Abstract: A business planning and project facilitation method, program, and system for a new or existing venture is provided. Default values based on data retrieved from a knowledge database according to user-provided venture estimate information, are provided to the user. The user can enter additional information based on the user's estimate of a value for the venture to supplement and/or override at least one default value of the plurality of provided default values provided by the system. Based on the default value information and the user estimate information, a business plan customized for the venture is reported to the user. The database has information specific to a local business environment and detailed information about the industry of the target venture, including for example, ambulatory surgery centers and facilities, such as endoscopy.

Abstract: A scanning optical microscope including: a light source; a lens for altering the cross-sectional shape aspect ratio of a beam of light emitted from the light source; at least one lens for converging beams of light of different cross-sectional shape aspect ratio to create a linear light; a first light modulation member able to impart shade to the converged linear light; a lens that can form the light to which the shade has been imparted as a parallel light; a scanning member that can alter the angle of illumination; a lens for focusing the light to which the shade has been imparted; an objective lens for projecting the light to which the shading has been imparted to a sample body; and a lens for imaging the reflected light from the sample body or the light generated by the sample body on to a sensor.

Abstract: A feed enhancer for eliminating an unevenness in height from a paper stack to be printed by a printer. The printer has a paper feeder including a paper tray for storage of the paper stack on a top surface thereof and for feeding individual paper from the paper stack into the printer for subsequent printing. The feed enhancer has an elongated strip disposed at the top surface of the paper tray and positioned perpendicular to a direction in which the individual paper is fed into the printer such that the feed enhancer evens out the unevenness in height of the paper stack in an area of the paper stack that is to be fed into the printer. Also provided are a printer and printer tray having the feed enhancer of the present invention.

Abstract: An optical unit switching apparatus having a type-display section for displaying types of all optical units mounted on a movable member for switching and moving the optical units; and indicators arranged corresponding to respective mounting positions for the optical units for indicating a type of the optical unit inserted into an optical path. Since these indicators are located at different positions with respect to the centers of the corresponding mounting positions for the optical units, the indicators point at different positions in the type-display section when switching operations are performed. Accordingly, the type of the optical unit presently inserted into the optical path can be recognized by printing the names and the like of the respective optical units at the positions pointed at by the indicators corresponding to the respective optical units.

Abstract: A system for determining a dimension of a detail including an optical scope for producing an image of the detail, an image scaling device for providing a scaled image size, and a processor. The system also includes a video camera which is either within the optical scope or external to the optical scope. The optical scope includes a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the detail and a device for providing a focus position signal based a position of the focusing device. If the system includes an external video camera, the optical scope also includes a viewer for passing the image of the detail to a plane outside of the optical scope. The video camera optically is coupled with the viewer of the optical scope or with the image of the detail and produces a video signal of the detail from the image of the detail.

Abstract: An envelope leveler for use with a printer feeder to orient a top envelope of a stack of envelopes to be fed into a printer attached to the printer feeder. The envelope leveler including: a platform upon which the envelope stack is disposed; a base; and a pivot for rotating the platform and the envelope stack thereupon about the base such that the top envelope of the envelope stack is oriented for proper feeding into the printer. Also provided is a printer having the envelope leveler. The printer comprising: a printer feeder having a surface for supporting the stack of envelopes; a feeder for feeding the top envelope into the printer; and an envelope leveler comprising a platform upon which the envelope stack is disposed, a base, and a pivot means for rotating the platform and the envelope stack thereupon about the base such that the top envelope of the envelope stack is oriented for proper feeding into the printer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional video signal is generated by an objective lens, a stereo lens optical system, such as a stereo doublet lens for example, one or more image-to-signal converters, and a multiplexer. A three-dimensional monitor or two head mounted monitors may be used to render (e.g., display) the three dimensional video signal.

Abstract: A curl eliminator for eliminating a curl from paper to be printed by a printer. The printer has a paper feeder including a paper tray for storage of the paper on a ferric top surface of the paper tray and for feeding the paper into the printer for subsequent printing. The curl eliminator has an elongated strip disposed at the top surface of the paper tray such that it opposes the curl of the paper thereby tending to flatten the curl. The curl eliminator also has a magnetic strip fastened to the elongated strip for mounting the elongated strip to the top surface of the paper tray. The elongated strip is mounted to the top surface of the paper tray by a magnetic attraction between the magnetic strip and the top surface of the paper tray. Also provided are a paper tray and printer having the curl eliminator of the present invention.

Abstract: A fuser stripper apparatus for use in a machine which imparts an image to paper being fed therethrough. The apparatus has: a fuser roller rotatably fixed in the machine and having a surface treated with a coating for effecting the impartation of the image to the paper, the fuser roller has at least one slot formed in its surface; an idler roller rotatably fixed in the machine which has a surface in substantial contact with the surface of the fuser roller thereby creating a nip for passage of the paper therein when either of the fuser or idler rollers are rotated; a motor for rotating one of the fuser or nip rollers; and a wire member disposed in each of the at least one slot formed on the surface of the fuser roller, the wire member has first and second ends fixed to the machine such that the paper is prevented from wrapping around the fuser roller by the wire member.

Abstract: A low magnification, high resolution macroscope. The macroscope includes a body section, a stage for supporting a specimen, and a lens system including an objective lens assembly having a diameter greater than 22 mm. for forming an enlarged, intermediate image of the specimen on the stage. The macroscope also includes an eyepiece for forming a further enlarged, focused image of the specimen. Preferably, the macroscope further includes an illumination system for illuminating the specimen, and this illumination system includes a light source and a mirror. The mirror directs light from the light source, through the objective lens assembly and onto the specimen, and this mirror has a diameter larger than the diameter of the objective lens assembly. With this arrangement, the mirror directs light onto the entire horizontal cross-sectional area of the objective lens assembly, and also the mirror does not restrict the size of the image of the specimen transmitted from the objective lens assembly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a working channel using a motorized brush and cleaning fluid.

Abstract: A remote surveillance system including an imaging device and an IR light source for surveying a relatively dark area, a remote surveillance system including an imaging device and an insertion tube guide, and an insertion tube guide for receiving an insertion tube of an imaging device.

Abstract: A method and device for displaying information from multiple sources, in a way that permits rapid assimilation and interpretation of the information. The information may originate from the inspection, e.g., via a remote visual inspection system, of a work piece. The method and device processes (i) frames of video data, each frame including data corresponding to an array of pixels, including video of a sensor, and (ii) data output by the sensor by (a) locating the sensor in one of the frames of video data to define an anchor location, (b) accepting the data output by the sensor, (c) converting the data output by the sensor to either a numeric value or a graphical representation, and (d) in the one of the frames, modifying pixels data in a vicinity of the anchor location based on the numeric value or graphical representation to form a modified frame.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum having an inflatable bladder which includes a central channel and an inlet outlet port. The inflatable bladder may include optical fibers for illumination.

Abstract: An esophageal overtube for use with an endoscope in which the overtube has a conduit for evacuation of laser smoke and burnt tissue which is created during esophageal tumor ablation with laser therapy. A vacuum port on the esophageal overtube facilitates connection to a vacuum source which evacuates the laser smoke and burnt tissue to a site remote from the operating environment. An embodiment of the esophageal overtube has a bite block which can be either reusable or detachable from the overtube in a disposable version. Another embodiment of the esophageal overtube has a seal which seals the esophagus from the operating environment. Also disclosed are methods for using the various esophageal overtubes.

Abstract: A system for determining a dimension of a detail including an optical scope for producing an image of the detail, an image scaling device for providing a scaled image size, and a processor. The system also includes a video camera which is either within the optical scope or external to the optical scope. The optical scope includes a focusing device for adjusting a focal position of the image of the detail and a device for providing a focus position signal based a position of the focusing device. If the system includes an external video camera, the optical scope also includes a viewer for passing the image of the detail to a plane outside of the optical scope. The video camera optically is coupled with the viewer of the optical scope or with the image of the detail and produces a video signal of the detail from the image of the detail.

Abstract: A valve having a continuously adjustable flow rate which can be used in an insufflator. The valve includes an inlet fluidly coupled with a fluid supply, a chamber fluidly coupled with the inlet, a perforated disk, an outlet, and a two-sided dynamic seal arranged about the perforated disk and having a first side fluidly coupled with the chamber and a second side fluidly coupled with the outlet. By varying a rotational velocity (or frequency) of the perforated disk, the flow rate of the valve can be continuously adjusted.

Abstract: Qualitative and quantitative methods for detecting the presence of double-stranded, non-5'-phosphorylated DNA in samples that may also contain 5'-phosphorylated DNA and/or single-stranded DNA are described. These methods involve treating the sample with an enzyme that specifically degrades 5'-phosphorylated DNA together with an enzyme that specifically degrades single-stranded DNA. More specifically, methods are described for the detection of the products of DNA amplification reactions, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), wherein post-amplification enzyme digestion substantially reduces or eliminates background signals that are apparently caused by the presence of template DNA and primers in the sample after amplification is complete.