Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features an objective arranged to image radiation from an object plane to an image plane, including a plurality of elements arranged to direct the radiation from the object plane to the image plane, wherein the objective has an image side numerical aperture of more than 0.55 and a maximum image side field dimension of more than 1 mm, and the objective is a catoptric objective.

Abstract: An imaging system for imaging an off-axis object field arranged in an object surface of the imaging system onto an off-axis image field arranged in an image surface of the imaging system while creating at least one intermediate image has: an optical axis; an in-line mirror group having an object side mirror group entry, an image side mirror group exit and a mirror group plane aligned transversely to the optical axis and arranged geometrically between the mirror group entry and the mirror group exit, the mirror group including: a first mirror having a first mirror surface for receiving radiation coming from the object surface in a first reflecting area asymmetric to the optical axis; at least one second mirror having a second mirror surface facing the first mirror surface for receiving radiation coming from the first mirror in a second reflecting area asymmetric to the optical axis; at least one of the first and second mirrors being a concave mirror having a concave mirror surface defining a mirror axis on the

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for projecting a pattern arranged in the object plane of the projection objective into the image plane of the projection objective, having: a first objective part for projecting an object field lying in the object plane into a first real intermediate image; a second objective part for generating a second real intermediate image with the radiation coming from the first objective part; a third objective part for generating a third real intermediate image with the radiation coming from the second objective part; and a fourth objective part for projecting the third real intermediate image into the image plane.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features an objective arranged to image radiation from an object plane to an image plane, including a plurality of elements arranged to direct the radiation from the object plane to the image plane, wherein the objective has an image side numerical aperture of more than 0.55 and a maximum image side field dimension of more than 1 mm, and the objective is a catoptric objective.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective comprises: a first objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; a third objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging directly onto the image plane; wherein a first concave mirror having a first continuous mirror surface and at least one second concave mirror having a second continuous mirror surface are arranged upstream of the second intermediate image; pupil surfaces are formed between the object plane and the first intermediate image, between the first and the second intermediate image and between the second intermediate image and the image plane; and all concave mirrors are arranged optically remote from a pupil surface.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective comprises: a first objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; a third objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging directly onto the image plane; wherein a first concave mirror having a first continuous mirror surface and at least one second concave mirror having a second continuous mirror surface are arranged upstream of the second intermediate image; pupil surfaces are formed between the object plane and the first intermediate image, between the first and the second intermediate image and between the second intermediate image and the image plane; and all concave mirrors are arranged optically remote from a pupil surface.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective has a first, refractive objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part including at least one concave mirror for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; and a third, refractive objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging onto the image plane; wherein the projection objective has a maximum lens diameter Dmax, a maximum image field height Y?, and an image side numerical aperture NA; wherein COMP1=Dmax/(Y?·NA2) and wherein the condition COMP1<10 holds.

Abstract: The invention provides a series of reagent compositions and methods for making and amplifying novel cDNA based probe sets from RNA samples to improve analysis with gene expression arrays. The methods globally produce probe sets with common universal linkers at one or both ends, called WRAP-Probes, wherein the linkers do not bind to the target sequences and they can efficiently bind added reporters to the probes. The universal linkers are also designed as primer binding sites for copying and amplifying the probes, either linearly with one linker, or exponentially with double linkers. The capacity to globally and exponentially amplify the probe set by PCR is a primary advantage. Adding reporters by terminal linkers also improves quantification since each probe gets equivalent signaling. The invention allows expression analysis of small research, clinical and forensic samples to enable improved diagnostics, drug discovery, therapeutic monitoring, and medical, agricultural and general research.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical system includes a combined laser imaging robotic surgical tool, a control console, and a laser generator/controller. The tool is mounted to a first robotic arm of a patient side cart. The tool has a wristed joint and an end effector coupled together. The end effector has a laser-emitting device to direct a laser beam onto tissue in a surgical site and an image-capturing device to capture images of the tissue in the surgical site. The control console, in communication with the tool, receives the captured images of tissue in the surgical site and displays the captured images on a display device to a user. The laser generator/controller is coupled to the tool and the control console to control the emission of the laser beam onto tissue of the surgical site.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for making new and inexpensive miniarrays suitable for gene expression analysis. Also provided herein are methods of diagnosis for specific tissue or condition using specialized diagnostic miniarrays that exhibit specific visual pattern as diagnostic readout.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compositions and methods for detecting unlabeled nucleic acid targets using labeled polynucleotide probes and partially complementary antiprobes. The interaction of probes, antiprobes and targets result in signaling changes that indicate target frequency. This novel detection mechanism is called a DNA detection switch, and it enable end-point detection, microarray detection and real-time PCR detection of a variety of nucleic acid targets including microbial species and subspecies, drug resistant mutants, and pathogenic strains.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective has, along an optical axis, a concave mirror; a positive lens group with positive refractive power arranged adjacent to the concave mirror and spaced apart therefrom; a first prism and a second prism each having respective first fiat surfaces and second flat surfaces, wherein the second flat surfaces are arranged adjacent to the positive lens group and on opposite sides of the optical axis, and wherein the first flat surfaces are arranged adjacent to an object plane and an image plane, respectively, of the projection objective. The projection objective has unit magnification and at least one focus at a wavelength in a design wavelength band that includes mercury g-, h- and i-lines. At least the thickest optical element of the positive lens group and the first and second prism are made from optical material having an absorption coefficient k<0.001 cm?1 in the design wavelength band.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective has a first, refractive objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part including at least one concave mirror for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; and a third, refractive objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging onto the image plane; wherein the projection objective has a maximum lens diameter Dmax, a maximum image field height Y?, and an image side numerical aperture NA; wherein COMP1=Dmax/(Y?·NA2) and wherein the condition COMP1<10 holds.

Abstract: A refractive optical imaging system for imaging an object field arranged in an object surface of the imaging system into an image field arranged in an image surface of the imaging system on a demagnifying imaging scale has a multiplicity of optical elements which are configured and arranged such that a defined finite field curvature of the imaging system is set such that an object surface concavely curved relative to the imaging system is imaged into a flat image surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a series of reagent compositions and methods for making and amplifying novel cDNA based probe sets from RNA samples to improve analysis with gene expression arrays. The methods globally produce probe sets with common universal linkers at one or both ends, called WRAP-Probes, wherein the linkers do not bind to the target sequences and they can efficiently bind added reporters to the probes. The universal linkers are also designed as primer binding sites for copying and amplifying the probes, either linearly with one linker, or exponentially with double linkers. The capacity to globally and exponentially amplify the probe set by PCR is a primary advantage. Adding reporters by terminal linkers also improves quantification since each probe gets equivalent signaling. The invention allows expression analysis of small research, clinical and forensic samples to enable improved diagnostics, drug discovery, therapeutic monitoring, and medical, agricultural and general research.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of optical elements in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, particularly in a projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. The arrangement comprises a rigid first optical element, a rigid second optical element with a first optical surface and a second optical surface on opposite sides and a first liquid. The first optical element has a concave optical surface. The first side of the second optical element is facing the concave optical surface of the first optical element. The first liquid is at least partially filling the space between the first optical element and the second optical element.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features an objective arranged to image radiation from an object plane to an image plane, including a plurality of elements arranged to direct the radiation from the object plane to the image plane, wherein the objective has an image side numerical aperture of more than 0.55 and a maximum image side field dimension of more than 1 mm, and the objective is a catoptric objective.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective comprises: a first objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; a third objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging directly onto the image plane; wherein a first concave mirror having a first continuous mirror surface and at least one second concave mirror having a second continuous mirror surface are arranged upstream of the second intermediate image; pupil surfaces are formed between the object plane and the first intermediate image, between the first and the second intermediate image and between the second intermediate image and the image plane; and all concave mirrors are arranged optically remote from a pupil surface.

Abstract: A method of determining materials of lenses contained in an optical system of a projection exposure apparatus is described. First, for each lens of a plurality of the lenses, a susceptibility factor KLT/LH is determined. This factor is a measure of the susceptibility of the respective lens to deteriorations caused by at least one of lifetime effects and lens heating effects. Then a birefringent fluoride crystal is selected as a material for each lens for which the susceptibility factor KLT/LH is above a predetermined threshold. Theses lenses are assigned to a first set of lenses. For these lenses, measures are determined for reducing adverse effects caused by birefringence inherent to the fluoride crystals.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective comprises: a first objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; a third objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging directly onto the image plane; wherein a first concave mirror having a first continuous mirror surface and at least one second concave mirror having a second continuous mirror surface are arranged upstream of the second intermediate image; pupil surfaces are formed between the object plane and the first intermediate image, between the first and the second intermediate image and between the second intermediate image and the image plane; and all concave mirrors are arranged optically remote from a pupil surface.