Abstract: An orthodontic assembly includes one or more orthodontic brackets that are releasably received in a tubular carrier. The carrier has arms with outer end sections that are spaced apart from each other to present a channel therebetween. The outer end sections of the arms are received in occlusal and gingival recesses of each bracket in order to support the bracket in suspended relation. The carrier is particularly useful for holding brackets during a manufacturing operation or during transport of the brackets from manufacturing operation to another. The carrier is also useful for supporting brackets in a package for shipment to the end user, especially when the brackets are precoated with a layer of adhesive.

Abstract: An assembly useful for retaining optical components such as lenses, optical filters and the like includes a block having a cavity and a pair of retainers received in the cavity. In certain embodiments, the cavity is cylindrical and each retainer has a semi-cylindrical configuration. Each retainer preferably includes integrally molded deformable ribs that shift the optical components when the retainers are closed to a position such that the optical axis of each component is collinear with the central axis of the optical chamber and the retainer cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce fogging on electrostatic printing media is disclosed. A negative bias is applied to toning station(s) or vacuum station(s) of the printing apparatus with isolation of that negative bias from the printing media.

Abstract: A nonpolarizing beamsplitter is provided, which includes a multilayered stack of alternating layers of a first material and a second material. The first material layers are uniaxially birefringent, and the second material layers are optionally uniaxially birefringent or isotropic. The layers have index of refraction relationships such that for an incident beam having a useful bandwidth, a p-polarized component and an s-polarized component striking the beamsplitter at any angle of incidence .theta. within a desired range, the beamsplitter exhibits substantially the same average reflectivity for the p-polarized component of the incident beam as for the s-polarized component. The invention also includes a method of making a nonpolarizing beamsplitter.

Abstract: There is provided a nonwoven electret fiber filter formed with a nonwoven web of electret fibers needle-punched to an open scrim support. The scrim support material has individual discrete open areas with an average cross-sectional area as viewed from the plane of the filter media of at least 0.25 mm.sup.2, preferably 1.0 mm.sup.2, and a pressure drop across the scrim support, without the filter web, of less than 1.5 mm H.sub.2 O measured at 98.4 meters/min gaseous face velocity. The resulting filter has enhanced lifetimes, a low pressure drop and high filtration efficiencies.

Abstract: A packaged composition includes a vial having wall portions defining a chamber and a photocurable material in the chamber. The wall portions transmit less than about 1.0% of actinic radiation, and at least one of the wall portions transmits light having wavelengths in at least part of the visible spectrum. In certain embodiments of the invention, the wall portions are flexible and the photocurable material is dispensed from the chamber through an outlet when the wall portions are squeezed together. In other embodiments of the invention, an element is floating in the photocurable material in the chamber to facilitate determination of the amount of photocurable material remaining in the chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions comprising highly fluorinated, chloro-substituted, non-cyclic organic compounds having 7 to 9 carbon atoms and to processes of making and using them. More particularly, this invention relates to emulsions comprising those highly fluorinated, chloro-substituted organic compounds. This invention also related to emulsion comprising noncyclic perfluorochlorethers having 7 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably 7 to 9 carbon atoms. These novel emulsions have various medical and oxygen transport applications. They are especially useful medically as contrast media, for various biological imaging modalities such as nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasound, x-ray, computed tomography, .sup.19 F-magnetic resonance imaging, and position emission tomography, as oxygen transport agents or "artificial bloods," in the treatment of heart attack, stroke, and other vascular obstructions, as adjuvants to coronary angioplasty and in cancer radiation treatment and chemotherapy.

Abstract: An image-forming element comprising a substrate, and an image-forming medium comprising (a) a compound absorbing at a first wavelength in the UV/blue region and (b) a dye absorbing at a second wavelength which is longer than the first wavelength, irradiation at said second wavelength bleaching absorption of said compound at said first wavelength, said element being free of thermally unstable urea and/or carbamate molecules.

Abstract: A dental impression tray has a receptacle for receiving a quantity of dental impression material, and the receptacle is coated with an adhesive for enhancing the bond between the impression material and the tray. The adhesive is applied to the tray body at least sixteen hours before the impression material is placed in the receptacle. Advance coating of the adhesive onto the tray body provides a higher bond strength between the impression material and the tray than would otherwise be observed. Precoating of the tray by the manufacturer represents a time savings for the dental practitioner and also reduces the amount of volatilized solvent emitted from the adhesive that might otherwise be emitted in the dental office.

Abstract: A process for forming an image on a transparent or translucent substrate comprising the steps of providing an imageable element comprising a transparent or translucent glass or polymeric film having a coating of a black metal on one surface thereof, directing radiation in an imagewise distributed pattern at said black metal layer with sufficient intensity to substantially increase the light transmissivity of the medium in the irradiated region in an imagewise distributed pattern, said element having no layers comprising a thermally activated gas-generating composition. The image comprises residual black metal on the film base, and may be used for overhead transparencies, contact negatives/positives, and the like.

Abstract: There is provided a cellulosic-based fiber granule with added non self-associating particulates or fibers. The resulting granule is free-flowing with a densified outer surface and is capable of removing substantially all oil from a flat surface such as a floor. The granule is also capable of being incinerated by being formed substantially of organic materials. Cellulosic plant fibers form at least 10 percent up to 99 percent of the granule. There is also provided a method for forming the incineratable oil an absorbent, free-flowing granules.

Abstract: An applicator has a ratchet mechanism for dispensing material from a single or multiple barrel container. The ratchet mechanism includes a clutch that substantially prevents movement of a plunger of the applicator whenever a resistance to plunger movement is greater than a certain value. As a consequence, bursting of the container, or damage to components of the applicator, is substantially avoided. A resilient, integral pawl hinders unintentional rearward movement of the plunger and provides for a compact construction especially suitable for use in dispensing dental material.

Abstract: An orthodontic assembly that includes a band and an attachment has one or more spot welds to secure the band to the attachment. The spot welds are characterized by the lack of any outer surface weld deformation that is circular in shape, or that is visible to the naked eye when viewed at a distance of twenty-four inches. Apparatus for welding the attachment to the band includes a subframe that is swingable in an arc to follow the inner contour of the band in order to provide automated welding on mesial and distal sides of the attachment.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance such as a bracket has bonding structure that provides a greater bond strength to the tooth in regions beneath an occlusal edge portion of the base in comparison to regions beneath at least one of a mesial edge portion, distal edge portion and occlusal edge portion of the base. The weaker bond strengths beneath the mesial edge portion, the distal edge portion and/or the gingival edge portion facilitate removal of the appliance by the orthodontist when desired. The higher bond strength beneath the occlusal edge portion is sufficient to securely retain the appliance on the tooth and safely resist the forces normally encountered during orthodontic treatment.

Abstract: A hollow, cylindrical light conduit for transporting light generally longitudinally therethrough and distributing light therealong includes a cylindrical wall member of a transparent material. The wall member has an inner cylindrical smooth surface and an outer cylindrical structured surface having an array of isosceles prisms arranged side by side thereon. The faces of adjacent prisms extend longitudinally along the cylindrical wall member and are aligned at the same desired prism angle relative to one another. The light transporting performance of the light conduit, achieved by total internal reflection, and the light distributing performance of the light conduit, specifically relative to radially aligned, high incident angle longitudinal light rays in planes parallel or near parallel to the prisms, is optimized as a function of the desired prism angle between the faces of adjacent prisms.

Abstract: A dispensing applicator includes a body with a handle, a pivotable lever and a front holder with a receptacle that is adapted to removably receive a dual chamber cartridge. In certain embodiments, the majority of the cartridge contents are expelled during a single stroke of the lever, an advantage when used for single patient use in dental or medical fields. In other embodiments, the holder is rotatably connected to the body so that the holder and the cartridge can be moved as needed in an arc in order to vary the orientation of the cartridge relative to the applicator handle. The rotatable connection enables the cartridge to be moved to any one of a number of different orientations as may be desired to provide optimum maneuverability of the applicator in use and to enhance the operator's vision of the application site.

Abstract: A dispensing system for dental material made of two components has a dual chamber cartridge that releasably connects to an applicator. The chambers of the cartridge are located in an over-under orientation relative to the user's grip on the applicator, enabling the system to be especially useful for placing dental material in regions of the patient's oral cavity that are difficult to access. Certain embodiments of the invention include a static mixing assembly having a swivelable cannula, and an exit conduit of the mixing assembly is optionally curved along its length. Other aspects of the invention relate to a reusable hygienic sheath useful for covering a dual chamber cartridge as well as a single chamber cartridge.

Abstract: An orthodontic attachment device especially useful for coupling interarch and intra-arch appliances to an archwire includes an elongated wire that extends alongside the archwire. The wire is fixed to a crimpable connector having a passageway that receives the archwire. Wall portions surrounding the passageway are deformable in directions toward the passageway in order to non-rotatably couple the device to the archwire. In certain embodiments, a pin having an offset portion is connected to the appliance at a location remote from the attachment device in order to increase free play of the appliance when the patient's jaws are opened.

Abstract: An article is held in a complementally-shaped receptacle of a resilient holder while a process operation is carried out on a surface of the article. After the process operation has been completed, the holder is bent in order to facilitate release of the article from the receptacle. The method is particularly useful for performing a process operation such as sandblasting, etching or otherwise treating an inner surface of a hollow article such as an orthodontic band or dental crown while a portion of the holder masks and thus protects its outer surface.