Abstract: An embodiment of a method is disclosed for compressing digital images which can be displayed by a graphics card. An embodiment of the method includes providing an image by the graphics card; marking out a foreground region in the image provided on the basis of depth information provided in the graphics card; compressing the marked-out foreground region; simplifying the image by smoothing the foreground region marked out in the image; and separately compressing the simplified image.

Abstract: An osteotomy implant for disposition in a wedge-shaped osteotomy opening in a bone, the implant comprising a body for disposition within the wedge-shaped osteotomy opening in the bone and supporting the bone while healing occurs; at least one key formed integral with the body for stabilizing the body relative to the adjacent bone while healing occurs; and at least one fenestration extending through the body for permitting bone growth through the implant.

Abstract: A method of reducing data transfer while increasing image information over an 802.15.4 network includes obtaining an image with a sensor, modulating a representation of the image using a first 802.15.4 modem, sending the representation of the image to a coordinator, demodulating the representation of the image using a second 802.15.4 modem, and digitally enhancing at least one of the representation of the image and the image. A system for communication over an 802.15.4 network includes a sensor for obtaining data, the size of the data being at least an order of magnitude greater than the size of an 802.15.4 packet, a first 802.15.4 modem coupled to the sensor, a buffer for temporarily storing the data to allow transmission of portions of the data; the buffer being coupled to the sensor, a coordinator coupled to the sensor, the coordinator being capable of communicating with a computer, and a second 802.15.4 modem coupled to the coordinator.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy. More particularly, the present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel method and apparatus for forming an appropriate osteotomy cut into the upper portion of the tibia, manipulating the tibia so as to open an appropriate wedge-like opening in the tibia, and then mounting an appropriately-shaped implant at the wedge-like opening in the tibia, so as to stabilize the tibia with the desired orientation, whereby to reorient the lower portion of the tibia relative to the tibial plateau and hence adjust the manner in which load is transferred from the femur to the tibia.

Abstract: A method for direction finding by means of monopulse formation in a radar system with electronically controlled group antenna and analog beam shaping of sum and difference channels, a self-test of the antenna being carried out to identify failed receiving elements, and the result of the self-test going directly into the monopulse formation and the test thereby being error corrected. The result of the self-test is converted into correction values that, independently of the antenna viewing direction, are combined with those from the sum channel signal and the difference channel signals of the antenna.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are shown and described, each of which has stand alone utility in a navigated medical environment. A receiver position calibration system and method facilitates calibration of a reference frame prior to each navigated procedure. A concept and application of confidence weights is introduced. Confidence weights can be applied to distance calculations to mitigate the effects of interference and increase the tolerance of the navigated medical system. Multi-path interference is minimized through the transmission of a signal having a pattern of unique frequencies and filtering of the distance calculations for each frequency to identify the ‘best’ distance in the presence of multi-path interference. A position determination method and system that transmits a signal having multiple frequency components permits positions to be identified with high resolution over a large area.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are shown and described, each of which has stand alone utility in a navigated medical environment. A receiver position calibration system and method facilitates calibration of a reference frame prior to each navigated procedure. A concept and application of confidence weights is introduced. Confidence weights can be applied to distance calculations to mitigate the effects of interference and increase the tolerance of the navigated medical system. Multi-path interference is minimized through the transmission of a signal having a pattern of unique frequencies and filtering of the distance calculations for each frequency to identify the “best” distance in the presence of multi-path interference. A position determination method and system that transmits a signal having multiple frequency components permits positions to be identified with high resolution over a large area.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods, including an oxygen delivery device that includes an oxygen delivery module to produce at least concentrated oxygen, and a gas moving device to deliver air to the oxygen delivery module. The gas moving device includes at least one piston rotatable inside a first chamber defined in a housing, the rotational movement of the at least one piston inside the first chamber resulting in varying pressure generated in a first portion of the first chamber, and a vane member rigidly coupled to the at least one piston, the vane member being configured to move inside a vane chamber defined in the housing, the piston and the vane rigidly coupled to the piston define the first portion of the first chamber and a second portion of the first chamber.

Abstract: Refractory furnace covers and methods for their construction are provided. A method includes providing a molding form base having a molding surface, providing an outer molding frame on the molding form base, and providing at least one inner molding member disposed across and dividing the molding surface into a first molding section and a second molding section. The inner molding member has a first molding surface and a second molding surface located adjacent to and facing the first and second molding sections, respectively, the inner molding member having a protrusion located along the length of the first molding surface. A first molded section of the furnace cover is cast between the outer molding frame and the first molding surface of the inner molding member, the inner molding member is removed, and a second molded section of the furnace cover is cast between the outer molding frame and the first molded section of the furnace cover.

Abstract: A method for sampling volume data of an object in an imaging device is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for rendering an MIP image that has reduced high frequency component loss and reduced chessboard artifacts. The method includes accessing volumetric data, having random noise. Rays are shot, or cast, through the volumetric data, onto a voxel grid, which has grid points. Sampling data along each ray is performed to obtain selected sample data points on the ray and a distance from a selected point to a nearest grid point is determined. A voxel intensity value is accessed at each selected point, as a function of the position of the selected point relative to the nearest grid point. The difference between the voxel intensity at each selected point is minimized an image is rendered from the volumetric data as a function of the minimizing step. Multiple methods may be used to minimize the difference between the voxel intensity at each selected point. These include for example 1.) applying a localized low pass filter, 2.) applying a localized high order interpolation kernel, and 3.

Abstract: A method of navigation in three-dimensional, electronic image data sets is disclosed, whereby the image data sets contain three-dimensional image data subsets. The method includes optically representing at least one two-dimensional projection of an image data set that includes a two-dimensional subprojection of at least one image data subset, optically highlighting the at least one two-dimensional subprojection, receiving a user input directed to the selection of a certain subprojection, and optically representing, in accordance with said user input, at least one additional two-dimensional projection of the image data set that includes a two-dimensional projection of the selected image data subset. The method can be used for an image data set that is formed by fusion of at least two source image data sets. The source image data sets can especially comprise computer tomography and a positron-emission tomography image data set.

Abstract: A method of reducing data transfer while increasing image information over an 802.15.4 network includes obtaining an image with a sensor, modulating a representation of the image using a first 802.15.4 modem, sending the representation of the image to a coordinator, demodulating the representation of the image using a second 802.15.4 modem, and digitally enhancing at least one of the representation of the image and the image. A system for communication over an 802.15.4 network includes a sensor for obtaining data, the size of the data being at least an order of magnitude greater than the size of an 802.15.4 packet, a first 802.15.4 modem coupled to the sensor, a buffer for temporarily storing the data to allow transmission of portions of the data; the buffer being coupled to the sensor, a coordinator coupled to the sensor, the coordinator being capable of communicating with a computer, and a second 802.15.4 modem coupled to the coordinator.

Abstract: This invention describes an optimization and view dependency reduction method for multiplanar reformatting (MPR) of slice-based volume images. This method utilizes a traversal scheme that allows for efficient access of the computer memory layout of a sliced based volume, and therefore optimizes overall processing time. This method does not require changes to the volume memory layout or additional volume memory. Instead, efficient memory access is achieved by adaptive traversal patterns on the reformatting planes. The traversal pattern is adapted on-the-fly during rendering as the reformatting plane location and orientation is changed arbitrarily relative to the volume. In this way, the typical speed differences between various reformatting planes orientations caused by inefficient memory access is greatly reduced. Computer cache coherency, SIMD coherent implementation, and multiprocessing environments are also considered in the design of the traversal pattern.

Abstract: Multiplanar reformatting visualization is provided with multiple scrolling speeds. A plurality of buffers is provided. Each buffer stores composites of data from different planes. The amount of compositing to generate a total composite for a visualization may be less since the division into partial composites may reduce addition and subtraction or other compositing operations. One level of partial composite buffers may be used. The total is recomputed for each visualization. In other embodiments, a hierarchal buffer structure is used. For example, a total composite buffer is provided in addition to the partial composite buffers. By re-compositing the partial composites before and after adjustment for scrolling increment from the total composite buffer, the total composite is updated for scrolling. Two or more levels of buffers may be used.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are shown and described, each of which has stand alone utility in a navigated medical environment. A receiver position calibration system and method facilitates calibration of a reference frame prior to each navigated procedure. A concept and application of confidence weights is introduced. Confidence weights can be applied to distance calculations to mitigate the effects of interference and increase the tolerance of the navigated medical system. Multi-path interference is minimized through the transmission of a signal having a pattern of unique frequencies and filtering of the distance calculations for each frequency to identify the “best” distance in the presence of multi-path interference. A position determination method and system that transmits a signal having multiple frequency components permits positions to be identified with high resolution over a large area.

Abstract: A turbomolecular pump (12) has a circular intake opening (16) distal of an inlet rotor stage (18). The intake opening (16) comprises at least two opening sections (41, 42, 43) that are separated from each other.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are shown and described, each of which has stand alone utility in a navigated medical environment. A receiver position calibration system and method facilitates calibration of a reference frame prior to each navigated procedure. A concept and application of confidence weights is introduced. Confidence weights can be applied to distance calculations to mitigate the effects of interference and increase the tolerance of the navigated medical system. Multi-path interference is minimized through the transmission of a signal having a pattern of unique frequencies and filtering of the distance calculations for each frequency to identify the ‘best’ distance in the presence of multi-path interference. A position determination method and system that transmits a signal having multiple frequency components permits positions to be identified with high resolution over a large area.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy. More particularly, the present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel method and apparatus for forming an appropriate osteotomy cut into the upper portion of the tibia, manipulating the tibia so as to open an appropriate wedge-like opening in the tibia, and then mounting an appropriately-shaped implant at the wedge-like opening in the tibia, so as to stabilize the tibia with the desired orientation, whereby to reorient the lower portion of the tibia relative to the tibial plateau and hence adjust the manner in which load is transferred from the femur to the tibia.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a sleeve having an upper wall, a base wall, and opposing side walls. The upper wall, the base wall, and the opposing side walls define an opening and an interior within the sleeve. The upper wall defines first and second resilient spring webs. The base wall includes a resilient bridge web having a first mating structure formed therein. A pin is configured for insertion through the opening of the sleeve and into the interior such that insertion of the pin causes flexing of the bridge web and the first and second spring webs. The pin has a second mating structure for engaging with the first mating structure of the bridge web to secure the pin relative to the sleeve. The connecting portions of the first and second spring webs form a joint which is welded to connect the connecting portions of the first and second spring webs.