Abstract: A medical ablation device comprising a flexible RF electrode wire or tube, the terminal portion thereof extending through an insulating sleeve axially moveable thereon. The electrode and surrounding sleeve extend through a portion of a rigid tube having a distal end adapted to be inserted into the body of a patient. Tabs are attached to the proximal end of the sleeve and electrode for advancing them together from the terminal end of the tube, for retracting the sleeve from the distal end of the electrode to expose a predetermined area of electrode surface, and for retracting them together into the terminal end of the tube. The electrode can also be a hollow tube, the proximal end thereof being adapted to be connected to a suction source for aspiration of tissue adjacent its distal end or it can optionally contain a fiber optic, the end thereof being enclosed within the tube and closely adjacent its distal end.

Abstract: An internetwork device which manages the flow of packets of I/O data among a plurality of network interface devices includes a bus coupled to the plurality of network interface devices, a core memory storing only packets of I/O data and control structures needed by the plurality of network interface devices, and a processor including local memory isolated from the core memory storing routines and internetwork information involved in updating control structures and control fields in the packets of I/O data to direct movements of packets of I/O data among the plurality of network interface devices. A bus-memory interface is provided through which transfers of packets of I/O/data and control structures used by the plurality of network interface devices are conducted between the core memory and the bus. A processor-memory interface is provided through which transfers of data to or from control structures or control fields in packets of I/O data are conducted between the core memory and the processor.

Abstract: Apparatus providing a pivot axis for rear wheels of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has a chassis, an arm pivotally attached to the chassis and four rear wheels divided into two forward wheels and two rearward wheels. The apparatus of the present invention has two halves, wherein each half includes a rocking member and a ground directing member. The rocking member is pivotally attached to the arm at a central location on the rocking member and rotatably connected to one forward and one rearward wheel at front and back locations, respectively, of the rocking member. The ground directing unit is pivotally attached to the arm and to the rocking member near the rearward wheel. Accordingly, the ground directing unit provides a force to the rearward wheel while no force is provided to the forward wheel.

Abstract: A non-linear frequency conversion device is tunable over a wide tuning range. An input source provides a first input beam with a frequency .lambda.1. A first frequency conversion crystal has an input beam face that is cut at a phase matching angle .theta.1 and is positioned on a first stage at a stage angle .alpha.1. The first frequency conversion crystal provides frequency conversion of the input beam of frequency .lambda.1 to a selected frequency .lambda.2 of a first portion of the selected tuning range. A second frequency conversion crystal has an input beam face that is cut at a phase matching angle .theta.2 and is positioned on a second stage at a stage angle .alpha.2. The second frequency conversion crystal provides frequency conversion of the input beam from a frequency .lambda.1 to a selected frequency .lambda.3 of a second portion of the selected tuning range.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing an output beam from a laser system on a body which provides for a uniform fluence level throughout an entire treatment region. A first structure receives the laser beam and aims it along a propagation axis. A scanner scans the propagation axis of the laser beam at a controlled scan velocity, so that the laser beam essentially continuously scans a treatment pattern on the body. The treatment pattern can consist of an essentially straight line, or a ring, or other pattern which can be easily fitted together with other patterns to fill in a treatment area.The method includes the steps of:supplying a laser beam,directing a laser beam along a propagation axis to the body, andscanning the propagation axis of the laser beam at a controlled scanned velocity, so that the laser beam essentially continuously scans the treatment pattern on the body.

Abstract: An apparatus for emulating a floppy disk drive using flash EPROMs. The apparatus transfers data between a floppy disk controller and a flash EPROM memory module, wherein the floppy disk controller operates under a first protocol and transmits requests to write data to a floppy disk in response to address marks. The flash EPROM operates under a second protocol. The invention includes control means compensating for the difference in the two protocols. In addition, the control means provides for the situation when power is terminated during the write process. Furthermore, the invention includes a means for organizing and reorganizing data in the flash EPROM to make most effective and efficient use of the flash EPROM memory module.

Abstract: A method of this invention for treating body tissues containing cancerous cells or non-malignant tumors with RF ablation, alone or in combination with systemic or localized chemotherapy comprising introducing a stylet comprising an electrode surface and a sleeve longitudinally moveable thereon into the vicinity of the body tissues, retracting the sleeve from a portion of the electrode surface, and supplying RF power to the electrode surface sufficient to heat the tissue to a temperature of above about 45.degree. C. for a time to cause reduction of tissue mass in the vicinity of the electrode. The RF power supplied to the electrode surface is sufficient to effect a desiccated fluid diffusion barrier capsule surrounding the body tissue being treated. The stylet can include a hollow tube having fluid distribution ports therein, and the method can include the step of passing fluid through one or more distribution ports into the body tissue being treated.

Abstract: A mixed poll-interrupt system optimizes performance of a processor managing status information indicating the occurrence of service-requiring events generated by I/O devices. Separation logic separates the status information into a first class of more time-critical status indications and a second class of less time-critical status indications. A processor interface is connected to the separation logic and the processor, and stores data identifying status indications in the first class and data identifying status indications in the second class. The processor services the events corresponding to the status indications in the first class with a relatively higher priority routine, such as an interrupt service routine, and services the events corresponding to the status indications in the second class with a relatively lower priority routine, such as a polling routine.

Abstract: For non-volatile memory devices, such as flash EPROM integrated circuits, which have memory cells and reference cells, and sense circuitry responsive to addressed memory cells and the reference cells, and in which a read potential is supplied to the gate of the selected memory cells and a reference potential is supplied to the gate of a reference memory cell during a read mode, the state of the programmable memory cells is verified by (1) supplying a first verify potential to the gate of an address programmable memory cell; and (2) supplying a second verify potential to the gate of the reference cell which is different from the first verify potential. Because cell current is a very strong function of the gate voltage, applying different gate voltages to the memory and reference cells is equivalent to adjusting the sense ratio.

Abstract: A method allows a designer to implement software for a wide variety of variant host architectures, without excessive usage of host memory, nor sacrificing the capabilities of high end versions of the variant architectures available. The method is based on providing an initialization module of the software to host memory. A portion of the initialization module determines the host architecture. Based on the determined host architecture, the unneeded portions of the initialization module are freed, and the needed portions are relocated into a contiguous memory space to minimize host memory usage. Any location dependent entries in the needed portions of the program are then updated based on the relocation. The initialization module includes a plurality of code blocks, each of which is optimized to a particular variant architecture. When the variant architecture of the host is identified, those code blocks which are optimized to the identified host are selected and the other code blocks are freed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for control contraction of tissue that includes collagen fibers. The apparatus includes a handpiece, and an electrode with an electrode proximal end associated with the handpiece. A distal end of the electrode has a geometry that delivers a controlled amount of energy to the tissue for a desired contraction of the collagen fibers. This is achieved while dissociation and breakdown of the collagen fibers is minimized. The handpiece, with electrode, is adapted to be introduced through an operating cannula in percutaneous applications. Additionally, an operating cannula may be included in the apparatus and be attached to the handpiece. The apparatus and method provides for a desired level of contraction of collagen soft tissue without dissociation or breakdown of collagen fibers.

Abstract: A high performance bus suitable for high speed internetworking applications which is based on three bus phase types, including an arbitration phase, an address phase, and a data phase. The arbitration, address, and data phases share a single set of lines. Distributed arbitration logic on each of the interface devices supplies local arbitration codes to a particular line in the set of lines in the arbitration cycle, and detects an arbitration win during the same phase in response to the local arbitration code, and other arbitration codes driven on the set of lines during the arbitration cycle. Each module coupled to the bus also assigned a local priority code. During the arbitration cycle, both the arbitration code and the priority code are driven on respective subsets of the shared sets of lines. Assertion of the local priority code overrides normal requests for the bus.

Abstract: A method of this invention for treating body tissues containing cancerous cells or non-malignant tumors with RF ablation, alone or in combination with systemic or localized chemotherapy comprising introducing a stylet comprising an electrode surface and a sleeve longitudinally moveable thereon into the vicinity of the body tissues, retracting the sleeve from a portion of the electrode surface, and supplying RF power to the electrode surface sufficient to heat the tissue to a temperature of above about 45.degree. C. for a time to cause reduction of tissue mass in the vicinity of the electrode. The RF power supplied to the electrode surface is sufficient to effect a desiccated fluid diffusion barrier capsule surrounding the body tissue being treated. The stylet can include a hollow tube having fluid distribution ports therein, and the method can include the step of passing fluid through one or more distribution ports into the body tissue being treated.

Abstract: A tunable laser system having a wide tunable range, and narrow line widths, achieves relatively high output powers. The tunable laser system includes a master optical parametric oscillator which generates a seed beam, and a power optical parametric oscillator which is responsive to the seed beam to generate a narrow line width, high power output beam. The master OPO and power OPO comprise gain media consisting of BBO, tunable over a range from about 400 nanometers to more than 2000 nanometers. The master OPO includes line narrowing elements, such as a tunable grating, which limits the line width of the output beam to less than one wave number (centimeter.sup.-1). Pump energy is supplied to the master OPO and power OPO using a Nd:YAG laser with a harmonic generator, so that the second, third, or fourth harmonics of the primary 1064 nanometer line of YAG can be used to pump the BBO crystals. The power OPO may be an unstable resonator.

Abstract: A probe for translumenal circumferential delivery of energy through a biological lumen comprises a catheter which is constructed and arranged to be placed within a particular biological lumen. A plurality of guide channels are formed within the catheter extending from near the proximal end to near the distal end of the catheter. The guide channels include respective diverting regions near the distal end which bend radially toward the circumference of the catheter. Energy delivery devices, such as optical fibers or electrical conductors, are placed within the guide channels and transmit energy to the distal end of the device. The energy delivery devices have relatively flexible portions near the distal ends such that when extended through the diverting region of the guide channels they are deflected radially in a direction to intersect the circumference of the biological lumen. An adaptor is coupled with the energy delivery device to supply energy for transmission to the tissue at the distal end of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to iminium ion substituted cyanine dyes having a fluoresence absorbance of between about 500 and 900 nm, a reduced tendency to aggregate and enhanced photostability. The cyanine dyes of the present invention are represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein n is 0, 1, 2 or 3;m is 0, 1, 2 or 3;R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are taken together to form an aromatic ring or a fused polycyclic aromatic ring;R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are taken together to form an aromatic ring or a fused polycyclic aromatic ring;R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently selected from the group consisting of (CH.sub.2).sub.p X where p is 1-18 and X is a functional group that reacts with amino, hydroxyl and sulfhydryl nucleophiles;R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl groups and where R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are taken together to form a five- or six- membered heterocyclic ring;R.sub.

Abstract: An improved contactless EPROM array, EPROM cell design, and method for fabricating the same is based on a unique drain-source-drain configuration, in which a single source diffusion is shared by two columns of transistors. An elongated first drain diffusion region, an elongated source diffusion region, and an elongated second drain diffusion region, are formed in a semi-conductor substrate along essentially parallel lines. Field oxide regions are grown on opposite sides of the first and second drain diffusion regions. Floating gates and control gate wordlines are formed orthogonal to the drain-source-drain structure to establish two columns of storage cells having a shared source region. The shared source region is coupled through a bottom block select transistor to a virtual ground terminal. Each drain diffusion region is coupled through a top block select transistor to global bitline.

Abstract: A diode pumped, multiaxial mode, intracavity frequency doubled laser resonator has high amplitude stability, meaning that the percent root mean square noise (% RMS) of the doubled output beam power is low. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to a laser crystal positioned in a resonator cavity and produces a multiaxial mode infrared beam that is incident on a doubling crystal, also positioned in the resonator. A frequency doubled output beam is produced that has an RMS of less than 3%. The laser is highly efficient, provides high output power and its output beam is of high spatial quality.

Abstract: A controller including a closed loop servo system for a laser, or other entity is capable of substantial reductions in predictable, periodic noise such as the line noise induced by the source of alternating current electrical power, and in random noise as well. The servo circuit includes resources which develop a stored version of the predictable noise and uses the stored version of the predictable noise to compensate for the predictable noise. According to another aspect, the servo circuit includes resources which automatically adjust loop gain as gain in the entity being controlled and the loop as a whole system varies. The resources which generate the stored version of the predictable noise may be operated in either analog or digital formats. The sampling resources include, in an analog/digital embodiment, a plurality of charge holding devices, Multiplexing circuitry is coupled to the charge holding devices, and connects a selected charge holding device to a sample node which receives the feedback signal.

Abstract: A surgical probe, and procedure using the same, enabling a surgeon to cut body tissue by delivering energy, such as a laser beam, to the body tissue and without removing the instrument to cauterize the body tissue by direct application of electric current. The surgical probe includes an elongated member having a fiber optic positioned on a longitudinal axis of the elongated member and pair of elongated electrodes that span an entire length of the elongated member. The elongated electrodes slide lengthwise in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. During cutting procedures, the distal ends of the electrodes are in a retracted position not beyond the distal end of the elongated member, and during cauterization procedures, the distal ends of the electrodes are in an extended position beyond the distal end of the elongated member. In a preferred embodiment, the distal ends of the electrodes are pre-bent so as to converge toward each other as they are extended beyond the distal end of the elongated member.