Abstract: A hypobarically-controlled artificial limb for amputees includes a single socket with a volume and shape to receive a substantial portion of the residual limb. A liner with a volume less than the residual limb is donned over the residual limb, with the liner tensioned into a total contact relationship with the residual limb. A sealed cavity is formed between the socket and the liner. A vacuum source is connected to the socket cavity thereby drawing the residual limb and liner into firm and total contact with the socket. To compensate for some air leakage past the seal, there is a mechanism to maintain the vacuum in the cavity. A plate/socket attachment connects the vacuum source to the cavity.

Abstract: A system, such as a gap drying system, moves a substrate having a substrate tension over a curved plate at a substrate speed such that the substrate floats over at least a region of substantially constant clearance (H0) between the substrate and the curved plate. H0 is controlled without adjusting the substrate speed and without adjusting the substrate tension.

Abstract: A gap drying system moves a substrate having a coated side and a non-coated side between a heated platen disposed on the non-coated side of the substrate and a condensing platen disposed on the coated side of the substrate. An insulation layer is disposed between the heated platen and the non-coated side of the substrate.

Abstract: A method useful for thermally developing an image in an imaging material. The imaging material can be transported through a first heating zone within a thermal processor to heat the imaging material from an initial temperature to within a developing temperature range. The imaging material may then be transported through a second heating zone within the thermal processor to maintain the temperature of the imaging material within the developing temperature range.

Abstract: A method and software system for processing images having reconfigurable communication pipelines. The system includes an image processor that instantiates a film module and dynamically creates an image module for each image to be processed. The image processor couples each image module to the film module by a unique communication pipeline according to imaging commands received from an input imaging device. The present invention is applicable to the general field of image processing and may be implemented in any general image output device. In one embodiment, the software system is embedded in a discrete continuous tone laser imager that is directly connected to one or more medical imaging modalities. In another embodiment, the laser imager is directly connected to a network of medical imaging modalities. In yet another embodiment, the software system is executed by an intermediate computer that interfaces an output imaging device to a plurality of networked medical imaging modalities.

Abstract: A drying system and method for an electrophotographic imaging system employing a gap drying system. The electrophotographic imaging system includes a photoconductor belt. A mechanism moves the photoconductor belt in a first direction along a transport path. A scanner mechanism is positioned along the transport path for scanning a laser beam along the photoconductor belt based on image data to form a latent image of the photoconductor belt. A development station is positioned along the transport path. The development station includes a mechanism for applying a toner to a first major surface of the photoconductor belt, the toner including a carrier liquid. A gap drying system is operably located along the transport path, wherein the gap drying system removes excess carrier liquid from the photoconductor belt. The gap drying system includes a carrier liquid (i.e.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for processing photothermographic elements. The apparatus thermally develops a photothermographic element by heating the photothermographic element between a heated member, having a resilient layer, and a plurality of rollers. The apparatus can be a component of other apparatus and systems including those having the ability to expose the photothermographic element to form a latent image.

Abstract: A method for minimizing coating defects caused by strikethrough when simultaneously slide coating a first fluid layer, a second fluid layer, and a third fluid layer. The method includes preparing the first, second, and third fluids such that the first solute is incompatible with the second and third solutes and such that the first fluid minimizes strikethrough of at least one of the second and third fluids to a slide surface when the first fluid is positioned between the slide surface and the second and third fluids. The present invention is useful in preparing imaging, data storage, and other media.

Abstract: A thermal processor and method for using the same which is particularly useful for developing a sheet of imaging material, such as photothermographic film. The thermal processor includes means for transporting the imaging material through the apparatus. The thermal processor also includes means for heating the imaging material to develop the image in the imaging material. The thermal processor also includes means for reducing fogging on the imaging material as the image is developed on the imaging material.

Abstract: Pixel array including a high resolution mode and a low resolution mode and method of reading out the pixel array in a high and low resolution mode. The pixel array includes a first signal line and a second signal line. An array of pixel elements are provided, each pixel element coupled to the first signal line or the second signal line. A switch mechanism is provided for coupling the first signal line to the second signal line. A mechanism is also provided for conveying a charge associated with each pixel element to the first signal line or the second signal line. A mechanism may also be provided for buffering signals between the first signal line, the second signal line, and an output signal line.

Abstract: An assembly for positioning a piece of photosensitive film into a scanning position on a curved film platen and an internal drum scanner assembly. The film platen is defined by a film feed edge and a film stop edge. An alignment mechanism is positioned proximate the film stop edge and a feed mechanism is positioned proximate the film feed edge. The feed mechanism operates to feed the leading edge of the film from the film feed edge along the film platen towards the film stop edge alignment mechanism, and wherein when the photosensitive film is in the scanning position, the photosensitive film is compressed against the curved film platen in alignment between the alignment mechanism and the feed mechanism. A centering mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: A solid state radiation detector provides a plurality of modules disposed adjacent one another in a two-dimensional array. Each of the modules includes an array of thin film transistors. A continuous radiation detecting layer, such as a photoconductor layer, is disposed over the modules. The radiation detecting layer generates electrical charge representative of a pattern of radiation. The thin film transistors are used to sense the electrical charge on a pixel-by-pixel basis to form a representation of an image. A continuous insulating layer can be disposed between the radiation detecting layer and a continuous conducting layer.

Abstract: A photothermographic material having a photosensitive medium comprising: photosensitive silver halide, a reducible silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion, a hydrobromic acid salt of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring or fused ring nucleus associated with a pair of bromine atoms CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the photosensitive medium additionally comprises as an antifoggant, substantially in the absence of an antifoggant effective amount of mercury and other heavy metal salts, a tribromomethyl ketone compound of general formula (I): ##STR1## in which; R represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carbocyclic ring or fused ring nucleus or a heterocyclic ring or fused ring nucleus.

Abstract: A negative-acting photothermographic element comprises a support bearing at least one heat-developable, photosensitive, image-forming photothermographic emulsion layer that contains photosensitive silver halide grains doped with iridium and copper; a non-photosensitive, reducible source of silver; a reducing agent for the non-photosensitive, reducible source of silver; and a binder. A process of forming photothermographic emulsions from doped silver halide grains by forming silver soaps in the presence of those grains is also described.

Abstract: A spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element comprising a support layer having on at least one surface thereof a photothermographic composition, said composition comprising a polyvinyl acetal binder, a light insensitive silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion and infrared radiation sensitive silver halide grains, wherein said composition also comprises a polymeric component which is not a polyvinyl acetal, or a metal soap other than a silver soap of an organic acid (especially not the long chain fatty acid normally present in silver halide based photothermographic elements) which is dispersed in said composition in an amount of from 0.3 to 20% by weight of said polyvinyl acetal, which polymeric component has higher strength of adhesion to polyester film than does the polyvinyl acetal, and said polymeric may exist as a separate phase within said polyvinyl acetal.

Abstract: A black-and-white, negative-acting, silver halide emulsion is described which gives improved image tone when used in a photographic element. The toning agents are based on dithio-substituted compounds having the following general structures: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently, are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together complete a ring;n and m are integers from 1 to 5; Y is a hydrogen; R.sub.3 is a hydrogen or alkyl group;and X is selected from the group consisting of O, S, N--OH and N--N(R).sub.2, where R is a hydrogen or alkyl group.

Abstract: A photographic element comprising a polymeric film base, a silver halide emulsion layer, and an antistatic layer comprising a colloidal vanadium oxide and a vinyl addition polymer dispersion in a dry weight ratio of from 1:30 to 1:500. The antistatic layer may be present as a backing layer on the side of the base opposite the silver halide emulsion layer, as a subbing layer between the base and the emulsion layer in a single or double side coated photographic element, and/or as a subbing layer between the base and a different backing layer. No barrier layer is used over the antistatic layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating and drying coated substrates without introducing significant surface imperfections while running at higher web speeds than known drying methods. The substrate is preferably coated within the drying enclosure or the coating bead may form a closure at the entrance of the drying enclosure. The substrate is moved through a first drying enclosure along a first axis. The first drying enclosure is substantially isolated from an external environment. A first low velocity, substantially laminar flow field of a drying gas is directed across the front surface of the substrate. The first flow field is generally parallel to the front surface and generally perpendicular to the first axis to minimize the formation of surface imperfections during the evaporation of the coating solvent. The substrate may then be moved to subsequent drying enclosures through transition enclosures that minimize surface imperfections due to high velocity interaction between the adjacent drying enclosures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing image banding and for registering multiple image planes of a single image on a receptor drum in electrographic systems. The system for registering multiple image planes of a single image in an electrographic system includes a receptor drum capable of capturing two or more overlaying image planes, an exposure device for forming overlaying image planes on the receptor drum, and at least one developer station transferring a developer to the receptor drum corresponding to each of the overlaying image planes. A measuring device is provided for measuring the rotational position of the receptor drum. A drive mechanism is provided for controlling a motor coupled to the receptor drum by at least one drive belt. A closed loop positioning system is coupled to the measuring device and the drive mechanism. The closed loop positioning system is capable of modulating the angular velocity of the receptor drum to achieve image plane registration of the two or more image planes.