Abstract: Apparatuses include (among other components) a first gain device connected to receive an initial voltage, a second gain device in series with the first gain device and connected to receive output of the first gain device, differential gain devices connected to receive outputs from the first gain device and the second gain device (the differential gain devices provide opposite voltage outputs from the apparatus) and high-frequency compensation feed-forward paths connected to the first gain device and the second gain device.

Abstract: A spectrometric device for optical analysis of material composition, coating thickness, surface porosity, and/or other characteristics uses several monochromatic light sources—e.g., laser diodes—to illuminate a sample, with a camera taking an image of the sample under each source's light, and with the various images then being combined to generate a (hyper)spectral image. To address the difficulty in obtaining uniform illumination intensity across the illuminated sample area with solid-state light sources, the output from the light sources may be supplied to an integrating sphere (preferably after being combined within a fiber combiner), and then to a fiber bundle whose output ends are configured as a ring light (a ring of fiber ends directing light at a common spot). The camera may then focus on the spot, at which the sample may be placed for illumination and imaging.

Abstract: A local breast coil is designed to be tightly coupled to the natural shape of the pendant breast to provide high SNR for diagnostic MR imaging applications, while still providing access for interventional procedures through openings in the coil. In accordance with one configuration, the coil has a symmetrical design, such that the coil can be rotated about the breast to position an opening in the coil proximate to a desired portion of the breast without incurring registration or other alignment or artifact errors due to inhomogeneous B1 excitation. Furthermore, the coil is designed to facilitate medial and lateral imaging of the breast. The coil is combined with a patient support system that facilitates rotation of the coil and interchangeability of the coil to match the configuration of the coil to the position of the breast being imaged.

Abstract: A local breast coil is designed to be tightly coupled to the natural shape of the pendant breast to provide high SNR for diagnostic MR imaging applications, while still providing access for interventional procedures through openings in the coil. In accordance with one configuration, the coil has a symmetrical design, such that the coil can be rotated about the breast to position an opening in the coil proximate to a desired portion of the breast without incurring registration or other alignment or artifact errors due to inhomogeneous B1 excitation. Furthermore, the coil is designed to facilitate medial and lateral imaging of the breast. The coil is combined with a patient support system that facilitates rotation of the coil and interchangeability of the coil to match the configuration of the coil to the position of the breast being imaged.