Abstract: A method for fabricating opto-electronic devices having a surface that includes a first mirror facet in a first semiconductor layer deposited on a wafer. The mirror facet is located in a first facet plane. In the method of the present invention, the wafer is divided along a first line to create a segment having the mirror facet located therein. The segment is fixed to a fixture that moves in relation to a dicing disk that has a first planar surface in which polishing grit is embedded. The segment is fixed to a mounting surface such that the first plane is aligned parallel to the first planar surface of the dicing disk. The dicing disk is caused to rotate while the first planar surface is in contact with the segment, but not in contact with the mounting surface, thereby polishing a surface of the segment.

Abstract: Methods for applying graph theory techniques in methods to establish multiplexed assay formats for analyzing polymorphic DNAs are provided. These methods are used for designing and carrying out rapid and efficient processes for distinguishing target polymorphic DNA segments on the basis of variations in sequence and/or length. The methods are thus useful in the design of assays for determining identity, ancestry, predisposition to disease, or the presence or absence of a desired trait; genetic linkage analyses (gene mapping); and drug development.

Abstract: A cartridge for sampling and analyzing blood from the skin of a patient. The cartridge has a cartridge case, a lancet, and associated with the cartridge case an analytical region for analyzing the property of blood. The lancet has a tip for lancing the skin and is housed in the cartridge case. The lancet is operatively connected to the cartridge case such that the lancet can be pushed to extend its tip outside the cartridge case for lancing the skin to yield blood. The blood from the lancing wound is transferred to the analytical region and be analyzed.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing the concentration of a vapor of a volatile liquid in a gas is disclosed. The sensor has a dry-transducer temperature sensor and a wet-transducer temperature sensor. The wet transducer-temperature sensor is covered by a non-woven, non-flaking, liquid-permeable material to allow the liquid to pass from a source to about the wet-transducer temperature sensor and vaporize when the gas is not saturated with the vapor. The vaporization of the volatile liquid causes the temperature at the wet-transducer temperature sensor to have a steady-state temperature lower than the reference temperature measured by the dry-transducer temperature sensor. The difference in the temperature measured by the two temperature sensors being determinable to determine the concentration of the vapor in the gas. In an embodiment, the non-woven, non-flaking, liquid-permeable material is a porous membrane. In another embodiment, it is a gel.

Abstract: A system and a method for remote monitoring of a designated user utilize an integrated scale that is able to measure the body weight of a current user and determine whether the current user is the designated user. The identification of the current user is accomplished by measuring a preselected length of the current user by reflecting sound waves at location(s) that defines the preselected length and comparing the measured length to a corresponding length of the designated user that is stored in the integrated scale. When the current user is identified as the designated user, the integrated scale transmits the measured body weight to a remote monitoring device. The preselected length may be the distance from the bottom of a foot to the knee joint. Alternatively, the preselected length may be the length of a tibia or femur, or the skeletal height.

Abstract: In a method of forming a microchannel and/or microcavity structure by bonding together two elements (1, 2) having opposed plane surfaces of the same or different material, one or both surfaces having open channels and/or cavities, bonding is effected by applying to one or both element surfaces (1, 2) a thin layer (3) of a solution of a material capable of fusing with and having a lower melting point than that of the material or materials of the two element surfaces (1, 2) in a solvent which substantially does not dissolve the element surface material or materials. The solvent is then removed, and the two elements (1, 2) are brought together and heated to a temperature where the dissolved material is caused to melt but not the element surface material or materials.

Abstract: A dual-mode defibrillator has ECG electrodes connected to an ECG front end for producing signals for the controller to use in determining the defibrillator operation in accordance with the manual and automatic procedures stored in a memory. The controller provides appropriate signals to the high voltage delivery system which when energized, applies defibrillation energy to the electrodes.