at Tool adaptor having an integrated damping device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tool adapter includes an adaptor body having a connection portion structured to be attached to a machine tool and a holder portion disposed opposite the connection portion and a tool receiver structured to receive and couple a portion of a rotary cutting tool therein. The tool receiver is mounted in the holder portion so as to be rotatable to a limited extent. The tool receiver is mounted in the holder so as to be elastically resilient in both the axial and circumferential directions. Full Article
at 50 CFM bath fans with lens cover and flaps/ears that allow housings to be mounted to joists By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus, systems and methods of 50 CFM exhaust and ventilation fans for bathrooms with grill covers having removable light lens covers, and flaps/ears that allow the housings to mount directly to joists and/or other structural members inside of a ceiling or inside of a wall. The housing can include a mounting plate having a motor with attached impeller thereon, wherein the mounting plate with motor and attached impeller and electrical connectors can be removed as a single unit from the housing for accessing and inspecting interior wire connections during inspection and for ease in replacing parts such as burned out motors overtime. Full Article
at Method for operating a wind turbine, arrangement and system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is provided for operating a wind turbine having an elongated stand apparatus, a generator rotatably mounted on the stand apparatus, and a rotor coupled to the generator via a rotor hub and the wind turbine also having an elongated rotor blade. A position of a radar system is determined with respect to the wind turbine and at least one area is determined for the rotational axis of the rotor as a function of the determined position which is not intended to be permanently assumed for alignment of the rotational axis of the rotor about the longitudinal axis of the stand apparatus. The wind turbine is operated with the at least one determined area not being permanently assumed for the alignment of the rotational axis of the rotor about the longitudinal axis of the stand apparatus. Full Article
at Horizontal axis wind turbine apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A control apparatus C of a horizontal axis wind turbine apparatus WTG calculates the value en of a pitch angle command for each blade based on the rate of change ΨD of the azimuth angle Ψ of a Nacelle N and the rotor azimuth angle of the blades B1, B2 and B3, causes the rotor R to generated torque around the yaw axis by periodically controlling the angle change of the pitch angle of the blades B1, B2 and B3, and using that torque, controls the rate of change of the azimuth angle of the nacelle N. The value of that angle change is calculated as a value that increases as the inputted value of the rate of the change ΨD increases. Full Article
at Wind turbine rotor and method of calibrating rotor blade pitch By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wind turbine rotor includes a hub with a rotor blade mounted to a bearing of the hub wherein the rotor blade has a longitudinal axis extending in a radial direction relative to an axis of rotation of the hub, and the rotor blade is rotatable about its longitudinal axis whereby the pitch of the rotor blade is adjustable. The rotor blade has a tag such as an RFID tag fixed on the rotor blade at a predetermined angular position about the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade; and a sensor is fixed on the hub for contactless sensing of the tag when the tag is in a predetermined angular position about the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade. Repeated and accurate calibration of rotor blade pitch is hereby made possible. Full Article
at Blade for a turbine operating in water By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A blade for use in water, the blade comprising an outer shell of fiber reinforced plastic defining a cavity. A substantial portion of the cavity is filled with a resin which adheres to the inner wall of the shell. Full Article
at Rotating airfoil component with platform having a recessed surface region therein By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotating airfoil component of a turbomachine, in which the component has an airfoil aligned in a spanwise direction of the component, a shank, and a platform therebetween oriented transverse to the spanwise direction. The platform has an outer radial surface adjacent the airfoil, and at least one recessed region defined in its outer radial surface. The recessed region extends opposite the spanwise direction from a platform plane that contains portions of the outer radial surface that are upstream and downstream from the recessed region. The recessed region is contiguous with an end wall of the platform and extends therefrom toward the airfoil. The recessed region defines a surface shape whose boundary is contained by the platform plane, and has a profile shape that extends from the end wall toward the airfoil. The recessed region is sized and shaped to increase the stiffness of the platform. Full Article
at Seal assembly including grooves in a radially outwardly facing side of a platform in a gas turbine engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A seal assembly between a disc cavity and a turbine section hot gas path includes a stationary vane assembly and a rotating blade assembly downstream from the vane assembly and including a plurality of blades that are supported on a platform and rotate with a turbine rotor and the platform during operation of the engine. The platform includes a radially outwardly facing first surface, a radially inwardly facing second surface, a third surface, and a plurality of grooves extending into the third surface. The grooves are arranged such that a space is defined between adjacent grooves. During operation of the engine, the grooves guide purge air out of the disc cavity toward the hot gas path such that the purge air flows in a desired direction with reference to a direction of hot gas flow through the hot gas path. Full Article
at Control of wind turbine blade lift regulating means By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention involves a wind turbine comprising at least one blade (5) in turn comprising a blade body (501), lift-regulating means (502) adapted for movement in relation to the blade body (501) so as to regulate the lift of the blade, and load sensing means (5022, 506) for determining a load acting on the lift-regulating means (502), the wind turbine further comprising an actuation control unit (6) adapted to control the movement of the lift-regulating means (502) based on output from the load sensing means (5022, 506). In addition to output from the load sensing means (5022, 506), the actuation control unit (6) is adapted to control the movement of the lift-regulating means (502) based on the movement of the lift-regulating means (502). Full Article
at Propeller windmill for small-sized power generator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a small-sized propeller windmill which can efficiently generate power even when a wing speed is low, has no possibility that the windmill is broken even when a strong wind blows, can stably ensure a weathercock direction of a base blade, and can suppress an environmental burden, in such a propeller windmill, the blade having a corrugated wing shape is supported in a cantilever manner by way of an elastic body, and the blade and the elastic body are made of paper or plastic. Further, to stably ensure the weathercock. direction of the base blade, a weathercock stabilizing mechanism is arranged behind the base blade. Full Article
at Non-axisymmetric airfoil platform shaping By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Turbine blade assemblies of a turbine include airfoils that are mounted on bases. The leading and/or trailing edges of the bases are provided with curved portions. Likewise, curved portions may be provided on leading and/or trailing edges of the angle wings of a turbine blade assembly. Also, curved portions may be provided on the leading and/or trailing edges of nozzle assemblies of a turbine. Full Article
at Wind turbine blade and method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade with vortex generators By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wind turbine for generating electrical energy may include a wind turbine blade including a plurality of vortex generators integrally formed in the outer surface of the blade. The vortex generator includes a first component that defines a portion of the outer surface of the blade and a second component defining the shape of the vortex generator and at least partially surrounded by the first component. A method of manufacturing the wind turbine blade includes disposing a first plurality of layers of structural material over a mold main body and a removable insert member with a shaped cavity. A shaped plug is then pressed into the shaped cavity, and a second plurality of layers of structural material is disposed over the plug and the mold main body to complete manufacture of a wind turbine blade with a vortex generator. Full Article
at Chemical liquid injector and CT apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Chemical liquid injector 100 includes two piston driving mechanisms 130 each moving a piston of a syringe forward, main injection condition determining section 171 determining injection conditions for a chemical liquid in main injection, test injection condition determining section 172 determining injection conditions for the chemical liquid in test injection performed prior to the main injection to inject a smaller injection amount of the chemical liquid than that in the main injection, and control section 161 creating an injection protocol in accordance with the injection conditions determined by test injection condition determining section 171 and main injection condition determining section 172 such that the chemical liquid is injected in a series of operations in which the test injection is performed, then a preset injection suspension time is present, and subsequently the main injection is performed, and further controlling operation of piston driving mechanisms 130 in accordance with the injection protocol. Full Article
at Medical imaging system for accurate measurement evaluation of changes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for nodule boundary visualization superimposed on a scan image, including generating phantom image measurements of at least one synthetic calibration object in relation to a body to calibrate a scanner; acquiring a first image of a nodule on the calibrated scanner; computing and marking a boundary on the image; displaying the first image with the boundary superimposed over the first image; presenting the initial boundary to a user for modification where the user can add one or more modification points to the image to create a modified boundary that is encompassed by the one or more modification points; once the user has marked the one or more modification points on the image, computing an updated boundary that adapts to include the new points. Full Article
at Spatial derivative-based ray tracing for volume rendering By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A machine-implemented display method that, with respect to a volume dataset being rendered, enables a user to navigate to any position in space and look in any direction. Preferably, the volume dataset is derived from a computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. With the described approach, the user can see details within the dataset that are not available using conventional visualization approaches. The freedom-of-motion capability allows the user to go to places (positions) within the volume rendering that are not otherwise possible using conventional “orbit” and “zoom” display techniques. Thus, for example, using the described approach, the display image enables a user to travel inside physical structures (e.g., a patient's heart, brain, arteries, and the like). Full Article
at Radio tomographic image generation method and device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A radio tomographic image generation device includes a reconstruction unit for generating a plurality of reconstructed images of different iteration numbers by a successive approximation process; a region segmentation unit for obtaining information about structure based on radiographic image signals, and segmenting, based on the information about structure, a region, of which the tomographic image is generated, into a plurality of segmented regions having different information about structure; and an image combining unit for generating partial tomographic images by using the reconstructed images of different iteration numbers for the individual segmented regions based on the information about structure of the individual segmented regions, and generating a tomographic image of a subject by using the generated partial tomographic images for the individual segmented regions. Full Article
at Mirror for the EUV wavelength range, projection objective for microlithography comprising such a mirror, and projection exposure apparatus for microlithography comprising such a projection objective By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mirror for the EUV wavelength range (1) having a layer arrangement (P) applied on a substrate (S), the layer arrangement having a periodic sequence of individual layers, where the periodic sequence has at least two individual layers—forming a period—composed respectively of silicon (Si) and ruthenium (Ru). Also disclosed are a projection objective for microlithography (2) including such a mirror, and a projection exposure apparatus for microlithography having such a projection objective (2). Full Article
at Method for X-ray phase contrast and dark-field imaging using an arrangement of gratings in planar geometry By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An X-ray arrangement is suitable to record absorption, phase contrast, and dark field images of an object. The visibility of low absorbing specimens is improved and required radiation dose is reduced. The assembly includes an X-ray source; two or more gratings; a position-sensitive detector with spatially modulated detection sensitivity; a recorder for recording the images; an evaluator for evaluating the intensities for each pixel to identify the characteristic of the object for each individual pixel as an absorption and/or a differential phase contrast and/or an x-ray scattering dominated pixel. Images are collected by rotating from 0 to n or 2n either the sample or the assembly. The gratings are produced with planar geometry. The X-rays pass through the gratings parallel to the substrate. The grating structures extend along the X-ray path which determines the phase shift. The attenuation of the X-rays caused by the grating structures is no longer given by the thickness, but by the length of the grating structures. Full Article
at Press plate and radiographic imaging apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A press plate that includes: a plate shaped press portion that is capable of resilient deformation; a first slit that is provided to a first wall portion of a support body with length direction along a first edge portion of the press portion, and that penetrates the first wall portion; second slits that are provided to a second wall portions of the support body with length direction along second edge portions of the press portion, and that penetrate the second wall portions; and a first corner portion slit that is provided straddling a corner portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion and penetrating the corner portion, that is connected to the first slit, and that is disposed at a separation to the second slit. Full Article
at X-ray photography apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An X-ray photography apparatus including: a turning arm that supports an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector which are opposed to each other so that the head of a patient can be interposed therebetween, and a moving mechanism that includes a turning part and a moving part. The turning part turns the turning arm about a turning axis with respect to the head. The moving part moves the turning arm relative to the head in a direction perpendicular to the turning axis. The X-ray photography apparatus also includes: an image processor that generates an X-ray image, a photographic region designation part that designates part of a row of teeth along a dental arch as a pseudo intraoral radiography region, and an X-ray forming mechanism that changes the irradiation direction in which the head is irradiated with an X-ray relative to the axial direction of the body axis of the patient. Full Article
at X-ray photography apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An X-ray photography apparatus including: a turning arm that supports an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector while the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector are opposed to each other so that a head of a patient can be interposed therebetween; and a moving mechanism that turns the turning arm about a turning axis with respect to the head and moves the turning arm in a direction perpendicular to the turning axis with respect to the head. The X-ray photography apparatus further includes: an image processor that generates an X-ray image based on an electric signal output from the X-ray detector; and a photographic region designation receiving part that designates part of a row of teeth along a dental arch as a pseudo intraoral radiography region. The image processor generates plural tomographic images by applying convolution and filtered back projection to X-ray image data obtained by pseudo intraoral radiography. Full Article
at Medical image processing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an imaging unit configured to image an affected area in two directions using X-rays; a fluoroscopic image generating unit configured to generate two X-ray fluoroscopic images corresponding to the two directions, on a basis of imaging signals outputted from the imaging unit; a rendering image generating unit configured to project the affected area contained in three-dimensional image data acquired in advance, in two directions according to a same X-ray geometry as that used for imaging the X-ray fluoroscopic images, to thereby generate two affected area rendering images; and an image combining unit configured to combine the X-ray fluoroscopic images with the affected area rendering images for each corresponding direction, to thereby generate combined parallax images in two parallax directions corresponding to the two directions, and to output the two generated combined parallax images to a 3D display apparatus. Full Article
at System and method for measuring the thickness of a zinc layer on steel and for measuring the iron concentration in a zinc layer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A Compton radiation detection device for determining of Compton radiation of iron, includes a sensor and a filter arrangement. The filter arrangement is adapted such that the radiation emitted by a test object due to Compton scattering passes a nickel layer and an iron layer before being detected by the sensor. A dispersive ionization chamber includes an ionization chamber having a plurality off ionization volumes and a window. Each ionization volume includes an electrode. Radiation can enter through the window. The ionization volumes are arranged in a beam propagation direction behind each other. Radiation having lower energy is statistically absorbed in ionization volumes located more proximal to the window. Radiation having higher energy is statistically absorbed in the ionization volumes located more distal from the window. Full Article
at Method for recording a four-dimensional angiography data record By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for recording a four-dimensional angiography data record using an x-ray facility with a C-arm is proposed. Projection images are recorded from different projection directions at different time points of the cardiac cycle. A number of three-dimensional reconstruction image data records assigned respectively to a time segment of the cardiac cycle are reconstructed from the projection images and combined to form the four-dimensional angiography data record by temporal assignment in respect of the cardiac cycle. At least one recording parameter describing the temporal sequence is selected when recording the projection images as a function of cardiac stimulation performed to ensure a stable heart rate during recording so that the recording of the projection images takes place in such a manner that it is synchronized with the cardiac cycle. Full Article
at Amplified backscatter x-ray inspection system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for inspecting an object. A radiation generation system is configured to emit radiation. A detector system is configured to detect backscatter formed in response to the radiation encountering the object. A redirection system is positioned relative to the detector system and is configured to redirect the backscatter to the detector system. Full Article
at Dual energy backscatter X-ray shoe scanning device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Dual-energy backscatter x-ray shoe scanning including: pre-processing input image information received from a shoe scanning device and image calibration data received from a database to output an atomic number image; detecting at least one suspect region based off the atomic number image; identifying the at least one detected suspect region as an object class using a changeable list of attributes; and classifying the object class according to a changeable list of categories. Full Article
at Gain calibration technique for digital imaging systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A computer-implemented method for gain calibration is provided. The method includes sorting the calibration data of each pixel location from the offset-corrected X-ray image data into a sequence. The method also includes removing part of the calibration data from one end or both ends of the respective sequence for each pixel location. The method further includes averaging the calibration data remaining within each respective sequence to obtain an average pixel value for each pixel location. The method yet further includes generating a gain map based on the average pixel value for each pixel location. Full Article
at Power converter, X-ray CT apparatus, and X-ray imaging apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A power converter is configured to include an inverter which converts a DC output into an AC voltage of a predetermined frequency, and a high voltage generator which receives an output from output terminals of the inverter and boosts the output to a desired high DC voltage. The high voltage generator includes a transformer, and the primary windings of the transformer are connected to the output terminals of the inverter in parallel by conductive wires connected to both ends of each primary winding. Further, a current sensor is provided to detect a current flowing through each of the primary windings, and a control unit determines abnormalities of a path of the inverter and the primary windings on the basis of a value of the current sensor. Full Article
at High-voltage apparatus, and radiation source and radioscopic apparatus having the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a high-voltage apparatus according to this invention, a predetermined voltage is applied to a rotating anode after waiting until the number of rotations increases to such an extent that the rotating anode is not damaged. That is, X-rays of desired intensity are already outputted from a point of time when the voltage is applied to the rotating anode. Therefore, diagnosis can be performed immediately after the voltage is applied to the rotating anode. That is, unlike the prior art, there is no need to wait until X-ray intensity becomes suitable for diagnosis after X-ray emission is started, and there is no need to irradiate the patient with unnecessary X-rays. Therefore, the patient can be inhibited from being irradiated with excessive X-rays (with an improvement made in a response from when the operator gives instructions for starting fluoroscopy until emission of X-rays suitable for diagnosis). Full Article
at Radiation generating apparatus and radiation imaging apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a construction having a radiation tube in an envelope filled with an insulating liquid, a radiation generating apparatus which realizes a miniaturization of the apparatus, an improvement of a withstanding voltage between the envelope and the radiation tube, and a decrease in attenuation amount of the radiation and a radiation imaging apparatus using the radiation generating apparatus are provided. The radiation generating apparatus has an envelope 12 having a first window 27 for transmitting the radiation, a radiation tube 14 enclosed in the envelope 12 and having a second window 19 for transmitting the radiation at a position in opposition to the first window 27, and an insulating liquid 13 filled between the envelope 12 and the radiation tube 14. A solid-state insulating member 28 is placed between the first window 27 and its periphery and the second window 19 and its periphery. Full Article
at X-ray apparatus and its adjusting method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An adjusting method of an X-ray apparatus has a reflection structure, wherein assuming that one end plane of the reflection structure is an inlet port of the X-ray and the other end plane is an outlet port of the X-ray, a pitch of the reflection substrates at the outlet port is wider than that at the inlet port. When the X-ray source exists at a position where a glancing angle at the time when the X-ray enters the inlet port exceeds a critical angle, an intensity of the X-ray emitted from each passage is detected. On the basis of the detected X-ray intensity, a relative position of the X-ray source and the reflection structure is adjusted. Full Article
at Multi-material decomposition using dual energy computed tomography By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for obtaining multi-material decomposition images of an object is presented. The method includes acquiring an image pair from a dual energy computed tomography scan of the imaged object. The method then includes selecting a material basis for multi-material decomposition of the image pair. The method further includes applying a physicochemical model for the material basis. Also, the method includes performing multi-material decomposition using at least one constraint imposed by the physicochemical model. Full Article
at Imaging apparatus comprising a ring-shaped gantry By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An imaging apparatus having a ring-shaped gantry is provided. The gantry has a rotor arrangement rotating therein and a radiation source as well as at least one radiation detector. The gantry has at least one gantry segment which can be detached from the ring shape to allow the gantry to be opened laterally. The gantry is arranged on a supporting structure so as to be movable in space. The supporting structure is a ceiling-mounted stand having at least two degrees of freedom of movement. The gantry has at least two radiation sources disposed offset by an angle on the rotor arrangement and associated with each of which is at least one radiation detector. Full Article
at Method and apparatus for producing an X-ray projection image in a desired direction By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for producing an X-ray projection image of a body region of a patient using a desired spatial location of a central ray, includes positioning a pointing element relative to the patient indicating a location of a pointing line and causing the location of the pointing line to coincide with the desired central ray location. A pointing line location and a central ray location currently set on an X-ray machine are recorded. A measure for deviation between the pointing line and the currently set central ray location is determined and used to set the desired central ray location. A medical apparatus includes an X-ray machine taking an X-ray projection image along a central ray, a pointing element indicating a pointing line, an acquisition unit detecting the pointing line location and the currently set central ray location, and a control and evaluation unit implementing software carrying out the method. Full Article
at Method for energy calibrating quantum-counting x-ray detectors in a dual-source computed-tomography scanner By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is disclosed for energy calibrating quantum-counting x-ray detectors in an x-ray installation including at least two x-ray systems turnable around a center of rotation. A target, for producing x-ray fluorescence radiation, is positioned between the first x-ray source and first x-ray detector and irradiated with x-radiation of the first x-ray source in such a way that x-ray fluorescence radiation which strikes the second x-ray detector from the target is produced by the x-radiation of the first x-ray source. The second x-ray detector is then energy calibrated by way of the x-ray fluorescence radiation of the target. The first x-ray detector can be energy calibrated in the same way with the aid of the x-radiation of the second x-ray source. With the proposed method, the x-ray detectors of a dual-source CT x-ray installation can be calibrated with little expenditure under conditions close to those of the system. Full Article
at Hybrid multi-row detector and flat panel imaging system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and a method for acquiring image data of a subject with an imaging system are provided. The system can include a gantry that completely annularly encompasses at least a portion of the subject, and a source positioned within the gantry. The source can be responsive to a signal to output at least one pulse. The system can include a multi-row detector positioned within the gantry. The multi-row detector can be in alignment with the source and sets multi-row detector data based on the detected at least one signal. The system can include a flat panel detector positioned within the gantry. The flat panel detector can in alignment with the source and sets flat panel detector data based on the detected at least one signal. The system can include an image acquisition control module that determines which of the multi-row detector and the flat panel detector to use. Full Article
at Dose reduction via dynamic collimation adjustment for targeted field of view and/or digital tilt CT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques are described for dynamically adjusting, in a fan-angle direction, attenuation of radiation during an examination of an object such that portions of the object that are not represented in resulting (tilted/targeted) images of the object are exposed to less radiation than portions of the object that are represented in resulting (tilted/targeted) images of the object. As a rotating gantry is rotated, blades of a pre-object collimator are dynamically repositioned to selectively attenuate emitted radiation. A collimator adjustment component may be configured to determine how to reposition the blades based at least in part upon at least one of a desired tilt of the resulting (tilted) image(s), a translational position of the object, and a gantry rotation angle, for example. Full Article
at Nondestructive examination of structures having embedded particles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system comprises a structure having particles embedded at a level within the structure, and X-ray imaging apparatus for capturing images of the particles at the level. Full Article
at X-ray imaging apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT To provide an X-ray imaging apparatus capable of easily adjusting the sensitivity or capable of easily extracting the amount of refraction of X-rays. An X-ray imaging apparatus irradiating an object to be measured with an X-ray beam from an X-ray source that generates X-rays of a first energy and X-rays of a second energy different from the first energy to measure an image of the object to be measured includes an attenuator and a detector. The attenuator attenuates the X-ray beam transmitted through the object to be measured and is configured so as to vary the amount of attenuation of the X-rays depending on a position on which the X-ray beam is incident. The detector detects the X-ray beam transmitted through the attenuator and is configured so as to detect the X-rays of the first energy and the second energy. Full Article
at Asynchronous operation of a rotary anode with reduced focal spot shake By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for asynchronous operation of a rotary anode of an x-ray emitter, where a torque is exerted onto the rotary anode by an electromagnetic alternating field of a stator with a first frequency is provided. The method includes increasing the first frequency to a second frequency. The second frequency is a whole number multiple of an x-ray trigger frequency. The method also includes simultaneously changing an output of the alternating field such that a rotational frequency of the rotary anode remains unchanged. Full Article
at Radiographing system, method of controlling automatic exposure in radiographing system, and radiological image detection device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A compensation circuit 76 of an AEC unit 67 of an electronic cassette 13 defines the detection signal of a detection pixel 65 of the electronic cassette 13 as a detection signal corresponding to the detection signal of an old AEC sensor 25. The compensation circuit 76 performs compensation so as to exclude the influence on the detection signal due to a difference in the configuration of an intermediate member disposed between an X-ray source 10 and an FPD 35 of the electronic cassette 13 when the detection pixel 65 is used as an AEC sensor instead of the old AEC sensor 25. The detection signal is transmitted from a detection signal I/F 80 to a detection signal I/F 26 of a source control device 11 as it is (instantaneous value) or as an accumulated value obtained using an integration circuit 77. Full Article
at Electric field emission x-ray tube apparatus equipped with a built-in getter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to an electric field emission x-ray tube apparatus equipped with a built-in getter, and more particularly, to an electric field emission x-ray tube apparatus equipped with a built-in getter that makes it possible to reduce the size of an x-ray tube by forming a stacked structure, with electric insulation and predetermined gaps maintained for each electrode, by manufacturing an x-ray tube having a stacked structure by inserting insulating spacers (for example, ceramic) between an exhausting port, a cathode, a gate, a focusing electrode, and an anode and bonding them with an adhesive substance, and then inserting a spacer between a field emitter on a cathode substrate and a gate hole connected with a gate electrode. Full Article
at Beam lighting unit for radiographic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Method for limiting an X-ray beam, wherein the X-ray beam is limited by a limiting unit comprising a couple of blades approaching each other or moving away from each other to adjust the width of a space between the blades the two blades being driven by an actuator (12) linked to both blades. The position of a symmetry axis (S) of the space between the blades is set in a shifting step by changing the distance between the blades and by impeding the motion of one blade in comparison with the motion of the other blade resulting in an asymmetric motion of the blades with respect to an initial position of the symmetry axis (S). The desired width (W) of the space between the blades is set in an adjustment step by an unimpeded symmetric motion of the blades with respect to the position of the symmetry axis (S) set in the shifting step. Full Article
at Real-time, on-line and offline treatment dose tracking and feedback process for volumetric image guided adaptive radiotherapy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 08:00:00 EST A method of treating an object with radiation that includes generating volumetric image data of an area of interest of an object and emitting a therapeutic radiation beam towards the area of interest of the object in accordance with a reference plan. The method further includes evaluating the volumetric image data and at least one parameter of the therapeutic radiation beam to provide a real-time, on-line or off-line evaluation and on-line or off-line modification of the reference plan. Full Article
at Human surrogate neck model By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A human surrogate neck model includes a spinal neck region containing cervical vertebrae. A biosimulant intervertebral material is inserted between the cervical vertebrae. The spinal neck region is surrounded by a first silicone material mixed with a polymeric cross-linking inhibitor. One or more elastic tension bands are anchored to a top interface and a bottom interface of the neck model. A second silicone material mixed with a polymeric cross-linking inhibitor is applied to surround the spinal neck region and the first silicone material and to embed the tension bands. One or more of the elastic tension bands and/or a concentration ratio of the first silicone material or second silicone material to the polymeric cross-linking inhibitor can be adjusted for variable test conditions to closely simulate or mimic the static and dynamic characteristics of a human neck in various scenarios. Full Article
at Tridimensional modeling apparatuses, system and kit for providing a representation of an exploration network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tridimensional modeling apparatus, system and kit is for representing an exploration network. The apparatus, system and kit include a transparent hollow cube with six plane surfaces for representing an enclosed volume, a plurality of perforations on at least two of the six plane surfaces and indicia around each opening for marking polar coordinates and orientation. The apparatus, system and kit further include a plurality of transparent rods for representing exploration channels. The plurality of perforations on the cube are arranged for receiving rods for tridimensional modeling of the exploration network and each rod is inserted into an opening with an angle and a depth, thereby resulting in a visual representation of the exploration network within the represented volume. Full Article
at High-contrast soap film magnification device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surfactant film viewing apparatus having a chassis, film wand, and film wand positioning means. The chassis is opaque and has a magnifying lens and a light aperture to allow ambient light into the interior of the chassis. The chassis, with the exception of the light aperture and the magnifying lens, forms an substantially closed surface. The film wand has a hoop suitable for supporting a surfactant film across its span. The apparatus includes a means for positioning of said hoop in said interior of said chassis such that the position of said hoop relative to the magnifying lens is stable but manually adjustable so the surfactant film can be positioned for viewing by said magnifying lens. The apparatus may include a reservoir for the surfactant/water mixture, and the means for positioning may also include a means for dipping the hoop in the surfactant/water mixture. In an alternate embodiment the wand has multiple hoops each of which is capable of supporting a surfactant film, rotation of the wand bringing the surfactant films sequentially into view. Full Article
at Cognitive assessment and treatment platform utilizing a distributed tangible-graphical user interface device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cognitive disorder diagnostic system that employs cognitive cubes, gameplay associate with the cognitive cubes, and a data gathering as statistical analysis base device that may be a computer, that communicates the gathered data to a web server host according to a unique ID associated with particular cognitive cubes and further associated with a particular player. Using the statistical data gathered using the gameplay, various cognitive disorders may be successfully diagnosed and treated with higher reliability. Full Article
at Method and system for identify, treatment and weaning from Internet and computer addiction By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Self controlled method and system for identified, treatment and weaning from computer and Internet addiction. On one embodiment of the invention, the system analyzed user activity on the computer and while surfing the Internet, and presents results of his addictive level visually on user's interface. Supporting the whole information of addictive level to the user, give him the power to fight against the phenomena and prevent to increase it. The user can decide whether he wants treatment and act to have it by personal actions or by involvement of third parties such as parents, therapist, support group or even a specific social website. For weaning from the addiction the system can provide positive feedbacks, special treatment and even presents and prizes if the user reduced dramatically his addictive level. Full Article
at Activity monitor, method of calculating target activity amount, and storage medium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The activity monitor (100) includes a basic information acquisition unit (20) that accepts input of basic physical information (BA) of the user's body, a target information acquisition unit (30) that accepts input of the user's target physical expenditure (CS), an activity pattern acquisition unit (40) that acquires pattern information indicating the user's intent on the activity amount (AM), and a target activity calculation unit (50) that determines a target activity amount (TA) on the basis of the basic physical information (BA), the target physical expenditure (CS), and the pattern information acquired by the activity pattern acquisition unit (40). Full Article