Abstract: Portable high-voltage electrical stimulation devices and systems are disclosed that are scalable to utilize a minimal number of output channels to a large number of output channels. The devices and systems include a high-voltage power supply and output pulse circuitry comprising a plurality of output channel circuits. The electrical stimulation devices and systems disclosed herein also provide improved safety features, including an optional safety monitor.

Abstract: Portable high-voltage electrical stimulation devices and systems are disclosed that are scalable to utilize a minimal number of output channels to a large number of output channels. The devices and systems include a high-voltage power supply and output pulse circuitry comprising a plurality of output channel circuits. The electrical stimulation devices and systems disclosed herein also provide improved safety features, including an optional safety monitor.

Abstract: Fluorescent dye-tagged rare cells are disposed in a biological fluid layer contained in an annular gap (12) between an inside test tube wall (14) and a float wall (16). One or more analysis images are acquired at one or more focus depths using a microscope system (10, 10?, 10?, 10??). Each acquired analysis image is image processed each to identify candidate rare cell images. The test tube (72) is selectively rotated. The test tube and the microscope system are selectively relatively translated along a test tube axis (75). The acquiring and image processing are repeated for a plurality of fields of view accessed by the selective rotating and selective relative translating and substantially spanning the annular gap.

Abstract: Fluorescent dye-tagged rare cells are disposed in a biological fluid layer contained in an annular gap (12) between an inside test tube wall (14) and a float wall (16). One or more analysis images are acquired at one or more focus depths using a microscope system (10, 10?, 10?, 10??). Each acquired analysis image is image processed each to identify candidate rare cell images. The test tube (72) is selectively rotated. The test tube and the microscope system are selectively relatively translated along a test tube axis (75). The acquiring and image processing are repeated for a plurality of fields of view accessed by the selective rotating and selective relative translating and substantially spanning the annular gap.

Abstract: Fluorescent dye-tagged rare cells are disposed in a biological fluid layer contained in an annular gap (12) between an inside test tube wall (14) and a float wall (16). One or more analysis images are acquired at one or more focus depths using a microscope system (10, 10?, 10?, 10??). Each acquired analysis image is image processed each to identify candidate rare cell images. The test tube (72) is selectively rotated. The test tube and the microscope system are selectively relatively translated along a test tube axis (75). The acquiring and image processing are repeated for a plurality of fields of view accessed by the selective rotating and selective relative translating and substantially spanning the annular gap.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory disposed within electrically powered medical equipment is described. The non-volatile memory may be preprogrammed to store utilization limits and parametric data for the equipment. An external control module may be programmed to store the utilization history for the equipment in the non-volatile memory on an on-going basis. The control module compares the utilization limits and utilization history during each use, and disables the equipment if a utilization limit is exceeded. The control module may also use the parametric data stored in the non-volatile memory to regulate the power supplied to the equipment.

Abstract: A power supply for use with resistively-heated surgical instruments is provided, wherein accurate temperature regulation is achieved employing a resistance feedback circuit. The power supply powers the surgical instrument with an AC voltage waveform, and applies a fixed, low level DC signal to the heating element to produce a DC signal proportional to the instantaneous resistance of the heating element. The DC signal is compared to a setpoint value to obtain a control signal for adjusting the power delivered to the instrument to maintain a substantially constant heating element temperature, even under varying thermal loads.