Abstract: In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), selected magnetic dipoles in a subject are aligned with a main magnetic field for later manipulation, and signals received after such manipulations are used to create image representations of the subject. One drawback is that even powerful magnetic fields can only align a very small percentage of dipoles in the region of the field. Electromagnetic radiation endowed with orbital angular momentum (OAM) aligns dipoles along the direction of travel of the radiation, but at a much higher percentage; as high as 100% of the dipoles in the region can be aligned. Resultantly, resonance signals emanating from the region are several orders of magnitude stronger than signals emanated using traditional MRI techniques. All electromagnetic radiation, including visible light can be endowed with OAM and used to hyperpolarize a region of interest.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance examination system comprises an RF-system for inducing resonance in polarized dipoles and receiving magnetic resonance signals from an object to be examined. A thermometry module dervies a temperature distribution of the object to be examined from the magnetic resonance signals. The magnetic resonance examination system further comprises a photonic-based hyperpolarization device with a photonic source for emitting electromagnetic radiation, a moder converter, such as a phase hologram to impart orbital angular momentum to the electromagnetic radiation and via spatial filter to select from the phase hologram a diffracted photonic beam endowed with orbital angular momentum for polarizing the dipoles via transferred orbital angular momentum.

Abstract: A tissue ablation device employs one or more energy emitters (21) and one or more photoacoustic sensors (22) in a cooperative arrangement for applying a tissue ablation therapy to a tissue (60). In operation, the energy emitters (21) emit a tissue ablation beam (TA) into a target portion of the tissue (60) to form a lesion (61) therein, and alternatively or concurrently emit a photoexcitation beam (PE) into the target portion of the tissue (60) to excite a photoacoustic response from the tissue (60). The photoacoustic sensor(s) (22) sense the photoacoustic response of the tissue (60).

Abstract: One or more light beam endowed with photonic orbital angular momentum generating devices are mounted at preselected locations on an insertable instrument to hyperpolarize nuclear magnetic dipoles in a region of interest. The hyperpolarized nuclear magnetic dipoles are caused to resonate, generating magnetic resonance signals. A controller controls gradient coils to induce a magnetic field gradient across the region of interest, such that the frequency of the resonance signals is indicative of spatial positions. A frequency-to-position decoder converts the resonance signal frequencies into spatial positions. A video processor combines the spatial positions and a portion of a diagnostic image from a diagnostic image memory into a combined image which depicts the location of the region of interest or a portion of the instrument marked on the diagnostic image and displays the combined image on a monitor.

Abstract: A device capable of producing a high resolution chemical analysis of a sample, such as fluid, is based upon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The nuclear magnetic polarizations of the sample are generated by sequentially illuminating the sample with a focused beam of light carrying angular orbital angular momentum (OAM) and possibly momentum (spin). Unlike in a typical NMR used for magnetic nuclear resonance imaging (MRI) or spectroscopy, the present device does not make use of a strong magnet.

Abstract: A localization system to localize an interventional instrument in the body of a patient. The localization system includes an electromagnetic wave source which splits an electromagnetic signal into components propagating along a probe path and a reference path, respectively. The probe path includes a signal outlet for emitting the signal at the point to be located and at least one detector for picking up the emitted signal. A correlator is used to determine the correlation between the signal components that propagated along the probe path and the reference path respectively. Knowing the length of the reference path, the unknown distance between the signal outlet and the detector in the probe path can be estimated based on the correlation information.

Abstract: Systems and methods display and manage wireless electronic menus that are capable of connecting to a computer terminal, a server and/or a database via one or more communication networks. The systems are capable of managing wireless electronic menus within a single site establishment or within multi-site establishments The menus have one or more sensors for determining if the menus are in motion, idle, in use not in use or docked to a charging base to define a menu status for each menu. The terminal updates the menu content of the menus based on the menu status of each menu. A proximity sensor determines a location of the menus to define a configuration of the menus with respect a table or a table configuration of tables on a floor plan. Sensors, a user input and/or the computer terminal associate the menus with a menu grouping or with the table in close proximity of the menus so that common menu content may be display by each menu.

Abstract: A magnetometer includes: a sample (10) comprising a selected nuclear species; an optical source (12) configured to hyperpolarize the selected nuclear species of the sample by illuminating the sample with optical radiation (14) having orbital angular momentum; a radio frequency generator (20, 26, 30, 150, 152) configured to input radio frequency energy (32) to the hyperpolarized selected nuclear species of the sample over a probed range of radio frequencies; a detector (20, 26, 40, 150, 154, 164, 166) configured to detect a frequency of nuclear magnetic resonance excited in the hyperpolarized selected nuclear species of the sample by the input radio frequency energy; and a signal output generator (64, 66) configured to output a signal indicative of magnetic field strength based on the detected frequency of nuclear magnetic resonance.

Abstract: A photonic-based hyperpolarisation device is disclosed with an electromagnetic source for emitting photonic radiation having a substantial penetration depth for material of the object, in particular of tissue, to be examined. For example, soft or ultra-soft x-rays are applied. Notably, the photonic-based hyperpolarisation device incorporates a magnet to generate a static magnetic field. Alternatively, the photonic-based hyperpolarisation device is incorporated in an magnetic resonance examination system.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance examination system comprises an RF-system for inducing resonance in polarised dipoles and receiving magnetic resonance signals from an object to be examined and an photonic-based hyperpolarisation device. The an electromagnetic source for emitting photonic radiation: —a mode converter to impart orbital angular momentum to the electromagnetic radiation; a spatial filter to select from the mode converter a diffracted or refracted photonic beam endowed with orbital angular momentum for polarising the dipoles via transferred orbital angular momentum; —a beam controller to apply the photonic beam endowed with orbital angular momentum over an extended target zone.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance examination system comprises an RF-system for inducing resonance in polarised dipoles and receiving magnetic resonance signals from an object to be examined. A thermometry module dervies a temperature distribution of the object to be examined from the magnetic resonance signals. The magnetic resonance examination system further comprises a photonic-based hyperpolarisation device with a photonic source for emitting electromagnetic radiation, a moder converter, such as a phase hologram to impart orbital angular momentum to the electromagnetic radiation and va spatial filter to select from the phase hologram a diffracted photonic beam endowed with orbital angular momentum for polarising the dipoles via transferred orbital angular momentum.

Abstract: One or more light beam endowed with photonic orbital angular momentum generating devices (18) are mounted at preselected locations on an insertable instrument (14) to hyperpolarize nuclear magnetic dipoles in a region of interest (80). The hyperpolarized nuclear magnetic dipoles are caused to resonate, generating magnetic resonance signals. A controller (42) controls gradient coils to induce a magnetic field gradient across the region of interest, such that the frequency of the resonance signals is indicative of spatial position. A frequency-to-position decoder (50) converts the resonance signal frequencies into spatial positions. A video processor (52) combines the spatial positions and a portion of a diagnostic image from a diagnostic image memory (56) into a combined display which depicts the location of the region of interest or a portion of the instrument marked on the diagnostic image and displays the combined image on a monitor (54).

Abstract: When performing image-guided surgical procedures, a surgical fastener (19) (e.g., a suture or staple) is embedded or coated with an MRI-visible contrast agent or material. Depending on the type of MRI visible material (e.g., paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, diamagnetic, chemical shift, ultra-short echo time, etc.), a corresponding imaging sequence is selected and executed to generate contrast in an image of the surgical fastener. This image is presented to a user in real time, such as during an arthroscopic procedure, or may be generated and presented after a surgical procedure to image the fastener(s) and permit evaluation of the quality or success of the surgery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device capable of producing a high resolution chemical analysis of a sample, such as fluid, based upon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, where the nuclear magnetic polarizations of the sample are generated by sequentially illuminating the sample with a focused beam of light carrying angular orbital angular momentum (OAM) and possibly momentum (spin). Unlike in usual NMR used for magnetic nuclear resonance imaging (MRI) or spectroscopy, the invention does not make use of a strong magnet.

Abstract: In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), selected magnetic dipoles in a subject are aligned with a main magnetic field for later manipulation, and signals received after such manipulations are used to create image representations of the subject. One drawback is that even powerful magnetic fields can only align a very small percentage of dipoles in the region of the field. Electromagnetic radiation endowed with orbital angular momentum (OAM) aligns dipoles along the direction of travel of the radiation, but at a much higher percentage; as high as 100% of the dipoles in the region can be aligned. Resultantly, resonance signals emanating from the region are several orders of magnitude stronger than signals emanated using traditional MRI techniques. All electromagnetic radiation, including visible light can be endowed with OAM and used to hyperpolarize a region of interest.

Abstract: A tissue ablation device employs one or more energy emitters (21) and one or more photoacoustic sensors (22) in a cooperative arrangement for applying a tissue ablation therapy to a tissue (60). In operation, the energy emitters (21) emit a tissue ablation beam (TA) into a target portion of the tissue (60) to form a lesion (61) therein, and alternatively or concurrently emit a photoexcitation beam (PE) into the target portion of the tissue (60) to excite a photoacoustic response from the tissue (60). The photoacoustic sensor(s) (22) sense the photoacoustic response of the tissue (60).

Abstract: A resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus (10), comprising: one or more transmitting coils (12) for generating a static magnetic field within which a subject (14) can be positioned and a probe (16) for insertion into, and movement through, the subject (14). The probe (16) includes a tracking element (26,28) in the form of two loop coils and an imaging coil (24). Processing means (22) are provided for receiving spatially encoded signals from the loop coils (26,28) and from the imaging coil (24). The tracking signals from the loop coils (26,28) are decoded to determine the relative position of the probe (16) within an image volume and the image to be displayed as adjusted accordingly corresponding to the relative position of the probe (16).

Abstract: The invention relates to a localization system that can particularly be used to localize an interventional instrument (2) in the body of a patient (1). The localization system comprises an electromagnetic wave source (10) which splits an electromagnetic signal into components propagating along a probe path (20) and a reference path, respectively. Said probe path (20) comprises a signal outlet (22) for emitting the signal at the point to be located and at least one detector (23) for picking up the emitted signal. A correlator (40) is used to determine the correlation between the signal components that propagated along the probe path (20) and the reference path (30), respectively. Knowing the length of the reference path, the unknown distance between the signal outlet (22) and the detector (23) in the probe path (20) can be estimated based on the correlation information.

Abstract: Systems and methods display and manage showroom items of a vendor. A first computer terminal is connected to a wireless communication network and programmed with automatic updating software to update information and/or multimedia data indicative of the showroom items. The systems and methods include a digital line sheet having a display, a memory and a first wireless transducer connected to a microprocessor. The first wireless transducer is connectable to the first communication network such that the digital line sheet communicates with the first computer terminal via the first communication network. The display of the digital line sheet renders the information and/or multimedia data received from the first computer terminal over the wireless communication network. The first computer terminal automatically updates the information and/or multimedia data accessible by the digital line sheet to be indicative of one or more available showroom items of the vendor.

Abstract: Systems and methods display and manage wireless electronic menus that are capable of connecting to a computer terminal, a server and/or a database via one or more communication networks. The systems are capable of managing wireless electronic menus within a single site establishment or within multi-site establishments. The menus have one or more sensors for determining if the menus are in motion, idle, in use not in use or docked to a charging base to define a menu status for each menu. The terminal updates the menu content of the menus based on the menu status of each menu. A proximity sensor determines a location of the menus to define a configuration of the menus with respect a table or a table configuration of tables on a floor plan. Sensors, a user input and/or the computer terminal associate the menus with a menu grouping or with the table in close proximity of the menus so that common menu content may be display by each menu.