95results about How to "Large gradient" patented technology

A method for producing three-dimensional objects from a powder material which is capable of solidification by irradiation with a high-energy beam is disclosed. The method comprises homogeneously pre-heating the powder material by scanning with the high-energy beam along predetermined paths over a pre-heating area so that consecutive paths are separated by a minimum security distance which is adapted to prevent undesirable summation effects in the pre-heating area, and then solidifying the powder material by fusing together the powder material. Apparatus for producing such three-dimensional objects is also disclosed.

A system and method for treating skin. The System comprises one or more ultrasound transducers and one or more pairs of RF electrodes. The ultrasound transducers are adapted to focus ultrasound energy at one or more focal volumes in the skin. The RF electrodes are adapted to deliver RF energy to the one or more focal volumes. The method comprises heating the skin to a first temperature at one or more focal volumes in the skin by focusing ultrasound energy at the one or more focal volumes. The focal regions are then heated to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature, by generating an RF current in a region of the skin containing the focal regions.

A system and method for treating skin. The System comprises one or more ultrasound transducers and one or more pairs of RF electrodes. The ultrasound transducers are adapted to focus ultrasound energy at one or more focal volumes in the skin. The RF electrodes are adapted to deliver RF energy to the one or more focal volumes. The method comprises heating the skin to a first temperature at one or more focal volumes in the skin by focusing ultrasound energy at the one or more focal volumes. The focal regions are then heated to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature, by generating an RF current in a region of the skin containing the focal regions.

Methods and apparatus for analyzing bioprocess fluids are provided. A plurality of particles coated with a plurality of capture agents having an affinity for one or more biological markers is combined with bioprocess fluid to form a plurality of analyte-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample to a sensor surface, and optionally a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of analyte-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

A floating element for separating components of a physiological fluid comprises two parts that are relatively movable. The two parts define a prescribed volume between them when at their maximum separation, and one of the parts may be moved toward the other to express the fluid contained in the volume between the parts. The parts are made of materials having densities so that they assume a desired position in the fluid to allow selected components to be easily obtained are expressed.

A method and apparatus for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy which can use a wide range of fuels and perform with a high efficiency. Operating on a little utilized thermodynamic cycle of isentropic compression, isothermal expansion, isentropic expansion and finally constant pressure cooling and contraction. The external heat engine utilizes a heat exchanger carrying heat from the external energy source to the working parts of the engine. Pistons and cylinders are activated by appropriate means to adiabatically compress the working fluid, for example ambient air, to transfer the entire mass of the air through the heat exchanger to accomplish isothermal expansion followed by adiabatic expansion and, finally, exhaust the air to ambient to allow for constant pressure cooling and contraction. Valve pistons in conjunction with the cylinders form valves that allow for the exchange of working fluid with ambient. Energy is added to the engine during isothermal expansion, whereby the energy of compression is added by a flywheel or other appropriate energy storage means, said flywheel stores energy recovered during adiabatic expansion. The thermodynamic cycle described and the engine embodiments disclosed, when run in reverse, perform as a heat pump or refrigeration device.

Methods for detecting analytes in a sample are provided. A plurality of particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent having an affinity for the analyte, is combined with the sample to form a plurality of analyte-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample to the sensor surface, and a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of analyte-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

A method and apparatus for cleaning, rinsing and Marangoni drying substrates is provided. A line of fluid is sprayed along a substrate surface forming an air / fluid interface line, and a line of drying vapor is supplied to the interface line to achieve Marangoni drying. Thus, a large portion of the substrate is simultaneously dried. A preferred apparatus employs a tank of cleaning and / or rinsing fluid. Above the tank fluid a source of rinsing fluid directs rinsing fluid to the surface of a substrate forming a meniscus on the substrate surface as the substrate is lifted from the cleaning fluid, and a drying vapor source directs drying vapor to the meniscus. The drying vapor lowers the surface tension of the meniscus, inducing a Marangoni flow of rinsing fluid from the substrate's surface, and thereby drying the substrate. The cleaning fluid tank has a substrate receiving and cleaning portion and a substrate rinsing portion. The rinsing fluid source and the drying vapor source are enclosed by a drying enclosure above the rinsing portion of the tank. Thus, substrate loading, cleaning, rinsing, drying and unloading are performed with at least partial overlap in time.

An aircraft fuel tank ventilation system, comprising a desiccative dehumidifying device including a desiccant medium disposed in flow communication between a vent open to the atmosphere and a fuel tank, and a microwave energy transmitter for energizing liquid water in the desiccant medium to facilitate regeneration of the medium. Also, a method of regenerating a desiccant medium of a dehumidifying device of an aircraft fuel tank ventilation system, the method comprising directing air through the desiccant medium, and transmitting microwave energy into the desiccant medium for energizing liquid water in the desiccant medium to facilitate regeneration of the medium.)

A system for detecting an analyte in a sample includes a resonant sensor that has a sensor surface coated with the capture agent. A plurality of magnetic particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent having an affinity for the analyte, is combined with the sample to form a plurality of analyte-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample to the sensor surface, and a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of analyte-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Methods for detecting analytes in a sample are provided. A plurality of particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent having an affinity for the analyte, is combined with the sample to form a plurality of analyte-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample to the sensor surface, and a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of analyte-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

Methods for therapeutic drug monitoring are provided. A plurality of particles, each of which is coated with a capture agent capable of binding a therapeutic drug of choice is combined with the sample to form a plurality of therapeutic drug-particle complexes. The system also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample and / or particles to the sensor surface, and optionally a magnetic field inducing structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal corresponding to an amount of therapeutic drug-particle complexes that are bound to the sensor surface.

The present invention relates to thermally driven pumps. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of a thermoelectric material to create a thermally driven, bi-directional pump, such as a micro pump, with no moving parts using the thermal transpiration effect (a Knudsen pump). One embodiment of the thermally driven pump of the present invention utilizes a thermoelectric material to assist with the thermal transpiration process resulting in a substantially symmetrical, bidirectional pump. A thermoelectric module is used to induce a temperature gradient across a nanoporous article having at least one nanochannel thus creating fluid flow via thermal transpiration across the nanochannel. The use of the thermoelectric module eliminates the need for a heat sink thereby making the pump substantially symmetrical and enabling bidirectional flow which is accomplished by reversing the polarity of the power supply to the thermoelectric module resulting in reversing the direction of heat transfer.A second embodiment of the thermally driven pump of the present invention comprises a uni-directional, pneumatic, micro fluidic, Knudsen pump which can be integrated into a lab-on-chip device and is configured to pump liquids. The Knudsen pump of the second embodiment is generally comprised of a channel system comprised of a nanochannel and a shallow channel embedded in a bottom substrate and capable of alignment in series with other channels within a lab-on-chip substrate. The nanochannel and shallow channel are both covered by a second substrate comprised of material conducive to finalize creation of the Knudsen channels. A heater is also included within the nanochannel to induce gas flow by thermal transpiration which pneumatically moves liquid through the channels of a lab-on-chip.