Abstract: A system for breast computed tomography includes a table supporting a patient in a prone position with an opening positioned for a breast of the patient to extend downwards therethrough, a gantry assembly positioned beneath the table with a platform driven to rotate by a motor, an x-ray source assembly coupled to the platform to rotate therewith and positioned to irradiate with an x-ray beam at least a portion of the breast, and a detector assembly coupled to the platform to rotate therewith and positioned to receive the x-ray beam from the x-ray source assembly. The system includes a shielding enclosure rigidly mounted atop the platform to rotate therewith, enclosing during rotation of the platform the detector assembly, the breast, and the x-ray beam, and having walls composed of a material and a thickness to attenuate an x-ray beam of a predetermined energy and intensity by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for applying, measuring, regulating and displaying the amount of traction force applied to a patient's lower limbs during surgery, while providing for warnings and alarms should force or time limits be exceeded.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a structure function monitor provide for generation of parameters characterizing a refractive medium. In an embodiment, a structure function monitor acquires images of a pupil plane and an image plane and, from these images, retrieves the phase over an aperture, unwraps the retrieved phase, and analyzes the unwrapped retrieved phase. In an embodiment, analysis yields atmospheric parameters measured at spatial scales from zero to the diameter of a telescope used to collect light from a source.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for surface layer atmospheric turbulence differential image motion measurement provide the ability to measure and characterize the atmospheric turbulence in a surface boundary layer with applications to a wide variety of technical areas including, but not limited to, astronomy and atmospheric conditions for take-off and landing at airports. Methods and apparatus include multiple optical sources and a receiver having sub-apertures for detecting light traveling along independent paths from the optical sources to the sub-apertures. The sub-apertures of the receiver are arranged, including relative spacing, to match the geometric arrangement of the multiple optical sources, where there is one sub-aperture for each optical source. Appropriate images received by the sub-apertures are analyzed using differential image motion measurement techniques.

Abstract: An improved spring brake construction is formed by a pair of concave metal housng portions having peripheral lips. Once the internal components of the spring brake are assembled within the housing portions, the lip of one housing portion is spun over the lip of the other housing portion to capture and grip it, thereby permanently sealing the housing portions together. The push rod and coil spring within the spring brake are maintained in axial alignment by a central indentation in one of the housing portions that extends coaxially within the coil spring, and by the construction of the spring diaphragm with a central axial protrusion which extends into a central opening in a spring plate on the side of the diaphragm facing the coil spring. On the opposite side of the diaphragm a push rod seat is laterally restrained from movement relative to the diaphragm.