1. A method for processing data in a programmed manner, comprising:
coupling a standard processor and a reconfigurable coprocessor, the coupling forming a processor-coprocessor arrangement;
executing, by the standard processor, at least one of a program and a task of the program;
during the executing of the at least one of the program and the task of the program, the standard processor providing to the reconfigurable coprocessor configuration related information in accordance with which the reconfigurable coprocessor reads the configuration from a configuration memory and configures the read configuration onto the reconfigurable processor;
writing the configuration related information into a link list, wherein:
the configuration is determined based on the link list; and
the link list includes termination information regarding termination of the configuration;
processing data, by the reconfigurable coprocessor, in accordance with the at least one configuration;
during the data processing by the reconfigurable coprocessor, parallelly processing data by the standard processor by one of (a) continuing the executing of the at least one of the program and the task of the program and (b) executing at least one of a different program and a different task of one of the program and the different program, wherein the continuing the executing is performed if an end of the at least one of the program and the task of the program has not yet been reached and the continuing the executing is performable independent of unavailable output of the data processing by the reconfigurable coprocessor, and the executing the at least one of the different program and the different task is otherwise performed;
transferring synchronization signals between the standard processor and the reconfigurable coprocessor to synchronize the data processing by the standard processor and the data processing by the reconfigurable coprocessor; and
to synchronize the data processing by the standard processor and the data processing by the reconfigurable coprocessor:
using the termination information;
providing the link list with information indicating an execution progress of the configuration that is configured onto the reconfigurable coprocessor; and
polling the link list.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining, by a scheduler, which of the (a) continuing the execution and the (b) execution of the at least one of the different program and the different task is to be performed; and
controlling the standard processor, by the scheduler, in accordance with the determination.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein:
the determining by the scheduler includes determining whether (a) the continuing the execution is dependent on an output of the reconfigurable coprocessor and (b) the output is available to the standard processor at the moment of the determination; and
if the end of the program has not yet been reached, the scheduler controls the standard processor to execute the at least one of the different program and the different task responsive to a determination that (a) and not (b).
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signals include an interrupt request.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the standard processor is one of a digital signal processor (DSP), a micro-controller, and a central processing unit (CPU); and
the reconfigurable coprocessor includes a plurality of coarse granular runtime reconfigurable elements.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration related information includes a pointer to at least one location in the configuration memory from which the configuration is read, and a pointer to at least one memory location which stores at least one of operand and result data of the processing performed by the reconfigurable coprocessor.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable coprocessor is runtime reconfigurable.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
in an instance where the execution of the at least one of the program and the task of the program being executed requires the reconfigurable coprocessor as a resource, checking, by the reconfigurable coprocessor, an availability of the reconfigurable coprocessor;
wherein the at least one of the different program and the different task is selected for execution on the standard processor if the reconfigurable coprocessor is unavailable.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for accessing a surgical target site, comprising:
a retractor assembly having a plurality of primary blades releasably coupled to a handle assembly, said plurality of primary blades adapted to be advanced simultaneously to said surgical target site while in a closed position and thereafter selectively opened to create a customized operative corridor to said surgical target site; and
a supplemental retractor blade assembly including at least one supplemental retractor blade, an elongate support member with first and second ends, a mating extension extending transversely from the second end of said support member, an expansion track extending transversely from said first end of said support member, and a migrating member moveably mounted on said expansion track and having an elongated protrusion extending therefrom and configured to receive the at least one supplemental retractor blade thereon, said mating extension being slidably receivable within a slot formed along a face of a first of said primary blades to releaseably couple said supplemental retractor blade assembly to said first primary blade.
2. The system of claim 1, further including a distraction assembly for creating a distraction corridor to said surgical target site prior to advancing said primary retractor blades to said surgical target site.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said distraction assembly includes an initial distraction assembly including a K-wire and at least one dilator capable of being slidably passed over said K-wire to perform said initial distraction.
4. The system of claim 3, including a secondary distraction assembly for distracting said initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor, said primary retractor blades being advanced through said secondary distraction corridor to said surgical target site.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said distraction assembly and at least one of said primary retractor blades includes at least one stimulation electrode.
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a control unit capable of electrically stimulating said at least one stimulation electrode, sensing a response of a nerve depolarized by said stimulation, determining a direction from at least one of said distraction system and at least one of said primary retractor blades to the nerve based upon the sensed response, and communicating said direction to a user.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an electrode configured to sense a neuromuscular response of a muscle coupled to said depolarized nerve, the electrode being operable to send the response to the control unit.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one stimulation electrode is positioned near a distal end of at least one of the distraction assembly and at least one of said primary retractor blades.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein said system for establishing an operative corridor to a surgical target site is configured to access a spinal target site.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein said system for establishing an operative corridor to a surgical target site is configured to establish said operative corridor via a lateral, trans-psoas approach.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said primary and secondary retractor blades are constructed from a material that is at least partially radiolucent.
12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a blade extender and a blade shim configured to be releasably coupled to at least one from said plurality of primary retractor blades and said secondary retractor blade.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein said elongated protrusion includes a blade mount configured to mate with the supplemental retractor blade to secure the supplemental retractor blade to said migrating member.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein said expansion track includes a plurality of engagement features along at least one side.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein said engagement features comprise tooth-like protrusions having generally triangular cross-sections.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein said migrating member includes an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture dimensioned to receive said expansion track.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said migrating member further includes an expansion knob having a handle portion adapted for manual operation and a lower portion extending into said aperture therefrom, said lower portion configured to interact with said engagement features of said expansion track.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein manual operation of said knob causes said migrating member to migrate along said expansion track at least one of toward and away from said support.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein said migrating member further includes a migration inhibitor attached thereto, said migration inhibitor moveable from a first position to a second position and adapted to engage with said engagement features of said expansion track while in said first position to prevent migration of said migrating member toward said support.
20. The system of claim 1, wherein said elongated protrusion contains a pivot joint such that said at least one supplemental retractor blade is capable of pivoting relative to said migrating member.