Abstract: Objective Pulmonary Function (PF) evaluation for respiratory fatigue is vital to the diagnosis and management of many pediatric respiratory diseases in the intensive care, emergency and outpatient settings. A non-invasive PF instrument utilizes sensors and software to access respiratory breathing patterns, vital parameters, asynchrony and measures the work of breathing. Software algorithms predict respiratory fatigue. The hardware includes a microcircuit board that individually links to rib cage (RC) and abdominal (ABD) inductance bands. The bands wirelessly transmit changes in RC and ABD circumference. Point-of-care, real-time indices of respiratory work, breathing patterns and respiratory fatigue indices are developed on a user-friendly graphical user interface. The diagnostic data can later be securely emailed as an attachment for entry into patients' electronic medical records or sent to a caretaker's computer, or used directly to control a respiratory therapy device.

Abstract: Objective Pulmonary Function (PF) evaluation for respiratory fatigue is vital to the diagnosis and management of many pediatric respiratory diseases in the intensive care, emergency and outpatient settings. A non-invasive PF instrument utilizes sensors and software to access respiratory breathing patterns, vital parameters, asynchrony and measures the work of breathing. Software algorithms predict respiratory fatigue. The hardware includes a microcircuit board that individually links to rib cage (RC) and abdominal (ABD) inductance bands. The bands wirelessly transmit changes in RC and ABD circumference. Point-of-care, real-time indices of respiratory work, breathing patterns and respiratory fatigue indices are developed on a user-friendly graphical user interface. The diagnostic data can later be securely emailed as an attachment for entry into patients' electronic medical records or sent to a caretaker's computer, or used directly to control a respiratory therapy device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser oscillator is provided comprising an optical cavity, the optical cavity including a gain medium including an alkali vapor and a buffer gas, the buffer gas including 3He gas, wherein if 4He gas is also present in the buffer gas, the ratio of the concentration of the 3He gas to the 4He gas is greater than 1.37×10?6. Additionally, an optical excitation source is provided. Furthermore, the laser oscillator is capable of outputting radiation at a first frequency. In another embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a gain medium including an alkali vapor and a buffer gas including 3He gas, wherein if 4He gas is also present in the buffer gas, the ratio of the concentration of the 3He gas to the 4He gas is greater than 1.37×10?6. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser oscillator is provided comprising an optical cavity, the optical cavity including a gain medium including an alkali vapor and a buffer gas, the buffer gas including 3He gas, wherein if 4He gas is also present in the buffer gas, the ratio of the concentration of the 3He gas to the 4He gas is greater than 1.37×10?6. Additionally, an optical excitation source is provided. Furthermore, the laser oscillator is capable of outputting radiation at a first frequency. In another embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a gain medium including an alkali vapor and a buffer gas including 3He gas, wherein if 4He gas is also present in the buffer gas, the ratio of the concentration of the 3He gas to the 4He gas is greater than 1.37×10?6. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for verifying, under ambient lighting conditions, the authenticity of an optical security mark on an item, the mark comprising a luminescent material which absorbs light within a first predetermined range of wavelengths and emits luminescence within a plurality of other predetermined wavelength ranges with a predetermined characteristic time response. The apparatus distinguishes the luminescence of the mark from fluorescence the item may have by distinguishing the slower luminescence decay rate of the security mark from the faster decay rate of the inherent fluorescence. The apparatus comprises an optical arrangement, having an illumination assembly and a luminescence detector assembly, and a signal processor assembly, all contained in a single housing. The illumination assembly and the luminescence detector assembly have a common focusing lens and are arranged along a common axis to illuminate the security mark and to detect emitted light from the security mark in a retro-reflective manner.