Abstract: A method of and system for non-invasively measuring tissue hemoglobin of a subject is provided. The method includes: a) non-invasively sensing tissue of a subject using a near infrared spectrophotometric (NIRS) sensing device, and determining at least one NIRS tissue THb value based on the non-invasive sensing; b) determining whether at least one Hb confounding factor is present during the non-invasive tissue sensing with the NIRS sensing device; and c) determining a NIRS circulatory THb portion of the NIRS tissue THb value based on the presence of the at least one Hb confounding factor during the non-invasive tissue sensing with the NIRS sensing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a subject's autoregulation function state is provided. The method includes: continuously sensing a tissue region of a subject with a tissue oximeter to produce first signals representative of at least one tissue oxygenation parameter during a period of time; continuously measuring a blood pressure level of the subject during the period of time to produce second signals representative of the subject's blood pressure during the period of time; determining a presence of a confounding factor that affects the sensed tissue oxygenation parameter in a manner independent of an autoregulation function of the subject, the determination using the first signals; using the first and second signals to determine an autoregulation function state of the subject when the absence of the confounding factor is determined. The method may include determining an at least one of an LLA or a ULA of a subject's autoregulation function state.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical formulation is described comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody, an acetate buffer, a lyoprotectant, a bulking agent and a surfactant.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical formulation is described comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody, an acetate buffer, a lyoprotectant, a bulking agent and a surfactant.

Abstract: An online conference session management system includes computer sites associated with a conference session holder, a plurality of service providers and a plurality of conference session participants. The conference session holder and each service provider has a respective associated public/private key pair for a specified online conference session. Each service provider is provided with an active participant registration certificate that gives the service provider the authority to register participants of the specified conference session, as well as authority to register other service providers as active participants of the specified conference session by providing those other service providers with respective active participant registration certificates.

Abstract: A data distribution system has a number of data processing devices interconnected by data transmission media. At least one of the data processing devices transmit data to other data processing devices in the system. The transmitting data processing system includes memory for storing the data to be transmitted, programmable data processing circuitry, and data transmission apparatus for transmitting an encoded representation of the stored message as a sequence of data packets. Priority data, stored in the memory, represents a plurality of assigned priority levels for specified portions of the stored message such that portions of the stored message have respective assigned priority levels. A data encoding program generates an encoded representation of the stored message that includes, for each portion of the stored message, a level of redundant data corresponding to the priority level assigned to that portion of the stored message.

Abstract: An optical fiber point-to-multipoint communications network is disclosed of the type having a bus topology. The broadcasting terminal (101) of the network includes an information transmitting laser (102) and a local oscillator laser (103) the signals of which are launched onto opposite ends of an optical fiber bus (104) to counter-propagate thereon. At each of the M stations (105-1-105-M) connected to the bus, a wideband directional coupler (106-1-106-M) couples portions of each of the counter-propagating signals to a balanced coherent detector (107-1-107-M). The effective total power input to the balanced coherent detector at each of the stations is equal regardless of the location of the station relative to the broadcasting terminal. In another embodiment the stations are connected to ring-shaped optical subbuses which are coupled to the main bus.

Abstract: A distributed star network for providing point-to-point and broadcast-type communication among a plurality of user stations is disclosed. The distributed star network is implemented using single mode optical technology including single mode lasers and single mode optical fibers.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed which stabilizes the temperature, and thereby the output wavelength, of an injection laser. Means (50 and 23) monitor the laser terminal voltage across a laser (11) and derive a voltage laser therefrom which is proportional to the junction voltage of the laser. Means (24) compares the voltage to a reference value from source (27) and a temperature controller (35) adjusts the laser temperature in response to the results of the comparison.Further embodiments of the present invention vary the output wavelength of the laser by varying the reference value from source (27) against which the laser junction voltage is compared.

Abstract: Two, operationally independent networks are established along a common transmission bus by having the signals for the respective networks propagate in opposite directions, and directionally coupling the station units of the respective networks to the transmission bus so as to receive and transmit signals in one of the two directions. The two networks can operate at different bit rates and wavelengths and, being operationally independent, can be installed and added to at different times.

Abstract: The efficiency of packet switching networks is improved by using a collision avoidance technique rather than collision detection. The subscriber links are connected to a common node. A collision avoidance circuit in each link monitors the node to determine whether it is in a busy or idle status. The first message to arrive places the node in a busy status at which time all other, nontransmitting links are disconnected, thereby avoiding a collision. Later arriving messages are stored in buffers at each subscriber location and are transmitted when the node is again idle. In this manner messages are transmitted on a first-come basis, and can be of arbitrary duration regardless of bit rate.

Abstract: In a digital, time division multiplex communication system, a first-in, first-out buffer (10) at each subscriber station is employed to establish a conference call. The digital words of the conferees being listened to are entered into the buffer as they are received. They are then read out at a different bit rate such that they all occupy an equal fraction of the word period. The words are decoded in a standard D/A converter (11) and combined in a filter (12).

Abstract: An electrical-optical interface network for use in a carrier-sense, multiple-access system with collision-detection provides two-way transmission between an electrical circuit (5,7,9) and a pair of lightguides (21,22), but prevents signal transmission between the lightguides.

Abstract: An electrical optical fiber switch includes first, second and third optical fibers located so that a lateral movement of the first optical fiber breaks optical connection with the second and makes optical connection with the third. The first optical fiber is coated with an electrically conductive substance which is electrically switched to a positive or negative side of a DC voltage source. Electrodes disposed adjacent to the first fiber are connected across the voltage source. Depending on the resulting polarity of the first fiber coating, the first fiber is electrostatically moved between the electrodes so as to accomplish optical switching. A dielectric coating or barrier is provided on the first fiber coating or on the electrodes so as to prevent electrical contact. Many such optical fiber switches can be provided on a planar optical switch board for optical test terminations in an optical fiber communications system.

Abstract: The operating current level of an injection laser is stabilized at a point of maximum linearity. A test signal modulates the laser current, and the operating current level of the laser is automatically adjusted until the harmonic distortion component in the output light at twice the test signal frequency is minimized.

Abstract: An injection laser is automatically stabilized so that the laser operates above threshold when the laser current is modulated. The invention makes use of the fact that the laser junction voltage saturates at currents above the threshold. A signal which modulates the laser current and causes the laser current to fall below the threshold level therefore results in a change in the junction voltage. These changes in the junction voltage are monitored and used to increase the bias current so that the laser operates above threshold.

Abstract: An electrostatic optical fiber holder includes two electrodes spaced apart and forming two alignment surfaces. A voltage applied between the two electrodes produces a nonuniform electric field which exerts an electrostatic force upon an optical fiber placed in the field, such that the fiber is positioned and held in contact with the two alignment surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for breaking optical fibers. The present method comprises the steps of: clamping an optical fiber at two spaced-apart peripheral areas on opposite sides of the area of intended break; heating the area of the intended break to at least the annealing temperature of the fiber; scoring the fiber along the line of intended break; and either bending and pulling or pulling the fiber apart to produce a break with a flat end surface. The heating step may also be advantageously employed to melt or evaporate a jacket surrounding the optical fiber adjacent to the area of intended break.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for causing light to interact with surface acoustic waves so that the light is either scattered out of or coupled into an optical wave guide. In the case of scattering when the light is propagating in an optical wave guide and chirped surface acoustic waves interact with the light, the light is scattered out of the optical wave guide into a focused beam. The focused beam of light travels in a path parallel to the surface acoustic waves and at the same velocity as the acoustic waves. The focused beam can scan objects to obtain electrical signals corresponding to the optical image of the objects and also the beam can be focused on a plurality of photodetectors to multiplex the light. In the case of coupling when the light is incident on an optical wave guide and the frequency of the chirped surface acoustic waves is selectively varied, the light is selectively coupled into the optical wave guide in a corresponding manner.