Abstract: A convertible nephroureteral catheter is used in the treatment of urinary system complications, particularly on the need for a single surgically delivered device to treat patients who must be seen by an interventional radiologist (IR). In many current procedures, patients need to return to the operating room to remove a previously delivered nephroureteral catheter to exchange this catheter with a fully implanted ureteral stent delivered though the same access site at the flank. The present convertible nephroureteral catheter reduces the need to return for a second surgical procedure. Two weeks after initial implantation, the proximal portion of the convertible nephroureteral catheter extending out from the body may simply be removed. A simple action at the catheter hub allows this proximal portion to be removed, leaving behind the implanted ureteral stent within the patient's urinary system. Other medical procedures, devices, and technologies may benefit from the described convertible catheter.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a system for correcting thermal drift in an imaging system. More specifically, a correction algorithm determines an adjusted focal spot position based upon a first temperature focal spot position and a second temperature focal spot position. The adjusted focal spot position is utilized in the reconstruction process to correct for focal spot movement resulting from thermal drift.

Abstract: A set of two processors operates on image pixel data using polynomial interpolation to generate pixel data for a spatially varied image. Image data is first stored in a buffer memory, and constants used in the polynomial interpolation are stored in a constants memory. One processor operates on the data from the buffer memory using constants from the constants memory, and the interpolated data is then stored in a display memory. The second processor controls the interpolation process by addressing the memories for the retrieval and storage of data.

Abstract: The perception of raster lines on a television monitor is obscured by continuously and cyclically vertically shifting and presenting in successive frames the raster in successive upward positions and then in successive downward positions by incremental amounts, the total maximum vertical shift distance being less than the distance between original horizontal raster lines, thus giving the appearance of blending the information between original horizontal raster lines. Vertical raster deflection is accomplished by cyclically delaying the original, or normal, vertically sync pulses by amounts which incrementally increase to a maximum for producing a vertical frame rise less than the distance between original horizontal raster lines and decrementally decrease to no delay. A photographic camera capable of multiple frame exposure time is used to produce photographs of the video monitor without connections or operational dependence upon the television monitor system.