Abstract: A small tabletop stationary five-degree of freedom device such as a “robot” is used to define the treatment region by tracing the region under direct visualization and then to precisely deliver the treatment plan created by an automatic planning system by positioning a single low energy radiation source, or a plurality of low energy sources connected to each other in a predetermined parallel or similar geometry, each source equipped with blocking and attenuation mechanisms, at a plurality of positions in a planar fashion across or through a selected treatment field, thereby delivering a plurality of parallel overlapping beams indexed on a millimeter or submillimeter grid such that a concentration of dose is achieved at a variable depth in tissue relative to the dose where the radiation first enters the tissue and can be used to treat regions on or below the surface of tissue, in a cavity and underlying region created following a surgical resection, on or below the surface of an internal cavity, hollow viscus,

Abstract: Tools and methods are provided for dissecting and/or removing biological units, such as hair follicles, from the body surface based on the images both above and below a body surface to reduce potential damage to the removed biological unit. The invention may be used in fully automated systems and also in a hand-held devices and systems. A system may produce a series of three-dimensional images of the body surface indicating follicular unit size, shape, position, and orientation both above and below the skin surface. The images may be utilized by an automated follicular unit harvesting tool, or maybe stored for later use. Imaging techniques include devices that sense light in the visible or infrared spectrums, optical coherence tomography, and ultrahigh frequency ultrasound.

Abstract: A digital radiography system, having: a pixelated optical detector; and a mask positioned adjacent to the pixelated optical detector, the mask comprising a repeating pattern of first and second portions configured to pass different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough such that a polychromic X-ray image can be taken using only a single X-ray exposure with a single imaging detector.

Abstract: A signal conduction channel having a first element that receives electrons at a first end from a vacuum environment, produces photons as the electrons are received, and propagates the photons along a length of the first element to a distal second end, and a second element that receives the photons from the second end of the first element, converts the photons to electrons, and multiplies the electrons, where no additional element is disposed between the second end of the first element and the second element, except optionally at least one of a photon-conductive epoxy, a lens, and an optical coupling plate that touches both the second end of the first element and the second element.

Abstract: A small tabletop stationary five-degree of freedom device such as a “robot” is used to define the treatment region by tracing the region under direct visualization and then to precisely deliver the treatment plan created by an automatic planning system by positioning a single low energy radiation source, or a plurality of low energy sources connected to each other in a predetermined parallel or similar geometry, each source equipped with blocking and attenuation mechanisms, at a plurality of positions in a planar fashion across or through a selected treatment field, thereby delivering a plurality of parallel overlapping beams indexed on a millimeter or submillimeter grid such that a concentration of dose is achieved at a variable depth in tissue relative to the dose where the radiation first enters the tissue and can be used to treat regions on or below the surface of tissue, in a cavity and underlying region created following a surgical resection, on or below the surface of an internal cavity, hollow viscus,

Abstract: A brachytherapy applicator and method of use involve a source guide that assumes a desired curving, non-linear configuration when inserted into an inflated balloon of the applicator. A flexible source catheter follows the shape of the source guide when inserted into the balloon. Radiation dose received in various tissue areas can be better controlled using the invention, and the ratio of cavity surface dose to prescription depth dose can be lowered. With rotation of the curving source guide coupled with translation of the source via longitudinal movement of the catheter, the applicator can approximate a spherical source, through either stepped or continuous movement of the source and source guide.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring contact between a medical probe and tissue are provided. A medical probe is introduced into a patient adjacent the tissue. An electrical parameter, e.g., electrical admittance, is measuring between a first electrode located on the medical probe and a second electrode remote from the first electrode. The electrical parameter is amplitude modulated in response to a physiological cycle of the patient. Contact between the medical probe and the tissue is detected based on the amplitude modulation of the measured electrical parameter.

Abstract: A digital radiography system, having: a pixilated optical detector; and a mask positioned adjacent to the pixilated optical detector, the mask comprising a repeating pattern of first and second portions configured to pass different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough such that a polychromic X-ray image can be taken using only a single X-ray exposure with a single imaging detector.

Abstract: A brachytherapy applicator and method of use involve source guides that assume a desired curving, non-linear configuration. A flexible source catheter follows the shape of the source guides when inserted therein. Radiation dose received in various tissue areas can be better controlled using the invention, and the ratio of cavity surface dose to prescription depth dose can be lowered. With sequential manipulation of the source via movement of the catheter, the applicator can deliver radiotherapy to a treatment plan with local variation to prevent overdose, through either stepped or continuous movement of the source. Source guides can be fixed in position and arranged in bowed configuration around a generally central balloon axis, either attached to the balloon wall or not, and the series of off-center guides can be used to shape the dose delivered.

Abstract: A system and method for optical lymph node mapping. The system is useful for guiding sentinel lymph node biopsy surgeries. A contrast agent that includes a fluorescent dye is injected near the site of a malignancy. The contrast agent drains into the lymphatic system, collecting in a sentinel node or nodes. The system utilizes one or more low-power continuous-wave lasers or light-emitting diodes modulated with a digital code sequence to probe the tissue suspected of containing the sentinel node. When the light is incident near the sentinel node, it will excite fluorescence from the dye. A portion of the scattered fluorescent light is captured with one or more photo-detectors. A correlation of the photo-detector signal and the digital code sequence is calculated to produce an estimate of the distribution of flight times for photons traveling from a given source to a given detector.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring photons utilizing a low-power light source modulated with a code sequence to interrogate a sample of interest. Preferably a portion of the scattered light from the sample is detected by a photo-detector. A correlation of the photo-detector signal and the code sequence produces an estimate of the distribution of flight times for photons traveling from the source to the detector.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring fluorescence lifetimes utilizing a light source modulated with a code sequence to interrogate a sample of interest. The system is useful for studying the interaction of chemicals, biomolecules, and other substances. The system utilizes a low-power continuous-wave laser or light-emitting diode modulated with a digital code sequence to interrogate a sample of interest. A portion of the fluorescence light from the sample is captured with a photo-detector. A correlation of the photo-detector signal and the digital code sequence is calculated to produce an estimate of the time-response of the system. The fluorescence lifetime is extrapolated from the correlation data. The fluorescence lifetime is used as an indicator of chemical binding and chemical environment.

Abstract: A digital radiography system, having: a pixilated optical detector; and a mask positioned adjacent to the pixilated optical detector, the mask comprising a repeating pattern of first and second portions configured to pass different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough such that a polychromic X-ray image can be taken using only a single X-ray exposure with a single imaging detector.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for analyzing molecular binding events in which the formation of ligand/antiligand complexes can be directly detected in a mixture without requiring separation of the components of the mixture from each other by measuring bulk properties of the mixture (i.e., properties that have contributions from several or all of the components present in the mixture). Using these techniques, it is possible to screen libraries without labeling either the target antiligand or ligand. The invention also provides a method for determining the strength of ligand/antiligand binding by further analysis of the same signals.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for analyzing molecular binding events in which the formation of ligand/antiligand complexes can be directly detected in a mixture without requiring separation of the components of the mixture from each other by measuring bulk properties of the mixture (i.e., properties that have contributions from several or all of the components present in the mixture). Using these techniques, it is possible to screen libraries without labeling either the target antiligand or ligand. The invention also provides a method for determining the strength of ligand/antiligand binding by further analysis of the same signals.

Abstract: A system and method for comparing the permittivities of test and reference samples to detect and identify molecular events is presented. A resonant detector configured to output measurement parameters when the detector is electromagnetically coupled to a supplied sample is provided. One or more permittivity coefficients is defined for the detector. A first output parameter is obtained from the detector when the detector is electromagnetically coupled to a reference sample. A second output parameter is obtained from the detector when the detector is electromagnetically coupled to the test sample. The difference between the first and second output parameters is applied to the one or more permittivity coefficients to compute the relative difference in permittivity between the test sample and reference sample.

Abstract: An x-ray detector, useful in x-ray imaging systems constructed from a single piece of silicon and a photon sensing crystal, and comprises a plurality of detector elements, each of the plurality of detector elements comprising a plurality of detector sub-elements. A plurality of x-ray detectors are arranged in a multi-dimensional array, each array of detectors tiered with respect to the next array of detectors. A compact electronics circuitry is also provided. The compact electronics circuitry is contained in each of the plurality of detector sub-elements. The compact electronics circuitry comprises a photon sensor, an amplifier, a discriminator and a digital-to-analog converter. Finally, a method for generating x-ray transmissiveness information is also provided.

Abstract: Radionuclide emission imaging is improved by correcting emission-transmission data for attenuation along calculated path lengths and through calculated basis material. X-ray transmission data are used to develop an attenuation map through an object which is then used in reconstructing an image based on emission data, Radiation detection circuitry is provided which has different operating modes in detecting the x-ray and emission photons passing through the object. An iterative process is used to reconstruct the radionuclide distribution using the radionuclide projection data and the attenuation map based on physical characteristics of the object being imaged. Subsets of the complete radionuclide projection data are used to reconstruct image subsets of the radionuclide distribution. The image subsets can be generated concurrently with the acquisition of the radionuclide projection data or following acquisition of all data.