Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for generating a virtual installation model (2) as an image of a real installation (1). As a database therefor, digital picture data (4) representing pictures of a real installation (1) on the one hand and installation components (13) of a component library (6) on the other hand are used. The data of the installation components as well as the digital picture data (4) of the real installation (1) is evaluated by means of an image analysis (5). Based on this analysis, the identified installation components (13) are assigned to the virtually generated installation model (2). The virtual image of the real installation thus created serves to document the actual structure of the installation/facility, to simplify failure analysis, e.g., in areas that are difficult to access, and/or to operate and monitor the installation/facility. In addition to geometric data, functional data, etc. of the installation components are also stored.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for non-rigid multi-modal registration, includes providing trained data corresponding to previously registered images captured by different modalities, receiving two or more images captured by the different modalities, and registering the two or more images according to context information determined based on the trained data.

Abstract: A system and method for registering pre-operative images of an object with an intra-operative image of the object is disclosed. Prior to an operative procedure, Digitally Reconstructed Radiographs (DRRs) are generated for the pre-operative images of each individual patient. Signatures are extracted from the DRRs. The signatures are stored in a knowledge base. During the operative procedure, a signature is extracted from the intra-operative image. The intra-operative signature is compared to the stored pre-operative signatures. A pre-operative image having a best signature match to the intra-operative signature is retrieved. The retrieved pre-operative image is registered with the intra-operative image.

Abstract: A device for actuating electric functional groups, in particular horns on the steering wheels of motor vehicles is disclosed. The device includes at least two opposing contacts which can be brought into contact with one another to actuate the functional group and which clean themselves by sliding against one another during contact. The opposing contacts are fixed to a respective support element with both of the elements being elastically deformable.

Abstract: Exemplary methods are provided. In one exemplary method, a lower-dimension signature is generated for each of a plurality of data sets of a given dimension. Registration is performed on the lower-dimension signatures. In another exemplary method, a two-dimensional signature is generated for each of a plurality of three-dimensional volumes. Registration is performed on the two-dimensional signatures.

Abstract: A method and system for modifying a radiation therapy treatment plan are disclosed. In one embodiment, a radiation therapy treatment plan based on a first medical diagnostic image of a target in a patient is provided. A second medical diagnostic image of the target is generated while the patient is disposed on a treatment surface of a radiation therapy device. A deformation of the target is determined using the second medical diagnostic image, and the radiation therapy treatment plan is modified based on the determined deformation. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Abstract: A system and method for instrument placement using an image based navigation system is disclosed. A target of interest is identified in a medical image of a patient. An image plane is displayed that goes through a center of the target. The image plane has a configurable orientation. The image plane is used to select a path for an instrument from a position on the patient's skin to the center of the target. A trajectory plane is viewed from a tip of the instrument to the center of the target. The trajectory plane reflects an orientation of the instrument. A particular trajectory plane is selected that is representative of a desired orientation of the instrument. An image of the particular trajectory plane is frozen. The instrument can then be inserted using a virtual guide and is navigated toward the target.

Abstract: A system and method for registering pre-operative magnetic resonance (MR) images with intra-operative MR images is disclosed. A pre-operative MR image of an object is received. A set of intra-operative MR images of the object is received. The pre-operative MR image is rigidly registered with the initial intra-operative MR image. The subsequent set of intra-operative images is deformably registered. The pre-operative MR image undergoes both rigid and deformation transformation to match specification of each image with in intra-operative MR image set.

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: A method for augmented reality navigation of a medical intervention includes providing a stereoscopic head mounted display, the display including a pair of stereo viewing cameras, at least one tracking camera, and a stereoscopic guidance display. During a medical intervention on a patient, the patient's body pose is determined from a rigid body transformation between the tracking camera and frame markers on the scanning table, and the pose of an intervention instrument with respect to the table is determined. A visual representation of the patient overlaid with an image of the intervention target, the instrument, and a path for guiding the instrument to perform said medical intervention is displayed in the stereoscopic guidance display.

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 system and method for positioning a patient for radiotherapy is provided. The method comprises: acquiring a first x-ray image sequence of a target inside the patient at a first angle; acquiring first respiratory signals of the patient while acquiring the first x-ray image sequence; acquiring a second x-ray image sequence of the target at a second angle; acquiring second respiratory signals of the patient while acquiring the second x-ray image sequence; synchronizing the first and second x-ray image sequences with the first and second respiratory signals to form synchronized first and second x-ray image sequences; identifying the target in the synchronized first and second x-ray image sequences; and determining three-dimensional (3D) positions of the target through time in the synchronized first and second x-ray image sequences.

Abstract: A videoscope system comprises a pair of imaging cameras for capturing a stereoscopic view of a workspace, and a tracking camera for capturing a field of view including a marker structure, and a display for displaying the stereoscopic view of the workspace captured by the pair of imaging cameras and augmented with a computer graphic according to a position and orientation of the imaging cameras relative to the workspace. The videoscope system further comprises a processor for determining the position and orientation of the imaging cameras relative to the workspace based on the location of the marker structure in the field of view captured by the tracking camera, and an articulated support apparatus adapted to support a videoscope head comprising at least the imaging cameras.

Abstract: The invention relates to a powdered thickener preparation based on polyurethane, which can be incorporated particularly well into water-based paints and lacquers and into other aqueous systems, and to their use as rheological additives for thickening preferably aqueous systems.

Abstract: A head-mounted display system includes an imaging camera for capturing a view of a workspace located below the head-mounted display system, the imaging camera positioned at a downward pitch angle for capturing an image of the workspace. The system further includes a tracking camera aligned in substantially the same yaw as the imaging camera, the tracking camera for capturing a tracking image including a marker structure, and a display which displays a view of the workspace captured by the imaging camera augmented by a virtual image generated by a processor and registered according to the tracking image.

Abstract: A method of aligning a pair of images with (101) 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 (102) feature points on both images using the same criteria, computing (103) a feature vector for each feature point, measuring a feature dissimilarity (104) 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 (105) for each pair of feature points is determined using the feature dissimilarity associated with each feature point pair, and an image transformation (106) is defined to align (108) the second image with the first image using one or more pairs of feature points that are least dissimilar.

Abstract: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. A graphics guide is determined for positioning an instrument that provides a substantially unobstructed view of the instrument during the positioning. The graphics guide is rendered in alignment with a predetermined path to be traversed during the positioning of the instrument.

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: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. A graphics guide is determined for positioning an instrument that provides a substantially unobstructed view of the instrument during the positioning. The graphics guide is rendered in alignment with a predetermined path to be traversed during the positioning of the instrument.

Abstract: A decorative element for cover caps of airbag modules is provided. The decorative element includes predetermined breaking points and/or bending points. As a result of the predetermined breaking points and/or bending points, the decorative element tears together with the cover cap when an airbag is deployed.