Abstract: Fluoroelastomer (FKM) rubber-containing articles that exhibit highly desirable long-term effective antimicrobial characteristics are provided. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms) and can be utilized in a variety of applications. This invention utilizes the presence of non-sulfur-based curing systems and agents, such as bisphenols, that permit vulcanization and do not irreversibly bind silver ions thereto, thereby resulting in long-term antimicrobial performance of the rubber article. This invention further provides a simple method of producing such an antimicrobial vulcanized fluoroelastomer rubber-containing article. This invention also encompasses certain non-silicone pre-vulcanized raw rubber formulations made from at least a majority by weight of FKM rubber that include silver-based components to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the ultimate cured FKM articles made therefrom.

Abstract: A tissue ablation system is described that generates a uniform avascular plane of coagulated tissue to aid in the bloodless or near-bloodless resection of various biological tissues from a variety of organs. The tissue ablation system includes an energy director guide and two or more sets of bipolar energy directors. The energy director guide includes a series of channels that configure the energy directors to provide approximately uniform power distribution or current density through a target tissue volume or plane. The spacing among the channels of the energy director guide varies according to the total number of energy directors received in the energy director guide so that relative spacing among the center-most channels is largest and relative spacing among the end-most channels is smallest. The energy director guide secures a selected position of each of the energy directors in the target tissue volume.

Abstract: This invention relates to certain non-silicone vulcanized rubber articles that are made from at least a majority by weight of vulcanized styrene butadiene rubber that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms) and can be utilized in a variety of different applications. This invention encompasses the presence of non-sulfur-based curing systems and agents, such as peroxide curing, that permit vulcanization and do not irreversibly bind silver ions thereto, thereby resulting in long-term antimicrobial performance of the ultimate rubber article itself.

Abstract: This invention relates to certain non-silicone vulcanized rubber articles that are made from at least a majority by weight of epichlorohydrin, polybutadiene, or polychloroprene vulcanized rubber that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms) and can be utilized in a variety of different applications. This invention encompasses the presence of non-sulfur-based curing systems and agents, such as peroxide curing, that permit vulcanization and do not irreversibly bind silver ions thereto, thereby resulting in long-term antimicrobial performance of the ultimate rubber article itself.

Abstract: This invention relates to certain non-silicone resin cured rubber articles that are made from at least a majority by weight of non-silicone vulcanized rubber that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms) and can be utilized in a variety of different applications. This invention encompasses the presence of non-sulfur-based curing systems and agents, such as resin curing, that permit vulcanization and do not irreversibly bind silver ions thereto, thereby resulting in long-term antimicrobial performance of the ultimate rubber article itself.

Abstract: This invention relates to certain non-silicone vulcanized rubber articles that are made from at least a majority by weight of epichlorohydrin, polybutadiene, or polychloroprene vulcanized rubber that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms) and can be utilized in a variety of different applications. This invention encompasses the presence of non-sulfur-based curing systems and agents, such as peroxide curing, that permit vulcanization and do not irreversibly bind silver ions thereto, thereby resulting in long-term antimicrobial performance of the ultimate rubber article itself.

Abstract: This invention relates to certain non-silicone resin cured rubber articles that are made from at least a majority by weight of non-silicone vulcanized rubber that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms) and can be utilized in a variety of different applications. This invention encompasses the presence of non-sulfur-based curing systems and agents, such as resin curing, that permit vulcanization and do not irreversibly bind silver ions thereto, thereby resulting in long-term antimicrobial performance of the ultimate rubber article itself.

Abstract: This invention relates to certain non-silicone vulcanized rubber articles that are made from at least a majority by weight of vulcanized styrene butadiene rubber that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms) and can be utilized in a variety of different applications. This invention encompasses the presence of non-sulfur-based curing systems and agents, such as peroxide curing, that permit vulcanization and do not irreversibly bind silver ions thereto, thereby resulting in long-term antimicrobial performance of the ultimate rubber article itself.

Abstract: A tissue ablation system is described that generates a uniform avascular plane of coagulated tissue to aid in the bloodless or near-bloodless resection of various biological tissues from a variety of organs. The tissue ablation system includes an energy director guide and two or more sets of bipolar energy directors. The energy director guide includes a series of channels that configure the energy directors to provide approximately uniform power distribution or current density through a target tissue volume or plane. The spacing among the channels of the energy director guide varies according to the total number of energy directors received in the energy director guide so that relative spacing among the center-most channels is largest and relative spacing among the end-most channels is smallest. The energy director guide secures a selected position of each of the energy directors in the target tissue volume.

Abstract: Certain non-silicone vulcanized rubber articles made from at least a majority by weight of ethylene-propylene-diene modified (terpolymer) rubber (such as, without limitation, EPDM and/or NBR) that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles, at least a portion of which exhibits a color other than black, are provided. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms, either all colored or individual layers colored) that can be utilized in a variety of different applications. As silver-based compounds are deleteriously affected by utilization of standard curing agents and curing accelerators, such as sulfur-based compounds and/or systems, the ability to provide such an effective antimicrobial vulcanized rubber article is rather difficult.

Abstract: Certain non-silicone vulcanized rubber articles made from at least a majority by weight of ethylene-propylene-diene modified (terpolymer) rubber (such as, without limitation, EPDM and/or NBR) that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles, at least a portion of which exhibits a color other than black, are provided. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms, either all colored or individual layers colored) that can be utilized in a variety of different applications. As silver-based compounds are deleteriously affected by utilization of standard curing agents and curing accelerators, such as sulfur-based compounds and/or systems, the ability to provide such an effective antimicrobial vulcanized rubber article is rather difficult.

Abstract: Methods and structures are provided which support spacer walls in a position which facilitates installation of the spacer walls between a faceplate structure and a backplate structure of a flat panel display. In one embodiment, spacer feet are formed at opposing ends of the spacer wall. These spacer feet can be formed of materials such as ceramic, glass and/or glass frit. The spacer feet support the corresponding spacer wall on the faceplate (or backplate) structure. Tacking electrodes can be provided on the faceplate (or backplate) structure to assert an electrostatic force on the spacer feet, thereby holding the spacer feet in place during installation of the spacer wall. The spacer wall can be mechanically and/or thermally expanded prior to attaching both ends of the spacer wall to the faceplate (or backplate) structure. The spacer wall is then allowed to contract, thereby introducing tension into the spacer wall which tends to straighten any inherent waviness in the spacer wall.

Abstract: A conductive focus waffle structure for focusing electrons emitted from a cathode portion of a flat panel display device. In one embodiment, the conductive focus waffle structure comprises a grid of material comprised of substantially orthogonally oriented rows and columns. The substantially orthogonally oriented rows and columns define openings therebetween having sufficient size to allow electrons emitted from a cathode portion of a flat panel display device to pass therethrough. The focus waffle grid further comprises a lower dielectric portion adapted to be coupled to the cathode portion of the flat panel display device and an upper conductive portion coupled to the lower dielectric portion, the upper conductive portion adapted to focus the electrons passing through the openings.

Abstract: A spacer (140) suitable for use in a flat panel display is formed with ceramic, transition metal, and oxygen. At least part of the oxygen is bonded to the transition metal or/and constituents of the ceramic to form a uniform electrically resistive material having a resistivity of 105-1010 ohm-cm and a secondary electron emission coefficient of less than 2 at 2 kilovolts.

Abstract: A method of removing contaminant particles in newly fabricated field emission displays. According to one embodiment of the present invention, contaminant particles are removed by a conditioning process which includes the steps of: a) driving a anode of a field emission display (FED) to a predetermined voltage; b) slowly increasing an emission current of the FED after the anode has reached the predetermined voltage; and c) providing an ion-trapping device for catching the ions and particles knocked off, or otherwise released, by emitted electrons. In this embodiment, by driving the anode to the predetermined voltage and by slowly increasing the emission current of the FED, contaminant particles are effectively removed without damaging the FED. The present invention also provides a method of operating FEDs to prevent gate-to-emitter current during turn-on and turn-off.

Abstract: A tissue surface treatment apparatus includes a housing having a proximal end, a distal including a tissue contacting surface and an interior defined by the housing. A handpiece is coupled to the housing. The tissue contact surface has a plurality of apertures. An energy delivery device including at least one electrode is positionable in the housing interior. The at least one electrode includes a tissue penetrating distal end in substantial alignment with an aperture of the plurality of aperture. The at least one electrode is configured to be advanced from the housing interior through the aperture and into a target tissue site to define an ablation volume at least partly bounded by a tissue surface. An advancement device is coupled to the energy delivery device. The advancement device is at least partly positionable within at least one of the housing or the handpiece.

Abstract: A method of controlling ablation volume depth includes providing a treatment apparatus. The apparatus comprises a housing having a proximal and distal end including a tissue contacting surface. The housing defines an interior with an energy delivery device positionable in the interior. The energy delivery device includes at least one electrode with a tissue penetrating distal end and is configured to be advanced from the interior into a target tissue site to define an ablation volume. An advancement device is coupled to the energy delivery device and is configured to advance the at least one electrode. The at least one electrode is advanced to a selected deployment depth beneath a tissue surface while avoiding a critical structure. Energy is delivered from the energy delivery device. An ablation volume is created at a controlled depth below the tissue surface responsive to the deployment depth while minimizing injury to the critical structure.

Abstract: A disposable heater tube for use in a machine testing the thermal oxidation characteristics of a fuel. The heater tube has a uniform and consistent work-hardened surface finish formed by burnishing. The finish is bright, smooth, and reflective and lacks the minute scratches. A process is also provided for burnishing the surface of a disposable heater tube. A burnishing machine is provided having a plurality of equally-spaced tapered rollers that roll around and bear against the inversely tapered inside surface of a rotating mandrel. A blank or raw heater tube is inserted between the tapered rollers inside the rotating mandrel. The tapered rollers are drawn inwardly against the outer surface of the blank or raw heater tube with just enough pressure to work harden the outer surface without elongating the tube.

Abstract: The intensity at which electrons emitted by a first plate structure (10) in a flat-panel display strike a second plate structure (12) for causing it to emit light is controlled so as to reduce image degradation that could otherwise arise from undesired electron-trajectory changes caused by effects such as the presence of a spacer system (14) between the plate structures. An electron-emissive region (20) in the first plate structure typically contains multiple laterally separated electron-emissive portions (201 and 202) for selectively emitting electrons. An electron-focusing system in the first plate structure has corresponding focus openings (42P1 and 42P2) through which electrons emitted by the electron-emissive portions respectively pass. Upon being struck by the so-emitted electrons, a light-emissive region (22) in the second plate structure emits light to produce at least part of a dot of the display's image.

Abstract: Methods and structures are provided which support spacer walls in a position which facilitates installation of the spacer walls between a faceplate structure and a backplate structure of a flat panel display. In one embodiment, spacer feet are formed at opposing ends of the spacer wall. These spacer feet can be formed of materials such as ceramic, glass and/or glass frit. The spacer feet support the corresponding spacer wall on the faceplate (or backplate) structure. Tacking electrodes can be provided on the faceplate (or backplate) structure to assert an electrostatic force on the spacer feet, thereby holding the spacer feet in place during installation of the spacer wall. The spacer wall can be mechanically and/or thermally expanded prior to attaching both ends of the spacer wall to the faceplate (or backplate) structure. The spacer wall is then allowed to contract, thereby introducing tension into the spacer wall which tends to straighten any inherent waviness in the spacer wall.