Abstract: A spatial light modulator includes an upper optically transmissive substrate held above a lower substrate containing addressing circuitry. One or more electrostatically deflectable elements are suspended by hinges from the upper substrate. In operation, individual mirrors are selectively deflected and serve to spatially modulate light that is incident to, and then reflected back through, the upper substrate. Motion stops may be attached to the reflective deflectable elements so that the mirror does not snap to the bottom substrate. Instead, the motion stop rests against the upper substrate thus limiting the deflection angle of the reflective deflectable elements.

Abstract: In order to minimize light diffraction along the direction of switching and more particularly light diffraction into the acceptance cone of the projection optics, in the present invention, mirrors are provided which are not rectangular. Also, in order to minimize the cost of the illumination optics and the size of the display unit of the present invention, the light source is placed orthogonal to the rows (or columns) of the array, and/or the light source is placed orthogonal to a side of the frame defining the active area of the array. The incident light beam, though orthogonal to the sides of the active area, are not however, orthogonal to any substantial portion of sides of the individual mirrors in the array. Orthogonal sides cause incident light to diffract along the direction of mirror switching, and result in light ‘leakage’ into the on-state even if the mirror is in the off-state. This light diffraction decreases the contrast ratio of the mirror.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator having one or more deflection limiting mechanisms and process for fabrication therefor. In one embodiment, the mirror support structure has rigid deflection stoppers that limit the tilt angle of the reflective plate. The mirror support structure may also include an attraction electrode that is attached to the back-side of the reflective plate such that the reflective plate may be selectively actuated by electrostatic force. Alternatively, a deflection stopping mechanism can be provided separate from the mirror support structure. The deflection stopping mechanism can be used in conjunction with one or more additional stopping mechanisms such as the abutment of a portion of the reflective plate against the substrate upon which it was constructed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) grayscale or color image using a binary spatial light modulator. By staggering and re-quantizing the PWM intervals to a clock of a period based on the frame time divided by number of rows in the display, the system's peak bandwidth requirements are optimized for displays of arbitrary resolution and arbitrary choice of PWM waveform. Additionally, a gating circuit increases the optical efficiency of a spatial light modulator using this PWM method in a field-sequential color system by reducing the duration of the blanking period between color fields.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator includes an upper optically transmissive substrate held above a lower substrate containing addressing circuitry. One or more electrostatically deflectable elements are suspended by hinges from the upper substrate. In operation, individual mirrors are selectively deflected and serve to spatially modulate light that is incident to, and then reflected back through, the upper substrate. Motion stops may be attached to the reflective deflectable elements so that the mirror does not snap to the bottom substrate. Instead, the motion stop rests against the upper substrate thus limiting the deflection angle of the reflective deflectable elements.

Abstract: A light beam steering device includes a mirror plate that is mechanically coupled directly (or indirectly) to an optically transmissive substrate by flexures that permit the mirror plate to tilt around a plurality of axes when electrodes are controlled to cause the mirror plate tilting. The optically transmissive substrate is spaced apart from a device substrate so that the mirror plate is between the optically transmissive and device substrates. Electrically conductive electrodes are formed on the device substrate opposite the mirror plate. The direction towards a target of the reflected portion of a light beam that is incident on the mirror plate can be monitored and adjusted using a photodetector array. A plurality of optical (e.g. fiber optic) inputs can direct light to an array of such light beam steering devices, which in turn target a plurality of optical (e.g. fiber optic) outputs.

Abstract: The etching of a sacrificial silicon portion in a microstructure such as a microelectromechanical structure by the use of etchant gases that are noble gas fluorides or halogen fluorides is performed with greater selectivity toward the silicon portion relative to other portions of the microstructure by the addition of non-etchant gaseous additives to the etchant gas. An additional discovery is that non-etchant gaseous additives that have a molar averaged formula weight that is below that of molecular nitrogen offer significant advantages over gaseous additives of higher formula weights by causing completion of the etch in a shorter period of time while still achieving the same improvement in selectivity.

Abstract: A device and method for performing blood coagulation assays, particularly prothrombin times and activated partial thromboplastin times and other clotting parameters are disclosed. The device comprises a disposable strip (containing a sample inlet for sample delivery, a capillary channel for driving force, and a reaction chamber with an appropriate dry reagent for a specific assay) and a piezoelectric sensor. The device could also include a heating element for temperature control, and a magnetic bender. The magnetic bender is driven by an electromagnetic field generator and is attached onto a piezoelectric film in contact with the blood sample. Electric signal generated at the piezo film is characterized by its frequency and amplitude due to the movement of the attached metal film.

Abstract: A device and method allow for detecting the presence of microorganisms in clinical and non-clinical specimens. The device, a sensor, provides an environment to culture microbial organism colonies from a fluid sample, and a means to facilitate microbial detection and quantification, either manually or with an instrument. The sensor has a microorganism immobilization matrix layer and a sensor layer. Detected microbial colonies are immediately available for further testing. The sensor provides an area for accepting a fluid sample, a mechanism to immobilize the fluid sample on an interior surface of the plate, nutrients to facilitate growth of microorganisms in the sample, and a sensor for allowing the detection and/or enumeration of microorganism colonies within the sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing microbial antibiotic susceptibility testing include disposable, multi-chambered susceptibility plates and an automated plate handler and image acquisition and processing instrument. The susceptibility plates are inoculated with a microorganism (any suitable organism such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae or viruses) and anti-microbial agent(s) are applied such that the microorganism is exposed to a variety of concentrations, or a gradient of each anti-microbial agent. The plates are then placed in the instrument, which monitors and measures the growth (or lack thereof) of the microorganisms. This data is used to determine the susceptibility of the microorganism to the antibiotics. Such a system automates antimicrobial susceptibility testing using solid media and Kirby-Bauer standardized result reporting. The system provides a level of automation previously associated only with broth microdilution testing, while retaining the advantages of the manual disk diffusion test.

Abstract: A device is used for the isolation of a biological material from a basic material containing the biological material. The device includes a container for holding a mixture of the basic material, a chaotropic substance and a solid phase which binds the biological material. The device also includes a filter for separating the solid phase with the biological material from the fluid bound thereto, and a connector for connecting and disconnecting the container to an inlet for washing fluid and eluant fluid, as well as a connector for connecting and disconnecting the container to an outlet for the washing fluid after washing the biological material bound to the solid phase, as well as a connector for connecting and disconnecting the container to an eluate reservoir for collection of the eluant fluid with the dissolved biological material.

Abstract: A test device for bodily fluids comprising a solid carrier with a bonded reagent, a light source and a light detector. Light source and light detector are positioned is such a way that the majority of the light travels within the porous body along a transmission path, which is determined by scattering or reflection of the light within the porous body, until it arrives at the exit end where the transmitted light is measured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for predicting the presence of at least one congenital or acquired imbalances or therapeutic condition associated with thrombosis/hemostasis from at least one time-dependent measurement profile. At least one time-dependent measurement in a sample is performed and a respective property of sample is measured over time so as to derive a time-dependent measurement profile. A set of a plurality of predictor variables are defined which sufficiently define the data of the time-dependent measurement profile. A model is then derived that represents the relationship between the congenital or acquired imbalance or therapeutic condition, and the set of predictor variables. Subsequently, the model is utilized to predict the existence of the congenital or acquired imbalance or therapeutic condition in a sample.

Abstract: A method for determining whether an individual is at increased risk for thrombosis, comprising detecting the presence or absence of a genetic mutation located in the 3' untanslated region of the prothrombin gene (G to A mutation at position 20210) that is correlated with elevated prothrombin levels in individuals with the mutation, wherein the elevated prothrombin levels are associated with increased risk for thrombosis. Also provided are kits and primers that specifically hybridize adjacent to the region of the prothrombin gene that contains the G to A mutation at position 20210.

Abstract: The present invention is dealing with a drug delivery system, preferably in a ring-shaped form suitable for vaginal administration, for the simultaneous release of a progestogenic steroid compound and an estrogenic steroid compound in a fixed physiological ratio over a prolonged period of time. The drug delivery system comprises at least one compartment comprising a thermoplastic polymer core containing the mixture of the progestogenic and estrogenic compounds and a thermoplastic polymer skin, the progestogenic compound being initially dissolved in the polymer core material in a relatively low degree of supersaturation.

Abstract: A device and method allow for detecting the presence of microorganisms in clinical and non-clinical specimens. The device, a sensor, provides an environment to culture microbial organism colonies from a fluid sample, and a means to facilitate microbial detection and quantification, either manually or with an instrument. The sensor has a microorganism immobilization matrix layer and a sensor layer. Detected microbial colonies are immediately available for further testing. The sensor provides an area for accepting a fluid sample, a mechanism to immobilize the fluid sample on an interior surface of the plate, nutrients to facilitate growth of microorganisms in the sample, and a sensor for allowing the detection and/or enumeration of microorganism colonies within the sample.

Abstract: A bottle retaining mechanism holds a culture bottle in place in a cell in an incubating apparatus which agitates the culture bottle and detects the growth of microorganisms in the culture bottle. When a bottle is not present in the cell of the apparatus, the retaining mechanism moves to a position which reflects light from the light emitter to the light detector in an amount greater than the amount of light reflected off of a bottle when present, so as to indicate when a bottle is not present in a cavity of the bottle holder. The retaining mechanism/reflectance flag also is capable of providing a reference signal for auto-calibration purposes. The amount of light reflected from the retaining mechanism/reflectance flag to the light detector in a cell when no bottle is present can be monitored in order to detect changes in the cell. By monitoring such changes in the empty cell, drift from the original cell calibration can be monitored.

Abstract: A device and method allow for collection of a blood specimen and for detecting the presence of microorganisms in the blood specimen. The device, a sensor plate under vacuum, provides an environment to culture microbial organism colonies from a blood sample, and a means to facilitate microbial detection and quantification, either manually or with an instrument. The vacuum sensor plate has a microorganism immobilization matrix layer and a sensor layer. Detected microbial colonies are immediately available for further testing. A kit is provided having a needle assembly for direct draw of blood from a patient onto the immobilization layer within the vacuum sensor plate. The sensor plate provides an area for accepting a blood sample, a mechanism to immobilize the blood sample on an interior surface of the plate, nutrients to facilitate growth of microorganisms in the sample, and a sensor layer for allowing the detection and/or enumeration of microorganism colonies within the blood sample.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for determining whether or not an individual's blood coagulation time is in a normal or abnormal range, and is particularly suitable for measuring prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time coagulation values. The device includes a housing with an area for receiving a sample, a capillary channel or elongated area with an absorbent material, and a gradient heater. Liquid crystal and a coagulation agent can be disposed within the device to mix with a sample added to the device. The mixture passes along the capillary channel or absorbent material and stops moving when the sample has clotted. Due to the gradient heater and liquid crystal, the mixture may or may not change color, depending upon whether the individual has a an abnormally short, normal, or abnormally long clot time.

Abstract: The invention relates to carbohydrate derivatives having the formula I, ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is H or CH.sub.2 OSO.sub.3.sup.-, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently H, (1-6C)alkyl or SO.sub.3.sup.- ; R.sup.4 is OSO.sub.3.sup.- or NHSO.sub.3.sup.- ; n is 0 or 1; p is 1 or 2; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof The compounds of the invention have antithrombotic activity and may be used for inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation.