Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid comprising a mixture of: (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from the first component; (c) irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid blocked polymer scaffold and advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form a three-dimensional intermediate having the same shape as, or a shape to be imparted to, the three-dimensional object, with the intermediate containing the second solidifiable component; and then (d) solidifying and/or curing the second solidifiable component to form from said three-dimensional intermediate the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A substrate is patterned by performing immersion lithography on a photoresist layer on the substrate using carbon dioxide. The immersion layer may be provided and/or removed and/or the photoresist layer may be developed, dried and/or removed using carbon dioxide. The immersion layer can include liquid and/or solid immersion layers. The need for organic solvents in immersion lithography can thereby be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A sensor dispensing instrument includes a sensor magazine that contains a plurality of blood glucose sensors disposed in sensor slots. Each of the sensor slots is in fluid communication with a desiccant cavity in which desiccant material is disposed. The front and rear walls of the sensor magazine are sealed with burst foils so as to seal the sensor slots and the desiccant cavities. The sensor instrument has an outer housing with a laterally extending magazine opening adapted to receive the sensor magazine. A pivot rod is moved through the magazine and an indexing wheel into an operating position with a detent arm on the instrument housing engaging a detent groove on the magazine to position the magazine in a sensor feeding position. Once so positioned, a sensor push rod is pushed forward resulting in the push rod piercing the rear burst foil and engaging a sensor in one of the sensor slots to thereby push the sensor out through the front burst foil and into a testing position.

Abstract: A field monitoring device (FMD) for use in an electronic house arrest monitoring (EHAM) system has an infrared (IR) communications port concealed in the back of its housing. A strain relief fixture for the power cord covers the IR port during normal FMD operation. This strain relief fixture is removable only with a special tool. The IR port includes two small holes. Inside one hole is an infrared receiver. Inside the other hole is an infrared transmitter. Data communications with the FMD is established by optically linking a matching infrared receiver included in a coupling head of an IR adapter with the infrared transmitter within the FMD; and by similarly optically linking a matching infrared transmitter with the infrared receiver within the FMD. The IR adapter interfaces with a conventional data terminal, such as a personal computer, which data terminal functions as an external programmer for the FMD.

Abstract: A quantitative measuring instrument includes a casing with a cavity for a reagent strip handling mechanism. The mechanism includes a slide with a resiliently biased toggle member for providing snap action of the slide between an open, reagent strip loading position and a closed, quantitative measuring position. A light seal is mounted on the toggle member that engages each reagent strip in the closed position of the slide. In a first, alternative embodiment of the instrument, the slide mechanism includes a cam arm that engages cam surfaces on the instrument raising the cam arm to an open, reagent strip loading position from a closed, reagent strip holding position. In this embodiment the slide can be removed from the instrument and cleaned. In a second alternative embodiment the slide includes a first detent corresponding to a closed position of the slide and a second detent corresponding to an open position. A pair of spring fingers are mounted in the cavity of the instrument casing.