Patents by Inventor Max Epstein

Max Epstein has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4792196
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the holographic examination of the internal features of cavities and passageways of a structure. The apparatus employs a laser beam source positioned external of the structure coupled to a multilayer fiber waveguide which conveys the reference beam and object beam, in at least two different layers of the multilayer fiber, which combine in a holographic recordation means to form a hologram of the internal features of the structure, or under certain circumstances a holographic interferogram of the selected features is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Gil Raviv, Michel E. Marhic, Max Epstein
  • Patent number: 4643514
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the holographic examination of the internal features of cavities and passageways of a structure. The apparatus employs laser beam sources positioned within the structure to form a laser reference beam and laser object beam which combine in a holographic recordation means to form a hologram of the internal features of the structure, or under certain circumstances a holographic interferogram of the selected features is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Gil Raviv, Michel E. Marhic, Max Epstein
  • Patent number: 4207872
    Abstract: A device and its method of operation for assisting in the advancement of an endoscope through the colon or other body passage. The device includes a sleeve having an annular chamber defined in part by an outer wall of elastomeric material. A multiplicity of resilient hollow protrusions are formed in the wall and expand outwardly and rearwardly when the chamber is filled with a suitable fluid under pressure and which retract inwardly and forwardly when the pressure of the fluid is reduced. The device extends about and is secured to the distal end portion of an endoscope and, upon repetitious expansion and retraction of the protrusions by reason of pulsing pressure fluctuations within the chamber, such device helps to advance the scope along a body passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Samuel Meiri, Casey Kot, B. H. Gerald Rogers, Max Epstein
  • Patent number: 4194808
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for transmission of laser radiation in the infrared portion of the spectrum. A 10.6 .mu.m laser beam is focused tangentially upon an inner surface of an elongated synclastic wave guide having a generally oval cross-section, and an output end of the wave guide is directed upon a target. Preservation of spatial mode coherence in the laser beam is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Michel E. Marhic, Max Epstein, Larry I. Kwan
  • Patent number: 4114112
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for synthesizing laser light characterized by a plurality of discrete wavelengths, without competition among different wavelengths. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a laser resonator having an optical cavity bounded by a first, reflective end plate; a gas-filled chamber having a pair of Brewster windows, within the optical cavity; and a Brewster angle Pockels cell between one Brewster window and the partially reflective end plate. The laser resonator generates red, blue and green laser light simultaneously and the Pockels cell transmits red, blue and green light successively, at a rate of at least 30 cycles per second, so that the resulting laser beam appears white in color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Max Epstein, Michel E. Marhic, Samuel E. Schacham
  • Patent number: 4101852
    Abstract: A microacoustic signal processing device for propagation of shear bulk waves in a substrate. A preferred embodiment of the device includes a substrate having opposed, polished principal and second surfaces. An input interdigital transducer supported on the principal surface includes a plurality of aluminum electrodes photoetched on the principal surface; a ZnO layer overlying the electrodes; and a conductive aluminum film overlying the ZnO layer. Shear bulk waves propagated by the input transducer are available for processing at various locations on the principal and second surfaces of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Max Epstein, Ashok L. Nalamwar
  • Patent number: 4096477
    Abstract: An identification system including a transmitter, a receiver, a decoding subsystem, and a passive transponder identifier. One passive transponder identifier of the invention is a surface acoustic wave device provided with pad means for applying and removing pressure on a substrate of the device at preselected locations. A second identifier of the invention is a microacoustic shear bulk wave device. The passive transponder identifiers are programmed to produce a characteristic coded electronic reply in response to an electromagnetic signal interrogation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1978
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Max Epstein, Bernard W. Jordan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4059831
    Abstract: A passive transponder sensitive to electromagnetic pulses received in the form of surface acoustic waves. The device utilizes a plurality of interdigital transponders each consisting of a metallic deposit on a piezoelectric substrate and serving as an electrode. Transponder deactivation and energy interruption means provide programability and coding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventor: Max Epstein
  • Patent number: 4011403
    Abstract: An object-illuminating and imaging system utilizing, in combination, a laser beam as a light source and an optical fiber as a light transmitter. Light-focusing means are provided and the focused laser beam is, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, directed to impinge upon a single, small-diameter optical fiber. Sensing means such as film or a television-type camera may be used visually to reproduce and/or display the illuminated object. A light-flow-disruptive means such as a vibrator, acting upon a collimated line of illumination, serves to reduce objectionable speckle effects ordinarily present in coherent light beams, thus providing enhanced clarity as viewed and in imaged reproductions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1977
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Max Epstein, Michel E. Marhic