Abstract: Optical pointing systems, devices and methods are provided wherein a selected area on a surface is illuminated with a spot of light generated by an optical pointer, the spot being substantially invisible to unassisted human vision. The spot of light is detected and its position determined via an optical sensor, and a visible marker representing the selected area is provided on the surface, under control of an electronic interface. Surfaces of physical objects as well as displayed images are accommodated, and systems, devices and methods are provided for independent operation, as well as for integrated operation with electronic display and presentation systems.

Abstract: Devices and methods useful for suturing soft tissue to bone are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bone-suturing device is provided and can include a delivery needle, a delivery needle driving element, a capture needle, and a capture needle driving element. The delivery needle driving element and capture needle driving element can advance the delivery needle and the capture needle through soft tissue and into bone, respectively, and the paths of the delivery needle and the capture needle can intersect therein. The delivery needle can be adapted for holding a suture and the capture needle can be adapted for receiving the suture held by the delivery needle. An injection device can be provided to deliver an adhesive material into bone.

Abstract: Devices and methods useful for suturing soft tissue to bone are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bone-suturing device is provided and can include a delivery needle, a delivery needle driving element, a capture needle, and a capture needle driving element. The delivery needle driving element and capture needle driving element can advance the delivery needle and the capture needle through soft tissue and into bone, respectively, and the paths of the delivery needle and the capture needle can intersect therein. The delivery needle can be adapted for holding a suture and the capture needle can be adapted for receiving the suture held by the delivery needle. In another embodiment, an injection device can be provided to deliver an adhesive material into bone.

Abstract: Devices and methods useful for suturing soft tissue to bone are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bone-suturing device is provided and can include a delivery needle, a delivery needle driving element, a capture needle, and a capture needle driving element. The delivery needle driving element and capture needle driving element can advance the delivery needle and the capture needle through soft tissue and into bone, respectively, and the paths of the delivery needle and the capture needle can intersect therein. The delivery needle can be adapted for holding a suture and the capture needle can be adapted for receiving the suture held by the delivery needle. In another embodiment, an injection device can be provided to deliver an adhesive material into bone.

Abstract: The use of refractive optical elements to reduce or eliminate unwanted wavelength components from a laser emission. The method and apparatus described herein introduces modifications to the parallelism of one or more existing optical elements within the laser to dispersively separate wavelength components of the laser emission. According to embodiments of the invention, modifications in the parallelism can be made to the output coupler, intra-cavity polarizing optical components, and extra-cavity beamsplitter to accomplish separation of wavelength components without the introduction of additional optical components or reduction in the operating capacity of the laser. Additional optical components can be used to accomplish further separation of the wavelength components after the laser beam leaves the laser resonator.

Abstract: The use of refractive optical elements to reduce or eliminate unwanted wavelength components from a laser emission. The method and apparatus described herein introduces modifications to the parallelism of one or more existing optical elements within the laser to dispersively separate wavelength components of the laser emission. According to embodiments of the invention, modifications in the parallelism can be made to the output coupler, intra-cavity polarizing optical components, and extra-cavity beamsplitter to accomplish separation of wavelength components without the introduction of additional optical components or reduction in the operating capacity of the laser. Additional optical components can be used to accomplish further separation of the wavelength components after the laser beam leaves the laser resonator.

Abstract: An excimer laser including a discharge chamber containing a mixture of halogen, rare gas and buffer gas uses two gas sources to replenish the halogen in the discharge chamber while maintaining the concentrations of all the gases at the optimum levels. One of the gas sources, source A, contains a mixture of the rare gas and the buffer gas in optimum concentrations. The other gas source, source B, contains both the rare gas and the buffer gas, in optimum relative concentrations, and also the halogen, in a concentration which is greater than optimum. As the laser operates and the gain of the laser decreases due to halogen depletion, gas from source B is injected into the discharge chamber to raise the halogen concentration. Gas is then released from the chamber to reduce the chamber pressure to the original level.

Abstract: In the process of the invention an isotopic starting material comprising at least two isotopic forms of CF.sub.3 I and particularly a mixture of carbon-12 and carbon-13 isotopic species of CF.sub.3 I is selectively isotopically enriched by means of a laser-induced photochemical dissociation followed by chemical combination to form a compound, such as an ethylenically unsaturated compound other than CF.sub.3 I. The chemical combination takes the form of recombination of dissociation fragments or the combination of the CF.sub.3 radical with a scavenger compound. The separation is carried out by irradiating a gaseous mixture of the starting materials at a reduced pressure with laser radiation, until a significant enrichment in isotopic CF.sub.3 I is achieved. The wavelength of the radiation is selected so as to selectively excite one of the CF.sub.3 I isotopes, thereby causing the excited species to dissociate and form at least one chemical species other than CF.sub.3 I.