Abstract: An airbag module including a gas generator with at least one laterally projecting fastening portion; a generator support; an airbag with an inflation opening; a cover cap; and latching elements for connecting the generator support to the cover cap. The airbag has a plate proximate to the inflation opening, the plate including an opening for the gas generator. Latching elements are provided to hold the plate and the airbag connected thereto, and to hold the fastening portion of the gas generator situated between the generator support and the plate. The plate, at least in the region of these latching elements, is larger than the external dimensioning of the folded airbag in the region of the inflation opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for calibrating an ultrasound transducer providing B-scans for two-dimensional (2D) images, includes: an ultrasound probe for providing B-scans; a position sensing device, the position sensing device being attached to the ultrasound probe and operating as part of a position sensing system in cooperation with a fixed sensing control unit, for labeling the B-scans with their respective relative positions and orientations (pose); a phantom marker for being imaged by the ultrasound probe for providing measurements which together with known physical properties of the phantom marker are used to derive calibration information for relating measurement data from the position sensing device to the poses of the B-scans to construct a 3D image; and the phantom marker comprising an encoded line object with distinctive calibration characteristics indicative of position along the line object, wherein the line object is disposed in a generally circumferential manner about a common axis with the probe.

Abstract: A system and method for registering a sequence of inter-operative two dimensional (2D) medical images of a target feature with pre-operative three dimensional (3D) medical images of the target feature is disclosed. The 3D image of the target feature is converted to a first skeletal graph. The 2D image of the target feature is converted to a second skeletal graph. Graph matching of the first and second skeletal graphs is performed to obtain a rough alignment of the graphs, and the first and second skeletal graph registered.

Abstract: A method of performing 4-dimensional virtual endoscopy includes acquiring a sequence of cardiac images of a patient's heart from an imaging device; acquiring an electrocardiographic signal exhibiting cardiac cycles of the heart; and utilizing the electrocardiographic signal to gate the images for deriving respective 3-dimensional views in succession at corresponding cardiac cycles, from respective cardiac images at a selected phase point common to each of the corresponding cardiac cycles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of regulating transcription of a gene that is a target for an epigenetic regulator; a method of characterizing the transcriptional activity of such a gene; a method of screening for a chromosomal element (CE) for an epigenetic regulator of a target gene; an isolated complex including an epigenetic regulator for a target gene, wherein the epigenetic regulator is specifically bound to a non-coding polynucleotide; and a method of screening for a modulator of transcription of a gene that is a target for an epigenetic regulator.

Abstract: A method of aligning a pair of images with a first image and a second image, wherein said images comprise a plurality of intensities corresponding to a domain of points in a D-dimensional space includes identifying feature points on both images using the same criteria, computing a feature vector for each feature point, measuring a feature dissimilarity for each pair of feature vectors, wherein a first feature vector of each pair is associated with a first feature point on the first image, and a second feature vector of each pair is associated with a second feature point on the second image. A correspondence mapping for each pair of feature points is determined using the feature dissimilarity associated with each feature point pair, and an image transformation is defined to align the second image with the first image using one or more pairs of feature points that are least dissimilar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steering wheel arrangement for motor vehicles, in which the risk of injury is reduced, should a driver impact against the steering wheel in the event of a crash. According to the invention the skeleton of the steering wheel arrangement has a compact body of deformable, energy absorbing material, in which the spokes of the steering wheel are fixed.

Abstract: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. A viewpoint is established, from which a line of sight to a point on a target defines a path for an instrument to follow during a positioning of the instrument to the point on the target. The instrument is aligned along the line of sight to the point on the target.

Abstract: A method for calibrating real and virtual views includes tracking a calibration screen, wherein a real reference point, generated by a real reference point generator, is projected on the calibration screen, aligning a view of a virtual reference point to a view of the real reference point in a display, wherein the real reference point generator and the display have a fixed relative position, determining a point correspondence between the virtual reference point and the real reference point, and determining one or more parameters for rendering a virtual object in the real scene.

Abstract: A fluoroscopy image is registered with data representing a volume, identifying a catheter position relative to a volume represented by preoperative volume data. The catheter position relative to a patient volume represented by data acquired without scanning the catheter is displayed. For example, a 2D fluoroscopy image is registered with respect to coordinates of a 3D preoperative CT or MRI volume by registering the fluoroscopy image and the preoperative volume to 3D ultrasound coordinates.

Abstract: A method of aligning a pair of images includes providing a pair of images with a first image and a second image, wherein the images comprise a plurality of intensities corresponding to a domain of points in a D-dimensional space. Salient feature regions are identified in both the first image and the second image, a correspondence between each pair of salient feature regions is hypothesized, wherein a first region of each pair is on the first image and a second region of each pair is on the second image, the likelihood of the hypothesized correspondence of each pair of feature regions is measured, and a joint correspondence is determined from a set of pairs of feature regions with the greatest likelihood of correspondence.

Abstract: A method for four-dimensional (4D) image verification in respiratory gated radiation therapy, includes: acquiring 4D computed tomography (CT) images, each of the 4D CT images representing a breathing phase of a patient and tagged with a corresponding time point of a first surrogate signal; acquiring fluoroscopic images of the patient under free breathing, each of the fluoroscopic images tagged with a corresponding time point of a second surrogate signal; generating digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) for each breathing phase represented by the 4D CT images; generating a similarity matrix to assess a degree of resemblance in a region of interest between the DRRs and the fluoroscopic images; computing a compounded similarity matrix by averaging values of the similarity matrix across different time points of the breathing phase during a breathing period of the patient; determining an optimal time point synchronization between the DRRs and the fluoroscopic images by using the compounded similarity matrix;

Abstract: An airbag module including a gas generator and an airbag. The gas generator and the airbag are arranged in the module housing one behind the other in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the airbag module so that the dimension of the airbag module is greater in the direction of the longitudinal axis than the dimension of the airbag module in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis. The module housing is divided in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the airbag module and includes two housing shells. The airbag is connected to the module housing by a clamping frame which includes at least one gas conduction element.

Abstract: The invention relates to new, hydrophilic/hydrophobic, water-soluble or water-dispersible polyurethanes, suitable as thickeners for aqueous systems, which are distinguished by a particularly efficient thickening effect in the low-shear range, and also to their use for thickening aqueous systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for visual assistance during the electrophysiological use of a catheter in the heart, enabling electroanatomic 3D mapping data relating to an area of the heart to be treated to be visualised during the use of the catheter. Before the catheter is used, 3D image data of a body region containing the area to be treated is detected by means of a method for tomographic 3D imaging. The area to be treated or significant parts thereof are extracted from said 3D image data, in order to obtain selected 3D image data. The electroanatomic 3D mapping data and the selected 3D image data obtained are then classed in terms of position and dimension, and are adjacently visualised, for example, during the catheter ablation. The inventive method and associated device enable the orientation of the operator to be improved during the use of a catheter in the heart.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for comparing three dimensional (3D) digital medical images. The method uses a reference MPR to position subsequent MPRs in one or more other 3D digital medical images so their content matches the reference MPR. The matched MPRs may then be used by a medical professional to diagnose a patient condition. The ability to quickly and automatically position matching MPRs for multiple 3D images eases the medical staff workload and shortens diagnostics time. Matching MPRs provides an effective way to view the 3D volumes for anatomical changes over time and to monitor medical conditions such as stenosis and tumors.

Abstract: A module assembly for an airbag device for protecting occupants of motor vehicles includes a carrier for the assembly, an inflatable airbag packet, a flexible protective envelope, and a fixing mechanism. The airbag packet is fixed to the carrier. The airbag packet is accommodated in the flexible protective envelope. The protective enveloped can be closed off in a gastight manner. The fixing mechanism fixes the airbag packet to the carrier. The fixing mechanism includes a holding element. The holding element, which includes a securing mechanism provided on the carrier to fix the airbag packet to the carrier, extends along an edge of the airbag packet. The securing mechanism is formed integrally on the carrier and is resiliently pivotable with respect to a lateral section of the carrier. Alternatively, the securing mechanism is fixed on the carrier as a separate assembly.

Abstract: A method of registering 3-dimensional digitized images to 2-dimensional digitized images during a medical procedure includes providing a pair of correctly-registered training images L={lr, lf} and their joint intensity distribution pl(ir, if), wherein ir and if are reference and floating images, respectively, providing a pair of observed images O={or, of} and their joint intensity distribution po(ir, if), mapping a marginal intensity distribution of the observed pair O={or, of} to a marginal intensity distribution of the training pair L={lr, lf}, and estimating a set of parameters T that registers image of to image or by maximizing a weighted sum of a Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD) of a joint intensity distribution of the observed pair and a joint intensity distribution of the training pair and a similarity measure between the observed images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microtome (1) having functional regions to be operated manually, in particular a sample holder (2), a cutting device (3), a section removal system (4), and a section collection pan (5). A microtome (1) is described in which the particularly firm contact or adhesion of sectioning waste fragments and, in particular, of thin sections can be at least largely avoided. For this purpose, the microtome (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that the components of the microtome (1) that can be brought into contact with paraffin sections are embodied in electrically conductive fashion.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for fast generation of digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) images are provided, the system including a processor, an imaging adapter in signal communication with the processor for receiving volumetric data, a preprocessing unit in signal communication with the processor for preprocessing subvolumes into a set of local line integrals, and an online processing unit in signal communication with the processor for online processing global line integrals, each from a set of local line integrals, respectively; and the corresponding method including receiving three-dimensional volumetric data, subdividing the volumetric data into a set of overlapping subvolumes, preprocessing each subvolume into a dense set of local line integrals at several angles and positions, online processing global line integrals, each from a set of local line integrals, respectively, and adding up values of the set of local line integrals for each global line integral to form pixels of the DRR image.