Abstract: To allow rapid change between the conoscopic observation method and the orthoscopic observation method in a microscope, while showing a small overall size and permitting and optically correct position of the Bertrand lens and the associated diaphragm, an additional supplementary beam path can be selectively used in addition to the main beam path. The supplementary beam path includes the Bertrand lens and the iris diaphragm and extends away from the optical axis of the microscope objective in a lateral direction.

Abstract: In a microscope, a nosepiece support assembly and a coarse and fine adjustment mechanism in direct operative control of the support assembly, the support assembly including a nosepiece mounting carriage with a depending rod rigid therewith and mounting a cam follower which rides on the edge of a cam, rotation of which is controlled by the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism in turn includes a reduction gear assembly utilizing dual gear trains and mounted to a cam-mounting shaft externally of the frame of the microscope and housed within a coarse adjustment handwheel for immediate access thereto. One of the gear trains incorporates a compound gear having a torsion spring between the individual gears to enhance gear train interengagement throughout the gear assembly.

Abstract: A shaft which is capable of flexing or articulation under remote control comprises a plurality of identical vertebrae each having a generally circular outer rim (1), an inner hub region (2), and a plurality of webs or spokes (3) interconnecting the outer rim and the inner hub region. The inner hub region presents a projection (6) on one face of the vertebra and a recess (5) on the other face of the vertebra, the projection and recess being of complementary shape and being such that the projections and recesses of adjacent vertebrae arranged in series inter-engage to permit rocking of one vertebra on the adjacent vertebra to provide flexing or articulation. The flexible shaft may form part of an endoscope or other similar medical instrument, or may be the shaft of an industrial instrument such as a bore-scope.

Abstract: A circuit and method for converting signals from a photoelectric image sensor into digital signals containing information as to a characteristic of the sensor signals. The photoelectric image sensor provides output pulses having characteristic determined by the manner in which light is incident thereon and this, in turn, is determined by a light influencing medium in an optical path between a light source and the image sensor. In particular, the peak amplitude of each signal from the sensor is determined and then converted into a digital signal containing information as to the peak amplitude. This is accomplished by detecting the rise of each sensor signal to a peak amplitude and then holding a signal level corresponding to the peak level of the sensor signal as the sensor signal falls in amplitude for a time at least equal to the time for acquiring or converting into the digital signal.

Abstract: An automatic refractometer comprising a photosensitive device having a relatively narrow dynamic range in the form of a linear scanned array including a plurality of photoelectric elements each providing an output pulse during a scan and the amplitude of each pulse being determined by the amount of illumination of the corresponding element by incident light, an optical system for directing light onto the array in a manner such that the particular photoelectric elements of the array which are illuminated by the light are determined by the index of refraction of a light transmitting substance placed in operative association with the optical system, a circuit for converting signals from the array into digital signals containing information as to the amplitudes of the signals from the array, a digital processing circuit for storing respective signals from reference and sample substances placed in operative association with the optical system and for computing the index of refraction of the sample substance by mea

Abstract: A device for use in transferring a specimen from an apparatus containing a cryogenic coolant, comprises a specimen holder and coolant transfer means. The coolant transfer means permits coolant from within the apparatus to be introduced into the specimen holder in order to immerse a specimen within the specimen holder in the coolant. This enables the specimen holder to be transferred to another apparatus, while the specimen is kept cool by the coolant.

Abstract: A microtome has a specimen holder which executes a vertical up and down movement relative to a cutting knife and which has a guide mechanism in which a sleeve is arranged so as to be horizontally displaceable. The sleeve is provided at its front end with a specimen clamping mechanism and in its interior with a micrometer nut which is secured against axial displacement and through which extends a micrometer spindle mounted on the guide mechanism. The micrometer nut has on its outer face a toothed ring which is connected operatively to a pinion connected to an electric motor. When the electric motor is activated the sleeve is displaced in the guide mechanism. The micrometer spindle extends, on the side opposite the specimen clamping mechanism, through the guide mechanism as a stub end on which is located a mechanical cutting-thickness advance mechanism.

Abstract: Single piece capsules, produced, filled and sealed in a single operation, also known as soft shell capsules, having a special foam wall structure, obtained by a microdispersion of a gas in an aqueous mixture of dry gelatin and one or more plasticizers.The capsules are formed by processing, on soft shell capsule manufacturing machines, foamed ribbons, cast from a film forming mixture obtained by a microdispersion of a gas in an aqueous mixture of gelatin and one or more plasticizers; optionally with the inclusion of a coloring agent, an opacifying agent, a foam stabilizer, a gelatin extender, a preservative, a flavoring agent, a sweetening agent, or a drug.By a suitable choice of the gas proportion in the capsule wall and its microdispersion level, it is possible, within certain limits, to control the capsule wall disintegration speed and its opacity.

Abstract: A microtome comprises a handwheel which can be rotated in two directions of rotation, and drive means for the purpose of driving a specimen holder, so that the specimen holder executes a cutting movement when the handwheel is rotated in one direction, and a resetting movement when the handwheel is rotated in the other direction. The cutting and resetting movements take place relative to a cutting knife. A reduction gearing arrangement enables the speed of the cutting movement to be reduced relative to the speed of the resetting movement without having to rotate the handwheel at a correspondingly lower rate. A catch enables the reduction gearing arrangement to be bridged so that the speed of the cutting movement and resetting movement are equal for any given rate of rotation of the handwheel.

Abstract: In a microscope possessing an adjustable-inclination viewing tube and optical path system for erecting the image, an optical component forming part of the erecting system can be interchanged with another optical component. It is thus possible to select, at will, either a totally reflecting optical component, or an optical component which splits the beam into two, the latter optical component being usable for the purpose of attaching the microscope to a photographic device or similar accessory.

Abstract: A microtome provided with a drive wheel mounted in a stand, to be actuated manually and/or by means of a drive motor for generating a vertical relative movement between a specimen holder and a cutting knife, has a specimen holder, having a specimen clamping mechanism, arranged so as to be horizontally displaceable in a vertically drivable guide mechanism by means of a cutting-thickness adjustment mechanismn. The adjustment mechanism can horizontally displace the specimen holder through a cutting thickness adjustment distance towards the cutting knife. A specimen retraction mechanism serves to displace horizontally the specimen holder from an unretracted position to a retracted position, the retracted position being further from the cutting knife than the unretracted position. The distance between the retracted position and the unretracted position is greater than the maximum cutting thickness adjustment distance.

Abstract: In a microscope possessing an adjustable-inclination binocular unit and an optical path system for erecting the image, these two subsystems possess a common splitting prism, thus shortening the overall optical path in the microscope, so that the space required for the optical components remains small. This is of particular importance in cases involving microscope objectives which are corrected to infinity.

Abstract: An endoscope has a handle portion and a separate shaft portion which can be joined to the handle portion. The shaft portion has a flexible shaft flexing movement of which is controlled by knobs on the handle portion, and this motion is transmitted across the handle/shaft interface by meshing gearwheels. Each tooth of each gearwheel has a crown shaped so as to have a central ridge between sloping sides which facilitate interengagement of the gearwheels when the latter are brought into crown-to-crown engagement in a non-rotating condition.

Abstract: A microscope has a support structure which comprises a base, an upright portion, a cross-head and an objective-turret assembly mounted on an underside of the cross-head. The cross-head is mounted on the upright portion and contains principal components for forming an image. The upright portion and the cross-head define a generally planar division therebetween, whereby a generally planar gas-tight seal can be provided between the upright portion and cross-head. This enables the upright portion and the base to be disposed in a gas-tight chamber while the cross-head is located outside the chamber.

Abstract: In a microscope with a motor-driven objective turret, an intermediate position is provided between each two adjacent primary turret positions. This intermediate position enables manual operations to be carried out on the objectives in the objective turret, in a convenient manner, before viewing. Automatic means are provided for switching off the motor in both the primary and the intermediate turret positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for the cryofixation of biological, medical or technical specimens having a high water content or fluid content by immersion in a cooling bath or on a metal mirror surface, comprises a container for coolant within which is disposed in a tank for specimen cooling medium. An injector is provided for holding a specimen and moving it along a delivery path. A member having a mirror surface is provided for mirror surface cryofixation, said member being adapted to be removably disposed at a position located in the injection path. A highly thermally conductive contact is provided between the tank and the member.