Abstract: A laser treatment system that includes means for applying a laser beam to an eye of a patient and means for registering and immobilizing the eye.

Abstract: An alignment device including means for releasably attaching a suction ring and means for applying a pattern of light to an eye of a patient. The alignment device further including means for detecting light reflected from the eye and determining whether the suction ring is aligned relative to the eye based on the detected light.

Abstract: There is provided a self-adjusting interface device for use with laser surgery devices. The device may be filled with a liquid that matches the index of refraction of the cornea of the eye. The device has the ability to adjust to varying curvatures of the eye and is configured so that when attached to the eye the laser surgery device will be able to deliver a therapeutic laser beam to the limbus region of the eye.

Abstract: There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for developing laser systems that can create precise predetermined shot patterns for providing areas of varying softness in the lens of an eye. These areas of varying softness may have shapes that correspond to instruments used to remove material from the lens of the eye. There is further provided a multiplicity of spheres pattern, which may provide for bubble formation which in turn lubricates the lens material for removal after sectioning.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for creating a layer of bubbles in the posterior portion of the lens of the eye. This layer of bubbles in the posterior portion of the lens functions as a shield protection structures of the eye that are located posteriorly from the lens from being damaged or injured by the use of the laser in subsequent activities upon the lens, such as the performance of a laser assisted capsulotomy. Thus, the bubble shield reduces the risk to posterior structures during laser procedures on the lens of the eye.

Abstract: There is provided a device for use as an interface between a laser surgery device and the eye of a patient. The device is filled with a liquid that matches the index of refraction of the eye. The device further has a curved lens that follows the curvature of the outer surface of the patient's eye. In this manner the interface device, through which the laser beam must travel, has essentially the same index of refraction as the eye.

Abstract: A gas-purged laser system and method of gas-purging a laser system are disclosed. One embodiment of the laser system comprises an excimer refractive surgical laser system having a laser beam optical path configured to allow purging of a portion of a volume enclosing the laser beam optical path with a gas, and a gas generator, operable to generate the purging gas and provide the gas to the volume portion. The portion of the volume can be the entire volume enclosing the laser beam optical path or a selected portion thereof. The gas can be nitrogen gas and the gas generator can be a self-contained nitrogen generator as will be known to those having skill in the art. Embodiments can further comprise a controller for controlling the flow of purging gas in response to received signals representative of various parameters, such as temperature, oxygen level, pressure, humidity and flow rate.

Abstract: A method for assaying the activity of an enzyme inside a metabolically active whole cell is disclosed. The assay compound includes a leaving group and an indicator group. The leaving group is selected from the group comprising amino acids, peptides, saccharides, sulfates, phosphates, esters, phosphate esters, nucleotides, polynucleotides, nucleic acids, pyrimidines, purines, nucleosides, lipids and mixtures thereof. The indicator group is selected from compounds which have a first state when joined to the leaving group, and a second state when the leaving group is cleaved from the indicator group by the enzyme. Preferably, the indicator compounds are rhodamine 110, rhodol, and fluorescein and analogs of these compounds. A method of synthesizing the compound is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber optic spatial filter assembly for laser diffraction particle sizing apparatus utilizing a laser to generate a monochromatic light beam which is coupled to an optical fiber operating substantially in a monomode and creating a beam of light having a high degree of spatial coherence which is then passed through collimating lenses to interrogate and impinge upon the particles of matter through which the laser diffracted light passes. The light scattered by the particles is focused onto a Fourier plane and thereafter impinges upon a photooptical detector array, positioned coincident with the Fourier plane, for measuring the light intensities of the scattered light by scattering angle, thus enabling the computation of particle size.

Abstract: Two arrangements are disclosed to provide high resolution measurement of sub-micrometer and micrometer particle size distributions. In a first arrangement, scattered light is measured over a wide range of scattering angles. At the same time, light scattered at low scattering angles is measured with high angular resolution. In the second arrangment, an improved Polarization Intensity Differential Scattering (PIDS) measurement is made possible by providing an interrogating light beam of selected wavelength including a first component having a linear polarization plane and a second component having a differential linear polarization plane, wherein the linear polarizations of the components are orthogonal. Photodetecting arrays in one or more scattering planes detect light scattered by the particles at least at two scattering angles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the intensity of light scattered by particles suspended in a sample volume illuminated by an interrogating light beam directed along an input axis, utilizing plural Fourier optical systems having lenses arranged for illuminating multiple photodetectors. The lenses of each Fourier optical system can be of different optical powers, for providing low power and high power optical trains. A low power optical train provides high resolution measurements of light scattered within a small angular range at low angles relative to the input axis, while a high power optical train provides lower resolution measurements of light scattered within a larger angular range at higher angles.

Abstract: Two arrangements are disclosed to provide high resolution measurement of sub-micrometer and micrometer particle size distributions. In a first arrangement, scattered light is measured over a wide range of scattering angles. At the same time, light scattered at low scattering angles is measured with high angular resolution. In the second arrangement an improved Polarization Intensity Differential Scattering (PIDS) measurement is made possible by providing an interrogating light beam of selected wavelength including a first component parallel to the scattering plane and a second component perpendicular to the scattering plane. Photodetecting arrangements detect light scattered by the particles at least at two scattering angles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which provides a measure of the size distribution of particles dispersed in a fluid based upon an optimum combination of CLS measurements and DLS measurements. The measurement is characterized by relatively high resolution particle sizing. DLS data representative of the autocorrelation function, or power spectrum, of the detected intensity of scattered light for m measurement conditions of a sample, is optimally combined with CLS data representative of the average total detected intensity of scattered light for n measurement conditions, to provide an angle-independent, high resolution size distribution v(r), where m.gtoreq.1, n.gtoreq.0, m+n.gtoreq.2, and at least two of the measurement conditions are different. The size distribution may be expressed in terms of the continuous function v(r) or the histogram v, and may represent distributions weighted by mass, volume, number, surface area, or other measures.

Abstract: An infrared imaging system includes a scanner of infrared radiation emanating from a subject, the radiation being scanned past an array of radiation detectors disposed on a common substrate. A set of amplifiers connecting with a multiplexer is built upon the array of detectors, individual ones of the amplifiers connecting with respective ones of the detectors. Each amplifier is composed of a structure having the components of a charge-coupled device and includes circuitry for pulsing a charge-coupled device repetitively. A transistor switching circuit interconnects a detector with its corresponding charge-coupled device for modulating the magnitude of charge in each charge packet propagating through the device. A pair of integrators is disposed on the common substrate, and a steering circuit steers modulated and unmodulated pulses to alternate ones of the integrators.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which provides a measure of the size distribution of particles dispersed in a fluid based upon an optimum combination of CLS measurements and DLS measurements. The measurement is characterized by relatively high resolution particle sizing. DLS data representative of the autocorrelation function, or power spectrum, of the detected intensity of scattered light at a plurality of angles about a sample, is optimally combined with CLS data representative of the average total detected intensity at those angles, to provide an angle-independent, high resolution size distribution v(r). The size distribution may be expressed in terms of the continuous function v(r) or the histogram v, and may represent distributions weighted by mass, volume, number, surface area, or other measures.