Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for extracting information from detected characteristic signals. A data stream (76, 78, 80, 82) derivable from electromagnetic radiation (14) emitted or reflected by an object (11) is received and a plurality of characteristic index elements (50) varying over time can be extracted therefrom. The index elements (50) comprise physiological information (48) indicative of at least one at least partially periodic vital signal (12), and a disturbing signal component (58). For eliminating the disturbing signal component (58) to a great extent, the characteristic index elements (50) can be projected to a disturbance-reduced index element (64) having a distinct orientation in relation to a presumed orientation of the disturbing signal component (58). The disturbance-reduced index element (64) is chosen so as to reflect a dominant main orientation and length of the disturbing signal component (58) over time.

Abstract: The invention provides a collimator comprising a prismatic layer stack. The prismatic layer stack comprises a first prismatic layer comprising ID arranged first prisms, with first prism tops having first prism top angels, and first grooves, having first groove angles; and a second prismatic layer comprising ID arranged second prisms, with second prism tops having second prism top angels, and second grooves, having second groove angles. The first prismatic layer and the second prismatic layer are in a crossed configuration. Further, the first and second prism tops of the first and the second prismatic layers point in the same direction. The first and second prism top angels and the first and second groove angles are selected from the range of 120-160°.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (SYS) for automatically extracting a location of an abnormality with respect to an anatomical structure from a report, the system comprising a tokenizer (U10) for tokenizing the report or a part of it, thereby producing a plurality of tokens, and an analyzer (U20) for identifying a semantic structure comprising identified tokens of the plurality of tokens, describing the location of the abnormality with respect to the anatomical structure. Optionally, the system further comprises a mapper (U30) for annotating a diagram representing the anatomical structure, based on the identified semantic structure describing the location of the abnormality with respect to the anatomical structure. Using the system, the location of the abnormality with respect to the anatomical structure can be extracted from each report of the plurality of reports produced over the period of time. The extracted locations may be used by a clinician for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which quantifies regurgitant flow through a mitral valve. A flow quantification processor (34) in the ultrasound system produces a mathematical model of a flow velocity field proximal to a regurgitant orifice. The velocity field model produces values of velocity vectors directed toward the regurgitant orifice. These modeled values are modified for the effects of ultrasound physics and ultrasound system operation to produce expected velocity values. The expected velocity values are compared with actual Doppler velocities measured by the ultrasound system, and the differences accumulated to a mean square error which is used to adjust parameters of the model such as the orifice location and flow velocities. When this iterative processing converges with a desired comparison, parameters derived from the finally adjusted model are used to calculate the true orifice location, flow rate, and volume flow.

Abstract: A messaging system (100) for routing clinical messages includes an event handler and a standardized protocol (105). The event handler (106) receives one or more inbound messages from one or more event sources (102). The event sources (102) include one or more worklist items. The event handler (106) further stores the worklist items in an event database (198) and generates and communicates outbound messages for one or more worklist items in the event database (198) that need to be acted upon, as determined by one or more rules. The standardized protocol (105) is used to represent the inbound messages and the outbound messages.

Abstract: An update message from a first group of one or more clinical devices (802) is received over a communications network (504). The update message includes patient data and identifies a computer interpretable guideline (CIG) instance corresponding to a patient of the patient data. The CIG instance is updated (804) using the patient data and one or more CIG recommendations are determined (806) based on the updated CIG instance. The CIG recommendations are communicated (808) to a second group of one or more clinical devices over the communications network (504). Also disclosed, a narrative guideline is received from a guideline publisher and/or business entity (102) over a communications network (104). The narrative guideline is transformed to a computer represented guideline (CRG) abstractly representing the narrative guideline on the basis of usage. The translation includes linking text fragments in the narrative guideline to instantiated language constructs.

Abstract: The invention provides a lighting device (1) comprising (a) a light source (100), for producing light source light (110), and (b) a transparent converter device (200), for converting at least part of the light source light (110), wherein the transparent converter device (200) comprises a first polymer containing matrix (201) containing discrete particles (210), wherein the discrete particles (210) comprise a second polymer containing matrix with luminescent material (212) dispersed therein.

Abstract: An audio system comprises a receiver (301) for receiving an audio signal, such as an audio object or a signal of a channel of a spatial multi-channel signal. A binaural circuit (303) generates a binaural output signal by processing the audio signal. The processing is representative of a binaural transfer function providing a virtual sound source position for the audio signal. A measurement circuit (307) generating measurement data indicative of a characteristic of the acoustic environment and a determining circuit (311) determines an acoustic environment parameter in response to the measurement data. The acoustic environment parameter may typically be a reverberation parameter, such as a reverberation time. An adaptation circuit (313) adapts the binaural transfer function in response to the acoustic environment parameter. For example, the adaptation may modify a reverberation parameter to more closely resemble the reverberation characteristics of the acoustic environment.

Abstract: Feedback information is provided to a subject regarding reception of pressure support therapy, and/or other respiratory support therapy. The feedback information may indicate compliance to a respiratory therapy regimen. The feedback information is provided to the subject by transmitting the feedback information through a communication network to a client device associated with the subject. The feedback information may include a characterization of the therapy received by the subject with respect to a usage goal.

Abstract: A pressurized flow of breathable gas is delivered to the airway of a subject in accordance with a therapy regimen. One or more fluid parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas are adjusted based on the therapy regimen. The therapy regimen dictates that such adjustments be made based on the respiratory state of the subject. Transitions in respiratory state are identified without relying on measurement or estimation of flow at or near the airway of subject. Transitions in respiratory state are identified based on changes in the first time derivative of flow at or near the airway of the subject. In one embodiment, an effort parameter is determined that approximates the second time derivative of flow. Based on comparisons of the effort parameter to a dynamic threshold, transitions in respiratory state are identified.

Abstract: An automatic, stand-alone, hand-held ultrasound blood-vessel examination device (100) requires a reduced number of transducer elements (126) and presents a simplified user interface (136-140), without the need for displaying an image of any of the vessels. The probe, in one embodiment, acquires and examines a volume of interest (106), searches for a target vessel, tests the vessel for normality of blood flow, and reports the diagnosis, all automatically and without need for user intervention. In another embodiment, the probe finds a body vessel (108-112) in a volume, and extracts a clinical Doppler parameter, all automatically and without need for user intervention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination device for embedding data symbols of a data signal into a luminance output of the illumination device. The device includes a LED comprising at least two segments which have a common electrode and are individually controllable. The LED is configured to generate the luminance output in response to a drive signal. The device further includes a controller configured for switching one of the segments on or off in response to the data signal to embed data symbols of the data signal into the light output of the device. One advantage of such an approach is that the proposed device is compatible with conventional LED drivers since no additional electronics for modulating the drive signal are necessary, which enables simple implementation and reduced costs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating steam comprising a water heating chamber in which water is heated to generate steam. The apparatus also includes a cavity having an inlet communicating with the water heating chamber so that water in the water heating chamber is received in the cavity and a sealable outlet. The cavity is configured to limit the flow of convection currents in the water received in the cavity so that scales and/or solid particles suspended in the water accumulate in the cavity. Alternatively, a guide member is disposed at the inlet to the cavity which is configured to guide scales and/or solid particles suspended in the water into the cavity.

Abstract: Described is a method, and a combination of agents for used therein, by which an agent administered to a subject can be rapidly cleared from circulation. This is achieved by providing an Administration Agent (e.g. a probe for pretargeting) with a reactive group and providing a Clearing Agent with another reactive group, said reactive groups forming a bio-orthogonally reactive pair. Preferably, the reactive pair comprises a cyclooctene or cyclooctyn as one reactant, and a diene as the other reactant. The method and combination can be used for the removal of any bindable molecule from circulation, such as an excess of a pre-targeting probe in the course of a pre-targeting method, a targeting or imaging agent delivered, or the removal of any biomolecule already present in circulation.

Abstract: A controlling device (110) is configured for controlling a state of an alarm limit of an alarm device (108). The alarm device (108) is configured for generating an alarm signal in association with a monitored physiological parameter of a patient. The alarm limit triggers the generation of the alarm signal. In order to automatically control the state of the alarm limit, the controlling device (110) comprises a receiving unit (146) configured for receiving information indicating an administration of a treatment to the patient, a determining unit (148) configured for determining whether the treatment is administered to the patient based on the received information, and a controlling unit (150) configured for controlling the state of the alarm limit based on a result of the determination of the determining unit (148).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least a portion of a body (10) of a patient placed in an examination volume of a MR device (1).

Abstract: A multiple modality imaging system (10) includes a MR scanner (12) which defines an MR imaging region (18), a nuclear imaging scanner (26) which defines a nuclear imaging region (34), an CT scanner (36) which defines an CT imaging region (42). Each scanner (12, 26, 36) having a longitudinal axis along which a common patient support (46) moves linearly through the MR, nuclear, and CT imaging regions (18, 34, 42). A marker (130, 140, 150), for use with the system (10), includes a radio-isotope marker (132) which is imageable by the nuclear imaging scanner (26) and the CT scanner (36) surrounded by a flexible silicone MR marker (134) which is imageable by the MR scanner (12) and the CT scanner (36). A calibration phantom (162), for use with the image scanner (10), includes a plurality of the markers (130, 140, 150) supported by a common frame having a known and predictable geometry.

Abstract: A system is configured to determine one or more breathing parameters of a subject, such as one or both of end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration and/or breath rate. The system is configured to make a plurality of preliminary determinations of an individual breathing parameter according to a plurality of different algorithms. A final determination of the breathing parameter is obtained by selecting one of the preliminary determinations based on therapy parameters, gas parameters, and/or other parameters that impact the accuracy and/or precision of the different algorithms.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for humidifying gas to be provided to a patient utilizing heating of an aerosolized mist. A humidification unit (201a) is provided a patient circuit (209) that provides gas to a patient. The humidification unit includes a liquid chamber (303) that receives liquid from a liquid source (203), a nebulizer (305) that nebulizes liquid from the liquid chamber, an aerosol chamber (307) that receives aerosolized liquid from the nebulizer, and a heat source (309a) that converts the aerosolized liquid into a vapor that humidifies gas in the patient circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (SYS) for visualizing a flow within a volume of a 3-dimensional (3-D) image, the system comprising a first transfer unit (U30) for applying a first transfer function, which assigns a renderable property to each location of a first plurality of locations within the volume, on the basis of a flow pattern assigned to said location; a second transfer unit (U40) for applying a second transfer function, which assigns a renderable property to each location of a second plurality of locations within the volume, on the basis of a value of the 3-D image assigned to said location; and a mixing unit (U50) for computing a 2-D image based on the renderable property assigned to each location of the first plurality of locations and on the renderable property assigned to each location of the second plurality of locations, wherein the 2-D image visualizes the flow pattern and the 3-D image.