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: 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: An optical guide for a biopsy needle includes a light projector for producing a line image on a patient's skin surface, wherein the light projector is adapted for mounting on an ultrasound transducer such that the line image corresponds with an intersection of the transducer ultrasound plane with the skin surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to water-soluble or water-dispersible polyurethane comprising a reaction product of

Abstract: The invention relates to a new hydrophilic/water-soluble or water-dispersible polyurethane comprising the reaction product of

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: An embodiment of the present invention includes a method and system for constructing a graphical user interface (GUI) having a plurality of graphical elements. The method includes reading a specification having non-executable information that defines a structure for the GUI. The structure forms communication connections between the graphical user elements and underlying data objects. The specification defining the structure of the GUI is parsed. The structure of the GUI defined by the specification as parsed is constructed, and the GUI having the graphical elements and the structure as constructed may be rendered. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a framework for developing the GUI.

Abstract: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. At least one graphics proximity marker is determined for indicating a proximity of a predetermined portion of an instrument to a target. The at least one graphics proximity marker is rendered such that the proximity of the predetermined portion of the instrument to the target is ascertainable based on a position of a marker on the instrument with respect to the at least one graphics proximity marker.

Abstract: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. A graphics guide is determined for positioning an instrument. The graphics guide is rendered such that an appearance of at least one portion of the graphics guide is modulated with respect to at least one of space and time.

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: Apparatus for image-guided surgery includes medical imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus is utilized for capturing 3-dimensional (3D) volume data of patient portions in reference to a coordinate system. A computer processes the volume data so as to provide a graphical representation of the data. A stereo camera assembly captures a stereoscopic video view of a scene including at least portions of the patient. A tracking system measures pose data of the stereoscopic video view in reference to the coordinate system. The computer is utilized for rendering the graphical representation and the stereoscopic video view in a blended way in conjunction with the pose data so as to provide a stereoscopic augmented image. A head-mounted video-see-through display displays the stereoscopic augmented image.

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: An airbag for a motor vehicle, with at least one inflatable region which is capable of being inflated by means of a gas generator and in the inflated state forms a lateral curtain for protecting a vehicle occupant. When inflated the airbag is clamped between two points on the vehicle body which are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The airbag has a separation region, which may be an opening, that is bridged by a tautening element which is capable of being inflated together with the inflatable region. When the airbag inflates the opening deforms reducing the length of the opening in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

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 method and apparatus for three dimensional (3D) computerized tomographic (CT) imaging of a region-of-interest (ROI) in an object, wherein image reconstruction processing is applied to a plurality of sets of pixels of 2D image data, each set being acquired on a pixelated 2D detector. The image reconstruction processing comprises filtering each of the acquired 2D image data sets for developing a corresponding plurality of filtered 2D images; and then 3D backprojecting the filtered 2D images into a common 3D space, thereby reconstructing in the 3D space a 3D image of the ROI in the object. In the present invention the filtering step comprises dividing the pixels of each set of the acquired 2D image data sets into first and second groups, and separately filtering the image data of each group to develop for each group it's own contribution to the corresponding filtered 2D image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of operating a CT imaging apparatus having a cone beam radiation source and a 2D detector arrangement, for exactly reconstructing an image of a 3D region of interest (ROI) in an object. Measurement data acquired by the 2D detector is processed to develop sub-sets of Radon data. Each of the sub-sets of Radon data is targeted for reconstructing a corresponding local 2D ROI in a 2D parallel projection of the object. Accordingly, after a sub-set of Radon data is completely developed, it is subjected to a first inversion processing step for developing the corresponding local 2D ROI. Multiple ones of the local ROIs are then grouped together and subjected to a second inversion processing step to develop an image reconstruction of a part of the 3D ROI in the object.

Abstract: A computed tomographic imaging apparatus performs three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction of a region of interest of an object using a plurality of processors for processing successive sets of cone beam measurement data that are acquired by scanning about the object with a cone beam radiation source and an area detector. A central memory has stored therein a plurality of subsets of pre-calculated image processing information, and the plurality of processors are responsive to a given sequence of successive ones of the subsets of pre-calculated image processing information for converting the cone beam measurement data to Radon derivative data on a plurality of Radon .phi.-planes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for three dimensional computerized tomographic imaging of an object, wherein cone beam energy from a cone beam source is applied to at least a portion of an object to be imaged by causing relative rotational motion between the source and the object at a plurality of source positions along a path scanning trajectory. An area detector receives cone beam energy from the source on a plurality of detector elements arranged in an array of rows and columns, so that its detector elements develop a set of measurement signals at each of the plurality of source positions. Derivative Radon transform data is directly developing by multiplication of the measurement signals of each set by pre-calculated and stored weight factors. Thereafter, an image of the object is reconstructed using the directly developed Radon derivative data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconstructing an image of an object using a three dimensional (3D) computerized tomographic (CT) imager having a cone beam radiation source and detector arrangement for acquiring measurement data. The source and detector arrangement is operated at a plurality of source positions along a spiral scan path so as to acquire a corresponding plurality of sets of measurement data representative of radiation attenuation caused by the object. Image reconstruction processing information required for processing of the acquired measurement data in a Radon space partitioned by plurality of vertically oriented coaxial .phi.-planes for reconstructing the image, is pre-calculated and stored in a hitlist. The stored information is pre-calculated on less that all of the .phi.-planes, but due to a symmetry that is induced in the reconstruction processing, the stored information can be used for calculating Radon data for all of the .phi.-planes that partition the Radon space.

Abstract: A two-step 3D Radon inversion processor for processing Radon data on a set of vertically oriented co-axial .phi.-planes that partition Radon space, wherein each of the .phi.-planes is sampled during the processing so as to have its own independent local Radon origin. In accordance with further principles of the present invention, a 3D Radon data generator generates Radon data on a set of vertically oriented co-axial .phi.-planes that partition Radon space, wherein each of the .phi.-planes is sampled so as to have its own independent local Radon origin, and a two-step 3D Radon inversion processor independently processes each of the .phi.-planes. Any shift of the local Radon origins with respect to a global coordinate system is compensated for during the 3D Radon inversion processing. Compensation for the origin shift may be made during or after a first step of the Radon inversion processing.