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A full color, reflective display having superior saturation and brightness is achieved with a novel display element comprising multichromatic elements. In one embodiment a capsule includes more than three species of particles which differ visually. One embodiment of the display employs three sub-pixels, each sub-pixel comprising a capsule including three species of particles which differ visually. Another embodiment of the display employs color filters to provide different visual states to the user. The display element presents a visual display in response to the application of an electrical signal to at least one of the capsules.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end with an operating device disposed at the distal end. A cable assembly is carried by the shaft and extends proximally to a terminus. A handle assembly coupled to the cable assembly concludes a first handle and a second handle. The first handle includes portions configured to receive the terminus and the proximal end of the shaft while portions of the second handle are configured to receive the terminus of the cable assembly. The proximal end of the shaft and the terminus are simultaneously rotatable to cover the proximal end of the shaft to the portions of the first handle and to couple the terminus to the portions of the second handle. The handle assembly can be made sterilizable with a minimum of non-bearing surfaces, while the shaft assembly can be made disposable and interchangeable with various operating devices. An associated method includes the step of releasably locking the shaft assembly to the handle assembly.

A method for the duplication of microscopic patterns from a master to a substrate is disclosed, in which a replica of a topographic structure on a master is formed and transferred when needed onto a receiving substrate using one of a variety of printing or imprint techniques, and then dissolved. Additional processing steps can also be carried out using the replica before transfer, including the formation of nanostructures, microdevices, or portions thereof. These structures are then also transferred onto the substrate when the replica is transferred, and remain on the substrate when the replica is dissolved. This is a technique that can be applied as a complementary process or a replacement for various lithographic processing steps in the fabrication of integrated circuits and other microdevices.

Bone screw assemblies include longitudinal connecting members that provide for dynamic stabilization, some including non-uniform portions that are configured to flex, contract or expand. Composite longitudinal connecting members include longitudinal segments made from different materials having different flexibilities. Polyaxial bone screw assemblies include change-out receivers for cooperating with replacement longitudinal connecting members having a different flexibility. Bone screw shanks for cooperating with one or more open receivers include treatment or coating to provide biologically active interface with bone.

A process for creating an electronically addressable display includes multiple printing operations, similar to a multi-color process in conventional screen printing. In some of the process steps, electrically non-active inks are printed onto areas of the receiving substrate, and in other steps, electrically active inks are printed onto different areas of the substrate. The printed display can be used in a variety of applications. This display can be used as an indicator by changing state of the display after a certain time has elapsed, or when a certain pressure, thermal, radiative, moisture, acoustic, inclination, pH, or other threshold is passed. In one embodiment, the display is incorporated into a battery indicator. A sticker display is described. The sticker is adhesive backed and may then be applied to a surface to create a functional information display unit. This invention also features a display that is both powered and controlled using radio frequencies. It describes a complete system for controlling, addressing, and powering a display. The system includes an antenna or antennae, passive charging circuitry, and active control system, a display, and an energy storage unit. There is also a separate transmitter that provides the remote power for the display. The system is meant to be used anywhere it is useful to provide intermittent updates of information such as in a store, on a highway, or in an airport. A tile-based display allowing a modular system for large area display is created using a printable display material.

A method for manufacturing a full color, reflective display includes the steps of depositing a first plurality of electrophoretic display elements in substantial registration with a first electrode and a second plurality of electrophoretic display elements in substantial registration with a second electrode. The electrophoretic display elements include a capsule containing a species of particles dispersed in a suspending fluid. The selective deposition of the display elements can be achieved by ink-jet printing methods, screen printing methods or other printing methods. In some embodiments the electrodes are printed onto the substrate before selective deposition of the display elements, while in other embodiments the substrate is provided having the electrodes already disposed on it. In still other embodiments, the sequence of printing of electrodes and electrophoretic display elements can be varied.

A system for centrally controlling and messaging electrically active displays distributed at a single site or at multiple sites. A process for creating an electronically addressable display includes multiple printing operations, similar to a multi-color process in conventional screen printing. In some of the process steps, electrically non-active inks are printed onto areas of the receiving substrate, and in other steps, electrically active inks are printed onto different areas of the substrate. The printed display can be used in a variety of applications. This display can be used as an indicator by changing state of the display after a certain time has elapsed, or when a certain pressure, thermal, radiative, moisture, acoustic, inclination, pH, or other threshold is passed. In one embodiment, the display is incorporated into a battery indicator. A sticker display is described. The sticker is adhesive backed and may then be applied to a surface to create a functional information display unit. This invention also features a display that is both powered and controlled using radio frequencies. It describes a complete system for controlling, addressing, and powering a display. The system includes an antenna or antennae, passive charging circuitry, and active control system, a display, and an energy storage unit. There is also a separate transmitter that provides the remote power for the display. The system is meant to be used anywhere it is useful to provide intermittent updates of information such as in a store, on a highway, or in an airport. A tile-based display allowing a modular system for large area display is created using a printable display material.

A modular system of devices, in which a (master) device can be combined with one or more of other (slave) devices to transform to functional electronic devices having expanded functionalities and features in different form factors and / or platforms. The master device is docked to the slave device via a data / electrical interface, to transform the master device to the larger form factor of the slave device, with the master device maintaining control of the slave device, substantially based on the operating system installed in the master device, with access to the data, application programs, functionalities and features embodied in the master device. An intermediate removable physical interface adaptor (or docking adaptor) is provided to facilitate docking compatibility of the master device to the slave device. An enhanced charging and power management scheme is provided to optimize power management for the master device and the slave device.

A lithium-ion battery is provided that has a fast charge and discharge rate capability and low rate of capacity fade during high rate cycling. The battery can exhibit low impedance growth and other properties allowing for its use in hybrid electric vehicle applications and other applications where high power and long battery life are important features.

The present invention relates to making optical articles such as opthalmic lenses by molding and, in particular, to using a continuous extrusion-compression molding method to make plastic lenses whereby a polymer melt is fed from an extruder or melting apparatus to a first die of a plurality of rotating or conveyed sequentially processed compression die sets comprising a first die and a second die. The die sets are positioned on die supports on a rotating turntable or conveying system, the lenses formed by compressing the die sets with pressing means associated with each die support, the lenses separated from the dies and the dies recycled to die loading and the melt feed step of the process and the process repeated until the desired number of lenses or other optical articles such as compact disk substrates are produced.

The invention provides an optoelectronic device comprising a mixed-anion perovskite, wherein the mixed-anion perovskite comprises two or more different anions selected from halide anions and chalcogenide anions. The invention further provides a mixed halide perovskite of the formula (I) [A][B][X]3 wherein: [A] is at least one organic cation; [B] is at least one divalent metal cation; and [X] is said two or more different halide anions. In another aspect, the invention provides the use of a mixed-anion perovskite as a sensitizer in an optoelectronic device, wherein the mixed-anion perovskite comprises two or more different anions selected from halide anions and chalcogenide anions. The invention also provides a photosensitizing material for an optoelectronic device comprising a mixed-anion perovskite wherein the mixed-anion perovskite comprises two or more different anions selected from halide anions and chalcogenide anions.

The present invention provides systems and methods for applying RF energy to injured tissue, particularly the peritoneum, in order to prevent harmful post-surgical adhesions. One aspect of the invention is RF energy delivery systems employing trocars, which are designed for use in laparotomies and laparoscopies. Another aspect of the invention is an RF delivery system comprising a surgical sheet with one or more electrodes for delivering the RF energy to the injured tissue resulting from conventional surgical incisions into the abdominal wall. Additionally, another aspect of the invention provides methods for controlling the treatment dosage of RF heat to the injured tissue using parameters such as treatment time, change in tissue temperature, and change in tissue impedance.

A method and an apparatus that improves virtual memory management. The proposed method and apparatus provides an application with an efficient channel for communicating information about future behavior of an application with respect to the use of memory and other resources to the OS, a paging daemon, and other system software. The state of hint bits, which are integrated into page table entries and TLB entries and are used for communicating information to the OS, can be changed explicitly with a special instruction or implicitly as a result of referencing the associated page. The latter is useful for canceling hints. The method and apparatus enables memory allocators, garbage collectors, and compilers (such as those used by the Java platform) to use a page-aligned heap and a page-aligned stack to assist the OS in effective management of memory resources. This mechanism can also be used in other system software.

A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient in a prone position during a surgical procedure includes a patient support structure incorporating an open fixed frame suspended above a floor and a pair of spaced opposed radially sliding joints cooperating with the frame, each joint including a virtual pivot point and an arc of motion spaced from the pivot point, the joints being movable along the arc providing a pivot-shift mechanism for a pair of pelvic pads attached to the joints. A base supports and suspends the patient support structure above the floor, for supporting a patient during a surgical procedure, the base including a pair of spaced opposed vertical translation subassemblies reversibly attachable to the support structure, a cross-bar, and a rotation subassembly having two degrees of rotational freedom; wherein a location of each vertical translation subassembly is substantially constant during operation of the patient support structure.

A system for transforming the movements of at least one joint of a user into control signals for a computer. The system includes a sleeve for putting on over the joint and a movement sensor fixed to the sleeve for the sensor to be placed and held in the hollow of the joint. The sensor is an on / off sensor that is directly subject to the movements of the sleeve in the hollow of the joint.

The self-locking osteosynthesis device includes a plate equipped with holes for the passage of fixation screws. The invention is characterised in that, at least in the areas defining the screw holes, the aforementioned plate is made from a material having mechanical properties such that the periphery of the holes can be self-tapped by means of tapping screws which can be used to fix the plate.

A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient in a prone position during a surgical procedure is provided, including an open fixed frame suspended above a floor and a pair of spaced opposed radially sliding joints cooperating with the frame, each joint including a virtual pivot point and an arc of motion spaced from the virtual pivot point, the joints being movable along the arc providing a pivot ship mechanism for a pair of pelvic pads attached to the joints. A base for supporting and suspending a patient support structure above the floor, for supporting a patient during a surgical procedure, the base including a pair of spaced opposed vertical translation subassemblies reversibly attachable to a patient support structure, a cross-bar, and a rotation subassembly having two degrees of rotational freedom; wherein a location of each vertical translation subassembly is substantially constant during operation of the patient support structure.

A dynamic fixation medical implant having at least two bone anchors includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having rigid sleeves for attachment to the bone anchors, at least one spacer engaging the bone anchors and the sleeves, and in some embodiments, an end elastic bumper. A flexible cord is initially slidingly received within the rigid sleeves, the spacer and the bumper. The spacer may include an optional inelastic inner liner, with at least one of the sleeves having an extension slidingly receivable within the liner. Some sleeves include apertures for receiving a closure top portion for locking the cord against the sleeve, or alternatively receiving a closure top that does not extend into the aperture, the slip or grip option provided by the aperture in each sleeve resulting in an overall connector with variable segmental stiffness.

PCT No. PCT / IE96 / 00078 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 12, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 12, 1998 PCT Filed Dec. 4, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97 / 20758 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 12, 1997A container (1) for storage or transport of liquids comprises a flexible body (2) which is collapsible and erectable, the body having a base (18) and side walls (7, 8, 11, 12), with pockets (4) therein, and stiffining means (3) in the pockets to stiffen the flexible body (2), wherein a transverse gusset (6) is provided at each corner between adjacent side walls (7, 12, 8, 11), and a reinforcer (5) extends from the corner to the gusset, the reinforcer (5) being provided with stiffening means therein. A liner (not shown) conforms to the octogonal interior configuration of the container body. Two opposite side walls (7, 8) each have two center pockets (4c), and a central joint line (9) between the two center pockets (4c) provides a hinge line for folding of the container. Each side wall (7, 8, 11, 12), reinforcer (5) and gusset (6) may be formed of a single piece of fabric.

The invention is a pad having a layer of resilient gel disposed on a layer of foam. The gel layer is preferably a silicone gel or other resilient gel such as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), SEBS or SEPS and the foam layer is preferably EVA foam. A soft rubber could also be used. The gel layer of the pad may have geometric cutouts such as pleats, grooves, flutings, corrugations, serrated shape, or any combination. The geometric cutouts may have a round, square, trapezoidal, triangular, rectangular, rectangular with rounded corners, half round shape or any combination. The geometric cutouts may also be hollow to further reduce gel material. The shape of the gel layer may be different or independent of the shape of any serrations or geometric cutouts on the foam layer. The pad may be flat or may be formed into a sleeve, a holder for beverage containers, a support pad, or a seat cushions. Many other uses and shapes are conceivable.

The present invention is directed to polymer compositions with flame retardant properties that are made from a polymer blended using a defined process with a smectite clay that has been reacted with a specified mixture of organic materials.The inventive compositions have the property that when the organically modified clay is added to the polymer, a composite results which has flame-retardant properties and is based on the finding that degree of dispersion of a smectite organoclay in a polymer matrix will give the compositions flame-retardant properties. Further, it has been found that it is very important to proper functioning of the flame retardant polymer compositions that they have the organoclay dispersed in the polymer such that it is not completely exfoliated.

The present invention provides a low molecular mass PPF polymer (and related methods) that is suitable for 3D printing and other polymer device fabrication modalities and can be made inexpensively in commercially reasonable quantities. These novel low molecular mass PPF polymers have a low molecular mass distribution (m) and a wide variety of potential uses, particularly as a component in resins for 3D printing of medical devices. The ability to produce low m PPF creates a new opportunity for reliable GMP production of PPF. It provides low cost synthesis and scalability of synthesis, blending of well-defined mass and viscosity PPF, and reduced reliance on solvents or heat to (a) achieve mixing of 3D printable resins or (b) and flowability during 3D printing. These PPF polymers are non-toxic, degradable, and resorbable and can be used in tissue scaffolds and medical devices that are implanted within a living organism.