Abstract: A radiation detector includes a pressure-tight housing having a peripheral, cylindrically-shaped wall and opposite end closures. An electrode wire extends through a center of the housing, spaced from the cylindrically-shaped wall. A pressurized detector gas fills the housing, and circuit connections to the electrode wire and the housing permits application of an electric potential thereto. The electrode wire is composed of a material providing a source of alpha particles for ionizing the gas within the housing, generating an alpha peak on the output spectrum distinct from the peak generated by incident neutrons. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A radiation detector is provided having an anode wire formed of an amorphous metal alloy. In one embodiment the radiation detector comprises a cathode assembly. The cathode assembly includes a main portion, a first end and a second end, where the first end opposes the second end. The cathode assembly also includes a radiation interacting material. An anode extends within the cathode assembly from the first end to the second end, and the anode is comprised of an amorphous metal alloy.

Abstract: A radiation detector includes a pressure-tight housing having a peripheral, cylindrically-shaped wall and opposite end closures. An electrode wire extends through a center of the housing, spaced from the cylindrically-shaped wall. A pressurized detector gas fills the housing, and circuit connections to the electrode wire and the housing permits application of an electric potential thereto. The electrode wire is composed of a material providing a source of alpha particles for ionizing the gas within the housing, generating an alpha peak on the output spectrum distinct from the peak generated by incident neutrons. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for detecting wear debris particulate from a medical implant within the body of a living animal is provided. The system includes an acoustic transmitter for transmitting acoustic energy from outside the body to a soft tissue region proximate the medical implant containing wear debris particles; an acoustic receiver located outside the body to detect resultant acoustic energy generated by the wear debris particles and produce a received signal indicative thereof; a processor for processing the received signal to evaluate at least one parameter associated with the wear debris particles; and an output for indicating the at least one parameter.

Abstract: An implant device which includes a structure implantable within a living animal and a sensor included as part of the structure. The sensor is operatively configured to detect accretion of biological material on the sensor by producing an output which varies as a function of the accretion of biological material on the sensor. A communication element is further included as part of the structure and is operatively coupled to the output of the sensor. The communication element is configured to communicate information based on the output of the sensor wirelessly to a remote element located outside the living animal.

Abstract: An analyzer apparatus and method is provided for analyzing restenosis associated with a stent implanted within a living body. The apparatus includes an input for receiving ultrasonic data from an ultrasonic imaging apparatus; digital memory for storing the ultrasonic data at least temporarily; a processor for analyzing the ultrasonic data, the processor being configured to analyze the data in accordance with at least one predefined criteria to diagnose a degree of restenosis experienced by the stent; and an output for outputting information indicative of the diagnosis.

Abstract: An analyzer apparatus and method is provided for analyzing restenosis associated with a stent implanted within a living body. The apparatus includes an input for receiving ultrasonic data from an ultrasonic imaging apparatus; digital memory for storing the ultrasonic data at least temporarily; a processor for analyzing the ultrasonic data, the processor being configured to analyze the data in accordance with at least one predefined criteria to diagnose a degree of restenosis experienced by the stent; and an output for outputting information indicative of the diagnosis.

Abstract: An implant device is provided which is responsive to an external interrogation circuit. The implant device includes a structure implantable within a living animal and operatively configured to carry out or assist in carrying out a function within the living animal. The device further includes an electrically passive sensing circuit integral with the structure for sensing a parameter associated with the function. In particular, the sensing circuit includes an inductive element wherein the sensing circuit has a frequency dependent variable impedance loading effect on the interrogation circuit in response to an interrogation signal provided by the exciter/interrogator element, the impedance loading effect varying in relation to the sensed parameter.

Abstract: A device and system for remotely interrogating a diagnostic implant device utilizes acoustic energy to power and/or interrogate the device. Acoustic energy is utilized to excite the device from outside the body of a patient. By analyzing the response of the device to such excitation, it is possible to ascertain the condition of the device. Additionally, acoustic energy may be used to provide operating power to the device.

Abstract: An implant device which includes a structure implantable within a living animal and a sensor included as part of the structure. The sensor is operatively configured to detect accretion of biological material on the sensor by producing an output which varies as a function of the accretion of biological material on the sensor. A communication element is further included as part of the structure and is operatively coupled to the output of the sensor. The communication element is configured to communicate information based on the output of the sensor wirelessly to a remote element located outside the living animal.

Abstract: A strain gauge device for detecting force applied to a planar structure, the device including a capacitor having two spaced conductive surfaces, and a dielectric material between the conductive surfaces with a dielectric constant that varies in relation to strain force normal to the surfaces. In one embodiment, the dielectric material is realized in the form of a pair of facing linear molecule monolayers attached endwise to the respective conductive layers and oriented at an oblique angle to the layers.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for permitting the magnetization of flexible hard magnetic materials in the form of sheets or strips, such as magnetic rubber, wherein opposing arrays formed from alternating magnetic disks and flux conducting elements are use in sets of two with opposing polar moments such as to induce a magnetic flux in the gap between the discs. The width of the magnetic disk and flux conducting elements, respectively, are selected to optimize the magnetic pull strength of the material. At the array ends are flux conducting elements that are about 1/2 (i.e., from about 0.25 to about 0.75, and preferably from about 0.4 to 0.6) of the width of the internal flux conducting elements. A material to be magnetized is passed between the array sets in contrast with both disks and consequently imprinted with magnetic poles. The magnetized properties of the material is enhanced by passing the material through a second set of arrays which are axially offset with respect to the first set of arrays.

Abstract: This method teaches how to recover and reuse a powder of a thermally degradable material which is used in a selective laser sintering (SLS) process. To recycle such a laser-sinterable powder successfully in a SLS machine it is protected against degradation by cooling the hot bed while layer-upon-layer (layer-wise) of powder is being sintered, seriatim, to form successive slices fused together to form an article of arbitrary shape (part). The process requires maintaining the powder which has more than 80% of the number of particles <53 .mu.m as a quiescent bed which is nevertheless porous enough to permit flowing a cooling gas downwardly through the bed without disrupting its surface. Since each slice is formed at the surface, and the part, as it is formed, is supported in a well-insulated bed, the powder adjacent the slice is at a much higher temperature than powder in the rest of the bed, which, but for the cooling gas, would get overheated.