Abstract: A double direct injection dual band focal plane array input circuit provides simultaneous and separate integration of the current from two sensors which share a common node. The sensors are constant voltage and variable current sensors such as HgCdTe infrared photodiodes. The sensor voltage biases are independently adjustable. Multiple integration of the signal from one sensor may be performed within one integration time of the other sensor. The circuit is used in staring infrared dual band focal plane arrays and may be used process information from more than two sensors.

Abstract: An LCD heater includes a substantially transparent ITO heating layer deposited on a transparent glass rear cover sheet, the ITO layer being mounted adjacent a planar surface of the display's rear polarizer. The ITO layer has a pair of substantially parallel flex circuit buss bars adhered thereto, the buss bars being sandwiched between the rear polarizer and the ITO heater layer.

Abstract: In an ultrasound imaging system, ultrasound echoes representing vessel walls are distinguished from ultrasound echoes from blood by using a classifier which employs the mean and variance of the raw data of gray intensities as acquired directly from an ultrasound scanner detector. In a specific embodiment, the statistical parameters of mean and variance are determined in the course of real-time processing and prior to attempted classification and then are used as parameters representing the true image as acquired.

Abstract: Front-end and side-on intravascular catheters are described that comprise an abrasive head contained substantially within a housing. Aspiration means and flushing means are connected to the region of grinding to remove dislodged debris. A preferred embodiment has the abrasive surface of a rotatable head comprised of diamond powder. Another preferred embodiment has an ultrasonic transducer affixed to the head to permit transluminal imaging of the site of occlusion.

Abstract: An extreme wide angle, very large aperture, very compact, solar blind, UV imaging lens system. The lens system has a fused silica polyvinyl alcohol glass color filter, a lens made of fused silica, a lens made of nickel sulfate, a layer of coupling fluid and another lens made of fused silica. Alternatively, sapphire can be used after the color filter instead of the fused silica. An alternative lens is composed of two layers of fused silica, a layer of nickel sulfate, another layer of fused silica, coupling fluid followed by polyvinyl alcohol, a color glass filter and coupling fluid followed by fused silica. In a fourth embodiment, the two layers of fused silica are followed by polyvinyl alcohol, a layer of colored glass filter, fused silica, nickel sulfate, coupling fluid, and fused silica.

Abstract: A flexible drive cable comprises a flexible cable body, a pair of electrically insulated wires disposed through an axial lumen of the cable body, and a resilient support tube disposed over the wire pair. The resilient support tube provides support for the wire pair to help the wire pair recover from bending and deformation which may occur during storage or use of the drive cable. The support tube is usually liquid impermeable to maintain an air gap around the wire pair. The air gap improves shielding and maintains a constant overall impedance across the drive cable. The drive cable may be combined with an ultrasonic transducer at its distal end to form an ultrasonic transmission core.

Abstract: An improved electrical interconnection system for an ultrasonic transducer included in an intraluminal catheter is electrically isolated from the imaging core and provides for a balanced transmission line to improve noise rejection.

Abstract: A multi-colored pixel for a twisted nematic liquid crystal display including red, green, and blue subpixels, wherein each subpixel includes a pair of substrates, a pair of polarizers, opposing electrodes, and a color personalized retardation film which compensates for the different wavelength of each color. The personalized retardation films of the different color subpixels results in elimination of the multi-gap approach and substantially eliminates the problem of different color leakages at different viewing angles, including normal. Also, one polymer based element, preferably a polyimide, functions as both a color filter and a retardation film in certain embodiments of this invention.

Abstract: A method of epidural surgery is provided that improves visibility in the epidural space of a patient for more effectively conducting therapeutic surgery therein. The method includes the steps of distending a portion of the epidural space of a patient by filling the portion of the epidural space with a fluid supplied from a catheter and positioning a portion of an optical scope in the distended portion of the epidural space by inserting the optical scope through the same catheter that supplies the distending fluid to thereby provide a visual image of the epidural space.

Abstract: A longitudinal position translator includes a probe drive module and a linear translation module. The probe drive module is coupled operatively to an ultrasonic imaging probe assembly having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly in such a manner that longitudinal shifting of the transducer subassembly may be effected. The probe drive module is preferably mounted to the linear translation unit so as to be moveable between a condition whereby longitudinal shifting of the transducer subassembly can be conducted either manually or automatically. When in the automatically-operable condition, the probe drive module will be engaged with a motor-driven screw associated with the linear translation module so as to cause the probe drive module to be longitudinally displaced at a constant motor-driven rate. In this manner, the distally located ultrasound transducer is longitudinally shifted during an ultrasound scan of surrounding intravascular (or other) tissue to thereby allow axially-spaced 360.degree.

Abstract: A data acquisition and display apparatus for an ultrasonic camera includes an ultrasonic scanning head for scanning an ultrasonic field of view in two dimensions. A timing and digitizing apparatus for digitizing ultrasonic signals from the ultrasonic scan head has a digitized output. An interface is coupled between the timing and digitizing apparatus and a graphics engine and first and second digital signal processors. A graphics processor is coupled to the graphics data line. The system also includes an image processor and computer controller which controls the graphics and digital signal processors.

Abstract: A composition and method for separating red blood cells from whole blood comprising a rouleaux-forming aggregator and an enhancer for enhancing the settling rate. The enhancer is a material which alters directly or indirectly the properties of the red blood cell and may alter the structure and/or reactivity of the aggregator, without adversely affecting the morphology and function of white blood cells. In most instances, the red blood cell enhancers of the invention are osmotic agents. Such agents create a hypertonic solution while not entering the cells themselves. Preferably the enhancer is a salt of oxalic acid, a salt of malonic acid, mannitol or sucrose. Potassium oxalate is most preferred. High molecular weight substances which are large enough to form molecular bridges between red blood cells form the aggregators used in the invention.

Abstract: An improved NVG compatible day/night backlighting assembly for a color liquid crystal display includes a daytime high intensity light source, an edge-mounted nighttime low intensity light source, and an integral collimating/reflecting/image splitting lens which collimates and image splits the light emitted from the high intensity daytime light source, and reflects upward the low intensity light rays emanating from the low intensity edge-mounted light source.

Abstract: An integrated optical system illuminates an ultraviolet spatial detector with an image from a field of interest. The ultraviolet spatial detector is comprised of an electron multiplying microchannel plate and a 100 pixel discrete anode array using a high strip current microchannel plate. The discrete anode array preserves the spatial distribution of the image. The ultraviolet spatial sensor has a wide field of view. The ultraviolet spatial detector has a photon counting sensor capable of detecting ultraviolet sources to determine their position to within plus or minus 4.5 degrees.

Abstract: The claimed invention provides an improved tracking tip for use with a work element in a catheter system having a flexible tubular catheter body. Use of a tracking tip according to the present invention will facilitate advancement of the work element within the catheter body and will substantially eliminate the possibility that the work element will puncture the catheter body. Preferred embodiments will comprise a wire coil and will often include a rounded end member, which may be in the form of a solder ball, at the distal tip of the wire coil. In some embodiments, the rounded end member may be coated with a lubricant or a suitable non-stick material to further improve tracking of the work element within the catheter body.

Abstract: The present invention provides improvement usable with an intravascular catheter having a single common distal lumen with a reduced profile connected to two or more proximal lumens. The catheter will be loadable over a guidewire into a region of interest within a patient's vascular system. According to one aspect of the present invention, means are provided to ensure that the guidewire enters into a desired one of the proximal lumens. In a preferred embodiment, a special tool is provided to achieve this. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the catheter is provided with a proximal housing and an axially expandable member to shield the rotating parts at the proximal end of the catheter and to allow for convenient movement of a work element within the catheter body.

Abstract: An analog signal processing circuit used to suppress unipolar transient effects and signal averaging. Two transistors and one capacitor are provided in series to sample and condition an input signal. An additional transistor is provided in parallel to the capacitor to provide further signal processing capabilities. The circuit can function as an analog signal average, suppressing unipolar transient effects and as a peak detector while using a conservative amount of fabrication material and can be operated with low power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing at a remote workstation, data files that are compressed and collected into groups on a local area network at a central location. The files of a group are transferred to the workstation over an ISDN switched telephone network in response to an automatic requests from the workstations. The workstation requests depend on the inventory of unprocessed files at the workstation as well as the time and date, in order to reduce the connection time. When files are received at the workstation the first is immediately decompressed and presented to the operator. In the meantime the next file which the operated is expected to need is decompressed in the background and is ready for processing as soon as the operator finishes with the first. When the operator switches to the next file the processing results are automatically saved and a further file is decompressed an held in a queue for the operator.

Abstract: A monolithic detector array apparatus for sensing infrared radiation. An array of semiconductor diode bolometers are fabricated on micromachined thermal isolation structures called microbridges. The detectors are configured in an array and addressed by row and column. Readout circuitry may be optionally incorporated onto a common substrate. The monolithic detector array may be highly integrated, resulting in a low cost and a high performance focal plane array.

Abstract: A two color radiation detector. A dispersive lens with a spectrally selective central obscuration focuses a first radiation band on a central location on focal plane array. The dispersive lens also focuses an annulus of out of focus radiation of a second radiation band concentric with the central location on the focal plane array. For point target detection the dispersive lens transmits plume band and guard band radiation to the staring focal plane array sensor. The staring focal plane array is located at the focal point of the plume band radiation. A spatial filter detects target signatures using information from the plume band and guard band radiation.