Abstract: A transmitter generates a first electrical signal comprising a first low-frequency signal, an empty period, and a pump pulse having a first frequency; and a second electrical signal comprising a second low-frequency signal and at least two probe pulses, each probe pulse having a second frequency that differs from the first frequency. The transmitter modulates first and second optical subcarriers having different polarizations using the first and second electrical signals, respectively. The transmitter generates an optical signal from the first and second optical subcarriers, wherein the first and second low-frequency signals overlap in time, wherein the empty period overlaps in time with one of the probe pulses, and wherein the pump pulse overlaps in time with another one of the probe pulses. The optical signal is detected at a receiver over an optical link, and the receiver uses the optical signal to estimate nonlinear phase shift in the optical link.

Abstract: A transmitter generates a first electrical signal comprising a first low-frequency signal, an empty period, and a pump pulse having a first frequency; and a second electrical signal comprising a second low-frequency signal and at least two probe pulses, each probe pulse having a second frequency that differs from the first frequency. The transmitter modulates first and second optical subcarriers having different polarizations using the first and second electrical signals, respectively. The transmitter generates an optical signal from the first and second optical subcarriers, wherein the first and second low-frequency signals overlap in time, wherein the empty period overlaps in time with one of the probe pulses, and wherein the pump pulse overlaps in time with another one of the probe pulses. The optical signal is detected at a receiver over an optical link, and the receiver uses the optical signal to estimate nonlinear phase shift in the optical link.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for repairing a cardiac valve, e.g., a tricuspid valve, are provided. The apparatus may include a prosthetic device coupled to an elongated support to suspend and maintain the prosthetic device within the cardiac valve. The support may include a proximal elongated shaft detachably coupled, in a delivery state, to a distal elongated shaft coupled to the prosthetic device. The proximal elongated shaft may detach from the distal elongated shaft at a detachment area within the patient responsive to actuation and components of the distal elongated shaft may lock to implant the prosthetic device and the distal elongated shaft within the patient. The prosthetic device may be formed of biocompatible material coupled to a frame, and may have prosthetic leaflets that allows blood to flow through in one direction during a phase of the cardiac cycle (e.g., diastole) but prevent blood regurgitation during the other phase (e.g., systole).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for repairing a cardiac valve, e.g., a tricuspid valve, are provided. The apparatus may include a prosthetic device coupled to an elongated support to suspend and maintain the prosthetic device within the cardiac valve. The support may include a proximal elongated shaft detachably coupled, in a delivery state, to a distal elongated shaft coupled to the prosthetic device. The proximal elongated shaft may detach from the distal elongated shaft at a detachment area within the patient responsive to actuation and components of the distal elongated shaft may lock to implant the prosthetic device and the distal elongated shaft within the patient. The prosthetic device may be formed of biocompatible material coupled to a frame, and may have prosthetic leaflets that allows blood to flow through in one direction during a phase of the cardiac cycle (e.g., diastole) but prevent blood regurgitation during the other phase (e.g., systole).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for repairing a cardiac valve, e.g., a tricuspid valve, are provided. The apparatus may include a prosthetic device coupled to an elongated support to suspend and maintain the prosthetic device within the cardiac valve. The support may include a proximal elongated shaft detachably coupled, in a delivery state, to a distal elongated shaft coupled to the prosthetic device. The proximal elongated shaft may detach from the distal elongated shaft at a detachment area within the patient responsive to actuation and components of the distal elongated shaft may lock to implant the prosthetic device and the distal elongated shaft within the patient. The prosthetic device may be formed of biocompatible material coupled to a frame, and may have prosthetic leaflets that allows blood to flow through in one direction during a phase of the cardiac cycle (e.g., diastole) but prevent blood regurgitation during the other phase (e.g., systole).

Abstract: A method for preventing nonlinear interference in an optical communication system. The method may include selecting an optical signal of a first optical channel. The method may include determining an estimate of inter-channel nonlinear interference to the optical signal of the first optical channel. The inter-channel nonlinear interference may be generated by one or more optical signals transmitted over a second optical channel in the optical communication system. The method may include determining one or more linear filters based on the estimate of the inter-channel nonlinear interference. The method may include pre-distorting an optical signal for transmission over the second optical channel using the one or more linear filters. The pre-distorted optical signal may be configured for reducing the inter-channel nonlinear interference to the first optical signal of the first optical channel.

Abstract: A method for preventing nonlinear interference in an optical communication system. The method may include selecting an optical signal of a first optical channel. The method may include determining an estimate of inter-channel nonlinear interference to the optical signal of the first optical channel. The inter-channel nonlinear interference may be generated by one or more optical signals transmitted over a second optical channel in the optical communication system. The method may include determining one or more linear filters based on the estimate of the inter-channel nonlinear interference. The method may include pre-distorting an optical signal for transmission over the second optical channel using the one or more linear filters. The pre-distorted optical signal may be configured for reducing the inter-channel nonlinear interference to the first optical signal of the first optical channel.

Abstract: A method for preventing nonlinear interference in an optical communication system. The method may include selecting an optical signal of a first optical channel. The method may include determining an estimate of inter-channel nonlinear interference to the optical signal of the first optical channel. The inter-channel nonlinear interference may be generated by one or more optical signals transmitted over a second optical channel in the optical communication system. The method may include determining one or more linear filters based on the estimate of the inter-channel nonlinear interference. The method may include pre-distorting an optical signal for transmission over the second optical channel using the one or more linear filters. The pre-distorted optical signal may be configured for reducing the inter-channel nonlinear interference to the first optical signal of the first optical channel.

Abstract: An optical modulator may include a first interferometer arm and a second interferometer arm, a first microring resonator disposed along the first interferometer arm, the first microring resonator having a first resonant wavelength, and the first resonant wavelength having a first difference from a carrier wavelength. The optical modulator may include a second microring resonator disposed along the second interferometer arm, the second microring resonator having a second resonant wavelength, and the second resonant wavelength having a second difference from the carrier wavelength. The difference between the first and second resonant wavelengths and the carrier wavelength defines a first and second microring resonator detuning, respectively. The second microring resonator detuning and the first microring resonator detuning have opposite signs.

Abstract: An optical modulator may include a first interferometer arm and a second interferometer arm, a first microring resonator disposed along the first interferometer arm, the first microring resonator having a first resonant wavelength, and the first resonant wavelength having a first difference from a carrier wavelength. The optical modulator may include a second microring resonator disposed along the second interferometer arm, the second microring resonator having a second resonant wavelength, and the second resonant wavelength having a second difference from the carrier wavelength. The difference between the first and second resonant wavelengths and the carrier wavelength defines a first and second microring resonator detuning, respectively. The second microring resonator detuning and the first microring resonator detuning have opposite signs.

Abstract: A method for preventing nonlinear interference in an optical communication system. The method may include selecting an optical signal of a first optical channel. The method may include determining an estimate of inter-channel nonlinear interference to the optical signal of the first optical channel. The inter-channel nonlinear interference may be generated by one or more optical signals transmitted over a second optical channel in the optical communication system. The method may include determining one or more linear filters based on the estimate of the inter-channel nonlinear interference. The method may include pre-distorting an optical signal for transmission over the second optical channel using the one or more linear filters. The pre-distorted optical signal may be configured for reducing the inter-channel nonlinear interference to the first optical signal of the first optical channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the generation of structured query results using lexical clustering which includes collecting one or more search queries and data associated with the one or more search queries. The present invention further includes preprocessing the one or more queries into a canonicalized form of each of the one or more queries. The canonicalized form of each of the one or more queries may be accomplished using stemming, punctuation, pluralization, word order or other canonicalization rules. The present invention further includes building a lexical index of the one or more search queries and data associated with the one or more search queries and mining the lexical index of the one or more search queries and data associated with the one or more search queries in order to generate a structured query result set.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the generation of structured query results using lexical clustering which includes collecting one or more search queries and data associated with the one or more search queries. The present invention further includes preprocessing the one or more queries into a canonicalized form of each of the one or more queries. The canonicalized form of each of the one or more queries may be accomplished using stemming, punctuation, pluralization, word order or other canonicalization rules. The present invention further includes building a lexical index of the one or more search queries and data associated with the one or more search queries and mining the lexical index of the one or more search queries and data associated with the one or more search queries in order to generate a structured query result set.

Abstract: A planar pressure transducer is disclosed which is useful for interposing between living tissue and a medical device that applies pressure to the tissue in order to estimate the pressure applied to a selected area of the tissue. The planar pressure transducer comprises a pair of opposed plates between which the proximal ends of optical fibers and a deformable polymer structure are disposed. When the plates are subjected to a pressure acting normally to the plane of the plates an optical signal is obtained via the distal ends of the fibers and related to the pressure acting on the plates.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for transmitting very high bit rates over an optical link, using unidirectional and bidirectional WDM technology. The 1550 nm window for optical transmission is spatially separated into two bands, "Red" and "Blue", and the channels in each band are selected so that respective wavelengths present a substantially equal gain tilt. A fiber amplifier designed according to spatial separation and wavelength selection of the invention is disclosed, along with multiple span WDM network topologies.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for transmitting very high bit rates over an optical link, using unidirectional and bidirectional WDM technology. The 1550 nm window for optical transmission is spatially separated into two bands, "Red" and "Blue", and the channels in each band are selected so that respective wavelengths present a substantially equal gain tilt. A fiber amplifier designed according to spatial separation and wavelength selection of the invention is disclosed, along with multiple span WDM network topologies.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a failure detection system and method for detecting malfunction of an optical amplifier module with one or multiple transmission channels. The failure detection system comprises a unit for measuring a performance parameter of the module; a unit for providing an expected performance parameter; and a comparator unit for receiving the performance parameter and the expected performance parameter and producing an error signal when the performance parameter substantially departs from the expected performance parameter. The system also includes a display/alarm unit for receiving the error signal and accordingly signaling failure of the module. The performance parameter is an output value of the module; a correspondence between an output value and an input value for a transmission channel; a figure of merit (FOM.sup.t=t); a set of gains (g) for all transmission channels; and the dynamic range of the amplifier module.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for troubleshooting a transmission system comprising optical line amplifiers (OA), optical reflections can be detected irrespective if a data signal is present or absent. Each OA is equipped with a self-stimulation signal detection unit for generating a low frequency local code unique to the transmission system and dithering the outgoing signal in a controlled manner with the local code. Each OA attempts to detect its local code in the incoming signal by comparing the energy of the transmitted and received dithers. The presence of the local code in the incoming signal initiates alarms which unequivocally identify the faulted OA. Each OA selects its local code out of a bank of local codes, according to a priority scheme and re-selects its local code in case of conflicts.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for troubleshooting a transmission system comprising optical line amplifiers (OA), optical reflections can be detected irrespective if a data signal is present or absent. Each OA is equipped with a self-stimulation signal detection unit for generating a low frequency local code unique to the transmission system and dithering the outgoing signal in a controlled manner with the local code. Each OA attempts to detect its local code in the incoming signal by comparing the energy of the transmitted and received dithers. The presence of the local code in the incoming signal initiates alarms which unequivocally identify the faulted OA. Each OA selects its local code out of a bank of local codes, according to a priority scheme and re-selects its local code in case of conflicts.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for transmitting very high bit rates over an optical link, using unidirectional and bidirectional WDM technology. The 1550 nm window for optical transmission is spatially separated into two bands, "Red" and "Blue", and the channels in each band are selected so that respective wavelengths present a substantially equal gain tilt. A fiber amplifier designed according to spatial separation and wavelength selection of the invention is disclosed, along with multiple span WDM network topologies.