Abstract: A system and a method for infrared spectrometry, the method comprising multiphoton absorption with a material positioned in the Fourier plane of a 2f setup, the material being one of: i) a visible light sensitive, high band gap material and ii) an IR sensitive material. The system comprises one of: i) a visible light sensitive, high band gap material and ii) an IR sensitive material, positioned in the Fourier plane of a 2f setup.

Abstract: A system and a method for infrared spectrometry, the method comprising multiphoton absorption with a material positioned in the Fourier plane of a 2f setup, the material being one of: i) a visible light sensitive, high band gap material and ii) an IR sensitive material. The system comprises one of: i) a visible light sensitive, high band gap material and ii) an IR sensitive material, positioned in the Fourier plane of a 2f setup.

Abstract: A method and a system for nonlinear optical interaction in a nonlinear medium, comprising interacting at least one input beam in a nonlinear medium located at a spectrally dispersed plane. The method and system allows generating output photons from input photons, the output photons having properties that linearly depend on the properties of the input photons and that are mutually independent, comprising interacting the input photons in a nonlinear medium located at a spectrally dispersed plane.

Abstract: A method and a system for nonlinear optical interaction in a nonlinear medium, comprising interacting at least one input beam in a nonlinear medium located at a spectrally dispersed plane. The method and system allows generating output photons from input photons, the output photons having properties that linearly depend on the properties of the input photons and that are mutually independent, comprising interacting the input photons in a nonlinear medium located at a spectrally dispersed plane.

Abstract: A conveyor system and a method for feeding articles of at least two different types to a downstream processing unit are disclosed. The conveyor system comprises an infeed unit for the articles, an arrangement zone downstream from the infeed unit, and a lane zone downstream from the arrangement zone. In the lane zone the articles are transported to the downstream processing unit in an ordered state. The infeed unit comprises at least two conveyor belts, to each of which there corresponds a direction of transport for the articles in a section of the arrangement zone, wherein the directions of transport enclose an angle between them.

Abstract: A conveyor system and a method for feeding articles of at least two different types to a downstream processing unit are disclosed. The conveyor system comprises an infeed unit for the articles, an arrangement zone downstream from the infeed unit, and a lane zone downstream from the arrangement zone. In the lane zone the articles are transported to the downstream processing unit in an ordered state. The infeed unit comprises at least two conveyor belts, to each of which there corresponds a direction of transport for the articles in a section of the arrangement zone, wherein the directions of transport enclose an angle between them.

Abstract: A seeding needle lumen is adapted to receive a string of seeds and spacers. A dimple is formed in the seeding needle near its distal end and a protuberance formed by the dimple extends into the lumen. A hollow housing formed of a bio-absorbable, flexible and resilient material is positioned within the lumen in abutting relation to a trailing end of the protuberance. The hollow housing has an external diameter slightly less than a diameter of the lumen so that the hollow housing cannot slide past the protuberance and an internal diameter adapted to slidingly receive a seed or spacer positioned at a leading end of a string. The flexible and resilient material is momentarily deformable so that the hollow housing may squeeze past said protuberance when a stylet is maintained in a fixed position in abutting relation to a trailing end of the seeds and spacers when the seeding needle is withdrawn.

Abstract: A first method for inhibiting snoring includes at least one layer of adhesive that is applied to a soft pallet to prevent vibration of the soft pallet. A second method employs a transdermal patch having an astringent or muscle-contracting drug thereon that is applied to the soft pallet. In a third method, the astringent or muscle-contracting drug is snorted by the user. In a fourth method, the astringent or muscle-contracting drug is applied to the soft pallet by an atomized nasal spray. In a fifth embodiment, a thin electrical device is positioned against the hard pallet in electrical communication with a pair of closely spaced apart electrodes that abut the soft pallet. A low, safe current between the electrodes stiffens the soft pallet and prevents it from fluttering. A denture-like device may be used to hold the thin electrical device in place.

Abstract: An applicator for delivering radioactive seeds to a prostate gland or other internal organ includes a disposable inner part formed by two mating parts that collectively define a longitudinally-extending throughbore when joined together. The disposable inner part is sandwiched between two applicator half shells secured to one another by a slide member. The throughbore is discontinuous at a cartridge-receiving chamber that accommodates a multiple seed-containing cartridge, completely shielded with a sliding inspection window. The trailing end of a transition tube is held within the throughbore on a leading side of the discontinuous throughbore and the leading end of the transition tube extends into the lumen of an elongate needle. Seeds are expelled by a push rod that extends sequentially through a seed discharge chamber in the cartridge, the transition tube, and the needle. In a first alternative embodiment the disposable inner part is one piece and in a second it is formed integrally with the half shells.

Abstract: A radioactive vial is shielded within a cylindrical vial guard having a central throughbore for receiving the vial. A nuclear pharmacist opens a bottom end of the vial guard and transfers the vial from a shielded shipping container into the throughbore. When the vial is introduced into the throughbore, a septum formed in the vial faces down. The pharmacist closes the bottom end of the vial guard, inverts and opens the top end to expose the septum. A syringe barrel is locked into a throughbore formed in a syringe shield that includes a lead liner. The needle at the leading end of the barrel penetrates the septum and radioactive liquid is withdrawn from the vial into the barrel. The vial guard and syringe shield protect the pharmacist from radiation exposure during the vial opening process.

Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump which is suitable above all for use in internal combustion engines with direct gasoline injection, in which the pressure surge upon opening of a check valve between the high-pressure line and the pumping chamber of the fuel feed pump is limited by structural provisions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for visually verifying the quantity of seeds and spacers in a brachytherapy needle. In a first embodiment, the needle is pointed upwardly and seeds and spacers slide from a lumen of the needle, under the influence of gravity, into the lumen of a clear tube that is positioned in axial alignment with the lumen of the needle by a hub. In a second embodiment, the needle is received within the lumen of the clear tube and a stylet is used to push a string of bone wax, seeds, and spacers from the lumen of the needle into the lumen of the clear tube for visual verification. A plunger rod is introduced into the proximal end of the clear tube to push the string back into the needle and the clear tube and plunger are removed to enable use of the needle. In both embodiments, the plunger rod is fully inserted into the clear tube during shipment to prevent unwanted displacement of the seeds and spacers from the needle.

Abstract: A seeding needle has a detent formed near its distal end to prevent radioactive seeds and spacers from sliding out of the needle under the influence of gravity. In a first embodiment, the detent is provided in the form of a dimple that provides an interior protuberance that holds the seeds and spacers and a smooth exterior recess that does not cut tissue as the needle is advanced or retracted. In a second embodiment, a coined slot provides an interior protuberance and an exterior recess also having smooth, non-cutting edges. A third embodiment provides a plug that enables reduction of the size of the detent.

Abstract: An interstitial brachytherapy device includes an applicator having an elongate barrel and a plurality of radioactive seed-containing cartridges releasably connected to the elongate barrel along its longitudinal extent. Each cartridge includes a handle, a hollow housing within which is stacked the seeds, and a neck formed integrally with the handle. The neck is slideably received within the hollow housing and its free end abuts the top of the stack of seeds. A plurality of seed-discharging chambers is formed in the elongate barrel at longitudinally spaced intervals along the extent of the elongate barrel and each chamber is in alignment with each cartridge. The seeds in each hollow housing are urged toward their associated seed-discharging chamber by a bias member having a leading end connected to the hollow housing and a trailing end connected to the handle.

Abstract: A first method for inhibiting snoring includes at least one layer of adhesive that is applied to a soft pallet to prevent vibration of the soft pallet. A second method employs a transdermal patch having an astringent or muscle-contracting drug thereon that is applied to the soft pallet. In a third method, the astringent or muscle-contracting drug is snorted by the user. In a fourth method, the astringent or muscle-contracting drug is applied to the soft pallet by an atomized nasal spray. In a fifth embodiment, a thin electrical device is positioned against the hard pallet in electrical communication with a pair of closely spaced apart electrodes that abut the soft pallet. A low, safe current between the electrodes stiffens the soft pallet and prevents it from fluttering. A denture-like device may be used to hold the thin electrical device in place.

Abstract: A seeding needle has a detent formed near its distal end to prevent radioactive seeds and spacers from sliding out of the needle under the influence of gravity. In a first embodiment, the detent is provided in the form of a dimple that provides an interior protuberance that holds the seeds and spacers and a smooth exterior recess that does not cut tissue as the needle is advanced or retracted. In a second embodiment, a coined slot provides an interior protuberance and an exterior recess also having smooth, non-cutting edges. A third embodiment provides a plug that enables reduction of the size of the detent.

Abstract: An apparatus that inhibits snoring includes a handle and a distal free end that is disposed at an angle relative to the handle to facilitate placing the distal free end against the soft pallet at the back of a throat. A flexible material such as a sheet of paper is placed into overlying relation to the distal free end and a layer of adhesive is disposed in overlying relation to the paper. When the distal free end of the apparatus is pressed against the soft pallet, the adhesive quickly adheres to the soft pallet so that the paper adheres to the soft pallet when the apparatus is withdrawn. The paper provides rigidity that inhibits vibration of the soft pallet. Multiple layers of paper may be used. In an alternative embodiment, at least one layer of adhesive is applied to prevent vibration of the soft pallet and no paper is needed.

Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump which is suitable above all for use in internal combustion engines with direct gasoline injection, in which the pressure surge upon opening of a check valve between the high-pressure line and the pumping chamber of the fuel feed pump is limited by structural provisions.

Abstract: An interstitial brachytherapy device includes an applicator having an elongate barrel and a plurality of radioactive seed-containing cartridges releasably connected to the elongate barrel along its longitudinal extent. Each cartridge includes a handle, a hollow housing within which is stacked the seeds, and a neck formed integrally with the handle. The neck is slideably received within the hollow housing and its free end abuts the top of the stack of seeds. A plurality of seed-discharging chambers is formed in the elongate barrel at longitudinally spaced intervals along the extent of the elongate barrel and each chamber is in alignment with each cartridge. The seeds in each hollow housing are urged toward their associated seed-discharging chamber by a bias member having a leading end connected to the hollow housing and a trailing end connected to the handle.

Abstract: A disposable, plastic interstitial brachytherapy device includes an applicator, having the general appearance of a hypodermic syringe, and a transparent plastic cartridge, detachably connected to the applicator, for holding a plurality of radioactive tumor-killing seeds. The seeds in the cartridge are urged toward a seed discharge chamber by a loop-shaped bias member that forms an integral part of the cartridge. The seed discharge chamber is a bore formed in the radially innermost end of the cartridge. That bore is aligned with an elongate throughbore formed in the applicator when the cartridge is inserted into a radially extending opening formed in the applicator. A manually-operated elongate plunger rod is slidably mounted in the elongate throughbore and drives seeds from the seed discharge chamber, through the needle, and into the tumor. The device is usable with conventional luer lock needles.