Abstract: A surgical suturing apparatus includes a suture housing, a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path, and a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue. The suture housing has an open position and a closed position, and the needle can be removed from the suture housing when in the open position.

Abstract: An infrared camera including optics and a detector sensitive to infrared radiation is used in conjunction with at least one light source, such as a laser, to locate a reference point on a target. Two intersecting line segments are produced by the one light source or a combination of two light sources to locate the reference point on the target. The infrared camera would display both an infrared image as well as a visible image which can be merged onto a single display. The teaching of the present invention could also be used to determine the distance to the target as well as the area of the target.

Abstract: A heat sink designed as a heat pipe has an interior space in a body of the heat sink that is closed toward the outside. The interior space has at least one vapor channel and at least one fluid space connected with the vapor space and having a porous or capillary structure. The heat pipe is made using the DCB process to connect each end of posts within the interior space directly with one of the two opposing walls forming the interior space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing ground slabs from a cement-bonded material or concrete, with a facing made of fine-grade or facing concrete forming the top surface of the respective slab and with a core made of core concrete forming the bottom surface by means of pressing in a mold cavity of a press mold.