A laser scanning microscope which focuses light beams from a laser beam source to a sample by means of an objective lens and detects transmission light from the sample, reflection light, or fluorescence generated from the sample, includes an observation laser scanning optical system which irradiates coherent light from one side of the sample and which carries out scanning the sample, a stimulation laser scanning optical system which irradiates coherent light from an opposite side across the sample and which carries out scanning the sample, an observation light detector provided to be branched from the observation laser scanning optical system, and a light invasion preventing section which prevents the coherent light irradiated from the stimulation laser scanning optical system from invading the observation light detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser scanning microscope for detecting transmission-light and/or reflected light from a sample or fluorescence generated from the sample when a sample has been scanned with coherent light outputted from a laser beam source.
2. Description of the Related Art
A laser scanning microscope is used for observation of a variety of samples. For example, in the case where a biological sample is observed, fluorescence observation is often carried out by applying a fluorescence dye to the sample. In a general laser microscope, fluorescence light is very weak, and thus, it is a routine to insert a laser cutting filter for cutting laser beam for fluorescence excitation or a filter having wavelength characteristics in which laser cutting can be carried out for a fluorescence band pass filter. This laser cutting filter-requires a characteristic of OD (optical density) of 4 or more in the practical point of view.
In addition, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,300, there is disclosed a laser microscope (hereinafter, may be referred to as a "above and below" microscope) in which laser scanning optical systems have been disposed at the both of upper side and lower side of a sample.

Laser scanning microscope having a mechanism which prevents stimulation light from reaching a light detector


An atmospheric leach process in the recovery of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ores, said processing including the steps of: a) separating the lateritic ore into a low magnesium containing ore fraction, and a high magnesium containing ore fraction by selective mining or post mining classification; b) separately slurrying the separated ore fractions; c) leaching the low magnesium containing ore fraction with concentrated sulphuric acid as a primary leach step; and d) introducing the high magnesium content ore slurry following substantial completion of the primary leach step and precipitating iron as goethite or another low sulphate containing form of iron oxide or iron hydroxide, wherein sulphuric acid released during iron precipitation is used to leach the high magnesium ore fraction as a secondary leach step.

Laterite ores are oxidised ores and their exploitation requires essentially whole ore processing as generally there is no effective method to beneficiate the ore to concentrate the valuable metals nickel and cobalt.
As shown in Table 1, the iron/nickel ratio is variable being high in the limonite fraction and lower in the saprolite fraction, therefore the separation of solubilized nickel and cobalt from dissolved iron is a key issue in any recovery process.
TABLE 1Iron, Nickel and Cobalt Content in Various Laterite Ore SampleFeMgNiCoFe/NiOre Typewt. %wt. %wt. %wt. %ratioIndonesia limonite40.81.301.530.1027Indonesia saprolite8.514.603.370.033Indonesia saprolite with high Fe18.5126.96.36.199contentNew Caledonia limonite47.10.401.330.1635New Caledonia saprolite7.723.31.000.028Western Australian low-Mg ore25.44.902.500.0710Western Australian high-Mg ore10.016.61.380.027Cuban low-Mg nontronite ore21.62.601.800.0512Cuban high-Mg nontronite ore18.88.301.170.0416
In the acid leaching of lateritic ore, the high pressure acid leaching (HPAL) process was developed to dissolve nickel and cobalt and convert the major portion of solubilized iron to insoluble hematite. This was achieved in autoclaves operated at high temperatures (250-300° C.) and associated pressures. HPAL methods recover high percentages of nickel and cobalt but require expensive, sophisticated equipment to withstand the high pressure and temperature operating conditions.
In order to avoid the use of expensive equipment, alternatives to the HPAL process have been disclosed. These generally operate at temperatures up to 110° C. at atmospheric pressure. One such disclosure is U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,527, which describes the sequential leaching of limonite and saprolite fractions of laterite ore with sulphuric acid at atmospheric pressure and temperatures below the boiling point, discarding most of the dissolved iron as insoluble jarosite solids.
There are environmental concerns with this iron removal process as the jarosite compounds are thermodynamically unstable. Jarosite may decompose slowly to iron hydroxides releasing sulphuric acid. The released acid may redissolve traces of precipitated heavy metals, such as Mn, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn, present in the leach residue tailing, thereby mobilizing these metals into the ground or surface water around the tailings deposit.
Another disadvantage of this process is that jarosite contains sulphate, and this increases the acid requirement for leaching significantly. Sulphuric acid is usually the single most expensive input in acid leaching processing, so there is also an economic disadvantage in the jarosite process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,637 in the name of Walter Curlook describes an atmospheric acid leach process for leaching nickel and cobalt from highly serpentinized saprolitic fractions of nickel laterite ores. This process involves the leaching of the highly serpentinized saprolitic ore by the direct addition of sulphuric acid solutions to the ore at atmospheric pressure. The acid consumption in this process is suggested to be 800 to 1000 kg per tonne of dry ore.
UK Patent GB 2086872 in the name of Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd, relates to an atmospheric leaching process of lateritic nickel ores whereby nickel and cobalt are solubilized from high-magnesia nickelferous serpentine ores by leaching the ore with an aqueous solution of sulphuric acid. A reducing agent is also added to the solution in large quantities to maintain the redox potential of the solution at a value of between 200 and 400 mV measured against the saturated calomel electrode.
Such processes utilize direct addition of acid in the leaching process where acid is used to leach the whole content of the ore being processed. With sulphuric acid being an expensive input in the acid leaching process there are economic as well as environment disadvantages to such processes.
The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate one or more of the problems associated with prior art processes.
The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Atmospheric pressure leach process for lateritic nickel ore


In a recording/reproducing method of a magnetic tape in a tracking servo system, a recording density of each data track is increased while inhibiting occurrence of a recording/reproducing error caused by a size change of a magnetic tape in the width direction. Data tracks are each set to have a smaller track width stepwise as closer to servo tracks (41T-1 to 41T-5 etc.) in the width direction of a magnetic tape 1. With such a setting, the width of the data tracks (A1-41T-1 to A1-41T-5 etc.) closest to the servo tracks (41T-1 to 41T-5) can be minimized, thereby enabling a significant increase in number of the data tracks. Further, even when the size of the magnetic tape 1 changes in the width direction due to a change in external environment such as a temperature or moisture, to lead to large displacement of the data tracks (A8-41T-1 to A8-41T-5) distant from the servo tracks (41T-1 to 41T-5), the data head (A8) can be readily aligned to face the data tracks (A8-41T-1 to A8-41T-5) in the reproduction by an increased portion of the width size of the data tracks (A8-41T-1 to A8-41T-5), and it is thereby possible to ensure reading of data signals from the data tracks (A8-41T-1 to A8-41T-5) so as to improve reproduction accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing method of a magnetic tape in a tracking servo system, using a multi-channel type head unit comprising a plurality of data heads for recording/reproduction.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are a variety of uses of a magnetic tape, including uses as an audio tape, a video tape and a computer tape. Particularly in the field of computer data backup tapes, a recording capacity has been increased with increase in capacity of a hard disc as a backup target. One of means for increasing the capacity of a magnetic tape is narrowing the width of each data track to increase the number of the data tracks, the so-called increase in recording density of data tracks.
In increasing a recording density of data tracks, it is essential to introduce a recording/reproducing technique named a so-called tracking servo system. The tracking servo system here refers to a technique in which servo tracks consisting of servo signals previously written on a magnetic tape are read with servo heads provided on a head unit, and in response to the read signals, the positional shift of the head unit in the width direction of the magnetic tape is controlled, to allow data heads to follow corresponding data tracks. According to this tracking servo system, even when the magnetic tape vibrates in the width direction in recording/reproduction to lead to displacement of the data tracks, the vibration of the magnetic tape is detected from changes in signals of the servo heads which are tracking signals from the servo tracks, and according to these changes, recording heads can be led onto the data tracks, thereby enabling significant improvement in recording/reproduction accuracy.
Conventional examples of such a tracking servo system are described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-157722, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-173508, and the like. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-157722, in addition to normal servo heads, pre-reading servo heads are provided for reading positional information of servo tracks prior to reading by the normal servo heads so that tracking servo accuracy can be improved. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-173508, a servo signal for fine movement written in each data track on a magnetic tape is read with a magnetic head, and based upon the read signal, an actuator for fine movement built in each magnetic head is driven to control fine movements of a recording head and a reproducing head individually, so that tracking servo accuracy can be improved.

Recording/reproducing method of magnetic tape


The present invention refers to a container apparatus for substances soluble in fluid media, for the preparation of mixtures in a single container, and to a method for the preparation of mixtures thereof. The apparatus of the present invention is characterized by: threaded cover, an internal sleeve having a thread on the internal wall, and a recipient or container wall that in its external wall having a matching groove. The method comprising the steps of:. operating the closure means together with the fluid media container means through the internal sleeve means, thus allowing communication between the soluble substances and the fluid media inside the closed container, PA1 shaking the fluid media with the soluble means; and PA1 removing the closure means and pour the formulated mixture.

Currently in the market there is a large amount of substances for mixing with liquids, which most often are provided with a cap having as sole purpose to impede spilling the liquid from the container.
For mixtures of this type it is needed to open the container carrying the liquid, to pour it in a second container and later on to add the substance to be mixed.
Otherwise the already prepared substances, have in their composition a great amount of preservatives, which for example, in the case of beverages, deteriorate both flavor as well as the nutritional value of the beverage. Among the already prepared substances are fruit juices, sodas, baby foods, malts, coffee, etc.
Sometimes the already prepared substances are formulated considering the activity loss until they reach the final user.

Container apparatus for substances soluble in fluid media and method for the preparation of mixtures in situ

Calle 9 No. 12, Fraccionamiento La Quebrada


An example system to manage a radiologist workflow includes a first interface to monitor a distribution status of at least one medical exam. The medical exam is to be at least one of automatically allocated or assigned to an examiner work queue based on one or more rules. The example system includes a second interface to view at least one metric associated with distribution of the at least one medical exam and an assignment tool to be displayed via the first interface. The assignment tool is to facilitate assignment of the medical exam to an examiner work queue. The example system includes a rules viewer to be displayed via a third interface. The rules viewer is to facilitate configuration of the one or more rules based on the distribution status, the at least one metric, or the assignment. The rules viewer is to automatically update the one or more rules.

Healthcare environments, such as hospitals or clinics, include information systems, such as hospital information systems (HIS), radiology information systems (RIS), clinical information systems (CIS), and cardiovascular information systems (CVIS), and storage systems, such as picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), library information systems (LIS), and electronic medical records (EMR). Information stored can include patient medication orders, medical histories, imaging data, test results, diagnosis information, management information, and/or scheduling information, for example.
Medical exam results stored in, for example, the radiology information system, require review by an examining radiologist. Distribution of the exams for review by the radiologist involves consideration of various factors, including, for example, radiologist workloads, exam characteristics, available resources, and/or hospital efficiency goals. Such considerations are often present across a network of radiologists, hospitals, and/or institutions. Efforts to manage exam distribution in view of institutional work flow goals can be time-consuming, inefficient, and result in inequities with respect to the distribution of the medical exams for review. Further, hospital administrators lack efficient tools for managing radiologist workflows, analyzing metrics associated with the distribution of exams, and dynamically implementing workflow modifications based on the metric analysis.

Systems and methods for workflow modification through metric analysis


A flexible, relatively flat and thin patch, optionally made of biodegradable material, substantially attenuates ionizing radiation from normal but sensitive anatomy during radio-therapy, particularly breast brachytherapy. The patch is of such a thickness as to substantially attenuate radiation by distance or consists of a material that has been formulated with radio-attenuating filler or is of radio-attenuating material. An alternative version consists of a thin patch that is coated with radio-attenuating material.

This invention concerns brachytherapy, particularly for treatment of surrounding tissue after removal of a malignant tumor. In particular the invention concerns protection of adjacent healthy tissue such as skin, bone or organs that would otherwise be susceptible to being overdosed with radiation.
Local radiation therapy is often prescribed following breast surgery. Traditionally, this radiation is supplied by large machines positioned over the patient in extensively shielded special radiation therapy rooms from which casual observers or therapists must be excluded during treatment. Breast brachytherapy is a more recently developed medical procedure that involves delivering ionizing radiation to breast tissue from inside of a surgical cavity formed after a lumpectomy procedure. Breast brachytherapy is typically performed with a balloon catheter or other type of applicator positioned inside the cavity. The balloon or applicator fills the cavity and provides a platform or channel for introduction of radioactive material or a miniature x-ray tube. It also serves to locate the radiation source within the cavity such that the ionizing radiation sterilizes accurately treats the margins of the surgical cavity. Radiation treatment of surgical margins has been shown to reduce the rate of recurrence of malignant tissue.
Preparatory to a breast lumpectomy, the tumor has usually been located by any of several means known to medical practitioners. During lumpectomy, it is common practice to excise not only the tumor, but also a margin around the tumor, often a centimeter radially, to assure all diseased tissue is removed. To commence a lumpectomy procedure, the surgeon sharply dissects breast tissue toward the tumor to be excised. As he gets close to the tumor, he starts to cut around the lesion until the target tissue has been separated from the surrounding, presumed normal tissue. At this point, the tumor and excised margin are removed through the incision, leaving a cavity within the breast.
Typically, pathology is determined after the surgery. A "clean" margin is a pathologic finding indicating there are no cancer cells at the resection margin. After assuring the margin surrounding the cavity is "clean", a course of radiotherapy is administered to reduce the likelihood of tumor recurrence. Brachytherapy is one modality of such radio-therapy and is of particular interest with this invention. During the brachytherapy treatment planning process, consideration is given to preventing collateral damage to radiation-sensitive structures closely adjacent to the tissue to be irradiated. Such structures may include bone, organs and skin. Where such structures are at risk, the preferred level of radiation therapy for diseased tissue is often moderated to prevent collateral damage, therefore lessening the therapeutic dosage which would otherwise preferably be delivered to target tissues surrounding the cavity.
In instances where such structures exist, and dose moderation is indicated, there is a need for local shielding or attenuation apparatus which can be applied within the cavity adjacent to the at-risk tissues in order effectively to moderate the dose selectively while not detracting from the preferred dosage delivered to diseased tissue elsewhere within the cavity. It is an object of this invention to provide convenient apparatus and methodology to locally moderate brachytherapy radiation.

Radiation blocking patch for radio-therapy


An expansion of the functional scope of a hybrid integrated component including an MEMS element, a cap for the micromechanical structure of the MEMS element, and an ASIC element having circuit components is provided. In this component, the circuit components of the ASIC element interact with the micromechanical structure of the MEMS element. The MEMS element is mounted on the ASIC element in such a way that the micromechanical structure of the MEMS element is situated in a cavity between the cap and the ASIC element. The ASIC element is additionally equipped with the circuit components of a magnetic sensor system. These circuit components are produced in or on the CMOS back-end stack of the ASIC element. The magnetic sensor system may thus be implemented without enlarging the chip area.

Components having MEMS elements have been manufactured in mass production for many years for greatly varying applications, for example, in the field of automotive technology and consumer electronics. The miniaturization of the components is increasingly gaining significance. On the one hand, the miniaturization substantially contributes to reducing the manufacturing costs of the components and therefore also the terminal equipment. On the other hand, in particular in the field of consumer electronics, more and more functions—and therefore components—are to be accommodated in terminal equipment, while the terminal equipment itself becomes smaller and smaller. Therefore, less and less space is available for the individual components on the application printed circuit boards.
Various miniaturization concepts for sensor components are known from practice, which provide an integration of the micromechanical sensor function and the circuitry-wise processing and analysis of the sensor signals in one component. In addition to the lateral integration of the MEMS function and the ASIC function on a shared chip, there are also already concepts for so-called vertical hybrid integration, according to which a chip stack is formed from ASIC, MEMS, and a cap wafer.
Such a vertically integrated component and a method for the manufacture thereof are described in US 2011/0049652 A1. The known method provides bonding the starting substrate for the MEMS element on an already processed ASIC substrate. A micromechanical structure, which includes at least one deflectable structural element, is only produced in the MEMS substrate thereafter. Independently thereof, a cap wafer is structured and prepared for the mounting above the micromechanical structure of the MEMS substrate and on the ASIC substrate. The cap wafer thus processed is bonded, after the structuring of the MEMS substrate, on the ASIC substrate, so that the micromechanical structure is enclosed in a hermetically sealed way between the ASIC substrate and the cap wafer.
The component described in US 2011/0049652 A1 is equipped with a capacitor system which—depending on the MEMS function—may be used for activating, i.e., moving the deflectable structure element, or may also be used for detecting externally caused deflections of the structural element. For this purpose, the capacitor system includes at least one deflectable electrode, which is located here on the deflectable structural element of the MEMS element, and stationary electrodes, which are implemented here in a structured metal layer on the surface of the ASIC substrate.
The known component concept allows cost-effective mass production of robust components having a micromechanical function and a signal processing circuit, since here not only the individual component parts—MEMS element, cap, and ASIC—are manufactured in the wafer composite, but rather also their mounting to form one component is implemented on the wafer level. The MEMS functions and the ASIC functions may be tested on the wafer level, and even the calibration of the individual components may take place on the wafer level before the separation. In addition, the known components require a comparatively small mounting surface because of the stacked construction, which has a favorable effect on the manufacturing costs of the terminal equipment.

Hybrid integrated component and method for the manufacture thereof


The present invention relates to a polychronous wave propagation system that is based on relative timing between two or more propagated waves through a wave propagation medium. The relative timing may be associated with interference patterns of energy between the propagated waves. Operational behavior of the polychronous wave propagation system is based on the relative timing of the propagated waves and distances between initiators that transmit the propagated waves and responders that receive the propagated waves. The operational behavior may include arithmetical computations, memory storage, Boolean functions, frequency-based computations, or the like. The polychronous wave propagation system relies on time delays between the propagated waves that result from propagation velocities of the propagated waves through the wave propagation medium. By incorporating the time delays into the system, operational capacity may be greatly enhanced.

In researching theories of the brain, certain operational fundamentals, such as memory registration and recall, associative memory, and pattern recognition, suggest much greater complexity than what the basic underlying physical structure provides. For example, a human brain can store more information than would be expected given the number of synapses in the human brain. Therefore, human brain memory is more than just synaptic memory. Other factors come into play in conjunction with the synapses to store all of the information. Since the brain operates in an autonomous asynchronous environment, one theory is that time delays may be important.
For example, if two neurons fire at a common post synaptic target, their spikes travel along axons to the target, and if their spikes arrive simultaneously at the target, a stronger response may be evoked than if their spikes arrive separately. However, axons have propagation velocities that introduce conduction delays; therefore, both the distances from the neurons to the target and the firing times of the neuron spikes determine when the spikes arrive at their target. The propagation velocity may be about one millimeter per millisecond for myelinated fibers and about one-hundred micrometers per millisecond for non-myelinated fibers. Specifically, if a conduction path from a first neuron to the target is about ten millimeters long and a conduction path from a second neuron to the target is about two millimeters long, the first neuron will have to fire about eight milliseconds before the second neuron fires in order for both spikes to arrive simultaneously.
In general, neurons in spiking networks with conduction delays may fire with certain time-locked asynchronous patterns so that their spikes may arrive at targets simultaneously. The additional dimension of time delays in a brain may significantly increase a brain's capacity to represent and process information. Such an activity may be called polychrony. Polychrony may be derived from poly, meaning many, and chronos, meaning time or clock. With an appropriate type of spike-timing dependent synaptic plasticity, spiking networks may self-organize and generate such polychronous activity, which may have relevance to memory, binding and gamma rhythms, mechanisms of attention, pattern recognition, and the like. Polychronous activity in the brain depends on specificity of synaptic connections, geometry and dimensions of axonal fibers, activity-dependent propagation velocities, dynamics of various neurotransmitters, spike-generation mechanisms of neurons, and other biological factors.
Applying polychronous techniques to physical systems, electronic systems, or both may significantly increase the capacities, the functionalities, or both of such systems. Such systems may operate at much higher frequencies than a brain, which may operate in a frequency range up to about 100 hertz. For example, networks having time delays can encompass greater functionalities than comparable networks without time delays. A dynamic system having a given number of state variables may be represented by a differential equation that has a solution space of the same dimension as the number of state variables. However, when asynchronous time delays are added to the dynamic system, a differential-delay equation that is representative of the dynamic system with delays has an infinite dimensional solution space. Thus, there may be significant benefits from a polychronous physical or electronic system, such as arithmetical computations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Computations using a polychronous wave propagation system


A method and system of determining the feedability of a continuous welding wire having a known diameter, said method and system comprising the steps of providing a supply of welding wire; pushing the wire by a wire feeder through a welding cable having a given long length and terminating in a welding gun with a tubular contact tip with a wire receiving passage generally matching the selected diameter of said welding wire, sensing the reactive force of the wire feeder as it pushes the wire through the cable and the tip; and causing a generally fixed current to flow between the contact tip and a workpiece whereby the advancing welding wire is melted and transferred to the workpiece in accordance with a given welding process.

A substantial amount of the arc welding is now done industrially by the use of robotic and automatic welding equipment wherein a supply of welding wire is pulled from a drum by a wire feeder and pushed through a welding cable and then through a welding gun movable along a workpiece. The robot performs a continuous welding operation. The welding gun includes a tubular contact tip allowing a welding current to be conducted to the wire moving through a wire receiving passage in the contact tip so the current between the wire and workpiece melts the wire for deposition of the metal onto the workpiece. This robotic or automatic type welding equipment operates continuously over many hours repeating the same welding operation. It is essential that the moving welding wire be provided to the welding operation while advancing at the desired rate coordinated with the controlled rate of movement between the electrode or wire and the workpiece. In many robotic installations, the distance between the wire feeder and the welding gun is substantial, up to 10-15 feet. In automatic installations the length can be up to 20-30 feet. In addition, the cable through which the wire is pushed is often bent into contorted curves to facilitate the proper positioning of the wire at the welding operation even though the position of the wire feeder is fixed on the robotic or automatic welding equipment. Any disruption of the supply of welding wire due to increased resistance to movement of the wire through the cable, or otherwise, is extremely costly in an automatic manufacturing facility. Consequently, it is necessary to have an uninterrupted supply of welding wire that is pushed through the cable, irrespective of many bends in the cable and friction in the contact tip. The welding operation must be performed consistently over hours of operation. This objective is difficult to obtain since the continuous welding wire may contain various surface coatings or substances, such as lubricant. To provide continuous feeding, some manufacturers apply a lubricant to the wire. Other steps are taken in an attempt to reduce the tendency to interrupt in the welding operation by feeding problems experienced by the continuously moving welding wire. However, in the past there has been no determination of the feedability of the wire until it was actually used at the robotic station. Consequently, the welding facilities rely upon the reputation of the wire from a given supplier. A subjective evaluation based upon experience is made regarding a particular wire. This subjective evaluation is then employed for the purchase of additional wire. This subjective analysis is the norm in the field; however, wire may change from one drum or coil to the next and the wire can change from one run to the next in the plant producing the welding wire. Thus, there has been no manner of determining the feedability quality of the welding wire, except for actual use of the wire over a period of time. This practice is not an accurate evaluation of the quality of the welding wire. It has been found that high quality wire is rejected based upon past experience regarding its feedability through the robot equipment. Unacceptable feedability problems are not corrected by adding lubricant. To the contrary the problem is solved by the manufacturing process. Thus, there is a need for an objective evaluation of continuous welding wire, corded or solid, to determine how it will function over long periods of time in a continuous welding operation such as a robotic welding station. Such evaluation could also be used to modify manufacturing techniques used in producing the welding wire.

Method and system for determining the feedability of welding wire


A multi-purpose dumping device mounted on one vehicle assists with the emptying of both a heavy commercial refuse container and a lighter residential refuse container and easily operable by the current vehicle structure without substantial modification to the tipping mechanism.

Waste collection and proper disposal is of great importance to any civilized society. Such collections of waste are important both for health benefits and efficient management of resources, in a modern society. This is especially true in areas having a high population density.
A typical garbage or trash refuse collection vehicle includes a compacting device for reducing the volume of the garbage. In the rear of the vehicle is generally a receiving bay which receives the refuse dumped therein. A compacting device removes the garbage from the receiving area into an interior area of the vehicle. This receiving area generally receives refuse including trash and garbage from one or more containers. If it is a large container or receptacle desired to be emptied into the base, it is desired to empty these larger containers more efficiently.
In particular, large receptacles, generally referred to as dumpsters, are difficult to efficiently dump into refuse collection vehicles. These dumpsters present laterally extending bar members (referred to as trunnion bars) from their upper front, and these bars are used to grasp, lift and dump the container in cooperation with a lower foot member. Sometimes a smaller container than a dumpster must also be emptied.
The device for emptying a dumpster is not compatible with the device for emptying a smaller container. If a simple modification can be made so that the smaller container can also be emptied, such that the modification to dump a residential container has minimal interference with the device for emptying a dumpster, the advantages become even more apparent.
While collection of trash and garbage is a required element in a modern society, it is at best an unpleasant task and at worst and extremely arduous and uncomfortable task. Many factors are involved in efficiently achieving such collection. For efficient collection, in areas, especially commercial areas, where a large amount of trash and garbage is generated, it is desired to have a large container for receiving this garbage as opposed to a series of smaller containers.
There is a major distinction in the waste disposal industry between commercial waste collection and residential waste collection. Typically, the waste collection is accomplished by a truck having a device, which provides modification designed to pick up containers, and empty the same. It is also very desirable to be able to place a container into a desirable position. Lifting, dumping and returning with the device is a complicated matter.
Clearly, the commercial containers are much larger than the residential containers. There is no effective way to easily convert from commercial collection to residential collection and vice versa. What is common in the industry today is the provision of separate vehicles for residential collection and commercial collection. There is no simple efficient way to provide for residential and commercial waste collection on the same vehicle. Major readjustments or modifications are required for a vehicle to handle both commercial and residential collections on the same trip.
This requirement for separate vehicles for commercial and residential waste collection clearly creates a problem, when a commercial vehicle is in the area where the waste collection company also has some residential accounts. The cost of sending a second vehicle to an area where a first vehicle is present is costly in terms of both vehicle wear and employee time. Thus an efficient manner of adapting a commercial waste collection vehicle for double-duty use as a residential vehicle can provide great advantages.
If such a vehicle can accomplish both commercial and residential pick-ups on the same trip a second vehicle trip can be eliminated. The increased pick-up capability creates savings in employee time, and vehicle wear and tear. When the desired features, providing the increased pickup capability, for both commercial and residential containers on one vehicle, are combined with the ability to desirably reposition the container, great advantages are obtained.

Multi-purpose dumping device for a waste collection vehicle


A VGA controller with a read-modify-write cycle implemented therein is provided. By implementing the read-modify-write cycle in hardware, and by reducing the data for such operations to a single address source, read-modify-write operations can be performed in a single cycle, as opposed to separate read and write cycles, with a consequent improvement in overall operating speed.

The present invention relates generally to computer graphics, and more specifically to improvements in a Video Graphics Array (`VGA`) controller.
A typical prior art VGA controller has an associated display memory, which consists of an array of dynamic RAM (DRAM) chips. In graphics mode, each pixel on the display has a corresponding display memory location which contains a code (typically 4 or 8 bits) representing the color of that pixel. The CPU controls the display by writing data to the graphics controller. The graphics controller responds to such data by updating the relevant data entries in the display memory.
One of the most commonly executed functions in raster graphics applications is to move and/or modify the stored bit map of the raster image. This function is known as Bit Block Transfer, or BitBlt. In Bit Block Transfer operations, the rectangular bit map for the stored raster image is modified by performing logical operations upon it and a second, different, bit map of the raster image. These logical operations are called RasterOps.
A common sequence of steps that known VGA controllers use to accomplish a Bit Block Transfer using RasterOps is:
(a) Reading the data from a destination bit map so that the data is held in CPU latches (FIG. 4, 90a-d), thus forming the first operand to be sent to the VGA Graphics Controller; PA1 (b) Reading data from a source bit map, which can be stored in system memory or VGA memory; PA1 (c) Writing the source bit map data to the VGA Graphics Controller for use as the second operand; PA1 (d) Performing the RasterOp on the first and second operand; and PA1 (e) Writing the result of the RasterOp to the CPU write data address (destination bit map).
Steps (a) through (e) are repeated for all VGA memory addresses that are encompassed by the destination rectangular bit map. All read and write operations are performed in software by the System CPU.
The use of many steps to perform this reading and writing of destination data is very time consuming when a large amount of data must be modified. A known solution to this problem is a read-modify-write cycle, wherein data is read, modified and rewritten, all in one cycle. Although these cycles are known and have been in use even prior to the implementation of read-modify-write cycles in DRAM, no known VGA controller has implemented a read-modify-write cycle for use in raster graphics operations.

Method and apparatus for performing a read-write-modify operation in a VGA compatible controller


A broadcast transmitter for generating low power modulated signals, especially for a wireless speaker system. A signal source such as a source of composite audio signals including left and right audio signals and a pilot signal are applied to a radio frequency signal oscillator. The radio frequency signal oscillator includes a bipolar transistor connected in a common base configuration, and having a stripline element as a frequency determinative component in the collector circuit of the bipolar transistor. The modulating signal is applied to the base of the bipolar transistor which modulates the collector junction capacitance of the transistor thereby frequency modulating the signal produced by the oscillator. Varactor tuning is provided for setting a nominal frequency of oscillation.

The present invention relates to short range communications systems. Specifically, an oscillator circuit is provided for generating a radio frequency carrier signal frequency modulated with a composite information signal.
A number of systems have been developed to provide short range communications such as for wireless speaker operation in a stereophonic sound reproduction system. These systems generate a low power radio frequency signal modulated with stereophonic signals in the form of right and left audio signals. The low power radio frequency signal is broadcast to a receiver connected to the speakers avoiding the necessity to hard wire the speakers to the source of stereophonic signals.
The advantage of these systems is that the speakers may be located in virtually any short range from the source of audio signals without rewiring the speakers to the source. The low power radio frequency signals are in a frequency range of 900-928 MHz, as authorized by the FCC, and have a signal to noise ratio which maintains distortion at acceptable levels. Further, the devices must avoid the problem of microphonics and other adverse affects to quality. There is also the additional requirement that consumer electronics must be economical to build as price remains a significant factor in purchasing decisions.

Frequency modulated oscillator for transmitting short range signals

17/F, Sincere Insurance Building, Hennessy Road


This invention is a simple, low cost, disposable plastic device which is removably secured to an O.R. table side rail. Such slide rails are well known in the art and generally have cross section dimensions of greater than about 0.5 cm by 2.0 cm. The holder of the present invention comprises a rail engaging portion and a catheter/tube engaging portion. The rail engaging portion further comprises upper and lower rail engaging lugs defining an open slot into which the side rail is releasably engaged. The catheter/tube engaging portion comprises two opposing rectangular engaging wings of flexible plastic curved symmetrically with respect to a dividing central plane between the opposing engaging wings.

The present invention relates to catheter, tube, electrosurgical knife and suction device holders for surgery.
During surgical procedures, an anesthesiologist draws away mucus, saliva and other body fluids such as blood by suction from the patient's mouth and nose. The apparatus used for the continuous or intermittent suctioning operation comprises a catheter capable of withstanding vacuum for drawing viscous liquid through about 2 or more feet of such catheter or tubing to a catch bottle, a Yankauer tip or handle adapted for suctioning or similar rigid or semi-rigid device attached to the free end of the suction tubing, and a vacuum pump drawing liquid into the catch bottle. The anesthesiologist and/or OR personnel are assigned to do more than hold the catheter and suction tip an appropriate location, so that the catheter and suction tip are often merely laid alongside the patient on the OR table. Often, the suction tip and catheter fall to the floor and are unacceptably contaminated and must be replaced immediately, causing unnecessary rummaging about for a new catheter and suction tip.
In addition, a surgical procedure may require that the Yankauer tip or handle and associated suction tubing or electrosurgical knife and electrical cord be maintained in the sterile field. The suction tubing or electrical cord are sometimes merely secured under the O.R. mattress by pressure of the patient on the mattress, increasing the likelihood of contamination and cross-infection.


The present invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis comprising at least three pieces including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a movable core at least in relation to a plate, wherein it also comprises two anatomic adaptation elements of which each has, on one hand, a surface in contact with a surface of a vertebra and, on the other hand, a face of which at least a part has a surface in contact with at least a part of the plate opposite to which the anatomic adaptation element is mounted, the anatomic adaptation elements being fixed onto the plates via fixation means.

The present invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis, intended to be substituted for fibro-cartilaginous discs ensuring a bond between the vertebrae of the spinal column.
Various types of intervertebral disc prostheses are known in the prior art. Numerous prostheses, such as for example in the patent application WO 02 089 701 and WO 2004/041129, are constituted in a lower plate and an upper plate forming a sort of cage around a central core. A part of these prostheses enables the upper plate to swivel in relation to the central core and optionally permits the central core to slide in relation to the lower plate. This sliding of the central core in relation to the lower plate allows spontaneous positioning of the core in the ideal position to absorb constraints imposed on the prosthesis, during movements made by the patient wearing the prosthesis. The displacement of the core, co-operating with at least a plate about an uneven surface, enables an inclination between the plates of the prosthesis which facilitates the mobility of the patient wearing the prosthesis. The displacement of the core also prevents it from creeping under load, when subjected to major constraints. A part of these prostheses have osseous anchorage means allowing to attach these prostheses to the vertebrae between which they are intended to be inserted.
However, the size of the vertebrae varies greatly from person to person, for a same vertebra in a given position in the spinal column, but also for a given person depending on the position of the vertebrae in the spinal column between which a prosthesis is intended to be inserted. The intervertebral disc prostheses must be of a suitable size for the vertebrae between which they are intended to be inserted, depending on the person and on the position of these vertebrae in the spinal column. Moreover, depending on the spinal column disorder of the patient wearing the prosthesis, it is sometimes preferable that the prosthesis allows a correction of this disorder. The prostheses can thus be used to correct an inclination defect of the vertebrae, such as, for example, lordosis. To have prostheses that are suitable for as large a majority of cases as possible, many different prostheses with different plate sizes and inclinations must therefore be envisaged. This multiplicity of prostheses has the major inconvenience of high manufacturing costs and high stock levels. In this context, it is beneficial to provide a prosthesis that may be adapted to different sizes of vertebrae while allowing for different inclinations of the plates. Such a prosthesis would reduce stock levels and manufacturing costs.
One object of the present invention is to provide an intervertebral disc prosthesis allowing limited movements of the different pieces of the prosthesis between one another and comprising a core used to restrict its displacement in at least one direction.
This aim is achieved by an intervertebral disc prosthesis comprising at least three pieces including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a movable core at least in relation to a plate, having two anatomic adaptation elements each of which has, on one hand, a surface in contact with a surface of a vertebra and, on the other hand, a surface of which at least a part of has a surface in contact with at least a part of the plate opposite to which the anatomic adaptation element is mounted, the anatomic adaptation elements being fixed onto the plates via fixation means.
In other embodiments, the anatomic adaptation elements include crowns which surround the plates and prolong respectively their upper and lower surfaces to present contact surfaces of the prosthesis with the adjacent vertebrae are larger. In other embodiments, the crowns of the anatomic adaptation elements of various sizes are adapted on the plates in order to adapt them to vertebrae of different sizes.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the anatomic adaptation elements are anatomic plates, which cover the plates and prolong respectively their upper and lower surfaces to present contact surfaces of the prosthesis with the adjacent vertebrae which are bigger than when there are no anatomic adaptation elements, the anatomic plates being of various sizes in various embodiments to adapt the plates to vertebrae of different sizes.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the anatomic adaptation elements act to effectively and symmetrically prolong the upper and lower surfaces respectively of the upper and lower plates to present an equivalent prolongation of these surfaces on the different anterior, posterior and lateral edges of the plates.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the anatomic adaptation elements act to effectively and asymmetrically prolong the upper and lower surfaces respectively of the upper and lower plates to present a bigger prolongation of these surfaces on at least one of the anterior, posterior and lateral edges of the plates than on the other edges.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the upper surface of the core is in contact with at least one part of the lower surface of the upper plate and the lower surface of the core is in contact with at least one part of the upper surface of the lower plate.
According to another feature of some embodiments, at least one part of the surface of at least a plate is concave and complementary with a convex surface of the core with which it is in contact.
According to another feature of some embodiments, at least one part of the surface of at least a plate is plane and complementary with a plane surface of the core with which it is in contact.
According to another feature of some embodiments, male and female cooperation means situated in the vicinity of the edges of at least one plate and the core limit preferably, without excessive friction, the movements in translation of the core relative to the selected plate, according to an axis substantially parallel to selected plate, and limit or suppress the rotational movement of the core relative to the selected plate, about an axis substantially perpendicular to the selected plate.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the dimensions of each male cooperation means are slightly less than those of each female cooperation means so as to allow clearance between the core and the plate in embodiments equipped with these cooperation means.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the dimensions of each male cooperation means are substantially the same as those of each female cooperation means so as to prevent any clearance between the core and the plate equipped with these cooperation means.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the cooperation means of the plate are female cooperation means co-operating with male cooperation means of the core.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the male cooperation means of the core are two blocks situated on the two side edges of the core and the female cooperation means of the plate are four walls situated, in pairs, on each of the two side edges of this plate.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the fixation means of the anatomic adaptation elements on the plates of the prosthesis are reversible and allow changing the anatomic adaptation elements fixed in a movable manner onto the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the fixation means of the anatomic adaptation elements on the plates consist in fixation means present on the anatomic adaptation elements and complementary with fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the anatomic adaptation elements are fixed onto the plates via, on one hand, contact with at least a part of their surfaces which face at least a part of the plates and, on the other hand, contact of their fixation means with the complementary fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the fixation means of the anatomic adaptation elements on the plates consist in male fixation means present on the anatomic adaptation elements and that cooperate with the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis or inversely.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis consist of plane surfaces present on the edges of the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis consist of recesses made in the edges of the other plate of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis consist of recesses made in the edges of the female cooperation means of the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis consist of plane surfaces present on the edges of one of the plates and in recesses made in the female cooperation means of the edges of the other plate of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the female fixation means present on at least one of the plates of the prosthesis consist of plane surfaces present on at least a first edge of one of the plates and in recesses made in at least a second edge of the plate of the prosthesis, the second edge geometrically facing a first edge of the plate.
According to another feature of some embodiments, at least one of the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis comprises at least a notch allowing blocking the male fixation means of the anatomic adaptation elements on the selected female fixation means.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the fixation means of the anatomic adaptation elements on the plates consist of female fixation means present on the anatomic adaptation elements and co-operating with male intermediary means which can also cooperate with the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the anatomic adaptation elements are fixed onto the plates via, on one hand, contact of at least a part of their upper and lower surface with at least a part of respectively the upper and lower plates and, on the other hand, contact of the male intermediary means with the female fixation means present on the anatomic adaptation elements and with the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the male intermediary means possess securing means fixing the male intermediary means in a position to cooperate with both the female fixation means of the anatomic adaptation elements and the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the male intermediary means consist of a sliding plate in the female fixation means present on the anatomic adaptation elements to cooperate with the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis, the securing means of the male intermediary means consisting of at least an irregularity present on at least one side of the selected plate that cooperates with an opening in the female fixation means of the anatomic adaptation elements and/or in the female fixation means of the plates, thus fixing the male intermediary means in a position where they cooperate with both the female fixation means of the anatomic adaptation elements and the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the securing means of the male intermediary means consist of a bore in the male intermediary means and in the female fixation means present on the anatomic adaptation elements, the bore in the female fixation means of the anatomic adaptation elements capable of receiving a securing pin fixing the male intermediary means in the position to cooperate with the female fixation means present on the plates of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the median planes representing the upper and lower surfaces of each of the anatomic adaptation elements are substantially parallel or form an acute angle, the inclination obtained by such an angle allowing adaptation of the overall shape of the prosthesis to the anatomy of the spinal column and in some embodiments ameliorate inclination defects of the vertebrae of the patient for whom the prosthesis is intended.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the same anatomic adaptation elements may be assembled with different plates whose upper and lower surfaces create different angles.
According to another feature of some embodiments, an angle between the upper surface of the upper plate and the lower surface of the lower plate is imposed by creation of angles between the upper and lower surfaces of the lower plate and/or the upper plate, or by restricting, with the cooperation means, movements of the core about a position imposing an inclination of at least one of the plates.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the same plates are assembled with cores of different thicknesses and/or sizes and/or shapes.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the anatomic adaptation elements comprise movable osseous anchorage elements that are fixed onto the anatomic adaptation elements upon fixing the anatomic adaptation elements onto the plates, inserting the prosthesis between the vertebrae or adjusting the relative position of the different elements of the prosthesis.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the movable osseous anchorage elements of the anatomic adaptation elements consist of at least a plate equipped with notches oriented to resist the removal of the plate once it has been inserted into a vertebra, a far end of the plate bearing a part curved to fold over itself that may interlock as a hook onto an edge of an opening made in the vicinity of the periphery of the anatomic adaptation elements.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the part, curved to fold over itself, of the notched plate of the movable osseous anchorage means of the anatomic adaptation elements in prolonged with a second plate also equipped with notches oriented to resist removal once it has been inserted into the vertebra.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the anatomic adaptation elements comprise movable osseous anchorage elements consisting of at least one winglet that may be inserted in a groove formed in the adjacent surfaces of the vertebrae between which the prosthesis is to be implanted, said winglet comprising notches oriented to resist ejection of the prosthesis outside its housing between the vertebrae, a far end of the winglet bearing a part curved to fold over itself that may be interlocked as a hook onto an edge of an opening made in the vicinity of the periphery of the anatomic adaptation elements.
According to another feature of some embodiments, the winglet further comprises a pin having dimensions adapted to fit preferably tightly, into a groove of the anatomic adaptation elements and/or the plates.
The intervertebral disc prosthesis according to the present invention has an upper plate (1) articulated in relation to a lower plate (2) by means of a core (3). Each of the plates (1, 2) is equipped with an anatomic adaptation element (11, 22) allowing adjustment of the overall size of the prosthesis to the size of the vertebrae. Thus the variable size adaptability reduces the cost of manufacturing prostheses and their varieties. One advantage of the prosthesis according to the invention is that it comprises simple parts whose anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) can be sized so as to adapt to different vertebrae of the spinal column. For example, the thickness of the prosthesis may be adjusted to the intervertebral gap and/or the inclination of the plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis may be adapted to the inclination of the vertebrae of the patient. Even though the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) allow adjustment of the prosthesis to different sizes of vertebrae, plates (1, 2) and core (3) of differing sizes and shapes can be used where desired.
Anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) of the prosthesis (for example, plates 11a and 22a or crowns 11b or 22b) include an upper element (11) and a lower element (22). Upper element (11) has, an upper surface (110) of which at least a part presents a surface in contact with a lower surface of a first vertebra and, a lower surface (111a) or lower edge (111b) at least a part of which presents a surface in contact with a part of upper plate (1). Lower element (22) has a lower surface (220), at least a part of which presents a surface in contact with an upper surface of a second vertebra and has, an upper surface (222a) or upper edge (222b) at least a part of which presents a surface in contact with a part of the lower plate (2). Each of the two anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) is fixed onto the plates (1, 2) via respective fixation means (113, 223).
The core (3) of various embodiments varies in thickness from approximately 3 to 15 mm, depending on the vertebrae between which the prosthesis is to be inserted. Core (3) may in some embodiments, for example, be made of polyethylene, a compressible material simulating the physical properties of elasticity of natural intervertebral discs.
In some embodiments of the invention, core (3) has a convex part on at least a part of at least one of its upper (30) and lower (34) surfaces. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, it is the upper surface (30) of the core (3) which is convex and complementary with a concave part (140) of the lower surface (14) of the upper plate (1), whereas the lower surface (34) of the core (3) is plane and complementary with at least a plane part of the upper surface (24) of the lower plate (2). The concave part (140) of the lower surface (14) of the upper plate (1), as particularly visible in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B and 5C, has a circular periphery. In other possible embodiments (not shown), a part of the lower surface (34) of the core (3) may be convex and complementary with a concave part of the upper surface (24) of the lower plate (2), whereas the upper surface (30) of the core (3) is plane and complementary with at least a plane part of the lower surface (14) of the upper plate (1). In other embodiments (not shown), the concave surface lies on a part of one of the upper (30) and lower (34) surfaces of the core (3) and cooperates with a convex surface which lies on a part of a surface of one of the plates (1, 2). In some different embodiments (not shown), the non convex or non concave surface of the core (3) can respectively be concave or convex, to a slight degree.
In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, the concave part (140) of the lower surface (14) of the upper plate (1) complementary with the convex part of the upper surface (34) of the core (3) allows inclination of the upper plate (1) when the patient wearing the prosthesis bends over. The cooperation between the concave surface (140) and the convex surface (34) presents a surface of articulation with the prosthesis, due to this inclination of the upper plate (1) in relation to the core (3). The center of this articulation is typically at the tip of the convex surface (34) of the core (3). In the illustrated embodiments, the lower surface of the core (3) and the upper surface of the lower plate (2) are plane so as to permit clearance of the core (3) in relation to the lower plate (2), both in translation according to an axis substantially parallel to the lower plate (2), and in rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the lower plate (2). During movement by the patient wearing the prosthesis, this inclination of the upper plate (1) and this clearance of the core will allow displacement of the core (3) towards the ideal position to absorb the constraints applied to the prosthesis. The movement between the upper plate (1) and the core (3), as well as the clearance of the core (3) in relation to the lower plate (2) thus allow the patient to move, and, optionally, to eliminate the defects of positioning the prosthesis. This clearance likewise has the advantage of preventing premature wear due to the constraints applied to the prosthesis.
The core (3) also has male or female cooperation means (33) complementary with respectively female or male cooperation means (23) present on at least one of the plates (1, 2). These male and female cooperation means (23, 33) situated in the vicinity of the edges of at least one plate (1, 2) and of the core (3) limit, preferably without excessive friction, movements in translation of the core (3) in relation to this plate (1, 2), according to an axis substantially parallel to this plate (1, 2), and limit or suppress the movements in rotation of the core (3) in relation to this plate (1, 2), about an axis substantially perpendicular to this plate (1, 2). The dimensions of each male cooperation means (33) may be slightly less than those of each female cooperation means (23) so as to allow slight clearance between the core (3) and the plate (1, 2) equipped with these cooperation means. The dimensions of each male cooperation means (33) may also be substantially the same as those of each female cooperation means (23) so as to prevent any clearance between the core (3) and the plate (1, 2) equipped with these cooperation means.
In the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3, the core (3) has male cooperation means (33) complementary with female cooperation means (23) present on the lower plate (2). The male cooperation means (33) of the core (3) are, for example, hasps or blocks substantially parallelepiped in shape, present on the side edges of the core (3), as particularly visible in FIGS. 1 to 3. The female cooperation means (23) can consist, for example, of four walls situated, in pairs, on each of the two side edges of the lower plate (2). These walls may, in some cases, be curved to the centre of the prosthesis, so as to cover at least a part of the male cooperation means (33) of the core (3) and avoid lifting the core (3) and the upper plate (1). These cooperation means (23, 33) also prevent the core (3) from ejecting out of the prosthesis, in the event of too much constraint on the prosthesis. In an alternative embodiment, the dimensions of each male cooperation means (33) of the core (3) may be substantially the same as those of each female cooperation means (23) of the lower plate (2), so as to avoid any clearance of the core (3) in relation to the lower plate (2), both in translation and/or in rotation. In the latter case, the only permitted movement of the prosthesis is the inclining of the upper plate (1) in relation to the core (3). In an alternative embodiment, the core (3) has female cooperation means, consisting, for example, of complementary recesses of the male means present on the lower plate (2). These male means of the lower plate (2) may consist, for example, of two blocks or two nibs, curved for example to the interior of the prosthesis and facing one another on two edges of the lower plate (2). The nibs can, for example, be replaced by a block with a bore on which is fixed a hasp by way of a pin penetrating the bore. In another alternative embodiment, the lower plate (2) has half dog points. The core (3), by way of complement, has wells under its lower surface. The dimensions of the half dog points of the lower plate (2) and of the wells of the core (3) will be adapted, by choice, by a slight clearance of the core (3) in translation and in rotation or by no clearance, according to the desired result. In other alternatives, the cooperation means may be located on the core (3) and on the upper plate (1), instead of the lower plate (2). These are just some examples of such means as those of skill will appreciate after understanding this disclosure.
The description of a preferred embodiment will now be considered in reference to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, upper and lower anatomic adaptation elements consist of anatomic plates (11a, 22a), which respectively cover the upper (1) and lower (2) plates. The upper (222a) and lower (111a) surfaces of lower (22a) and upper (11a) anatomic adaptation plates may be reinforced in which respectively the lower (2) and upper (1) plates are housed. In another alternative, these upper (222a) and lower (111a) surfaces of the anatomic adaptation elements can be plane and comprise stoppers which, as for the aforementioned reinforcement, prevent the lower (2) and upper (1) plates respectively from moving in relation to the anatomic adaptation elements. The upper (222a) and lower (111a) surfaces of lower (22a) and upper (11a) anatomic adaptation elements respectively prolong the upper (10) and lower (20) surfaces of the upper (1) and lower (2) plates, to present contact surfaces of the prosthesis with the adjacent vertebrae which are larger than instances in which there are no anatomic adaptation elements (11a, 22a). Different sizes of the anatomic plates of the anatomic adaptation elements (11a, 22a) can be adapted to a single unit created by the two plates (1, 2) and the core (3), to provide contact between the prosthesis and the vertebrae of differing sizes.
In the embodiment of the prosthesis according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, anatomic adaptation elements (11b, 22b) consist of crowns which surround upper (1) and lower (2) plates. In this embodiment, the edges of upper (10) and lower (20) surfaces of upper (1) and lower (2) plates are bevelled and complementary with respect to the lower (111b) and upper (222b) inside edges of upper (11b) and lower (22b) crowns, respectively. This inclined shape of the edges of plates (1, 2) and of anatomic adaptation crowns (11b, 22b) cooperates with fixation means (113, 223) of the anatomic adaptation elements to maintain anatomic adaptation crowns (11b, 22b) fixed in the plane of upper (1) and lower (2) plates of the prosthesis, respectively. The anatomic adaptation crowns (11b, 22b) prolong upper (10) and lower (20) surfaces of upper (1) and lower (2) plates, to present contact surfaces of the prosthesis with the adjacent vertebrae which are larger than when there are no anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22). In the same manner as for the aforementioned anatomic plates (11a, 22a), a single unit created by the two plates (1, 2) and the core (3) can thus be adjusted to vertebrae of differing sizes, due to different sizes of crowns (11b, 22b) of the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22).
In many preferred embodiments, the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) may symmetrically or asymmetrically prolong upper (10) and lower (20) surfaces, respectively of upper (1) and lower (2) plates. Thus, for example, the anterior edge of the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) may have a larger contact surface with the vertebrae than its posterior edge, so that the center of articulation of the prosthesis (described above) is centered in relation to the natural axis of the spinal column, that meaning off center to the rear of the vertebrae of a ⅔-⅓ section.
Many preferred embodiments, are helpful in the correction of the defects of lordosis. The presence of an angle between the upper and lower surfaces of the prosthesis, in contact with the adjacent vertebrae, is often desirable. Such an angle may be obtained with an upper plate (1), whose median planes representing its lower (14) and upper (10) surfaces create an angle. In other embodiments, lower plate (2) exhibits median planes representing lower (20) and upper (24) surfaces which create an angle. In other embodiments at least one of the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) has median planes of the respective structures lower and upper surfaces which create an angle that may be represented by thus, a single unit having two plates (1, 2) and core (3) may be used, for example, to induce or not lordosis, depending on which anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) are associated with it. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, lower surface (220) of lower anatomic plate (22a) creates an angle with upper surface (222a). Such an angle which a slightly offset position of the core (3) in relation to the centre of the prosthesis may also be implemented. This slightly offset position of the core (3) may, for example, be maintained with an adjustable positioning of the male and female cooperation means (23, 33). If the surgeon wishes, for example, to induce lordosis within a range of values, a prosthesis may be selected whose core (3) can have slight clearance in translation and in rotation relative to lower plate (2), but about a position imposing a slight permanent inclination of at least one of the plates, due to an accurate adjustment of the cooperation means (23, 33) between core (3) and lower plate (2). Thus, in several preferred embodiments, the median planes representing upper (110, 222a) and lower (111a, 220) surfaces of the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) may be substantially parallel or form an acute angle. The inclination obtained by such an angle allows adaptation of the overall shape of the prosthesis to the anatomy of the spinal column or to reduce or correct inclination defects of the vertebrae of the patient for whom the prosthesis is intended. The same anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) can be assembled with different plates (1, 2) whose upper (10, 24) and lower (14, 20) surfaces create different angles. In other instances, plates (1, 2), whose upper (10, 24) and lower (14, 20) surfaces are parallel, are assembled with anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) having upper (110, 222a) and lower (111a, 220) surfaces which exhibit different angles. This angle between upper (10) surface of upper plate (1) and lower surface (20) of lower plate (2) may be imposed either by the fact that the median planes representing the lower (20, 14) and upper (24, 10) surfaces of the lower plate (2) and/or the upper plate (1) create an angle, or by restricting, thanks to the cooperation means (23, 33), movements of the core (3) about a position imposing an inclination of at least one of the plates (1, 2).
Illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 are movable osseous anchorage means (60) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22). Osseous anchorage means (60) may be fixed onto the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) upon fixing them onto the plates (1, 2) and/or upon inserting the prosthesis between vertebrae. Thus, the surgeon may easily position the prosthesis between the vertebrae and then insert the osseous anchorage means (60) once the prosthesis has been correctly positioned. In the embodiment presented in FIG. 1, these movable osseous anchorage means (60) consist of a plate (61) equipped with notches (62) oriented to resist removal of plate (61) once it has been inserted into the vertebra. Plate (61) can, of course, be replaced by a rod in the shape of a nail, for example, with or without notches (62) to resist against its removal from the vertebra. A far end of plate (61) bears a part (63) curved to fold over itself. This curved part forms a kind of a hook intended to be interlocked onto an edge (16, 26) of an opening made in the vicinity of the periphery of the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22). This edge (16, 26) of the opening creates a sort of rod onto which the osseous anchorage means (60) interlock. The curved part (63) allows clasping the osseous anchorage means (60) onto the rod-like edge (16, 26) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22). This rod-like edge may be replaced by any equivalent means that attach to the osseous anchorage means (60). In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, rod-like edge (16, 26) is located an anterior edge of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22). This allows the surgeon access after insertion via anterior means (through accessing the vertebrae from their anterior face). If the implanting of the prosthesis is to be done via posterior means, anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) may have rod-like edge (16, 26) located on the posterior edge. If the implanting of the prosthesis is to be done via lateral means, anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) may have a rod-like edge (16, 26) located on at least one of their edges. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, hooked part (63), curved to fold over itself, of the notched plate (61) of movable osseous anchorage means (60) of anatomic adaptation crowns (11b, 22b) prolong with a second plate (61) which may be equipped with notches (62) oriented to resist against removal of plate (61) once inserted. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, second plate (61) is shorter than first plate and in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, it is as long as the first plate. Where osseous anchorage means (60) locks onto the rod-like edge (16, 26) allows it to have a variable angle which facilitates the attaching of the prosthesis. Depending on its encumbrance, the surgeon will have a choice of angles according to which he wishes to drive the osseous anchorage means (60) into the vertebrae. Moreover, because osseous anchorage means (60) may be inserted after positioning the prosthesis between the vertebrae there can be adjustment of the relative position of the different elements (1, 2, 3) of the prosthesis. Inserting the prosthesis generates constraints on the elements of the prosthesis which are movable in relation to each other. Thus, there is a misalignment. The surgeon may, with embodiments hereof, adjust the position of the prosthesis between the vertebrae and adjust the relative position of the elements of the prosthesis between themselves prior to definitively attaching the prosthesis.
Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the present prosthesis can comprise other osseous anchorage means (60) than those described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. To give non-limitative examples, such osseous anchorage means (60) can consist of winglets fixed on the prosthesis as in the Patent Application WO03/039400 or of a stud nailed in the vertebra through the anatomic adaptation elements as in the Patent Application WO04/041129. One embodiment of the anchorage means (60) is presented on the FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B. Osseous anchorage means (60) according to this embodiment consist of winglets comprising a hooked part (63), curved to fold over itself, so that the winglets can be adapted onto the anatomic adaptation elements. Hooked part (63) of the winglet, particularly visible on FIG. 10B, allows the anchorage means (60) to be interlocked onto the edge (16, 26) of an opening made in the vicinity of the periphery of the anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a), as particularly visible on FIGS. 11A and 11B. This edge (16, 26) of the opening creates a sort of rod onto which the osseous anchorage means (60) interlock, as described above. The winglet further comprises a pin (64) (or a dowel) adapted to be inserted into a groove (65) present on the surface of the plate and/or the anatomic adaptation element on which the winglet is to be fixed, as particularly visible on FIG. 11B. The groove (65) and the pin (64) have dimensions adapted so that the pin (64) is secured into groove (65). For example, pin (64) may have a substantially conical shape, with the larger diameter of the cone being at the base of the pin and the smaller diameter being at its end. Groove (65) may have side walls adapted to cooperate with the conical shape of the pin (64) so that the pin tightly fits inside the groove and thus secures the osseous anchoring means (60) onto anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a). For example, the width of the groove (65) may be larger at its surface than at its bottom. The osseous anchorage means (60) are thus fixed onto the prosthesis by first interlocking hooked part (63) onto rod-like edge (16, 26) of anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a) and by rotating osseous anchorage means (60) the rod until pin (64) penetrates into groove (65) of anatomic adaptation plate (11a, 22a) and/or of plate (1, 2). Winglet (60) may have a standard size for many of the embodiments and the position of pin (64) of winglet (60) inside groove (65) may vary as a function of the size of anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a). Depending on the thickness of anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a), pin (64) penetrates into anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a) or may traverse anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a) and penetrate into a groove (65) in plates (1, 2), as shown for example on FIG. 11B for upper plate (1). Since the anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a) may vary in size (diameter), their groove may have variable lengths and can be replaced by a hole having a variable distance from the rod-like edge (16, 26) so that the hole is adapted to receive the pin (64). When the pin is designed to penetrate the plates also, the plates will typically include a groove because the distance of the pin from the periphery of the plates will vary depending on the size of the anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a). Once secured onto the anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a), winglets (60) are adapted to cooperate with a groove drilled in the surfaces of the adjacent vertebrae with which they are in contact. Thus, the surgeon may create a groove in the surfaces of vertebrae between which the prosthesis is intended to be inserted. This groove in the vertebrae may have an orientation relative to the sagittal plane that will depend on the position and orientation of the winglet. This orientation may be predetermined and may then set and secure the orientation of the prosthesis. Similarly, the depth of the groove in the vertebrae and its extend from the periphery will be predetermined as a function of the size of winglet (60) and may allow the surgeon to adjust the relative position of the various elements of the prosthesis and predict the position of the prosthesis relative to the natural axis of the vertebrae. The winglets typically comprise notches (66) on their surfaces which are intended to be in contact with the bottom of the groove preformed in the vertebrae. Notches (66) of winglets (60) will resist against the ejection of the prosthesis from inside its housing between the vertebrae, such as for example when strong constraints are applied to the prosthesis. With reference to FIG. 11B, hooked part (63) of the winglets (60) can be oriented so that they are to be interlocked onto the rod-like edge (16, 26) by being inserted inside the opening made in the vicinity of the periphery of the anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a) or by being inserted from outside this opening.
The osseous anchoring means (60) described above are adapted to anatomic adaptation plates (11a, 22a) but may also be adapted to anatomic adaptation crowns (11b, 22b) comprising an opening in the vicinity of their periphery or to the plates of other types of intervertebral disc prosthesis having plates comprising an opening in the vicinity of their periphery. The edge (16, 26) of such opening in the plates create a sort of rod onto which the hooked part (63) of both removable embodiments of the osseous anchoring means (60) can be interlocked.
FIGS. 4 to 9 illustrate plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis traverse equipped with anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) and illustrate different exemplar embodiments of fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25) of these anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22), on plates (1, 2). Fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25) are in some embodiments, reversible, this means that anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) can be attached and removed from plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis. Fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25) thus allow anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22), fixable in a moveable manner to plates (1, 2), to be changed. Fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) on plates (1, 2) consist of fixation means (113, 223) present on anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) and complementary with fixation means (15, 25) present on the plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis. Anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) are fixed onto plates (1, 2) via, contact of at least a part of their lower (111) face (which, for example, may be lower surfaces 111a or lower edges 111b) and upper (222) face (which, for example, may be upper surfaces 222a or upper edges 222b) with at least a part upper (1) and lower (2) plates and, on the other hand, contact of their fixation means (113, 223) with complementary fixation means (15, 25) present on plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis. For anatomic plates (11a, 22a) such as those illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 4A to 4D, anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) are fixed onto plates (1, 2) with upper (10) and lower (20) surfaces of upper (1) and lower (2) plates which are attached to reinforcements present on lower (111a) and upper (222a) surfaces respectively of the upper (11) and lower (22) anatomic plates, via fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25). For anatomic crowns (11b, 22b) such as those illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5A to 5C, anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) are fixed onto plates (1, 2) with bevelled parts of upper (10) and lower (20) surfaces, respectively of upper (1) and lower (2) plates which are attached to bevelled parts of upper (111b) and lower (222b) edges of upper (11) and lower (22) anatomic crowns, via fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25). Different embodiments of fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) on plates (1, 2) will now be described in reference to FIGS. 4 to 9. These fixation means are given by way of illustration and can be replaced by other means such as will be recognized by those of skill. A variety of combinations of the different fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25) are described below.
In several embodiments, fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) on plates (1, 2) consist of male fixation means (113, 223) present on anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) and cooperate with female fixation means (15, 25) present on plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis. Female fixation means (15, 25) present on plates (1, 2) of prosthesis can consist, for example, in plane surfaces (15, 25) present on edges of plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis or in recesses (15, 25) either made in the edges of the plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis, or in the edges of female cooperation means (23) of plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis.
In an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, fixation means (113) of upper anatomic plate (11a) consist, on posterior edge of lower surface (111a), in nibs which are shaped and have dimensions intended to receive a section (15) of posterior edge of lower surface (14) of upper plate (1). On an anterior edge of its lower surface (111a), fixation means (113) of upper anatomic plate (11a) consists in latches constituted in an axis of rotation onto which a hasp is mounted to swivel about this axis and receive a section (15) of posterior edge of lower surface (14) of upper plate (1), as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Right-hand latches in figures 4A to 4C are illustrated in the open position and the left-hand latches are in the closed position. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4C and 4D, fixation means (223) of lower anatomic plate (22a) consist, on the posterior edge of lower surface (222a), in nibs which are shaped and have dimensions to fit into opening (25) made in cooperation means (23) of lower plate (2). On anterior edge of its lower surface (222a), fixation means (223) of upper anatomic plate (22a) consist of latches constituted in an axis of rotation onto which a hasp is mounted intended to receive a recess (25) made in a part of cooperation means (23) present on posterior edge of the lower plate (2). Latches illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4D can be maintained in the closed position via securing means (55) present, for example, on plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, a notch (55a) made on recess (25) present on a part of the cooperation means (23) of the lower plate (2) prevents latch (223) of lower anatomic plate (22a) from swivelling.
In the embodiment in FIGS. 5A to 5C, anterior and posterior edges of the upper anatomic adaptation crowns (11b) have fixation means (113) consisting in nibs which cooperate with a plane section (15) present on the edge of the lower surface (14) of the upper plate.
In the embodiments in FIGS. 6A to 9D, fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) on plates (1, 2) consist in female fixation means (113, 223) present on anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) and co-operating with male intermediary means (50) which can also cooperate with female fixation means (15, 25) present on plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis. Anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) are fixed onto plates (1, 2) via, contact of at least a part of their upper (111) and lower (222) faces with at least a part, respectively of the upper (1) and lower (2) plates and, on the other hand, contact of male intermediary means (50) with female fixation means (113, 223) present on anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) and with female fixation means (15, 25) present on plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis. Male intermediary means (50) consist in a sliding plate (50) in female fixation means (113, 223) present on anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) to cooperate with female fixation means (15, 25) present on plates (1, 2) of prosthesis. Plate (50) is substantially parallelepiped in shape and can comprise, on its side edges, fins (500), particularly visible, for example, in FIG. 7A. Fins (500) of the male intermediary means (50) are of complementary shape with female fixation means (113, 223) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) and with female fixation means (15, 25) of plates (1, 2) of prosthesis, which have side runners in which these fins (500) slide. This complementary shape of the fins (500) of the plate (50) and the runners of the female fixation means (113, 223) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) as well as the female fixation means (15, 25) of plates (1, 2) prevent plate (50) from leaving these female fixation means (113, 223, 15, 25) prior to being secured via the securing means (55).
Male intermediary means (50) have securing means (55) blocking the male intermediary means (50) in the position where they cooperate with both the female fixation means (113, 223) of the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) and with the female fixation means (15, 25) present on the plates (1, 2) of the prosthesis. Securing means (55) which consist, for example, in at least an irregularity (for example, notches 55a, slots 55b, or other variants) present on at least one side of plate (50) and to cooperate with at least an opening (550) made in female fixation means (113, 223) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) and/or in female fixation means (15, 25) of plates (1, 2). Opening (550) can be of a complementary shape of male intermediary means (50) or of its securing means, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6A, the plate constituting male intermediary means (50) widens out towards its posterior end and the irregularity constituting the exemplar securing means (55) comprises a slot (55b) on the posterior half of the plate (50). This slot (55b) compresses the posterior end of the plate (50) when it is introduced into the female fixation means (113, 223) of the upper and/or lower anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22), as illustrated for the left-hand plate in FIG. 6A. When plate (50) reaches its end of stroke in the runner created by the female means (113, 223) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) and means (15, 25) of plates (1, 2), meaning when it cooperates with these two female means at the same time, openings (550) made, for example, in the female means (113, 223) of the anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22) separate the plate (50) from its hold. This is illustrated for the right-hand plate in figure 6A. FIG. 7B illustrates a perspective view of this embodiment of fixation means in which plate (50) is intended to be held in female manes (25) made in cooperation means (23) of lower plate (2). This figure also shows the reinforcement present, for example, on lower anatomic plate (22a) may be deeper than the thickness of the lower plate (2). Depending on the size of cooperation means (23, 33) of lower plate (2) of core (3), the edges of this reinforcement may provide a periphery abutment possibly limiting the displacement of core (3) in relation to lower plate (2). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6B, irregularities constituting securing means (55) of male intermediary means (50) consist in hasps present on the side edges of the plate (50). As illustrated for left-hand plate (50) in FIG. 6B, these hasps (55c) are compressed when hasp is introduced into the runners of female means (113, 223). When the plate is pushed as far as the blocking position, hasps (55c) open out in openings (550) provided for on the side edges of the female means (113, 223) of upper and/or lower anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22), as illustrated for right-hand plate (50) in FIG. 6B.
FIGS. 7A and 8A to 8D illustrate another alternative embodiment of the male intermediary means (50). In this embodiment, irregularities of plate (50) constituting the securing means (55) of plate (50) consist in a bore in male intermediary means (50), prolonged by a bore (550) in female fixation means (113, 223) of anatomic adaptation elements (11, 22), as particularly visible in FIG. 8B. The bore (550) is intended to receive a securing pin (55d) blocking the male intermediary means (50) in the position where they cooperate with female fixation means (15, 25) present on the plates (1, 2) of prosthesis, as illustrated in FIG. 8C.
Another alternative of the securing means (55) of male intermediary means (50) is illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 9D. In this alternative, the irregularities constituting securing means (55) of plate (50) consist of a notch (55a) present on the lower surface of the plate and cooperative with an opening (550) made in the female fixation means (113, 223) of anatomic adaptation elements by resisting against removal of plate (50), once driven as far as the female fixation means (15, 25) of the plates (1, 2), as illustrated in FIG. 9D.
It will be evident to those of ordinary skill that the invention allows embodiments in numerous other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention. The embodiments are offered, therefore, only to illustrate rather than limit the invention which is limited only by the following claims.