Abstract: A system architecture for closed loop control of infusion devices is described. The architecture provides means to control the flow from an infusion device as well as in some embodiments the pressure of the delivery. A variety of infusion systems are described that use the closed loop control architecture. In some embodiments the closed loop control may be adapted to current commonly used infusion means such as a gravity feed intravenous system. Other embodiments describe infusion pump system that use biasing or drive mechanisms of springs, elastomers, rotary and linear motors.

Abstract: A controller for closed loop control of infusion devices is described. A variety of infusion systems are described that use the closed loop control architecture. In some embodiments the closed loop control may be adapted to current commonly used infusion means such as a gravity feed intravenous system. Other embodiments describe infusion pump system that use biasing or drive mechanisms of springs, elastomers, rotary and linear motors.

Abstract: An L2F velocimeter comprises a probe for insertion into a fluid, the probe having an open area therein to allow the fluid to pass through. The probe comprises an illumination system to direct a pair of light beams, separated by a distance, through the open area, and a collection system to collect forward scattered light scattered from particles in the fluid. The collection system has an optical axis in common with the illumination system. The velocimeter further comprises an electro optical assembly connected to the probe to provide light to the illumination system, to receive light collected from the collection system, to measure a lapse time in fluctuations of the forward scattered light created by particles passing through the pair of light beams and to calculate the velocity of the fluid based on the lapse time and the separation distance.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical gas flow meter for measuring very low gas flow in a pipe. The meter comprises an optical system which transilluminates the pipe with plurality of parallel, collimated optical beams. The beams are deflected due to changes refractive index which is caused by a heater located in the pipe parallel to the beams. Deflected beams then pass through spatial filters and are detected by photodetectors. Stochastic signals from the photodetectors are further processed and gas velocity is calculated from cross-correlation function and known beam spacing. Multiple heaters allow the measurement of gas velocity at multiple points throughout the pipe.

Abstract: A system architecture for closed loop control of infusion devices is described. The architecture provides means to control the flow from an infusion device as well as in some embodiments the pressure of the delivery. A variety of infusion systems are described that use the closed loop control architecture. In some embodiments the closed loop control may be adapted to current commonly used infusion means such as a gravity feed intravenous system. Other embodiments describe infusion pump system that use biasing or drive mechanisms of springs, elastomers, rotary and linear motors.

Abstract: An L2F velocimeter comprises a probe for insertion into a fluid, the probe having an open area therein to allow the fluid to pass through. The probe comprises an illumination system to direct a pair of light beams, separated by a distance, through the open area, and a collection system to collect forward scattered light scattered from particles in the fluid. The collection system has an optical axis in common with the illumination system. The velocimeter further comprises an electro optical assembly connected to the probe to provide light to the illumination system, to receive light collected from the collection system, to measure a lapse time in fluctuations of the forward scattered light created by particles passing through the pair of light beams and to calculate the velocity of the fluid based on the lapse time and the separation distance.

Abstract: A method for measuring the velocity of a multiphase fluid flowing in a pipe. The method comprises directing at least two collimated beams of light from an illuminator through the multiphase fluid by transparent portions of the pipe. The at least two collimated beams are spaced apart in a direction of flow of the multiphase fluid by a predetermined distance. The method also includes detecting scattered, deflected and attenuated light with at least two photodetectors to produce at least two signals. The at least two photodetectors are associated with the at least two collimated beams. The method also includes calculating a cross-correlation function between the at least two signals to determine a time delay between the signals and calculating the average velocity of the multiphase fluid by taking the ratio of the predetermined distance to the time delay.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical flow meter for measuring fluid flow through a pipe which obviates the need for the flow to be seeded with foreign particles. The meter comprises a fiber optic Sagnac interferometer with optical path crossing the flowing fluid. The interferometer measures velocity of the fluid by measuring the phase difference between the two beams propagating in the optical path in opposite directions. Light, which is deflected by the fluid, is collected by optical means at both sides of the optical path for calculation, the scintillating statistics and compensation for light intensity.

Abstract: A method for measuring the velocity of a multiphase fluid flowing in a pipe. The method comprises directing at least two collimated beams of light from an illuminator through the multiphase fluid by transparent portions of the pipe. The at least two collimated beams are spaced apart in a direction of flow of the multiphase fluid by a predetermined distance. The method also includes detecting scattered, deflected and attenuated light with at least two photodetectors to produce at least two signals. The at least two photodetectors are associated with the at least two collimated beams. The method also includes calculating a cross-correlation function between the at least two signals to determine a time delay between the signals and calculating the average velocity of the multiphase fluid by taking the ratio of the predetermined distance to the time delay.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical flow meter for measuring fluid flow through a pipe which obviates the need for the flow to be seeded with foreign particles. The meter comprises a fiber optic Sagnac interferometer with optical path crossing the flowing fluid. The interferometer measures velocity of the fluid by measuring the phase difference between the two beams propagating in the optical path in opposite directions. Light, which is deflected by the fluid, is collected by optical means at both sides of the optical path for calculation, the scintillating statistics and compensation for light intensity.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensing device uses a Fabry-Perot cavity to sense a physical parameter. The cavity modulates the incident polychromatic light. The modulated light is recorded by an optical spectrometer means. The spectrum is analyzed in a signal processing unit which normalizes the spectrum and determines the phase of the modulated signal. The phase, accumulated over whole range of wavelengths, has been used for identification of the physical parameter using a look-up-table. The cavity, the polychromatic light source and the spectroscope means are connected by fiber optic means.

Abstract: A fiber optic switching apparatus for switching electrical loads is comprised of a switching box, an optical cable, and an electronic adapter. The switching box consists of an internal housing attached to the front panel of an external housing, and an actuator and a fitting for holding the optical cable. The internal housing consists of an optical switching module that includes a fiber aligning unit and a shutter with filtering means; the filtering means can slide in a narrow gap in the fiber alignment unit which has illuminating and detecting fibers; the shutter is mechanically connected to the actuator. The fibers are terminated in a fiber optic connector that is located outside the internal housing. The electronic adapter consists of a light illuminating and a light detecting means which are operated by a microcontroller providing output to a switching means that switches electrical loads.

Abstract: The invention provides a device and a method for measuring a physical parameter. The device comprises a Fabry-Perot interferometer coupled to a polychromatic light source via fiber optic means. Light, modulated by the Fabry-Perot cavity, is recorded by a spectrometer. A phase function is calculated by a signal processing means from the modulated spectrum. Correlation coefficients are calculated between the determined phase function and a number of theoretical phase functions calculated for a variety of gap spacing of the Fabry-Perot cavity or a number of calibrated phase functions measured for variety of values of physical parameter. The gap spacing, which is associated with the physical parameter, is determined from the best-matched phase function. The processing time is shortened by the approximate estimation of the gap spacing through the position of the maximums and minimums of the modulated spectrum and by consequent precise determining of the gap spacing through correlation.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensing device uses a Fabry-Perot cavity to sense a physical parameter. The cavity modulates the incident polychromatic light. The modulated light is recorded by an optical spectrometer means. The spectrum is analyzed in a signal processing unit which normalizes the spectrum and determines the phase of the modulated signal. The phase, accumulated over whole range of wavelengths, has been used for identification of the physical parameter using a look-up-table. The cavity, the polychromatic light source and the spectroscope means are connected by fiber optic means.

Abstract: The invention provides a fiber optic sensing system for use in environments hostile to electronics. The system comprises an optical module comprising a light source and a photodetector, a probe comprising a glass optical fiber core, preferably with a transducer sensitive to the measurement parameter coupled thereto, an extension comprising a plastic optical fiber core, a first connector configured to optically couple the extension to the probe and a second connector configured to optically couple the extension to the optical module. Light emitted from the light source is transmitted to the transducer on the probe and returned to the photodetector by the extension.

Abstract: A fibre optic switching apparatus for switching electrical loads is comprised of a switching box, an optical cable, and an electronic adapter. The switching box consists of an internal housing attached to the front panel of an external housing, and an actuator and a fitting for holding the optical cable. The internal housing consists of an optical switching module that includes a fibre aligning unit and a shutter with filtering means; the filtering means can slide in a narrow gap in the fibre alignment unit which has illuminating and detecting fibres; the shutter is mechanically connected to the actuator. The fibres are terminated in a fibre optic connector that is located outside the internal housing. The electronic adapter consists of a light illuminating and a light detecting means which are operated by a microcontroller providing output to a switching means that switches electrical loads.

Abstract: The invention is a cable identifier apparatus and a method for fast identification of multi-wire or multi fiber cable. The method is based on illumination of colored buffer of the wire or fiber, registration the reflected light and comparison the measuring data with reference data stored in the memory. The reference data is loaded by measuring the color parameters of the buffer of known identification. The cable identifier apparatus comprises a portable hand-held device with a probe for fixing the buffer in a holder, illuminating the buffer, controlling the incident light and detecting the reflected light with photodetectors. The data is proceed by a microcontroller and an identification symbol of the buffer is displayed in LCD. The variation of the ambient light is compensated by separate measurement of dark and light signals from photodetectors.

Abstract: The invention is a response device to be used in functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. The device consists of keypads with fiber optic push button switches connected with fiber optic cables to an electronic unit for the illumination of the switches and the detection of depression events. The bodies of the keypads have a plurality of openings; therefore, the switches can be positioned in different locations on the keypad to be ergonomically activated with the patient's fingers. The switches can also be located in a symmetrical arrangement allowing them to be pressed with a knob in sequence for performing joystick functions.

Abstract: The invention is a cable identifier apparatus and a method for fast identification of multi-wire or multi fiber cable. The method is based on illumination of colored buffer of the wire or fiber, registration the reflected light and comparison the measuring data with reference data stored in the memory. The reference data is loaded by measuring the color parameters of the buffer of known identification. The cable identifier apparatus comprises a portable hand-held device with a probe for fixing the buffer in a holder, illuminating the buffer, controlling the incident light and detecting the reflected light with photodetectors. The data is proceed by a microcontroller and an identification symbol of the buffer is displayed in LCD. The variation of the ambient light is compensated by separate measurement of dark and light signals from photodetectors.

Abstract: An electrosurgical pencil with a smoke evacuating blade to be used in general surgery and laporoscopy. The blade has a plurality of lateral holes and at least one longitudinal hole in its thicker central part. In a place where the blade is attached to a hadpiece, it is connected to a smoke evacuating tube that is pulled through the handpiece. The tube is inserted in a cable assembly together with electrical wires and connected to an vacuum source; the air flows through the blade to the tube. Due to close proximity to the cutting area, minimum negative pressure is required for sucking of smoke and no obscure of surgeon's view occurs.