Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to record at least a first and a second image of a marking on a surface of an object with a mobile computing device including a processor, a display and a camera with a lens. The lens and the display are located at the same side of the body of the computing device. The first image is taken with a first part of the display illuminating the object and the second image is taken with a second part of the display illuminating the object illuminating the object from different directions. Different illumination directions provide different shadow effects related to ridges and grooves on the surface. Processing the images which are substantially registered allows extraction of markings created by ridges and or grooves on the surface of the object. Computer tablets and smart phones perform the steps of the present invention.

Abstract: A system for imaging characters on a surface of an object through a coating on the object includes one or more infrared (IR) radiation sources disposed to irradiate IR radiation upon a object, an IR camera disposed to received IR radiation reflected from the surface of the object, the IR camera adapted to create a digital image of the surface of the object from the received IR radiation, and a computing device in signal communication with the IR camera adapted to receive the digital image of the surface of the object from the IR camera, in which the computing device has installed therein optical character recognition (OCR) software adapted to detecting and recognizing characters imprinted upon the surface of the object.

Abstract: For pipeline inspection, a small, untethered capsule (a “piglet”) images from within a pipeline. The capsule is small enough that rotation about any of three orthogonal axes while within the pipeline is possible. Movement both along the pipeline and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is possible. To assure images of the pipeline without viewing gaps, the field of view for imaging surrounds the capsule without a gap. Given the possible rotation and translation, the captured images may be motion compensated to provide oriented images of a length of the pipeline.

Abstract: The invention provides a shopping system for a wheelchair bound shopper comprising a wheelchair configured for use by the shopper, wherein the shopper is at least partially bound to the wheelchair and a motorized shopping cart for pulling itself and a wheelchair bound shopper in a store. The shopping cart comprises a base having a bottom side and a top side positioned oppositely to the bottom side of the base. At least three wheels are fixed to the underside of said base. Further provided is a basket attached to the top side of the base. The basket has a front, a back positioned oppositely to the front, and two sides positioned between the front and the back of the basket. A motor attached to at least one of the at least three wheels, the motor operating to propel at least one of the at least three wheels when actuated. The shopping cart also provides a handle attached to the back of the basket. The handle has a holding portion by which the shopper holds and maneuvers the shopping cart.

Abstract: A method for disrupting an obstruction from a wellbore includes determining a location of an obstruction within a wellbore. An ultrasound transducer is deployed down an interior of a casing in the wellbore. Ultrasound energy is focused, using the ultrasound transducer, to the determined location of the obstruction and the obstruction is disrupted using the focused ultrasound energy.

Abstract: High intensity ultrasound is used for pipeline obstruction remediation. Ultrasound transducers are positioned around an outside of the pipeline. The transducers transmit acoustic energy into the obstruction. The acoustic energy heats the obstruction at a location spaced away from the walls of the pipeline. As the obstruction heats, an opening may be formed in the obstruction, relieving pressure build-up without releasing the plug.

Abstract: A method for cement bond logging and targeted intervention, including lowering a cylindrical n×m array of ultrasound (US) transducers into a well, firing the US transducers to transmit US signals into a well casing, converting reflected US signals received by the transducers into electronic form and transmit the converted signals to a control unit, analyzing the converted signals to detect holidays, if a holiday is detected, determining a position and angle of the holiday with respect to the transducers, and applying a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) signal to the well casing to fill the holiday.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for replacing, repositioning and/or repairing a section of pipe within a pipeline located on a seabed. System components are delivered by a surface vessel to the vicinity of the damaged section of pipe. Piles are partially driven into the seabed adjacent the damaged section of pipe such that each of the piles has an exposed pile top above the seabed. Pile tops are employed to support load-bearing manipulator assemblies each having a hydraulically controlled manipulator arm having a a grapple capable of grasping and repositioning a section of pipe. The manipulator assemblies are operated to grasp, lift and manipulate pipe surrounding the damaged section. Other pile tops are employed to support spool supports capable of firmly holding a replacement spool piece of pipe during replacement operations. During replacement of a damaged section of pipe, the manipulator assemblies hold the pipe while cuts are made to free the damaged section.

Abstract: Systems and methods supplementing existing management methods to corroborate performance of a blow out preventer for a submerged well. The corroborator is located on the blow out preventer and includes a flow meter external to a pipe to measure flow inside the pipe, a pipe joint locator, a ram seal confirmation agent and a dedicated communication connection from the corroborator to a computer topside. Data from at least one sensor topside, which may represent a mud tank level, is also received. The computer calculates a probability that a malfunction related to the well occurs. The computer implements a Principal Component Analysis model of the well based on historical data, to assess a likelihood that a threshold value will be surpassed based on collected sensor data and to generate an alert.

Abstract: A system and method for patient-specific coronary territory mapping are provided, the system including an adapter unit for receiving three-dimensional (“3D”) image data, a modeling unit in signal communication with the adapter unit for fitting a geometric model to the received data and segmenting coronary vessels from the received data, and a mapping unit in signal communication with the modeling unit for mapping the segmented vessels to the surface of the model; and the method including receiving 3D image data, fitting a geometric model to the received data, segmenting coronary vessels from the received data, and mapping the segmented vessels to the surface of the model.

Abstract: A system for transmission of data between a first device operated by a first user and a second device includes a database that receives a first set of data input by the first user and a second set of data input by the second user. In one embodiment, the first set of data includes an immediate mode of access and/or one or more future modes of access of the first user which correlate to one or more specific time periods during which the future mode of access will become the immediate mode of access. Additionally, the first set of data can include a time-dependent schedule of the future mode of access of the first user.

Abstract: A system for transmission of mode of access information between a first device operated by a first user and a second device operated by a second user includes a database that is in network communication with the first device and the second device. The database stores a plurality of different modes of access for contacting the first user that are devoid of alpha-numeric identifiers specific to the first user. The database allows the first user to select one of the modes of access as a current mode of access of the first user. The current mode of access of the first user can be communicated to the second device once the second device queries the database. The current mode of access of the first user can be selected from the group consisting of mobile phone, text message and electronic mail. The current mode of access of the first user can change automatically over time according to a schedule input into the database by the first user.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging and identifying non-viable myocardial tissue in a patient's myocardium is disclosed. Images of a section of the myocardium are obtained. An endocardial border and epicardial border of the section of the myocardium is segmented. The section of the myocardium is divided into sectors. One or more selected features of the sectors of the myocardial wall are measured and applied to a decision surface. A determination is made as to whether each sector contains viable or non-viable myocardial tissue. An image that shows each sector of the myocardial wall and an indication of its viability is displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining the standard cardiac image views as defined by the American Heart Association from volumetric data of the chest including the heart. The system and method can be used by a health practitioner to quickly see the two dimensional views from which a diagnosis is generally made. The left ventricle is detected. Then the relative orientation of the right ventricle is determined and the standard cardiac views are determined.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus of determining optimal viewing planes for cardiac image acquisition, wherein the method includes acquiring a set of sagittal, axial, and coronal images of a heart, where the axial and coronal images intersect with the sagittal image orthogonally, and where the heart has a natural axis and a left ventricle (“LV”) with a bloodpool, a bloodpool border, and an apex. The method also includes making a map of the bloodpool border, and using the map to create a full coordinate frame oriented along the natural axis.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking and classifying the left ventricle of the heart using cine-delayed enhancement magnetic resonance (Cine-DEMR) are provided. The method for tracking the left ventricle comprises: delineating myocardial borders of the left ventricle in an image of a first phase of a cardiac cycle of the heart; registering the image of the first phase with an image of a second phase of the cardiac cycle; copying the myocardial borders from the first phase onto the second phase; fitting the myocardial borders of the first phase to myocardial borders of the second phase; and refining the myocardial borders of the second phase.

Abstract: A method and device for image processing to determine image characteristics includes operations of segmenting of first images to create segmentation contours corresponding to the first images; and registering the segmented first images to second images. Further, operations of transferring the segmentation contours from the first images to second images; and fitting the transferred segmentation contours in the second images are performed.

Abstract: A system for transmission of mode of access information between a first device operated by a first user and a second device operated by a second user includes a database that is in network communication with the first device and the second device. The database stores a plurality of different modes of access for contacting the first user that are devoid of alpha-numeric identifiers specific to the first user. The database allows the first user to select one of the modes of access as a current mode of access of the first user. The current mode of access of the first user can be communicated to the second device once the second device queries the database. The current mode of access of the first user can be selected from the group consisting of mobile phone, text message and electronic mail. The current mode of access of the first user can change automatically over time according to a schedule input into the database by the first user.

Abstract: A system for transmission of data from a first device operated by a first user includes a wireless device and a database. The wireless device is used by a second user and includes a memory for storage of data. The database is in network communication with the first device and the wireless device. The database receives and stores data from the first device. The database can synchronize a portion of the data from the first device with the memory of the wireless device on a periodic basis that is determined by the second user. The wireless device can include a mobile phone. Data from the first device can include a current mode of access of the first user. The database can synchronize a portion of the data from the first device with the memory of the wireless device automatically according to a predetermined time determined by the second user.

Abstract: A method for automatically analyzing an aortic aneurysm includes providing a digitized 3-dimensional image volume of an aorta, determining which voxels in said image are likely to be lumen voxels, determining a distance of said lumen voxels from an aortic boundary, finding a centerline of the aorta in said image volume based on said lumen voxel distances, constructing a series of 2-dimensional multiplanar reformatted (MFR) image planes orthogonal to this centerline, segmenting aortic cross sections in each said MPR image plane wherein an aortic wall is located in each MPR image, and constructing from said aortic wall locations a 3D model of the aorta.