Lasersurge, Inc.

United States Surgical Corporation

Ratnik Industries, Incorporated

Burleigh Instruments, Inc.

Louis N Rapp

Jude S Sauer

Thomas A Tiberio

H Ronald Ratnik

Timothy Cy Wang

Snow-making apparatus comprises the combination of a bulk water nozzle for projecting a spray of water particles into the air, and a plurality of nucleators for injecting ice particles (nuclei) into the spray to provide nucleation sites about the water particles freeze and form snow particles or crystals. Each nucleator comprises discrete nozzles for respectively projecting air and water particles to a location at which they collide in the open air to form ice particles. Because the ice particles are formed 'externally' of any housing, the 'freeze-up' problem associated with the 'internal-mix' nucleators of the prior art is avoided. Preferably, each of the water nozzles of the external mix nucleators projects a relatively thin 'sheet' of water which collides with a similar pattern of compressed air which acts (a) to break-up the water into relatively tiny droplets (e.g. 5-100 microns in size) which quickly freeze to form the ice nuclei of about the same size, and (b) to project a relatively flat pattern of ice nuclei towards the bulk water spray.

Method and apparatus for making snow

A surgical apparatus and method of use for maintaining tension upon a length of suture material extending from body tissue is provided. The surgical apparatus deforms and compresses a securing member about a length of suture material which is received therethrough so as to maintain a prescribed amount of tension on the suture material which extends from body tissue and is engaged in the compressed securing member.

Surgical crimping device and method of use

A surgical apparatus and method of use is provided for applying and maintaining a securing member upon a length of suture material which extends from body tissue. The apparatus essentially comprises a handle assembly, and elongated housing extending distally from the handle assembly and a tool assembly preferably detachably connected to a distal end of the body portion and remotely operable from the handle. The tool assembly enables a surgeon to compress and maintain a securing member upon suture material in the body cavity while also providing means to cut unsecured suture material which extends from the compressed securing member. Additionally, an instrumentation kit is provided which includes the surgical apparatus and at least one additional tool assembly, as mentioned above, in cooperation with a top cover portion and a bottom cover portion.

Method and apparatus for applying a cinch member to the ends of a suture

An electromechanical translator apparatus (24) which is especially suitable for use as the coarse positioner in a scanning tunneling microscope (10) (STM) which enables a specimen to be positioned with a resolution in the order of atomic distances (in the nanometer range) has a housing (26) containing a piezolectric driver in the form of a sleeve (32) surrounding a shaft (21) on one end of which the specimen (18) may be mounted. The driver sleeve (32) has an extension element (2) with clamping elements (1, 3) on opposite ends thereof and is connected and referenced to the housing at a region (4) thereon spaced from the extension element and preferably between the extension element (2) and the one of the clamping elements (1) closest to the end of the shaft (22) on which the specimen (18) is mounted (in the direction of controlled movement toward the scanning tip (16) of the STM). Because of the position of the connection (36) and referencing of the housing (26 ) undesired movement of the shaft such as upon engagement and releasing of the clamping elements (glitch movement) or due to piezoelectric material creep effects or spurious movement of the shaft (21) due to power supply noise, which changes the voltage applied to the extension element, is avoided thereby enabling controlled motion with resolution in the range required for STM applications and other applications which require high resolution controlled motion.

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Dansville, NY, United States of America

Louis N Rapp