Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Cts Corporation

Steven N Ginn

Craig N Ernsberger

Weidong Tong

Rajendra K Kasinath

Stephanie Vass

Haibo Qu

John Zdanys

James N Hufford

Lewis L Seffernick

Kevin D Kurtz

Robert M Vandenboom

David L Kordecki

Stephen W Burry

An orthopedic implant having a metal surface and a calcium phosphate layer disposed on at least part of the metal surface is described. The calcium phosphate layer has an average crystallite size of less than about 100 nm in at least one direction and dissolves for more than 2 hours in vitro. The calcium phosphate layer is substantially free of carbonate. The coating, which is formed on a sodium titanate surface, has increased shear strength and tensile strength. The coating is formed by a solution deposited hydroxyapatite process under inert conditions. The pH of the solution varies by less than 0.1 pH unit/hour during coating formation.

Orthopedic implant having a crystalline calcium phosphate coating and methods for making the same

An orthopedic implant having a metal surface and a hydroxyapatite layer comprising gallium ions therein disposed on at least part of the metal surface is described. The hydroxyapatite layer has an average crystallite size of less than about 75 nm in at least one direction and dissolves for more than 2 hours in vitro. The hydroxyapatite layer is substantially free of carbonate. The coating, which is formed on a sodium titanate surface, has increased shear strength and tensile strength. The coating is formed by a solution deposited hydroxyapatite process under inert conditions. The pH of the solution varies by less than 0.1 pH unit/hour during coating formation.

Orthopedic implant having a crystalline gallium-containing hydroxyapatite coating and methods for making the same

A resistor-capacitor network for terminating transmission lines. The network includes a core of dielectric material. Capacitors are formed within the core from spaced apart electrode plates. Terminals extend from the electrode plates to a top surface of the core. The electrode plates are oriented perpendicular to the top surface. Ball pads are located on the top surface. Resistors are located on the top surface and are connected between the ball pads and terminals. Conductive spheres are attached to the ball pads.

Ball grid array resistor capacitor network

A pointing device for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on the display screen. Specifically, the device has a base with an end of a shaft mounted therein. Resistors and conductive pads are mounted on the base. A cable is provided with several electrical conductors and an interposer is mounted between the cable and the base for electrically connecting the resistors and the pads to the conductors. The interposer provides an electrical path between the resistors and the conductors. The interposer can be a conductive film adhesive or a pressure sensitive adhesive having vias filled with a conductive epoxy.

Pointing stick having an interposer connecting layer

A resistor network has a substrate with top and side surfaces. Resistors are located on the side surfaces. Several side conductors are located on the side surface and are electrically connected to the resistors. Several top conductors are located on the top surface and are electrically connected to the side conductors. Each top conductor has a cavity. A solder sphere is partially located in the cavity and is electrically and mechanically connected to the top conductor by reflowed solder paste. A cover coat covers the side conductors and the resistors. The resistor network provides a high density of resistors per unit area.

Resistor network with solder sphere connector

A pressure switch is illustrated that includes only three piece parts--two dimpled covers and a spacer. By selecting both the type and thickness of cover materials, switching pressure ranges can be selected to accommodate a very wide range of operating pressures. Fine adjustment of the switching pressure may be made by modifying the cover dimples. Reliability and a hermetic seal is attained through the use of appropriate materials for the covers and spacer, together with active metal braze seals which provide high temperature, moisture and chemical resistance. A vacuum port is added for providing the ability to modify the air pressure within the pressure switch.

Pressure change warning switch

Several trim patterns are illustrated which are suited for use in high voltage, surge prone environments. The invention combines a block resistor with a simple scan cut and two or more plunge cuts to simply form a resistor. The resulting resistor is immune to adverse affects associated with current crowding and arcing, both known to have much adverse impact on the prior art.

Resistor trimming process for high voltage surge survival

A variable resistor element (10) comprises two thick film resistance layers or tracks (12, 14; 40, 50) electrically insulated one from another and on an insulating substrate (11). The thick film resistance layers (40, 50) may consist of the same resistance composition and thereby have the same resistivity, but the paths (40, 50) having different widths to effect different resistances; or, the widths of the resistance layers (12, 14) may be the same but the layers (12, 14) comprise different resistance compositions having different resistivities. An electrical contactor (20) has flexible fingers (22) wipably and respectively engaging the surface of each resistance layer (12, 14; 40, 50) to complete a circuit across the tracks (12, 14; 40, 50) and through the terminals (16 and 66) of the respective layers. As the wiper (22) is moved along the resistance layers (12, 14; 40, 50), there is effected a variable rate of change of resistance per length of travel for each resistance layer, and thereby producing a characteristically nonlinear output. The ratio of the rates of change of resistance of the respective resistance layers determines the output characteristic of the dual track resistor element (10).

Growing community of inventors

Granger, IN, United States of America

Steven N Ginn