Abstract: A smoke detector includes a tamper indicator that can prevent a cover from at least partially covering a battery location and/or mounting of a detector body to a detector mount if a battery is not located at the battery location of the detector body. The detector mount and/or cover can engage with the detector body by relative rotation about an engagement axis, and the tamper indicator can pivot about a pivot axis that is parallel to the engagement axis and/or move along a linear path. The tamper indicator can prevent engagement of a portion of the detector mount, such as an intermediate component between the detector body and a base of the detector mount, with the detector body. The intermediate component can at least partially cover the battery location when engaged with the detector body. The base of the detector mount can engage with the detector body via the intermediate component.

Abstract: A smoke detector includes a tamper indicator that can prevent a cover from at least partially covering a battery location and/or mounting of a detector body to a detector mount if a battery is not located at the battery location of the detector body. The detector mount and/or cover can engage with the detector body by relative rotation about an engagement axis, and the tamper indicator can pivot about a pivot axis that is parallel to the engagement axis and/or move along a linear path. The tamper indicator can prevent engagement of a portion of the detector mount, such as an intermediate component between the detector body and a base of the detector mount, with the detector body. The intermediate component can at least partially cover the battery location when engaged with the detector body. The base of the detector mount can engage with the detector body via the intermediate component.

Abstract: A system and method for jetting a viscous material includes an electronic controller and a jetting dispenser operatively coupled with the electronic controller. The jetting dispenser includes an outlet orifice and a piezoelectric actuator operatively coupled with a movable shaft. The jetting dispenser is under control of the electronic controller for causing said piezoelectric actuator to move the shaft and jet an amount of the viscous material from the outlet orifice. The electronic controller sends a waveform to the piezoelectric actuator to optimize control of the jetting operation.

Abstract: A smoke detector includes a tamper indicator that can prevent a cover from at least partially covering a battery location and/or mounting of a detector body to a detector mount if a battery is not located at the battery location of the detector body. The detector mount and/or cover can engage with the detector body by relative rotation about an engagement axis, and the tamper indicator can pivot about a pivot axis that is parallel to the engagement axis and/or move along a linear path. The tamper indicator can prevent engagement of a portion of the detector mount, such as an intermediate component between the detector body and a base of the detector mount, with the detector body. The intermediate component can at least partially cover the battery location when engaged with the detector body. The base of the detector mount can engage with the detector body via the intermediate component.

Abstract: A projector or system for assisting in a removal of 3D printed molds from a print chamber. The projector is operative to receive a file in a format compatible for a 3D printer. The projector further receives input corresponding to a location of the prototype contained in a powder box and input corresponding to a profile of powder contained across a surface of the associated powder box. Using the location, a portion of the prototype located immediately beneath a surface of powder in the powder box is determined. A distance of the portion to a selected region of the top surface is also determined. A cue is generated based on the distance. The projector generates an image of the extracted layer and projects the image onto the surface of the associated powder box. The image comprises at least one color coded region within a proximity of the portion, where a color of the color coded region is based on the cue.

Abstract: A system and method for jetting a viscous material includes an electronic controller and a jetting dispenser operatively coupled with the electronic controller. The jetting dispenser includes an outlet orifice and a piezoelectric actuator operatively coupled with a movable shaft. The jetting dispenser is under control of the electronic controller for causing said piezoelectric actuator to move the shaft and jet an amount of the viscous material from the outlet orifice. The electronic controller sends a waveform to the piezoelectric actuator to optimize control of the jetting operation.

Abstract: A system and method for jetting a viscous material includes an electronic controller and a jetting dispenser operatively coupled with the electronic controller. The jetting dispenser includes an outlet orifice and a piezoelectric actuator operatively coupled with a movable shaft. The jetting dispenser is under control of the electronic controller for causing said piezoelectric actuator to move the shaft and jet an amount of the viscous material from the outlet orifice. The electronic controller sends a waveform to the piezoelectric actuator to optimize control of the jetting operation.

Abstract: A handheld valve dispenser includes a barrel having proximal and distal ends and a fluid chamber adapted to store a fluid. A dispense tip is coupled to the distal end of the barrel and includes a piercing element and a valve seat. The piercing element is configured to pierce the seal and establish an aperture therethrough when the dispense tip is first coupled to the barrel. A valve stem is received within the fluid chamber and is movable between a closed position in which the valve stem sealingly contacts the valve seat to prevent fluid dispense, and an open position for dispensing fluid. The barrel may include an outer barrel member and a disposable inner barrel liner removably received within the outer barrel member.

Abstract: A system and method for jetting a viscous material includes an electronic controller and a jetting dispenser operatively coupled with the electronic controller. The jetting dispenser includes an outlet orifice and a piezoelectric actuator operatively coupled with a movable shaft. The jetting dispenser is under control of the electronic controller for causing said piezoelectric actuator to move the shaft and jet an amount of the viscous material from the outlet orifice. The electronic controller sends a waveform to the piezoelectric actuator to optimize control of the jetting operation.

Abstract: A handheld valve dispenser includes a barrel having proximal and distal ends and a fluid chamber adapted to store a fluid. A dispense tip is coupled to the distal end of the barrel and includes a piercing element and a valve seat. The piercing element is configured to pierce the seal and establish an aperture therethrough when the dispense tip is first coupled to the barrel. A valve stem is received within the fluid chamber and is movable between a closed position in which the valve stem sealingly contacts the valve seat to prevent fluid dispense, and an open position for dispensing fluid. The barrel may include an outer barrel member and a disposable inner barrel liner removably received within the outer barrel member.

Abstract: A syringe for dispensing liquid materials to a substrate. In one embodiment, the syringe includes a barrel having a first end, a second end, and an interior reservoir. A piston is slidably disposed within the reservoir and is movable to increase or decrease a volume of the interior reservoir near the first end of the barrel. At least a portion of at least one of the barrel, the piston, or the dispensing tip comprises a material selected to maintain operative structural integrity of the dispensing syringe at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A syringe for dispensing liquid materials to a substrate. In one embodiment, the syringe includes a barrel having a first end, a second end, and an interior reservoir. A piston is slidably disposed within the reservoir and is movable to increase or decrease a volume of the interior reservoir near the first end of the barrel. At least a portion of at least one of the barrel, the piston, or the dispensing tip comprises a material selected to maintain operative structural integrity of the dispensing syringe at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: An apparatus for pulsed dispensing of liquid. The apparatus includes a syringe body structure communicating with an input passage for pressurized actuation air, and communicating with an exit passage for allowing discharge of the liquid. An air input passage flow air controller is operative to increase the flow rate of the input air in accordance with a relationship that depends at least partially on a reduction of liquid volume in the syringe body structure resulting from a previous pulsed dispensing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for pulsed dispensing of liquid. The apparatus includes a syringe body structure communicating with an input passage for pressurized actuation air, and communicating with an exit passage for allowing discharge of the liquid. An air input passage flow air controller is operative to increase the flow rate of the input air in accordance with a relationship that depends at least partially on a reduction of liquid volume in the syringe body structure resulting from a previous pulsed dispensing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pulsed dispensing of liquid. The apparatus includes a syringe body structure communicating with an input passage for pressurized actuation air, and communicating with an exit passage for allowing discharge of the liquid. An air input passage flow air controller is operative to increase the flow rate of the input air in accordance with a relationship that depends at least partially on a reduction of liquid volume in the syringe body structure resulting from a previous pulsed dispensing operation.

Abstract: Spinal implants and methods to repair annular defects in intervertebral discs and provide dynamic stability to the spine in the vicinity of a repaired disc are described. Some implants include head and tail portions. In some embodiments, the head portion of an implant is enlarged relative to the tail portion. Some head portions and tail portions are adapted to support adjacent vertebrae and resist collapse of the intervertebral disc. Head portions provide a spacer function to maintain separation between adjacent vertebrae. A tapered portion of some implants engages end plates of adjacent vertebrae to resist forces tending to push the implant out of the intervertebral space. The tail portion of some implants includes a tail flange (which in some embodiments is of similar diameter to the head portion) that abuts extradiscal lips of the adjacent vertebrae and resists forces tending to push the implant deeper into the intervertebral space.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pulsed dispensing of liquid. The apparatus includes a syringe body structure communicating with an input passage for pressurized actuation air, and communicating with an exit passage for allowing discharge of the liquid. An air input passage flow air controller is operative to increase the flow rate of the input air in accordance with a relationship that depends at least partially on a reduction of liquid volume in the syringe body structure resulting from a previous pulsed dispensing operation.