Abstract: An extension cable is adapted for use in an intravascular ultrasound system. It has a first connector, for connecting to a catheter and a second connector for connecting to a patient interface module. A cable arrangement provides power transmission, data transmission and data signal processing (amplification or regeneration) between the first and second connectors. The extension cable enables sterility to be maintained in a workflow in a time efficient and easy manner as the catheter to extension cable connection may remain in a sterile environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electromagnetic tracking of medical devices. In order to provide improved tracking of medical devices, a wireless readout unit (10) for an electromagnetic tracking system of medical devices is provided. The wireless readout unit comprises a data input (12), a data processor (14) and a data output (16). The data input is configured to receive raw signals (18) from an electromagnetic sensor, and the data processor is configured to at least partly pre-process the raw signals provided by the data input for further transformation. Further, the data output is configured for data transmission of the at least partly pre-processed data to a control unit of an electromagnetic tracking system of medical devices. The data output provides a wireless data link (20) to a control unit.

Abstract: An extension cable is adapted for use in an intravascular ultrasound system. It has a first connector, for connecting to a catheter and a second connector for connecting to a patient interface module. A cable arrangement provides power transmission, data transmission and data signal processing (amplification or regeneration) between the first and second connectors. The extension cable enables sterility to be maintained in a workflow in a time efficient and easy manner as the catheter to extension cable connection may remain in a sterile environment.

Abstract: An interventional X-ray system is proposed, the system including a multi X-ray source unit positioned below a patient table. This ‘multiblock’ may comprise several x-ray sources with focal spot positions distributed along the x-y (table) plane. The x-ray sources are operable in a switching scheme in which certain x-ray sources may be activated in parallel and also sequential switching between such groups is intended. The switching may be carried out so that several images with different projection angles can be acquired in parallel. In other words, an optimal multi-beam X-ray exposure is suggested, wherein fast switching in one dimension and simultaneous exposure in the 2nd dimension is applied.

Abstract: Airway impedance of a subject using a respiratory treatment device can be measured, in accordance with one or more embodiments. A conduit is configured to communicate a flow of inhaled gas and a flow of exhaled gas to and from an airway of the subject using the respiratory treatment device. A first valve is disposed within the conduit and configured to affect the flow of exhaled gas. One or more sensors are disposed within the conduit and are configured to provide a signal conveying information associated with one or more characteristics of gas exhaled by the subject while the flow of exhaled gas is affected or unaffected by the first valve. An airway impedance monitoring module can be executed by a processor to determine an impedance metric of the airway of the subject based on the information conveyed by the signal provided by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: An interventional X-ray system is proposed, the system including a multi X-ray source unit positioned below a patient table. This ‘multiblock’ may comprise several x-ray sources with focal spot positions distributed along the x-y (table) plane. The x-ray sources are operable in a switching scheme in which certain x-ray sources may be activated in parallel and also sequential switching between such groups is intended. The switching may be carried out so that several images with different projection angles can be acquired in parallel. In other words, an optimal multi-beam X-ray exposure is suggested, wherein fast switching in one dimension and simultaneous exposure in the 2nd dimension is applied.

Abstract: A portable radiation detection device with a detector unit comprising a scintillator with an array of avalanche photodiodes allows to reliably detect incident ionizing radiation or radiation contamination in the presence of intense magnetic fields of 0.1 Tesla and above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electromagnetic tracking of medical devices. In order to provide improved tracking of medical devices, a wireless readout unit (10) for an electromagnetic tracking system of medical devices is provided. The wireless readout unit comprises a data input (12), a data processor (14) and a data output (16). The data input is configured to receive raw signals (18) from an electromagnetic sensor, and the data processor is configured to at least partly pre-process the raw signals provided by the data input for further transformation. Further, the data output is configured for data transmission of the at least partly pre-processed data to a control unit of an electromagnetic tracking system of medical devices. The data output provides a wireless data link (20) to a control unit.

Abstract: A portable radiation detection device with a detector unit comprising a scintillator with an array of avalanche photo-diodes allows to reliably detect incident ionizing radiation or radiation contamination in the presence of intense magnetic fields of 0.1 Tesla and above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) and a system for determining a specific position of a distal end (11) of a catheter (10) in an anatomical structure, a method for determining a specific position of a distal end (11) of a catheter (10) in an anatomical structure, a computer program element for controlling such device (1) and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The device (1) comprises a catheter (10) with a distal end (11) and a position sensor (12) arranged spaced apart from the distal end (11) in a proximal direction. The position sensor (12) is configured to provide position data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for air purification within an incubator using germicidal irradiation from an ultra-violet (UV) light source that is integrated in a path from ambient air into the cavity of an incubator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a system for monitoring skin color of a user. The system comprises a capturing unit, an obtaining unit, a deriving unit and a determining unit. The capturing unit captures at least one image of the user over a predetermined time period, and the obtaining unit obtains motion-related information of the user over the predetermined time period. The deriving unit derives visual information from the at least one image on the basis of the motion-related information, and the determining unit determines the skin color on the basis of the derived visual information. In this way, the skin color of the user can be effectively monitored without exposing the user to strong environmental light.

Abstract: Airway impedance of a subject using a respiratory treatment device can be measured, in accordance with one or more embodiments. A conduit is configured to communicate a flow of inhaled gas and a flow of exhaled gas to and from an airway of the subject using the respiratory treatment device. A first valve is disposed within the conduit and configured to affect the flow of exhaled gas. One or more sensors are disposed within the conduit and are configured to provide a signal conveying information associated with one or more characteristics of gas exhaled by the subject while the flow of exhaled gas is affected or unaffected by the first valve. An airway impedance monitoring module can be executed by a processor to determine an impedance metric of the airway of the subject based on the information conveyed by the signal provided by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for combined respiratory therapy and respiratory monitoring. A respiratory therapy and respiratory monitoring apparatus as described herein may include a spacer portion having first and second ends, wherein the first end includes a patient interface and the second end includes a respiratory therapy device. A monitoring device such as, for example, a microphone is incorporated into the spacer portion so as to record sounds from within the apparatus. The sounds may be processed and otherwise analyzed to derive one or more characteristics therefrom. These characteristics may be used to make one or more determinations relevant to the monitored and treated patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, method and computer program product for providing a reception approach in a body-coupled communication system with a switch-based filtering in order to remove low frequency interference without attenuating the wanted digital signal, and a receiver structure that makes use of correlation for both data detection and synchronization in order to suppress the uncorrelated interference without attenuating the wanted signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for air purification within an incubator using germicidal irradiation from an ultra-violet (UV) light source that is integrated in a path from ambient air into the cavity of an incubator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for contact-less, non-invasive determination of peripheral temperature of a subject use a thermal exchanger to locally modulate the temperature of a structure in engagement with the subject, such as a subject support structure that supports the subject or an item worn by the subject. A thermal sensor can be used to monitor a thermal response of the subject and to determine the peripheral temperature. Additionally or alternatively, the core body temperature may be determined.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a system for monitoring skin color of a user. The system comprises a capturing unit, an obtaining unit, a deriving unit and a determining unit. The capturing unit captures at least one image of the user over a predetermined time period, and the obtaining unit obtains motion-related information of the user over the predetermined time period. The deriving unit derives visual information from the at least one image on the basis of the motion-related information, and the determining unit determines the skin color on the basis of the derived visual information. In this way, the skin color of the user can be effectively monitored without exposing the user to strong environmental light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coupler device, processing apparatus and method of processing a plurality of body-coupled communication signals which have been detected by using an electrode arrangement with a plurality of electrodes or electrode segments (40, 42; 40, 43). Respective transmission parameters of the body-coupled communication signals are estimated and at least one of a selecting and weighting processing is applied to the detected body-coupled communication signals based on the estimated transmission parameters. Then, the processed body-coupled communication signals are combined to generate a diversity output signal. Thereby, robustness against coupler misplacement and user convenience is increased in body-coupled or body-based communication systems.

Abstract: A communication system includes first and second independently clocked devices, comprising, for each device, a transmitter and a receiver connected to each other in a crossed way in correspondence of an inter-chip communication channel. The communication system further comprises a synchronizer in turn including at least a first and a second synchronization block, having respective input terminals connected to the receivers and respective output terminals connected to the transmitters and comprising at least: a test pattern generator that generates a programmable test pattern signal; a pattern detector to check a matching between stored and received test pattern signals and thus lock corresponding clock phases of the synchronization blocks in case of positive result of this check; and a delay block able to change the clock phases until a synchronized condition of the synchronization blocks is verified, this synchronized condition corresponding to a matching between stored and received test pattern signals.