Author: claimsbot

1. A surgical system, comprising:
a surgical instrument including an end effector assembly adapted to connect to a source of energy;
a generator configured to couple to the surgical instrument to supply energy to the end effector assembly of the surgical instrument; and
a sterilization case, the sterilization case configured to retain the surgical instrument therein and configured to couple to the generator, the generator configured to supply energy to the sterilization case when coupled thereto to sterilize the surgical instrument disposed therein.
2. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization case includes at least one fixture for securing the surgical instrument in position therein.
3. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the generator is configured to supply energy to the sterilization case to create a corona about the surgical instrument to sterilize the surgical instrument via corona discharge.
4. The surgical system according to claim 1, further comprising an electrosurgical cable, the electrosurgical cable configured to couple the generator to the surgical instrument.
5. The surgical system according to claim 4, wherein the electrosurgical cable is configured to couple the generator to the sterilization case.
6. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization case is configured to couple directly to the generator.
7. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization case includes instructions disposed on a surface thereof.
8. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the generator is configured to supply UV energy to the sterilization case to sterilize the surgical instrument.
9. The surgical system according to claim 8, wherein the surgical instrument is formed from transparent components to facilitate UV sterilization thereof.
10. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the generator is configured to supply gamma ray energy to the sterilization case to sterilize the surgical instrument.
11. A method of surgery, comprising the steps of:
providing a surgical instrument including an end effector assembly, a generator, and a sterilization case;
coupling the surgical instrument to the generator;
performing a surgical task wherein energy is supplied from the generator to the end effector assembly of the surgical instrument;
decoupling the surgical instrument from the generator;
positioning the surgical instrument within the sterilization case;
coupling the sterilization case to the generator; and
operating the generator to sterilize the surgical instrument disposed within the sterilization case.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the generator is configured to supply energy to the sterilization case to create a corona about the surgical instrument to sterilize the surgical instrument via corona discharge.
13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sterilization case includes at least one fixture for securing the surgical instrument in position therein.
14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of separating the surgical instrument into multiple components prior to positioning the surgical instrument in the sterilization case, to facilitate sterilization of the surgical instrument.
15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the generator is configured to supply UV energy to the sterilization case to sterilize the surgical instrument.
16. The surgical system according to claim 11, wherein the generator is configured to supply gamma ray energy to the sterilization case to sterilize the surgical instrument.
17. A sterilization case for a surgical instrument configured to be disassembled into a plurality of sterilizable components, the sterilization case comprising:
a base configured to receive each of the components of the surgical instrument therein;
a cover coupled to the base and moveable relative thereto between an open position permitting insertion and removal of the surgical instrument and a closed position wherein the surgical instrument is enclosed within the sterilization case; and
a plurality of fixtures disposed on the base and configured to releasably secure each of the sterilizable components of the surgical instrument to the base, each of the fixtures designated for releasably securing a particular component of the surgical instrument to the base such that all of and only the sterilizable components of the surgical instrument are securable within the base for sterilization thereof.
18. The sterilization case according to claim 17, further comprising a marking associated with each of the fixtures, each marking indicating which sterilizable component of the surgical instrument is to be secured to the fixture associated therewith.
19. The sterilization case according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the fixtures includes a plurality of apertures defined therethrough to provide access to a portion of the surgical instrument disposed in close proximity to the fixture to facilitate sterilization of that portion of the surgical instrument.
20. The sterilization case according to claim 17, wherein each of the base and cover includes a plurality of apertures defined therethrough to facilitate sterilization of the surgical instrument.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for causing a person to develop a skin tone noticeably lighter than the person’s natural skin tone, comprising delivering an effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane to a person for developing a lighter skin tone by ingestion of the effective amount, at least until the person develops a skin tone noticeably lighter than before commencement of the delivery step, wherein the effective amount comprises orally administered doses in an amount of at least 133 mg of methyl sulfonyl methane per kilogram of body weight per day continuing for not less than three months.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering the effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane by periodically ingesting in a compound comprising methyl sulfonyl methane and other ingredients.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising delivering the effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane by ingesting the compound further comprising at least one nutrient selected from vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins, and amino acids.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering the effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane also by periodic topical application of a compound comprising methyl sulfonyl methane.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a portion of the effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane in a compound comprising about 1 to 20 weight percent methyl sulfonyl methane for topical application.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a portion of the effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane in a compound comprising greater than about 20 weight percent methyl sulfonyl methane for topical application.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a portion of the effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane in a compound comprising about between about 20 to 22 weight percent methyl sulfonyl methane for topical application.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering an exfoliate to the person during the delivery of the methyl sulfonyl methane.
9. The method of claim 4, further comprising delivering an exfoliate to the person during the delivery of the methyl sulfonyl methane.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering the effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane is performed at least about daily.
11. The method of claim 4, wherein the delivering the effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane is performed at least about daily.

1. A method of treating an array comprising exposing the array to light, wherein the array receives at least a specified dosage of light in less than about 5 days, wherein the specified dosage is 1 W\xb7Hcm2.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the array receives at least the specified dosage in less than about 2 days.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the array receives the specified dosage in less than about 24 hours.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the array receives the specified dosage in less than about 12 hours.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the light substantially omits light of a wavelength shorter than about 340 nm.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is from a light source that includes a narrow band source.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is from a light source that includes a broad band source and a filter that attenuates light in the UV range.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the light source further includes a filter that attenuates light in the IR range.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to exposing the array, collecting date on light dosage versus response and using the data to determine the specified dosage.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing the array is performed under conditions which include contacting the array with a gas having at least about 20% relative humidity.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the gas has at least about 50% relative humidity.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the array is performed under conditions including a temperature in the range from about \u221220\xb0 C. to about 80\xb0 C.
13. A device for exposing an array to light, the device comprising:
a light source, the light source operable to produce light having a spectrum that includes wavelengths in the range from 340 nm to about 700 nm, wherein the light source is adapted to substantially omit light having a wavelength less than about 340 nm;
an array holder configured to hold the array, the array holder disposed to permit the array to receive light from the light source.
14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a housing defining a chamber, the array holder disposed in the chamber, the housing having a gas inlet in fluid communication with the chamber.
15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a means for introducing moisture into a gas, said means in operable relation to the gas inlet.
16. The device of claim 14, further comprising a gas source in fluid communication with the gas inlet.
17. The device of claim 13, further comprising a housing defining a chamber, the array holder disposed in the chamber, the housing having a cooling element operable to cool the chamber (e.g. fan, gas inlet for cool gas, heat sink, cold block, a hollow heat sink plumbed to circulated coolant (e.g. from in water bath)
18. The device of claim 13, further comprising a timer in operable relation to the light source, the timer capable of switching off the light source after a designated time period.
19. The device of claim 13, further comprising a light sensor disposed to receive light from the light source and a light dosage meter in electrical communication with the light sensor.
20. The device of claim 13, wherein the light source includes a filter capable of attenuating light in the UV range but passing light in the 350 to 700 nm range.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for producing a porous body containing polyacrylonitrile as a main component, the method comprising the steps of:
obtaining a polyacrylonitrile solution by heating and dissolving the polyacrylonitrile in a first solvent,
obtaining a product precipitated by cooling the polyacrylonitrile solution, and
obtaining the porous body containing the polyacrylonitrile as a main component by immersing the product in a second solvent to replace the first solvent with the second solvent,
the first solvent containing a poor solvent for the polyacrylonitrile and a good solvent for the polyacrylonitrile.
2. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the second solvent is one or more selected from the group consisting of water, lower alcohols, acetone, and acetonitrile.
3. The production method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first solvent when being 100 vol % has a good solvent content of 10 to 95 vol %.
4. The production method according to claim 1, wherein
the poor solvent is one or more selected from the group consisting of water, acetonitrile, ethylene glycol, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol, and
the good solvent is one or more selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, and N-methylpyrrolidone.
5. The production method according to claim 1, wherein the polyacrylonitrile solution has a polyacrylonitrile concentration of 40 to 300 mgml.
6. The production method according to claim 1, further comprising, in the step of obtaining the porous body containing the polyacrylonitrile as a main component, a sub-step of drying under reduced pressure the product obtained after the first solvent is replaced by the second solvent.
7. A method for producing a carbonized porous body, comprising the step of calcining a porous body obtained by a production method of claim 1.
8. A porous body comprising polyacrylonitrile as a main component.