We propose to evaluate transmission, fluorescence, and backscattering techniques of x-rays or gamma-rays to determine defects in high-z castings. the proposal includes x-ray spectral analysis, followed by experimental measurements on actual samples, to determine optimum design parameters and the… More

Bir proposes an innovative portable x-ray detection and measurement system for nde applications. based on a filmless cassette of discrete digital x-ray decectors, such a system would enable direct digital imaging for viewing, vcr recording, or for computer analysis. the system would resemble a film… More

This phase i sbir program proposes to determine the feasibility of using high-resolution digital radiography (dr), laminography, and computed tomography (ct) to examine laminar bonds in composite samples supplied by the army. the project will utilize discrete, solid-state x-ray detectors designed… More

Discrete element x-ray detectors developed for medical computer tomography are recently being applied as a detection medium for industrial x-ray radiography. the detectors are designed with a wide dynamic range to accommodate the multiple path data collection necessary for computed tomography. in… More

The well known technique of dual-energy ct scanning separates materials whose absorption are energy dependent and has thus far been performed on medical ct scanner models with slow scan times and low spatial resolution. bio-imaging research, inc. has designed a medical ct scannerwith a scan time as… More

We propose to exploit dual energy x-ray measurement tech- nique to quantitatively determine the pro portions of two different materials in a food processing line at conveyor belt speed. the main problem with a simpleconventional x-ray inspection system is that it requires known material thickness… More

There is evidence that a measure of the ultrasound nonlinear parameter (b/a) can be a good tissue classifier. recently, the medical ultrasound community has witnessed a great deal of effort in this area. however, to date all the reported techniques are either suitable only for transmission mode or… More

We propose to undertake a program to develop the acoustic counterpart of the nomarski differential phase contrast optical microscope. such a system is particularly useful for nde imaging and characterizing minute variations in the elastic properties of specimens with high lateral resolution. stress… More

We propose to develop and verify in this phase i program a technique that will accurately and repeatably measure surface profiles and distances between a test object and detectors using the shearing heterodyne interferometry technique. the technique is based on shearing heterodyne interferometry… More

Discrete element x-ray detectors developed from medical computed tomography (ct) are being applied to industrial x-ray digital radiography (dr) and ct imaging. a dr technique known as slit radiography, using these detectors, may have special application for bond line defects in cylindrical… More

The researchers propose to extend their previous work in high-energy x-ray backscatter imaging tomography (bit) to higher energy ranges in order to achieve greater penetrationdepths. at energies greater than a few mev, the predominantinteraction is no longer compton scattering, but pair production.… More

The long-term storage of low level nuclear waste in cement solidified drums has given rise to a need for a nondestructive examination (nde) technique that will determine the presence of free liquids. we propose to develop, evaluate, and implement a new radiographic nde technique with excellent low… More

The primary effort of this program develops an instrument that will allow internal imaging of rocket motors and nozzles during live static fires. this instrument will produce voxel-by-voxel x-ray data so that a three-dimensional image of the rocket can be made in real-time during firing. the… More

We propose to develop and verify in this phase i program a technique that will accurately and repeatably measure surface profiles and distances between a test object and detectors using the shearing heterodyne interferometry technique. the technique is based on shearing heterodyne interferometry… More

Ultrasound flow measurement and particularly color flow mapping (cfm) systems provide a valuable tool for medical diagnosis. these techniques primarily exploit the doppler effect which, despite its great success, results in two fundamental drawbacks: (1) the inability to measure nonaxialflow… More

Computed tomography (ct) has become increasingly important in nondestructive evaluation (nde). industrial applicationsoften require very high spatial resolution. however, the finite width of x-ray sampling limits the spatial resolution. the research to be carried out here will investigate an… More

The result of this phase i effort will be a detailed plan to significantly increase the speed and, hence, the interactivity of analyze, an already useful medical image analysis system. analyze is a software system for the analysis of medical images, developed at mayo foundation's biotechnology… More

X-ray computed tomography (CT) is widely used in defense, aerospace, and industrial applications. CT provides flaw detection, density measurement, accurate dimensions, morphology, assembly verification, material property analysis, and other vauable information. However, a major limitation of CT has… More

We propose to develop in this Phase I SBIR a technique to produce high-energy, multi-aspect radiographic images in near real-time, using a conventional real time radiography (RTR) system. This technique, stereo-pair imaging, will allow three-dimensional analysis of RTR images by producing two views,… More

We will develop a new construction method for receiver coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the human breast. These coils will be custom-shaped to individual patients in a quick, economical, and comfortable manner. Since each structure fits the individual patient closely, the coil system… More

1We are proposing a computerized tomographic (CT) dimensional measurement system that will remedy two of the major problems experienced by current methods: the distortions caused by CT artifacts, and the blurring caused by the system point - spread function (PSF). The distortions resulting from data… More

Instrumentation that can provide microstructural characterization of medical grade polymers,fabrics, and composite materials is the proposed research's long term goal. One micron resolutionvolume computed tomography of test specimens can now be demonstrated by combining anNIST-developed x-ray… More

We will adapt a non-cryogenic magnetic field sensor previously developed for defense purposesand apply it to magnetocardiography (MCG), the measurement of magnetic fields induced by electricalcurrents in the heart. As a single non-invasive sensor, this unit would have similar applications to… More

The proposed innovation is to apply differential phase acoustic microscopy to NDE inspection of ceramic Sn3N4 ball bearings. Differential phase acoustic microscopy is more sensitive than standard acoustic microscopy, and can provide the location and size of defects, which is a specific goal of the… More

We propose a method of generating x-rays that will combine high instantaneous output of rotating-anode x-ray tubes with continuous cooling rates as great or greater than fixed-anode tubes. This combination can be achieved in a mechanically simple way, and will reduce spot wobble without vacuum… More

We propose to design and develop a new x-ray detector system for use in underground mine imaging applications. The detector system will be designed to operate with a pencil-beam sca m ing x-ray source, and will detect the Compton interacted radiation that is scattered back toward the X-ray source.… More

We offer a scanning linear x-ray tube with easy length extension, using a scanning laser to excite electron emission in lieu of a conventional cathode. The project will use the results from a current Phase I SBIR contract and from two major companies.

We offer a scanning linear x-ray tube with modular length extension, using sequentially activated multiple cathodes, each with a short linear scan range. The problem of assuring a smooth transition from one cathode to the next has been addressed, and the program will benefit from knowledge and… More

While the efficiency of x-ray sources is defined by the laws of physics, present day sources do not take full advantage of those laws. Other materials thant tungsten are not only more efficient in producing bremsstrahlung, but have "characteristic" x-rays that can make the beam harder instead of… More

Computed tomography (CT) has become increasingly important in radiotherapy planning: CT add-ons havintroduced for therapy simulators, and specialized CT scanners have been developed as stand-alone thsystems. However, because of therapy simulator limitations, CT add-ons have poor throughput and… More

Not Available A new approach to significantly increasing the level of monolithic integration of InP based photonic integrated circuits for RF applications is the subject of this proposed Phase I program. The method is based on a vertically coupled twin wave guide design that has already been… More

We propose to design, fabricate, and test a novel x-ray detector for use in industrial CT scanners. This linear detector array combines high spatial resolution and long array length to achieve high-resolution scans on large objects. We propose to supplyan x-ray scanner to the Army Research… More

We propose to design, fabricate, and test a novel x-ray detector for use in industrial CT scanners. This linear detector array combines high spatial resolution and long array length to achieve high-resolution scans on large objects. We propose to supplyan x-ray scanner to the Army Research… More

This purpose of this SBIR Phase II project is to build a prototype dual-energy CT scanner to inspect and analyze the small rocks and minerals for evidnece of fossilized life. The goal is to achieve three-dimensional volume images with 10-micron spatial resolution in the reconstructed image and to… More

This purpose of this SBIR Phase II project is to build a prototype dual-energy CT scanner to inspect and analyze the small rocks and minerals for evidnece of fossilized life. The goal is to achieve three-dimensional volume images with 10-micron spatial resolution in the reconstructed image and to… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project involves the research and development of a real-time FPGA-based volume rendering system. In many scientific, engineering and medical diagnostic imaging applications, large amounts of data from 3D… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project involves the research and development of a real-time FPGA-based volume rendering system. Medical radiologists face a data overload crisis that is getting worse with each year. This crisis is caused by… More