Abstract: The invention provides for medical instrument (200, 300) comprising a medical imaging system (202, 302) for acquiring medical image data (236) from an imaging zone (204) and a treatment system (206, 322) for depositing energy into a treatment zone (208). A processor executing instructions receives (100) a selection of a reference location and one or more anatomical references.

Abstract: A respiration appliance, system, and method for supporting the airway of a subject as the subject breaths. The flow of gas from the lungs of the subject during exhalation is leveraged to provide support to the airway. In particular, a body that encloses one or more external orifices of the subject provides a resistance differential between inhaled gas flows and exhaled gas flows that supports the subject's airway.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (100) and a method for the processing of single molecules, particularly for the sensing or sequencing of single-stranded DNA. A bottom layer (110) and an electrically conductive top layer (120) with a first and a second slit (111,121), respectively, are disposed on top of each other such that an aperture (A) is formed by the slits. The slits (111,121) are preferably perpendicular to each other. An electrical circuit (140) may be connected to the top layer (120), allowing to sense single molecules that pass through the aperture (A).

Abstract: A method is provided for generating a deformable model (300) for segmenting an anatomical structure in a medical image. The anatomical structure comprises a wall. The deformable model (300) is generated such that it comprises, in addition to two surface meshes (320, 360), an intermediate layer mesh (340) for being applied in-between a first surface layer of the wall and a second surface layer of the wall. In generating the intermediate layer mesh (340), the mesh topology of at least part (400) of the intermediate layer mesh is matched to the mesh topology of one of the surface meshes (320, 360), thereby establishing matching mesh topologies. The deformable model (300), as generated, better matches the composition of such walls, thereby providing a more accurate segmentation.

Abstract: A mobile patient monitoring device (10) includes a radio (14) having a scan threshold and a roam threshold that is lower or equal to than the scan threshold. The radio (14) is configured to scan to identify available access points when current access point power is below the scan threshold but above the roam threshold and roam to an available access point when current access point power is below the roam threshold. An accelerometer (12) is configured to measure acceleration. Device electronics (16) include at least one processor (24, 28) programmed to classify patient movement from the acceleration measured by the accelerometer and to assign values for the scan and the roam thresholds of the radio (14) based on the patient movement classification. Alternatively, the device electronics (16) may assign the values for the scan and the roam thresholds of the radio (14) based on received vital sign data acquired from an associated physiological sensor (32).

Abstract: The invention provides for an infant feeding system (100) for orally feeding a liquid to an infant. The infant feeding system comprises a user interface (202). The infant feeding system further comprises at least one sensor (212, 212?, 212?, 212??) for measuring at least one physical property. The infant feeding system further comprises a memory (216, 216?, 216?) for storing machine executable instructions (230). The infant feeding system further comprises a processor (208, 208?, 208?).

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system retrieves data (206) from a plurality of accessible data sources, the accessible data sources storing data including physiological data describing a subject to be imaged, a nature of a requested diagnostic image, image preferences of a clinician who requested the diagnostic image, and previously reconstructed images of the requested nature of the subject and/or other subjects, reconstruction parameters and/or sub-routines used to reconstruct the previously reconstructed images. The system analyzes (6, 12) the retrieved data to automatically generate reconstruction parameters and/or sub-steps specific to the nature of the requested diagnostic image, the subject, and the clinician image preferences. The system controls a display device (10, 216) to display the generated reconstruction parameters and/or sub-routines to the user for a user selection.

Abstract: A temperature measurement probe (130) for use in a magnetic resonance environment, includes an elongated substrate (202), at least one highly resistive, electrically conductive traces (200, 200a, 200b, 200a?, 200b?) one printed at least one thermistor (204) disposed on the substrate and electrically connected with the trace. The thermistor is configured to be placed in thermal communication with a patient in the magnetic resonance environment. In some embodiments, the printed trace may be carbon-based, silicone based, or may be a doped semiconductor material.

Abstract: A medical imaging system (10) includes a nuclear imaging system (62), a timing optimization unit (40), a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner (12), an MR reconstruction unit (38), and an attenuation map unit (50). The nuclear imaging system (62) receives nuclear decay data and generates at least one nuclear image (64) of a first resolution based on the received nuclear decay data of an imaged subject (16) and an attenuation map (52). The timing optimization unit (40) which selects a first and a second echo time for a modified Dixon (mDixon) pulse sequence and a sufficient number of repetition times (TRs) to generate an image of the subject (16) of at least a first resolution, with the phase angle difference between water and fat at the first and the second echo time being unequal to 0° and 180°. The MR scanner (12) applies the sequence to the subject (16) and receives MR data (32) from the subject. The MR reconstruction unit (38) reconstructs at least one MR image (44) based on the MR data (32).

Abstract: A method of photoplethysmography includes processing a signal based on at least one signal from at least one sensor arranged to capture light from a living subject to extract information on a characteristic of a periodic biological phenomenon. At least one of the signals from at least one sensor is obtained via sensing radiation as to a peak in an absorption spectrum of water.

Abstract: A beverage making appliance includes at least one tube in the beverage making appliance for transporting a liquid from the beverage making appliance, where the at least one tube is provided with a slit extending along a length of the at least one tube between one end of the at least one tube and another end of the at least one tube. At the slit, the at least one tube is openable. Further, the at least one tube on each side of the slit provides a bias to each side of the slit to make contact along the slit to close the slit.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system includes a patient data acquisition system (12) to acquire patient data via patient physiological sensors (28). A first patient monitor display (16) and first audio system (18) is disposed inside a patient room. A second patient monitor display (20) and audio system (22) is disposed outside the patient room. A control system (14) outputs acquired patient data via at least one of the first patient monitor display and the second patient monitor display and outputs a patient audio monitor signal (60) generated based at least in part on acquired patient data using at least one of the first and second audio systems (18, 22). The control system (14) provides a first audio configuration (42) for operating the first audio system (18) and a second audio configuration (44) for operating the second audio system (22).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for rendering an image based on a volumetric image data set, the system comprising: a computation unit (110) for computing an initial pixel intensity of a pixel of the image, defined by a corresponding voxel intensity of a corresponding voxel comprised in the volumetric image data set; and an adjustment unit (120) for computing a final pixel intensity of the pixel, based on the initial pixel intensity and on a location of the corresponding voxel. Thus, the system of the invention enables new visualizations of volumetric image data sets. Advantageously, unlike a system using the VIP technique, which requires adjusting intensities of voxels comprised in the image data set, the system of the current invention is arranged to adjust intensities of pixels. This reduces the computational complexity of the rendering technique employed by the system relative to the computational complexity of the VIP technique.

Abstract: A system and method to control oxygen supply uses determinations whether physiological sensors and/or a subject interface appliance have been displaced in relation to a subject and/or there has been movement of the subject itself. Artifacts that may reduce the accuracy of measurements of physiological parameters, in particular related to a level of arterial oxygen saturation, may be detected through determinations pertaining to sensor displacement, displacement of the subject interface appliance and/or movement of the subject.

Abstract: An RF antenna system (100, 1014, 1014?) transmits RF excitation signals into and/or receives MR signals from an MR imaging system's (1000, 1100, 1200) imaging volume (1015). The magnetic resonance imaging antenna includes a coil former (100, 1014, 1014?) adjacent to the imaging volume (1015); and a resonator (400, 500, 600) attached to the coil former and tuned to at least one resonant frequency formed from electrical connections (304), between multiple capacitors (302). The multiple capacitors are distributed in a periodic pattern (300, 700, 800, 900) about and along the coil former.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray imaging device (10) for an object, an X-ray imaging system (100) for an object, an X-ray imaging method for an object, and a computer program element for controlling such device or system and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The X-ray imaging device (10) comprises a receiving unit (11) and a processing unit (12). The receiving unit (11) is configured to receive attenuation data representing attenuation properties of the object for at least two different X-ray spectra. The processing unit (12) is configured to decompose the attenuation data into decomposed data, to reduce noise in the decomposed data to obtain de-noised data, to back-convert the de-noised data into back-converted attenuation data, to combine back-converted attenuation data and the attenuation data into combined attenuation data, and to decompose the combined attenuation data into combined decomposed data.

Abstract: A heat sensitive actuator utilizes a bilayer of shape memory material, each layer thermally stimulated to change shape at a different temperature, to generate two-way actuation functionality. The second layer—with higher phase-change temperature—brings up greater intrinsic force in its high temperature phase than the first, and in this way is able to be used to reset the actuator to its initial shape after being deformed by the first layer at a lower temperature.

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: A valve, such as for feeding appliances, has an inner space and walls partly enclosing the inner space. The inner space has a smaller first end and an opposing larger second end. The first end has a dimension being larger than 0 mm and smaller than or equal to 0.2 mm, and the inner space forms an opening through the valve or is closed at the first end by a closing part of the valve. The closing part of the valve has a thickness which is smaller than or equal to 0.1 mm.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining volumetric image data generated by an imaging system, generating an uncertainty for each voxel of the volumetric image data, and generating an evaluation volume with volumetric image data based on the generated uncertainty. The method further includes receiving an input identifying a region and/or volume of interest in the evaluation volume, receiving an intended diagnostic type, receiving an evaluation probability level of interest, and receiving an effect direction of interest. The method further includes deforming the evaluation volume to create an artificial volume that reflects an effect of the uncertainty on the intended diagnostic type based on the evaluation probability level of interest and the effect direction of interest. The method further includes visually displaying the deformed evaluation volume.