An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The forceps also includes a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal. A generally tube-like cutter is included which is slidably engaged about the elongated shaft and which is selectively movable about the elongated shaft to engage and cut tissue on at least one side of the jaw members while the tissue is engaged between jaw members.

Vessel sealer and divider

A removable electrode assembly for use in combination with a forcep having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another. The electrode assembly includes a housing which is removably engageable with the forceps and a pair of electrodes which are attachable to a distal end of the housing. The electrodes are removably engageable with the end effectors of the forceps such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another. The electrode assembly also includes a cover plate which is removably attachable to the housing and at least one stop member (439) for controlling the distance between the opposing electrodes. The stop member is selectively engageable with the electrodes.

Vessel sealing forceps with disposable electrodes

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument has opposable seal surfaces on its jaws for grasping and sealing vessels and vascular tissue. Inner and outer instrument members allow arcuate motion of the seal surfaces. An open lockbox provides a pivot with lateral support to maintain alignment of the lateral surfaces. Ratchets on the instrument members hold a constant closure force on the tissue during the seal process. A shank portion on each member is tuned to provide an appropriate spring force to hold the seal surfaces together. During surgery, the instrument can be used to grasp and clamp vascular tissue and apply bipolar electrosurgical current through the clamped tissue. In one embodiment, the seal surfaces are partially insulated to prevent a short circuit when the instrument jaws are closed together. In another embodiment, the seal surfaces are removably mounted on the jaws.

Bipolar electrosurgical instrument for sealing vessels

A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy includes the steps of: providing a vessel sealing instrument having opposing jaw members which are movable relative to one another to compress tissue therebetween. The vessel sealing instrument includes at least one stop member affixed thereto for regulating the distance between the opposing jaw members. The method also includes the steps of: providing a biomaterial; positioning the biomaterial in abutting relation to tissue; approximating the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members; compressing the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members under a working pressure within the range of about 3 kg/cm 2 to about 16 kg/cm 2 ; and energizing the jaw members with radiofrequency energy to effectively fuse the biomaterial and the tissue such that the biomaterial and the tissue reform into a single, fused mass.

Method of fusing biomaterials with radiofrequency energy

Soon after the discovery of lasers in the 1960s it was realized that laser therapy had the potential to improve wound healing and reduce pain, inflammation and swelling. In recent years the field sometimes known as photobiomodulation has broadened to include light-emitting diodes and other light sources, and the range of wavelengths used now includes many in the red and near infrared. The term “low level laser therapy” or LLLT has become widely recognized and implies the existence of the biphasic dose response or the Arndt-Schulz curve. This review will cover the mechanisms of action of LLLT at a cellular and at a tissular level and will summarize the various light sources and principles of dosimetry that are employed in clinical practice. The range of diseases, injuries, and conditions that can be benefited by LLLT will be summarized with an emphasis on those that have reported randomized controlled clinical trials. Serious life-threatening diseases such as stroke, heart attack, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury may soon be amenable to LLLT therapy.

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The Nuts and Bolts of Low-level Laser (Light) Therapy

A display apparatus, includes a laser light source for emitting a light beam; a beam expander for expanding the light beam; a spatial light modulator; beam shaping optics for shaping the expanded laser beam to provide uniform illumination of the spatial light modulator, the beam shaping optics including a fly's eye integrator having an array of lenslets; and a moving diffuser located in the laser beam between the laser light source and the spatial light modulator.

Laser projection display system

The laser printer uses an array of laser diodes (11), a cross array of illuminating optical elements (21), a laser lens array (24), a light modulating array (40) and an integrator (23) that ensures that the modulator receives a uniform lighting effect. The cross array reduces the divergence of the laser diode emitters. The output is focussed by a printing lens onto the light sensitive medium.

Laser printer with array of laser diodes

A method and system for accumulating and using images of individuals, and associated image-derived data, on an continuous basis to create recognition models that facilitate ongoing recognition of individuals in images or photo collections.

Enabling persistent recognition of individuals in images

A tissue imaging system (200) for examining the medical condition of tissue (290) has an illumination optical system (205), which comprises a light source (220), having one or more light emitters, beam shaping optics, and polarizing optics. An optical beamsplitter (260) directs illumination light to an imaging sub-system, containing a spatial light modulator array (300). An objective lens (325) images illumination light from the spatial light modulator array to the tissue. An optical detection system (210) images the spatial light modulator to an optical detector array. A controller (360) drives the spatial light modulator to provide time variable arrangements of on-state pixels. The objective lens operates in a nominally telecentric manner relative to both the spatial light modulator and the tissue. The polarizing optics are independently and iteratively rotated to define variable polarization states relative to the tissue. The modulator pixels optically function like pinholes relative to the illumination light and the image light.

Tissue imaging system

A wire grid polarizer (300) for polarizing an incident light beam (130) comprises a substrate having a first surface. A grid or array of parallel, elongated, composite wires (310) is disposed on the first surface (307), and each of the adjacent wires are spaced apart on a grid period less than a wavelength of incident light. Each of the wires comprises an intra-wire substructure (315) of alternating elongated metal (330a-i) wires and elongated dielectric layers (350a-i).

Andrew F. Kurtz

Papers

Laser projection display system

Laser printer with array of laser diodes

Enabling persistent recognition of individuals in images

Tissue imaging system

Wire grid polarizer