Abstract: Shipping system for temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the shipping system may include an insulated container. The insulated container may include a frame surrounding a payload space, the frame including a door providing access to the payload space. The shipping system may additionally include a door brace assembly. The door brace assembly may be mounted within the payload space just inside the door and may include a door plug configured to substantially close the payload space. The door brace assembly may additionally include a door brace mounted within the door plug. The door brace may be transformable between a retracted state and an expanded state. When in its retracted state, the door brace assembly may be loaded into or removed from the insulated container. When in its expanded state, the door brace assembly engages the four corners of the frame just inside the door to keep the frame square.

Abstract: Shipping system for temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the shipping system may include a frame defining an enclosure. The frame may include a bottom, a top, a front, a rear, a left side, a right side, a left corner gusset, and a right corner gusset. The front may serve as a door. Thermal breaks may be provided in one or more of the bottom, the front, the left corner gusset, and the right corner gusset. Vacuum insulated panels may be positioned along all sides of the frame. Many of the vacuum insulated panels may be encapsulated between the frame and an outer shell. A plurality of phase-change material assemblies may be positioned within the frame along all sides. Heat-spreaders may be positioned interior to the phase-change material assemblies. The shipping system may be dimensioned so that four such shipping systems may be seated on a prorate manual cargo sheet.

Abstract: A fiberglass laminate used in fabricating a composite pile comprising a plurality of fiberglass type layers and an impervious tube array. A tubular composite pile construction includes the laminate as well as plastic inner and outer skins and a resin injected into the laminate. A method of fabrication includes providing a mandrel, wrapping a plastic inner sleeve about a bladder on the mandrel, wrapping the fiberglass laminate and wrapping a plastic outer skin about the laminate. Lastly, a resin is injected into the laminate to substantially fill between the inner and outer skins.

Abstract: A method for determining a change in a position of a support is described. The method includes determining the change in the position of the support used in an imaging system, where determining the change includes computing the position by operating a photodetector configured to detect laser energy that provides information regarding the position.

Abstract: A fiberglass laminate used in fabricating a composite pile comprising a plurality of fiberglass type layers and an impervious tube array. A tubular composite pile construction includes the laminate as well as plastic inner and outer skins and a resin injected into the laminate. A method of fabrication includes providing a mandrel, wrapping a plastic inner sleeve about a bladder on the mandrel, wrapping the fiberglass laminate and wrapping a plastic outer skin about the laminate. Lastly, a resin is injected into the laminate to substantially fill between the inner and outer skins.

Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing an imaging system are provided. The method includes varying a system parameter of the imaging system. The method further includes obtaining a first data set at a first state of the varied system parameter and a second data set at a second state of the varied system parameter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an imaging system are provided. The imaging system includes a gantry having a stationary member coupled to a rotating member. The rotating member has an opened area proximate an axis about which the rotating member rotates. An x-ray source provided on the rotating member. An x-ray detector may be disposed on the rotating member and configured to receive x-rays from the x-ray source. A rotary transformer having circumferentially disposed primary and secondary windings may form part of a contactless power transfer system that rotates the rotatable portion of the gantry at very high speeds, the primary winding being disposed on the stationary member and the secondary winding being disposed on the rotating member.

Abstract: A method includes performing an at least partially automated method to synchronize an x-ray source focal spot (FS) position to a FS deflection feedback signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating high frequency electromagnetic energy using a secondary emission electron source. An x-ray source is therefore provided having a primary electron emitter, a secondary emission member, and an anode. The primary electron emitter provides a primary electron current directed to the secondary emission member. The secondary emission member then generates a secondary electron current which causes x-ray generation when impinging upon the anode.

Abstract: A method for controlling focal spot size changes of an x-ray source in an imaging system includes measuring focal spot sizes as a function of a plurality of x-ray source operating parameters, determining a calibration table or transfer function utilizing the measured focal spot sizes as a function of the plurality of x-ray tube operating parameters, and utilizing the calibration table or transfer function to control focal spot size variations during operation of the imaging system.

Abstract: A method for measuring an alignment of a detector is described. The method includes determining, by a processor, the alignment of the detector with respect to a collimated radiation beam. The determination of the alignment is based on a plurality of signals from a first cell of the detector and a second cell of the detector, and is independent of a shape of the collimated radiation beam.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an imaging system are provided. The imaging system includes a gantry having a stationary member coupled to a rotating member. The rotating member has an opened area proximate an axis about which the rotating member rotates. An x-ray source provided on the rotating member. An x-ray detector may be disposed on the rotating member and configured to receive x-rays from the x-ray source. A rotary transformer having circumferentially disposed primary and secondary windings may form part of a contactless power transfer system that rotates the rotatable portion of the gantry at very high speeds, the primary winding being disposed on the stationary member and the secondary winding being disposed on the rotating member.

Abstract: A method includes performing an at least partially automated method to synchronize an x-ray source focal spot (FS) position to a FS deflection feedback signal.

Abstract: A system for generating a tunable X-ray pulse comprises a first electron beam source configured to direct a first electron pulse of predetermined energy and pulse length towards a first interaction zone, a laser beam source configured to direct a first photon pulse of predetermined energy and pulse length towards the first interaction zone to interact with the first electron pulse. The first interaction produces a substantially monochromatic second photon pulse of higher photon energy directed towards a second interaction zone, and a second electron beam source configured to direct a second electron pulse of predetermined energy and pulse length towards the second interaction zone so that the second interaction produces an X-ray pulse of predetermined energy and pulse length in a cascaded inverse Compton scattering (ICS) configuration.

Abstract: A method for controlling focal spot size changes of an x-ray source in an imaging system includes measuring focal spot sizes as a function of a plurality of x-ray source operating parameters, determining a calibration table or transfer function utilizing the measured focal spot sizes as a function of the plurality of x-ray tube operating parameters, and utilizing the calibration table or transfer function to control focal spot size variations during operation of the imaging system.

Abstract: A CT system is constructed to have diagonally oriented perimeter walls of its detector cells. A CT detector comprised of such detector cells has improved spatial coverage (spatial density) and is better equipped for operation with focal spot deflecting x-ray sources. The number of detector channels is also not increased despite the increase in spatial coverage. Moreover, the detector cells can be constructed without much variance from conventional fabrication techniques.

Abstract: An imaging system including is described. The imaging system includes a radiation source configured to generate a beam, a collimator configured to collimate the beam to generate a collimated beam, and a detector configured to detect the collimated beam. The collimator is one of a first collimator with a curved contour proportional to a contour of the detector, a second collimator with blades, where slopes of two oppositely-facing surfaces of at least one of the blades are different from each other, and a third collimator having at least two sets of plates, where the plates in a set pivot with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method for measuring focal spot shape of a radiation beam from a radiation source includes collimating the radiation beam using a collimator having a well-defined edge, measuring an intensity profile of the collimated radiation beam, determining a function of the measured intensity profile, and determining a metric of the of the focal spot using the determined function of the measured intensity profile.

Abstract: An electron emitter assembly and a method for generating an electron beam are provided. The electron emitter assembly includes a laser configured to emit a first light beam and a second light beam. The electron emitter assembly further includes a mirror configured to move to a first operational position to reflect the first light beam toward a first region of a photo-cathode. The mirror is further configured to move to a second operational position to reflect the second light beam toward a second region of the photo-cathode. The photo-cathode is configured to emit a first electron beam when the first light beam contacts the first region and to emit a second electron beam when the second light beam contacts the second region. The electron emitter assembly further includes an anode configured to receive the first and second electron beams from the photo-cathode.

Abstract: A fiberglass laminate used in fabricating a composite pile comprising a plurality of fiberglass type layers and an impervious tube array. A tubular composite pile construction includes the laminate as well as plastic inner and outer skins and a resin injected into the laminate. A method of fabrication includes providing a mandrel, wrapping a plastic inner sleeve about a bladder on the mandrel, wrapping the fiberglass laminate and wrapping a plastic outer skin about the laminate. Lastly, a resin is injected into the laminate to substantially fill between the inner and outer skins.