Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing CT scans of baggage being carried or loaded onto commercial aircraft are described. The CT baggage scanner of the invention includes numerous features which provide the system with high baggage throughput on the order of seven hundred bags per hour as well as improved image quality and accurate target detection. In one aspect, the scanner includes an adaptive image reconstruction window which identifies data collected from the field of view that are not related to the baggage being scanned. These unrelated data are excluded from the image reconstruction process, resulting in greatly reduced reconstruction time and increased baggage throughput. The invention also includes the capability of performing calibration "air scans" with objects such as the system conveyor in the field of view.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for high-temperature precision sintering applications are disclosed wherein a flowable bed of a refractory particulate material is used to support an article during sintering to minimize distortions caused by shrinkage.

Abstract: A self-threading suture anchor assembly and kit includes a suture anchor having an anchor portion at one end and a drive portion with an eyelet at an opposite end, and an elongated suture threading loop with an elongated, substantially rigid gripping member attached thereto. The threading loop is collapsible, yet it maintains a loop shape. The elongated gripping member acts as a wand for manipulation of the loop. Both the threading loop and the elongated gripping member are adapted to be encased in a removable elongated sheath which extends beyond the ends of the loop and gripping member. The assembly is inserted into a cannulated shaft of a rotatable driver which includes a bone-cutting drive bit adapted for gripping the suture anchor at its drive end and for cutting into bone. The distal portion of the elongated sheath extends through a port in the shaft and is frictionally engageable with the shaft by means of an annular retaining element slidably disposed on the shaft.

Abstract: In a dual-hull watercraft, a separate keel hull and sail hull are connected by a tie line. The sail hull comprises a sail and hull without a keel. The keel hull comprises a keel and hull or a submerged keel. The flexible tie line is coupled to the keel at or near the keel center of effort and is coupled to the sail at or near the center of sail effort. During operation, the sail and keel are configured to "toe in" relative to each other, maintaining tension in the tie line allowing the sail and keel to provide for the other's drag. The tie line allows for directional steering of the craft without a rudder, and for controlling the speed of the craft and the heel angles of the sail and keel hulls. Two gliders similarly connected can exploit wind velocity differences and are operable without updrafts.

Abstract: A fused loop of an elongated material, such as a surgical suture, and apparatus for making the loop. Portions of one or more segments to be joined together are fused in a welding process to form a welded joint. The shear area of the fused portion of the joint determines the strength of the joint and is thus preferably relatively large. Various configurations for the welding apparatus facilitate the creation of relatively large fused portions of the joint by maximizing contact between at least one of the welding members of the apparatus and at least one of the segments to be joined.

Abstract: System for establishing a TDM information protocol over a communications path includes a transmit section and a receive section. In general, the transmit element receives a succession of data elements from each of a plurality of independent channels and combines the data elements to form a single TDM sequence of data elements. The receive element receives a TDM sequence of data elements and separates the sequence into its constituent components to form a plurality of channels, each forming a succession of data elements. In one form of the invention, data elements transmitted via the TDM communications path are limited to a single time slot in the TDM protocol.

Abstract: An integral, monolithic frame-membrane is disclosed, such frame-membrane having a semi-permeable membrane portion and integral therewith a frame portion, the frame portion having one or more cavities, each cavity juxtaposed to the membrane portion, each cavity having at least one fluid entrance conduit communicating with an entrance manifold aperture and at least one fluid exit conduit communicating with an exit manifold aperture. The integral, monolithic frame-membrane may be used in apparatus for carrying out gas-separation; microfiltration; ultrafiltration; nanofiltration; reverse osmosis (i.e. hyperfiltration); diffusion dialysis; Donnan dialysis; electrodialysis (including filled-cell electrodialysis; i.e. electrodeionization); pervaporation; piezodialysis; membrane distillation; osmosis; thermo osmosis; and electrolysis with membranes.

Abstract: Apparatus for and process of folding and securing edges of a relatively large wrap over corresponding edges of a smaller board positioned on and in contact with an adhesively coated surface of the wrap to form a laminated work-piece, the work-piece being moved in a first direction to a first wrapping head having a pair of movable jaws defining a slot. An edge if the sheet extending from the work-piece, is engaged and folded over a corresponding edge of the board and adhesively adheres to the opposite surface of the board. The folded-over edge is then clamped between the jaws of the first wrapping head and carried in that manner in an opposite direction in a parallel but displaced second plane to a similar slot in a second, like, wrapping head. At the latter, the opposite edge of the sheet extending from the work-piece is similarly engaged, folded over and adhered to the board.

Abstract: Three rate gyros are mounted to a ballistic body to provide an autonomous navigation system. A roll gyro, a yaw gyro and a pitch gyro are rigidly fixed to the ballistic body. Each gyro is arranged to be responsive to a roll rate about an input axis that is substantially orthogonal to any other gyro. The roll-rate gyro has its input axis aligned parallel to the body spin axis. An on-board processor utilizes recursive Kalman-filtering to determine the roll angle, i.e., the local vertical direction, from the gyro outputs.

Abstract: A nutating slice CT image reconstruction apparatus and method generates a set of projection data using helical cone-beam scanning. The three-dimensional projection data is used to reconstruct a series of planar image slices. The slices are selected such that they define a tilt angle and a rotation angle with respect to the longitudinal axes of the object being scanned. Successive slices have equal tilt angles but changing rotation angles such that normal axes of successive slices define a nutation and precession about the longitudinal axis of the object. Projection data for the tilted slices are formed of selected one-dimensional fan-beam data. As such, the projection data can be applied to conventional two-dimensional reconstruction approaches to generate an image. The projection data can also be used to generate two-dimensional projection images at one or more stationary projection angles through an object being scanned.

Abstract: A reed switch employs contact blades which have enhanced flexibility and performance, as a result of the selective removal of material from one or more of the blades without work hardening the remaining blade material. The blades are masked and acid etched in predetermined patterns to provide either a contact region, a hinge or fulcrum region, or one or more of both. The contact region of the blade optimizes the alignment and magnetic coupling of the switch while minimizing the electrical capacitance in the space between the blades when the switch is open. The hinge or fulcrum region improves blade compliance and flexibility under an applied load. Various geometries of the contact region can be employed to improve the performance and longevity of the switch.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a method for repairing focal arthritic defects in a mammalian joint, especially in a human knee. The method involves the steps of forming a roughened, bleeding surface of cancellous bone within the defect; forming a plug of osteocartilaginous tissue from an undamaged site within the joint or from another joint; removing the plug from the undamaged site; and inserting the plug into the defect, positioning the plug against the roughened bleeding surface, and holding the plug in place for a time sufficient to allow a blood clot to form between the plug and the roughened bleeding surface, whereby the plug is secured by adhesive properties of the clot.

Abstract: A nutating slice CT image reconstruction apparatus and method generates a set of projection data using helical cone-beam scanning. The three-dimensional projection data is used to reconstruct a series of planar image slices. The slices are selected such that they define a tilt angle and a rotation angle with respect to the longitudinal axes of the object being scanned. Successive slices have equal tilt angles but changing rotation angles such that normal axes of successive slices define a nutation and precession about the longitudinal axis of the object. Projection data for the tilted slices are formed of selected one-dimensional fan-beam data. As such, the projection data can be applied to conventional two-dimensional reconstruction approaches to generate an image. The projection data can also be used to generate two-dimensional projection images at one or more stationary projection angles through an object being scanned.

Abstract: The disclosed system for estimating the ambient noise level in a listening space includes a memory for storing a plurality of noise values at memory locations therein, each of the noise values being representative of the ambient noise in the listening space associated with a corresponding set of conditions of the listening space. The system further includes an address generator for generating an address signal in response to a current set of conditions of the listening space so that the address signal accesses a location of the memory storing the noise value associated with the current set of conditions. The system further includes a noise signal generator for generating a noise signal in response to the address signal, the noise signal corresponding to the noise value associated with the current set of conditions so that the noise signal is representative of the ambient noise level.

Abstract: The invention includes both systems and methods for tomosynthesis x-ray imaging. An x-ray source is moved at various positions in an arc around an object, e.g., a breast, to illuminate a stationary digital detector (or its equivalent) placed at an image plane behind the object. A digital image data processor collects data from the detector and a motion controller moves the source around the object. As the source moves along the arc, the detector generates, for a succession of points along the arc, a corresponding succession of image data sets, each set being representative of the intensity of x-rays incident on the detector for the then current position of the source. The image data processor is responsive to the image data sets to generate an output image signal representative of the x-ray absorption of points within the object region.

Abstract: A method and a system for fixing and positioning a headstack (100, 200, 300, 400) on a headstack tester by utilizing a vacuum chuck (105, 106, 208, 310). The vacuum chuck engages headstack. This engagement determines the exact position of the magnetic heads (24a, 24b . . . ) supported by the headstack with respect to the working surfaces (S1, S2, S3) of magnetic disks ((111a, 111b, 111c) of the disk pack of the tester.

Abstract: A pressure-based mass flow controller suitable for accurately monitoring and controlling the flow of many types of precursors characterized by vapor pressures ranging from approximately 2 torr or lower to at least 760 torr or higher at delivery temperatures of up to at least 250 degrees C. or higher for flow rates ranging from molecular to sonic. A flow restrictive element is installed in the precursor flow path, and the pressures of the fluid upstream and downstream of the flow restrictive element are measured. The ratio of the upstream and downstream fluid pressures is computed and compared to a value stored in the memory of a CPU associated with the controller to determine whether the flow is choked or non-choked. The mass flow of the precursor fluid is then computed by the CPU in accordance with a linear function of the upstream pressure, for choked flow, and in accordance with a nonlinear function of both the upstream and downstream pressures, for non-choked flow.

Abstract: Methods for on-site remediation of contaminated natural resources and fabrication of construction products therefrom. A mobile treatment facility is provided at the site of the contaminated natural resources. Contaminated sediment, soil, pulp and/or liquids are obtained from the site and processed on-site to obtain a variety of construction materials, including coarse and fine particulate material, bricks, concrete products, pellets and aggregate material. Coarse, sand-like materials are fabricated from decontaminated clay-based based materials and used in the fabrication of concrete products. Waste streams are combined to optimize their mutually neutralizing properties. Contaminants such as inorganics and heavy metals are immobilized as water-insoluble complexes in the matrix of the resulting products. Organic contaminants are volatilized and/or burned off, and thermochemical reactions of inorganic contaminants are induced, in a high-temperature irradiation treatment.

Abstract: Accordingly, the present invention provides an x-ray tomography apparatus having a patient table, x-ray tomography components located around the patient table and in an imaginary plane which intersects the table, and structure for supporting the table and tomography components and including apparatus for moving the tomography components along at least a portion of the table. In an alternate embodiment, an x-ray tomography apparatus includes an annular x-ray tomography system for continuously rotating around a patient, which structure has an electrically powered x-ray source and battery power for supplying electrical power to the x-ray source.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring an externally applied parameter to selected products. The invention involves a housing enclosing a sensor, and a monitoring and output network. The sensor has a characteristic that varies in some predetermined manner with variation in the monitored parameter. The monitoring and output network involves a sensor which produces a signal representative of the monitored characteristic. Values associated with the signal are stored in a memory device for subsequent, selected retrieval.