Abstract:
An optical mass memory utilizing a rotatable substrate is provided with improved tracking. An interferometer measures the distance between a reflective edge surface on the rotatable substrate and a reflective surface on a movable arm. The final lens for focusing the read-write light beam to a focused light spot on the memory medium is mounted on the movable arm. The electrical signal produced by the interferometer is compared to a track selection signal which is indicative of the desired distance between the reflective edge surface and the reflective surface, and a servo control signal is produced which is indicative of the difference of the electrical signal and the track selection signal. The movable arm is positioned in response to the servo control signal.
Abstract:
A patient-specimen identification system provides error-free identification of a specimen or sample from the time it is taken from a patient to the time when the results of the sample analysis are reported. Machine-readable labels are attached to the patient and to each container in which a sample or sub-sample may be contained. The machine-readable labels each contain a permanently encoded unique random number. When a sample is taken from the patient, the labels attached to the patient and the sample container are read and the two numbers are stored in an associated manner. Similarly, when portions of the sample are transferred to sub-sample containers, labels attached to the sample container and the sub-sample container are read and the two numbers are stored in an associated manner. The sub-samples are analyzed and the analysis results are associated with the number on the sub-sample container label. The analysis results are then correlated to the patient''s identity and the analysis results and patient''s identity are printed out in an associated manner.