Abstract:
Spinous process constraint structures include a first attachment element for placement over a first spinous process and a second attachment element for placement over a second spinous process. The attachment elements are joined by a single connector which may optionally include a compliance member for providing controlled elasticity between the spinous processes.
Abstract:
A system for restricting spinal flexion includes superior and inferior tether structures joined by a pair of compliance members. Compliance members comprise tension members which apply a relatively low elastic tension on the tether structures. By placing the tether structures on or over adjacent spinous processes, flexion of a spinal segment can be controlled in order to reduce pain.
Abstract:
A spinal implant for limiting flexion of the spine includes a tether structure for encircling adjacent spinal processes. Usually, a pair of compliance members will be provided as part of the tether structure for elastically limiting flexion while permitting an extension. A cross-member is provided between the compliance member or other portions of the tether structure to stabilize the tether structure and prevent misalignment after implantation.
Abstract:
An intelligent query system for processing voiced-based queries is disclosed, which uses a combination of both statistical and semantic based processing to identify the question posed by the user by understanding the meaning of the user's utterance. Based on identifying the meaning of the utterance, the system selects a single answer that best matches the user's query. The answer that is paired to this single question is then retrieved and presented to the user. The system, as implemented, accepts environmental variables selected by the user and is scalable to provide answers to a variety and quantity of user-initiated queries.
Abstract:
An intelligent query system for processing voiced-based queries is disclosed, which uses a combination of both statistical and semantic based processing to identify the question posed by the user by understanding the meaning of the user's utterance. Based on identifying the meaning of the utterance, the system selects a single answer that best matches the user's query. The answer that is paired to this single question is then retrieved and presented to the user. The system, as implemented, accepts environmental variables selected by the user and is scalable to provide answers to a variety and quantity of user-initiated queries.
Abstract:
Spinal implants for limiting flexion of the spine are implanted between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process or sacrum. The implants include upper straps which are placed over the upper spinous process, while the lower portions of the implant are attached to the adjacent vertebra or sacrum. The attachments may be fixed, for example using screws or other anchors, or may be non-fixed, for example by placing a loop strap through a hole in the spinous process or sacrum.
Abstract:
A prosody analyzer enhances the interpretation of natural language utterances. The analyzer is distributed over a client/server architecture, so that the scope of emotion recognition processing tasks can be allocated on a dynamic basis based on processing resources, channel conditions, client loads etc. The partially processed prosodic data can be sent separately or combined with other speech data from the client device and streamed to a server for a real-time response. Training of the prosody analyzer with real world expected responses improves emotion modeling and the real-time identification of potential features such as emphasis, intent, attitude and semantic meaning in the speaker's utterances.
Abstract:
A real-time speech recognition system includes distributed processing across a client and server for recognizing a spoken query by a user. Both the client and server can dedicate a variable number of processing resources for performing speech recognition functions. In some implementations the partitioning of responsibility for speech recognition operations can be done on a client by client or query by query basis.