Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a database (30) storing medical data including image medical data and non-image medical data for a plurality of patients; a digital processor (40) configured to (i) generate a features vector (56) comprising features indicative of a patient derived from patient medical data stored in the database including both patient image medical data and patient non-image medical data and (ii) perform multivariate analysis (64) on a features vector generated for a patient of interest to determine a proposed diagnosis for the patient of interest; and a user interface (42) configured to output a human perceptible representation of the proposed diagnosis for the patient of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a database (30) storing medical data including image medical data and non-image medical data for a plurality of patients; a digital processor (40) configured to (i) generate a features vector (56) comprising features indicative of a patient derived from patient medical data stored in the database including both patient image medical data and patient non-image medical data and (ii) perform multivariate analysis (64) on a features vector generated for a patient of interest to determine a proposed diagnosis for the patient of interest; and a user interface (42) configured to output a human perceptible representation of the proposed diagnosis for the patient of interest.

Abstract: A patient presses a finger concurrently against a needle (14) of a collection container (12) and a fingerprint surface (22, 52). In one embodiment, the patient's fingerprint is read electronically by a scanner (24) and correlated with a container serial number (16). In another embodiment, the patient's fingerprint is embossed in a foil layer (52). An analyzer assembly (40, 40? 40?) analyzes the biological sample and reads either the container serial number or scans the fingerprint carrying layer (52) and sends the test results and either the fingerprint or container identification to a patient memory (30). Using the fingerprint information, a processor (32) correlates the test results with a record (60) of a corresponding patient. Alternately or additionally, the analyzer assembly includes a DNA analyzer (70) which measures preselected DNA characteristics (76) of the sample.

Abstract: In a capacitively coupled discharge lamp the electrode comprises a dielectric material that during operation is in contact with the discharge. The impedance of the dielectric material is small and its electron affinity is negative. In this way it is realized that the discharge lamp can be operated efficiently at low frequencies (less than 500 KHz).

Abstract: Method of manufacturing polycrystalline diamond layers, in which diamond crystallites are deposited by means of Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) on a substrate heated to a temperature ranging between 450.degree. and 1200.degree. C. from a gas phase comprising hydrogen and .ltoreq.30% of a carbon-containing gas at a pressure ranging between 10.sup.-5 and 1 bar, in which method the substrate is contacted with a gas phase having an energy content which varies in time, such that at least at the start of the deposition process the substrate is in contact with a gas phase having an energy content which is suitable for nucleating diamond crystallites in the gas phase, whereafter the substrate is contacted with a gas phase having an energy content which is increased with respect to the content at the start of the process and further diamond crystallites are formed in situ on the substrate surface nucleated with diamond crystallites formed in the gas phase.

Abstract: In the manufacture of optical fibers according to the PCVD method, a method is provided wherein the yield of the method (.eta.), in particular at increased deposition rates (m), is raised by reducing the geometrical taper, without forming optical tapers. This is obtained in that glass is deposited in layers on the inside of a glass tube and, simultaneously, on a glass rod having a circular cross-section, which rod is arranged inside the glass tube, such that its longitudinal axis coincides with that of the glass tube, the radius of the glass rod being adjusted to at most 0.67 times and at least 0.2 times the inner radius of the glass tube, and the glass rod being removed from the glass tube upon completion of the deposition process.

Abstract: Polarization-retaining optical fibres are manufactured according to the PCVD method, in which on the inside of a glass tube and, simultaneously on at least two glass rods which are arranged inside the glass tube such that their longitudinal axes run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the glass tube, glass is deposited in layers and the glass rods are removed from the glass tube upon completion of the glass deposition process. Alternatively, a single glass rod, the radial dimensions of which in two mutually perpendicular directions are in a ratio unequal to one, i.e. elliptical, is arranged in a glass tube such that its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the glass tube.

Abstract: Method of depositing microcrystalline solid bodies from the gas phase by means of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) in which the solid particles are deposited on a substrate heated to a temperature ranging between 450.degree. and 1200.degree. C. at a pressure ranging between 10.sup.-5 and 1 bar and at a directed gas flow, in which method the reactant gas is passed through a porous intermediate body having a thickness of between 2 and 30 mm of a material suitable for use at temperatures up to 2500.degree. C., which intermediate body is present in the zone having the maximum energy content within the reactor, while the reactant gas is excited in said intermediate body, whereafter the solid particles are deposited on the substrate.

Abstract: An optical fibre of the single-mode type in which light travels in one polarization mode is formed from a single-mode quadruple-clad fibre, in which the dimension of the light-transmitting part of the fibre in a first direction perpendicular to the axis of the fibre differs from the dimension of the light-transmitting part in a second direction perpendicular to the axis of the fibre and the first direction.

Abstract: Method of and arrangement for manufacturing rotationally symmetrical porous solid bodies.A method of manufacturing rotationally symmetrical porous solid bodies, in which the starting material for the solid body in the form of a suspension consisting of the material for the solid body in solid form and a liquid dispersing agent, is introduced into a hollow mould whose geometry corresponds to that of the solid body to be formed, such that during the introduction of the suspension the hollow mould is rotated about its longitudinal axis, a certain quantity of solid of the suspension being deposited on the inner wall of the hollow mould, and excess residual suspension being removed, after which the green body thus formed is subjected to further process steps to manufacture the solid body, in which process suspension is introduced into the hollow mould in such doses that each time only thin solid layers having a thickness in the range from 10.sup.

Abstract: Polarization-retaining optical fibres are manufactured according to the PCVD method, in which on the inside of a glass tube (1) and, simultaneously on at least two glass rods (2, 3) which are arranged inside the glass tube such that their longitudinal axes run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the glass tube, glass is deposited in layers and the glass rods are removed from the glass tube upon completion of the glass deposition process. Alternatively, a single glass rod, the radial dimensions of which in two mutually perpendicular directions are in a ratio unequal to one, is arranged in a glass tube such that its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the glass tube.

Abstract: In an optical fiber based on silicon dioxide with fluorine doping which determines its refractive index profile, at least in the light transmitting core a substance is added that increases the thermal expansion coefficient. The added substance is uniformly distributed at least in the light transmitting core, and reduces the influence of the drawing force F.sub.Z (during drawing of the preform) on the Rayleigh scattering .alpha..sub.R and the wavelength-independent "c term" losses. Even at high fluorine dopant concentrations, low Rayleigh scattering losses in the range of the material-intrinsic losses pure for silicon dioxide are achieved. The OH-contamination level is also further reduced, and cracks in the collapsed preforms are largely avoided.

Abstract: An optical transmission system is described which comprises a radiation source (30) and a multiple-clad monomode optical transmission fibre (10) with a negative-step index profile. In order to improve the efficiency of coupling the radiation from the source into the transmission fibre a single-clad-monomode transmission fibre (20), whose end portion which faces the source is tapered, is arranged between the source and said fibre.

Abstract: Doped silica glass can be manufactured by reacting gaseous vapors of silica-forming compounds and dopant-forming compounds. Increased fluorine dopant can be provided with less fluorine dopant-forming compound, when the fluorine dopant-forming compound is hexafluoroethane (C.sub.2 F.sub.6).