Abstract: An automated injera baking apparatus that includes a support frame, a rotating table housed within the support frame and having a circular rotating top surface that includes a plurality of injera cooking plates radially supported thereon, a burner assembly supported underneath the circular rotating top surface in a fixed condition, an injera batter pour system dispensing a pre-measured shot of injera batter in a generally round and flat configuration onto each injera cooking plate rotated underneath the batter pour system during the operation of the circular rotating top surface, a cover transfer arm repeatedly removing a cover from a cooking plate containing a cooked injera batter and transferring the cover onto one of the cooking plates containing the uncooked injera batter to assist in the shaping and even cooking of the uncooked injera batter, and an automated injera removal robotic arm located proximal the support frame.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device is provided that includes a probe extending in a longitudinal direction and having a proximal region and a distal region. An inner diameter of the probe defines a lumen. The probe has an electrically insulated portion extending from the proximal region to the distal region and an electrically exposed conductive portion located at the distal region. The electrically exposed conductive portion delivers radiofrequency energy to an area of tissue adjacent the distal region. The device also includes a heat transfer system for removing thermal energy from the area of tissue that is in thermal contact with the area of tissue. The heat transfer system removes from about 0.1 Watts to about 50 Watts of energy from the tissue. In addition, the heat transfer system can sufficiently draw heat away from the tissue without the use of a peristaltic pump for circulating a liquid inside the lumen.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a target nerve associated with a facet joint via nerve stimulation and monitoring of electrical muscle activity in a multifidus muscle adjacent the target nerve are described. The system includes a probe housed within a cannula and comprising a probe electrode; a recording electrode for monitoring electrical muscle activity in a medial fascicle of the multifidus muscle; a signal generator; and a controller coupled to the probe electrode and recording electrode. The controller delivers a nerve stimulation from the signal generator to the nerve via the probe electrode and monitors electrical muscle activity in the medial fascicle via the recording electrode. The probe's proximity to the nerve is determined by the electrical muscle activity in the medial fascicle elicited as a result of the nerve stimulation, where the controller provides feedback to a user to guide placement of the probe adjacent the nerve.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device is provided that includes a probe extending in a longitudinal direction and having a proximal region and a distal region. An inner diameter of the probe defines a lumen. The probe has an electrically insulated portion extending from the proximal region to the distal region and an electrically exposed conductive portion located at the distal region. The electrically exposed conductive portion delivers radiofrequency energy to an area of tissue adjacent the distal region. The device also includes a heat transfer system for removing thermal energy from the area of tissue that is in thermal contact with the area of tissue. The heat transfer system removes from about 0.1 Watts to about 50 Watts of energy from the tissue. In addition, the heat transfer system can sufficiently draw heat away from the tissue without the use of a peristaltic pump for circulating a liquid inside the lumen.