Abstract: GC A phase contrast X-ray imaging system with field of view (FOV) visualization and a holder arranged to hold a grating and a light field projector to enable the FOV illumination, for an operator to visualize the region on a subject that will be irradiated with X-rays. By taking advantage of the holder of the necessary object in the X-ray beam path (i.e. the grating) to hold a light field projector to illuminate the FOV, the solution is naturally more compact to implement and the mechanical complexity is kept to a minimum. The light field projector provides a sharp, well-defined area with a distinct outline of the FOV.

Abstract: In order to improve workflow efficiency and/or patient experience during a scan procedure, a system is proposed to provide—prior to arrival at the hospital—an indication of the suitability of a patient to be assigned to a specific level of autonomy in a medical scanning procedure. The system comprises a scan simulation module, a patient monitoring module, and a patient profile generation module. The scan simulation module comprises one or more sensory stimulation devices configured to apply at least one sensory stimulus over a patient to simulate a scan environment that may be experienced by a patient during a scan procedure. The patient monitoring module comprises one or more sensors configured to acquire data of the patient in the simulated scan environment. The patient profile generation module is configured to determine a state of anxiety of the patient based on the acquired data and to create a patient profile comprising the determined state of anxiety of the patient in the simulated scan environment.

Abstract: An adaptive X-ray anti-scatter device for placement in a source-detector axis of an X-ray imager includes an anti-scatter filter having a source orientable surface and a detector orientable surface. The anti-scatter filter comprises a plurality of realignable slats that absorb incident X-rays and are separated by a plurality of interstitial portions. The device also includes a first actively deformable member comprising a first set of one or more actively deformable actuators disposed across a first region of the first actively deformable member. At least a portion of the first set is partially or fully recessed within the interstitial portions. At least one actuator of the first set is in contact with a corresponding realignable slat of the plurality of realignable slats and is configured to change the alignment of the corresponding realignable slat in relation to the source-detector axis.

Abstract: There is a need for techniques to avoid or reduce motion artifacts in medical images. According to the invention, there is provided control circuitry for a medical imaging system. The control circuitry is configured to control the medical imaging system to provide synchronized display and nudging to provide a patient with information on the progress of a scan. In this way, patient anxiety may be reduced by providing the patient with a sense of time during the scan, leading to a reduction in motion artifacts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (100) for sensor signals dependent dialog generation during a medical imaging process, the system (100) comprising a sensor module (10), configured to measure condition data of a patient; a processor module (20), configured to analyze the condition data of the patient to determine biometric and physical condition data of the patient; a dialog data generation module (30), configured to generate questionnaires data for obtaining real-time feedback from the patient during the medical imaging process, wherein the questionnaires data is based on a parameter of the medical imaging process and on the determined biometric and physical condition data of the patient.

Abstract: The invention concerns a monitoring device for monitoring a medical imaging apparatus, a medical imaging apparatus comprising a monitoring device and a method for evaluating a functionality of a medical imaging apparatus. The monitoring device comprises a sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the medical imaging apparatus. Further, it comprises a data processing unit for receiving data from the sensor and for analyzing the received data thereby evaluating based on the analyzed data, during at least one life cycle phase of the medical imaging apparatus, whether a functionality of the medical imaging apparatus is maintained. The sensor is configured for measuring the parameter of the medical imaging apparatus during different life cycle phases of the medical imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A monitoring device for maintenance prediction for a medical imaging apparatus and a related method are described. First and second data sets of parameters of the medical imaging apparatus are measured over respective first and second periods by a data processing unit, one data set for each period. The second data set comprises data samples selected based on a trigger point. Operation modes of the medical imaging apparatus are identified based on the first set and the selected data samples. It is analysed whether there are corresponding operation modes, one operation mode for each data set. In a validation step it is validated whether the measured parameters in the first set and the selected data samples differ. Based on the outcome of the validation step, a feedback signal is issued, including maintenance prediction information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for treating a surface of an object obtained by direct metal laser sintering. The object is sintered from a metal powder with a grain size distribution. Due to the manufacturing process, the object can comprise a rough surface with remaining grains of the metal powder attached to the surface. The method according to the present invention provides parameters for post-processing the object to achieve a smooth surface suitable for use in medical imaging systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wake-up management. An apparatus is provided for assessing a wake-up procedure of a sedated patient in an imaging process. The apparatus comprises an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. The input unit is configured to receive patient profile data and sedation data comprising information about a sedation state of the sedated patient. The processing unit is configured to apply a data-driven model to the patient profile data and sedation data of the sedated patient to estimate at least one timing in the wake-up procedure of the sedated patient. The data-driven model has been trained on a training dataset obtained from historical data of one or more patients. The training dataset comprises patient profile data and sedation data of the one or more patients as training inputs and at least one timing in the wake-up procedure of the one or more patients as training outputs. The output unit is configured to provide the at least one estimated timing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for generating X-ray imaging data. It is described to position (210) a first grating between an X-ray source and a second grating. The second grating is positioned (220) between the first grating and a third grating. A third grating is positioned (230) between the second grating and an X-ray detector. An object is positioned (240) between the first grating and the third grating. At least one of the three gratings has a pitch attribute of having a constant grating pitch. At least one of the three gratings has a pitch attribute of having a varying grating pitch. Both gratings of an adjacent pair of gratings are bent such that a distance between the two adjacent gratings is constant as a function of fan angle. Both gratings of the adjacent pair of gratings that are bent have the same pitch attribute. An X-ray detector detects (250) at least some of the X-rays transmitted by the three gratings and the object.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a sensor system (100) for increasing security of a use of at least one magnetic object (102) in vicinity of an MR imaging device (200), wherein at least one magnetic property of the magnetic object (102) can be measure and evaluated in order to increase the safe use of the magnetic object (102) within MR environments.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a system (100) for determining patient (P) movement for a medical imaging system, comprising at least one marker (110), and at least one data processing unit (120), wherein the marker (110) is a solid configured to be swallowed by the patient (P). The marker (110) comprises a landmark forming component (111) configured to be detectable within the patient during a medical imaging procedure to determine the movement of the patient. The at least one data processing unit (120) is configured to obtain patient information data and/or medical imaging information data at least indicative for a type of medical imaging procedure intended for the patient.

Abstract: A focusing grating device (100) is described comprising a substrate (402) and a grating comprising a plurality of grating features (408) positioned on the substrate (402). The grating features (408) are positioned non-perpendicular to the substrate surface, thereby inducing a first focusing direction. The substrate (402) is curved, thereby inducing a second focusing direction, which is different from the first focusing direction. An X-ray system (300) comprising such a focusing grating device (100) as well as a method for producing such a focusing grating device (100) are also described.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a device (10) for preparing a patient for examination in a medical magnetic resonance imaging environment. The device comprises: at least one stimulation unit (11), adapted to operate separately from a magnetic stimulation used in the medical magnetic resonance imaging environment, and to intentionally stimulate a nerve and/or a muscle of a peripheral body part of the patient by applying an electrical and/or magnetic stimulation different from the magnetic stimulation used in the medical magnetic resonance imaging environment and being a proxy thereof; and at least one data processing unit (12), adapted to control the at least one stimulation unit to apply the electrical and/or magnetic stimulation to which at least one patient stimulation threshold is assigned; means for using the stimulation for communicating with the patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a medical imaging system (100), the method carried out by use of a data processing unit (120), the method comprising: obtaining (SI), by a computational prediction model, time-invariant patient information, generating (S2), by the computational prediction model, a patient profile parametrized based on at least the obtained time-invariant patient information, obtaining (S3), by the computational prediction model, at least one current clinical workflow parameter, providing (S4), by the computational prediction model, a prediction comprising at least a patient-specific operation workflow based on at least correlating the generated patient profile with the obtained current clinical workflow parameter, wherein the patient-specific operation workflow comprises a specific one of a selection of operational modes of the medical imaging system, and operating the medical imaging system (100) based on the specific one of the selection of operational modes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device (100) for determining a position of a metal object (200) in or at a patient body (300), the device (100) comprising: a sensor unit (102) configured to be moved along a pre-determined trajectory (104), wherein the sensor unit (102) is configured for generating a magnetic field (106) during a movement of the sensor unit (102) along the trajectory (104), wherein the sensor unit (102) is configured for receiving a response signal induced by the generated magnetic field (106), wherein the sensor unit (102) is configured for detecting a change of the response signal induced by the generated magnetic field (106) during said movement due to a change (110) of a distance between the sensor unit (102) and the metal object (200) in or at the patient body (300), and wherein in the sensor unit (102) is configured for determining the position of the metal object (200) based on the detected change (110) of the response signal during said movement.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention a system and method is claimed for providing model parameters for three dimensional fabrication of anatomical structures by obtaining and reconstructing three dimensional image data with a medical imager wherein imaging acquisition parameters of the imaging system and/or reconstruction input parameters of the reconstructor are optimized for maximum geometry precision. Advantageously, the imaging system is further configured to obtain material and/or functional information of the anatomical structure model and that material information is used to incorporate the material information in the anatomical model.

Abstract: An X-ray source for emitting an X-ray beam is proposed. The X-ray source comprises an anode and an emitter arrangement comprising a cathode for emitting an electron beam towards the anode and an electron optics for focusing the electron beam at a focal spot on the anode. The X-ray source further comprises a controller configured to determine a switching action of the emitter arrangement and to actuate the emitter arrangement to perform the switching action, the switching action being associated with a change of at least one of a position of the focal spot on the anode, a size of the focal spot, and a shape of the focal spot. The controller is further configured to predict before the switching action is performed, based on the determined switching action, the size and the shape of the focal spot expected after the switching action. Further, the controller is configured to actuate the electron optics to compensate for a change of the size and the shape of the focal spot induced by the switching action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling transdermal and automatic release of a sedative during imaging of a subject. A sedation level of a patient is detected during an imaging procedure. An amount of sedative to be applied to the patient to sustain a certain level of sedation is calculated. Further, a time for releasing the amount of the sedative is calculated. The calculated amount of the sedative is released at the calculated time transdermally to the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a patient transfer training system (200), comprising: a sheet (210); a processing unit (220); and a plurality of indicator devices (230). The sheet is configured to be carried by at least one person during transfer of a simulated patient from one area to another area of a medical establishment. The system is configured to generate information relating to support and position of the simulated patient during the transfer. The processing unit is configured to determine a required change in support and/or a required change in position of the simulated patient during the transfer. The determination comprises utilization of the information relating to support and position of the simulated patient during the transfer.