Abstract: A removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a handle portion. A filter section is configured to selectively couple to an impeller of the laundry treatment machine, the filter section defining a hollow interior, a lower water opening to allow for the passage of water out of the interior space of the agitator, and an opening about the exterior circumference of the filter section into which a removable filter is selectively attachable. A handle pull locking post is provided within the hollow interior of the apparatus, including a handle pull portion at a top end for gripping against the handle portion and at least one pin at a bottom end configured to selectively lock the apparatus into the base.

Abstract: In several aspects for storing a table, in which the table is configured for comprising records having values of one or more attributes, a processor creates a pseudo table representing the table, the creating comprising defining an empty version of the table in a program. One or more records may be inserted in the pseudo table by encoding attribute values of the one or more records as inline data in the program. In response to determining that the pseudo table satisfies a materialization criterion, the pseudo table may be materialized by creating the table with the records encoded in the program and removing the program.

Abstract: A system and method for a database management system. The method comprises: receiving a database transaction for inserting a set of records in a database table of the database management system or for creating indexes. The database transaction may be executed using the database management system. The database management system may rollback the database transaction by truncating the database table or the created indexes.

Abstract: A removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of selectively attachable and detachable stackable sections, the sections including a handle section and one or more further sections; wherein, when attached together in stacked arrangement to form an agitator, the plurality of sections collectively define: a cylindrical body, a hollow interior of the body, first and second opening about the exterior circumference of the body to define a water flow path into and out of the hollow interior, and placement within the hollow interior for a removable filter along the water flow path, and wherein the handle section including an area to grip onto and rotate the removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus to facilitate insertion and removal of the agitator.

Abstract: A removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a handle portion. A filter section is configured to selectively couple to an impeller of the laundry treatment machine, the filter section defining a hollow interior, a lower water opening to allow for the passage of water out of the interior space of the agitator, and an opening about the exterior circumference of the filter section into which a removable filter is selectively attachable. A handle pull locking post is provided within the hollow interior of the apparatus, including a handle pull portion at a top end for gripping against the handle portion and at least one pin at a bottom end configured to selectively lock the apparatus into the base.

Abstract: A neural network configured for classifying whether an image from an optical sensor characterizes an obstruction of the optical sensor or not. The classification is characterized by an output of the neural network for an input of the neural network and wherein the input is based on the image. The neural network comprises a first convolutional layer that characterizes a 1D-convolution along a vertical axis of a convolution output of a preceding convolutional layer and a second convolutional layer that characterizes a 1D-convolution along a horizontal axis of the convolution output. The output of the neural network is based on a first convolution output of the first convolutional layer and based on a second convolution output of the second convolutional layer.

Abstract: A system is used for contactless measurement of the optical imaging quality of an eye with an interferometer by which at least one light pulse with a short coherence length is coupled into the eye from a light source. The optical path length of at least one arm of the interferometer is varied for measuring the length of the eye until a typical interference pattern between a reflection of the cornea and a reflection of the retina of the eye occurs in a detector. This interference pattern together with a known path segment of the variation of the optical path length allows conclusions to be made about the length of the eye. The variation of the optical path length is carried out by introducing at least partially optically transparent elements and by at least one element of the interferometer which is movable in a defined manner in at least one of the light paths of the interferometer.

Abstract: A system (1) is used for contactless measurement of the optical imaging quality of an eye (2) with an interferometer (3) by which at least one light pulse with a short coherence length is coupled into the eye (2) from a light source (10). The optical path length of at least one arm (17) of the interferometer (3) is varied for measuring the length of the eye (2) until a typical interference pattern between a reflection of the cornea (4) and a reflection of the retina (6) of the eye occurs in a detector (4). This interference pattern together with a known path segment of the variation of the optical path length allows conclusions to be made about the length of the eye (2). The variation of the optical path length is carried out by introducing at least partially optically transparent elements (22) and by at least one element (19) of the interferometer (3) which is movable in a defined manner in at least one of the light paths (17) of the interferometer (3).

Abstract: Ophthalmologic surgical microscope which is combined internally with an optical coherence tomography ("OCT") apparatus wherein auto-focusing is provided by driving a motorized internal focusing lens of the ophthalmologic surgical microscope with a signal output from the OCT apparatus. An embodiment of the inventive ophthalmologic surgical microscope includes: (a) an optical coherence tomography ("OCT") apparatus; (b) a beamcombiner for internally coupling output from the OCT apparatus into the ophthalmologic surgical microscope; and (c) a motor for moving an internal focusing lens of the ophthalmologic surgical microscope in response to a signal from the OCT apparatus, whereby the ophthalmologic surgical microscope is auto-focused.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring the length and refractive error of an eye, preferably in a non-contact mode. In particular, an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus which measures length and refractive error of an eye which includes: (a) a source of short coherence radiation which couples radiation into a Michelson interferometer, the arms of the Michelson interferometer having a predetermined optical pathlength difference; (b) an injector which couples radiation output from the interferometer into the eye; and (c) a relay system which couples radiation output from the eye to a spectrometer; wherein the spectrometer measures displacement of radiation to measure the refractive error and the spectrometer measures density of fringes to measure the length.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide method and apparatus for use during a neurosurgical procedure to enable a multi-coordinate manipulator ("MCM") to locate blood vessels and nerves in a patient's brain with submillimeter resolution. In addition, embodiments of the present invention provide method and apparatus for mapping oxygenation of brain tissue in three dimensions to differentiate tumor tissue from normal brain tissue with submillimeter resolution.

Abstract: Phase-contrasting elements are arranged in the viewing beam paths of a stereomicroscope to make transparent media visible with rich contrast such as in the area of ophthalmologic surgery. The phase-contrasting elements make the transparent media visible as phase objects in the amplitude contrast. The phase-contrasting elements are selected in dependence upon the light source diaphragm which is used.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the speed of blood in blood vessels in biological samples, for example, in retinal blood vessels, which apparatus includes: (a) a source of a beam of radiation having a principal wavelength, which radiation is substantially spatially coherent and has a temporal coherence length which is less than 1 picosecond; (b) a beam splitter for splitting the beam into a sample beam and reference beam; (c) optical apparatus for directing the sample beam to an area within the biological sample; (d) a reflector for reflecting the reference beam; (e) a detector for detecting an interference between the sample beam reflected from the area and the reflected reference beam and for generating an interference signal; (f) apparatus for altering an optical path length of the reference beam from the beam splitter to the detector at an alteration velocity; and (g) an analyzer for analyzing the interference signal to determine the speed of the blood in the area from a shift of a central frequency of a frequenc

Abstract: Apparatus for illuminating the fundus of an eye with a scanned sample beam of radiation, the scanned sample beam emerging from a beam scanner which is exposed to a sample beam, which apparatus is for use in optical coherence tomography. An embodiment of the apparatus includes: (a) scanner lens and a beamsplitter for transferring radiation from the scanned sample beam, including chief rays of the sample beam which emerge from a point of final deflection of the beam scanner, and (b) a lens for focusing the transferred radiation so that the scanned sample beam is focused onto the fundus by the eye. In accordance with the invention the scanner lens is fixed with respect to the beam scanner so that the point of final deflection is located substantially in the back focal plane of the scanner lens and the scanner lens is movable.

Abstract: Apparatus for illuminating the fundus of an eye with a scanned sample beam of radiation. An embodiment of the present invention is an optical system which includes three, separated radiation path systems--a tilted illumination path system, a decentered observation path system, and an optical path system--which are combined by a beamsplitter into an ocular lens. In accordance with the present invention, an illuminating path provided by the illumination path system and an optical beam path provided by the optical beam path system are obliquely oriented with respect to the optical axis of the ocular lens.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the speed of blood in blood vessels in biological samples, for example, in retinal blood vessels, which apparatus includes: (a) a source of a beam of radiation having a principal wavelength, which radiation is substantially spatially coherent and has a temporal coherence length which is less than 1 picosecond; (b) a beam splitter for splitting the beam into a sample beam and reference beam; (c) optical apparatus for directing the sample beam to an area within the biological sample; (d) a reflector for reflecting the reference beam; (e) a detector for detecting an interference between the sample beam reflected from the area and the reflected reference beam and for generating an interference signal; (f) apparatus for altering an optical path length of the reference beam from the beam splitter to the detector at an alteration velocity; and (g) an analyzer for analyzing the interference signal to determine the speed of the blood in the area from a shift of a central frequency of a frequenc

Abstract: Ophthalmologic surgical microscope which is combined internally with an optical coherence tomography ("OCT") apparatus wherein auto-focusing is provided by driving a motorized internal focusing lens of the ophthalmologic surgical microscope with a signal output from the OCT apparatus. An embodiment of the inventive ophthalmologic surgical microscope includes: (a) an optical coherence tomography ("OCT") apparatus; (b) a beamcombiner for internally coupling output from the OCT apparatus into the ophthalmologic surgical microscope; and (c) a motor for moving an internal focusing lens of the ophthalmologic surgical microscope in response to a signal from the OCT apparatus, whereby the ophthalmologic surgical microscope is auto-focused.

Abstract: Optical coherence tomography ("OCT") corneal mapping apparatus includes an OCT apparatus having a rotating helical mirror for altering a reference beam path in the OCT apparatus; a raster scanner for raster scanning sampling optical output from the OCT apparatus; a curved mirror for transferring the sampling optical output from the raster scanner to an eye and for transferring sampling optical output reflected from the eye back to the OCT apparatus through the raster scanner; and an analyzer, coupled to the raster scanner, the rotating helical mirror, and reference and sampling interaction output from the OCT apparatus. The analyzer causes the raster scanner to scan the sampling optical output to points in a raster; causes the rotating mirror to alter the length of the reference beam path over a predetermined amount at each of the points in the raster; and provides the corneal mapping from the reference and sampling interaction output at the points in the raster.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the following lens characteristics: (a) curvature of the front and back surfaces of the lens; (b) physical thickness; and (c) index of refraction of the lens to determine the front vertex power, back vertex power; and the lens material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-precision autofocusing arrangement for a stereomicroscope wherein a bar-shaped marking is projected via a cylinder optic on an object. The imaged bar-shaped marking is at least in one dimension less or equal to the resolution of the viewing beam path. A region of the objective not used optically is selected for projection as the pass-through pupil.