Abstract: Methods and systems for performing robotically-assisted surgery in conjunction with intra-operative imaging. A method includes moving a robotic arm with respect to a patient and an imaging device to move an end effector of the robotic arm to a pre-determined position and orientation with respect to the patient based on imaging data of the patient obtained by the imaging device. The robotic arm maintains the end effector in the pre-determined position and orientation with respect to the patient and does not collide with the imaging device or with the patient when the imaging device moves with respect to the patient.

Abstract: A cost efficient method of making a lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of coating a silver halide emulsion layer on a hydrophilic base which is provided with physical development nuclei; simultaneously with the preceding step, coating on the emulsion layer a solution that induces silver salt diffusion transfer reversal development of the silver halide; allowing diffusion of complexed silver ions to the physical development nuclei, thereby forming silver metal that is deposited on the hydrophilic base; a wash-off step wherein the emulsion layer is removed from the silver metal. The material thus obtained can be exposed image-wise in heat-mode, e.g. by means of an infrared laser, thereby ablating the silver metal and revealing the hydrophilic base at exposed areas. Immediately after exposure, it can be used as a lithographic printing plate without the need for a wet processing step.

Abstract: A cost efficient method of making a lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a photosensitive recording material for the production of offset printing plates which comprises a dimensionally stable, two-dimensional support of a metal or metal alloy and a silver halide-containing, photosensitive layer on the front of the support and a layer which essentially consists of an organic polymeric material and is resistant to processing chemicals on the back of the support. The layer on the back of the support is applied before the photosensitive coating on the front. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding recording material in which the layer on the back comprises at least one organic polymer having a glass transition temperature Tg of 50° C. or above. Due to the back coating, the formation of local elements between the metallic support and the silver-containing layer is reliably prevented when the recording materials are stacked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a photosensitive recording material for the production of offset printing plates which comprises a dimensionally stable, two-dimensional support of a metal or metal alloy and a silver halide-containing, photosensitive layer on the front of the support and a layer which essentially consists of an organic polymeric material and is resistant to processing chemicals on the back of the support. The layer on the back of the support is applied before the photosensitive coating on the front. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding recording material in which the layer on the back comprises at least one organic polymer having a glass transition temperature Tg of 50° C. or above. Due to the back coating, the formation of local elements between the metallic support and the silver-containing layer is reliably prevented when the recording materials are stacked.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline processing solution comprising at least one silver halide solvent other than sulfite, characterized in that said alkaline processing solution further contains aluminium ions in an amount of at least 0.3 g/l. There is further provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the DTR-process using an aqueous alkaline processing solution in the presence of at least one developing agent and at least one silver halide solvent, characterized in that said alkaline processing solution contains aluminium ions in an amount of at least 0.3 g/l.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a silver salt diffusion transfer material, comprising on a hydrophilic surface of a support in the order given (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and (iii) a top layer containing gelatin, said silver halide emulsion being spectrally sensitized with a dye with a sensitizing maximum between 380 and 430 nm, characterized in that said top layer comprises a compound I and/or a compound II

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of: (a) image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising (i) a hydrophilic base, (ii) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (iii) an intermediate layer, and (iv) a silver halide emulsion layer,(b) applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s) to form image-wise in said image receiving layer a silver image,(c) treating the imaging element to remove the layer(s) on top of said image receiving layer,characterized in that said imaging element has been stored before image-wise exposure in a surrounding having at 22.degree. C. a relative humidity between 20% and 50%.According to the present invention there is also provided a package of the imaging element, making said imaging element suitable for use in the above defined method.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for preparing an imaging element comprising the steps of coating in the order given on a grained and anodized side of an aluminum support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and (iii) optionally an antistress layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer comprising unhardened gelatin, characterized in that said aluminum support when being coated with said photosensitive layer is in contact with a guiding roller, heated at a temperature between 35 and 70.degree. C.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for preparing a silver complex diffusion transfer reversal material comprising a grained and anodized aluminum foil as support and a photosensitive silver halide emulsion coating, characterized in that said grained and anodized aluminum foil is corona treated in a corona station comprising a roller and at least one electrode, that has been coated with a dielectric coating before said foil is coated by a photosensitive layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive silver halide emulsion said photosensitive layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer,applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s) to form a silver image in said image receiving layer,treating the imaging element with a first lithographic finisher in order to remove the layer(s) on top of the image receiving layer, thereby exposing the imaged surface of the support by uncovering said silver image formed in said image receiving layer,treating said exposed imaged surface of the support with a second litho

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic base (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and (iii) an antistress layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and comprising gelatin, characterized in that said antistress layer comprises at least 30 mg/m.sup.2 of a matting agent with a weight average diameter of at least 3 .mu.m.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) an intermediate layer and (iii) a photosensitive layer containing one or more silver halide emulsions being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer, characterized in that said intermediate layer comprises at least 0.08 mmole/m.sup.2 of a bromide salt.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer (iii) a first antistress layer and (iv) a second antistress layer, said antistress layers being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer and each independently comprising unhardened gelatin, characterized in that said second antistress layer comprises at least 30 mg/m.sup.2 of a matting agent with a weight average diameter of more than 3 .mu.m.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising one or more photosensitive silver halide emulsions said photosensitive layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer,applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element comprising at least 0.05 mole/l of ascorbic acid as the main developer, at least 0.010 mole/l of an auxiliary developer of the class of the 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones and an aminoalcohol in an amount from 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing an aluminium foil comprising the steps of roughening an aluminium foil and subsequently anodizing said aluminium foil characterized in that after said anodization said aluminium foil is cleaned using an aqueous bicarbonate containing solution. The present invention further provides a mono-sheet silver salt diffusion transfer material having as a support the alumium foil obtainable from the above defined method. The step of cleaning in the bicarbonate containing solution improves the adhesion of an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei to the aluminum foil as revealed from the increased amount of silver precipitated in the image receiving layer when the aluminum foil provided with an image receiving layer is used in a diffusion transfer reversal (DTR) process.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei, (ii) a photosensitive layer containing one or more silver halide emulsions being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer, characterized in that said one or more silver halide emulsions comprise substantially no silver bromide and that said imaging element comprises on top of said photosensitive layer an antistress layer, being in water permeable relationship with said photosensitive layer and comprising an unhardened gelatin in an amount ranging from 0.60 to 1.75 g/m.sup.2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive silver halide emulsion said photosensitive layer being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer,applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s) to form a silver image in said image receiving layer,treating the imaging element to remove the layer(s) on top of the image receiving layer, thereby exposing the imaged surface of the support by uncovering said silver image formed in said image receiving layer,characterized in that said aqueous alkaline solution comprises less than 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprising the steps of:image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer comprising one or more silver halide emulsions being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer(b) applying an aqueous alkaline solution to the imaging element in the presence of (a) developing agent(s) and (a) silver halide solvent(s) to form a silver image in said image receiving layer, (c) treating the imaging element to remove the layer(s) on top of said image receiving layer, thereby uncovering said silver image formed in said image receiving layer,characterized in that said aqueous alkaline solution contains thiosulphate salts in an amount ranging from 0.000 mole/l to 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising in the order given on a hydrophilic surface of a support (i) an image receiving layer containing physical development nuclei and (ii) a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide emulsion being in water permeable relationship with said image receiving layer, characterized in that said photosensitive layer comprises a substituted or unsubstituted 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone in an amount between 0.2 mg/g and 15 mg/g of silver halide expressed as an equivalent amount of silver nitrate.