Abstract: A system and a method are provided for intensity modulated radiation treatment. A field on a patient (544) for irradiation is first defined. A beam of radiation (530) is then provided. This beam (530) passing through an opening defined by a beam-shielding device (540, 542). In the preferred embodiment, the beam shielding device is a single jaw (540) and a single collimator section (542). Single jaw (540) and single collimator section (542) are moved in one direction at different velocities to vary the opening for radiation beam (530).

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and processing individual patients among a set of patients includes storing position data representative of patient-unique arrangements of targets that are affixed to the patients for aligning a therapeutic radiation beam. Subsequent to the recording of the position data, a particular patient and/or the medical information of the particular patient can be identified by reimaging the targets or substitute targets on the particular patient to detect a correlation between the image data and the stored position data. The correlation may be used to register a patient, track the location of the patient within a multi-station facility, or facilitate treatment setup, such as beam-to-patient alignment, radiation configuration, and beam control.

Abstract: A bus protocol technique removes the transaction used for posting indications of events to the host processor from the bus. The invention takes advantage of the fact that addresses typically on a high speed bus contain fewer bits than the entire bus width. Particularly, for a 32 bit bus, the 32 bit address space is not always necessary. The remaining bits on the bus are used for an encoded event tag. A bus transaction involves a first bus transfer which provides an address for writing or reading data, along with the event tag. The event tag is detected and decoded by the destination, and the event is posted to the processor which monitors and responds to events, in a manner which is synchronous with completion of the transaction. Thus, after the transaction on the bus, the message subject of the transaction is waiting in the memory, and notification of the event has occurred automatically and synchronously with completion of the transfer.

Abstract: A router includes synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) based shared memory, with a controller configured to control the order in which the SDRAM access is granted to a plurality of interfaced components. In one embodiment, the controller's configuration minimizes the amount of time data from a particular source must wait to be read to and written from the SDRAM, and thus minimizes latency. In a different embodiment, the controller's configuration maximizes the amount of data read to and written from said SDRAM in a given amount of time and thus maximizes bandwidth. In yet another embodiment, characteristics of the latency minimization embodiment and the bandwidth maximization embodiment are combined to create a hybrid configuration.

Abstract: A system for applying radiation therapy includes a radiation source for emitting a radiation beam and includes redundant treatment field-defining arrays for shaping the radiation beam. The radiation beam is initially shaped by a multileaf collimator having a side-by-side arrangement of leaf pairs. The leaves are individually manipulable to define apertures between the leaves of a pair. Thus, the contour of an irregular treatment field can be precisely defined. The second field-defining array includes field-defining members that are individually connected to corresponding leaves of the multileaf collimator. Preferably, the connections are mechanical linkages and there is a one-to-one correspondence of the field-defining members and the leaves. Adjustment of a leaf simultaneously adjusts a position of a corresponding field-defining member. Also in the preferred embodiment, the second array is contained within a conically shaped housing that provides beam guidance.

Abstract: Radiation delivered to an object (13) is gathered by a detector unit (91). A central processing unit (18) reverse calculates the radiation delivered by using attenuation factors of the object (13) and exit radiation signals (92) generated by the detector unit (91). The delivered radiation is displayed on the screen of a monitor (70). Simultaneously, a radiation map from a planning system can be displayed. Thus, the amount of radiation delivered to object (13) is measured and can then be verified and displayed. A portal imaging system (90) can contain detector unit (91).

Abstract: A system and method for applying radiation therapy include utilizing a radiation applicator that is spaced apart from and mechanically independent of a radiation source. An array of targets is affixed to the radiation applicator and cameras image the targets to determine coordinates that are compared to desired target coordinates. If there is a correlation between actual target coordinates and desired coordinates, radiation source-to-applicator alignment is achieved. Consequently, the patient is properly positioned relative to a radiation beam, such as an electron beam. On the other hand, if the actual and desired coordinates are different, the relative position of the radiation source and the gantry is adjusted. Preferably, the adjustment is automated.

Abstract: A method of establishing coincidence between a field size of a light field used in a setup mode of a radiation system and a field size of a radiation field used in an operation mode of the system includes providing automatic adjustment of field-defining structure to compensate for differences in optical properties of the light and the radiation. A light beam passing through the field-defining structure typically exhibits greater scattering than an X-ray beam passing through the structure. For each of a number of different settings of the field-defining structure, the difference between the field sizes of the light and the radiation are determined and recorded. Then, for a particular desired field size, the field-defining structure can be automatically adjusted to provide compensation.

Abstract: Radiation output directed toward at least one field of an object, such as a patient, is sensed, for example, during a session of radiation therapy. The accumulated dose delivered to the field is displayed and updated throughout the delivery of radiation. A prescribed dose profile may also be displayed simultaneously so the user can compare the accumulated dose with the prescribed dose profile over the irradiated field. Dose profiles--both prescribed and accumulated--are preferably stored in a memory unit. Profiles for several different fields at several different times may be stored and used to direct and monitor the course of radiation treatment.

Abstract: In a radiation emitting device, particularly in a radiation treatment device, the actual radiation delivered to an object via a radiation beam is adjusted dependent on the dimensions of an opening in a plate arrangement provided between a radiation source and an object so that the radiation output has a constant output factor over an irradiation field, regardless of the size of the opening. The output factor is defined as the ratio of the radiation output in air with a scatterer (such as shielding plates) in the beam path to the radiation output without the scatterer for a reference field.

Abstract: A turbine shroud segment includes a substrate and a coating layer having varying thickness. Various construction details are developed that provide minimal spalling of the coating layer during use of the shroud segment. In a particular embodiment, a shroud segment includes a coating layer that tapers towards the edges. The thickness tapers to a minimum thickness along the leading and trailing edges. Within the blade passing region of the shroud segment, the coating layer tapers towards the lateral edges to a thickness determined by the minimum thickness required for abrasive contact between the shroud segment and rotor blades. In another particular embodiment, the varying thickness of the coating layer is produced by forming the substrate with a concave surface, applying the coating, and subsequently machining back the coating layer to the desired dimensions.

Abstract: The comminution of solid materials, such as stumps and wood waste, into particulate form is accomplished by introducing the material to be comminuted into a tub. The tub is rotated to induce a circular motion to the material. Simultaneously, a disk positioned at the bottom of the tub is rotated, preferably in the opposite direction to the tub, in a plane parallel to the tub bottom. The disk has teeth thereon that impact the material in the tub. A screening means at the bottom of the tub is sized to keep the material in the tub until it reaches a desired particle size, at which time the particles can leave the tub through the screening means and enter a collection chamber. The particles are removed from the collection chamber by being entrained in an airstream that passes adjacent an opening in the collection chamber. Preferably, the teeth in the disk are individually replaceable and are symmetric so that once one side is worn the tooth can be reversed in its mount and used again.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the pharmaceutical use of 3,4-dihydroxybenzopyranone compounds in the treatment of diseases caused by enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2.

Abstract: In a comminuter for solid material, which includes a plurality of upright abrasive rolls mounted in a circle to form a comminuting chamber, an improvement in the comminuting roll includes the provision of a plurality of radially directed apertures formed in the surface of the rolls to pick up product from the interior of the comminuting chamber and deposit it adjacent the outer perimeter of the comminuter as the rolls rotate. The aperture may, but need not, extend through the roll. In operation, the particles of comminuted material enter the apertures in the surface of the roll. The roll is then rotated at a speed that is sufficient to provide a centrifugal force on the particular that dislodges them from the apertures when the aperture is positioned outwardly of the comminuting chamber. The particles that are picked up from the comminuting chamber are thus deposited outside the comminuting chamber.

Abstract: In a comminuter for solid material, which includes a plurality of upright abrasive rolls mounted in a circle to form a comminuting chamber, an improvement in the comminuting roll includes the provision of a plurality of radially directed apertures formed in the surface of the rolls to pick up product from the interior of the comminuting chamber and deposit it adjacent the outer perimeter of the comminuter as the rolls rotate. The aperture may, but need not, extend through the roll. The rolls also include a plurality of removable teeth with the apertures formed in the surface of the rolls serving an additional purpose in providing an entry point for a bolt used to pass through the roll and threadably engage a tooth-mounting bar opposite the aperture. In one embodiment of the rolls a predetermined number of threaded apertures is formed in the surface of the roll and each tooth member has a threaded mounting stud formed thereon, which threadably engages the aperture.

Abstract: A tooth for use in a comminuter roll comprises a roll of spring steel having a first end formed into a point or other abrading shape. The tooth is compressed upon insertion into a mounting hole in the roll and the inherent spring of the steel tends to force the tooth back to its original size, thereby creating forces on the interior of the mounting hole to form an interference fit that holds the tooth in place in the mounting hole. In a preferred embodiment, the tooth is formed of a roll of spring steel having a G-shaped cross section. This shape provides an opening through the length of the tooth and also leaves a solid piece in the center of the tooth to aid in tooth removal. A rod can be slipped through the lengthwise opening of the first tooth so that its end abuts the solid center portion of the second tooth that is colinearly mounted in the other end of the hole that the first tooth is mounted in. Tapping the rod will force the second tooth out of its hole without disturbing the first tooth.

Abstract: A tooth for use in a comminuter roll comprises a roll of spring steel having a first end formed into a point or other abrading shape. The tooth is compressed upon insertion into a mounting hole in the roll and the inherent spring of the steel tends to force the tooth back to its original size, thereby creating forces on the interior of the mounting hole to form an interference fit that holds the tooth in place in the mounting hole. In a preferred embodiment, the tooth is formed of a roll of spring steel having a G-shaped cross section. This shape provides an opening through the length of the tooth and also leaves a solid place in the center of the tooth to aid in tooth removal. A rod can be slipped through the lengthwise opening of the first tooth so that its end abuts the solid center portion of the second tooth that is colinearly mounted in the other end of the hole that the first tooth is mounted in. Tapping the rod will force the second tooth out of its hole without disturbing the first tooth.

Abstract: An impeller for use in a comminuter of the type having a cylindrical comminuting chamber formed by a circular arrangement of free rotating vertical cutting rolls includes a circular baseplate rotatably mounted at the lowermost end of the comminuting chamber for horizontal rotation. A first planar impeller blade is affixed at a first end to the plate. The blade extends upwardly at an acute angle from the plate and terminates at a second end closely adjacent the cutting rolls. The first blade is arranged to push the material in the bottom portion of the chamber in the direction of rotation of the baseplate and also to provide a component of force downward on the material. In one embodiment, a second impeller blade is affixed to the plate at a location diametrically opposed to the location of attachment of the first blade.

Abstract: An improved comminuting device for pulverizing solid material includes a comminuting chamber and a discharge chamber adjacent the comminuting chamber. A screening assembly is located at the interface between the comminuting chamber and the discharge chamber and regulates the size of particles permitted to pass from the comminuting chamber into the discharge chamber. The screening assembly is adjustable to selectively vary the maximum size particles permitted to pass into the discharge chamber. The comminuting chamber is defined by a series of rolls having abrading protrusions on their outer surfaces. In one embodiment of the invention, the screening assembly includes a plurality of planar flails swingably mounted at a first end on a first surface of a disk rotatably mounted in the housing for rotaton in a horizontal plane. The disk forms the interface between the comminuting chamber and the discharge chamber.

Abstract: A system for registering the primary colored images formed by a full color electrostatic plotter to create a high resolution composite color image. The print heads in the system include an active region of styli for forming image lines and left and right slack regions of styli. The active region may be shifted from side and increased in size to assure lateral registration. Longitudinal registration is achieved by adjusting the time interval between printing lines of successive primary images. Specific embodiments utilize line enhancement algorithms to ensure minimize line thickness in the image and to avoid the creation of artifacts in complex regions of the image and CCDs as sensors.