Abstract: A light-based medical diagnostic system includes a plurality of semiconductor diodes with pump beams and a multiplexer capable of combining the pump beams and generating at least a multiplexed pump beam comprising one or more wavelengths. A first waveguide structure is configured to receive at least a portion of the one or more wavelengths and outputs a first optical beam. A second waveguide structure is configured to receive at least a portion of the first optical beam and to communicate at least the portion of the first optical beam to an output end of the second waveguide structure to form an output beam. A lens system is configured to receive at least a portion of the output beam and to communicate at least the portion of the output beam onto a part of a patient's body, such as a patient's blood.

Abstract: The invention features an apparatus and method for extracting snags from fabric. The apparatus comprises a barrel-shaped housing having a plurality of extracting elements slideably disposed therein. The user of the device can select the proper extractor for the particular fabric. The device is compact and easy to use. The method of the invention requires that the extractor pierce the fabric from the underside; capture the snag in an extracting loop; twisting and entwining the snag in the loop; and then withdrawing the loop in order to pull the snag through the fabric to the underside thereof.