A family of catheter electrode assemblies includes a flexible circuit having a plurality of electrical traces and a substrate; a ring electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces; and an outer covering extending over at least a portion of the electrode. A non-contact electrode mapping catheter includes an outer tubing having a longitudinal axis, a deployment member, and a plurality of splines, at least one of the plurality of splines comprising a flexible circuit including a plurality of electrical traces and a substrate, a ring electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces; and an outer covering extending over at least a portion of the ring electrode. A method of constructing the family of catheter electrode assemblies is also provided.

The portable, wearable, proximal Alzheimer's disease treatment invention is based upon creating an RF field of particular frequencies and intensities that are applied to the patient's head. To accomplish the aforementioned disease treatment functionality, a system was invented comprising a network of antennas connected to an RF generator via a feedline connector. The invention also provides methods for using measurements to monitor and manage the effectiveness of an ongoing disease treatment regimen, and databases which contain information about measurements, variables, and their relationships to clinical outcome.

A component for a laser tool, the component comprising: a tubular body defining an internal channel and an aperture; and a window disposed across the aperture and bonded to the tubular body around the aperture, wherein the window is diamond, and wherein the tubular body comprises a material having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion α of 14×10−6 K−1 or less at 20° C. and a thermal conductivity of 60 Wm−1K−1 or more at 20° C.

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to combination heart assist systems, methods, and devices that include both an electrical therapy device and a mechanical heart assist device. Various operational modes can be implemented using these embodiments, including a synchronized pacing mode, an internal CPR mode, and an internal workout mode.

An implantable medical device lead having a flow measurement sensor mounted thereon is provided with a capsule mounted proximate to the sensor. The capsule is used to house electrical circuitry corresponding to the sensor in order to prevent impedance on conductors of the lead, which gradually decreases over chronic periods, from directly affecting signal transmission between the sensor and the electrical circuitry. The electrical circuitry includes a charge amplifier used for processing signals from the sensor. In some cases, the amplifier can be initially calibrated and periodically tuned so as to have consistent functioning with the sensor over chronic periods.

A hermetic terminal for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), includes an RF distance telemetry pin antenna, a capacitor conductively coupled between the antenna and a ground for the AIMD, and an inductor electrically disposed in parallel with the capacitor and conductively coupled between the antenna and a ground for the AIMD. The capacitor and the inductor form a band pass filter for attenuating electromagnetic signals through the antenna except at a selected frequency band. Values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the band pass filter is resonant at the selected frequency band. In an alternative form, the band pass filter is coupled in series with the telemetry pin antenna for attenuating MRI signals of a selected frequency band.

A portable hydro massage device for submersion in a body of water containing a female user, i.e. a bathtub, provides a local massage to the labium region and a focused stimulant to the female user's clitoris thereby resulting in a superior sensation to the entire body promoting an overall euphoric state and calming effect. The apparatus employs a saddle shaped housing, where the buttocks are placed, and a saddle horn for controlling the stimulus. Disposed within the midsection of the saddle horn is a hydro jet with a driven flow from a circulating water pump that draws suction from the main body of water. The hydro jet is adjustable in pressure and a method is provided for aeration of the water discharged to allow for a rhythmic pulsation effect. The saddle horn may be held and the lower body positioned as needed to focus the discharged stream from the hydro jet to the desired point of the pelvic region.

There is provided an ultrasonic cancer treatment enhancer and cell killer that can significantly improve the effect of treating cancer by ultrasonic irradiation while ensuring a high level of safety. The ultrasonic cancer treatment enhancer and cell killer comprise metal semiconductor particles and can be activated upon ultrasonic irradiation to kill or destruct cancer cells.

The present invention provides a system for increasing skin rejuvenation of a region of a patient's skin comprising a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) frequency generator for constantly providing electromagnetic pulses to the region of a patient's skin and a deep tissue diathermy device for constantly applying heat to the region of a patient's skin up to temperature T. The system is adapted for simultaneously applying heat and PEMF to the region of a patient's skin; wherein application of the system increases skin rejuvenation such that the skin rejuvenation increase (SRI) is greater than the sum of the SRI provided by electromagnetic pulses increase and the SRI provided by the deep tissue diathermy device increase.

A wearable type movement assisting apparatus includes a movement assisting glove including a finger insertion part into which a finger of a wearer is inserted, a driving part arranged on a backhand side of the movement assisting glove and configured to drive the finger insertion part, a linear member arranged along the finger insertion part and configured to transmit a driving force of the driving part to the finger insertion part, a biosignal detection part configured to detect a biosignal that causes the finger of the wearer to move, and a control part configured to output a drive control signal to the driving part based on the biosignal detected by the biosignal detection part. The driving part is configured to move the linear member in an extending direction or a bending direction of the finger insertion part based on the drive control signal from the control part.

An ultrasound medical treatment system includes an end effector insertable into a patient. The end effector includes a tissue-retaining device. The tissue-retaining device includes a first tissue-retaining member having an ultrasound medical-treatment transducer and includes a second tissue-retaining member. The first and second tissue-retaining members are operatively connected together to retain patient tissue between the first and second tissue-retaining members and to release patient tissue so retained. In one example, the second tissue-retaining member has an ultrasound reflector. In the same or a different example, the ultrasound medical-treatment transducer is an ultrasound imaging and medical-treatment transducer.

A massage roller includes a generally resilient roller body and a plurality of massage zones having various densities provided on the roller body.

A mounting assembly for mounting a transducer to a plumbing fixture is provided. The mounting assembly includes a bracket configured to be affixed to an exterior wall of the plumbing fixture. The mounting assembly further includes a shield defining an internal cavity and configured to be removably coupled to the bracket. The shield is configured to be coupled to the transducer and to enclose at least a portion of the transducer within the internal cavity.

A system and method for rejuvenating skin through ablation using a handheld device (200) having a removable treatment component (213) with an abrasive material on one surface of the component which surface is on a portion of the treatment component (213) configured to conform to a skin surface. The system further includes application of other elements to facilitate skin recovery and rejuvenation processes.

Some embodiments provide a method of providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output. The method can comprise providing ultrasound energy from a ultrasound transducer; determining a power level threshold of the ultrasound energy; monitoring a power level of the ultrasound energy over time of the ultrasound energy; communicating a power level to a controller; adjusting the frequency of the ultrasound energy upon a change in the power level; and maintaining the power level threshold of the ultrasound energy.

A foot massaging device having a plurality of parallel cylindrical rollers mounted within a frame. The frame includes adjustment slots allowing the rollers to be relocated within the frame to present various massaging configurations. The foot massaging device is adjustable by seating the rearwardly disposed rollers between a raised and lowered position to configure the rollers to contact different portions of a user's foot.

The present invention is directed to a device and method for opening obstructed body internal passages and for sensing and characterizing tissues and substances in contact with the device. In general, the device comprises a catheter tube capable of inducing vibrations in a guidewire contained therein, wherein said vibrations of the guidewire are utilized for opening a passage through an occlusion. The in-vivo vibrations may be induced by means of a magnetic field actuating means and a guidewire comprising magnetic coupling means, or by means of transducers, which may be also used for the sensing. The invention also relates to the field of minimal invasive catheterization, particularly an apparatus for opening and/or removing obstructions occluding body internal passages by means of an active guidewire comprising a coil to which an alternating voltage can be applied. In that way the guidewire can vibrate if an external magnetic field is applied.

An ultrasound surgery system includes: a handpiece including an ultrasound transducer that generates ultrasound vibration and a treatment portion to which the ultrasound vibration is transmitted; a drive current output section provided in a power supply apparatus to which the handpiece is detachably connected, the drive current output section producing and outputting a drive current for driving the ultrasound transducer; a drive frequency output section that detects and outputs a drive frequency for driving the ultrasound transducer with a resonant frequency of the ultrasound transducer; a first information storage section that stores first information including a parameter unique to the handpiece; and a variable current setting section that variably sets the drive current produced by the drive current output section, based on the drive frequency detected by the drive frequency output section, in order to maintain an amplitude or a vibration velocity of the ultrasound vibration in the treatment portion at a predetermined value.

An ultrasound operation apparatus comprises: an ultrasound transducer; a driving section that drives the ultrasound transducer by a drive signal; a probe having a proximal end section provided with the ultrasound transducer and a distal end section to which ultrasound oscillation is transmitted, the probe performing a treatment on a living tissue using ultrasound oscillation at the distal end section; a detecting section that detects, from a drive signal, a physical quantity which varies due to cavitation generated by ultrasound oscillation of the distal end section; and an output control section that controls an output of the driving section in accordance with the detected physical quantity.

A method is disclosed for preparing a soft tissue site, and augmenting the soft tissue site, such as the breast(s), scar, depression, or other defect, of a subject through use of devices that exert a distractive force on the breast(s) and grafting of autologous fat tissue such as domes with sealing rims for surrounding each of the soft tissue site and a regulated pump. The method for preparing the soft tissue site, and enhancing fat graft results, entails application of the distracting force to the targeted soft tissue site at least intermittently for some period of time and preferably several weeks prior to the graft procedure. A related aspect of the invention includes following the preparation steps by transfer of fat from other areas of the subject to the subject's soft tissue site, and then reapplication of the distractive force to the soft tissue site that received the autologous fat graft. Alternatively, fat from genetically related sources may be used, and the fat may be further processed prior to injection. Substantial soft tissue augmentation, high rates of graft survival and negligible graft necrosis (data demonstrating 80% survival and only 20% necrosis is presented) or calcification result from the practice of these methods.

A vibratory assembly is provided that incorporates a vibratory mechanism worn by a sexual participant on one or more digits of an articulating member for the sexual exploration and stimulation of erogenous zones. A modular erogenous stimulation system including the vibratory assembly is also provided along with a kit for providing erogenous stimulation to at least one participant.

A method and system uniquely capable of generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy. Several embodiments of the method and system contemplates the use of unfocused, focused, or defocused acoustic energy at variable spatial and/or temporal energy settings, in the range of about 1 kHz-100 MHz, and at variable tissue depths. The unique ability to customize acoustic energy output and target a particular region of interest makes possible highly accurate and precise thermal bubble formation. In an embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy. In other embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other energy forms, such radio frequency electric currents (including monopolar and bipolar radio-frequency current). In an embodiment, the energy is various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling.

The present invention provides in some embodiments, a portable device for massaging and treating a person's muscles. The device can include an elongate center shaft and a roller section rotatably positioned about the outer surface of the elongate cylindrical center shaft and extending at least a portion of a distance between the first end of the elongate cylindrical center shaft and the second end of the elongate cylindrical center shaft. The device can also include a first and second handle coupled to the elongate center shaft. The first and second handles can be configured to collapse in order to decrease an overall length of the portable roller massager.

A massage device is disclosed and may include a substantially solid body with an array of at least twenty, and in some cases thirty or thirty-two or more, massage fingers each with an outward tip, an inward base and a center axis, the center axis extending to a center of the body. The massage fingers are spaced about the body at substantially equal distances from each of at least three, and in some cases up to five or six, massage fingers nearest to each massage finger such that the center axis of each massage finger is spaced and positioned to correspond to a location of one of at least twenty vertices of a polyhedron, in some cases a pentakis dodecahedron, and aligns with a vertex axis extending from a polyhedron center point through one of the vertices of the polyhedron.

A liquefier assembly for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, the liquefier assembly comprising a downstream portion having a first average inner cross-sectional area, and an upstream having a second average inner cross-sectional area that is less than the first inner cross-sectional area, the upstream portion defining a shoulder configured to restrict movement of a melt meniscus of a consumable material.

A tool (1000) includes a mold defining a cavity (1002). The cavity can be for receiving a glass layer (402). A floating core insert (1001) can be placed in the cavity to apply a preloading force against a first major face of the glass layer, preclude an overmolding operation on the first major face, and allow overmolding only on minor faces of the glass layer when polymeric material (1100) is injected into runners (1018,1019,1020) of the tool.

A method and apparatus are provided for automatic and hands-free threading of an elastomeric mix into a calender set of rolls comprising one or more pairs of rolls that have a nip between them. A stripper roll is positioned next to one of the rolls forming the nip and is rotated so that the outer surface of the stripper roll moves in a direction opposite to the outer surface of the adjacent roll. The stripper roll removes all or a desired portion of the elastomeric mix from the adjacent roll and causes the same to transfer to another roll. Variables such as e.g., the relative surface speed of the stripper roll, diameter of the stripper roll, and distance of the outer surface of the stripper roll from the adjacent roll can be manipulated to control the amount of the elastomeric mix that is stripped by the stripper roll.

Template and method of making high aspect ratio template, stamp, and imprinting at nanoscale using nanostructures for the purpose of lithography, and to the use of the template to create perforations on materials and products.

A method for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure includes kneading titania particles, alumina particles and a binder ingredient such that raw material paste including the titania particles, alumina particles and binder ingredient is prepared, forming a body made of the raw material paste and having a honeycomb structure such that the body has the honeycomb structure having multiple through-holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the body and multiple partition portions formed between the through-holes, applying sealant composition including aluminum hydroxide particles, talc particles, kaolin particles, water and organic binder to either end of each through-hole of the body in the longitudinal direction such that the honeycomb structure of the body has each through-hole sealed at one end, and sintering the body made of the raw material paste and having the honeycomb structure sealed by the sealant composition such that a ceramic body having the honeycomb structure is formed.

A unitary elastic mold and cutter combination configured to mold and cut moldable material is disclosed herein. The mold and cutter combination comprises an elastic mold cavity having an elastic bottom wall with an embossed inner surface and an elastic sidewall extending from and unitary with a perimeter of the bottom wall. An elastic cutting blade extends from and is unitary with the sidewall of the mold cavity and is configured to cut moldable material and maintain a substantially consistent perimeter upon cutting. The cutting blade comprises a cutting edge disposed between an inner cutting blade surface and an outer cutting blade surface. The mold and cutter combination may have an elasticity sufficient to release molded material therefrom by hand stretching, wherein the cutting edge, inner cutting blade surface, and the inner surface of the sidewall of the mold cavity are stretched by an amount sufficient to release the molded material.

A method of forming a component (30) by isostatic pressing, the method comprising: providing a canister (4) suitable for isostatic pressing, the canister comprising first and second membranes (14, 16) which, in use, are disposed within the canister (4); the first and second membranes (14, 16) defining a component cavity (24) disposed between the first and second membranes (14, 16), a first tool cavity (26) disposed between the first membrane (14) and an adjacent wall (10) of the canister (4), and a second tool cavity (28) disposed between the second membrane (16) and another adjacent wall (12) of the canister (4); filling the component cavity (24) with the component powder for forming the component (30); filling the first and second tool cavities (26, 28) with a second tool powder; and isostatically pressing the canister (4) to form the component (30).

A core-pin assembly composed of a primary core-pin and at least one secondary core-pin. The primary core-pin has a primary core-pin body defining at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one secondary core-pin. The secondary core-pin has a mating end and a secondary core-pin body. The mating end is configured to fit with the element defined in the primary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin and the secondary core-pin(s) reversibly join together to form a branching structure. The assembly may further include at least one tertiary core-pin and the secondary core-pin body may define at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one tertiary core-pin. The mating end of the tertiary core pin is configured to fit with the secondary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin, secondary and tertiary core-pin(s) reversibly join together forming a branching structure.

An apparatus and method for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms into plastics material containers with at least one blow moulding station which is arranged on a conveying device rotatable about a pre-set axis of rotation (D). The blow moulding station has a blow mould and this blow mould forms a cavity in the interior of which the plastics material pre-forms are capable of being expanded by being acted upon with a gaseous medium to form the plastics material containers, with a stressing device, which acts upon the plastics material pre-forms with the gaseous medium in order to expand them, and with a clean room, which surrounds the blow moulding station at least in part. The clean room is bounded off from an environment by at least two walls which are movable relative to one another.

A combustor apparatus is provided, comprising a mixing arrangement for mixing a carbonaceous fuel with enriched oxygen and a working fluid to form a fuel mixture. A combustion chamber is at least partially defined by a porous perimetric transpiration member, at least partially surrounded by a pressure containment member. The combustion chamber has longitudinally spaced apart inlet and outlet portions. The fuel mixture is received by the inlet portion for combustion within the combustion chamber at a combustion temperature to form a combustion product. The combustion chamber directs the combustion product longitudinally toward the outlet portion. The transpiration member is configured to substantially uniformly direct a transpiration substance therethrough toward the combustion chamber, such that the transpiration substance is directed to flow helically about the perimeter and longitudinally between the inlet and outlet portions, for buffering interaction between the combustion product and the transpiration member. Associated systems are also provided.

A combustion device (1) for a gas turbine includes portions (12) having an inner and an outer wall (13, 14) with an interposed noise absorption plate (15) having a plurality of holes (16). The combustion device (1) further has first passages (17) connecting zones between the inner wall (13) and the plate (15) to the inside of the combustion device (1) and second passages (21) for cooling the inner wall (13). The portions (12) also have an inner layer (22) between the inner wall (13) and the plate (15) defining inner chambers (23), each connected to at least a first passage (17), and an outer layer (24) between the outer wall (14) and the plate (15) defining outer chambers (25) connected to the inner chambers (23) via the holes (16) of the plate (15).

The invention relates to a gas burner for a gas cooking appliance with at least one gas hob and/or one gas oven, wherein the gas burner (10) comprises a heat source (18) and an electric ignition system (24), and wherein an electric or electronic control circuit (38) is provided for controlling the electric ignition system (24). According to the invention the gas burner (10) includes a photovoltaic generator (20) for generating the electric power for the electric ignition system (24).

Integrated polymeric-ceramic membrane-based oxy-fuel combustor. The combustor includes a polymer membrane structure for receiving air at an input and for delivering oxygen-enriched air at an outlet. An oxygen transport reactor including a ceramic ion transport membrane receives the oxygen-enriched air from the polymer membrane structure to generate oxygen for combustion with a fuel introduced into the oxygen transport reactor.

A method of influencing combustion dynamics, including measuring a combustion dynamics parameter, and controlling a diluent flow (26) delivered to a fuel flow (32) upstream of a pilot burner fuel outlet (40) in response to the measured combustion dynamics parameter.

There is provided a top-firing hot blast stove capable of enhancing combustion efficiency in burner system, supplying high-temperature combustion gas to an entire checker chamber, and suppressing damage on a refractory material on an inner wall of a burner duct. A top-firing hot blast stove 10 has a burner system including: a burner 1 for passing fuel gas or combustion air to each of three or more pipe lines in a multiple pipe line structure; and a burner duct 2. A core pipe line 1b and a central pipe line 1c include a swirling flow generating means provided for generating a swirling flow of the fuel gas or the combustion air, while an outermost pipe line 1d carries a linear flow of the fuel gas or the combustion air, so that combustion gas HG including a linear component HG″ and a swirling component HG' is generated in the burner duct 2. The combustion gas HG is supplied to a combustion chamber 3 from at least one or more of the burner systems in an inflow direction which does not pass through a center position of the combustion chamber 3.

A service method of gas appliances includes: Detecting the gas appliances at the client ends to generate detecting signals. Transmitting the detecting signals to a service end. Identifying which client end the detecting signals come from. Examining the detecting signals to find whether the gas appliance has an abnormal condition; and informing the client end when the abnormal condition is found. After all, the service end may monitor the gas appliances at the client end, and inform the client for repair when the gas appliance has detected an abnormal signal or has damaged parts.

The finding concerns a multi-gas burner head with sucked or blown air, from which the mixture of fuel gas and comburent air comes out and the combustion occurs. Such a head is made from a metallic sheet in which there is at least one row of aligned slits (2), substantially rectangular-shaped; such a sheet is folded so as to have a series of flat flaps (3) in succession, each of the slits being arranged so as to be closed like a “sandwich” between two flat portions of the sheet, once the flaps of the structure are mutually compressed. The gas mixture is intended to pass from the bottom (5) of the flaps and then through the slits and finally to come out at two side by side crests (6) of the structure where the combustion occurs.

The present invention relates to a residual gas burner (13) for a fuel cell system (1) having to educt gas feeds (11, 12) for feeding an educt gas each to a combustion chamber (14) of the residual gas burner (13). An improved operation of the residual gas burner (13) is obtained when the educt gas feeds (11, 12) each comprise outlet openings (22, 27), wherein the outlet openings (22, 27) face the combustion chamber (14) and the outlet openings (22, 27) of one of the educt gas feeds (11, 12) face a first bottom surface (29) of the other educt gas feed (11, 12). In addition, the invention relates to a fuel cell system (1) having such a residual gas burner (13).

In a gas turbine engine that includes a compressor and a combustor, wherein the combustor includes a primary fuel injector within a fuel nozzle and a secondary fuel injector that is upstream of the fuel nozzle and configured to inject fuel into a flow annulus of the combustor, a method for detecting a flame holding condition about a fuel injector. The method may include the steps of: detecting an upstream pressure upstream of the secondary fuel injector; detecting a downstream pressure downstream of the secondary fuel injector; determining a measured pressure difference between the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure; and comparing the measured pressure difference to an expected pressure difference.

A method and system for improving high excess air combustion system efficiency, including induration furnaces, using a re-routing of flue gas within the system by gas recirculation. Flue gas is drawn from hot system zones including zones near the stack, for re-introduction into the process whereby the heat recovery partially replaces fuel input. At least one pre-combustion drying zone, at least one combustion zone, and at least a first cooling zone exist in these furnaces. At least one exhaust gas outlet is provided to each pre-combustion drying and combustion zone. At least part of the gaseous flow from each system zone exhaust outlet is selectively delivered to an overall system exhaust, the remaining flow being selectively delivered via recirculation to cooling zones. Recirculation flow is adjusted to meet required system temperatures and pressures. The method and system provide efficiency improvements, reducing fuel requirements and greenhouse gas emissions.

Provided is a method of producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member having improved sensitivity and capable of outputting an image having less image defects due to a ghost phenomenon not only under a normal-temperature, normal-humidity environment but also under a low-temperature, low-humidity environment as a particularly severe condition. The method of producing a gallium phthalocyanine crystal includes subjecting a gallium phthalocyanine and a specific amine compound, which are added to a solvent, to a milling treatment to perform crystal transformation of the gallium phthalocyanine. In addition, the gallium phthalocyanine crystal is used in the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) process is performed on a target, such as a semiconductor wafer, having a photosensitive layer. The method includes providing a one-dimensional patterned mask along a first direction. The patterned mask includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a multilayer mirror above the first and second regions, an absorption layer above the multilayer mirror in the second region, and a defect in the first region. The method further includes exposing the patterned mask by an illuminator and setting the patterned mask and the target in relative motion along the first direction while exposing the patterned mask. As a result, an accumulated exposure dose received by the target is an optimized exposure dose.

A mask includes a substantially transparent portion. The mask further includes a halftone portion abutting the substantially transparent portion, a light transmittance of the halftone portion being greater than 0% and less than 100%. The mask further includes a blocking portion abutting the halftone portion, a light transmittance of the blocking portion being less than the light transmittance of the halftone portion.

A method includes scanning a lithography mask with a repair process, and measuring back-scattered electron signals of back-scattered electrons generated from the scanning. An endpoint is determined from the back-scattered electron signals. A stop point is calculated from the endpoint. The step of scanning is stopped when the calculated stop point is reached.

A method for forming patterns of a semiconductor device includes providing a photomask that includes an array of contact holes in an active region, a plurality of first dummy contact holes for restricting pattern distortion of the contact holes in an area outside of the array of the contact holes, a plurality of first assist features for restricting pattern distortion of the first dummy contact holes disposed inside a corresponding one of the first dummy contact holes, and an array of second assist features for additionally restricting pattern distortion of the first dummy contact holes. The array of second assist features is disposed outside of the first dummy contact holes. The method also includes forming an array of contact holes and first dummy contact holes on a wafer by using the photomask as an exposure mask.

A method of tilting liquid crystal molecules is presented. The method entails providing a substrate including a photoalignment layer on top of a layer of liquid crystal molecules. The photoalignment layer is exposed to patterned light that is incident on the substrate at a substantially normal angle. The patterned light is polarized in a polarization direction that is non-parallel to an incident surface of the substrate.