Abstract: An integrated medical waste management and treatment system may include sensors, interlocks, communications links and/or other features for determining if the waste itself, the decontaminating disinfectant used in the process, or the status of the system are consistent with recommended or authorized system operation. System operation may be terminated if a condition inconsistent with recommended or authorized system operation is detected. Such compliance apparatus may include an electronic scale for determining the weight of the waste loaded into the receiver compartment, a metal detector, or a sensor for determining if the decontaminating disinfectant is a recommended or authorized disinfectant. A communications link may be provided to transmit information to a central station or to deliver updates or commands associated with the recommended or authorized operation of each system.

Abstract: An integrated medical waste management and treatment system may include sensors, interlocks, communications links and/or other features for determining if the waste itself, the decontaminating disinfectant used in the process, or the status of the system are consistent with recommended or authorized system operation. System operation may be terminated if a condition inconsistent with recommended or authorized system operation is detected. Such compliance apparatus may include an electronic scale for determining the weight of the waste loaded into the receiver compartment, a metal detector, or a sensor for determining if the decontaminating disinfectant is a recommended or authorized disinfectant. A communications link may be provided one or more systems to transmit information to a central station to deliver updates or commands associated with the recommended or authorized operation of each system.

Abstract: Direct-metal deposition (DMD), preferably under closed-loop control, is used to fabricate alloy-variant material structures which provide a combination of desirable physical and mechanical properties. Use of the invention facilitates the production of high-strength, high-wear, and impact-resistant structures which decrease the likelihood of erosion, heat checking and brittle failure in injection molds, die casting, thixomolding and other, more exotic tooling. The invention uses DMD to deposit a first material or alloy in an area exposed to high wear, such as the tooling gate area, with a second material or alloy being used elsewhere in the tool for greater impact resistance. Advantageously, the areas may be of a user-defined thickness to further improve longevity. The resulting composite material structure has mechanical properties (i.e.

Abstract: The present invention incorporates one or more diode lasers for the high-power CO2 or Nd-YAG lasers currently used in closed-loop DMD systems. Being semiconductor-based, such devices are almost instantaneously responsive to the electrical input. As such, a DMD system driven by a diode laser according to the invention provides a much faster response compared to other sources. The faster response time, in turn, provides for enhanced dimensional control and capability to produce intricate components with better dimensional accuracy.

Abstract: Direct-metal deposition (DMD), preferably under closed-loop control, is used to fabricate alloy-variant material structures which provide a combination of desirable physical and mechanical properties. Use of the invention facilitates the production of high-strength, high-wear, and impact-resistant structures which decrease the likelihood of erosion, heat checking and brittle failure in injection molds, die casting, thixomolding and other, more exotic tooling. The invention uses DMD to deposit a first material or alloy in an area exposed to high wear, such as the tooling gate area, with a second material or alloy being used elsewhere in the tool for greater impact resistance. Advantageously, the areas may be of a user-defined thickness to further improve longevity. The resulting composite material structure has mechanical properties (i.e.

Abstract: A laser-assisted, direct metal deposition (DMD™), preferably in a closed-loop arrangement, is used to fabricate designed articles and tools such as molds and tools with improved properties. According to the method of the invention, a substrate is provided having a surface, onto which a layer of a material is deposited having the desired characteristic using the laser-assisted DMD process. In different embodiments, the substrate/layer combination may be tailored for improved wear resistance, thermal conductivity, density/hardness, corrosion and/or resistance to corrosion, oxidation or other undesirable effects. Alternatively, the layer of material may be tailored to have a phase which is different from that of the substrate. In particular, the layer material itself may be chosen to promote a phase which is different from that of the substrate. In the preferred embodiment, a closed-loop, laser-assisted DMD process is deployed to build the substrate on an incremental basis.

Abstract: Continuously adjustable focusing optics for use in laser-assisted direct metal deposition (DMD™) processes provide for adaptive deposition width to increase deposition rate while maintaining the dimensional tolerances. The focusing optics and method may be adapted for variable deposition road width under closed-loop feedback, so that complicated features may be fabricated with close tolerance, stress and microstructure control to improve the lead-time and design flexibility. The preferred embodiment uses adaptive mirror arrangements and beam movement for variable deposition width and geometry. Conceptually, an infinite number of mirror arrangements can be made to adapt to a particular deposit shape.

Abstract: Continuously adjustable focusing optics for use in laser-assisted direct metal deposition (DMD™) processes provide for adaptive deposition width to increase deposition rate while maintaining the dimensional tolerances. The focusing optics and method may be adapted for variable deposition road width under closed-loop feedback, so that complicated features may be fabricated with close tolerance, stress and microstructure control to improve the lead-time and design flexibility. The preferred embodiment uses adaptive mirror arrangements and beam movement for variable deposition width and geometry. Conceptually, an infinite number of mirror arrangements can be made to adapt to a particular deposit shape.

Abstract: A laser-assisted, direct metal deposition (DMD™), preferably in a closed-loop arrangement, is used to fabricate designed articles and tools such as molds and tools with improved properties. According to the method of the invention, a substrate is provided having a surface, onto which a layer of a material is deposited having the desired characteristic using the laser-assisted DMD process. In different embodiments, the substrate/layer combination may be tailored for improved wear resistance, thermal conductivity, density/hardness, corrosion and/or resistance to corrosion, oxidation or other undesirable effects. Alternatively, the layer of material may be tailored to have a phase which is different from that of the substrate. In particular, the layer material itself may be chosen to promote a phase which is different from that of the substrate. In the preferred embodiment, a closed-loop, laser-assisted DMD process is deployed to build the substrate on an incremental basis.

Abstract: Direct-metal deposition (DMD), preferably under closed-loop control, is used to fabricate alloy-variant material structures which provide a combination of desirable physical and mechanical properties. Use of the invention facilitates the production of high-strength, high-wear, and impact-resistant structures which decrease the likelihood of erosion, heat checking and brittle failure in injection molds, die casting, thixomolding and other, more exotic tooling. The invention uses DMD to deposit a first material or alloy in an area exposed to high wear, such as the tooling gate area, with a second material or alloy being used elsewhere in the tool for greater impact resistance. Advantageously, the areas may be of a user-defined thickness to further improve longevity. The resulting composite material structure has mechanical properties (i.e.

Abstract: Direct metal deposition (DMDtm) is used to fabricate customized three-dimensional artificial joint components, thereby leading to enormous savings in terms of labor, cost and lead-time. The DMD fabrication process is interfaced directly to digital data derived through CAT scans, MRI or X-ray topography. A computer-aided design (CAD) file is then constructed in accordance with the digital data, and a tool path is generated as a function of the CAD file. The desired implant, or a portion thereof (such as just the outer surface) is then be fabricated by depositing material increments along the tool path using direct metal deposition (DMD). The process may be used for both solid and scaffold structure suitable to bone ingrowth or ongrowth. In the preferred mbodiment, a closed-loop DMD process is used wherein the size of the increments are controlled through optical monitoring. The materials forming the implant may include one or more metals, polymers, or ceramics, including zirconia or alumina.

Abstract: The present invention incorporates one or more diode lasers for the high-power CO2 or Nd-YAG lasers currently used in closed-loop DMD systems. Being semiconductor-based, such devices are almost instantaneously responsive to the electrical input. As such, a DMD system driven by a diode laser according to the invention provides a much faster response compared to other sources. The faster response time, in turn, provides for enhanced dimensional control and capability to produce intricate components with better dimensional accuracy.