Abstract: The invention concerns a probe for heating body tissue by means of high-intensity laser light, the probe having an optical fibre coupled to a laser source and a diffusor element located in the light-exit zone which is inserted into the body tissue. The diffusor element is made of a material which is highly transparent to the laser light but which contains highly reflective particles embedded in it. The probe is connected to a coolant circuit to cool the light-exit zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a sample comprising the steps of irradiating a selected area of the sample with a first burst of laser energy to vaporize the sample, condensing the vaporized sample on the surface of an intermediate carrier and analyzing the condensed sample material deposited on the intermediate carrier.

Abstract: In electrophoretic apparatus measuring the velocity of particles in a fluid, a reference beam and a scattered beam scattered by the particles in the fluid at various scattering angles must be heterodyned in order that the Doppler frequency shift resulting from the scattering by the moving particles can be determined. The previous need for adjusting the optical path of the reference beam so that is always impinges with the scattered beam, independent of the scattering angle, upon the mixer or heterodyner is avoided by an automatic control of the direction of the reference and scattered beams relative to the mixer so that they both always impinge upon a predetermined location in the mixer independent of the scattering angle. The construction of the measuring cell and ways of mounting same in a housing to allow easy refilling and replacement are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a sample by electromagnetic irradiation includes a vacuum chamber, a support for holding the sample in the vacuum chamber, an arrangement for irradiating the sample with an electromagnetic beam, a mass analyzer disposed in the vacuum chamber, an arrangement for extracting particles from the sample and introducing them into the mass analyzer and a layer of conductive material situated in the vicinity of support in the zone of the sample.

Abstract: A sample analyzer includes a microscope for alternatively focusing an electromagnetic radiation on the sample to cause ion emission therefrom and visually observing the sample; a mass spectrometer for the mass analysis of the emitted ions; an illuminating device for lighting the sample for the microscopic visual observation thereof; an ion optical system for directing the emitted ions into the mass spectrometer; and a displaceably supported carrier carrying the ion optical system and at least one part of the illuminating device. The carrier has a first position in which the ion optical system is in an operating position in alignment with the sample and a second position in which the illuminating device is in an operating position in alignment with the sample. There is further provided an actuator for selectively moving the carrier into its positions in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the ion optical system.