Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a radiation shielding component of an imaging apparatus. In one embodiment, the radiation shielding component may be manufactured by infiltrating metal particles with a binder solution and then curing the binder solution impregnated with the metal particles. In another embodiment, the radiation shielding component may be printed with metal powder, infiltrated with a binding agent, and then cured to polymerize the binding agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an air flow sensor assembly for a medical gas flow device. In one embodiment, a system for an air flow sensor assembly for a medical gas flow device includes an air flow passage having a flexible reed positioned therein, the flexible reed fixedly coupled to the air flow passage via an attachment point and having an edge smaller than an inner passage wall of the air flow passage, a planar surface of the flexible reed extending into a flow path of air flow through the air flow passage, and a strain gauge coupled to the planar surface of the flexible reed.

Abstract: Various systems are provided for an ultrasound imaging system. In one example, a method comprises learning a travel path profile and one or more pressures applied along the travel path profile in response to an external handle force and acquiring an ultrasound image along the travel path profile by applying one or more pressures against an acquisition surface of a patient via a robot without the external handle force.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an ultrasound transducer structure for an ultrasound probe and methods of manufacturing thereof. In one example, the ultrasound transducer structure may include a lens, an acoustic stack disposed on the lens, and an acoustic backing material bonded to a side of the acoustic stack facing away from the lens without any intervening layer between the acoustic backing material and the acoustic stack, such that the acoustic backing material is in face-sharing contact with the side of the acoustic stack, wherein the acoustic backing material is composed of a solidified blend comprising a backing polymer.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a radiation shielding component of an imaging apparatus. In one embodiment, the radiation shielding component may be manufactured by infiltrating metal particles with a binder solution and then curing the binder solution impregnated with the metal particles. In another embodiment, the radiation shielding component may be printed with metal powder, infiltrated with a binding agent, and then cured to polymerize the binding agent.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an ultrasound transducer structure for an ultrasound probe and methods of manufacturing thereof. In one example, the ultrasound transducer structure may include a lens, an acoustic stack disposed on the lens, and an acoustic backing material bonded to a side of the acoustic stack facing away from the lens without any intervening layer between the acoustic backing material and the acoustic stack, such that the acoustic backing material is in face-sharing contact with the side of the acoustic stack, wherein the acoustic backing material is composed of a solidified blend comprising a backing polymer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an air flow sensor assembly for a medical gas flow device. In one embodiment, a system for an air flow sensor assembly for a medical gas flow device includes an air flow passage having a flexible reed positioned therein, the flexible reed fixedly coupled to the air flow passage via an attachment point and having an edge smaller than an inner passage wall of the air flow passage, a planar surface of the flexible reed extending into a flow path of air flow through the air flow passage, and a strain gauge coupled to the planar surface of the flexible reed.

Abstract: Various systems are provided for an ultrasound imaging system. In one example, a method comprises learning a travel path profile and one or more pressures applied along the travel path profile in response to an external handle force and acquiring an ultrasound image along the travel path profile by applying one or more pressures against an acquisition surface of a patient via a robot without the external handle force.

Abstract: A backing component configured to receive and attenuate transmitted acoustic signals from a transducer element in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The backing component has a unitary structure of a first material and a second material, and a variation in packing density of the first material across at least a portion of a thickness of the backing component. Further, a method of making a backing component for a transducer element in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The method includes performing an additive manufacturing technique using a first material and a second material to form the backing component that has a unitary structure of the first material and the second material. Performing the additive manufacturing technique involves varying a packing density of the first material across at least a portion of thickness of the backing component.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a membrane filter is provided. The system includes a radiation source operative to emit radiation that contacts discrete portions of a filter substrate so as to facilitate the formation of openings within the filter substrate, and a collimator disposed between the filter substrate and the radiation source and operative to restrict some of the radiation from contacting the filter substrate.

Abstract: In the present invention, an integrated scintillator and collimator array for a detector utilized in a CT imaging system is provided. The integrated scintillator and collimator assembly is are fabricated from a manufacturing process or technique in which a scintillator array including a number of scintillation pixels is optically measured to determine the precise position of each pixel on the array. A transition material is applied to the array in a 3D printing method using the position data from the optical measurement and in subsequently bonded thereto in a sintering process to form a transition material layer. A collimator material is then 3D printed onto the transition material layer using the optical measurement data to form collimator plates on the array in alignment with the pixels thereby forming a unitary scintillator/collimator assembly for use in a detector for a CT imaging system.

Abstract: In the present invention, a digital and programmable information presentation device or label is formed with a display that is operably connected to a controller that can operate the display to present information stored in an electronic memory unit connected to the controller. The information relating to the product is uploaded and stored in the memory unit according to the requirements for the information to be presented on the device/label. Further, as the device can includes a wireless communication transceiver connected to the controller, changes to the information presented on the display can be made remotely to address issues with regard to the product information stored within the device. Also included in the information would be environmental sensing that would start logging data from the time the product is made, during shipping/handling of the product and throughout the intended useful life of the product.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a membrane filter is provided. The system includes a radiation source operative to emit radiation that contacts discrete portions of a filter substrate so as to facilitate the formation of openings within the filter substrate, and a collimator disposed between the filter substrate and the radiation source and operative to restrict some of the radiation from contacting the filter substrate.

Abstract: A backing component configured to receive and attenuate transmitted acoustic signals from a transducer element in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The backing component has a unitary structure of a first material and a second material, and a variation in packing density of the first material across at least a portion of a thickness of the backing component. Further, a method of making a backing component for a transducer element in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The method includes performing an additive manufacturing technique using a first material and a second material to form the backing component that has a unitary structure of the first material and the second material. Performing the additive manufacturing technique involves varying a packing density of the first material across at least a portion of thickness of the backing component.

Abstract: A fastener torque-application and marking tool and method. An example embodiment relates to a fastener marking method comprising the steps of rotating a fastener with a torque-application device, stopping the rotation of the fastener, determining the torque value of the fastener, and marking the fastener or adjacent surface with a marking mechanism attached to the torque-application device. In another embodiment, a fastener torque application and marking tool system comprises a torque application device configured to rotate a fastener, a measuring mechanism attached to the torque application device, a marking mechanism attached to the torque-application device, and a reader that reads a unique identifier and confirms proper torqueing. In another embodiment, a torque application and marking tool comprises a handle, a driver, a fastener engaging component, a torque control, and a marking mechanism.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of measuring a surface profile of a first component, determining a profile of a second component, the profile of the second component being configured to correspond to the surface profile of the first component, and manufacturing the second component utilizing additive technology in accordance with the determined profile.

Abstract: In the present invention, a digital and programmable information presentation device or label is formed with a display that is operably connected to a controller that can operate the display to present information stored in an electronic memory unit connected to the controller. The information relating to the product is uploaded and stored in the memory unit according to the requirements for the information to be presented on the device/label. Further, as the device can includes a wireless communication transceiver connected to the controller, changes to the information presented on the display can be made remotely to address issues with regard to the product information stored within the device. Also included in the information would be environmental sensing that would start logging data from the time the product is made, during shipping/handling of the product and throughout the intended useful life of the product.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ultrasound probe comprises customizing a fit of the ultrasound probe to an operator's hand, including, generating a three-dimensional (3D) model of the operator's hand, digitizing the 3D model of the operator's hand, including obtaining a set of manual attributes, and forming a manually grasped surface of the ultrasound probe based on the digitized 3D model, and coupling the manually grasped surface to the ultrasound probe. In this way, operator hand strain while conducting ultrasound exams can be reduced.

Abstract: In the present invention, an integrated scintillator and collimator array for a detector utilized in a CT imaging system is provided. The integrated scintillator and collimator assembly is are fabricated from a manufacturing process or technique in which a scintillator array including a number of scintillation pixels is optically measured to determine the precise position of each pixel on the array. A transition material is applied to the array in a 3D printing method using the position data from the optical measurement and in subsequently bonded thereto in a sintering process to form a transition material layer. A collimator material is then 3D printed onto the transition material layer using the optical measurement data to form collimator plates on the array in alignment with the pixels thereby forming a unitary scintillator/collimator assembly for use in a detector for a CT imaging system.

Abstract: A method of process control for an additive manufacturing system includes monitoring a spark plume created during manufacturing of an article, capturing at least one image of the spark plume, deriving image data from the at least one image, feeding the image data into a statistical process control module, and generating an alert if the image data exceeds pre-determined control limits