Author: claimsbot

1. A patient-specific pedicle screw guide that mates with the anatomical features of a particular vertebra, comprising:
a medial body configured to be positioned adjacent a vertebra;
a first elongated wing extending from a first side of the medial body and terminating with a first column, wherein the first column comprises a first lower surfaces that anatomically mates with at least one first contour of the particular vertebra; and
a second elongated wing extending from a second side of the medial body opposite the first side and terminating with a second column, wherein the second column comprises a second lower surface that anatomically mates with at least one second contour of the particular vertebra; and
wherein the first and second lower surfaces are determined from and complementary to the patient’s anatomy.
2. The patient-specific pedicle screw guide according to claim 1 further comprising at least one leg extending from an inferior side of the medial body, wherein the at least one leg comprises a lower surface that anatomically mates with at least one contour of the particular vertebrae.
3. The patient-specific pedicle screw guide according to claim 2, wherein the guide is configured to span multiple vertebrae of the patient.
4. The patient-specific pedicle screw guide according to claim 3, wherein the guide may be coupled to a plurality of additional guides for spanning multiple vertebrae of the patient.
5. The patient-specific pedicle screw guide according to claim 3, wherein the guide is comprised of a plurality of guides that may be arranged in a monolithic or multi-level configuration for spanning multiple vertebrae of the patient.
6. The patient-specific pedicle screw guide according to claim 1, wherein the first and second column define pathways for guiding at least one instrument.
7. The patient-specific pedicle screw guide according to claim 2, wherein the lower surface of the at least one leg anatomically mates with at least one contour of the lamina or inferior articular process of the particular vertebrae.
8. The surgical guide according to claim 2, wherein the lower surfaces of the at least one legs each anatomically mate with at least one contour of the lamina or inferior articular process of one or more vertebrae.
9. The patient-specific pedicle screw guide according to claim 1, further comprising a first and second bore extending longitudinally through the first and second columns.
10. The patient-specific pedicle screw guide according to claim 9 wherein the first and second bores are oriented along pre-determined trajectories for placing one or more implants into the particular vertebrae, and wherein the pre-determined trajectories are determined from the anatomical features of the patient.
11. The surgical guide according to claim 9 wherein the first and second bores are oriented along pre-determined trajectories for inserting one or more implants, and wherein the pre-determined trajectories are determined from the anatomical features of the patient.
12. The surgical guide according to claim 1, wherein the guide is configured to be used on one or more vertebrae of the patient.
13. The surgical guide according to claim 1, wherein the guide may be coupled to a plurality of additional guides for spanning multiple anatomical features associated with the patient.
14. The surgical guide according to claim 1, wherein the guide is comprised of a plurality of guides that may be arranged in a monolithic or multi-level configuration for spanning multiple anatomical features associated with the patient.
15. The surgical guide according to claim 1 wherein the guide is comprised of at least a first section and at least a second section, which are selectively interconnected to one another in a position of use.
16. The surgical guide according to claim 15 wherein the at least a first and second section are selectively interconnected about the medial body of the surgical guide.

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 inline optical amplifier station for an optical transport system, the inline optical amplifier station comprising:
a first optical couplerdecoupler configured to decouple a first bidirectional signal and a first service channel signal from a first fiber span signal;
a second optical couplerdecoupler configured to decouple a first data signal propagating in a first direction from the first bidirectional signal and to combine a second data signal propagating in a second direction with the first bidirectional signal;
a third optical couplerdecoupler configured to decouple a third data signal propagating in the second direction from a second bidirectional signal and to combine a fourth data signal propagating in the first direction with the second bidirectional signal;
a first optical attenuator configured to receive the first data signal from the second optical couplerdecoupler;
a second optical attenuator configured to receive the third data signal from the third optical couplerdecoupler;
a first optical coupler configured to combine the first and third data signals to produce a combined signal;
a first optical amplifier configured to co-directionally amplify the combined signal; and
a first optical decoupler configured to decouple the second and fourth data signals from the combined signal.
2. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 wherein the first optical amplifier comprises a multistage amplifier.
3. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 wherein the first optical amplifier comprises a first stage and a second stage, and wherein the first stage and the second stage are each configured to co-directionally amplify the combined signal.
4. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 3 further comprising a third optical attenuator connected between the first stage and the second stage.
5. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 3 further comprising a dispersion compensator connected between the first stage and the second stage.
6. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 4 wherein the first, second and third optical attenuators each comprise a variable optical attenuator.
7. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 4 further comprising:
a second optical decoupler connected to the third optical attenuator, wherein the second optical decoupler is configured to decouple a first uncompensated signal and a second uncompensated signal from an output of the third optical attenuator;
a first dispersion compensation module connected to the second optical decoupler, wherein the first dispersion compensation module is configured to compensate for dispersion in the first uncompensated signal to produce a first compensated signal;
a second dispersion compensation module connected to the second optical decoupler, wherein the second dispersion compensation module is configured to compensate for dispersion in the second uncompensated signal to produce a second compensated signal; and
a second optical coupler connected to the first and second dispersion compensation modules, wherein the second optical coupler is configured to combine the first and second compensated signals.
8. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 wherein the fourth data signal and the second data signal comprise different wavelengths in two separate bands.
9. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 wherein the fourth data signal and the second data signal are interleaved on separate channels.
10. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 further comprising a fourth optical couplerdecoupler configured to decouple the second bidirectional signal and a second service channel signal from a second fiber span signal.
11. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 further comprising a fourth optical couplerdecoupler connected to the third optical couplerdecoupler, wherein the fourth optical couplerdecoupler is configured to combine the second bidirectional signal with a second service channel signal to produce a second fiber span signal.
12. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 11 wherein the second service channel signal is in a separate wavelength range from the third data signal and the fourth data signal.
13. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 wherein the first service channel signal is in a separate wavelength range from the first data signal and the second data signal.
14. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 wherein the inline optical amplifier station is configured to receive the first fiber span signal from a first terminal.
15. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 14 wherein the inline optical amplifier station is configured to receive a second fiber span signal from a second terminal.
16. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 further comprising an optical element connected between the first optical amplifier and the first optical decoupler, wherein the optical element is configured to operate on the combined signal before the combined signal is decoupled by the first optical decoupler.
17. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 16 wherein the optical element comprises an optical adddrop multiplexer.
18. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 16 wherein the optical element comprises a dynamic gain equalizer.
19. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 16 wherein the optical element comprises a second optical amplifier.
20. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 16 wherein the optical element comprises a dynamic band equalizer and a second optical amplifier.
21. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 16 wherein the optical element comprises an optical adddrop multiplexer and a second optical amplifier.
22. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 wherein the first optical attenuator comprises a first variable optical attenuator,
wherein the second optical attenuator comprises a second variable optical attenuator, and
wherein the first variable optical attenuator and the second variable optical attenuator are configured to be adjusted to equalize a power of the first data signal with respect to the third data signal.
23. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 wherein the first data signal comprises an unamplified eastbound signal,
wherein the second data signal comprises an amplified westbound signal,
wherein the third data signal comprises an unamplified westbound signal, and
wherein the fourth data signal comprises an amplified eastbound signal.
24. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 1 wherein the first and second optical attenuators each comprise a variable optical attenuator.
25. A method for amplifying an eastbound data signal and a westbound data signal in an optical transport system, the method comprising:
isolating a first bidirectional signal and a first service channel signal from a first fiber span signal;
isolating the eastbound data signal from the first bidirectional signal;
isolating the westbound data signal from a second bidirectional signal;
power matching the eastbound and westbound data signals to produce power-matched signals;
combining the power-matched signals to produce a combined signal; and
co-directionally amplifying the combined signal to produce an amplified signal.
26. The method of claim 25 further comprising compensating for dispersion in the amplified signal.
27. The method of claim 25 further comprising attenuating the amplified signal.
28. The method of claim 25 further comprising:
isolating an amplified eastbound data signal from the amplified signal;
isolating an amplified westbound data signal from the amplified signal;
compensating for dispersion in the amplified eastbound data signal;
compensating for dispersion in the amplified westbound data signal; and
combining the amplified eastbound data signal and the amplified westbound data signal.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein dispersion in the amplified eastbound data signal is compensated independent of the dispersion in the amplified westbound data signal.
30. The method of claim 25 further comprising isolating an amplified eastbound data signal and an amplified westbound data signal from the amplified signal.
31. The method of claim 30 further comprising combining the amplified eastbound data signal with the second bidirectional signal and combining the amplified westbound data signal with the first bidirectional signal.
32. The method of claim 25 further comprising isolating the second bidirectional signal and a second service channel signal from a second fiber span signal.
33. An inline optical amplifier station for an optical transport system, the inline optical amplifier station comprising:
means for isolating a first bidirectional signal and a first service channel signal from a first fiber span signal;
means for isolating an eastbound data signal from the first bidirectional signal;
means for isolating a westbound data signal from a second bidirectional signal;
means for power matching the eastbound and westbound data signals to produce power-matched signals;
means for combining the power-matched signals to produce a combined signal; and
means for co-directionally amplifying the combined signal to produce an amplified signal.
34. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 33 further comprising means for compensating for dispersion in the amplified signal.
35. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 33 further comprising means for attenuating the amplified signal.
36. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 33 further comprising:
means for isolating an amplified eastbound data signal from the amplified signal;
means for isolating an amplified westbound data signal from the amplified signal;
means for compensating for dispersion in the amplified eastbound data signal;
means for compensating for dispersion in the amplified westbound data signal; and
means for combining the amplified eastbound data signal and the amplified westbound data signal.
37. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 36 wherein dispersion in the amplified eastbound data signal is compensated independent of the dispersion in the amplified westbound data signal.
38. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 33 further comprising means for isolating an amplified eastbound data signal and an amplified westbound data signal from the amplified signal.
39. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 38 further comprising means for combining the amplified eastbound data signal with the second bidirectional signal and means for combining the amplified westbound data signal with the first bidirectional signal.
40. The inline optical amplifier station of claim 33 further comprising means for isolating the second bidirectional signal and a second service channel signal from a second fiber span signal.

1. A method for configuring at least one test probe that is located at an adjustable position within a test fixture in a radio-frequency test station, comprising:
placing a test probe alignment structure into alignment with the test fixture; and
while the test probe alignment structure and the test fixture are aligned, adjusting the position of the test probe with respect to the test fixture and the test probe alignment structure so that the test probe aligns with at least one corresponding test probe alignment feature in the test probe alignment structure, wherein adjusting the position of the test probe with respect to the test fixture and the test probe alignment structure so that the test probe aligns with at least one corresponding test probe alignment feature in the test probe alignment structure comprises moving the test probe horizontally within a test probe adjustment region, with respect to the test fixture and the test probe alignment structure, so that the test probe protrudes vertically into the at least one corresponding test probe alignment feature in the test probe alignment structure.
2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein placing the test probe alignment structure into alignment with the test fixture comprises registering the test probe alignment structure with the test fixture using mating registration features in the test probe alignment structure and the test fixture.
3. The method defined in claim 2 further comprising:
following adjustment of the test probe into alignment with the at least one corresponding test probe alignment feature, securing the test probe to the test fixture using an attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of: welds, screws, clamps, levers, adhesive, and solder.
4. The method defined in claim 2 wherein a first portion of the mating registration features in the test fixture comprises at least one protruding member, wherein a first portion of the mating registration features in the test probe alignment structure comprises at least one corresponding recess, and wherein registering the test probe alignment structure with the test fixture comprises mating the at least one protruding member of the test fixture with the at least one corresponding recess in the test probe alignment structure.
5. The method defined in claim 4 wherein a second portion of the mating registration features in the test fixture comprises at least one recess, wherein a second portion of the mating registration features in the test probe alignment structure comprises at least one corresponding protruding member, and wherein registering the test probe alignment structure with the test fixture further comprises mating the at least one recess of the test fixture with the at least one corresponding protruding member in the test probe alignment structure.
6. The method defined in claim 2 wherein a portion of the mating registration features in the test fixture comprises at least one recess, wherein a portion of the mating registration features in the test probe alignment structure comprises at least one corresponding protruding member, and wherein registering the test probe alignment structure with the test fixture further comprises mating the at least one recess of the test fixture with the at least one corresponding protruding member in the test probe alignment structure.
7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one corresponding test probe alignment feature comprises a recess within a block of material, and wherein adjusting the position of the test probe within the test fixture so that the probe aligns with the at least one corresponding test probe alignment feature in the test probe alignment structure comprises adjusting the position of the test probe until the test probe is aligned with the recess within the block of material.
8. A method for determining whether a radio-frequency test probe is located at a proper position within a test fixture, wherein the test fixture includes registration features corresponding to registration features in a test probe alignment structure, comprising:
attempting to mate the test probe with a test probe alignment feature in the test probe alignment structure while mating the registration features of the test fixture with the registration features of the test probe alignment structure;
following an unsuccessful attempt at mating the test probe with the test probe alignment feature while mating the registration features of the test fixture with the registration features of the test probe alignment structure, adjusting where the test probe is positioned with respect to the test fixture and the test probe alignment structure;
following successful mating of the test probe with the test probe alignment feature while mating the registration features of the test fixture with the registration features of the test probe alignment structure, removing the test probe alignment structure from the test fixture;
inserting at least a given one of the registration features of the test fixture through an opening in a device under test; and
while the given one of the registration features is within the opening of the device under test, testing the device under test using the radio-frequency test probe.
9. The method defined in claim 8 wherein adjusting where the test probe is positioned with respect to the test fixture and the test probe alignment structure comprises adjusting the test probe to the proper position within the test fixture so that the test probe is in alignment with the test probe alignment feature.
10. The method defined in claim 9 further comprising:
following adjustment of the test probe into alignment with the test probe alignment feature, securing the test probe to the test fixture such that the test probe does not move with respect to the test fixture using an attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of: welds, screws, clamps, levers, adhesive, and solder.

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 electrical device comprising:
a) a housing;
b) at least one button;
c) at least one support board having a frame;
d) at least one spring board formed as a leaf spring having a first free end and a second end formed integral with said support board; and
e) at least one light coupled to said at least one button;
wherein said at least one button is coupled to said at least one support board, and wherein said at least one button is biased in a first position by said at least one spring board.
2. The electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said housing is adapted to be installed in a single gang electrical wall box.
3. The electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one button has at least one hinge.
4. The electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said light further comprises at least one light pipe disposed in said housing and coupled to said button.
5. The electrical device as in claim 4, wherein said at least one button has at least one hole for allowing light from said at least one light pipe to flow therethrough.
6. The electrical device as in claim 5, further comprising a circuit board wherein said at least one support board has a plurality of legs for spacing said at least one support board away from said at least one circuit board.
7. The electrical device as in claim 6, further comprising at least one switch coupled to said at least one circuit board, wherein said at least one spring board further comprises at least one actuator element coupled to said at least one spring board, wherein said actuator element is for contacting an associated actuator section on said at least one switch.
8. The electrical device as in claim 7, further comprising at least one light emitter coupled to said circuit board, wherein said at least one light pipe is coupled to said at least one light emitter at a first end, and to said at least one button at a second end.
9. The electrical device as in claim 8, wherein said at least one light pipe comprises at least one shaft, and at least one head region, wherein said head region is coupled to said at least one button.
10. The electrical device as in claim 9, wherein said at least one head region comprises at least one actuator section which contacts said at least one spring board when said button is moved into an actuating position.
11. The electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one springboard is formed from a non-metallic material.
12. The electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one springboard comprises a spring section which is coupled to said support board at a first end, and a contact section which is coupled to said spring section.
13. The electrical device as in claim 12, wherein said at least one contact section has an end coupled to said spring section and an opposite free end, wherein said at least one contact section has at least one actuating element.
14. The electrical device as in claim 13, wherein said at least one actuating element is disposed adjacent to said free end of said contact section.
15. The electrical device as in claim 14, wherein said at least one spring board is adapted to allow said shaft of said at least one light pipe to pass therethrough.
16. The electrical device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one spring board has at least one hole for allowing said shaft of said at least one light pipe to pass therethrough.
17. The electrical device as in claim 16, wherein said at least one spring board comprises at least two spring boards, including a first spring board and a second spring board, wherein said at least two spring boards are disposed adjacent to said at least one button to bias said at least one button into a first position.
18. An electrical control device comprising:
a) a housing;
b) a plurality of switches coupled to said housing, wherein at least one switch of said plurality of switches is a rocker switch;
c) at least one support board disposed in said housing;
d) at least one spring board disposed in said housing and formed as a leaf spring having a first if free end and a second end formed integral with said at least one support board, wherein said at least one spring board is configured to support at least one of said plurality of rocker switches; and
e) at least one light coupled to said rocker switch.
19. The device as in claim 18, wherein said at least one light comprises a light pipe.
20. (canceled)
21. The device as in claim 18, wherein said at least one rocker switch is an on-off switch.
22. The device as in claim 18, wherein said at least one rocker switch varies an intensity of power distributed to a load coupled to said device.
23. The device as in claim 18, wherein said at least one rocker switch is coupled to a plurality of downstream loads.
24. The device as in claim 18, wherein said at least one rocker switch comprises a plurality of rocker switches, wherein each of said plurality of rocker switches is coupled to a different downstream load.
25. The device as in claim 1, wherein said second end of said at least one spring board comprises a curved section.
26. The electrical device as in claim 5, wherein said at least one support board has at least one opening and wherein said at least one spring board comprises at least two separate spring boards, coupled to said at least one support board and spaced apart from each other to form an opening which is adapted to allow said shaft of said at least one light pipe to pass therethrough.
27. An electrical device comprising:
a) a housing;
b) at least one button;
c) at least one support board having a frame and a plurality of legs;
d) at least one spring board formed integral with said support board;
e) at least one light coupled to said at least one button; and
f) at least one circuit board, wherein said plurality of legs on said at least one support board are configured for spacing said at least one support board away from said at least one circuit board;
wherein said at least one button is coupled to said at least one support board, and wherein said at least one button is biased in a first position by said at least one spring board.