Abstract:
A method of making a transverse Anderson localization (TAL) element includes mixing pellets together to make a mixture, the pellets being of two or more distinct materials having respective wave speeds effective to provide Anderson guiding. The mixture is fused to make a preform which has respective pellet-size areas of the distinct materials corresponding to the pellets in the mixture. One or more stretching operations is performed to stretch the preform into the TAL element.
Abstract:
A wave guide face plate for transmitting an image formed in a scintillating material included as part of a transmitting medium is disclosed. The transmitting medium includes a random distribution of different refractive index regions in two orthogonal dimensions, and an essentially consistent refractive index in a third orthogonal dimension. The third orthogonal direction is aligned with a transmission axis of the wave transmitter extending from an input location to a wave detector location. The transmission efficiency of the wave guide faceplate is improved in situations where the entry angle of the input radiation is different from the axis of the wave transmitter as compared to conventional faceplates.
Abstract:
Control of speed and uniformity of the heating of the working zone of the preform in a glass drawing operation in which the softening heat is applied by forced convection (13), using a separate fluid heating zone to introduce temperature and velocity controlled fluid. The size of the working zone is further controlled by changing (18) the configuration of a movable exit sleeve. Uniformity and accuracy of temperature is enhanced by normalization (10) of the temperature of the preform close to a preselected value before the preform enters the furnace. A glass drawing apparatus embodies the preferred means to carry out the process, providing a two-chamber furnace having an air heating chamber (44) connected by air delivery channels (51) to a drawing chamber (43). The drawing chamber has preform inlet (41) and a drawn product outlet (56). Each of the latter preferably has an adjustable opening diameter. The inlet is provided with a pre-cooling collar (35). The outlet has an insulated, movable sleeve (62) controlling the effective distance from the inlet to the outlet by modifying the temperature gradient. The latter provides means for controlling the length and shape of the working zone (55).
Abstract:
The present invention provides a substrate that overcomes the performance limitations of conventional microscope slides, microarrays, or microtiter plates when optically interrogated through the thickness of the substrate. With conventional microscope slides, image quality and resolution are degraded as a result of distortions introduced by imaging through the thickness of the glass. Fiber Optic Interrogated Microslides (FOI) consist of many fiber optics that have been fused together. When sliced and polished to form microscope slides, the fibers effectively transfer optical images from one surface of the microslide to the other. The finished microslide is the optical equivalent of a zero thickness window. The image of an object on the top surface is transferred to the bottom surface allowing it to be viewed without focusing through the thickness of the slide. In addition to providing improved image quality, FOI microslides allow objects to be directly imaged without complex and expensive focusing optics .
Abstract:
The present invention provides a substrate that overcomes the performance limitations of conventional microscope slides, microarrays, or microtiter plates when optically interrogated through the thickness of the substrate. With conventional microscope slides, image quality and resolution are degraded as a result of distortions introduced by imaging through the thickness of the glass. Fiber Optic Interrogated Microslides (FOI) consist of many fiber optics that have been fused together. When sliced and polished to form microscope slides, the fibers effectively transfer optical images from one surface of the microslide to the other. The finished microslide is the optical equivalent of a zero thickness window. The image of an object on the top surface is transferred to the bottom surface allowing it to be viewed without focusing through the thickness of the slide. In addition to providing improved image quality, FOI microslides allow objects to be directly imaged without complex and expensive focusing optics .
Abstract:
The present invention provides a microfluidic device that can be used for fiber optic interrogation of multiple samples. The device comprises a substrate integrally comprising a plurality of optic fibers. A layer formed on a surface of the substrate defines at least one topological feature that communicates with at least one optic fiber for interrogation of a sample. The device preferably comprises a plurality of topological features that may include a patterned array of wells, channels or any combinations thereof. The plurality of optic fibers of a device of the invention are capable of interrogating thousands of samples simultaneously. These samples may include, without limitation, molecular, cellular, proteomic, genomic or gaseous materials or assays. The present invention also discloses a method for fabricating a microfluidic device. The invention also comprises a method for interrogating multiple samples in parallel via the microfluidic devices provided herein.