Abstract: A method including steps of (1) heating, with a heating system, an apparatus comprising an enclosure assembly and a temperature emulation assembly positioned within said enclosure assembly; (2) thermally isolating said temperature emulation assembly from said heating system with said enclosure assembly; (3) permitting conductive heat transfer to said temperature emulation assembly only through an enclosure assembly-leading end of said enclosure assembly; and (4) representing a hottest temperature and a coldest temperature of an article being emulated by said apparatus with said temperature emulation assembly.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems for manufacturing curved composite stringers. Such composite stringers may have in-plane and/or out-of-plane bends, which are formed while shaping composite charges. Specifically, a composite charge is shaped using a pallet, comprising a plurality of independent pallet portions, rotatably coupled to each other. A hat portion is formed when a part of this charge is conformed to a cavity in the pallet. The pallet portions are rotated relative to each other while forming the hat portion and/or when the hat portion already conforms to the cavity. In some examples, the die is bent together with the charge, when the pallet portions are rotated. This rotation produces one or more of in-plane and/or out-of-plane bends. In some examples, flange portions of the composite charge are positioned in a temporary orientation, e.g., to enable bending of the charge and reduce wrinkles.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems for manufacturing curved composite stringers. Such composite stringers may have in-plane and/or out-of-plane bends, which are formed while shaping composite charges. Specifically, a composite charge is shaped using a pallet, comprising a plurality of independent pallet portions, rotatably coupled to each other. A hat portion is formed when a part of this charge is conformed to a cavity in the pallet. The pallet portions are rotated relative to each other while forming the hat portion and/or when the hat portion already conforms to the cavity. In some examples, the die is bent together with the charge, when the pallet portions are rotated. This rotation produces one or more of in-plane and/or out-of-plane bends. In some examples, flange portions of the composite charge are positioned in a temporary orientation, e.g., to enable bending of the charge and reduce wrinkles.

Abstract: A method including steps of (1) heating, with a heating system, an apparatus comprising an enclosure assembly and a temperature emulation assembly positioned within said enclosure assembly; (2) thermally isolating said temperature emulation assembly from said heating system with said enclosure assembly; (3) permitting conductive heat transfer to said temperature emulation assembly only through an enclosure assembly-leading end of said enclosure assembly; and (4) representing a hottest temperature and a coldest temperature of an article being emulated by said apparatus with said temperature emulation assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a enclosure assembly including an enclosure assembly-leading end and an opposed enclosure assembly-lagging end, and a temperature emulation assembly mounted within the enclosure assembly and including a temperature emulation assembly-leading end located proximate to the enclosure assembly-leading end and a temperature emulation assembly-lagging end spaced away from the enclosure assembly-lagging end. The enclosure assembly thermally isolates the temperature emulation assembly. The enclosure assembly permits conductive heat transfer to the temperature emulation assembly only through the enclosure assembly-leading end.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a enclosure assembly including an enclosure assembly-leading end and an opposed enclosure assembly-lagging end, and a temperature emulation assembly mounted within the enclosure assembly and including a temperature emulation assembly-leading end located proximate to the enclosure assembly-leading end and a temperature emulation assembly-lagging end spaced away from the enclosure assembly-lagging end. The enclosure assembly thermally isolates the temperature emulation assembly. The enclosure assembly permits conductive heat transfer to the temperature emulation assembly only through the enclosure assembly-leading end.

Abstract: A subject loading system is provided for moving a subject disposed in an isolation zone into and out of a diagnostic system disposed outside the isolation zone. A tube extends away from the isolation zone. The tube has an inner volume open to the isolation zone and operatively coupled with the diagnostic system. An elongated subject support pallet is disposed in the isolation zone and dimensioned to fit into the tube. A base including a mechanical drive is disposed in the isolation zone and is configured to align the elongated subject support pallet with the tube and to move the elongated subject support pallet into and out of the tube.

Abstract: A subject loading system is provided for moving a subject disposed in an isolation zone into and out of a diagnostic system disposed outside the isolation zone. A tube extends away from the isolation zone. The tube has an inner volume open to the isolation zone and operatively coupled with the diagnostic system. An elongated subject support pallet is disposed in the isolation zone and dimensioned to fit into the tube. A base including a mechanical drive is disposed in the isolation zone and is configured to align the elongated subject support pallet with the tube and to move the elongated subject support pallet into and out of the tube.

Abstract: A transformable gamma camera includes detectors mounted for circumferential movement with respect to a rotating gantry. The rotating gantry includes radial bores at desired angular positions about the rotating gantry. The stationary gantry includes a docking station such as a bore. A coupling mechanism allows the detectors to be coupled to the bores in the rotating gantry or to the docking station. Each of the detectors is movable radially with respect to the rotating gantry's axis of rotation and tangentially to the imaging region. The gamma camera is readily transformable between 120 degree, orthogonal, and opposed detector configurations; a plurality of aperture sizes can also be defined.

Abstract: A gamma camera system includes two or more radiation detector heads and which are mounted opposite each other to a gantry for rotation about a subject. A transmission radiation source assembly is mounted to the front face of at least one of the detectors and can be moved across the face of the detector. The source assembly includes a radiation attenuating housing, a leaded bronze source holder, and a radionuclide source. The radionuclide source is retained in a longitudinal groove disposed in the source holder. The source holder may be rotated into open, closed, and access positions. The transmission radiation emitted by the source assembly is directed across the examination region, attenuated by the subject, and detected by the opposed detector. The gamma camera system also includes a filter which selectively attenuates the transmission radiation to obtain a desired attenuation profile which prevents saturation of the opposed detector.

Abstract: A transformable gamma camera includes detectors mounted for circumferential movement with respect to a rotating gantry. The rotating gantry includes radial bores at desired angular positions about the rotating gantry. The stationary gantry includes a docking station such as a bore. A coupling mechanism allows the detectors to be coupled to the bores in the rotating gantry or to the docking station. Each of the detectors is movable radially with respect to the rotating gantry's axis of rotation and tangentially to the imaging region. The gamma camera is readily transformable between 120 degree, orthogonal, and opposed detector configurations; a plurality of aperture sizes can also be defined.

Abstract: A transformable gamma camera includes detectors mounted for circumferential movement with respect to a rotating gantry. The rotating gantry includes radial bores at desired angular positions about the rotating gantry. The stationary gantry includes a docking station such as a bore. A coupling mechanism allows the detectors to be coupled to the bores in the rotating gantry or to the docking station. Each of the detectors is movable radially with respect to the rotating gantry's axis of rotation and tangentially to the imaging region. The gamma camera is readily transformable between 120 degree, orthogonal, and opposed detector configurations; a plurality of aperture sizes can also be defined.

Abstract: A rotating gantry (20) is rotatably mounted to a stationary gantry for rotation around an axis of rotation. Gamma camera detector heads (22a, 22b, 22c) are mounted to the rotating gantry for rotation about a patient receiving region (14). A patient is supported on a first, cantilevered patient support portion (10) which is adjustable in height, and which selectively extends toward and away from a slab defined by the detector heads. In one mode of use, the first patient support portion (10) is supported on a second support surface (16) when fully cantilevered to minimize vibration and movement. In a second mode, the first patient support portion (10) is separated by a gap from the second support portion (16) and the region of interest of the patient is positioned over the gap. In this manner, radiation passing from the region of interest of the patient to the detector heads is not attenuated by a patient support structure. Further, the detector heads are mounted on tracks (30, 32) by rollers (44, 46).

Abstract: A SPECT system includes two or more radiation detector heads (32) and (34) which are mounted opposite each other to a gantry (30) for rotation about a subject. Each detector head has a collimator (38) mounted in front of the detector head. The collimator (38) is separated into a top portion (40) and a bottom portion (42). The top portion (40) and bottom portion (42) are spaced from each other to provide a gap (44) within the collimator (38). The gap (44) receives one or more devices to provide additional functionality during a scan. The insertable devices include a transmission radiation source (52), a calibration source, a radiation filter, and others.

Abstract: A SPECT system includes two radiation detector heads (32) and (34) which are mounted opposite each other to a gantry (30) for rotation about a subject. The subject is injected with a source of emission radiation, which emission radiation passes through a collimator (38) mounted on each detector head and is received by a radiation receiving face of the detector heads. A radiation source (40) is disposed between the collimator (38) of one detector head and the face of the one detector head. Transmission radiation from the radiation source (40) passes through the collimator (38), through the subject, and is received by the opposite detector head concurrently with the emission radiation. Alternately, a radiation source (40) is disposed behind the collimator of both detector heads (32, 34) such that both detector heads concurrently receive emission and transmission radiation.

Abstract: A SPECT camera system has two detector heads (16a, 16b) which are movable between position (FIG. 2) and an adjacent, orthogonal position (FIG. 3). The detector heads have slide members (42a, 42b) which are slidably received on linear guide members (40a, 40b) of carriers (16a, 16b). The carriers have followers (20a, 22a, 24a; 20b, 22b, 24b) which are slidably received along linear guide paths (26a, 28a, 30a; 26b; 28b, 30b). Hydraulic or other extensible cylinders (32a, 32b) selectively permit the carriers, hence the detector heads, to slide along the guide paths between the 180.degree. opposite and the adjacent, orthogonal positions. Preferably, a rotating gantry (12) is rotated to place both detector heads above an intended position. In this manner, the extensible cylinders controllably lower the detector heads as they move by gravity from the present position to the intended position. In both the 180.degree.

Abstract: A contact sensor apparatus with improved sensitivity is provided. A frame defining a surface upon which contact detection is desired has two electrically conductive sheets held in spaced parallel relationship by a plurality of electrically non-conductive insulating spacers attached to the face thereof. A contact force distributor is sandwiched between the outside electrically conductive sheet and a graphics layer. Contact forces on the graphics layer, that are in alignment with the spacers, are redistributed to areas between adjacent spacers by the contact distributor.

Abstract: An outer gantry (20) is movably mounted on wheels to move along tracks (22). An inner gantry (30) rotatably mounted on the outer gantry includes at least a pair of guide rods (56, 58) on which detector heads (32, 34) are slidably mounted. Motors (92, 102) selectively translate the detector heads along the guide rods. A chain and sprocket arrangement (116, 114; 128, 126) constrains the heads against canting and maintains opposite sides of the detector heads in alignment as the detector heads move and as the inner gantry rotates. Each detector head includes a roller bearing track or channel portion (140) on which a horizontal track portion (142) of a collimator (144) is hung vertically. A collimator connecting assembly (150) connects a bottom portion of the collimator to the detector head and secures it against further horizontal movement.

Abstract: A patient table assembly (10) is fixedly mounted on pedestals (14, 16) with a table top (12) passing through a central aperture (116) of a rotatable inner gantry (110). The inner gantry (110) is rotatably mounted in an outer gantry (80) which selectively moves parallel to the table top along tracks (82). The foot end pedestal (14) has an arm (30) and a flange and contour block arrangement (36) which receives a foot end (40) of the table top fixedly therebetween. A slide (58) clamps the head end of the table top to an arm (50) connected with the second pedestal. A front wheel carriage (90) includes a pair of wheels (98) which are rotatably mounted to a pivot member (92) for limited rotation about the outer gantry (80). Detector heads (112, 114) are mounted to slide members (132, 136,156,158) which slide on guide members (134, 138). A motor (140, 152) and acme screw ( 142, 154) drive one slide along the guide members.

Abstract: A patient couch assembly (B) supports a patient such that a nuclear camera system (A) can scan the patient in either (i) a longitudinal mode or (ii) a transverse tomographic mode. A table top (20) is connected adjacent one corner with an undercarriage (30) that supports the table top above the floor. Generally vertical supporting portion (34) is connected only adjacent an intersection of a first side and a foot end (22) of the top (26). This enables a camera head (10) of the nuclear camera to move peripherally around a transverse central slice of the patient and the associated support position of the table top or to move longitudinally completely along the underside of the patient and table top from head to foot.