Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for reducing fluctuations in the flow rate of tail gas from the adsorption unit. The flow rate of the stream of blowdown gas is regulated responsive signals from a sensor measuring the pressure and/or flow rate of the tail gas comprising the blowdown gas and purge gas effluent before the tail gas is introduced into a surge vessel.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for reducing fluctuations in the flow rate of tail gas from the adsorption unit. The flow rate of the stream of blowdown gas is regulated responsive signals from a sensor measuring the pressure and/or flow rate of the tail gas comprising the blowdown gas and purge gas effluent before the tail gas is introduced into a surge vessel.

Abstract: Process for the production of a H2-containing product in a hydrogen production facility comprising a catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reformer and a pressure swing adsorption unit. The process comprises a catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reformer shutdown mode, a pressure swing adsorption unit shutdown mode, a pressure swing adsorption unit maintenance state, a pressure swing adsorption unit startup mode, and a catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reformer startup mode. The pressure swing adsorption unit startup mode comprises purging the adsorption beds with N2, then purging the adsorption beds with H2, and then adjusting the pressure of the H2 in the adsorption beds to within defined target pressure ranges.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient computer analysis of medical information are disclosed. A computer-implemented method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes receiving an indication of a patient study and associated modality corresponding to a patient. The method can further include associating multiple analysis services with the patient study, based at least in part on a characteristic feature of the patient study, a characteristic feature of the modality, and a characteristic feature of the services. Information corresponding to the patient study and the matched services is presented to a user.

Abstract: A position signaling is usable in connection with an image guided surgery system. A plurality of infrared emitters are mounted on a reference object. The reference object is in turn attached to the rocker arm of a head clamp. The head clamp includes a frame and a first head engaging pin secured to one side of the frame. The rocker arm includes two head engaging pins and is movable in relation to the frame. The image guided surgery system uses the signals provided by the infrared emitters to determine and account for movement of the patient's head.

Abstract: A surgical guide for use with an image guided surgery includes first and second surfaces. At least three signaling devices such as infrared emitters are disposed on the first surface, and a cylindrical mounting boss is disposed on the second surface. A guide aperture is perpendicular to the first and second surfaces and extends between them. The guide aperture is configured to support a surgical tool such as a biopsy needle. A sleeve may be placed in the aperture to support additional tools.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (A) generates an image (16) of a slice or other region of an examined subject. A smoothing filter (B) smooths the generated image to create a smoothed or filtered image representation (30). The filtering of the image, unfortunately, tends to smooth or blur the edges. An edge detecting means (C.sub.1) views the region around each sampled pixel of the filtered image to determine an amount of deviation in the pixel values. A large deviation indicates an edge; whereas, substantial homogeneity indicates the lack of an edge. Analogously, the direction of the maximum deviation is orthogonal to the direction of the edge. A plurality of soft edge directional filters (54) operate on the filtered image data to create a plurality of soft edge directionally filtered image representations (62). A plurality of hard edge directional filters (56) operate on the filtered image data to create a plurality of hard edge directionally filtered image representations (64).

Abstract: A CT scanner or other medical diagnostic imager (A) generates data which is reconstructed (B) into a three-dimensional image representation that is stored in an image memory (C). Points on a surface (10) of a selected subregion, such as the surface of an internal organ, in the three-dimensional image representation are determined (12) which are visible from and correspond to pixels on a viewing plane (14). For each viewable point on the surface, a mean variation along an x, y, and z-coordinate system with its origin at the surface point in question is determined (20). A covariance matrix whose matrix elements along the diagonal are indicative of a rate of variance along each axis and whose other matrix values are indicative of a rate of variance relative to pairs of axes is defined (20). A rate of most rapid change through the 3D data is determined (22), by eigenvalue decomposition (24) of the covariance matrix. A vector along the rate of most rapid change is normalized (26).

Abstract: A first image (20) and a second image (22) are taken through the patient's heart region at small time displaced intervals. The first and second images are subtracted (24) to generate a difference image which is indicative of the tissue which has moved during the short time interval, i.e. the boundary of the ventricles. Voxels from regions outside the boundary are adjusted to remove lung tissue (40), and ventricle boundary or edge voxels (48) and analyzed to generate a non-blood tissue histogram (62). Voxels within the boundary are analyzed to generate a blood tissue histogram (60). The histograms are fit (66, 74) to smooth curves which represent the probability distribution or confidence that each voxel value represents blood or non-blood tissue. Contiguous voxels within the boundary are counted (96) and adjusted for voxel size (98) to create an indication of left and right ventricle volume (100l, 100r).