Abstract: A curtain assembly includes at least one curtain including at least one slat. The at least one curtain is configured to be rotatably coupled to a housing of a scanning system having a radiation source and a detector. The at least one curtain is further configured to facilitate drawing an object into the scanning system housing while substantially preventing radiation emitted from the radiation source from exiting the housing through the at least one curtain.

Abstract: A method for imaging an object is provided. The method includes acquiring tomographic image data of the object at a plurality of frequencies, generating a composite image of the object at each of the plurality of frequencies using the acquired tomographic image data, determining a scaling factor for a first material at each of the plurality of frequencies, determining a scaling factor for a second material at each of the plurality of frequencies, and decomposing the composite images into a first discrete image and a second discrete image using the determined scaling factors, wherein the first discrete image contains any region of the object composed of the first material and the second discrete image contains any region of the object composed of the second material.

Abstract: A method for detecting contraband is provided. The method includes acquiring tomographic image data of a subject at a plurality of frequencies using low frequency electromagnetic tomography, generating a composite image of the subject at each of the plurality of frequencies using the acquired tomographic image data, determining a differentiation parameter for a tissue material at each of the plurality of frequencies, determining a differentiation parameter for a non-tissue material at each of the plurality of frequencies, decomposing the composite images into a tissue image and a non-tissue image using the determined differentiation parameters, wherein the tissue image contains any region of the subject composed of the tissue material and the non-tissue image contains any region of the subject composed of the non-tissue material, and determining whether the non-tissue image contains any non-tissue material.

Abstract: A monitor that can detect at least one molecule. The monitor includes a housing with a passage that can receive a sample, and a photocathode that is located within the housing. The monitor also includes a first ultraviolet light source that can direct ultraviolet light onto the photocathode to create electrons that ionize molecules within the sample, and a detector that is coupled to the housing to detect at least one ionized molecule. The monitor enables electron ionization (EI) of a sample for chemical analysis without the disadvantages of current methods that use a hot filament or other thermal cathode devices.

Abstract: An inspection system positions a balancing shim to asymmetrically balance a magnetic field generated by an inductive sensor, which forms part of the inspection system. Additionally, relays and capacitors used to tune the inductive sensor to a desired resonance frequency are geometrically arranged to minimize electrical interference generated by operation of the relays and capacitors. A shielding device, which may be formed on a printed circuit board, protects a magnetic field generated by the inductive sensor from external electromagnetic interference. A slot positioned in the inductive sensor may be used to tune a resonant mode of the inductive sensor to accurately and particularly detect metallic shanks and/or other metallic objects in shoes, socks, and/or clothing.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media are provided for image based CT Number and volume corrections for thin objects in computed tomography systems. For example, in one embodiment a method is provide which computes an average computed tomography (“CT”) value and volume of voxels that are part of an object. Thereafter, a surface area and a surface CT Number, a boundary area and a boundary CT Number, and a corrected CT Number and a corrected volume for the object are computed. Embodiments of the invention also include other methods, computer-readable mediums, apparatuses, and systems that contain features similar to the features in the above described method.

Abstract: A method for identifying an object within a container is provided. The method includes acquiring image data representing an image, applying a morphological operator to the acquired image data to generate morphed image data, calculating a histogram based on the morphed image data, and classifying the image using the calculated histogram. A classification of the image may be displayed and/or stored in a computer-readable memory.

Abstract: A method and system for selective resolution improvement in computed tomography (CT) scanning. The method includes receiving scan data representative of a scanned object from a CT scanner and reconstructing the scan data using a first algorithm to create a first set of reconstructed data. A region of interest is identified within the first set of reconstructed data. A portion of the scan data corresponding to the region of interest is reconstructed using a second algorithm to create a second set of reconstructed data. The first set of reconstructed data and the second set of reconstructed data are combined to create combined reconstructed data.

Abstract: A hand held detector system that has a housing with a passage that can receive a sample, and a concentrator that captures the sample. The hand held system further includes a single detector coupled to the concentrator and a fluid system that provides fluid communication between the housing passage and the concentrator, and between the concentrator and the detector. The system is powered by a battery. The system may include a controller that heats the concentrator with a temperature profile that causes a first trace molecule to desorb at a time different from the desorption of a second trace molecule. The system and components may be powered by a battery.

Abstract: A method and system for reconstructing and segmenting an image of the contents of a container. The method includes receiving actual scan data from a scan of the container, reconstructing the actual scan data to obtain a reconstructed image, and segmenting the reconstructed image to obtain a segmented image. The method also includes deriving simulated scan data corresponding to the segmented image, calculating an error term based on a difference between the simulated scan data and the actual scan data, and determining whether a criterion is satisfied. The method further includes using the error term to produce a modified reconstructed image and repeating the preceding steps with the modified reconstructed image substituted for the reconstructed image if the criterion is not satisfied, and outputting information from the segmented image if the criterion is satisfied.

Abstract: A method and system for producing images of at least one object of interest in a container. The method includes receiving three-dimensional volumetric scan data from a scan of the container, reconstructing a three-dimensional representation of the container from the three-dimensional volumetric scan data, and inspecting the three-dimensional representation to detect the at least one object of interest within the container. The method also includes re-projecting a two-dimensional image from one of the three-dimensional volumetric scan data and the three-dimensional representation, and identifying a first plurality of image elements in the two-dimensional image corresponding to a location of the at least one object of interest. The method further includes outputting the two-dimensional image with the first plurality of image elements highlighted.

Abstract: A detection system for identifying an unknown substance includes a detector assembly configured to receive a particulate or vapor and determine a substance contained within the collected vapor or particulate sample, and at least one heater element operatively coupled in flow communication with the detector assembly. The heater element is configured to attract an airborne vapor when the detection system is in a vapor mode, and desorb at least a portion of the attracted particulate when the detection system is in a particulate mode.

Abstract: A method for making a secondary collimator that includes at least one plate having a plurality of slits defined therein includes determining a gap thickness between plate positions of the secondary collimator based on at least one dimension of the at least one plate and fabricating a base plate from a base plate blank. The base plate includes at least two slots being spaced apart by the gap thickness. The at least one plate is inserted into a first slot of the at least two slots to form the secondary collimator.

Abstract: A coded aperture includes a position sensitive detector configured to observe the location of emitted high energy radiation, and a mask disposed in front of the position sensitive detector, wherein the mask has a non-linear shape configured to define a perimeter around position sensitive detector, wherein the mask comprises a plurality of attenuating and transparent elements of a predetermined configuration, positioned such that the emitted radiation is detected by the position sensitive detector after passage through the mask.

Abstract: A method for performing materials analysis of an object using an X-ray system includes generating an X-ray beam using an X-ray source having an anode and acquiring a scatter spectrum from Compton scatter produced when the X-ray beam interacts with the object. The scatter spectrum is acquired using an energy resolving detector. A Compton profile is extracted from the scatter spectrum by processing the scatter spectrum using a control system of the X-ray system. The Compton profile includes peaks at characteristic lines of the anode. The method further includes identifying a characteristic of a material of the object using the Compton profile, and outputting an indication of the characteristic of the material.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying an object in an acquired image. The method includes detecting an object within the acquired image, and determining whether the detected object is a containment vessel. If the object is not a containment vessel, the method includes applying a first set of rules for classifying the object. If the object is a containment vessel, the method includes applying a second set of rules for classifying the object.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying an object based on its estimated mass. In one aspect, a method for estimating a mass of an object is provided. The method includes acquiring image data including a plurality of image elements, calculating a histogram based on the image data, calculating a computed tomography (CT) number of the object using an anisotropic erosion operator, and determining a perimeter of the object. The method also includes calculating an estimated mass of the object using the CT number and a first subset of image elements of the plurality of image elements, the first subset of image elements defined by the perimeter of the object, and outputting at least one of the estimated mass of the object and an image including the object.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a platform having mounted thereon an imaging device. The imaging device includes a first detector and a second detector. The imaging system includes a mask having a first pattern of apertures therein, the mask positioned on a first side of the first detector, an anti-mask having a second pattern of apertures therein, wherein the second pattern is derived from the first pattern, the anti-mask positioned on a first side of the second detector, and a computer configured to acquire a plurality of mask datasets and anti-mask datasets of a gamma source, add one of the mask datasets and subtract its respective anti-mask dataset to create a far-field dataset, adjust the far-field image dataset, reconstruct a near-field image of the source using the far-field dataset, and apply an expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to one of the far-field image dataset and the near-field image to enhance contrast.

Abstract: A method for scanning a stream of objects includes continuously acquiring raw data of the stream of objects using an X-ray system including a detector, determining a leading edge and a trailing edge of a first object of the stream of objects from the raw data acquired by the detector using a control system, processing acquired raw data of the first object based on the determined leading edge and the determined trailing edge using the control system, and reconstructing an image of the first object using at least the processed raw data. A system configured to perform the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable mediums, and systems are provided. In one embodiment, a method detects at least one faulty X-ray detector signal and adjusts a conveyor speed and/or a gantry speed in accordance with the detection to increase information for image reconstruction. In another embodiment, a method detects a high volume time. Upon detection of the high volume time conveyor speed and gantry speed is increased during the high volume time. After expiration of the high volume time, the conveyor speed and gantry speed is reduced. In yet other embodiments, the computer-readable mediums and systems are also provided which perform similar features recited by the above methods.