As a result of a joint research agreement, we are currently building the data acquisition, visualization, analysis, and archiving systems for two research magnetic source imaging (MSI) systems to be placed at a new biomedical center in Europe. The MSI sensor heads are to be supplied by our partners. MSI is an emerging diagnostic modality which attempts to characterize the spatial and temporal electrical activity within the body (e.g. heart, brain, or spine) by noninvasive measurement of the external magnetic fields created by minute internal electrical currents. This paper briefly summarizes the nature of these signals and of MSI systems. It then develops the system design requirements suitable for clinical applications. The resulting heterogeneous, multiprocessor system based on these requirements is described.>

An approach to using dense range data for the inspection of leads of lead-through-hole components on a printed wiring board is described. A complete working system was constructed of which only the ranging device and range data processing algorithms are described. Information parameters for loaded boards may vary from simple presence/absence determination to the measurement of detailed geometric features. The image analysis process is described, and an example involving a single-component lead is given.>