Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for merging two or more supply rails into a merged supply rail. The method comprises receiving two or more current measurement signals associated with two or more supply rails, selecting one supply rail from the two or more supply rails, based on the current measurement signals, and enabling the selected supply rail to source current into a merged supply rail.

Abstract: A method for providing x-ray dose information is executed at least in part by a computer and includes obtaining two or more technique setup parameters for a pending x-ray examination for a patient, at least one dimensional distance parameter related to the x-ray system, patient information parameters identifying one or more physical characteristics of the patient, and identifying the patient anatomy that is to be exposed. The projected effective dose value are calculated and displayed according to the obtained technique setup, dimensional distance, patient information parameters, and patient anatomy information. A message is displayed to the operator related to disabling the pending x-ray examination according to the calculated projected effective dose value.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a breast of a patient has a gantry with a radiation source and a sensor, the source and sensor rotatable in an arcuate orbit about a central axis and within a plane of revolution, wherein the arcuate orbit spans more than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees, and wherein the gantry has a gantry cover that is disposed to be in contact with at least the chest wall of the patient. The gantry cover has a central opening about the central axis for insertion of the breast that is to be imaged and a peripheral cutout portion that defines the end-points of the arcuate orbit and that provides a space for positioning a portion of the patient's anatomy.

Abstract: A method for providing x-ray dose information is executed at least in part by a computer and includes obtaining two or more technique setup parameters for a pending x-ray examination for a patient, at least one dimensional distance parameter related to the x-ray system, patient information parameters identifying one or more physical characteristics of the patient, and identifying the patient anatomy that is to be exposed. The projected effective dose value are calculated and displayed according to the obtained technique setup, dimensional distance, patient information parameters, and patient anatomy information. A message is displayed to the operator related to disabling the pending x-ray examination according to the calculated projected effective dose value.

Abstract: A system and method for digital x-ray imaging. The method includes emitting a first and second collimated x-ray beam from an x-ray source disposed in a first and second position, respectively. The first and second collimated x-ray beam is directed onto an identified region of interest (ROI) wherein a first and second ROI image is captured, respectively, when the x-ray source is disposed in the first and second position, respectively. The first and second ROI images are processed to extract features from each of the first and second ROI images. The extracted features are analyzed, and an indicator of a disease is generated responsive to the extracted features. The indicator can be stored, displayed, or transmitted. The first and second x-ray sources can be the same or different x-ray sources.

Abstract: A sterilization system consisting of a mobile emitter, a sensing subsystem and a data logging subsystem is described. The emitter has one or more UV emitting lamps or devices. The sensing system comprises at least one remote UV sensor and at least one door sensor. The door sensor comprises a safety shut off door detector and may contain an emergency stop detector and arming detector to protect people from being exposed to UV energy. The system has a remote control for starting, stopping and setting system parameters which include but are not limited to: treatment time, dosage, room size, room number, unit number, floor, facility name, operator name, operator identification number, password, default dosage values, dosage, and patient identification number. The number of treatments per unit of time can be maximized because of the use of incident light measurement.

Abstract: A method for acquiring a sequence of fluoroscopic images of a subject acquires and displays a basis image from a fluoroscopic imaging system. A region of interest is defined within the displayed basis image in response to one or more viewer instructions entered on the displayed basis image. One or more signals are generated that adjust the position of one or more components of the fluoroscopic imaging system according to the one or more viewer instructions.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a breast of a patient has a gantry with a radiation source and a sensor, the source and sensor rotatable in an arcuate orbit about a central axis and within a plane of revolution, wherein the arcuate orbit spans more than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees, and wherein the gantry has a gantry cover that is disposed to be in contact with at least the chest wall of the patient. The gantry cover has a central opening about the central axis for insertion of the breast that is to be imaged and a peripheral cutout portion that defines the end-points of the arcuate orbit and that provides a space for positioning a portion of the patient's anatomy.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a digital chest x-ray image of a patient. The method includes providing a default set of technique settings for the chest x-ray, wherein the default set is selectable by an operator command and includes using a peak kilovoltage exposure setting that is below 90 kVp with beam filtration of the x-ray, and applying a rib contrast suppression algorithm to the digital chest x-ray image data acquired from the exposure.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus for teaching a student how to snow ski includes a removably attachable instructor component, a removably attachable student component, and means for temporarily securing the instructor component and student component together. The instructor component has a first end defining a cavity configured to receive a bottom end of an instructor's ski pole and a second end disposed opposite the first end. The student component has a first end configured to attach to a portion of a student's ski equipment and a second end disposed opposite the first end.

Abstract: A sterilization system consisting of a mobile emitter, a sensing subsystem and a data logging subsystem is described. The emitter has one or more UV emitting lamps or devices. The sensing system comprises at least one remote UV sensor and at least one door sensor. The door sensor comprises a safety shut off door detector and may contain an emergency stop detector and arming detector to protect people from being exposed to UV energy. The system has a remote control for starting, stopping and setting system parameters which include but are not limited to: treatment time, dosage, room size, room number, unit number, floor, facility name, operator name, operator identification number, password, default dosage values, dosage, and patient identification number. The number of treatments per unit of time can be maximized because of the use of incident light measurement.

Abstract: A data logging device (1) that includes more than one communication devices (7), a stored instruction list (6), input ports (3), output ports (8), data buffers (4) and a processing unit (5); wherein: the data logging device (1) collects, processes and forwards data and/or predetermined signals to one or more external locations (10); the data/predetermined signal is independently transmitted to said one or more external locations (10) using one or more communication devices (7) and/or frequencies; such that, if a chosen communication device is not available, or cannot reliably transmit the data/predetermined signal to said one or more external locations (10), then the processing unit (5) consults the instruction list (6) and selects the next predetermined communication device (7), until transmission is successful or the instruction list (6) dictates another action.

Abstract: A system that includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader, said reader includes a reading section, a processing section, memory and a transmitting section; wherein the reading section is configured to read tag data stored on one or more RFID tags, the processing section is configured to process this data and the transmitting section is configured to transmit the result as transmitted data; such that the transmitting section is also configured to transmit updated tag data to the or each of the RFID tags, said updated tag data replacing some or all of the tag data stored on the RFID tag to be updated. The system further includes one or more RFID tags, an intermediate database and a customer database such that the intermediate database is configured to receive the transmitted data, convert it into intermediate data, which is in a format accepted by the customer database, then transmit this to the customer database.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus for teaching a student to ski or snowboard includes a removably attachable instructor component and a removably attachable student component. The instructor component has a first end and a second end. The first end defines a cavity configured to receive a bottom end of an instructor's ski pole. The first end is configured to be removably secured to the bottom end of the instructor's ski pole. The second end is disposed opposite the first end. The student component is configured to be removably secured to a student's ski or snowboard equipment and is also configured to be removably secured to the second end of the instructor component.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus for teaching a student how to snow ski includes a removably attachable instructor component, a removably attachable student component, and means for temporarily securing the instructor component and student component together. The instructor component has a first end defining a cavity configured to receive a bottom end of an instructor's ski pole and a second end disposed opposite the first end. The student component has a first end configured to attach to a portion of a student's ski equipment and a second end disposed opposite the first end.

Abstract: A computer-based system includes plural computer-based facilities termed nodes interconnected in a network, including storing nodes that include a direct-access local memory unit, and a storage server for managing access to this unit based on a queue, application nodes, each including: an application environment with a representation of files that are accessible in a form of addresses of blocks designating a physical address on a local memory unit, and a storage client capable of interacting with a storage server, based on an access request designating a block address. The storage server includes a scheduler capable of executing the access requests contained in its queue in a determined order. The order is determined as a function of a set of rules forming performance criteria, and involving one or more state parameters of the queue and/or of the storing node on which it resides.

Abstract: A device and method for identifying the tubes in a tubesheet, including locating a support element along a portion of the tubesheet with at least one means for identifying the location or condition of the adjacent tubes.

Abstract: A system that includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader, said reader includes a reading section, a processing section, memory and a transmitting section; wherein the reading section is configured to read tag data stored on one or more RFID tags, the processing section is configured to process this data and the transmitting section is configured to transmit the result as transmitted data; such that the transmitting section is also configured to transmit updated tag data to the or each of the RFID tags, said updated tag data replacing some or all of the tag data stored on the RFID tag to be updated. The system further includes one or more RFID tags, an intermediate database and a customer database such that the intermediate database is configured to receive the transmitted data, convert it into intermediate data, which is in a format accepted by the customer database, then transmit this to the customer database.

Abstract: A schema for a document generation system and a method of generating a document. In one embodiment the schema includes a template root element; a template information element; a data table element; and an instances element. In another embodiment, the method includes generating one or more composition elements. Each composition element is configurable to include a level, and is capable of manifesting itself as a document page, a page-level overlay, or an instance-level, conditional overlay. The method also includes laying composition elements on a rendering surface such that elements with a high level replace elements with a low level; wherein each composition element includes pre-authored formal content.

Abstract: A device and method for identifying the tubes in a tubesheet, including locating a support element along a portion of the tubesheet with at least one means for identifying the location or condition of the adjacent tubes.