Abstract: A table saw dust deflection system as disclosed herein may include a table saw, and a saw dust chute having a main receptacle and a dust exhaust channel. The saw dust chute may improve the collection of sawdust from a table saw. The table saw may include a worksurface and a saw blade extending partially through the worksurface and including an axis. The main receptacle may be shaped to receive a portion of the saw blade and may include a forward upper edge. The dust exhaust channel may include an exhaust channel opening with a forward exhaust channel edge positioned less than 90 degrees from a forwardmost cutting point of the saw blade relative to the axis of the saw blade. The forwardmost cutting point may be defined at a forward intersection point between the saw blade and the worksurface.

Abstract: An ablation probe includes an elongated body having a tapered distal end and a proximal end that are aligned along an axis; first and second electrical sensors disposed on the elongated body; and an electrode disposed on the elongated body between the first and second electrical sensors. A power source is electrically coupled to the electrical sensors and to the electrode. A computer has an input electrically coupled to the electrical sensors to receive first and second output signals, respectively, from the electrical sensors. A non-transitory computer-readable memory is operatively coupled to the computer and stores computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to: analyze an electrical characteristic measured by the first and second electrical sensors, and produce an output control signal when the electrical characteristic measured by the first and second electrical sensors indicates that the electrode is aligned with a target anatomical feature.

Abstract: A lesion control system includes a radio-frequency (RF) generator that produces RF energy having a predetermined frequency and power; a controller comprising a microprocessor; a multi-polar RF ablation probe having a plurality of electrical contacts; a plurality of RF input lines electrically coupled to an output terminal of the RF generator; a plurality of RF output lines, each RF output line electrically coupled to a respective one or more of the electrical contacts in the multi-polar RF ablation probe; an RF return line electrically coupled to a return terminal of the RF generator; and a plurality of switches, each switch having a respective terminal electrically coupled to a respective RF output line, each switch electrically coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to produce switch control signals that change a respective state of one or more of the switches to set a configuration of the multi-polar RF ablation probe.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongated body having a tapered distal end and a proximal end that are aligned along an axis; first and second electrical sensors disposed on the elongated body; an injection port on the elongated body between the first and second electrical sensors; a power source electrically coupled to the first and second electrical sensors; a computer having an input electrically coupled to the first and second electrical sensors to receive first and second output signals, respectively, from the first and second electrical sensors. The computer is configured to analyze an electrical characteristic measured by the first and second electrical sensors; and produce an output control signal when the electrical characteristic measured by the first and second electrical sensors indicates that the injection port is aligned with a target anatomical feature.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a medical procedure includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends, a double balloon attached to the distal end of the shaft, and one or more fluid lines disposed in the shaft. The double balloon includes a first balloon, a second balloon, and a bridge extending between the first and second balloons. The fluid line(s) are fluidly coupled to the double balloon and configured to change an inflation state of the double balloon.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a backlit cabinet design (10), of the type used for a hot tub or bath tub, the cabinet structure comprising an external cabinet wall or spare backlit elements (12), an internal structural wall (16), and an air room cavity (14) arranged between the external cabinet wall or spare elements and the internal structural wall. Furthermore, the cabinet and the internal structural wall can be molded together with a shell (20) for receiving water, and a recessed bottom perimeter channel (22) extends around the bottom of the cabinet structure and allows the installation of lights (24) in the air room cavity to backlight the external cabinet wall.

Abstract: A printer includes a print ribbon, a transfer ribbon, a printhead, and a first sensor. The transfer ribbon includes a series of panels each separated from adjacent panels by a transition portion. A section of the transfer ribbon is supported between a supply roll and a take-up roll and has a feeding direction that is toward the take-up roll. The printhead is configured to transfer print material from the print ribbon to the section of transfer ribbon. The first sensor is positioned downstream of the printhead relative to the feeding direction of the section of transfer ribbon and includes an output signal that is indicative of a position of one of the transition portions relative to the printhead.

Abstract: Methods of the present invention relating to an identification card printer include a method of calibrating a ribbon sensor for detecting transition portions between adjoining panels of a ribbon and a method of calibrating tension in a ribbon. Identification card printers in accordance with embodiments of the invention include a sensor positioned downstream of a printhead relative to a feeding direction of a ribbon; support for a printhead that is moveable between print and withdrawn positions; a swing frame supporting a first roll of a ribbon for rotation about an axis about which the swing frame pivots; an adjustable card guide in line with a print path; and a card bender including a pinch roller assembly having first and second rollers, axes of rotation of which are aligned in a plane that is non-perpendicular to a card path.

Abstract: This invention relates to the assembly of optical microsystems by passive alignment techniques. A technique is described for the fabrication of optimised structural elements with rounded edges (continuous-relief) for providing means for integration with active or passive micro-optical elements, optical fibres or with other microsystem components. The use of replication technology for producing the microstructures on individual devices or on complete wafers allows production in high volume and at a low cost per piece. The shape of the microstructures offers similar functionality for alignment purposes as etched silicon V-grooves, but the fabrication process gives more degrees of freedom for the layout design. A particular feature is the possibility to fabricate circular alignment grooves for the vertical alignment of optical fibres to Vertical Cavity (VCSEL) laser structures.

Abstract: A passive infrared intrusion detector for the detection of infrared body radiation includes a sabotage detector, in particular for detecting spraying of the entrance window of the intrusion detector. The sabotage detector includes a light source, a corresponding light sensor, and an optical diffraction grating structure on the outside of the entrance window. The light source and the light sensor can be on the same or on opposite sides of the entrance window. By first- or higher-order diffraction, light from the light source is focused onto the sensor, and a resulting electrical signal from the sensor is evaluated by an evaluation circuit. In case of sabotage, the focusing effect of the optical diffraction grating structure vanishes, so that the light intensity at the detector is reduced. The drop in light intensity triggers a sabotage alarm signal.

Abstract: A recording blank, composed of at least one diffraction grating substrate, such as nickel, covered with a layer of photoresist is used to produce an embossing master by exposing the photoresist to picture information composed of respective white and non-white manifesting regions; developing the exposed photoresist to reveal the grating portions underlying solely the white manifesting regions; electroplating and/or etching the revealed portions to level and obliterate the revealed grating portions, and then removing the remainder of the photoresist.

Abstract: The disclosed filter provides (1) a high contrast between black and white together with a substantially neutral black and/or (2) a gray-scale color (wavelength) characteristic which is substantially independent of luminosity, and is preferably neutral. Neutral black is achieved when two superimposed, crossed, sine-wave gratings embossed in plastic have different depths which are selected to provide a zero-diffraction-order-light transmittance wavelength selectivity characteristic for any one of the phase gratings which exhibits a minimum zero-diffraction-order-light transmittance at desired different wavelengths in the visible spectrum. A gray scale is achieved by mixing black-manifesting subareas with white-manifesting subareas.

Abstract: Pulse width modulated surface relief phase holograms are produced on a substrate by developing a holographic interference pattern recorded on a photoresist deposited on the surface of said substrate as an amplitude modulated sinusoidal surface relief pattern so as to expose the surface of said substrate as a function of the intensity of said interference pattern, uniformly etching said substrate and removing said photoresist leaving a pulse width modulated, substantially two-level rectangular wave diffraction grating. Focused image holograms produced by this method on hard durable substrates may be used as masters for replicating said holograms in a suitable recording medium.

Abstract: A surface relief pattern, e.g. a surface relief hologram, is substantially linearly transferred to a hard durable substrate, capable of being used as a medium for permanent storage of the pattern or as a master for replicating the hologram, from a photoresist coated on the substrate, by exposing the photoresist and the substrate to a photoresist developer bath and a chemical bath capable of etching the substrate at a rate substantially proportional to the development rate of the photoresist. This technique allows the transfer of surface relief patterns with dimensions on the order of one micron or less, and is applicable to the formation of surface relief holographic patterns in permanent media for archival storage and to making master surface relief holograms.