Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for fasting switching a filter of an imaging system during scan. In one embodiment, a method comprises determining a first contrast enhancement of an injected contrast agent; responsive to the first contrast enhancement being higher than a first threshold, acquiring a first dataset by transmitting a radiation beam to an imaging subject via a first filter; switching to a different, second filter; acquiring a second dataset by transmitting the radiation beam to the imaging subject via the second filter, wherein an average contrast enhancement of the injected contrast agent during the acquisition of the first dataset is substantially the same as an average contrast enhancement of the injected contrast agent in the imaging subject during the acquisition of the second dataset.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for stationary CT imaging. In one embodiment, an imaging system comprises a stationary distributed x-ray source unit comprising a plurality of emitters positioned to emit x-ray beams through the imaging volume, one or more detector arrays extending around at least a portion of an imaging volume, each detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements, each detector element configured to receive x-ray beams from more than one emitter, and an anti-scatter device configured to be positioned between one or more emitters of the plurality of emitters and an object in the imaging volume.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for stationary CT imaging. In one embodiment, a method for an imaging system includes activating an emitter of a plurality of emitters of a stationary distributed x-ray source unit to emit an x-ray beam toward an object within an imaging volume, where the x-ray source unit does not rotate around the imaging volume, receiving the x-ray beam at a subset of detector elements of a plurality of detector elements of one or more detector arrays, sampling the plurality of detector elements to generate a total transmission profile, an attenuation profile, and a scatter measurement, generating a scatter-corrected attenuation profile by entering the total transmission profile, the attenuation profile, and the scatter measurement as inputs to a model, and reconstructing one or more images from the scatter-corrected attenuation profile.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an integrated filter assembly including a plurality of bowtie filters and a hardening filter mounted on a single carriage. In one embodiment, an imaging system may include a carriage including a hardening filter and one or more bowtie filters, and a filter driving system for moving the carriage to selectively position the hardening filter and one of the one or more bowtie filters in a path of a radiation beam between a radiation source and an imaging subject, the hardening filter at least partially overlapping with at least one of the one or more bowtie filters. In this way, a single carriage may include a plurality of filters which may be selectively positioned in a path of the radiation beam entering a subject without having to stack multiple carriages and switch carriages between scans.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for reducing vibration in a rotating body of a medical imaging system. In an example, a dynamic vibration absorber (DVA) for a medical imaging system includes a mount portion including one or more apertures and adapted to fixedly couple to a mount surface within the imaging system; a sprung portion; and a vibrational tuner, where when the mount portion is mounted to the mount surface and during operation of the imaging system, the sprung portion moves relative to the mount surface, an amount of movement of the sprung portion based at least in part on the vibrational tuner.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a radiation shielding component of an imaging apparatus. In one embodiment, the radiation shielding component may be manufactured by infiltrating metal particles with a binder solution and then curing the binder solution impregnated with the metal particles. In another embodiment, the radiation shielding component may be printed with metal powder, infiltrated with a binding agent, and then cured to polymerize the binding agent.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an integrated filter assembly including a plurality of bowtie filters and a hardening filter mounted on a single carriage. In one embodiment, an imaging system may include a carriage including a hardening filter and one or more bowtie filters, and a filter driving system for moving the carriage to selectively position the hardening filter and one of the one or more bowtie filters in a path of a radiation beam between a radiation source and an imaging subject, the hardening filter at least partially overlapping with at least one of the one or more bowtie filters. In this way, a single carriage may include a plurality of filters which may be selectively positioned in a path of the radiation beam entering a subject without having to stack multiple carriages and switch carriages between scans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biofuel, particularly an advanced solid biofuel, comprising waste coffee grounds.

Abstract: An autonomous watercraft with a waterproof container that houses a satellite communication terminal. The waterproof container includes a first shell mounted on a deck of the watercraft and that has a sealed first interior space that contains satellite communication circuitry of the terminal. The waterproof container also includes a second shell mounted under the deck of the watercraft and that has a sealed second interior space that contains the processing circuitry of the terminal. The first and second shells include ports configured to receive connectors for communication signaling and/or power. The first shell can also include a pressure port to pressurize the first interior space for use in leak detection. The shells can also include heat sinks to cool the satellite communication terminal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for measuring vibrations in an imaging system. In one embodiment, a method for a computed tomography (CT) system includes measuring a vibration level of a rotatable gantry of the CT system with a balance sensor coupled to a stationary housing of the CT system and outputting a notification indicating potential image artifacts based on the vibration level exceeding a vibration threshold.

Abstract: An autonomous watercraft with a waterproof container that houses a satellite communication terminal. The waterproof container includes a first shell mounted on a deck of the watercraft and that has a sealed first interior space that contains satellite communication circuitry of the terminal. The waterproof container also includes a second shell mounted under the deck of the watercraft and that has a sealed second interior space that contains the processing circuitry of the terminal. The first and second shells include ports configured to receive connectors for communication signaling and/or power. The first shell can also include a pressure port to pressurize the first interior space for use in leak detection. The shells can also include heat sinks to cool the satellite communication terminal.

Abstract: An aperture comprises blocking members and for blocking X-rays. The blocking member has: an edge formed on an arc A1 lying on a circumference CF2 of a circle with radius r2 around a focal spot f in an XY-plane; an edge connected to one endpoint of the edge, the edge being formed to lie on the side of the X-ray detector with respect to an arc A11 contiguous to the arc A1; and an edge connected to the other endpoint of the edge, the edge being formed to lie on the side of the X-ray detector with respect to an arc A12 contiguous to the arc A1.

Abstract: An autonomous watercraft with a waterproof container that houses a satellite communication terminal. The waterproof container includes a first shell mounted on a deck of the watercraft and that has a sealed first interior space that contains satellite communication circuitry of the terminal. The waterproof container also includes a second shell mounted under the deck of the watercraft and that has a sealed second interior space that contains the processing circuitry of the terminal. The first and second shells include ports configured to receive connectors for communication signaling and/or power. The first shell can also include a pressure port to pressurize the first interior space for use in leak detection. The shells can also include heat sinks to cool the satellite communication terminal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling systems for imaging systems. In one embodiment, a manifold assembly for an imaging system comprises: an intake manifold and a return manifold formed by a plurality of unitary sections, the intake manifold and return manifold positioned adjacent to each other and separated by a shared wall; and a plurality of nozzles, with each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles formed by a corresponding section of the plurality of unitary sections. In this way, an assembly difficulty, expense, and/or manufacturing time of the manifold assembly may be decreased.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes partially supporting a subject to be imaged on a board extending from a mobile patient transport into a gantry bore of a stationary computed tomography (CT) imaging system while partially supporting both the subject and the board with a cradle extending from a table. The method also includes acquiring a single imaging volume, during an imaging scan with the stationary CT imaging system, without moving the subject.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for measuring vibrations in an imaging system. In one embodiment, a method for a computed tomography (CT) system includes measuring a vibration level of a rotatable gantry of the CT system with a balance sensor coupled to a stationary housing of the CT system and outputting a notification indicating potential image artifacts based on the vibration level exceeding a vibration threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for fasting switching a filter of an imaging system during scan. In one embodiment, a method comprises determining a first contrast enhancement of an injected contrast agent within an imaging subject; responsive to the first contrast enhancement being higher than a first threshold, acquiring a first dataset of the imaging subject by transmitting a radiation beam to the imaging subject via a first filter; switching to a different, second filter after acquiring the first dataset; acquiring a second dataset of the imaging subject by transmitting the radiation beam to the imaging subject via the second filter, wherein an average contrast enhancement of the injected contrast agent in the imaging subject during the acquisition of the first dataset is substantially the same as an average contrast enhancement of the injected contrast agent in the imaging subject during the acquisition of the second dataset.

Abstract: An aperture comprises blocking members and for blocking X-rays. The blocking member has: an edge formed on an arc A1 lying on a circumference CF2 of a circle with radius r2 around a focal spot f in an XY-plane; an edge connected to one endpoint of the edge, the edge being formed to lie on the side of the X-ray detector with respect to an arc A11 contiguous to the arc A1; and an edge connected to the other endpoint of the edge, the edge being formed to lie on the side of the X-ray detector with respect to an arc A12 contiguous to the arc A1.

Abstract: The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds. More specifically the present invention pertains to certain substituted N-(4-hydroxy-4-methyl-cyclohexyl)-4-phenyl-benzenesulfonamide and N-(4-hydroxy-4-methyl-cyclohexyl)-4-(2-pyridyl)benzenesulfonamide compounds (collectively referred to herein as HMC compounds) that are useful, for example, in the treatment of disorders (e.g.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) and salts thereof: wherein R1 is hydrogen, methyl or —(CH2)2OR3, R2 is methyl or —(CH2)2OR4, or R1 and R2, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclyl wherein the 6-membered heterocyclyl is optionally substituted by two hydroxy substituents; R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen or methyl; and n is an integer having a value of 5 or 6, are inducers of human interferon. Compounds which induce human interferon may be useful in the treatment or prevention of various disorders, for example the treatment or prevention of allergic diseases and other inflammatory conditions, for example allergic rhinitis and asthma, infectious diseases and cancer, and may also be useful as vaccine adjuvants.