Abstract: The present application relates to a device (10) for cutting hair. The device has a skin contacting face (13) that is arranged to be placed against a surface of the skin of a user during use. An optical system (20) directs a cutting laser beam (18) across a cutting zone (15) parallel to and spaced from said skin contacting face (13) to cut hairs extending into the cutting zone (15). A laser beam sensor (40) is configured to generate information indicative of one or more optical properties of the cutting laser beam (18). A controller (40) is configured to adjust one or more characteristics of the optical system (20) in dependence on the information generated by the laser beam sensor (40). The present invention also relates to a method of cutting hair and a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the method to be performed.

Abstract: The present application relates to a device (10) for cutting hair. The device (10) has a skin contacting face (13) that is arranged to be placed against a surface of the skin (16) of a user during use, and an optical system (20) configured to direct a cutting laser beam (18) across a cutting zone (15) parallel to and spaced from said skin contacting face (13) to cut hairs (17) extending into the cutting zone (15). The device also has a detector (40) configured to generate information indicative of the presence of one or more objects representative of hair (17) and/or skin (16) in the cutting zone (15), and a controller (27). The controller (27) is able to determine the presence of one or more objects representative of hair (17) and/or skin (16) in the cutting zone (15) and to adjust one or more characteristics of the optical system (20) in dependence on the information generated by the detector (40).

Abstract: The present application relates to a cutting head (1) for a device for cutting hair. The cutting head has an optical system (3) which directs a laser beam (7) across a cutting zone (8) in the cutting head. The laser beam has a fast and a slow axis. The optical system has a focus lens (6) configured to form a first focal point (11) of the laser beam in the cutting zone. In one embodiment, the optical system (3) also has a focusing element (15) which refocuses the laser beam to form a second focal point (16) of the laser beam in the cutting zone. In another embodiment, the focus lens forms a focal length of the laser beam in the cutting zone along its fast axis which is greater than a focal length of the laser beam in the cutting zone along its slow axis.

Abstract: The present application relates to a cutting head (1) for a device for cutting hair. The cutting head has an optical system (3) which directs a laser beam (7) across a cutting zone (8) in the cutting head. The laser beam has a fast and a slow axis. The optical system has a focus lens (6) configured to form a first focal point (11) of the laser beam in the cutting zone. In one embodiment, the optical system (3) also has a focusing element (15) which refocuses the laser beam to form a second focal point (16) of the laser beam in the cutting zone. In another embodiment, the focus lens forms a focal length of the laser beam in the cutting zone along its fast axis which is greater than a focal length of the laser beam in the cutting zone along its slow axis.

Abstract: A device for heating up a cup, comprising a steam conduit (3) for guiding steam into the cup (1), and comprising a water suction conduit (8) for sucking water out of the cup (1). Preferably, the water suction conduit (8) is connected with the steam conduit (3) in such a manner that the flow of steam through the steam conduit (3) sucks water and/or air out of the water suction conduit (8).

Abstract: An optical analysis disc includes grooves defining corresponding laser-readable tracks and trigger marks that identify respective target regions on the disc. The trigger marks are implemented as a radial interruption of the grooves to thereby produce an increased reflection of a laser beam. There is also provided an optical analysis disc system including a trigger mechanism having a trigger detector adapted to detect interruptions in grooves of an optical analysis disc. A related method for triggering through interrupted grooves of an optical analysis disc includes detecting interruption in the grooves, generating an electrical reflection signal corresponding to the interruptions detected, and elaborating said reflection signal, so that to generate a trigger signal.

Abstract: An optical analysis disc includes grooves defining corresponding laser-readable tracks and trigger marks that identify respective target regions on the disc. The trigger marks are implemented as a radial interruption of the grooves to thereby produce an increased reflection of a laser beam. There is also provided an optical analysis disc system including a trigger mechanism having a trigger detector adapted to detect interruptions in grooves of an optical analysis disc. A related method for triggering through interrupted grooves of an optical analysis disc includes detecting interruption in the grooves, generating an electrical reflection signal corresponding to the interruptions detected, and elaborating said reflection signal, so that to generate a trigger signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to molecular and cellular biomagnetic assays and, in particular, to molecular and cellular biomagnetic assays conducted on magneto-optical bio-discs. The invention further relates to magneto-optical bio-disc systems including the magneto-optical bio-discs and MO drives. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiments hereinafter described in accordance with the best mode of practice, this invention relates to biomagnetic methods, including immunomagnetic methods, for detection and selective manipulation of specific target cells in cell populations and solutions of cell populations, using magnetic particles or beads, and to magnetically guided neurite growth, nerve regeneration, and magnetically formed neural networks using the MOBDS.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed at many implementations of detectors utilized in bio-drives and in combination with a variety of different optical analysis discs or optical bio-discs. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the detector is a multi-segmented detector. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the detector is a radially long split detector. The detectors are segmented to implement noise-cancellation mechanism that enhances the overall signal-to-noise ratio. The detector embodiments produce clear and distinguishable signals that allow cell counting to be conducted efficiently in hardware. Another embodiment is a cost-efficient analyzer named a biological compact disc (BCD™) analyzer that comprises an optical disc drive and a controller into which is placed a field programmable gate array (FPGA) where all the digital logic is performed.

Abstract: Methods for decreasing non-specific bindings of beads in dual bead assays and related optical bio-discs and disc drive systems. Methods include identifying whether a target agent is present in a biological sample and mixing capture beads each having at least one transport probe affixed thereto, reporter beads each having at least one signal probe affixed thereto, and a biological sample. Mixing is performed under binding conditions to permit formation of a dual bead complex if the target agent is present in the sample. The reporter bead and capture bead each are bound to the target agent. Denaturing the target agent and keeping it in the denatured form by use of a specialized hybridization buffer is also provided. A denaturing agent is guanidine isothiocynate.

Abstract: Analysis of samples is done using an optical bio-disc that has a transmissive layer on its operational features. The layer is semi-reflective, allowing a laser to go through operational features to provide better characterization of samples as more refracted and scattered light is detected by a detector on the disc drive. Optically, the transmitted beam can be detected without taking into account the effect of polarization. Also the transmissive property allows a disc drive to have a larger detector to better detect light scattered by investigation features on the disc. When the topmost layer of the disc is refractive, the disc drive has a detector above the disc to capture images or signals from target zones on the disc, and a detector below to capture the reflected laser for operational functions. When the topmost layer of the disc is reflective, the disc drive has both detectors mentioned supra below the disc.