Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical obturator which includes a sleeve having a longitudinal bore between a proximal end and a distal end. The longitudinal bore of the sleeve is configured to receive at least a portion of an endoscope or like image transferring system. An image passing member, such as an optical window is positioned at the distal end of the sleeve and is provided to permit optical images to pass into the longitudinal bore of the sleeve and to permit illumination light to pass to the surgical site. An automatically retracting blade is positioned distal to the image passing member to facilitate penetration of body tissue.

Abstract: Method and apparatus useful in the inspection of a target comprises scanning the target with a pulsed acoustic beam, sensing the pulsed beam after it has been modified by interaction with the target, producing a time-domain signal indicative of the modifications, processing the time-domain signal to produce a frequency domain representation of the modifications, and producing an image-wise display of the frequency domain representation of the modifications. In one execution disclosed, the frequency domain representation is altered and then reconverted to a time domain signal before display.

Abstract: For use in acoustic micro imaging, a method (and implementing apparatus) is disclosed for creating a 4D virtual sample data memory. The method comprises employing a pulsed ultrasonic microscope probe to interrogate a sample at three-dimensionally varied locations in the sample. Data developed by the microscope probe includes for each location interrogated a digitized A-scan for that location. The developed data is stored in a data memory.