Abstract: A mounting assembly configured for detachably mounting a percussion instrument to an instrument stand is disclosed. The assembly has an instrument mounting assembly that has a clamp bracket, a clamp, and a wing screw. An instrument is held to the instrument mounting assembly by placing a mountable portion of the instrument between a set of notches carved out of a first and a second side of the clamp bracket and a clamp. The instrument is secured in the bracket by screwing the wing nut through a hole in a third side of the clamp bracket to cause the clamp to apply a force against the mountable portion of the instrument such that the instrument is held in place between the notches and a groove of the clamp.

Abstract: A snare cajón percussion instrument is disclosed. The instrument comprises a closed frame body having a plurality of sides, each side having a top portion, a bottom portion, an inner portion, and an outer portion. A rigid striking surface is securely affixed to the top portions of the plurality of sides. A snare apparatus having a brace, a fastener, and at least one snare element is securely attached to the inner portion of a first side of the frame body via the fastener and is configured to allow the snare element to alternatively contact and not contact the striking surface to produce a snare sound. The instrument may have a second striking surface that does not contact the snare apparatus and produces a cajón sound.

Abstract: An object, such as a tumor from a breast lumpectomy, is placed into an object positioning device that can hold the object without deforming it. Such a device can include a container with a deformable foam, gel, or other material. The object positioning device is moved into an imaging device. Images of the object within the object positioning device are acquired by the imaging device. The acquired images are stored, processed, or output on a display device. Information about the spatial orientation of the object with respect to a reference object is preserved.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses that allow for a high-hat mounted tambourine musical instrument to be muted are disclosed. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a mutable tambourine jingle assembly that can be permanently engaged with the press of a button or otherwise. As such, the need for a user to physically hold the tambourine or an attached lever (e.g., a foot pedal) to mute the jingle assembly is obviated. In another aspect of the present disclosure, apparatuses are provided that facilitate a user simultaneously muting all of the jingles of a hi-hat mounted tambourine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tuning system for tuning a hand percussion instrument having a head and a shell. The tuning system comprises a rim, the rim secured to the head of the instrument, the rim comprising at least one receptacle, the receptacle positioned at outer periphery of the rim such that the receptacle body is below the plane of the rim, a side plate assembly, the side plate assembly secured to the shell of the instrument, a tuning rod, the tuning rod having a first end secured to the receptacle for varying the tension on the head, and the tuning rod having a second end secured to the side plate assembly.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses that allow for a high-hat mounted tambourine musical instrument to be muted are disclosed. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a mutable tambourine jingle assembly that can be permanently engaged with the press of a button or otherwise. As such, the need for a user to physically hold the tambourine or an attached lever (e.g., a foot pedal) to mute the jingle assembly is obviated. In another aspect of the present disclosure, apparatuses are provided that facilitate a user simultaneously muting all of the jingles of a hi-hat mounted tambourine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tuning system for tuning a hand percussion instrument having a head and a shell. The tuning system comprises a rim, the rim secured to the head of the instrument, the rim comprising at least one receptacle, the receptacle positioned at outer periphery of the rim such that the receptacle body is below the plane of the rim, a side plate assembly, the side plate assembly secured to the shell of the instrument, a tuning rod, the tuning rod having a first end secured to the receptacle for varying the tension on the head, and the tuning rod having a second end secured to the side plate assembly.

Abstract: A triangle musical instrument that may be played using a single hand. The triangle is formed such that a percussionist is able to grasp the triangle in one hand and shake it in a back-and-forth motion to produce the familiar triangle musical instrument sound. Openings formed in the sides of the instrument allow the percussionist to mute the sounds.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting musical instruments comprises a base, a bearing, the bearing secured to the base, a post, the post comprising a head, the head comprising a plurality of mounting flanges for mounting a musical instrument, and a body, the body fixedly connected to head at a first end, the body further rotatably engaged to the bearing at a second end.

Abstract: A triangle musical instrument that may be played using a single hand. The triangle is formed such that a percussionist is able to grasp the triangle in one hand and shake it in a back-and-forth motion to produce the familiar triangle musical instrument sound. Openings formed in the sides of the instrument allow the percussionist to mute the sounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tuning system for tuning a hand percussion instrument having a head and a shell. The tuning system comprises a rim, the rim secured to the head of the instrument, the rim comprising at least one receptacle, the receptacle positioned at outer periphery of the rim such that the receptacle body is below the plane of the rim, a side plate assembly, the side plate assembly secured to the shell of the instrument, a tuning rod, the tuning rod having a first end secured to the receptacle for varying the tension on the head, and the tuning rod having a second end secured to the side plate assembly.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting musical instruments comprises a base, a bearing, the bearing secured to the base, a post, the post comprising a head, the head comprising a plurality of mounting flanges for mounting a musical instrument, and a body, the body fixedly connected to head at a first end, the body further rotatably engaged to the bearing at a second end.

Abstract: A bar chime apparatus has a mantle with one or more pivot mechanisms that connect two or more bar segments. The one or more pivot mechanisms have two or more slots. The two or more bar segments can be folded and secured in the two or more slots. Two or more bar chimes are suspended from the mantle.

Abstract: There is provided a drum head assembly. The drum head assembly has an outer member and an inner member. The outer member has an L-shaped step on its inside surface with posts extending outward from the base of the step. The depth of the inside edge of the outer member determines the amount of tension on the head. A die cut head or skin with holes punched to match the posts is inserted into the outer member. The inner member with holes that match the posts in the outer member is pressed onto the underside of the outer member. The pressure forces the inner member into the inside edge of the L-shaped inside surface of the outer member. There is also provided a method in which the die cut head or skin gets pulled at the same time, thus creating tension. While the assembly is still under pressure, a heated mandrel melts the post ends onto the inner member, thus holding the three components of the assembly in place.

Abstract: The present invention concerns x-ray sources for mammography. A microfocused x-ray source of small size (30 ?m and smaller) with x-ray spectrum optimized for enhanced mammography is obtained with a method and system according to the invention. The proposed x-ray source is based on the use of plasmas created by the energy distribution of suprathermal electrons that are produced during the interaction of the laser beam with a solid target. These hot electrons penetrate the surface layer of cold plasma and interact with the solid core of the target. The method and system according to the present invention allows optimizing the x-ray source size, its spectral distribution, and the conversion efficiency in the 17.3-28.5 keV range (adapted to the breast thickness).

Abstract: There is provided a drum head assembly. The drum head assembly has an outer member and an inner member. The outer member has an L-shaped step on its inside surface with posts extending outward from the base of the step. The depth of the inside edge of the outer member determines the amount of tension on the head. A die cut head or skin with holes punched to match the posts is inserted into the outer member. The inner member with holes that match the posts in the outer member is pressed onto the underside of the outer member. The pressure forces the inner member into the inside edge of the L-shaped inside surface of the outer member. There is also provided a method in which the die cut head or skin gets pulled at the same time, thus creating tension. While the assembly is still under pressure, a heated mandrel melts the post ends onto the inner member, thus holding the three components of the assembly in place.

Abstract: The present invention concerns x-ray sources for mammography. A microfocused x-ray source of small size (30 &mgr;&mgr;m and smaller) with x-ray spectrum optimized for enhanced mammography is obtained with a method and system according to the invention. The proposed x-ray source is based on the use of plasmas created by the energy distribution of suprathermal electrons that are produced during the interaction of the laser beam with a solid target. These hot electrons penetrate the surface layer of cold plasma and interact with the solid core of the target. The method and system according to the present invention allows optimizing the x-ray source size, its spectral distribution, and the conversion efficiency in the 17.3-28 5 keV range (adapted to the breast thickness).

Abstract: There is provided a musical instrument according to the present invention having body wall with a single welded seam on the underside opposite the striking or playing side. This construction method allows for a vibrating surface of continuing proportions producing a sound that is very articulate, yet retains a nice balance of overtones. In addition, there is a cost savings in manufacturing musical instruments according to the present invention. The musical instruments of the present invention are also more durable.

Abstract: There is provided a musical instrument according to the present invention having body wall with a single welded seam on the underside opposite the striking or playing side. This construction method allows for a vibrating surface of continuing proportions producing a sound that is very articulate, yet retains a nice balance of overtones. In addition, there is a cost savings in manufacturing musical instruments according to the present invention. The musical instruments of the present invention are also more durable.