Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for decocting ingredients (2) in a solvent (3), said apparatus comprising: -a first container (4) for containing the solvent, a pipe (5) connecting an output (O1) of said first container to an input (I1) of said first container, -a pump (6) placed in series with said pipe for circulating the solvent from said output (O1) to said input (I1), -a second container (7) for containing the ingredients, said second container being placed in series with said pipe, such that the solvent circulating in the pipe can circulate in between the ingredients, -a wave generator (8) placed next to said second container for generating a field of waves (FW) towards the ingredients. The dynamic circulation of the solvent in combination with the application of a field of waves towards the ingredients allows accelerating the extraction of the compounds in the ingredients, and leads to improved extraction efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (8) for determining tissue layer boundaries of a body (14), comprising a probe (10) for acquiring (S12) two or more ultrasound images (36) at adjacent positions of a surface (12) of the body (14), a converter (44) for converting (S14) said ultrasound images (36) separately to depth signals (46), wherein a depth signal (46) is obtained by summing intensities of one of said ultrasound images (36) along a line (66) of substantially constant depth in the body (14), a detector (48) for detecting (S16) a set of candidate tissue layer boundaries (50) for an ultrasound image (36) by thresholding the depth signal (46) obtained for said ultrasound image (36), a selection means (52) for selecting (S18) from a set of candidate tissue layer boundaries (50) a nearest candidate tissue layer boundary (54) that is nearest to the surface (12) of the body (14), and a processing means (56) for determining (S20) an actual tissue layer boundary (58) from the nearest candidate tissue layer

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system (30) for imaging an object. A projection data providing unit (31) provides acquired spectral projection data of an object comprising at least two components, and a reconstruction unit (10) iteratively reconstructs at least two final component images of the object by performing several iteration steps, in which at least two intermediate component images are updated based on the acquired spectral projection data and a penalty term, which is indicative of the correlated noise between the at least two intermediate component images. Since the at least two intermediate component images are updated based on the acquired spectral projection data and a penalty term, which is indicative of the correlated noise, correlated noise is penalized during the iterative reconstruction. The finally resulting component images of the object are therefore less corrupted by correlated noise and have an improved image quality.

Abstract: The invention relates to a state space feedback controller operating in the digital domain for the regulation of the current supply to MRI gradient coils from a multiple-bridge PWM power amplifier. The Pl-controller comprises an integration part (for the integration of the difference between the demand current and the measured gradient coil current) and a subsequent P-controlled system which in turn comprises a delay compensator/stabilizer and a plant. The delay compensator/stabilizer comprises a multi-path feedback loop by means of which its digital output signal is fed back through delay blocks, on the one hand, and through filter units, on the other hand, whereby the filter units model the transfer functions of a gradient coil output filter for the gradient coil voltage and the output current of the amplifier inverter units, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination system comprising a luminaire which is configured to provide light according to a plurality of preset combinations of illumination level and color temperature, controlled via a control protocol. The system further comprises a user interface comprising means to (manually) select the illumination level and color temperature from said plurality of preset combinations. The number of preset combinations is at least three. The control protocol comprises transition times for transitions between said preset combinations, said transition times being in the range of about 2 seconds to about 5 minutes. The invention further relates to an illumination method using the illumination system and to a controller uploaded with said preset lighting settings. The use of the system in dependence on the activity, time of day or atmosphere in the classroom has been proven to improve the learning behavior of children. It therefore is a learning tool for teachers.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance (MR) calibration data are acquired using a plurality of radio frequency receive coils, and both coil sensitivity maps and reference projection vectors are generated based on the MR calibration data. During imaging, extra navigator projection vectors are acquired, or part of the imaging data can be used as navigator projection vectors. Partially parallel imaging (PPI) can performed to enhance the navigation information. The navigator projection vectors and the reference projection vectors are sensitivity weighted using the coil sensitivity maps to generate navigator sensitivity weighted projection vectors (navigator SWPV) and reference sensitivity weighted projection vectors (reference SWPV) respectively, and these are compared to generate subject position information. The subject motions are compensated prospectively or retrospectively using the generated subject position information.

Abstract: A valve (100) for controlling pressure in a ventilation system is disclosed. The valve comprises an electromagnet (105, 106), a shaft (107) connected to the electromagnet, and a diaphragm (110) connected to the shaft, wherein the electromagnet applies force to the diaphragm based on an input. The ventilation system comprises a ventilator (200) connected to a patient circuit (204), the valve (100) controlling pressure in the ventilation system, and a controller (206) connected to the valve and configured to provide the input to the valve.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus including a substrate, an LED string mounted on the substrate, the LED string in which a plurality of light-emitting diodes D1-D6 are connected in series, a power supply line 13 (13a, 13b) connected in series to the LED string, and a plurality of protection capacitors C (C1-C5), each being arranged between a connection N (N1-N5) between at least one set of light-emitting diodes in the LED string and the power supply line 13 and having an impedance smaller than an impedance between the connection N and an earth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for brewing ingredients in a solvent, said apparatus comprising: a container for containing said ingredients; a sensor for measuring a characteristic of said solvent; a lighting system (6) for generating a light beam (LB) that travels towards said container, said lighting system comprising a circuit for changing, based on the measured characteristic, a lighting property of said light beam. With such an invention, the visual indication is directly based on characteristics of the beverage being prepared, thereby providing the user with more accurate visual information on the state of preparation, and also greatly improving user-experience of a person using the apparatus.

Abstract: Bubbles (118-122) are utilized in some embodiments as part of a photoacoustic contrast agent (162) and, in some embodiments, to localize one or more locations (126-38) of a source of acoustic energy. The bubbles, such as microbubbles, can be used in proximity of nanoparticles of a first photoacoustic contrast agent, thereby affording a second photoacoustic contrast agent. The bubbles can intercept and re-radiate acoustic energy emitted by light-based activation of the first photoacoustic contrast agent in the immediate vicinity of the bubbles. As a further option, if the nanoparticles permeate further to tissue structures but remain in close enough proximity, their positions can be triangulated by the nearby bubbles, based on direction (144-148) and time delays (150-160) of ultrasound received by a transducer array.

Abstract: Coil elements (18) generate a B1 excitation field in an examination region (14), which B1 excitation field is distorted by patient loading (e.g., wavelength effects). Passive shimming elements (22, 24) are disposed between the coil elements and the subject in order to improve the B1 field uniformity. In one embodiment, passive shimming elements include one or more dielectric rods (55) disposed below the subject which generate no substantial MR proton signal and which have a permittivity of at least 100 and preferably greater than 500. In another embodiment, tubes (24) adjacent each coil element are supplied with a dielectric liquid, a thickness of the dielectric liquid between the coil element and the subject adjusting a phase of the B1 field generated by the coil element. Active B1 shimming may be combined with passive shimming elements (22, 24) to effect an improved RF field homogeneity result.

Abstract: The noise of a detection value acquired by an imaging system (30) can depend on the contributions of different components within a region of interest to be imaged, which has been traversed by radiation (4) causing the respective acquired detection value. This dependence is considered while iteratively reconstructing an image of the region of interest, wherein first component attenuation values, which correspond to elements of a first component within the region of interest, and second component attenuation values, which correspond to elements of a first component within the region of interest, are determined, wherein noise values are determined from the first component attenuation values and the second component attenuation values and wherein the noise values are used for updating the image. This consideration of the dependence of the noise of an acquired detection value on the different components improves the quality of the iteratively reconstructed image.

Abstract: A device for controlling current to a solid state lighting load includes a capacitor (241, 341) and a current source (245, 345). The capacitor is connected in a parallel arrangement with the solid state lighting load (260, 360). The current source is connected in series with the parallel arrangement of the capacitor and the solid state lighting load. The current source is configured to modulate dynamically an amplitude of an input current provided to the parallel arrangement of the capacitor and the solid state lighting load based on an input voltage.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method and a device for cooking rice. The device comprises a first container (110) for containing the rice together with water; a first heater (120, 121 and 122) for heating the rice and the water in the container (110); and a regulator (130, 31, 132, 133 and 134) for, during the heating, regulating the amount of water.

Abstract: A deployment device (30) for interfacing an implantable device (20) with an anatomical structure (10) employs a sheath (31), a shape sensor (32) and a detachment tool (33). The sheath (31) includes a deployment section (31a) for deploying the implantable device (20) to an interface position relative to the anatomical structure (10), and an implantable section (31b) for coupling the deployment section (31a) to the implantable device (20). The shape sensor (32) guides the implantable device (20) to the interface position and includes a deployment segment (32a) extending partially or completely through the deployment section (31a), and an implantable segment (32b) attached to the deployment segment (32a) and extending partially or completely through the implantable section (31b) of the sheath (31).

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging an object. Projection data of the object are acquired by using a radiation source emitting primary radiation (14) from a primary focal spot (15) and unwanted secondary radiation (16) from secondary focal spots (17). A first image of the object is reconstructed from the acquired projection data, a forward projection of the secondary radiation through the first image is simulated for generating secondary projection data, and a second image is generated based on the acquired projection data and the secondary projection data. Since the secondary projection data, which can generally cause image artifacts, are determined, the reconstruction unit can consider these unwanted secondary projection data while reconstructing the second image, in order to reduce the influence of the secondary projection data on the reconstructed second image, thereby improving the image quality.

Abstract: A ventilator system (100/200/300/400) includes an integrated blower (130/230/330). In one case, the ventilator system includes: an inspiration port (122/222/322) for connection to an inspiratory limb (112/212/312) of a dual-limb patient circuit (110/210/310), and an expiration port (142/242/342) for connection to an expiratory limb (114/214/314) of the dual-limb patient circuit; a gas delivery device (120/220/320) connected to the inspiration port to supply a pressurized flow of gas to the inspiration port to generate a positive pressure; and a blower having an inlet (132/232/332) that is operatively connected to the expiration port and configured to be controlled to selectively supply a negative pressure level between 4 and 120 cmH2O to the expiration port, and an outlet (134/234/334) to exhaust gas received from the expiration port. In another case, the ventilator system includes a blower to generate positive pressure/flow to augment flow for noninvasive ventilation.

Abstract: An imaging method comprises acquiring an undersampled magnetic resonance partially parallel imaging (MR-PPI) dataset using a plurality of radio frequency receive coils and reconstructing the under-sampled MR-PPI dataset to generate a reconstructed magnetic resonance (MR) image. The reconstructing includes: (i) using a generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA) operator or direct convolution to fill in at least some missing data of the undersampled MR-PPI data-set so as to generate an enhanced dataset; and (ii) using an algorithm other than a GRAPPA operator and other than direct convolution to reconstruct the enhanced dataset or to reconstruct the undersampled MR-PPI dataset using the enhanced dataset as an initialization dataset for an iterative reconstruction algorithm. In some embodiments the MR-PPI dataset is a non-Cartesian dataset and a GRAPPA operator for wider radial bands (GROWL) is used in the operation (i).

Abstract: A surgical navigation system employs an endoscope (30) and an imaging unit (80). The endoscope (30) include an electromagnetic tracker (40) within a working channel of endoscope (30) for generating electromagnetic sensing signals indicative of one or more poses of the endoscope (30) within an anatomical region, and an endoscopic camera (50) within an imaging channel of the endoscope (30) for generating endoscopic images of the anatomical region. The imaging unit (80) executes an intraoperative calibration of the electromagnetic tracker (40) and the endoscopic camera (50) as a function of an image registration between the preoperative scan image of a calibration site within the anatomical region and one or more endoscopic images of the calibration site within the anatomical region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computed tomography system (10) and a corresponding method which enable tracking of a contrast material bolus and which involve a reduced radiation dose.