Abstract: A computer assisted keratometer in which a fiducial line pattern reticle illuminated by CW or pulsed laser light is projected on a corneal surface through lenses, a prismoidal beamsplitter quarterwave plate, and objective optics. The reticle surface is curved as a conjugate of an ideal corneal curvature. The fiducial image reflected from the cornea undergoes a polarization shift through the quarterwave plate and beamsplitter whereby the projected and reflected beams are separated and directed orthogonally. The reflected beam fiducial pattern forms a moire pattern with a replica of the first recticle. This moire pattern contains transverse aberration due to differences in curvature between the cornea and the ideal corneal curvature. The moire pattern is analyzed in real time by computer which displays either the CW moire pattern or a pulsed mode analysis of the transverse aberration of the cornea under observation, in real time.

Abstract: Apparatus for operating on the brain with minimal disturbances thereto, including a bullet-shaped expandable device with an end that can be closed for insertion through a small hole in the brain. The device can be expanded after insertion to leave an air pocket through which to extend viewing and cutting devices which enable operation on tumors or the like that lie at the end of the expanded device. A set of probes of varying diameters are also provided, to progressively enlarge a passage leading to the tumor, prior to inserting the expandable device.

Abstract: Production of strong lightweight membrane structure by applying a thin reflective coating such as aluminum to a rotating cylinder, applying a mesh material such as nylon over the aluminum coating, coating the mesh overlying the aluminum with a polymerizing material such as a para-xylylene monomer gas to polymerize as a film bound to the mesh and the aluminum, and applying an emissivity increasing material such as chromium and silicon monoxide to the polymer film to disperse such material colloidally into the growing polymer film, or applying such material to the final polymer film, and removing the resulting membrane structure from the cylinder.

Abstract: A constant magnification optical tracking system for continuously tracking a moving object. More particularly, a constant magnification optical tracking system is disclosed wherein a traveling objective lens (14) maintains a fixed relationship to an object (10) to be optically tracked. The objective lens (14) is chosen to provide a collimated light beam (32) oriented in the direction of travel of the moving object (10) A reflective surface (18) is attached to the traveling objective lens (14) for reflecting an image of the moving object (10) to the lens. The moving object (10) is maintained at the focal point of the traveling objective lens (14). In an exemplary embodiment, the object to be tracked is a free-falling object, and the traveling objective lens is mounted on a holding structure (16) slidably attached to a vertically-extending guiding member (38) so that the free-falling object (10) will be located at the focal point of the objective lens for at least a portion of its free-fall path.

Abstract: An endoscope is disclosed having a propulsion mechanism and at least one transmitter at the distal end transmitting bursts of energy waves (radio frequency or ultrasonic) for tracking the position of the distal end through the use of two or more transducers on the anterior or lateral surfaces of a patient. The propulsion mechanism may consist of two radially expandable bladders separated by an axially expandable bellows with only the forward bladder attached to the distal end so that by expanding and contracting them in proper sequence, propulsion of the endoscope is achieved. Alternate mechanisms comprise compliant paddles on the distal end directly on an articulated section, or compliant paddles on a rotatable sleeve on the distal end. The endoscope has a sheath which includes material having a sharp melting point slightly above body temperature so that the sheath may be made flexible at selected sections by applying current to separate heating wires in the sections of the sheath.

Abstract: Apparatus for the ultrasonic scanning of a breast or other tissue, including a cavity for receiving the breast, a vacuum for drawing the breast into intimate contact with the walls of the cavity, and transducers coupled through a fluid to the cavity to transmit sound waves through the breast. Each transducer lies at the end of a tapered chamber which has flexible walls and which is filled with fluid, so that the transducer can be moved in a raster pattern while the chamber walls flex accordingly, with sound transmission always occurring through the fluid.

Abstract: A system for classifying the various major types of blood cells is provided wherein blood cells are passed before a laser beam. The redirected light energy passing through the cell is applied to a detector array which provides a voltage spectrum representative of the spatial relationships of the object. This voltage spectrum is compared rapidly with different spectra representative of different blood cell classes. Whenever a best fit is detected by the comparing means, a count is scored in one of the cell classes. The same means is applicable to the analysis of other cell types such as cancer and exfoliated cells.