Abstract: Provided is a fluoroscopy apparatus including a light source that irradiates an observation target with reference light and excitation light; a fluorescence-image generating unit that captures fluorescence emitted from the observation target X irradiated with the excitation light to generate a fluorescence image; a reference-image generating unit that captures return light returning from the observation target irradiated with the reference light to generate a reference image; an image-combining unit that superimposes the fluorescence image on the reference image to generate a combined image; a determining unit that determines whether there is a position with a luminance at or below a predetermined threshold in the reference image; and a notifying unit that, if the determining unit determines that there is a position with a luminance at or below the predetermined threshold, provides notification thereof.

Abstract: A compact source for high brightness x-ray generation is disclosed. The higher brightness is achieved through electron beam bombardment of multiple regions aligned with each other to achieve a linear accumulation of x-rays. This may be achieved by aligning discrete x-ray sub-sources, or through the use of x-ray targets that comprise microstructures of x-ray generating materials fabricated in close thermal contact with a substrate with high thermal conductivity. This allows heat to be more efficiently drawn out of the x-ray generating material, and in turn allows bombardment of the x-ray generating material with higher electron density and/or higher energy electrons, leading to greater x-ray brightness. Some embodiments of the invention comprise x-ray optical elements placed between sub-sources of x-rays. These x-ray optical elements may form images of one or more x-ray sub-sources in alignment with other x-ray sub-sources, and may enhance the linear accumulation that can be achieved.

Abstract: Photon-based radiosurgery is widely used for treating local and regional tumors. The key to improving the quality of radiosurgery is to increase the dose falloff rate from high dose regions inside the tumor to low dose regions of nearby healthy tissues and structures. Dynamic photon painting (DPP) further increases dose falloff rate by treating a target by moving a beam source along a dynamic trajectory, where the speed, direction and even dose rate of the beam source change constantly during irradiation. DPP creates dose gradient that rivals proton Bragg Peak and outperforms Gamma Knife® radiosurgery.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and a method that reduces fluid loss from a cask during a maturation process by sealably enclosing the cask in a vessel that provides an expansion volume to receive fluid vapor from the cask, a monitoring system and a method that monitors fluid loss from a cask during a maturation process using a light source and a detector to determine the presence of fluid vapor in the vicinity of the cask, a corresponding system for controlling a maturation process in which environmental conditions are controlled, and a cask leak testing system and method making use of the above.

Abstract: A liquid inspecting method, for inspecting the situation of containing explosives, explosive materials and/or illegal drugs in liquid filled in a light transmitting container, comprises a step for irradiating the liquid with near-infrared light from the outside of the container, a step for receiving near-infrared light transmitted through the liquid or scattered by the liquid, and a step for analyzing the absorption spectrum of received near-infrared light. The situation of containing explosives, explosive materials or illegal drugs in liquid filled in a light transmitting container such as a PET bottle or a glass bottle can be detected quickly and certainly from the outside of the container by providing a liquid inspecting method for analyzing the absorption spectrum, and a liquid inspecting device for use therein.

Abstract: A method for erasing bright burn includes: applying, to a scintillator, visible light having an intensity peak at a wavelength in the range of 405 nm to 500 nm, wherein the scintillator includes cesium iodide and is provided in a radiographic imaging device having a photoelectric transducer.

Abstract: Proximity sensor devices are described that integrate a light emitting diode with a light sensor assembly in a single, compact package. The proximity sensor devices comprise a substrate having a surface. The light emitting diode and light sensor assembly are mounted to the substrate proximate to the surface. The light emitting diode is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in a limited spectrum of wavelengths, while the light sensor assembly is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation in the limited spectrum of wavelengths emitted by the light emitting diode. An encapsulation layer is formed on the surface over the light emitting diode and light sensor assembly. A trench is formed in the encapsulation layer to receive electromagnetic radiation blocking material configured to block electromagnetic radiation in the limited spectrum of wavelengths to at least partially mitigate crosstalk between the light emitting diode and the light sensor assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods comprising a positron emission tomography detector having a first rectangular cross-section crystal block positioned between a first pentagonal cross-section crystal block and a second pentagonal cross-section crystal block.

Abstract: A radiation detector system/method that simultaneously detects alpha/beta, beta/gamma, or alpha/beta/gamma radiation within an integrated detector is disclosed. The system incorporates a photomultiplier tube with radiation scintillation materials to detect alpha/beta/gamma radiation. The photomultiplier tube output is then shape amplified and fed through discriminators to detect the individual radiation types. The discriminator outputs are fed to an anti-coincidence and pulse width and timing analysis module that determines whether individual alpha/beta/gamma pulses are valid and should be counted by corresponding alpha/beta/gamma pulse radiation counters. The system may include a radiation detection method to affect alpha/beta/gamma radiation detection in a variety of contexts. The system/method may be implemented in a variety of applications, including but not limited to whole body radiation contamination detectors, laundry radiation scanners, tool/article radiation detectors, and the like.

Abstract: A computed-tomography apparatus that includes a CT scanner including an X-ray source and a detector covering respective angle ranges in the axial and transaxial planes of the CT scanner. The CT detector includes first detector elements disposed on a first surface to capture incident X-ray photons emitted from the X-ray source, and second detector elements sparsely disposed on a second surface different from the first surface, the second surface being farther away from the scanner than the first surface, the second detector elements being smaller in number than the first detector elements. Each of the second detector elements is reachable only by X-ray photons originating in a small angle range around a line connecting the X-ray source and a center of the surface of the detector element, the small angle range being determined by the predetermined distance separating the first and second surfaces and a size of the detector element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for standardizing one or more fluorescence scanning instruments to a reference system by separating the effects of drift and normalization. In an embodiment, a drift image comprising an image of a drift reference slide is captured by a system to be standardized. A drift measurement is calculated using the drift image. A first normalization image comprising an image of a normalization slide is also captured by the system to be standardized. A reference normalization image, also comprising an image of the normalization slide, is captured by a reference system. The first normalization image is compared to the reference normalization image to determine a gamma value and offset value for the system to be standardized.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention are directed to applying intimate contact pressures to samples while undergoing ATR infrared interrogation. As a general mode of operation, after a solid sample is placed on the ATR element, a force actuator moves an anvil arm to apply a contact force to the sample against the ATR. Thereafter, when the scan is over, the user can see the result of the one or more scans. The force actuator may be a motor or a solenoid or other type of force actuator. The applied contact force may be a fixed force or may be a user-selectable force or may be automatically controlled through feedback from the spectrometer based on the spectroscopic signature of the sample material.

Abstract: A mammograph is provided. The mammograph includes a source of X-rays; a detector of X-rays, the source being configured to emit at least one beam of X-rays to the detector; and an optic control device configured to control the direction of X-rays emitted by the source such that the X-rays emitted by the source are substantially parallel to one another.

Abstract: An optical probe with associated disposable polymer sheath for near-infrared optical interrogation of fluids within bioprocessing vessels by means of transmission or transflection spectroscopy provides for the determination of quantities and parameters of substances in fluids contained within bioprocessing vessels. Associated methods for use of the optical probe and associated sheath to determine quantities of substances in fluids and parameters of fluids during bioprocesses are provided.

Abstract: A source of X-rays, and imaging device, and an imaging process are provided, including a source of electrons generating an electron beam of nanometric size and a target, the target being designed to send out an X-ray beam upon illumination by the electron beam, the target including one nanowire, for example made of silicon, and a nanowire catalyst, for example made of gold, covering the free end of the nanowire.

Abstract: A PET apparatus and a timing correction method of this invention select two target gamma-ray detectors which count coincidences, select a reference detector which is one detector out of the two selected gamma-ray detectors, select a gamma-ray detector different from the other, opposite detector, and when repeating the selection, make a time lag histogram concerning two gamma-ray detectors selected in the past a reference, and correct a time lag histogram concerning gamma-ray detectors selected this time based on the reference. By repeating an operation to make the corrected time lag histogram concerning the two gamma-ray detectors a new reference, an optimal time lag histogram can be obtained without repeating many measurements and computations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing samples in containers are provided, where an emitter emits radiation at a first location on the container, with a portion of the radiation passing through the container and into the sample, some of the radiation is reflected within the container, a detector receives a transmission Raman signal including Raman radiation from multiple portions of the sample, and a comparator compares the transmission Raman signal with the radiation emitted by the emitter.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a sensor including a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional pattern, a sample-hold unit configured to sample and hold a signal obtained from each pixel, and a reading unit configured to perform scanning in such a way as to perform a plurality of non-destructive reading operations for pixels of one row and as to read pixels of the next row, and to subsequently perform scanning in a row direction and a column direction to read the signal having been sampled and held by the sample-hold unit, an A/D conversion unit configured to perform analog/digital conversion processing on the signal read by the reading unit, an averaging processing unit configured to perform averaging processing on the signal converted by the A/D conversion unit, for each pixel, and a digital binning unit configured to perform binning processing using the signal processed by the averaging processing unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes an X-ray tube, a detector, a first DAS, and a second DAS. The radiation detector includes a plurality of detection elements. Each detection element repeatedly detects X-rays generated by the X-ray tube and transmitted through a subject and repeatedly generates an electrical signal corresponding to the energy of the repeatedly detected X-rays. The first DAS acquires the electrical signal detected by part of the imaging region of each detection element in the integral mode. The second DAS acquires the electrical signal detected by the other part of the imaging region of each detection element in the photon count type mode.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described for a treatment balloon, and methods and systems effective to detect a position of a beam. The system may include a treatment balloon effective to receive the beam. The treatment balloon may include a shaft and a balloon portion with an open end in communication with the shaft. The balloon portion may be effective to be at least partially filled with a fluid. The treatment balloon may be effective to generate a light wave when the treatment beam is incident on the treatment balloon. A waveguide in the treatment balloon may be effective to receive the light wave. A light detector in optical communication with the waveguide may be effective to detect the light wave. A processor in communication with the light detector may be effective to detect the position of the beam.