Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat. Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.

Devices, systems and methods useable for treating sinusitis

An exposure apparatus includes a plurality of projection optical systems, each of which has optical elements arranged in an optical path between a first surface and a second surface and forms a radiation pattern from the first surface onto an exposure field on the second surface via the optical elements. The apparatus also includes a movable portion disposed in the side of the second surface with respect to the plurality of projection optical systems, which holds an object to be moved relative to the exposure field in a first direction during a scanning exposure of the object with the radiation patterns. Each of the plurality of projection optical systems is telecentric on the side of the second surface, and the exposure fields are arranged at different positions in a second direction crossing the first direction.

Exposure apparatus, optical projection apparatus and a method for adjusting the optical projection apparatus

Optical device for transmitting an image wherein a number of optical fibers are disposed in such a manner that they are arranged neatly in the same relative position among them, at least, both ends thereof, each of said fibers having such a refractive index distribution as to substantially satisfy the equation n = N (1 - ar2) IN A CROSS SECTION THEREOF, WHERE N is a refractive index at a center, n is a refractive index at a distance r from the center, and a is a positive constant, whereby light due to an object placed at one end of said fibers forms an image of the object at the other end thereof.

Image transmitter formed of a plurality of graded index fibers in bundled configuration

An electron-beam resist is applied over a substrate so as to have a thickness larger than the maximum thickness of a micro aspherical lens to be fabricated, a predetermined pattern is written on this resist by electron-beam lithography and then, the resist is developed, thereby to fabricate a micro aspherical lens or the prototype thereof. Consequently, a micro aspherical lens causing little on-axis aberration and chromatic aberration and having a diameter of 1 millimeter or less can be achieved with high precision. In addition, the micro aspherical lens can be produced in large quantity because the reproduction thereof is relatively easy. Furthermore, an optical fiber coupling device, a focusing optical system, an optical device, a semiconductor laser light source, an image device or the like can be constructed using the micro aspherical lens thus fabricated. Finally, a micro lens array constructed by arranging converging lenses having a diameter of approximately several to several hundred micrometers in a two-dimensional manner is used and this micro lens array is arranged ahead of a light source, thereby forming a multi-beam spot caused by diffraction in a distant position. A three-dimensional shape can be recognized with high precision by shape recognition means utilizing this multi-beam spot.

Micro aspherical lens and fabricating method therefor and optical device

A parabolic primary mirror (10) has a concave specular surface (12) that is constructed and positioned to receive solar energy and focus it towards a focal point. A secondary mirror (14) having a convex specular surface (16) is constructed and positioned to receive focused solar energy from the primary mirror and focus it onto an annular receiver (18). The annular receiver (18) may include an annular array of optical elements (100) constructed to receive solar energy from the secondary specular surface (14) and focus it onto a ring of discreet areas. A ring of solar-toelectrical conversion units are positioned on the ring of discreet areas. A sun sensor that allows accurate solar tracking to keep mirror system aligned with the sun.

Conversion of solar energy to electrical and/or heat energy

A copy of an image is produced by utilizing the temperature dependency of the magnetic permeability of a magnetizable material in a device which comprises a cylindrical wall having a horizontal axis and formed with an inner cavity. Along the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall are formed a plurality of closely spaced grooves extending in longitudinal direction of the cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall is rotatable about its axis and a feeding arrangement is provided for introducing magnetizable pulverulent material such as a magnetic ink into the grooves at a portion of the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall which is upstream of the top portion of the rotating wall. Means are provided for passing concurrent with the rotation of the cylindrical wall an image-carrying sheet along the top portion thereof and for passing a carrier sheet for the image to be formed along the bottom portion of the cylindrical wall, so that when the cylindrical wall serves as a printing cylinder the carrier sheet passes the cylinder in a printing plane and contacts the cylinder along a printing line formed by the lowermost portion of the cylinder. A heating arrange ment is so located as to heat the image-carrying sheet in the area of contact of the same with the outer surface of the cylindrical wall so that the magnetizable material in the grooves located in this area of contact will be selectively heated according to a pattern corresponding to the image, thereby forming in the magnetizable material in the grooves a selective pattern of predetermined magnetic permeability corresponding to the image. A source of magnetic force is located in the cavity of the cylinder adjacent to the portion of the cylindrical wall which passes from the area of contact with the image towards the printing line, and serves for holding in the grooves only the portions of the magnetic pulverulent material which forms the selective pattern of predetermined permeability, whereas the other portions of the pulverulent material are allowed to fall off the cylinder. The source of magnetic force is so arranged that the magnetic force will terminate adjacent but spaced from the radial plane of the cylindrical wall passing through the printing line, whereby at the printing line the pulverulent material forming the selective pattern will no longer be subjected to magnetic force and will drop from the grooves onto the carrier sheet forming thereon a copy of the image.

Image producing apparatus

Optical system having at least two lenticular screens

An optical system composed of pairs of lenticular bars, each of which has a row of lens portions with spherical and planar faces, scans successive strips of an original which moves relative to a copy sheet. Strip-shaped erected images of the scanned strips are projected onto successive strip portions of the copy sheet where a complete image of the original is formed.

Copying apparatus with lenticular optical system

Strip portions of an original are successively scanned by a row of lenses with toric refractive surfaces having a first radius of curvature in the scanning direction and a second smaller radius of curvature in a transverse direction. The first and second radii are selected so that the image of a part of the scanned strip-shaped portion projected by each lens is reversed in the scanning direction only, and not reversed in the transverse direction of the row of lens means the exposed strip-shaped portions of the copy sheet form together a continuous complete legible image of the original.

Burger Erich

Papers

Image producing apparatus

Optical system having at least two lenticular screens

Copying apparatus with lenticular optical system

Strip scanning copying apparatus

Method for forming an image in a magnetizable ink layer