Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray tube whose cathode arrangement includes a flat electron emitter that is provided with openings. An electrode is arranged on the side of the electron emitter that is remote from the anode of the X-ray tube; this electrode carries a negative potential relative to the electron emitter, which negative potential straightens the electron paths in front of the emitter. These steps result in a favorable ratio of the dimensions of the electron emitter to the dimensions of the focal spot formed on the anode by the emitted electrons.

Abstract: A system for attaching an acoustic element to an integrated circuit includes various ways in which to connect piezoelectric ceramic or micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) elements to an integrated circuit (IC), thus reducing the number of conductors required to connect the acoustic element to the IC by combining the signals in the IC. In another aspect of the invention, the transducer elements include an electrically conductive acoustic layer comprising a backing layer and/or a de-matching layer that is connected to an IC.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus which employ multiple magnetic resonance signals from an array of multiple sensors or coils for the reconstruction of images. The method is used in fast dynamic MR imaging. Prior to formation of fast dynamic images, a normal magnetic resonance image with a full set of phase encoding steps is acquired for each sensor or coil. A subset of phase encoding trajectories is extracted commensurate with the phase encoding trajectories obtained by the fast dynamic imaging and an image is reconstructed from the subset. Subsequently, the signals of the fast dynamic image are compared with the signals of the reconstructed image, thus yielding an estimate of the fold-over artefacts of the fast dynamic image. The signals of the fold-over artefacts thus compensate the signals obtained by the fast dynamic imaging and deliver a corrected image without artefact parts.

Abstract: Methods, computer systems, software and computer readable media containing the software for bookmarking, or saving, multiple profiles associated with a user of a computer system, and for activating saved user profiles. At a top operating system level, a bookmarked user profile indicates the arrangement of the user's display devices available, including the type, position and size of open windows, as well as other of the user's preference parameters. At lower application levels, a bookmarked user profile indicates the arrangement of an application window, as well as other application preference parameters. A bookmark, or a bookmarked user profile, is activated by selection from a menu that can be displayed in the top level operating system desktop or within an application window. Commands are also provided for creating and managing bookmarks associated with a user.

Abstract: In response to an error signal, a pseudo-noise generator (312 or 416) generates an on-time pseudo-noise signal, an early pseudo-noise signal delayed by less than one-half of a chip interval, and a late pseudo-noise signal advanced by less than one-half of a chip interval. A correlator (302 and 304, or 404) correlates a received signal with the early and late pseudo-noise signals to generate the error signal. The combination of the pseudo-noise generator (312 or 416) and the correlator (302 and 304, or 404) creates a loop in which the on-time pseudo-noise signal tracks a received pseudo-noise code more closely than in prior art devices and enables a deinterleave and decode device (210) within the receiver to demodulate the received signal more effectively.

Abstract: Vibrations of the gradient coil carrier (18) medical MRI apparatus should be counteracted because they give rise to disturbing noise and macroscopic movements that deteriorate the image quality. In accordance with the invention the gradient coil system is suspended by means of weak resilient suspension elements (22) that are connected in series with piezo actuators (21). The actuators are controlled in such a way that macroscopic movements at low-frequency vibrations (order of magnitude of 10 Hz) that are due to the very resilient suspension are counteracted, and also that the high-frequency vibrations (order of magnitude of 700 Hz) that result from internal Lorentz forces are hardly transferred to the frame of the apparatus.

Abstract: An X-ray tube (40) including a rotary anode (44) a cathode (1) and compact shielding means (5) for effective shielding against undesired secondary radiation. The secondary radiation is produced in the vicinity of the emitting surface (11) of a target disk (4) of the rotary anode (44) and comprises both electron and X-ray components. The undesired secondary radiation emanates in a certain limited solid angle from the emitting surface of the target disk. Therefore, in order to optimize the shielding properties of the shielding means (5) the latter are positioned in the direct vicinity of the source of the secondary radiation. In order to intercept the undesired secondary radiation emanating towards the rotation axis (12) of the rotary anode, the latter is equipped with a ring-like projection (7).

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system that produces a seemingly real-time display by obtaining ultrasound data in an interleaved manner. The system includes a transducer that outputs and receives ultrasonic signals and circuitry that causes the transducer to output the ultrasonic signals in a series of frames in an interleaved manner so as to isonify each of a plurality of portions of a subject matter at different times and forms an image based on the echoes from a plurality of frames.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method is proposed wherein a magnetic resonance image is reconstructed from magnetic resonance signals from respective signal channels. More specifically, individual signal channels relate to respective surface coils which are employed as receiver antennas for the magnetic resonance signals. The magnetic resonance signals are acquired with sub-sampling of the k-space. Resampling on a regular square grid is performed, thus enabling fast Fourier transformation in the reconstruction of the magnetic resonance image. Furthermore, the reconstruction is carried out on the basis of the spatial sensitivity profile of the receiver antennas, i.e. of the surface coils, so as to separate contributions from different spatial positions in the sub-sampled magnetic resonance signals. Preferably, a spiral-shaped acquisition trajectory is followed in the k-space.

Abstract: An operating system that provides protection domain support is arranged so to be compatible with “well behaved” threads, i.e., threads that obtain all their memory allocations from the operating system, that were written without regard for protection domains. This may be achieved by associating each protection domain with one or more pages of memory, so-called “primary memory pages”, for which the protection domain has read and write access permission. Requests by such a “protection-domain-unaware” thread to the operating system for a memory allocation, e.g., for memory in which to create a data structure, are automatically fulfilled by the operating system from the memory available in the primary memory pages of the protection domain of the requesting thread. The operating system informs the thread of the location of the created data structure, e.g., by passing to the thread a pointer to the data structure.

Abstract: An amplifier comprising an input stage (IPST) having a pair of inputs (INN,INI) for receiving a differential input signal (Vin) and a pair of outputs (CQ6,CQ7) for delivering a differential intermediate signal in response to the differential input signal (Vin); an intermediate stage (INTST) for converting the differential intermediate signal to a non-differential intermediate signal, which intermediate stage (INTST) comprises a current mirror (Q5,R5,Q4,R4) having an input branch (Q5,R5) and an output branch (Q4,R4) for receiving the differential intermediate signal; an output stage (OPST) having an input coupled to the output branch (Q4,R4) and having an output for delivering an output signal (Vout) to an output (OP) of the amplifier; and means for stabilizing the amplifier. The means for stabilizing the amplifier comprises a capacitor (CM2) coupled between the output (OP) of the amplifier and the input branch (Q5,R5), and provides a large bandwidth and low supply voltage amplifier.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device is provided which is portable, small, light weight and easy to use. Preferably, the ultrasound diagnostic device is very small and light weight. The weight of the ultrasound diagnostic device normally will be approximately 6 or 7 pounds, including electrical control circuitry, a battery pack, a carrying strap and a transducer assembly. The ultrasound diagnostic device is similar in design to a laptop computer, except that it is smaller than typical laptop computers. The ultrasound diagnostic device comprises a console portion and a display portion. To open the device, the user simply flips open the display portion by lifting up on the display portion at a location near the front end of the device. The display portion is in a hinging relationship with the console portion so that when the user lifts up on display portion, the display portion is rotated upwards and away from the console portion.

Abstract: A portable, configurable and scalable ultrasonic imaging system uses a phased ultrasonic transducer array coupled to a portable, configurable and scalable ultrasonic processor to develop ultrasonic images. When used in conjunction with a sector phased array, the portable, configurable and scalable ultrasonic imaging system uses a processing channel associated with each element in the transducer array to develop the ultrasonic image. When used with a linear or curved linear transducer array, the portable, configurable and scalable ultrasonic processor uses fewer processing channels than transducer elements to develop the ultrasonic image. Since the portable, configurable and scalable ultrasonic processor is scalable, it is able to use a variety of processors, software and transducer arrays to develop a number of different ultrasonic output images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography method in which the summing operation required for filtered backprojection is performed in two steps, filtering being performed only after the first summing step. This method is preferably performed for the points on a surface, which is defined by parallel rays, which are situated in parallel planes and link oppositely situated segments of the helix.

Abstract: Gradient fields Gx=∂Bz/∂x etc. are generated in an MRI apparatus in order to indicate the position (x, y, z) of an object pixel to be imaged. In a known MRI system the x and y gradient fields are generated by a combination of four gradient coils, two of which are intended to receive the x and y gradient signals whereas the other two coils are intended to receive a mix of the x and y gradient signals in order to enable a simpler structure of the gradient coils and easier impedance matching. According to the invention, apart from the x, y and z gradient signals, other signals are applied to a conversion system (35) in order to realize the desired gradient fields but also to achieve degrees of freedom that can be used for optimizing system parameters such as heat dissipation or the uniformity of the distribution of power among the gradient amplifiers.

Abstract: A ball-throwing machine includes a camera connected to a computer vision unit and a microphone connected to a speech-processing unit. The computer vision unit processes images from the camera to determine a user's position, and to detect user gestures from a predetermined repertoire of gestures. The speech-processing unit recognizes user vocal commands from a predetermined repertoire of commands. A computer receives information from a control panel, from the computer vision unit, from the speech-processing unit, and from a file describing the ballistic properties of the ball to be thrown. The computer accordingly determines a ball trajectory according to the user's position and parameters indicated by a combination of control-panel settings, user gestures, and user vocal commands. The computer then adjusts the direction, elevation, ball speed, and ball spin to conform to the determined trajectory, and initiates throwing of a ball accordingly.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of reducing artifacts in object images acquired by means of measurement signals sent by a source through the object onto a detector, which method comprises the steps of: a) adaptively filtering the data signals received by the detector in dependence of the data value; b) processing the data signals to indicate the attenuation of the measurement signals passing through the object; and c) reconstructing an image of the object based on the filtered and processed data signals. The method according to the invention is characterized in that step b) is performed on the adaptively filtered data signals resulting from step a).

Abstract: Method and device for determining the position of a medical instrument, partially introduced into an object being examined, in a three-dimensional image data set of the object. In order to achieve a high accuracy of the position determination and minimize the expenditure required and thus save intricate registration steps prior to an intervention, simultaneously with the acquisition of an X-ray image, the spatial positions of the X-ray image and the spatial position of a medical instrument are acquired. Then, the spatial correlation between an X-ray image and a three-dimensional image data set is determined. This correlation is used to transform the spatial position of the medical instrument into a position relative to the three-dimensional image data set. This enables the formation of images containing image information acquired pre-operatively as well as intra-operatively, and also the reproduction of the instantaneous position of the medical instrument in the images.

Abstract: A thermal management system for a portable battery powered electronic device, and particularly, a portable battery powered ultrasound device, which controls the temperature of the device such that the external surface temperature satisfies medical safety regulatory requirements, and such that the heat generated by the device does not reduce battery life, reduce component life, decrease reliability of the device, or cause device shutdown because of overheating. A thermal management system monitors the respective temperatures of various system components, and, based on the monitored temperatures, performs control to cool the ultrasound system, maintaining the external surface temperature below the safety regulated temperatures and ensuring reliability of system components.

Abstract: A Reed-Solomon (R-S) decoder is presented that simultaneously searches for m roots of the error locator polynomial and the error magnitude polynomial. A polynomial evaluator includes a plurality of slice elements corresponding to each term of the polynomial. Each slice element includes a plurality of coefficient multipliers that are configured to evaluate the term for different values, thereby effecting a simultaneous evaluation of the polynomial at each of these different values. In a preferred embodiment, only one register is required in each slice element for receiving the coefficients of the polynomial and for facilitating an iterative evaluation of the polynomial for other values. In a preferred embodiment, two polynomial evaluators are employed for decoding a Reed-Solomon codeword. One evaluator is used to provide a modified form of the Chien error locator algorithm, and the other is used to provide a modified form of the Forney error determination algorithm.