Abstract: A countertop cooking device for automating the preparation of food that requires stirring, heating, and the addition of liquid is proposed. The cooking device comprises a body containing a heated cooking pot, one or more separately heated reservoirs, and a means for transferring liquid to the cooking pot from the reservoir(s). The cooking device also comprises a means for stirring the contents of the cooking pot and scraping the inner surfaces of the cooking pot. A means is provided to control the temperatures of the cooking pot and reservoir(s), the sequence and duration of steps, and the stirring of the cooking pot. The sequence and duration of events may be controlled by a predetermined schedule, or based upon information from sensors in the device. The usefulness of the proposed cooking device is demonstrated in the application by describing its use in the preparation of risotto. This device may optionally be used in the preparation of other dishes such as rice and bulgur pilaf, or polenta.

Abstract: A lids for a child's drinking cup has a projection extending integrally from an underside of the lid, the projection defining, in an upper surface of the lid body, a straw receptacle. The projection defines a plurality of break lines, such as slits, terminating at break line ends and defining separable segments of the projection. The break line ends are spaced from the base of the projection in a region of the straw receptacle having a cross-section approximately equal in extent to a cross-section of a corresponding drinking straw, such that inserting the straw into the straw receptacle and through the projection forces the projection segments apart, the segment bases engaging an outer surface of the inserted straw to inhibit leakage. Some of the projections include molded stiffening ribs.

Abstract: A tool for manipulating a fiber optic connector includes a handle portion having a first major axis and first and second ends. An intermediate support arm having a second major axis extends from the first end of the handle portion. First and second jaws extend from the intermediate support arm. Each jaw extends generally perpendicular to the second major axis of its respective intermediate support arm and generally orthogonal to the first major axis. Each jaw includes a gripping portion having a generally concave shape configured to complementarily receive a portion of the fiber optic connector. Movement of the handle portion moves the jaws between an open position in which the jaws are spaced apart for loosely receiving a fiber optic connector, and a closed position in which the jaws securely grip the fiber optic connector.

Abstract: An electrode instrument is provided and includes an electrode head and a pair of electrodes for emitting RF energy for use in thermal ablation therapy. The electrodes are movable between a collapsed configuration and deployed configuration. When collapsed, the electrodes are proximate to each other, and when deployed, the electrodes are spaced apart from each other. The electrode instrument includes linkage mechanisms that are used to maintain the electrodes in their deployed configuration.

Abstract: A medical device is provided and includes an elongated tube that has a longitudinal axis and an expandable member attached to the tube. The expandable member is expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. A plurality of electrodes is attached to the expandable member. The electrodes are used to emit energy. Each of the electrodes is arranged generally coaxially relative to the tube when the expandable member is in its collapsed and expanded configurations.

Abstract: A lids for a child's drinking cup has a projection extending integrally from an underside of the lid, the projection defining, in an upper surface of the lid body, a straw receptacle. The projection defines a plurality of break lines, such as slits, terminating at break line ends and defining separable segments of the projection. The break line ends are spaced from the base of the projection in a region of the straw receptacle having a cross-section approximately equal in extent to a cross-section of a corresponding drinking straw, such that inserting the straw into the straw receptacle and through the projection forces the projection segments apart, the segment bases engaging an outer surface of the inserted straw to inhibit leakage. Some of the projections include molded stiffening ribs.

Abstract: A device for thermal ablation therapy having emitting means for emitting ultrasound energy capable of heating tissue and moving means for moving the emitting means between an undeployed position, in which the emitting means is in a first orientation which facilitates insertion of the device, and a deployed position, in which the emitting means is in a different second orientation that is selected to efficiently deliver ultrasound energy to the tissue to be ablated. The moving means includes one or more movable carriers and the emitting means is one or more piezoelectric transducers that are securely mounted on the carriers for conjoint movement therewith. A method for thermal ablation therapy using ultrasound energy involves positioning an ultrasound device in an undeployed position proximate to tissue to be heated; moving the ultrasound device from its undeployed position to a deployed position; and activating the ultrasound device to emit ultrasound energy for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A medical device is provided and includes an elongated tube that has a longitudinal axis and an expandable member attached to the tube. The expandable member is expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. A plurality of electrodes is attached to the expandable member. The electrodes are used to emit energy. Each of the electrodes is arranged generally coaxially relative to the tube when the expandable member is in its collapsed and expanded configurations.

Abstract: A medical device is provided and includes an elongated tube that has a longitudinal axis and an expandable member attached to the tube. The expandable member is expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. A plurality of electrodes is attached to the expandable member. The electrodes are used to emit energy. Each of the electrodes is arranged generally coaxially relative to the tube when the expandable member is in its collapsed and expanded configurations.

Abstract: An electrode instrument is provided and includes an electrode head and a pair of electrodes for emitting RF energy for use in thermal ablation therapy. The electrodes are movable between a collapsed configuration and deployed configuration. When collapsed, the electrodes are proximate to each other, and when deployed, the electrodes are spaced apart from each other. The electrode instrument includes linkage mechanisms that are used to maintain the electrodes in their deployed configuration.

Abstract: A device for thermal ablation therapy having emitting means for emitting ultrasound energy capable of heating tissue and moving means for moving the emitting means between an undeployed position, in which the emitting means is in a first orientation which facilitates insertion of the device, and a deployed position, in which the emitting means is in a different second orientation that is selected to efficiently deliver ultrasound energy to the tissue to be ablated. The moving means includes one or more movable carriers and the emitting means is one or more piezoelectric transducers that are securely mounted on the carriers for conjoint movement therewith. A method for thermal ablation therapy using ultrasound energy involves positioning an ultrasound device in an undeployed position proximate to tissue to be heated; moving the ultrasound device from its undeployed position to a deployed position; and activating the ultrasound device to emit ultrasound energy for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An electrode instrument is provided and includes an electrode head and a pair of electrodes for emitting RF energy for use in thermal ablation therapy. The electrodes are movable between a collapsed configuration and deployed configuration. When collapsed, the electrodes are proximate to each other, and when deployed, the electrodes are spaced apart from each other. The electrode instrument includes linkage mechanisms that are used to maintain the electrodes in their deployed configuration.