8731 results about "Microscope" patented technology

A robot system for use in surgical procedures has two movable arms each carried on a wheeled base with each arm having a six of degrees of freedom of movement and an end effector which can be rolled about its axis and an actuator which can slide along the axis for operating different tools adapted to be supported by the effector. Each end effector including optical force sensors for detecting forces applied to the tool by engagement with the part of the patient. A microscope is located at a position for viewing the part of the patient. The position of the tool tip can be digitized relative to fiducial markers visible in an MRI experiment. The workstation and control system has a pair of hand-controllers simultaneously manipulated by an operator to control movement of a respective one or both of the arms. The image from the microscope is displayed on a monitor in 2D and stereoscopically on a microscope viewer. A second MRI display shows an image of the part of the patient the real-time location of the tool. The robot is MRI compatible and can be configured to operate within a closed magnet bore. The arms are driven about vertical and horizontal axes by piezoelectric motors.

Scanning Laser Epitaxy (SLE) is a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process that allows for the fabrication of three-dimensional objects with specified microstructure through the controlled melting and re-solidification of a metal powders placed atop a base substrate. SLE can be used to repair single crystal (SX) turbine airfoils, for example, as well as the manufacture functionally graded turbine components. The SLE process is capable of creating equiaxed, directionally solidified, and SX structures. Real-time feedback control schemes based upon an offline model can be used both to create specified defect free microstructures and to improve the repeatability of the process. Control schemes can be used based upon temperature data feedback provided at high frame rate by a thermal imaging camera as well as a melt-pool viewing video microscope. A real-time control scheme can deliver the capability of creating engine ready net shape turbine components from raw powder material.

The invention provides an implantable membrane for regulating the transport of analytes therethrough that includes a matrix including a first polymer; and a second polymer dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the second polymer forms a network of microdomains which when hydrated are not observable using photomicroscopy at 400× magnification or less. In one aspect, the homogeneous membrane of the present invention has hydrophilic domains dispersed substantially throughout a hydrophobic matrix to provide an optimum balance between oxygen and glucose transport to an electrochemical glucose sensor.

An apparatus generates femtosecond pulses from laser amplifiers by nonlinear frequency conversion. The implementation of nonlinear frequency-conversion allows the design of highly nonlinear amplifiers at a signal wavelength (SW), while still preserving a high-quality pulse at an approximately frequency-doubled wavelength (FDW). Nonlinear frequency-conversion also allows for limited wavelength tuning of the FDW. As an example, the output from a nonlinear fiber amplifier is frequency-converted. By controlling the polarization state in the nonlinear fiber amplifier and by operating in the soliton-supporting dispersion regime of the host glass, an efficient nonlinear pulse compression for the SW is obtained. The generated pulse width is optimized by utilizing soliton compression in the presence of the Raman-self-frequency shift in the nonlinear fiber amplifier at the SW. High-power pulses are obtained by employing fiber amplifiers with large core-diameters. The efficiency of the nonlinear fiber amplifier is optimized by using a double clad fiber (i.e., a fiber with a double-step refractive index profile) and by pumping light directly into the inner core of this fiber. Periodically poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) is used for efficient conversion of the SW to a FDW. The quality of the pulses at the FDW can further be improved by nonlinear frequency conversion of the compressed and Raman-shifted signal pulses at the SW. The use of Raman-shifting further increases the tuning range at the FDW. For applications in confocal microscopy, a special linear fiber amplifier is used.

The invention describes several embodiments of an adapter which can make use of the devices in any commercially available digital cameras to accomplish different functions, such as a fundus camera, as a microscope or as an en-face optical coherence tomography (OCT) to produce constant depth OCT images or as a Fourier domain (channelled spectrum) optical coherence tomography to produce a reflectivity profile in the depth of an object or cross section OCT images, or depth resolved volumes. The invention admits addition of confocal detection and provides simultaneous measurements or imaging in at least two channels, confocal and OCT, where the confocal channel provides an en-face image simultaneous with the acquisition of OCT cross sections, to guide the acquisition as well as to be used subsequently in the visualisation of OCT images. Different technical solutions are provided for the assembly of one or two digital cameras which together with such adapters lead to modular and portable high resolution imaging systems which can accomplish various functions with a minimum of extra components while adapting the elements in the digital camera. The cost of such adapters is comparable with that of commercial digital cameras, i.e. the total cost of such assemblies of commercially digital cameras and dedicated adapters to accomplish high resolution imaging are at a fraction of the cost of dedicated stand alone instruments. Embodiments and methods are presented to employ colour cameras and their associated optical sources to deliver simultaneous signals using their colour sensor parts to provide spectroscopic information, phase shifting inferometry in one step, depth range extension, polarisation, angular measurements and spectroscopic Fourier domain (channelled spectrum) optical coherence tomography in as many spectral bands simultaneously as the number of colour parts of the photodetector sensor in the digital camera. In conjunction with simultaneous acquistion of a confocal image, at least 4 channels can simultaneously be provided using the three color parts of conventional color cameras to deliver three OCT images in addition to the confocal image.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for quantitative three-dimensional mapping of refractive index in living or non-living cells, tissues, or organisms using a phase-shifting laser interferometric microscope with variable illumination angle. A preferred embodiment provides tomographic imaging of cells and multicellular organisms, and time-dependent changes in cell structure and the quantitative characterization of specimen-induced aberrations in high-resolution microscopy with multiple applications in tissue light scattering.

A method and apparatus for inspecting a photolithography mask for defects is provided. The inspection method comprises providing a defect area image to an image simulator wherein the defect area image is an image of a portion of a photolithography mask, and providing a set of lithography parameters as a second input to the image simulator. The defect area image may be provided by an inspection tool which scans the photolithography mask for defects using a high resolution microscope and captures images of areas of the mask around identified potential defects. The image simulator generates a first simulated image in response to the defect area image and the set of lithography parameters. The first simulated image is a simulation of an image which would be printed on a wafer if the wafer were to be exposed to an illumination source directed through the portion of the mask. The method may also include providing a second simulated image which is a simulation of the wafer print of the portion of the design mask which corresponds to the portion represented by the defect area image. The method also provides for the comparison of the first and second simulated images in order to determine the printability of any identified potential defects on the photolithography mask. A method of determining the process window effect of any identified potential defects is also provided for.

The present invention relates to confocal self-interference microscopy. The confocal self-interference microscopy further includes a first polarizer for polarizing reflected or fluorescent light from a specimen, a first birefringence wave plate for separating the light from the first polarizer into two beams along a polarizing direction, a second polarizer for polarizing the two beams from the first birefringence wave plate, a second birefringence wave plate for separating the two beams from the second polarizer into four beams along the polarizing direction, and a third polarizer for polarizing the four beams from the second birefringence wave plate, in the existing confocal microscopy. Optic-axes of the first and second birefringence wave plates exist on the same plane, optic-axes of the first and second birefringence wave plates are inclined from an optical axis of the entire optical system at a predetermined angle, and self-interference spatial periods of the first and second birefringence wave plates are different from each other.

In a spectroscopic microscope, a video image of a specimen is analyzed to identify regions having different appearances, and thus presumptively different properties. The sizes and locations of the identified regions are then used to position the specimen to align each region with an aperture, and to set the aperture to a size appropriate for collecting a spectrum from the region in question. The spectra can then be analyzed to identify the substances present within each region of the specimen. Information on the identified substances can then be presented to the user along with the image of the specimen.

An image processing apparatus comprises: an image acquisition unit for acquiring a plurality of original images acquired by imaging a specimen including a structure in various focal positions using a microscope apparatus; an image generation unit for generating, on the basis of the plurality of original images, a first image on which blurring of an image of the structure has been reduced in comparison with the original images; and an analysis unit for obtaining information relating to the structure included in the first image by applying image analysis processing to the first image. The image generation unit selects a part of the original images having focal positions included within a smaller depth range than a thickness of the specimen from the plurality of original images obtained from the specimen, and generates the first image using the selected original images.

An imaging and display system for guiding medical interventions includes a wearable display, such as a goggle display, for viewing by a user. The display presents a composite, or combined image that includes pre-operative surgical navigation images, intraoperative images, and in-vivo microscopy images or sensing data. The pre-operative images are acquired from scanners, such as MRI and CT scanners, while the intra-operative images are acquired in real-time from a camera system carried by the goggle display for imaging the patient being treated so as to acquire intraoperative images, such as fluorescence images. A probe, such as a microscopy probe or a sensing probe, is used to acquire in-vivo imaging/sensing data from the patient. Additionally, the intra-operative and in-vivo images are acquired using tracking and registration techniques to align them with the pre-operative image and the patient to form a composite image for display by the goggle display.

Exemplary embodiment can utilize the properties of tunable thin-film, material (e.g., graphene) to efficiently modulate the intensity, phase, and/or polarization of transmitted and/or reflected radiation, including mid-infrared (“mid-IR”) radiation. Exemplary embodiments include planar antennas comprising tunable thin-film material sections and metallic sections disposed in contact with the tunable thin-film material sections, each metallic section having a gap with at least one dimension related to a wavelength of the radiation, which in some embodiments may be less than the wavelength. The metallic layer may comprise rods arrange in one or more shapes, or one or more apertures of one or more shapes. Embodiments of the antenna may also comprise a substrate, which may be a semiconductor or conductor in various embodiments. Embodiments also include systems, computer-implemented methods, devices, and computer-readable media for effectuating desired modulation of incident radiation by, e.g., varying the doping level of the tunable thin-film material.

Apparatus for and method of rapid three dimensional scanning and digitizing of an entire microscope sample, or a substantially large portion of a microscope sample, using a tilted sensor synchronized with a positioning stage. The system also provides a method for interpolating tilted image layers into a orthogonal tree dimensional array or into its two dimensional projection as well as a method for composing the volume strips obtained from successive scans of the sample into a single continuous digital image or volume.

A new way of mixing instrumental and digital means is described for the general field of wave front sensing. The present invention describes the use, the definition and the utility of digital operators, called digital wave front operators (DWFO) or digital lenses (DL), specifically designed for the digital processing of wave fronts defined in amplitude and phase. DWFO are of particular interest for correcting undesired wave front deformations induced by instrumental defects or experimental errors. DWFO may be defined using a mathematical model, e.g. a polynomial function, which involves coefficients. The present invention describes automated and semi-automated procedures for calibrating or adjusting the values of these coefficients. These procedures are based on the fitting of mathematical models on reference data extracted from specific regions of a wave front called reference areas, which are characterized by the fact that specimen contributions are a priori known in reference areas. For example, reference areas can be defined in regions where flat surfaces of a specimen produce a constant phase function. The present invention describes also how DWFO can be defined by extracting reference data along one-dimensional (1D) profiles. DWFO can also be defined in order to obtain a flattened representation of non-flat area of a specimen. Several DWFO or DL can be combined, possibly in addition with procedures for calculating numerically the propagation of wave fronts. A DWFO may also be defined experimentally, e.g. by calibration procedures using reference specimens. A method for generating a DWFO by filtering in the Fourier plane is also described. All wave front sensing techniques may benefit from the present invention. The case of a wave front sensor based on digital holography, e.g. a digital holographic microscope (DHM), is described in more details. The use of DWFO improves the performance, in particular speed and precision, and the ease of use of instruments for wave front sensing. The use of DWFO results in instrumental simplifications, costs reductions, and enlarged the field of applications. The present invention defines a new technique for imaging and metrology with a large field of applications in material and life sciences, for research and industrial applications.

A microscope is disclosed which determines a complex three-dimensional representation of an object based on a series of recordings of the light wave diffracted by the object, wherein the direction of the wave lighting of the object varies between two succesive recordings. The diffracted wave interferes with a reference wave on a receiving surface and a frequency representation of the diffracted wave is computed from interference patterns received on the receiving surface. A plurality of frequency representations of diffracted waves are then superimposed yielding a frequency representation of the object. The phase of each frequency representation of a diffracted wave is shifted in order to compensate for variations of the phase difference between the reference wave and the wave lighting of the object.

The magnetic signal reproduction system comprises a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder on a nonmagnetic support and a reproduction head, wherein a number of protrusions equal to or greater than 10 nm in height on the magnetic layer surface, as measured by an atomic force microscope, ranges from 50 to 2500/10,000 μm², a quantity of lubricant on the magnetic layer surface, denoted as a surface lubricant index, ranges from 0.5 to 5.0, a surface abrasive occupancy of the magnetic layer ranges from 2 to 20 percent, the reproduction head is a magnetoresistive magnetic head comprising a spin-valve layer, the spin-valve layer comprises a magnetization free layer, a magnetization pinned layer and an antiferromagnetic layer, and the antiferromagnetic layer is comprised of alloy comprising iridium and manganese, and the reproduction head comes in sliding contact with the magnetic recording medium during signal reproduction.

A system for the measurement of high aspect ratio trenches. The preferred embodiment consists of three elements: a) an integrated microscope and optical height sensor, b) an axially dispersive, afocal lens system, which is included in the optical height sensor, and c) an algorithm for processing the optical height sensor data to produce the depth of the high aspect ratio trench. The present invention combines a traditional imaging microscope with a chromatic confocal, single point, height sensor. This combination instantaneously provides an image of the object and the height value at one point in the image. No mechanical movement is necessary anywhere in the system to achieve that result. The chromatic confocal height sensor is integrated with a traditional microscope through the use of separate wavelength bands such as a wavelength band in the visible part of the spectrum, and a wavelength band in the infrared or ultraviolet part of the spectrum.

A target for measurement of critical dimension bias on a substrate formed by a lithographic process comprises three sets of contrasting arrays of elements on the substrate. Each of the arrays has a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with the substrate. Ends of the contrasting elements are aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, with the length of the contrasting elements comprising the array width. The array edges are measurable by microscopy without resolution of individual elements of the array. The three arrays are spaced apart in the X- or Y-direction such that critical dimension bias may be measured by comparing the centerline of a first distance measured from one edge of the first array to one edge of the third array to the centerline of a second distance measured from one edge of the second array to one edge of the third array, with the centerlines being measured without resolution of the individual array elements.

The magnetic signal reproduction system comprises a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder on a nonmagnetic support; and a reproduction head, wherein a number of protrusions equal to or greater than 10 nm in height on the magnetic layer surface, as measured by an atomic force microscope, ranges from 50 to 2500/10,000 μm², a quantity of lubricant on the magnetic layer surface, denoted as a surface lubricant index, ranges from 0.5 to 5.0, a surface abrasive occupancy of the magnetic layer ranges from 2 to 20 percent, and the reproduction head is a magnetoresistive magnetic head comprising a spin-valve layer.

A confocal photoacoustic microscopy system includes a laser configured to emit a light pulse, a focusing assembly configured to receive the light pulse and to focus the light pulse into an area inside an object, an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive acoustic waves emitted by the object in response to the light pulse, and an electronic system configured to process the acoustic waves and to generate an image of the area inside the object. The focusing assembly is further configured to focus the light pulse on the object in such a way that a focal point of the focusing assembly coincides with a focal point of the at least one ultrasonic transducer.

A microscope system for determining optical properties of a specimen includes a source of polarized light, a detector for detecting the intensity of light incident thereon, an optical path extending from the source to the detector, a condenser for providing light from the source to the specimen, an objective for receiving light from the specimen, a support for mounting the specimen, a sectored variable retarder mounted in the optical path, and a polarized light analyzer mounted in the path between the sectored variable retarder and the detector. The variable retarder has a multiple sectors. Each sector is individually addressable by a control signal that affects the light retardation characteristics of the sector.

A laser interferometer is embedded into an interference microscope to precisely determine the in-focus position of the microscope objective's reference mirror. A collimated laser beam is introduced into the microscope system and split into two beams directed toward a calibration reference surface and the interference objective. The light reflected from the calibration reference surface is returned to the camera. The light into the interference objective is focused onto the reference mirror and returned to the camera. For the purpose of calibration, the two beams are combined at the camera to produce interference fringes. When the reference mirror is in focus, the returned beam is collimated; if the mirror is on either side of focus, the beam is either converging or diverging. Accordingly, the interferogram produced at the camera reflects the in-focus or out-of-focus condition of the reference mirror. The curvature of the wavefront returned from the reference mirror is determined electronically by analyzing the interference fringes produced with the beam returned from the calibration reference surface. By minimizing the curvature of the reference-mirror wavefront as the mirror is translated along the optical path, the reference mirror can be focused with an accuracy greater than possible by visual observation. Furthermore, by automating the focusing system with a precise translation mechanism driven by closed-loop control, operator-to-operator variations are completely eliminated.

Provided herein are, inter alia, barcode probes comprised of transiently or stably fhiorescently labeled nucleic acid nanostructures that are fully addressable and able to be read using standard fluorescent microscope and methods of use thereof including methods of use as detectable labels for probes.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for a scanning probe microscope, comprising a measuring assembly which includes a lateral shifting unit to displace a probe in a plane, a vertical shifting unit to displace the probe in a direction perpendicular to the plane, and a specimen support to receive a specimen. A condenser light path is formed through the measuring assembly so that the specimen support is located in the area of an end of the condenser light path.

A film for use in absorbent articles is first microscopically textured and then macroscopically apertured while maintaining the microscopic texture. The micro-texturing may be done by a variety of means including vacuum forming, and may include micro-apertures. The macroscopic texture may be done by a variety of means including thermo-mechanical means with a heat shielding means. Where heated pins are used, the heat shielding means protects the micro-texture from the heat so that the heat does not deform the micro-texture.

Methods for characterizing a three-dimensional (3D) sample of porous media using at least one measuring tool that retrieves two or more set of transmitted measured data at two or more depths of the sample, such that the retrieved two or more set of transmitted measured data is communicated to a processor and computed in at least one multi-point statistical (MPS) model.

A scanning microscope having a laser outputting an excitation laser beam and a fiber member having a first core and a second core. The second core is generally disposed within the first core and is operable to receive the excitation laser beam from the laser and transmit the excitation laser beam to a sample to be tested. A moveable stage supports an end of the fiber member and/or a sample to be tested and is operable to move the end of the fiber member and the sample to be tested relative to each other.

The magnetic tape includes a magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder, abrasive, and binder on a nonmagnetic support, wherein the ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder exhibits an activation volume of less than or equal to 1,800 nm³, and inclination, cos θ, of the ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder relative to a surface of the magnetic layer as determined by sectional observation by a scanning electron transmission microscope is greater than or equal to 0.85 but less than or equal to 1.00.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, a method for imaging tissue, for example, includes the steps of mounting the tissue on a computer controlled stage of a microscope, determining volumetric imaging parameters, directing at least two photons into a region of interest, scanning the region of interest across a portion of the tissue, imaging a plurality of layers of the tissue in a plurality of volumes of the tissue in the region of interest, sectioning the portion of the tissue and imaging a second plurality of layers of the tissue in a second plurality of volumes of the tissue in the region of interest, detecting a fluorescence image of the tissue due to said excitation light; and processing three-dimensional data that is collected to create a three-dimensional image of the region of interest.

A method for determining abnormal characteristics in integrated circuit manufacturing process is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a charged particle microscope image of a sample test structure, wherein the sample including a reference pattern and a test pattern; measuring gray levels of the reference pattern and the test pattern; calculating a standard deviation from a distribution of the gray levels of the reference pattern measured; and determining the abnormal characteristics of the test pattern based on the gray levels measured and the standard deviation.