Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a device for sorting non-magnetic particles. The device includes: (a) a fluid holding chamber comprising an inner and outer surface; (b) a fluid in contact with the inner surface of the fluid holding chamber, said fluid containing a dispersion of magnetic particles and at least two sets of non-magnetic particles; and (c) at least two sources of magnetic fields positioned in close proximity to, or inside of, the fluid holding chamber. The at least two sources of magnetic fields produce a changeable pattern of magnetic field minima and maxima regions thereby causing said non-magnetic particles in the fluid to be transported towards the magnetic field minima regions by magnetic force. At least one of said sources of magnetic fields comprises an array of magnetizable features on a micrometer or nanometer length scale.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a liquid sample for measuring an intensity of X-ray radiation scattered by the liquid sample is configured such as to allow the X-ray radiation to impinge along a first direction (117, 217, 317, 417, 517, 617) through the first support member onto the liquid sample and to leave the liquid sample through the second member along a second direction (119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 619) different from the first direction to be detected by a detector. Further, a system for measuring an intensity of X-ray radiation scattered by a liquid sample and corresponding methods are provided.

Abstract: Provided is an x-ray device capable of suppressing reduction in detection precision. The X-ray device irradiates x-rays on an object and detects X-rays that pass through the object. The X-ray device comprises: an X-ray source that emits X-rays; a stage that holds the object; a detection device that detects at least some of the x-rays that have been emitted from the X-ray source and have passed through the object; a chamber member that forms an internal space wherein the X-ray source, the stage, and the detection device are arranged; and a partitioning section that separates the internal space into a first space wherein the X-ray source is arranged and a second space wherein the detection device is arranged.

Abstract: A method and irradiator apparatus used for wort sterilization by radiation for production of ethanol from sugar cane, comprising a modular irradiation drum, radioactive source, ducts for transmission of a fluid through an apparatus for irradiation, and application of radiation to a fluid within an apparatus for sterilization of such fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for security-inspection of liquid articles with dual-energy CT imaging. The method comprises the steps of obtaining one or more CT images including physical attributes of liquid article to be inspected by CT scanning and a dual-energy reconstruction method; acquiring the physical attributes of each liquid article from the CT image; and determining whether there are drugs concealed in the inspected liquid article based on the difference between the acquired physical attributes and reference physical attributes of the inspected liquid article. The CT scanning can be implemented by a normal CT scanning technique, or a spiral CT scanning technique. In the normal CT scanning technique, the scan position can be preset, or set by the operator with a DR image, or set by automatic analysis of the DR image.

Abstract: According to one general aspect, A blood irradiator apparatus for evenly irradiating blood bags comprising a blood canister, wherein the blood canister holds a blood bag an one or more power supply; an one or more x-ray sources, wherein the one or more x-ray sources are connected individual or together to the one or more power supply; an one or more motors to rotate the blood canister; and a vault shield. In addition, the blood irradiator apparatus for evenly irradiation blood bags further states the blood canister changes the rotation speed conditioned on a single x-ray source or a dual x-ray source. Furthermore, the blood irradiator apparatus for evenly irradiation blood bags further states the blood canister is connected to an operator control, wherein the operator control changes a rotation speed and a rotation direction or may used predetermined settings.

Abstract: There is obtained a particle beam therapy system in which the beam size is reduced. There are provided an accelerator 14 that accelerates a charged particle beam; an irradiation apparatus that has a beam scanning apparatus 5a, 5b for performing scanning with the charged particle beam and irradiates the charged particle beam onto an irradiation subject; and a beam transport apparatus 15 that has a duct for ensuring a vacuum region or gas region that continues from the accelerator 14 to a beam outlet window 7 disposed at a more downstream position than the beam scanning apparatus 5a, 5b, and that transports the charged particle beam exiting from the accelerator 14 to the irradiation apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for security-inspection of liquid articles with dual-energy CT imaging. The method comprises the steps of obtaining one or more CT images including physical attributes of liquid article to be inspected by CT scanning and a dual-energy reconstruction method; acquiring the physical attributes of each liquid article from the CT image; and determining whether there are drugs concealed in the inspected liquid article based on the difference between the acquired physical attributes and reference physical attributes of the inspected liquid article. The CT scanning can be implemented by a normal CT scanning technique, or a spiral CT scanning technique. In the normal CT scanning technique, the scan position can be preset, or set by the operator with a DR image, or set by automatic analysis of the DR image.

Abstract: An attenuated soft x-ray neutralizer for neutralizing aerosols. The apparatus includes a soft x-ray emitter that emits soft x-rays into an aerosol conditioning chamber. An attenuating window may be included that reduces the intensity of the soft x-rays that bombard the aerosol, thus generating fewer radiolytically generated particles. Another way to reduce or control the intensity of the soft x-rays is to control emission of the cathode in the soft x-ray emitter. The reduced intensity of the soft x-rays was found by experiment to satisfactorily condition an aerosol stream without substantial radiolytic generation of particles precipitation.

Abstract: A system for irradiating material used in transfusions. The material can be pre-transfused blood, blood components and marrow. The system includes a vacuum chamber with a plate cathode inside. The cathode has a large beam electrode field-electron emissive surface with a selected cross-sectional shaped area. A power supply is connected to the cathode for generating negative high-voltage pulses and causing a selected cross-sectional shaped beam of electrons to be emitted. An electron window is also disposed inside the vacuum chamber and made of thin metal foil. The electron window receives the selected cross-sectional shaped beam of electrons therethrough and onto an electron target disposed outside the vacuum chamber. The electron target receives the selected cross-sectional shaped beam of electrons thereon and generates a selected cross-sectional shaped X-ray beam. A cathode filter is disposed next to the electron target and eliminates low energy beams from the spectrum of the X-ray beam.

Abstract: A method includes predicting a contrast bolus arrival time, and performing at least one of the following: a) automatically switching from a monitor phase to a scan phase at the predicted arrival time; and b) prompting a user to began a scan at the predicted arrival time.

Abstract: An x-ray analysis system with an x-ray source for producing an x-ray excitation beam directed toward an x-ray analysis focal area; and a sample chamber for presenting a fluid sample to the x-ray analysis focal area. The x-ray excitation beam is generated by an x-ray engine and passes through an x-ray transparent barrier on a wall of the chamber, to define an analysis focal area within space defined by the chamber. The fluid sample is presented as a stream suspended in the space and streaming through the focal area, using a laminar air flow and/or pressure to define the stream. The chamber's barrier is therefore separated from both the focal area and the sample, resulting in lower corruption of the barrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluidized bed device for handling fine particles as a fluidized bed in a medicine manufacturing process, a cosmetic manufacturing process, a food manufacturing process, a chemical manufacturing process and the like, wherein influence of static electricity is suppressed, and a method for neutralizing the static electricity using that device. The fluidized bed device includes an X-ray irradiation unit for irradiating fine particles in the fluidized bed device with X-rays.

Abstract: An X-ray emitting section 22 for emitting soft X-ray is arranged facing a chamber 21. An inlet duct 23 and a outlet duct 24 are arranged on both sides of the chamber 21. An irradiating region is ionized by the soft X-ray. It is therefore possible to achieve a charging device of aerosol particles that is safe and easy to handle.

Abstract: The apparatus for the determination of radionuclides in a continuous flow of a fluid comprises an alpha-beta chamber that converts alpha, beta and gamma radiation into photons; a gamma chamber that converts gamma radiation into photons; an external covering shield that isolates the alpha-beta chamber and the gamma chamber from environmental UV-visible light; and means for separatedly sending photons generated in the chambers to an analyzing unit. It permits determinations on-line, remotely, and continuously.

Abstract: A test tube having a plug and containing a blood sample is prepared. The blood sample is separated into blood serum and blood clot by a separation agent, and an air layer is interposed between the plug and the blood serum. The test tube is placed between an X-ray tube and an image pickup device. X rays are emitted from the X-ray tube to the test tube. An X-ray image corresponding to X rays passing through the test tube is picked up by the image pickup device, thereby detecting the internal state of the test tube.

Abstract: To provide a sample retainer for X-ray fluorescence analysis, which is used in pretreating a liquid sample and then in X-ray fluorescence analysis of contents of such liquid sample, can sufficiently improve the limit of detection by suppressing the background and, also, allowing the fluorescent X-rays of a high intensity to be emitted uniformly, the sample retainer 5 comprises a ring-shaped pedestal 2; a hydrophobic film 3 of a thickness smaller than 10 ?m and having a peripheral portion 3a held by the pedestal and also having a transmitting portion 3b for passage of X-rays therethrough; and a sheet-like liquid absorbent element 4 applied to the transmitting portion 3b of the hydrophobic film 3 and having a thickness within the range of 1 to 100 ?m; wherein a liquid sample 1 is adapted to be dispensed dropwise onto and dried on the liquid absorbent element 4b with contents of the liquid sample 1 consequently retained thereon.

Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing an oil sample for X-ray fluorescence analysis of the concentration of sulfur in the oil sample at a minimum limit of determination of about 10 to 30 ppb by concentrating sulfur through sedimentation or filtration. A liquid catalyst 15 from which S was removed almost completely is used, whereby S contained in an oil sample 16 is extracted, sedimented and concentrated as a silver sulfide-containing sulfur compound 18.

Abstract: A blood irradiator for providing a uniform dose of X-ray beam irradiation for blood contained within a transfusion bag. A first X-ray tube is positioned to irradiate said bag from one side of the bag, and a second X-ray tube is positioned to irradiate said bag from the opposite side of said bag concurrently with said first bag whereby a uniform dose of X-rays is provided to the blood.

Abstract: An x-ray apparatus and method for irradiating products, e.g. food, includes a hot electron plasma annulus confined by a simple magnetic mirror. The device includes a chamber for confining a gas, heated by microwave energy. The chamber has a central cylindrical opening into which the product is placed or conveyed through to receive x-rays radiating from the chamber. A number of chambers may be arranged coaxially in series to increase product throughput or arranged in an array to irradiate larger products.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel method for preparing crosslinked biomaterial compositions for use in the augmentation of soft or hard tissue. In general, the method comprises mixing a biocompatible polymer, which is preferably collagen, with a sterile, dry crosslinking agent, which is preferably a synthetic hydrophilic polymer such as a functionally activated polyethylene glycol. Also provided are preferred processes for preparing sterile, dry crosslinking agents contained within syringes for use in the method of the invention. Methods for sterilization of the crosslinking agent include, but are not limited to, sterile filtration, aseptic processing, and e-beam or gamma irradiation. Methods for providing augmentation of soft or hard tissue using crosslinked biomaterial compositions prepared according to the method of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: An x-ray apparatus and method for irradiating products, e.g. food, includes a hot electron plasma annulus confined by a simple magnetic mirror. The device includes a chamber for confining a gas, heated by microwave energy. The chamber has a central cylindrical opening into which the product is placed or conveyed through to receive x-rays radiating from the chamber. A number of chambers may be arranged coaxially in series to increase product throughput or arranged in an array to irradiate larger products.

Abstract: An immunological serum and method of making same. The serum essentially consists of purified and concentrated materials, sometimes known as transfer factor, and immunoglobulins, expressed from the clotted blood of a donor group having known immunity. To produce the serum, a group of donors is chosen which includes known immunity, preferably to a wide variety of ailments. Blood is drawn from the donor group and allowed to clot. Thereafter, the blood is filtered to remove all cellular material, producing raw serum. This raw serum is then concentrated by removal of water. The concentrated serum is then sterilized, but not denatured, by freezing and gamma irradiation.

Abstract: An X-ray source that produces X-rays as a result of igniting an electron cyclotron resonance plasma inside a vacuumated dielectric spherical chamber filled with a heavy atomic weight, non-reactive gas or gas mixture at low pressure. The spherical chamber is located inside a non-vacuumated microwave resonant cavity that is in turn located between two magnets to form a magnetic mirror. Conventional microwave energy fed into the resonant cavity ignites the plasma and creates a hot electron ring which electrons bombard the heavy gas and dielectric material to create an X-ray emission. The X-ray source is suitable for surface and volume sterilization of foodstuffs, packaged goods, medical supplies, blood products and other materials and medical diagnostic and therapeutic devices such as tomography, mammography and radiology.

Abstract: An apparatus for irradiating a substance or object is provided. The apparatus has a source of radiation that is placed in a housing, one side of which is provided with a centrally disposed receiving chamber for the source of radiation, and the other side of which is provided with an irradiation chamber for receiving a receptacle that contains the medium that is to be irradiated, with the irradiation chamber being aligned with the receiving chamber. Disposed between the receiving chamber and the irradiation chamber is a valve provided with a through-bore for the source of radiation, which can be introduced into the irradiation chamber. The valve can be arrested in various angular positions. The irradiation chamber can be closed off by a removable plug.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling fluid material contained in a package to be examined in a non-destructive manner to see whether there is any unacceptable alteration in the material. This examination is accomplished by shaking the package so that the package and its contents vibrate at the natural resonance frequency thereof, exposing the package to an irradiation of ultra-soft X-ray beams while the package is vibrating at the resonant frequency, either immediately after the package contents begin to be agitated by shaking or immediately after the vibration is stopped and it ceases to be agitated, detecting the strength of X-rays transmitted through the package and its contents, coverting the transmitted X-rays to a corresponding analog signal, and determining any alteration by comparing the analog signal against the refernece signal previously obtained in the same manner as described above for a like package with unaltered contents.

Abstract: Specimen particles in pressurized liquid sea are reoriented by magnetic stirring as a magnetic field surrounding the particles changes direction and the particle reorient themselves to respond to the change. Nonmagnetic particles as well as magnetic particles can be reoriented by simply including magnetic particles along with the nonmagnetic particles in the sea so that the magnetic particles collide with the nonmagnetic particles or attach to them so as to reorient them (individual particles) as they themselves reorient is response to change in direction of the magnetic field.