Abstract: A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure using an electrosurgical instrument including an end effector is disclosed. The method comprises applying a bipolar energy to a target tissue grasped by the end effector in a tissue-feathering segment, applying an energy blend of the bipolar energy and a monopolar energy to the target tissue in a tissue-warming segment and a tissue-sealing segment following the tissue-warming segment, and discontinuing the bipolar energy but continuing to apply the monopolar energy to the target tissue in a tissue-cutting segment following the tissue-sealing segment.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical disc assembly capable of receiving an insert upon which an analyte of interest may be disposed. The optical disc assembly can be read by an optical disc reader, such as by a standard CD or DVD reader, and the analyte disposed on the insert can be detected by the optical disc reader. The optical disc assembly may have one or more data layer in which operational information or assay information is encoded. Hologram may be used to encode operational information or assay information.

Abstract: An optical disc system includes a photo detector circuit of an optical disc drive and a signal processing system. The photo detector circuit is configured to generate at least one information-carrying signal from an optical disc assembly. The signal processing system is coupled to the photo detector circuit to obtain from the at least one information-carrying signal both operational information used to operate the optical disc system and data indicative of presence and/or characteristics of an investigational feature associated with the optical disc assembly. Methods and discs for imaging a biological or medical investigational feature are also provided.

Abstract: An optical disc system includes a photo detector circuit of an optical disc drive and a signal processing system. The photo detector circuit is configured to generate at least one information-carrying signal from an optical disc assembly. The signal processing system is coupled to the photo detector circuit to obtain from the at least one information-carrying signal both operational information used to operate the optical disc system and data indicative of presence and/or characteristics of an investigational feature associated with the optical disc assembly. Methods and discs for imaging a biological or medical investigational feature are also provided.

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: A turbocharger for an engine is provided. The turbocharger has a turbine and a housing enclosing the turbine. The housing has a first annular passageway and a second annular passageway. Both of the first and second annular passageways extend to the turbine. The turbocharger also has a valve mechanism disposed within an inlet of the housing. The valve mechanism has a valve element pivotally attached to a portion of the housing. The valve element is movable between a first position at which exhaust flow through the first annular passageway is blocked and a second position at which exhaust flows through both of the first and second annular passageways. A controller controls positioning of the valve element based on a sensed operational parameter of the engine and also controls functions of the engine.

Abstract: An optical disc drive for reading encoded information, such as on a CD, CD-R, or DVD, is modified to read biological or chemical investigational features from a disc. The modifications can include software changes or the addition of hardware desirably without the need to modify the disc drive electronics.

Abstract: Optical discs for diagnostic purposes include analyte material and encoded information. The analyte material is analyzed or investigated by the read beam of an optical disc drive. Tracking is maintained so that encoded information may be read by the optical disc drive assembly.

Abstract: This invention directs to an optical disc assembly configured to receive an analyte which can be detected by a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc assembly may preferably be designed so that the optical disc reader can track the disc and detect the analyte concurrently and discriminably. The optical disc assembly contains or encodes optically readable features which are trackable by the optical disc reader and which have encoded speed information enabling the optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc assembly at a determinable speed. The optical disc assembly also includes an analyte section capable of receiving the analyte that can be detected by the optical disc reader.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical disc assembly capable of receiving an insert upon which an analyte of interest may be disposed. The optical disc assembly can be read by an optical disc reader, such as by a standard CD or DVD reader, and the analyte disposed on the insert can be detected by the optical disc reader. The optical disc assembly may have one or more data layer in which operational information or assay information is encoded. Hologram may be used to encode operational information or assay information.

Abstract: A temporary or long-term provisional crown includes a shell having a top wall defining an occlusal surface, a buccal sidewall, a lingual sidewall, and opposite mesio-distal sidewalls, connected to the top wall and buccal and lingual sidewalls and spaced apart to define a central cavity to fit over a prepared tooth. A quantity of resin is disposed in the central cavity of the shell and is preferably shaped to conform to a prepared tooth. Two U-shaped windows arranged in one or both of the mesio-distal sidewalls permit resin to protrude mesio-distally from the cavity to contact an adjacent tooth. A window in the top wall extends mesio-distally to permit resin to extrude on to the occlusal surface. The occlusal window can be hourglass-shaped.

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: A process for manufacturing optical analysis discs with microfluidic structures and a disc made according thereto. The process includes the steps of providing a lens disc, patterning an intermediate adhesive layer with a pattern corresponding to predetermined microfluidic structures, providing a cover disc having molded microfluidic structures, and applying the cover disc onto the intermediate adhesive layer to match the molded microfluidic structures to the pattern to bond the cover disc onto the lens disc.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing nonoperational data acquired from optical discs, and in particular, trackable optical discs having concurrently readable nonoperational structures are provided. Analysis can involve identifying patterns in the data that reproducibly distinguish underlying structures, or identifying patterns in the data that report physical properties of the nonoperational structures. When an optical disc has a plurality of physically nonidentical concurrently readable nonoperational structures, analysis can involve identifying patterns in the data that distinguish among the physically nonidentical nonoperational structures. Also, relative physical locations of nonoperational structures on the disc can be calculated. A system for remotely analyzing data in order to expedite complex data analysis and reporting the results thereof is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extracting data from an optical analysis disc such as a bio-disc are disclosed. The process of capturing the data is controlled by a single computer. In one embodiment, a template is provided in determining the location of desired sample regions. In another embodiment, one or more ditches are obliterated on the disc in determining the location of the desired samples. In one embodiment, a user enters measured distances to a control program to indicate the sample region location. The user may specify the sample rate. The user may also specify the number of capture regions. In one embodiment, capture regions are separated by radial lines. The head of a disc drive may be maintained at a constant radial distance. This distance is maintained to cause the disc to act as a centrifuge at a desired speed.

Abstract: This invention relates to optical discs that preferably include multiple data layers and are configured to receive analytes which can be detected by an optical disc reader. The optical disc reader may be a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc may include (1) a first layer including optically readable structures which have encoded tracking information, and speed information enabling an optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc at a speed that is determinable from the speed information; (2) a second layer including optically readable structures; and (3) an analyte section capable of receiving an analyte which can be read by the optical disc reader.