Abstract: A communication device comprising: a first unit having a first antenna, a second antenna, and a first signal transmitting and receiving circuitry; a second unit having a third antenna and a fourth antenna and wherein the second unit is located in proximity to the first unit; wherein the second unit is capable of receiving a first radio frequency (RF) signal at a first frequency, amplifying the first RF signal in a second unit low noise amplifier (LNA), and autonomously transmitting the first RF signal through a barrier to the first unit; and wherein the first unit is capable of transmitting signals at the first frequency to a wireless device. The communication device is capable of operating in a first mode by communicating with a terrestrial base station and in a second mode with a satellite.

Abstract: An example method of radiation therapy in a radiation therapy system that includes a gantry with a treatment-delivering X-ray source and an imaging X-ray source mounted thereon is described. The method includes rotating the gantry in a first direction at a first rotational velocity about an open bore and concurrently rotating an annular support structure at a second rotational velocity about the open bore, wherein the second rotational velocity is less than the first rotational velocity. While continuing to rotate the gantry in the first direction about the open bore from a first position to a treatment position, the method also includes generating multiple images of a target volume disposed in the bore using the imaging X-ray source. Upon rotating the gantry to the treatment position, the method includes initiating delivery of a treatment beam to the target volume with the treatment-delivering X-ray source.

Abstract: An example method of radiation therapy in a radiation therapy system that includes a gantry with a treatment-delivering X-ray source and an imaging X-ray source mounted thereon is described. The method includes rotating the gantry in a first direction at a first rotational velocity about an open bore and concurrently rotating an annular support structure at a second rotational velocity about the open bore, wherein the second rotational velocity is less than the first rotational velocity. While continuing to rotate the gantry in the first direction about the open bore from a first position to a treatment position, the method also includes generating multiple images of a target volume disposed in the bore using the imaging X-ray source. Upon rotating the gantry to the treatment position, the method includes initiating delivery of a treatment beam to the target volume with the treatment-delivering X-ray source.

Abstract: A pneumatic textile system capable of transforming from a two-dimensional structure to a three-dimensional structure under pneumatic pressure is provided. The pneumatic textile system includes a seamless knit fabric having a grid configuration defining a plurality of grid areas—a first of the plurality of grid areas having a tensile strength that is different from a second of the plurality of grid areas. A pneumatic bladder member is disposed along at least a portion of a boundary between adjacent ones of the plurality of grid areas and is inflatable to exert a force on the seamless knit fabric, wherein upon inflation of the pneumatic bladder member the force is exerted on the seamless knit fabric such that the first of the plurality of grid area assumes a shape different than the second of the plurality of grid areas resulting in a three-dimensional structure transformation.

Abstract: A Handy Base Station (HBS) which is capable of connecting through a base portion into a power socket (e.g., lamp socket). The HBS may have a plurality of functional modules capable of being detachably mounted in a housing. One of the functional modules may be a light emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED). Another module may be a a communication module which may communicate using a wire line or wirelessly using standard wireless communication protocols. Further disclosed is a combination unit which has the HBS located on a pole such as a utility pole with a landing pad for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to allow the UAV a recharging location between deliveries and to allow the HBS to guide the UAV on its flight.

Abstract: A pneumatic textile system capable of transforming from a two-dimensional structure to a three-dimensional structure under pneumatic pressure is provided. The pneumatic textile system includes a seamless knit fabric having a grid configuration defining a plurality of grid areas—a first of the plurality of grid areas having a tensile strength that is different from a second of the plurality of grid areas. A pneumatic bladder member is disposed along at least a portion of a boundary between adjacent ones of the plurality of grid areas and is inflatable to exert a force on the seamless knit fabric, wherein upon inflation of the pneumatic bladder member the force is exerted on the seamless knit fabric such that the first of the plurality of grid area assumes a shape different than the second of the plurality of grid areas resulting in a three-dimensional structure transformation.

Abstract: Reconstruction of projection images of a CBCT scan is performed by generating simulated projection data, comparing the simulated projection data to the projection images of the CBCT scan, determining a residual volume based on the comparison, and using the residual volume to determine an accurate reconstructed volume. The reconstructed volume can be used to segment a tumor (and potentially one or more organs) and align the tumor to a planning volume (e.g., from a CT scan) to identify changes, such as shape of the tumor and proximity of the tumor to an organ. These changes can be used to update a radiation therapy procedure, such as by altering a radiation treatment plan and fine-tuning a patient position.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, a block of an amorphous scintillator material is divided into plural sections. The plural sections of the block are rejoined with plural first reflective septa to form an assembly. In the assembly, each of the plural first reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the block. The assembly is then divided into plural sections in a way such that each of the plural sections of the block is divided into plural pixels. The plural sections of the assembly are rejoined with plural second reflective septa. Each of the plural second reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the assembly, forming an array comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of the amorphous scintillator material. In the array, each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a portion of at least one of the plural first reflective septa and at least one of the second reflective septa.

Abstract: An example method of radiation therapy in a radiation therapy system that includes a gantry with a treatment-delivering X-ray source and an imaging X-ray source mounted thereon is described. The method includes rotating the gantry in a first direction at a first rotational velocity about an open bore and concurrently rotating an annular support structure at a second rotational velocity about the open bore, wherein the second rotational velocity is less than the first rotational velocity. While continuing to rotate the gantry in the first direction about the open bore from a first position to a treatment position, the method also includes generating multiple images of a target volume disposed in the bore using the imaging X-ray source. Upon rotating the gantry to the treatment position, the method includes initiating delivery of a treatment beam to the target volume with the treatment-delivering X-ray source.

Abstract: A method of generating an image synthesis process is disclosed, where the image synthesis process improves image quality of degraded volumetric images. In the method, a machine learning process is trained in a supervised learning framework as the image synthesis process. In the supervised learning process, a lower-quality partial-data reconstruction of a target volume is employed as an input object in the supervised learning process and a higher-quality full data reconstruction of the target volume is employed as an expected output. The full data reconstruction is generated based on a first set of projection images of the three-dimensional volume and the partial-data reconstruction is generated based on a second set of projection images of the three-dimensional volume, where the second set of projection images includes projection images that have less image information and/or are of a lower image quality than the first set of projection images.

Abstract: A radiation therapy system delivers radiation treatment over a 360-degree arc and performs a prepended imaging process, in a single pass, via an extended rotation gantry. While rotating the gantry in one direction about a bore of the radiation system, the radiation system generates multiple images of a target volume disposed in the bore using an imaging X-ray source mounted on the gantry. Then, while continuing to rotate the gantry in the same direction, the radiation system delivers a treatment beam to the target volume using a treatment-delivering X-ray source mounted on the gantry, where the treatment beam is delivered from some or all of a 360-degree arc about the bore. Thus, the prepended imaging process and the delivery of radiation are performed in a single pass of the gantry about a target volume, eliminating the need for a return stroke of the gantry for completion.

Abstract: A radiation therapy system delivers radiation treatment over a 360-degree arc and performs a prepended imaging process, in a single pass, via an extended rotation gantry. While rotating the gantry in one direction about a bore of the radiation system, the radiation system generates multiple images of a target volume disposed in the bore using an imaging X-ray source mounted on the gantry. Then while continuing to rotate the gantry in the same direction, the radiation system delivers a treatment beam to the target volume using a treatment-delivering X-ray source mounted on the gantry, where the treatment beam is delivered from some or all of a 360-degree arc about the bore. Thus, the prepended imaging process and the delivery of radiation are performed in a single-pass of the gantry about a target volume, eliminating the need for a return stroke of the gantry for completion.

Abstract: A method of generating an image synthesis process is disclosed, where the image synthesis process improves image quality of degraded volumetric images. In the method, a machine learning process is trained in a supervised learning framework as the image synthesis process. In the supervised learning process, a lower-quality partial-data reconstruction of a target volume is employed as an input object in the supervised learning process and a higher-quality full data reconstruction of the target volume is employed as an expected output. The full data reconstruction is generated based on a first set of projection images of the three-dimensional volume and the partial-data reconstruction is generated based on a second set of projection images of the three-dimensional volume, where the second set of projection images includes projection images that have less image information and/or are of a lower image quality than the first set of projection images.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, a block of an amorphous scintillator material is divided into plural sections. The plural sections of the block are rejoined with plural first reflective septa to form an assembly. In the assembly, each of the plural first reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the block. The assembly is then divided into plural sections in a way such that each of the plural sections of the block is divided into plural pixels. The plural sections of the assembly are rejoined with plural second reflective septa. Each of the plural second reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the assembly, forming an array comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of the amorphous scintillator material. In the array, each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a portion of at least one of the plural first reflective septa and at least one of the second reflective septa.

Abstract: In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, a process to estimate scattered radiation contained in x-ray projections for computed tomography (CT) reconstruction is provided. The process may construct an object model based on a plurality of projection images generated by CT scanning of an object using an x-ray radiation source and a detector panel. The process may construct a virtual radiation source based on the x-ray radiation source, and a virtual detector panel based on the detector panel. The process may perform a simulated CT scanning of the object model by simulating macroscopic behavior of particles being emitted from the virtual radiation source, passing through the object model, and being detected by the virtual detector panel. And the process may generate a simulated scatter image based on a first subset of particles scattered during the simulated CT scanning of the object model.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, a block of an amorphous scintillator material is divided into plural sections. The plural sections of the block are rejoined with plural first reflective septa to form an assembly. In the assembly, each of the plural first reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the block. The assembly is then divided into plural sections in a way such that each of the plural sections of the block is divided into plural pixels. The plural sections of the assembly are rejoined with plural second reflective septa. Each of the plural second reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the assembly, forming an array comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of the amorphous scintillator material. In the array, each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a portion of at least one of the plural first reflective septa and at least one of the second reflective septa.

Abstract: In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, a process to estimate scattered radiation contained in x-ray projections for computed tomography (CT) reconstruction is provided. The process may construct an object model based on a plurality of projection images generated by CT scanning of an object using an x-ray radiation source and a detector panel. The process may construct a virtual radiation source based on the x-ray radiation source, and a virtual detector panel based on the detector panel. The process may perform a simulated CT scanning of the object model by simulating macroscopic behavior of particles being emitted from the virtual radiation source, passing through the object model, and being detected by the virtual detector panel. And the process may generate a simulated scatter image based on a first subset of particles scattered during the simulated CT scanning of the object model.

Abstract: In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, a process for calculating patient-specific organ dose is presented. The process may include constructing a computed tomography (CT) volume based on CT images generated by a CT scanner. The process may include segmenting the CT volume into a plurality of organ regions, generating a material density map for the CT volume based on Hounsfield Unit (HU) values, and generating a dose distribution map for the CT volume based on the material density map by simulating particles emitting from the CT scanner and flowing through the CT volume. The process may further generate a dose value delivered to a specific organ region of the plurality of organ regions based on the dose distribution map.

Abstract: A novel method for simulating radiation dose reduction that enables previews of low-dose x-ray projection images, low-dose computed tomography images and/or cone-beam CT images. Given an existing projection or set of projections of the patient acquired at a nominal dose, the method provides a means to produce highly accurate preview images that accurately reflect the image quality associated with reduced radiation dose. The low-dose preview image accounts for characteristics of the imaging system, including blur, variations in detector gain and electronic noise, and does so in a manner that yields accurate depiction of the magnitude and correlation of image noise in the preview images. A calibration step may be included to establish the system-specific relationship between the mean and variance in detector signal, and incorporate an accurate model for system blur such that correlations in the resulting LDP images are accurate.

Abstract: Reconstruction of projection images of a CBCT scan is performed by generating simulated projection data, comparing the simulated projection data to the projection images of the CBCT scan, determining a residual volume based on the comparison, and using the residual volume to determine an accurate reconstructed volume. The reconstructed volume can be used to segment a tumor (and potentially one or more organs) and align the tumor to a planning volume (e.g., from a CT scan) to identify changes, such as shape of the tumor and proximity of the tumor to an organ. These changes can be used to update a radiation therapy procedure, such as by altering a radiation treatment plan and fine-tuning a patient position.