Abstract: An apparatus and methods for using biological material to discriminate an agent. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of providing at least one cell, exposing at least one cell to an agent, measuring the response of the cell to the agent in terms of a physical quantity related to at least one of the cellular physiological activities of the cell, and identifying the agent from the measured response. The method further includes the step of quantifying the agent from the measured response.

Abstract: A real-time three-dimensional display device particularly suited for medical imaging is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of individual processing elements each having an image memory for storing a mini-image of a portion of the object as viewed from any given direction and a merge control means for generating a combined image of the object including the depth thereof by selection on a pixel-by-pixel basis from each of the mini-images. In two different embodiments, priority codes are assigned to each of the processing elements reflecting the relative significance of a given pixel of the mini-image produced by a given processing element as compared to the pixels of mini-images produced by other processing elements. In one embodiment, the combined image is generated in accordance with the priority codes. In another embodiment, a Z buffer is used to provide for hidden surface removal on a pixel-by-pixel basis.