Abstract: Disclosed in some embodiments are microdevices, medical devices and a registration apparatuses that allow for tracking of medical device(s) in an ultrasound image while maintaining the quality of the ultrasound image. The microdevice comprises a casing and a magneto mechanical resonator. The magneto mechanical resonator comprises at least two magnetic objects providing a permanent magnetic moment. The magneto mechanical resonator is adapted to transduce an external excitation field into a mechanical movement of the at least two magnetic objects relative to each other such that a changing magnetic response field is generated. A pressure sensor is arranged such that an external ultrasound signal induces an additional movement of the magnetic objects such that the changing magnetic response field is changed in dependency of the external ultrasound signal.

Abstract: A wireless passive marker device (1) to be tracked and a respective tracking system (3) are provided which make use of a sensing unit (10) comprising a resonator element (11) with piezoelectric properties and a coil element (13), whereby an externally applied excitation field having a particular frequency is applied to act on the sensing unit (10) and wherein the sensing unit (10) responds to the externally applied excitation field by the resonator element (11) performing persisting mechanical oscillations in resonant mode, the persisting mechanical oscillations resulting in a piezoelectric voltage causing the coil element (13) to generate a magnetic field that may then be detected by the tracking system (3) and used for determining the position of the marker device (1) and/or sensing a physical property in the surrounding environment of the marker device (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a passive medical identification device 1 to be used for identifying a medical tool such as, for example, a surgical instrument, if the medical tool is equipped with the identification device. The identification device comprises a casing 2, a magnetic object 3 arranged within the casing such that it is rotatable out of an equilibrium orientation by an external magnetic torque, and a restoring torque provider 4 such as, for example, a further magnetic object providing a restoring torque forcing the magnetic object back into the equilibrium orientation. The magnetic object 3 rotationally oscillates upon excitation by an external magnetic torque, thereby generating a response magnetic signal which is transduced into an induction signal that can provide a fingerprint specific for the respective identification device. Accordingly, the identity of the identification device and hence of the medical tool equipped with the identification device can be determined based on the induction signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical microdevice (100) for insertion into a human body, wherein the microdevice allows for measuring at least one of a localization of the microdevice in a space and/or a physical parameter in the environment of the microdevice, wherein the microdevice comprises a casing (111) and within the casing a magneto mechanical rotator (110), wherein the magneto mechanical rotator comprises a magnetic object (113) providing a permanent magnetic moment and a rotary bearing (112) that is adapted to stabilize a rotational motion of the magnetic object, wherein the magneto mechanical rotator is adapted to transduce an external magnetic or electromagnetic excitation field into a mechanical rotation of the magnetic object relative to the rotary bearing such that a periodically changing magnetic response field is generated. The microdevice thus allows for an improved signal transmission and for a further miniaturization.

Abstract: A medical device for treating an associated patient includes a bronchial sensor device configured to measure fluid pressure in a bronchus of the associated patient; and an electronic controller configured to: receive the fluid pressure data from the bronchial sensor device; and calculate a fluid flow measurement through the bronchus based on the measured fluid pressure.

Abstract: The application describes devices, systems and methods related to an implantable device that is a stent or a heart valve. The implantable device includes a pressure sensor. The implantable device is for being introduced into a subject and for being wirelessly read out by an outside reading system. The pressure sensor comprises a casing with a diffusion blocking layer for maintaining a predetermined pressure within the casing and a magneto-mechanical oscillator with a magnetic object providing a permanent magnetic moment. The magneto-mechanical oscillator transduces an external magnetic or electromagnetic excitation field into a mechanical oscillation of the magnetic object, wherein at least a part of the casing is flexible for allowing to transduce external pressure changes into changes of the mechanical oscillation of the magnetic object.

Abstract: The invention provides an X-ray modulator, for use with an X-ray tube, comprising an enclosed chamber having a window portion and a side portion in gaseous communication with each other. The enclosed chamber comprises a chamber wall, wherein the chamber wall of the window portion is thinner than the chamber wall of the side portion. The X-ray modulator further comprises a pressure modulation device provided in the side portion of the enclosed chamber, which is adapted to modulate the pressure within the enclosed chamber, and an absorption gas within the enclosed chamber for absorbing X-ray radiation.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling an electron beam generator of an X-ray tube that switches between a low voltage mode and a high voltage mode. The proposed mechanism, during a transition between the low and high voltage modes, controls a power drawn by the electron beam generator. In particular, during a transition from a low voltage mode to a high voltage mode, the drawn power is reduced and, during a transition from a high voltage mode to a low voltage mode, the drawn power is increased.

Abstract: There is provided voltage switching circuitry (100) for an X-ray tube (10). The voltage switching circuitry comprises a plurality of waveform generators (102) connectable to an output (14) of a voltage generator (12) for supplying an operating voltage to the X-ray tube. Each waveform generator is configured to generate a waveform. At least a first said waveform generator is configured to generate a first sinusoidal waveform having a first frequency and at least a second said waveform generator is configured to generate a second sinusoidal waveform having a second frequency. The second frequency differs from the first frequency by at least a factor of two. The voltage switching circuitry is configured to combine the waveforms at the output to switch the operating voltage between at least two different voltage levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passive pressure sensor (501) for being introduced into the circulatory system of a human being and for being wirelessly read out by an outside reading system. The pressure sensor comprises a casing (502) with a diffusion blocking layer for maintaining a predetermined pressure within the casing and a magneto-mechanical oscillator with a magnetic object (508) providing a permanent magnetic moment. The magneto-mechanical oscillator transduces an external magnetic or electromagnetic excitation field into a mechanical oscillation of the magnetic object, wherein at least a part of the casing is flexible for allowing to transduce external pressure changes into changes of the mechanical oscillation of the magnetic object. The pressure sensor can be very small and nevertheless provide high quality pressure sensing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for high-voltage switching for a computed tomography apparatus. The system comprises an oscillating circuit with a non-linear inductor and a capacitor. The inductor and the capacitor are connected in series, and the capacitor is connected to a high-voltage line of a high-voltage power supply. The inductor comprises an inductance that decreases with increasing current through the inductor, such that the inductance of the inductor significantly chances during a resonant operation of the oscillating circuit, thereby providing essentially a square voltage applied to the capacitor. The square voltage modulates the high-voltage of the high-voltage generator thus switching high-voltage levels applied to an electrode of a computed tomography system.

Abstract: The application describes embodiments including, e.g., a measurement device comprising: a casing, a first magnet arranged within the casing such that it is rotatable out of an equilibrium orientation responsive to an external magnetic torque acting on the first magnet, a second magnet to provide a restoring torque to force the first magnet back into the equilibrium orientation responsive to an external magnetic torque rotating the first magnet out of the equilibrium orientation, allowing for a rotational oscillation of the first magnet, which is excited by the external magnetic torque, with a resonant frequency, and a temperature sensitive magnetic material to modify the resonant frequency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for high-voltage switching for a computed tomography apparatus. The system comprises an oscillating circuit with a non-linear inductor and a capacitor. The inductor and the capacitor are connected in series, and the capacitor is connected to a high-voltage line of a high-voltage power supply. The inductor comprises an inductance that decreases with increasing current through the inductor, such that the inductance of the inductor significantly chances during a resonant operation of the oscillating circuit, thereby providing essentially a square voltage applied to the capacitor. The square voltage modulates the high-voltage of the high-voltage generator thus switching high-voltage levels applied to an electrode of a computed tomography system.

Abstract: A tracking system for tracking a marker device for being attached to a medical device is provided, whereby the marker device includes a sensing unit comprising a magnetic object which may be excited by an external magnetic or electromagnetic excitation field into a mechanical oscillation of the magnetic object, and the tracking system comprises a field generator for generating a predetermined magnetic or electromagnetic excitation field for inducing mechanical oscillations of the magnetic object, a transducer for transducing a magnetic or electromagnetic field generated by the induced mechanical oscillations of the magnetic object into one or more electrical response signals, and a position determination unit for determining the position of the marker device on the basis of the one or more electrical response signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement device 1 comprising a rotatable magnetic object 4 which can oscillate with a resonant frequency if excited by an external magnetic torque. The measurement device 1 is adapted such that the resonant frequency depends on the temperature or on another physical or chemical quantity like pressure, in order to allow for a wireless temperature measurement or measurement of the other physical or chemical quantity via an external magnetic field providing the external magnetic torque. This measurement device can be relatively small, can be read-out over a relatively larger distance and allows for a very accurate measurement.

Abstract: An electroencephalography net (44) comprised of electrodes (34, 36) coupled together by a connector (28) comprising separate elastically (32) and plastically (30) deformable elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary anode X-ray source. In addition to a primary cathode of a rotary anode X-ray tube, an auxiliary cathode is provided in the rotary anode X-ray tube. Electrons from the auxiliary cathode are focused into an area on the anode, from which X-rays cannot enter the used X-ray beam generated by the primary cathode. An emission current controlling device is used to control the electron emission of the auxiliary cathode. Thus, the voltage down-ramp for dual energy scanning is kept constant even though the primary X-ray output changes for the sake of dose modulation or during a transient of the primary electron current.

Abstract: A tracking system for tracking a marker device for being attached to a medical device is provided, whereby the marker device includes a sensing unit comprising a magnetic object which may be excited by an external magnetic or electromagnetic excitation field into a mechanical oscillation of the magnetic object, and the tracking system comprises a field generator for generating a predetermined magnetic or electromagnetic excitation field for inducing mechanical oscillations of the magnetic object, a transducer for transducing a magnetic or electromagnetic field generated by the induced mechanical oscillations of the magnetic object into one or more electrical response signals, and a position determination unit for determining the position of the marker device on the basis of the one or more electrical response signals.

Abstract: A system for receiving signals from a magneto-mechanical oscillator includes a main coil array adapted to receive a response signal of the magneto-mechanical oscillator and to transmit an excitation signal to the magneto-mechanical oscillator, and an additional coil for receiving a signal of the magneto-mechanical oscillator. A localizer is adapted to localize the additional coil and comprises a controller for controlling the main coil array and the additional coil such that a received localization signal is generated, a sensitivity provider for providing sensitivity information, and a processor for determining a position and/or orientation of the additional coil based on the provided sensitivity information and based on the received localization signal. A kit is provided for upgrading a system with a main coil array, by adding one or more additional coils and providing software for locating the one or more additional coils with the use of a pilot tone transmission.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a medical imaging method, comprising: receiving (201) a set of subject parameters descriptive of a subject; in response to inputting (203) the set of subject parameters into a trained deep neural network, DNN, receiving (205) from the trained DNN a predicted task; presenting the task to the subject; controlling (207) an MRI system (700) for acquiring fMRI data from the subject in response to the predicted task performed by the subject during the acquisition