Abstract: An x-ray tube electron shield is disclosed for interposition between an electron emitter and an anode configured to receive the emitted electrons. The electron shield is configured to withstand the elevated levels of heat produced by electrons backscattered from the anode and incident on the electron shield. This in turn equates to a reduced incidence of failure in the electron shield. In one embodiment the electron shield includes a body that defines a bowl-shaped aperture having a narrowed throat segment. The body of the electron shield includes a first body portion, a second body portion, and a disk portion. These portions cooperate to define the bowl and the throat segment. The throat segment and the lower portion of the bowl are composed of a refractory material and correspond with the regions of the electron shield that are impacted by relatively more backscattered electrons from the anode surface.

Abstract: A wafer carrier for carrying a wafer includes a transparent base and a conducting layer. The transparent base has dimensions similar to that of the wafer, and bonds the wafer with a bonding layer. The conducting layer is transparent, and can be attracted by an electrostatic chuck so that the electrostatic chuck can deliver the wafer.

Abstract: A radiation system includes a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, a radiation source coupled to the gantry, a first bearing located adjacent a left side of the gantry, and a second bearing located adjacent a right side of the gantry, wherein the gantry is tiltable about the first and second bearings, the first and second bearings forming a second axis that is at a first angle relative to the first axis. A radiation system includes a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, a radiation source coupled to the gantry, and a base to which the gantry is rotatably coupled, wherein the gantry is tiltable relative to the base about a second axis that forms an angle relative to the first axis, wherein an uppermost portion of the gantry is not coupled to a support frame of the gantry.

Abstract: A first X-ray detector (203) is positioned to detect at least the X-rays that intersect the center of rotation (201) for an object (205) with respect to an X-ray source (202). A second X-ray detector (207) is then positioned to detect X-rays that do not overlap with the X-rays as are detected by the first X-ray detector as well as X-rays (210) that intersect a periphery of a circle (209) that circumscribes an outer extreme boundary (208) of the object to be scanned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for combining virtual reality and real-time environment. The present invention provides a system that combines captured real-time video data and real-time 3D environment rendering to create a fused (combined) environment. The system captures video imagery and processes it to determine which areas should be made transparent (or have other color modifications made), based on sensed cultural features and/or sensor line-of-sight. Sensed features can include electromagnetic radiation characteristics (i.e. color, infra-red, ultra-violet light). Cultural features can include patterns of these characteristics (i.e. object recognition using edge detection). This processed image is then overlaid on a 3D environment to combine the two data sources into a single scene. This creates an effect where a user can look through ‘windows’ in the video image into a 3D simulated world, and/or see other enhanced or reprocessed features of the captured image.

Abstract: A packaging wafer has a plurality of cavities and a plurality of trenches on a front surface thereof. The packaging wafer is bonded to the element wafer, and a first cutting method is performed. Afterward a piece of tape is provided and is attached to the packaging wafer. Moreover, a second cutting process is performed and then the piece of tape is removed. Therefore, a wafer level package is formed. In addition, the wafer level package is divided into a plurality of individual packages.

Abstract: A method of continuous real-time monitoring and positioning of multi-leaf collimators during on and off radiation exposure conditions of radiation therapy to account for target motion relative to a radiation beam is provided. A prediction algorithm estimates future positions of a target relative to the radiation source. Target geometry and orientation are determined relative to the radiation source. Target, treatment plan, and leaf width data, and temporal interpolations of radiation doses are sent to the controller. Coordinates having an origin at an isocenter of the isocentric plane establish initial aperture end positions of the leaves that is provided to the controller, where motors to position the MLC midpoint aperture ends according to the position and target information. Each aperture end intersects a single point of a convolution of the target and the isocenter of the isocentric plane.

Abstract: A method of forming a suspended structure is disclosed. Initially, a substrate is provided. A patterned first sacrificial layer and a patterned second sacrificial layer are formed on a front surface of the substrate. The second sacrificial layer has an opening exposing a part of the substrate and a part of the first sacrificial layer. A structural layer is formed covering the abovementioned sacrificial layers. Thereafter, a lift-off process is performed to remove the second sacrificial layer and define the pattern of the structural layer. A first etching process is performed on a back surface of the substrate utilizing the first sacrificial layer as an etching barrier and a through hole is formed under the first sacrificial layer. A second etching layer is performed to remove the first sacrificial layer and a suspended structure is thereby formed.

Abstract: A substrate is provided and a plurality of trenches are formed in the front surface of the substrate. Then, a thermal oxide layer is formed on inner walls of the trenches and the front surface of the substrate. Subsequently, a first structural layer is formed on the thermal oxide layer, dopants are implanted into the first structural layer, a second structural layer is formed on the first structural layer, and an annealing process is performed to reduce the stress of the first and second structural layers. Following that, the first and second structural layers are patterned to form diaphragms. Finally, the second structural layer is mounted on a support wafer with a bonding layer, and the back surface of the substrate is etched by deep etching techniques to form back chambers corresponding to the diaphragms. Each back chamber has a vertical sidewall and partially exposes the first structural layer.

Abstract: A marker system includes a structure having a first surface and a second surface, a first marker located on the first surface, and a second marker located on the second surface, wherein the first marker and the second marker are arranged so that they face approximately a same direction, and so that they can be simultaneously viewed by an optical device, and wherein a first distance between the first marker and the optical device is different from a second distance between the second marker and the optical device when the first and the second markers are simultaneously viewed by the optical device.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for automatically calibrating a computed tomography (“CT”) scanning system (100)<is provided including providing (405) a calibration object (130) substantially centered on a translating table (120) for passing through the CT system (100). The system (100) scans (410) the calibration object (130) and provides (420) a preliminary representation such as a display (500) of a sorted sinogram of the object (130). From that preliminary representation, the system (100) determines intercept-related and/or slope-related values for at least a portion (510, 520, 530 or 540) of the preliminary representation and uses these values to calculate (440) one or more predetermined calibrations values.

Abstract: A mechanical interface assembly that includes an adjustable element having first and second states such that in the first state, the adjustable element is radially compliant, and in the second state, the adjustable element is substantially non-radially compliant. The adjustable element also includes a mating element configured to interface with a mating component. The mechanical interface assembly further includes an adjustment element configured to interface with the adjustable element such that a first position of the adjustment element corresponds to the first state of the adjustable element, and a second position of the adjustment element corresponds to the second state of the adjustable element.

Abstract: In one example, a radiation source comprises a housing and an acceleration chamber within the housing, with a peak acceleration energy greater than the lowest neutron production threshold of tantalum. A source of charged particles is supported by the housing to emit charged particles into the acceleration chamber. A target is supported by the housing downstream of the acceleration chamber. The target consists essentially of at least one isotope having a neutron production threshold greater than the peak acceleration energy. No neutrons are therefore generated. The source may also comprise a collimator, target shielding, and/or housing shielding comprising at least one isotope having a neutron production threshold greater than the peak acceleration energy, reducing or eliminating neutron generation as compared to the prior art, as well. Systems comprising the source, methods of operation of the source, and methods of manufacture of the source are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an accelerator includes a circulator having a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port, wherein the first port is configured to couple to a power generator, and the third port is configured to couple to an accelerator, a first phase shifter coupled to the second port, and a second phase shifter coupled to the fourth port. A method of regulating power to and from an accelerator includes providing power using a power generator, varying a magnitude of the power before the power is delivered to the accelerator, receiving a reflected power from the accelerator, and varying the phase of the reflected power from the accelerator. A method of regulating reflected power from an accelerator includes receiving a reflected power from an accelerator, varying the phase of the reflected power, and varying a magnitude of the reflected power.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a suspension structure including providing a substrate, forming a first photoresist pattern on the substrate, heating the first photoresist pattern to harden it as a sacrificial layer, forming a second photoresist pattern on the substrate and the sacrificial layer, the second photoresist pattern exposing a part of the substrate and the sacrificial layer, forming a structure layer on the substrate, the second photoresist pattern, and the sacrificial layer, performing a lift off process to remove the second photoresist pattern and the structure layer above the second photoresist pattern, and performing a dry etching process to remove the sacrificial layer in order to make the structure layer become the suspension structure.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional volume data set is rendered into a resulting image by acquiring image data and filtering the image data to provide filtered image data comprising substantially only image data contributing to the resulting image prior to applying at least one of a group including an interpolation calculation, a classification calculation, an illumination calculation, and a gradient calculation. Such a process can be performed by having a filter circuit operatively coupled to an image data memory buffer circuit to filter image data received from the image data memory buffer circuit to provide substantially only samples that contribute to the resulting image. Portions of the image rendering process including a classification calculation, an interpolation calculation, and filtering of the image data may be performed in least in part, in parallel.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of obtaining an expanded population of mammalian ex vivo cells and/or for treating a mammalian subject by (a) administering to a subject an effective amount of an agent that confers a growth disadvantage to at least a subset of endogenous cells at the site of engraftment; (b) administering to the subject an effective amount of a mitogenic stimulus for the ex vivo cells; and (c) administering the ex vivo cells to the subject, wherein the ex vivo cells engraft at the site and proliferate to a greater extent than the subset of endogenous cells, to repopulate at least a portion of the engraftment site with the ex vivo cells. The repopulated cells can be harvested for further use or be left at the engraftment site of a subject to be treated. The invention also provides methods of treating brain injury in a subject by engrafting ex vivo cells at the site of injury.

Abstract: A detector array is disposed relative to a radiation source such that radiation from the radiation source over a predetermined time period is substantially similar across the detector array. The detector array includes radiation detectors operatively coupled to detector electronics. The radiation filter material is disposed at least partially between the radiation source and the detector array such that different portions of the detector array are exposed to radiation from the radiation source through either different radiation filter material thicknesses or different radiation filter material compositions during the predetermined time period. So configured, information regarding the radiation such as beam quality information for radiation pulses is collected and used to confirm the quality of the radiation source or to adjust data collected by the radiation system.

Abstract: A method of imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using X-ray cone beam computed tomography or cone beam digital tomography comprises the step of introducing an effective amount of a contrast agent to the uncompressed region of interest. A system for imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or cone beam digital tomography (CBDT) comprises an X-ray source transmitting an X-ray to the uncompressed region of interest, an image acquisition system acquiring a plurality of two-dimensional projection images data for a CBCT or CBDT data set with at least one of the projection images acquired in 35 milliseconds or less, and a processor generating a three-dimensional computed tomography image data set resolving voxels with dimensions of 0.4 mm or less in at least two orthogonal directions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for excess signal compensation in an imaging system is described. In one particular embodiment, the invention provides for non-linear background, offset (due to time dependent dark current) and/or lag (including constant, linear and non-linear terms, due to image persistence) corrections of large area, flat panel imaging sensors.