Abstract: A Faraday cage assembly for use with a Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging scanner is deployed inside the MR scanner room. The Faraday cage assembly is configured to accept accessory medical equipment which is desired to be attached to the patient during scanning. Accessory medical equipment can include patient monitoring systems, injector pumps, and intravenous (IV) poles with infusion pumps. Once the accessory medical equipment is placed inside the Faraday cage, radiofrequency (RF) interference emitted by the accessory medical equipment is contained within the cage and cannot significantly degrade MR image quality. The cage may permit non-MR compatible accessory equipment such as infusion pumps to be used without modification or reconfiguration during MR scanning.

Abstract: A Faraday cage assembly for use with a Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging scanner is deployed inside the MR scanner room. The Faraday cage assembly is configured to accept accessory medical equipment which is desired to be attached to the patient during scanning. Accessory medical equipment can include patient monitoring systems, injector pumps, and intravenous (IV) poles with infusion pumps. Once the accessory medical equipment is placed inside the Faraday cage, radiofrequency (RF) interference emitted by the accessory medical equipment is contained within the cage and cannot significantly degrade MR image quality. The cage may permit non-MR compatible accessory equipment such as infusion pumps to be used without modification or reconfiguration during MR scanning.

Abstract: An instrument guide apparatus for use with a surgical or other guided intervention of a patient utilizing a guided instrument is disclosed. The instrument guide apparatus includes at least two line lasers mounted above the patient and generating intersecting planar laser lines along an instrument axis of entry in three-dimensional space above the patient. In an embodiment, the instrument axis of entry in three dimensional space above the patient is received from an imaging apparatus imaging the patient's body at least along a portion of the instrument's axis of entry into the patient. In an embodiment, the instrument axis of entry in three-dimensional space above the patient is a line-of-site for a camera mounted above the patient and controlled by the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of beads strung along the support. At least one of the beads constitutes a locking bead consisting of a substantially closed hollow shell with a pair of aligned holes sized to slideably receive the support. A heat-shrinkable plastic tube is positioned inside the shell with its opposite ends captured by portions of said shell around the holes. The tube has a heat-deformed inner wall which substantially conforms to the support so as to permanently anchor the bead to the support. A method of stringing the locking bead is also disclosed.

Abstract: A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of beads strung along the support. At least one of the beads constitutes a stopping bead consisting of a substantially closed hollow metal shell with a pair of holes sized to slideably receive the support. A heat shrink tube is positioned inside the shell with its opposite ends captured by portions of said shell around the holes. When heated, the tube shrinks radially into conformance with the support so as to permanently anchor the bead to the support.

Abstract: A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of beads strung along the support. At least one of the beads constitutes a locking bead consisting of a substantially closed hollow shell with a pair of aligned holes sized to slideably receive the support. A heat-shrinkable plastic tube is positioned inside the shell with its opposite ends captured by portions of said shell around the holes. The tube has a heat-deformed inner wall which substantially conforms to the support so as to permanently anchor the bead to the support. A method of stringing the locking bead is also disclosed.

Abstract: A jewelry bead has a rigid hollow body with an exterior wall of a first metal and embedments of a second metal whose color is different from that of the first metal. The embedments overlie one or more selected areas of the wall so as to define an all-metal substantially level color pattern on the outside of the bead.

Abstract: A jewelry bead has a rigid hollow body with an exterior wall of a first metal and a covering of a second metal whose color is different from that of the first metal. The covering overlies one or more selected areas of the wall so as to define an all-metal substantially level color pattern on the bead.

Abstract: A jewelry bead has a rigid hollow body with an exterior wall of a first metal and a covering of a second metal whose color is different from that of the first metal. The covering overlies one or more selected areas of the wall so as to define an all-metal substantially level color pattern on the bead. A method of making the jewelry bead is also disclosed.

Abstract: A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of ornaments strung along the support, at least one of which constitutes an adjustable self-stopping bead. Each self-stopping bead has a rigid shell with a pair of holes sized to slidably receive the support. A flexible resilient tube is positioned inside the shell in alignment with the holes that tube having a length that is as great as or slightly greater than the spacing of the holes, an outside diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the holes and in inside diameter that is slightly smaller than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the support so that the tube resiliently engages the support to adjustably fix the position of the self-stopping bead along the support. A method of making the self-stopping bead is also disclosed.

Abstract: A jewelry bead has a rigid hollow body with an exterior wall of a first metal and a covering of a second metal whose color is different from that of the first metal. The covering overlies one or more selected areas of the wall so as to define an all-metal substantially level color pattern on the bead. A method of making the jewelry bead is also disclosed.

Abstract: A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of ornaments strung along the support, at least one of which constitutes an adjustable self-stopping bead. Each self-stopping bead has a rigid shell with a pair of holes sized to slidably receive the support. A flexible resilient tube is positioned inside the shell in alignment with the holes that tube having a length that is as great as or slightly greater than the spacing of the holes, an outside diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the holes and in inside diameter that is slightly smaller than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the support so that the tube resiliently engages the support to adjustably fix the position of the self-stopping bead along the support. A method of making the self-stopping bead is also disclosed.

Abstract: A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of ornaments strung along the support, at least one of which constitutes an adjustable self-stopping bead. Each self-stopping bead has a rigid shell with a pair of holes sized to slidably receive the support. A flexible resilient tube is positioned inside the shell in alignment with the holes that tube having a length that is as great as or slightly greater than the spacing of the holes, an outside diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the holes and in inside diameter that is slightly smaller than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the support so that the tube resiliently engages the support to adjustably fix the position of the self-stopping bead along the support. A method of making the self-stopping bead is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a continuous process for manufacturing a ring-dyed polymeric filament. A filament, formed by melt extrusion is directly fed into a tank containing a dye solution for a predetermined period of time. The resulting ring-dyed filament includes an outer cross-sectional region colored with the dye and an inner cross-sectional region not colored with the dye. The outer cross-sectional region may be of uniform thickness over the length of the filament. A quenching step can be performed either before or during the ring-dyeing step.

Abstract: A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of ornaments strung along the support, at least one of which constitutes an adjustable self-stopping bead. Each self-stopping bead has a rigid shell with a pair of holes sized to slidably receive the support. A flexible resilient tube is positioned inside the shell in alignment with the holes that tube having a length that is as great as or slightly greater than the spacing of the holes, an outside diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the holes and in inside diameter that is slightly smaller than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the support so that the tube resiliently engages the support to adjustably fix the position of the self-stopping bead along the support. A method of making the self-stopping bead is also disclosed.

Abstract: Composite boards made primarily from recycled waste paper and methods for production of such boards are described.