Described are system and method embodiments for measuring a thickness of a material layer using electromagnetic radiation. In some embodiments, a system includes a radiation source configured to direct first radiation towards a first surface of a layer of material having a thickness between the first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first radiation causes the material layer to emit secondary radiation. A filter is positioned between the material layer and a radiation detector and in the beam path of the second radiation in order to attenuate a portion of the second radiation associated with fluorescence of the material to emit third radiation. Then, the radiation detector is configured to detect the third radiation and a controller is configured to provide a measurement corresponding to the thickness of the material layer based on the detected third radiation.

A feedback device for a gas ionisation particle detector that includes a high voltage generator capable of creating a potential difference between electrodes placed in a gas chamber. The feedback device includes a voltage regulator configured to calculate an indicator characteristic of a measurement signal output by an electronic read unit capable of collecting an electrical signal induced by a particle passing through the chamber and to modify a set voltage output to the high voltage generator as a function of the indicator characteristic of the measurement signal. The characteristic indicator may be an average amplitude. The feedback device can use an error signal corresponding to the difference between the calculated characteristic indicator and a predetermined value.

A feedback device for a gas ionisation particle detector that includes a high voltage generator capable of creating a potential difference between electrodes placed in a gas chamber. The feedback device includes a voltage regulator configured to calculate an indicator characteristic of a measurement signal output by an electronic read unit capable of collecting an electrical signal induced by a particle passing through the chamber and to modify a set voltage output to the high voltage generator as a function of the indicator characteristic of the measurement signal. The characteristic indicator may be an average amplitude. The feedback device can use an error signal corresponding to the difference between the calculated characteristic indicator and a predetermined value.

A method of excitation transfer to a radioactive source is provided, the radioactive source having a natural radioactive decay rate. The method includes: energizing a stimulatory device coupled to a radioactive source, thereby exciting the radioactive source to decay at an enhanced rate that is higher than the natural radioactive decay rate. An excitation transfer apparatus includes: a support element; a radioactive source mounted on the support element, the radioactive source having a natural radioactive decay rate; a stimulatory device coupled to the support element; and a driver operatively connected to the stimulatory device to energize the stimulatory device, wherein upon energization, the stimulatory device excites the radioactive source which thereby decays at an enhanced rate that is higher than the natural radioactive decay rate.

Generally, a method or apparatus for tomographically imaging a sample, such as a tumor of a patient, using positively charged particles positions n two-dimensional detector arrays on n surfaces of a scintillation material or scintillator, respectively. Resultant from energy transfer from the positively charged particles, secondary photons are emitted from the scintillation material and detected by the plurality of two-dimensional detector arrays, where each detector array images the scintillation material. Combining signals from the plurality of two-dimensional detector arrays, the path, position, energy, and/or state of the positively charged particle beam as a function of time and/or rotation of the patient relative to the positively charged particle beam is determined and used in tomographic reconstruction of an image of the sample or the tumor.

An x-ray detector, system and related method are described wherein a light redirection layer is provided and used to redirect light, converted from x-rays by a scintillator, to at least one pixel. The light redirection layer comprises at least one light redirecting cell comprising a channel and a light reflecting region, wherein the channel is arranged relative to the at least one pixel to direct the incoming light away from a non-light sensitive part of the at least one pixel and toward the light sensitive part of the at least one pixel.

The invention provides systems and methods for tissue-mounted electronics and photonics. Devices of some embodiments of the invention implement high performance, and optionally flexible, device components having miniaturized formats in device architectures that minimize adverse physical effects to tissue and/or reduce interfacial stresses when mounted on tissue surfaces. In some embodiments, the invention provides complementary tissue mounting strategies providing for mechanically robust and/or long term integration of the present devices, for example, via mounting on tissue surfaces that are not subject to rapid growth or exfoliation processes such as the fingernail, toenail, tooth or earlobe. Devices of the invention are versatile and support a broad range of applications for sensing, actuating and communication including applications for near field communication, for example, for password authentication, electronic transactions and biometric sensing.

The invention provides systems and methods for tissue-mounted electronics and photonics. Devices of some embodiments of the invention implement high performance, and optionally flexible, device components having miniaturized formats in device architectures that minimize adverse physical effects to tissue and/or reduce interfacial stresses when mounted on tissue surfaces. In some embodiments, the invention provides complementary tissue mounting strategies providing for mechanically robust and/or long term integration of the present devices, for example, via mounting on tissue surfaces that are not subject to rapid growth or exfoliation processes such as the fingernail, toenail, tooth or earlobe. Devices of the invention are versatile and support a broad range of applications for sensing, actuating and communication including applications for near field communication, for example, for password authentication, electronic transactions and biometric sensing.

There is provided a radiation-irradiation device of which a direction can be easily changed obliquely with a simple structure. A rear wheel unit (12R) of a radiation-irradiation device includes first locking means that includes a front operating portion (109F) of a brake pedal (109), a shaft (108), a gear (107), a cam (106), a rod (104), a lever (105), and a disc (103) and restrains the traveling rotation of a wheel (102). Further, the rear wheel unit (12R) includes second locking means that includes a rear operating portion (109R) of the brake pedal (109), the shaft (108), the gear (107), and the cam (106) and restrains the revolution of a casing (101).

There is provided a radiation-irradiation device of which a direction can be easily changed obliquely with a simple structure. A rear wheel unit (12R) of a radiation-irradiation device includes first locking means that includes a front operating portion (109F) of a brake pedal (109), a shaft (108), a gear (107), a cam (106), a rod (104), a lever (105), and a disc (103) and restrains the traveling rotation of a wheel (102). Further, the rear wheel unit (12R) includes second locking means that includes a rear operating portion (109R) of the brake pedal (109), the shaft (108), the gear (107), and the cam (106) and restrains the revolution of a casing (101).