Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging an interior of a turbid medium (45) comprising the following steps: accommodation of the turbid medium (45) inside a receiving volume (20); coupling transmission input light (65) from a transmission light source into the receiving volume (12), with said transmission input light (65) being chosen such that it is capable of propagating through the turbid medium (45) and with at least a part of said transmission input light (65) passing through a matching medium (50) in the receiving volume (12), said matching medium (50) being chosen to reduce optical boundary effects at an interface between the turbid medium (45) and its surroundings; detection of transmission output light emanating from the receiving volume as a result of coupling transmission input light (65) from the transmission light source into the receiving volume (12) through use of a transmission photodetector unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging an interior of a turbid medium (45) comprising the following steps: accommodation of the turbid medium (45) inside a receiving volume; coupling transmission input light (65) from a transmission light source into the receiving volume, with said transmission input light (65) being chosen such that it is capable of propagating through the turbid medium (45); detection of transmission output light emanating from the receiving volume as a result of coupling transmission input light from the light source into the receiving volume through use of a transmission photodetector unit. The invention also relates to a system for imaging an interior of a turbid medium (45) and to a medical image acquisition system both using the method. The method, system, and medical image acquisition system are adapted such that an improved way of obtaining data relating to the exterior of the turbid medium (45) is realized.

Abstract: All of LEDs 12a-12d are switched on in a case of illuminating a main display 21 mainly. Thus, each LED 12a-12d has a lighting region 22a-22d respectively, thereby illuminating the main display 21 entirely. Central LEDs 12b, 12c in LEDs 12a-12d are switched on in a case of illuminating a sub-display mainly. Thus, each LEDs 12b, 12c has a lighting region 22b, 22c respectively, thereby illuminating the sub-display 21b.

Abstract: A skin stimulation device is provided with a stimulator (4) for locally stimulating skin at a skin location on a body part, for applying acupressure for example. The device has a storage unit (42) that stores location information specifying the skin location relative to a feature of the body part. The device contains a camera (2) for capturing image data of the skin. A processing circuit (40) processes the captured image data to determine a position of said feature and to identify the skin location based on the location information and the determined position of the feature. The device then preferably indicates whether the stimulator is at a stimulation location and/or automatically starts stimulation.

Abstract: Ignition of a gas discharge lamp 10, which has a gas containing main space and two inner electrodes, of a lighting unit 4 of a lighting system is achieved by the use of a high frequency resonance circuit. The resonance circuit is connected to the inner electrodes and to a supply device 2, which supplies an alternating supply voltage. An outer electrode 22 is arranged near one the inner electrodes and to a node of the resonance circuit. Upon supplying the supply voltage a high voltage alternating burst will be generated at the outer electrode. This will result into a discharge of the gas in the main space. In turn, this will induce a discharge of the remaining gas. Then the frequency of the supply voltage will increase and a small reactive current only will remain to flow through the resonance circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biosensor device with an actuating element comprising a biorecognition element that is capable of binding target molecules from a sample of interest, wherein the actuating element comprises a polymer material, can be actuated by actuating means between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A medical sensor having at least one electrode configured to be placed on a patient for medical monitoring and a motion sensor integrated in the medical sensor with the electrode, the motion sensor configured to detect patient motion and provide electrical signals in response thereto.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a health care data management system comprising a workflow management system and a decision support system, as well as to a corresponding computer program product and a method. The decision support system comprises a probabilistic expert system for medical advice and is arranged to create a query to be sent to the workflow management system. It is also arranged to receive a corresponding answer determined by the workflow management system. This answer comprises entity allocation data relating to the allocation of an entity handled by the workflow management system. Furthermore, the decision support system is arranged to utilize the data as probabilistic input variable(s) for the expert system. Such a system has the advantage of combining up-to-date patient data and organisational data (resource allocation), which is managed by the workflow management system, with the profound medical expertise of a decision support system.

Abstract: A device is arranged for scanning an optical record carrier (11), which has a data layer with parallel data tracks. The device has an optical head (22) comprising a detector for receiving radiation reflected from a data track, the detector having sub-detectors arranged in a quadrant. The device has a tilt unit (32) for generating a tilt signal representing a tilt angle (204) between an optical axis (202) of the optical head and a perpendicular (203) of the data layer. The tilt unit (32) generates a diagonal push-pull signal based on a difference of a first signal of a first diagonally positioned pair of sub detectors and second signal of a second diagonally positioned pair of sub detectors, and processes the diagonal push-pull signal for generating the tilt signal.

Abstract: A method of managing a distributed storage system (1) comprising a plurality of storage devices (D1, D2 . . . , Dn) on a network (N), wherein an autonomous function can be assigned to any storage device (D1, D2 . . . , Dn) of the distributed storage system (N), which autonomous function comprises collecting content according to a configurable profile (3) for the storage device (D1, D2 . . . , Dn) to which the autonomous function is assigned, and wherein a first storage device (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) of the distributed storage system (1), before leaving the network (N), delegates the responsibility for an autonomous function of that first storage device (D1, D2 . . . , Dn) to a second storage device (D1, D2 . . . , Dn) of the distributed storage system (1), and wherein the second storage device assumes responsibility for the autonomous function of the first storage device (D1, D2 . . .

Abstract: The invention relates to a microchip assembly that is particularly applicable for biosensors. According to the invention, short-distance interactions between coupling circuits (11, 12) on a thin substrate (13) and an object (2) take place through the substrate (13) of reduced thickness (d). The coupling circuits may particularly comprise wires (11) for the generation of a magnetic field (B) and a GMR (12) for the detection of the stray fields (B?) generated by magnetizing beads (2) on labeled biological molecules (1).

Abstract: An illumination system has linear array of light emitters (R,G,B,A,W) associated with it least one linear array of outcoupling means (O1,O2,O3, . . . ) for coupling light out of the illumination system. Each linear array of outcoupling means is arranged parallel to the linear array of light emitters. For each linear array of outcoupling means, a configuration of the outcoupling means and a configuration of the light emitters fulfill the requirement: NCU×NLC=NOU×NLO, wherein NCU is the number of clusters (C1,C2,C3, . . . ) per unit (U1, . . . ), NLC is the number of light emitters in each of the clusters, NOU is the number of outcoupling means per unit, NLO is the number of light emitters per outcoupling means. A “cluster” is the smallest repetitive collection of light emitters forming the linear array of light emitters. A “unit” is the smallest number of adjacent clusters repetitive with respect to the outcoupling means and with respect to the light emitters.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer. The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: An image processing method for improving image viewing properties of a digital image is disclosed. The method comprises converting a value of a property of at least one pixel of the image into a display value of the at least one pixel of the image by means of a parameterized function, wherein the parameterized function is location dependent with reference to the location of said at least one pixel of the image, thus creating locally optimized image viewing properties of the image.

Abstract: An efficient radio sensor and a method thereof. The radio sensor includes a first frequency tracking block (FTB) (110-i) for tracking an input narrowband signal within a predefined frequency range, wherein the first FTB is preset to a first initial frequency; a second FTB (110-j) for tracking the input narrowband signal within a predefined frequency range, wherein the second FTB is preset to a second initial frequency; a subtractor (130) for subtracting an output value of the first FTB (110-i) from an output value of the second FTB (110-j); and a comparator (140) for applying a convergence test on an output of the subtractor (130) to determine if the input narrowband signal is present.

Abstract: A hybrid sinusoidal/pulse excitation encoder has been recently proposed for constructing a scalable audio encoder The base layer consisting of data supplied by the sinusoidal encoder retains the main features of the input signal achieving medium to high quality audio at a very low bit rate. Quality can be further enhanced by adding excitation signal layers associated with a decreasing decimation that increasingly model more subtle aspects of the original signal. The invention provides a method of mixing the different excitation signal layers so that the full concept of scalability is realised without compromising the quality of the encoded signals. The mixing is controlled via a quality parameter that weights the significance of previous layers when constructing a new higher layer.

Abstract: Variable and ambiguous factors in clinical guideline execution are further defined by prior expert medical scrutiny and testing. The definitions promote uniformity and ease of use, afford efficient interpretation by a medical device which can variably invoke the guideline (160) suited to the sensed current situation, and facilitate enterprise-wide administration of the rules under which a guideline for current operation is selected, preferably based on an ontology language (140). Guidelines are automatically deployed, and the deployment is managed. A patient care guideline formulated, medically approved and released includes logical structure (516) that has been specifically tailored to at least one value of at least one, but fewer than all, of a plurality of variables. Each of a set of clinical guidelines, including that guideline, is within a range of a function of the variables. A processor evaluates the function to select, from among the set, that guideline for current execution (S620).

Abstract: A programmable device (1) comprises at least one timer (8) and a memory (7) for storing a user-programmable timer list with events (EV1, EV2) triggered by the elapsing of the at least one timer (8). The programmable device (1) is adapted to be operated in a simulation mode that can be activated by the user, in which simulation mode the operation of processing the user-programmed events (EV1, EV2) stored in the timer list is simulated as if the timers (8) triggering said events had elapsed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical analysis system for determining an amplitude of a principal component of an optical signal. The principle component is indicative of the concentration of a particular compound of various compounds of a substance that is subject to spectroscopic analysis. The optical signal is subject to a wavelength selective weighting. Spectral weighting is preferably performed by means of spatial light manipulation means in combination with a dispersive optical element. The inventive calibration mechanism and method effectively allows for an accurate positioning of the spatial light manipulation means. Calibration is based on a calibration segment on the spatial light manipulation means in combination with a reference light source and a detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing fluids which has first areas with a high porosity and second areas with a lower porosity.