Author: claimsbot

1. A surgical method comprising:
attaching a spinal rod system to an occipital bone, the spinal rod system comprising:
a first spinal rod;
a second spinal rod; and
a connecting element adapted to couple to the first and second spinal rod;

wherein the connecting element is configured for angulation of at least one of the first and second spinal rods.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein one end of the first spinal rod is coupled to an occipital plate.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein one end of the second spinal rod is coupled to a pedicle screw.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises a rotating locking plug.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting element further comprises an elongated opening for receiving the first spinal rod.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the connecting element further comprises a locking mechanism for locking the first spinal in a fixed position.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the rotating locking plug is laser welded to the first spinal rod.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism is a set screw that when tightened compresses the rotating locking plug to fix the position of the first spinal rod.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal fixation device is made of peek.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is a clamp.
11. A surgical method comprising:
attaching a spinal rod system to an occipital bone, the spinal rod system comprising:
an occipital rod having a first end and a second end; and
a spinal rod extending from a connection housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spinal rod being integral with a portion of the connection housing;
wherein the connection housing is configured with an elongated opening, a rotating plug, and a locking mechanism,
wherein the elongated opening is configured for mating with the first end of the occipital plate and the locking mechanism being adapted to enable the occipital rod to be locked in a fixed position.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second end of the occipital rod is coupled to an occipital plate.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second end of the spinal rod is coupled to a pedicle screw.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the rotating plug further comprises an opening for mating with the first end of the occipital rod.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the rotating plug is inserted into a bore through a central axis of the connection housing.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism for locking the occipital rod in a fixed position comprises a set screw locking mechanism.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the rotating plug is laser welded to the occipital rod.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the locking mechanism is a set screw that when tightened compresses the locking plug to fix the position of the first spinal rod.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism is a clamp.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second end of the occipital rod is coupled to an occipital plate.

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.-19. (canceled)
20. A drain connector arranged for mounting to a container having an interior volume, the drain connector comprising:
a drain flange defining a bore, the drain flange having a radially extending flange lip adapted for mounting to a wall of said container;
a hollow body arranged to slide within the bore to move between a first position to a second position, wherein the first position permits passage of material to or from the interior volume, and the second position inhibits passage of material to or from the interior volume; and
at least one circumferential sealing element disposed between the drain flange and the hollow body;
wherein the drain connector further comprises at least one of the following elements (a) and (b):
(a) a moveable locking collar that is selectively operable to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the first position, and operable to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the second position; and
(b) at least one flexible sealed jacket extending between an exterior portion of the drain flange and an exterior portion of the hollow body to provide a barrier arranged to inhibit passage of contaminants to the at least one circumferential sealing element from an environment exterior to the container.
21. The drain connector according to claim 20, comprising a moveable locking collar that is selectively operable to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the first position, and operable to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the second position.
22. The drain connector according to claim 20, comprising at least one flexible sealed jacket extending between an exterior portion of the drain flange and an exterior portion of the hollow body to provide a barrier arranged to inhibit passage of contaminants to the at least one circumferential sealing element from an environment exterior to the container.
23. The drain connector according to claim 20, comprising (a) a moveable locking collar that is selectively operable to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the first position, and operable to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the second position, and (b) at least one flexible sealed jacket extending between an exterior portion of the drain flange and an exterior portion of the hollow body to provide a barrier arranged to inhibit passage of contaminants to the at least one circumferential sealing element from an environment exterior to the container.
24. The drain connector according to claim 22, wherein the at least one flexible sealed jacket is retained against an external portion of the drain flange, is retained against an external portion of the hollow body, and is retained against an external portion of the locking collar.
25. The drain connector according to claim 21, wherein the drain flange comprises a first plurality of spring tabs disposed adjacent to at least one exterior surface of the hollow body, and wherein the locking collar is positionable to bias the first plurality of spring tabs to compressively engage a portion of the hollow body.
26. The drain connector according to claim 25, wherein the hollow body comprises at least one feature arranged to receive portions of the first plurality of spring tabs.
27. The drain connector according to claim 26, wherein the at least one feature comprises a first feature arranged as a first travel stop to inhibit motion of the hollow body in a first direction, and a second feature arranged as a second travel stop to inhibit motion of the hollow body in a second direction.
28. The drain connector according to claim 20, wherein the drain flange is affixed to a wall of a container defining an interior volume, and a portion of the hollow body is arranged to travel into the interior volume when the hollow body is arranged in the first position.
29. The drain connector according to claim 20, wherein the at least one circumferential sealing element comprises at least one first and at least one second circumferential sealing element, and the hollow body includes a closed end proximate to the radially extending flange lip, an open end distal from the radially extending flange lip, and an exterior surface defining at least one passage that extends into an open core of the hollow body, wherein the at least one passage is disposed between the at least one first and the at least one second circumferential sealing element.
30. The drain connector according to claim 20, wherein each of the hollow body and the drain flange comprises polymeric material.
31. The drain connector according to claim 20, wherein the hollow body comprises a closed end that is arranged substantially flush with a top surface of the drain flange when the hollow body is arranged in the second position.
32. A processing bag comprising a polymeric film material and a drain connector according to claim 20 mounted to a wall of said processing bag.
33. The processing bag according to claim 32, wherein the drain connector is mounted to a bottom wall of said processing bag, wherein the flange lip comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the lower surface of the flange lip is attached to the bottom wall of said processing bag.
34. A method utilizing a drain connector mounted to a container having an interior volume, the drain connector comprising a drain flange defining a bore, a hollow body arranged to slide within the bore to move between a first position to a second position, wherein the first position permits passage of material to or from the interior volume, and the second position inhibits passage of material to or from the interior volume, and at least one circumferential sealing element disposed between the drain flange and the hollow body, the method comprising:
moving the hollow body relative to the drain flange from the second position to the first position; and
operating a moveable locking collar to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the first position.
35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising unlocking the locking collar, moving the hollow body relative to the drain flange from the first position to the second position, and operating the locking collar to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the second position.
36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the drain flange comprises a first plurality of spring tabs disposed adjacent to at least one exterior surface of the hollow body, and the locking collar is operable to bias the first plurality of spring tabs to compressively engage a portion of the hollow body.
37. A method of fabricating a container for processing substances and comprising an interior volume, the method comprising:
affixing at least one drain flange to a wall of the container, the at least one drain flange defining a bore of predetermined size;
individually selecting for each drain flange of the at least one drain flange, from a plurality of hollow bodies having different outlet sizes, a hollow body of desired outlet size and arranged to move within the bore to selectively affect passage of material to or from the interior volume;
for each drain flange of the at least one drain flange, inserting the selected hollow body of desired outlet size into the bore, with at least one circumferential sealing element disposed between the drain flange and the hollow body; and
applying at least one sealed jacket extending between an exterior portion of the drain flange and an exterior portion of the hollow body to provide a barrier arranged to inhibit passage of contaminants to the at least one circumferential sealing element from an environment exterior to the container.
38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising sterilizing the container together with the at least one drain flange and the hollow body inserted into each drain flange of the at least one drain flange.
39. The method according to claim 37, wherein:
the hollow body is arranged to slide within the bore to move between a first position to a second position, wherein the first position permits passage of material to or from the interior volume, and the second position inhibits passage of material to or from the interior volume; and
the method further comprises applying a moveable locking collar that is selectively operable to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the first position, and operable to maintain the hollow body relative to the drain flange in the second position.
40. The method according to claim 37, wherein each hollow body of the plurality of hollow bodies includes at least an upper portion with a maximum outer diameter that is no larger than an inner diameter of the bore of the corresponding drain flange.
41. A method utilizing a drain connector mounted to a container having an interior volume, the drain connector comprising drain flange defining a bore, a hollow body arranged to move within the bore from (i) a first position that permits passage of material to or from the interior volume to (ii) a second position that inhibits passage of material to or from the interior volume, and at least one circumferential sealing element disposed between the drain flange and the hollow body, the method comprising:
blocking passage of contaminants to the at least one circumferential sealing element from an environment exterior to the container utilizing at least one sealed jacket extending between an exterior portion of the drain flange and an exterior portion of the hollow body to provide a barrier arranged to block said passage of contaminants; and
moving the hollow body relative to the drain flange between the second position and the first position, wherein the sealed jacket is arranged to permit said movement of the hollow body while maintaining said barrier arranged to block said passage of contaminants.

1. A method of increasing the storage capacity of granular material storage structure, the storage structure having sidewalls supporting a roof structure comprised of a plurality of spaced roof trusses having a bottom cord, the sidewalls and roof structure defining a first storage capacity, said method comprising:
supporting a curtain assembly from said spaced roof trusses substantially parallel with said bottom cord of said roof trusses, said curtain assembly defining a second storage capacity above said first storage capacity;
filling said first storage capacity with a first quantity of granular material;
filling said second storage capacity with a second quantity of granular material.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said curtain assembly comprises a curtain supported by a curtain frame.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said curtain is fabric.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said fabric is a mesh material.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein said curtain frame includes substantially parallel upper and lower beams, said upper beam spaced a predetermined distance vertically above said lower beam.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising removably securing said curtain to said upper and lower beams.
7. The method of claim 2 wherein said curtain is nylon mesh.
8. The method of claim 2 wherein said curtain is plastic.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said curtain assembly is plywood.
10. A method of storing granular material, comprising:
a) providing a first granular material storage capacity for receiving a first quantity of granular material, said first granular material storage capacity comprising a wall volume and a repose volume, said wall volume defined by a wall structure;
b) providing a roof structure comprising a plurality of spaced roof trusses supported by said wall structure, each of said roof trusses having a bottom cord; and
c) hanging a curtain having top and bottom ends from said bottom cord of said roof trusses above said wall structure such that said curtain is substantially parallel with said bottom cord of said roof trusses, said curtain defining a second granular material storage capacity for receiving a second quantity of granular material above said first granular material storage capacity;
d) filling said first granular material storage capacity with a first quantity of granular material;
e) filling said second granular material storage capacity with a second quantity of granular material.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said wall structure includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall disposed on opposite sides of said wall volume, and wherein said plurality of roof trusses are supported on opposite sides by said first sidewall and said second sidewall.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said curtain comprises a curtain frame, said curtain frame having an upper beam and a lower beam with said curtain spanning a distance therebetween, wherein said upper beam and said lower beam are operably secured to said bottom cords of said spaced roof trusses.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said curtain frame is operably removably secured to said bottom cord of said roof trusses.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said curtain is removably secured to said upper and lower beams.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of hanging said curtain from said bottom cord of said roof trusses includes removably securing a plurality of brackets to said upper and lower beams and to said bottom cords of said spaced roof trusses.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of brackets comprises a top saddle member and bottom saddle member between which is received a bottom cord of one of said roof trusses, said lower beam received within a sleeve fixed to said bottom saddle member.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of ratchet straps removably securing said upper and lower beams to said spaced roof trusses.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein said curtain is fabric.
19. The method of claim 10 wherein said curtain is nylon mesh.
20. The method of claim 10 wherein said curtain is plastic.
21. The method of claim 10 wherein said curtain assembly is plywood.
22. A method of storing granular material, comprising:
a) providing a wall structure having a first storage capacity comprising a wall volume and a repose volume;
b) providing a roof structure supported by said wall structure;
c) securing a curtain assembly to said roof structure above said wall structure, said curtain assembly providing an interior volume above said first storage capacity defining a second storage capacity, said curtain assembly comprising a curtain supported by a curtain frame, wherein said curtain frame includes substantially parallel upper and lower beams disposed substantially transverse to said spaced roof trusses supported thereby and wherein said upper beam is spaced a predetermined distance vertically above said lower beam; and
d) securing a plurality of removable brackets to said upper and lower beams and to said spaced roof trusses, wherein each of said plurality of brackets comprises a top saddle member and a bottom saddle member between which is received a bottom cord of one of said roof trusses, said lower beam received within a sleeve fixed to said bottom saddle member.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising securing said upper and lower beams to said spaced roof trusses using a plurality of ratchet straps.
24. A method of increasing capacity of a granular material storage facility within which granular material is stored, the facility having a wall structure and a roof structure supported by the wall structure, the wall structure defining a first storage capacity comprising a wall volume and a repose volume of the granular material, the method comprising:
mounting a curtain having an upper and lower edge to a lower cord of the roof structure at a position adjacent and above the wall structure such that the curtain is substantially parallel with the lower cord of the roof structure, wherein the curtain provides a surface above the wall structure; and
filling said granular material storage facility with granular material above said wall volume and said reposed volume such that the granular material comes in contact with said curtain surface thereby providing an additional interior volume which creates additional storage capacity above the first storage capacity.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein said curtain is nylon mesh.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein said curtain is woven fabric.
27. The method of claim 25 wherein said curtain is plastic.
28. The method of claim 25 wherein said curtain is plywood.

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 method for managing an intelligent terminal system, comprising:
starting a management function of the intelligent terminal system;
acquiring an extension software package;
verifying the acquired extension software package; and
executing functions of the extension software package that has passed the verification.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extension software package is acquired from an extension storage medium of the intelligent terminal.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the extension storage medium is one of a multiple media card (MMC), a security digital card (SD), a mini security digital card (Mini SD), and a micro security card (Micro SD).
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the starting the management function of the intelligent terminal system comprises:
activating the management function of the intelligent terminal system; and
loading a device driver in the extension storage medium.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying the acquired extension software package comprises performing an integrity verification and a validity verification for the acquired extension software package.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the performing integrity verification and validity verification for the acquired extension software package comprises performing the integrity verification and the validity verification with one of Message-Digest Algorithm version.5 (MD5) and Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA).
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
managing the extension software package in the extension storage medium.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the extension software package carries a system upgrade submodule; and
the step of executing functions of the extension software package comprises:
running functions of the system upgrade submodule carried in the extension software package;
acquiring a system upgrade data packet; and
upgrading the intelligent terminal system with the system upgrade data packet.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:
authenticating a user before acquiring the system upgrade data packet;
verifying the system upgrade data packet before upgrading the intelligent terminal system with the system upgrade data packet; and
exiting the current upgrading if the authentication or the verification is not passed.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the extension software package carries at least one of a system backup submodule, a system recovery submodule, a system detection submodule, a user information backup submodule, a user information recovery submodule, an application program extension submodule, and an anti-virus submodule.
11. An intelligent terminal, comprising:
a management function starting unit adapted to start the management function of an intelligent terminal system;
an extension software package acquiring unit adapted to acquire an extension software package after the management function starting unit starts the management function of the intelligent terminal system;
an extension software package verifying unit adapted to verify the extension software package acquired by the extension software package acquiring unit; and
a management function executing unit adapted to execute functions of the extension software package after the verification for the extension software package by the extension software package verifying unit is passed.
12. The intelligent terminal of claim 12, wherein the extension software package verifying unit comprises:
an integrity verifying unit adapted to perform an integrity verification for the extension software package acquired by the extension software package acquiring unit; and
a validity verifying unit adapted to perform a validity verification for the extension software package acquired by the extension software package acquiring unit.
13. The intelligent terminal of claim 12, further comprising: an extension storage medium adapted to store the extension software package;
wherein the extension software package acquiring unit acquires the extension software package from the extension storage medium.
14. The intelligent terminal of claim 14, wherein the extension storage medium is one of a multiple media card (MMC), a security digital card (SD), a mini security digital card (Mini SD) and a micro security card (Micro SD).
15. The intelligent terminal of claim 11, wherein the extension software package carries at least one of a system upgrade submodule, a system backup submodule, a system recovery submodule, a system detection submodule, a user information backup submodule, a user information recovery submodule, an application program extension submodule, and an anti-virus submodule.