Abstract: A system is provided for obtaining a nuclear image of a moving object. The system comprises an input (14), a processing unit (15) and an output (17). The input (14) is provided for receiving a nuclear image and morphological images of the object. The processing unit (15) is configured to process the morphological images to obtain sparse motion information of the object, to use the sparse motion information and a motion model for obtaining estimated motion information about the object, and to generate a motion-corrected nuclear image based on the estimated motion information and the acquired nuclear image. The output (17) provides the corrected nuclear image.

Abstract: A simplified and user-friendly reusable modular building block system, for use by the professional architect or home design enthusiast, allowing for the creation of custom architectural scale models of building designs similar in appearance and function to professional scale models produced in architects' offices is presented. The building block system pieces are comprised of interlocking injection-molded solid plastic parts and grouped in five classes of various corresponding shapes and sizes. The construction and grouping of the block system pieces can be connected together at the user's discretion in a limitless variety of creative configurations, thereby forming the walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, door and window openings, and other building design elements of an architectural model at 1:48 scale (¼?=1?0?) based on the user's unique house design, or an existing design if so desired.

Abstract: A system is provided for obtaining a nuclear image of a moving object. The system comprises an input (14), a processing unit (15) and an output (17). The input (14) is provided for receiving a nuclear image and morphological images of the object. The processing unit (15) is configured to process the morphological images to obtain sparse motion information of the object, to use the sparse motion information and a motion model for obtaining estimated motion information about the object, and to generate a motion-corrected nuclear image based on the estimated motion information and the acquired nuclear image. The output (17) provides the corrected nuclear image.

Abstract: A simplified and user-friendly reusable modular building block system, for use by the professional architect or home design enthusiast, allowing for the creation of custom architectural scale models of building designs similar in appearance and function to professional scale models produced in architects' offices is presented. The building block system pieces are comprised of interlocking injection-molded solid plastic parts and grouped in five classes of various corresponding shapes and sizes. The construction and grouping of the block system pieces can be connected together at the user's discretion in a limitless variety of creative configurations, thereby forming the walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, door and window openings, and other building design elements of an architectural model at 1:48 scale (¼?=1?-0?) based on the user's unique house design, or an existing design if so desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image guided surgery system, having an optical position measuring system which includes a detector arrangement (3) and a marker arrangement (4, 5, 6). In known optical position measuring systems, for example comprising two cameras and three LEDs per marker arrangement, a direct line of sight must continuously exist between the detector arrangement (3) and the marker arrangement (4, 5, 6) in order to ensure reliable and continuous operation of the system and to supply the surgeon continuously with information concerning the current position of an instrument or another part provided with a marker arrangement during the treatment. Blocking of the direct line of sight has a negative effect on the operation of the position measuring system. These drawbacks are avoided according to the invention in that at least one mirror (7) is provided in order to establish an indirect line of sight (5i, 6i) between the detector arrangement (3) and the marker arrangement (4, 5, 6).

Abstract: The invention relates to an MR imaging method in which a plurality of sequences, each of which comprises at least one RF pulse and at least one magnetic gradient field, act on an examination zone and in which at least one MR image is reconstructed from the MR signals thus acquired, and also relates to an apparatus for carrying out this method. Optimization can be achieved by subjecting the MR image to an analysis and by adjusting the variation in time of the RF pulses and/or the magnetic gradient field for the subsequent sequences in dependence on the analysis result. In particular, for positioning an object with suitable MR contrast in a body under examination at least one MR survey image of the body is formed prior to the introduction of the object. Then, after introduction of the object into the body, MR images of a small target region around and in front of the object are continuously formed and combined with the MR survey image for display purposes.

Abstract: An MR imaging method and device in which an object to be examined is displaced at a defined speed relative to an examination zone and a plurality of sequences act on the examination zone in the presence of a steady, uniform magnetic field, each of the sequences including at least one RF pulse and possibly a phase encoding gradient, and a MR signal arising in the examination zone, after transposition to another frequency range by means of an oscillator signal, is used to produce an MR image. The method aims to enhance the quality of the MR image produced by preventing movement artefacts. This is achieved in that from one sequence to another, one or more of the frequency of the RF pulses, the frequency of the oscillator signal, and the phase position of the oscillator signal is adjusted in conformity with the position of the object to be examined relative to the examination zone so that a part of the object which is imaged in the MR image moves relative to the examination zone in synchronism with the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a series of MR images in which, in the presence of a steady magnetic field, sequences comprising at least an RF pulse and a magnetic gradient field which is varied from one sequence to another are continuously applied to the examination zone, from the image signals thus generated there being reconstructed MR images, the oldest MR signals used for the reconstruction of an MR image being replaced upon reconstruction of the next MR image by the respective newly generated MR signals. Low-artefact reproduction of dynamic processes in the examination zone can be achieved by varying the direction of the magnetic gradient field active during the generation of an MR signal from one sequence to another so that the range of the magnetic gradient field directions required for the reconstruction is distributed between the respective newly generated MR signals. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method.

Abstract: The invention relates to an MR method for two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging of an examination zone, in which a set of raw data is measured repeatedly, an image of the examination zone can be reconstructed from each set, and the raw data of a set is acquired with different measurement parameters, and different sets contain raw data acquired with the same measurement parameters. Improved temporal resolution is achieved in that a set of auxiliary data is formed from at least two sets of raw data in order to produce an image representing the examination zone at a selectable instant, the auxiliary data being derived by interpolation from the raw data acquired with each time the same measurement parameters but at different measurement instants, the weight applied to the raw data entering the interpolation being greater as the time interval between the associated measurement instant and the selectable instant is smaller, the image of the examination zone being reconstructed from the set of auxiliary data.

Abstract: A coil system is disclosed which is particularly suitable for volume-selective MR spectroscopy. In addition to the coil for generating the RF pulses and for receiving the MR spin resonance signals, the coil system comprises a correction coil which receives a direct current so that this coil generates an inhomogeneous field which compensates for inhomogeneities of the steady magnetic field in the selected volume. As a result, the magnetic field in this zone becomes homogeneous to such an extent that spectroscopic examinations can also be performed in zones in which the magnetic susceptibility varies strongly in space.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance spectrometer in which, at least in the receiving branch, the received spin resonance signal is transposed by successive mixing processes into a transposed signal having a higher frequency range than the baseband. The transposed signal is converted into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: The known method of determining the longitudinal and possibly the transverse relaxation time requires comparatively long repetition times, resulting in comparatively long measurement times. In accordance with the invention, each sequence comprises at least two subsequences, each of which contains at least one r.f. pulse, the repetition times being different and so short that the longitudinal magnetization has not yet reached its original value when the next sub-sequence commences. The invention enables the formation of T1-weighted, and possibly T2-weighted, tomograms for notably medical diagnostics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multislice MR tomography method. Because the sequences for the individual slices are not performed successively in time but rather in an interleaved manner, shorter cycle periods and an improved T2 contrast can be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance examination method for the selective excitation of a limited volume of a body under examination, in which the excitation is effected by three successive frequency-modulated pulses the first and the third of which are equal to one another and the second of which is a 180.degree. pulse. A gradient magnetic field, the gradient of which runs each time in one of three directions perpendicular to one another, is active during each of the three pulses.

Abstract: For processing a signal applied to an input of audio signal processing devices, for example a speech signal received via a microphone (2) in a speaker-identification or speech recognition system, the signal must have a specific level. For this purpose the signal is applied via an amplifier (4) with variable gain. Before processing begins, the gain is set to an initial value. During processing of the speech signal, it is checked, at regular time intervals, in which range of a plurality of predetermined amplitude ranges the amplified signal is situated, and whether overloading takes place and the frequency which the amplitude of the signal occurs in each of the amplitude ranges is counted. When the signal ends, the optimum gain setting is determined from the histogram of frequencies.

Abstract: In order to reduce the information contents of a sound signal, for example a speech signal, the sound signal is divided into adjacent frequency ranges and the signals then obtained are consecutively integrated over short time intervals to short-time-spectrum signals. Subsequently, a histogram of the short-time-spectrum signals is formed for each frequency range and said histograms are divided into a given number of equal-area portions. The boundaries of said portions, which are referred to as quantiles, represent the characteristic values. The amplifier noise or the noise of the complete recording arrangement as well as a difference in sound energy level during when different sound signals are processed can then be eliminated at least in respect of their effect.

Abstract: An improved method of verifying the speaker from whom long term spectral characteristics have been derived during a learning phase. Mean values and distance thresholds have been calculated and stored. Improved recognition is obtained by incorporating into the stored values additional values of speech samples in ranges situated outside the distance threshold value. When, during verification, a speech sample not situated within the distance threshold value is encountered its distance from the additionally stored speech samples is successively determined and compared with the separate distance threshold value. The speaker is rejected only if the speech sample to be verified is not situated at a sufficiently small distance from any of the additionally stored speech samples. The method thus increases the recognition range to better approximate the actual distribution of speech samples of the learning phase.