Abstract: Lactam polymers has been modified with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) to yield lactam polymers bearing hydroxyl functional groups. These functional groups are useful for the covalent attachment of reactive groups, fluorescent probes, antimicrobial agents, bioactive factors, and drugs. The resulting as components for medical devices, specifically ophthalmic devices and more specifically contact lenses. Hydrogels based on these polymers are also useful for biomedical applications in the areas of drug delivery, tissue engineering, and implantable devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wettable silicone hydrogels comprising the reaction product of at least one siloxane containing component and at least one reactive, hydrophilic polymeric internal wetting agent. The present invention further relates to silicone hydrogel contact lenses comprising at least one oxygen permeable component, and an amount of reactive, hydrophilic polymeric internal wetting agent sufficient to impart wettability to said device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wettable silicone hydrogels comprising the reaction product of at least one siloxane containing component and at least one reactive, hydrophilic polymeric internal wetting agent. The present invention further relates to silicone hydrogel contact lenses comprising at least one oxygen permeable component, and an amount of reactive, hydrophilic polymeric internal wetting agent sufficient to impart wettability to said device.

Abstract: A light collection apparatus comprising a light source, a collection reflector that reflects the emission of the light source, and a compensation element that collimates light reflected by the reflector into a beam of small diameter.

Abstract: A light collection apparatus comprising a light source, a collection reflector that reflects the emission of the light source, and a compensation element that collimates light reflected by the reflector into a beam of small diameter.

Abstract: An illuminant head assembly for a photographic film image scanner includes a linear light source, preferably a linear array of spectrally distinct illuminant elements combined with a main body having an elongate light conducting channel aligned with the light source and having a light pipe in the light conducting channel, the light pipe having a light diffusion material dispersed therein. The illuminant head assembly in a preferred embodiment includes additional light sources at one or both ends of the linear array and the main body includes additional light channels aligned with the additional light sources, the additional light sources and channels serving as illuminant sources for scanning marginal regions of the photographic film in the film scanner.

Abstract: A light source device includes a housing forming a cavity with a diffusely light reflective interior surface and an exit port; at least one LED on the interior surface; a light reflective layer and an electrically and thermally conductive layer between the LED and the housing; electrical contacts interconnecting the LED and the outside of the housing, such that electrical power applied to the contacts causes the LED to emit light.

Abstract: A compact, low-cost photographic film scanner particularly adapted to scanning Advance Photo System (APS) film includes an imaging assembly having an elongated L-shaped housing with a photosensor, e.g. a CCD, mounted directly to one end of the housing, the other end having a scanning aperture and film rails integrally formed on the housing, the film rails defining a film plane over the scanning aperture. The housing comprises a two piece snap together configuration that provides support for the focusing lens as well the photosensor and film scan gate. Additionally, the housing includes support arms that receive and lock in place an LED illuminant head assembly. The imaging apparatus housing conveniently snap locks into place on the scanner chassis in an opening formed in the film drive path.

Abstract: An LED module comprises a housing with a first connective feature of a predetermined shape and a second connective feature of a complimentary shape, such that when the LED module is attached to another module, the first connective feature of the LED module engages a second connective feature of the other module such that relative motion between the modules is inhibited.

Abstract: A document scanner includes: a document support for supporting a document in position to be scanned; an illumination system located adjacent to the document support for illuminating at least a portion of a supported document; a photosensitive medium for capturing an image of the document and generating image information; and a retroreflective imaging lens having an F-number between F/3 and F/8. The retroreflective lens comprises at least one lens element with optical power and a reflective surface, and is positioned to (i) receive light emanating from the document and propagated it in a first direction, through the retroreflective lens, (ii) reflect the light off said reflective surface in a second direction, and (iii) propagate the light through the retroreflective lens in the second direction, towards the photosensitive medium. The document support, the photosensitive medium, and the retroreflective lens are in a fixed spatial relationship relative to one another.

Abstract: A retroreflective lens includes: a single positive power lens element with an index of refraction N.sub.1 and thickness T.sub.1 ; a single negative power lens element with an index of refraction N.sub.2 and thickness T.sub.2, the negative power lens element being spaced from the positive power lens element by a distance S.sub.1 ; and a reflective surface intercepting light propagating from the negative lens element and reflecting this light toward the negative lens element. The lens elements in combination with the reflective surface provide the retroreflective lens with an F-number between F/3 and F/6. According to one embodiment N2>1.6 and N1-N2>0.15. According to another embodiment of the present invention the single negative power lens element has an integral reflecting surface and the retroreflective lens satisfies the following inequalities: N2>1.6, N2-N1>0.12. According to one embodiment of the present invention T1+T2+S1<0.15 F, where F is the focal length of the retroreflective lens.

Abstract: A sustained release parenteral composition comprising an admixture of at least one drug to be delivered in a therapeutically effective amount and a bioabsorbable lactone polymer containing one or more lactone monomers that is a liquid at body temperature, provided in an amount effective to sustain or extend the release rate of the drug and a method for administering said composition to an animal.

Abstract: A real-time calibration instrument on a processless writing device reads a pattern of marks produced by the device and adjusts writing parameters in real time through feed back mechanisms to modify the characteristics of the marks and their pattern. The calibration instrument includes a photoelectronic camera defining an optical axis perpendicular to the recording medium, and the marks are illuminated coaxially along the same axis to capture an image of the marks without distortion. According to other features, the recording medium is rotated on a drum relative to the recording head and the illumination is provided by a stroboscopic source synchronized with rotation of the drum.

Abstract: A sustained release parenteral composition comprising an admixture of at least one drug to be delivered in a therapeutically effective amount and a bioabsorbable lactone polymer containing one or more lactone monomers that is a liquid at body temperature, provided in an amount effective to sustain or extend the release rate of the drug and a method for administering said composition to an animal.

Abstract: An optical tape is helically passed over a cylindrical outer surface of a drum at a first speed to effect a substantial circumferential wrap thereof. A first write/read head with a writing laser array generates light beams that are directed along a first path through an optical rotator, and then via an optical arrangement on the drum onto a portion of the optical tape at a wrapping location of the drum to effect helical scanning of that portion of the optical tape. The optical rotator and the optical arrangement are rotated parallel to the first path at second and third rotational speeds, respectively, where the third speed is twice the second speed. This results in a dynamic imaging of the light beams from the first write/read head in closely spaced and parallel tracks to write binary data on the portion of the optical tape at the wrapping location using a passive focusing control.

Abstract: A cosmetic or prosthetic surgical implant comprising an envelope filled with a liquid bioabsorbable polymer and a process for implanting a cosmetic or prosthetic surgical implant involving the filling of an envelope with a liquid bioabsorbable polymer suitable liquid bioabsorbable polymer include lactone copolymers composed of at least two monomers selected from the group consisting of glycolide, L-lactide, D,L-lactide, 1,4-dioxanone, .epsilon.-caprolactone, 1,5-dioxepan-2-one and trimethylene carbonate and poly(orthoesters) of the formula: ##STR1## where R is a linear or branched alkylene group containing 3 to 10 carbon atoms and R' is a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and n is selected to provide a liquid poly(orthester) at body temperature.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel method for effecting illumination of an arbitrary aperture. The method comprises a first step of providing a developed hologram comprising a plurality of spatially known discrete holographic optical elements that have been generated from a common arbitrary aperture. A second step comprises directing a plurality of dedicated reconstructing beams to assigned ones of the holographic optical elements, so that a composite hologram beam illuminates the arbitrary aperture.

Abstract: A holographic recording of the interference between an object laser beam and a reference laser beam is used to combine the amplitudes of multiple laser beams which are conjugates of the reference beam into a single laser beam which is conjugate of the object beam. An optical device in the form of a prism has an entrance face with a diffusion surface, and an exit face with a light sensitive recording medium. An object beam incident on the diffusion surface is scattered over the recording medium, in interference with a reference beam simultaneously incident at an angle .theta. onto the same medium. Multiple beams, conjugate to the reference beam, incident at angles .theta..+-.4.degree. on the hologram thus created on the recording medium are diffracted by the hologram and caused to combine at the diffusion surface to form a signal output beam, conjugate to the original object beam and having an amplitude which is proportional to the sum of the separate amplitudes of the combined beams.

Abstract: A holographic recording of the interference between an object laser beam and a reference laser beam is used to combine the amplitudes of multiple input laser beams which are conjugates of the reference beam, into a single output laser beam which is a conjugate of the object beam. An optical device in the form of a trapezoidal prism has an entrance top face with a diffusion surface, and an exit base face with a holographic recording made on a light sensitive recording medium of an interference pattern of an object beam incident on the diffusion surface and scattered over the recording medium, in interference with a reference beam simultaneously incident to a side of the prism onto the same medium.

Abstract: Bismaleimide resins based on indane bisphenol and composites formed from such resins.