Abstract: The present disclosure provides a medical device comprising an actuator restraining assembly configured to assist in restraining a catheter shaft in a deflected configuration. The actuator restraining assembly may include a brake element, a release element, a connecting sheath, and a connecting rod disposed in a catheter handle, wherein the connecting sheath and connecting rod are attached to an actuator mechanism, and wherein the at brake element is attached to the connecting sheath and the release element is attached to the connecting rod. The brake element is sized and configured to contact an inner wall of the handle to thereby provide resistance to movement of actuator mechanism in a proximal direction with respect to the handle. In one embodiment, the actuator restraining assembly is configured to allow for temporary, i.e., reversible, restraining of the catheter shaft in the deflected configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for using a neural network to estimate scatter in X-ray projection images and then correct for the X-ray scatter. For example, the neural network is a three-dimensional convolutional neural network 3D-CNN to which are applied projection images, at a given view, for respective energy bins and/or material components. The projection images can be obtained by material decomposing spectral projection data, or by segmenting a reconstructed CT image into material-component images, which are then forward projected to generate energy-resolved material-component projections. The result generated by the 3D-CNN is an estimated scatter flux. To train the 3D-CNN, the target scatter flux in the training data can be simulated using a radiative transfer equation method.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a medical device comprising an actuator restraining assembly configured to assist in restraining a catheter shaft in a deflected configuration. The actuator restraining assembly may include a brake element, a release element, a connecting sheath, and a connecting rod disposed in a catheter handle, wherein the connecting sheath and connecting rod are attached to an actuator mechanism, and wherein the at brake element is attached to the connecting sheath and the release element is attached to the connecting rod. The brake element is sized and configured to contact an inner wall of the handle to thereby provide resistance to movement of actuator mechanism in a proximal direction with respect to the handle. In one embodiment, the actuator restraining assembly is configured to allow for temporary, i.e., reversible, restraining of the catheter shaft in the deflected configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to simulate and correct for scatter flux detected in a computed tomography (CT) scanner. The scatter flux from a bowtie filter and an anti-scatter grid are pre-calculated to generate respective scatter tables. Scatter from an imaged object is simulated for some views of a CT scan using a three-step radiative transfer equation (RTE) method. Using the simulated scatter flux from these views, an accelerated simulation method, such as a multiplicative method, an additive method, and a kernel-based method, can determine scatter flux for the remaining views. The spatial model for X-ray scatter from the object can be based on a reconstructed image of object, and can be segmented into organs and material components having different scatter cross-sections. A scatter model outside the imaging region can be extrapolated using low-dose scanning, a scout scan, and/or anatomical information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photon-counting detector (PCD) includes a plurality of macro-pixels. The plurality of macro-pixels arranged on a semiconductor crystal has a first face and a second face. The first face and the second face are parallel. Each macro-pixel from the plurality of macro-pixels is configured to acquire projection data for generating a reconstructed image. The plurality of macro-pixels each includes at least one large micro-pixel is disposed within the each macro-pixel and at least two small micro-pixels is disposed within the each macro-pixel. Each of the at least two small micro-pixels has a surface area that is less than a surface area of the at least one large micro-pixel.

Abstract: Embodiments of a canister for a negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods for operating the systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, the canister includes a receptacle for receiving wound exudate. A filter stack is interposed between the receptacle and the pump assembly and provides a fluid flow path therebetween. The flow path is more easily navigable by gas than by liquid, thereby allowing the pump assembly to apply a negative pressure to the canister without aspirating wound exudate into filters housed within the filter stack.

Abstract: A method for performing magnetic resonance imaging with variable flip angle (VFA) readouts includes preparing longitudinal magnetization of a spin system associated with a subject to a target state, yielding a prepared longitudinal magnetization. The prepared longitudinal magnetization is converted to an image using a VFA readout sequence, wherein the VFA readout sequence comprises a plurality of radio-frequency pulses with corresponding flip-angles varying according to a modulation function.

Abstract: The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.

Abstract: Battery status information may be provided to an information handling system, such as a laptop computer, through the same cable as the power. The transfer of battery status information may be facilitated by a power delivery (PD) controller in the external battery that communicates with a power delivery (PD) controller in the laptop computer. One cable type that can support the transfer of battery status information is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C cable. Battery status information may be transferred as packetized data according to a vendor-defined messaging (VDM) protocol from the external battery to the laptop computer. An embedded controller within the laptop computer may decode the packets and report the battery status information to components within the laptop computer. The battery status may be accessed through application programming interfaces (APIs) by third-party applications or displayed through the operating system.

Abstract: The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.

Abstract: A dispenser (1) suitable for delivery of a cream, gel or soft solid composition comprising: (vi) a convex applicator surface (6) at an upper end; (vii) a replaceable cartridge (12) containing a composition to be dispensed; (viii) a passageway between the cartridge and the applicator surface; (ix) a drive mechanism for forcing the composition from the cartridge through the passageway and onto the applicator surface; and (x) an outer body (3) containing features (ii) to (iv); the drive mechanism comprising a dial unit (4) and a plunger (47), rotation of the dial unit (4) in a first direction advancing the plunger (47) axially upwards, the plunger (47) acting upon a piston seal (8) at the base of the replaceable cartridge (12), thereby forcing the contained composition upwards and outwards through the passageway and onto the applicator surface (6); rotation of the dial unit (4) in a second direction, counter to the first, rotationally re-setting the dial unit (4) relative to the plunger (47) in readiness for a f

Abstract: An anatomical structure is segmented from images generated in an anatomical scan. A user input device is configured for manually identifying two or more seed points on a plurality of the images. An image processor is configured to identify an optimal path through seed points on the plurality of images with a graph search. The optimal path between corresponding seed points on different images defines a boundary contour, and the anatomical structure includes two or more boundary contour. The image processor is further configured to interpolate the boundary contours over a three-dimensional volume using cardinal splines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to simulate and correct for scatter flux detected in a computed tomography (CT) scanner. The scatter flux from a bowtie filter and an anti-scatter grid are pre-calculated to generate respective scatter tables. Scatter from an imaged object is simulated for some views of a CT scan using a three-step radiative transfer equation (RTE) method. Using the simulated scatter flux from these views, an accelerated simulation method, such as a multiplicative method, an additive method, and a kernel-based method, can determine scatter flux for the remaining views. The spatial model for X-ray scatter from the object can be based on a reconstructed image of object, and can be segmented into organs and material components having different scatter cross-sections. A scatter model outside the imaging region can be extrapolated using low-dose scanning, a scout scan, and/or anatomical information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to calculate scatter using a method to determine primary X-ray flux, first-scatter flux, and multiple-scatter flux using an integral formulation of a radiative transfer equation and using spherical-harmonic expansion. The integral for the primary X-ray flux does not include a spherical-harmonic expansion. The integral for the first-scatter flux includes an angle-dependent scatter cross-section. The integral for the multiple-scatter flux is performed iteratively, includes spherical harmonics, and includes a scatter cross-section expanded using Legendre polynomials. The integrals of attenuation along propagation rays can be accelerated using material decomposition of the attenuation coefficients. An anti-scatter-grid term can be included in the integrals to account for the effects of an anti-scatter grid on the fluxes prior to detection of the X-rays.

Abstract: This invention relates to adjuvant formulations comprising various combinations of triterpenoids, sterols, immunomodulators, polymers, and Th2 stimulators; methods for making the adjuvant compositions; and the use of the adjuvant formulations in immunogenic and vaccine compositions with different antigens. This invention further relates to the use of the formulations in the treatment of animals.

Abstract: An antiperspirant composition and a dispenser therefor, the composition being a gel, cream or soft solid of viscosity from 3000 mPa·s to 5200 mPa·s at a shear rate of 16/s comprising a non-pore blocking inhibitor of perspiration and the dispenser comprising a dome-shaped applicator surface of radius of curvature decreasing from a maximum of from 25 to 60 mm at its top/center to a value of from 75 to 95% of its maximum value at a distance of 1 cm from its top/center.

Abstract: Embodiments of a pinch valve assembly include a controller, where the controller is preprogrammed with a plurality of selectable modes including a step and direction mode, a flow monitoring mode, a flow and fill mode, and an unclog mode, and an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly being controlled by the controller, an actuator, the actuator being actuated by the actuator assembly, a piston, the piston being coupled with the actuator, a valve body, the valve body being coupled with the actuator assembly, and an aperture, the aperture being formed in the valve body, wherein the aperture is configured to retain at least a portion of tubing such that fluid or gas flow within the tubing can be metered.

Abstract: This invention relates to adjuvant formulations comprising various combinations of triterpenoids, sterols, immunomodulators, polymers, and Th2 stimulators; methods for making the adjuvant compositions; and the use of the adjuvant formulations in immunogenic and vaccine compositions with different antigens. This invention further relates to the use of the formulations in the treatment of animals.

Abstract: Embodiments of a pinch valve assembly include a controller, where the controller is preprogrammed with a plurality of selectable modes including a step and direction mode, a flow monitoring mode, a flow and fill mode, and an unclog mode, and an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly being controlled by the controller, an actuator, the actuator being actuated by the actuator assembly, a piston, the piston being coupled with the actuator, a valve body, the valve body being coupled with the actuator assembly, and an aperture, the aperture being formed in the valve body, wherein the aperture is configured to retain at least a portion of tubing such that fluid or gas flow within the tubing can be metered.