Abstract: A detector sequentially detects intensity distribution of transmitted light which is transmitted through a center portion of a preform. A determining section determines at least one of a position of a through hole and a size thereof on the basis of a time series of a feature value in the intensity distribution.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for optically sensing action potential signals in excitable body tissue. The device includes an elongated tubular lead body carrying an optical fiber extending from a proximal lead end to a distal lead end to position the optical fiber at a target site. The lead body additionally carries a conduit for dispensing a voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye into tissue surrounding the target site. The optical fiber transmits excitation light to the fluorescent dye to cause the dye to fluoresce with varying intensity as the transmembrane potentials of local tissue cells vary due to passing depolarization wavefronts. The optical fiber transmits the fluorescence signal to the device to generate an action potential signal or fiducial points of an action potential signal for use in accurately measuring and characterizing electrical activity of excitable tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed are enzyme assays using biolayer interferometry. Assays may be carried out using immobilized substrate or with a substrate capture format. In certain embodiments, the assays are carried out using unlabeled substrates. The methods are broadly applicable to enzyme assay measurements, can be carried out in vivo or in vitro, and are easily multiplexed.

Abstract: A method of analyzing machine vision images to identify low contrast features such as scratches or cracks on the polished ends of optical fibers. A bank of oriented filters having incremental angles of orientation are tuned to respond to the frequency characteristics of oriented scratches or cracks having an approximate width. The filters are applied to an image to generate a filter response image for each filter orientation. The set of filter response images are combined to form a single data set indicating a magnitude and angle for each pixel in the original image. Elements of the combined data set having corresponding angles and magnitudes are grouped to form contour components that can be optionally input to higher order processes.