All The Claims

1. An assembly for maxillary osteosynthesis of a jaw comprising:
at least two osteosynthesis plates, each osteosynthesis plate comprising a first portion configured to be fixed to an upper bone part of a maxilla and a second portion configured to be fixed to a lower bone part of the maxilla, wherein the second portion of each osteosynthesis plate is immovably coupled to and offset from the respective first portion by a substantially orthogonal transition portion along an occlusal plane so as to modify an occlusional relationship between the maxilla and a mandible, the first portion and the second portion being configured to be located at opposing sides of at least one bone cut when the osteosynthesis plates are fixed to the maxilla,
wherein each osteosynthesis plate has a pre-configured curvature in three dimensions based on a position that the plate will occupy when fixed to the upper and lower bone parts of the maxilla, the curvature being customized based on a future desired anatomy of the maxilla; and
a connecting part connecting the osteosynthesis plates, the connecting part having a pre-configured shape defining at least two positions that the osteosynthesis plates will respectively occupy when fixed to the upper and lower bone parts of the maxilla, the shape being customized based on an anatomy of the maxilla.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second portions of each osteosynthesis plate comprises at least one aperture for fixing the portion to a respective bone part.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connecting part comprises a reference portion for orientating the assembly with respect to at least one of the upper and lower bone parts.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shape of the connecting part comprises a configuration of one or more of curved and rectilinear parts.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connecting part comprises zones of reduced resistance for use in removing the connecting part.
6. An assembly for maxillary osteosynthesis comprising:
at least two osteosynthesis plates,
each osteosynthesis plate having a pre-configured curvature which is customized based on a future desired anatomy of a patient’s maxilla; and

a connecting part connecting the osteosynthesis plates, the connecting part having a pre-configured shape defining at least two positions that the osteosynthesis plates will respectively occupy when fixed to one or more bone parts, the shape being customized based on an anatomy of the patient’s maxilla,
wherein the connecting part is coupled to each osteosynthesis plate between a first portion and a second portion of each osteosynthesis plate,
the first portion and the second portion being configured to be located opposing sides of at least one bone cut when the osteosynthesis plates are fixed to the maxilla,
wherein the first portion is configured to be fixed to an upper bone part of the maxilla and the second portion is configured to be fixed to a lower bone part of the maxilla,
wherein the second portion of each osteosynthesis plate is immovably coupled to and offset from the respective first portion by a substantially orthogonal transition portion along an occlusal plane so as to modify an occlusional relationship between the maxilla and a mandible, and
wherein the connecting part comprises zones of reduced resistance for use in removing the connecting part.
7. A method of manufacturing an assembly for maxillary osteosynthesis comprising:
accessing data indicative of a future desired anatomy of a patient’s maxilla; and
manufacturing an assembly for osteosynthesis comprising at least two osteosynthesis plates and a connecting part, each osteosynthesis plate comprising a first portion configured to be fixed to an upper bone part of the maxilla and a second portion configured to be fixed to a lower bone part of the maxilla, wherein the second portion of each osteosynthesis plate is immovably coupled to and offset from the respective first portion by a substantially orthogonal transition portion along an occlusal plane so as to modify an occlusional relationship between the maxilla and a mandible, the first portion and the second portion being configured to be located at opposing sides of at least one bone cut when the osteosynthesis plates are fixed to the maxilla,
wherein the manufacturing comprises:
defining a curvature of each osteosynthesis plate in three dimensions based on a position that the plate will occupy when fixed to the upper and lower bone parts of the maxilla, the curvature being customized on the basis of the accessed data, and
defining a connecting part for connecting together the osteosynthesis plates, the connecting part having a shape defining at least two positions that the osteosynthesis plates will respectively occupy when fixed to the upper and lower bone parts of the maxilla, the shape being customized on the basis of the accessed data, and
manufacturing the assembly such that the osteosynthesis plates exhibit the shape.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second portions of each osteosynthesis plate comprises at least one aperture for fixing the portion to a respective bone part.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the connecting part comprises a reference portion for orientating the assembly with respect to at least one of the upper and lower bone parts.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the shape of the connecting part comprises a configuration of one or more of curved and rectilinear parts.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the connecting part comprises zones of reduced resistance for use in removing the connecting part.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the data indicative of a future desired anatomy of a patient’s maxilla is generated based on data from a scanner or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
13. The method of claim 7, wherein the data indicative of a future desired anatomy of a patient’s maxilla is generated based on data from a simulated operation on the patient.
14. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining one or more reference portion positions based on data from a scanner or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

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 seismic sensor, comprising:
a seismic energy detector having a case configured to be affixed to the ground, a portion of the case being configured to be exposed above the ground surface; and
an energy distributing shield formed from a material configured to dampen impact noise from rain affixed directly to the exposed portion of the case.
2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the shield is formed from foam.
3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the shield is formed from open cell foam.
4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the shield is formed from reticulated open cell foam
5. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the shield if formed from foamed urethane.
6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the shield is molded to conform to a shape of the exposed portion.
7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises a geophone.
8. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises an accelerometer.
9. A method for seismic data acquisition, comprising:
affixing a plurality of spaced apart seismic sensors to the ground surface, each of the seismic sensors including a shield formed from a material configured to dampen impact noise from rain affixed directly to an exposed portion of the seismic sensors, the shield made from an energy distributing material;
at selected times actuating a seismic energy source proximate the seismic sensors; and
individually recording signals generated by each of the seismic sensors.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the shield is formed from foam.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the shield is formed from open cell foam.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the shield is formed from reticulated open cell foam.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the shield is formed from urethane foam.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein the shield is molded to conform to a shape of the exposed portion.
15. The method of claim 9 wherein the seismic sensors comprise geophones.
16. The method of claim 9 wherein the seismic sensors comprise accelerometers.

1. A search device that performs a search process by using, as a search key, an input character string including ambiguity, to acquire a search text, said search device comprising:
a word dictionary to store word character string data about each of words into which said search text is divided;
a similar word candidate acquirer including a word dictionary searcher to perform a comparison between said input character string and word character string data stored in said word dictionary, and search for word character string data similar to said input character string to acquire, as similar word candidates, the word character string data which have been searched for, and a number-of-similar-word-candidates controller to select similar word candidates from the similar word candidates acquired by said word dictionary searcher according to a preset threshold;
a similar word selector to calculate an edit distance between each of the similar word candidates selected by said number-of-similar-word-candidates controller and said input character string, and select, as a similar word, a similar word candidate whose calculated edit distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance;
a search index data storage to store said search text; and
a text searcher to refer to said search index data storage to search for a search text including the similar word selected by said similar word selector,
wherein said similar word candidate acquirer includes a number-of-input-characters determinator to determine whether a number of characters of said input character string is large or small, and calculate said threshold according to a result of the determination.
2. (canceled)
3. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said similar word candidate acquirer includes a number-of-input-words determinator to, when said input character string consists of a plurality of words, determine whether a number of words of said input character string is large or small, and calculate said threshold according to a result of the determination.
4. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said similar word candidate acquirer includes a specific character string determinator to determine whether said input character string matches a specific character string which is preset, and acquire said threshold corresponding to a result of the determination.
5. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said similar word candidate acquirer includes an arithmetic load determinator to acquire an arithmetic load on said search device, determine whether said arithmetic load is high or low, and calculate said threshold according to a result of the determination.
6. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said search device includes a similar character string weight table to define combinations of similar character strings, and said similar word candidate acquirer includes a similar character string expander to refer to said similar character string weight table to expand said input character string to similar character strings, and wherein said word dictionary searcher performs a comparison between said input character string and the similar character strings after the expansion by said similar character string expander, and the word character string data stored in said word dictionary, and searches for word character string data similar to said input character string and said similar character strings after the expansion, to acquire the word character string data as said similar word candidates.
7. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said search device includes a similar word integrator to compare each of similar words selected by said similar word selector with said input character string, search through said similar words for a plurality of similar words each of whose leading character string matches said input character string, and integrate the plurality of similar words which said similar word integrator has searched for into a similar word, and wherein said text searcher refers to said search index data storage, and searches for a search text including the similar word after the integration by said similar word integrator.
8. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said search device includes:
an input character string divider to, when said input character string consists of a plurality of words, generate an after-division input character string in which said input character string is divided on a per word basis;
a number-of-yet-to-be-processed-words determinator to determine whether processes of said similar word candidate acquirer, said similar word selector, and said text searcher are performed on all character strings of said after-division input character string on a basis of a search text which said text searcher has searched for; and
a search result integrator to, when said number-of-yet-to-be-processed-words determinator determines that said processes have been performed on all the character strings of said after-division input character string, integrate search texts which said text searcher has searched for.

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 article comprising:
a. a flexible container defining a cavity, said flexible container including a translucent material; and
b. particulate material arranged with said cavity, said particulate material having a plurality of colors such that said flexible container displays a desired design and has a desired three-dimensional size and shape.
2. The article of claim 1 wherein said plurality of particulate material comprises at least a first sand having a first color and a second sand having a second color.
3. The article of claim 1 further comprising sponge material arranged within the cavity of said flexible container, said sponge material being at least partially covered by said particulate materials.
4. The article of claim 1 further comprising a pliable solid material arranged within the cavity of said flexible container, said pliable material being at least partially covered by said granular materials.
5. The article of claim 4 wherein said pliable material comprises a clay-like material.
6. The article of claim 4 wherein said pliable material comprises at least one elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure.
7. The article of claim 1 wherein the cavity of the flexible container has a first section and at least one second section, said first section having a larger volume than said at least one second section.
8. The article of claim 1 comprising a base attached to said flexible container, said base being sized and shaped to support said flexible container and said materials therein when placed on a surface.
9. An article comprising:
a. a generally translucent flexible container having a predetermined size and shape, and defining a cavity, said flexible container member having at least one sealable opening in communication with the cavity; and
b. a plurality of fill materials placed within said cavity such that said flexible member contains a three-dimensional size and shape, one of said fill materials having a first color and at least one of the other fill materials having a second color whereby a multi-color design is visible through said translucent flexible member.
10. The article of claim 9 wherein said flexible container comprises a resilient material.
11. The article of claim 10 wherein said resilient material comprises a natural or synthetic polymer.
12. The article of claim 9 wherein said flexible container has an exterior surface, and a pattern, design or indicia formed on said exterior surface.
13. The article of claim 9 wherein the cavity of said flexible container has a first section and at least one second section, said first section having a larger volume than said at least one second section.
14. The article of claim 9 wherein at least one of said various types of fill materials comprises particulate material and at least another of said various types of fill materials comprises a pliable solid material.
15. The article of claim 13 wherein at least one of said various types of fill materials comprises particulate materials, and at least another of said various types of fill materials comprises a sponge material arranged within said first section of said cavity, and said particulate material is arranged within said first and second sections.
16. The article of claim 15 wherein another of said various types of fill materials comprises a solid pliable material, said particulate material surrounding at least a portion of said pliable material within the cavity.
17. The article of claim 13 wherein said generally transparent flexible member comprises the shape of a hand, said first section comprising a main area within said hand shape and said at least one second section comprising a plurality of finger areas within said hand shape.
18. A method of creating a particulate-filled article, said method comprising:
a. providing a translucent flexible container defining a cavity therein and having a sealable opening in communication with the cavity;
b. placing particulate material having a first color through the sealable opening until the desired amount of the particulate material is arranged within the cavity;
c. placing a particulate material having a second color through the sealable opening whereby the first and second colors are visible within the translucent container; and
d. sealing the opening to prevent the particulate material from flowing out of the container.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising placing a desired amount of particulate material having a third color through the container opening prior to sealing the opening.
20. The method of claim 18 further comprising sealing the opening by placing an object therein.
21. The method of claim 20 further comprising stretching the opening of said flexible container and placing the object therein having a dimension larger than the dimension of the opening prior to placement of the object therein.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the object placed within the opening forms a substantially stable base and said particulate-filled article can rest in a stable position on the base.
23. The method of claim 18 further comprising placement of a pliable solid material within the opening, said particulate material covering at least a portion of said pliable material within the cavity of the flexible container.
24. The method of claim 18 further comprising placement of a sponge material within the opening, said particulate material covering at least a portion of said sponge material within the cavity of the flexible container.
25. The method of claim 18 further comprising placement of an elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure within the opening, said particulate material covering at least a portion of said elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure within the cavity of the flexible container.
26. The method of claim 23 further comprising placing sponge material through the opening along with the first and second colored particulate material and the pliable material whereby the first and second colored particulate material covers at least a portion of the pliable material and the sponge material.
27. The method of claim 26 further comprising placing an elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure and at least partially covering the elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure with the particulate material of the first or second colors.