Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a periodically moving object. An assigning unit (18) assigns ultrasound signals like A-lines to motion phases based on a provided phase signal, wherein an ultrasound images generation unit (19) generates several ultrasound images like gated M-mode images for the different motion phases based on the ultrasound signals assigned to the respective motion phase. The ultrasound images are temporally consecutively displayed on a display unit (21) for showing the periodic movement of the object (24). The resulting dynamic, movie-like image of the object allows a user like a physician to more reliably determine properties of the object like a thickness of a tissue wall, in particular, during an ablation procedure. The imaging system is therefore particularly useful for monitoring cardiac ablation procedures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing control device (10) to control printing of a cover layer on a tissue or cell sample to be examined, a system (1) for printing of a cover layer (1) on a tissue or cell sample to be examined, a method to control printing of a cover layer on a tissue or cell sample to be sample to be examined, a computer program element for controlling such device or system for performing such method and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The printing control device (10) comprises an imaging unit (11) and a printing control unit (12). The imaging unit (11) is configured to provide image data of the sample, and to determine a local image parameter from the image data. The local image parameter relates to local tissue porosity and/or a local capillary force of the sample. The printing control unit (12) is configured to control a printing parameter for printing the cover layer on the sample based on the local image parameter.

Abstract: Clusters of pixels are defined for image compression and decompression. The image information used to define the clusters may include pixel values at predetermined positions relative to a pixel or related motion vectors, gradients, texture etc. During compression of images, image information relative to pixels is examined to determine the cluster to which it belongs. Thus pixels can be classified according to the cluster for their image information. In an embodiment the definitions of the clusters are selected dynamically, dependent on image content. For each cluster a control parameter set is computed for a post-processing operation, such as filter coefficients for filtering or statistical data for locally generating texture. The control parameter set is selected dependent on the image content so that, when the post-processing operation is applied to the image after decompression it will improve image quality for the pixels that are classified as belonging to the cluster.

Abstract: An ultrasonic humidifier includes a tank having a water level and a floater having a tubular structure with a bottom rim and a top rim. The tubular structure has a frusto-conical shape and is vertically and co-axially disposed within the floater. The tubular structure having a widest diameter end disposed on the bottom rim and a narrower diameter end disposed at the top rim. This humidifier also has an air-supply arrangement that eliminates water damage to the fan during spillage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contact determination apparatus for determining a degree of contact between a device (2) and a moving object (3), wherein the contact determination apparatus comprises a motion distribution providing unit for providing a motion distribution being indicative of motion in the surrounding of the device and a contact determination unit (14) for determining a degree of contact between the device and the object based on the provided motion distribution. Since the degree of contact between the device and the object is determined based on the provided motion distribution and not simply based on, for instance, a peak of an A-mode signal, the determination of the degree of contact can be less disturbed by artifacts like ring-down artifacts or by blood scattering, if the object is, for instance, tissue. This can lead to a more accurate determination of the degree of contact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (100) comprising: an ultrasound probe (10) that comprises a single element ultrasound transducer (16) for transmitting an receiving ultrasound signals; a movement sensor (18) for sensing a displacement-over-time signal x(t) of a displacement (x) of the ultrasound probe (10) relative to an examination object (24) during signal acquisition; an image acquisition hardware (26) that is configured to reconstruct an M-mode ultrasound image from the received ultrasound signals, said reconstructed M-mode ultrasound image being a two-dimensional image I(t,y) comprising multiple one-dimensional depth signals of substantially constant depth (y) in the examination object (24) illustrated over time (t), wherein the image acquisition hardware (26) is further configured to map said M-mode ultra-sound image I(t,y) to a two-dimensional second image I(x,y) comprising the depth signals illustrated over the displacement (x) by using the displacement-over-time signal x(

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for being used for detecting a property of an object. An ultrasound signal providing unit (2) provides an ultrasound signal, which is indicative of a property of the object (9) at one or several depths within the object (9) and which depends on time, and a periodicity value determination unit (5) determines a periodicity value being indicative of a degree of temporal periodicity of the ultrasound signal for a constant depth. The temporal periodicity of the ultrasound signal at the respective constant depth, i.e. the periodicity value, depends on the property of the object at this depth and can therefore be used for detecting a property of the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a periodically moving object. An assigning unit (18) assigns ultrasound signals like A-lines to motion phases based on a provided phase signal, wherein an ultrasound images generation unit (19) generates several ultrasound images like gated M-mode images for the different motion phases based on the ultrasound signals assigned to the respective motion phase. A selecting unit (20) is used to select an ultrasound image from the generated ultrasound images, wherein a display unit (21) displays the selected ultrasound image. The selected ultrasound image corresponds therefore to a single motion phase only such that motion artifacts in the displayed ultrasound image are reduced. The imaging system is particularly useful for, for instance, monitoring cardiac ablation procedures.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a periodically moving object. An assigning unit (18) assigns ultrasound signals like A-lines to motion phases based on a provided phase signal,wherein an ultrasound images generation unit (19) generates several ultrasound images like gated M-mode images for the different motion phases based on the ultrasound signals assigned to the respective motion phase. The ultrasound images are temporally consecutively displayed on a display unit (21) for showing the periodic movement of the object (24).The resulting dynamic, movie-like image of the object allows a user like a physician to more reliably determine properties of the object like a thickness of a tissue wall, in particular, during an ablation procedure. The imaging system is therefore particularly useful for monitoring cardiac ablation procedures.

Abstract: Clusters of pixels are defined for image compression and decompression. The image information used to define the clusters may include pixel values at predetermined positions relative to a pixel or related motion vectors, gradients, texture etc. During compression of images, image information relative to pixels is examined to determine the cluster to which it belongs. Thus pixels can be classified according to the cluster for their image information. In an embodiment the definitions of the clusters are selected dynamically, dependent on image content. For each cluster a control parameter set is computed for a post-processing operation, such as filter coefficients for filtering or statistical data for locally generating texture. The control parameter set is selected dependent on the image content so that, when the post-processing operation is applied to the image after decompression it will improve image quality for the pixels that are classified as belonging to the cluster.

Abstract: Clusters of pixels are defined for use in image compression and decompression. The image information used to define the clusters may include pixel values at predetermined positions relative to a pixel or related motion vectors, gradients, texture etc. During compression of images the image information relative to pixels is examined to determine the cluster to which it belongs. Thus pixels can be classified according to the cluster for their image information. In an embodiment the definitions of the clusters are selected dynamically, dependent on image content. For each cluster a control parameter set is computed for a post-processing operation, such as filter coefficients for filtering or statistical data for locally generating texture. The control parameter set is selected dependent on the image content so that, when the post-processing operation is applied to the image after decompression it will improve image quality for the pixels that are classified as belonging to the cluster.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for being used for detecting a property of an object. An ultrasound signal providing unit (2) provides an ultrasound signal, which is indicative of a property of the object (9) at one or several depths within the object (9) and which depends on time, and a periodicity value determination unit (5) determines a periodicity value being indicative of a degree of temporal periodicity of the ultrasound signal for a constant depth. The temporal periodicity of the ultrasound signal at the respective constant depth, i.e. the periodicity value, depends on the property of the object at this depth and can therefore be used for detecting a property of the object.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for monitoring an ablation procedure applied to an object comprises an ultrasound signal providing unit for providing an ultrasound signal. The ultrasound signal is produced by sending ultrasound pulses out to the object, by subsequently receiving dynamic echo series after the ultrasound pulses have been reflected by the object, and finally by generating the ultrasound signal depending on the received dynamic echo series, whereby ultrasound scattering properties of the object are determined that represent blood perfusion. The monitoring apparatus further comprises an ablation depth determination unit for determining an ablation depth from the provided ultrasound signal.

Abstract: A display system having 3D ambient light functionality is provided. The system comprises at least light source for providing ambient light having color and/or intensity dependent on the image content. The system comprises a control unit configured to control the color and intensity of light emitted from each light source to produce a 3D-viewing sensation, at least partly based on depth information.

Abstract: An image signal is encoded to reduce artifacts. In an original image frame (F) one or more gradual transition areas (R) are identified, in a decoded frame (F) corresponding one or more gradual transition areas (R) are identified, functional parameters describing the data content of the one or more gradual transition areas of the original image frame are established and position data (P) for the positions of the one or more corresponding areas (R?) in the decoded frame (F?) are established. Replacing the content of the areas R? in the decoded frame with the reconstructed content of the areas R in the original frame improves the quality of the decoded frame.

Abstract: Clusters of pixels are defined for use in image compression and decompression. The image information used to define the clusters may include pixel values at predetermined positions relative to a pixel or related motion vectors, gradients, texture etc. During compression of images the image information relative to pixels is examined to determine the cluster to which it belongs. Thus pixels can be classified according to the cluster for their image information. In an embodiment the definitions of the clusters are selected dynamically, dependent on image content. For each cluster a control parameter set is computed for a post-processing operation, such as filter coefficients for filtering or statistical data for locally generating texture. The control parameter set is selected dependent on the image content so that, when the post-processing operation is applied to the image after decompression it will improve image quality for the pixels that are classified as belonging to the cluster.