Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for recovering and separating anesthetic gas components from waste anesthetic gases to be purged from a healthcare facility. Prior to a condensation step, a compressor is used to increase the waste anesthetic gas pressure in order to facilitate condensation of anesthetic gas components at higher temperatures and in greater amounts than through condensation at lower pressures. Condensing the anesthetic gas components from the compressed waste anesthetic gas stream is then achieved using conventional condensation systems, which remove anesthetic gases as either liquid condensates or solid frosts. A preferred embodiment of the invention may be used with existing high-flow scavenging or reclamation systems but is more preferably used with low-flow scavenging or reclamation systems, which employ intelligent waste anesthetic gas collection units to minimize the ingress of atmospheric gas when no waste anesthetic gas is to be purged from the healthcare facility.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for recovering and separating anesthetic gas components from waste anesthetic gases to be purged from a healthcare facility. With minimal reliance on the utility infrastructure and supplies of a healthcare facility, the method and apparatus needs only electrical or mechanical power, a source of waste anesthetic gases, and an atmospheric vent in order to operate. A heat exchanger/condenser, which uses a dedicated heat transfer fluid as a refrigerant, is employed to condense anesthetic gas components from the waste anesthetic gases as either liquid condensates or solid frosts. The warmed heat transfer fluid is cooled in a separate refrigeration unit and recycled back to the heat exchanger/condenser. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a self-contained, packaged unit which can be easily accommodated in a physician's office, small animal clinic, dental office or other healthcare facility requiring effective waste anesthetic gas management.

Abstract: A method and system for removal of nitrous oxide and volatile halocarbon gas components from waste anesthetic gases using a low-flow scavenging or reclamation system preferably including an intelligent waste anesthetic gas collection unit fluidly coupled between each individual anesthetic machine and the waste gas evacuation manifold. Through a system including a collection chamber, a pressure detector, and a exhaust valve which is actuated based on the detected pressure in the collection chamber, the waste anesthetic gas collection unit allows flow to the waste suction manifold only in the presence of waste gas and interrupts all flow into the suction manifold when no waste gas is present.

Abstract: An assembly (100) and a method are provided for inputting a light beam into a light path extending from the confocal scanning head (102) to the microscope (104) of a scanning confocal microscope system to illuminate a selected region of a sample mounted in the microscope. The assembly comprises a light input for receiving a light beam from a light source; beam directing means (8, 12) for controlling the path of the light beam with reference to the shape of the selected region of the sample; and a beam coupler (16) for selective coupling the light beam into the light path from the confocal scanning head (102) to the microscope (104), with the beam direction being controlled by the beam directing means so as to illuminate the selected region. A scanning confocal microscope system including such an assembly is also described, together with a method of calibrating the system. In addition, an optical switch for selectively switching a light beam between two paths is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing multiple geographically distributed optical labs to share global resources over a telecommunications network. Each optical lab is set up as a client account on the server with privileges to access the global recourses. Each lab has its own equipment set, the settings and configuration of which, are recorded in one of the client account databases. Other proprietary databases contain price lists, financial information and patient data. The lens calculation software encounters a sequential stream of job requests from different client accounts. The corresponding proprietary account data, allows uniform pricing rules to be applied to lens processing jobs. As jobs are completed, each lab receives an individual packet of printable job ticket data, printable invoice data, electronic interface files for the lens generating equipment, and an extract file for importing into the labs accounting software.

Abstract: A method and system for the fractionation and removal of nitrous oxide and other volatile halocarbon gas components from waste anesthetic gases using liquid oxygen are disclosed. Liquid oxygen is warmed for use in a healthcare facility by cooling and condensing waste anesthetic gases. A cold trap/fractionator is provided wherein selective components of the waste anesthetic gas are collected as a frost on the coils of the cold trap/fractionator by desublimation/deposition and/or condensation/solidification. In a periodic batch process, the collected frost is first thawed and the melted liquids or gases are then collected at various increasing temperatures, thereby separating the nitrous oxide and other halocarbon gas components by their varying melting points. The thawed anesthetic components are collected in separate tanks based on their melting points. Warmed by the waste anesthetic gases in the cold trap/fractionator, the oxygen is supplied to the healthcare facility for its normal uses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a non-email based precision web alert for a website or web-based application. The method involves the publisher registering at least one alert at an alert server and then presenting the alert on the related website or web-based application for selection by a user. When the alert is selected, the user can define at least one alert variable, such as an alert parameter and/or operator and/or threshold. When an event associated with the alert occurs, an event notification is posted by the website publisher at the alert server. Dedicated alert software at the user's terminal polls the alert server to identify any event notifications for selected alerts with the user-defined variables. When an event notification is identified, the alert software generates an alert notification at the user's terminal. In this way, non-email, precision alerts can be delivered to a user.

Abstract: A method for providing a print job manifest includes querying a press database containing data corresponding to print jobs recorded on a web. A print job manifest is generated according to the press database. The print job manifest is recorded on the web so that at least a portion of the manifest is located generally adjacent to a loose end of the web when the web is wound to form a roll.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for recovering and separating anesthetic gas components from waste anesthetic gases to be purged from a healthcare facility. With minimal reliance on the utility infrastructure and supplies of a healthcare facility, the method and apparatus needs only electrical or mechanical power, a source of waste anesthetic gases, and an atmospheric vent in order to operate. A heat exchanger/condenser, which uses a dedicated heat transfer fluid as a refrigerant, is employed to condense anesthetic gas components from the waste anesthetic gases as either liquid condensates or solid frosts. The warmed heat transfer fluid is cooled in a separate refrigeration unit and recycled back to the heat exchanger/condenser. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a self-contained, packaged unit which can be easily accommodated in a physician's office, small animal clinic, dental office or other healthcare facility requiring effective waste anesthetic gas management.

Abstract: A method and system for removal of nitrous oxide and volatile halocarbon gas components from waste anesthetic gases using a low-flow scavenging or reclamation system preferably including an intelligent waste anesthetic gas collection unit fluidly coupled between each individual anesthetic machine and the waste gas evacuation manifold. Through a system including a collection chamber, a pressure detector, and a exhaust valve which is actuated based on the detected pressure in the collection chamber, the waste anesthetic gas collection unit allows flow to the waste suction manifold only in the presence of waste gas and interrupts all flow into the suction manifold when no waste gas is present.

Abstract: A method and system for the fractionation and removal of nitrous oxide and other volatile halocarbon gas components from waste anesthetic gases using liquid oxygen are disclosed. Liquid oxygen is warmed for use in a healthcare facility by cooling and condensing waste anesthetic gases. A cold trap/fractionator is provided wherein selective components of the waste anesthetic gas are collected as a frost on the coils of the cold trap/fractionator by desublimation/deposition and/or condensation/solidification. In a periodic batch process, the collected frost is first thawed and the melted liquids or gases are then collected at various increasing temperatures, thereby separating the nitrous oxide and other halocarbon gas components by their varying melting points. The thawed anesthetic components are collected in separate tanks based on their melting points. Warmed by the waste anesthetic gases in the cold trap/fractionator, the oxygen is supplied to the healthcare facility for its normal uses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for recovering and separating anesthetic gas components from waste anesthetic gases to be purged from a healthcare facility. Prior to a condensation step, a compressor is used to increase the waste anesthetic gas pressure in order to facilitate condensation of anesthetic gas components at higher temperatures and in greater amounts than through condensation at lower pressures. Condensing the anesthetic gas components from the compressed waste anesthetic gas stream is then achieved using conventional condensation systems, which remove anesthetic gases as either liquid condensates or solid frosts. A preferred embodiment of the invention may be used with existing high-flow scavenging or reclamation systems but is more preferably used with low-flow scavenging or reclamation systems, which employ intelligent waste anesthetic gas collection units to minimize the ingress of atmospheric gas when no waste anesthetic gas is to be purged from the healthcare facility.

Abstract: A fractal antenna can be incorporated in a hearing device to optimize wireless communication capabilities of such a device. A particular fractal structure having fractals of a generally + shaped geometry can be advantageous when used as a fractal antenna. The fractal antenna is implemented as a conductive trace on a substrate and can be implemented on an integrated circuit in the hearing aid device.

Abstract: A fractal antenna can be incorporated in a hearing device to optimize wireless communication capabilities of such a device. A particular fractal structure having fractals of a generally + shaped geometry can be advantageous when used as a fractal antenna. The fractal antenna is implemented as a conductive trace on a substrate and can be implemented on an integrated circuit in the hearing aid device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating a collection of digital media. In one example of a method, at least one search parameter is defined, and a search is performed using the search parameter to search through parameters for a first plurality of digital media. The search obtains a second plurality of digital media which is a subset of the first plurality of digital media. Then a media container is automatically generated from the search results. The media container may, in one embodiment, be a digital picture album having multiple pages with multiple digital pictures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for presenting a collection of digital media in a media container. In one example of a method, a page of the media container is displayed on a display device in a first region. The page is capable of displaying at least one visual representation of a digital media on the page. The page includes a position in the first region which is capable of displaying an image of a first visual representation. The first visual representation is displayed in a second region while displaying the page in the first region. The position is capable of displaying the image after a dragging operation is performed from the first visual representation in the second region to the position in the first region.

Abstract: A method for transferring data between processing systems and systems for transferring data. A method in one example creates a first representation of a first digital media which is stored on a first digital processing system. The first representation is compared to a plurality of representations of a corresponding plurality of digital media. Typically, but not necessarily, the plurality of representations are stored on a second digital processing system and the first representation is transmitted to the second digital processing system. The first digital media is transmitted to the second digital processing system if the first representation does not match any of the plurality of representations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus transfer digital images on a network. A signature list is first examined wherein the signature list includes a unique signature for each of the digital images requested for transfer. The signature list is used to determine whether each of the digital images is present or missing. For each of the digital images that is determined missing, the digital image is then received. Updated information is also received pertaining to the each of the digital images that is determined present. Data integrity is checked to ensure that the each of the digital images was successfully transferred. Finally, the steps of receiving the digital images and checking data integrity are repeated for the each of the digital images that was unsuccessfully transferred.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for publishing a collection of digital media on a network. In one example of a method, a client digital processing system generates a collection of digital media and transmits collection information, which describes the collection of digital media, to a server digital processing system. From the collection information, a plurality of presentable media is automatically generated; each of these presentable media is capable of being presented to other client digital processing systems which are coupled to the network. In this one example, the network is operating according to a hypertext transfer protocol. In this one example, the client and server systems are programmed to interact together such that the presentable media is automatically generated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for presenting a collection of digital media in a media container. In one example of a method, a plurality of pages in a media container is defined. Each page has at least one location for presenting a digital media, and each page has first information which defines a layout on the page of at least one digital media. The first information for a page is independently controllable relative to other pages of said plurality of pages. At least one page of the media container is presented according to the first information.