Abstract: An optical instrument monitors PCR replication of DNA in a reaction apparatus having a temperature cycled block with vials of reaction ingredients including dye that fluoresces in presence of double-stranded DNA. A beam splitter passes an excitation beam to the vials to fluoresce the dye. An emission beam from the dye is passed by the beam splitter to a CCD detector from which a processor computes DNA concentration. A reference strip with a plurality of reference emitters emit reference beams of different intensity, from which the processor selects an optimum emitter for compensating for drift. Exposure time is automatically adjusted for keeping within optimum dynamic ranges of the CCD and processor. A module of the beam splitter and associated optical filters is associated with selected dye, and is replaceable for different dyes.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic system utilizing the principles of nuclear medicine is disclosed. The system includes a gantry having a detector support section supported by a carriage section located on a rail system for movement along a linear path. A nuclear detector is supported on a pair of weighted arms pivotally mounted on the detector support system about an axis perpendicular to the rail system. The detector is itself pivotally mounted near an end of the weighted arm pair for tilting rotation about an axis parallel to the arm pivot axis. Mechanism is provided for rotating the weighted arms additionally about an axis parallel to the rail system, in order to accomplish orbital motion of the detector. All three of these rotational movements are power actuated. A stationary pedestal and cantilevered patient support table is located between the rails of the rail system, with the patient table extending longitudinally with respect to the rails.

Abstract: A two-stage system for enhancing the imaging uniformity of a scintillation camera is disclosed. The camera includes means for detecting radiation events and for producing radiation count signals indicating the location and energy level of individual detected radiation events. The uniformity correction system compensates for imprecision in the camera's indication of both radiation event regional image count density and event energy level. Compensation for energy indication errors is done by a first stage, prior to a second stage correction for residual nonuniformity in regional image count density. The operations of both stages are carried out in real time for each individual radiation count, independently of the production of other counts.The first stage location and stores a representation of the respective peaks of the detected energy pulse height distribution for each of a plurality of regions in the camera's field of view.