Abstract: A water boiling chamber for a steam humidifier may include an enclosure having a water volume and scale collection surfaces that are exposed to water in the enclosure. The scale collection surfaces may have a scale collection surface area that is at least two times greater than a reference surface area, where the reference surface area is defined as the surface area of a sphere having a volume equal to the water volume of the enclosure. Scale collection surfaces may be part of the enclosure and project into an interior of the enclosure. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more scale collectors may be disposed within the enclosure. Methods for capturing scale in a steam humidifier are also described.

Abstract: A humidifier having a field-replaceable water heating enclosure and a humidifier main unit configured to receive the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is provided. The field-replaceable water heating enclosure may include a water inlet, a water outlet, a water vapor outlet, and a resistive heating element. The humidifier main unit may be configured to provide water to the field-replaceable water heating enclosure via the water inlet when the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is received by the humidifier main unit. To facilitate this, the humidifier main unit may include a manifold structured to interface with the water inlet, the water outlet, and the water vapor outlet. The humidifier main unit also may be configured to provide electrical power to the resistive heating element of the field-replaceable water heating enclosure when the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is received by the humidifier main unit.

Abstract: A system for automatically identifying a needle insertion location from a medical diagnostic image, such as an MRI image, and providing a visual indication of the needle insertion location is disclosed. A grid plate is located proximate to an anatomical region and is preferably incorporated in an MRI support structure utilized to immobilize the anatomical region. An MRI scanner obtains an MRI image of the anatomical region, and an MRI technician places a marker on the MRI image, identifying the needle insertion location. The MRI image and the marker are transferred from the MRI scanner to another device, such as a tablet computer, which is configured to convert the MRI image and the marker to coordinates and an insertion depth. A visual indicator is located proximate to or integrated with the grid plate that provides the needle insertion coordinates and insertion depth to the MRI technician.

Abstract: A humidifier having a field-replaceable water heating enclosure and a humidifier main unit configured to receive the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is provided. The field-replaceable water heating enclosure may include a water inlet, a water outlet, a water vapor outlet, and a resistive heating element. The humidifier main unit may be configured to provide water to the field-replaceable water heating enclosure via the water inlet when the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is received by the humidifier main unit. To facilitate this, the humidifier main unit may include a manifold structured to interface with the water inlet, the water outlet, and the water vapor outlet. The humidifier main unit also may be configured to provide electrical power to the resistive heating element of the field-replaceable water heating enclosure when the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is received by the humidifier main unit.

Abstract: A water boiling chamber for a steam humidifier may include an enclosure having a water volume and scale collection surfaces that are exposed to water in the enclosure. The scale collection surfaces may have a scale collection surface area that is at least two times greater than a reference surface area, where the reference surface area is defined as the surface area of a sphere having a volume equal to the water volume of the enclosure. Scale collection surfaces may be part of the enclosure and project into an interior of the enclosure. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more scale collectors may be disposed within the enclosure. Methods for capturing scale in a steam humidifier are also described.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a modular MRI imaging system. The imaging system includes MRI radio-frequency antenna arrays separate from the patient support structure. The antenna arrays are affixed to a thin, flexible film such that they may be located next to the anatomical region of interest. In addition, multiple antenna arrays may be configured in various planar or three-dimensional arrangements to optimize the FOV and SNR. Separate patient support structures are provided that enhance ergonomics and patient stabilization. By removing the antenna from the housing, the support structures may be designed without the constraints of supporting the antenna or the associated electronics. The MRI imaging system further employs a preamplifier module. The preamplifier module houses the preamplifier and much of the other associated circuitry for each of the antennae. The preamplifier module operates to combine the signals from the antenna arrays and pass the signals to the MRI system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a modular MRI imaging system. The imaging system includes MRI radio-frequency antenna arrays separate from the patient support structure. The antenna arrays are affixed to a thin, flexible film such that they may be located next to the anatomical region of interest. In addition, multiple antenna arrays may be configured in various planar or three-dimensional arrangements to optimize the FOV and SNR. Separate patient support structures are provided that enhance ergonomics and patient stabilization. By removing the antenna from the housing, the support structures may be designed without the constraints of supporting the antenna or the associated electronics. The MRI imaging system further employs a preamplifier module. The preamplifier module houses the preamplifier and much of the other associated circuitry for each of the antennae. The preamplifier module operates to combine the signals from the antenna arrays and pass the signals to the MRI system.

Abstract: An annular beveled insert for enhancing the insertion of a plain end of a pipe into a mating belled end of a pipe, the insert including an annular main body portion having a substantially flat surface and a beveled opposed surface. The annular main body portion has inner and outer diameters approximately equal to inner and outer diameters, respectively, of the plain end of the pipe. An outwardly directed flange extends from the annular main body portion around a periphery and has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the plain end of the pipe. The flange is sufficiently flexible so that it bends into an angle of approximately ninety degrees with the flat surface of the annular main body portion and aids the main body portion in masking the plain end of the pipe as it passes through the annular gasket.

Abstract: Methods for determining the probability of cardiac disease indicators by utilizing an optimal lead set to measure electrocardiographic data to find the measurement extrema over an optimum portion of the Thorax. The optimal lead topology is designed to produce estimates of total thoracic electrocardiographic information, low noise and errors within the constraints imposed by the measured leads' associated constraint set, which include disease targets. Importantly an optimal electrode topology and measured lead set is deemed optimal when the estimated lead topology provides the lowest global estimation errors. An optimum electrode topology is one that places the electrodes in arbitrary, but optimal, positions on the Thorax and not in a grid like manner (such as used by a BSPM vest electrode array) nor necessarily in those positions used in current practice such as for standard 12 lead or EASI leads.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for decreasing gradient field pulse sequence duration and reducing peripheral nerve stimulation with known gradient pulse areas for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The method comprising: receiving a first desired area corresponding to a first pulse; obtaining a second desired area corresponding to a second pulse; selecting the first pulse as a nested pulse if the first desired area is smaller than the second desired area, and establishing the second pulse as a nesting pulse, otherwise selecting the second pulse as the nested pulse and establishing the first pulse as the nesting pulse. The method also includes: determining an amplitude and pulse duration for the nested pulse and ascertaining an amplitude and pulse duration for the nesting pulse. Finally, the method includes arranging a plurality of gradient field pulse sequences to include the nested pulse and the nesting pulse.

Abstract: A system and method for MR imaging is disclosed that includes displaying a series of MR images of an ROI in real-time and localizing a slice within the ROI. The method also includes using a parallel imaging technique to acquire gated MR data from the localized slice and reconstructing a prescribed fixed number of gated MR images of the localized slice.

Abstract: A body worn harness supporting biosensors and devices in a form fitting structure for medical long-term ambulatory operation. The supported devices provide processing, storage, and communicating of the biosensor data captured. Integrated body motion generators generate power. In addition rapid acting zero insertion force mechanical and electrical connectors are provided for the interconnection of the biosensors, devices, and power sources.

Abstract: A method of generating a magnetic resonance image is provided, comprising subjecting a subject to a magnetic field. The subject comprised of a first tissue a second tissue and a third tissue. The method generates a first pulse sequence at a first TI time and generates a first image after the first pulse sequence. The first image has a first image first tissue magnitude, a first image second tissue magnitude, and a first image third tissue magnitude. The method then generates a second pulse sequence at a second TI time and generates a second image after the second pulse sequence. The second image has a second image first tissue magnitude, a second image second tissue magnitude, and a second image third tissue magnitude. Finally, the method generates a resultant image by combining the first image and the second image. The first image first tissue magnitude and the second image first tissue magnitude combine to form a positive resultant first tissue magnitude.

Abstract: A repaired pipeline includes an A/C pipe segment having an end, a repair segment having an end and a repair coupling coupling the A/C pipe segment to the repair segment. An A/C pipe containment cap includes an annular end having a width slightly larger than a thickness of the A/C pipe segment, an outer diameter side wall extending perpendicularly from an outer edge of the annular end, and an inner diameter side wall extending perpendicularly from an inner edge of the annular end. The containment cap is mounted on the end of the A/C pipe with the inner diameter side wall and the outer diameter sidewall extending longitudinally along an inside surface and an outside surface of the A/C pipe, respectively, and the annular end engaging the end of the A/C pipe.

Abstract: A non-invasive body worn computing platform is capable of long term unattended operation to capture, analyze, store, biosensor data and communicate health and system events, ECG waves and other biomedical data from the patient recorded, produced, or analyzed. The non-invasive body worn computing platform operates as a node within a wireless distributed collaborative network. The body worn computing platform has a latch-able mechanical and electrical interface for rapid swapping of the device and power source to and from biosensors, body harness, and power sources.

Abstract: A method for modifying an audio visual recording originally produced with an original audio track of an original speaker, using a second audio dub track of a second speaker, comprising analyzing the original audio track to convert it into a continuous time coded facial and acoustic symbol stream to identify corresponding visual facial motions of the original speaker to create continuous data sets of facial motion corresponding to speech utterance states and transformations, storing these continuous data sets in a database, analyzing the second audio dub track to convert it to a continuous tune coded facial and acoustic symbol stream, using the second audio dub track's continuous time coded facial and acoustic symbol stream to animate the original speaker's face, synchronized to the second audio dub track to create natural continuous facial speech expression by the original speaker of the second dub audio track.

Abstract: This invention proposes a method for enabling segment protection, whereby one or more hops in the lightpath are protected by either a dedicated or shared wavelength. This provides a more cost effective solution for the service provider such that they only need to configure protection, and therefore deploy equipment, to those sensitive portions of the network rather than dedicating wavelengths and equipment for protection end-to-end for a lightpath. Further, allowing protecting wavelengths to be shared for protection, gives further flexibility and therefore, savings, to the service provider. To utilize lightpath segment protection and sharing the protection between multiple lightpaths requires the new mesh networking capabilities of the network elements and new network management tools to configure, and monitor these protected lightpaths.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for decreasing gradient field pulse sequence duration and reducing peripheral nerve stimulation with known gradient pulse areas for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The method comprising: receiving a first desired area corresponding to a first pulse; obtaining a second desired area corresponding to a second pulse; selecting the first pulse as a nested pulse if the first desired area is smaller than the second desired area, and establishing the second pulse as a nesting pulse, otherwise selecting the second pulse as the nested pulse and establishing the first pulse as the nesting pulse. The method also includes: determining an amplitude and pulse duration for the nested pulse and ascertaining an amplitude and pulse duration for the nesting pulse. Finally, the method includes arranging a plurality of gradient field pulse sequences to include the nested pulse and the nesting pulse.

Abstract: The apparatus and method alters the intravenous delivery of pharmaceuticals to enhance imaging of the vasculature of an animal. The apparatus includes a pressure-inducing component that is sized to attach circumferentially to an extremity of an animal thereby impeding arterial blood flow causing said pharmaceuticals to remain at selected levels within the vasculature.

Abstract: The apparatus and method alters the intravenous delivery of pharmaceuticals to enhance imaging of the vasculature of an animal. The apparatus includes a pressure-inducing component that is sized to attach circumferentially to an extremity of an animal thereby impeding arterial blood flow causing said pharmaceuticals to remain at selected levels within the vasculature.