Abstract: A safety apparatus and method for automatically disabling a utility of a facility. One safety apparatus may be connected, for example, in a basement of a house in line with a water pipe just after a water meter. Another safety apparatus may be connected, for example, in an apartment building in line with a gas utility pipe just after a gas meter. Still another safety apparatus may be connected, for example, in a house in line with a home heating oil pipe. Any of the safety apparatuses include means for measuring a rate of flow of a fluid from a utility fluid source, means for determining if the measured rate of flow indicates the existence of an abnormal flow condition, and means for disabling the flow of fluid from the utility fluid source if the abnormal flow condition is determined to exist.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for facilitating the assessment of performance quality of an imaging system having a sensor subsystem. An imaging mode of operation of the imaging system is selected and at least one current set of digital image data of an imaging phantom device is acquired with the imaging system via the sensor subsystem. The currently acquired set of digital phantom image data is automatically compared to at least one previously acquired set of digital phantom image data representing a standard image of quality corresponding to the selected imaging mode of operation and the imaging phantom device to automatically determine if at least one sensor parameter of the sensor subsystem has changed.

Abstract: A remote suction configuration, method, and retrofit kit for ventilating exhaust from an exhaust-producing power tool used indoors. An exhaust conduit is connected between an exhaust port of an exhaust-producing tool used within a substantially enclosed structure and an intake port of a vacuum apparatus placed externally to the structure. Universal connectors or retrofit adapters are provided at the ends of the exhaust conduit to connect the exhaust conduit between an exhaust port of the exhaust-producing tool and an intake port of the vacuum apparatus. In this manner, exhaust produced by the tool may be actively pulled through the conduit to an external environment instead of relying on the tool to push the exhaust the entire length of the conduit.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting parameters of an imaging machine are disclosed. The system comprises a storage device for storing demographic information of at least one person to be imaged. The system also includes a computerized platform to retrieve the demographic information from the storage deviced and to generate adjustment data based on the demographic data for a next person to be imaged. The system further includes an imaging machine to receive the adjustment data from the computer and to adjust at least one parameter of the imaging machine in response to the adjustment data.

Abstract: A condiment packet having a spreading apparatus, and a method of use thereof. The condiment packet includes a substantially flat, sealed pouch containing a condiment. The condiment packet further includes a spreading apparatus being within the sealed pouch. The spreading apparatus may be used to spread the condiment over a food substance once the condiment is squeezed onto the food substance and once a portion of the spreading apparatus is exposed.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for performing pan-oral imaging. A plurality of data points are generated which are representative of spatial positions of an actual dentition of a patient with respect to a defined spatial coordinate system. A fitted curve through at least a portion of the spatial positions of the dentition is computed using the plurality of data points. A pan-oral image acquisition trajectory is then computed with respect to a defined spatial coordinate system using the fitted curve. A pan-oral image of the dentition is then acquired along the pan-oral image acquisition trajectory.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and displaying images in an ordered manner. An image progression description (IPD) is generated using an imaging software application (ISA). The IPD defines an ordered sequence of image acquisition instruction sets (IAIS) and an image display layout (IDL). The ordered sequence of IAIS is transferred to a portable image acquisition device (PIAD) which reads and sequentially displays the ordered sequence of IAIS. A plurality of images is acquired using the PIAD in accordance with the ordered sequence of IAIS. The plurality of images are transferred back to the ISA and are displayed according to the IDL.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for automatically disabling an appliance. When a smoke detector/alarm is activated, a signal or message is sent to at least one safety device operatively coupled to at least one appliance. The appliance is disabled in response to receiving the signal or message. The systems, methods, and apparatus are based on the implicit assumption that, if a smoke detector/alarm is activated, the source of the smoke is likely due to a nearby appliance that is in use.

Abstract: Image servers, methods, software applications, and computer readable medium for retrieving images of various image quality via multiple image quality software ports. In an image server, at least two image quality software ports are provided, where each of the image quality software ports is capable of providing images at a predetermined level of image quality, and where the predetermined level of image quality is different for each of the image quality software ports.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for a stove or oven and a method of operation thereof. The safety apparatus facilitates the method of turning on a burner of the stove or oven and automatically counting over a time interval in response to turning on the burner. The method further includes automatically stopping a flow of electrical current or combustible gas to the burner in response to the counting reaching an end of the time interval.

Abstract: A timed electrical outlet (or pluggable apparatus) and a method of operation thereof. The electrical outlet (or pluggable apparatus) includes a current sensor, a counter, and an electrical switch. When an electrical load is plugged into the electrical outlet (or pluggable apparatus), the current sensor senses the flow of current and triggers the counter to start counting. When the counter is finished counting, the counter triggers the electrical switch, opening the current path within the electrical outlet (or pluggable apparatus) such that electrical current no longer flows to the electrical load.

Abstract: Controllable electrical outlets and systems and methods for controlling and disabling the electrical outlets. A controllable electrical outlet includes a current sensor, an electrical switch, and a microcontroller. When an electrical load is plugged into the electrical outlet, the current sensor senses the flow of current and a current sense event is reported from the electrical outlet to a central computer. The central computer provides timing and control of the electrical outlet. When a predetermined elapsed time has passed, as measured by the central computer, a timed-out event is communicated from the central computer to the electrical outlet triggering the electrical switch, opening the current path within the electrical outlet such that electrical current no longer flows to the electrical load. Communication between the central computer and an electrical outlet may occur, for example, via existing electrical wiring, wirelessly, or via dedicated communication wiring.

Abstract: System and method for preparing spatially related medical digital image data sets for image compression and storage prior to image reconstruction. The system and method exploit the similarities between spatially adjacent digital image data sets to reduce the amount of data to be compressed and stored. The spatially adjacent digital image data sets correspond to a plurality of spatially contiguous digital image data sets acquired over, for example, a current anatomical portion of a patient using a medical imaging modality or, for example, a current portion of a man-made structure or a current portion of a geological feature using an imaging modality.

Abstract: A system and method for servicing at least one lottery player while protecting an identity of the at least one lottery player. The system includes a server platform of a third party organization that facilitates the method. The method includes receiving a client request at the server platform via a communications network. The method further includes the third party organization obtaining at least one lottery ticket in response to the client request, and securely holding the at least one lottery ticket for the at least one lottery player specified in the client request. The method also includes the third party organization determining a status of the at least one lottery ticket via the server platform and the communications network. The method further includes the third party organization transforming the at least one lottery ticket into a monetary amount if a status of the at least one lottery ticket is or changes to a winning status.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable medium for pre-fetching patient information using a DICOM protocol. A DICOM pre-fetch application communicates with a patient appointment application to retrieve upcoming patient appointment information. An external DICOM database server is queried, directly or indirectly, by the DICOM pre-fetch application to determine any medical image information stored on the external DICOM database server that is associated with the patient appointment information. The DICOM pre-fetch application retrieves the medical image information from the external DICOM database server and stores the medical image information on a local DICOM database server.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for retracting and storing a sensor cable. The apparatus includes a housing operable to selectively engage a sensor cable having a cable connected to a sensor and operable to store the sensor cable in a retracted position, and a retraction mechanism capable of retracting the sensor cable to the housing without damaging the sensor.

Abstract: A method and systems for capturing digital intra-oral images, while automatically determining a location of an intra-oral sensor placed within a mouth of a patient, is disclosed. A spatial frame-of-reference is established with respect to teeth within the mouth of the patient. An intra-oral digital imaging sensor is placed within the mouth of the patient adjacent to at least one tooth within the mouth that is to be imaged using the intra-oral sensor. Spatial location information is automatically generated such that the spatial location information defines how the intra-oral sensor is placed with respect to the spatial frame-of-reference. A digital image of at least one tooth is acquired using the intra-oral sensor and the spatial location information is automatically associated with the acquired digital image. The associated spatial location information may be used to automatically correlate the acquired image to a tooth or teeth within the mouth and/or to automatically orient the acquired image for display.

Abstract: A system and physical computer-readable media for automatic image acquisition notification and routing. A visual and/or audible indication is provided to a user of an application to indicate to the user that image acquisition has occurred. At least one digital image is acquired at a local location using an imaging modality, and an image acquisition notification message is transmitted, (e.g., via a network) to a remote location. The image acquisition notification message is automatically received at the remote location and at least one associated digital image is automatically displayed at the remote location in response to receiving the image acquisition notification message.

Abstract: Systems and methods of transferring information from at least one source context to at least one target context, and associated physical computer-readable medium. A service software application is used on a processor-based platform to transfer digital data content from at least one data source to at least one data target in at least a semi-automatic manner. The data source is associated with a source software application and the data target is associated with a target software application. The digital data content includes, for example, text data, image data, graphics data, or a clipboard object.

Abstract: A system and method for providing image calibration data for calibrating a digital medical image are disclosed. The system comprises a computer-based platform hosting a medical imaging software application. The computer-based platform is used for accessing a digital medical image, using at least the medical imaging software application. The computer-based platform is further used for reading manufacturer, device, size, and/or resoluton information associated with the digital medical image, using at least the medical imaging software application. The computer-based platform is also used for accessing stored image calibration data corresponding to the digital medical image based on the read manufacturer, device, size, and/or resolution information, using at least the medical imaging software application.