Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for maintaining a level set of a pulmonary artery catheterization apparatus that includes a pulmonary artery pressure sensor in communication with a pulmonary artery catherization manifold affixed to a pulmonary artery catheter. The method includes calibrating leveling of the pulmonary artery pressure sensor (at the level of the right atrium) with the pulmonary artery catheterization manifold by recording a vertical level of a leveling base positioned at a common level to the manifold, relative to a vertical level of a leveling sensor positioned at a common level to the pulmonary artery pressure sensor. The method further includes monitoring a difference between the recorded vertical level of the leveling base relative to the vertical level of the leveling sensor. Finally, the method includes generating an alert in a user interface element of the leveling sensor in response to the monitored difference exceeding a threshold value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for maintaining a level set of a pulmonary artery catheterization apparatus that includes a pulmonary artery pressure sensor in communication with a pulmonary artery catherization manifold affixed to a pulmonary artery catheter. The method includes calibrating leveling of the pulmonary artery pressure sensor (at the level of the right atrium) with the pulmonary artery catheterization manifold by recording a vertical level of a leveling base positioned at a common level to the manifold, relative to a vertical level of a leveling sensor positioned at a common level to the pulmonary artery pressure sensor. The method further includes monitoring a difference between the recorded vertical level of the leveling base relative to the vertical level of the leveling sensor. Finally, the method includes generating an alert in a user interface element of the leveling sensor in response to the monitored difference exceeding a threshold value.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for radiometry in dental applications. The disclosed systems include a radiometer, a dental curing light, a composite material reader, and a restoration data storage device, where one or more of the radiometer, dental curing light, composite material reader, and restoration data storage device include one or more communication modules that enable wireless communication between one or more components. The radiometer is preferably programmed to determine the change in a rate of cure of a light-curable composite material and thereby determine whether an optimum cure time has been reached for the light-curable composite material. The communication modules may be used to transmit information between the radiometer and the curing light, and between one or more of the radiometer and curing light and one or more of the composite material reader and restoration data storage device.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for radiometry in dental applications. The disclosed systems include a radiometer, a dental curing light, a composite material reader, and a restoration data storage device, where one or more of the radiometer, dental curing light, composite material reader, and restoration data storage device include one or more communication modules that enable wireless communication between one or more components. The radiometer is preferably programmed to determine the change in a rate of cure of a light-curable composite material and thereby determine whether an optimum cure time has been reached for the light-curable composite material. The communication modules may be used to transmit information between the radiometer and the curing light, and between one or more of the radiometer and curing light and one or more of the composite material reader and restoration data storage device.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a liner positioned within a compressor section or a turbine section of the gas turbine engine and at least partially defining a core air flowpath through the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine also includes a casing at least partially enclosing the liner. Additionally, the gas turbine engine includes a pressure sensor assembly having a body, an extension member, and a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is positioned at least partially within the body and the body is positioned at least partially on an outer side of the casing, the extension member extending from the body through a casing opening in the casing and towards a liner opening in the liner. The extension member defines a continuous sense cavity exposing the pressure sensor to the core air flowpath.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for radiometry in dental applications. The disclosed systems include a radiometer, a dental curing light, a composite material reader module, and a restoration data storage device, where one or more of the radiometer, dental curing light, composite material reader module, and restoration data storage device include one or more communication modules that enable wireless communication between one or more of the radiometer, curing light, composite material reader module, and restoration data storage device. In some preferred embodiments, the radiometer includes at least one communication module and the curing light includes at least one communication module. In such embodiments, the communication modules may be used to transmit information between the radiometer and the curing light, and between one or more of the radiometer and curing light and one or more of the composite material reader module and restoration data storage device.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a device used to determine the optimal post-curing exposure time for 3D printed products and methods of using the same. The disclosed device is a self-contained multi-chamber radiometer for continuous monitoring of electromagnetic radiation transmitted through 3D printed objects during a post-curing process. The device includes multiple detector ports, including a control port and one or more sample ports. The detector ports may preferably be photocells configured to generate a voltage proportional to the intensity of the incident electromagnetic radiation at specific wavelength(s). The transmittance is directly correlated with the voltage and may be measured using the determined voltages. The disclosed device may further comprise a microprocessor, a memory module for storage of data obtained by the sensors, and one or more communication modules configured to enable wireless communication with a data storage device such as a computer.

Abstract: A combination heater assembly made of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material such as barium titanate ceramic that may be self-regulating. A dental compule may be generally cylindrical, or another shape, and may hold a dental (e.g. composite) material. The compule may be made from conventional plastic or thermally conductive plastic. A compule may also be made from electrically conductive plastic that is self-heating when an electric current is passed through the compule. A compule may be generally cylindrical and include an electrically conductive polymer that may exhibit PTC characteristics while generating heat when electric current is applied to the polymer through two flat contact areas each disposed along one portion of the generally cylindrical compule, an orifice or opening positioned at one end of the compule, an inner chamber; and extrudable dental material held within the inner chamber.

Abstract: A combination heater assembly made of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material such as barium titanate ceramic that may be self-regulating. A dental compule may be generally cylindrical, or another shape, and may hold a dental (e.g. composite) material. The compule may be made from conventional plastic or thermally conductive plastic. A compule may also be made from electrically conductive plastic that is self-heating when an electric current is passed through the compule. A compule may be generally cylindrical and include an electrically conductive polymer that may exhibit PTC characteristics while generating heat when electric current is applied to the polymer through two flat contact areas each disposed along one portion of the generally cylindrical compule, an orifice or opening positioned at one end of the compule, an inner chamber; and extrudable dental material held within the inner chamber.

Abstract: A heater assembly made of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material such as barium titanate ceramic that may be self-regulating. A dental compule that holds a dental (e.g. composite) material may be made from thermally conductive plastic and/or electrically conductive plastic that is self-heating when an electric current is passed through the compule. A compule may be generally cylindrical and include an electrically conductive polymer that may exhibit PTC characteristics while generating heat when electric current is applied to the polymer, two flat contact areas each disposed along one portion of the generally cylindrical compule, an orifice or opening positioned at one end of the compule, an inner chamber; and extrudable dental material held within the inner chamber.

Abstract: A heater assembly made of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material such as barium titanate ceramic that may be self-regulating. A dental compule that holds a dental (e.g. composite) material may be made from thermally conductive plastic and/or electrically conductive plastic that is self-heating when an electric current is passed through the compule. A compule may be generally cylindrical and include an electrically conductive polymer that may exhibit PTC characteristics while generating heat when electric current is applied to the polymer, two flat contact areas each disposed along one portion of the generally cylindrical compule, an orifice or opening positioned at one end of the compule, an inner chamber; and extrudable dental material held within the inner chamber.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a liner positioned within a compressor section or a turbine section of the gas turbine engine and at least partially defining a core air flowpath through the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine also includes a casing at least partially enclosing the liner. Additionally, the gas turbine engine includes a pressure sensor assembly having a body, an extension member, and a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is positioned at least partially within the body and the body is positioned at least partially on an outer side of the casing, the extension member extending from the body through a casing opening in the casing and towards a liner opening in the liner. The extension member defines a continuous sense cavity exposing the pressure sensor to the core air flowpath.

Abstract: The shade matching method and device of the subject invention is to be used by dentists and dental professionals to help in determining the correct shade of porcelain crowns, composite fillings and other cosmetically critical dental restorations. Based on the principle of metamerism, the method consists of using a light source for generating a light spectrum in at least two distinct wavelength spectra in sequence under the control of the operator of the light source inclusive of a first wavelength spectrum corresponding to daylight to enable the dentist or dental professional to perform a shade match the way a patient would view their restoration outside of a dental office in a real world environment and then switching to a second wavelength spectrum corresponding to either room light or ambient light.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the correct shade for porcelain crowns, composite fillings and other dental restorations comprising generating a light spectrum in at least two distinct wavelength spectra in sequence under the control of the operator of the light source generating the light spectrum with light in the first wavelength spectrum corresponding to daylight to enable the dentist or dental professional to perform a shade match the way a patient would view their restoration outside of a dental office in a real world environment and then switching to a second wavelength spectrum corresponding to either room light or ambient light.

Abstract: An optical screening device for detecting abnormal skin tissue indicative of disease including a handle having an elongated stem adapted for holding the optical screening device in one hand and a head for housing an array of light emitting diodes with each diode in the array being spaced apart to form a given geometry with each diode selected to emit light in a wavelength range between 340 nm to 470 nm; a high pass filter supported by said handle in close proximity to said array of light emitting diodes with the filter being of a size to provide a defined viewable area for visibly detecting irradiated light reflected from skin tissue under observation and adapted to block light at least below 400 nm; and a source of electrical power for energizing said array of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An optical screening device for detecting abnormal skin tissue indicative of disease including a handle having an elongated stem adapted for holding the optical screening device in one hand and a head for housing an array of light emitting diodes with each diode in the array being spaced apart to form a given geometry with each diode selected to emit light in a wavelength range between 340 nm to 470 nm; a high pass filter supported by said handle in close proximity to said array of light emitting diodes with the filter being of a size to provide a defined viewable area for visibly detecting irradiated light reflected from skin tissue under observation and adapted to block light at least below 380 nm; and a source of electrical power for energizing said array of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: A radiometer and method for providing an indication of the amount of time (exposure duration) needed to cause a light curable dental resin composite material to maximally polymerize in response to the application of light from any light-curing source during the preparation of a dental restoration. It describes a radiometer comprising a sample holder of a size designed to hold a sample equivalent of said dental light curable dental material such that the thickness of the sample of light curable material in the sample holder will correspond to the depth of the composite material in the dental restoration; a solid state light sensor; a microprocessor programmed to respond to the output voltage or change in electrical resistance of the light sensor based upon an algorithm defining a mathematical model representative of the change in light transmission through the light curable dental material as a function of the degree to which said light curable dental material is being polymerized.

Abstract: A compule for storing dental composite material to be extruded from the compule using a standard dispenser in the preparation or repair of a dental restoration. The compule comprises: a cylindrical body having an orifice at one end thereof through which the dental composite material is extruded and a means at the opposite end thereof to facilitate the extrusion of said dental composite material using the dispenser. The body of the compule is composed of an electrically conductive plastic or alternatively may be composed of a thermally and electrically conductive plastic having a thermal conductivity in the range of between 1.0 w/mk and 500 w/mk and an electrical resistivity in the range 0.01–10,000 ohm-cm.

Abstract: The elastomeric member of the present invention is a flexible light guide and curing aid, which permits pressure to be applied to a photo curable material during the clinical restoration of a tooth while simultaneously curing the material by exposing the photo curable material to light. The method of the present invention permits the high forces developed between the occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth when engaged to be utilized to create the applied pressure on the photo curable material. The elastomeric member is soft and has an optically transparent body with a first section having first and second opposing planar surfaces adapted for placement in lateral juxtaposition between the occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth of human dentition and a second section extending from the first section adapted to facilitate contact with a dental light guide while the opposing teeth are engaged.