Spectra-physics Gmbh

Capnia, Incorporated

Other

Andros Incorporated

Lee R Carlson

David L Wright

Denes A Hegedus

Elvir Causevic

Alan B Petersen

Steven M Jarrett

Michael F Miller

Edward A McClatchie

Mike F Miller

Joe Martinosky

Ralph Walden

Martin E Riley

Rudy Nissen

Steve Sheng

Mike Green

Marc K Von Gunten

Gary W DeBell

Kenneth A Ruddock

David F Head

Eric L Kewley

Robert C Rempel

Joseph B Lastovka

Diane M Battilana

Mahmoud Janbakhsh

An improved apparatus and method for capturing and analyzing the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. The COlevel of air drawn into the system () is monitored to distinguish inhalation and exhalation of breath. Upon detection of a decrease in the COlevel in the air drawn into the system (), indicating a transition between exhalation and inhalation a pair of flow selector valves () are operated to capture the end-tidal volume of air drawn into the system () immediately prior to the detection of the decrease in the COlevel. Incoming air is diverted around the captured volume of air, and the COlevels are continually monitored to ensure that the captured volume of air corresponds to the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. Once the captured volume of air is positively identified as the end-tidal portion of an exhalation, the captured volume is routed through a gas analyzer () for analysis of one or more predetermined gas levels.

Breath end-tidal gas monitor

Method and apparatus for measuring the quantity of sample materials which provides stable measurements for extended periods of time. A source beam containing measuring radiation and reference radiation is directed through a sample material. The measuring radiation consists of spectral energy that interacts substantially with the sample material. The reference radiation consists of spectral energy with substantially different interaction properties with the sample material. Radiation is directed along separate analyzing and normalizing information channels wherein the radiation has substantially different sample interaction. Analyzing and normalizing detectors provide responses to radiation in respective analyzing information channel or normalizing information channel. A measuring mode is established by inserting a first filter into the source beam to allow substantially only measuring radiation to propagate to the detectors, creating measuring responses. A normalizing mode is established by inserting a second filter into the source beam to allow substantially only reference radiation to propagate to the detectors, creating normalizing responses. The detector responses are used collectively with appropriate signal processing means to obtain a measurement of sample quantity which is substantially independent from variations in measuring radiation intensity, variations in reference radiation intensity, changes in optical collection efficiencies for both detectors, and changes in gain from the response signals from both detectors.

Self normalizing radiant energy monitor and apparatus for gain

A method and system are described for preventing flooding of a gas analyzer of the type wherein a pump conveys gas to be analyzed to a sample cell and a filter separates water from the gas flowing to the pump. The presence of excess liquid in the system is sensed by a pressure transducer which decouples the output of the pump from the sample cell and feeds it back to the filter. This results in an increase in pressure in the filter to prevent excess liquid from flooding the gas analyzer. The pressure is so held until the excess liquid passes from the filter system, after which the system returns to normal operation.

Filter system

There is disclosed herein several gas resupply valves for replenishment of lost gas in gas lasers in general and argon ion lasers in particular. The first embodiment uses a valve which controls flow of gas into a metering volume. The metering volume has an aperture therein which is microscopically small and which has a diffusion constant for gas moving through the aperture which is less than the time the valve is held open. The second embodiment uses the same general structure, but separates the soft sealing member of the valve from the solenoid core which moves to open and close the valve. The soft sealing member is attached to the valve body and supported above a valve seat surrounding the opening of the metering volume. The third embodiment uses a thin diaphragm which overlies a flat surface of the valve body in which are formed an input port and an output port. A solenoid applies pressure against the diaphragm to cause it to flatten against the flat surface thereby sealing the valve.

Gas resupply valve with microscopic aperture and with sealing member

Valve with metal diaphragm and flat surface valve body

Gas resupply valve with microscopic aperture for gas lasers

An optical component of a laser, of the type including a hot gas plasma region, a cold gas region, and producing large photon fluxes, includes an optical element and a coating means on a surface of the optical element exposed to the photon fluxes. The coating means is comprised of a material adapted to minimize photoreduction of the optical element induced by exposure to the photon fluxes. Optical elements of the present invention include windows, birefringent plates, intracavity lenses, polarizers and mirrors. The coating means includes a material selected from the group comprising Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, BeO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, MgO, B.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, LiF, NdF.sub.3, ThF.sub.4, Na.sub.3 AlF.sub.6, and mixtures thereof.

Optical component of a laser

A discharge tube for a gas laser including an elongated cylindrical tube, a plurality of heat-conduction members spaced apart along the cylindrical tube and about the tube axis and having gas-flow return holes near the outer perimeter thereof, and a plurality of non-conductive, pronged, disc-shaped blocking members being positioned, respectively, in the space between and outside the volume of adjacent heat conduction members so as to be unattached to either adjacent heat conduction member.

Discharge tube for a gas laser

A plasma tube for a gas laser includes a series of heat webs and insulative spacers between the heat webs, with tungsten bore insert members supported by the heat webs and having aligned apertures defining a laser discharge path. To produce the plasma tube, the heat webs, spacers and other connected components are assembled in a vertical stack outside the ceramic tube of the laser, with a stacking gauge which helps assure that the heat webs are correctly spaced apart within close tolerances. The heat webs lie adjacent to annular metallized areas on the inside surface of the ceramic tube when the assembly is inserted into the tube, which is precision-formed ceramic tubing. The tube assembly is heated in vertical orientation to expand the heat webs diametrically so that they engage outwardly against and are brazed to the metallized areas of the ceramic tube. The heat webs are of a special configuration that substantially eliminates hoop stress in the ceramic tube under conditions of rising and falling temperature in the discharge tube. For adding gas to the discharge tube, a special fill system is connected to the discharge tube for metering small and precise volumes of gas into the discharge tube when needed. The construction of the fill system also aids in heat-cleaning steps in the assembly of the laser, and in the initial gas fill. A cooling system for the discharge tube, surrounding the ceramic tube, includes a variable pitch helical flow diverter for effecting more efficient and uniform cooling of the discharge tube.

Gas laser construction

An optical component of a laser of the type including a hot gas plasma region, a cold gas region and producing large photon fluxed includes an optical element and a coating means on a surface of the optical element exposed to the photon fluxes. The coating means is comprised of a material adapted to minimize photoreduction of the optical element induced by exposure to the photon fluxes. Optical elements of the present invention include windows, birefringent plates, intra-cavity lenses, polarizers and mirrors.

Gas fill system for a laser tube

A window assembly for a laser uses a uniaxial crystalline material such as quartz for the window, secured directly in a hard seal to a metal tubular end component. In order to avoid significant differential thermal expansion between the quartz window and the end component, the quartz crystal is cut in a Z-normal configuration, whereby the thermal expansion and other physical properties of the window are isotropic in the plane of the window. The ability to make a reliable direct seal to a metal component offsets any disadvantages of the Z-normal configuration thought to be controlling in the prior art. Through the disclosed method for assembling and mounting the window, reflection loses are reduced to a practical minimum comparable to that of any preferred conventional window orientation.

Crystalline quartz laser window assembly

Growing community of inventors

Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

Lee R Carlson