Abstract: Disclosed herein is a radiological instrument (100, 200, 300, 400, 600, 700, 800) comprising at least one pulse shaper circuit (102) configured for a direct conversion radiation detector (108). The at least one pulse shaper circuit comprises an amplifier (110). The pulse shaper further comprises a feedback circuit (118) connected in parallel with the amplifier; a first switching unit (120) connected in series with the feedback circuit; a second switching unit (122) connected in parallel with the amplifier; a discriminator circuit (124) that provides a discriminator signal (128) when the output exceeds a controllable signal threshold; and a control unit (124) for controlling the first switching unit and the second switching unit, wherein the control unit controls the second switching unit such that a substantial part of the signal is integrated, when the second switching unit is closed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photon counting. In particular, a photon-counting data acquisition module is provided. The photon-counting data acquisition module comprises a signal input unit and one or more data acquisition channels, each channel adapted for converting at least one train of pulses received from the signal input unit to a counter signal. Each data acquisition channel comprises a pulse maximum identifier and a discriminator/counter pair comprising a discriminator and a counter. The pulse maximum identifier is configured to identify a maximum of a pulse in the at least one received train of pulses. The discriminator is configured to be triggered, by a detection of a maximum of a pulse in the at least one received train of pulses, to compare the pulse with at least one signal threshold to generate the counter signal. Alternatively, the counter is configured to be enabled in response to a detection of a maximum of a pulse to generate the counter signal.

Abstract: A detector includes a first detection layer (1141) and a second detector layer (1142). The first and second detection layers include a first and second scintillator (204, 7041) (216, 7042), a first and second active photosensing region (210, 7081) (220, 7082), a first portion (206, 7261) of a first substrate (208, 7061), and a second portion (218, 7262) of a second substrate (208, 7062). An imaging system (100) includes a radiation source (110), a radiation sensitive detector array (108) comprising a plurality of multi-layer detectors (112), and a reconstructor (118) configured to reconstruct an output of the detector array and produces an image. The detector array includes a first detection layer and a second detector layer with a first and second scintillator, a first and second active photosensing region, a first portion of a first substrate, and a second portion of a second substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (1), an imaging system and a related method for radiation detection. The detector comprises a direct conversion material (2) for converting x-ray and/or gamma radiation into electron-hole pairs by direct photon-matter interaction. The detector comprises an anode (3) and a cathode (4) arranged on opposite sides of the direct conversion material (2) such that the electrons and holes can respectively be collected by the anode and cathode. The cathode is substantially transparent to infrared radiation. The detector comprises a light guide layer (5) on the cathode at a side of the cathode that is opposite of the direct conversion material, in which the light guide layer is adapted for distributing infrared radiation over the direct conversion material. The detector comprises a reflector layer (6) arranged on the light guide layer (5) at a side opposite of the cathode, in which the reflector layer is adapted for substantially reflecting infrared radiation.

Abstract: Polyamide foams which do not propagate fire are obtained by mixing (i) a liquid isocyanate component which comprises at least one polyisocyanate and in which the molar ratio of aromatic isocyanate groups to the sum of aromatic and aliphatic isocyanate groups is at least 60 mol %, with (ii) at least one liquid isocyanatereactive component which comprises a reactive diluent, and the reactive diluent 10 comprises (a) a chain-extending and/or crosslinking reactive diluent selected from among aliphatic branched C24-66-polycarboxylic acids, alicyclic C24-66-polycarboxylic acids and partial esters of polycarboxylic acids having at least two unesterified carboxyl groups and/or (b) a chain-terminating reactive diluent selected from among aliphatic branched C24-66-monocarboxylic acids, alicyclic C24-66-monocarboxylic acids and partial esters of polycarboxylic acids having one unesterified carboxyl group, wherein the liquid isocyanate-reactive component comprises an aromatic C8-18-polycarboxylic acid and/or an anhydride

Abstract: A transcranial brain stimulation apparatus comprises an acoustic detection device for detecting acoustic signals as analog sound signals and an electrode arrangement including a plurality of electrodes which can be arranged in an operating configuration on a skull, wherein in the operating configuration during energization of the electrodes a current flow is generated through at least one auditory cortex of the cerebral cortex in the skull. A signal conversion device is configured to convert a respective analog sound signal into a first digital signal, and to determine a second digital signal from the first digital signal by extracting the envelope from the first digital signal and shifting the envelope by a predetermined amount of time greater than zero into the future or leaving it unshifted; and to convert the second digital signal into a current, and to energize the electrode arrangement in the operating configuration with this current.

Abstract: A transcranial brain stimulation apparatus comprises an acoustic detection device for detecting acoustic signals as analog sound signals and an electrode arrangement including a plurality of electrodes which can be arranged in an operating configuration on a skull, wherein in the operating configuration during energization of the electrodes a current flow is generated through at least one auditory cortex of the cerebral cortex in the skull. A signal conversion device is configured to convert a respective analog sound signal into a first digital signal, and to determine a second digital signal from the first digital signal by extracting the envelope from the first digital signal and shifting the envelope by a predetermined amount of time greater than zero into the future or leaving it unshifted; and to convert the second digital signal into a current, and to energize the electrode arrangement in the operating configuration with this current.

Abstract: A detector signal is corrected by superimposing the detector signal with a correction signal. For providing a valid correction signal, a sampling pulse is periodically or randomly provided. The sampling pulse serves as the initiator for sampling a process signal. During the sampling, the process signal is observed. In case a pulse at the process signal is detected, the sampling is assumed as not being suitable to correct the detector signal, since the pulse affects the process signal. Otherwise, the process signal is further observed during a validation period to validate whether the sampled process value of the process signal has already been influenced by an upcoming pulse at the process signal. In case the sampling is assumed as valid, the sampled process value is used as a basis for providing the correction signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pulse shaper (18). The pulse shaper (18) comprises an integrator (19) for generating a pulse having a peak amplitude indicative of the energy of a detected photon, a feedback resistor (22), switchable discharge circuitry (23) for discharging the integrator (19), and a peak detector (24) for detecting the peak of the pulse. The pulse shaper is adapted to start the discharge of the integrator by the switchable discharge circuitry based on the detection of the peak and to connect the feedback resistor in parallel to the integrator during a period of the pulse generation and to disconnect the feedback resistor during another period of the pulse generation. The pulse shaper can be such that the generation of the pulse is substantially unhindered by any noticeable concurrent discharging mechanism while, at the same time, the occurrence of energy pedestals can be efficiently avoided.

Abstract: An image signal processing system (ISP) comprising an input interface (IN) for receiving photon counting projection data acquired by an X-ray imaging apparatus (IA) having a photon counting detector (D). A calibration data memory (CMEM) of the system holds calibration data. The calibration data encodes photon counting data versus path lengths curves for different energy thresholds of i) said detector (D) or ii) of a different detector. At least one of said curves is not one-to-one. A path length convertor (PLC) of the system converts an entry in said photon counting projection data into an associated path length based on said calibration data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a macroblister comprising a flat body, in which are introduced cavities for receiving individual medicament portions, wherein the cavities are filled with individual medicament portions and are sealed with a foil. According to the invention, said macroblister contains a number T of medicament portions, characterized in that T is at least 60 and the flat body has a dimension in the range of 200 mm×200 mm to 1200 mm×1200 mm.

Abstract: An image signal processing system (ISP) comprising an input interface (IN) for receiving photon counting projection data acquired by an X-ray imaging apparatus (IA) having a photon counting detector (D). A calibration data memory (CMEM) of the system holds calibration data. The calibration data encodes photon counting data versus path lengths curves for different energy thresholds of i) said detector (D) or ii) of a different detector. At least one of said curves is not one-to-one. A path length convertor (PLC) of the system converts an entry in said photon counting projection data into an associated path length based on said calibration data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector module comprising a direct conversion crystal (10) for converting incident photons into electrical signals, said direct conversion crystal having a cathode metallization (100) deposited on a first surface and an anode metallization (101) deposited on a second surface, an integrated circuit (12) in electrical communication with said direct conversion crystal, said integrated circuit having a smaller width than said direct conversion crystal thus forming a recess (120) in width direction at a side surface of the integrated circuit, an interposer (11, 11a) arranged between said direct conversion crystal and said integrated circuit for providing electrical communication there between, wherein said interposer is made as separate element that is glued, soldered or bonded with the anode metallization (101) of said direct conversion crystal facing said integrated circuit, and a multi-lead flex cable (13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) providing a plurality of output paths, said multi-

Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a detector module (114). The detector module includes a block (300) of a plurality of direct conversion photon counting detector pixels (122) and corresponding electronics (124, 604, 606, 132, 134 or 124, 128, 130, 134, 802) with hardware for both high energy resolution imaging mode and high X-ray flux imaging mode connected with the block of the plurality of direct conversion photon counting detector pixels. A method includes identifying a scanning mode for a selected imaging protocol, wherein the scanning modes includes one of a higher energy resolution mode and a higher X-ray flux mode, configuring a detector module, which is configurable for both the higher energy resolution mode and the higher X-ray flux mode, based on the identified scanning mode, performing the scan with the detector module configured for the mode of the selected imaging protocol, and processing scan data from the scan, generating volumetric image data.

Abstract: A discriminator (118) includes a set of comparators (120, 2021, 2023, . . . , 202N), a window width generator (124, 214, 2141, . . . , 214N), and a set of reference signal generators (122, 2121, 2122, 2123, . . . , 212N). In response to the discriminator being in a window based spectrum measurement mode, a first reference signal generator for a first comparator generates a reference signal that is supplied to the first comparator and that is added with the window width with a result of the addition supplied to the second comparator. The first comparator compares a peak height of a pulse indicative of an energy of detected radiation with the supplied reference signal and produces a first output indicating which of the peak height or the reference signal is greater. The second comparator compares the peak height with the supplied result of the addition and produces a second output indicating which of the peak height or the result of the addition is greater.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (1), an imaging system and a related method for radiation detection. The detector comprises a direct conversion material (2) for converting x-ray and/or gamma radiation into electron-hole pairs by direct photon-matter interaction. The detector comprises an anode (3) and a cathode (4) arranged on opposite sides of the direct conversion material (2) such that the electrons and holes can respectively be collected by the anode and cathode. The cathode is substantially transparent to infrared radiation. The detector comprises a light guide layer (5) on the cathode at a side of the cathode that is opposite of the direct conversion material, in which the light guide layer is adapted for distributing infrared radiation over the direct conversion material. The detector comprises a reflector layer (6) arranged on the light guide layer (5) at a side opposite of the cathode, in which the reflector layer is adapted for substantially reflecting infrared radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pulse shaper (18). The pulse shaper (18) comprises an integrator (19) for generating a pulse having a peak amplitude indicative of the energy of a detected photon, a feedback resistor (22), switchable discharge circuitry (23) for discharging the integrator (19), and a peak detector (24) for detecting the peak of the pulse. The pulse shaper is adapted to start the discharge of the integrator by the switchable discharge circuitry based on the detection of the peak and to connect the feedback resistor in parallel to the integrator during a period of the pulse generation and to disconnect the feedback resistor during another period of the pulse generation. The pulse shaper can be such that the generation of the pulse is substantially unhindered by any noticeable concurrent discharging mechanism while, at the same time, the occurrence of energy pedestals can be efficiently avoided.

Abstract: A detector includes a first detection layer (1141) and a second detector layer (1142). The first and second detection layers include a first and second scintillator (204, 7041) (216, 7042), a first and second active photosensing region (210, 7081) (220, 7082), a first portion (206, 7261) of a first substrate (208, 7061), and a second portion (218, 7262) of a second substrate (208, 7062). An imaging system (100) includes a radiation source (110), a radiation sensitive detector array (108) comprising a plurality of multi-layer detectors (112), and a reconstructor (118) configured to reconstruct an output of the detector array and produces an image. The detector array includes a first detection layer and a second detector layer with a first and second scintillator, a first and second active photosensing region, a first portion of a first substrate, and a second portion of a second substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an x-ray device (1) for imaging an object (41). A radiation detector (3) of the x-ray device includes detector elements (21) for detecting radiation, each detector element (21) comprising an adjustable sensitive volume, where an x-ray photon entering the sensitive volume produces an electric signal used for generating the image data. Further, the device comprises a control unit (9) configured to control the sensitive volume of at least one of the detector elements (21) in accordance with a geometric structure of the object (41) to be imaged in order to reduce a pile-up effect in the detector element. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for operating the device (1) and to a computer program for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector module comprising a direct conversion crystal (10) for converting incident photons into electrical signals, said direct conversion crystal having a cathode metallization (100) deposited on a first surface and an anode metallization (101) deposited on a second surface, an integrated circuit (12) in electrical communication with said direct conversion crystal, said integrated circuit having a smaller width than said direct conversion crystal thus forming a recess (120) in width direction at a side surface of the integrated circuit, an interposer (11, 11a) arranged between said direct conversion crystal and said integrated circuit for providing electrical communication there between, wherein said interposer is made as separate element that is glued, soldered or bonded with the anode metallization (101) of said direct conversion crystal facing said integrated circuit, and a multi-lead flex cable (13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) providing a plurality of output paths, said multi-