Abstract: A tow assembly for airborne geophysical surveying that comprises a frame incorporating geophysical surveying equipment; and a suspension assembly for suspending the frame from an aircraft. The suspension assembly has a plurality of suspension ropes connected to the frame at spaced apart connection points for suspending the frame from an aircraft. Lengths of the suspension ropes are adjustable with respect to at least four of the connection points to adjust an attitude of the frame during flight.

Abstract: A tow assembly for airborne geophysical surveying that comprises a frame incorporating geophysical surveying equipment; and a suspension assembly for suspending the frame from an aircraft. The suspension assembly has a plurality of suspension ropes connected to the frame at spaced apart connection points for suspending the frame from an aircraft. Lengths of the suspension ropes are adjustable with respect to at least four of the connection points to adjust an attitude of the frame during flight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the separation of biological objects in a solution which have different viscoelastic properties, wherein said method comprises a filtration step allowing the higher viscoelastic biological objects to pass through the membrane while retaining the lower viscoelastic biological objects above the membrane, and a recovery step wherein the separated lower viscoelastic biological objects are recovered above or onto the membrane and/or the separated higher viscoelastic biological objects are recovered in the filtrate. Advantageously, the biological objects are cells. More advantageously, the recovered cells are viable cells. In one preferred embodiment, the cells are tumor cells. In another preferred embodiment, the cells are fetal cells and the method finds an application in prenatal diagnosis.

Abstract: In a segmentation method and system, a plurality of digitized images having different optical bands are acquired for the same micrographic scene of a biological sample. Each digitized image has a plurality of pixels having values from each digitized image. The pixel values are processed to identify nuclear or cytoplasmic material utilizing previously developed classification information developed from at least one cell having known regions of nuclear or cytoplasmic material. In a preferred embodiment, the neural network comprises a hardware-encoded algorithm in the form of a look-up table.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system incorporates an imaging device utilizing confocal acoustic focusing of ultrasonic transducers together with apparatus for moving points of focus of the transducers to scan a volume to be imaged and gather data as to the acoustic reflectivity of matter within the volume, the gathered data being used to construct an image of the volume. In a preferred arrangement the point of focus of each transducer is moved in three dimensions. Use of confocal techniques can permit enhanced resolution to be obtained compared with conventional ultrasonic imaging techniques. In a preferred arrangement, the confocal focusing system associated with each transducer includes a pinhole which is bridged by an acoustically transparent but optically reflective diaphragm, and acoustic reflectivity data is recovered by interrogating each diaphragm by means of an optical interferometer.