Abstract: Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface. The techniques may be chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological and are fully intended to irreversibly damage the formation in terms of the permeability thereof. With the permeability negated, the wellbore may be used to create a closed loop surface to surface geothermal well operable in the absence of well casing for maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Abstract: Closed loop wellbore configurations with unrestricted geometry for accommodating irregular or challenging thermal gradients within a thermally productive formation are disclosed. A working fluid is utilized in the loop for extraction of thermal energy there from. The loop and the unrestricted geometry are achieved using magnetic ranging of independent drilling operations which intersect from an inlet well and outlet well to form an interconnecting segment. In conjunction with the directional drilling, conditioning operations are incorporated to condition the rock face, cool the entire system, activate the wellbore for treatment to optimize thermal transfer inter alia. The significant degree of freedom in wellbore configuration is further optimized by the absence of mechanical impediments such as casing or liners in the heat transfer areas.

Abstract: A method monitors radiation incidence onto an object being prepared for and/or undergoing radiation delivery. The monitoring method includes: emitting a light field onto a surface of an object being prepared for and/or undergoing radiation delivery, the light field at least substantially corresponding to radiation incidence of the radiation delivery; monitoring the light field being reflected from the surface of the object; and processing the monitored light field to determine the radiation incidence of the radiation delivery relative to the object at least partially based on the monitored light field.

Abstract: A high-frequency detection system (100) such as a terahertz camera is disclosed which includes a first detector array (102), a second detector array (104), and a polarizing plate (106). The polarizing plate is interposed between the detector arrays such that it passes and/or reflects radiation signals (110) from a source (108) to the detector arrays. A first radiation signal (112) having a first polarization is passed through the polarizing plate to the first detector array, and a second radiation signal (114) having a second polarization is reflected from the polarizing plate to the second detector array. Both radiation signals are from source (108), which can be one or more human beings emitting radiation towards the detection system. In some embodiments, the detector arrays (102, (104) may be joined.

Abstract: A radiation dosage monitoring system comprising a 3D camera operable to obtain images of a patient undergoing radiation treatment, the 3D camera being operable to detect Cherenkov radiation and any subsequent secondary and scattered radiation originating due the initial Cherenkov radiation emitted from a surface of the patient when the patient is irradiated by a radiation beam; and a processing module operable to process the images obtained by the 3D camera utilizing data indicative of chromophores present in a patient's skin to apply a correction factor to such images to account for absorption of Cherenkov radiation by chromophores in the skin when utilizing the images to generate a representation of radiation applied to the surface of the patient.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a patient monitoring system for monitoring the location of a patient at a distance, including a projector operable to project a pattern of light onto the surface of a patient and a imaging system operable to obtain images of a patient on to whom a pattern of light is projected. A heat sink is associated with the projector. A heat source, such as an array of resistors, is configured to apply heat to the heat sink when the projector is not being operated, reducing variation in the temperature of the heat sink which in turn reduces variation in thermal expansion and contraction of the monitoring system which can be a potential source of error for determining the position of a patient being monitored.

Abstract: A radiation dosage monitoring system comprising a 3D camera operable to obtain images of a patient undergoing radiation treatment, the 3D camera being operable to detect Cherenkov radiation and any subsequent secondary and scattered radiation originating due the initial Cherenkov radiation emitted from a surface of the patient when the patient is irradiated by a radiation beam; and a processing module operable to process the images obtained by the 3D camera utilizing data indicative of chromophores present in a patient's skin to apply a correction factor to such images to account for absorption of Cherenkov radiation by chromophores in the skin when utilizing the images to generate a representation of radiation applied to the surface of the patient.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a radiation dosage monitoring system including a model generation module configured to generate a 3D surface model of a portion of a patient undergoing radiation treatment, an image detector configured to detect Cherenkov radiation and any subsequent secondary and scattered radiation originating due to the initial Cherenkov radiation emitted from the patient, a processing module configured to determine estimations of radiation applied to the patient utilizing the images from the image detector and the 3D model, and to utilize the determined estimations of radiation applied to the patient together with data indicative of the orientation of a radiation beam inducing emission of the Cherenkov radiation at a time when the radiation beam was applied to generate a 3D internal representation of the location of the portions of a irradiated patient resulting in the emission of the Cherenkov radiation.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a radiation dosage monitoring system including a model generation module configured to generate a 3D surface model of a portion of a patient undergoing radiation treatment, an image detector configured to detect Cherenkov radiation and any subsequent secondary and scattered radiation originating due to the initial Cherenkov radiation emitted from the patient, a processing module configured to determine estimations of radiation applied to the patient utilizing the images from the image detector and the 3D model, and to utilize the determined estimations of radiation applied to the patient together with data indicative of the orientation of a radiation beam inducing emission of the Cherenkov radiation at a time when the radiation beam was applied to generate a 3D internal representation of the location of the portions of a irradiated patient resulting in the emission of the Cherenkov radiation.

Abstract: A well plate includes a including a top portion, a bottom portion and a membrane disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion. The top portion defines a sample well in fluid communication with an opening defined by the membrane and in fluid communication with a reservoir defined by the bottom portion. The well plate is configured to be used in a centrifugation process of a test sample including a sample material and a wash liquid. The test sample configured to be received within the sample well and the reservoir. The membrane configured to filter the wash liquid from the test sample during the centrifugation process such that the wash liquid can pass from the reservoir, through the membrane and can be captured within a collection chamber while the sample material remains within the reservoir.

Abstract: A well plate includes a including a top portion, a bottom portion and a membrane disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion. The top portion defines a sample well in fluid communication with an opening defined by the membrane and in fluid communication with a reservoir defined by the bottom portion. The well plate is configured to be used in a centrifugation process of a test sample including a sample material and a wash liquid. The test sample configured to be received within the sample well and the reservoir. The membrane configured to filter the wash liquid from the test sample during the centrifugation process such that the wash liquid can pass from the reservoir, through the membrane and can be captured within a collection chamber while the sample material remains within the reservoir.

Abstract: Three camera rigs are connected by wiring to a computer. The computer is also connected to a treatment apparatus. A mechanical couch is provided as part of the treatment apparatus such that under the control of the computer the relative positions of the mechanical couch and the treatment apparatus may be varied. The camera rigs obtain video images of a patient lying on the mechanical couch the computer processes these images to generate a three-dimensional model of the surface of the patient which is utilized to position the patient relative to the treatment apparatus.

Abstract: Three camera rigs are connected by wiring to a computer. The computer is also connected to a treatment apparatus. A mechanical couch is provided as part of the treatment apparatus such that under the control of the computer the relative positions of the mechanical couch and the treatment apparatus may be varied. The camera rigs obtain video images of a patient lying on the mechanical couch the computer processes these images to generate a three-dimensional model of the surface of the patient which is utilized to position the patient relative to the treatment apparatus.

Abstract: Three camera rigs are connected by wiring to a computer. The computer is also connected to a treatment apparatus. A mechanical couch is provided as part of the treatment apparatus such that under the control of the computer the relative positions of the mechanical couch and the treatment apparatus may be varied. The camera rigs obtain video images of a patient lying on the mechanical couch. The computer processes these images to generate a three-dimensional model of the surface of the patient relative to the treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A collection device and methods for stimulating and stabilizing a biological sample are provided. Aspects of the device include an evacuated sample collection container having stimulating and stabilizing additives contained in separate internal chambers of the container. The internal chambers are arranged to facilitate stimulation upon collection of a sample, followed by stabilization of the sample after a desired period of time in the same sealed container. Also provided are methods for use of the subject device. The device and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including the collection and analysis of clinically relevant samples, such as whole blood and other body fluids, obtained directly from a patient.

Abstract: Devices, systems, methods and kits for the collection, stimulation, stabilization and analysis of biological samples, including blood samples, are disclosed. An embodiment of the invention includes a container having a side wall, a bottom wall and a closure member defining an internal compartment having arranged therein a partition defining and fluidly separating first and second chambers in the internal compartment, the first chamber positioned in association with the closure member to receive the biological sample; in which at least one wall is constructed of an elastically deformable material; in which the first chamber contains at least one stimulating agent; in which the second chamber contains at least one stabilizing agent; and in which the first and second chambers can be placed in fluid communication by a user without opening or otherwise compromising the fluid integrity of the internal compartment.

Abstract: Three camera rigs (1, 2, 3) are connected by wiring (4) to a computer (5). The computer (5) is also connected to a treatment apparatus (6). A mechanical couch (7) is provided as part of the treatment apparatus (6) such that under the control of the computer (5) the relative positions of the mechanical couch (7) and the treatment apparatus (6) may be varied. The camera rigs (1, 2, 3) obtain video images of a patient (8) lying on the mechanical couch (7) the computer (5) processes these images to generate a three-dimensional model of the surface of the patient which is utilised to position the patient relative to the treatment apparatus (6).

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a camera and a group of light emitting diodes configured and arranged to illuminate an object imaged by the camera. The group of LEDs comprises at least one first LED of a first type that emits light with a first spectrum profile and at least one second LED of a second type that emits light with a second spectrum profile that is substantially different than the first spectrum profile. The apparatus may further comprise an adjustment mechanism for adjusting of the relative amounts of illumination energy generated by the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED during each of a plurality of scan cycles of the camera.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a line scanning camera, a conveyor, an illumination source, and one or more controllers. The conveyor is configured and arranged to move objects past the line scanning camera so that the objects can be imaged thereby. The illumination source is configured and arranged to illuminate the objects for imaging by the line scanning camera. The one or more controllers are configured to cause the line scanning camera to acquire a plurality of individual lines of an image of the object at a rate determined by a speed of the conveyor so that a particular number of lines per unit length of the object are acquired by the line scanning camera, and are further configured to control activation and deactivation of the illumination source so as to synchronize discrete periods during which illumination is provided by the illumination source with line scan periods during which individual lines are acquired by the line scanning camera.

Abstract: An application is described for facilitating the modification of an underlying computer game by players and developers; the development and testing of game modifications via a publishing infrastructure; the sharing and playing of game modifications and the marketing of available game modifications. Users subscribe to the application or are charge a fee to access individual content and partake in these game modification processes across a network infrastructure.