Abstract: Various systems and techniques may be used for moisturizing an eye during ocular surgery. In particular implementations, a system and a technique for moisturizing an eye may include the ability to determine whether an eye should be moisturized during ocular surgery and to activate a fluid control device if an eye should be moisturized. The activation of the fluid control device may allow fluid flow from a fluid reservoir to a fluid nozzle coupled to a nozzle mounting device adapted to hold the fluid nozzle stable relative to a patient's eye. The system and the technique may also include the ability to deactivate the fluid control device.

Abstract: A heating element arrangement for a cooking appliance includes a first heating zone which is constructed to emit IR radiation in a first wavelength range, and a second heating zone which is constructed to emit IR radiation in a second wavelength range. The first wavelength range and the second wavelength range differ hereby from one another.

Abstract: A heater, in particular a high-temperature heater, for example for domestic heating appliances, in which a layer that produces heat when a current flows through is provided on a carrier material as a heating element, wherein a first electrically conductive layer which is formed from a free-flowing, non-electrically conductive base material and carbon nano tubes dispersed therein is applied to the carrier material, wherein a protective layer is applied to this first layer and at least partly penetrates into the first layer as it is applied, or wherein a functional layer with carbon nano tubes dispersed therein is applied to the carrier material, and wherein the at least one layer or the functional layer makes contact with strip-like contact elements, and the layers applied to the carrier material or the functional layer are heated.

Abstract: Vitreoretinal instruments and methods related thereto are disclosed herein. The disclosure describes various example vitreoretinal instruments having various aspirating port configurations. A vitreoretinal instrument may include a handle and a cannula coupled to the handle. The cannula may include a straight portion and a curved portion. The curved portion may be configurable between a straight configuration and a curved configuration. The curved configuration may include a first curved portion having a curvature defined by a first radius. The curved configuration may include a second curved portion having a curvature defined by a second radius different from the first radius. The curved portion may further include one or more ports formed in the curved portion.

Abstract: A heating device for a domestic appliance includes a planar carrier having an electrically-insulating carrier surface. Thermally sprayed onto the carrier surface is an electrically-conductive layer structure, and an electrically-conductive contact volume is applied onto the layer structure. The contact volume is made of conductive glue. In a method for electrically connecting the thermally sprayed layer structure, a volume of a pasty conductive glue is applied to the layer structure, and the conductive glue is allowed to solidify.

Abstract: A heating device for a domestic appliance includes a planar carrier having a carrier surface. Thermally sprayed onto the carrier surface is a layer structure, and a first solder volume is applied to the layer structure. The solder volume is an ultrasonically soldered-on solder volume. The layer structure can hereby be a heating conductor layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating tissue during a procedure performed within an eye of a patient is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a hand-held controller and an elongate member configured to be inserted into the eye of the patient. The elongate member has a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end of the elongate member being coupled to the hand-held controller. The elongate member also has a lumen extending through the length of the elongate member. The apparatus further includes a plurality of flexible grasping fibers extending through at least a portion of the lumen and beyond the distal end thereof. The grasping fibers are adjustable by the hand-held controller to advance or retract relative to the elongate member by altering a distance between distal ends of the grasping fibers and the distal end of the elongate member.

Abstract: Tissue manipulation during ocular surgery may be achieved by a variety of systems and techniques. In particular implementations, a system may include spaced apart levers, hinge members, a grasping mechanism, and a guide mechanism located between the levers. A first hinge member may extend from one of the levers to the guide mechanism and move the guide mechanism in one of a proximal or distal direction when the levers are moved toward each other. The grasping mechanism may be coupled to the guide mechanism and extend distally from the guide mechanism. A second hinge member may extend from one of the levers and be coupled to a tube that surrounds a portion of the grasping mechanism. The second hinge member distally displaces the tube when the levers are moved towards each other. The relative motion of the guide mechanism and the tube may cause actuation of the grasping mechanism.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include a hand-held instrument with an aspiration conduit extending therethrough and with an aspiration needle arranged to aspirate fluid from a surgical site. A vacuum limiter is associated with the aspiration conduit. The vacuum limiter includes an opening formed in a wall of the aspiration conduit, an actuator disposed in the opening, and a biasing element biasing the actuator to a closed position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening. The biasing element is arranged to permit the actuator to displace from the closed position to a relief position so that fluid passes through the opening when a threshold vacuum is reached within the lumen. The actuator can further displace to an override position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening.

Abstract: An insulation device for a door of domestic cooking device includes a first pane, a second pane and a frame arranged between the first pane and the second pane and connected thereto. The frame is made of a foam material, e.g. a foamed inorganic material. The foam material can be closed-pore and configured so as to be impermeable to steam.

Abstract: A heater, in particular a high-temperature heater, for example for domestic heating appliances, in which a layer that produces heat when a current flows through is provided on a carrier material as a heating element, wherein a first electrically conductive layer which is formed from a free-flowing, non-electrically conductive base material and carbon nano tubes dispersed therein is applied to the carrier material, wherein a protective layer is applied to this first layer and at least partly penetrates into the first layer as it is applied, or wherein a functional layer with carbon nano tubes dispersed therein is applied to the carrier material, and wherein the at least one layer or the functional layer makes contact with strip-like contact elements, and the layers applied to the carrier material or the functional layer are heated.

Abstract: A roller for a cooking item support system, in particular for a deployment system, of a domestic cooking appliance includes a roller body and an antifriction bearing which is accommodated at least partly in the roller body and is used for supporting the roller against or on a roller pin of the cooking item support system.

Abstract: In a method for finishing a metal surface of a component, the metal surface of a main part of the component is coated with an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer can have a layer thickness of less than 100 nm. Applied onto the intermediate layer is a transparent functional layer which has a layer thickness ranging from 100 to 1000 nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a heater, in particular a high-temperature heater and also a high-temperature heater, for example for domestic heating appliances, in which a layer that produces heat when a current flows through is provided on a carrier material (12) as a heating element (14), wherein a first electrically conductive layer (16) which is formed from a free-flowing, non-electrically conductive base material and carbon nano tubes dispersed therein is applied to the carrier material (12), wherein a protective layer (17) is applied to this first layer (16) and at least partly penetrates into the first layer (14) as it is applied, or wherein a functional layer (21) with carbon nano tubes dispersed therein is applied to the carrier material (12), and wherein the at least one layer (16, 17) or the functional layer (21) makes contact with strip-like contact elements (18), and the layers (16, 17) applied to the carrier material or the functional layer (21) are heated.

Abstract: A hand piece having an irrigation portion and an aspiration portion that are releasably coupled is disclosed. In an assembled configuration, the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion are coupled such that the hand piece may be manipulable by a user as a single unit. In a separated configuration, the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion may be utilized separate from each other. The irrigation portion and the aspiration portion may be freely moved between the assembled configuration and the separated configuration.

Abstract: A surface heater for a household appliance includes an electrically insulating insulation layer having a permittivity which changes as a function of temperature. At least one strip-shaped heat conductor is applied to the electrically insulating insulation layer, and at least one measuring electrode which is electrically insulated in relation to the at least one heat conductor is applied on a same side of the insulation layer as the heat conductor.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include a hand-held instrument with an aspiration conduit extending therethrough and with an aspiration needle arranged to aspirate fluid from a surgical site. A vacuum limiter is associated with the aspiration conduit. The vacuum limiter includes an opening formed in a wall of the aspiration conduit, an actuator disposed in the opening, and a biasing element biasing the actuator to a closed position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening. The biasing element is arranged to permit the actuator to displace from the closed position to a relief position so that fluid passes through the opening when a threshold vacuum is reached within the lumen. The actuator can further displace to an override position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening.

Abstract: An instrument includes a shaft comprising a lumen and a first arm extending from the lumen. The first arm includes a first proximal portion formed of a metal first material. The first arm also includes a first distal portion having a first tip, the first distal portion formed of a second material. The instrument also includes a second arm extending from the lumen. The second arm includes a second proximal portion formed of the metal first material. The second arm also includes a second distal portion having a second tip, the second distal portion formed of the second material. The first and second shaft engaging portions are configured to engage the shaft such that movement of the shaft with respect to the first and second arms moves the first and second arms together such that the first tip moves towards the second tip in a manner permitting grasping of tissue.

Abstract: A hand piece having an irrigation portion and an aspiration portion that are releasably coupled is disclosed. In an assembled configuration, the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion are coupled such that the hand piece may be manipulable by a user as a single unit. In a separated configuration, the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion may be utilized separate from each other. The irrigation portion and the aspiration portion may be freely moved between the assembled configuration and the separated configuration.

Abstract: An illuminated surgical instrument is disclosed. One embodiment of the illuminated surgical instrument comprises a cannula and an injection-molded light-sleeve adjacent to and encircling at least a portion of the cannula. The surgical instrument can be a vitrectomy probe having a cutting port disposed at a distal end of the cannula. The light-sleeve can terminate near a distal end of the cannula, for example, near the cutting port of the vitrectomy probe. The light-sleeve is optically coupled to a light source. The light-sleeve can be injection-molded during manufacture using the cannula as an insert for the injection molding. The light-sleeve can be oriented for providing illumination in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the instrument.