Eastman-kodak Company

Carestream Health, Inc.

David E Foeller

Kenneth D Corby

Fugui He

Jacob M Shmois

Francisco Chiarilli

Clark E Harris

Mary-Irene E Condo

Peter J Harissis

Mary Beth Allen

Dana A Carlile

Robert P Provencher

Thomas A Maurer

Xiaohui Wang

William C Wendlandt

Roger G Covington

Dennis James O'Dea

Christopher J Kralles

Michael Kenin

Salvatore Castrenze DeFazio

Stephen Albert Mruczek

A grid assembly for use with an imaging cassette. The grid assembly includes an anti-scatter grid having a length and opposing first and second ends; first and second transport members disposed proximate the first and second ends, respectively, of the grid; at least one first roller disposed at the first end of the grid; at least one second roller disposed at the second end of the grid; and a pair of support members disposed substantially perpendicular to the length and proximate the opposing ends of the grid in spaced relationship to form a slot having an opening proximate one side of the grid adapted to removably slidably receive the imaging cassette adjacent the grid.

Grid assembly for use with a cassette

A storage phosphor reader apparatus for reading exposed storage phosphors. The reader includes an outer frame assembly including a cassette handling assembly for handling cassettes; an inner frame assembly; a first set of vibration isolators; a storage phosphor scanning assembly; and a second set of vibration isolators. A frame locker assembly is provided for locking the scanning assembly to the outer frame assembly when a cassette is transferred between the cassette handling assembly and the scanning assembly and for unlocking the scanning assembly during scanning of a storage phosphor removed from the cassette, so that the first and second sets of vibration isolators isolate the scanning assembly during storage phosphor scanning.

Storage phosphor reader having frame vibration isolation and frame locking

A method of forming a metal-thermoplastic polymer-metal laminate into a desired shape comprising the steps of: heating a metal-thermoplastic polymer-metal laminate to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer; forming the heated laminate into a desired shape; and cooling the formed laminate. A method of making a cassette comprising the steps of: providing a front panel and a back panel with at least the front panel formed from a shaped metal-thermoplastic polymer-metal laminate; joining the panels so that a cavity exists between them; positioning at least one intensifying screen between the panels, the screen adapted to contact an x-ray film placed in the cassette, such that the shaped laminate panel presses the screen and film in intimate contact; wherein the metal-thermoplastic polymer-metal laminate panel is formed into a desired shape by the steps of: heating a metal-thermoplastic polymer-metal laminate to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer; forming the heated laminate into a desired shape; and cooling the formed laminate.

Method of forming a metal-thermoplastic-metal laminate

Apparatus for heating and venting a container. The apparatus has a heating station for the container. A heater is disposed to supply heat to the heating station. A drive has a body and a reciprocable member. The body is mounted in predetermined relation to the receiving station. The reciprocable member is movable relative to the receiving station between a first position and a second position. A cannula is joined to the reciprocable member. The cannula has a hollow bore. The cannula is movable between a retracted position and an extended position by movement of the reciprocable member between the first position and the second position. A vent line communicates with the bore and the ambient environment.

Apparatus for heating and venting a container

A pressure lock assembly for use between first and second independently pressurized areas and a pressure vessel incorporating such a lock assembly. The pressure lock assembly is automatically actuated when the first area has a substantially higher pressure than the second area and is automatically deactuated when the areas have substantially uniform pressures. The pressure lock assembly has first and second body members. The first body member has an inner surface bounding the first area, an outer surface bounding the second area, and a through-opening extending between the surfaces. The body members are displaceable between an open position in which the body members are at least partially disengaged and a closed position in which the body members are closely engaged. A flexure member is disposed adjacent the inner end of the through-opening. When the two independently pressurized areas have substantially uniform pressures, the flexure member is disposed in a relaxed configuration in which the flexure member is unsealed from the first body member. When the first area has a substantially higher pressure than the second area, the flexure member is disposed in a pressurized configuration, in which the flexure member is sealed against the first body member. A latch is disposed on the first body member. The latch has a stem, a catch, and a foot. The stem extends through the through-opening in the first body member. The catch and foot are disposed at opposite ends of the stem. The latch is movable by the flexure member, relative to the first body member; from a uniform pressure position, in which the first body member is displaceable from the second body member and the flexure member is in communication with the through-opening; to a differential pressure position, in which the catch retains the first body member against the second body member in pressure-tight relation and the foot seals the through-opening from the flexure member.

Pressure lock assembly and pressure vessel

A container for sterilizing objects contained in a pouch (66) is provided with shield portions (30, 32) having a wiper fingers (42) located on at least one side edge portion (44) of a peripheral edge (40) of one of the shield portions (30, 32). The wiper fingers (42) insure that metal-to-metal contact is maintained between the shield portions (30, 32) during sterilization. The pouch (66) is constructed from two sheets of a laminate materials, and includes an instrument retaining portion (68) and a fluid retaining portion (70). A water pillow (80) that bursts during sterilization is provided within the fluid retaining portion (70). Alternatively, a temporary seal (86) that bursts or opens during sterilization is provided within the fluid retaining portion (70) to prevent the premature transfer of a sterilization fluid contained in the fluid retaining portion (70) to the instrument retaining portion (68).

Medical instrument shield and pouch for microwave sterilization

A temperature sensor for use in a microwave oven includes a metallic housing including a sleeve with a central passage, a metallic top plate coupled to the metallic housing to close off a first end of the central passage, and a temperature dependent resistor sensor element thermally coupled with the metallic plate. The sensor element is coupled to a signal transmission cable that passes through a bottom cap which closes off the other end of the central passage. The transmission cable is preferably connected to the bottom cap by soldering around the entire interface of the cable with the bottom cap. The cable includes at least 90% shielding and plastic insulation sufficient to resist temperatures up to 200 degrees centigrade. The sleeve is preferably filled with an epoxy cement that surrounds the sensor element.

Temperature sensor for a microwave environment

Medical instrument shielded container for microwave sterilization

A container for sterilizing objects contained in a pouch (20, 66) is provided with shield portions (30, 32) having flexible wiping (42) located on at least one side edge portion (44) of a peripheral edge (40) of one of the shield portions (30, 32). The wiping fingers (42) insure that metal-to-metal contact is maintained between the shield portions (30, 32) during sterilization. The pouch (66) is constructed from two sheets (81) of a laminate material, and includes an instrument retaining portion (68) and a fluid retaining portion (70). A water pillow (80) that bursts during sterilization is provided within the fluid retaining portion (70). Alternatively, a temporary seal (86) that bursts or opens during sterilization is provided within the fluid retaining portion (70) to prevent the premature transfer of a sterilization fluid contained in the fluid retaining portion (70) to the instrument retaining portion (68).

A tray and dispenser for holding and dispensing individual film packets from a stack of film packets provided in a tray. The tray comprises a bottom wall, an first end wall, a second end wall, and two substantially parallel side walls. The side and end walls extend upwardly from the bottom wall and terminate in an upper rim to define an open top and a recess for receiving a stack of film packets. The second end wall is provided with a support surface for supporting a stack of film packets placed in the recess when the tray is placed in the vertical position. The bottom wall of the tray is provided with ribs for spacing the stack of film packets a predetermined distance from the surface of the bottom wall and forming a rear space behind the bottom packet. The second end wall is also provided with an access opening for allowing access to the packet disposed on the bottom of the stack of film packets when the tray is placed in the substantial vertical position. The dispenser comprises a shell support structure which forms an internal chamber for receiving at least the lower portion of the tray and holding the tray in a substantially vertical position. A stripping member is provided for removing in seriatim the film packets from the recess in the tray. The stripper includes a stripper member having a configuration for insertion into the access opening in the bottom end wall and the rear space of the tray for removing the bottom packet.

Individual film packet dispenser and tray dispenser

A cassette indicating mechanism is disclosed for a cassette of the type having top and bottom halves and an information recording medium interposed therebetween. The indicating mechanism indicates whether information can or cannot be recorded on the recording medium. The cassette indicating mechanism is in a normal recording position in which a colored portion thereof is visible and preferably blocks an interfacing detector of a recording device. The blocked detector actuates the recording device to permit recording on the recording medium. The indicating mechanism is movable to a non-recording position in which the colored portion is hidden and the interfacing detector of the recording device is preferably unblocked. The unblocked detector actuates the recording device to prevent recording on the recording medium.

Growing community of inventors

Batavia, NY, United States of America

David E Foeller