Abstract: An electrical stimulation apparatus includes a generator of sequential electrical pulses having predetermined values of parameters that include pulse amplitude, and duration and frequency of the pulses, the generator having one or more separate stimulation channels that independently deliver the pulse sequences to body areas. An electrode for each channel transmits the stimulation pulses and is applied outside the patient's skin at a predetermined region and with a predetermined position relative to the position of another electrode associated to another channel. One or more electrodes are borne by a flexible support element, fastenable in a position related to body anatomy, and are distributed on an extension of the support element according to a predetermined design, together with the pulse generator connected to the one or more electrodes or with two or more pulse generators connected to different electrodes also supported by the support element.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator comprising a moving armature (41) comprising a pin (43) and a permanent magnet arrangement (45) arranged coaxially with the pin (43) and secured to it, and an excitation coil arrangement (42) arranged coaxially with the pin (43). The coil arrangement (42) is suppliable with a current to cause a movement of the movable armature (41). The actuator further comprises a surface (51) of ferromagnetic material. The permanent magnet arrangement (45) is axially interposed between the surface (51) of ferromagnetic material and the excitation coil arrangement (42). The permanent magnet arrangement (45) comprises a plurality of permanent magnet regions (45a) arranged around the pin (43) of the moving armature (41), wherein each permanent magnet region (45a) has a polarity opposite to the polarities of the permanent magnet regions (45a) angularly adjacent thereto. The excitation coil arrangement (42) comprises a coil having a lobed shape.

Abstract: An electrical stimulation apparatus includes a generator of sequential electrical pulses having predetermined values of parameters that include pulse amplitude, and duration and frequency of the pulses, the generator having one or more separate stimulation channels that independently deliver the pulse sequences to body areas. An electrode for each channel transmits the stimulation pulses and is applied outside the patient's skin at a predetermined region and with a predetermined position relative to the position of another electrode associated to another channel. One or more electrodes are borne by a flexible support element, fastenable in a position related to body anatomy, and are distributed on an extension of the support element according to a predetermined design, together with the pulse generator connected to the one or more electrodes or with two or more pulse generators connected to different electrodes also supported by the support element.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator comprising a moving armature (41) comprising a pin (43) and a permanent magnet arrangement (45) arranged coaxially with the pin (43) and secured to it, and an excitation coil arrangement (42) arranged coaxially with the pin (43). The coil arrangement (42) is suppliable with a current to cause a movement of the movable armature (41). The actuator further comprises a surface (51) of ferromagnetic material. The permanent magnet arrangement (45) is axially interposed between the surface (51) of ferromagnetic material and the excitation coil arrangement (42). The permanent magnet arrangement (45) comprises a plurality of permanent magnet regions (45a) arranged around the pin (43) of the moving armature (41), wherein each permanent magnet region (45a) has a polarity opposite to the polarities of the permanent magnet regions (45a) angularly adjacent thereto. The excitation coil arrangement (42) comprises a coil having a lobed shape.

Abstract: An open-structure magnetic assembly is adapted to generate a homogeneous magnetic field in an accessible space region, including a first and second independent source of magnetic field (10, 12), each generating a contribution to the resulting magnetic field. The first source includes a conducting or superconducting plate (20), carrying an unidirectional current flow (I) from an input side (22) to an output side (24) and at least one external current recirculating path (30) between the output side (24) and the input side (22) of the plate. The second source includes a volume of magnetized material or an arrangement of coils, arranged for generating a magnetic field component oriented according to the magnetic field generated by the first source (10), and whose intensity exhibits a gradient in a direction perpendicular to the conducting plate (20) adapted to compensate, in a region of interest, an opposite gradient in the magnetic field intensity generated by the first source (10).

Abstract: An open-structure magnetic assembly is adapted to generate a homogeneous magnetic field in an accessible space region, including a first and second independent source of magnetic field (10, 12), each generating a contribution to the resulting magnetic field. The first source includes a conducting or superconducting plate (20), carrying an unidirectional current flow (I) from an input side (22) to an output side (24) and at least one external current recirculating path (30) between the output side (24) and the input side (22) of the plate. The second source includes a volume of magnetized material or an arrangement of coils, arranged for generating a magnetic field component oriented according to the magnetic field generated by the first source (10), and whose intensity exhibits a gradient in a direction perpendicular to the conducting plate (20) adapted to compensate, in a region of interest, an opposite gradient in the magnetic field intensity generated by the first source (10).

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method is described, wherein a back propagation processing method is used. The invention provides a limited number of channels for processing the received signals, such that the which number of processing channels is a submultiple of the number of receiving transducers. During the imaging process, different groups of receiving transducers are connected to the transmitting channels such that the groups of receiving transducers include as many receiving transducers as the number of processing channels in use.

Abstract: Imaging method and system including thermal noise reduction for ultrasonic and magnetic resonance images. In ultrasound imaging, this method provides thermal noise reduction and a reduction of artifacts in applications with contrast agents. The method includes the computation of a simple correlation function to be applied where two or more images or vectors of the same region of the body are provided. The signals relating to the images or the vectors are: combined by a weight function which, by comparing corresponding samples of the signals or vectors, assumes values in a range between a maximum value and a minimum value depending on the mutual correlation measure between the samples. The weight function is combined with the combination of the two response signals (P1, P2, MR1, MR2). The resulting signal is transformed into image data. The signals are processed based on the peculiarities of the selected imaging system.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet, in which a static magnetic filed is generated in a region of interest, i.e. a predetermined volume in which the part under examination has to be placed for imaging characterised in that it is provided with means for generating a uniform annular distribution of electric currents enclosing the polyhedral cavity.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method is described, wherein a back propagation processing method is used. The invention provides a limited number of channels for processing the received signals, such that the which number of processing channels is a submultiple of the number of receiving transducers. During the imaging process, different groups of receiving transducers are connected to the transmitting channels such that the groups of receiving transducers include as many receiving transducers as the number of processing channels in use.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet, in which a static magnetic filed is generated in a region of interest, i.e. a predetermined volume in which the part under examination has to be placed for imaging characterised in that it is provided with means for generating a uniform annular distribution of electric currents enclosing the polyhedral cavity.

Abstract: Imaging method and system including thermal noise reduction for ultrasonic and magnetic resonance images. In ultrasound imaging, this method provides thermal noise reduction and a reduction of artifacts in applications with contrast agents. The method includes the computation of a simple correlation function to be applied where two or more images or vectors of the same region of the body are provided. The signals relating to the images or the vectors are: combined by a weight function which, by comparing corresponding samples of the signals or vectors, assumes values in a range between a maximum value and a minimum value depending on the mutual correlation measure between the samples. The weight function is combined with the combination of the two response signals (P1, P2, MR1, MR2). The resulting signal is transformed into image data. The signals are processed based on the peculiarities of the selected imaging system.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of magnetic field generators including the steps of: marking at least one tile made of conventional material with an identification code; cutting each marked tile into n strips having two dimensions and A--A axis orientation same as the initial tile; rotating the strips 90.degree. to obtain rotated strips having a second A--A axis orientation; selecting and rearranging the rotated strips to obtain the desired characteristics of symmetry and compensation of the magnetic characteristic variations of the input tiles; assembling the rotated strips to form a new tile with different A--A axis orientation; cutting the assembled tiles into portions or sections of predetermined geometric shape; magnetizing the sections; assembling a set of these sections into magnet forming elements; tuning the magnet forming elements; assembling the elements to obtain finished magnets; and tuning the finished magnets.