Abstract: A gonioscopic attachment can attach to a gonioscope and can include atraumatic retention elements that are configured to engage an eye to retain the gonioscope relative to the eye. The gonioscopic attachment can be configured to position the gonioscope so that at least a portion of the concave distal surface of the gonioscopic optical element is spaced apart from the eye, and/or so that the curvature of the distal surface is angularly offset from the curvature of the eye. The gonioscope can include a fixation point configured to be visible to the subject when the gonioscope is positioned on the eye. In some embodiments, the retention elements can be incorporated directly into the gonioscope. A coupling mechanism can couple the gonioscope to a lid speculum. The gonioscope can include a light pipe, which can be configured to directly light into the eye.

Abstract: This invention comprises the use of microspheres containing ionizable gas in a gas discharge (plasma) display, photons for the gas discharge within a microsphere exciting a phosphor such that the phosphor emits wavelengths in both the visible or invisible spectrum. The invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to an AC gas discharge (plasma) display.

Abstract: Hollow microspheres produced by the present method each have a hollow interior evacuated of gases to a predetermined pressure. A reflective material layer coats the exterior of each microsphere and, optionally, an outer layer of a protective material is applied over the reflective material layer. Permeant gases are dissolved into glass or plastic frit particles prior to heating of the frit particles to form hollow microspheres having the permeant gases contained therein. The permeant gases are subsequently out-permeated in a non-permeant gas atmosphere to substantially evacuate the interior of each microsphere. The exterior layers of reflective material and protective material are then coated about each evacuated microsphere.

Abstract: Hollow microspheres produced by the present method each have a hollow interior evacuated of gases to a predetermined pressure. A reflective material layer coats the exterior of each microsphere and, optionally, an outer layer of a protective material is applied over the reflective material layer. Permeant gases are dissolved into glass or plastic frit particles prior to heating of the frit particles to form hollow microspheres having the permeant gases contained therein. The permeant gases are subsequently out-permeated in a non-permeant gas atmosphere to substantially evacuate the interior of each microsphere. The exterior layers of reflective material and protective material are then coated about each evacuated microsphere.

Abstract: A radiation-detection/scintillation composite in which a multiplicity of particulate glass carriers embodying radiation target nuclei are embedded within a matrix of solid scintillation plastic composition. The glass target-containing carriers have an index of refraction which closely matches that of the scintillation plastic. In one embodiment of the invention, the carriers comprise hollow spherical micro-size shells containing He-3 gas detection nuclei under pressure. In another embodiment, Li, B or Pb or other heavy element detection nuclei are contained within the composition of the glass carriers.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition process for making glass-surfaced microcarriers, and the resulting product, in which hollow spherical micro-sized shells of glass or ceramic composition replaced within a fluidized bed coater, and separate preheated reaction gasses are directed into the coater bed. The shell precursors have a preferred starting density of not more than the predetermined desired final density in the range of 1.01 to 1.2 g/cc, and have a diameter in the range of 5 to 500 .mu.m, preferably 105 to 150 .mu.m. The thickness of the silicate glass coating is preferably in the range of 11 to 16 .mu.m. An alternative embodiment employs solid precursor beads of polyphenylene oxide.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition process for making glass-surfaced microcarriers, and the resulting product, in which hollow spherical micro-sized shells of glass or ceramic composition are placed within a fluidized bed coater, and separate preheated reaction gasses are directed into the coater bed. The shell precursors have a preferred starting density of not more than the predetermined desired final density in the range of 1.01 to 1.2 g/cc, and have a diameter in the range of 5 to 500 .mu.m, preferably 105 to 150 .mu.m. The thickness of the silicate glass coating is preferably in the range of 11 to 16 .mu.m. An alternative embodiment employs solid precursor beads of polyphenylene oxide.

Abstract: A microcarrier for anchorage-dependent cell cultivation is prepared containing a spherical substrate of polymeric material having a bulk density of about 1 g/cc so as to be substantially buoyant in an aqueous culture medium, and a thin (less than 1 .mu.m) coating layer of silicate glass. The silicate glass coating layer is preferably applied to a spherical precursor of polymeric material in an rf sputtering operation. An intermediate coating layer of magnetic material may be deposited prior to the silicate glass layer, so that the microcarriers may be readily removed from culture media by suitable subjection to a magnetic field.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hollow structure of uniform wall thickness comprising the steps of selecting or forming a precursor having one wall surface of desired geometry, treating a portion of the precursor consisting of the one wall surface and a uniform depth of material beneath the wall surface to increase resistance to ablation, and then removing by ablation and discarding the remaining or untreated portion of the precursor.

Abstract: A multiple shell structure and a method of manufacturing such structure wherein a hollow glass microsphere is surface treated in an organosilane solution so as to render the shell outer surface hydrophobic. The surface treated glass shell is then suspended in the oil phase of an oil-aqueous phase dispersion. The oil phase includes an organic film-forming monomer, a polymerization initiator and a blowing agent. A polymeric film forms at each phase boundary of the dispersion and is then expanded in a blowing operation so as to form an outer homogeneously integral monocellular substantially spherical thermoplastic shell encapsulating an inner glass shell of lesser diameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for low temperature sensing which uses gas filled micro-size hollow glass spheres that are exposed in a confined observation area to a low temperature range (Kelvin) and observed microscopically to determine change of state, i.e., change from gaseous state of the contained gas to condensed state. By suitable indicia and classification of the spheres in the observation area, the temperature can be determined very accurately.

Abstract: A variable leak gas source and a method for obtaining the same which includes filling a quantity of hollow glass micro-spheres with a gas, storing said quantity in a confined chamber having a controllable outlet, heating said chamber above room temperature, and controlling the temperature of said chamber to control the quantity of gas passing out of said controllable outlet. Individual gas filled spheres may be utilized for calibration purposes by breaking a sphere having a known quantity of a known gas to calibrate a gas detection apparatus.