Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary-anode X-ray tube which includes an axial bearing arrangement which is particularly suitable for combination with a radial spiral groove bearing. It is a problem of known axial magnet bearings, which generally comprise two tooth-like structures which are oriented in the radial direction and are oppositely situated, consists in that substantial radial forces are generated during the starting and the stopping phase, which radial forces can cause substantial wear of notably radial spiral groove bearings. An axial bearing which involves significantly lower radial forces and hence a less loading of the radial bearings, is realized by an arrangement of at least two magnetic elements which are spaced apart in the axial direction and are connected in such a manner that they take up axial bearing forces. A further solution to this problem is achieved by means of an axial bearing in the form of a single-point ball bearing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit having metal programmable logic cells. Metal programmable logic cells include transistors which, by varying routing of conductors in the metalization of the integrated circuit, may be connected in or disconnected from a logic path extending between the input and output of the cell. Transistors which are deselected by not being connected in the logic path are also decoupled from the supply rails. Generally speaking, deselected transistors can not be scan tested without substantial additional circuitry, as they do not form part of the logic path between the cell input and output to which the scan test circuitry is normally coupled. Decoupling transistors which are not in the logic path ensures that “stuck on” faults, in which transistors are stuck in a conductive state, do not allow current to flow between the supply rails through these faulty transistors, thus avoiding hot spots and reliability problems.

Abstract: An image processing method includes the acquisition of a succession of low-resolution images. A succession of mask images is derived from the low-resolution images. Furthermore, a high-resolution image is acquired. The mask images are applied to the high-resolution image as bandpass filters in order to form a filtered high-resolution image. The filtered high-resolution image represents image information relating to a particular phase of a dynamic process, such as the passage of blood through the vascular system of a patient. The image processing method is used, for example in MR angiography or in X-ray angiography. An MRI system or an X-ray examination apparatus is provided with an image processor for carrying out the image processing method according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography method which involves a conical radiation beam which irradiates the examination zone along at least two trajectories that are offset relative to one another in the direction of the axis of rotation, the distance between the trajectories being chosen to be so large that voxels in an intermediate region are not completely irradiated neither in one trajectory nor in the other trajectory. The absorption distribution in this intermediate region can be reconstructed without loss of image quality when measuring data from both trajectories are combined.

Abstract: A system and method for ultrasonic harmonic imaging of both tissue and tissue perfused with a contrast agent are disclosed. The ultrasonic harmonic imaging system comprises a wideband phased-array transducer, a transmitter for transmitting waves into the tissue, a receiver for receiving ultrasonic responses from the tissue, a control system electrically coupled to the transmitter and the receiver for controlling operation of the transmitter and receiver, a video processor, and a monitor. In a preferred embodiment, the transducer insonifies tissue at a fundamental frequency of less than approximately 1.5 MHz. A method for detecting an ultrasonic harmonic response of a contrast agent may be performed by introducing at least one contrast agent into the target object, destroying the contrast agent with an ultrasonic pressure wave and measuring the harmonic response from the destroyed contrast agent.

Abstract: MRI apparatus with a magnet assembly for generating a uniform magnetic field in a measuring volume, wherein a combination of at least two magnetic coils is arranged adjacent an object to be examined in order to detect the radio frequency radiation emanating from the object. The combination may include, for example one birdcage coil (40) and one surface coil (45). The coils are arranged relative to one another and to the magnetic field in such a manner that their areas of sensitivity overlap and that their longitudinal conductors (42 and 47, respectively) extend parallel to the uniform magnetic field B0 and one in the prolongation of the other. It is demonstrated that the difference between the signal-to-noise ratios of the coils causes image degradation due to the disruption (51) of the sensitivity of the coil assembly in the zone between the coils.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography apparatus whose radiation source emits a conical radiation beam and is capable of scanning the examination zone along a trajectory in the form of a helix. The detector unit that is connected to the radiation source consists of a plurality of spatially separated detector segments that are mutually offset in the axial direction and each of which is arranged in such a manner that a projection onto the helix covers at least two neighboring turns of the helix. A CT image having an improved and spatially more uniformly distributed signal-to-noise ratio can be reconstructed from the CT data acquired by means of such a detector unit.

Abstract: A filter which includes a stack of deformable foils which are locally attached to one another, and also includes comparatively rigid members which are situated to both sides of the stack of foils, extend parallel to the surface of the foils and each of which is attached to an outer surface of the stack of foils by way of a buffer member. The foils can be moved away from one another in a main direction by means of the rigid members, which main direction extends transversely of the surface, in order to form ducts between the foils. The buffer member is then contractible mainly in a direction which extends parallel to the surface and transversely of the ducts.

Abstract: Current mirror circuit including a current input terminal (2), a current output terminal (6), a common terminal (8), a first transistor (T1) arranged between the current input terminal (2) and the common terminal (8), a second transistor (T2) arranged between the current output terminal (6) and the common terminal (8), a transconductance stage (TS) having an input terminal coupled to the current input terminal (2), and an output terminal coupled to the common terminal (8), and a bias source (22) for biasing the control electrodes of the first and second transistors (T1, T2). This configuration provides a large bandwidth independently of the input current, accurate current transfer and a single pole system.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging facilitates a pre-compensating phase encoding of spuriously generated magnetizations. The method includes generating a preparatory excitation of spins represented upon an RF-excitation line, applying subsequently a temporary magnetic compensation gradient as represented along a phase-encoding axis, generating subsequently an RF excitation pulse as represented upon the RF-excitation line, applying subsequent to the RF excitation pulse, and before an acquisition interval for receiving magnetic resonance signals, a phase-encoding gradient as represented along the phase-encoding axis. The phase-encoding gradient is substantially the same magnitude as, and opposite in direction relative to, the direction of the temporary magnetic compensation gradient. The last step includes receiving magnetic resonance signals during the acquisition interval as represented along the RF-excitation line.

Abstract: A blind spot vision system for a vehicle includes a camera having a field of view. The camera is positioned on the vehicle such that the field of view corresponds with at least a portion of an area proximate the vehicle which is not visible to a driver while the driver looks in mirrors that are positioned on the vehicle. The system also includes an object identifier electrically coupled to the camera, a relative speed identifier which determines the relative speed of an object which is in the field of view of the camera, and a display electrically coupled to the camera which displays an image generated by the camera and provides an indication of the type of object identified by the object identifier which is in the field of view of the camera and displayed on the display.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for analyzing high and low values in a period waveform in a manner that is applicable and accurate for both pulse-shaped waveforms and non-pulse-shaped waveforms. In an example implementation, a processor is adapted to generate a waveform histogram of the signal with weighted data samples, and to determine from the waveform histogram the high and low values in the waveform. Other aspects of the invention involve various manners in obtaining the weighted data samples.

Abstract: The method of the invention controls an ultrasound system to image a microbubble contrast agent in a region of fluid flow. A transducer is caused to transmit ultrasound signals and to receive echoes resulting from interaction of the ultrasound signals with both tissue and microbubbles. A transmitter enables the transducer to transmit the ultrasound signals at a plurality of power levels. A receiver selectively extracts signal components from the echo signals that fall within a determined bandwidth, and is controlled to alter the determined bandwidth (or the center frequency thereof) in accordance with which of the power levels is transmitted.

Abstract: A description is given of a control circuit situated outside a microcontroller, which control circuit serves to control, support and monitor the microcontroller.

Abstract: An apparatus for medical diagnosis and/or therapy is provided with an electromagnetic object sensor in order to prevent collisions between movable parts and, for example, a patient to be examined. The sensor may be provided with sensor electrodes 16 and 18 for capacitive detection of obstacles. In order to extend the area of sensitivity of the sensor electrodes in such a manner that it encloses the area in front of the X-ray entrance window 20 of the image intensifier 6, an additional electrode is provided in the beam path between the X-ray source 4 and the image intensifier, which additional electrode is coupled to sensor electrodes 18. The additional electrode includes a carrier which is provided with a thin metal layer, both being transparent to X-rays. The additional electrode may be subdivided into sectors 28-1, . . . , 28-4 which correspond to sectors 18-1, . . . , 18-4 of the sensor electrode in such a manner that the position of an obstacle relative to the image intensifier can be determined.

Abstract: Gradient current pulses which generate pulse-shaped magnetic gradient fields in an MRI apparatus may be composed of gradient pulse samples which directly succeed one another and are generated by a power amplifier 51. The latter is controlled by an input signal 47 which assumes discrete values only. This input signal is generated by a digital PWM converter 45. Generally speaking, the discretization will introduce a difference between the discrete gradient pulse sample and the value to be discretized, but such a difference will be known. According to the invention this difference is stored until the next gradient pulse sample is formed. The value then found is corrected by means of the stored difference and the value thus calculated is discretized as described. In this way small deviations from the desired value still occur in the gradient pulse sample, but averaged over the total duration of the gradient current pulse this deviation appears to be so small that it can be ignored.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a filter with switched capacitors to dynamically adjust a corner frequency of the filter. Such dynamically adjustable filters are typically included in circuits to reduce noise, and consequently such filters should not themselves generate noise. An equalization circuit is included in the filter to equalize the potential on each terminal of the switched capacitors prior to being switched into circuit, thereby removing a source of transient current. Another source of noise is a transient current induced by the application of control signals to the transistors used to switch the capacitors into circuit. A compensation circuit is included which generates a compensation current of opposite sense and substantially the same magnitude as the induced transient currents, to thereby effectively cancel noise at the filter output.

Abstract: The invention relates to an MR method which utilizes a microcoil without connection leads which causes an increase of or a change in phase of an external RF magnetic field in its direct vicinity within an object to be examined. This increase can be used to localize the coil, to image the direct vicinity, or to track the propagation of a liquid flow passing through the direct vicinity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit with at least an analog and a digital circuit that are interconnected by a signal path. In order to enable separate testing of the circuits, for example in accordance with the macro test approach, in the signal path a special seam circuit (200) is inserted. The seam circuit (200) is essentially a feedback loop (214) having a scannable flip-flop (210) and a multiplexer (220). The flip-flop (210) feeds a first input of the multiplexer (220), whereas a second input of the multiplexer (220) establishes an input (230) of the seam circuit (200). An output of the feedback loop (214) establishes an output of the seam circuit (200).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing honeycomb stuctures in which multiple foils are welded together by means of thermal compression and the multiple foils form the honeycomb structure in the expanded condition. The bonding locations, where the foils are fused together, are defined by inserting a structured separating layer between the foils. The invention also relates to, for example, luminaries and x-ray apparatus using a honeycomb structure so manufactured.