All The Claims

1. A system for drilling a lateral hole departing from a main well, the system comprising:
a motor assembly including:
a motor to generate a rotating torque;
an axial thruster to generate an axial force;
a blocking system to fix the motor and the axial thruster downhole;
a drive shaft to transmit the rotating torque; and
a connector for transmitting the rotating torque and the axial force from the motor assembly to a drill string assembly, the drill string assembly comprising a drill pipe and a drill bit, the connector providing a fluid communication channel between the motor assembly and an inside of the drill pipe; wherein the connector is one of a first connector or a second connector, the first connector being connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit the axial force only to the drill pipe, and to transmit the rotating torque to a further drive shaft positioned within the drill pipe, and the second connector being connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit both the axial force and the rotating torque to the drill pipe.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor is located within the main well.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:
the drill string assembly, the drill string assembly being connected to the connector, the drill string assembly comprising
the drill pipe to transmit the axial force; and the further drive shaft to transmit the rotating torque, the further drive shaft being positioned within the drill pipe; the drill bit.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein:
a portion of the lateral hole comprises a curved hole having a determined radius of curvature;
the drill string assembly comprises three contact points to be in contact with a wall of the drilled lateral hole, the three contact points defining a drill pipe angle so as to allow to drill the curved hole.
5. The system of claim 4, further comprising
a thrust bearing to transmit the axial force from the drill pipe to the drill bit, the drill bit being located at an end of the further drive shaft;
a plain bearing system to support a flexion of the further drive shaft within the drill pipe.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the motor is electrical.
7. The system of claim 2, further comprising:
the drill string assembly, the drill string assembly being connected to the connector, the drill string assembly comprising
the drill pipe to transmit both the axial force and the rotating torque;
the drill bit.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one variable diameter stabilizer to position the drill bit within a section of the lateral hole;
controlling means to mechanically control from a remote location at least one stabilizer parameter among a set of stabilizer parameters, the set of stabilizer parameters comprising a diameter size of a determined variable diameter stabilizer, a distance between a first stabilizer and a mark device inside the lateral hole, the mark device being any one of a distinct stabilizer or a drill bit, a coordinated reacting of at least two variable diameter stabilizers, and a azimuthal radius of the determined variable diameter stabilizer.
9. The system of claim 8, further comprising
a single control unit to control at least one stabilizer parameter among the set of stabilizer parameters.
10. The system of claim 9, the system comprising:
a configuration slot;
a configuration plot that may be displaced by the controlling means, the configuration plot allowing to select among a set of setting positions a desired setting position;
wherein:
the set of setting positions comprises at least three setting positions;
each setting position corresponds to a determined value of the at least one stabilizer parameter.
11. The system of claim 10, the system comprising two variable diameter stabilizers, wherein the two variable diameter stabilizers may be set in a coordinated fashion.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a Hall Effect sensor to measure a diameter of one of the two variable diameter stabilizers.
13. The system according to claim 1, the system further comprising at least one micro-sensor in a close neighborhood of the drill bit, the at least one micro-sensor allowing a measurement of an orientation of the drill bit relative to a reference direction.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein
the drill pipe is flexible, so as to allow a bending while transmitting the rotating torque and the axial force;
the system further comprises;
a bending guide with rotating supports to support the drill pipe at the bend.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the rotating supports are belts being supported by a pulley.
16. The system of claim 2, further comprising:
a pump located downhole to pump a drilling fluid.
17. The system of claim 16 where:
the drilling fluid may circulate from the mail well to the drill bit through an annulus between the drilled lateral hole and the drill string assembly;
the drilling fluid may circulate from the drill bit to the main well through the fluid communication channel.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein:
the drill bit comprises a bit hole allowing to evacuate cuttings generated at the drill bit through the drill bit,
the drill bit comprises a main blade to insure a cutting action.
19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:
a passage located at an output of the lateral hole, the passage allowing to guide flow of drilling fluid from the lateral hole in the main well.
20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:
a sealing device to force the drilling fluid to circulate through the passage.
21. The system of claim 19 or to claim 20, where the passage is orientated downward.
22. The system of claim 16, further comprising:
a filter device for separating cuttings from the drilling fluid, the filter device being located downhole.
23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:
a compactor within the filter device to regularly provide a compaction of the filtered cuttings.
24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:
an adaptive system within the filter device to sort the filtered cutting depending on their size so as to avoid the filtered cuttings to cork the filter device.
25. The system of claim 16, further comprising:
a container within the main well to collect cuttings below the lateral hole.
26. The system of claim 16, further comprising:
a cuttings collector unit comprising an housing and a screw to pull the cuttings into the housing.
27. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:
a surface pump to generate a secondary circulation flow along a tubing, the secondary circulation flow allowing to carry to the surface cuttings generated at the drill bit and carried by a primary circulation flow from the drill bit to the secondary circulation flow.
28. The system according to claim 26, further comprising:
a flow guide allowing the primary circulation flow to circulate at a relatively high flow velocity between the lateral hole and the tubing so as to avoid a sedimentation of the cuttings.
29. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor is located within the drilled lateral hole.
30. A method for drilling a lateral hole departing from a main well, the method comprising:
blocking a motor and an axial thruster downhole, the motor and the axial thrusters respectively allowing to generate a rotating torque and an axial force;
providing a connector for transmitting the rotating torque and the axial force from a motor assembly to a drill string assembly, the motor assembly including the motor, the axial thruster and a drive shaft, the drill string assembly including a drill pipe and a drill bit;
wherein:
the connector provides a fluid communication channel between the motor assembly and the inside of the drill pipe;
the connector is either one of the first connector or a second connector the first connector being connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit the axial force only to the drill pipe, and to transmit the rotating torque to a further drive shaft positioned within the drill pipe, and the second connector being connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit both the axial force and the rotating torque to the drill pipe.
31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the motor is located within the mail well.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the drill pipe transmits the axial force, and the further drive shaft transmits the rotating torque to the drill bit.
33. The method of claim 32, further comprising
controlling an effective radius of a curved hole of the lateral hole, the controlling being performed by combining an angled mode to a straight mode wherein;
during the angled mode, three contacts points of the drill string assembly are in contact with a wall of the drilled lateral hole so as to allow to drill the curved hole; and
during the straight mode, the following steps are performed;
rotating the drill pipe of a first angle;
transmitting the rotating torque and the axial force to the drill bit for a first determined duration;
pulling the drill string assembly back over a determined distance;
rotating the drill pipe of a second angle;
transmitting the rotating torque and the axial force to the drill bit for a second determined duration.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the controlling is performed by combining the angled mode and the straight mode to a jetting mode, the jetting mode comprising:
providing a jet of fluid to preferentially erode a formation in a determined direction.
35. The method of claim 31, wherein the drill pipe transmits both the rotating torque and the axial force to the drill bit.
36. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:
mechanically controlling from a remote location at least one stabilizer parameter among a set of stabilizer parameters, the set of stabilizer parameters comprising a diameter size of a determined variable diameter stabilizer, a distance between a first stabilizer relative to a mark device, the mark device being any one of a distinct stabilizer or a drill bit, a retracting of a least two variable diameter stabilizers, and an azimuthal radius of the determined variable diameter stabilizer.
37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising:
displacing a configuration plot within a configuration slot, so as to select a desired setting position among a set of setting positions comprising at least three setting positions, each setting position corresponding to a determined value of the at least one stabilizer parameter.
38. The method according to claim 30, wherein:
the drill pipe is flexible, so as to allow a bending while transmitting the rotating torque and the axial force;
the drill pipe is supported at the bend by a bending guide comprising rotating supports.
39. The method according to claim 30, the method further comprising monitoring an orientation of the drill bit relative to at least one reference direction with at least one micro sensor located in a close neighborhood of the drill bit.
40. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:
generating a circulation of a drilling fluid to the drill bit with a pump located downhole.
41. The method according to claim 40, wherein:
the drilling fluid circulates to the drill bit through an annulus between the drilled lateral hole and the drill string assembly;
the drilling fluid circulates from the drill bit through the fluid communication channel.
42. The method according to claim 40, the method further comprising guiding the drilling fluid at an output of the lateral hole through a passage having a predetermined orientation.
43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the drilling fluid is guided downward.
44. The method according to claim 40, further comprising downhole filtering cuttings from the drilling fluid.
45. The method according to claim 44, further comprising compacting the filtered cuttings inside a filter device.
46. The method according to claim 44, further comprising sorting the filtered cuttings according to their size so as to avoid the filtered cuttings to cork the filter device.
47. The method according to claim 40, further comprising collecting cuttings downhole at a location below the lateral hole.
48. The method according to claim 40, further comprising:
generating a secondary circulation flow along a tubing, the secondary circulation flow allowing to carry to the surface cuttings generated at the drill bit and carried by a primary circulation flow from the drill bit to the secondary circulation flow.
49. The method of claim 30, wherein the motor is located within the drilled lateral hole.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A foamable composition comprising a carrier and a liquefied or a compressed gas propellant, the carrier comprising:
i) about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the carrier of a surface-active agent;
ii) about 2% to about 75% by weight of the carrier of an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of an emollient, a polar solvent, an oil, and mixtures thereof;
iii) about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of the carrier of at least one polymeric agent selected from the group consisting of a bioadhesive agent, a gelling agent, a film forming agent, and a phase change agent; and
iv) water;

wherein upon release from a foam dispenser, a foam is produced; and
wherein the foam remains stable as a foam for at least 60 seconds at 37\xb0 C.
2. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the carrier further comprises an active agent.
3. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the liquefied or compressed gas propellant is present at about 3% to about 25% by weight of the carrier.
4. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of an emollient, a polar solvent, an essential oil, and mixtures of any two or more thereof.
5. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a micro-emulsion.
6. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises nano-particles.
7. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the surface-active agent is present at less than about 2% by weight of the carrier.
8. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the polymeric agent is present at less than about 1% by weight of the carrier.
9. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the carrier does not include petrolatum.
10. The foamable composition of claim 2, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibacterial agent, an antibiotic, an anti-parasitic agent, an antifungal agent, an antiviral agent, a corticosteroid, a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, a non-steroidal immunomodulating agent, an immunosuppressant, an anti-allergic agent, an antihistamine, an anticancer agent, a hormone, an androgen, an estrogen, a progesterone, a contraceptive agent, a retinoid, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin D, an anesthetic, a lubricating agent, an immunizing agent, a cytotoxic drug, an antiproliferative drug, an anti-oxidant, a radical scavenger, and mixtures of any two or more thereof.
11. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises less than about 2% by weight of the carrier of one or more lower alcohols having up to 5 carbon atoms in their carbon chain skeleton.
12. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the polymeric agent is selected from the group consisting of locust bean gum, sodium alginate, sodium caseinate, egg albumin, gelatin agar, carrageenin gum, xanthan gum, quince seed extract, tragacanth gum, guar gum, starch, chemically modified starches, cellulose ethers, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxy propylmethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl guar gum, soluble starch, cationic celluloses, cationic guars, carboxyvinyl polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid polymers, polymethacrylic acid polymers, polyvinyl acetate polymers, polyvinyl chloride polymers, polyvinylidene chloride polymers, acrylic acidethyl acrylate copolymers, crosslinked copolymers of acrylic acid and C10-C30 alkyl acrylate (pemulen), carboxyvinyl polymers, carbopols, and mixtures of any two or more thereof.
13. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the foamable composition further comprises about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the carrier of a foam adjuvant selected from the group consisting of a fatty alcohol having 15 or more carbons in its carbon chain; a fatty acid having 16 or more carbons in its carbon chain; fatty alcohols, derived from beeswax and including a mixture of alcohols, a majority of which has at least 20 carbon atoms in their carbon chain; a fatty alcohol having at least one double bond; a fatty acid having at least one double bond; a branched fatty alcohol; a branched fatty acid; a fatty acid substituted with a hydroxyl group; cetyl alcohol; stearyl alcohol; arachidyl alcohol; behenyl alcohol; 1-triacontanol; hexadecanoic acid; stearic acid; arachidic acid; behenic acid; octacosanoic acid; 12-hydroxy stearic acid; and mixtures of any two or more thereof.
14. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the surface-active agent is selected from the group consisting of a non ionic surface-active agent, a cationic surface-active agent, an amphoteric surface-active agent, an ionic surface-active agent, and mixtures of any two or more thereof.
15. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the surface-active agent is a non ionic surface-active agent.
16. The foamable composition of claim 13, wherein the combined amount of foam adjuvant, surface active agent, and gelling agent is less than about 8% by weight of the carrier.
17. The foamable composition of claim 14, wherein the surface-active agent is selected from the group consisting of a polysorbate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, a polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene (8) stearate, polyoxyethylene (20) stearate, polyoxyethylene (40) stearate, polyoxyethylene (100) stearate, a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene (23) cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene (2) cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene (10) cetyl ether, isoceteth-20, a sucrose ester, a partial ester of sorbitol and its anhydrides, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan stearate, a monoglyceride, glyceryl monostearate, a diglyceride, lecithin, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, sodium methyl oleoyl taurate, sodium lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, a betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, and mixtures of any two or more thereof.
18. The foamable composition of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises more than about 50% by weight of the carrier of a potent solvent.
19. The foamable composition of claim 18, wherein the potent solvent is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, butane-diol and isomers thereof, glycerol, benzyl alcohol, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethyl oleate, ethyl caprylate, dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone, polyvinylpyrrolidone, isosorbide derivatives, dimethyl isosorbide, glycofurol, ethoxydiglycol, and mixtures of any two or more thereof.
20. The foamable composition of claim 10, wherein the active agent is suitable for the treatment of a disorder of a body cavity or a mucosal surface, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of a bacterial infection, a fungal infection, a viral infection, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, HIV, a sexually transmitted disease, post-surgical adhesions, a hormonal deficiency, and a combination of any two or more thereof.
21. A foamable composition comprising a carrier and a liquefied or a compressed gas propellant, the carrier comprising:
i) about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the carrier of a surface-active agent;
ii) about 70% to about 99% by weight of the carrier of a hydrophobic organic solvent;
iii) a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of the carrier of a polymeric agent and about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the carrier of foam adjuvant;

wherein upon release from a foam dispenser, a foam is produced; and
wherein the foam remains stable as a foam for at least 60 seconds at 37\xb0 C.

1. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising a body having an insertion end, a trailing end, a length between said ends, and an outer surface including a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies, the outer locus of said thread forming a substantially frusto-conical configuration along at least a portion of the length of said implant nearer said trailing end than said insertion end.
2. The implant of claim 1 in which said body has a substantially frusto-conical configuration along a sufficient portion of said implant that is adapted to contact the adjacent vertebral bodies when implanted in the spine so as to maintain an angulation of the adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another.
3. The implant of claim 1 in which said body has a substantially cylindrical configuration.
4. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said trailing end is larger than said insertion end.
5. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said insertion end is larger than said trailing end.
6. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant comprises a bone ingrowth material.
7. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant comprises a fusion promoting material.
8. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
9. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has a plurality of openings for retaining fusion promoting material.
10. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along the length of said implant.
11. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along the length of said implant.
12. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread beyond said insertion end has a thread height measured from said body which is substantially constant along the length of said implant.
13. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body comprises a porous material.
14. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has an internal chamber and a means for accessing said internal chamber.
15. The spinal fusion implant of claim 14 in which said internal chamber is capable of containing fusion promoting material.
16. The spinal fusion implant of claim 14 in which said body includes a wall surrounding said internal chamber.
17. The spinal fusion implant of claim 16 in which said wall has a plurality of openings passing therethrough in communication with said internal chamber.
18. The spinal fusion implant of claim 14 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
19. The spinal fusion implant of claim 15 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
20. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant includes an engagement means for engaging instrumentation for the insertion of said implant.
21. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
22. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis.
23. The spinal fusion implant of claim 22 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at said truncated side.
24. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising a body having a substantially frusto-conical configuration along a sufficient portion of said body that is adapted to contact the adjacent vertebral bodies when implanted in the spine so as to maintain an angulation of the adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another, said body having an insertion end, a trailing end, and an outer surface including a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, the locus of said thread forming a substantially cylindrical configuration.
25. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said trailing end is larger than said insertion end.
26. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said insertion end is larger than said trailing end.
27. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant comprises a bone ingrowth material.
28. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant comprises a fusion promoting material.
29. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
30. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a plurality of openings for retaining fusion promoting material.
31. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread beyond said insertion end has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform throughout the length of said implant.
32. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along at least a portion of said implant.
33. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along the length of said implant.
34. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is substantially constant along at least a portion of said implant.
35. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body comprises a porous material.
36. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has an internal chamber and means for accessing said internal chamber.
37. The spinal fusion implant of claim 36 in which said internal chamber is capable of containing fusion promoting material.
38. The spinal fusion implant of claim 36 in which said body includes a wall surrounding said internal chamber.
39. The spinal fusion implant of claim 38 in which said wall has a plurality of openings passing therethrough in communication with said internal chamber.
40. The spinal fusion implant of claim 36 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
41. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which one of said ends includes an engagement means for engaging instrumentation for the insertion of said implant.
42. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
43. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant is configured to be placed in close proximity in a side by side alignment to a second spinal fusion implant, said first and second implants when placed together having a combined overall width that is less than the sum of the individual maximum diameters of each of said first and second implants.
44. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis.
45. The spinal fusion implant of claim 44 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at said truncated side.
46. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising a body having a substantially cylindrical configuration, a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis, said body having an insertion end, a trailing end, and an outer surface including a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, the locus of said thread forming a substantially cylindrical configuration.
47. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant comprises a bone ingrowth material.
48. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant comprises a fusion promoting material.
49. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
50. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 having a plurality of openings capable retaining fusion promoting material.
51. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform for at least a portion of said implant.
52. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along at least a portion of said implant.
53. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along at least a portion of said implant.
54. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is substantially constant along the length of said implant.
55. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 body comprises a porous material.
56. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said body has an internal chamber and means for accessing said internal chamber.
57. The spinal fusion implant of claim 56 in which said internal chamber is capable of containing fusion promoting material.
58. The spinal fusion implant of claim 56 in which said includes a wall surrounding said internal chamber.
59. The spinal fusion implant of claim 56 in which said wall has a plurality of openings passing therethrough in communication with said internal chamber.
60. The spinal fusion implant of claim 56 in which said implant has means for closing said accessing means.
61. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which one of said ends includes an engagement means for engaging instrumentation for the insertion of said implant.
62. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
63. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant is configured to be placed in close proximity in a side by side alignment to a second spinal fusion implant, said first and second implants when placed together having a combined overall width that is less than the sum of the individual maximum diameters of each of said first and second implants.
64. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
65. The spinal fusion implant of claim 64 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at at least one of said truncated sides.
66. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, said implant comprising a body having a substantially frusto-conical configuration along a sufficient portion of said body that is adapted to contact the adjacent vertebral bodies when implanted in the spine so as to maintain an angulation of the adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another, said body having, an insertion end, a trailing end, and an outer surface including a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, said implant being made of a material appropriate for human implantation.
67. The implant of claim 66 in which the outer locus of said thread forms a substantially cylindrical configuration.
68. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said insertion end is larger than said trailing end.
69. The spinal fusion implant of claim 68 in which said insertion end comprises a tapered leading portion.
70. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said trailing end is larger than said insertion end.
71. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant comprises a bone ingrowth material.
72. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant comprises a fusion promoting material.
73. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
74. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has a plurality of openings for retaining fusion promoting material.
75. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform throughout the length of said implant.
76. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along the length of said implant.
77. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along the length of said implant.
78. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is substantially constant along the length of said implant.
79. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body comprises a porous material.
80. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has an internal chamber and an access opening for accessing said internal chamber.
81. The spinal fusion implant of claim 80 in which said internal chamber is capable of retaining fusion promoting material.
82. The spinal fusion implant of claim 80 in which said body includes a wall surrounding said internal chamber.
83. The spinal fusion implant of claim 82 in which said wall has a plurality of openings passing therethrough in communication with said internal chamber.
84. The spinal fusion implant of claim 80 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
85. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which one of said ends includes an engagement means for engaging instrumentation for the insertion of said implant.
86. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
87. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant is configured to be placed in close proximity in a side by side alignment to a second spinal fusion implant, said first and second implants when placed together having a combined overall width that is less than the sum of the individual maximum diameters of each of said first and second implants.
88. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis.
89. The spinal fusion implant of claim 88 in which said thread has a thread height which when measured from said body is at its greatest on said truncated side.
90. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at said truncated side.
91. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant has an upper and lower portion for engaging the bone of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper and lower portions comprising a plurality of macroscopic openings.
92. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant has an upper and lower portion for engaging the bone of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper and lower portions comprising a plurality of macroscopic openings.
93. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant has an upper and lower portion for engaging the bone of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper and lower portions comprising a plurality of macroscopic openings.
94. The spinal fusion implant of claim 22 in which said thread is continuous over at least a portion of said truncated side.
95. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread has a height measured from said body that is larger at said trailing end than at said insertion end.
96. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
97. The spinal fusion implant of claim 22 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
98. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread has a height measured from said body that is larger at said trailing end than at said insertion end.
99. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
100. The spinal fusion implant of claim 44 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
101. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
102. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a height measured from said body that is larger at said trailing end than at said insertion end.
103. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
104. The spinal fusion implant of claim 88 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
105. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising:
a body having an outer surface, an insertion end, a trailing end, and a length between said insertion end and said trailing end, said body having transversely opposed arcuate portions oriented toward the adjacent vertebral bodies, said arcuate portions being in a diverging relationship to one another along a sufficient portion of the length of said body adapted to contact the adjacent vertebral bodies sufficient to maintain angulation of the vertebral bodies relative to one another, said outer surface comprising a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine.
106. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said trailing end is larger than said insertion end.
107. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said insertion end is larger than said trailing end.
108. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said body has a plurality of openings for retaining fusion promoting material.
109. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform throughout at least a portion of said implant.
110. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along the length of said implant.
111. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along the length of said implant.
112. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said body has an internal chamber and means for accessing said internal chamber.
113. The spinal fusion implant of claim 112 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
114. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
115. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said implant is configured to be placed in close proximity in a side by side alignment to a second spinal fusion implant, said first and second implants when placed together having a combined overall width that is less than the sum of the individual maximum diameters of each of said first and second implants.
116. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said body has a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis.
117. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said arcuate portions are along the entire length of said body.
118. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which the outer locus of the thread forms a substantially cylindrical configuration.
119. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which the outer locus of the thread forms a substantially frusto-conical configuration.
120. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
121. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
122. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
123. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
124. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
125. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has a length in the range of 10-32 mm.
126. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a length in the range of 10-32 mm.
127. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said body has a length in the range of 10-32 mm.
128. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has a length in the range of 10-32 mm.
129. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said length is in the range of 10-32 mm.
130. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
131. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
132. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
133. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
134. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
135. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
136. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
137. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
138. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
139. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
140. A fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in the disc space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
an elongated body having a length, a first diameter at a first end and a larger second diameter at a second end opposite said first end, said first and second diameters sized to be greater than the space between the adjacent vertebrae;
said body having an outer surface that is substantially continuously tapered from said first end to said second end with external threads defined on said outer surface and extending substantially entirely along said length of said body.
141. The fusion device according to claim 140, wherein said body is formed of a porous biocompatible material to permit bone tissue ingrowth into the device.
142. The spinal fusion implant of claim 116 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
143. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
144. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform throughout at least a portion of said implant.
145. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a substantially frusto-conical configuration.
146. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has at least in part a cylindrical configuration.
147. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
148. The spinal fusion implant of claim 147, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.
149. The spinal fusion implant of claim 147, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
150. The spinal fusion implant of claim 147, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
151. The spinal fusion implant of claim 147, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
152. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
153. The spinal fusion implant of claim 152, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.
154. The spinal fusion implant of claim 152, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
155. The spinal fusion implant of claim 152, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
156. The spinal fusion implant of claim 152, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
157. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
158. The spinal fusion implant of claim 157, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.
159. The spinal fusion implant of claim 157, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
160. The spinal fusion implant of claim 157, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
161. The spinal fusion implant of claim 157, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
162. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
163. The spinal fusion implant of claim 162, wherein said fusion promoting substances is bone morphogenetic protein.
164. The spinal fusion implant of claim 162, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
165. The spinal fusion implant of claim 162, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
166. The spinal fusion implant of claim 162, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
167. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
168. The spinal fusion implant of claim 167, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.
169. The spinal fusion implant of claim 167, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
170. The spinal fusion implant of claim 167, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
171. The spinal fusion implant of claim 167, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
172. A fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in the disc space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
an elongated body having a length and an outer surface extending along said length, said outer surface including a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate portions and a pair of substantially flat portions extending between said pair of arcuate portions, said pair of arcuate portions defining external threads extending substantially entirely along said length of said body, said pair of substantially flat portions extending along a substantial portion of said length of said body, said pair of substantially flat portions terminating adjacent a first end of said elongated body, said external threads defining at least one circumferentially continuous thread extending along a majority of the length of said elongated body.
173. The fusion device according to claim 172, wherein said pair of opposite arcuate portions defines an outer dimension adjacent a first end of said elongated body, said outer dimension being adapted for engagement within a lesser dimension of the disc space.
174. The fusion device according to claim 172, wherein said elongated body defines a hollow interior.
175. A fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in the disc space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
an elongated body having a length and an outer surface extending along said length, said outer surface including a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate portions and a pair of substantially flat portions extending between said pair of arcuate portions, said pair of arcuate portions defining an external thread extending substantially entirely along said length of said body, said pair of substantially flat portions extending along a substantial portion of said length of said body, said substantially flat portions being interrupted by said thread, said elongated body defining a hollow interior, said pair of arcuate portions each defining at least one opening extending therethrough in communication with said hollow interior.
176. The fusion device according to claim 175, further comprising a bone growth inducing material disposed within said hollow interior.
177. The fusion device according to claim 175, wherein said pair of substantially flat portions are disposed generally opposite one another.
178. The fusion device according to claim 175, wherein said pair of substantially flat portions are substantially parallel to one another.
179. The fusion device according to claim 175, wherein said openings defined by said pair of arcuate portions are disposed generally opposite one another.
180. The fusion device according to claim 175, wherein said pair of arcuate portions are tapered along a substantial portion of said length of said elongated body.
181. The fusion device according to claim 175, further comprising an insertion instrument adapted to implant the fusion device within the disc space between the adjacent vertebrae.
182. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion within an implantation space formed across the height of a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising:
a body having a leading end for insertion first into the disc space, a trailing end opposite said leading end, a central longitudinal axis therebetween, and a length along the central longitudinal axis, said body having opposed arcuate portions between said leading and trailing ends adapted to be placed within the implantation space oriented toward the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, said opposed arcuate portions having at least one opening therethrough, said openings being in communication with one another to permit for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant, said body having at least one truncated side along at least a portion of the central longitudinal axis between said opposed arcuate portions and between said leading and trailing ends; and
a thread along at least a portion of the length of said body adapted to engage said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies, said thread having a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at said at least one truncated side, said at least one truncated side having a truncated portion between said thread and said leading end.
183. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion within an implantation space formed across the height of a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising:
a body having a leading end for insertion first into the disc space, a trailing end opposite said leading end, a mid-longitudinal axis through said leading and trailing ends, and opposed arcuate portions between said leading and trailing ends adapted to be placed within the implantation space oriented toward the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, said opposed arcuate portions having at least one opening therethrough, said openings being in communication with one another to permit for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant; and
a thread adapted to engage said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies, said thread having a thread height measured from said body, said thread height being variable along more than one turn of said thread about the mid-longitudinal axis of said body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-11. (canceled)
12. A moving blade system for a moving blade sequence in a continuous flow machine, the moving blade sequence defining a rotation axis, the moving blade system comprising:
at least two moving blade segments, each of which moving blade segment includes
a radially interior shroud band,
a radially exterior shroud band, and
at least two moving blades, each of which moving blade is disposed, in reference to the rotation axis of the moving blade sequence, at least primarily radially between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, is coupled between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, and has a radial equilibrium axis and a base inclination;

wherein at least the radially exterior shroud bands of the two moving blade segments include contact surfaces that correspond to one another; and
wherein the radial equilibrium axes of the end-most moving blades on the adjacent ends of adjacent moving blade segments are tilted axially at angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b, respectively, relative to their respective base inclination, wherein the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b have opposite signs in regard to the base inclination.
13. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b are equal in magnitude.
14. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the moving blades of at least one moving blade segment are formed integrally with at least one of the interior shroud band and the exterior shroud band.
15. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the moving blades are cast as part of at least one of the interior shroud band and the exterior shroud band.
16. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the contact surfaces of the radially exterior shroud bands are implemented as mechanical linkage.
17. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the magnitude of the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b is between 0.1\xb0 and 10\xb0.
18. A moving blade system according to claim 17, wherein the magnitude of the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b is between 0.1\xb0 and 5\xb0.
19. A moving blade system according to claim 18, wherein the magnitude of the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b is between 0.1\xb0 and 2\xb0.
20. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the continuous-flow machine is a thermal gas turbine.
21. A continuous-flow machine comprising:
a moving blade sequence defining a rotation axis and including a moving blade assembly;
the moving blade assembly having
at least two moving blade segments, each of which moving blade segment includes
a radially interior shroud band,
a radially exterior shroud band, and
at least two moving blades, each of which moving blade is disposed, in reference to the rotation axis of the moving blade sequence, at least primarily radially between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, is coupled between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, and has a radial equilibrium axis and a base inclination;

wherein at least the radially exterior shroud bands of the two moving blade segments include contact surfaces that correspond to one another; and
wherein the radial equilibrium axes of the end-most moving blades on the adjacent ends of adjacent moving blade segments are tilted axially at angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b, respectively, relative to their respective base inclination, wherein the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b have opposite signs in regard to the base inclination.
22. A continuous-flow machine according to claim 21, wherein the continuous-flow machine is a thermal gas turbine.
23. A continuous-flow machine according to claim 22, wherein the moving blades sequence is disposed in a turbine area of the continuous-flow machine.
24. A continuous-flow machine according to claim 23, wherein the moving blades sequence is disposed in a low-pressure turbine area of the continuous-flow machine.
25. A continuous-flow machine according to claim 21, wherein the magnitude of the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b is between 0.1\xb0 and 10\xb0.
26. A method for the mounting of a moving blade sequence for a continuous-flow machine, the method comprising the following steps:
providing a moving blade assembly including at least two moving blade segments, each of which moving blade segment includes
a radially interior shroud band,
a radially exterior shroud band, and
at least two moving blades, each of which moving blade is disposed, in reference to the rotation axis of the moving blade sequence, at least primarily radially between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, is coupled between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, and has a radial equilibrium axis and a base inclination;
wherein at least the radially exterior shroud bands of the two moving blade segments include contact surfaces that correspond to one another; and
wherein the radial equilibrium axes of the end-most moving blades on the adjacent ends of adjacent moving blade segments are tilted axially at angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b, respectively, relative to their respective base inclination, wherein the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b have opposite signs in regard to the base inclination; and

rotating the moving blade assembly until centrifugal forces arise to cause revolution-dependent contact forces between the contact surfaces of the radially exterior shroud bands of at least two moving blade segments, which forces are directed towards one another so as to couple the respective moving blade segments.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the moving blade segments are coupled with one another in a deformation-free manner.
28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the continuous-flow machine is a thermal gas turbine.