Abstract: A method and apparatus for surgically repairing a tear in soft tissue is disclosed. A plurality of collapsible tubes are positioned about the suture. The collapsible tubes are pushed through soft tissue and orthopedic mesh on opposite sides of a tear in soft tissue. When tension is applied to the suture, the tubes are compressed to fix the suture to the soft tissue and draw the soft tissue portions together.

Abstract: A utensil for use in preparing foods in a microwave oven comprises a microwave transparent, nonconductive, ceramic, opentop food receiving vessel, a microwave transparent, nonconductive, ceramic cover for closing the open top of the vessel, special glaze or coating sintered onto at least the interior surfaces of the vessel and cover or onto both the interior and exterior surfaces thereof; the glaze or coating being comprised of a dielectric matrix and semiconductive particles dispersed throughout the matrix; the percent loading of the conductive particles in the matrix being such that the food contained in the vessel is partially shielded from microwave energy and the glaze absorbs microwave energy and the glaze absorbs microwave energy and converts it to thermal energy concentrated at the utensil so that the outside surface of the food is browned and crisped and the food is cooked from the outside to the inside by the heat transferred to the food from the utensil, as well as being cooked in part from the ins

Abstract: A bulk RF absorber and a method for constructing same. The absorber is composed of multiple sheets of a reticulated dielectric material, each sheet being coated with at least one layer of radiation absorbing material to create a radiation absorption gradient across a width dimension of the sheet. The sheets are stacked with their respective absorption gradients aligned to form the bulk absorber. In one embodiment, the coated sheets are constructed by lengthwise feeding the dielectric material through a sputtering region and interposing a partial mask between the sputtering material and the face of the dielectric material. The contour of an edge of the mask, the sputtering rate and feed rate determine the resulting absorption gradient of the coated dielectric material. In another embodiment, a dipping process is used to coat each sheet with radiation absorbing material.

Abstract: A bulk RF absorber and a method for constructing same. The absorber is composed of multiple sheets of a reticulated dielectric material, each sheet being coated with at least one layer of radiation absorbing material to create a radiation absorption gradient across a width dimension of the sheet. The sheets are stacked with their respective absorption gradients aligned to form the bulk absorber. In one embodiment, the coated sheets are constructed by lengthwise feeding the dielectric material through a sputtering region and interposing a partial mask between the sputtering material and the face of the dielectric material. The contour of an edge of the mask, the sputtering rate and feed rate determine the resulting absorption gradient of the coated dielectric material. In another embodiment, a dipping process is used to coat each sheet with radiation absorption material.

Abstract: New porous semiconductor dopant carriers are disclosed together with a method for the diffusion doping of semiconductors by the vapor phase transport of an n or p type dopant, such as phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, boron, gallium, aluminum, zinc, silicon, tellurium, tin and cadmium to the semiconductor host substrate; wherein the dopant source comprises a dopant containing porous, inert, rigid dimensionally stable and thermal shock resistant carrier comprised of SiC, elemental silicon or mixtures thereof.