Abstract: Methods and systems for in vivo classification of tissue are disclosed. The tissue is irradiated with light from multiple light sources and light scattered and fluoresced from the tissue is received. Distinct emissions of the sample are identified from the received light. An excitation-emission matrix is generated (1002). On-diagonal and off-diagonal components of the excitation-emission matrix are identified (1004, 1006, 1008). Spectroscopic measures are derived from the excitation-emission matrix (1014), and are compared to a database of known spectra (1016) permitting the tissue to be classified as benign or malignant (1018). An optical biopsy needle or an optical probe may be used to contemporaneously classify and sample tissue for pathological confirmation of diagnosis.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire around one or more objects, such as concrete reinforcing includes a wire feed roller configured to pass a wire around the objects to form a loop, a wire twister configured to twist the sides of the loop together, and a guiding surface arranged to deflect the wire as it is being twisted so that the ends of the wire finish pointing at least partially in the direction of the objects being tied.

Abstract: A receptacle for a consumable material, such as a wire spool 2, to be loaded into a machine, such as a wire tying machine 18, comprises first and second indicating means 6, 12 for identifying the receptacle, wherein one of the indicating means 6 is separable from the receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire 46; 52 around one or more objects such as concrete reinforcing bars 2 is disclosed. It comprises means for passing the wire 46; 52 in a loop around the bars and a rotatable head 4 for twisting the ends of the loop together. The head 4 has at least one gripping means such as a variable force clutch 32 for gripping the wire, the gripping means being adapted to provide a variable gripping force so as to apply a predetermined tension to the wire during at least a first phase of twisting. Also disclosed is pre-feeding the wire between tying operations; conditioning the surface of the wire; and using the electrical conductivity of the reinforcing bars to verify that the bars are present before tying.

Abstract: Methods and systems for in vivo classification of tissue are disclosed. The tissue is irradiated with light from multiple light sources and light scattered and fluoresced from the tissue is received. Distinct emissions of the sample are identified from the received light. An excitation-emission matrix is generated (1002). On-diagonal and off-diagonal components of the excitation-emission matrix are identified (1004, 1006, 1008). Spectroscopic measures are derived from the excitation-emission matrix (1014), and are compared to a database of known spectra (1016) permitting the tissue to be classified as benign or malignant (1018). An optical biopsy needle or an optical probe may be used to contemporaneously classify and sample tissue for pathological confirmation of diagnosis.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire 46; 52 around one or more objects such as concrete reinforcing bars 2 is disclosed. It comprises means for passing the wire 46; 52 in a loop around the bars and a rotatable head 4 for twisting the ends of the loop together. The head 4 has at least one gripping means such as a variable force clutch 32 for gripping the wire, the gripping means being adapted to provide a variable gripping force so as to apply a predetermined tension to the wire during at least a first phase of twisting. Also disclosed is pre-feeding the wire between tying operations; conditioning the surface of the wire; and using the electrical conductivity of the reinforcing bars to verify that the bars are present before tying.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire (46, 52) around one or more objects such as concrete reinforcing bars (2) is disclosed. It comprises means for passing the wire (46, 52) in a loop around the bars and a rotatable head 4 for twisting the ends of the loop together. The head (4) has at least one gripping means such as a variable force clutch (32) for gripping the wire, the gripping means being adapted to provide a variable gripping force so as to apply a predetermined tension to the wire during at least a first phase of twisting. Also disclosed is pre-feeding the wire between tying operations; conditioning the surface of the wire; and using the electrical conductivity of the reinforcing bars to verify that the bars are present before tying.

Abstract: A receptacle for a consumable material, such as a wire spool 2, to be loaded into a machine, such as a wire tying machine 18, comprises first and second indicating means 6, 12 for identifying the receptacle, wherein one of the indicating means 6 is separable from the receptacle.

Abstract: A receptacle for a consumable material, such as a wire spool (2), to be loaded into a machine, such as a wire tying machine (18), comprises first and second indicating means (6, 12) for identifying the receptacle, wherein one of the indicating means (6) is separable from the receptacle.

Abstract: A machine (4) for tying a length of wire (46) around one or more objects (2) comprising a wire feed mechanism adapted to feed wire (46) from a spool during a first phase; and to withdraw the wire (46) during a second phase, said wire feed mechanism comprising a gripping mechanism (102, 103) including a pair of rollers urged together to grip the wire (46) therebetween and drive it in the appropriate direction, said gripping mechanism (102, 103) being configured such that during said second phase, increasing tension in the wire (46) automatically increases the gripping force on the wire (46).

Abstract: A machine for forming a two-stage wire tie around a pair of bars to bind the bars together. The machine comprises an arrangement for passing the wire in a loop around the bars and a twisting head for twisting the ends of the loop together. The twisting head comprises an arrangement for gripping the ends of the wire and a tie plate through which the ends of the wire pass, and the head is resiliently mounted relative to the bars so as to allow the tie plate to move through a predetermined amount of travel towards the bars, to thereby define the length of a first stage of the tie. The machine is adapted thereafter to release the ends of the wire and continue twisting these to form a second stage of the tie.

Abstract: A machine for forming a two-stage wire tie around a pair of bars to bind the bars together, said machine comprising means for passing said wire in a loop around the bars and a twisting head for twisting the ends of said loop together, said twisting head comprising means for gripping the ends of the wire and a tie plate through which the ends of the wire pass, and said head being resiliently mounted relative to the bars so as to allow the tie plate to move through a predetermined amount of travel towards the bars, to thereby define the length of a first stage of the tie, the machine being adapted thereafter to release the ends of the wire and continue twisting these to form a second stage of the tie.

Abstract: Methods and systems for in vivo classification of tissue are disclosed. The tissue is irradiated with light from multiple light sources and light scattered and fluoresced from the tissue is received. Distinct emissions of the sample are identified from the received light. An excitation emission matrix is generated (1002). On-diagonal and off diagonal components of the excitation emission matrix are identified (1004, 1006, 1008). Spectroscopic measures are derived from the excitation emission matrix (1014), and are compared to a database of known spectra (1016) permitting the tissue to be classified as benign or malignant (1018). An optical biopsy needle or an optical probe may be used to contemporaneously classify and sample tissue for pathological confirmation of diagnosis.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire around one or more objects such as concrete reinforcing bars is disclosed. It comprises means for passing the wire in a loop around the bars and a rotatable head for twisting the ends of the loop together. The head has at least one clamping member for clamping the wire. The clamping member provides a higher clamping force when tension in the wire is increases.

Abstract: A machine for forming a two-stage wire tie around a pair of bars to bind the bars together, said machine comprising means for passing said wire in a loop around the bars and a twisting head for twisting the ends of said loop together, said twisting head comprising means for gripping the ends of the wire and a tie plate through which the ends of the wire pass, and said head being resiliently mounted relative to the bars so as to allow the tie plate to move through a predetermined amount of travel towards the bars, to thereby define the length of a first stage of the tie, the machine being adapted thereafter to release the ends of the wire and continue twisting these to form a second stage of the tie.

Abstract: A machine (4) for tying a length of wire (46) around one or more objects (2) comprising a wire feed mechanism adapted to feed wire (46) from a spool during a first phase; and to withdraw the wire (46) during a second phase, said wire feed mechanism comprising a gripping mechanism (102, 103) including a pair of rollers urged together to grip the wire (46) therebetween and drive it in the appropriate direction, said gripping mechanism (102, 103) being configured such that during said second phase, increasing tension in the wire (46) automatically increases the gripping force on the wire (46).

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire (46, 52) around one or more objects such as concrete reinforcing bars (2) is disclosed. It comprises means for passing the wire (46, 52) in a loop around the bars and a rotatable head 4 for twisting the ends of the loop together. The head (4) has at least one gripping means such as a variable force clutch (32) for gripping the wire, the gripping means being adapted to provide a variable gripping force so as to apply a predetermined tension to the wire during at least a first phase of twisting. Also disclosed is pre-feeding the wire between tying operations; conditioning the surface of the wire; and using the electrical conductivity of the reinforcing bars to verify that the bars are present before tying.

Abstract: A receptacle for a consumable material, such as a wire spool (2), to be loaded into a machine, such as a wire tying machine (18), comprises first and second indicating means (6, 12) for identifying the receptacle, wherein one of the indicating means (6) is separable from the receptacle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for in vivo classification of tissue are disclosed. The tissue is irradiated with light from multiple light sources and light scattered and fluoresced from the tissue is received. Distinct emissions of the sample are identified from the received light. An excitation emission matrix is generated (1002). On-diagonal and off diagonal components of the excitation emission matrix are identified (1004, 1006, 1008). Spectroscopic measures are derived from the excitation emission matrix (1014), and are compared to a database of known spectra (1016) permitting the tissue to be classified as benign or malignant (1018). An optical biopsy needle or an optical probe may be used to contemporaneously classify and sample tissue for pathological confirmation of diagnosis.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for interfacing multiple protocol stacks in a communication network utilizes a virtual circuit subsystem to interconnect protocol stacks internally within a network device. The virtual circuit subsystem establishes a virtual connection between at least a first protocol of a first protocol stack and a second protocol of a second protocol stack. The virtual circuit subsystem enables messages to be exchanged between the first protocol of the first protocol stack and the second protocol of the second protocol stack over the virtual connection. Specifically, the virtual circuit subsystem converts a transmitted message received from the first protocol into a received message for the second protocol, and converts a transmitted message received from the second protocol into a received message for the first protocol.