Abstract: Thermal storage systems that preferably do not create substantially any additional back pressure or create minimal additional back pressure and their applications in combined cycle power plants are disclosed. In one embodiment of the method for efficient response to load variations in a combined cycle power plant, the method includes providing, through a thermal storage tank, a flow path for fluid exiting a gas turbine, placing in the flow path a storage medium comprising high thermal conductivity heat resistance media, preferably particles, the particles being in contact with each other and defining voids between the particles in order to facilitate flow of the fluid in a predetermined direction constituting a longitudinal direction, arrangement of the particles constituting a packed bed, dimensions of the particles and of the packed bed being selected such that a resultant back pressure to the gas turbine is at most a predetermined back pressure.

Abstract: A method for storing the energy of a nuclear power plant in which the nuclear core is cooled by gases or liquid heat transfer media. The hot heat transfer liquid is stored directly in storage tanks. When needed, it is used for heating a power plant. The heat of a compressed gas heat transfer medium such as helium is stored by passing the compressed gas through tanks filled with heat-resistant solids and recovered by passing the same type of gas in a second circuit in a reverse direction. Through the hot tanks to the power plant and back. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A method for storing the energy of a nuclear power plant in which the nuclear core is cooled by gases or liquid heat transfer media. The hot heat transfer liquid is stored directly in storage tanks. When needed, it is used for heating a power plant. The heat of a compressed gas heat transfer medium such as helium is stored by passing the compressed gas through tanks filled with heat-resistant solids and recovered by passing the same type of gas in a second circuit in a reverse direction. Through the hot tanks to the power plant and back. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Thermal storage systems that preferably do not create substantially any additional back pressure or create minimal additional back pressure and their applications in combined cycle power plants are disclosed. In one embodiment of the method for efficient response to load variations in a combined cycle power plant, the method includes providing, through a thermal storage tank, a flow path for fluid exiting a gas turbine, placing in the flow path a storage medium comprising high thermal conductivity heat resistance media, preferably particles, the particles being in contact with each other and defining voids between the particles in order to facilitate flow of the fluid in a predetermined direction constituting a longitudinal direction, arrangement of the particles constituting a packed bed, dimensions of the particles and of the packed bed being selected such that a resultant back pressure to the gas turbine is at most a predetermined back pressure.

Abstract: The magnetic resonance catheter antenna includes a first tube having a proximal end and a distal end. A litz wire has a first end and a second end and is looped within the first tube such that the first end and the second end are disposed at the proximal end. A guide wire is disposed within the first tube. A multifilament or solid wire may be used instead of a litz wire. At least the looped portion of the wire is insulated.

Abstract: The magnetic resonance catheter antenna includes a first tube having a proximal end and a distal end. A litz wire has a first end and a second end and is looped within the first tube such that the first end and the second end are disposed at the proximal end. A guide wire is disposed within the first tube. A multifilament or solid wire may be used instead of a litz wire. At least the looped portion of the wire is insulated.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance image receiving coil includes a first balloon having a longitudinal axis. An internal surface of the first balloon defines an internal inflatable chamber. A second balloon has a longitudinal axis. The second balloon is disposed about the first balloon. A plurality of longitudinally extending grooves are disposed in one of an external surface of the first balloon and the internal surface of the second balloon. A first wire is disposed in at least one of the grooves. A second wire is disposed in at least a second one of the grooves. Each of the first wire and the second wire is adapted to be electrically connected to an MRI apparatus. In accordance with an alternate embodiment, the first and second wires are disposed in grooves in a sheath which is disposed between the first and second balloons. In accordance with a further alternate embodiment, the first and second wires are disposed in guide tubes that are connected to the external surface of a balloon.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance image receiving coil includes a first balloon having a longitudinal axis. An internal surface of the first balloon defines an internal inflatable chamber. A second balloon has a longitudinal axis. The second balloon is disposed about the first balloon. A plurality of longitudinally extending grooves are disposed in one of an external surface of the first balloon and the internal surface of the second balloon. A first wire is disposed in at least one of the grooves. A second wire is disposed in at least a second one of the grooves. Each of the first wire and the second wire is adapted to be electrically connected to an MRI apparatus. In accordance with an alternate embodiment, the first and second wires are disposed in grooves in a sheath which is disposed between the first and second balloons. In accordance with a further alternate embodiment, the first and second wires are disposed in guide tubes that are connected to the external surface of a balloon.

Abstract: A technique has previously been described for generating optimal RF pulse sequences using finite impulse response filter techniques to calculate the Fourier series which would yield the desired z and xy magnetizations in a magnetic resonance imaging device. Such a technique is now extended to allow for control of the input pulse shape as well as the frequency response. Since the peak power is limited by the amplifier power and the total energy of the pulse is limited by the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the tissue or sample, it is desired to limit the peak power and total energy of the input pulse without degrading the resulting excitation. This is accomplished by recognizing that the total energy of the pulse is encoded in the lowest order Fourier series coefficients of the frequency response and then specifying the total energy of the pulse as a design parameter to the RF pulse synthesis algorithm. Peak power of the pulse may also be limited by selecting roots for .beta.(.omega.), where M.sub.z (.omega.

Abstract: System and method for determining characteristics of a system ideally represented by fractals by using wavelet analysis to determine whether regions of a signal derived from the fractal system are self affine, in particular, using wavelet analysis of an ECG signal to determine whether a patient is at risk for ventricular tachycardia or sudden death.

Abstract: A technique for generating "optimal" radio frequency pulses for use in creating SPAMM imaging stripes. The MR imaging operator is given an opportunity to select the desired stripe parameters for the SPAMM imaging stripe so that the resulting SPAMM imaging stripe will have the desired narrowness, sharpness, flatness and the like. These parameters are then used by an optimal pulse generating system of the invention to generate the input radio frequency pulse sequence which will produce the desired stripes. This technique allows a large family of pulse sequences with fairly similar performance to be generated by simply adjusting the relative weightings of criteria such as the narrowness, sharpness, flatness and the like for the SPAMM stripes.

Abstract: Methods of constructing pulse sequences to selectively excite frequency bands in NMR imaging, spectroscopic and optical systems are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, selective .pi./2, .pi., and refocusing hard and soft pulses are constructed for perturbing the spins of the system. In NMR imaging, for example, the desired magnetization is written as an (N+1)th order Fourier series in .omega.t, where .omega. is the off-resonance frequency. In addition, if all pulses have the same phase, then the z magnetization is known to be symmetric in frequency, and the resulting hard pulse sequence can be written as an Nth order Fourier cosine series. Given this Fourier series representing the desired z magnetization, an inversion may be used to determine the hard pulse sequence of N pulses which will actually yield the desired response. In particular, if one starts with a specification of a desired z magnetization not as a Fourier series in .omega.