Abstract: Signals in an RF field, such as that of an MRI system, are communicated through an inner conductor having an outer shield with a dielectric material therebetween and an outer cable jacket. Current in the shield caused by the RF field from the transmit body coil is reduced by providing a second dielectric material around the shield conductor and a plurality of segmented shield conductor portions formed of non-magnetic braid or wrapped non-magnetic foil tape outside the second dielectric material and inside the jacket at spaced positions along the cable, with the portions being electrically separated from each other and from the shield so that the segmented shield conductor portions act to shield the outer shield conductor to reduce the generation of current thereon while the electrical separation of the segmented shield conductor portions each from the others prevents the generation of a current along the portions.

Abstract: A method and associated system 300 for delivering intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) uses variable feathering field splitting for intensity modulated fields of large size. A processor controls a beam-shaping device that splits the radiation beam into a plurality of radiation fields delivered to a patient. The processor in cooperation with the beam-shaping device implements a variable feathering method which includes providing an intensity matrix for the treatment of a patient, the intensity matrix having a plurality of rows and columns for spanning a prescribed radiation field including a prescribed field width. The prescribed width is compared to a maximum field width provided by the radiation treatment system.

Abstract: A method of detecting collisions between elements in a medical procedure such as between a magnet and another element in the procedure mounting on the medical device a flexible body within which is mounted one or more parallel side by side optical fibers arranged such that the impact causes bending of one or more of the optical fibers and detecting changes in light transmission through the optical fiber to detect the bending and thus the collision. The single fiber or fibers are located in a junction between a lower body of resilient foam and a surface layer of a stiffer flexible material.

Abstract: A method and associated system 300 for delivering intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) uses variable feathering field splitting for intensity modulated fields of large size. Processor 112 controls a beam-shaping device 106 so that the beam-shaping device splits the radiation beam into a plurality of radiation fields delivered to the patient 102. Processor 112 in cooperation with beam-shaping device 106 implements a variable feathering method which includes the steps of providing an intensity matrix for the treatment of a patient, the intensity matrix having a plurality of rows and columns for spanning a prescribed radiation field including a prescribed field width. The prescribed width is compared to a maximum field width provided by the radiation treatment system. The intensity matrix is split into a plurality of spatially overlapping intensity submatrices when the prescribed width exceeds the maximum field width, wherein the splitting comprises variably feathering the intensity matrix.

Abstract: A patient imaging system includes a patient support table, an MRI system including a cylindrical magnet and a PET system including positron detectors mounted in a ring. The magnet defines a cylindrical bore for receiving the patient on the table where the magnet is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on a slew ring carried on rails allowing longitudinal movement. The PET ring is mounted in the bore for longitudinal movement. The quench tube for the magnet passes through the slew ring with a rotary union at the axis. The shielding covers include a fixed upper part and a lower part which rotates about the axis with the magnet. The magnet is arranged in a two or three room diagnostic configuration in which a holding bay houses the magnet and the diagnostic patients are organized in the three rooms each cooperating with the magnet bay as the magnet is rotated.

Abstract: A method of detecting collisions between elements in a medical procedure such as between a magnet and another element in the procedure mounting on the medical device a flexible body within which is mounted one or more parallel side by side optical fibers arranged such that the impact causes bending of one or more of the optical fibers and detecting changes in light transmission through the optical fiber to detect the bending and thus the collision. The single fiber or fibers are located in a junction between a lower body of resilient foam and a surface layer of a stiffer flexible material.

Abstract: Individuals in a population are paired together to produce children. Each individual has a subset of features obtained from a group of features. A genetic algorithm is used to construct combinations or subsets of features in the children. A classification algorithm is then used to evaluate the fitness or cost value of each child. The processes of reproduction and evaluation repeat until the population reaches a given classification level. A different classification algorithm is then applied to the population that reached the given classification level.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting temporal process variation and for managing and predicting performance of automatic classifiers applied to such processes using performance estimates based on temporal ordering of the samples are presented.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting temporal process variation and for managing and predicting performance of automatic classifiers applied to such processes using performance estimates based on temporal ordering of the samples are presented.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting temporal process variation and for managing and predicting performance of automatic classifiers applied to such processes using performance estimates based on temporal ordering of the samples are presented.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting temporal process variation and for managing and predicting performance of automatic classifiers applied to such processes using performance estimates based on temporal ordering of the samples are presented.

Abstract: A method of delivering intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is disclosed. An intensity profile for the treatment of a patient is provided which spans a prescribed field width and includes a discrete profile having intensity values at each of a plurality of sample points bounded by the prescribed width. The prescribed width is compared to a maximum field width provided by the radiation treatment system. The intensity profile is split into a plurality of intensity profile portions, each having respective widths less than the maximum width if the prescribed width is greater than the maximum width. The prescribed field is also divided into a plurality of different profile portion split arrangements. A monitor unit (MU) efficiency is calculated for each of the arrangements. One of the arrangements is selected for delivery by the system using a leaf sequencing method.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention use the results of a plurality of defect detecting tests and adjust the result of each test in a manner that reflects the accuracy of the test that produced it. A manufactured unit can then be evaluated using a mathematical combination of the adjusted results.

Abstract: Representative embodiments are directed to systems and methods for processing training data for a statistical classification application. In one embodiment, confidence values are calculated for training data elements to identify the probabilities of the training data elements belonging to identified classes. An interactive scatter plot is generated using the calculated confidence values. The scatter plot visually indicates the confidence values of points in the scatter plot. Accordingly, the user is able to identify potentially misclassified training data elements. The user may select training data elements from the scatter plot and reclassify training elements as appropriate. Upon reclassification, the confidence values may be recalculated and the scatter plot revised.

Abstract: A method of determining a treatment plan for intensity modulated radiation treatment (IMRT) divides a three-dimensional volume of a patient into a grid of dose voxels. At least a portion of the dose voxels are designated to belong to at least one target or to at least one critical structure. An ionizing radiation dose as delivered by a plurality of beamlets each having a beamlet intensity is modeled. A non-linear convex voxel-based penalty function model is provided for optimizing a fluence map. The fluence map defines the beamlet intensities for each of the plurality of beamlets. The model is then solved based on defined clinical criteria for the target and the critical structure using an interior point algorithm with dense column handling to obtain a globally optimal fluence map.

Abstract: An inspection system inspects features of an object using a feedback mechanism. The inspection system includes a processor that receives image data representing the object. The processor is operable to determine parameter modification information from the image data and modify an image parameter used during the production of the image data with the parameter modification information. The modified image parameter is used during the production of subsequent image data representing the object.

Abstract: A method of delivering radiation treatment using multi-leaf collimation includes the step of providing a radiation fluence map which includes an intensity profile. The fluence map is converted into a preliminary leaf sequence, wherein the preliminary leaf sequence minimizes machine on-time and is generated without leaf movement constraints. The leaf movement constraint is imposed on the preliminary leaf sequence. At least one constraint elimination algorithm is then applied, the algorithm adjusting the preliminary leaf sequence to minimize violations of the constraint while providing the desired fluence map and minimized radiation on-time. The method can be applied to SMLC and DLMC systems, and can include adjustment for the tongue-and-groove effect.

Abstract: Optimizing tester performance using Operating Characteristics curves. By modeling the Operating Characteristics of classifiers used in testing systems, tester performance is optimized. Classifiers are constructed using sample data. Operating Characteristic curves for each classifier are constructed, each Operating Characteristics curve representing a design alternative. The Operating Characteristic curves are combined with cost models from which design decisions may be made.

Abstract: A telephone cord having a digital transmission includes six lines and has two ends each provided with a connecting terminal which is formed with six insertion slots each mating with and connected to a corresponding one of the six lines for insertion of one of six metallic guide plates. When either one of the metallic guide plates is inserted into the respective insertion slot, the metallic guide plate is electrically connected to the respective line of the telephone cord. Thus, the telephone cord has double functions of telephone communication and digital network communication, so that the telephone cord combines the functions of the ordinary telephone cord and the ordinary network cord, thereby greatly enhancing the versatility of the telephone cord.