All The Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cardiac assist device, comprising:
a primary device housing;
said primary device housing having a control circuit therein;
a shielding formed around said primary device housing to shield said primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference;
a lead system to transmit and receive signals between a selected cardiac tissue region and said primary device housing;
a switch to place the control circuitry into a fixed-rate mode of operation;
an acoustic sensor to sense a predetermined acoustic signal;
said switch placing the control circuitry into a fixed-rate mode of operation when said acoustic sensor senses the predetermined acoustic signal.
2. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shielding is a metallic sheath to shield said primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.
3. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shielding is a carbon composite sheath to shield said primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.
4. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shielding is a polymer composite sheath to shield said primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.
5. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lead system comprises a fiber optic based communication system.
6. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fiber optic communication system contains at least one channel within a multi-fiber optic bundle.
7. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lead system comprises a plurality of electrical leads.
8. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of electrical leads have a second shielding therearound, said second shielding preventing said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
9. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second shielding is a metallic sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
10. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second shielding is a carbon composite sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
11. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second shielding is a polymer composite sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
12. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each electrical lead includes an electrical filter, said electrical filter removing stray electromagnetic interference from a signal being received from said electrical lead.
13. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said plurality of electrical leads have a second shielding therearound, said second shielding preventing said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
14. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second shielding is a carbon composite sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
15. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second shielding is a polymer composite sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
16. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shielding is covered with a biocompatible material.
17. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fiber optic based communication system is covered with a biocompatible material.
18. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said multi-fiber optic bundle is covered with a biocompatible material.
19. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary device housing includes a microprocessor integrated circuit for controlling the operations of the cardiac assist device.
20. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a battery power source and a battery power source measuring circuit;
said microprocessor integrated circuit automatically adjusting a value for determining an elective replacement indication condition of a battery power source such that the value is automatically adjusted by said microprocessor integrated circuit in response to a measured level of a state of said battery power source, the measured level generated by said battery power source measuring circuit connected to said battery power source.
21. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit isolates physiological signals using a noise filtering circuit.
22. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit isolates physiological signals using digital noise filtering.
23. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit is programmable from a source external of the cardiac assist device.
24. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit provides physiological diagnostics to a source external of the cardiac assist device.
25. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit provides circuit diagnostics to a source external of the cardiac assist device.
26. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit is programmable from a source external of the cardiac assist device and provides circuit diagnostics to a source external of the cardiac assist device.
27. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said leads system is a combination of a fiber optic based communication system and electrical leads.
28. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 27, wherein said fiber optic communication system contains at least one channel within a multi-fiber optic bundle.
29. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lead system includes a sensing and stimulation system at an interface with the selected cardiac tissue region.
30. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the selected cardiac tissue region.
31. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region and electrical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the selected cardiac tissue region.
32. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes electrical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the selected cardiac tissue region.
33. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region.
34. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region.
35. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region and electrical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region.
36. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region and electrical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region.
37. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lead system is a photonic lead system to transmit between said primary device housing and the selected cardiac tissue region, both power and control signals in the form of light, and further comprising:
a photoresponsive device to convert the light transmitted by said photonic lead system into electrical energy and to sense variations in the light energy to produce control signals;
a charge accumulating device to receive and store the electrical energy produced by said photoresponsive device; and
a discharge control device, responsive to the control signals, to direct the stored electrical energy from said charge accumulating device to the selected cardiac tissue region.
38. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a detection circuit to detect a phase timing of an external electromagnetic field;
said control circuit altering its operations to avoid interfering with the detected external electromagnetic field.
39. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said photoresponsive device is a small surface area photodiode and a large surface area photodiode, said small surface area photodiode sensing variations in the light energy to produce control signals, said large surface area photodiode converting the light transmitted by said photonic lead system into electrical energy.
40. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said photoresponsive device is an array of photodiodes having a first section of photodiodes and a second section of photodiodes, said first section of photodiodes sensing variations in the light energy to produce control signals, said second section of photodiodes converting the light transmitted by said photonic lead system into electrical energy.
41. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said photoresponsive device includes a charge transfer control circuit and a photodiode, said charge transfer control circuit controlling a discharging of a photodiode capacitance in two separate discharge periods during an integration period of the photodiode such that a first discharge period of the photodiode capacitance provides the sensing of variations in the light energy to produce control signals and a second discharge period of the photodiode capacitance provides the converting the light transmitted by said photonic lead system into electrical energy.
42. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the first discharge period is completed before the second discharge period.
43. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the first discharge period is a shorter time duration that the time duration of the second discharge period.
44. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the integration period corresponds to the sampling period of the light to derive control data.
45. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 41, wherein during the first discharge period, a control signal sensing circuit is connected to said photodiode, and during the second discharge period, said charge accumulating device is connected to said photodiode.
49. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said charge accumulating device is a capacitor.
50. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said charge accumulating device is a rechargeable battery.
51. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said discharge control device is a controllable switch.
52. A cardiac assist system, comprising:
a primary device housing;
said primary device housing having a control circuit therein;
a shielding formed around said primary device housing to shield said primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference;
a lead system to transmit and receive signals between a selected cardiac tissue region and said primary device housing;
a switch to place the control circuitry into a fixed-rate mode of operation;
a near infrared sensor to sense a predetermined near infrared signal;
said switch placing the control circuitry into a fixed-rate mode of operation when said near infrared sensor senses the predetermined near infrared signal.
53. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said shielding is a metallic sheath to shield said primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.
54. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said shielding is a carbon composite sheath to shield said primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.
55. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said shielding is a polymer composite sheath to shield said primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.
56. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said lead system comprises a fiber optic based communication system.
57. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 56, wherein said fiber optic communication system contains at least one channel within a multi-fiber optic bundle.
58. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said lead system comprises a plurality of electrical leads.
59. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 58, wherein said plurality of electrical leads have a second shielding therearound, said second shielding preventing said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
60. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 59, wherein said second shielding is a metallic sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
61. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 59, wherein said second shielding is a carbon composite sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
62. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 59, wherein said second shielding is a polymer composite sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
63. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 58, wherein each electrical lead includes an electrical filter, said electrical filter removing stray electromagnetic interference from a signal being received from said electrical lead.
64. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 63, wherein said plurality of electrical leads have a second shielding therearound, said second shielding preventing said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
65. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 64, wherein said second shielding is a carbon composite sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
66. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 64, wherein said second shielding is a polymer composite sheath to prevent said electrical leads from conducting stray electromagnetic interference.
67. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said shielding is covered with a biocompatible material.
68. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 56, wherein said fiber optic based communication system is covered with a biocompatible material.
69. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 57, wherein said multi-fiber optic bundle is covered with a biocompatible material.
70. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said primary device housing includes a microprocessor integrated circuit for controlling the operations of the cardiac assist device.
71. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 70, further comprising a battery power source and a battery power source measuring circuit;
said microprocessor integrated circuit automatically adjusting a value for determining an elective replacement indication condition of a battery power source such that the value is automatically adjusted by said microprocessor integrated circuit in response to a measured level of a state of said battery power source, the measured level generated by said battery power source measuring circuit connected to said battery power source.
72. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit isolates physiological signals using a noise filtering circuit.
73. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit isolates physiological signals using digital noise filtering.
74. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit is programmable from a source external of the cardiac assist device.
75. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit provides physiological diagnostics to a source external of the cardiac assist device.
76. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit provides circuit diagnostics to a source external of the cardiac assist device.
77. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said microprocessor integrated circuit is programmable from a source external of the cardiac assist device and provides circuit diagnostics to a source external of the cardiac assist device.
78. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said leads system is a combination of a fiber optic based communication system and electrical leads.
79. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 78, wherein said fiber optic communication system contains at least one channel within a multi-fiber optic bundle.
80. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said lead system includes a sensing and stimulation system at an epicardial-lead interface with the selected cardiac tissue region.
81. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 78, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the selected cardiac tissue region.
82. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 80, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region and electrical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the selected cardiac tissue region.
83. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 80, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes electrical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the selected cardiac tissue region.
84. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 80, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region.
85. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 81, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region.
86. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 80, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region and electrical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region.
87. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 81, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region and electrical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected cardiac tissue region.
88. The cardiac assist device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said lead system is a photonic lead system to transmit between said primary device housing and the selected cardiac tissue region, both power and control signals in the form of light, and further comprising:
a photoresponsive device to convert the light transmitted by said photonic lead system into electrical energy and to sense variations in the light energy to produce control signals;
a charge accumulating device to receive and store the electrical energy produced by said photoresponsive device; and
a discharge control device, responsive to the control signals, to direct the stored electrical energy from said charge accumulating device to the selected cardiac tissue region.
89. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 52, further comprising:
a detection circuit to detect a phase timing of an external electromagnetic field;
said control circuit altering its operations to avoid interfering with the detected external electromagnetic field.
90. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 88, wherein said photoresponsive device is a small surface area photodiode and a large surface area photodiode, said small surface area photodiode sensing variations in the light energy to produce control signals, said large surface area photodiode converting the light transmitted by said photonic lead system into electrical energy.
91. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 88, wherein said photoresponsive device is an array of photodiodes having a first section of photodiodes and a second section of photodiodes, said first section of photodiodes sensing variations in the light energy to produce control signals, said second section of photodiodes converting the light transmitted by said photonic lead system into electrical energy.
92. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 88, wherein said photoresponsive device includes a charge transfer control circuit and a photodiode, said charge transfer control circuit controlling a discharging of a photodiode capacitance in two separate discharge periods during an integration period of the photodiode such that a first discharge period of the photodiode capacitance provides the sensing of variations in the light energy to produce control signals and a second discharge period of the photodiode capacitance provides the converting the light transmitted by said photonic lead system into electrical energy.
93. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 92, wherein the first discharge period is completed before the second discharge period.
94. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 92, wherein the first discharge period is a shorter time duration that the time duration of the second discharge period.
95. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 92, wherein the integration period corresponds to the sampling period of the light to derive control data.
96. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 92, wherein during the first discharge period, a control signal sensing circuit is connected to said photodiode, and during the second discharge period, said charge accumulating device is connected to said photodiode.
97. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 88, wherein said charge accumulating device is a capacitor.
98. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 88, wherein said charge accumulating device is a rechargeable battery.
99. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 88, wherein said discharge control device is a controllable switch.
100. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch is a reed switch.
101. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch is a solid-state switch.
102. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 52, wherein said switch is a reed switch.
103. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 52, wherein said switch is a solid-state switch.

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 designing an experiment comprising:
selecting a plurality of physical model parameters;
selecting candidate physical observations of interest;
calculating a sensitivity matrix for the physical model parameters and candidate observations;
utilizing the sensitivity matrix and prior information descriptive of at least some of the physical model parameters to calculate a set of physical observations from the candidate physical observations of interest that best resolve the physical model parameters; and
outputting the calculated set of physical observations in tangible form.
2. The method of claim 1 including the step of configuring survey equipment based on the outputted set of physical observations.
3. The method of claim 1 including the step of assigning the physical model parameters to a probability density function.
4. The method of claim 1 including the step of also utilizing observation noise to calculate the set of physical observations that best resolve the physical model parameters.
5. The method of claim 4 including the step of characterizing the prior information and observation noise in the form of: a prior mean model; a prior covariance matrix describing the uncertainty around the prior mean model; and a covariance matrix describing uncertainty around anticipated zero-mean observation noise.
6. The method of claim 1 including, where each observation may be associated with multiple measurements, processing k measurements at a time for an observation with k associated measurements.
7. Apparatus for characterizing a subterranean formation comprising:
at least one sensor for obtaining physical observations which characterize the formation;
a memory including prior information descriptive of at least some physical model parameters; and
a processor which runs a program to:
calculate a sensitivity matrix for selected physical model parameters and candidate observations; and
utilize the sensitivity matrix and prior information descriptive of at least some of the physical model parameters to calculate a set of physical observations from the candidate physical observations of interest that best resolve the physical model parameters; and

the calculated set of physical observations being utilized to configure the at least one sensor.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the processor is further operative to configure the at least one sensor based on the outputted set of physical observations.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the processor is further operative to assign the physical model parameters to a probability density function.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the processor is further operative to also utilize observation noise to calculate the set of physical observations that best resolve the physical model parameters.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the processor is further operative to characterize the prior information and observation noise in the form of: a prior mean model; a prior covariance matrix describing the uncertainty around the prior mean model; and a covariance matrix describing uncertainty around anticipated zero-mean observation noise.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the processor is further operative to, where each observation may be associated with multiple measurements, process k measurements at a time for an observation with k associated measurements.

1. An interarticulating staple for clamping one of a thoraciclumbar Spinous Process (SP), a thoraciclumbar Transverse Process (TP), and cervical Spinous Process (SP), the interarticulating staple comprising:
a first claw having a first clamping surface;
a second claw having a second clamping surface;
a staple pin pivotally connecting the first claw and the second claw;
a ratchet mechanism that limits an opening force of the first claw with respect to the second claw;
a first hemi-spacer on the first clamping surface of the first claw; and
a second hemi-spacer on the second clamping surface of the second claw and opposed to the first hemi-spacer when the first claw and the second claw are in a closed position.
2. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises:
a ratchet pin pivotably mounted to the first claw,
wherein the second claw includes a plurality of ratchet teeth, and
wherein the ratchet pin includes a flexure spring engaging the plurality of ratchet teeth.
3. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises:
a ratchet pin pivotably mounted to the second claw,
wherein the first claw includes a plurality of ratchet teeth, and
wherein the ratchet pin includes a flexure spring engaging the plurality of ratchet teeth.
4. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping surface includes a plurality of ridges.
5. The staple according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of ridges are formed on the first clamping surface on opposite sides of the first hemi-spacer.
6. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the second clamping surface includes a plurality of ridges.
7. The staple according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of ridges are formed on the second clamping surface on opposite sides of the second hemi-spacer.
8. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping surface includes a plurality of prongs.
9. The staple according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of prongs are formed on the first clamping surface on opposite sides of the first hemi-spacer.
10. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the second clamping surface includes a plurality of prongs.
11. The staple according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of prongs are formed on the second clamping surface on opposite sides of the second hemi-spacer.
12. The staple according to claim 8, wherein the first hemi-spacer is positioned in between the plurality of prongs.
13. The staple according to claim 10, wherein the second hemi-spacer is positioned in between the plurality of prongs.
14. The staple according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of prongs on the first claw are separated into a first group of prongs and a second group of prongs, and
wherein the first group of prongs is separated from the second group of prongs by a distance approximately equal to an inter-spinous process distance.
15. The staple according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of prongs on the second claw are separated into a first group of prongs and a second group of prongs, and
wherein the first group of prongs is separated from the second group of prongs by a distance approximately equal to an inter-spinous process distance.
16. The staple according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of prongs on the first claw are separated into a first group of prongs and a second group of prongs, and
wherein the first group of prongs is separated from the second group of prongs by a distance approximately equal to an inter-spinous process distance.
17. The staple according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of prongs on the second claw are separated into a first group of prongs and a second group of prongs, and
wherein the first group of prongs is separated from the second group of prongs by a distance approximately equal to an inter-spinous process distance.
18. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the first hemi-spacer is secured to the first claw with a screw.
19. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the second hemi-spacer is secured to the second claw with a screw.
20. The staple according to claim 18, wherein the first hemi-spacer includes a screw insert that receives the screw.
21. The staple according to claim 19, wherein the second hemi-spacer includes a screw insert that receives the screw.
22. The staple according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of prongs on the first claw are separated into a first group of prongs and a second group of prongs, and
wherein the first group of prongs is separated from the second group of prongs by a distance approximately equal to an inter-lumbar transverse process distance.
23. The staple according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of prongs on the second claw are separated into a first group of prongs and a second group of prongs, and
wherein the first group of prongs is separated from the second group of prongs by a distance approximately equal to an inter-lumbar transverse process distance.
24. The staple according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of prongs on the first claw are separated into a first group of prongs and a second group of prongs, and
wherein the first group of prongs is separated from the second group of prongs by a distance approximately equal to an inter-lumbar transverse process distance.
25. The staple according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of prongs on the second claw are separated into a first group of prongs and a second group of prongs, and
wherein the first group of prongs is separated from the second group of prongs by a distance approximately equal to an inter-lumbar transverse process distance.
26. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the first hemi-spacer interlocks with the second hemi-spacer.
27. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the first hemi-spacer includes an interlocking protrusion.
28. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the first hemi-spacer includes a plurality of interlocking protrusions.
29. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the first hemi-spacer includes an interlocking receptacle.
30. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the first hemi-spacer includes a plurality of interlocking receptacles.
31. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the second hemi-spacer includes an interlocking protrusion.
32. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the second hemi-spacer includes a plurality of interlocking protrusions.
33. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the second hemi-spacer includes an interlocking receptacle.
34. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the second hemi-spacer includes a plurality of interlocking receptacles.
35. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the first hemi-spacer includes an interlocking protrusion and an interlocking receptacle.
36. The staple according to claim 26, wherein the second hemi-spacer includes an interlocking protrusion and an interlocking receptacle.
37. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the first hemi-spacer includes an interlocking protrusion and an interlocking receptacle,
wherein the second hemi-spacer includes an interlocking protrusion and an interlocking receptacle,
wherein the interlocking protrusion of the first hemi-spacer engages the interlocking receptacle of the second hemi-spacer when the first claw and the second claw are in a closed position, and
wherein the interlocking protrusion of the second hemi-spacer engages the interlocking receptacle of the first hemi-spacer when the first claw and the second claw are in a closed position.
38. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking protrusion of the first hemi-spacer has a tapered surface, and
wherein the interlocking receptacle of the second hemi-spacer has a corresponding tapered surface.
39. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking protrusion of the second hemi-spacer has a tapered surface, and
wherein the interlocking receptacle of the first hemi-spacer has a corresponding tapered surface.
40. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the first hemi-spacer is a rectangularly-shaped hemi-spacer.
41. The staple according to claim 1, wherein the second hemi-spacer is a rectangularly-shaped hemi-spacer.
42. The staple according to claim 1, wherein a length of the first hemi-spacer is approximately equal to an inter-spinous process distance.
43. The staple according to claim 1, wherein a length of the second hemi-spacer is approximately equal to an inter-spinous process distance.
44. The staple according to claim 1, wherein a length of the first hemi-spacer is approximately equal to an inter-lumbar transverse process distance.
45. The staple according to claim 1, wherein a length of the second hemi-spacer is approximately equal to an inter-lumbar transverse process distance.
46. The staple according to claim 1, wherein each of the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface has a convex surface.
47. The staple according to claim 1, wherein each of the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface has a concave surface.
48. An interarticulating staple for clamping one of a thoraciclumbar Spinous Process (SP), a thoraciclumbar Transverse Process (TP), and cervical Spinous Process (SP), the interarticulating staple comprising:
a first claw having a first clamping surface;
a second claw having a second clamping surface;
a staple pin pivotally connecting the first claw and the second claw;
ratchet means for limiting an opening force of the first claw with respect to the second claw; and
spacer means for providing one of adjacent spinous process separation and distraction.
49. An interarticulating staple for clamping one of a thoraciclumbar Spinous Process (SP), a thoraciclumbar Transverse Process (TP), and cervical Spinous Process (SP), the interarticulating staple comprising:
first claw means pivotally connected to second claw means; and
ratchet means for limiting an opening force of the first claw means with respect to the second claw means and fixing a position of the first claw means with respect the second claw means; and
spacer means on at least one of the first claw means and the second claw means, the spacer means for providing one of adjacent spinous process separation and distraction.
50. An interarticulating staple for clamping one of a thoraciclumbar Spinous Process (SP), a thoraciclumbar Transverse Process (TP), and cervical Spinous Process (SP), the interarticulating staple comprising:
a first claw having a first clamping surface and a second claw having a second clamping surface, wherein the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface cooperate to clamp a pair of adjacent spinous processes;
a staple pin pivotally connecting the first claw and the second claw;
a ratchet mechanism that limits an opening force of the first claw with respect to the second claw;
a first hemi-spacer on the first clamping surface of the first claw; and
a second hemi-spacer on the second clamping surface of the second claw and opposed to the first hemi-spacer when the first claw and the second claw are in a closed position, wherein the first hemi-spacer and the second hemi-spacer cooperate to interpose and distract the pair of adjacent spinous processes when the first claw and the second claw are clamped on the pair of adjacent spinous processes in the closed position.
51. A method of clamping one of a thoraciclumbar Spinous Process (SP), a thoraciclumbar Transverse Process (TP), and cervical Spinous Process (SP), the method comprising:
positioning an interarticulating staple on a pair of adjacent spinous processes, wherein the interarticulating staple comprises:
a first claw having a first clamping surface and a second claw having a second clamping surface, wherein the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface cooperate to clamp the pair of adjacent spinous processes;
a staple pin pivotally connecting the first claw and the second claw;
a ratchet mechanism that limits an opening force of the first claw with respect to the second claw;
a first hemi-spacer on the first clamping surface of the first claw; and
a second hemi-spacer on the second clamping surface of the second claw and opposed to the first hemi-spacer when the first claw and the second claw are in a closed position, wherein the first hemi-spacer and the second hemi-spacer cooperate to interpose and distract the pair of adjacent spinous processes when the first claw and the second claw are clamped on the pair of adjacent spinous processes in the closed position; and

securing the interarticulating staple to the pair of adjacent spinous processes by clamping the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface to the pair of adjacent spinous processes such that the first hemi-spacer and the second hemi-spacer interpose and distract the pair of adjacent spinous processes when the first claw and the second claw are clamped on the pair of adjacent spinous processes in the closed position.

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 motion compensating apparatus comprising:
motion compensation processing means for receiving as inputs thereof an input image and a reference image to output a motion vector between the input image and the reference image, and an estimated image which is extracted in accordance with the reference image;
first luminancecolor difference separating means for separating an input image luminance signal and an input image color difference signal from the input image;
second luminancecolor difference separating means for separating an estimated image luminance signal and an estimated image color difference signal from the estimated image;
a first substracter for obtaining a difference between the input image color difference signal from said first luminancecolor difference separating means and the estimated image color difference signal from said second luminancecolor difference separating means;
a second substracter for obtaining a difference between the input image luminance signal from said first luminancecolor difference separating means and the estimated image luminance signal from said second luminancecolor difference separating means;
color difference evaluation value producing means for producing a color difference evaluation value on the basis of the output from said first subtracter;
luminance evaluation value producing means for producing a luminance evaluation value on the basis of the output from said second subtracter;
evaluation value calculating means for calculating an evaluation value for determination of an optimal vector on the basis of the color difference evaluation value from said color difference value producing means and the luminance evaluation value from said luminance evaluation value producing means; and
vector determining means for receiving as inputs thereof the motion vector and the evaluation value for determination of an optimal vector to output as an optimal vector the motion vector, in which the evaluation value for determination of an optimal vector is minimum, out of a plurality of motion vectors which can be selected.
2. The motion compensating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation value calculating means comprises an adder for adding the color difference evaluation value from said color difference evaluation value producing means and the luminance evaluation value from said luminance evaluation value producing means to each other to obtain a total evaluation value, and wherein said vector determining means receives as inputs thereof said motion vector and a total addition value as the total evaluation value to output as an optimal vector the motion vector, in which said total evaluation value is minimum, out of a plurality of motion vectors which can be selected.