A system and method for synchronizing changes among multiple copies of data is disclosed. The system and method allows the data to be synchronized without any copying or transferring of those portions of the data that have not been changed. In particular, the system and method preferably uses an identifier to represent the current state of the data and the identifier is used to determine what, if any, changes have occurred to the data. Thus, instead of comparing the data itself to see if changes...

Self ligating orthodontic brackets include a bracket base and a ligation cover which interacts with the base in order to provide ligation of at least one arch wire associated with the base. The orthodontic brackets may include one or more of the following improved features: (1) a film hinge about which a ligation cover may rotate; (2) a bearing spring or other flexible feature associated with the ligation cover to provide active ligation; (3) a ligation cover that has sufficient flexibility and ...

The present invention provides optical filters that can be used in a range of telecommunications applications including optical multiplexers/demultiplexers, optical routers, and optical gain scalers. The optical filter is modular, using two or more couplers with a pair of delay paths between each pair of couplers in a sequence to generate a range of optical filter functions. The desired filter profile/function is obtained by proper selection of the coupling ratio for each coupler and by the leng...

Endodontic sealant compositions and methods for sealing a root canal using sealant or other filling materials. The compositions include one or more resins that promote adhesion to hydrophilic dental tissues. Examples include alkyl methacrylates and derivatives thereof, such as alkylamino methacrylates and oxyphosphoro methacrylates. The compositions include a radio opacifying agent, so that they may be seen using X-rays, and one or more polymerization initiators to effect curing, at least one ch...

A bearing assembly for a rotating anode x-ray device. The bearing assembly includes a shaft having a flange at one end for attachment of the anode thereto. The shaft defines front and rear inner races and includes a plurality of extended surfaces. Front and rear outer race elements define front and rear outer races, respectively, corresponding to the front and rear inner races, respectively, defined by the shaft. The front and rear outer race elements cooperate with the shaft to confine front an...

A pump for ultra-pure fluids comprises a flexible diaphragm separating a fluid chamber from an air chamber. The diaphragm creates an airtight seal between the fluid chamber and the air chamber. Any leak from the fluid chamber into the air chamber is detected by a fiber optic system comprising an element and two optical fibers that are disposed such that light is detected by the second optical fiber only when the element is not in contact with liquid. A second fiber optic system can also be used ...

A process is disclosed for manufacturing a film that is smooth and has large nitride grains of a diffusion barrier material. Under the process, a nitride of the diffusion barrier material is deposited by physical vapor deposition in an environment of nitrogen. The nitrogen content of the environment is selected at an operating level such that nitride nuclei of the diffusion barrier material are evenly distributed. A grain growth step is then conducted in the nitrogen environment to grow a film o...

Apparatus and methods for conditioning and pre-tensioning soft tissue grafts during joint repair surgery, such as during repair of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The inventive apparatus is advantageously adapted and configured so as to enable a surgeon to independently apply a desired tensile load onto individual strands of a multiple-stranded soft tissue graft, such each of a pair of ham strings. The inventive methods advantageously ensure that each strand of a multiple-strand soft tissu...

A syringe system for delivering a dental material comprises a barrel configured for containing the material, a plunger configured for extruding the material, a divider configured for sectionalizing the material while it is being extruded, and a tool configured for detachment of the divider. The divider comprises at least one cutting plate that is affixed to the barrel and the tool comprises at least one recess configured for engaging the at least one cutting plate when the tool is inserted withi...

Process and system for locating, copying and sending requested records, such as medical records. The system includes a data processing center which acts as a central clearing house for processing the requests, requesters that generate the requests, and providers in possession of the requested records. The data processing center associates requests and related authorization forms generated by the requestor and transmits them to a provider in possession of the requested record. The provider then l...