Abstract: A system for capturing and analyzing images of body features to identify treatments has a base unit with a processor and a display and an image management software component for presenting on the display a user interface to prompt a user to capture images in preselected locations on a body and to receive captured image data. The system has at least two light sources under control of the user interface that provide light following first and second light paths from the respective light sources to the plane of an imaging station, each light path having a significant portion of its light on the plane of the imaging station at a grazing angle of about ten to about thirty degrees. The first and second light paths when projected onto the plane of the imaging station intersect at an angle of at least sixty degrees. An image sensor receives light from the light sources that is reflected from the surface of a body feature located at the imaging station and produces pixel image data representing the body feature.

Abstract: A mobile, miniature x-ray source includes a low-power consumption cathode element for mobility, and an anode optic creating a field free region to prolong the life of the cathode element. An electric field is applied to an anode and a cathode that are disposed on opposite sides of an evacuated tube. The anode includes a target material to produce x-rays in response to impact of electrons. The cathode includes a cathode element to produce electrons that are accelerated towards the anode in response to the electric field between the anode and the cathode. The tube can have a length less than approximately 3 inches, and a diameter or width less than approximately 1 inch. The cathode element can include a low-power consumption cathode element with a low power consumption less than approximately 1 watt. The power source can include a battery power source. A field-free region can be positioned at the anode to resist positive ion acceleration back towards the cathode element.

Abstract: A mobile, miniature x-ray source includes a low-power consumption cathode element for mobility, and an anode optic creating a field free region to prolong the life of the cathode element. An electric field is applied to an anode and a cathode that are disposed on opposite sides of an evacuated tube. The anode includes a target material to produce x-rays in response to impact of electrons. The cathode includes a cathode element to produce electrons that are accelerated towards the anode in response to the electric field between the anode and the cathode. The tube can have a length less than approximately 3 inches, and a diameter or width less than approximately 1 inch. The cathode element can include a low-power consumption cathode element with a low power consumption less than approximately 1 watt. The power source can include a battery power source. A field-free region can be positioned at the anode to resist positive ion acceleration back towards the cathode element.

Abstract: An image projection system has a wire grid polarizing beam splitter which functions as both the polarizer and the analyzer in the system. A light source produces a source light beam directed at the beam splitter which reflects one polarization and transmits the other. A liquid crystal array is disposed in either the reflected or transmitted beam. The array modulates the polarization of the beam, encoding image information thereon, and directs the modulated beam back to the beam splitter. The beam splitter again reflects one polarization and transmits the other so that the encoded image is either reflected or transmitted to a screen. The wire grid polarizing beam splitter is capable of being oriented at various incident angles with respect to the source light beam and modulated beam, and accepts relatively divergent light.

Abstract: A novel optical fiber structure is described which includes an end thereof for transmitting optical signals and substantially reducing reflections of optical signals thereat wherein the fiber end has a substantially flat end surface disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the transmission axis of the fiber equal to or greater than sin.sup.-1 (NA/n) where NA is the numerical aperture and n is the index of refraction of the fiber core material, and the fiber outer surface has adjacent the end surface a flattened portion of preselected depth and length whereby substantially all paraxial and meridional optical signals propagated along the fiber axis are transmitted through the end surface and skew rays transmitted along the fiber are substantially attenuated near the fiber end.