Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extruding a dental filling material into a tooth. The extrusion is accomplished by harnessing a combination of motor power (such as from an electrical motor) and spring loaded power. This combination overcomes the shortcomings of each of these power sources. In addition, because this combination significantly reduces battery power requirements, it allows for more thermal heating, down-packing, and obturation to be performed than would otherwise be possible.

Abstract: A tool recognition system includes a tool and a dental drill. The tool includes a fluted portion and a shank portion. The tool has one or more colored identifiers at least partially circumscribing a part of the shank portion. The dental drill includes a tool rotating portion, a light transmitter located in the tool rotating portion, and a light sensor. With the tool removably coupled to the tool rotating portion, the one or more colors present a sequence of one or more colors to the light sensor for identifying the tool to the light sensor when the tool rotates a predetermined number of turns. The dental drill includes a handpiece and a console in another embodiment.

Abstract: A reactive acoustic dampener includes a nested three chambered configuration and connecting tubes that may be fully integrated into the fuel rail of a fuel injection system.

Abstract: A reactive acoustic dampener includes a nested three chambered configuration and connecting tubes that may be fully integrated into the fuel rail of a fuel injection system.

Abstract: A radiation detector package includes a radiation-sensitive solid-state element (10) having a first electrode (12) and a pixelated second electrode (14) disposed on opposite principal surfaces of the solid-state element. An electronics board (20) receives an electrical signal from the solid-state element responsive to radiation incident upon the radiation-sensitive solid-state element. A light-tight shield (40, 40?) shields at least the radiation-sensitive solid-state element from light exposure and compresses an insulating elastomer and metal element connector (30, 32) between the pixilated electrode (14) and contact pads (24) on the electronics board.

Abstract: A detector (20) for a nuclear imaging system (10) includes a plurality of sockets (44) which each support an array of individual detector elements (48). Each socket (44) includes a plurality of electrical connectors (54) and socket alignment structures (72). The sockets (44), carrying the detector elements (48), are installed onto a circuit board (40). The circuit board (40) includes a plurality of electrical conductive openings (52) which electrically connect with the electrical connectors (54) and alignment structures (74) which mate with the socket alignment structures (72) to align the sockets (44) and the individual detector elements (48) to the circuit board (40). A collimator (24) is mounted and aligned to a frame (60). The frame (60) and the circuit board (40) each include aligning structures to align the collimator (24) to the circuit board (40) and the individual detector elements (48).

Abstract: A nuclear camera system (10) includes a gantry (22, 23) disposed about an examination region (17) having detector heads (15 a,b,c) mounted to the gantry. The detector heads (15) include an enclosure (30, 34, 54, 56) defining a volume (61). A plurality of solid state detectors (40) are arranged in an array (36) within the enclosure volume. A first cold plate (46) is in thermally conductive contact with the plurality of solid state detectors. A first Peltier cooler (50) is in thermally conductive contact with the first cold plate, the first Peltier cooler provides for cooling the plurality of detectors in the array. A second cold plate (47) is located within the enclosure and is thermally insulated from first cold plate. A second Peltier cooler (52) is in thermally conductive contact with the second cold plate, the second Peltier cooler for removing moisture from the volume (61). A heat sink (56) is in thermally conductive contact with the first and second Peltier coolers.

Abstract: A nuclear camera system (10) includes a gantry (22, 23) disposed about an examination region (17) having detector heads (15 a,b,c) mounted to the gantry. The detector heads (15) include an enclosure (30, 34, 54, 56) defining a volume (61). A plurality of solid state detectors (40) are arranged in an array (36) within the enclosure volume. A first cold plate (46) is in thermally conductive contact with the plurality of solid state detectors. A first Peltier cooler (50) is in thermally conductive contact with the first cold plate, the first Peltier cooler provides for cooling the plurality of detectors in the array. A second cold plate (47) is located within the enclosure and is thermally insulated from first cold plate. A second Peltier cooler (52) is in thermally conductive contact with the second cold plate, the second Peltier cooler for removing moisture from the volume (61). A heat sink (56) is in thermally conductive contact with the first and second Peltier coolers.