Abstract: A framework for pedicle screw positioning is described herein. In accordance with one aspect, the framework segments at least one vertebra of interest in image data. The framework then automatically determines a pedicle region within the segmented vertebra of interest, and a safe region within the segmented vertebra of interest. An optimal insertion path passing through the pedicle region may then be generated within the safe region.

Abstract: Compositions include an aqueous solution of an organic dye of molecular weight in the range of about 300 to about 1,000 and a density-enhancing material. An amount of the density-enhancing material in the aqueous solution is sufficient to achieve a density of about 1.0 to about 1.3 g/mL. The composition has a viscosity of about 3.5 to about 5.0 centipoise. The compositions are useful in assessing the adequacy of a liquid handling mixing device to mix a reaction mixture.

Abstract: A personal protective equipment (PPE) monitoring system is disclosed that includes a set of wireless transmitting devices and a mobile application executable on a mobile device. The mobile device receives a wireless signal from a transmitting device associated with a workstation and determines the type of workstation based on an identifier included in the wireless signal. The mobile device also receives wireless signals from transmitting devices attached to PPE items located in proximity to the mobile device and determines the types of PPE items based on respective identifiers included in the wireless signals. The mobile application determines PPE items required to operate equipment at the workstation and further determines whether the set of detected PPE items includes all of the required PPE items. The mobile application generates a user interface that indicates the presence or absence of each required PPE item and displays the UI on the mobile device.

Abstract: A device for reducing vibrations of a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, wherein the device includes at least a vehicle frame, a brake carrier, a mechanically operative brake unit and a suspension bracket that interconnects the vehicle frame and brake carrier, where the suspension bracket includes at least one element elastically connecting the vehicle frame to the brake carrier that allows movement of the brake carrier in the transverse direction of the vehicle frame in order to dampen vibrations.

Abstract: A method of visualizing spinal nerves includes receiving a 3D image volume depicting a spinal cord and a plurality of spinal nerves. For each spinal nerve, a 2D spinal nerve image is generated by defining a surface within the 3D volume comprising the spinal nerve. The surface is curved such that it passes through the spinal cord while encompassing the spinal nerve. Then, the 2D spinal nerve images are generated based on voxels on the surface included in the 3D volume. A visualization of the 2D spinal images is presented in a graphical user interface that allows each 2D spinal image to be viewed simultaneously.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for recording calibration data for establishing convolution kernels for GRAPPA algorithms for reconstruction of image data from measurement data recorded using echo planar imaging with simultaneous recording of a number of slices of a slice stack. A slice GRAPPA algorithm is used to reconstruct the image data of the individual slices and an inplane GRAPPA algorithm is used to reconstruct undersampled magnetic resonance data within the slices.

Abstract: An alarm pull station having a removable actuator cover and an actuator switch operatively coupled to the actuator cover to signal when the pull station is a normal mode, an alarm mode, or a maintenance mode corresponding to when the cover has been removed.

Abstract: A method for determining an arrangement of an electric vehicle relative to a charging point is provided. An alternating magnetic field is transmitted by a transmitting device arranged on the electric vehicle. The alternating magnetic field is received at a location of the charging point, and the arrangement is inferred based on the received alternating field. An arrangement determination unit is configured for use in a method of this type to determine the arrangement of the electric vehicle relative to the charging point using the received alternating field.

Abstract: A fluidic device and a method for degassing a fluidic device are presented. The fluidic device includes a plurality of fluidic components such as channels, chambers, and integrated valves and pumps, etc. A porous membrane is disposed on a degassing area of the fluidic device for removing gas (such as, for example, bubbles) contained in a liquid. A fluid control device monitors a pressure profile indicating a pressure in the fluidic device over time and applies a pressure differential between two sides of the membrane when activated. The membrane is permeable to gas in the fluidic device and is impermeable to liquids through the pores under the pressure differential. The disclosed method enables degassing large volume of gas at a high flow rate and provides a bubble free filling in a fluidic device which is critical to precision sample metering, mixing, fluid control, reaction, and detection, etc.

Abstract: A method for determining a position of a mobile device relative to a B0 field magnet along a z-coordinate axis, and a device and a magnetic resonance tomography unit for performing the method are provided. The device includes a magnetic field strength sensor arranged in a fixed relative position. A characteristic magnetic field strength Bref of the B0 field magnet that emerges for a plurality of x-y coordinate pairs with a same reference z-coordinate zref is ascertained. The device is moved along the z-coordinate axis until the magnetic field strength sensor measures the characteristic magnetic field strength Bref.

Abstract: In SPECT reconstruction, multi-modal reconstruction is combined with model-based multi-energy image formation. The scatter modeling of the model-based image formation uses resampling to facilitate convolution with the scatter kernels while maintaining resolution for the multi-energy projection. This combination of multi-modal and model-based multi-energy image formation simultaneously addresses the inaccuracy of the image formation process for complicated energy spectra and image blurring due to degradation of resolution. Varying the reconstruction by iteration may provide some of the benefits while reducing computational burden.

Abstract: A sealing system for sealing a sealing gap between an outer housing and a rotor shaft of a rotor of a steam turbine, having a blocking medium wall for producing a blocking medium area between the rotor shaft and the outer housing in the region in front of and/or in the sealing gap, wherein the blocking medium wall is secured to the outer housing. The sealing system also has a blocking medium opening in the blocking medium wall in order to feed a blocking medium from the outside into the blocking medium area. The sealing system also has a shaft seal for sealing the blocking medium area from a second area, which has a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, and a sliding ring seal for sealing the blocking medium area from a third area, which has a third pressure that is lower than the second pressure.

Abstract: A method evaluates power engineering data using a data request that is transmitted to a coupling device by a first communication link. The coupling device is used to convert the data request from a coupling data format into a further data request that is specific to an energy engineering device in a device-specific data format. The further data request is transmitted to the power engineering device by a second communication link. The power engineering device transmits its power engineering data, requested by the further data request, to the coupling device by the second communication link. The power engineering data are in a data format that is specific to the power engineering device, and the coupling device converts all the power engineering data requested by further data requests into a data response in the coupling data format and uses the first communication link to transmit them to the evaluation device.

Abstract: A laminated core arrangement for an electric machine includes a laminated core having at least two part cores which are arranged in an axial direction. Each of the part cores has a plurality of polygonal individual sheets, with at least one of the individual sheets being round and disposed between the part cores. The at least one round individual sheet has a diameter which is less than or equal to an inner circle of the polygonal individual sheets. Permanently-excited magnets are disposed around a circumference of the laminated core.

Abstract: Inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a capillary tube and a force assisted sample ejection mechanism. The capillary tube may be at least one of dissolvable or breakable. The force assisted sample ejecting mechanism releasing at least part of the sample of the first liquid from the capillary tube by at least one of abruptly shaking the capillary tube at least once or breaking the capillary tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically assembling components in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a source component and a target component in the CAD environment. The source component and the target component represent different parts of a real-world object. The method also includes computing one or more assembly solutions for assembling the source component and the target component based on a set of rules. Each of the assembly solutions defines a constraint relationship between the source component and the target component. The method also includes automatically generating constraints between geometric entities of the source component and geometric entities of the target component based on the one or more assembly solutions. The method includes outputting a geometric model including the assembled source component and target component on a graphical user interface.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus, a control computer for a data acquisition scanner automatically determines sequence control data, for a control protocol that has been loaded into the control computer, that define different functional sub-sequences of data acquisition sequence, the sub-sequences causing nuclear spins in at least two sub-volumes of a subject to be simultaneously manipulated or used in order to acquire magnetic resonance data. For each sub-sequence, the computer determines a respective effective volume dependent on the respectively associated sub-volumes, and determines applicable underlying conditions from which control signals are generated that locally optimize the sub-sequences for each effective volume.

Abstract: A transmitter for pilot tone navigation in a magnetic resonance tomography system includes a power supply and an antenna. The transmitter is configured to transmit a pilot tone signal via the antenna. The transmitter also includes a decoupling element in order to protect a transmitter output from signals that the antenna receives with excitation pulses of the magnetic resonance tomography system during a magnetic resonance tomography. In a method, movement-dependent changes to the pilot tone signal of the transmitter are identified by a controller of the magnetic resonance tomography system.

Abstract: A turbomachine, in particular a steam turbine, has a shield and a coolant supply which causes cold intermediate superheater steam to flow onto the rotor, wherein additionally supply holes are arranged in the shield, which holes bring part of the hot inflow steam into the cooling region between the shield and the rotor, in order to thus improve mixing so as to raise the temperature of the rotor at this thermally loaded point, such that in the event of a fault (e.g., failure of the coolant line) the resulting change in temperature is moderate.