Abstract: A glucose fuel cell for reception into a given constrained volume of implantation in a vertebrate in which the glucose fuel cell has access to fluid containing glucose. The fuel cell includes an anode adapted to oxidize the glucose, a cathode adapted to reduce an oxidant, and a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode and separating the anode from the cathode. At least one of the anode or cathode define a flexible sheet that is geometrically deformed to be receivable into the given constrained volume of implantation and increase volumetric power density. Related methods of making a glucose fuel cell of this type and implantable assemblies including the glucose fuel cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: A glucose fuel cell for reception into a given constrained volume of implantation in a vertebrate in which the glucose fuel cell has access to fluid containing glucose. The fuel cell includes an anode adapted to oxidize the glucose, a cathode adapted to reduce an oxidant, and a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode and separating the anode from the cathode. At least one of the anode or cathode define a flexible sheet that is geometrically deformed to be receivable into the given constrained volume of implantation and increase volumetric power density. Related methods of making a glucose fuel cell of this type and implantable assemblies including the glucose fuel cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes an optical interferometer, an interference detector, and a controller. The optical interferometer includes a measurement arm, a reference arm, and an optical splitter. The measurement arm has a probe. The arms are coupled to receive light from the optical splitter and to cause light outputted by the arms to interfere. The interference detector is coupled to receive a portion of the interfering light to determine information representative of a location, an orientation, or a velocity of a portion of the patient or animal from the received light. The controller is coupled to receive the information and to adjust data collection on the animal or patient in a manner responsive to a change in a relative location, orientation, or velocity between the probe and the portion of the animal or patient.

Abstract: A process for operating an optical scanning system includes making an image of a sample by scanning spots in the sample, measuring intensities of light emitted by the scanned spots, determining locations of the scanned spots, and assigning intensities to image pixels based on the measured intensities and determined locations of the scanned spots. In the making of the image, the acts of determining depend on a value of a parameter. The process also includes selecting a new value for the parameter and deciding whether the image of the sample has less double imaging if the new value of the parameter is used during the acts of determining. The process accepts the new value of the parameter in response to determining that the new value produces less of the double imaging.

Abstract: An optical scanning system includes a probe and a processor. The probe includes a mechanical oscillator responsive to AC voltage signals and an optical fiber. The optical fiber has a free end that executes an oscillatory scanning motion in response to being mechanically driven by the mechanical oscillator. The processor is configured to receive measured intensities of light emitted from spots of a sample scanned by light from the free end of the optical fiber. The processor is also configured to assign intensities to image pixels based on the measured intensities of light. The acts of assigning compensate for variations in the density of the scanned spots.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to actively stabilize a probe, such as a microelectrode, relative to movement of the subject, utilizing laser interferometry. In the preferred embodiments, a probe is mounted on a manipulator such that the probe moveable in response to a control voltage. A laser interferometer is utilized to transmit a first light beam to the subject and to receive a reflected light beam, to modulate a second light beam with a radio frequency signal to form a reference light beam, and to combine the reflected light beam and the reference beam to form an interference pattern. A demodulator is utilized to quadrature demodulate a phase shift of a radio frequency component of the interference pattern to determine a displacement signal representative of an amount and direction of subject movement, and to convert the displacement signal to the control voltage.

Abstract: A system monitors or images a portion of a sample. The system includes an optical interferometer with a measurement arm, a reference arm, and an optical splitter. The arms are coupled to receive light from the optical splitter. One of the arms includes an acousto-optical modulator. The interferometer is configured to interfere light output from the two arms. The system also includes a detector that receives the interfered light and uses the received light to determine a depth-dependent quantity characterizing a portion of the interior of the sample.

Abstract: An optical scanning system includes a probe and a processor. The probe includes a mechanical oscillator responsive to AC voltage signals and an optical fiber. The optical fiber has a free end that executes an oscillatory scanning motion in response to being mechanically driven by the mechanical oscillator. The processor is configured to receive measured intensities of light emitted from spots of a sample scanned by light from the free end of the optical fiber. The processor is also configured to assign intensities to image pixels based on the measured intensities of light. The acts of assigning compensate for variations in the density of the scanned spots.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to actively or predictively stabilize a probe, such as a microelectrode, relative to movement of the subject. In the preferred embodiments, cardiac and respiratory activities of the subject are measured and utilized to predict subject movement. In the preferred embodiments, a probe is mounted on a manipulator such that the probe moveable in response to a control voltage. A calibrated control voltage is determined from a known probe displacement, such as by measuring probe impedance during a probe oscillation having a known amplitude and frequency. A plurality of control voltage parameters, such as filter coefficients, are then determined from the calibrated control voltage and from a respective measured biological function, such as from an EKG or a thoracic pressure measurement. The control voltage for the probe is then generated from the respective measured biological function and from the respective plurality of control voltage parameters.