1845 results about "Rigid structure" patented technology

The present invention is directed to disposable composite downhole tool formed of a resin-coated fiber. The fiber is formed of a degradable polymer, such as a poly(lactide) or polyanhydride. The resin is formed of the same degradable polymer as the fiber. It chemically bonds to the fiber, thereby making a strong rigid structure once cured. The fiber may be formed into a fabric before being coated with the resin. Alternatively, the fiber is formed of a non-biodegradable material.

The present invention is directed to disposable composite downhole tool formed of a resin-coated fiber. The fiber is formed of a degradable polymer, such as a poly(lactide) or polyanhydride. The resin is formed of the same degradable polymer as the fiber. It chemically bonds to the fiber, thereby making a strong rigid structure once cured. The fiber may be formed into a fabric before being coated with the resin. Alternatively, the fiber is formed of a non-biodegradable material.

A knotless suture anchor provides a method for securing soft tissue to a rigid structure such as bone. The anchor has an inner member that receives suture thread and rotates within an outer tubular member. As the inner member rotates, the suture thread is wrapped onto the inner member thereby increasing contact with the outer tubular member which applies pressure to the wrapped suture thread to retain it in position on the inner member while simultaneously and adjustably tensioning the suture thread. A ratchet prevents undesirable counter-rotation, although the ratchet can be released to permit loosening of the suture thread. Also described is a suture bridge and suture platform for providing further stabilization of a tendon. A method for repairing rotator cuff tears is also described.

An insertion tool is used to implant a knotless suture anchor to secure soft tissue to a rigid structure such as bone. The anchor has an inner member that receives suture thread and rotates within an outer tubular member. An inner shaft on the insertion tool engages the inner tubular member and is used to rotate the inner tubular member so that the suture thread is wrapped onto the inner tubular member thereby increasing contact with the outer tubular member of the anchor which applies pressure to the wrapped suture thread to retain it in position on the inner tubular member while simultaneously and adjustably tensioning the suture thread. The insertion tool has an outer shaft that engages the outer tubular member of the anchor and prevents the outer tubular member from rotating as the inner shaft on the insertion tool rotates the inner tubular member on the anchor.

A hinged ankle brace having a semi-rigid ankle cuff and a semi-rigid foot bed rotatably connected by a medial hinge and a lateral hinge provides enhanced stability and support to a wearer's ankle. The medial hinge of the ankle brace may be higher than the lateral hinge to accurately replicate the bending motion of an ankle. The ankle brace also includes ratchetably interconnected semi-rigid straps. These semi-rigid straps provide a semi-rigid structure encircling the ankle of a wearer for enhanced support. The ratchet mechanism may include a curved window that enables angular adjustment of the ratchting straps. The ankle brace may also include a soft inner liner and a soft outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is configured to provide compression to the semi-rigid shell, which in turn provides additional compression to the ankle. The semi-rigid foot bed may include posterior extensions that cup and support the wearer's heel, and a posterior cut-out portion that receives the wearer's heel.

A semiconductor structure formed on a growth substrate and including a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region is attached to a carrier by a connection that supports the semiconductor structure sufficiently to permit removal of the growth substrate. In some embodiments, the semiconductor structure is a flip chip device. The semiconductor structure may be attached to the carrier by, for example, a metal bond that supports almost the entire lateral extent of the semiconductor structure, or by interconnects such as solder or gold stud bumps. An underfill material which supports the semiconductor structure is introduced in any spaces between the interconnects. The underfill material may be a liquid that is cured to form a rigid structure. The growth substrate may then be removed without causing damage to the semiconductor structure.

Various embodiments of an ambulation system and a movement assist system are disclosed. For example, an ambulation system for a patient may comprise a biological interface apparatus and an ambulation assist apparatus. The biological interface apparatus may comprise a sensor having a plurality of electrodes for detecting multicellular signals, a processing unit configured to receive the multicellular signals from the sensor, process the multicellular signals to produce a processed signal, and transmit the processed signal to a controlled device. The ambulation assist apparatus may comprise a rigid structure configured to provide support between a portion of the patient's body and a surface. Data may be transferred from the ambulation assist apparatus to the biological interface apparatus.

Apparatus suitable for transporting and storing nuclear fuel rods comprising a basket having storage cells formed from a honeycomb gridwork of metal plates in a rectilinear configuration, the plates welded to each other at their intersections so that all contiguous corners of the storage cells formed by the gridwork are completely connected so as to allow conduction heat transfer, the metal plates having neutron absorber material positioned in areas which form walls of the storage cells. Method of making an apparatus suitable for transporting and storing nuclear fuel rods comprising a) providing metal plates having slots and having neutron absorber material positioned on sides of the metal plates, b) arranging the plates so that the slots intersect to form a honeycomb gridwork of storage cells having contiguous corners and having the neutron absorbing material on sides of the storage cells, and c) welding the plates to each other at their intersections so that all contiguous corners of the storage cells formed by the gridwork are completely connected so as to allow conduction heat transfer and to provide a rigid structure.

The present invention provides a device and methodology for use in spinal fusion surgeries. An implant is proved for forming a rigid structure between adjoining vertebrae in a patient. The implant is a cage defined by at least a first end, second end, first side, and second side surface, wherein first and second side surfaces extend substantially parallel to each other to span a space between adjoining vertebrae and first and second ends interconnect the first side surface and second side surface. The cage incorporates one or more flexible joints that allow the cage to be deformed for insertion into a patient. The ability to deform the cage allows a greater ease and flexibility in inserting and positioning the implant.

A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system including a first group of PSA modules having a plurality of first PSA modules, and a second group of PSA modules having a plurality of second PSA modules. The system includes a feed gas manifold, a product manifold, and a waste manifold connected to the first PSA modules and the second PSA modules. Each first PSA module operates on a first PSA cycle in synchronization with the other first PSA modules, and each second PSA module operates on a second PSA cycle in synchronization with the other second PSA modules. The first PSA cycle is offset from the second PSA cycle. The PSA modules include a plurality of pressurized adsorbent chambers, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. A rigid structure is provided that connects the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold, and structurally joins the inlet and outlet manifolds to the adsorbent chambers.

Many military land vehicles are not designed to withstand extreme forces concomitant exploding mines. A vehicle's capacity to protect its occupants is inventively enhanced by structurally augmenting the vehicle, in lower structural portions closely related to the vehicle's cabin, with both elastomeric and rigid (non-elastomeric) materials. An elastomeric layer and a rigid layer (typically embodied as a metal or composite sheet or plate) are added to the vehicle in each of seven locations, viz., the four wheel wells (left-front, right-front, left-rear, right-rear), the two floorboards (left and right), and the intervening underside area. At each wheel well and floorboard location, the elastomer is sandwiched between the vehicle's existing rigid structure and the rigid member so as to form a tri-layer material system. At the intervening underside location, an elastomer-coated rigid member is attached with the elastomer face-down. The seven material systems are energy-dissipative and impact-deflective both locally and globally.

The present invention provides a device and methodology for use in spinal fusion surgeries. An implant is proved for forming a rigid structure between adjoining vertebrae in a patient. The implant is a cage defined by at least a first end, second end, first side, and second side surface, wherein first and second side surfaces extend substantially parallel to each other to span a space between adjoining vertebrae and first and second ends interconnect said first side surface and second side surface. The cage incorporates one or more flexible joints that allow the cage to be deformed for insertion into a patient. The ability to deform the cage allows a greater ease and flexibility in inserting and positioning the implant.

A lightweight ballistic resistant rigid structural panel especially for use in aircraft interiors is disclosed. The rigid structural panel is made up of a core layer including a plurality of sheets of flexible, high-tensile strength fabric interleaved with a plurality of sheets of a thermal-fusible film adhesive, and a sheet of cushioning material adhered to the plurality of sheets of flexible, high-tensile strength fabric. Fiber-reinforced face skins are adhered to exterior surfaces of the panel core for structural strength and rigidity. The rigid structural panel is capable of resisting ballistic attack from handguns and like weapons, while maintaining a high degree of strength and rigidity.

A robot arm (50) of the present invention includes, as a direct acting extensible / retractable joint (J3), an arm section (2) constituted by an upper structure group (20) and a lower structure group (21). Groups (20) and (21), having an arrangement in which structures are connected in series, partially engage so as to form a direct rigid combined structure, and are separated so as to release the rigid structure. An arm length can be adjusted arbitrarily. Section (2) can have a plane surface having no gap to prevent entry of a finger / dust. Separation of Groups (20) and (21) allows an upper structure (22) and a lower structure (23) to rotate around their rotational axes, to realize compact storage inside a robot arm supporting member (1). It is thus possible to prevent significantly entry of a finger / dust, and provide a compact direct acting extensible and retractable arm mechanism.

Disclosed herein is flexible packaging with a relative rigid structure portion, and an efficient method for manufacturing the same, that provides flexible packaging with an interior support that is able to contain products such as snacks, confections, pet foods, and liquids. The present invention provides for shearing and reinforcing portions of a primary web to form a bag. A supportive structure is also sheared and configured into a predetermined shape. The supportive structure is affixed inside the lower portion of the bag and provides form and support to the bag. The bag may also have a reclosable top portion that encloses the contents of the packaging.

An improved prosthetic implant for forming a rigid structure between adjoining vertebrae in a spinal column. The prosthetic implant includes a cage having a top, bottom, front end, back end, first side and second side walls. The first side wall has an arcuate surface. The top and bottom wall include one or more ridges to engage a surface of an adjacent vertebrae. The top and bottom wall also include an opening to receive packing material such as medicine, human tissue and the like. The top and bottom walls also incline simultaneously in two directions.

An active bolster for an automotive vehicle has base wall for mounting against a rigid structure of the vehicle. A front wall overlies the base wall and forms an interior trim piece of the vehicle. The base wall has a first surface facing the front wall, and the front wall has a second surface facing the base wall. The base wall and front wall are joined around a closed perimeter to form an inflatable bladder with an initial open space between the first and second surfaces. The base wall includes a wide rib projecting from the first surface continuously along the closed perimeter, the wide rib having a minimum radial width along the closed perimeter equal to a first predetermined radial width. The front wall includes a plurality of narrow ribs projecting concentrically from the second surface continuously along the closed perimeter. Each narrow rib is welded to the wide rib, and each narrow rib has a respective radial width at each respective location along the closed perimeter less than half the radial width of the wide rib at the respective location.

A barrier vehicle system for an amusement race track is formed from a chain of pivotally coupled barrier modules. Each barrier module has a top and a bottom link separated by a spacer structurally joined with the top and bottom links to create a rigid structure when assembled. A pin extends through the top and bottom links, to one side of the spacer. An resilient, deformable barrel is journalled on the pin. To assist in attenuating high energy impacts, an extendable, energy-absorbing mechanism is attached to one end of the barrier, and the other end of the barrier is anchored to the ground.

Described herein is a device and method used to effectively remove volume inside a patient in various types of surgeries, such as spinal surgeries (e.g. laminotomy), neurosurgeries (various types of craniotomy), ENT surgeries (e.g. tumor removal), and orthopedic surgeries (bone removal). Robotic assistance linked with a navigation system and medical imaging it can shorten surgery time, make the surgery safer and free surgeon from doing repetitive and laborious tasks. In certain embodiments, the disclosed technology includes a surgical instrument holder for use with a robotic surgical system. In certain embodiments, the surgical instrument holder is attached to or is part of an end effector of a robotic arm, and provides a rigid structure that allows for precise removal of a target volume in a patient.

A body part protector for being custom-fitted to a body part, including at least two protective pad inserts, each of the pad inserts having an initially flexible protective layer formed of a support material impregnated with a moisture-curable resin which hardens upon curing to form a rigid structure which retains a body part-defined shape into which it is molded during curing. The protective pad inserts are stored in moisture-proof conditions until use to prevent hardening. A pad encloses the at least two protective pad inserts, and is conformable to the molded shape of the pad inserts. A hard shell outer protector is adapted for receiving and carrying on an inner, concave surface thereof the pad and the at least two protective pad inserts positioned therein in protective position on the leg between the leg and the outer protector, the outer protector and the pad having complementary fastening elements for releasably securing the pad to the outer protector. Fasteners are carried by the hard shell outer protector for securing the molded and assembled body part protector to the body part to be protected.

Wearable electronic devices that provide adaptive physical coupling between electrically coupled components are described. Adaptive physical coupling advantageously accommodates different user sizes, forms, and movements and enhances the overall ergonomics of a wearable electronic device. Adaptive physical coupling also introduces stresses and strains on electrical pathways between the electrically coupled components. Accordingly, the wearable electronic devices include strain mitigation systems that mitigate physical strains on the electrical pathways between electrically coupled components. An exemplary strain mitigation system includes a guide structure that is pivotally coupled to a first substantially rigid structure of the wearable electronic device and slideably coupled to a second substantially rigid structure of the wearable electronic device. The guide structure provides a surface / channel over / through which electrical pathways extend between electrically coupled components.

An electric energy generating module is shaped to take on a desired two dimensional profile to match a non-flat surface or architectural element such as corrugated roofing. The module includes an electric energy generating film sealed between a top layer of encapsulant material and a bottom layer of encapsulant material. The type and quantity of the encapsulant materials are such that the shape of the encapsulant materials can be altered when a high temperature and / or pressure is applied to the module, but where the encapsulant materials provide a rigid structure around the electric energy generating film under ordinary (i.e., naturally occurring) temperature and pressure conditions. The module can therefore be shaped by applying a suitable pressure and / or a high temperature but, once placed under ordinary temperature and pressure conditions, the module has a rigid structure.

Rigid structural members, profiles, joints, and forms added to structural sandwich panels to provide higher strength, integral joining joint, and single facing sheet manufacturing. Facing sheets (20) and (22), rigid structural members (24) and (26), latch side and pin side cam-locks (34) and (32), fabricated wire truss assembly (48), and rigid structural headers (28) and (30) and an integrated top plate (29) are positioned into containment form assembly (58) in the proper position. Facing sheets (20) and (22) are placed in position in the containment form assembly (58) forming a structural sandwich panel assembly. A foam resin core material (40) is injected into the structural sandwich panel assembly and allowed to cure. The resultant structural sandwich panel includes rigid structural members (24) and (26) and elongated recesses (36) and (38) which also form a joint for joining abutting structural sandwich panels together and cam-locks (32) and (34) used to secure adjoining panels together. Comer and angle panels have a comer rigid structural assembly (44).

A carpal tunnel splint for being custom-fitted to a hand and wrist to be supported, and comprising an elongate, narrow flexible inner cushion layer for being placed on and conformed to the shape of the hand and wrist, an initially flexible intermediate layer overlying the inner cushion layer and an intermediate layer comprised of a fabric impregnated with a moisture-curable resin which hardens upon curing to form a rigid structure of the fabric which retains a shape into which it is molded during curing, thereby also holding the flexible inner cushion layer in a conforming shape against the hand and wrist. A flexible protective outer layer overlies the intermediate layer and is attached to the inner cushion layer for enclosing the intermediate layer and forming the inner layer, intermediate layer and outer layer into a single, integrated elongated, narrow splint structure.

Devices and methods are disclosed for achieving hemostasis in patients who have received skin-penetrating wounds to the body in regions such as the shoulder, pelvis, neck, or groin, where standard bandages are difficult to apply and where large blood vessels exist which can hemorrhage severely. Such haemostatic packing devices and methods are especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery, or military setting. The devices utilize packing pillows that are held in place by rigid structures that can cause the packing pillows to be brought into the wounds and be held in place while the packing pillows are inflated to fill the wounds, prevent bleeding, and tamponade hemorrhaging large blood vessels exposed therein.

A wound dressing for a body member including a sealed casing formed of a flexible, air impermeable material configured and dimensioned to accommodate and enclose a body member, a compactible filler material disposed in the interior of the casing, and a valve communicating with the interior of the casing for evacuating air therefrom, whereupon the filler material interengages to combine with the casing to form a rigid structure conforming to a body member.

A bump shear test is disclosed for evaluating the mechanical integrity of low-k interconnect stacks in an integrated circuit which includes a die test structure (11) having a stiff structural component (501, 502) positioned above and affixed to a conductive metal pad (103) formed in a last metal layer (104). The die test structure (11) may also include a dedicated support structure (41) below the conductive metal pad which includes a predetermined pattern of metal lines formed in the interconnect layers (18, 22, 26). After mounting the integrated circuit in a test device, a shear knife (601) is positioned for lateral movement to cause the shear knife to contact the stiff structural component (501). Any damage to the die test structure caused by the lateral movement of the shear knife may be assessed to evaluate the mechanical integrity of the interconnect stack.

An erectable and collapsible container including a plurality of side walls joined along a plurality of wall hinges providing articulation between the side walls. A bottom wall is attached to the side walls at edge hinges providing articulation between the side walls and the bottom wall. At least one flexible gusset portion is provided extending between one or more of the side walls and the bottom wall, and the gusset portion is movable with the bottom wall in response to movement of the side walls and the bottom wall between collapsed and erected configurations. Structure is provided for maintaining the side walls in the erected configuration such that the side walls define a generally rigid or semi-rigid structure. A pair of opposed flexible panels extend from the side walls and define a bag-like upper portion extending from the support structure and forming a sealable opening for the container.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is adapted to operate with a wideband or multiple band of frequencies, such as 860-960 MHz. The RFID tag includes a flexible antenna inlay structure that can be integrated into a rigid structure to form a rigid RFID tag. The antenna inlay structure can be folded to provide a compact rigid RFID tag. The antenna inlay structure may also be used in a smart label. The antenna inlay structure can work with RFID chips operating under Gen 2, ISO, or other protocol. The RFID tag can be provided with a metallized label that operates to shield the antenna inlay structure against electromagnetic effects of an object (such as a metallic object) having the RFID tag affixed thereon.