Abstract: An optical system for use in an imaging procedure includes one or more semiconductor diodes configured to generate an input signal beam with a wavelength shorter than 2.5 microns that is amplified and communicated through optical fiber(s) to a nonlinear element configured to broaden the spectral width to at least 50 nm through a nonlinear effect. A subsystem includes lenses or mirrors to deliver an output beam having a broadened spectrum to an Optical Coherence Tomography apparatus with a sample and reference arm to perform imaging for characterizing the sample. The delivered output beam has a temporal duration greater than about 30 picoseconds, a repetition rate between continuous wave and Megahertz or higher, and a time averaged intensity of less than approximately 50 MW/cm2. The output beam has a time averaged output power of 20 mW or more.

Abstract: A light-based medical scope system includes a semiconductor diode pump source, a multiplexer that combines diode outputs to generate an optical signal. First and second waveguide structures guide the optical signal with a coupling loss of about 5dB or less through a scope adapted for insertion into a patient's body. A focusing element coupled to a distal end of the second waveguide structure is adapted to focus the optical signal onto the patient's body. A housing includes a base portion, a flexible portion, and a head unit mounted onto the flexible portion. The focusing element is located within or passes through the head unit, and the base portion includes a mechanical control for manipulating the flexible portion. In one embodiment, a waveguide structure directs an output beam of 1.7 microns or more to perform a differential measurement on patient blood with the result displayed on an associated monitor.

Abstract: A medical device includes an insertable portion capable of being inserted into an orifice associated with a body of a patient. The insertable portion comprising an automated head unit capable of being manipulated in at least two axes of motion based at least in part on one or more control signals. The medical device further includes one or more controllers coupled to the automated head unit. In one particular embodiment, the one or more controllers generate the one or more control signals based at least in part on an input signal.

Abstract: A broadband light source includes one or more laser diodes that are capable of generating a pump signal having a wavelength shorter than 2.5 microns, a pulse width of at least 100 picoseconds and a pump optical spectral width. The light source also includes one or more optical amplifiers that are coupled to the pump signal and are capable of amplifying the pump signal to a peak power of at least 500 W. The light source further includes a first fiber that is coupled to the one or more optical amplifiers. The first fiber including an anomalous group-velocity dispersion regime and a modulational instability mechanism that operates to modulate the pump signal. The light source also includes a nonlinear element that is coupled to the first fiber that is capable of broadening the pump optical spectral width to at least 100 nm through a nonlinear effect in the nonlinear element.

Abstract: A medical device includes an insertable portion capable of being inserted into an orifice associated with a body of a patient. The insertable portion comprising an automated head unit capable of being manipulated in at least two axes of motion based at least in part on one or more control signals. The medical device further includes one or more controllers coupled to the automated head unit. In one particular embodiment, the one or more controllers generate the one or more control signals based at least in part on an input signal.

Abstract: A medical device includes an insertable portion capable of being inserted into an orifice associated with a body of a patient. The insertable portion comprising an automated head unit capable of being manipulated in at least two axes of motion based at least in part on one or more control signals. The medical device further includes one or more controllers coupled to the automated head unit. In one particular embodiment, the one or more controllers generate the one or more control signals based at least in part on an input signal.

Abstract: A laser-based method and system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient and optical catheter assembly for use therein are provided. The system includes a laser subsystem for generating an output laser beam. The system further includes a catheter assembly including at least one optical fiber having a proximal end coupled to the laser subsystem for guiding the output laser beam along a propagation path. The beam has optical and temporal properties and a predetermined selected wavelength. The catheter assembly is sized to extend through an opening in a first part of the patient and to a tissue material processing site within the patient.

Abstract: A medical device includes an insertable portion capable of being inserted into an orifice associated with a body of a patient. The insertable portion comprising an automated head unit capable of being manipulated in at least two axes of motion based at least in part on one or more control signals. The medical device further includes one or more controllers coupled to the automated head unit. In one particular embodiment, the one or more controllers generate the one or more control signals based at least in part on an input signal.

Abstract: A medical device includes an insertable portion capable of being inserted into an orifice associated with a body of a patient. The insertable portion comprising an automated head unit capable of being manipulated in at least two axes of motion based at least in part on one or more control signals. The medical device further includes one or more controllers coupled to the automated head unit. In one particular embodiment, the one or more controllers generate the one or more control signals based at least in part on an input signal.

Abstract: A medical device includes an insertable portion capable of being inserted into an orifice associated with a body of a patient. The insertable portion comprising an automated head unit capable of being manipulated in at least two axes of motion based at least in part on one or more control signals. The medical device further includes one or more controllers coupled to the automated head unit. In one particular embodiment, the one or more controllers generate the one or more control signals based at least in part on an input signal.

Abstract: A switching element capable of being used in an optical processing device includes an optical signal separator operable to separate a multiple wavelength optical signal into one or more optical signal wavelengths. The switching element further includes a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers located on a single semiconductor substrate. The plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers operable to perform an optical switching operation on at least one of the optical signal wavelengths. The switching element also includes a controller operable to generate a control signal that affects the optical switching operation performed by one or more of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers.

Abstract: An all-digital display system includes an electronic processor that is operable to receive an internet protocol video packet and to generate a control signal based at least in part on the internet protocol video packet. In one particular embodiment, the electronic processor includes at least a header processor, a CPU electronic processor, and a display processor unit. The all-digital display system also includes one or more light sources capable of generating one or more optical signals and one or more light modulating chips. The one or more light modulating chips are operable to receive the one or more optical signals and to modulate the one or more optical signals based at least in part on the control signal. The all-digital display system further comprises one or more display screens operable to receive the modulated signals communicated from the light modulating chips.

Abstract: An infrared light source includes one or more combiners that are coupled to at least a first pump laser and a second pump laser. The combiners are operable to couple a first optical signal generated by the first pump laser and a second optical signal generated by the second pump laser to a gain fiber, the gain fiber comprising a first waveguide structure. The light source also includes a Raman wavelength shifter that is coupled to the gain fiber. The Raman wavelength shifter being operable to wavelength shift based at least in part on a Raman effect. At least a portion of the Raman wavelength shifter comprising an intermediate waveguide structure that is coupled to a second waveguide structure capable of wavelength shifting at least one wavelength of the first optical signal to an intermediate wavelength in the intermediate waveguide structure and then a longer signal wavelength in the second waveguide structure.

Abstract: An all-digital display system includes an electronic processor that is operable to receive an internet protocol video packet and to generate a control signal based at least in part on the internet protocol video packet. In one particular embodiment, the electronic processor includes at least a header processor, a CPU electronic processor, and a display processor unit. The all-digital display system also includes one or more light sources capable of generating one or more optical signals and one or more light modulating chips. The one or more light modulating chips are operable to receive the one or more optical signals and to modulate the one or more optical signals based at least in part on the control signal. The all-digital display system further comprises one or more display screens operable to receive the modulated signals communicated from the light modulating chips.

Abstract: A light processing system includes an array of optical signal processing devices. The array of processing devices are operable to receive at least some of a first signal part and to modulate the first signal part based at least in part on a control signal received from a controller. At least some of the processing devices include a plurality of at least partially reflective mirrors that are disposed outwardly from an inner conductive layer and are operable to receive at least some of the first signal part. In one particular embodiment, at least some of the mirrors are operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to the control signal. The partial rotation resulting in a reflection of the at least some of the first signal part in one direction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a scheduler for use with a star switching fabric includes a scheduling star switching fabric operable to receive a plurality of packets each associated with one of a plurality of wavelengths and a plurality of selecting elements associated with the scheduling star switching fabric. Each of the plurality of selecting elements is operable to contribute to selectively passing packets from the scheduling star switching fabric for receipt by a transmission star switching fabric. Packets received at the transmission star switching fabric over a given time period comprise a more uniform load distribution than packets received at an input to the scheduler over the same period of time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless medical communication system includes a plurality of transmitters. Each of the plurality of transmitters is capable of being coupled to at least one of a plurality of patients and operable to communicate over a communication link a substantially unprocessed physiological data signal associated with at least one patient. At least a portion of the communication link comprises a wireless connection. The system further includes at least one medical diagnostic device operable to receive at least two substantially unprocessed physiological data signals communicated from the plurality of transmitters. Each of the at least two substantially unprocessed physiological data signals are associated with different patients.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a router includes a plurality of line cards each operable to receive at least one packet comprising an identifier associated with a destination element external to the router. Each line card includes a look-up table operable to facilitate routing the received packet toward the destination element based at least in part on the identifier. The router further includes a plurality of optical transmitters each associated with one of the line cards and operable to generate at a specified wavelength an optical router signal comprising at least a portion of the packet received by the line card associated with that optical transmitter. The router also includes a star switching fabric operable to receive a plurality of optical router signals from the plurality of optical transmitters and to communicate to each of a plurality of tunable filters a substantially similar set of at least some of the plurality of optical router signals.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a router includes a star switching fabric operable to receive a plurality of optical signals each having a wavelength and each associated with a payload received by the router and to communicate from the switching fabric a plurality of substantially similar sets of the optical signals. The router further includes a plurality of tunable filters each having a configuration speed and each associated with a communication path coupled to one of a plurality of destination elements. Each filter is operable to receive one of the sets of optical signals from the switching fabric and to selectively tune to a wavelength of one of the plurality of optical signals received to facilitate communication of at least the payload associated with that optical signal toward the destination element associated with that filter. The router also includes a plurality of line cards operable to facilitate generation of at least some of the optical signals for transmission to the star switching fabric.

Abstract: A light source includes a wavelength shifter that is capable of shifting a shorter optical signal wavelength to a longer optical signal wavelength based at least in part on a Raman effect in a waveguide. The wavelength shifter includes a pump laser that operable to produce the shorter optical signal wavelength. The wavelength shifter also includes an intermediate stage that is coupled to the pump laser and capable of producing an intermediate optical signal wavelength. The intermediate optical signal wavelength is longer than the shorter optical signal wavelength. The wavelength shifter further includes a final stage capable of generating the longer optical signal wavelength. The final stage includes at least in part a ZBLAN waveguide and wherein the longer optical signal wavelength is greater than 1.7 microns and is greater than the intermediate pump signal wavelength.