Abstract: An apparatus (A) and a method for controlling collimation operation of a collimator (COL) in an x-ray imager (100) during an intervention carried out by an operator (R). A first medical device (GW) is made to progress through a patient (PAT) in an exploratory phase of the intervention. A path is recorded in a scout image (CI; CI1-CI4) formed from footprints (GWF) of the first device (GW) as recorded in a sequence of projection images (F; FI-F4) acquired by imager (100) during the exploratory phase. Apparatus (A) uses the path in the scout image (CI; CI1-CI4) to control collimation of the x-ray beam during a subsequent delivery phase where a second medical device (BC) is made to progress through patient (PAT), said second device (BC) following the first device (GW) substantially along the same path.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of correctly positioning a catheter and reducing radiation doses. It relates to an X-ray imaging system (1) for a robotic catheter, comprising said catheter (3), and a processing unit (5) for receiving X-ray images of a patient environment (15). By being adapted to receive one or more auxiliary information items and using said information for determining the catheter position, the processing unit does not entirely have to rely on a large number of scanned image data, thus helping to reduce radiation while correctly delivering the catheter position as a function of as few as a single image, preferably 2D, and said one auxiliary information items. Further, said processing unit allows for at least one of rendering an image and provide said image to a visualization device (21), and providing feedback, e.g. steering commands, to said robotic catheter.

Abstract: A controller (CC) and a related method of controlling a collimator (COL). Controller (CC) operates to select a collimator setting for collimator (COL) of an x-ray imager (100) for acquiring an image of a ROI in a patient (PAT). The controller (CC) operates to select the collimator setting to optimize the patient dosage in respect of primary radiation (PR) and secondary radiation (SR) dosage of medical staff (MS). A position detector (PD) supplies to controller (CC) a current position of a person (MS) relative to patient (PAT). Based on said supplied position, the controller (SS)'s optimization procedure takes into account the staff (MS) dosage in respect of secondary radiation (SR) to reduce same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a charged-particle microscope comprising a charged-particle source; a sample holder; a charged-particle lens system; a detector; and a beam pulsing device, for causing the beam to repeatedly switch on and off so as to produce a pulsed beam. The beam pulsing device comprises a unitary resonant cavity disposed about a particle-optical axis and has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture for the beam. The resonant cavity is configured to simultaneously produce a first oscillatory deflection of the beam at a first frequency in a first direction and a second oscillatory deflection of the beam at a second, different frequency in a second, different direction. The resonant cavity may have an elongated (e.g. rectangular or elliptical) cross-section, with a long axis parallel to said first direction and a short axis parallel to said second direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a charged-particle microscope comprising a charged-particle source; a sample holder; a charged-particle lens system; a detector; and a beam pulsing device, for causing the beam to repeatedly switch on and off so as to produce a pulsed beam. The beam pulsing device comprises a unitary resonant cavity disposed about a particle-optical axis and has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture for the beam. The resonant cavity is configured to simultaneously produce a first oscillatory deflection of the beam at a first frequency in a first direction and a second oscillatory deflection of the beam at a second, different frequency in a second, different direction. The resonant cavity may have an elongated (e.g. rectangular or elliptical) cross-section, with a long axis parallel to said first direction and a short axis parallel to said second direction.

Abstract: A time delay integration (TDI) sensor (22) comprises a sequence of cells (42, 44, 42, 44) numbered 1 to N. The TDI sensor is configured for transferring a charge from the cell numbered 1 via the cells numbered 2 to N?1 to the cell numbered N. Each cell (42; 44) in the sequence of cells is either sensitive or insensitive in the sense that when the TDI sensor (22) is evenly illuminated by light (46) having a first spectrum, the intensity of the light (46) incident on any of the insensitive cells (44) is at most 90% of the intensity of the light (46) incident on any of the sensitive cells (42). The sequence of cells (42, 44, 42, 44) comprises, in this order: a first sensitive cell (42), at least one insensitive cell (44), and a second sensitive cell (42). An imaging system comprising a TDI sensor and a method of imaging an object are also disclosed.

Abstract: A time delay integration (TDI) sensor (22) comprises a sequence of cells (42, 44, 42, 44) numbered 1 to N. The TDI sensor is configured for transferring a charge from the cell numbered 1 via the cells numbered 2 to N-1 to the cell numbered N. Each cell (42; 44) in the sequence of cells is either sensitive or insensitive in the sense that when the TDI sensor (22) is evenly illuminated by light (46) incident on any of the insensitive cells (44) is at most 90% of the intensity of the light (46) incident on any of the sensitive cells (42). The sequence of cells (42, 44, 42, 44) comprises, in this order: a first sensitive cell (42), at least one insensitive cell (44), and a second sensitive cell (42). An imaging system comprising a TDI sensor and a method of imaging an object are also disclosed.

Abstract: A radiation source comprises an anode and a cathode that are configured and arranged to create a discharge in a gas or vapor in a space between anode and cathode and to form a plasma pinch so as to generate electromagnetic radiation. The gas or vapor may comprise xenon, indium, lithium and/or tin. The radiation source may comprise a plurality of discharge elements, each of which is only used for short intervals, after which another discharge element is selected. The radiation source may also comprise a triggering device, which device can facilitate improving the exact timing of the pinch formation and thus the pulse of EUV radiation. The radiation source may also be constructed to have a low inductance, and operated in a self-triggering regime.

Abstract: A measuring device for determining contamination of a surface of a component in an lithographic projection apparatus. The measuring device includes a radiation transmitter for transmitting radiation on at least a part of the surface and a radiation receiver for receiving radiation from the component. A processor is communicatively connected to the receiver, for deriving a property of received radiation and deriving a property of the contamination from the property of received radiation.

Abstract: A radiation source comprises an anode and a cathode that are configured and arranged to create a discharge in a gas or vapor in a space between anode and cathode and to form a plasma pinch so as to generate electromagnetic radiation. The gas or vapor may comprise xenon, indium, lithium and/or tin. The radiation source may comprise a plurality of discharge elements, each of which is only used for short intervals, after which another discharge element is selected. The radiation source may also comprise a triggering device, which device can facilitate improving the exact timing of the pinch formation and thus the pulse of EUV radiation. The radiation source may also be constructed to have a low inductance, and operated in a self-triggering regime.