218results about How to "More rigid" patented technology

A bendable polymer tissue fixation device suitable to be implanted into a living body, comprising a highly porous body, the porous body comprising a polymer, the porous body comprising a plurality of pores, the porous body being capable of being smoothly bent, wherein the bending collapses a portion of the pores to form a radius curve, the polymer fixation device being rigid enough to protect a tissue from shifting. In a preferred embodiment the polymer fixation device may be capable of being gradually resorbed by said living body. In one embodiment, the polymer fixation device comprises a plurality of layers distinguishable by various characteristics, such as structural or chemical properties. In another embodiment, the polymer fixation device may comprise additional materials; the additional materials serving to reinforce or otherwise alter the structure or physical characteristics of the device, or alternatively as a method of delivering therapy or other agents to the system of a living being.

The invention generally concerns a spine stabilization system having one or more flexible elements having an opening or slit. The flexible element may be integrally formed in a rod having ends capable of receiving fasteners. The flexible element may limit rotation, flexion-extension, or lateral bending of the spine. The slit or opening may form helical pattern on the rod, and more than one slit or opening may be provided. The flexible element may be conformable to the natural spinal movement.

The protective helmet includes a rigid outer shell where the shell includes an undulating cross-sectional profile. A layer of impact-energy-absorbing material is positioned adjacent to the shell. The undulating profile of the shell can be any type of load spreading undulating profile, such as that of a sinusoidal or triangular wave configuration. The undulating load-spreading profile can be on the inner surface of the shell, on the outer surface of the shell or the entire cross-section of the shell may be undulating. The unique undulating profile makes the shell more rigid and spreads the impact load across the surface of the shell to thereby spread the deformation of the padding layer to prevent the shell from bottoming out of the impact-energy-absorbing material during an impact. As a result, a safer and more effective protective helmet is provided.

Presented is a method and apparatus comprising one or more robotic members which are curvaceous or snake-like; having movable shapers through which may pass an articulable column having successive joints formed of alternating ball and socket members. The shapers can be directed up and down the articulable column, to create virtually any radius of curvature, in any direction. The robotic member may also include discrete microelectronic mechanical devices (MEMS) shapers with embedded addressable controllers. Thus the device, with computerized control is capable of negotiating a tortuous path to access the site of a given operation and to retreat along the same path, without injury to the body in which the arm is directed. Once at the work site, the articulating columns, or parts of them, may be put in compression, causing them to become rigid.

A collapsible container includes a plurality of collapsible walls, each pair of adjacent walls connected by a latch. Each latch can be selectively actuated from contact with the latch both from inside and the outside of the container, and further by inwardly directed forced to the outside of the wall first to collapse. Preferably, the latch includes a recess into which the adjacent wall is disposed when the latch is in the latched position. Preferably, the latch is unlatched by flexing the latch away from the adjacent wall by application of force on an inner release surface, inward of the recess or by actuation of an outer release surface, outward of the recess, or by the application of an inwardly directed forced to the walls that are first to collapse.

Various embodiments of a cartridge for regulating a fluid flow are described that include an upper housing, and an insert that is user-removable from the upper housing. The cartridge can include one or more valves that are biased in a closed position to prevent odors from escaping the cartridge. The cartridge can also include a fluid trap that is at least partially disposed within the cartridge or fluidly coupled thereto. An ultraviolet light can be inserted within the cartridge to disinfect a fluid passageway of the cartridge.

A conductive fiber brush including a brush stock composed of plural conductive fibers or strands of fibers at least some of which may have plural bends along the length of the fibers or strands. The fibers may have a diameter less than 0.2 mm and are arranged in contacting engagement with each other with the touching points among the fibers or strands maintaining elastic tension between the fibers or strands and thereby maintaining voids between the fibers or strands to produce a packing fraction between 1 and 50% and in extreme cases up to 70% but generally between 10-20% depending on the various factors, including the materials used, the current densities to be conducted, and the sliding speeds under operation. The plural bends are implemented by producing fibers or strands having a regular or irregular spiral, wavy, saw-tooth, triangular, and / or rectangular pattern, or other undulating pattern. Optionally, the voids in brush stock may be partially filled with a strengthening, lubricating, abrasive, and / or polishing material, and may be wrapped in an outer sheath, slid into a casing, or provided with an other covering of all or part of the area of the brush stock, be infiltrated or sprayed at the surface with some material, have an increased packing fraction at the surface and / or have some or all of the touching points between the fibers or strands soldered, welded or otherwise thermally joined. Optionally also, the friction among the fibers may be reduced through light lubrication applied by rinsing the brush or brush stock in a lubricant. In one embodiment, the fiber brush is employed in a brush loading device having a hydrostatically controlled brush holder wherein the force exerted on the brush is controlled by a metallic or other conductive hydrostatic fluid which at the same time conducts the current to the brush.

A collapsible container includes a plurality of collapsible walls, each pair of adjacent walls connected by a latch. Each latch can be selectively actuated from contact with the latch both from inside and the outside of the container, and further by inwardly directed forced to the outside of the wall first to collapse. Preferably, the latch includes a recess into which the adjacent wall is disposed when the latch is in the latched position. Preferably, the latch is unlatched by flexing the latch away from the adjacent wall by application of force on an inner release surface, inward of the recess or by actuation of an outer release surface, outward of the recess, or by the application of an inwardly directed forced to the walls that are first to collapse.