Author: claimsbot

1. An instrument for locating a femoral mechanical axis and identifying the locations of at least three points in space in relation to the center of a femoral head, the instrument comprising:
a base member;
an extension arm clamp translationally and pivotally attached to the base member;
an extension arm translationally and pivotally attached to the extension arm clamp;
a swiveling arm pivotally attached to a distal end of the extension arm, the swiveling arm comprising a lateral locator member at a proximal end and a medial locator member at a distal end;
a bracket pivotally attached to the swiveling arm; and
a locating arm removably attached to the bracket, the locating arm comprising a middle locator member.
2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the lateral locator member is positionable to identify a first point of the at least three points, wherein the medial locator member is positionable to identify a second point of the at least three points, and wherein the middle locator member is positionable to identify a third point of the at least three points.
3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third points define a sphere and a circle with a center.
4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the swiveling arm is pivotable relative to the extension arm in a direction that is generally parallel to a direction in which the extension arm is pivotable relative to base member.
5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the bracket is pivotable relative to the swiveling arm in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a direction in which the swiveling arm pivots relative to the extension arm.
6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein each of the extension arm clamp, the extension arm, the swiveling arm, and the bracket are lockable and unlockable relative to the base member, the extension arm clamp, the extension arm, and the swiveling arm, respectively.
7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a base portion from which an arch portion extends, wherein the arch portion comprises a curved slot along which a locking screw of the swiveling arm is slideable.
8. The instrument of claim 1, in combination with at least one locating pin that is positionable within a femur in a predetermined relationship with a center of the knee.
9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the at least one locating pin is positionable within an anterior aspect of a distal femur, along a sagittal plane approximately perpendicular to the femoral anatomical axis, and into the center of the knee.
10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the at least one locating pin comprises a bead member for cooperative engagement with at least one of the lateral locator member, the medial locator member, and the middle locator member.
11. The combination of claim 10, wherein at least one of the lateral locator member, the medial locator member, and the middle locator member comprises a structure comprising an inner slot.
12. The combination of claim 8, wherein the at least one locating pin comprises a band for cooperative engagement with at least one of the lateral locator member, the medial locator member, and the middle locator member.
13. The combination of claim 12, wherein at least one of the lateral locator member, the medial locator member, and the middle locator member comprises an elongated member with a distal tip.
14. The combination of claim 8, further comprising an alignment guide positionable over at least a portion of the at least one locating pin.
15. The combination of claim 14, further comprising an alignment rod engageable with an aperture of the alignment guide for identifying the location and direction of the femoral mechanical axis.
16. A method of locating a femoral mechanical axis comprising:
identifying a representative sphere traced by a trace point offset by a predetermined distance from a center of a knee, wherein a center of the representative sphere is coincident with a center of a femoral head;
identifying at least three points on the representative sphere;
locating the center of a circle defined by the at least three points on the representative sphere;
identifying a line passing through the center of, and perpendicular to the plane of, the circle defined by the at least three points on the representative sphere;
positioning the femur such that a line connecting the center of the femoral head and the trace point is coincident with the line passing through the center of, and perpendicular to the plane of, the circle defined by the at least three points on the representative sphere; and
placing a plurality of locating devices on the femur to identify the location of the femoral mechanical axis in both the coronal and sagittal planes, such locating devices being positioned on the femur in such a way as to compensate for the predetermined offset of the trace point from the center of the knee so that the line connecting the center of the femoral head and the trace point has a predetermined angular offset from the femoral mechanical axis.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of locating devices comprises at least one of a pin and a marker.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least three points of the representative sphere are identified using an instrument comprising:
a base member;
an extension arm clamp translationally and pivotally attached to the base member;
an extension arm translationally and pivotally attached to the extension arm clamp;
a swiveling arm pivotally attached to a distal end of the extension arm, the swiveling arm comprising a lateral locator member at a proximal end for identifying a first of the at least three points and a medial locator member at a distal end for identifying a second of the at least three points;
a bracket pivotally attached to the swiveling arm; and
a locating arm removably attached to the bracket, the locating arm comprising a middle locator member for identifying the third of the at least three points.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of identifying at least three points on the representative sphere comprises positioning at least one locating pin within a femur so that a portion of the pin is located at the predetermined distance from the center of the knee.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the instrument further comprises an alignment guide positionable over at least a portion of the at least one locating pin.

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 messaging system, comprising:
a plurality of messaging units disposed in different locations within a commercial space, each of said messaging units including:
a light-emitting diode (LED); and
a messagingmodulation controller coupled to the LED and configured to turn the LED on and off so as to broadcast a digital message as a binary-encoded digital signal corresponding to onoff states of the LED,

wherein each of said messaging units is configured to broadcast a different digital message, including substantive content that is different from what is broadcast by the other messaging units, and
wherein the digital messages for said messaging units are coordinated such that a first one of the messaging units covering a first location broadcasts a first message guiding a recipient to a second location, and when the recipient reaches the second location a second one of the messaging units covering the second location broadcasts a second message guiding the recipient to a third location.
2. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein each of said controllers is programmed to cause the digital message for its corresponding messaging unit to be repeatedly broadcast.
3. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of said messaging units also includes a wireless receiver through which it receives updates to its corresponding digital message.
4. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of said messaging units also includes a physical data port through which it receives updates to its corresponding digital message.
5. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the digital messages for a plurality of said messaging units are coordinated such that the recipient is successively guided to at least 3 different locations within the commercial space.
6. A messaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a user device that includes a sensor for receiving light emitted by the LED of a nearby one of the messaging units, and wherein said user device is configured to decode the corresponding digital message and at least one of visually show said corresponding digital message or audibly play said corresponding digital message.
7. A messaging system according to claim 6, wherein said user device further includes a light source and is also configured to broadcast a message via said light source, and wherein said nearby one of the messaging units also includes a sensor for detecting light from said light source and is also configured to decode said message.
8. A messaging system according to claim 7, wherein said user device further includes a wireless interface and is also configured to broadcast a message to said system via said wireless interface and a publicly accessible network.
9. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein said commercial space comprises exactly one retail establishment.
10. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein said commercial space comprises a plurality of independently managed retail establishments.
11. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the first message comprises a promotion pertaining to a first item at said second location, and the second message comprises a promotion pertaining to the second item at said third location.
12. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the digital messages for a plurality of said messaging units are coordinated so as to implement at least one of a contest or a game.
13. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein for each of said messaging units, the controller turns the LED on and off at a rate of at least 1,000 times per second for the purpose of broadcasting the digital message.
14. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein for each of said messaging units, the controller turns the LED on and off at a rate of at least 100,000 times per second for the purpose of broadcasting the digital message.
15. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein at least five of said messaging units are disposed on a ceiling of the commercial space.
16. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein adjacently located ones of said messaging units are configured so as to coordinate broadcasts of their respective digital messages.
17. A messaging system according to claim 16, wherein said coordination of the broadcasts results in time-division multiplexing of said respective digital messages.
18. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the LED emits visible light.
19. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: (1) the first message comprises a game clue about the second location and (2) the second message comprises a game clue about the third location.
20. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the first message includes a promotion for a product located at the second location.
21. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the first location corresponds to a first shelf within the commercial space and the second location corresponds to a second shelf within the commercial space, the first shelf being different than the second shelf.
22. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the first message also guides the recipient to a particular orientation at the second location.
23. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the digital messages for said plurality of said messaging units are coordinated so as to implement a scavenger hunt game.
24. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second messages also encourage the recipient to at least one of look at or purchase items based on at least one of purchasing habits, in-store browsing or Web browsing.

1. An electrical connector comprising:
an elongated insulative housing extending in a longitudinal direction;
a plurality of sets of contacts disposed in at least one side of the insulative housing along the longitudinal direction, each set of contacts comprising three adjacent contacts; wherein
each set defines a first pitch internally between outermost contact and interim contact, every adjacent two sets defines a second pitch externally between two adjacent outermost contacts of the adjacent two sets, and the second pitch is larger than the first pitch;
wherein the outermost contacts of one set are used to transmit desired signals, and wherein the interim contact of the one set is grounded;
wherein the two outermost adjacent contacts of the adjacent two sets are used to transmit a differential pair of signals.
2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a metallic shell enclosing the insulative housing, and wherein the interim contact of at least one set electrically and mechanically connects with the metallic shell.
3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second pitch is twice of the first pitch.
4. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
a first connector comprising:
a first housing defining a longitudinal direction;
a plurality of pairs of first signal contacts disposed in at least one side of the housing along the longitudinal direction;
a plurality of first grounding contacts each being disposed between every two adjacent pairs of the first signal contacts;

a second connector for mating with the first connector, comprising:
a second housing defining a longitudinal direction;
a plurality of pairs of second signal contacts, electrically connecting with corresponding first signal contacts, disposed in at least one side of the housing along the longitudinal direction;
a plurality of second grounding contacts, electrically connecting with corresponding first grounding contacts, each being disposed between every two adjacent pairs of the second signal contacts; and wherein
each connector defines a first pitch between the grounding contact and either of the two signal contacts adjacent thereto and a second pitch between two adjacent signal contact of two adjacent pairs, the first pitch is different from the second pitch.
5. The electrical connector assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the second pitch is larger than the first pitch.
6. The electrical connector assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the pair of signal contacts is used to transmit a differential pair of signals.
7. The electrical connector assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the first connector further comprises a metallic shell enclosing the first housing, and wherein at least a grounding contact electrically and mechanically connects with the metallic shell.
8. An electrical connector comprising:
an elongated insulative housing extending in a longitudinal direction; and
a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing along said longitudinal direction, said contacts being categorized with at least first and second groups contacts wherein the first group contacts include differential pairs of signal contacts and the second group contacts include grounding or shielding contacts, said first group contacts and said second group contacts being alternately arranged with each other along said longitudinal direction; wherein
a first distance defined by an inner pitch of each differential pair of the first group contacts is larger than a second distance defined by an outer pitch between each of the first group contacts and each of the second group contacts adjacent thereto;
wherein said first distance is twice of the second distance;
wherein the housing defines a plurality of passageways to receive the corresponding first group contacts and the second group contacts respectively.
9. The electrical connector as defined in claim 8, wherein some of said second group contacts are electrically connected to a metal shield enclosing the housing.
10. The electrical connector as defined in claim 8, wherein said both said first distance and said second distance are invariable.
11. The electrical connector as defined in claim 8, further includes third group contacts each disposed between every corresponding differential pair of the first group contacts.
12. The electrical connector as defined in claim 8, wherein the housing further defines a dummy passageway between each differential pair while without receiving any contact therein.

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

1-36. (canceled)
37. A multiplex assay detection apparatus, comprising:
an excitation energy source configured to excite a plurality of spectrally labeled bodies bound to a surface of a solid support, wherein the spectrally labeled bodies are spatially resolved and comprise a plurality of fluorescent labels used to encode discrete and different emission spectra wherein each emission spectrum has a plurality of signals at differing wavelengths;
a sensor configured to detect the emission spectrum of each spectrally labeled body; and
a processor configured to utilize machine-readable code including a library of identifiable substances and their associated emission spectra to identify the identifiable substance associated with each spectrally labeled body.
38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of spectrally labeled bodies includes a capture moiety that has an affinity for a particular identifiable substance.
39. The apparatus claim of 38, wherein the identifiable substance is a biomolecule.
40. The apparatus claim of 39, wherein the biomolecule is an oligonucleotide.
41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the surface of the solid support is substantially planar.
42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the solid support is a bead.
43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the bead is comprised of spectrally labeled bodies with the same emission spectrum.
44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the bead is comprised of spectrally labeled bodies with two or more emission spectra.
45. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the solid support is an assay plate.
46. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processor is configured to provide a count of the detected spectrally labeled bodies.
47. An assay detection system, comprising:
an assay detection apparatus, comprising:
an excitation energy source configured to excite a plurality of spectrally labeled bodies bound to a surface of a solid support, wherein the spectrally labeled bodies are spatially resolved and comprise a plurality of fluorescent labels used to encode discrete and different emission spectra wherein each emission spectrum has a plurality of signals at differing wavelengths; and
a sensor configured to detect the emission spectra of each spectrally labeled body;

a computing device in communication with the assay detection apparatus, comprising:
a memory for storing machine-readable code including a library of identifiable substances and their associated spectral barcodes, and
a processor in communication with the memory and configured to utilize the machine-readable code to identify the identifiable substances associated with the spectrally labeled bodies.
48. The system of claim 47, wherein each of the plurality of spectrally labeled bodies includes a capture moiety that has an affinity for a particular identifiable substance.
49. The system claim of 48, wherein the identifiable substance is a biomolecule.
50. The system claim of 49, wherein the biomolecule is an oligonucleotide.
51. The system of claim 47, wherein the surface of the solid support is substantially planar.
52. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the solid support is a bead.
53. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the solid support is an assay plate.
54. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the processor is configured to provide a count of the detected spectrally labeled bodies.
55. An assay detection method, comprising:
exciting a plurality of spectrally labeled bodies with an energy source, wherein the spectrally labeled bodies are bound to a surface of a solid support in a spatially resolved configuration and comprise a plurality of fluorescent labels used to encode discrete and different emission spectra wherein each emission spectrum has a plurality of signals at differing wavelengths;
detecting emission spectra with a sensor;

providing a memory for storing machine-readable code including a library of identifiable substances and their associated emission spectra; and
identifying identifiable substances from the emission spectra using a processor, wherein the processor is in communication with the memory and configured to utilize the machine-readable code to identify the identifiable substances associated with the spectrally labeled bodies.
56. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of counting the detected spectrally labeled bodies using the processor.