Abstract: Rotating anode X-ray tubes degrade over time because of the action of the electron beam altering the surface of the focal spot area of a rotating anode. This causes a degradation in a resulting object image, when the source is used in an imaging application. An X-ray tube housing assembly is discussed which allows the correction of such effects. In particular, an additional beam of the X-radiation, which is not used for imaging, may be used to correct such effects.

Abstract: A system and method comprising receiving information consequent to communication between a user and the computer system, performing one or more queries based at least in part on the information, and computing a set of frequency values for results of the one or more queries. The system and method further comprises determining at least one confidence score for the one or more queries based at least in part on an outcome of evaluating the set of frequency values against one or more sets of decision rules, and, based at least in part on the at least one confidence score, outputting at least one user identity associated with the at least one confidence score.

Abstract: Systems for planning delivery of radiation dose to a target region within a subject comprise a processor configured to: initialize a first plurality of control points located on a trajectory, the trajectory comprising relative movement between a radiation source and the subject, wherein initializing the first plurality of control points comprises assigning, to each the first plurality of control points, one or more axis positions which specify a position of the radiation source relative to the subject; specify a second plurality of control points along the trajectory, the second plurality of control points comprising a larger number of control points than the first plurality of control points; and iteratively optimize a simulated dose distribution over the second plurality of control points to thereby determine a radiation delivery plan by assigning each of the second plurality of control points optimized values for one or more radiation delivery parameters.

Abstract: Systems for delivering radiation dose to a target area within a subject comprise: a radiation source for outputting a radiation beam; a support for supporting the subject; a movement mechanism for moving the radiation source relative to the subject along a trajectory; one or more sensors for monitoring a position of the subject; and a controller configured, in accordance with a radiation delivery plan, to: determine the position from one or more signals received from the one or more sensors; deactivate delivery of the treatment radiation beam upon determining that the position is outside of an acceptable range; and reactivate delivery of the treatment radiation beam upon determining that the position is within the acceptable range, to thereby deliver dose to the subject according to the radiation delivery plan.

Abstract: Methods for delivering radiation dose to a target area within a subject comprise: defining a trajectory comprising relative movement between a treatment radiation source and the subject and determining a radiation delivery plan; and, while effecting relative movement between the treatment radiation source and the subject along the trajectory, delivering a treatment radiation beam from the treatment radiation source to the subject according to the radiation delivery plan to impart a dose distribution on the subject. Delivering the treatment radiation beam from the treatment radiation source to the subject comprises varying an intensity of the treatment radiation beam over at least a portion of the trajectory. Varying the intensity of the treatment radiation beam comprises varying a radiation output rate of the treatment radiation source in accordance with the radiation delivery plan while effecting relative movement between the treatment radiation source and the subject along the trajectory.

Abstract: Details associated with a transaction are received from a first computing device. An identity of a party to the transaction is determined. An address to which communications to the party can be directed and accessed via a second computing device is obtained, where the second computing device is associated with the party. Confirmation data specific to the transaction is generated. The confirmation data is provided, via the address, to the second computing device. Confirmation of receipt of the confirmation data is received from the party. A set of payment options is provided to the part. A selection of a payment option is received from the party, and notice that the transaction has been completed is provided to the first computing device.

Abstract: Methods for planning delivery of radiation dose to a target region within a subject comprise: iteratively optimizing a simulated dose distribution relative to a set of one or more optimization goals comprising a desired dose distribution in the subject over a first plurality of control points located on a trajectory, the trajectory comprising relative movement between a radiation source and the subject; reaching one or more initial termination conditions, and after reaching the one or more initial termination conditions: specifying a second plurality of control points along the trajectory and comprising a larger number control points than the first plurality of control points; and iteratively optimizing a simulated dose distribution relative to the set of one or more optimization goals over the second plurality of control points to thereby determine a radiation delivery plan.

Abstract: Systems for planning delivery of radiation dose to a target region within a subject comprise a processor configured to: iteratively optimize a simulated dose distribution relative to a set of one or more optimization goals comprising a desired dose distribution in the subject over a first plurality of control points located on a trajectory, the trajectory comprising relative movement between a treatment radiation source and the subject; reach one or more initial termination conditions, and after reaching the one or more initial termination conditions: specify a second plurality of control points along the trajectory, the second plurality of control points comprising a larger number control points than the first plurality of control points; and iteratively optimize a simulated dose distribution relative to the set of one or more optimization goals over the second plurality of control points to thereby determine a radiation delivery plan.

Abstract: Systems for delivering radiation dose to a target area within a subject comprise: a radiation source for outputting a radiation beam; a support for supporting the subject; a movement mechanism for moving the radiation source relative to the subject along a trajectory; and a controller configured to cause, according to a radiation delivery plan: the radiation source to deliver the radiation beam to the subject while causing the movement mechanism to effect relative movement between the radiation source and the subject along the trajectory; and the radiation source to vary an intensity of the radiation beam by varying a radiation output rate of the radiation source according to the radiation delivery plan over at least a portion of the trajectory while causing the movement mechanism to effect relative movement between the radiation source and the subject, to thereby deliver dose to the subject according to the radiation delivery plan.

Abstract: An electro-optical modulator device is provided. The electro-optical modulator device comprises at least one electro-optical modulator having a first and a second optical waveguide and an electrode arrangement for applying a voltage across the optical waveguide, wherein the electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of first waveguide electrodes and a plurality of second waveguide electrodes arranged on top of the first and the second optical waveguide, respectively, wherein the first and second waveguide electrodes are capacitively coupled to one another; and at least one driver unit for supplying a voltage to the electrode arrangement; and an electrical connection between the driver unit and the electrode arrangement. The electrical connection between the driver unit and the electrode arrangement comprises a flexible coplanar strip line.

Abstract: An electrical line arrangement, comprising a first and a second electrical line forming a coplanar strip line and at least one terminating resistor terminating the first and the second electrical line, is provided. In a first region of the electrical line arrangement the first and the second electrical line extend in a first distance from one another and in a second region of the electrical line arrangement the first and the second electrical line extend in a second distance from one another that is larger than the first distance. The terminating resistor is physically arranged at a position between the first and the second electrical line in the second region of the electrical line arrangement. At least one electrically conductive structure is arranged between the first and the second electrical line at least partially in the second region of the electrical line arrangement.

Abstract: An electro-optical modulator is provided. The electro-optical modulator comprises at least one optical waveguide, an electrode arrangement for applying a voltage across the optical waveguide. The electrode arrangement comprises a first and a second electrical line and at least two terminating resistors terminating the first and the second electrical line. The electrode arrangement comprises at least one capacitive structure that capacitively couples, but galvanically separates the two terminating resistors. The capacitive structure comprises at least two electrically conductive layers physically arranged at a position between the first and the second electrical line, wherein the at least two layers are separated by at least one dielectric layer.

Abstract: An X-ray emitting device (200) with an attenuating element (1) for an X-ray imaging device (100) is proposed. The attenuating element comprises a perforated sheet (3) of strongly X-ray absorbing material such as e.g. tungsten or molybdenum with a sheet thickness of e.g. less than 1 mm. The sheet (3) comprises multiple pinhole openings (5). Therein, a density of pinhole openings is higher at a center region of the sheet than at border regions of the sheet. Accordingly, a transparency to X-rays is higher at the center region than at the border regions. The pinhole openings (5) have geometries such that most parts of contours of the pinhole openings are non-parallel to edges of a focal spot (15) of an X-ray source (101) comprised in the X-ray emitting device. For example, the pinhole openings may have a circular, oval or any other cross-sectional geometry with non- linear edges.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging device (1) and methods for operating such device are presented. In an embodiment, the device (1) comprises an X-ray source (5), an arrangement (12) of a first grating (13), a second grating (15) and a third grating (17), an X-ray detector (7) and a control device (21). The first, second and third gratings (13, 15, 17) are arranged in a beam path (9) of X-rays in a region upstream of an observation volume (3). At least one of the second and third gratings (15, 17) comprises a multiplicity of sub-gratings wherein each of the sub-gratings comprises a steering means (39) for displacing the subgrating with respect to the other one of the second and third gratings. The control device (21) is adapted to controlling the steering means (39).

Abstract: Methods are provided for permitting manipulation of an achievable dose distribution estimate deliverable by a radiation delivery apparatus for proposed treatment of a subject. One such method comprises: determining a dose modification voxel for which it is desired to modify the dose value and a corresponding magnitude of desired dose modification; for each of a plurality of beams: (i) characterizing the beam as a two-dimensional array of beamlets, wherein each beamlet is associated with a corresponding intensity value and a ray line representing the projection of the beamlet into space; and (ii) identifying one or more dose-change beamlets which have associated ray lines that intersect the dose modification voxel; modifying the intensity values of at least one of the dose-change beamlets; and updating the achievable dose distribution estimate to account for the modified intensity values of the at least one of the dose-change beamlets.

Abstract: A device for treating a body surface of a living body by means of a dielectric barrier discharge plasma, with a planar, flexible dielectric (4) by which an electrode (1) attached to a high voltage source (3) is screened off from the body surface and which is suitable for placing on the body surface, functioning as counter-electrode, and is designed with a structured surface (7) which provides a gas space for the plasma discharge between dielectric (4) and body surface, which device permits the conduct of plasma treatment and the delivery of curative or healing substances without a change of the position of the device, by virtue of the fact that a layer (11) composed of a solid, open-pore matrix of a curative or healing material is arranged on the surface (7) of the dielectric (4).

Abstract: A device for treating a surface with a dielectric barrier plasma, wherein the surface functions as a return electrode, having a housing (1), in which a high-voltage feed line, an electrode (8) which is connected to the high-voltage feed line, and a dielectric (9), which screens the electrode (8) with respect to the surface, are located, permits the plasma treatment of highly curved surfaces and of relatively large surface areas by virtue of the fact that the electrode (8) has the shape of a circle which is mounted in the housing (1) so as to be rotatable at least to a limited degree, and projects with a spherical section from an end-side opening (5) in the housing (1), and in that the electrode (8) is coated with the dielectric (9) in such a way that its spherical section projecting out of the housing (1) is covered by the dielectric (9) in every possible rotational position.

Abstract: An Anode for an X-ray tube, comprising an anode disk comprising a circular focal track region being adapted to, upon impact of accelerated electrons, emit X-rays in an emission direction transverse to an impacting direction of the electrons; a ring-like modulating absorption grid; wherein the modulating absorption grid encloses the focal track region; wherein the modulating absorption grid comprises wall portions of X-ray absorbing material, the wall portions being arranged such as to absorb X-rays emitted from the focal track region in the emission direction; wherein the modulating absorption grid comprises slits between neighboring wall portions, the slits being arranged along a circumferential direction of the modulating absorption grid at spacings (s) of less than 100 ?m and the slits having a width (ws) in the circumferential direction of less than 50 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable clamp for a cable of a lift system, having a supporting device which has a wedge receptacle with a first supporting surface and a second supporting surface which is arranged at an angle from the first supporting surface, and having a wedge-shaped clamping device which can be moved to and fro in the wedge receptacle between a clamped position and a released position and has a first clamping surface which lies opposite the first supporting surface and a second clamping surface which lies opposite the second supporting surface, wherein the two clamping surfaces are oriented obliquely with respect to one another.

Abstract: Rotating anode X-ray tubes degrade over time because of the action of the electron beam altering the surface of the focal spot area of a rotating anode. This causes a degradation in a resulting object image, when the source is used in an imaging application. An X-ray tube housing assembly is discussed which allows the correction of such effects. In particular, an additional beam of the X-radiation, which is not used for imaging, may be used to correct such effects.