Abstract: The present disclosure describes an orally administrable implement comprising expandable material designed specifically to swell in a targeted gastrointestinal (Gl) organ of a mammal, including human to form a pseudobezoar, so that upon swelling it touches the walls of the targeted organ. In one design, the swollen pseudobezoar provides sponge-like cleansing of the targeted Gl organ to prepare the said organ for further examination. In another design the expandable material scrapes the walls of the targeted Gl organ by creating a sufficient friction tension between its permeable wails and the mucosa of the Gl organ walls to collect enough adequate tissue samples, occult blood, or both, for the purpose of tissue sample analysis, DNA analysis, occult blood analysis, or a combination thereof. Safety mechanisms for the controlled disintegration of the pseudobezoars in cases of possible obstruction are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for emission filter. A filter apparatus is presented. In one embodiment, the filter apparatus may be adapted for fluorescence spectroscopy. In a particular embodiment, the filter apparatus comprises a solution. The solution may include a polar protic solvent and an absorbing specimen. Additionally, the filter apparatus may include an adhesive to conform the solution into a solid filter.

Abstract: Wireless capsule endoscope technology has been used to image portions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly the small bowel. However in other GI organs, especially those having larger-lumens, the capsule may become destabilized and tumble, precluding meaningful interpretation of the acquired images. The present invention describes a method and apparatus for permitting capsule imaging of organs having larger-lumens without tumbling, and includes an outer shell surrounding the capsule that targets the colon, as an example. Once the colon has been reached, the shell breaks or dissolves, and allows expansion of expandable materials attached to each end of the capsule, thereby stabilizing the capsule in the targeted organ, while permitting it to be moved by peristalsis and/or other means for locating the capsule. Imagers and light emitting diodes (LEDs) are activated during the expansion process, and enable overlapping of images.

Abstract: A device for delivering a substance in situ in a body comprising at least one permeable expandable container having a first dimension and a second dimension and having contained therein the substance to be delivered; and at least one expandable particle comprising a swellable material contained within the container and capable of expanding when contacted with a fluid; whereby when the device is positioned in situ, bodily fluid permeates the container causing the at least one expandable particle contained therein to swell and the container to expand from the first dimension to the second dimension so that the device remains in situ for a period of time sufficient to achieve the desired delivery of the substance is provided.

Abstract: Orally administrable polymer-carrying units for expanding in a stomach of a mammal to fill a space in the stomach, the polymer-carrying units including: a carrier; a plurality of polymer molecules expandable in aqueous solutions, releasably coupled to the carrier; and means for selectively decoupling the polymer molecules from the carrier so that the polymer molecules and carrier are released in the stomach, are provided.

Abstract: An orally administrable implement for expanding in a stomach of an animal, including a mammal, to fill a space in the stomach, is provided for weight control. The implement includes: a fluid-permeable expandable container having a first dimension and a second dimension; and a plurality of clusters comprising a swellable material contained within the container and capable of swelling when contacted with a fluid; whereby when the implement is ingested, the fluid in the stomach enters the container causing the clusters therein to swell and the container to expand from the first dimension to the second dimension.

Abstract: Orally administrable polymer-carrying units for expanding in a stomach of a mammal to fill a space in the stomach, the polymer-carrying units including: a carrier; a plurality of polymer molecules expandable in aqueous solutions, releasably coupled to the carrier; and means for selectively decoupling the polymer molecules from the carrier so that the polymer molecules and carrier are released in the stomach, are provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for wide dynamic range display are presented. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a Color Filter Array (CFA) pixel signal, computing, using image processing hardware, an adaptation factor for the CFA pixel signal, the adaptation factor having a global factor component and a local factor component, and computing, using the image processing hardware, an adapted pixel signal for the CFA pixel in response to a reverse exponential function featuring the adaptation factor. In one embodiment, computing the adapted pixel signal for the CFA pixel does not require frame memory. Also, the adaptation factor may have a value between 0 and 1, in certain embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for emission filter. A filter apparatus is presented. In one embodiment, the filter apparatus may be adapted for fluorescence spectroscopy. In a particular embodiment, the filter apparatus comprises a solution. The solution may include a polar protic solvent and an absorbing specimen. Additionally, the filter apparatus may include an adhesive to conform the solution into a solid filter.

Abstract: A Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer integrated in a CMOS technology on a Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) wafer is disclosed. The present invention is fully integrated into a compact, miniaturized, low cost, CMOS fabrication compatible chip. The present invention may be operated in various infrared regions ranging from 1.1 ?m to 15 ?m or it can cover the full spectrum from 1.1 ?m to 15 ?m all at once. The CMOS-FTIR spectrometer disclosed herein has high spectral resolution, no movable parts, no lenses, is compact, not prone to damage in harsh external conditions and can be fabricated with a standard CMOS technology, allowing the mass production of FTIR spectrometers. The fully integrated CMOS-FTIR spectrometer is suitable for battery operation; any and all functionality can be integrated on a chip with standard CMOS technology. The disclosed invention for the FTIR spectrometer may also be adapted for a CMOS-Raman spectrometer.

Abstract: An orally administrable implement for expanding in a stomach of an animal, including a mammal, to fill a space in the stomach, is provided for weight control. The implement includes: a fluid-permeable expandable container having a first dimension and a second dimension; and a plurality of clusters comprising a swellable material contained within the container and capable of swelling when contacted with a fluid; whereby when the implement is ingested, the fluid in the stomach enters the container causing the clusters therein to swell and the container to expand from the first dimension to the second dimension.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, an imaging system including an active pixel sensor imaging array configured to capture an image, said imaging array being in electronic communication with a watermark embedder.

Abstract: A photosensitive pixel includes a photosensor and an externally loadable flag. The photosensor outputs a signal indicative of an intensity of incident light. The externally loadable flag indicates the pixel reset state, and is preferably stored in an in-pixel memory. Pixel reset logic resets the photosensor in accordance with the reset state and an externally applied reset signal.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for emission filter. A filter apparatus is presented. In one embodiment, the filter apparatus may be adapted for fluorescence spectroscopy. In a particular embodiment, the filter apparatus comprises a solution. The solution may include a polar protic solvent and an absorbing specimen. Additionally, the filter apparatus may include an adhesive to conform the solution into a solid filter.

Abstract: Bezoar-forming units for forming at least one temporary bezoar in a gastrointestinal organ of an animal, including a mammal, to fill a space in the said organ, are provided for weight control. The units include biodegradable fiber-based configurations of various length and shape having a first dimension and a second dimension; whereby when the bezoar-forming units are located in the given gastrointestinal organ, at least one temporary, permeable bezoar is formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of optical sensor performance includes a light emitter, a focuser and a controller. The optical sensor comprises a plurality of pixels, which may be arranged as a pixel array. The light emitter projects a light spot onto the sensor. The focuser focuses the light spot onto a specified portion of the sensor in accordance with a control signal. The controller analyzes an output signal of the optical sensor, and generates the control signal to an accuracy substantially confining the light spot to a single pixel in accordance with the analysis.

Abstract: An orally administrable implement for expanding in a stomach of an animal, including a mammal, to fill a space in the stomach, is provided for weight control. The implement includes: a fluid-permeable expandable container having a first dimension and a second dimension; and a plurality of clusters comprising a swellable material contained within the container and capable of swelling when contacted with a fluid; whereby when the implement is ingested, the fluid in the stomach enters the container causing the clusters therein to swell and the container to expand from the first dimension to the second dimension.

Abstract: A device for delivering a substance in situ in a body comprising at least one permeable expandable container having a first dimension and a second dimension and having contained therein the substance to be delivered; and at least one expandable particle comprising a swellable material contained within the container and capable of expanding when contacted with a fluid; whereby when the device is positioned in situ, bodily fluid permeates the container causing the at least one expandable particle contained therein to swell and the container to expand from the first dimension to the second dimension so that the device remains in situ for a period of time sufficient to achieve the desired delivery of the substance is provided.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide substrate (CMOS) active pixel sensor (APS) imaging chip includes a combination circuit, an active pixel sensor array and a watermark generating circuit. Also disclosed are methods of using the CMOS APS imager for watermarking images.

Abstract: A photosensitive pixel includes a photosensor and an externally loadable flag. The photosensor outputs a signal indicative of an intensity of incident light. The externally loadable flag indicates the pixel reset state, and is preferably stored in an in-pixel memory. Pixel reset logic resets the photosensor in accordance with the reset state and an externally applied reset signal.