Abstract: In method for operating a magnetic resonance apparatus that has a gradient power amplifier that supplies a voltage to a gradient coil, and a gradient power amplifier control processor that provides control a control signal thereto that predetermines the aforementioned voltage, and a simulation computer that models an operational characteristic of each of the gradient coil the gradient power amplifier, an actual current value of a current fed into the gradient coil by the gradient power amplifier is measured and a target current value of the current fed into the gradient coil by the gradient power amplifier is determined by the simulation computer, using the control signal as an input variable. A fault signal is generated as a function of a determined deviation in the actual current value from the target current value.

Abstract: In method for operating a magnetic resonance apparatus that has a gradient power amplifier that supplies a voltage to a gradient coil, and a gradient power amplifier control processor that provides control a control signal thereto that predetermines the aforementioned voltage, and a simulation computer that models an operational characteristic of each of the gradient coil the gradient power amplifier, an actual current value of a current fed into the gradient coil by the gradient power amplifier is measured and a target current value of the current fed into the gradient coil by the gradient power amplifier is determined by the simulation computer, using the control signal as an input variable. A fault signal is generated as a function of a determined deviation in the actual current value from the target current value.

Abstract: A solenoid system for magnetically guided capsule endoscopy, has the following components arranged under a patient table which defines a flat plane: a central coil with normal direction being perpendicular to the flat plane, and four coil pairs arranged in the form of a cross around the central coil with respect to the flat plane. Each pair includes two single coils, the normal directions of which are parallel to the flat plane and offset by 90 degrees in relation to each other.

Abstract: A coil system for the contactless magnetic navigation of a magnetic body in a work space, has a plurality of coils and a current controller for controlling the respective currents in the plurality of coils. In order to navigate the magnetic body to a variably predeterminable position in the work space, the current controller is designed such that the currents in the plurality of coils are such that the magnetic forces generated by the currents and acting upon the magnetic body at multiple positions at the edge of a convex environment around the predetermined position are directed into the environment. The coil system has the advantage that a movement of the magnetic body toward a spatial position is achieved without any mechanical movement of the coil system and without a positioning system for determining the position of the magnetic body. The coil system is utilized particularly in a medical device, wherein a magnetic body in the form of a probe is moved in the body of a patient.

Abstract: In a method and a device to detect information about the three-dimensional structure of the inner surface of a body cavity of a patient with an endoscopy capsule introduced into said body cavity, a first partial region of the inner surface of the body cavity is illuminated with at least one light source arranged in the endoscopy capsule and an image of a second partial region that is illuminated by the first partial region and differs from the first partial region. The three-dimensional structure of the second partial region is known, and the second partial region is acquired with at least one camera arranged in the endoscopy capsule. Information about the three-dimensional structure of the first partial region is derived using the intensity values in this image.

Abstract: A coil system for the contact-free magnetic navigation of a magnetic body with a magnetic dipole moment in a working chamber, a number of coils and a current control unit for controlling the respective currents in the multiple coils. The current control unit generates a force on the magnetic body in a predefined direction by setting the currents in the multiple coils so that the direction of the force generated by the currents on the magnetic body at each position among a number of positions in a volume in the working chamber essentially corresponds to the predefined direction of force. This coil system has the advantage that the position of the magnetic body in the working chamber does not need to be known exactly in order to move the body in a desired direction or to align the body in a desired orientation direction. This coil system suitable for use in a medical device and by special preference in a device for capsule endoscopy.

Abstract: A system and method for guiding a capsule medical device. The method includes: changing, by a control unit, a gradient distribution of a gradient magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generator in a vertical direction, the magnetic field generator generating at least the gradient magnetic field in the vertical direction to guide a capsule medical device that includes a magnetic-field responding unit; detecting, by a position detector, a position of the capsule medical device in the vertical direction based on a gradient distribution of the gradient magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator, a physical parameter of the capsule medical device, and a physical parameter of a liquid when the capsule medical device starts to move; and setting, by the control unit, the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator based on the detected position of the capsule medical device in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An arrangement for navigating an endoscopic capsule includes an external first magnetic field with a first magnetic flux density for moving the endoscopic capsule. The arrangement also includes at least one sensor coil pair outside of the endoscopic capsule for determining a position and/or orientation of the endoscopic capsule. The at least one sensor coil par includes a first sensor coil and a second sensor coil. The first sensor coil and the second sensor coil are electrically connected to one another and arranged at locations with the same first magnetic flux density.

Abstract: In a method and a device to detect information about the three-dimensional structure of the inner surface of a body cavity (2) of a patient with an endoscopy capsule (4) introduced into said body cavity (2), a first partial region of the inner surface of the body cavity (2) is illuminated with at least one light source (16) arranged in the endoscopy capsule (4): and an image of a second partial region (36) that is illuminated by the first partial region (30) and differs from said first partial region (30), the three-dimensional structure of which second partial region (36) is known, is acquired with at least one camera (18) arranged in the endoscopy capsule (4). Information about the three-dimensional structure of the first partial region (30) is derived using the intensity values present in this image.

Abstract: A magnetically guided endoscope system has a display system wherein the position of the boundary of the examination region of the magnetic field that is used for capsule endoscope guidance is displayed and/or the position of the peak of the magnetic field used for capsule guidance is displayed. The displayed information can be presented in the form of computer-generated graphics superimposed on a camera image of the patient by a computer, or can be a fixed indicator on the display screen of a display at which a computer causes the camera image of the patient to be displayed at a position that is correctly oriented with respect to the fixed information.

Abstract: A solenoid system for magnetically guided capsule endoscopy, has the following components arranged under a patient table which defines a flat plane: a central coil with normal direction being perpendicular to the flat plane, and four coil pairs arranged in the form of a cross around the central coil with respect to the flat plane. Each pair includes two single coils, the normal directions of which are parallel to the flat plane and offset by 90 degrees in relation to each other.

Abstract: A system and method for guiding a capsule medical device. The method includes: changing, by a control unit, a gradient distribution of a gradient magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generator in a vertical direction, the magnetic field generator generating at least the gradient magnetic field in the vertical direction to guide a capsule medical device that includes a magnetic-field responding unit; detecting, by a position detector, a position of the capsule medical device in the vertical direction based on a gradient distribution of the gradient magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator, a physical parameter of the capsule medical device, and a physical parameter of a liquid when the capsule medical device starts to move; and setting, by the control unit, the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator based on the detected position of the capsule medical device in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A magnetically guided endoscope system has a display system wherein the position of the boundary of the examination region of the magnetic field that is used for capsule endoscope guidance is displayed and/or the position of the peak of the magnetic field used for capsule guidance is displayed. The displayed information can be presented in the form of computer-generated graphics superimposed on a camera image of the patient by a computer, or can be a fixed indicator on the display screen of a display at which a computer causes the camera image of the patient to be displayed at a position that is correctly oriented with respect to the fixed information.

Abstract: A coil system for the contactless magnetic navigation of a magnetic body in a work space, has a plurality of coils and a current controller for controlling the respective currents in the plurality of coils. In order to navigate the magnetic body to a variably predeterminable position in the work space, the current controller is designed such that the currents in the plurality of coils are such that the magnetic forces generated by the currents and acting upon the magnetic body at multiple positions at the edge of a convex environment around the predetermined position are directed into the environment. The coil system has the advantage that a movement of the magnetic body toward a spatial position is achieved without any mechanical movement of the coil system and without a positioning system for determining the position of the magnetic body. The coil system is utilized particularly in a medical device, wherein a magnetic body in the form of a probe is moved in the body of a patient.

Abstract: A coil system for the contact-free magnetic navigation of a magnetic body with a magnetic dipole moment in a working chamber, a number of coils and a current control unit for controlling the respective currents in the multiple coils. The current control unit generates a force on the magnetic body in a predefined direction by setting the currents in the multiple coils so that the direction of the force generated by the currents on the magnetic body at each position among a number of positions in a volume in the working chamber essentially corresponds to the predefined direction of force. This coil system has the advantage that the position of the magnetic body in the working chamber does not need to be known exactly in order to move the body in a desired direction or to align the body in a desired orientation direction. This coil system suitable for use in a medical device and by special preference in a device for capsule endoscopy.