Abstract: An imaging system (202) includes an X-ray radiation source (210) configured to emit radiation that traverses an examination region. The imaging system further includes a controller (220). The controller is configured to control an X-ray tube peak voltage of the X-ray radiation source to switch between at least two different X-ray tube peak voltages during a kVp switched spectral scan. The controller is further configured to control a grid voltage of the X-ray radiation source to follow the X-ray tube peak voltage during the spectral scan. The controller adjusts the grid voltage based on a predetermined mapping between a currently applied X-ray tube peak voltage and a corresponding grid voltage for a given focal spot size, thereby maintaining the given focal spot size throughout the spectral scan.

Abstract: The present disclosure advantageously describes ultrasound imaging arrays that comprise ergonomic, non-rectangular shapes, as well as associated systems and methods. Non-rectangular transducer arrays allow for ergonomic probe shapes that improve patient comfort, maneuverability of the ultrasound device, and operator workflow. For example, an ultrasound imaging device can include an array of acoustic elements comprising a non-rectangular perimeter. The array includes a plurality of active elements configured to emit ultrasound energy and receive echoes corresponding to the emitted ultrasound energy, and a plurality of buffer elements surrounding the plurality of active elements at the non-rectangular perimeter of the array of acoustic elements. An edge seal comprising a sealing material is positioned at least partially around the plurality of buffer elements, and a buffer element of the plurality of buffer elements is spaced from at least one other buffer element by the sealing material of the edge seal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of an object (10) positioned in an examination volume of a MR device (1). It is an object of the invention to enable efficient spiral MR imaging even in situations of strong Bo inhomogeneity. The method of the invention comprises: subjecting the object (10) to an imaging sequence comprising at least one RF excitation pulse and sinusoidally modulated magnetic field gradients, acquiring MR signals along two or more spiral k-space trajectories (31, 32, 33) as determined by the sinusoidal modulation of the magnetic field gradients, wherein the origins of the spiral k-space trajectories are offset from each other, and reconstructing an MR image from the acquired MR signals. Moreover, the invention relates to a MR device (1) and to a computer program for a MR device (1).

Abstract: Imaging data (20) are acquired by a PET scanner (6) or other imaging device. Iterative image reconstruction of the imaging data is performed to generate a reconstructed image (22). The iterative image reconstruction includes performing an update step (24) that includes an edge preserving prior (28) having a spatially varying edge preservation threshold (30) whose value at each image voxel depends on a noise metric (32) in a local neighborhood of the image voxel. The noise metric may be computed as an aggregation of the intensities of neighborhood image voxels of the reconstructed image in the local neighborhood of the image voxel. The edge preserving prior may be a Relative Difference Prior (RDP). For further noise suppression, during the iterative image reconstruction image values of image features of the reconstructed image that have spatial extent smaller than a threshold (38) may be reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medical system (100, 300). The execution of machine executable instructions (120) causes a processor (104) to: receive (200) measured gradient echo k-space data (122); receive (202) an off-resonance phase map (124); reconstruct (204) an initial image (126) from the measured gradient echo k-space data; calculate (206) an upsampled phase map (128) from the off-resonance phase map; calculate (208) an upsampled image (130) from the initial image; calculating (210) a modulated image (132) by modulating the upsampled image with the upsampled phase map; calculate (212) a corrected image (134) comprising iteratively. The iterative calculation comprises: calculating (214) updated k-space data by applying a data consistency algorithm (138) to a k-space representation of the modulated image and the measured gradient echo k-space data and calculating (216) an updated image (142) from the updated k-space data.

Abstract: A method for identifying two or more infections as related or non-related infections based on an estimated genetic relatedness of the two or more infections, comprising: (i) receiving, for each of two or more infected patients, infection-relevant information comprising an antibiotic resistance profile for the patient's infection, a geo-temporal record for the patient, and a caregiver history for the patient; (ii) estimating, using a trained genetic relatedness model, a genetic relatedness of at least two of the two or more infections; (iii) comparing the estimated genetic relatedness between at least two of the two or more infections to a predetermined threshold; (iv) identifying, based on the comparison, the at least two of the two or more infections as a related infection or a non-related infection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding radiofrequency, RF, data, e.g., electrical signals, by a microbeamformer are disclosed herein. The microbeamformer may use a pseudo-random sampling pattern (700) to sum samples of the RF data stored in a plurality of memory cells. The memory cells may be included in a delay line of the microbeamformer in some examples. The summed samples may form an encoded signal transmitted to a decoder which reconstructs the original RF data from the encoded signal. The decoder may use knowledge of the pseudo-random sampling pattern to reconstruct the original data in some examples.

Abstract: A food preparation system weighs ingredients added to a receptacle. For identified ingredient and its added weight, a corresponding amount of a set of different sugar type is estimated, and a total sugar content and a sweetness index of the overall recipe is derived. The system determines if there are suitable alternative recipes with reduced total sugar content and similar sweetness index and suggests such determined alternative recipes to the user.

Abstract: A system for planning and performing a repeat interventional procedure is provided which includes a registration device and an image generation device which map current targets in a reference image for a first interventional procedure to at least one guidance image acquired from a different imaging modality. Biopsy locations are recorded to the guidance images during the first interventional procedure and the biopsy locations are mapped to the reference image to provide a planning image for use in a subsequent interventional procedure on the patient. In a subsequent interventional procedure, the prior planning image (124) may be registered to a current reference image and the prior biopsy locations and prior and current targets are mapped to a guidance image acquired from a different imaging modality. Biopsy locations are then mapped to the guidance image and mapped back to the current reference image.

Abstract: A method for providing dietary recommendation for a subject includes acquiring a dietary target for the subject, acquiring data associated with dietary consumption of the subject, and determining a balance score based on the acquired dietary target and the acquired data associated with dietary consumption of the subject. The method further includes acquiring a plurality of meal options for the subject, where each of the plurality of meal options is representative of a suggested meal, determining a salience score for each of the plurality of meal options, where the determination is based on the dietary target, dietary information of the respective meal option, and the determined balance score, and generating a personalized dietary recommendation for the subject based on at least one of the determined salience scores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring a physiological parameter of a human limb such as peripheral capillary oxygen saturation. The device comprises a hollow elastic sleeve of a predetermined shape comprising a cavity having a closed-loop cross-section for enclosing the limb; first and second arms, each comprising a hinge portion between a coupling portion and a handle portion, the coupling portion of the first and second arms being adapted to be coupled, respectively, to first and second diametrically-opposite longitudinal sections of the sleeve; and a physiological sensor for interacting with the limb enclosed in said cavity. The hollow elastic sleeve holds the first and the second arms and causes their hinge portions to mutually engage to form a hinge mechanism so that, by applying a compression force on the handle portions, the first and second arms rotate about the hinge mechanism expanding the cavity, allowing the limb to be received therein.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods for ultrasonically inspecting biological tissue. An ultrasound imaging system according to the present disclosure may be configured to automatically apply tissue-specific imaging parameter settings (312, 314) based upon the automatic identification of the type of tissue being scanned. Tissue type identification (315) may be performed automatically for the images in the live image stream (304) and thus adjustments to the imaging settings may be applied automatically by using a neural network (320) and thus dynamically during the exam obviating the need for the sonographer to manually switch presets or adjust the imaging settings when moving to different portion of the anatomy.

Abstract: Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided. An ultrasound imaging system, comprising an array of acoustic elements configured to transmit ultrasound energy into an anatomy and to receive ultrasound echoes associated with the anatomy; and a processor circuit in communication with the array of acoustic elements and configured to receive, from the array, ultrasound channel data corresponding to the received ultrasound echoes; normalize the ultrasound channel data by applying a first scaling function to the ultrasound channel data; generate beamformed data by applying a predictive network to the normalized ultrasound channel data; de-normalize the beamformed data by applying a second scaling function to the beamformed data; generate an image of the anatomy from the beamformed data; and output, to a display in communication with the processor circuit, the image of the anatomy.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a rotary reciprocating motion comprises an input shaft which is driven with unidirectional rotation and an output shaft for delivering reciprocating rotary motion. A first magnetic or ferromagnetic ring is disposed about a rotation axis fixed to the input shaft and a second magnetic or ferromagnetic ring is disposed about the rotation axis fixed to the output shaft. At least one is formed as an arrangement of permanent magnets. The first and second rings are disposed one within the other around the rotation axis. The magnetic coupling between the rings in combination with the effect of an output load results in the desired reciprocating motion of the output shaft.

Abstract: A therapeutic ultrasound method configured to adaptively transmit ultrasound pulses toward microbubbles in a treatment region to remove an occlusion is described. In some examples, the system may include a treatment pulse unit configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to a treatment region of a subject, the treatment region including a plurality of microbubbles. An echo detection unit may be configured to receive one or more echoes responsive to the ultrasound pulse. In some examples, the method may also include a data processor configured to identify, using data associated with the echoes, at least one echo signature indicative of a dynamic state of the microbubbles in response to the ultrasound pulse. A controller may be configured to adjust one or more parameters of an additional ultrasound pulse transmitted to the treatment region via the treatment pulse unit based on the at least one echo signature.

Abstract: The invention refers to providing a system that allows to reduce the computational costs when using an iterative reconstructional algorithm. The system (100) comprises a providing unit (110) for providing CT projection data, a base image generation unit (120) for generating a base image based on the projection data, a modifying unit (130) for generating a modified image, wherein an image value of a voxel of the base image is modified based on the image value of the voxel, and an image reconstruction unit (140) for reconstructing an image using an iterative reconstruction algorithm that uses the modified image as a start image. Since the modifying unit is adapted to modify the base image, the base image can be modified such as to form an optimal start image for the chosen iterative reconstruction such that a faster convergence of the iterative reconstruction can be accomplished.

Abstract: A medical system including a memory storing machine executable instructions is disclosed. The medical system also includes a computational system. The execution of the machine executable instructions causes the computational system to receive k-space data descriptive of a region of interest of a subject. The k-space data are acquired using a magnetic resonance fingerprinting pulse sequence configured for encoding chemical shifts. The execution of the machine executable instructions also causes the computational system to receive fat peak weights descriptive of a magnetic resonance fat spectrum. The fat peak weights are matched to a pulse train of the magnetic resonance fingerprinting pulse sequence. The execution of the machine executable instructions also causes the computational system to reconstruct a quantitative magnetic resonance image from the k-space data and the fat peak weights.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system produces images with enhanced resolution or contrast by extrapolation of two ultrasound images of different imaging characteristics, such as aperture size, imaging frequency, or degree of image compounding. In order to prevent the display of image artifacts, extrapolation is accompanied by artifact removal and image smoothing.

Abstract: A power transmitter (101) of a wireless power transfer system comprises a resonance including a transmitter coil (103) for generating a power transfer signal for wirelessly transferring power to a power receiver (105). Further, a driver (1303) generates a drive signal for the resonance circuit (201) and a message receiver (1305) is arranged to receive messages from the power receiver (105). A power loop controller (1307) implements a power control loop by adapting the power of the drive signal in response to power control messages received from the power receiver (105). However, the regulation is subject to a constraint of at least one of a current or voltage of the resonance circuit and a power of the drive signal being below a maximum limit. Further, the power transmitter (101) comprises an adapter (1309) which adapts the maximum limit in response to a load indication indicative of a loading of the power transfer signal by the power receiver (105).