Author: claimsbot

1. A ribbed suture anchor formed by a process comprising the steps of:
placing at least one piece of suture in a mold;
molding a suture anchor body around the suture by delivering an uncured polymer into the mold, the suture anchor body comprising a plurality of adjacent truncated cones and a round cylindrical drive head at a proximal end; and
causing the polymer to cure.
2. The ribbed suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the suture forms a loop outside the proximal end of the suture anchor body.
3. A method of producing an insert-molded ribbed suture anchor, the method comprising the steps of:
placing at least one piece of suture in a mold;
molding a suture anchor body around the suture by delivering an uncured polymer into the mold, the mold being arranged and configured to produce ribs comprising adjacent truncated cones and a round cylindrical drive head; and
causing the polymer to cure.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the ribbed suture anchor is formed at least partially from bioabsorbable material.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the suture is placed in the mold so as to form a loop at the proximal end of the ribbed suture anchor.
6. The ribbed suture anchor of claim 1, wherein the drive head is tapered.
7. The method of claim 3, wherein the drive head is tapered.
8. The ribbed suture anchor of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the anchor body is a truncated cone.
9. The method of claim 3, wherein a distal end of the anchor body is a truncated cone.

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 a biological database, comprising:
a. receiving a set of biological sequences;
b. querying a plurality of databases with the set of biological sequences;
c. receiving query results corresponding to the set of biological sequences from the plurality of databases wherein each of the query results corresponds to a sequence in the set of biological sequences and comprises immunohistological data, in situ hybridization data, functional data, expression data, structural data, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid data, expressed sequence tag data, and pharmacology data, wherein
immunohistological data comprises data relating to binding of antibodies to tissues;
in situ hybridization data comprises data relating to localization of a specific segment of a nucleic acid within a tissue section;
functional data comprises data that identifies a putative or commonly accepted function;
expression data comprises gene expression data or messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression data;
structural data comprises data relating to three-dimensional macromolecular structures of proteins and polynucleotide;
sequence tag data comprises data relating to gene expression in a given tissue and at a given time; and
pharmacology data comprises data relating to properties of therapeutic compositions or drugs;

d. storing the query results in a biological database, wherein each sequence in the set of biological sequences is associated with a record comprising a respective query result from each of the plurality of databases;
e. periodically performing steps b-d;
f. receiving, from a user, a request to view a record of one of the set of biological sequences; and
g. displaying an executive summary of the record comprising the respective query result of step (c).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of biological sequences comprises a nucleic acid sequence, an amino acid sequence, or a combination thereof.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the set of biological sequences comprises receiving the set of biological sequences from the user.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of databases comprises two or more databases selected from a group consisting of one or more National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases and one or more other externally curated and maintained specialized databases.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein periodically performing steps b-d comprises performing steps b-d daily.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing one or more bioinformatics functions on the set of biological sequences or the query results.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more bioinformatics functions comprise a sequence alignment, a gene identification, a protein identification structure prediction, a motif comparison, a biological text analysis, or a combination thereof.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the executive summary of the requested record comprises formatting the requested record for output to the user.
9. A method for managing a biological database, comprising:
a. providing a plurality of databases;
b. determining a version of each of the plurality of databases;
c. determining if the version of each of the plurality of databases is a current version;
d. downloading the current version of any of the plurality of databases that is not the current version;
e. periodically performing steps b-d;
f. receiving a set of biological sequences;
g. querying the plurality of databases with the set of biological sequences;
h. receiving query results corresponding to the set of biological sequences from the plurality of databases wherein each of the query results corresponds to a sequence in the set of biological sequences and comprises immunohistological data, in situ hybridization data, functional data, expression data, structural data, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid data, expressed sequence tag data, and pharmacology data, wherein
immunohistological data comprises data relating to binding of antibodies to tissues;
in situ hybridization data comprises data relating to localization of a specific segment of a nucleic acid within a tissue section;
functional data comprises data that identifies a putative or commonly accepted function;
expression data comprises gene expression data or messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression data;
structural data comprises data relating to three-dimensional macromolecular structures of proteins and polynucleotide;
expressed sequence tag data comprises data relating to gene expression in a given tissue and at a given time; and
pharmacology data comprises data relating to properties of therapeutic compositions or drugs;

i. storing the query results in a biological database, wherein each sequence in the set of biological sequences is associated with a record comprising a respective query result from each of the plurality of databases;
j. periodically performing steps b-d;
k. receiving, from a user, a request to view a record of one of the set of biological sequences; and
j. displaying an executive summary of the record comprising the respective query result of step (h).
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of databases comprises two or more databases selected from a group consisting of one or more National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases and one or more other externally curated and maintained specialized databases.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein periodically performing steps b-d comprises performing steps b-d daily.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of biological sequences comprises a nucleic acid sequence, an amino acid sequence, or a combination thereof.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the set of biological sequences comprises receiving the set of biological sequences from the user.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising performing one or more bioinformatics functions on the set of biological sequences or the query results.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more bioinformatics functions comprise a sequence alignment, a gene identification, a protein identification structure prediction, a motif comparison, a biological text analysis, or a combination thereof.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the executive summary of the requested record comprises formatting the requested record for output to the user.
17. A system for managing a biological database, comprising:
a target database node, comprising a first memory and a first processor, wherein the first processor is configured to receive and store query results in the biological database, the biological database comprises a set of biological sequences, each sequence in the set of biological sequences is associated with a record comprising a respective query result, each of the query results corresponds to a sequence in the set of biological sequences and comprises immunohistological data, in situ hybridization data, functional data, expression data, structural data, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid data, expressed sequence tag data, and pharmacology data, wherein
immunohistological data comprises data relating to binding of antibodies to tissues,
in situ hybridization data comprises data relating to localization of a specific segment of a nucleic acid within a tissue section,
functional data comprises data that identifies a putative or commonly accepted function,
expression data comprises gene expression data or messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression data,
structural data comprises data relating to three-dimensional macromolecular structures of proteins and polynucleotides,
expressed sequence tag data comprises data relating to gene expression in a given tissue and at a given time, and
pharmacology data comprises data relating to properties of therapeutic compositions or drugs,
further wherein the target database node is configured to receive, from a user, a request to view a record of one of the set of biological sequences and display an executive summary of the record comprising the respective query result;

a query node, comprising a second memory and a second processor, wherein the second processor is configured to periodically download and store a plurality of databases from an external network;
a functional node, comprising a third memory and a third processor, wherein the third processor is configured to periodically query the plurality of databases on the query node with the set of biological sequences from the target database node and send the query results to the target database node; and
a network switch node, comprising a fourth memory and a fourth processor, wherein the fourth processor is configured to direct the receipt and storage of the query results in the biological database, the periodic download and storage of the plurality of databases, and the periodic query of the plurality of databases on the query node.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the set of biological sequences comprises a nucleic acid sequence, an amino acid sequence, or a combination thereof.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the functional node is further configured to perform one or more bioinformatics functions on the set of biological sequences or the query results and update the target database node.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more bioinformatics functions comprise a sequence alignment, a gene identification, a protein identification structure prediction, a motif comparison, a biological text analysis, or a combination thereof.
21. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of databases comprises two or more databases selected from a group consisting of one or more National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases and one or more other externally curated and maintained specialized databases.
22. The system of claim 17, wherein the query node is further configured to periodically download and store the plurality of databases from the external network daily.
23. The system of claim 17, wherein the target database node is further configured to format the requested record for output to the user.

1-26. (canceled)
27. A disk drive system manager, comprising:
means for classifying each of a plurality of storage devices based on the cost;
means for checking data on the storage devices to determine whether there is data to be moved from one classification of storage device to another; and
means for moving data stored on one or more storage devices of one classification to one or more storage devices of another classification;
wherein data is moved to a lower cost storage device based on a decrease in the access pattern of the data.
28. The disk drive system manager of claim 27, wherein the cost of each storage device is based on efficiency of the storage device relative to the other storage devices.
29. The disk drive system manager of claim 27, wherein the cost of each storage device is based on storage capacity of the storage device.
30. The disk drive system manager of claim 27, wherein the cost of each storage device is based on physical cost of the storage device.
31. The disk drive system manager of claim 27, wherein data is moved to a lower cost storage device if a substantial portion of the storage space on a higher cost storage device is used up.
32. The disk drive system manager of claim 27, wherein data is moved to a higher cost storage device based on an increase in the access pattern of the data.
33. The disk drive system manager of claim 32, wherein a burst of access activity for the data is differentiated from an increase in the access pattern of the data which causes the data to be moved to a higher cost storage device.
34. The disk drive system manager of claim 27, wherein the plurality of storage devices comprise different disk types.
35. The disk drive system manager of claim 27, wherein the access pattern comprises separate read and write access tracking.
36. A method of data progression in a disk drive system, comprising:
classifying each of a plurality of storage devices based on the cost;
checking data on the storage devices to determine whether there is data to be moved from one classification of storage device to another; and
moving data stored on one or more storage devices of one classification to one or more storage devices of another classification;
wherein data is moved to a lower cost storage device based on a decrease in the access pattern of the data.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein data is moved to a higher cost storage device based on an increase in the access pattern of the data.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein a burst of access activity for the data is differentiated from an increase in the access pattern of the data which causes the data to be moved to a higher cost storage device.
39. The method of claim 36, wherein the cost of each storage device is based on efficiency of the storage device relative to the other storage devices.
40. The method of claim 36, wherein the cost of each storage device is based on storage capacity of the storage device.
41. The method of claim 36, wherein the cost of each storage device is based on physical cost of the storage device.
42. The method of claim 36, wherein data is moved to a lower cost storage device if a substantial portion of the storage space on a higher cost storage device is used up.
43. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of storage devices comprise different disk types.
44. The method of claim 36, wherein the access pattern comprises separate read and write access tracking.

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. An electronic system comprising:
a processor, which generates and sends one or more memory access requests; and
multiple memory modules, operatively coupled together through a communications bus, which return data requested in the one or more memory access requests, wherein each of the multiple memory modules is a data source, and a memory module of the multiple memory modules is configured to:
determine that first source data and second source data are available,
allocate one or more first contiguous lanes within a first section of a data block to at least some of the first source data, wherein the data block comprises a set of multiple lanes, and each lane includes a set of configurable bits,
allocate one or more second contiguous lanes within a second section of the data block to at least some of the second source data, wherein the second section begins at a next lane, which is contiguous with the first section,
send over the communications bus and during a data block transmission period, the at least a portion of the first source data within the first section of the data block, and the at least a portion of the second source data within the second section of the data block;
receive downstream data from a second memory module over the communications bus, wherein the downstream data is a selected one of the first source data and the second source data;
receive local data from one or more memory storage units accessible to the memory module, wherein the local data is the selected one of the first source data and the second source data; and
assemble the downstream data and the local data into the data block.
2. The electronic system of claim 1, further comprising:
a link controller, operatively coupled between the processor and to at least one of the multiple memory modules, the link controller configured to receive the one or more memory access requests, and to generate and send one or more memory access commands, based on the one or more memory access requests, to the multiple memory modules over the communications bus.
3. The electronic system of claim 1, further comprising:
the communications bus having a first part and a second part, the first part to convey data to one of the memory modules from one or more other ones of the memory modules in a downstream direction, and the second part to convey the at least a portion of the first source data and the at least a portion of the second source data from the one of the memory modules to the link controller.
4. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the memory module comprises:
means for receiving downstream data from the second memory module over the communications bus, wherein the downstream data is the first source data;
means for receiving local data from one or more memory storage units accessible to the memory module, wherein the local data is the second source data; and
means for assembling the downstream data and the local data into the data block.
5. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the memory module comprises:
means for receiving downstream data from the second memory module over the communications bus, wherein the downstream data is the second source data;
means for receiving local data from one or more memory storage units accessible to the memory module, wherein the local data is the first source data; and
means for assembling the downstream data and the local data into the data block.
6. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the electronic system comprises a computer.
7. A memory module comprising:
one or more memory storage units for storing local data; and
a hub, operatively coupled to the one or more memory storage units and to a communications bus over which the hub can receive downstream data from one or more other hubs, wherein the hub is configured to:
determine that first source data and second source data are available,
allocate one or more first contiguous lanes within a first section of a data block to at least some of the first source data, wherein the data block comprises a set of multiple lanes, and each lane includes a set of configurable bits,
allocate one or more second contiguous lanes within a second section of the data block to at least some of the second source data, wherein the second section begins at a next lane, which is contiguous with the first section,
send over the communications bus and during a data block transmission period, the at least a portion of the first source data within the first section of the data block, and the at least a portion of the second source data within the second section of the data block;
receive the downstream data from a second hub over the communications bus, wherein the downstream data is a selected one of the first source data and the second source data;
receive the local data from the one or more memory storage units, wherein the local data is the selected one of the first source data and the second source data; and
assemble the downstream data and the local data into the data block.
8. The memory module of claim 7, wherein the one or more memory storage units and the hub are co-located on a single substrate that is removeably connectable to the communications bus.
9. The memory module of claim 7, wherein the one or more memory storage units includes one or more random access memory components.
10. The memory module of claim 9, wherein the one or more random access memory components includes one or more dynamic read only memory components.
11. The memory module of claim 7, wherein the one or more memory storage units includes one or more read only memory components.
12. The memory module of claim 7, wherein the hub includes one or more application specific integrated circuits.
13. The memory module of claim 7, wherein the hub is configured to receive local data and downstream data.
14. The memory module of claim 7, wherein the hub is configured to determine how data from different sources is to be merged together into merged data, and to provide the merged data to an upstream link bus.
15. The memory module of claim 7, wherein the hub is configured to communicate over an upstream link bus to upstream memory modules.
16. The memory module of claim 7, wherein the hub is configured to communicate to a link controller.
17. The memory module of claim 7, wherein the hub comprises:
means for receiving the downstream data from the second hub over the communications bus, wherein the downstream data is the first source data;
means for receiving the local data from the one or more memory storage units, wherein the local data is the second source data; and
means for assembling the downstream data and the local data into the data block.
18. An apparatus for assembling and sending data, the apparatus comprising a module configured to:
receive local data from one or more memory storage units;
receive downstream data over a communications bus from one or more downstream data sources;
generate a first access request to send the local data over the communications bus;
generate a second access request to send the downstream data over the communications bus,
make a determination of how the local data and the downstream data will be sent over the communications bus, including configuration to:
receive the first access request and the second access request, and base the determination on the first access request and the second access request;
allocate one or more first contiguous lanes within a first section of a data block to at least some of the local data, wherein the data block comprises a set of multiple lanes, and each lane of the set includes a set of configurable bits,
allocate one or more second contiguous lanes within a second section of the data block to at least some of the downstream data, wherein the first section and the second section are contiguous;

arrange the local data and the downstream data into the data block, according to the determination; and
send the data within the data block over the communications bus during a data block transmission period.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a hub is used to make the determination of how the local data and the downstream data will be sent over the communications bus.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the hub comprises a local data buffer and a downstream data buffer.