Abstract: An automated urine-output-measurement system can include single-patient equipment and/or multi-patient equipment. The single-patient equipment can include a urinary catheter and a urine-collection system. The urine-collection system can include drainage tubing and a drainage receptacle. The multi-patient equipment can include a urine monitor. The urine monitor can include a housing having a cavity configured to completely encompass the drainage receptacle, a urine measurement device configured to measure urine output into the drainage receptacle, and an integrated display screen configured to display patient information including measurements of the urine output. A method of the automated urine-output-measurement system can include placing the drainage receptacle in the urine monitor of the automated urine-output-measurement system, and confirming a volume of urine in the drainage receptacle with that indicated on the urine monitor once a patient has produced urine.

Abstract: An automated urine-output-measurement system can include single-patient equipment and multi-patient equipment. The single-patient equipment can include a urinary catheter and a urine-collection system. The urine-collection system can include drainage tubing and a drainage receptacle. The multi-patient equipment can include a urine monitor. The urine monitor can include a housing having a cavity configured to house the drainage receptacle, a urine-measurement means for measuring urine-output into the drainage receptacle, and an integrated display screen configured to display patient information including measurements of the urine output. A method of the automated urine-output-measurement system can include placing the drainage receptacle in the urine monitor of the automated urine-output-measurement system, and confirming a volume of urine in the drainage receptacle with that indicated on the urine monitor once a patient has produced urine.

Abstract: Ingestible devices with a relatively large payload volume or sample volume, as well as related components, systems and methods, are disclosed.

Abstract: An automated urine-output-measurement system can include single-patient equipment and multi-patient equipment. The single-patient equipment can include a urinary catheter and a urine-collection system. The urine-collection system can include drainage tubing and a drainage receptacle. The multi-patient equipment can include a urine monitor. The urine monitor can include a housing having a cavity configured to house the drainage receptacle, a urine-measurement means for measuring urine-output into the drainage receptacle, and an integrated display screen configured to display patient information including measurements of the urine output. A method of the automated urine-output-measurement system can include placing the drainage receptacle in the urine monitor of the automated urine-output-measurement system, and confirming a volume of urine in the drainage receptacle with that indicated on the urine monitor once a patient has produced urine.

Abstract: Ingestible devices with a relatively large payload volume or sample volume, as well as related components, systems and methods, are disclosed.

Abstract: Devices and methods for administering a medication in fluid form, the systems and methods including a basal flow path and a bolus flow path in parallel to the basal flow path. The bolus flow path includes a combined piston pump and rotatable valve. The piston pump is configured to prevent partial dosing of a bolus dose.

Abstract: Devices and methods for administering a medication in fluid form, the systems and methods including a basal flow path and a bolus flow path in parallel to the basal flow path. The bolus flow path includes an inlet check valve, a first outlet check valve downstream of the inlet check valve, and a piston pump disposed between the inlet check valve and the first outlet check valve. The piston pump is configured to prevent partial dosing of a bolus dose.

Abstract: Devices and methods for administering a medication in fluid form, the systems and methods including a basal flow path and a bolus flow path in parallel to the basal flow path. The bolus flow path includes an inlet check valve, a first outlet check valve downstream of the inlet check valve, and a piston pump disposed between the inlet check valve and the first outlet check valve. The piston pump is configured to prevent partial dosing of a bolus dose.

Abstract: Ingestible devices with a relatively large payload volume or sample volume, as well as related components, systems and methods, are disclosed.

Abstract: A signal conduction channel having a first element that receives electrons at a first end from a vacuum environment, produces photons as the electrons are received, and propagates the photons along a length of the first element to a distal second end, and a second element that receives the photons from the second end of the first element, converts the photons to electrons, and multiplies the electrons, where no additional element is disposed between the second end of the first element and the second element, except optionally at least one of a photon-conductive epoxy, a lens, and an optical coupling plate that touches both the second end of the first element and the second element.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring contact between a medical probe and tissue are provided. A medical probe is introduced into a patient adjacent the tissue. A time varying signal is transmitted to or from the second electrode, the time varying signal is sensed at the first tip electrode, a phase difference between the transmitted signal and the sensed signal is determined, and contact between the first tip electrode and the tissue is detected based on the determined phase difference.

Abstract: A volumetric computed tomography system with a large field of view has, in a forward geometry implementation, multiple x-ray point sources emitting corresponding fan beams at a single detector array. The central ray of at least one of the fan beams is radially offset from the axis of rotation of the system by an offset distance D. Consequently, the diameter of the in-plane field of view provided by the fan beams may be larger than in a conventional CT scanner. Any number of point sources may be used. Analogous systems may be implemented with an inverse geometry so that a single source array emits multiple fan beams that converge upon corresponding detectors.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging system according to the present invention comprising a stepped scanning-beam x-ray source and a multi-detector array. The output of the multi-detector array is input to an image reconstruction engine which combines the outputs of the multiple detectors over selected steps of the x-ray beam to generate an x-ray image of the object. A collimating element, preferably in the form of a perforated grid containing an array of apertures, interposed between the x-ray source and an object to be x-rayed. A maneuverable positioner incorporating an x-ray sensitive marker allowing the determination of the precise position coordinates of the maneuverable positioner.

Abstract: An x-ray system comprising a scanning beam x-ray source configured to projected at least one x-ray beam in a generally upward direction. When the generated x-rays are scattered they are scattered in a direction predominantly away from x-ray sensitive areas of attending staff. The unscattered x-rays are subsequently received at a detector and an image is reconstructed.

Abstract: An x-ray system comprising a scanning beam x-ray source configured to projected at least one x-ray beam in a generally upward direction. When the generated x-rays are scattered they are scattered in a direction predominantly away from x-ray sensitive areas of attending staff. The unscattered x-rays are subsequently received at a detector and an image is reconstructed.

Abstract: A method for scanning an x-ray target in a reverse geometry x-ray imaging system with a charged particle beam is disclosed. An aspect of the invention is directed to scanning patterns for moving an electron beam across the target assembly to generate x-rays, in which a charged particle beam is moved across a plurality of sets of positions on a target assembly, wherein particular positions or sets of positions on the target assembly are rescanned a plurality of times during a single frame. The length of time between a first and a last illumination of the object during the frame is sufficiently small to prevent image blurring during image reconstruction.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging system capable of local focussing to any depth is disclosed. According to an aspect, the invention comprises a method of generating a volume of data comprising image information for a plurality of depths with an object under investigation, and selecting data from the volume of data to generate a display image.

Abstract: An image reconstruction system that can generate an accurate image representation of structure and regions within an object is disclosed. An aspect of the invention comprises a processor that is configured to receive x-ray transmissive information for an object to generate image pixel information for a plurality of depths within the object. The display image comprises selected image pixel information corresponding to image pixels at a plurality of depths within the object.

Abstract: An x-ray beam hardening filter is disclosed. The x-ray beam hardening filter comprises a support member and a beam hardening sheet, the beam hardening sheet having a multidimensional array of regularly spaced apertures. The apertures are configured to have an x-ray transmissive quality. An actuator, engaging the support member, is capable of moving the multidimensional array of apertures into or out of a path of an x-ray beam, thereby selectively introducing varying levels of x-ray energy filtration. In one embodiment, multiple layers of beam hardening sheets are added to the x-ray beam hardening filter to create additional levels of x-ray energy filtration. Advantages of the x-ray beam hardening filter include the relatively small distance the x-ray beam hardening filter must move in order to absorb the incident x-ray beam, the ability to introduce varying levels of x-ray filtration, and the compact structure of the x-ray beam hardening filter.

Abstract: An x-ray beam hardening filter and method for making the same is disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method comprises etching a plurality of regularly spaced pits into a surface area of a sheet having an x-ray beam hardening quality, aligning the sheet to a support member and bonding the sheet to the support member. An x-ray beam hardening filter can be made and used which is not only compact and useful in diagnostic x-ray imaging, but which is capable of shaping an x-ray energy spectrum envelope in a highly controllable manner.