Abstract: A device for removing material from biological organisms by directing an abrasive fluid stream onto a surface of a biological organism. The device operates on a standard household pressure source and includes a converging-diverging nozzle that produces a super-sonic abrasive-laden air stream having a temperature that is harmless to the biological organism. The device operates at such a temperature without the use of external elements, such as additional heaters or coolers. The internal contour of the nozzle bore is variable and determines conditions, such as, for example, velocity, temperature and shape of the particle-laden air stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition, solution, and method for delivering desired substances into the cytosol of living eucaryotic cells. The composition includes a poly(ethylene glycol) component having a designated molecular weight in the range between about 300 and about 900 daltons, and a carbohydrate component which is membrane impermeable and water soluble. The osmotic delivery solution delivers reporter-tagged molecules and complexes, drugs, antisense and antigene oligos, RNAs, DNAs, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, and the like into cultured cells using an improved osmotic delivery method. The method may also be used for extracorporal therapy. In a particularly preferred embodiment of extracorporal therapy, the desired substance delivered into the cytosol of the cells is a Morpholino antisense oligo.

Abstract: A dental instrument includes a handpiece having a nozzle from which is ejected a stream of abrasive particles, and a valve operated under the control of a microprocessor which regulate, as selected by a user, the stream of abrasive particles either as a continuous flowing stream or a pulsed flowing stream. The microprocessor enables the valves to be operated at a plurality of different pulse durations. A remote control unit, small enough to fit into the palm of a hand of a user, provides control of the basic parameters of the instrument, allowing the instrument to be conveniently placed and allowing fingertip control of the instrument without having to move away from the patient. The handpiece is integrated with a main dental unit foot control for a dental drill, so that the main dental unit foot control operates both the dental drill and the handpiece.

Abstract: A composition and method for bleaching teeth is disclosed wherein red dye is dissolved in a solvent and combined with an inert, inorganic carrier. The composition is mixed chairside by the dental practitioner, with a source of active oxygen to form a bleaching paste, which is applied to prepared teeth. Teeth coated with the paste are then exposed to light of a visible wavelength range of from 400-550 or an argon laser. When the active oxygen is spent, the bleaching paste on the teeth turns colorless. The red dye greatly accelerates the bleach time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lamp apparatus designed for both bleaching teeth and curing dental restorative materials. Both bleaching and curing modes of operation may be used in at least three different power levels designated as boost, ramp, and normal. The lamp apparatus contains a incandescent xenon-halogen bulb and a dichroic reflector which focuses filtered visible light on the end of a flexible light guide which is part a handpiece for directing the transmitted light by the light guide to a tooth being treated. The lamp apparatus employs a slave microprocessor in a control panel mountable at different positions on a housing for the xenon-halogen bulb and a master microprocessor within the housing which is detachably connected to the slave microprocessor.

Abstract: The invention enables accurate control of particle flow with regard to feeding abrasive material to a surface. The unit does not employ a vibrator and may be used to remove undesired material from a surface. A particular application is in a dental air abrasion unit for both cleaning and cutting tooth surfaces. When used in an air abrasion dental instrument, the abrasive material is stored in a container which is separated from a mixing chamber by an orifice member. The flow of particles is electronically controlled by the differential in pressure in the container section above the particle level and the pressure below an orifice member in a mixing chamber. The resulting particle flow to the surface is substantially linear and less erratic than that of prior air abrasion instruments.

Abstract: A device for removing material from biological organisms by directing an abrasive fluid stream onto a surface of a biological organism. The device operates on a standard household pressure source and includes a converging-diverging nozzle that produces a super-sonic abrasive-laden air stream having a temperature that is harmless to the biological organism. The device operates at such a temperature without the use of external elements, such as additional heaters or coolers. The internal contour of the nozzle bore is variable and determines conditions, such as, for example, velocity, temperature and shape of the particle-laden air stream.

Abstract: A dental instrument includes a handpiece having a nozzle from which is ejected a stream of abrasive particles, and valves operated under the control of a microprocessor which regulate, as selected by a user, the stream of abrasive particles either as a continuous flowing stream or a pulsed flowing stream. The microprocessor enables the valves to be operated at a plurality of different pulse durations. A remote control unit, small enough to fit into the palm of a hand of a user, provides control of the basic parameters of the instrument, allowing the instrument to be conveniently placed and allowing fingertip control of the instrument without having to move away from the patient. The handpiece is integrated with a main dental unit foot control for a dental drill, so that the main dental unit foot control operates both the dental drill and the handpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the effective removal of both hard and soft decay using micro air abrasion dentistry. The process uses a composition which is treated to make it biologically inactive. It comprises at least 95% alumina of a certain particle size distribution and is optimized to remove both hard and soft decay, including carious enamel, carious dentin, stains, calculus, materia alba, organic plug, glass ionomer, composites, resin restoratives, cementum and spent amalgam. Over 50% of the abrasive has particle sizes ranging from 15 to 45.mu. with an average particle size of 27.5.mu.. Other unique features of the abrasive include the addition of color and flavor agents to detect the presence of caries and increase patient enjoyment, respectively.