Abstract: This is an atomic force microscope in which the sensor can be built as a very small integrated structure. The sensor utilizes optical interference and can be operated in either the contact mode for high resolution or in the non-contact mode to measure electric and magnetic fields. One configuration of this microscope is a stand-alone configuration in which the microscope can be placed on or be suspended above large samples for sanning of small local areas thereof. The sensor is built into a scanner so that the sensor can be scanned over a stationary sample.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope head, which includes means for scanning a probe over a limited portion of a sample surface, includes a casing having feet resting on the sample surface and is moved by positioning means to different portions of the sample surface while the head slides across the sample surface. In one embodiment, a positioning arm is mounted on a carriage driven by a first feed screw, while a sample support is mounted for adjustment by a second feed screw perpendicular to the first. In a second embodiment, the arm is mounted on an X-Y stage adjusted by perpendicular feed screws. In another embodiment, the head rests on the support surface for the sample and slides along this surface as its position is adjusted. The positioning arm supports one or two magnets which magnetically couple the arm to the head casing. The casing is made of ferromagnetic material or nonmagnetic material with a ferromagnetic insert.

Abstract: In a scanning probe microscope having a probe moved by a piezoelectric 3-dimensional positioner in perpendicular X and Y directions over the surface of a sample to create a raster scan thereof and feedback controlled and sensed in a Z direction vertical to the surface to gather data about the topography of the surface, this is a method of operating the piezoelectric 3-dimensional positioner to increase the speed of gathering data about a scanning area of the surface being scanned.

Abstract: A feedback control system for enhancing the feedback loop characteristics of a vertical axis control in a scanning tunneling microscope or the like, including a tip member for positioning relative to a surface for measuring the topography of the surface. A horizontal control coupled to the tip for providing a plurality of adjacent horizontal scans across the surface. A vertical control coupled to the tip for providing a vertical control of the tip during the plurality of adjacent horizontal scans. A local error signal produced in accordance with the vertical position of the tip relative to the surface in real time during the plurality of adjacent horizontal scans.

Abstract: A piezoelectric positioning device for controlling the three dimensional horizontal and vertical movement of a tip relative to the sample in a scanning tunneling microscope. A thin walled cone or cylinder shaped member formed of piezoelectric material having an outer surface and an inner surface. A tip member positioned at the bottom of the cone or cylindrical member. A plurality of substantially similar electrode members positioned around one of the surfaces of the cone or cylinder shaped member to form opposite pairs of electrodes to control the horizontal movement of the tip in two of the three dimensions in accordance with voltages applied to the pairs of electrodes. A unitary member positioned around the other of the surfaces of the cone or cylinder shaped member to form a unitary electrode to control the vertical movement of the tip in the third dimension in accordance with voltage applied to the unitary electrode.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for an automatic dilution system for providing a variable dilution of an unknown sample material, including a mixing chamber having at least one input and output, sample material and diluent. Injecting a quantity of the sample material into the input of the mixing chamber. Providing a flow of the diluent into the input of the mixing chamber to mix with the sample material and to continuously dilute the concentration of the sample material within the mixing chamber and flowing out of the mixing chamber to provide a variable dilution. Providing a measurement of a particular characteristic of the continuously variable diluted sample material, and controlling the flow of diluent in accordance with an optimal measurement of the particular characteristic.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing an optical detection of a binding reaction between a ligand and an antiligand, including, a pattern formed by a spatial array of microscopic dimensions of antiligand material, ligand material interacting with the antiligand material to produce a binding reaction between the ligand and the antiligand in the pattern, a source of optical radiation including energy at at least one wavelength directed to the pattern at a particular incidence angle to produce scattering of the energy from the pattern in accordance with the binding reaction and with a strong scattering intensity at one or more Bragg scattering angles, and at least one optical detector located relative to the pattern and aligned with a Bragg scattering angle to detect the strong scattering intensity at the Bragg scattering angle to produce a signal representative of the binding reaction.

Abstract: A fluorometer and method of fluorometry for illuminating an area containing fluorescent material which material fluoresces when excited with light energy at first particular frequencies and for collecting and measuring fluorescent light energy at second particular frequencies produced at the area, including, a light source for producing light energy including light energy at the first particular frequencies and with the light source having a wattage rating of no more than twenty (20) watts, pulsing the light energy at a frequency of approximately at least 10 Hz, filtering the pulsing light energy from the light source to pass substantially only the light energy at the first particular frequencies, directing the filtered pulsing light energy to the area containing fluorescent material, collecting light energy including fluorescent light energy at the second particular frequencies produced at the area and directing the collected light energy away from the area, filtering the collected light energy to pass subst

Abstract: Apparatus and method for an immunoassay of a binding reaction between a ligand and an antiligand which are typically an antigen and an antibody, including a spatial pattern formed by a spatial array of separate regions of antiligand material, and ligand material dispersed to interact with the spatial array of separate regions of antiligand material for producing a binding reaction between the ligand and the antiligand in the spatial patterns and with the bound complexes labeled with a particular physical characteristic. A source of input energy and with the input energy at a particular spectrum for interacting with particular physical characteristic of the labeled binding reaction.

Abstract: In the course of a reaction in which one of the reactants is on the surface of carrier particles in a solution and another of the reactants is tagged with a fluorescent substance, some of the fluorescently tagged reactant attaches to, or is displaced from the carrier particle. The present invention relates to a method and device for determining the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle or which is free in solution, without physically separating the carrier particles from the solution. In a particular application of the invention (immunoassay) the reaction is between antibodies and antigens, and from the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle one can determine the unknown amount of antigen in a sample.

Abstract: In the course of a reaction in which one of the reactants is on the surface of carrier particles in a solution and another of the reactants is tagged with a fluorescent substance, some of the fluorescently tagged reactant attaches to, or is displaced from the carrier particle. The present invention relates to a method and device for determining the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle or which is free in solution, without physically separating the carrier particles from the solution. In a particular application of the invention (immunoassay) the reaction is between antibodies and antigens, and from the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle one can determine the unknown amount of antigen in a sample.

Abstract: A correlator for producing a correlation function by processing input data over a large number of coefficients of the correlation function by time sharing a smaller number of correlation channels, including a temporary storage device for receiving input data and for providing the input data as output data at particular successive time delay intervals relative to the input data, a group channel correlator responsive to the output data from the temporary storage device and to additional data for correlating the group of channels of data and for providing output sums representing coefficients of the correlation function, and means coupled to the temporary storage device and the group channel correlator for controlling the coupling of the output data from the temporary storage device to the group channel correlator to have the output data at the successive time delay intervals coupled to the group channel correlator to have the group channel correlator repetitively correlate successive groups of channels for prov

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a measure of extravascular lung water of a subject using a single thermal indicator, including means for providing an injection of the thermal indicator into the bloodstream of the subject at a position proximal to or in the right heart, means for detecting a first time-temperature concentration curve of the bloodstream at a position in the pulmonary artery, means responsive to the first time-temperature concentration curve detected in the pulmonary artery for calculating a characteristic time for the first time-temperature concentration curve, means for detecting a second time-temperature concentration curve of the bloodstream at a position in a systemic artery, means responsive to the second time-temperature concentration curve detected in the sytemic artery for calculating a characteristic time for the second time-temperature concentration curve, means for calculating the flow of blood through the heart and lungs, and means for calculating a measure of extravascular lung water in ac

Abstract: A thermodilution cardiac output computer uses an autobalancing temperature-measuring circuit which adjusts the initial voltage derived from a thermistor and then holds constant the current through the thermistor as the thermistor responds to different temperatures in a blood-injectate mixture. The initial voltage is adjusted to a predetermined constant so that the response from thermistors of different initial resistance is the same. A Wheatstone bridge is not used. Before the temperature measurement, the voltage derived from the thermistor is adjusted to be equal to a predetermined constant either by varying the current through the thermistor or, with a constant current through the thermistor, by varying the gain of the amplifier sensing the voltage across the thermistor. During the temperature measurement this current or gain is held constant.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing an optical detection of a binding reaction between a ligand and an antiligand, including, a pattern formed by a spatial array of microscopic dimensions of antiligand material, ligand material interacting with the antiligand material to produce a binding reaction between the ligand and the antiligand in the pattern, a source of optical radiation including energy at at least one wavelength directed to the pattern at a particular incidence angle to produce scattering of the energy from the pattern in accordance with the binding reaction and with a strong scattering intensity at one or more Bragg scattering angles, and at least one optical detector located relative to the pattern and aligned with a Bragg scattering angle to detect the strong scattering intensity at the Bragg scattering angle to produce a signal representative of the binding reaction.