Manager Robert Shade said the old shop could repair an average of 20 to 25 vehicles per week. The new collision center should be able to handle up to 50 vehicles per week – depending on the size and scope of the work.
Shade said the new facility couldn't have come at a better time. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the shop has remained extremely busy as motorists seek to have major and minor repairs from storm damage.
The new collision center features a state-of-the-art, $150,000 frame-straightening system. There are also multiple paint chambers where water-based car paint can be applied and dried on more than one car at a time.
"Everything is brand new," said Shade, who pointed to new tool boxes and parts racks as well as vacuum and venting systems that have been built into the collision repair area.
Even the office space is new and expanded, with four desks that can be used by estimators, insurance adjustors and other professionals.
Shade said construction on the roughly $2.8 million collision center began in June and is opening the first week in January. The work was done by North Star Construction of Allentown.
While it is on the Bennett Toyota property, the shop is equipped to handle all makes and models of vehicles.


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Tags alternative, indie, rock
Artists Portugal. The Man, Band of Skulls, Shout Out Louds
September 09, 2011
10 tracks. including music by Portugal. The man, Shout Out Louds, Band Of Skulls
can't stop listening. daily.
especially during midterm melt downs, this is my groove
this is perfect for studying!
I'm so glad I'm following you.
thanks! I am glad I am following you, too!
Fluorescent Adolescent by CreatureCreature
11 tracks including music by Animal Collective, Crystal Castles, and Shout Out Louds.
indie electronic, alternative, rock, electronic
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15 tracks including music by Afroman, Chromeo, and Digitalism.
electronic, rap, rock, alternative
Dream Inception by CreatureCreature
13 tracks including music by Iron & Wine, The Shins, and Grizzly Bear.
alternative, sleep, indie electronic, folk, relax
Autumn Morning by CreatureCreature
Ten tracks including music by Grizzly Bear, Cold War Kids, and Metric
For the crisp, cold mornings, where leaving the warmth becomes unbearable.
indie rock, alternative, rock, morning, autumn


text:
Many medical implants have roughened surfaces that promote cell, bone or tissue adhesion as well as the adhesion of bone cement, for better affixing of the implants in the body. The roughened surfaces should be free of particulates, such as commonly arise from the blasting of implant surfaces with particulates to produce a desired surface finish. A method of producing implants with implant surfaces free of such particulates is to blast the implant surface with a biocompatible liquid, such as water, under high pressure. Under certain circumstances, a solvent may contain particulates that assist in producing the roughened surface, and the particulates are dissolved, sublimated or vaporized from the implant surface, leaving no particulate residue.
1. A method of producing a medical implant having a roughened outer surface suitable for the attachment of tissue, bone, cells or bone cement, the method comprising the step of:
(a) blasting at least a portion of an outer surface of an implant with a biocompatible liquid free of particulate matter, at a pressure sufficient to produce a roughened outer surface having a roughness profile and a sufficient average surface roughness capable of facilitating the attachment of tissue, bone, cells or bone cement to outer surface of said implant;
(b) said roughness profile including peaks and valleys about a mean line on the outer surface of said implant, the outer surface of said implant having an average surface roughness of from about 150 micro-inches to about 300 micro-inches wherein said roughened outer surface promotes adhesion of said tissue, bone, cells, or bone cement, introduces residual compression stresses and improves fatigue strength of said medical implant.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the blasting step is performed at a nozzle pressure of about 36,000 psi and a working distance of about 0.375 inches.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible liquid is water.
4. A method of producing a medical implant with a roughened outer surface suitable for the attachment of tissue, bone, cells, or bone cement, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) blasting at least a portion of an outer surface of an implant with a blasting medium comprising a biocompatible liquid and biocompatible solid particulates selected from the group consisting of soluble biocompatible salts, deliquescable biocompatible solids, sublimatible biocompatible solids, and vaporizable biocompatible solids at a pressure sufficient to produce a roughened outer surface on said implant having a roughness profile and a sufficient average surface roughness capable of facilitating the attachment of tissue, bone, cells or bone cement to said outer surface of said implant;
(b) said roughness profile including peaks and valleys about a mean line on the outer surface of said implant, the outer surface of said implant having an average surface roughness of from about 150 micro-inches to about 300 micro-inches; and
(c) removing substantially all embedded and attached particulate debris left by the blasting medium when blasting said implant in order to provide a roughened outer surface substantially free of embedded and attached particulate debris from the blasting medium wherein said roughened outer surface promotes adhesion of said tissue, bone, cells, or bone cement, introduces residual compression stresses and improves fatigue strength of said medical implant.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the removing step comprises a step selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic cleaning, flushing with a biocompatible liquid, sublimating said embedded and attached particulate debris and vaporizing said embedded and attached particulate debris.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the biocompatible solid particulates are soluble biocompatible salts that are soluble in a biocompatible solubilizing liquid, whereby said removing step further includes dissolving embedded and attached particulate debris left by the blasting medium in said biocompatible solubilizing liquid.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the biocompatible liquid is water and the biocompatible solid particulates are sodium chloride.
This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/475,893, filed Jun. 7, 1995, now abandoned which is a Division of application Ser. No. 08/405,898, filed Mar. 17, 1995, now abandoned.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to medical implants, of all kinds, with roughened surfaces that promote cell, bone or tissue adhesion as well as the adhesion of bone cement, sometimes used to affix certain implants in place in the body. Further, the roughened surface implants of the invention are free of particulates, such as commonly arise from the blasting of implant surfaces with particulates to produce a desired surface finish.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the final stages of the preparation of medical implants, the implants are sometimes blasted with a solid medium, such as alumina, silica (glass), or silicon carbide, to roughen the surfaces. This roughening process is designed to enhance the attachment of bone, cell, tissue, or bone cement, depending upon the implant application.
Roughened surfaces may advantageously be applied to a variety of medical implants, including orthopedic implants, dental implants, cardiovascular implants, and the like. For orthopedic and dental implants, the rough surface facilitates interlocking of the implant with bone, tissue or bone cement. This tends to minimize micromotion, a phenomenon that results in loosening of the implant. Roughened surfaces on cardiovascular implants promote desirable cell attachment which has been linked with a reduction in thrombus response.
Blasting and shotpeening implants with solid media also introduce residual compressive stresses on the surface of the implants, thereby improving the fatigue strength of the device. To the extent that the surfaces can also be roughened by these treatments, fatigue strength is reduced. Thus, fatigue strength increases with greater residual surface compressive stresses and decreases with increase in surface roughness.
Regardless of the rationale for blasting implant surfaces with particulate solid media, the commonly used blasting process can result in contamination of the implant surface with fragments of the particulates. Typically, the blasting medium is carried by compressed air and is harder than the implant so that fragments of the blasting medium become embedded in or attached to the surface of the implant. Unless this residual debris is removed, it can be released into the body following implantation and cause adverse cell and tissue reactions. Even when the blasting medium is of a biocompatible material, adverse cell and tissue reactions have been observed in the presence of particulate debris. This is known as "particulate disease" and has been observed as being caused by ingestion of these particulates by macrophages which subsequently exhibit a foreign body response and release certain enzymes that cause lysis or death of bone cells. This in turn can lead to loosening of the implant and failure of the surgery. Particulate debris may also potentially migrate into spaces between articulating surfaces of a total hip or knee joint prosthesis thereby causing accelerated three-body abrasive wear. This abrasion process can also increase the generation of polymer or metal debris from the joint prosthesis and further accelerate adverse cell and tissue response. Not only does this tend to reduce the useful life of the implant, which is abraded away, but it also results in inflammation of joints and particulate disease.
There is therefore a perceived need for implants with roughened surfaces that will enhance the attachment of cells, bone, tissue or bone cement, without introducing particulate debris into the body. There is also a need for efficient methods for producing such medical implants.
While the prior art describes surface treatment processes for orthopedic implant devices, none of the art describes implants, or methods of producing implants, meeting these requirements. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,108 relates to a surface treatment process for stainless steel orthopedic implant devices. In this process, the stainless steel implant is first blasted with stainless steel shot to cold work the surface and introduce residual compressive stresses. The steel shot blasting treatment is then followed by blasting with smaller glass beads, represented as improving the fatigue properties of the surface by cold working those areas not covered by the larger steel shot. It is also represented that glass bead blasting cleans the surface of any residual steel shot that may have transferred to the implant surface. After these two steps, the surface is electropolished and passivated by immersion in nitric acid solution. However, even if the glass beads remove stainless steel contamination, the implant surface may then contain imbedded or loosely attached debris from the glass beading process. Electropolishing or passivation would not remove this cross-contamination particulate debris which would ultimately be released into the body of a patient potentially causing adverse cell reactions.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,468 describes a method of blasting the surfaces of orthopedic implants with media including calcium phosphate ceramics, phosphate glass compositions, bioabsorbable glass, partially bioabsorbable glass, bioabsorbable ceramics, and partially bioabsorbable ceramics. The purpose of the blasting is to enhance the fatigue and corrosion properties of the implant and to remove residual carbon from porous surfaces of an implant. While it is represented that, because the particles are made of bioactive material they are not a cause for concern when remaining as a residue on the porous surface, it is nevertheless well known that particulate disease has been observed regardless of the nature of the debris. Thus, even the supposedly harmless bioactive blasting materials of this patent can cause particulate disease or accelerated three-body abrasive wear of total joint implants.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,459 describes a method in which a high pressure liquid jet is used to form cone shaped cavities in an implant on spacings to provide for intercommunication between the respective cavities. However, in order for these apertures to communicate "below the surface of the implant," significant amounts of material need to be removed and deep cavities formed. This would cause significant reduction in the fatigue strength of the implant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,098 describes a chemical milling process to create an attachment surface for increasing adhesion between two objects or materials. However, the chemical etchants which are used for this purpose are strong acids which are hazardous to work with and create environmental concerns at the time of disposal after use. Further, if any of these acids remain on the implant when it is implanted, they can cause damage to the adjacent bone and tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,260 describes a method which includes the step of eroding elastomer from a medical electronic lead using particulate abrasive. However, the patent states that the particulate should be such as to avoid scratching of the embedded metal. The patent does not address how to roughen the surface of metallic and other implants for enhanced bone or bone cement attachment.
International patent application WO 94/16836 is directed toward a method of cleaning roughened or porous-coated medical implant surfaces that contain loosely-adherent debris and particles. The disclosed method involves blasting the surface of the implant with biocompatible particulate solids in a manner which dislodges the debris and particles. This method, however, only cleans the surface and does not itself roughen the surface or produce residual compressive stresses in the surface.
The invention is directed to a method of forming medical implants, of all kinds, with roughened surfaces for enhanced cell and bone cement attachment, and implants with such surfaces. The implant surfaces may have residual compressive stresses and are free of particulate debris, thereby reducing or eliminating the potential for particulate disease and curtailing the potential for accelerated three-body abrasive wear caused by particulate debris.
The preferred methods for producing medical implants according to the invention include subjecting surfaces of the medical implant to a high pressure jet of a biocompatible liquid. The impact pressure of the solvent on the implant surface should be sufficient to remove machining debris and also roughen the surface for bone, cell, tissue or bone cement adhesion. It may also introduce residual compressive stresses into the surface to enhance fatigue strength.
In alternative embodiments of the preferred method, the biocompatible liquid may include a biocompatible, solid particulate medium, such as non-toxic soluble salts, non-toxic particulate solids that deliquesce, sublimate or vaporize, but that are sufficiently hard to provide an effective impact on the implant surface to create a roughened surface for bone, tissue, cells or bone cement adhesion.
After the implant surface is blasted with the biocompatible liquid containing biocompatible particulate solids described above, the implant may optionally be subjected to ultrasonic cleaning or flushing with a biocompatible liquid medium to remove or dissolve any blasting residue.
Finally, the roughened implant surface may be further treated to provide a chemically passive surface. Such passivation techniques include dipping in solutions of nitric acid, or passivating by immersion in solutions of non-aggressive oxyanions, as detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,663, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference. The process parameters used during the blasting process may be adjusted depending upon whether roughening the surface for enhanced cement, bone, tissue or cell attachment is the primary objective, or improving the fatigue strength by introducing residual compressive stresses is the primary objective. If roughening the surface is the primary objective, more aggressive blasting methods, e.g., higher blasting pressure, greater duration of blasting and/or smaller blasting nozzle distance, may be employed. If improvement in fatigue strength is the primary objective, roughening of the surface should be minimized by judicious selection of the operating variables since increased surface roughness causes reduction in fatigue strength. If solid blasting media are being used, this may involve using more spherical media and/or denser media which would resist fragmentation and minimize roughening of the substrate.
FIG. 1 is a photomicrograph of a surface of cobalt-chrome-molybdenum alloy disk (C-7) at 50 times magnification after being hydroblasted with water only.
FIG. 2 is a photomicrograph of the surface of cobalt-chrome-molybdenum alloy femoral knee component at 50 times magnification, after blasting with alumina grit.
FIG. 3 is a photomicrograph at 200 times magnification of a water jet blasted cobalt-chrome-molybdenum alloy disc (C-7).
FIG. 4 is a photomicrograph at 200 times magnification of an alumina grit blasted cobalt-chrome-molybdenum knee femoral component.
FIG. 5 is a photomicrograph at 50 times magnification of the surface of a water jet blasted Ti-6Al-4V alloy disc (T-4).
FIG. 6 is a photomicrograph at 50 times magnification of an alumina grit blasted Ti-6Al-4V knee tibial component.
FIG. 7 is a photomicrograph at 200 times magnification of the surface of a water jet blasted Ti-6Al-4V alloy disc (T-4).
FIG. 8 is a photomicrograph at 200 times magnification of an alumina grit blasted Ti-6Al-4V knee tibial component.
FIG. 9 is a photomicrograph at 50 times magnification of the surface of a water jet blasted aluminum disc (A-7).
FIG. 10 is a photomicrograph at 50 times magnification of the surface of an alumina grit blasted aluminum instrument handle.
FIG. 11 is a photomicrograph at 200 times magnification of the surface of a water jet blasted aluminum disc (A-7).
FIG. 12 is a photomicrograph at 200 times magnification of the surface of an alumina grit blasted aluminum instrument handle.
FIG. 13 is a schematic of the equipment used for the invention blasting process.
The roughened surface implants, according to the invention, which are free of particulate debris, are preferably produced by blasting implant surfaces with biocompatible liquids at high pressures. These liquids may further contain soluble, vaporizable, or deliquescable solid particulates. The resultant surfaces are roughened for improved tissue and cell adhesion, and bone cement adhesion, as required. Also, the surfaces may contain residual compressive stresses that enhance the fatigue strength of the implant.
In a preferred embodiment of the methods for producing implants according to the invention, an implant surface is subjected to blasting with pressurized water. The pressure of the water is selected depending upon the hardness of the surface material of the medical implant. Thus, a softer metal, such as aluminum, will require a lower water pressure than a harder metal alloy, such as cobalt-chrome-molybdenum, to produce the same roughness index on the surface. For instance, in order to produce an average surface roughness (Ra) of 250 micro-inches on an aluminum implant surface, the water pressure should range from about 10,000 to about 90,000 psi, if the implant is located 0.5 inches distance from the point at which the water exits a jet tip and the traverse-rate (the speed of travel of the spray nozzle) is about 4 inches per second. To produce a cobalt-chrome-molybdenum medical implant of the same roughness, the water pressure should range from about 10,000 to about 90,000 psi, and should be located at a distance of 0.5 inches from the tip of the water jet, and the traverse-rate should be about 100 times lower at 0.04 inches per second. The lower traverse-rate permits blasting of the material for longer periods of time and this is essential due to the greater hardness of Co-Cr-Mo compared to aluminum. The same effect can also be produced by using a higher pressure instead of a lower traverse-rate. This can also be achieved by using a shorter working distance (i.e., the distance between the blasting nozzle and the implant).
Implants, according to the invention, may be produced from a wide range of metals and alloys, including such materials as titanium, cobalt, zirconium, tantalum, niobium, nickel, aluminum, and their alloys, as well as stainless steels. Implants, according to the invention, may also be produced from ceramic and plastics. Some of these metals or alloys are harder than others so that blasting parameters should be adjusted to achieve a desired Ra. Therefore, for example, the suitable pressure parameter range can be from about 3,000 psi to about 90,000 psi. The desired Ra is one such that the roughness is high enough to promote attachment of tissue, bone, cells, or bone cement, but low enough to minimize adverse effects on wear and fatigue strength.
One of the blasting parameters that may be varied, according to the invention, is the density of the liquid biocompatible blasting medium. Thus, denser liquids have higher impact on the implant surface and hence are more effective at roughening harder surfaces.
The average surface roughness (Ra) and the topography of the roughened surface, may be altered by a judicious selection of operating variables in the hydroblaster. These variables include but are not limited to the blasting pressure, duration of blasting, distance of blasting nozzle from implant surface, the number of blasting passes over a given area, the configuration of the jet-spray (e.g., fan type or orifice type). In the event that particulates are included in the blasting medium to assist in imparting residual compressive stresses to the surface and/or to roughen the surface, then further operating variables such as the size, shape and hardness of the particles used also have a significant effect on the topography of the roughened surface produced. Thus, for instance, particles of larger size and higher hardness will tend to produce greater surface roughening as well as higher residual compressive stresses. More spherical particles would tend to cause less surface roughening and higher residual compressive stresses. Denser particles, which would tend to resist fragmentation, would also have the same effect.
Blasting with either biocompatible liquids or solid particulates in a fluid carrier medium may be accomplished using many different types of spray nozzles, depending upon the type of surface desired. A 0� orifice nozzle directs a stream of the blasting medium at a small area of the workpiece. A 15� fan nozzle directs a fan-type spray of the blasting medium over a larger area of the workpiece. Other types of spray patterns can also be produced by judicious selection of the blasting nozzle. The nozzles may be rotated continuously about their own axis to convert a fan-shaped spray to a cone-shaped spray. The workpiece and/or the spray gun may be subjected to translation, revolution or rotation to ensure uniform blasting of different areas of the workpiece. The spray-gun may be moved horizontally, vertically, or both (to produce a cross-hatch pattern).
The degree and nature of surface roughening produced by the blasting process is measured by a number of parameters. The most commonly used parameter is the average surface roughness, Ra. This is a measure of the arithmetic average deviation of the roughness profile from its mean line. Thus this parameter gives equal weight to peaks as well as valleys on the surface. The reduced peak height, Rpk, is a parameter which is a measure of the number and height of the peaks on the surface. Reduced valley depth, Rvk, is a measure of the number and depth of the valleys on the surface.
The following examples are illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter.
Three materials commonly used in medical implants, wrought (ASTM F 799) cobalt-chrome-molybdenum, Ti-6Al-4V, and aluminum, were selected for subjecting to blasting using various combinations of blasting media and blasting parameters. The hardness of these materials were as follows:
______________________________________Material Hardness (VHN)______________________________________Aluminum 107Ti-6Al-4V 370Cobalt-Chrome-Molybdenum (ASTM F 799) 465______________________________________ (where VHN stands for Vickers Hardness Number)
Disc specimens of each of these materials were blasted at a pressure of 10,000 psi with water as a carrier including salt particles. Other specimens were hydroblasted with water only at a pressure of 36,000 psi. The results are as shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________ Average Reduced Reduced Surface Peak Valley Roughness Height Depth Water Traverse Number (Ra) (Rpk) (Rvk)SpecimenSpecimen Pressure Media Rate of (micro (micro (microNumberMaterial (psi) Used (ips) passes inches) inches) inches)__________________________________________________________________________A-2 Aluminum 10000 salt ** ** 244 222 896A-3 " 10000 salt ** ** 96 92 459A-4 " 36000 none 0.1 1 816 172 1126A-5 " 36000 none 1 1 663 352 154A-6 " 36000 none 2 1 322 332 540A-7 " 36000 none 4 1 257 389 228T-2 Ti--6Al--4V 10000 salt ** ** 33 51 92T-3 " 10000 salt ** ** 71 14 42T-4 " 36000 none 0.1 1 203 274 336T-5 " 36000 none 0.25 1 193 140 380T-7 " 36000 none 0.33 1 211 143 412T-8 " 36000 none 0.4 1 105 23 437T-9 " 36000 none 1 1 43 34 31C-5 ASTM F799 36000 none 0.04 1 93 33 516Co--Cr--MoC-6 " 36000 none 0.04 2 244 178 455C-7 " 36000 none 0.04 3 233 241 525__________________________________________________________________________ The salt used here is sodium chloride. **Manual Operation, procees parameters do not apply Note: All tests used a 15� fan jet spray nozzle and a 0.5 inch working distance. All roughness measurements (Ra, Rpk, and Rvk) were performed using a profilometry trace perpendicular to the direction of travel of the blasting nozzle. The following equipment settings were used: Trace Length = 0.050 inch, Cutoff Length = 0.030 inch, Tracing Spee = 0.012 inch/sec., Phase Correction Filter Activated.
A roughened surface for enhancement of cement or bone attachment was achieved on an aluminum specimen by blasting with salt using water as the carrier medium at 10,000 psi. The roughness (Ra) of the surface was 244 micro inches. However, under the same conditions, surface roughness of the Ti-6Al-4V specimens (T-2 and T-3)were considerably lower due to the greater hardness of this material relative to aluminum. It is expected that even higher pressures or harder blasting media would be required to produce a comparable surface roughness on cobalt-chrome-molybdenum disks, which have considerably harder surfaces.
Blasting with water alone was effective to produce an average roughness (Ra) of 257 micro inches on the aluminum specimen A-7 using a spray nozzle travel speed of 4.0 inches per second. Lower traverse-rates produced even higher surface roughness values. Since increased roughness tends to cause reduction in fatigue strength, process parameters may be adjusted to insure that the surface produced is not so rough as to cause an unacceptable reduction in fatigue strength in the implant.
Blasting with water at 36,000 psi, without salt, was effective in producing a surface roughness (Ra) of 203 micro-inches on a Ti-6Al-4V specimen, T-4. The higher pressure was achievable due to the smaller nozzle useable in the absence of solid blasting media.
Even for the cobalt-chrome-molybdenum disks, which have a high hardness, (465 VHN), blasting with water produced an average roughness (Ra) of 233 micro-inches and 244 micro-inches respectively on specimens C-6 and C-7. However, to achieve this roughness, a traverse-rate of 0.04 inch per second was required, along with 2-3 passes of the spray over the surface.
The equipment used for the water-jet blasting, as well as the salt and water blasting described in Table 1, was manufactured by National Liquid Blasting, Wixom, Mo. A schematic of the equipment is shown in FIG. 13. The equipment includes: a Z-axis adjustable blasting nozzle (2); a X-axis, Y-axis, and rotational fixturing (3); a sonic insulated stainless steel blasting enclosure (4); controls for high pressure liquid supply and position, speed and traverse-rate movements for X-, Y- and Z-axes as well as rotation (5); a regulated high pressure water supply (6); an electric motor driven pump and high pressure manifold (7); and a filtered tap water inlet (8). The working distance (9), the distance between the top surface of the workpiece (1) and the nozzle tip, is typically 0.25 inches with a #5 nozzle.
Photomicrographs, at various magnifications, were taken of specimens tabulated in Table 1 for comparison with alumina grit blasted surfaces produced by prior art methods. Thus, FIGS. 1 and 3 are photomicrographs of specimen C-7 that may be compared with alumina grit blasted cobalt-chrome-molybdenum shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Likewise, FIGS. 5 and 7 are photomicrographs of the surface of specimen T-4 for comparison with alumina grit blasted Ti-6Al-4V shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. FIGS. 9 and 11 are photomicrographs of the surface of specimen A-7 for comparison with alumina grit blasted aluminum surfaces shown in FIGS. 10 and 12. The roughness values of the alumina grit blasted devices were also measured using the same measurement parameters and are given below:
TABLE 2______________________________________ Average Reduced Reduced Roughness Peak Height Valley Depth Ra (micro Rpk (micro (Rvk)(microSpecimen Material inches) inches) inches)______________________________________Aluminum 244 252 576Ti-6Al-4V 250 231 498Cast Co--Cr--Mo 161 304 351(ASTM F 75)Cast Co--Cr--Mo 221 295 108(F 75)Cast Co--Cr--Mo 256 257 206(F 75)Cast Co--Cr--Mo 285 169 517(F 75)Wrought Co--Cr--Mo 196 356 383(ASTM F 799)______________________________________
Cylindrical rods of wrought (ASTM F 799) Co-Cr-Mo alloy were subjected to water-jet blasting with a 15� fan jet nozzle at a pressure of 36,000 psi, traverse rate of 0.05 inch/sec and a working distance of 0.375 inch, for approximately 15 passes. The rods were rotated at approximately 11 rpm to ensure uniform texturing of the surface. The roughness values of the specimens were determined by profilometry using the following equipment settings: Trace Length=0.08 inch, Cut-off Length=0.03 inch, Tracing Speed=0.012 inch/sec. The rods were subsequently potted in PMMA bone cement, the cement was allowed to set, and the force required to remove the rods from the cement was measured.
Similar Co-Cr-Mo rods were also subjected to standard alumina grit-blasting, using prior art methods, and their roughness values and cement attachment strength determined, as described above.
The results of both sets of tests are given in Table 3.
TABLE 3______________________________________ Reduced Avg. surface Reduced peak valley Cement roughness, height, depth, attachmentBlasting Ra (micro Rpk (micro- Rvk (micro- StrengthMedium inches) inches) inches) (psi)______________________________________Water-jet 166 96 205 1595Water-jet 176 130 408 1780Water-jet 191 70 365 1695Water-jet 221 156 346 2027Water-jet 227 163 342 1760Average 196 � 27 123 � 40 333 � 76 1771 � 160Alumina Grit 151 272 322 1214Alumina Grit 154 178 199 1225Alumina Grit 167 161 202 1255Alumina Grit 187 284 273 1300Alumina Grit 149 146 319 1126Average 162 � 16 208 � 65 263 � 60 1224 � 64______________________________________
As shown in the Table, water-jet blasting using the process parameters described above produced a slightly higher cement attachment strength compared to prior art alumina grit blasting. While not wishing to be bound by any theory, the inventors offer the following explanation of this phenomenon. Under certain sets of blasting conditions, the water-jet blasting process can produce smaller, more rounded peaks (smaller Rpk) and larger valleys (greater Rvk) compared to standard grit-blasting, although the overall surface roughness (Ra) may be comparable. This can potentially lead to higher cement attachment strength for water-jet blasted implants, compared to prior-art alumina grit-blasted implants.
Having described the invention above, various modifications of the techniques, procedures, material and equipment will be apparent to those in the art. It is intended that all such variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims be embraced thereby.
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In what has been a milestone season for the 29-year-old, the Real Madrid forward has already collected his second Champions League winners' medal having earlier been voted World Player of the Year.
He now turns his attention to taking on the Germans in the opening match of Group G in Salvador on Monday.
Ronaldo says: "If you look at the last few years, they have all been similar years, so they have all been the best of my career.
"But I feel I am in the best moment of my career and I want to continue that moment and enjoy it.
"I want to be champion but let's take it a step at a time. This is a different tournament to 2006 and 2010. There are many new players but only at the end will we know.
"But we have many good players and I believe we will have a good World Cup."
As for his recent knee and thigh injuries, Ronaldo adds: "The problems are all in the past.
"If I feel something, and I am sure I won't feel anything during the game, I will not risk my career. I come first and not football.
"Since the start of my career there's not been one single day in which I've played without pain. It's just the burden of my work.
"I'm ready, I'm feeling well. I don't have anything to prove. One player is not a team, I can't carry the whole team on my back.
"Look at my statistics and CV – I have nothing to prove. My career has been great so far and I just want to continue."
And Germany coach Joachim Low has given his side a clean bill of health ahead of the mouth-watering contest: "We can go into the tournament positively as all of the players have come through our final training session fully and so we can assume that all of them will be 100 per-cent ready to play."