Abstract: A technique is provided for controlling fluid flow characteristics in a nozzle assembly. An outwardly opening poppet is movably disposed in an axial conduit to control fluid flow through a forward portion of the axial conduit. A fluid conduit is coupled to the forward portion at an angle configured to provide a desired degree of fluid swirl through the forward portion. The outwardly opening nozzle assembly produces a spray having geometrical characteristics correlated to the desired degree of fluid swirl.

Abstract: A method of resampling medical imaging data from a first spatial distribution of data points onto a second spatial distribution of data points. The method includes determining a matrix of coefficients for resampling data from the second spatial distribution onto the first spatial distribution and inverting a matrix based on the matrix of coefficients to determine forward resampling coefficients for resampling data from the first spatial distribution to the second spatial distribution. Then, resampling data from the first spatial distribution onto the second spatial distribution using the forward resampling coefficients.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for braking a jet-propelled boat. The method comprises the steps of deploying a reverse gate and then opening a throttle of an engine in response to actuation of a brake pedal. The system comprises an engine having a throttle, a water jet propulsion system, a reverse gate, a brake pedal, and a mechanical system for deploying the reverse gate and then opening the throttle in response to the brake pedal being actuated by the boat operator. The reverse gate is deployed when the brake pedal is moved from a first position to a second position and the throttle is opened as the brake pedal is moved from the second position to a third position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed in which a two-tiered approach is taken to first grade a patient to identify the presence of any suspected stenosis, and then a second step is used to acquire more detailed information to grade the stenosis. The invention includes performing a screening study by acquiring a first MR image having a low resolution to scan a suspected stenosis region. After analyzing the first MR image to identify a suspected stenosis within the suspected stenosis region, a more detailed study is performed by acquiring a second MR image having a higher resolution than the first MR image to scan the identified suspected stenosis. If no lesions, or stenotic vessels, are identified after the first MR image, the second MR image need not be obtained.

Abstract: An automatic and adaptive MR data selection technique for use with a multi-receiver coil assembly in an MR imaging device is disclosed. The invention includes acquiring image data from a plurality of receiver coils and determining an index gauge for each of the images. The index gauge is a representation of the position of a given receiver coil within a desired field-of-view (FOV). The index gauges are compared and any image data set having an index gauge demonstrating a less than optimal position of the given receiver coil with respect to the desired FOV is removed based on the index gauges and the comparison. A final image can be reconstructed using the remaining image data sets. The final image is reconstructed from data having overall reduced noise, and therefore reduced artifacts.

Abstract: Automatic coil selection is based on determining an index gauge for a corresponding k-space data line acquired for each preselected coil during a prescan. Reliance on manual coil selection and markers is eliminated by adaptively determining the coils of an MR system that produce a preferred sensitivity to a desired field-of-view (FOV). The fast scan data is used to determine those coils most sensitive to the FOV and reject coil(s) least sensitive. Using only data acquired with the most sensitive coils, SNR is increased and unwanted artifacts are reduced in the final data acquisition and image reconstruction. Through automatic and adaptive selection/deselection, the invention reduces the susceptibility to human error, and therefore results in higher quality images.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of cardiac CT imaging. The present invention utilizes ECG signals as well as mechanical motion signals of a cardiac region of a subject to correlate CT data acquired of the subject with the phases of the subject's cardiac region. The present invention contemplates measuring mechanical gatings of the heart by measuring changes in pressure, sound, or blood flow acceleration within the cardiac region. The mechanical gatings are then used with ECG data to correlate acquired imaging data with phases of the cardiac region for subsequent image reconstruction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control that upon detection of an autothread input determines the amount of time in which a motor of a drive assembly should be activated so as to precisely supply an initial segment of wire to a welding gun of a welding system. The control determines the requisite time necessary to precisely thread the welding wire based on a wire feed speed and gun length. The gun length and wire feed speed may be determined from a series of user inputs or read from memory. By limiting user involvement with the actual “feeding” of wire to the welding gun, a more precise segment of welding wire may be fed to the welding gun such that trimming of wire extending past the tip of the welding gun is not needed.

Abstract: A fuel injection device operating on the solid-state energy storage principle and configured as a reciprocating plunger pump having a delivery plunger element, the delivery plunger element being moved from its starting position in the direction of a pressure chamber, the delivery plunger element storing kinetic energy during a near zero-resistance acceleration phase, this kinetic energy being abruptly transmitted by a impulse movement to the fuel present in the pressure chamber so that a pressure impulse is generated for ejaculating fuel through an injector means, a second pressure chamber being arranged on the side of the delivery plunger element opposite the first pressure chamber such that kinetic energy absorbed on return movement of the delivery plunger element to its starting position is transmitted to fuel present in the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: A method for performing MRI, including imposing N sets of steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequences on an object to be imaged, the sequences including respective initial radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulses, each initial RF excitation pulse having a predetermined phase shift relative to the other initial RF excitation pulses. N is a whole number larger than one and less than six. The method further includes setting the phase shift of the RF pulse of the sequences so that the phase shift of the RF pulse of an Mth sequence is substantially equal to 2 ⁢ π ⁡ ( M - 1 ) N radians, wherein M is a whole number larger than 0 and less than or equal to N, receiving a respective set of image signals from the object responsive to the N sets of SSFP sequences, and processing the set of received image signals to generate an image of the object.

Abstract: A storage box for welding and plasma cutting applications is disclosed. The storage box is configured to be mounted in an opening in the chassis of a welding-type power supply. The storage box is preferably secured in the opening using one or more grooves, one or two fasteners or a combination of one or more grooves and one or more fasteners.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for securing a power cable from a power source to a wire feeder of a welding system. The wire feeder includes an inlet configured to receive a de-sheathed portion of the power cable. A frame includes at least one cavity and, preferably, a pair of cavities coaxial with respect to one another and orthogonal with respect to the inlet are provided. The first cavity has a securing mechanism such as a stud or setscrew disposed therein such that the securing mechanism engages a portion of the de-sheathed cable. The securing mechanism engages the power cable to lodge a portion of the power cable within the second cavity thereby creating a secure attachment of the power cable to the wire feeder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an overvoltage protection control that includes a combination of hardware and software that together detect and determine an average voltage of a power signal being supplied by a power source to a welding-type device. The determined average voltage is then compared to a “trip” voltage. If the average voltage is greater than or equal to the trip voltage then the welding-type device is disabled. The present invention may also be implemented as an undervoltage control wherein the detected average voltage is compared to a minimum acceptable average voltage. If the average voltage of the power signal being supplied to the welding-type device is less than the minimum acceptable average voltage, the welding-type device is prevented from being operated.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus to correct for gradient field distortions. The invention is particularly applicable in moving table imaging where a single extended image is desirable. The invention includes acquiring MR data in motion in the presence of gradient non-linearities, transforming the MR data acquired into the image domain, and then applying a warping correction function to the transformed MR data. The warp-corrected MR data is then corrected for motion induced during the MR acquisition. The data may be acquired point-by-point, line-by-line, or another sub-portion of the entire MR data acquired, and processed to minimize the amount of motion correction needed. Based on table velocity or acquisition sequence applied, the data is partitioned based on a common motion correction factor, and after correcting for motion, the data is accumulated to build up a final image.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of aligning scintillator crystalline structures for computed tomography imaging and a system of use. Crystal seeds are deposited inside a glass melt and are then grown to form a plurality of layer crystallites. While growing the crystallites, a field is applied to align each crystallite structure in a uniform orientation. As a result, the crystallites are configured to reduce light scattering and improve the overall efficiency of the CT system. A CT system is disclosed implementing a scintillator array having a plurality of scintillators, each scintillator being formed of a plurality of uniformly aligned crystallites. Each crystallite includes a receiving surface and an exiting surface configured perpendicular to an x-ray beam. Further, the receiving surface and the exiting surface are connected by a plurality of surface walls arranged parallel to the x-ray beam.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a combustion engine having a water coolant passageway in heat transfer adjacency to the unit and adapted to remove heat from the unit. An ECU for combustion engine, comprising: electrical input circuits, electrical control circuits, electrical fuel injection output drive circuits, electrical oil pump output drive circuits and electrical ignition circuits. An ECU is disclosed which is adapted to verify firing of the ignition coils of the engine.

Abstract: An oil system for a two-stroke outboard marine engine is disclosed. The oil system includes an oil system housing having an inlet, an outlet, and an oil return. The housing includes an oil filter base to receive a replaceable oil filter thereon. The oil is routed in a closed loop that includes an oil reservoir, the inlet to the oil system housing, through the replaceable oil filter, and is then returned to the oil reservoir. Periodically, a solenoid opens the closed loop system to divert oil to the two-stroke engine, at which time a remote vent valve is activated to allow air to enter the oil reservoir to displace the dispensed oil.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for in-field communication connectivity initialization and verification between centralized on-line centers, and a number of in-field subscribing stations. The substations each have associated therewith an in-field product controlled by software which requires periodic upgrading, maintenance, service, and general monitoring. The system and method includes a computer program and a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for carrying out the process, which includes submitting customer and product data electronically to a centralized on-line center, which in turn creates a configuration module based on the submitted customer and product data. The configuration module is then transmitted to the subscribing station by the on-line center. The configuration module is loaded into the subscribing station to allow future communications between the on-line center and the subscribing station.

Abstract: A system and method of medical imaging is designed to reduce a patient's X-ray exposure during scanning based upon patient size and task dependency. The system includes receiving a task and patient size dependency input and determining threshold levels based on the received inputs to separate imaging data into a number of projection sets for further image processing and reconstruction of an image. Each projection set can then be independently processed based on the type of task and/or the patient size to allow reduced and modified X-ray doses dependent on the task and/or specific patient to be scanned.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, is a cooling system for a marine engine and includes cylinder cooling jackets, cylinder head cooling jackets, and thermostatic and pressure controls which facilitate safely operating the engine with low water flow rates. In one specific embodiment, the cooling system is employed in a marine engine including a V-type cylinder block with two cylinder banks and a valley between the banks. Each cylinder bank includes a plurality of cylinder bores (e.g., each cylinder bank includes three cylinder bores in a six cylinder engine), and respective exhaust ducts extend from and are in flow communication with each cylinder bore. Respective coolant flow paths extend from the valley to a section of each cylinder bore water jacket adjacent each cylinder exhaust duct. Specifically, water is provided from the valley to adjacent each exhaust duct in the cylinder banks. Each cylinder bore water jacket includes an outlet at an upper portion of each said cylinder bank.