Abstract: A patient table includes a cradle for slidably receiving a board carrying a patient, a cradle supporting member for slidably receiving the cradle, a locker for preventing the board from sliding off the cradle, and a stopper for preventing the cradle from sliding off the cradle supporting member. A method of transferring a patient to an imaging system from a second table uses the patient table to move the board from the second table to the patient table to the imaging system. An RF coil system usable with the table includes a coil, a coil cable, an intermediate box for receiving the coil cable, and a system cable extending from the intermediate box and connected to the imaging system.

Abstract: A patient table includes a cradle for slidably receiving a board carrying a patient, a cradle supporting member for slidably receiving the cradle, a locker for preventing the board from sliding off the cradle, and a stopper for preventing the cradle from sliding off the cradle supporting member. A method of transferring a patient to an imaging system from a second table uses the patient table to move the board from the second table to the patient table to the imaging system. An RF coil system usable with the table includes a coil, a coil cable, an intermediate box for receiving the coil cable, and a system cable extending from the intermediate box and connected to the imaging system.

Abstract: A patient table includes a cradle for slidably receiving a board carrying a patient, a cradle supporting member for slidably receiving the cradle, a locker for preventing the board from sliding off the cradle, and a stopper for preventing the cradle from sliding off the cradle supporting member. A method of transferring a patient to an imaging system from a second table uses the patient table to move the board from the second table to the patient table to the imaging system. An RF coil system usable with the table includes a coil, a coil cable, an intermediate box for receiving the coil cable, and a system cable extending from the intermediate box and connected to the imaging system.

Abstract: A patient table includes a cradle for slidably receiving a board carrying a patient, a cradle supporting member for slidably receiving the cradle, a locker for preventing the board from sliding off the cradle, and a stopper for preventing the cradle from sliding off the cradle supporting member. A method of transferring a patient to an imaging system from a second table uses the patient table to move the board from the second table to the patient table to the imaging system. An RF coil system usable with the table includes a coil, a coil cable, an intermediate box for receiving the coil cable, and a system cable extending from the intermediate box and connected to the imaging system.

Abstract: Apparatus for merging a video image sequence of a dynamic phenomenon occurring on a natural background into a high resolution background image, the apparatus including a background remover operative to remove the natural background from the video image sequence, and a phenomenon-background merger operative to merge the video image sequence of the dynamic phenomenon, with natural background removed, into the high resolution background image.

Abstract: The derrick barge comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform and a heavy duty derrick or crane in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls bouyantly support the vessel including its deck load in the floating condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a distance of approximately one-half the effective height of the stabilizing columns to maintain the vessel in a semisubmerged floating condition with the platform and derrick elevated above the waterline. However, the vessel also may be ballasted or deballasted to submerge or emerge to a greater or lesser extent from the semisubmerged condition such that the distance between the mean water surface and either the underside of the deck or top side of the hull is not less than 0.75 of the mean wave height.

Abstract: The derrick barge comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform and a heavy duty derrick or crane in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls bouyantly support the vessel including its deck load in the floating condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a distance of approximately one-half the effective height of the stabilizing columns to maintain the vessel in a semisubmerged floating condition with the platform and derrick elevated above the waterline. However, the vessel also may be ballasted or deballasted to submerge or emerge to a greater or lesser extent from the semisubmerged condition such that the distance between the mean water surface and either the underside of the deck or top side of the hull is not less than 0.75 of the mean wave height.

Abstract: The vessel comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a pair of upstanding columns at opposite ends thereof supporting a working platform and a drilling mast in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls buoyantly support the vessel in a low draft in-transit floating condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of stabilizing columns such that the waterline lies intermediate the height of the columns with the platform and drilling mast elevated above the waterline. The columns stabilize the vessel in the high draft condition and the number, cross-sectional area and configuration of the columns, the weight distribution of the vessel and the geometry of the submerged hulls and portions of the columns are such that the vessel obtains motion minimizing characteristics in the high draft condition.

Abstract: The derrick barge comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform and a heavy duty derrick or crane in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls bouyantly support the vessel including its deck load in the floating condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a distance of approximately one-half the effective height of the stabilizing columns to maintain the vessel in a semisubmerged floating condition with the platform and derrick elevated above the waterline. However, the vessel also may be ballasted or deballasted to submerge or emerge to a greater or lesser extent from the semisubmerged condition such that the distance between the mean water surface and either the underside of the deck or top side of the hull is not less than 0.75 of the mean wave height.

Abstract: The derrick barge comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform and a heavy duty derrick or crane in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls buoyantly support the vessel including its deck load in the floating condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a distance of approximately one-half the effective height of the stabilizing columns to maintain the vessel in a semisubmerged floating condition with the platform and derrick elevated above the waterline. However, the vessel also may be ballasted or deballasted to submerge or emerge to a greater or lesser extent from the semisubmerged condition such that the distance between the mean water surface and either the underside of the deck or top side of the hull is not less than 0.75 of the mean wave height.

Abstract: The pipelaying barge comprises a pair of laterally spaced, elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform in spaced relation above the hulls and on which platform is carried a pipe section assembly line and one or more cranes movable longitudinally along the platform and capable of servicing the pipe section assembly line. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a high draft condition with the mean waterline at a necessary and desirable locus intermediate the height of the stabilizing columns. A transition segment is connected to the stern of the barge for support of the "air length" segment of the pipeline between the stern of the barge and the point of entry of the pipeline into the water and preferably also supporting a short segment of pipeline in the water as the pipeline is payed out from the barge.

Abstract: The vessel comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced along outboard portions of the hulls. In the preferred form, a central column supports a working platform in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls buoyantly support the vessel in a low draft condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls and outboard columns have ballast compartments for ballasting and deballasting the vessel to respectively submerge the hulls, outboard columns, and a portion of the central column to provide a high draft condition with the mean waterline located intermediate the height of the central column and between the platform and the upper ends of the outboard columns, and return the vessel to a low draft condition. The outboard columns provide stability to the vessel during the initial portion of its transition from the low draft condition to the high draft condition and in the final portion of its transition from the high to the low draft condition.