Abstract: A method for determining a trajectory of an elongated tool includes receiving positional information of a region of interest and receiving positional information of one or more structures at least partially occluding or obstructing access to the region of interest. Based on positional information of an initial target point in the region of interest, a sagittal plane passing through an imaging device and the initial target point is determined. Based on positional information of an entry point of the elongated tool, a trajectory of the elongated tool substantially along the sagittal plane for advancing the elongated tool to strike the initial target point without striking the one or more structures is determined.

Abstract: A method includes performing pre-treating, comprising fire-roasting or wet-washing, on the processed aluminum scraps of aeronautical aluminum alloy. The method further includes performing pressing formation on the pre-treated processed aluminum scraps of aeronautical aluminum alloy to form block-shaped aluminum scraps. The method further includes performing oxygen-controlled smelting on the block-shaped aluminum scraps in a smelting furnace to form aluminum alloy melt. The method further includes performing casting on the aluminum alloy melt to obtain an aluminum alloy product of meeting component requirements of aeronautical aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A method for recycling an aluminum alloy scrap includes performing selective oxidation roasting and washing treatment on the aluminum alloy scrap to obtain an uncoated aluminum alloy scrap; melting the uncoated aluminum alloy scrap in a refining furnace to obtain aluminum alloy melt liquid, online-detecting components of the aluminum alloy melt liquid and adding a metallic copper, a copper alloy, a magnesium alloy or a zinc alloy to the aluminum alloy melt liquid according to the requirements of target alloy components, performing pressure-controlled and oxygen-controlled melting through regulating pressure intensity and oxygen partial pressure in the refining furnace and coupling an external-field stirring mode to obtain refining aluminum alloy melt liquid; filtering the refining aluminum alloy melt liquid, to obtain an aluminum alloy melt with the target alloy components; and casting the aluminum alloy melt.

Abstract: A needle guide assembly and an automated method of operating a needle guide assembly are provided. The assembly includes a needle guide body and a controller communicatively coupled to the needle guide body. The needle guide body includes at least two separable portions. The needle guide body is operable by the controller to actuate between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In the closed configuration, the at least two portions combine to define a channel therethrough for receiving a needle. In the open configuration, the at least two portions separate to release the received needle from the channel.

Abstract: An energy storage device is disclosed that includes an axial structure with two or more rigid energy storage units and conductive flexible components separating adjacent rigid energy storage units. The rigid energy storage units include a plurality of folded layers, including an anode layer, a cathode layer, a first current collector layer, a second current collector layer, one or more separator layers, and one or more tape layers. The adjacent rigid energy storage units are produced by folding the plurality of layers one or more times onto themselves at a plurality of locations along the axial structure. The axial structure is then sealed in an aluminized casing along with an electrolyte material. The energy storage device exhibits high energy density, high foldability, and excellent electrochemical performances by virtue of the folded rigid energy storage segments connected by the flexible components.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, computer systems and computer program products for labeling components. One method includes the step of labeling (130) with a current label all voxels that are internal to a predetermined sub-volume oriented with respect to an unlabeled voxel, and directly connected to the unmarked voxel. The labeling step is repeated for all voxels that are not internal to the predetermined sub-volume, but which are labeled with a current label. The method includes the step of incrementing the current label and may include the step of increasing a window size to a predetermined maximum. The preceding steps are repeated for remaining unlabeled object voxels.

Abstract: The brain structure is extracted from CT data based on thresholding and brain mask propagation. Two thresholds are determined: a high threshold excludes the high intensity bones, while a low threshold excludes air and CSF. Brain mask propagation uses the spatial relevance of brain tissues in neighbouring slices to exclude non-brain tissues with similar intensities.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, computer systems and computer program products for labeling components. One method includes the step of labeling (130) with a current label all voxels that are internal to a predetermined sub-volume oriented with respect to an unlabeled voxel, and directly connected to the unmarked voxel. The labeling step is repeated for all voxels that are not internal to the predetermined sub-volume, but which are labeled with a current label. The method includes the step of incrementing the current label and may include the step of increasing a window size to a predetermined maximum. The preceding steps are repeated for remaining unlabeled object voxels.