The invention teaches the use of a surgical instrument for creating and preparing a cavity in a bony intervertebral body. Asymmetrical cutting structures selectively open a cavity which has a relatively large surface area in the vertical direction.

In a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, an externally and photonically energized unit comprises a shaped resonant cavity, with selected material for converting the incident photons into other electromagnetic radiation for resonance within the cavity; and a pick-up element for receiving and applying the resonant electromagnetic radiation to one or more components external to the resonant cavity. In a wideband modulation mode, the resonant cavity contains a modulation element to which a ...

An external-cavity laser, suitable for producing a coherent and highly-polarized optical emission, particularly at communication wavelengths, is enabled by a novel wavelength selective element based on a waveguide technology that supports a long-range plasmons polariton mode. These external-cavity lasers leverage the inherent properties of the novel wavelength selective elements, which are materials agnostic, providing easier means for tunability, laser stability, and low cost of fabrication, hi...

A vertical-cavity, surface-emitting semiconductor laser having a substrate, an active layer of a semiconductor material which is adapted to generate light on a surface of the substrate, a pair of mirrors at opposite sides of the active layer and means for expanding the diameter of the output beam. Such means include a spacer layer of an optically passive material between the active layer and at least one of the mirrors, and mirror layers of reduced difference in index of refraction, interface la...

A cavity ring-down spectroscopy device and method suitable for materials with low and high absorption coefficients. An optical signal introduced into an optical cavity resonates through a length of fiber amplifier coupled to the optical cavity. The optical signal resonates through a fiber amplifier active section resulting in a gain compensating for optical losses. The gain obtained by use of the fiber amplifier is then modulated between two predetermined levels. By virtue of employing an optica...

Apparatus is disclosed for analysing a sample of matter by emission spectroscopy. The apparatus includes an emission promoting structure defining a sheltered region whereby a reactant vapour can be retained within the region whilst being exposed to flame gas whilst at the same time permitting optical analysis of the interacting gases in the sheltered region. A novel method of analysis is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a system for blocking an ophthalmic lens blank by means of a vacuum. The lens blank rests on the chuck and forms an air pocket or cavity therebetween which is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump. After evacuation, an elastic plug is inserted in an aperture in the chuck by atmospheric pressure to maintain the vacuum. The lens is disengaged from the chuck by peeling the plug back and thereby releasing the vacuum.

An EPR spectrometer resonant cavity having an aperture for sample introduction that is typically a rectangular or cylindrical pipe. The pipe is dimensioned so that it can be considered a waveguide which is not beyond cutoff. The aperture and pipe are precisely placed on the cavity wall so that, due to symmetry, the lowest frequency propagation mode is not excited. At the end of the pipe removed from the cavity a conveniently removable second rectangular or cylindrical pipe is provided which is c...

An improved magnetically tunable band-pass filter for use in the microwave egions, particularly at X-band and beyond. Two waveguides are adjacently positioned to form a double cavity arrangement such that the radio-frequency (RF) magnetic fields in each cavity are orthogonal to one another. A substrate, having thin-film layers of ferrimagnetic material deposited on opposed parallel surfaces, is positioned in an opening between the adjacent cavities so that one of the layers is positioned in each...

Dental cavities are restored with typical dental amalgam using a unique process. The amalgam is introduced into the cavity utilizing an amalgam carrier comprising an open-ended, large volume tubular member and interconnected handle member in conjunction with an independent compactor, preferably a vibrating compacting device. The dental amalgam is carried within the tubular member portion of the amalgam carrier and is forced into the cavity with the compacting device. Utilizing the method of the ...