Abstract: A method of accessing a medium on a transmission system having at least two channels, in which a multi-channel device groups at least two channels for the purpose of increasing the bandwidth. The method enables multi-channel devices and single-channel devices to coexist by sending out a preamble and header on each individual channel before the channels are grouped, a single-channel device that may be scanning the channel thus detecting that the message that follows is not intended for itself.

Abstract: Stereoscopic video data and corresponding depth map data for multi-view auto-stereoscopic displays are coded using a multiplexed asymmetric image frame that combines an image data partition and a depth map data partition, wherein the size of the image data partition is different than the size of the depth map data partition. The image data partition comprises one or more of the input views while the depth map partition comprises at least a portion of the depth map data rotated with respect to the orientation of the image data in the multiplexed output image frame.

Abstract: A dental apparatus is provided. The dental apparatus include a handle. A controller operably couples to the housing. A subsystem is in operable communication with the controller and configured to generate an excitation signal causing an emitted fluorescence light to be reflected back to the subsystem and to the controller for analyzing one or more properties of the emitted fluorescence light. The one or more properties corresponding to a decay time of the emitted fluorescence light, wherein plaque emitted florescence light decays faster than tooth emitted florescence light. The controller is programmed to analyze detected emitted fluorescence light to determine if the emitted fluorescence light is indicative of a plaque emitted fluorescence decay time or tooth emitted florescence light decay time to detect the presence of one of dental plaque and tooth demineralization.

Abstract: The invention provides a lighting device configured to provide red lighting device light, the lighting device comprising: (i) a first light source configured to provide first light source light having a peak wavelength (?ls); (ii) a first red luminescent material configured to absorb at least part of the first light source light and to convert into first red luminescent material light having a first red emission peak wavelength (?m1), the first red luminescent material having an excitation maximum (?x1); (iii) a second red luminescent material configured to absorb at least part of the first light source light and to convert into second red luminescent material light having a second red emission peak wavelength (?m2), the second red luminescent material having a second excitation maximum (?x2); and wherein the first luminescent material and the second luminescent material are Eu2+ based, and wherein ?m1<?m2, ?x1<?ls and ?x2>?ls.

Abstract: An ultrasound system is disclosed comprising a probe (10) including an array (110) of CMUT (capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer) cells (100), each cell comprising a substrate (112) carrying a first electrode (122) of an electrode arrangement, the substrate being spatially separated from a flexible membrane (114) including a second electrode (120) of said electrode arrangement by a gap (118), the flexible membrane comprising a mass element (140) in a central region (17, 17?); and a voltage supply (45) coupled to said probe and adapted to, in a transmission mode of the ultrasound system, provide the respective electrode arrangements of at least some of the CMUT cells with a voltage including a bias voltage component driving the at least some of the CMUT cells into a collapsed state in which a central part of the flexible membrane contacts the substrate, said central part including the central region; and a stimulus component having a set frequency for resonating the respective flexible membranes of t

Abstract: A sensor system is provided for measuring particle concentration and mass concentration in an aerosol. An optical sensor (33) is used for measuring a particle concentration and a mechanical sensor (32) is used for measuring a mass of collected particles. A particle concentration in the aerosol is monitored using the optical sensor (33), until detection of a particle generating event. Upon detection of a particle generating event, a mass measurement using the mechanical sensor (32) is performed and the mass measurement is used to calibrate the optical sensor (33). This approach enables the lifetime of the mechanical sensor to be extended, because it is only used when events are detected. The optical sensor, which typically is less accurate for mass sensing, is calibrated by the mechanical sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a capacitive micro-machined transducer (100), in particular a CMUT, the method comprising depositing a first electrode layer (10) on a substrate (1), depositing a first dielectric film (20) on the first electrode layer (10), depositing a sacrificial layer (30) on the first dielectric film (20), the sacrificial layer (30) being removable for forming a cavity (35) of the transducer, depositing a second dielectric film (40) on the sacrificial layer (30), and depositing a second electrode layer (50) on the second dielectric film (40), wherein the first dielectric film (20) and/or the second dielectric film (40) comprises a first layer comprising an oxide, a second layer comprising a high-k material, and a third layer comprising an oxide, and wherein the depositing steps are performed by Atomic Layer Deposition. The present invention further relates to a capacitive micro-machined transducer (100), in particular a CMUT, manufactured by such method.

Abstract: A room monitoring system includes a plurality of in-room units. The in-room units collect information relating to a clean or dirty status of a plurality of patient rooms and/or equipment in the rooms. A monitoring station receives clean or dirty status information from the in-room units and determines which rooms are clean, and ready for a patient, which are dirty and in need of cleaning, and which are occupied.

Abstract: A cartridge for detection of target components in a liquid sample includes a sample chamber, at least two reservoirs that can be furnished with magnetic particles, and at least two corresponding sensitive zones in which solved magnetic particles and/or target components can be detected. When a magnetic actuation field of a given configuration is established in the sample chamber, the magnetic particles of different reservoirs migrate predominantly to different sensitive zones. Thus a mixing of magnetic particles can be avoided.

Abstract: A ventilator includes a first pathway configured to supply a first gas; a second pathway configured to supply a second gas; a bypass element configured to provide a portion of the first gas and a portion of the second gas, the bypass element comprising a rib adjacent to a bypass conduit, wherein fluid flow is substantially laminar adjacent to the conduit. A bypass element is described.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system includes a plurality of radiation detectors (20) configured to detect radiation events emanating from an imaging region. The system includes a calibration phantom (14) configured to be disposed in the imaging region spanning substantially an entire field of view and to generate radiation event pairs that define lines-of-response, wherein the calibration phantom is thin such that each LOR intersects the calibration phantom along its length, the thickness of the phantom being smaller than the length of the LORs. A calibration processor (24) receives input of the radiation detectors and calculates an incidence angle independent crystal delay Ti for each detector. The calibration processor (24) constructs a first look-up table for the timing correction of each LOR and a second look-up table for the angle depth of interaction correction for each crystal by combining Ti and ?i.

Abstract: A methods is provided for reliable and accurate detection of opening or closing of doors or drawers using output signals generated by a sensor, the output signals directly or indirectly representative of the acceleration of the sensor over time. Areas under a curve for acceleration, or representations thereof, are determined and occurrence of movement events identified through comparison of calculated areas with certain thresholds. Areas are considered which span between zero crossing points of the acceleration curve, such that all elements of the corresponding sum are of the same sign, and consequent area signals have maximal amplitude. Pairs of substantially equal and opposite area signals may be sought, occurring within a given time separation, these characteristic of an opening or closing motion, consisting of a first acceleration in a first direction followed by a second in an opposing direction. Apparatus for the reliable detection of opening or closing events is also provided.

Abstract: A system (100) is provided for processing an alert signal of a medical device associated with a patient. The alert signal comprises medical information (122) representing an alert generated by the medical device to alert a healthcare professional to a state of the patient and/or the medical device. The system obtains the alert signal (024) of the medical device (020). The system comprises an interpretation subsystem (140) which accesses an interpretation database (040). Using the interpretation database (040), the interpretation subsystem (140) generates an interpreted version (142) of the alert by using the interpretation data (044) to interpret the medical information. This interpreted version of the alert provides an explanation of the alert in a manner suitable for a non-professional caretaker of the patient.

Abstract: A bone anchor for a tongue manipulation device which has a tissue anchor for attachment to the tongue, the bone anchor, for example for attachment to the mandible and a tether line which fixes the tissue anchor to the bone anchor. The bone anchor has a spool arrangement with a indexing part and a spool part. In a first configuration the spool part is operable to spool the tether line without operation of the indexing part, and in a second configuration the spool part is operable to spool the tether line with operation of the indexing part. This means the spooling to take up slack in the tether line does not cause wear to the indexing springs, and it also means the user can feel when the slack has been taken up.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a breath pacing device (10) for pacing the respiratory activity of a subject, comprising an output unit (12) for outputting a sequence of output signals, a control unit (16) provided to control the output unit, and an input unit (14) connected to or integrated into the output unit for generating an input signal related to a respiration characteristic of a subject. The control unit is provided to control the length of the sequence at least based on characteristics of the input signal. The invention is further related to a corresponding method for pacing the respiratory activity of a subject.

Abstract: Buyer, vendor and third party computer systems are disclosed together with a related method for enabling a prospective Buyer to browse a Vendor's website to purchase goods or services. According to one aspect of the present invention, the Buyer's computer system automatically extracts purchase information from the Vendor's website from which the Vendor can identify the Buyer's purchase. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the Buyer's computer system transmits, under control of the Buyer, confirmation to the Vendor that a third party has been instructed to pay the Vendor for the Buyer's purchase. In a yet further aspect of the present invention, a third party's computer system transmits to the Vendor confirmation of receipt of an instruction from a Buyer to pay a Vendor for goods or services.

Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature distribution determining apparatus (21) for determining a temperature distribution within an object, to which energy is applied, by using an energy application element (2). A first temperature distribution is measured in a first region within a first temperature range and a model describing a model temperature distribution in the first region and in a second region depending on modifiable model parameters is provided. A second temperature distribution is estimated in the second region within a second temperature range, while the energy is applied to the object, by modifying the model parameters such that a deviation of the model temperature distribution from the first temperature distribution in the first region is minimized.

Abstract: A body-coupled communication apparatus (100) comprises a coupler arrangement (10) comprising a plurality of couplers (11,12,13) configured to couple signals (S) between the apparatus (100) and a body (200). Signal electronics (20) are configured to process and/or generate the signals depending on an operational mode (OT,OR,OW) of the apparatus. A routing network (40) is configured to provide variable routing of the signals (S) between the signal electronics (20) and the couplers (11,12,13) thereby providing a selection between distinct coupling modes (CT,CR,CW) of the coupler arrangement (10). A mode selector (30) is configured to switch the apparatus (100) between the operational modes (OT,OR,OW) and control the routing network (40) to select between the distinct coupling modes (CT,CR,CW) based on the operational mode (OT,OR,OW) of the apparatus.

Abstract: A light emitting device for application near mammal tissue includes a flexible body having a front surface for facing the mammal tissue and an opposing back surface. The flexible body accommodates at least one light source which is arranged for irradiating an irradiation area of the mammal tissue. A thermally insulating layer covers the back surface of the flexible body. The thermally insulating layer has a larger surface area than the flexible body.

Abstract: An endorectal coil (1) includes a tube (40), a spreader (44), and one or more electrically conductive elements (64). The tube (40) is configured for insertion into the rectum (42). The spreader (44) is configured to be positioned at a distal end of the tube (40) and mechanically spread to compress surrounding tissue after the tube (40) is inserted. The one or more electrically conductive elements (64) are tuned to receive magnetic resonance data disposed on at least one of the tube (40), the spreader (44), and adjacent the tube and spreader.