Abstract: A spectrophotometric instrument for conducting in vivo patient examinations has a sensor which is applied to the patient target area, e.g. the forehead, which includes a source for emitting electromagnetic energy e.g. selected wavelengths in the near infrared range, such that the energy passes through the underlying tissue and is emitted at other locations spaced from the point of entry. The sensor also includes detectors for receiving the resulting light energy at two or more such other locations and sending corresponding signals to a processor for analysis, by which characteristics of the tissue transmissed by the examination wavelengths may be determined.

Abstract: A method of conducting clinical examination procedures by use of electrically actuated spectrometric apparatus, of the type which uses a sensor that is placed in contact with the patient to transmit and receive electromagnetic energy of selected wavelengths for non-invasive in vivo examination of a selected area on the body, in which a conductive member is placed in contact with the patient near or at the location of the sensor and connected to the signal-processing circuitry of the processor for the spectrometric signals in a manner such that the examination signals have significantly less noise content than would otherwise be true. In so doing, the signal-processing circuitry is isolated from the power supply circuitry, and the sensor and conductive member are preferably coupled to the processor by use of an isolation preamplifier, such that the signal-processing ground potential reference is maintained separate and distinct from the power supply ground.

Abstract: A specially grounded sensor for improving signal-to-noise ratios in clinical spectrometric procedures includes a sensor body carrying electrically actuated spectrometric signal-producing and receiving components, e.g., electro-optical components, for transmittal and reception of particular examination energy wavelengths, in which the sensor body has an electrically conductive portion or element associated therewith for contacting the patient. This electrically conductive, member is coupled to the signal ground potential of associated signal-processing apparatus to thereby equalize the electrical potential of the patient surface area to which the sensor is applied with the aforementioned signal ground potential.

Abstract: A sensor for use in medical patient examination and monitoring by spectrophotometric apparatus, including a main body having a soft, resilient outer cover on at least one side for conformably contacting a selected area on the patient, in particular the forehead, also having and an electro-optical light source and a plurality of electro-optical light detectors spaced from the source and from one another, and exposed to the selected site on the patient by light-transmissive passages extending through the resilient cover, in which the resilient cover is formed of a thin, softly compressible member of light-absorbing and moisture-transmissible material, preferably of resilient cellular polymeric foam.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system is provided utilizing digital or analog data input signals to energize one or more data recording heads which can produce a selection of sizes of alpha-numeric, pictorial or digital coded images on a recording medium. Where alpha-numeric or pictorial images are produced, the images are both human and machine readable. Such alpha-numeric or pictorial images can be sequentially or simultaneously selectively produced full sized and/or reduced substantially in size to form at least 24:1 or greater size reductions of these images on the same or different recording media. Thus, for example, X-ray pictures or letters and the like can be simultaneously produced in reduced form on a microfilm recording medium for record storage purposes and full sized simultaneously on a recording medium for direct examination and delivery to third parties.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system is provided utilizing digital or analog data input signals to energize one or more data recording heads which can produce a selection of sizes of alpha-numeric, pictorial or digital coded images on a recording medium. Where alpha-numeric or pictorial images are produced, the images are both human and machine readable. Such alpha-numeric or pictorial images can be sequentially or simultaneously selectively produced full sized and/or reduced substantially in size to form at least 24:1 or greater size reductions of these images on the same or different recording media. Thus, for example, X-ray pictures or letters and the like can be simultaneously produced in reduced form on a microfilm recording medium for record storage purposes and full sized simultaneously on a recording medium for direct examination and delivery to third parties.