Abstract: A dual-head gamma camera imaging system comprises a master ring gear and a slave ring rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The master ring gear is rotatably supported by a gantry. The slave ring is rotatably supported by the master ring gear and concentric with the master ring gear, such that the master ring gear and the slave ring can be rotated independently about s longitudinal axis. A first detector is supported by a first cantilever support member mounted to the master ring gear. A second detector head is supported by a second cantilever support member mounted to the slave ring. The angular displacement between the detector heads can be varied by providing relative rotation between the master ring gear and the slave ring. The rotation can be accomplished by using the weight of one of the detector heads to hold that detector head stationary while rotating the other detector head using a motor.

Abstract: An automatic collimator exchanger for a gamma camera system for simultaneous exchange of pairs of collimators (or a single collimator) for a dual detector head system. The present invention includes an exchange assembly having an elevator, a carriage and a bridge. The elevator includes a rack of multiple parallel and stacked trays for holding various pairs of collimators. A draw bridge unit is attached to one side of the elevator (which side faces a gantry structure) and may extend into the gantry structure. The carriage is able to support two collimators and moves from within the elevator unit onto the bridge and into the gantry structure, when the bridge is lowered, to position between two aligned detector heads of the dual head gamma camera system. When the detector heads are positioned near the aligned carriage, latch pins are released and collimators may be transferred to the carriage, if empty, or hastened to the detector heads from the carriage when installing a pair of collimators.

Abstract: An improved image acquisition system allows the angular displacement between two detectors to be adjusted between 90.degree. and 180.degree. to reduce the imaging time for both 360.degree. and 180.degree. scans. A patient table is displaced vertically and horizontally from a lateral axis to allow the body of a patient to be positioned next to the detectors and to improve resolution.

Abstract: A direct measurement system for proximity detection of a body profile for use within nuclear medicine. The measurement system includes two or three proximity detector units mounted on a gantry structure of a nuclear medicine camera which each emit an energy beam which is swept across a portion of a target body. Each detector is capable of directly measuring the distance from the proximity detector unit to the target body with a beam sample. The detectors then create a body profile of the target body which is used to minimize the distance between the collimator of a scanning camera and the target body surface thus improving image quality of the scanning camera. There is relative motion between the object and the gantry along a cranial-caudal axis of a target body for scanning successive body profiles. Successive body profiles are combined together to achieve a complete body contour of the target body.

Abstract: An image data acquisition system for performing SPECT imaging and other types of imaging used in nuclear medicine includes an assembly of three detectors and a mechanical system for adjusting the relative angles of the detector image direction arrows, displacing the individual detectors along the image direction arrows, and rotating and displacing the detector assembly.

Abstract: A technique for storing and retrieving information-containing discs using two independently operated disc transferring carriages is disclosed herein. The two carraiges are used to transfer discs between storage compartments forming part of an overall disc and drive library and one or more disc drives disposed within their own drive compartments also forming part of the disc and drive library. In one specific embodiment, the two carriages are moved vertically and horizontally on separate tracks between two confronting library arrangements.

Abstract: A technique for storing and retrieving information containing discs utilizing a movable disc storage magazine is disclosed herein. The disc storage magazine, which is designed to store a plurality of information containing discs in individual compartments, is movable along a predetermined path which passes through a specific disc storage station such that each of the individual compartments is positionable within that station. At the same time, a disc drive for storing information on and retrieving information from the discs is located at a disc drive station spaced from the disc storage station. Means are provided for moving the disc storage magazine in a way which places a desired magazine compartment at the disc storage station and means are provided for transferring an information containing disc between that compartment and the disc drive station.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying wire to a wire bonding mechanism is presented. Lengths of wire are fed to a low mass wire-loop reservoir while the bonding process is taking place. Wire is then supplied, at a high speed, from the wire-loop reservoir for the next bonding operation. The amount of wire supplied is precisely measured by measuring the change in the amount of wire stored in the reservoir. The apparatus can supply both single lead wire and twin lead wire. When twin lead wire is supplied, the two wires of the twin lead are separated at predetermined points before being fed to the wire-loop reservoir.

Abstract: A coupling arm for coupling a driving mechanism to a mechanism to be driven is presented. The arm includes a length of suitable rigid material with flexure points selectively formed therein. The flexure points allow the coupling arm to transmit a linear motion in both a forward and reverse direction without introducing backlash, yet allow the arm to flex in order to reduce stress forces caused by misalignment. The flexure points are formed by removing a sufficient amount of the rigid material at selected regions along the length thereof such that the remaining thickness allows the arm to bend. The coupling arm is ideally suited for applications requiring repeatable precision linear movement, such as a precise XY positioning table.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing lap soldered circuit packages from the module to which they are soldered is presented. The module is placed over the apparatus with the circuit package on the underneath side. A nozzle of the apparatus is raised so as to be centered below the circuit package, and a heated gas is directed over the lap soldered leads for a predetermined time. When the solder melts, gravity causes the circuit package to fall away from the module. The falling package is caught and held by the nozzle. The nozzle is then lowered away from the module, and as it is lowered, push rods protrude upwardly through the nozzle to support the circuit package and lift it out of the nozzle, thereby positioning the nozzle for easy and safe handling.

Abstract: An improved solder wave apparatus and method that minimizes the undesirable phenomenon of solder splash is presented. A V-shaped trough is placed across the top of the inner container or box of an otherwise conventional solder wave machine. The V-shaped trough is positioned so that the bottom thereof is lower than the lowest side wall or walls of the inner container. A hole in the bottom at a first end of the trough allows molten solder to enter therein. A dam is placed along the length of the trough and divides the trough into the first and second sections. The dam includes a hole at the bottom to allow molten solder to pass from the first section into the second section. A slot or opening placed in the side wall of the inner container above a second end of the trough allows the molten solder to fall back into an outer container of the solder wave machine, from which location the solder is pumped back into the inner container in conventional fashion.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning the leads of an integrated circuit (IC) package with respect to the pads of the printed circuit board to which they will be bonded is presented. An alignment fixture, comprising a coarse alignment pedestal mounted on a fine alignment block, receives the IC package on the alignment fixture and aligns the leads with respect to a reference coordinate system of the alignment fixture. A vacuum chuck is lowered to contact the aligned package, and is then raised to lift the aligned package off the fine alignment block while holding it in the aligned position. An X-Y table positions the printed circuit board under the aligned package. The vacuum chuck lowers the aligned package until the leads contact the pads, and holds it while the leads are bonded to the pads.