Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods to spectrally beam combine a group of diode lasers in an external cavity arrangement. A dichroic beam combiner or volume Bragg grating beam combiner is placed in an external cavity to force each of the diode lasers or groups of diode lasers to oscillate at a wavelength determined by the passband of the beam combiner. In embodiments the combination of a large number of laser diodes in a sufficiently narrow bandwidth to produce a high brightness laser source that has many applications including as to pump a Raman laser or Raman amplifier.

Abstract: A total artificial heart for placement inside a living body comprising right and left ventricle enclosures, wherein each ventricle includes an exterior wall formed of (i) contacting wall structure and (ii) noncontacting wall structure which collectively enclose an interior volume comprised of a blood chamber and a pumping chamber. The contacting wall structure of each ventricle enclosure is configured for intercontacting relationship wherein the contacting walls of the respective ventricles form a septum which structurally separates the interior volume of the right ventricle from the interior volume of the left ventricle. The noncontacting wall structure comprises the remaining exterior wall of each ventricle enclosure. A fluid drive motor capable of reversible flow is positioned within and circumscribed by the septum and includes a flow channel therethrough which communicates between the respective pumping chambers of the right and left ventricle enclosures.